#Sophie Dries

[theoriginalsupermodels]

Dries Van Noten - Fall 1995 RTW

[dear-science]

Dries Van Noten S/S 15

ph. Lea Colombo

[warcl0ck]

I always lived in my head / from sophie hatter!

❝ at least you're aware of it, no? ❞  the doctor suggested, trying to brighten the girl's day with her joyful yet forced tone. she continued to fill the old kattle with water, enjoying the distraction from looking at the old face that carried behind it such a YOUNG PERSON. always doing something with her hands when finding herself in weird scenarios, for and sierra wondered if THAT's how she was supposed to look herself, after so many years. the thought was chilling.

OH, EVERYTHING WAS UGLY, TWISTED, AND NOT NATURAL ; IT MADE HER PITY MISS HATTER ALL THE MORE !

❝ and now you can do something about it. start living, truly living. though you shouldn't do it while... well, looking like a dried plum, hm? ❞  she giggled, and so did the hot boiled water on the fire behind her. sierra turned, running to serve it, the leaves （ romero, canela.. ） on a bowl twisting with the heat and emanating a scent unlike any other - exactly the one she wanted, though. lady mann would have been proud. ❝ drink this. it won't erase your curse, only the sorcerer you've mentioned might be capable of that. but, it will bring you back for some weeks until you find him. ❞ 

[tojisun]

it's a blip in nature, a freak event, but somehow simon's found himself face-to-face with someone wearing his face.

the man says that simon riley is his name too, but simon feels the ever so consistent cramping from the inside of his palm down to his wrist and uses it as means of finding balance in this startling... dream. the fake, ghost, says he isn't lying, grumbling with the same voice simon knows is sitting on the base of his throat.

simon would shoot to eliminate the threat because this, whatever this is, cannot be, but—

ghost is holding a babe, the little head snug in the cupped palm of the man. she is snoozing, tiny hiccups and little wiggles the only sign of life from such a quiet child, and simon can't even think about pulling his gun from its holster, not like this. not with her.

you're standing on the far side, angled behind ghost's bulk, and simon remembers how ghost had tugged you directly from his line of sight, shielding you from simon like he was the threat and not the fucker who has a civilian hostage pressed so close to his chest.

simon wants to rip the child away from ghost because she isn't safe there with him. you aren't safe with that man so please, love, come close to him and simon swears he'll find a way to protect the little girl too.

but you grip ghost's jacket, the fabric bunching up inside your fist, your body tensed with fear.

simon wants to cry. please, he wants you safe—

"riley," ghost barks out, and simon shifts his eyes back to him. "call your men off and we'll explain everything."

there's a shift in the shadows, but simon doesn't need to look at them to know that it's the squad, flanking the fake and his hostages. simon growls, fury bloating.

"you let go of the child and my—" wife "the civilian, and we won't put a hole in that head of yours."

there is a whimper, and it resounds in the small space where they've managed to corner the impostor. the sound of bodies whipping, along with the click of guns, echo in reply, cocking at the sudden explosion of uncharted noise, a new threat, only for everyone to freeze when they saw that it was—

it was you.

simon doesn't even remember how long it was since the two of you saw each other. the divorce had been difficult and tumultuous, ripping the two of you into the barest of fury, until all the love the two of you shared dried up. but in that moment, amidst all the arsenal pointed your way, the confusion ebbs into fear.

he sees the moment you see yourself.

"simon," you gasp out. "what's- what's goin' on—"

.

fuckin' multiverse travel. something about dimension hopping.

really, simon called bullshit but—

"this is sophie," ghost murmured, showing them all the bundled newborn. she is still tuckered out, unknowing of what's happening.

there were a few shuffling movements as the rest of the squad closed in on the dimension hopper to see the child, all of their breaths stuck in their lungs in fear it'd wake her up.

in the silence, ghost added, "our daughter"

he remembers jolting up in surprise, wild eyes frantic as they tore through the room until they finally landed on you. you were just as surprised, palm atop your mouth, and simon understood because why.

why was there a universe where things worked out?

ghost's face fell, like he could see the unspoken disbelief. you, the other you, had also been just as hurt, tears springing from your eyes like the crybaby you always are.

"fuck," simon whispers as he shuts his eyes close and let the memories flow.

he remembers how you looked—would look?—if things had just been better; how you took baby sophie from ghost's arms and tucked her close to your chest, quiet lullabies spilling from your quirked up lips. he remembers how ghost turned until you and sophie were bracketed by his arms—he was so obviously clingy.

but can simon judge him for that? he knows he would be just as insufferable if it had been you and him in their place.

then, he remembers when the other you had asked him, simon, if he wanted to hold sophie. there were no worlds, or universes apparently, where he would have said no.

sophie was a marvel. she was so small, worryingly so, but she was perfect. simon wished she was awake just so he could get a glimpse of her eyes because are they like his? a part of him hoped they were more like yours—such windows to your soul.

he remembers looking up and seeing the visceral pain in your eyes. the longing. and he wonders if...

if you would give him one more chance?

[graciegoeskrazy]

jump then fall

Sebastian Stan x StepDaughter!Teen!reader

wc: shmall/776

summary: y/n comes home drunk but Sebastian is there to make sure she’s okay.

warnings: alcohol, step parents(???), one mention of teen pregnancy, lemme know what i missed plz.

a/n: hiiii wrote this last night. thought it was cute. this is unedited so sorry in advance. will i fix it? no prob not.

You got your friend to drive you back from the party. You made her turn the headlights off and drop you off a couple of houses down from your home. “Holy Shit!”

“”Language, young lady.”

“”What are you doing up?” You said, trying not to slur your words. It was no use though.

“Waiting for you.” Sebastian said, leaning against the door frame. He hadn’t married your mom yet but he moved in with you and your mom. Over time the relationship between you two grew very deep. It was evident he cared for you. Not growing up with a father figure, you weren’t sure how this was gonna go, but you were thankful for Sebastian being there whenever you needed him to be. He was more than willing to step up.

“You don’t have to do that.” Trying to act nonchalant.

“I just wanted to make sure you’re okay. Make sure you’re not drunk.”

“Well, no need to worry because I am nethier of those things.” You proceeded to give a weak thumbs up. Sebastian walked over to you after a second. Arms crossed. “How many drink did you have?”

You sighed and looked down, defeated in your drunken state. “like 5.”

“Y/n!”

“But, I was very responsible! We had a designated driver. We did nothing but talk at Sophie’s house. We even gave each other emergency contacts! I gave them your number just in case!” His heart secretly swelled.

“Please, whatever you do, please don’t tell mom?”

He sighed and paused for a bit. But finally released a simple “Ok.”

You were shocked. You didn’t think he would let you off this easily.

“What? Ok?”

“Listen, She’s gonna find out. You think she’s an idiot? And even then she’s not gonna be upset. She’s been in your shoes before. We both have! Your mom knows what it’s like to be a teenager and have fun. She got pregnant with you as a teen for Christ's sake!”

“I don’t intend on doing that.” You said slurring.

“That might get you in a little more trouble.”

You hid your head in your hands, both out of embarrassment and out of pain with your oncoming migraine.

“So you’re not mad?”

“No. Of course not. I just wanted to make sure you’re ok and not too drunk.”

“Well i’m ok and super drunk.” you said almost falling in his arms before he caught you.

“Ok we need to get you to bed.”

“But im not tiiiired!”

“Yes, you are.”

“Ok, I’m very tired.”

Sebastian led you to your room. You immediately flopped on your bed with a grunt. Sebastian chuckled to himself as he walked over to your closet to find some pjs for you to wear. He found a set and threw it on your bed. “Get changed into this, I'll be right back.” You just moaned and layed still for a good minute before getting a spruce of energy and sitting up to change. You took of your layers of jewelry and put them in your side table before you heard a knock. “Enter.” You said, as you flopped back down on your bed. Sebastian laughed as he sat down beside you. “Come here.” He grabbed your arm and pulled you up. You just grumbled which only made him smile more. He had a makeup wipe and proceeded to wipe away the dried mascara and and anything else that was left after the drunken night. Once he let go of your arm, you fell back down on the bed again. He smiled. “Goodnight, y/n.”

“WAIT!”

He turned around. Your eyes were half open as you managed to get yourself under the covers. “You have to tuck me in.” You said matter of factly. “Ah of course.” He returned to your bed and sat beside you, helping to move the covers up. You talked as he tucked you in.

“Sebastian?”

“Hm?”

“Am I gonna be hurt tomorrow?”

“Hurt? Well maybe, but it’s nothing time and some advil can’t help.”

“Sebastian?”

