#a lot of my other ocs are mentioned ... it'll make sense when i finally talk about her backstory and explain them i swear

[iceicewifey]

shamelessly copied Sinner /j /lh and did one of those Araki style character sheets for Shay to see if i could share her info easier and I'll say it worked 😳

had to redo the template because I'm stupid and the layout kind of confused me plus I'll never pass up an opportunity to make my own version of whatever thing fjdnfjdgb but I hope it makes sense. alot of the info can be found in her mini bio, but it was still fun to fill this out. plain text under the cut because it's alot to read. thanks again to sinner for both posting theirs and providing the original template ♡

editing because this is so outdated already 😭

Name / Nicknames

Shayleigh Disa Malmsteen / Shay, Spanky (childhood nickname), Dee (from Hol Horse)

Age

23 (SDC)

Sex

CIS Female

Birthday / Zodiac Sign

August 12th, 1965 / Leo

Blood Type

O-

Birthplace

Miami, FL USA

Height

5'4" / 162cm

Weight

~137lbs / 62kg

Sexual Orientation

M-spec

Hair Color

Platinum blonde

Eye Color

Pale icy blue // Pink (Manga)

Eyesight / Colorblindness / Wears Glasses?

Slight myopia Not enough to warrant glasses.

Dominant Hand

Left

Type of Voice

High pitched / "soprano" A bit scratchy from smoking

Medical History

Minor nerve damage from particularly deep scar in right forearm, partially perforated septum (corrected; from cocaine use) Uterine Arteriovenous Malformation — required surgery

Scars / Birthmarks / Tattoos

Numerous scars on hands, arms, torso, shoulders, back, legs, and left eyebrow // Barbed wire tat around right wrist, palm tree on left ankle, devil tail on lower back

Other Defining Physical Features: Nose, Eye Shape, Chest Size, Legs, Moles, etc.

Slightly downturned doe eyes, small slits in eyebrows (left has hair displaced by scars, right is shaved to match). Larger than average chest (~E cup)

Race

Caucasian

Religion

N/A

Nationality

American

Ancestral Background

½ Swedish on father's side

Criminal Record / Education

Criminal record is extensive. Dropped out of high school during 11th grade but stopped attending long before then.

Formative Experiences as a Baby or Young Child

Grew up without birth mother (passed away soon after she and her twin sister were born), Father worked as motorcycle mechanic and would frequently bring his daughters to work; fostered her love of motorcycles at a young age. Dealt with abusive stepmother for ~7 years.

Sexual History / Lovers

Several boyfriends & a girlfriend during high school years, numerous ‘flings’ throughout mid 80’s. Not on good terms with any exes.

Thoughts Towards Romance / Marriage

Says she’s indifferent. Would like to get married, but wants it to be with “the right person.” Has trauma from parents about relationships.

People the Subject Looks Up To / Idolizes

Evel Knievel, Lemmy Kilmister

People the Subject Hates

Her father. Stepmother, Lydia. Stepbrother, Adam. Half brother, Viggo. Estefania, Jotaro Kujo, Polnareff, Nukesaku

Personality Traits / Habits / Fav. Sayings

Tends to hide her true emotions, acts apathetic. Cautious around new people, especially if they know who she is and she doesn’t recognize them. Her defense mechanism tends to make it so she comes off as rude or abrasive. // Honestly just enjoys telling people that annoy her to shut up.

Dreams for the Future

Wants to eventually return to Miami. Wants to build her own custom Harley, right down to the paint job. Wants “a buncha badass lookin’ tats” to cover her more prominent body scars.

Fears

Drowning, being strangled, seeing more of her friends die in front of her, upsetting DIO and having to face his wrath.

Most Traumatic Experiences

The years of emotional and verbal abuse from her stepmother and stepbrother. Her first night in jail. Witnessing the deaths of some of her closest friends at the hands of the gang they once belonged to.

Relationships - Incl. Behavior

Neneh is the first best friend she’s ever had; loves her dearly and would kill for her if she asked. Misses her dearly while in Cairo. Gets along well with other Terence T. D’Arby, Kenny G., Enya, and most other mansion residents. On DIO’s better side. Romantically involved with Vanilla Ice.

Familial Relationships - Incl. Behavior

Hasn’t seen her sister since 17, misses her. Got along very well with Swedish grandparents, used to visit every Christmas as a child; visits slowed and eventually stopped upon her father remarrying. Positive relationships with maternal aunt, Caroline and her daughter, Rita. Gets along well with ‘pseudo father’, Ozzy, misses him while in Cairo. The gloves she wears to hide her scarred hands were a gift from him.

Problematic Relationships

Relationship with father was good as a young child but has deteriorated. Misses how he used to be, hurt that he chose a new partner over his daughters. Never had positive relationships with stepmother or stepbrother. Never really got along with former “boss”, Estefania despite trying. Feels no remorse for her death. Her murder is the reason she ends up in Cairo.

