#Ralph definitely comes around though

[nottabee]

my cringe asf lotf post-island au

Just a little journal entry from Ralph, in my au

TW: brief casual racism

23rd July 1955

Jack took off again after Dad and Rose left for a night out, leaving me alone in my room with my books. I spent the evening engrossed in reading, waiting for them to return.

When he finally did come back, he appeared unusually happy. I don't think I've ever seen him so cheerful. Naturally, I couldn't resist asking him why he was in such high spirits. At first, he tried to brush me off, but it was clear that his excitement was too overwhelming to keep to himself.

He then revealed the source of his newfound joy: he had gone to the fair with his friends from the rougher side of town. That, in itself, was no surprise. But the real bombshell was yet to come.

Jack informed me that Carmen had kissed him.

He described it as a quick peck, but the fact that a girl had kissed him for the first time had him practically bursting with excitement. I tried to downplay the significance of the kiss, telling him to calm down – it wasn't like it was a real kiss, just a quick one. I also mentioned that she was a negro.

To my surprise, Jack's response to my well-intentioned words was to call me a "racist conformist." It seems that his new circle of friends had introduced him to that kind of language. I must emphasize that I am not a racist, and I find it disheartening that Jack would label me as such. I can't help but feel that these kids from the streets are exerting a negative influence on him, leading him down a path that worries me greatly.

I would attempt to confide in Rose about my concerns, but I fear that, for some inexplicable reason, those children from the streets are the only tether keeping Jack from running away again or inflicting harm upon himself.

What am I to do?

[sugar-crash]

🏎️Turbo (Wreck-It Ralph) x (gn) Reader🏁

(Physically Affectionate Reader Edition!)

(Picture’s not mine!)

(Request here! Ran out of canon photos of this punk so I’ve finally officially🔑 resorted to fanart, Bone Apple Teeth.)

- I think it’d overwhelm him at first for sure, not being used to being touched so tenderly and so frequently, but I don’t see him full-on flipping out on you— He’s crazy but not that crazy you know?

- Honestly, I’d wait to be more physical with him, nothing personal or anything but I think he needs time to get it through his head that you guys are a thing now.

- That and his steadily growing trust issues go hand in hand, the lingering feelings that you’re just there for some means to an end and you’ll leave him when he isn’t the best anymore… Something he would never admit, never.

- The first time you place your hand on his arm, he was probably blabbing about some prank he was able to go through with before it promptly shut him up for a good moment before he started back up, adamantly denying it happened later on when you try to tell someone about it.

- Though when he does get used to it, comments about it smugly, saying stupid shit like “You can’t keep your hands off of me can’t you??”

- He’s shameless, not much of a surprise there as he feels himself getting an ego boost as he’s getting his face peppered in kisses, a shit-eating grin on his lips.

- The definition of warding it off for a while before becoming addicted to this more personal attention.

- Again he would try to be commanding when it comes to your affection, taking your offer up on him and telling you whenever he wants affection… But again like he probably marches up to your door expecting love from you.

- Of course, he learns that you get more flies with honey than with vinegar, and promptly changes his tune, not wanting your cuddle time to suffer because of his stupidity.

- Still tends to assert himself in your life, walking in and plopping himself down into your embrace when things don’t exactly go his way and vents to you.

- Your touch anchors him enough to the point where he doesn’t go off the rails too much— Slumping into himself when you kiss him on the forehead after he ranted and raved about one of his game mates that made a fool out of him.

- Expects your attention, that’s just a given with him— Almost always trying to deny what you’re feeling till you explicitly tell him it’s terrible and that needs to stop.

- Will give you some physical affection as well, but far more covert than how you do it, like a hand on top of your own or an arm around your shoulders when you’re on the couch watching TV together (Dunno if that’s even a thing in the arcade but I digress, this is all hypothetical after all).

- If you’re taller than him, holding him puts it in perspective to him that he’s a small ass guy, and that in it itself makes him a little butt hurt— Like he’s the “man” of the relationship he should be the strong one in his eyes.

- Of course, he eventually gets over it after a while, becoming more pliable with the notion that he doesn’t have to be the physically stronger one in the relationship— That and he’s strong in different ways, like in conversations for example.

- I think he enjoys the kisses the most, specifically the ones on the lips, I dunno why but I just think getting a nice smooch or two after a miserable game day is something he strives for.

- Sure sometimes your attention isn’t enough, but those times are very rare, as much as he denies he’s a simple soul in that aspect, wanting to be worthy of that attention you give him in a misguided manner like it’d be so easy for him to realize the healthier way of thinking but that’s the thing— He doesn’t.

- He equates your physical love for him as something conditional, which who knows if is or if it isn’t, but he automatically assumes that the second he thinks he’s not up to par, you will think so as well.

- Turbo has a habit of projecting feelings on you, mostly because you love him, and if you love him you have to some of his own emotions, a very backward mindset that fuels his anxiety and spite-riddled mindset.

- So, keep that in mind when you kiss him on the forehead I guess.

(Dr auaqxmka qaocx lmq bohhmvaak??? d gkmv d oj :])

[multi-fandomedfreak]

Hi, may I request headcanons for Connor, Nines and Ralph (separately)? How would they react if reader took them to buy clothes for themselves for the first time?

<3

Authors note: This is so stinkin cuteee

Characters: Connor, Nines, and Ralph

⚠️ Warnings ⚠️ : Ralph is a little insecure about his scar lol, very fluffy

🪙 Connor 🪙

-He would be so grateful for you to buy him clothes

-He doesn’t wanna walk around in that Cyberlife uniform all the time lol

-Even though he’s Deviant he’s still not used to doing things for himself a lot

-So when he hears that he gets to pick out his own clothes

-He just awkwardly sifts through the clothes at the store

-You find it pretty cute how he has no idea what he’s even looking for poor boy

-Eventually he asks you for help and you both get swept into a shopping spree

-If you asked him to, he’d definitely give you a little fashion show as he tries on clothes

-He may or may not get addicted to shopping with you

-I also feel like once he gets a sense of what kind of clothes he wants

-He’ll pick out so. many. suits.

-And of course many ties to match

-Idk why but yeah he just loves lookin dapper

-Although he would be very considerate of your budget and would try not to buy too many things

-Just keep a close eye on him tho

-Bc he will get lost in the store (poor boy gets too curious)

💙 Nines 💙

-He is so confused on why you want to buy him clothes

-He’s all like: “But I already have clothes.”

-And you gotta convince him that one suit just isn’t enough

-Literally takes forever to convince him to let you buy him some clothes

-And he’s even more confused-for some reason- that he has to go with you to buy them

-If you could give a question mark a face, it’d be the face that Nines is making

-He just didn’t think he would actually be picking out the clothes himself

-So you make it a goal for him to start making decisions for himself

-When you both get to mall, a little like Connor, he has no clue on where to start picking out clothes

-So you both take a while to first discuss what kind of clothes he wants

-And then you finally start picking out clothes

-I feel like Nines would def get a bunch of suits too

-But not like Connor, Connor at least knows he can’t have just suits

-But no, Nines wants ONLY SUITS

-Takes more time to explain how he can’t just have suits

-Literally took almost the whole day to just buy him clothes

-But it was worth it because he was grateful for it in the end

🌿 Ralph 🌿

-He’s ecstatic about getting new clothes!!

