#Young Bradford AU

[anonymous-spooks]

SO ABOUT ISAAC….

I’m going to present to you the origins of my AU’s Isaac Grossman, but before I do, I wanna make something clear:

I HATE Isaac. The canon Isaac. He grew up into this awful, vile killer (I mean, everyone is a killer, but he just rubs me the wrong way), and is the reason why LJ’s the way he is.

I didn’t plan on him being a part of my AU at all. Because, well, he’s dead now. But seeing a lot of art and stuff about him where he’s undead and still a part of LJ’s life is quite fascinating. Even more so where he now is involved with his great-great-great(?) grandson Will’s life, too.

So I figured I may as well give him a chance. Rework him a little bit. Keep more of his deadly persona while also giving him a complete different direction. I want him to still be likable, but still let others remember that this man ain’t like Jeff or EJ or Toby or any of them.

So, without further ado, let’s get into it:

*********************************************

Isaac Grossman.

The perfect gentleman.

Born in a rather cold and rough environment, and taught in a strict boarding school until his late teens, Isaac learned that sometimes pain makes one the better man.

Slowly, he rose in the ranks, becoming popular among the middle class of late 1800s London. He was invited to classy parties by old boarding school mates, getting along with nearly everyone. He was charming. Boastful. He would talk for hours and hours about his struggles and achievements to curious women who admire him. He offered to open the door to anyone first. He complimented waiters for the tea and food.

Yes, he was the gentleman. But he wasn’t perfect as most assume.

Life doesn’t play fair, he learned as a young boy.

So why should he?

He had a little hobby.

Same time, every night, right when the clock strikes midnight. Adorning a bird mask he got from a masquerade ball, he stalks in the shadows, and attacked any unfortunate soul who crossed his path. He stabbed them repeatedly, cackling softly to himself in pure delight at the sight of seeing his victims die before his eyes.

It was all in good fun, but once the sun begins to rise, that's when he must clean up. He hid every body behind churches, apartments, anywhere to dispose them quickly. He either would dig the bodies underground or just cover them up with an old carpet.

He's not attempting to hide his crimes, no, no. He wants to make a scene. A shocking spectacle for all to witness, to faint, to gasp, "Oh, great heavens, a killer is on the loose!" It'll be worldwide news, many rumors will be spread, all the while he sits on his couch, sipping his afternoon tea like nothing's out of the ordinary.

It was perfect.

And then that night came.

While he was digging up a body in the backyard, behind an old house. He didn't hear anyone approach, he was merely focused on his delightful task-

*BANG*

He fell to the ground. Blood spills from his forehead.

...What?

"Great heavens! It can't be!"

"Yes, Bradford. I'm afraid it is. Isaac Grossman, the self-proclaimed aristocrat."

"But, how could you know, Dr. Gilbert?"

"It's quite simple; the way he talked with the detectives. He seemed far too comfortable despite the topic at hand. More importantly, he looked as if he barely got any rest."

"That is incredible, Doctor! ...But... what do we do now?"

"We will leave him here. He killed his victims and left them in poor condition, so he deserves the same treatment."

"What do we tell his wife?"

"Nothing. We will keep this between us. He has many supporters, they would not believe us. Now let's go."

Footsteps retreated. Then silence.

How.... could this be?

Is this how it ends? Him lying to rot, bleeding to death and slowly being eaten away by maggots, behind an old home he once knew? He's just going to accept his fate, like his victims before him?

No.

No.

No.

No.

He will never.

No man, woman, or higher being shall commend him to die. He refuse. HE WILL NEVER. After everything he went through, what he finally gained; his class, his wife, his supporters, his parties, his power. After reaching to the top, he's just going to give it all up?!

Never.

Somehow, this anger, this need to kill again, it somehow kept him conscious for so long despite his evident death. His heart no longer beats, his lungs no longer breathes, his brain no longer thinks. And yet all he could wish for was revenge.

To those who took his pleasure away from him.

All he could do now was wait. But for what?

........

Oh.

Hello, William.

[geminialchemist]

Ducktales AU with an “”””evil”””” Webby.

April is a young operative for F.O.W.L., having been trained since birth to help take down Scrooge McDuck. Unfortunately, Bradford has ordered her early retirement, and has given Black Heron orders to dispose of her, claiming she was “too adventurous” to be controlled. Which, seeing as she found this out while eavesdropping through a vent, he may have had a point.

To prove herself to F.O.W.L. April has escaped and gone undercover as Webigail “Webby” McDuck, the long lost daughter of Scrooge! Crafting the ever so dramatic and heart tugging story of an orphan girl, who’s precious mother loved Scrooge dearly, and left her one and only daughter a locket with his picture, she arrives at his doorstep to beg for him to take her in.

Scrooge, listening to her story over a cup of tea(with only the finest of used teabags), accepts her into the household, rolling his eyes at the story’s dramatics. Mrs. Beakley thinks it unwise to have a stranger running around the house, especially with Donald and the boys recently having moved in, but as he’s quick to tell her this girl is either one of three things: a poor girl, down on her luck who could use the chance to learn a hard days work to get back on her feet(unlikely), a spy for one of his many enemies, in which case it’s best to keep her close(most likely), or, she was telling the truth(based upon that story, incredibly doubtful). They’ve got a tea cup with her DNA all over it, he’ll just run it over to Gearloose so they can be certain.

Meanwhile, Lena finds herself an ally in Webby when she discovers the want the same thing; to take down the McDuck family. But as Lena learns more about how F.O.W.L. treated Webby, she finds the similarities to how she’s treated by Magica, only Webby wants to go back to the people who see her as a disposable servant even though she seems to actually really like living with her new family. This leaves Lena with a choice, follow the plan and get rid of Scrooge, helping Webby get what she wants but not what she needs, or revealing what she knows to Scrooge, likely dooming herself, but saving Webby, the only real friend she’s ever had.

——————

Scrooge stepped into the lab, flanked by Mrs. Beakley, waving his cane at his lead scientist in open irritation. “It’s about time we got those results back, Gyro. It’s only been weeks. I thought I told you this was the highest priority!”

“There were some… complications with the DNA analysis. And I wanted to be thorough.” Gearloose gave an annoyed sigh, pressing a button on a remote that turned on a large screen with Webby’s results, split into two categories, one for either parent. “Well, I have good news, or bad news, or just… news. You are the father.”

With another press of a button, Scrooge’s name appeared under “father,” along with the key identifiers in both his and webby’s DNA that marked him as such.

“I see…” Scrooge’s grip tightened in his cane, eyes downcast. He… hadn’t expected that. The poor girl. She’d been telling the truth, and he hadn’t really believed her. Missed out on most of her childhood. Couldn’t even put a face to who- “And the mother?”

With that, Gearloose frowned, “that’s where I was trying to be thorough.” Another press on his remote, and the name Bentina Beakley appeared under the “Mother” side of the column.

“Wh- why, I never!” Beakley gasped, then began to roll up one of her sleeves, hands already clenched into fists and ready to show the good doctor exactly what she thought of this. “Just what are you implying?!”

“I’m not done.” Gearloose cut in, and under Beakley’s name another appeared: Black Heron. Then another, Goldie O’Gilt, than another, Millionara Vanderbucks, and another, and-

“It would appear that your little spaw-child, your child, is a walking Petri dish of primarily your DNA spliced with a mixture of every femme fatale from here to Saint Canard.”

“She’s a clone…” Scrooge uttered in disbelief, staring at the screen with wide eyes and a slacked jaw.

“I was going to say she was a homunculus of mad science, but put simply, yes.” Gearloose replied, leaving Scrooge to stare at the screen and take in the results.

“And where does that put us, Scrooge?” Beakley asked, sounding as unsure as Scrooge had ever heard her.

“I- I can honestly say I’ve no clue...”

[undercoverbisexualfrog]

Hamato Saki AU

When he learnt of his true origin, Oroku Hamato Saki sided with his adoptive family. Unlike his canon counterpart, he never tried to date Tang Shen, never set the fire, never killed her, and never stole Miwa.

Instead, he moved to New York along with them. He witnessed the mutations of his brother and the four turtles. However, the members of the Foot Clan in the canon world still know Saki. None of them are villains and instead help the turtles when facing other threats such as the Kraang and random mutants.

Characters:

Hamato Yoshi and the turtles: Their part is short because they're basically the same. Only difference is there's no Foot Clan to fight and Miwa and Shen are with them.

Tang Shen: Not dead. She's always been with Miwa and the turtles. A+++++ parenting. She's been trained in a little ninjutsu, just enough to defend herself but no where near the level of Yoshi, Saki, and the kids. Great friends with Kirby O'Neil too.

Hamato Saki: A lot, lot, lot, LOT more tame than Oroku Saki, but still has major anger issues. He’s Miwa and the turtles’ uncle and father figure to what would be the Foot Clan mutants. Never ends up mutated, never kills Splinter.

Hamato Miwa: Splinter’s daughter, the turtles’ older sister, Saki’s niece. She never ends up mutated, but is still dating Shinigami (and obviously never has that romance with Leo bc wtf)

Chris Bradford: Saki ran a dojo in New York for a few years where he met Chris Bradford. Since then, he’s trained as Saki’s protege. He does end up as a mutant in the Gauntlet episode and is double-mutated too, but the second time is caused by a fight with the Kraang.

Xever Montes: The Hamatos + Chris went on a trip to Brazil for *insert really good reason*. There, Miwa met a young Xever. Chris brought Xever back to New York with him, and he's been there ever since. And later on, yeah he gets mutated. Donnie builds his legs and breathing thing instead of Baxter.

Baxter Stockman: A criminal (sad guy with robots) who gets rehabilitated by the Hamatos. he works with them for a while, but betrays them in Baxter's Gambit in hopes of using his StockmanxTurtle Tech to rule the world, he doesn't and gets rehabilitated again, this time for good. He doesn't get mutated (he's honestly sad enough).

