#Feast my children have a little snack

[thefanciestborrower]

Roommate made me watch Earth’s Mightiest Heroes and idk tiny pre-Hydra Bucky did something to me okay

Bro is yappin

[idiotmf]

Moving into a house infested by shadow demons

I may have this recent obsession with my newest creation for random blurbs I write, but... hear me out while I dump random information on you that you didn't ask for... (also NSFW, minors scram)

Shadow demons are beings made of, well, shadows. They can hide in yours or manifest as anything they want, shape-shifters if you will.

Since they are beings made of shadows, they cannot catch light, therefore they are a little hard to make out, often appearing more as a silhouette but they do have very distinctive, glowing eyes.

Very original, I know.

Now... They infest houses, apartments or just general areas. They're typically regarded as low level demons, as they are bound to the area they infest, feeding off of human emotions; specifically strong emotions like fear, hopelessness and, most importantly, lust.

I currently have two shadow demons that I adore writing about and they are... Well, I feel like they would hate each other.

× Aryllus

Aryllus is a sweetheart. He isn't interested in feeding off of emotions. He finds life fascinating, he loves spending his endless time reading, observing the animals and humans outside this old brick cottage that he can't leave.

He's very blunt and emotionally not the most intelligent but he makes up for it with his academic intellect. He's been trapped here for a century, maybe two. He doesn't know. Time is of no concept to demons, after all.

He's also shy at first. He doesn't want to be discovered by humans. He dislikes being treated like a pest or an inconvenience, so he would rather starve for all eternity than be viewed as a monster.

When you do discover him, and you don't seem afraid of him, he rejoices. He's patient and gentle in every interaction, thinking he has no morals as a demon but very clearly being a kind entity.

But... be careful, even if a shadow demon's primary food is emotions, Aryllus will probably steal your sandwich. And then try to eat the plastic it came in. (-_-')

And then there is...

× Oryllion

Oryllion is heartless, manipulative and possessive. His only interest lies in breaking the inhabitants of his infested house, making them his mindless little toys for his insatiable hunger.

His preferred method is keeping you in a constant state of arousal by any means necessary. You're working on something? Too bad, he's eating you out/ sucking you off under the table. You want to leave? No, he's tying you up with his tendrils and attaching little suckers to your nipples until you scream in agony and pleasure.

He's dominant and degrading, never once uttering your name. You're merely his pet or his toy. His eyes, while nothing more than glowing white orbs, show disgust with you. Even while he shapes his body into the most incomprehensible shape, writhing with obscene appendages and a sheer endless amount of limbs just to force you to orgasm for his next feast, he clearly looks down on you. Humiliation is a part of the fun for him.

But... As much as he wishes, even Oryllion can't fuck everyone into submission. Occasionally, families will move into his domain, much to his dismay.

But hey, at least he gets to traumatize children with his SFW Eldritch horror shapes for a quick snack.

[moneypriestess]

I have seen this before on imagines but i wanted to write my own so

I Headcannon that whenever danny gets caught off guard, his first instinct is to bite, he has tiny halfa fangs, and I want him to use them.

Amity Park is just so used to it though.

Imagine:

Danny was not having a fun time.

Sam forced him to come to a gala in gotham as her plus one, and honestly, he only went so he wasn't forced to go with vlad instead and as a plus, he got free food.

Danny was currently feasting on some gourmet food (don't look at him like that, turns out fighting ghosts nonstop would be pretty hunger indusing, who knew?). When suddenly his danger senses went 🚨🚨🚨🚨!!!

Danny turned to the sight of the danger. it was right beside his head!!! He zeroed in on it before...CHOMP!!!

Bruce was not having a good time.

He was invited to a gala by a investor so he had to go, honestly he was just glad that none of his sons tried anything.

"Bruce Wayne! As I live and breathe" the man who spoke walked up to him "vlad masters" Bruce recognised "how are you?" Vlad chuckled and put his arm around Bruce's shoulder.

"Fine old friend, how are those kids of yours doing? I heard you got a new one already"

Bruce grinned "yep Damian and the others are doing good." vlad grinned just as fake. "That's great,hey, I want you to meet someone, my honorary son," vlad put a hand on his own chest.

That shocked Bruce he never saw vlad masters as someone who had wanted or even liked children, "Oh, I would be honoured." Bruce laughed.

Vlad seemed to spot the kid after a few seconds, "ah there he is, danny!" Vlad called out to him but danny didn't seen to hear anything, Bruce frowned when he saw the kid stuffing his face with the food at the snacks table, the boy was skinny, dangerously skinny, even the expensive suit he was wearing couldnt hide that.

When vlad and Bruce reached the table, danny still haven't seemed to notice them making vlad chuckle before reaching out to ruffle his hair when the kid seemed to freeze up, before anyone could do anything Danny's eyes snapped to them and he lunged,snapping vlads hand in his jaw, Bruce saw little fangs poking out of his teeth and drawing blood.

Vlad just smiled fondly though there was pain in his eyes before lifting his other hand to ruffle Danny's head while danny was still knawing on his hand before he seemed to calm down and let go, "hey vlad" the teen did not seem too excited to see his supposed honorary father figure.

Bruce was just wondering why there was never a normal gala.

[wwestrang-fan]

My gem

Law x oc fem reader

warning : some hints angst, reader feeling lonely, (sorry it’s a little angst)

author's note : I know this is random but I thought what if there were crystal gems people like in steven universe but they ran off because of the human and the diamonds left some behind let me know if y'all find this interesting

On the deck of the Thousand Sunny, the ocean breeze danced playfully through the air, draping the crew in a sense of adventure as they prepared to set sail for Dressrosa. Luffy stood at the bow, his trademark grin spreading ear to ear as he gazed at the horizon, while Zoro leaned casually against the railing, dozing off in the warmth of the sun. Nami was bustling nearby, meticulously checking the navigation charts, her fingers deftly tracing the routes.

Sanji whirled around the galley, preparing snacks for everyone, his chef’s hat flopping with each exaggerated movement. Robin observed the scene from the mast, a gentle smile gracing her lips as she flipped through her book. Chopper was busy rearranging the medical supplies, muttering about the importance of being prepared for anything. Franky tinkered with a contraption nearby, while Usopp proudly showcased his new inventions, hoping to impress the crew.

Suddenly, a young boy—one of the children rescued from Caesar’s clutches—scampered across the deck, his eyes wide with determination. He rushed towards Nami, clutching something tightly in his little hands.

“Nami! Look!” he exclaimed breathlessly, holding out a stunning mirror. Its backing was made of lapis lazuli, though a notable crack marred its beauty.

Nami knelt down, her eyes widening with intrigue. “Oh, this is lovely!” she said, taking the mirror from him. The lapis glimmered under the sun, even with the crack. “You found this?”

“I thought you’d like it! It reminded me of you,” he said, beaming up at her.

Just then, Luffy bounded over, his curiosity piqued. “Oh! Let me see!” he exclaimed, eyes sparkling with excitement. He grabbed the mirror from Nami’s hands, inspecting it closely. “This mirror is amazing!” he said, turning it around as if hoping to uncover its secrets.

Nami chuckled lightly, watching as Luffy inspected every angle. “It’s beautiful, but it has a crack,” she pointed out, her tone playful.

“Yeah, but look!” Luffy exclaimed, holding it up to his face. “It makes me look super cool!”

He tilted the mirror side to side, the sunlight glinting off the glass and casting playful reflections. Zoro cracked an eye open, arching an eyebrow at Luffy’s antics. “You know it’s a mirror, right? It just shows your dumb face.”

Luffy laughed, totally unfazed. “Come on, Zoro! This is magic! It shows us our best selves!”

Chopper hopped excitedly beside Luffy, his eyes wide. “It does look great! Maybe it has special powers!”

“Or maybe it’s a cursed mirror!” Usopp chimed in, trying to sound mysterious but failing miserably as his eyes sparkled with excitement.

Sanji, peeking out from the galley with a plate of food, rolled his eyes. “As if anything could ever be cursed with Luffy around. It’d just turn into a feast!”

Robin chuckled at the banter, her gaze softening at the child who had so bravely given them the mirror. “It’s a wonderful gift,” she said gently. “Thank you for sharing it with us.”

The boy's face lit up further with joy, clearly thrilled to see everyone enjoying his gift. The atmosphere buzzed with friendly chatter and laughter, a little bubble of happiness amidst the upcoming journey.

“Alright, crew! Let’s get ready to set sail!” Luffy declared cheerfully, wrapping an arm around the boy's shoulders. “And remember, we have a special mirror for our adventures now!”

With cheers and determination, the groups began to prepare for departure, the Thousand Sunny ready to embark on another epic journey, leaving behind the bobbing docks and heading toward the uncharted excitement lying in wait at Dressrosa.

Under the warm sun, the Thousand Sunny rocked gently on the brilliant blue waves. Nami led Momonosuke around the ship, her tone cheerful as she pointed out various features. “And over here, that’s the kitchen, where Sanji cooks the best meals in the world!” she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

Momonosuke, clutching his beloved violin, looked around wide-eyed, taking in the sights of the legendary ship. “It’s amazing, Nami! I’ve never been on a ship like this before!”

Just then, Luffy perched atop the ship's figurehead, blissfully unaware of the discussion below. Clutching the enchanted mirror, he held it up to his face. Digging his finger into his nose. “There a big booger” he muttered with a grin, oblivious to the world around him.

With a confident flick, he dislodged a booger, sending it flying. Instantly, the mirror echoed with Luffy's voice, “there a big booger” His eyes widened in shock as he stared at the mirror. “Whoa! This thing is magic!”

“Hey, guys! Look!” he shouted, jumping off the figurehead and landing with a thud on the deck. He rushed over to Nami and Momonosuke, waving the mirror in front of them, excitement radiating from every part of his being.

Nami raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean ‘magic,’ Luffy?”

“Watch!” Luffy flicked his nose again, eagerly anticipating the feedback. The mirror replied, echoing, “Watch!”