Education / Work History

John F. Kennedy Middle School (Miami, FL) Elizabeth Cobb Middle School (Tallahassee, FL) Lincoln High School (dropped out; Tallahassee) Has never been formally employed or had a ‘legal’ job.

Economic Class

Grew up middle class, struggled with money after being kicked out.

Pets / Plants

Never had pets. Had a monstera clipping that grew in the motel room she lived in.

Personality

STUBBORN. Hates being told what to do and will often do the opposite. Tends to clash with authority figures. Has a bit of a sharp tongue, she’s wary of strangers and tends to speak her mind freely, even if what she says isn’t exactly polite. Used to act out rudely for attention from a bad home life but grew out of that phase. Rarely rude to strangers without reason nowadays. Insanely devoted to friends and loved ones, likes going the extra mile to show that she loves and cares for them. Very outgoing, a bubbly ‘people person’ and a bit of a ‘party girl‘. She’s typically laid back and enjoys being surrounded by those she loves. ‘Bitchiness’ is a defense mechanism stemming from trauma; “If I don‘t care, I can’t get hurt.” She’s a spitfire with a feisty side and a terrible temper, never one to back down from a fight and will start one if she’s worked up.

Strengths

Loyal to the end, skilled with knives and using her stand, won’t quit until the task is done or it kills her, can seemingly sense when someone is upset, can pick things up with her feet

Weaknesses

Hedonistic, lower physical strength than muscular male opponents, argumentative, easy to anger, extensive criminal record, bottles feelings Deep down she’s scared and hurt, hiding behind a façade to escape any future pain

Special Skills / Fighting Style(s)

Mostly accustomed to street fighting. Fights dirty; punching, hitting, slapping, kicking, biting, hair pulling, nothing is off limits. Skilled with using switchblades. Likes to use her stand to trip non-stand user and see their confusion when they stumble.

Weapon(s)

Wields twin automatic “stiletto” switchblades, keeps them hidden in her boots

Driver's License / Vehicle of Choice / Driving Language

Obtained learner’s in 1981 and full license in 1983 but had been illegally driving since she was ~14 // Prefers motorcycles over cars. Favorite bike is the 1973 Harley Davidson FL Electra-Glide // Typical Florida Driver™. Has a lead foot and tends to speed. Tends to get a bit aggressive at times and will partake in road rage if provoked.

Hobbies / Recreations

Likes to draw things she thinks are cool; skulls, motorcycles, tigers, devils, playing cards. Tinkering with her bike, watching trash TV, riding motorcycles with friends, swimming, etc. Often upset she can’t do much of this in Cairo

Likes & Dislikes

Likes metal music, leather pants, motorcycles, billiards, chicken shawarma Dislikes formal clothing, being bossed around, running out of hairspray, driving in the rain, prudes

Food / Clothing / Shelter

Had a few outfits (a lot of them shoplifted) and mostly ate instant or microwaveable food while living in a motel paid for with money from ““odd jobs”” // Kept most of the same clothing upon moving to Cairo, despite her style clashing with local culture. Lives and works in DIO’s mansion

Motives / Passions

Self preservation, making “a shit ton of money”, has thought about killing her stepmother in the past but doesn’t want to deal with the consequences

Favorite Color / Locations / People

Dark teal, black, hot pink // South Miami Beach, Aunt Carol’s house // Neneh, Terence, Vanilla, and Enya

Fashion Style

Wears a lot of tight and overly revealing clothing after years of being forced to dress “like a proper girl” as a child. Likes wearing leather and wants to look like the girls in the metal magazines (i.e. Doro Pesch)

Used Substances

Tobacco, alcohol, marijuana (formerly), cocaine (formerly addicted)

Perfume / Cologne?

Used to wear “City Girl” perfume, but prefers scented lotions.

Any Accessories?

Crescent moon earring worn only on her left ear (twin sister wears the other), two hoops on right ear // stud on left side of nose // black leather fingerless gloves to hide scars

Supernatural Abilities / Attuned to Spirits?

Not necessarily sensitive to spirits but sometimes feels what she assumes is her mother’s presence when she sits on the beach alone at night. She can’t explain it, but it’s somewhat comforting and tends to happen when she’s stressed or upset.

Accent / Dialect

Miami accent; pronounces the ‘L’ in “salmon” // speaks in short form and slang often (i.e. wanna, gonna, ain’t) // drops the ‘g’ on words that end in ‘-ing’ (i.e. swimmin’ )

Anything Else?

Knows how to juggle. Allergic to shellfish. Not a serious reaction but the kind that makes her throat tingle. Used to think it happened to everyone, not just her.             ↓ “Everybody’s throat tingles after crab cakes. It’s part of the experience.”

[fountainpenguin]

Hi! So I read your fic that focused on preening from the POV of Sanderson, and I was curious about the thing mentioned there about pixies going off to start their own companies when they grow up and have their own kids - I haven’t read everything, granted, but I don’t think I saw anything about that in your pixie worldbuilding and it sounds interesting, so I’d love if you could elaborate! Also, what do you think Pixie world would look like after a generation or two of this?

