#“white washing” whaaaat

[ehliena]

Seeing people bitch about DC "whitewashing" characters and I'm all what? Look at the Bats

Dick was WHITE. Him being of Romani descent is a retcon from the late 90s early 00s. He was created in the 1940s.

Barbara is white. She's a red head. That's a 2% incidence worldwide. She was made in the 60s.

Jason is white. I haven't seen retcons for him. He was made in the early 80s.

Tim is white. He was made in the late 80s.

Steph is white. She was made in the early 90s.

Cass is half asian, half white. I love Cass. She's been my asian rep in the batfam ever since I knew she existed. She was made in the late 90s.

Damian is a half asian (chinese, arabic, possibly with italian and greek <- from Ra's). I see many people complaining about him being coloured pale, but in his first comic appearance (named as the Damian character we know) he was coloured as pale as Tim. He was made in the 00s.

Duke is half black, half immortal being (Gnomon). Although I'm not sure if Gnomon is a retcon. I'm not really sure what exact descent his mom is from. He was made in the 2010s.

Luke Fox is black. Son of Lucius Fox (created 1979). He was created in the 2010s.

Bruce is white. I'm not sure about the percentage, but he has some Irish and Scottish apparently. He was made in 1939.

Kate is also white. Her current iteration came out in 2006. Her being Bruce's cousin is a retcon from this time. The original Kathy Kane (black haired Batwoman) was also depicted as white with no notes as to her heritage. She was made in the mid 50s.

Alfred is british. He was created in the early 40s.

Tl;dr: the bat family is diverse. If you think they're being whitewashed, check which version of the character they're interpreted as.

[artisticestheticreads]

Summertime Magic XIII

A/N: WHAAAAT?!?!?! Another chapter of your FAV fanfic with Mr. N'Jadaka Udaku.

To Catch Up, Press Here. 

Warning: Nothing really but there is a discussion about ... uhn uhn no spoilers sorry

Word Count: 4182

Song Recommendation: All Mine - Brent Faiyaz

“So what you wanna talk about? If this is about M’Baku, I apologize.  He's wild as fuck I swear. Do you mind if I grab an apple?” She washed one off and handed it to him with a smile. He nodded as he bit into at how delicious it was heard:

“Ndiyazi ukuba ungubani kanye kanye ... iNkosana N'Jadaka (I know who you really are... Prince N'Jadaka),” Leslie said, causing him to cough from the shock and looked up; noticing her brow raise, folded arms and slight grin, hips leaning against the counter.

~

N’Jadaka looked up at Leslie and said “I can explain everything, Leslie. Wait, does she-“.

“Nope. She doesn't know anything. Y’know I was a little skeptical when we first met then I started to see you more and when Y/N told me about your trips to Wakanda, I just thought ‘hmmm, just another person from Wakanda. But then low and behold the freaking king and lord of Wakanda are in your house. You don’t know how to hide it, don’t you?”, Leslie asked before she took a sip of red wine. The prince looked down at his hands and sighed. “Look, I’m sorry but you have to keep this between us. She can't know right now”

“Why? So, my best friend doesn’t know she is gonna be one of your wives?”

“One of my wives? Leslie, where the hell did you hear that from?” Leslie poured another glass and said, “my grandma told me when she was back home, the kings and princes had multiple wives. Look, I ain’t tryna talk shit about our own culture but Y/N is too good to be one of your wives. I ain’t with that shit and neither would she.” N’Jadaka laughed and said “with all due respect, she must have not been there for decades because we stopped that shit when my unc became king. Queen Mother wasn't with that shit at all either so I get you. I care about Baby Girl too damn"

Leslie leaned forward on her hand as she asked "then why can't she know? I mean you love her and what not so why keep her in the dark?" N'Jadaka took a deep breath and started to explain why. "Well, I feel like if she finds out she may leave me, use me, or just whatever the fuck she wants. I had to basically stop my friends from mentioning people around me. I have to keep a very low profile at all times or someone will run and ask for my autograph like I'm Beyonce or something."

"With all due respect my prince, you will never be Beyonce. And do you really think sissy is like that", she asked in a monotone voice, left brow rose and arms extra folded. N'Jadaka sat up and looked her in the face before saying “no. To be honest, I just wanna protect my baby. She really does mean a lot to me but I just know a lot of folks will come after her. I promise I will tell her.”

"When", said Leslie when she rolled her eyes, not believing him. N'Jadaka kept her eyes on her as he dug in his pocket and slid a velvet box towards her. “N’Jadaka…is that what I think it is?” Leslie looked to him before grabbing the box and once she opened it, all she can say was:

"Wow." 

"Yeah, been holding on since we made it official."

"N'Jadaka, this is beautiful. But wait, why buy a ring but not tell her about you being royality?"

"It may seem foolish but it was M'Baku's idea. He said it would be more suspenseful, dramatic but mostly I did it because I want to take her on a trip to Wakanda in a few months and tell her." Leslie couldn’t stop looking at the ring; a 2 1/4 ct tw Emerald-cut 14K White Gold but the band looked like it was a polished vibranium finish. Leslie felt teary eyed just looking at it, just imagining how her best friend would react and how beautiful of a bride she would be. “Wow, this is really nice and beautiful and sweet. I’m sorry that I’m so dramatic. I am just so happy for y’all.” He walked over to her and hugged her tight as he chuckled. “Well, I’m happy you love it. I can’t wait to see my baby’s reaction.” 

They heard footsteps and had to be inconspicuous; N’Jadaka let go of Leslie and started caressing the fridge while Leslie wiped her face clean of tears and sipped her wine clean, they saw the ring and its box; he grabbed and hid it in his pocket. Y/N waltzed in with her nephew on her like a koala. “Hey, Monte. They in here and for some reason, babe is making love to y’all new fridge.”

“If he gets my fridge pregnant, he will pay child support”, Monte said as he walked behind her. Soon, everyone made their way to the backyard where it was a whole barbeque feast along with pot roast, baked mac and cheese and multiple side dishes. “So, JD. How is the OutReach center going, man? Sis been tellin’ me about some of programs already?”

“Oh yeah. You know we have the whole nine yards but I think the kids are going to be more into the science and art programs though. We also got the sports coming in too so the kids are gonna love it.” Monte nodded and asked “So JD, when are you and sis gonna make me an uncle?” Y/N coughed on her white wine and fanned herself to breathe again; Izaiah patted her back to make sure she was okay. Leslie told Monte “baby, don’t tryna sound like pops please. They will have kids one day.”

“Leslie baby, I know. I’m just talking trash, that's all.” Leslie cut into her pot roast as she glared at him and said “well, ya better stop or your butt is gonna be talking to that couch.” Monte looked at her and glared at her back but went back to his food then asked “so, baby sis, when y’all getting married”; this made Leslie choke like Y/N and she quickly drank her water while everyone watched. N’Jadaka sat there with wide eyes eating his food then relaxed them once she felt Y/N’s hand on his thigh. She looked to her good friend and said “when the time comes, Monte. I don’t want to rush into anything, you know what I mean but even if he never asks me to be his wife; it doesn't matter to me. I will always love him.” N’Jadaka looked at her and smirked as she winked and went back to his food. 

Once they finished dessert, Monte, N’Jadaka and Izaiah were playing with a huge yoga ball in the backyard. Leslie grabbed her vape, added a cream pineapple flavor and took a small puff, making sure to blow the smoke out where Y/N wasn’t sitting. “I can’t believe Monte asked that”, Y/N said before pouring her fourth glass of white wine. Leslie took another hit and asked “which one”?

“About me having a kid with him. He know that is a touchy ass subject so why ask?” Leslie took a deep breath sipping her red wine and said “I’m sorry, Y/N/N. I feel bad now.” Y/N looked to her then looked at the three boys and watched as N’Jadaka played with her godson. He looked so happy as he played with the small child; it warmed her heart so much but then she felt a tear drop and her heart shattered. She excused herself and went straight to the bathroom. Once she did, she saw her mascara running down her cheeks. “Great, there goes my makeup.” She grabbed one of Leslie’s makeup wipes and tapped her running mascara marks away. She then dug into her purse to grab her setting powder, her travel powder brush and started to cover what was missing from her makeup. Y/N closed her eyes, took a deep breath and told herself “I am beautiful. I am powerful. I am strong. I am loved and I matter.” She opened her eyes to see Monte standing behind her with a concerned face that made her heart fall to her kneecaps. “What the fuck, Monte?! When the Hell did you get in here?!”

“Uh, when you started chanting like Angela Bassett praying like Tina Turner”; she rolled her eyes and he looked at her reflection. “Bae told me where you were and also cussed me the fuck out so yeah.” She looked at him as she reapplied her eyeliner then her mascara. Monte bent down to place his head on her shoulder, pouting as he looked in the mirror. “Sissy, you ain’t mad at me are you?”

“I’m chillin’, Monte.”

“You sit on a throne of lies, madam. I’ve known you since middle school and I know how you are, missy. You get that look in ya like you wanna shank someone in the knee cap then ya nostrils start flaring up.” Y/N looked up to him which made him point at her and stand up straight. “See, there it is”; she turned to him which made him yelp and slam his back into the door. She poked into his chest as she said the following words:

“Why the hell would you mention children knowing what I've been through?” Monte relaxed his shoulders a tad and took a deep breath; he hung his head in defeat and replied: “I am sorry, sis. I feel really bad. I meant no harm by it.” Y/N looked at him with folded arms before he asked, “he doesn’t know, does he”; she stood in silence which he took as an answer. “You gonna have to tell him one day right, sis? You can’t hide it from him forever.” Y/N stood there, feeling as if she was disappointed in herself. She loves N’Jadaka dearly but what if her secret would make him leave for good. 

Once it was time to go, Y/N placed her god baby in his bed and tucked him while JD watched. He grinned thinking of how great of a mom she would be. He thought about what he was asked at dinner and just couldn’t stop imagining him and Y/N as parents. He felt like she he was a chunky baby, their child would also be a chunky one as well. He didn't care if they had a boy or girl first; the only thing that mattered was the health and well being of the child or, as he would like in the future, children. When he was growing up in Oakland, California, he only really had his father up until he was eight sadly. Once his father passed away and his family took him to Wakanda, Mother Ramonda and Father T’Chaka were his parental figures. At fourteen years old, his family decided to explain his mother’s death; she passed away two days after giving birth to him. This became a fear for him especially if he and Y/N decide to make their own family.

The ride home was honestly so quiet which wasn’t their typical quiet, there was some tension that you can cut with a knife.When they got to N’Jadaka’s home, she hopped in the shower as he was checking his phone and getting undressed. Y/N stood looking in the mirror after she hopped out, she had to come clean about her secret. To her, communication was key and she knew that if she kept this hidden then it would keep eating at her. In bed, her in a huge shirt and him in just sweat pants, they just lied there looking at the ceiling; and that’s how they dosed off.

Y/N woke up to the smell of breakfast so she stood, stretched her limbs and headed to do her morning routine before leaving the bathroom. N’Jadaka stood at the counter as she walked out, listening to Brent Faiyaz and setting the waiting area. He poured some OJ in tall curved glasses and followed half the cup with champagne. On their plates were fluffy omlettes with spinach, peppers and cheese, wheat toast, turkey sausage links, bacon and a side of hashbrowns. She sat at the counter and took a small sigh before saying “good morning” with a small smile and buttering her toast. N’Jadaka can tell something was troubling her and said “y’know? My unc always said ‘you can always feel if something is troubling someone you care for.’ You have something on your mind. I can feel it”. 

“I just been thinking about what Monte said at dinner”, she said after showing and finishing a slice of toast. N’Jadaka looked up at her while he sipped his mimosa. Once he placed his cup back down and moved his food next to her as he sat. N’Jadaka sat ext to her and leaned into her saying “baby, we already talked about this. We don’t have to get married anytime soon, love. We-”.

“I can’t have kids, N’Jadaka”, she said as she poked at her food. N’Jadaka was taken back honestly mentally. He had no idea what to say in the situation. He couldn’t imagine what was going on through her mind. But all he can do was stand as ahe looked down at her plate and hugged her from behind. He rested his chin on her head and as the hug went on, he heard little sniffs and felt her rub his arm slowly; the sound of her crying broke his heart. He kissed her head to comfort her and said “it’s okay, Y/N.” 

“It’s not. I just-” ; she stopped and continued. “What if you wanted kids one of these days and I can’t give them to you. I just- I just don’t want you to regret being with me...” He looked over her head, took a deep, holding her tighter before he letting go and went to sit back down. “Y/N, I will never regret being with you. I love you way too much to say that is a deal breaker. We don’t have to have kids right now and when the time comes, we can just try and do our research. And even if we still have a baby, I can’t see myself with anyone but you.”

“Really”, she said as she look up at him while tearing up a bit. N’Jadaka wiped her tears with his thumbs as he told her “of course, beautiful. I would never call it quits because of that. We will make it work. Aight?” She nodded and he leaned into her lips and kissed them softly. “Now, eat ya food, shower, get dolled up, alright? You been working a lot, you may got a little burn out and stress going on so I’m take you to get ya nails and feet done. Maybe, a deep ass massage, a little shopping trip for you and not for your shop. Okay?”

Y/N sat there in her feelings but they weren’t bad feelings. She felt love, she felt safe and never felt this way with any man before and she was okay with that. After they ate and got ready, they headed out and spent the day together. He would steal some looks of her. Watching her with pineapple hair, black shades, tye dye body con dress with red slides to match, she was beautiful not even trying. As they walked the street of Rodeo, he would pull her and wrap his arms around showing her a warm embrace. He couldn’t imagine his life without her. Even just watching her get nails and feet done, he still loved being around her and in her presence. As she talked and got pampered, he watched as she smiled and everytime she did, there was light that just shined and made everyone smile from ear to ear; he couldn’t wait to make her Mrs. Udaku and treat her like royalty the rest of their lives.

The following week, both of their schedules were hectic as heck. From the Outreach Center to the grand opening of her salon, they have been overly busy with everything. When ever they were together, they were always working but they always made sure that made time for one another. On the next off day for N’Jadaka, he sat at his place bored and laying in bed. All of a sudden, he heard a knock on the door and got up to answer; it was Jerald and Sheila. The couple wore a matching Nike sweatsuit and had bags in their hands. “Hey, man. Where baby girl at”, Sheila asked. He told her “working on the shop, S. She’ll be home in a few hours.” 

Jerald places the bags on his counter and said “my moms made you grip of food, bruh. Cornbread, greens, pot roast, all that.” N’Jadaka rubbed his hands together feeling his inner fat boy jumping for joy. “Awe shiet. Ma Dukes threw down, huh?”

“You know she did. How ya fam doing by the way? I know the finna all be down here soon for the grandopening in like a month, huh?”

“Yeah, but between me and you, they just wanna meet Y/N. M’Baku and T already did and B’s big ass try to talk to Leslie.” Jerald and Sheila now sat on the couch as Jerald said “Leslie got a whole ass child and man though right.” While she rubbed Jerald’s back, she told the guys “please that aint stopping nothing for M’Baku. Remember her tried to get at me when I was a few months pregnant?” N’Jadaka chuckled and said “oh yeah and he was trying to challenge him on the mountain. Nah, that was funny as fuck.” 

“Man, I still got PTSD from being on that damn mountain being butt ass naked.” N’Jadaka passed them some drinks like water and apples juice before sitting. “So, JD, did you do it yet”, Jerald asked and N’Jadaka replied “nah, not yet man. I want it to be special though and y’all got be apart of it.” 

“I’m sorry but what are y’all talking about?”

“N’Jadaka is proposing to Y/N”. N’Jadaka said “NIGGUH! Now, you know S can’t keep a damn secret.” She stood and said “am not. At least I aint tell the baby you a whole ass Prince of Wakanda. Did I, hmmm?” Jerald looked at N’Jadaka and said “bae, you kinda told the last girl he hooked up with though.” She looked at him and seemed as if a ray of heat hit the back of his head because his eye twitched once before he said “she looking at me is she?” He avoided her glance as his friend chuckled before saying “Sheila, please don’t tell my girl anything. But my plan is to tell her that I got a surprise vacation planned, she won’t need anything just her and her phone, right? Ima get Dora Milaje to dress up and up on the aircraft then on the plane I will tell her we in Wakanda and all that but then once, we getting greeted by all the tribes. Ima make her feel like royalty the whole night you know after I tell her. Then Auntie talking about a welcoming feast and party but after that, Ima take her to the garden then BOOM candles every where, flowers falling, the purple night sky and my hands in hers as I get on one knee and then this.” He even got on his right knee as he showed the ring. Jerald stood and looked at the ring. “This shiet is sick as fuck, bruh.”

“Is that a vibranium band, JD?” The prince looked at the ring as he stood and said “yeah, it is. Because just like vibranium, our love can withstand anything and last for generations to come.” He heard sniffles as he looked up and saw not only Sheila crying but also Jerald. “That’s so beautiful, nigga. Got my crying and shiet.” Sheila looked to him and pushed him out the way to get to JD. “I promise I won’t saying anything. I am so happy for y’all, baby brother. EEEEK, I can’t wait.”

“Hey, y’all. Can’t wait for Sheila?” They shock to see Y/N standing there with black plastic bags of food. She wore some distressed jeans, a white tee and matching Converse; her hair was in a low bun. Sheila looked at the box in N’Jadaka’s hand and stood in front so he can hide the ring in his pocket and said “the grand opening of the salon, sis. Y’know what? That reminds me, girl. We actually got to get our fits ready. The event is in two days, right?” She pulled Jerald up and pushed him to door as she got her answer and walking; they said their byes with some hugs and left. Y/N turned to her man and said, with a confused expression as she walked to him, placed the bags on the coffee, “was J crying?”

“Yeah, we watching a sad ass movie, Sheila made us watched.” She giggled and wrapped his arms around his neck to kiss his lips once; he growled in pleasure and wrapped his arms around her waist, deeply kissing her. She moaned as her lips and tongue make love to his. She began to hold the back of neck getting deeper into the kiss until she smelt the food. She tried to pull away from the kiss but he didn’t want to stop. 

“Baby, the food is gonna cold.”

“Fuck that food. I wanna eat you instead.”

“Baby, I’m hungry.”

“You can eat later after I eat.”  With that, he picked her up, wrapped her legs around his waist and made their way to the bedroom. He threw her gently on the bed and started crawling up her body. “You gonna feed me, baby girl, or do I gotta unwrap my food myself.” She looked up at him while on her elbows before unzipping and slipped out her jeans. He began kissing her inner thighs before slipping her panties to the side. Slipping his thick digits inside her made her grip them instant as he did a curling motion as he sucked her clit. She moaned at the feeling and felt all her stress from the work week. She looked down at him to see his gentle orbs looked right at her. 

He loved making eye contact whether it was missionary.

“I love you so much”.

From the side.

“Damn, this pussy good as fuck, baby girl.”

And especially from the back. God, bless that mirror.

“Look at you taking all this dick. Mmmm fuck. Don’t you look beautiful taking this dick.”

“I look so good taking this dick, daddy.” After they made love, he stood from the bed still nude and said “aight, baby. You wanna eat?” All the answer he got was when he heard little snores behind him; he just chuckled and laughed.

It was the night of the grand opening and they were ready. N’Jadaka looked in the mirror of the bedroom and knew he looked good in his attire with his coat wide open and gold fangs glistening. Y/N came out in her amazing dress and he was taken aback. He kissed her cheek and they were off. They saw the news trucks, her family, friends, and supporters as they pulled up. Y/N got local black businesses to cater the event, and she had something to say before she opened the doors. 

“Hey, everyone. If you do not know who I am, I’m Y/N Y/L/N . I have been doing hair since very young young and been saving for this moment. This may sound cliche but I honestly am very thankful for y’all support and just being here. It was a very long road to travel down but it was all so worth it. I appreciate you all from friends and family for having my back for years but I also want to thank a man who has showed me so much love in the year and few we have dated and that man is Mr. N’Jadaka Udaku, who without him, I wouldn’t be standing here now.”  She held out her hand to signal him to come and as everyone cheered, clapped and took photos, he stood behind her, hugging her from the back and just being so proud of her but they didn’t know what was happening a few feet behind the crowd. 

There was a couple leaning in a silver Nissan Altima, wearing all black hiding in the night. “So, what you got planned to fuck them over,” said the man who was still upset N’Jadaka has his ex now. He looked towards the woman and said “just know, you inspired this plan… a lot.”  The woman was about to do something to ruin what a good thing the couple had, but she didn’t care and was willing to do anything to let Y/N know she made a huge mistake.