“Yes sweetie.”

“I’m never gonna drink again.”

“Oh really?”

“Yeah. Drinking is for disgusting people.”

“But I drink does that mean i’m disgusting?”

“Eh…you get a pass.”

“Thank you.”

He plugged in your phone, turned the light off, and gave you your final tucks.

“Sebastian?”

“Hm?”

“Can you stay?” You looked at him with longing eyes. He climbed into bed without another word. He turned on some random disney movie for background noise. After a while, your head fell on his chest and your breathing slowed. He kissed the top of your head.

“I love you baby.”

You snuggled deeper. “I love you too dad”

[skulla-rxcks]

we met on the rooftops.

Paring: simon henriksson x fem reader

Rating: explicit

Genre: smut

Warnings: SA, S0mnophilla, s3lf harm & su1cide mention.

You meet Simon right after Sophie’s death and stick together in this horrifying world, later that night his lust takes over and does something that he’ll regret.

“Hey. Are you okay?” I call out, seeing a clearly ‘disturbed individual’. “I..she just..” he struggles to get his words out as he looks down from the rooftop we both are on.

I walk closer to him, taking in his rushed and beaten up appearance. “My friend she just.. jumped.” He mutters, his expression cold, frozen almost. Clearly trying to take in what just happened.

“you mean she just, killed herself? Did she say any reasonings?” I ask. He shakes his head in response; “not really.”

I help him up, holding his hand, beginning to walk down from the roof with him. “do you.. do you see them too? My friend she.. didn’t. I feel like I’m going insane.” His grip on my hand tightens. “You mean the monsters..?” I question, receiving a nod from him. “Yeah, the monsters, whatever the fuck they are.. I thought I was going crazy but thank god you see them too.”

We make our way down and decide to go and rest in an old abandoned apartment, due to the coldness outside getting more chilling by the second.

“when do you think this will end..?” the man murmurs. “I’m not sure. there has to be some way” I sigh, digging through all of the drawers and cabinets trying to find something to snack on, or at least some supplies to keep us going for the meantime.

“I didn’t catch your name by the way.” I say, taking out some instant noodles I found in one of the draws. “simon.” he responds, laying down on the bed.

“I found some noodles can you look around for a kettle?”

“alright” Simon groans as he gets up, Cleary not in the mood for looking around, just wanting to sleep. “found it.” He brings it over to me after filling it up with water. I plug the kettle in and turn on the switch, waiting for the water to boil. Once it does I pour some of the contents into a bowl, placing it next to Simon who is now lying on the bed, having taken off his hoodie to allow himself to relax.

He starts eating his noodles while staring into nothing and I sit back, leaning against the wall behind me. “you said you saw the monsters before.. did you ever try to kill yourself?” He asks once he swallows his food.

I don’t even think about it before responding.

“why does that matter?”

“I’ve only seen like 2 people.. and they, they only see stuff if they’ve tried it seems.. I don’t know.” Simon mumbles, stuffing his mouth with food, he probably hasn’t eaten in weeks.

“well yeah I have.. if that answers your question.” my gaze turns to his wrists, he’s scratching at what seems like self inflicted wounds, I decide not to say anything. “I’m gonna see if the shower works.” He tells me, before heading into the bathroom.

After eating I decide to go to sleep, knowing Simon will join me shortly after.

he finishes washing himself, whimpering slightly as the hot water makes contact with the cuts on his wrists and thighs. he dries himself off and gets changed before coming out of the bathroom. I’m already sound asleep already, so quickly somehow.

he lays down next to me, pulling the sheets over the both of us, he can’t help but stare at my pale thighs on show under my skirt as he moves the blanket slightly. “fuck.” he grunts as he feels a familiar tent in his pants forming, a tent that he hasn’t felt in what feels like forever, it feels like it’s been ages since he’s let alone touched himself, or, touched someone else.

“I shouldn’t.. not now but, fucking hell..” he mutters, gently taking his dick out of his boxers. he begins to stroke himself soft but roughly, watching as his precum leaks out of the tip of his cock. “I’m so sorry. I.. I need to..” he apologises repeatedly and pulls my skirt and panties down in one tug, I’m not aware that any of this is happening. Simon positions himself at my opening and pushes inside of me with one painful thrust.

He lets out a handful of moans as he feels the tightness of my cunt around him. “shit..” Simon starts thrusting hard inside of me, groaning as he gets closer and closer to his release. “need to.. feel all of you..” his hands slide up my shirt and massage my breasts, squeezing them roughly as he fucks me in my sleep.

I squirm slightly in my sleep causing Simon to cuss at himself. “no don’t wake up fuck.. no.. not. now.. not while I’m..”

“S-Simon.. what are you… mmgh!!” my words are cut off as he wraps one of his hands around my neck and squeezes it gently, bring his face into mine and kissing me roughly while continuing to force his cock inside of me. “I’m sorry.. I’m so Fucking sorry..” he repeats, but this time against my lips. “Mmfh.. Simon.. why… why are you.. ahh..” I moan, trying to get my words out but they’re replaced with whimpers as he continues the assault inside of my cunt.

“I’m so, so Sorry...” he says again and again, his breathing uneven and his voice raspy from crying. It takes everything I have left to not let the tears fall and give in to my own pleasure.

“d-dont cry just… ow.. it hurts. Simon s-slow down!!” I beg, trying to get him off me in the kindest way possible, But he doesn’t listen. “shut up! just let me fuck you.. I need this..” he scolds me, his grip on my throat getting tighter and tighter, making me squirm underneath him. “I.. I can’t breathe, SIMON!!” I yell out, ripping off his hand from my neck and gasping for air, but he still fucks me.

“you’re hurting me..”

“just be quiet and let me have this..Please.” he cries, tears dripping down onto my neck. “just let me use you.” I nod, knowing that either way he’s going to continue. His thrusts get faster and rougher, causing me to bleed occasionally every time he hits my cervix. “Ow..”. “S-Stop whining!” he threatens, pounding me harder and harder.

“i.. I..”

“Shut Up and Let ME FUCK YOU!” he yells, tears forming and spilling down his face.

I bite my lip hard enough to draw blood, trying my best not to let out any sounds so he doesn’t make it more painful for me.

Tears also stream down my face uncontrollably, as the pain in my chest intensifies and my vision goes blurry.

I squeeze my eyes shut, waiting for it to end, but it never does.

With one final thrust he cums inside of me, filling me with his warm seed. “I’m sorry.. I’m so fucking sorry I.. I didn’t mean to go this far I just..” he pulls out, mumbling his words against my shoulder, he hugs me tightly and keeps apologising to me. “why.. why did you do this to me.”

“it’s been so long since I’ve.. you know. please look at me.. are you mad at me? please don’t go.. im sorry im really sorry..”

“Simon.” I sigh.

[russellsppttemplates]

What about dad George and it’s his daughters wedding and he’s just so emotional

"You look beautiful, Sophie", Olivia told one of her cousin's little girls, who giggled and readjusted the crown on her head at the attention and praise she was getting, holding out her hands which Olivia happily grabbed and laced in hers, "just like a princess".

From the door, George watched the little girl giggle at his little girl again before shaking her head, "you are the princess and you're going to marry your prince", she replied in a matter-of-factly manner like any five year old would.

Olivia blushed and ran her hands gently to smooth down the skirt of her dress.

"Uncle George!", Sophie squealed as he finally walked into the room, stopping when be noticed his tears, "are you sad?".

"My beautiful girls," he complimented, locking eyes with Olivia and smiling, "I'm good, Sophie, don't worry - auntie Y/N needs you downstairs so she can give you your flowers, okay? Be careful on the stairs", he warned, wanting a moment alone with his daughter.

Sophie was quick to comply with his request, leaving Olivia and George alone in the room.

"You look absolutely beautiful, darling", he twirled Olivia around.

"Do I look as beautiful as mum did when you got married?", she wondered, "the photo you have on your bedroom from the first time you saw her in her wedding dress had been my favourite since I was a child - you were looking at mum like she was the only person there".

"Just like your mum", George whispered, keeping the tears at bay as he pulled Olivia into a tight hug, "we love you so much, Olivia - even though you're going away and start your own family, we're always your safe haven", George offered.

"You say that like I'm going to move across the world from you, to a place without Internet and without airports", she giggled, "but thank you, dad - you and mum let me spread my wings and have always supported the falls", she smiled, cuddling into his chest.

"I hope he never forgets how lucky he is to have you, Olivia", George kissed the top of her head.

"How lucky he is to have a wife that once upon a time nearly smuggled a wild tortoise into this country because she was sure it would be fine? I'm sure he won't - he loves me, all of my quirks and smuggling abilities included", she giggled.

