#and mal behind them with the umbrella

[beatleswings]

PAUL and LINDA McCARTNEY with MAL EVANS behind as they arrive to the register office at Marylebone. March 12, 1969.

[mischievouslittlecreature]

Part 5: A Sleepless Dream

Fandom: Inception

Pairing: Robert Fischer x OC

Summary: Alice and Robert pick their friendship back up like no time has passed at all.       

Word Count: 3,168

Notes: No warnings this time!

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Chapter 3: Home

She was having a hard time not just staring at him. It was difficult to believe that he was actually real, sitting across from her in his expensive, tailored suit, the slight breeze ruffling his dark hair. Alice had to resist the temptation to reach out and poke him, just to make sure he was not just a figment of her imagination. 

“So,” she rested her chin on her fist after ordering and handing the menu to the waitress. “How’s your dad doing? Really?”

“Oh…” Robert twirled the little umbrella in his drink absentmindedly. “He’ll be fine. The doctors keep trying to tell him that he needs to start taking it easy.”

“Is he going to?”

Robert let out a quiet, humorless laugh. “Of course not,” he continued to fiddle with the umbrella. “Uncle Peter wants to start transferring more of his duties over to me,” he let the umbrella go, to float alongside the ice in his drink.

“Fun for you.”

He shrugged, fingertips brushing lightly along her arm, raising goosebumps with his touch, big blue eyes wide as they searched hers.

“Where have you been, Alice?”

The question caught her off guard, though it probably shouldn’t have. Glancing down, fumbling with her napkin, she frowned.

“All over the place, actually. Mostly Europe,” she let the napkin fall back onto the table. “I was in Switzerland before I came here.”

“Seems a bit cold for your liking.”

“It was,” she said with a small smile that quickly fell as she cleared her throat. “Listen, Robert, I’m sorry–”

He was already shaking his head. “No. No. Don’t. You don’t have to explain. Or apologize. I’m sorry,” his thumb brushed along her cheek, her eyelashes fluttering at the touch. How was it possible that after all these years, he still had such a powerful effect on her?

“I said a lot of things that I didn’t mean–”

“But you weren’t wrong,” he dropped his hand, looking down at the table. Running his hand through his hair, mussing it, he sighed. “I was being an asshole.”

“No…” she paused, as the waitress came over to set her plate of food down in front of her. Once she was gone, she continued. “And I shouldn’t have just run away like that afterwards.”

Robert shrugged. “I’m not saying that I’m happy that you left, but…”

“What?”

Looking up, he smiled sheepishly. “I was a mess. And…it was the kick in the ass I needed to pull myself together.”

The breeze tugged at her hair, and he reached out to push a lock of it back behind her ear.

“I missed you,” the words were blurted from her mouth before she had much time to even consider them, cheeks heating at the confession. But Robert just smiled sadly.

“I missed you too,” head tilting as he watched her begin to cut into her fish, arms resting in front of him on the table, one side of his lips cocked upwards in a crooked smile. “So, what were you doing in Europe?” 

“Um,” she set down her knife and fork, frowning around a mouthful of fish, trying to figure out how to explain it all. “Have you ever heard of dream sharing technology?”

“That program developed by the military as a training program? Yeah, why?” his eyes narrowed the slightest fraction.

“I’ve been working with a group of…I guess researchers, based out of France. They’ve been experimenting with dream sharing. The head researcher’s Stephen Miles, he was an architect who worked with the team who originally developed the technology. His daughter and son in law, Mal and Dom, run most of the actual experiments. I was their writer.”

“Writer?”

“Yeah. I wrote the basic narratives of the dreams while the architects created the physical space.”

“How’d you get involved in that?”

“Do you remember those fliers for that writing competition that were posted in the college newsletter?”

“Um…no?”

She snorted. He never did read those newsletters when they came in the mail. “Well, I saw it, and it said that anyone could submit something, so I did,” shrugging, she took another bite of her food. “I didn’t even think much about it until they called me asking if we could set up a meeting,” tapping her finger anxiously against the table, she frowned. “I told them I’d have to think about it, since the job involved moving to France. I’d meant to talk to you about it but then…” she shrugged, his fingers twisted with hers.

“Did you enjoy it?”

“Yes,” the immediacy of her response surprised her. “Very, very much.”