-He wants to look more presentable and is beyond grateful you would offer to buy him clothes

-Like I’m pretty sure the amount of time he said “thank you” that day

-Was the amount of times someone says “thank you” in a lifetime

-Buuut he gets a little hesitant when you ask him to come with you to buy his clothes

-He hatesss the idea of going out in public

-Especially with his scar, he’s super insecure about it

-So tons of reassuring later, you and Ralph are in the store picking out his clothes

-The entire time he’s practically glued to your side

-Like literally. He has not let go of your hand the moment you both let the house

-But it’s not as bad as he first thought

-He actually starts having fun picking out his clothes and trying them on

-Definitely a flustered mess when you compliment the clothes he tries on

-He’s confused but happy that no one has said anything about his scar

-Totally not having to do with you giving anyone The Death Stare™️ if they even breath at Ralph the wrong way

-Over all it was a very fun experience for the both of you

[were--ralph]

ralph: buys $200 dollar commissions every week

also ralph: why do i have no money

(not a dig at you but maybe consider saving up your money for old man pussy art when you’re in a better fiscal position)

I don't buy them every week though i get like one every few weeks and they generally come in around the same time because i usually ask to be moved down in the queue so they all get worked on at the same time lol. generally they're like 100 at most. I don't go all in unless its an artist or idea i really like

Commissions are literally the only form of brain chemicals i get now because every other aspect of my life sucks right now so i kind of do like almost actually do need them because without them im definitely hopping on the unironic kms posting train

[kitkatt0430]

Hollywood comes to Central City, interviewing meta humans to try and make the powers for a super hero movie more realistic.

Barry arguing over how his powers work because everything they want to do with their speedy character is not how being a speedster works, it is wrong and bad, especially if they're just going to pretend there's no such thing as the Speed Force because then what the hell is protecting their speedster from the consequences of friction????

Cisco trolling his interviewer over how his powers work for the fun of it, when he isn't being distracted explaining how other meta powers work.

Mark Mardon wants to know if he could get a work release from prison to make the weather for the outdoor scenes more authentic. Who needs fake rain when their weather guy can make a real storm, right????

Frost keeps freezing their cameras and running away.

Leonard Snart convinces six different interviewers that he is six different types of meta. He's still not a meta.

Mick sets someone on fire. He somehow gets a date out of it because she's a stunt woman.

Lisa keeps stealing things from her interviewer and insisting it's very definitely her (non-existent) meta power and not her picking his pockets because he's a super easy mark.

Hartley keeps asking about how the studio treats it's minority workers and encouraging unionization of the non-unionized workers. They're listening.

Ralph attempts to get a job as a stunt man but can't seem to find the right person to talk to about auditioning. Teaches someone how to make balloon animals with his arm. Somehow no one realizes he's a meta despite this.

Top somehow gets cast and fired as the lead actress all in one day. Doesn't want to talk about it, just wants to ice her hand because breaking someone else's nose really hurts. No charges filed, everyone is suspicious.

Mirror Master leaves someone with a suspiciously broken nose trapped in a mirror. Team Flash unusually reticent about removing this guy from the mirror.

Eobard somehow manages to show up for an interview. Throws a fit when asked if the homoerotic undertones to his rivalry with the Flash are mutual or something he's bringing to the table alone.

Rainbow Raider offers to help actors be more authentic with their emotions. At least one actor takes him up on the offer, gives best performance of career.

Shawna takes her interviewer on a teleportation trip around Central City. Ends in a bar where they commiserate about shitty ex boyfriends.

Jitters sends Jaco to run a coffee booth for the interviews. Somehow he winds up with a bio-pic movie deal. No one knows how this happened, least of all him.

Goldface's interview devolves when his interviewer asks his second in command how long he's been in love with Keith. Though stunned, Goldface is receptive to the romantic possibilities, leaves his third in command in charge of the operation to whisk the second in command of to Coast City for the weekend. Interviewer possibly taking notes for a fanfic later on.

Amunet gets arrested for human trafficking after her interviewer turns out to be an undercover police officer that she 'spontaneously' confessed to.

[piratefishmama]

Crossing the Line | Part 12

Using the word ‘Conflicted’ for what Eddie was currently feeling was… an understatement. On the one hand, good lord he’d almost came in his jeans from just a tongue down his throat, a very very talented tongue belonging to a very very attractive man. On the other, that man had basically just pretended to like his music to get into his pants.

Eddie had never had that happen before. He didn’t know whether to be flattered or insulted.

He did, however, know that he was ignoring the DM on Insta from that very same attractive man, the message full of blushy emojis and how he’d ‘forgotten’ to leave his number, dropping the digits right there in plain view.

He had Steve Harrington’s personal phone number. Holy shit.

He was ignoring it. Left it on read. Didn’t know what to do with it. If push came to shove and he made a decision in Steve’s favour then he’d just claim he was busy with the band at the shitty diner after the show. He stuffed a handful of lukewarm fries in his mouth, ketchup smearing the corners of his lips. If he decided against Steve then… he’d block him and forget all about him, and hope he wouldn’t show up at the coffee shop.

“I mean, if they were earplugs, then they were pretty shit earplugs, Eds” Gareth was the only one supplying a sound argument, he had ulterior motives though, he had bias to stick up for Steve! He was aiming to get the hell out of retail, and it showed.

“What?” Frank cut in with that expression on his face that blatantly said are you hearing this shit?

“I mean, he answered us all pretty easily, he had a full conversation with us! Didn’t even seem like he was struggling to hear us. Earplugs would have made it difficult to hear, right? Maybe they were something else!” All very valid points. Or… a very valid singular point.

“No he didn’t, dude, he vaguely responded to Jeff’s babbling, that he definitely could have vaguely heard through the earplugs, then left. I dunno about you but sometimes, I can definitely hear around earplugs, they’re probably just the cheap ones you get at the airport or something.”

“Dude what is your deal?”

“What’s my deal? Why are you so pro Steve Harrington?”

“He’s sick of Paul.” Jeff supplied helpfully around the straw of his chocolate milkshake.

“It’s Ralph, Paul quit last month remember?”

“Whaaatt Paul quit? Man what about him and Rhonda?"

“That’s why he quit! She got a promotion, and they couldn’t work toge—what am I even, this isn’t about Paul and Rhonda!”

“Shut up!!” Eddie’s outburst silenced the others, and also gained the attention of the drunk teens across the diner, they didn’t move though, stared for a second, before going back to their terrible ‘night out’ food. “What should I do?” He couldn’t make a decision on his own. There were too many what ifs, too many how dare he’s, too many thoughts and they were all so very loud. His friends talking over each other really wasn’t helping. “Should I… confront him? Should I just ask him about it, should I ignore him completely and hope he just goes away?”

“I think, you should talk to him.” Eddie looked up, the returning figure of the angel of Corroded Coffin, his original best friend, honorary band member. Chrissy. The girl carrying two shakes, followed closely by Nancy. “Listen, ignoring Gareth’s need to get away from retail, sorry Gare”

“It’s cool, I’ve accepted my fate.”

“Ignoring Jeff’s blatant hero worship.”

“He’s known worldwide, he did modelling in Japan, Chris! He’s a massive star!”

“And ignoring Frank’s scepticism.”

“The only sane person here you mean. Nobody recognised him tonight, Jeff, worldwide my ass.”

“Ignoring, them.” Chrissy sighed, placing hers and Nancy’s shakes down before climbing into the booth beside Eddie, Nancy following suit forcing him up against the wall. “I think you should give him a chance. He’s come all this way, he paid for tickets to see you even though he obviously didn’t have to. Did you talk to him while the others were out of the room?”

“Mhm”

“And did he talk back without any issue?”

“…Yeah.”

“Okay, so, these earplugs might not even be earplugs. There’s plenty of things that they could be! Hell, he could have issues with his eardrums for all we know! That’s pretty common in the music industry” loud instruments, huge speakers around you, he could have just been born with it for all they knew “—and there’s earplug looking things that help with eardrum issues, they could even be those sneaky 'invisible' hearing aids! You should talk to him, it’s the only way you’re gonna know for sure.”

“You just wanna flirt with his friend some more.”

