#Esmeralda Took

[boogflake]

Esmeralda and Bobby… I mean Ybbob 🩸🦇

[gg-is-a-loser]

introducing my ocs (finally)

i’ve posted them without context a lot so here is the overview 🔥🔥🔥

important background info: they all live in an underground city (literally) called safehaven. it’s a refuge for criminals and outcasts. there’s no real government, several groups have their own turf that they control

there’s not really any rules for like. species or powers or anything. i kind of just do whatever i want i fear

this is stryder, boss of a group called the serpents. youngest of three adopted kids, he inherited the job when their mother died. in a relationship with kestrel. don’t have any good recent art of it but he can transform, growing horns and extra eyes and claws. it can be on command or when he’s angry.

kestrel, stryder’s partner and part of the serpents’ medical team. she came from money on the surface, fleeing to safehaven after killing her husband. the serpents took her in and she fell in love with stryder. he calls her “songbird”. she can create wind, which goes out of control when she’s in distress. (part of how she got her scar- after the whole killing her husband thing, she panicked and the wind started up, which knocked over a candle and burned the whole house down. sad!)

hester, lead enforcer for the serpents and the middle child of the previous boss. she can see the future and has no control over when she gets visions. they don’t always come true, and sometimes she has a hard time telling the future from the present. hard to see in the headshot, but she doesn’t have arms. her bottom half is the tail/body of a reticulated python. best character to draw when anatomy is a nightmare

eden, a singer who works for the serpents. she tried to start a performing career on the surface but was cut short when she developed a… power? illness? no one is sure that caused flowers to grow out of her body. execs thought it would make her unmarketable and most people found it gross or scary. she came underground thinking the people there wouldn’t be put off by it, and was right. she performs in the bar stryder owns. technically she can control the thorny vines that grow out of her body, but it really hurts to do it.

melora, eden’s best friend and accompanying pianist. she used to be an assassin, but she really just wants to be able to focus on music now. she can manipulate gold (sorta like metalbending except just with gold) and would use her jewelry as weapons. technically she still can, she just tries to avoid it.

this is misha, a young thief. he and a few other street urchins tried to steal something from the serpents. only he and one other kid got caught. instead of punishing them, stryder saw their potential and now they’re both paid to do stealth work. misha has fairy ish wings. also he’s transgender. yay

rascal is the other kid who got caught with misha. except, they could’ve gotten away if they wanted to. they just didn’t want to leave misha behind. the two think of each other as siblings. despite being one of the youngest around, they’re the best when it comes to stealth and thievery. got the ears and tail of a raccoon. got a lot of scars from various scuffles, falls, other minor stuff.

anatole’s been in the group his whole life. his mom was a member and got killed in some fight. he really looks up to stryder. he’s probably the funniest guy around. he’s got a secret relationship with blair, a member of a rival group. he can also play bass (prefers upright but can do electric too) and plays with melora and eden sometimes. he’s basically a satyr but i don’t actually wanna use the word satyr yk

jasper is a mechanic. not technically a member of the serpents, but he works on their turf and does jobs for them. he’s got a few burns from various machines blowing up on him. it doesn’t happen as much anymore now that he’s a lot better at his work. he works on weapons sometimes. he’s got moth wings and antennae. he really likes olive but hasn’t done anything about it. tourmaline never lets him hear the end of it

tourmaline is jasper’s half sister. she’s a botanist and a gardener. she has a greenhouse which provides a lot of the food for the serpents and others in the area. she’s also got a few experiments going on in there. she’s good friends with olive and is completely not helpful to jasper about it

olive works in the serpents’ medical team. shes a bit odd. she says a lot of things that don’t make sense, usually just whatever thoughts float through her brain. think like. a calmer version of maddie hatter from ever after high. she doesn’t not like jasper back, she’s just never actually thought about it. romance just isn’t in her mind very often. she has feathery wings

esmeralda is the head of the serpents’ medical operations. she’s very serious, approaches everything with logic. she was really close with the previous boss. she taught kestrel everything she knows. she never really tells anyone how she got her scars, even hester and stryder have no idea. no one really pushes it. if i had an actual linear story she would probably die… very sad

julian is the bartender at stryder’s bar. he’s actually really powerful- he can shoot lightning out of the horn on his head. it’s hard to control though, it gave him his scar and killed someone close to him, so he tries not to use it. that’s why he’s a bartender and not an enforcer. he’s very pleasant, easy to talk to.

irene is the previous boss of the serpents. she adopted and raised avidor, hester, and stryder. she died peacefully of some illness and left the position to stryder. his snake tattoo is in honor of her, referencing her own face tattoo. she also had a pet ball python

ylva is a member of the blooddrops, a rival group to the serpents. she’s a bodyguard to the leader. she was the first person kestrel met when she came underground, and they’ve maintained a friendship where ylva provides insider intel. unfortunately for her, she’s in love with kestrel, who is not only taken, but uninterested in women anyways. she just has to keep herself useful. at least then she has an excuse to be around her.

bernadette is the leader of the blooddrops. she came from the surface after her wealthy husband left her and took their daughter with him. she’s the oldest of these characters and had the position even before irene rose up. in the same way stryder runs a bar on his turf, she has a brothel. it’s made her rich

raine is one of the girls at bernadette’s brothel. she isn’t very expressive and has a mean streak. she’s good friends with the others though. she keeps their secrets: she knows about ylva’s meetings with kestrel and blair’s relationship with anatole. she’s also a capable fighter and can create clouds which can rain and even produce lightning if she tries hard enough

blair is the most popular of bernadette’s girls. she has elegant wings that are too weak to actually fly. she’s generally very quiet and gloomy. she found anatole snooping around the place and really hit it off with him. they secretly meet whenever they can. i also want her to have a french accent even though france isn’t really a thing here

avidor is the eldest of irene’s adopted children. he’s ambitious and wants to create a real government for the city. that’s exactly why he wasn’t chosen as irene’s successor. she didn’t want him to abuse the position to gain too much power. he fought bitterly with stryder, which gave him his scars and left his right eye blind. now, he’s still trying to achieve his goal, having gained a small following.

carmine has lived in safehaven her whole life and never declared loyalty to any group. several years ago, she met stryder at the lowest point in his life, right after his mother’s death and his fight with avidor. they had an absolute dumpster fire of a relationship. she disappeared when she found out she was pregnant. she didn’t tell him. she knew trying to raise a kid in that situation would make for a horrible childhood. after leaving, she coincidentally ran into avidor, who offered help. her daughter grew up with him as a sort of father figure

beatrix is carmine and stryder’s aforementioned daughter. she sneaks off to fight in underground tournaments and is a reigning champion. her fighter persona is “beast”. stryder had no clue she existed until anatole admitted to attending a fight to make some cash off of the bets and noticed the resemblance. outside of the ring she’s super awkward and dresses like a school bully from a cartoon. like t shirt with a skull on it etc

bovie is a popular fighter and one of the only ones who’s come close to beating beatrix. when they aren’t actively beating each other up they’re actually good friends. she’s actually very sweet outside of the ring and balances out beatrix’s nervous energy. she is also transgender yahoo

pauline is a gun for hire. they work all over the city, traveling by motorcycle doing odd jobs wherever, whenever. they have pyrokinesis. also a really great cook and sometimes thinks about trying to open a restaurant instead

peaches is a freelance “doctor”. while he’s capable of genuinely helping a patient, he’s more likely to be hired by someone wanting him to torture someone. he’s got a weird kind of romance with pauline where he’ll patch them up after a bad job but he’s weird about it. also i named him five years ago . trust him with your vital organs !

[threephantomrey]

also spent a lot of time today making playlists for my OC’s.

and updated some of the character and ship playlists i already made:

[esmerclda]

@vintersang continued from here <3

Winter surprised all the Parisians on that fine afternoon. No one thought that all of a sudden the temperatures would decrease and bring snow. The street pavements were soon covered by a thick white layer, making people find shelter or simply return to a warm and loving home. Esmeralda hated winter: it was the time where she would have less income, a time where she would have to find any other way to eat something warm that would make her body survive another year.

Her feet were burning at the simple contact of the icy floor. She shivered and immediately put her cloak back on while gathering the last few coins in her hand. "Come on, Djali.. Let's go..." Her green hues noticed guards coming, already hearing people pleading for their cause. Esmeralda noticed the Captain, this handsome man who saved her more than once from an imminent death. Would he have acted like any other Captain of the Guards, he would've delivered her to Judge Claude Frodo. The simple thought made her shiver.

