#JUST TRYIN TO SEE A RACCOON

[ducktollers]

for u https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZPRKhgbn6/

🫶

ive really truely had it with tiktok links refusing to open in the app IM GONNA KILL U IF U DONT LET ME SEE THE FUCKING RACCOONS 🔪 (but also i searched the username to see it and theyre so cute im gonna cry for a million years THANK U 😭🌈🦝)

[blixabargelds]

always giving the other the first bite of their food mwah <3

or doing their makeup for them could be delicious

this took sooo long sowwy <3 also ended up being 1.5k oops. have a post canon superstar quickie.

- doing their makeup for them

“Will you hold damn still?” 

Gale grips John’s jaw like a vice, tongue sticking out a little between his lips in concentration, eyeliner clutched in his other hand. John’s nails are drying black and glossy. Gale’s managed to get one eye done already, but John keeps scrunching up his face and twitching. 

“We’re not glam fuckin’ rock, Buck,” John says. His breath tickles Gale’s palm. “It don’t have to be perfect.”

“If you’re gonna do somethin’, you might as well do it right,” says Gale. 

John laughs. It sends the eyeliner smudging down toward his temple, and Gale tuts, licking his thumb and rubbing the pencil off. John’s fingertips keep tracing up the ladder of Gale’s ribs. Back down again, gently. It’s distracting as hell.

“If you don’t stay still I’m gonna make you regret it.” 

John blinks at him from under the raccoon-like scrawl, eyes gleaming. “Yeah?”

“Yeah,” Gale says. He uses John’s rapt attention to his advantage; swooping the soft pencil under his lash-line in a swift glide. John blinks hard again, and Gale catches his hand on the way up to his face. “Don’t- leave it alone. You wanted me to do this, stop tryin’ to sabotage me.”

“Maybe I just wanted you to touch my face,” John smiles demurely.

Gale rolls his eyes. He guides John’s hand back to his waist as he leans around him, fishing around in Rosie’s filthy makeup bag. He wrinkles his nose at the state of it. Half the stuff inside is bound to cause some kind of viral infection. Everything is expired, definitely second hand- probably stolen from an ex girlfriend, or the cumulative effort of pinching one mascara from every one night stand. Gale finally finds something sealed: a small, round pot of light blue glitter. 

“Ah, ah,” John says as Gale drags it out. “No fuckin’ sparkles. Not glam rock.”

“It’ll bring out the colour of your eyes,” says Gale, twisting the lid off and dipping a finger in. 

“I’ll look like a fuckin’ fairy.”

“You are a fairy,” Gale says. He grips John’s chin with his free hand. “Just a bit, c’mon.”

John pouts but stays blissfully still as Gale prods at the corners of his eyes. He leans back a little when he’s done, admiring his work. The sight in front of him makes his chest swell, and he bites his lip to stop from grinning. John looks up at him, eyes rimmed in black and seeming larger as the glitter catches the light. Gale wants to devour him. He wonders how long they have until their set. 

“Pretty?” John smirks. 

Gale flushes a little. He’s almost drooling. “Uh-huh.”

“Your turn.”

Gale shakes himself. “Huh?”

Before his brain catches up, John’s trading places with him; hands on his hips to spin him around and dump him onto the stool. He leans over him, reaching into the makeup bag and pulling out the first lipstick he finds. Gale blushes deeper.

“Bucky,” he says, a low, nervous warning.

John says, “It’s only fair.”

“Lipstick?” Gale says. He swallows hard, trying to push the memories of his father to the back of his mind; fingers in his mom’s makeup, blood from Gale’s nose colouring his lips instead, in the end. 

“You got such a pretty mouth,” John says. He dips his head lower, kissing Gale softly, right where his scar pulls a little at the edge of his lip. “Hey. Trust me.”

Gale looks into John’s lacquered eyes for a long moment. Then he nods, parting his lips and allowing him to cover them in the waxy paint. Gale catches sight of the shade before it goes on. A deep purplish red. It’s nice. 

“See?” John says as he finishes. 

He takes a hold of Gale’s shoulders, spins him around to face the dirty dressing room mirror. Gale stares at himself. He looks less like a girl than he thought he might. The last time he’d dared to wear makeup- a show five years ago, Marge’s expert movements coating his lashes in mascara- he’d looked decidedly feminine. He hadn’t been sure how to feel about it at the time. But now, hair shorter, shaggy and flicking just around his ears- the pink-white of the scar running from his mouth to his cheekbone, stubble dusting his jaw and his chin-

He looks good. He looks interesting. He looks- he looks too clean. 

“This is verging on glam, Bucky,” he says. 

John, perching over his shoulder and smiling at him in the mirror, frowns. “You think?”

“I think,” Gale says. He takes in John’s glitter; his own dark lips, and laughs. “We’re gonna get spat on.”

“This ain’t England,” John says. “Or ’79.” 

“It’s too neat,” Gale says. He lifts his gaze, looking up at John’s flopping curls, his chin digging into the top of Gale’s head. 

John wraps an arm around his chest and bends down to kiss his neck. “Alright,” he says at Gale’s ear. Gale shudders. “What do you suggest?”

“Mm,” Gale hums. He turns back to face John, strokes up his thighs as they move to bracket his knees. “Got an idea.”

Gale tickles along the outer seams of John’s jeans for a moment, before unzipping his fly and sinking to his knees. John’s half-hard already as Gale takes him out of his pants. He traces his tongue over John’s cock, feeling it fill and jump under his taste buds. John groans, tangling his fingers in Gale’s hair. 

“’M gonna look like I got a disease,” he mutters, as Gale opens his mouth wide and licks a sloppy wet trail up to the head. 

“No one’s gonna be looking at your dick, Bucky,” Gale says. 

He laves his tongue around John’s cock, letting saliva pool in his mouth and drip down his chin. He kisses the underside, smears the lipstick there, then takes John down to the hilt. Feels him fully harden against the barrier of Gale’s throat. With every pull off and sink back down, Gale drags his lips against the sensitive skin, leaving smudges of red as he goes. He works his fist over the base of John’s cock, making sure to brush up against his lips with his fingers with each tug. 

“Fuck, Gale,” John hisses. Gale hums in acknowledgement and doubles down, bobbing his head with speed. They don’t have too long. “Jesus, I’m gonna come, baby.”

Gale flicks his tongue. Presses the point of it into John’s slit, tastes him leaking there. His eyes water as he takes him deeper. Thinks maybe he should’ve put on eyeliner, too. John’s hand tightens in his hair, and Gale presses himself further, sucking hard, and John comes down his throat with a groan. Gale swallows. Pulls off smiling, swipes the back of his hand over his mouth. 

John laughs, breathless. “That’ll do it.”

Gale’s knees click as he straightens. In the mirror, he looks debauched. Streaks of blood red halfway down his chin, the line where lip meets pale skin thoroughly smudged. 

“Now you,” he says. He’s aching in his jeans. 

John grins, drops to his knees in return and frees Gale’s flushed cock with jittery fingers. He spits into his hand, grips him hard straight away, and twists. Gale’s breath leaves him in a rush. He thrusts into John’s hand as he makes quick work of him, heat curling in his groin already. John’s tugs are fast. A little too dry, desperate and sort of mean. Pre-emptive payback, Gale guesses. It’s sweet, how after all this time John can read his mind like an open book.

“God, John,” Gale gasps. He grasps at John’s shoulders, head falling back, heart beating hard against the inside of his ribs. 

“Give it to me, doll,” John says.

Gale does. He comes over John’s waiting face, moaning and shivering as he watches it cover his eyelashes, his cheeks- dripping down toward his jaw. Black kohl runs with it. There’s glitter in Gale’s cum.

“Jesus,” he breathes. John lets it drip for a moment, before wiping it off with his bare hands. He wipes them on his shirt, next. “John, that’s filthy.”

“Uh-huh,” John grins, standing up and inspecting himself in the mirror. He grabs a baby wipe, removes the most obvious evidence of seed from his face, leaving behind a messy smear of makeup that mostly just looks as though he’s been out in the rain. “Least it’s white.”

“I ain’t borrowin’ that one for a while,” Gale says. He looks at the shirt somewhat mournfully; poor Verlaine’s face creasing sticky and white. 

“How do I look?”

“Kind of like someone’s just come in your eyes,” Gale says. 

John throws his head back and laughs. “Fancy that.”

[ask-swansea]

hey It's me,steve from the union committee.nice seeing you again, have you seen a raccoon with a pretty gnarly knife and a collar that says "Wendell the warmachine"? can't find him anywhere.he has a tendency to mug people for food scraps if that helps?

my apologies for the inconvenience

sincerely

@steve-the-union-man

He's tryin' to attack me for my sandwich crumbs..

I think i'll just hand them over..

[raccoonfallsharder]

Odd AU/snip where Rocket chooses to become my 'pet' (genuine, non-sexual, vaguely like how humans own animals IRL but with severe boundaries and limits because he's sapient) sort of a way deeper friendship/companion thing, sacrifice of a tiny amount of his legal independence, a technicality, (in that I "own" him of his own will) for placing of deep trust in me; that he can 'let go' if he wants to and I'll look after him), making my looking after him official. Rocket can 'keep' me, his humie, and if the others see me handfeeding him, petting, grooming, brushing him, playing with him, tickling him and making him laugh etc. he can tell them all to get fucked, 'cause he's my 'pet' and it's allowed.

As I was passing by Rocket's Quarter's one day, I noticed him working on something that didn't look like his usual bit of interesting tech. He was gently, carefully engraving a little metal disc that hung from a simple leather strap. Softly, I knocked on the side of the open door, then, "Hey Rocket, what are you working on, buddy?" I asked, soft and low.

His reaction wasn't anything like I'd expected. Almost too fast, he turned about to face me - I drew in a concerned gasp as I saw his fearful expression, his muzzle wet with already fallen tears, more running from his eyes - and then before I could say a word to comfort him the little raccoonoid tore past me into the bowels of the ship, clutching tight to whatever he'd been working on. We'd been friends for a while, so I had an inkling as to where he'd gone.

I found him curled up in a tiny, cramped storage alcove, just off the engine bay; a place normally used to store spare parts. Knowing he didn't like feeling trapped, I carefully peeked my head in, but stood aside the door so he could leave freely if he didn't want to talk to me--but when he saw me he sobbed and beckoned me in. Lowering myself down so as not to intimidate him, I sort of crab walked to him than sat near him, and waited.

Poor Rocket sobbed again, more tears fell, then finally he croaked, "I… I… I was lookin' on the Terran Internet, and… and I saw this stuff about… about somethin' called 'pet play' - real nasty BSDM stuff - but, I thought… I-I thought, what if it could be sorta real but without that junk… - Terrans have pet animals; I… I could sorta be your p-pet, an'… an' you could… could be my…"

Expression crumpling, Rocket slowly unfurled his paw… and as I saw what he held my own eyes went misty. In his paw he held a simple, black, studded leather collar; attached to it was a brass disc which had been engraved with the words, "89P13 ROCKET" on the front, and "PROPERTY OF DAVID," on the back.

"Rocket, you don't have to do this--" I started, but immediately he interrupted me.

"Yeah, I do," he rasped. "Y-You've always been so kind ta me, tryin' hard to get to know me fer nothin' - just because ya wanna be my friend - and ya introduced me to good touch - pettin' an' groomin' - and I flarkin' love it when I can come to your quarters at shift-end and… and you help me shower, than you're dryin' me off, pickin' me up and just pettin' me until I fall asleep. I rarely get nightmares, now, cos you're there, and can bring me outta 'em…

You're always sorta encouragin' me to be kinder to Quill an' the others, stoppin' Quill from givin' me shit, callin' me Raccoon. I'm… what you're doin' HELPS so much; you showed me that thing called 'massage' an' my body don't hurt as much as it used to - if at all, now - and… and… I don' wanna lose you! I gotta keep you. You. It's… it's you, humie--David. It's always been you! Please. Please… stay with me, let me be yours. I… I don' wanna be angry and afraid no more. I… I don' wanna belong to… to HIM no more. It's… it's you, I want. It's always been you."

Wiping tears from my own eyes, I swallowed than looked at him, my expression very solemn. "Are you… absolutely sure, Rocket, that this is what you want?" I asked. "Are you absolutely sure?"

"More than anythin'. Anythin in the flarkin' universe," he breathed. Then, he handed me the Collar he had made. Slowly, gently, I wrapped it around his neck, making sure the 'fit' was perfect, that it never caught on or chafed his fur--and then, with a solemn, final CLICK… it was done. A quivering, roiling ball of emotion, Rocket Raccoon gently crawled into my lap--and then, silently, he cried, and cried, and cried--it was like, like he was releasing YEARS of pain, anger, and just… sheer pent up frustration.

I held him, petted him, soothed him, but ultimately let his catharsis run its course. He cried until he couldn't anymore, until he inhaled and coughed, needing water. "You'll be alright now, li'l buddy. You'll be alright…" I murmured. I carried him to my quarters, got him a glass of cold water to soothe his throat which he drank gratefully; then I took him into the bathroom, gently washed and dried his face. After, I lay with him on my bed; there he sprawled on my chest and I petted him until he started to purr, weakly. Then, his crimson eyes slowly closed and he slipped into sleep.

love a nonsexual kinktober fic (❛◡˂̵ ✧) and i EXTRA love a rocket-comfort fic ˗ˋˏ ♡ ˎˊ˗

[therealityhelix]

Shards of the Nexus: Tangled Pinstripes

Things were very tenuous for him, in the beginning.

Song: Building a Mystery- Sarah McLachlan

@cardwrecks @captainbaddecisions

Detective watched as his blonde counterpart took a slow pull from his glittery green vape, and breathed out a long stream of apple scented steam.

“Well,” he said. “At least my other me's are hot.”