Momonosuke gasped, his violin momentarily forgotten. “That’s incredible! Can it really repeat anything?”

“Yes! It’s amazing!” Luffy beamed, ignoring Caesar Clown, who was still tied up nearby, a frustrated look plastered across his face. “You have that old thing? It doesn’t even work!” Caesar scoffed, glaring at Luffy.

Luffy turned to Caesar, grinning. “Oh, it works! See?” He flicked another booger, and the mirror echoed back, “See?”

Franky, having overheard the commotion, skidded to a halt beside them. “Luffy! How did you do that?!” he shouted, his mechanical eyes gleaming with curiosity.

“I don’t know!” Luffy replied, his brow furrowed as he processed the excitement. “It just started talking back!”

Law, leaning against the ship’s railing, crossed his arms and glared at Caesar. “Where did you get that mirror?”

Caesar, dripping with indignation, stammered, “I don’t know! I’ve never seen it do that!”

Nami’s expression grew curious. “Could it be cursed or enchanted? We might need to investigate.”

Momonosuke nodded enthusiastically, still clutching his violin. “Can we keep it? It’s fascinating!”

Luffy agreed, his head bobbing. “Yeah! It’s the coolest treasure ever!”

“Just make sure it doesn’t turn you into something weird,” Nami warned, her tone a mix of humor and caution.

With laughter rippling around them, Luffy held the mirror high. “Magic mirror, show me what you got!” he exclaimed, and the mirror, glowing under the sun, echoed his words back.

As they gathered around, the air filled with lively banter and determination to uncover more secrets of their peculiar find, united by friendship and adventure on the ever-mystical Thousand Sunny.

The Thousand Sunny sailed smoothly through the moonlit sea, the cool night air gently rustling the sails. Below deck, the Straw Hat crew was peacefully asleep in their respective quarters. Zoro snored lightly, his swords beside him. While Chopper curled up in his bed, cuddled close to his medical book. Sanji was dreaming of cooking magnificent meals for Nami and Robin, while Brook and Franky were dreaming of music and machines. Usopp's snores echoed slightly, a testament to his wild dreams of adventure. Nami and Robin shared a room, with Momonosuke sleeping soundly,

On the figurehead of the ship, Luffy sat with an infectious grin, captivated by a stunning mirror gifted to him by a mysterious traveler. The surface shimmered, reflecting the moonlight, while a cracked piece of lapis lazuli rested at the back, catching his eye. Luffy made a silly face at the mirror, scrunching his nose and sticking out his tongue. To his delight, the mirror mirrored his actions perfectly, amplifying his goofy expressions. Luffy erupted into laughter, the sound echoing across the quiet ship.

Suddenly, the mirror flickered, displaying a vivid image as if it was alive. Luffy squinted at it, interest sparking in his eyes. The mirror seemed to tell him something, beckoning him to pull out the gem. “You want me to take out the gem?” Luffy asked aloud, his curiosity piqued. The mirror's surface rippled, clearly replaying his face saying "Yes."

Luffy turned the mirror around, his excitement palpable. He clutched the cracked lapis lazuli, fingers gripping it tightly. As he began to pull, the ocean grew tumultuous, waves crashing harder against the ship, rocking it slightly.

From below deck, Law jolted awake, confusion coloring his features from the waves . “Luffy! What are you doing?” he yelled, his voice sharp as he gathered his bearings. The commotion stirred Kinemon, who blinked awake, still a bit groggy and Caesar looking around still a bit sleepy.

The other crew members were soon aroused from their slumber. Zoro stood up first, glaring at the noise, followed by Sanji, who rubbed his eyes and stepped into the chaos. Chopper stumbled out, half-asleep, his tiny hooves struggling to steady him. Brook, with his skeletal frame, was next, scratching his head and looking bewildered. Franky and Usopp joined them, their curious expressions mirroring each other.

Nami and Robin emerged from their room, looking equally puzzled but alert. Momonosuke, who had been sleeping nearby, blinked up at the scene unfolding.

“Luffy what are you doing?” Sanji shouted, his brow furrowing as he glanced around, his instincts kicking in.

“What’s going on?” Nami queried, looking at Sanji and Robin, who held Momonosuke tight against her. Looked up at Luffy.

Luffy, still oblivious to the chaos he was causing, murmured, “Come on…” as he pulled on the gem. The ocean roared louder, and the ship creaked under the pressure.

“Luffy, stop it!” Sanji yelled again, rushing towards his captain, desperation edging his voice.

But Luffy was too absorbed in his quest. “Just a bit more!” He grunted, yanking on the lapis lazuli as the ocean's waves surged, crashing and thrashing against the Thousand Sunny.

Suddenly, with a loud pop, the lapis lazuli came free from the mirror, sending Luffy tumbling backward into the deck. The crew immediately rushed over to him, concern painted across their faces.

“What happened?” Zoro asked, with his hands on his swords.

As they leaned over Luffy, a strange sight met their eyes—a beautiful blue-skinned woman lay sprawled on the deck, seemingly unconscious. Chopper rushed forward, heart pounding with a mixture of fear and compassion, examining her closely. He noticed the cracked lapis lazuli embedded in her back, realizing it must hold significance.

“Is she okay?” Usopp asked, his bravado wavering in the face of the mysterious figure.

“I don’t know,” Chopper replied, eyes wide as he checked her pulse. “But we have to help her!”

Luffy groaned, sitting up, his attention drawn to the woman. “Who is she?” he wondered aloud, excitement mingling with concern.

Law's eyes narrow as he examines the blue-skinned woman lying on the floor, her body slightly trembling. The lapis lazuli crack sparkles ominously under the flickering light. He turns to Caesar, curiosity mingling with suspicion.

"What is going on?" Law demands, his tone sharp and impatient.

"I don't know," Caesar replies, confusion and annoyance etched on his face. He brushes a hand through his hair, glancing back at the woman.

Ignoring Caesar's vague response, Law moves closer to the chopper, kneeling beside the woman. He gently rolls her onto her side in a careful, deliberate motion. As he inspects the crack more closely, an unsettling feeling washes over him; this might be a pivotal moment. The crack appears almost alive, pulsing with an eerie energy.

"What did you do to her?" Law asks, his voice steady but tense.

"I didn’t do anything! I thought it was a regular mirror," Caesar protests.

Law's eyes darken with intensity as he scrutinizes the blue-skinned woman. The room's unsettling silence is pierced only by the faint sound of her trembling breaths. He notices that the crack in her skin shimmers, casting a faint blue glow against the dim surroundings.

"Regular mirror?" Law echoes, skepticism thick in his voice. He can’t shake the growing apprehension gnawing at him. "This isn't just an accident. There's something more to this."

Caesar shifts uncomfortably, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. "I swear, I didn't know. I found her like this. She must have been trapped."

Frowning, Law peers deeper into the crack. It’s not merely a fracture; it resembles a portal, with energies swirling within, hinting at something beyond their comprehension. An unusual pull resonates within him, as if the crack itself is calling out.

As tension rises, the woman's convulsions intensify. Law's instincts kick in; urgency propels him forward. "We have to stabilize her. Maybe if we fix the gem she'll be fine."

Chopper hesitates, torn between nervousness and the urgency of the moment. "But what if it’s dangerous? We don’t know what we're dealing with!”

Law locks eyes with him, determination coursing through him. "We don’t have time to debate. If we don’t do something, she could get worse."

With a reluctant nod, chopper rushes off to gather supplies. Law’s complete focus is on the woman. He gently places a hand over the crack, feeling the heat radiating from it. As his fingers brush against the pulsating lines on her skin, a surge of energy shoots through him, momentarily staggering him.

The world around him blurs, and he hears a whisper, soft yet insistent, almost like a lament. "Help me…"

Robin, gently put Momonosuke down, kneels in front of the blue-skinned woman. She studies the crack, which resembles lapis lazuli on the woman’s back, and says, "I've read something about people with gems but there know just to be a myth.

Law's focus sharpens at Robin's words. "What do you mean? Are you saying this could be connected to her?"

Robin nods, a frown deepening on her brow."Great. So we’re dealing with something unknown," Law replies.

Just then, Chopper returns, arms laden with medical supplies. He glances at the still-trembling woman, hesitation creeping into his demeanor. "What do we do first?"

"Apply pressure to the crack, but gently," Law instructs, finding his voice steady despite the racing thoughts in his mind. They carefully lay compresses against the shimmering crack, hoping to stanch the energy flowing from her.

"Should we try to communicate?" Robin suggests tentatively. "If she's conscious enough to hear us, maybe we can find out what’s happening."

Law nods, feeling the urgency of the situation. "Let’s do it. Just be cautious."

He leans closer, speaking softly, "Can you hear us? We’re here to help you."

The woman’s trembling subsides slightly at the sound of his voice, her eyes flickering open to reveal a haunting yet beautiful shade of deep azure, mirroring the glow of her skin. "I'm… free," she breathes, each word a struggle.

Law exchanges a quick glance with Robin, a mix of concern and determination etched across their faces. "Free from what?" he prompts gently, eager to learn more without overwhelming her.

Just then, Luffy runs over and grabs the blue-skinned woman's hand. "Hey, are you okay?" he asks, his voice filled with sincerity.

The blue-skinned woman looks at Luffy, her eyes wide with surprise. "You freed me," she whispers, a hint of disbelief in her voice.

"Yeah!" Luffy exclaims, grinning from ear to ear.

"But you’re a human," the blue-skinned woman replies, confusion evident in her eyes.

Luffy tilts his head, confusion mixing with innocence in his expression. "Of course I'm human! What does that have to do with anything?" he asks, still holding her hand tightly as if to reassure her.

The blue-skinned woman shudders slightly, a flicker of hope igniting in her eyes. "Humans… they were the one that put me in that mirror. They fear what they don’t understand. But you… you’re different."

Luffy's grip tightens around her hand, determination shining in his eyes. “I don’t care what some humans did! We’re here now, and I’m going to help you!” His voice rings out with youthful confidence, cutting through the lingering doubt that permeates the air.

