#Gold Clay Face Mask

[werelosingdaylight]

Intimate Mornings

Chishiya Shuntaro x GN!Reader

REQUESTED? [Yes] • No

REQUEST: Hi could I request domestic moment with chishiya, like hdcs or anything idc, im a slut for this man and I need domestic moment with him ☹️👍 (the brainrot is very real)

WORD COUNT: 771

SUMMARY| Mornings with Chishiya had always been your favorite, especially after a rough game.

Adm Note: I’m back after a year, I might be a little rusty. I did not specify what the reader looked like or any pronouns! Everyone is included. <3

Sunlight broke through the blue skies with beams of light, peaking through the window to give false loving caresses to the skin of your lovers face, like it was trying to make you envious of the ethereal glow that encapsulates him. Chishiya slept peacefully beside you, his arm slung loosely over your waist, his face didn't hold its usual coldness; a mask he carefully crafted together from hardened clay to protect himself.

Without much thought to your actions you pulled your hand from where it laid motionless under the blanket, taking the physically clean hand and running it through his messy locks of hair. You often wondered if every touch you gave him darkened his soul, the soul that shimmered such a vibrant gold it could blind you.

Where as your soul laid withered up, being cloaked by the shadows lingering in your mind, tormenting you with memories of the things you have done to survive in the borderlands. Crimson stains washed away down the shower drain like it was nothing but dirt spread across your skin.

His hair was soft, like how you imagined clouds to feel as a child. It was familiar and warm to your touch, like an old soul greeting you upon your death, lighting you up with a sense of complete wholeness.

Slowly your hand moved from its place where you were daring to dance your fingers through each piece and wondering if you would turn to gold from touching the hair upon his head.

Trailing down his cheek you relish in the warmth rolling off his skin in waves, a frown pulling at the corner of your lips as you notice a cut along the crown of his forehead, not deep enough to need stitches but it would need to be cleaned.

Running your thumb softly along the cut, a sigh crawled it’s way out of your throat with ragged claws tearing into your windpipe, mindlessly beating against your voice box. “Chishiya…” You whispered, getting no response you tried again to awaken your slumbering boyfriend.

“Chishiya.” Your voice was louder, causing him to stir, his eyes fluttering open at the feeling of being looked at so tenderly. A small sleep filled smile was shot your way, making your heart thud wildly against your rib cage.

Pressing a kiss to the corner of his lips you wordlessly got up, ignoring a whining protest from Chishiya that tugged at your heart strings; he always had been clingy when he was tired.

Entering the bathroom you grabbed a wash cloth, letting the cold water seep through the fabric and pool onto your fingertips before the droplets slid down your hands back into the sink.

Opening the cabinets you grabbed a bandage, rubbing alcohol, and the ointment. Hearing a soft shuffle, that alerted you to the fact your boyfriend was on the move, you moved to the doorway.

“Nuh-uh, lay back down. You’re injured and have five days on your visa.” You made your way over to his side of the bed, sitting down hesitantly beside him. You took care of the bigger injuries last night, including the huge gash along his side from a flying piece of metal.

As gently as you could, you pushed Chishiyas shoulders back, having him leaning against the headboard of the bed. Shifting carefully as to not bother his stitches.

Chishiya rolled his eyes at you being so careful, a yelp of surprise escaping you as two hands pulled you into his lap in a straddling position. “Chishiya! I could have hurt you.” You weren’t normally one to complain about sitting on your boyfriends lap, especially if it’s in the privacy of your own room, but you didn’t want to irritate or reopen his wound.

Chishiya let out what sounded like an annoyed clicking with his tongue “You didn’t hurt me, if anything being this close with you makes me feel better.” Your insides melted at his words, despite him not being the best with emotions they always managed to make you a puddle in his hand.

A soft smile crossed your lips, unable to hold back the warmth that spread throughout your chest, how could you when he looked at you like you crafted every star in his name? Like you shaped every galaxy and creature just to cure his loneliness?

You softly brushed his hair away from the cut, dabbing the wet cloth to clean the dried up blood that escaped and now painted dried ponds on his skin. You know soon enough you will both have to get up, but for now you will soak up the small moments.

[stardust-swan]

Moroccan Girliness 🇲🇦

Kaftans and takchitas with gold embroidery and rhinestones, weekly Hammam trips, 100% pure argan oil on your hair and skin, burning bakhour, scented musk in your closet, aker fassi on your lips and cheeks, pastel and jewel toned djellabas to go to the qissaria, getting your henna done just because, intricate silver and filigreed gold jewellery, sweet almond oil on your body after every shower, rose attars, mint tea and mhencha with the girls, fresh bakery pastries, baghrir with honey and fruit with breakfast, carrying silver stelas full of soap, rosewater, ghassoul clay and fragrant oils to the bathroom, perfumes with rose, amber, oud, gardenia, sandalwood and jasmine, delicate embroidered babouches, the scent of roses, jasmine and orange blossoms in the air, intricate zellij tiles in your home, snacking on medjool dates, fresh figs and sugared almonds, handwoven Berber rugs, delicate tea glasses and vibrant tagine pots, misting your face with rosewater, jasmine balls around the house, honeyed desserts (like chebakia, mhencha, briwats), ghassoul clay masks, spiced coffee, musk Al Tahara, tabrima, hanging ornaments from your sabnia, finding treasures at the souks and qissarias, making lavish ftor meals, traditional dances, and multiple dress changes at your wedding ✨

[alizalayne]

Hello! this will be a quick process post so that you can see how I needlefelted a fursuit head!

I began by following the "bucket head" tutorial by Matrices, then added a layer of polyfill so that I wouldn't use as much of my merino wool. This is how I typically make a doll head, my "core wool" is often polyfill because it really likes to clump together and fuse.

Overall, this project took about two months of my spare time. This is the first fursuit head I have made, but not my first needlefelt project.

I would really like to encourage other people to try making masks this way! You can do any kind of subtle color with wool and the wool fiber is very cheap. If you wanted to make a fursuit head with the entirety of starry night flowing over it, or a head with tons and tons of complex colors, I think wool might be the best material. I also did not need to know how to pattern or sew in order to make this-- it was sculpture rather than sewing, which I am bad at.

The rest under the cut!

Another angle where you can see that I am building up the structure of the head.

I then made the ears, which are translucent because they're felted, just like real ears!

I wasn't happy yet with the proportions at this point, so I spent a lot of time figuring that out and deciding where and how I'd be placing the eyes.

I made a pair of sculpey follow-me eyes by using a little soy sauce dish as a concave circular mold and tried a foam clay nose and teeth. The sculpey eyes could be more successful, they took a lot of shaving and adjusting to get right and they eventually cracked from the strain I'd put them through while making them more shallow. For a while, I intended to make wefts of white wool to use on the sides of the head, but I ended up preferring a domestic shorthair head shape because it reads the most clearly as a cat vs any other animal.

I originally intended to have the eyes behind clear plastic domes and used "shaker domes" that people use to make greeting cards to cover the eye, but in the end they made the eyes too dull. I made foam clay housing for the eyes and painted it pink with acrylic paint. I used stick-on car window tint to create the pupils. My visibility inside the head is really good!

Finally, after fiddling, one of the eyes was deeper than the other and I had to re-set both to account for it. I added spot glitter on top of the acrylic paint on the eye using some gold watercolor paint I had, which was silly because I'll need to wash the head at some point. I will probably seal the eyes before washing and hope for the best. I intend to spot clean the head until it absolutely needs to be washed, at which point I'll remove some pieces or find a way to protect them while soaking the head in a cool dr. bronner's bath.

I glued down a layer of felt fiber on top of the foam clay "tear ducts" and then felted new fiber over the tear duct skin and cheeks to blend them into the face. I also removed the teeth and closed her mouth because I didn't have time to adjust the teeth as much as I wanted before the con that my friends and I attended. I would like to modify this head so that she can open and close her mouth.

Lastly, I added wire whiskers with little glass beads looped onto the ends and paper eyelashes that I also watercolored and sealed, like the insides of the eyes. Like I said before, it's gonna be a problematic wash, but I'm confident I'll figure it out, and I can always repair her or replace her lashes if something goes wrong.

Last thing, to keep the inside of the head nice and cool and prevent fogging since in the end I closed the mouth and had sealed eyes, I made a snorkel out of a snorkel mouthpiece fitted into two collapsible auto funnels.

I would say that realistically this entire project cost me less than $150. I had some materials lying around, like the wire and the beads and the sculpey.

I added two ear vents on either side of the head so that I had options on where to feed the snorkel out. If you look at the other pictures on the blog of me wearing the head, you mostly can't even see the snorkel mouth. However, it was a little problematic to let go of the snorkel to talk. it would be perfect for a silent suiter, but I'm lucky that so many people wanted to talk to me. I'd like to try and replace the snorkel mouth with something I can talk in, but I'm not sure what to use. It should be something that can create a seal to keep my breath out of the head. it's possible that I will be able to make something with a painter's mask.

I hid the "seam" between the head and my body with two yards of tulle tied into a big bow and sewn down onto the neck so that it wouldn't move around.

I hope that if you try making something similar you'll show it to me!

[harlowsbby]

Late Nights In

Requested, being laid up with Jack and the two of you just spending some much needed time alone together.

“Shit that shit hurts babe.” Jack groaned.

“It wouldn’t hurt if you just learned how to keep straight! Whenever you move I end up plucking your skin instead.” You told him and leaned his head back.

Jack was soon regretting his decision on staying in tonight instead of going on with the boys. Since Jack had just gotten back from tour all he wanted to do was spend time with you.

But he didn’t know spending time with you would lead to you plucking his eyebrow and placing a bunch of pimple patches to pimples that he didn’t even know he had.

“You were the one that was curious to know what it felt like so I’m showing you.” You told him as you concentrated on his eyebrows.

“Alright I love you but that’s enough.” He whined and pushed your hands away from his face gently. You stiffed a laugh but nonetheless sat up.

Jack’s hand were on either side of your waist as you sat on top of him. “So what do you wanna do now?”

“What do you usually do on your little self care nights when I’m not here?” He asked.

“Well I order in some food, I put a few pimple patches on my face, drink lots of lemon water.” He grimaced at the mention of lemon water.

“Okay so we won’t do the lemon water.” You laughed. “Ooo let’s do face mask and after I’ll apply the little pimple patches to you face, then we can make some food?”

“Sounds good babe.” He smiled and the two of you made your way into the bathroom.

Jack stood there as you got all of your products out, his eyebrows scrunched together when you went to place a pink headband on his head that pushed back his curls.

He didn’t mind it but it was the big pink bow on top of it that threw him off. “What is this for?” He asked.

“You use it to push your hair back whenever you do your skincare so stuff doesn’t get into your hair.” You told him. “Which mask do you wanna use?”

You held up two mask one was a aloe mask used to make your skin shine and glow and the other was a clay mask that was used to clean pores that were deep in the skin.

“Hmm let’s do the clay on last time you had me looking like a shiny diamond with the other mask.” You huffed but nonetheless placed the mask on his face.

The two of you sat there for about fifteen minutes to let the mask do it’s work. You sat on the counter while Jack stood between your legs.

“Let’s play a little game while these dry?” He suggested. “Okay what’s the game.” He grinned.

“It’s called what’s my biggest ick, we both tell one another what our biggest ick’s about each other are.”

You squinted your eyes at Jack slightly. “And what makes you think this is a good idea?”

He shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t think it’s a good idea but come on I know I don’t have any bad ick’s.” You laughed.

“Okay so my biggest ick about you is the fact that you take hours to get ready.” Jack said with a smirk on his face.

“And? I’m a woman I’m gonna take hours to get ready.” You told him. “You can’t get mad they said this is good therapy for couples.” Jack said quickly.

“Okay Jack since this is good therapy.” You stated with a bitter tone.

“My biggest ick about you is the fact that you treasure those damn Pokémon cards more than me.” He gasped and covered his mouth with his hands.

“No you didn’t.” He said in disbelief.

“Did I lie? I mean come on I love Pokémon too but you literally dust off every single page everyday, you won’t even go to bed until you’ve counted each card and cleaned each card.”

You weren’t lying Jack treated his Pokémon collection like it was gold.

One night the two of you were in the bed just kissing and loving on each other when he suddenly remembered he had to go clean them.

“You know what I don’t think I wanna play this game anymore.” He mumbled making you laugh.

“Oh don’t act like that now when you just stated you can’t get mad now.” You mimicked his voice.

“But come on it’s time to take these off.” You told him and removed his mask along with your face, after you took them off you washed your face and Jack washed his.

You placed a few flower themed pimple patches on the red spots on his face and the two of you made your way downstairs.

“What are we making?” You looked through the fridge trying to find something that looked good but nothing seemed to pop out to you.

“You wanna order in some wings and fries?” Jack nodded his head and took out his wallet. “Sounds good baby.”

While the two of you waited for the food to arrive you both laid on the couch together trying to find something to watch before the food got there.

“What do you feel like watching? Something scary or something cute.”

You asked Jack as you scrolled through all the different types of movies on Netflix but Jack wasn’t paying attention though, he was focused on you.

Jack appreciated nights like this he loved how you didn’t care to spend a night in with him and that you weren’t all about the going out and being seen type vibe.

He was lucky he had someone who was understanding of his lifestyle, someone who understood him and loved him for him.

He knew nobody was perfect but you on the other hand you were perfect in his eyes at least.

“Jack?!” The sound of your voice brought him out of his little trance. There you sat with a worried look on your face. “Yeah babe?”

“I’ve been calling you name for the past five minutes are you okay?” You asked him. He smiled and nodded.

“I’m okay I’m just admiring my girl.” He grinned when you looked away but he knew you had a small smile on your face.

“Why you hiding? Lemme see that face.” He leaned up a bit on his spot from the couch and grabbed your chin and turned your face to meet his.

“You know I don’t like when you hide from me.” He said. “I know.” You mumbled.

“So why are you hiding?” You shrugged your shoulders. “You just make me nervous but in a good way.” You told him and Jack chuckled.

“I love you.” He whispered softly. “I love you too Jack but hurry up and kiss me.”

He chuckled but nonetheless pulled you into his and pressed his lips against your lips.

You felt his grip on you tighten as he moved his lips passionately against yours.

The show the two of you put on was long forgotten about now, the only thing that mattered was being wrapped up in Jack’s arms and giving him endless kisses.

