#''Look at this cool thing our little primo is doing''(

[royalarchivist]

[darkshrimpemotions]

There's no way I can be even REMOTELY coherent and putting under a read more to make EXTRA sure I don't spoil anyone but MY GOD. OH MY FUCKING GOD. (so many spoilers below the cut, I cannot overstate this lmao)

This episode. This fucking episode. First of all, me and some friends watched The Warriors (1979) - the film Colin references at the start of the episode and the inspiration for the episode's overall plot and premise - a few weeks ago and I have been feral ever since at the Implications and Possibilities. But in the end, I knew they couldn't give us EVERYTHING that a 90-minute movie gave in 25-30 minutes. There are the things I desperately wanted, in order of most to least:

Guillermo being confronted with the vampires and his slayer family and choosing to go with the vampires once and for all.

Guillermo and Nandor argument while broken away from the group that ends in a feverish kiss (yes, I knew this was a very remote possibility, but it was a nonzero chance, Swan/Mercy is SO Nandermo coded!!!).

Guillermo fight scene, Nandor fight scene, OR Guillermo and Nandor fighting back to back against a horde of vampires.

The death of fucking Jerry.

Either no Guidor at all or a solid rejection from The Guide.

A bunch of themed vampire covens facing off with our beloved Staten Island vampires.

Just a big wide-lens look at vampire society overall, maybe with some cool cameos from other vampire media again.

Fun costumes and direct references to the movie beyond just the plot, whether in filming style, music choices, specific lines, etc.

And here's the thing. This episode gave me MOST of what I wanted, some of it in ways I didn't expect, and the only thing it DIDN'T give me that I desperately wanted was the Swan/Mercy parallels with Nandermo. But then...it honestly kind of did still? It was SUCH an episode.

Like I said NONE of this is coherent but once again, Colin Robinson being the MVP of little asides that are so fucking funny when you catch them. Nadja killing spree my ABSOLUTE beloved. More Ladja talking through some of their issues and being thee married couple of all time. THE GOOD GUIDOR i.e. Nandor finally tries to make a move and gets shut down SO hard, with the Guide EXPLICITLY positioning herself as just another check in Nandor's long-standing pattern of chasing after relationships that won't ever work long-term.

And all the vampire family talk! First, Nandor saying Guillermo isn't part of the family anymore (HELLUVA WAY TO FIND OUT HE EVER WAS LMAO) and the rest of them chiming in and egging him on about how he's made it SO clear he wants nothing to do with the vampire world. And what I love is how soundly it reads as utter bullshit. OF COURSE he's still part of the family. They all know it, and so does he honestly.

That's why he doesn't even hesitate later when he says Nandor's his best friend. That's why they immediately call him when they need help, and he of course immediately runs to help them. If anything, that was ONCE AGAIN Nandor trying to get Guillermo to insist on his place at Nandor's side (a la THE LAST THREE SEASONS) and this time the whole family backed him up on it and Guillermo STILL didn't take the bait. Because Guillermo doesn't need to insist on it, he knows where he really belongs and fits. He practically said it himself when he was talking to Miguel about Familia.

And then Nandor being so delighted to meet Miguel...having heard and remembered stories Guillermo has told him about Miguel...saying Guillermo's family are their family and of course Nandor and the others would never hurt him.

AND THE RETURN OF SLAYER MEMO. The way Nandor looked at Guillermo when he killed that guy with a fucking No. 2 pencil. The way they all not only trusted that Guillermo could handle it without them, but also were having such a great time watching and calling out encouragement (Colin again my beloved).

GUILLERMO TELLING MIGUEL ABOUT VAMPIRES AND MIGUEL BEING COOL ABOUT IT. Miguel being ride or die for his primo despite clearly thinking he's lost his mind.

EVERY SINGLE FUCKING OUTFIT. YANA CAMEO MY BELOVED. ALEX SKARSGARD. ALL THE VAMPIRE GANGS WERE SO FUNNY AND PERFECT. FUCKING JERRY IS FUCKING DEAD.

They gave me basically everything I wanted except Nandermo making out in a tunnel as a train rushes by them. But like. I always knew that was Unlikely lol (still, I do have Thoughts and Feelings about it but. Eh...I'm not going to let it ruin my enjoyment of the episode, not with Nandor and Guillermo giving each other all those fucking heart eyes and basically reaffirming that they're family, and Nandor MEETING YET ANOTHER MEMBER OF GUILLERMO'S FAMILY AND BEING ACCEPTED. Introducing his bf in increments).

And the Baron being absolutely on top of his shit, the hair, the robes, the plan, the several kids and a doting husband at home...He is Everything.

Just a great fucking episode! And after last week's very cute fun little episode! I feel like I could lift a bus. No idea how I'm going to sleep.

[theunholybastard]

Kinktober: October 12th - Sex Toys (Papa Emeritus I x Female!Reader)

Tags: Dom!Primo, Sex Toys, Fingering, Anal Play, (Light) Temperature Play, Orgasm Denial, Begging, Edging, Dacryphilia, Age Gap, 1st Person POV

There are benefits to being Primos favorite. Out of the many men and women he calls to his chambers on those lonely nights, I am the one he holds the most dear, the one that he invites to warm his bed the most. Sure, it rouses jealousy from Siblings and Ghouls who are vying for Papas attention, but I could care less when I'm snuggled in his arms, basking in the afterglow of our late night endeavors.

With age, his sexual escapades have declined along with his libido. After a lifetime of fucking, he's not too keen to experiment anymore, wanting nothing more than to just lay back and get whatever partner he chooses for the night to slowly rock back and fourth his cock. It's still nice to indulge in sins of the flesh every so often, even if his age doesn't allow him to cum every time anymore. Making his partners cum is the greatest reward he could receive, viewing the act as his own personal worship, each orgasm an offering to Asmodeus.

When Primo shot me a look during black mass, the same look he always gives me when he wants me in his bed as soon as possible, I didn't think tonight would be anything special. I arrived later that evening, immediately reaching for his cock hidden underneath his robes, but he gently grabbed my hand, stopping me. "No need, cara mia. Papa wants to please you tonight." He purrs, guiding me to the bed. "I'd like to try something new. Will you allow me, mia piccola fiore?"

I was a little surprised he wanted to switch things up, but I was more than willing, quite curious to see what he had in mind. I nod in agreeance, stripping myself of my clothing and laying on the bed with my legs spread, ready for him to do what he wishes. He starts out warming me up with his fingers, nothing unusual, but still feels so incredibly good every single time. His hands are skilled, the decades of experience he had under his belt showing. He gets me so close to the precipice, but the moment I warn him, he pulls away. I found it strange, considering usually he loved to make me cum, as quickly as possible, and as many times as possible. But I suppose he did say he wanted to try something different, right?

He licked my arousal off his fingers, groaning softly at the taste. He shuffles off the bed with an exasperated grunt, looking through his bedside drawer and pulling out a sizable black box. He smirks, opening the box and taking out a small, phallic shaped object; a vibrator. I blush, restraining myself from kicking my feet in gleeful excitement. Turning it on to its lowest setting, he places it on my clit, making me let out a pleasured squeal. I was already sensitive from his fingers, causing a shock of ecstasy to shoot directly to my core. Primo snickers at my reaction, clearly receiving all the satisfaction he wanted just by watching me wriggle against the hunk of plastic.

He switched to a higher setting, his grin only growing the louder I moan. "Do you want to try another, cara?" His voice rumbles in his chest, my cunt clenching around nothing. "Y-you have more?" I ask, bewildered. "Many more. Pick one." He nods. With the box now sat beside me, I reach a shaky hand inside, feeling around, the vibrating on my sex making it significantly harder to concentrate. I pull out something long and ice cold to the touch; a ribbed glass dildo, clearly meant for anal pleasure. I shudder.

"You want to try that one, mia trioa? You want me to pump that inside you while the vibrator is still on your pretty little clit?" He muttered, his hot breath hitting my skin, making all the hairs on my body stand up. "Yes!" I cry out desperately, my body screaming for any sort of penetration, no matter where it was or what was doing it.

He inserts the toy inside my ass, thoroughly lubed up prior, of course. The sudden sharp coolness of it makes me tense up, but after a few soft thrusts, I start to get used to the feeling, relaxing myself. He moves it in and out at an agonizingly slow pace, going deeper and deeper inside of me, my breath hitching with every inward push. The vibrator, now on the highest setting, has me downright convulsing, both sensations mixing together in an overwhelming amalgamation of pleasure.

"Papa, oh f-fuuck! I'm- i'm gonna cum!" I pant, the familiar feeling creeping up once again. Primo stops his ministrations, the vibrator suddenly turned back to the lowest setting, my sweet bliss ripped away cruelly once again. He clicks his tongue mockingly. "Beg. Beg for release." He gravels, his voice thick with lust. This was so far off from how he usually was with me, but that doesn't mean that this wasn't so fucking hot. Hot and frustrating, but more so hot.

"P-please Papa, please! I- I'll do anything, just please fucking let me cum! F-fuck, I love you, Papa, make me cum!" The admission came out spontaneously, so desperate and pleasure-centered that my mouth developed a mind of its own. Primo was taken aback. Sure, we both knew that we had developed a mutual care and respect for each other, but this was purely a sexual relationship, no love or exclusivity whatsoever. My cheeks reddened in embarrassment, Primos once lustful expression molds into one of poorly concealed shock. Then, an unreadable twinkle in his eyes. He sets the vibrator back on its maximum setting, plunging the dildo back inside of me.

My eyes roll back, face contorted tightly at the continuation of my pleasure. Tears start to form in the corner of my eyes, streaming down my cheeks as quickly as they developed, overstimulated and needy. My orgasm builds up, quicker than last time, my brain fogged and fuzzy, everything in my reality starting to slowly fade and distort. "Cum." Is all Primo says, and I can feel myself finally let go, surrendering to the sensations he was bringing me. It hit me so much harder than usual, after being denied release for so long.

Coming down from my blissful high, he turns off the vibrator, slowly inching the dildo out of me, setting the two toys down. He leans over me, and when I think he's about to tenderly wipe away my tears, he instead obscenely licks them from my cheeks. I shiver at the wetness of his tongue, the shockwaves of my orgasm still running though my veins, causing involuntary muscle spasms. My eyes flutter shut, the unrelenting grasp of sleepiness pulling me away. Primo tucks a blanket over me, sitting beside me with a strained huff.

"I love you too, you know that, piccola fiore?" He whispers earnestly, pressing a chaste kiss to the top of my head. I hum contently, already drifting off. I don't know exactly what he means, if he loves me in a platonic sense, or returns my romantic affections. That's a question I'll have to delve further into in the morning, his arms pulling me into a firm, comforting hold, lulling me to sleep. Oh, the benefits of being Primos favorite.

-

[ciaossu-imagines]

Also one thing i constantly wonder is how it would be if for a short period of time the Unseen Varia are tasked to "assist" Tsuna and his family in getting accostumed to life in italy. Hayato doesnt really need it, he is plenty comfortable with the mafia life but the others? Not so much. Reborn is kinda busy with a lot of stuff regarding actually building up a structure for the family, so they were called to help instruct the newcomers to this life and how to actually survive in italy (Unfortunately Tsunas way of doing things does not work that well in a place where the mafia is 90% of the cities population). Squalo only agreed to it because right now there are little hits ordered and the higher ranks are too expensive to deploy so sending them for lower rank missions would be a waste of respurces.

"Go show this trash how not to fucking bite it in the first week in italy!"

Lor: are we gonna get paid?

Ser: dude. But actually good question. Captain, will we be compensated in any way?

Squalo: standart A rate flat

Ser: FLAT?! (meaning instead of a per hour pay its a set amount of money for the whole mission irrelevant of any additional hours or circumstances)

Lor: Standart A Flat?! You gotta be fucking kidding me, isn't thia a super important mission?!

Leo: *soft worried and anxious whimper at the hightening tension*

Ava: Does that mean each "lesson" will be counted as an A Flat, or our entire stay?

Squ: every lesson

Ser: oh, okay, I'm cool with that.

Lor: can we squeeze any additional pay from them?

Ser: you want to scam Neo Primo for additional pay?!

Lor: hey its a good lesson in and of itself to not be sucha a damn pushover.

Squalo: sure, if you dont get a bullet to the shins, go ahead.

And thus the "Unseen Varia" make their way to the Neo Primo Famiglia. Tsuna is not fucking THRILLED being informed that this is happening about 10 minutes before they arrive, and to his horror they are actually a bit early- and the confusion and shock only gets worse when Yamamoto loudly calls "Ava! :D" only for this young boy to look up, grin widely and rush to Yamamoto yelling "Takeshi!" before jumping into his open arms and giving him a kiss to both cheeks that Yamamoto actually reciprocates.

Yama: it's been so long!

Ava: since the future I believe!

Yama: seriously?!

They both laugh and finally the rest of the Varia that are unknown to the rest of them, close up to the group.

The guy with the long white hair that is NOT Squalo, joins with a grin and as Ava lets go of Yamamoto gives him a bro-y handshake.

"Hey, Takeshi! Whats up man?"

"Nothing much! I didn't know you guys would come!"

The group is not surprised at the fluent japense, after all thats what the Varia officers they met also displayed, but the familiarity is jarring until Yamamoto explains.

"Everyone, this is Ava and this is Sergey, they're Squalos second in command of the rain division."

Ser: sup!

Ava: *bowing* it's a pleasure to meet you all in person. During his time training with my brother, Takeshi told us a lot about all of you.

Yamamoto grins widely to which Tsuna just looks a but curious.

"Brother?"

"Yes!" Ava smiles proud.

"I am Squalos younger brother, nice to meet you!"