Ilaris blinks, surprise mingling with hope as her expression shifts. “You really mean it?” she asks, vulnerability creeping into her voice.

“Of course!” Luffy declares, his trademark grin beaming as he leans closer. “We’re a crew that helps people! You’re one of us now!”

Robin watches the exchange thoughtfully. “We need to understand more about you to help you. What exactly happened?”

Ilaris takes a deep breath, her gaze turning distant. “I’m a crystal gem, left behind during the war between my people and the humans. They feared my power and trapped me within my gem as a means of control.”

Luffy frowns, his expression darkening. “That’s not right! No one should be trapped like that!”

Nami, who had been listening intently, interjects, “What’s your name?”

“Ilaris,” she replies softly. “But I was once known as Lapis Lazuli.”

[darkstar225]

Twice's 10th member is Sana's baby (as claimed by Sana lol)

A/N: Heyyy, I'm coming up with a lot of stuff for you guys lol! Sry for taking so long to post but end of semester is a whole event for me :D I hope that my friend AthirahNazari6 that gave me this idea on Wattpad likes it! :)

The request: Hey I want to request can you do one where y/n is innocent so sana basically babied her every chances she gets. Thank u

PS: Tysm for everyone that reads what I write, I hope I can bring a smile to your faces every time I post! I'd like to thank whoever sent me this idea 'cause I loved to write it <3

__________________________________________________________

Y/N was the youngest member of the wildly popular K-pop girl group TWICE. At just 16 years old, she had already achieved remarkable success in the music industry. But behind her youthful talent and radiant smile, she possessed an innocent and pure heart that endeared her to fans all over the world. Among the members of TWICE, Sana had taken on the role of Y/N's unofficial guardian. With her warm and caring nature, Sana couldn't help but feel protective of the youngest member. She saw Y/N as the little sister she never had, someone who needed guidance and support in the whirlwind of fame. One sunny afternoon, TWICE had a rare day off from their hectic schedule. The maknae, with her wide eyes and shy demeanour, looked around eagerly, searching for something to do. Sana noticed her restlessness and approached her with a gentle smile and her voice filled with excitement.

Sana - Sugar, how about we go to the park today? We can have a picnic and enjoy the fresh air!!

Y/N's face lit up instantly, and she nodded enthusiastically. Sana couldn't help but chuckle at her adorable response. She led her unofficial little sister to the park, carrying a basket filled with their favourite snacks. As they settled on a soft blanket, Sana spread out a feast fit for a princess. The kid's eyes widened at the sight of all the delicious treats. Sana laughed and spoke with a motherly smile on her face.

Sana - I knew you'd love this!

Throughout the picnic, Sana made sure her cutie pie had everything she needed. She cut the fruits into bite-sized pieces, fed Y/N with her own hands, and even wiped away any crumbs that dared to touch the youngest member's lips. The youngest (obviously-) blushed at the attention, feeling incredibly cared for. After the picnic, Sana and Y/N strolled through the park, hand in hand. They admired the vibrant flowers, chased butterflies, and laughed freely. Sana's constant presence made the younger girl feel safe and loved. As they walked by a small pond, TWICE's honey's gaze fell upon a group of children sailing toy boats. Her eyes glimmered with fascination. Sana noticed her curiosity and gave a suggestion that she knew was undeniable.

Sana - Would you like to try it too, sweetie?

Y/N hesitated for a moment, unsure if she should ask for such a childish indulgence (go for it guys, making your inner child happy is everything). But when she met Sana's encouraging gaze, she nodded with a shy smile. Sana quickly bought a toy boat and handed it to her, who carefully placed it in the water. Sana kneeled down beside the maknae, her eyes filled with delight and Sana's voice filled with genuine admiration, as they watched the boat sail away.

 Sana - Look, love! You're a great captain!

Y/N beamed at the praise, feeling a surge of confidence. Sana's unwavering belief in her abilities gave her the courage to try new things without fear of judgment. As the day drew to a close, Sana and Y/N made their way back to their dorm. The youngest clung to Sana's arm, her head resting against her shoulder. Sana held her tightly, whispering words of encouragement and love in her gentle voice.

Sana - You know, kiddo, you may be the youngest in TWICE, but you bring so much joy and innocence to our group. We all admire you and look up to you in our own way.

Y/N's eyes widened with surprise. She had never considered herself anything other than the baby of the group. But as she listened to Sana's heartfelt words, a sense of pride welled up within her. From that day forward, Sana continued to shower her baby (she claimed Y/N guys, it's done lol) with love and support, always reminding her of her worth. TWICE's child blossomed under Sana's care, gaining confidence and a sense of belonging within the group. And as time went on, she grew older and wiser, but never lost her innocent charm. And no matter how successful TWICE became, Sana remained by her side, always ready to be her guiding light, her protector, and her biggest cheerleader. In interviews, Y/N often credited Sana for her growth and happiness. She spoke of the countless moments when Sana had babied her, showering her with affection and ensuring her well-being. The maknae clearly cherished those memories, knowing that she had someone who loved her unconditionally.

As TWICE continued to conquer the music industry, Y/N's innocence and genuine nature became her trademark. Fans adored her for her pure-heartedness, and Sana beamed with pride at the sight of her sister's success. Through it all, Sana remained the girl's constant source of support, her guardian angel. And as they navigated the highs and lows of their careers, they knew that their bond would only grow stronger with time. Sana would forever be the one who saw Y/N's innocence and embraced it with open arms, ensuring that she never lost her childlike wonder in the midst of fame. And this made not only Sana but also the other unnies have a single thought:

We are proud of our dear maknae.

A/N: I apologise for any errors, English is not my first language. Pls, let me know if there's something wrong, ty for reading <3

[ideas-on-paper]

Monster Hunter Tri Diary, Part 1: Intro, Arrival in Moga, First trip to Moga Woods

So, inspired by @dragonflight203's Mass Effect replay posts (hope you don't mind me adapting the idea!), I've decided to do a "gaming diary" for my first playthrough of Monster Hunter Tri.

Thanks to the dedicated endeavor of fans from the MH community, the servers of Tri are finally accessible again, so I'm very excited to check this one out. The 3rd Gen is my favorite overall, and I've been yearning to see Loc Lac with my own eyes for years now.

But first, I'll have to spend some time in singleplayer to farm some equipment and re-familiarize myself with the game. Wouldn't want to do the hub quests ill-prepared! So, for now, we're starting slow.

Disclaimer: Text is paraphrased from my localization and might slightly deviate from the English version.

Intro

This is the first time I've seen the intro of MH Tri in person - and it’s such an amazing one, too! I love the correlation between the sea and land environments depicted here: The Jaggi pack is hunting the Aptonoths at the coast (great way to introduce the new small bird wyverns!), while the Ludroths are picking up the scraps that fell into the water.

That Great Jaggi was about to have the feast of his life on that Aptonoth, only to be bowled out by that Rathalos. xD Dude wanted his lunch back so badly that he was even willing to make a stand against the Rathalos. Probably wouldn't have held out for long, though, with Jaggis being weak to fire. (If Tri had turf wars, that Great Jaggi would've been totally obliterated.)

And when the Lagiacrus shows up, the Jaggis are just like: "Okay, this one’s way out of our league. Let’s get the hell out of here." xD

One thing I love about the Lagiacrus is that he's designed like an antithesis to Rathalos: Rathalos wields fire, which is the Lagi's primary weakness. Meanwhile, Rathalos himself is weak against lightning, which makes him vulnerable to Lagiacrus’s attacks. Both are the kings of their respective element, but when encroaching on Rathalos' territory, the Lagiacrus is like a literal fish out of the water.

I wonder what would happen if there was a turf war between them, though. Would there be a 50:50 chance of either one winning? Would the Lagi try to pull Rahtalos into the water? Would he even get out of there by himself? (I imagine it would look like a bird of prey that crashed in the water, but much bigger. Poor Rathalos might need a hand. xD)

I love how Lagiacrus turns away in an "Eh, I didn't mean to hunt this anyway" manner; like having his snack snatched away from under his nose hurt his pride, but he tries to act unbothered by it. xD

Ah, guys... I always get a little teary-eyed when the MH Tri main theme comes up. The Rathalos flying over the vast plains, the music picking up, and then the view with the hunters standing at the cliff... It really doesn't get better than this. :,)

Arrival in Moga

Ah, it's been ages since I saw that cutscene... It's technically the same as in MH3U, but still it feels so good to be back. I love how you see the villagers just going about their daily lives, the children being excited about the trinkets the Chief's Son brought back from his trip and all that... It evokes such a homey feeling right from the start, and it makes the village community feel that much more like family.

The chief actually mentions the sea people having crests on their skin and looking a little different from normal humans. I remember this from the MH artbook, where it's stated they gave them a different skin tone/markings as well as webbed hands to distinguish them from normal humans. I thought this was just a scrapped concept (since you don't see much of a visual difference in-game), but I had no idea there was in-game dialogue about it. Cool!

"Diversity means prosperity!" That's actually a really wise quote right there. Both the sea people and wyverians are knowledgeable in their own right, but each have different skills. If they unite them, everyone profits. (I think we could learn something from this for our own society.)

I love the Guild Sweetheart from MH Tri/3U. She's legitimately my favorite of all the Guild receptionists in Monster Hunter (at least those I’m familiar with). And she's trying so hard - she's really upset the Guild apparently forgot about them in this backwater village. Hang in there, sweetie!

"The Guild has permission to hunt and do research in the Moga Woods, and in exchange, we help the village with its problems." A fair trade, but I wonder if the Guild might have ulterior motives. Like, what are they doing with the research results? And do they really only permit just as much hunting as the monster population will allow, or is that just a farce? (I always trusted the Guild was true to their word, but after watching a few Monster Hunter lore videos, I'm not so sure. Ah, I was so gullible back then... xD)

The gossipy lady really loves her silly word games. (And so do I. xD)

"The Chief must have really good relationships with the Guild if he got a hunter like you to come to such a small village in the middle of nowhere." Not an unreasonable thought, actually... How did he convince the Guild to send a hunter to Moga if they otherwise completely ignore it? Is he friends with some of the higher-ups?