[bleue-flora]

Was gonna do everyone, but I'm feeling lazy so here's what I got so far for the playdate au character details:

Name - Make Believe Name(s) - Age - Favorite Color - Physical Appearance - Other

Phil - Philza, Dadza - 16 - dark green - greenish blue eyes, gingerish blond hair - when he decides to go outside and play with the kids he tends to wear a silly looking striped hat (mostly though he tends to stay inside and text his girlfriend, Kristen)

Wilbur - WilburSoot (or also Ghostbur, Revivebur) - 13 - Blue - pretty fit and tan (because he’s on the school’s swim team), tall and lanky, brown hair and eyes - almost always wears his colonial style hat and when it’s cold enough his favorite yellow sweater

Sam - Awesamdude, Sam, Sam-nook, The Warden - 12 - green - naturally light brown hair he dyed green, brown eyes - has glasses, wears yellow tee-shirt and green cargo pants that he fills the pockets of with all kinds of handy tools and things, including rocks that he loves to collect, has a fake ruby necklace he loves to wear as well as his crown

Clay - Dream - 11 - lime green - green eyes, dirty blond hair - as he’s autistic he wears comfy clothes only like gym shorts and soft tee-shirts for example and hoodies when it’s cold enough (he will not be caught dead in jeans), used a paper plate with a smile on it to jump scare Tommy once and now it’s his Dream aesthetic

Luke - Punz - 11 - blue - bright blond hair and blue eyes - has a gold necklace he never takes off, his ears are pierced with some gold studs,, his favorite outfit is his ripped black jean shorts and white tee-shirt

Alex - Quackity - 10 - Red - dark brown eyes and black hair, kinda more short stubby - him and his family are mexican, tends to wear classic dark blue and black and doesn’t mind getting dressed up for the occasion, always wears a beanie though, carries a pack of candy cigarettes he pretends to light with a lighter he found, tends to carry a deck of cards and his dad’s old pocket knife, knows a little more than a kid should, has a little scar over his lip from falling face first that Techno turned into a whole lore point

Alexander - Technoblade - 9 - red - blue eyes and dirty blond hair though he tried to dye it an edge red to be cool and it turned out pink instead - he loves to wear his red cape and crown all the time, someone once called him a pig because of his pink hair and after that he added pig ears and nose to his Technoblade look, he also often is seen riding his stick horse steed named Carl, he has glasses that George often steals

Mark - Ranboo - 8 - purple - brown hair, green eyes and super tall and lanky - entire wardrobe is black with lots or variations of black and white, often see with sunglasses and face mask on to be mysterious and of course his crown

Nick - Sapnap - 7 - Orange - brown eyes and unkempt hair that’s just long enough to be annoying that he keeps out of his eyes with his white ninja headband - favorite outfit is black athletic shorts or pants with a flame themed shirt, when it’s cold he’ll wear the same shirts just with a long sleeve black shirt underneath, often carriers around a katana and pretends to be a stealthy ninja

Karl - Karl Jacobs - 7 - purple - light brown hair and blue eyes - when it’s cold he loves to wear his iconic hoodie, he wears lots of fun colors and patterns like the stereotypical stylish gay guy, he has a old stopwatch he likes to carry around

Thomas - Tommy, Tommyinnit - 6 - red - blond hair, blue eyes, tall (for his age) and lanky - likes to wear khaki and that two toned classic tee-shirt, often see with red bandana around his next like some western outlaw and appropriate red devil horns

Toby - Tubbo - 6 - green - bright blond hair and blue eyes - Niki gave him bumble bee barrettes he wears to keep his bangs out of his eyes, he’s very attached to his stuffed pig, can be found wearing cuffed jean shorts or sometimes overalls

George - Gogi - 5 - light blue -  brown eyes and messy hair - always carries around his mushroom patterned blanky, likes wearing his favorite iconic blue shirt and jeans

Current families developed in age order:

Dream, Techno, Sapnap, George

Phil, Wilbur (and surely Fundy needs to be the youngest)

Purpled, Quackity, Slimecicle

Punz, Vikk and Lazar (4 year old twins)

(Ya know based off appearances alone maybe Tubbo and Tommy should be twins?…)

 Others TBD...

[cads-the-cat]

I finished the mask (I think??? I won't make any major changes anymore but might change tiny details but for now I'm done) @copper-sands

Did it almost cost my sanity? Yes

But I was already insane before that so it's fine

For the base I bought a plain white one at an art supply store and then cut it onto shape so it somewhat fits my face shape while also resembling ivy's mask. I coated it in paper mache, especially the mouth area so it's flat (not so great for singing purposes but since I can't sing that's not a major problem). Sketched the white runes on it and painted the base layer of the mask in black and then did the white stripes and red logo.

I used modelling clay for the big golden parts and painted the smaller ones on the top of the mask because I couldn't be bothered and the clay shapes I originally made for it looked shit. Used wire for the swirls and for the uneven surface I just kind of made scratches into the clay. Covered it in paint (it's not the exact same shade of gold which bothers me a bit and on paper the paint is a bit sparkly but so far it doesn't look sparkly on the clay - if it does end up glittering I guess I'll be some kind of Edward Cullen Version of ivy)

Anyway, I need a break for my sanity and my back and organise some black body paint so I can actually cosplay iv with the jacket that is a halfway replica of his. And maybe I need to wait until it cools down because I won't be wearing several layers of heavy black fabric in 35°C

[bubble-popping]

day 37 :] feeling very sick rn lol so more old stuff. continuation from yesterday

The mercenary found himself at the door engraved with the number on the key. Before inserting the metal, they tried to see if they could hear anything inside the room but there was complete silence. This felt different, different from any other time they were going into an exchange. Usually, they had insight beforehand. They knew something. Not this time, and that... well, it intimidated them a little. This could very easily be a trap, a way to corner them and get rid of some competition or enact revenge. However, they never met this stranger prior to the tavern so they doubted that, but the possibility was never zero.

Despite their concerns, Punz unlocked the door and opened it. The sight they found surprised them. For a second, they thought this was somehow the wrong room until they saw the green cloak and clay mask resting on a chair out of the corner of their eye. A man sat on the large window sill, the lantern on the bedside table illuminating dirty blond hair and juniper irises. Irises that surrounded slit pupils. Under those, accompanying the myriad of freckles, were white reptilian scales leading along his jaw to the back of his neck and shoulders.

"You came. Good. Lock the door behind you, won't you?" He pushed off the sill and walked over. Punz did as asked since there was an easy escape via the window and the man didn't look armed under his sleeveless black turtleneck and loose trousers.

"Yeah, I'm here. So, what's the job?" The man stopped a few feet from Punz and crossed his arms over his chest. His gaze didn't waver as they made silent eye contact for a good few moments.

"Punz, right?" The one mentioned immediately narrowed their eyes at the usage of their real name. "Better known as White Lightning for your speed and precision. An estimated 143 body count including women and children. Wanted for thousands of gold, alienated by the greater mercenary community due to envy. Often found in this village when not actively working a job. Is everything correct so far?"

Now Punz was a lot more skeptical. They clenched their hands into fists at their sides. "Who the hell are you?"

The man stretched his hand out. "I'm Dream." Punz glared at the gesture. They had half a mind to slap it away at the sheer audacity. But then they remembered the man's wording, how he was "willing to pay whatever it takes," and shook his hand.

"How do you know all of that?" They questioned once their hands separated.

"Because I have a very particular job for you, and it would help to have background knowledge so I know I can trust you." His expression remained stoic, and he didn't move aside from his mouth. He didn't even blink. No matter what, they couldn't analyze him.

"Knowing a vague description of my history doesn't mean you know me," Punz hissed through their teeth.

"I don't need to. I just need to know you can do what I need and do it well."

"What's the job?" They asked again, noticeably more impatient.

"I need someone who will defend me."

Punz rose a brow. "You want a bodyguard? And you thought a mercenary was the smartest option for that?"

"Not just any mercenary, but a mercenary with a reputation for never refusing a job with the right price."

"Do you have that right price?"

Dream shrugged and walked around the other blond. "Perhaps I do, that's for you to decide," he said as he passed and looked back at Punz over his shoulder. Then, he sat at the edge of the bed facing Punz with his legs a little more spread than they should've been.

Their brows furrowed at first until realization hit them. This wasn't the first time they'd been offered sex in return for a job, but... it was the first time they were actually considering it.

Dream was attractive. In fact, Punz felt a little irked by how he fit their type to the smallest details. A sun-kissed skin tone, bright eyes, fluffy hair, and all those freckles. Built like a fighter, but with a slim waist and runner's legs. Best of all, a hybrid, like them. Although, where Dream had the eyes and scales of a reptile, Punz had the ears and tail of a wolf.

"What'll it be? Do we have a deal or not?" He spoke again, further spreading his legs, further enticing them.

Finally, after another few seconds of contemplating, Punz nodded. "Yeah. We have a deal."

[sosuigeneris]

Seoul was so amazing. I wish I could’ve stayed longer/ explored more but I was on a work trip so I could only do or see so much.

things I bought (including for family): those face cleaning devices, lots of masks, collagen under eye masks, clothes, nose hair removal devices, handmade traditional Korean items like tiny boxes and fans and home decor, masks, a beautiful tie with real gold embossed on it, tiny traditional clay vases, horse oil everything, snail oil everything, wrinkle and dark circle everything, more masks, lip glosses…. And I can’t remember what else. im so excited to see my mom’s face when I show her the amount of goodies I’ve gotten for her!!! Can’t wait to reach the house.

[tunastime]

Tha asskkkkkkssss

Since we are all dying about it could I get some Songbirds and Snakes :3 *pushes our ocs together*

"it's just how I remember..." / watching the rain fall (1134 words) (x)

Rain patters against the clay and wood roofs. Sheltered in the small patio alcove of their second story room, Archleah watches, the cool, wet air blowing across their face. The city, if one could call it such, was quiet aside from the rain and small chatter below, clear aside from the wafts of smoke that occasionally broke through the grey, late-afternoon air. In the breeze, the plants at their feet in their clay pots and the trees and the kept vines on balconies blow gently and soak in the much needed rain of early spring.

Archleah sighs a calming breath. In that same breath, they feel a tingling up from the base of their spine to the nape of their neck, hair standing on end. They shiver, swallow, turn with a confused expression.

The Serpent raises his eyebrows, smiling with their eyes as they squint. He blinks at them like a contented cat, tilting their head just so. As they wander quietly to the banister beside them, Arch turns their eyes back to the horizon. Warmth shudders up the space where electricity skipped across their back and shoulder blades. Magic—locate person, maybe.

Without the mask of the Serpent, the broken skew of their jaw is much more pronounced, casting an interesting silhouette as Archleah looks him over. If they forgot themselves, they could almost call it knightly—saintly, that helm. Thunder rumbles, low and basey, in the distance.

"Fancy seeing you," Archleah hums, leaning against the wooden banister of the curving porch. The rain has just started to make muddy footprints in the back garden of this hostel, where nobody can quite recognize their face. Dressed in loose, soft clothing, the normal, stately form of the Scarlet Magpie has been reduced to that of a mere traveler, with a well-used breastplate and well-burnished axe. What was it that a friend had said one time? Right. They were just Archleah. "I would have dressed appropriately if I knew you were coming."

"I'm not allowed to visit you unannounced?" they hum, tilting their head. His eyes, that deep, two-lidded gold, stay stuck on the horizon above the tile roofs, potted plants, black gravel streets. Archleah watches his jaw work as he seems to drag his tongue over the front of his teeth, tasting air.

"I like to make a good impression," Archleah says, leaning into their palm. "As your charge it's my duty."

They smile, letting their features soften as they watch the side of the Serpent's face. His eyes slide over as he seems to feel the gaze on him, and as quickly as their eyes meet, they narrow into slits.

"Cheeky," he grumbles, frowning. "I don't know why you like to watch so much. Or what. What are you seeing with those bird eyes?" The Serpent leans suddenly scrunching his nose as they meet face to face, snake-like eyes flicking over their expression. They grin, resisting the urge only just to knock their foreheads together. 

"Trying to figure out what you're doing here in this town in the feywild," they shrug, not backing down from the eyes of their steward on them. Seemingly satisfied with their answer, he draws back, casting their gaze back to Archleah as a whole, shrugging slightly.

"Touche."

Archleah snorts, the easy smile of before still lingering on their face. It feels easier than not to carry it most days, throw it around at every funny quip or interesting thought. What a funny thing the Serpent could be. And they didn't even know it half the time. 

“Just having some quiet time,” Arch says.

They let their eyes wander back to the rooftops as the Serpent falls silent. The rain makes puddles in the creases of the roofs, catching in carved wooden gutters and funneling down into rain gardens below, thin layers of gravel and sand and pea-stones, well rooted plants and shrubs drinking in the extra rain. The air smells and tastes like stone soaking in lakewater, like grass stretching for its own drink of rain. They take a long breath in, smelling petrichor. The Serpent makes a small sound in the quiet, leaning their folded arms against the banister. 

"The rain is just how I remember," they say softly. Arch raises their eyebrows. 

"Yeah?" They ask. When the Serpent hums in the back of their throat in response, Archleah smiles, leaning against their palm, chin in hand. "Tell me about it."

"Do you want to hear?" The Serpent says, tilting their head. 

"Yeah, of course," Archleah says. They straighten, taking in another long, deep breath of wet air. They can feel it in the back of their throat as they watch the roofs with their hands on their hips. It was the greatest comfort the forest could offer—even the sticky heat welcomed them like an embrace, reminding them of home. "Why don't I put on the kettle?" 

They turn back to the door. In the same movement, they catch the eye of the Serpent, slitted, yellow eyes following them as they move, as they pull their hair back from their face. They blink, owlish, studying the Serpent's expression. Even with a crooked jaw and a furrow to their brow, he looks at them with a softening, pleased look so right for his face. At least, as pleased as someone like the Serpent, like themselves, could offer. It always had a touch of his rueful nature, no matter the occasion. It’s one of the things Archleah liked the most about him. It was predictable.

“What?” they ask, trying to hold back a grin. “What’re you staring at me for?” 

The Serpent shakes their head. “Nothing,” they say. “Just… thank you.”

Archleah shrugs, just the smallest movement of their shoulders up and down, almost imperceptible if someone isn't watching close enough. The Serpent scrunches his nose, turning back to the cool rain, shoulders sinking as he watches. Archleah studies them for a moment, the way they relax, sink against the banister as they let their weight burden the railing. Arch tucks the stray hair behind their ears, opening the door into their small, warm room.

“You’re welcome,” they say, an affection coloring their tone. “I’ll bring you out a cup, hm? Then you can tell me.”

