#adira answers

[unch4rtedwxters]

uhm, hello! i saw your event and i thought i might as well give it a shot. can i request adira and james vale(i don't know much about them, but they have a pretty surname ^^) and 20? as someone who has a myriad of nervous habits, i'm always interested in hearing other people's :D

adira raises her eyebrows. she seems apprehensive.

why do you want to know?

james nudges her.

Adi, I don't think this person means any harm!

he turns to the asker.

I'm sorry about my sister; she's not as trusting as she was before the last few months. Anyway, I tend to bite my nails and pace a lot if I can. I also run my hands through my hair... I think I get nervous too much. I hardly have any nails left.

i developed anxiety a little while ago, from reasons i hardly want to share, so don't ask in the first place. a-anyway, i usually get really shaky. like, so shaky that i can't be trusted to hold anything without risking dropping it. also i bite the inside of my cheeks. it hurts but i can't stop myself and i hate it...

adira looks down and her hands begin to tremble. her voice trails off and she seems lost in memories. a worried look crosses james' face.

Uh- we... should finish this here. Thanks for asking and, uh, bye...?

james walks closer to the camera and covers it with his hand. all you can hear is static and the feed blinks into black.

[variberry]

question for the tts famdom:

am i alone in thinking that quirin kinda sucks?

- i mean first and foremost we have the destruction of Old Corona due to the black rocks. given that he’s been a part of the brotherhood since its inception, Quirin is 100% fully aware of what they are. Frederic is an ass but what was Quirin hoping to achieve by lying to him about the rocks? it seemed like he was fine with letting Old Corina be completely destroyed and just moving everyone somewhere else, which he knows WILL NOT WORK because the rocks will continue to chase the sundrop until they reunite!! what was he thinking??

- then we have the withholding information from Varian. i know he’s a kid, but from what the viewers can tell, Quirin is under no orders to keep quiet about what the rocks are. it would not kill him to be like “hey, the rocks are powered by a stone with the power to decay, so maybe don’t mess with them until we collectively come up with a definitive plan of action.” there is so little effort put in to keeping Varian in the loop that it borders on stupidity. of course he’s going to take matters into his own hands if you’re acting like nothing’s wrong

- lastly, and this isn’t necessarily Quirin’s fault (*side-eyes Chris*) but there is no way in HELL that long ass note he wrote to Varian before getting encased in the amber just said “i’m proud of you.” there’s no way. throughout the episode, there are obvious allusions to what Quirin might want to share with varian— 1) the zoom in on the family portrait signifies that it might be something to do with Ulla’s implied death/disappearance and 2) the repeated appearance of the brotherhood symbol on the chest, helmet, and marking on Quirin’s hand, alluding to his role in the current situation. and we see him write a literal scroll of text. there are several close up shots on the letter, so we, as the audience, assume that it’s important and will mean something to Varian later on. fast forward to the season 3 premiere where Quirin is finally freed, and the note disintegrates after Rapunzel uses the decay incantation. well, shit. but now Quirin is alive to explain everything! hooray! but when varian says he needs to know what was in the note, Quirin pauses before simply going: “i’m so proud of you, son.” HUH??!? no. there is simply no way. it’s implied in the finale that Varian is kind of aware of the brotherhood, but there’s no explanation as to how on earth he found out. Eugene even has to remind him that Quirin was a part of it! Varian then gets upset at the idea of his father being affected by the talisman like Adira and Hector, implying that he doesn’t really understand how the brotherhood is connected to the moonstone. he can’t know and not know at the same time. if i’m missing something, please lmk but from what I gathered, Quirin has not explained anything to Varian. it’s implied that he wrote it all down in a letter he assumed Varian would read after his own death, but for some reason, when given the chance to, he doesn’t explain a thing. why? why was Quirin content with Varian finding out in the event of his death but not while he’s still alive? did Chris forget what he wrote???

- extra random gripe, but how old is Quirin? in the present, he looks a little older than Fred tbh but in the ‘25 years ago’ flashbacks to the Dark Kingdom, he looks the same! is the gray streak in his hair just part of his design? idk why this bugs me but it does

in conclusion: Quirin just pisses me off

anyway, lmk what you all think. thank you for coming to my TED Talk.

[tangledbea]

Hi ^^, happy pride month. How are you ? For pride month, do you have any LGBT hc for tangled the series characters?

I sure do! My LGBTQ+ headcanons are:

Rapunzel is demisexual biromantic.

Eugene and Lance are both bi (but both prefer women). They experimented with being in a relationship with each other, briefly, but agree that they aren't each other's type.

Varian is bi with no preference.

Cassandra is bisexual, preferring women, but is also aro.

Adira is aro/ace.

Willow is aro, but not ace.

Trevor is bi and prefers men, so much so that Arianna is like, the one woman he's genuinely attracted to, and he leans in hard for appearances.

The Separatists of Saporia are in a polycule.

Lady Caine is also bi with no preference.

[th3p0rtalmaker]

Who would you cast as a live-action Brotherhood trio?

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM I HAVE INDEED THOUGHT ABOUT THIS!!! (Thank you for asking!)

Okay, first of all: Hector

I think my first choice to cast for live-action Hector would be his voice actor, Kim Coates.

Kim has a reputation for portraying characters that are super intimidating, legitimately insane, and chock full of conviction - most notably Tig Trager from Sons of Anarchy. I've watched a couple interviews/promos that Kim has done for other projects, and he's also an animal lover (a dog-lover at the very least). He prefers playing villains/antagonists who don't see themselves as the "bad guy" because they genuinely believe in whatever their personal cause is. (Huge Hector vibes already, lol.)

And visually I think he could TOTALLY pull it off - just give him longer hair and edit his eye color to match Hector's. And he'd look PERFECT in the fur mantle, tunic, leggings, boots, and gloves! (Forgive me for doing such a crappy job of visualizing this XD)

I think the only problem with casting Kim Coates as live-action Hector is that it would be a VERY physically demanding role. I haven't seen a ton of Kim's filmography, so I'm not sure how well he could pull off the gymnastic moves Hector is know for - let alone tightrope-walking between a sprinting rhino and a speeding caravan. He'd probably need a stunt double to handle the more physically intense side of the role.

Second up: Adira

As much as I would *love* to have Kelly Hu portray live-action Adira, her physical profile doesn't match up enough. While Adira's voice and physical profile are both pretty iconic parts of her character, I feel like it would be better to err on the physical side.

I did a little digging, and I think the person most physically attuned to portray live-Action Adira would be Chunri Kim, who's know as "The Female Korean Hulk."

I'm not kidding, LOOK AT THIS WOMAN'S PHYSIQUE:

I have no idea what her acting skills are like, but she's got the body to bring Adira to life. Just imagine her in Adira's outfit from the show, with the facepaint and a white wig!!! 🤩🤩🤩

And finally: Quirin

Honestly I haven't given Quirin's live-action version any thought until now. 😅 And I have to admit my first thought for casting live-action Quirin is Gerard Butler. Because I saw the trailer for the live-action HTTYD movie for the first time to today, and Gerard will be playing live-action Stoick. (Varian and Hiccup are pretty similar so...🤣🤣🤣)

And as a bonus: Edmund!

Ideally I would cast his voice actor, Bruce Campbell, to play live-action Edmund. He embodies both the silliness and earnestness of Edmund's character even in live action roles (see his performance below from The Librarians: And Santa's Midnight Run, where Bruce plays the rogue Santa Claus that can't keep his plethora of iterations in check during a top-secret, magical mission)

If Bruce Campbell wasn't interested/available, I would *seriously* consider casting Colin Metzger as live-Action Edmund (aka @voicemonsteredits on TikTok/Instagram):

[nerdasaurus1200]

What are all of your hard-of-hearing!varian hc? I want to write a fic about it but dont have any good ideas!

Well for starters the original idea belongs to my friend @mikeallenz. He and I believe that due to the explosions Varian’s been close to he’s lost a bit of hearing.

If it’s dead silent and a couple people are talking he can hear you just fine. But if he’s at a party or something all the loud noises make it really hard for him to hear people

He’s been hard of hearing since he was about 9 or 10, so he and Quirin started learning sign language

The gang also learns sign language for him, and to make it even easier they have the habit of facing him when they speak

Adira has known sign language for a long time, so when she found out she just instantly started signing

Sometimes it can be really hard for Cass to sign because of her hand, so she ALWAYS makes sure to face Varian when speaking to him.

Varian has trained himself to be really good at reading lips. He’s also really good at reading body language too. He even can tell emotions that people are trying to hide by looking at them for long enough

Varian hates hates HATES silence cause if it’s dead quiet for long enough he starts to worry that he’s lost all his hearing

As soon as Rapunzel found out she grabbed every book on sign language from the library that she could find

Sometimes when Eugene is reading Flynn Rider to the gang he’ll sign along as he narrates for Varian

And if you want to @mikeallenz feel free to add some more onto this! ^_^

[autisticburnham]

Starting new discourse: are Adira and Gray selfcest?

[something-tofightfor]

I just wanna know your chipotle order and your boba tea order and your favorite form of potato

Oh, Adira.

my favorite form of potato is 'any'. I have never ever met a potato that I will turn down.