Tiger Claw: Knew Saki in Japan. After the Gauntlet, Saki calls TC to help out the Hamatos and is now one of their allies. However, that past with Alopex and the Kraang is hidden for ages.

Anton Zeck and Ivan Steranko: Ivan is an old friend of Saki's. After the Kraang invasion of s2 he joins the Hamatos with his boyfriend, Anton. Ivan's still an arms dealer but is very particular about who he sells to. Anton is not a thief, he's a DJ. They get mutated by the Kraang instead of Saki.

Ask Me Stuff!

[that-rackin-frackin-varmint]

i know you were speaking rhetorically, but in response to your tags on the latest post, i definitely think it’s a sign of the times as to the direction the characters are being taken! Duck Dodgers i think is a convenient domino into TLTS, as it’s the first show to really play up Daffy’s “stupidity” (which i have.. opinions on, lol) and TLTS kinda took it and ran with it. or Porky being subservient to Daffy, and TLTS running (way too far) with that too. i haven’t done a good job of keeping up with this blog so i apologize if you know or have said this already! but the “they’re actors” thing sort of applies by a case by case basis—the assumption is that they’re actors when they establish that they’re actors, (but of course actor aus are great and headcanons are strong 🙏), but i just say that because DD is not a show that follows that “they’re actors” thing EXCEPT for the one episode that DOES do that, Hooray for Hollywood Planet and the last episode (esp the very end with the voice actors), but in the latter case it’s more of a cute consideration of meta rather than a “reveal”. i also (personally) think it’s one of the shows that does Porky and Daffy’s dynamic better than anyone after the original run of shorts, definitely has some issues that domino’s into more issues but i’d say their dynamic is relatively to the blueprint that Chuck Jones established! at least in comparison to other shows that followed

THIS IS A LOT HAHA i just like chatting about DD, if you know all of this already then feel free to ignore! but that’s my personal interpretation of it :)

No need to apologise, I like going over things even if I've said versions of em a billion times before haha!

I dance between my headcanons and analysis of creators' intent without much clear distinction, so it's best when I'm asked for clarification on when I'm actually working under a conspiracy theorist lens, or directly analysing the given text. In this case, I'm very much conspiracy theorist brained using given text.

The reason I'm quite fixated on the 'actors au' viewing of DD is because I found many instances where it broke from the immersion of being a story, and was a "production." Instances for example:

1) The intro having Daffy, Porky and Marvin's names attributed to the roles they played as.

I find it interesting that they used "Eager, Young Space Cadet" here even though this show's version of Dodgers is far too lazy and informal to actually refer to Cadet as that.

2) Season 1 and 2 having a tradition of doing Marvin the Martian shorts, and in K9 Quarry (1), Dodgers makes it a point to say:

"Don't blame me. The martian gets one solo cartoon per season."

My conspiracy theory for why this joke doesn't carry into season 3 is because the writing team for season 3 changed from the core group in seasons 1 and 2.

Seasons 1 and 2: Spike Brandt, Tony Cervone, Paul Dini, and Tom Minton [Tom Ruegger is only credited for the last two episodes of Season 2]

2005: Mark Banker, Spike Brandt, Tony Cervone (...) Kevin Seccia, Ken Daly and John Matta, Michael Grodner, Jeff Goode, Bradford Shultze, Tom Minton, Michael Banker, Tim McKeon

3) Talent Show a Go-Go: an episode that spends a portion of its runtime cutting to shots of numerous women swooning over Dodgers

Feels like something Daffy would write into his own show...

The episode feels driven by fanservicey performance rather than plot or character, I'd liken it to the short "The Night of the Living Duck" or the structure of classic shorts like "Book Revue." The former similarly has a famous singer lend their voice to good ol Daffy to sing sweet songs. The chase sequence afterwards is an afterthought in all honesty.

4) Deathmatch Duck (1): The scene of Taz beating up Daffy instead of the dummy

[The subtitles fib a little. He doesn't namedrop Taz, he just says "Ahh" I don't know why the subs are like that.]

5) Deathmatch Duck (2): On-the-nose flaunting he incorporates into his character's lore.

This is a certified "and then the whole bus clapped" moment if I've ever seen any.

6) K9 Quarry (2): Wile E. makes a cute pointed reference to his formula of chasing Road Runner.

I'm over the image limit-

7) Deathmatch Duck (3):

In 8:05, Taz eats Daffy, we cut to a kid and his parent arguing about the cartoon logic of Daffy fitting in Taz's stomach. (Meta commentary on pop culture's disillusionment with exaggerated logic, and deteriorating suspension of disbelief perhaps?) The parent suggests that it might be less immersion breaking if they do something visually engaging, kid complies. Dodgers does something visually engaging lts-style, we cut back to a tv room accompanied by cricket chirps. Dodgers speaks directly to the camera deadpan: "Once again, I've alienated our target demographic."

8) Hooray for Hollywood

To me, watching this episode after multiple watches feels like I'm watching a character study on Daffy's relationship with Warner Bros. I don't want to go over everything since I've written quite a bit in one post, but one standout scene in this episode for me is when Dodgers confronts the director, Vermin, about the script.

9) The Bugs Bunny references.

Daffy's rivalry with Bugs makes the omission of the rabbit very pointed, and almost cathartic. But because this is Daffy's show, it doesn't completely remove all traces of Bugs' name.

Bugs' name is added in the credits to add star-power to Dodger's movie credits in "Hooray for Hollywood"

In "The New Cadet" dedicates a scene to having Dodgers and Cadet enjoy rabbit stew

(Allegedly) Bugs was offered to play a role as a rabbit hunted by X-2 in "K9 Quarry"

In "Of course you know this means war and peace (1)" when Queen Tyr'ahnee says the episode's namesake, Dodgers can't help but point out the line's significance to a certain someone, with the added air carrot nibble

In "Bonafide Heroes" Dodgers is seen wearing Bugs Bunny slippers

Sorry for the unprompted list! I go overboard in Duck Dodgers discussions!

For me personally, I'm not the biggest fan of Daffy and Porky's dynamic in this show. Don't get me wrong, some episodes I'll come back to and watch with a big dumb grin on my face -- but I personally find that the show starts off pretty strong with a decent ratio of competent and incompetent Daffy/Dodgers moments, and sassy and patient Porky/Cadet moments -- but falls off at season 3, with Cadet radiating burnout murder energy whenever Dodgers so much as opens his mouth, and Dodgers is unironically dead weight on him.

And I'm not sure if you've happened to see some of my tlts posts, but you read my mind ha! I agree with your assessment that Duck Dodgers was sort of the catalyst for popularising a doofier Daffy, and a doormat Porky. I find it a little reassuring that tlts left their relationship development on a high note, which is also funny considering they weren't meant to be the focus duo of the show.

I also agree that this show is more aligned with Chuck Jones' version of the duo -- but tbh, I'm more biased towards Clampett era Dafpork <3 I see Duck Dodgers as a love letter to the classics, but at the same time, I'm very particularly vexed at how Dodgers isn't proactive and overzealous -- I agree @/marsnolias' take on this, even Jones Daffy is a tryhard!

All that said, your ask inspired me to post an old unlabelled ramble I had about this show ahead of schedule! Thanks for reaching out!

[timeguardians]

Updated muse page: By category

and yes I am, for the time being, bringing five of my other blogs onto this one. At least until I get out of being critically ill)

----Historical & Period Drama:----

-----Turn ----

Philomena Cheer (with modern actress verses, Bridgerton, Titanic verses)

Elsie Marion ( Swamp Fox's/Francis Marion's Daughter-- many AUs available)

Samatha Tallmadge

Eliza Smith (Mary Woodhull's sister)

Peggy Shippen (request only)

Abigail (request only)

Samuel Tallmadge (Private& request only)

Colonel William Bradford (Private & request only)

----Titanic----

Rose Dewitt Bukater (Titanic with Turn & Bridgerton verses)

----Bridgerton ----- Kate Sharma (Bridgerton)

----Downton Abbey----

Sybil Crawley (Downton Abbey, Turn Verses, Titanic & possible Bridgerton Verse)

Mary Crawley(Downton Abbey, Bridgerton verses)

_____________________________________________

----Young Sheldon & BBT ----

Missy Cooper (With Turn & A-team Influences)

-----Dc, Marvel, Hero:----

Peggy Carter

Captain Stephanie "Stevie" Rogers- Fem Captain Rogers

Sergeant Jamie "Bucky" Buchanan Barnes

Diana Prince

Brianna Wayne (Marvel Mulit-versed Female!!Bruce Wayne)

Jamie Michaela Rogers (Oc daughter of Peggy Carter & Steve Rogers)

Yovela Edina Jarvis (Oc daughter of Edwin & Ana Jarvis) fc: young brooke shields alternate fc Josephine Langford

----Disney & Movie ----

Elizabeth Swann -Turner

Melody

Ariel

Mulan

Anastasia Romanov

Belle

Susan Pevensie

Lucy Pevensie

Mia Thermopolis

Anna of Arendelle

Clara Stahlbaum

----Star Wars----

Rey

Qi'ra (Low activity/request only)

female! Poe Dameron (Low activity/request only)

----First Responders & detectives:----

----One Chicago----

Gabby Dawson

Lizzie Novak

Kim Burgess

Vanessa Rojas

---Blue Bloods---

Eddie Janko

---- Law and Order SVU----

Oliva Benson

Juliet Higgins (request only)

Nancy Drew (1960s heavily influenced with smatterings of book canon)

Avery Morgan (Doctor Odyssey)

____The Rookie____

Lucy Chen

Talia Bishop

Baily Nune

-----Villain Muses ----

Kat

-----60s-the80s muses----

Cherry Valance (request only)

Bonnie barstow

Ricki Tubbs

Justice Crockett

Jake Crockett (private muse with Smeagol)

Judy Hoffs

Amy Amanda Allen

John Hannibal Smith

HM Murdock (Shipped only with Avictimofthejazz's Kelley)

Pete Malloy- Adam-12

Dominic Luca 1975

---Full House---

Michelle Tanner

---Twisters---

Kate Carter

[rommaru]

Phoebe and Frank are fankids created by my sibling and me. Their story varies from AU to AU but most of the time they are half-siblings (common parent is Gyro/Mad) with a 10 years age gap. Phoebe is the enthusiast extrovert while Frank is the quiet introvert, yet they share a strong bond.