The Serpent nods. Curled over their elbows and against the dark wood of the landing, they look smaller than Archleah has ever felt him be. It’s a slightness that comes from knowing the person behind the facade of a god.

“Do you mind bringing me a coat?” The Serpent asks. Archleah hums.

“Of course, my serpent,” they say. They don’t see the Serpent smile and crush their cheek into the curve of their own shoulder, but Archleah sure feels the warmth curl in their chest like two hands cupping their heart. Thank goodness someone’s holding it carefully.

[magnecalliope]

Talc is a kiln god, a guardian to watch over a potter's kiln while it's being fired, and keep the pottery inside safe. Originally a little clay idol, she was given life by the mortal kiln owner's belief in her power, and manifested into a form able to interact with the world around her. Unfortunately she found the strength for this feat too late, and she was never able to meet her mortal creator face to face. They disappeared mysteriously one day, leaving their studio, and their kiln god, abandoned.

Talc spent the next few decades entirely alone, tending her kiln and watching the studio around her deteriorate, unable to leave the range of her idol, her true heart and soul. When a powerful entity arrived there one day intent on using her kiln for its own purposes, she was only too eager to trade away her services to it in return for a foci allowing her the freedom to move about the world beyond her studio's walls.

Talc is a brash and irreverent sort, who takes bold risks physically and socially. Because of her nature, she is functionally immortal so long as no harm comes to her clay idol form, which remains sitting safely atop the kiln in her studio. Her isolation has resulted in her having very few boundaries, often making invasive jokes and biting comments towards others. Or put another way, she's kind of an asshole.

Rather than a face she has a rotating cast of masks she wears to convey expression and emotion, generally defaulting to the unsettling ogre mask, but occasionally switching to others as the mood strikes. She wears several others along her belt, always a comedy/tragedy combo, and the venetian mask representing her ties to the entity she made her deal with. The gold marking her body represent areas where her idol was damaged and later repaired.

[apocalypticavolition]

Let's (re)Read The Great Hunt! Chapter 20: Saidin

Welcome back to my reread folks! It's almost Christmas so let's tell a story about the big man himself (pictured above). He might just have a present for you! I also have one: the usual warning that this reread has spoilers for the whole of the series. Don't keep reading if you don't like that.

Once again we have a painfully obvious chapter icon. This chapter is called saidin. It's got the Dragon's Fang. I literally don't know what to say.

Rand kept them moving through the night, allowing only a brief stop at dawn, to rest the horses. And to allow Loial rest. With the Horn of Valere in its gold-and-silver chest occupying his saddle, the Ogier walked or trotted ahead of his big horse, never complaining, never slowing them.

Poor Loial. We have been drawing a lot of attention to his horse-free shenanigans at this point. I wonder if he's wondering why he even brought the damn horse.

Rand was sure she was no older than he, but at that moment she suddenly seemed as old and as cold as the mountains, and more regal than Queen Morgase at her haughtiest.

She is in fact older than most extant mountains.

“All I want is to see it in the light of day. I won’t even touch it. You hold it. It would be something for me to remember, you holding the Horn of Valere in your hands.”

I'm honestly not fully sure what she's up to here. Is it part of a plan, a way to try and establish her control over Rand, or is she just so power-hungry that she can't control herself?

He had never seen an Aes Sedai act the way she did, and she looked young, not ageless.

Considering that Jordan doesn't seem to have decided that the ageless look is the result of the Oath Rod yet (we'll cover that more next book I think), I can only assume that his intent was either becoming a Darkfriend interfered with that look or that the Mask of Mirrors weave's main purpose in bygone days would have been to hide channeling ability at all.

It was a kind of smile that always put his back up—but at least it was a smile.

Really there's a great deal of emotionally abusive tactics in Lanfear's arsenal, though frankly Jordan doesn't seem to fully recognize them as such considering how so many women act in the same ways. There's a lot that we could break down there but I think l'll leave it be.

“A village inn,” Selene sniffed. “Dirty, no doubt, and full of unwashed men swilling ale. Why can’t we sleep under the stars again? I find I enjoy sleeping under the stars.”

It's a common topic in the fandom about the hilarity of the Forsaken finding themselves in the current conditions, but I don't think it gets highlighted enough that Lanfear finds the modern era so repugnant given the choice between it and outright camping, she prefers camping.

Selene met his sally with silence and an unreadable look. After a moment, they started on again.

Lanfear suffers from the same affliction of many smart people in that she's very clever but not the least bit persuasive, nor good at figuring out how others will respond to her persuasion. She's probably so used to just using Compulsion and brute force to get what she wants at this point that it's hard to tell if she was always like this or if she was a better people person in the AoL.

Out of the clay at the bottom of the pit slanted a gigantic stone hand holding a crystal sphere, and it was this that shone with the last sunlight.

Ozymandias eat your heart out. Getting completely buried until now probably helped the male Choedan Kal a great deal; considering that the female one has spent the last three and a half thousand years partially exposed. We know that Portal Stones can be worn down too, so honestly I wonder if that exposure is what made the female statue much less reliable than the male.

Selene rode close and took hold of his arm. “Please, Rand, you must come away.” He looked at her hand, puzzled, then followed her arm up to her face. She seemed genuinely worried, perhaps even afraid.

Honestly this situation has got to be completely terrifying. The Choedan Kal could absolutely obliterate Rand if he tried to use it directly and Lanfear wouldn't even have enough warning that he was doing it so she'd get fried too. And of course, she can't just tell him because there's too many lies between both of them already.

“Till shade is gone,” he mumbled, “till water is gone . . .” Power filled him. He was one with the sphere. “. . . into the Shadow with teeth bared . . .” The power was his. The Power was his. “. . . to spit in Sightblinder’s eye . . .” Power to Break the World. “. . . on the last day!”

If you don't agree that this is one of the most badass sayings in this series, please unfollow me immediately.

“Did I . . . do something?” He frowned, trying to remember.

Something happened Rand, but honestly even I'm not quite sure what. Genetic memories gave you the willpower necessary to survive? Lanfear did some kind of trick to separate you from the sa'angreal? A safety mechanism within managed to still function after all this time and rejected your connection without a key? The Wheel realized there was literally no logical way to prevent your demise and so just kinda skimmed over what should have happened next?

I seriously have no idea what happened. Makes it hard to talk about this chapter to be honest because even the Wiki only gives me a "he breaks free" explanation and while obviously Rand does get better I'm not sure that "breaks free" is the correct description. I even checked Leigh Butler's reread since that's pretty on-point. Nada.

What the fuck happened here?

The people eyed the newcomers curiously, with no sign of hostility. A few stared a moment longer at Loial, an Ogier walking alongside a horse as big as a Dhurran stallion, but never more than a moment longer.

I doubt very much that there'd be much traffic through here (the Hunters for the Horn mentioned next chapter are clearly exceptional), since there's not really any civilization for miles past this point, but maybe the stories of Ogier hold on a little stronger in these parts since they're such a big part of Cairhien?

“The Nine Rings” had been one of his favorite adventure stories when he was a boy; he supposed it still was.

Now what could that be a reference to?

“I can’t, Selene. The Horn. . . .” He looked around. A man looked out his window across the way, then twitched the curtains closed; evening darkened the street, and there was no one else in sight now except Loial and Hurin. “The Horn is not mine. I told you that.”

Another temptation rejected, I suppose. Poor boy's gotta be doing a lot of that lately, and he's really only going to get worse at it for awhile.

Next time: Light-hearted inn shenanigans.

[lonelydusknoir]

Glittering Gold

AO3 Requested by: Nobody! I just decided to do this

This is a Brassius x Reader fic!! Mildly self indulgent even though I don’t really simp for this guy

CW - Near death experience but everything’s fine, no angst here!! Hope you guys love ghost types as much as I do

Paintings of various sizes were placed against the wall, stacked (somewhat) neatly, or hanging proudly for guests to see. Each artwork was given careful examination by Brassius. No detail went left unadmired. Even your amateur work was given praise. But paintings weren’t the only things you worked on. You had a couple of sketches lying about, along with a few clay crafts and Pokémon-shaped sculptures. 

As Brassius praised you for your work, you mumbled your thanks and yawned. It was too early for you to be up. You wanted to sleep in until it became the afternoon. Or maybe until the sun was ready to set in the horizon. Either way, you didn’t want to be awake. But besides that, the thought of food had your mind occupied. You were barely listening to what Brassius had to say about your art, but you don’t think he has noticed yet. 

He strolled around the room once more, getting one final look of everything before joining you for breakfast, but something caught his eye. His gaze turned to a golden coffin which seemed to shimmer from the morning light. When Brassius got closer, he was quick to realize how tall it was. It seemed to be around his height. A life-sized coffin! You’ve talked about your creations before, but he doesn’t remember you bringing up anything about a coffin. It was truly impressive.

“Avant-garde!” Brassius exclaimed, fingertips gliding over the surface of the coffin. “My beloved, how long did it take you to create this piece? It appears as though you used real gold!”

You hummed, having no idea which one of your artworks he was talking about. “Let’s see.. Uh… several months or somethin’. Maybe more than that, I don’t know. It’s hard to keep track, art can be pretty time consuming. But… you know that already.”

He grinned at your words and muttered “Fascinating!”

The mask that sat atop of the coffin gave him an odd feeling. An emotion akin to intense mourning and despair. The energy practically radiated off it, surrounding his entire being in the sad sensation. And he absolutely loved it. Brassius wondered just how you were able to put such feelings in a simple design. He had to ask you about it. Reaching up, the pads of his fingertips brushed against the mask’s cheek before he was met with a startling face. 

Red, glowing eyes revealed themselves, then a sharp-toothed grin. The coffin rattled before multiple shadowy hands emerged from the sides. The coffin lifted itself up to tower over Brassius. The man blinked, frozen from shock. 

“...Truly fascinating indeed.” Were the only words he could say. 

The coffin let out a low groan, which transformed into a cackle. Its teeth began to part, only to slam shut. Either it was a form of intimidation, or it was letting Brassius know that he was going to become its meal. The air around him suddenly felt cold as beads of sweat formed on his skin. He didn’t have any of his Pokemon to protect him, and his vine whip would probably do little damage. Even if it could deter it, he’ll only risk angering it or damaging its precious golden body. Brassius exhaled quietly before calling out your name.

“My beloved! It seems as though.. One of your masterpieces came to life!”

You blinked, brain slowly processing the words your boyfriend said. Did one of your ghost types decide to pull a prank on him? You couldn’t think of which one would try doing that. Your Dusknoir was far too stoic to be playful and your Gengar wasn’t too active during mornings. The only ghost type of yours who would decide to pull a prank this early would be Banette, but last time you checked, it was snuggled comfortably under the blankets. You scratched your cheek as you pondered a little more. Once the realization hits, anxiety instantly forms into a knot as you run into the other room. 

“Cofagrigus! Hands to yourself!” You shouted. The coffin’s eyes met yours, then retracted its arms. It let out a happy cry before settling itself against the wall once more. A sigh left your lips as your shoulders slumped. “Oh, Arceus mio… Do you have any idea how close you were to becoming a mummy?” 

Brassius took another look at your Pokemon. “Hm, seems like I have mistaken your Cofagrigus as one of your beautiful artworks. But even with a single glance at its design, you could tell that it’s truly marvelous!”

Your Cofagrigus let out a purr-like grumble, its shadowy limbs reappearing to wave its hands in the air. A smile appeared on Brassius’ face at the ghost’s joyous reaction. He took a few steps forward and placed a hand near its face. Right where its cheek would be without touching its shadowy face.

You really didn’t have much to say. “Uh. Yeah, sure,” you said before pointing to the mask on the coffin’s forehead. “By the way, don’t touch that. Basically, that little mask has a connection to its past life or whatever so, Cofagrigus gets really fussy if you touch it. And.. a bit aggressive if you’re a stranger. Sorry for not introducing the two of you.”

“Is that so?” Brassius turned his head to look back at you before focusing on your Pokemon. “I see. I feel a bit embarrassed for making that mistake.. But I am not familiar with the majority of Pokemon outside of Paldea, so do accept my apologies.”

You feel as though he meant the last part to your Cofagrigus, but you smile anyways. Despite the near-death experience he had with your beloved coffin Pokémon, they seem to be getting along just fine. You start to wonder if you’ll see Brassius work on a painting of it.. Perhaps almost getting turned into a mummy can give someone a bit of inspiration.

[danicadenniss]

DreamWorks Trolls

Branch: Troll Of Wildglade

Chapter 2: A Father's Bravery

This is Trolls Brotherhood AU, Warning: this chapter may have some gore, strong and sad scene near the end that make you cry.

That's stormy night, Alder have to warn Thorn and the other trolls about the attack in the village during the meeting and Talons Bounty Troll Hunters will strike on the forest. Ivy is stay in their pod with her mother, to protect her sons. Ivy held Branch, she asked Rosiepuff to take care of their sons.

Alder: Is there something wrong, Thorn?

Thorn: Alder, I sense danger.

Alder: Now that you've mentioned it, do I,

Female Light Purple Troll: They are going to kill us by destroying our pods. We kept hidden from those monsters!

Male Ivory Troll: Monsters?

Alder: We must to prepare for battle against the treacherous bounty hunters with spears, bows, arrows and daggers. This is our fights and we have to survive before the bounty hunters will kill us all with guns and knives. I'll prepare the elders. We should be ready for anything.

Meanwhile, outside of the forest, the troll hunters were going to strike the village. They usually have to trapped the trolls by to destroy the village. The bounty troll hunters are putting on their black masks that covered their faces. They putting on black paints their faces. Hernan walked in the tent, they are ready to hunt down the trolls. They spied on the trolls, and then glanced at Thorn who to prepare for battle from his hill.

Bounty Troll Hunters #1: There they are, we have the power, the forever Talons!

Hernan Reyes: We got them, we reached the top, but they won't getting away so easy. We will hunt them tonight. I have the power to do this thing.

Bounty Troll Hunters #2: Shall we get them?

Teenage Dante Reye: Father, you and I make a description, we see that creatures with guns and swords.

Young William Afton: My lord, who grabs the creatures?

Hernan Reyes: Maybe, William. They'll be the last to suffer. We'll teach them to keep us getting back our home!

Teenage Arthur Slugworth walked over, but he got gold bullets and wearing his black suit, with dark brown straps on his upper back. The Trolls Bounty Troll Hunters are ready to hunt down the trolls by to destroy the village during the night. Out target is their hearts. Our family passed by our ancestors. And we'll start with something small.