"For safety reasons, we’ve collected all information about monsters in a so-called "monster list"." Uh-huh... "Safety reasons"... I'm telling you, the Guild is definitely keeping secrets.

Okay, so the item seller really likes hunters. This reminds me, I think there's one single NPC in the entire series who couldn't stand hunters. (I believe it was some guy in Minegarde, though I can't say for sure since I've never been in that city myself.) Is this dude the only one or are there any others who actually dislike hunters?

I love the Outfitter with her "very important" virtual tests. Like yeah, I'm sure that fantasizing about slaying monsters with no first-hand experience will bring you that much closer to finding the "ideal weapon". (I gotta say, I love this kind of humor that Monster Hunter has - it's so dumb, but in a hilarious kind of way. The game knows it's dumb and doesn't take it too seriously, so it almost feels a bit like satire.)

I'm also quite fond of the Fishmongeress. She is warm-hearted and helpful, but also very assertive and knows what she wants. My kind of woman!

I love the dynamic between the two kids; like one is constantly bragging about how smart he is (while actually being really dumb), while the other, shy one is the actual smart one (can confirm this from personal experience xD).

Our local "whizz kid" tells us that the villagers are threshing rice at the windmills in Moga Village. (The ones you can see in the background near the armory and if you walk across the leftmost pier.) That’s probably what the farm is for, though I haven’t seen any paddy fields there.

You know what I find absolutely hilarious? The way the game incorporates gameplay tips. The villagers say stuff like "Okay, so try imagining a "screen", alright?" and "Try imagining a thing called "Wiimote". No kidding, just try it!". They talk about a yellow cursor ("I know: a what?!") like it's the weirdest thing ever, and "saving the game" is treated like some outlandish slang word. Like, the developers were probably aware that to the people in-universe, these explanations would sound entirely nonsensical, and they put in the extra effort to make it funny - I love it.

Also, the UI design in Tri is absolutely gorgeous. I love the "tribal" style the old games had going on. MH World can't hold a candle to this!

I remember there was an old post on the MH Lore Tumblr blog (sadly, it's been defunct for a while now) that in the MH universe, the Felynes are treated like cheap laborers who are always given the shit jobs nobody else wants to do. Considering how they're constantly seen in positions like chamberlain, farm worker etc., I believe there might actually be something to this. It's kind of sad, but these kitties really don't seem to have the best standing in MH society... :(

I love the Felyne-specific language, though. (Like hairstyling being "grooming", "child's play" is "kitten's play" and so on.) It's so endearing.

So, the shy kid tells me there's a cave at the farm, but I shouldn't go inside because the Chief is gonna get really mad if I do. The Head Farmer tells me it contains some kind of ancient weapon. From what I remember from 3U, that "weapon" is a mask for the Shakalaka. (It's funny how every Monster Hunter used to have this "special", sword-in-the-stone kind of weapon.)

Moga Woods (day)

I gotta say, from a gameplay perspective, I think the tutorial for Tri is really well done. It doesn't immediately throw you into a timed quest so you don't feel pressured from the get-go, and it introduces you to all core mechanics bit by bit.

Village Chief: "Can you hear me?" Yes, I can hear you. I'm not sure how you can speak to me since you technically should be back at the village, but I hear you. (Do these villagers have mastered the art of telepathy somehow?)

"My ancestors had a saying: "Wherever you go, there you are."" Wow - I never could've figured this out on my own. Truly, the wisdom of ages.

It's easy to forget, but MH Tri is actually the first Monster Hunter where gathering points are displayed. I remember how distressed I was when playing MH1 and realizing there were no pop-ups to mark gathering spots. (And now that I’m used MH1 and Freedom Unite, I have to get out of my habit of pressing the gathering button at suspicious looking places. xD)

"That's an Aptonoth: a herbivore. Eats... herbs." You don't say, Chief. You don't say.

I remember when I first played Monster Hunter, I felt so bad for killing an Aptonoth. Now, I’ve kinda gotten used to it - still wouldn’t say I feel good about it, though. ^^’

"You're just like me when I was your age! Of course, my stamina bar was way longer." Yeah, sure - just don't forget to toot your own horn.

When finding the Chief's Son: "Sorry we couldn't talk yesterday, though natural disasters are a great conversational topic!" I've said it once, I will say it again: I love Monster Hunter’s humor.

"I'm Juni-- Er, I'm the Chief’s Son." Ohh, do I hear someone having daddy issues?

"Our tent and bocce set were in that destroyed camp." Oh, no - due to the earthquake, the villagers can't play bocce anymore. What a tragedy.

”I’m so hungry, I could eat an Aptonoth.” Well, friend, you’re in luck - I’ve just slaughtered one of these beasties.

Aaand he snatches the meat right up. Okay, dude - have fun grilling. I’ll just go back to the village all on my lonesome, I guess…

And thus, after finding the lost son and completing our first job for McDelivery, we return to the village...

To be continued

[davactivated]

🌶 ☀️ 💙 🦖 🍷 🐙 🦜 💣 🔮 🌟 🟢⚔️😦🏠🍿🎉

Go nuts

Doing this one first because this is very many and i love answering questions thank yoy meatpit 🫶🫶

(🌶️) how do they feel about becoming a farmer?

" Marcus wasnt always fond with farming but his grandfather was, but also he really wanted to stay somewhere he can enjoy himself and be himself! He started to learn how to farm little by little until he finally got the hang of it, and honestly he's proud of himself! he loves poultry and is still trying to learn about it "

(☀️) do they adjust to living in the valley easily?

" They didn't adjust well atfirst.., because marcus isnt always the type of person to talk until he gets the courage too and he needs to talk to others to make progress and to ask help from. but he really is sweet and a goofball when you gets to talk, he's just a little shy. BUT his main way of talking is body language! he loves moving around "

(💙) do they have any blue chickens?

" .... ALOT. "

(🦖) do they incubate the dino eggs? how many dinos do they have?

" He found an egg and found it interesting and decided to incubate it and got 3 dinos now, he tends to separate them from his lovely chickens because he really doesnt want anything to happen to his children "

(🐙) what fish do they struggle to catch?

" The squid. "

(🍷) what is your farmer's main way of making money?

" Mostly through mayonnaise actually! he's actually planning to get more void chickens and chickens in general to proccess those good quality eggs into mayonnaise without troubles. even tho he'll work his ass off to work in the mines for some earth crystals and copper bars "

(🦜) does your farmer befriend leo? what do they think of him?

" when marcus saw leo he really felt empathy towards leo, he was really patient with the little guy and offered him gifts whenever he visits, he likes leo! and he wants to build a small bond with him, like a little big brother figure you know? "

(💣) what's the lowest they ever gone in the skull caverns?

" around a 110! and then marcus passed out atleast 5 times trying to go to that actual level again for iridium ore "

(🔮) best thing they ever found while in the skull caverns?

" His beloved dark cowboy hat and his first ever prismatic shard! Also when I lost my hammer when i passed out in the skull caverns "

(🌟) what is their reaction when they get their first stardrop?

" when he got his first stardrop he was absolutely amaaazed, on how much he descovers alot of stuff in this valley and he's absolutely excited to know whats in store for him "

(🟢) does your farmer get a slime hutch? do they use it?

" No sadly.. not planning on building one either... "

(⚔️) what is their weapon of choice?

" Hammers! especially the galaxy hammer "

(😦) is your farmer afraid of the monsters?

" Absolutely not... Except for that one damn Serpent I shit myself everytime "

(🏠) does your farmer buy a house for pam and penny? do they reveal their identity or stay anonymous?

" he wishes to!! But he's on a hella tight budget and the community upgrade is faaar out of his reach for him atm, he can't do that "

(🍿) what's their favorite theater snack?

" Marcus loves salmon burgers!! He tends to be careful when eating it because he doesn't wanna make any mess but honestly he loves it "

(🎉) what is your farmer's favorite festival?

" His favorite festival is the town fair!! He absolutely loves it when that festival goes around he wouldn't miss it for the world, He also loves Feast of the winter star!! "

[kakusu-shipping]

Red House

A wayward children self insert fanfic, part 1

In which you get to meet our hero and our villain before the story's even began

This is a story that does not necessarily need to be told. But no story needs to be told. They want to be told, wish to be read, and yearn to be adored.

This is a story you've heard before, set in a place you've been.

A little boy, not yet calling himself Emile, and truthfully not yet a little boy, but not quiet a little girl either, runs as fast as his feet will carry him across broken blacktop on a cool autumn day.

He'd just gotten off the school bus, and had gone home just long enough to empty his backpack of books and homework and refill it with toys and snacks. Then he was back out the door and running before his older brothers could ask him where he was off to, or worse yet, follow him.

The trailer park they lived in overflowed with kids coming home from the nearby school, and his house in particular overflowed the most. Five kids and two full time working parents rattling around in a three bedroom home of plastic and kindling was suffocating at times, especially when you were the smallest.

So the boy, not yet a boy, ran from the after school fights and arguments before they started, quickly ducking between bramble bushes at the mouth of the woods circling his home, and slid down a muddy hill that'd yet to dry from the rain two weeks ago.

"MIKEY!" He called, twisting down a well troded path through the woods until he came upon a makeshift house of plywood and garbage left to rot and ruin the forest around them.

Another little boy, littler than the not yet a boy, with thick glasses and short cut black hair, sat within the makeshift home, doing homework on a metal garden table with a half broken glass top.

"Emile," The smaller boy did not say, but for now we shall assume he did, "You could have just gotten off on my stop if you were gonna run straight here anyway."

The littler boy who's name was not Mikey, but instead Micheal, lived in the same trailer park as Emile and his many brothers, just up the street infact, a single stop earlier than Emile.

