#and by that I mean hes technically a toddler if we count when he became conscious as his birthday
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Hyde must have drank his milk as a kid, because how the fuck is he not breaking bones while jumping from roof to roof like a madman?
#like I get that he is technically younger than Henry#and by that I mean hes technically a toddler if we count when he became conscious as his birthday#but still#he's got the mind and body of a grown man#not a mature one but still#I'm younger than him by a long shot and if I tried that my back would have snapped like a kitkat#he's either more graceful than someone that used to be a ballerina#or he's literally the spirit of london at night#and I mean that in the âmf aint aliveâ kinda way#edward hyde#the glass scientists#henry jekyll#he just gets up from crouching down on roofs and his knees do that cracking sound#i need to see someone write/draw that#hahahhehe
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Stepping up
Your boyfriend Oikawa brings your daughter to work, for my Parenting event<3
requested by @stars-tonight. word count; 518 â f!reader
Perhaps troubled souls are destined to find each other, because you were lucky enough to meet Oikawa while he needed someone who felt like home, and you were in no less of an emotional predicament as the single mother of a toddler.
Oikawa snuck his way into your heart by caring for your daughter, and even though neither of you was in a hurry to get married, he became like a dad to her.
Meaning, you had no trouble accepting when Oikawa offered to bring her to work on a day when her daycare was closed and you urgently had to go to work.
The day got off to a rocky start. He got out of his car at the usual parking spot and headed for the gym, only to hurriedly run back as he realised he had forgotten the baby.
From there, the technicalities went well. There were just a few⌠comments.
âYouâre a dad?â
âNot technically, but-â he said, confidence not faltering as he proudly held up the cute, smiling toddler.
âOikawa, you canât just steal a baby!â
âItâs my girlfriendâs daughter!â he protested, holding the girl tighter as if someone would try to steal her away.
âBut not yours? Youâre quite the man stepping up to that.â
And they were so right, he really was, but he didnât see it that way. He loved you and this baby is yours, so what if another man had once been involved? He didnât exactly come to Argentina as a virgin either.
Blanco, his coach and mentor, raised an eyebrow when Oikawa entered the gym with two gym bags instead of one and a baby still in his arms. He came to work in his uniform so he wouldnât have to use the locker room. âI didnât know we recruited new players,â Blanco joked.
âSheâs a talent like youâve never seen before,â he joked, playing along until his face turned more sheepish. âCould you, maybe, watch her while we play? My girlfriend had to rush to work this morning and the daycare was closed, and-â Good thing he was interrupted, because he had nothing else planned for the third and.
âYeah, yeah. Donât worry, this little angel will be just fine,â Blanco assured the setter, taking the baby in his arms and shushing any instructions Oikawa gave him as if he hadnât held his own grandchildren before. âGet on with warm-ups, youâre behind.â
Oikawa enjoyed it so much. Every time he would walk past the coach holding your little cutie, she would wave excitedly with what Oikawa could swear were stars in her eyes.
He would always wave back, of course, dedicating all his serves to her as if she had any understanding of said concept. Eventually, the other players started following his lead, and she revelled in the attention.
When the day was over, he bounced her in his arms on his way back to the car, kissing her temple once or twice for good measure. âGood job today, Champ. Now we can go home to mommy!â he cheered.
Yeah, he was destined to find you two.
masterlist
for the requester: thank you for the request, I was hoping for some Oikawa<3
#parenting event#haikyuu#haikyu x reader#haikyu#haikyuu x reader#fanfiction#hq#hq x reader#haikyuu x you#haikyuu fluff#haikyu fluff#Oikawa#oikawa toru#oikawa tooru#oikawa x reader#haikyuu oikawa#hq oikawa#oikawa fluff#argentina#dad!oikawa#dad#father
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Hi, could you do either Billy Hargrove or Eddie Munson reacting to seeing their s/o who usually doesnât like children, interact with a baby/toddler who they actually like? Maybe the s/o was hesitant at first but then the baby just became really attached to them? Ty <3
Little Chickadees
(Eddie Munson x Gender-Neutral Reader)
Warnings: None (I think)
Word Count: 889
A/N: Full disclosure, I really wanted to write both Eddie and Billy, but Billy's version has taken on two very different paths, so I need a bit more time with his. One is a little more wholesome and fluffy while the other is on the serious side. I'll link the fluffy one with this post, but not sure about the other since it won't have the same tone.
Thank you for the request! And I hope you enjoy it!
âEddie, you literally hang out with children all the time!â you said, exasperated.
He gripped his chest as if in pain. âOuch!â
You groaned. âYou know what I mean. Itâs justâŚKids donât like me, and I donât like them. Itâs a mutual dislike.â
You were rambling at this point, and both of you knew it.
All you wanted was to spend the day with your boyfriend, but because he was such a sweetheart, he had volunteered both of you for the petting zoo at the Fourth of July carnival. And where there were fuzzy, adorable creatures, there were screaming, crying kids.
âCâmon, it wonât be that bad!â He flopped beside you on his bed. âYou technically donât even have to watch them. Thatâs what their parents are for. You just have to make sure no one loses a finger to a goat.â
âThatâs not helping,â you said.
âOr lets an alpaca loose.â
âEddie!â You threw a pillow at him.
âAlright!â he laughed, âAlright, Iâll stop.â
You played with the chain hanging from his jeans.
âYouâll be fine, sweetheart,â he said, rubbing your knee. âBut we should probably head over. I know how much you hate being late.â
You let out a deep sigh. âYeah, I guess.â
He offered you his hand, intertwining your fingers to lead you to his van.
You wished it had taken longer to get there. You would have rather listened to Eddie ramble about the most recent campaign than deal with the children of Hawkins.
At least the animals would distract you.
The baby goats were adorable, but you couldnât help wincing when they bumped their heads together.
Baby ducks and chicks were waddling around in their pens, and the alpacas were corralled in fencing where visitors could see them.
âThink anyone'd mind if I took one of these guys home?â Eddie asked, holding one of the baby ducks.
You gave him a soft smile, resting your chin on his shoulder. âAs much as I would love to see you play mother henâor mother duckâI think stealing isnât exactly the right answer.â
He puckered his lips in thought. âYeah, youâre probably right.â He set it back in its pen. âAnd with my luck, itâd probably like Uncle Wayne more than me.â
You hummed and kissed his cheek. âGuess youâll just have to settle for me.â
You went to pull away, but he quickly caught you around your waist to kiss you properly.
âThereâs no settling when youâre the most amazing person I know,â he said into your hair.
Your heart beat a little faster the longer he stared. He always looked at you like you were the only person in the room. And you counted yourself grateful you found someone as kind and loving as him.
âLove you,â you whispered, touching your forehead to his.
âLove you, too.â
Excited shouts and giggles drifted as the kids bounded to the petting zoo.
âShow time,â Eddie said, reluctantly pulling away.
You sighed for what felt like the tenth time. âYeah, yeah.â
When you got to the main area, Eddie showed some little boys the goats. And when one of them headbutted Eddieâs leg, the boys all laughed like it was the funniest thing in the world.Â
And you briefly caught Eddie biting his lip to keep the groan back. Heâd definitely have a bruise tomorrow.
Someone tugged on your shirt to get your attention. Holly Wheeler stood there with her head tilted back.
âHey, Holly. Whereâs your mom?â you asked.
She pointed to her right, where her parents were having what looked like a disagreement.
âOkay,â you nodded, âwhy donât we look at the baby chickens? How does that sound?â
She nodded excitedly.
âAlright, Holls.â You gently picked up one of the chicks. âSit next to me, and you can pet him.â
You both sat on a hay bale, and Holly was transfixed by the creature.
âJust use one finger and be super careful,â you said.
She slowly ran her finger down the chick's back, barely any pressure applied.
âSoft,â she mumbled, a content smile on her face.
âYou like him?â
She nodded again, starting her path from the beginning. The chick lowered its head, eyes closing as the repetitive motion put him to sleep.
You grinned. âLooks like he feels safe with you, Holly.â
She giggled but stopped petting him, not wanting to wake him up.
âLetâs put him back with his friends. Wanna see the ducks next?â
She was standing by their pen in an instant.
Her interaction with the ducks went much the same. And soon enough, Mrs. Wheeler called Holly back and gave you a wave of thanks.
You had just put the duck back when Eddie sidled up beside you.
âKids donât like you, huh?â he teased, wrapping an arm around your waist.
You rolled your eyes. âIt was a fluke.â
âYes, of course.â He nodded as if it made perfect sense. âSâwhy you were so good with her, right?â
You pinched his side lightly. âHollyâs a sweet kid. Not like your little demons.â You nodded toward the group of boys now at the alpacas.
He shook his head slightly. âThat goat had it out for me.â
You laughed, leaning into his side.
He kissed the side of your head. âKnew youâd be fine.â
You faced him. âWhatever you say, Dungeon Master.â
Taglist: @phenomenal-bird, @steph-speaks, @bookshelf-dust
If youâd like to be added to any tag lists, please comment or message me with the character youâd like updates on.
#eddie munson#Eddie munson fluff#Eddie munson x reader#eddie munson x gender neutral reader#eddie munson x gn!reader#eddie munson x you#eddie munson x y/n#Eddie munson oneshot#Eddie munson imagine#Eddie munson imagines#Eddie munson fanfic#Eddie munson stranger things
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Untitled project Devlog #4: Musical jellyfish evolution and the death of languages (kinda)
hereâs the thing. I technically know how to play piano and cello, but itâs the same way a toddler technically knows how to write the letters of the alphabet. Give them enough time and they'll scribe the works of Shakespeare; but youâre shit out of luck if youâre expecting them to finish it before they turn into a hormonal mess that popular culture states exclusively cares about prom⌠for some reason.Â
Point is, I enjoy making music and respect the craft that goes into it the same way I do art. There is beauty to be found in everything. with that in mindâŚ
How did we get here? Letâs talk about that.
In case youâre not familiar, these three images all represent installations that technically count as art, respectively by Maurizio Cattelan, Anish Kapoor (top) and Eva Hesse (bottom). Iâm not here to be some salacious screaming goblin condemning or defending anything but what I am going to do is offer some context that might help you understand them, and weâre going to talk about how that ties into music.
Art and music change because of the world around them, that we know. One thing thatâs slightly less obvious is the fact that it also changes in reaction to itself. When we as artists are not satisfied with something we drew, we make it better. We learn some new discipline to help polish our art like anatomy or brushwork or pacing (so on and so forth): we react to our art and decide to do something different. This concept is why we have different art styles and genres of music. Remember the fact that metal and punk sound the way they do because people were exploring the upper limits of electric amplification, but also because they wanted to sound different. They were tired of endless guitar solos and formulaic songwriting so they changed it. Eventually, those ended up being formulaic and spawned different musicâ weâll get to that in a moment.Â
Art right? So what does that say about a banana taped to a wall, a giant bean and a bunch of rope that looks like it met with the business end of a honey badger? This is what happens when something evolves into a corner. This is true for jellyfish. For example, jelly fish have evolved to be something so specific, that scientists theorize they canât evolve into anything else even if they wanted to. With art, what this means is that the art being made is not going to be understood or engaged with as easily. In the name of preaching this very specific idea it loses its ability to communicate that idea widelyâwhich is not inherently wrong but does raise an interesting question: what is the effect of this?
The reason Maurizio Cattelan taped a banana to a wall is because he was making fun of the art ecosystem, the art basel Miami beach exhibition that sold the idea of his banana for a collective 360.000$ not counting artist proofs. Whether or not you like him or his work doesnât discredit the fact that he was poking fun at the gallery and us as viewers.
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Art is always questioning itself: when Claude Monet first revealed his Painting of a sunrise (the one that would later help kickstart impressionism) people laughed at him. But he did it not because he was trying to please them, but because he wanted to suggest the idea that there are ways of painting that werenât being explored at the time.
Impression, sunrise Claude Monet
From there people kept on trying new things. Art became less about what youâre drawing and more about whatâs also behind the art, the artist, the message, the idea, the people that congregate around it. sound familiar?
Metal music isnât trying to be weird, itâs just trying to be itself, which happens to be weird.
shameless self quote there.
and hereâs the core of it: music and art sometimes have a feedback problem. The new tends to be derivative from what came before it and it can fall into a sort of formulaâ which is not wrong, nothing is always meant to trailblaze some unknown territory. But the ones that stand out the most and are the most memorable are frequently the ones that do. This can be applied to what weâre talking about here: the reason we ended up with shiny beans and rope being art isnât because people are trying to scam you, itâs because the idea being put forward requires so much context that most people genuinely just donât have time for.Â
Just like metal, art is just doing what art does best, being itself which ends up feeling so weird because you have bands like infant annihilator who are writing albums calledÂ
The Palpable Leprosy of Pollution⌠FOR THE LOLS. You see the giant wall of context I just had to give you to understand just the banana? I didnât even talk about Anish kapoor and how people donât like him, or even mention Eva Hesse. Now imagine the amount of context I would need to give to explain this:Â
Some Metal, just like some art, is guilty of having evolved itself into a corner with a feedback loop of âlouder and more outrageousâ. Again this isnât bad, and I'll illustrate that by talking about classical music.
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The main thing classical music and the culture surrounding it are accused of is elitism, and itâs not a secret to anyone that classical music has been stuck in the same place for a while. Even within itself people who listen to early classical music like Bach say contemporary composers are less good, i.e. anything written in the 20th century (1900âs). And⌠itâs easy to see it right? You can imagine the old piano instructor who exclusively teaches Chopin to the letter who says something like âhip hop is badâ (I'm not too sure what old annoying people say about music so Iâm sorry for the misrepresentation, old annoying people). But this image misses a lot of cool things about classical music, like how Chopin was mostly an improviser who used the written notation as a general guide, or how Mozart was a broke freelancer, how shostakovich got in trouble when he wrote his 9th symphony because he made it stupid on purpose to make fun of the USSR. The MADMAN. The history of classical music is chalk full of things like this.
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There's this tantacrul video that delves into more detail regarding elitism in music.
it should be noted that the sensibilities of classical music are slightly different than metal. Metal focuses mostly on bombastic feelings which classical music does tooâ in its own way: Iâm reminded of Acceptâs cover of night on a bald mountain Â
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I should mention that Iâm stating these facts as someone who was trained classically, my brotherâs also a counter tenor. In any case, the short of it is that classical musicians have a lot of the same sensibilities regarding making art that metal musicians do -see devlog 2. The place where it gets interesting is how they define what the music is for. Now youâll hear a lot pretentious ways of it being described like âgateway to the soulâ or âfrequenciesâ or some equally vague nonsense but any classical musician worth their money will tell you this:Â
Amplification and electricity did not exist. Techniques are the way they are and instruments are built like that because the only thing giving the sound its quality is you. There are a lot of people youâll hear using that as a jumping off point to discredit electronic music or any music that requires amplification but those people arenât the point right now. This is important to mention because at its core, classical music is a magnifying glass for feelings. It goes through the entire spectrum of emotions because it had to.
The same way metal was founded and ended up unifying these people who sometimes felt like outcasts, classical musicians are sometimes up their own ass for that same reason. according to unesco out of the around 7000 languages that exist today, over 6500 are going extinct. Thatâs⌠a lot. Music, just like language, can go extinct. Think of all the garage musicians that no one knows, or that song your friend made that has 10 views on youtube. Those are ideas and sounds that die the same way languages die when no one speaks them. Sure, some people give things more importance than they deserve; but when no one plays a genre anymore⌠Those ideas are lost. Imagine being the last person on earth to know of the existence of metallica. For some classical musicians, that threat is real; setting aside the natural classism and racism that exist within the confines of the genreâ That is an entire research paper by itself and for the record, a lot of equally beautiful arabic and african and indigenous genres of music are even more threatened of extinction.
This is where fusion metal and my comic come in. I think given the fact that both of these genres have evolved into corners it would be interesting to present the music of the band in my comic as being classical fusion metal. It would be a great jumping off point for [spoilers] and would provide an excellent natural tension between the band members. In addition, it fixes an issue I had with the plot which is also amazing. In any caseâŚ
Next week weâll be looking into something wildly unrelated to music. but thatâs it for now.
devlog updates on tuesdays.Â
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Hi! I was wondering if you do requests cuz I came upon this blog and was like hm this blog is pretty interesting. Your writing and stories so far are amazing Iâm in love with them. I was wondering if you could write a story where the fem reader turns into a child and what the twst boys would do. Everyone causing different shenanigans. Anyways I hope you will be able to write this. Goodbye!!! *Anon* Out :)
Ohmaigawd Anon, youâve made my entire week! Thank you for liking my stories! Iâve never felt this happy :â)
Anyway, yes! I do take requests! And thank you for requesting this story. Iâm sorry it took me awhile to finish this but I hope this story is up to your standards! Thank you again and have a lovely day!!Â
What if you became a baby? (Ft. Grim, All the Dorm Leaders, Ace, Deuce, Epel and Jack)
âUgh⌠Iâm so tiredâŚ.â You groaned in the cafeteria. You held up a hand to support your head. Grim was beside you, laying down face first onto the table.
âWell⌠Nothing special happened todayâŚâ He said making you glare at him.
âToday? How about this whole month? The Magical Shift tournament was just last week! First of all, we had to go on this âstudent-huntâ to protect the top players of Magical Shift. Then we had to find out whoever was causing all of this chaos by injuring said top players. And once we did, Leona-senpai got overblotted and we had to stop him. Also, you hit me!â You exclaimed at Grim.
âCome on, it wasnât that bad...â Grim turned to face you, only to meet with your glare.
âYou hit me. In. The. Head.â With each word, you leaned in closer to the furball. âYou made me unconscious for a day.â You looked at him with eyes that stared into his soul. Grim took a gulp.
âA-Ah⌠That did happen, didnât it? Hehehehe.â Grim laughed nervously. You just sighed and patted his head. âI couldnât blame you⌠I understand you want to show off, but please, be more careful.â You said and he nodded.
âAnd donât go complaining how life is boring for you, because for me, I think Iâve had enough for this month.â You went back to your normal position and sighed. âYou know? I would give anything for me to do my own stuff without a care in the world.â
âWhat? Like a baby?â Grim asked.
âYou know what? I wouldnât mind being a baby again, even if itâs just for a day.â You shrugged and you stood up as the bell rung. âBut we all know that wonât happen. Itâs not possible! Now come on Grim, letâs go back to our dorm.â You said as you picked up the creature in your arms and started to walk away from the cafeteria.
âUghhh, why did Professor Trein had to give us assignments on a Friday?â Ace grumbled as he, Deuce, Jack and Epel were practicing their magic in the field.
âWell, we have the next two days off, so itâs better for us to work on our magic than laze around doing nothing.â Deuce replied.
âYeah, letâs just get this spell over and done with.â Epel said. âWait, what spell was it again?â
âA youth spell. The spell is said to reverse time on an object, making them younger.â Jack commented. âWeâre going to use this apple as a test subject.â
âWait, how much time does the spell reverse?â Epel asked.
âIf Iâm not mistaken, probably a few days.â Deuce answered.
âWhat if we all casted at the same time? Would that make the apple turn back into a seed?â Ace suggested.
âI donât know but we could try!â
âNo! What if something goes wrong?â Jack was hesitant to this idea. Who knows what could happen if they misfire? Or even worse, casted the wrong spell?
âIt wonât! Trust me!â Ace said proudly.
ââŚ. Alright, just this once.â Jack gave in.
âReady? On the count of three we cast the spell together.â Ace said as the four of them readied their pens.
â1, 2, 3!â Four blasts from 4 directions were headed towards the apple in the middle. The blasts collided with each other and hit the apple, but, the spell was too strong, it bounced off from the apple in another direction.
âAHH! ITâS OUT OF CONTROL!â
âI-Is that (Y/N)?â
âIt is! (Y/N)! LOOK OUT!â
You were walking with Grim back to your humble Ramshackle Dorm, when you heard shouts for you to duck and look out were heard. You turned to see a spell was heading straight towards you, in order to save Grim who was still in your arms, you threw the creature onto the floor, making him bump his head on the way. The spell hits you shortly after.
âFgnaaaa! Why did you do that for?â Grim sat up and rubbed his head. When he turned to look at you, you were gone.
â(Y/N)? (Y/N)?!â Grim looked around frantically, searching for you. But then he heard a small giggle.
âAh! Goo Ga!!â A (E/C) colored, (H/C) colored toddler was trying to grab onto his tail. The toddler was wearing a baby version of the school uniform.
âFgnaaa! Who is this kid?â Grim said as he brought you closer to his face.
âGrim!! Are you okay?!â Deuce asked as he arrived, Jack, Epel and Ace followed shortly after. Grim was focused on the other first-years, leaving you with no attention and you decided to crawl away.
âI am, but I donât know where (Y/N) went.â Grim said to the first-years. âAnyway, what was that blast? Did you guys miss fired a spell?â
âUmm, I guess you could say so.â Epel looked at the ground sheepishly.
âI told you guys that it wasnât a good idea.â Jack growled to the others.
âOh? You eventually agreed to the idea! Now itâs our fault?â Ace retorted back. Before they could start arguing again, Grim stopped them.
âWait, what spell did you guys miss fire?â
âIt was a youth spell, we wanted to see what would happen if we stacked our spells together.â Deuce explained to Grim. âIt hit the apple, but it also went off in this direction, specifically (Y/N)âs direction.â
âOh no, this is bad.â Grim paled.
âWhat why?â
âIf you guys miss fired a strong de-aging spell and I saw a toddler with (E/C) eyes and (H/C) colored hair. That means-â Grim stated but was cut off by Epel.
âThe spell hit (Y/N)! She mustâve turned into a baby!â
âWe have to fix this! But Grim, where is the baby?â Jack asked Grim frantically.
âWhat do you mean? Sheâs right her- WHERE IS SHE?â Grim exclaimed as he looked at his tail only to find out that you were gone. Everyone panicked slightly but Jack snapped everyone out of it.
âShe mustâve wondered off! Ace, Deuce, go find Professor Trein and ask him how to undo the spell. Epel, me and Grim will go look for baby (Y/N).â
âWeâll meet up at Professor Treinâs class later!â Ace shouted as he and Deuce ran off to find the Magic History teacher.
âLetâs better start searching for her, who knows where she could be now.â Jack said as Epel and Grim nodded. And so, the search for you had begun.
You were wondering around the hallway, crawling along the huge lockers, just exploring this whole school. As you wondered, you heard chatter coming from one of the rooms and since you were a baby, your interest is easily piqued. So, you decided to go into the room, unnoticed.
The Dorm Leaders were having a meeting. The meeting was held in a room which just so happened to be the exact same room you entered. Which is why you heard noises of people talking.
âNow, everyone, welcome to todayâs Dorm Leader meeting. We will be discussing about last weekâs Magical Shift tournament.â Azul started.
âI am pleased to announce that ticket sales and as well as sales in general had an increase of 12 percent compared to last year.â The other dorm leaders nod in agreement.
âYes, this yearâs Magift Tournament was quite the eye opener. Never would I have seen so many events happen leading up to the tournament.â Said Malleus.
âBut it was quite the tournament nevertheless, thank god all the problems were fixed before the actual event.â Said Vil.
âAnd itâs all thanks to Riddle, Cater, Jack, Ace and Deuce, right?â Kalim asked cheerfully.
âNot quite. (Y/N) and Grim did a lot more and they also accompanied us in solving the mystery.â Riddle replied calmly. âWithout them, we wouldnât even have a tournament at all.â
âAh! We should totally invite (Y/N) to our dorm leader meetings next time! Well, since she is technically a dorm leader.â Kalim suggested.