Hernan Reyes: Good!

Young William Afton: I hope you got butterflie nets, my lord.

Meanwhile, Clay swam around peacefully, that is until Spruce bursts out of the water and spit out water onto John Dory's face.

Young Spruce: (laughing, Clay spit out water onto his face.) Hey! Clay?

Young John Dory: Clay! Stop spit out water onto our face.

Young Clay: HAHAHAHAHAHA! Umm, sorry John? Sorry Spruce?

Young Floyd: I thought that you three were...

Young John Dory, Spruce and Clay: Floyd?

Young Floyd: Yes, I know. Mommy and Daddy tell us, to take care of our baby brother, Branch and come on.

Young Clay: Let's go!

The three of them swam ahead until they came across a big rock. Floyd ran to the pod, Ivy walked around and looked at the danger out in the woods. She grabbed Branch gently and he cooed it.

Ivy: (gasped) John, Spruce, Clay, Floyd! Oh no, this can't be happening to the woods. It's too dangerous, boys!

Young Floyd: I'm right here, Mommy, I'm scared! (Branch cooed and scared)

They climb up to the rock, they jumped into the water with a big splash.

Young John Dory, Spruce and Clay: CANNONBALL!

A huge splash was heard and drenched the young trolls. They shook themselves from the water as they bursts out of the water, laughing at their state.

Young John Dory: Got ya! Bros!

Young Spruce: John! You little sneak!

Young John Dory: (laughing) You should have seen your faces when I splashed you!

Young Clay: You mean like this (Viva arrived then splashed John Dory, Spruce and Clay wetting their hairs.)

Young Spruce: Hey, no fair, Clay!

Young John Dory: Yeah! You keep splitting us with water out your mouth.

Young Clay: It's not my fault, it's a pink troll, who meet me in the pond.

Young John Dory and Spruce: Who's?

Young Viva: (bursts out of the water) I am! What's the taste of your own medicine? (Smiled as she swam to him and then poked his nose.) Tag, you're it! Viva then swam away from the three, laughing on the way.

Young Clay: Viva, this isn't funny! I'm surprised glad to see you again. But all they laughing as they follow her to get out of the water and ran ahead. The bounty troll hunters walked in the forest as they searched for the trolls by hunting them down. The sky was becoming darker as gray clouds began forming around the moon.

Bounty Troll Hunters #4: We must to have our weapons. This is the paw prints for our target, boss.

Hernan Reyes walked into the forest, he stomp on the rocks and he slipped into the water. He got out of water, he see the four trollings.

Hernan Reyes: (laughing wickedly) We almost got them, but I got slipped by a rock. I almost fall!

Bounty Troll Hunters #7: It's nice to see that you slip into the water and it's not funny, my lord, I hope you are going to be alright.

Hernan Reyes: We're going to hunt down those little monsters and keep terrorized us all day long. Come on, follow me. (crackling maniacally)

John Dory, Spruce and Clay running and laughing echoing around. They didn't see the pink trolling anywhere as that goes by.

Young Viva: BOO! (appeared out of nowhere, scaring the brothers.)

Young John Dory, Spruce and Clay: AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!

Young Clay: Aw, you scared us!

Young Spruce: What are we going to do next?

Young Viva: I can't believe you guys almost fell for that!

Young John Dory: Who's are you, what the hell are you?

Young Viva: My name is Viva, I'm a princess from other tribe called Aqua Heart, ruled by my mommy and daddy, I have a baby sister her name is Poppy.

Young John Dory: Oh f*ck, you know her!

Young Spruce: Don't be such scaredy trolls! There's nothing scary here. What are you afraid of?

Young Clay: Viva, there are my brothers, Jonathan Dory, Spruce, where's Floyd?

Young Spruce: He is scared to go with us, he stayed with mama, papa and granny. I have a baby brother named Branch, he was six months ago and he was carried by mama. We should head back.

Young Clay: John Dory, Spruce, this is Viva, she's a princess from another clan.

Young Viva: It's nice to meet you guys.

Hernan Reyes: (echoing) Oh, you should be. Especially when we're hunting the creatures down.

The children suddenly turned and gasped in fear when they saw Hernan Reyes and the Bounty Troll Hunters coming down under the tree walking towards them.

Hernan Reyes: Well, well, well. What have we got here? A group of little trollings away from their mommies and daddies. Isn't right, boys? (The dogs barking at the trollings, crackling and the bounty troll hunters use the butterflies butterflies nets, axes, guns are ready to load and the knives are out.) Where's is my ax?

Young Viva: My mommy and daddy said I shouldn't talk to strangers. (They huddled together)

Bounty Troll Hunters #4: My lord, we're not strangers, we're hunters.

Hernan Reyes: My, however silly of me. My power, so I have a power to hunt down creatures, and I am.

Teenage Dante Reyes: Father, we have strong bags with vulnerable to hunt down creatures.

Young Clay: (whispered) They're lying. They are not our friends.

Young Viva: (whispered) On my signal, run back to the clan then mommy and daddy.

Hernan Reyes: Okay, boys, where are we going to chopped down the tree? One of the bounty troll hunter walk with it knife, John Dory, Spruce, Clay and Viva used their hairs and swept dust and sand right down into the bounty troll hunters' faces blinding them.

Young Spruce: RUN! (At Viva's signal, the trollings sprinted into a run.

Hernan Reyes: After them! The bounty troll hunters chased after them.

John Dory, Spruce and Clay: Help! Mom, Dad, HELP! The children ran as they hid inside a thorn barrier, hoping to have given the hunters silp.

Abacus Chunch walked into the forest and beg him to stop hunting and destroying the tree.

Young Abacus Chunch: STOP! HERNAN! I want you and your hunters to stop hunting!

Hernan Reyes: Out of my way, pastor and I'm a hunter, but I want you to stay out of here or else!

Bounty Troll Hunters #1: You, bet ya, boss!

Young Abacus Chunch: Please stop all the madness!

Hernan Reyes: I will never be able to stop hunting for the creatures. I got my sweet golden bullets with me. (Kiss his gun and loaded)

By the lake, Ivy saw the clouds. By the looks of it, there might be rain on the way. She went to find John Dory, Spruce and Clay, Floyd held Branch gently as he crying but she didn't see them on the banks or in the water.

Ivy: John, Spruce, Clay! (called out, but no answer came.) Boys!

They then ran back to Thorn.

Young Floyd: Daddy? I'm so scared of the clouds gets very dark. John, Spruce and Clay are out there and we're worried about them.

Thorn: Floyd, Ivy, what's wrong?

Young Floyd: Mommy? Branch is crying, it's going to be okay.

Ivy: It's the boys, I can't find him anywhere.

Young Floyd: Me either,I...

Alder: The hunters must be down here. They couldn't have gotten far. (looked down at the hunters use their knives are out.)

Bounty Troll Hunters #3: (echoing) Oh, good lord, we'll find our axes to chopped down the tree one and for all!

Alder: (gasped) No, this can't be! Suddenly, they heard bird cries from the forest and even heard John, Spruce and Clay's echoes, though barely.) Thorn (came to him, panting heavily.) There's trouble! One of the scouts discovered bounty troll hunters and bring their dogs under the trees.

Thorn: What! How many? (Branch crying)

Ivy: (whispered) Shhh, don't cry Branch.

Alder: About five or six. But we need to evaluate to safety.

Thorn: Rosiepuff, you and Alder, warn our clan to leave and head for home and take care of Floyd. I'll go with Ivy in search for our sons! Go! Now! The trolls ran to the clan and alerted them of the danger. Everyone, round up the children! Head for cover! Quickly!

Rosiepuff: Right! Be careful, my son in law! They got up from their and stopped their fun to run away. She held Branch, he cooed and crying, the parents quickly gathered their children, who are obviously to the sudden danger they might be in. They were snatched by their mothers and fathers as they escaped the lake. The children panted quietly as they heard the enemy heading toward them.

Hernan Reyes: Come out, come out, come out, where ever you are? (grabbed Clay and Viva in his hand to put a small bag) I got it! HAHAHAHAHAHA! (John Dory and Spruce saw their brother and his new friend were captured by him.) I got two of them.

Young Spruce: MOM! DAD! HELP! They arrived, he used his hair and whipped on him as he dropped Clay and Viva scream mumbling in the bush.

Thorn: Hand off of my sons!

Young John Dory: Mommy! Daddy! Baby Branch!

Ivy: (gasped and Branch crying as she ran to get help, Thorn groan) Thorn!

Young John Dory: Daddy!

Young Spruce: Papa! No!

The fire on the trees, a bench fell on stabbed Hernan's back as he screamed in echoing.

Teenage Dante Reyes: DAD! (Run to him, he groaning)

Thunder crackling, it felt down, it's surrounded by fire and Ivy is frightening in her eyes.

Ivy: Thorn! No! I won't leave you!

Branch crying and she see of her husband's sacrifice himself to save her and her sons. Clay and Viva got out of the bag, they run to get out of the bush, which he see his father's sacrifice himself to save his lives, she grabbed him to escape from the burning woods.

Ivy: Our sons are the heirs, the clan needs you. (Branch crying)

Thorn: Take care of our sons, to be the new leaders. Ivy, I know you're over here. (Hernan Reyes got up and screaming, he used his knife.) I love you! He running and jumped down on the ground.

Young Spruce: DAD! NO!

Infant Branch: Dada! (Crying)

Young John Dory: What the hell, is he doing?

Ivy: He is protecting us by sacrifice himself to stop the hunters.

Thorn: (growled at the dogs barking, Hernan got an emergency small blade from his pocket.) I won't let you and the others harm my family!

The sky completely dark, Floyd gasping, he see his father's sacrifice to his family. The hunters must to retreat, Dante asked him.

Teenage Dante Reyes: DAD! We got to go!

Hernan Reyes: No! I want to be a new leader of Talons. Just go!

Dante Reyes run out of the forest burning down, Thorn growled at him in his battle cry and he used his dagger.

Thorn: This is my bravery, this is my home! (Hernan stabbed on his chest and groaning,Thunder thudding and lighting flashed though the clouds the Glade Clan could see. The rain started to fall heavily and thunder clapped into the sky.) No one lays a hand on my family! I won't hesitate to give my life for my wife or my sons!

Ivy: THORN! (Branch crying)

Young John Dory: DADDY! NO!

Young Spruce: Daddy, no!

Thorn punch dog's stomach and grabbed his dagger which Dante stabbed his upper back, with knife.

Hernan Reyes: Son, what are you doing?

Teenage Dante Reyes: Dad, I won't let you die from the fire.

Hernan Reyes: Just go! (Dante escape from the forest, head back to the jeep.)

Thorn: NO! (coughing blood leaking from his mouth. The fire cause explosion toward on them,) I'm brave. I'm being bravest troll I've ever known! (Hernan Reyes screaming of his defeat) This is my home. This was my father's land. This is my land and my son will rule it when his time comes! And his children will for generations to come! We'll protect it and our family with our very lives! Never...Come...Back! (They ran to her husband who is injured) Ivy, boys! It's going to be alright.

Ivy: Where's Clay? Did he disappear?

She carried her in her arms and they walked and back to the clan in the hard rain. Alder gently held as they returned to the clan. There were many shocked gasps and worried whispers coming from the other trolls as they softly gathered around Thorn and Ivy. Floyd sobbing to his brother, Spruce and John Dory are sad, Branch crying and his tears came out from his eyes. She sat on her knees as she gently laid her down in her lap.

Thorn: (whispered) You can't leave us. (coughing weakly) Ivy? (Struggled to speak as she was getting weaker.) I need you, John, Spruce, Floyd and Branch need you, Clay need you.

Ivy: Look out for our sons. Alder teach them to be a great leader like you and everything know.

Thorn: I...I will, I love you, my love.

Ivy: I love you too with all my heart. (shared a final kiss with him, he exhaled his very last breath. His hand went limp and fell to the grass.

Young Floyd: Mommy? (sobbing)

Ivy started to cry and mourning to her husband's sacrifice himself to save her and her sons, since Clay disappearance, Branch crying lose his father.

Young Spruce: No! You can't die! We won't leave you!

Young John Dory: Daddy!

Young Spruce: NOOOOOOOOOOOO! (pulled his body closer and started sobbing. Everyone else started to let their tears fall as the rain continued to fall on them.

They build a wooden tombstone made from juniper wood with words on it which read Thorn, a great leader, beloved husband, loving father, a brave warrior and a loyal friend. May she live forever in our hearts. Alder then stood in front of everyone where he prepared his speech. He cleared his throat as he began. Alder: We gathered here, today, we honored Thorn lived her life as he died for his sacrifice himself to save us all, a brave warrior, a great leader, beloved husband and father, and a member of the family. This is a blue necklace given to his son until he will grow up to be a leader someday, he is in our hearts. At the pod she came to their sides. Rosiepuff comfort them, Ivy lost her husband and she held Branch and comfort her.

Days had gone, at the Village's hospital, a little black girl walked wearing a hospital clothes, her mother applied Abacus Chunch's right leg.

Black girl's mother: Elena? What are you doing?

Young Elena Wallace: Mommy, what's happened to the trolls' leader?

Elena's mother: The trolls are called the Wildglade, their leader for he sacrifice himself to save his mate and his trollings and he died from injury, after the fire.

Young Elena Wallace: This is horrible, the fires and thunderstorm are scary. But a female troll taking care her baby trolling along with three trollings and one is gone missing with a pink trolling.

Elena's mother: Elena, time for school, your father take you to there.

At the church, the hunters mourning to their leader's death in the fires, after they failed to hunt down the trolls. A corrupt priest walked in stood.

Woman: Father Julius, we need a talk about Reyes got killed by the fires in the woods. His son, will be taking over as the new leader of Talons Bounty Troll Hunters.

Young Father Julius: Victoria, the challengers is the matches between the teen hunters will train to hunt down creatures.

Young Victoria Kord: I will make Abacus pay for stopping hunting for the little creatures. It's leader died for It's sacrifice itself to its mate and those trollings and including a baby. (Indian man walked into the church. She smiled evilly at him.)

Indian man: My name is Ignacio Carapax, I will join you to hunt down creatures with my blade. We're the hunters and bring our grasp. When Hernan Reyes died from the fiercely death in the forest after the clouds became dark and the heavy rain dropped on the big oak tree.

Victoria Kord's sister: (gasped, held her baby daughter Jennifer Kord as she wailing,) What did you mean?