Detective and YJ shared a glance.

“It's good you're taking this so well.” YJ said, soft lisp sliding along his tongue. “Because we know there is another, and we think there may be more. Are you interested?”

“In what?” the blonde asked, splaying himself indolently across his couch. “I'mma be real wit'chu fellas. I ain't really interested in some riddle man fan club. Tryin' to leave all that behind.”

“As did I.” Detective said. “Of course, you would not be forced to participate in anything you didn't want to. This is not some kind of secret society. But...it is fascinating, is it not? Other worlds, multiversal theory. That you can reach into another reality and find yourself.”

“I dunno. Sounds like a whole bunch of not my business.”

“You aren't even interested in other worlds?” YJ asked, incredulous.

“Look, gentlefriends, I got a good thing goin' here.” He pulled himself off the couch and stretched. “And I ain't inclined to fuck around with it, especially not for the sake of the Riddler. Hate that guy. Now, if you'll excuse me...Feel free to buy a drink, watch the night life, whatever, but don't you cause no problems in my club.”

He walked right past them, out into the undulating chaos of the dance floor, where several people immediately draped themselves all over him.

Arkham chuckled.

“Ooh, he's got a bit of swagger, hasn't he? Ha. I kind of want to break his legs.”

“We cannot force anyone.” Detective said. “That isn't the point of this.”

“I can't imagine anyone with a mind like ours having no interest in the multiverse.” YJ muttered.

“Just give it a bit of time.” Arkham said. “The seed's planted now. If he's worthy of the name, he won't be able to resist learning more. And if he's not...no need to waste our time.”

There was no threat contained within the words, but the way Arkham said it sparked worry in YJ's mind. When Detective described finding their counterparts in other worlds, there was a definite edge of urgency involved. If Arkham fully agreed with Detective's quest, YJ couldn't help but wonder how far he might go to make sure that quest wasn't endangered.

Loyalty wasn't a word YJ would ascribe to Arkham, but decisiveness certainly was.

“I think I actually would like a drink, honestly.” Detective said. “Why waste what might be our only opportunity to see what kind of concoctions a Riddler might come up with?”

YJ joined them at the question mark shaped bar. People made room for them, giving both he and Detective appreciative looks. Bashfulness warmed his fuzzy cheeks. Detective, of course, was incredibly beautiful, like the angels of myth. Himself, however...Well, he didn't think he was ugly! Far from it! It was just that, on his world, in his line of work, people like him were not very favored. He was aware of the traits he had that others would consider 'flaws'. The gap in his teeth, the lisp in his voice, the color blindness, the neurodivergence, all the crime. But the people here had imperfect faces, wild make up, raccoon tail stripes in their hair. They wore platform boots, and neon fishnets, and they smiled at him and winked.

The dancers didn't all dance well, but they danced freely, and everyone sparkled in the lights from the floor and ceiling, spangled in the reflected magic of the spinning disco ball.

This place was hypnotic, and the Mesmer in the center was the Riddler who wasn't, the Riddler who didn't claim it, but displayed it everywhere nonetheless. Question mark iconography peppered the entire place, named it, shaped it, hung from the non-Riddler's neck like a golden noose. The drinks menu was full of villain-themed cocktails, of green and gold and violet.

Trying to leave that all behind, he had said, and yet, to YJ it seemed he had simply dragged it all into a different venue, turned a spotlight on it, and commanded it to dance.

Perhaps that was how he gained control. They all had their ways.

He ordered the least alcoholic thing on the menu and smiled back at the girl next to him. Detective chatted up a young man who looked both confused and thrilled. And Arkham-

He had lost track of Arkham.

?~?~?~?~?

Edward slipped out of the crowd and into the kitchen, unnoticed by anyone save the cooks.

“Yeah, three of them!” he exclaimed into his phone. “This is getting outta hand. I know we thought somethin' like this might happen since that other Harley came through, but...any other 'you's' show up?”

The gravelly voice on the other end answered in the negative.

“Damn. I'm still not sure they're legit, or some mindfuck Sionis whipped up to run me off since he wants to claim this as his turf, even though it's obviously mine. Yeah I know he doesn't think it counts cause I stopped doin' the riddly thing, but that doesn't mean I gotta give up to some other asshole. Speaking of-!”

He spun to the side, deftly dodging the hand reaching out from behind him.

It was the big one, the one that had stayed quiet almost the whole time the pretty one was talking, just staring intensely. He was still staring, his chapped lips stretched into a thin smile.

“Hey! Employees only, dickfuck!” Edward snapped. “Get outta here!”

The smile widened, though it didn't seem to reach his icy eyes. Edward slipped his hand into his pocket in deceptive nonchalance. There was more in there than just his glittery vape.

“Shelby. Andrew. Scram.” he said, and the two cooks fled through the employee exit.

“Toldja I didn't want none of this.” he continued, his fingers threading through the fused rings of a set of knuckledusters. “So if Miss Marple out there sent you in to be the bulldog, they got another thing comin'.”

“Do you think they command me?” the other him asked, rough and sneering. “Have you chosen a leader already?”

“I didn't choose nothin'!”

“Really? Then why are you here, running a speakeasy? I'd call that a choice.”

Too close too close too close! The menacing Riddler slithered up on him like some grinning eel, right up in his face in open challenge.

“Back the fuck off, bruh.”

“Or what?” The larger Riddler reached for his face. He whipped his hand out of his pocket and smashed a fistful of brass across the other man's jaw. The man staggered, but drove his own fist into Edward's stomach. He was a lot stronger than Edward expected, and he doubled over, both men simultaneously struggling with and supporting each other. The other Riddler reached into his jacket in search of something Edward didn't give him the chance to find. He stomped down hard on he other mans foot, snatching a knife off the countertop as the larger man's greater weight dragged him down. Crouching over him like a wasp over a tarantula, Edward held the knife to his neck.

“Fuckin' warned you!” he snarled through teeth gritted so hard it hurt his jaw. “Could'a just fuckin' left me alone, I wanted to be left alone, could'a just bounced, but no! You had to fuck around, and now I gotta...I...”

A thin line of red at the edge of the blade, a string of scarlet seed beads on his stubbled throat. Edward flung the knife away.

“Still got it.” the older man mocked.

“Fuck you!” he hissed. “I was doing fine before you showed up! I was fine!”

“Were you really?” he backed away, and the older Riddler sat up. “Seems to me you're holding on by a thread. If the tiniest little push can break you down like that.”

“Shut the fuck up. What do you even want from me?”

“Do you have what it takes?”

“I told you, I'm leaving that behind!”

“That's not what I meant.”

“Then what the fuck did you mean?”

“Do you have. What it takes.”

“You know what, I don't fuckin' care. You can go be a creepy bitch out on the street. I'm officially kicking you out.”

The one with the mullet shoved his way into the kitchen.

“Hey, have you seen...Oh no.”

“Hey, good timing.” Edward said. “Collect your friend and get the fuck out, before I wreck his ass for real.”

“How will you do that?” the older Riddler challenged, inclining his head toward the knife under the table. “You've thrown away your advantage.”

“I can get another.” Edward threatened.

“Arkham, we said not to antagonize him!” the third Riddler groaned, exasperated. The older Riddler shrugged.

“Instructions unclear.” he said dismissively. “Besides, we can't leave now. He needs our help.”

“Like fuck I do.”

“I hear you've got a problem with the Roman.”

Edward sneered.

“Roman Sionis is a punk ass bitch who's just mad he got to the party late. Wants to prove he can be a big man in the masked crowd, but that ship has mostly sailed. So now he thinks he can be the only one in town, and tries to bully the rest of us. Just some upstart who doesn't know the rules.”

“You have rules?”

“You don't? Psh, doesn't surprise me.”

The older Riddler smiled that cold half-smile.

“I've got rules.”

The third Riddler helped the older fellow up.

“I'm sorry about him...”

“Don't you dare ever apologize for me, boy. You aren't that weak.” the older Riddler-Arkham-growled.

“Stop compromising my manners then.” the younger Riddler shot back. “We already said we weren't going to force him. I don't want you making liars of us.”

“Why, I did no such thing. I didn't even touch him until he attacked me.” Arkham said. The third Riddler flicked his umber gaze in Edward's direction.

Edward seethed. Goddamnit, it was true. The fucker had baited him, and he'd fallen for it. Practically jumped at it. He wanted to leave it all behind, but damn if he hadn't been ready to kill.

Damnit, did he have what it took?

“Hey, hold on.” he said. “Hypothetically speaking, if some wannabe crime boss with a black, skull shaped edgelord mask, like, say, Roman Sionis was breathing his gross breath down your neck, but you was trying real hard not to be a little murder gremlin, what would you do?”

Arkham grinned, and this time it reached his eyes.

“Well, that depends. Do I happen to have any friends who still embrace the 'murder gremlin' lifestyle? Am I willing to look the other way? All important questions.”

“Yeah. And what would that cost me?”

He continued smiling. Edward sighed.

“Tell Nancy Drew I'll have a sit down talk with them.”

The younger Riddler ushered Arkham out of the kitchen. Edward retrieved his phone.

“Harvey? Yeah, I'm fine. Hey listen, I'm gonna have to call you back, okay?”

[guardian-rocket]

@russian-avenger

"You may have not lied to me yet I want to know what the cops said. It was a question of curiosity to see how obsurd the reasoning behind the situation."

Natasha caught on fairly early about the lying especially around the pranks he pulled every so often when she happened to see them.

"When has the Nova Corps ever been that dull or dumb? Even I know that much. I know your gun still has a full charge I can tell if it has had a few rounds taken out of it. Well they aren't the easiest to convince I'll tell you that"

"Well if you MUST ask, I been arrested by the Nova Corps plenty of times, actually same exact charges right before we started The Guardians of the Galaxy thing. I was just trying to collect a bounty, a LIVE bounty, no one was in real danger, except us-- I mean... me and my partner. Anyway, that's besides the point. I saw who done it, but I might be a rabbit, I ain't a rat."

Thor called him a rabbit, so he knew he *might* be a rabbit. All he knew is he wasn't a trash panda, a raccoon or a fox.

"I wasn't collecting a bounty here though. I was tryin' to meet a friend, innocent stuff. They said if they can't get the charges to stick they're gonna take me down for defying an officer in the line of duty and a bunch of other crap. Look... I don't need you to bail me out, we both know if you do that I'm leaving Earth and never comin' back. Trust me, even if y'all found and impound my ship I'll find a way. I just need you to talk to those badged scut-bags and see if you can talk some sense it to 'em. If you can't, I'm taking matters into my own hands-- and it won't be pretty. I don't do well in confinement."

[mysteryshoptls]

SR Idia Shroud Apple Boa Personal Story: Part 1

"Now is the time of my awakening...!"

Part 1 (Part 2)

[Harveston – Raceway]

The day before the race―

Idia: Gee! Gee! Geeeeee!!

Idia: Aaargh, I'm ordering the stuffed animal to "turn right," so why is it going left!?

Idia: Hiee! I-I-I-If I keep going like this, I'll run off the course and slam into the snow bank!

Idia: Woah! Woah! Woah! Stoooooooooooop～～～～!!!

[crash]

Idia: Urgh, this is the 10th time I've fallen now…

Epel: Ack, Idia-san, you okay!?

Epel: Just when I thought you disappeared from practice, I find you in such a remote area.

Idia: …

Epel: I can't believe you ended up this far away. I'll come save you now…

Idia: …I'm done.

Epel: Eh? Oh, did you hurt yourself somewhere?

Idia: I said I'm done with this difficult practice!!! I quit, I'm not going to do the race!

Epel: Wha…! You already said you'd do it, now you're going to throw it all away!?

Idia: Hey, the conditions have completely changed from when I first agreed to join the race. Can you stop acting as if nothing's changed?

Idia: With only one day left before the competition, no matter how hard the training, there's no way newbs like us would be able to win.

Epel: That's not true!

Epel: All of you are able to command the stuffed animals much better than the first time I entered the race…

Epel: And our team can definitely aim for victory! Although, yeah, I do think we still need more practice…

Epel: But if you're lacking self-confidence, you'll definitely won't be able to win, even if it's something you could win. We need to just stay strong!

Idia: Wow～ …Is that supposed to be the thing they call "guts"?

Idia: E-Even if you're filled with the will to win, the thing that determines who comes out victorious is your ability to control the sled.

Idia: Just saying "stay strong" is irrational advice.

Epel: Wh-what!? 'Ow cannyer say tha' when Ah'm tryin' to cheerya up!? Yerso kittle…!

Idia: What was that? No seriously, I have no idea what you just said, but I can totally tell you dissed me there!

Idia: Gah! Anyway, I've had enough of this practice! I'm getting off this mountain and retreating into the assembly room. Lates!

Epel: Ah, Idia-san, please wait! I haven't finished talking yet, you know!?

Idia: Haaaaaaaaaaah～～～ I said I'd head down the mountain, but it's a pain to trek this snowy road. I'm seriously beat…

[rustle, rustle]

Idia: Hiee!!!!! S-S-S-Something just moved in the shadow of that tree over there!!

[hop]

Idia: A…rabbit? Eh, and it's coming closer?

[hop]

Idia: N-now a raccoon showed up too? I-I-I can't believe I'm being surrounded by so many fluffy creatures like this…

Idia: Sweet!!!! Is this paradise!?

Idia: Huuurrngh, the rabbit just hopped onto my foot! It must really be used to people～

Idia: Hm? Raccoon-shi is tapping at my pocket, why…

Idia: Aaah～ …Right. Now I understand why you guys came over here.

[digging through pockets]

Idia: Ta-da! Some dried fruits I picked up at the Bonfire Market!

Idia: Thought it'd be perfect for a light snack, so I bought some.