“Good. That’s good. I’m glad that you went,” but there was still a quiet sadness in his eyes. Brows pinching, he inclined his head slightly. “I’ve also heard that the technology’s been commandeered by thieves to steal things out of people’s minds.”

“Ah,” she suddenly became very interested in her fish.

“No.”

“Okay, listen–”

“You didn’t!” but he was laughing, leaning back in his chair with his head tilted back just enough that she could see the pale flash of his throat, the sunshine accentuating the sharpness of his cheekbones.

“Arthur and Eames are a terrible influence,” she tried to defend. Robert was still snickering, reaching forward to twist a lock of hair between his fingers.

“Who’re they?”

“Other members of the research team. But they do extraction in between research projects. They convinced me to come along. A few times.”

“So why aren’t you there now?” he let the lock of hair slip away. “It seems like you really loved it.”

Gulping, she looked down at the nearly cleaned plate, suddenly not hungry anymore. For a moment, she’d forgotten all about the reason she’d come out to Sydney in the first place. The guilt gnawed up inside of her, twisting her insides.

“I just needed a break, I guess.”

She could tell that he knew that wasn’t the whole truth, his eyebrow raising slightly. Of course he knew. Even after so much time apart, he could still read her like a book. But he didn’t push it further, foot rubbing soothingly against her calf under the table.

“Are you finished?” the waitress came and took her plate, handing over the bill that Robert snatched before she could even process what he was doing.

“Hey–!”

“Don’t even think about it,” he gave her a look. Pouting, she crossed her arms, leaning back in her chair.

“Stupid rich boy,” biting on her lip to keep from smiling didn’t really work. He shot her a smirk, handing the bill and his credit card back to the waitress with an unnecessary flourish. Alice rolled her eyes fondly.

“So how does it work?”

“What?”

“Dream-sharing. How does it all work?”

“Oh. It’s well…I have this machine, a Portable Automated Somnacin IntraVenous Device–we call it PASIV–you hook everyone up to the IVs in it, set the dosage, the time you want to spend dreaming, push the button. Obviously there’s the steps of building the dream space, and the narrative and then teaching it to the dreamer, but…that’s the gist of it,” rubbing at the back of her neck, she laughed awkwardly.

The waitress returned with Robert’s credit card and they began to make their way out of the restaurant. “Weren’t you in a meeting?” she asked, vaguely recalling a group of men in suits sitting at a large table in the middle of the dining room. Robert cringed.

“Technically, yeah. But it’s fine. They didn’t really need me there anyway,” he turned to look at her, eyes big and a little anxious. “Where are you staying?”

“I’ve got a condo down by the beach.”

“Can I…walk you home?”

“Sure,” the last thing she wanted in that moment was to say good-bye to him. Sun smiling down brightly on them, barely a cloud in the sky, they began to walk languidly towards the beaches.

“How’re your parents?” he asked, shedding his suit jacket and folding it over one arm. Alice tried her hardest not to eye the way his button-down shirt clung to his trim frame, or the suspenders hooked over each shoulder.

“Oh, just as they were years ago. They’re both still in Los Angeles. I call them, sometimes.”

“Your dad still married to Tracey?”

She made what was probably an unnecessary gagging sound. “Yep,” few things turned her stomach like the reminder that her father had married a woman who was not only the same age as her, but who used to be her friend. Right up until Alice had walked in on them in bed together. “Mom’s still gallivanting around the city, David moved in with his partner about a year ago…Celia and Adrian are about to have their second kid,” hesitating, she suddenly realized that she wasn’t sure on the dates. “I think.”

“Is Celia still a bitch?”

“Robert,” she aimed an elbow at him even as he laughed, biting her own lip to try to hide her smile. Robert had never gotten along with her older sister. There had been a family gathering, and Alice had brought Robert with her for solidarity, and Celia, in her usual fashion, had said something awful to her. And while Alice knew better than to engage by that point, instead just listening to the cruel words silently with her eyes lowered to the floor, Robert had risen to her defense. For as soft spoken and sweet as he could be, there was a side to Robert that had the capacity to be completely and utterly vicious. And Celia had never been one to back down from a fight, or to play the victim, as she had by sobbing quietly into their father’s shoulder while he glowered at Alice and Robert for making his “sweet baby girl” cry. 