A specific example?

Sweet potato fries (extra crispy) with some chipotle and brown sugar ketchup for dipping are HIGH on the list, though.

And my chipotle order is a little (ok a lot) ridiculous, BUT when I get it, I order to make it two meals, not just one. (Photo of my burrito from last Monday included for size reference.)

When it comes to boba tea, I prefer milk tea - and will usually get either a brown sugar or crème brûlée boba latte with an extra half scoop of boba and light ice. It depends on the place I go to, though.

I like bubble tea, too- and I’ll usually get green or if they have it peach tea as a base and add pomegranate or blueberry or SOMETIMES mango and then pick a random complimentary popping bubble flavor. I’m less set in my ways with bubble tea than with traditional boba/milk tea drinks.

This is one of my brûlée orders from our local boba place:

[romance-club-daily]

hey! do you know if there's been any information released or statements made by the new author of the one about whether adira and ford will ever come back? she was my fave in the story 😭😭 and i kinda don't want to bother continuing if it's confirmed there's no hope 😔💔

Hi! 👋🏾 I found out now that they are no longer in the game and idk if they'll come back 🤡 I still haven't been able to find why. Probably the new author was unwilling or unable to work or write with these characters? But this is 100% speculation on my part.

[sunni-stuff]

Part 4

Soap’s eyebrows lifted with a curious glint in his eye as he looked from you to Adira, a playful grin edging onto his face. He leaned in, never one to miss a chance at a bit of friendly prodding.

“So… you’re married?” he asked, his tone as light as his smirk.

You laughed, the sound warm and genuine. “Haha! No, I’m not.” You gave Adira’s tiny hand a gentle squeeze, glancing down at her with a smile that softened every edge on your face. 

Soap tilted his head, pretending to be shocked. “A bonnie lass like yerself? Unmarried?” he teased, hand on his chest as though it were a crime.

“Guess I’m a rare breed,” you replied with a grin, chuckling as you shifted Adira’s hand in yours.

Soap’s face lit up at your response, as if he’d just been given the most interesting bit of news he’d heard all week. He shot Ghost a quick look, but Ghost was still watching Adira, his gaze softened with something unreadable.

Meanwhile, Gaz wasn't fascinated by Soap's ability to make anyone at ease, the man was a cassanova. Roach watched Adira with curiosity, as though piecing together a puzzle he hadn’t realized existed until now. Price stood off to the side, arms crossed, silently observing the whole scene.

“If you aren’t married, how’d you get this little one?” Soap pushed, grinning as he wiggled a playful finger in Adira’s direction.

Adira’s gaze snapped up from Ghost to the man with the funny hair, her little brow furrowing as she studied Soap with a mix of curiosity and caution. She leaned into your leg, clearly wary, but her attention stayed on the finger waving in front of her.

You chuckled, brushing a hand over Adira’s head to reassure her. “Long story,” you replied, smiling. “Let’s just say she was an unexpected blessing.”

Soap laughed softly, glancing at Ghost with a gleam in his eye. “Ah, aye, life’s full of surprises, eh?” 

Ghost, who had been studying Adira in silence, clenched his jaw, shifting uncomfortably as Soap’s words hit a little too close to home.

“I used to be really wild back in the day,” you admitted with a sheepish grin, a hint of nostalgia coloring your tone as you thought back to those not-so-distant years.

Soap wasn’t quite done yet, though. “Does the father know?” he threw a quick glance at Ghost, who had just risen from his crouched position. A new tension ran through Ghost’s frame, his stance rigid, as if the question had struck something he’d rather not confront.

You hesitated, a shadow crossing your expression before you shook your head. “No, he doesn’t… He, uh, probably has no idea.”

Ghost’s jaw tightened, his gaze flickering from you to Adira, who was absorbed in her drink, unaware of the intensity surrounding her. His shoulders stiffened, and for a split second, he looked as though he wanted to speak—but whatever words he had caught in his throat, locked behind his silence.

"I see, well. I'm sorry if I took up your time, ma’am, you've been a nice chat," Soap said, his voice softening with a touch of politeness, his grin still present but more reserved now.

You nodded, giving Adira’s hand a gentle tug as you continued on your way, the soft crunch of snow beneath your boots the only sound accompanying your steps. The blue sky stretched above, peaceful, serene. As you walked, Adira turned her head, glancing back at Ghost one final time. She refused to let go of her cup, her small fingers gripping it tightly, but she lifted her other hand in a small, hesitant wave. "Bye-bye," she whispered, her voice soft but sweet.

Ghost’s gaze lingered, but he didn’t move. His expression was unreadable, a mixture of things churning behind those eyes. 

Price let out a heavy sigh, crossing his arms and facing Ghost. “So... what’s the plan?” he asked, his tone both blunt and expectant, clearly waiting for some kind of direction. The rest of the team stood in silence, watching the exchange unfold.

Ghost didn’t answer immediately. His gaze remained on you and Adira, watching you both disappear further down the street, the distance growing with each step. The soft crunch of snow under your boots was the only sound in the quiet winter air. He didn’t even notice Price's voice until the man spoke again, closer now, with a slight edge to his tone.

"Ghost, talk to me. What’s the plan here?”

Finally, Ghost shifted, his shoulders tense, his jaw clenched as he turned to face Price. There was a flicker of something in his eyes—something caught between anger, confusion, and a deep, gnawing regret.

"I don't know," he muttered, the words barely escaping his lips. "I wasn't expecting this. Hell, I didn't even know she existed." His voice was low, strained, but there was a quiet honesty to it, as if he was trying to process something that didn’t make sense.

Soap stepped closer, his expression serious for once. "What now, Ghost? We can help. But you need to tell us what's going on."

Ghost finally looked away, his attention drawn to the ground, his fingers twitching like he was trying to find something to hold onto. "I don't even know where to start," he admitted. "All I know is... I saw her. And it hit me like a fucking truck."

Roach, always one to stay in the background, spoke up. “Maybe it’s time to talk to her, yeah? Figure out where to go from here?”

Price’s eyes narrowed, his stern gaze shifting to Ghost, assessing him. “And what exactly do you want from us? You’re in this, whether you like it or not.”

Ghost let out a frustrated breath. “I don’t know,” he repeated, voice hoarse. “But I can’t just let her slip away.”

A silence stretched between them, heavy and thick, as the weight of the situation settled in. Then, slowly, Ghost nodded. “I’ll figure it out. Just… not now. Not here.” His eyes flicked toward the street where you had disappeared, and something in his gaze softened, just for a moment, before the mask fell back into place.

Price gave a single nod. "Alright. But we stick together on this. You’re not doing it alone, Ghost."

The team stood together for a moment longer, the wind howling through the alley, before they slowly began to move, their steps trailing off into the winter evening. The silence that hung between them was thick with uncertainty. No one knew what came next, but they knew one thing for sure: whatever happened, they were in this together.

A month passed, the team giving Ghost the space he needed to process the whirlwind that had hit him. They all knew this was something he had to handle on his own terms, but that didn't mean the questions didn't linger. What did it mean for the future? What did he want? The answers were still unclear, even to Ghost himself.

But Soap, ever the persistent one, wasn’t content to let things sit in limbo. He knew Ghost, knew how his mind worked, and that sometimes the best way to breakthrough was to take small steps. And if that meant subtly nudging you into the picture, then so be it. He’d always been good at this—at slipping in the background, making things happen without anyone noticing.

So, Soap started to "accidentally" run nto you. At the park, when you were out with Adira, he'd make sure to be in the same place at the same time, offering a casual greeting. It always started simple, harmless, with a nod or a small comment about the weather. Then, of course, there was that coffee shop where you'd gone to get hot chocolate for Adira.

The first time he "bumped" into you there, it was nothing more than a quick exchange. A question about the drink, a comment on the cold weather, just the usual small talk. But Johnny's natural charm and ease made you relax, and made the conversation flow without much effort. Over time, those small moments grew. You'd smile when you'd see him, and he'd greet you with the same friendly energy, always leaving you feeling at ease. No pressure, just casual.

And slowly, ever so slowly, Johnny began to warm you up to the idea of him. It wasn't much at first—a smile here, a shared laugh there—but he knew what he was doing. He wasn't pushing, just letting the connection build at its own pace. The more you saw him, the more comfortable you felt. The more you talked, the more you found yourself enjoying the interactions, even if they were brief.

One evening, Johnny sat beside you on the park bench, casually leaning back as Adira bounced around in the snow, her laughter filling the crisp air. The sound was contagious, and for a moment, you let yourself relax, watching her with a soft smile.

"So, me and a couple friends are meeting up at Leslie's this weekend," Johnny said, his tone light but with a hint of something more. "Would you be interested?"

You snorted, expecting the usual joke or teasing, but when you glanced over at him, his expression was far more serious than you anticipated. For a moment, you considered dismissing it. After all, Leslie's? A pub? That was a far cry from the cozy routine you’d built for yourself with Adira. 

“Seriously?” you asked, raising an eyebrow. "I don't think I fit the scene."

Johnny shrugged nonchalantly, the corner of his mouth lifting in that playful grin of his. “Please. It'll just be like old times.”

