#....huh...eh ... dale

[eightspringdays]

I saw an interview of Pitbull and someone commented that "he speaks in Dalee" and if my english doesn't sound like that when I talk, then Im doing an awful job here

[arthenaa]

Unspoken Attraction — Sebastian Sallow x Reader

PLOT SUMMARY:

The girls and you have a talk on who they'll date amongst the students in Hogwarts. No one mentions Sebastian despite being deemed the most handsome in your year. You wonder why?

DISCLAIMER:

gossip gossip hihi, imelda being the best and just roasts every1 esp seb, seb being down bad, realizations, friends 2 lovers, kiss kiss fall in love, gender neutral reader, readers house is up to u, fluff disgusting fluff, i love u sallow boy.

"I think Amit is quite handsome. I suppose he'd be a good conversation partner." Natty hums as she rests her chin on the palm of her hand. Imelda looks at her with disgust.

"He'd probably love astronomy more than you in your relationship. I'd punch him on the first date." Imelda scoffs, rolling her eyes. Poppy just gives the Slytherin gal a glare for her unkind words.

The four of you were lounging in the empty Beasts classroom, relaxing in the cool breeze coming from the forest. Professor Howin had allowed the four of you (originally you and Poppy, but Imelda and Natty had passed by and decided to tag along) to stay in the classroom in hopes of teaching the new 5th year (You) more about Beasts but all you've done in the past hour is sit on one of the tables and talk about the most random of things. Now you were talking about who to date in Hogwarts.

"What about Yrma?" Poppy suggests. "She's nice."

"Stop suggesting Ravenclaws. I physically cannot handle it." Imelda grunts. You shoot her a sympathetic look to which she flips you off. "Also, she's a third year. I'd die if you pair me up with someone younger. A journalist, too, she'd know every step I'll do, and I'll just have an aneurysm because of it."

"Alright, what about Weasley?" You suggest. Natty makes a look, considering the option. Poppy sighs and shakes her head.

"Which one?" Imelda jokes, to which Natty smacks her arm. Poppy rolls her eyes before answering the question.

"He's cute but too mischievous." Poppy lists. Imelda nods, agreeing with her statement. Poppy pets the Puffskein sleeping on her lap, smiling softly at the cute creature snoring away.

"Eh. He's fun. I can probably handle him." Natty says. You let out a small laugh.

"I'll pass. He's like a brother to me. Probably because Professor Weasley acts too much like a mom." You reply. You lean closer to Poppy, glancing down at the Puffskein to coo at it.

"What about Dale? She's cute." Natty suggests. She then turns to Imelda, who looks like she'd complain once more about a Ravenclaw being listed. "Don't."

"What? I wasn't gonna say anything..."

"It's because her past lover was from Ravenclaw that she's like this." Poppy says with a disappointed look on her face. "Clumping up all Ravenclaws and putting your prejudice that was originally for one person into the general public, huh?"

"Shut it, Sweeting." Imelda glares at her.

"Alright, stop fighting. I know you'd rather date a Hufflepuff, Reyes." You tease. The Slytherin's cheeks flush, and a harsh kick to your knee sends you jolting up against the table with a pained groan. The Puffskein awakens to the sudden harsh movement and jumps off Poppy's lap.

"Imelda!" Poppy whines as she watches the Puffskein hop away to its den. "Look at what you did!"

"How'd you even know it was me?!" Imelda complains. Poppy crosses her arms over her chest.

"You're seated directly in front of Y/N. They'd never jump for no reason, and also, Natty's an angel. Besides, I could feel the kick." Poppy chastised. Imelda looks away with furrowed eyebrows and a pout as she grumbles about it, not being her fault. You look at the two with a smile.

"It's okay, Poppy, let's just continue." You send Imelda a knowing smile to which she scowls at. Natty giggles at the interaction.

"Ooh, what about Gaunt?" Natty wiggles her eyebrows. "He's a young lord. Deemed one of the most handsome in our year. I'd date him."

"Really? You'd get pulverized by his crazy blood status fanatic of a family." Imelda leans forward to place her arms on the table before leaning down to rest her head on it. "But I guess he's decent. The type to defend you against them. A typical romantic cliche."

"Doesn't he have a lover?" Poppy mentions. Imelda immediately rises up at the information.

"Oh yeah. I saw them snogging near DADA. Sebastian looked like he was constipated, muttered about when it was his turn to be happy or something." Imelda cringes at the memory. At the mention of the Sallow boy's name, Natty and Poppy glance at each other with knowing looks. Suddenly, their attention is on you.

"What about you, Y/N? Will you date Ominis?" Poppy smiles knowingly. There's something about the two's stare that puts you in an uncomfortable position.

"Uh..." You purse your lips in thought. Ominis was one of your best friends. He had been with you through thick and thin, but that's all he ever was. Besides, he was happily in love with someone else. "Not really? Same answer with Gareth's."

Natty nods in understanding. Imelda glances at the two in confusion. "Why do you two look like you're the one who's constipated?"

"Shut it, Reyes." Poppy rolls her eyes. You laugh at their bickering. At this point, there was one person who definitely should be mentioned in this conversation. He was already well known in the school for his charming personality and handsome looks. People always gossip about him. You let out a shaky breath before nervously glancing at the three.

"What about Sebastian?" You suggest. The three fall in silence, not responding to the question. It didn't even look like they were contemplating about it. "Hello? Did you not hear me or what—"

"Oh no, we heard you." Imelda chuckles as she smirks at her. When Imelda smirks, you know it's not good. "I just don't think we can claim him."

"Claim him?" You tilt your head in confusion. "You make it sound like he's already dating someone."

"Ehh..." Natty shrugs her shoulders. "Aren't you?"

"Aren't I what? Huh?" You sat, baffled at their curious looks. "I'm not dating Sebastian?"

The three look at each other before laughing. It wasn't even a casual laugh, it's full on stomach grabbing, tear inducing, I'm-gonna-pee what the fuck laugh. You look at them in confusion.

"Merlin, I can't take this seriously." Natty wipes a tear from her eyes as she continues to laugh.

"I'm really not dating him!?"

"You're so funny!" Imelda pats your shoulder. "Don't tell me kissing each other everywhere except the lips counts as friendly. Who the fuck kisses their friend on the neck?"

"Uh, she has a point." Poppy shrugs. "He walks you to class, holds your hand, and not even in a normal way. It's the intertwined one, and if looks could kill, Garreth Weasley had already been buried months ago."

"Also, he always touches you. An arm on your waist, hugging you from behind, fixing your hair, looking at you like you're the Messiah yourself." Natty lists on, continuing Poppy's evidence. Surely not?

You stare at them with wide eyes and an unreadable look. You and Sebastian had always had a strong bond. Ominis often commented about feeling left out whenever you two were together. You always thought that he was just teasing you about it. The things that you've gone through had eliminated all barriers between the two of you, so physical affection had seem normal for you. Had the line between friends and more than friends became too blurred already?

"Merlin's beard. You don't know!" Natty gasps in shock. "Rafiki, that is more than just friendship."

"But I'm really not..." You try to defend yourself, but the more that they stare at you, the more you start to realize how obvious it should've been. Before you could try and convince yourself about how ludicrous it is all, Imelda delivers the final blow.

"Love, everyone knows Sebastian is yours."

Heat rises to your cheeks, and as if things couldn't get any worse, a familiar voice calls out to your little group.

"There you are!" Sebastian Sallow, the devil himself, grins as he approches your little group with Ominis trailing behind. The three cough at his sudden appearance and you freeze in your seat.

He makes his way behind you, grasping your shoulder firmly before leaning down close to your face. "Hey, I'm here. No greeting?"

You turn your head towards him, glancing at the three girls who look away, trying to contain their laughter. You look back at Sebastian, who smiles, expecting something. You sigh, giving him a chaste kiss on his cheek. He lights up like a Christmas tree.

At the sight of affection, the three suddenly stand up, collecting their things. "O-oh I just remembered I forgot to water the chinese cabbages again, haha! Silly me! I better go get it!" Natty says with a poorly concealed smile. Sebastian looks at her, confused.

"Uh? Okay?" Sebastian awkwardly laughs. You glared at her as she grabbed Imelda and Poppy who make haste in gathering their things.

"I also have to bring them and Ominis because of ... uh... safety." Natty bullshits her way through as Imelda grabs the young Gaunt's arm, pulling him with them.

"Huh what? I didn't get a say in th—" Poppy covers his mouth as they walk away, dragging him along. Natty gives her a final thumbs up of encouragement as the two of you watch in confusion. You watch as their figures disappear before the boy beside you finally breaks the silence.

"There they go." Sebastian sighs. "I was hoping I'd get to hang out, but oh well. I don't really have complaints with just us here."

You flush at his bluntness as he sits down beside you, pulling your figure to his arms. He hugs you tightly before resting his head on your shoulder. "History of Magic felt like forever. I swear I'd never be able to stay awake in that class. Binns must've put something in the air."

You couldn't focus. He's so close.

"Lucky that you and Ominis get to share that class. At least you'd have someone to suffer with." He jokes as he raises his head. Silence engulfs you both as he stares at your face.

"Stop." You groan as you try to push his face away, but he only grasps your hand in his palm.

"Why? You look like you're about to explode." He laughs softly. You still couldn't look at him, eyes trained at the table in front of you. To make things worse, he grabs your chin before softly turning your head towards him.

"I'm talking to you. Look at me." He mumbles lowly in a deep voice. You almost wanted to whimper at how attractive that was.

"Stop doing that, I swear." You whisper as you look at him, nervousness creeping. He smirks, leaning in.

"Why? You seem so quiet today." He chuckles, pulling you closer as he tucks a stray hair away from your face. "What's got your pretty little head busy, hm?"

"You." You admit as your eyes admire his features. He lets out a soft smile.

"Me?"

"Yeah." You raise your hands to cup his cheeks. The two of you had been sitting so close that if you just lean a little bit forward, you'd be able to kiss him.

"Yeah?" He raises his eyebrows in amusement as his gaze flickers from your eyes to your lips.

"You're so annoying." You pout. He bites his lip before dropping his head on your shoulder. Your fingers then softly scratch his scalp and twirling his curls. He raises his head back up before unashamedly stares at your lips.

"I don't need to tell you what's going to happen, right?" He whispers. You gulp nervously as your arms slide up to wrap around his neck, pulling him closer.

"Mhm." You hum before placing a chaste kiss on his lips, testing the waters. He lets out a shaky breath at the sudden action. You look up at his eyes, trying to discern if what you did was okay before he grins fully and leans back down to kiss you again.

Your body unconsciously pushes against him, craving his touch. You tenderly kiss him back, hands occuppied with his soft hair. His hands rub your lower back gently as he continues to kiss you. You don't know how much time has passed before you pull away. You both smile at each other before Sebastian leans forward to give you more pecks on the lips. You giggle at his behavior.

"I like you." He whispers, nudging his nose against yours. You smile at his confession, palms now cupping his cheeks. You press a firm kiss on his lips before staring at him in adoration.

"I like you too."

A/N 1.1 : IM DEAD i love this. Also im not sure if I said friend in Swahili right ,,, lmk if its correct 🫶

A/N 1.2 : TYSM FOR ENJOYING THIS LOVE U ALL

[fountainpenguin]

Riddle watches New Wish - Post #23

Hazel Wells and the Multiverse of Jenkins

PFFT-EH?-EHHH? It's confirmed daylight savings time? Then take down the posters that've been up for 30 episodes implying it was November, you goofs.

I'm thinking Hazel showed up around September or October (i.e. before the November Sneezy Hawkins dance and we know she was in school for a few weeks before the exam at the end of "Teacher's Pal," because she told us), then Antony came home for winter break, and now it's March. That gives us a good estimate of things like founder's day and Dev's birthday. In fact, we know exactly what the length of time between those two dates is because Dev told us his birthday was 9 years, 7 months, and 14 days ago. I guess that checks out since Antony probably came home in December. If it's March for daylight savings, that would be another 3 months. This also implies Dimmadelphia is farther south than Dimmsdale, which occasionally saw snow (though it's possible godkids were wishing for it). Dimmadelphia doesn't seem to get snow.

Or he could just say "set your clocks BACK" as soon as I unpause and I'll just... sit here with my little notes. it's fine.

We're confirmed for fall, then. Possibly Hazel's been here a year if the posters are to be believed, but also at this point, those posters stay up all year round, so they're not to be trusted even for Episode 1. Unclear what the summer situation is, but I'll make a proper timeline another time.

I would say this is the key episode to build a timeline around. Then roughly place Dev's birthday and then Founder's Day the appropriate time apart and fill in the blanks.

Looks like "Operation: Birthday Takeback" aired July 31st, which might be a good place to start if I want to canonize Dev's birthday date for fanfic purposes.

Founder's Day was around school because Dale was prepping during "A New Dev-elopment," when we know school was in session, so I'll do math and consider my options when I'm done with Season 1.

So... Dev just told Hazel someone has a crush on her, but I find that hard to believe because they're at odds and I can't imagine he has good reasons for chatting like this.

He called her a nickname, which he only does when they're not friendly. And no Peri to give her any clues...

I would not trust this man, but I respect the hustle.

Are we going to be manipulating time and space; is that why it's daylight savings?

They have a class pet:

Aw, I like how Winn became a Prime Meridian fan after the book club episode, apparently.

Huh. Was it Winn who had Shakespeare for Mimes early on? It's clearly in their locker. I could've sworn it was Jasmine, which is why I was confused she was afraid of clowns. Maybe she finished and gave it to them. I'm gonna check.

I say as I look up and see the clown toy sitting in her locker. Good for her for conquering her fears.

No, it was Jasmine (end of "Teacher's Pal")

Yes, those dance posters are still up. They're getting the boot from my canon.

Hazel's "next class" is Room 104, so that could theoretically be used to scout her classroom number. Which confuses me because we know she's on the 2nd floor, but okay.

I love Father Time; he's such a silly guy.

I like how Hazel is just... so stressed out about Jenkins having a crush on her.

I particularly enjoy like how after he said she was so confident in a flirty voice, Hazel's body literally shatters and then she rushes to the cereal, throws back her head, and gobbles it in bulk. She wants this so little, she's not willing to return his affection whatsoever. sldfkj.

Hazel in "Prime Meridian Love": I don't want a relationship; I'm only 10. Hazel now, even after I was starting to believe she might be growing a crush on Dev: I don't want a relationship; I'm only 10.

That's so funny...

Timmy: I have a crush on someone even though she's not interested in me, but I hope she'll change her mind. Hazel: you guys are having crushes??