Unlike the older he did not go home before making the trip into the woods, because even if he had the door would have been locked, with a note from his foster parents saying they would be out until late, and to play outside for the day.

"Yeah, I COULD have, but then we wouldn't have anything to eat." Emile proclaimed as he shoulded his backpack off and dumped it's contents onto the tiny garden table. Some things tumbled through the hole in the table's top or over the edges and spilled onto the floor.

Great Value brand chips in single serving bags and Hug juice barrels and a single Great Value Swiss Roll pack with two chocolate rolls inside, a feast for the kings of the woods.

Micheal immediately shifted through the menagerie of snack foods, landing on a bag of almost cheetos and a blue hug juice which he opened by stabbing through the thin foil with his pencil. "Doesn't your mom get mad when you take too many snacks?"

Emile shrugged as he picked up a red hug, stabing into the foil with his sharp canines before sitting in an old tire with a blanket thrown over it, "Yeah, but she'll never know it was me. My brothers always eat more than we're supposed to anyway."

Micheal nodded and returned to his homework, his legs dangling from the green painted metal garden chair they'd found along side the broken table, supposedly thrown out together. If one was broken, they both were in the eyes of the original owner, making them both worthless.

"What're you working on?" Emile shifted in his spot, grabbing one of the stuffed animals he's packed in his bag that had tumbled out among the snacks.

"Fractions," Micheal answered without looking up, using his spare hand to dig into his not-cheetos bag, "Did you bring your homework? I'll do it for you if you want."

Emile let out a loud sigh, "Noooo, I dumped my bag out to quickly and left it at home. You woulda been bored anyway, it's just multiplication."

Micheal and Emile were the same age, but not the same grade. Though Micheal was far behind in the height department, he was a brilliant mind. He'd skipped from 2nd to 4th grade at his last school, which actually put him ahead of the 5th graders when he moved this past year. Sense he moved in the middle of the year he was currently stuck in Emile's class during the school day, but was doing 5th grade level lessons as homework to prepare to take the Finals at a 5th grade level. His teachers tell him if he does well enough on the final at the end of the year he can go into middle school next year.

Many people looking in would think what a brilliant and talented child, how amazingly lucky he was to be born so smart, and they wouldn't even be half right.

Micheal was a genius yet, but not because of luck, or genetics, or some invisible disability he'd yet to be diagnosed with. Micheal was smart with purpose, with intent to blast through school. The less years he had to spend learning basic division and decimal placement the better, because as soon as he was done with school he could get a job, and as soon as he could get a job, he could buy his own house, and as soon as he could buy his own house he could have his own key, and never ever be locked out to "Go play outside :)" ever again.

He can't be forced to move if he owns the house, he can't be restricted dinner if he made the dinner, he won't have to sleep on the couch or even the floor some nights because there were guests over who needed a bed more. His house, his rules.

Yes, Micheal was smart, smart enough to know his life wasn't fair, and it would never be fair, and it was up to him to tilt the unbalanced scale in his favor, and up until this year he'd planned to do so all on his own.

"So I'm thinking red."

"Red?" Micheal looked up from his homework to Emile, his first friend sense Kindergarten, sense all the moving, sense being the new kid three times in one year.

Emile sat up and smiled as he turned a notebook he'd had stashed in his tire chair to face Micheal, a crude drawing of a house done fully in red crayon sat squarely in the middle. "Red." He smiled confidently, the dye from his hug juice had colored his upper lip almost as bright as the poorly drawn house.

Micheal placed his pencil down and took in the house. Fully red, with four windows in the front with a round door perfectly in the center. There was even a window in the triangle that made up the roof, implying an attic. The yard was green with a crude version of a brown dog and a purple cat standing on either side of two people holding hands in the center, one with black hair and thick glasses, and the other in a triangle dress with long yellow hair.

Micheal nodded

"I like red."

[hiddenlittleoasis]

Here's my first writing piece of this account! (Posted below)

Shoutout to @cysketch for creating this lovely piece that served as my inspiration💕

Early bird songs are carried away in the morning winds, but not fast enough to keep the whistling of the feathered choir from sharing their work with the ears of young Poca.

The rabbit boy stirs awake to start one of the last mornings left of summer, shivering as reminders of autumn gust through an open window and out another. Even knowing of the unlikely chance of getting a visitor today, he diligently gets up. He hurries to ready for the day: pulling on a sweater, descending the stairs, counting stock, and opening up the door to the little home shop.

Poca breathes in deeply as another chilled gust sweeps through his home, rattling the children's toys hanging on display. Like most things Poca has for sale, it’s only thanks to the winds that blow through the high-rise that a layer of dust hasn’t made its home on all the merchandise. Many times Cherrise, Poca’s neighbor downstairs, has told him how foolish a shop so hard to reach is. Many times Cedeir, the friendly delivery critter, has crawled to Poca’s door, gasping for breath through jokes equating the climb up Poca’s stairs to a hike up a mountain. Many times Poca has just smiled kindly, opening shop again the next day with the same vigor as the day before.

Today is no different.

Right on time, just as every day, a box rolls up the steps with a huffing and puffing Cedeir behind it. “Must you order so many boxes to the summit of your mountain Poca?”

And Poca politely smiles.

Not long after Cedeir has left there’s a rattling below Poca that pauses as a window is pulled open. “Are you still insisting on running that shop, silly rabbit boy?” Cherrise calls out.

But Poca just smiles.

Soon it is midday. Tiny mice hurry from their cozy homes, dug out of some of the many boxes in Poca’s shop. They greet Poca eagerly with many excited squeaks. Poca greets each back just as happily, not by name for they have none, but by giving each their favorite unique snack from his shop before setting down some of the aging snacks out in dishes for the friendly mice to feast.

The morning winged choir returns shortly after the mice have had their meal, singing to Poca with a familiar tune. He is no stranger to the daily performance that his feathered company puts on in hopes of earning their dinner for the day, and politely applauds as the show finishes before setting out more dishes of old shop snacks. The birds hurry to fill their beaks before taking off to hide on the roof. Poca’s gaze follows them until they disappear over the edge of the fading red tin, contently admiring the creatures much smaller than him.

A petal falls from a disturbed window box as fleeing wings stir the plant inside, drifting down towards Poca, gently settling between his ears as he turns his gaze to the soft clouds of cotton floating by. The color fading from the petals and browning in the leaves that Poca has so persistently cared for serves as another gentle reminder of the cooler season rapidly approaching. Meanwhile the colors changing on the clouds reflect the day slowly drawing closer to a close.

For a while more Poca keeps watching the sky around him from his favorite spot; in front of a display fridge with his own name printed on it, hiding memories of a paint-filled summer night. As Poca watches the fleeting moments of summer, cherishing the last few memories they’ll make with the critters this year, an evening autumnal wind sweeps past Poca’s high rise, rustling the tired plants and biting at Poca’s fluff through his sweater. The clouds hasten their drifting just slightly as the breeze urges them towards the horizon, to meet with the sun that is rapidly setting.

The sun escapes the sky much quicker than it once did, and the nip of the nighttime air ushers Poca back inside his little shop. He grabs a little broom to sweep, searching for some activity to serve as an excuse to keep the shop open just a little longer in case of any traveler in need stopping by.

A new voice, almost swept away in the winds, “E-Excuse me?”

Poca is quick to turn around, and his guest continues on hurriedly when they see they’ve gotten someone’s attention. “Do you have water? My family is traveling, uhm migrating, because of the cold weather and my grandmother is very old and thirsty and…” Poca smiles gently as they put bottles into a bag, letting the older bird child go on.

Before the bird child can finish their extensive plea Poca is already coming around the counter, kneeling down and offering the well packed bag. “O-oh thank you s-sir! How much do I need to give you? I have…” the bird child starts to ramble again, but Poca makes no requests, only insisting on giving them the bag.

Watching the eyes of the bird child widen as they finally understand Poca’s kind offer warms a deep place inside Poca’s chest, fighting back against the biting cold of the night. “T-thank you sir!! I…I’ll tell my family about you!! Goodbye!” The bird child grabs the bag and struggles to take off with the extra weight, but soon soars off into the distance until they blur with the dark of the sky.

Cherrise would ridicule him, telling Poca about how he can’t run a successful business by giving everything away.

Cedeir would question him, asking Poca where he gets all his packages from if he isn’t making a profit from his sales.

Poca wouldn’t mind though, he knows the warmth he feels inside from the grateful smiles pays for so much more than a few snacks and bottles of water.

Soon Poca shuts off the lights and closes up his doors, hurrying up to bed.

After all, tomorrow will be a busy day.

[the-rogue-mockingjay]

24 + 27 + 30 for Ravi? :)

ty meg 😽

24. what's your wol's relationship with food? do they skip meals or do they eat at specific times religiously? is food important to them, or is it just a means to an end to keep their body going? does food mean something cultural or personal to them?

Oh she LOVES food, not just for the reasons of tastes good/nice texture/comfort food, but also because cuisine is so tied to culture and history. She loves getting to try the food in all the places she travels to. She has some things she fundamentally refuses to touch (such as beans and peas), but there hasn't been a single cuisine she hasn't liked, she always finds an array of dishes and drinks that become faves :> She's a terrible cook, however. She can make things that are edible but not very good, and inherited my curse that no matter what we do we cannot make scrambled eggs that don't taste like a new flavor of shit every time 🤣

She really loves the social aspect of food. Whether it's hanging out in the kitchen laughing and chatting while chopping vegetables, or a celebratory feast such as after a wedding, or a quiet intimate coffee date with a loved one, for her, love is at the heart of it all. Pretty much all her hangouts with her friends/family involve food, even if it's just snacks. Having to just stuff food in her face and run due to a tight schedule is something she LOATHES.

27. how does your wol feel about allag in general? the tech, the experimenting, the crystal tower? any thoughts on allagan ruins? are they impressed, scared, resentful, neutral?