âIf itâs okay with the principal, then do as you please.â Vil said, looking at Crowley.
âI wouldnât mind either way.â Leona shrugged.
âSame here.â Idia spoke through his phone.
âAh, well, Iâll ask (L/N)-san her thoughts on this invitation when I see her, now then, onto our next topic.â Crowley continued the meeting with a new topic.
You were actually close behind Crowley, for you saw his cape. You thought that it was a very comfortable blanket and so you crawled beneath it, letting the cape engulf you. Feeling the softness of the cape, you let out a cute squeal of delight. As soon as you did though, everyone in the meeting room froze.
âU-Um, you all heard that right?â Idia asked his fellow dorm leaders and everyone nodded.
âWhere did that sound come from?â Asked Kalim.
âI think it came from Crowley.â Leona replied, looking at the headmaster.
âLeona-san is right, it seems like it came from Headmasterâs direction.â Malleus said as he also turned to look at Crowley. Everyone then looked at him with suspicious looks, as if he had stolen something.
âN-Now! Letâs be rational, there arenât any babies on school campus!â Crowley said, for he was panicking inside because he had heard the sound quite loud and clearly too. And it was at this time you decided to let out another sound.
âGoo Ga!!â
âAlright Crowley, out with it! Did you or did you not bring a kid?â Leona asked the headmaster.
âNo! I DONâT EVEN KNOW ANY TODDLERS!â Crowley defended himself. As he did so, Kalim took this chance to inspect Crowley, to find the object that couldâve made that sound. A phone perhaps? A ringtone? Anything! But when he got to his back, you decided to move around, therefore making it seem like Crowleyâs cape was moving by itself. Kalim paled as he saw this, he thought it was a ghost.
âh-heADMASTERâS CAPE IS MOVING ON ITâS OWN!â Kalim yelled out in surprise. All the dorm leaders and Crowley turned to look at Kalim.
âSo, headmaster, youâve brought ghosts into todayâs meeting?â Malleus asked Crowley with a raised brow.
âN-No! I didnât!â
âThen explain your cape!â Kalim retorted back.
âThank god I didnât leave my room to witness this.â Idia mumbled to himself.
âThere is no way I have brought ghosts to our meeting!â Crowley exclaimed. âIt must be the wind, see for yourselves!â And he snatched his cape away from you, leaving you exposed to all the dorm leaders. You didnât know what was happening, one second you were underneath a comfy blanket and the next, 7 pairs of eyes were on you. (I ainât counting Idiaâs eyes :â) ) You were confused.
âAâŚ. A BABY? WHOSE JOKE IS THIS?â Crowley shouted, in the meantime, his shouting had scared you and you started to cry.
âGreat going teach, youâve made it cry.â Leona said, rubbing his temples.
âWhat?! How is this my fault?â Crowley looked back at Leona.
âWell, if you hadnât shouted, we wouldnât be in this mess!â
âDonât put all the blame on headmaster!â
âSo, who is to blame?!â
And so, began the fight between each of the dorm leaders and Crowley. Not far away, Jack, Epel and Grim heard the commotion and decided to see what was happening.
You eventually stopped crying as you felt tired. You took a small yawn and decided to nap on the table. The dorm leaders were still fighting though. It was until Vil saw you fell asleep and shushed the other dorm leaders and Crowley.
âLook, itâs gone to sleep.â Vil whispered and everyone stopped to see you asleep on the table. Jack, Epel and Grim poked their heads in to see the exact same thing.
âAh! There she is!â Grim exclaimed and the dorm leaders looked at him.
âShe?â Azul asked.
âYes, a she.â Epel said as he slowly went up to you and picked you up.
âBut there is only one female student in this school.â Vil stated. As all the dorm leaders widen their eyes.
âYou mean?â They asked.
âYes, this is (Y/N).â Jack replied.
ââŚâŚâŚ.. A-Ah.â It has come to their realization that the toddler was you, and they all had a slight blush on their faces.
So, Jack, Epel and Grim went to Professor Treinâs classroom and got a lecture from the teacher.
What was it about? Oh, the usual. Never combine spells. Ever.
The professor casted a spell on you, saying that itâll work but itâs going to take a few hours. So Ace and Deuce decided to bring you back to your dorm and have Grim take care of you. It was fairly easy since you were asleep all the way.
After a few hours, it was night time and you were back to normal, but you woke up with a headache.
âUgh⌠What happened? I feel like I went on an adventure today.â You asked.
âYanno, remember when you said you wouldnât mind being a baby for a day?â Grim asked you.
âYes, I remember that.â You said, rubbing your head.
âThatâs exactly what happened, now, can we go eat? Iâm starving.â Grim answered your question and jumped into your arms for you to carry him.
âEh? Um, sure I guess, letâs go.â You said and took him to eat at the cafeteria.
When you arrived, you sat with your friends asking about what had happened. They hesitantly explained the story to you and you slowly took it all in. When you did, you smacked Ace, Deuce, Jack and Epel on their heads for their carelessness, and with that, you forgave them for making you into a toddler.
However, after that day, the dorm leaders were paying a lot more attention to you. Asking if you need anything or just walked you to class in general. You were absolutely dumbfounded at this new attitude of the dorm leaders, but, you would be lying to yourself if you say you didnât enjoy it one bit.
#disney twisted wonderland#twisted wonderland#requested#twisted wonderland fic#twisted wonderland x reader#ace trappola#deuce spade#grim#jack howl#epel felmier#riddle rosehearts#leona kingscholar#azul ashengrotto#kalim al asim#vil schoenheit#idia shroud#malleus draconia#dire crowley#twisted wonderland imagines#baby!reader
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I hope you don't mind this ask, but... Any theories / speculations about the most recent story update for KHUX?
Oh, I donât mind at all! Iâm glad you asked, actually, because Iâve had some thoughts, though not many new theories of my own, unfortunately. That being said, I can definitely go over how some of my old theories and some of the fandomâs hold up and my thoughts on a few of the new theories Iâve seen floating around
One thing that Iâm consistently proud of is how my old guesses about Darknessâs true nature just keep ending up almost right barring some slight details. I made the claim back when Re:Mind first came out that Darkness could be a hive mind of entities that plant bits of themselves in others, and then refined that back in July of 2020 by likening it to a parasite that worms its way into peopleâs hearts and incorporates itself into them to control them. This past update confirmed that the Darkness weâre fighting is one part of the hive mind that wormed its way into Ven to force him to act out, and that by doing so it detached itself from that hive mind and became incorporated into Venâs being (which Ven can then shape). So I gotta say Iâm pretty pleased about that part
All thatâs left to be seen from the July post is if Darkness has a connection to Verum Rex/Quadratum, but I doubt that that will be touched on by the KHUx finale. Though I will say that itâs pretty interesting that the Master of Masters tells Darkness about âa world [he] canât even conceive,â which seems like it could easily be referring to Quadratum, which also means that Darkness knows about it
Thatâs pretty much all I have to say on the Ventus/Darkness/Vanitas connection, but thereâs still more to cover in this update
One thing that Iâve been trying to figure out is who the cloaked figure right at the start of the update is, Luxu or the MoM. Measuring the sizes and my old guess based on the KH3 Secret Reports both say Luxu, but this brings into question âwhen,â exactly, the True Dandelion scene takes place as it doesnât have the dark haze around the edges that they give flashbacks, but is clearly the real-world set of pods as theyâre not destroyed AND itâs missing the pod that Maleficent already used. The True Dandelion scene has a lot to unpack, but this scene at the start does make me wonder if Luxu and/or the Master have a way in and out of the datascape that doesnât involve the pods, otherwise the numbers donât add up
Also related to the post of mine I just linked is the idea that the Black Box is the datascape. I believe that this might still hold true. Itâs interesting to note that they show the scene from Back Cover where Luxu is given the box in the first place just prior to the reveal that using the lifeboats to escape starts the process to seal it off and have the real Daybreak Town fall to darkness, and the Masterâs âhintâ to Luxu involves this very process. Why would Luxu be forbidden to open the box? Quite possibly because it contains the infected datascape meant to seal off the vast majority of the Darkness hive mind. And several Dandelions. It is both the âhopeâ mentioned in KH3 through those Dandelions, as well as a trap to keep Darkness out of being able to interfere for quite a long time
Now, the questions that Iâm sure are on everyoneâs minds are âwho is the True Dandelion,â and âwho are the ones who use the lifeboats?â Letâs start with the True Dandelion, as thereâs far less moving pieces involved in that one
I wonât take credit for coming up with any of these options, Iâm just going to discuss the logistics of them. So the candidates for the True Dandelion in, what is in my opinion, the least likely option to the most likely option, are:
Kairi: Iâve seen this one floating around and... honestly donât believe it at all due to the sheer amount of logical contortions that you have to do to make it work. To wit:
Where the hell would she even come from if it was Kairi? As can be clearly seen with Ven, is stated to be true with Subject X, and is implied to be true of Lauriam/Elrena, those who travel to the future using the pods will regenerate their bodies at the age they were when they used the pods. Which would make Kairi at the oldest a four-year-old. Four years prior to KHUx was when Brain was told that he was a Union Leader. So she either would have been just born immediately prior to the war and was just... stolen or something? And we never saw? Or just after the war, where she would probably have to be the child of a Dandelion that got teen pregnant because theyâre supposed to be both kids and the only survivors? Or Luxu and Avaâs kid somehow? Like, what? The timeline is just insane with that
If she was born before the war... you would assume that the True Dandelion would be, you know, a Dandelion. Which would mean that Ava handed a Keyblade to and recruited a literal toddler. This would also retcon Aqua being the one to accidentally pass the ability to wield a Keyblade down to Kairi and I refuse to make theories predicated on âthe author will retcon this.â You just open up a huge can of worms doing that
The body wrapped in white looked a hell of a lot bigger than a four-year-old to me
I am sick to death of âthis character was secretly from the Age of Fairytales~â being employed by the narrative. Itâs happened at least three times already (four if you count Luxu). Enough already
Ventus: Ven has some hints, though some notable contradictions to it being him
On the one had, the sheet that the True Dandelion is wrapped in is extremely similar to the one that Xehanort wrapped him in when planning to leave him on Destiny Islands in BBS and thereâs a possibility that Xehanort may have found him in that very sheet if he regenerated wearing it
On the other hand: Ventus might not have even been a Dandelion in the first place (he definitely wasnât a Union Leader, but I donât know if it was ever said whether he was selected as a regular Dandelion or not), and thereâs the timing of the scene that I mentioned above. Itâs definitely after Maleficent used her lifeboat but before anyone else used theirs (when you would expect Ven to remain with his friends) and, since the scene doesnât have the flashback effect, itâs implied to be happening concurrently with everything else, so Ven should still be fighting Darkness in the datascape while itâs happening and eliminating him from being this particular person
Strelitzia: Oh, boy, have we got some nice old hints to Strelitzia, but still a few logical contortions, just like Ven
The white sheet is coming back up again. Namely, the fact that we still have an unexplained scene where Strelitzia appears to Lauriam in a dream wrapped in a white cloak, though itâs of a different style than the one that the True Dandelion is in. That scene also featured flower petals being blown into the wind, much like a dandelion seed (though, notably, the petals that are blown arenât Dandelion seeds)
The question is, yet again, one of timing. How would Luxu get her body? While she was only introduced in KHUx, her scenes are all flashbacks to before the war, so we know that she was struck down in the real world, not the datascape. We see her body dissolve into light and her heart be released. Now, technically you only need a heart to time travel (actually, a heart is the only thing that can time travel), but Luxu is clearly seen putting a body into the machine. A machine that only allows for time travel because it destroys the body. If he had her heart, he wouldnât need to use the lifeboat because sheâs already in a state to time-travel on her own and this eliminates the possibility of him putting her Nobody into the machine, because without a heart it would just evaporate her body leaving... absolutely no heart to go to the future with
Now, Luxu theoretically could have grabbed her heart. We know that he was hanging around Daybreak Town at the time while observing thanks to his fight with Ava, but Strelitzia is struck down just after the fight with Ava starts so itâs very likely that Luxu was too preoccupied to retrieve her heart before it was gone. Speaking of Luxuâs fight with Ava...
Ava is my current top pick for the True Dandelion candidate due to the sheer number of questions it answers and how few it raises
Ever since KH3 came out, the question of âwhere the heck is Ava?â has been buzzing around as a major mystery. Her last chronological point of appearance is the same as the other Foretellers: the Keyblade War itself, where sheâs shown leading her Union to battle. Notably, she seems resigned to her part in this, and this is the first and only time we see her after her battle with Luxu where he reveals to her the Masterâs true plans. Melody of Memory seems to imply that the other Foretellers managed to skip to the future by going to another world, Quadratum (or at least this is the most likely explanation as thereâs not enough pods to send all four of the other Foretellers AND the characters that we know end up in the future to their destination). However, Ava isnât with them and Luxu knows what happened to her
It would be easy to write this off as them trying to drop Ava from the narrative or her not being important, but her chess piece is included in the âEraqus and Xehanort foreshadow the next sagaâ chess game on the far right of the board and Nomura confirms that they represent the Masterâs six apprentices, i.e. the five Foretellers + Luxu. So, Ava is necessary in the upcoming saga and yet, she didnât get to the future the same way as any of the Masterâs other apprentices leaving her open to get there via a lifeboat
Ava is the very founder of the Dandelions, who all of the others look up to and defer to and was spoken of heavily in the scene just prior to the True Dandelion reveal. Thatâs grounds for being called the True Dandelion if Iâve ever seen one
Luxu would very easily be able to ensure that Ava would be able to make it to the future. Just like with the Master of Masters, he already has the memories necessary for her to use to regenerate a body, and either her Keyblade or her mask would make for effective mediums that wouldnât be too difficult for Luxu to take. If he put her in the white cloth, he probably took her mask off already
Ava hasnât been around for the events of KHUx, so thereâs no timeline discrepancies if itâs her
So, now that we have an idea of who the True Dandelion could be, letâs talk about the rest of the lifeboats and how they might fit together. For the purposes of this discussion, letâs assume that the True Dandelion canât be one of the Union Leaders and that their battle with Darkness is taking place at the same time as Luxu is sending off the True Dandelion. Iâll be referencing an old theory of mine, while making additions now that itâs clear that thereâs two sets of lifeboats: the Data Set and the Real Set
Right now, thereâs an equal number of Real Pods and Data Pods: 5 each. For the Data Pods, of the seven that we started with, one was used by Maleficent and one was damaged in the battle between Maleficent and Lauriam. As for the Real Pods, one has been used by Maleficent, and one has been used by the True Dandelion. This leaves us with five each.
We can narrow this down further by eliminating people that we know end up in the future. These are:
Ventus
Subject X, who is most likely Skuld based on her description
Lauriam
Elrena* (of note with Elrena is that we actually have no idea where the hell she is at the moment or how sheâs going to get into the pods. Furthermore, while every other lifeboat user sans Maleficent has been shown to have amnesia upon waking and Lauriam/Marluxia directly indicates as such applies to him, too, in KH3, Elrena/Larxeneâs KH3 scene and character file short story both indicate that she recalls Lauriam and possibly Strelitzia, though she also seems surprised at the idea that sheâs part of an ancient Keyblade legacy. I wonât deny that thereâs a possibility that she doesnât use a lifeboat and ends up in the future by other means based on the discrepancies)
So with three confirmed cases, weâre left with one ambiguous case in Elrena and three more possible candidates: Ephemer, Brain, and Player. Four people, and two pods
I want to make it clear that despite what I brought up against Elrena, I do think that sheâll be using one of the lifeboats if only so that KHUx has narrative consistency. They introduced Elrena, they made her part of the investigation on Strelitziaâs whereabouts, so it only makes sense that they need to show us where she ended up for a satisfying conclusion. So letâs slot Elrena in for one of the lifeboats. That leaves one between Player, Ephemer, and Brain
My best guess is that Player wonât be using a lifeboat at all. Not only are they a create-a-character that would be a HUGE pain to try and incorporate into future entries in the series without making a âcanonâ version and thus ruining their appeal as an avatar, but we havenât seen or heard mention of them at all in the games set in the present-day. Thereâs zero indication that they made it, which makes them the most easily eliminated as a lifeboat user
That leaves Ephemer and Brain, and I still believe that Ephemer will be the final lifeboat user, and for the same reasons as stated in the theory I linked at the start of this section. Not only does Brain have the same facial sprite as Eraqus, but he wields the Masterâs Defender which will be later passed down to Eraqus and I believe that this eliminates him as a time traveler, despite the fandomâs popular opinion that it confirms it
Because I donât believe that Brain is Eraqusâs grandfather, but rather his distant ancestor who inherited the No Name and passed down both Keyblades through the ages
So letâs resolve some plot threads taking everything Iâve stated and linked to above into account
My Big Guess for the KHUx Finale
Ventus will use the fact that Darkness is tied to his heart now to give it a physical, but still mostly amorphous form that he, the Union Leaders, and Player can finally take down. Darkness will be sealed inside Venâs heart, where it will lie dormant until he reaches the future. Eventually, Xehanort will extract it in the form of Vanitas and it will follow Vanitasâs life cycle, ending in him being reabsorbed into Ven at the end of BBS. Darkness, now back in Venâs heart, will make brief contact with Sora during the events of Re:Mind
Lauriam, upon learning that the world will be sealed with the use of the lifeboats, will attempt to rescue his partner, Elrena. Both will take lifeboats out of the datascape and into the future, whereupon they will be recruited into Organization XIII by Luxuâs current incarnation, Xigbar, likely to keep an eye on them. I believe there might be a squabble among Ephemer, Skuld, Brain, and Player among who will use the final lifeboats (each person nominating others besides themselves), but ultimately they will settle on Ephemer and Skuld
Skuld will wind up amnesiac in the future Radiant Garden and is discovered by Ansem the Wise and his apprentices and dubbed Subject X. She becomes Xehanortâs favorite test subject due to the similarities in their amnesia and possibly some lingering memories that he has that donât quite belong to him (KHDR Xehanort certainly seems to want to meet his âold friendsâ very badly)
Ephemerâs heart will wind up in the Keyblade Graveyard as I mentioned in an old theory, unable to manifest a body due to the lack of a medium present. Through this state of being just a heart (and possibly related to those old talks about him being âunchainedâ), he will be able to enact the Light of the Past moment from KH3, and may very well be revived for future events in the series
This leaves Brain and Player behind in the datascape. However, you may remember one detail that I brought up, but neglected to fully expand on until now. There is a difference between the Data Pods and the Real Pods. While all of the Real Pods have been used up at the time of my proposed sequence of events, the Data Pods have not been. One was never used, only damaged. This leaves open the possibility that it can also be repaired (Also, Iâm just gonna say it. Playerâs met someone recently who has a magic hammer that can repair anything... might not come back but also totally could). Brain and Player could then repair the final pod and, in a callback to when Player was sent to Game Central Station, have them both agree once again that Player is the more expendable person in the scenario. Brain will take the repaired pod, leaving no way out of the datascape for anyone else, while Player stays behind to be sealed away for the time being (this could also be a callback to the original KHx, where Player also stayed behind to take part in the war instead of fleeing with the Dandelions, as they refused to leave their party behind)
When Brain escapes, however, he will be met with a Daybreak Town with no Real Pods left, as Luxu used one on the True Dandelion. Now that the seven pods have all been used up and the real Daybreak Town is falling to darkness, Luxu will take a corridor out as the Master instructed, but bring the newly appeared Brain along with him (either that or Brain emerges after Daybreak Town falls, either is possible) and bequeaths the No Name onto him. Brain, stranded in the past while all of his friends have been sent to the future, will be Luxuâs new apprentice and rebuild the fallen Daybreak Town as Scala ad Caelum, then pass down both of his Keyblades: Masterâs Defender to his biological descendants, and No Name to his apprentices
As for the Master of Masters? I think heâs already taken an eighth lifeboat (youâll note that thereâs space right in the center of the cluster where one more could theoretically fit) and had done so before the start of the original KHx. Heâll be revived at some point in Xehanortâs young adult life to goad him into his insane plans as seen in Re:Mind, then duck into Quadratum to hang out until the next arc in the franchise, as hinted at with his appearance in the KH3 Secret Movie
(He is most definitely not Sora. Heâs clearly bound to the same rules of time travel as everyone else which means that Sora couldnât go back in time to become him as that would be long before the point in time where Sora was born and that breaks KH time travel rules. Not to mention that the Master talks about Quadratum in this update like heâs never seen it before until it came up in the No Nameâs range of vision. Sora is literally in Quadratum right now, heâd definitely know what it was already if he was the Master)
And I do believe that should cover everyoneâs whereabouts by the end of the game and into the next arc of Kingdom Hearts with minimal plot holes
This is just my best guess, putting together details that Iâve been accumulating for the past year and a half or so into what sounds like a coherent sequence of events that bridge the gap between KHUx and KH3 and beyond. There may be some details I get wrong, obviously. Nomura has been known to be... unpredictable. But I think, based on the evidence we have at hand, that this is the most logical series of events to end the game on and Iâm really interested to see how close this gets to the actual finale we see
#anon asks#liz answers#kingdom hearts#khux#i hope that my big guidelines post didn't intimidate you anon#asking me my thoughts on things or if i can do a lore explanation are totally fine!#those guidelines only exist because people were shoving their own theories and opinions AT me without it actually being a discussion#felt like i was being talked over#but something like this is actually encouraged so thank you!#i hope you uh... enjoy because this is a LONG one#about 3500 words and that's not including my old posts that i linked to
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Fast and Slow | Hawks x Reader
Fluff!
Word Count: 1.3k
All the pictures of you and Hawks shared were just blurry after images. The two of you were known as the fastest duo in Japan. Whenever someone mentioned Hawks, they would always talk about you, his only sidekick, as well. Hawks doesn't like sidekicks â rather, he had no use for them. Throughout his hero career he hired and fired multiple sidekicks because none of them could keep up with his speed.
Then you appeared. It was a hot summer day, and all Hawks wanted to do was to hurry up and catch the villain and finish the day off with some ice cream. The villain was fast, he had to admit, but Hawks knew he was faster. He smirked as he glanced back at the heroes who couldnât keep up. That was when suddenly, something flashed before his eyes.
His eyes widened when he saw the villain spazzing on the ground while you stepped on him with one foot, keeping him against the pavement. He saw sparks of blue electricity flash around you, and he swore for a second your face deformed into a streak of lightning.
"Did youâŚ.do that?" he asked. You nodded at him. He couldnât help but notice how breathtakingly beautiful your eyes were. Your big, round, innocent eyes reminded him of a toddler, and with your blank emotionless expression, he found you adorable. He knew then and there that he had to have you as his sidekick.
You were still a high school third year, interning for another hero during that time, but he quickly offered you a position as his sidekick once you graduate. There was no way youâd turn down the number three hero. Even though you didnât show it on your face, you were ecstatic.
After graduation, you immediately became his sidekick. Hawks had to admit, you didnât disappoint as a sidekick. You were lightning itself, whether it was chasing villains or reacting to attacks, you never missed a split second.
However, outside of hero work, you were excruciatingly slow.
"Hey Dove, nice work," he told you when the two of you finished capturing a burglar.
"Thank you, Mr. Hawks." You bowed politely. You werenât a very expressive person, he learned, and youâre almost always wearing that blank, dazed, almost clueless expression on your face.