"You were so little when you did that - time flies by", George hiccuped.

"You had just dried your eyes, dad!", Olivia scolded playfully.

"If you keep bringing up memories like that, they won't stay dry for long. Mum already had to give me most of her tissues - I'm not sure where she'll wipe her eyes and nose during the ceremony!", George muttered.

[rafesbunny]

just a friend- rc 🎀

where r and rafe are childhood friends, but will that all change?

it was finally friday, and you could relax and forget about the the tiresome week you just had. sarah, your best friend, said that after school you could go hang out round her pool with your mom before you two had to go out. you and your mom didn’t have the best relationship, everything she said seemed to have some snarky attitude to it and her compliments were always backhanded, but either way ever since you were little you two would go to the theatre every week to watch whatever was on. you loved the theatre it was a place to escape from your life and the opportunity to get sucked into someone’s else’s reality. it was a bit ironic that you would go to your place to escape from your mom with your mom, but it didn’t matter who you were with, as long as you were at the theatre. not too long after you had arrived your sister, scarlett and her friend , the older cameron daughter, sophie, arrived, and you took off your clothes, revealing your sweet little red bikini. you always have cherished your relationship with your sister, despite the five year age gap she was your best friend. you felt like a child again, playing mermaids, splashing each other and gossiping with a drink in your hand around the pool.

as you got out and dried yourself off, slipping back into your shorts and oversized tee, a giggly wheezie came out attacking you, scarlett and sophie with a water gun, getting you drenched again. and trailing behind her and scolding her was rose who was also bringing over a plate of juicy, colourful fruit over, “i’m so sorry girls” she apologised, but you just laughed and dismissed her with a shake of your head, how could you ever stay mad at wheez? as you continued talking to your sister and her friend, and rose caught up with your mom, she exclaimed to everyone, “you guys come for the annual celebration tonight! it will be lots of fun, plus it’s not too dressy so you could borrow something from the girls,” she said to you and scarlett, and to your mom, “and i can give you something of mine” your eyes lit up, you’ve always wanted to go to the cameron’s annual party but your mom never allowed you to go. you’ve heard about how amazing it was from whispers in the hall way and from peoples stories on snapchat and instagram: they would have heaps of food, from every cuisine you could think of; games and competitions, that were silly but everyone wanted to win; music blasting through the speaker, whether that be from a delicately made playlist throughout the years or from a live band; and an open bar that would serve everyone. “maybe, we’ve got plans” your mom said coldly, you looked at her pleadingly but she just ignored your attempts to get her to change her mind.

finally sarah, had arrived home and came into the garden. you two have always been friends ever since you were little girls learning their abc’s, even when you two grew up, you had stayed in the same friendship group. your other friends were a lot more like sarah, they were bubbly and outgoing and adventurous, and you were still bubbly but in bigger groups you were more reserved and kept to yourself, this meant that you never really went out with them outside of school, much preferring the solidarity of your room. as she got down to the pool she stripped off her clothes revealing her bathing suit, she also brought up the grand event happening later, “you guys should totally stay, it will be the best time. you’ve never come before so it will be even better as it’s your first time”. you girls slipped back into the pool and as you swam to the middle of it you whispered, “yeah just gotta convince my mom, y’know how she is” sarah understood, she’d known how yours and your moms relationship has been for years now so she gave you a sympathetic smile. you’d been doing gentle, slow laps of the pool for nearly an hour now when you decided to get out and dry off, the stage for later was being set up and caterers were making their way in and out of garden. even though you probably wouldn’t be staying, you and your sister decided to help set up. as you and sarah were doing some finishing touches, rafe walked out in those beige kook shorts he always sported and a lose white linen button up, he gave you a nod of acknowledgment and made his way over to rose to see what he needed to do before guests started to arrive. you, sarah and rafe used to be a little trio when you were younger, always going out together, if it was to the beach, the zoo or just to the park, you were always together. every weekend you would all have a sleepover and during the summer it was practically nearly everyday, and during the day, if you were busy at a family event, they would also be invited and vise vera. you were inseparable. but as you grew older you drifted away from rafe, he started to hang out with his own friends more, he wouldn’t hang out with you and sarah as much, he only would if you were at Tannyhill and he wasn’t busy. there was no bad blood or any argument that happened, you guys just simply grew up. but even with that the whole of the island knew not to mess with rafes girls- his sisters, and you.

slowly guests start arriving, it was mainly younger couples with children, as they couldn’t stay until too late they just showed up early to make the most of it. Sarah grabbed your hand and pulled you towards the stage which had five chairs with a deflated balloon on each, sarah was too your left and rafe was to your right. you looked rafe and then went to look back at Sarah but she was gone, rafe saw your puzzled expression and pointed at the stage and there sarah was with a mic in her hand. “what is going on?” you asked rafe in bewilderment. “basically every year we host the same competion. it’s only silly but everyone loves it. five people from an age range- so these ones coming on will be like ten years old, and the next will be like teenagers and so on- and out of these age groups they have to blow up a balloon and whoever pops it first wins out of that age group. then out of the end of the night all the winners from different age ranges compete against each other for the ultimate winner. it’s stupid but everyone has fun” you laughed softy at the stupidity of it all but you loved it, you wished you could stay longer, “you think i could win?” “doubt you would win against me” “is that a challenge mr cameron?” “maybe it is” you two bantered back and forth. as sarah was explaining the rules to the children, through the mic, your mom was talking obnoxiously loud from where she lounged on the sun bed next to rose. out of the corner of your eye you could see rafe turning his head quickly to look at her, clearly getting agitated. you knew he was stressed because no matter how silly this was all, he hated seeing people disrespect the effort his family had gone through to set this up, he also knew how mad ward could get at this too and didn’t want to deal with that later. you just about heard him murmur , “oh my god just shut up” as he ran his hand down his face and turned the top half of his body to glare down at your mom. with your best efforts, you pushed rafes shoulder so he was back to looking at the stage and said to him, “just tune her out and ignore her, y’know that’s what i do” with a playful smile on your face. chuckling at your lighthearted joke, he put his arm around your shoulders bringing you into the side of his chest as you watched the group of tots try to blow up a balloon. after it was done, sarah got off the stage and made her way back over to everyone else gleaming, she always managed to bring the light into any room. as you stood around talking another one of your friends showed up, grace, she embraced you in a big hug causing you to detach from rafes hold. your conversation got onto the topic of an upcoming party, it was this girl in your english class birthday soon and she was hosting a house party with nearly everyone from your year and other people from outside the island, and afterwards instead of everyone going home you’d camp on her fields she had attached to her house. you weren’t really that close with her, the only conversations you had was when you sat next to her in english, but she was a sweet girl so you were you to go and celebrate her big day with her. plus who were you to say no to a party! this obviously sparked something in sarah as she once again grabbed your hand and dragged you over to where rose was sun bathing, “rose y/n is going to that party in a few weeks!” this was her way of subtly asking rose again if she could go, you have always been the person who your friends parents trusted the most so you were used to people telling their parents you were going to something so that they could go. “well then i guess you two could go together” sarah squeezed your hand out of excitement she could now go and she carried on rambling about the event. this physical touch made you realise rafe wasn’t here now with you guys, the thought of that made your heart ache. why though? he was just a friend.

[hcdragonwrites]

Too Close ( A @jttw-monkeybusiness Fanfic)

So this started as one thing and then It grew its own will and became another. I hope you enjoy!

TW: Blood and Gore- Violence as well. If these make you squeamish or can trigger you please read my other works instead!

It was supposed to just be a meal- a simple outing to the market square to buy up some noodles at a shop stand Pigsy had seen on the way through. It was supposed to be simple, easy day.

The market stall exploded in a shower of wood and porcelain as the monstrous thing rose from the stand. Sophie rolled, dodging the flying debris as best she could. A sliver of wood cut across her cheek but she felt nothing. Her mind only had one thing in it.

Oh shit that’s a massive snake.

But it wasn’t a snake. The head that toward from the market as the rest of the villagers fled, resembled a snake. It’s slitted eyes blinked and forked tongue tasted the air. Heat rippled outward from its body. The grasses dried in the damn soil. The earth that had moments ago been anointed with summer rain, cracked and snapped brittle in the sudden heat. Sophie felt her lips dry and her face chap in the change of temperature.

A grunt from nearby. Sophie turned to see Sandy rise from a cast off wall, a huddle Tripitaka in his arms. The snake head swayed, tongue tasting. It snapped its focus to Sandy and coiled its head back. A maw of pink and long silver teeth flew forward. The disciple threw up the discarded wall just in time for the things great teeth to be buried into wood instead of Flesh. Trip was no fool and at Sandy’s nod, escaped beneath his arm.