Your mind immediately wandered, trying to understand what he meant by that. What was it about old times that Johnny thought might appeal to you? You didn’t exactly have a wild past to cling to. Sure, you’d had your moments, but those felt long behind you now. 

Still, something about the invitation lingered. A night out... maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. You hadn’t done anything for you in a while. And maybe, just maybe, it would be nice to let someone else take care of the night for once. No worrying about Adira, no responsibilities for a few hours. Just some fun, whatever that meant now.

You hesitated, looking down at Adira as she made another snow angel, oblivious to the conversation happening nearby. She’d be fine, right? And you could leave if things felt uncomfortable. 

“Alright,” you finally said, meeting Johnny’s gaze with a reluctant but genuine smile. "I'll join you. But only if it’s not as crazy as you’re making it sound." 

Johnny’s grin widened, and you could tell he was already mentally planning the evening, no doubt with some plan to ease you in without overwhelming you. He stood up, dusting off the snow on his pants as he glanced back at you.

“Deal. I’ll make sure it’s a night to remember.”

You just hoped he wasn’t overselling it.

The weekend seemed to arrive so fast, and here you were, standing outside your apartment, nervously adjusting your blue blouse and jeans. It wasn’t exactly the type of outfit you thought would fit a night out, but it was the best you could do. Most of your wardrobe these days consisted of comfortable clothes, ones that could be easily changed or wiped clean in case Adira had another of her toddler mishaps. Sexy or flirty clothes were a distant memory, tucked away in a drawer somewhere, gathering dust.

Adira stood in the doorway, clutching her little stuffed bear to her chest, eyes wide and brimming with unshed tears. The sight hit you harder than you expected. You knelt down in front of her, your heart sinking at the sight of her teary eyes. “I’ll be back in a couple hours, I promise,” you said, your voice gentle but firm, reaching out to her with a reassuring smile.

Adira sniffled, her tiny hand coming up to rub her eyes, but she didn’t break her stare. You held out your pinky, the gesture as familiar as breathing. Slowly, she reached out, her small finger wrapping around yours with the same trust she always had. The connection was brief, but it felt like a promise, one that you hoped would calm her.

"I won't be out long," you said softly to the friend you’d left with her. "And you, be good for Auntie too." The last part was directed at Adira, though the words felt bittersweet on your tongue.

Adira nodded, but her face still held that sadness, that uncertainty of what the night would bring without you. 

Standing up, you ruffled her hair and offered a small, hopeful smile. “I’ll be back before you know it. Just a little fun for Mama, okay?”

Her small nod didn’t do much to ease the tightness in your chest, but you turned and gave her one last look before stepping outside. The cool evening air wrapped around you, a contrast to the warmth of the apartment behind you, but you pushed the feeling away. Tonight was for you, however strange that sounded. 

Locking the door behind you, you felt a flutter of nerves in your stomach. This wasn’t just any night out. It was a night with Johnny, with his friends, with the possibility of reconnecting to parts of yourself you’d set aside for so long.

Arriving outside the establishment, the familiar hum of chatter and music filled the night air, but what caught your attention first was Johnny standing outside, leaning against the brick wall, checking his watch. The moment his eyes met yours, they lit up, his expression shifting from casual to something almost... eager. 

“Well, well, look at you,” he said with that trademark wink of his, his gaze raking over you with a genuine appreciation that made you feel suddenly self-conscious. “You clean up well.”

You rolled your eyes but couldn’t suppress the small smile tugging at your lips. It was hard to resist the easy charm of Johnny.

“Let’s just hope I survive this night,” you muttered, though the words were more for yourself than him. You weren’t sure what to expect tonight, but you couldn’t shake the feeling that things might not go as smoothly as Johnny seemed to think.

Johnny chuckled, the sound warm and reassuring. “I’m sure you will. Now, let’s get going before I change my mind.”

With that, you fell into step beside him, the weight of your hand at your side suddenly feeling strange in the cool night air. He led you toward the door, and as you entered the dimly lit space of the bar, your eyes scanned the room. 

It was bustling, a mix of regulars and newcomers, all seeking solace or company for the night. It smelled of beer, whiskey, and the faintest hint of fried food, a familiar and welcoming kind of atmosphere. But as soon as you stepped inside, your nerves shot back up again. You tried not to let the nerves show, but they were there, itching under your skin.

What you didn’t notice, as you made your way to the bar, was the group inside. Ghost, Price, Gaz, Roach—quietly observing, waiting for their chance to either speak to you or simply let you slip through their fingers once more. Ghost’s eyes tracked you the moment you stepped inside, and there was a hesitation in his gaze, something raw and almost pained that flickered in and out. 

For a moment, Ghost didn’t move, didn’t speak. He simply watched you, aware that the moment he’d been dreading—he had finally stumbled into. Your gaze met his across the room, the flicker of recognition passing between you both. But that was it. You didn’t remember. You didn’t know him. You didn’t know what he was to you.

Approaching the bar, you saw that Johnny was already leaning in, chatting with the bartender, exchanging friendly banter. You barely heard the words, only caught up in the feeling that something was different. Something you couldn’t quite place. You glanced back at the table where those men sat. They weren’t talking, but their eyes were all trained on you, as if waiting for something to happen.

Your heart raced without explanation. Ghost’s eyes—those eyes—stayed locked on you. He didn’t know how to approach, how to change what had already seemingly been set in stone. What was he supposed to say? What was the plan now that you were here, so close? God, why the fuck did johnny do this.

Johnny leaned toward you again, a soft smile curling his lips. “You good, love?” he asked, his voice pulling you back to the present.

“Yeah,” you muttered, your voice barely above a whisper. You forced a smile, trying to ignore the uneasy tension brewing in your chest. “Just... getting used to being out.”

Johnny winked again, oblivious to the chaos of emotions swirling within you. “It’s all good. Let’s have some fun tonight, yeah?”

Ghost’s fist clenched involuntarily under the table. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could keep this distance, this silent acknowledgment of his role, or how long he could ignore what it meant to see you here now. 

“You’ll fit right in,” Johnny said, though there was a hint of something deeper behind his words. “Just a bunch of mates enjoying a drink, nothing crazy.” Johnny leads you over to the table, you expected to be met with… well you didn't quite know what.  

Price leaned back in his seat, cigar in hand, a soft smile on his weathered face as he regarded you with a raised brow. “Didn’t think you’d actually show up.”

"Neither did I," you muttered under your breath, forcing a smile and doing your best to ignore the gnawing feeling that lingered when you looked at him. You hadn’t quite expected this part of the evening.

“I’m just here for a drink, nothing more,” you said, looking over at Johnny was getting comfortable in his chair.

“Well, pull up a seat, love,” Price said, motioning to the empty spot next to him. “We’re all friends here.”

You hesitated but made your way over, perching yourself on the seat next to him. The sound of the glass being slid toward you, the clink of ice against glass, broke through the chatter around you. Your nerves buzzed as you focused on the drink in front of you, trying to ignore the sudden realization of just how different this was from the quiet, routine life you had at home with Adira.

“Enjoy yourself,” Price said with an air of casual amusement, leaning back in his chair. “This is all new for you, isn’t it?”

You raised an eyebrow, not wanting to admit just how out of place you felt in the moment. Instead, you took a sip of your drink, the burn of whiskey warming you from the inside out.

You laugh lightly, a bit awkwardly, trying to shake off the nerves that gnawed at you. "Yeah, this all a bit... newish. I haven't been out like this in years honestly," you admit, taking a deep breath and glancing around the bar. The warmth of the space was a welcome contrast to the chill outside, but the sight of the men made you feel more like a fish out of water than ever.

Johnny claps you on the back with an easy grin, clearly trying to make you feel more comfortable. “These are my mates. Price, Kyle, Gary, and Simon," he introduces with a flourish, motioning to each man in turn. 

You give them all a polite smile, not quite sure what to make of them just yet. There was something about the way they carried themselves, all standing a little apart from the crowd, that made it clear they were more than just regulars at the pub. But you didn’t have time to focus too much on that right now. You were trying to just survive the night.

Price, who looked a bit older than the rest, nods at you, his gaze thoughtful, almost cautious. “Nice to meet you,” he says in a tone that is polite but distant, as though he’s waiting for something, some sign.

Kyle, as Johnny had called him—gives you a friendly nod, a playful glint in his eyes, but there's a strange sharpness to his look that you can’t quite place. “Pleasure," he says, offering you a tight smile.

Gary simply gives you a quick but sincere nod. His eyes linger on you just long enough for you to catch a flicker of interest before he looks away.

And then there’s Simon. His presence, as always, is quieter, more intense. He’s sitting in the middle, arms crossed, his gaze fixed directly on you. You can feel the weight of it, though. It’s impossible not to. There was something you couldn't place with him though you couldn’t see too well under the dim light.

You try to shake off the unease creeping up your spine. “Nice to meet you all," you reply, your voice warmer than you feel. 

Johnny, oblivious to the awkwardness in the air, slaps the bar and gives a nod. “Alright, drinks all around, yeah? Let’s get this party started!” he declares, pulling the group into the rhythm of the night.