Thanks for your interest! (Heads up for minor #ridspoilers related to Origin of the Pixies, 130 Reasons Why I'm Fairy Trash, and Devil's Backbone)

Useful Knowledge

- 130 Prompt #37 - "Grooming" - One-shot about Sanderson (who has separation anxiety) anxiously waiting for H.P. to call him in for their evening grooming / preening ritual - Gyne & drone mindset info - If you don't know what gynes are, my replies won't make much sense. - List of Gen 2 Pixies - I namedrop pixies below. Not required, but it may be useful to have their numbers and vague details - Vice President Longwood's bio & main blog tag - Not required to understand this post, but there are some interesting old posts like "How do other pixies view the Longwood vs Sanderson rivalry?" & "What is Longwood's leadership style?" - It's also helpful to know what Wolbachia pipientis is, but the only thing you really need to know is that Pixies reproduce asexually when they come of age, whether they want to or not.

Background

"I was curious about the thing mentioned there about pixies going off to start their own companies when they grow up and have their own kids [...] so I’d love if you could elaborate!"

Aside from Sanderson giving sneak peeks of what he knows of H.P.'s plans in "Grooming" (and occasional other glimpses into his mind), we actually don't get to this part of the lore until Arc 4 of 130 Reasons Why I'm Fairy Trash.

For reference, I'm looking at the 130 summaries page and the next 'fic I post will kick off Arc 3, so it'll be a while.

Where we are in modern times (i.e. Timmy's time period), H.P. is down to his last offspring before his Wolbachia-forced fertility fades out- that's why Finley and Southmark - his final two children - are born tomtes: i.e., Fae without magic. Like a printer, he ran out of ink.

Art from the Eclipse House roommates post - Sammy, Poof, Foop, Finley

Coincidentally, Sanderson's Wolbachia-forced fertility kicks on right around the time, as he had come into adulthood and his body finished setting up everything it needed to inside him.

Those who've been around a while probably know exactly who Sanderson's first clone offspring is... Who's that pixie?

Art from the 2019 music meme post

It's... Cavatina Sanderson!

He's our cover image character for the Gray Train story arc and made his first in-story appearance as a teen (at Goldie's coronation) in "All I Ever Wanted." He is hands-down my favorite FOP OC, whom I've had since 2016 but have said little about since we've not reached his arc, and I love him very much.

Let's talk about companies, logos, some things we can expect from Vice President Longwood and Chief Pixie Smith, and a little about Cavatina... without getting TOO spoilery, of course.

Companies and Business

I can't say much, but I can confirm Sanderson opens a music store after becoming a dad and Cavatina often hangs out with him there.

The music store means a lot to Sanderson as it's the only place that's truly his (seeing as he shares an apartment with Hawkins, Longwood, and Wilcox for most of his life).

The funny thing about Cavatina is that he also likes tagging around after H.P., so you can imagine what that looks like. Duckling instinct strikes again...

Company Logos

A group of pixies can be called a company- not every pixie needs to run a business, but they're identified by special marks that organize them in family groups... Well, companies in a culture that doesn't like acknowledging family connections.

In other words, pixies have tattoos on their wrists that identify them despite being otherwise identical. These are Sanderson's:

From this post

These marks are called logos and are tattooed on the undersides of Sanderson’s wrists- He's Pixie 002 in H.P.’s company (left wrist) and Pixie 001 of his own company (right wrist).

Sanderson’s offspring have his logo tattooed on the undersides of their left wrists; they do not have H.P.’s logo at all. When they're old enough for their own company, they'll add their logo to their right wrist and their offspring will have that same logo on left wrist, so on and so forth.

While forcibly tattooing little kids may sound cruel... There is a good reason for it. DNA tests are absolutely useless in Pixie World because pixies are genetically identical. Every pixie is, technically, the child of Ambrosine and Solara- H.P.'s parents (which is why all pixies are tied to the same yoo-doo doll). Their pheromones vary slightly, but brand marks are the only reliable way to identify who a pixie is.

Worldbuilding detail- Fae heal quickly, but washing injuries (like tattoo pinpricks) in rosewater will prevent them from healing. Sanderson vaguely alludes to this in "Grooming."

H.P. had 507 (surviving) offspring, and he began reproducing when he was 491,536 years old. He was the first pixie infected with Wolbachia. H.P. wasn't born with Wolbachia- he was only infected late in life (human equivalent of 43). His offspring are born every time he would be coming into heat if non-infected, so his offspring are 500 years apart (give or take a year, with rare exceptions).

But Gen 2 (H.P.'s offspring) were born with Wolbachia, so they start reproducing shortly after adulthood (human equivalent of 22 or 23, give or take for the individual).

And there are a LOT of pixies coming into age around that time. Which is a huge population concern.