"Mr. Hawks?! That makes me sound old, Iâm only 22! Just call me Hawks. Puts less of a distance between us," he said as he walked up to you with a grin on his face, physically decreasing the distance between the two of you.
Your brows furrowed lightly as you gave his words some thought. Putting age aside, he technically is your boss. It would be rude to address him without honorifics, but since he insisted, "Okay Hawks."
The corners of his lips tugged upward when his name rolled off your tongue. Your voice was just as enchanting as your eyes. He tilted your chin upward with his index finger, and leaned his face close to yours, eyes half lidded seductively as he tried to lower his tone, and whispered, "Now Dove, why donât we go back, relax on the couch, watch a movie and eat some chicken to reward ourselves for ourâŚfine work today." Boy does he think he sounded sexy.
"But itâs barely 3 pm," you stated matter-of-factly. "We donât get off duty until 7."
As your boss, he didnât hate that part of you, but as a man trying to court you, he really wished you took a hint. From the compliments and the flirty pet names to the lunch and dinner dates, none of them seemed to be getting to you. He honestly started to question what exactly was going through that cute little brain of yours, or if anything went through at all.
In the end, he decided that he should give up on the hints and just ask you out in a straightforward approach. "Goodbye Hawks, have a nice day." It was past 7, and you were going to leave to go home. That was when Hawks pinned you to the wall, preventing you from getting out of the agency. "Hawks?"
"Songbird, will you go out with me?" he asked. He would change up the pet names every day, today was Songbird.
"Go out? Where? To KFC or to Chickenman?" You listed his two places he took you the most often to get chicken.
Hawks slammed his head into the wall beside your face while letting out a loud groan of defeat. As his body pressed against yours, a wave of heat started rushing to your cheeks. To say you didnât find the bird man attractive would be a total lie, but you naturally had the tendency to take everything literally, and the idea that this handsome, successful young man would be in any way interested in you was absolutely appalling, to the point you never even considered it.
Hawks chuckled softly as he tilted his head and directed his lips to your ears. You could feel his hot breath tickling the inside of your ears and you winced a little at the strange sensation. "Songbird, sometimes I donât know if youâre doing this on purpose or if you really are that slow," he whispered.
"Um, sir, I whatever I did wrong, I swear it wasnât on purpose," you apologized as the blush on your face deepened. Hawksâ eyes widened. You were weak against physical contact. Before, heâd get a little bit touchy here and there, but he always made sure he gave you enough personal space. Now, he was practically pressed against you, sandwiching you between his chest and the wall.
Finally getting an expression thatâs not a blank stare out of your face, Hawksâ lips curled upward victoriously. He took your hand in his, and interlocked your fingers with his. His golden orbs were locked onto your face, taking in your every movement, from the redness of your cheeks, to the way your eyes darted around, and the way you bit your bottom lip. Oh god, he was having too much fun with this.
"Songbird, you canât be that clueless. Surely you understand what I mean now," he whispered softly in your ear.
"I-âŚ.I uhâŚ" Yes, you finally understood. All the subtle hints and the flirty comments now seemed to click. You felt like someone had put your heart on a train; you could practically hear it slamming against the walls of your chest.
Hawks tilted your chin up. This time he made sure to stick his face so close to you that you could feel him breathing over your lips. "So what do you say? Still thinking about KFC?"
"N-âŚ.NoâŚ." Your voice cracked as you cowered under him.
"No as in you wonât go out with me or no as in you stopped thinking about chicken?" he chuckled.
"IâŚ.I uh⌠I stopped thinking about chicken."
"So youâll go out with me?"
"Thatâs not-" Thatâs not what you meant, but at this point you honestly donât want to say no. "I meanâŚ.. Yes⌠I willâŚ"
Hawks finally closed the gap between the two of you. He cupped your cheek with one hand while the other stayed intertwined with yours. You closed your eyes as he gently massaged your lips with his.
KACHAK!
The two of you turn your heads to see a man scurry out of the bushes outside the window. Paparazzi. They had been waiting for something like this. In an instant the two of you were out the door. A blue streak passed by the paparazzi, and next thing he knew you were in front of him. He turned around to see Hawks hovering right before him. You took the camera out of his hand and confiscated the SD card. "Nice work Songbird," Hawks winked.
"Thank you Hawks," this time, you wore a subtle smile, and your cheeks dusted in pink.
Later you and Hawks loaded the pictures from the SD card onto his computer, and for the first time, there was a photo of the two of you that wasn't blurry. Â
#hawks#takami keigo x reader#bnha fanfic#bnha#boku no hero academia#hawks x reader#fluff#mha#mha fanfic
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Gentlemen of Lies, chapter 4
Who needs to follow the Law(son)?
ââââ
(Beginning)
(Next chapter)
(Previous chapter)
ââââ
âSo how did it go?â Asked Owen, the following morning. Curt was sitting with him in a sandwich shop near the hostel. Terrible place, with terrible sandwiches. But the coffee was decent, and it was weirdly full most of the time, which made for a good spot to swap notes.
âI found out which cafĂŠ he goes to after work, so following him will be a piece of cake. Weâre already on friendly terms.â Curt took a bite out of a ham and cheese sandwich, a combination so simple he couldnât believe anyone could screw it up, yet somehow the shop had. And this was their profession. He didnât take another bite.
âNot bad. Any information?â
âOn the first meeting? All I found out was where he worked, and I already knew that.â
âThatâs it? How long did you stay with him?â Curt didnât know how to tell Owen that heâd only stuck around for about ten minutes before rushing off to trail Lawson, so he didnât.
âNearly two hours, but the guyâs not a talker, and he was starting to get pissed at me. What did you want me to do, make him suspicious?â Owen scoffed, a usual occurrence when he was around Curt, even when nothing seemed to call for it. He hadnât ordered anything either, which inexplicably made Curt even more infuriated at him.
âSo whatâs the plan for the day?â Prompted Curt. Owen leant back in his seat, and pondered for a moment.
âThatâs up to you,â he concluded.
âHuh?â
âWeâre supposed to be partners. Not teacher and student. You figure it out. If you screw it up, itâs your problem. Iâm heading into the agency today for more files on the suspects. You can do whatever you think is best.â
âOh well... okay then.â This was perfect! Curt now had the free rain to investigate Lawson. Heâd been thinking about it all last night, in between sips of stale whiskey. He needed to find away to make proper contact with Lawson, and he couldnât count on the guy being as talkative as Hayes, because what were the odds of that? So sitting down in front of him in a cafĂŠ may not be his best option. He needed a guaranteed plan to strike up a conversation- maybe even some semblance of a friendship with Lawson.
But for that, he needed more information. So for now, tailing him was all he had.
Lawson had already left for work by the time Curt arrived at his apartment building, which meant he had a good few hours to investigate, and perhaps he could find a way to talk to one of the neighbours, find out any information from them. Either they knew something useful, or they knew nothing- which would add even more suspicion to his growing case.
Curt didnât want to hang around outside making a plan, in case any residents spotted him, so he ducked into the alleyway to try and figure out how to make contact with the neighbours. He supposed he could pretend to be a police officer, asking around for a case, trying to find witnesses. He didnât look like a police officer, nor did he have a badge. But if he found someone gullible enough, and told them he was undercover, or off-duty, he might be able to find something out at least. He just had to be careful. No loitering, or messing around. If none of the neighbours accepted his claims of being an officer, heâd have to just walk away without a fuss. If he blew this case while investigating someone he wasnât supposed to, heâd never hear the end of it.
He neatened himself up, and exited the alleyway, making his way up the front steps of the apartment building. He looked at the little metal plaques on the side of the building, trying to work out from name which neighbour might help him. On the first floor lived a couple, the plaque simply said âThe Davidsonsâ. Couples were usually helpful. Even if one wasnât, the other tended to be. Better if they had a child; if they thought a crime had been committed theyâd be eager to help for their own safety. Curt rang the doorbell next to their name, and waited for a few moments. The front door of the building soon clicked open, and a young woman appeared, a baby sitting sitting on her lap, looking up at Curt curiously.
âHello?â She said.
âMorning. Sorry to bother you,â began Curt, reverting to his British accent. âIâm from the police force, investigating a crime, and I just wanted to ask around the area for any witnesses or evidence. Standard procedure, nothing to worry about maâam.â By this point, Curt was winging it with his dialogue. But he wasnât bad at bluffing his way through acts.
âYou donât look like a police officer,â observed the woman, rather predictably.
âNo, Iâm technically off-duty. But the sooner this case gets solved the better.â
âWhatâs the case?â
âJust a burglary, up the street from here. I wanted to know if youâve seen anyone or anything suspicious.â
âNo, nothing. I havenât heard of any burglary...â Shit. Maybe burglary wasnât a good option. People talked, neighbours talked. Of course this lady would know about a burglary in the area.
âWell, oddly enough nothing was taken. Just a broken window. It may not even have been a burglary. I expect the owners didnât feel the need to say anything. Theyâre in the building four doors down from the alleyway. Flat 1?â
âOh, right. Mr Harris. Heâs old. Reclusive. No wonder he didnât say anything.â Curt silently breathed a sigh of relief, disbelieving of his own luck.
âYes, exactly. And you definitely didnât see anything?â
âNot that I remember. When was the incident?â
âLate evening last Tuesday. Around nine thirty?â
âNo, my husband and I were out at a show, we left the kids with a babysitter. I can always call her if you want, she might have seen something.â Ah jeez... itâd be weird for him to say no, but Curt was starting to dig himself into a hole.
âOf course, why donât you write down her contact details, I can reach her later.â
âIâll go and grab a pen, if you give me five minutes-â
âActually, before you do that,â interjected Curt, really not wanting to stand outside for five minutes with no more information than he had started with. âWould any of your other neighbours know anything do you think?â
âI mean, you can certainly ask, but I know Gerald was away on Tuesday, he lives in flat 2A just upstairs.â Flat 2A? Well this was perfect. Not only did he have the name of Lawsonâs direct neighbour, but he also had an opportunity to bring up Lawson in the first place.
âWhat about flat 2B? I noticed it wasnât listed on the building?â
âOh, no one really knows the man who lives there. His nameâs John I think. Forgot his surname. Lives alone. He doesnât talk to us much, smiles on his way out to work though, so I suppose heâs a nice bloke.â
âWas he out on Tuesday?â
âLord knows, probably. Heâs out a lot. Heâs out right now actually, but then so is most people, come back later and you can talk to him.â Curt didnât want Lawson seeing him, at least not yet. It was too risky. But heâd definitely be back, perhaps to talk with Gerald, whoever that was. But he still had to deal with his duty of tailing Hayes, and hopefully shaking off Owen for long enough as well.
Curt waited out the rest of the hours in the cafĂŠ that Hayes went to after work, since it was fairly near to Lawsonâs building. And the sandwiches here were much better, with bread that didnât taste like a sponge, and ham and cheese that didnât share a concerning likeness to plastic.
The sun grew higher in the sky, and Curt wondered what Owen was doing right now. The man didnât seem to be very involved in the case, leaving everything up to him. Perhaps heâd been instructed to stay out of it as much as possible, so Curt could gain âexperienceâ. But whether the explanation was a mark on his competence or not, Curt didnât care, since he was certain the case would go much quicker without Owen telling him what he could and couldnât do.
The bell near the door tinkled and Curt looked up absent-mindedly. Hayes had just walked in, which was a surprise. Curt glanced at his watch. It was already going on five...? Heâd barely noticed.
He waved Hayes over.
âHowdy,â he greeted. Howdy? Going too far, Curt, youâre not a cowboy.
âHello. I wasnât expecting to see you so soon.â Hayes sat down opposite, depositing his briefcase on the floor.
âWell, I was just passing, thought Iâd stop in for a coffee.â Curt was already itching to go back to Lawsonâs building. If he made an excuse now, he could easily leave. Say he had a deadline to meet, writing stuff. Really musnât stay.
âThis is great, you can tell me all about America. You know I really am interested, iâve only ever been around Europe, never to the States, at least not yet. So I donât know much-â jeez this guy really was a talker. He actually wanted to know about America? That was just something Curt had said to be polite, to say when he had nothing else to say. He wasnât a teacher and this wasnât a lesson.
But Hayes was still a suspect. Which meant Curt couldnât blow him off, leave him disappointed and risk him not opening up again. Besides, he suddenly thought. This guy worked in the same building as Lawson. Perhaps the two knew each other. Of course, Curt couldnât bring Lawson up; he was supposed to be a travel writer from America. How would he know Lawson? But it was still in his best interest to keep Hayes on good terms.
So Curt ended up sitting in that damn cafĂŠ, getting through two cups of coffees and a bagel, talking all about his life in America, to a guy who simply would not lose any sign of his curiosity.
He supposed it was nice in a way, almost like a break from work and just talking about life before he became a spy. But Lawson was on the back of his mind the entire time, so he couldnât help but feel very restless, and by the end of the conversation, he was almost exhausted from talking. Along with being chatty, Hayes also asked question after question. It was like dealing with a toddler. A balding toddler with a suit and briefcase.
By the time the clock reached six, Curt decided that he simply couldnât stick around. Heâd said enough. Excusing himself would no longer be impolite.
âThis has been great, but I really have to get back to my hostel. It has a curfew you see.â Technically the curfew was at ten, which still gave Curt plenty of time, but Hayes didnât need to know that.
âOh of course! Iâm sorry if Iâve been so persistent.â Curt brushed his apology off with a wave of his hand.
âNot at all, it was nice.â
âIt was! I appreciate you taking the time to talk to me.â Hayes was a sweet guy. If he did turn out to be the mole, Curt would genuinely be disappointed. But then maybe that was a red flag. Perhaps he was too nice.
âSure thing. Iâll be seeing you.â Curt stood up, placed a handful of coins on the table for the waiter, and finally left the shop, the sun already starting to set.
Now for Lawson. If Owen wasnât so stubborn, surely Curt should be praised for his dedication. Two suspects in one day. Not bad.
#spies are forever#spies are forever prequel#spies are forever fanfiction#curt mega x owen carvour#tin can bros#gentlemen of lies#agent curt mega#owen carvour#starkid
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The Most Brilliant Idea, or how Sirius Black Accidentally became a Romance Novelist (HP, Wolfstar)
In which Sirius has a Brilliant Idea, Remus is gainfully employed, James is clueless and Lily is always right.
Unmitigated fluff with minor references to the first war, AU because James and Lily didnât die.
II
It started with the classified, the first bit of proof that everything that happened was really Moonyâs fault. There was always a classified ad in the kitchen, even when Moony was working, part of his optimistic opinion that any job could and would end. The classified ads were always marked in pen, and one could tell just how Remus thought his prospects fared based on how heâd marked a job. Some were viciously scratched out (potions expert and anything with ânight shiftâ in the description) some were circled multiple times (he usually came away dejected from those interviews, things he actually wanted but rarely got) some had question marks and some had a single bold circle. It was the single circle ones that were the best prospects.
On this particular Tuesday morning while Sirius drank his tea and dripped jelly on a story about Minister Fudgeâs election, the only ad that was circled was one looking for a book editor. It was commission work, the sort of things Moony did from home sometimes. It suited him, both because he was such a stickler for commas and spelling and because the flexibility meant that moons didnât present a problem. The only downside was that it was sporadic work, a book at a time, and didnât bring in enough income to make Moony feel like he was Contributing to Household Things. Sirius always rolled his eyes. Moony was the most stubborn person he knew.
It was then that he had his Most Brilliant Idea. What Remus needed was a constant stream of editing. Someone who would keep him employed on a regular basis with things a lot more interesting than editing a technical manual on the care and keeping of flobberworms.
âLily I need to borrow some books.â When someone had a Brilliant Idea they had to start right away, so his first action was to floo to the Potter home. He was distracted for half an hour by Harry who insisted on a hippogriff ride and a sword fight, and he wouldnât be a proper godfather if he said no to either, but after that it was strictly business.
âThe only books we have here that you donât have are meant for a three year old. You and Remus had quite the library between you,â Lily replied after telling both him and Harry they could only have two biscuits. Sirius took a third, but split it in half so it didnât count. After all, two and a half was practically the same as two.
âNot true. Moony and I donât have any of those girly books,â he said with his half a biscuit in his mouth.
âYou want to borrow my romance novels?â Lily asked, puzzled. âI donât know who youâre trying to date, Sirius Black, but romance novels arenât actually meant to be used that way.â
âLike I need help,â Sirius said with an eye roll. Sure, it had been a while since he dated but that was totally his choice. He had a lot on his plate right now with a godson that needed his attention and Moony needing looking after and his three days a week working for Quality Quidditch Supplies. âTheyâre for Moony.â
âSomehow I doubt he knows that.â Lily rolled her eyes right back at him. âTake as many as you like, and donât worry about when you get them back. Itâs not like I have much time for reading when I have three boys to look after.â
âSomething you want to tell me, Lils?â He looked at her stomach pointedly and wondered if they were really ready for another Prongslet.
âYeah. You and James are more work than Harry and he has the excuse of being three.â But she gave him a bag for the books and sent him home with a plate of biscuits, warning him that she would tell Remus that sheâd sent them so not to eat them all in one go. It was like she didnât trust him or something.
Once he had the books stage one of The Plan could begin. Heâd read a few of the romance novels when he was bored and they seemed like the easiest book to write. Certainly they werenât anything Moony read so he could borrow a bit from others and no one important would be any the wiser. Over the next few days he spent most of the time Moony wasnât around reading, stashing the books in the closet so they wouldnât be seen in case Remus came in his room for late night chats or early morning bed sharing. It was a habit that theyâd never quite left behind in school, especially when either of them had a nightmare. With the war almost two years gone the nightmares werenât as frequent but they were always a good excuse if he needed company.
Stage Two of The Plan had a few false starts, as writing a book proved to be a little trickier than he figured, considering how many books heâd read. Finally though after twenty-six days he had a story written. The pining of Sigmund G Toadsnatch for Anastasia Flower ended in a passionate snog and a happily ever after. It was time for Stage Three.
âI need your help.â The moment Moony was gone for the day he popped around to the Potter home again, this time with manuscript in hand.
âHarry managed to get jam in his hair at breakfast and I have to give him a bath. Can it wait?â Her arms were full of a squirming toddler, anxious to greet his âPadfoo.â
âIâll give him a bath,â he offered.
âThe last time that happened you flooded the bathroom and transfigured the soap into a boat.â She carried Harry up the stairs. Sirius followed.
âHe came out clean, though. Mostly.â He might have missed a few spots, but no one was perfect and there had been an important battle with a giant squid that looked a lot like Harryâs toes to wage. âI need to know if you have any friends that have girly writing and want to earn a few quid.â He plopped himself on the edge of the tub after stowing his manuscript on higher ground. Â
âYou need what?â it was really quite impressive how she managed to run the bath, undress Harry, and listen to him.
âAlright, so this is the part where I have to swear you to absolute secrecy. Unbreakable vow kind of stuff. You canât tell anyone what I am about to tell you, not even James.â
âYou know James and I donât keep secrets.â
âItâs not a big secret, just a little baby one. The more people who know the more likely it is that Remus will know that people are keeping something from him and then the whole thing will be ruined.â Besides Prongs would never let him hear the end of it if he knew what Sirius was doing.
âI will consider not telling him, once I know. Thatâs the best I can promise.â
âI guess that will have to do.â He was certain sheâd see reason, or more importantly his side of things. âNow about your friends.â
âDo I even want to know what girly writing means?â
âYou know what I mean. When you pick up something and you know a girl wrote it because thereâs little hearts above the Iâs and the ink changes color.â Not that Lily had ever done things like that. Her writing was perfectly sensible, not that it mattered. Moony would recognize her handwriting.
âYour handwriting is pretty fancy, with all those loops and the illustrations in the margins.â Lily made a few loops of her own, sending bubbled cascading into the tub to entertain Harry.
âOne of the many skills a pureblood snob is required to learn, according to my dear old mum. Trust me Iâve tried mimicking James but itâs useless.â James wrote in a barely legible scrawl that only those with practice could read. Sirius envied him, though it had led to an accident or two over the years especially in potions and what time they were supposed to meet. âBut it doesnât matter, Moony knows my handwriting and thatâs the whole point. I need someone to copy over my writing so he doesnât know itâs me.â
âI think I need more focus and perhaps something to drink. Hold on a minute, will you?â Lily finished up Harryâs bath, keeping him long enough to dry his hair but giving up when he decided to squirm out of her hold and run away without his togs on. She shrugged. âWonât hurt him to air dry.â
âJames said the same thing once. It works better in a warm house and when youâre three, rather than when youâre thirteen and itâs snowing out.â Heâd won the dare, though, and claimed it was worth it.
âYeah, I remember that. Thought he was mental then. Now I know he is.â Lily headed for the kitchen and started a pot of tea brewing. âNow please tell me youâre not trying to get me to help you prank Remus. You know my rules.â
âItâs not a prank. Itâs a Brilliant Idea to help Moony. Youâre going to love it.â He couldn't hold it in anymore. âIâvewrittenabook.â
âExcuse me?â
âA book. Iâve written one and Iâm going to send it to Moony to edit it, and then Iâm going to pay him. But heâs not going to know itâs me so heâs going to accept the money without being his stubborn prideful self. When heâs done Iâll have another story ready and then heâll be gainfully employed and happy and he wonât have to worry about what happens to his job when thereâs a moon. Brilliant, right?â
âIâm still on the bit where you wrote a book.â Lily poured the tea and set a slice of quiche on a plate for Sirius. The spinach was in small enough bits that it didnât actually look like a vegetable and he might not notice that under all the cheese heâd actually eaten something green.
âItâs not hard. I read the books you had and I wrote something like it. Boy meets girl. One of them annoys the other. Thereâs secret longing and someone trying to keep them apart and then they snog and everyoneâs happy except the evil bloke who ends up in a cellar or something.â He shrugged and ate the food Lily had given him without much thought. Heâd been so excited about the next stage that he hadnât bothered with breakfast. âThe bookâs not really the important part, though, and there have to be bits to fix or else Moony wonât have anything to do. Whatâs important is that Moony doesnât know itâs me. I have to rent an owl once itâs ready and send him a letter about a job. I have a name picked out already. Marmaduke Gaylord from Gaylordâs Romantic Press.â
âI donât know why anything you come up with should surprise me anymore, Sirius Black. Itâs completely bonkers and thereâs probably fifteen different ways it could go wrong.â Lily reached across the table and covered one of his hands with her own. âItâs also unfailingly kind and possibly crazy enough to work.â
âOf course it will work.â Any doubts heâd had heâd buried down deep enough that he wouldnât have to worry about them for a while at least. Probably not until the whole thing exploded in a very Sirius-like fashion. Â
As it turned out Lily did have a friend that could use a little spending money and had hand writing that, while not containing any hearts, was feminine enough to satisfy Sirius and more importantly wouldnât be recognized by Remus. She rewrote the manuscript in her own handwriting. Sirius borrowed a typewriter from Arthur Weasley to make an official looking offer from the Gaylord Romance Publishers.
Stage Four was well timed, as Moonyâs job in a muggle bookstore ended that week after the third time heâd had to miss work the morning after a full moon with no explanation. Sirius had made sure he was tucked into bed with a water bottle and a cup of tea with a warming charm that would last at least an hour, then nipped over to Diagon Alley to rent an owl for a single trip. The offer letter and manuscript were bound together. For an added bit of cleverness heâd asked the clerk to delay the delivery until afternoon so that Sirius could be home when the owl arrived.