Idia: Is this what you guys were looking for? No problem, I'll share～

[rips open bag]

Idia: Ack, as soon as I opened it, more animals came rushing towards me!?

Idia: Squirrels and birds… Eh, wai-wait…!

Idia: Now a deer is coming straight at me!?

Idia: I-I like smaller animals, but it's a bit scary to see a creature with such large horns come charging at me～

Idia: …...'Kay, I need to get on my sled and run away now.

[sleds away]

Idia: Aaah! All the animals are chasing after me now!?

Idia: Noooooooooo!! S-S-Stop following meeeeeee!!!!

Part 1 (Part 2)

Requested by @girl-in-the-tower and @xerneasx95.

[telli1206]

oh, something you'd write?

right at the top of my head i see harry playing pirate cupid to get carlos and jay together. harlos shenanigans as in harry's over the top advice like horrible pick up lines, raccoon eyes and hosting a party and carlos being so desperate to ask jay out before he loses his chance that he actually goes along with the madness and jay at some point figures out whats happening but lets it happen just out of pure amusement, to see how far carlos is willing to go bc its endearing. they eventually talk about it, fluffy and flustered dialogue and they do go on that date in the end

Ok Sofia, you killed me with this because now I have a WHOLE fic in my head that I just couldn't stop writing. Flustered Carlos, comin' right up 😉

-----

Let's Put U and I Together

AO3 LINK

"Hey, Harry?"

"Yeah?" Harry sighs, clearly bored as he glances from the book splayed in his lap.

Carlos stifles a giggle, his fingers fiddling with the pages of his textbook.

"Are you...a carbon sample?"

Harry flicks out the tip of his tongue, his brow furrowing harshly as he thinks.

"Am I...wha?"

"You know, a carbon sample. Like from a life form." Carlos nods, his lips twitching into a smile. He looks so excited, Harry couldn't dare disappoint him.

"I...guess? You tell me, Pup. Am I?"

Carlos grin spreads wide. "I would think so. Cause I want to date you!" Carlos bursts, his laugh loud and boisterous. "Get it? Cause you’re a-”

“Yeah, yeah,” Harry interrupts with a groan. “I get it.”

Carlos frowns. “So...you don’t like it? M-my pickup line? I thought it was a good one.”

Harry perks a brow. “Pickup line? What do ye need one of those for?”

Carlos bites his lip, watching Harry silently for a minute before looking back down at his textbook and flipping through some pages. He pauses and points at a certain page, quirking a smile to himself before catching Harry’s eye again.

“You make me hotter than sulfur hydroxide mixed with ethyl acetate!”

Harry’s eyes widen, and he shakes his head as Carlos giggles gleefully. 

“Isn’t that great? It’s perfect! Who wouldn’t melt at that one?”

“Pup, I can’t understand a fuckin’ word ye just said.” Harry snickers, but guilt pools in his gut instantly when he sees Carlos’ face fall.

“So...you don’t think it would work?”

“Work for what??” Harry groans, slamming his book shut. “Are ye tryin’ to pick me up or somethin’? I didn’t know I was yer type to be honest.”

“No! Not that!” Carlos startles, scrambling off the bed and dropping his book in the process. He yelps and jumps back when the heavy spin clunks to the floor. “I-I was just...practicing. On you. For...someone else.”

“Oh yeah?” Harry’s brows rise curiously. “Who’s the someone, then? Spill, puppy.”

Carlos stills, his mouth gaped open. He swallows thickly but stays silent, even as Harry leans in expectantly.

The door swings open just then, distracting Harry, and Carlos lets out a breath as Jay strolls in, smiling wickedly at the two boys at Carlos’ bed.

“Whoops, hey guys! Am I...interrupting? Cause I can-”

Jay thumbs back towards the door, and Carlos lets a shocked squeak escape before shaking his head vigorously.

“Nononono! W-we’re studying! Just...just studying!” He lunges forward to snatch his book from the ground, holding it out in front of him as he glances from Jay to Harry, eyes blown wide. “Tell him, Harry!”

“Actually...” 

Harry snaps his book closed and slides off the bed, ignoring Carlos’ pointed glare. He smirks at Jay, noticing immediately when the teasing smile slips from the boy’s face. He grabs for Carlos’ hand, yanking him close and relishing in the heat rising behind Jay’s eyes at the action.

“Pup’s helping with meh party plannin’,” Harry replies as he starts leading Carlos to the door. “The room’s all yers, Jay. Don’t miss us too much!” He adds with a waggle of his fingers.

Carlos watches Jay’s face twist in confusion as they pass him by, his own face mirroring the same emotions as soon as the door closes behind them.

“What the hell, Harry?!”

Harry just chuckles and continues walking.

“Don’ worry, puppy. I’ve got a plan.”

-----

Carlos does his best to huddle himself into the farthest corner of the dining room. The party is in full swing already. It took less than an hour for the entire castle to fill with people, practically shoulder to shoulder in every room and even outside. The music is booming so loud Carlos’ feet are a little tingly and numb, the strong vibrations from the sound already shaking him to the core. It’s the absolute perfect setting to just make himself...disappear. And if Harry can’t find him...well, then he won’t need to follow through with the plan. 

Carlos sighs at the very thought. The plan. If he had the guts to speak up against Harry, he would have shut it down from the second Harry’s eyes lit up after he confronted Carlos about his feelings for Jay. But the pirate was rambling on about the party and “getting Carlos and Jay alone” and “love confessions” before Carlos even had time to process what was going on. And now he’s stuck at this party, waiting for Harry to launch this setup into action, and his mind is reeling with fear and anxiety and a slew of worst case scenarios of all the ways tonight could go terribly, TERRIBLY wrong for him.

Which is why it’s better to hide from Harry now to avoid all of this. It’s for the best, obviously. For everyone. He can continue to tuck away every romantic thought he has for Jay, and Jay can remain blissfully unaware of how Carlos feels, and Harry can go back to minding his own damn business and staying out of Carlos’ love life. Win-win-win.

If only fucking fate agreed with him.

“Oy, pup! There y’are. I swear, if I didn’t know any better I might think yer hidin’ from me or somethin’.”

Carlos scoffs lightly, refusing to look Harry in the eye as he settles beside him on the sofa, grinning wildly.

“Jay jus’ got here. I saw ‘im walkin’ in with some of his Tourney mates. Ye ready?” He asks with a waggle of his eyebrows.

Carlos chews on the corner of his mouth and tries to tuck his trembling hands in his lap, but Harry notices immediately, his brow furrowing with concern.

“C’mon, pup. Yer ready for this! What did we talk about?”

“Jus-we...I can...” He pauses to suck in a quick breath through his teeth. “All I have to do is...ask him if we can talk, and then be honest. Tell him how I feel.”

Harry nods. “Trus’ me pup. It’s gonna work better then ye think.” He grabs Carlos’ shoulder, squeezing it reassuringly. “I promise, yeh’ve got nothin’ te worry about.”

“B-but,” Carlos bites down on his quivering lip. “Don’t you think, a pickup line might work better? I mean, Jay uses them ALL the time, he probably relates to them better than just, talking about feelings! Like, I could tell him he’s hotter than a Bunsen burner-”

“Puuuup!” Harry groans, dropping his head in his hands. “We’ve been over this! That’s not gonna work. Just, just follow the plan, ok? I didn’t spend all day helpin’ ye talk through what ta say fer nothin’.”

Carlos juts a pout, but finally relents, his shoulders sagging as he forces a weak nod. Harry smugs happily, giving Carlos a firm smack on the back.

“Atta boy! Stay right here, ok?” Harry jumps up, exagerrating a skip towards the door. “I’ll bring ye yer boy in just a sec!”

Carlos fights down a huff as Harry disappears through the doorway. He fixes his gaze on the now empty entrance, dragging a hand down his face as he pictures the boy walking through it that makes his heart flutter, greeting Carlos with the same casual grin that always sends his stomach tumbling. He has no idea how he’s going to get it together enough to tell Jay the truth. Just the idea is enough to have Carlos’ heart thudding right through his chest. 

Carlos takes a deep breath and straightens himself upright, chin tipped with his best fake confident smile pointed at the door. If he’s going to get through this, he’ll have to improvise.

And he makes that decision at the best possible time, because Harry is stumbling through the doorway then, laughing heartily alongside Jay as pulls him by the arm into the room where Carlos is seated.

“Oy! See?? I told ya I knew where pup was hidin’.”

Harry gestures to Carlos, but Jay pays him no mind, his smile already so broad and warm and directed right at Carlos. 

And Carlos smiles back, a warm pricking heat settling in his chest, which is only getting worse with each step his best friend is taking towards him. By the time Jay is beside him, Carlos feels like his whole torso is on fire, and he silently hopes his cheeks aren’t as red as his insides must be.

“Hey C!” Jay’s grin only brightens as he plops himself down on the couch next to Carlos. “I’m glad Harry knew where to find you. It’d probably been hours before I found you without his help.”

Jay turns back to Harry, who’s now smirking proudly, and Carlos sneaks a glare his way when the pirate fucking winks at him. Subtle.

“Not a problem, Jay! I wouldn’t want ye both missin’ out on a good time cause ye spent the whole night lookin’ fer each other,” Harry coos dramatically, casting a gentlemanly bow in their direction. “But if ye don’ need me anymore, I should see what meh lil’ Gilly’s up to. Lemme find him and we’ll be back in two shakes!” He emphasizes with two fingers in the air as he backs out the door. Carlos rolls his eyes and Jay bursts into a laugh as they watch the pirate go, letting it die slowly as they shift into an uncomfortable silence.

Carlos lets his gaze drift down to his lap, where his fingers are tangling and untangling as he thinks. He knows Jay’s watching him curiously, and he really needs to say something before Jay starts worrying if something might actually be wrong.

“C-”

“So, you know something?” Carlos interjects. He looks up into Jay’s widened eyes. They’re almost inky black, so deep and dark and beautiful. He quickly looks away before he risks getting lost in them. “I think...bunsen burners. They’re. Hot.”

Jay perks a brow. “Yeah?”

“I mean. Not as hot as you. You’re hot. Like a bunsen burner. No! Hotter. Bunsen burners are hot, like really hot. Cause they’re on fire! With gas. A gas flame. And you’re...you’re hotter, than that. Than a Bunsen Burner.”

Carlos knows he must be red now. His face is hot and he’s near breathless from his outburst. He buries his head in his hands immediately, muffling an embarassed groan. That was most definitely NOT the smooth pickup line he had thought it was going to be.

He hears a faint chuckle, and dares a peek through his fingers. Jay’s bright white smile is aimed right at Carlos, and he tips his head to spy at Carlos as soon as he sees the teen looking his way. Carlos yips and tries to hide again, but Jay grabs his hands then, pulling them down and away from his face.

“So. You think I’m hot? I mean, I think that’s pretty safe to assume, right? After the number of times you just said it.” Jay’s tone is a little teasing, but Carlos relaxes at his sincere smile.

“Yeah...but. It-It’s not just that,” Carlos stammers. He pauses, taking a deep breath as Jay smirks slightly at him. There’s no point in stopping now.

“The thing is...I’m n-nothing, special. Nothing. Just a nerd, with my books. I-I could. I would. Just, disappear, if it were up to just me.”

Jay frowns immediately at that, lunging closer to Carlos. 

“C! You know that’s not true. Don’t say that!” He tries to wrap an arm around Carlos, but Carlos pulls away with a firm shake of his head. “But C, you’re so speci-”

“Jay, I’m not.” He repeats, pursing his lips tightly. “I’m just. I’m table sugar.”

Jay sits straight up, brows raised. “You’re...what??”

“S-sugar,” Carlos shrugs casually. “You know, it’s plain stuff. It just...it sits in a bowl in the kitchen. It’s useful, sure, but people ignore it, mostly. No one cares about sugar. If it’s there or not.”

He sighs, taking in Jay’s befuddled expression. Maybe this won’t work.

“Alone, I mean. No one cares about just sugar alone. Does that make sense? I’m sorry, it doesn’t,” he answers himself, waving at Jay to not answer. Jay clamps his mouth shut, eyes still intently focused on Carlos.

“I’m trying to make a point, I promise. I think it’ll make sense.”

Jay fights back a smile, lips curling on their own accord. But he manages to bite them in tightly and nod, satisfying Carlos enough to urge him to continue.

“You, Jay? You. You are...not. Table sugar. Not even close. You...are...y-you’re really, something.”

Carlos looks up at Jay then, a soft smile on his lips. Jay’s flushing a little, cheeks and neck pinked, and Carlos tries not to look too delighted at the reaction, but truthfully he feels like he could burst.

“You’re potassim chlorate!” he shouts, a little loud, a little suddenly. Jay startles and stares at Carlos in shock.

“I’m. I’m, what now?”

“I-it’s a really cool compound,” Carlos continues, trying to reassure Jay. “Potassium chlorate. It’s white, crystalline...really pretty.” Carlos blushes at his words, glancing quickly at Jay. “It’s kind of. Volatile, I guess. But not in a bad way!” He jumps in. “Like, in a way that makes everything it comes close to, kind of, come...to life? Maybe, wake up, is a better way to describe it. It’s helpful combined in a lot of ways. It’s...pretty amazing.”

Jay grins as Carlos continues, his chest puffing proudly at the description Carlos is painting of him. And Carlos smiles back. 

“And so...with table sugar...”

Jay perks up immediately at that, his eyes lit up and at full attention. 

“Sugar has a, special, reaction to Potassium Chlorate,” Carlos emphasizes. “So, like, when you add them together, they create this really intense...heat energy. It actually, it makes this really super hot, crazy beautiful purple flame. Their reaction is SO hot, it actually makes fire! It’s the coolest thing.”

“Purple flame?” Jay snickers. “So, they make a Mal? Seriously, an extra fiery purple fire fits our baby dragon to a T.”