Sophie could hear Pigsy howling curses nearby from somewhere. The dust was still settling, the dried earth kicked upward as more of the things body was revealed. Fuck it had wings. Four black leathery wings grew from its back at disjointed angles. They beat unevenly. Their wind threw dirt and rocks into the air. The feel of it stung Sophie’s cheek. The Monk reached her then- hand outstretched. She caught it and he hauled her up off the dirt.

Run. Her heart seemed to thrash in her chest. Sophie saw more of the beast being revealed from the ruins of the market. An impossibly long coiled body- legs- more clawed legs. Six of them?- juxtaposed throughout its flesh at odd angles. She felt like she was moving too slow. Moving as if her blood was full of ice.

Those eyes blinked and the pupil widened. Sandy held the things face in his hands, the wooden wall king destroyed. The River demon strained as the thing bore down on him, all saliva and flashing fangs.

It could swallow him whole. Sophie felt a cold shiver run down her back as Trip and her fled. There was nothing either of them could do. They were mortals. This thing was beyond their ken. Beyond their ability. And it could swallow us whole.

Of course fleeing targets attract more attention then prey standing still. The great demonic beast of droughts shook off the irritable ant holding its fangs and dipped its head. The scent had been with the little thing before it but … it had moved. It smelled delectable. The tongue whipped out again, seeking. There- among the fleeing mortals this monster had disdainfully had been serving for the past years in hopes of devouring in return- was the taste. It was a man- a man hand in hand with a women. Two for the price of one. There was an irritable pain at its side but the Drought Bringer simply flicked one of its long claws and flapped its wings higher.

Into the air it rose- away from the sting of the weapons. The town with its simple huts and mud wall fell away. The demon rose up and angled itself. Heat radiated off, burring away the cloud cover and killing trees and greens all around it.

The monk would not get too far.

It coiled.

And struck out.

Sophie and Tripitaka were almost beyond the wall and into the rice fields. The heat had dried those up, killing crops and scattering the water into vapour. Villagers- merchants and Mothers, field workers and Fathers- all streamed to the exits.

They were almost out.

Sophie felt a prickle of fear, a new wave of apprehension swell in her mind. For what- for why- she didn’t know. What made Sophie turn her head then, to look back, she would never know. But she was glad for whatever spirit, god, or instinct made her look back.

A maw full of silvered fangs, of needle tips curved back and outward. An avalanche of heat and horror. She reacted and threw herself sideways. Tripataka, still holding her hand, was dragged with her.

The serpent struck the earth, sending an earthquake outward. Buildings shivered and collapsed. Children screamed and mothers called out. Sophie pulled the monk up beside her, trying to get him to rise. They didn’t have much time. She had bought them but a moment, but a second. They had to move had to get the fuck out of there.

“Trip get up-“ Sophie begged. The monk was trying- it looked like he had twisted something in his leg at the sudden fall. Up up up up up up get up please.

A angry hiss as the earth cracked more. The demon raised its head. It’s mouth was full of stone and dirt. And a few dangling limbs. The creature dropped these and angled it’s head again. It’s body coiled, it’s clawed and displaced legs curling.

Their second was up.

Sophie couldn’t look away- she wanted to- but it was the same feeling a rabbit, over exhausted and run down, experiences when cornered by a fox. The sense of frozen dread. She could no more look away then the rabbit could overcome its fear.

Of course the human mind is a strange thing for the only thing that Sophie could think on was, We didn’t even get to eat the damn noodles we paid for.

Something flashed, a glitter a bit above the serpents head. Like the flash of a moth wing in moonlight.

Wha—

A pillar of black and gold materialized where the flash had been. Such a small insignificant staff.

Sophie knew that staff.

The staff elongated over the monsters head. It slammed straight into the back of the snakes skull. The sound of iron against bone rang in the sky like a thunderclap. The demon cried in confusion and pain- an unholy scream that sent the air to shaking. The staff drove the things face down into the soil, just feet away from Sophie and Tripataka. Bones snapped, the sound of scale cracking beneath the iron rod as it drove down, down, down, down. The earth cracked with the impact.

The pressure was too great. The hide split as the earth could not give anymore and blood came in a spray of red.

The demon, the great Drought Bringer, rolled a bloodshot eye upward. A iron rod ? Was that what fell it ? Something so insignificant. A shadow loomed from the sunlight. Feet pressed on the demons head.

The demon knew this creature - this mild looking and bored Monkey- and felt the contents of its stomach turn to water. Those eyes slashed downward, making the serpent flinch.

The burning heat in this demons gaze—

Sun Wukong knelt on the dying beasts skull the iron staff of Ruyi Jingu Bang resting across one shoulder. Those yellow eyes went from flaming to disinterested as the demonic monkey looked at the mortals.

“I told you the market was a bad idea.”

The blond haired women who had avoided the great Drought Bringers strike, shot up on her legs from the rubble.

“ARE you SERIOUS?!”

“I am. I told you all it was a bad idea.”

“You couldn’t have said that there was a demonic flying snake?!?”

“Do you think the bastard pig would have listened to me if I had ?” Wukong huffed. He swung a foot languidly off the side of the serpents skull. Wukong tapped the golden circlet on his brow. “I would have gotten another headache by this dumb band.”

“WUKONG A WHOLE TOWN WAS DESTROYED!”

“Bah.” He waved his hand at that. “It was gonna be destroyed. This beast wouldn’t have waited any longer to eat again.”

The foot pressed into the gore in the back of the demons spine and a half gasp, half cough, of pain exhaled from between broken jaws. The serpent didn’t remove its eye from the Demon king above it.

It had heard stories. Legends of five hundred years ago when it had been but a hatchling, of a monkey of stone waging war against Heaven. Of almost succeeding in bending that great power into a kowtow.

“WUKONG WE ALMOST GOT SWALLOWED WHOLE BY A FUCKING BIG ASS SNAKE.” Sophie retorted.

“Naw. I had it all under control.” Wukong tapped the edge of his staff now onto the creatures head.

“Though it is taking awhile to die…”

The serpent felt the monkey lean forward. The burning gaze was back now that the simian wasn’t staring at the women.

“Tougher than I thought you were.” His voice had become softer. “Survive a blow - even to just bleed out like a bloody hog- is no easy feat with my staff.”

The pressure from his clawed feet pricked the broken scales long the serpents skin. Those claws were drawing blood. The monkey leaned down to whisper almost sweetly.

“You never were going to get your fangs into them you disgusting worm. Wanna know why? Because I’m Sun Wukong. I am the Great Sage. And your Tale-” the weight of the monkey felt oppressive, his claws digging harder into the tender broken scales. “-your insignificant little blip in history is at an end.”

The monkey foot was the last thing the serpent, the Feiwei, saw before the staff was driven down again into its eye. The blindness as the pupil exploded under the contact and the sharp pain as the staff drove through the eye socket and into the recesses of the skull were the serpents last feelings.

Demonic minds were not like mortals. They did not flit between two threads of disconjointed emotions. The Feiwei knew it’s end and bitterly died.

The demon gave a final strangled gasp as it twitched once, twice and then was no more. The remaining demons eye rolled in its head. Crimson blood wept from the exposed eye socket and the broken skull. It mixed with the dirt to make a black patch in the soil. At the serpents death the air stopped its dry repression and eased in its intense heat.

Wukong stepped off lightly from the dead serpents head. His feet crossed through the bloody wake and up to Sophie who still stood, a bit dumbfounded, over Tripataka.

That was brutal. Sophie thought.

Then her body remembered itself and her stomach seized at the scent of demon blood. Bile burned up the back of her throat.

Please please please don’t throw up. That was the last thing she needed. Sophie pulled Tripataka up.

The monk hissed and winced as his weight tried to take his foot. And crumpled.

“Is it broken?” Sophie worried. She didn’t see any tears in the skin- any blood. Blood.

Again she fought a wave of nausea. The back of the demons neck had been cut wide open- almost as if obliterated- by a single strike. The trauma of the loss of so much bodily mass to a central location, the skull, had been enough to kill it but it had lived on. Just long enough for Wukong to stab it in the eye.

“Not … not broken. Just sprained.” Trip smiled, sweat building on his brow. “Sophie .. thank —“

Tripatakas words died on his throat as he disciple came into full view. And he blanched.

“Stupid beast.” Wukong picked his claws, flicking some of the blood free from their tips. The stone monkey was absolutely painted in crimson, having delivered the blow and standing behind the beast as it fell. Dark ichor dripped from the side of his face, matting the fur in places that the blood was thickest in.