âWhat could be so important about a romance novel that theyâd be willing to pay this much?â By afternoon Moony was feeling well enough to be on the sofa instead of in bed. Sirius glanced at the letter Remus handed him and shrugged.Â
âDunno, mate. Guess thereâs enough people reading them to make it worth their while. The girls at school all read them. Tripped over them all the time in the common room.â
âTheyâd be better off reading Austen,â Remus groused but he was also quick enough to send off an acceptance letter with the owl. Sirius had a plan for that as well, and a newly rented owl post box.
âIâll give you some quiet to work.â Sirius locked himself in his room, using the time to start his second novel, the story of five sisters all sorted into the same house and the rich pureblood transfer student who seemed rude but was secretly shy. The pratâs best friend was cheerful and had a crush on the main characterâs sister.
âComma,â was the comment he heard the most from the other room. âWhyâ and âbloody hellâ and âyou canât do that to the English languageâ were also common exclamations.
âSounds like itâs going well,â Sirius said when his stomach was too loud to ignore. Â
âItâs the most ridiculous thing Iâve ever read and the romance is dreadful but there are some bits that are hilarious, actually. Donât know their goal but as a satire itâs not bad.â The stack of papers in front of him was all marked up in red ink worse than the first essay heâd ever written for McGonagall.
âI thought romances were supposed to be all sappy.â His main character had declared his love seventeen times. That was what girls wanted, wasnât it?
âFortunately Iâm only supposed to edit the grammar and not the sap. Iâm over my head on that sort of thing. Imelda Carson seventh year said I was the most unromantic boy sheâd even snogged.â
âImelda Carson is an idiot who is now breeding pink pygmy puffs and is completely single because no bloke was romantic enough for her. Besides you donât like girls, remember?â
âI like girls just fine. I just donât want to snog any of them orâŚâ
âSmash your bits together?â Sirius offered.
âYeah, exactly what I was going to say,â Remus said dryly. âIâm starved and close to going cross eyed from this editing. Whose turn for dinner?â
âIâll start some steaks.â Sirius danced towards the kitchen. The Plan was going perfectly.
II
It seemed silly, really, to have a wonderfully written and perfectly edited novel and not do anything with it. The original plan didnât take into account anything outside of making sure that Remus was employed, but when Sirius collected the edited manuscript from the owl post it seemed a waste to just throw it away or lock it up somewhere.
âI need a name.â It was just before lunch when he flooed to Godric Hollow, finding Harry just up from his nap and more than excited to use uncle Padfoot as a climbing toy. Â
âYou know some people do give a little notice instead of barging in all the time. Thereâs a lovely front door on this house I donât think youâve seen in two years.â Lily winced when Harryâs foot found a foothold on Siriusâs crotch, but really the man deserved it.
âOther people arenât nearly as entertaining as me.â Sirius winced as well and moved Harryâs foot a little higher, regretting it when the ladâs next handhold was his ear. âNow about that nom de plume.â
âI thought you were only writing so Remus could have an editing job?â
âYes, but thatâs no reason not to share my genius with the world.â He waved his manuscript over his head. Â
âHow many times did Remus threaten to throw up while reading this drivel?â
âOnly once but he edited that bit out. Not even I can be perfect my first time out.â Lily, of course, rolled her eyes for approximately the 42,596th time since sheâd first met Sirius.
âIf youâre serious about this we should do it properly. No more ridiculous names.â
âIâm always Sirius.â He couldnât resist. After all the joke never got old, no matter how many times Lily groaned. âToo bad I canât use my name. Imagine how dear old mum would roll over in her grave if she knew the sacred Black name was attached to a romance novel.â
âSirius.â
âYouâre right, Lils. If she got too excited she might reanimate and the world is not ready for zombie Walburga.â He shuddered dramatically at the thought, making Harry, now perched on his shoulders, laugh and say âagain.â Of course he obliged.
âLeave it with me and Iâll sort it out. Iâll have Molly redo a clean copy and send it off to Mary whoâs a junior editor and a publisher. Weâll see what happens, alright?â
âThis is why I love you, Red.â Sirius gave her a kiss on the cheek and handed her the manuscript so he could get down to what was really important; teaching his godson how to make bubbles in his milk.
II
Three months later Phaedra White was a published author. Sure, there wasnât an enormous amount of money in a single book, but it was more than what heâd spent to pay Molly and Remus so it seemed profitable enough, and he was more excited than heâd expected to see it on the shelves of the bookstore..
In the next year âPhaedraâ wrote nine more books. More importantly with actual connections in the publishing world he was able to recommend Moonyâs services to other authors, to the point that he began to worry that if Remus had too much work he might turn down the requests from Marmaduke Gaylord to edit Phaedraâs books.
âGet the bucket, Pads, Iâm going to be ill. This is the worst thing I've ever read. Not only do I want to vomit but I think my eyes are bleeding.â
âIt canât be that bad.â His own book had arrived that morning but Sirius hadnât known that Remus had started on it already.
âI donât know how Gilderoy Lockheart got my name but Iâm never editing a book for him again. Not only is it nonsense that clearly didnât actually happen, but itâs badly written as well.â It was hard to tell from Moonyâs tone what offended him more, but it was probably the bad writing.
âWasnât there a Lockheart a few years behind us in school? A gormless little thing that spent more time on his hair than anything else?â They didnât usually pay much attention to Ravenclaws, but if he remembered correctly the boy had annoyed them enough that theyâd pranked his hair blue once.
âThatâs the one. What he knows about defense against the Dark Arts would fit in my little finger.â Remus pushed the manuscript away. âI canât even look at this again until I have some chocolate.â
âI picked up a new stock from Honeydukes when I was at Diagon.â Rule number one for the care and keeping of your Moony was to always have a supply of chocolate on hand. âWhy donât you grab a bar and weâll go out for a walk. Itâs beautiful outside.â
âWhat would I do without you, Pads? Why donât we pick up some curry while weâre out, my treat?â It was a plan, and they left the house shoulder to shoulder. Later that evening after heâd eaten Remus returned to his work. Sirius found him laughing, his shoulders relaxed, and not a single bucket around.
âBack at the Lockheart?â he asked.
âNo, Iâve given myself a respite and picked up the latest White novel. You know this bloke is improving. Itâs really kind of nice to see the balance of romance and friendship in here. Less sap and more affectionate teasing.â
âI thought that romance writer you edit for was a woman?â Sirius held his breath for a moment. Did Moony Know? He couldnât possibly. Â
âIâm sure thatâs what they want people to think, probably because most romance novels are written by women and Iâd imagine they sell better. But Iâm practically certain this is a bloke writing this. If the book centered around a flying motorcycle didnât tip me off, the fact that the details about female anatomy are more vague than the male anatomy seems quite a clue.â Remus shrugged. âI donât suppose it really matters, though.â
âNo, I donât suppose it does,â Sirius agreed.
II
âI need help.â The next morning Sirius showed up at the Potter house in the middle of breakfast, not knowing what time it was. James was still home, which was not the most favorable thing that could have happened.
âHelp with what?â Prongs asked as he broke a banana into pieces for Harry.
âNothing at all,â Sirius lied. âJust a question for Lils about a girl thing.â
âDating someone you havenât mentioned to us yet?â James cocked his head to the side. âItâs been a while since youâve mentioned anyone.â
âYeah, well it gets to be all the same after a while, doesnât it?â Truth was he hadnât had a date in ages. His free time was taken up with writing, and the rest of the time he was with Remus, or Prongs and his family or both. Lily had them over to dinner once a week at least, somehow thinking they couldn't take care of themselves properly. His social life worked out pretty well, except for the lack of shagging. He did miss that sometimes, but not enough to bother with finding a date.
âNot when you marry the love of your life and the most perfect person in the world.â James, of course, couldnât help looking at his wife. Sirius was torn between wanting to gag and feeling a tight ball in the pit of his stomach that heâd never felt before.
âItâs been six years since you married her, Prongs. You are going to be a little less sappy at some point, arenât you?â Of course considering how close theyâd come to losing each other it was understandable. And Sirius was happy for them, but as a sibling it was his job to raz James as much as possible.
âIf you donât like it you do know where the fireplace is, Sirius.â Lily was careful when she stood up, her belly now heavily swollen. Potter number four was due in less than a month. âCome on, you can wash up dishes for me while you tell me what you need.â
Dutifully he followed her, ignoring Prongsâ questioning look. When the water was running he looked around to make sure they werenât followed. âI need to know more about girls.â
âExcuse me?â
âMoonyâs figured out that Phaedra White is a bloke. Says thereâs not much detail about womenâs bits and things in there and that it sounds more like a bloke or something. I donât know. My first thought was that I could use some polyjuice and spend an hour as a woman but thatâs a month of work just to make the potion plus it tastes disgusting.â
âIâm not going to ask why you know what polyjuice tastes like. I donât want to know who you were or when or if my husband was involved.â Lily rubbed her stomach absently. âYour books are selling surprisingly well, I wouldnât change things now. Besides you should know at least the basics about women.â
âI know that their breasts are nice and soft, most of them like to snog, and redheads have very good aim.â Or maybe it was just one specific redhead, who proved his point by throwing a spoon at the back of his head.
âObviously rumors at school had to be taken with quite a few grains of salt and I know some girls exaggerated because it was good for their reputations for it to be known that they snogged the âgreatâ Sirius Blackâ Lilyâs voice was dripping with sarcasm and she stuck out her tongue for good measure. âBut you did date a fair bit, and I myself witnessed at least some snogging. Are you saying you neverâŚâ
âDid the no pants dance? Nah, girls are nice for kissing and easier for dating but for the whole naked tango I prefer a blokes âbits.ââ Â
âHuh. I was dead certain about you and that Hufflepuff in sixth year.â Lily shook her head, bemused. It wasnât like Sirius had ever hidden the fact that he liked boys as well as girls. âBut if youâre here to ask me about my âbitsâ thatâs where I draw the line. Weâre close, Sirius, but not that close.â
âYou are the best sister a bloke could ever hope for, Lil my love, and as such that is a completely disgusting idea that I would never suggest. I was thinking you might have a friend.â
âI am not pimping out my friends to you, brother dear.â
âYou try to set up Remus sometimes.â And somehow each time Remus came down sick and couldnât come to dinner. Â
âI worry about Remus being alone. Do you know when he last went on a date?â
âSometimes in the seventies, probably, and heâs not alone, he has me. What could be less lonely then having me as a roommate?â Other than a bit of time during the war he and Remus had lived together since leaving Hogwarts. It worked well for them both, and honestly the idea of Remus dating made his left shoulder blade go all tense. They took turns making dinner and washing up, cleaned the flat together on Mondays and read out bits of their books to each other as they shared a sofa in the evening. If Remus was spending his time with someone else there would be less of the enigmatic little half smile that made his day better. And at some point Moony would have to share his furry little secret and what if they took it badly and hurt him? Or worse, spread it about? Sirius would have to kill them and then heâd go to Azkaban and then Remus really would be alone. It would be a disaster.
âSirius have you ever consideredâŚâ Lily stopped, wincing a little and struggling to pull herself up. âThis little one has great aim and likes to kick mummyâs bladder. Youâll have to excuse us, Sirius. And find your own dates.â
II
He did find his own dates. Three of them, in the next month, and twice with the girl from the local coffee shop. And though the snogging was nice he just couldnât get interested enough in taking it farther, not even in the name of research. Sighing he decided he was just going to have to keep doing what he was doing. Besides, having Moony suspect that a romance novelist was a man was a far sight from having him suspect that it was the man he lived with so he was still safe enough. After all who in their right mind would think that Sirius Black was writing romance novels?
When he got home from his last date he found a note stuck to his door in Moonyâs careful hand. The word âSt Mungoâsâ might have worried him if not for the âBaby Potter on the wayâ underneath. He took a minute to change into something more comfortable, remembering that Harry had taken hours to arrive, and apparated to the maternity ward.
âYou brought work with you?â Remus was already there, sitting in the waiting room with a quill in one hand and a stack of pages on his lap.
âYou know how long Harry took to make an appearance. Might as well pass the time in a useful manner.â Remus looked up at him, head cocked to the side. âHow was the date?â
âBit boring, to be honest. I think Iâm out of practice.â Dating used to be more interesting, but halfway through heâd found himself wishing that he was on the sofa throwing popcorn at Remus and asking about his latest book. The editing of the Lockhart book and its ridiculous lies was keeping him well entertained. âSpeaking of the sprog, where is my favorite godson?â
âLilyâs friend Molly has him. The one will all the redhead kids, you remember?â
âYeah.â Molly happened to be the friend that rewrote everything he wrote. No reason for that to make him nervous, though. âShe was Gid and Fabâs big sister.â
âYeah, she was.â It was never easy to think of the casualties of the war so Sirius tried not to think of them, not even the ones with hair and hearts like fire who heâd shagged once. Gideon had been one of his first crushes in school, and a compatriot in war.
âWhat are we working on tonight?â Sirius tried to take a look at his papers. âAnything good?â
âSomething very frustrating, at the moment. The latest Phaedra White.â
âI thought you said her books were getting better. Seemed to me you quite enjoyed the last one.â He took great pride in the fact that heâd made Moony laugh more than once, and that it came back with hardly any notes other than the usual missing commas and split infinitives. The ending, Moony had declared, was only as sappy as was necessary for that sort of story and not bad at all.
âItâs stupid. Iâm just the editor, thereâs no reason for the direction of the plot to bother me so much.â Sighing, Remus put the quill down. Â
âIâm sure the author is grateful for your notes. You said sheâs listened to them before, hasnât she?â Of course he knew the answer.  Heâd written three thank you notes for changes the Remus had suggested, and every time Remus had been right. Merlinâs pants, Phaedra White was actually making best seller lists and had been mentioned in Witches Weekly twice, and Sirius wasnât too full of himself to know how big a part Moony played in that. His publisher was trying to make him do a book signing at Flourish and Blotts, and didnât understand why he kept saying no to the publicity. Â
âThis isnât the same situation. Itâs not a small change to a scene, itâs the whole romance that feels wrong.â
âYou read me a bit the other night, between the bloke and his best mate that made you laugh.â Heâd found the byplay between his main character and his friend to be the most fun part of the book to write.
âThatâs the whole problem. Byron and George have this great relationship. The scene where George is trying to convince Byron to go on the date feels almost likeâŚâ
âLike what?â There were times that Sirius totally wished he could talk through scenes with Remus while he was writing. Heâd had to bite his tongue more than once when he remembered that he hadnât sent a story to Moony to edit yet.
âLike he was trying to cover his own feelings for his friend. The chemistry between the two blokes is more natural and interesting then the bits with Byron and Melody.â Remus picked up his quill again. âNow you see why I canât write that suggestion. Iâm not about to tell someone to trash half their story and turn it into a gay romance.â
âMoony, w-â
âSheâs here.â The door to the waiting room crashed open and Prongs came running out, tripping over his feet in his hurry. âIâm a dad.â
âYouâve been a dad for almost five years, Prongs,â Sirius couldnât help but tease him. Â
âBut never to a girl.â It was funny how big Prongsâ eyes could get. âMerlinâs elbow, I have a daughter.â
âMost of the bits are the same, mate. Youâll be alright.â Remus shoved his papers and quill into a bag and took out a flask. âI think this calls for a drink. Not too much, or Lily will kill us all, but just to celebrate.â
âYou think of everything, Moons.â Sirius shouldnât have been surprised, it was very like Remus, but there was something about drinking out of the flask immediately after Moonyâs lips had touched it that felt different.
âYouâre brilliant, both of you. In a minute we can all go in and you can meet my daughter.â
âPoor Lils, sheâs got three kids on her hands now.â Sirius pointed to the dopey looking expression on Prongsâ face.
âI think you mean four kid, Pads. After all she has to deal with you as well.â
II
âHer name is Olivia Marlene.â Lily had that exhausted but happy glow of a new mother when they were let in to see her. The baby she held looked pretty much the same as Harry the first time theyâd seen him, the dark hair on the top of her head and the splotchy looking face. Â
âItâs a good name. Strong.â Moony nodded solemnly. âMarlene would have been proud.â
âMarlene would have rolled her eyes and called me daff,â Lily said with only a hint of moisture in her own eyes. âBut if my daughter is half as fierce sheâll be able to do anything.â
âMoony, ready to say hello?â James took his daughter from Lily and held her close to his chest.
âLet Sirius go first, Iâll hold her in a minute.â Sirius had been the first five years ago, when Harry had been born.
âSirius will have his turn but it should be her godfather first, Remus.â When Lily spoke Sirius had the good fortune to be looking at Remus. The look on his face and the way his knees buckled were priceless.
âAlright there mate?â Sirius caught him around the waist and helped him to stand up again. âWelcome to the club, by the way.â
âSo will you, Moony?â James looked at him expectantly.
âI think youâre mental to ask me.â But Remus carefully took the baby and held her, touching her cheek with a single finger. Sirius felt for a moment like heâs turned into liquid marshmallow, watching the two of them.
âWelcome to the world, Olivia Potter,â Remus said softly.
It was in that moment that Sirius Black, author of almost seventeen romance novels, realized that he was in love with his best friend.
II
âIâm afraid Iâm going to have to leave the country.â Somehow Sirius made it through the next week. He wasnât sure how but it seemed only fair to give Lily a bit of recovery time before bothering her. A week was as long as he could wait, though, and on the eighth day he flooed over. Â
âThatâs a bit of a dramatic reaction to not being chosen as godfather for our Olivia.â Â
âWhat? No, of course you should have gone with Moony. Brilliant choice. Probably should have picked him for Harry, bit of an unfair advantage Olivia has.â Sirius flopped down on the armchair across from Lily. âWhere are the sprogs, by the way?â
âBabyâs sleeping. Harry and James are at the park so Harry can run off some energy.â
âProngs is probably the one that needs to run off the energy. Heâs walking on clouds, that one. Reminds me of the week after you finally said yes to a date.â Sirius was pretty sure James hadnât slept for two days straight. For a week he also hadnât shut up, even when he did finally sleep. Heâd been well stuck on Lily long before theyâd dated. Sirius finally had an idea of what that was like.
âProbably. Now tell me what youâre running from.â Lily put on her best getting-ready-to-mock-you expression.
âNothing really, only the most stupid thing Iâve probably ever done.â
âIâve seen some of the stupidest things youâve done, Sirius. Many of them. Unless youâre going to tell me you have to flee the country because aurors are after you I very much doubt itâs as bad as you think.â
âIâvefalleninlovewithMoony.â
âIâm going to need you to actually take a breath at some point, sweetie. Youâre going to turn purple if you donât and then Iâm going to have to explain to James and Harry why youâve passed out on the floor.â Lily patted the empty seat on the sofa next to her. âNow come over here, take a breath, and tell me again what you said.â
Sirius, erring on the side of caution, took three breaths, decided that wasnât enough, and took three more. âIâve fallen in love with Moony.â
âNow there, wasnât that easier to say the second time?â
âYou knew perfectly well what I said.â Sirius narrowed his eyes. âYou tricked me.â
âOnly for your own good.â She leaned in and wrapped her arms around him. âI know this bit is scary but youâre going to get through it and youâre going to do it without fleeing the country.â
âDidnât you hear what I said?â Maybe having a baby did something odd to your ears. Â
âYouâve finally figured out that youâre in love with Remus.â
âFinally?â Sirius stared at her. Â
âFinally,â she confirmed. âOther than this month because of your crazy idea about your books, when was the last time you dated?â
âDunno. That carpenter maybe?â Sirius had wanted to find out just what else he could do with his hands. The answer was quite a bit. Unfortunately not so much in the brain department and even less in the sense of humor department.
âThat was three years ago. What is Remusâs favorite dinner?â
âSteak with mashed potatoes and lots of gravy, popovers, peas.â It was a meal he liked to make a day or two before a full moon when Moony was feeling a bit low.
âAnd for dessert?â
âChocolate, of course. I found a chocolate fondant recipe the other day I thought I might try.â Moony was happy to have a chocolate bar but Sirius liked to find new desserts to try. Moony was always pleased when there was a new dessert.
âWho is the first person you see on Christmas morning and whose present do you spend the most time picking out?â
âMoony, of course. We live together.â Last year Moony had put a ridiculous ten galleon restriction on gifts, insisting he didnât need anything extravagant. His silly Moony hadnât thought to specify that it was only a single gift, though. Sirius had brought thirteen, but they were all under ten galleons each.
âAnd when youâve had a really shitty day who is the first person you seek out?â
âMoony.â
âAnd when something wonderful happens who is the first person you want to tell?â
âMoony.â
âAre we seeing a pattern yet? And before you tell me itâs just being friends let me remind you that you have created a whole career for yourself solely because you wanted to make sure that Remus had work that he could take pride in. The entire existence of Phaedra White is basically one really long love letter, which is a bit over the top even for you.â
âIâve been in love with Moony this whole time?â It didnât feel wrong when he said it. Maybe later heâd be able to look back and figure out when exactly it all started, but for now it seemed to be enough that it was true. âWhy didnât you tell me?â
âYou were always going to figure it out in your own time. I couldnât make you go any faster and risk it not happening at all.â Lily kissed his cheek. âIf Iâd said yes to James in third or fourth year maybe we would still be where we are. Or maybe I would have written him off as a ponce and I wouldnât have him or my babies. Things happen when theyâre right, and you canât rush them. Or run away from them.â
âWhat if he doesnât feel the same?â Remus rarely dated and never said anything about marriage. âWhat if I ruin everything?â
âWhat if he does? I donât have the answer. I think you have to trust Remus and yourself enough to give him a chance to hear how you feel.â
âAnd if I fuck it all up?â
âYour friendship has survived war and betrayals and pranks gone horribly wrong, as well as seven years of sharing a dorm and about as long sharing a flat. I donât think itâs going to fall under the weight of loving him.â
âYou better be right, Lily Potter. If youâre not Iâm going to be crashing on this sofa after I flee the flat in embarrassment, and I shed.â
II
Talking to Moony, of course, was a far too direct and logical choice. It took an hour for Sirius to decide that no, that just wouldnât do.
âYou alright, Pads?â Remus asked when he spent the second hour after he returned home pacing.
âJust thinking about Christmas,â he answered distractedly.
âItâs May, I think you have some time before you need to worry.â Remus caught his hand as he walked past. âYou look like you have one of your headaches. Why donât you sit down and Iâll give you a massage? Or I could read something to you?â
âNo books.â Books are what had gotten him into the whole mess in the first part. How could he tell Moony how he felt without also confessing the whole story of Phaedra White? Why had he never considered that at some point Moony would have to know about The Brilliant Idea? âI think I might just go to bed.â
âIâll bring you some tea, it will help you sleep better.â True to his word Remus showed up ten minutes later with a cup of tea, cream in first and half a spoon of sugar, just the way he liked. Heâd valiantly tried to fall asleep in those ten minutes, but had failed completely and sat up to accept the tea. Â
âThank you.â
âYou know you can tell me if something is bothering you, right?â
âThereâs no one in the world I trust more than you,â Sirius said honestly. The tea was too hot still but he sipped it anyway, knowing heâd either burn the tip of his tongue or the roof of his mouth but not caring. Â
âItâs a bit odd, isnât it, Prongs and Lily having two kids now? Theyâre well and truly settled, like proper adults. Might make someone think about it a bit, wonder if theyâre wanting something different.â Remus settled on the edge of the bed, looking up at the ceiling as if he could see the stars overhead.
