#Kidlet Series

[mirandyficlists]

Hi hi,

I’m looking for some long fics like around 100k+ fics or somewhere around that word count range. I’ve already read Truth and Measure, We Had Our Seasons In the Sun, and Escorting Your Heart. They were all pretty long and I think slow burn which I loved! I’m wondering if you have any more long form recs plz 🙏🏻🙏🏻. (No fantasy AU’s, I just read a long one and I want to be retransported back into somewhat canon universe or modern!!)

Thank you for all your recs especially with your holy grail list. I’ve been reading up on those too.

🫶

Hey Kidlet

Glad you're enjopying the lists. Here's the Hundred K+ Fic list. Some of the newer ones may not be on it. And of course they're not all canon, but they're pretty damn good. Heh

Mirandy Epic Fics   100K+ word fics

A Flawed Fragility by TheLadyHoll WIP  https://archiveofourown.org/works/1110087/chapters/2234698

Avoiding the Inevitable by Siegiray WIP https://archiveofourown.org/works/29843895/chapters/73431984

Beyond the Call by DuWinter Comp  https://archiveofourown.org/works/23850346/chapters/57321025

Bliss by Emeraldorchids Comp https://archiveofourown.org/works/1386226/chapters/2903335

Broken Bridges by teenybirdy Comp  https://archiveofourown.org/works/14744666/chapters/34088693

Can’t We Just Fall by Bast_Sloan Comp https://archiveofourown.org/works/23426995/chapters/56148409

Engrave Our Names on Tomorrow by Needled_Ink1975 Comp https://archiveofourown.org/works/7363228/chapters/16724908

For the Better by Naralanis WIP  https://archiveofourown.org/works/3515237/chapters/7729160

Hope  by Wizbang WIP https://archiveofourown.org/works/17986799/chapters/42487895

It’s All Relative by Hawkbehere  Comp https://archiveofourown.org/works/5884348/chapters/13561771

Letters to the Editor by teenybirdy Comp https://archiveofourown.org/works/11585013/chapters/26034699

Like Andrea Series by Ginstan   Comp (Like Andrea, Like Family, Like Life, Like Love, Like-Glimpses) https://archiveofourown.org/series/1940092

Miranda’s Guilty Pleasure by teenybirdy Comp  https://archiveofourown.org/works/11674536/chapters/26273862

More Than Just Baggage by the Literary Assassin Comp https://archiveofourown.org/works/13465689/chapters/30870186

Not Everyone by spacedmuch Comp (Not Everyone, Pure Shores, Somewhere Only We Know, Guess Whose Coming to Dinner?)  https://archiveofourown.org/series/209687

Securing the Devil by teenybirdy Comp https://archiveofourown.org/works/12709275/chapters/28983408

Small Favors Series by Chillyflame Comp  (Small Favors, Interlude, Beautiful Things, Here to Stay, Good Fortune)https://archiveofourown.org/series/188030

The Lady & Her Dragons by Bearblue  WIP https://archiveofourown.org/works/21738811/chapters/51860098

The Science of Sex byCharlottepriestly Comp https://archiveofourown.org/works/15082802/chapters/34970867

The Trouble With Coffee by 2Demented Muses Comp  https://dvlwears-prada.livejournal.com/tag/title:%20the%20trouble%20with%20coffee

There’s Freedom in Deception by StackofBooks WIP https://archiveofourown.org/works/1300096/chapters/2699059

Truth and Measure by Telanu Comp https://archiveofourown.org/series/43794

Walking On a Dream by Pure_Ecstasy6  Comp  https://archiveofourown.org/works/18313298/chapters/43348466

[abilouwrites]

HOW YOU GET THE GIRL

Mat Barzal x fem!oc

Series Masterlist

ONE

I only like the bookstore during the night, when it’s slow and nobody’s around. The lights are flickering and the town suddenly goes quiet in contrast with the bustle of the busy mornings and heavy traffic of the day.

I only work here on the weekends for the closing shifts or the opening ones. Something to make a little more money to fall back on besides my adult corporate job. My parents are proud, more my father than my mother that I’ve begun my climb up the corporate ladder.

I don’t hate my job, far from it. Simply the long hours and bossy bosses that make me pull at my fingers and tug at my hair. Especially with my youth and admitted naivety, those at my job can be wary about me either in the break room or being hesitant to invite me out for drinks.

I’ve been told by my therapist that I rushed my childhood, skipping grades and taking collage classes while also taking highschool classes at the same time. I want to fight her on it, claim that I did have a childhood and had dreams but I know that I’m defending something I never had.

Two parents who were always fighting; hated eachother but swore to stay together because of their vows, “Hey Bella” I smile at the older lady standing at the counter as I tuck behind into the back room and set my purse onto the table and wrapping my apron around my body, “slow day?” I ask as I switch from heels to converse.