Carlos’ face drops, and he shakes his head emphatically.

“No, no no!” Carlos huffs, his frustration clear on his face. “That’s not - ok, that is good for Mal, but that’s not what I meant! I was talking about you and me, Jay! Us!”

Carlos points back and forth between them, is expression grim. Until he sees Jay’s still even smile, and his finger slows to a stop in his lap.

“So...” Jay starts slowly. “You think we’re...hot, together?”

Carlos’ breath hitches. “It’s not...I mean that’s how you...I feel like...”

But Carlos is interrupted by Jay’s hand looping around his neck, pulling him in close.

“Chill, C. You’re a little heated,” Jay chuckles, his breath washing over Carlos’ face. “You’re right. We are hot together.”

Carlos’ face softens at that, and he launches forward, capturing Jay’s lips in a firm but fast kiss. But when he tries to lean away, Jay pushes him back in with the hand still at his nape, kissing him again and slowing their lips into a more passionate movement. It’s some time before they finally break away again, both a little dazed and a lot breathless.

“Oyyyy! Finally! Took ye long enough, lads!”

Carlos and Jay both jerk towards the door, pushing away from each other awkwardly to adjust themselves as Harry struts in, Gil tucked under his arm. Both are smiling broadly.

“You were right Harry! They are sucking face like fishes!” Gil muses, looking at Carlos and Jay. “I guess you both really like each other!”

“That they do, Gilly,” Harry agrees, kissing the blonde’s temple. “An’ they’re lucky they’ve got someone like me to save their pathetic, mooning lil’ asses.”

Carlos and Jay roll their eyes, but Gil stares at Harry with wide-eyed admiration.

“That’s great, Harry! You should maybe do you next, huh? Set yourself up with Ben? You’re mooning’s getting a little pathetic, too!”

Harry slaps a hand over Gil’s mouth, grumbling as Carlos and Jay both burst into laughter. He retreats out of the room swiftly, now tugging Gil behind him with a yelp. Jay lets his hand slip to Carlos’ waist as their laughter fades, scooping the boy to halfway sit on his lap. 

“Well that was pretty great, but I guess we do owe Harry, don’t we?” He grins when Carlos wraps his arms around Jay’s neck, his fingers teasingly pulling at Jay’s hair.

“I guess,” Carlos sighs, pouting a little. “I hated his plan, but it pretty much worked. But, can we thank him later maybe?”

“Sure,” Jay teases a smirk. “What should we do until then?”

Carlos leans back in, pressing his lips softly to Jay’s. “How about, we just pick up where we left off? Hot stuff,” He adds, perking a brow.

Jay snorts, pecking at Carlos’ lips again. “You got it, sugar.”

[queenxxxsupreme]

A Reunion of Sorts (dad!Arthur Morgan x reader)

A/N: Daisy’s middle name is not May! Daisy May is just something John calls her! I have a great aunt who always called my little sister Maddie May even though May was not her middle name. That great aunt always used May as a sort of middle name for my sister and a couple other cousins and I thought it was cute. Find the rest of dad!Arthur Morgan AU on my masterlist here!

Word Count: 2.7k

Warnings: none really, all game canon related

Additional Note: Lupine Valley Ranch is Arthur and Y/N’s ranch/home/farm. We already know Beecher’s Hope is John and Abigail’s. And Lone Paradise is Charles and Lucy’s home/ranch/farm.

***

You rubbed your eyes, struggling to stay awake. The night air was just a little chilly but you wore one of Arthur’s jackets to keep you warm. 

Cicadas and frogs chirped from the woods that surrounded your home. Occasionally, you’d hear a coyote yip or a raccoon chitter and the underbrush would rustle, stirring you just long enough to make your eyes widen. But then you’d start to drift off to sleep on the porch once more. 

“Go on to bed, Y/N.” Arthur insisted, moving to your chair. He was standing at one end of the porch, eyes set on the drive that led to your home. Every once in a while, he’d glance over to you and see your head bobbing as you tried to fight off sleep. 

“No, no.” You shook your head, swatting his hands away as he tried to grab your hands or wrists to pull you to your feet. “I want to stay awake until they get here.”

“I can wake ya up when they get here.”

“You won’t wake me up.”

“Y/N, there’s no sense in you bein’ awake.”

“I want to make sure everyone is well and comfortable tonight.” 

He continued to try to take your hands but you stubbornly refused to let him grab you, knowing he could easily pull you to your feet and haul you off to bed. 

“Arthur Morgan, I want to stay out here with you!”

“What if I don’t want to carry your ass back to bed?” He raised a brow, his tone teasing as he looked down at you. He braced himself on either arm of your chair and leaned down to kiss your forehead. “Just go to bed, woman.”

“No.” You closed your eyes as you leaned against him, only meaning to do so for a few moments. But your eyelids were so heavy that it was a struggle to open them. 

“Pumpkin-,”

“Shut up, Arthur. You’re just tryin’ to get me to go to bed so you can leave and go cause all sorts of trouble you don’t need to be causing.”

“I would never do such a thing.”

“Something’s coming down the road.” Hosea spoke from the other side of the porch. 

You stood to your feet, following Arthur to where Hosea stood. You placed your hand on his forearm, watching the light from a wagon. 

“That’s them.” Arthur picked up his hat from an end table on the porch. 

***

You stood out in the hallway watching as John placed a sleeping Grace down in Daisy’s bed. Daisy was wide awake in your room, pouting and upset that Grace was asleep. She wanted to play, but you told her that with it being so late Grace would probably be asleep. 

“Thank you again for lettin’ us stay here, Y/N.” Abigail placed her hand on your arm. 

“It’s safer for you to be up here.” You gave her a little smile. 

“Uncle Johnny!”

“Shh, Daisy May.” John turned his attention to Daisy, who slipped out of your bedroom. 

“Uncle Johnny, when will Grace be awake?” Daisy tugged on his jacket. 

“It’s past midnight, girly.” John knelt down to be at Daisy’s level. “You should be sleeping.”

Daisy scrunched up her nose at him. 

“I’ve gotta go help your daddy outside.” John ruffled her hair and stood up. 

“Can I come with you? You can see Piper!”

“Now’s not the time for that, Daisy.” You put your hand on her head. “Uncle John and Aunt Abigail want to get to bed, I’m sure. If you want to go out and help Uncle John bring their things inside, I’m sure he wouldn’t mind the help.”

“Course not. Come on, Daisy May.”

You and Abigail watched the duo make their way down the hall. 

“How has John been since he saw Micah?” You started towards the kitchen with Abigail behind you. 

“He’s been angry and on edge. He hasn’t been able to sleep none. I haven’t either. It’s hard to sleep when you know Micah Bell is nearby.” 

“Well you all are safe now. I don’t reckon he’s dumb enough to come up here.” Hosea joined you both in the kitchen. 

“Depends on how desperate he is for that Blackwater money.” You went to stand at the kitchen sink. From there, you could look out towards the barn. You could only see that the barn doors were open and there was light coming from inside. 

“I hoped we had left this all behind ten years ago.” Abigail rubbed her eyes and then brushed her messy hair back. “We’ve worked so hard to get away from that. John’s worked so hard to change.”

“We all have.” Hosea reminded her. “That was the only life we ever knew. It wasn’t easy making what we’ve got now. But that’s why we aren’t gonna roll over and give Micah what he wants.”

You watched as Arthur emerged from the barn with Daisy on his shoulders. John, Jack, and Uncle were right behind them. 

“I just don’t want anyone hurt.” You murmured. “We’ve got too much on the line this time.”

***

The Next Morning

Arms wrapped around you from behind. A smile slipped across your lips. You leaned back against your husband. He kissed the back of your head, rubbing your side with one hand. 

“You’re up early.”

“Someone’s gotta feed everybody.” You hummed, looking over your shoulder to him. 

“You didn’t sleep any last night either.” 

“Neither did you.” You pointed out.

He tightened his grip on you, arms holding you firmly against his body as he buried his nose in your hair. 

“What’s on your mind?”

“Nothing.”

“Obviously it’s something.” 

You tried to move out of his arms but he refused to let you go.  

“Arthur, I’ve got to–,”

“Can you just hold on a second?” He moved to stand next to you, looking down at you with furrowed brows. 

“I’ve got to get breakfast made before the kids wake up, Arthur.”

“Stop messing with the breakfast, pumpkin.” He took your hands and pulled you away from the stove. “You were tossing and turning all night.”

“You know why.” Your voice was low as you held his gaze. “All this talk about Micah coming for Hosea, for us…. I can’t help but get upset and anxious. I’m bound to lose sleep over it. And the only thing that can help me keep my cool is making sure the kids are taken care of and that everyone here has something to eat.”

“We don’t even know yet if he is comin’ for us.” Arthur shook his head. “It’s all just speculation.”

“It would be naive of us to assume he wouldn’t.”

“But it’d be too soon to assume he was. There hasn’t been any signs to point that he was. All John saw was Micah in Blackwater and John movin’ him and Abigail and the kids up here to Lupine Valley is just a precautionary measure.” Arthur brushed his hands up and down your arms. “We gotta take this one step at a time. If we start getting ahead of ourselves and losing it too soon, we’ll just…. Well, bad things will happen.”

You nodded, sniffling and wiping the tears from your cheeks. 

“Why don’t we go out to the porch for a minute? Just for some fresh air?”

“But the breakfast, Arthur.”

“The breakfast can sit here and simmer for a minute.” He put his hand on the small of your back and began to guide you towards the front door. 

The two of you went out to the front porch and sat on the porch swing. Arthur kept his arm around you while you rested your head on his shoulder. He moved the swing back and forth just a bit.

“You know, I almost forgot how much you used to do this.” His voice was low and quiet. 

“Do what?”

“Worry. You worry now, but this…. This is a different kind of worry. The kind that I always thought would give ya a heart attack or something.” He smiled a little at the memories that came flooding back from his time with the Van Der Linde gang. “Every time I went out, I knew you’d be nothin’ but a case of worry and fret.”

“‘Cause I wasn’t sure if you’d come back to me whole or…. Or missing something or even if you’d come back at all.” You murmured. “I used to drive everyone mad at camp. Always had to keep busy when you were gone. Chores with the girls or with Mr. Pearson. I couldn’t sit still. Not until you came back.”

“And then when I’d come back, you’d sleep for hours and hours.” Arthur looked down at you. “You never slept when I was gone.”

“No, I didn’t.” You shook your head, smiling a little. “But that was the good thing about camp. There was always something to do.”

Arthur nodded his head. Silence fell between you both. The sound of morning birds filled the air. But in the distance, Arthur could hear hooves against the dirt road. 

“Stay here a minute.” He muttered under his breath as he stood from the swing.

Your brows furrowed together and you leaned forward, wanting to follow him.

“What is it?”

“Someone’s coming down the road.” He went to the edge of the porch and paused for a moment. 

You moved to stand just behind him, your hand coming up to his back. A horse came into sight a few moments later. It was a familiar one, dark in color with a familiar rider.

Arthur smiled as Sadie stopped the horse just in front of the porch. 

“I didn’t reckon you folks would be up so early.”

“Well, we’ve got a full house right now.” Arthur nodded. “We can talk about it inside.”

“Have you had a long trip, Sadie?” You asked her. “I’m afraid your room is occupied right now but Daisy is in mine and Arthur’s bed if you’d like to rest.”

“I can rest later. Who are your guests?” She tilted her head to the side a bit.

“John and his family.” Arthur shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “There might be trouble in Blackwater.”

***

“I haven’t heard anything about Micah being this close. Is John sure he saw Micah?”

“He’s positive.” Arthur nodded his head. 

“I’ve been keeping a watchful eye on the papers. Wherever he and his new band go, they always turn up in the papers. I haven’t seen anything close to West Elizabeth in a few years.” Sadie shook her head, lifting her cup of coffee to her lips. 

“Somehow the standard snuck through.” Arthur muttered, moving towards the window behind the kitchen sink. 

“Maybe he’s traveling with a lighter gang now so he won’t make so much commotion.” You thought out loud.

“That would be unfortunate for us.” Sadie sighed. “Well, I hope you don’t mind one more guest.”

“Of course not.” Arthur shook his head, turning to lean against the sink. 

“But we are running out of room here.” You frowned. “John and Abigail are staying in your room and Daisy’s sleeping in our room while Jack and Grace get Daisy’s room.”

“And Uncle insists on sleeping out in the hayloft.” Arthur added with a shake of his head. “Old bastard can still make it up the ladder somehow. But I know Charles and Lucy have room over at Lone Paradise.”

“Do they know about Micah?”

“Yeah.” Arthur messed with the brim of his hat. 

“How’s Charles taking it?” Sadie shifted around in her seat so she could see Arthur a bit better. 

“He’s on edge, like all of us are. Lucy’s gonna have her baby soon. Last thing we need is Micah Bell”

“Nothin’s gonna happen to Lucy or that baby.” Sadie assured him, shaking her head as she stood to her feet. “I’m gonna walk around y’all’s property a bit then make my way over to Lone Paradise. I’ll bounce back and forth between here and there. You’re separated by a few acres, right?”

“From the house here headin’ west for thirty acres there’s a big oak with an old wagon sittin’ there. That’s where my property ends and his begins. Keep goin’ west for another ten acres and you’ll come up on his barn first. His house is just beyond that.” Arthur explained. 

“It’s quicker that way than it is going the road.” You added. “There’s a trial to follow too so you shouldn’t get lost. We use it often.”

Sadie nodded and began to head for the door. 

“Be safe out there, Sadie.” 

She turned back to look at Arthur before leaving. 

As the front door closed, he let out a soft breath. 

“Feels better havin’ her here.”

You nodded in agreement, standing to your feet. 

“I don’t think we’ve had everyone here since…. Well, since Daisy was sick three years ago.”