More under the cut.

This is from the AU where they were born, keep in mind that this world takes only a few aspects from canon, there's no F.O.W.L. and Gyro and Fenton have a small age gap.

Gyro went through teenage eggnancy which made his life quite hard but Black Heron plays a mother role for him and helps him to choose what to do. At the end Gyro keeps the egg and there is where Phoebe is born. The bio father is not in the picture.

The next 7 years are a constant struggle trying to raise her alone, dealing with gender identity, poverty and trying to pursue a science career.

Fenton falls for Gyro while they were working on an internship for Dr. Taurus in McDuck Enterprise but Gyro is not interested. Then Fenton chills but doesn't give up, he befriends Phoebe and Gyro starts to warm to him.

Eventually they start dating and Phoebe sees a parental figure in Fenton. Three years later they are married and Francisco is born. Gyro and Fenton are still working for Mr. McDuck and the rest is a slice of life as they rise their children.

In the future, motivated by her neurodivergent sibling, Phoebe becomes a pediatric neurologist and lives in St. Canard with her husband. Meanwhile Frank is still exploring the life of a young adult, taking care of a retired María Cabrera and spending time with their partner Mich.

There is a lot to explore in this AU, reason why it is one of my favorite to RP with my sibling: Black Heron is a good person with a lot of personal problems, Dr. Akita was actually a good mentor, Bradford is still an asshole, Quackfaster dates Magica, Frank is a weird kid, Fenton's past and his friendship with Drake and Panchito, Gyro's path to heal. Honestly, the only normal person in here is Phoebe.

[jpbjazz]

LÉGENDES DU JAZZ

JOHN CARTER, ‘’LE ALEX HALEY DU JAZZ’’

‘’I had never heard anybody with such control on the clarinet… His complete mastery of the instrument is astounding.”��

- Red Callender

Né le 24 septembre 1929 à Fort Worth, au Texas, John Wallace Carter avait d’abord étudié le saxophone alto avant de commencer à jouer de la clarinette à l’âge de douze ans. Très influencé par la musique gospel qu’il avait écoutée à l’église baptiste durant son enfance et par la musique de Duke Ellington, Count Basie et Cab Calloway, Carter avait amorcé sa carrière en jouant du blues au Woodman’s Hall d’Anacostia, un club de jazz de Washington, D.C. Il avait aussi fait équipe avec Ornette Coleman, Dewey Redman et Charles Moffett dans les années 1940.

Après avoir fréquenté le I.M. Terrell High School, Carter avait décroché un baccalauréat en éducation musicale à l’Université Lincoln de Jefferson, au Missouri, en 1949, avant de compléter une maîtrise en éducation musicale à l’Université du Colorado en 1956.

De 1949 à 1961, Carter avait gagné sa vie en enseignant la musique dans le réseau d’écoles publiques de Fort Worth. Parallèlement à sa carrière de professeur, Carter avait continué d’expérimenter avec la clarinette et avait découvert que c’était cet instrument qui lui permettait d’exprimer le mieux sa personnalité musicale. Parmi les premières influences de Carter, on remarquait Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Lester Young, Duke Ellington et Count Basie.

Après s’être installé à Los Angeles, Carter avait enseigné durant vingt et un ans (1961-1982) dans les écoles élémentaires publiques de la ville.

DÉBUTS DE CARRIÈRE

En 1964, Carter avait formé le  New Art Jazz Ensemble avec le trompettiste Bobby Bradford,  le contrebassiste Tom Williamson et le batteur Bruz Freeman, un pionnier du free jazz qui avait d’abord joué avec Charlie Parker, Lester Young, Coleman Hawkins et Sarah Vaughan. Le groupe avait poursuivi ses activités jusqu’à la mort de Carter en 1991 et se produisait surtout dans le Nord-est des États-Unis.

Décrivant sa première rencontre avec Bradford, qui était de six ans son cadet, Carter avait expliqué: ‘’I met him when I got out therem about ‘65, Bob was living in Pomona and teaching out there, and I was teaching out there (L.A.). I was very frustrated with whar I was doing. I had come here un 1961 and had aspirations for playing my music and I thought I could get as much studio work as I wanted to do when I got out here {...}. I play good lead alto, tenor, soprano, good flute and clarinet of course. I can play oboe and basson, all well enough to do session work.’’ Dans la même entrevue, Carter avait ajouté: ‘’Bob had been with Ornette up to ‘62, then went back to Texas and taught for a couple of years and then moved out there. Well so Bobby really wasn’t doing anything either, on any kinf of regular basis so we got together, it was very natural for us to try to get a group together.’’

Parallèlement à sa collaboration avec Bradford, Carter avait joué du jazz progressif avec des artistes locaux, se produisant à la flûte et au saxophone tout en approfondissant sa maîtrise de la clarinette, contribuant ainsi à briser les frontières musicales tout en était toujours accompagné par Bradford à la trompette. Au cours de cette période, Carter avait aussi joué avec le pianiste Hampton Hawes et le saxophoniste Harold Land.

Carter avait également opéré son propre club de jazz, le Rudolph’s, afin de contribuer au développement de la relève. En 1967, Carter avait dirigé une oeuvre d’Ornette Coleman à UCLA. Carter expliquait: ‘’It was a suite that Ornette had just done for the Guggenheim Grant that he had just got, whatever year that was. A very difficult pass. The band was in the festival house orchestra, whoever was playing brought along their charts and we played them. Carmen McRae was on that and Clark Terry. Ornette’s piece was written for big band against his quintet. {...} Full group, five trumpets, four trombones, five reed and a full rhythm section, and violins and cellos. He played that music a lot of times, he played it with the San Francisco Symphony, he played it in Europe and back in New York.’’

Dans les années 1970, Carter avait fait partie du  Little Big Horn Workshop avec Bradford et Newton. Au cours de cette période, Carter s’était également fait connaître pour ses concerts en solo. Dans le cadre du New Jazz Festival de Moers en 1979, Carter s’était produit en duo avec le clarinettiste allemand Theo Jörgensmann durant trois jours. Le concert, qui avait fait connaître Carter à travers le monde, avait donné lieu à une nouvelle performance du duo en 1994.

Vers 1973, Carter et Bradford avaient fait une tournée en Europe et avaient enregistré avec le pianiste Horace Tapscott. Lors d’un séjour à Paris, Carter avait même joué du bebop avec Jaki Byard et Kenny Clarke.

Carter et Bradford s’étaient également produits en concert à UCLA en compagnie de l’Art Ensemble of Chicago, avec qui ils avaient enregistré l’album Tandem 1 en 1979. Après s’être joint au quintet d’instruments à vent de James Newton, Carter avait fondé en 1981 le groupe Clarinet Summit avec Alvin Batiste, Jimmy Hamilton et David Murray.  

DERNIÈRES ANNÈES

Même s’il maîtrisait plusieurs instruments, Carter avait surtout joué de la clarinette et du saxophone soprano à partir de la fin des années 1970. Il expliquait: ‘’I think that certain personalities goes with certain instruments. While I have known that all along it took me a long time to associate that myself - because it takes a long time to try and see yourself, and I’m still trying. Like I know what that I am not a tenor player, but I’ve spent a lot of time fooling with the tenor saxophone. I played tenor and college because that was the only way I could get into the dance band. In those days I couldn’t read as well as other fellows could but I could solo better that they could so they need me in the band for that (rires). So I got in on tenor.’’

Lorsque sa fille et ses trois fils avaient atteint l’âge adulte au début des années 1980, Carter avait commencé à enseigner la clarinette à plein temps au Wind College de Los Angeles, une école qu’il avait lui-même fondée. Carter, qui possédait sa propre maison de disques, avait également enregistré avec Bradford et Newton l’album Night Fire, qui comprenait des classiques comme “Morning Bell”, “Juba Stomp” et “Buckin.”’ Sur l’album Dance of the Love Ghosts, Carter avait combiné les cuivres, les synthétiseurs et des percussions traditionnelles comme le kete et le dawuro. En plus de la chanson titre, l’album incluait les pièces The Captain’s Dilemma” et “Moon Waltz”, toutes des compositions originales.

De 1982 à 1990, Carter avait résumé sa vision du jazz et de l’histoire des Afro-Américains dans la suite en cinq parties Roots and Folklore: Episodes in the Development of American Folk Music. Publié dans un coffret de cinq CD, l’oeuvre, qui combinait le jazz moderne avec le blues et le jazz traditionnel, avait été saluée par la critique comme une des meilleures réalisations des années 1990. En 1998, le clarinettiste François Houle avait repris des extraits de l’oeuvre sur son album intitulé In the Vernacular—Music of John Carter.

Peu avant la mort de Carter en 1991,  le New Arts Jazz Ensemble avait enregistré un dernier album. Intitulé ‘’Seeking’’, l’album comprenait cinq compositions originales de Carter, dont “Karen on Monday” et “Sticks and Stones”.