“Yeah, it’s the middle of the school season so all the kidlets are probably studying” she sighs out rubbing her tired eyes, “ok, I’m off. Be safe. Please” she reminds me as she pats my shoulder, “I’ll need you to come in a bit earlier tomorrow for the opening shift, we’re getting a new shipment of books for the month”

“Uhh, yeah yeah I can do that, so 5:30 instead of six?” I clarify, as I clock myself in on the timetable next to the register.

“Yes, thank you Emma. You’re a doll” She smiles and blows me a kiss exiting the building as the cold wind brushes against her; gently pulling at the greying blonde hair that’s always been tucked into a a little bun.

I turn on some music to keep my mind from straying as I walk around the store. Gently brushing my fingers against the creased spines and occasional leather covered book. Those nice collectors editions are always Romeo and Juliet, or Hamlet.

Personally I’ve thought Romeo and Juliet a bit childish and immature, but I’ve always been told I’m looking at it from a modern perspective. I believe that Romeo and Juliet is the way to not fall in love.

But then again, that’s coming from the girl who watched her parents try and fix an already broken marriage by having an abundance of kids and forcing themselves to stay together even though, everyone’s known they’d be better apart. Even their own kids.

I tidy up the reading corner, setting the old book. Princess and the pea back onto the shelf and searching for the one tomorrow.

My my fingers pull and push against the covers of the kids books, looking for something different. I don’t pay attention when the bell jingles and jangles while I hear a heavy step quickly become softer. I hear them physically relax as they walk the isles.

I eventually decide on a book with a unicorn and a blonde girl. Something I fondly remember of my own childhood.

I stretch up a little and let my hair down from its clip, it falls unevenly against my shoulders but I don’t mind or even care that much. This bookstore is my happy place; where I am safe and content within my own body. Here I will never care what I look like.

I view the man searching in the fiction section, something specific I can tell by his body language. If he needs help I’ll allow him to ask; yet I’m wary of going up to a man and guiding him to the book.

When he finally notices me watching him he turns around and asks, “do you know where I can find ‘The road’ it’s uh. Geez by I think by Cormac McCarthy?” He stumbles out; slowly dragging a hand across his face and brushing his shaggy brown hair out of his eyes.

His face is soft but sharp; his eyes evoke a warm bubbly feeling inside me. Eyes that make me feel comfortable being alone with him, “yes, I believe we only have a few left” I tell him, walking off to a different section of the store, “I know, our shop is set up weird” I explain.

“And why’s that?” He inquires, his pace isnt rushed or faster than mine. But relaxed and nonchalant. As if he has all the time in the world.

“The original owners, she has a special section called ‘Meine Leibe’ which I think translates to ‘My loves’ or ‘my life’ once she passed her daughter kept it the same so this little section would always be here for her. I find it endearing” I know I ramble on a bit but I’ve suddenly grown afraid of having a silence against the two of us

“It is, it’s just a little place with all her favorite books?” He keeps asking, as I turn into the cozy little corner. I thumb through the alphabetical order.

“Yeah, her favorite chair, pillows. Shannon was such a kind lady” I reminisce, “here is The Road, is there anything else I can help you with? Or will that be all for today?”

“Uhh, ha unless you have ‘The deal’ by Elle Kennedy then I’ll take that too” I think he’s being sarcastic but I can’t really tell.

“I think we do, are you a hockey fan?” I ask walking to the romance section.

“I guess you could say that, do you watch?” He asks, “do you need a hand?”

“I watch a bit, just the New Jersey Devils with my dad. Yeah it’s just above there” I point, even on my tip toes the store has ceiling high bookshelves. And because it’s night the ladders been locked up. I move to the side as he grabs the book.

“Are you from Jersey?”

“Yeah, I lived there before I came to New York for a work deal”

“I’m going to assume it’s not this job.. right?” As he makes his way to the register and I slink behind the counter

“Yeah, my uh big girl job as my mom likes to address it as” I hear the roll in my eyes as I scan the bar codes and ring him up, “will that be with cash or card?”

“Card” He pulls his wallet out of the front pocket of his jacket, “thank you”, he checks for my name eyes staring just above but also at my chest.

I poke my eyebrows up at him praying to god this man isn’t looking at my tits directly; not even with the slightest bit of discretion.

“I’m uh looking for your name to thank you— I swear I’m not looking at your uh. You know boobs” he almost whispers out the last bit before continuing, “not that they aren’t nice or anything but uh” the tips of his ears turn pink and his cheeks suddenly become flushed, “I will just pay now” he groans out softly; handing me his card and rubbing his eyes with his hands.

I ring him up and he puts his pin in, “thank you again, you never told me your name” he questions for that piece of information

“Emma”

“Thank you Emma, have a good evening” he purses his lips and grabs his books. Hands shaking as he smiles and starts to leave.