“Sure feels like a long time ago.” Arthur mumbled quietly. “It’s funny how time passes but things still…. Things are the same.”

“How so?” You cocked your head to the side a bit as you came to stand in front of your husband. You placed your hand on his stomach, looking up at him. 

“Micah was the problem back then, and he’s the problem still.”

You pressed your lips together as your eyes lowered to the buttons of his shirt. 

“There were a lot of problems back then, Arthur. Micah was just….” You trailed off, unable to think of the right words. 

“He was the root of it all.”

Something moved out of the corner of your eyes. You turned your head to see Daisy standing in the edge of the kitchen. She held in one hand a stuffed bear Hosea had bought her when she was a baby. Carson was right beside her. Her free hand held on to the back of his neck. There were tears in her eyes and her cheeks were damp. 

“Sweetpea.” Arthur moved away from you so that he could kneel down in front of your daughter. “What happened? What’s got you in tears so early in the mornin’?”

“Had a bad dream.” She sniffled. He used his thumbs to gingerly wipe the tears away. His hands appeared so big as he tenderly cupped her cheeks. “I think I accidentally kicked Carson when I was sleeping.”

Arthur looked down at Carson, who wagged his tail and nosed at Arthur’s arm. 

“Was he layin’ at your feet? I know he likes to do that to watch over you while you sleep.”

“Yeah. I-I woke up and he yipped real loud.” Daisy’s voice hitched in her throat. “Did I hurt him daddy?”

“Where do you think you kicked him, sweetpea?” Arthur kept one hand on Daisy’s side while his other rubbed along Carson’s back and then down each of his legs. 

“I think his chest. Do you think he’s gonna be scared of me, daddy?”

“Don’t be silly, sweetpea.”

“Carson knows you didn’t do it on purpose, Daisy.” You moved to be next to them. 

“I don’t think he’s hurt.” Arthur shook his head. “Think you might’ve just surprised him, sweetpea.”

Daisy stepped closer to Arthur, burying her nose in his neck. He rubbed her back and kissed the side of her head. 

“It’s still early, sweetpea. You wanna go back to bed? I’ll lay down with you.”

“No. I don’t wanna sleep.”

“Are you hungry? I’ve got breakfast almost done.” You brushed your hand along Arthur’s shoulder before turning back to the stove. 

“Yeah, I am.”

“After bit here, you can go wake up Uncle John and Aunt Abigail.” Arthur stood up and in the same motion picked Daisy up. He took her over to the table and placed her down in a chair. “Guess who will be here later on today, sweetpea?”

“Who?”

“Aunt Sadie.”

Daisy’s eyes lit up.

“Really? She’s here!”

“No, well not yet.” Arthur rubbed Daisy’s shoulder. “She’s over at Uncle Charles’s and Aunt Lucy’s. After while, she’ll be coming over here.”

“It’s been forever since I seen her last!”

“I know. It’s gonna be an exciting day.”

Taglist: @winterwolf @lauramb7 @caraqas @bluscryn @krenee1drful @zodiacaldust @nonodino @cal-lifornication @thefirelordm @sargeantsea @sokkasdarling @thecollection @mayday1284 @kashasenpai @misskrql @brooke-supernatural16 @lassiee @hocdolliday  @micahs-bird

If your name is in italics, it wouldn’t let me tag you :(

[hargrove-mayfields]

Harringrove April Day 16- Nostalgia

On just about every flat surface in their mansion, Steve’s mother had put out some fancy Tiffany light fixture.

Steve’s room was the only place in the whole house he got to have any day in the interior design, and his lamp, well it didn’t quite have a stained glass shade, or ornate detailing to fancy up the mansion, his happens to be an old nursery lamp from when he was six and still had a themed bedroom.

At the peak of his too cool for school teenager bullshit, he’d attempted to throw it out, sent it away to the curb with a bag of stuffed animals he claimed he didn’t need anymore, but the very same night he started having nightmares again, so he scrambled to get it back before the raccoons found it first.

That dusty old lamp had saved him from countless nights spent awake and terrified, and he wasn’t one to say he was ashamed of that.

Except, now Billy Hargrove, the pinnacle of badass, is in his room, and there it is, still plugged in on the nightstand.

Of all things too, it couldn’t have just been a generic race car lamp or something he could play off as not really being for kids, it had to be stupid Bambi.

There’s a story behind it, that when he was a toddler, his first venture out of Indiana was to go see his gramma over in Maryland, and, after one look at his big brown eyes and his fluffy brown hair, she immediately nicknamed him Bambi.

After that the name just sort of stuck with him, his parents using it when they wanted on his good side, to make up for forgetting his birthday, or as an apology for leaving him alone so long the babysitter left, so of course his mom thought it would be adorable if his bedroom was themed around it.

Somewhere in a dusty corner of the attic, he still had the curtains and the quilt and the wall hangings, and under his bed was a pillow embroidered with his name and a picture of the clumsy cartoon deer made by his gramma. And of course, there was the brightly shining lamp.

He would never admit that he kept them there for when he was at his most frightened, clutching the pillow to his chest during a nightmare, or wrapping the soft material of the tiny old quilt around his shoulders when he felt an imaginary pair of eyes watching him.

Because Steve had seen some shit, he felt that after witnessing a ten-foot tall faceless monster come through the ceiling and try to kill him, and having a herd of baby versions of that same monster charge at him with nothing but a baseball bat to protect himself and a group of defenseless children, he had earned the right to use a damn nursery lamp in his bedroom.

But, that ass-backwards swell of pride at still using his childhood comfort items at 19 years old is definitely crushed by the fact that, after being in his room for a grand total of five minutes, that’s immediately what Billy drifts to.

A drunken apology at a New Year’s party might have made up for the concussion and proved he was probably not going to beat his face in again, but it didn’t change the fact that he was in Steve’s bedroom with the edge of the printed lampshade pinched between his fingers, and a contemplative look on his face.

It was a little while after their truce was reached, that Billy just started showing up at the Harringtons’ door unannounced. Sometimes it was to borrow Steve’s first aid kit. Sometimes he’d steal some of his weed. Once he’d come over just to watch something on Steve’s TV. Whatever his reason, Steve had let him in every time.

In this particular instance, it had been Steve who had called Billy, because he had a math project and an essay due first thing tomorrow morning, and Nancy was too busy to help him.

At first he’d considered just not getting the work done, but he decided Billy would do. He was smart enough that the co-ed teacher in the math class they shared had begged him to switch to the advanced classes, so Steve figured his help wouldn’t be so bad.

But his desk where all of his school stuff is is upstairs in his bedroom, where he’s left out the dumb baby lamp, and of course that would be exactly what Billy goes straight for. Steve feels himself start to panic a little, unsure if he could trust Billy’s reaction, and convincing himself that Billy might beat his ass for being a fragile little fairy or something.

It never comes, Billy just sits down all casual on the bed next to Steve, pulling one of his legs up so he could cross it over his knee, and nods over at the lamp again. “Wish I still had something from when I was little.”

The weight of the entire universe is lifted from Steve’s chest, knowing that Billy isn’t going to tear his head off. He lets out a sharp breath he didn’t know he was holding in. “Yeah?”

Billy nods and looks down, fidgeting with the pendant he always wore around his neck. “My dad threw everything out. All I have is one little picture of my mom.”

Steve knew he lived with his step-mom, but had never even thought about what happened to Billy’s real mother. He realizes the pendant was probably a locket, the very one that holds the aforementioned picture, and asks “Can I see it?”

It looks like Billy has to think about it, as he keeps twisting the locket between his fingers, before he nods and opens it. Steve leans towards him, putting his hand up under it and holding it in his palm, straining to see the tiny, aged picture.

Even though he’s never seen this woman, it makes Steve incredibly sad, seeing her little face all worn out in that locket around her son's neck. He wonders if she was dead, or if maybe she’d lost custody for some reason, or if maybe she had just left, but whatever happened, when his eyes flicker back up to Billy’s face, the tears shining in his eyes and the way he avoids his gaze, he knows better than to ask.

Steve lets the locket fall and watches Billy snap it shut quickly, and he realizes he has no idea what the right thing to say is.

What he wants to say is that he’s sorry, for him losing his mother and having nothing but one yellowed and tear stained picture to remember her by, but that seems too much like prying, somehow not really appropriate.

Instead, he remembers what Billy said about his dad throwing his stuff out and says, “Your dad must be a real asshole, huh?”

Billy scoffs and blinks away the last of the tears in his eyes. “You’ve got no idea, Harrington.” There’s a long awkward pause, until Billy asks, “You know how I’m always coming over here with like, all kinds of shit wrong with me?”

Steve thinks he knows where this was going. “Sure.”

Chewing on the corner of his nail, Billy takes a moment to get his thoughts together, his eyes flitting nervously across the room, focusing on pretty much anything but Steve, mostly the picture frame behind him. “I lied. It’s not, like, fights or whatever I say. At least not with other kids.”

Steve himself was no stranger to conversations like these, he himself had to confess something of a similar calibre to Nancy, when they were still dating, because his father had come home from a business trip pissed off about something, and slapped him across the face just a little too hard. The sturdy silver ring that he wore on his middle finger had split the skin on Steve’s cheek, and he couldn’t come up with a good enough excuse to cover his tracks.

Admitting to it out loud was one of the hardest things he’s ever had to do, so he decides he won’t make Billy say it. Maybe they weren’t on the best of terms, only here to do homework or whatever, but if he was going to open up about this, he definitely wasn’t going to make him experience that same humiliation he had.

“Is it your dad? That does that to you?” Nancy hadn’t been kind enough to spare him, forcing him to tell her once that the scar he so proudly sported wasn’t actually from a fist fight with Tommy like he said, and he wouldn’t do the same to Billy.

In lieu of a response though, Billy sucks in a sharp breath through his teeth, his hands starting to shake ever so subtly, and Steve knows he’s got to keep pressing. “Do you need help? I can call the chief-“

“No.” Billy shakes his head and makes eye contact with Steve for the first time since he started talking. “Cops only make it worse.”

Steve could understand that, had tried once when he was about eight or so, with the assistance of one of the housekeepers, to call the police when his father twisted his arm so far behind his back his shoulder popped out of place, but they wouldn’t dare arrest a public figure like his father, especially not for a little corporal punishment. The first thing they’d asked was what Steve had done wrong, not why his father had felt it fitting to beat on his eight year old for a tiny mistake. He never asked for help again.

“Well is there anything I can do?” Despite their differences and the fact that he only called him here to cheat on his homework, he truly did want to help Billy. Something about repeatedly surviving horrific monster attacks made him a lot more protective of those around him, and now that they were over their dumb pissing contest, Billy was included in that too.

“Think you’ve done enough letting me into your mansion, unless that’s not good enough for your hero complex.” It was a pathetic jab, there was no bite behind his broken tone, and Steve would almost rather have him at his worst than see him so vulnerable and sad.

Steve tries to reason with him softly, “You know it’s not like that, Billy.”

“Do I?” Walls had been put up as Billy made his last ditch efforts to protect himself from being weak in front of Steve. “Cause where I’m sitting, it seems like you get off on charity cases like mine. You tryin to swoop in and save me, King Steve? Feed your ego so you can feel like the savior you were always meant to be?”

He was baiting him, trying to pick a fight so he’d push him away, Steve had seen it all before in himself and wouldn’t fall for it. “Listen. I just want to help you.”

Everything about Billy suddenly seemed to make a whole lot more sense. That whole part animal, tough guy thing was just an act, and Steve knew because he had done essentially the same thing.

Before Nancy Wheeler had taught him to be better, he and Billy really weren’t so different. He’d let high school bullshit bother him, beat up the nerds and fucked all the cheerleaders and mocked anyone lower than him on the social ladder like he was supposed to, but it always made him feel off.

In the end, it had been so easy to get him to the other side, to show him what to do instead, he supposed all he needed was a little push to help him actualize what he already believed.

And then it hits him, in that moment, that this was Billy’s push in the right direction. That he was Billy’s Nancy.

“I don’t expect you to tell me everything and I’m not doing this for me, just,” It became extremely important to him to not set Billy off, to say just the right thing to keep him on the right track. “my door is always open, Billy.”

At first, it seemed to have worked, Billy sat staring at the floor, his lip quivering as he mulled over Steve’s words, but, when he stood abruptly and snatched his leather jacket from where it was draped over the back of Steve’s desk chair, Steve knows he messed up.

“Where are you going?” He stands up fast enough to give himself a head rush while Billy shrugs his jacket back on and yanks the door open.

“Need a smoke.” That’s all he gets before the door slammed in his face, and he hears Billy's heavy boots stomping down the stairs and the sound of him slamming his front door.

He waits with bated breath and tears pricking the corners of his eyes for the sound of Billy’s car starting and tearing out of his driveway, but it never comes.

Still, he feels immensely guilty and selfish and stupid as all hell for not just biting his tongue. He should’ve just fought back, argued with him like was expecting him to instead of trying to be comforting like he was his fucking therapist or something.

Because this was Billy fucking Hargrove, stereotypical meat head bully. Why he even felt the need to help him, other than their similar upbringings and coping mechanisms, or the fact that Billy had obviously been reaching out, hoping for someone to care, was beyond him. Or maybe it really wasn’t, he knew exactly why, he just felt weak and stupid for trying, and especially so for failing.

Apparently he’d been so caught up in his little pity party that he missed the sound of the door opening back up, and didn’t notice Billy had come back until his bedroom door was open.

Steve was so relieved that Billy came back, that he hadn’t pushed him too far or fucked everything up, even if he reeked of too strong cigarettes, and growled at him when he came in, “Don’t we got fucking work to do, Harrington?”