Young William Afton: My lord is dead, in the fires in the woods. We always to hunt down creatures. It's leader died for It's sacrifice itself to its mate and those trollings and including a baby. I gonna to poison all the lands around every nature.

The villagers: No!

Bounty Troll Hunters #4: We will find those monsters soon.

Young Ignacio Carapax: We all agree with y'all! (smiled evilly)

The bounty troll hunters crackling wickedly and then the villagers gasped and back in the forest. All the children laughed as they quickly swam to them. Rosiepuff and Ivy comfort them, Branch crawling towards Floyd by giving a hug.

Baby Branch: Hug! (Hug Floyd and he looked down, giggled)

Young Floyd: Branch, you can spoke about give me a hug.

Young Spruce: Not now, Branch.

Baby Branch: John, Spwuce, Floyd, huggie! (hug John and Spruce for their comfort.)

Young Spruce: (felt happy) Thanks, Branch, we're here for you anything

Young John Dory: My baby brother can talk.

Ivy and Rosiepuff saw the miracle, Branch can talk, until he gets older.

Ivy: They are happy, I raise them on my own. I'll be there to help and also Thorn may he rest his soul, will be forever watching them and us from above. He'll do great things for our clan.

Next chapter is coming up, during Trolls Brotherhood AU.

Protect the nature and all wildlife.

[littlenightheories6]

My Little Nightmares: Stories of the Little Ones - Chapter 3: The Girl in the Fox Mask.

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

Isolation. A vast multiplex theatre in pure isolation. The enclosed society contains many secrets and surprises in each corner, inside out, without contact with the true outside world. How fitting for entertainment.

Most children would avoid buildings such as the Theatre. But she is persistent…

The atmosphere was silent, except for the workers and their supervisor’s shuffling and clicking shoe steps echoing while moving and placing boxes, poles, and other studio equipment around. They were preparing for a show. The distorted commotion they made, speaking in enormous bellows and growls like a hungry, violent stomach and abnormal clicks like a crow… 

Peering through her white fox mask and viewing the stage while she could, she noticed black boxes stacked and formed as towers on one side, background walls set on the opposite, theatre spotlights sitting on the glossy wooden floor, mini stages scattered around, with trolleys of mini props such as clothing, toys, trinkets, and more. And puppets that resemble children all too much were piled in a heap in the centre as if they were worthless to all. They were just as distorted as the adults, with faces like bad drawings or squished clay. Their odd body proportions, movement, and language proved their abnormal nature. The supervisor was going ballistic at her staff, who were oddly calm about her raging behaviour. With the lanterns mounted up high turned off, she couldn’t tell their exact details, but with the red seating area illuminating with bright gold, she could capture their silhouettes. They even have strange ropes or something floating in front of their faces.

It’s strange, but what else isn’t…? 

She couldn’t do anything except crouch behind a large box out of sight. Still scanning the stage, a door left ajar caught her attention. Close by with only a few steps.

“I can’t wait here for much longer, I need to go now!” Whispering. Taking one last look, she could see that the coast was clear enough, with the staff workers a fair distance away but the supervisor a bit closer observing all. As long as she doesn’t notice her.

Now is a good chance. Remaining her posture, she walked her way to the door, stepping one bare foot after the other on the glossy floor, which didn’t create so much noise for her, giving her some ease. The young girl was already making progress, only a few more feet…

She abruptly stopped in place in shock, looking to the left and seeing the abnormal shouts of the supervisor, yelling at her staff again… Ugh, bossy knob! However, when she continued forward, she felt her heart pounding in her chest. She didn’t think her confidence would disappear so simply. She already felt sweat producing from her forehead and hands trembling slightly.

She didn’t have to fear for long as she reached the door. She raised straight, but with little effort pulling it, it creaked almost too noticeably, causing her to stop and look to the staff. Her face tensed slightly, especially since the supervisor was the closest, but wanted to continue through. Gently resting her left hand on the frame, she very slowly pulled the door wide enough just for her to squeeze through. Suddenly… She gasped and jolted back with the door creaking open farther to see the lights above surging on, illuminating everything on the stage. She felt a shockwave of anxiety passing through her body, seeing the supervisor’s appearance slowly turning to her. It wasn’t what she expected.

She wore a white buttoned shirt with brown pants and brown hair in a bun, but it wasn’t what she feared. Her face slowly met the young girl’s. However, she didn’t have a face. 

She only had long, bloated, and black tendrils that floated as if they were underwater and almost resembling human tongues. Grotesque and moist tendrils.

The young girl had enough. She turned and ran past the door frame and as the woman growled in surprise at seeing her, she turned again to pull the door closed with a strange large handle at her level, gripping on and stepping back quickly with the door, closing it shut.

She was in a lit and quiet corridor, with barely anything but more black boxes placed around. 

I, uuh… hope she won’t come in. Stepping back while looking at the door, she heard the muffled screams of the woman and multiple boot steps crescendoing as well, now with full dread coursing through her veins like being in the winter.

She had enough and turned to sprint away as the sound of shattering glass from the door was the staff workers breaking through and screaming in sight of the young girl. Their bodies ram and crack through the door like a rhino, as she sprints farther away until she has to jump and climb over a box to progress. Until the men finally broke through with debris scattered over and rapid, staggering steps chasing after the young girl. She felt they were catching up to her, feeling vast tension around her fearful body and mind, as they screamed and thundered like a storm down the corridor and crashed over the scattered boxes, as she dodged every optical in her way. She didn’t want to look back, she didn’t want to stop. But then, their tendriled faces extended far squelching, swinging, thwacking to try and reach the girl in their grotesque tongues. It went on for too long, she had to get out. They were getting closer. The end was near. Almost there…

She was able to escape by falling down a metal trapdoor that was closed by the thunder as soon as she fell, with the tendriled-face adults' muffled screaming and pounding disappearing as soon after. She grunted, landing on her back with the impact hurting slightly. She faced the dark sky and remained still, acknowledging the chaos. 

She felt her heart pulsing and her skin moist with sweat as she tried to catch her breath, resting her right gloved palm on her chest. When one looks for adventure, there are always consequences awaiting. 

And you don’t even realise it. After all; curiosity kills the cat…

She didn’t want to stay any longer and turned her sore body over to push herself straight up, brushing away any dust caught on her navy blue trench coat, white trousers, and white shirt.  

An air duct in front only led to one way, she could only crouch as she made her way with no hesitation. It was mainly dark, but a spot of light was ahead, leading to somewhere. 

She walked further in the duct, the vague audio of rustling wind and ambiance as the metal bloated beneath her bare feet. 

She has a habit of searching every nook and cranny within her path, taking risks at every moment she could and scurrying away silently. Curiosity takes control, and at this moment, she doesn't mind if it is risky or not. However, reflecting on it, she was the odd fish in the ocean. Not everyone was fond of her detective nature, claiming it was no fit for a lady, which made her feel like the outcast school children would stay clear of or tease her. 

She dreamt of becoming a PI and joining the force, but still. 

All she wanted to be was herself.

All I want to be is me. Is that all so bad?

As the light got brighter with each step, she could make out a faint dragging sound like chalk being drawn on a board. It became clearer as she made it to the other side and dropped down from the vent, grunting after landing on a wooden floor from high above…

That’s when she heard it. A gasp from someone before a clink like a pencil hitting the floor.

She found herself in a small yet large secret room with four brown shipment crates, three of which formed a tower, a large sack full of salt that had spilled onto the dry floor, and the lime green, dilapidating wallpaper with dark green hexagonal patterns that look like eyes with decorations. But that wasn’t what surprised her. On her left she looked, there was a small lantern close to the wall that dimly lit the room with its golden ember flame, there sat a young girl looking weariful and was a few steps away with her right arm up as if she was defending herself.

She wore an olive dress going below her knees, long, dark blonde hair almost covering her eyes, and a white skin tone, unlike her black skin tone, and was barefoot too.

The young girl in the fox mask jolted back slightly and stood in place as soon as she saw the girl. Seeing how she must’ve startled her, she raised her hands halfway to display her innocence. She felt nervous, but also glad, for some reason. The girl in the olive dress then relaxed her arm and seemed less fearful. She moved back close to her lantern, crawling to sit on her knees and resting her hands on them. They didn’t break eye contact and the girl in the fox mask gently lowered her arms down not knowing what to do next. The girl glanced at her and then at the girl in the fox mask…

“You can come close. You’re ok!” She spoke with a hand gesture.

She was a little surprised at first and hesitated, but she managed to walk to her as the wooden floor creaked slightly beneath her feet. She was slightly worried but still confident. It had been so long since she had ever interacted with any other children. Once close to the girl, she bent down to sit crisscross next to her clutching her shins. They both looked at each other but then stared at the lantern.

“You don’t talk so much, do you?” She asked glancing at her again.

“Um… It’s been so long. But actually, it’s just that you seem to trust me already!” 

She responded in a British accent while glancing at her back.

“Oh… It’s because I have this, um, six-sense feeling where I can tell if someone is dangerous or not. Like, a will-he-hurt-me-or-not sort of feeling. I don’t know how I do it or how to say it, I just feel it somehow.” She responded with pushing confidence.

The girl in the fox mask was mesmerized by her little talent and stared at her with a smile.

“I really like that!” She said with enthusiasm. 

“You have like a superpower that no one else has.!”

The girl in the olive dress looked surprised by her comment as if no one had ever told her that. She smiled warmly at her and even though she couldn’t see it, she could feel the girl’s smile as well.

“My name is Olivie. What’s yours?” She said while slowly reaching her right hand out for a handshake.

“I’m Nulla. That’s what everyone calls me!” She said while firmly clutching Olivie’s hand with her right gloved hand.

“Nulla. I like your name!”

They both then let go and retracted their hands back, feeling comfortable with each other like old friends anew, along with the lantern providing them with a little warmth.

Nulla then spotted something on the wall they were close to and shifted her gaze to it. 

It was a chalk drawing on the stone wall without wallpaper.

“Hey, did you make that?” She questioned while pointing with her gloved hand.

Olivie looked to her right to the drawing. “Oh. Yes, I did.”

She planted her hands on the floor to drag herself closer to the wall.

“This was my last meeting with a monster adult that I remember.”

Olivie’s drawing contained a little girl on the left with long hair that must be her and a girl in the middle with shorter hair that she never mentioned. Could it be a friend? Sister? Or companion? And a large adult with squiggly lines coming from their face, seemingly chasing the two girls. Nulla looked closely at the drawing and her eyes widened… 

“Hey, I think I’ve seen that before!”

“My drawing?”

“No, the man, or woman, with the squiggly lines.” She said while pointing to the chalk drawing. Olivie looked at the adult with squiggly lines she drew, brushing away a part of her hair covering her face, and understood.

“Oh! I call those the Tanglers.” She said, looking back at her.

“Tanglers?”

“Yes. I call them Tanglers because they can tangle any job they’re given with no problem! Like, shoelaces tying themselves onto anything they can use. I think that’s how I can say it!” Olivie’s description was slightly eccentric to Nulla, but she understood regardless, giving a nod. 

She looked at the girl with shorter hair, but before she could ask about her…

 A loud metallic bang echoed from behind which startled the two causing them to gasp and jolt their attention to see a vent flap cover creaking open with a girl emerging and standing straight with the flap cover banging shut… “Olivie, I’m back!”

Nulla couldn’t tell who it was due to the shadowy area from a short far, but it seemed that Olivie knew her.

“Feta!” Olivie joyfully said as she pushed herself up and sprinted on the creaking floor to embrace the girl in a hug. The two girls remained that way as Nulla bent and pushed herself on her feet. As soon as she stood up, the girls then let go of each other. Nulla could hear them speaking to each other from the distance, and as much as she didn’t want to intrude, she couldn’t help but pick up on their conversation.

“I’m sorry, Olivie. But I couldn’t find anything, and I didn’t want to leave you alone for so long.”

“Oh. That’s ok, Feta. And I wasn’t so much alone for long!”

The two girls then approach Nulla and the lantern stepping into view in the ray of light holding hands and seeing a girl in a dark green tank top and beige shorts. They stopped as soon as they were face-to-face with each other and Olivie introduced her to the girl.

“Nulla, this is my older twin sister, Feta! Feta, this is Nulla! She’s a new friend of mine, don’t worry, she’s friendly!”

Feta had a tan skin tone, short, red-ginger hair, and was also barefoot. Nulla questions them being twins based on their appearances but doesn’t want to make urging assumptions, not knowing their family heritage. Nulla waved confidently at Feta, feeling pleased to meet her. 

“Hello! It’s very nice to meet you!” She must be that girl in the drawing!

“It’s nice to meet you too,” Feta said shyly while waving back at her and smiled but with a lack of enthusiasm and tensity on her face as if she were uncomfortable. Nulla could speculate she was slightly wary of her, and so did Olivie when she glanced at her sister, her face proving it. It didn’t affect Nulla, since Feta was Olivie’s older sister and was most likely defensive of her.

“Hey, where were you at, Feta?” Nulla asked.

Feta hesitated for a moment but responded… 

“Oh. I was trying to find some food for me and my sister to eat. We’ve been hungry ever since he had to leave our home.” She ended with disappointment and glancing down. Nulla felt empathetic acknowledging the sisters’ situation. Olivie comforted Feta by easing her shoulder, looking sympathetic for her.

“Oh. Would you like me to help you find some? I’m good at finding things.”

Olivie’s face lit up with a little grin, seeing how Nulla could be a great support. Nulla, however, was more concerned about Feta, who must’ve felt concerned at first but then gazed into Nulla’s eyes and smiled slightly.

“Well, we do need a little bit more help. We’d really appreciate it, Nulla! You can take the lantern to guide us!”

 Although Feta did approve of her offer, Nulla still felt that she needed to prove more to earn her trust as her words and motions weren’t pure graceful but not so near to displeasing either. This could be her chance to show her true self, but also tense about making a false promise. She then stepped once to hold up the lantern by its squeaking thin handle and turned to her right to scan the entire room.

“Hmm… Hey, maybe that vent over there!” She pointed with her gloved hand. She sprinted softly on the dry moaning floor to the vent with the twins following behind. Halting before it, she looked down and bent on her knees noticing a strange rough substance pinching a piece up. “These are breadcrumbs someone left behind. This must be some sort of path to somewhere with food!”

“Ee, I can already taste it!” Olivie spoke with joy. Nulla looked straight to the open vent duct with the glowing ember lantern illuminating part of the path, hearing faint noises like whistling wind.

“Follow me. Stay close and be careful, we don’t know what’s there!”