“You too, wait” I lean over the bar slightly, “you never told me your name?”

“Mat”

“Alright then, have a good evening Mat. Come back soon”

The door jingles as he leaves and I watch him through the window, I see him sigh and smack his books against his head. Though I don’t exactly hear what he says; noises muffled through the glass and the music.

“Huh. What a strange guy”

[niobiumao3]

So I was idly thinking on making some Tech and Phee kidlet Legos, since I went to the trouble to do CX-2 Tech I figured, why not. The girls' hair pieces are still on order but the Lego minifig series potter was SO PERFECT for Djoura I couldn't pass it up.

She's in this hair wrap because Phee and Tech were NOT going to deal with her braids getting full of paint or clay or glaze or grease or whatever else their daughter was getting into.

Once i locate my silver paint pen (grumble) I'm going to make her necklace a slightly different color. Paint pennnn where are yooooou...

[mulderscreek]

Tiny Tuesday Question

[bhaalsdeepbat]

I inked some art while planning a series of character sheets for Mercy and the kidlets.

[ladysunamireads]

Eda with Kidlets (Bluey Inspired)

Eda with Kidlets (Bluey Inspired) by The Bambi Hunting Brigade

= = = = = = = =

Eda has a nice day out with the Kidlets when Camila and Raine have to focus on Manny's death anniversary. It's tough but she teaches the Kids a little about life and how it's okay if someone passes away.

Domestic AU! The owl house = = = = = = = =

Words: 522, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Series: Part 1 of The Kidlet Phenomenon (The Owl house)

Fandoms: The Owl House (Cartoon)

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: Gen

Characters: Eda Clawthorne, Vee, Luz Noceda, The Collector, Hunter | The Golden Guard, King Clawthorne

Relationships: Eda Clawthorne & Luz Noceda, Luz Noceda & Vee, Eda Clawthorne & Hunter | The Golden Guard, Eda Clawthorne & The Collector, Eda Clawthorne & King Clawthorne, Eda Clawthorne & Vee

Additional Tags: Mentioned Raine Whispers, Mentioned Camila Noceda, Camilraeda, Raine Whispers/Eda Clawthorne/Camila Noceda, Da babies, Eda Clawthorne Adopts Hunter | The Golden Guard, The kids are even smaller now, Domestic Bliss, The collector is Luz's warmie now, The Collector's name is Boe, my headcannon, Young Luz Noceda, Young Hunter | The Golden Guard, Young Vee, Even younger King, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Bluey Inspired

Read Here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/48003334

[expendablemudge]

My First Books of Nature series: DO SHEEP COUNT SHEEP?: How Animals Sleep & DO FISH GO FISHING?: How Animals Eat, lap-reads for curious kidlets from the Czech publishing house Albatros Media. Great gifts for #Booksgiving!

[automicbaseball]

Opening Day 2024

Last Thursday the 28th was the first game of the year for the Mariners up here in the Pacific Northwest. Up against the Boston Red Sox for a 4-game series, the excitement was on high!

We have bought the flex pass two years in a row now, pay into a bank, and you can then buy tickets with the credit, without paying the tickethamster fees and whatnot. I like this deal, we went to about 20 games last year. There are often great deals for cheap bleacher, 300, or even 200 level seats.

I have been waiting for the season to start for a while now. Kept putting the spring training games on the radio while doing work and whatnot. I always feel better knowing thousands of people are enjoying the live spectacle at the same time as me. It's autistically comforting.

We took the light rail for the first time in a while. I love Seattle's public transportation system. Go to a park and ride, hop on the light rail, and we're dropped off about a 5-minute walk from T-Mobile Park. Great way to get some hot dogs, off-market merch, or just to down a beer before you get in.

I almost always come in the center field entrance with my partner. We like to walk around the field, get some sights, maybe find our seats in a timely manner. Being autistic, we tend to follow a specific plan usually; get seated, cool down the overwhelmed heat, get beers and snacks, then be ready for first pitch! I also have a plan for the goddamn metal detection and clear plastic bags; we always have water and snacks and things to do. My collar almost always sets the detector off, but I just walk through. Shrug!

Today we saw Nelson Cruz throw the first pitch, followed by a 1-day contract, so he could retire as a Mariner. I enjoy these little vignettes. Last year we saw the King, Felix Hernandez' Hall of Fame induction and it brings you to tears (and incidentally, my partner found a pic of their kidlet at a game the King was pitching in almost 10 years ago). I wonder, what it's like to be a retiring baseball player (or any sportsball); what do you do next? What happens if you're not a coach or talking head? How do you go on when your body cannot? I'd love for everyone to find their Ichiro Suzuki role, but alas.

There are many ways to enjoy baseball; talk and pay no attention, drink 10 beers, take meticulous score, wander, it's all a lovely spectacle.