Um....who in the raggedy hell plotting on Y/N and the Prince and HOW do you think Y/N will feel when she finds out N'Jadaka is a whole Prince? Find out in the next chapter. *evil cackle*

@muse-of-mbaku

@im5ftbutmythroat66

@chaneajoyyy

@melanin-samii

@theunsweetenedtruth

@doux-ciel

@unicornluvin8765

@vikkidc

@wakandantings

@thadelightfulone

@mzamethystp

@simbiann

@tropicalsun10

@babydoll756

@notoriouslynay

@vminax

@quinsly

@pinkdemolition

@quietstorm-73

@chaoticcashfancroissant

@bugngiz

@chocolatedippedinhoney

@yafavcocoa

@lostgalaxies

@mbakuwife

@youreadthatright

@babygotl01292003

@acceptyourselfloveyourself

@madamslayyy

@yoyolovesbucky

@theogbadbitch

@wakanda-inspired

@bitchacho25

@toniilaney

@wakandascrystal

@girlsneedlovingfanfics

@raysunshine78

@melodyofmbaku

@hearteyes-for-killmonger

@silenceisplatinum

@thickemadame

@shookmcgookqueen

@heykillmongerluhme

@fonville-designs

@cutewylie​

@allhailqueennel​

@10bsatatime

@nickidub718​

@lildashofmelanin

@allhailqueennel

@amirra88

@hakunalive4eva

@ghostfacekill-monger

@thickemadame

[intheticklecloset]

Wipeout (SK8 the Infinity)

Summary: Langa accidentally spills his drink on Reki's white t-shirt. When Reki takes it off, Langa notices he has a bit of pudge and can't help but tease him about it just a little.

A/N: I love writing for these two! Lee Reki especially has my heart right now. This one leans a little more toward shipping than platonic friendship, but you can take it however you'd like. Enjoy!