Near the end of my "7 Billion Years in 15,000 Words" post, I mentioned that after Foop makes the connection between royal jelly and gynes, that news gets out. Fairy parents experiment with feeding jelly to their kids, leading to a boom of gynes in the cloudlands (Playing into that culture of gynes being viewed "more attractive" and "smarter" and "more desirable kids" than drones... Obviously all social stereotypes, but that's the unfortunate way of the world). That has a lot of problems in its own- Most notably, the fact that dominance instincts set gynes up to fight to the death and now there are a lot of them in Fairy World. -> Foop actually... did not want that news to go public. For all his faults, he's very thoughtful and meticulous and he wanted to think over his discovery before people knew about it. It's devastating to him and he carries the emotional burden of his research for a long time. Specifically, I said in that post that there aren't enough fairy drones to go around since many drakes developed into gynes, so a lot of them would probably seek the pixies, thus luring them out of Pixie World and integrating them more into Fairy World I still think that's the most likely fate. There are simply too many pixies for Pixie World to thrive with an exponentially increasing population in a very small space.

Where Are We Going?

"Also, what do you think Pixie world would look like after a generation or two of this?"

I really like the Pixie expansion plot I have going on. H.P. is a gyne, and as his few gyne offspring grow older, the smart move is to separate them so they won't kill each other (or him). The vibe here is "princess" bees going off to be queens of their own colony, which is fairly accurate to a real bee or wasp hive, which I like.

Longwood Mayfleet was H.P.'s first gyne offspring and is due to take over Pixies Inc. after H.P. (and even become Head Pixie II someday).

That's all well and good, but that still leaves us with a handful of other gynes who need to go somewhere. Most famously, we have Darius Smith- The next oldest gyne after Longwood.

Who is Smith?

Smith is always butting heads with H.P., to the point that he's not even allowed inside Pixies Inc. most of the time. He oversees the warehouses and cloudships.

I also have a pheromone post scheduled for Sunday on the sideblog that discusses Smith's unique pheromones. Check that out for bonus info.

Smith's a really interesting character to me. He wasn't old enough to fight in the War of the Angels, so he's actually in charge of Pixie World during that whole arc (and comes into his adult wings during that time, his biology kicking in early since he was forced to take the reins young. It's a wonder he didn't start reproducing as soon as he became the dominant one...

Although he gives control back to H.P. (reluctantly) when he returns from war, this brief stint at running Pixie World really gets to Smith and his instincts... which is why he has a whole takeover plot later on where he chases H.P. out and takes control. Here's an upcoming scene I think is funny (and tells you everything you need to know about the H.P.-Smith dynamic):

While I lingered on the fringes of Pixie society, Smith struggled beneath a mountain of papers and politics. The Anti-Coppertalon dynasty fell six days after Commelina’s birth, and First General Anti-Cosmo rose to take the High Count seat. Good on him. Smith had a hundred questions, and Emery relayed messages between us as a neutral party. I responded to each one in the same flat way: “You’re in charge. Figure it out. Maintain the professional brand image I spent your life building up. Don’t be dumb.” But by Lugh’s spear, were they on a massive time crunch to plow through all that paperwork. According to Da Rules, midnight wasn’t to fall on the Lia Fáil while a major position of power lay vacant. Emery said Smith pulled every pixie together in the food court and had a job that normally would have taken a week (minus procrastinating) finished in hardly four hours. “Good boy,” I said when Emery told me, sitting in my rocking chair with Commelina dozing in my arms. “Good boy.”

Origin of the Pixies - "The Fading of Light"

"Queen bee" pixie raising his own successor who wants to kill him and being so proud of him for almost doing so, my beloved...

Shout-out to what this does to Anti-Cosmo's backstory in Frayed Knots, where A.C. is going through one of the most intense things he's ever faced, but can't turn to H.P. for support.

So, that's Smith... Smith's two largest roles in the Prompts are in "Dignity" - where he's married off against his will (Mid Arc 3) - and "The Other One," where he's preparing to leave Pixie World (Arc 3's finale).

Fun Fact! I've had that Prompt's announcement in my queue for 6 years... Not my drafts. My queue:

I might redraw it when we get there, I might not, but... There's Smith!

So... What's going on with Smith? What's up with these hoops he's jumping through?

Smith is being set up to become the first Chief Pixie- a CEO of a subsidiary company outside Pixie World (Not counting Wish Fixers, which has been in H.P.'s family for generations).

Specifically, Smith will be running PixieCo in Hawthorn Haven: the cloudland colony that surrounds Planet Delk.

Sound familiar? If so, good eyes... We'll talk about it more later.

The thing about gynes is that only one can be dominant in the area at a time. They're eusocial insect people and their pheromones suppress other gynes' ability to reproduce.

Leaving Pixie World for Hawthorn Haven means Smith will become dominant and gain the ability to reproduce (thus making it useful to have a partner to help him raise kids, despite Smith's reluctance to marry).

