#Lily rafters

[dragon-phoenix-along]

Lesbians

Left: Lily Rafters Oc owned by @saltyr3mix

Middle (in the air): Bastet Rafters My oc

Right (on Lilys lap): Basil Rafters (Fiancée of Lily, no cannon last name so I use Rafters)

[saltyr3mix]

Dragon posted Lily and Basil fan art so i guess im going to share their story because i love them so much. by 'thier' story i mean Lily's

Basil is not Lily's first partner. They met as Lily was trying to get away from and abusive relationship with her at the time partner Florence. things happen and Lily and Basil ended up together. Florence, despite having a restriaing order, broke in once he heard this news and physically harmed Basil.

Lily, is a Chemistry/Biology major in college. She gets her hands on some toxic chemicals and....Florence? Well he went 'missing'.

Anyway that entire section of her backstory is just a reference to funny bit me and a few friends made a year ago. On to her actual role in the wtdw setting.

She works as a major higher up/manger/boss for the facility, with her own office on Ribbons level.

She despises the robots. She thinks they're creepy and annoying. And she takes every chance she has to take jabs at them and insult them. sometimes she doesn't even realize that she does it.

She follows protocol on how to deal with them. She treats them like less then human. Because to someone who is blind to what's going on? they are.

Her main purpose as a character was to create conflict and serve as a slight antagonist in the role play me an the house of homo gang (me, @dragon-phoenix-along, @voids-call and @hurtmionedanger)have going on. In the original time line her fiancee basil goes missing 3 days before their wedding and she learns whats going on eventually after finding a frog animatronic that calls her the same nicknames as her near wife.

In a recent divergence of that original time line though, Lily was lured into the security camera room to look for her twimblo who she had left with Henry and couldn't find. when the door locked behind her and the air circulation cut off. Winnie emerged from a nearby vent and BAM! DEAD!

And so she woke up as a ram animatronic covered in slime called Element! Whose job is to do small experiments and labs with kids to teach them about the world of science. who for lore reasons. does not have a voice box. so no one knows shes in there and its great because shes like....finally getting what she deserves i guess?

Anyway ask me things if you want to know more! i love her so much and would be ecstatic to share other fun facts.

[captainkirkk]

✩ WEEKLY FIC ROUND-UP ✩

All the fics I’ve read and really enjoyed in the past week-ish. Reminder: This list features any and all ratings and themes. Please look at tags and warnings on ao3 before reading.

The Umbrella Academy

The Longest Roads Lead to Home by assaily (twistedskys)

Five raised his glass to the rafters. “I’m home,” he said simply. “I’d like to take the time to enjoy that, y’know.”

Diego watched him pour another drink, suddenly understanding him. He’d been gone a long time, lost in a really terrible place that probably never felt like home unless he could somehow forget he was the last soul on Earth. ‘Home’ meant a lot to him.

When Five’s glass was ready again, Diego raised his own, still half-full. “To being home,” he said.

That earned him a smile, a real one that managed to soothe the crease in Five’s brow and make him look so incredibly young in its sincerity, and so incredibly old in its deep gratitude. He raised his glass and clinked it against Diego’s. “To finally being home.”

Or: Five gets kidnapped and it goes wrong (for the kidnapper).

SVSSS

two golden lilies float in silence in cool pond waters by texturralize

After watching one's own life bleed away into something entirely unrecognizable- a denigration, an affront, a massacre of everything one believed in- and yet, something happy, something contented, something so easily attained, a soul grows wearied. Cracked, wearied, hurt. A broken man could only live a broken life, something Shen Jiu had seen proven to him. His martial siblings preferred the other "him" - the kind one, the palatable one. The one that was not Shen Jiu.

In death, he can only wrestle with the intersection of his own wrongs and the sins committed towards him that left him such a spiteful and angered person in life. Can being reborn, into the days when he had only just attained his status as Peak Lord, give him another chance to live a life that is happy, contented, easily attained? Can he do what the other Shen Qingqiu had managed to do? Can he make the miserable wretch he considers himself to be into a better person?

Shen Jiu does not think so. He will make a mockery of the spark of something deep inside him that hopes so to try. Perhaps...at least...this time, he can watch over his disciples and live quietly with the music in Qing Jing Peak.

The Favourite by x_los

Demonic Emperor Luo Binghe's reputation precedes him. It's just not very accurate.

The Owl House

unexpected turns by kathkin

If I go back there, he’ll kill me. it had been nagging at him all day, the certainty in the kid’s voice. But if it wasn’t the Day of Unity, then what? What could he have seen in the emperor’s mind that was worse?

What could Belos possibly have been hiding that had the power to so utterly break the loyalty of his perfect little lapdog.

Clone Wars

The inability to accept No by BitterChocolateStars

One man's inability to accept No as an answer saves the galaxy.

Or: Obi-wan turns down Palpatine's date invite. Sheev gets obsessed and salty about it.

The Goblin Emperor

Snowdrops and Bridges by Orockthro

"Serenity,” Csevet says, and his voice is flat and stoney. Maia’s hands feel clammy in his lap. “There’s been an accident at the Istandaärtha Bridge.”

Or: One accident, one flower, one kiss. Not in that order."

[yallthemwitches]

Strong Enough

After hearing Lily was in a duel with Rosier, James takes out his frustration.

Written for JilyKinktober Day 3 AND Day 6, Prompts: Angry Sex and Hair Pulling

AO3 Link, Rated E for very explicit!

James heard what happened from Peter of all people. He had been at quidditch practice, halfway through quaffle drills when sweaty and heaving, Peter bounded out onto the pitch under them, eyes frantic.

“Dueling—-Lily and Rosier——really dueling in the dungeon corridor!”

He didn’t even get off his broom. He flew into the nearest hall, landing into a sprint when flying couldn’t take him any further. Wasting time pushing past throngs of students, the fight had already subsided when he arrived, finding instead a very purple-faced Professor Slothrop muttering something about having to peel a whimpering Rosier off the rafters. 

He didn’t need anyone to tell him where Lily was, she always went to the same place when something upset her. James jogged two corridors over to find a small light glowing out of the abandoned potions classroom. Lily was there cutting ingredients like nothing happened, jaw clenched.

“What were you thinking.” 

He didn’t even wait for her to look up. Professor Slothrop hadn’t lied about her walking away unscathed, she looked as beautiful and healthy as ever, but getting that confirmation allowed for his worry to melt into an anger he had never felt towards her before. 

“Don’t come in here acting like you would have done any different,” she said cooly, continuing to cut. 

Her dismissal just fueled his anger. He crossed the room and tore the knife from her hand but she didn’t even flinch, looking up at him with slitted eyes. 

“Fuck off with that Evans. We both know what you did was stupid—-“

She scoffed. “Don’t talk to me about being stupid—you’ve been doing idiotic shit since—-“

“He’s a death eater, Lily,” his voice raised on its own accord, “or at least he is about to become one. He wouldn’t hesitate for a second—“

“And I’m supposed to take that lying down?” Lily stood back, balling her fists at her sides. “I’m supposed to act like a meek little mudblood just like they want?”

He really hadn’t meant to do it. He slammed her chest with the palms of his hands and she stumbled back into the stone wall of the classroom, her eyes grew wide.

“James—“

“You aren’t strong enough to take on everything. Merlin knows you can with most things, but this—-this was just foolish.”

He was pinning her to the wall now, holding her wrists over her head. Her eyes roamed his face, then dipped to look at his quidditch jersey, traveling lower to find the source of a growing hardness against her leg. Even in anger he couldn’t resist her—- if it was still even anger at all.  

He slotted himself between her legs, mouth just barely hovering over hers.

Their eyes locked again, but this time his gaze reflected back an entirely new emotion. She cocked an eyebrow at him.

“Then do you care to demonstrate to me, Potter? Show me how strong I actually need to be—-“

She knew he would snap. Using one hand to keep both of her wrists bound, he flipped her so her chest pressed into the wall. He wrapped his arm around her waist, tugging her bottom half outwards to arch her back and press her ass into his now full erection. He leaned over her, reaching his hands around her front and under her skirt, pushing her knickers aside and thrusting a finger inside her, not wasting time. 

“Is that what you want? Try to get out from under me Evans, just try.”

She squirmed under him, but she knew she would never get out. His calloused hands had always been able to overpower her. The movement of her struggle just made her rub up against his cock more. He pushed another finger into her, sinking them to the knuckle. 

“That’s the best you can do, Evans?”

Lily had given up her struggle entirely as his fingers became relentless inside her, curling and twisting in the way he knew would make her scream.

“Fuck—-ah”

He used his body to push her harder into the wall, the hand holding her wrists clenching harder as his other hand worked. Moans started spilling from her, incoherent sounds that he could only get her to make when he was being rough.

“How fucking dare you? Trying to take on Rosier? Such a brave, idiotic little girl—-What if something happened to you—“

He bit into her neck and she screamed, twisting as his tongue carved a path up from her pressure point to her ear. She could feel her release bubbling deep within her, his fingers still pumping in and out, now dripping.

As swiftly as he entered, he removed his fingers from her. She moaned with discontent but he silenced it, parting her lips and forcing his drenched fingers into her mouth. Without hesitation, she swirled her tongue around them, tasting herself against his salty skin. 

“I know you are already close, but I’m not going to let you come yet—I’m going to fuck you into this wall and after I’m finished, and only then, can you come too.”

He took his fingers from her mouth, reaching between them to pull at the strings of his quidditch shorts. Cock already weeping, he tucked the back of her skirt into the waistband and pushed over the thin strip of knickers to swiftly enter her. James let out a deep moan, snapping his hips fast and hard against her arse.

“Fuck—-oh Christ Lily.”

The hands that held onto her wrists released, moving to the front of her blouse. With one quick yank, the top few buttons clattered to the floor and he snaked his arm down to grab her now exposed breast.