There is a round of genuine shock (Squalo has a LITTLE BROTHER?!?!?) and Tsuna mentally notes that they all seem a LOT more tolerable than the Varia they met- in fact Ava doesnt seem at ALL like Squalo- then Tsuna also thinks back on the ringbattles and how Ava must've seen his brother get mauled by a shark.

Ava: mh? Are you worried about the shock of seeing Squ lose and get jumped by a shark?

Tsuna: (he calls him "Squ"...) Um-- yeah.

Ava: it wasn't your fault. You didn't design that battle arena and besides, Dino immideatly called me to confirm, that my brother was okay.

The temperature drops a few degrees and when Ava opens his eyes, they are devoid of any life despite the smile on his face. It just does not reach the eyes.

Ava: otherwise I would've killed everyone in that building and then myself.

Tsuna: (NEVERMIND HE IS JUST AS CRAZY!!)

But Yamamoto breaks the tension by pattimg Avas shoulder and laughing.

"It's good that Dino-san was there!"

Ava immideatly returns to normal

"Yeah!"

Lorenzo then loudly proclaims

"Allright, now that the shmoozing is over, let's get to the point."

He looks directly at Tsuna who jolts.

"We four are the strongest members of the Varia right after the officers. So we were tasked to get you civis into shape." Gokudera clicks his tongue.

"Don't call me a fucking Civi."

Lor: oh? The storm brat has a loose tongue, doesn't he? And you wanna stop me HOW exactly? Throw some firework at me?

Dera: Those fireworks almost killed your damn psycho prince!

Lor: and yet you still lost against said psycho prince

Dera: at least I was a representative for the Vongola in that fight and not some benchwarmer of a second class institution like the Varia!

Ser: Leo, get him!

Ava sighs as Leo quickly grabs hold of Lorenzo and pulls him back.

"Let go of me, Leo, I'm gonna cut this brat limb from fucking limb!"

On the other side Yamamoto has a tight grip on Gokudera. Despite being older and more mature, he still has his temper.

"What Lorenzo wanted to say-" Ava then continues "is that we are here to train you in the survival arts of the mafia life. The city you chose to reside in from now on is to 90% inhabitet by mafiosi of several generations in. They are very well adapt in conning and scheming for their own benefit. Even with the Vongola backing you, they will do whatever they can to bring you down and seize power from you, since they just see you as a civi newcomer. If you had taken mantle as the Tenth of the Vongola Famiglia they would've still shown respect out of fear of angering the entire clan, however now that you have basically opened a new branch, at least as far as the unassociated know, they will try to outsmart you to get a foothold in the power structure. We from the Varia are the ones with adequat experience and knowledge to teach you how to navigate such an environment."

Around half through Avas explanation Reborn joined them and just confirms with a nod.

Lor: that being said, we take half at the beginning of the day and half at the end of it.

Tsuna: half...?

Lor: this isn't some kind of favor we do for a friend, this is a JOB, so as you hired us, you'll have to pay us per hour rates.

Sergey seems a bit nerveous, eyes flicking to Reborn, since he knows Lorenzo is just trying to get MORE money, as all payments usually go through the Varia financial infrostructure but since this IS a good learning opportunity, Reborn turns to Tsuna after a moment of contemplation and just says

"You heared the man. Pay up."

And thus begins unofficially the Unseen Varias mission to instruct the Neo Vongola Primo family in mafia daily life 101.

I really love this little scenario! I don't really have anything to add to it because it's just absolutely lovely the way it is! However, I do want to say again that I would definitely read full novels on these characters! I especially want to say that I love and admire your dialoguing skills. I could really hear each of the character's different voices in my head. Ava has a slighter lighter voice in my head than Squalo, but still has that growling, gruff sound to it that gets worse when he gets upset and he and his brother share some of the same facial expressions and body language when I picture it out in my head. Lor, in my head, has the deeper voice with a slight drawl on some words and his posture and body language is both kind of predatory but also relaxed at the same time as I play the scene out, just because I can hear and picture it so well just reading it all, so compliments to your skills there!!

[yellowcry]

Getting wiser

Chapter 2. Whimsical

When Dolores first said that Mami and Tía have a second heart beating inside of them, Luisa was very surprised; she didn't know that you could grow a second heart. Did it mean that one day she would have a second heart too? And Papi and Tío looked so happy like it was a real celebration, so Luisa guessed that it was a good thing to do. Only by the evening had Mami stood up by the table edge, announcing with a happy smile and slightly patting her stomach. "I and Pepa are pregnant!"

Luisa bit her lip, looking at Isabela, who was very happy, then bent to her and asked, whispering. "What does it mean?"

"We'll have a little sibling and cousin." Her hermana explained.

Luisa beamed and screamed way louder than she intended to. "I'll have a little brother?"

Papi chuckled, ruffling her hair. "Or sister."

Luisa crossed her arms, nodding confidently as she explained. "It can't be a girl; Mama already has two." If two kids are girls, the third should be the other way around. Otherwise, why would Tío Bruno be a boy? On the other hand, there was also Dolores. Luisa gasped, lifting her shoulders a little bit. "If Isa and Dolores are girls, does that mean that I'm a boy?" She pressed her palms to her cheeks in surprise, then sobbed when tears appeared in her eyes. "I don't want to be one!"

Grownups seemed surprised by this logic, immediately assuring that being a boy or girl didn't depend on the number of birth. Luisa thought that it made no sense but decided to let it be.

Soon, life had a completely new turn, things were changing without any time to proceed them. Tía Pepa was stormy most of the time; Luisa could swear that it was almost a hurricane a dozen times, and it meant that Luisa had to sit at home, which was extremely boring. And she didn't use to spend her day inside. Honestly, she was already annoyed by her future primo; why must they make Tía so emotional?

Mami was okay most of the time, but when hormones got to her too... Let's just say that being near two of them was dangerous for life.

At those moments, Luisa was hiding in her prima's room along with Isabela. Mostly because it was soundproofed. But, honestly, she was a bit scared of being in here.

Dolores's room was the quietest place in the whole Encanto, but at the same time, it was louder than anywhere else. Heartbeating, breathing, whispering of spikelets, rustling sheets — it all was screaming so much, bending the fear over Luisa. 

"I miss going outside." She whispered, tapping her foot, as the stone bounced off the water, splashing it around. Tía had a bad mood for almost a week, and now it was dangerous to not only go outside but to even stay outside of the protected magic room.

"You have a whole field with a river in here." Isabela sighed, crossing her arms.

"It's not the same." Luisa mummed, offended. Yes, Prima's room was cool, but it just wasn't enough. Luisa felt like it was too flat. Yes, she could run, but there were many other things to do. Like climbing trees, that wasn't there. And she missed her family too. Mamí and Tía were so mad, Luisa thought that they wanted babies. But now they just seemed to hate everything that was going on with this pregnancy. At the same time, Papí and Tío Felix were trying their best to prevent their wives from killing each other; at least Tío Bruno explained it like this. Was it normal to want to kill your sister when you are pregnant?

Luisa's fourth birthday was such a mess. Mami wanted to celebrate it like any other birthday, which made Luisa so happy. For some time, she was really scared that they wouldn't celebrate her birthday because of some stupid fight again. Well, there was another stupid fight that day. Besides, Mama was getting tired so easily that she barely started to make a cake until she fell into the armchair, resting her head on the back of it with tired breathing.

"Don't worry, Mi Amor." Luisa heard how Papi was calming Mami down, just when Luisa thought about the cake. "I'll handle it."

"I want to help too!" Isabela interrupted him. "I want to give my hermanita the best birthday cake!" She held her hands behind her back, looking up at their dad. Luisa shouted out in happiness, rushing to Isabela and almost knocking her off her feet as she pulled her into a hug. Isabela giggled awkwardly, slightly patting Luisa's spine. "Everything for my small hermanita." She promised.

Luisa looked away, pursing her lips in the offense. "I'm almost grown up! I'll be five in the next year."

Just a year to go before she would have her gift. Luisa couldn't wait to finally have it. On the other hand, it was probably good that she wouldn't have her ceremony this year. Luisa could only imagine what would happen if she got her gift while Mami or Tia were pregnant; what if Pepa would blow everyone away with the wind; or if Mami accidentally mixed up the recipes? The main goal is for the two of them to stop waiting for the babies before Well, Mama promised that her hermanito would be born before Isabela's birthday.

"But it's not now. And even then, you'll still be my  baby Hermanita. Isabela giggled as Luisa knocked her to the floor. "I bet even our hermanitos will be taller than you!" Luisa crossed her arms, looking away resentfully, chin up a little. Isabela wasn't even that tall compared to her.

"Quiet there, girls." Papi let out a short snort as he stood on the chair to reach for something on the top shelf. "Let's not fiii...." His voice was cut off by a gasp as he bent too much, off-balancing, forcing him to fall on the floor. Luisa winced as she heard a thump. "I'm fine." 

***

Luisa thought that her primito was strange. He was so small; Luisa never thought that people could be so little. And he was sleeping most of the time; Luisa found it quite boring. Didn't he want to discover this giant world around him? Most of the time he was either crying or sleeping. How did he even manage to keep so many tears? But it didn't diminish how cute he was. especially when he wasn't crying, waking Luisa up in the middle of the night. Seriously, Camilo, the night is time for sleep, not everyone could dream during the day like you!

Now Luisa couldn't wait to see her own little sibling. Sure, Camilo was cool. But she wanted to become a hermana mayor officially. Now she was the only girl in this family without a younger sibling. Days seemed to be passing so slowly... How long has she to wait? Her hermanito should already be born. Tío Felix said that Camilo was born earlier than he was supposed to be. God, why couldn't the other child be born early as well?

***

Luisa couldn't wait to hide in the sound-proofed room again. She ran all over the field, waving her hands, trying to get distracted from these thoughts. Soon she will meet her baby hermanito! This room was too small for Luisa, but she couldn't leave the casita. The closer she is to Mama, the faster she will meet the newest member of the family! And leaving was scary. Mami kept screaming, and from this noise, Luisa wanted to cry when heard it, but she didn't want to scare a newborn with her sobbing and tears.

"Isa, Lu, it's time." Papi's voice was as loud as thunder, echoing inside the room.

Luisa shuddered, then turned around and looked at Papa, who was standing in the doorway. Then she and her hermana stared at each other for a bit and both rushed forward, pushing each other to be the first one.

"I'm older!"

"And it's my first hermanito!"

****

Luisa gasped, pressing her hands to her cheeks and looking at her hermanita. She was so whimsically tiny—even smaller than Camilo. Luisa jumped on Mama's bed and clung to her hand to see the little girl better. Hermanita was sniffling softly, eyes closed.

"Meet our little Mirabel." Mami chuckled, ruffling Luisa's hair with her free hand.

Mirabel. It was such a beautiful name! Luisa took her skinny arm carefully, smiling widely. Now she has officially stopped being the youngest child.

Also, when Isabela said that the older siblings always have perfectly straight hair, she was totally lying. At least Luisa hadn't noticed any changes by now.

***

Little kids were strange. Luisa could confirm it. As a good older hermana, she made sure to take care of Mirabel, especially after she moved to nursery as well. Having company all day reminded Luisa about times when Isabela and Dolores lived here as well before getting their own doors. But her primo and hermanita were both too small and couldn't play with her. But it was okay; they'll grow up soon, and Luisa and her older hermanas would have other kids to play with!

So, right now she was trying her best to take care of Mirabel, even if most of the time it meant that she had to run for mami in the middle of the night because she couldn't calm down her hermanita. Luisa thought that it was unfair; after all, she was doing her best to help. What exactly is Mia different from her? On the other hand, it was the third child for Mami, the fifth if you count Tíos, so maybe she just was more experienced than Luisa.

Mirabel had big, curious eyes that were looking around carefully, trying to understand the world around her. She seemed to be way quieter than Camilo, but when he started to cry, they didn't have to wait long for Mira to join him. Was all of the baby talk that loud?

When Luisa asked Isabela about it, she just shrugged, pursing her lips. "I don't remember you or Dollie as babies." Both of them looked at the crib, where Mirabel was snoring in her sleep.

That day, the Club of Hermanas Mayores was officially created. The three older girls were talking about caring for Mirabel or Camilo. Luisa also spent a lot of time, trying to understand those two, which was uneasy because of how strange they were. Like, who could spend all day lying either in cribs or in mom's hands? Or why weren't two of them able to eat normal food? Sure, they didn't have teeth, but they surely could eat something like a puree. But when Luisa tried to feed Mirabel, her padres became so scared and said that she can't eat anything, except for milk. And she could drink only a special kind of milk. 

So, yeah, babies were whimsical.