This year we sat in section 328, just behind home plate off to the side of 1st base. I love the hanging sections where there are 3 rows just below the tunnel when you enter. I like sitting on the end of the rows and ideally where it's not hugely crowded, it's just a sensory thing. Last year we sat in 126 and it was crowded, plus the ceiling above us limited the view of the main jumbotron. Not my favorite.

Not to mention catching a meatball of a fucking man texting a picture of me to his friends, writing some horrible words to go along with it. I am a very high-sensory person; I'm always looking around, seeing things, evaluating my surroundings, and it felt weird to see a picture of me on someone else's phone. I kept very calm about it, took his picture, and get the box office to move us to much better seats.

As for the game itself, I don't remember a huge amount of it. We lost 4-6, and we left in the 8th inning to avoid the crowds (we had our kidlet with us tonight). Ate some garlic fries, drank a strawberry seltzer and a nice IPA of some sort. I also took some nice pictures here and there.

Anyways, thanks for reading, I hope to write a little more as I go through the season, about games we attend. I'm not a sportswriter, and really I'm not a writer either, but I have to get some words out. Just who I am.

[booksandwords]

Bruce Lee by Mª Isabel Sánchez Vegara. Ilustrated by Miguel Bustos

Age Recommendation: Early Primary Topic/ Theme: Perseverance, Success, Biographic Setting: America, Hong Kong Series: Little People, Big Dreams

Rating: 4/5

This gave me plenty of information I didn't know already, but Bruce Lee is not someone I knew a lot about. I wish there had been more context, even for kidlets about the importance of the nurse's actions. There was a nurse in the hospital when Bruce Lee who chose his English name "Bruce" his birth name is Lee Jun-Fan. English names aren't uncommon for the sake of saving butchered pronunciation of Asian (in this case Hong Kong) names. We won't go into the racism in play here, we'd all be here all day.

Sánchez Vegara deliberately stays with his professional life ignoring his personal life and tragic end, echoed of course by his oldest child Brandon (it is worth noting that his daughter Shannon is a very successful woman). I do like this choice. The story doesn't need his family introduced, some stories do some don't. The only time family is discussed is at the start, while talking about his parents. I appreciate the way Sánchez Vegara wides his skills together martial arts, acting and cha-cha, she shows how they made him famous more or less and how they kept on the straight and narrow after a rocky adolescence in San Fransisco. As much as possible the similarities between dance and martial arts. All require elegance, charisma and balance. Adults will see how intelligent this man was, creating his own material art and knowing how to combine his skills.

I'm not a fan of Bustos' illustration style. The colouring is too blocky for my taste, with huge amounts of red or blue on every page. It will be different shades but it's there. I'm not sure if there is a logic I can't see to choosing him for Bruce Lee. That said in some bizarre way the style works, showing his boldness as a man and his difference from others. I'd love to hear explanations from Sánchez Vegara or Rachel Williams as to why Miguel Bustos was chosen. The way, as in the scenes chosen, to illustrate the words is smart. It is just a great compliment to the wording when expectations are removed.

[gloomy-goober]

Baby Mine

Summary: When a side forms in the mind of a host, they form young. A child, new and impressionable. Without much purpose but to grow into a new facet of a growing personality. A cry in the middle of the night wakes Anxiety, the eldest of the aspects that live in Thomas' subconscious. It was not the first time he would have to take care of a growing facet. Still something seems different about this new side and it is not the fact that one of his eyes is glowing gold nor the scales that cover half the face. He just wishes he could figure out what it was.

Tag List: @emotional-mess-in-distress @daflangstlairde @whizzie72

AO3 

“I am going to strangle whatever keeps making that sound.”

Anxiety looked down at the young child beside him. Worried about how the orange eyes blazed. With every day that Wrath grew, Anxiety could not help but worry about what this seemingly innocent four-year-old would become once he caught up with Thomas’ age.

“It’s a baby, Wrath, you are not going to do that,” Anxiety said.

“Why not, it’s annoying and babies are stinky.”

The eldest side looked to his other side. Green eyes blazed bright in the dim light of the hallway, his arms crossed. The five-year-old kid looked even smaller in the large t-shirt he had stolen from Anxiety’s closet. Innocent almost, but Anxiety knew the greed behind those eyes.

“You were a baby once too, Jealousy, and I didn’t leave you to cry.”

Jealousy pouted. Both the children did not seem convinced.

“He won’t be a baby for long. Only a day or so, so stop-.”

Anxiety stopped talking as the trio turned the corner. A door now stood at the end of this hallway. It almost glowed in the darkness that surrounded it; a bright yellow with black designs painted around the doorframe.

“Why is that door so much brighter then mine! I want a bright door!” Jealousy stomped his foot and glared at the offending door.