“James—-please—“

With every thrust her body bounced forward, pressing her chest farther into the wall while James held her hips jutted out to meet his. Now free for her hands to wander, she placed them on either side of her ass, spreading herself while holding her bottom half steady from his quick bucking hips. 

“Merlin, you are so beautiful Lily—fuck. I could look at you like this forever.”

He moved a hand to the back of her head, toying with curling his fingers into her hair which splayed against her back. At the feel of his grasp, she let out a mewing whine.

“Fuck me baby, pull my hair and fuck me fast until you come.”

James saw explosions around them, there was nothing that got him closer than hearing her be demanding. He took better hold of her hair, experimenting with tugging her head backwards. 

“Is this ok?”

Lily didn’t need to respond. The noise came from the deepest part of her, his name bubbled through like a long overdrawn note. James looked down and watched as his cock disappeared between her legs, slick with her arousal that had begun to drip down onto the ground.

“I can’t hold it love, I’m going to come.”

At his warning, Lily slammed her hips backward with all her weight, rocking on her heels.

“Come for me baby—-please, let me feel you.”

He obliged. With one last snap of his hips, he released into her, calling out her name and leaning so his forehead rested between her shoulders.

“James—-I’m gonna—“

He rebounded quickly, needing to feel her come. Following the rhythm of her hips he guided her to slide deeper on his cock.

“Come for me baby, you were a good girl—waiting like I asked.”

She let out a series of swears before chanting his name, muscles tightening around him, teetering on the edge. 

“Come for me—-that’s it—“

Her body shook, she threw her body back into him, pushing his cock deep into her before her legs gave out underneath. James wrapped his arms around her stomach, holding her in place, kissing a path from her shoulder to her neck. 

Now satisfied and back to reality, James let them fall to the floor in a heap. He stroked her hair, the same place he had roughly grasped earlier.

“Did I hurt you? I’m sorry, I kinda lost it—“

Lily kissed the worry off his face and pressed her forehead to him. 

“I was so worried…when I heard—-I guess I lost control.”

She pulled his face up to look at her, giving him a light nip on the nose. He grabbed her face in both his hands and kissed her lips softly, adrenaline spent.

“Don’t worry Potter, I can hold my own, remember?”

[staticymaticyyourlifeisatravesty]

Kittens in the Rafters

Tags: Fluff, Uncle, Lilith acting like a cat and a bird

@meervalv0 for her OC, @candyswirls @jaghatai-khock. @stargazing-sapphire2 @sorormaior @gregariousbonesinger, @victorcreedirl @nightghoulz

There were many things Takashi expected from when the Emperor had come to claim him as his son, and Takashi had thought he'd dealt with all the surprises he'd deal with. Then the IXth had come and he'd come with wings white as snow, and a small winged child still with the grey feathers of a young chick. His brother apparently had his wife recently killed, but the girl... he knew that look. She was scared and very overwhelmed, having already nearly scratched the face off of an Astartes.

Having noted that, Takashi decided to approach the girl carefully and gently, "Hello, I am one of your uncles, my name is Takashi" He says softly kneeling down to be more at her level.

The girl looked at him with distrust, her wings flared out and puffed in an attempt to make herself look bigger. Yet, she did come closer to him and sniffed him a bit before replying in a rather thick accent, "My name's Lilith, Ayah calls me Lili."

Takashi smiled as she came closer to him and lowered her wings, hidden as it was behind his veil. "Are you liking Terra so far?" He decides to ask

Lilith seems to mule it over for a bit before saying "Trees. I like Trees. Smell very nice. You smell different. Like...water? Salty? Don't know. Leather and ink is comforting"

Before Takashi can really make much sense of what she said, he freezes as she...crawls onto his lap and begins....kneading him? Yes, she's definitely kneading him like small kitten and she's getting fluffy again. Except it makes her look like a small fluffy pillow then anything else.

He starts to stroke her head, running his fingers through her hair, as she starts to rather loudly purr. He can't believe she's this comfortable with him. They just met...but she's...on his lap, falling asleep. It's not long before his own purrs start. Rough and deep, it's very quiet at first before he realizes that she's simply not bothered by him.

She's just accepted him as he is, not even blinking at his scars, as if it were normal to see chemical burns like his own. His fucked up purrs don't seem to bother her either, if anything she's just fluffed herself even more. She's adorable.

He wants to melt she's so cute, and yes her talons do hurt going in and out of his skin. But he's willing to take make the sacrifice of his robes, if it means she gets to be comfortable and feel safe in this new place.

[amanda-519]

Malevolent Favorite Characters Results! 500 Milestone!!

I planned to post the Malevolent Favorite Character poll results at the 400 milestone. A few days ago, the poll had 320 responses, so I thought I'd have more time. I posted to boost the numbers, hitting 336 responses. Then Potato-lord-but-not and Percymawce-arts reblogged the link, and it blew up. Thanks to them and everyone who shared it!!!

When I first saw my notifications explode, we had 403 responses. After thanking Potato-lord-but-not and Percymawce-arts, it jumped to 413. Despite it being late, I started writing the 400 milestone post. While WRITING THE POST the number of responses jumped up 6 times! Making it tricky to keep up as I had to keep checking what the new response voted so I won’t miss their vote. 

I went to bed with 419 responses, thinking we'd stay under 500. But the next morning, after getting my birthday cake with my mom, I saw we had 478 responses! Yeah. I couldn’t post a 400 milestone list when I was so close to 500!

And then we hit 500! 500! Half of a THOUSAND!!! A number I considered would be an “end point” when I first made this poll! (Obviously it’s not going to be, I’m going to keep this poll up forever!) So! THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE POLL! FOR THOSE WHO STILL HAVEN’T AND WANT TO YOU STILL CAN!! Here’s the link! Your response will be in the 600 milestone post! (whenever that might be!)

Without further ado, let’s get into it! The results for the 500 milestone of the Malevolent favorite character poll! (Techinaly 502 responses, I wasn’t able to write it all done the moment we hit 500)

Who is your favorite character in Malevolent? (501 responses)

Arthur: 176

John:  130

Kayne: 81

Collins/ The Butcher: 24

Noel: 22

Oscar: 21

Yellow: 7

Parker: 5

Anna Stanzcyk: 5

Kellin: 5

The King In Yellow: 4

The Cab Drivers: 4

Yorick: 2

The Lighthouse Keeper: 2

Scratch: 1

Lily (animal): 1

Blinky: 1

Bella: 1

The Three Soldiers: 1

Faroe: 1

“Are you really making me choose between John and Arthur right now?”: 1 

“Both John and Arthur (don’t make me choose)”: 1

“Hard tie between arthur and john”: 1

“John and Arthur (package deal do not separate) (update: just saw this below and I completely agree)”: 1 

“I can’t separate John and Arthur”: 1 

“JARTHUR DO NOT SEPARATE”: 1

-

Who is your favorite side character in Malevolent? (499 responses)

Kayne: 170

Collins/ The Butcher: 75

Noel: 73

Oscar: 68

Yellow: 23

Parker: 15

Yorick: 14

Kellin: 12

Faroe: 12

The King In Yellow: 11

The Trader: 9

Daniel: 5

Marie: 6

Larson: 2

Scratch: 2

The Hag: 1

Blinky: 1

-

Who is your second favorite side character in Malevolent? (500 responses)

Kayne: 103

Noel: 100

Collins/ The Butcher: 86

Oscar: 68

Yellow: 25

The King In Yellow: 20

Parker: 17

Faroe: 17

Marie: 14

Larson: 12

Daniel: 9

Scratch: 6

Kellin: 4

The Trader: 2

Percy: 1

Yorick: 1

The Hag: 1

“Butcher”: 1 

“Arthur”: 1

“Alexander (Owl)”: 1

–

Who is your third favorite side character in Malevolent? (497 responses)

Noel: 75

Oscar: 73

Collins/ The Butcher: 59

Kayne: 59

Yellow: 41

Faroe: 27

Yorick: 24

Kellin: 23

Marie: 22

Parker: 22

Larson: 15

Scratch: 14

The Trader: 14

Daniel: 12

The King In Yellow: 12

Percy: 3

The Hag: 2

-

Who is your favorite minor character in Malevolent? (501 responses)

Lily (animal): 101

Anna Stanzcyk: 40

The Cab Drivers: 40

Bella: 36

The Canna: 31

The Lighthouse Keeper: 30

Lily (nurse): 30

Alexander (The owl. Aka, Owlexander): 27

Blinky: 23

Wraith: 19

Shub/Niggurath: 16

Michael Fuast: 13

The Three Soliders: 13

Adam Fry: 12

Uncle: 11

Amanda/Sarah: 9

Mathew: 8

Rafters: 8

Frank: 7

Armitage: 5

Henry: 5

Eddie: 5

The Vanguard: 5

James: 1

The Prince: 1

“woman on the train who gets offended at Arthur talking to himself”: 1

“Owlexander”: 1

“Kellin”: 1

“Scratch”: 1

“That one little creature thing from ep 16”: 1

-

Who is your second favorite minor character in Malevolent? (497 responses)

Lily (animal): 59

The Cab Drivers: 39

The Canna: 38

Bella: 33

The Lighthouse Keeper: 31

Lily (nurse): 28

Blinky: 27

Alexander (The owl. Aka, Owlexander): 26

Anna Stanzcyk: 22

The Three Soliders: 22

Uncle: 20

Amanda/Sarah: 18

Shub/Niggurath: 16

Frank: 15

Rafters: 14

The Vanguard:  11

Adam Fry: 10

Michael Fuast: 9

Eddie: 7

Armitage: 5

Mathew: 6

James: 4

Henry: 4

“I was honestly a massive fan of Faroe from the morsels we were fed of how she was/acted”: 1

“WHERE IS KELLAN”: 1

“Roland Cummings”: 1

“You misspelled Michael Faust”: 1

-

Who is your third favorite minor character in Malevolent? (484 responses)

Lily (animal): 59

The Cab Drivers: 43

The Lighthouse Keeper: 34

The Canna: 33

Wraith: 32

Lily (nurse): 31

Alexander (The owl. Aka, Owlexander): 27

Bella: 26

Blinky: 22

Shub/Niggurath: 22

Anna Stanzcyk: 19

The Three Soliders: 19

Amanda/Sarah: 17

Uncle: 15

Michael Fuast: 11

Rafters: 11

The Vanguard: 10

Frank: 9

Henry: 9

Mathew: 8

James: 7

Adam Fry: 6

Armitage: 5

Eddie: 4

“The woman behind Scratch/Lillith”: 1

“Im not fully through the show”: 1

“Marie:” 1

“Rollan Cummings”: 1

“cant choose!”:1

-

Now this question is purely for me, but who do you like better, John or Arthur?” (498 responses)

Arthur: 144

John: 121

I literally can't decide. This question is killing me I love both of them SO MUCH.They're equal to me. Linked. I can't pick one without the other. Do Not Separate: 233

-

And that’s all for now! I make reblog this post and add other bits, like maybe I’ll add the results for the other 100 milestones, or bits of what people wrote about their favorite characters. So keep an eye out for that if you’re interested! (also, since @percymawce-arts wanted to be tagged, here you go! I hope you find the results as fascinating as I do!)