John Carter est mort au Daniel Freeman Memorial Hospital d’Inglewood en Californie, le 31 mars 1991 à la suite de complications liés à son cancer des poumons. Carter laissait dans le deuil son épouse Gloria, sa fille Karen et ses fils John Jr., Stanley et Kris. Atteint d’une tumeur non maline, Carter s’était fait retirer un de ses poumons un an avant sa mort, mais il avait continué de se produire sur scène. Carter avait présenté une de ses dernières performances en février dans le cadre d’un événement organisé par la Society for Jazz and World Music à Santa Barbara, en Californie.

Continuant d’explorer l’histoire du peuple afro-américain, Carter avait présenté en septembre 1990 sa composition “Castles of Ghana”, une suite inspirée de la traite des esclaves en Afrique de l’Ouest au 16 siècle,  au Japan America Theatre de Los Angeles. Dans le cadre d’une entrevue accordée au New York Times en 1990, Carter avait déclaré qu’il avait conçu le projet après que son fils John Jr., qui revenait d’un voyage en Afrique de l’ouest, lui ait expliqué que les châteaux du Ghana étaient utilisés comme lieu de détention pour les futurs esclaves avait d’être expédiés en Amérique.

Au moment de sa mort, Carter devait se produire avec un quartet comprenant Perry Robinson, Theo Jörgensmann et Eckard Koltermann.

Carter a été admis au Down Beat Hall of Fame l’année-même de sa mort en 1991. Au cours de sa carrière, Carter avait remporté deux autres prix décernés par le magazine: le premier pour un enregistrement avec un petit groupe en 1973, et le second comme clarinettiste méritant la meilleure reconnaissance en 1982.

En 1996, Carter avait obtenu quatre étoiles du magazine Q et cinq étoiles du NAPRA Trade Journal pour ses compositions “Sippi Strut”, “Spats”, “Hymn to Freedom” et “And I Saw Them” tirées de son album Shadows on a Wall. Commentant le dernier album de Carter, le critique David Grogan avait décrit le musicien comme un compositeur d’avant-garde passionné par l’histoire du peuple afro-américain et l’avait surnommé le ‘’Alex Haley of the Jazz world.”

Carter avait souvent été comparé au trompettiste Wynton Marsalis pour la beauté et la spontanéité de son jeu. Le tubiste et contrebassiste Red Callender qui avait accompagné Carter, Bradford et Newton sur l’album Dauwhe, avait souligné la maîtrise par Carter de son intrument dans l’ouvrage Rough Guides to Jazz, dans lequel il écrivait: “I had never heard anybody with such control on the clarinet…. His complete mastery of the instrument is astounding.” 

Les compositions de Carter pour clarinette, trompette, cornet, violon, trombone, batterie et contrebasse portaient souvent des titres évocateurs comme “Evening Prayer”, “Conversations”, “The Fallen Prince” et “Theme of Desperation.” 

Plusieurs musiciens ont rendu hommage à Carter après sa mort, dont le clarinettiste François Houle qui avait enregistré des versions lyriques de ses compositions “Sticks and Stones” and “Karen on Monday” sur son album Vernacular—Music of John Carter publié en 1998.

Un des premiers clarinettistes de l’histoire à avoir exprimé une vision humaniste de l’héritage africain dans le jazz, Carter avait toujours improvisé avec énormément d’émotion. Les recherches tonales de Carter l’avaient incité à étudier le passé esclavagiste des Afro-Américains et à mettre en lumière leur combat pour l’émancipation après la Guerre civile. Artiste passionné, très articulé intellectuellement et très concentré sur sa musique, Carter avait influencé toute une nouvelle génération de musiciens, dont Julius Hemphill, Peter Epstein, James Newton, David Murray et Bobby Bradford.

©-2024, tous droits réservés, Les Productions de l’Imaginaire historique

[mamadoc]

1, 2, 3, 34, 37, 40, 48, 49

1. What fic of yours would you recommend to someone who had never read any of your work? (In other words, what do you think is the best introduction to your fics?)

My two long multi-chapters have taken most of my writing time (and I love them), but I actually really love the first series I ever wrote, *Sense* You Know Me So Well. The second chapter of this series and the second chapter of its sequel are the two that I am most proud of. They just feel very authentic and have deep feelings.

2. Go to your AO3 “Works” page, to the sidebar with all the filters, and click the drop-down arrow for “Additional Tags.” What are your top 3-5 most used tags? Do you think they accurately represent your writing habits?

I'm not great at tagging apparently or my stories are all quite different. My only tag that I've used more than once was 'Alternate Universe,' which makes since given that 3 of my 6 are AUs.

3. What are some tropes or details that you think are very characteristic of your fics?

I really enjoy awkwardness. Perhaps that speaks to my own romantic history (haha), but I feel like I write awkward romantic scenes well. I love reading sexual tension; that's easily my favorite. But I guess I'll have to work on my skills in writing it.

34. What aspects of your writing are inspired by/taken from your real life?

Hmmm... Not much. I'm a doctor with 4 young kids who's been married for 18 years. Reeeeally doesn't match much of what I write. But I do have a couple ideas for short stories that would use a little bit more of my medical expertise.

37. Promote one of your own “deep cut” fics (an underrated one, or one that never got as much traction as you think it deserves!). What do you like about it?

I really love the story in chapter 2 of my *Sense* You Know Me So Well, Too series. Tim and Lucy are in the middle of the pining/not talking stage when Tim's dad dies. He doesn't deal with it well, and Lucy is the only one that can get through to him.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/50613028

40. Do you tend to reread fics or are you a one-and-done kind of person?

I reread my favorites for sure. Plus One by murphallo, Little Green by MeadowWard, Darling Let's Run by mooncpd, Unless It Is by adina_rachelle (@makeitastrength) are all favorites I've read at least two times each. But there are so many good stories out there (I think I have 60 tabs open of stories I want to read on my phone) that I don't reread often.

48. What’s the last fic you read? Do you recommend it?

The Loophole by The Chandom. Amazing story. I highly recommend it.

49. What are you currently working on? Share a few lines if you’re up for it!

I'm working on chapter 17 of my Catch of a Lifetime story. Theoretically I was going to have it ready to post this weekend, but.... life.

When Lucy left the locker room on Sunday morning, Captain Andersen called her into her office.

“Good morning, Captain.  How can I help you?”

“First, I was happy to see you on the tabloid sites this morning,” she said with a smile.

Lucy furrowed her brow and opened her mouth to speak, but Captain Andersen put up her hand to indicate that she wasn’t done speaking yet.

“Not that I think that’s good journalism or that your privacy should be invaded like that,” she clarified.  “But I’m a bit of a romantic at heart, and I had a good feeling about you and Bradford from the moment I saw you two together. Even with the fuzzy photos that were taken, it’s obvious that you were happy to be with him last night.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Lucy said, her cheeks suddenly a fiery red, unsure if it was the right time to discuss personal matters like this.  “I am happy, ma’am.  Thank you,” she said with a small smile. She thought for a moment and then asked, “You look at the tabloids ma’am?”

Captain Andersen laughed. “Not usually. But the LAPD’s tech force keeps tabs on all the sources of news that they can. Usually they’re looking for criminal activity, but the posts about you and Mr. Bradford were a nice bonus.  I got an email this morning with all the links.”

“Oh.  That makes more sense,” Lucy said nodding her head.

“Well,” she started.  She shuffled some papers around on her desk and then looked up at Lucy. “That’s not exactly why I called you in. I have an assignment for you today, if you’re up for it.  It’s not exactly undercover work, and it’s not exactly an internal affairs investigation, but it’s a little bit of both.” 

Lucy was intrigued.  She tried to quickly put the other conversation behind her and smiled at the captain.  “Nice hook.  I’m totally in.  What’s going on?” She leaned her arms on her duty belt and focused on the captain.

“Close the door and take a seat,” she said, waving toward the door and walking around to the front of her desk.

Thanks for asking! I love your stories.

[resolutevalor]

Updated muse page: By category

and yes I am, for the time being, bringing five of my other blogs onto this one. At least until I get out of being critically ill)

----Historical & Period Drama:----

-----Turn ----

Philomena Cheer (with modern actress verses, Bridgerton, Titanic verses)

Elsie Marion ( Swamp Fox's/Francis Marion's Daughter-- many AUs available)

Samatha Tallmadge

Eliza Smith (Mary Woodhull's sister)

Peggy Shippen (request only)

Abigail (request only)

Samuel Tallmadge (Private& request only)

Colonel William Bradford (Private & request only)

---Robin Hood---

Marian of Knighton/ the Nightwatchman fc: Jeanne Goursaud

----Titanic----

Rose Dewitt Bukater (Titanic with Turn & Bridgerton verses)

----Bridgerton ----- Kate Sharma (Bridgerton)

----Downton Abbey----

Sybil Crawley (Downton Abbey, Turn Verses, Titanic & possible Bridgerton Verse)

Mary Crawley(Downton Abbey, Bridgerton verses)

_____________________________________________

----Young Sheldon & BBT ----

Missy Cooper (With Turn & A-team Influences)

-----Dc, Marvel, Hero:----

Peggy Carter

Natasha Romanoff/ Black Widow fc: Melisa asli pamuk

Captain Stephanie "Stevie" Rogers- Fem Captain Rogers

Sergeant Jamie "Bucky" Buchanan Barnes

Diana Prince

Brianna Wayne (Marvel Mulit-versed Female!!Bruce Wayne)

Jamie Michaela Rogers (Oc daughter of Peggy Carter & Steve Rogers)

Yovela Edina Jarvis (Oc daughter of Edwin & Ana Jarvis) fc: young brooke shields alternate fc Josephine Langford

----Disney & Movie ----

Elizabeth Swann -Turner

Melody fcs: Yasmine bleeth, Ashley Moore (2024 version)

Ariel

Mulan

Anastasia Romanov

Belle

Susan Pevensie- Emilia clarke

Lucy Pevensie - Brec Bassinger, Josephine Langford, Hannah New

Mia Thermopolis

Anna of Arendelle

Clara Stahlbaum

----Star Wars----

Rey

Qi'ra (Low activity/request only)

female! Poe Dameron (Low activity/request only)

----First Responders & detectives:----

----One Chicago----

Gabby Dawson

Lizzie Novak

Kim Burgess

Vanessa Rojas

Kylie Estevez

---Blue Bloods---

Eddie Janko

---- Law and Order SVU----

Oliva Benson

Juliet Higgins (request only)

Nancy Drew (1960s heavily influenced with smatterings of book canon)

Avery Morgan (Doctor Odyssey)

____The Rookie____

Lucy Chen

Talia Bishop

Baily Nune

Gennifer Bradford

-----Villain Muses ----

Kat

-----60s-the80s muses----

Cherry Valance (request only)

Bonnie barstow

Ricki Tubbs

Justice Crockett

Jake Crockett (private muse with Smeagol)

Judy Hoffs

Amy Amanda Allen

John Hannibal Smith

HM Murdock (Shipped only with Avictimofthejazz's Kelley)

Pete Malloy- Adam-12

Dominic Luca 1975

---Full House---

Michelle Tanner

---Twisters---

Kate Carter

[starsfic]

Prompt Violet, despite knowing Lena will hate it, calls Poe's sister Magica on his cell phone for help. Magica is at first dismissive of anything Poe related and wants nothing to do with him, but the second Violet says Poe was kidnap, she's on board.