[the-firebird69]

This is the best part of my life right here. You see his arms and how they're bulky and when he makes a muscle for some reason it's not as big in diameter but by mass it's like a third or so a quarter bigger than the muscle that's the same diameter at the biggest tip point now I don't think this is right but this is what he would look like. It says it looks like the inside of a stadium or something but someone might have an old photo of themselves and he thinks it's Paul a and that's what it is he says watch out and he says how did you get that look and he goes he says oh no but really that's Trump over there and that's fine. And yeah there's a lot of beef and it's a mix and he's eating beef on purpose for that purpose. So we see that he would be like this size it's a primo costume no you can't wear this particular bane outfit but if you imagine the other one he would look pretty cool

Uncle Phil he's right too if you're doing weightlifting stuff you should put a weeder bulk or wheater bulk up but both is better and it's for a real simple reason

Yeah you can't tell what the hell you're getting. These days is terrible. I'm going to do that on mine it'll work

Brad

I'm going to do it on mine too everybody will start doing it it's a good idea

Tommy f

Here's the effect this is what I hoped for but I'm a food guy

Uncle Phil

Okay you been targeted but no we actually need you I'm not the food guy people have skills I do certain things and you said it my job is massively important I keep treating him bad and other people and I should stop but this is going to get much worse now the insist on holding me or some do and he repeats some do it and it's cuz you took their stuff oh okay had the factories and gave them no out that's pretty bad it's wrong I know now because of Mac proper

Trump and I like this version but he's right he can't wear it he can wear the original which is what his father and mother want him to wear

This is about exactly how big you'd be he would be in how he would look and it'll be the original costume not Arkham asylum and he kind of wants to wear a part of that and it's not a bad idea the other one is like all tights. But his arms will be big like this and his chest and his legs and people would say wow it's actually pain but he's not bulky enough there's other characters that match pretty much exactly but this one is one of his favorites and you'd have a mask on and people want that

Vital and goddess wife yeah the name is still messed up

We have characters that he could do I don't suggest a couple

Thor Freya

I like the original bane and I could wear regular pants and boots and it would be looked at more like bain possibly and lean away from wrestling a little

Zues good very good excellent Hera

It's all fun and games until someone gets in there that knows what they're doing but if our son wants to resist you're in a lot of trouble

Vital and goddess wife yes with a b jeez

Yeah if he's in the room with me it would be a problem but if he tries to be a problem for me and I see him do it before against real fighters and he just stops them and says it too what do you want me to do and Brad hit him so we don't want him to do that again and we don't think you will but boy that sucked and others did worse since terrible

Mac daddy

[lostacelonnie]

Hey welcome back! Seems like you had a heck of a time & a lot of fun so im glad for you. Oh? Im intrigued i love spanish food do you remember any of the dishes? Oh hell yeah the sea at night is. So different but still so cool. Totally different from daytime. Oh the same ones from your class? I really should remember to ask to add friends there more but adhd. That is some. Incredible luck damn. Yeah! Australia is just. Full of animals hazardous to your health like that its wild. Nothing is safe not even the birds. Hm. Yknow im not sure i ever had a specific class for geography i think they might of bundled it into history for me but oh well. Kudos on the rad teacher you had for it. Seems they're few & far between. Gosh yeah mood i had 1 good pe teacher that made it fun to just. Get out & do things. Probably why i like to hike so much. Thanks! I got seele so now its time to save for wolf. I saw people saying she's not as good now & i was like what? She'll probably be op always. I have main story caught up finally & not much has after luofu story end. Yet anyways. Though im curious about like. Yang & himeko in other stories like hi3. & otto i think his name was? Also uh. Genshin is getting childe's master who at least has durandal's va. Not sure if she is an expy yet though. I have so many now but i think the next 2 or 3 all have one i want so uh. Rip my primo hoard. Yeah! Even artifacts seem a bit easier. Though that might be because there arent so many sets yet. Yeah for sure. Which is still funny because so many back in 2.0 thought she was gonna be terrible & now shes a staple of like so many teams. Oooh congrats on the chem score that subject is so tricky. !! I adore im in love with the villainess the series is just. So good.

HEHE HI!!! YEAH IT WAS JUST. SOSOSO FUN AUUGH. i miss her [alicante beach]. our homeroom teacher said we Might go on one more exchange in the upcoming years so im EXTREMELY hopeful for that. and of the dishes yeah i remember a couple!! montaditos [like. little sandwiches served warm], empanadas [an argentinian dish actually, theyre like little. well the look kind of like dumplings but they have a different dough. with meat and vegetable fillings] paella [its like. a rice dish idk how to describe it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paella], tortilla de patatas of course, and churros [its like. fried dough, but usually eaten as a dessert, often with hot chocolate]. anyway. RIGHT???? ITS SUCH AN. EXPERIENCE. AHHUGH. and yeah the same ones from my class!! theyre very fun even if literally none of us have common interests and hang out based on vibes only. like literally theres me, my Dear Classbestie [likes classical novels and goth music.], The Chainsmoker [writes poetry. was in 3 different psych wards and tells stories about them. Horrendous political opinions. adhd icon.], The Artist [crochets, draws, animates. likes the magnus archives.] and The Ice Skater [christian koreaboo? strange but very fun to talk with. as her nickname suggests, shes obsessed with ice skating. adhd icon #2.] so were kind of a mismatched group but we chillen. ANYWAY I STARTED RANTING SO COMING BACK yeah i have the same thing ajdjlskdkfldf but ah well. perhaps one day i will Rember. AND FOR REAL LIKE I WAS LIKE "gonna get attacked aaaaaany minute now". and then i??? didnt????? but i generally consider myself a lucky person so. damn i heard the Stories ab australian animals... actually my sister just recently moved there so i might ask her if she has any stories someday. and oh thats???? quite interesting actually. as in i suppose it makes sense why these two would be one subject but its pretty unheard of over here. hm. and thanks!! we actually have a group chat for fans of our geo teacher JSJDK and i think a part of why pe teacher is so cool to us is because shes also our second homeroom teacher [since the first one is from spain and, as my classmate once responded to the question if hes cool, "xabi is a nice person but hes just so spanish". and by that i mean he does Not know what is going on. Ever]. HEY CONGRATS ON THE SEELE AND ALSO ON GETTING WOLFIE IN THE FUTURE!! idc what meta says shell always be op. To Me ❤. ALSO I AM ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS UP TO TALK ABOUT THESE THREE IN HONKAI [tho for welt specifically i rec tumblr user caydencrypted, The Welt Expert]. AND OH OH HUH??? DO TELL ME AB HER???? also speaking of biankas va. did you know she shares a chinese vn with yanqing!! the range is insane!! and ah good luck in getting everyone you want o7 i managed to get furina luckily [tho i also got jean in the process.............] and now im torn between pulling for her weapon or saving for arlecchino.... i have 70 pulls left but ik weapon banner is a scam so auugh..... but also the sword sounds like. Good. so ill think about it. and yeah right?? tho i actually have Pretty Terrible relic luck compared to my artifact luck so. yeah. but auto battle does make it less painful. ANYWAY THANKS HEHEHE!!!!!! just had another test this week and im a little nervous ab it but i feel like i did well. VERY stressed ab my history exam next week tho. 7 am on monday. and im a bit sick rn so i have less energy to study. but eh ill be fine, i just wanna pass. AND RIGHT RIGHT RIGHT IM SO OBSESSED WITH IT ACTUALLY......... maaaaaay or may not have bought physical versions for the first two novels three days after getting into the series akdlkdf. luckily it was near my birthday so my mom decided to fund them for me. BUT AHHHH IT IS SO GOOD i keep meaning to read the 3rd novel but ah..... so busy recently.........

[kissmyspaceace]

Please please please

How would the papas feel about a vampire love interest 🤔

YES YES YES I'M A BITCH FOR VAMPIRES, THANK YOU FOR THIS ASK!! 🖤

Primo:

He'd be cautious. Very, very cautious and a little wary. He has gained a lot of knowledge in his many years of studies about the creatures of the night. He knows what danger lies beyond their inviting and alluring facade, and is afraid of being fooled. However, he also has a lot of admiration for vampires. He finds a profound beauty in their nature, and can't stay away for too long. He is smitten before he knows it, and would do anything to protect his undead lover. He'd cherish them until the end of time.

Secondo:

Distrustful at first, but utterly devoted and in love at the first touch. He knows a thing or two about vampires, but he does not care much about their dangers. He respects their power and aesthetic. His favourite thing is the feeling of cool fingertips gracing his skin, and the arousing sense of danger as sharp, protruding canines scrape against the most delicate parts of his neck. Secondo gets off at the thought of dominating a predator alone, but honestly, his vampire lover would mean so much more to him. He would guard them like a treasure, shooting glares at anyone who dares to look at them for longer than he deems acceptable.

Terzo:

Absolutely in love and on his knees from the very start. The moment he first laid eyes on his vampire lover, his heart was captured. He would not be afraid, not even for a second. Terzo would treat them like a deity, engulfing them in his charm and showering them with affection. He would drop to his knees at any time, any place, if they only asked for it. And he would let them use him however they wish, even begging them to bite him, offering his body and blood to them without a second thought. He'd be addicted to their touch in next to no time, following their every wish - in the bedroom as well as anywhere else.

Copia:

Our dear former Cardinal would be a nervous wreck from the very first encounter. He is a well-read man and has studied the undead and creatures of the night. He is well aware of a vampire's power and nature and plans to respectfully distant at first, to protect himself. But his heart cannot be fooled, nor can his desire be contained for too long. He'd try to lie to himself for as long as possible, but he knew that every time he saw them, his eyes would linger, and his heart would skip a beat. The sheer beauty and grace of a vampire made his knees weak. He'd dress in his finest attires, hoping for them to notice. And as soon as his beloved vampire would make the first move, he'd be lost to them, at their mercy for the rest of his life and hopefully beyond. He'd be grateful to just be around such a fascinating being, and he'd enjoy meaningful conversations and romantic nightly walks around the ministry grounds the most - apart from the more physical aspects of the relationship. The worshipping of his lover's body would be one of his absolute priorities.

[wormstacheangel]

Day 2 of @spnprideweek and part 2 of sobrenatural fic

Dean ended up coming home a little sooner than he should have, but he didn’t want to lose the shower to Sam. He didn’t want to be sweaty and cochino for his not date with Cas.

Maybe he should have cooled it with the cumbia, making it too obvious that Dean was in a good mood because as soon as he was heading out the door—smelling great, he may add—su Tio called him over to the kitchen.

“¡Oye! ¿A dónde vas tan cambiado?” Tio Bobby was by the stove, smashing the beans for dinner, as he raised his eyebrows at Dean. Sam was standing by the sink peeling tomatillos as he cranes his neck to look over at Dean.

“Dude, what did you do? Break the damn cologne bottle?”

“Es mucho?” Dean lifted his arm to smell himself. “It’s fine!”

“¿Me vas a contestar?” Bobby threw in some whole chiles into the beans and let them simmer away. “¿Quieres que te hable en inglés? Where are you going, niño feo?”

“Estas siego, viejo!” Dean walked over to the small mirror that hung on the wall. You can barely see yourself in it because of the Jesus painting on it, but it still worked. “I’m just going out with some friends.”

“Mmm.” Bobby hummed in reply, going back to turn off the beans once they looked how he wanted it. “Llévate a tu hermano.”

“Tio!” Dean turns around, wide-eyed and heart racing. “I can’t take Sam!”

“I’ll go get my coat!” Sam rinsed off his sticky hands and started to walk out of the kitchen, but Dean grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and pulled him in close. Pinning him down against his chest, which was difficult considering the kid is a damn giant.

“You aren’t coming with,” Dean mutters to him before begging Bobby again. “Tio, I’ll take Sammy with me tomorrow! Nomas hoy no.”

“¿Y porque no?”

Dean looks between curious eyes, not knowing how to explain himself. He can’t say he’s going out with a friend cause then there would be no reason why Sam couldn’t tag along. But he didn’t want to come out to his Tio and brother now! Fuck that shit; he’ll just lie.

[continue reading under the tab or on ao3]

“I’m going to meet up with Cassie.” Technically true.

Bobby’s eyes widened, and Sam’s grin grew while he wiggled himself free from Dean’s grip. They both liked Cassie and were mad at Dean for breaking things up between them. However, it wasn’t tough when Cassie rarely gave him any attention, always busy with work and school. She had to know Dean was holding her back, so he broke it off. She was mad at him for a while but ultimately thanked him for doing something she didn’t have the courage to do. Rumors still spread, though, because of course, they do, about Dean cheating, but he didn’t care much about those.

Su Tio, though, cared a lot. Dean has to constantly remind him that Dean didn’t cheat on her, and he just broke it off cause Cassie was too smart for him.

Cas is probably too smart for him too.

“Okay, pues, have fun! Bring her home to say hi.” Bobby practically pushed him out the door with Sam happily towering behind him with the same annoying grin.

Dean wondered how disappointed they would be if they found out he was going out with a guy instead.

Dean drove to Cas’s house, waiting outside a few minutes before seven. He wasn’t sure what he should do. Does he honk the horn, or is that too rude? Should he park and get out of the car to knock? That seemed too much like a date thing. And he still wasn’t sure if this was a date or two not-strangers hanging out.

He stayed in the middle of the street, unsure of what to do until finally, the front door opened, and Cas stepped out with a jacked hanging on his arm. He stood outside and squinted at the car before tilting his body down to check if that was Dean.

Dean’s panic from before melted away while he nervously waved at Cas. He saw Cas’s eyes widen with a slow-growing grin before he practically ran over to Dean.

As soon as Cas opened the door, Dean felt so sure that there was nothing more right than having Cas sitting in his passenger side.

“You ready to go, Angelito?” Dean looked Cas over; he’s dressed in dark jeans and a grey long sleeve. He has never seen Cas in anything but that rumpled old suit. He never minded the suit, but now he wished he could burn it because all that suit did was hide Cas’s muscled body. Dean couldn’t stop the whistle that escaped his lips as he said, “Mira! You look good, Cas.”

The compliment was shocking to them both, for Dean especially. He awkwardly cleared his throat while trying to think of an excuse. Maybe even use the whole English as a second language excuse, but Cas quietly responded with a, “Thanks, Dean. You look pretty good yourself.”

And maybe those words broke him. He knew he was attractive but having Cas say that made his head spin.

“Your car is beautiful, by the way. I wasn’t sure if that was you in here.”

“Did you expect me to come in that bike?” Dean jokes before slowly driving away from the house, Los Angeles Azules playing softly on the radio did not make things any less awkward.

“I don’t know what I expected. I’m just glad you came, Dean.”

Dean stopped at the end of the block and turned towards the guy sitting beside him. Cas was already looking at him with puppy dog eyes and a beautiful, hopeful smile. His breath catches in his throat as his mind gets overwhelmed with wanting to reach out and touch Cas. Just to make sure the beautiful boy in his passenger seat was real and make sure que su corazon isn’t just playing games with him.