Esmeralda knew what the Judge was capable of. She had seen from her own eyes, people like her being taken away and never coming back. Deep inside, Esmeralda was never forgot what her own mother went through.

--

While being born to a hardworking mother and an absent father, Esmeralda lived the first years of her life in a small house, where the fire cracked in the fireplace and a warm soup was set on the table every night. Her mother loved her, loved her so dearly that she fought for her to never miss of anything.

Alas, times were becoming rough and Esmeralda's mother had no other solution than to sell herself to traveling nobles. During those times, the little girl stayed with a loving neighbor, who baked warm bread and read her stories by the fireplace. The young woman could remember the smell of the fresh baked bread and the butter melting on it. A small smile came across her face for a brief moment as she relieved the tender memory. However, it soon faded away when she remembered the next part. A loud knock on the door, a few whispers and a sob coming out of her neighbor's mouth. The next thing she knew, Esmeralda found herself facing the violent reality: her mother was murdered.

Poking her head out, Esmeralda saw the lifeless body of her mother being taken away. She barely had time to react that her neighbor pulled her back inside of the house. "You must leave, my love. They are coming after you! I am so sorry..." And with those words, the eight year old girl found herself in the cold streets of Paris. The voice of Judge Frollo shouting: "There she is! Bring me that child!"

Besides the cold and the snow, the young girl had managed to loose them and ended in the cemetery. That was when she met Clopin, a young boy who took her immediately and brought her to a whole new world: the Catacombs. It was a world filled with people like her, those considered as outcasts.

--

Djali snapped her back to reality as she was still watching the Captain, her heart beating loudly at the sight of his handsome figure. "Yes, let's go." Esmeralda whispered as she hurried up to the Cathedral. At least, she would find peace for a few hours. Perhaps warmth and a lovely conversation to the archbishop.

As she entered the Cathedral, the beauty removed her hood and walked inside. Her green hues watched with amazement the majesty of Notre Dame. It was quite intimidating to be standing there. A part of her felt that she didn't belong here but the archbishop always reminded her that every child of the Lord shall be welcome in the Cathedral. Esmeralda wasn't praying often, however, she knew that if she did, she would probably be heard.

While the brunette lit a candle for her loved ones, a sound caught her curiosity and she noticed an unknown figure in the corner.

It was a very beautiful woman, with an incredible white blond hair. A color that she never saw in Paris, making her wonder if she wasn't from another land. Her pale skin was as pale as the snow covering the pavements of Paris outside. There was pain, perhaps tragedy in her beautiful hues. As Esmeralda approached her, she could tell that she was suffering. Perhaps having a panic attack? She knew this too well and figured it would be nicer to reassure her.

"Here.." She whispered in a warm tone as she extended her hand. "Take my hand. Squeeze if you need." She said, offering her a warm smile as her green hues sparkled with kindness. "It's okay, I won't hurt you..." But her words seemed to be of no use. The woman was already begging her to leave her alone. Her cries attracted a few curious faces, which aggravated the situation. Esmeralda closed her eyes for a few seconds and exhaled a deep sigh. As she opened them, the woman turned around and stood before the other woman, as if she protected her.

"Please, return to your prayers or any of your previous occupations." She spoke with a firm tone. "There is nothing to see here." A man looked at her and asked in a cold tone: "What are you even doing here? You don't belong here." Esmeralda glared at the man as she said in a cold tone: "I belong here like any other lost soul. This is called sanctuary. Now please, don't embarrass yourself even more than you already do." Her hues watched them all with intensity and they immediately backed off and returned back to their own corners. Esmeralda sighed and slowly unhooked her cloak before turning around and looking at this mysterious woman.

Slowly kneeling before her, Esmeralda looked at her and smiled at her. "My name is Esmeralda. Fear nothing, I am only here to help you.." She paused as she looked at her. "Are you hurt? Here.. Have this. It will warm you." She said as she offered her own cloak to the stranger. The sudden sound of the bells ringing gave her an idea. A warm smile enlightened her face as she looked back at the other woman.

"Come with me, I know a place where you can be safer and less overwhelmed." She knew that her friend, Quasimodo, would welcome this woman warmly. "If there is something that truly calms me, is definitely the view of Paris from the rooftop with the sound of the bells ringing, a glass of wine and my dear friend Quasimodo. Do you trust me?" She asked kindly, knowing that there might be a risk for the other beauty not to trust her. "It is worth it, I promise you."

[the-blackened-pearl]

HOLY SHIT I’M NOT ALONEEEEE!!!!!!

The Price of Freedom if they had let me write it

[meazalykov]

when the lullaby turns into nightmares

mother!alexia putellas x f!barcafem!mother!reader with features of platonic!irene paredes x f!mother!reader and a baby!oc

warnings: mentions of reciprocal IVF, postpartum rage, postpartum depression, aitana did not win the 2024 ballon d'or in this universe since reader did, anxiety, verbal and physical altercations in a football match, huge angst, comfort.

the crowd vibrates through your bones as you stand behind cata inside of the tunnel.

it’s your first match back, four months after giving birth to esmeralda or mini cariño, as you and alexia call her.

your daughter, with her tiny hands and alexia’s hazel eyes, is somewhere in the stands with her abuela, ale’s mom.

you can still feel the weight of her in your arms from this morning, her soft coos as you kissed her forehead before leaving for the stadium with her mami.

you’re back with barcelona, back with alexia, your fiancée of two years and partner for eight, along with your teammates who you love so dearly (and they love you back).

everyone has been watching on your return, and by everyone... I mean nearly most of the damn community.

you played five games only after your ballon d'or ceremony before the IVF succeeded. now, the ballon d’or you won in 2024 sits on a shelf at home, a glittering reminder of the peak you reached before pausing your career for motherhood.

you remember how alexia had been hesitant about the reciprocal ivf, the idea of you doing all of the hard work by carrying her baby. in a way, she figured that she would be the one since you were now in your prime.

however, one thing you took into consideration was alexia's injuries. especially her acl injury. thankfully, you've never had any injuries that have kept you out of play for more than two weeks, which is rare for a player with much intensity like you.

alexia needed more time to make up for her missing year, and you felt as if you needed a break from football.

you’d sat across from her in your shared apartment, ale's hands fidgeting as she voiced her fears.

“you’re at the top of your game, amor,” she’d said, her voice low, eyes searching yours.

“pausing for a baby… I know we both agreed but I am scared that you'll miss out on something important that might happen this season. another champions league.. no?”

“i won’t,” you’d promised, reaching for her hand.

“there’s no world cup soon. you’ve got the euros next year, and i’ll be back before you know it. i want this, ale. you want them too. i want us to have them.”

she’d softened, her thumb brushing over your knuckles.

“okay but if the process is too much, you tell me.”

you’d carried esmeralda for nine months, feeling her grow as your body changed. the birth was exhausting, beautiful, terrifying... esmeralda’s first cry echoing in the delivery room as alexia sobbed and held your hand. shit, giving birth to her lasted exactly ninety minutes. vicky later jokes that you played a football match in the delivery room.

“you're both perfect, amor,” alexia whispered, kissing your damp forehead.

against atlético madrid, you’re on for the last ten minutes. this is the first time you've seen an actual game in over a year. exactly one year ago you left.

before the match, your blue cleats for gamedays felt stiff as you put them on in the locker room. somehow, your feet weren't so swollen anymore thanks to your daughter being earthside.

the score is 2-1, barcelona leading.

your legs feel heavy but alive, and your muscles try to rememberthe rhythm of the pitch. when you intercept a pass and send it to salma, the crowd erupts, and you feel a spark of the old you...the you who outplayed your own teammate for that ballon d’or last season.

all you did was run around, pass the ball, and even won your first duel since being back. you were still strong, maybe even stronger.

after the whistle, alexia slings an arm around your shoulders, grinning “like you never left.”

“it felt good,” you say, but there’s a tightness in your chest you don’t mention.

esmeralda’s face flashes in your mind, and you wonder if she’s okay with her abuela.

you know she is, but you miss her little face.

the next few matches blur together.

you’re playing more minutes and you are finally starting against eibar and then real sociedad.

esmeralda is at every home game, bundled in a tiny barcelona jersey with her little cute matching jeans, her mini curls peeking out from a hat that alba (esmer's aunt, alexia's sister) made for her.

you wave to her from the pitch, heart swelling when ale's mom points you out. however, something’s shifting and you do not process it.

during this match against sociedad, the opposition’s tackles feel more personal.

before the first half ended a midfielder clips your ankle, and you snap, “watch what the hell you are doing!” before you can stop yourself.

your intensity and passion for the game has been around since the start of your career. I mean, being verbal and getting into debates were never new.

thankfully, the ref doesn’t hear you. however, alexia’s eyes flick to you, brow furrowing.