[formerlycookierunauprompts]

💔 prompt Evil version of shadow Milk is setting up a ‘puppet’ show using the ancients as guests, they are not having a fun time. Feel free to interpret this how you like.

Requested Prompts #28 - 💔✙

CONTENT WARNING : Body Horror? If living puppets count then yeah.

You know, waking up in a theater may not be the oddest or freakiest thing ever, but that depends on context. And the with the prior context that you were chasing the huge, beast side of a cookie that is known to sometimes host gruesome puppet shows... Pure Vanilla Cookie couldn't help but be concerned. " Pure Vanilla Cookie?" He heard White Lily speak up from the seat next to him, she looked concerned and confused as to where she was. He was as well, but where were the others? " Welcome! new holders of the soul jam!" A voice crackled from around them, belonging to none other than the beast. " Welcome one and all to the Shadow Theater! We have a wonderful play for you all tonight!" They knew it wouldn't be a wonderful show, but they couldn't withhold their gasps of horror when the stage curtains were drawn open. Upon the stage were three cookies, Gingerbrave, Strawberry Cookie and Wizard Cookie, but there was something distinctly wrong with them. They seemed conscious, panicked. It was very understandable as to why they were however. Yet they couldn't open their mouths and scream. Impaled in their hands and feet were spikes connected to strings that tailed up into the rafters of the stage. The two ancients could smell and see the strawberry jam leaking from their puncture wounds. Their mouths, at least, were magically sealed. The look of fear in the trio of children's eyes was enough to strike panic and horror within the two ancients. Yet neither of them could leave their seats to help. " Here we have three, small, fragile little cookies. I'm sure that you two care about them a bunch, yes?" The beast said with a chuckle. The strings on Strawberry Cookie pulled taut, and the ancients could only watch as she was forced to pull out her lollipop hammer and turn towards Wizard Cookie. " So, theoretically... You'd be rather heartbroken if you watched them smash each other into pieces." " No!" Pure Vanilla yelled, extending a hand and reaching forwards in his seat to try and stop what was going to happen. The Lollipop hammer was swung down, the lights cutting out as a sickening crack filled the theater. The lights turn back on, revealing that Strawberry Cookie had hit a jar of Sweet Jelly Jam instead of Wizard Cookie's head. The pink clad cookie was crying, all three of them still looked terrified. " But, it's far too early in the show for a character death, especially a main character death." The beast tutted, " So, here's the deal. If you re-unite me with my other, much more pathetic half, then I'll let these three go! Easy-peasy! But if you refuse... Well, then little Strawberry is gonna get an encore! And this time... She'll be hitting her target." The Beast cackled in a sickening manner after he finished speaking, and a snap of fingers rang out through the theater. The Ancients watched in horror as they collapsed to the ground, the theater around them fading away as the trio looked to them with pleading expressions. They felt the forest floors of Beast Yeast below them once more, but what could they do? Gingerbrave and his friends were in danger, bad, bad danger. And yet they couldn't hand over Shadow Milk's good half, who knows what the Beast would do to the guy if he goes back? So then... what were they supposed to do? ... They should probably contact Reader Cookie before anything.

[neochan]

≡ 𝐈𝐍 𝐁𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐌 (𝐇.𝐑𝐉, 𝐋.𝐌𝐇, 𝐙.𝐂𝐋, 𝐋.𝐃𝐇)

「 MEMBERS 」 ⋮ fae!mark lee, fae!huang renjun, fae!lee haechan, fae!zhong chenle ft. mentions of fae!jaemin, fae!jeno & fae!jisung

≣ content warning ⋮ some arguing but other than that, nothing.

≣ a.note ⋮ i'm thinking about turning this into a fic/series so like. . . please tell me if this interests you. i have characters in my head. plot. and everything. of course it would include smut but this is such a refreshing, fun, light concept. also i wrote this so fast so please disregard any mistakes.

≣ word count ⋮ 0.7k

"it's strictly forbidden."

chenle's glacial tone reaches through the depths of surrounding fae. it wasn't a statement; it was a command. one that no one would dare to break. except for -

"forbidden by a rule made thirty millennia ago." mark speaks up, shifting in the silver-backed throne, "by ancestors who are no longer in power, may i remind you."

chenle grits his teeth but bites his tongue. he couldn't disagree with mark, at least not out loud.

another boy yawns - his figure draped across his pure gold throne as if it were a couch. "i'm with lele. humans aren't supposed to step foot in high fae court."

renjun, another fae sitting off to the left, speaks up. "hyuck, sit. up. straight."

the younger boy grumbles, but obliges and rights himself. his boots hit the checkered tile with a loud thump that rings out through the open ceiling.

marks wings transition from translucent to a dark shade of purple when he stands up and starts pacing.

maybe they were right. it was forbidden. but wasn't the whole point of his role as the oldest high fae to change rules. better them? times have turned for fucks sake. didn't chenle understand that?

renjun pipes up again, "i think mark makes some good points. the rule is very old."

"oh shush up jun. you'll follow anything he says." a stony glare erupts on chenles face.

"sorry for wanting to progress our lands. i know you're still stuck in the past."

chenle all but leaps from his throne, "don't you dare speak of my past as if you know- "

"ENOUGH!"

marks command ceases all speech and the two bickering boys settle back in their thrones. chenle wants nothing more than to drag renjun through the dirt, but this was not the time, and one look from haechan solidifies that.

"this court was not made for arguing. do that later. right now we need to solve this issue." the purple wings flutter as a shiver runs through marks body, "we're running out of time."

"how are we supposed to decide anything with half a court?" haechan mumbles to no one in particular.

"jeno, jaemin, and jisung are caught up with individual matters." mark sighs, "since this is time sensitive, we have no choice but to decide ourselves."

"well i vote against it. having a human - having her, come stay with us... we're separated for a reason." chenle stands up and grabs the long sheathed knife at the foot of his royal seat. "that's my vote. now if you don't mind, may i be excused." he clenches his jaw. he hated having to ask permission to leave the court - it was humiliating.

mark throws a hand in the air and dismisses him, "very well."

spinning on his heel, chenle exits the room swiftly. if he stayed one minute longer, blood would have been spilled.

"renjun?" mark asks without looking in his directions.

the blonde headed boy shrugs, "i have no problem with her coming here. in fact, i would love to be a host to someone other than fae. it'd be refreshing." his voice carries through the rafters, lily blossoms blooming in it's wake - the spring courts gift.

haechan doesn't wait to be asked. "i'll agree on one condition."

marks rolls his eyes, "what?"

"she can't step foot in my court. let her be with you all she pleases," haechan shoots a glance at renjun who was picking at his nails, "and renjuns too. but i want nothing to do with her."

"deal." the confirmation flies from marks mouth faster than it should have. "then it's set. she's coming here to stay for. . . i don't know how long."

renjuns curiosity would never be tamed. "when will she arrive?"

mark looks almost nervous when he answers - brows pulled together and knitted in worry. his lips pucker and he fidgets with the end of his tight-fitted tunic.

". . . tomorrow morning."

the only reply is haechans amused snort.

[ang3lb1iss]

Notre Dame | paris paloma | Part 1 of 2 

Word count: 2.7k 

Pairing: James Potter x F!Bestfriend Reader 

Summary: Hogwarts years | You were James’ best friend since first year. Throughout your years at Hogwarts, you had started to develop a crush on James, but you refused to act on your feelings due to the fact James only ever had eyes for Lily. Now you're sitting at his funeral, reminiscing about the past and you can't help but feel regret and guilt. 

Authors note: This is my first fic /one-shot so forgive me if it isn't that great to read, I just found it fun being able to interpret lyrics into stories about characters I love. The story loosely follows the Marauders scenes in the HP movies. I picture James with either a scouse accent or a really chavvy London accent, but you can picture him however you want. I apologise in advance if the tenses get mixed up, the story is made up of the reader looking back on the past and reliving certain moments. 

______________________________________________________________

‘I'm in the rafters looking down  It's cold up here  Between walls of stone  I made my home’ 

The church is cold and dim. Especially in the upstairs seating, which is where you are situated. As you try to listen to the speeches full of childhood memories and happier times, you can't help but lose focus and think about the what-ifs and how things could've gone differently. If you had never met James in that cabin on the way to Hogwarts, you wouldn’t be feeling this pain and heartache, but you also wouldn’t have had such a joyful and exciting time at the school. Hindsight is a funny thing after all. “What if it was me and not Lily? Why wasn’t it me? Why did I have to fall for him?” You wonder what the answers to these questions could be, but the harsh truth is that you never will, and you will live with the never-ending ambiguity until the day you die. 