“Frank I swear to god.”

“She’s right” Nancy sighed “try conjuring an ulterior motive for me you little shit.” Nancy levelled Frank with a sharp glare, he wisely chose to stay silent. She looked back to Eddie with a small smile “He spoke with me too, even over the music near the bar so I don’t think they were earplugs either. And you like him, right?”

“…I really do.” He hadn’t at first, he’d made assumptions, he’d jumped to conclusions, he’d let his music snobbery get the best of him, but then he did his research. Then he looked the guy up, his accomplishments, his skills, his general personality that shined like sunlight around the right people, he took what’d happened at the coffee shop into consideration, and then the kiss… his lips still tingled, his neck still tingled! His body still craved what’d been abruptly cut short. “He’s… he’s really nice, Nance…”

“Yeah, he seems really nice, and if he’s not? I have a revolver in my glove box.” Eddie let out a soft breath of a laugh, which lit Nancy’s face up as if she’d taken that as a personal victory. “Reply to the text, or DM, or whatever he’s sent you, I saw you looking at it on the way over here. Set something up and ask him when you get there, you’ll only regret it if you don’t.”

“…We’re supposed to be having dinner tomorrow night where he’s staying, just me and him.” And he was… so nervous didn’t seem quite the right word for how nervous he actually was. What would happen if he went? That kiss had turned filthy so quickly and he’d wanted it. He’d wanted it so badly, would tomorrow be the night? Should he prepare or—

“Great! Set up a time and find out the address.” Nancy didn’t even give him time to step onto the spiral. “It’ll be okay, we’re a call away if something goes wrong, or if he turns out to be an asshole, alright?”

“…Alright. Now let me dip my fries in your shake.”

“Ew, no!”

Part 14

[mmufanatic]

Ghosts/MMU headcanons

Anna is Alison in this au and Zosia is Mike because I don't think Zosia would put up with them.

George

-I can see him as Julian (mostly because of the politics), the captain or as Robin, purely because he'd love turning the lights on and off all the time because he's a chaotic little shit. Mostly as the captain though.

-He makes Anna download Duolingo for him but she has to actually do it everyday while he tells her what to put. (Think the captain with his run every morning but Duolingo).

-This can take hours as he is very competitive and wants to complete all the daily quests

- actually he's so melodramatic I can kind of see him as Thomas if Ralph lived there. He goes all 'Romeo and Juliet', 'kill yourself and marry me' when Ralph comes over.

Daisy

-I can see Daisy as Fanny as they're both bossy and Daisy is canonically good at Deportment

-(only her husband didn't need to kill her as she was having an affair with the housekeeper anyway)

-she tells off Alexander, rather than Anna like Fanny does to Alison because she likes Anna but she can find a lot of fault with Alexander

-she is quite disapproving of anything after her own time ('Oh let's just do away with books and telephones then! Let's all become addicted to these new mobile phone things!') but was pleased about how women's rights have got better and was interested when she saw something about Pride on TV.

-(she now makes Anna play a lot of Girl in Red for her).

Hazel

-I can see her as Pat because he keeps the peace with everyone and Hazel is responsible but I can also see her as Mary

- She would definitely follow people around chanting 'Get out, get out, get out...'

- I can also see her having all the superstitions that Mary has

- so kind of like Pat from Mary's time (she died how Mary did).

- she loves puzzle games online so Anna has to play a lot of them with Hazel telling her what to do

- Hazel is the only one (apart from Eric and Nuala) who doesn't burst through bedroom/ bathroom walls unexpectedly (Alexander and Beanie forget and everyone else just doesn't care).

Beanie

- She would definitely be Kitty but quieter

- she just follows Anna or the others about to be included

- she does always get Anna to put the cartoons on for her in the morning though (Alexander watches them with her).

-Anna has definitely ended up buying way more Christmas/ Halloween/ Easter decorations than she needed because Beanie was so enthusiastic and no one can say no to her

-she found beanies very funny because it's the same name so Anna knitted her one even though she can't wear it. She just likes to look at it.

Kitty

- I think Kitty would be Thomas since they both always have a crush

-(I can also see her as Julian just because of all the parties and the dirty jokes)

-she has a crush on pretty much every man who walks into the house

- (Imagine 'Free Pass' but its Kitty and George arguing over whether the actor is hot).

Lavinia

- definitely Julian.

- it's her who pushes Anna out the window, like in the show

- sometimes changes the channel or finds something a bit inappropriate online. She is in big trouble if Alexander or especially Beanie sees it ( then Kitty and George have to deal with it).

Alexander

-I can see him as Kitty but maybe dying in a different way.

- maybe hypothermia from falling in the lake or poisoned by his step brother?

- he's very enthusiastic about pretty much everything (will watch anything on TV, loves every song on the radio, always wants to be involved in what's going on)

- he's the most trouble because he never stops talking. Ever.

- He follows Anna around talking and gets offended if she ignores him ( even if she's on the phone).

May

- she is Robin because she would love messing with the lights

- also I can imagine May going down a conspiracy theory rabbit hole

Eric

- Humphrey (because I'm not sure who else he would be).

Nuala

-Jemima because she would love the dramatic entrance and freaking everyone out

Amina

- Annie because they're both so outspoken

- in this au she stayed long enough to meet Daisy. Daisy mourned for her when she got sucked off.

[painted-bees]

So do Magritte and Ralph also kiss Cortez when she's………… bigger… asking for a friend. (Also for less blatantly horny questions lmao: would you like to talk a little about Cortez's shapeshifting? Is it hard for her to keep human-ish shaped or is it all the same? Does she need to go back to the water sometimes, can she travel the world, can she cross the ocean and bring back pretty seashells from the other side of the pond?

We know a lot about the backstory of the two humans here, but I want to know more about the eldritch sea friend!

(I'm not even sure 'she' it the correct pronouns for Cortez actually - does she even care about gender)

Magritte and Rafael love Cortes in any shape U vU♡

Lmao it was hard for her to get the human shapes right, but considering that her serpent-y form was her attempt at an orca that she kinda just...gave up on as being 'good enough' at the half-baked point, her human approximation definitely speaks to a level-up on her skills!!

Once she has a shape, she can slowly refine and chisel it down to more finer details if she so wishes. Maintaining the shape isn't any trouble for her, though.

Cortes does return to the ocean on semi-frequent occasion, and can be away for weeks at a time. Magritte and Raf have no idea where she goes or why...but she always comes back safely--to their tremendous relief.

She can certainly travel the world, if it is accessible via the oceans. She has no passport, you see...and so...she cannot travel by standard means. Swimming might not be the fastest way around, but at least she doesn't have to suffer the lineups at customs.

And, lastly...Cortes has decided that she is most certainly a "she" and will accept nothing else :3

[polygonal-trees]

There's something about EarthSpark that's been on my mind for a while.

Anyone who's experienced any amount of children's fiction has probably noticed that parents tend to be conveniently absent.

Either they're dead, missing, always at work, outright neglectful or just otherwise inexplicably missing. And even when the parents are present, they very rarely have an active role. This applies mostly to adventure stories but occurs in all genres.

There is a reason for this! Sometimes it's to drive the plot (like maybe the children have made a vow their mother will be found or smth) but the most common reason, in almost all stories, is that good, attentive parents are boring. They are boring, sensible, rule-setting, ruiners of fun. Ash Ketchum and his mouse can't fight a primordial demigod if his mother is around to tell him it's too dangerous. It just doesn't work.

One of the first things I was told in the first children's writing class I took was, to paraphrase: "do not have an adult show up and fix everything. It's boring and children hate it." Children love to believe that they are much more capable than they actually are, they want to feel brave and independent, and a good parent actively ruins that.