Instead, he tightened his hold on the steering wheel, fingers burning in protest, as he melts into Cas’s smile. Wanting to relax and just be with him for tonight, not caring que alguien lo va mirar. Enjoy this non-date that looks like it has the chance to become an actual one.

But is that what Dean actually wanted?

“Dean,” Cas reached over to gently touch his arm as if knowing that Dean’s mind had wandered off. He looked hesitant, as if not sure if he was allowed to. “Do you want to go eat? We can if you want.”

Dean looked down at the hand that was burning him through his clothes, knowing damn well that Cas was giving him the chance to make this into something more. Algo que se sentía que iba a ser cósmico en su vida. Y Dean quería eso en su vida.

“Yeah,” Dean answered both questions. His hand loosened on the wheel before he reached over to take Cas’s hand in his. Hearing Cas’s breath catch in a gasp, but he didn’t look up at him; instead, Dean twined their fingers together before letting them sit in the seat between them. Dean focused back on the road before turning left to his side of town. “I got the perfect place. Te va gustar! You’re not like vegan or anything, right?”

“No.” Dean turned to catch Cas looking at him still and knew they were both feeling the same excited electricity that clouded the car just by the giddiness in his voice. “Where are you taking me on our, oh um…Oh! primero! Primero date, Dean?”

Ahi esta! La confirmación que necesitaba. This is an actual date! Pero, las palabras no le dieron pánico. No. Instead, Dean squeezed Cas’s hand as he laughed, feeling like he would just fly away if he didn’t hold on.

“You passed high school Spanish, Cas?”

“I did, but google translate did most of the work.”

When Dean parked outside the familiar food truck, he squeezed Cas’s hand once before they got out. They walked together, bumping shoulders while their hands stayed buried in their pockets. Cas didn’t question their lack of touch; instead, he smiled up at Dean as he listened to him rave about his friend Victor’s food.

“Not as good as mine, but it’s good,” Dean adds as they make it to the front of the window, where Victor can hear him.

“Cabron!” Victor said with no fire in his tone but a growing grin across his face. He held his hand out for Dean to take for a handshake. “Nice to see you, primo. Where’s Sam?”

“Lo deje en la casa!” When Dean took a step back, he put his arm around Cas’s shoulder to squeeze him close. “Pero, I brought a new customer.”

“Hi.” Cas looked a little shaken up, and Dean just wanted to lean closer to leave a kiss on his cheek, but he restrained. No necesita mas chisme circling around about him. “I’m Cas.”

“Victor.” Victor raised an eyebrow at him but reached over to shake Cas’s hand in response. “What can I get you and the pendejo around you?”

“Oh. Dean isn’t-” Cas frowned over at Dean, but Dean just shook his head, letting him know that it was okay. Cas squinted at him before he gave a small smile, not understanding but accepting. “You order for me?”

“Sure, Angelito. Anything you don’t like?”

“As long as it’s not so spicy, I don’t mind anything.”

Cas stayed stiff under Dean’s arm as they ordered and waited for their food. Eventually, Dean couldn’t help himself; the street light and the neon sign were the only things keeping this place lit, but it was still pretty dark, so he turned his face to press his nose against Cas’s temple.

“¿Qué pasa, Angelito? What’s wrong?”

“Dean.” Cas sounded shocked as he started to move back, but Dean held him a little tighter. “Someone is gonna see you.”

“Que miran. Just tell me what’s wrong.”

Cas sighed but relaxed back into Dean. “I just didn’t like him calling you that. You aren’t stupid, Dean.” Dean chuckled, and Cas turned to look at him, glaring. “I don’t see how this is funny.”

“Ay, mi Angelito, he didn’t say it in a mean way. It’s just the way we talk to each other. He’s my friend.”

Cas blinked at him a few times before he fell back against Dean, his arms crossed over his chest. “Well, I don’t like it.”

“Trust me, Cas, it’s fine. Quedate conmigo long enough, and you’ll be calling me the same thing.”

Cas didn’t say anything for a few seconds, and Dean wondered if he said the wrong thing again, but then Cas clicked his tongue before turning to Dean. “I don’t know what…um, that word you said means. Que..que-?”

“Quedate?” Cas nodded, looking back at Dean, waiting for him to explain. It brought warmth to Dean’s chest, knowing he’ll have to repeat it in English when before it came out as a joke. He swallowed hard as he looked back at those baby blues. The words barely came out in a quiet whisper, “Quedate. Stay. Conmigo. With me. I said, stay with me.”

“Oh.” Cas looked down at Dean’s lips as he talked. “I can-I can do that.”

Dean hummed a response as his eyes traveled down to Cas’s tongue poking out to lick at his lips. His heart was hammering in his chest until it came to a stop when he heard, “Dean! Oye, cabron! I ain’t calling your name again!”

They pulled apart, and Dean jogged over alone to grab their bag of food. Dean decided to get a few of his favorites and drinks.

“Victor,” Dean called his friend over again. “No le digas a nadie que estaba aquí. Okay? Or I’m gonna steal all your customers otra vez.”

Victor’s eyes traveled from Dean to Cas, who was waiting where Dean left him looking angelic under the streetlamp, before falling back to Dean. He wondered what could be going through Victor’s mind right that moment, but then he heard his friend let out a heavy sigh.

“Whatever you say, primo.”

“Thanks. Call me tomorrow, and I’ll work for you this weekend!” Dean starts walking backward, back to Cas.

“Shit! Really? ¡No juegues conmigo, Dean!”

“Llámame mañana!”

Dean makes it back to Cas, who automatically reaches for the drinks to help, and motions for him to walk back to the car.

“Come on. I wanna take you somewhere else.”

Dean drove them somewhere nicer, more private, but still a parking lot.

As soon as Dean parks the car, he opens his door, “Come on; we can sit on the hood. You might wanna put that jacket on.”

Cas looks excited when he opens the car door and walks out into the parking lot that faces the beach. “Dean! Won’t we get a ticket?”

“Don’t worry about it. Just bring the drinks.”

They sat on the hood of the impala, eating and talking, as the sounds of the waves crashing to the shore mixed with la musica norteña coming from inside the car. Dean soon finds out that Cas doesn’t know how to dance, so he puts on one of his favorite mixtapes, and cumbia plays loudly through the speaker.

They danced in front of the headlights, if you can call it dancing. They always ended up bursting into fits of laughter as they fell into each other because Cas did have two left feet. Eventually, Dean just took Cas from around the waist, and they just spun around in circles.

Feeling Cas wrap his arms around Dean’s neck to hold him as their grins were so close together made Dean’s heart leap. Eventually, Cas’s forehead fell against Dean’s, and the dancing slowed to a nice sway even though the beat was only getting quicker.

“Cas?” He answered Dean with a soft hum. “Me estas gustando mas cada segundo.”

“I don’t know-”

“I like you.” Dean’s eyes closed as he leaned in to brush their noses together. “Mi Angelito.”

Dean never thought he would be here in this situation with a guy, but he has never wanted anything more in his life. Feeling strong hands run through his hair as a strong and firm body pressed against him. He loved the intoxicating smell of Cas’s woodsy shampoo that he would have never smelled on a girl. The stubble of beard rubbed against his chin as Cas turned his head until finally, fucking finally, he had those pink lips on his.

He should be scared. Esto no es algo que debería hacer con El pinche Sonidito playing in the background. He shouldn’t have one hand behind Cas’s neck to deepen the kiss, and his toes shouldn’t curl up when he feels Cas’s heavy sigh inside his mouth. He shouldn’t become so quickly addicted to Cas’s hands reaching under Dean’s shirt to press firmly at his back, feeling the familiar slight burn become a damn forest fire in him.

Esto no es algo que debería querer. Cas no es alguien que debería querer pero aqui esta. Queriendo a nadie más pero a Cas. Cas. Cas.

Cas pulled away just enough only to have their noses touching, their breaths still mixing, as he whispered. “I like you too, Dean.”

And yeah. That was it. That was all it took.

Las cadenas del maldito miedo that held him back from even thinking of wanting Cas this way, se rompieron. Dean ya pertenece completamente a Cas.

Cas grinned as he looked back at Dean, his hand reaching to cradle his face gently. His thumb was caressing Dean’s freckles on his cheek before he happily announced. “¡Me gustas mucho!”

Dean laughed, his arms reaching down to wrap around Cas’s waist and spin him around. Both of them laughing as they continued dancing and kissing until it was late enough that they had to go home.

[vynsvision]

Yo i think Sumeru may be my favorite region. I dont have a favorite region yet (altho Liyue always feels like home) but looking at some of the preview of the update on Hoyoverse and also just. The fact that we've had so little information about Dendro as an element...

Also. Look how pretty the oculus is!!

I'm always a sucker for plants and Dendro's whole thing of course is. Plant. So like. A win.

The two enemies shown in the Hoyoverse preview look so neat. The electro Reginsivine is something I didnt realize we didn't have, so having it here is gonna be so cool. It looks sharp and badass but also just really pretty.

The terrorshroom..... I want to pet it. I need to be friends with one. We haven't gotten to ride anything yet except the waveriders and uuuuuuuh I just think it would be neat. Its free real estate, yanno?

Two new artifact sets are both beautiful. I'm not much of an artifact farmer or anything like that and these aren't really much of an exception unless Collei needs them, but theyre so pretty and as I receive them from, yanno, runnin' around and doing the domains or whatever, I'll be glad to admire them.

Its also interesting that both artifacts have names to do with memory and dreams. Hmm.

The weapons........ are so pretty. I have never really wished on the 5* weapon banner, and I dont really think I will this time even, as I'm intending to save for Kokomi. That being said, if I save enough primos and wishes... I may be interested. But its unlikely.

4* weapon set is also gorgeous!!!

I would love to use these and so I hope that as I wish, they all eventually come home. They're really pretty though. I dont think I've ever really noticed there were sets of weapons like this before. Are there other sets and im just oblivious? Probably. Thats ok.

And the new characters from Sumeru being released are all gorgeous, the three here included. Of course, im frustrated that a region based on the Middle East area doesn't have more characters with darker skin tones, and I also don't love that the lighter characters are colonizers that accuse the darker characters (natives of the land) of idk misusing the land or like just being in general of bad moral and character.

Dori looks super fun, I think she must be a teen-aged size. I feel like she's gonna be sassy. I love some good sass. And I can't perfectly tell but is she a catalyst? Either way, super neat.

Collei and Tighnari are both gorgeous designs as well, and I like that they're both mostly simple. I like the flow and the colors. It makes sense, as they're part of the forest ranger groups, and would need camouflage. I'm 90% sure I'm not going to wish for Tighnari, as Collei will be our free Dendro and so far hes just not that interesting to me. Even if he's interesting in game play and story, Kokomi has evaded me twice now and I could really use her on my team, mostly for some variety outside of Zhongli, so. Unless I have plenty of primos and wishes for Koko on the last day of his banner, I won't wish for him. I'm at 60 pity so the next ten-pull i may get a 5* and I dont want to win 50/50 on Tighnari. Will I regret not pulling for him? Potentially. But thats a bridge to cross for another day and Koko is someone I passed up on her first banner and since then I've wanted her. So bad.

Overall, im super excited for Sumeru and the next act in the Traveler's story. I'm excited to meet the archon and all the other people in Sumeru, not to mention exploring the gorgeous region and get the hang of the new reactions, element, and enemies.

[petite-ely]

Afraid // JJ Maybank

two - the calm after the storm

Pairing: JJ Maybank x fem routledge! reader

Warnings: bad language (as usual), underage drinking, fear of drowning and deep waters, mention of a hurricane, probably some mistakes too lol

Description: After the surge hit the island, the pogues decide to enjoy a nice day out on the hms pogue, until they find something unusual hidden in the marsh.

A/n : hey there buckaroos, I know I just posted the previous part but I felt so bad for not updating sooner. So here ya go. Hope you like it :)

Previously next

Afraid masterlist

Song recommendation:

There was always something really weird about the day right after a hurricane. It was like that feeling when you know something isn’t right but can’t quite put your finger on it, at least that’s what it was like for y/n. She found those days both extremely stressful and relaxing at the same time. As a child she never had to worry about the stressful part, but as someone who lived alone with two teenage boys and no adults, it was pretty nerve racking. She used to wake up really late on those days, enjoying the silence and comfort that reigned inside the Château. It was not something she did anymore.

When big John disappeared, John B and her had to learn how to take care of themselves. And that also meant becoming more responsible. So here she was, at 9:30 in the morning, standing in the fruit aisle of the grocery store, debating whether to buy cherries or peaches.

Fuck it, she thought putting both in her shopping cart.

You see living without parents at 16 also brought a thing called learning things the hard way. For example, if ever there’s a big storm or hurricane hitting your town and there’s a chance of the power being cut, you have to go grocery shopping before. Otherwise you have only two options. Either wake up at the butt crack of dawn and hunt down which grocery store is still open (and that’s only if no one else raided it before you ). Or you have to survive on the only things still good in your pantry - probably molded bread and peanut butter- until the nearest store opens.

Y/n being the intelligent teenager she was, decided to go with option one. So she woke up super early, wrote a note for her brother - which he probably wouldn’t even see, carefully attached a cooler to back of her bicycle and made her way into town. It was now almost two hours later. She had finished buying the necessities for the next few days and had already put all the perishable things inside her cooler and taped it shut so it wouldn’t spill its content onto the road.

She looked at her phone quickly. The hurricane had not only taken away the power but also the cell service towers. Which meant she couldn’t contact any of her friends at the moment. A sigh leaving her lips, she made her way to Kie’s house, hoping the other pogues hadn’t already picked her up.

“Hey, girlie,” her friend greeted as she turned into the driveway. “Hey, cutie,” y/n responded, placing her bike against the side of the house. “The pogues haven’t come by yet?”

“Nope, it’s just you and me for now. Come, we’ll go chat one the deck until they come.” Kiara motioned to the dock further away. “So, how bad is it at the chateau?”