‘And the air hangs heavy with the incense  Feathers fall from pigeons  Cooing in the tower’ 

Your first year, you remember it all so clearly. You were looking to find a cabin for the journey to Hogwarts, but the majority were filled, and in the rest, there were stone-faced older kids that openly sneered at you anytime you walked past them. Until you found his cabin. 

 He was the only one in there and you thought that he looked somewhat friendly, so you decided to take a chance. It ended up being one of the best decisions you’ve ever made. 

 He welcomed you in with a bright smile on his face, despite looking like his face would split with how wide his smile was, he asked you the standard questions, “What's your name? What house d’ya think you'll be in? D’ya want to be mates?” Of course, I wanted to be friends with him, I probably would have been miserable without him in my life but then again, I wouldn’t be so heartbroken now. Hindsight is a funny thing after all. 

You can recall the way his eyes gleamed when he introduced himself as James. James. Tears sprung to your eyes, making your surroundings go blurry. You can't help but miss the way he proudly said he was a Gryffindor “where dwell the brave at heart” and how Slytherin was full of “evil prats and I'd rather die than be in Slytherin.” You had always admired his pride and how he never let anything upset him too much or for too long. 

That is of course until Lily Evans became more vicious and spiteful in her rejections and jabs. Whenever James was insulted by his “Lilyflower” he let it break down his nonchalant persona and let it cut him deeper than any knife ever could. His Lilyflower. The common factor in all your suffering, you couldn’t blame her of course, it wasn’t her fault that a big oaf like James Potter fell in love with her. But it's not like that fact softened the blow in any way. 

You decided to stop that train of thought before you cried even harder. Instead, you choose to remember when the Trolley Lady came to the door and being breath taken at the assortment of sweet treats. Upon looking in your purse which was just a pouch, you’d realised that you didn’t have enough to get the Bertie Botts Every flavour Beans that you would've liked, with disappointment quickly replacing your awestruck expression, you had declined and took to looking out the window instead of having to see the trolley taunting you with all its colours and designs.  

That’s when you heard him. 

“We’ll take the lot of ‘em” you heard him say and you had insisted that he shouldn’t be wasting his money on you, but he simply drowned out your pleas and focused on the shock of the Trolley Lady. He was always so generous. 

After much reluctance and countless Thank you’s, you'd decided to have a few cauldron cakes and indulge in a chocolate frog when a small timid boy opened the compartment door and asked if anyone had seen his toad, he introduced himself as Peter Pettigrew and he ended up sitting with the both of you for the rest of the journey while you had pulled out a book to read and ended up falling asleep with your head leaning on the compartment wall. 

‘I rarely go down there, the view's just so beautiful from here  And I can see everybody at their worst points  At their worst points’ 

You start to remember the moment you openly started looking at James differently. It was the end of third year, and he had just won the quidditch match between Gryffindor and Slytherin after declaring during dinner in the great hall that Gryffindor was 100% going to win and he would “wipe his arse with the slithering bastards”.  

You also remember his mumbling and moaning about having to go to detention and you remember him being too busy laying his head on your lap when you both were in your dorm and going to sleep while you read a book. 

 But there he was on his broom hovering above the crowd that had formed to celebrate the win with him. The noise of screams, chants and shouts reverberated across the entirety of the school grounds. The thought of it making you shiver. While James was practically the same shade as the snitch by how brightly his smile was beaming, you were perfectly content with watching him from the Gryffindor stands and away from the chaos that was the Quidditch pitch. 

To this day you can still feel the way your heart skipped a beat when he looked up and smiled at you. At least you thought it was at you. You noticed his wet hair, whether it was because of the rain, him sweating or a combination of both, you didn’t care. His curly dark brown hair that normally looked so fluffy and messy that you just wanted to run your hands through it and make it somewhat tidier.  

His arms that made his jersey look to be too tight, it made you picture scenarios with him being able to carry you places when you got too tired, fighting someone who tried to hurt you. You are still quite ashamed to admit the times when you got flustered at the thought of him using them to pin you against a wall and having a heated makeout session in a broom cupboard. 

Thoughts aside, you had decided to retire to your dorm for a quick nap. The cold can be very tiring. You gathered your things and stood up only to see Lily Evans, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew sat together directly behind you. You hadn't even noticed them while you watched James previously. 

Lily and Peter said hello while Remus only managed an awkward tight-lipped smile. You and Remus didn’t become friends until your seventh year when you both bonded over being unrequited lovers. The reason for this being that you always felt like he could see through you. He knew things about people before they even knew it themselves which always made you paranoid that he could see your feelings for James and tell him, and as a result, ruining the best friendship you ever had. At least I don’t need to be paranoid anymore.  

Your mind skipped to fifth year, when you were sitting with the Marauders on a warm sunny day, exams had just ended, and you all were just waiting for the results to be calculated. That’s when you heard the boys get up and walk over to a nearby tree. You looked over and saw a mop of stringy black hair and a pale face with an expression of distaste painted on his face. Snivellous,, the foul git.  

You had chosen to stay far back enough that you could still see what happens clearly but ensured you weren't too close as to avoid McGonagall's wrath if she were to show up at the scene.  

The next thing you knew was that Snivellous was hanging upside down in mid-air. Levicorpus. You remember coming across the charm in the library with Sirius and James while looking for more spells for future pranks. You never got involved in the pranks because you didn’t fancy sitting in a silent room for an hour for detention or, Merlin forbid, whatever task Filch might've issued you with. 

There was always a slight rift between you and Sirius because of your refusal to get involved in pranks, he would never have outwardly said it in front of James or Peter because of their loyalty to you, but he disliked how you would only ever consider helping them if James had asked you. You were the only girl in Hogwarts he couldn’t sway with his charm and good looks. And Merlin did it get him jealous. Not that you had noticed back then at least. 

You ended that tangent before it made you spiral down a rabbit hole of confusion. You thought back the past, Snape was being held high by none other than James Potter. His fluffy green Slytherin socks and the sparse leg hair upon his dry ashen legs, were left on display for everyone to see. You had wondered what provoked James into performing such a spell. But your question was left unanswered as your attention had gone to Snape being dropped back onto the ground and Lily Evans being called a “Filthy Mudblood.” by her old childhood best friend. 

If anger meant seeing red, then James wasn’t seeing anything but of blind rage. “Don’t you dare call her that word you vile, disgusting creature.” There was an array of insults and cussing until Lily had brought him back to his senses. She told Snivellous to piss off and she waited until he was far enough away to round on James and unleash the anger that had been building inside her for years. 

You couldn’t hear what she said due to the fact she had put a silencing charm on the area but based off what James whimpered and whined about while he dreamt in your bed with you for comfort, she had probably said something along the lines of “I would rather kill myself then ever be your girl, Potter.” Hindsight is a funny thing after all. You couldn’t help but feel a pang of your heart at the fact that his soul had latched onto Lily and not you, not even giving you a chance.  

That was the night you realised that you would never get the guy. You will forever be condemned to loving James Potter. Your life will continue to be tormented with the possibilities that could've happened, the dreams that made you weep with despair and the everlasting longing and desire slowly encasing your heart until it breaks and shatters. James Potter was the light of your life, but he also caused the darkness that it left behind. James Potter was the sun, but now everything has gone dark. 

‘I'm not a sadist, I enjoy just being able to be witness of the loneliness and fear  I abhor in case there isn't one  In case there isn't one’ 

After that night, after your tragic discovery had become the only thing running through your head. You had pathetically tried to recover the way you saw James before you fell for him. You tried for 2 long years with no luck. He still had your attention and heart, and yet he didn’t realise he had either. So, when the Marauders split for the night, you decided to ask for help. 

You were suffocating with the grief and the mourning of what could've been. And you needed someone to help you breathe. 

With Peter and Sirius headed to the dorm, James doing his Head-Boy patrols with Lily, it was only you and Remus left in the library, the map and the invisibility cloak set to the side until you both decided to leave. It turns out you didn’t even need to say anything because Remus knew exactly what was going through your head. 

He saw the adoration in your eyes when you looked at your best friend, he saw the longing and upset you tried to hide when you heard him constantly talk about marrying Lily and having “Mini Potters” with her. No matter how well you tried, you couldn’t help but subtly display your inner turmoil. 

And Remus saw it all.  

“You're in love with James, aren't you, I see the way your eyes shine brighter, and your smile gets bigger when he enters the room. But he doesn’t love you back and you know it. I know you know it. And I know you’ve known it for years now. But I know what it's like, it feels like a constant weight on your chest and when they walk in the room, it disappears even if you try to hold it down, but then their presence, their joy, their affection for someone else, drains you, the energy you put in to try make them notice your love just gets brushed away until eventually it leaves you so empty that you become a hollow shell of the person that fell for them all that time ago.” 

“I can't tell you how to get rid of it simply because I don’t know how to, but I can offer you some advice that I should've taken before it was too late. Leave, Leave them alone. Leave their life. It'll suck balls for the first while I'm sure but by staying you're degrading yourself. All your insecurities and the suffering you're facing now will pass. This is doomed love sweetheart. You're slowly breaking down. Leave. Before you can't piece yourself together again.” 

And with that he leaves the library. 

How are you supposed to leave his life? How are you supposed to keep him out of yours? The questions won't stop plaguing your mind, do you take Remus's advice and move on, or do you ignore him and feel your heart pull and crack every time you see him. The choice will be the most difficult one you will ever make and yet it’s the one that needs to be made. 

You walk into potions the next day, you thought that it would help make a choice if you avoided him for a day as a trial. Instead of sitting in your normal seat, you walked over and sat beside a Ravenclaw who you believed was called Pandora.  

The Marauders walked in and sat at their tables; you avoided James’ gaze when you looked over to you in confusion, but Remus diverted his attention elsewhere. You had inwardly thanked Remus for helping you out. 

As the lesson went on everything got worse and your decision became clearer and clearer. 