She has....complicated feelings, about Allag fklgjhdghdfg. Like, it's impressive what they managed to do (create a WHOLE ASS MOON??? AND PUT IT IN SPACE???) but the depths of their depravity, their crimes against living beings, their obscene experiments- she hates them. And she thinks their aesthetic choices are terrible, to boot! (Amon being perhaps the worst example of this LMAO. She hates him and his shitty ass outfit so much (but she still hopes to be reunited with his soul in the next life, to help him find the answers he's been looking for all this time. And maybe next time he won't, yanno, blow up the world....))

More than that, though, every single experience she's had with Allag personally has been Bad, so when she sets foot in a ruin, she feels small, anxious, on edge. Allag is equated with loss, death, pain. Ysayle's death at Azys Lla, her fight with Thordan and his knights, the Warring Triad (which nearly killed Rian, one of her close friends and a fellow WoL), not to mention Garlemald's use of all that Allagan tech. Allag makes her feel like a prey animal being hunted for sport lfdkjghdkjgh, and boy does it ignite a prey animal rage in her.

She has very different feelings about the Crystal Tower. It's so...beautiful. Breathtaking. Incredible and intricate and MASSIVE. How could such a thing even be built? It helps that its architecture barely resembles typical Allagan construction lol. It's still very sad for her, though. The dragons imprisoned inside, G'raha locking himself away, not even mentioning the Seat of Sacrifice which she can't think about without crying.

30. how does your wol feel about children? do they want them? like them from a distance? hate them? no strong feelings?

When she was younger, she just kinda liked them from a distance, but not much more. In more recent times, such as ShB onwards, she likes them a lot! (Riqi-Tio looked at her once and she immediately got attached LOL). And one of the more quietly impactful parts of Stormblood was hanging out with that little girl (Isse's sister) who took her to visit her parents' graves. She's very protective of kids, always has been to some degree, so she doesn't take kindly to anyone or anything that threatens a kid. (can we say an extra FUCK YOU to Rielle's mom??)

Post-ENW, I think kids are some of her favorite people in the world slkfjghfdkgh. They've grown on her a lot over the years. They're funny, clever, not burdened down by The Horrors yet, and perhaps more importantly, they are the future, the ones who will inherit the legacy and world she leaves behind.

I don't have an exact timeline for it, but eventually she and Aymeric do adopt a few orphans, and they have one biological daughter, Juniper, who was a surprise (O'ravi didn't think she could actually have kids). Juniper likely inherits her mother's autism, though hers is a fair bit milder.

[darksaiyangoku]

RWBY: Grim Tales

For @kinashia

Caught in the Web

[Kingdom of Mistral - Yún Town]

It was a late, warm autumn evening in the town of Yún and a young boy was walking around the market stalls for ingredients. He had ashen-black hair, tanned, freckly skin, hazel eyes and wore a cream-coloured, raggedy shirt, dull orange gloves, torn brown trousers and black boots. He held a piece of small paper in his hand and looked at the list of ingredients.

Oscar: Okay let's see. Uncle Oliver asked me to get some dill, salmon, mustard, paprika, cinnamon and some apples. Shouldn't be too hard... if this crowd would break away a little.

He waded through the sea of people until he finally reached the stall that sold herbs and spices. He quickly made his purchase before dashing away. Oscar looked around until he saw a sign that a picture of a blue fish.

Oscar: *walks over* Excuse me, madam. How much for your salmon?

Fishmonger: Would you like a whole one or cut into steaks?

Oscar: Oooh! Steaks please.

Fishmonger: You got it! *slices up the salmon* That's 16 silver lien, please.

Oscar made the purchase and bagged up most of his shopping. All that was left were apples. He was about to make his way to the fruit stall but found that it was closed.

Oscar: Wha? Aw man... Well, I guess I'd better head back.

Oscar ventured out of the market place, intent on returning home when a tavern caught his eye. His stomach rumbled with hunger and the aroma of food danced on his nose. A quick snack couldn't hurt and dinner wouldn't be ready until much later anyway. Maybe if he was lucky, they could have some spare apples. With his mind made up, Oscar stepped inside and hopped onto a chair at the bar.

Oscar: Um, could I have a slice of cherry pie, please?

Bartender: Certainly, young man. Would you like custard or cream.

Oscar: Custard, please. Vanilla flavoured.

Bartender: Excellent choice!

Oscar: Oh and do you have any spare apples?

Bartender: We have 6. You can take them, no extra charge.

Oscar: *smiles* Thanks sir.

Oscar looked around the tavern as he waited patiently. He could how lively everyone was, chatting with friends, flirting with each other and singing ballads out of tune. Several minutes had passed and the pie finally arrived, alongside a small sack of apples. Oscar took a spoonful and hummed at the beautiful combinafion of rich, sour cherries and smooth, sweet custard.

Bartender: So then, young man. Are you going to be staying for the Phantom Party tonight?

Oscar: *shakes head* I can't. I gotta get home to my aunt. She and my uncle are cooking dinner tonight.

Bartender: Ah... right. *leans in*

Oscar: Um, sir?

Bartender: Are you sure you want to go back all by yourself? The path away from Yún is dangerous during the night. Grimm prowl about in the forest looking for children to feast on.

Oscar: *chuckles* Come on, that's just a fairytale. I've lived here my whole life and I haven't met a single Grimm. I know the forests like the back of my hand.

Bartender: Are you sure?

Oscar: Positive.

Bartender: Still, take this. *gives Oscar a dagger* Just in case.

Oscar: ...okay? *gives the bartender 3 silver coins* Thank you, sir.

He paid for the snack and headed out of the tavern, unaware of the look he was getting from a hooded stranger sitting in the corner of the tavern.

[Forest]

Oscar's body trembled with every step he took. He clasped onto the knife in one hand, ready for any danger.

Oscar: *deep breath* There's no such thing as monsters, there's no such thing as monsters.

A vicious hiss made Oscar jump. He turned around and swung the knife wildly. But there was no one there. Oscar turned the other way as he heard thumping sounds on the ground. He backed away slowly, gripping the knife tight. Suddenly, the hiss became louder, startling Oscar. He looked up and, from the trees, was a large web weaved atop of the branchss. At the center was a large, black spider-like creature with white, bone-like plating covering its top and red eyes that burned with hatred.

Oscar: GAAAAAAH!!!!! *falls down*

Oscar frantically ran, not even daring to look back. Instantly, however, a jet of silver webs shot out of the spider's mouth and snatched him by the legs.

Oscar: AAAAAAAGH!!!!

The sensation of the webs felt like blades piercing his skin. Oscar's heart was racing furiously. He was desperately grabbing at the ground, but it wasn't working. He was trapped. The spider started to drag him towards its nest.

Oscar: No please! I don't wanna die! Someone, anyone! Save me!!!

SLICE!!!

Suddenly, Oscar felt the webs loosen their hold on him. He quickly shook them off and stood up. In front of him was a tall, hooded stranger face-to-face against the spider. It tore off the hood to reveal a young woman. She had long, spiky black hair that resembled bird's feathers, a torn black skirt and boots, crimson armour and eyes and, on her waist, she carried two swords; a wakisashi and katana. She glared at the spider-creature and drew her katana. Immidiately, it jumped from its nest and landed with a hard thud that shook the forest grounds. It raised its two front legs and started to attack the stranger, only for to parry quickly.

SLASH!!!

In one stroke, the two front legs were sliced off of them were sliced in half. The beast screeched in pain.

Stranger: *raises hand* Aard!

A pulse of wind were pushed back several feet away. The stranger ran towards the spider without even a hint of fear. It tried to bite her with its large fangs, but she leaped into the air and landed on its back. The spider rocked violent trying to shake her off to no avail. From her waist, she got a vial of red powder and poured onto her katana, turning the blade into scarlet red. Gripping her sword with both hands, she plunged it deep into the creatures's head. The impact ignited the spider and set if ablaze, as the stranger leaped off. Oscar stared in both fear and awe. The stranger turned around and walked over to Oscar slowly. She kneeled down and picked up a small sack, handing it to him.

Stranger: You dropped this, kid.

Oscar: *panting* Um... t-thanks. I-I'm Oscar.

Looking at the stranger as she sheathed her sword, she noticed that she was wearing a silver medallion around her neck in the shape of a phoenix.

Oscar: *blinks* Y-You're a Witcher? Aren't you?

Stranger: *smirks* That's right, kid.

Oscar: I-I thought you were just a fairytale. A bedtime story parents tell to their kids.

Raven; Sorry to disappoint you, but we are very much real. As are those sorry sights behind me, the grimm. *offers hand* My name is Raven. Raven Branwen of the Phoenix School.

[shimmerbeasts]

Despite her young age, the sorceress feared very few things. Her mother, a member of a Coven, had exposed her to various magical beings during visits for specific celebrations. So encountering a fox-lady didn't elicit much surprise. "Can I help you with anything, Miss…?" The ten-year-old girl had long, raven-black hair, ice-blue eyes, and healthy rose-colored cheeks. Slightly taller than her peers, she was likely beginning an early growth spurt. In her hand, she held a black rose crafted from black spinel, which she idly fiddled with between her fingers. "Mom is not home, and I am not allowed to let anybody in. If you are here for a potion or a ritual, you can tell me." Disclosing her mother's absence wasn't an issue, as Serena had created a barrier preventing anyone from entering without an invitation. Even demons required permission or trick them into get an invitation. From the doorway, Ahri glimpsed two more children, both boys. Younger than the girl by the door, one not by much, and the other a mere toddler. Seemed like she was standing on the door as a way to prevent the stranger to seeing much of the inside of the house - possible to not let strangers getting in contact with her brothers. @blackrosesmatron cont. from here.

Different locations required different hunting strategies. Even though Ahri's preferred target largely remained the same, every child was different and the fox Vastaya knew better than to assume she could repeat her strategies indefinitely. Thus Ahri had gotten used to observing the children, she interacted with, taking in as much information as possible, and adjusting her behaviour accordingly.