“Oh you know, the usual,” she sat down beside Kiara, “no power, leaking roof, the yard is pretty dirty too, oh and I think a tree fell down.”

“Yikes.”

The two girls looked away in the distance as they heard the sound of a boat engine approaching them. “I think that’s our ride.”

Y/n saw her brother nudge JJ’s arm and point at her. “See, I told you she’d be here.”

“I left you a note, dumbass, didn’t know you couldn’t read anymore,” she put her cooler and her backpack onto the boat before getting in. “I went to get food for the week so we wouldn’t, you know, starve.” JJ snickered at her comment.

“Well, good morning to you too, y/n/n.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever. Here’s your breakfast, you greedy cow.” She tossed him a breakfast burrito. It was still warm and fresh, bringing a tasty smell in the air as it flew from y/n’s hand to her brother’s.

“Hey, no need for such words, I was only being polite.” Stated John B. “Thank you, for feeding me, my dearest sister.” Y/n cringed at his horrible impression of a British accent.

Just as she was going to make a joke about it, she noticed something sticky on her arm. Turning her head to the front of the boat, her eyes landed on JJ. He was, once again, trying his stupid beer trick, which failed and only resulted in splashing alcohol everywhere but in his mouth.

As she heard all of her friends complain about his behaviour, she decided it was enough and got up. She was about to take the bottle out of the blond’s hand, when the boat crashed into something. The impact had been hard enough to eject JJ out of the boat and make him fall right into the marsh.

“Ugh,” y/n groaned loudly. Since she had been standing when the boat stopped, she had tripped and fell into a very uncomfortable position. She had landed butt first on the hard metal edge of the boat, hitting her thigh at the same time.

“Jesus, Pope!” Kie said from where she was seated.

“You okay, JJ?”

“I think my heels touched the back of my head.” Usually, this kind of remark would have made y/n laugh, or even smile, but right now, she was not in the mood for laughter.

“Is everyone else okay? Y/n? Kie?” John B offered his hand to his friend. “Yeah, I’m good.”

“I think I broke my ass,” y/n winced as pain shot in her leg. “God, I never knew I was that flexible.”

The girl untangled her legs from the unnatural position they were forced into and reached for the cooler, taking a beer bottle inside. To minimize the pain she walked in a penguin-like way, taking very small steps. She must have looked very ridiculous doing so due to the weird look Pope gave her. She hissed as the cold of the bottle hit her leg. “What even was that?”

“Sandbar. The channel changed .” JJ swam back towards the hms. “No shit.” “Ugh this is probably gonna mess this whole place up.”

Pope approached the end of the boat, looking down with confusion painted on his face. “Guys,” his eyebrows scrunched even more, his eyes focusing on something hidden in the depth of the water. “I think there’s a boat down there.”

“Shut up.” “What?” “No way.” “Uh?” Y/n furrowed her eyebrows and looked down at the spot where Pope’s gaze was fixed. To her surprise there was actually a boat there, sunken and stuck into a pile of sand.

“Oh my god.” She looked back at her friends behind her. “He’s right!” She focused her attention back to the boat, trying to catch details of it. A thought crossed her mind. Could it be? No, it couldn’t. It wasn’t possible. There was no way that was her father’s boat down there, right?

“Guys.. Is this?” Y/n looked at her brother, he had thought the same thing as her. “It’s a boat!” Pope shouted with excitement.

“Holy shit he’s right, let’s go!”

Y/n’s friends all rushed to remove their clothes and jumped into the water. They seemed so excited. A small feeling of anxiety grew in the pit of her stomach. She felt left out, but at the same time she was scared. She practically knew the marsh like the back of her hand and yet she couldn’t help but worry. She looked down at the boat, it was way too far, she could never swim that deep.

The girl winced as she sat on the tip of the boat. She was looking at her four friends, their figures slowly shrinking as they swam deeper. When she looked at them it seemed so easy. Here they were swimming so carelessly. Why couldn’t that be her. Maybe one day she’d get over her phobia, but for now, it seemed impossible.

She let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding when the heads of her friends reappeared at the surface. She could hear them talk with excitement, but they were too far for her to understand exactly what they were saying. Clearly, they had found something.

“You guys found anything cool?” She offered her hand to Kie. “It’s a Grady White,” JJ shook his wet hair. “A new one of these is like 500 Gs easy.”

“It’s a primo rig.”

“Yeah, that’s the boat I saw when I surfed the surge.” JB added, making his sister’s smile disappear. “Maybe it hit the jetty or something.”

“You surfed the surge?” Kiara’s tone dripped with worry. “What the heck.” Her voice lowered down as she spoke those last few words. “That’s my boy! Pogue style!” JJ encouraged, giving a slight pat to John’s back.

Y/n frowned at his words. “Please don’t encourage him, J.” She crossed her arms on her chest. “It was a very stupid thing to do.”

“Wait, wait. Do we even know whose boat it is?” “No, but we’re about to find out.”

“Wait ,” y/n gripped her brother’s arm, “ are you sure it’s safe?” “Yeah dude, it’s too deep.”

John B bent down to pick up the anchor from the compartment where it was kept. “Only for the weak and feeble JJ.” “Well, I’m not resuscitating you I’m just making that clear.”

“That’s fine.” He turned to his sister, who was looking at him with worried eyes. “Please be safe, okay bird?” She was using the nickname their father had given him when they were younger. She barely used it anymore, so he knew she was really worried.

“I promise,” he nudged her shoulder softly, “little bug.” “Diver down, fool.”

“Diver down.”

Taglist

@drewswannabegirl @kaelyn-lobrutto24 @poguestyle17 @im-a-stranger-thing @lasnaro @thoughtsofthestars @briandaflores19 @lunaposey @allycat449-blog @ifilwtmfc

This means it wouldn’t let me tag you :(

[scaramoon]

OKAY SO LORE I’M TYPING THIS IN MY NOTES APP AS I’M WATCHING THE STREAM TO GIVE YOU THE FULL EXPERIENCE AND TO MAKE SURE I DONT MISS TO TELL YOU ANYTHING

there’s someone playing piano?? like straight up video of someone at a piano,,,,i think it’s yu-peng chen!! the song he’s playing is so pretty :( THEY HAVE A WHOLE INAZUMA THEMED SET HE’S PLAYING IN?? THERES AN ACTUAL INAZUMA ARCHON STATUE IN THE BACKGROUND AND EVERYTHING??

the stream is in chinese!! with subtitles!!

it will be 2.0 AND inazuma is now officially confirmed!!

now there’s a trailer! ITS ALL SO PRETTY AND OMG THE VOICE ACTORS?? GOROU AND THOMA WERE SHOWN!! oh my god the pyro cube?? looks so?? scary?? AAAAH THOMA THOMA THOMA??? STOOD NEXT TO AETHER?? IM SCREAMING rn they’re shaking ayaka!! and now yoimiya!! her voice actor is so cute i’m- SAYUUUU!!!! AGHH SHES SO CUTE BYE GOROU GORIU GORIU GOROU AAAAHHH HE EAS THERE HE WAS THERE AAAAAH

FIRST CODE: AS6BQKLY9GLD

now they’re back to the set!! they’re introducing some of the developers, right now there’s aquaria who’s the combat designer in genshin and rn they’re talking about the stages and joys of development and how the process works,,,i actually like this part!! it’s nice to see the people working on a game i’m so fond of talk so passionately about their thoughts while they’re working on it :> he said everyone at mihoyo loves the game as much as we do and that it’s all of us together in teyvat and i went 🥺 ngl

now he’s talking about inazuma and how different it was than mondstadt or liyue and how different the challenges there were! they put a lot of thought into the electro aspect of inazuma as well as the “eternity” part of it. there will be more dev talk later and now they’re just announcing the fan art contest that starts today

now they had a set change and there’s a different dev, and now they’re talking about the cultural and design aspects of inazuma! they say they love to see fan theories and that they often leave little clues in the game and that it brings them joy and motivation when people find and decipher them. they’re talking about the tea house now and the shiba inu that owns it; they hope players can discover all the little details the writers and designers put all over inazuma,,THEY JUST DRANK IN SYNC BC THEY STARTED TALKING ABOUT UNIFORMITY IN INAZUMA IM SOBBING,,,,ok wait it’s actually rlly interesting bc they’re talking about how they made sure every single detail in inazuma contributes/reflects the story and the “electro archon strives for eternity” story i’m- they’re currently talking about the real life inspiration they had, for example how the sacred sakura tree came to be and what it means

now they’re showing character combat (?) trailers!! ayaka is first, now yoimiya!! they’re actually showing the pyro cube in yoimiya’s!! THEYRE SHOWING SAYUUU MY BBY SHES SO CUTE they’re joking about how genshin players have been waiting for ayaka since the beginning of the game lmaooo bye 😭 they’re talking about the new characters now, what kind of people they are, what to expect from them and what their character traits are!! ayaka is elegant but also sweet and cute, yoimiya is creative and somewhat childish, enthusiastic and gets along with everyone, sayu sleeps a lot to grow taller and is a very well trained tiny ninja

we’re getting two new story chapters, act I and act II as well as ayaka’s and yoimiya’s story quests!!

THEYRE TALKING ABOUT THOMA, he’s observant apparently and has a very mysterious character!! they’re also talking about sara and kokomi AAHHHH GOROU GOROU!! they didn’t say much about him other than that he’s very dependable and fierce in battle!! they also mentioned yae sakura!!

SECOND CODE; GBNA9J5H9Y4H

another scene change and another dev, now it’s cissie!! she’s the one designing the inazuma map/landscape creator and they’ll be talking about geological design and the scenery of inazuma since it’s a archipelago as well!! she’s talking about the different uses of colour and shapes and how they’re using them to impact the player’s gaming experience; she also said that they tried to pay homage to classic ghibli movies with some of the design choices they made!

rn they’re showing “the shimmering voyage” which is the 1.0 ost w 68 songs which will me available soon!! now they’re talking to yu-peng chen THEY HAD THE LONDON SYMPHONIC THEATRE RECORD THE MONDSTADT SOUNDTRACK, THE SHANGHAI ONE THE ONE FOR LIYUE AND NOW THEY ASKED THE ONE IN TOKYO TO DO THE ONE FOR INAZUMA?? HELLOO?? they pay attention to the smallest details i swear i respect that so much wow

THE THEATRE MECHANICS EVENT IS COMING BACK IN INAZUMA!! we’re getting gardening for our tea pot too!! new enemies called “ruin senitel (?)” which is essentially a worm version of the ruin guard?? it looks weird and scary ngl,,,we get new fatui enemies, “the mirror maiden” as well as normal human enemies in inazuma, dressed like samurais,,

ayaka’s banner is first, then yoimiya & sayu,,,we get 2 new 5 star weapons as well 5 new craftable inazuma weapons. we get 2 new artifacts sets, emblem of severed gate and shimenawas remembrance, we get the ability to choose an artifact by sacrificing 3 5 star artifacts and creating an artifact strongbox; new system for the weapon banner: you pick which of the 5 star weapon you want and if you don’t get it, you get “fate points” and with those you can choose the one you want!

THIRD CODE: LS6T4L9ZZ7TH

and that was it!! yu-peng chen is playing the piano again as a farewell, i guess

AHH TYSM BBY ALL THE KISSES FOR YOU 😞🙏

i really like how much detail they put into it though :( like i’m ngl i am an impatient little shit but fr its so nice to know the devs love it as much as we do, i’ll gladly wait knowing they put so much detail in it :(

ALSO SJDJFJ kazuha and sayu sleeping on warm rocks together send tweet side note: big brother kazuha is v sweet me thinks, they’re related now i said so

i saw some stuff about thoma when i opened twitter a second ago and people are lowkey pressed that their characterizations of him are wrong 😞 that’s what they get for saying he got downgraded 😁

also,,, ruin sential,, y’know the “upgrade, go back, I SAID GO BACK” meme ?? that’s me w ruin guards, hunters, and graders so 😃 i stg if that thing can go underground i’m gonna cry. OH ALSO i heard about the garden thing a while ago and i don’t remember a lot of what was said but it’s really cool >:)

pov you’re me using kazuha to fight the samurais bc i think it’s funny

OOH WAIT THE ARTIFACT THING SOUNDS COOL THOUGH :0 do we just get to pick what type it is, or do sub stats and stuff carry over/give you a higher chance of getting certain sub stats? either way i’m v happy about that i have so much maiden stuff and uh. no one to put it on :”)

the weapon banner thing sounds cool too :> i don’t have a five star weapon bc i’m scared to waste primos but mayhaps if i can choose... >:)

also shout out to yu-peng chen for being amazing, thought one of the mondstadt songs would be easy to play and i was Very Wrong

[stingray-stories]

Day 24 7/21/2021

Helllllllo friends!

Today was soooooo fun. Maybe my favorite day yet. Which is saying a lot since most my days here have been amazing. Hopefully I can paint a nice picture for you. It began with a nice cozy sleep. In the morning, I didn’t workout to give myself a nice break and some more sleepies. I had a nice yummy breakfast and then met up with the Cocos crew to get ready for our visit to the refuge (specifically the East-West causeway) to do a bird count. I threw on my biosecurity outfit and hopped in the Guardian mask free with the Cocos (their quarantine is over yay!). When we got to the East-West causeway, we waded through the water to get to the very thin strip of land (previously a road built in the 40s) where we started our count. I wasn’t much help since this was my first go at it, but our job is to count active nests and determine varying stages of the bird babies. The Cocos crew are experts so I listened, enjoyed the scenery, and took wayyyy too many pictures. It was so much fun seeing all the different stages of the babies. Little eggy eggs that had been recently laid, naked little dinosaurs, fluffer nutters, awkward little fluffy and nudey mixes, grumpy-potamus looking ones, and full grown cuties that are not quite ready for flight (as you may have noticed I have become very well versed in the technical descriptions used during bird counts ;)). Overall we saw red-footed booby babies, masked booby babies, brown booby babies, frigate bird babies, and red tailed tropicbird babies (at a certain stage they call them chocolate chips eeeee so cute). We also saw lots of crabs and a baby black-tip shark do do do do. My favorite little baby was this super awkward brown booby who had a bunch of fluff around it’s neck and on its hips making him like quite the distinguished little gentleman. Honestly there were so many cuties it’s very hard to choose my favorite. After a lovely morning, we headed back to shore, I changed into my regular clothes, and then tried to help with the last little bit of community day. While we were out on the refuge, the rest of the crew was doing odd jobs around the station for community day so I missed most of the grunt work while I ooed and awed at little baby birds. I’m not complaining at all!