I really like how Hazel's specific reason for not wanting Jenkins to like her is "I'm too self-conscious and can't remember how to act normal." She's a very anxious character...

It's not that she's into someone else, and it's not that she has anything against Jenkins specifically. She just is way too anxious and doesn't want to deal with it.

Hazel, scrambling for a way out without hurting Jenkins' feelings: I can't go around with you. I have a crush on someone else. Uh... Trev. Trev, who was behind her and she didn't notice: Did I just hear you have a crush on me, Hazel?? Hazel: /absorbs entire box of cereal in .2 seconds

She doesn't want ANYONE to like her!! she is 10 and squirmy!

I'm once again sad Dev cited Trev as "his bud" in Episode 1, but we haven't seen them interact. I feel like Trev existing on the periphery of her interactions with Dev would've made this even funnier, lmao.

That said, it's funny that Dev's description of Trev was "He's my bud, so he probably won't give YOU time of day" and Trev is out here like "I am totally down to give Hazel the time of day." He's just chillin' and smiling. I like him.

Hazel at the top of her lungs when the entire hallway flirts with her: I don't CARE who like-likes me! I don't like any of you BACK!!

Chloe and Hazel (to me):

Holy cow, Hazel. I don't have much to say, but I enjoy watching her screw people's memories up by manipulating time. And that's a heavy sentence to drop out of context, but...

Yeah, she just did 568 timeloops speedrun and now everyone has a crush on her.

Including Dev, apparently.

Should we be worried that Dev specifically cited the thing he finds attractive about Hazel to be "how ruthless she is," because buddy... You're on track to continue the Dimmadome abuse cycle!

Hey Dev, it's kind of weird to know her middle name. What've you been doing; who've you been talking to?

Wow, it took absolutely 0 thought for Dev to yell loudly about how in love he is with Hazel [in this time loop] for the whole hall to hear.

I am once again fascinated by how he's never cared for "maintaining a reputation" at this school in any way and he's willing to dropkick whatever "cool, tough, and closed-off" persona he's formed at the first sign of what he thinks is a better future.

Local rich kid desperate for affection once again willing to jump 12 feet if you ask him to jump 6. She asked him to jump 0. She asked him to sit down and not even think about jumping.

Dev "I would commit B&E for you a second time; please let me commit B&E for you a second time" Dimmadome.

I like how Dimmadomes are known for putting the Dimm name on everything, but we keep seeing Dev's first name used (such as in the episode title "A New Dev-elopment" or Peri's quote "I'm going to take you from Dev to Dev-ine!")

It gives me the vibe that yes, he's a Dimmadome, but he's a little disconnected. Wow, it's a pun AND sadness!

I can't stop thinking about how annoyed he sounded when the time came to finally tell Vicky his last name. All the other Dimmadomes repeatedly introduce themselves by their full name... but he holds back.

Also, I like how the O-pairs are always down for anything. Dev is their special boy <3

I really really like them for some reason and I'm sorry because I can already tell any Dev 'fic I write is going to lean into them. My curse of getting attached to weird background characters unfortunately continues and these might be the worst ones I've ever fallen for. I don't look forward to trying to search up cute 'fics or fanart of them. haha; I'm in danger...

I just looked up how to spell O-pair because I was tired of not knowing and I found this Wikipedia page:

au pair /ˌō ˈper/ - An au pair (/oʊˈpɛər/; pl.: au pairs) is a person working for, and living as part of, a host family. Typically, au pairs take on a share of the family's responsibility for child care as well as some housework, and receive a monetary allowance or stipend for personal use.

oh. okay.

IMBD's "Operation: Birthday Takeback" page lists them as O-Pair #1 and O-Pair #2, which just hurts.

Dev: My dad gives me the coolest gadgets. They have fancy futuristic names. They're my friends and I love them :) Dale, who knew exactly what he was doing:

Wow, it's TWO puns and sadness!!

Hazel's theme song, but it's rewritten for Dev and the "pair quite strange" who changed his life are the O-Pairs.

I like how in "Operation: Birthday Takeback," Peri's instinctual disguise was an O-Pair, which is incredibly fitting now that I see this description.

I wish we saw signs of Peri hanging around Dev, like a pin on his shirt or the headphones again. Or maybe I'm afraid.

This is nuts. How many hours did Hazel just live through? She needs a nap... Aw, I like the moral lesson for this episode (Letting go and not obsessing over things you can't change). Mr. Guzman is a lovely character; he's so friendly.

Also:

Jenkins: Um... I don't have a crush on you, Hazel. Dev: PSYCH! I made it up~!

She's SO mad. sdfjk

"DEV DIMMADOME!"

I've never seen her this mad. That's great.

Local anxious girl just put herself through some of the worst experiences she's faced, and for WHAT??

He's just a quirky little guy! You wouldn't hurt a quirky little guy!! He's just goofin' with you~

- This feels extremely in-character for Dev considering he outfoxed the never-before-beaten negotiator aliens in "Peace of Pizza" by memeing on them. He's just a silly wittle boy... I'm fascinated by the way his mind works. - I'm not sure Dev even knows how his mind works.

That was great! I liked that. I don't often see a character trying to work through feelings about crushes like this and I enjoyed it.

[theinsanecrayonbox]

FOP: A New Wish e16?, 18-22

well would you lookit that, new episodes. thanks internet for telling me...since i don't watch cable live...but man, we are starting the wonky releasing aren't we? e17 was e16, but now e16 is 2 episodes after e17?? the more things change, the more they stay the same eh? lol

Episode 16: Lost and Founder's Day

yeah like i said, wonky episode ordering. i know they sometimes air out of production order, but this? this is also a full 22 min episode?? nice. i guess that's why it's so out of order...wouldn't have that problem if you didn't split 22 min eps into 11 min ones, just saying...

huh, and description is saying that Dale is the new Crocker...yeah, i can easily see that...it's the plot of s2 of the Santa Clauses

so story time proper now

oh right the Dimmadome hat, because Doug founded the town, du how'd i forget that.

aww Dev is still glasses-less. but lol smart watch that can't tell time, classic

pfffft the mentioning of Poof and Cosmo's slip of the tongue, that's great. nice that they acknowledge that Cosmo had him. but wait, did they just admit that they left him alone for 10,000 years while on vacation? it hasn't been 10,000 years...but still, you left your son at boarding school this entire time??? guys

oh hey recurring wish characters, just chilling in the wild, not drawing any attention for weirdness...why'd Mark have to hide in the past again

pfft Dimm n' Out Burgers

Doug got gold in 1953...the original series was like mid 90s...???

oh Hazel's gonna wish for others, now we're pulling Live Action plots...but also Wishmas...but also standard, and was that the standard kid hurray that FNaF uses??

dawww Dev :( i mean i know we knew the statute wasn't gonna be good, but poor Dev. and wow laying on the Poof referencing heavy; if i hadn't been spoiled that he's returning it wouldn't be a surprise because that is not foreshadowing, that's a neon sign

and hat montage...ok...at least it's not a musical number i guess...and it is a nice commercial break spot, because *double length episode*

heh snarky Dev. but also daww protecting Hazel

and dawww 3rd act breakup?? Dev hunny

but now we have terminator founders' day statues. this is getting crazy again, and i love it

ha! callback to the "oh great the wand not working noise". also callback to Cosmo was right

pfft "Dill Pickle Dimmadome". just a dumb joke, or Rugrats shoutout, you decide!

huh just now realizing that the non-Roman Dimmadome was French, very obviously a French trapper, so...are the Dimmadomes also Canadian?

dawwww Hazel be nice to Dev! he did save you

HEY! Poof is back! yes, yes, he's Peri now; very grown up, not a questionable foreign slur, i know. and he's Dev's fairy????? ok i did not see that how he came back; i expected him in an episode or two. but how interesting that the spoiled rich kid who's parents don't love him gets the purple fairy...again...

well, i guess i can see why this was produced as e16, but aired after e18 since that's sort of a big plot point

Episode 18: Work Her Magic

so chronologically this should be before Lost and Founder's Day...lets see is that matters. because this series does have some ongoing continuity to it...

synopsis has the standard plot of kid thinks parent is overworking so wants to spend time with them. doesn't sound like Add-a-Dad, so that's good

adult Hazel design? huh

heh the puppet replacement is back...and having an existential crisis??? O.o this show man...i love it

hey design for Antony

interesting montage

wait what was the name of the building??? E-Lidder+Acey Publishing. oh, ok, it went by so fast i thought it was E-Leddy, as in similar to Mr Turner's boss at the pencil pushed factory office thing. idt there's a connection, carry on

there's no Un-Wish Island for Hazel, but instead a cosmic void...filled with neon glitter...Mad Muse Mythos??? O.o

ah well, the ending was good enough. this was a low magic, personal growth episode, which is always grade a good. but you know...i feel like there could be a wish uprising in the future, just like Un-Wish Island...oh and no, idt this being aired out of order in comparison to Lost and Founders Day matters at all

Episode 19: Crock to the Future

so many pun titles, i am loving it. but Crocker is back??? did he get demoted to janitor after his affair with Vicky (heh yes i will never forget the worst part of Odder, and neither will any of you so it will never happen again)(also this is NOT the Odder timeline so i know there's no correlation...other than the cosmic multiverse deciding to punish him for eth actions in an alternate reality lol). but...since the internet spoiled that there's an adult AJ, this is sort of a missed opportunity to have it be adult Kevin...not that i want Kev to be a carbon copy of Crocker, but still. would help narrow the timeline more (gimme adult Chloe! gimme proof there's no Sparky!!), seeing as Poof is grown and present, so we know it's not a Channel Chasers timeline...

anywhos, actual episode!

AJ!!! Anthony James Junior is AJ's full name??? and he's into Paranormal Science/ uh...that doesn't really track, but AJ!?

but also, claiming that the experts said a ghost containment unit was impossible...so this is not the same universe as DP, since that is confirmed as possible. i know it wasn't really a connected universe before, but confirmation that they are separate is nice...though i say that and watch as Jack and Maddie end up in a background shot coming up lol

wow their paranormal detector works

AJ!! "remember him from the original series?" lol but yeah this has got to be 20 years in the future minimum...

hey there's Mark and his ship on that mural!

IT'S CROCKER!!!!!! and he looks so OLD! zomr i love it, he looks so much like Dolores and Albert. and he still has the FaIrYgOdPaReNtS!!

huh we acknowledge that Crocker was their godkid, nice

Wanda, why would you think Crocker covering eth building in a net is impossible? he afforded to do that back on a teacher's salary, he can certainly do that on a janitor's

Timmy name drop!

so Crocker does this every year...AJ knows his old teacher works for him. neat!

well this was actually a very fun cameo episode! i highly approve!! shame Kev didn't show up to pick Crocker up at the end, and it'd mimic how Denzel was with Dolores, but better since Kev isn't fairy crazy...i liked Kev lol

Episode 20: Battle of the Dimmsonian

description says Dev and Hazel magic battle. so...it's Remy Rides Again

oooo Dev's the wishy-washy wisher, that's neat. it goes to show that even he doesn't know what eh wants or needs

waitwiatwait "remember episode 13 when i was horse and you were a cowboy hat" e13 of NW was Stany Danky and was there cowboy wear in that? e13 of the original series was Christmas Everyday and...no i think it was only Maria that was a cowboy there. hm.....

oh are they going to follow the "fairy godparents can't out other fairy godkids" rule??

Brindle Folk people lived in Dimmadelphia before settlement huh? ad they have a lot of antlers...and a spirit named Viozalia...and that looks like a portal....otter-deer fae nice (i see what you meant saying i had a lot to work with in these new episodes lol)

hey that looks like a ghost portal...fae spirit...yeah that tracks...heh called her a demi-god wow. wrath of the underworld? what is this show?? i love it!!

hehe Viozalia tricking Dev into giving her the staff; classic fae.

"what to do if your kid tries to start the ghost apocalypse" that is actually a thing that they though could happen/has happened before?? also ghost apocalypse, and child possession, this is amazing

the family reveal was fun lol

dawww Dev not knowing how friendships work

hehe Ghostbusters references all around

that was actually a really good episode. very enjoyable, plot progressive, character progressive, very spoopy. A+ team

Episode 21: Patty Possum's Party Playground

is that a FNaF reference??? and did they forget that they already have Mikey Mozzarella's?? and description says Hazel wishes eth animatronics to life...it is FNaF holy crap!!!

Patty Possum looks like a female Mikey Mozzarella...

and if Winn watched her show in daycare, it's at least a 5 year old franchise

man i love Ski-Ball

Patty invited the children onto the stage to be her new posse...she's gonna try to keep them isn't she...

ah another instance of Cosmo and Wanda being idiots and loosing their wands the most stupid way because if they didn't there'd be no plot

haha yup there it is, she's keeping those children. time to survive until 6 am kids

wait what was the tunnel graffiti?? Miss you Mom...with 25 tick marks and a skeleton, oh...i thought it was something cooler. carry on

ok i am so into this musical number. the background music is actually going good this ep

dawww lesson of the week time; friends are friends even when they are apart

oh no the possum is stealing not-Timmy to stuff him into a suit to be the new turtle or something! lol

ok, so this was fun. didn't go as dark as the other spoopy episodes, but it was still fun, and filled with fodder.