“Too bright,” Wrath said.

Anxiety wanted to back away. Yellow was a sign of danger, caution, and poison. Thomas had seen it used on caution tape and saw it on the color of the bee that stung him.

But the crying was coming from inside. Loud and shrill; distressed.

The anxious trait took a breath and let go of Wrath’s hand.

“Stay out here.”

“Why do we have to stay outside?”

“Just do as I say, Jealousy!”

“But-“

Wrath sat on the ground and kicked Jealousy in the shin, “Shut up. The faster we get this done the faster I can go back to sleep.”

“Why did you kick me?”

“’Cause you are annoying.”

“I am not annoying!”

Anxiety tuned the argument out as he reached for the black door handle. He wanted to run. To flee. But the sudden end to the crying alarmed him more then the possible danger that could lie within.

What if I waited too long?

What if this kid just suffocated himself?

Oh God, I killed a baby!

Anxiety pulled the door open and stepped inside. The door automatically closed behind him; completely locking out the sound of the two younger sides that fought out in the hall.

The room was barren. The walls a grey color that was just slightly too dark to be comforting. A closet door was on one side of the room; painted black with yellow designs. A full-length mirror stood on a stand next to the front door. A single window broke the grey square that was this room; perfectly positioned above the crib in the corner of the room.

The white paint on the crib was chipped to show the dark-colored wood underneath. A light-yellow blanket poked out of one of the bars. Next to the crib a stuffed snake laid, button eyes two different colored. They stared up at Anxiety in a way that made his stomach curl.

The side took a breath and slowly moved forward into the room and he stopped next to the crib. His eyes darted to every corner to search for any possible trap. A tiny sniffle brought the gaze down into the crib and he could only stare down at the baby that laid there.

He was small, smaller then Wrath had been when he had first formed. Little feet snug in a black onesie kicked at the yellow blanket the baby laid on. Tiny mittens covered the hands of the baby to stop any accidental scratches from occurring. The tiny face was red and scrunched up, covered in tears and snot from crying. Blond curls were splayed out on the mattress; so different from the slowly darkening hair of their host.

But what caught Virgil’s attention the most was the left side of the child’s face. It was covered in light green scales. When the baby opened his eyes Virgil saw one yellow and one brown. So unlike the usual same color that he had seen in the previous sides.

The child’s eyes were filled with tears, but the sniffles stopped.

The two stared at each other. Silent. As if a breath could ruin the calm that had settled into the room.

Then it was broken as the baby started to whimper. Little arms reached up in a silent request that Anxiety answered without hesitation. The baby lifted and settled the child as comfortably as he could in his arms.

A cold, snotty face pressed into the anxious side’s shoulder. Little, mitten covered hands clung onto the hoodie.

“It’s okay, Kidlet, I got you. Don’t cry.”

Anxiety ran a hand through the curls in, what he hoped, was a calming gesture. As gently as he could, the side leaned down and picked up the toy. His hold on the baby did not waver; so scared of dropping something so small.

“It’ll be okay, no more crying.” He moved the toy to be in the baby’s view. A small smile appeared on his face when the child grabbed it. Squishing it against his face; eyes wide as they stared at Anxiety.

So much trust even as tears wanted to fall.

“Yeah, there you go,” a smile pulled onto Anxiety’s face, “No more tears. This place needs more smiles.”

The baby pushed the toy into his mouth.

“You probably need some food, huh? All that crying probably made you hungry. I know I get hungry after I have a big melt down.”

The baby just made a small noise as he shifted the toy to a better position in his mouth. Clearly the plush of the snake was much more interesting then the words that the older child was saying.

“Cute,” Anxiety mumbled the words as he pushed the door open. He had almost forgotten about the other two sides until he had hands trying to pull the baby out of his grip.

“What is it?”

“Why does he look like that?”

“What kind of side even is that?”

“Why is it so stinky?”

“I was cuter then him, right? I mean, obviously.”

Anxiety pulled back before the baby could be wrenched from his grip. Holding the child closer to his chest then before. A few sniffles came from the baby who was clearly overwhelmed by the sudden attention.

“Stop it, both of you.”

Jealousy glared.

“We just want to see the thing that woke us up,” Wrath snarled.

“He is not a thing,” Anxiety snapped. His patience always ran thin with the dark side. A tiny whimper made him check his tone before he continued.

“He’s a side. New, not yet fully formed, but he is a side.”

“Not a good one seeing as he is all scaly” Jealousy mumbled.

“Might I remind you about your feathers, Jealousy?” Anxiety shot back.

The kid pulled at his hair where a few blue-green feathers poked out. An embarrassed flush taking over his face. Wrath moved to stand next to the other side, orange eyes glowing as he glared.

“You both can go back to bed. I can take care of this.”

“But-.” Jealousy moved to protest but the glare he got made him silent.