As the revelry began your stomach churns slightly, a sense of unease still lingering despite the distraction. You knew something was off, something you couldn’t quite put into words. It wasn’t just the men—it was the way Simon’s gaze lingered on you, the way he looked at you as if he were waiting for something. It unsettled you, but you couldn’t figure out why.

Johnny, seemingly oblivious to your tension, slides a drink toward you. “First round’s on me," he grins, the clink of glass against the table snapping you back to the present. "Here’s to a good night.”.

You took a deep breath, swallowing down the nerves that still clung to you. This was supposed to be a night out, after all. A chance to shake off the past, to let loose just a little. You couldn’t let the weight of everything pull you under before you even tried. What would be the point if you didn’t at least try and enjoy yourself?

Shaking the tension from your shoulders, you took a sip of your drink, the burn of alcohol easing the knot in your stomach just slightly. The guys were chatting among themselves, Johnny’s laughter cutting through the low hum of the bar as he joked with Kyle. Price was listening intently, nodding along while Gary seemed content to let the others talk, his eyes occasionally flicking to you, though his gaze didn’t linger long.

And then there was Simon.

His presence loomed even when he wasn’t speaking, his broad frame leaning against the bar just slightly, face half hidden by the shadows. You caught his eyes for a split second, the intensity of his stare making your pulse hitch. You quickly looked away, focusing on your drink, your nerves creeping back up despite the effort to push them aside.

You could feel his gaze on you, though, like a weight pressing against your back. You tried not to let it show, tried not to acknowledge how his proximity seemed to pull at something inside you, but it was impossible to ignore. There was a pull, something in the air, but you couldn’t quite grasp it.

Sighing inwardly, you turned your attention back to the others. Just enjoy yourself, you remind yourself again. Don’t think about him. Don’t think about any of it.

Johnny clinked his glass against yours, a grin on his face. “Here’s to not letting the night pass us by,” he said with a wink, and you couldn’t help but smile back, lifting your glass.

“Cheers,” you said, the warmth of the alcohol giving you just the nudge you needed to ease into the evening. For now, you’d ignore the tight feeling in your chest. You’d enjoy yourself. 

But the eyes that lingered on you would remain, whether you were ready for them or not.

You pushed your chair back with more force than necessary, the scrape of it against the floor loud in the otherwise quiet bar. The conversation still echoed in your ears, but your focus had been on the man, Simon, for the past half hour. His silence had become suffocating, every glance he cast in your direction feeling like it held some hidden meaning. You couldn't quite place it, but something was off about him. His eyes, cold and intense, had followed you too much, made you second guess every word you’d said.

"Im... gonna go powder my nose," you muttered, more to fill the silence than anything else. You didn’t wait for a response, the words barely out of your mouth before you were already making your way across the room, past the low hum of idle chatter and the clink of glasses.

While you were in the bathroom, the entire team turned their attention towards Ghost, each of them sizing him up, starting with Soap.

"What is wrong with you?" Soap asked, his voice a mix of disbelief and amusement.

"What?" Simon blinked, genuinely confused.

"Mate, you've been gawking at her all night," Gaz added, raising an eyebrow, his voice teasing but laced with concern.

"Shit. Are you serious?" Simon muttered, running a hand through his hair, but his gaze didn't stray far from where you had just disappeared.

Roach, leaning back casually with his drink in hand, nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah, it's like you’ve been stuck in a staring contest with her since she walked in."

Price, who had been watching quietly, shook his head with a resigned sigh. He snuffed out his cigar in the nearby ashtray, eyes narrowing as he met Simon's gaze. "If you scared her off, I doubt you’ll get another chance, lad."

Simon’s jaw clenched. He hadn’t realized how obvious it had been, but now that the team was calling him out on it, he felt the heat rise in his chest. He hadn’t meant to make you uncomfortable, but the pull to look at you, to remember what had sparked your connection all those years ago had been almost magnetic.

“Alright, alright,” Soap teased, leaning in, a smirk tugging at his lips. “Just don't burn a hole in her head.”

“Shut up,” Simon muttered, his mind racing, trying to figure out how to fix this without making things worse.

Price shared a look with the rest of the team, a silent understanding passing between them. While Soap might have been the one to set this whole thing in motion, it didn't mean the others didn't have contingencies in place. 

Soap got up first, stretching a bit. “Gonna make sure no one's tried to get in my car,” he said with a casual tone.

“I’ll come with you,” Gaz chimed in, already pushing himself up from his seat and following Soap toward the door.

A minute later, Roach also stood, excusing himself without a word, and then Price followed suit, his movements deliberate. “I’m gonna make sure they’re not up to anything,” he said with a knowing glance.

With everyone out of the immediate area, the bar suddenly felt quieter, and the tension in the air seemed to thicken. It took Ghost only a second for it all to click—he had been set up. Without thinking, he bolted from his seat, rushing outside just in time to catch the taillights of Soap's car disappearing down the street.

He cursed under his breath, but before he could make another move, his phone buzzed in his pocket. Pulling it out, he glanced at the screen. There, in simple words from Price: 

“Good luck.”

Ghost stood still for a moment, phone in hand, as the weight of the situation hit him. His heart thudded in his chest. This was it. There was no turning back now.

By the time you returned to the table, you felt a bit more at ease. The night out wasn’t all that bad… it was just that Johnny had some weird taste in friends. Well, mostly the tall one. You couldn’t help but notice how everyone seemed to have left, a pit forming in your stomach at the thought of being ditched.

You let out a quiet sigh, about to gather your things and head out when your phone lit up in your purse. Pulling it out, you saw a text from Johnny. 

"Emergency, looks like one of the beers wasn't that good, poor Kyle threw up."

You paused, reading the message again, a small smile tugging at your lips. Aww… nevermind. At least they hadn’t forgotten about you after all. 

"Hope he's okay." You replied quickly, grabbing the straps of your bag when suddenly a hand landed on top of yours.

You looked up, meeting the intense gaze of Simon. Seriously? You couldn’t help but think. They took everyone but this guy?

You forced a smile, trying to pull your hand away, but Simon’s grip was firm, not unkind. “Look, I had a decent time, but I have to go—”

“Just a minute,” he interrupted, his voice low, steady, almost pleading. There was something about the way he said it that made you pause, something different than the usual small talk.

"Fine." The word slipped out before you could process it, and you cursed yourself inwardly. Really? You just agreed to stay with the guy who hadn’t stopped staring since you met him. You sat back down, and he mirrored you, settling across the table. 

Silence stretched between you, his intense gaze unwavering. He didn’t so much as blink, and you couldn’t help but feel more unsettled by the second.

What the hell is his deal?

“Look, if you're just going to be a creep, I don't think I want to mee—"

“Do you remember Armed Forces Day?” His voice cut through your words, quiet but resolute.

Okay, this took all day, I wanted to give you all something long to read incase I disappear for finals (which I might)

Reblogs appreciated!!!

TAGLIST: @nijiru @livinggxd3adgirl @skylarmitchell @lunamoonbby @pagesfalling @love-kha1 @thychuvaluswife @dinonuggetsworld @serafina-nyx @imttryi @armycaratlover @mulletmcghee @jajouska @sgreer123123 @gaida-511 @uhenivid @maluvilela @cosmicbreathe @natashamea18 @fucknuggets420 @dreamygirli3 @skzthinker @viecyi @drip-from-kitchen-sink @instantdinosaurwitch @xbirdiex @too-pretty-to-live @koibleufish @lahniu @lostintransist @famouscattale @secretcheesecakenacho @guyser @allixamour @kihyuns-military-wife @cray0ngutz @jaxz21 @singshoutshaxx @plk-18 @strawberrygato @soaplickerrr @hizzielover @bvinnyll @pawnthedice @viennakarma @forgottensomewhere @i-love-ptv @tachiara @n-y-x04 @oniiloma @vmaxis @allllium @ninikrumbs @thatpersonnamedrook @qetigasitashvili05

WOWWW LOOK AT ALL THESE NAMES. Thank you all so much for the support!! Im sorry if i missed any, I will update if I noticed any missing or comment on those who's tags didnt go through!

[f1cflcfic]

Won't Say I'm In Love (SMAU ft. Lando Norris) - part ix

pairing: lando norris x tennis player!reader (fem!y/n); past carlos alcaraz x tennis player!reader (fem!y/n)

summary: As a general rule, y/n does not date athletes. You've been there, done that - would not recommend. Besides, you definitely don't do love. There's no time in the world for complicated feelings when there's a career Grand Slam to be won. But what if your heart just refuses to listen?

genre: social meda/mixed au, friends to lovers

note: this is RPF and is obviously in no way, shape, or form reflective of real persons and/or events

series: part i | part ii | part iii | part iv | part v | part vi | part vii | part viii | ...

bonus: one, two, three

May 10 - 18, 2025

[Transcript excerpt: Serena Williams & Y/N L/N's "Athletes on Athletes"]

"So, Serena. You've had an amazing career in tennis - to me, you are the Greatest of All Time. But what would you say is the one sacrifice that people might not expect you've had to make?"