Episode 22: A Date to Remember

this one's description sounds like a Lovestruck light...but hey more returning characters!

oh actually it seems like it's got some Apartnership mixed in too actually...huh...neat

hey, Cosmo's referencing their first date from "Floating with You" from School's Out: The Musical. you guys did your homework a bunch

wait she made that wish...oh geeze Hazel Marty McFlyed herself...oh wait no, not time traveling, but basically yeah

heehee 2d versions of stuff that happened, love it

what happened to Cupid?? O.o this character is like, 100% different than the original. are we saying that Cupid isn't a person but an office/title now? so this isn't the same Cupid?? redoing Father Time was since since he wasn't a highly established character, but Cupid was, and since we had April Fool reffs it's not like you guys never saw OG Cupid

all the sports jokes are going over my head. i don't sport ball.

but you know, the message that love isn't just a point game, and that Angela still had free will to choose despite the game saying otherwise, that's great.

so other than the confusing character...it was ok

Episode 23: Lost in Fairy World

the kids get lost and fairies have to find them before Jorgen finds out? is it now illegal to bring your godkids to Fairy World?? i mean, tat should've been a rule from the start, but why now?

heehee family brunch of candy. and Dev's first Fairy World exposure, nice. but you know what, this is actually really cute and clever setup giving Peri to Dev. Dev's an only child with an absent father (and no mother in sight), so he gets a single godparent. BUT he also happens to also get 2 grand-godparents and a godsister/aunt in the form of Hazel. Dev gets the big loving family he wants so badly. meanwhile, Hazel started this by loosing her brother's friendship when he moved away, and feeling distant from her parents; well she got herself 2 more godparents for the attention, and now has a godbrother and godnefew/goduncle and godcousin/brother (i know technically it works one way but the dynamics of the personal interactions feel the other so just role with it). she's gotten back her family she thought she lost. this was really good story telling here.

anywhos, Fairy World!! oooo map...with several locations....ooooooooooooo

Cosmo and Wanda being over bearing parents to Peri is great. and Peri saying Dev's his first godkid...eh...i guess he's technically right since we only saw him assigned to Dolores in Fairly Old Parent before...

ok we're going on a world tour! first stop: Star Dome. it's...a wand garden? i feel like we established wand production in the past but i can't recall when... second stop: Rainbow Highway. not much to it third stop: Dollfins. it's...dolphins, but dolls...wut? this seems silly fourth stop: Wings n' Thangs. it's a factory...mk...well since Norm did have wings stapled onto his back i guess wing manufacturing is a thing

Jorgen seems stupider than he used to be...i blame the sweater vest

the kids unwished themselves? wait what?? THAT'S the Hocus Poconos?? Wish storage...Unwish Island...the glitter void where the puppet went...is that this place??? I...hu...and there is an Un-wish dragon. i...hm...

pfft ok i'll give the dragon the meta joke, that was funny

and i guess this new system does make sense, seeing as Timmy got Un-Wish Island because his Wish Storage was over willed, so dumping the unwishes in a designated area with something to destroy them does make sense. now i'm hoping there's a rebel Gary here and we go Mad Max with a smattering of other unwishes lol

pffft Fredanator head, nice. i guess it's cameo time....holy crap that was a skeletal snake!Vicky in a milkshake glass O.o show!! i love you

wait ate a godkid again?? O.o!!!!

lol Dev learning no lessons. he's trying guys, he's learning...slowly lol

ok not a bad episode. very much a cameo game. still loving this show, looking forward to next week's crop.

[planet-crait]

The Treble with Rivals is next! I’m feeling a music based episode with Treble like Treble clef? We’ll see. Operation Birthday Takeback is rapidly approaching and from what I’ve heard I uh I’m not emotionally ready for it.

We’re missing the intro again I’m dying here.

Ohh the kids are trying out for orchestra? Huh in elementary school you didn’t have to try out at least the one I went to. One or the other was required if I remember correctly. But poor Dev isn’t sitting with them is he sitting alone? Why am I so emotionally attached to this smol child? Wait are ten year olds really being allowed to go see a concert alone?

Wait I uh- what? Thats uh. 😐 Kay.

Poor Hazel being dragged between her two best friends poor kid. Why do they have to summon a music fairy for a music wish? I don’t get it. I don’t get why suddenly all these different fairies have to be involved with different wishes???

Aww Dev is in band? Hazel pick band more of your friends are in band then orchestra lolz.

Poor Hazel. She’s torn between her friends and they’re being so mean to each other and Hazel. And she’s wearing herself out trying to keep everyone happy

Uh oh. Did Hazel accidentally unwished music. Cosmo and Wanda guys. I. Music realm? What is happening? Wait how can Cosmo and Wanda remove music but not bring it back? Why would the music fairy not want music on earth? I am so confused. I don’t like this music fairy at all.

Why is Hazel allowed to direct? Aww Dev getting into the music is so cute. Dale didn’t come to the concert though did he? Awww Antony came to see her in person that’s so cute omg!!!!

Yay for restoring music I guess? This episode was fine though I don’t get all these random additional fairies that control certain kinds of wishes I thought the point of godparents was to help their kids? Eh oh well onto the next one!!!

[havin-fun-imagining-twd]

White lies.

When - after Otis’ memorial/funeral, so we’re still in S02E03 Cherokee Rose. This chapter is maybe an hour after Yesterday was rough. Shane’s descent has begun picking up pace ever so slightly.

Relationships - #DarylDixonGetsAHug. We have our sibling relationship with Shane, our slow-burning-y’all-get-hitched-down-the-road Daryl x you building that good foundation, we got Papa Dale in the house, and we have our platonic Glenn x you. Rest assured, you tease him about Maggie.

Perspective - 2nd person

Pronouns - who?

Genre - trail mix

TWs - some language and stress

Plot points/references - eh, it’s been a long week, I’m tired y’all, just give this here a once-over and you should be good :P

You knew your brother didn’t want to. You’d told him, you told him he didn’t have to. “Shane, you can tell her later, with more privacy,” you’d whispered to him.

“It’s okay,” he’d stammered back under his breath.

So, he does this thing with his head when he is at a loss for words: looks up and down, but doesn’t look at anyone or anything in particular for more than a second. Gets jumpy, needs to move. His sentences aren’t always complete or ordered correctly. He’d fluff his hair, too, if he had any left to fluff.

And you’d never seen Shane struggle so much to speak as at that memorial service, not even those few months ago when he’d struggled to tell you how he found your older sister’s and her partner’s bodies dead after the world started unraveling.

The entire group, only minus T-Dog who was with Carl, had been staring at him in expectant silence after Patricia begged him through her tears to tell her what happened. She wanted to know if Otis’ death had meaning.

The unkind, overtired, and lacking-patience part of you couldn’t help but wonder why it wasn’t clear already that her husband, may he rest in paradise, had just devoted his last hours saving a child’s life.

“We were about done,” your brother strained to get out. “Almost outta ammo, we were down to pistols by then.” He made a strange attempt at a smile in an effort to make it more bearable. “I was limpin’, it was bad. Ankle all swollen up.”

And up until that point, you believed every word Shane said. You knew they were honest. But something about the way he was speaking...God forgive you, but it changed, okay?

You gazed up at him when you heard the difference. Red flag, red flag, red flag started flitting through your mind. You felt chilled. You felt sick. You felt scared.

Shane even looked different as he kept speaking, telling that little story of how Otis sacrificed himself.

Now, it’s not that—you don’t doubt Otis did so. What little interaction you had with him, and how his family so readily accepted what your brother told them, only lent credibility to his goodness and his selflessness.

But God forgive you, but almost every other word that came out of your brother’s mouth during that service you hated because you couldn’t believe them. It felt like a lie—no, you know it was because you know what Shane lying looks and sounds like. You’ve seen it.

But why would he have been lying is the question.

Exactly, he wouldn’t!

What kind of awful, selfish person are you for thinking such awful, selfish, ludicrous things at a time like that, huh?

Unless...okay, this is what must’ve happened: Shane told a better story than what actually happened for the benefit of Otis’ grieving widow, son, and friends.

Yeah. Shane had to do stuff like that before, he and Rick both in their line of work. Which must also be why Rick was frowning like that at him, too, during the service; Rick understood.

When somebody dies poorly, you don’t tell the family that. You tell the family white lies.

You say the person died comfortably, or at least quickly, and always with dignity. It’s simply what’s done. You stick as close to the truth as possible, like you knew Shane had at the beginning and the end of the story. But in the middle, one needs to smooth it over and sugarcoat the truth for the sake of the family, just like when you saw Shane spinning that yarn.

Yeah. That’s what happened. That’s why Shane lied, is all. He’s traumatized and laden with survivor’s guilt, it’s not that deep, he’s not maliciously hiding anything, you remind yourself. It was just a white lie.

And white lies are different, like how Rick told Carl that Sophia was ‘just fine.’ They’re the only kind of lie with which you’ll readily participate, but even then...

“Kiddo, everything okay?”

“Dale, hey, um, y-yeah, I’m peachy. Tired,” you brush off, pulling out your earbuds and putting on a cheerful face as you turn off the mp3 player. Thank you, Dale, for snapping me out of that thought-spiral. With a shrug, you repeat “Yesterday was rough.”

“I know that with your current crop of injuries—”

You snort at the phrasing of that.

He shakes his head and grins. “I know they won’t let you go on that pharmacy run with Glenn and the young lady.”

Grumbling slightly, you mention “And Daryl won’t let me go search by the creek with him.” Not after he found out about the stitches. So dumb...

When Rick heard that Margaret was going to the local drug store for a supply run, he’d offered to Hershel that Glenn and you were their ‘go-to-town experts.’ However, he was also very quick to correct himself about how you were in no shape to go at the moment.

Right, that reminds you: “Oh, and I need to finish that list, Glenn asked me to do him a list of supplies to look for. What meds or things have you been without, Mr. H?”

He considers for a moment. “Statins are generally good for people of my age, though I must say: physically, I feel much better than I did before civilization collapsed.” Somewhat teasing, he reminds you “But, perhaps some surgical tape so I can have my extra roll of electrical tape back.”

“Ah, I knew you’d remember what I couldn’t.” You’ll add that to the list. Statins and surgical tape. Magnesium, disinfectant, antibiotics, probiotics for T-Dog and Carl because they’re both on doxycycline and strong antibiotics like that mess up your gut, antivirals if they miraculously found any, allergy meds, pain management, triptans, gauze and bandages, a pulmonary expectorant, fiber supplements, activated charcoal, adrenaline/epinephrine pens, the usual things like sunblock and bug spray, period supplies (even though cycles have been all over the place), clean socks and undergarments, maybe some nicotine gum for Daryl...oh, of course, more batteries...calamine lotion...

“So, are you heading with your brother back to the highway?” you hear Dale ask you. You turn to look at him as he hints “Or are the doctor and he insisting that you stay put, I hope?”

Duly noted, Papa Dale. Still, you pause and try to avoid a concrete answer. Arm in a sling and stitches in your abdomen notwithstanding, you feel too uneasy to stay in one place. “Maybe, um, I might need to stay here to keep tabs on Carl. Teddy may go with him, I asked him if he would a little earlier.”

Then you realize it. “Never mind, maybe I should go with Shane, I don’t want to be the one to tell Carl that Sophia ain’t back yet. That little punk knows I’m bad at lying, and that I don’t like it, besides.” And you don’t want to leave Shane alone, but that’s neither here nor there. You sigh. “The little man’s gonna push the question about why he can’t see her yet and I can only tell white lies or avoid answerin’ for so long.”

“His parents will handle things,” he assures you. But there’s too long a moment of hesitation before he remembers, “If, if Sophia didn’t make her way back to the highway, or, or is found elsewhere.”

So Dale is on the other page now, too. It’s been almost 72 hours that she’s been missing, but everybody seems to have already...fuck it, whatever. They can think what they want.

Earlier, Shane even wanted to discuss what they’d do if they found her bitten.

Yeah, that topic gave you all points with the Greenes. Not. Ugh, the shame you felt at seeing Maggie’s and Hershel’s horrified look with each other as they shook their heads in disgust, along with Beth’s confused and disbelieving glance. Small favors Carol wasn’t in earshot.

But hey, at least Daryl is still hopeful and hell-bent on looking for her. He’s the most likely to track her down, anyway, so you’ll count that as a win.

“Well, I’m going to be keeping watch duty. Seems like my official post,” Dale continued as you two slowly headed to the RV.

“That reminds me, here.” You remove the watch he’d lent you and hand it over. “Thank you. It was a godsend.” How many times you’d checked Carl’s pulse and respiratory rate with it, you can’t count. “And I think I got all the, um, uh, blood off it,” you add under your breath. With an awkward chuckle, you then (morbidly) comment, “Thank goodness it’s splash-proof.”

Bless Dale’s heart, he barely widens his eyes, instead nodding thoughtfully. “I’m glad it was such a help.” A grin and a nod of his head toward the RV. “Sometimes, I feel like a rotisserie chicken when I’m on top of the darn thing, slowly roasting and sweating in the heat for hours on end.”

Your smile finally relaxes and becomes genuine. “I don’t envy you that.”

Well, until Dale frowns and worries “Kiddo, are you sure you feel alright?” and you throw back at him “I’m just tired!”

Oops.

Hand covering your face, you apologize “Oh Moses, that came out very, uh, snappy. I’m sorry.”

Still frowning, Dale quickly softens his expression. Then, delicate as always, suggests “Maybe staying here is best, in that case. Perhaps taking a rest? I don’t imagine you slept much last night or the night previous.” He gestures to the RV door.

Yes, dad. “Why are you so kind, Mr. Horvath?” you ask, slowly trudging up the stairs. “And so patient, like, how do you do that? Sometimes, I swear, I snap like I get commission for it.”

“Would you prefer the alternative?” he teases. “I can behave rudely.”

Annnd he’s made you smile again.“Hmph, well now you’re bein’ kinda sassy.”

“Come on, troublemaker, I’ll help you set up your tent. It’ll be a lot cooler than in here, come to think of it.”

“Did I tell you I loved you yet today, Dale?—Oh, wait up Daryl!” You hop down the RV steps (OW, what the fuck, why did you do that when you have stitches? You can be such an idiot, ouchhhh) and reach into your sling (hey, it makes a great pocket) to jog over and give him your green camo walkie.

He stares. “Was jumping off there the best idea, Y/N?”

“It was the very best,” you monotone. Shit, did that hurt. You hold up the walkie to him. “Please take this with you.”

He adjusts his grip on his crossbow. “Ain’t the batteries shot?”

“Beth gave—the teenage girl who lives here—gave us four AAs, enough for two of them.”

“Why bother?”

You rein in the urge to roll your eyes. “Your safety.” Your voice still betrays your mild irritation, however. You cannot help but adore that mangy hick now, but those rough edges of his don’t suddenly not scrape. “Plus, Carl is gonna ask to talk to Sophia with them. You havin’ the other makes an honest excuse why he can’t.”

“When’s he gonna be awake?”

“...He’s on pretty strong pain meds right now, he might could be sleeping most of the day, but...”

He takes the walkie from your hand and pockets it. “Let’s keep them off though, yeah?”

You nod in agreement, but worry, “What if you have an emergency?”

“I won’t.”

Dale’s coming down the stairs with your tent bag interrupts any would-be huffing from you. “You’re off, Daryl?”

Ah, it’d been too long since you’d heard that grunt/hum thing Daryl does in response to things.

Dale rubs the back of his neck as he steps down to the ground. “Alone?”

“Like I just told Rick, I’m better on my own. I’ll be back before dark,” is Daryl’s curt reply, and...no, it’s okay. You shouldn’t take that personally, why are you taking it personally? It’s Daryl, he’s crass.

Sure, he taught you to track and enlisted your help out there in times past, but for many things, they are infinitely easier when done solo. It’s not a big deal. You feeling slighted about him pointing that out is an overreaction, you’re just tired, and, and—ugh, now you’re welling up? Great.