Nulla crouched and stepped into the vent feeling the cold and slightly blunt metal beneath her bare feet. Olivie and Feta followed behind. She still could feel that Feta was suspicious of her, which somehow bothered her. Somewhat similar to how they treated her. 

It’s ok, Bel- Uh, Nulla. You’re ok.

What felt like a minute must’ve passed by as the three girls took two lefts and a right. She noticed how there were chalk drawings, similar to Olivie’s, left on the walls. One that caught Nulla’s attention the most was a man with an eye for a head. A man so similar to wait for…

“Hey, I think I see something!”

“What is it?” Feta asked. Nulla moved slightly faster to face a vent grille she found, with a ray of light peeking through the bars. Listening carefully, she couldn’t hear anyone present on the other side…

“I think it’s safe to go.”

“Wait, are you sure?” Olivie asked.

“Yes. It’s ok, you can trust me! Just wait.” Placing both hands on the grille, it creaks increasingly as she breaks it open falling face which causes all three girls to gasp. She landed on her side on a wooden shelf grunting as the vent grille rattled before her. Almost hurt but she was right. Groaning, she planted her palms to stand herself up shaking her head. That’s when she saw where they were at with the shelf giving her a high view...

Oh! A kitchen…! I didn't think this place would have one!

It was all illuminated by a golden light bar in the extremely high ceiling, with a fan operating on one wall. There was a countertop in the centre, with chef knives pinned on the cutting boards, pots, pans, and large spoons hanging above the rack, with crates tucked inside the shelves. There was also a line of stoves on one side where the double doors were, with towering pots boiling, sinks overflowed with towers of dishes, unnaturally tall cabinets, containing packaged and jarred food and beverages, with more crates, boxes, and bloated sacks tucked around, also forming towers or pyramids.

The young girl observed the kitchen and kept eying it from top to bottom. 

The kitchen was dead silent except for the echoes of water drop rhythms, the boiling pots, and the fan from above. Vague audio of people can also be heard from other rooms. 

Strange and distorted voices, and oddly enough, screams as if someone was being attacked or much worse…

“Is it safe to come out?” Olivie questioned echoing.

“Yes. Come out!”

Olivie stepped to the ledge of the vent and dropped down on the shelf grunting, along with Feta, the impact of them dropping echoed like in a cave.

“Wow!” Olivie’s voice echoed. “This looks amazing!”

Nulla glanced at the twin girls to see them amazed by the kitchen with their faces widened.

She then stepped forward once and glanced down to see they were standing on top of a cabinet. She crouched and turned to step one foot down and another on the shelves. 

“C’mon. We should find something here!”

Nulla climbs down low enough for Olivie and Feta to follow her actions. The bottom was too high from the floor but the three girls one at a time landed on the cold glossy floor unharmed as they dropped down with the impact echoing. Hm. It looks too big for a kitchen.

Nulla was occupied observing the entire kitchen until her attention was caught by Olivie’s padding and echoing footsteps sprinting to another cabinet sitting on the floor.

It was packed with popcorn in red and white striped cups, various styles of bread and cheese packed together, nacho chips in little brown paper bags, freshly cooked meat stacked on top of one another, soft and hard chocolate chip cookies in jars, and glass bottles in different colours containing juice, soda, and alcoholic drinks inside with labels to specify they’re adult beverage.

Wondering what she was doing, she and Feta walked after her. “Olivie, hold on!” Feta shouted. The moment she stopped, so did the other girls, curious what she was doing. They watched as Olivie stepped forward in the shadows of the bottom shelf with jars of cookies dragging out a plate with a slice of pie groaning as she emerged.

She sat on her knees in front of the plate with glee in her eyes.

“Feta!” She said turning her joyful face to the other girls.  “It’s cherry pie. My favorite!”

Olivie wasted no time and started biting through the enormous piece of cherry pie like a squirrel, crunching and chewing the hard-baked crust and red jelly before swallowing, as well as smearing some jam and crumbs around her face. 

“Mmm, this is so good! Feta you need to try some!” 

She said with a hand gesture. Nulla couldn’t help but smile seeing how happy Olivie is. 

She glanced at Feta who stood on her left, noticing the same reaction as hers. Feta glances back at her struggling to distance her sight from her, speculating she must’ve felt embarrassed. She turned to face Nulla with her hand rubbing the back of her neck.

“I, uh. I want to thank you for helping us, Nulla. I really hope I didn’t mean to be so rude to you.” She ended with an apologetic tone. Nulla couldn’t help but nod with appreciation.

“It’s alright. You’re the big sister anyway, and you want to look out for Olivie!”

They both smiled at each and Nulla felt glad to have been able to aid her new friends in their struggles.

“Feta?! C’mon!” Olivie boasted. Feta turned to Olivie with slight annoyance mixed with humor before turning back to Nulla.

“Sorry, I hope you don’t mind. You wanna join us?”

“No thanks, I’ll be fine. You can go eat!” She said with a nod.

Feta nodded back before turning and sprinting on the glossy kitchen floor to join Olivie in eating the cherry pie, sitting crisscross, and tearing off a piece of the crust with jam before crunching through.

“Careful, sister, you don’t wanna choke!’ Olivie responded with a giggle.

Nulla tilted her head slightly as she noticed how well they bonded, wishing she could create a bond similar to Olivie and Feta’s. It’s more than likely that she could bond with others, even to avoid thinking of her one fear. It’s ok, Bell- I mean, Nulla. You find one!

She decided to walk around the kitchen on the left side of the countertop, scanning it from the very high top to the bottom, her feet padding on the floor as they echoed quietly. 

She notices how the white sacks where they first arrived were stuffed with some sort of mass. A kind of mass that could resemble meat. And the sacks. Her face tensed as she realised they weren’t sacks. They looked like bandages wrapping around the meat to preserve them. 

But why does the meat in bandages look reminiscent of human figures?

It gave her an abnormal feeling. A feeling that this kitchen contained all sorts of food items, but as she looked around at the other cabinets, there was mostly meat in different sizes. However, she notices that there were multiple parchment paper stocked in all the cabinets and where the meat was stored. But, they don’t resemble paper so much given the texture and rough appearance. More like human skin. Now that I’m thinking about it. Maybe those voices I’ve heard. Those screams were shouted. Could they be…? Could it be that… This place?! She felt her stomach and face drop with chills travelling through her body as she started to get a morbid idea in her mind. 

One moment, she was glad to have found the kitchen. But at this moment, she wishes she didn’t.

What are they doing here?

Her gaze slowly moved downwards, but after realising her theory, her tensed face jolted up and she swiftly looked at Olivie and Feta, who were almost finished with their cherry pie. 

She feared the dreadful horror at first, but seeing the pie more clearly made her relax slightly. It didn’t contain anything that shouldn’t. But just then…

Her attention was caught by the faint chime of a grandfather’s clock being heard from a distance. The clock was ticking as the chimebell rang after two seconds. Nulla’s face turned to fear, her heartbeat in her ear, and off-centered with the ticking. She couldn’t hear anything else but the clock, as if everything she heard in the kitchen, the water, the pots, the fan, and the twins, faded away before she knew it. 

She swiftly turned her gaze to the kitchen doors leading outside. 

The clock…That’s where it’s ticking! 

She slowly turned around to the doors, drawn in by the ringing chime. She was scared, yet it still made her follow the rhythm. Her heartbeat soon then aligned with the clock’s ticking as she moved forward. Her vision was turning blurred with the anxiety increasing all over her body like a kind of faint ringing and numbness you feel when sitting on a limb of yours, but also in sound. She could almost see… Dark beige clouds.?! 

As the rhythmic clock ticks…Ticks… And ticks!

Until… Hey…! “HEY!”... 

Nulla gasped and jolted to her right to find Olivie shaking on her arm violently and shouting at her out of concern. She was perplexed about what had just happened and so was Olivie… “Are you ok? I saw you just walking to the door. Is something wrong?” 

Nulla struggled to speak while breathing loudly and slowly. She gently lowered her sight down until she managed to say something… “I, uh…” But before she could say anything, a loud bang jolted their attention to face the double doors, that didn’t open, seemingly locked from outside for some reason. Muffled furious groans of an adult were heard from the other side, urging to get in.

With fear in their eyes and hearts throbbing, they inched back from the door facing it while clutching onto each other's forearms until Nulla turned to Olivie with a commanding tone. “Olivie, go hide with your sister. Don’t worry about me, just hide!”

She nodded and they both let go as Nulla glances back seeing Olivie sprinting back to her sister. Faint clinks of what seemed to be multiple keys jingling as one is inserted in the keyhole with a click. The young girl knew she had minimal time. Looking for a place to hide, she sees an empty dumbwaiter on her left. She decides quickly to sprint and leap forward to pull herself in, just before the lock turns and the doors bang open, with the squeaking sound of wheels of a trolley along with heavy thumping sounds like an elephant entering along with heavy breathing and groaning.

Nulla hugged herself in the left corner crouched on the wooden platform as she watched from afar, her heart beating like a pecking bird. She tried to contain her breathing as the large adult thumped around the kitchen, not getting a clear look, but noticing they wore a white coat with an apron. 

They must be a chef. I think so. Where are Olivie and Feta?! 

But before she could assume anything more, the thumping footsteps became more audible getting nearer to Nulla’s hiding spot. She stood up frightened and pushed herself against the wall with her heart racing preparing for the worst, but it wasn’t what she’d expected.

A large and saggy rack of meat was carried inside by a large and grim yellow hand with fat fingers that dropped it on the platform, blood squelching by the impact. 

The young girl looked at the large mass in disgust, especially how the awful smell struck her nose as she clenched on it. Just then, she heard a single ding, and the dumbwaiter door closed from above leaving the girl in the dark and surprised as the food lift began to lower. As the gravity of the dumbwaiter tensed her body, she felt her heart pacing down but still felt nervous not knowing if she would face another threat at the bottom. 

But also because she and her new friends have been separated, leaving them with an enormous stranger back in the kitchen. Her instinctive feeling, however, told her they would hopefully be fine until soon. The dumbwaiter went down for what felt like two minutes until… A ding was heard and the door raised after the lift jolted to a halt.

Her attention turned to the opened door, expecting an inhuman hand to reach out for the mass of meat, but... Nothing. Releasing a sigh of relief… That’s good!

She stepped to her left still hugging the side as she pushed past the rack of strange meat, until grunting and falling out and onto another glossy floor, the echoing impact less noticeable, and feeling a sense of cold like a snowy weather.

Wait, where am I? A meat locker room? Looking around, she finds herself in some sort of storage freezer where rows of towering trolleys of meat in a variety of shapes are stored away in the chilling and pale blue atmosphere of the room. Including a fan mounted on one wall, strong ropes with hooks tied to some with meat hooked onto some, a long table in the right lower corner with dark liquid stains around the countertop, and the one lightbulb in the ceiling struggling to light the small room, as well as thin clouds hovering about with the whistling breeze and faint noises.

Wow. So many things I haven’t seen! 

She speed-walked forward in the centre observing everything closely, until reaching the large metal door with a circular window above with a small ray of light peeking. A shadow, seemingly a large figure appeared from the other side blocking the light from the window and startling the young girl. It was heard when it went away to the right. 

An unnerving feeling. She stepped forward to place her hands on the door... It’s locked!

Looking around she spots a key hanging from one of the hooks above far back, around the dumbwaiter. Looking at the racks, she then got an idea and sprinted on the cold glossy floor to the one that was closest to the key. Climbing on the clanking racks of meat, she paused at a certain level, making a jump while turning to grasp the key. She swings it off the hook as she lands down, then the key clanks.

“Yes, I knew that would work!” Her words echoed. Picking it up, she lifts the left side of her trench coat, snapping the button of a strap holding the key. Nulla then sprinted to the cold metal door, and once reaching it, she unbuckled her strap and raised the key to insert in the keyhole, clicking and turning the lock… Perfect!

With the door creaking open from inside, it introduces her to a brightly lit hallway by the fluorescent ceiling light above. The walls had a beige paint job with dark gold patterns of rhombuses that vaguely looked like eyes, with swirls connecting with spirals. In front of the walls were framed movie posters displayed in rows, showing many famous projects. 

A girl in a bathhouse, a boy in a box living with strange boxy creatures, a red and white horrifying clown, an old and decrepit man stealing children’s dreams, and a young train engineer living in a corrupt city. I’d like to watch these someday! But not the clown though!

Nothing but faint ambiances were heard as if the halls were fast asleep. 

Stepping out on the red carpeted floor, Nulla looked in both directions with puzzling thoughts. Her left showed one way leading to two other hallways, with a pair of doors with circular windows in the centre. A faint commotion was heard from behind the doors, like a large and packed dining hall, diners communicating, dishes and cutlery clinking and clattering, and thumping sounds, oddly. The right, however, was empty, only leading to the left ahead and a wooden door at the end. She glances to the left where the commotion is present. “Maybe not that way. I don’t want to meet more monsters anymore.”

Turning to the right, she began sprinting to the right, her bare feet feeling the rough texture of the floor. Reaching the door, she lowered her pace to face it. 

Noticing a large eye imprinted on the centre.

“Hmm… Why do I always keep seeing that eye?!” She murmured while looking up.

Stepping forward, she jumped to pull down the handlebar with both hands, which sat strangely low. As the young girl swings with the groaning door, darkness ensues as she drops down on a hard and dry floor. Nulla was surprised to see that she was in another backstage area, like before with The Tanglers, but much larger.

There were golden, dimly lit studio lights on tripods lined up at the back wall where many posters were hanging, revealing more black boxes forming towers, and scaffoldings touching the sky. There was also a large and lengthy background wall with the curtains on both sides of the stage.

Nulla wasn’t too surprised to see the stage since she was in a multiplex theatre. But she was glad to know that no one was here so she could explore thoroughly in this area.

“Hmm, what to look, what to look?!” She walked to the centre of the stage, hearing nothing but the whistling ambiance and her padded footsteps on the dry wooden floor. Scanning the area from top to bottom, her attention was caught by a much smaller black box that was left open and like a suitcase sitting in the open area, containing small items. Curious, as always, she stepped forward to it and crouched to see the many items. 

Children's toys! Oo, a spinny thing, I liked those!