In the afternoon, Ben, Mollie (one of our fabulous chefs), and I had an early lunch so that we could go out and help Hank and our CMO (chief marine officer), another Ben, document the installation of new snorkel buoys and some smart satellite buoys. In a nut shell, we got to snorkel and take pictures of them working underwater. It was SO much fun. The first site we stopped at was the Rubble Pile (marked as a dead squirrel on the map hehe) where they installed a new buoy since the old one was not in great shape to anchor up to. To do this, they brought new chain and fed it through the a cement block about 15 feet down and then they connected the float buoys which sit 5 or so feet in the water column and then the surface buoy which is what we snag and link the boat to when we are snorkeling. Mollie and Ben were taking photos of the whole process while I watched and explored the reef. I saw a very calm and chill turtle swim by, some curious snappers, and a huge crown of thorn sea star which was cool to see but also a bummer since they can cause damage to the reef. Next, we headed to Tortagonia (or tortellini or tortilla) to set up a satellite buoy. At the sites where we set up the satellite buoys, there were previously established concrete blocks with a small submerged yellow marker that we had to find at the surface. We had rough coordinates and Hank knew where they were generally located so it wasn’t too tough. I also didn’t mind hanging out in the boat and enjoying the views. The weather today was spectacular. Not too much sun but just enough to keep you comfortable while snorkeling (I get chilly swimming after awhile even though the water here is usually a balmy 80 degrees depending on where you are). The water was also soooo clear it was like we were in an aquarium. So visibility was pasta primavera aka primo aka perfect aka amaza! I saw a ton of giant clams and lots of fishies like the humbug dascyllus (my current favorite), bigeye emperor, and yellowmargin triggerfish (or peach face). After Tortagonia, we stopped at station to grab some things and then we headed back out to North coral gardens and Barren islet to explore and install another satellite buoy. This is my new favorite part of the atoll. There’s soooo much to see in the water. It’s really shallow and there’s tons of coral covering the sea floor. It’s like a carpet of coral. Blue, green, pink, yellow, and brown. It reminds me of this toy I used to play with as a kid called Aqua Sand. It was like a drip castle underwater but with colored sand. The magical part of it was when you took it out of the water it was dry! Anyway it looks just like that. It’s soooo amazing. There were also tons of fishies swimming about. We swam to Barren and climbed up onto the coral rubble which is moved and shaped by the waves. It’s similar to the Rubble Pile, but there’s a lot more land and a lot more wave action coming in from the Pacific. At the end of Barren, there are two decoy bird colonies. These areas of Barren are the only parts we are allowed to access. They are technically apart of the refuge but we don’t have to worry about biosecurity since there’s not much there but rubble. The south western parts of the islet have more going on, but we can’t venture there due to unexplored ordinances from WW2 times. In the parts we could access, we walked around and did some exploring, but not with our fair share of difficulty. I mentioned that the end of Barren is coral rubble and only 2 out of the 5 of us brought shoes. “Lucky” for us there was a fair amount of trash that had washed up on shore which included many random shoes. I found a croc flip flop and a platform flip flop. Mollie also found a kid sized croc flip flop so we ended up passing the shoes around so we wouldn’t struggle too much on all the dead coral.

Overall, the whole experience was insane. The waves crash there in all different directions creating these crazy patterns in the rubble. It looks like aliens in a cornfield type of thing. The best part of it was standing at the end and watching the waves go all over the place. It’s just the big ol Pacific out there and it’s very powerful. Hopefully I can post of video of it because it’s very hard to explain how crazy it looks.

After hanging there for awhile, we headed back and stopped to fix another buoy by the North-South causeway. We got back to station pretty late but it was a fantastic day. So much fun on the boat! Once we got back to shore, we had some leftovers, I rinsed off, and then headed to bed. I was soooo tired after such an incredible day! Woweeeee!

Pictures will be a separate post. I got lots!

[blackicephantom]

The black dragon and the coward CH. 9

I’ll just leave this here. Please excuse me. *running for cover*

tagged: @patolemus ; @runestarchild

- . - . - . - . - . - . - . - . - 

Still thinking about what he was told Tsuna sipped from his cup. The tea was still warm and soothed his nerves. Everything until now was before they took away his flames, before the coldness settled in his bones. It was about the very first time he met the others. Which means that there’s still something that’s missing. “Chief, everything you told me just now….. It was about my first `Great disappearance´. What about the rest?” Timoteo also sipped from his tea before he answered. “After that day things changed. The people….. They started rumors that you would bring destruction upon us. How else could you have escaped these bloodthirsty beasts? It doesn’t matter how often I told them what happened, they just wouldn’t listen.  And that you had developed the habit of sneaking away, always with that forest in mind didn’t help either.”  

Ah, so that’s what it is. There are a few blank spaces but he could remember some of his adventures, always accompanied by one of his draconian friends. Luce would always worry while Reborn would just roll his eyes with a rather gentle smirk. `He’s a boy Luce. Let him explore.´ He couldn’t help the smile that stole itself on his lips. They took him through the ocean, guided him through the forest and had shown him the freedom of the brilliant and infinite blue sky. At least until his world had changed yet again. Resettling himself in his seat he asked again. “What about the rest Nono? What about the day you sealed my flames, the day I ran away from my parents?” Usually strong shoulders sagged, Timoteos whole form crumbling right in front of his eyes. His poor posture spoke of pain, regret and grief.

The whole village was in an uproar.

Nono wasn’t sure how this could have happened but it did. “Iemitsu, are you sure that your precious boy lit up his flames?” Agitated and very stressed, the blonde yelled. “There was no mistaking it! It was a brightly burning sky flame!” 

In their village, there were different types of flames. These flames showed one's magical affinity. The brighter and stronger the flame, the stronger the caster it belongs to. But for Tsuna it is way too early to manifest his power…. While Timoteo was still thinking about it Iemitsu already came to a conclusion. “It must have to do with these damn dragons! There is no other explanation!!” 

“Why was this such a bad thing?” At his simple question the old man sighed. “The only other person ever known to have manifested his powers so early…..was Primo. Even your own father first lit his own flames at the age of twelve.” At twelve?! Shocked, he tried to think back again. All of his classmates, all the other children….. They all started to awake their powers at this age. Which means he was the abnormality once again….. But Reborn and Luce… they were so proud of him! So he wasn’t ashamed of it. Never.

“Your father was scared to admit it but he was afraid that you would suffer the same fate as Primo. But instead of trying to teach you more control, instead of helping you, he was adamant about the fact that the dragons had cursed you. And because of your young age your body had difficulties to contain your power. Strangely enough it only happened when you were home alone with Iemitsu. The result were sudden high fevers and fainting spells.”

That’s something that always was nothing but a black space in his head. The brunette knows that he often had fevers, his mother told him, but why did it only happen when he was with his father? Putting that aside for later he continued his questioning. “I remember the moment you sealed me. I remember the coldness and the sudden rush of helplessness. I even remember my escape from home, followed by the hurried steps of my parents. Tell me Nono, what did you do? What happened for everything to end in fire and blood?” 

His old legs hurried as much as they could, but he slowly lost sight of the poor boy he just roped of everything. Tsuna ran and he knew that he had just one destination in mind: the forest were no one would ever follow. Iemitsu was right beside him, calling and shouting for his son to stop, to slow down. But the brunette ran at top speed, stumbling every so often. Yet he continued, always rightening himself and still running faster, until he had outrun them. 

Both men came to a sudden halt right at the edge of the forest. They knew: if they kept on going they would earn the wrath of the dragons, something they were avoiding. But this was Tsuna they were talking about! Timoteo tried to think of something, anything! But no matter what came to his mind, it would end in disaster. Just in the next moment a deafening roar resonated through the trees. It was filled with rage and anguish. Next came several growls.

His blonde friend wanted to go in and take his child home, he could see it in his tense shoulders and his deep frown. He could understand, truly, but if he went in now he wouldn’t return. After the old man got his breathing under control he turned to leave. “Let us return for now.”  But his friend wouldn’t move. The slowly hardening eyes were firmly kept on the treeline, always watching for the dangers that are yet to come. “Iemitsu!”

A small shudder went through the chief at this particular memory. This one roar haunted him for weeks in his nightmares, always accompanied by the deep growls and the pictures of the following war. It took a very long time for him to sleep peacefully again…..

Tsuna saw the shudder and thought, not for the first time, that all this took more out of this old man that he was led to believe. There was still something fishy about the whole thing.

“There’s still something you’re not telling me.” It wasn’t a question, it was a fact. Wary eyes slipped closed, tired lips parted. “You may not believe my next words. But I swear on the graves of my sons: I did everything I could to stop this madness. I put up a curfew for everyone, I probehited everyone from entering the forest. I even tried to keep your father caged in his office….. But nothing worked.” A single tear slid down a wrinkled cheek.

“No.” A single word with the meaning of hundets. But the other couldn’t be deterred. 

“Nono, if we don’t go in now they will definitely kill him someday!” Old hands crashed onto the table and rattled it’s whole frame. “I said NO! What on earth makes you think that they would hurt Tsunayoshi?!” The other occupants of the room kept their distance and their silence. No one was brave enough to interrupt these two men. It wasn’t often that their beloved and gentle village chief lost his cool. What happened even less was that, out of all the villagers, Iemitsu would start a fight with him. “They killed YOUR children! What makes you think that they wouldn’t hurt him?!” Shocked gasps rang through the sudden silence. The topic of his three dead sons was a rather sensitive one and was avoided at all costs.

Especially because there was no proof that dragons had killed them. Brown eyes narrowed and an aura of danger filled the big office. “Careful Iemitsu. You’re walking on very thin ice at the moment.” Timoteo tried to keep himself in check. It just wouldn’t do if he hit his own subordinate for something like this. But the fact alone that one of his closest guards, someone he considered family, would stoop so low was very telling about his mental state. He couldn’t let this continue. “I will say this one more time: No one enters the forest. It has been silent and if the dragons wanted to harm the child they would have done so the first time. They are very territorial creatures and it seems that our Tsunayoshi is very dear to them. They are not to be harmed!” Looking around one more time he gave his final orders. “If anyone goes against this orders they will be punished.”

Another tear rolled down. This time on the other side. “I’m ashamed to say that even the threat of a severe whipping was not enough to keep your father at bay. He went around the whole village and talked about justice. Justice for our deceased, for the abducted. For every poor soul taken way before their time. At this point it wasn’t about you anymore. They wanted to see blood, they wanted the justice I kept on refusing them.”

Tsuna couldn’t believe his ears. All this time…. Yes, Nono sealed his flames, took away his warmth. But it wasn’t him that led the massacre. He even tried to prevent it! This brought him a kind of relief he didn’t know he needed. The picture cleared itself, just a little bit. When he thought about it, when he really and truly tried, Tsuna could remember some things. When he was lonely and hid in the library he always read the books about mythology and fantasy, always the books about dragons. And everytime, as if summoned by these books, his father would storm inside, rip the paper away and take him home. He was forbidden from reading this trash, his father said. They tell nothing but lies, his father said… `He wanted to keep me away from them.´ He started to see the big picture, but he wanted to make absolutely sure. There was no room for any more mistakes. “Nono, chief, grandpa. Please tell me the rest.”

His words fell on deaf ears, the shouting was louder then any reasoning could ever hope to be. An angry mob had formed, people of every status came together to slay the dragons. Confronted with this hate and this anger he had two options: keep refusing them and be overthrown, unable to do anything or support them and betray every single thing he ever believed in. With a heavy heart and a guilt so heavy it would follow him for years he came to a decision. 

With his personal guards at his side he followed Iemitsu and his man. He watched the bloodbath, couldn’t stop Luce’s death and cried bitter tears when this noble dragon fell. His heart broke when the two children cried for their mother, slain cruelly right before their eyes.

He gave his guards orders to hold back and to stay as far back as possible without being suspicious. And yet it changed nothing. The outcome would be same. He resolutely kept his eyes on the black dragon, watched him try everything in his might to change the fate of their leader. Fear krept inside his soul when Luce took her last breath with a smile on her face and her gentle hand fell onto the ground.  

Fires raged and burnt the formally green forest, while blood sullied the former clean and healthy ground. The sky turned black and the sun hid behind the clouds. Pouring rain affected their sight, right alongside the suddenly appearing mist. The roar of the black Sundragon had every last one of them trembling. He changed right in front of them, his maw open and his eyes burning in bitter hatred and betrayal. To keep it simple: The dragons went out of control, berserk, whatever you wanted to call it. They killed and killed and killed even more. Now their thirst for blood was even greater than that of the foolish man that stood before them. Timoteo saw what they were doing. They kept the children safe, Tsunayoshi and the small girl. No matter what weather phenomenon appeared, the children would always stay unharmed. Then he heard the words that would burn themselves in his  head.

“Stop! Stop hurting them! Please stop!”

But no one would listen. 