“Well, be careful out there, son,” Dale bids him, eyeing you and your pretend yawn that will provide explanation for your wet eyes. He lifts the tent bag. “I’m gonna put this under that grove over there, looks like a nice spot.”

“Thank you, Dale, I’m right behind you.” As he walks away, you gesture to the yellow walkie you’re holding onto and tell Daryl “This’ll be on so you can reach us, if you stay within three miles. Don’t die, don’t get bit.”

“Rest up, just don’t—” He stops you from walking away. “Don’t mess yourself up anymore, okay?” He shrugs. “And, alone is easier, but I didn’t mean to...be a dick or nothin’.”

“I didn’t take it personally, man.”

He does his hum/grunt thing again.

“Okay, might could’ve taken it very personally,” you admit. “At least you’re always honest, I like that about you. Do you even tell white lies?” You join him in walking toward his bike.

“I don’t like lyin’, I guess. I don’t see the point. Well, I mean I see the point, but I don’t...whatever, what are ‘white’ lies, again?”

“When a person don’t—sorry—doesn’t tell the truth in order to give somebody comfort or to keep them from bein’ hurt. They’re supposed to only be told about littler things, but.”

He straddles the bike. “So, how you told me you didn’t take that thing I said personal.”

You snort, nodding your head. “I reckon that was a white lie, wasn’t it?”

“When we had that fight in the truck and pulled over, and you said it was because we almost hit a fox?”

“I’d forgotten all about that. I ain’t sure if that was outright or white to be honest.”

“And when the kid’s parent’s told him Sophia’s back, that was a white lie.”

“Y-yeah.” What Rick and Lori did for Carl. What Shane did for Patricia and Jimmy and the Greenes. Right? Just white lies. Nothing else.

There’s a pause, and you were about to wish him safe on his search again before heading to the area Dale is helping set the tent up.

But Daryl states simply that “Guess I’ll have to bring her on back, then. That way we won’t have to lie to the kid.” And it’s just so...it doesn’t seem like a put-on, is all you’re saying. Say what you want about him, but that man is always truthful in terms of his thoughts and intentions.

An overwhelming urge to throw your arms around him again hits you like a truck. “Careful there, Dary-bear, you’re fixing to be my favorite person.” Even with that nasty symbol on his brother’s bike. Oh, good idea, you’ll put spray paint on the supply run list. “Hey, and Beth—she’s the teenage g—”

“—‘The teenage girl,’ you told me.”

“Beth’s making Carl chocolate pudding. So,” you drawl, feeling lighter and hopeful again. “Let Soph know when you find her that homemade pudding is waitin’ for her. Maybe not as good as her mama’s, but...” You smile.

And miraculously, so is he. Sort of, anyway. “Pudding sounds damn good, actually.”

“Eh, maybe I’ll sneak you a cupful. Hey, Glenn’s off on a run soon, are there any supplies you can remember us needin’?”

“Could always use more smokes.”

NO. “Sorry, the pharmacy don’t sell those or alcohol.”

“Shit.”

Don’t lie to him, Y/N. “Sorry, I just made that up. They probably have some, I just don’t want you dying of cancer.”

He scoffs and mutters “That was another white lie, then?”

“Might could’ve been.” You shuffle your feet. “You must get annoyed when people worry about that habit?”

“Yeah, I ‘might could.’”

Your lips twist to one side. “Don’t poke fun at my double modals,” you chide, nudging him gently.

A natural lag in conversation seems to indicate it’s time to part ways. “Alright, man, don’t die, don’t get bit. We’ll see you two later.”

But again, he stops you gently with his hand, even though he’s already started his bike and pressed the kickstand up. “Make sure you rest up, for real. It’s just—you don’t need to be the only one babysittin’ your brother or the kid, okay?”

“Ain’t no shame in them needing help.”

“Ain’t no shame in you needing rest, neither. They ain’t gonna kick you out ’cause you got hurt and need to take it easy for a while.”

To which you cannot help but request “Daryl, may I hug you again?”

He blinks. “Now?”

“Yeah. Everybody is gonna be linin’ up to do it once you bring back our girl, might as well get me some hugs in ahead of the game.”

He doesn’t move off the bike. “You really think she’ll be found?”

“You don’t?” Brows lowering, you cross your arms by tucking your free arm around your sling.

“Nah, I know she is.”

“Well, good, so do I.”

He’s squinting at you…and keeps squinting at you. So, you frown and stare back.

“You ain’t lying.” A statement, not a question.

“No.”

“And not a white lie.”

You shake your head. “No.”

He continues to stare—then abruptly pushes the kickstand down, swoops his leg off his bike, makes the briefest of glances around, and before-you-know-it, you’re pulled in for a surprisingly solid hug. His hold is stiff, maybe, but genuine. Around your injured shoulder and side, his embrace is gentler, you notice.

The man smells like cigarettes, sweat, and gasoline. His skin is covered in grime and dried salt, his clothing filthy. And you find you don’t care a hoot.

When you sense his grip begin to loosen, you pull away at the same time he does. With a mildly awkward pat on your arm (he did that earlier, too, it’s kind of endearing), he avoids all eye contact and casually hops back on his bike. And just like that, he’s off.

From behind, you hear “Hey dude, you got that list?”

“Yeah, man, think I covered all bases. Oh, add ‘spray paint.’”

“Spray paint?”

“The motorcycle.” That ‘SS’ symbol will get gone, mark your words.

“Solid idea.” Glenn grabs the piece of paper, scans it, and goes “Guess I got my work cut out for me.”

“Lori helped. She’s better at rememberin’ what’s needed or nice to have,” you explain, walking back with him to the grove where Dale and the others are setting up camp.

“Lori mentioned some other stuff, I just gotta write them down.”

“Oh, what’d she forget?”

“Nothing!”

Okay...private then? “I put period supplies on that list, too, dork.”

He laughs uncomfortably and you can’t help but wonder if there’s something unsaid that isn’t just him being silly about menstruation. Glenn isn’t the type to get uncomfortable about that sort of thing, he had sisters. “Sucks you can’t come with us this time,” he then sighs.

“I do wanna spend more time with Maggie, she’s been nothing but kind so far. You’ve talked with her, right?”

“Yeah...she seems cool.”

“Dude, and she’s so pretty.”

“She is really, uh, I-I guess, um, yeah.” Ha, look at his face. Somebody’s blushing.

A week or so ago, you’d both chatted about having had crushes on each other (past tense) at one point or another during the time at the quarry, actually. He’s another person who’s honest to a fault, and you love that. You’re glad he’s your friend.

“Sounds like somebody’s nervous to spend time alone with pretty Margaret...”

“Ugh, and when she told me about the run, she said something about me knowing ‘how to get in and out quick’ and it didn’t even click that she was talking about..like, not that,” he groans.

You can’t help but burst out laughing, wince when your stitches tug, then make fun of him for being “Painfully embarrassing!”

He playfully moans back “Shut up,” and elbows you, immediately apologizing afterward when he thinks he’s somehow injured you further.

Waving his concern away, you start to sing-song “Glenn’s got a crush,” while trying to tone down your smirk to a minimum.

“Coming from the one hugging the redneck every time I turn around today,” he cracks up despite himself.

“Aw, Glenny boy’s jealous!” you snark back.

“I’m too cool to get jealous.”

“So cool, the coolest.”

“And I get to ride a horse today.”

“WHAT?”

Oh, has he got on a very satisfied smirk of his own right now.

“Everything okay, kids?” Dale calls over, currently assisting Carol with her setup.

“Y/N’s just jealous I get to ride a horse today.”

“Ah, I understand.”

Grin still on your face, Glenn says he’s got to go get a quick riding lesson before they go, and heads off to the stable. You walk over to Carol, giving her the walkie and let her know “Daryl’s got the green one. He’s keepin’ it off but will radio when he finds her or if he gets hurt.”

She bites her lip, but nods and tries to smile. You don’t know what else to do but give her a soft kiss on the forehead and turn back to your tent.

You notice a figure hobbling over, and look up to see your brother moving way faster than he ought.

“Where’d you pop out from, loser? And slow down, that ankle ain’t gonna heal up if you keep doing that.” Thank the Lord he changed out of Otis’ clothes. He looks miles better now. Still has that 1,000 yard stare, but at least he isn’t putting salt in the wound by wearing that poor soul’s overalls.

“I just grabbed this from the RV, and Lori, um, told me I can st—I-I’m about to head out, check the highway,” he spills out all at once.

You’ve got no idea what any of that means except the last part.

“Is everything comfortable between you and Lori? It’s seemed very strained,” you voice plainly.

“Psht, yeah, what d‘you mean?”

Lie. Another lie. And you don’t care if it was a white lie or otherwise, so you swallow your disappointment and unease and change the subject. “Is Teddy going with you to the highway?”

He looks confused and shakes his head. “Dog’s in no shape—hey, I can do it,” he insists as you bend to try and set up the tent poles into the grommets. He grabs the poles from you and roughly gets them into position.

“Shane. You’ve got a bum ankle. It’s smarter to go with somebody.”

“You’ve got a bum shoulder and stitches in your gut, so that person ain’t you.”

“They’re just below my ribs, it’s hardly my ‘gut,’” you mutter. “Take Andrea, then. Weren’t you just showin’ her how to do gun stuff?”

He makes no response to that, only directs, “Okay, just hold that with your foot and I’ll pop the other side into place.” Once he gets the last pole into position, the tent bends up from the middle. “Right, let’s drive the stakes in. I’ll poke ’em down, you stamp on them.”

“Copy that.”

Another minute and your little camo tent is all set up. Shane grabs your pillow and sleeping bag and tosses them inside unceremoniously. Then you grab his arm and drag him in, too.

“Scoot back. Lay down. Rest your ankle a second.”

“Y/N, I gotta head out,” he protests.

“And I said you gotta rest your ankle.” And you put both earbuds into his ears, then point to your sleeping bag and have him place his ankle onto it. “Rest and elevate for exactly 10 minutes.”

You click through until you’ve got the track he needs. Going to California wouldn’t solve anything, but it was his comfort song and could get him out of his head for a spell. “That’s exactly three replays. You mentioned the song was precisely 3 minutes and 33 seconds, right?”

He doesn’t reply. You can tell the song has started by the way his brows lift and his eyes shut. But before you leave, his eyes open and he takes out one of the earbuds, waving you over. “C’mon.”

“Not the boss of me,” you whisper, taking the earbud and slowly easing yourself down to the ground, hand over your stitches to provide some support  He sticks his hand under your neck to help you down, grabs your pillow, and hands it to you. You then position the pillow so you two can share.

“You wanna talk?” you offer quietly. “I wanna listen.”

He pauses. Inhales. And for a moment, you think he’ll actually share with you. But he shakes his head and lays back again. You close your eyes and send up a prayer for some kind of help.

And the next thing you know, you’re waking up, the song is still replaying, and Shane isn’t in there.

[rosella-writes]

Dalish Week 4. Halla

Rhiannon Mahariel is at this Arlathvhen in the Dales too, and pays a visit to the animals whose goddess she has tattooed on her face. For @dalish-appreciation-week 💚

The last time Rhiannon Mahariel had been near a halla, it had run from her.

As a brash young girl, she’d chosen Clan Sabrae’s design of Ghilan’nain’s vallaslin. The reason she’d given was because she wanted to train with the halla-keepers and look after the animals. The real reason, she thought now with a wry smile, was because she’d thought it was pretty.

She now lingered at the halla pen at the Arlathvhen in the Dales, watching the halla-keepers at work. One was due to lamb any day, and Mira, from a clan in the Free Marches, checked her teats periodically to measure their fullness.

“Soon,” she told Rhiannon, squinting up at her against the bright sunlight. “Want to feel her lambs? They’ve dropped, feels like. Used to tell one from the other, since she carried one on each side. Now it’s a jumble.”

“Oh, well,” Rhiannon hemmed and hawed with a wince, “Not sure she’ll let me.”

Mira scoffed and pushed her curly black hair back from her face. “You’re of the People! She’ll let you. Did you never play with the lambs as a child?”

“I did. Since I was Blighted, though, erm… they keep their distance.”

Mira blinked, and her russet cheeks darkened beneath her own vallaslin depicting Mythal’s tree. “Oh Creators, sorry. You’re the Warden.”

“If that means anything anymore,” she said, too brightly. Her shrug was entirely too casual for how she felt. But, hopes raised somewhat, she opened the wicker gate and let herself into the pen. The halla remained calm.

“Well,” Mira murmured. “Not so bad yet. They say you found it, though. A cure?”

Rhiannon drew nearer to her, hands at her sides in an attempt to appear non-threatening to the halla. “‘Found’ might be too strong a word. I’m not tainted anymore.”

“Oh. What about the others?”

Her toes gripped the grass with the effort of each carefully-placed step. The halla kept grazing, gazing placidly at her through one earth-warm eye. “Alistair has recovered, which I’m sure you’ve heard.” She smiled wryly at Mira’s brightening expression. “A true miracle of the Maker, hmm?”

Mira snorted. The halla huffed in response, then lowered her head to continue grazing.

“The other Wardens will follow suit, in time. That’s the nature of it.” Rhiannon shrugged, and that movement that once sent a halla bolting from her didn’t even phase this one. “They sit back and watch as Alistair or I experiment and dare, then slowly follow in our footsteps when they find out it’s safe.”

“You’ll get the credit though, yes?”

“No no,” Rhiannon laughed. “Of course not. It’ll be the First Warden’s doing, you’ll see.”

“Oh.”

“Eh, it’s alright.” She smiled broader, then dared a wink. “Not why I did it. But it still would be nice to be appreciated, you know? For more than the whole archdemon thing. That was, what, thirty years ago?”

Rhiannon knelt, and the halla raised her head to look her in the eye. She snuffled briefly at Rhiannon’s loose hair, then nibbled the ends before turning back to her grass — Rhiannon dared to raise her hand, then tentatively stroked it down the halla’s side.

The creature allowed it, even leaning slightly into her hand until she began to scratch at the underside of her swollen belly. Rhiannon chuckled. “Is that it? Itchy tummy, huh?”

“Like I said,” Mira said fondly, “she’ll lamb soon. And see? She’s not running anywhere.”

Rhiannon petted her silvery-white pelt, her heart lurching up into her throat. She swallowed it down. “No, I suppose she’s not.”

[scrapyardboyfriends]

I uhh...wrote Plotdale for this week...

PLOTDALE - Where it’s all about the Plot and the characters don’t matter!

[The Desecrated Mill with Aaron and Ben]

AARON: Oh...you’re here. Did you move in while we were off screen for 2 and a half months?