“See Master ?” Wukong grinned- not helping the two mortals as they both struggled with their aversions: Tripataka for violence and Sophie for blood.

“I almost died ….” Trip muttered, the shock coming over him then.

“There there Trip.” Sophie soothed - but she sounded wooden as she also felt her stomach heave. Gods and spirits the blood stank.

“Why does everything bad happen to me?”

“It’s ok Trip.”

“Why is it always devouring they try and accomplish?! Buddha it’s breath stank of rot.”

“Most human eating demons don’t have pretty breath.”

Wukong, oblivious or willfully blind to the mortal dilemmas unfolding before him, swaggered closer.

“Well! That’s another monstrosity down. Solved with violence.” Wukong barred his teeth. His mood was improved from when they had first arrived and none had taken his warning seriously. Not even Sophie. That was an insult. She was lulled in by Pigsy who kept regaling all with the tales of this unique little village.

Utter drivel. Wukong had seen real food wonders- Hell he came from the most fruitful mountain in the world! What could some boiled water and limp noodles compare to the tastes of flower fruit mountain?

Wukong turned, leaning against his staff as he rested it against the ground. “Sophie did ya see that ?”

“Yes.” Her voice was tight as she watched the blood drip off Wukong.

“You didn’t throw up?” He inquired with a flash of teeth.

“… no I didn’t.” Her stomach kept trying to make her mouth open up but Sophie was stronger then that.

“HA! Soft women don’t lie! You look just as pale as when that thing was diving at you!” Wukong laughed, his tail twitching in humor. “How would either of you get by without me?”

“Wukong maybe nows not the time—“ Sophie tried but was brushed over as Wukong puffed his chest up and grinned all the wider.

“I, the great Sun Wukong have saved my master again. Did I not do a great job dispatching the beast for you master ?” It was half mock, half fishing for compliments. He did just slay a demonic multi limbed serpent out of the sky.

“Wukong…”

“Not even praise ?!” Well that was dreadfully disappointing. He expected some sort of good job from the monk.

Sophie wanted to roll her eyes. Can’t he read the room?

“Wukong you did a fantastic job!” Sophie would try and smooth things over. While also not suffering from her flipping stomach. “Amazing. It’s just the — the blood— it stinks. Worse then normal. —“

“I know you are thankful because you have decent sense but I want to hear it from him!”

At this moment Tripataka stood straight suddenly. He calmly limped to one of the bushes. And promptly vomited.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Wukong huffed, irritable even in the hot springs warmth. He had a bucket in one hand and a washboard in the other, and had scrubbed the blood free of his clothes. Pants, shirt, tiger skin- it all had to be washed. Of course Wukong had pilfered some soap awhile back from the Market square the Pilgrims had passed through. He had set to work, scrubbing and pulling and worrying over the clothing until it was clean. He knew he had to clean it. He took pride in his looks and decorum. Wukong would have gone to the spring naturally on his own in time.

Wukong twitched the edge of his tail annoyed.

He was aware he was a bit unkempt after saving Sophie and Tripataka from the Feiwei. He had just batted the thing out of the air into the earth. There was bound to be blood and gore after a swing like that. Sophie had given him a brief berating of getting himself cleaned up- and when he had asked and demanded for what was rightly his - praise, thanks, AT LEAST A YOUR WELCOME- Sophie had promised him that she would lavish him in praise if he would just get clean.

Fine. If his Master wouldn’t spoil him in praise and was currently giving his attention to Sandy then the Monkey would wheedle it out of Reader.

Wukong sunk lower into the water, thinking. He hadn’t let the group go into the town without him. Though he had threatened and grumbled and said “fuck that” Wukong had set a double to follow from above, watching. Of course the Pig would follow his nose to the demons lair. Of course he would assure the others that there was no way this could be a demon.

Wukong swore the Pig was out to get them killed half the time.

Well the rest was predictable. As soon as that wiggling worm had taken one sniff of the monk, he had grown all greedy and hungry and hadn’t been able to keep its human disguise.

Wukong had the whole situation under control though- it had just - taken him a moment to wake up from his dozing. The snake had gotten a bit close. Maybe the invisible double had shoved the two mortals just a bit too hard. That twisted ankle of the Monks would take some time to heal. Luckily the village headman had given the group his home- a little but set back into a bit of shaded pine and with its own hot spring - to rest und for as long as needed. And while Wukong had endured the grating reprimand of Pigsy at being late, the monkey had felt a bit smug. His deeds had scored them nice lodgings.

Wukong wouldn’t care about where they slept. The Monkey King could simply find a nice patch anywhere and curl up. The boon I’m his cap though was the absolute excited light sweep into Sophie’s eyes at the mention of beds and pillows and a roof over their head.

Wukong pulled himself out of the water, the steam rising off of his body in the twilight air. It had been enough time since him washing his clothes to his longs soak that, in the summer sun, had dried enough. Maybe not the shirt but his trousers had. The rest would have to wait till morning. Wukong had a Reader to annoy now.

Sophie was in heaven. After the hellish day of demonic snakes and almost getting devoured, Sophie was comfortable and cozy and all too happy to rush to the futon that had been dragged into the center of her little room.

A bed. Clean clothes. A full belly. The horror of the day was an echo but it was still there. If she closed her eyes she could still hear it- still smell the hot breath blasting across their faces.

A knock on her door had her start from the memory.

Who’s that ?

It wouldn’t be Pigsy. The man had passed out hours ago after the steamed buns and broth the village headman had left for them. Maybe it was Sandy? That didn’t seem likely since he was currently nursing Tripitakas twisted ankle. It would be better after the swelling went down.

Did Wukong really take me up on my offer of praise?

“READER OPEN THE DOOR.”

Yep. There was only one stone monkey that sounded that annoyed yet still knocked with the politeness. Sophie stepped to the door and opened it.

And stared just a little.

She had been expecting to see a fully clothed Sun Wukong leaning against her door. What she hadn’t been expecting was a half dressed Wukong with his arms crossed over his chest. And emphasizing that he most certainly did not have a shirt on.

“Where’s your shirt?” Brilliant Sophie. Blurt the first thing that comes to mind. Wukong pushed off the doorframe and past her into the room, giving her a clear view of his pecs, his shoulders, his back.

Pull it together girl and get your mind out of the gutter.

“I had to clean it since you and the monk threw a sick fest at a little bit of blood.” The monkey sat down, crossing his legs beneath him. At least he knows how to make himself comfortable.

“Right…” Sophie watched as Wukong began to slide his fingers through the wet fur along his back, beside his face and over his arms. Grumbling as his nails seemed to catch and pull in the longer bits of his fur. Wukong flexed his arms to reach a spot. The ripple of muscle along his back was unexpected.

Sophie felt her face flame up. I’m glad he’s so wrapped into himself because if he saw what I looked like right now—

“Well I’m clean now but my fur is all snarled.” He snapped. The monkey was currently struggling with a knot of fire at the base of his neck.

“I have a brush you can borrow.” Anything to get my head out of that space and back in line with normal thinking. She crossed the mats and grabbed her bag. Sophie plucked her brush free from its place, walking back to Wukong. She was a bit startled he was watching her, his eyes half closed in thought.

“You know what… this wouldn’t have happened if you had just followed my warning women.”

“What?”

“A mess is what you and Pigsy and Trip caused.” Wukong leaned his head back and let the water still clinging to his fur, drip downward. “All because you didn’t listen to the warning I gave.”

What was she supposed to do? Sophie had been hungry, had been just as trusting of Pigsys judgment of what was mortal and what was maligned hungry demonic pretending to be mortal. She tried to pass the brush to Wukong, hoping that if she gave him what he wanted he would leave off his snippy comments.

The monkey raised an eyebrow at the brush.

“You can take it ya know- it’s as good as any comb you have.” Sophie lifted the brush and ran it through her hair in demonstration. Hers was a simple hairbrush with short bristles and a worn handle from use.

“Back on the mountain many female members of my kingdom would kowtow and beg for a chance I’m about to give you.” Wukong said.

Chance ?

The monkey king closed her hands over the handle. He turned, setting his hands on his knees as his back faced her now. “Not everyone gets the chance I am giving you- so be grateful.”

“You want me to… brush you?”

“Brush my fur.” It was more command then question.

“Alright.”