Along with the spinner toy were building blocks, three brown kickballs, a yellow ducky, a cymbal monkey, a jewelry-making kit, a Lottie Potty doll, a toy train with three wagons, a small teddy bear, and… a thin paper bag with two eye holes cut out like a mask. Hmm, kinda weird! Suddenly, a surge of energy was heard from the other side of the background wall, with a ray of light peeking from the top. It caught Nulla’s attention staring to her left and up. She slowly rose and walked her way to the left corner. She paused before the corner, speculating what could be there. A person? Some sort of lantern? Possibilities.

Resting her left hand on the wooden wall and peeking out was a sight.

A large stage with a black velvet floor that had a spiralling galaxy and an aurora effect as well as the black iridescent curtains from the sides, as if it borrowed from the night sky. Farther was a large theatre seating area with red cushioned chairs on a bright red carpeted floor and stunning beige walls with torches in rows.

The young girl lost her wariness as she stepped out confidently too mesmerized by the charming glow of the theatre, scanning from side to side, making her feel more smaller than how her cat-sized level. Wow. This is so… Beautiful! I love it!

While walking across the stage, she looked down in confusion realising that she couldn’t feel anything beneath her feet, as if she was walking on a cloud. 

Walking on a cloud. Why does it feel like that? She lost the thought as she turned to her left to walk down the closest stairs. She stopped as soon as she touched the carpeted floor. It was all dead silent except for the faint winds and ambiances, once again. 

But then, her face tensed in perplexion. 

“Wait, am I forgetting something? I feel like I’m forgetting something.” 

She mumbled to herself. C’mon, bad memory, you have to remember. You have to! 

Before she could feel her skin producing sweat, a large boom was emitted, startling her. Thumping footsteps like elephants echo with snickers, laughter, and commotion. Her instincts told her to take a seat in a chair. Running to her left and the corner seat, she jumped up and pulled herself to sit properly with her hands interlocked, as if she was waiting for a show, but mostly because she believed it would help her blend in with the crowd.

Her heart pounded softly against her chest, but she didn’t overthink of danger.

Looking at her right, she noticed a pair of doors close by. If things go wrong, I'll go out the doors. Hopefully, no one will notice!

As the crowd of Audience Members poured in like a herd of rhinoceros’, she looked to her left and was able to see their faces and bodies. Or, what seems to be. “Why do they have such bloated and saggy bodies? Why do their faces look saggy and droopy?  Why do they have such big mouths and big teeth?” All wrong and distorted like bad drawings, with smiling grins and rotten teeth too big, stretching to their ears, and eye sockets so large and sunken with their eyes peeking out. Their torsos and limbs were as if they were to burst like balloons in their lavishing outfits.

It made her extremely uncomfortable and warry again, especially how their foul breaths can be scented from the distance as if they’ve eaten too much onions or other foods and possibly sweets. Luckily, when one Audience Member sat next to Nulla, forcefully squeezing his plump body in the groaning chair like the others left her alone, not at all interested in her.

Which made her at ease but not too much. Some of the men wore black, green, and red suits with top hats, bowlers, fedoras, and newsboys. The women wore dresses with some sparkling pink, red velvet, blue with white polka dots, and green with see-through patches. Along with pillbox caps, wide-brim hats, bows, and bowler hats with veils over their faces. But they all wore heavy makeup as if they desperately wanted to be pretty.

Nulla couldn’t tell, but she felt that they wanted to look real and feel real, like being in the higher class, fooling everyone but her, due to their twisted faces and behavior as she glanced at her dirty bare feet, urging to connect the pattern.

Who are these people? Why do they look lavish yet disgusting? I want to know the truth about them?!

Soon enough, the seats were now fully occupied as they spoke amongst each other in a language Nulla couldn’t understand. Suddenly… The lights completely shut off, causing the Audience to cease their commotion in sheer darkness. Nulla raised her sight looking side to side, wondering what would happen next. 

Just then, a spotlight from above struck the stage in the centre where a beautiful woman stood with a microphone on a stand in front. 

She wore a sparkly light red crop top with shoulderless short sleeves and a dress, with beige fur patches around her chest, sleeves, and dress. She had an X-shaped waistband holding her light red dress up, white pearlescent gloves up to her forearms, pink heels with daisy buckles, and a necklace with a golden eye hanging. 

At first, Nulla was fascinated by the woman’s appearance. But, then she noticed aspects of her that were odd. She had a natural white skin tone and glowing blonde hair that parted in the middle. But what caught her attention was her face… 

“She. Doesn’t have a face. Or, is it a mask like porcelain?! Or…Is her entire head porcelain?” 

The woman’s white face had enormous eyes too big for her baggy sockets showing muscles with pupils too small. Her nose was too small and seemingly more flat. The seam of her lips goes far back to her cheeks. Red lipsticks on lips that seem too wet. Bright pink blushing, strands of eyelashes, and eyebrows too thin and around her forehead.

The young girl was questioning who this woman was until she then spoke into her microphone as her words echoed with a slight transmission…

“Hello hello, my wonderful darlings! My name is Carlene, I will be your showrunner for this lovely evening.”

She expressed her enthusiasm with her left arm while holding the microphone in her other hand. Nulla, while feeling suspicious, felt at ease by the Showrunner’s loving nature. And so did the Audience Members as they clapped and cheered for her, then slowly stopped…

“Tonight, I and my stars have some marvelous performance and talent to present that will surely put you, lucky ladies and gentlemen, under a daze.” The young girl’s head tilted catching her last line. Under a daze..?

But before she could suspect any further, Carlene the Showrunner then turned to her left and walked back before speaking.

“Please welcome, our most famous acrobatic from mother Russia, the Amazing Bobinsky!” 

The crowd erupted in applause as layers of curtains retracted along with classical music that sounded Russian based on the accordion-sounding rhythm. Nulla put her worries aside to see a pale blue man wearing a black and gold suit and white pants with a top hat doing a headstand with one finger. His head was shaped similarly to a banana along with his large handlebar mustache, arms lengthy as a stick, and his upper torso was as fit as a gorilla’s, with stitches keeping him together. His wrists and ankles were also tied to thin strings like a puppet, and his eye sockets and wide grinning mouth pitch black and shaped like the traditional drama masks. 

One side smiling, the other frowning. Nulla was surprised and amused. Suddenly, the Amazing Bobinsky performed many incredible acrobatic flips and turns while rapidly spinning three sparkling hoops on his fingers and one boot. Everyone was so fascinated by his performance that even the young girl forgot about everything else. Just then, a large red ball with a golden star imprinted somehow appeared from the stage floor and he balanced while tap-dancing on the ball and then juggling the hoops in a spiralling circle. Making his performance much more graceful, cream-colored jumping mice in red suits and band hats suddenly hopped from the sides and circled the Performer, closing in and out and creating a star formation while playing trumpets, drums, and cymbals. Nulla couldn’t help but smile widely as she bopped her head from left to right while clapping her hands to sync with the rhythm. Eventually, the Amazing Bobinsky concluded his performance by spinning on the ball tossing the hoops in the back, and stopping abruptly to pinch the tip of his white-gloved fingers, balancing on one foot and puckering his lips, he blew a cloud of sparkles as he released it with his hand like fireworks, earning the crowd’s applause with the music ending as soon as he completed.

Nulla couldn’t help but cheer with the applause, very much entertained by 

the Amazing Bobinsky as the Performer and his circus mice bowed down and hopped with joy before the curtains closed in on him.

The golden lights in the theatre then slowly came to life again, illuminating everything. The young girl and the Audience slowly stopped clapping as soon as the Showrunner walked back to the stage with her heels clicking. She couldn’t stop smiling after witnessing an outstanding performance and wanted to see more of what Carlene could offer. 

That was so cool, I wanna see more. Please, give me more, beautiful Carlene!

She couldn’t have anticipated what was coming up next.

Carlene set her microphone stand on and spoke.

“Wowwy, me! That is some crazy flexible performance by the Amazing Bobinsky. I am so glad for all of you to have gotten to experience him and his super adorable circus mice!”

Nulla strongly interlocked her hands together while shaking them slightly eager to experience the rest of the show. She then saw a large circular brown clock with lovely decorations gradually leveling down behind the Showrunner until it stopped at a certain point. Her face tensed slightly in perplexion, feeling something about it. 

Until Carlene spoke again…

“Our next performance is something quite mysterious. We’ve been saving this for a special occasion and are so glad to finally show you all… That’s why you’re here, right..? Nothing?”

The young girl’s wide grin dropped like a heavy dumbbell as she heard the Showrunner’s words end in a sinister tone with a blank expression slowly looking directly at her.

Her body felt numb with shivers as she struggled to speak…

How does she know my nickname? How does she know who I am? 

She tried to understand more of the situation, but she then realized that she couldn’t hear anything just like before. She gripped both sides of her head as she looked around trying to figure out what was happening. Anxiety was rising in her sweating body and her heart was beating harder. Everything was slowly turning blurry and fuzzy as if she was turning blind. Then…The clock! The clock ticking I’ve heard before..! And everyone. Is this a hallucination? 

Is this real? Is it..? WHAT IS REAL?

Nulla’s face tensed as she tried to contain her rapid breathing as she moaned in fear while the clock’s ticking echoed in her ears, her body feeling tightened, and her vision turning like a spiral where even closing her eyes wouldn’t let her unsee things. She had enough. The young girl pushed herself off the seat and onto the carpeted floor still feeling the anxiety attacking her and her body. That’s when she stared up and looked around to notice not just the Showrunner, but everyone else staring directly at her with blank expressions that made her feel all the more feared.

The Showrunner’s words then echoed in her ears as she talked in a sinister tone… 

“Don’t be shy, nothing! Come join us! Join us and be one with the play! Just take a seat in that chair someday!"

No. No, no, stop it, No..!

She staggered to the doors feeling as if an unseen force was trying to pull her back. She wanted it to stop as soon as possible, she wanted to leave! That’s when she reached the doors and pushed one open with a creak… And fell face-first grunting after she exited into a hallway and the door closed behind her. She pushed herself onto her feet, still breathing excessively from the horrifying moment…”What..? What happened?” She slowly contained her breathing while standing, compensating herself. It all stopped.

The anxiety, the ticking, the blurry vision had stopped as soon as she exited the theater.

“What did she say? What was that?! I-I don’t under-”

Before she could finish, an echoing bang from a vent in front of her below startled the young girl, with it creaking and breaking open on the floor came out a girl she had almost forgotten about.

“Who are… Olivie!” She shouted with surprise. Olivie looked up at Nulla, with pale dread and tensity on her face as if she had witnessed a crime. She slumped against the wall with her hands covering her ears as she breathed heavily, not able to meet Nulla’s gaze.

Nulla couldn’t understand what had happened and why her friend was distraught.

Olivie then started to tear up, staining on her dress. Nulla slowly walked up to her and knelt slightly with her hands gently raised.

“Olivie. What’s wrong? Where’s your sister, Feta?” The girl in the olive dress struggled to meet her gaze and could only speak in a cracked voice. “I, uh…She’s not-”

They were interrupted by a loud bang from a pair of doors on the far left of the hall, 

with growls and clicks muffled from behind. Nulla gasped in shock insight of it.

“Oh no! Olivie, we need to go now! Please, get up!” 

Olivie couldn’t comply with her as she merely shot glances everywhere with her hands hovering in front. “No, no, no, no more!”

As soon as the doors burst open, Nulla’s patience was worn out by anxiety and she swiftly bent down to grab Olivie’s hand and force her to stand on her feet to run before she could even react. Coming out from the doors were The Tanglers and their manager, whom Nulla encountered before. Seeing her and Olivie sprinting, they screamed in furiousness and staggered swiftly after them. The two girls sprinted down the hall and turned to the left, passing through a cluster of boxes and popcorn maker machines as The Tanglers pushed and rammed right through, crashing down and glass shattering, and using their elongated tendrils to try and grab the girls. Nulla’s sight was too focused on escaping she almost forgot that Olivie was falling behind as if she was too weak to keep up until she glanced back. She slowed down to grab her hand to not leave her behind and dragged her with her, forcing her to sprint with her as The Tanglers kept chasing them. 

Until, turning right, they forced a stop in shock, finding a dead end of a closed door. They both looked back to the echoing screams with minimal time left. Olivie’s tear-stained face looked at Nulla, who was struggling to figure a way out with her heart racing with pure dread, her head aching, and her face tensing. No, no, we need to go, please, urgh!

But then, Olivie shouted, “Hey!” pointing to the left. Nulla looked and both girls didn’t have time to think and ran to a large gash in the wall with Olivie compacting herself through with Nulla waiting anxiously. Almost out, just a little more! 

The Tanglers’ crowded thumping footsteps like rhinos were getting closer with immense in the girl’s face. Until she got her chance to squeeze through quickly, forcing herself through the tunnel, right when The Tanglers reached the corner and were mere seconds away from using their tendrils to grab her… 

But it was too late for them, as the two young girls escaped in time. A lucky escape some might say…

It wasn’t long until after crouching through the stone and plaster tunnel, grim and bits under her bare feet uncomfortably, she dropped down on a dry wooden floor near Olivie, in the interior of the wall a dark depth ahead. The widened space almost served as a secret room due to its layout and the orange-lit candle that was left somehow by someone, illuminating it with an ember glow. Some parts of the brick walls are exposed behind the dilapidating green plaster coat, along with tiny particles dancing gently in the atmosphere, and the faint ambiance, barely capturing any muffled noises from outside, not even the furious Tanglers they’ve escaped from as they faded away.

Nulla couldn’t help but stand in place and bend down slightly with nervousness after escaping a scary encounter. She displayed her left hand on her chest feeling her heart racing like a marathon, trying to compensate for everything she had witnessed. The Showrunner, the clock, her vision. What were they linked to? What was she speaking about?

Until, after calming herself, she hears sobbing. Looking up, she notices Olivie sitting against the wall with her face buried in her knees and her arms wrapped around her. She still didn’t know why she was upset, nor why Feta wasn’t with her. But she didn’t want to fuss too much and wanted to know what had happened.

“Olivie..? What’s wrong?” She said stepping slowly to her and then slowly sitting on her knees. She could barely speak clearly as she struggled to meet Nulla’s gaze with bloodshot eyes and tears staining her dress and cheeks.

“Where were you? I was worried about you!” Speaking in a struggling cracked voice, burying her face again in her knees. Nulla’s face loosened with slight guilt, feeling that she must’ve made her upset for forgetting about her and Feta, and not understanding.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you sad. I just forgot about us separating!”

“It’s not that!” Olivie responded louder. Nulla was still confused. 

If I wasn’t the problem, then what was? She decided to remove her fox mask completely, raising it off her head with both hands and resting it on her right.

“Do you want to tell me what happened?”