Since the year started, James had started to think twice about the pranks, he acted more mature in general and overall started becoming a man. All of this was for Lily of course. You couldn’t help but ask yourself if he would do the same thing for you if he chose you in the first place. 

You were taking notice of all the little things that you're usually too delusional to notice. 

How every time he made a joke or laughed; he would glance at Lily. You could feel your heart in your throat. 

How he would wink and smirk at her when he got an answer correct. A tear forms in your eye. 

How he would look over at her to make sure she understood the topic. Another tear forms. 

How he whispers the answer in her ear if she doesn’t know it. Another one 

How he shines with pride when Professor Slughorn appraises her. Another. 

More tears form until you couldn’t stop them anymore. Thankfully the class was dismissed, and you quickly left before the tears fell and left a salty trail down your cheek. A representation of your life back then. Although in thinking that you can't help but notice that it didn’t get any better. Hindsight is a funny thing after all. 

[assortedseaglass]

An Ever Fixed Mark - A Come Back To Me Oneshot

Billy Washington x Ida (OFC)

[Come Back To Me Masterlist]

Warnings: Fluff, smutty thoughts

Word Count: 1.7K

Note: This is a long overdue thank you to @exitpursuedbyavulcan for their support of Come Back To Me. Just a sweet little drabble about my favourite idiots. It follows on from the events of Come Back To Me and contains OCs, so if you aren’t familiar, maybe give that a read first.

If it weren’t for the steady voice of the priest, Billy would have forgotten where he was. Across the altar, illuminated by stream of July light, stood Ida. From the moment Faisal had knocked on his door that morning with a panicked “Ready?”, all Billy wanted was to see her. In a rush of wedding-induced delirium, the morning faded into afternoon and guests were gathering in the little church. She’d glided up the aisle, the little flowergirl in front of her throwing petals on the ground like grenades. The congregation ahed and laughed, but Billy could see only her. From the bouquet of flowers she held, bright sweet peas, roses and lily-of-the-valley to the pink hue of her joy-freckled cheeks, Ida held him enraptured.

The entire service, he had grinned at her like a schoolboy, palms sweating as the exchange of the rings approached. By some miracle (his life had been so full of miracles these last eighteen months) he hadn’t dropped them, placing them tenderly on the Bible and resuming his sentinel behind Faisal, gazing at Ida. Her eyes were glazed with tears now, the breadth of her smile near forcing them to fall. The usually unruly hair had been wrestled into gentle curls that framed her face, a few whisps haloed by the red and blue of the stained-glass window. He knew it was sacrilegious to say it, but she truly was the most beautiful woman there. Billy watched with glee as she took a shuddering breath of anticipation.

“By the power vested in me,” the priest between them held up his hands. “I know pronounce you man and wife. Go in peace. Faisal, you may kiss-” Before the dear man could finish his sentence, Sofia leapt at Faisal, her arms encircling his neck as the crowd cheered with applause. Behind her, Ida’s tears brimmed over as she laughed, the flowergirl holding her hand jumping up and down with glee. Sofia led Faisal down the aisle, smiling proudly and showing off her wedding ring to the crowd. Faisal shook hasty hands with family and friends as he passed, not once losing step with his bride and laughing at her abounding happiness. Ida hurried the flowergirl after them, giggling she tottered behind the bride and groom, waving at the crowd and utterly oblivious to their focus on the newlyweds. Billy held out his arm for Ida and, with a bashful smile, she took it.

“You look amazing,” he whispered in her ear as they made their way to the front of the church. Ida’s eyes drifted downwards, attempting to hide the growing blush with her hair.

“You don’t look so bad yourself, Wash.” She nudged his shoulder; it was his turn to blush. “Though I can’t wait to get these pins out of my hair,”

“And I can’t wait to get you out of that dress,” Billy said lowly in the shell of her ear.

If the church has been full to the rafters, then the hotel function suit was bound to burst. Sugar-high children, reminiscing elders and everyone in between spilled from the suit into the summer evening sun. Sofia and Faisal, a glass of champagne in each hand, moved around their loved ones as if gliding on air. Faisal’s parents were regal in their Shalwar kameeze and Anarkali against the sea of linen suits and summer dresses, and Sofia’s parents, with their white-blonde hair and golden skin as beautiful as their daughter’s, spoke to them with glowing pride. Gladness and well wishes filled the air.

“What a beautiful couple,”

“What a gorgeous day,”

Amongst it all, Billy and Ida were the model wedding party, welcoming friends, charming the families and ensuring the day went without a hitch. At least, without Sofia and Faisal knowing. Occasionally, they caught each other’s eye from across the room and beamed. Ida basking in the radiant joy of her best friend’s happiness, Billy at being finally and firmly accepted into this found family. The flowergirl dotted between them, begging Ida to play or Billy to dance. When, after the dinner, she had been beckoned to bed by her parents, she hugged Ida around the knees and gave Billy a wet kiss on the cheek. Ida’s stomach kneaded as she watched him with the little girl. She had just reached out her hand to him, caressing the sun-kissed skin there, when the clinking of spoon against glass rang out. The newlyweds and their parents were seated at the top table, the guests shuffling to their chairs. Ida tucked herself into the crook of Billy’s shoulder, leaning against his chest and inhaled his cologne. Nothing needed to be said; their minds already worked in tandem. Instead, he lazily brought his hand to graze at her waist and watched as Sofia’s father stood to address the crowd.

Ida smiled as he told stories of Sofia as a young girl, her nature vivacious from the moment she took her first breaths. The crowd laughed when tales turned to her time at university, and the arrival of the maid-of-honour in his daughter's life. Ida should have brought seriousness and study, instead their pair of girls partied and drank and somehow passed their exams. Billy pinched her side and Sofia winked at her best friend. The career, the travels, and eventually, Faisal.

“I was convinced the moment that my little girl first smiled up at me, that no-one could be a match for her. No one as brilliant, and bright, and adventurous and fun-loving. I was right.” The crowd chortled. “But then Faisal came along. Faisal with his kind eyes and his kind heart, and I watched as he and my Sofia fell in love. One day, I asked them to help me bring the weekly shop in from the car. An hour it took them. Pausing between each bag to talk. About the weather, the world, their hopes and dreams, what was on telly last night, and I knew as I watched them that he was the man for her.” He placed his hand on Faisal’s shoulder, and the groom patted it with affection. “Love isn’t a rollercoaster, or easy. Sometimes it isn’t even patient or kind. It’s soul-baring, visceral and long. I shan’t give advice to these two, so perfectly suited for a life together. But if I have anything to say it’s this; at the end of it all our hearing goes and we forget the glasses we’ve lost are on our heads. Our skin sags and our minds slow. Marry someone that sees the worst of you, all of you, and thinks the sun shines out your arse regardless.” The crowd laughed and clapped. Ida turned her head to Billy and found he was already watching her. With a wink, he kissed her forehead and raised his glass to toast his friends.

Before either of them new it, the night was drawing in. Sofia and Faisal were dancing at the centre of the room, Robbie Williams’ Angels playing on the decks.

“Wouldn’t be a wedding without it,” Billy whispered to Ida before pulling her close. Her eyes were hazy with champagne, and his own head felt as if it were full of cotton wool. She wrapped her arms around is neck and he was reminded delightfully of school discos, girls and boys stood stiffly apart as they held each other awkwardly in some strange imitation of what they had seen their parents doing. A prepubescent game of grown up. Ida kissed his neck, and Billy would have felt embarrassed about the sweat that fell there if it weren’t for the way he’d heard her inhale his scent.

“I’m done now,” she had said with her head lolling against his shoulder. “I want to get into bed.” Billy rubbed her back soothingly and watched as Faisal dipped Sofia into a kiss.

“Last song. Soon,”

Ida looked up at him. Red bloomed across his cheeks from the heat of the air, the dancing and the alcohol. Since the incident he kept his hair short, but it still managed to stick to his forehead. A long while ago the uncomfortable ties the groomsmen wore had been discarded and his floral buttonhole was lobsided. He looked how she had always known him; frayed at the edges, the young and turbulent life he had already lived playing out across the canvas of him. A hand tapped her shoulder and with difficulty she tore her eyes away from her Billy.

“We’re off,” Sofia pulled Ida into a hug. “Thank you for everything today.”

“Thanks mate,” Faisal clapped Billy on the back and lifted him off the ground in a tight embrace. They laughed together.

“Here,” Sofia pressed something into Ida’s hands and, looking down, she saw it was her bouquet. “I thought about throwing it, but I wanted you to have it.”

Ida raised her eyebrows. “What are you saying, Mrs?” Sofia waggled hers in response, then turned to pull her husband away through the dancers and towards the car waiting to whisk them to their honeymoon. Billy and Ida watched from a distance, his arms still clinging to her hips, as their friends drove away and into married life. No sooner had the car pulled out of the hotel’s dark drive was Ida wrenching Billy towards the door.

“Haven’t we got to help clear up?” He asked, looking at the family and hotel staff packing away chairs.

“We’ve done enough today. I need to get you upstairs, Wash.”

“What for?”

All breath left him. Ida looked over her shoulder, past their entwined hands and into his eyes with a determined and wolfish gaze. “Just you wait.”

Note: The title is from Shakespeare’s Sonnet 116, which I just adore!

Tagging the old Come Back To Me crew: @jessssica1234 @heimtathurs @bookwyrmsblog @phantomontheinternet @aemonds-wifey @slytherincursebreaker @valerie977 @greenowlfactif @yentroucnagol @schniiipsel @multiple-fandoms-girl @just-emmaaaa @tosiaf @kage-no-sonzai

[bellatrixobsessed1]

Like I could sink into the moment and be comforted by the darkness

Summary: Azula's skin is changing, it shimmers and shines. But everything is okay. She is okay.

Note: I found out about invertebrate iridescent virus 31 and thought, “what if Azula…???”

Warning: Character Death

It starts with her fire, most things do.