Sophie began at the tops of his shoulders. The short bristled brush caught in the hair and slide free, leaving it untangled. Wukongs fur was thick enough to be like her own hair and the brush carefully and methodically by Sophie’s hand, worked through the thickest patches of fur. At places she would have to switch to a comb, one Wukong slid soundlessly from his pocket and passed back to her. This was strangely nice… if not a bit intimate. The constant motion of the brush, of the task, was helping her still jittery mind calm and work through the events that had led up to them being here in a house. With her grooming Wukong.

“When did you know about the demon?” It came tumbling from her mouth before she could stop it.

“As soon as we came upon the village.” Wukong answered. He had his eyes closed, tail swaying against the wooden floor. “The townspeople stank of demon. Seems that beast has been feeding them up to try and cultivate some souls.”

“Sounds like how some insects raise other bugs” Like how ants raise aphids.

“Or like how mortals raise cattle.” Wukong commented.

“Mmm” Sophie felt her mind run through the memories again. The serpent lashing out- and her ability to drag Trip out of the way of that strike. Of the great snake lifting it’s head from the broken earth. Of it lunging a second time. We both could have been dead so fast. No one would have known. Wukong had been left behind, Pigsy had been thrown off somewhere. Only Sandy knew what may have happened to them. Sophie’s brushing slowed.

A snap of fingers made her blink out of the memories.

“Speak.”

“Speak?”

“Don’t parrot me.” Wukong opened his eye just a fraction to shoot her a glare. “ Something on your mind, you stupid women. Spit it out.”

“I thought… I thought we were dead..”

“You would have been if I hadn’t come!” Wukong reached back and took her hand in his. The Monkey king moved the brush up to his head where the fur was in a most disheveled state. Sophie started to gently untangle it, careful of how hard or how fast she worked. He may be able to burst from fires and come away without any lacerations but he may not take kindly to a mortal carelessly tugging at his fur. The wet strands moved slowly through the bristles as he talked. “Makes you want to take heed of a Kings words hmm?”

For all his boasting and puffing up, for all his prideful japes and comments… he almost had been too late. If she hadn’t yanked Trip. If they hadn’t run … “You almost weren’t there though…”

“Sophie.”

“Yea?”

He was turned about, facing her dead on before she could blink. Wukongs yellow eyes looked over her then. Little scrapes here and their. No major cuts. Except for the still red and puffy slice along her cheek. Wukong reached forward and ran a thumb over the slice. I should have sent more then one invisible douple.

“You wouldn’t have been eaten.” He would lessen her worry, and reaffirm his abilities. Had she forgotten? He was Sun Wukong- no demon could stop him. “I wouldn’t have let it happen. I would have torn the bastard apart before it got even a flick of spit on you. You or the monk.”

And next time I’ll make sure I leave them with two invisible doubles instead of one.

Sophie had frozen when he brushed his hand across her face. He was being kind, sensing her turmoil over it all. She was about to say something in kind, something to match that kindness.

“It’s my duty to protect the weak mortals on this quest. It would reflect badly on me as King of Flower Fruit Mountain if I let those under my care get devoured by some slimy worm.” Of course he couldn’t resist the opportunity to flaunt his importance.

“That almost sounds like reassurance.” Sophie sighed. She raised the brush up again in silent question.

“It is reassurance.” He affirmed. Wukong nodded once at the brush, spinning back around. “No harm comes to those that are in my care.”

“Well. Then if it only takes brushing your fur for that… I would be happy to do it every night.”

Wukongs tail gave a little flick. They spent the rest of the night talking, trading quips and jokes. As the of cicadas from beyond the doors blended with the soft swish of the brush, a feeling of contentment and camaraderie fell between the two. And something … more grew.

[faorism]

hardison: come and get me

the crew: *gotta keep up the joke* bye we out

hardison: but!

the crew: *out in the courtyard, snickering*

hardison: but freeze-dried food sucks

eliot: *eye twitch*

bre: no no don't break eliot

hardison: i can't eat another pouch

eliot: *full body shudder*

harry: stay strong! we have him

parker and sophie: *looks on in amusement*

hardison: im hungry :(

eliot: *breaks*

[unes3creations]

Attic Bedroom

CC Used :

1 - Anye - Magorna Bed

2 - pqSim 4 - Dormitorio Kami Cojines Cama

3 - Dung - Xmas Set Duvet Cover

4 - novvvas - Rustic Bathroom Wooden Stool

5 - Anye - Brooke Table Lamp

6 - Severinka - Construction Beams Column (3 cell)

7 - Praline - Exterior Wood Walls

8 - Praline - Veox Wood Floor 7

9 - Dinha - Boho Style Rugs

10 - Anye - Sonali Deco Books

11 - Leo Sims - Fejka Plant

12 - KKB - Bag Set Ver1

13 - Anye - Sophie Hoola Hop

14 - SimCredible - Wrought Iron Cement Plant Pot 3

15 - novvvas - Boho Deco Storage Box

16 - Anye - Magorna Bust

17 - Wondymoon - Oxygen Star Light

18 - Softpine - Art Supplies

19 - Leaf Motif - Leaning House & Garden Prints

20 - kta - Architecture Prints

21 - SimCredible - Naturalis Dried Plant Poppy Seed

22 - KHD - Sedona Wall Lamp

23 - eniosta - 2021 Wall Calendar

24 - ung999 - Bedroom Mira Wall Decor

25 - Pocci - Garden Breeze Rustic Wood Panel

A big thank you to all the talented CC creators !

[inesvazquezart]

I’m not sure if you still do Howl’s Moving Castle art, but imagine if Howl ended up getting soaked by rain in his bird form, and then when Sophie dries him off with a towel, he ends up poofing up and looking like a silkie chicken

Lol that´s a very good idea, I´d love to turn that into a short comic at some point, thank you for sharing it! it immediately made my brain go berserk, so much so that I scribbled a rough storyboard for it. It´s very rough and quality is trash, but it´s better than nothing. Reading order is left column of pannels down, then right one.

Merry Xmas!

[rorywritesjunk]

Be gentle with yourself as you uncover Your best kept secrets yet to be discovered

Buggy meets an infamous pirate who dabbles in magic that everyone seems to be after, but they only have eyes for Buggy. Why is he so special? Rating: PGish. Warning: None. Buggy is just grumpy. A/N: My “Howl’s Moving Castle” fic based off the movie because I never read the book. It will have different moments than the movie just to omit some things. This story uses “You” but I couldn’t not give the character a name and for some reason “Shore” is what I thought of. And Shore is referred to as they/them, nonbinary, and breaks hearts wherever they go. Buggy is Sophie in this fic, is 22, and not always in a good mood. Enjoy!

Title comes from “Better In The Morning” by Birdtalker.

TAGLIST: @fanaticsnail

Chapter 1 + Chapter 2 + Chapter 3 + Chapter 4

Chapter II

When Buggy got up the next morning he felt like he was trampled by elephants. Everything just ached and his entire body was stiff. He rubbed his face, eyes barely open as he threw the blankets off and forced himself to sit up. Last night couldn't cause this much discomfort, right? He pushed himself off the mattress, hunched over as he stood on his feet. Maybe he needed to do some stretching before breakfast. 

He made his way to the mirror hanging over his dresser. His room wasn't big, just a cot, dresser, a chair, and a mirror he looked at himself with when he'd practice doing his makeup. Not that it did any good, he didn't perform, there was no point to it, but it was a little joy he had.

Yawning, he pulled the hem of his shirt up, rubbing his face on it to get rid of any dried drool or eye goop first before he finally opened his eyes and looked at himself in the mirror.

It took him a few seconds to realize what he was looking at.

He was looking at himself but… older. Much older. At least fifty years older. Buggy stared at himself with wide eyes as he poked and tugged at the wrinkles on his face before slapping himself a few times to make sure he wasn't dreaming.

He pinched his arm to wake up and noticed how wrinkled and withered his hands looked. Both of them were and when he tried to make a fist he found it to be difficult, everything was so stiff.

He let out a scream that resounded through the entire tent.

Did-did that witch curse him last night? Why was he suddenly so old? He was young yesterday before bed but now …

His once vibrant blue hair was now silver, his eyes a little cloudier, only his nose remained the same: still big, round, and red on his face. 

“Buggy, you okay in there?” Someone asked from the other side of the door, jiggling the door knob. 

“Don't come in!” He shrieked, voice hoarse and weak. Even that changed?! “I'm… I'm fine, just feeling sick.”

“Huh, okay.” 

He heard the footsteps retreat, leaving him alone once more. What could any of them do to help? Likely make some cruel comments about his appearance, Oh, Buggy, you were cursed to be an ugly old man? How is that different from every other day? was something that would be said. There were even crueler things to be said, things he tried to not even think of, but it was hard not to as he stared at himself in the mirror, taking in the appearance of someone in their 70s.