Honker was working on tracing Brad's texts from Louie's phone.

While he worked, everyone was preparing to launch an attack. That included Lena. Thankfully, she didn't notice Lena slip away, Poe's phone clenched in her hand.

Now alone in the closet, Violet took a deep breath. Lena would hate her idea. But they needed backup, especially if they were going to save Poe.

She typed in the number.

It rang.

And rang.

"WHOEVER WAS FOOLISH ENOUGH-"

"It's Violet."

There was silence. "Wow?" Magica finally said. "I'm sorry, do I know you? You sound familiar."

"I'm Lena's sister." There was silence. "The girl who attacked her during your training of her." There was a bark of laughter. She took it as a hint that she remembered now. "We need your help."

Magica burst into laughter. Violet allowed her to laugh until she took a breath. "Poe's been kidnapped."

The laughter stopped.

"I will be right over there."

[running2redemption]

8 - How do they like to unwind after a long day?

14 - Do they have read receipts on?

"Oh, if I'm not working on something for S.H.U.S.H. I'm working on my book."

Uncle BB AU, O.W.L. AU

"I have no idea what that is... I'm guessing some kind of cellular phone thing?"

[heart-waves]

AU where bradford raises flora from an egg and we are blessed with the sight of him carrying her around in one of these bad boys

[rmtndew]

Chapter 11

Summary: The Great Depression took its toll on a lot of people and some had to get creative to survive. Seraphina’s father decides his solution is to sell his only daughter to a much older man. But when Sy overhears a conversation about the young woman, he makes a decision that will change his life - and Seraphina’s - forever.

(An arranged marriage AU with Captain Syverson)

Pairing: Sy and OFC Seraphina

Word count: 3,700+

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9, Chapter 10, Chapter 11, Chapter 12, Chapter 13, Chapter 14, Chapter 15, Chapter 16

Tag List Round 1 - @hollydaisy23, @onlyhenrys, @omgkatinka, @lawfulgranola, @gearhead66, @thethirstyarchive, @oddsnendsfanfics, @littlerinoa, @agniavateira, @aaescritora, @justaboringadult, @beenthroughalot, @seriouslygoodlookinggents, @xxxkatxo, @musicartmayheminmyheart, @lilliannaansalla, @dashingcavill, @mariestark, @summersong69, @sugarpenchant, @ruthoakenshield, @rn7rocks, @feralrunaway, @mzchievous-blog, @kmuir1, @the-space-between-heartbeats, @thereisa8ella, @daddys-littlewhitegirl, @jaded808, @secretlywriting, @princesssterek, @witcherfan, @the-problem-of-leisure, @inlovewithhisblueeyes, @amberangel112, @eldarwen333, @mary-ann84, @legendarywizarddetective, @vikingsbifrost, @sanjaaaaaaa, @mrsshiddleston, @batgurl1989, @absolutepie, @wonderlandfandomkingdom, @elena-myth, @mis-lil-red, @stxlemate, @tuckersgirl, @excalibur22, @diegos-butt​ (IF YOU’RE CROSSED OUT, IT WON’T LET ME TAG YOU!)

Let me know if you’d like to be added/removed from the tag list! 

By November, things at the farm had slowed down quite a bit. Sy still had work to do but with winter on its way, it wasn’t as much. So when he came in mid-day and wrapped his arms around me while I was folding laundry, I didn’t have to worry that I was keeping him from his chores as I turned and pulled him down for a kiss. He laughed at first and I knew it was because he thought it was funny when little bitty me tried wrangling a big old bull like him, but his laughing didn’t last long. He pulled me closer to him, humming against my mouth. My belly was getting bigger and put a little distance between us, but he didn’t let that stop him none. He just stooped on down and held me to him. When he ended it, he kissed all over my face with soft little kisses.

“We got a letter in the mail,” he said, kissing below my ear. “Dr. Bradford wants us to come to town and see him next week. He wants to check on you and Little Bit.” 

“That’s awfully nice of him. We should write him back and tell him we’ll come in.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he agreed, then took a step back to look at me. “You getting hungry?”

“Well, I wasn’t until you mentioned it, but now I am,” I said. “I’ll make us lunch.”

He shook his head. “No. I’ll do it. You just keep standing right there, looking pretty as a picture, and I’ll fix us something.” He smiled then looked down at my stomach. “Does Little Bit have any requests?” 

I put my hand on my belly. “A peanut butter and pickle sandwich.”

His smile widened. “Alright. That’s what I’ll make.”

I finished up folding the laundry as Sy went to the kitchen to make us lunch. He was still making it when I wandered over to him. I wrapped my arms around him as best I could from behind and rested my head against his back. He was warm and I could hear him breathing. The feeling of it made me melt against him as I closed my eyes.

“You getting tired, Momma?” he asked, his fingers lightly dancing across my arm. 

“A little,” I admitted. I hadn’t been sleeping too good the last few nights and it felt like it was all catching up to me right then. 

“Why don’t we eat and then you can take a nap?” 

“I hate leaving you to do all the work by yourself.” 

“Don’t. There ain’t much more I can do outside today.” 

That was all the convincing I needed. 

After lunch, I helped Sy do the washing up but he noticed I kept stretching my back and rubbing at it. It was aching like it used to when Daddy would make me haul the flour and cornmeal in the house after he’d go to the shop to get it. Like I’d been moving around something big and heavy, even though I knew I hadn’t. 

Sy dried off his hands and then took the cup out of mine, putting it down next to the sink. “C’mon, honey bee. Let me make you feel better,” he said. Then he picked me right on up from the floor. 

I wrapped my legs and arms around him to hold on. It wasn’t the first time he’d carried me off like that but it never failed to get me going thinking about how strong he was that even with me getting bigger and bigger, he could pick me up like I’s nothing. He walked over to our sofa and sat down with me on his lap. He kissed the side of my head and I buried my face in his neck as his big paws started rubbing my back. Not hard enough to hurt but hard enough to feel like he was getting his fingers down into whatever was hurting and loosening it up. He went between rubbing it and being gentle like with his fingers, grazing them over my back through my dress, tickling me just a smidge. Not enough for me to start wriggling around and trying to get away from him, but enough for me to get goosebumps on my skin, even though I was burrowed right against his warm body. It weren’t long before the pain eased up. 

“That feels so good, Sy,” I mumbled. 

“Yeah? You feeling better?” he asked. 

I nodded against him. “Uh huh. Lot better.” 

“Good.” He kissed my ear and my temple as he kept rubbing my back but before I knew what was going on, he was standing up again. I lifted my head to look around and he brought one of his hands up and caressed my cheek. “It’s alright. I’m just gonna take you to bed so you can sleep.” And he did just that. He pulled the covers back before placing me down on the bed and then covered me up. He bent and kissed my head again. “Get you some rest, alright? I want to hear your snores from plumb outside.”

I smiled, my eyes growing too heavy to look at him. “I don’t snore.”

“Whatever you say, honey bee.” 

I felt better after my nap and that evening I was able to stay awake long enough to be properly coupled with Sy. He was in a right mood, too. Once I got ready for bed and he saw me in my nightgown, saw how tight it was starting to fit around my chest and stomach, it was like he turned into some wild beast. We was in bed for pert near two hours and no sign of him slowing down. Normally I wouldn’t’ve minded but I was worn out. Two hours took its toll on me. So I tapped his head and told him I didn’t have much left. He moved behind me and held me to him tight, his hands smoothing over everything Little Bit made swell up, and when we was both taken care of, we were so tired we fell asleep just as we were. 

After those two hours, I should’ve slept like a log. But somehow I still woke up in the middle of the night. I was exhausted. I didn’t understand why I couldn’t hardly rest no more. I looked at Sy and saw him sleeping peacefully. He’d rolled away from me at some point and was sprawled out on his back. I was cold and decided to get up and put my nightgown on but as I did, Sy’s hand reached out for me. 

“Seraphina?” he rasped sleepily. 

“I’m just putting on my gown,” I told him. 

It was on the floor and I slipped it on quick but when I got back in bed, he was awake. His eyes blinked at me in the dark and without a word, he lifted the blankets and patted his chest, inviting me to lay down on him. I did, wrapping my arm around his thick waist and my leg around one of his big tree trunk thighs. 

“What’re you doing awake?” he asked, putting his arms around me. 

“I don’t know. Just can’t sleep,” I said, rubbing my cheek against the soft fur on his chest. “I don’t like it none.”