BEN: Unclear. I’m just here to be relentlessly naive and positive about saving the HOP from going under. Did I mention that the survival challenge went horrifically wrong and someone literally didn’t survive and several other people nearly lost their lives and I might be held responsible for it?

AARON: *Disinterested Face* Eh, get a new job. 

BEN: BUT KAYAK’S ARE MY LIFE AND ONLY CHARACTER TRAIT! Plus I just really want to be super helpful to everyone throwing me under the bus at the HOP because CARE about everyone!

AARON: Typical you innit? Doing what the plot requires because you have no character otherwise. 

BEN: *Beams* So you’ll help me hang up all of these flyers I made?

AARON: That’s not done by Robert Sugden Designs! Er...I mean...I’m pretty ambivalent about it. 

BEN: Do it for me (and the Plot)!

AARON: Oh alright. Wow I miss when the Plot didn’t care about me at all.

[The HOP Office with Ben and Jai]

BEN: So what’s this Plot meeting about? Is it about my super awesome irrelevant idea to save the HOP?

JAI: You want to save the HOP? Great! You can take this bribe I’m offering and resign because you signed off on that bridge that collapsed and frankly you’re not a real character so you’re expendable so you know what? THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!

BEN: I’m a real character! Honest! I mean...at least the Plot is trying to make me be one this week! (I wonder if that’s a bad sign?) I’ll get a lawyer!

[The Desecrated Mill with our favorite happy trio, Ben, Aaron and Liv]

BEN: Jai tried to bribe me to resign and say it was all my fault! But you know...I better go and do more work for him anyway because I have no spine. 

LIV: Well that’s pathetic.

AARON: *Unnecessarily Aggressive Mode Activated* He’s not getting away with this. The Plot requires I forget all previous character growth and do something about this. 

[The HIDE with Ben, Aaron, Jai and Laurel]

AARON: *Unnecessarily Aggressive Mode* How dare you trigger my character regression by trying to blame my super official boyfriend for this super soap week fiasco?!

BEN: Aaron no! 

JAI: *Says enough things to make Aaron lose it for the sake of the Plot*

AARON: *Unnecessarily Aggressive Mode* *Punches Jai*

BEN: *Naively Shocked Face* The guy who used to bully me in school that I decided to date anyway still has anger issues when the plot requires it?!! Oh no!

LAUREL: Let’s all just calm down. This Plot is already exhausting. 

BEN: Aaron wants to apologize.

AARON: Uh...no I don’t. 

[The Desecrated Mill with Ben and Aaron]

BEN: How many times have I told you not to punch first and think later!

AARON: On screen or off? What does this say about our relationship?

BEN: I need to get some air and think. There’s nothing left for us to talk about.

AARON: That’s true. We have already done this scene before. 

[The Cafe with Aaron and a reporter]

AARON: *Takes a page out of Exit Story!Robert’s playbook* If the super official boyfriend is mad at me for using my fists, I’ll try another channel to potentially cause trouble! Hey Reporter Lady...Jai used to be a villainous character and it seems the Plot has required him to be again. We’re all just reverting to type these days. Write about that!

BEN: How could you!?

[Outside Dale View with Jai, Ben and Aaron]

JAI: There you are!

BEN: Huh, I guess I do still live here. 

JAI: You never should have talked to that reporter. Now I’m gonna ruin you!

BEN: I’ve dealt with bigger bullies than you! (Glances over at Aaron, the bully he’s dating….this is awkward)

JAI: Oh have you? I’ll let Aaron fill you in on my character history then *Exits stage left*

AARON: Oh uhh...yeah Jai once kidnappedCharity and locked her in a shipping container for several days. 

BEN: *Naively Shocked face* Kidnap!!? Shipping containers?! Why didn’t you tell me?!

AARON: Ben, you’re living in a soap mate. If you can’t handle a little light kidnap, you’d best find somewhere else to exist. I’ve been kidnapped and I’ve kidnapped someone. It’s no big thing. 

BEN: And so you punch the guy and make everything worse?!

AARON: We’re just wired differently I guess. 

BEN: And we always will be. Time for a big dramatic break up that will totally last this time!

[The Desecrated Mill with Aaron and Liv]

AARON: *Moping Mode Activated* I’ve ruined things with Ben again. Darn that bullying backstory coming up again! It’s almost like we’re ill suited for each other or something.

LIV: I know you’ve heard this pep talk a thousand times already, but are you sure it’s over. Just go talk to him again. 

AARON: *Moping Mode* Nope, it’s definitely for sure over this time. Just let me mope and be defeatist about it.

LIV: Oh alright. I have to hit rock bottom #500 cause 499 wasn’t enough so I’ll just go ahead and blame this all on myself instead. 

AARON: You haven’t even been on screen Liv...and frankly, neither have we. How can this possibly be your fault?

LIV: The Plot won’t let me get better Aaron. You should know how that feels. 

AARON: Fair point. 

[The Cafe with Ben and Wendy - what did we do to deserve this - and Aaron]

WENDY: Hey Ben, why so mopey?

BEN: I broke up with Aaron for really legitimate reasons and now the Plot is making me reconsider for inexplicable reasons. He hit Jai and I can’t take him lashing out all the time even though this is the first time he’s hit someone since we’ve been together but there’s our history...

WENDY: Aaron? Violent? I never would have guessed...oh wait...no I have to forget that for now. 

AARON: Can we talk?

*WENDY exits stage left*

BEN: I can’t do this Aaron. Not if the Plot won’t let you stop hitting people.

*Random BOB appearance in the background with bug eyes like this is a significant Plot point and foreshadowing - please let it be foreshadowing*

AARON: I can change. I promise. I’ve realized that I need to grow up. If only the Plot would let me. It’s not like I haven’t had this revelation on the back of significantly more involved and better written stories. But for you, Ben, for you I’ve realized I really need to change. Oh my god, even I don’t believe what I’m saying. 

BEN: Neither do I. And really, you shouldn’t have to change to make your partner happy. I need time to think. 

*AARON exits stage left* *WENDY enters stage right*

WENDY: I’ve remembered I don’t really like Aaron but I’m the obligatory third party here to say that he makes you happy even though the audience has never seen it on screen. 

BEN: Yeah...when it’s good, it’s really good. Off screen land is great. 

WENDY: So give him a chance. It’s not like he’s currently abusive right? (Is that foreshadowing? You decide)

BEN: No, just when we were at school. So I guess...maybe it’ll be fine now. 

[The Desecrated Mill with Ben and Aaron]

AARON: Go on then, finish it for good. 

BEN: Nope, I’ve done a 180 and now I think we should definitely get back together. 

AARON: Wait what?

BEN: Can you move a bit to the left so I can read the teleprompter behind you with my lines. Thanks. Now let me finish this super impassioned speech. 

AARON: But your favorite song is Take On Me and I think your music tastes are lame so we can’t be together even though I found Robert’s cheesy taste in music quite sweet and endearing. 

BEN: No Aaron, I want this. Relationships are supposed to be hard work right? That’s definitely how it’s supposed to be. So we can totally last years yeah? 

AARON: Uh...I guess. But the Plot is never gonna let me change. 

BEN: It’s fine. I never thought I’d find happiness with someone like you but the Plot has dictated that I think I do. *Inches closer*

*SOCIAL DISTANCING RESTRICTION BREAK ALERT*

AARON: You give me hope that someday I could have another storyline (although it’s probably not gonna be this one because it kind of feels like we’re being set up to fail here) *inches closer*

BEN: *Squints to read teleprompter* I think about you...constantly. You’re the reason I get out of bed in the morning.

AARON: Samesies! I mean...if it weren’t for these lame scenes with you, I wouldn’t be on screen at all probably. Remember when my fans thought that without ball and chain Robert around, I’d be getting all the screen time and stories? Jokes on all of us!

*HUGS* - for the three fans on twitter

(THREE FANS ON TWITTER: Oh my god it brings tears to my eyes!)

BEN AND AARON: (In overly practiced unison because we have to make this as nauseatingly lame as possible) I love you.

PLOT: And now they lived happily ever after *Record Scratch* I mean...they’re doomed right? I gave them a break up and an “I love you” crammed into two episodes after them being off screen for 2 and a half months and now Ben’s gonna get a job out of town and find the footage of Meena trying to drown Vic. I have foreshadowed.

[yuukinoryuu]

DIABOLIK LOVERS -MORE BLOOD- RUTA DE RUKI ~ECSTASY 09~

Mukami Ruki ~Ecstasy 09~

*en el salón de la mansión Sakamaki* 

Laito: -- ¿Y entonces te has traído a Bitch-chan aquí a la fuerza? 

Ayato: Más o menos. 

Reiji: Justo cuando pensaba a dónde habías ido tras escaparte de la mazmorra... Has vuelto a armar un desastre, ¿verdad? 

Ayato: Qué molesto. Encima que he hecho que dejaran de merodear a nuestro alrededor. 

Yui: ... 

*recuerdo* 

Yui: (En ese momento... Ruki-kun me agarró del brazo.) 

Yui: (Ruki-kun, que no intentaba otra cosa que no fuera beber mi sangre... extendió su mano y me retuvo.) 

Yui: (Dijo que no me fuera...) 

Yui: (... Está a salvo, ¿verdad? Ya que es un vampiro.) 

Yui: (Seguro que está vivo --) 

Reiji: -- ...ando? 

*fin del recuerdo* 

Reiji: ¡Komori Yui! ¡¿Estás escuchando?! 

Yui: ¿Eh? Ah... lo siento. 

Reiji: Por dios... Parece que estás en las nubes. ¿Tanto te preocupan? 

Opciones: 

1. Me preocupan. -S-   2. No lo sé. -M- (correcta)

Opción 1: 

Yui: Me preocupan... 

Reiji: Bueno, es normal. Si siguen vivos, puede que vengan de nuevo. 

Kanato: Teníais que haberos asegurado de que quedaban reducidos a cenizas.

  Opción 2: 

Yui: No lo sé...

Shuu: ¿No lo sabes...? ¿Es que te has enamorado? ... No cambias, ¿eh?

  Continuación: 

Subaru: Pero, la mansión ha ardido, ¿no? 

Ayato: Sí, sin duda. Lo he visto con mis propios ojos. 

Reiji: Son vampiros, así que son más fuertes que los humanos. Pero, después de todo, siguen sin ser de pura sangre. 

Reiji: Probablemente no son tan resistentes. Si se trata de llamas, no creo que se salven. 

Reiji: Parece que ya está bien, así que puedes tranquilizarte. 

Kanato: Hehe... es un castigo divino. Por intentar robar las cosas de los demás.

Laito: Seguro que te han hecho muchas cosas crueles, ¿eh? Pobre Bitch-chan. Nfu.

Ayato: En resumen, ¡soy un héroe por haberte rescatado! ¡Dame las gracias, Chichinashi! 

Subaru: Qué absurdo... 

Ayato: ¿¡Aah!? 

Reiji: Bueno, al final, me siento aliviado de que hayan desaparecido esas imitaciones de vampiro

Reiji: No tengo más remedio que felicitarte, Ayato. Disminuirán las causas de mi dolor de cabeza. 

Ayato: No me alegra que me felicites tú. Como recompensa, no puedo pensar en otra cosa que en la sangre de Chichinashi. 

Reiji: La han estado forzando completamente, Ayato. Por lo menos deja que descanse tranquilamente esta noche. 

Ayato: ¿Huh? ¡Ni de broma! ¡¿Cuánto crees que he esperado para beber su sangre?! 

Reiji: Después de todo esos cuatro habrán estado bebiendo de ella. Dale tiempo para que recupere su sangre al menos. 

Laito: Aaah~, tenía que haber ido yo y no habérselo dejado a Ayato-kun. Así podría haber participado yo también. 

Subaru: Qué asco. 

Shuu: *bostezo* ... 

Reiji: Por dios... No pasa nada si vuelves a tu habitación. Descansa bien esta noche. 

Yui: ... 

*en la habitación de Yui* 

Yui: (... Hace mucho que no vengo a esta habitación.) 

Yui: (...) 

*en el baño* 

Yui: ... 

Yui: ... Ah... 

Monólogo: 

Mientras el sonido del agua de la ducha lo ocultaba, inconscientemente lágrimas se derramaron desde mis ojos. No sé la razón exacta de por qué estaba llorando. Pero, las lágrimas no dejaban de caer. 

En mi cabeza llena de caos y confusión vi el destello de una luz naranja. 

Mientras estaba en esa casa me habían hecho muchas cosas crueles e irracionales. Pero. 

Por mucho que parpadeara, lo único que me venía a la mente era esa mano extendida dentro del mar de llamas, lo único en lo que podía pensar era Ruki-kun.

~end Ecstasy 09~

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Masterlist Traducciones

[q-gorgeous]

Strange

fanfiction

this fic is based off of @jerichomere‘s dead kyle au comic

hidey hey u guys im back for another dannymay fic jhgvf

Kyle walked through the main entrance of Casper High, a yawn falling out of his mouth while his eyes scrunched closed. When he opened his eyes, he had walked down the hallway a bit where the rest of the students were gathered. He smiled at some and waved at others as he walked down the hall, but it was starting to dawn on him that everyone was staring at him weirdly. 

No one was waving back to him as he greeted his classmates. Everyone either backed away from him or avoided looking at him altogether. His friend, Nost, nearly jumped out of his skin when Kyle clapped him on the shoulder in their usual greeting.

Huh, that’s strange. 

Pulling back, he looked at Nost with wide eyes, saying something about catching him later. Nost must’ve pulled an all nighter, it wouldn’t have been the first time. He shrugged off the feeling churning in his gut and changed direction when he saw Wes standing at his locker. 

“Hey, bro.” Kyle said as he walked up behind Wes. “Everyone looks like they’ve seen a ghost. Do you know why they’re acting so weird?

Wes paused in his digging in his locker, his hand clenched around his locker door. He slowly turned around, eyes wide, to stare at his brother who was standing nonchalantly in the middle of the hallway. 

“You have got to be kidding me.” Wes said. 

“What?” Kyle looked at Wes’ wide eyes and the way he shrunk in on himself. “Oh, not you too. I don’t know what crawled up everyone’s butts but you can come find me when you’re not being weird. I’m going to class.”

Kyle walked away from Wes, adjusting his backpack straps, and made his way down the hallway. The people he passed were white as a sheet and were looking at him with wide eyes. He didn’t know why they were acting so strange, but he would just go about his business as usual.

“Hey, Dale! High five!”

Dale instinctively lifted his arm and turned toward Kyle at the invitation for a high five, but the moment he realized it was Kyle’s hand smacking into his, it looked as if his soul left his body. 