“you okay?” she asks in the locker room before the second half, tying her boots while the whole team overhears what romeu is trying to say.

“'m fine,” you mutter, but your hands shake as you re-braid your hair. you think of esmeralda’s late-night cries, how you’ve been up with her more than alexia because you’re still breastfeeding partially.

the exhaustion clings to you like damp grass.

at home, esmeralda is your sol. you cradle her after training, her warmth easing the knot in your chest.

“mi cariño,” you whisper, kissing her cheeks. alexia watches from the couch, her smile soft but tinged with worry.

“she’s growing so fast,” she says.

“too fast,” you reply, voice catching.

its funny, since esmeralda is still very much a three-month old baby.

however, you don’t tell alexia or anybody else how sometimes you feel like you’re failing esmeralda and how the joy of motherhood is laced with a heaviness you can’t name.

the champions league group stage against sporting lisbon is when everything in your life cracks.

you convince yourself that things are fine. you’re starting the match, you smile in the starting eleven picture, and esmeralda is in the stands with alba and an injured esmee.

the game is tense, 0-0 at halftime. you’re marking a portuguese winger who’s relentless. shes been dribbling past you, nudging you off balance. what the hell!?

its clear that she has been pissing you off. everyone can see that. your tackles have been more brutal, and the pushes aren't so discrete.

the left-wingers shoulder catches yours in the 60th minute, and you stumble, frustration boiling over.

“fuck off!” you hiss, shoving her lightly.

the player smirks, unfazed, and you nearly decided to get into her face as a intimation tactic before alexia jogs over, hand on your arm.

“cálmate, amor. she’s baiting you.”

“i’m fine,” you snap, shaking her off.

you’re not.

your head is in rage with a mix of exhaustion and something darker... rage that feels foreign, like it’s not yours. esmeralda’s face pops into your mind, and you wonder if she’s crying, if alba is struggling to soothe her.

in the 78th minute, another player tackles you hard when you almost got into their box, her clear studs grazing your shin.

you hit the ground, pain flaring, and before you can think, you’re up, in her face.

“ets estúpid!! who do you think you are?” you shout, chest heaving. she says something in portuguese, and you step closer, blood pounding in your ears.

the ref blows the whistle, yellow card raised at the girl before she raised one at you for screaming and 'verbal attacks' as she put it.

this is your first yellow card in years. seriously, the last one you had was when you nearly tore oberdorf's ankle off in some seek of revenge after she tackled you during the '23 champions league final.

the crowd murmurs, and you feel the team’s eyes on you...ingrid, sydney, even kika from the bench who could've clearly handled and translated the dispute if she was on the pitch.

alexia pulls you back with her voice sharp, “stop that. you’re better than this.”

you don’t answer, jaw tight as you basically walk away from the insulted portuguese player. the game ends 1-0, a late goal from claudia, but you barely register the win.

in the locker room, you sit alone, head in your hands. at first you were angry, but now the guilt screams in your mind.

you’re the most recent ballon d’or winner until the next one in a month... aka the player who’s supposed to stay composed and set an example for other footballers in the community, but you lost it out there.

esmeralda’s giggle echoes in your memory, and you feel sick for letting her see this version of you (even if she is just a now four-month-old baby who is more focused on sucking her thumbs).

alba brings esmeralda to the tunnel after the game. you take her in your arms, her warmth grounding you.

“mi vida,” you murmur, kissing her forehead. she babbles, grabbing your jersey, and for a moment, the guilt eases.

alexia watches as she rubs her daughter's head, her expression unreadable.

“you were off today,” she says later, as you walk to the car, esmeralda asleep in her stroller that alexia is pushing.

“what’s going on?”

“nothing,” you lie, but your voice cracks.

“it was just a bad game.”

ale doesn’t push, but her hand that is not pushing the stroller lingers on your back, warm and steady.

the next weeks are worse.

against valencia, you shove a defender on the ground after chasing the ball, nearly earning another yellow. at training, you nearly snapped at fridolina for a mistimed tackle, your words sharper than intended. the entire team is starting to pick up that something is wrong.

however, nobody seemed to understand.

except for irene.

irene first notices the shift in you during that training session. you were sprinting for a ball when a mistimed challenge from fridoline sends you rolling across the grass.

at first, you stayed on the grass which scared some of your teammates into believing that you were injured. shit, it scared you until the anger settled in.

you leap up, eyes blazing, and snap, “this is a training session not an actual match! watch where you’re going?” the venom in your voice makes everyone pause.

frido raises her hands, apologizing, but you storm off, muttering under your breath. irene’s stomach twists...she’s seen this before, not in you, but in her wife, after their son was born years ago.

irene's wife is not a footballer, but she is a mother too. the defender knows that postpartum illneses like depression, anxiety, and rage doesn't discriminate. it should be taken seriously too.

the woman's postpartum rage had been a storm: sharp words with sudden tears and a sadness that clung like damp cloth. irene recognizes the signs in you...the way your shoulders tense, the way you retreat after outbursts, the guilt flickering in your eyes when you think no one’s watching.

it’s not just the pitch.

at a team dinner, you barely touch your food, staring at your phone, likely checking on esmeralda while alexia is holding your hand. when vicky asks about es, you smile, but it’s strained, and you change the subject.

irene remembers her wife doing the same at home, deflecting joy because it felt like a betrayal of the heaviness inside. she remembers the sporting lisbon match and your yellow card for confronting the player. that answered the defender's questions.

she knows this isn’t just you “getting back into the game,” as alexia hopes. it’s postpartum, a beast that can sometimes end up getting worse until the point of no return if not treated quickly.

she remembers her wife (and her being there for support) had help through with therapy, support, and, for her wife, a low-dose antidepressant prescribed by their doctor.

however, what happens the night after your burst on fridolina scares the crap out of alexia. a point where alexia knew she needed external help for your situation.

it is 2 in the morning. the apartment is dark since it helps the baby sleep better. you’re curled in bed, exhaustion pulling you into a fragile sleep, alexia’s steady breathing beside you.

esmeralda sleeps in her crib across the room by the nice window, her soft snores a rare reprieve as her little breathing bracelet makes sure that she is sleeping normally.

for once, the world feels still. however, a piercing wail shatters the quiet. esmeralda’s screams slice through the haze, sharp and relentless, yanking you awake first before alexia.

your heart lurches, a jolt of panic seizing your chest.

you sit up, breath shallow, as the cries grow louder, each one a needle in your fraying nerves.

you’re so tired... a soul-crushing tired. four months since giving birth, and sleep is a thief, slipping away with every feeding, every diaper change and you have to play football at the same time.

the exhaustion fuels a spark of anger, hot and irrational, at being woken again.

you hate the feeling, hate how it twists toward esmeralda, your perfect girl. you’d never scream at her, but the urge to lash out...at the noise and the sleeplessness terrifies you.

your hands shake as you stumble out of bed, not trusting yourself.

“i can’t,” you whisper, voice breaking, and bolt for the bathroom, locking the door behind you.

inside, the tiles are cold against your bare feet. you slide down the wall, knees to your chest, and the screams echo through the door.

your mind screams at you as well.

why can’t i soothe her? why does her crying make me feel like this?

your stomach churns, nausea rising as your mind spirals. something’s wrong with you, deeply wrong, but the answers feel out of reach, buried under layers of shame and fog. tears stream down your face, hot and unstoppable.

you’re failing her, failing alexia, failing the version of yourself who once had the world at her feet and the lifted the ballon d’or in her hands.

the sobs come harder, ragged, and you press a hand over your mouth to muffle them, terrified of what you’re becoming.

outside, alexia’s voice is a desperate hum, cooing to esmeralda.

“shh, cariño, mamá’s here,” she murmurs, but her tone wavers, edged with fear. the crib creaks as she lifts the baby, rocking her gently.

esmeralda’s cries soften, but alexia’s focus is on the locked door.

“amor, please,” she calls, her voice cracking.

“open the door, she okay now. please??!! everything is okay now” she’s scared...terrified by the silence from you, by the way you fled while she was still opening her eyes.

she clutches esmeralda closer, tears welling in her hazel eyes, her heart pounding as she imagines you unraveling alone.

she knocks softly, then harder.