Even before the oldest of the girls - Ahri guessed she could not be much older than ten - started to speak, the Vastaya could sense the magical barrier, surrounding the house. The vixen had recognised that attempting to break through the barrier by force would be a waste of time and an unwise move as it would merely lay bare her malicious nature. No, if she wanted to get into the house, she had to do so by being invited in through the children.

As Ahri laid eyes on the little boys behind the girl - brothers no doubt -, the fox Vastaya realised she had potentially found her target. The younger ones would make a welcome little snack. Something sweet and easy. The type of light, easy meal, you used after you had already feasted properly and now wanted to get the strong flavour of beef out of your mouth. As for whom of the children would be the heavier, but more filling meal - that undeniably was the girl. The way, she seemed laced with maturity and youth, would no doubt create a fascinating juxtaposition.

"Irah", Ahri introduced herself and gave a benign smile for she had caught the girl staring at the hint of her tail underneath her traveller's cloak. The fox Vastaya gave a polite nod, hand placed upon her heart. "And it seems nothing can escape your watchful eyes, young one." Ahri dandily lifted up the hem of her cloak and allowed her voluminous, snow-white tail to idly sway from side to side. "You are correct. I am partly animal."

Dropping the cloak again, Ahri snickered idly. Her expression then turned sad. "I suppose you could say I have come here in need of aid", Ahri claimed, "You see, I am being plagued by a terrible aching tooth at the back of my mouth. It doesn't let me sleep or eat. Rumours said that your mother's a wise and competent woman. I was hoping she could make me something, which may soothe that painful ache."

Ahri clasped her hands together and gave a soft, sad sigh as she looked at the floor. "But it seems your mother is not even home right now, which is such a shame", Ahri said, "Though you look like a competent, little fellow. Your mother must trust you a lot if she puts you in charge. You look like a big girl. Do you think you could help me?" As Ahri looked at the girl again, for a few seconds her azure eyes flashed a dark glowing magenta.

[magistralucis]

Moonquake [Snippet]

(Jesus Christ has it been over a year since I last posted any snippet of anything I’m working on??? 😩 Since I’m slowly getting back into my writing, have one from a pet project I began last year. I watched a lot of Tarkovsky last summer and it broke my brain, and what better cure for that than magical realism?

It’s not finished, I work on it tiny bits at a time. It’s a Tillchard. It reflects many real-life events and dynamics, but at the same time, it is so out-of-chronology I’m not sure this matters at all. Also Till might be a bird and Richard a moon wizard. It’s complicated. Have a peek.)

--------------------------------------------------------

"There's a barn burning tonight, down where old man Stefan lives." Till says one cloudy afternoon, and Richard looks up, his hair brushing shadows about his neck. Beneath it an earring glitters. Two mugs of coffee steam quietly on the counter. "You know the field opposite the cemetery gates, the house up that path. They asked if we'd come."

"A barn burning." Richard repeats. Till's gaze is as faraway as his voice. After a moment he stands up, then ties up his hair as he joins Till by the back door. "How's that, then?"

Till shrugs. "It's old. Mouldering. Besides, he's got a bigger one now." Their eyes fall upon the little shed further up the yard: Till's new workshop, humble but lovingly made, their most recent project together. Richard put up the walls, Till put on the roof, and the former had seemed more alive for their labours than he had in a long time. "He must've figured it wasn't worth paying to get it dismantled. And you know you want to keep an eye on anything that burns - maybe have a cookout, too, while everyone's around."

"I do." Then Richard is silent for a long time, thinking. He considers for so long he outlasts the heat of his coffee - as well as Nele's brief visit, bounding into the kitchen and demanding hugs, her hair ribbons coming all loose. It takes some teamwork (and pinky-promises for snacks) for the two men to retie them, after which she runs off again, and by then Richard has made up his mind. "Did you tell him we were coming?"

He hasn't gone out much recently. Till's gaze sparks a little, a revival of hope. "I wanted to leave it to your judgement."

Richard sniffs the air. Sweeter than the usual, and much heavier; it will rain in the night, but no later, when most of the barn will have smouldered down. In the deep snow it's hard to get a fire going at all, whereas in the bone-dry seasons, even a sole stray flame could be a disaster - yes, today's the right time, it'll be a good time. "Then let's all go together. Should we bring anything special, or are meat and drinks fine?"

"Funny you mention that." The spark has becoming a roaring fire, and Till smiles brightly, leaning in to take the other's hand. "Coming from the old man himself, our price of admission is one of your famous cakes... or a six-pack. Whichever's quickest, he said."

"A bag of quark is pretty quick; give me one, two hours."

And so they all go together - including Nele, since the days are still long and light and there will be other children there. Half the village has turned up. People are happy to see them, and especially delighted to see Richard; they all knew he had come back, but not exactly how or why, and the majority haven't even seen him in a long time. Richard takes it well. Till stays close to him all evening, and is glad for the shy happiness in his eyes, fragments of the old Sven he thought he'd lost for good.

Over dessert they finally light up the barn. It goes up in flames politely as only loved worn things do, since it was a damned good barn while it lasted. In the backdrop the village continues to feast: sweetmeats are laid out at table, old man Stefan herds his chickens away, and Nele sits happily over Richard's Käsekuchen and a large glass of milk. A griddle sizzles here, a cheer breaks out there. Above the smoke the night sky glowers vividly, casting a warm glow against friendly faces.

Many of them will not have cause to meet again that year. Gatherings such as these are uncommon these days, and with the recent reunification, they only threaten to grow rarer. With a quiet sigh Richard leans against the fence, contemplating the upturned order of things, when the promised rain comes at last. It falls in a slow mist initially - no different to the smoke above the barn - but then the thick drops come, and it's the tail end of the burning anyway, which wraps the festivities up somewhat. Some make their exit altogether, shouting goodbyes over waved bottles as they leave the gate, and some withdraw indoors with all the drinks and the cooking-things. Soon there is no one left but a select few, smokers mostly, and Till looking for Richard looking for a purpose.

"Scholle? Scholle, shall we go?"

Richard stands before the fence separating barn from field. Gazes. Past the lens of rain the flames lick in strange directions. Twenty-eight steps lie between himself and the fire, twenty-eight days since his revelation, a full moon since his life was inverted in the Schweriner See.

"... Scholle?"

He concentrates, and for the second time ever, he receives a response.

[paintedgrilledcheese]

The DOA/RITHOTD PRESCHOOL AU

Friends?

(Part two of "Please let this be a normal rainy day.")

It's been a day since the whole bird fiasco incident. New backpack rules had to be put into place because of it. Poor Nikolai has been upset since then. Not only has he gotten in trouble for bringing a bird to school, but now his once best friend Fyodor is no longer friends with him.

Coming into the preschool was rough for Nikolai. He didn't want to go today. He didn't want to see Fyodor still mad at him. But Nikolai had to go to school. There was no use in arguing with his mom.

Dragging himself into the classroom and throwing his backpack into his cubby, Nikolai spotted Fyodor across the room. Fyodor was reading to himself again since it's another rainy day. Nikolai started to feel awkward. Part of him wants to come up to Fyodor and apologize but the other part of him fears that Fyodor will snap at him.

Upon looking around the classroom, trying to figure out how to spend his free time, Nikolai couldn't spot Ivan, causing him to worry a little. Nikolai finds Sigma playing over by the kitchen play set, so he goes to him.

"Sigma? Where's Mr. G?" Nikolai asked, sounding a little bummed out.

"I dunno. He said he had to go pick up something." Sigma answered, unaware that Nikolai was feeling down. Just then, Mushitaro came walking over with a mischievous smile.

"Hehe, if we have no teacher you know what that means?" Mushitaro then snapped his fingers. "It means we have UNLIMITED free time." He shouted with excitement and mischief.

Nikolai's eyes brightened, and his mood went up a little. Sigma had the same sparkly eyes upon this news. The other children overheard and came over to where the three were standing. They all seemed excited. Who wouldn't? No teacher? No adults? That's basically freedom to children.

No adults equal no rules. No rules equals they can do whatever they want. And with this newfound knowledge that their teacher isn't in the classroom, they go wild with it. Sigma and Fyodor start taking the chairs from the activity table to build a blanket fort. It's time for Fyodor's favorite pretend game, "Kingdom." Basically a game that the kids pretend that they are kings ruling a kingdom or more.

There are two kingdoms, "The Rats" (Fyodor's kingdom) and "The Mosquitos" (Bram's kingdom). Fyodor's fort is made of chairs, multiple blankets, a tipped over table as a defense wall, and bean bags as his throne. Fyodor's kingdom population consist of Nathaniel (his bishop), Sigma (Fyodor timid soldier), and Mushitaro (his right hand man, even though that was Nikolai's role before).

On Bram's side, their castle is built of couch cushions, the naptime mats as their wall of defense, and lots and lots of pillows for their "grand dining table." Nikolai's was Bram's right-hand man, and Pushkin was a messenger for Bram. With both kingdoms set up, the kids began to play in this imaginative world.

Inside Bram's castle sat Bram on his couch cushion throne, Nikolai next to him while Pushkin came in with a few small bags of Goldfish as a snack.

"Your majesty, I got the finest type of Goldfish for you from the snack cave." Pushkin presented the three bags of Goldfish to Bram. Bram was pleased, nodding his head with his plastic crown on his head.

"Good job. Now we shall feast upon our glorious meal." Bram said. He got up and brought out three cherry flavored Kool-aid jammers. The three have a toast to the fact they have unlimited free time and no adult to stop them. But as they enjoyed their snacks, Sigma was laying right outside the entrance to their castle.

He was spying on them with a pair of binoculars. Documenting everything onto a Christmas themed notepad, all in purple crayon. He took lots of notes. Though his "notes" were more of scribbles and gibberish. After spying for two minutes, Sigma ran across the classroom, where The Rat's kingdom was located.

"King Fyodor! My king. The enemy king took all the snacks." Sigma informed loudly, crawling into the fort. Fyodor, sitting on his beanbag throne, narrowed his eyes and threw his empty grape flavored Kool-aid to the ground in a fit.