It is alluring in the way that sun halos are.

Sometimes she stares at her fire for hours watching it’s newly white blaze. It pops a flares with streaks of teal and pink, a fine opalescence that makes her think of rainbows on the rims of clouds.

She noticed it on a Thursday. An unremarkable Thursday, slightly overcast but still charmingly warm. Her days have been mostly mundane as of late and she has grown used to and then content with the monotony. She no longer begs for things to do, missions to go on, and people to please. 

She finds pointless hobbies that she enjoys alongside her more rigorous, strenuous firebending routines. She likes to study butterflies and other insects, mostly butterflies with their vivid colors and their clever camouflage. But she is also fond of the pillbugs, the way that they bunch up when she pokes at them. 

Now and then she calligraphy art, an elegant sweep of shimmery gold ink is amazingly satisfying. Just to follow the sweeping movements of her quill as she extends certain strokes in choice places. She likes to use the leftover ink to draw some of her favorite bugs. 

Sometimes she dances, she isn’t all that good at it. Her form is too stiff and she isn’t particularly expressive yet. There is something about dancing that feels more naked and she isn’t quite ready for that yet. 

Thursdays are firebending days. 

Since nothing urgent happens on Thursdays, she can run through her katas uninterrupted. She is done for today but she thinks that she had done more staring than formwork. She hasn’t revealed her fire to anyone else yet. She had gotten enough stares and whispers when it had turned blue. 

She shows the Avatar first. 

“I’ve never seen anything like it.” He tells her. His voice is almost a gasp. “It’s beautiful.”

Beautiful and confusing.

She thinks that maybe…probably it is a reflection of her mastery. 

Or it could be the product of having found some sense of peace with herself. 

Bending comes from the soul. Maybe she finally has a beautiful soul.

But then her eyes change.

She goes about her day.

Oblivious.

It is so very subtle, easy to write off as a trick of the light. The way that the sun bounces off of the mirror and reflects into her eyes. She sees twinkles in TyLee’s eyes all the time and in Zuko’s whenever he talks about the baby that he and Mai will call Izumi. 

She doesn’t know if her own eyes twinkle like that when she speaks of firebening or her butterflies. She moves away from the mirror and makes her way down the hall to visit them. The room is new, it is more of a glorified tent that extends out from the palace and into the garden. 

And butterflies aren’t the only things in here, there are dragonflies too and different types of beetles and little cocoons that are affixed to the screen windows. She has a few large bumble bee nest boxes just outside of this room. At least one or two flutterbats roost in the ceiling’s rafters. 

It always smells lovely in here, as it ought to will all of the flowers; lilacs, butterfly bushes, lavender, daisy, fire lily, cherry and apple blossom, and various others that she can’t name. But she can name every species of butterfly and dragonfly that flit about. Some of them have been imported from the Earth Kingdom that has the largest variety. She yearns to see the Water Tribe’s elusive frost-winged glacial moth.

One day when she is ready to brave the cold. 

For now, she is content to read through her scrolls and learn everything there is to know about the critters that whiz about the Fire Nation’s fields and scuttle in Fire Nation soil. She has already hoarded a wealth of knowledge.

She finds herself a comfortable place and opens one such scroll. 

Usually by the end of her studies the butterflies will be clinging to her hair and a dragonfly or two will be resting on her robes. 

One time a centipede had hitched a ride on the excess fabric of her night robe and found itself a seat at the dinner table. Sokka has made a point of making sure there are no bugs under his fork ever since. 

.oOo.

The butterflies seem more drawn to her these days, even when she isn’t wearing her special perfume. The one with the aroma designed to attract them. Even the ones outside of the butterfly room, the ones that aren’t familiar with her, seem to follow her in clouds. 

“There are so many of them.” TyLee gasps one day. She plunges her hand into the colorful cloud and finds it tickled by the many flapping wings. Azula has grown used to tickles on her cheeks and neck. “Maybe you should wear less of that perfume.” TyLee giggles. 

“I’m not wearing any at all.” She says. 

“None?”

“None.” Azula confirms. 

But the butterflies still love her and she isn’t opposed to their company. 

The fish like her too. 

She finds out on an extraordinary hot summer day when they take a day trip to one of the Fire Nation’s smaller islands. She doesn’t much care for ocean water but she doesn’t want to be left alone at the palace—it reminds her too much of darker days, days when invitations weren’t even extended to her—but it is too hot to just lounge in the sand even if she does so with a cold drink in her hand. 

And so Azula swims. 

She doesn’t mind the weightlessness, she actually rather enjoys the sensation of just drifting. But sometimes the ocean pulls too hard and more than once Katara has to waterbend her out of their grasp. Every time she and Zuko get another lecture on water safety. And Sokka mutters about how it might have been safer if the two of them had joined Toph and Suki for the caving expedition. 

But the two of them are back in the water again. Azula has taken to sitting there with the water at chin level. She stares at her arms and legs. At her feet which she has taken to burying in her sand. She likes the way that her skin seems to sparkle beneath the surface. 

She is certain that it is only an illusion; the way that the sunrays filter through the water. She is only seeing a reflection of the surface mirrored on her arm.

It is around this time that the fish come to accompany her, drawn by that peculiar glint that she realizes is not quite so different from the glimmer of their own shimmery scales. 

Really the trip wouldn’t have been so bad if she weren't afraid of fish.

.oOo.

She is beautiful. 

Otherworldly. 

Her condition, whatever it is, has lost its subtlety. 

At certain angles, in certain lights, her skin takes on a pastel blue shimmer. When the sun hits it the right way there are flashes of pink and gold as well. From head to toe, she shines. Her cheekbones are accented by blue, her lips are tinged pink without having applied any gloss to them. She has not dipped her fingers into the gold ink of her calligraphy set but they appear as though she has. She trails them over her stomach, over muscles that are accentuated by baby-blue. 

She feels like a pearl. 

As though she had emerged from the ocean that summer day like some precious gem. 

Her hair has a certain luster too. It looks something like an oil slick in a most flattering manner. 

“What’s happening to me, Avatar?” She asks one day and in just the same way that she asks Katara to tell her facts about the frost-winged glacial moth.

“Make any spirits angry?” Aang asks.

“Not recently.” Azula replies. She hums to herself. “Don’t you think that a spirit curse would be more…unsightly?”

Aang shakes his head. “Not necessarily.” 

“Hmm.” She should probably be more worried. 

She should probably be downright terrified. 

She has seen some of her pill bugs get shiny and then they died. 

But she is not a pill bug. 

She is not a bug at all. 

Maybe she would be more concerned if people weren’t so intrigued by her. 

If it didn’t add a little something to her performances when she firebends in front of people. 

She dances more now, mostly because she is mesmerized by the way her skin shimmers in the firelight. How different poses and angles display colors and cast different ripples.  Her body has become her art. It is relaxing to look at. And the butterflies adore her as much as she enjoys their company. 

It is all fine and well until she begins to feel stiff.

.oOo.

She wakes up unable to move her pinky. 

By dinner time she can’t move her hand. 

By the next morning she is in a wheelchair, paralyzed from the waist down. She wants to lay down before her body locks up in this position.

She has her servants move her to her butterfly room. 

They bring her a mattress and some pillows.

She knows that she should be afraid and very dully, somewhere in the back of her mind—somewhere where her base instincts reside—she is. But mostly she is fascinated. Fascinated by her ethereal end. 

She exists in something of a dreamlike state—fully lucid but not quite connected to her body and the world it resides in. Completely aware but curiously calm. 

Maybe that is the nature of her transformation.

She will die. 

She knows it in her soul. 

But she is not scared. 

She is comforted. She doesn’t want to die, life has been kind to her for the longest time now. But she doesn’t feel particularly inclined to resist what is to come. There are worse ways to go; bloodied and burned on a battlefield. She could have gone out buried under a pile of boulders or impaled on an icicle during the war. 

She could have also slipped away in her sleep decades from now with wrinkled skin and blurry vision. With a well aged body. 

But this is fine.

In three days time, she cannot move.

She cannot move but she still sees nice things.

She sees different colors. Colors that she has never seen before. Colors that she can’t put a name to and so she ascribes them symbols instead. There is an x with a flame to halo it, this color is most like gold but if gold was red. And ‘spiral with three dots above it’ is blue if blue was purple at the same time. 

She watches her butterflies

She sees them as if for the first time, wearing their brand new colors.

No…

Not new colors.

She is simply seeing them as they were meant to be seen.

Her favorite has wings of velvety black and inky blue with one large stripe of ‘spiral with three dots above it’ on either wing. 

They all come together to form a gossamer current. Katara has told her about the curtains of light that dance in Water Tribe skies. Azula thinks that this is what they must look like. So many vivid colors evershifting, never forming the same shape nor color sequence twice. Sometimes the dragonflies duck in and out of the butterfly cloud.

“How are you doing?” Zuko asks. 

She tells him that she is doing just fine. 

And she means it. 

She truly does. 

He pours her a cup of tea and he helps her drink it. He props her up against his chest and slowly tips the teacup until she pulls her head back. 

TyLee and Mai visit her too. And the Avatar and his friends too. They had been preparing to go back to their own duties but whatever is happening to her is happening quickly. And they decide to stay. 

“Do you want me to keep you company tonight?”

Azula shakes her head, it is the only thing that she can move these days. “No thank you, Zuzu. I’ll be here in the morning.” She knows that she is wrong. She also knows that he won’t leave if she tells the truth. But she doesn’t want anyone to watch her die, even if her death is serene. 

Zuko smiles. “Alright, if you’re sure.” He squeezes her hand. 

“Sleep well, Zuzu.” 

She will too.

She waits for him to leave to begin to die. 

She closes her eyes.

It isn’t painful. 

It actually feels rather nice, like someone pouring warm paraffin over her body. She always enjoyed dipping her hands and feet in paraffin… 

They find her in the morning, unmoving and stiff, shimmering in the sunlight that filters through the windows. 