“Some on, J, we don’t need to hang out with Anxiety and his dumb baby anyway,” Wrath mumbled. His hand was gentle as he led the other side away.

Anxiety only let out a breath when the two kids turned down the corner and disappeared into the darkness.

“Sorry you had to see all that, kid.”

He looked down at the baby in his arms. Mismatched eyes looked back up at him; toy now soaked in drool. A wet, mitten hand moved up and touched the side’s cheek.

“Gross, but thanks for trying,” he looked at the hall where the two other sides had disappeared, “I’ll talk to them in the morning. I promise.”

The baby’s yellow eye seemed to flash at the words. It was unsettling.

“Okay, you are weird.”

The baby moved the toy out of his mouth, “Ba!”

“Least you admit to it, Kidlet. Now, do you eat solid food yet or are you on a solely plush toy diet?”

Anxiety was slow as he moved down the hall towards his own room. His eyes rarely left the child in his arms. The response to his question was just a slow blink and the toy being pushed back into the mouth.

“That is what I thought,” Anxiety sighed, “We’ll try bananas anyway. Think you will like how they taste. Much more high end then a plush toy.”

Babies were not very good at conversations, but Anxiety did not seem to mind. He missed when the other two could only stare at him blankly and make small noises. Though Wrath was much fussier then the child in his arms now and Jealousy was constantly in need to be held.

“Let’s see how this round goes,” Anxiety whispered to the air as he pushed his door open. A wave of the hand had what he needed summoned.

The baby didn’t protest too much as he was placed into the dark black highchair and the spit covered mittens were taken off. The baby simply let the plush toy snake fall onto the high chair’s table and looked around the room. His focus seemed to stay on the clock that never seemed to stop spinning. Little eyes wide as he tried to follow the frantic hands.

Anxiety dug into a few drawers until he found what he was looking for.

“Alright, short stack, lets see if you are going to make a mess of my room.”

He pulled up his desk chair to face the high chair. A spoon summoned into his hand as he opened the jar.

The baby’s cheeks puffed out as he watched Anxiety closely. Little feet kicked back and forth as the baby adjusted to the chair. Bare hands hit the table. He seemed to like having free hands.

“You excited for some ‘nana?” He did not mean for the baby talk but the reaction was worth it.

The baby seemed to freeze and then almost looked disapproving at the baby talk that was attempted.

“Alright, alright.  No baby talk,” Anxiety chuckled as he scooped some of the bananas onto the spoon, “But can you try this? If not, I got a bottle somewhere.”

He held up the spoon near the baby’s face. The kid tilted his head to the side and then raised a hand to try and take what was being handed to him. Tiny fingers moved right into the food. The baby let go instantly and looked at his hand. Eyes looked to Anxiety to see if this was normal and okay.

“Not exactly what I meant you to do, but hey. Yeah, that is food.”

Anxiety turned the spoon to his own mouth and mimed eating it.

“Food.”

The kid watched closely and then stuck the food covered hand into his mouth. The yellow eye’s pupil seemed to take over the iris. The brown human eye seemed to sparkle. His little feet kicked as he reached a sticky, drool covered hand back to the spoon.

“I am gonna take that as you like it.”

“Ne!”

The baby kicked his feet faster as he tried to reach over the highchair’s tray for the spoon.

“Okay hold on,” Anxiety rolled his eyes and moved the spoon forward. This time encouraging the little mouth to wrap around the plastic spoon instead of sticking his fingers in it. “There we go. Big bite.”

The kid was too happy to care about more accidental baby talk. The little face having some banana squish out as he enjoyed his food.

Every bite that Anxiety fed the baby seemed to be an adventure in keeping it in the kid’s mouth. This baby was determined to play with his food as much as he wanted to eat it. Little hands and the onesie becoming caked with mashed banana.

“You know that this is food and not finger paint, right?”

Anxiety asked as he screwed the lid to the jar shut. The kid had been playing with the last three scoops and it seemed safe to say that he was done eating.

The baby just giggled and hit a nice puddle of banana so that it splattered. Anxiety fought the smile that wanted to appear. This kid had only been around him for an hour and already had him wrapped around his tiny fingers. Curses.

The older side wiped the banana off his cheek with a sigh, “You are lucky that we are figments in a mind and not real people.”

With a snap of his fingers, the baby was clean of banana and in a dark onesie that resembled a bat. The little eyes were wide at the sudden change and he started to poke at the fake wings. Trying to stick one in his mouth but it was just out of reach.

“Adorable,” Anxiety chuckled as he picked up the baby. His hand moved to pull the hood up over the wild curls, “A little flying baby puppy dog.”

The baby did not seem interested in the side that held him. His attention was on the toy that he had left on the high chair. A tiny noise being made as little hands reached for it.