“y/n, please. we’re okay, but i need to see you.”

you hear her, her voice a lifeline through the fog of your panic. however, the shame keeps you frozen... how can I face her when I am this broken?

your breaths are shallow, chest tight with anxiety that feels like it’s clawing you apart.

you’re supposed to be strong, the one who carried esmeralda, who promised alexia everything would be fine. yet here you are, hiding, crying, sick with a darkness you can’t name.

postpartum anxiety, depression...the terms float in your mind, half-acknowledged, but they’re too heavy to grasp.

finally, her pleas break through.

“i’m here, amor. i’m not going anywhere.” her voice is so soft, so full of love, it hurts. you crawl to the door, hands trembling as you unlock it.

alexia’s there, esmeralda now quiet in her arms, her eyes wide with worry. she kneels, setting the baby in her bassinet, and jogs to pull you into her arms.

“i’ve got you,” she whispers, voice thick with tears. you cling to her, sobbing into her shoulder, her warmth anchoring you.

“i’m so sorry,” you choke out.

“i don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

“you-you''ll be okay,” she says, but her hands shake as she holds you. she knows you are not okay now, and does not know when you will be.

she’s terrified, her mind racing.

for a while, shes considered this option but didn't want to involve other parties at first. now, she knows she might need help from the one other teammate who might understand... irene.

as you tremble in her arms, alexia resolves to call her, desperate for guidance to help you through this storm.

the next day, alexia seeks irene out in the captain’s office, game plans forgotten on the desk.

“irene,” alexia says, voice low, “I'm sorry... I know this is not entirely football related but something’s wrong with y/n. she’s… angry, sad. last night she hid in the bathroom when the baby started screaming... i don’t know what to do?” her eyes are desperate as she speaks rapidly in catalan, hands fidgeting, the weight of being your fiancée and captain pressing hard.

irene closes the door, sitting across from her.

“don't worry, its okay to come to me. i’ve seen it, ale. the way she snaps, the way she pulls away... it’s not just her. my wife went through it too. it’s postpartum rage and depression. my wife would yell over nothing, then cry for hours, feeling like she was failing us. y/n’s showing the same signs: the outburst at frido, the yellow card, how she shuts down after games. she’s carrying esmeralda and the high expectations from everyone... it’s too much.”

alexia’s face falls.

“she says she’s fine. i don’t want to make her feel worse.”

“she’s not fine,” irene says gently but firmly.

“she might not see it yet. with my wife i learned to be supportive without fixing. listen to her, love her through it, but don’t let her brush it off. postpartum isn’t just emotional since it can need more than words. she might need therapy and medication. the club’s medical team can recommend a therapist, maybe a psychiatrist for y/n. they helped us find someone for me and my wife...." she says.

alexia nods, eyes glistening.

“i just want her to be okay. her and es.”

“she will be,” irene assures.

“be patient. show her you’re there, no matter what. and talk to the club after you leave me here. they’ll know resources... therapists, support groups, even medication if it comes to that. you and y/n are not alone in this, ale.”

over the next few months irene becomes your quiet mentor, checking in after training, sharing her story to ease your shame. she teaches alexia to hold space for your pain, and together, they guide you toward help.

a seven month old es is at home with a sitter, and you miss her so much it aches. you’re sleeping less, the baby’s nighttime schedule leaving you drained.

when you look in the mirror, the woman staring back feels like a stranger.

alexia sees you looking at yourself. your face is full of concern, as if you were staring at a stranger. from behind, she cups your face, eyes locked on yours.

“you look beautiful." she lightly smiles, one of her hands going around your waist.

you frown, not sure if you believe that yourself.

"you don't believe that, but it is true. y/n, I'm sorry that you’re not at your best.... however, that’s okay. you carried our daughter, and gave us this beautiful life, but you don’t have to carry this alone.... let me help you, please.”

tears spill over, and you hate how vulnerable you feel.

“i don’t want to be weak,” you whisper.

“you’re not weak,” she says fiercely, “you’re the strongest person I know, but even the strongest people need help sometimes.”

the next day, you call a therapist recommended by the club’s medical team. the first session is hard...talking about the pregnancy and the birth. it was hard because of the rage and the guilt you feel after all of the pregnancy glory came crashing down.

what hurts is how esmeralda’s cries sometimes make you want to scream. you told the therapist that, and you feel like a monster.

however, talking about your problems is a start.

alexia sits with you at home, holding your hand as you process. “don't worry... we’re in this together,” she says, kissing your knuckles.

on the pitch, you’re more cautious, channeling the anger into focus. against bayern munich in the champions league, you score a header. it is your first goal since being back from giving birth.

esmeralda’s name is written on the tape beneath your wristband. the crowd chants your name, and for the first time in months, you feel like yourself again.

this is the first game where you didn't let your anger take control of your gameplay, and you let tackle errors from an opponent pass by.

after the game, you stayed on the pitch to talk to pernille, who is one of your closet friends outside of the barcelona team, for around twenty minutes.

as you walk back towards the locker room, alexia meets you at the tunnel, esmeralda in her arms, and you hold them both, heart full.

“i’m proud of you,” alexia whispers.

“for fighting for yourself, and for us.”

you kiss her, then esmeralda’s soft cheek.

“i’m trying,” you say.

it’s not perfect.

some days, the rage creeps back, or the sadness feels too heavy. however, you talk to your therapist, lean on alexia, take your needed medications with the advisory of the club's doctor, and hold esmeralda close.

masterlist

[unbelenting]

queer, vampire obsessed Romanian FREAK watches Thirsty Vampires. 4847 injured 75 dead 🩸

lyrics from "Ferryman" by Shayfer James & Will Wood (text-free version and yapping below)

It's done!!! Waaah the only reason it took so long for me to make is bc I kept changing my plans lol. I was only gonna do flat colors... then minimal shading... then um. Yeah. So it's gone through a lot. But I definitely enjoyed looking at it while drawing. They're so ARRRGHHHHHH

This is my take on THE stars of Thirsty Vampires!! Esmeranna?? Is Anna just a fanon name? I've been obsessed since January and I still don't know.

ALSO! @notsoprivateartgalleryshush drew this scene as well (click on that link or I'll stake you) and they guessed what I was working on based on Esmeralda's sleeve & asked to be tagged in the finished piece. Here it is!!!<3 Hope it didn't disappoint! ^^

Also also. I need you to understand exactly how this scene is like all my interests colliding into one big bang. A few hours ago I finished drawing THIS for my anime art account(s) as my new pfp.

ANYWAY!!! thanks for reading AAGH back into my Angel cave I go.

[velvet4510]

Thinking about all the parents of the Fellowship during the events of the War of the Ring.

Thinking about Saradoc & Esmeralda Brandybuck and Paladin & Eglantine Took, none of whom have any idea where their sons are.

Thinking about the Gaffer, seeing a creepy hooded Man asking for the whereabouts of his son’s boss and then hearing that said son’s boss’ house has been raided and his son is nowhere to be found.

Thinking about Bilbo, knowing that his dear nephew is going into danger because of his own actions so long ago and might never return.

Thinking about Glóin, having to come home to his wife in Erebor and tell her their son is facing life-or-death danger for the first time.

Thinking about Elrond, the wise part of him knowing what must be done vs. the paternal part berating himself for sending his beloved foster son into such peril and wondering if he’ll ever be able to look his daughter in the eye again if her fiancé doesn’t come back.

Thinking about Thranduil, finding out that his only child has entered the war with the very same enemy that destroyed his father and 2/3 of his army.

Thinking about Denethor, trying to protect and defend his entire kingdom while constantly wondering why his favorite son still hasn’t come home.

Thinking about all those parents, having to spend month after month with absolutely no idea if they will ever see their sons again.

[deepinthedarkworld]

His comment drew a smile from the brunette. This guy seemed to be a flirt and it was impossible not to smile when he spoke. Something about him drew her in, held her interest. "Does that mean you've kissed people and not just told anyone?" Was that the reason he had wanted to get away that morning? Avoid any awkwardness with the rest of the travel group. Again, scratching at her curiosity with a simple comment. Josh was still but a mystery to her. A mystery Esmeralda intended to look into.

Dark hues travelled over the toned body as Josh removed his shirt. Without thinking, her tongue licked between her lips. Brain barely registering his words as he started moving away from her. Her response came in the form of her undressing herself down to her bikini. Then she put her hand over her chest and started running for the water. "Last one is a rotten egg." Laughter left her as she passed him, hand still covering her chest to make sure her breasts didn't bounce out of her top as she ran.