"I think a lot of people immediately think of family, and having Olympia and Adira. It wasn't easy, and I did have to think at one point - do I want to really win another championship, or do I want to raise my family and be present. But there's also a lot of other sacrifices you make along the way. I've had times where family members were sick and I couldn't visit them, because I was playing a tournament. I think about the friendships I lost, because I didn't have time to invest in them. And there are a lot of the things I couldn't experience with my peers. Of course, I also gained a lot of things by not doing others. It's more so a choice perhaps, a trade-off, than a sacrifice."

"Yeah, I resonate with that a lot. I'm feeling that now with my niece having been born. And I'm so lucky that my sister is willing to plan her wedding around my schedule, which is insane of her but I love it, too. I think having a family isn't really on my mind at the moment - but I would love to be in love. I just think that it's really difficult for anyone to measure up against the love I have for tennis. And so it doesn't necessarily feel like a sacrifice to put that first. Tennis is my first and forever love. I would want a partner to understand that. My biggest nightmare is not being able to play anymore. Only after that comes being alone."

"Yeah. I think it's about perspective and priorities - and those shift over time. You live and breathe tennis, but it's not all that you are. As long as you've got a solid foundation of people around you who lift you up, but who also keep you grounded and can remind you of that, then you're going to be good. You'll land on your feet. That loyalty we feel to tennis, it's the same loyalty you need from your team. And I think that perhaps that's the hardest choice to make sometimes. When you have to say goodbye to someone you've been on a journey with for so long, but they no longer fit."

"I think that's so hard. It's difficult to know when you need the comfort and stability to perform at your best, or when you need to be challenged to perform at a new best. I'm still figuring that out. But a solid group of friends, I have, thankfully."

May 19 - 25, 2025

[Transcript excerpt: McLaren's Teammate Challenge video]

"For this next bit - we will write down the answer we think the other person's going to give."

"So it's not necessarily what I think is the right answer, but what I think Oscar is going to answer."

"Indeed, Lando."

"Alright then. We'll start with a few easy ones. What is my favourite cuisine?"

"Easy indeed, I've written down Italian."

"Well done Osc, that's true. You go next."

"What is my middle name?"

"Pssh. Done. It's Jack. My turn then - who's my celebrity crush?"

"I've gone for Y/N L/N."

"Wrong - I don't have one."

"That's unfair! We all know the ansewr is Y/N. He can't just make up a new celebrity crush."

"Of course I can? She's my actual friend now. Celebrity crushes are for people you admire from a distance."

"And what if you admire them from up close?"

"I think we should go to the next question."

∘•···············•∘ʚ ♡ ɞ∘•················•∘ ∘•···············•∘ʚ ♡ ɞ∘•················•∘∘•···············•∘

author's note: well, it's 1:15 AM and officially King's Day in the Netherlands, but wanted to get this up finally as promised! Next part should be up a bit sooner as it's pretty much finished already and involves some big moments and realisations for y/n at the French Open :) :)

next part is available here

♥ likes, comments, reblogs and asks are always very much appreciated - i love chatting and hearing your thoughts! ♥

taglist (open): @linnygirl09 @julesbog @midnight-and-books @sarx164 @obxstiles @freyathehuntress @vhkdncu2ei8997 @berrnuu @lightdragonrayne @glow-ish @batsratswrites @blushmimi @colmathgames2 @esw1012

[unch4rtedwxters]

Hi!! I’m obsessed with your story hehe so I thought I’d send in an ask :)

Can I ask Adira what her favorite color is??

despite my text color being green, my favorite color is sunny yellow :)

[tangledbea]

What do you make of Adira/Cass's sword? If it can cut the rocks does that mean it can cut Rapunzel's hair too? And is it made out of the black rocks? If so can the black rocks cut Rapunzel's hair? Also, where did she get it and how did whoever made it make it into a sword shape?

It can't cut Rapunzel's hair. Adira tried that. Everyone was surprised.

It is made out of the black rocks, and though there is no canonical explanation, I believe the implication is that it's a shard that was created in the Moonstone event 25 years ago. The one that cost Edmund his arm. I think it was the Moonstone power itself that sliced off a piece of black rock, and Adira made a sword out of it.

(Also, in case you didn't know, it's got a name. It's called Shadowblade. Just telling you because I think that's really neat. :))

[th3p0rtalmaker]

Headcanon:

Adira listened to meditation music. But also Heavy Metal.

Hector listens to ABBA, Jojo Siwa, Chappell Roan, Olivia Rodrigo, Britney Spears, Cyndi Lauper, and Taylor Swift.

Quirin listens to white noise. And like, NPR.

OMG this is actually close to the musical genres I connect with these characters!!! XD (Also thanks for sending me this ask - I LOVE music and connecting songs to characters!!!) I can 100% see Quirin listening to NPR, but I also like to think he has musical preferences that the show never delved into. (But falling asleep to custom white noise compilations that he made on an app is something I can also see him doing!) I admit I've never listened to Jojo Siwa or Chappell Roan (and I don't think I've heard any of Cyndi Lauper's stuff...), but I've heard a limited number of songs by ABBA, Britney Spears, and Taylor Swift. So I can't give any real commentary on whether or not I think Hector would listen to them specifically. Personally, I associate both Hector and Adira with these genres: -Rock/Heavy Metal -Pop -International/Ethnoclassical -Epic Orchestral -Dance/Electronic -Various Combinations of the Above I literally have character-vibe playlists on my Youtube channel dedicated to my versions of Hector and Adira in Incarnate (and one that's specifically about their sibling relationship in the fic XD). A lot of the songs in these playlists are by artists like Alan Walker, THEFATRAT, Peyton Parrish, Skillet, Imagine Dragons, Faouzia, Beth Crowley, and more. For example: Incarnate!Adira's Playlist includes: -"You'll Be In My Heart" (Peyton Parrish Cover) -"I See Your Monsters" Nightcore (Katie Sky) -"We'll Meet Again" (THEFATRAT feat. Laura Brehm) Incarnate!Hector's Playlist includes: -"Hard to Kill" (Beth Crowley) -"Find Your Way" (Divide Music) -"The Lost Get Found" (Britt Nicole) And their Sibling Playlist includes: -"Dosti" (Hemachandra) -"More Than Anything" Epic Version (Am So Wasted) -"Unity" Nightcore (Alan Walker feat. Walkers) Not sure if this answer is going on too long...but if you wanna talk about the Brotherhood and music I'm definitely down for it! XD

[nerdasaurus1200]

I don't know if ur answering asks about the 4 ship dynamics post, but I saw that you shared it and figured I'd give you one. Which dynamic is your perception of the HectorX Adira romantic ship?

I’m gonna say doesn’t make sense and doesn’t compel me but I mostly say that because Hector canonically views her as a sister.

[oonajaeadira]

FLUFFBRUARY 26: fluff | wooly | care package (Joel Miller)

ADIRA'S SELF-IMPOSED FLUFFBRUARY RULES:

Six sentences.

Must be fluffy.

All 29 ficlets must feature a different Pedro.

All three words must be used (Fluffbruary prompt list here).

Use the words in order.

I reserve the right to break rules and/or cheat.

“Joel, dinner…Jooooelllll….where is that man now?”

A glance over the meadow gives you your answer and you head toward what looks to be a thicket of fluff, shaking your head with a begrudgingly wry smile.

The sheep have taken to Joel and Joel to the sheep, and like some kind of fairytale princess all that man has to do is lay down in the grass and whistle and the wooly little beasts come and hunker down around him for an afternoon nap in the sunshine.

Bless him, laying there on his good ear, the sun warming him and sending up the earthy scent of grass and leather, not a care in the world, while your good meal sits cooling at the Roost and…well, there’s only one thing for it then...cold dinner it is.

Weaving through a couple of ewes, you lay down and spoon yourself around him, curling an arm over his broad form, causing him to suck in a waking breath and let out a little “mmph” as he covers your hand with his own, pulling it up to his chest and lowering his lips to it.

A lamb decides that this is what you’re all doing now, flopping down against Joel’s other outstretched arm, and you shake a muffled laugh between his big shoulder blades as he drags the fluffy little care package in and nestles it contentedly among his gathered treasures.

.

___

@fluffbruary

FLUFFBRUARY MASTERLIST

LEAVE OFF YOUR WANDERING MASTERLIST

[jaxinkh]

Fathers and Sons

Eugene & Rapunzel are visiting Varian. 

The Brotherhood is visiting as well. Quirin has invited everyone so Varian could learn more about his heritage, and Varian had in turn invited Eugene & Rapunzel. As the couple was welcomed inside, Varian asked if anyone else came to visit too. Eugene answers him:

“Sorry buddy, but it’s just us. Cass isn’t back for her visits yet and Lance had to figure things out with Kiera & Catalina’s school.”

Everyone had a nice time catching up over tea & apple pie. Edmund had explained many things about the Dark Kingdom., like its religion and the culture that formed in a Kingdom plagued by Black Rocks. Rapunzel was very interested:

“You know, we have the ‘Good Will Gopher Grab’ and ‘the Day of Hearts’ in Corona. Did the Dark Kingdom have any traditions like that?”

Hector says there were several Dark Kingdom traditions. For instance, there was the annual sword-fighting tournament, the harvest festival & the Summer Dance! Rapunzel is excited: 

“Is there anything they might be able to do here in Old Corona?” 