We get some really interesting scenes because of that-

“It’s amazing to think I’m going to be the dominant gyne around, with my own drones to look after. And even more amazing to think that since I’ll be both dominant and of age, I’ll start reproducing within the decade. H.P. will be getting grandnymphs after all. Long-lasting ones, I hope.” Sanderson said nothing. As Smith straightened up with the box in his arms, he glanced over his shoulder. “Am I treading on your turf a bit, Mr. Firstborn?” Sanderson leaned his hands against the counter behind him, his fingers curling over the front edge. “Not necessarily. After all, I did beat you by a long shot.” “Human children don’t count,” Smith argued, bending to grab a folder that had slipped to the floor. He almost felt the asterisk fizzle into existence over his head. Wait… Turning back, he found Sanderson still leaning in the same position, now with his tongue pressing against the inside of his cheek. “Oh. You weren’t talking about humans.” “No.” Sanderson took a coffee cup from the stack and held it beneath the nozzle for grape soda. With his thumb, he pressed the lever. Cool purple liquid splashed against the sides. “It hasn’t been confirmed professionally, but I’ve watched how H.P. handles himself during pregnancy long enough to feel comfortable admitting it.” Smith’s wings quivered for a single jealous beat, then stopped. “I assume you’ve told him.” Sanderson’s eyes rolled above his shades. “You know the boss. If a bus rolls into town, he wants to be the first one to board it. If he attends a funeral, he wants to be the murderer. If one of his friends is expecting, he wants to be the father. He’s been so busy marketing PixieCo lately. With the official public reveal coming up, he’ll be furious if I steal all the attention. I’m waiting for the right time.”

"The Other One"

And that's where we kick off Arc 4!

Cavatina Mentions

Cavatina is one of the most notable things about the time period you're asking about- Pixies growing up to have kids - and he's also the reason I haven't shared much about this era.

I still won't share much because I've waited this long and I'm not spilling the details now, but I can compile some things we know about Cavatina into one place, and you can start putting the pieces together from there.

Keep in mind that 130 Reasons Why I'm Fairy Trash is ongoing. You don't have all the info, but this is what you do have:

- His full name is Cavatina Klangfarbenmelodie Sanderson. He's Sanderson's firstborn son. - He wears a green dragonfly pin, and has done so ever since he was a little kid. - In "You'll Never Know," Foop claims the Pixies don't trust him anymore, but "compared to what the Head Anti-Pixie did, he's a saint." - In "You'll Never Know," Foop claims Cavatina is selectively mute and that it disturbs him Anti-Cavatina doesn't chatter constantly, implying Cavatina didn't get quiet until sometime after his counterpart was born. - In "Shadow," Foop's alternate personality (Hiccup) faced pressure to speak about Cavatina. Among other things, he hints Foop "misused pottery tools" in a past encounter with Cavatina. He also hinted Foop "meets Cavatina's parents" every time there's a Council meeting. - Foop seems to be very paranoid about Cavatina, as he spent his time before the school dance in "Approval" searching everywhere for him. - Cavatina appeared in "All I Ever Wanted." Poof claimed he was "twice as buff [as Poof]," "bad at small talk," and noted that Cavatina's dragonfly pin "made him famous." Most notably, Cavatina claimed he'd have Poof's head on a silver platter 5 years from that point, which Poof laughed off. - According to Anti-Coriander's sideblog bio, she and Foop first meet at the Autumn Masquerade. Foop's commentary in "Approval" confirms Cavatina attacked Poof there. - Apparently, Cavatina has a squirrel familiar (a familiar being a witch who finished mortal life and is now an animal body piloted by witch magic). -> We know Foop has Denzel and Kevin as his familiars... Who do I know is a witch, associated with pixies, and possibly associated with squirrels?

Do with this info what you will.

I picked up my draft for "In Confidence" earlier this week, hoping to post it soon, but it's one of those weird timeline pieces that makes me hesitate. I'm not sure readers have enough context to make it hit yet. I might post it soon, I might not, but Cavatina and Poof both appear as small children (joining Mama Cosma and Sanderson at a dinner event), which is a pretty interesting dynamic.

I showed more sneak-peek scenes of Cavatina in that link, so... browse that "In Confidence" blog tag if you wish, but do so knowing those haven't been posted on FFN / AO3 yet.

What is Devil's Backbone?

Devil's Backbone is my far future ‘fic that picks up immediately following the 130 Prompt “Reality Doesn’t Work that Way” (the 2nd to last Prompt of the series- 130 Sums page).

It heavily focuses on Pixie World as well as things going on with the von Strangle family and the quest to find a successor... plus the closing of drama in the Celebrity Kids (Lavender Train) arc that we haven't gotten to yet.

Unless I decide to write one more closing ‘fic after this one, this is the finale of my Cloudlands AU works, so its target audience is readers who have read all the other Cloudlands AU pieces, as it brings multiple storylines together.

