#Roxy being the tallest is SO REAL

[netheritenugget]

oh roxy! have i ever told you about my immortal/cryptid au? i know i haven't but i don't know how else to open this ask lmao

It works by the universe manifesting legends created to be real! If a legend starts to spread the universe will actually send out magic to make it reality, to the point where it's common knowledge to not be out alone at night when a story starts to spread. This is because the universe is also lazy and building a person to fit the legend from scratch is hard, and will just grab any person out alone.

Anyway, the AU really starts when resident time traveler no. 1 Karl ends up centuries in the past, and accidentally ends up being the one to create the legend of Herobrine. One thing leads to another, Eret ends up out alone at night unaware there's a new legend, now mans is literally Herobrine. Oops

I do have more if you wanna hear more! including a time travelling wilbur who becomes friends with this immortal he keeps running into, literal god philza, reincarnating technoblade, and more!

Oooh I like this! This is really cool! :D The way people become legends reminds me is a really cool concept. This really got my imagination going, pls excuse my rambling!

Time traveler Wilbur would be fun! I can imagine it would be weird to run into Wilbur out of chronological order, though. Like the first time Eret meets him, Wilbur is already well-acquainted with them and Eret is just really confused about who the heck this weird musician guy is and how he knows to call him "Eret" instead of Herobrine. Or Wilbur traveling to explore a new place one day, only to be suddenly blindsided by a hug from this weird dude in sunglasses, a deep voice, and the tallest platform boots he's ever seen.

I can imagine that every time Eret runs into one of Technoblade's many reincarnations, Technoblade will say something funny that has to do with rich people or coliseums or haunted mansions or being a week from retirement, and Eret will just do a double-take and add it to the ever increasing list of moments they questioned whether or not Technoblade remembers his past lives. But maybe this is just the universe again, messing with him. (Do you think Technoblade's latest incarnation would be turned into the Blood God by the same magic that turned Eret into Herobrine? That'd be fun to explore :)

And I can imagine it would be comforting to have Philza around to help them navigate being a new immortal. Telling them to change their legal name once every few decades. How to avoid getting recognized (pretending to be your own son/cousin/younger brother if the need arises). The importance of taking up a new hobby/skillset every 50 years or so, to prevent getting bored. The importance of therapy when loss/fucked up shit happens.

Also it would be really funny if Karl brags that he started Herobrine as a meme and out of nowhere Eret just goes "BITCH THAT WAS YOU?!" and that's how they become friends :3

(I don't mind if you use these ideas btw but I know it's your story you're not obligated to use any of 'em either)

[lindsayruebens]

The Grand #5-10-30

Last fall, Kane and I had two Frontier flight vouchers burning a hole in our pockets.

Also that fall, we celebrated being together for a decade. And then I turned 30 in December. April is Kane’s 30th birthday. And May is our fifth wedding anniversary.

And, for the past five years, we had exclusively used our vacation days for traveling to see family during the holidays and weddings. We were not only ready to celebrate but extremely ready for a vacation, and ready to do it up big.

Enter what my social-media-eschewing husband has persistently referred to as the #5-10-30 trip (yes I know there are no hyphens in real hashtags, but here we are), and he did so persistently enough that I too eventually broke down and also called it The 5-10-30.

Direct Frontier flights from Philadelphia narrowed our options considerably, and we wanted to pick somewhere we’d never been, so Denver it was. My parents very generously offered to watch Russ in Pennsylvania for a week, and after lots of research and planning, that’s how the best vacation Kane and I have ever had, or shall I say, The #5-10-30 Trip, materialized.

We rented a 2019 Nissan Rogue and basically did a loop beginning and ending in Denver. I kept a detailed journal of the trip, but I’ll spare you the less-thrilling details and share the highlights:

Day 1: Afternoon/evening in Denver

(^Ready for takeoff to Denver!)

Great AirBnB cottage in the LoHi neighborhood. After meeting us, our host ran into her house to bring us her own nice bottle of tequila, limes and shot glasses to start off our trip on a celebratory note. Cheers!

Speaking of cheers, we recommend the Recess Beer Garden, where we watched Virginia win the national title.

Day 2: Denver/Colorado Springs

We kicked breakfast off at Bacon Social House with a flight of bacon. And because we’re corny, we gave serious thought to ranking the six bacon styles (French toast was my fav, barbecue was Kane’s). Scissors for sharing the slices were included.

Next up: Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. The red rock formations were breathtaking, and we’re glad we went to the visitor’s center for info on hiking trails. Great views of both Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak.

Another fantastic AirBnB in Old Colorado City, and delicious dinner — just say yes to the brisket grilled cheese and lamb sliders — outside at Cerberus Brewing Company while watching the sun set behind the Rockies.

Day 3: Colorado Springs

We spent much of this day in the earth.

First stop was Cave of the Winds. Holy cow, do the Lantern Tour if you can. Our self-described hippie tour-guide, John, thoroughly scared us before we even began, warning us of having to walk crouched low for a couple of minutes through under-4-foot-high tunnels, that we’d only be walking by the light of candle-lit lanterns (hence the name Lantern Tour) and that we were about to enter the supposedly most haunted caverns in North America. It’s not a tour for the faint of heart (nor the arthritic). Learned the history of the 19th-century pioneers who took ownership of the caves and held exotic parties in them, and of course there was a generous helping of spooky ghost stories.

(^Our only photo in the cave before the tour began-- not the kind of setting to take a selfie!)

Back in the sunlight, we had lunch at Ivywild School, an elementary school-turned community center/local business spot/brewery.

Dinner in downtown Colorado Springs at The Rabbit Hole, also underground. We did actually try rabbit with the Bunny Bites appetizer… a drier, leaner version of chicken nuggets.

Day 4: Cañon City/Nathrop

Spent the day at the Royal Gorge in Cañon City. The gondola ride across was slightly panic-inducing, but offered amazing views; informative short movie about the Gorge in onsite theater; then walks across America’s tallest suspension bridge. The gaps between some of the wooden planks of the floor allowed you to see all the way to the Arkansas River flowing below. YIKES. Of course Kane insisted we really feel “fully alive,” and so we were the only ones nutty enough to go back and forth several more times in the wind. Don’t worry, I felt super-alive, and thankfully, remained in such a state.

Spectacular mountain drive along Route 50 to Nathrop, where we checked in at the Mt. Princeton Hot Springs Resort. It’s in the San Isabel National Forest.

(^Serious room with a view.)

That evening we donned bathing suits in 30-something degree weather to recline in the hot springs of Chalk Creek. We laid our heads on rocks, stared at the stars and crescent moon overhead and enjoyed deep conversation that also included momentarily pretending we were contestants on The Bachelor, because it was such an over-the-top date, and I assured Kane I was most certainly there for the right reasons.

Day 5: Nathrop/Breckenridge

Hot springs again in the bright morning sunshine before driving to Breckenridge, which was a little insane with hairpin turns up and down mountains. We drove through Alma, North America’s highest incorporated town, and were relieved to make it to our AirBnB. Then: A scrumptious sushi lunch downtown at The Blue Fish and perusing the town’s many shops.