“Well, there is the Father-Son Contest!” 

Adira explains that once a year, teams of fathers & sons would compete in several different challenges. They would hunt, build, fish, shoot a bow & show their physical prowess in a friendly competition. Coincidentally, that contest would be this week! Rapunzel jumps up excitedly: 

“We could totally do that! We even have 2 father-son duo’s right here! Right guys?”

Edmund agrees. 

“That sounds like a great idea! What do you think, Quirin? Would you and your boy like to challenge us?” 

Quirin turns to Varian and asks if he would be ok with that. Varian is happy to join: 

“Sure! It sounds like fun!”

After a week of building & setting things up, the course is ready! There are 2 boats, targets, building materials & 2 identical obstacle courses. Rapunzel high-fives Varian & Eugene, happy about a job well done. After a quick check Rapunzel realizes that they don’t have any bows ready. Quirin remembers he has a couple of them. He heads into the house to look for bows. Meanwhile Rapunzel gets curious about the other members of the Brotherhood.

“So how do you like the Kingdom of Corona? It must be strange to be here after 20 years of not leaving your home!”

Edmund agrees, but he does like it here. It’s very colorful and lively! He hopes that one day the Dark Kingdom will be just as lively. Hector disagrees, he actually quite liked the solitude. Eugene asks him if he truly spent 20 years in that Tree without any human contact. Hector denies this:

“I mean, for most of it. Not counting any intruders I chased off, the only people to actually visit were Quirin & his wife. But that was 15, 16 years ago so they could-”

CRASH!!!

Suddenly the group hears a loud noise coming from the house! Worried for Quirin, they rush inside. They find Quirin at the bottom on the stairs, surrounded by fallen books & a toppled over shelf. Unable to stand on his left foot, Edmund & Eugene help him up the stairs and onto a chair. While Adira takes off the boot, Rapunzel asks what happened. Quirin tells her that he tripped and knocked over his bookcase. He’s hurt his ankle though. Adira & Varian look after him while Eugene & Edmund go get the doctor & some ice. Rapunzel offers to clean up the mess in the basement. When she gets down there, she finds Pascal reading one of the books that fell.

“Pascal? What are you doing?”

The little chameleon seems panicked. He points towards the book and he tries to get Rapunzel to read it. Picking it up, Rapunzel realizes this is Quirin’s old diary! She scolds Pascal, saying he shouldn’t read other people’s dairy’s. Pascal still urges her to read it, pointing to a specific page. Rapunzel relents, but still feels bad about it:

“August: Ulla tries to stay optimistic, but I can tell she is only trying to spare my feelings. We have been trying for a few years and she is still not with child. The doctor examined her and she should be more than capable of getting pregnant, so I can only assume the problem lies with me. We both want a baby so badly, I must think of a solution for this. For Ulla. For our family.”

“December: I have discussed it with Ulla, and we finally found a way to have the family we always wanted. She even agreed with my suggestion of who could help us. As soon as the snow clears we will head out. It’s a long journey, but it will be worth it.”

“July: We finally arrived. We pretended this journey was a sort of second honeymoon, but I can tell Ulla is getting nervous now that we are here. I am nervous too. I just hope Hector is willing to hear us out instead of immediately attacking.”

“November: It worked! Ulla has begun showing a bump! She is pregnant! I am so happy, I cannot thank Hector enough! Will it be a boy or a girl? Maybe twins? Ulla vetoed my suggestion of naming the child after the prince, So we will name her Alexis if she’s a girl, and Varian if he is a boy! Even if Hector is the baby’s father, I swear I will raise our child with all the love in the world!”

“RAPS? ARE YOU STILL IN THE BASEMENT? THE DOCTOR IS HERE!”

Eugene calls out to Rapunzel, startling her. She quickly shoves the dairy under the table to hide it. Shaken up, she answers him, saying she’ll be up in a minute. When Eugene leaves, she turns to Pascal:

“Hector is Varian’s actual father? How… Why… Pascal, what are we going to do?”

Pascal turns himself pink like Rapunzel’s dress, and mimes telling to Varian, who he mimes by turning himself wine-red like Varian’s shirt and a blue streak on his head. He urges Rapunzel to tell Varian this. Rapunzel shakes her head vehemently.

“We can’t tell Varian! You know how much he cares about his dad! I mean, about Quirin! He did everything for Quirin, This would break him!”

She slumps down a bit, recalling how she felt when she realized Gothel wasn’t her real mother. Back then, she felt confused, betrayed, hurt, angry! But most of all she felt sad. Everything in her life had been a lie. She doesn’t want to do that to Varian. Rapunzel decides to hide the dairy under the table and forget about it.

Upstairs, the doctor has left. It turns out that Quirin has sprained his ankle and it will take a few weeks to heal. He is upset that he and Varian won’t be able to compete with Eugene & Edmund. Quirin was excited to share something from his homeland with Varian, but it seems like that won’t be possible now. Seeing Varian’s sad look, Quirin turns to Hector:

“Hector, could you perhaps join Varian’s team? I really want him to experience this part of our culture, and I’m not sure he’ll get another chance!”

A little later the group is outside. Quirin has joined Rapunzel & Adira, sitting in a chair Varian has put wheels under. Adira volunteers to be the referee, claiming to be the most impartial of the group.

“Alright! Time for the first contest: the Hunt! Whoever can bring back the biggest-”

Rapunzel whispers something in Adira’s ear. Looking at Varian, Adira sighs and starts over:

“The first contest is TAMING and bringing back the biggest animal. ALIVE, since the princess felt bad.”

The teams head to the starting line near the edge of the forest. At Rapunzel’s signal they run into the woods, searching for the biggest beast! Petting Ruddiger behind the ears, Quirin is a bit nervous. Hunting is easy since you can shoot an animal from afar, but taming one requires you to get close. Adira reassures him. Surely Hector can keep his son safe! Meanwhile in the woods, Hector is following some tracks he found. Varian is following close behind.

“Uncle Hector, you know King Edmund better: Do you think we’ll have a chance of winning?”

“Relax kid, I’m the best tracker of the Brotherhood! As long as what we find has a warrior spirit we’ll be fine!”

This confuses Varian. He asks what Hector means by ‘warrior spirit’?

“Well, I tamed my bearcats & my rhino by beating them in battle! They respected me and accepted me as their leader since they recognized a fellow warrior. Let’s hope this beastie is the same. Speaking of which…”

Varian looks in front of Hector. They found the source of the tracks, and it’s growling with its tail between the legs.

“Uncle Hector, wait! I don’t think this one has a ‘warrior spirit’ like you said! Can I try something first?”

Hector looks at Varian & the wolf & thinks for a bit. Sheathing his swords, he steps aside.

“Kay!”

On the other side of the forest are Edmund & Eugene. They too are following tracks. They are pretty big tracks, so Eugene is pretty sure they will be able to win if they can tame this one. After a while they find the animal that made them. While checking it out from a distance, Eugene expresses his doubts about this:

“What do you think, pops? Do you reckon we can get to be buddy-buddy with a bear?”

“Don’t worry, son! I actually had a pet bear named Petunia when I was young!”

Eugene looks at Edmund incredulously.

“Really? An actual bear, or a teddy bear? Cuz I’d prefer not to get mauled by 600 pounds of angry animal!” 

Edmund steps out of the bushes, and shows himself to the bear, which immediately starts to growl.

“Have no fear, Eugene! I’ll show you why they used to call me the Bear-King!”

Meanwhile, Adira & Quirin are having some tea, and Rapunzel has just retrieved some fresh ice for Quirin’s ankle. Sitting down and getting some tea herself, Raps wonders who will return first. Adira isn’t sure.

“Well, Hector will probably find something first but I doubt he’ll win. He’s far more likely to wrestle whatever he finds here. Turning this into a ‘taming-competition’ is a real handicap for him.”

Quirin on the other hand thanks Rapunzel & Adira for it. He was worried, since Varian isn’t good with blood. Suddenly they hear rustling coming from the trees. Adira stands up, ready to judge.

A stick is thrown out of the woods. Immediately after that a wolf comes jumping out of the trees! It’s wagging its tail and looking quite pleased! Hector & Varian follow it out of the woods. Varian quickly calls the wolf back before it goes after Rudiger.

“Bernadette! Come back, girl!”

The wolf bounces back to Varian, stick in its mouth. Varian takes the stick and throws it again, playing fetch with the wolf he named Bernadette. Hector walks up to the group.

“Well? How’s that? I’d say that’s a beauty of a wolf right there! Do you think she’ll be enough to win?”

Adira is surprised. She didn’t expect Hector to actually tame something that friendly. Hector admits it wasn’t him:

“It was actually Varian who tamed her. He noticed she was more scared than aggressive and calmed her down. He’s pretty good with beasties! I didn’t expect that from the kid.”

Varian guides the wolf back to Adira so she can have a good look.

“I guess animals just like me. I’m not sure why, but when I first met Rudiger he would constantly try to break into my lab just to see me. I only started feeding him when we were already friends. If it’s ok with you I’d like to let Bernadette go now, she should be with her pack instead of in town.”