Usually, even if there is a guardian, it's a Fun Guardian - someone like an aunt, an older brother or a teacher who lets the kids get away with things a parent wouldn't. Them not being the characters' actual parent lowers the amount of responsibility the audience expects them to have.

And when there are 'fun parents' who allow their children to do dangerous things... well, except for a few very specific circumstances, it just comes off as willful neglect and endangerment. I'm actually struggling to think of any examples that are played straight, though, because it's so rare.

Obviously there are some stories where the parents are both good and present, but those stories are usually very low stakes. The Berenstain Bears never entered any illegal off-road races, for example.

Transformers has had relatively active parent characters in the past, e.g. June Darby and Charlie Burns, but the children's adventures still usually hinge on them not being around. They definitely care about their kids, but they still kind of toe the line of negligence imo. And of course Ralph's and Miko's parents barely exist at all.

But then there's EarthSpark.

Obviously I haven't read every children's book or seen every children's show, but right from the start Alex's and Dot's roles struck me as very unusual.

They're involved in everything! And they know about almost everything too. There are what, three or four episodes where they don't know what their kids are up to? And in another break from tradition, they get to be actual characters as well, with their own personalities, interests and relationships.

I really Alex and Dot. I think they're fun, fitting, and I like seeing a fresh take on the role of parents in children's fiction.

But I also think their portrayal has created a rather awkward situation for EarthSpark.

EarthSpark wants Alex and Dot to be good parents, who are involved in their children's lives and care about their safety... and it also wants the kids to have high stakes adventures, with explosions and sword fights. And these two things aren't really compatible.

Because Alex and Dot are good parents who are actively trying to protect their kids, they show genuine worry and distress, and it ends up really highlighting how dangerous the children's adventures actually are. It really alters the tone of the show.

Miss Frizzle can take her elementary class inside an active volcano and say, "it's fine!" because she is a Fun Guardian - she's not like the other teachers! She doesn't care about risk assessments! - and that's a large part of what sets the tone. We aren't worried because she isn't worried. The magma isn't dangerous because she says it isn't dangerous. We can suspend our disbelief.

Mo using a magic sword to fight a villain in the astral plane is just as fanciful (in my opinion). But when Dot starts calling out in fear while watching helplessly from the sidelines, we the viewers think - oh shit. This isn't a fun adventure at all. Mo is in real, physical danger. That's bad. And our suspended disbelief comes crashing down.

In my opinion, nothing that's happened so far in EarthSpark is more extreme than anything that's happened in children's fiction before. It doesn't even hold a candle to stuff like Goosebumps. But I think Alex and Dot's roles plays a huge part in making us realise how dangerous the events and how high the stakes actually are. There are other factors of course - like EarthSpark doesn't really do cartoon violence, everything has fairly realistic consequences that you don't often see in cartoons - but Alex and Dot play a significant part.

I think EarthSpark goes to show why parents are so often absent from children's fiction - they are almost completely antithetical to the adventure stories children want. I think this is best displayed during the big seeker battle, where Alex and Dot have to carry Mo and Robbie to safety. In another show, the kids would save themselves. In EarthSpark, the fact that they don't and can't, and need their parents to save them, removes the independence and agency that's such a staple of children's adventure.

This isn't really a critique, it's more of an observation. I've enjoyed EarthSpark so far - I like that's it's trying something new, I like that the high stakes actually feel high, I like that the parents are actual characters, I like that it has a more realistic and grounded tone - but I am curious to see how Alex and Dot will be handled going forward. There's a very difficult balance needed here and I don't think EarthSpark has struck it yet.

[telltaleangelina]

TC tag game Thank you for the questions and for tagging me @renaultphile Rules: Answer the questions and tag other TC fans

"He would not fucking say that" only they did and it's canon. When/who?

I don’t think I’ve read it enough to have a sense of something like this. I really disliked Laurie’s scenes with Adrian though. So it’s not so much ‘he wouldn’t say that’ as ‘I would prefer to ignore the fact that he said/did that.'

2. Did they kiss in the study? Yes/no + why you are 100% correct about this.

I think they did. The first time I read it, I didn't really wonder if something had happened, only what had happened: I didn’t know if they’d only kissed or done anything more. Later, it seemed to be confirmed by Ralph’s letter that they’d not done ‘anything more,’ I just assumed it was a kiss, and I don’t really think the dialogue following the ellipses makes much sense without anything having happened. “Now you see what I mean, Spud. It would never have done, would it? Well, goodbye.” What could Laurie have seen if there was nothing besides a hug or handshake or something? What would never have done? Why ask him to ‘come here’ at all?

3. Mandatory question about Ralph's alleged tattoos.

I really don’t think he’d have any, but if he did I think it'd probably be something nautical.

4. 53 vs 59 edition: quote a line or paragraph that is better in the edition you like the least.

I don’t know which of them I read and I definitely haven’t read another addition, so I can’t answer this. Apparently, the earlier one had more detail and dialogue, so if I haven’t I’d love to read it

5. Which TC character would feel right at home here on tumblr dot com?

Sandy, I think he'd be great on here.

6. Tag yourself at Alec's birthday party.

Laurie reading a book or Laurie just at the beginning, sitting around awkwardly, listening to people’s conversations and wondering how on earth he ended up there.

7. Post a TC meme

The first I ever saw (on the Mary Renault tag) and still the funniest to me, I think because I understand it perfectly

8. Easy to talk about who deserved better. Who deserved worse?

Straike, I hate him with a fiery passion. The man had a dog put down, not because he was sick or anything but simply because he couldn’t be bothered to care for him. Vicar? Ridiculous.

9. You can break the fourth wall (at any point in the novel) and say a single sentence to our protagonist, Laurie Odell. What do you say?

'This is not Ancient Greece, stop being weird,' at the exact moment Andrew is telling him his traumatic life-story and Laurie is preoccupied worrying about Dave. Also related to the question, but not really asked for: if I could I’d also tell Andrew he doesn’t have to feel ashamed of how he feels about Laurie. Well, more accurately, I’d give him a modern copy of ‘Quaker Faith & Practice’ and have the relevant passages highlighted, so I know he won’t miss them. It makes me very sad for both Andrew and Dave that their whole lives could've been very different (and much happier) if they were born four or five generations later.

9. What's a question you have about TC? One you haven't found an answer for yet.

I can't think of any, besides wondering how Mary Renault could've written it because it's so good. I love the use of subtext, the way she describes emotions you've felt before but never would've been able to put into words on your own. In terms of characters and story, I do have a random question about Bunny: was it supposed to be implied that he was a perpetrator of sexual assault? I got that idea when I was reading the car scene between him and Laurie but I was unsure.

I don't know who to tag! I think all of the Charioteer accounts I know have already been tagged, but if anyone hasn't and wants to, I'd love to read your response!

[rose-tea-and-strawberries]

House of Mouse AU: Yuu and the Princess and the Frog Characters

*bangs fists on table* Mum Tiana! Mum Tiana! Mum Tiana!

I always see Tiana as the mum friend of the princesses and that is absolutely correct. She sees Yuu and is like: is anyone going to mother her? *Minnie and several other characters are about to raise their hands* No? Okay! Here sweetie, have some gumbo and beignets 😊

She just sees how hard Yuu works in a world where all odds seem to be against her and she’s still  smiling and making due with what she has when all she has is literally nothing just so touched. Besides she knows a thing or two about the restaurant business - if Yuu looks like she needs a hand, Tiana will be there to help and to remind her to take a break. And nobody is going to interrupt that break if they don’t want to answer to her.