We called up the Lost Bus, owned and operated by the Broken Compass Brewing, which picks up people for free from downtown Breckenridge to its brewery site a few miles away. This was my favorite brewery of the trip! Fantastic craft beers and great local vibe.

Then we walked about half a mile down the road to Flight Club for food. It was an extremely local experience (complete with a guy glass-blowing pipes next to the bar!) and even featured a local battle-of-the-bands winner, Hollywood Farmers, who were actually quite talented.

(^My view from the bar. Just some casual glass-blowing, dudes.)

Day 6: Boulder

A crazy drive to Boulder on Route 70 with foggy snow showers. But we made it in one piece to Chautauqua Park and hiked around the Flatirons on the Enchanted Mesa Trail and loved it.

Lunched at Roxie’s Tacos, where they served amazing Mexican-Indian fusion in the lovely campus area of CU-Boulder, then drove to the Celestial Seasonings headquarters for a free tea tour and samples. A highlight was the peppermint room! Free aromatherapy.

Checked into a Courtyard Marriott and ate at Avery Brewing Company.

Day 7: Boulder/Denver

Amazing breakfast at Lucile’s in adorable downtown Boulder. Walked around Pearl Street Mall, where the tulip beds were in bloom. If I had to choose one of the places we visited to move, I’d pick Boulder!

Drove back to Denver and attended a beautiful Palm Sunday Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. Proceeded to a tour of the Molly Brown House. Loved learning her incredible story: a rags-to-riches miner’s wife, Titanic survivor, philanthropist, winner of French Legion of Honor… Google her if you have time!

On to Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey for a delightful distillery tour. We learned how it was made and aged and also how to properly drink whiskey. Not sure I’m a converted whiskey-drinker, but loved every minute of the tour.

We ended our trip where we began, in the LoHi neighborhood, at a fantastic Mediterranean tapas restaurant called El Five. We sat outside overlooking the Denver skyline and the Rockies before catching a red-eye home. It was the perfect way to punctuate a pretty near-perfect trip.

(^Dinner view. Until we meet again, Colorado!)

[mrswhozeewhatsis]

The Babysitter - Chapter 1

A/N: This has been in the works for over a year. It started at my NaNoWriMo fic in 2016, and I picked it back up for NaNoWriMo this year. It is finally finished, and I can’t wait to hear what you all think of it! Special thanks to @manawhaat​ and @nitelotus​ who both read this entire monster and gave me invaluable help and encouragement, as well as put up with me angsting about it. I will try to post at least one chapter a day.

Summary: The Winchester boys have been your life since the first time you babysat them when you were 15. Their father was the standard against which you compared all other men. After he died, you kept going for your boys, giving them everything. Now, ten years later, he’s back and you’ve changed. Will things be different this time?

Total length - 65 Chapters, 103k words - Read on AO3

Although this is a John fic, there is a lot of Dean and Sam, too. (So much Weechesters!!) This story has a lot of flashbacks, which will be in italics, and the year of each flashback will be at the start so you don’t get confused. This story is canon-compliant up to about episode 11.22 - We Happy Few, and diverges from there.

Pairing: John x Reader (there will be other side pairings, which will be mentioned when they appear)

Warnings: Canon-level violence and angst. Any other warnings will be mentioned as needed.

Chapter word count: 1104 words

1984

“Something killed his wife, and almost took the baby. He’s in bad shape, Patrick. He needs a firm hand with a gentle touch, and someone to watch the kids. I got no problem with the older boy, but I don’t know anything about diapers,” Bobby said.

“Y/N’s been working at a daycare the past few months to earn spending money. She’s been doing real good there, too. She’ll be good with the kids, and Nancy and me can take care of the dad. Between the three of us, we’ll find the son of a bitch that killed his wife lickety split and get them back to being a normal family before they get sucked in too far. You’ve got my word, Bobby.”

“I know, Patrick. You’re good people.”

You came around the corner, then, to see your dad and Bobby clinking the necks of their beer bottles together. Your dad pulled you under his arm and gave you a good squeeze.

“Hey, munchkin, how do you feel about babysitting a 1-year old and a 5-year old for a few days here at Bobby’s while your mom and I teach their dad a thing or two?”

You shrugged. “I already quit the daycare since school’s out and I figured I’d be on the road with you guys full time, anyway. I can handle a couple of kids, especially with Bobby here to lend a hand if I need it.”

Your dad smiled. “Good girl. I knew we could count on you.”

The rumbling sound of an older car grew as tires hit gravel. By the time the car stopped, you could feel the vibrations of the engine in the floorboards beneath your feet. You went to the door to see who the newcomer was while your dad continued chatting with Bobby. Out of the car stepped the tallest man you’d ever seen, all dark hair and stubbly beard with his shoulders slumped so low you thought he must have the weight of the world resting on them. He glanced at the house with tired eyes, and you thought about what you’d heard Bobby say about his wife.

The stranger opened the rear door of the car and reached in, giving your teenage hormones a terrific view of his ass. You mentally slapped yourself for even having the thought. The man just lost his wife and you’re staring at his ass? You were raised better than that! He pulled a little tow-headed boy out of the car, and set him on the ground near his feet. The boy stayed exactly where his father had put him, his eyes on his dad the whole time. The man reached farther into the car, and emerged with a baby in his arms. He said something to the boy, and the boy climbed back in the car, coming back out with a diaper bag almost as big as he was. The man shut the car door, and the trio approached the house.

You opened the door for them, trying not to stare. The father was drop-dead gorgeous, and his children were beautiful.

“Hey, Bobby. Got somewhere I can take care of Sammy? I think he dropped a bomb in his diaper about an hour ago. Been driving with the windows down ever since.”

You stepped up, thinking that this man probably just needed a break. “I can take care of him for you, if you want. I’ve been watching kids from newborns to 10 years old at a daycare, so I know all the tricks.”

The man looked at your outstretched hands with hesitation, then looked at Bobby.

“John, this is Y/N. She’s Patrick and Nancy’s daughter. She’s 15, and raised in the life, so she knows about protection. I’ve known her since she was ten. They’re good people, John. They’re willing to help.”

Your dad waved since John’s hands were full. “Nice to meet you, John. My wife and I want to help you, and Y/N is great with kids. You’ll all be in good hands with us, I promise.”

John looked you over suspiciously, then glanced at Bobby and your dad again before slowly handing little Sammy over to you. You got hit with the smell of poopy diaper right away and made a face.

“Lord, you weren’t lyin’. I’ll get him cleaned up and smelling like Heaven in no time, sir.” Securing Sammy in your arms, you looked at his brother. “And what’s your name?”

The little boy stood stock still next to his father, staring at you even more suspiciously than his father had, but didn’t say a word.

“That’s Dean. He doesn’t say much these days.”

Looking down at Dean, you motioned for the diaper bag. “Hey there, Dean. Mind if I take that bag off your hands so I can go change your brother?”

Dean gripped the bag tighter and shook his head.

“Dean, let her have the bag or Sammy’s gonna start screaming bloody murder soon.” John scolded. “Not to mention he’s stinkin’ up the joint.”