“Alright, alright. I see how it is. I feed you and you only want the toy.”

Anxiety picked it up and then sat down on his bed with the baby on his lap. The kid seemed happy to have the snake back in his grip, little hands shaking the plush up and down. Giggling at the movements.

“If it wasn’t for the scales, I would believe you were a ‘light’ side or whatever the other sides are calling their group now,” Anxiety yawned, “You are just so happy, sunshine.”

The baby babbled to the snake toy. A tiny squeal left him as Anxiety moved them both to lay down; the child rested on top of him.

Anxiety was still gentle as he turned the baby over, so they were stomach to chest. The drool-soaked snake now rested on the bed next to them. Mismatched eyes looked at him with wonder at this new position.

“I forgot how cute your little things are when you experience new things,” Anxiety found himself whispering. A finger brushed a few stray curls out of the baby’s face, “You are so full of wonder and hope.”

The baby yawned and laid the side of his head on Anxiety’s chest. Seeming to be calmed by the sound of the heart he heard and the hand that rubbed his back gently.

“Yeah, it’s late isn’t it? Think we could both use some sleep.”

He did not want to fall asleep with a baby on him, but Anxiety did not have the heart to try and move the small figure that rested on his stomach. So he just laid there, amazed as their heart beats seemed to align. For the first time since he was formed he felt calm.

[phlebaswrites]

A Dragon’s Advice

Summary:

Sometimes you dream an impossible dream.

How do you make it reality?

Rating: General Audiences Fandom: Original Work Word Count: 598 (Complete)

Written as part of a writing challenge between myself and Kidlet.

They didn't want to complete the writing assignment given to them by the school, so I said that I'd write for as long as they did and our stories would be presents to each other.

This story is the result.

Once upon a time, there was a prince who did not want to be a prince.

He wanted to be a dragon!

He searched far and wide, talking to witches and wizards, magicians and priests, but no one was able to tell him how this could be done. He’d heard stories about people who’d managed it, but he’d never met anyone who had actually done it. Still, he didn’t give up and he went in search of a dragon who might know.

The oldest and wisest dragon in the land lived in a lake at the top of a tall mountain, far, far away. It was a long journey, and the climb was difficult. When the prince got to the top, he saw a beautiful expanse of water, clear as crystal, and deep enough to drown.

But how could he talk to the dragon? Everyone said that the dragon lived here, but it was nowhere to be found.

The prince sat down on the shore of the lake and skipped a stone across the water.

1, 2, 3, plop!

The stone sunk.

He tried again. 1, 2, 3, plop!

He skipped stones all afternoon, but never saw anyone. He got up to 6 skips, but couldn’t quite manage 7.

As the sun set, he finally gave up on waiting and decided to set up to stay for the night. He rolled out his bedroll, shook out his blanket, and started a fire. He has some smoked meat and bread in his bag, but if he was going to stay here until the dragon got back, he’d need to do some hunting.

He went down to the lake to collect some water to drink, and as soon as he dipped his hands in an enormous dragon rose out of the lake. Made of water, it towered over him.

It had been there all along!

“So you’re the one whose been dropping stones on my head all afternoon,” the dragon growled grumpily. “What do you think you’ve been doing? Those hurt!”

“I’m so sorry!” The prince was very apologetic. “I really didn’t know that you were here! I was really just amusing myself by trying to see how many skips I could make.”

“Well, that’s fair,” replied the dragon. “So why are you here, anyway?”

“I’m here to ask how I can turn into a dragon.” The prince said bravely, staring up into a face as big as his entire body. “I want to fly.”

“You do, do you?” The dragon curled down onto the shore, resting its head on its paws. “But you don’t need to be a dragon for that. Birds do it, and bats do it. Why can’t humans do it?”

“Because we don’t have wings!” The prince exclaimed. “And birds and bats are too small! I’d never be able to become something so little!”

“Humans become dragons when they have a fire in them that can’t be quenched any other way,” the dragon explained. “You have fire yes, but it’s a passion for the sky. Build your own wings, and fly on them. Share them with others, and you’ll always be able to fly.”

With that, the dragon sank back into the lake and no amount of calling would bring it out again.

The prince walked down the mountain, thinking hard.

When he got back to the city, he enrolled in the university and began to learn everything he could about flight.

And, when he flew for the first time, on wings on his own making, he knew that the dragon had been right all along.

Also available on AO3.

[gffa]

Hi! I'm reading a children's book to my class, and I want it to be a star wars picture book. Do you have any recommendations? The only catch is that it has to have dialogue in it

Hi! Ohhh, okay, I hope this is helpful, because I'm not sure what length/reading level you're looking for, but I'm assuming you're looking for books on the level of just learning to read and Star Wars has some adorable ones!  Generally, in order of recommendation for what I think you’re looking for--though, they’re all delightful: Star Wars: A Jedi You Will Be by Preeti Chhibber    It has incredibly charming art, a lovely story, and is one of my favorite SW children’s books.