Yuu definitely has a job offer for Tiana’s Place 

She’s not going to let Yuu get bullied by anyone either. When she first found out about Sam and his friends from the other side, alarm bells started ringing but Yuu was quick to comfort her by saying how Sam is like a cool protective older brother and how he gives her discounts and stuff and would never let harm come to her so she reluctantly lets it go. But don’t worry, she’s friends with an alligator and is a master at knife-wielding (and she has many knives) and as Ralph Breaks the Internet has taught us, she is not afraid to use a rolling pin.

Dr Facilier literally gave Yuu a grin and before he could open his mouth, Tiana had gently taken Yuu’s hand and guided her away whilst giving the shadow man a deathly glare.

Charlotte adores Yuu. She’s like the fun aunt that always brings super expensive presents every time she visits. Every time Yuu stops at her table, she’s just bursting with happy energy, ready to hear about all of the boys at NRC.

Also, side note: 

Prince Naveen/Charlotte La Bouff 🤝 Kalim Al Asim

*Willing to buy a country for Tiana/Yuu’s happiness*

When Naveen isn’t busy giving his wife the biggest heart eyes ever, being chaotic with Aladdin and Eugene or getting too invested in the Yuu ship war, he’s just ready to give Yuu all of the appreciation in the world because damn, he was worried when his parents cut him off as a grown man but Yuu is literally a penniless teenager living in a dangerous, broken down, abandoned building with no way of contacting her friends/family/loved ones and she has no magic in a world where literally everyone else has magic and she’s an only girl in an all boys school (and yeah, Naveen might have been an ignorant, carefree party boy who flirted with literally everyone but he knows that there are guys out there who are dangerous. Just because he’s very big on consent doesn’t mean the rest of the world is).

Like he literally sees this sweet, kind girl and he and Charlotte are already making kidnapping adoption plans.

Tiana: *right when she and her husband are about to enter the club* Now honey, I know that you think that Yuu would be happier with us but remember she has her friends and sort-of adoptive father back at her school and kidnapping is illegal here. And yes, it is still considered kidnapping even if she comes willingly.

Louis and Ray love Yuu. They work with Naveen to compose the most incredible song for when it’s time for her and her suitor to dance together (the PatF gang all ship KalimYuu by the way)

Dr Facilier thinks Yuu is cool. Both of them are living with disadvantages and don’t really have that much control over their lives - only instead of living with resentment like he does, she just marches on. She knows better than to make a deal with him though *Azul memories intensify* but he’s a really charming and charismatic guy. He’s fun to hang around with when you watch out for him trying to swindle you. Yuu always talks about Sam and how cool she finds him and his shadows and the two of them talk about voodoo and hoodoo and yay *new friend unlocked*

He teaches her card tricks so that she can show off to Ace

@adrianasunderworld

[circusgoth-dotcom]

Crushes

Ship: Minos the Bull x Fix-it Felix Jr.

Word Count: 906

Summary: Minos struggles with his feelings and ends up talking with Felix about it. Also first fic in the Wreck It Ralph universe! Playing with the timeline a little bit, the events of the movie haven't quite started in this fic but Felix mentions he met Calhoun very briefly. CWs for themes of anxiety and insecurity, implied past relationship issues, food mentions.

Tag List: @canongf @sportakisser @cherry-bomb-ships

Minos felt a gentle shake on their arm and raised their head exhaustedly.

“Hey, the arcade opens in two hours. You ought to get back to your game,” Tapper suggested with a sympathetic look. They rubbed the space between their eyes.

“Ah geez… my tab…”

“You can pay it another time. I’d hit the showers before you do much else, though.”

They briefly pressed the backs of their hooves against their eyes before standing, swaying slightly and grabbing the bar for support. “Good advice…” They smelled strongly of the sticky sasparilla Tapper peddled. Things hadn’t been this bad since Turbo, and by Zeus’ bolts, Minos wanted to avoid going back to that as thoroughly as he could. So he denied himself. The bright lights of Game Central Station made Minos blink painfully as he stumbled toward his game, quickly tripping over someone underfoot.

“Sorry,” he grunted, steadying himself.

“No, no, it was my fault… oh! Minos!” A familiar voice put them on edge. The short and lovable visage of Fix-it Felix Jr. stood before him. “My gosh, how long has it been?”

“Howdy, Felix,” Minos avoided eye contact. “Arcade opens soon. Shouldn’t dillydally…”

Felix peered at him curiously, his brows slanted in concern. He shoved his hands in his pockets. “Well, if you’re in a hurry, I won’t keep you. But we should catch up! I heard Chef Pepper has been working on veggie burgers over at BurgerTime…”

Minos regarded him anxiously. He knew he had to give an answer. “Sure. Tonight?”

“Sounds great! I’ll see you after closing!” Felix happily pranced off and Minos exhaled shakily. They reached their game as their coworkers were preparing for the day ahead and showered until the last minute. Despite his poor sleep and a night of drinking, Minos managed to keep his composure for the players. The end of the day came far too quickly.

Felix was waiting for him outside of the entrance to BurgerTime and waved excitedly as he approached. “I’m so glad you agreed, I feel like I haven’t seen you in years!”

Minos laughed awkwardly. “It wouldn’t surprise me if you hadn’t. I don’t… get around as much anymore.”

They entered the sandwich-stacking game and put in their orders before sitting at an off-screen table.

“How have you been?” Felix words were sincere and low so as not to attract eavesdroppers.

“Nothing’s the same,” Minos admitted. “I’ve been… keeping on.” They rubbed their eyes. “... Truth be told, something’s come up.”

“I don’t mean to be intrusive, but is it something I can help with? I mean, they don’t call me ‘Fix-it’ for nothing…” He smiled, finding his own jab just a bit too corny. Two large veggie burgers were plopped down on the table, briefly startling Minos. He cleared his throat and straightened up.

“You know Hero’s Duty? One of the newer games.”

Felix’s eyes lit up as he took a bite of his burger. He chewed and swallowed quickly. “I do! I even met the sergeant, briefly.” His cheeks began to heat up just mentioning her. Minos’ own heart skipped a beat, then ached at Felix’s expression.

“You have?”

“Again, briefly. It wasn’t that big of a deal, but might I say, these high-definition games…” He then sighed forcefully through his lips, shaking his head. “But never mind that, what does Hero’s Duty have to do with your predicament?”

“You see, that’s just the thing…” Minos took a slow bite of his burger. “Sgt. Calhoun. I see her around Game Central Station and I just…” He buried his face in his hooves. “Clearly you have an upper hand with her, so I just shouldn’t bother. Like I have been.”

“What do you…?” Then Felix gasped in realisation. “You too??”

“She’s gorgeous, isn’t she?” Minos bemoaned after a beat of embarrassed silence. “She’s gorgeous and she’s not for me.”

“Now you don’t know that…” Felix hesitantly reached to pull Minos’ hooves away from their face. Suddenly many revelations were coursing through him at once. One hoof dropped away and into Felix’s hand, but the other remained firmly placed over their left eye, physically shielding themselves from their feelings.

“Even if she gave me a chance she’d just bring out the worst in me. Don’t try and tell me that’s not true, I’ve only ever had feelings like this for one person and you know how that turned out!”

The few other patrons in BurgerTime glanced over at Minos’ outburst while Felix hushed them.

“It doesn’t have to be like Turbo, Minos,” Felix insisted. “One bad experience does not a reality make. Besides, she’s nothing like him. I can tell you that from only one tiny little exchange.”

Minos was shaking. Their uncovered eye half-opened. “What about your feelings?”

Felix was briefly flustered. “Feelings, shmeelings. I want to see you happy. You’ve been through enough.” Oh Felix, what’ve you gotten yourself into??

Slowly, Minos went back to eating. “She’ll never notice me.”

“Baby steps! You can practice talking to her on me.” Felix’s expression was one of determination. Minos couldn’t help but giggle at the suggestion.