Dean was still staring at you, holding his brother. He reminded you of one of the kids in the daycare who had also been through a lot, and wouldn’t let his little sister out of his sight.

“It’s okay. I bet Dean would rather come with me and help me, anyway. Isn’t that right, Dean?”

Dean nodded, but still wouldn’t take his eyes off of you.

“Okie dokie, Dean, then follow me and we’ll get your brother all cleaned up.” In the corner of your eye, you watched as Dean followed you, never taking his eyes off of you and his brother. As you settled in the living room, Dean handed you the diaper bag, and you changed Sam’s diaper with Dean’s eagle eyes never leaving you. When Sam tried to squirm, Dean sat down on the floor by his head and played with his fingers to distract him while you finished the job. Once Sammy was all clean, you packed everything away again and looked at Dean.

“Thank you so much for helping me, Dean. I bet you’re great at taking care of your brother, aren’t you?”

Dean nodded, helping his little brother get to his feet. Sammy stood next to Dean, reaching out and smiling at his brother, babbling, “De! De! De!”

Dean gave his little brother a rough smile that broke your heart. “Yeah, Sammy. That’s me.”

With a tentative hand, you reached out and brushed some dirt off of Dean’s sleeve. “You mind if I help you take care of your brother for a while?”

The little boy nodded, but said nothing.

PART 2

Ye olde forever tags list: @abaddonwithyall @busybee612 @ilostmyshoe-79 @charmingnoodle @oriona75 @but-deans-back-tho @spnashley @manawhaat @sammit-janet @littlegreenplasticsoldier @mrsjohnsmith @mamapeterson @charliesbackbitches @leatherwhiskeycoffeeplaid @castielsbecky @scorpiongirl1 @iwantthedean @growningupgeek @feelmyroarrrr @classy-sassyandsmartassy @spectaculacular-sammy @sarahbearccxc @gadreelsforbiddenfruit @sleep-silent-angel @helixiaray @badwolfstoletheimpala @nichelle-my-belle @my-mind-is-incognito @thing-you-do-with-that-thing @ashiewesker @deansleather @your-kidding-me-smalls @winchesterprincessbride @suckonthesedragonballs @chelsea072498 @helvonasche @rizlowwritessortof @supernatural-jackles @wheresthekillswitch @lucifer-in-leather @sandycub @d-s-winchester @flames-bring-a-ton-of-ash @sandlee44 @superwholoki @charred-angelwings @percywinchester27 @jared-padaloveme @deansdirtyduchess @sylverminx @grannger @icequeen1371 (If you want to be added or removed from this list, send me an ASK!)

SPN tag sheet users: @vintagevalentinexx @thinkwritexpress-official @bowtiesandapplepie @itsemmyb @ezauraemmaline @charliesbackbitches @deandoesthingstome @deerlululucy @walkingencyclopediaoffandom @mrsjohnsmith @growleytria @thegleegeneration @samtomydeanwinchester @sinceriouslyamellpadalecki @i-never-said-a-pilot @thewinchestielboys @supermoonpanda  @sis-tafics @amaranthinecastiel @becs-bunker  @meganwinchester1999 @kittenofdoomage @samanddeanwinchester67 @prettyxwickedxthings @ferferelli @Lilyoflothlorien @olitzisbae @iridianuniverse @the-morning-star-falls  @shortandlongstories @ackleslaugh @eyes-of-a-disney-princess @chrisatplay @faith-in-dean @kreborn17 @for-the-love-of-dean @winchesterfiesta @zanthiasplace @gadreelsforbiddenfruit @trenchcoats-and-bees @curliesallovertheplace @jencharlan @skybinx-blog @beachy2014 @impossible-box @tia58 @sams-little-toy @faegal04 @sunriserose1023 @jelly-beans-and-gstrings @saving-things-hunting-family @jotink78 @notnaturalanahi @howmanytuesdaysdidyouhave @lucibae-is-dancing-in-hell @pinknerdpanda @alangel1895 @sassysupernaturalsweetheart @evilskank-inthemegacoven @rockhoochie

@castielspahdehrah @crzcorgi @manawhaat @strange-inhumanity-blog @roxy-davenport @bkwrm523 @not-so-natural-spn @deansleather @castiels-forbidden-angel  @winchesterswoonathon @i-dont-know-how-to-write @babypieandwhiskey  @wayward-mirage  @mysaintsasinner @wheresthekillswitch @shelovesallthethings @klaineaholic @inmysparetime0 @emoryhemsworth @winchestersmolder

[milomeepit]

Jade/Dave/Karkat OT3 Time Y'all

GUESS WHO’S STILL HOMESTUCK TRASH KIDDOS

@theyhoolikeowls

It was never meant to happen like this, you reflected as you fell to your knees in the soft, green grass.

You lived together in Cantown. After everyone made it into the new world- your new world- everything fell into place. You spent most of your days hanging out with your friends. It was amazing, being able to spend time with them for real. Being able to reach out and touch them, not just lay your hand against a cold screen. Everything was perfect. Well, almost.

There were still nights where Karkat woke up screaming from a nightmare. He’d sob against your shoulder as you stroked his fluffy hair, Dave rapping quietly to soothe him. Those were the nights you didn’t sleep at all. After settling him down, watching a romcom with him, Dave would roll over and fall asleep. But you would lie in bed, listening to Karkat’s gentle snores, Dave’s faint wheezing breaths. Your eyes would burn as you stared at the ceiling, your mind racing. Images of your friends- of Dave and Karkat- bleeding. Screaming. Dying. Those were the nights you stayed awake all night, keeping an eye on all of your friends through your space powers.

A little while after coming to the new world, Davepetasprite^2 had shown up. Nobody was quite sure where they’d come from, but they were welcomed nevertheless. Of course, talking to Kanaya, Dave, Dirk, John and yourself, the six of you had been playing with the idea of using your combined powers to pull some of your deceased friends from the old session’s timeline via Dirk’s heart player powers. Nobody had been willing to try it yet though, or even mention it to anyone outside of your own private conversations with one another.

One of the not-so-great things about living so close to your friends was when you blew your fuse. Despite your best efforts, just forcing a happy disposition and getting on with it didn’t work as well face-to-face, and you ended up pretty moody for quite a while after the first time you lost your temper. You had been playing chess with Jake, and he’d continually made moves that weren’t legal, despite your attempts to teach him otherwise. When he moved two pieces during your turn, you had… lost your composure. Karkat understood your anger, and at the time, that had been enough to make you pause midway through trampling a flower patch. He’d let you vent, nudging you to make you lash out at him until all of your pent-up aggression was exhausted. You’d spent the rest of the day together, trying to save the flowers. You tried to apologise a few times for lashing out, but he would cut you off every time, bringing up different movies he thought you might enjoy. Eventually, you’d let it rest, content to spend the time patting soil back into the ground, lifting damaged roots out of the dirt so that the new growth could repair the flower patch, in time.