He needed to do something. He couldn't stay here.

~

Buggy didn't know where he was going to go. He already collected what he would need before sneaking out of the circus while everyone was waking up and getting ready for their practices. He wondered if anyone would miss him. 

He passed through the market, making his way to the edge of town. He saw a crowd gathering nearby, pointing off to the distance while some talked about a land ship, which didn’t make sense to Buggy. 

“That’s Shore’s land ship! They’re on the move!” 

“I wonder if they’re going to stop here? I don’t want them to steal my heart!”

“You’re not pretty enough for that.” Laughter followed that last statement and Buggy flinched when he heard it. He had heard the same back at the circus, and while this jab wasn’t directed at him, it still stung. Who was Shore exactly? Was it his companion from last night, the one who helped get him away from the Marines, or someone else entirely?

There was talk as well of a missing princess, of an impending war, and other nonsense Buggy didn’t care about. It made sense why the Marines were everywhere if there was the possibility of war, but it wouldn’t matter to the circus. They were loyal to no one but themselves, they would move from city to city, doing what they could to avoid it. Buggy now would do the same to avoid it, no longer tethered to anything. 

Shaking his head, he continued onward. It was going to be a lot of walking but he could manage.

~

No, he couldn’t manage. He was able to get someone with a cart to take him far to the outskirts, to the bottom of the foothills of the mountains. He asked for directions once from a cabin, being warned that the path was dangerous and that there were witches, wizards, and even pirates up in the mountains but he didn’t care. He needed to find answers from someone. 

Buggy was certain he had been walking for an eternity, he must be far away from the town, but when he turned around after walking an hour up the mountain path, he screamed and kicked a rock in frustration. If he was younger he wouldn’t be having trouble walking fast, but if he was younger he wouldn’t be doing this. Damn that Alvida for her stupid curse! Why did she have to curse him? What did he do to deserve this?

He needed to take a break from walking, so he found a boulder to sit on as he looked out over the town. Was this even the right decision, to go into the unknown to find help when he wasn’t even sure how to ask for it? He sighed heavily and rubbed his face. Maybe he’d die up in the mountains. 

Looking around his surroundings, all he saw were boulders and shrubs, though one had a thick branch sticking out of it. Maybe that could be used for a walking stick, help him keep his balance and move a little faster along his journey. Slowly he got to his feet, resting his hands on his knees as he straightened up and made his way over to it. It looked perfect so he grabbed it, giving it a few tugs before it came loose from the shrub. 

He fell back in surprise when he saw a scarecrow stuck to the other end of it. The head was a turnip with a dull expression on its face, there was a blue wig affixed to its head, the shade lighter than Buggy's own hair color. The outfit was made of rags it seems, likely this poor think had been out in the elements for a while, looking as though critters nibbled on it.

He could only stare at it in surprise as he struggled to his feet. The scarecrow stood upright on its pole before tilting itself forward to look down at Buggy. Once upright he looked it over before shaking his head, grumbling about magic and nonsense. He was fed up with all of it so he turned to walk away, but his new friend followed, hopping along behind him. Buggy turned to glare at the scarecrow.

“What?!” He demanded. “I don't have anything for you, leave me alone!”

The scarecrow paused briefly, considering Buggy's demand, but it hopped along after him. He couldn't believe it, why? Was it going to steal his food? Could a scarecrow kill a human? He didn't want to find out and he wasn't up to fighting it off. He needed to think of a way to get rid of it and as he glanced upwards, noticing the dark clouds that were starting to loom over him, he had an idea.

“So, you want to join me on my walk? I don't blame you, I am Buggy the Genius Jester after all.” He boasted to the expressionless turnip head. “If you want to be helpful, go find me some shelter before the rain comes. If it's adequate I may consider letting you join me.”

The scarecrow seemed to consider Buggy’s offer before hopping off ahead of him. Was it really that easy? He smirked as it got farther away from him, clearly having more energy that he did currently. At least he was alone once more.

He continued along the path, starting to feel the ache in his bones and muscles more now than he would had he been a young man. Why was he cursed with being old? Why couldn't the witch curse him with something else? Buggy tightened his coat around him and sighed. This was awful. He hated all of this. Curse the witch herself for putting Buggy through this!

As he grumbled along, the rain started. He groaned loudly, wanting to give up. It was a cold and miserable kind of rain, soaking through his clothes and to his skin. Everything that ached before was now worse, his body wanting to give up. Everything was terrible.

He was ready to give up, just crumple to the ground and let nature reclaim him, but a sound caught his attention. It sounded like… sails in the wind? Out here in the mountains? He looked around, trying to see where the noise was coming from, when a ship appeared behind him. It hovered above the ground, soaring over Buggy, and his jaw dropped. Was that the ship seen from the market? Is this Shore's ship?

The scarecrow returned, following after it. Buggy couldn't believe it. Did it bring the ship to him? How was he supposed to get onboard? 

The scarecrow seemed to recognize Buggy’s predicament and before he knew it, the scarecrow managed to catch hold of Buggy, bouncing along after the ship. There was a door along the side of it with a set of stairs leading up into it. That was a little confusing to Buggy, was this ship sea worthy to have a door that would no doubt be in the water? He didn’t have much time to dwell on it as the scarecrow was catching up to the ship, bouncing all the way up to the bottom step and releasing Buggy. He wasn’t expecting that, nearly falling backwards in surprise but he managed to grab hold of it. 

When he looked behind, the scarecrow was still following along, but there was no room for it to join him. Buggy gave the scarecrow a half-assed salute, both pleased he had shelter and that he was about to lose the damn scarecrow. “Thanks for the help!”

Laughing, he climbed the steps up to the door and turned the knob. It took a few tries before he was able to finally barge in, stumbling into a darkened room that was below the main deck. He shivered, looking around for anything to warm up with, but to his delight there was a raised up fireplace, open on all sides with a flue above it. There was minimal smoke, the fire was just a small flame upon a log when he approached. Was this safe? He didn’t care, he was soaked to the bone and freezing, so he grabbed a nearby log and set it in the fire before finding a chair to pull up close to it.

“Damn rain, damn witch, damn curse!” He grumbled as he sat down, holding his hands out to the flame, hoping to get some warmth. He was tired, hungry, and all around miserable. “If I ever see her again-”

He stopped talking and sighed. If he saw her again, he didn’t have the faintest idea where to find witches and wizards. For all he knew she could use magic and disappear in an instant, reappearing wherever she wanted. Buggy rubbed his hands together before holding them out to the flame once more. It felt warm but he wished it was hotter. He wanted to warm up before thinking about a nap because he was exhausted. He was wondering if his mind was playing tricks on him because he was certain the flame in the fireplace was looking at him. No, no, fires didn’t have faces.

“That’s quite a curse.” The flame commented as it seemed to lean forward on the fresh log Buggy placed. “You look horrible.” 

“I feel horrible.” Buggy groaned as he closed his eyes, leaning back into his chair. “I need a nap.”

“Y’know, you helped me by giving me a fresh log, maybe I could help you.” The flame chuckled. Buggy opened his eyes and looked at the flame with a frown. Wait, he wasn’t actually asleep yet. He pinched his arm, wondering if he was dreaming, and he pinched himself too hard because he hissed in pain.

The flame was talking to him; conversing rather, looking smug for a little flame burning through a log. Buggy could only stare, wondering if he was about to be cursed again. The flame held a little tendril of fire out to Buggy, a smug look still on its fiery little face.

“How about it, do we have a deal?”

Buggy could only scream in response. 

[cataclysmic-writer]

Katastrophie: The Brothers

For the Welcome to Writeblr Feast of Fright event! Day 1: write a character study scene about the protagonist//Day 2: Introduce the story's major relationship(s). Katastrophie is an adult sports romance set among professional wrestlers. Ask to be added to the tag list!

Kas barely recognized his apartment. He tossed his keys to the side where he thought a side table was. It was impossible to tell for sure in the dark. He stumbled over something, catching himself on the wall. He blinked, trying to orient himself as pain pulsed down his side.

He should unpack, start a load of laundry. He’d be back on the road again in a day or two and he really needed to switch out his wardrobe. Instead, he collapsed back onto his mattress, so exhausted that he didn’t even plug his phone in before his eyes closed. Fuck the laundry.

Kas jolted awake to panicked banging on his door. He grabbed his cell phone, but the screen was black—completely dead. Swearing under his breath, Kas edged towards the entryway. The microwave clock blinked at him from the kitchen and his heart crawled into his throat. Barely three AM. He remembered his dad’s advice: nothing good happened after midnight. 