They don’t end up finishing the essay. Steve was hopeless with numbers, and they were too busy goofing off, so the math project didn't get done very quickly. It was okay though, Billy wasn’t much help at all when it came to English anyways.

Steve walks him outside when he has to go, beating a curfew of midnight. He stops on the porch, immediately crossing his arms against the frigid cold of the night air. Billy stops too at his car, his fingers through the handle, and turns around, calling across the yard. “Hey Harrington?”

He hardly waits for Steve’s response, a quick “Yeah?” to tell him, “Thank you.”

There isn’t time for Steve to respond before Billy’s yanking open the door of his Camaro and backing out of the driveway, but he knows he’d still made astronomical progress tonight.

It makes him feel incredibly dumb, laying in his bed that night, illuminated by the warm light of that very same Bambi lamp and trying to put his thoughts of Billy to rest like he was some cheesy teenage girl, but he’s just happy to have found a friend, to have made a difference in somebody’s life, and he knows that on the other side of town, laying in own bed with his locket left open on the pillow beside him, Billy feels the same way.

[celestialmantdonna]

Mantis was happy to fade into the background for a bit. With or without confidence, the empath was not one to need the spotlight. She smiled, happy to witness her Abilisks interacting with people; the creatures were feared in the galaxy, seen as nothing but monstrous abominations. The residents of Knowhere needed to realize that the Abilisks were good.

With careful movements, Mantis took the drink that Drax had barely touched, she placed a straw on it and she took a sip, her eyes on Prince Nuada as he started to pet the Abilisks. Rocket, standing on a tall chair behind the bar, used a cloth to dry a glass, his movements somewhat annoyed. He glanced at Mantis, and she blinked.

"What?"

"I didn't say anythin'," Rocket replied, tone dry.

"Rocket, I know you. What is it?"

"Why're you lookin' at the Prince like that?" Rocket inquired, setting the glass down.

"Huh?" Mantis blinked again. "Because he is wearing a golden shirt. It is a color that tends to attract attention."

"Right. Even though Adam's golden himself and you don't stare at him like that."

"Okay, fine! I stare at him because he is looking good." Mantis frowned and sipped the drink, trying to ignore the face Rocket made.

"Hey," he said gently. "Bug... no."

"No what?"

"Just no." Rocket repeated. Nuada was distracted with the Abilisks, so it was time Rocket knocked some sense into Mantis. "Don't catch feelings for that guy."

"I do not catch feelings for someone just because they look good, Rocket. I am not that shallow," Mantis stated, using the straw to stir the drink.

"I know, but–" Rocket shrugged, shoving his paws into his pockets. "You saved his people when you brought 'em here. You exhausted yourself growing entire fuckin' forests for 'em. You personally made sure they were comfortable. And instead of sayin', 'wow, Mantis has done so much for us, I better not ask anything of her ever', what did he do? Give you a fuckin'... glowin' green seed or whatever. No hesitation. He shoved more responsibilities onto you, because God forbid you rest!"

"You tried to bite me the first time I attempted to pet you," Mantis pointed out, though Rocket's anger didn't hurt her – she knew it wasn't directed at her. "And I didn't let that discourage me, I still wanted to be your friend. We all have a past. We all have the right to change."

"That's different," he said. "I didn't think I owed you shit. This guy? He sent you a clear message: no matter what you do for him, for his whole kind, it isn't enough and you could always do more. And I don't fuckin' like it."

Mantis' gaze fell pensively. "I helped them because I wanted to, and you know that. I expect nothing in return."

"That's all very nice, but just because you don't expect anythin' in return that doesn't mean he should abuse your kindness. You left because you were done livin' for others. If he's mad at you, he should realize he... contributed to that."

"He is not mad at me. If he was, I would know. I hugged him, and I learned he is happy to see me." Mantis stirred her drink with the straw and finished it, before softly pushing the glass toward the raccoon. "Can I have a refill?"

Rocket gave her a nudge. "You can have anythin' you want in this life, ladybug. You don't need permission."

"I am not asking permission, Rocket, you are the bartender!" Mantis did her best to sound annoyed, but her smile betrayed her. She always had so much fun with the Guardians.

"Well, that's true." Rocket chuckled. "I'll give you that. Sorry for the, uh, unsolicited advice. I'm still tryin' to unlearn a lot of stuff, like you are."

Mantis shook her head. "It's okay. It is. I know you are just trying to look out for me." She softly booped his nose. "Thank you, Rocket. You are a good friend."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever." Rocket took her drink and turned away to prepare another.

Mantis laughed before her attention returned to the Abilisks. One was giving some children a ride. Two was tentatively exploring the place, and Three was lifting a large tentacle to pat Nuada's head. People were slowly approaching them, though the giant creatures occupied so much space, one had to actively try to stay away from them in order to do so.

Going Knowhere || closed with thenexusofsouls

She was home. Mantis was finally home again. Not because Knowhere was her home as a place, but because home was where the Guardians were.

It had been two years since Mantis chose to bid farewell to the Guardians, leaving to find her own purpose while Quill left to return to Earth. The Celestial siblings had stopped running from their past, and it was freeing, as scary as the choice had been. Mantis had taken the three Abilisks with her… and the green seed Nuada gave her, of course.

Moments after landing, Mantis was greeted by some of the residents that lived on Knowhere. She rarely wanted to draw attention to herself, but she knew the three giant Abilisks would attract a few looks. Drax was all over her. He had picked her up at least three times to hug her, tightly squeezing Mantis until her eyes bulged from her skull. Part of the reason why Mantis had been at peace leaving his side was because now there were other children, children who needed him, after he spent years protecting Mantis since she reminded him of his daughter.

“Okay, Drax, enough! I want to say hello to everyone else,” she exclaimed, patting his back until he finally put her down.

Nebula, Kraglin and Adam hugged her affectionately, but soon enough Groot pushed them aside so he could hug Mantis, as well as Rocket. Cosmo licked Mantis’ face and Mantis giggled, patting the dog’s head. Cosmo was still the best girl in the galaxy.

When Mantis asked where Quill was, Drax told her he was still on Earth, but he wrote to the Guardians regularly to let them know he was okay. They were family, all of them, and they would always be.

“I say we throw a party tonight,” Rocket suggested. “You’re back, bug. We've gotta celebrate. What do ya think?”

“That sounds good! Thank you, Rocket,” Mantis said.

“Abilisks!” someone cried nearby, and collective screaming followed.

After reassuring everyone that the Abilisks were with her, lest panic took over all of Knowhere, Mantis asked the Guardians if they knew where Prince Nuada was. She had left without saying goodbye to anyone but the Guardians, and she wondered if Nuada would be angry with her. Rocket and Groot offered to look after her Abilisks while Mantis looked for the Elven Prince.

Mantis walked with more self-assurance than before. She no longer held her hands in front of her body, letting her arms swing at her sides instead. She was more poised now, secure in herself yet more mellow. Confident – but not unfriendly. As if her two years of complete independence had allowed her to grow more than her several centuries with Ego. She wandered over to the spot where Nuada was, following the direction Rocket had told her, and a few bark children appeared to say hello. Mantis smiled and waved at them. She remembered taking them to Knowhere shortly after bringing Nuada's people, as well as Mr. Wink. She never wanted Nuada to choose either his people or his friends; he could have both. She tilted her head when she spotted Nuada, and offered a polite smile.

"Hello," she said, trying not to make things awkward. "Good to see you," she added. "Okay, I know I left without saying goodbye, but... I already said goodbye to my friends, and I realized if I stayed a little longer to say goodbye to everyone, I would not leave. I would just think about how much I would miss everyone and stay. The seed is fine, by the way! I have been speaking to it regularly and making sure it knew it was a good seed. My Abilisks would keep it safe when I couldn't, so... yeah."

@thenexusofsouls

[olivyh]

Into Wonderland Chapter 1: Heartslabyul Part One

Mc wakes up to the sound of panicked footsteps running towards them full force, followed by low murmuring. Before they can open their eyes, they're met with a kick to the stomach, which makes them jolt up and cry out.

"What the-" They start, wincing as they hold their hand over their ribs, which are sure to bruise in due time.

"I'm sorry!" A young boy their age scrambles to their side, large rabbit ears drooping down his back in embarrassment. The boy's face is flushed as he fusses over the person he just tripped over, pausing and frantically shuffling his hands around his checkered uniform. Hos dark blue hair is a mess, and the spade that covers one of his eyes is smudged around the edges, with some of it dragging towards the side of his head.

"I-" Mc begins, staring at the boy's ears as they perk up as he swears under his breath.

"Where is it?!" He whisper yells in a panicked frenzy.

"W-wait!" Mc calls out, standing and trying to get the boy attention. "Where am I?" He crawls around the small patch of grass that they lay in, ignoring them and patting the ground until his hand lays on a bronze pocket watch that ticks ominously. He whimpers as he stares at it.

"I-I'm late!" He yells, scrambling and running towards a path that opened in front of them.

"Wait! Late for what?!" Mc yells, chasing after the rabbit boy and swearing when they realize how fast he is compared to them. "Please! Just tell me where I am!" They chase after him, tripping and falling into a large hole in the ground.

They let out a shrill scream, closing their eyes and bracing for an impact that doesn't come. Slowly, they crack open an eye, staring at the objects that float past them.

"Seriously..." They groan. "What is this place...?" They cross their arms and huff, tapping some of the objects that hover in the air, making them spin and click. They finally hit the ground with a soft thud, making them wince as they roll over onto their side, which in reality ends up making them land on their head, which flips to put them back into their feet. They swallow down the nausea that threatens to rise, hearing a familiar voice from down the hall.

"Mr. Rabbit!" They yell, dashing through the checkered hallway when they see the familiar head of navy hair. The boy turns a corner and sprints through a door, slamming it behind him.

"Wait!" They call after him, not stopping in time and slamming their face into the door. They groan and rub their forehead, offering a weak, half-assed, annoyed sob to leave their lips. "Really! The nerve!" They huff.

They grab the handle, screaming when it sneezes as their hand makes contact. "How rude!" The door chides.

"Listen, I'm very, very sorry about grabbing your face but I desperately need to find that rabbit!" They plead. The door huffs, rolling its eyes.

"Why, if you wanted to get through there, you can just shrink!" The knob exclaims. Mc rolls their eyes, catching sight of a small tart that lay on the ground. Reading the tag, which says 'eat me', they decide to take a small bite, savoring the taste as they feel themselves shrink smaller and smaller. They yelp as they drop the treat.

Groaning, they stand and approach the doorknob, placing their hands on their hips expectantly.

"Can I go in now?" They ask.

"You need the key! I'm locked, unfortunately..."

"No, I'm not doing this right now." They wait for the doorknob to explain what it means, then takes the opportunity to leap through it's open mouth.

Landing in a wide sea, they choke and gasp as they reach the surface, waves slamming against the side of their head. In the distance, they spot a small island. They decide to swim towards it, the waves pulling and pushing them to and from their destination. They finally land on the island, soaked to the bone and out of breath.

"Is that all you got?" A voice booms with laughter. Mc looks up to find themselves face to face with a very large, scary, muscular man.

"Keep going, children!" The man yells as a wave blasts the students with... wow, more animal ears, huh.

"Mister Vargas please..." One of the students groans, only to be pushed ahead by another one behind him.

"Nonsense! How else are you supposed to get this swole?!" He's met with tired groans. Mc is pushed into the circle, trying to speak with the man before being hit by another wave of water. Before they can get their feet back on solid ground, they feel a pair of cold hands pull them back into the sea.

"Hey! Wait!" They yell, fighting against their captors. The being just laughs gleefully, pulling them along the current until they get to the shore. The man throws them onto the sand roughly, making them cough and sputter.

"What-" They choke on more sand. "What the hell was that for?!"

The man- peeks out from the water, teal and black hair floating next to him as a long tail splashes behind him.

"Hm? You looked like you were having fun and I wanted to have fun too!" The man giggles again. Another head peeks out of the water, smiling ominously. Mc yelps and jolts back, hitting their head against the rock that was behind them.

"T-there's two!" They yell.

"Fufufu... of course there's two. We're twins." The quieter one comments.

"Mhm! Always have been, always wil be..." The other one laughs again, pulling at Mc's feet.

"I wonder how these work-" He mutters until they squirm out of his grasp, before his claws can dig into their skin.

"That is, unless we get eaten like those poor oysters we saw the other day-" The twin with the hair on the left side of his face comments.

The other twin groans. "That wasn't fair at all! I wanted to get to them first! We were waiting for them to grow up so they'd be more tasty! Impatient walrus..." He huffs, sinking into the water so only his downslanted eyes were staring at the human in front of them. Their golden eyes seem to glow, sending a shiver down the human's spine.

"I really, really need to go- as much as I'd like to hear about oysters." They mutter under their breath.

"Aww," The touchier twin whines. "But it was just getting interesting~"

The other twin chuckles. "Patience Floyd, they'll be back very soon."

Like hell I will, The human thinks, crawling up towards the woods that lined the shore. They walk until they find a small cottage, hearing the same rabbit yelling something.

"Mom?" The rabbit yells, running past Mc on the footpath. "Mom!" He yells again.

"There you are!" Mc tries to grab a hold of him but he ends up being too quick, making them slip and fall. They follow him into the house, praying that there's no police in this weird world.

"Mom! Where'd you go?" The boy continues to yell, walking back out the door and inspecting the garden.

Mc notices a sticky substance on the leg and they look down, jolting when they see red seeping through their light blue clothing.

"Seriously? Now?" The groan, opening their pocket and pulling out the tart, completely forgetting what it had done to them before and taking a bite. This time, they jump as they begin to grow, pushing the furniture that lay around the house out of the way as they struggle to move.

The rabbit boy in the garden turns and screams upon seeing the giant human in his house.

"Help!" He yells, running in the opposite direction. "Help! Monster!"