There is a scatter of dead and iridescent pill bugs haloing her crystalized corpse.

[dragon-phoenix-along]

Just had a horrible horrible HORRIBLE idea :D

Idea undercut

Also contains spoilers for characters that will make you feel.

So if you’ve somehow managed to deal with my blog for long enough to see my art then you know about Basil.

Basil is a tiny (5’0 if you round up) Italian woman who moved to America as a transfer student after meeting her future Fiancée Lily.

Now Basil works as a reporter who works with the local newspaper, because of how eccentric Basil is she is one of the newspapers (and local news broadcast), favorite reporter to send out because whenever you see a 4ft tall brightly dressed woman who’s cheerfully waiving at you, it’s hard to ignore her.

In the original timeline Basil dies. Wont go into too much detail (as it was graphic), but Basil goes from one whole little Italian woman, to one empty little Italian woman.

Now in the recently created alternative timeline, Lily Rafters (Fiancée) dies instead. Lily’s death was perfectly crafted to mirror both Basils and Henry’s (Basils ‘adopted’ son in this timeline)

Basil got stuffed into a partially blind frog, who after a pair of swimming goggles gets a foggy view on what’s going on. While Lily gets stuffed into a mute sheep covered in goop. Element, faces more struggles than Patty dose as Lily while alive dehumanized the Dreamworld animatronics. So when she died and turned into one… it wasn’t a good transition. [Neither was Basil’s, but Basil had never shocked any of the animatronics. Or treated them more cruelly than protocol demanded. She was never afraid of them. Unlike Lily.]

Now time to unveil my horrible idea!

Patty

meeting

Element

[girloffire5]

I have no horse in the RD actors race. The parasocial relationship some fans have, especially with Lili is toxic and dangerous.

The fact that if she had been the one to give that interview and talked about her relationships and breakups, not a single person in this fandom would have batted an eye it would have been a bunch of cringy yas queen posts and similar bulshit.

No one knew what went on between them except them. The fact that yall are so quick to believe random tumblr blogs with 10 followers who claim to have insider information on the actions and life of someone who is a stranger to you without any proof whatsoever, says a lot more about who you are as people than it does about him.

Especially considering the fact that if said blogs were spouting this about ANY other cast member you would be screaming from the rafters about how the lack of proof made it untrue.

I feel sorry for you all when Lili finally slips off thst impossible pedestal you all have her on, and you have to accept that she's only human after all.

[lunalovegood44]

Teddy Lupin was nonbinary. They knew that, their friends knew that, even their gran knew that. But they still hasn’t told the one person they tell everything, their godfather. Harry Potter.

*it was Christmas break and Teddy was in their 5th year and they were spending most of it with the Potters*

*they also haven’t gotten much time if any alone with Harry since he had a 9, 7, and 5 year old to help take care of*

Teddy knew that realistically Harry wouldn’t care in the slightest. But they’ve never heard Harry say anything one way or another he obviously didn’t care that Dean and Seamus were married but still. Today was the day. Ginny had brought James Sirius, Albus Severus, and Lily Luna to buy Christmas presents for their father. And since they were for Harry and Teddy already had their gift and was asleep when they left the two were home alone. They knew they wanted to tell Harry since they wanted to be able to feel free to express themselves at the Potters since they spent so much time there that they had their own room. Obviously Harry saw them as one of his kids but will that change, they didn’t really know and were scared that it would.

“Teddy, Teddy!”

*blinking back into reality they realizes they’d spaced out again mid conversation with harry*

“Hmm, oh, sorry”

“Teddy. Are you ok? This is the fourth time this has happened today”

“Oh, yeah sorry, just thinking”

“Alright, anyway I was asking what you wanted for lunch we have stuff for sandwiches or we could order in some pizza”

“Sandwiches are fine with me, thanks Harry”

“Alright, you like lettuce and tomato yeah?”

“Yup!”

“Alright, give me a minute. Go sit on the couch, how about we eat there?”

“Yeah sure”

*shoot, Harry caught them again and is obviously worried they don’t want to worry him but they’re worried themselves”

“Alright” *Harry says as he sits on the couch with the sandwiches, handing Teddy his”

“How’s Hogwarts been”

“It’s been fine. Obviously it’s been busy since it’s OWL’s this year but other than that it’s been pretty good”

“That’s good, you’ve always been a good student you should do fine on the OWL’s they’re made to sound harder than they are. How are your friends”

“Good, Jade ended up getting stuck in the rafters while trying to scare Grayson! It was honestly hilarious especially when we had to get them down on the back of an old broom!”

“Oh, wow. Anyway how are you holding up?”

“Oh,ummmmm fine”

“Just fine?”

“Yeah”

*Teddy had stopped eating and was just playing with the food on their plate*

“Teddy seriously, what’s going on?”

“Nothing”

“It’s not nothing. You’ve been quiet, stressed, and barely eating these few days”

“It’s noting, just….”

“Just?”

“I-um-I’m nonbinary”

*even with Harry looking at them they just stare at their food evading eye contact*

“Sorry?”

“I’m nonbinary”

“Oh, Teddy. I’m so glad you felt comfortable enough to tell me. What pronouns do you want me to use?”

“You don’t care?”

“No of course not”

“They/Them would be great”

“Do you want me to use them in front of others?”

“That would great!”

“Of course”

*Harry pulls them into a hug*

“I love you Ted”

“I love you too”

[narrans]

Everyone Needs A Little Hero | Motivating A Hero

Two days? Two weeks? Two months? How long had it actually been since Hero had been captured, world shattered into a million tiny pieces? Everything he thought and everything he hoped about human kind had been dashed with a single person’s act. 

Deep down, Hero knew that some of those humans who he dared to call friends were good, but did he really know? What if they changed? What if they suddenly saw him like how Lily did? What if they wanted him to stay? 

No. That’s not how they would act. They’re better than that.

But are you sure? 

Yes! I am sure. They care about me! They wouldn’t have helped get me back if they didn’t care about me!

I’m sure Lily would have cared about you. Or, rather, cared for you. Pet. Pet. Pet. Pet. Pet. 

Hero curled in on himself and stayed under his blankets. 

If Hero was grateful for anything from his experience, it was that his parents only asked him what happened and didn’t lecture him too hard about being friends with humans. His siblings could only say over and over that they were glad he was back and that he could trust them. He guessed that they thought he had “learned his lesson” about being too friendly with humans. 

Yes…

He had learned his lesson…

And it hurt. 

It hurt like the finger shaped bruises on his torso.

It hurt like an untouchable ache deep in his chest. Every breath seemed to remind him how close he had actually come to a possibly grizzly end. 

He thought about how Rey had so bravely gone out into the open - risked his life - to bring Hero back to his friends and family. He now understood a little of what Rey went through when he talked about meeting Ashlynn for the first time and why the encounter with Sam had freaked him out so much. 

Still… the strength he showed coming after him. 

Hero felt tears prick the edges of his eyes. 

He wasn’t that heroic.

He wasn’t brave.

He couldn’t even save himself. 

How was he supposed to help others if he couldn’t help himself? 

Hero pulled the covers over the top of his head and cried silently, stifling his sobs with his crochet pillow that his sister gave him as soon as he came home. 

He rolled over and let his tears flow. He didn’t ever want to leave that bed again; and maybe he never would.

~~~^*^*^~~~

The Rafter family had received extreme criticism after what happened to Hero got out to the rest of the community. It was the Borrower who had seen Hero get captured who began warning everyone, albeit prematurely, that they needed to prepare to flee for their lives and that the Rafter’s child, Hero, had been taken. 

Everyone felt terrified and some families even prepared to leave at a moment’s notice. It took everything in Casper’s power to reassure the community that once found him an immovable pillar when it came to issues of being seen by the humans. He had to confess how they managed to retrieve Hero, and this is what shook the community’s faith in them. 

Thankfully, there was no mass exodus. Many of them found the prospect of moving more terrifying than being found and needing to flee in the moment. 

This did little to soothe the Rafter’s nerves. Still, what mattered was that their secret was still being kept and that Hero was back safe and sound. 

The saw the change in their son, and they sadly could think of nothing to lift his spirits. After their rescue mission, Hero hadn’t quite bounced back. From what Soren had said and based on what they understood when Hero confessed what he had been doing, he truly believed that Borrowers and humans could co-exist safely with one another. 

They knew his spirits were crushed, but the only thing that could truly heal that wound was time. 

It wasn’t until they heard a knock at their door, opened it, and saw none other than Rey that they felt a glimmer of hope for their son. 

“Rey! It’s good to see you,” smiled Prim, Hero’s mother. The Borrower mother rushed forward and threw her arms around the teen, who squeaked in surprise as her arms completely encased him. She pulled him into their home and shut the door, inviting him into their home. 

“Hello, Mrs. Rafter,” he said, voice slightly muffled by the mother’s loving embrace. 

“Oh, my dear, I just want to say think you again for everything you did for our Hero,” she said, tears threatening to spill over the corners of her eyes. She pulled away and looked the Borrower teen in the face. He still had a deep cut over his right eye right by his brow, but it looked like it was healing nicely. He had a few bumps and scrapes on his arms too, but his smile was still as bright as ever. 

“Of course. He’s my best friend. I’d do anything for him,” said Rey. “And… actually… I came by to see how he was doing. I haven’t seen him in a while.” 

At this, the whole Rafter family was quiet. 

“He’s been… recovering…” said Prim, throat tight. She had been trying everything to tempt Hero out of his room for more than a few hours ever since that fateful day two weeks ago. Rey nodded and looked to his friend’s room. 

“Makes sense,” he muttered. “I remember my first scare with humans. It’s something you don’t forget.” At the sound of Rey’s voice, the rest of the Rafter family emerged from their various rooms or stopped what they were doing to look at Rey; everyone except for Hero. 

“Um… can we get you anything?” offered Prim. Rey shook his head politely. 

“No thank you. If it’s alright, I would like to see Hero. It it’s okay with you of course,” said Rey. At this, the family seemed to brighten and nodded vigorously. 

“Absolutely. Go on in,” invited Prim. Rey nodded and walked across the room toward Hero’s door. “Oh, and Rey. Thank you.” 

Rey smiled before turning back and slipping into Hero’s room.