Speaking of time, Dave hadn’t been altogether happy with that at the time. He got pretty standoffish for a while there, but after some prying, you realised he was jealous. Things ended up happening pretty quickly, you being unable to choose between your boys. You loved them both, but you didn’t want them to fight over you like they’d fought over Terezi. They were friendlier to each other once the three of you had a looooong discussion, and eventually… it all slotted together, including them. You’d tried all sorts of names on what the three of you had that didn’t work, so eventually you gave up trying to call it anything! It was confusing sometimes, but you were all happy. Oh, you still remembered the look on Jake’s face the first time he walked into your shared home to find the three of you entangled and cuddling one another. It brought a smile to your face whenever you thought about it.

After coming into the game, everyone had just kind of found themselves moving in with some of the others. Calliope, Roxy, Jane, John and Mr Crocker lived in a large home a few miles away from you. Terezi and Vriska shared an apartment halfway up the tallest building in town, giving them plenty of freedom to travel all over the city. Dave and Dirk lived together, right next door to Kanaya and Rose, who were two houses down from you and Jake, with Karkat and Gamzee across the road. You���d gotten to know Jake a lot better in that time. Jake… he was such a sweet, oblivious guy. And you appreciated that you both had someone you could talk to. That whole moirails concept really worked after all, you found yourself thinking amusedly.  Although, you didn’t curl up in piles of stuff like the trolls did; you tended to have your heart to hearts in the kitchen while trying to cook some or other fancy or exotic dish that Jake decided looked interesting enough to try. You weren’t a particularly picky eater, so it didn’t bother you what he picked usually. There were some cuisines you drew the line at, though; grubsauce, for example. It was always fun trying out new recipes, and it gave you two a chance to bond and talk about whatever grievances you may currently have with life. You could fondly recall many an afternoon where Jake would end up ranting some long string of explosive gadzookery as he pummelled a hunk of dough into submission.

After several years, one such afternoon of angst-induced cooking had led into a picnic with the whole gang. After helping you set up the food, Jake had immediately gone off to find Dirk. Rose and Kanaya had claimed a spot under a nearby tree and were talking quietly, gazing up at the sky. The then-dubbed ‘Crocker Clan’ had arrived a little late, but Mr Crocker, being his usual self, had baked an apology cupcake along with the other desserts he had brought, which he presented to you rather sheepishly. You laughed it off and waved for them to sit down with you. Vriska and Terezi brought Gamzee with them, brushing off your questioning with a shrug before they wandered off to go play soccer with Dirk and Jake.

Even after the soccer game had finally finished and the players had sat down, out of breath and all laughing as Jake nursed a small bruise on his cheek from a particularly vicious kick of Vriska’s, neither Dave or Karkat had shown up yet. You bit your tongue, telling yourself that they wouldn’t miss this. They knew how hard you and Jake had worked organising the event. They’d be there. However, as the sun began to lower, and the day dipped into late afternoon with no sign of them, you couldn’t help but frown. John asked you what was wrong, and you hesitantly explained, not wanting to sound whiney or like a drag. He bit his lip and shrugged. That was when the tears began to fall, fogging up your glasses. You pulled them off and wiped them absentmindedly, staring at your lap as you continued to cry, your vision blurring further and further as the minutes ticked by.

Eventually, a pale hand reached past the dark curtain of your hair and tipped your chin up. You sniffled as two blurry figures came into focus. The pair of them were kneeling down in front of you, and the grey blur was clutching something to his chest possessively. Hushed voices spoke comforting words, repeating apologies over and over to you as the hand left your chin to take your glasses from your limp hands and set them back on your face. As Dave and Karkat came back into focus, they exchanged a look and Karkat opened the box. Sparkling silver, with tiny diamonds around a green tourmaline stone, it brought tears to your eyes all over again as you tackled them both in a hug, the rest of your friends cheering and smiling around you.

It was perfect. The Crockers worked with an almost superhuman ethic to make the perfect cake. There was a lot of time spent tasting cake, to the point you began to worry if Kanaya would need to remeasure the three of you for your outfits, Terezi helped pick out flowers with gorgeous colours and scents, Jake rabbited on about different ideas for the honeymoon, different adventures the three of you could partake in, and the outfits… oh, the outfits Kanaya made. Crisp, elegant red and black suits for your boys, and a stunning light green dress. The bodice, tiny beads all over shining in the light. The skirt flared out from your waist, floating around your ankles in foamy, light layers of fabric. You were speechless the first time you tried it on. Dave simply repeated over and over how pretty you looked, making you giggle. It was Karkat who picked up on the small request you had made of Kanaya, commenting that the bodice was a little baggy around your stomach. You exchanged a conspiratorial smile with Kanaya before he clicked and started bellowing excitedly. Both of them crowded up to your stomach, feeling it, despite the fact you wouldn’t start showing for another few weeks at least.

On the day itself, you noticed an extra layer on the skirt, covered with itty bitty baubles. You hardly had time to question Kanaya about it, though, before you were thrust into the flurry of activity that was the wedding. As you stepped onto the length of carpet marking the aisle, a movement from Rose, standing at the front with the rest of the bridesmaids, caught your eye. She pressed a small button on a little remote, and you heard various exclamations around you. You looked down at your dress and froze, gazing at it in awe as tiny lights came to life, twinkling like stars in the night sky. You laughed a little, giddy with excitement, before looking up and spotting Dave, his mouth hanging slightly open, scarlet eyes wide and hands dropped by his sides, and Karkat, pale red tears leaking from his eyes as he smiled, fiddling with his wrist cuffs slightly as he tried to suppress that adorable fidgety thing he did when he got emotional.

The reception was great fun, too. You’d never seen so many people trying to get John to eat cake before! You’d laughed as Roxy and Jane held his arms back while Calliope admonished them, her scolding somewhat lost in between her giggles. Dirk had done the full baby-airplane routine with a tiny spoon of cake as John struggled and squealed. Eventually he had given in and, surprisingly, actually liked the cake. He’d ended up eating quite a few slices.

Life was good. Weeeell, in between rushes to the bathroom, vomiting, cravings for weird food and mood swings, that was. As you’d declined to have any kind of ultrasounds, you still didn’t know the gender of the baby, but they were certainly a big one! You felt as big as a hot air balloon, and you’d had to monstrify almost everything in the house so that all three of you could still fit in the bed, on the couch… the list went on. You were sitting in Rose and Kanaya’s sitting room, talking to Kanaya about baby clothes, when Rose suddenly walked in holding her crystal ball and grabbed her keys, telling you to get into her car. You were about to ask her why when the first contraction hit. On the way to the medical centre, she explained that she’d been looking into the future to try and keep an eye on any possible complications and foresaw that you were due.

There was some trouble, something to do with the baby needing to turn, and the doctor had to knock you out and do a Cesarean. Dave and Karkat were sitting on either side of you when you woke up. You blearily asked them what was happening, and Dave laughed a little, holding out a small bundle in a blanket. You sat up and almost crashed into Karkat, who was busy nursing a second bundle, which confused you for a few moments until they explained that the bump that you had all assumed was one really big baby had in fact been two slightly-smaller-than-average babies. Twins, a boy and a girl. They both had dark hair, the boy inheriting your clear green eyes while the girl had sparkling red eyes like Dave. You named them Jesse and Taylor, ecstatic with your surprise.