âDo you think about something different? Finding your someone and settling down with a couple of sprogs?â Â
âMerlin no. That sort of lifeâs never been for me, even if I could find someone who wasnât put off by my special little problem. Besides I like things the way they are. You know how much I loved marking up papers with red ink in school and I get to add commas and edit dangling participles to my heartâs content now, with the added bonus of actually making a proper amount of money. And I couldnât possibly ever be lonely or bored with you around. If I want to play with a kid I just have to pop over to see Prongs and Lily. Seems to me being a godfather is like the best bits of being a parent without all the rest.â Remus shrugged and looked sideways at Sirius. âI always figured youâd follow Jamesâ example at some point.â
âI would have had to start developing a crush more than a decade ago, wouldnât I, to really emulate Prongs?â It made him stop and wonder for a moment, tea slopping over his chin as he stopped halfway to his mouth. Just when had he started falling in love with Moony? Maybe he was more like Prongs then he thought, with less of the whinging. He couldnât remember a time when making Moony smile hadn't been a priority, or when Moony touching him hadnât been a comfort.
âNot like that, of course. I mean the whole home hearth and family sort of thing, and making me a godfather.â
âI like my family just the way it is.â It was a little too close to the truth, and Sirius faked a yawn. âNight Moony.â
âNight Padfoot. Sleep well.â Despite being the first to say goodnight, Sirius was a little dismayed that Moony actually left his room.
II
The next day Sirius stopped by to pick up his post, finding a rather sizable cheque, yet another request for a book signing, and the edited return of his most recent book. Remus must have mailed it when heâd been with Lily. Flipping through the pages he found the usual red marks adding commas and rearranging the occasional unclear sentence structure, but nothing about the plot of the novel. He hadnât made any of the suggestions that heâd mentioned at the hospital.
Sirius took the book home and read through the story again. Remus was right. The supposed romance of the story felt flat and predictable when compared to the banter between the best friends, and George was clearly nurturing a crush on his friend. He only wanted Byron to be with Melody because he thought it was what his friend wanted. It was a mess. Sirius was a mess too, but at the moment it was a lot easier to fix things for Byron and George. All he had to do was cut half the book and rework the rest to make sure two best friends realized that they were actually in love.
When he was done he sent it off to Molly with a bonus payment and a warning that he might not be needing her help anymore. She sent it back three days later with a cheerful little note letting him know that her twins kept her quite busy and while it had been fun to read his stories first she was fine with the change in things. Also it was her favorite story yet.
âI need to borrow my godson.â The day after he sent the manuscript back to Remus for editing he left the house early in the morning. He couldnât bear to be around when Moony saw it for the first time. Better to let him read it and get it all over and done with at once, no matter what way it came out.
âYouâre not back on the fleeing the country plan, are you? Because you canât take Harry to Spain.â Lily raised one eyebrow.
âWhy would Sirius flee the country?â James held his daughter but stared at Sirius in confusion. âYou didnât actually break into your cousinâs vault at Gringotts, did you?â
âI decided anything Narcissa owned would probably have cooties. Not worth the risk.â Sirius shrugged. âI wonât even take him out of the county, Lils. I promise.â
âPads? Lily?â James pushed, not having a clue what was happening but suspecting that his wife knew a fair bit more.
âNot now, Prongs. Iâll tell you tomorrow if the world doesnât crash around my ears today.â Â
Lily, fortunately, said yes and Sirius was able to mostly distract himself with a trip to the zoo and far more ice cream than an almost five year old and a twenty-five year old should eat. He returned Harry in time for tea but warned Lily that he probably wasnât very hungry.
âIâm proud of you,â Lily said before he left, kissing his cheek.
âIâd probably be proud of you too if I knew what the bloody hell was going on,â Prongs added, kissing his other cheek. Sirius said thank you to them both, decided against the floo, and apparated home. He sat on the front stoop for half an hour before daring to open the door. The flat was completely silent. Â
âMoony?â Maybe he wasnât at home. Maybe he hadnât gotten the package or had been too busy to read it today. Maybe he had read it and had run for the hills. Maybe he hated it and hated Sirius and was in his room packing for a trip to Zanzibar. For a minute he worried that Moony really was gone because the flat, even Moonyâs room, were empty. The last place to check was what they grandly called the balcony, which was really just a fire escape with a upside down rusty cauldron as a seat and a single pot with a dittany plant they barely kept alive. Moony sat with his back to the wall, looking out at the view. They were lucky enough to be on the side of the building that looked out over a park rather than another building.
âHey.â He settled on the sill of the open window, which was the only other place to sit but also meant that Remus couldnât go anywhere without stepping over him, which could come in handy. âHow was your day?â
âI read a book.â Moony didnât look at him. Sirius couldnât tell what he was thinking at all, other than that he looked like he should be smoking. Theyâd both given it up when Harry was born, though, and that went double now that Oliva had come along.
âYeah?â He took a deep breath and waited.
âYeah. I thought it was weird, at first. Itâs the same Phaedra White book I just edited, and I thought it was a mistake until I got through the first couple of chapters and itâs been completely rewritten. I didnât say anything about the story to anyone, other than you, but it was like they looked inside my head and saw how I wished the story had been written. George was so certain that Byron was going to propose to his girl but instead thereâs this scene, this magical scene where Byron says that he couldnât fall for Melody because he was already in love. That it had been George all along. Sometimes your best mate is also the love of your life.â Remus was still staring down at the park and Sirius wanted to shake him, or beg him to turn his head, or just kiss him and take his chances that Moony wouldnât throw him over the side of the balcony. Â
âDo you think thatâs true?â he asked. âEven when the best mate is a complete disaster who might be keeping a secret or two, but only because they want their best friend to be happy and not have to worry about anything?â
âDo I think that Byron and George are in love?â When he finally turned, Moony had a perfectly inscrutable expression on his face, the one he used in school that let him tell McGonagall that he didnât know anything about a prank that had in fact been his brainchild. When he used it on anyone else it made Sirius smile. Facing it himself was agonizing.
âDo you believe that sometimes your best mate can also be the love of your life?â Heâd channeled everything he felt and thought into Byron. Remus set a great store in books and the written word, and Sirius hoped that maybe works written in black and white would make his argument for him.
âI think the hardest thing to believe is that I could possibly be that extraordinarily lucky.â With the blink of his eye Sirius could see all the vulnerability Moony had been hiding. The hope and the fear, the trust and the love. The love he saw there knocked the breath out of him.
âMerlin, I think you just scared five years off my life, you were that hard to read.â He pulled himself through the window and squatted in front of Remus. âDo you really think you could love me?â
âYou deserve to be scared, you bloody git. You had me secretly editing books you wrote and somehow you became an author for the lark of it.â Remus rubbed his forehead, like he did when something was puzzling him or the writing of something was particularly confusing. âIâve been in love with you for ages, Pads, and I find thereâs generally very little thinking involved. Itâs a simple fact.â
âI donât think thereâs anything simple about it.â Sirius Black was the author of seventeen and a half books, and it seemed to him there was only one possible option for what came next. He kissed Moony, of course. Kissed him like Byron had kissed George, like Psych had once kissed Cupid and Darcy had kissed Elizabeth. The kiss had been brewing up inside him for some time and he did not stop until the air was gone from his lungs. And then he said the words that he planned on repeating every day for the rest of his life. âI love you Moony.â
âI love you too, Phaedra White.â
Sirius groaned, and laughed, and kissed his Moony all over again. It was Absolutely Brilliant.
#wolfstar#wolfstar fic#sirius black#sirius x lupin#remus x sirius#harry potter fic#my fic#remus lupin#lily potter#remus lupin x sirius black#maurader fic#everyone lives#or at least the important people
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Well, that was cold
I have mod that makes diseases actually dangerous. (actually several of them and theyâre all listed here on Pleasant Simsâ modlist)
The first rotation? Everythingâs fine. The only one who fell ill was John Burb and he, as a family Sim, was able to soup himself to health in no time.
The second rotation... Ajaj Loner got sick.
With cold.
I was like, âI know flu is pretty dangerous with this mod but cold should be fine, right? I mean, I used to have it four times a year. So glad itâs not flu!â
I thought I was lucky.
I wasnât.
After Ajajâs turn ended, he was free to wander around and spread the cold everywhere.
Because they have chemistry and she was on a prowl, I even had Nina Caliente seduce Ajaj. She got the cold but I was like whatever, sheâs a strong quasi-alien, running nose for a few days wonât kill her!
How fatally wrong I was I realized during a vacation that Nina went on with her sister and Ajaj. She was just chilling, sleeping in her hotel room, when all of the sudden, Grim Reaper!
You sure, Dina?
Nina was dead. Dead from the cold. And she was pregnant, no less!
I reloaded because it was on a vacation and Nina was the only playable Sim, so I was quite worried what would become of the grave. I managed to get her home and moved Chloe Curious in, so that someone can eventually plead for her. She was lucky the second time around and survived. Chloe got infected but survived as well.
But we had an epidemic on our hands now. Ajaj and Nina have been quite successful generously sharing their cold all across the hood and I failed to keep track of who has it.
Still, I thought it wasnât so bad. I didnât understand the scale, I was still thinking that it was just Ajaj, Consort Capp and the Pleasants.
Again, I was wrong.
When I got in the rotation to the Capps (the Capps 1), everyone was infected. I was still optimistic, though, because we were talking about a household where 2/4 Sims are Family and one is a Family Secondary, they can bathe in the soup!
The teens ate their soup and survived.
Consort died that night. He was due to die at the end of their round anyway but because he didnât do so of old age, his grandchildren received no bonus inheritance.
The only one who gained something from that was Olive Specter who was delighted to see Consort, her crush, perish, so she could finally raise him as a zombie.
Unfortunately I couldnât find a screenshot of her actually raising him, so hereâs at the very least Olive walking menacingly to work.
Anyway, moving onto the Capps again (the Capps 2, Goneril edition), things looked bleak. Goneril was pregnant and she and all the kids were infected. Albany was immediately called to action to generate enough soup but the house devolved into utter chaos. Everybody had their soup but just as they recovered, they got infected again!
Ok, I was thinking, Consort was quite old and fragile. Nina mustâve had the cold for a long time, given she was on a vacation. Thereâs no way the kids are gonna die on the first day they got infected. They had the soup, so Iâll send them to beds, so they can get a good-night sleep and enough rest.
Nope.
Ariel, a child, died in her sleep.
Nobody was able to get to her in time to plead for her.
While I was contemplating an in-character way of resurrection, Desdemona, a young teen, died in her sleep just about two hours after her sister.
Again, nobody was fast enough.
Luckily, Miranda was already in college and she was roommates with Ophelia Nigmos, who was in possession of a genie lamp she was safeguarding from Olive. Hearing about the tragedy that befell her friendâs family, moved by the death of a little girl and her not much older sister, Ophelia the Family Sim offered Miranda the lamp on the spot.
Miranda rushed home to drop off the lamp and then ran off so she doesnât get infected. Well, she did anyway but since I havenât played the college Sims yet, I donât know of her fate.
Hal made a good use of the lamp. He rolled the wants to resurrect both his sisters and thatâs exactly what he did.
He triumphantly finished making the wishes...
And dropped dead.
Another young soul succumbed to cold.
But! Since there was still a wish left and his sisters were back alive, Desdemona swiftly brought him back.
Arielâs and Halâs resurrections were perfect.
Desdemonaâs was faulty, so her personality got reversed.
But as long as theyâre alive and preferably not zombies, everything will do.
The Capps were all cured! Hooray!
Wait. Not all Capps. There was still Reganâs branch and, predictably, they were all infected. And this time, there was no Family Sim in sight.
The only non-infected Sim in the family was a little toddler. The poor, poor child was in for a life-long trauma.
Kent went quick and quiet the first night of their round. Regan fortunately recovered. Cornwall did too. They had a very lucky start of the round all together, I may add. Kentâs tragic death was followed by Reganâs demotion that lead to her subsequent want to quit her job (...and she was the only one who was making any significant money), then Cornwall set the house on fire while cooking breakfast, then he got fired.
Poor thing. First got house-fired, then job-fired.
Reganâs LTW was to reach the top of the Law career, so she got herself a new job there. On her first day, she got promoted!
And she brought home a friend! Sweet!
No... nooooo...
It was Ajaj F*ckinâ Loner.
Both Regan and Cornwall got infected before you could say âact your surname and social-distance, you jerk!â
Cornwall died almost immediately. Unfortunately, Regan was asleep and failed to get up and ambush the Grim Reaper in time.
On the bright side, she recovered!
So I watch her go to work, the nanny arrives to baby-sit the toddler, everything seems to finally have settled down.
But then I spot an unexpected movement in the house.
Itâs Titania Summerdream. Who let her in? I have no idea.
It would be quite sweet of her to check on her friend Regan after she lost two family members and to help with her young daughter.
If... if she didnât have the fricking cold!
Regan returned from work and I rushed to have her send Titania away.
Of damn course she didnât go before giving the cold to Regan.
Now it was the third time Regan got infected and there were no other family members to take care of the toddler if she dies. It was very suspenseful. I decided to use extreme measures and I teleported Albany in, made him selectable and had him cook the soup.
Instead of that, he proceeded to bicker with Regan.
If he got re-infected, I swear...
Anyway, after a three tries or so, Regan got her soup and Albany was on his merry way away.
What a relief! I sent Regan to sleep, trusting the soup to do its magic. The next morning her needs all looked great! No notification yet but I was sure itâs gonna arrive any second. When suddenly...
Yeap, she died.
Regan Capp died the way she lived. Paying her familyâs bills.
I used Simblender again to quickly move in Hal. He was there in time to plead for Regan!
And for the first time in the Capp household, he actually made it! He pleaded!
And... and... lost.
So I had him stay to take care of the toddler until their round was over. Then I moved them both back with Gonerilâs branch.
At the very least young Ione, the genius toddler with maxed Logic skill, got something resembling a birthday party with her cousin and his boyfriend Alexander Goth.
Given that Montys had their losses as well, the cold has already taken out much of the adult population of Veronaville.
The only two adults left (not counting fresh elders Albany and Goneril) in Veronaville were in fact the Summerdreams who were extremely lucky and with an abundance of soup, they survived.
To be completely honest, Iâm very happy with the mod. I tend to play large hoods and although it tends to be rather tragic, the occasional epidemic of cold trims the population down a bit without me killing anybody off and it gives the game an additional bit of challenge and randomness.
...or maybe Iâm just a sh*tty person to my Sims.
Bonus screenshots of the Strangetown cold outbreak:
Vidcund Curious spent two nights sleeping in a chair in his childrenâs bedroom because he was afraid theyâre going to die from the cold in their sleep and wanted to be there to plead for them. In the end it actually happened, he pleaded and managed to save his daughter.
The Smiths had to be unfortunately visited by the Therapist. PT9 died on the day he was supposed to die of old age but hours prior, he became yet another victim of the cold. And it was very unlucky, since it meant no inheritance and by the Watcher, Jenny and their 5 kids could definitely use it. They were completely broke.
But not everything was morbid and tragic!
Lazlo rolled quite the unexpected want to get married to his girlfriend, Cassandra Goth. They werenât engaged, she wasnât pregnant, heâs not a Family secondary, and the date they were on wasnât even in the stage Sims usually roll engagement wants, he simply rolled it out of the blue. And of course I went with it! (Cassandra had recently divorced Don, rolling the wish to remarry almost immediately.)
The only family in the hood that could technically mass-produce medicine so that not everyone is dependent on the soup, the Beakers, of course didnât. Why would they risk their hides, toying with the Mysterious Disease, when they didnât have to? Instead, they social-distanced and spent the rotation raking in promotions and taking care of their army of children. (Loki kept rolling wants to get abducted and ARC wasnât kind to them either. But with Loki being Family secondary and Circe leaving most of the parenting on him anyway, I donât think they mind.)
Note the alien toddler, the second youngest child. He has 10 Nice points. Thatâs 4 points more than all 5 of his siblings and his parents combined. Heâs gonna have a rough childhood, the poor thing.
Jill Smith managed to get nibbled on by the pack leader just in time, a few days before going to college. Sheâs thrilled by her new wolf-y powers! And regardless of what her mother says, she knows the fur goes with her school uniform just perfectly!
Rachel Pleasant, the youngest offspring of Daniel that he knows about (the second youngest overall), aged up into a child! And judging by the look on her face, she already knows how much of a mess her family is.
Not even being brought back from the dead made Desdemona Capp immune to the Summerdream charm. Bottom, the young Romance Sim, invited her girlfriend to hang out in their hot tub. It was an afternoon to remember for both of them.
Local ageing general married a successful young athlete, Kristen Loste. Unfortunately for everyone attending the wedding, the brideâs former roommate Chloe Curious decided that flirting with her literally the next interaction after Kristen said, âI do.â was a smart idea. No need to add that the wedding cake was left to rot forgotten, never cut. It was a sad wedding cake but even though it started to stink around two hours after the wedding, it still lasted longer than the marriage.
And far away in La Fiesta Tech, two estranged siblings were talking things out and healing their relationship.
Now I lost this hood (again) and started a new one, so the next gameplay post will probably feature the same characters in completely different circumstances and nothing is going to make sense but... what does anyway?
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weird shit that would probably have something to do with me in a horror movie
no one wanted this but iâm bored and found a bottle so youâre all getting it. yes these are all true. check the tags, if u think iâve missed something please let me know!
there was a murder (technically, i donât really count it as a murder) next door when i was four years old on christmas morning
the weird antique glass bottle i found half-buried in the woods in the woods yesterday with living bugs in it that made no attempt to leave it once i uncovered it
there is a local cult in the next town over. this is not the same as the local cult that was in the other town over where my mom grew up
random completed animal skeletons in the woods behind our house, iâm talking prey and predator, both laid out like in a goddamn scientific diagram. for a while thereâd be ones in the middle of our yard, always the same type of animal, always just the bones and nothing else, laid out like it was posed. this has been happening for over half a decade and we have no fucking clue how, why, or who is doing it
the screaming from the woods that iâm going to assume is a fox
my sister almost dated a murderer. his niece or something is in my class
there is a house that is now part of a âlocal ghost tourâ that belonged to my great+ grand parents during the civil war where my great+ aunt died allegedly murdered by her husband who is actually blood related to me. family history says she died of childbirth, which given that it was the 1800s... probably is true
there was an actual murderer in our family a few generations back but he married in and killed his wife and her sister. they didnât find out about it until they read his journals after he died where it apparently told everything he did and they decided. âwell, that wouldnât look good for the family, and theyâre already dead anywayâ and just kept it hidden??
the fact we have my great great grandmotherâs dress from probably 1890s or 1900s. even more so the fact that i fit in it. if this was fantasy horror (vampires, some immortal thing or ghost) iâd be fucking dead or cursed
fairly certain i was possessed by the ghost of a puritan as a kid
my family seems to have a curse with babies and nurses? my great uncle died when he was born because long story short, hospitals were the new hot thing, he was perfectly healthy, then a nurse dropped him and he died instantly. my sister died when she was a toddler and the hospital actively tried to delete her hospital records to cover it up and ended up getting fined by the state for it. the nurses responsible were not arrested or punished in any way.
my family all has fucked up connective tissue, in my brother it was bad enough he had to get a steel bar in his chest so it wouldnât cave in.
the many times i have almost drowned, sometimes due to intentional actions by humans (my dad, it was my dad)
this in addition to the other fucked up shit he did before the divorce when he still lived here, including but not limited to: killing my momâs favorite pet goat, hanging its skull in a tree, and leaving the body in the woods. not letting his kids learn how to cook. anytime someone asked him to cook heâd put as much pepper/hot sauce in as he could (even for like, scrambled eggs) and give it to the youngest person, usually a toddler. this was me at times. taking his kids out to the woods and threatening murder. taking his kids out to the woods and threatening burning. purposely locked the basement from the inside so we couldnât get the gaping hole in the stairs leading to one of three kids rooms fixed. tearing up pictures of the kids whenever my mom did something he didnât like. i had more here but i tried to cut it down a litttle
people have threatened to murder me before. one time a girl didnât threaten, and actually acted like she was starting to like me, but her cousin read her diary or something and found out she was planning to commit a lot of murder, and told her parents and she got sent to a psychiatric ward for a couple weeks
my mom lived down the street from a family that got axe-murdered by one of their two sons when she was a kid. the murderer did get out on an insanity plea and is still in the area. also their neighborâs mom âlost her mindâ (how the story was told) when she had to protect their kids while her husband went over to try to protect the non murderer son when he got home from school and ran over screaming about his brother trying to kill him and had killed their parents
also she knew a girl who almost got kidnapped by this really fucked up traveling serial killer that has his own wikipedia page that is,,, lengthy. the girl had [alleged] mafia ties, and the guy ended up dying shot by police despite them being told to bring him in, which sounds kinda suspicious
long story short iâd probably be the sequel where one comes back
apparently i go to the âbadâ school, which i found out in a coffee shop when i overheard two girls talking about how oneâs dad went there and how horrible and dangerous it is
school fights are weird. either they donât happen or they come freakishly close to murder. people slam heads into lockers, stomp on bones, drag people by hair along the ground. one time in my brotherâs class a 4â˛9âł girl sent a 6â˛2âł football player to the hospital. there was video of a fight a couple years ago thatâs still around. it was brutal, but also one of the girls fighting was taking one for the team in it and got the other kicked out
we donât have a ceiling in all of the third floor, and the cafeteria has 2. this is not relevant in any way, but itâs important to me that you know this
also the guys kept ripping the heating vents/radiators/whatever off the walls in their bathrooms and got almost all the bathrooms locked. including the girlsâ ones.
also everyone kept punching holes in the walls so on some of them itâs just,,, metal sheeting down the whole hallway
there are so many fucking shootings in the next town over. literally five years ago it was this nice place where kids would go on history tours, i did when my sister worked for that group. now there is pretty much one business that has not been held up at gunpoint, and if u look up to the serial killer bullet point, it is for v similar ties. itâs a pizza place and if u ever stop by u gotta try it
women in my family have weirdly good intuition but every couple generations we get doubtful. my great grandma didnât want a hospital birth but decided âhey itâs the hot new thing for a reasonâ, my mom switched churches based on nothing but intuition and it turned out someone was a pedophile there (found out years later), i instantly could tell my friendâs boyfriend was a pos and wasnât surprised later when he told her heâd murder and dismember me in front of her, and upon meeting him told him he was a fucking coward and couldnât do it. he broke up with her a month later.
i was really good friends for a while with two guys that burned a building down. yes they were arrested. i was friends before and after the fire. theyâre pretty nice, but this girl they used to date (at different times, they were brothers, yes it was fucking weird and uncomfortable for everyone involved except her but thatâs itâs own thing) said some fucked up shit and it was the closest i ever got to starting a fight. anyway iâm still friends with both on facebook. one of them shares a lot of king of the hill memes
speaking of that fight, i 100% wouldâve tried to kill her in that moment. u know that john mulaney quote like âi didnât understand how a person could want to kill another person. then i got cheated on, and i was like âoh, okay.ââ? that was me, but replace âcheated onâ with she told me it was good my five year old sister was dead because she was a waste, and told me she hoped iâd die of covidâ. it was mainly the sister thing. i couldnât move because if i did iâd start a fight with the [way] above mentioned shit.
my family has a literal feud with a local farming family. i mean, we keep farm animals (sheep, goats, chickens), these people have that, pigs, and crops too. the feud was because their great uncle (or great grand uncle, iâm a little fuzzy on the details) published an autobiography (despite not being anyone famous/important) and in it talked about when he was friends with my grandfather and how creepy my great grandfather was (this was the one with the dead firstborn son) because he kept newspaper clippings of the Lindbergh babyâs kidnapping and murder pinned to a board on the wall of his office/basement. also because he was a child of german immigrants who wanted to fight against nazis in WW2 (how suspicious [sarcasm]). members of their family are in my grade. they charged my sister for almost half an extra pound of goods, too, which just revitalized it.
i live by corn fields. i am surrounded by cornfields. (joke one)
i was friends for a while with this girl whose baby teeth,,, didnât really fall out completely? she was 17 the last time i saw her in person, sheâs probably 19 now and judging by her facebook pictures theyâre still Like That. she had a very symmetrical mouth/teeth, which made it weirder. just to clarify, she had some of her baby teeth pushed forward and up, so they kind pointed out a little? and all her adult teeth. she was literally so pretty.
a teacher who is v sexual with his female students came into my english class (he is a science teacher) to demand why i wasnât signed up for his class. we then both became increasingly passive aggressive and he told the whole class where i live with specific directions and landmarks. the guy sitting next to me had to try to tone things down despite being obviously confused as to why it was even happening (me too buddy). he lives down the road from my sister. when my niece had her birthday party at our house i was outside setting things up and he slowed his car down and honked at me. fuckin creep
#tw child death#tw animal death#tw arson#i guess?#tw shooting#tw murder#a lot of that one actually#tw child abuse#tw violence#let me know if u think i should tag anything else#no one wanted this#except for me#tw cult
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Surveys #417-419
Been slacking on posting these, so hereâs like three surveys over the past few days divided up. I just donât feel like posting them individually. Beware, itâs a long post, haha.