Kyle continued walking down the hallway, whistling as he turned into his english classroom. 

“Lord of the Flies! Mr. Weston?!”

QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ

“So how come you don’t eat then?”

Wes kicked a rock as he walked beside Kyle, hands shoved into his pockets while he sported a grumpy expression on his face.

“What do you mean? Of course I eat! I’m just not that hungry very often.”

Wes shot Kyle a look. “I haven’t seen you eat since… For a couple weeks now. When do you eat that no one ever sees you?”

Kyle shrugged. “Probably when I’m baked as fuck.”

Wes sighed. “Well you’re not high right now, and you’re not eating, are you going to be hungry enough to join us for dinner?”

“Eh, I think I had a big lunch today. I’ll let you know if I’m hungry later.”

“You think you had a big lunch?” 

Kyle looked away from Wes. “I mean, I assume I had a big lunch since I’m not hungry.”

“You don’t even know?” Wes stared wide eyed at him. “Look, Kyle, I know you don’t believe in ghosts but-”

“Ghosts aren’t real.”

“But-”

Kyle sighed. “Look, I don’t want to talk about this right now. I just want to go home and do my homework.”

Wes followed after Kyle quietly, hands tucked into his jacket while Kyle was clad only in his hoodie even in the fall weather. 

Later at home, Kyle was interrupted from his homework when Wes knocked on his door and opened it. 

“Hey, dinner’s ready. If you wanna, uh, come eat.”

Kyle softly shook his head and gestured at his homework. “Nah. I’m, uh, not hungry. Besides, I wanna get this essay done for Mr. Lancer.”

“Oh, okay. I’ll see you later.”

Wes quietly shut the door behind him and Kyle leaned back in his chair and sighed. The churning feeling in his gut was reignited when the invitation to dinner sounded more like… A formality rather than an actual invitation this time. Like Wes knew Kyle wouldn’t be joining them. 

Turning the thought away, Kyle leaned forward to his desk again and turned his attention to the homework assignment Lancer had handed him with a barely there tremor in his hands. He stared at the assignment for a moment before getting up and crawling into bed, pulling the blankets over his body and curling into himself. 

He closed his eyes and tried to fall asleep. 

QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ

As Kyle walked through the hallways of Casper High, he began to realize that he now had to look up at many of the kids who were in a younger year than him. Even Wes was slowly beginning to surpass him in height. He’d always been taller than Wes, why was he catching up to him now?

Suddenly, a large body bumped into him on the left, nearly toppling him over to the floor. 

“Hey, shorty, watch it!”

Turning towards the voice, Kyle looked up at Keith who wilted upon meeting Kyle’s gaze. 

“Oh, uh, hey Kyle! I didn’t know that was you there! I thought you were Mikey or something.”

Kyle looked around the hallway and pointed to where Mikey was standing in the middle of the hallway with his friends. The boy who had once been a foot and a half shorter than Kyle now stood at the same height as him.

“He’s over there.”

Keith followed where Kyle’s finger was pointing and nodded vigorously. “That he is, I’ll go- go pummel him for making me think you were him!” Keith walked away towards the scrawny boy. “Hey, Mikey!” 

Kyle’s brows furrowed and he uneasily made his way over to where Wes was at his locker. “Hey, when did you all get so tall?”

Wes looked over his shoulder for a moment before turning his attention back to his locker. “About a year ago. Why? Did you finally notice?”

“Notice what?”

“That you stopped growing.”

Kyle shook his head. “No, of course I’m still growing. I just haven’t had a growth spurt in awhile. I’ll catch back up to you guys.”

When Kyle woke up the next morning and came downstairs yawning, Wes looked up at Kyle and the inch he used to have on him. 

“Of course.” Wes said as he poured himself a cup of coffee. “Who could have seen that coming.”

QQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ

“One of these days I’ll make you admit it.”

“Admit what?” Kyle asked as he tossed a football towards Wes as they stood in the middle of the park.

“That ghosts are real.” Wes caught the football and threw it back towards Kyle who jumped to catch it.

Kyle tsked and tucked the football against his side. “You can’t admit what isn’t true. Ghosts aren’t real.”

Wes sighed and bent over to pick up his stuff. “Whatever.” 

I will never admit that ghosts are real. 

I won’t. I can’t-

-Kyle watched as Danny flew around, putting on a show with his parents special effect technology. The man he was pretending to fight put on a pretty impressive act. Suddenly, one of the special effect machines exploded, shooting into the building Kyle was standing in the second story of. The building rumbled and groaned and he could hear Danny shouting his name.

“Kyle!” 

Then it fell. The building collapsed around him, puffs of dust going everywhere, the road littered with debris. Kyle’s head popped out of it like it hadn’t even touched him even though he could still feel the floor falling apart under his feet-

“Come on, let’s go home. Dad wants us there for some dinner with Vlad.”

Kyle watched Wes walk away for a moment, his heart in his stomach before following behind him, gripping his backpack straps tightly. 

Because if I do…

That’s not all I’ll have to admit. 

[zumpietoo]

Once Again...

Living in the past....

Andddd....hilariously, in practically the next scene, she proceeded to stomp all over his heart and neither she nor Douchie ever bothered themselves to legit apologize for that....while Jughead was at HIS lowest point:

Slizzy was merely being manipulated by, turns out, her dad.....next ep her reaction was to shrug it off and say, “nuh-uh, come at me bro”....conversely Jughead? Has his dad in fucking prison, is being manipulated by by a gang, being groomed by a power hungry sexual predator, getting beaten up daily and being manipulated by multiple peeps, with multiple, criminal agendas....

So yeah, this wasn’t sweet, in fact, honestly, Slizzy’s an elitist dick....and, LBR, would’ve handled it differently if she hadn’t been so busy seekritly enjoying being able to extricate herself for a bit from Jughead’s “wrong side of the tracks descent into evvollll” (when her elitist ass was really headed there).

Yeah, well....that was a year ago....and I thought y’all were the ones endlessly insisting RAS endlessly rewrote everything last minute for no apparent reason/Sabrina’s 2 second cameo?

Wouldn’t it track that they’ve possibly now opted to shift this differently?

Yeah, Unshura, it’s as if you aren’t entitled to know everything in advance, huh?

Oh Snorty.....first off, Glenn IS TBK....however, “could be”??? Dude, even if he weren’t/isn’t, he’s Slizzy’s FBI boss, OFC he’s involved....and yeah, they’re ALL gonna be involved in both, because, honestly, the revelation of him as TBK isn’t gonna take all that long....and then they’ll take up resisting Dale PP, cuz OFC...I have no idea how both can’t be handled....

For a “writer”, you sure do struggle to grasp basic plotting, huh?

BH might sleuth and not as good friends, dumbass....and nobody “fears” dick....

And no cloo how this storyline is “tailor made” for VD.....if anything, it fits even better for Barfie to oppose it (cuz THEY want to be in charge), Vagey, “eh, yeah, can we have our casino, please” and Jabi now working to rebuild THEIR plaiderdale, the Southside

[thehandleisjammed]

Hey you, with the face! You wanna see some top their quality girls? Well look no farther, for Battle Of The Big Tops has all that you seek! Now Featuring:

Sunita as Party Mistress Supreme (In Training) and her Googley form!

April as The Ultimate Hype Bestie Queen

And [foot recruit] as [a perfectly normal teen who is holding down SEVERAL LEGITIMATE JOBS WITH NO ULTERIOR MOTIVES WHATSOEVER-]

IT- ahem, sorry ‘bout that. It is my solum duty to report that @tmngoose is in fact a rouge agent of Santa’s work shop and has used her elf-crafting writing powers to fit every single characters to this fantastic universe.

Every

Single

One.

Do not underestimate her power for she is the author that shall fight angst with a cotten candy filled rubber chicken. And. Win.

Come to think of it, maybe she was trained by Tibetan Clown Monks. That’s also a possible backstory theory.

You can find all her notes and tidbits about the circus au here

Her ao3 account here

And more designs here

Also for fun, here are some excerpts from my designing notes are as follows

-[foot recruit] running to one of her many jobs like an anime school girl with breakfast in her mouth. She sure does have a pretty broach, huh?

-Oh crud I forgot Dale. Eh. Fitting.

[blue-temperature]

[ESP] Obey Me — Audio Drama #5: ‘Asmodeus’s New Hobby’ —

— Leviathan: Esta parte va aquí y... De acuerdo, ¡Está todo puesto!

— Asmodeus: ¡Vaya! ¡Eso es increíble!

— Leviathan: ¿Qué? ¿Asmo? Lo es, ¿No? Es un modelo de “Robo Bombalion Explosivo”. No solo eso, es la versión exclusiva completamente de metal.

— Asmodeus: ¡Es tan bonito! Es... demasiado bonito.

— Leviathan: Sih, bueno...

— Asmodeus: ¡Creo que estoy enamorado!

— Leviathan: ¿T-Tanto así?

— Asmodeus: ¡“Construcción metálica: Robo Bombalion Explosivo... ...refleja mi cara perfectamente!

— Leviathan: ¡¿Eso?! ¡¿No el modelo?!

— Asmodeus: Incluso cuando me reflejo en un extraño juguete como este, sigo siendo tan hermoso como siempre.

— Leviathan: ¡¿”Extraño juguete”?!

— Asmodes: Lo siento, lo siento, Levi. Por favor, continúa... terminando tu extraño juguete.

— Leviathan: ¡Que no es un “extraño juguete”! Bien, entonces las piernas van...

— Asmodeus: ¡Esas piernas son buenas...

— Leviathan: ¿Cierto?

— Asmodeus: ...me reflejan tan bellamente!

— Leviathan: Sí, lo sabía.

— Asmodeus: ¡Quiero ver cómo luzco en la parte de atrás de sus piernas!

— Leviathan: ¡Hey, ten cuidado cuando las mueves!

— Asmodeus: ¡Vaya! ¡También luzco fantástico en la parte de atrás de sus piernas!

— Leviathan: ¡¿Huh?! 

— Asmodeus: ¡Vamos, ponle más piernas ahí! ¡Rápido!

— Leviathan: Yah, este es un robot bípedo, así que solo hay dos piernas...

— Asmodeus: Pero... ¡Luzco muy bien en sus piernas! ¡Ordenaré más piernas, así que hagámoslo un robot de ocho, nueve piernas!

— Leviathan: ¡Esas son demasiadas piernas!

— Asmodeus: Podrías reemplazar esta cabeza con una pierna!

— Leviathan: ¡No! ¡No quiero un robot con una pierna creciendo en su torso!

— Asmodeus: Y haz su torso una pierna también. Entonces haz los brazos, piernas. ¡Y entonces añade piernas a las piernas!

— Leviathan: ¡¿Cuál sería el punto de eso?!

— Asmodeus: ¡Haz que su mano pierna derecha sostenga una pierna fusil... y su mano pierna derecha sostenga una pierna escudo... y su espalda pierna tenga un sable pierna!

— Leviathan: Ya es suficiente... Será todo piernas en ese punto. ¡Tendremos que llamarlo “Silver Leg Cluster”!

— Asmodeus: Entonces, al menos dale más piezas de piernas.

— Leviathan: ¿Qué significa eso siquiera...?

— Asmodeus: Ya sabes, poner montones de piezas para las piernas traseras por todo su cuerpo.

— Leviathan: ¡No! ¡No quiero un robot cubierto de piezas de piernas traseras! ¡Si vas a ser así, entonces déjame sólo!

— Asmodeus: Oh, realmente lo siento por arruinarlo, Levi. Te dejaré solo... ¿Pero puedo tener las piezas de piernas primero?

— Leviathan: ¡Por supuesto que no! Si quieres mirarte a ti mismo tanto, ¿Por qué no buscas un espejo?

— Asmodeus: Estoy cansado de mirar mi siempre hermoso ser en el espejo. Es solo la rutina en este punto.

— Leviathan: Es impresionante que puedas decir eso con una cara seria. Estoy un poco celoso.

— Asmodeus: ¡Así que por eso quiero ver y experimentar si sería tan hermoso como siempre en una cosa extraña como esta!

— Leviathan: ¡Deja de llamarlo extraño! ¡Si quieres verte a ti mismo en algo extraño, ve a un torneo de sumo y encuentra a un charco de sudor en el que mirarte!

— Asmodeus: ¿Eh?

— Leviathan: B-Bueno, puede haber sido un ejemplo un poco extraño...

— Asmodeus: ¡Buena idea! ¡Me voy!

— Leviathan: ¿Realmente irás?

— Asmodeus: ¡Gracias, Levi! ¡Bye-bye!

— Leviathan: Vaya, su narcisismo es verdaderamente otra dimensión.

— Asmodeus: ¡Leviiii!

— Leviathan: ¡Wa! ¡Regresó!

— Asmodeus: Quiero mirarme a mí mismo en el camino... ...¿Así que está bien si tomo las piezas de las piernas traseras después de todo?

— Leviathan: ¡Noooo!

[rookdalerivera]

Character Interview!

(Sorry this post is long as BALLS!///

name ➔ “Dale Rivera...Mama picked my first name cuz Papa claimed the surname.”

are you single ➔ “Single is a state of mind! But seriously, I moved in with my current fiancé 3 days after meeting him! I know who I want, and go for them.”

are you happy ➔ “Mostly! Good a good job, nice home, new truck, and trophy husband, so why not?”

are you angry ➔ "Rarely. I find I get melancholy instead...I try not to let things get to me, because I gotta be the rock for many people, both personally and as a public duty.”

are your parents still married ➔ "Darn right they are! They’re as old-fashioned as they come. Both happen to be staunch Catholic, and so, ‘ ‘til death.’ “

NINE FACTS

birth place ➔ “Conroe, Texas”

hair colour ➔ “Ashy blonde, almost gray, I guess?”

eye colour ➔ “brown”

birthday ➔ “Nov 1st…”

mood ➔ “...content, but feisty?”

gender ➔ “Male as they come.”

summer or winter ➔ “Definitely Summertime!”

morning or aftern oon ➔ “Always been an early riser. They call them Larks, right? So, morning”

EIGHT THINGS ABOUT YOUR LOVE LIFE

are you in love ➔ “Ho boy, am I ever~”

do you believe in love at first sight ➔ “Maybe...definitely probably...I’m really good at reading people so I’m quick to pull the trigger if I like them.”

who ended your last relationship ➔ “I did. Unfortunately, this was the second time I had to divorce...gave her an ultimatum to stop doing, ummm, certain illegal activities, and she refused. Case closed”

have you ever broken someone’s heart ➔ “Honestly? I have no idea!��

are you afraid of commitments ➔ "Nope! In fact, I prefer them! Committing shows both trust and respect. In both my personal life and as a deputy, I gotta have those 2 constants in my life.”

have you hugged someone within the last week? ➔ “Heck yeah! I’m proud to also have the title of Junior Deputy Cuddle Slut!”

have you ever had a secret admirer ➔ “Eh, not so much back when I lived in Texas, or at least not that I knew of? However, here in Hope County, I’m a lot more social and get a flirty glance now and then. And I’m sure Joey is secretly smitten with me! Why else would someone launch a stapler at my face daily for being hilarious. There’s a Japanese word for that...Tsundere? Yeah...think so.”

have you ever broken your own heart? ➔ “Not exactly sure what this question has to do with love life? But, uh...I can’t really say I have a solid example, sorry.”