~~~^*^*^~~~

Hero could have sworn that he heard Rey’s voice in the other room. What was he doing here? Come to visit? Check up on him? He wasn’t sure. 

Light suddenly flooded into his dark room and then darkened almost as quickly. Rey took a survey of the room, seeing only darkness until his eyes adjusted. He saw a lump in Hero’s bed which could only be the Borrower he was looking for. 

Rey knew the feeling and wanted more than anything to stop Hero’s hurt, but it wasn’t something he could do. It was something Hero had to do for himself, but that didn’t mean that Rey couldn’t help him.

“Hey Hero,” said Rey as he walked over and sat on the ground near his friend’s covered head. The covers shifted ever so slightly before Rey heard anything. 

“Hey,” said Hero, voice muffled by the blanket on top of him. 

“I haven’t seen you in a while,” said Rey, pulling his legs into a pretzel. 

“Yeah,” sighed Hero. “I just… I haven’t wanted to go out.” 

“Because you’re afraid of what other Borrowers will say to you about what happened? Or because you feel like your world has been turned upside down?” 

Hero felt himself shrink in on himself from under the covers. He hadn’t quite thought about what the other Borrowers would say to him. He doubted they would be as kind as his family had been. 

The thought made him shrink further beneath the covers. 

“Both,” he mumbled. Rey sighed. He hated seeing his friend this way, but it was painfully obvious Hero wasn’t close to wanting to leave his self-pity. This was dangerous. Rey remembered how he felt when he was stuck to the glue trap, found by the older human lady, and then found in the trash by Ashlynn. He remembered the hopelessness of thinking he was going to be a pet living in a cage for the rest of his life. He recalled the dread and terror he felt when he thought Soren had traded himself for their safety. 

Rey also remembered that, instead of shying away, he rose to face that terror by “confronting” Ashlynn to get his brother back. 

While Hero had many great qualities, it seemed like he was having a hard time rising to this challenge. Coddling him wasn’t going to be the answer. Reassuring him and getting Hero back out helping people was the only way to tell him that what he was doing mattered - and Rey had just the perfect idea for it. 

“Look, Hero,” started Rey. “I get that you’re going through a lot of thoughts and feelings. I’ve been there too. It’s scary and you’ve never felt smaller in your whole life than when you have no power. But, Hero, you can’t let it get to you. You can’t let it change who you are.” 

Rey watched as the blankets pulled down ever so slightly to reveal the top of Hero’s head and his green eyes which were slightly puffy and red rimmed. 

“But… it did…” muttered Hero. “It did change me. I… I was wrong. Everything I believed was wrong.”

“No,” interjected Rey. “Not everything. You’re forgetting all of the most important things about what it was that you were doing. Sure, you wanted to prove that humans weren’t all like the stories we’ve been told all of our lives, but you did prove that. You met Eliza and Sam and Watney and Maggie and Ashlynn. Right?” 

“Well… yeah… but,” mumbled Hero. 

“But nothing. Hero, you are forgetting your other goal - helping people. I’m sure you didn’t set out to become friends with all of the humans you came across, right?” asked Rey. 

Hero had to think about it for a minute. True, he hadn’t set out to become friends with all of the humans he was helping. It just so happened that he ended up becoming friends with them. 

Still, he felt the sickness rising in the back of his throat. 

“It doesn’t change anything,” said Hero. He sounded deflated and sad. 

“Hero, it changes everything! You’re letting one instance with one person get under your skin. You’ve forgotten your purpose. Every hero goes through it, right?” asked Rey, getting to his feet to better plead his case. Hero, hearing Rey say this, dared to push himself upright, though it took all of his effort, to look at his best friend. 

“So, what do you want me to do about it?” asked Hero, feeling himself getting frustrated and upset. Didn’t Rey see how much this whole thing hurt him? 

“I want you to remember your original purpose and to not be afraid to get back out there to help people,” encouraged Rey. “Not just our community, but also the humans here. Hero, you don’t know how much of a difference you’ve made in all of these human’s lives.”

“Yeah, and it’s not good. It’s because of me that the humans I talked to know about Borrowers. It’s because of me that the whole community is terrified that the floorboards are going to go up and that we’re going to be hunted down. It’s because of me that you got hurt and everyone risked their lives and exposing all of Borrower kind,” said Hero, his voice raising. It crackled from disuse. 

Rey folded his arms across his chest and leaned back. 

“Did you just hear yourself? You said humans, not friends. Is that all they are to you now?” said Rey. Hero hadn’t even realized he had done it. He shrank back under his covers, pulling them tight across his frame. 

“Well… I…” Hero wasn’t sure. Is that all they were now? Is that what he did by accident to protect himself? Lumping his human friends in with the rest? 

“Well, what I know is this,” said Rey. “Never before have human and Borrower come together to save a Borrower from another human. We worked together - all of us - because of you. You’re the center in all of this, Hero, and it’s not the same without you. So, pull yourself together because we all miss you - human and Borrower alike.” 

Hero stayed huddled under his blanket, peering up at Rey from time to time, only to avert his eyes. He felt his eyes stinging from salty tears welling up on the rims. 

“Now, you can join me or you can keep hiding here in the dark. I’m going back out there to help people - that’s what you taught me to do.” 

With that, Rey gave Hero’s foot a tap before heading out of the door. The Rafter family watched Rey pass in silence. They couldn’t quite hear what the Borrower teen said to their brother and son, but there certainly seemed to be a change in the air as Rey left. 

Hero, on the other hand, had a lot to think about. 

Rey made a lot of good points. 

He did, in a way, bring everyone together. It was terrifying, but he was the reason all of them worked together. He was the reason his father felt bold enough to step out and meet Ashlynn for the first time. 

Had he really changed so much in so little time? 

Was he ready to get back out there? 

Could he get back to living up to his name? Or was he going to let himself be branded a coward? 

~~~~~^*^*^*^*^~~~~~

Continue

Previous

Beginning

Prompt

ASK ME ANYTHING

[nostalgicamerica]

True story:

Shortly after my folks moved to Northen Michigan I fell in love with fishing.  It is a love affair that still haunts me today as an old man.

Not far from the house we called home, there was a small pond.  If it was more than fifty yards wide I’d be shocked, and maybe it was twice as long.  One end of the green jewel was so overgrown with bull rushes and lily pads it was unfishable.  

On the other side was a dilapidated dock that someone had constructed years before.  It was falling apart and riddled with broken or missing boards, rusty nails, and it was perfect for 8 or 9 year old anglers.

A coffee can full of worms, a couple of rods outfitted with Zebco reels (which were like as not filled with 20 pound test line), and all the misplaced enthusiasm in the world were all we needed.

I can assure you the Pumpkin Seeds and Blue Gills and Sunfish we caught were not of any appreciable size - maybe the size of my palm which was considerably smaller than it is now.  It didn’t matter.  

There was joy in watching that bobber do a little dance before disappearing under the algae-covered surface.  There was joy in reeling in the line and just knowing the catch was going to be a record.  There was joy as boys learned to become men.

Who knows how many fish we caught.  The Good Lord knows I don’t, but by the time we headed home we had probably 75 - 100 fish in a five gallon bucket.

Don’t ask why we kept them, or what we were going to do with them.  I have no idea what our intent was now, and I sure didn’t then.  They were too small to eat and we didn’t know how to clean them.  I don’t recall being overly fond of eating fish anyway.

I do recall hearing Dad laughing through the window from the kitchen after he told us we’d have to clean them without his help.

What we did was fill a plastic wading pool with a hose and dump the impromptu school of fish into the heavily chlorinated water and then admired the flashing green and blue and red swarm splash around until dinner time.

I like to think we were just protecting them from possible predators - cats, maybe, or neighborhood kids, but who knows.  When Mom called us in to wash up for dinner, we slid the pool into the garage behind Mom’s car, and pulled down the door, confident our slowly dying fish were safe.

I don’t know if all 8 and 9 year-olds are brain dead, but my brother and I were.

The following morning dear old Mom and Dad piled us all into the camper and rolled out for a trip to some part of the American West.  Two weeks of seeing new things, eating bad food and puking, getting car sick and puking, and sleeping in sleeping bags and puking.  And sometimes, just puking for the sake of puking.

I don’t recall thinking even once of our pool full of fish the entire two weeks we were gone.

When the camper pulled into the driveway at home and the dirty, sweaty, stinking mess of us poured out of the tenement on wheels, Dad opened the garage door and darn near fell over from the nastiest stench I have ever smelled before or since.  It was so strong I could almost taste it.

After collecting himself, Dad made my brother and I look at the stew we had created.  The blues and greens and reds were no longer.  A thick, black and brown congealed soup filled the wading pool.  I like to think I imagined the occasional glazed eyeball staring blankly up at the rafters.  

I puked.

He made us drag the pool out of the garage and dump the mess in the field behind the house and clean the plastic shell with the hose.  No amount of hosing was going to salvage that pool and, to my knowledge, it was never again used to cool off toddlers or anything else for that matter.

Mom had been pretty stoic about the whole episode until she went to use her car.  The garage and everything in it smelled like the fetid bowels of hell.

My brother and I spent days cleaning and scrubbing the inside of her car.  Scouring and sprinkling baking soda and vacuuming and letting it air out helped a little, but I promise you I could still smell that horrid blackness two months later when Mom made Dad take it down and trade it in for something else.

-

I have fished some fantastic waters since that summer, and have caught some magnificent fish, most of which I return to the water.  

And yes, I still feel that same joy I felt as a boy watching my bobber.