Do you believe that animals donât have souls? I lean towards the idea that they, at least more complex species with actual sentience, do in some way. It's hard to imagine like, a fly having a soul, but it's a nice thought. You could NEVER convince me some don't, though, like my late dog Teddy, Sara's old chameleon Jem, and I could go on and on. Have you ever not been able to swallow pills? No, I've always been able to. If you HAD to change your first name, what would you change it to? Maybe like, Quinn. Something you don't hear a lot, for sure. Something more memorable. What are your thoughts on orange soda? Orange cream soda is BOMB. Man, been so long since I've had that stuff... Are you good with children and/or animals? Don't mean to brag, but people say I'm like a magician with animals. No matter what it is, I bond with it. Children, not so much. I'm awkward around them. Who in your life makes you smile the most? My cat, ha ha. If you were cremated, where would you want your ashes to be placed? Hm. Maybe high up in the mountains or in the Kalahari Desert. Do you plan on going to your high schoolâs reunion? No. I'm pretty sure I'd shatter from memories just entering the building. Would you want revenge on someone if they killed someone special to you? Or would you find it in your heart to forgive? "Forgive" my ass. They'd better get what's coming to them, even if I've gotta be the person to deliver it. Is there someone you are dying to see? More than I think anyone could possibly know. But it's probably better if I never do. Could you picture yourself getting married and having kids? Married, yes. Having kids, no. I could only picture that in one phase of my life, but like I called it: a phase. I should never be a mother, nor do I want to be one to begin with, so yeah, no kids for me. Do you like to take walks? If my legs were actually worth a shit, yes, I would, if it's in a nature-filled area. What are you listening to at this moment in time? "Thoughts & Prayers" by Motionless In White. Did you ever kiss someone with a tattoo? No. Could you say something good about the last person you kissed? She's very resilient. Why are you single? Because 1.) I'm a very unappealing example of an adult, 2.) I'm not exactly very attractive, and 3.) I'm basically a hermit, so I don't meet people. Do you get jealous if your boyfriend hugs another girl? Hypothetically, in almost any case, I wouldn't. My imaginary boyfriend can have female friends. But I'll admit if it was like, an ex-girlfriend or something and it was a seriously intense hug, I might. Is there something that happened in your past you hate talking about? Yes, but I mean, who doesn't. Have you ever been completely alone with a boy in his room? You make this sound so scandalous lmao. Yes, plenty of times. I dated a dude and briefly lived with him for three and a half years. Do you hate the person you fell hardest for? No. Who was the last person that you cried in front of? I'm sure it was Mom. Is it hard for you to be âjust friendsâ with the opposite sex? Nah. Do you remember every single person that youâve kissed? Yeah. Do you believe that the world will actually end? Humanity, oh yeah. The planet itself, given the infinite nature of the universe, also yes. At SOME point, even if it's zillions of years down the line, Earth is gonna get fucked by something. Are you socially awkward? I am the literal avatar of "socially awkward." Would you rather watch a comedy movie or horror movie? Horror. Who is your favorite actor/actress? MARK IS A FUCKIN' ACTOR, Y'ALL. Are you satisfied with your gender? Yeah. Are you good at admitting your problems? HA! Yeah. ezpz Have you ever had a hangover? No, never been drunk to begin with. Do you know any strippers? No. How many times have you dyed your hair? I ain't counting. What is something that reminds you of your childhood? Dinosaurs. Do you think you eat healthy? I try to. I have my bad days, though. Are you sick quite often or hardly at all? My immune system is the fucking MVP. I am just about never, ever sick. Has anyone suspected you of being a different sexuality? Yes. Do you like chocolate or vanilla cake more? Chocolate, duh. Does it bother you to have blood drawn or not so much? Nah, no biggie. Has your cell phone ever rung in class? Omg no, I woulda been mortified. Have you ever tried opening your eyes under water? Yeah, as a kid. Would you rather have a cat or a dog? I prefer cats. Have you ever been admitted to the hospital? Like... six times, I wanna say. What would you say is your favorite type of flower? Orchids, but I also love dahlias. I've actually noticed that I've really had a greater "thing" for flowers lately. Like don't get me wrong, I've always loved flowers very much, but I've just found myself more drawn to them than usual, especially when taking the daily hour ride to the TMS office. Do you watch Toddlers and Tiaras? FUCK no. That show disgusts and angers me so much. If someone asked you to go to war today, what would you say? Yeah, no. Funny joke. I couldn't go anyway due to mental health issues and a suicidal history. Do you own an old vintage typewriter? We used to when I was little. I have no idea what happened to it, though?? Hell, maybe we still have it somewhere, but I doubt that. Do you like or hate the smell of fish? Ew, does ANYONE like the smell of fish??? Have you ever read any of John Greenâs books? I got a few pages into The Fault in Our Stars, but stopped for no real reason. I didn't not like it or anything, I was just still in my "I don't read" episode. Are you a protective person? VERY. I'm a fucking guard dog over those I love most. Are you a fan of penguins? Yeah, they're cute. I especially think emperor penguins are very majestic. Have you ever met your favorite author? I donât have a favorite author. Did you get your mom or dadâs eyes? Neither's. I think my maternal grandpa had blue eyes, though? I'm not sure at all, though. When was the last time someone bought you flowers? Not sure. Has there ever been a murder in your town? "A" murder? Thems is rookie numbers for my neck of the woods, fella. This place is known for crime, and that includes murder. When falling asleep, do you ever feel like you stopped breathing? Well, I have seriously severe sleep apnea, so... but the diagnosis came as a surprise to me, because I never DID think this. But sure enough, did a sleep study, and in just one hour's time, I stopped breathing like what, 30 times? What's the last thing that scared the hell out of you? Stupid drivers. Do you have any life-changing plans within the next 6 months? I guess getting a job could be pretty life-changing. As of right now, how do you feel about your future? I'm very, very scared. Who is the last person you ran into unexpectedly? Hm, I dunno. Where does your grandma live? Both of mine are dead, but my paternal grandmother lived in Michigan, while my maternal one technically lived in Florida, but stayed in New York with her son's family a whole lot. I don't really know where she stayed more. Do you know how to read music? Not anymore. Does the song youâre currently listening to remind you of anyone special? Not so much the song, but the band. Motionless In White is one of his all-time favorites, so I can't listen to them without thinking of Jason. Sucks because they've been becoming one of MY favorites, too, so I listen to them a lot. If the person who has hurt you the most, said they were in love with you, would you believe them? I'd tell him he was in a love with a person who no longer exists. It's impossible for him to be in love with me now when he doesn't know how much I've changed. If Facebook made you pay would you still use it? Ha, no. Have you ever been recorded on film without your permission? Not that I know of? Tell me about your last boyfriend? He's a wonderful person. He's been there for me without fail since we became friends in high school band, and he is SO fucking funny. He's always cared a lot about me, and I care a lot about him, just not in the same way he does me. He's like my big brother. Are your parents racist? My dad definitely is. What is your least favorite subject in school? Math and economics both sucked. Have you ever been involved in a custody battle before? Almost certain no. I'm pretty sure Dad didn't fight for custody at all, but it could've been something Mom just never told me. Have you ever babysat a newborn baby before? NOOOOOOOOOOOOO. I NEVER could. Do you have any siblings you neglect? .-. As a kid, did you ever go to camp? I went to Vacation Bible School, if that counts. Did your parents ever let you play in the pits of those multicolored balls? Yeah, until that big news story about a dirty needle pricking a child. Have any of your siblings ever had a crush on your significant other? Not to my knowledge. I highly doubt it. What do you usually order at Taco Bell, if you go there? Cheese quesadilla with fiesta potatoes. Rarely a pair of those cinnamon ball thingies. Ever consider a sex change? Nah. Do you eat whip cream straight out of the can? EW no. I hate the texture of whipped cream. What do you think of popcorn? Loooove. Have you ever dated any of your friendsâ ex? No. Well, it's funny, Rachel (both Juan's and Jason's ex) and I are friends now, but definitely weren't at the time of us being together. Have you ever gone out with someone even though one of your friends liked that person first? If yes, did you feel bad? If no, were you tempted to? No. Would you rather be a rich musician, or a rich actor? Musician. What was the last charity you donated to? I don't recall. Did you like to collect frogspawn as a kid? I've told the "my friends and I saved hundreds of tadpoles" story enough times, so for this question, I'll just talk about when I would go fishing with Dad as a kid. Back then, if I got bored of actually fishing, I would walk along the riverbank and try to catch tadpoles and minnows in my hands. It was soooo fun to Kid Brittany. Do you walk fast or slow? I walk pretty damn slow. Can you juggle with more than two items? I can't juggle, period. Do you like jalapenos? Yeah! Do you like kiwis? Yessss, I love kiwi! Does anyone in your family go deer or bird hunting? Who is it anyway? I don't know if she still does, but my little sister used to go deer hunting with a friend.
Are you saving up for anything right now? What? Yeah, my pet snake's 40 gallon terrarium. What sort of things do you have bookmarked in your internet browser? It's quite diverse, but I think I mostly have templates for specific character profiles. Have you ever snuck in to a theater/dance/bar etc? No, I'm a good noodle. If given the chance, would you go to Ireland? Certainly! It's beautiful there. If you have a cat, does it ever âconverseâ with you? Oh, ABSOLUTELY. When I talk to him, he sure does try to answer me and it's the cutest thing, ha ha. Have you ever tried those electric toothbrushes? Yeah, thatâs what I use. Has anyone told you that they wanted to marry you/were planning on it/etc? Yeah, guess he changed his mind. Name one of your exâs motherâs names? Virginia. Does your favorite song have a meaning? BIG TIME. Have you ever written or received a suicide note? I've written one. .-. What is the worst thing a child has ever done to you while you were babysitting? When I was changing her diaper, she got up and ran around naked in the house. ;-; Do you own a nightgown? No. If you could get any pet right now, what would you get? i. want. my. tarantula. Have you ever actually been stuffed into a locker? No. That is just such a TV trope that I've never even heard of happening irl. Do you/did you decorate the inside of your locker at school with stuff? I only had a locker in middle school, and I believe I didn't. I didn't want one in HS. Whatâs the coolest thing youâve made with Legos? I was never a Legos kid; I played with Lincoln Logs. Do you want to get pregnant right now? Fuck no, man. Or ever. Have you ever housed a friend for a long period of time because they had no place to live? No. If you have a favorite comedian, have they ever been in a movie? I don't have one, really. Are there any books you want to read? Besides the series I'm reading, I want to read The Testaments by Margaret Atwood, but idk if I'll ever get to it, really. If you have younger siblings, are you very protective of them? We don't have a close relationship, but I am nevertheless. If you have older siblings, are they very protective of you? Not really, it seems. First letter of the names of everyone you have kissed? J, T, D, S. Do you like going to school sports games? No, I hated it. When Ash was a cheerleader, Mom made me go, and I was never happy about it. Have you ever worn your boyfriendâs clothes? An ex-boyfriend's, yeah. Did you get into your momâs makeup when you were a kid? I don't think I did? Do you want anything pierced? Ugh, a lot of places. The last time you washed your hair, did you use conditioner? I never do. Has your partner ever accused you of cheating when you actually didnât? I've never been accused of cheating. Has anyone ever called you stuck-up? No. I'm quite the opposite. Have you been diagnosed with any mental disorders? Too many, really. What are you doing this summer? Nada. Do you still watch MTV? I never did. Have you ever spent the night with the last person you kissed? Yes. Whatâs the dress code for your job? Do you like it? I'm unemployed. Does your job allow piercings or tattoos? ^, and this might sound stupid, but I wouldn't work at a job that didn't. Especially tattoos. No job is stopping me from doing things that improve my self-esteem and body image, particularly when I LOATHE my body. If a little bit of art makes me feel better about myself? Nobody is stopping me. What are some trends you dislike that everyone seems to love? "Crocs. Whyyyy?" <<<< THIS. First people hated them, now they love them??? They're hideous as shit. If you got married and then got divorced, would you want to re-marry? I don't really know. How often do you use lotion? Not NEARLY enough for someone with skin as dry as mine. Do you donate your old stuff to Goodwill? If so, what was the last thing you donated? Yeah. Mom recently brought some old toys, I think? How weight conscious are you? You have no fucking idea. Rent a movie or go see one in theaters? I prefer going to a theater. I enjoy the experience. Whatâs the biggest personality trait turn-off for a potential partner? Probably being an explosive/volatile person. I can't with that. Would you ever go on a birth control pill? I already am to regulate my period and tame the cramps. And if I was sexually active, I absolutely would want to be on it. What's your favorite late night tv show? I donât have one. At high school do or did you participate in Spirit Week? No. Do you have a favorite vocalist? Who? Queen's Freddie Mercury will probably always top the list. If you have a favorite photographer, can you describe their work? I don't have a favorite photographer. Surprisingly. Are sex and sexual activities something you enjoy? If it's with someone I'm in love with and am in the mood, sure. What is one aspect of your life that did not turn out as you expected? I did NOT expect to reach 25 like... *gestures at self* this. What is one thing stopping you from becoming a veterinarian? I could never handle euthanizing pets and watching the families' hearts break. How long have you lived in the house you live in? Not even a year. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder? I'm definitely sadder. Especially today. Do you like Subway? I do. Have you ever seen a volcano? No. Have you ever found a spider on your bed? Yes. It's the scariest shit when one skitters across your blanket, because like, you LEAST expect it to happen in the comfort of your own bed. Are you satisfied with the way your life is right now? Not even remotely, if I'm being honest. I'm at a real low. When was the last time you ate at Burger King? Years ago, when I was a vegetarian and went there for the veggie burger. How often do you cry? lol a lot Ever had a crush on a teacher? No. Can you wire a plug? ... I don't even know what you mean by "wire a plug," so obviously no lmfao. Where were you when you got your first period? Well I think I actually *started* at school, but I noticed when I got home. Can you drive? I mean I'm capable, but I'm an incredibly anxious, overly passive, and just generally terrified driver. I'm so scared of when I finally get new glasses and therefore a new permit... but I have to get used to driving. Living where I do, public transportation is very, very limited, and I just can't have people driving me places the rest of my life. Exercise or healthy eating? I sadly hate exercising SO much. I'd rather eat healthy. Did you play Red Rover when you were a child? Yeah. Are you more attracted to men or women? This can actually vary with time, which I originally thought was weird but is apparently normal for some bisexual individuals. There are spans where I feel more sexual attraction to men, and then other times women. Has anyone ever called you rich? God no, I am so far from it. What makes you feel beautiful? Nothing. Are you considered a very sensitive person? I'm way too sensitive for my own good. Have you ever told someone you never wanted to speak to them again? Yes, my dad. I regret that letter I sent him so, so much. I honestly don't know how he can treat me with so much love after the shit I said. If you could watch any TV series right now, what would it be? I am... astonishingly behind on Meerkat Manor: Rise of the Dynasty. I know, seriously incredible. I just don't watch TV, man. It's strange, I'm into the show, of course I am, I just... don't like sitting myself in front of a television and purely watching it. I'll catch up, though. Do you grind your teeth, and if so, why do you do it? No. But it's not like people have a reason they grind their teeth... they just do. Do you feel the need to rant about anything right now? If so, go for it. I could, but I'm not going to. It'll just upset me. Do you have a friend named Nick? Whatâs his favourite food? My sister's husband's name is Nick, but he is definitely not my friend. I can't stand his bigoted, sexist, misogynistic, homophobic, racist ass. I don't know or care what his favorite food is. What are you listening to? I'm re-watching Gab and Sinow play Resident Evil 5. People can say all they want about RE5, but I love it. Do you prefer waffles or pancakes? Waffles, but only if they're still soft enough to not be considered crunchy. I prefer them because I can put peanut butter on them, and the grooves catch the syrup instead of just absorbing it all like pancakes. Do you prefer non-diet or diet soda? I don't/can't drink diet sodas because the artificial sweetener gives me a KILLER headache. Are you craving anything right now? You guys have no idea how badly I want Taco Bell for whatever reason. Which word did you say first, mama or dada? The latter. What was your first petâs name? So, there's three answers to this. I was born into the family while we had a collie named Trigger, but I have absolutely zero memory of her. She passed when I was too young. Our first family pet that I clearly remember was Chance, our rescued cat. My first *personal* pet was either a guinea pig named Squeak or Chinese water dragon named Shadow. I can't remember who came first. Who was your best friend in elementary? It changed with the years, but I can say the three biggies were Brianna, Kim, and Quiata. Who was your favorite teacher in high school? Probably Coach Collie. He was so wise, kind, funny... He was all-around just wonderful and taught so many life lessons. When you go to a restaurant, do you have a go-to dish? Always. What is the best part of your most ordinary day? Waking up and doing my first sweep of the Internet before I get bored outta my fucking senses. Do you read any web comics? No.
Do you drink bottled water? Yeah, but like any water, it has to be COLD. Not room temperature. Not a tad chilly. I mean cooooold. When did you last use a straw? Earlier. I have a metal straw I use to drink water with because I drink faster through a straw, and with it being water, of course I want to try to drink as much as I can when I actually choose to drink water. Have you ever tackled someone to the ground? No. Do you know anyone who lies to make themselves look more interesting? My former best friend did that. She was an online friend, so it made it easy. I finally caught on and called her out on it, and then she just totally dipped. Do you like to sing? Not that much, honestly. Like sometimes I feel like it, sure, but not frequently. Are your parents in good health? No, not really. Have you ever been a caregiver to a sick/disabled relative? No. I feel bad saying it, but I know I never could be. I could NOT clean another human being. It's one of the bajillion reasons I'm not having kids. Do you like to take naps during the day? "Like" isn't the right word. I just... need to. Most days, there is NO way I can make it 'til night without one. What movie was your favorite to see in the movie theater? Even though it was sincerely a sucky movie, I really enjoyed watching Silent Hill: Revelation because I saw the 3D version, plus the hype over my favorite franchise getting a new movie was just very exciting. Favorite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle character? I was never into that. Ever watched The Blair Witch Project? Yes, and I positively adore it. I genuinely think it's a genius horror movie, never showing, but telling through other methods. Have a favorite AC/DC song? Probably "You Shook Me All Night Long." Are you good at selling candy for those fundraiser things? Omg nooooo I HATED doing that shit, especially when some amount of sales were like, required for whatever bullshit reason. I hate hate hate advertising to people. My parents always bought them instead. Have you ever had a crush on someone too old for you? No. Well, besides James Hetfield, ha ha. What's your favorite Dr. Suess quote? I don't know enough quotes to have one. If you were to have wings, what would you want them to look like? Dark and dragon-esque with lots of rips and tears in them... but not enough to stop me from flying, ha ha. Have you ever broken up with someone to find you want them back later? No. Has anyone ever dared you to eat a chili pepper? Did you do it? No. Have you ever tried Thai food? No. Have you ever watched Avatar? The TV show, not the movie. I've seen I think one season with Sara so far? I actually quite enjoy it. What's your cellphone's signature for text? WOW this survey is ancient. If you smoke marijuana, what is your preferred or typical method? I don't smoke it. Do you often take painkillers? I dunno about "often," but headaches to the point I take something aren't rare for me. Do you wish you were in a relationship? I mean yes, but I know it's for the better I'm not. Have you ever been to the ER? Many times. Do you ever feel guilty eating meat? I feel extremely guilty. I try not to think about it. Where have you lived for the most part of your life? Eastern NC. How old are you? 25. What are you listening to at the moment? Powerwolf came out with a new album, so I've been bingeing the shit out of some songs, ha ha. Right now it's "Blood For Blood." Do you watch WWE Raw? Ew, no. I have NEVER gotten the appeal of wrestling. Just like... why????? Do you dye your hair? Nowhere near regularly. :/ I haven't had it dyed in a very long time, and I hate it. I love colored hair. We just can't afford that expense on something so little. My hair does NOT take dye easily, so we have to have a professional do it, and that isn't exactly cheap. Have you ever lived in a different country that the one youâre living in? No. Which of your parents will you see next? I live with my mother, so. Have you fallen asleep in school? Not in class, no. In college when I would be in the library between classes, though, I've dozed before. Have you ever been hospitalized? Yes, but not for physical issues. Do you make fun of obese people? You're talking to someone who is. So obviously no, and you're a piece of fucking shit if you do. Do you have an innie or an outtie? Innie. Have you ever tried to headbang? No. Even as a metalhead, I don't get it, man. You're asking for a headache. Do you own any Converse? What do you think of them? I have a few and like them. Have you ever started a rumor? No. Have you ever been in a position of authority? I mean, I'm an admin on two sites, so I guess? Were your ancestors royalty? Yeah, I'm related to one of the Queen Victorias, I believe. I just know she had a thing for beheading people, ha ha. What do you like on your pasta/noodles? Sauce, butter, grated cheese, etc.? Just tomato sauce and meatballs, really. Who is the most ungrateful person you know? What makes them this way? My fucking ex-best friend. You could never, ever give her enough and she just... blegh. She was so fucking ungrateful for everything people did for her. It was just never enough. Do you like cherry Pepsi? I like cherry Coke. I don't like Pepsi. Have you ever held an uncommon pet before (ex: mouse, spider, snake, lizard)? I've held snakes, rats, lizards, and a tarantula. Who did you last play truth or dare with? No clue. Have you ever camped out somewhere for an event the next day? No. When were you the saddest in your life? 2016. Do you know anyone, personally, who is in an abusive relationship? Are you? No. If you have siblings, have they moved out or do they still live with you? Yeah, they've moved out. What was the most unique pet youâve owned? I'd probably say my champagne ball python. A lot of people don't even know ball python morphs exist, so seeing her might surprise some people. Do you like Doritos? Yeah. When you buy clothes, do you always try them on first? No, but I need to learn how to... I just HATE doing it. Have you used bugspray recently? No. Do you enjoy swimming in the ocean? Yesssss. Have you ever tried to sew or knit anything? No. Has something ever happened to you that seemed like it was from a movie? Most of Jason's and my relationship felt like one. Hence why the breakup felt so sudden and just impossible. Do you find yourself to be a believer in love at first sight? Not even remotely. Is there something you want to do, that you swear you will, no matter what? Spread Teddy's ashes in Yellowstone. I promised him. Are you longing for the day that youâll be an adult? (If youâre not already) I am an adult, and it sucks. Whatâs something youâve vowed to never eat? Any meat that was hunted. Have you ever owned a diary/journal with a lock and key? I don't believe so. When you were little, what movie did you watch over and over? Mostly Disney films, like The Lion King and Finding Nemo. Are you deathly allergic to anything? No. Do you know what you want for your dream house? Nope. I honestly don't really care about having a "dream" house to begin with. I just need one that's cozy to me and gets the job done. Have you ever seen the movie The Notebook? Many, many times. It's my favorite romance movie. Have you ever used the photo editing site âPicnikâ? No, not to my memory. Has an animal ever taken a strong dislike to you? Our old dog Bentley didn't like me all that much, and I didn't like him, either. Have you ever attempted to cut your own hair? No. Do you have a lucky or special coin? No. Do you love ice cream cake more than normal cake? No. Do you check your email daily? No. Is there anyone you know whoâs in any way paralyzed? No. For you, do you commonly feel more jealousy or envy? Envy. Do you rely on the heads/tails flipping of a coin sometimes for decisions? No. Has a laptop ever burned your legs? Yes, actually. For a while many years ago, my old laptop left subtle burn marks on my legs. Anyoneâs birthday coming up soon? My nephew's is next month. Do you like Laffy Taffy? I doooo. Are your biceps at all noticeable? Ha, no. Have you ever seen a walrus? Maybe when I went to SeaWorld as a kid? Did you ever have one of those easy bake ovens as a kid? Yup. If given the opportunity, would you ride on a camel? Sure. What flavor cake do you like for your birthday? Red velvet. Have you ever had a job you loved? Nope. Have you ever been in a building that was on fire? Yikes, no. Have you ever written a poem for someone? Two people. Have you been best friends with someone of a different race? Yes. Who is the person you are closest to that youâve met online? Sara. What was the name of the first porcelain doll you got? I was very afraid of dolls as a kid, so I obviously didn't have one. Do you sell any products? If so, what? I mean, I'm a wannabe photographer that sells my service. Owls or peacocks? Owls. Lions or horses? Lions. Can you still fit into kidâs clothes? Hell no. What devotional do you read, if any? None. What do you make wishes on? I only ever do for the tradition of it on my birthday. I don't believe in the magic of wishes, though. Have you ever made a recipe you found in a magazine? No. Are you bitter about anything? Probably always will be. Have you ever been in a love triangle? No. How bad are your hangovers? Never had one. Have you ever broken a bone? If so, what was the cause of it? Yes. It was identified as a fracture, but a break and a fracture are technically like the same thing, so. At a skating rink, I fell and landed on my hand so the top of it nearly touched my arm, so my wrist got FUCKED. I will never, ever forget the severity of the pins and needles feeling and just the experience in general. It hurt so goddamn bad. Is this the best year of your life? Fuck no.