“But you don’t know how she’ll react…”

“It wouldn’t hurt to give you something positive to work with, would it? It’s all about confidence!” There was another stretch of silence before Felix spoke again. “Are you feeling any better?”

Minos nodded. “I need to get some sleep. But… thank you, Felix. You’re a good friend.”

“I try my darndest.”

[simorys]

Hey love ur art! Btw I noticed you talk a lot about Simon and Jack’s queerness, but you never rlly talk about Ralph’s, and I personally think he’s the most queer coded one in the book. Got any thoughts to share on him? Idk if ur rly a believer in the whole “Ralph and Jack/Simon were in love and engaged actually” theory so it can be pre-canon stuff I like ur hcs on those it has so much room for imagination (oc-ification)

Hi!!! TYSM!!

I definitely think that Ralph is queer coded, especially with him and Jack's relationship in the beginning. I think that Ralph did like Jack a lot and never truly got over him no matter how much he wished he did. I believe that he lays awake at night a lot thinking about what he did wrong/what he could've done to not have Jack hate him. I don't think he knows exactly what he did to Jack though, but he still blames himself a lot. However for Simon, I don't think he liked him back or really cared too much for him at all, until he died :(

i think that Jack also liked Ralph back but because of envy, jealousy, power hungriness, and internalized homophobia (and some others things probably), he started to despise Ralph. I believe that Jack still loved Ralph in the end, but unfortunately wasn't able to accept that part of himself. I do think that Jack felt guilty about what he did though but tried so hard to convince himself that he was not in the wrong. Maybe eventually he'll come around to it and accept it, who knows.

For some Pre-Island things about Ralph :^)

He never really knew exactly what homosexuality was and thought that his feeling towards boys was what everyone else felt. He did eventually learn that what he was feeling was different than some of his other peers when he brought his feeling up to a friend. I think Ralph goes to a public school, rather than a private Christian school like Jack and the choir, so luckily for him his friend didn't completely connect that Ralph was gay because it wasn't something thing that was taught at their school.

I hc that Ralph has a little sister (as seen in the hc art) who really looks up to him. I think she secretly knows about him being gay, but since she cares a lot for him, she hasn't told anyone (including Ralph).

I don't think Ralph is very homophobic, I think he's able to accept himself somewhat and knows that he isn't able to change his attraction. However, I think he does pray/wish a lot that he would be "normal".

He's very popular at his school and is very well liked, so not a lot of people would suspect "vice" in him. But he still worries a lot about people finding out and when he found out what he was experiencing was being gay, he became pretty closed off.

I also like to joke sometimes that his dad is gay (or just likes men at least) because of the stereotype of being in the navy. So if it is true I feel like his dad wouldn't bring up hatred towards gay people, making Ralph be a little more accepting of himself, of course with it being illegal, he still had issues with it.

Also another thing for his dad, but I remember learning in history class that during WW2 people in the army would put on drag shows to entertain each other and lighten the mood, so I feel like if Ralph's dad was to find out about Ralph being gay or even wearing make up, he wouldn't be too hard on him for it. Although I do think he would make Ralph cover that part about himself up for his and their family's reputation.

[renaultphile]

TC tag game

Thank you for the questions and for tagging me @spudodell.

Rules: Answer the questions and tag other TC fans!

1. "He would not fucking say that" only they did and it's canon. When/who?

Ralph to Laurie in the ‘break-up’ scene, as soon as Laurie starts asserting himself:

"Don't waste time, Spud. It's childish to start an argument about whether we love each other, the moment I go and sit on the other side of the room”

What a horrible thing to say!  Run like the wind, Laurie!

2. Did they kiss in the study? Yes/no + why you are 100% correct about this.

First let’s take a moment to appreciate Spudodell's recent spot of a stealth kiss (can you re-blog that one too, I couldn't find it!) at the beginning of the ‘break-up’ scene when Laurie comes through the door, which to me is absolutely definitive and ground-breaking (not in a good way for me, but still….brilliant detective work!)

On the kiss, I am in the ‘no kiss’ camp, but it is not possible to be definitive.  I feel that Mary plays a lot with echoes, parallels, and contrasts, and for me ultimately I feel the lack of a kiss is meant to be a contrast to other moments in the book, not an echo. 

But what has exercised me more recently is, kiss or no kiss (but especially if there was a kiss), this scene in chapter two really gives me the creeps.  I have been reading around the topic for some schoolboy Ralph fics and Alec/Ralph (watch this space on that one), and it has become ever more clear (Alec Waugh’s commentary ‘Public School Life’ being the best reference on this) that Prefects really were like Gods.  He points out that prefects had almost as much power as but even less accountability than teachers due to the ‘no-snitch rule’.  You can see it in the discussion of Hazell and his confessions, and how contemptuous the schoolboys are of him for 'confessing' (or in modern terms, reporting an inappropriate relationship).

In some ways, a kiss could explain quite a lot about Laurie’s behaviour and attitudes to Ralph in the book.  But to be brutally honest, I’ve had enough of creepy behaviour in men being disguised as ‘romantic’ in heterosexual romances (Mr Rochester, anyone?) and the thought of encountering it in a gay context in such a beloved book is just too much to bear.

So, no kiss for me!  He was still behaving pretty weirdly but that’s understandable in the circumstances.

3. Mandatory question about Ralph's alleged tattoos.

I’m sold on the fic that has him get a tattoo of his sunken ship.  Love the co-ordinates of Dunkirk idea though!  But I think Lux’s one is more realistic.  My reading of that being that he got drunk and wanted to fit in so he got a load of random not-very-good-ones.

4. 53 vs 59 edition: quote a line or paragraph that is better in the edition you like the least.

I favour the ’59 edition, as I broadly feel the cuts make it read better.  But there is one exception.  When Laurie is daydreaming about swimming with Charles, Mary cuts this line:

“Take off your things and jump in."

Apparently skinny-dipping was a step too far for the US audience!  Scandalous!

5. Which TC character would feel right at home here on tumblr dot com?

Bunny but not in a good way.

6. Tag yourself at Alec's birthday party.

I’m Laurie as in sitting in the corner checking out the books.  Not as in going on a rescue mission with some drunken guy.

7. Post a TC meme.

Sorry I couldn’t find the source of this – not exactly a meme but it made me laugh!

8. Easy to talk about who deserved better. Who deserved worse?

Not that I know what happened to them, but Andrew’s relatives who tried as hard as they could to ruin his life, as if his parents dying wasn't bad enough.

9. You can break the fourth wall (at any point in the novel) and say a single sentence to our protagonist, Laurie Odell. What do you say?

I would tell him not to let Dave bully him into leaving Andrew without seeing him.  Because he knows with every fibre of his being that Andrew would not want that.

10. What's a question you have about TC? One you haven't found an answer for yet.

Too many to say.  It’s the unknown unknowns that really get me.

Tagging @gayskogul @telltaleangelina @jeork @alovelywaytospendanevening @black-bentley and anyone else who wants to play and would like to raise their head above the parapet!!

[ask-ryder-emerson-lotf]

HI RYDER is being on the island basically like being a full time babysitter? you know, since you're older and all!

(Close ups after the cut!)

………What do you think?

…Okay that might’ve been a little rude, but come on! All of these kids….They need someone to look after them! I’ve given up on some of them….ugh…I learned their names so far at least! There’s the choir kids: Jack, Roger- which are the two that are uh…..not being nice to that fat kid, his nickname is Piggy, but I asked him what his real name is and he said “Peter” so I’m going to use that when I talk about him. Anyways, continuing: Maurice is a little goofball…I think he’s either trying too hard to be cool or is the “funny” kid at school. I like Simon, although his little….”faints” scare the heck out of me. He’s nice though…much more than the others. They’re loud. I feel bad for him….There’s also Henry, which is a littlun, he left the cry- I mean Percival alone with Maurice. I think there’s….Robert? Wilfred? Can’t really remember the rest of the choir….Anyways… there’s Ralph! The boys tried to make me leader but I said no, so they had a vote and Ralph won. Ralph’s….interesting. He tries his best, I’ll admit. It’s annoying when he blows that conch though…The sound hurts my ears. Pigg- I mean Peter, he’s a very nice kid! He’s a tad annoying but he does it for the right reasons. The others don’t understand him…They make fun of him and his “ass-mar”. How rude.

