#[ ty for ask! peepaw moment......

[marinehero]

"are you going to kill me?" / from uta <3

QUESTION PROMPTS

ლ. He laughed, bellowing sound from deep within his lungs, shaking his shoulders as he came to a stop nearby the other, taking seat on nearby ledge.

" Should I ? "   amusment clear in his reply despite the teeth in his grin, eyes leaving her only to dig through his pockets; triumphantly rescuing a bag of senbei from the depths of one of them. Wasting no time in shovelling a handful of them into his mouth before holding out the bag towards Uta.

" Nah, I'm not interested in that. I've been wanting to meet you, Uta. Rice cracker ? "   question only slightly muffled, crumbs falling out, because no matter what some people ( Senny ) liked to claim, he wasn't completely mannerless. He just didn't care about some of them, unbothered with trying to cover his staring.

     Beyond half a head of red hair, there wasn't much resemblance between her and Shanks, he noted. If he were to hedge his bets then adoption. Likely orphaned. Or if her original parents were alive, it wasn't to any of their knowledge or interest. Probably unintentional, rather than sought out kidnapping.

     Garp held back a sigh and resisted the urge to facepalm, because of course. For the love of Mother Sea. Shanks truly was one of Roger's boys. He wasn't sure if he wanted to pull out his hair or laugh.

     But that red hair bastard that wasn't the reason he was there. Nor were the demands for her head, for her to be brought to justice. Hardly mattered to him that he wasn't supposed to be there either, as if anyone could stop him.

" I heard you know Luffy, "   he said, as a statement rather than a question. Unable and uncaring to hide the warmth and fondness in his tone at the name,   " I'd like to learn more about that. "

[tightjeansjavi]

i think joel deserves a picture of someone he really loves. like maybe ellie finds a polaroid camera or something and begs maria to take a pic of her and tommy to give to joel

Nonnie, thank you for sending this in ♡ I absolutely agree that Joel deserves a picture of someone he really loves!

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Photograph

Summary: Ellie gifts Joel a present worth more than a million words.

word count: 1.2k

pairing | Joel Miller, Ellie Williams, Tommy Miller

Warnings: some angst, allusions to child loss, holiday blues, domestic fluff, Christmas traditions, Joel is just a big ole softy, Ellie wants to make sure Joel feels loved this holiday season, post!outbreak Joel, Jackson!era Joel, peepaw! Joel, no reader in this one, +18 minors dni!

Joel Miller feels indifferent around this time of the year. The season of giving, joy, Yule-tide Carols, the whole shabam wrapped up in a pretty velvet red bow; Christmas time. Her favorite time of the year. A sore spot on his tender felt heartstrings. Like a scab that never quite was given the opportunity to properly heal. Picked at by grime stained nails tearing at the flesh till it bleeds once more. Tissue scarred. An ugly reminder that she was never coming home. She was thousands of miles away, buried beneath the earth.

This time of the year makes him feel like Scrooge, or like the Grinch. Except, he doesn’t want to steal Christmas, and his heart's too big for his ribcage to carry.

The cold doesn’t bother him, not really anyway. He thinks freshly fallen snow along twisting tree branches is beautiful. He loves the aroma of fresh pine needles, oozing tree sap, mulled wine. A simmer pot bubbling on Maria’s stove reminds him of a simpler time.

He loves hot cocoa, the rich kind that tastes like a warm hug doused in sugar. He loves the twinkling lights adorned on the evergreens in Jackson, and the way that the eyes of innocence twinkle beneath them. He sees her eyes in the golden flickering lights too.

His favorite Christmas movie is National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. A family classic, one that never fails to make him chuckle. With a mug of spiked hot cocoa in hand, and Tommy standing beside him, he leans over, “I think this year I want to get a Christmas tree. I—want to make the season special for Ellie. Will you help me, Tommy?”

He rasps in a half whisper. Clark Griswold had just cut down a tree to replace the one that uncle Lewis had accidentally burned down with his cigar. Laughter echoed through the expanse of the room when the unsuspecting squirrel leapt from the tree.