It has a complete outline, but one that can be shifted if I change plot points. My intention is to write a decent-sized multi-chapter - maybe 12 to 16 chapters. We'll see! It's possible I'll condense it (or split some of the scenes off into one-shots) depending on what feels right when we get there.

This story takes place during an era where there are many pixies and a new Head Pixie is in charge of Pixies Inc. It covers the plot points I mentioned earlier about the population boom and some next gen characters, many of whom are pixies.

One of our most important characters is Longwood's son, Blackwood Longwood, whom I do not have art of. I checked my drafts, but I don't have any scenes I can share that aren't full of spoilers, so... Just know that he exists, I guess.

Blackwood is a very hard worker and I think he's cute. He has a strong sense of wanting to do what's right and wanting to protect others. He's pretty emotional for a pixie, but it's underlaid with cold logical expectations... He's very "We have to do this because it's the right thing to do even if it hurts, but I know it hurts, so I'll be right there with you." I hope you guys like him.

Like Cavatina, I designed him in 2016 and even wrote the ending scene of Devil's Backbone back then, as Blackwood is our very pivotal guy and lives up to his main character position there.

You may have guessed it from the hints above, but Cavatina starts out as a sharp, friendly, and humble kid, quickly consumed by a thirst for revenge... Justice is everything to Cavatina. From the released info, it's not yet clear what seemingly justifies this level of vitriol, though I'm always open to hearing guesses. In contrast, Blackwood is stoic... Pursuing dreams of honor, justice, and duty. They're really fun to use together in a world that's seeing pixie families for the first time and doesn't know what to make of them. Blackwood will probably have been an OC of mine for over 10 years by the time you guys see him... idk how to feel about that. If anyone was wondering, yes I do get whiplashed every time I see the name Martin Blackwood cross my dash, but I only heard about that character in the last 1 or 2 years and I'm not changing this kid's name now, haha.

I'm not sure the 2016 ending will still be the ending of the actual 'fic, but there is definitely drama in Blackwood's character arc that I think is unique and fun. It's very tied to my lore and not something I'll ever get to repeat, so despite my hesitations that "oh, it might be weird, maybe people won't like it," I do think it's worth sharing as a story point. It's hyperspecific and I love it for that :)

Devil's Backbone plot points - including the finale moment - are actually foreshadowed several times in Origin of the Pixies and a couple other pieces. You probably won't catch them without the context of the 'fic itself, but kudos if you do!

So, that's an overview of things and that time period, and an explanation of why this lore about Pixie families comes really late in the timeline.

It's a tricky question to answer. "What will happen to the Pixies once H.P.'s strength and influence fade?" is probably the biggest "haunts the narrative" question in Cloudlands AU (and it's the big thing we're working up to), so it's inherently spoilery... but hopefully this is a satisfactory response.

Thanks for enjoying my work! :)

[keithsandwich]

Asters Blooming

Pairing: Keith and Alter!Keith/OC (Maeve)

Word Count: ~1660

Tags: Pregnancy, Hurt/Comfort, Route Spoilers (just vaguely mentioned).

Notes: Written for Falling for You CCC, hosted by the amazing @nightghoul381 and @judejazza.

Prompt: I Wouldn't Have It Any Other Way

--- Hopefully, it'll be a part of a small series on Keith and Maeve parenting.

Ghoulie and my bestie without a Tumblr (Cosmic Latte) helped me a lot with this one. Thanks for the support, guys! I wouldn't be writing if it wasn't for you.

"Look, the asters are already blooming." Keith said with a smile, lightly tapping her waist to direct her attention toward the vibrant bushes dotted with purple and blue buds, resembling stars nestled amidst the leaves. While other flowers were starting to wither with the onset of fall, they were happily being born anew.

Maeve's lips curved into a sweet, albeit shy smile. Keith had hoped for more enthusiasm when he invited her to walk in the gardens. After all, these were their gardens, the very first project they had worked on together ever since she arrived at court, and it was growing beautifully. Keith had confessed to her that he'd never had any luck growing flowers, and she decided to show him that growing flowers wasn't a matter of luck; it was about care, about sensing those delicate plants' needs and nourishing them accordingly, no more, no less. He cherished every memory of them getting their hands dirty together and celebrating every bud that popped up from the soil. She would warn him when watering was enough and teach him how to truly connect with the earth.

Soon, the small garden plot Keith had prepared for them had become a perennial burst of colors, shapes, and fragrances. With Maeve's help, they had planned it so that various flowers would bloom throughout the seasons. It was a peaceful, ever-changing landscape that welcomed birds and bees.

Keith would never forget how adorable Maeve looked every time she sang to their flowers, claiming that music was good for them, and besides, they made for a good audience. His heart always warmed at how happy and radiant she seemed to be whenever they were there, and that's what he had hoped to achieve by bringing her to the gardens this morning. However, he was unsuccessful.