SIX CHOICES

love or lust ➔ "lus-LOVE! I MEANT TO SAY “LOVE”!

lemonade or iced tea ➔ “Iced Tea would be the better choice, cuz I’ve been told that too much sugar makes me annoying!”

cats or dogs ➔ "Hmmm...I’d definitely love to have a faithful Fido some day!”

a few best friends or many regular friends ➔ “A few of the best is...bestest? Trust me...I got an issue with caring way too much about everyone, so I’d rather focus on the ones who got my back.”

wild night out or romantic night in ➔ "*smirks* I...uh...can’t remember the last time I’ve even had just a simple, romantic night. I’m a damn Scorpio after all!”

day or night ➔ “Probably gonna go with Daytime. Night patrol is for the birds!”

FIVE HAVE YOU EVERS

been caught sneaking out ➔ “Honestly? There’s never been a point in my life that I had to do that...”

fallen down/up the stairs ➔ "Ho yeah! I used to live on the second floor in an apartment building...in Fall’s End...adjacent to Spread Eagle. I’m sure you’d have guessed from that how wasted I’d get in the evenings, then had to deal with a flight of stairs...a drunk’s arch nemesis!”

wanted something/someone so badly it hurt? ➔ "Mmmhmm....but luckily I believe in treating yo’self often!”

wanted to disappear ➔ “Yeah...and I did! I left Texas on a whim and settled here. My exes were driving me up the wall!”

FOUR PREFERENCES

smile or eyes ➔ “Huh? Most likely eyes, cuz they never lie!”

shorter or taller ➔ “Shorter. I wanna be everyone’s big brother!”

intelligence or attraction ➔ “Sorry, but I don’t believe you can truly love or respect anyone that you think is a beautiful idiot...”

hook-up or relationship ➔ “That’s an ambiguous question, my friend. Literally anything can be a type of relationship. Now if ya meant commitment, which I mentioned before, then my answer remains...commitment over no-strings.”

FAMILY

do you and your family get along ➔ “I’d like to think so. My parents ain’t probably gonna roll out the red carpet for me once they find out I’m getting hitched to a dude, though...heh!”

would you say you have a “messed up life” ➔ “This question has to do with family, right? My immediate family was, and still is, pretty solid, so I gotta thank my lucky stars for that!”

have you ever ran away from home ➔ “As a minor? Naw...home was where I had all my favorite things, and my Mama to sing me time sleep at night.”

have you ever gotten kicked out ➔ “Heh...why would?... Nope...happy to say that never happened! *winks*”

FRIENDS

do you secretly hate one of your friends ➔ “Yooooo - that’s sort of impossible! Someone you hate isn’t something to put a friend label on.”

do you consider all of your friends good friends ➔ “Heh....only “The Man Upstairs” can really decide that, right?”

who is your best friend ➔ “God...I gotta pick only one? I’m gonna go with the safe answer here and say my boo, Stace.”

who knows everything about you ➔ “That’s not really possible...to know everything about someone, unless you got some psychic ability? Anyway... my little sister knows me probably like the back of her hand, and Staci is quickly gettin’ up to date!”

[paragonrobits]

Inquisitor: Good news time, bad news time! But it's only bad news from a certain perspective.

Iron Bull: Right, let's hear it.

Inquisitor: The good news is, it will be a LOT easier to enact all the reforms that I had in mind. Tearing down the Chantry and building something better in its place, removing the alienages, restoring the Dales to the Dalish clans, and completely removing the Circle forever.

Varrick: Sounds great! So.... what's the bad news, eh?

Inquisitor: I made this possible by creating a giant rift that sucked up Val Royeaux, permanently destroying all Chantry leadership and creating a massive power vacuum that we fortunately can fill and establish a new system of our choosing.

Inquisitor: Like I said though; it's only bad from a specific point of view. The point of view of people who liked keeping mages locked up for Templars to abuse and elves barred from their homelands, generally. And I really don't give a damn what they think anyway.

Varrick: ...Huh. Hang on, I gotta contact someone. Anders owes me money now.

[thegemofcursu]

Argentina sobreprotege a Uruguay

Estas versiones de Argentina,Paraguay y Uruguay son de @c-corp​  Perdon por tardarme tanto tiempo,estoy tan aliviada de por fin terminarlo,aunque no se si usted realmente lo esperaba o no,pero aquí lo tiene >:D

Espero haber hecho bien sus personalidades,y si no…sorry,no nos ha mostrado mucho del Paraguay actual así que me tuve que imaginar un poco el como sería en esta situación

—————————————————————————————–

Argentina sobreprotege a Uruguay,¿pero por que?,¿es por su inocencia/ignorancia?,¿era por su apariencia joven que atraía a tantos viejos verdes?.

Técnicamente no son hermanos,son paises despues de todo,no están realmente conectados por sangre,pero nadie que los vea puede negar que además de ser parecidos en varios sentidos,se tratan como si realmente fueran hermanos de sangre,cuando se habla de su relación,siempre dicen lo mismo:

“-Ostia,pues yo diría que Argentina es el mayor y Uruguay el pequeño” “-Argentina mayor,Uruguay menor” “-¿No es obvio?,el parce Argentina es el grande y Uru es el pelao chico��

“-From what i see,Argentina is the oldest brother and Urugay the younger one

-Es Uruguay,pituco

-¿Eh?

-No es UruGAY,es UruGUAY

-Yeah yeah,whatever”

“-Argentina é o insuportável irmão mais velho…e Uruguai o adorável irmão mais novo~ ❤ ”

Parecía ser muy obvio,pero lo que no era tan obvio era la razón por la cual lo protegía tanto,podrías argumentar que es por las primeras razones que mencioné al principio por supuesto,tienen sentido y si no sabes mucho de la historia de los hermanos aquellas excusas encajan bastante bien,¿quien no conoce a un hermano que sobreprotege a uno más pequeño e inocente?,es un estereotipo bastante conocido,de hecho Argentina a veces se comporta como si fuera la mismísima encarnación de ese estereotipo

-¡Y ESO TE PASA POR TRATAR ASÍ A MI HERMANITO!,¡GIL!-suelta a la no tan sobria persona que se la había insinuado a su hermano menor- maldita sea,¡sabía que este lugar estaría lleno de degenerados!

Se volteo levemente para ver donde estaba Uruguay ahora,necesitaba saber si había visto esa escena. No lo vío,por lo que salió de aquella esquina llena de mugre a la que se había llevado al sujeto para alejarlo de su familia. Acomodándose la ropa empezó a mirar a su alrededor,buscando a Uruguay y su distintiva remera. Para su alivio,Paraguay se lo había llevado lejos como se lo pidió,y ahora estaban jugando a los aros,debía de admitir que era gracioso ver al paraguas jugando como si fuera un hombre adulto intentando cosas de niños,pese a que él bien sabía que no era la primera vez que jugaba a eso

-Je,supongo que no esta acostumbrado a las ferias-con la mente y el corazón más tranquilos por aquella escena (que aunque no lo diría en voz alta,le pareció un poco tierna) ,respiro profundo para ya acercarse a los guays

-¡Dale paraguitas!,quiero ese peluche de la patrulla canina,lo quiero mucho mucho-se apoya con los codos sobre el mueble que separaba al juego del jugador y espectadores,observando a Paraguay lanzar los aros-uy,cerca,proba a darle un poco mas arriba,lo lanzas re suave

Paraguay lo intentaba de verdad,aquello era tanto algo personal como no personal,quería conseguir ese juguete y no decepcionar a Uru,pero también quería sacarse de la cabeza la sonrisa fanfarrona del dueño del puesto al ver como fallaba sus tiros. Aquel señor si que le molestaba,y él rara vez se molestaba

Respiro profundo y calculando mejor su tiro,lanzo su penultimo aro,logrando que quedase sobre la botella

-¡Ja!,¡en su cara!-se inclinó y señalo al señor de la atracción,quien por la impresión ante la emoción con la que el paraguayo habló,retrocedió un poco-Em…-al darse cuenta de que se había emocionado de más,vuelve a su lugar y sonríe para disimular-¿me da el peluche del perro bombero?

El señor asiente rápidamente,y le felicita por su victoria mientras le da el peluche que solicitó sin hesitar

-Bueno-toma su recompensa y se la entrega al menor-aquí tienes tu perro de peluche,¿te gusta?

-¡Me encanta!,aunque…sin ánimos de sonar mal agradecido– -Paraguay intenta anticiparse a lo que Uruguay va a decir y habla antes que el contrario pueda

-Si se perfectamente que soy algo lento,pero lo intento lo mejor que puedo,no es que lo estuviese haciendo de mala gana y realmente no quisiese ganar ese peluche para ti,te prometo que le puse todas mis,ganas-el pobre trataba de justificar la cara seria que había tenido casi desde el inicio del juego- yo–

-Marshall

-…¿huh?-estaba tan concentrado en su disculpa que aquel nombre sin contexto previo lo dejo fuera de sí,confundido

-Este peluchito-señala el premio que el paraguayo gano para él-se llama Marshall,es el perro bombero de la patrulla canina -pone una mano en su cintura mientras con la otra abraza a su nuevo juguete-me ofende que no lo sepas,pero te perdono pibe,no todos pueden ser igual de cultos como yo -sonríe egocéntrico,medio en broma y medio en serio,sacandole una pequeña risa a Paraguay pese a que hace unos segundos estaba mas serio

El contraste entre ambas personalidades era notable,no eran opuestos,ni tampoco eran a la par,pero ambos disfrutaban de la compañia del otro,siempre encontraban la forma de pasarla bien pese a las diferencias. Pese a que no salían juntos muy seguido,aún se apreciaban mutuamente

-¿Que cuentan boludos?-el Argento interrumpe el momento de los guays poniéndose en medio de ambos y abrazandolos a cada uno del cuello-ya me encargue del “problemita”,¿quieren ir a morfar pizza?,¡porque yo me estoy muriendo de hambre!

-…ew-fue lo unico que soltó Uruguay antes de sacarse con un gesto de asco la mano de su hermano mayor-¿como vas a tocar a tu hermanito con esas manos mugrientas?,¿siquiera te las lavaste?

Argentina lo miró con una ceja alzada,sin entender en un principio lo que Uru le quería decir,pero Paraguay lo había entendido,él lo había entendido al instante,y aunque sabía que el del sol en el medio no había hecho nada de lo que insinuaba el uruguayo,igual se zafo de su abrazo,más que nada porque quería ver su reacción

-Él habla de que te manoseaste mientras no estabas con nosotros-aunque tenía una mirada seria,mantenía una sonrisa que solo se hizo mas grande al ver la cara de Argentina

-¿¡Que carajo!?,¿por que mierda haria eso en un lugar público?

-Lo hiciste en el baño de la playa,así queeee…

Su hermano solo se subió y bajó de hombros,como si la cosa no fuera con él,mientras Argentina solo le veía con el ceño fruncido,preguntandose porque el menor siempre salía con esas cosas,¿ese es el ejemplo que le daba a Uruguay?,estaba ofendido y muy levemente preocupado

-Como sea,vamos por esa pizza ¿no?,tengo altas ganas de comer una con doble mozzarella,¡oh!,y una buena sweepers,pero la citrus no la otra,la otra me sabe asquerosa- ignorando la mirada fulminante de su hermano,simplemente se volteó y empezó a caminar,hablándole ahora a su peluche de la patrulla canina-¿tu que piensas al respecto Marshall?

Aguantandose las ganas de decir “JA JA SE MAMÓ”,el argento solo suspiro y siguió al menor junto a Paraguay,a la distancia suficiente como para no oír a su hermano hablar con el peluche y poder vigilarlo al mismo tiempo. El país con apariencia de adulto solo lo miraba,divirtiéndose al ver como trataba de mantener su ceño fruncido con fuerza,pero Paraguay sabía perfectamente que él realmente no estaba enojado,solo intentaba fingirlo para “enseñarle una lección” a Uruguay,siempre decía: “No puedo dejar que se acostumbre a que lo que hace no tiene consecuencias,si se hace el boludo tiene que verme enojado,mínimo”

No lo criticaba,él también había llegado a sobreproteger a Uruguay en algún momento,pero Argentina era un nivel diferente al suyo,tenía un instinto de hermano mayor que le hacía creer a cualquiera que aquellos dos eran hermanos de sangre,pero,¿por que?,era una de esas preguntas que parecían tan tontas,pero a veces era algo que se preguntaba seriamente,pues no era algo común que se ve mucho entre países (aunque sí ocurría). Cuando Argentina actuaba como hermano mayor,se sentía como si fuera algo así como su responsabilidad,una muy real

-Oye,Argentina,no es por ofender,¿pero no crees que ha veces te metes mucho en tu papel de “hermano”?-el argentino quitó su atención de Uruguay para pasar a ver a Paraguay con una ceja alzada-no lo digo solo por lo de ahora,sino desde siempre,¿cuando dejaste de tratarlo como un país y empezaste a tratarlo como un hermano? -miro al más joven de los tres antes de volver a hablar- se que lo has hecho desde casi su existencia,pero…me da curiosidad-volvió a  mirar a Argentina- saber si es por algo en concreto o solo te salió de forma natural

El de franjas celestes solo se quedo en silencio por algunos segundos,mirando a cualquier lugar excepto a la cara del paraguayo,¿intentaba recordar algo en concreto o solo no sabía como decirlo?,“quizás le da vergüenza” pensó Paraguay,y la verdad es que conociendo a  Argentina no estaría para nada sorprendido de que fuera así. No es que el argento fuera súper vergonzoso con sus muestras de afecto,pero tampoco era el más abierto al respecto,y si tuviera que adivinar,diría que aquel leve sonrojo que le había salido era una muestra de que la pregunta le traía recuerdos que le daban vergüenza de contar frente a otros

Pero tratándose del paraguas,Argentina tenía confianza para hablarle de Uruguay

-¿Vos te acordas de como era Uru en sus primeros años de vida,no?,el pibito no tenía  ni idea de cómo debía de actuar,ya no te hablo del que hacer porque eso nadie se lo sabe en un principio,pero cuando te digo que no actuaba como un país te lo digo en serio,Montevideo se encargaba de la mayoría de sus cosas porque Uruguay estaba en otra (distraído),y vos sabes que en esos tiempos había que estar bien acorde al gobierno-Paraguay asintió levemente,él recordaba aquellos tiempos donde tenían que callar los sentimientos de su pueblo y apoyar a su gobierno,como todos (o la GRAN mayoría) los países en esa época- pero el nene no era así,cada vez que teníamos reuniones eran sus representantes,su capital y él sentado ahí,mirando a todos lados excepto a lo que tenía que mirar… Además,andaba mucho más con provincias o estados que con países,siempre lo veías con Entre Ríos o Río Grande del Sur sentado en el campo,alejado de la ciudad

Suspiro al recordar aquellos tiempos,viejos y estresantes tiempos,aunque siendo sincero consigo mismo,no sabría decir si actualmente estaba mucho mejor que en aquel entonces,mentalmente,claro. Recordar tanto aquellos tiempos le trajo un recuerdo particular,que llegó a su mente como juguete que encontraste después de mucho tiempo y del que solo te acuerdas al verlo,aquella era la sensación que había tenido

-No tengo una razón súper particular para proteger a Uru,ni siquiera se exactamente cuando empecé a hacerlo,pero tengo este recuerdo…

….