Oh yeah I forgot about the “sin” teenagers! I met all of them properly this time- earlier, “Sloth” kinda….fell out of a tree in front of me- Anyways….He’s….a nice fellow. Lust keeps on trying to run around….completely naked. He’s…definitely queer in both definitions. Wrath’s a little….intimidating so…I don’t think I’m going to try and talk to him much yet…Pride and Greed are both extremely rude so definitely not befriending them. Envy seems like Simon, very quiet and soft spoken….Maybe I’ll try and talk to him more? Oh and then there’s Gluttony! He’s um….always hungry! Hopefully he doesn’t eat all the food on the island…Maybe I can like, plant seeds from the berries here and grow more of them? Berries grow quickly, right? I mean….we won’t be on this island that long, will we? Haha….sorry I tend to ramble when I get nervous. I mean- Ah���forget it. Maybe Envy will understand if I try to talk to him…

(The sins are by @lord-of-the-bundle-of-sticks. IM SORRY IT TOOK SO LONG TO ANSWER THIS MY GOD THE SICKNESS LITERALLY GAINED MOST OF MY ENERGY…..But good news is the blog is back in business! ^_^ -Mod)

[spookyscarydemonbabe]

Eager

A/N- It turns out that getting to write for Ralph has really gotten me excited about writing again :) it’s not like i didn’t love it beforehand, but it’s definitely given me a lot more inspiration, and it’s a nice break from constantly writing the same fics 😅 and i felt like jumping the gun a little and writing a valentine’s day fic a few weeks before the actual holiday :p

Summary- Ralph is having a problem and he’s not entirely sure who he can bring it up to, but he figures you’ll be the perfect person to help

Genre- Fluff

Warnings- None :)

Tag List- No one on the tag list yet! if you’d like to be added please let me know :)

Word Count- 3.2k

Ralph sighed and tried his best to get his nerves under control as he stood just outside your bedroom door.

Each and every year, Ralph and Victoria would throw the most extravagant parties for every holiday or occasion that someone could think of. New Years, Halloween, birthdays, they even threw on for daylight savings time just because they could. Tonight was yet another one of their parties and Ralph could hardly contain his excitement. It was for Valentine’s day, and normally he would be quite down during this time of year.

His sister would get offers for dances all night long while he was normally stuck sitting around all night, looking around and waiting for someone to ask him to dance or look for someone that he could ask, but he would be lucky if he got one for the entire night.

But this year was different.

Just recently, Ralph had been working on meeting new people. It had always been difficult for him, especially with Victoria constantly ordering him around, but every once in a while he was able to get out of the house and do his best to do things on his own.

There was one day a few weeks ago where he found himself in a cafe, and though he felt a bit out of place to be there by himself, it was nice to get some time to himself for a little while. He had also managed to come in on one of the days you had been working.

You had brought him his coffee with a smile, but having normally seen him with his sister you decided to make some small talk. It wasn’t like you had never seen him before, on occasion he and Victoria would always sit in the same spot next to the window and she would be quite demanding, not just to Ralph but to you and the other workers there too. Her coffee had to be made perfectly, whatever pastry she had decided on for the day had to be warmed up to just the right temperature, and though sometimes she would be quite difficult she had always left a nice tip so you were able to manage through it with a smile. Ralph on the other hand was different. He was quiet, kind, and it looked like he spent most of his time there listening to everything his sister was saying.

Seeing him there all alone was enough for you to ask him why.

“Where’s that girl you’re normally here with?” You asked him as you went over to his table to take his empty cup.

He looked up at you with wide eyes, not expecting someone to want to engage with him it all.

“Your sister, normally you’re here with her. Was she not able to come today?”

“Oh! Oh no, it’s just me today.” He said to you with a smile, “i figured it would be nice to do some things by myself. Though it is quite lonely with no one to talk to.”

“Well, i was about to finish up the last of my work. I could sit with you if you like.”

“That would be lovely!” He seemed excited to have someone finally sit and talk with him, and it was cute to see how his eyes lit up when you spoke to him.

“I’m (y/n), it’s nice to meet you.” You said, holding your hand out for him to shake and he gladly took it, though he didn’t shake it like you were expecting.

He had brought your hand to his lips and gently kissed it, bringing a blush to your cheeks.

“I’m Ralph, it’s lovely to meet you (y/n).”

You had taken his empty cup off of the table, and him seeing the pink on your cheeks was enough to make him blush too,

“It’ll be just another minute, i’ll be right out.”

He nodded and seemed quite excited to have you sit with him. And he acted the same way when you approached his table once more and sat comfortably across from him.

Being able to sit down and talk with Ralph showed your an entirely new side to him.

He was very talkative and energetic, always having something on his mind that he wanted to share, and it was lovely to sit there and listen to every word he had to say.

He had a sense of childlike wonder to him and though he was a lot to handle at once, it was cute to see how excited he was to have someone there to listen to him and his rambling. Not to mention how adorable his nervous stutters were when his eyes met yours from across the table.

It soon became like a little tradition for the two of you. He would come in and wait for you to finish your work and afterwards you would sit with him and talk for hours. He loved finally having a friend to talk with. Though overtime he had caught himself thinking about you more and more as soon as you had left.

All week long he would anticipate seeing you once again and every now and then his thoughts would wander and he would find himself thinking about you. Everything about you.

The little pink tinge that came to your cheeks each time he gave you a compliment and how you would always look deeply into his eyes when he was getting a little too excited about whatever it was he was talking about at that moment to help ground him a bit, your giggle was like the prettiest song he had ever heard and your lips would curl into such a lovely smile. Though each time you met you became closer friends, he would be more and more nervous to see you again.

The sweet boy had fallen for you without even noticing it.

He had been dying to ask you to come with to one of him and his sisters parties, but had been so worried you would say no that it had constantly slipped his mind. It was only when you had brought up Valentine’s day that he had remembered.

Ralph had wanted to ask you properly, like a gentleman, but his nerves had gotten the best of him.

He had wanted to bring you flowers, sing to you, maybe even going as far as making you a personal invitation but he had just blurted it out at the table. He was so relieved when you said yes.

However, his rambling had gotten the best of him yet again and he had even offered for you to stay over at the manor rather than having to leave early. He knew Victoria wouldn’t be pleased but knowing that you would be staying overnight and attending the party with him made it all worthwhile. He’d take hours of Victorias commands if it meant he got to spend just a little more time with you.

For the last few hours, everyone had spent time in their rooms getting ready for the party, but Ralph had so many other things on his mind.

He had been thinking about what you would be wearing and how you would look together, if he had the nerve to ask you to dance with him or if he was too scared, or maybe another man would ask and you’d say yes, leaving him all alone once again like he was so used to. He had wanted this to be an actual date, keeping his arm around you and dancing with you all night long, maybe even seeing if the champagne would loosen him up enough for an attempt at trying to kiss you. But he had no idea how.

All his life he had wanted to find someone to love and give all his affection to, but each time he tried he found that they lad lost interest after he had shown them his attention. He was someone who loved being able to shower his love with gifts and compliments and attention but they would always think it was too much and leave him before he was able to officially ask to court them. He just wanted tonight to be different, he knew that you were different, but he didn’t want to mess up anything.