Sophie also insisted that nothing memorable happened before 11.

Another round of banging shook the wall. Kas took a deep breath, steeled his nerves, and opened the door. 

Joey immediately dove into the apartment, wrapping his arms around Kas’s torso tight enough that Kas wondered if he was getting Heimliched. His hair stuck up in manic tufts, somewhere between a lion and a cockatiel. Despite the frigid temperature, he only wore basketball shorts and a baggy hoodie, and Kas shivered as Joey absorbed his heat. 

Joey buried his face in Kas’s shirt. His shoulders rose unevenly and he struggled to get a word out, putting more and more of his weight on Kas, like he couldn’t carry his weight. Kas staggered back to regain balance and immediately settled a hand on his brother’s back, holding him up. “Joey? What’s wrong?” Kas tried to shake the sleep out of his voice, but if Joey heard it, he didn’t seem to care. 

Joey opened his mouth, but a whimper was all he managed to get out and he slammed it shut again, clinging tighter to his brother. Kas’s blood ran cold. Sure, Joey was a quiet, artistic person, but he was still a 16-year-old boy. He didn’t whimper.

Kas’s fingers gripped Joey’s shirt as he pulled his brother away, crouching so they were eye level. Joey turned away. “What happened? Are you hurt?” He scanned Joey’s body for broken bones or cuts, but his baggy clothes hid his body. “Joey, look at me.” Kas grabbed his chin, forcing his brother to return his gaze.

Dried blood crusted Joey’s lip. He habitually chewed on his supplies; had something cut him? Had he torn the skin as an anxious habit? Or—

A darker thought drowned out the others. Who hurt his baby brother?

Rage boiled in his stomach, acid thrashing in his throat and burning his veins. He didn’t realize he’d tightened his grip on Joey until the younger boy winced. Kas dropped his hand, muttering an apology. 

Joey pulled the sleeves of his sweatshirt down to cover his hands and leaned his forehead back against Kas’s chest. “Can I—” He couldn’t finish the sentence, but he didn’t need to. 

Kas wrapped his arms around Joey and led him deeper into the apartment. “Yeah, you can stay here tonight,” Kas said. “Take the bed.”

“Did I wake you up?” It was the first full sentence Joey’d managed since he came in. 

Kas waved a dismissive hand. “Nah. I was doing laundry.”

[whencyclopedia]

The Lost Queen: The Surprising Life of Catherine of Braganza―the Forgotten Queen Who Bridged Two Worlds

This book is highly recommend because it is gorgeously written as a novel with visual descriptions that are so clear that they can be painted on canvas. A screenplay of the book begs to be written and the film needs to be produced. The general audience would definitely find this title accessible.

British author, Sophie Shorland, a former Research Fellow at the University of Warwick, takes a very friendly approach to describe the difficult life of King Charles II's Queen Consort, the Portuguese Catherine of Braganza. Shorland's audience is general, especially those interested in the British Restoration, epitomized by the handsome, lusty Charles II ("The Merrie Monarch"). This title is an easy read and designed for the general readership. The level of engagement that the writing provides would make this book a blockbuster movie, filled with sparkling characters fighting for the top spot in the Royal Court.

Shorland divides Catherine's life into ten chapters, beginning with her repressive childhood, which coincides with her future husband's exile in France after the beheading of his father, Charles I. When the rigid dictatorship of Oliver Cromwell became too much to bear, the political pendulum swung back, and the people demanded the Restoration of the lawful King, the young Charles Stuart.

Readers follow the two years of political and financial machinations necessary to enthrone the indigent Charles. He needed to marry quickly to continue the Stuart succession. Charles's brother, James, Duke of York, was Catholic, just like Charles, heralding the anti-Catholic riots during his marriage to the Catholic Princess Catherine of Braganza. England needed a cash infusion, and Catherine's dowry was her most important attraction, bringing Tangier and parts of India to the marriage; Portugal, fighting for its independence from Spain, was poor, and unable to pay all the dowry to England.

Catherine finally arrived in England, seasick, sneezing, and unable to speak English. Her subjects thought her strange, with her odd hairstyle, her olive skin, and her outlandish Portuguese gowns. The Restoration, known for its brilliant colors and lush materials (silk and velvet), saw Catherine and her female attendants wearing heavy black farthingales, skirts so wide that entry was only possible sideways. Catherine's annual allowance at her marriage was 30,000 pounds Sterling, most spent on her private chapel decorations, alienating her Protestant subjects. She tried to befriend her husband's mistresses (there were at least six) and all his illegitimate children. Lonely Catherine's sole English "friend" was the Catholic Lady Castlemaine, Barbara Palmer, Charles's chief mistress. Catherine tried to please Charles: taking dance lessons, throwing lavish parties, popularizing tea drinking, and promoting Baroque art and fashion. Her childlessness was disappointing both to her and to Charles, who was desperate for a legitimate heir. Her frequent miscarriages may have been caused by endometriosis, though that is uncertain. Charles was publicly polite to her but privately self-indulgent – with his mistresses, their children, and his "scientific" hobbies. He managed to persuade Catherine to accept his scientific interest, for they were frequently self-dosed with bizarre concoctions of pulverized skulls and dried snakes. She, seeking relief from depression and hysteria, resorted to laxatives, convincing herself that the "toxins" leaving her body would result in her renewed health.

Some years after Charles II's death, Catherine returned to Portugal, where her monarch brother soon died. Now Portuguese Regent, Catherine became their guardian-tutor, ironic since she had been so poorly educated. Her kindness was evident in her will: to free all child slaves, though she had never owned any. This wonderful book has a bibliography and complete citations, pointing readers to directions for further reading.

Continue reading...

[alex51324]

Summer vacation 2024, Nockamixon State Park, part 2!

After the Ringing Rocks, we went on a hike! It was supposed to be a very short hike to the biggest waterfall in Bucks County; however, we took a wrong turn onto the Pennsylvania Highlands Trail, a 300-mile trail that winds through 13 counties! Fortunately, we'd only gone about a mile before we figured out that Something had gone Wrong. Once we backtracked to where we'd taken the wrong turn, it was about 15 or 20 minutes to the waterfall:

Turns out it is what is known as a seasonal waterfall; it's pretty good in winter and spring, but dries up in summer--and it's been hot and dry, so it was ahead of schedule on the drying-up.

If you can't spot the water, it's a little easier to see in this tiny video:

Here is a picture from a tourism website showing the waterfall at its most dramatic:

I was convinced for about 10 minutes that we had gotten lost again, but once I accepted that this was the real waterfall, it was actually kind of cool, because you can walk out onto the ledges where the water normally, you know, falls:

The streambed here is much wider than even the highest-flow pictures I've been able to find, so I guess it was bigger at some point, perhaps in the distant past.

Sophie enjoyed lying in the damp spot created by the trickle of water:

Those of us with two legs sat and dangled them over the edge of the waterfall:

Here are some other people over where we were in the earlier pictures:

After the hike, we went back to the car and ate our packed lunches, then proceeded to Owowcow Creamery for ice cream:

If you're ever in the Bucks County area, this place is a must! (They have five locations in the Philadelphia-Allentown-Trenton region.) It's all house-made ice cream, with a rotating selection of unique flavors (plus a few classics). I got the flight, which is 5 mini-scoops, so it's a great way to try some of the unusual flavors without committing your whole ice-cream experience to something you might not like. I picked Drunken Pineapple, Cinnamon Bourbon, Honey Lavender, Blueberry Cobbler (with local blueberries) and Blueberry Lemon. They were all fantastic; my favorite was the pineapple, and I also really liked the honey lavender. (I was a little unsure about that one, because I've had some lavender food items that were just overpoweringly lavender, like grandma's soap, but this was just the right amount.) Chloe went with a classic mint chocolate chip, and Sophie had their pup cup, which they make specially with pumpkin and oat milk.

Chloe had to leave on Sunday, but we got in some wading, and a craft, which was Sun Prints! These are apparently pretty popular with little kids, but neither of us had done them before. You buy this special blue paper, and then set it out in the sun with leaves or whatnot on, and in a few minutes the sun bleaches the paper, except under your leaves. Then you rinse the paper in water, and it turns blue again, except for where your leaves were. It's neat! We started doing them when it was cloudy, and then the sun came out and a lot of them ended up overexposed, but here are a couple of good ones:

This was one of the first ones, and it came out really crisp and nice!

Here I tried to get representational:

No pictures of the wading, but we picked a couple of water lillies:

(The park website explains that there are so many of them that they have to go in and clear them out on a regular basis, so we figured it was OK to pick them.)

That's it for this installment, but next: aquatic adventures!