Adira says it’s ok, and Bernadette trots back into the woods with her stick. Quirin is very happy Varian didn’t decide to keep her. He got a headache just thinking about looking after a wolf! They suddenly hear 2 shouts of surprise coming from the woods! Edmund and Eugene have returned as well. Eugene waves at the group:

“We’re back! So can I assume that the wolf that nearly ran into us was your catch?”

Eugene & Edmund look terrible! They are dirty & their clothes are slightly torn. Rapunzel starts plucking the twigs out of Eugene’s hair.

“Are you hurt? What happened?”

“Well, Sunshine. Turns out that some bears like wrestling. Who’d have thought?” 

Rapunzel smiles at him. She assures him it’s not a problem if they didn’t manage to tame a bear, that would be really difficult, especially since Edmund was wearing a bearskin as a cape. That doesn’t exactly invite friendship! 

Suddenly she hears a growl. The bear rushes towards Edmund! Adira & Rapunzel get ready for a fight, but Edmund tackles the bear into a hug:

“There she is! Isn’t she a beauty? I shall name you Petunia II, and we will be partners for life!”

The bear starts licking Edmunds face, clearly agreeing with him. Everyone is surprised, except Eugene.

“Like I said, apparently she likes to wrestle. I thought we were goners, but it worked out in the end!”

While Bernadette the wolf was impressive, everyone agrees that Petunia II the bear is the clear winner. Adira declares Edmund & Eugene victorious and the group gets ready for the next challenge.

“Next up is archery! Grab your bows and head for the target please!!”

Adira shows the group the target and instructs everyone to stay behind the line. Everyone gets 3 shots, and the team that scores the most points will win! After a coin toss, Varian & Hector are up first. Hector takes aim, and manages to hit 2 of them in the center of the target, with the last arrow ending up in the second ring instead. Varian cheers for his uncle.

“Amazing! You’re really good at this, uncle Hector!”

Hector stands proud, clearly taking in the praise. But when Varian tries to shoot, Hector stops him.

“Kid, your stance is all wrong. You’re going to poke someone’s eye out that way. Did Quirin never teach you how to use a bow or something?”

Varian shakes his head. He never used a bow before, since Quirin didn’t think it was necessary for him to learn. Varian never wanted to be a hunter and he faints at the sight of blood, so it never came up. Hector scoffs at that:

“What the heck, Quirin! He needs to know stuff like this, you can’t shelter kids! Next thing you’re going to tell me you didn’t teach him how to fight!”

Seeing Varian’s sheepish look, Hector sighs. 

“Of course the last knight of the Brotherhood didn’t teach you that. Ok kid, first I’m going to teach you how to shoot, then I’ll teach you how to fight. You have to be able to defend yourself!”

Maneuvering Varian into a proper stance, Hector gives a quick rundown of how to aim and when to shoot. Following the instructions, Varian manages to hit the target. Sure, none of the arrows hit the center, but 1 hits the smaller ring while the other 2 hit the outer one. Varian is happy with this, and he gets a compliment from Hector. Quirin cheers from the sideline.

“Good job, son! You did great!”

Varian waves back to Quirin. He’s very happy he managed to hit the target at all. As Eugene approaches the target, Varian asks Hector if it will be enough to win. Hector tells Varian that it depends entirely on how Eugene shoots. Eugene aims, and shoots:

“Yes! One dead center and 2 inner rings! Lucky shot!”

Eugene celebrates, high fiving Edmund. He did better than he thought he would! Hector groans:

“Well, there goes the win. We’ve lost this one, kid.”

“What? Why? King Edmund only has one arm, how can he even shoot with that?”

While Varian is confused, Edmund takes his place. Using his foot and his one arm, he shoots all 3 arrows dead in the middle of the target. They are so well aimed the arrows pierce each other down the middle! Eugene whistles in amazement.

“Dang, pops! How in the world did you get so good at that?”

Edmund admits that even before the kingdom was evacuated he was the best archer in the Dark Kingdom. When he guarded the Moonstone he would practice with his one arm whenever he got bored, which was often. Varian & Hector didn’t stand a chance!

Next up is the building competition. While Adira moves the target further away, Rapunzel explains the rules:

“Ok, teams! You’re both doing great! For this competition both teams need to make a catapult! You can use whatever items are in the piles next to you, and no stealing from the other’s pile! I can guarantee they have the exact same stuff in them, so it’s 100% fair!”

Eugene whines a bit, claiming it’s not really fair if the Royal Engineer is competing, but since he had the Dark Kingdom’s best archer last round Hector tells him to suck it up. Varian smugly says since Edmund only had one arm he will only use one arm as well, to make it fair for Eugene. The group gets 1 hour to make the best catapult, judged by who can get a pumpkin the closest to the target. While the teams are building away, Rapunzel goes to get some drinks for everyone. While pouring the drinks she sees Pascal trying to drag the diary out of the basement.

“Pascal! Stop that! I know you really want me to tell Varian, but I… I just can’t. Not yet at least. Can we wait until after the Brotherhood has left? I want Varian to be able to bond with his family without this hanging over his head.”

Pascal relents and Rapunzel takes the diary. She hides it in her pocket and takes the drinks outside. When she gets back to the group both teams are ready to show off their catapults. Rapunzel is impressed by both teams:

“Wow! These look amazing, guys! So sophisticated! Varian, are you sure you only used one hand?”

Varian shows he indeed had his hand tied around his back. As it turns out, Hector is quite handy too! He had designed and created the mechanism to extend and retract his swords into their gauntlets himself:

“I had to be able to repair these things myself, after all. Who knows? If I had applied myself to engineering instead of the sword I might have been half as good as the kid!”

Varian laughs claiming they have a lot in common, but Rapunzel gets nervous. She begins to worry that Varian might start to notice their similarities. Meanwhile, Adira looks over the catapults. Edmund & Eugene’s looks like a standard, but well-constructed catapult. Hector & Varian’s looks more like a cannon than a catapult, but since it doesn’t use gun-powder it is allowed. Instead it uses a mechanism similar to Hector’s swords. Adira hands Eugene a pumpkin for their attempt. He loads up the pumpkin while Edmund aims. Satisfied, Edmund starts to count down:

“Alright, stand back everyone! 3… 2… 1… LAUNCH!”

With a big arc, the pumpkin soars through the air! Following it with their eyes, they see it comes pretty close! Rapunzel & Adira head to the target and measure the distance from where the pumpkin hit the ground to the target. Rapunzel shouts the distance to Quirin to write down.

“Only 9 feet from the target! Great job, guys!”

Edmund & Eugene high five. They did very well for a target that was 150 feet away. Rapunzel gives Varian the next pumpkin. They load it up, aim and Varian begins their own countdown:

“1… 2… 3… SHOOT!”

Hector pulls the lever and activates their catapult. It shoots the pumpkin much faster and in a straight line! It zooms across the field and hits the target dead on, knocking it over! Hector & Varian celebrate:

“Yes! It worked! Good job, kiddo!”

“It worked PERFECTLY! Using your swords as a reference was a great idea!”

Quirin holds Ruddiger back from chasing the tasty pumpkin. He smiles at the teams. 

“Good job everyone. I don’t think measuring will be necessary this time, though!”

Giving Eugene a kiss on the check, Rapunzel assures him their catapult was also amazing. Besides, Edmund & Eugene are still in the lead. They only need to win once more to be crowned champions!

“You’re right, Sunshine! We still got this! Alright, let’s get fishing! To the boats!”

Both teams are fishing on opposite sides of the lake. It’s been about 30 minutes, and neither side has gotten any bites yet. Neither team wants to scare away the fish. Eugene is worried since it’s taking so long. He leans back to whisper to Edmund:

“Hey, you wouldn’t happen to also secretly be the best fisher of the Dark Kingdom? Because it’s been half an hour and I’m not sure I’m trusting my luck here.”

“Don’t worry son. If I know Hector, and I do, he will be eating himself up with frustration right about now. Despite guarding a Tree for 20 years, he isn’t actually a very patient person. He will act up soon, we just have to out-wait him.”

Eugene looks carefully at Hector & Varian’s boat. Sure enough, Hector is angrily tapping his feet. Beside him, Varian is also drumming his fingers on his fishing rod with impatience. Suddenly Hector stands up and growls in anger:

“THAT’S IT. I’M SPEARING ONE OF THESE STUPID FISHES!”

“Uncle Hector, please calm down! You’re scaring away the fish!”

Unsheathing his sword, he leans over the edge. Varian also stands up to get him to calm down, but the way they are pulling on each other rocks the boat heavily! 

SPLASH!

They accidentally tip the boat and both Hector & Varian fall into the water! With the boat turned over both swim to shore. In the next boat Edmund turns to Eugene:

“See? This always happens. If Hector cannot train while he is waiting he just works himself into a frenzy!”

Eugene watches as the 2 swimmers head for land. He feels bad for them since they got soaked. Just as he is about to suggest getting back to shore themselves, he feels a tugging on his rod. Eugene has a bite! Edmund cheers for him:

“Well done, son! Reel it in!”

“I got it, I got it!”