Word Count: 1,069

@veryblushyswitch

~~~

“Reki, I’m so sorry!” Langa exclaimed, staring wide-eyed at the mess he’d just made. They’d been out skating together and had stopped for a drink at a gas station to help fight off the heat wave. Not two blocks from said gas station, Langa’s board had hit a particularly unmovable rock that caused him to stumble, and while he didn’t fall himself, his drink certainly did – all over Reki’s white t-shirt.

Well…red t-shirt, now.

Reki stood perfectly still, looking down at the cherry drink dripping from his clothes. Then he burst out laughing. “Dude, talk about a wipeout! My mom’s gonna kill me.”

“I’m so sorry,” Langa said again, reaching out as though to help but then pulling back, knowing he couldn’t really do anything now.

“It’s cool. I’ll just take it off. It’s way too hot out here anyway.” Reki set his own drink on the ground and swiftly pulled his dripping t-shirt over his head, doing his best to wring it out but not getting any more than a drop or two for his efforts. “Ah, whatever. It’s just a plain t-shirt. I can get a new one if the stain won’t wash out.”

“I’m sorry…” Langa said once more, trailing off as he took in Reki’s torso. He was well-built, which shouldn’t have come as a surprise with how much physical activity he did between skating and his job. His chest and abs weren’t super defined, but Langa’s heart still raced at the sight of them. He swallowed, his eyes dropping even further to the curve of Reki’s hips. Before he realized it, he was speaking again. “You’ve got some pudge.”

Reki stared at him. “What?”

“No, sorry, I don’t mean – like, it’s cute. I think it’s cute.” Langa pressed his lips together. Stop talking, you’re making it worse!

“What pudge? I don’t have pudge.” Reki sounded indignant. He was glancing down at himself now, frowning. “Seriously, what pudge?”

Langa moved toward him, taking his thumb and forefinger and squeezing the pudge at Reki’s lower belly, right before his waistline. “Here.”

“Eeep!” Reki squealed, wrenching himself away from Langa with a giggle. “Dude, you don’t have to tickle me!”

“I…I wasn’t trying to,” Langa replied, feeling color rush to his cheeks. That giggle. He smiled, grabbing Reki around the waist and pulling him closer, scribbling his fingers along his lower belly. “But now I have to do it more.”

“Eehehehehehe! Hehehehehehey!” Reki shrieked, giggling hysterically, trying to twist away again. He managed to turn himself around, but that only allowed Langa to wrap both arms around him from behind in a bear hug, all ten fingers free to tickle the redhead’s pudge. “Nahahahahahaha! Langa!”

“Whaaaat? You’re being cute; how can I stop now?” Langa teased into his ear, digging a little harder. “Tickle, tickle!”

“Gahahahahaha nohohohohoho – dang it, nohohohohohohohoho!” Reki tossed his head back against Langa’s shoulder, squirming helplessly in his grip as Langa teased his hips and waistline. The more he struggled, the more his shorts shimmied down, giving the blue-haired teen better access to his ticklish spots. “Lahahahahahanga!”

“Yes, Reki?” Langa decided he’d better help out, pulling up Reki’s shorts before they slid down too far, then poking his finger into the redhead’s belly button and wiggling. “Something to say?”

“NAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!” Reki exploded into belly laughter, his knees giving out beneath him. Langa was the only reason he didn’t hurt himself on the way down, as the blue-haired teen eased him onto the burning pavement and then straddled him, digging his fingers into Reki’s sides, ribs, tummy, and belly button in rapid succession. Reki screamed with laughter. “AHAHAHAHAHAHA LANGA!! STAHAHAHAHAHAHAP IT’S HOHOHOHOHOHOT!! THE SIHIHIHIDEWALK – PLEHEHEHEASE, STAHAHAHAHAP TICKLING ME THEHEHEHEHEHERE!!”

Langa had returned to his pudge and his waistline, both of which seemed to be especially sensitive. He grinned at the helpless laughter he was pulling from his friend, blushing at the sounds he was making, vaguely wondering if he got more sensitive the further down he went.

He shook his head, pushing those thoughts aside. “You’re so cute, Reki. So cute when you laugh like this. I don’t ever want to stop.”

Reki squealed, throwing his head back as another round of hysterics flew out of him. He tried kicking, grabbing Langa’s wrists to pry him away, but he was too weakened by his own laughter to do anything more than lie there and take it and laugh like crazy. Finally he started tapping on Langa’s arms.

“STAHAHAHAHAP, STOP – PLEHEHEHEHEHEASE, LANGA!!”

After another few moments, Langa finally let up on his tickling, finishing it all off with a loud raspberry to Reki’s pudge that had the redhead absolutely losing his mind laughing so hard. When it was all over, Reki lay panting and wheezing on the hot sidewalk, Langa grinning down at him.

“You’re so mean,” Reki whined, shoving him away with a begrudging smile. He groaned as he sat up. “Dang, that sidewalk is hot. Were you trying to burn my skin off?”

“No,” Langa replied, reaching over to scribble at his ribs again. “Just make you laugh your head off.”

“Aiiee! Hey!” Reki squeaked, then retaliated by shoving Langa down in his place and going for his underarms, which he knew from experience was a bad spot on the taller boy. “This is for spilling your drink on my shirt!”

“AHAHAHAHAHAHA REKI!! I SAHAHAHAHAID I WAS SOHOHOHOHORRY!!”

“And then you had the audacity to tell me I had pudge!”

“BUT YOU DOHOHOHOHOHO!!”

Reki gasped dramatically, grabbing one of Langa’s arms and shoving it above his head, using his free hand to drill into the now exposed underarm relentlessly. Langa tossed his head back and shrieked with laughter, shaking his head desperately even as he laughed without protesting.

“REHEHEHEHEHEHEHEKI!!”

“You know what? Just for that, I’m going to tickle you even longer now,” Reki teased, smirking at the squeal he got in response. “How do you like that?”

“PLEHEHEHEHEHEASE, I’M SOHOHOHOHORRY!! YOUR PUHUHUHUHUDGE IS CUHUHUHUTE, I SWEHEHEHEAR!!”

“I don’t have pudge! That’s the point!” Reki couldn’t help but laugh at their play and how much fun he was having. “Take it back!”

“BUHUHUHUHUHUT IT’S TRUHUHUHUE--!!”

Reki snatched up his other arm, pinning both wrists with one hand as he lightly dragged a finger down his friend’s frame, grinning at the wide smile and excited snickers he pulled from him. “Well, then. This is going to be a long day for you, Langa.”

[thefloorisbalaclava]

Hello love!! 🤍 you know what time it is.. Photos of Pedrito that are actually Frankie 😌 this is definitely Frankie (with a new hat whaaaat lol) and he’s taking you to the lake and you guys have like a lil picnic and maybe he even tries to push you in the lake 👀 and then you take this picture of him because the view of the lake is pretty but Frankie is even more pretty 😭but also I can’t stop looking at how well this shirt fits him.. like even the angle this photo is taken in, you can see his chest and his neck and I- 👁

also the new pero fic.. I- no words you always leave me speechless skdjskdjdj THANK U 😏

Okay but this is seriously one of my favorite pics!!! You know me so well Salma!!! 💜💜💜

---

Frankie comes to pick you up early because the drive to the lake is a long one but he makes it fun--you two sing songs, talk, smoke, whatever. When you get there, you can't get over how beautiful it is.

"I knew you'd like it," he says. You help him unload the truck and then you both sit by the water just enjoying each other's company. He tells you a story about how his parents brought him here all the time when he was younger. You can see the little crinkles by his eyes as he smiles even behind his dark glasses.

"Keep smiling just like that," you tell him as you quickly pull out your phone to take a picture. "There. New background."

"Let me see," he says, grabbing for your phone.

"No because you're gonna delete it." You pull away. "I'll show it to you." You hold up the phone, showing him the picture. "See? You look great. Sexy even."

"Sexy?"

"I...like that shirt on you." You smile innocently as he looks down.

"It's just a white shirt."

"Whatever you say." You look him up and down slowly then look out at the water again.

"Wanna go in?" he asks. He already had his trunks on.

"Uhhhh I dunno..."

He stands and kicks off his flip flops and takes off his sunglasses and hat before walking out onto the dock. You follow and he puts his arm around your waist when you stand beside him.

"Whoa...do you see that?" he asks, pointing at something.

"What? See what?" you ask excitedly, looking to where he's pointing.

"That! Right there!"

"I don't see...ahh!" Suddenly you're falling into the water and he's jumping in right after. "Frankie!" you sputter as you look around for him. He's laughing as his head breaks the surface of the water. "You're so mean." You pout as you tread water. You feel something tickle your leg and you scream, swimming quickly towards Frankie, splashing water in his face as you wrap yourself around him.

"What?" he asks.

"Something is in the water. It touched my leg." You look around in a panic.

"Oh, it's probably just the fish or the leeches..."

"Leeches?!" you squeal. He cracks up again as you hold onto him tighter.

"Come on..." He somehow swims back to shore while you're wrapped around him. He helps you stand and you glare at him. "Sorry?" He blinks his big brown eyes at you innocently.

"Whatever." You look over him again and notice how the white t-shirt is now stuck to him. He grabs your hand and walks you back over to the blanket then gets a towel to wrap you up in.

"Mad at me?" he asks.

"Yup and the only way I'll forgive you is if you never stop wearing this shirt," you say, pulling on the wet fabric.

"Never? Well, I gotta wash it at some point..."

"You know what I mean, Frankie."

He chuckles and pulls you close. "I know. I just love teasing you. I just love you."

"I love you too."

[since0202]

Chapter 28: Getaway

“Stay safe, okay? No cliff diving or swimming with sharks or trudging through alligator infested swamps,” Edward warned as he leaned down to press another kiss to Bella’s forehead. The terminal at Sea-Tac was bustling around them, not paying much attention to the odd trio. 

“I will,” Bella said, “Stay safe I mean.” Edward gave her a gentle smile and looked to Grace.

“Got everything you need?” he asked. 

“I think so,” Grace held up an ancient tome of Shakespeare’s collected works. 

“Good, I’ll see you two in four days,” he let a dramatic sigh and Bella gave a laugh wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him again. Grace rolled her eyes and turned toward the gate waving a fruitless goodbye to the engrossed couple. 

As they boarded the plane, Grace checked her phone before turning it off. Jake, as usual, had been MIA for the few days after her birthday when she turned him down not so subtly. She could tell from her rounds with Embry that he wasn’t taking it well but trying his best not to let it show. To her surprise, she had a new text. She tried to contain her excitement as she opened it. 

SMS Text—8:32 a.m.: Paul

Have a safe flight. 

“Whaaaat the fuck,” Grace groaned looking at her phone. 

“What is it?” Bella said behind her. Grace snapped her phone shut and powered it down. 

“Nothing.” Why was Paul texting her of all people! Of all people!?

Florida gave Grace an excuse to bust out her real summer wardrobe, one that she usually flaunted during the humid Oklahoma summers—crop tops and stringy tank tops and bralettes that she tried to tell her mom were bikini tops. Bella was a little overwhelmed by this suddenly exuberant, bare skinned version of Grace. 

“Prude,” Grace teased her as she removed her spirit stone and laced a thin gold chain around her neck like a choker. It glittered against Grace’s perfectly sunkissed skin. The Florida sun was kind to Grace. Bella...not so much. Renee had slapped a giant wide brimmed sun hat on her on their first day there on the beach slathering her in sunscreen while Grace and her mother laid out in the sun. 

“So, tell me about Edward,” Renee probed as they settled on the back porch of her bungalow that faced the silver sanded beach. The girls were each given a glass of white wine as a celebration for their graduation. Grace was already sneaking them extra glasses when she went back to the kitchen for a napkin, an ice cube, some lotion. 

Bella’s explanation came in around the end of her second glass. “He’s…..” she looked at each woman for a moment and then with an exasperated huff she said, “He’s perfect. Really. I have no idea how this happened...to me.” Both Renee and Cherie let out little sighs of appreciation. 

“Tell us more!” Cherie prompted. “What’s he like? What drew you to him? How did you two first meet?” 

Grace smiled behind her third glass of wine and could only imagine the scene playing Bella’s head. What had drawn her to him? Mmm, the fact that he was a dangerously handsome and alluring vampire that had a thing for her blood? How did they meet? Oh, he saved her from getting smashed by a van and she just knew he was the one. 

Bella looked to Grace for help, her mouth hanging open, not sure how to explain. 

“They met in biology,” Grace replied easily, completely toasted, “Super romantic.”

“Biology is a very romantic subject. Huddled around a lab table. Dissecting frogs,” Renee teased. 

“Mom,” Bella groaned. 

“What?! He seems very nice from the very little that you tell me,” Renee said, giving her a smack on the arm. 

“Tell me about it.” Cherie said, taking a sip of her wine. 

“What does that mean?” Grace tested. 

“Nothing, only that apparently you had a boyfriend out in La Push for like two months and I had no idea until you two had broken up. What was his name,” Cherie snapped her fingers together multiple times trying to recall his name, “Uh...uh.”

“Paul, mom,” Grace said, annoyed and downing the rest of her glass. She got up to get another, not even offering an excuse this time. 

“Paul! Paul Lahote!” Cherie said triumphantly, “I knew the Lahote family when I was there. Nice people. Well, except for the dad. Jeremy? Jerry? He had a bit of an anger problem.” 

Grace rolled her eyes in the kitchen and filled her glass close to the rim. 

“My relationship with Paul is not...was not like Bella and Edward’s. They are madly in love with one another. We were just hanging out,” Grace said, shooting Bella an uncomfortable look. Bella watched her face and knew that that wasn’t true. 

“Well you still could have told me,” Cherie said a little disheartened. 

“Sorry, will do next time.” Grace said dismissively. 

“What about Billy’s son? Jacob?” Cherie offered. 

“Mom, no.” Grace groaned. 

“What!? Charlie said you two were hanging out and I didn’t know if it was the same kind of hanging out that you do with Paul or?” She waggled her eyebrows at her daughter. Grace couldn’t help but laugh. 

“Mom stop!” Grace said a smile cracking across her face, “It’s not like that. And anyway, we’re talking about Edward and Bella.” She motioned to Bella. 

“There’s not really much else to tell, we’re together, we’re happy, I hope that continues….forever,” Bella breathed. 

Renee looked at her daughter carefully and patted her thigh. The rest of the evening was spent talking about colleges, plans for the future, Cherie’s upcoming interview, and Renee’s adjustment to Florida life. 

At a little past 1 a.m., Bella and Grace turned into bed and told their mom’s to leave the dishes for the morning. The two women had their arms around each other and were singing an old Fleetwood Mac song at one another and Grace gave a delighted snort. 

“Cute.” She poured the half glass of wine left in the bottle into her glass and followed Bella to bed. Grace was definitely drunk. She had probably coasted through an entire bottle of wine by herself tonight without her mother knowing. Something about that gave her a freeing sensation. Bella went to the bathroom to shower and left Grace alone with her thoughts. 

The words that her mother had mentioned at dinner swirled around in her head.

What was his name? Paul! That’s right! Paul Lahote. 

Grace tried to shake her head of her last memory of her and Paul alone. He had undressed her and though he tried his best not to look, she could feel his burning gaze all over her. Now, in her drunken state it annoyed her. 

What about Billy’s son? Jacob?

Grace let out an audible groan. Of course her mother would know about Jake. And what was worse, she knew her mother could see that she had blushed profusely at his name. A dead giveaway. 

Why was this all so complicated? Did her ancestors have a death wish for her? Was this supposed to bring her some sort of triumph over adversity thing? Or was she truly just meant to be miserable forever? And why did she feel like she was doing this alone? 

Her eyes lazily landed on her phone plugged in on the nightstand. 

“Fuck this,” Grace said, grabbing her phone and dropping it on the floor accidentally before scooping it up, downing the rest of her glass and finding the right contact in her phone. 

“Hello?” It was late here but it was only after 10 p.m. back in Forks. Of course he’d be awake. 

“You really piss me off, you know that?” Grace said pointing to the air in front of her. 

“Excuse me?” 

“You have the absolute audacity to look at me the way that you do on a daily basis and think I won’t notice? You stare. STARE at me and I can see it you know? Some people would say that’s pretty creepy, that’s pretty stalker-ery of you, yah know?” 

“Grace, are you drunk?” 

“Listen to me! I know how this is supposed to go. Guy meets girl, girl falls for guy and then a bunch of stupid shit happens and now guy’s like ‘Hey, I’m gonna stare at you from afar and not fucking talk to you won’t that drive you crazy?’ And it does! It does! You did it. Congrats. You did it. It’s driving me crazy.” 

“Grace, calm down for a sec—” 

“Don’t tell me to calm down! Do I need to hold a sign? Helloooo, Do you need me to spell it out for you?” 

“I have no idea what you’re talking—” 

“Yeah right, you know. You know. You’ve known this whole time. You’ve talked to Ti’Hal, you know.” 

“Grace, let’s just talk about this when you get home.” 

“No! I want to talk about it right now. I want to tell you what I’ve been thinking these past three weeks. The thing I couldn’t say and up until now, I didn’t know if I should, but I’m gonna and you’re gonna hear it buddy. You hear me?!” 

“Grace what are you doing?” Bella came out of the bathroom and was wrapped in a robe, her hair up in a towel, “Who’s on the phone?” 

“Hold on, Bella’s here.” Grace turned drunkenly to Bella stumbling a little. “I’m just gonna tell him.” She said confidently, shaking the phone and slurring her speech now.

“Grace, let’s go to bed. Give me the phone,” Bella approached her like she was a rabid animal, knowing she needed to get that phone away from her before she made a mistake. 

“I’m just gonna tell him!” Grace turned to yell into the phone, but Bella was quick, “I’m in love with you! You complete fucking—” the phone was already knocked out of her hands and Bella had slammed it shut. 

“Are you nuts?!” Bella said, laughing a little. 

“Probably,” Grace sighed sitting on her bed and flopping back onto the pillows. 

“I’m holding onto this until morning,” Bella said, putting it in her robe pocket. But Grace was already asleep. Bella popped open her phone to look at the last outgoing call. Unsurprised, Bella gave a short laugh at the name glowing from the small screen: Jacob. 

The next morning, Grace woke up to a splitting headache and an overwhelming thirst. She dragged herself up out of bed and splashed cold water her face before brushing her teeth and changing into a fresh set of clothes for the day. 

As she wandered down into the kitchen, she found Bella washing up last night’s dishes at the sink. 

“Goooood morning, drunk dialer,” Bella said, “Drink that, and take those.” She nodded to a talk glass of water on the counter and a couple of pills. 

“Nice,” Grace said. “What do you mean drunk dialer? Have you seen my phone?” Grace chugging the water and swallowing the pills. Bella produced Grace’s phone from her back pocket and set it on the counter. 

“I’d wait until you rehydrate before checking those texts.” Bella warned. 

“What?” Grace grabbed her phone, weak memories coming back to her from last night. She pulled her phone toward her desperately and pulled it open quickly navigating to her inbox. 

SMS Text—1:23 a.m.: Jacob 

Grace, call me back. I need to talk to you. 

I know you’re drunk but I thought you said...

Just call me back, 

SMS Text—1:43 a.m.: Jacob 

I’m sorry I’ve been staring at you, I like you. 

Sue me. 

Or don’t. Just call me back so we can talk. 

SMS Text—1:47 a.m.: Jacob

You’re unbelievable you know? 

You get drunk 2,000 miles away where I can’t get to you to drop this? 

Not. Cool. 

SMS Text—2:03 a.m.: Jacob 

Text me or call me when you wake up. 

We need to talk about this. 

Grace threw her head back and groaned: “Fuuuuu—morning mom!” Her mother came around from behind her.

“Good morning my only daughter.” She planted a kiss on her cheek. 

“You say only daughter like you have another daughter hidden away in a  basement somewhere.” Grace grumbled.

“Are you two ready to go kayaking in the Everglades? Renee’s quite the thrill seeker.” Cherie ignored her and looked to Bella.

“Yeah, should be fun!” Grace said, perking up. She pocketed her phone and resolved to bury her head so deep in the swamp that an alligator would surely come and tear her to pieces so she’d never have to face Jacob again. 

Floating in the kayak was peaceful. Grace let herself drift down the thread of water choked by duckweed and low hanging spanish moss, the morning sun glittering on the water. Ahead, Renee and Cherie were chuckling about something and Bella was gliding quietly next to her. 

Lost in her reverie, she didn’t realize Bella was next to her until their kayaks bonked together. 

“Ooh, sorry,” Bella apologized, trying to steer herself straight. “Kayaks aren’t meant for the uncoordinated.” Grace laughed and gave the back of her kayak a nudge forward. “Thanks.” 

“Yeah,” Grace said simply letting the sound of the water against her paddle lull her into another reverie. But it was short lived. 

“So, do you want to talk about what happened last night?” Bella said, giving her a knowing look. Grace internally groaned. 

“Not much to say that you didn’t already hear,” Grace said while she weaved her kayak around a particularly dense patch. 

“Mmm I think there’s more to say. You’re in love with Jacob...but you don’t want to be with him because?” Bella prompted. Grace was silent, her eyes on the water, “He’s crazy about you you know. Even when you thought there was something going on between us..which to be fair he did have a crush on me for awhile...but even back then, you’d always come up in our conversations. In everything. He’d always ask about you.” 

Grace had tried to block those early days out. The ones where she was so furiously drawn to Jacob and her stomach would flare angrily when she overhead him and Bella talking. 

“It’s not as easy as just saying I’m in love with you.” Grace finally said. 

“You had no trouble saying it last night when you were wasted,” Bella joked, ducking her head just in time to not get slapped in the face by moss. Grace shook her head. 

“You don’t get it,” Grace said, “I’ve already done the heartbreak thing once. You were there, remember?” Bella gave her a pained look as she continued, “For whatever fucked up reason, my ancestors think it’s pretty funny to have no one imprint on me or me imprint on anyone, but I still get to fall in love with them. Do you know how excruciatingly awful it is knowing you love someone who can and would leave you if someone they were meant to be with came along? That you could never measure up to? Because of some impossibly, supernatural standard?” Grace was desperate now. 

“Yes,” Bella said softly, casting her eyes down. Grace stopped at this. That made sense. 

“Of course,” she said, “Bella, I didn’t mean it like that but, you can see why I’m hesitating to jump into anything with Jake. Not to mention, Paul and I just broke up like 3 seconds ago and I’m still trying to figure all of this,” she gestured to her whole body, “out.” Grace let out an exasperated breath. “It’s exhausting. And the worst part is….” she paused here not sure if she wanted to go there. But why shouldn’t she? Bella drifted in front of her, looking at her calmly, openly. Bella wouldn’t begrudge her her feelings, nor was she in danger of unwillingly sharing them with Jake since her mind was protected from Edwards. 

She could tell her this here, in this calm swamp away from everyone, “The worst part is, I so so so want to be with him. Everything in my body, absolutely every part of me wants him. It’s terrifying thinking you’re staring at your stupid soul mate but knowing that they’ll be snatched away from you any second. I can’t live through that. Not with Jake. If we were happy and he--,” she choked here and took a minute to stop and compose herself, moving forward, her voice hard, “and he left, willingly or unwillingly, I don’t think I could come back from that. So I can’t risk it Bella, I can’t. And it hurts so much every single day to hold that resolve. It feels like it’s going against everything to hold myself back. But I just...can’t.” 

After a few minutes paddling forward together, Bella looked at her sadly and nodded, “Okay.” Grace gave her nod, “I understand.” 

“Good, now let’s talk about something else.” Grace bumped her boat into Bella’s. 

“Well, since we’re sharing secrets…” Bella looked down shyly and Grace’s eyes shot toward her, “Edward asked me to marry him.” 

“WHAT?!” Grace shouted as she rocked her kayak dangerously. Their mother’s who were further down the way looked over their shoulders and called out: “Are you okay?” 

“Yeah! I think she saw a snake!” Bella called back. “Chill!” she said to Grace laughing. In a hushed voice Grace said: 

“Marry?! As in til death do us part, rings and bells?” Bella nodded enthusiastically. “Woah.” 

“Tell me about it.” Bella replied. 

“So what did you say!? Did you say yes?! You’re 18!” 

“I know I’m 18.” Bella replied, a tinge of annoyance not targeted at Grace layered in her voice. “And it’s not the first time he’s asked me. This is like a regular thing with him.” 

“ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?” Grace said splashing her paddles around her dramatically. 

“Grace!” Bella said, darting her eyes toward their mothers again who were laughing and paddling a ways up. 

“This isn’t the first time?! What is he a glutton for matrimony?” Grace pulled a face and Bella laughed. 

“I don’t know, maybe.” 

“SO?! What did you say this time?” Grace begged now. 

“I said….I said yes.” Bella said barely over the sound of splashing water with a shy smile on her face. 

“Oh my GOD! BELLA!” Grace smacked her boat with her paddle. 

“Girls!” Cherie called back to them. 

“Yeah! Coming!” Bella called back as she tried her best to paddle away. Grace was after her in a second yelling “We’re not done talking about this!” 

It was their last night and Grace was cuddled up on an outdoor sofa under a soft blanket with her mom. Grace was thumbing through her Shakespeare collection and her mom was finishing a crossword. 

After a serene silence that Grace recognized as a common occurrence between the two of them, she heard her mom set down her pencil and look over at her. 

“How have you been? Really, I mean.” Grace looked over at her slowly. This was a weird turn. Could her mom sense something was up? Grace squirmed a little and her heartbeat picked up. 