"Monster?!" Mc exclaims, trying to wriggle out of the house. The boy comes back not too long later, pulling behind him a small cat-raccoon looking animal with flames in his ears.

"Grim, this is the monster I was telling you about..." The boy's voice shakes, as he walks the cat through his gates.

"And I'm the monster..." They groan.

"Hmm... have you tried telling it to leave?" The cat sniffs at Mc's hand, making them twist to try to get away from it.

"No...!? What makes you think that's gonna work?!" The boy yells, fists clenched at his sides.

"Well, we could always set it on fire?" The cat suggests. The boy jumps as it lets out a breath, setting the corner of the house ablaze in a bright blue flame.

"What?! No!" The rabbit boy yells. Mc nods and tries to blow at the fire, hyperventilating a bit as the fore starts to spread dangerously close to their thigh.

"What he said! Stop!" They plead. "I just need to get back to my normal size!"

"Normal...?" The bunny boy repeats, smacking his forehead when something clicks. "You're the person I tripped over this morning!"

"Yes!" Did it really take him that long? They think bitterly. "Now please! Help me shrink again!" The boy panics, looking back to his garden. He sprints to where the carrots lay and throws them towards Mc, many of them smacking them in the fave before falling to the ground.

"Quick! Eat one of these!" The boy yells as the cat continues to fan the flames at the base of the house.

Mc does as told and shrinks, plummeting to the ground, weighed down by the carrot they're still holding. They scream, before landing in a gloved palm.

"Woah..." The boy inspects them, holding them up by their collar and shaking them off the carrot. They grumble and kick, falling flat back onto the boy's palm. "I didn't think that would actually work..."

"Oh..." Mc mumbles. "Well, thank you for that. Now, how do I go home?"

"Home?" The boy repeats, looking as if he forgot something. He yelps and almost drops Mc, making them cling to his pinky as he runs over to the cat. He casts a spell, causing a small raincloud to appear above the fire.

"Hey!" The cat growls. "I was tryin' to help ya, yanno!"

"The monster is gone!" The boy yells, running a hand through his navy blue hair in frustration. In doing so, he knocks Mc off his hand and they fall to the ground, crashing into a large puddle created by the raincloud.

"Rabbit!" They yell before going underwater, swept down the path by the small creek that had been created. "Rabb-" Their words are muffled by water as they're swept onto a small patch of dirt.

"Now what is this?" A voice calls, and Mc feels themselves be picked up by the back of their shirt once again. They yelp, swinging out of the person's grasp, before opening their eyes to see the most beautiful man they had ever seen, wearing a cape made of flower petals.

"Oh! How splendid!" Another flower grabs them from his grasp, holding them at arms length and spinning them around, making them dizzy. "A new addition to our garden!"

"Not quite- they're not much to look at," The other flower states bitterly, lips pursing into a frown.

"I think they're pretty-" Another smaller flower speaks up from behind the mean flower.

"Quiet, Epel."

"Oh! How delightful! This is so exciting!" The tallest flower continues to exclaim, grabbing Mc by the hand and twirling. "What a peculiar scent! And those petals don't look like petals at all!"

That makes the smallest boy tense. "Could they be-"

"A weed!" The beautiful man fumes, face turning a light red. "How disgraceful!"

"Mon dieu!" The man drops them on the ground with a thud. They wince as he backs away to join the other two.

"I am not a weed! I'm a human!" Mc yells. "I don't belong here at all!"

"Oh? You're the one telling us that?" The beautiful flower strides towards them. "You come down here, bringing with you a flood that destroys the careful arrangements we've been working on, then interrupt our chorus practice-" The man pauses and takes a breath, going back to his regal manner. He pushes Mc down the path.

"Gone with you!" He yells. He can hear chides and similar grumblings among the other flowers in the garden as they're pushed out if the garden. When they regain their balance and turn to fave the flowers, they turn to yell at the flowers before one of them is launched at them, exploding in their face.

They stand up straight and sputter, spitting out the pollen that had exploded out of the stem arrow. "How rude!" They yell. A small voice calls out to them from the bushes. They turn to see the smaller flower, his purple hair petals poking out from the dark green leaves.

"I'm sorry about them. I think you're cool- weed or not. I know someone who can help you get back to normal, if you'd like-" Mc nods, rushing towards the boy as he explains of a caterpillar who lives not too far from the garden. They thank him and go on their way, pushing through the thick leaves, only to be met with a puff of smoke to the face.

They cough as a deep voice calls out to them. "Who are you?"

"I-I'm-" They cough out, peeking an eye open to see a man with a large fur coat and split dyed hair, lounging on a mushroom and smoking something out of a pipe. They watch in awe as the smoke forms the shapes of small dogs, yipping and jumping over one another.

"I'm Mc," They announce, and the man look at them suspiciously.

"No, who are you?"The man grumbles, taking another smoke from the pipe.

"I just answered!"

"No, you didn't, little pup." The man chides. He sighs, sitting up straighter and looking down at the scared human with a sadistic smile. "You're a human aren't you?"

"Yes! That's exactly right!" They smile, glad that someone finally understood their situation somewhat.

"You're very lost. That's unfortunate," The man gracefully falls off the mushroom, walking away from the human.

"Wait! Can't you help me?" They call out.

"Help is on the left, pup," The man calls from behind him.

"Left? There's no path here..." They search around them, twisting and craning their neck to find what the caterpillar was talking about.

The man groans in annoyance, turning dramatically and pointing his pipe towards the mushroom. "It's on the left, dear," Their mouth forms an 'o' shape as it clicks in their mind and they smile and nod, making the man's lip quirk up in a smirk. "Good doggy."

With that, the man disappears in a cloud of smoke. Mc stares at the mushroom, yanking a chunk off of it and falling flat to the ground.

"Ow..." They rub their back as they stare at it, taking a small bite. They feel themselves begin to grow again, this time to normal size. They carefully tiptoe through the garden, despite still being annoyed at the flowers for throwing them out. Despite that, they don't want to kill them. After all, the kind purple flower was with them.

They walk along the dirt path, looking around anxiously as they hear someone humming. The voice travels from side to side of the path, until it eventually lands right in their ear. They let out a yelp, jumping back as the boy next to them snickers.

"H-hey!?" They scream, covering their ears and backing away from the catboy.

"Goodbye to you too, dearie~" The boy hums, disappearing before making only his head reappear in a tall tree. His messy purple hair seems to float around him as he stares down at them with a lazy smile.

"What? Okay never mind that part I just- I really, really need to get home and so far nobody has been of any help and-"

"Hmm? Help you say?" The boy hums, tapping his feet in the air behind him.

"Yes! Please!" They exclaim. "How do I get home?!" The cat thinks for a minute, before giggling at their desperation.

"Hmm... methinks mew could find a way. That is, if mewthinks you can survive~" The cat snickers, hanging upside down off the branch.

"S-survive?!" They yelp, a chill running down their spine. "Survive what?"

"Why, the little red tyrant, of course!"

"Little red tyrant...?" Mc repeats, knitting their eyebrows.

"The Queen of Hearts, of course!" The cat howls in laughter, still dangling off the branch.

"How do I get to her?"

"To him."

"To him. Right. Respect pronouns, Mc." They mutter that last part.

"Well just follow this path~!" The cat hums, his tail pointing towards a bright path that points down behind them. "A skip and a jump and a dance later and mew'll find your way!" He giggles, using his tail to tease the human before fading away, a song disappearing on his lips as he vanishes

"Weird..." Mc utters, walking down the path the boy pointed them towards. They can hear things clicking together and loud laughter and singing from a distance. They decide to follow it and find themselves at a small tea party, housing only three people circulating around the long table.

"Happy unbirthday!" The head of the table yells gleefully, snapping a few pictures of the table. The other redhead at the table laughs loudly into his cup, dropping it and opting for a new one.

"It's always a happy unbirthday!" The boy with the heart over his eye wheezes between laughs, making the man with the hat laugh even harder, dropping the tart he'd been eating into his tea. This makes the man howl even louder, clutching his chest as his ginger hair falls out of his large tophat.

The other man at the table sits uncomfortably. Mc looks and recognizes his shaggy blue hair.

"Rabbit!" They yell. The boy sees them and smiles, waving them over. They walk over to him and sit in the seat next to him, wary about the eyes of the other two boys on them.

"I've been trying to escape from them for twenty minutes now! Riddle is going ti have my head!" He whispers in a panic. Mc nods as the other two leap over to their side.

"Is it your unbirthday as well?" The orange haired boy with a diamond under his eye asks, tilting his head and pouring them a cup of tea.

"I- unbirthday?" They ask.

"Do you really not know what an unbirthday is?" The redhead laughs, slamming his hand to his face and smudging the heart on his eye. "Dummy!"

Mc's face lights up a bright red in embarrassment, and the rabbit pats their back comfortingly.

"Be nice Ace!" He yells at the redhead, who sticks his tongue out.

"Stop being such a suck up, Deuce!"

Ignoring the other two's bickering, the ginger sits next to the human, explaining the unbirthday. "You see, the day you're born is your birthday- every other day is your unbirthday!"

"Well, then it's my unbirthday too!" Mc smiles, relaxed by the hatters comforting vibe.

"Thats such a coincidence! It's mine too! I need to tell my followers this! Smile~!" They're blinded for a second by the bright light of a camera before they go back to the two rabbit boys arguing.

"You're always late!" Ace yells at the navy haired boy, whose ears flop against his head as his face flushes a bright red.

"I wouldn't be any more if you didn't break my pocketwatch!" He yells.

"Wait- late for what?" Mc interrupts, cutting off Ace before he can make the situation worse.

"The Queen has a croquet match today!" Deuce says, sighing. "And I was supposed to introduce the opponents-"

[hirokiyuu]

futaba for soft headcanons?

what they smell like

see. i love ftb so much. i wnat to be kind. but my very first thought reading this was “gamer”

ftb strikes me as the kind of gal to just get w/e generic brand soap etc from the drugstore but i feel like since she dyes her hair. sojiro probably tries to buy a dye friendly shampoo for her bc hes worried (dad instincts) so like......probably nothing strong? 

what their favorite smells in the world are

curry and coffee are hte obvious ones, of course, but i feel like shes got one of those very old sense memories of whatever shampoo her mom used to use. one of those things where she doesn’t know it by name or even realize she remembers it but one day she’s at the mall with ann and she smells it and her head just WHIPS around. she tries to brush it off but eventually she spills the beans and they end up spending the day sniffing around (winks) trying to find it so she can take some home for herself

what pajamas they wear/what they wear to sleep in

bold of you to assume ftb has pajamas...... i feel like when she actually changes into sleep clothes (ie doesnt just sit at her comp and then take two steps to pass out) its pretty similar to what she wears out and about. maybe old merch shirts shes embarrassed to be seen in or that are too big etc wwwwww

my favorite ship (if applicable) and a cute hc about them

yusuke/futaba is still Big Fave..... i love them sooooo much just two weirdoes together. i love how they clicked from the start and how well they get along. i think itd be very cute if one of them kisses the other and doenst realize until they both go home and then theyre like. wait. WAIT. WAIT HOLD ON

my favorite friendship (if applicable) and a cute hc about them

(looking at pef) i wonder

fr tho i do like the concept of akch+ftb.......... its not quite a friendship in canon but i think they genuinely could be very good for each other. like. on ftbs end i do really like hte idea of ftb finding similarities btwn herself and goro nad like........ knowing she can rely on him despite everything? its a fun kind of bond

on goros end i really just like [redacted bc i typed out a whole thing then realized its kidn of a pef spoiler so i deleted it but jsut trust me. Just Trust m]

a song that reminds me of them

for pef/pre-pt futaba specifically almond sent me deviltown which is really very. early ftb (sad) i also have bury a friend on pef playlist for her......

oh i do think i only say i’m sorry when i’m wrong now isn’t a bad song for her either. sort of got that “i may be a mess but im Tryin” vibe that i think suits her

what animal i think they would be if they were an animal

I DIDNT READ ALL THESE QUESTIONS I DIDNT REALIZE I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO ASSIGN EVERY SINGLE CHARACTER I GOT A FURSONA GLHAKSDNCLAKSHG

uhhhhhh (guy who knows like four animals voice) raccoon? she has the Vibes. the little hands. the love of garbage

what position they sleep in

whatever postion she happened to pass out in. deep sleeper who can and will completely ruin her spine in w/e position she found and does not toss or turn. she is Chillin.

their favorite drink

Gamer Soda (tm) i feel like she and ren sometimes drink gross soda together. sibling bonding moments

a gift i would give them if i could

more featherman merch? she deserves it.

[thiswasinevitableid]

For the prompt fill, number 3 for Indruck seems pretty fitting!

Here you go! Prompt 3 was “sweet” , Indrid’s design is based on a barracuda and I went with SFW on this one.

“Duck, can you do me a favor when you lock up?” Leo dumps orange taffy into a glass jar. 

“Sure, what d’you need?”

“Got some locks for the garbage cans; put ‘em on after you set the alarm out back. Somethin’s been getting into our trash every damn night for the last week. It makes a god-awful mess and I’m worried we’re gonna get a fine for littering.”

Duck nods, turns his attention back to the flock of tourists approaching the window. The afternoon is swallowed up in a pit of sugar-sticky air and blasts of welcome cold from the freezer. There are worse places for a summer job than Tarkesian’s Sweets--he’s right by the water, can watch the wildlife on his lunch break, and Leo is low-maintenance boss--but after eight hours on his feet getting splashed with soda or burned on the popcorn machine, he’s ready to head home. The trash locks have other ideas.

It takes ten minutes of cursing and fumbling to get the first bin secured. He doesn’t even know how the damn things are getting overturned; they seem too heavy for a raccoon or seagull to knock to the ground. 

A tiny splash behind him, probably a fish jumping. 