 “I know, baby. I’m sorry.” He rubbed his hands on my back and arm, soothing me. “What’s something you do like?” 

I thought for a minute then glanced up at him. He was looking at me, waiting. “I like you singing.” 

He smiled. “You want me to sing to you?” he asked. I nodded. “What do you want me to sing?” 

I shrugged. “I don’t care. I just like listening to you.” 

He was quiet for just a bit, his hands still moving. Finally he took a breath and started singing real low. I could feel it in his chest. 

“Stars shining bright above you, night breezes seem to whisper ‘I love you’, birds singing in the sycamore tree. Dream a little dream of me. Say nighty-night and kiss me. Just hold me tight and tell me you’ll miss me. While I’m alone and blue as can be, dream a little dream of me. Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you, sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you. But in your dreams, whatever they be, dream a little dream of me. Dream a little dream of me.”

“I love your voice so much, Sy. I can’t wait until you’re holding Little Bit and singing them to sleep.” 

His arms tightened around me. “You gonna make this old man cry if you start with that,” he joked. 

I smiled and turned my head to kiss his chest. “Alright. I won’t start,” I said. “Sing me another one, please?” 

He sang another song for me, then another’n but soon I fell fast asleep. I didn’t wake up no more that night but I knew if I did, Sy would just sing me right back. 

The next day we sent off a letter to Dr. Bradford telling him we’d be happy to come in and have him check on everything. I hoped he might be able to help me with my sleeping troubles, even though I suspected like everything else it was caused by Little Bit. But maybe he knew some way to deal with it better than I was. It took a few days before we finally heard back. He sent a letter asking us to come in on Tuesday if we could. 

Tuesday morning I was getting ready when Sy came and leaned on the doorframe to our bedroom. He’d been out checking on the animals and feeding them and making sure they’d be alright while we was gone. 

“What is it?” I asked, taking my slip from the chest of drawers. 

He smiled. “Just thinking about how beautiful you are.” 

My face flushed and my ears went hot. “I’m in my underthings,” I said quietly, then tugged on my slip. 

“You’re beautiful in whatever you wear.” He bit his lip. “Or don’t wear.” 

“You’re something else, Sy,” I said, but couldn’t help from smiling. “Why don’t you do something and pick out a dress for me?” 

He pushed off the doorframe right quick and went to our little closet. “Yes, ma’am,” he said, pulling open the door. It was like he’d been waiting for me to ask him to do that for the longest time. He took my green dress and brought it over. “Raise those arms for me, honey bee.” I did and let him put the dress on me. Then he moved around to my back. My hair had gotten tucked into the dress and he was careful to get it out, then he brushed it over my shoulder before he fastened the few little buttons on the neck. He kissed the side of my head. “I got the prettiest wife in the whole world.”

“You’re crazy.”

He kissed my cheek. “Crazy about you.” 

I leaned back against him. “Still crazy, though.” 

He slid his hands around to my belly and rubbed it. “I’m going to be crazy about Little Bit, too.” 

“Well, at least that’s something we can both agree on.”

“You say that like I’m not an agreeable man,” he teased.

“No, you are most of the time.” I looked up at him over my shoulder. “But sometimes you can get a bit ornery.” 

He grinned. “Just a bit?”

I shrugged, grinning back. “Maybe a little more than that.” 

“That’s that big bull coming out in me, I reckon.”

“I reckon so,” I agreed. 

We finished getting ready and went out to the truck. It was cold outside but I didn’t mind. I liked the colder weather. I hadn’t when I was living with Daddy. My room would be so cold I’d see my breath in the mornings and my socks all had holes in them. No matter how many times I darned them, they’d crop back up somewhere new. And my coat grew too small as it stretched to carry me through six winters. But Sy made sure I had proper clothes. Good, thick socks and a nice warm coat that fit me right, even as Little Bit was growing away like a weed. But my favorite part? Sy was so warm that I could just snuggle right on up with him and he’d keep me nice and cozy. That’s exactly what I did as we drove to Dr. Bradford’s office in town. 

Dr. Bradford was surprised to see how big I’d gotten. I hadn’t seen him since the day of the barn raising party and back then, you couldn’t tell Little Bit was there just by looking at me. But they’d made themselves known since then, rounding out my stomach enough to tell. 

“You have to be the healthiest looking expectant mother I’ve seen in a long while,” Dr. Bradford said. “Most women I’ve seen carrying children lately are skinnier than bean poles. Especially if the husband is out of work. With food already scarce, it’s hard enough feeding just a man and wife, but add in trying to feed other little ones?” He shook his head. “It’s a struggle.” He patted Sy on the back. “Whatever you’re doing to take care of your wife, you’re doing a good job. Keep it up.”   

“I’m thankful we’ve got the farm. Even if we ain’t growing crops like we did before all this mess started, I know we’re sitting better than most other people,” Sy said. “We’re awfully blessed.” 

“You are,” Dr. Bradford agreed. “And that’s not something I get to hear too often.”

“I imagine you see the worst of it,” Sy said. 

“Not so much here in town. A lot of people who can still afford to live here are doing alright. It’s the ones who live a little further out in the country that I’m worried about. I’ve taken to setting up at some of the school houses when I can and doing my best to get them to come but a lot of them won’t accept a handout. I try to encourage those folks to pay however they can and because of that Ruth and I are pretty set with eggs for the rest of the year,” he said with a laugh. “But there are still some right stubborn ones and I can’t force anybody to let me help them. As much as I might want to.” 

“Don’t take it too personal. The doctor we had a while back didn’t exactly build anyone’s confidence in your profession. He was a mite too big for his own breeches and gave a lot of people the runaround. When my Pa took ill, we drove him two hours away to see another doctor in a whole other town,” Sy said. “Some of us country folk are stubborn, we can’t help it, but most of us just don’t trust doctors. Give it some time.”

“Well, that makes me feel a little bit better knowing that it’s not me exactly, but I hate that y’all didn’t get the proper care you needed under your last doctor. I’m going to do my best to set that right.” 

 I liked Dr. Bradford. He was kind and didn’t make me feel ignorant for not knowing a lot of motherly stuff. Without Momma there to explain everything to me, I felt like I was learning as I went. He asked me some questions and reckoned by my answers that I’s about four months along and that I was gaining weight just like I ought to. He couldn’t offer me too much advice on how to get better sleep except drinking some warm milk but I figured it was just part of it. Everything looked good and he asked Sy to bring me back again in a few months to check on me. 

As we were getting back in the truck, Sy stopped for a second. “Let’s go get us a candy bar down at the store before we head back. We’ll eat it on the way home. What d’you say, Momma?” 

I smiled at him. “I say it sounds like you’re trying to fatten me up even more, Papa.” 

“I can’t help it if I like how big you’re getting and I ain’t apologizing for it, either,” he said, smirking at me. “And now I got Dr. Bradfords seal of approval to get you fatter than a hog set for auction.” 

“There you go again calling me some silly animal,” I said pouting. “I don’t want to be no hog.” 

“Oh, come on, I’m just teasing you, honey bee.” He opened the truck door for me. “What kind of animal do you want to be called?” 

“I don’t know. Something pretty,” I said, sliding in across the truck seat. “Like a deer, or a cute bunny, or some sweet little bird. But not no stinking hog.” 

“Well, I didn’t say you were a stinking one,” he said, sitting down next to me. “I happen to think you smell nice.” He looked at me and smiled. “At least I didn’t call you a skunk.” 

“You ever call me that, I’ll probably cry.” 

He laughed. “I promise I won’t ever do that then. I don’t want to make you cry,” he said. “Now give me a kiss.” I pouted for a few seconds more then leaned up to kiss him. He gave me three quick pecks on my lips, then kissed my forehead. “Let me make it up to you and get something sweet for my sweetheart, how’s that?” 

I nodded. “Alright.” 

We drove down to the general store and picked us out a couple of candy bars. We ate them on the way back to the farm but when I finished mine, I looked over at Sy and saw he’d only eaten half of his. That wasn’t like him.  

“Why don’t you finish this off for me?” he asked, handing it over to me. I realized then why he hadn’t eaten it all. 

“Why do you spoil me so much?” I asked, taking it from him.

He grinned right big. “Because I can.”

I shook my head at him but smiled. “You’re gonna regret it one of these days. I’ll be so spoilt rotten I’ll just come right along and snatch whatever I want out of your hands ‘cause I’m so used to getting it.” 

He laughed. “You ain’t got it in you, honey bee.”  

I put my head on his shoulder. “You don’t know that.” 

“I do. For one, you’re too sweet for it,” he said. “And for another, you ain’t tall enough to snatch anything out of my hands.” 

I laughed. “I’ll get up on my wash bucket.” 

“You still won’t be tall enough.”

“You’re being mean now,” I said. I snapped a piece of the candy bar off and held it up to his mouth. He eyed me for a second then opened up and ate it. A bit of chocolate got on his lip and I wiped it off with my thumb, then licked it clean. “I’ll get me a big step stool.” 

“You ain’t getting on no step stool while you’re carrying Little Bit,” he said. “You know good and well all you gotta do is tell me what you want and I’ll hand it right over. Ain’t no snatching needed.” 

I took a bite of his candy bar, then broke off another piece to feed him. “Well, you’re the one spoiling me so whatever I end up doing, it’s all on you, Sy,” I said, talking around the chocolate. 

“I’ll take full responsibility,” he said as I brought my hand up to his mouth. But when he opened up, he took hold of my wrist, holding it still as he took the piece of chocolate and my fingers in his mouth at the same time. He nibbled on my fingers, making me squeal. He laughed and let go of my hand, then smirked at me. “Sorry. You’re just sweeter than that candy bar and I wanted me a little bite.” 

I smacked his arm lightly. “You’re something else, Hoyt Syverson.” 