“Course I can, Joel. We’ll cut one down tomorrow, okay? The finest one that we can find. Ellie will love it.” He nodded with a smile tugging on his lips. He brought his arm around Joel’s shoulders and gave them a firm squeeze. He knew his brother was trying.

And so the following morning, before patrol would head out, he and Tommy set out on horseback to find the perfect tree. It didn’t take the brothers an awfully long time to locate one. It would fit nicely in Joel’s living room. They sawed it down together, working side by side before tying it to the horns of their saddles to drag it back to town.

In the evening hours, Ellie returned home to a sight most surprising and pleasant. Joel in the living room, a strand of twinkle lights wrapped around his forearm. He’s maneuvering himself around the evergreen. Moving by long since dormant muscle memory.

“Joel? What’re you doin?’” Ellie asks from the mouth of their shared living space. Her cheeks have already begun to ache from how hard she was smiling. She never thought she’d witness the day that Joel would give into the holiday times.

“Wrappin’ the tree with lights. What’s it look like I’m doin’, baby girl?” He asks with a grin. His dimples make a rare occurrence that Ellie treasures every moment of its presence.

“No shit, old man.” She giggles. “Need some help?”

“Would love some, kiddo. Before your old man gets himself all tangled up here.”

They don’t have many ornaments to hang outside of some that Maria and Tommy lent them, and wooden animals Joel carved himself. Joel was a firm believer in quality over quantity. When it’s time to place the star on the very top of the tree, Joel offers Ellie his shoulders. She declines out purely from the fear of hurting his old man back.

He doesn’t argue when she returns with a step ladder. He’s there at her side, of course, making sure the ladder is steady as she climbs up the steps. He cherishes these moments too.

When the star was placed perfectly in the center. Father and daughter step back to admire their work with their heads resting against one another’s. He was reminded just how much he loved a decorated Christmas tree.

Time ceases to exist when Joel spends it with his baby girl. They bake cookies, string up garland and hum Christmas songs of the past, side by side.

It's Christmas Eve, and Ellie is frustrated with herself. She doesn’t want to let Joel down this Christmas. She wants to give him something special, because he deserves it. After everything he has done for her, he deserves the world even when it failed him. No amount of presents could possibly explain the love she felt for her father, but she knew that he held sentiments dear to his heart, and it didn’t take much to convince Tommy to help her out either.

A photograph, after all, was worth a million words.

On Christmas morning, Joel slept in. Something that he usually didn’t grant himself the pleasure of indulging in. Even in domesticity, he struggled. The house was still and quiet as he rose from his slumber. Freshly fallen snow greeted him from the frosted window panes. Children outside, throwing snowballs, making snow Angels while the adults chattered about life, and how precious these moments were.

He stuffed his chilled bare feet in a worn pair of slippers that had seen far better days. He let out a yawn, a quick scratch to his covered stomach followed by a deep stretch. A subconscious reach to his left for his gun; forced habit that he couldn’t quite break.

He dragged his feet across the creaking floorboards as he descended down the stairs. He peeked around the corner in search of Ellie’s presence, but she must have already gone out.

In the kitchen he stumbled upon a steaming mug of coffee and a single photograph. His brows knitted together. Fingers traced across the seams of the film before it was gingerly picked up. He studied the image with a softened look, eyes turning glassy when he flipped the photograph over.

Scribbled in red ink that was unmistakably Ellie’s penmanship,

Joel, I wanted to get you something special this year because you deserve it, even though I know you believe that you don’t. Now you get to carry Tommy and I with you everywhere you go. (Or you can pin us on the fridge) Merry Christmas, Dad. I love you so much.

-Ellie

“Oh.” He whispered, brushing away a few tears that slipped past down his cheeks with his thumb.

The front door squeaked open before shutting softly. Ellie kicked off a bit of snow on her boots before she made her way into the kitchen. Her cheeks were rosy from the nipping cold air as Joel’s warm brown eyes met hers across the expanse of the counter top.

“Baby girl..” he started, unable to get his emotions conveyed the way he wanted.

“Those better be happy tears, old man. Y’know how many times we had to take that photo? Tommy kept blinking every time the damn camera flashed.” She laughed.