Then a crooked, shiny pole slowly enters his periphery. In dim yellow of the streetlight, he can tell the end of it is curved. It pokes inelegantly at the wall, then the locked can, then the wall once again, and then Duck’s leg.

The hook pulls back, pauses, then pokes him again.

“The fuck?” He grabs it when it goes for another jab, pulls up only for his arms to be wrenched towards the water. Not to be outdone, he tugs harder. His opponent retaliates with enough force that he almost tumbles off the pier. He growls, braces his foot on the railing, and hauls the hook and its owner up onto worn wood with him. 

It’s a guy about his age, angular face framed by a mess of silver hair and pierced ears. Figures it’s some sort of artsy punk swimming around poking people in the leg. That explains why he’s shirtless too. 

It does not, however, explain why he has a tail. 

“Rude.” The guy sits up on his hands, silver and black tail flicking droplets of saltwater everywhere, “I don’t go around stopping you from eating.”

“Look man, I just wanted you to stop jabbin me and knockin the trash over.” Maybe if he doesn’t mention the tail it will go away. 

“How else am I supposed to get at those odd, pulpy tubs full of ‘cookies and cream’ or ‘bubblegum’?”

“The fuck--wait, you were tryin’ to get the ice cream containers out of the trash?”

“Yes? I also want more of the caramel apples” he pronounces the last word “applees” causing Duck to giggle in spite of himself. 

“Look, I have to piece words together from the signs on your store. And you obviously know what I meant or you would not be laughing, so do you have any in the cans or not?”

“Nope” Duck gets his laughter under control, “sold out of caramel apples today.” 

“Drat” the visitor starts scooting across the pier towards the unlocked trashcan, “I’ll see what else I can find.”

“Wait don’t fuckin knock that over, Leo’ll be pissed at me if he comes back to a mess, and I don’t feel like pickin up trash because you want a snack!”

“But I’m starving!” The merman, because at this point there’s no way he can deny that’s what’s been rooting through the garbage, whacks at Duck with his tail.

“I know for a damn fact there’s food down there.” He points at the bay. 

“Only if you can catch it, and only if it is not in another mer’s territory. Which much of this area is; I am new here, young, and thus have no claim to any patch of sea.”

“You ain’t got any family?” Something pings in his chest. It’s the part of his heart that made him pick out the runt of litter when his mom let him get a cat on his thirteenth birthday, that means he always splits his lunch with Juno because she’s running track and needs it more than he does, that makes him tear up when he thinks about everything a sapling has to survive to become a tree.

“Merfolk leave home at sixteen.” The merman shrugs.

Duck sighs, grabbing his keys, “If I bring you somethin to eat, will you leave the trash alone?”

“Yes.” 

He shuts off the alarm, grabs a cone and fills it with bright blue ice cream. The merman is back in the water when he returns, arms resting on the pier.

“Oooh, my favorite!” He takes the ice cream, biting huge chunks out of it as Duck re-arms the door. 

Crunch

“...The container is edible!!”

He sits next to the merman’s arms, “Guess you wouldn’t have had an ice cream cone before, huh.”

“No, but it is lovely. I wish humans threw these away more often.” He polishes off the treat, licks his fingers clean with moans Duck hears in his dreams later, and smiles, “thank you for the meal. Goodnight.” 

There’s a final flash of silvery tail, and then Duck’s alone in the breezy night air.

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

“That’s a sandwich, correct?”

“AHfuck” Duck knocks over his water bottle in surprise. He’s eating behind the candy store like usual and not expecting an aquatic dining companion. 

“Apologies. I have seen you eating here before and thought you may like some company.” He sets a sea urchin on the ground and proceeds to bang on it with a rock. 

“Found some lunch?”

“I followed some otters; I was mainly trying to draw them, but they led me to a kelp bed no one else was in.”

“...Wait how do you draw underwater?”

“Let me finish cracking this open and I will show you.”

Duck spends the rest of his lunch break on his belly, the merman showing him a sketchbook and enchanted pen that conjures whatever colors the illustrator envisions. The mer is genuinely excited to talk to him. He assumes the nuzzling is due to him smelling like cotton candy; he doesn’t mind, the mer’s skin is cool and he makes cute little noises whenever he touches Duck. 

Before the stands, Duck asks, “You got a name?”

“Indrid.”

“Duck.” 

Indrid’s eyes flick to the nearby estuary.

“Yeah, like the bird. It’s a nickname.”

“I like it.” Indrid smiles, dives, and flaps his tail once in farewell.

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

“Cutting school again?” Indrid’s voice bubbles up by his feet. 

“Yep.” Duck watches the spring clouds roll by from his favorite spot on the beach. It’s secluded and far from town, meaning no one will give him shit for skipping class and nobody will see Indrid.

He worked at Leo’s until this past summer, only quitting at the start of his senior year of high school when Indrid pointed out that much of Kepler was surrounded by water and that, if Duck wanted to see him, he did not have to keep working at the candy store in order to do so. 

“Not that I mind the free food.” Indrid winks. 

“Just gonna bring you bulk ice cream from Safeway; no way am I missin out on that chirpin you do when you eat it.”

Duck slides the grocery bag towards the surf, “not like KCC is gonna rescind my offer. Ain’t a fuckin Ivy League or some shit.”

“And you will be happy there?”

“Yeah. They got a decent work-study program with the park, so I can still get a job as a ranger if I want to.”

“Oh. Good.” 

Indrid sounds sad, and Duck sits up on his elbows. His friend’s torso is fully on land, his tail fidgeting in the foam. 

“What’s up?

“I...Barclay told me his human is going to a school further inland, and I know there are many places you could got to learn. You...you did not choose to stay in Kepler because you feel the need to look after me, did you?”

“Course not.” Duck is sitting up now, aching to stroke Indrid’s hair, “I mean, I’m glad we’re still gonna be able to see each other, and I really hopin I can get a room near the beach so it’s easy to come talk. But this is the right choice for me; if I really want to, I can transfer to a different school in a few years, and I can learn a lot here without takin on a shit-ton of debt. Besides, ain’t like I think you’re helpless; I love bringin you stuff and rubbin your fin when it’s sore, but that’s because you’re my friend. Don’t think you’re helpless. I never have.”

“Not even when I was stealing trash?”

“Thought you were a fuckin nuisance, not helpless.” He playfully nudges his shoulder with his toes. 

Indrid turns his head and nips his calf, “How’s that for a nuisance?”

“Not much, felt kinda nice. Uh, I mean, uh, fuck, so, where’d that worry about my stayin come from?”

The mer crawls and wiggles until they’re shoulder to shoulder, “I think my future sight is finally developing; my fathers arrived around the time he turned eighteen, so it makes sense mine would arrive at a similar point. The trouble is, I am having a hard time telling the futures from my own imaginings and worries.”

“That fuckin sucks.”

“I’ll manage. All seers struggle at the beginning. I just wish I was quicker at learning whether certain timelines are really more likely or if they are just ones that I want to be likely.”

“Like what?”

Indrid glances at him, opens his mouth, then shuts it and faces the sea.

Duck smirks, “‘Drid, there somethin you wanna ask me?”

“No. Yes. Maybe? I, I just don’t want to pressure youOOOHhhh that’s not fair” he flops on his back with a groan as Duck scritches his upper tail, “you know I’ll do anything when you touch me like this.”

“Damn right I do. And what I want is for you to tell me the truth.”

Indrid whines, covers his face with his hands.

“Do it or I’ll stop.”

“Rude” Indrid lowers his hands enough that his red eyes peer over the top, “is that any way to treat a mer who wants to kiss you?”

Duck gives his answer by pouncing on his friend, pinning narrow shoulders into the sand as he devours his mouth in kisses. 

“You like that treatment better?”

“Goodness, yes.” Indrid pulls him back down, slipping his tongue between his lips and nibbling his neck when he finally stops to breathe. Then his hand flails sideways, grabbing the plastic bag and chucking it further up the beach.

“The, the tide is coming in and I, ah, foresee us working up quite the appetite.” He tugs Duck’s collar down with his teeth, nuzzling and licking across his skin with little hums of pleasure, “so I want to save those for afterwards. Who knows” he grins, “maybe we’ll need energy for round two as well.”

Duck cups his cheek, inhales the scent of the sea and the sight of his future, “I like the way you think, sweet thing.”

[dxsole]

Leslie’s used to it— he’s often ignored. Granted, it’s usually by other detectives and beat cops and not the general public, but he tries not to be offended when he notices he’s lost someone’s interest. He gets it, he doesn’t even like hearing himself talk half of the time. 

He waves off Adam’s excuse. “It’s fine, fine...happens all the time really. Once I get going, it’s just Bueller, Bueller...Bueller. Constant drone. I don’t know how anyone deals with me, really.” He clears his throat before turning back to his questions, all scrawled out in chicken scratch in his little notebook. “Just routine stuff; you see anything suspicious in the past few nights? Anyone wake you up in the middle of night running past your window? Find someone rifling through your trash like a raccoon? Anything like that?”

Before Adam can even answer, Leslie’s going into a new topic. “I should mention that I’m just a private detective. Consultant, really. So, like, I can’t charge you with anything, just so you know. Just tryin’ to get information that the cops might’ve missed.” Because they always miss something. “So don’t feel pressured to answer but note that, like, I’ll be around the neighborhood being nosey for the time being— speaking of nosey, you have any neighbors that you just feel off about? People you wave to on the street but you’d feel weird about being left alone in a room with, you know? I got like five of those kinda guys in my building, to be honest.” He flips to a fresh page. “I think I should probably move at this point.”

@dxsole liked for a starter

[allstars-apt]

THEY DID IT AGAIN (Smash Reveal Drabble!)

It was that time of the year once again... A new character was joining Smash. With a reveal usually came noise-- and a LOT of it. At the All-Star Apartments, the All-Stars were used to the chaos, but it didn’t mean they necessarily liked it. As per usual, the All-Stars were awaiting the news of whom got revealed inside the main lobby of the Apartment Complex.

“ Gotta hand it to em, “ Sly said as he phased in with a cup of hot cocoa. “ At least this time they let us sleep in. “

“ True that! “ Parappa agreed. “ You guys got any guesses who’ll be our new neighbor? I hope it’s Crash, I really miss em! “

Nate scoffed. “ Yeah well, at this point I’m startin’ to lose hope in the seein’ the lil’ guy anytime soon. I think it’ll be another swordfighter. They can’t get enough of those. “

Suddenly, the doors to the lobby’s entrance were KICKED OPEN. Everyone turned to see the culprit and it was Evil Cole and Needles. Usually, they were pretty quick to laugh at or make fun of whoever made it into Smash, but today the two weren’t happy... quite the opposite. As the clown walked in, he kicked over a vase and roared.

“ WAAAAGH, “ Daxter yelped. The ottsel quickly recomposed himself by climbing back up Jak’s shoulder. With a hand on his hip, Daxter snapped back at Sweet Tooth.

 “ DANG IT, DON’T DO THAT!! “

“ I take it you don’t like our new neighbor? “ Jak said, crossing his arms.

“ ...NO. “ Sweet Tooth was turned away from everyone, but after some silence, he turned around in a snap and gave the news. “ THEY’VE GOT ANOTHER ONE FROM OUR SIDE!! “

Everyone inside the lobby immediately gasped!

Dante stood up from his seat and slammed the coffee table he was at. “ Wait, wait, wait- if they didn’t pick ME, who’s the nobody they ended up with? “

“ THEY GOT ANOTHER FINAL FANTASY FIGHTER... THE ONE WITH THE LONG SWORD AND STUPID HAIR. “

“ Wait- seriously? “ Nate questioned. “ Wasn’t Final Fantasy one of our best hits this year? Are you su- “

Before he could finish his sentence, the treasure hunter was met with a machete towards his face. Nate held his arms up and backed way slightly. “ Geezus, okay! You’re sure, you’re sure! “

“ THEY DID IT AGAIN... FIRST SNAKE, THEN CLOUD, NOW THIS!! DAMN IT, AT THIS RATE WE WON’T GET ANYONE ON OUR SIDE IF WE EVER GET A SEQUEL!! “

“ To be fair, “ Sly said as he reappeared next to Sweet Tooth, leaning on the clown with his arm. “ They’ll probably beat us to another sequel. “

  Sweet Tooth growled and lunged for the raccoon, but what the clown thought was the thief in his hands, was just a dummy. The real Sly was now perched on top of a plastic plant nearby. He took a sip of his cocoa once more before continuing to talk to the clown.

“ Ah, ah, ah. Don’t be like that! If it makes you feel any better, we’ll probably get someone nice like Spider-Man to balance it out once we get a sequel. “

“ Sly’s right, “ Jak said. “ Look, we can’t help what happened. It sucks- but it happened. But instead of moping around about it, why don’t you do somethin’ about it? “

Sweet Tooth slowly raised his head towards Jak, came closer, and began to fondle his hands. “ ...IM LISTENING. “

“ Jaaaaak... “ Daxter whispered towards his pal. “ I dunno about this- “ Jak simply ignored Daxter and placed a hand on Sweet Tooth’s shoulder.

“ Look- you’ve been tryin’ to get these Smashers for a long time. Now, you’ve got a guy on the inside. “

Sweet Tooth’s eye widened. Suddenly he began to chuckle, and eventually turned into a full blown cackle. 

“ Oho.. ohohoho... AHAHAHAHA!! I KNEW YOU WERE GOOD FOR SOMETHIN’, KID! COME ON RED, WE’VE GOT A VISIT TO MAKE!! “

“ With pleasure. “ With an almost smile on his face, Evil Cole followed Sweet Tooth outside the Lobby. 

As the doors closed, Nate turned towards the others and sighed. His palm lay on his face as he uttered a reluctant, 

“ Here we go again. “