He pinched at my thigh, making me squirm away from him and laugh again. “You still love me?” 

I sighed. “I reckon.” I looked at him and saw him grinning as he stared out at the road in front of us. “You still love me?” 

“Yeah, I reckon I do, too.” He reached over and put his hand on my belly. “Are you listening to me and your Momma teasing each other, Little Bit? That’s all it is. I love her more than anything in this world except for you. Ain’t no ‘reckon’ about it.” 

I felt something odd in my stomach. A flutter. Sy slammed on the truck brakes and looked at me, his eyes wider than saucers. He felt it, too. 

Little Bit was moving. 

“Keep talking,” I told him.

“What do I say?” he whispered. 

“Just talk to them like you usually do.” 

He twisted in his seat so he was closer to my belly. “Hey, Little Bit. Can you hear your Papa talking to you?” he asked, rubbing my stomach. “Your Momma and me are just having fun. You’re going to find that out when you get here. I was a grouchy old man living by myself until I married her. She’s the best friend I ever had and she’s going to be the best Momma there ever was, too. And I know you already love her. There ain’t no way you can be growing inside her and not be swallowed up in all the love she’s got.”

My bottom lip started wobbling and I couldn’t help all the tears swimming around my eyes or how they streamed down my cheeks quietly while I listened to him. Little Bit must’ve known how my heart was swelling because they gave another little kick. Sy looked up at me, a grin on his face. It didn’t last long, though. 

“You alright, baby?” he asked, looking worried. 

I nodded. “You just make me so happy,” I cried. 

He moved his hand, putting it on my cheek. His thumb brushed away some of my tears. I saw some cropping up in his own eyes as he smiled at me again. “You make me happy, too, honey bee. The happiest I've ever been.” 

Little Bit didn’t kick again for a long while after that day but getting to share that first time with Sy made it all the more special.

[imagineslashers]

Masterlist!

All my works are linked below!

{Featuring: Bubba Sawyer, Vilmer Sawyer, Jason Voorhees, Pamela Voorhees, Freddy Krueger, Michael Myers, Beetlejuice, Billy Loomis, Stu Macher, Chucky, Tiffany Valentine, Blissfield Butcher, Brahms, Dr. Suave, Mental Manny, Bo Sinclair, Vincent Sinclair, Lester Sinclair, Hannibal, The Man, Pennywise, Jennifer Check, Patrick Bateman, Sweeney Todd, Mrs. Lovett, Xenomorph Queen, Jack Torrance}

- Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Bubba Sawyer

First Words Soulmate AU

Flower Crowns

House Sharing

Doing Reader’s Hair/Makeup

Favourite Christmas Activity

Reader with Tattoos

Snacks (Thoughts)

Cleaning Bloody Clothes

Neck Biting

Pregnant Reader

Vampire Reader

Disabled/Wheelchair Reader

Periods

Cuddling

Jealous

Wearing Their Clothes

Reader Shaves Legs

Reader Taken Away

Slashers as Dogs

Selectively Mute Reader

Vilmer Sawyer

Father!Vilmer Child!Reader

Dominant & Aggressive

Pregnant Reader

Hickies

- Friday 13th

Jason Voorhees

First Words Soulmate AU

Flower Crowns

House Sharing

Ideal Partner (Thoughts)

Reader Nearly Drowned

Doing Reader’s Hair/Makeup

Favourite Christmas Activity

Reader with Tattoos

Reader Fights with Parents

Snacks (Thoughts)

Possessive

Cleaning Bloody Clothes

Neck Biting

Pregnant Reader

Vampire Reader

Disabled/Wheelchair Reader

Periods

Cuddling

Frilly/Girly Reader

Jealous

Wearing Their Clothes

Reader Bad Day

Reader Taken Away

Slashers as Dogs

Selectively Mute Reader

Poly Relationship with Michael

Pamela Voorhees

Favourite Christmas Activity

Reader uses Wheelchair

Reader with a Protective Dog

- Halloween

Michael Myers

First Words Soulmate AU

Flower Crowns

House Sharing

Ideal Partner (Thoughts)

Doing Reader’s Hair/Makeup

Favourite Christmas Activity

Reader with Tattoos

Snacks (Thoughts)

Cleaning Bloody Clothes

Neck Biting

Pregnant Reader

Survivor Reader

Vampire Reader

Disabled/Wheelchair Reader

Periods

Smol Reader

Cuddling

HSM Scene

Jealous

Wearing Their Clothes

Hearing Michael’s Voice

Reader Taken Away

Slashers as Dogs

Comforting the Reader (Panic Attack)

Selectively Mute Reader

Trans Male Reader

Poly Relationship with Jason

Teenage Reader

- Nightmare on Elm Street

Freddy Krueger

First Words Soulmate AU

Flower Crowns

House Sharing

Ideal Partner (Thoughts)

Doing Reader’s Hair/Makeup

Favourite Christmas Activity

Reader with Tattoos

Snacks (Thoughts)

Neck Biting

Pregnant Reader

Vampire Reader

Disabled/Wheelchair Reader

Cuddling

Jealous

Wearing Their Clothes

Reader Taken Away

Slashers as Dogs

Selectively Mute Reader

- Chucky

Chucky

House Sharing

Favourite Christmas Activity

Reader with Tattoos

Vampire Reader

Red String of Fate

Teenage Reader

Tiffany

Favourite Christmas Activity

Reader uses Wheelchair

Vampire Reader

Teenage Reader

Reader Dyes Hair Pink

- Beetlejuice (movie)

Beetlejuice

First Words Soulmate AU

Flower Crowns

Horny Headcanons

Favourite Christmas Activity

Domestic

Reader in Lingerie

Reader Likes to Sing

Goofball Reader

Red String of Fate Pt. I

Red String of Fate Pt. II

Reader with Tattoos

Snacks (Thoughts)

Neck Biting

Pregnant Reader

Vampire Reader

Disabled/Wheelchair Reader

Wearing Their Clothes

Nice/Sweet Reader

Reader Taken Away

Slashers as Dogs

Selectively Mute Reader

Trans Male Reader

Teenage Reader

- Freaky (2020)

Blissfield Butcher (original)

First Words Soulmate AU

NSFW Headcanons

Selectively Mute Reader

Someone Attempting to Take Away Reader S/O

Angel S/O

Blissfield Butcher (femme!)

Shy Reader Has a Crush on Millie

- The Boy

Brahms

Doing Reader’s Hair/Makeup

- Funhouse Massacre

Bradford Young aka Doctor Suave

Favourite Christmas Activity

Manual Dyer aka Mental Manny

General Relationship Headcanons

- House of Wax

Bo Sinclair

Reader with a Protective Dog

Christmas Prompt

Vincent Sinclair

Christmas Prompt

Lester Sinclair

Christmas Prompt

- Scream

Billy

Favourite Christmas Activity

Snacks (Thoughts)

Vampire Reader

Disabled/Wheelchair Reader

Cuddling

Jealous

Wearing Their Clothes

Reader Taken Away

Slashers as Dogs

Stu

Favourite Christmas Activity

Sick Reader

Snacks (Thoughts)

Vampire Reader

Disabled/Wheelchair Reader

Cuddling

Jealous

Wearing Their Clothes

Reader Taken Away

Slashers as Dogs

Poly

First Words Soulmate AU

Flower Crowns

All In

Bad Day

Reader with Tattoos

Shiny New Toy

Reader Rescues Cat

Selectively Mute Reader

- Hush (2016)

The Man

First Words Soulmate AU

Flower Crowns

The Chase

Doing Reader’s Hair/Makeup

Favourite Christmas Activity

Possessive

Valentine’s Day

Neck Biting

Pregnant Reader

SFW & NSFW Headcanons

Vampire Reader

Reader with PTSD

Disabled/Wheelchair Reader

Slashers as Dogs

Selectively Mute Reader

Jealous

- IT

Pennywise

Favourite Christmas Activity

Breeding Kink

Cleaning Bloody Clothes

Vampire Reader

Slashers as Dogs

- Hannibal

Vampire Reader

Slashers as Dogs

- Jennifer’s Body

Jennifer Check

Favourite Christmas Activity

Reader uses Wheelchair

Vampire Reader

- American Psycho

Patrick Bateman

Favourite Christmas Activity

Reader with Tattoos

Possessive

Cleaning Bloody Clothes

Slashers as Dogs

Reader with a Protective Dog

- Sweeney Todd

Sweeney Todd

Favourite Christmas Activity

Possessive

Cleaning Bloody Clothes

Slashers as Dogs

Mrs. Lovett

Favourite Christmas Activity

- Alien

Xenomorph Queen

Favourite Christmas Activity

Reader uses Wheelchair

- The Shining

Jack Torrance

Favourite Christmas Activity

[shadowjinx626]

has anyone ask you for the "Family" thing in the age change au?

It was just another day at the McDuck Manor.

Another day of yelling.

"Because of you I lost my brother!" Magica yells as she points a finger at scrooge. "You could've stop him from flying away!"

"I said I was sorry!" Scrooge yells back. He holds his hand up in defense.

"Besides, you deserved it! You and your brother took everyone else families away!" Phantom Blot shouted. "And you still hurt people after your brother went missing! Including me!"

Magica huffed and crosses her arms, "yeah well, you and your village bored me. It deserved to be destroyed."

"Why you-" Phantom Blot shouted as he pounced on Magica and started to pull on her hair.

It didn't take long for the "adults" to come into the room to see what was going on. When Lena and Webby saw the two "kids" fighting, they try their best to separate them.

The other "kids" just continues their activity in the living room, completely ignoring the fight. Except for three. John, Bradford and Goldie were sitting next to one another. John and Goldie were leaning on Bradford's chair while eating some of the candy they gotten from Halloween.

John looks at the fight unimpressed by the whole thing, "this is so boring."