Joel laughed through his tears as he set the photograph down. He padded around the side of the counter before his strong arms wrapped around his baby girl, hugging her tight. His fingers gently stroked her hair, holding her close. “The happiest tears this old man can possibly weep. I love you so much, baby girl.” He sniffled.

Ellie’s own tears couldn’t be held at bay any longer. She threw her arms around his neck hugging him close with her cheek buried against the crook of his shoulder. “Merry Christmas, Dad.”

“Merry Christmas, baby girl.” He murmured with a warmth spreading throughout his heart.

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[maybenotmei]

HELLO HI HI HI OK SO CAN I REQUEST PLATONIC GN!READER WITH LIKE PEEPAW LILIA MAYBE IDK READER IS LIKE A 14 YEAR OLD THAT GOT TRANSPORTED TO TWISTED WONDERLAND AND LILIA JUST DECIDED TO ADOPT THEM ON THE SPOT UEUEUEUEUEUEUEUEU (if you'd like to, can u also add in Crewel?) TY VERY MUCH DEAR AND HAVE A LOVELY DAY URBDBBDNDN

guardian!

ft. lilia vanrogue

notes at the end! THIS IS PLATONIC. (the x reader tags r for reach)

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you really don't know how you ended up here. all you know is that this place looks terrifying, and you're unsure if you can make it out of here. right now. or later. or even make it out alive. you're pretty scared since you ended up in front of some home that looks kinda terrifying...

...!! who is this, someone appeared behind you- that someone is hanging upside down!!!!!

after moments of trying to calm down, you ask who they are. they introduce themselves as lilia vanrogue, vice housewarden of diasomnia.

...who now?

he asks why you're here, and honestly you have no idea either. you (hesitantly) explain your situation to him after telling your name, and he thinks. carefully.

"i'll take care of you while you're here then."

what.

What????

...i'm not sure how you ended up being under the care of some guy you met outside the dorm that showed up upside down, nor how that conversation even went, but well, you're kind of here now. it's better than foraging outside somewhere you don't know, right?

and besides, lilia is a great father. huh? father?

malleus... allowed you in. who even was malleus in those three you saw? there was someone who said "as long as malleus allows you, i shall allow you as well!!" and some guy sleeping on the couch... you still had no idea what was happening. lilia was kind enough to show you around and explain for a while.

he let you stay in a spare dorm and made sure no one from the dorm or outside could even try and enter when you're alone— he's worried! but he introduces the others in the dorm to you, and encourages you to talk to them with caution. you didn't have any magic at all...

still, he's still the type to introduce you to a lot of people. and i mean a lot. and would tell you to interact with them in a friendly manner (you may subconsciously copy him, which is ok)

though i'm not sure if anyone would try hurting you, lilia can hear and see everything very well. don't even worry about safety— diasomnia's housewarden and vice housewarden are here to make sure you are 100% safe in their hands

during dinners, lunches, or meals, he makes sure to bring, buy, or make you some as it's a little difficult using the kitchen without any magical power. i'd recommend you to start learning how to cook if you can't stomach lilia's cooking....

he offers great advice about a lot of stuff, too! as you're extremely young, he'd offer a ton of life advice when the timing is right— like when you're having difficulty with something like navigating the school and stuff.

also, he's strict about making sure you yourself can stay safe here in nrc. he knows some people have ill intentions, and he intends to make sure you stay away or know when to call for help. he might have a spare phone, so he'll give it to you if ever you need his help (that is, if he can't hear you from where you're at, which is near impossible) and he forbids you from going to dangerous places (please listen to that)

he's super fun to be with when he isn't strict and serious, though. ask him to play some games with you and he'll Try! try...

he'd play around with you if you want to or are comfortable with him appearing out of thin air. he's very playful towards people he's familiar with anyway.

overall, your whole stay was comforting. as malleus, lilia, silver, sebek, and you were looking for ways for you to go home, you enjoyed your stay and the comfort lilia did give you.

i still recommend learning how to cook before he serves you soup with hotdogs in it, though... also if he technically adopted you, does that make silver your older brother...??? and malleus your other father?

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notes: this was fun to write Thankz jin ly