Eugene & Edmund work together and reel in a trout! They row back to shore, and arrive a few moments before Varian & Hector. While Adira measures their fish, Varian suddenly starts to swim erratically.

“MWUHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!”

The group looks at Varian, who is laughing like an evil villain. Pulling him out of the water, Varian is shaking with laughter:

“HAHAHAHAHA GET OUT!!! THAT TICKLES!!!”

Reaching down his shirt, Varian pulls out a fish. It’s a bass, and it’s much bigger than Eugene’s trout! Varian sighs in relief. Quirin worriedly asks Varian if he is ok.

“Yeah, I’m fine. It just felt really weird! Oh! Aunt Adira, does this fish count? It’s really big!”

Adira laughs, telling him it does. Varian high fives Hector for their victory. Raps wonders if it should count, since they didn’t catch it the way it was intended. Quirin laughs at this:

“Well, it’s Adira’s call. Besides, this way the final competition will be much more exciting, won’t it?”

Adira agrees. But before they can compete, Hector & Varian must dry off. She sends them inside to get ready for the final competition, the obstacle course. Quirin asks her who she thinks will win. Adira thinks for a bit:

“If you want my honest guess, I think it will be Fishskin and King Edmund. Hector is faster than both of them, but Goggles has no practice running over difficult terrain. Besides, you and I both know that King Edmund and Fish-Skin being related makes them more in sync. We’ve seen it times and times again back in the Dark Kingdom. There is no substitute for that kind of compatibility!”

Quirin looks surprised at this.

“Adira, did I never tell you? Hector is-”

Rapunzel cuts him off:

“Hey! I think Hector and Varian need some help finding towels inside! Why don’t you two go and help them, while Pascal and I check over the course again? Ok?”

Startled by Rapunzel’s sudden request, Quirin and Adira head inside. Rapunzel sighs in relief. She then looks worriedly at the course before turning to Pascal:

“That was really close, Quirin almost told Adira! This is bad, Pascal. You heard Adira, right? If Hector and Varian win the competition she’ll be suspicious about their compatibility! If she starts to ask questions, it will only be a matter of time until Varian finds out, he’s too smart for that! They can’t win, we have to…we’ll have to sabotage them, so Eugene & Edmund win!”

Pascal looks at her disapprovingly. He is not ok with that, but Raps is so scared of causing Varian grief that she powers through her guilt. Looking over the course, she sees a part that she can alter.

“If I sabotage this part of the final tower climb, it will fall off the side! They won’t be able to complete the climb to catch the flag. At least Varian will be able to have fun with the rest of the course…”

When Hector & Varian are dried off, everyone heads outside again. Rapunzel is putting lots of hay around the towers. Eugene asks her what she is doing. Rapunzel responds that the hay is to cushion any falls. She doesn’t want anyone to get hurt, after all. The group heads to the starting line, and Adira goes over the course, explaining the obstacles to Varian and Eugene as they never participated before.

“Ok, everyone! There are two identical courses, one for each team. First you swing over the lake to the landing platform and then you make your way over the smaller platforms to the balancing section and lastly you climb the tower. The father must stay on the tower while the son goes for the flag. Whoever grabs the flag first wins! Simple enough, right?”

The teams get ready. Varian looks nervous, but Hector gives him an encouraging grin. Eugene and Edmund give each other a confident look. Adira starts the countdown:

“3… 2… 1… GO!”

Both teams race off! Hector and Eugene reach their ropes first and swing onto the platform with ease. Eugene throws back the rope and makes room for his father to land. Hector on the other hand stays put and catches Varian as he swings. 

Eugene is jumping from one tiny platform to the other and making his way to the balancing beam. Looking back he sees Edmund do the same, but he is slower due to his weight. Eugene asks if Edmund is ok, but Edmund says he will manage.

“I shouldn’t have worn my armor for this!”

Hector and Varian are not far behind them. Hector expertly jumps from one platform to the next, years of living in a tree showing their results. Varian however is lagging behind. He never did much parkour, unlike the Brotherhood members and the former thief. He barely makes it over the balancing beam without falling into the water. 

Rapunzel is running around the lake to keep up with them, they are fast! Adira is struggling to keep up while pushing Quirin’s chair, falling behind. Rapunzel tells her she will keep an eye on who wins and runs after the men. Both teams made it to the other side of the lake and reached the towers. Raps gets nervous, hoping her sabotage will work as she planned. She sees both teams climb to the top, with Eugene and Edmund in the lead. They start to climb, and reach the final stretch: A pole straight up, with the flag on top. Eugene is a third of the way up, and Hector realizes Varian won’t be able to outclimb him.

“Kid, he’s fast! You got any ideas?”

Varian looks determined at the flag, and turns to Hector:

“Throw me!”

Hector picks Varian up and throws him up the pole! He flies past Eugene and makes it halfway to the top before he grabs hold to climb himself. Suddenly they hear a crack!

To Rapunzel’s horror, the pole she sabotaged starts to topple with Varian on it! With a scream, Varian holds on as parts of the tower come down. Luckily, the pole fell into the ropes holding up the flags and stayed put, precariously suspended over the edge. One part of the tower has fallen into the hay at the bottom, sticking straight up and having dangerous points. If Varian falls on it he would be skewered!

“Help me!”

Varian is hanging from the pole, halfway out. Hector tries to reach for him, but he is too far. Hector tries to stand on the pole to get to Varian, but it cracks even more, making him stop. The men are so busy trying to get to Varian that they haven’t noticed the dangerous spike below. Eugene and Edmund are trying to help, throwing a rope to Varian. Varian tries to grab it, but his hands slip, and he falls! Hector jumps after him, grabbing Varian with one hand while grabbing & holding on to the tower with the other. The weight is too much, and the pole starts to break further! 

Rapunzel runs near the catapults made earlier and gets an idea. She runs up to the one made by Varian and Hector and aims it at the hay pile. Realizing she has no ammo, she searches around and in her pockets, finding Quirin’s diary. She loads it up and fires it! The diary shoots across the field, and hits the spike dead-on! It dislodges from the hay and gets knocked out of the way.

The pole gives way completely, and Hector and Varian fall into the hay. Eugene & Edmund start digging them out, fearing the worst. After a few moments, both of them emerge from the pile, unhurt. Rapunzel runs up to them and hugs Varian.

“Are you ok? I’m so sorry, Varian! I never should’ve messed with your course, I swear I didn’t think you would get hurt! Are you hurt? Oh, what did I do? I’m sorry!”

Varian is confused.

“Wait, you sabotaged our course? You caused the pole to fall? Why?”

Adira and Quirin caught up, and heard Rapunzel’s confession. They are very angry with her. While Quirin fusses over Varian, Adira scolds the princess.

“That was very dangerous, Princess. I’m very disappointed in you. I understand you want Fish-skin to win, but that’s no-”

“That’s not… I didn’t want Eugene to win, I needed Hector and Varian to lose! I-”

Eugene looks disappointed, while Varian looks hurt.

“You wanted us to lose? Why?”

While the others are trying to understand, Quirin sees something in the hay:

“What is… Is this my old diary? What is it doing here?”

Rapunzel looks down with guilt.

“Pascal found it after you fell. I… read part of it. I’m sorry… I know the truth.”

Quirin is confused. Varian is getting upset. He asks what she is talking about. Eugene asks if it’s why she sabotaged the course. Under the barrage of questions, Rapunzel can no longer stay silent.

“I’m sorry, Varian. The diary… Quirin… Quirin is not your father. Hector is. I sabotaged the course because I was afraid that, if you won, you’d realize how much you and Hector have in common and would find out you’re his son!”

Eugene is shocked. Adira’s eyes open wide in surprise. Rapunzel is starting to tear up, feeling awful about the whole situation. All three are looking at Varian, worried about his reaction. After a few moments, Varian speaks up:

“You… you sabotaged us, to hide that?”

“Raps, I… uh...”

“I already knew that?”

Rapunzel’s eyes snap open again. She looks at Varian, confused.

“WHAT?”

Varian rubs his head, a bit sheepish:

“Yeah… mom and dad told me I was “an uncle’s kid” when I was 4 years old. I had noticed I didn’t look anything like dad, so I asked mom why. She was never one to lie about stuff and just told me. Dad gave me a lollipop after, I think. It was never a big deal.”

Rapunzel finally relaxes, all tension leaving her body. She is so relieved that Varian isn’t upset! But she asks if Varian knew, why did he still call Quirin his dad? Varian first looks at her strangely for that question, but remembering Rapunzel’s history with parental figures he sighs.

“Dad raised me since the day I was born, with nothing but love! I’m his son no matter what, and he is my dad! No offense, Uncle Hector.”

“None taken, kid. I never wanted a kid and Lord knows I have no business raising one. You’re fun now that you’re older, but when kids are small I need to be able to give ‘em back to someone else. I need my ‘me’ time!”

The group laughs at that, mostly in relief though. Standing up, Rapunzel asks what they should do now. Adira puts her hand on Raps’s shoulder, and gives her a friendly yet stern look.

“First, as punishment, you are going to repair the course. Then we can have a proper race and crown the winner! Meanwhile, the rest will have some apple pie!”

END