“Fine, really. Forks is great and like I said, the council gifted me that run down house that I’m fixing up so it’s going well.” Grace repeated the same status update she had given her mother on their first day. 

“But...I know it was hard for you to return to all of that...without your dad, I mean,” Cherie spoke quietly now. 

“Mom.” Grace said softly coming closer to give her a hug, “It really has been okay. I’ve found a great family out there and it’s been good being back on the rez.” 

Cherie clasped her hands around Grace’s shoulder and pulled her tight to her. 

“I just worry about you Little Bird,” she whispered and kissed the top of her head. That had to be a coincidence. Grace sucked in a deep breath and looked up at her mother. 

“I’m okay….really,” she said this gently but meant it. Tears were in her mom’s eyes and she nodded. “Get a grip mom,” Grace laughed and Cherie echoed her. 

“I just miss you.” Cherie said. 

“You’re always welcome to come and stay. And I’ll visit more,” Grace promised. Cherie was satisfied with this and pulled her back into a hug, rocking her gently as the waves crashed off the shore. Grace was almost whole. 

[thijihiguri]

The Emperor’s Ascension, Pt. 3 (& Denouement)

Two times now has the world of Elementa been trapped in stasis.  The first was at the very beginning of this battle, when the Snow Flower herself, Koyuki Kazahana, High Empress of Hyoga, emerged from on high to face her beloved husband in battle.  Of the many obstacles he had overcome up until now, Thiji battling his own wife would be his greatest.  Still, he pressed on, goaded by Koyuki to face her with all he had.

The second occurrence is the current sight everyone struggled to behold: a blade pierced Koyuki’s body by Thiji’s hand.  Though it was expected to happen eventually, the sight was too much for many to stomach. The Handmaidens of Peace, the Royal Family’s most loyal sect of warrior-priests, had practically fainted on the spot, save for Sylla, Shijima, and Celuwen, who watched on with mouths agape.  Seraphina slowly moved her hands from her eyes to behold the scene, gasping loudly once she did.  

“Princess Seraphina, with me!” Umi spoke as she rose from her seat.  “We go now to attend your mother.”

“Y-Yes, Auntie Umi!” Seraphina said reluctantly.  Shiro silently nodded and followed them down.

As they left the stands, Koyuki let out a soft exhale as she lost the strength to stand, slowly falling backwards.  Thiji quickly caught his wife and pulled his blade from her body, leaving behind a wound that had frozen over.  The Diamond Emperor dropped a knee, cradling Koyuki in his arms.  Though there was little expression on his face, he still felt sorrow for what he had done.

“All right – mic me, boys!” Nora said with a snap of her fingers.  The cameramen took out a pair of lavalier mics from his pocket and tossed them over to the Teal Quaintrelle, who then chucked them straight down into the stadium, landing beside Thiji and Koyuki.  As if on cue, Thiji took them in hand and attached one to his robe, and the other to Koyuki’s qipao.  “And now, the big reveal!”

“That was tough to watch, even for me…” Homura sighed.

“It was tough for all of Elementa, sister,” Sakuya replied, “but the plan has been carried out flawless so far.  The time has come to commence the summoning.  I already sense Mizore is channeling her energies to complete this process; let’s not keep her waiting too long.”

Raiko and Homura nodded and left their luxury room to teleport to Nora’s dirigible.  Meanwhile, Koyuki gazed upon her beautiful husband, who had laid a hand upon his cheek.

“Koyuki…” was all he could get out before she interrupted him with a finger to his lips.

“Be still, my lord…” Koyuki said, her voice weak.  The microphones attached to their clothing amplified their voices so that everyone within the stadium could hear them clearly, along with everyone else watching throughout the world.

“But, my flower…” he tried to speak again, only to be shushed.

“Still, my love… hear me,” she repeated, smiling.  “Ever since you were born, you were destined… for greatness.  Ever faithfully has the Higuri Clan served my Pure Branch, but you were meant to do more than serve… All your life, you have served me and my family, but the truth is… we’ve held you back.  Your strength and potential, limited… because the love you had for us softened your heart. We curtailed the Diamond Prophecy, though we did not know it at the time… the Trials of Winter was to help reshape you into who you were; what you were meant to be.  You had to let go of me in order to become the Diamond Emperor… It was difficult at first… but I accepted it with time.  To ascend, you had to strike down your flower… Love is a powerful force, and I always uphold its values… but it can make us complacent… it can bring our guard down… it can even end us.  But not you, Thiji.  You’re meant to become a force far greater, and after bringing our Hyoga into the golden age of prosperity it now has, you have fulfilled your duties as a mortal…”

Seraphina, Umi, and Shiro hurried to the field, but Shiro pointed out that flowers were beginning to blossom through the snow-covered ground.

“What… What’s this…?” Seraphina asked.

“Her power is being spread throughout the land,” Shiro explained.  “She is returning to nature.”

“Is… Is my mother dying…?”

“No, she is not, thankfully,” Umi replied, “but she has suffered too much damage to maintain her form; she is one with nature, and therefore cannot perish easily.”

“You Kazahana sure did luck out in the superpower lottery…” Shiro grumbled, a hint of jealousy in her voice.  She then spotted a familiar flower materializing right above Koyuki.  “No way… is that -?”

A delicate snow-white flower with purple stamens appeared above Koyuki’s body, and around the stamens were tiny blue snowflakes dancing about.  The flower slowly descended to her right hand, which she then presented to Thiji.

“Do you know what this is, my lord…?” she asked him.  He looked upon it and gasped.  He wanted to reach out and touch it, but was too focused on holding his weakening wife.

“It’s… It’s the first Snow Lily that marked your birth!” Thiji answered.  Koyuki grinned at his response.

“The very first Snow Lily – yes,” she confirmed.  “I kept and safeguarded it all my life, for the right moment to show it to you.”

Something else had begun to emerge from the flower: a tiny, coin-shaped object – no bigger than a poker chip – materialized and levitated in front of Thiji’s head, expecting him to grab it.

“Koyuki… what is this?” Thiji asked.

“The Proof of the Snow Flower…” she replied.  “This was the final battle in your Trials.  I was the only other Lady of Winter standing in your way in Elementa, and I was determined to harden your heart for the task.  If you failed this day… The gods would have been displeased. But they knew you were stronger than that; I knew you were stronger than that. And now that it’s all over, I can gaze upon you… one last time, as a mortal.  I’m so proud of you, Thiji…”

As their conversation continued, Seraphina began feeling another reaction coming.  This one, however, was more familiar to her.

“It’s been a long time, my beloved child,” spoke a female voice to her telepathically.

“Mother Moon..!!” she gasped.  “How may Your humble daughter serve you?”

“I have need of you for a moment; mind if I use you as a vessel?”

“Whatever your desire, O Luminious One!”

The clouds parted once more as a beam of lunar energy shot down from the heavens, enveloping the Alabaster Rose.  Shiro and Umi jumped out of the way, watching in awe.

“That’s the sign, sisters!” Sakuya spoke.  They channeled the powers of Izanami, Izanagi, and Amaterasu – the gods who chose them to be Eternals – into the pillar, causing an elemental reaction which created a rainbow bridge.  Everyone shielded their eyes from the light as it washed over the stadium and the entire Borealis Tundra.

Moments later, the light faded, and everyone scanned their surroundings – the sky was once again cast into night, with the silvery moon illuminating Hyoga.  Turning center stage, everyone noticed that Seraphina had transformed into a taller, yet equally slender woman of blue-violet hair and a silver-white-and-blue floral dress.  On the right side of her head was a silvery-blue flower in full bloom, and in her hands was a pristine harp.  She plucked the strings and the moon’s light filled the stadium.

“Iss thiss… the powerss of a God?” Z’hira asked.  “To witnesss one appear before uss…”

“The Divinity of Night; the Lady of the Moon…” Hiro spoke under his breath.  The other Eternals jumped down from the blimp and landed behind Thiji, sticking the landing in a kneeling position.

“It has been far too long since I’ve taken a stroll in the mortal realm,” the Goddess said as she stretched.  The Handmaidens of Peace watched in awe as the Goddess of the Moon descended to grace them.  “You’ve come a long way, Thiji Higuri.  All that has happened up to this point shaped you into who you are now.  Thy wisdom; thy strength; thy intellect; your heart of diamond – these are the tenets that deem you more than qualified to become an Eternal – should you accept.  Just as I have chosen thy mother, Mizore, I have found thee more than worthy to ascend.”

She then turned to Koyuki, who met her gaze with a grin.

“High Empress Koyuki… your mother would be so proud.  But it pained all of us to put you through this.  You truly are worthy of the name ‘Kazahana’, and the Snow Flower from which sparked your birth.”

“I did what I must, Lady Tsukuyomi…” whispered Koyuki, her voice very weak at this point, “for him… I only hope that Thiji can forgive his flower…”

“I already forgive you, Koyuki… I do,” Thiji spoke, now holding her close.  He deliberated for a moment before looking up towards Tsukuyomi.

“Speak thy mind, Diamond Emperor,” the Moon Goddess urged.

“I accept this charge, Lady Tsukuyomi,” he began, “however… I wish to begin anew.”

“Pray explain thyself.”

“I know that Eternals are reborn after death as they can never be truly killed, and with each rebirth they are stronger… but I wish to be reborn as an infant.  This way, my power will be exponentially more immense, and I may better serve towards Elementa’s safekeeping.”

“WHAAAAT?!” Homura shrieked, fire spewing from her maw.  “That clever bastard’s gonna deny me a sparring partner?!”

“Dial it down, Homura; the mics are still on…” Raiko grunted whilst covering her ears.

“I’m sure Mizore’s going to be ecstatic over this,” chuckled Sakuya.  “She’d want nothing more than to hold her little Thiji again.”

“Very well, and very astute of thee,” Tsukuyomi stated.  “I shall make it so, but you’ve many friends gathered here; I will allow thee one final chance for any parting words with them.”

The Diamond Emperor nodded and turned to everyone present.  Shiro approached and gave Thiji a kiss on the cheek.

“It’s been a hell of a ride, Thiji,” Shiro began.  “You’ve helped me save a lot of people, and the missions we’ve been on together have been the most memorable ones ever.  It’s going to hurt me seeing you go, but there’s a secret I’ve been keeping from you for quite some time now.”

She turned their attention towards the stands.  A cloaked figure in white sat alone.  Lifting the hood revealed a young girl with hair like Shiro’s, only slightly bluer, with Thiji’s eyes.  She wore a white-and-blue gown and her face was filled with tears.  “You see that young woman there?  That’s Soyo – my daughter.  Your daughter.”

“The Princess has a stepsister…” Umi said under her breath.

“WOW!  That’s unexpected!” Nora commented.  “I knew Thiji got around, but…!”

“Because of you, my Clan survives.  And I’ve discovered that some of us survived the purge.  The Lands of Kiri have a princess, and I’ve discovered that some of my kin have survived the purge.  We would not have survived without you, Thiji, and to this, I owe you so much.”

Da Ji hurried over to Thiji, teary-eyed as ever.

“My Emperor,” she began, “I will wait for your rebirth, and when you return, I will do my utmost for you! I… I only ever wish to serve you – as a mortal, and as a Goddess.  I will forever be yours…”

“And I am grateful to have your love and support, Da Ji,” Thiji replied.  He then turned over towards his brother, his gazing firmly upon him.  “It will fall upon you and Seraphina to lead Hyoga in our absence.  Though the Snow Flower will return, I must answer a higher call.  But Hyoga’s sanctity will always be my prime concern.  Horu. You’ve the entirety of the Tundra Force and the Handmaidens of Peace backing you; you’ve numerous allies and advisors.  Reach out to them; lean on them if you must…”

“We won’t fail you, Brother,” Horu acknowledged.  “I’ll watch over Empress Seraphina as well.  Your shoes will be difficult to fill, but I’ve learned much from you.”

A large flower began to blossom in the center of the stadium.  It opened one of its petals as the last of Koyuki’s power seeped into and nurtured the now verdant area.  She gazed upon her beloved husband once more, a smile on her face as she gave her final words:

“Thiji… you were, are, and always will be… my light… my lord… my love.”

Her strength all but spent, Koyuki’s arm slowly fell to the ground, her eyes shutting into a peaceful sleep.  Though they knew she was not gone from this world, the scene was no less heartbreaking to watch.  Thiji lifted her body and carried it into the flower, placing her comfortably inside of its petals.  As it closed, a violet pulse emanated from the plant, thereby “sealing” it.  With the Snow Flower laid to rest, it was finally time.  Thiji turned towards Tsukuyomi, but another voice would make itself known beforehand:

“Thiji!” cried a tearful Nora.  “Don’t you dare think this marks the end of your career!  There’s gonna be A LOT of ideas I’ll be throwin’ at you when you’re reborn!”

Everyone couldn’t help but laugh – even Tsukuyomi.  But with all said and done, the Goddess called upon Her divine powers, showering the Diamond Emperor in lunar energy.  The light could be seen from as far as the Frozen Sea, and after a long moment of bathing in its luminescence… all went quiet.  The moonlight had faded, the skies returned to normal, and Thiji and Tsukuyomi had vanished.  Seraphina levitated back down to earth, laying a hand upon her mother’s resting place. It was warm, as if her mother’s presence was still evident, responding to her daughter’s touch.

“Rest well, Mother. I promise that Hyoga will be better off than when you left it,” she said with a smile.

With his brother’s ascension now complete, and Koyuki’s own rebirth underway, Horu’s first order as Emperor was to consecrate the Borealis Stadium to allow her sister-in-law the blissful sleep she deserved.  In a year’s time, she would reemerge, ready to rule Hyoga once more as the Great Empress, just like her mother.  Masao was given the charge to protect the holy site in place of the Virgin Snow Courtyard, to which she was more than honored to accept.  Though Hyoga was definitely still well into its golden age, there would still be disreputable types who would aim to take advantage of this succession.  However, their powerful new allies in the Glacierfin extended their reach to beyond the Frozen Shore, and the Kirishinobi would serve as Horu’s personal honor guard.

Sometime later, Thiji began his new immortal life as an infant, per his request.  Mizore happily carried and walked him around the Antarctic Glade, showing him the domain was far vaster than when he originally visited. All who inhabited it witnessed their new lord, and pledged their fealty to him.  While he rested and grew within this new realm, he practiced his newfound abilities through his avatar, which was a simulacrum of what he would look like as a child.  Da Ji had also frequented the Antarctic Glade, accompanying the new Eternal of Ice through her own avatars.  The love she showed for him was adored by Mizore, who was more than happy to allow her passage to and from their realm.  Soon after, he would take his avatar to the mortal world, making his return known to all of Hyoga.  When Koyuki was reborn, she grew another pair of wings, becoming a Seraphim.  After serving her all his mortal life, the time had come for her to serve him – as his beloved Snow Flower Seraphim.  She would gain more specialized powers that complimented her mastery over Floramancy, cementing her place among the Kazahana Pure Branch.

The time had come for the greatest age of Hyoga’s time: The Eternal Age of Iceflowers.

[wonderlustlucas]

soonie, doongie, dori, & john - lee minho

⇢ prompt “Why did you steal a fish? You don’t even take care of yourself let alone a fish.”���a prompt from @the-moon-dust-writings​ ⇢ pairing minho x female reader ⇢ word count 4.4k ⇢ genre fluff ⇢ warnings lots of cat interaction. if u don’t have a cat you may be confused. mega fluff. that’s it. ⇢ summary Sharing an apartment with Lee Minho has been an adventure since day one. Plus, you got a best friend and three fur children out of the deal. But when a heavy realization hits you the same morning Minho has an accident at the pet store, it seems as if it’s only a matter of time before John shoots Cupid’s arrow and paves the way for a happy ending.—friends to lovers!au ⇢ a/n bear with me on this one, it’s kind of slow in the beginning. this is the first i’ve written in ages. i feel like i’ve forgotten how to english. also i did as much research as i could find to try & figure out the genders of minnie’s cats hopefully theyre right jsfajkhkjf. also i watched a lot of vids of minho for this & it rlly made me realize how much i love him & how soft i am for him & it seems as if my bias list is unstable now

From her curled-up position in between your legs, Dori’s ears twitch up in attention at the sound of the front door swinging open and closed from across the apartment. She has grown a lot since Minho first brought her home, you notice when she finally lifts her tiny head to listen to the footsteps past your bedroom door, jade eyes blinking tiredly at you in post-nap dreariness. Excited, she pushes herself up to arch her back in a long stretch before she abandons the warmth of your bed to greet Minho. Pouting, you watch as Soonie ditches you as well, hopping off from his perch looking out the window to follow the younger kitten.

“Oh well,” you mutter to none other than Doongie who stays by your side, white mittened paws tucked snugly under her chest that rumbles with a purr when you reach over to scratch the soft fur behind her ear, “I still have you.” You can practically feel Minho’s jealousy radiating from behind the door when only two out of his three children go to see him— not that this is new.

It has been this way since you moved in together nearly two years ago. Due to increasing international interest for your university at the end of each year, not every incoming freshman was guaranteed a dorm room. It just so happened Minho and you were two unlucky victims of such a shortage. By chance, you had met at an open house only seven months prior and so, not even knowing whether he was frantically searching for an apartment like yourself, you reached out to him with an offer your parents helped scrap up.

Minho was uncertain at first. First, he was not prepared to start university living with a girl. It wasn’t that he did not like girls; he simply grew up expecting to meet his forever “bro” in his dorm room. In addition to this, he was an only child and imagined living with a female only child could end up causing him some great distress.

Secondly, while the pros outweighed the cons for the most part, he was more than disappointed that the apartment was in a more… domestic part of town. Yes, the rent was cheaper than the apartments closer to campus. Yes, he would be able to have a car now and yes, the apartment really was more than sustainable for two kids, but it was all these things and more because it was not an area where sleaze balls sunk their talons into desperate students looking for a place to live. And so, this basically meant that the two of you were close to the only students in the area.

And last but not least: there was only one bathroom. Enough said.

But what eventually won him over was the fact that the apartment was pet friendly, which meant he could bring Soonie and Doongie (and Dori, eventually) with him. It was for this reason he finally agreed to share the apartment with you before he lost the opportunity and you asked someone else.

It couldn’t be that bad, right? Afterall, you seemed nice enough at the open house and you did go out of your way to ask him in the first place to live with you. And he was right. In fact, it was not bad at all. You were more than nice, generally not concerned with specifics other than the agreement that Wednesday was grocery shopping day together, Friday was cleaning day, and that you washed your own dishes. Minho did not mind those three simple promises because he found getting to be your friend easy and your roommate his favorite part of his day.

What he did mind, however, was the fact that Doongie instantly took a liking to you. “This isn’t fair,” he complained only your third day together after searching for said feline and finding her cozied up with you on the sofa, “how can she betray me like this?”

His possessiveness humored you, to say the least. “What can I say? She just likes me better. You’ve bored her, Minnie.” He grimaced at the nickname and your bold statement. You were just bluffing—there’s no way Doongie would choose you over him after all these years, right?

Wrong. After freshman year flew by and the two of you agreed to stick together for a second year due to how dependent you had become on one another, he suddenly brought home Dori to ‘fill the void Doongie left in my heart,’ he exaggerated. “Wow, is Soonie not enough for you? You make him sound so unimportant. Maybe I’ll steal him too,” you had replied, grinning from your spot in bed when he narrowed his eyes at you.

“I thought you’d be mad I brought a kitten home,” Minho admitted from the doorway, ignoring what you said and holding said tabby against his chest with one arm. He’s so cute, you admired for hardly a second, reaching for your iced tea on your bed side table and shrugging to him, “You know I don’t care, you’re the one who pays the vet bills. Bring all the cats you want; the more, the merrier,” you said, taking a sip and blinking at him lethargically.

For a moment he was quiet, processing your words before, “If we get married it would be our vet bills.”

You nearly choked on a mouthful of tea. Married? You took a moment to collect yourself and your thoughts. “Minho, if your plan is to marry me, you’ve done a terrible job at getting that message across.”

“Damn, what can I do?” He asked, sulking.

“I don’t know,” you shrugged, grinning at him behind warm cheeks, “you can start by getting your ass over here so I can see this new kitty and discuss our wedding theme.”

And that’s just how things were; you, Minho, Soonie, Doongie, and Dori.

Or so you thought.

Past the hum of your ceiling fan and the purring coming from Doongie like an engine, for a minute or so you listen to Minho sing, “I want to see my little boy,” from Vine to presumably Soonie at least four times, followed by a loud thud, a high-pitched screech (not from a cat), a door slamming closed, and then the pipes moaning like a horror movie as the shower is turned on. Unfazed by the chain of events as this kind of chaos was something you have come to accept living with Minho, you shrug off all the noises you heard and opt instead to regretfully roll over until you meet the edge of the mattress.

Once you manage to tumble out of bed and stretch good enough to make your legs shake, Doongie lets out unamused meow now that her own personal space heater and pillow has moved.

It’s you. You’re the personal space heater pillow.

“Whaaaat,” you reply, grabbing a pair of cotton shorts from a drawer and glancing back at her. With ears drawn flat, Doongie follows your movements with a cold glare. “I’m sorry,” you coo, falling for her manipulation and bending back over the mattress to envelope her in a hug of sorts and cover her muzzle in kisses. When she starts struggling to get away from your grip, beginning to meow loudly and pushing your arm away with her paws, you pull away and scratch the base of her tail as she stands to stretch.

Shimmying the shorts up your legs with an unnecessary amount of effort exerted, you at last exit your room for the day, grabbing your phone from where it sat charging on the bed side table on the way. Padding barefoot down the brief hallway, you realize with a shiver when you reach the tiny dining room table how unreasonably freezing it is in the apartment. Minho must have not raised the thermostat this morning after lowering it to sleep.

Instead of fixing the problem, you reach for Minho’s orange university sweatshirt draped over one of the chairs and pull it over your head. At your feet, Doongie weaves between your legs, dragging the side of her face against your shins and she does not stop mewing until you bend down to gather her into your arms so that her front paws dangle over your shoulder. “So needy, you are,” you grumble, blowing her tail away when she threatens to swat your mouth and making way for the kitchen where coffee calls your name.

Minho must have made enough for the both of you as there is still another cup or two left in the pot, you realize with a smile, reaching up into the cabinet for a mug and pouring yourself a cup. Doongie leaps off your shoulder when you open the refrigerator for creamer, joining Soonie and Dori who sit poised like statues along the kitchen’s pony wall.

Stirring in cream and sugar, you wait until the color softens to a lighter shade of brown before unwrapping the flakey chocolate croissant Minho bought you yesterday and taking a seat at the table. Humming to yourself, you shift to cross your legs on the chair while taking slow sips of your coffee, heart beginning to thump faster in your chest.

And it’s not from the caffeine now making its way through your system.

This is too good. Life is too good, and you should not feel at such peace at twenty years old. You should not be having such a casual morning, drinking coffee Minho made for you, eating a croissant Minho bought you, wearing a sweatshirt Minho left hanging around, having a staring contest with the cats Minho brought into your life, listening to Minho sing in the shower one room over. Minho.

You slowly set your mug down with a newfound epiphany flashing like a billboard in your brain. Of course, you always knew Minho was the most special person in your life recently, your best friend really, and that you loved him. You probably would not have lived with him for this long if you didn’t. But since when were you in love with him?

You shake your head and take a hefty mouthful, hoping to wash away such troublesome thoughts. You’ll get over it. It’s just a crush. On the boy you live with. And spend all your time with.

“Oh boy, what are we gonna do now?” You ask the three felines who have abandoned studying you to stare down like hawks at the table, ears raised in curiosity. You follow their gaze, squinting in hope to better your vision when you see the fluttering tail of a fish as it swims within its tiny plastic cup. Blinking once, twice, and on the third you finally reach over and grab the container, bringing it closer to inspect and yep, that most certainly is a betta fish staring back at you.