She had been acting strangely lately, as if something were bothering her, but Keith couldn't quite grasp what it might be. Not even he, with his natural talent for convincing her to open up, could break through her resolve. When Maeve was determined to keep her feelings to herself, her emotional barrier proved stronger than both of them combined, and it was undeniably frustrating. All Keith wished for was to see her happy and radiant once more.

Just that.

"Maeve," he stopped in his tracks, gently turning her to meet his gaze. She looked at him inquiringly before he took her hands and continued, "I… I understand if you don't want to talk, but I can't accept you being sad any longer. I need to… I have to know what I can do to make you happy again."

His fingers squeezed hers, and the overwhelming emotions became too much for him to maintain eye contact. Keith looked away, down at the colorful aster buds, hoping he wouldn't make them sad too. Because if Maeve was sad, it could only be his fault, right? He was the weed in their garden, the one who could only fail in trying to keep her satisfied and flourishing as she deserved.

When her voice finally sounded, barely louder than the morning's chilling breeze and the chirp of the birds, her words were so unexpected that he doubted his ears. "I'm pregnant," she murmured, and when his eyes searched for hers, they were still downcast and out of reach.

"You're…" Keith tried to confirm her words but couldn't quite repeat them. He would be too ashamed if he got her wrongly. Maeve... pregnant. Maeve was carrying their baby. A baby. They would have a baby together. He would be a father. All these disconnected thoughts coming together made his heart lurch and his stomach drop. He shuddered, unsure how to feel, especially when she seemed so down about the news. Maybe she... didn't want to have a baby with him.

The world around them felt like it was spinning, and Keith desperately tried to hold on and not to switch. Not right now. He needed to be there for her next words.

"I know it's too early, and we're not even married yet. Goodness, we haven't even properly talked about having children, and I..." Maeve shook her head, squeezing his hands with the same intensity. "I'm afraid it's too soon…"

"Too soon?" Granted, one could say things were already moving too quickly for them. Not many seasons have passed between meeting her in Néart and proposing to her in court. But there was nothing Keith would've done differently. Things wouldn't be any slower if he was marrying politically, and he and Maeve simply connected. They felt like one of the same, so all those fast-moving events felt just natural. None of it scared or overwhelmed him, on the contrary, her accepting and soothing presence only made him feel more confident than ever. Now, becoming a father was a completely new concept for him, and he was still trying to grasp it. His trembling hands moved to her waist, hesitant to get any closer to her belly. "Maeve, do you want to have a baby with me?"

Her green eyes widened, watery with emotions, and an awkward smile graced her lips, even if just a little. Maeve nodded. "I do! Of course, I do. There’s nothing I want more, but I… I don't know if you feel the same…"

"How could I not want to have a baby with you? You are the love of my life," Keith's face softened as he rested his forehead against hers, a silent gesture of closeness and support he wished she could understand. He still felt overwhelmed, his thoughts swirling like a whirlwind, but her presence was a comforting anchor amid his emotions.

"Aren't you scared?" Her doe-like eyes glistened in the soft morning glow that surrounded them.

Slowly, Keith’s fingers trailed towards the center of her stomach. The notion that their child was there kept sinking in, and so was the understanding that he would have to care for and protect the little one. It surely was scary, but the love they shared was stronger than this. Strong enough to sow its seed and grow into a new life in her womb.

And then he realized. It could be just like their garden. They could make that little, precious life thrive as beautifully as their flowers.

"I am scared…" his lips curled up in an honest reaction, despite his words. Maeve gasped in surprise when Keith fell to his knees in front of her, grabbing the sides of her body and placing a light, careful kiss on her belly. "But I am so happy, Maeve… This will be the first flower of our love, and just like we made this garden possible, I know I can raise a child if I'm with you."

Keith felt his eyes getting wet, but not like hers. Maeve was already tearful, he could understand if she got even more now, and he wanted to be there every time she cried like she did when she got on her knees just so she could hold his face and kiss him. Again, and again. Soft, sweet, and loving kisses, as happy tears streamed down her face. Well, he knew whenever he couldn't be there for her, he would.

And it made him feel less anxious about being a father. He definitely wouldn't do it alone.

"We're doing this together! Oh, Keith… We're having a baby…"

He closed his eyes and let her sweet voice guide him to the forest of his mind. Not that he didn't want to be with her. There was nothing he wanted more, and this was making him greedy. But he knew he had to let him celebrate the news too.

He would never forgive him if he didn't.

.

.

.

"Silly girl, what were ya so scared of?"

Being there felt incredible. The surprised look in her beautiful, moist green eyes never ceased to amaze him. Keith didn't hesitate before kissing her, the kiss more intense than before, as he wanted to savor all the emotions from her. Gently, he laid her down on the ground while they continued to kiss, and his hand moved to her lower belly. There, lay the proof of his existence. No matter who had conceived that child, he would be equally their father, and they would carry his memory.