Karkat seemed somewhat distant after the twins were born, though. He helped look after them, and still spent time with you and Dave, but he was drifting away from the two of you. As you sat in the twin’s nursery one night, rocking them to sleep, your eyes filled with tears and you let out a choked sob. You couldn’t lose him. You loved him. Both of you did. By the time that Dave appeared in the doorway, a sheet still tangled around his legs, boxers half-twisted around his waist and sunglasses propped crookedly on his face to protect his sensitive eyes from the light, you were crying wholeheartedly, sobbing into your hands as the twins whimpered in distress. He wrapped his arms around you, rocking the twin’s cribs with his feet as he asked you what was wrong. Despite your being only able to choke out Karkat’s name weakly, his frown indicated he knew what you meant. Karkat, the heaviest sleeper of the three of you, finally came lumbering down the hallway at that moment, cursing sleepily and asking what was happening. It all came out of you in a flood. Karkat seemed to shrink before your eyes as you yelled and pleaded and cried. Dave stayed silent, staring down at the ground in silent despair as you finished your tirade. Karkat mumbled something about species, and you heard rather than felt your feet thump across the floor before you smacked him across the face. Tears streamed down both of your cheeks as you grabbed one another in a hug, Dave quietly rocking the twins so that they didn’t freak out. You sternly explained to Karkat that it didn’t matter whether he was a troll or a whale, he was part of your family, and he was the twin’s father, regardless of genetics (it wasn’t like any of you had a nuclear family anyway) and more so, he was yours and Dave’s crabby little troll and you both loved him. The last thing you remembered from that night was the three of you curled up on the floor in the twins room, Karkat sandwiched between you and Dave as the three of you drifted off to sleep.

The years flowed by, with their ups and downs. Davepetasprite^2 occasionally still brought up the idea of combining your powers, the concept dubbed ‘Operation Ghost Warp’, but every time, somebody had some sort of argument against it, that it was too risky to try at that point. The twins grew up, Jesse taking to playing with dolls and wearing princess outfits that Kanaya made for him, and Taylor becoming infatuated with playing sports, collecting bugs and climbing trees, her clothing usually covered in mud and other debris by the end of the day. One day when the twins were around 5, Taylor had come flying into the kitchen with something cupped in her hands, begging you to let her keep it. You had some experience with her shenanigans at this point, though, and asked what it was before you agreed. She proudly presented a gigantic, hairy spider with red eyes and teeth that were so large they seemed out of proportion to it’s head. You gave a little scream and stepped back, stuttering that it was far too large to keep in the house and could she please get it out of the kitchen right this instant? Taylor had glanced down at the spider and frowned, her brow furrowing as she concentrated, squinting at the spider. A familiar green glow surrounded the spider and it shrank to half it’s size. Taylor smiled up at you hopefully, eyes wide, but you were too busy being shocked. That night, when the boys got home, you called them into the living room and quietly asked Taylor to show Daddy and Papa what she’d done to the spider. Karkat shrieked a little and hid behind Dave when the spider grew to the size of a dog, and even stoic Dave jumped a little. When you asked her who had taught her how to do that, she simply beamed and proudly exclaimed that nobody had taught her, she and Jesse had figured it out all by themselves!

That had led to a series of adventures over the years, shenanigans as your children figured out their powers, a strange mixture of the Space, Time and Blood aspects. There were several times that they managed to warp themselves into somewhere they couldn’t get out of, or messed with the timeline or people’s loyalties to one another, and you, Dave or Karkat had to clean up the mess. Some people said parenting was hard. Other people said it was easy. You were still trying to figure it out yourself, but you three could all agree that while it had its trials, parenthood certainly was rewarding.

Everything slipped into a routine. You’d all have breakfast together, and the boys would go to work; Dave to the Mayor’s office to work on the law enforcement sector with Terezi, and Karkat off the preschool. You’d make lunch for the twins and take them to school, then hang out with Jake, possibly help him and Dirk with their latest renovation scheme, and then head off for your shift at the Crockers’ bakery. After a few hours of helping Jane and Roxy decorate cakes and gossiping, you’d go over to pick up the twins, head home and paint for a while until the boys got home, then the five of you would start making dinner.

However, one day while you were driving the twins home, you received a text from Davepetasprite^2. It simply read, ‘It’s time.’ Your breath caught. You swung by the Town Hall and the preschool to pick up the boys, explaining vaguely to Karkat that you and Dave had to go do some Space-Timey stuff for the others and asking him if it was okay if you left him alone with the twins for a bit. He smiled and nodded, saying it was fine. Dave glanced at you, a small, hopeful smile on his face. After dropping off the other three, the pair of you grabbed hands and warped to the park to meet the others.

The group had arranged themselves in a V formation, with a space at the point for you, and Kanaya, Dirk, Davepetasprite^2 and John fanning out, leaving a space for Dave slightly behind and to the side of you. You pulled open a crack in the air, a green and black void crackling on the other side. Dave, Dirk and Davepetasprite^2 all began searching for the old session to find the others and pull them through, with Kanaya standing by to help you seal the crack up in a hurry if need be. You all strained for a good few minutes before Dirk called out that he could feel something. A few seconds later, Nepeta tumbled through, looking rather ruffled and confused. Before she had a chance to ask, Dave yelled that something was wrong. Davepetasprite^2 shouted for you and Kanaya to close it, now. You paused for a few seconds, unsure, and a large green hand forced its way out, followed by the rest of the horrifically large, grotesque body that belonged to the cherub.

A chorus of screams rang out, and you warped everyone out of the park in a panic, tumbling into your living room. Karkat jumped to his feet, opening his mouth to ask what was happening, but you cut him off, sweeping him and the twins into your arms as tears started to pour down your face, choking out that you loved them and you were sorry, that it was all your fault, babbling incoherently for a few seconds before Karkat shut you up with a kiss, cradling your cheek in his hand. You paused, chest heaving, as he told you that it wasn’t your fault, and nobody had to blamed for it, all your team had to do was do damage control and fight for your world. You told the twins to stay in the house, no matter what, and that you and Daddy and Papa loved them so, so much, clutching them close as you caught your breath.

The adults all rushed outside as several earth-shattering crashes tore through the air, pulling out weapons that had not seen the light of day for many years. John held the Warhammer of Zillyhoo, Rose held her Thorns of Oglogoth, Jake was duel-wielding his Flintlocks of Zillyhau, Dirk with his Unbreakable Katana, Roxy had her Laser Gun, Jane had her Skaia War Fork, Dave with Caledfwlch, Karkat holding the Homes Smell You Later Sickles and you held The Girl’s Best Friend in your shaking hands. It hurt, so much, to see them all scared and angry and ready to fight. The rest of the trolls held weapons you just could not name. You all launched into battle, and everything passed in a blur. It could have been minutes later, or it could have been hours later, but out of the corner of your eye, you saw Karkat leap at Lord English, screaming at the top of his lungs. You saw the golden gun raise, the muzzle lighting up brightly as Karkat jerked in midair, his eyes still glaring at his target, burning with hatred. He fell to the ground, covered in bright candy-red blood, and you heard Dave scream as if from very far away as he stopped moving.

It was never supposed to be like this, you repeated in your head as the gun turned to you.