Then Timoteo had to watch as Iemitsu finally reached his son, only for said son to reach for the still raging Reborn. But as the dragon noticed him he changed again and reached out as well. But it wasn’t meant to be. Those reaching hands never met. The blonde kept dragging the struggling child away But then a soldier snuck behind the still crying girl, he raised his sword and even the old chief would not watch a child be murdered. But before he could move a powerful magic was released. It was just for an instant, but just for this moment bright orange flames burst forward and burnt the soldier to nothing. The flames burnt so hot that even the child’s father couldn’t hold onto him. Iemitsu had to let go and called for his son, who started running as soon as his feet had contact with the ground. With all his remaining power he flung himself into the waiting arms of Reborn.

The tension rose between the two of them. The old man wouldn’t raise his eyes. To great was his shame, to big his burden. No one knew that he was against all this, because everyone just ignored that fact. But he did nothing to stop it either. “How did you take me back?” was the last whispered question. “It was your mother, yourself and my stepping in that finally put an end to this massacre.” Surprise must have shown in his face, because Nono had to chuckle. “Believe me, you aren’t the only one.”

It was in the moment that Iemitsu was going to grab the child out of the dragons protective hold that Nana stepped in. She’s not built for the battlefield, not used to the blood and the carnage. But she outright refused to stay home. Now she held her husband back and slowly approached the still growling dragon. Iemitsu wanted to grab her, to shield her but even Nono could see that she was a woman on a mission. So it was his turn to grab onto the blonde. 

Steeling herself  she kept going, but when those sharp yellow eyes snapped to her she couldn’t suppress her flinch. But upon seeing the silent tears she took another step forward. One step after another until she stood right in front of the dragon and her only child. There she went on her knees and did something that would forever be remembered. She knelt, she bowed, she cried. Then she spoke words that no human had said for such a long time. “I know that there is no way in heaven or hell for us to be forgiven. But for whatever it’s worth: I’m sorry. I’m sorry for your loss, for your pain. I’m sorry for your wounds. I’m sorry for the blood you had to spill for a mistake we humans had made. I’m so, so sorry!” With every word that left her lips she became more and more silent. The last part was barely understandable, because of the silent sobs that wrecked her fragile form. 

The dragons stood still, for just one second, then they cried. In outrage, in sadness and in mourning. Even Reborns eyes went wide before he shut them tightly. Pulling Tsuna even closer he let the rain wash away his tears. 

Timoteo stood aside when Iemitsu tried to go to his wife again. He pulled her up, not looking at the great reptiles still pacing around them. Then he grabbed a sword that lay at his feet and approached the still kneeling dragon. Nana tried to hold him back, but he shook her gentle hands off. He raised the blade, looked the beast in the eyes and went to strike. Only the sharp “ENOUGH!!” stopped him. He froze right on the spot while Nana, Reborn and even little Tsuna turned to him. “That’s enough. This has to stop, now. There’s already too much blood on our hands and way too many bodies at our feet.” The village chief looked him straight in the eyes. “Don’t you see what your madness did to us?” It was a last plead for his friend to stop this nonsense. But he still wouldn’t listen. “These beasts have to die. If they don’t fall now, this will just repeat itself!” was the growled answer. 

“That’s the moment you stepped up. You let go of Reborn and crawled to your fathers feet. Once there you promised to be good, to stay home. Everything he wanted, if only he stopped hurting them. You would even start to learn how to be the leader of the village. Everything and anything as long as they were safe. It was as touching as it was heartbreaking.”

So that was the whole story. That’s the reason he started to study seriously again. He said he would do anything. And even though he has forgotten about it he did what he promised.

But there was nothing without a price. So he asked “What was the requirement of the dragons?” A smile stole itself onto those old lips. “You’re such a sharp minded child.”

As ignorant as Iemitsu was, even he couldn’t do this. Still his eyes bore into the creature that held his son, no matter for what purpose. Then he had an idea. His son would do ANYTHING to keep these things safe. So he bent down to his son and told him simply “You will never see them again Tsuna. You hear? If you never come back to this place, where the monsters live, and train to be our next village chief I’ll stop.” The words were spoken so sweetly, yet they teared him apart. Bright eyes dulled and shown with tears but he still nodded. “Everything.”

Nono told him that even the great Reborn was powerless against him, even at such a young age. They had a last goodbye, quick and rather impersonal, yes almost cold, but Iemitsu thought he had already won. But his dear wife couldn’t watch it. So she said that Tsuna should say goodbye properly. “You ran back to them and hugged them as tight as your small arms would let you. Then you thanked them, one after another, said something nice to each one and waved. The last one was Reborn. But instead of thanking him you apologized. His answer was calling you `stupid child´ so fondly that it hurt. He didn’t want to let go but a deal was a deal.” 

Thoughts rushed around one another, there one moment and gone in the next. So many things made sense now, while others were even more confusing. But one thing still didn’t add up. “If I was forbidden from seeing them, how come I was allowed at Luce’s funeral?”

Melancholy washed over the wrinkled face and sadness painted his lips.

 Iemitsu had his crying son in his arms, hoping to calm him down, and was already on his way back to the village. Timoteo saw to it that every survivor made it back as well, when the dragons made a last request. “Nono.” came the tired voice of the feared dragon. So he turned again and looked into now dull yellow eyes. “I know what we just agreed to. But we want to give Luce a proper funeral.” The fact that it would only be a proper one with her second child in attendance was left unsaid. “Just tell me when.” 

The Arcobaleno talked silently for no more than a few seconds before Reborn gave a response. Taking Aria in his arms he replied “One week. It won’t take long. But we want to give him this chance.”

So a plan was made between Timoteo and Nana, who has waited just a few steps away. 

In one weeks time Nana will dress Tsuna a little bit nicer. She made sure that one of the more lazy guards was on duty that day and hoped that everything would be ok. Nono made sure that her husband was occupied. And if he made absolutely sure of it by knocking him out, no one had to know. From his window he saw young Tsunayoshi running for the trees and felt this painful sting in his chest.

“After everything was over Reborn brought you to the clearing himself. That’s it. That’s everything I know.”

So many facts raced against each other:

His mother was not as clueless as she let on, while his father bore more than his fair share of guilt and fault.

Timoteo di Vongola, the village chief and the man that took away his flames, has tried and failed to stop the war. But he paid with his consciousness in tetters and his mind broken by guilt and sleepless nights.

The village he grew up in was filled with nothing more than bloodthirsty monsters.

His chosen family didn’t abandon him. He forced them to let go of him, no matter how much it hurt to do so.

“One last thing Nono. I know that everything was rather traumatic for a child my age. But why couldn’t I remember him? I was right in front of him and even if there was a feeling of familiarity, I just couldn’t place it. And if I’m right it was the same for Reborn.”

A low hum was his only answer for several minutes. Almost long enough that he thought he wouldn’t get a real one. Until he did. “Part of it is trauma, I’m sure of it. But I’m also positive that it’s also still part of your seal, which is still active. It has weakened that day but it hasn’t broken. Why Reborn couldn’t remember….. Hmmm. I’m sorry but that’s something I’m afraid I can’t answer.”

He looked genuinely upset about it so Tsuna let it go. Drinking the last bit of his now cold tea Tsunayoshi stood up and prepared to leave. He had things to think about and plans to make. No one and nothing would keep him here in this village. With newfound determination he thanked his village chief and left his humble hut. 

It was truly a shame that he forgot about the three figures that followed them the whole way…..

_TBC_

- . - . - . - . - . - . - . -

I have absolutly no idea if everything is correct. But it’s almost 1 am and I’m tired. Please enjoy!

[overenthusiasticcartoonlover]

Snippet of Conceptual

   She and Chat Noir look at each other after they leave and touch down on a new rooftop, before just bursting into laughter. 

   "Did you see how worried they were? Did they really not take it as seriously before?" Chat Noir cackles, though it's more of a mad cackle, the heaviness of the situation getting to him.

   Ladybug leans on his shoulder, laughing mostly out of relief at being out of there, "No, they didn't. The city has had no clue how to deal with this, and well, we weren't even taking this as seriously when we were younger."

   Chat Noir rubs his eyes a bit, calming down some, "Yeah. Yeah, we didn't. At least you tried, but I just saw this as fun when I was younger. Several near misses later is when I started taking it a bit more seriously. I'd never really been free to do anything until recently, and that didn't help anything."

   Ladybug looks over at him, then just gives him a gentle smile, nudging his shoulder softly, "Hey, you and me against the world, right?"

   He looks back at her, giving a soft smile in return, "You and me against the world."

   She straightens at that, letting her shoulders relax and looking into the night, hope filling her for the first time in ages, "At least we have help now. Let's do identities. I want your phone number, so we can meet up and talk teammates, and I can tell you everyone I know that was compromised."

   Chat Noir makes such a soft, relieved noise, giving her an intense nod. 

   Ladybug grins back at him, taking his hand and pulling him off the rooftops, heading for an alcove on the rooftop near her house that she uses to detransform a lot now. She scoped it out earlier, and figured she'd be able to move them to her balcony to chat when they detransform.

   She gets settled in the space, then releases her transformation, her and Tikki having been working on wordless transformations lately. 

   Marinette looks up at Chat Noir and just smiles up at him, Tikki settling on her shoulder, "Hi, Chat Noir. My name is Marinette Dupain-Cheng."

   Chat Noir's eyes are wide, his pupils dilated and he seems a bit winded. Marinette worrying for a moment about his response, before he releases his transformation. When the magic finishes clearing from him, it's Adrien that's standing there, the boy just watching her, his voice coming out a bit chocked.

   "Yo-u're my lady."

   Marinette understands the feeling, almost mimicking his shock for a minute, before her lips start slowly spreading into a smile, until she just bursts into laughter, surging forwards to hug him, "You're my kitty! Hahaha! God, that actually makes so much sense, now that I get to see you outside of school more often."

   Adrien stiffens a bit at that, before slowly relaxing and hugging her back, his arms practically enveloping her, as he tucks his face against her hair, "Marinette. Yeah. I can definitely see it."

   She just pulls back and looks up at him, her cheeks turning a light pink, as she fights back new thoughts, "Well, I'm glad we already know each other. Come on, let's go talk on my balcony. All the kwamis are with Luiza right now, which is going to feel really weird depending on how long she has everyone for. I've gotten kinda used to having a bunch of kwamis just chilling around the room."

   She just climbs over to her balcony, Adrien following her after a beat, a laugh escaping his throat, "That's why you were so okay with leaving them with her. I was wondering why you'd trust her so much with everything without knowing her well, but you do know her."

   "Yeah. I trust Luiza a lot at this point. And how did you not know we'd be walking into Gaige's house? I've only been there twice, and I knew that door led into their apartment." Marinette looks back at him, just teasing a little.

   "Ah, yeah. I haven't actually been to their house since they changed everything. It used to lead to a stairwell that went all through the building, when I was, like, ten." Adrien gives her an awkward smile, his eyes turning sad, "I haven't actually gotten to meet the rest of Luiza's family yet either. I'm really only allowed out to class events with Luiza, and aerial manifestation practices. Father always schedules things after those practices to make sure I don't linger too long in the magic side of town, where he can't exactly come get me."

   Marinette winces a bit, moving to lean against the railing of her balcony, "Oof, I know we say it a lot, but you're dad is a little too overprotective."

   "I know, but at least that's how I know he loves me. He's just been a little distant since Mom died. I think he's scared to lose me like he lost her, but you guys are right, the way he goes about it isn't helping. I think Eliott and Luiza are actually helping him loosen up a bit. I know Eliott and Amelie have been trying to bully him into going to therapy." Adrien lets out a heavy sigh and moves to settle against the railing with her, looking over at her after a moment and giving a smile.

   "Yeah. I'm sure therapy would help. It'd be nice to see him start being better with you." Marinette looks back at him, bumping his shoulder softly, "Either way, my door is always open if you want to come over and hang out."

   "My lady, are you suggesting I sneak out of the house?" Adrien waggles his eyebrows at her, his lips quirked up in a smirk.

   Marinette snorts at that, pushing his face, "You absolute dork. I'm just telling you, you can hang out here. If you happen to sneak out to get here, then that's not my problem."

   Adrien laughs at that, moving to hop up on the railing, "Thanks, Marinette. You may regret that invitation though."

   "Yeah, probably." Marinette chuckles, moving to lean her head on her hand and look up at him, "Hey, I don't even need to get your number now. I already have it. Did you see who all was compromised? You know everyone."

   "I did, yes. Alya, Nino, Max, Kim, Luka, and Kagami. We already have Luiza as a teammate. Should we do identities with her? It'd make it easier for us to talk to her about enchantments without having to go to her house and risk being seen having a connection to her." Adrien kicks his feet a bit, hands on the railing.

   Marinette thinks on that for a minute, scrunching up her nose, getting just a bit distracted by the soft way Adrien's watching her, "Um, actually, that's a good idea with the new cloaking enchantments. Try calling me Ladybug."

   "Okay, Marinette. Marinette. Marinette. Yeah, no. It still works." Adrien leans back a bit, his eyes not leaving her.

   "Good. Thank you, Adrien. Adrien." Marinette gives out a delighted giggle, when trying to call him Chat Noir doesn't work, "Ahaha! I love these enchantments. I need to get Luiza to teach me enchantments. I've been trying with Maman, but her magic is so much different than mine, and I only visit Adalita so often."

   Adrien gives a soft smile at that, looking away from her for a moment, "Yeah. I really want to meet Adalita sometime. Los primos talk about her all the time in our group chat."

   "You guys have a group chat?"

   "Yeah. They all wanted to be able to chat with me, and I still haven't been able to see Lucie and Akash since the whole thing with Jackson. We'd invite Félix too, but Amelie hasn't exactly told him about magic yet. I don't know why. I just know I'm not allowed to mention it around him." Adrien shrugs, turning back to her and tilting his head, "Hey, do you have any cousins? I know you have an uncle and a few grandparents, but that's about it."