Era una tarde muy calmada,el día anterior yo había viajado desde Buenos Aires hasta Montevideo para asistir a la celebración que ocurriría ahí,Uruguay realizaba el primer sufragio para presidente desde que se creó su constitución (ósea ya había tenido presidente antes,pero esta vez era la primera en la que la población votaba),y mi presidente y yo habíamos sido invitados junto a algunos familiares de alta clase. No se si estabas vos ahí,pero si recuerdo al Imperio del Brasil y a Reino Unido,esos negros con sus coronas ponían unas caras que me hacían querer pegarles unas buenas patadas “reales” en el orto

Bueno volvamos a lo central que me salgo de tema,ese día se dio una fiesta para celebrar lo que ya te dije,y luego de que acompañase al cansino de mi presidente a saludar a todos sus compinches,por fin tuve permiso de apartarme y buscar algo para comer,pero mientras lo hacía me di cuenta de que no había visto a Uruguay durante todo el tiempo que llevaba en esa fiesta,estaba seguro de que debía de estar en algún lado porque todos sus políticos estaban ahí y el día en que llegue él me había saludado,así que me tome la tarea de buscarlo por toda la fiesta . ¿Ah que no adivinas en donde estaba el mongolico?,¡debajo de una de las mesas de comida!,como las mesas tienen manteles super largos era imposible verlo,pero pude ver su mano cuando la saco para intentar agarrar comida de la mesa

-Ay por dios…-me acerce a la mesa,me agache y le agarre de la muñeca antes de que pudiese tomar algo de comida-¿que crees que haces?-para poder verlo a los ojos levanté con mi otra mano el mantel

-¡Eh!,¡soltame!-cuando lo hice el tonto se acarició su muñeca como si le hubiera apretado fuerte-¿y que te importa a vos?,simplemente no quiero estar conviviendo con los demás,raja de acá y déjame solo

-¿Por que no queres estar con los demás?,se está celebrando tu avance como país,¿no deberías de estar feliz?-sabiendo las dificultades que todavía estaba pasando Uru,pensé que esto lo haría sentirse aunque sea un poco orgulloso de si mismo

Él solo se cruzo de brazos y miró a otro lado,como un niño siendo regañado. Realmente no tenía ganas de salir,y yo no tenía las ganas de obligarlo,pero ahora que lo veía así me di cuenta de que tendría que convencerlo porque en algún momento iban a notar su ausencia,por lo que me metí debajo de la mesa junto a él,me senté a su lado,haciendo que Uruguay me mirara algo extrañado

-Ahora,¿me vas a contar por que no querés salir?-hizo una mueca de incomodidad cuando le pregunté aquello,así que puse un tono más suave para ver si así me hablaba-solos somos nosotros dos acá,todos están demasiado ocupados hablando entre ellos,nadie te escuchara más que yo-ahora que lo recuerdo,esto suena como algo que diría un secuestrador,pero aquella vez parece funcionar para que el nene hablara

-Yo no quiero estar en esta celebración porque…porque…-no me acuerdo exactamente que gestos hacía,pero yo lo miraba y Uruguay realmente parecía estar teniendo problemas para ser sincero conmigo-porque realmente no me siento como un país…-al decir eso no pudo mantenerme más la mirada y se quedó mirando al suelo

Yo por supuesto estaba confundido a más no poder,él tenía una constitución,él tenía un pueblo,él tenía un presidente y un gobierno,¿como que no se sentía un país?,en mi cabecita de esos tiempos la idea no me terminaba de quedar en la cabeza,y antes de preguntarle el porque solo le eche en cara todo lo que tenía,todo lo que lo hacía legalmente un país,olvidándome por un momento de que ser país también es un sentimiento,uno tiene que SENTIRSE un país,sino es así es porque evidentemente algo falla. Uruguay me hizo acuerdo de eso cuando interrumpió mi discurso

-¡Pero yo no me siento como un país!,ninguna de mis personas se siente “uruguayo”-lo dijo haciendo comillas con los dedos,como si ser uruguayo no fuera un concepto real-y tienen toda la razón de no sentirse así,¿que tengo yo que me diferencie de ti?-si,no dijo “de los demás”,específicamente me señalo a mi porque aunque con diferencias,Uruguay todavía parecía una de mis provincias,y por ese mismo motivo era un punto que no le podía discutir-¡nada!… Yo nunca estuve destinado a ser un país -su tono bajo tanto y sonó tan depresivo que no pude evitar sentirme mal,incluso si no teníamos la relación que tenemos ahora

-No seas dramático,si no estuvieras destinado a ser un país,no estarías teniendo tus primeras elecciones ahora-intente animarlo con palabras lógicas,te hago un pequeño spoiler,no funcionaron

-Pero ni siquiera se como hacer las cosas,me siento tonto cada vez que le dan mi trabajo a alguien más porque yo no soy incapaz de hacerlo bien,Argentina-levantó su vista por un momento y te juro por Dieguito Maradona que tenía la mirada más llena me angustia que jamás había visto en mi vida,ni siquiera tenía que decirlo,en su propia voz ya se le notaba la duda- a veces me quedo despierto en la noche,pensando,tratando de creer que lo que estoy haciendo está bien,pero no siento que esté haciendo lo correcto,no puedo parar de pensar en que solo existí para terminar la guerra que tenías con el Imperio por mi territorio,y claro,como al pirata no le convenía esa guerra-me siento culposamente orgulloso de decirte que “pirata” es un apodo para Gran Bretaña que aprendió de mí-decidió intervenir y declarar que yo fuera un estado independiente,a diferencia de vos,que tus criollos ya no se sentían españoles y pelearon por su independencia,yo nunca peleé por la mía como un país,¡ninguna de las personas que están en esta fiesta lo hicieron!,no puedo esperar que tengan un sentimiento patriótico si no hay realmente una patria…

Sus ojos parecían querer soltar lágrimas en el mismo instante en el que terminó de hablar,pero su ceño fruncido me decía lo obvio,que no quería llorar frente a mi,y me dío un noseque,me sentí terrible al verlo así,saber lo impotente que se sentía por intentarlo con todas sus ganas y aún así no poder hacer bien las cosas. Pa’,no sabes las ganas que me dieron de consolarlo,y se que sueno medio marica pero te juro que tú también habrías querido hacerlo si lo hubieses visto,él estaba ahí,probablemente pensando que aquellas emociones también eran otra “señal” de que no debería de haber sido un país porque no estaba emocionalmente preparado para eso

Simplemente empecé a pensar creo que hasta incluso de más en sus emociones,sentía un peso en mi pecho,como si tuviera que hacer algo,era un sentimiento parecido a la culpa,pero había algo más… Paraguas,aquella fiesta estaba llena de personas,y aún así yo sabía que ninguna de ellas intentaría entenderlo o consolarlo,pensaba que hasta podrían burlarse de él,bueno,pensaba no,estaba SEGURO de que se burlarían de él,de frente o a sus espaldas. Sentía que era mi deber protegerlo de todo aquello,fué cuando me di cuenta de lo que sentía,que le puse una mano en el hombro,y antes de que Uruguay pudiera siquiera levantar su vista del suelo para verme y preguntarme “¿que carajo estas haciendo?”,lo atraje a mi para abrazarlo

En esos momentos,mi corazón solo me decía que era lo correcto,yo no lo dudaba,y si aunque sea había un pequeño gramo de duda,se fué cuando dejo de aguantar sus lágrimas y se largó a llorar en mis hombros,abrazándome con fuerza mientras intentaba hacer la menor cantidad de ruido posible,yo solo lo acepte,deje que se desahogará,cuanto más rápido lo hiciera mejor se sentiría y más rápido podríamos volver a la fiesta,que para ese punto ya me estaba empezando a preocupar que notaran mi ausencia    Cuando por fin pareció calmarse,se quedó unos segundos más abrazandome antes de por fin soltarme,miraba al suelo avergonzado,no me miraba,y antes de que se le ocurriera algo que decir,hable yo antes

-Entiendo que no te sientas como un país todavía,pero construir una patria lleva esfuerzo,la gente se une muy fácil cuando hay que pelear contra algo más grande con un sentimiento en común y por eso es que yo estoy aquí,tu situación es diferente,por eso no puedes esperar a construir tu patria de la misma forma en la que yo lo hice-puse una mano en su hombro para que me mirara- no te presiones tanto,date y dales tiempo,ya empezarán a llamarse a si mismos “uruguayos”

Creo que en ese momento vi algo de brillo en sus ojos,y de repente su mirada no parecía tan triste. Me sentí realizado viste,como cuando cumplís con tu meta de año nuevo…ahre que yo nunca cumplí con una,¡pero seguro que el sentimiento es el mismo!,el punto es que estaba contento,y yo en ese momento no lo sabía,pero ese era el inicio como mi carrera de hermano mayor,claro que me tomo tiempo porque las reglas de ese entonces no nos permitian ser muy cercanos sin que se viera raro,pero todo fue mejorando entre nosotros

…

-No lo repitas en alto,pero estoy seguro de que yo lo veía como un hermano menor antes de que él me viera como un hermano mayor,supongo que de todas formas para mi era más fácil,él siempre fue más pequeño en muchos sentidos,y como nunca le gusto que lo llamasen provincia rebelde o Argentina jr,le costó más tiempo que a mi sentirse como hermano mío,además de que yo también lo jodía-soltó una risa sin arrepentimiento alguno-¡aún lo jodo!,pero sin ninguna maldad detrás…bueno sí,un poquito si,soy Argentina ibe,soy un poquito perverso,está en mi sangre

Para ser Argentina,aquella historia había sido algo tierna,mas que nada por la forma en la que se expresó el país con el sol,le trajo sus propias memorias de aquellos tiempos,tanto las malas como las buenas,estaba algo sorprendido,pero no tanto,creía que todo país podía expresarse correctamente si lo intentaba,la cosa era que Argentina no era conocido precisamente por eso (lo conocen más por su mal vocabulario y actitud defensiva ante la mas minima acusación)

-Esa fue una historia muy linda,se nota que eras más responsable en aquellos tiempos,jaja-intento ponerle algo de humor a la situación,sin dejar de ser Paraguay claro- la verdad es que no recuerdo esa faceta de Uruguay,inexperto era,pero no sabía que se había sentido tan inseguro de su existencia como país,debe de haber sido difícil

-La ocultó bastante bien después de nuestra charla-tratando de pretender que no había admitido que en algún momento fue así de blando con alguien,hablo con un tono más informal,como quitándole importancia al asunto-de todos modos,no fue ni sera la ultima vez que tendré que actuar como hermano mayor,en el sentido de tener que aconsejar-la sonrisa que tenía en su rostro mostraba lo feliz que estaba de llamarse a sí mismo “hermano mayor”,y aunque sería divertido molestarlo con eso prefirió no hacerlo,lo dejaría seguirse expresando sin vergüenza-a veces puede ser pesado,un boludo,un forro,un vago-enumero algunos insultos más antes de ir al tema-…pero antes que nada,es mi hermanito,lo cuido como a mis copas,nadie lo toca y nadie lo lastima si yo puedo prevenirlo,siempre lo cuidare y–

-¿¡Que tanto hablan ahí atrás homúnculos de tortugas y caracoles!?-les preguntó en voz alta Uruguay,quien se había cansado de tener que ir más lento porque que sus acompañantes estaban muy entretenidos en su charla-¡esa pizza no va llegar a mi estómago por arte de magia culos rotos! -¡Callate gordo puto!-Argentina no dudo en responderle con otra grosería en seguida a su hermanito querido,a lo cual Paraguay no pudo evitar soltar una risa un poco más que leve,le sorprendía lo sentimental que podía ponerse y lo rápido que se le pasaba

-¡A mi no me dices que me calle negro choto!

-¡Yo te digo lo que quiera chupa pija! -¡Chupa pija seras vos!,¡es tu comida favorita del dia! Y así siguieron hasta que Argentina dejó atrás a Paraguay para ir a insultar a su hermano de frente,y a Paraguay no le importó mucho,ya le estaban dando un poco de vergüenza para ser sincero así que era mejor que estuvieran lejos hasta que terminaran de insultarse. Ya estando solo,pudo pensar mejor en lo que le había dicho,¿pensaba en como explicaba la actitud de Argentina?,no realmente,eso ya le había quedado claro,no necesitaba entenderlo más,pero aquello le había hecho pensar en lo importante que era tener a alguien cercano a ti para apoyarte,Uruguay tenía suerte de tener a Argentina,y Argentina tenía suerte de tener a Uruguay,ya le gustaría a él tener una relación tan cercana con alguien que conocía de aquellos tiempos

-Che Yvoty…-suspiro,lo que daría por volver a ser cercano a su dulce Bolivia,pero ni para darle los buenos días le hablaba

Dejó de mirar al suelo,y negándose a deprimirse en esos momentos,aceleró el paso hasta llegar a los hermanos con el sol,obligándolos a cesar su guerra de insultos al recordarles que estaban en una feria y estaban rodeados de niños

//FIN//

——————————————————————————————- Espero que le haya gustado si lo ha leído hasta el final ❤️,espero que no le haya molestado el que lo haya hecho un poco mas serio que el de la playa 😅