[abundantchewtoys]

HS EpiPro: page 3 reaction

After giving it more thought, I know Rose might simply have been moved by the goodbye.

There's a possibility it's a farewell, that John might not be able to rejoin them, but then that would mean HIS victory state is something else.

And if I'm honest, the main thing that would move him to choose the other versions of his friends above those that he won the game with, was if their adventures somehow led to his Dad's resurrection. At least, that's the only thing I can come up with right now.

I also no longer think that Rose might have gotten 'ideas' due to her current state, but it still stands that her condition, if it wouldn't improve, is a serious impediment. Comparable to any debillitating illness you can get at a young age, like Parkinson or young dementia.

On to greener pastures, for now. I'm looking forward to the John/Roxy interaction. Apart from the funny quips they'll exchange, I'm looking to see what nuggets of wisdom she may have to share with him. If she won't join after all, she may have something for John as a Rogue of Void, shedding light on something he was too oblivous to have noticed or remembered.

---

Hmm, so Rose was in the Human Kingdom? Kind of strange, considering Kanaya's commitment to the trolls' legacy. It... might just be that the Human & Troll Kingdom are located at the same coordinates on the planet, just the first one on the surface level and the other, partially submerged? We know from the snaps that Karkat's hive, at least, was on the surface.

"For whatever faults this paradise you created might have, you sure don’t hear many complaints about the weather." Those faults including the troll rebellion that kidnapped Jane?

"You’re sitting with Roxy and Calliope on a giant, chessboard-pattern tablecloth. It’s a nice touch, you think. But if you spent any time shopping in the Carapace Kingdom, you’d know most things you can buy are chess themed." Pffff, hah, of course that's a thing. At least a chess-themed cloth is not so on the nose as, say, chess-themed cars or clothes.

"JOHN: she looked alright. mostly just tired.

JOHN: at least she seemed to have enough energy to babble at length about philosophical gibberish, and things about canon and such.

ROXY: lmao

ROXY: guess she filled you in on all the ultimate self junk then"

So Roxy knew about Rose's condition, but at minimum hadn't spoken to her that day yet. Also, she knows about the merging of selves! The 'ultimate self' term could've come from Jade, from when she talked to Davepetasprite^2.

"JOHN: you haven’t been feeling anything like that, right?

ROXY: what getting to know my ultimate self?

JOHN: yeah.

ROXY: man ive barely got a hold of my basic ass self" Hah, nice. At least John isn't the only one.

"the only illicit substance i’ve ever done is lick that STUPID trickster lollipop" Well, okay, so John didn't loot Dad's liquor stash, if the man had any to begin with.

"JOHN: NEVER AGAIN." Calliope might think the incident bears repeating, unless she learned by now that irresponsibly discarding your issues doesn't resolve anything.

"ROXY: cant say its much my business anymore

ROXY: rose and i arent as close as we used to be

You nod, sort of knowingly, because you’re thinking about how you hadn’t talked to Rose in ages either. Roxy gives you a quizzical look, but you turn away before she can draw meaning from it." :/ They've drifted apart over the years, then. I kind of hoped they'd keep in touch, all sister-like. And Roxy might be a whiz at reading subverbal clues, come to think of it, as Rogue of Void.

"ROXY: maryams been keeping her real busy since they got hitched

ROXY: they both vanished down the brooding caverns and that was p much that

ROXY: only since she got sick and spent more time at home did we start talkin more again

ROXY: its been great but our conversations have been a lil bit upsetting" Eesh, so... Kanaya's calling kept the two of them so wrapped up they lost contact. That's sad. I wonder if Rose came up because exposure to the sun helped alleviate some of the symptoms, due to Vitamine D and all that. In any case, if they hadn't talked that much in so long, there's still a lot of unresolved issues between the two of them.

"You look towards the bell tower in the distance. It’s a gothic building so tall that it cuts a shadow through the midday sun. It’s an important landmark in the kingdom—the tallest structure for miles around—and the only way you can ever navigate your way here flying. Carapace architecture is otherwise identic, a reflection of their functional, collectivist society." I'm pretty sure the bell tower resembles the towers with the prototyping orbs on Derse & Prospit. I can picture anyone not a carapace getting lost pretty quickly in this kingdom.

"ROXY: ive thought about it but ill probably never wanna live in a different kingdom

ROXY: still feel most at home around the chess guys" Aww, yeah, it's the society she grew up knowing, identical architecture included.

"JOHN: that’s about how i feel about the salamanders. JOHN: which... i realize actually makes no fucking sense." I think the Salamander Village somehow reminds John of his old town. Maybe by subconsiously equating the pipes of LOWAS to the Pipe Lake that was near his home. (Look it up if you don't know, the location of John's town really exists.)

"JOHN: they lead simple lives.

JOHN: i don’t really care for the chaos of human or troll cities." I think John longs for the suburban feel, and maybe there are a lot less suburbs on Earth C that can hold up in comparison to his old neighbourhood. Plus, the salamanders make a best effort to act like proper businessmen bringing food on the shelves and taking care of their atomic family household. It's just recognizable, to John.

"You watch Roxy smile and reach for Calliope’s hand.

> Look away before you start dwelling on it.

You start dwelling on it immediately, looking probably quite conspicuous with how quickly you whipped your gaze away. But seriously, what is up with their relationship? Is it romantic? Platonic? Can cherubs even have a romantic relationship? Are they even interested in it, like, on a fundamental level? Do their brains and hearts even work that way? Questions like this used to keep you awake at night." Ah, John, I know your the fandom avatar here, but for you to be this preoccupied with romance is weird. :P I'd figure he'd figure they were just close friends, like a good shonen anime protagonist would. I'm reminded of the events from the snaps, where Roxy & Calliope appeared to be dating, but eh. I suppose due to the snaps existing outside of canon, they're all squared off into a "choose what you want to keep from this" zone.

"

You look at them, at where Roxy’s fingers are entwined with Calliope’s green claws. Calliope is still wearing the Ring of Life. The same one you obtained in a ludicrous adventure through the afterlife, and then re-obtained in a ludicrous adventure through canon when it was stolen from you. It’s the same one that allowed Calliope to stop being dead in the first place, and to come live with your friends here on your beautifully renovated home planet." I've begun thinking: if John would retcon the Game Over timeline, Aranea would still be in possession of the Ring of Life. But she may not keep it, it just depends on whether removing the ring rekills her or not. If not, then that's a Chekov's Gun they'll probably need at some point.

"And it’s the same one you gave Roxy all those years ago, to fulfill a promise made to a very special new friend.

At the time, the gesture felt so important. It felt more meaningful than any gift you’d ever given. Like there was some grand emotional gravitas about it that signified something deeper than... than what it turned out to be.

You have since concluded you were just imagining things. Ascribing symbolic meaning to gestures that they simply didn’t carry, like the dumb kid you were." Yeah, Roxy x John was being hinted at pretty badly back then. I figure part of the reason John hasn't stayed in touch with her is because the feelings were, in the end, not to last or be reciprocated in full. Then again, it might have been a case of one thing leading to another - John distancing himself because he didn't know what to make of Roxy & Calliope's relationship, in turn alienating Roxy little by little.