When their lips parted, giving room to a smile infinitely more tender than he was used to, Keith allowed himself to become lost in her gaze for a moment. Maeve released a contented, yet bashful sigh, intertwining her fingers with his.

Keith chuckled. He knew what she was worried about. What happened to him definitely made him doubt himself and his ability to protect someone. "He would have insecurities and fears no matter when ya got pregnant, but I am here to take care of him, of you, and of our baby," he leaned in to kiss her cheek, still wet and salty with tears. "Aren't ya the one who taught us that Mother Nature has her own time? We can only revere it, and be thankful she's giving us a child."

"Don't you think it's too soon? We've already been moving so fast, and having a child is such a big step. I... I'm afraid it's too overwhelming, especially for him," she bit her lips, mirroring his insecurity. They were so alike.

Maeve squeezed his hand in hers and against her belly. "Wouldn't you want it to happen in a better time?"

"There's no better time, Maeve. I wouldn't want it any other way. We're having a baby, and this is the most wonderful thing."

He saw a beautiful smile lightening up her face before kissing her lips again. This was what Keith wanted the most — the woman he loved, carrying his child and being radiant about it.

The peaceful sounds of the birds and the fresh smell of earth, grass and flowers mixed with the rosemary of her hair in that soothing scenario never felt so thrilling.

[nvrcmplt]

SHIPPING INFO. answer the following for your muse(s) so people know how shipping works on your blog.

What’s your OTP for your Muse(s)?

Being mostly OC based, to be faaaaaaaaaaaair - It's not something fixed in place but I can say with my whole ass that my ships with @intcritus and @avaere are most likely OTPs. Due to the length of time of knowing these two and just how deep our claws go into each other it's almost hard not to think about my muses that I ship with them / without them being mentioned, Muse-wise for sure. Like a part of my muses is made with them in mind, or they've made their corresponding muse unbelievably integral to my muses life and creation as a whole so it's like, yin and yang honestly. A few others are on that road too; eg; @asinusxdomi and @bonesofchaos

What are you willing to RP when it comes to shipping?

Everything to be fair, ain't no limitations when we're consenting adults, imo. Obviously nothing agreed on will happen and nothing plotted out for darker themes will be just like forced on people cause that's just shitty but also I know what I'm getting into when I go for those types of ship wants.

How large does the age gap have to be to make it uncomfortable?

I personally don't feel comfortable in reading about muses having any thoughts about children muses in that way and that's a hard no for me personally. I couldn't write it even to test the waters like I have with a few dark topics, ( dub con / non con etc ) It's just up there with those kinda of topics that I can't personally say 'yeah I'm comfortable with writing this for an experiment', not for me, so yeah long story short, no.

It's just common sense to not ship adults with children muses / characters, it's a big no thank you.

The youngest I could possibly ok in terms of just passing, is the 18-19 with someone in their 20 - 23 space - tops but even so, it still makes me wrinkle my nose a bit.

I think anything younger isn't something I'm looking for to read or write. Younger writers of that age can do what they want but like I'm 31, 32 next year, I ain't got that young-mind leeway anymore mentality and I cringe at the idea of making younger muses like below 25 to ship.

Are you selective when shipping?

Nah - I try to be to limit my needs to just swarm the dash with my shit but I ain't got much of a tick list or wall to climb over when it comes to wanting to ship w/ me. Like I make tags in a blink if I see us interacting a lot outside of just one or two asks a month thing. Like if I feel the vibe of actual interest towards my muses, then yeah I'm gunna return that interest if I get that spark and want to explore that dynamic ship in whatever way we're going.

How far do steamy moments have to go before they’re considered NSFW?

I will send you a BJ ask if you ask for it. So, whenever and whereever. I don't use readmores, so if someone finds sucking fingers too sexual, it'll just be there in the open. If we're going mating press on a Tuesday morning, so be it.

Who are other muses you ship your muse with?

/points at my mutuals./ These bitches suffer with me.

Does one have to ask to ship with you?

Talk to me? Lol, not hard. Forceship if you want, I'm game if we've got something going.

How often do you like to ship?

All day every day - you can't stop me and my mind.

Are you multiship?

Yes yes, I can singleship but that's only for 11+ year friends on here.

Are you ship obsessed or ship more-or-less?

Yeah, I ain't gunna lie. I just love having ships and tags and a continuous plot going with folks and sometimes you gotta bag the muse to keep it going. Even if it doesn't end up a lovey-dovey or we plot a break up, I'm all for it.

What is your favorite ship in your current fandom?

Me and my mutual muses. I am the favourite ship, thank you.

Finally, how does one ship with you?

Love me and my muses with all your heart and send them your muses first born, ofc. But mostly just communicate with me, I ain't gunna be able to guess through jokes / vague tags or the occasional meme, like full on talk to me, spam my inbox with proper interaction between muses, if you don't feel the same is being returned, talk to me in DMs or Discord. I can't read minds.

tagged by : @avaere tagging: All of y'all.