#in other words i don't feel like thinking up song lyrics for three surveys at once lmao#survey#surveys#random questions
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little ghost boy || [JATP Agere/CGLRE]Â âSomeone Who Caresâ- Chapter 10
A/N: This is sad, warning for Reggie kinda talking badly about himself. This is an important plot point that needed to happen at some point, might as well get it over with. I hope you guys like it!
--
"Why're you pouting, Little Rockstar?"
Luke, Julie, and Alex sat side by side on the couch in the studio, Reggie previously busying himself with coloring at the coffee table. Julie let him use her old art supplies, crayons and markers and stickers, and do whatever he wanted. Now, he sat, tapping a red crayon rhythmically against his paper, holding it between two fingers.
With every tap, a red dot appeared on the paper. He seemed bored, and pouty, as Luke pointed out. He looked up to see all three of his friends staring at him.
"Not pouting." he mumbled, adjusting his crayon in his hand, interrupting the rhythm, Â and drawing a little heart with it on the edge of the paper.
"Yeah you are. What's up, Flower?" Julie asked.
Alex looked at Julie curiously. "Flower?" he questioned.
"Pwetty as a flower," Reggie explained in his childish voice, not replying to Julie's question. He bit at his lip, switching out his crayon to another color.
Alex nodded, "That's cute."
Julie ignored Alex, still waiting for a response from the toddler-minded boy. Reggie looked up, "I'm fine," he whined, only pouting even more. Luke sighed, leaning forward a bit towards him.
"Come here, Reg," he ordered, patting his lap a bit. Reggie hesitantly jumped up, making his way over nervously, and sitting on his lap. He settled, feeling better as Luke wrapped his arms around his waist, holding him close. "You stopped pouting," Luke noticed. "Did you just want cuddles?"
Reggie blushed a bit, nodding as he casted his eyes down to Luke's hands around his waist. "You could've just asked, baby." Luke sighed, kissing the side of his head. Alex watched the whole scene, smiling a bit. Luke and Julie were really good with Reggie.
Julie and Reggie had a different bond then Luke and Reggie did, you could tell. Both were affectionate, and close. But still different. Reggie seemed to prefer playing with Luke, but usually requested affection from Julie. Julie was usually the one to correct his behavior if he needed it, while Luke was better at praise and compliments.
To Alex, someone who took care of Willie alone, it was interesting to see them work together.
Reggie and Willie hadn't talked yet, but there was a playdate scheduled for the next day. It had been around a week since Reggie told Alex, and not much had happened. There was no need for a long educational conversation on age regression, because Willie had already done that for him.
Reggie had been big besides a few quick moments the whole week due to an gig that took place the day prior, focusing on band rehearsals and such. This is where Reggie's internal struggle began.
When he found out and processed that Luke had cancelled band practice for him, he immediately felt bad about how much time Luke and Julie gave up for him. Luke and Julie had other, better things to do besides take care of him. Reggie used to go long periods of time without regressing, he didn't need it.
If Luke and Julie really knew what was going on, there'd be a lecture about repressing regression waiting for him. It wasn't like he was planning on telling him.
Today, Reggie didn't even count on slipping. He woke up small the morning after the gig, the regression probably being a result of a combination of things. He had just worked hard for a week or so to make sure everything turned out perfect. He also switched from almost daily regression to none at all, so eventually, it happened without his control.
Reggie didn't seem to realize it, but Julie and Luke were kinda relieved when he regressed. They had been kind of worried about the sudden decline of time in littlespace, and they missed taking care of him if they were honest.
But this internal struggle, of feeling guilty for needing help and extra care, was what caused Reggie's weird behavior. He wanted cuddles and attention but he didn't wanna waste anyone's time. But he was already small and being big felt so hard, and he knew that Luke and Julie weren't gonna leave him alone and not take care of him while he was little.
Well, there was one exception to the "not leaving him alone" rule. Nap time.
It wasn't a requirement that Reggie took naps every day. But sometimes, if he got sleepy, one of his friends would lay him down and come back half an hour later to wake him up. Sometimes, they'd stay with him and they'd cuddle. Others, he'd be left alone with a stuffie and lots of blankets while Luke helped Julie make herself a snack.
And if Reggie woke up before they came back to check on him, he'd play with a stuffie quietly until someone did. Today, when he woke up in Julie's bedroom, he did something different.
His decision was impulsive and not thought through. One moment, he was sitting in Julie's bed, feeling bad about everything. And the next, he was in CD Sundays, surrounded by a few toys.
How had he gotten here?
--
Reggie tried to play by himself. He really did. He used to do it all the time.
A few toy cars would entertain him for hours. But now, it seemed that occupying himself without a caregiver was impossible. But he kept trying.
He didn't need them. He was only wasting their time.
He got frustrated eventually, throwing the red toy car to the ground with a huff. A million questions seemed to take over his mind at once, overriding the childish, innocent, and playful thoughts that usually occupied his mind while he was small. Â
Why wasn't this fun? When did he start crying? Why did he want a hug from Mama and Daddy so much right now?
These were to many questions for a baby. To many emotions. He needed them, he realized. Everything felt like to much without them. Taking care of himself was harder then he remembered.
--
"Where's Reggie?" Julie's panicked voice sounded as she ran out of her room and down the stairs.
"In your room?" Alex questioned from his spot on the living room couch, sitting up. Julie shook her head,
"He's gone. Is he hiding?"
Luke jumped up, running his fingers through his hair. "Maybe he woke up early and went to the studio?" He looked to Alex, who nodded.
"I'll check. You two, search the house."
They all agreed on roles, splitting up in an effort to find the little.
But when they came up empty handed, Julie became panicky, while Luke grew frustrated. Alex paced around the room, while Julie searched it, and Luke sat on the bed. "Who the hell decided to give a little teleportation powers?"
"An idiot." Julie replied. She had one thought lingering in the back of her mind that made her scared. What if Caleb got him?
Yeah, it was unlikely that the evil ghost appeared in her house, took only Reggie, and left. But it was technically a possibility. A scary one, at that.
"He could be anywhere," Alex sighed. Luke ran his fingers through his hair, pausing.
"Technically, yes," He began, sitting up all the way. "But I know one place he used to go to while little." he realized, jumping up.
"I'm gonna go check somewhere. You guys just stay here in case he comes back, okay?"
Julie and Alex nodded, watching Luke poof out.
--
"Baby!"
Reggie glanced up from his curled up position when he heard Luke's voice, revealing his teary face. He made grabby hands immediately, "Dada!" he whined.
Just like Luke had done around a month ago, he ran over and dropped down to sit next to him. He hugged him close, holding him in his arms tightly. "You scared the hell out of us, you know that?" he pulled away, taking a deep breath and he looked over Reggie's face.
"Sowwy, didn' mean to scawe anyone." Reggie mumbled with a sniffle, rubbing at his face. Add that to the list of thinks he felt guilty for.
"What are you doing here?" Luke questioned, looking around. He noticed the toy cars and his stuffed animal scattered over the floor, looking back to him. "You disappeared during your nap and came here? Why?"
"Felt bad. Didn' wanna waste your time." Reggie explained.
"What? You're not wasting my time-" he cut himself off, pausing. "I love taking care of you, and so does Julie. How long have you felt like this?"
"Y-you cancelled band practice," his voice became a little clearer as he managed to force himself into a slightly bigger headspace so that he could talk. "You and Juwie give up lots of time for me. You shouldn't have to."
"I know we don't have to, we do this because we want to. And because we care about you." Luke sighed, cupping the side of his face and wiping his tears with his thumb. "And you came here to be little by yourself?"
Reggie nodded. "I used to play by my m'self, a-and take care of m'self," he explained, bringing his thumb up to his lips. "B-but it's to hard, Daddy." he cried, his eyes glossing over as he began to sniffle and sob again. Any 'big' part of his mind slipped away as he cried, reaching out for Luke. Â Luke opened his arms once more, allowing him to bury his head in his chest and snuggle into him.
"Shh, baby. I know," he swayed in place a bit, rubbing his back as he tried to help calm him down. "Little boys shouldn't have to take care of themselves. That's what Mommy's and Daddy's are for, Rockstar."
"I wish you would've talked to us before things got this bad," he spoke as Reggie pulled away, wiping at his eyes again.
"m' sowwy." Reggie muttered, bringing his thumb to his lip again. He felt a lot better now. He wasn't a waste of time, or annoying. He wasn't getting in the way of anything. Luke and Julie simply cared about him, so they liked caring for him.
That's just how it worked.
"Don't be. If this is anyone's fault, it's mine, for not talking to you when I thought something was wrong." Luke sighed, seemingly upset with himself. Reggie tilted his head curiously. "After regressing with Alex for the first time, you stopped regressing completely and avoided talking about it at all costs. Something felt off and I should've asked about it." Luke explained.
"It's okays!" he assured, settling his thumb into his mouth and speaking around it.
"Still. Talk to me next time you're feeling bad, okay? Or talk to Julie, just don't keep it inside. It'll build up to something like this eventually."
Reggie nodded.
"We're gonna clean up these toys and then go home, okay? We'll have a movie night and cuddle and talk more about this later, alright?"
Another nod.
They did exactly what Luke said they would. They picked up the toys and went home. Julie and Alex fussed over Reggie, hugging him and asking him if he was okay a million times over before helping Luke set up the laptop to play a movie for him. Luke explained to Julie what happened, and they agreed to actually talk to him about it later.
For now, they just needed some family time. Then when he was big, they'd talk it over. And the next day, they'd go have fun in the park.
Sometimes, things didn't always work the way Reggie wanted them to. He never wanted anyone to know about his regression. For a long time, he didn't want to be a little. Sometimes, the things he viewed as bad turned out good.
Luke finding out about him led to him feeling safer regressing, and adjusting to a cute family dynamic they were slowly building. Being little made him happy. Hiding in the CD Shop taught him that his friends cared about him, no matter how insecure or anxious he got.
And that lesson was one of the most important things he could learn. Remembering that he wasn't annoying, and that he had people there for him, was important. Not just important for him, but for anyone.
You have someone there for you, just like Reggie. Someone who cares about you, flaws and all. Â And if you think you don't, then you'll find them soon.
Reggie was just lucky enough to find those people early on.
--
A/N: Please leave feedback in the reblogs/replies/my askbox! Do you like how I wrote this situation? This whole book is about Reggie adjusting to and accepting his headspace, and this was an important step. He knew that he had his friends, but he realized how much they really cared in this chapter.
also I'm pretty sure this chapter makes the word count of this fic like 20,000 so that's cool!
#jatp#julie and the phantoms#julie molina#luke patterson#reggie peters#alex mercer#jatp littlespace#little!reggie#little!reggie jatp#cg!luke jatp#cg!julie jatp#jatp agere#jatp age regression#julie and the phantoms agere
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Enough is enough!
Headcanon is okay but itâs NOT okay to headcanon falsehoods to make other people in a fandom look like perverts.
This below image was shared by @sandman-headcanons from another blog. And though I agree with the basic message, the reason for it existing is rather disturbing and attacks a fandom because of a very bad misinterpretation passed off as headcanon. Â
 That image was created by someone who is part of a faction of very new Sandman fans who have decided Daniel is still a child, Morpheus is his father. And anyone who says otherwise MUST be a pervert. That is the problem.
There are people âheadcanoningâ (And thoroughly believing) that Daniel (the character in that image) is still a child and Morpheus is his father and therefor imagining Daniel doing anything grown up i.e. having a relationship- must be a pervert. Â
Imagining / headcanoning that Daniel is a child and Morpheus is his father would be okay (though contradicting of actual established canon...) except they have deemed that anyone who images Morpheus and Daniel (as canonical adults) together- even just in an intellectual / emotional relationship is a pedophile who is pro-incest.
They are treating any Sandman fan who doesnât see Daniel as a perpetual toddler as a potential pedophile.
I was even told that I âship a three-year-old with some old dudeâ by a complete stranger who isnât familiar with Sandman (but took someone elseâs word about it) because of this post that I wrote over a year ago. Â
https://thenightling.tumblr.com/post/171750432893/why-ive-started-the-crackship-of-morpheus-and
(Ironically one of the first likes of that post is Neil Gaiman, himself...)
And I was harassed for refusing to delete that post.
Itâs NOT a sexual post! Â I donât post that sort of thing anyway.
Enough is enough!
Do I really need to tag Neil Gaiman, himself, to ask him to please ask you to refrain from righteously harassing and LYING about half the Sandman fandom!?Â
If you canât grasp that Daniel isnât a baby and Morpheus is not his Daddy, go ask Neil Gaiman about it. You know heâs here on Tumblr. Maybe Neil Gaiman can explain it better than I can. I have tried. Â
 Thereâs a limit to what counts as âheadcanonâ especially if the headcanon requires contradicting the lore and slandering half the fandom.Â
1. We are literally told they are both aspects of Dream of The Endless. Itâs like Odin and Mr. Wednesday in American Gods. Morpheus, himself, compared it to facets of a jewel.
 Personification shards of the same being. This is a major plot point for The Sandman: Overture to even work.  This isnât my âinterpretation.â Itâs a literal requirement for the story to even happen. Itâs the only way the scene where Morpheus meets the other aspects of Dream works and the only way Morpheus can mistake the cat creature as another aspect of Dream.Â
These aspects of Dream can exist so autonomously from each other (despite technically being the same entity) that Morpheus was tricked into thinking the cat creature was another aspect of Dream.
  The Sandman: Overture cannot happen without what Iâm saying being taken as canon.  Itâs not merely my âinterpretationâ as some of you seem to think.
The very reason Daniel knows what to do and when in The Sandman: Overture is because he has eight billion years of knowledge and memory.
  2..  Time moves in Vertigo at the same speed as the real world. The baby Rose was pregnant with in The Sandman: The Wake (when Daniel became the dream lord) is the woman on this cover in Danielâs arms.  She is canonically in her mid-twenties now.
Hell, simply even mentioning who Ivyâs great-grand-parent is has gotten some people accused of being pro-incest. But... Desire being the great grandparent is canon. We have no say in the matter.  Thatâs the established lore. acknowledging it doesnât mean you agree with it.Â
3. When Daniel was conceived MORPHEUS WAS STILL IN THE GLASS CAGE!  He cannot literally be his father. Weâre directly told in issue 12 that Lyta was pregnant for years.  YEARS.  Morpheus had only been free for about eleven months at that point.  Itâs simple math. Â
This isnât headcanon anymore. This is harassment based on false information and it needs to stop, now!
Tagging those who may want to see this nonsense in action.
@zal001 @sorry-for-the-chocolate @missghostlymoonshadow @vagaryhexxx, @deathlyendless @endlessemptynight @treebrooke79 @deathlyendless @good-times-bad-food @watertribe-enyaâ @everthewildeoneâ @lamb90â @artwinsdrawsâ @winterbirdybuddyâ @jr4catsâ
  This is what Iâm talking about.
I do NOT condone pedophilia. I am strongly against pedophilia and incest.Â
I never will condone it. But you need to stop twisting a false narrative in order to pretend half the fandom are perverts!
Ironically some of these same people headcanoning that Daniel is still a child (thirty years into his ruling of The Dreaming) and bullying, shaming, and antagonizing anyone in the fandom who doesnât share this canon-ignoring interpretation, are now discussing erotic fantasies about the new character, Ruin. A literal new-born Nightmare.  Adult body and adult mind, yes, but technically heâs actually a newborn. Â
By the way, Neil Gaiman had also liked this post, wishing Daniel a happy 30th / 10 Billionth birthday so...
https://thenightling.tumblr.com/post/190343770213/happy-30th-10-billionth-birthday-to-daniel-hall
You can access Neilâs liked list from his blog.
#The Sandman fandom#The Sandman fan dumb#We could really use a little help right now#This is getting bad#This was such a sweet little fandom too
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At this point Iâm just watching the seasons to keep the momentum going after two great (and one flawed but still okay) seasons. With Friday being a Bank Holiday, I might get the rest of the pre-11 stuff wrapped up by the weekend. But enough of the future, how about the season I watched, Sons of Garmadon?
It had a lot to live up to based on its reputation, and Iâm happy to report that it delivers on what it sets out to do. Issues with the season are fairly minor tribbles, but thatâs something I can cover in the notes.
-Hoo boy, letâs get this out of the way; the movie did fucking wonders for Lloyd Garmadon. Spending like five seasons stuck to his blander âchosen one must learnâ characterisation, this season gives him a very long overdue overhaul into a more modern chosen one protagonist who is way more entertaining to watch. Bonus points for having a look I can take seriously now...yeah, sorry, but the Anakin hairpiece with the strange approach to voice commitment never did for me, even as it became the norm for what I was viewing. -To be honest, his teammates get some good material here too. Some more than others (Zane especially has a really good little arc where he gets to show his more calculating side. Coleâs arc is okay but I donât feel it quite nails the landing as well), but they all get chance to banter and have character moments, which is mainly what I come into shows for as opposed to straight up development constantly. Shout outs to Jay who has small moments, but important ones that do really good for his character (I could go into why Lloyd and Jay make the most sense as leads...probably after my season watching is done). I also like the callback to a character moment he had in season 3. Also this finally feels like the writers are sticking to characterisation, this season mostly keeping what Hands of Time did with them. Not so much design-wise, but Iâve made it clear many times that I prefer the new designs to old. Also, I get to throw in Pixal as a main character now since sheâs clearly on the team full time. Sheâs good here too. -The dynamics get their own section just because I want to restate how I prefer the dynamic between Jay and Lloyd compared to Kai and Lloyd so far. Seriously, Jay seems to step up to bat for Lloyd more than Kai at this point. And yet no-one really seems to be interested in it within the fandom. -There wasnât really much in the way of side characters this season (I am aware that next season will change that). Misako was good for what little material she had, Wu was fun and actually became a solid character in his own right once he became a toddler, Dareth is solid and really gets to show his alternative way of helping out, and the police commissioner...eh, better than season 6 but Iâm still not big on him. -I can sum up Harumi in one sentence; Skylor but done better on every count (and also evil). Sheâs engaging when sheâs acting as the more humble Princess figure, and sheâs nicely hammy when sheâs unleashing her evil side. I can see why people would be into Lloyrumi with such a investing act (for the record, Iâm not). This all being said, those who say that Harumi had a point are missing one important detail; as much destruction has been caused with the ninjasâ close call; what alternative is there? I donât see anyone else stepping up to save Ninjago so it would have probably fully fallen a long time ago. And even with the Great Devourer, Lord Garmadon was channelling his good side to deliver a finishing blow, he still needed the ninja there. -We have three other villains and two of them are enjoyable. Ultra-Violet is committed to her crazy shtick and amusing, and Killow is definitely different to how I thought heâd be, but itâs a lot more enjoyable (especially when Garry Chalk is channelling every bit of his Sonic Underground Robotnik voice he can. Kind of like how Clancee was Ian James Corlett channelling a lot of his scrub monkey third class). Mr E can go rust though. -Unlike the other seasons which people cite as dark, this one feels like it does actually go there. Itâs not completely a dark season, mostly the end of Jade Princess and scenes between Game of Masks and Big Trouble, Little Ninjago. It was still pretty fun and light-ish hearted outside of that. -Weirdly enough, most of my quibbles are on the technical side. People cite this season as having the best animation...but I donât really see it. In terms of visuals itâs a step up, but the actual animation doesnât feel that different to Hands of Time. They learned to use flashier graphics everywhere. Which is probably why the intro is the way it is, and Iâm sorry but this is probably my least favourite intro. I canât appreciate the spectacle when focusing on anything is difficult to achieve. On top of that, there were still some glaring graphical fuck-ups (like when Cole is shown with the other ninja in a scene where he was captured, or when Lloyd was shown with green eyes in a shot despite being drained of power at that point), which arenât really any different to the ones Prime Empire has. -The pacing of the season wasnât entirely smooth, but unlike other seasons itâs not like one set issue. Itâs more like a concertina effect; it was very quick at first, then slows down, then speeds up again, then slows down, then finally hits an even tempo about halfway through. This is why I didnât mention the likes of Hutchins, the parents or the Mechanic before; because of the pace, you donât really get enough time to really get attached to them (doesnât help that the Mechanic has Alan Marriott doing the voice in his cameo, and man does it not fit compared to Skybound. Iâm glad when the Mechanic got more substantial stuff they went back to his original VA, that voice is so fun). -My other big thing is actually the complete continuity snarl thatâs Harumiâs backstory makes. Theyâve thrown in so many random events over the seasons but because of the sheer vagueness of the timescales it doesnât really break suspension of disbelief. But Harumiâs turn to darkness is clearly during the ending of season 1, which we have a much more tangible sense of time for. Harumi seems like sheâs about 8-10 then, the ninja seem like they were 14-15 then, Harumi seems like sheâs 15-18 now but the showrunner still insist that the ninja are teenagers? How does that work, the most generous allowance for time is five years, and that would barely make them still teenagers in season 8. Certainly donât believe they could be teenagers as of the most recent seasons. -On a completely different tangent, can we talk about the toilet humour? Yeah, itâs not like itâs never been there (thereâs been poop jokes, fart jokes, halitosis jokes, and who can forget that one utterly cringe scene in S3?), but Hands of Time and Sons of Garmadon do it in a way that just comes off as really weird compared to earlier toilet humour. Like, thereâs the implication by Jay in season 7 that Kai has issues with constipation, Coleâs truth tea dose forces him to say that he pees in the pool, and then thereâs Kai, right to Harumiâs face, all but saying that Jay has issues with peeing himself. Her reaction to it is fucking hilarious, but itâs still weird, even though knowing Vincent Tong he would totally do that.Â
Overall, this was a great season, and itâs clear to see how this became such a draw to the series (meaning in hindsight, LEGOâs method of dealing with the new style was pretty much a winner). The issues I have donât stop the quality being across the board. Aside from Possession, I think this may be a favourite season from the pre-11 stuff.Â
Next time, we effectively get the second part to this story. Yep, it ended in a cliffhanger so weâve hardly wrapped it up here. Time to see how the OG ninja and newer recruits handle themselves alone in Hunted.Â
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Sweet Disposition //CH
pairing: oc x calum
word count: 4k
warnings: fluff!!!! dad!sos
notes: OKAY. as promised yesterday, here is a quick follow up to the dad!sos origins fic i wrote. basically just 4k of Calum learning to be a dad. this is based entirely on Sweet Disposition by the Temper Trap. it is written in 6 different vignettes, each based on the 6 things mentioned in Sweet Dispositionâs chorus: a moment of love, a dream aloud, a kiss, a cry, our rights, our wrongs. feel free to read this as a stand alone
title: from Sweet Disposition by The Temper TrapÂ
Part 1
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A moment of love
âYou know what?â Beth said from a position behind Calum.