Setting it atop the refrigerator where the cats can’t get to it, you stuff the rest of breakfast into your mouth and dump what’s left of your coffee into the sink before marching to the bathroom, swinging the door open without so much as a knock. He yelps from behind the shower curtain and you mentally thank God you did not barge in to find him butt naked in front of the mirror.

“Lee Minho, care to explain why there was a fish on the kitchen table?” You bark, crossing your arms and leaning against the sink for when he pops his head outside of the curtain.

“First of all, you could have knocked,” he starts, looking to the floor when you glare at him, “and I, um, I stole it.” You sigh in defeat, dragging your hands down your face when he disappears back into the shower. “Minho, why did you steal a fish? You don’t even take care of yourself let alone a fish.”

“That just isn’t true. I am fully capable of taking care of myself and my children. And I didn’t mean to steal it,” he retorts, turning off the water and you watch as he slips an arm out to slap around in search of his towel. “How the fuck do you accidentally steal something, Minho? And did you not think I would see it eventually?” You huff, exasperated.

“You see, I went to go pick up cat food and I dropped my phone where all the betta fish in cups are and when I went to pick it up the bag hit a cup and it fell and then the lid popped off and then there was water everywhere and the fish was just flopping around so I panicked and put it back in and then ran to get water from a fish tank and I thought I would get in trouble so I just ran out since no one saw me,” Minho rambles without taking a breather, whisking open the shower curtain and stepping out as he does so, towel snug around his waist and cheeks glowing pink from both embarrassment and the aftermath of a hot shower. You sigh for a third time, moving out of his way when he makes way for the cabinet and opting to sit on the toilet.

“Did you even get the cat food, then?”

“No, I just ran. With the fish.”

Pinching the bridge of your nose, you grumble, “You’re an idiot.”

“But I’m your idiot,” he grins, dragging a cotton round over his face with toner. You send him a warning glare. “Well,” you click your tongue, hypnotized as he combs out his hair and by how unfairly ethereal he looks post-shower, “we should probably go to a different pet store to get cat food. And we need to get a nice fish tank and food.”

He raises a brow, surprised with how nonchalant you are, and moves to stand in front of where you sit so he can tilt your face up with his index finger tucked under your chin. “Are you mad?” He asks.

It’s not fair, really, the way he asks such a question after making you feel so vulnerable under his touch and proximity, heart racing a mile a minute. Really, you should be mad. But when it comes to Minho, you cannot find it in yourself to be. This is just how things are with him.

“No, I’m not mad,” you smile reassuringly, leaning into his touch and you both seem to forget for a moment that you are nothing more than friends when his hand moves to cup your cheek, thumb ever so slightly brushing over your warm skin as he beams down at you, “just amazed as usual at how stupid you are.”

“Hey!” He steps back at this, running his fingers through his damp hair and shaking out the strands. “I’m not stupid.”

“Yeah, and Doongie likes you more than me.”

“It sucks we have a fish now. I was thinking about getting a guinea pig or something soon. Maybe even a rabbit,” you announce, leaning over with Minho to peer into the guinea pig enclosure. His giggle reverberates throughout the entire store and you cannot help but grin in return, even though he has scared all the little critters back into their huts. With nothing left to coo over, you grab his hand and tug him toward the fish care.

“Where are we going to keep… him? What’s his name? Do we even know if it’s a him?” Your question turns into three, stopping in an aisle full of different tanks and small décor pieces to go inside.

“I’m pretty sure it’s a dude. I think they only sell males in that section anyway. I’ll check if he has a dick when we get home though,” when you look over, he’s smirking as if he just said the funniest thing ever and you have to hold back your laughter. “Yeah, you do that, Minho. I’m sure you’ll be real successful.”

“We can probably just put him on the desk. I’ll move all my shit and he can just go next to my laptop,” he continues, wrapping his arms around your waist and resting his chin on your shoulder as you look over the different tank options. It makes it hard to concentrate with him so close. “I mean— yeah. Yeah. That works,” you stutter, swallowing past the sudden lump in your throat and quickly scanning over the tanks one more time, “we should get this one. Is that okay?” You move closer to said tank, hoping he would let go when you reach out to grab the box but when he doesn’t, your heart seems to beat so erratically in your chest that you think it might fly out. Why, all of a sudden, are there butterflies—no, lions—in your chest when he is around you when there weren’t before? When did this happen?

“Minho. We can cuddle at home. I just want to get what we need and leave,” you whine, trying to pry his fingers apart from where they are linked above your hips, leaving your skin tingling even under his sweatshirt. He huffs, detaching himself from your frame. “Fine. But we’re gonna get home and you’re gonna say ‘Wait, we have to take care of the fish’ first and by the time we’re done, you’ll fall asleep before we even have a movie on,” Minho grumbles, taking the box you shove into his hands and trailing after you.

You gasp, pointing an accusing fake plant in his direction, “No, you fat head. You’re always the first to fall asleep. You just like to blame it on me.” He continues to grumble under his breath while you grab a bag of pebbles, fish food, and water conditioner, finally able to breathe now that he isn’t clinging to you.

“Come on, stinky. I don’t want you to start crying on me,” you grin, wishing you could hold his hand but alas, you did not think of grabbing a basket on your way in. His face brightens up with a smile anyway, and he follows you the rest of the way right at your side.

“So, you never gave him a name. What’s it gonna be?” You ask, nearly unhinging your jaw to take a bite of the Big Mac Minho begged you to order after making fun of you the whole ride home for never having one. You stopped at McDonald’s just to appease him. You look to the fish, surprised yourself over how pleasant his quiet presence is, especially with his emerald and sapphire scales that reflect and glow iridescent in the light.

“Mm,” he hums, chewing on his own hamburger and watching the fish in thought, “I think… I think John.”

You blink at him now, setting your food down. “John?”

“John.”

“Why… why John? Why not Nemo or something?” You ask, eyeing him curiously and gnawing on the straw to your soda.

“Dunno. He just looks like a John,” Minho explains, giggling cutely and looking back up to you with stars in his eyes. It feels like liquid adrenaline is being injected right into your bloodstream when you lock eyes, and looking into Minho’s cat-like eyes feels like looking into the sun for too long—it almost burns, instead, there is an entire zoo in your chest. But it feels good. You almost wish he did not stop giggling so you could giggle with him. Instead, you have found yourself lost in him, every ounce of breath stolen from your lungs.

“Are… are you going to actually take a sip of that?” He giggles again, glancing to the soda straw dug awkwardly into your bottom lip.

Your cheeks flush hot pink, stomach sinking heavily and you cannot find your voice. Clearing your throat, you look away as you begin to hyperventilate and stand up abruptly to grab John’s fish tank from the table and walk across the room toward the desk.

“___? You alright?” He asks, worry lacing his tone and you wince when you hear him push his chair in. “Y-Yeah. I’m fine,” you laugh breathlessly, placing John down and adjusting the tank so it sits catty-cornered next to Minho’s laptop.

“No, you’re not.” He is quick, you’ll give him that. In the blink of an eye he is at your side, grabbing you by the hips and spinning you to face him. Here we go again, you hiss at yourself to snap out of it, clenching your fists at your sides simply due to how overwhelmed you feel. How incapable you are to forget how you have been feeling and brush it under the rug.

“Why’d you get all googly eyes on me over there?” Minho questions, grinning like a madman when he brings his hands up to cup your face and squish your cheeks together. “And why are your cheeks all hot?” You gasp, defensive, and press your hands over his, “M’not.”

He drops his voice to a whisper, leaning in closer so his breath fans over your face, “Is that how I make you feel, ___?”

You blink at him, all the color draining from your face and you must look ridiculous right now, jutting your lips out in a pout as he continues pressing your cheeks together. And what can you say now that he has caught you? Lie? “No,” is all you quip, staring at him, practically begging for mercy. No more questions. Just a ‘goodnight’ and off to your room for the night.

“Hmm,” he hums, pondering for a moment, before grinning once more, “I have an idea.” Oh no, you do not like the sound of that. Minho? Having ideas? Bad. This thought progressively resonates louder in your mind the closer he gets, this is bad, this is bad, this is really bad. It just so happens that a whimper on behalf of your sanity escapes you the same moment his grip on your face eases and he moves his hands to rest below your ears, thumbs caressing your cheeks before his lips brush yours.

His lips are warm and taste… salty? The fries, you realize, before his tongue pressing to the seam of your lips obliterates every thought. The worries leading up to this moment evaporate like a summer shower on a hot car and, of course, you part your lips and grant him access. Drunk on endorphins, your brain seems to light itself on fire and warmth spreads throughout your entire body, your only desire to touch him, to stand up higher and to hold his cheek the way he holds yours.

His fingers run down your spine, pulling you closer until there is no space left between you and you can feel the beating of his heart against your chest. A kiss like this is a beginning, a promise of so much more. “___,” he whispers slowly when he pulls away, prolonging each letter as if to savor them. You smile, heart fluttering at his voice as you lean forward and bury your face into his chest, overwhelmed with relief and desire and worry and giddiness.

“___,” Minho repeats, running his hands up and down over your arms, calming you down before reaching your shoulders and pulling you back, “how did that make you feel?”

“You— what?” Is all you manage, searching his face for a trace of mirth, and yet you find none. In fact, he himself seems relieved, the corners of his mouth quirked up and his eyes bright and dark all at once like the midnight sky. He grins, laughing a little and stroking the baby hairs around your face with his finger. “I like when you wear my stuff,” he says, tugging at the collar of his sweatshirt you still wear.

“Um, I— thanks?” You laugh nervously, heartbeat beginning to skyrocket once more when he reaches for your arms and maneuvers them to hug around his waist. You hum, confused, but content nonetheless and link your hands together. He instantly presses closer, tipping your chin up, “I know you always say I flirt with everyone, but I don’t know how you haven’t realized by now I only want to flirt with you. It’s been you since Doongie chose you. I can’t even get you out of my head, imagine how hard it is living with you, not able to kiss you and do all the cute shit I know we would love.”

He what now? You blink up at him, more than bewildered, “Wait, are you trying t—”

“Yes,” he interjects, not even giving you a chance to finish, “whatever you’re thinking, yes. I’m confessing, or whatever. So let’s cut to the point. Do you want to be my girlfriend?”

Your brain stutters for a moment and every part of you goes on pause while your thoughts catch up. Girlfriend? Well, of fucking course you want to be his girlfriend, but how have you been misreading all of him for so long? “God, I’m an idiot, aren’t I?” You mutter instead, slapping the palm of your hand to your forehead and his giggles ring throughout the room.

“How many languages do I have to get through for that to translate into a ‘yes?’” Minho cackles, prying your hand away to return it around his waist. When you look up at him, you feel as if you may cry, so instead you opt to laugh with him in order to dodge the waterworks. “Yes, of course that means yes. It’s always been a yes, stupid.”

“Hey, you’re the stupid one. Seriously, have you seen us today? We’re so coupley already, literally nothing is changing,” Minho chuckles, walking you backward until you comfortably fall back on the sofa together, “except now,” he pauses, settling himself above you and bringing his face up to yours once more, “I can kiss you wheneeever I want.”

And he does just that; peppering your face, your lips and cheeks and nose with kisses until he has made you a giggling mess, writhing beneath him until he finally stops, sharing a mingled breath with you. “Is it too early to say the ‘L’ word?” Minho whispers, tracing your upper lip with his thumb. You smile, kissing the pad of his finger before, “No. I already know I love you, Minnie. I’m more than in love with you.”

His smile is one of happiness growing, much as a spring flower opens. “Heh. I like this. I love you too,” he answers, finally returning to kiss you in a way that is slow and soft and comforting in ways words cannot describe. And then he pulls back with a gasp.

“I forgot the cat food.”

[starswordartblog]

For @oc-growth-and-development​‘s OCtober day 13: Grow. Boy did this one grew out of my control, but I swear it gets to the prompt in the end.

Nathan lived in a cave. Well, it could barely be considered a cave actually, it was more of a room-sized hole within the rockier parts of Fortune Forest. But it had enough space for Nathan to sleep and store his stuff in, and was also conveniently in front of a river, so he settled there. His father had taught him the basics of living in the wild, and his magic was enough to drive away any creature that could harm him.

Close by were the taller cliffs and a waterfall too, good for baths and washing things. It was during those chores that he found Uni, little more than a month after settling in.

Nathan loved baths, or at least he loved being in the water, swimming and splashing around. It had been peaceful there every day so far, so he felt okay to let his guard down and relax for a while.

So he was really not prepared for when a body fell on him.

He fell into the water and swam away from the thing in a panicked reaction, but quickly had to get back to surface to gasp for air and cough up the water he had accidentally breathed in. To worsen his terror, he realized the creature had come right to his side.

He kicked away, scrambling to get to the river's margin, his terrified scream coming out as just a raspy noise. In that time, he finally got a good look at the thing, or at least its head, which was the only part of its body above water, much like Nathan himself.

Oddly, its hair was also much like Nathan's, the same short and spiky cut currently hanging down due to being wet, but in a sky blue color in contrast to Nathan's blond. There was a big horn on its forehead, with a rounded tip, and both that and the rest of its skin, that looked scaly like a fish, were a greyish green color, full of brown spots. Its dark eyes were wide open staring back at Nathan with a blank expression.

Since the creature didn't attack, Nathan's fear lowered, which meant there was plenty of space for anger now.

"Hey! You scared the hell outta me you creepy fish! Why did you fall on me!" He screamed while shaking the thing by its shoulders, stopping when it let out a small squeak, its mouth a little open now, gaze still fixed on Nathan.

Nathan let go, having felt something weird under his hands. Over the kid's shoulders were small, delicate brown fins, contrasting against the blue and white fuzzy mark that covered it neck to shoulders, like a puffy cloud.

"Did, did that hurt?" He asked, realizing he must have squeezed those little fins. The thing didn't fight back and looked like a lost kid, so he started to feel bad. "Sorry. Geez, just don't sneak on people like that again."

No answer.

"...You're creepy, you know that?"

"...at?"

"Hey, so you can speak!" he pointed accusingly. "Just say why you fell on me then! I've never seen anyone else here!"

The thing finally turned its gaze away from Nathan's face. It slowly raised its own hand (it had those apparently, regular human hands) from the water, and began looking from hand to hand, slowly stretching some fingers and closing the others, until they were both in the same shape. Then it stretched its arm towards Nathan to complete the gesture.

"Are you copying me?"

"...me?"

"You are! Man, I don't get this! Fish don't copy people! What are you after all?" He asked, shaking his arm in frustration.

The kid didn't answer, only shaking its arm the same way. Then it did it with more strength, splashing more and more water.

Was it playing? Nathan wouldn't mind that. Weirdness aside he thought having company here could be pretty fun. Better than the other kids in town telling him he should stop living like an animal. Although this kid was a fish, or some magical creature, maybe that's why it was okay with this. Nathan loved magical creatures since his father was one, so he was determined to figure out what this one was, and maybe be friends?

He did want a friend. It was lonely there, without his dad.

He grinned, and splashed some water on its face. It didn't even flinch, but stopped moving. Then it copied Nathan again, splashing some droplets on him.

"Stop just copying me, I'm always gonna come up with something stronger!" he scooped a handful of water to throw on its face, then dove, wanting to do a surprise attack next.

They frolicked like that for a long time. Nathan's surprises didn't work well because the fish kid was good at following him, but it also seemed too confused to do anything but that, so as far as Nathan was concerned he was winning.

He didn't realize when, but at some point its face had finally changed too.

"See? That's way less creepy, you're smiling now," he said, pointing at its face. Fish kid stared at his hand for a moment before bumping his own index finger into his. It reminded Nathan of something he'd seen the men in town do sometimes, so he turn his hand into a fist, and sure enough fish kid did the same so they could bump them, laughing.

"Man, that was fun. I still got no clue what you are though. Do you know? Are you human?"

"...uman?"

"Nope, still just copying. Maybe that's your magic? Is there magic to copy things? Maybe I should ask the old men in town, they might know."

He got out of the water, looking for his clothes, and hoping the other kid wouldn't complain about him being naked. His father always told him to have his clothes on around other humans, though he didn't understand why, but fish kid wasn't human so it was fine, right? Also, it was its own fault for sneaking in when he was taking a bath!

He still scrambled as fast as he could to get dressed. Thankfully, they had played for so long that his clothes were already dry from his washing earlier, he didn't even have to use his magic like he usually did.

He turned to call his new friend, "Alright, let's- Whaaaat?"

Behind him, fish kid was now floating. Just a little above the ground, and Nathan realized that, while most of his body was humanoid and the same size as his, it didn't have feet, just two bright blue fins in their place.

"You can fly?"

"..fly?"

"Yeah, fly!" Remembering the kid liked to copy him, he jumped a few times to see if it would get the point, and it did. Its fins kicked up the air behind them and propelled the kid a little higher in the air, almost as if it was still swimming. Nathan was overjoyed, and the kid's smile eventually grew as large as his.

"Guys I found a flying fish!" Nathan screamed as soon as Olden's bar came into view, immediately getting looks from plenty of the dudes drinking there.

Of the mage elders that watched over Fortune Forest, Olden was the one responsible for the mage children. People said that it made no sense then that he managed a bar at the same time, not that Nathan knew what that meant. He did dislike the place and the smells and had even been forbidden from getting a lot of their drinks, but all of civilization was weird to him, so he wasn't sure what it all meant. What actually mattered is that Olden was a great mage and knew lots of things.

"Hey, who the hell is that, kid?" Said one of the dudes around, pointing at the fish kid. "You made some weirdo friend in the woods?"

"Yeah!" he said cheerfully at first, then his eyebrows twitched once he realized the insult. "It's not a weirdo! It's a flying fish!"

"It's, very clearly not a fish," another dude pointed out. "I mean, he's dead-eyed like a fish, sure," he snickered, "but it's just a kid wearing your coat.

"Oh yeah," Nathan said, remembering he had lent the kid his coat since it didn't have any clothes. He pulled the upper part open to expose its shoulders and fins. "See? It's got them on the feet too!" he pointed them out.

The men blinked a few times, looking up and down at the creature, until the first one that had talked rolled his eyes. "Oh, I get it, you're just pulling another prank on us. You shoved some poor kid on a costume because we didn't believe your father was a bird-dog that time."

Nathan grit his teeth, face burning with anger. "He wasn't a bird dog, his wings had scales, not feathers! His feathers were on his tail, that’s what I said!"

"Alright, everyone stop shouting," said Olden, beating his staff on the ground and coming out from the counter. "So Nathan, who is this?"

"Don't know, it fell on me from the waterfall, I thought you would know what it is," he scowled, crossing his arms, clearly in an awful mood after what the other men has said.

The man scratched his long beard, his eyes narrowed. "Well I'm afraid I'm not sure, the forest has never transformed children like this. He can clearly fly, so perhaps he was already changed and got lost from somewhere far away. But strangely enough, I can't feel much power from him. Even though physical changes like this are sign of an overflow..."

Nathan stared agape at the old man for a moment as it clicked.

"Wait, you think this is a mage? A human mage?"

"Human enough. Magic changes people in unique ways, you must get over that if you want to make it as a mage, boy. I've never seen a race of flying fish in the forest in all my years here, so it's more likely that this one is special. We should get a better check on him, to be safe."

Aceno's hospital was one of the few in the country specialized in magical issues, a perk of being next to a legendary forest full of mages. Olden took Nathan and the fish kid there, hoping to get more information on his condition. Even the staff was baffled at his existence though, and could only say that his vitals and magical power seemed stable, so it was likely that he had transformed by someone else's spell instead of his own power running out of control, and thus should be safe.

They apologized for not knowing how to reverse the spell, Nathan didn't know why though. He looked cool that way. But no one cared when he said that.

They had just left the exam room when the room next to it opened, and from it came two mages Nathan already knew.

"Old man Old, whatcha doing here?" Mirian greeted the elder mage with a cheeky smile, but was interrupted by her sister shouting.

"Unicorn boy?"

Moira stared with eyes and mouth wide at the fish kid's horn.

"Wait what?" Nathan had only talked to Moira a few times, even though she was actually his favorite mage of those he had met so far (at least before fish kid). To his despair her sister was a jerk and they were always together, so it was hard to approach her. But he did know she loved unicorns, some kind of magical creature that was, actually just a horse with a horn, and sparkly? He didn't see what the big deal was. "What do you mean, he's not an unicorn, he's a fish!"

"Unicorn fish boy?" She was still in shock, and maybe also in awe? It was kinda fun to watch. He finally understood it was because of the kid's horn.

"God, what have you done?" said Mirian, hiding her face in her hands, "I can't believe this is how today ends."

"What do you mean, mean girl?" he scowled.

"How do you think genius here broke her leg, idiot?"

He blinked, and finally took a good look at Moira. Her hair and clothes were dirty and she had a few scrapes on her arms, but more importantly, said arms were holding crutches, and one of her legs was enveloped in a big white thing.

"That's a broken leg?"

Moira gave a small laugh, her cheeks red. "I went a bit too far in the forest. Thought I'd seen a real one this time."

"Geez, if you were going to climb the cliffs you should have called me, I wanna see what's up there too," Nathan pouted on their way home. Olden had returned to the town, but all the kids were from the forest itself so they could walk together for a while, slowly due to Moira’s current state.

"Aren't you seeing how it ended up," Moira retorted, "and I didn't plan it, it was in the spur of the moment. I saw something shine atop them, and saw something going deep in the forest with a clopping noise, so I thought I should chase them. It was probably just a beast though."

"That sucks."

"Oh, it wasn't that bad, I did make a magical friend," she said, pointing her head upwards. Ever since they left the hospital, a white bird had been flying over them. The few times it had come down, Nathan saw it had a red forehead.

"That bird is magical?"

"Yup, it's a siren pigeon, they follow injured people. Their touch calms you down, and their cries frighten the animals around. This one protected me back then."

Mirian bent down to stare straight at Nathan with a sinister smile. "Actually they just want to be safe to drink the person's blood," she added.

"Whaat?"

Moira giggled. "They're just birds, it’s not like they drink enough to hurt you. Also the blood was already outside me anyway, I’d rather it helped someone."

"I, I see," he said, watching the bird above them in a whole new way. "There sure are a lot of creatures out there, huh."

"It's fun, isn't it?" She smiled. "It's your time to tell your story now, though. Who's your new friend?"

"Oh, right." The fish kid had been quietly behind him all this time, hands on his shoulders. "I don't know much, he fell on me by the waterfall and we became friends. He doesn't talk but he likes copying me, and follows me anywhere. I thought it was some creature from the forest but the old man think it's a mage who turned half fish? I don’t really get it."

Moira bent her neck back as much as she could while on crutches to look at the kid. "Really? Did you get lost in the forest too, boy?"

The kid didn't answer, but slowly slid his arms down against Nathan's body, fully leaning on his back now.

"Huh?" Nathan turned his head to try to look at him. The boy rubbed his cheek against him.

Moira laughed, "that's a weird hug, but it seems he likes you. You're taking him back with you?"

"Yeah, I like him. And the old man said it's better to keep him close to where he was in case someone's looking for him. He's gonna look around the towns to see if anyone's missing a kid too."

"Don't think a transformed kid just 'went missing'", Mirian muttered.

"Huh?"