Goodnight, Darth Vader / Darth Vader & Son / Vader's Little Princess by Jeffrey Brown      You can pick any of Jeffrey Brown’s books, they’re all incredibly adorable! They’re a series of single page comics of Darth Dad and his cute little kidlets, but they do have dialogue and they’re delightful.

Are You Scared, Darth Vader? by Adam Rex     It’s a bit of a spooky read, but very much a children’s story and the art is phenomenal and the story about how Darth Vader isn’t scared of anything (except himself) and it’s one of my favorites.

Star Wars OBI-123: A Book of Numbers by Calliope Glass and Caitlin Kennedy      Any of the Calliope Glass books are good, but I’m partial to the OBI-1-2-3 book (though Creatures Big & Small is lovely, too), it’s an adorable young reader’s book that helps with teaching numbers.

The Galaxy Needs You by Caitlin Kennedy     An adorable book about Rey’s journey to being a Jedi and the importance of you being you with adorable art and cute dialogue!

Chewie and the Porgs by Kevin Shinick      Super cute story about Chewbacca on Ahch-To during The Last Jedi where he and the porgs learn how to help each other.

World of Reading: Escape from Darth Vader      Any of the World of Reading Star Wars books are simple, adorable reads that are retellings of the movie events and have some lovely moments.

BB-8 On the Run by Drew Daywalt      I love the art for this book, it’s lush and gorgeous, as it tells the story of The Force Awakens from BB-8′s perspective.

[kittyhazblog]

Thanks for the tag @cleverblackcat 💖

Favorite color: Blue

Currently reading: What I'm currently reading to the kidlets is 'East of the Sun and West of the Moon', which is actually a compilation containing that story and other folk tales (and just happens to have my favourite variant of The Three Billy Goats Gruff, which I could probably do a reading of if anyone cares to hear my ridiculous goat voices 🤣). But it also has sooo many gorgeous illustrations by Kay Nielsen -

I'm not gonna put them all here, but seriously 😍

Last song: Roaring 20's - Scott Bradlee's PMJ feat. Therese Curatolo

Last series: I am currently very much enjoying the latest season of Lower Decks.

Last movie: Get Out, because we watched Nope, and my partner hadn't seen Get Out, so naturally I was like, oh you have to watch it.

Sweet/savory/spicy: Savoury

Currently working on: It does feel like I've been in a slump all year, but I am trying to work through some of the WIPs that have been sitting around neglected for so long. Predominantly, the next chapter of Under Her Mask, that would be nice to finish up, and I'm also puttering away at a Blackwall piece and some new Loghain smut. Kinktober is fast approaching however, so im having a few thoughts about that, not sure if they will go anywhere, but we'll see.

Tagging: @knuttydraws | @raflesia65 | @retrowondergirl | @thedastrash | @morganlefaye79 | @charlatron | @kemvee | @a-shakespearean-in-paris | @jentrevellan | @charmcity-jess | @a11sha11fade | @noire-pandora | @sidhelives | @inky-does-art

[rmd-writes]

Thanks for the tag @malexsoulmates 💖

Favourite colour: pink, always

Currently reading: rereading Such a Burden, This Flame in My Chest by @three-drink-amy which, if you haven’t read it, is a Lonestar inspired RWRB firefighter AU which you should definitely read! Also about to dive into @paper-storm ‘s latest from her Missing Moments series which I’m loving so much.

Last TV show: think it was Lonestar

Last movie: just got home from taking the kidlets to see Minions: the rise of Gru

Currently working on: my RWRB lawyer AU prequel which is now 26k and counting and only about 60% done

Tagging: @welcometololaland @reyescarlos @fuckingyrs @statueinthestone @steviestoospooky and anyone else who wants to play (or don’t feel obliged!) x

[wingedkiare]

Nobody wants to hear this, but the “kidlets” are 14 and 16. (Almost 15 and 17, actually)

R has gotten REALLY into graphic novels, and read Watchmen for English class - so he asked if we could watch HBO’s Watchmen series, so we’ve been rewatching it.  (We only made it through the first ep so far)

D hasn’t yet - but he’s very into history and picks up on the details quickly, so he was hooked as soon as we said “alternate timeline”

Fact: Sex scenes watched with family members will make them feel 3x as long. lol

This was our first time rewatching it, so holy crap am I getting a lot of hints, nods and extra layers to things I’d already appreciated.

[expendablemudge]

My First Books of Nature series: DO SHEEP COUNT SHEEP?: How Animals Sleep & DO FISH GO FISHING?: How Animals Eat, lap-reads for curious kidlets from the Czech publishing house Albatros Media. Great gifts for #Booksgiving!