It was breakfast time, which meant Beth was scrambling eggs while Calum fed Lennon. They had only been living together for a month now, and there were a lot of adjustments he and Beth struggled with. Despite that fact, they had fallen easily into a comfortable routine for breakfast.
âYou are almost the perfect man. But youâre missing something.â From the way she kept her tone light, Calum knew it was nothing serious.
So, he kept his attention focused on his daughter, opening his mouth to signal Lennon to do the same. When Lennon mirrored his action, Calum placed the spoonful of Cheerios into her mouth.
âGood girl,â he cooed at his daughter. To Beth, he asked, âAnd what am I missing?â
âYou havenât seen any of my favorite early two thousands TV shows.â
Calum rolled his eyes, shaking his head mutely. He knew Beth wouldnât see the action with both their backs turned to each other, so he did it more for the benefit of Lennon. She giggled before opening her mouth for another spoonful. Calum obliged.
âI canât believe you remember that. We had that conversation three years ago.â
âI never forget a traumatic experience, Calum.â
He turned to look at her finally. She was partitioning the eggs, one plate for him, one plate for her. On each plate, she placed half the eggs, a slice of toast and half an avocado. As she came to the table, Calum took his plate from her. Lennon took over feeding herself, grabbing small slices of strawberries from a plate next to her, using her round fingers to drop them in her mouth one by one.
âLuckily for us, I know just how to fix it!â
Bethâs brilliant idea was a movie night. Well, technically a Bi-Weekly Early 00s Movie & TV Show Binge Watching Night, but Lennon and Calum both agreed that was too much of a mouthful, so they just called it a movie night.
The first of the movie nights happened on a Tuesday when Beth claimed her first early 00s show as a victim. It was The Powerpuff Girls - as revealed to him when Beth paraded Lennon into the kitchen wearing her brand new Powerpuff Girls pajama set. Lennon looked pleased with herself, her curly hair falling in waves messily as she strutted into the kitchen and placed a hand on her hip.
âOh, weâve got a model on our hands!â Calum exclaimed, and Lennon giggled softly at her father.
Eventually, they settled on the couch together, Beth a glass of wine in her hands, Calum with Lennon and a bucket of popcorn on his lap. They watched the first few episodes together, and Calum was struck by how animated his little girl was. She laughed and pointed and made observational comments as Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup kicked ass on screen. It was not the first time Calum noticed the way she seemed to be in constant motion â in fact, Calum knew it was a trait she got from Beth. Watching the both of them together for a full month meant that Calum could pinpoint which traits Lennon got from Beth, which she got from Calum, and which were all her own.
About halfway through the third episode, Lennon began to droop against Calum, her spirited motions giving way to her need for sleep. Enraptured, Calum watched as she laid her head against his chest, yawning and fighting the pull for a moment before finally closing her eyes. She had one hand gripping Calumâs shirt, the other slung halfway across his chest. Every now and then her hand or her eyelids would twitch as her body responded to something in her dreams. It took a full episode for Beth to notice that Lennon had fallen asleep on him.
âOh!â She exclaimed when she finally realized. âI didnât even notice she had fallen asleep. Iâll take her and get her ready for bed.â
Standing up, Beth was about to lean down and remove Lennon from Calumâs chest. But then Calum felt a deep pang in his heart, and he was struck by how much he did not want to let go of his daughter. Not just yet. He looked down at the toddler he had known for only a month and realized how much he loved her. No one had ever wormed their way into Calumâs jaded heart so quickly.
âItâs okay,â He said, standing up and repositioning Lennon in his arms. âIâll do it.â
Beth didnât complain â she took one look at the adoration in his eyes and nodded. âLet me know if you need any help.â
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A Dream Aloud
Just because Calum had a child to take care of didnât mean he could bail on coffee dates with Ashton. Or at least that was what Ashton informed him after the first couple of months he, Beth, and Lennon spent holed up from the outside world trying to get used to each other.
Calumâs response had been a resolute, âFuck off.â That is until Beth began complaining about how much she missed having time for herself. So, they came up with a compromise. Calum would go get coffee with Ashton at least once a week, and he would take Lennon with him. That way, Beth got at least an hour or two to reset from the demands of being a mother (and teaching Calum how to be a father).
Admittedly, Calum was nervous the first time he took Lennon out with Ashton on his own. There were some things about being a father that were not innate to him. He was ashamed to admit it. Naturally, he knew the basics â when she cried, he went to her; when she laughed, he laughed with her; when she got hurt, he took care of her. But that was where his instincts stopped. He wasnât always good at telling why she was crying, he was still figuring out what made her giggle, and whenever she got hurt, she only wanted Beth to take care of her.
When he explained all this to Beth, she had seemed so sure he would get the hang of it. Beth quickly became someone in his life that he did not want to let down. So, when she kissed him on the cheek and said, âCall me if you need me,â on the day of his first date with Ashton, Calum was determined not to need her, whatever the circumstances.
The day was tame as far as coffee dates went. They were at a small place in downtown LA that served both iced coffee and ice cream to indulge the two babies he was taking care of that day.
It was early morning, so the ice cream parlor was relatively empty. All three of them were standing in line behind a pair of girls who were holding hands, occasionally bumping shoulders, kissing, and all around taking their time in ordering. He and Ashton were having an in-depth conversation about a beat that Luke wanted to lay on one of their songs while they waited.
Then, it happened.
Lennon moved from her fatherâs side to glance in the display case at the varied flavor selection. When she found the one she wanted, she pulled at her dadâs hand to get his attention. Calum was so engaged in his discussion turned argument that he missed the first time that she said it.
She tugged at him and said a little louder, âDaddy.â
Calum immediately stopped speaking, inclining his head down, all his attention on his little girl. She had never called Calum that before. He thought it was a dream that would never see reality. There were so many times when he would hear the word âMommyâ from Lennon and be sure she would never call him the same.
âYes, baby?â he responded, but his voice came out hoarse. Rapidly blinking, he tried to keep the tears of joy at bay as he turned his attention to his daughter.
âWant chocolate!â She exclaimed, pulling them towards the direction of the display case. At that moment, Calum would have given her anything she wanted.
Later, he does cry as he relays the dayâs events to Beth. Through tears, he bites out, âSometimes I just feel so inadequate as a father.â
âNone of that matterâs Calum.â She was standing in between his legs, running her hand through his hair as his forehead rested gently against her stomach. âAll that matters is that you love her unconditionally. And I know Lennon thinks so. And she loves you just as much.â
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A Kiss
After the first few months, it got easier for Beth to leave Lennon with Calum. There were not only Calumâs parenting insecurities to work through. Beth had brought demons with her from New York, and they sometimes sent her into a depression so deep she refused to leave her bed much less the house. So, they always took the time to celebrate small victories: her first yoga class, when she started hanging out with Crystal again, and the day she decided to start taking classes and get her diploma to name a few.
Beth and Lennon had a simple ritual for parting ways. Anytime she made to leave, Beth would give Lennon a kiss, ruffle her hair, and they would repeat, âLove you, always.â
For a while, Calum only watched this exchange from the sidelines. He did most of the staying home, which worked out perfectly as Calum never felt particularly inspired to go out anyway. Not to mention, Calum began to love the days he spent bonding with his daughter. They hold out against getting a sitter for as long as possible, but one afternoon Calum had an awards show to attend, and Beth had a meeting with a college counselor, and they had no choice.
âMaybe, I just shouldnât go to the show.â Calum was worrying his lip as he watched Beth put on her earrings in front of the mirror in her room.
She caught his eyes through the mirror and shot him an unimpressed. âSheâs going to be fine Calum. Itâs only two hours between you leaving for to Ashtonâs to get ready and me getting home. And Ashtonâs is just next door!â
âIâm just worried.â This would be his first time leaving Lennon with someone other than Beth since they had moved to California. He realized it was easier for Beth as she had been leaving Lennon for work and other important emergencies since birth. Not due to negligence, of course, but rather from the dependence on others being a single mother demanded. Â
Beth sighed as she put on the matching earring. âI know, babe. Itâs hard the first time. But weâve vetted the sitter. We trust her. She will be fine.â
Calum still looked noticeably distressed from his position on Bethâs bed.
Beth sighed again
âOkay, how about this,â Beth began. âWhy donât you and the boys get ready here instead of at Ashtonâs? That way, you donât have to say goodbye until the last second. And then itâs only an hour between you saying goodbye to the sitter, and me coming home.â
Reluctantly, Calum agreed. He got dressed early, and he and Lennon sat on the floor watching all Lennonâs uncles get ready for the ceremony.
âYouâre pretty,â Lennon had cooed when Luke had finished smearing glitter over his eyelids and adding a slight red tint to his lips. Luke had beamed harder than he would receiving any award that night. Lennon also spent some time dancing to Nickelback with her Uncle Ash and laughing with her Uncle Mikey. By the time it was time to go, all four boys were feeling the reluctance that had overtaken Calum earlier.
âI will be sure to call Beth if anything goes wrong,â the sitter was saying as she held out her arm for Lennon. Calum held on to her for a moment, not wanting to give her over. From outside, he could hear car doors shut. All the boys had said their goodbyes and were already inside the vehicle.
âText me too,â he demanded. âIf anything goes wrong.â
âOf course, Mr. Hood.â The sitter was gracious. She had obviously seen Calumâs brand of helicopter parenting before. âBut itâs only an hour. Iâm sure weâll be fine.â
Calum sighed, knowing it was time. Unwillingly, he handed over his daughter. âBye, Lovebug,â he said, waving to her as she settled into the strangerâs arms.
âWait!â Lennon called out reaching back to him. Then, puckering her lips, she asked, âKiss?â
Calum couldnât stop the smile spreading across his face even if he wanted to. He leaned down and kissed her once.
âLove you, always.â She said as he moved away from her again.
Calum smiled impossibly wider. He repeated her sentiment and waved to her once before walking out the door.
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A Cry
Lennonâs uncles and aunts end up spending a lot of time at Calumâs house during that first year. The problem was that Lennon was a crowd favorite. First, it was just Ashton. In addition to his hour-long coffee dates with Lennon once a week, he had a knack for popping up at Calumâs house uninvited almost every day of the week. When Calum confronted him about it, Ashton had expressed concern that his favorite (and only) niece did not spend enough time with him. Mali lived with them for the entire month of January. Sierra, Crystal, and Kay Kay, not wanting to be bested in the âFavorite Auntâ department, all but moved in during that time as well.
It was a chilly January afternoon. Ashton, Luke, Calum, and Michael were sitting in Calumâs home studio, bouncing lyric and riff ideas off of each other. The girls were all outside with Lennon somewhere. The door that joined Calumâs studio to his deck was open, and through it Calum could hear the giggles and idle chatter of the five girls. Calum had luckily gotten over his separation anxiety from Lennon and was unworried, even now as Lennon sat by the fire pit with the women he considered sisters.
Ashton was evangelizing again. Lately, he was more concerned about the more profound philosophical meaning they could infuse in their lyrics, and Calum had heard him rant about it a million and one times. Calum tried to hide a chuckle as he thought about their iconic âI know now/ that Iâm so down.â There were never any concerns about the deeper meaning of anything back then. All at once, he was overwhelmed by how much his life had changed in the few short years since they first started singing those lyrics. He looked around, realizing that he had established for himself a home and a family.
It was that moment of awe that was shattered by a piercing scream. Calum was out of his seat in an instant, Dad instincts taking over before he had the time to form a coherent thought. Racing down his deck, his mind comes up with a million different horrifying scenarios. In the few seconds it took for him to move from his studio to the fire pit, he managed to imagine everything from Lennon stubbing her toe to her falling into the fire pit. Luckily, itâs neither. She had fallen while running away from Sierra, which led to her scraping her knee. It was a small little scratch, nothing that a little Neosporin and a band-aid couldnât fix, but Lennon still screamed at the pain anyway.
Calum recognized that scream. It was Lennonâs âIâm hurt, and I want my momâ scream. As gently he took her from Sierraâs arms, he asked no one in particular to call Beth.
In the end, however, Beth wasnât needed.
âIâm going to need you to be a brave girl for me, okay?â Calum asked, positioning Lennon on his lap. Mali was knelt in front of him with the antiseptic in one hand and a band-aid in another. Mali made quick work of cleaning and bandaging the cut while Calum spoke in hushed tones to his daughter.
âI love you so much, brave girl.â He found himself cooing over and over. He was surprised to find Lennon quiet in his arms. It was one thing he was self-conscious over â his inability to comfort Lennon in the way Beth always could. But for the very first time on that late January afternoon, Lennon did not need Beth. Her dad was everything and more. She grabbed onto her daddyâs shirt and would not let go for the rest of the night. No matter the amount of coaxing from Sierra and Mali, she stayed firmly attached to her father.
That night, Lennon would not even let Beth put her to sleep. For once in the short time that Calum spent getting to know his child, he felt all his insecurities about being a father fade away.
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Our Rights
Calum spent weeks planning Lennonâs third birthday. He knew that it wasnât likely she would remember it in its entirety, but it was as much for her auntsâ and unclesâ benefit as it was for her. Everyone in their little family loved any excuse to spend time with Lennon. So, they packed everyone up and brought them to an amusement park. It was a small local park with carnival games and plenty of kid-friendly rides.
Apparently, the fact that it was Princess Lennonâs birthday meant her feet were never to touch the ground. Or at least thatâs what Calumâs bandmates seemed to think. Ashton carried her on his shoulders until Mikey won her the famed Chameleon Miti, and her grip on Ashton's head was compromised by her need to also hug her chameleon. Then Sierra and Kay Kay took turns carrying her around on their hips.
Calum and Beth werenât really needed.
They hung back for most of the day, watching as their daughter had the time of her life, laughing with her uncles and aunts.
âI love our little family,â Beth had whispered as they all stood around watching Ashton and Luke trying to best each other at one of the parkâs strength tests.
Calum looked around at all the faces gathered to celebrate his daughter. Yeah. He really did love their little family. He couldnât believe that just a couple of years before, he hadnât wanted anything like this. Now, he wouldnât trade it for the world.
Eventually, it started to get later, and Lennon started to get crankier. She cried for her parents from her position in Sierraâs arms and only quieted when she was returned to her father. They called it a day then. Everyone dropped a kiss to Lennon and an inordinate amount of gifts in the back of Calumâs Range Rover. Lennon was almost asleep by the time theyâd buckled her into her car seat.
She was still clutching her chameleon as she blinked up at her dad sleepily.
âLove you, daddy,â she whispered as her dad connected the complicated series of buckles to her car seat.
âI love you too, angel.â
âBest day ever.â
Then, quieter, before slipping into slumber, she said, âBest daddy ever.â
When he climbed into the driverâs seat, Beth was looking at him with a playful smile on her face. âYou okay to drive with those tears in your eyes?â
âShut up,â Calum grumbled, reversing out of the parking spot. They drove in silence before Calum finally had to get his thoughts off of his chest.
âI just - Is it vain to say that I feel like weâre doing a kick-ass job here? Sheâs happy. We have a good support system for her, and I -â
Beth grabbed the hand that had been resting on the gear shift and brought it up to her lips, effectively cutting him off. âWe are doing a tremendous job.â
He met her eyes for a minute, noting the sincerity there. âHonestly,â she joked when he turned back to the road. âWe just may be the best parents ever.â
A wave of happiness washed over Calum again. Out of everyone he had ever met or had ever been with, he couldnât imagine doing this with anyone other than Beth. Calum wasnât one to believe in soulmates - he never was. But then again, he hadnât met Beth yet. She felt like his complete other half. Her and Lennon were all it took for Calum to feel at home. He thought back to the 11 months they had spent together. Thought about the way Beth carefully sculpted him into the father Lennon needed.
âAre you happy?â The words were out of Calumâs mouth before he realized he asked them. He wanted assurance that he was doing everything right. He knew in his heart what her answer would be before she said it.
âOh Calum Hood,â Beth shot him an almost blinding smile. âYou have no idea.â
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Our Wrongs
Calumâs heart wasnât in it. All through their interview, he sat quietly at the back of the group, his thoughts at home with Lennon and Beth. It had been three weeks since he last saw them. He missed them like crazy. He missed waking up next to Beth every morning, he missed Lennon running into his room and soon as she awoke, he missed their breakfast rituals and even the point in the day when one of his band members would inevitably show up at his door unannounced. With a sigh, he tried to remind himself that this was a necessary evil. The band had taken an indefinite hiatus so he could spend some time with his daughter. Now, they were back with a press tour to promote their new album and tour.
But Calum couldnât help thinking if he couldnât make it through a few weeks without Beth and Lennon, how the hell was he supposed to make it through the few months they would spend on tour? Calum was so lost in thought, he almost missed it when the interviewer turned to ask him a question.
âCalum, you recently decided to share your daughter with the world.â
The narrative they had gone with was lacking in some details. Calumâs PR team didnât share very much about Beth or their rocky beginnings, just that it had taken Calum a while to be able to share his daughter with the world. It was not technically a lie. But now that the secret was out there, people loved talking about it.
Not that Calum minded. His face lit up at the mention of his daughter.
âYes!â He said. âBeing a father - Itâs amazing. One of the best things Iâve ever experienced.â
âAnd whereâs your little girl now?â
His face fell. He wished more than anything that she was right there with him, that he could glance to Lennon and Beth behind the camera and say âRight here.â Unfortunately, that was not the case.
âAt home with her mother.â
âYou must miss her.â
You have no idea, Calum thought, but he didnât get a chance to say it before the interviewer was moving on to the next question.
Once the cameras stopped rolling, Calum was the first one out of his seat. Before he even reached the door, he had a phone out, facetiming Beth. His little girl answered.
âDaddy!â She said with a giggle. Her curls were unruly as if she had just awoken from her nap. He could see Beth sat behind her, watching as they interacted on the phone.
âHey, Princess.â Immediately, the weight that had been tugging at his heart lifted.
Then his heart sank again.
âMiss you,â Lennon said with a pout. âCome home.â
âSoon,â he promised. As he was saying it, he knew what he had to do. âCan I talk to mommy alone, angel?â
Satisfied with the promise of seeing her dad soon, Lennon handed the phone to Beth and scurried off.
âShe really does miss you, you know,â Beth said by way of greeting. âShe refuses to let me sing her to sleep. Says her daddyâs voice is better.â
Calum grinned at that - Beth did not have a great singing voice. Everyone in the house new that.
âCalum Hood, if you say one word about my singing voice, Iâm filing for a divorce.â
âWeâre not married,â Calum countered.
This was their new thing.
Beth would threaten divorce, Calum would pretend like she hadnât been hinting at marriage for weeks and that he didnât already have a ring burning a hole in his pockets, and Beth would respond with, âWeâre basically married. You just need to put a ring on it.â
âBeth.â His tone turned serious. She might not know it yet, but their engagement was already all planned. He had a more pressing matter to discuss with her. âI messed up, didnât I?â
She sat up immediately, noting the change in his demeanor. âWhat do you mean?â There was a frown finding her way onto his face.
âI mean, I messed up when I left you and Lennon at home.â
The frown slowly became a smile, âI was wondering when youâd come to your senses.â
Calum had the urge to explain himself. âI just thought that you would want to stay in the comfort of your home. Sometimes our schedules are hectic and-â
âHome is with you, you big dolt.â
Calum grinned, impossibly wide. âYou guys wanna come on the world tour with us.â
Whatever answer Beth has planned gets drowned out by Lennonâs, âYes, yes, yes!â in the background.
Calum took comfort in the realization that no matter the mistakes he made, his family would always be there for him.
--
end notes: i hope you liked it! a bitch really did not know that the lyrics to this song were âa dream a loudâ all this time i thought it was âa dream, a laughâ so itâs a good thing i looked up the lyrics before writing. anyway!! sorry for spamming yall with notifs two days in a row. feel free to ignore.Â
let me know what you think of calum, lennon & beth! love yall!
tag list: @5sosnsfw / @bloodmoonashton / @lukescaboose / @5sex-of-summa / @deviantnines / @halcyonnhood / @gh0st-0f-y0u-95 / @aspiringwildfire / @cal-pal-cuddles / @hotmessmichael / @hereforlukescruff/ @softforcal / @ohhmuke / @fratcalum / @calumamongmen / @ashtonandcalslefthand / @asht0ns-world / @colorful-queen-of-the-roses / @heavenlydrarry / @slowlyelectronictragedy / @myemptywallets / @pagesuponstpages / @fallfrxmgrace / @thefireisgone / @michaelorwhat / @dammitbands / @sugarcoated-pain / @sublimehood / @cal-puddies / @singt0mecalum / @irwinkitten / @myloverboyash
#calum hood#calum hood fic#calum hood blurbs#calum hood imagine#5sos#5 seconds of summer#5sos blurb#calum hood angst#calum hood au#calum hood fluff#5sos fic#5sos imagine#5sos fluff#5sos au#luke hemmings#ashton irwin#michael clifford#my fic#jay writes
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