   "Oh, yeah. I have a bunch of cousins. They all live in China though, so we're not exactly close, and Papa is an only child. I think it's really cool that you've got close family though. I've always wondered what that's like." Marinette moves to sit on the railing with him, kicking her feet to get steady.

   "It used to be a lot nicer. I can't quite imagine not having them though. It kinda makes up for the lack of siblings." 

   "I bet." Marinette leans her head back and looks up at the stars, her mind still buzzing with thoughts, "If we do a reveal with Luiza, do you think we should do a reveal with the rest of the team, when we finally get one up?"

   "Yes, please. I really don't like anyone being left out of the loop. I do think vetting them first is a good idea, and maybe people around our age. I think I would also prefer they be magics, so they understand what we're talking about when we talk about enchantments and the like, but I get it if we don't have much choice." Adrien watches her lights for a bit, his eyes drooping a bit, looking kinda tired, "Sucks that Alya and Nino got compromised. Alya at least would be incredibly excited."

   "She would, but I barely trusted her with the miraculous in the first place, and she almost kept it after I told her not to. She's grown a bit since then, but she's still got some more growing to do. I want people that are more mature and can handle things delicately, if we come across some heavy situations, as is incredibly likely anymore." Marinette closes her eyes, humming softly to herself, "Alix is only one that really comes to mind from our class. I want her as one of our permanent teammates; I'm just not sure what miraculous yet."

   "Yeah, we should figure out when ones would be best for permanent teammates, so we can have Luiza enchant those first." Adrien kicks his feet a bit, "I hate to say it, but I don't know nearly as many people as you do, or as well as you do. Do you think anyone from our aerial group would work?"

   "Yeah. Honestly, I'd trust just about anyone from our aerial group, except for Cerise. I love Cerise, but I do not trust her not to keep asking me questions about everything, constantly." Marinette snorts.

   "Fair. How many teammates are we thinking? We've got me, you, and Luiza officially so far, and you want Alix, which would make it two extra so far." 

   "Six. We know for sure Luiza and I will be able to clear akuma, and I don't want to be blindsided by anymore mass akuma things, not to mention the sentimonsters. Six people that we can actually sit down and train with, plus you and me should be just enough to handle that kind of situation, and because we can train with them, I can have some of the extra teammates train to handle different kwamis, so we can change them around if we need certain skills. And that also will help spread the work around the team. 

   Luiza seemed pretty confident in making the rest of the miraculouses in the box heavily reliant on guardian permission, so I'm thinking we can put a bit more trust on the extra teammates." Marinette stretches out her arms a bit, "We can sit down with Luiza sometime this week and chat with her about it, once we tell her who we are."

   "Yeah, that would certainly help. I'll keep in mind who I think would be a good match too." Adrien gives a yawn, moving to lean on her shoulder, "I hate to leave so soon, Marinette, but I have an early photo shoot, and I'm really tired. Is it okay if I go home to sleep?"

   "Yes, of course. You don't need to ask me if you can leave, kitty. You do look pretty tired." Marinette leans her head on his for a moment, before hopping off the railing and holding out a hand to help him down, "I didn't expect to talk this long even. We can talk some more about this tomorrow. Can you tell your dad you've got a spontaneous aerial manifestation practice with Luiza tomorrow?"

   "Mmhmm. I'll text Luiza about it. She helped me enchant my phone my second practice with her, so he can't read my messages on the magic apps." Adrien takes the help down, rubbing his eyes and smiling at her, moving to wrap her up in a hug, "I'm glad to know it's you, Marinette."

   Marinette blinks a little at the affection, before just getting up on her tip toes to hug him back as best as she can, "Me too, Adrien. I could never have kept being her without you, you know?"

   Adrien just squeezes her softly, Marinette feeling a couple teardrops hit her ear, "Thank you, Marinette. I couldn't be him without you either."

   Marinette pulls away at that, looking up to see the tears in his eyes. She gives a gentle smile at that, and reaches up to clear away a couple tears, "You are the best partner I could've asked for."

   Adrien sniffles at that, eyes filled with vulnerability, before he just hides his face in her hand, his voice watery, "Thanks."

   Marinette just moves to softly bop his nose, "Mmhmm. You should probably head home and sleep. You really do look tired."

   He gives out a watery chuckle at that, giving her a gentle squeeze, before letting her go, "Okay. I'll see you tomorrow, Marinette."

   "I'll see you tomorrow, Adrien. Be safe on your way home." Marinette lets her hand fall, smiling as he calls out for Plagg, the kwami phasing up to them from her room, where she'd set out a snack for both him and Tikki, before she left earlier.

( Full fanfic on AO3 )

[therainroguefanfiction]

☁ Drifting Away (Giotto) #04

📑 Table of Contents | ◂Previous

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☁ Library ✗ Watched ✗ Knuckle ☁

The room was silent other than the ticking of the grandfather clock on the other side of the room. You found yourself wondering why they were called grandfather clocks. Was it simply because they were much larger than normal clocks? Maybe because it was so large, it got branded the grandfather. That would make regular clocks father clocks, right? You guessed there were no child clocks unless you count a watch as a clock. It does tell time and it is smaller than an average-sized clock. What about the mother? Is she so great that the clocks bigger than grandfather clocks are dubbed mother clocks? Or are they great grandfather clocks? Hmm, the world made no sense sometimes.

“What are you thinking about?” Giotto’s voice brought you from your thoughts and you blinked at him.

Once his words sunk in, you quickly looked away, grabbing your left elbow; a nervous habit. If you told Giotto what you were thinking about, he’d probably think you were crazier than he already did. You bit your lip and he chuckled.

“You don’t have to gain my trust.”

Though you were thankful for the change in topic, the one he changed it to wasn’t much better. “Of course I do,” you mumbled, rubbing your arm. “I don’t expect to automatically have everyone’s trust, especially considering the circumstances.”

Giotto moved to stand in front of you, his hand resting gently on top of your head. “You already have my trust.” You were about to protest, but he cut you off. “That ring around your finger is proof that you are an ally.” He paused for a moment, “I don’t know how you got that ring, but it’s enough to prove your story. The Vongola rings can not be faked. They are not so simple as to be used by just anybody. You are wearing the true form of the ring and it did not reject you, proving that you are meant to bare that ring,” he stared at it thoughtfully, “There is no doubt in my mind that you are telling me the truth.”

“Primo…” you whispered, feeling shock and warmth spread throughout your body. His eyes met yours and you smiled, eyes shining. “You’re too trusting.”

He chuckled, a smile on his lips. “G often says the same thing. I have some buisness to attend to, but feel free to explore the grounds. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask me or one of my guardians.”

You watched as he walked swiftly and gracefully out of the room. You figured you’d take full advantage of his suggestion. It’s not every day you get to explore the mansion belonging to the first generation Vongola family, afterall.

You walked down the hall, taking in all of the little details. Giotto had been right. If you over stress your mind, you won’t get anywhere. You’ll just end up running around in circles like a dog chasing its own tail. Admiring the mansion was a pretty good way to relax.

The hall you were walking down had a calm and collected feel to it. Not too cold, but not screaming welcome, either. The right wall held various doors and paintings, while the left was a series of windows. On both sides were small, round and white colored tables, some holding plants and flowers while others held small sculptures. The carpet was royal red in color and soft like velvet.

When you made your way down the large set of stairs to the first floor, you turned to the left and kept walking until you reached the end of the hall. Double doors, even larger than the ones leading to Giotto’s office, stood in front of you. Elegant carvings covered the doors, smooth to the touch.

You pushed the doors open as lightly as you could before stepping inside the library. There were hundreds of shelves towering over you and thousands of books filling the room from ceiling to floor. You could guarantee that this room held at least one book on every subject known to man. There were probably five life times or more worth of books. It was… incredible.

You were so engulfed in the selection that you didn’t realize that someone had followed you into the library, nor did you hear the door being closed. You weaved in and out of the shelves, hand running lightly over the books’ spines. Most people, even those who knew you well, would probably be shocked to learn that you loved to read. Looking at the way you acted and talked, plus your grades were pretty good indicators that you didn’t like to delve into anything like reading, but you should never judge a book by it’s cover.

You absolutely loved reading, you just usually didn’t have enough free time to do so thanks to school, a certain biting-fetish bird, and an annoying brat who could kick your ass at the drop of a hat. When you did get some free time, you’re usually too tired to do anything but sleep.

A sigh passed your lips when your hand stopped on a book called ‘Home is Where the Heart Is’. If that was the case, then your home would be with Tsuna, Gokudera, Yamamoto, and the rest of the gang. Your hand balled into a fist against the books, eyes closed tight and jaw clenched. You missed your friends, your family.

“Heh. The last thing I said to Gokudera was an insult. I pissed Hibari off and upset Lambo. I yelled at Mammon about taking my money and snapped at poor Skull and Dino… I’m horrible,” your voice cracked and you slammed your fist against the bookcase, feeling regret fill your chest. “Tsuna…”

You could feel your heart ache like someone was squeezing it tightly in their fist. It was hard to breathe and you felt like crying. You had always been pretty good at keeping things to yourself and you never cried unless it was truly bad. Your family meant more to you than anything else in this world and the thought of never seeing them again… it was unbearable.

‘Have they noticed my disappearance? Were they angry? Concerned? Did they think I abandoned the family? Shit, I have to pull myself together… this is ridiculous!’

“Kufufu~” you didn’t register the laugh in time to react before a set of arms snaked around your waist and a chin rested upon your shoulder. You didn’t feel shivers like earlier because you knew you needed the comfort, even if it was from him. “Is my little bird upset?”

Ignoring the comment, you decided to speak instead of just ignoring him altogether, your tone strained. “What do you want?”

“What else?” he chuckled. “I’m going to help you~”

Your eyes narrowed suspiciously as you turned in his embrace, pushing him away. “You’re going to help me?”

His creepy smile did not waver. “I’ll do whatever I can,”

“Why would you help me? And, now that I think about it, why didn’t you tell the Primo and the other Guardians what you knew?”

“Kufufu~ You don’t belong in this era, my little bird. You don’t belong with the first generation family and you don’t belong with the Primo. You belong only with Vongola Decimo and his generation,” he grabbed a few strands of your hair, twirling it around his fingers, eyes locked with your own. “I won’t tell anyone. It’ll be our little secret~”

You scowled at his back as he took his exit, the doors closing silently behind him. You didn’t want to trust him, but who else could you turn to? Daemon Spade was the only one who knew who you were, who knew everything. He’s the only one who could help you gather the clues you needed to solve this mystery.

You leaned back against the shelf, staring up at the dark ceiling that loomed above you. A mocking smile touched your lips as you chuckled, “Atleast I know that I don’t have what it takes to become a detective, especially if I have to rely on Daemon Spade to help me solve a mystery.”

The feeling of being watched creeped into your mind. Something shuffled out of the room, catching your attention. How long had they been there? How much had they heard? And more importantly, had Spade known that they were there? You took a deep breath.

‘Worrying won’t get me anywhere,’ you concluded before leaving the library. Still, it pricked the back of your mind. Whether it was worry or raw curiosity, you weren’t too sure.

━━━━━━༻🌧️༺━━━━━━

In an attempt to calm your nerves, you left the house and headed out to the large garden that sat to the side of the house. A calming aroma filled your nose as the sound of wind ruffling the leaves of tall trees and flowers reached your ears. The wind was cool against the exposed skin of your arms and face, the sun hidden behind light gray clouds.

Laid through out the garden was a small pathway, just big enough to walk through without damaging the flowers. Lush green grass and various types of flowers littered both sides of the pathway. The path led to a small open area where a bench was positioned. In front of it was a medium-sized, round water fountain colored a teal blue.

This garden was extremely peaceful and… almost magical. As soon as you sat down, your worries about the library incident and about searching for clues left your mind. You felt at ease there, almost as if the rest of the world didn’t matter. Time seemed to pause when you entered the garden.

“It’s very calming, isn’t it?”

Your eyes darted to the side.

Knuckle had just walked up the path, sending you a friendly smile. “May I join you?” he questioned, his eyes shifting to the empty spot beside you on the bench.

You scoffed, gazing at the fountain. “I’m just the guest, Knuckle-san. You don’t have to ask me such a question.”

He smiled, setting himself down beside you. “You seemed like you didn’t want to be bothered.”

“No, I just have a lot on my mind,” you sighed, leaning back on the bench and staring up at the baby blue sky. “Everything is just so confusing. I don’t know what to do or where to begin. I’ve never been so confused in my life.”

Knuckle took your hand in his own, lacing your fingers together and closing his eyes. “I don’t know the extent of your situation, but I can tell it’s putting a really heavy strain on your mental health. It’s fine to think things over, as long as you don’t harm yourself in the process. Have faith and I’m sure the lord will help you find the answers you seek when the time is right.”

You gripped his warm hand tightly. Normally, you felt really uncomfortable and awkward around religious people, especially when they managed to bring it into normal conversation, but… you didn’t feel that way around Knuckle. His presence was reassuring and his words made you realize how important it was to remain calm. You already knew that the key to such situations were to remain calm and collected, but you had never been faced with such a situation before. Sure, you had been apart of the future arc, but you had Tsuna and the others at your side.

But now… now you were alone.

Knuckle ran his thumb over the Vongola ring on your finger. “This is proof that you’re no threat to us, but I’d recommend you hiding it. The others may let their minds wander.” Giving your hand a small squeeze, he pulled away and stood up, leaving you alone in the garden.

You pulled the ring off your finger and examined the ruby red jewel with the Vongola crest before setting it on the bench. You unhooked the chain around your neck before slipping the ring onto it, making a clinging sound as it hit the dog tags that also bore the Vongola Crest. You rehooked it and tucked it into your shirt; the chain was long enough to be well hidden beneath the white tank top. You put your hand over it through your shirt, Knuckles’ words echoing in your mind.

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