Olivie’s sobbing slowly stopped as she looked at Nulla’s true face with surprise and comfort. 

She sniffled and wiped her tears off her face first before speaking while glaring down. 

Nulla only stayed in place on her knees, patiently waiting to listen…

“I.. I-I was with Feta at one moment where there were these big, fat people in a eating room. We jumped in a cart and that’s why we were there. And we tried to run. We tried to escape. There were so many of them, very big, and just wanted to eat everything. They… They fell on the ground seeing us, and we ran to find a place to hide, until… One of them in a purple suit took Feta and he… He took her while she screamed, and… And, he ate her! He ate my sister! My sister! She’s gone, she’s all gone!”

Olivie ended, breaking down in shouting with tears and hitting her knees before burying in them again. Nulla’s face turned pale, knowing that someone she had met ended up having a very unfortunate fate. But what was hurtful to her the most was how Olivie lost someone so dear to her. Her sister. Her only family in this world. 

She couldn’t help but slump her gaze down in sadness and mournfulness, looking at her hands on her knees, remembering how she guided them to the kitchen…

 It. It was because of me, wasn’t it?! The kitchen… I led them there! And why it happened?

They remained in silence for a long while until Nulla then spoke gently…

“I’m… Sorry, Olivie. I’m sorry for not understanding. I’m sorry Feta is gone. I’m just sorry.”

She then bent forward to place her hand on Olivie’s to comfort her. She raised her gaze to her and both made eye contact, seeing each other’s depression. Until Olivie pushed herself forward to sit on her knees, still glancing down. Nulla embraced her in a hug and she responded with her arms wrapped around too and their eyes closed. They remained in a warm hug and solitude with each other’s comfort. Not letting go. Not feeling alone…

…

They both slowly let go and sat in place not knowing what to do next. Nulla didn’t want to leave her here any longer. Not after what had happened.

“Olivie? What do you want to do now?”

“... I want to get out of here. I don’t want to be here anymore!”

“Ok. I’ll help you get out then.”

Nulla gently took both of her hands and helped her rise to her feet as she did. She then bent down to take her fox mask and readjust it over her face again. Holding one hand gently, Nulla guides Olivie through the rest of the inner walls, not rushing for her sake.

It’s going to be okay! It’s going to be okay!

The light of the candle slowly faded from the distance while trailing on the creaking floor, but with still a touch of light, it wasn’t long til their hands parted when they both looked down to see a small drop, with the rest of the wooden floor and a grate with a hinged flap on the wall. Nulla crouched to drop down first with a grunt, then came Olivie, her head still heavy. Nulla looked at her, still feeling sympathetic. She may as well be all left for her and hopes to take on the responsibility as a sister herself. 

“We’ll find a way out of here, Olivie. I promise!”

She said, rubbing her back. Olivie couldn’t utter a word. She only crossed her arms on her chest. Nulla didn’t pressure it. She bent down to pull on the handle as it creaked, but then Olivie stepped to help her as the hinge screeched open with both girls staggering back. Olivie mostly.

“I hope this is the way out!” Olivie spoke softly.

“Me too… Wait here for a bit!”

Nulla crouched in first through the grate, dropping down on a small desk in a dark area with only minimal golden light shining behind the various mannequins and drawers with lavishing dresses being worn and poking out from each drawer. Many dresses were blue, green, red, pink, black, and violet with some being velvet, chromed, shiny, or with either sparkles or white fur patches, and they all included the same rough texture of the parchment paper from the kitchen. Worse than she thought. Along with bottles of perfumes, small boxes, and books formed towers, and lovely heels and slippers sparkling like the dresses were tucked away in boxes and piled near the drawers. Hm. This must be a dressing room, but it’s too big. A storage room? Everything here makes it so real that it's easy to be drawn by the fun.

It was mainly silent with little ambiance, faint wind, and other noises as if it couldn’t speak…

“Olivie, you can come now!” Turning back to speak.

After Nulla dropped to the wooden floor, echoing, Olivie followed behind repeating her movement. The impact of their bare feet hitting the wood echoed slightly but not like the kitchen from before. Nulla was questioning where they were, seeing how dark the room was. The mannequins and drawers were a few feet apart from them and close together like a wall but not at all organized.

Nulla felt suspicious about the supposed storage room, but she wanted to carry on for Olivie’s sake. She turned her attention to her, seeing how she was becoming more relaxed with less tension on her face, but still traumatized by her heavy head like a dumbell.

“Oi!” She whispered, offering her hand to her and she took it firmly, allowing Nulla to guide her to their left since the right only led to a corner with another mannequin. They walked casually along the path between the mannequins and drawers and the room wall, 

with Nulla seeing more posters on the wall to their right. Only to her surprise, it was The Showrunner in all of them, posing in various dresses like a celebrity star. 

She must’ve performed as well in The Theatre. Possibly the owner of it.

“What’s wrong?” Olivie asked, meeting Nulla’s gaze.

“Nothing. I thought I’d seen these before.”

“Oh. Have you seen her before?” 

Nulla glanced down ever so slightly with chills coursing through her… “Well, I-”

But before she could finish, the echo of a creaking door emitted from a distance, causing both girls to halt out of shock, gasping. 

The supposed door creaked again with a click echoing, along with a woman humming a song and casual walking of supposed high heels clicking.

They couldn’t see where it came from as they looked around the mannequins and drawers. Nulla looked forward and let go of Olivie’s hand, seeing a large space of golden light in front of them from the left, with a thin shadow from their perspective moving up and down. 

They both crouched down, Nulla turning her face to Olivie, pointing her index finger to the nose of her fox mask and receiving a nod. 

Turning forward, she crept slowly, peaking her head from a drawer that was at an acute angle, until she was able to get a glimpse of the area.

No… Not her!

From the corner, she was able to see another part of the dressing room with more mannequins wearing dresses, illuminated by a ceiling lightbulb above with the same golden light. They surrounded, from a distance, a woman in a light red dress and crop top, sitting on a chair in front of a desk and mirror with lit golden lightbulbs and makeup products displayed.

It was her again… Carlene, The Showrunner!

Her body felt numb again at the sight of the horrific woman. She was dreadfully hoping not to encounter her again, but, luck wasn’t on her side. She was braiding her hair, humming a song, loving her lavishing appearance. Nulla stared at the women for too long, causing Olivie to sake her by the shoulder, possibly to tell her they should continue. She got out of her trance and looked at her, understanding the assignment. She looked forward, seeing the rest of the way from a fair enough distance with a barrel close for hiding. 

She turned to Olivie, signalling her to wait in her place, not knowing what could happen. 

She took a deep breath before proceeding… “You’re okay, Nulla!”

Crouching, she slowly walked to the barrel, planning to hide behind it. She kept eying 

The Showrunner, her heart beat harshly as one foot stepped ahead on the hard wooden floor.

Carlene didn’t suspect anything, even when the young girl reached the barrel 

remaining in her posture and turning to gesture Olivie to come. 

She noticed how she was slightly hesitant but nodded to comply.

 Suddenly… Carlene’s humming abruptly stopped, catching both girl’s attention. Nulla felt a shockwave of goosebumps running through her veins, beginning to breathe as she peaked from around the barrel. “…Olivie, c’mon!” She whispered.

She can feel that Olivie also felt something was wrong. Something coming…

“I… I can’t. I feel-”

Before Olivie’s words finished, bursting in between them was The Showrunner, 

startling both girls gravely as they fell back and shouted in fear with many mannequins and garments falling on the floor. She snarled at both girls like a raccoon, 

until looking at Nulla, she spoke. “Found you!”

The young girl in the fox mask remained sitting on the floor with her arms supporting her torso, not knowing what to do with fear interfering with her response. 

Fight, flight, or freeze?! Until, seeing Olivie on the floor like her, through the gap below a fallen mannequin, she could only shout, “RUN, OLIVIE, JUST RUN! Don’t come back!” 

as she swiftly turned and brought herself to her feet, beginning to sprint, no time to see if her friend had gotten away as The Showrunner staggered swiftly after her.

She ran down the rest of the clear path with The Showrunner chasing her from behind, her heels clicking rapidly, hissing like a snake, and screaming when she tried to snatch her with her long arm. The young girl then darted to the left behind a large wardrobe. She passed it just in time before the woman could crush her with it, pushing it down and crashing on the floor along with more plastic mannequins, screaming in rage. 

Her heart was racing as she breathlessly kept sprinting through the cluster of mannequins and boxes. Not knowing where to go, she enters a dark and empty room as a last resort, turning to her right to push the door close with both hands and quickly lifting a wooden plank beside the door to hinder the knob from underneath. She stepped back, breathing in a high effort with hands on knees supporting her… “That was… Too close!”

She was hoping it was the end of it, right? Unfortunately not.

Nulla stared at the door when… Three large bangs spooked her. A shadow from beneath glared at her. “NOTHING! Are you there? OPEN, YOU BRAT!!!”

Her heart was racing again as anxiety attacked her body. She held her head with both hands and tears welling in her face as she looked around for an escape, but it was too dark for her to see. No. No. No, no, please. Please, just stop! No!

But the banging didn't stop. 

The pounds that thrashed from the other side. 

The wickedness of that woman.

There was nothing left to do for Nothing.

- - <0> - -

Very big thanks to @laupiehouppette for collaborating with me

If you would like to read more of 'My Little Nightmares: Stories of the Little Ones,' be sure to visit Little Nightheories at www.youtube.com/@LittleNightheories6 for read-aloud videos. Or, you can also read Chapter 1 and others on 

Our Own Archive (Little_Nightheories), Wattpad (@LittleNightheories6), or Tumblr (littlenightheories6) 

to personally read the story yourself and find multiple Little Nightmares fanfiction stories.

My Little Nightmares: Stories of the Little Ones is a 6ix part short story series where it involves 6ix little children from the creative mind of Little Nightheories, venturing through the world of Little Nightmares that is called the Nowhere. Their individual stories reveal more secrets and environments that expand the world of our childhood fears.

Up next: Chapter 4: The Girl in the Purple Dress

[antebellumite]

Top 5 favorite people to draw?

thank you so much for asking! in order, daniel webster, robert hayne, john c calhoun, thomas benton, and henry clay

Daniel Webster: I will be honest, when I draw Daniel Webster, I give him the most nonhistorical hair out of everyone that I draw ( though in general, the hair of all of the peeps that I draw are very generous to their hairlines to begin with lmao ). I love giving our guy the most bushiest eyebrows in existence, super large anime eyes, a strong nose, and tanner skin than the rest of his colleagues. it's even better because doing all that is still historically accurate! #danielwebster #byronicism. Stocky build, short, you know the drill. Gold and blue and black color scheme.

Robert Hayne: Just in general, his features are fun to make out. His hair is distinctly boyish and playful ( and ginger ) whenever I draw it, and I always make sure to give him round eyes, softer, rounder, features, yellowish-based pink-toned skin, and a button nose, thereby making him the second must defined design in my head after webster ( and questionably after calhoun ). Also, technically, me drawing him in a cute childish way would also be strangely accuraet to his historical portrait, which is great, considering that I consistently make Henry Clay like 30 yrs younger whenever I draw him. Color scheme is mainly yellow to me, and he looks like your average twink, moving on.

John C. Calhoun: The wild nosferatu hair! I know we love to shit on that hairstyle, but tbh, tuberculocur satanic corpse Calhoun is actually the second most pleasing Calhoun to look at right after Early Days Young Calhoun. Calhoun with long hair, cheekbones, a square jaw, a sharp nose, and eyebrows with that additional flair on it [if you check my fanart of jcc you will notice that I never draw him without the little hook on his eyebrow ] just gives perfect demonic vibes, yk? It functions as an aweinspiring all-powerful mask to distract the viewer from his horrible pathetic weak non-influential clinging-to-whatever-scrap-of-power-and-signficance faux-manipulative personality inside [ best represented during JCC's middle years when he had spiky hair ] that represents Calhoun's true self. The issue with drawing JCC with this hairstyle all the time though is that it makes it very weird when he's alongside Webster and Clay. Webs looks like he's in his 20s, Clay's in his thirties, and Calhoun is here looking like his 70 yr old deathbed self. I actually draw him significantly more muscular than he probably was during this time of his life ngl. At least, his shoulderspan is larger. He also has a very specific clothing design I use [ black cape, gold waistcoat, white cravat and innershirt ]. Color scheme white grey gold and black.

Thomas Hart Benton: APH Russia hair. Bulky male form. I'm so sorry. I didn't base him off his offficial portrait at all. I actually get most confused about Benton's hair, btw. Is it blond? Ginger? Brown? Anyways, round face, VERY pink skin, and a strong nose are my defining features for him. Color scheme I haven't actually figured out yet, but he seems to be a gold and green fellow, just like....

Henry Clay Ah, Henry Clay. Long face, but I can't seem to find it in myself to make him actually ugly. I also can't seem to bring myself to push his hairline back. And this will be the third time I've mentioned Hetalia in this post but I whenever I draw his long blond hair verison of him ( which I always do ) I am constantly picturing APH Poland. I am sorry. Anyways, long, lanky, legs, thin lips with a wide mouth, long horizontal eyes, significant eye wrinkles in that spot, a long nose, and a green and gold color scheme for me, with a red cravat, unless it's black and gold and red.

thank you so much for asking!!

[lostecho501]

Another Pokémon theory from me. I say the original and earliest Yamask, the ones who were once human, were from the earliest days of the ancient civilization that was once in the desert in Unova. The masks they carry are actually funeral masks from their time, the “face” of all of the dead.

MANY years later, potentially centuries, the same civilization that was still there had kings use Cofagrigus as symbols of wealth and status because of the gold and important historical and cultural ties. At around the same time the people learned how to bring Pokémon to life such as Baltoy and Sigilyph using knowledge gained from the creation of Yamask. All of this knowledge was lost when the civilization fell. That’s why all are found in the same general area and reference ancient civilization.

As for the Yamask of Galar, I say they were “made” either during the days of Baltoy and Sigilyph creation or long after the ancient civilization fell. If it was after it fell then most formerly human Yamask had evolved so Yamask that were bred, but either way some were brought over and possessed by the clay tablets.

Maybe the clay tablets were attempts by the ancient people of Galar trying to recreate Baltoy and Claydol and/or had they heard of the knowledge that created them coming from Yamask, hence why the only spirits that can be influenced by them are Yamask. That might even have been why Yamask were brought to Galar at all since they aren’t found naturally anywhere else in any form outside of Unova.

Wow. That was a lot.