@utterxdesires

Holding onto her hand just a bit tighter as she struggled a bit with balance once off of the ATV, Joshua couldn't help himself but chuckle at the sight of her trying to take that helmet off. Just as he thought to reach out and help, she was putting it aside and Joshua turned to glance over at the beautiful beach and the sun only starting to warm up the sand. At her question, he turned his attention back to her, his eyes catching the moment she tied up her shirt a bit higher. Making himself snap out of it, he met her gaze and smirk. "I don't kiss and tell."he teased with a wink. "--- But in all honesty, you just gotta be good with the locals and they'll tell you all the best secrets."Josh pointed out. Taking off his shirt to reveal his slim muscular physique, Josh grabbed his backpack and just tucked the shirt in there. "You feel like going for a swim? Because I know I do."he mused as he began walking backwards across the sandy beach, giving her a big smile. @deepinthedarkworld

[fanaticsnail]

Warmth

Masterlist Here.

Word Count: 1,500

Synopsis: Sir Crocodile is out for a walk in Arabasta with his pug, and he is stopped by a curious child who desires to pet them. As you, their guardian, approaches, Sir Crocodile is intrigued by your candor.

Themes: Sir Crocodile x gn!reader, mildly suggestive themes, spice hinted but not explicit, you have a child under your care named 'Yarin', Crocodile is a secret softie, the pug has been fan-named 'Esmeralda'.

Notes: I just wanted to write for Crocodile and see where it took me today.

Wandering the streets of Arabasta, leash in hand and peering down at the small creature attached to the end, Sir Crocodile sauntered throughout the dunes. A small, gem encrusted collar circled the neck of the timid pup, its whole body jiggling and shaking with every soft patter and touch.

As the pug puppy sniffed at a round, leafy shrubbery, a small giggle followed a high-pitched shriek of delight. Bounding happily over to both Sir Crocodile and slowly sinking to their knees, a small child sat at the base of his shiney, leather boots.

“Oh my goodness, mister! Your dog is so beautiful!” the little one spoke, Sir Crocodile taken aback by the immediate approach from the child, “May I pet them? What’s their name?”

Clearing his throat, and slowly tucking his golden hook behind his back to not frighten the child, he gently nodded down in affirmation. Immediately, the young child gestured out the backs of their knuckle for the tiny pug puppy to snortle at, waiting until the beast was ready to receive a greeting touch. At the small flicker of a pink tongue catching the child’s hand, they giggle and immediately go to scratching and enthusiastically massaging the tan and brown puppy.

“Her name is Esmeralda,” Sir Crocodile spoke out slowly, his brow arched up as he marveled at the interaction, “Or ‘Ezzy’ when she is behaving herself.” The child repeated the name back to the dog, cooing and preening at them while truly enjoying the soft bristles and snuffy nose.

“Aww, Ezzy is so cute!” they cheer up at him, “My house won't let me have any dogs there. I have always wanted one, but I haven't been able to get one-.”

“-Yarin, just what do you think you're doing?”

The child stiffened, their eyes widened in shock before a smile splits up their lips.

“I'm petting Ezzy!” Yarin calls over their shoulder while smoothing their jowls and squishing their cheeks affectionately.

Sir Crocodile peers up, his dark eyes peering at the approach of a figure rapidly sauntering towards him. He took you in, noticing your fluster and exasperation on your face. Your worn clothes were disheveled, your feet dusted with the sands of Arabasta, and your eyes were swollen with fatigue as if you had not slept for days.

“Is that what you're doing, sweetheart?” you coo down at the small child, “Yarin, I need you to help me with the shopping, okay my love? Say goodbye to your new friend and little Ezzy, and I'll be right over.”

Yarin let out a soft whine before hanging their shoulders and rising to their feet.

“Thank you for letting me pet your dog, mister,” the child expressed up at Sir Crocodile, “I really like Ezzy. I hope you have a nice day.”

“That's a beautiful thing to say, Yarin. Off you go now,” you encouraged, gesturing for them to go back towards town. Waiting until they were out of sight, you turned to the eight-foot tall, hulking mass of a gentleman clad in embellishment and wealth. Your eyes met with his, your own smile mirroring the child he allowed to pet Esmeralda with an easy elevation.

“I appreciate you humoring Yarin, sir,” you indicate with a polite bow, “There is not much joy found in a child’s life these days, and animals are truly a delight.”

“That they are,” he responded in kind. Esmeralda resumed snorting at the leaves by his feet before sitting on the yellowed sand. “Are you the child’s guardian?”

“That I am,” you again nod to him. His interest was piqued now, watching how you easily expressed your formalities with a learned politeness.

“Your landlord will not allow pets where you're staying?” he asked curiously, stilling his golden hook behind his back to shield it away from you. You narrow your eyes and quirk your head in response, attempting to read his intentions behind his question.

“No, sir. My landlord is quite controlling of his properties, to which I partially agree with.” You respond in kind, “I cannot hang a single picture frame of my family without the approval of the lord of Arabasta.” Your smile remains on your face as you now again to him, “If you'll excuse me, I must return to Yarin and ensure the groceries are handled appropriately. May you and your darling puppy, Esmeralda, have a pleasant day, sir.”

Finally turning to return to the small child, Sir Crocodile calls out softly after you. “May you and your child have the day of warmth you have blessed mine with.”

This stops your haste, turning briefly to gift him with another soft smile in gratitude to the well wishes he expressed. In lieu of the bored grimace he constantly held on his features, he reflected that warmth back onto you with a smile of his own.

This is where the unlikely friendship began between yourself and Sir Crocodile, the lord of Arabasta, landlord of your small cottage, and your current employer. Whatever you or your child needed, Sir Crocodile was the benefactor to your desires. That small kindness from a child that was not fearful of him, who saw Esmeralda before they noticed the scar splitting his face, or the hook embedded in his sleeve, became a treasured memory in his growing infatuation with you.

Lavish gifts of scholarships and school uniforms for Yarin, a new uniform for your employment beneath him, and sporadic gifts that depicted his adoration for you became a regular occurrence. Where you saw a man who cared for his employees and their families, he saw a lengthy courtship where he had an opportunity to express his kinder side. Sir Crocodile loved you, and he was happy for his romance to remain unrequited while you raised your child alone.

You never reciprocated or demonstrated your own infatuation for him, fearing you were reading into his luxurious gifts where only friendship was found. Instead, you were gracious and accepting of the comradery and rapport you found with one another. Organizing his life, ensuring he was cared for in health, and providing him with an ear to vent his frustrations was all you could offer him. This was enough for both of you, Yarin visiting your office after school to complete their homework with Miss All-Sunday, and you sitting at your desk and scheduling Sir Crocodile’s appointments.

Whatever life you fled from was smoke and forgotten memory, the new family found in an unlikely place solidified your loyalty to the lord you served.

This was enough for the both of you.

Until it wasn't.

It didn't take much prompting to land yourself on the knee of Sir Crocodile, lips colliding in a messy oscillation of need and lust. The passionate exchange continued from his office towards his bed chambers, both of you silently thanking the care Miss All-Sunday took to watch over your child while you found yourself entangled in Crocodile’s bedsheets. Flesh to flesh, heart to heart: you were his, and he was yours in each slow movement and passionate touch throughout the evening.

Morning flooded the room at the shift of curtains, the dunes of Alabaster contrasting over the horizon as breakfast was brought to the both of you.

Neither of you discussed the shift in your relationship, although his subtle lean into you and brush of his head against yours spoke volumes more than you could admit. Love, true and rich, was in the movement of his embrace with you. Breaking the silence, you turned to him and peered up at his warm gaze.

“Did you know then that this was where I would be?” Your hands found his chest, gently raking the tufts of hair donning his broad torso. Crocodile drew down his right hand to eclipse yours. Raising your knuckles to his lips, he kept eye contact while he kissed your skin.

“No,” he confessed with a twitch in his smile, “But I did know how I felt for you in that moment.”

“How did you feel for me?” you asked carefully, your smile beginning to tug up your features and elevated the swell of infatuation in your chest.

“That your warmth would ignite my blood with your presence, filling my cold heart with hope and joy as my dog gave to your child,” he whispered, releasing your hand and cupping your cheek, “And that I needed you cared for, in any capacity. Whether we were to be friends, or lovers, I craved that for you.” He drew you up to him, gently placing his lips to your forehead and stilling his breath with your own.

You arched away from his lips to your head, motioning up to press your lips slowly against his. Whatever lust there was prior, love consumed it. Lips moving softly and soothingly against one another, you found your peace in the arms and bed of the crocodile. The only thing that broke you out of your mesmiration with one another was the sound of a puppy’s bark and a high-pitched giggle of Yarin outside the door.