"What do you mean they took all the snacks?! Isn't there more in the snack cave?" Fyodor shouted, snapping already. Sigma flinched, Nathaniel hid his face behind his "Holy Bible for kids", and Mushitaro ducked his head under a bean bag. They all knew about the unfortunate news before Fyodor. Sigma had to deliver the unfortunate news.

"W-well....y-y-you see my king.... we're out of snacks. The goldfish bags was all we had left. There's no more in the snack cave." Sigma informed. Mushitaro came out under his bean bag and nodded.

"The Mosquitos took the last bags of Goldfish. Even though they rightfully belong to us." Mushitaro added, sounding just upset as Fyodor.

Fyodor huffed and stomped his little foot. "That's not fair! They don't deserve the snacks. Nikolai is a stupid face for hogging all the snacks." Most of Fyodor's anger was directed towards Nikolai since yesterday's incident still left the two upset. A broken friendship all because of a ruined drawing. Fyodor then snapped his fingers. "Mushitaro, I want you to help create a battle plan. We're going to war." Fyodor commanded.

Mushitaro nodded and grabbed some paper and crayons, scribble out the classroom, and their kingdoms. They start to build strategies on where and when to attack. Meanwhile, over at Bram's castle, the three were playing Jenga. It was peaceful over there.

"Bram, do you think Fyodor hates me?" Nikolai asked out of the blue, sighing a little to himself. Despite their little kingdom game and no adults, Nikolai can't help but still feel a little down.

Bram stacked a Jenga block on top of the tower. "I don't know. He's probably mad, but I don't think he hates you. You're his best friend. Why do you think he hates you?"

Nikolai sighs. "Well for one, Fyodor is loud, and I can hear him call me a stupid face across the classroom. And two, he's not wearing his friendship bracelet today. He told me he was going to wear it every day. I think he hates me now because of the bird yesterday." Nikolai sniffled. His feelings were hurt, and not wearing the friendship bracelet did mean a lot to Nikolai. To Nikolai, this was a serious situation.

Nikolai was about to start crying while Bram and Pushkin comforted him. "Well, we can be your new friends. I want a friendship bracelet as well." Bram said with a smile, trying his best to cheer up Nikolai.

Nikolai sniffled and wiped his eye. "Really? You guys want to be my friends?" He asked. Both of them nod. Nikolai smiled a little. New friends? That seemed to cheer him up a little.

"To prove it, I'll go fetch the Rainbow Loom kit, and we can make the bracelets now." Pushkin volunteered , crawling out of the cushion castle. Nikolai felt excited to make friendship bracelets with his new friends. Everything seemed to be looking up for Nikolai, until a loud screeching sound of a cheap recorder on a high f was heard across the room. It was torturing to hear.

Nikolai and Bram covered their ears from inside of the castle as they heard the sound of Pushkin screaming from being attacked by a sea Nerf darts aimed at him. A second after the loud recorder, Fyodor yells out from across the room. "Attack!"

Nikolai poked his head out from the castle entrance to see what all the fuss was about. He was met with a horrid sight of Fyodor's kingdom charging at them with foam swords and shields. They're being ambushed! Fyodor just declared war, and they're not prepared! Whatever shall they do?!

Part 3 coming soon

[upper-moon-4askblog]

This is a question related to that one Anon’s question about what type of human you all prefer to eat —

Since most of you like eating young females or just young people in general,

would that also go for children? (Like humans who are 0-13 years old or around that age)

Since I feel like they would only be a snack at most…

-1am (#1 Urogi fan!:3)

Urogi laughs a little bit at your question. — "You're right about that. Yes, we do indeed prefer to feast on younger humans, but even I as a demon would find that to be a bit too cruel… Those children are far to innocent and pure, there's no need for a demon to take that away for them… I think the youngest person I'd go for would be an adolescent or young adult, those are good enough for me, although they're a bit tough and chewy."

Sekido's face twists with anger when you mention the word ' children'. — "The answer is…yes. And why are you asking this stupid question!? I AM DISGUSTED BY THE THOUGHT OF YOU THINKING I WOULD EAT THE FLESH OF CHILDREN! ARE YOU MAD?!" He screams at the top his lungs. — "Of course you are! Your question was so ludicrous that it drove me to insanity! It is beyond me that you think there is even a slight possibility that we would eat someone who can't even defend themselves!"

Zohakuten's eyes blaze with an intense fury at the suggestion. — "How DARE you ask such a question. Children are off-limits! Their lives are precious; they're merely children unable to defend themselves…" Zohakuten's expression distorts into an agitated glower. — "The thought of eating someone as innocent as a child, is unspeakable…" He holds his fists tightly at his sides, shaking with rage.

Aizetsu looks at you with a worried expression as you ask this question. — "We.. have 'some' limits when it comes to eating people.." He replies with a calm and quiet tone. — "Sure, we eat a lot of humans to satisfy our hunger, but we never eat children aged 10 or below because that would be going too far." He pauses for a moment before continuing. — "We aren't that sadistic to eat innocent children.."

Karaku's ears flatten against his head and he glares at you with disdain. — "Children?! You're asking if we demons actually eat CHILDREN?!” He says, clearly offended by the question. — "As the manifestation of pleasure, I can say that I do not like eating children. They're way too small to be considered a full meal and I prefer eating someone who is at least a young adult for… multiple reasons…" He says, while licking his fangs.

tap.

tap.

When he feels something tugging on his pants, he looks down at Ishimaki, who is crying. — "Huh?~ Is everything alright, little one?" He says with a worried tone, kneeling down to be on the same level as Ishimaki. Ishimaki looks up at him.. It looks like the child demon is trying so hard to hold her tears back. It seems it failed to.. She sniffles.. then looks up with a worried look on her face. "You're not gonna eat me, right Karaku?.."

He smiles and ruffles her hair with a kind expression. — "Awww, what a silly little question, Ishimaki!~ I would never dream of eating such a cute little demon like you." He says as he continues to caress her hair. — "Don't worry, I won't put you in danger, that's my promise!" He says while staring her deeply in the eyes, trying to be comforting to her.

[miraruinada]

"Make way and gather round my beloved husband, wives, husband's boyfriend, dearest children, half-son and- holy shit there's so many of you. Feast your eyes on your presents chosen with love and care by your one and only Santa Claus, all tokens of my appreciation for you. Please, enjoy."

A flourish produces a bevy of gifts from her heavy sack, each of varying sizes and shapes.

For the flower princess? An elegant princess cannot be without a warm coat for the winter. One of fine furs should do just the trick to keep her beautiful and warm.

For Jehtin? A new camera for which she may indulge in her love of photography and see the world in a different view.

Iovan? A small box containing a lovely jeweled choker. Suggestive? Perhaps.

Anayeli? A harder one to choose for, but, one can never go wrong with a set of sweets procured from genuine chocolate originating in Central America. Sweets for a sweetie.

Hugo, sweet Hugo. Books feed the mind, and his hunger would be fed. A few classics of the Gothic novels: Frankenstein, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and The Curious Case of Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde to name a few.

While he is not hers, Leo still gets a gift. A small plush doll resembling Nero herself dressed in festive gear. Now he'd always have a little big of his mother around no matter what to help serve his muse.

For Alizanya and Vivian, special care had been taken. For her eldest, a new slick combat outfit. One fit properly for missions alongside her parents or on her own that could handle her growing power. A sign of her Mother's approval. And for sweet Vivian? A great lion plush, larger than the girl herself, with the same piercing yellow eyes as her mother with a black ribbon tied about its neck.

And finally, for her dearest husband, something for his writing. A brand new leather bound journal fit for carrying about wherever one needed, as well as a new set of pens and ink for with which he can right. The pens are even personalized, engravings carved with fy nghariad along their side.

Go on. enjoy each gift to the fullest, beloveds.

"Fufu... As royalty from a hot, humid climate, I never once considered that I might need a coat to wear in colder weather. Why thank you, my love." She's already wearing it while reading her usual smut erotica.

"It has a focus function that makes it easier to produce a bokeh effect..." Jehtin, meanwhile, is switching between lenses and trying them all out while taking pictures of everyone else receiving their gifts.

"How does it look?"

"Does it look good?" Iovan, meanwhile...is doing Iovan things.

"The bittersweetness of the chocolate combines well with the spiciness of these nuts that Ignacio got for me! It's a great snack while drinking beer!" A drunken foodie Anayeli can be.

"And the entirety of the works of Poe... Impressive. I must say, as a fellow goth, you truly know your stuff. Simply sublime." He's hugging all those books close to his chest, the perfect novels to think about the bleakness and futility of existence. He's going to go to a graveyard and start reading them right away.

"Ah... Even as a simulacrum, your magnificence still comes through, does it not, mother?" Meanwhile, Leo is giving a soliloquy to the plush Nero, already writing another ode at the same time.

"See you guys later. I'm gonna go strikeout Timothee Chalamet as I promised." And Alis is already walking out the door in full new combat gear, looking like she's about to defeat evil, but only to go antagonize a twink.

"Hmm..." As Vivi sleeps atop the lion plushie, already tired from the festivities. It's lights out.

"...I love you." All that he said as he tested the weight of the pens, the feeling of the paper, the grade of leather, all coming up as things far above what he could have afforded in his youth, so accustomed to newsprint. He tries out the ink, and finds the charcoal base to be exquisite on the page.

"Ah! As everyone else is distracted, let me give you the gifts they have all gotten for you in their place." From Jehtin, Hugo, and Iovan, a photograph of everyone framed in a gold picture frame to hang on the wall, and a smaller print of that exact same photograph in a brass locket to keep with. From Anacaona, a slim black dress for formal affairs...a bit risque, the princess a not-so-hidden pervert. From Anayeli, a bead necklace made in her Zepacnec traditions with a spell to ward off danger. From Alizanya and Vivienne, yet another pair of swords, except this time the hilt was designed by Leo's keen artistic eye. And finally, from Ignacio... A statuette, a small replica of the very same statue Nero that he had carved.

"I always did prefer replicas, you know?"