"Well," Moira interjected loudly, "I'm sure he's gonna fit right in with the rest of us anyway. It's, bad that he can't say his own name though, we can't just call him 'boy' forever. Maybe we should give him a nickname."

"That's true, huh." Nathan took another look at the boy happily slumped against him. His horn stuck out a lot from that angle. "Oh! How about Uni? You called him an unicorn boy, and the old man said he's unique."

Moira gasped, "that's a great name!" She turned to the other boy. "You like it, Uni?”

He didn't answer. Nathan poked his cheek.

"C'mon, copy her, why do you only do that to me? It's your name she's saying, Uni! Uni!"

"...uni! Uni!" He replied, with less hesitation the second time around, rubbing his cheek on Nathan's finger. "Uni! Uni!"

"I think he likes it!" Nathan grinned, and noticed Uni immediately copied the grin.

"Yeah!" Moira had a big smile too. She stared at them a little more before giggling. "You two look like brothers already."

"Brothers?"

"Yeah, I mean, you're going to live together even."

"I don't get it, what's a brother?"

"Uh? Oh, I guess you didn't know what sisters were last time too. It's the same thing, girls are sisters, and boys are brothers. It's when you have the same parents, and grow up together."

Nathan remembered her words, from weeks ago when she had introduced him to Mirian. "We don't have the same parents though." He was adopted though, would his dad also adopt Uni if he asked? He didn't like fish that much, at least as food, but maybe that meant he'd be okay raising one as a son? He couldn’t tell. "But I guess we will grow up together, huh."

At least if they didn't find his parents, and Nathan knew how hard that was. Lots of kids around the forest, including Moira and Mirian, didn't have parents either, though Nathan didn't know the reasons. The elder had once said that the world was harsh, and that's why the mages of Fortune Forest should treat each other as family and help one another. They didn't feel like family though, always calling him a liar and laughing at things he didn't know. The kids were fun to play and fight with, but not nearly as much as his dad, who could make a lesson and a game out of anything and enjoy it so much his laughter shook the forest.

Uni was different though, right? He liked Nathan, and was learning everything from him. That was a lot of responsibility, he was too young to be a dad! But Moira said something about that too, didn't she? An older sister was not a parent, she didn't know as much as the adults, but because of that, she also understood better how the younger one felt. That made them closer as they learned and worked on things. That's what it meant to grow up together.

He thought of him and Uni with identical grins on their faces.

"That would be nice."

[agent-nebraska]

Preface: I don’t think any of this is the kids fault. They are kids. Kids who are dealing with way too much bullshit as is. This is the fault of the people in power who not only deliberately fail to enact preparations, but actively lie about it.

So I work at a school in a low socioeconomic area with a large amount of non English speaking people. My community is awesome, but they aren’t ones traditionally given a shit about by the government or like any white man in power.

As you can guess, they are wondering why people are freaking out plus they aren’t in the practice of washing hands or using sanitizer because their previous circumstances did not give them access to that info. Current administration isn’t that pressed on helping either.

So.

We have about a dozen students who have had exposure to covid 19. They were told to self quarantine but guess what happened.

They didn’t.

The school put out a press release heavily implying that the kids were quarantined and the school had been cleaned.

Guess whaaaat.

They didn’t.

There was still litter on the floors and grime on the tables and door knobs.

So I know that for most healthy people this won’t be much of an actual health issue. Here’s the thing though, we have a ton of kids who have actually do have lowered immune systems.

Admin put out a ‘press conference’ where the super intendent spent the whole time belittling people’s concerns and joking. My building principal has been joking about it on Facebook.

Basically they don’t give a shit because neither of them are actually ever in the building and it doesn’t affect them.

All of this is on top of greviously underpaid educators and staff who have to deal with things like students bringing knives to school(it’s happened three times the past couple of weeks), almost daily fights, and complete burnout from a job that is less about educating kids than it is surviving each day.

All I want to say is that working in public education is a literal fucking nightmare. It isn’t what it should be.

I want to go home.

[anistarrose]

Undo the Thread the Spell Would Hold (SVTFOE AU)

Summary: Moon may not be able to take away the powers of the Solarian Warriors, but there’s someone else who can.

Word count: ~1400

Warnings: canonical character undeath, canon typical violence

AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/18890170

The finale as it went down in canon gave me all kinds of emotions, but a certain queen and ghost interaction left me craving more. Hence this fic, which… well, it kind of got away from the intended focus during the first half, but I’m really happy with it nonetheless.

(An AU where Hekapoo isn’t there to whisk everyone off to the Tavern at the End of the Multiverse.)

“Mina, this is madness!”

“No, Moon —” Mina springs out of her perch on the armor suit’s flattened palm, swinging her sword down in an arc towards the cornered group of Butterflies. “THIS! IS! JUSTICE!”

“No, it isn’t!”

Moon is nearly thrown off her feet by the pulse of energy unleashed as purple wings sprout from Eclipsa’s back and she raises six arms above her head, where a bubble manifests to catch Mina’s sword. “My daughter has done nothing wrong but be born into this world as the child of a monster and a human, and I will not let you hurt her because of that!”

Meteora still hangs in Eclipsa’s baby carrier, hands balled up into nervous little fists. “Di dow?”

“That’s a lie! You saw with your own eyes how dangerous she’ll grow up to be!” Mina shouts, taking another swing at the barrier. “Queen Solaria would neutralize that threat to Mewmans at the first chance she got —”

(Somewhere in the Realm of Magic, something stirs.)

“— and SO WILL I!”

Mina’s next blow bounces off the bubble once again, but on her third swing, two more Solarian Warriors join her, and inky purple cracks begin to spread across the bubble like a spiderweb. Before the fourth swing can come, though, Star shifts into her Butterfly form and braces her hands against the other side of the barrier, orange sparks repairing the cracks as she and Eclipsa furiously beat their wings in perfect sync, generating a windstorm that seems to knock a few Solarians back — though they regain their balance quickly, and continue to rain down blow after blow.

“This can’t be sustained!” Moon cries, hardly even able to hear her voice over the roar of the wind, or the grating screeches of swords striking a magical barrier. “We have to —”

We have to what? Surrender didn’t work. Fleeing is impossible — Hekapoo closed the portals. Fighting is hopeless —

All of this is my fault.

Star was right — I am a traitor. A traitor who’s going to get people killed —

She knows that she should try to do something, help somehow — but there’s nothing that can be done to stop what she started, to undo what she created. Her grip on the wand tightens, and tears run down her cheeks.

After everything we’ve been through, my daughter is going to die —

A second voice joins in, a remorseful whisper that emanates from far away at first, but starts to grow steadily louder, each word echoing in Moon’s mind for longer than the last.

My daughter is going to die, and it will all be because of me. Because of all my distrust, and all my bigotry.

The tears cascade to the ground, forming a pool at her feet.

…I can’t let that happen. I won’t let that happen.

The pool erupts into a column of golden light that envelops Moon, lifting her off the ground — and she lifts someone else up with her, too.

***

Eclipsa is stunned right out of her Butterfly form as the bubble explodes, lit up from within by a beam of light that pierces the top of the dome and stretches towards the sky. Bolts of blue electricity coil around it, jumping from Solarian to Solarian and knocking them all back, until the golden glow dissipates to reveal the figure standing at the column’s base.

It’s Moon… but also not Moon, not entirely. Her eyes stay closed as her braid levitates behind her in an invisible wind, and her glowing cheekmarks are not the usual diamonds, but rather lightning bolts.

“M-Mom?” Star whispers, and Moon opens her eyes.

They glow a uniform white, no irises or pupils to be seen, but her diamonds reappear as the lightning bolts rise off her cheeks, floating just above her head as a transparent, ghostly face appears behind them — eyes just as featureless as Moon’s, but also just as determined and fierce.

The spirit has a square face, and a shaved head except for a single braid that floats in the air, mirroring Moon’s. The red jewel of her crown catches the light even in her phantasmal form, and golden bands engraved with hearts encircle her arms.

Eclipsa would recognize her anywhere.

“Stop this at once, Mina,” Moon and Solaria command in unison. “Leave our daughters alone.”

“Whaaaat?!” Mina stumbles to her feet, staring at Moon in awe. “Queen Solaria, is that you? You’re really here?!”

“Here to stop you.”

“Wha— what do you mean?” Mina turns around, gesturing to the army of Solarian Warriors, and then back to the queens. “This — this is what you wanted, isn’t it? Freedom from the threat of monster invasion?”

“We were wrong about what we wanted, Mina.” The gaze of both queens drifts towards the ground for a moment, but they pull themselves together to look back up and stare at Mina in the eye. “We just want our families to be safe…”

They glance to Meteora, who’s watching them in fascination, and smile sadly.

“And sometimes, monsters are family.”

“You — you’re losing it in your old age, Queen! Either that, or — or Queen Moon’s corrupting you! Monsters are a scourge upon the kingdom — you said it yourself! — and I’m gonna GET RID OF ‘EM once and for all! Just give the word, and I’ll —”

“Enough!”

Moon’s feet lift off the ground, Solaria’s ghost sinking back into her form once again as her cheekmarks turn back to lightning bolts and her wand begins to change. A flaming blue blade erupts out of the crystal, the hilt transforming to show a diamond bisected by a lightning bolt, and the queens hold their sword in one hand as a golden thread appears wound around their free index finger.

“Undo the thread the spell would hold, the bindings now unwoven,” they chant, eyes closed and voice solemn. “What fury shapes the soldier’s mold, now fades away unspoken.”

They twirl in midair as the thread unwinds, curling around their blade as they raise it above their head.

“NO!” Mina shrieks, and somersaults back into the pilot seat of her armor suit to guide it forwards, arms reaching for the wand. “My lady, you CAN’T! They’ll turn on you the second you look away —”

Moon and Solaria run their sword through the chest of Mina’s armor. The fire ripples all across the figure, solidifying into thin, glowing tendrils that ensnare its limbs and send it toppling to the ground.

“Remove the strength that comes in floods, your essence now restored! Return the power paid in blood, and rest forever more!”

They swing their wand above their head one last time as a blue aura washes over the battlefield, and suits of armor crumble one by one, red-bladed weapons flickering out and tumbling to the ground. A groan emanates from inside Mina’s suit as she struggles to simply lift the visor, but the queens turn their wand into a crackling blue whip that they use to rip it off the helmet altogether.

“Your oath is henceforth annulled,” they tell her, Solaria’s spectral form floating above Moon once again. “Now leave Mewni. Don’t let anyone here see your face again.”

Mina looks down at her arms, now mortal and flimsy, and then back at the queens, biting her lip for a moment before she breaks eye contact and scampers away.

“Good,” Moon and Solaria murmur. Then slowly, they turn to face their daughters, huddled together with Marco in what remains of the Monster Temple’s balcony.

“Gwa-ma?” Meteora coos.

“We’re so sorry,” the queens whisper, heads hanging down in shame.

“You saved us,” Eclipsa murmurs. “The both of you, Moon and… and Mother…”

“We created those monsters. We inspired their rampages. Stopping them was the least we could do…”

They pull their daughters into an embrace, Star in one of Moon’s arms and Eclipsa in the other.

“You two are both so much better queens than we could have taught you to be,” they say, both their voices trembling.

Solaria ruffles Eclipsa’s hair with a ghostly hand, and Eclipsa looks up to make eye contact with her.

“We’re so proud of you.”

Solaria’s eyes finally lose their blank white glow, revealing dark green irises in which golden sparks flicker like fire. Alone, she adds:

I think our time is up, but I have so much more to say, to apologize for…

“Mother, it’s… it’s okay.”

I’ll see you again someday, Eclipsa.

Her form lifts away from Moon, slowly fading as she smiles down at the others before at last disappearing in a yellow flash, leaving a few honey-colored droplets of magic suspended in the air.

“Not too soon, I hope,” Eclipsa whispers, wiping eyeliner-clouded tears from her eyes, “but… yes. Someday.”

***

End notes:

Thanks for reading, feedback/reblogs are appreciated as always! The title is from the extended version of Moon’s spell that got cut from the episode for time (it also gets referenced in the fic itself)!

[zerowastehomestead]

DIY Zero Waste Dryer Sheets

I love, love, LOVE this DIY laundry detergent I made back in November (the original batch is still going strong!)  But to have a truly zero waste laundry room, I figure I’m still missing one or two important elements, one of which is dryer sheets.

I knew synthetic fragrances weren’t great, but this article about the hazards of using dyer sheets by Get Holistic Health was definitely an eye opener.  Beyond containing synthetic fragrances linked to asthma, dryer sheets are jam packed full of a whole host of other toxins tied to such disorders as liver disease, neurological issues and cancers. These chemicals are terrible for the environment and the plastics in the sheets themselves guarantee the sheets are not biodegradable.  And how’s this for a stunning fact: some dryer sheets contain CHLOROFORM (you know the stuff the bad guys in movies saturate cloths with before pressing them to their unsuspecting victims’ noses to make them pass out).  Whaaaat? But enough of the bad stuff, let’s make our own zero waste and non-toxic variety and say, “To heck with you old dryer sheets!”  This recipe is based on one provided by Wellness Mama. What you need (If you do a lot of laundry a month, you might want to make a larger batch): - A cute little jar - Some natural fiber fabric scraps (I used a 100% cotton dish cloth measuring about 28″ x 29″ and tore it into about 15 square-ish sections which will become my “dryer sheets”) - 1/2 cup white vinegar - 10 to 15 drops of essential oils (I used 10 drops lavender and 5 drops eucalyptus for a “spa blend”) 

Fold your “dryer sheets” into cute little squares and place them in your jar.  Mix your vinegar with your essential oils and pour into your jar to moisten your dryer sheets (you want them to be damp like wet laundry, but not sopping wet).  Use one sheet per load of laundry.  The beauty of this recipe is you can wash and reuse your dryer sheets multiple times.  When the sheets are worn out, compost them (since they’re natural fiber and all)!

Cute, cute dryer sheets!

** This recipe is more for scenting your laundry than for preventing static cling.  Stay tuned for a tutorial on wool dryer balls to tackle that static.**

[skyesrandomdoodles]

((We were supposed to write a short drabble for English class. And I chose do do this. Please don't mind my very crappy writing.)) The sound of rain echoed through the empty halls of building five, of Nanba prison. A prison that was located on an isolated island located deep within the ocean. A place one could only reach by boat or helicopter. One in hich was nearly impossible for inmates to escape. An inmate sat quietly within cell eight. Enjoying the the tranquility of the pattering rain against the cells small barred window. To her right sat a boy with pale skin and teal hair, his dull grey eyes, closed, focusing on meditation no doubt. To her left, sat a young man with equally pale skin and raven black hair so black and shiny it looked like oil. His magenta eyes were outlined with a bright red liner. He too, seemed to be meditating as well. Good old Upa and Liang. Behind them laid a fourth inmate, undoubtedly napping. His messy grayish green hair, which was normally in a low ponytail was now hanging over his face, Soft snores escaped him yet they were not loud enough to disturb the others. He went by the name of Qi, and he, unlike the other three, was extremely lazy. A loud bang on the door of their cell jolted all four out of their activities. Their supervising officer, Samon stood outside the door. A smile on his face. "Come on, lunch time." Stretching, the inmate got up and looked at the other three who hadn't moved. "Come on boys, you heard him. Lunch." Her voice was so soft it was a barely audible whisper. A talisman on her upper back preventing her from raising it much higher unintentionally. The three looked up at her, slowly rising to their feet slowly. "He interrupted my meditation," Upa gave an irritated groan. "It's your own fault for going off into lala land so close to lunch." Qi looked down at the grumpy young man with a grin. "Shut up trash." Upa called harshly, crossing his arms. "Hey! I am not trash!" Qi gave him a rather offended look. "No, he is right," Liang joined in, "You are indeed trash." Qi looked over at the other inmate, "Reiumi." He whined. "They're doing it again!" Reiumi gave a soft laugh, crossing her arms. "And what can I do about it? You have done this to yourself, pretending to be sick instead of exercising." She paused and turned to the other two. "But on the other hand, it is not very kind of you to refer to Qi as trash. He has different interests then you." "But-" Upa started but was quickly cut off by Rei. "No buts, now come on, you don't want to have an empty stomach for exercises today, do you?" Grumbling Upa followed her out, Liang and Qi followed closely. After all four had gotten their food they sat in a group at table five. "Did you hear about the new inmate over in building thirteen?" Liang mumbled, chewing on a mouthful of fried rice. "I heard he got put into cell thirteen with those four idiots, but then got moved because he was causing to much trouble." Qi added, shaking his head. "Sounds about right, building thirteen can't ever keep the inmates of that blasted cell under control" Upa rolled his eyes. "Does anyone else find it ironic that they were put in cell thirteen of building thirteen?" Qi asked. "Thirteen is a really unlucky number," "I don't know about that, but oe thing I do know is that inmate eleven is kinda cute." Reiumi let her eyes drift over to table thirteen where said inmate was sitting his his cellmates. "Reiumi!" All three sharply turned their heads in her direction. "Whaaaat?" She put her hands up in defense. "You know I can't help it." She fixed them with a cheeky grin, though her vioce still remained the same soft tone. "Disgusting." Upa turned his his nose up in disgust. "Awww little Upa is still ad about losing to them in the tournaments." Qi swooned, laughing at the smaller man. Upa's face went bright red with race, "YOU LOST TOO! YOU DIDN'T EVEN HELP YOU TRASH!!!!" He screamed at Qi, standing up. "Shorty." "TRASH!" "Shorty." "TRASH!" "Guys stop.." Liang shrunk down as all eyes were on their table. "NO! I AM SICK AND TIRED OF BEING IN THE SAME CELL AS THAT TRASH!" Qi let out a soft growl. "Well I never asked to be in the same cell as you did I?!" "Qi, Upa, come on, don't be like that." Rei stood up, pulling the two away from each other. "No." Qi pulled away from her and glared down at Upa. "I am NOT trash." "Prove. It." Upa hissed, his voice filled with venom. "Fine." Qi growled soft, looming over the smaller boy. "How do you want me to?" Upa closed his eyes, humming in thought before a wicked smile broke across his face. "You have to go down to the underground prison of our building. If you can make it through before I do, I won't call you trash anymore." He smirked, clearly satisfied. Liang and Rei gawked at him. "That's suici-" "Sounds like fun~" Both were cut off by a monotone female voice. All four turned around to see a medium sized woman with red hair smiling coolly at them. "Akuma.." Rei stared at her, crossing her arms. "How long have you been listening?" Akuma laughed and stared back. "Long enough to see Trash boy and Midget make a deal, which sounds exciting. I want to come." "How would you even pull that off, you're no from our building." Liang grunted, running his hands through his long braided black hair. "I have my ways." She grins. "So expect to see me." And before any of them could object she turned on her heel and walked away briskly. "I guess it's settled then." Qi started to walk out. "We'll leave by exactly twelve." "I still think this is suicide." Rei whined, looking down the stairs into the old blackness of the underground prison. "You didn't have to come." Upa snapped and he took a step down one of the stairs. "Of course I did, I have to make sure you idiots don't get hurt." She huffed, following him. "Hey!" All three turned to glare at her. "You know I'm right, now where is Akuma, she said she'd be here." "I am here. You just aren't observant." Akuma's voice suddenly called out behind her. Yelping in surprise, Rei almost fell down three steps before getting caught by Qi. "Clumsy much?" He laughed teasingly, steadying her. "Shut up." She brushed off her white dress and turned to look at Akuma. "It's not very nice to scare people like that." "And it's not nice to tell people to shut up when they saved you, and besides, who said I was nice." Akuma smiled, reaching the bottom of the steps. "Whatever edgy teen.." She stepped down behind her, looking at at the three men in font of her. "Alright, get this over with, it's dangerous down here." "Okay mom." Upa called sarcastically, lighting a small lantern. "We should split up, Liang will go with me, Rei and Akuma will go with Qi," "That is a really bad idea." Liang mumbled, the lantern's light was not doing a good job of illuminating the inky blackness that seemed to swallow the underground. "I agree." Qi stared down at him. "it would be safer to stick together." "Quiet trash, that won't work because this is a competition between you and me." Upa lit a second latern, roughly shoving it to him. "If we went through together we would both win." With that he began walking off into the blackness. Qi rolled his eyes and took the lantern, turning to head the opposite direction. "Come on girls." Both looked over at Liang who shrugged in defeat and followed his friend. "Guess it's just you, me, and the trash." Akuma smiled gleefully and skipped after Qi. Rei glared at her, following. "He's not trash, he's actually really cool." "Awww sounds like someone has a crush." The redhead turned to give her a taunting smile.

"Akuma, I do not." Rei whisper yelled, feeling ready to tackle her. "Reiumi and Qi sitting in a tree K-I-S-S-" She was caught off by Rei tackling her to the ground. Both broke out in a fist fight, creating a loud ruckus. | Qi looked back at them and hissed quietly. "Be quiet before you attract any unwanted attention!" Both girls were quiet long enough to hear the sound of metal scraping across the dark stone floors. Qi seemed unaware as he continued to scold them about the surveillance doll that was lurking around. Surveillance dolls were horrifying to put it simply. They were like something straight out of a nightmare. They were tall doll like robots with a long metal sword for a left arm. If they saw any inmates that were loose, well it's probably obvious what happens. And said doll was slowly creeping up behind Qi, who had had now realized the danger they were in. His usually tan skin went at least seventy shades paler as he slowly turned around. The doll raised his arm in the air. Liang followed Upa closely, unable to shake the feeling of unease that was washing through him. "I still really think this was a bad idea." "Just keep quiet, we're almost through." Upa snapped irritably. Liang was going to respond, but was harshly cut off by a scream. "That sounded like Qi.." He mumbled worriedly and turned in the direction it came from.Upa rubbed his temples in frustration. "Let me guess, you want to go save the trash?" "Only because he girls are with him." Qi backed away, the doll had missed him by an inch. He shook as he had barely avoided being sliced like an apple. Rei and Akuma quickly jumped up, standing in front of him defensively. Rei pulled three throwing knives out of her hair, getting into a fighting stance. "Um..Rei...there's more, they're everywhere." Akuma looked around in horror and more dolls piled into the room, surrounding the three. "Well isn't that just lovely.' She grunted andlunged at the first doll, stabbing the three knives into it. It fell over lifelessly. But more just kept coming. "I don't think we can defeat them all by ourselves!" Akuma kicked one clear across te room, sending it barreling into three. "Don't worry, you won't have to." Liang jumped out of the darkness with Upa. Both stood in battle positions ready to fight. "Oh thank goodness you guys are here." Rei nearly died with relief. "Thank us later, we have creepy dolls to fight." Upa turned to face the dolls, a grin on his face.

But four of them were no match against the dolls. There were just too many. And Qi was not much help, he sat in a corner, cowering. Trash he was indeed. The four found themselves being backed into a corner, barely avoiding being sliced. "Still this was a good idea Upa, we're gonna die because of you and Qi's stupid bet!" Rei pressed herself against a wall, the dolls getting way to close for her comfort. "Shut up Rei!" Upa growled, shrinking down as far as he could. "I justt want you to know that your trash just as much as Qi is!" "You take that back" Upa snarled, turning his head to glare at her. "Guys, right now is really not the time to argue!" Liang did his best to swat the dolls away, his face twisted with worry and anger. "You know, I agree with Liang, it really is not a good time to argue." Akuma barely avoided being stabbed. And suddenly the dolls stopped moving, they all stood frozen, ready to lung at the inmates. Then they parted, creating a path. Building five's supervising officer, Samon, walked through the path of dolls. His face was expressionless, his eyes burned with anger. "Aw crap." All five mumbled in unison.

"WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?" Samon chewed them out. "I would expect this out if Qi and Akuma, but you three?!" He pointed at Rei, Upa, and Liang angrily. "Hey!" Qi and Akuma gave offended looks to the supervisor. "OH SHUT UP!" He smacked both on the heads, earning a mumbled apology from both inmates. The other three hung there heads in shame. "Sorry Samon-san." "Just be sure not to do it again. And as for you." He turned to Akuma. "Back to building thirteen, your supervisor is here to escort you back." Akuma nodded and walked out of the room. Samon turned back to his inmates, crossing his arms. "As punishment you four are to stay in your cell for four days. No leaving unless it's for lunch." The four stared up at his with big eyes. "PLEASE NO, WE'LL NEVER SURVIVE!" They would most likely murder each other. Samon gave an amused laugh. "Then you should have though of that before making that reckless decision. Now, get back to your cell. " Hanging their heads the four walked back. They didn't even make it thirty minutes before Qi and Upa started arguing. "YOU'RE TRASH!" "I AM NOT!" "PROVE IT!" "Not again.." Rei and Liang gave exasperated cries. It was going to be a long four days.

[mattholicguilt]

#i mean she'd be really sweet about it #she definitely wouldn't try to trigger sam for the lols #unlike a certain brother i can mention #oh god what if dean found out about it first #and persuaded her to dress up for sam's birthday #as a laugh #without saying about sam's fear #and sam is completely freaked #and eileen has to run to the bathroom to wash off the makeup before she can actually go comfort him #i'm sorry i'm a sucker for hurt/comfort (@youaremysamshine )

okay but what if jack LOVES clowns and when he finds out about eileen he begs her to dress up for his birthday and she's like "no sweetie, your dad gets nervous around clowns so we're not gonna do that" but sam is like "Whaaaat I'm cool with it. If Jack wants a clown he gets a clown."

and eileen's like. "... seriously?" and sam just keeps insisting he's TOTALLY fine. cut to jack's birthday and eileen is getting all the laughs, jack's having a blast, sam is gripping the map table so tight his knuckles are white but every time jack looks at him he's like 👍😬😁

i think it would be really good if eileen revealed she had been a clown. like if she was like "oh yeah in my early 20s i took clown classes and i would do kids' birthday parties for extra cash. you'd be amazed how happy Deaf/hoh kids are to get a clown who can sign!" and sam just has to like. reconcile with this.

[wineanddinosaur]

25 of the Best Chardonnays for 2020

Allow us to reintroduce you to Chardonnay. The backbone of French white Burgundy and Chablis, Chardonnay remains the most popular white wine grape in the United States. Sure, it got a bad rap at the end of the 20th century due to the number of overly oaky “butter bombs” being produced, but it’s easier now than ever before to find fantastic Chardonnays that do the storied, versatile grape justice.

To help convert even the most ardent Chardonnay skeptics, we’ve pulled together a list of the best we’ve tried in the past year. The wines on this list all scored a B+ or higher in our wine reviews and are arranged by score and price. Surprisingly, over half the wines on this list are under $30, and none are over $100, proving that you don’t have to sacrifice flavor for affordability when it comes to Chardonnay. And yes, for those who love the butterscotch flavors — there are some terrific big, oaky California Chards here, too.

Here 25 of the best Chardonnays you can buy right now, with reviews by VinePair tastings director Keith Beavers.

Rusack Vineyards Santa Barbara County Chardonnay 2017 (A+) ($29)

This is one of the best examples on the market for quality and inherent varietal characteristics of one of the most famous grapes on the planet. I know that’s a big statement, but damn, is this wine good. Everything, and I mean everything, is in harmony here. Put the word “subtle” before the words: oak, vanilla, toast, and butter; and that only begins to convey the awesomeness. Acidity aids fruit and fruit aids a structure that grips your palate in a bear hug (who doesn’t like a bear hug?). Want an example of how an American Chardonnay can be in almost complete balance but doesn’t cost the house? Here ya go; and for this quality, $29 is a steal.

Rusack Vineyards Santa Catalina Island Vineyards Chardonnay 2017 (A+) ($60)

I’m only going to the Catalina wine mixer if Rusack is served. This wine is stupendous. It is impeccably balanced, elegant, and expressive in its subtlety. Sound a bit poetic? Well, dammit, that’s how this wine makes me feel. I want to wax on and off about the perfectly balanced aromas of light oak toast and just the right amount of vanilla. I want to shout from the rooftops about the perfect push and pull between acidity and grippy wood tannin, and shed a tear of joy regarding how amazing it tastes and feels on my palate. $60? Only available on their website? Yeah, it’s worth it.

Domaine Matrot Meursault-Charmes Premier Cru 2017 (A+) ($99)

If you’re going to spend a cool C-note on a white wine, this would be one to consider. This is the OG style of Chardonnay the New World tried to emulate back in the day, with balanced vanilla and baking spices never tipping over into too much. The aromas and mouthfeel of this wine are just right. The wine excites the palate with added aromas of pear and green apples with the slightest grip. You may have some trouble sharing the bottle.

Bravium Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2016 (A) ($20)

This is a great example of restraint when it comes to this grape. Chardonnay is so malleable that it’s nice when a winemaker dials the extreme characteristics back a bit to make a very nice and refreshing white wine with just a kiss of oak in the form of subtle vanilla aromas. The mouthfeel won’t weigh you down because the alcohol, at 13.5 percent, is just right. There is great acidity lifting the wine up so the deeper aromas — a hint of butter, a skosh of nutmeg — aren’t all up in your business. It is a true summer Chardonnay, and an even better date starter.

Gundlach-Bundschu Estate Vineyard Chardonnay 2018 (A) ($25)

Creamy, balanced, and rich — this is how it’s done. California is known for their big ol’ Chards with heavy oak, vanilla bean intensity, and high alcohol, but what if all these things were in actual harmony? You’d have this wine. The balance here is great. The oak is soft and plays well with the creamy mouthfeel. The acidity is just right, and the alcohol is very well integrated. At under $30, this is one helluva great wine.

Talley Vineyards Estate Chardonnay 2016 (A) ($26)

Chardonnay can be so fun when the alcohol is in check. This wine has all the depth of some of the bigger Chards out there, but with restraint and good retention of acidity, you can enjoy said depth without hot hot heat burning your nose hairs. It’s very balanced, with a nice, juicy, round palate, and classic aromas of apples and pears mingling with subtle hints of vanilla and that fancy French butter made in bistros. If you’re going to spend almost $30 on a Chardonnay, you deserve this kind of balance.

Cantina Kellerei Tramin Selections ‘Stoan’ 2017 (A) ($33)

This wine makes me want to scream and curse. It’s so good. The varieties used are represented in the blend right down to the floral, orange blossom aromatics of the Gewürztraminer. The balance on the palate is impeccable, with depth and salinity pushing and pulling the mouthfeel between grip to velvet (a word used for red wines, but dammit, it’s here), only to let you go and wanting more.

Domaine Matrot Saint-Romain 2017 (A) ($33)

You really can’t go wrong here. It has all the Burgundy/Beaune vibes you are looking for in an elegant white from this region. This little area is void of grand or premier cru, so the prices are easier to swallow. It has a nice tart nose of ripe pear fruit and toasty vanilla. The palate has a great grip, too, with some dryness around the edges. This is a great wine to impress and not break the bank.

Big Table Farm ‘The Wild Bee’ Chardonnay 2016 (A) ($43)

It’ll cost you, but this wine is worth it. It is such a nice, well-rounded Chardonnay made with restraint and focus. The nose has classic pear and apple aromas, with a toasty hint of vanilla. The palate is calm, broad, and not weighed down by high alcohol or too much oak. It’s a wonderful wine and deserves to be shared with good friends.

Balletto Teresa’s Unoaked Chardonnay 2018 (A-) ($18)

This wine is ridiculously good for under $20. It’s crisp and refreshing while having great depth. There’s no oak, so you get the full Russian River personality without the wooded distraction. It has a great grip on the palate, and feels nice and broad. I want to bring this to the next cookout and wash it down with some grilled chicken and butter-laden corn on the cob… damn.

Oberon Chardonnay 2018 (A-) ($20)

For $20 you get a very balanced Chardonnay that will not knee you in the head with tons of oak and alcohol, but instead bring you in with the embrace of soft earthy aromas that will remind you of peaches and concrete after a rainstorm. It is a great wine to gift and help drink, as well as a good bottle to impress the parents. They’ll love the old-school vibes of just enough oak, and you’ll dig the new-school vibes of mineral-driven fruit. Welcome to a new go-to.

VineSmoke Chardonnay 2017 (A-) ($20)

This wine is only available on their website (which also promotes their bags of vine cuttings that can be used for grilling) and the Chardonnay is damn good. It has depth and structure to jive with whatever you’re grilling — though chicken and veggies would pair best — and enough acidity so it won’t weigh you down on a nice, sunny cookout day. It’s crisp and soft with subtle aromas that will complement the char.

Niner Wine Estates Chardonnay 2018 (A-) ($27)

This is oaky Cali Chard with harmony. If you dig that rich vanilla-and-butter style of this grape, then this is your bottle. But the difference here is that all those intense characteristics are kept in absolute check by crazy vibrant acidity. It’s a great bottle for a light afternoon lunch with some homemade chicken salad sandwiches and a cheese plate, or even a sunset get-together with roasted chicken and some grilled veggies sprinkled with sea salt and some cumin.

Fort Ross Vineyard Sea Slopes Chardonnay 2017 (A-) ($27)

Ripe, tart, and creamy all in one mouthful of this awesome wine. This is a very refreshing Chardonnay and won’t weigh you down with a bunch of oak and heat. It is soft, with vibrant acidity, like the grapes were grown on a sea slope (see what I did there). It has a nice briny character that is complemented by classic Chard aromas such as freshly sliced green apples and juicy pears. It’s just under $30 and worth your pennies. It’s also under a screw cap so easy, no muss no fuss!

Rappahannock Cellars Chardonnay 2017 (A-) ($28)

This wine is only available on the winery’s website but is worth your time if you want to get to know Virginia wine. It sees some oak, but you almost wouldn’t know it. There is a tart apple aroma happening and a crisp snap on the palate. The acidity is vibrant, and the wine lifts on the palate. This wine is for good friends and some nibbles (I’m thinking a cheese-and-meat plate with some chicken liver paté, whaaaat?).

Sokol Blosser Estate Chardonnay 2018 (A-) ($38)

Well, this is interesting. This bottle has that lean, grippy, mineral-driven feel to it. It says “nah” to oaky and vanilla-y. It says “what’s good” about aromas like freshly sliced green apples and mountain rocks after a rainstorm. It’s pricey, but an awesome idea for the next fish fry, or to wash down a roasted chicken.

Mayacamas Vineyards Chardonnay 2018 (A-) ($58)

This is how rich, full-bodied California Chardonnay should feel. It’s big and grippy, with a significant amount of oak. But that intensity doesn’t overwhelm, and ends with a nice medium finish (sticks to you, but not for too long). It’s the kind of fine wine you would jam out with some good friends and a legit cheese plate. You could do more food with it, but it may take over the table. Cheese, pals, and a sunset and you’re good here. It’s worth your dollars if you dig that big Chard vibe and crave balance.

Domaine Matrot Meursault-Blagny Premier Cru 2017 (A-) ($80)

Coming from the higher elevations of this region, this wine is more mineral-driven than others from these slopes on stony soil. The result is an elegant wine with racy acidity that’s softened by a touch of malolactic conversion (the process in winemaking that converts harsher acids to the creamy butter of lactic acid). Candied pears and apples abound, with flitting aromas of soft vanilla. The palate has a prominent grip from the oak tannins and will hold up to a meal of herbed and grilled poultry, even a rotisserie from the store.

Wente Vineyards Riva Ranch Chardonnay 2017 (B+) ($20)

This wine is as intense in aroma as any other Chardonnay in Cali with toasted oaky vanilla stuff and some butterscotch. But what sets it apart is the bracing acidity cleaning up the wine, not letting those intense aromas weigh you down. Also, it’s only 13.6 percent alcohol, which is glorious. It still has that classic big ol’ butter thing going on, but it’s much more approachable.

Calmere Estate Winery Chardonnay 2018 (B+) ($25)

For the price, this wine delivers. It’s rich and buttery, with some restraint on the oak. It has a nice grip on the palate as well, with aromas that will remind you of vanilla and coconut. All this makes up a classic Napa Chard that won’t kick you in the teeth with intensity. It’s nice, balanced, and ready for an afternoon on the terrace with some light nibbles.

I’M Wines Isabel Mondavi Chardonnay 2018 (B+) ($25)

Clean, crisp, and grippy is this wine’s MO. It has a nice balance to it and will be an awesome gift for a gracious host. The oak is restrained, too, which is a nice departure from the norm in Napa. It’s a great bottle to bring to a family event with various palate preferences.

Scott Family Estate Chardonnay 2017 (B+) ($26)

This wine will coat your palate. The acidity is low, so the weight is persistent with a long, creamy finish. If you dig rich oaked aromas and high alcohol in your Chard, this wine is for you. Even though it’s intense, the wine is balanced and would do well as a gift at a dinner party or wine-and-cheese night.

Domaine Louis Moreau Chablis 2016 (B+) ($26)

This is an attractive wine that will raise the brow of someone used to oaky Chardonnay. It sees no oak, and is crisp and refreshing, while holding on to the fruit depth just beneath the surface. Lemon and white flower aromas wind through the wine and carry to the palate. The zippy mouthfeel allows for a great pairing, with grilled or roasted poultry, and may convert people happily to unoaked styles.

Santa Barbara Winery Chardonnay 2018 (B+) ($27)

This Chardonnay is crazy refreshing. It smells like honeydew melons drizzled with lemon juice. The palate has nice depth with a cool sweetness from the high-ish alcohol that adds to the enjoyment of the wine. It’s sunshine in a bottle, and is affordable enough to make it a wind-down-the-day wine to share with friends. It would even jive with a sunset and a cheese plate.

Oceano Chardonnay 2017 (B+) ($40)

The vines used to make this wine are very close to the ocean, and you definitely get that in the wine. The nose and palate have a distinct briny vibe going on. The oak is pretty intense and fights with the briny acidity for your attention, and it almost wins, with the vanilla and butter aromas on this wine all up your face. All that said, it is still well balanced, and a nice wine to share at sunset, especially if you like the more upfront flavor profile.

The article 25 of the Best Chardonnays for 2020 appeared first on VinePair.

source https://vinepair.com/articles/25-best-chardonnays-2020/

[johnboothus]

25 of the Best Chardonnays for 2020

Allow us to reintroduce you to Chardonnay. The backbone of French white Burgundy and Chablis, Chardonnay remains the most popular white wine grape in the United States. Sure, it got a bad rap at the end of the 20th century due to the number of overly oaky “butter bombs” being produced, but it’s easier now than ever before to find fantastic Chardonnays that do the storied, versatile grape justice.

To help convert even the most ardent Chardonnay skeptics, we’ve pulled together a list of the best we’ve tried in the past year. The wines on this list all scored a B+ or higher in our wine reviews and are arranged by score and price. Surprisingly, over half the wines on this list are under $30, and none are over $100, proving that you don’t have to sacrifice flavor for affordability when it comes to Chardonnay. And yes, for those who love the butterscotch flavors — there are some terrific big, oaky California Chards here, too.

Here 25 of the best Chardonnays you can buy right now, with reviews by VinePair tastings director Keith Beavers.

Rusack Vineyards Santa Barbara County Chardonnay 2017 (A+) ($29)

This is one of the best examples on the market for quality and inherent varietal characteristics of one of the most famous grapes on the planet. I know that’s a big statement, but damn, is this wine good. Everything, and I mean everything, is in harmony here. Put the word “subtle” before the words: oak, vanilla, toast, and butter; and that only begins to convey the awesomeness. Acidity aids fruit and fruit aids a structure that grips your palate in a bear hug (who doesn’t like a bear hug?). Want an example of how an American Chardonnay can be in almost complete balance but doesn’t cost the house? Here ya go; and for this quality, $29 is a steal.

Rusack Vineyards Santa Catalina Island Vineyards Chardonnay 2017 (A+) ($60)

I’m only going to the Catalina wine mixer if Rusack is served. This wine is stupendous. It is impeccably balanced, elegant, and expressive in its subtlety. Sound a bit poetic? Well, dammit, that’s how this wine makes me feel. I want to wax on and off about the perfectly balanced aromas of light oak toast and just the right amount of vanilla. I want to shout from the rooftops about the perfect push and pull between acidity and grippy wood tannin, and shed a tear of joy regarding how amazing it tastes and feels on my palate. $60? Only available on their website? Yeah, it’s worth it.

Domaine Matrot Meursault-Charmes Premier Cru 2017 (A+) ($99)

If you’re going to spend a cool C-note on a white wine, this would be one to consider. This is the OG style of Chardonnay the New World tried to emulate back in the day, with balanced vanilla and baking spices never tipping over into too much. The aromas and mouthfeel of this wine are just right. The wine excites the palate with added aromas of pear and green apples with the slightest grip. You may have some trouble sharing the bottle.

Bravium Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2016 (A) ($20)

This is a great example of restraint when it comes to this grape. Chardonnay is so malleable that it’s nice when a winemaker dials the extreme characteristics back a bit to make a very nice and refreshing white wine with just a kiss of oak in the form of subtle vanilla aromas. The mouthfeel won’t weigh you down because the alcohol, at 13.5 percent, is just right. There is great acidity lifting the wine up so the deeper aromas — a hint of butter, a skosh of nutmeg — aren’t all up in your business. It is a true summer Chardonnay, and an even better date starter.

Gundlach-Bundschu Estate Vineyard Chardonnay 2018 (A) ($25)

Creamy, balanced, and rich — this is how it’s done. California is known for their big ol’ Chards with heavy oak, vanilla bean intensity, and high alcohol, but what if all these things were in actual harmony? You’d have this wine. The balance here is great. The oak is soft and plays well with the creamy mouthfeel. The acidity is just right, and the alcohol is very well integrated. At under $30, this is one helluva great wine.

Talley Vineyards Estate Chardonnay 2016 (A) ($26)

Chardonnay can be so fun when the alcohol is in check. This wine has all the depth of some of the bigger Chards out there, but with restraint and good retention of acidity, you can enjoy said depth without hot hot heat burning your nose hairs. It’s very balanced, with a nice, juicy, round palate, and classic aromas of apples and pears mingling with subtle hints of vanilla and that fancy French butter made in bistros. If you’re going to spend almost $30 on a Chardonnay, you deserve this kind of balance.

Cantina Kellerei Tramin Selections ‘Stoan’ 2017 (A) ($33)

This wine makes me want to scream and curse. It’s so good. The varieties used are represented in the blend right down to the floral, orange blossom aromatics of the Gewürztraminer. The balance on the palate is impeccable, with depth and salinity pushing and pulling the mouthfeel between grip to velvet (a word used for red wines, but dammit, it’s here), only to let you go and wanting more.

Domaine Matrot Saint-Romain 2017 (A) ($33)

You really can’t go wrong here. It has all the Burgundy/Beaune vibes you are looking for in an elegant white from this region. This little area is void of grand or premier cru, so the prices are easier to swallow. It has a nice tart nose of ripe pear fruit and toasty vanilla. The palate has a great grip, too, with some dryness around the edges. This is a great wine to impress and not break the bank.

Big Table Farm ‘The Wild Bee’ Chardonnay 2016 (A) ($43)

It’ll cost you, but this wine is worth it. It is such a nice, well-rounded Chardonnay made with restraint and focus. The nose has classic pear and apple aromas, with a toasty hint of vanilla. The palate is calm, broad, and not weighed down by high alcohol or too much oak. It’s a wonderful wine and deserves to be shared with good friends.

Balletto Teresa’s Unoaked Chardonnay 2018 (A-) ($18)

This wine is ridiculously good for under $20. It’s crisp and refreshing while having great depth. There’s no oak, so you get the full Russian River personality without the wooded distraction. It has a great grip on the palate, and feels nice and broad. I want to bring this to the next cookout and wash it down with some grilled chicken and butter-laden corn on the cob… damn.

Oberon Chardonnay 2018 (A-) ($20)

For $20 you get a very balanced Chardonnay that will not knee you in the head with tons of oak and alcohol, but instead bring you in with the embrace of soft earthy aromas that will remind you of peaches and concrete after a rainstorm. It is a great wine to gift and help drink, as well as a good bottle to impress the parents. They’ll love the old-school vibes of just enough oak, and you’ll dig the new-school vibes of mineral-driven fruit. Welcome to a new go-to.

VineSmoke Chardonnay 2017 (A-) ($20)

This wine is only available on their website (which also promotes their bags of vine cuttings that can be used for grilling) and the Chardonnay is damn good. It has depth and structure to jive with whatever you’re grilling — though chicken and veggies would pair best — and enough acidity so it won’t weigh you down on a nice, sunny cookout day. It’s crisp and soft with subtle aromas that will complement the char.

Niner Wine Estates Chardonnay 2018 (A-) ($27)

This is oaky Cali Chard with harmony. If you dig that rich vanilla-and-butter style of this grape, then this is your bottle. But the difference here is that all those intense characteristics are kept in absolute check by crazy vibrant acidity. It’s a great bottle for a light afternoon lunch with some homemade chicken salad sandwiches and a cheese plate, or even a sunset get-together with roasted chicken and some grilled veggies sprinkled with sea salt and some cumin.

Fort Ross Vineyard Sea Slopes Chardonnay 2017 (A-) ($27)

Ripe, tart, and creamy all in one mouthful of this awesome wine. This is a very refreshing Chardonnay and won’t weigh you down with a bunch of oak and heat. It is soft, with vibrant acidity, like the grapes were grown on a sea slope (see what I did there). It has a nice briny character that is complemented by classic Chard aromas such as freshly sliced green apples and juicy pears. It’s just under $30 and worth your pennies. It’s also under a screw cap so easy, no muss no fuss!

Rappahannock Cellars Chardonnay 2017 (A-) ($28)

This wine is only available on the winery’s website but is worth your time if you want to get to know Virginia wine. It sees some oak, but you almost wouldn’t know it. There is a tart apple aroma happening and a crisp snap on the palate. The acidity is vibrant, and the wine lifts on the palate. This wine is for good friends and some nibbles (I’m thinking a cheese-and-meat plate with some chicken liver paté, whaaaat?).

Sokol Blosser Estate Chardonnay 2018 (A-) ($38)

Well, this is interesting. This bottle has that lean, grippy, mineral-driven feel to it. It says “nah” to oaky and vanilla-y. It says “what’s good” about aromas like freshly sliced green apples and mountain rocks after a rainstorm. It’s pricey, but an awesome idea for the next fish fry, or to wash down a roasted chicken.

Mayacamas Vineyards Chardonnay 2018 (A-) ($58)

This is how rich, full-bodied California Chardonnay should feel. It’s big and grippy, with a significant amount of oak. But that intensity doesn’t overwhelm, and ends with a nice medium finish (sticks to you, but not for too long). It’s the kind of fine wine you would jam out with some good friends and a legit cheese plate. You could do more food with it, but it may take over the table. Cheese, pals, and a sunset and you’re good here. It’s worth your dollars if you dig that big Chard vibe and crave balance.

Domaine Matrot Meursault-Blagny Premier Cru 2017 (A-) ($80)

Coming from the higher elevations of this region, this wine is more mineral-driven than others from these slopes on stony soil. The result is an elegant wine with racy acidity that’s softened by a touch of malolactic conversion (the process in winemaking that converts harsher acids to the creamy butter of lactic acid). Candied pears and apples abound, with flitting aromas of soft vanilla. The palate has a prominent grip from the oak tannins and will hold up to a meal of herbed and grilled poultry, even a rotisserie from the store.

Wente Vineyards Riva Ranch Chardonnay 2017 (B+) ($20)

This wine is as intense in aroma as any other Chardonnay in Cali with toasted oaky vanilla stuff and some butterscotch. But what sets it apart is the bracing acidity cleaning up the wine, not letting those intense aromas weigh you down. Also, it’s only 13.6 percent alcohol, which is glorious. It still has that classic big ol’ butter thing going on, but it’s much more approachable.

Calmere Estate Winery Chardonnay 2018 (B+) ($25)

For the price, this wine delivers. It’s rich and buttery, with some restraint on the oak. It has a nice grip on the palate as well, with aromas that will remind you of vanilla and coconut. All this makes up a classic Napa Chard that won’t kick you in the teeth with intensity. It’s nice, balanced, and ready for an afternoon on the terrace with some light nibbles.

I’M Wines Isabel Mondavi Chardonnay 2018 (B+) ($25)

Clean, crisp, and grippy is this wine’s MO. It has a nice balance to it and will be an awesome gift for a gracious host. The oak is restrained, too, which is a nice departure from the norm in Napa. It’s a great bottle to bring to a family event with various palate preferences.

Scott Family Estate Chardonnay 2017 (B+) ($26)

This wine will coat your palate. The acidity is low, so the weight is persistent with a long, creamy finish. If you dig rich oaked aromas and high alcohol in your Chard, this wine is for you. Even though it’s intense, the wine is balanced and would do well as a gift at a dinner party or wine-and-cheese night.

Domaine Louis Moreau Chablis 2016 (B+) ($26)