"But you can’t stop thinking about it. What goes on in Roxy’s head. What she thinks about you.

You and all your friends have dispositions affected by your classes and aspects. You think you know what that means in your case. But what about her? You can only speculate. Void is a place where things sink and disappear. Where they linger forever, but cease to exist. You aren’t actually sure if your feelings for Roxy ever really faded, or if they just grew numb with time and distance. Is it the same for her?

You search your soul for the answer, but come up empty. The truth is, you suspect her mental interior is unfathomable. In fact, you feel sure of it.

You wonder suddenly, watching her. This version of her, that is. The one with whom you share all these bittersweet memories—will you ever see her again?" I do wonder what John's class & aspect does to his disposition, that he thinks. As for Roxy's feelings being swallowed by the Void or the workings of her mind & heart being incalculable... That is just taking an easy way out of thinking about a hard problem, in my opinion. I do however like the fact that John at least realizes that by goiAgang back into canon, he risks losing his way back here. It's good the realization didn't just came after the fact.

Again, what's HIS victory state: Dad revived, and Roxy committed to a relationship with him, if she really isn't otherwise engaged? ... I wonder if he'll seek some last minute guidance from Nannasprite (either one), before leaving, come to think of it.

"CALLIOPE: ahem." Aha! I was kind of beginning to doubt she'd even speak up. It's easy to think of Calliope as a background character in this story, but she's been an important catalyst for a lot of events. And, she or a version of her will probably still have a large role to play. Though Blaperile and I wonder how there could be another version of her, since Roxy only revived her after the events of Game Over.

"CALLIOPE: please forgive me if i come across as impatient. bUt if we are finished with the pleasantries, i believe yoU have a choice to make." I don't think the choice is: cake or cookies. Then again, it just might be, since Blaperile reminded me the choice was referred to in the epilogues summary. It'll probably get lampshaded a couple times again before it really happens, and they do seem to be picknicking right now.

"

CALLIOPE: the choice as to whether yoU will go defeat my brother, or stay here." Ooh, I'm glad it's a serious choice. I wonder about Calliope's stance in this matter. She hates Caliborn, also fears his powers, presumably. But she's wise enough to understand his importance to the whole of Paradox Space.

"CALLIOPE: have yoU decided yet?

JOHN: there’s a choice??" Real, capitalize-C Choices, in Sburb at least, always seem to beget two timelines, but inside an epilogue, the consequences of that would be... confusing.

"ROXY: tbh its a relief to finally be doin this

JOHN: it is?

ROXY: mm hm

JOHN: how much have you actually... talked about this? i mean, how many people knew this was going to be a thing?" ... Did EVERYONE of the players talk about this beforehand, has everyone made there peace with John possibly leaving them forgood to save their own futures? On the one hand, that would sooth John of most worry, but on the other hand... That must sting a little or a lot.

"ROXY: just us and rose. well dirk too i think" Oh, so only them and Dirk? Is it because of his powers as the Prince of Heart, that he has his own understanding of the ultimate self, by way of keeping in contact with all shards of his person in some way or another? ... Is the epilogue version of Dirk, or Brain Ghost Dirk, going to be able to use some of post-canon Dirk's knowledge in the matter, I wonder?

"ROXY: shes been talkin to me about it a bunch

ROXY: and him too but i dunno how much

ROXY: hes got like

ROXY: “thoughts” about all this shit

ROXY: but whatever thats not important or even remotely surprising

ROXY: bottom line, rose has been tormenting herself about having to tell you

ROXY: im just glad she finally said it so she can rest" Ah, so that is the main reason Rose & Roxy's latest conversations weren't more pleasant, then. Also, Dirk and Rose have always been the strategists of their respective cliques, among the humans that is.

"CALLIOPE: yes. take all the time yoU need.

CALLIOPE: again, we aren’t here to inflUence yoU. it’s very important that the decision come from yoUr desire to go throUgh with it, one way or another.

CALLIOPE: any tampering coUld taint the resUlts.

JOHN: taint the...

JOHN: wait, what?" Oh yes, John has to decide for himself, no one can just, like COMMAND him to do it through the narration or anything. :P Funny how, meta wise, indeed we can't influence John, but in-story, he's of course still getting railroaded into making a choice. There's supposed to be three options in this: fight, flight or indecision, but he's denied the last one.

This is actually one of the first times John is going to make the call for himself after being informed of the stakes. I mean that in, he's not supposed to decide on the best course of action together with someone else.

"A chill runs through you and stays there.

> Consider the gravitas of this choice.

You try, but you can’t, because you weren’t really prepared for it. You didn’t think it was a choice at all until this very second." Even if they won't influence him in word, being informed of the stakes may convince John that there is not really anything to say in favour for NOT doing this.

"You think back to the way Rose looked at you before she went to bed. What has she told Roxy that she didn’t tell you? The chill tightens around your throat and turns into fear.

No, not fear. The feeling is worse than that. It’s regret.

You wasted your time here on this idyllic restoration of Earth. Why did you spend so much time alone? Moping around the house mourning your dead father, who probably would have wanted you to get more enjoyment out of your teen years, as well as your unusually early retirement. There’s so much you could have done. You could have even reached out to Roxy again; maybe she was waiting for you to do that. Maybe your withdrawal hurt her. Maybe she was heartbroken, just like you kind of feel right now. You study her perfectly stoic face and conclude nothing from it. Her expression reminds you of how Dave used to look, when you first met for real, before years of living with Karkat softened him up. Impenetrable cool." John might get a lot of second chance out of this adventure, but it won't make up for what he and everyone else has gone through already... I'm glad John is coming back from that whole "unfathomable mental interior" idea he had. It shouldn't be that hard for him, to picture what he'd feel if he was her and had gotten the same treatment as he gave her.

"It’s too late to figure any of this out now. You fucked it up already.

Unless, of course, you choose to stay.

Upon further examination, you realize that Roxy’s stoicism isn’t cold. There’s concern there. She is displaying restraint, keeping quiet while you make up your mind. You’re sweating, you realize. Cold sweat. Even worse than the anime nightmare sweat you woke up soaked in this morning.

ROXY: john u ok?" The gravitas of the situation is fully stalking him now. At least, if he chooses to stay, I'm convinced another version of him would turn up to fill the... ahem, void. Like the version of him he met when he went back to talk to Terezi and got the scarf instructions.

Blaperile has a good point, that John for once has to form an opinion on the best course of action and stick to it, not letting himself be influenced. That kind of resolve is rare for him, after all, he's done so much relying on other people to know better.

"JOHN: ..." This is really not any responsibility John enjoys having.

"CALLIOPE: this decision is far too important to be made on an empty stomach." Oh, NOW the cake & cookies come out. :P I think John'll have to think this one over some more still, asking other people for input.

"CALLIOPE: behold, an array of savory delights for the carnally inclined.

CALLIOPE: or perhaps something for yoUr sweet tooth, if a lUst for treats is what stokes yoUr desire?" Hah, her diet's still the same then as before, meat & candy.