“We should get up,” Crocodile whispered against your lips, traveling his deep kiss down to your neck, “And see to Yarin and Esmeralda.” You nodded in response, hastily turning your head and claiming a more intentional kiss from Sir Crocodile before you allowed yourself permission to withdraw from his side.

As you tugged your attire over your body, he admired the litter of his lust that clothed your flesh. Each kiss marring your skin in a heart-shaped bruise showcased how deeply he loved you. As you spoke with Yarin outside the door, he honed in on your voice and your inflections.

He truly didn't know what to expect back then, walking his dog himself in the square. Whatever he had desired to achieve, he acquired something far sweeter than he hoped for.

He had you.

Tag list: @mfreedomstuff @daydreamer-in-training @since-im-already-here @gingernut1314 @writingmysanity @i-am-vita @indydonuts @feral-artistry @the-light-of-star @empirenowmp3 @racfoam @sunflowersatori @carrotsunshine @skullfacedlady @jintaka-hane @thenotsofantasticlifestory

[wlwsoccerfics]

The Accident (OnaBatlleXLucyBronzeXTeenReader)

A/N:tried this as accurate as possible, its probably more medical Drama then medical Journal 👀

Warning: Car accident, Bad injuries,Angst, Drama

Summary: you get hurt so Ona calls Lucy to come back Home.

You were out with some of your friends, one of them was allowed to drive already. Your friend group was between the age 15-18. You were 16 at the moment. So you all went to Drive around, listening to music, eating Pizza when the Car you were in, was hit by a drunk Truck Driver. You and all three of your Friends were hurt badly.

Your friend Lina and you both were hurt so bad they had to put you in a Coma. You couldn't breathe on your own. Had a really Bad concussion, a broken Leg, arm and some broken ribs. Things were rough.

Your mami had called your mom and she flew home from England as soon as she got the call.

Ona sat by your side, holding your hand. You still in a Coma. Trying to stop crying but this was not so easy. Because you obviously weren't okay and your Mami had a hard time with that.

Lucy went straight to the Hospital from the Airport and sat with you and your Mami. Kissing her head softly before looking at you. Taking everything in.

"what did the doctors say?" Lucy asked, trying to Stop her own tears.

"we have to wait and see. There is no guarantee that she makes it through the night." Your Mami said, sniffling softly. This was not what your Mom wanted to hear. They were living a Nightmare right now. Like the Situation wasn't bad enough the Media already found Out and was spreading News about you and your health. Some even put the rumor of your death out there.

The rumors kept going for days, your moms never leaving your side. One of them was always there. Only going home to take a shower. But you were never by yourself. They didn't want to leave your side. Trying to remain hopeful that you would be okay, but things got more rough. And they did lose hope after around a week.

Around 9 days later the doctors slowly stopped with the meds to get you out of the coma. It took until the next day you slowly started to be awake. Letting out a small whimper.

Your moms both holding their breath the entire time.

"hey sweet angel, so glad to have you back." Your Mami answered. You looked at her tiredly. Not able to say anything.

"thank god you are awake." Your Mom whispered out, it was evident in her voice how relieved she was.

You didn't have enough Energy to say anything or stay awake for Long really, but the doctor wanted to run some Tests so you couldn't sleep just yet.

"what's your Name?" He asked.

"y/n." You breathed out. Your voice was hoarse from not talking and the breathing tube that was gone now thankfully.

"do you know your full Name?" The doctor wanted to know. You nodded your head softly and spoke up.

"y/n Ximena Esmeralda Batlle-Bronze!" You told him, closing your eyes for a moment.

Your moms were quite relieved that you could answer all the questions. The doctor let you sleep and told your parents that tomorrow Physio would start.

With the broken arm you unfortunately couldn't use crutches cause you couldn't actually use the one arm to hold onto the crutches. So you would have to get around in a wheelchair. Thankfully you could leave the hospital a little over two weeks after waking up from the Coma. Your Mom didn't want to leave and go back to England cause she wanted to Support you but you didn't want her to put her Life on pause. Your Mami promised that she would give your Mom daily Updates.

"please angel If you need me and want me to come back Home call me! I will get on the next flight back to you and Mami, okay?" Lucy told you. You nodded your head softly.

"thanks mom! I promise i will!" You replied. She hugged you and you hugged back.

"i promise i will take good care of our pequeño amor!" Your mami told your Mom.

"i know you will. I just hate that i have to leave you behind!" She admitted.

"we got this, Mom! When i am better and allowed to fly i will come and visit you!" You promised your Mom.

"Sounds like a plan!" She told you. Smiling at you.

"Love you, Kid!" Your Mom added.

"Love you too, Mom!" You let her know. Your moms kissed eachother goodbye before your Mom left to the Airport.

You wheeled into your room, managing to get on the bed by yourself. Your Mami walked in with your auntie Alexia.

"how you doing, y/n?" She asked. You smile at her.

"i am fine. glad to be alive!" You admitted.

"we glad too!" Alexia was referring to herself and the Team. All of this was a setback. Because you started to practice with the Senior Team and your debut was planned but that was now far away.

She handed you some flowers, Candy and a stuffed Giraffe cause those were your favorite animals.

"thank you, tia!" You told her and smiled softly.

"what the doctor say?" She asked.

"be patient!" Ona told her.

"Easier said then done!" You admitted.

"you are strong. You got it!" Alexia let you know and you nodded your head softly.

Alexia stayed for two hours before she left again. Your Mami helped you with your physio and then helped you to take a shower.

After that you and your Mami cuddled up in her bed, watching a movie.

Your Mom came to visit you two months later. Your arm was healed for the most part so you were on crutches now cause your Leg was still not fully healed and you needed surgery in a few months to remove the screws.

Your Mom hugged you when she saw you. You hugged her back. Holding onto her so you didn't have to use your crutches.

"my sweet Girl! You look great!" She told you. You smiled at her.

"thank you for saying that! I tried my best to not let things get to me!" You admitted.

"i know it must be really frustrating but Mami told me you are doing so well and your doctors are very pleased." She said softly. You nodded your head.

"Lina going through something similiar does help." You let her know. You two did recovery together for the most part and you did grew closer. Your other two Friends that were in the Car with you also did their best to help the two of you.

Having so much support helped alot and made the situation better. Knowing you weren't alone in this also was something you were thankful for. With all the Support you knew you would get through this.

[blues824]

Second Years with a MC who is like Esmeralda from the Hunchback of Notre Dame(maybe include the pet goat?)

ColorMyTree is open! Feel free to leave a message on my Christmas tree. It’s free, so no money required. I also set it so that you don’t have to log in.

Disclaimers: I am not an expert on Romani culture. This is purely based on Esmeralda’s personality. Gender-neutral reader. Reader lives in Ramshackle, but is not Yuu. Characters include Riddle, Ruggie, Azul, Jade, Floyd, Kalim, Jamil, and Silver. In Silver’s, I put a small reference.

Riddle Rosehearts

You both actually despised each other at the beginning. You were very free-spirited and often enjoyed teasing him about everything just to make him upset. However, you always made sure to check in genuinely to see if you had gone too far with his boundaries. The first time you did that, he was actually surprised at the caring tone you had.

In classes, you were actually able to hold your own amazingly well. Not only were you competent, but you often found yourself neck-and-neck with Riddle when it came to answering questions and studying. However, unlike Riddle, you were also street-smart and not as naive, so you did feel a bit of a disconnect with him there.

Djali, your goat companion… familiar… whatever he was… he found him unsettling. He often headbutted into his leg whenever you both were walking together. However, he would switch up and lay in his lap when you both were in his dorm working on a project together. We just love a bipolar king, really.

Anyway, when you both end up getting romantically involved… everyone was surprised. However, it did actually happen that day you were at his dorm. The tension was clear to the both of you, and academic rivals turned into academic lovers. That was when Djali started really appreciating Riddle… especially since he could see that the Heartslabyul Housewarden looked at you as though you were the only being in existence.

Turns out, a free-spirited partner was really what he needed. After he overblotted, you took relaxation and breaks with him a bit more seriously. More dates, both large and small… more quality time… more words of affirmation… more physical affection like kisses and cuddles as well.

Ruggie Bucchi

You both related to each other on a book-smart and street-smart level. You respected his hustle, and he respected yours. However, you often danced for money, while he took up and assortment of odd jobs. Again, a hustle is a hustle, and game recognizes game.

However, he never realized how smart you were until you were both paired up during a project. Your goat seemed to like him, especially with how he settled into the hyena’s lap, which made you laugh a bit. But, that did lead to you pressing a kiss to Ruggie’s cheek as a ‘thank you’ for his help with a different assignment you were struggling with.