As scared as he was, he just wanted to be honest with you and tell you that as much as he wanted to kiss you he had no idea how to, or even where to start.

But it was the only option he felt like he had.

He couldn’t go to his sister, all she would do was make fun of him for thinking that you would want to kiss someone who had no clue what they were doing. He didn’t have any close friends he could ask for help, all the people that were invited to their parties were nothing more than acquaintances who he only knew by name. You were the only person he considered a friend, and therefore his only option.

So there he stood.

Just outside your bedroom door, fidgeting with his bow tie and constantly adjusting his cuff links to keep from getting to scared and running off. This was something he felt like he had to do.

He took one last deep breath before knocking on your bedroom door and taking a step back, his heart stopping once he had seen you.

It was a valentines party, and the required attire was strictly pinks, reds and whites and you had the most beautiful light pink dress on. It had gorgeous beading and you had on the prettiest pink lace shawl to wear over your shoulders. Your makeup was perfect, your hair was perfect, your outfit and accessories were perfect. Everything about you was breathtaking and the blush on Ralph’s cheeks let you know.

“Hello Ralph!” You said to him with an excited smile, “You look so handsome, and we almost match each other!” You giggled and looked over the suit he was wearing.

It was a bright white, and his vest had the prettiest pearlescent pink swirls over it with the cuffs of his jacket in the same pattern to match. His bow tie and pocket square were the same pink as your dress and the two of you looked absolutely adorable together.

He laughed nervously noticing how well you match together and he stood before you with his eyes on the floor, not wanting to make a fool of himself by messing up his words from seeing your beauty,

“You look absolutely lovely! Would you mind if um…” He cleared his throat, trying to collect his thoughts, “Would you mind if i came in for a moment to talk? I’ve got something on my mind and i feel you’re the only person able to help.”

“Oh, of course! I’d be glad to help you,” You opened your door for him to step inside and shut it as he made his way over to sit on the bed, “is everything alright sweetheart?”

Your pet name brought a brighter blush to his cheeks but he didn’t want to let his feelings get in the way of what he was trying to do.

He wanted to be completely upfront and honest with you about the way that he felt, he didn’t want to keep hiding around his feelings. He did like you, more than he had wanted to, and he wanted to be the gentleman that he knew you deserved and show you a good time and be able to kiss you like he had been wishing to do all day but he just didn’t know how to do any of that for you.

“Not quite.” He said with another laugh as you came to sit next to him, “It’s a problem that i hope you don’t take offense to, but i feel it’s best i should be honest with you about it.”

You gave him a kind smile and reached out for his hand, gently holding it in hours,

“It’s alright, you can tell me. We’re friends, and friends help each other with their problems.”

He smiled back at you and squeezed your hand in his, taking another deep breath,

“You’re right. I want to be completely honest with you (y/n), and i hope this doesn’t change your feelings of me but i…” He trailed off, nervous to finish his sentence but when you gave him an encouraging nod he continued, “I love you. At least i think it’s love.”

You were shocked at his confession, but it didn’t come as much of a surprise to you.

For weeks Ralph has been treating you so sweetly, always giving you compliments and acting more nervous when you saw one another. When he asked if you would come along with him to his party you were so excited to spend time with him outside of your normal routine and when he asked you it made your heart skip a beat. He had been so sweet and kind to you and overtime you had caught feelings for the sweet boy.

“And i mean truly mean that (y/n).” Ralph continued on, turning his body to face yours as he took your other hand into his, “Getting to spend time with you is something i adore and i’ve been wanting to show you a wonderful time tonight and be able to really show you how i feel. I had a whole plan to dance with you and spend time with you and i wanted to kiss you so badly but i just…” He trailed off once more.

He had already admitted his love for you, the hard part was over, but he was so scared to tell you he had no idea how to kiss you and it was eating away at him inside.

You reached one hand up and gently held his cheek,

“It’s ok Ralph, keep going.”

He looked to your eyes and their kindness made his wave of nerves completely wash away.

“I just don’t know how to.”

You sat there with him quietly for a moment, just taking in what he had said to you.

He was nearly trembling, terrified of your reaction to everything he had confessed. His love for you, his want to make you feel the same way he did, and the fact that he had never kissed before but so badly wanted to.

You tilted his head up so he could look to your eyes once more,

“Is that what your problem is Ralphie? You want to kiss me, but you don’t know how?”

He nodded, still staying silent, but the gentle smile on your lips assured him that whatever reaction you were going to have was going to be one he didn’t have to be scared of.

You brought him close to you, your lips gently pressing to his cheek and you could feel the bright blush start to warm under your fingers,

“Would you like me to show you?”

His heart stopped.

He nodded once more and you watched as his bottom lip trembled,

“Would you?” He said quietly, “Please?”

You smiled once more and turned your body towards him, moving yourself just a bit closer to him.

“I’ll do my best.” You said with a giggle, “But kissing isn’t really something you teach Ralph. Everyone does it their own way, it’s more something you just have to do whatever way feels right to you.”

He nodded and sat himself up straight, doing his best to hide how nervous he was that this moment was finally happening. It wasn’t the way he had planned, but he felt that it was almost more special this way.

“What do i do?” He asked you, earning another giggle from you.

“You just do what feels natural to you Ralphie.” You held his hands in yours gently and you felt yourself slowly inching closer into him, “You just go slow,” he moved himself closer into you, your noses brushing against each other, “and you do what feels right…” You trailed off, slowly moving to close the last of the space between you.

Your kiss was over as quickly as it began but it felt like so much more than that.

It was sweet. It was soft. It was gentle.

It was perfect.

Ralph sat back as you separated and he had the biggest smile on his face.

“Wow… That was…” He racked his brain trying to think of the right words but you were the only thing on his mind, and all he wanted to do was kiss you again.

“It was wha-“ You were quickly cut off by Ralph’s lips on yours once again.

As he pulled away once more, his smile had never left, and he could see yours start to form as you giggled.

Your hands gently went to hold his cheeks to kiss him just one last time, and feeling his smile against your lips was enough to make you melt.

He seemed so happy and it was wonderful to finally get a kiss from him. Or a few kisses at that.

When you separated once more you were both a mess of giggles, your hands still gently holding his cheeks,

“How was that Ralphie?”

“Oh darling, it was wonderful!” He had leaned in and placed a few gentle pecks to your lips, “Just wonderful!”

“I can tell sweetheart,” You used your thumb to clean up the light lipstick marks that were left just beneath his lips from yours, “you got quite eager as soon as you got just one.”

“I’m sorry,” He sat back as your hands fell into his lap, holding his once more, “i just couldn’t help myself.”

“It’s alright!” You said to him with a bright smile, “i think it’s sweet. Are you feeling better now?”

“Yes my love, thank you. Thank you so much.” He squeezed your hands in his, “I just can’t wait to show you off to everyone tonight!”

“Ralph!”

Your sweet moment was interrupted by Victoria shouting from outside the door, rapidly knocking on it to get his attention,

“The party has begun and you’ve been absent! Come downstairs now and bring that little friend of yours, do not ruin this night for me!”

You heard the clicking of her heels fade as she made her way back downstairs to the party, which had become an afterthought to you after everything that had just happened between you and Ralph.

You looked to him and stood up from the bed, fixing up your dress and adjusting the shawl over your shoulders,

“Come sweetheart, let’s go have fun!”

“Of course my darling!” He stood up after you and quickly made his way to the bedroom door, opening it for you and softly shutting it behind him, “I do have one question though.” He held his arm out for you to take to escort you downstairs with the other partygoers.

“What’s that my love?”

He leaned in to whisper into your ear,

“Am i allowed to kiss you again?”

You giggled and leaned up to gently place a kiss onto his cheek as you made your way downstairs,

“As much as you like.”