"You scoot to the side and peek into the basket to see if there’s anything else. There’s a book in there, but no more food. This is all there is." Might that be Rose's tome in there? It would be funny for John to only make his decision after having reread the entirety of Homestuck, as a refreshener of everything that happened to him. :P

"Your entire world narrows to a single point of light as you are utterly consumed by the overbearing decision about which of these absurd meals to have for lunch." Ah yes, not the Choice the victory state deserves John to make, but the one John needs right now.

"> MEAT or CANDY?

Meat or candy. The two possibilities pinball around your skull. Meat or candy. It’s a tough choice. On any other day you might be inclined to simply follow the whims of your cravings, but no clear victor surges to the forefront of your mind."

Hmm, there seems to be a parallel being drawn here to John's actual Choice. Is the timeline going to split over it, I wonder? ... Blaperile has a good point. Is this indication that, even in this, John will be able to pick a third option, like how the Vriska/Terezi standoff got resolved? If neither option seems to lead to an entirely satisfactory outcome, he might have to create his own terms somehow.

"Either option offers a tempting means of sustenance. You know the meat will be rich and filling, and if you’re being honest with yourself, you haven’t had the most robust diet as of late. You didn’t even have breakfast. It’s probably a good idea to eat something resembling a real meal for once." So, is MEAT in this allegory John going back into canon, kicking off a new, fulfulling adventure? And CANDY being John staying in the victory state, everything staying happy happy joy joy but ultimately not leading to anything? Then again, MEAT is bloody. The adventure won't be cleanly resolved, just like Homestuck proper had some loose ends.

"But you’re no stranger to Calliope’s tastes, as far as carnivorous comestibles are concerned. You know every cut on that plate is rare to the core. It’ll fill your mouth to bursting with juice, lie heavy on your stomach for hours to come as your body works to break down all the nutritious protein and fat." Aka Hussie tells captivating tales, that we'll need to digest for some time. We should be wary about this.

... Are we going to get a choice as readers at the end of this page? Stay or leave? (Not to be confused with the Brexit poll choices.)

... No!

This is the end of the it, for now!

"To Be Continued" Cooooooool.[/spoiler]

In all honesty, I had been spoiled on my dash that a TBC was incoming, but I didn't know when or if in the meantime the comic might have updated again.

[bouquet-ardent-de-muses]

five times kissed for Rylan of course~ XD

ONE

Rylan had never been an early-riser. Mornings weren’t his thing, and yet somehow, he’d fallen in love with a woman who insisted on greeting the day before ten am.

Every. Single. Day.

Most of the time he could sleep past her getting out of bed - and most of the time she even let him sleep - but that particular morning, well...

He could feel lips pressed against his cheek, his jawline, the bridge of his nose. Could hear her giggling as he sleepily protested.

“Roxanne...” he growled, hearing her giggle harder at his warning and knowing she wasn’t taking him seriously.

He cracked open an eye, glaring halfheartedly at her as he noticed that the light coming through the window indicated just a few minutes after dawn.

“...woman...” he growled again as her hands started wandering, and with a surprisingly quick move, he wrapped his arms around her and rolled them until she was pinned beneath him.

It was his turn to chuckle at the surprised squeak she gave.

But, she got the kiss she wanted shortly there after.

And several more besides.

TWO

Lylah was getting big. At nearly four years old, she would be the tallest in her class if she were actually tending school, but she wasn’t quite in control enough of the powers she’d inherited from her mother to be safely among other children just yet.

As it was though, Rylan and Roxy took her to the park whenever they could, letting her play with kids her own age but still keep an eye on her just in case something happened.

That particular afternoon, though, Rylan was the one doing most of the watching as Roxy was napping in the sunlight, her head resting on his thigh as he gently combed his fingers through her curls.

There was a sudden distressed cry and they both looked towards Lylah, noticing that another child had come over and stomped on the castle that the small group had been building.

Roxy was starting to rise before Rylan stopped her with a hand to her shoulder, pressing a kiss to her temple as he murmured. “Relax. I’ve got this.”

A few minutes later found him returning to the blanket with Lylah in his arms, her curly head resting against his shoulder as he soothed her, taking a seat so he and Roxy could both press gentle kisses to her cheek so they could calm the tears and the hints of flames that had been peeking through her curls.

THREE

He’d been given a job offer too good to refuse, but nonetheless, he’d still taken the time to discuss it with his partner before accepting. He was only going to be gone for a few weeks, but he’d promised her a long time ago that he wasn’t going to leave her again unless it was something they both agreed to.

She had, but now it was the morning of his departure, and while she was trying to be strong, he could see the sadness in her eyes, could hear the emotion in her voice as she encouraged Lylah to kiss daddy bye and then go play for a few minutes.

No sooner had Lylah scampered off than Rylan had wrapped his arms around Roxy and pulled her flush against him, holding her close as he gave her a long and lingering kiss, one hand tangled in her curls as he poured his feelings into that kiss.

When he pulled back from it, Roxy wasn’t the only one with wet eyes, and he rested his forehead against hers for a moment as he spoke.

“It’s only three weeks, love. I’ll be back before you know it. I promise.” He murmured as he pressed a kiss to her forehead.

What was a few weeks in South America anyway?

FOUR

It was bothering him that they’d sort of just gotten engaged and not done anything further, that there’d been no planning, not even a setting of a date.

It worried him that perhaps Roxy thought he’d just asked her to ask her, but had no real intention of carrying through with it.

So, when she got home that night, she’d find him in a crisp white button down and a pressed pair of black trousers.

He’d had a rather nice dinner delivered, and he was just finishing plating it as she approached, and he lifted his head to look at her over the top of the candles burning on the table, giving her a soft smile before he set the utensils he’d been using aside so he could cross the distance to her.

But he didn’t wrap her up in a hug like she might’ve been thinking, instead taking both her hands in his as he knelt before her, gazing up at her with a loving and adoring gaze before pressing a kiss to the back of each of her hands.

“Roxanne...” he murmured, eyes lifting to hers again. “...will you do me the honor of planning our wedding with me?”

He didn’t quite hear her answer, but he’d figured it out by the way the rest of the night went.

FIVE

One thing that the two of them had gotten rather good at since Lylah had been born was being quiet while they were making love.

That being said, there were times when being quiet was... challenging.

This particular time, for instance.

Roxy had always been better at it than him - she was naturally a far quieter person than him anyway - but even she seemed to be struggling.

Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that they hadn’t seen each other in nearly eight weeks - another job he’d taken that had ended up taking far longer than he’d initially been promised - and no sooner had they put Lylah down for her nap than the couple had been on one another.

He’d been tempted to take her right there in the hallway, pressed up against the wall, but it was too close to Lylah’s room, so somehow they managed to stumble into their own bedroom, dropping to the bed and barely even managing to get their clothes off before they claimed one another, and it was all lips and hands and heat.

When it was over, and they were lying in a breathless heap together, Roxy started giggling, the sound infectious and soon enough he was quietly chuckling with her, though the sound died in his throat as she pulled him into a lingering and languid kiss.

“Welcome home...” She replied breathlessly, and he thanked her.

In more than one way.

[blaperile]

Homestuck Epilogue(s) - Prologue (page 3)