This was the start of your relationship. You often earned quite a bit of money as a performer at the Mostro Lounge, so you liked to spoil Ruggie with donuts whenever he had a particularly rough day in class, at his club, or serving Leona.

Everyone was a bit surprised to hear that the two of you got together. I mean, when you found out that Ruggie was behind Savanaclaw’s cheating, you were very upset and distanced yourself from him. However, he showed up at Ramshackle with a bouquet of flowers and some of your favorite snacks that he busted his ass to be able to afford for you.

From then on, you noticed that he always tried to make you happy, and the effort alone accomplished his goal since you loved him and his efforts. He considered himself a better person, especially with your encouragement to do better. Besides, the ear scritches were enough incentive.

Azul Ashengrotto

You had originally applied to be an entertainer in his lounge, and he asked what you could do. Needless to say, when you pulled out all sorts of magic tricks, your goat, and your dance moves, he was sold and immediately put you on the stage. The pay wasn’t incredible, but you were able to afford a few more luxuries that Crowley didn’t bother with.

Other than that, you both didn’t have much interaction outside of boss and employee, but then you saw your friends get taken advantage of. You were angry and you quit right then and there, which harmed the Lounge. Curse you for being a social butterfly with connections, Azul thought. So, he let your idiots go, and you returned to the Lounge.

Ever since his overblot, you felt bad for pushing him to his furthest limit, so you made him a self-care basket as he recovered. That was the start of a more romantic relationship, where he genuinely apologized to you. He allowed you to quit the Lounge in place of being his partner, who he loved to spoil.

You didn’t know struggle as much anymore, which you were grateful for. Djali was very happy to receive some snacks every single visit, and often rested in Azul’s lap as he completed homework or paperwork for the Lounge, or conducted business deals. That solidified this relationship for you.

Everyone noticed that Azul seemed a lot more chill ever since he got in a relationship with you. He also noticed that he often carried a new handkerchief in his breast pocket. Turns out, it’s yours, and you sprayed your cologne/perfume on it. He just wanted to carry around a small reminder of his beloved partner.

Jade Leech

He met you officially when you started working for the Mostro Lounge. Your dancing was enchanting, to say the least, and Jade found himself intrigued. Often, he would ask about your homeland, Fleur City, and the plant life there. You didn’t have many answers, so you just shrugged and brought some seeds back during one of your breaks where you got to return home.

During the events leading up to his boss’s overblot, you both were on different sides of the battle. You wanted your friends’ freedom, stating that the deal was unfair and unachievable to begin with. Your magic disappearing trick was definitely one that threw Jade for a loop in the ocean scene, and the way you teased them about not being able to catch you.

To say that at the end of everything, you were angry at Jade, would be an understatement. You were absolutely furious. You took back the seeds, which were plants at this point, and even sold off the terrarium he had made for you during your friendship. Fortunately, Yuu convinced you to forgive him (totally not because they were forced to), and you agreed to hear him out.

Jade presented you with a new terrarium, as well as the old one you sold off when you quit the Lounge in order to pay for some necessities. He bought it back from the student and gave it to you, which nearly made you cry and apologize. You paid him back with a kiss, and he was greedier than before and asked for a few more.

That was the restart of your relationship. He was happy when you came back to the Mostro Lounge, and you both would spend your breaks doing homework at one of the booths. It was a lovely way to spend time together, and it was a great way to get assignments done as well. It did take a while for Djali to like him again, though.

Floyd Leech

You were one of the only people who did not mind his clinginess. You were used to it with Djali, so it was like having another animal familiar trailing you around. However, this one was over 6 feet in height, and he was an eel, not a goat. It didn’t matter to you, though, since he offered a great deal of protection in exchange for attention.

However, shit hit the fan when Azul put your friends under contracts that were impossible to carry through, so you went on strike. Not only did this hurt the Lounge in terms of revenue, since you were an entertainer there, but it also made Floyd angry that you were no longer hanging out with him.

After Azul overblotted, Floyd went to Yuu to ask for help in getting you to forgive him. Yuu had never seen a grown eel-mermaid get down on his knees and beg for help, but there is always a first time for everything. He repeated the getting down on his knees and begging when he got to your room, and you offered to cuddle the sadness out of him which made him happy.

Ever since you forgave him, he has definitely been happier. You came back to the Lounge, and he was often completely captivated by your dancing skills. Not only that, but you often spent your breaks together, with him clinging onto you like a koala and telling you about his day. It’s gotten to a point where Azul begs you to move into Octavinelle with Floyd so he wouldn’t be pouty at night.

So you moved in, and Floyd was in a giddy state 24/7. You came to his games, you spent your work breaks with him, you lived with him… it was all he could ever ask for, really. The next step was meeting his parents, and he was especially excited for you to meet his mom.

Kalim Al-Asim

You both were opposite sides where societal and financial class is involved. However, some would think that this is why your relationship worked. He loved spoiling you, even before he became your boyfriend. You always felt bad about it, but he reassured you that it was perfectly fine and that he would just spend more money on you if you tried to argue.

Unfortunately, when it came to Jamil, you were very wary of him. Sure, you both came from poorer backgrounds, but you were able to see the Vice-Housewarden’s plan. If only your boyfriend believed you. However, it was only a matter of time before Jamil overblotted and threw all of you to the ends of the dunes.

To say you were angry not only at Jamil, but Kalim as well for not listening to you, was an understatement. As you all swam back to Scarabia, Kalim looked like a kicked puppy as you avoided each and every one of his touches. Djali was very torn, since he loved both you and Kalim, which made Kalim even sadder.

When the entire ordeal was over, you went back to Ramshackle and just gave Kalim dry responses, which shattered his heart and nearly made him cry. So, he asked Yuu how he could make it up to you. Needless to say, when you got back to your room at Ramshackle, your entire room was flooded with bouquet after bouquet of your favorite flowers.

You forgave him quickly, especially as he hugged your knees and begged until he cried. Unfortunately for your lips, you had to smooch the sadness out of Kalim. From that point on that day, he was very happy, and so was Djali. He didn’t have to be a child of divorce anymore.

Jamil Viper

You both came from familiar backgrounds… and by that I mean you came from familiar classes. Born as lesser-thans, trying to make names for yourselves. However, you were not born into servitude. You served yourself, and Jamil envied you for it. He was born with the job of serving Kalim, which made you pity Jamil.

Anyway, you both officially met when you were paired together for an assignment. Turns out, you both were a lot more alike than you thought. So, you started hanging out more often. You showed him a lot of fun things that you do in-town right below NRC for low prices, and he swears that he has never had more fun than when he was with you.

Unfortunately for the two of you, life is not all peaches and cream, so he overblots. However, since you were his partner, he keeps you with him as a sort of ego-stroke. You were heartbroken at being used by him in such a manner, and when everything was dealt with and Jamil’s overblot was stopped, you cried in your dormitory and didn’t answer his calls.

Your boyfriend felt like absolute shit for treating you as though you were some worshiper rather than his beloved partner, so he came with a bouquet and a meal he prepared to apologize. He walked into your room quietly and set his gifts on the desk before sitting on the floor next to you to beg for your forgiveness… and because you are who you are, you forgave him. Djali had a bit of a rougher time doing that, though.

From that point on, you both had dates where you spent time together, and he reassured you that he genuinely loved you and it was the overblot telling you that he saw you as someone to worship. You attended each of his basketball games, which he appreciated since he loved having his partner there to cheer him on.

Silver

He had met you during one of your dancing gigs at the Mostro Lounge. He was meeting up with a project partner at the Lounge to discuss a few last-minute details when he saw you. To say he was entranced would be a complete understatement… until you tripped and fell off the stage. He rushed to catch you, and he was very glad he did.

From that point on, you often called him your ‘Knight in Shining Armor’, much to his embarrassment and his father’s delight. Often, you both could be spotted on campus with him laying his head in your lap and sleeping… and Djali lays on top of his stomach to nap as well while you finish up some homework. Sebek did not like you very much, not just due to your status as a human, but also because he thinks you joke around too much. Lilia loves you as a child-in-law and often jokes about asking when the wedding shall be. Malleus enjoys your company as a friend and as a sort of sibling-in-law, if that makes sense.

You eventually moved into Diasomnia, opting to cook for everyone so that they didn’t have to suffer through Lilia’s cooking. Silver’s room became yours as well, and you often put in little pops of color everywhere. Not only that, but Silver often carried arround the handkerchief you gave him which added more color to his usual outfit. Besides, every knight carries a favor from his partner.