This is an attractive wine that will raise the brow of someone used to oaky Chardonnay. It sees no oak, and is crisp and refreshing, while holding on to the fruit depth just beneath the surface. Lemon and white flower aromas wind through the wine and carry to the palate. The zippy mouthfeel allows for a great pairing, with grilled or roasted poultry, and may convert people happily to unoaked styles.

Santa Barbara Winery Chardonnay 2018 (B+) ($27)

This Chardonnay is crazy refreshing. It smells like honeydew melons drizzled with lemon juice. The palate has nice depth with a cool sweetness from the high-ish alcohol that adds to the enjoyment of the wine. It’s sunshine in a bottle, and is affordable enough to make it a wind-down-the-day wine to share with friends. It would even jive with a sunset and a cheese plate.

Oceano Chardonnay 2017 (B+) ($40)

The vines used to make this wine are very close to the ocean, and you definitely get that in the wine. The nose and palate have a distinct briny vibe going on. The oak is pretty intense and fights with the briny acidity for your attention, and it almost wins, with the vanilla and butter aromas on this wine all up your face. All that said, it is still well balanced, and a nice wine to share at sunset, especially if you like the more upfront flavor profile.

The article 25 of the Best Chardonnays for 2020 appeared first on VinePair.

Via https://vinepair.com/articles/25-best-chardonnays-2020/

source https://vinology1.weebly.com/blog/25-of-the-best-chardonnays-for-2020

[fanofawesomethings]

The Melting Ice

This story was commissioned by @dontunderestimatemypoison for Jack and Tooth Fairy (Frost Bite?).

If you want a fic of your own, message me and I will tell you my prices and rules for a commission

Snowflakes danced in a spiral tornado spiritedly to the whim of his lazy fingers. As they fluttered and spun, snow sprinkled down on his stomach like chips of diamond, melting slowly because of Jack’s cold body temperature. They tickled his pearl white skin but he could only be bothered to give a lazier snicker. When it finally melted, as the drop rolled off his waist it quickly hardened as it dripped. Beneath him snow formed like a white carpet from how long he sat there.

Being on top of a skyscraper in New York City, overlooking the flickering lights of the posters in Time Square, didn’t provide the same thrill as any of the other times Jack was there. He was deaf to the lively sounds below since they didn’t interest him much.

“I guess I could see Jersey Boys again, haven’t seen that one in a while,” Jack said to himself. He pondered the thought a little more. “Nah, the middle act is so weak. Maybe the next Wicked showing…but the only songs I like are Popular, Feeling and Gravity. So, so, so, so bored.”

Jack kicked his feet and stood upright. He hopped on one of the skyscraper’s gargoyles, a beaked creature whose body was withered because of the other times Jack was there. Icicles formed beneath its chin like a beard of clear knives.

“You know, Rocksalt, I thought things would get more interesting after this whole Guardian thing was done. But all I got was a fancy title and these ugly boots I threw down one of Rabbit’s holes. I didn’t think there’d be so much without a single word from the others.”

Rocksalt’s silence seemed to be responses to his talking.

“Maybe I should drop in on the ol’ gang,” Jack whistled eagerly. “Santi over there’s probably up to his beard with toys right about now so he’s probably too busy. Never asked where Sandy goes to, maybe the beach. Bun-Bun isn’t ready to get chummy with me yet. Guess that just leaves Tooth.”

Jack kicked the staff to his hand, it mysterious influence filling his sluggish body with energy. He filled his lungs with the winter wind, the sound of it whistling by his ear. The tip of his foot touched off Rocksalt’s head. If anyone could see Jack they’d see a boy free falling like a sack of potatoes. The rush of cold wind pulled his hair into a mess. The ground grew larger and larger. It always thrilled Jack to wait for the last possible second. Jack flipped his body around, inches from the ground, and spread his arms and legs apart. The wind caught his body before his nose touched the gravel. The humans around him only felt the wind start to pick up. He rocketed straight back up and over the skyscraper with a single gust, not stopping until the clouds themselves were beneath him. Once surrounded by a sea of gray fluff, Jack was then carried southeast, towards Asia.

           Flying at the mercy of the winds Jack was more like a feather than a commander. He could only go as far as one gust of wind would take him before he needed to switch to another one. A long journey of hearing nothing but the wind in his ear was ahead of him. But Jack was never bored. Breaks in the clouds let him see the world below, sometimes cities, sometimes the ocean, sometimes mountains; they waved to him as he soared by. He has zigzagged all over the world in his extended life, but Jack could swear he never saw the same things twice.

Inside the mouth of a mountain that surpassed all others around it and the clouds themselves the Tooth Palace shined like a crowning tooth. Jack dropped from the wind and glided down. The golden platforms beneath jeweled chandelier-liked birdcages were decorated in bright, joyous colors that perfect reflected the palace owner’s sporadic personality. Without a hint of fright and with the abyss of the drop below tempting him to fall, Jack grabbed a handle and slide down the railing of one platform, and landed softly on the one beneath it. Like most trips his hair ended up a mess.

“Hey Tooth! Tooth Fairy! It’s Jack—friend, co-worker, fellow Guardian—come to frolic and play!” Jack called out. No answer.

The Palace was unusually still for being so close to night time, locally. Jack didn’t see any of the little fairies or hear their thin wings whipping across the cave. He leapt onto another platform and then to another, searching the cavern, until finally he saw a paint blotch of green and blue feathers, sitting still of all things. The Tooth Fairy sat in the middle of her birdcage, chewing on her fingernails while a nervous twitch overcame her body. She didn’t seem to notice Jack.

“Uh…Tooth?” Jack spoke.

“—tralia northwest, cani—no, south Ontario left premo—wait, then there’s a third molar at Kyo—and the right canine at—no wait—” the Tooth Fairy mumbled to herself. Each name and tooth she said out loud seemed to add more strain on her nerves. Her head darted left to right after every spout of jumbled words.

“Tooth, you’re doing it again.”

Again she didn’t turn around. She saw straight through Jack as he sat cross-legged in front of her. He put his hands on her shoulders to keep her still, but Tooth’s nervous trembling was strong enough to pass the shaking over to Jack as he held her.

“Come on, Tooth, snap out it. Don’t make me do the thing you made me promise to do.”

“If you’re not talking premolar then I don’t want to—Jack!” Tooth was startled by the person who was there in front of her for a good few minutes. She sighed, relieved. “It’s just you.”

The lack of thinking allowed her to view the world around her. She was unaware that it was almost sunset. But more importantly the break from overthinking let her see Jack and how close he was, and where his hands were. A streak of red washed over her pink cheeks, blushing.

“J-Jack…what’re you doing?” Tooth asked.

Jack looked again and he threw his hands away in response. The two split apart, bashful.

“S-So, what brings you he—BOTTOM LEFT CANINE!” Tooth blurted out before slapping her hand over her mouth, embarrassed. “Sorry, it’s just I’m a bit on high alert.”

“Just a bit huh?” Jack chuckled.

“Yes, I know. But I’m only like this because—INCOMING!”

The cave exploded into a wave of deafening chirps as a moving cloud blocked out the sun. The rapid flaps of a thousand little stormed into the Palace and surrounded Jack, Tooth and every single on the massive platforms. Little Tooth Fairies zoomed to drop the baby teeth into their appropriate containers, but just as quickly as they came the same ones left. Those who remains bumped into each, crashed into each other, and got so turned around they stayed longer than those who fought to leave quickly.

“So what’s going on?!” Jack needed to shout over the Fairies flapping, covering his ears.

“Sports’ season! All over the world kids are losing teeth faster than my Fairies can handle!” Tooth shouted. She was used to the booming sound.

“So that’s why you’re so stressed out?!”

“Yes! Every few seconds I’m getting a new tooth location!” Tooth held herself in place. A flutter of words zoomed in and around her mind. “Oh no!”

“What’s wrong?!”            “An entire team of soccer players got into a fight! Every single of them has lost a lot of teeth! Plus there are others losing even more!”

Finally the wave of Fairies had left. After a relentless cluster of sounds and chirps Jack needed a moment for the hearing to return to his ears.

           The sky as the sun began to set under the mountainous horizon looked like a still painting. Clouds switched their coat of orange and yellow to hues of purple and blue. But even as the light bouncing off the gold platforms faded the Palace wasn’t in any way dark. As thought illuminated by the inside, the gold and jewels glowed brighter than before.

           “You know, the last time I saw you out in the field you were happier than I’ve ever seen you,” said Jack with a comforting smile. Tooth blushed. “Maybe it’ll do you good to go back other for a while and clear your head. And I can come with…I mean if you want…I mean I’m free in case you were wondering…that’s why I was in the neighborhood.”

           Tooth giggled. “Jack, are you bored again?”

           “Whaaaat? Psst, no way I keep myself entertained all day, every day. I just figured you needed help if you were going.”

           “Funny because North told me you only ever volunteer to help in Guardian duties when you’re bored.”

           “Oh come on, Tooth, you know me better than that.” Jack gave a smile that feigned innocence, but it wasn’t as though Tooth was new to Jack’s trickery.

           She played along. “Alright, Jack, I could use the help since you’re offering. But I don’t want you slowing me down, tooth-gathering is serious business and very fast paced.”

           “Are you really telling that to the guy who just a couple of months ago helped you collect more teeth than Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the Sandman combined? Oh and on my first time even.”

           “Uh-uh, I distinctly remember Santa Claus had the most.”

           “So does that mean the stress has made you delusional?” The two laughed.

           “Come on, smart guy, we have a lot of flying to do to get to Mexico. That’s where we’re headed since the Mice are all in Spain.”            As Tooth pushed against her feet to take off, Jack grabbed her hand and held her in place. He showed the staff to her.

           “We’ll get there faster if we travel in my style. Come on.”

           Jack led her out of the cave and onto the cliff’s edge. Tooth wasn’t accustomed to riding the winds, so as Jack waited for a gust to come his way she wondered why they weren’t moving. A touch of wind stroked Jack’s snow silver hair; Tooth was enamored by the locks that glistened like stainless steel. She discovered then that it wasn’t just Jack’s teeth that sparkled like snow. Jack took the wind in his lungs, letting his body become weightless, at their mercy. He tightened his grip on Tooth’s hand.

           “Get ready, here we go!” Jack warned a few seconds before he and Tooth were sent flying—before Tooth had gotten herself ready.

           In a single burst of speed the two soared above the clouds. Tooth clutched onto Jack’s hands with both hers. The ground looked so much farther away than what she was used to flying with her own wings; the change of pace caught the Fairy off guard and made the ground frightening as though she’d never flown a day in her life. She wrapped herself around Jack’s hand as they stopped rising and floated waiting for the next gust.

           “Don’t let go of my hand,” said Jack.

           Tooth held on tighter. She was startled for a moment, but the wind picked up and blew them away and she was forgot her thought—Tooth felt a twinge of heat on Jack’s hands. What she felt after took up her thoughts. The wind pushed against her body, she felt it tickle the bottom of her feet and her tail. She felt like she was free but at the same time not in control. It was a confusing sensation, one that lasting for a while because of the long trip across the ocean to Mexico, but it had its benefits by making her hold onto Jack’s arm. Tooth swore she could feel a bit of muscle beneath his hoodie.

With Tooth never once releasing the vice grip she had around Jack’s arm, Jack flew with a bit of a wobble. He couldn’t enjoy the freedom of the open sky while trying to maintain his balance. It wasn’t just his weighted side. Jack’s body stiffened having Tooth hold onto him; he flew more like a Flying Squirrel than his usual cool and collected self. The reason was simple but Jack didn’t acknowledge it, or risk making himself more stressed.

           By the time the last star joined the others in the sky and the moon was at its strongest on one side of the world, they saw the afternoon sun greeting them the country. Mexico had always appeared list a cluster of colors below to Jack.

           “Do you smell that?” Jack asked, breaking the silence that went on since they left the Tooth Palace.

           Tooth sniffed around though it was difficult with the speeding air. “It smells…like…ugh—gas!”

           Jack was overjoyed. “I know, right, thank you! Some gets it! Every time I come here its all I smell.”

“But why is that? We’re not even close to the ground.”

“I have no idea but I find it strangely relaxing sometimes. So where too specifically?”

Tooth pointed. “That way, to a city called Moroleón!”

“It’s really helpful that you know exactly where, because I was afraid we’d have to cover a lot of ground. Get ready!” He said abruptly.

Tooth sensed something terrible coming. “Jack Frost if you—”

“Let’s go!” He dove in a turn across the sky without a second to give Tooth time to prepare. Jack actually thought he went too far that time as Tooth’s nails dug through his sweater and pierced his skin. He couldn’t hear her screams over his own laughter.

The day showed no signs of ending soon for the two night-prowling Guardians. The small city still had so much more to give as the people down below crisscrossed a center plaza besides a cathedral. Jack and Tooth sat on top of the church, inside the bell tower beneath two rusted brown bells, which were miniscule compared to the bells the two have seen before in other parts of the world. Moroleón was not large yet it had no shortage of people. Tooth’s wings perked up like rabbit ears and pulled her out of the window. Vigilant, she scanned the plaza of its inhabitants but ignoring the colorful array of music and interesting things to do, that capture Jack’s attention, for a group of screaming and laughing children.

“There there!” Tooth pointed. She raced back to pull Jack by the collar and showed him.

“The kids?”

           “It’s an elementary futbol team! And early this morning they had a run in with their rival team earlier this morning and both their team and their rivals lost plenty of teeth!”

           Jack looked again and saw the messy condition the children were in that he missed the first time. Each one of the boys and girls were covered from head to toe with bruises and blood marks, some of which looked like it wasn’t theirs. Their uniforms were a patchwork of tatters that stuck to their bodies somehow despite the various holes and rips. They were receiving concerned and frightened expressions from the adults around them, but the children were too busy laughing to notice. One of the girls, a short-haired girl who looked more like a high-strung cat, held her teeth above her head like a real trophy and the others cheered.

           “Oh show me those pearly whites just one more time!” Tooth gushed when the girl closed her hand, overexcited.

           “Yeah…those are some pretty teeth,” said Jack, not at all seeing the appeal.

           “Aren’t they?! You should see Roberto’s, he has a cutely little chip on his left lateral incisor. Oh I shouldn’t say I’m glad he lost that tooth because I’ve always wanted to hold it, but I’m excited to hold it! And—and—Paula! She has the most perfect bottom right canine! It reminds me of a puppy!”

           Jack backed away. He jumped on top of the bell which sounded being moved. “You know we got a couple hours before they go to sleep, how about we have some fun?”

           “No offense, Jack, but I’m afraid to agree for what you have in mind.”

           “Have you heard of sudden snow day?” His brow curled with suggestive mischievousness hidden underneath.

           “Not happening, Jack Frost.”

           Jack laughed falling to her side. “Relax I was kidding, for the most part. Well, what do you usually do for fun?”

           Such a simple question seemed to go over her head and rupture her poised demeanor by mystifying her. Tooth gave a pause. She murmured under her breath as though trying to ask herself the same question. For once the buzzing information in her head didn’t turn her speedy or sporadic; she was lost.

           “I don’t know actually, I don’t have a lot of free time to myself anymore,” said Tooth, down.

           “You gotta have some time,” Jack shrugged.

           “Not at all. Once you’re a Guardian the children come first, and everything you do has to be for them. But it’s not like I’m miserable or anything. All I’ve ever wanted to do was to make children happy, as far back…as I can remember.”

           “Yeah, I guess you have to be a Guardian on the clock, even more so than North or Bun, but I think you should have some fun. Or else your work suffers.”

           Tooth gasped. “You think?!”

           Jack saw an opportunity. “Of course, I think I’m starting to see it now. You know if you crack who’ll collect the teeth?”

           “Oh no!”

           “Relax, Tooth. Let me help you out, if there’s one thing I can do, its have fun.”

           The innocent townspeople down below were not aware that they quickly became the subject of Jack’s idea of “fun”. He looked for a target among the masses in the plaza and thinking up different ways to play with them. But a prime target came to him when a skinny man with a mop of black hair strutted into the plaza with an air of self-indulgence engorging his pig nose. He tapped the shoulder of a little boy and swiped his ice-cream when he wasn’t looking. Tooth and Jack both saw what he did and they were in agreement.

           A miniature gust of snow came from Jack’s lips and collected into his hands until a white snowball the size of an apple formed. He held it to Tooth who looked at the sphere hesitation, not sure what to do with it. Jack gestured it to the man. At first that was the last thing the goodhearted Tooth Fairy had in mind, but as the man swiped a money purse from a nearly blind old woman she found grabbing the snowball and readying her arm.

           “Put your strength into your fingers, and always aim,” said Jack.

           Tooth closed her eyes as she reeled back and threw it. But the weak throw would’ve ensured that the snowball was destined never to reach the target. Jack scanned the area around the man swiftly; he exhaled a strong gust of cold hair that strengthened the snowball’s speed until it smacked the man on the cheeks, setting off a chain of events that Jack didn’t intend.

           The man was pushed into a snack cart. In doing so the owner was startled into letting go of the cart and so it wheeled away with the man still riding it. At the mercy of the slanted land the cart circled the plaza, running in to everything. It passed by a toy stand and the man was struck with an inflatable bat, it passed underneath a low hanging branch and the man was hit with leaves. A trio of mariachis saw the commotion and played a theme song to the man’s peril. The man tried to jump off the cart as it started to slow down but his hand slipped and his backside got stuck; a basket of sugar for the churros fell on his hair. The cart finally stopped; toppling over, the man nearly vomited from the motion.

           The entire plaza lit up with laughter. Jack rolled around holding his sides. Tooth didn’t want to find it funny, as it wasn’t something she intended happen, but not even she could resist the absurdity. She laughed while trying to maintain her air of composure. It was the first time Jack had ever seen Tooth laugh so hard; the normally sophisticated and motherly fairy started chortling after every few laughs. Jack’s cheeks gained some color.

           They sat and watched the aftermath of their fun for a while. The man was helped to his feet by the police who later on arrested the man for robbing the old woman. Rejuvenated by the unexpected event, the plaza came alive stronger than before. The mariachi trio started playing, without having to be tipped first. The spicy melodies they strummed came from a lumpy wooden guitar, an old violin and a torn cello, yet they enticed Tooth. Her eyelids seemed to get heavier with the Spanish lullaby being sung; she unconsciously fell on Jack’s shoulder. Her rest was too peaceful for Jack to risk waking her by moving; he had to sit still until the sun was completely gone.

           Tooth awoke and let out a powerful yawn. “What happened?” She asked half asleep.

           “You sort of dozed off there, Tooth,” said Jack who lost feeling in his crossed legs a couple hours ago, “and you kinda missed half the day.”

           She shot up and hit her head on the ceiling. “Holy overbite, I nearly missed it! Jack, we got to go!”

           A trail of blue and green feathers fell behind her with the speed Tooth flew with. Jack sighed flying at a much slower pace behind her.

           There were a total of thirty houses and Tooth and Jack needed to visit. Even before entering the first one the pair had to wait for the child, Roberto, to fall asleep, which came later than expected. After a few hours or so, Tooth was finally able to retrieve the prized tooth she sought. Following Roberto, Tooth and Jack split up to cover the next row of teeth which weren’t far apart from each other. This time around Jack was well prepared with a bag of little trinkets he found tossed up on a tree; he swapped each tooth with a plastic figurine of a cowboy. The sickle moon moved to the center of the sky by the time Tooth and Jack had collected nearly all of the teeth, zipping across the entire city and even some in a city across a lake. Finally came the last three children, and by that time Jack wasn’t feel bored.

           In a stroke of good luck, the last three children were in the same house, even in the same bed. Boy triplets on the same soccer team were probably the most beaten up; their front teeth were under their pillows in the same bedroom. Feeling the urge to show off, Tooth cracked her fingers in preparation. She swiped her hand which looked like a blur. While Jack was certain it moved too fast to have gotten the tooth, Tooth actually had all of the teeth they came to collect in the palm of her hand.

           “How—did you—?” He stuttered.

           “I’m really good at my job,” she grinned with her head held high in triumph. Jack was excitedly impressed.

           The children slumbered without hearing the two in their room. Though there room showed the poor lives they lived the fluff of their pillow and the warmth of their small wool blankets cradled them in a gentle touch that left them feeling secure and snug. Tooth caressed her fingers on one of their sleeping faces like a mother.

           “You were right Jack, I definitely needed this right now.”

           “I thought you would. And for the most part I guess I had fun too. I can’t believe you do used to this every night before the Fairies came in.”

           “I’ve always had my Fairies actually, they’ve been with me since I became a Guardian.”

           Jack had an interest in this subject. “So how did you become a Guardian?”

           Tooth led Jack out of the window and the two sat on top of the children’s roof. The sickle moon was brightly lit with a milk white light. While the summer months were plagued with rain and heat, the winter months in the country were neither hot nor cold, and without rainfall most of the time; above them a scattered school of clouds passed over the moon.

           “All I remember about it was that I was born in a poor village, but that’s all. I was born with a problem: I couldn’t remember anything for more than a day.”

           Jack was caught off guard.

           “I didn’t remember my mother’s face the next morning. By the next day I forgot I had siblings. And on the third day I usually forget my own name. But the one thing I didn’t forget was helping the children of my village. Somehow I remembered their names everyday. Maybe that was why the Man on the Moon made me a Guardian.”

           “He saw the love you gave to kids.” Jack remembered why he was chosen, he remembered his sister. “He picked me because he knew there was nothing I wouldn’t do to protect my sister.”

           “The Man on the Moon knows more than we do, Jack.” Tooth sighed, rubbing her hands together solemnly. It wasn’t a memory she’d prefer to remember. “But all of us became a Guardian when our old lives were gone.”

           “Did you—?” Jack guessed.

           “Yes. All I remember was it was dark and I was afraid. But the Man on the Moon gave me light and he told me my name and what I was meant to do. Of course I love it, but I can’t help missing who I was.”

           She leaned her head on Jack’s shoulder. Tears glistened like ice against the moonlight.

           “I still don’t remember their names.”

           Jack leaned his head over hers. The coolness of his skin reached for the moisture in her eyes and seemed to dry the teardrop with the cold. She never felt so safe with such a cold temperature hitting her warm body. He wrapped his arms around Tooth suddenly.

           “They may not be the most ideal definition, but North, Sandy, even Bunny considers you a part of their family,” he whispered.

           “What about you?” She whimpered.

            “I don’t remember what families act like, but…all I know if I want to be there for you. And I never want to see you cry.”

           Jack pulled away from her, and he held her hands in his. Compared to the rest of his body, Jack’s hands were warmer than the rest of him—at least they were as he held Tooth’s hands.

           “When all that stuff was happening with Pitch, and I let you guys down, if hurt way more knowing that I let you down. I don’t ever want to make you sad.”

           Tooth was moved into silence. Jack, realizing the weight of his words, turned away from her, unable to look her in the eyes from then on. She’d never seen Jack so flustered; it made her smile. With the collection of teeth in her possession, Tooth flapped her wings to get them ready for the flight back to the Palace.

           “Well, I…uh…better be getting back. The Fairies are probably wondering where I ran off to,” she said.

           “Oh right, forgot about them. Hopefully…we can hang out again?”

           “I’d like that.”

Tooth leaned in and gave Jack a small kiss on the cheeks. It left him frozen as she flew away. Jack couldn’t see it, but Tooth was just as embarrassed as he was.

Jack didn’t move from that rooftop until morning.