"I thought you like it when they fight," Goldie said.

"It was funny at first, but now it's just boring." John pops a lollipop into his mouth.

"John, what was your family was like?" Bradford ask suddenly.

"Well they spoiled me of course. I'm the living embodiment of the saying 'born with a silver spoon in his mouth.'" John answered with a smug tone.

"Goldie?"

"Same thing for me," The young girl said. "But I gotten tired of the rich lifestyle. I didn't hate it, it was just boring to me. So I became an treasure hunter like Scrooge."

"Urgh, I can't believe you would rather sweat out there instead of basking in your own wealth," John said in disgust.

"Hey now, I don't judge your life style, you don't judge mine."

Bradford sat there in silence as the two "kids" continues their conversation.

[soldrawss]

So I’mmina start this off by saying literally all your aus/drawing make me smile. They’re all so fascinating and sweet and so,SO well thought out! That being said, not to be that person that brings angst into a fluff buffet but... in your Movie Star Dad AU, do the boys every have mixed feelings about their father suddenly appearing in their lives after a prolonged absence? Also would Christof Von Bradford be an issue for the fam, considering his active competitive jerk energy he has with Lou?

Hi, thank you for your sweet words!!! I literally think about my rottmnt aus every waking moment, no joke, so I’m glad that you think they’re well thought out! I do my best! (also always bring angst. I always have a lot of angst in these au’s, I just also try to even it out with just as much fluff) The boys were YOUNG when Yoshi came into their lives, and each of them have their own perspectives on it, so at the time, they didn’t really have any huge negative feelings towards their situation before Yoshi found them because his absence wasn’t really,,, prolonged.

Mikey was literally a baby, barely a year old, so he doesn’t ever remember a time when Yoshi wasn’t in his life. Yoshi is the only parent Mikey really knows, and he’s completely fine with that. If Mikey has any mixed feelings, it’s towards his late mother, who he has absolutely no memories about, and only really knows her through the pictures Raph kept and the stories Raph and Yoshi would tell about her. He sometimes feels bad that he doesn’t feel as sad about her passing as Raph or Yoshi does, and he sometimes feels bad about not remembering her at all, but it’s also weird cause he knows he shouldn’t feel bad about it, cause he was too little to remember anything anyway and that’s not his fault, but the weird gross feelings in his stomach are there all the same when he thinks too hard about it. So he tries not to think about it. And just blissfully goes about his days with his doting dad and his overindulgent big brothers. 

Raph was nervous and distrustful of Yoshi at first, because of course he was. He was 4 years old, sitting in a hospital bed alone with just his tiny baby brother in his arms, nursing a concussion and ugly road rash on his arms and legs while also nursing a broken heart after just losing mama. And then suddenly this man appears, the man in the movies that mama always loved to watch, except he’s not wearing the flamboyant jumpsuit he’s always wearing, but a maroon sweatshirt and old jeans. His signature styled pompadour and orange shades replaced with a disheveled ponytail and bags like bruises under his eyes. And a lot of people come and go throughout the next couple of weeks. Doctors and therapists and child services and lawyers and all of their faces begin to blend together in a dizzying swirl and Raph has a hard time focusing on anyone who isn’t Mikey. But the man stays the same. His face stays intact, and he follows them wherever they go. And then suddenly Raph and Mikey are allowed to go home with the man, and he tells them how he’s their dad. And how he didn’t know they existed, but he’s going to make up for all the lost time tenfold. And he promises he’s gonna love them enough for both him and their mama. Which Raph doesn’t think is possible, and so he’s suspicious and untrusting at first, cause no one can love them more than their mama did. But the man tries. Boy, does he try hard anyway. Tries to win every smiling giggle Mikey shoots at him and earn Raph’s faith that he’ll be there for them. That he’ll protect them. That he’s going to love them forever. And over the weeks and months, through every tantrum and screaming fit and long sleepless nights, he proves it, little by little. He stays. And he loves them. And Raph’s faith in the man grows with every bedtime story and piggyback ride and half-cooked pancake with too much syrup, and Raph’s guard slowly goes down until it’s fully surrendered over to this man who is their dad, and it’s never raised again.  Donnie knows the routine. He’s been through it approximately 27 and a half times before, through all the foster care homes. A new family takes him in. He messes up something. The new family gives him back. Lather. Rinse. Repeat. He’s been here before. He knows this isn’t going to last long, despite all the promises the man with the thick accent says. And Donnie doesn’t really register that this man was his biological father. He doesn’t really care to, to be honest. What was the point? His own biological mother had willingly gotten rid of him, Donnie’s snuck a peek at his record, he knew it all. So what if this man was his dad. That didn’t mean anything. He was gonna get tired of Donnie the same way all the other parents did. Tired of the constant questions. Tired of the broken appliances and half baked reasons why he took them apart in the first place, because apparently “I wanted to see how they worked” wasn’t a good enough answer. And Donnie was three years old and smarter than anyone ever gave him credit for and you know what? He was tired of it too. Tired of getting his hopes of a family finally understanding and accepting him. Tired of wanting a family who would love him back. Tired of getting his heart broken time and time again. So he wasn’t going to get his heart broken this time. He wasn’t going to accept anything of this man, with two boys already that shared Donnie’s eyes, and he wasn’t going to let himself be the fool again. And as the weeks went by, this cold shoulder game he was playing was getting harder and harder to keep, because dangit, this man really did try everything to prove that he was the real deal. The forever family. And Donnie’s new ‘brothers’ were always bright-eyed and curious about everything Donnie did and said, and actually wanted to play his weird word games and puzzles and wanted to spend time with him, and Donnie felt something short circuit in his brain because he wasn’t used to this feeling in his chest. This warm and light feeling. Something must be overheating in whatever engine was running inside of Donnie’s chest, and Donnie didn’t have a clue how to fix it. He also didn’t know if he wanted to fix it. But of course, it didn’t matter anyway. Because Donnie messed up. It was bound to happen eventually, Donnie got to brazen with how comfortable he was getting in the large house, and when he was running in the hallways, chasing after Raph in an impromptu game of tag, he accidentally slipped and knocked into the t.v stand, sending it straight to the floor where it broke into a hundred different pieces of glass and tiny wired parts. Donnie was mortified, knowing this would definitely send him back, and he got on his hands and knees and tried to collect the parts and put it back together but there was no time. The man that Donnie was half tempted to call dad half the time was already in the room, searching for the source of the loud crash and when his eyes finally landed on Donnie and the broken t.v behind him, Donnie couldn’t help but burst into tears. And he tried to explain, tried to apologize and he promised he’d fix it, he promised, he’d fix it up brand new and then the man wouldn’t have to send Donnie back. He’d be good. He’d fix this. He promised. Just please don’t send him back. And Donnie didn’t see the way the man’s body flinched at Donnie’s sobbed confession, and didn’t see the man lurch from where he was standing to pick Donnie up and hold him in a tight embrace saying all kinds of things that didn’t make sense to Donnie. Because the man was supposed to be angry. Angry like all the other parents eventually were. Angry and disappointed and tired, not... well... whatever this was. Which was holding him close, and running shaking hands through his hair and rubbing circles into his back and saying “Are you ok? Did you get hurt anywhere? Did you touch the glass? Shhh, shhhh, it’s ok buddy, breathe, you’re ok. You’re not in trouble. You don’t have to fix anything. It’s just a t.v. As long as you’re unhurt, then it’s ok. You’re ok, sweetheart. I got you.” And Donnie could feel the man press kisses into Donnie’s hairline that made the 3-year-old cry even harder, and press his face farther into his dad’s shirt as he clung to him for dear life. Because it’s never been just ‘ok’ before. Never. And for the first time, Donnie was starting to learn that with this family, with this man, being ‘ok’ might just work out after all.

When Leo meets Yoshi for the first time, it’s with a heart already filled to the brim with excitement and acceptance as he fully lets him into his life. Because Leo’s 3, and doesn’t know where he came from like most of the other kids in the halfway home. All he knows is that he’s always lived in this cramped house, sharing a room with a broken AC unit with 4 other boys around his age that just loved picking on Leo because of how small he was and how his skin was two different colors. He’s used to the house, and strict rules about eating and playtime, and the mean older kids that come and go while Leo always stays. He doesn’t want to be used to it, but he is, and his lonely daydreams and nights wishing upon all the stars in the sky are filled with thoughts about a life where he gets to leave this place. Dreams about a mom and dad or even a cool uncle or caring grandparents or literally anyone, coming and rescuing him and taking him far away from this place. Dreams about finding a home, with someone there calling him theirs. Belonging to someone, and having someone belong to him too. And then on a dusty and warm afternoon, that very person showed up, and Leo smiles at him hard enough to hurt his face. And he was looking for Leo, Leo specifically, not someone around Leo’s age or who looked like Leo, but actually Leo. And the man wanted Leo. Wanted him like no one had ever wanted him before. And wanted to take him home and call Leo his forever and Leo would have thought he was still dreaming if he hadn’t kept pinching himself the entire 6-hour flight to New York. And not only did Leo get a dad, but he got 3 brothers as well! 3 brothers, who all looked different than Leo but shared his brown eyes all the same, and didn’t mind that Leo talked a lot or made a lot of jokes and didn’t bully him for being or looking ‘weird’ like the other boys he grew up with did. And even though dad says that Leo’s his, and Raph and Donnie and Mikey want to hang around and play with him, Leo still finds himself pinching himself every night just in case. Because this is almost too good to be a dream. It couldn’t be real, right? Did Leo deserve this? Was it really his to have? To call his own? Was a kid like him, who grew up with nothing, who grew up as a nothing, allowed to have everything, and be somebody worth keeping around? Leo wasn’t sure, but if this was a dream, it was the best one he’d ever had, and he hopes he doesn’t wake up from it anytime soon.