Silver loved you a lot, to be honest. You always stood up and argued Yuu’s case to Headmaster Crowley, often using your connections inside and outside of school to gather power and support. After all, the bird would rather not get news of his mistreatment of a magicless student to get out to news outlets. Ramshackle has benefited from your willingness to fight against unfair treatment, and so has Silver.

[simscici]

That conversation finally happened! Touma tried to explain everything in the most gentle and clear way possible, so as not to scare the girls, and luckily, they took it well and even offered suggestions on how to work things out.

Previous / Next Beginning (Gen 8)

Image transcripts (PT):

Era fim de tarde, Touma voltou do trabalho mais cedo pois tinha uma coisa importante para fazer no centro da cidade. Aproveitando que as meninas também estavam em casa, ele as levou consigo, deixando apenas Yuna e Everett em casa.

Juniper: Aaaah não sei porquê, mas as comidas de rua são as melhores!!

Esmeralda: Podemos comer sobremesa depois?

Touma: Claro!

Juniper: Pai, o que você foi fazer naquela clínica?

Touma: Vocês sabem o que é psicólogo? (Juniper concorda e Esmeralda está mais concentrada em sua comida) Certo… Bem, a mamãe tá passando por um momento muito difícil agora.

Touma: Ela vem se sentindo muito triste e sobrecarregada! Há dias que ela aparenta estar bem, mas tem outros que ela mal quer sair da cama. Mas a mamãe não consegue pedir ajuda, nem mesmo pra mim.

Touma: Por isso eu vim aqui conversar com algum psicólogo e ver o que conseguimos fazer para trazê-la, mas por enquanto isso é segredo nosso, okay?

Juniper: A mamãe vai ficar bem? Não achei que era tão sério…

Touma: Tudo bem, ela não quer mostrar isso pra vocês… Pra ninguém, na verdade.

Esmeralda: A mamãe tá doente? Eu posso fazer um desenho pra ela?

Touma: Ela vai adorar, querida.

Juniper: Tenho certeza que a mamãe vai aceitar se você falar com jeitinho, pai! E se não funcionar, chama a vó Pene, ela consegue convencer qualquer um.

Touma (sorri): Realmente, eu deveria ter pensado nela antes.

Esmeralda (levanta): Então vamos pra casa logo, eu vou fazer um desenho pedindo pra ela aceitar vir no doutor.

Touma: Nossa Esme é muito esperta, certeza que ela vai aceitar assim que ver o desenho.

[anae-art]

Day 19 - Monster hunter For this one, I wanted to redraw one of the scenes from our Curse of Strahd adventure, when we were just before the fight with Strahd One of my favorite scenes I must point out Well it will be a long story below (Prop list is from @crowholtz ) (Spoilers for Curse of Strahd below)

Just before the planned attack on the castle, we gathered everyone who wanted to help us to devise a plan. A little late arrived van Richten telling us that Esmeralda would arrive later and that we should start without her.

We spent an hour-long session planning the steps and when we had everything figured out, van Richten asked one of the characters to talk. After a while our friend came back to us, saying that the monster hunter would return later and indeed, after a while he practically ran into the inn with Esmeralda saying:

-Sorry, we couldn't come earlier, we were attacked by vampire spawns on the way. What is the plan?

And our reaction after a moment of consternation looked more or less like this:

-Oh, but you were here a moment ag…. OH NO

Yes, so as you can probably guess this previous van Richten was Strahd. He changed his appearance and insured the outing of my detection of the undead. And when he went outside with our friend charmed him and took the item that was supposed to help us in the fight.

Funnily enough, while we were talking, my character Gabrielle pulled out a sun sword, which dealt damage to him and our GM had to see if he would lose concentration and look like Strahd again. Unfortunately, he didn't lose it (although it could have been fun)

So we ended up with Strahd knowing our plan from us, taking items from us and our morale dropping to zero just before fighting him. A brilliant move. I still think it was one of the better scenes in the entire campaign

Although I must admit that our GM gave us some hints -Before Strahd entered the inn and he asked if he could enter -He stood up and moved away from me when I pulled out a sun sword -On top of that, van Richten talking about how much garlic helps fight vampires was suspicious…. But we were too excited to fight Strahd to notice it, ok...?

[kuroyuki-kokuyoku]

Random TCF Related Thought - Fairy Tales

In canon proper, we know that fairy tales do exist in Nameless 1, or at least, fiction geared towards children.

Well, I was reading some TCF React fics and found a hilarious moment where Heni!KRS was explaining fairy tales to Cale's kids and was shooketh to find out that Cale had butchered some of Earth's classic fairy tales into loosely-based-on stories (to put it gently) cuz apparently the "princess-in-distress" trope would not be relatable if every princess IRL they know could easily save themselves in a simailar or same situation. Therefore, Badass Action Girl!Princesses FTW.

Where am I going with this?

So my shower thought is that Cale one day decided to invoke his inner Brothers Grimm and published his own book series based off of Earth's classic fairy tales.

But here's the twist: He uses the Walt Disney versions but made every Disney Princess BAMFs.

Sorry, Mr. Walt Disney. Your own versions of Earth's classic fairy tales were a product of your time, but your 50s sensibilities won't fly when all of the princesses Cale knows can easily break a full grown man man in tiny little pieces, physically, spiritually, and emotionally. Besides, he wants little girls like On and Lily to have strong female role models to aspire to be even if it's in fiction.

Sleeping Beauty? Aurora is based on Roselyn. She finds out that she got cursed by Maleficent, who is a whole Dragon that her father had offended by failing to invite her to his unborn daughter's christening like he promised, so she threw away her status as crown princess to become a mage out of spite and break the curse on her own. In the end, she succeeds and managed to tracked down Maleficent to her lair. Maleficent is so impressed by her moxie that the Dragon took her on as an apprentice. By the time, Prince Phillip shows up hoping to slay the Dragon and take Aurora back to his kingdom so they can be married, the story is already over.

Beauty and the Beast? Belle is the village chief's daughter and the most beautiful girl in the tribe. Belle is a Tiger and Lion mixed-blood Beastman and also pining after the cute human bookworm named Adam in the next village over. Dorph the greater value Gaston can go fuck himself for all she cares. TLDR: Role Reversal AU and Belle is Dark Tiger!Alberu.

Cinderella? Cinderella is a secretly a Shaman. Everything is the same up until the whole dress ruining scene. After that, Cinderella invokes the spirit of Queen Jopis, stopped giving a shit, and turned the rest of the plot into a shitshow. Her evil stepfamily is given the OG!Brothers Grimm treatment.

Pocahontas? Everything is the same except the Powhatans are all Elves. Ratcliffe is the White Bitchless.

Hunchback of Notre Dame? The plot is the same, but Esmeralda is a Dark Elf, and Quasimodo is half-Dark Elf. Frollo is replaced by Adin just so he can fall off the roof a second time.

Aladdin? Jasmine is also a thief. She looted what should've been her dowry from the Sultan, her annoying suitors' wealth, Genie's lamp, Carpet from the Cave of Wonders, Aladdin's heart, and Jafar aka the White Hobo Looking's dignity and respect, not in that order, then whisked Aladdin off of his bare feet and away to her own personal kingdom. Basically, Cale reimagined her as Fem!Hong Gildong.

The Little Mermaid? Romeo and Juliet with a happy ending where Prince Eric is a Whale Prince and Ariel is still a Mermaid, and both their families got scammed into finally burying the hatchet by Ursula.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarves? Snow White is a Dwarf too, and the plot is basically an otome where she has seven suitors from different tribes, and the Evil Queen (*couch*Elisneh*cough*) is, of course, the jealous villainess.

Brave: Everything's the same except Sayeru gets abused more than Mor'du in this book.

Frozen: Everything's the same except Prince Hans is swapped out for Sir Bernard cuz Hans the goodest butler doesn't deserve to be associated with scum.

Tangled: Everything's the same except it's Adin who takes a swan dive off of the tower.

Mulan: Everything's the same except the Huns are replaced by Arm.

[revolutionary-thoy]

Croatian Sailor Pluto! I put her on an uninhabited island that's as far from the coastline as possible because I feel like that's very on brand for Pluto. Original Pluto is apparently meant to be half romani, so I took some inspiration from both traditional croatian and romani dresses. Resources on Romani clothing are surprisingly hard to find among all the horrible halloween costumes and esmeralda cosplays.

Also I love putting Pluto in suits, she's a cool business lady. what is her business?? who even knows!