The pair had hated each other ever since. Alice tried not to take too much glee in it. After all, it was rare for anyone to prefer her over Celia.

“Yeah, she is,” she admitted, getting a hooting laugh from Robert as he elbowed her back playfully. “And still the family super star. Big fancy doctor’s office, rich lawyer husband, gorgeous kids…she’s everything Mom and Dad could’ve dreamed of,” she kicked at a rock sitting in the middle of the sidewalk bitterly. It was true. Celia was the overachiever. The one who did phenomenal in school. Who was loved by nearly everyone she met. While Alice in comparison was the disappointment. The failure. The black sheep who’d never amounted to much of anything. The one her parents probably wished would just disappear.  

Robert looped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close until she was tucked snugly against his side, warmth seeping from him to her.  

“They’re all idiots for the way they’ve treated you,” he said, nose nudging at the top of her head. Humming, she just shrugged, letting her head fall to his shoulder for a moment.

“I don’t really talk to them more than I have to. It’s been ages since I visited,” lifting her head, she squinted against the sun, her condo building coming into view. Robert’s phone buzzed in his pocket, he dropped his arm from around her to pull it out, taking only a quick glance at the screen before rolling his eyes and shoving it back into his pocket.

“How’s Peter?”

“You know how he is,” Robert said tiredly. “Grumpy. Trying his best, I suppose. He keeps trying to set me up with his secretary.”

“Heh,” she stuffed her hands into her pockets, smiling out towards the ocean. “I’m hoping that he’s hired someone new since I left, and isn’t trying to shove that eighty year old woman on you.”  

“Oh, Agnes? Yeah, she retired,” he tilted his head up towards the sky. “Cheryl retired earlier this year too.”

“Oh. I always liked her.”

“Me too. Uncle Peter’s been giving me shit about hiring someone new.”

“You haven’t yet?”

“Been putting it off,” he followed her up the steps to her condo door, the keys jangling in her hand as she pulled them from her purse. “None of the applicants seem to be very interested in actually assisting me.”

Sliding the key into place she twisted it, turning to look back at him.

“You mean that they all just want to fuck you?”

His cheeks turned pink. “Something like that.”

Twisting the doorknob, she stepped into the condo. “Well, I’m sure you’ll find someone. You want to come in?”

Nodding, Robert followed her into the little condo, glancing around while she started turning on the lights, tossing her purse onto a chair. 

“Are you…” she swallowed the dread building in her throat at what his answer to her question might be. “Are you seeing anyone right now?”

“No.”

She really did her best to hide the relieved exhale that left her lips.

“Are you?” he didn’t look at her when he asked.

“Ha. No,” when she glanced at him, it was to see that an odd look had crossed his face.

“Really? No exotic European artists, or anything like that?” there was something in his voice that she couldn’t quite place.

“Oh, there was an artist, alright,” she wasn’t quite able to hide the bitterness in her voice. “But he was an asshole,” she opened the fridge and peered in. “You want something to drink? I don’t have any booze, but I’ve got lemonade or coffee.”

“Lemonade’s good, thanks,” he watched her as she pulled down a big pitcher of the stuff from the top shelf of the fridge. “What made him such an asshole?”

Sighing as she set the pitcher down on the counter, she shrugged her shoulders. “I dunno. He was pretentious. Had his head shoved pretty far up his own ass.”

Robert snickered, folding his suit jacket carefully over the back of one of the chairs. “So you dumped him?”

“Not until I caught him cheating on me with one of his models, but yeah.”

Eyes widening, Robert's hand reached out to stroke her cheek. “I’m sorry.”

Shrugging, she glanced down. “It’s okay. I’d been looking for a reason to break up with him anyway.”

“If you wanted, I could hire someone to go kill him,” there was something in Robert’s tone that told her he was only partially joking.

“I trashed his apartment pretty badly before I left,” she laughed. “Besides, it was a while ago.”

Robert nodded, though the slight twinge of anger on her behalf didn’t quite die out from behind his eyes.

“Ice or no ice?” she asked, turning to rummage around for some glasses.

“No ice, thanks. This is nice,” his eyes darted around the small condo as he wandered from the kitchen into the living room.

“It’s really not, but thanks,” Alice snorted as she stretched up on her toes to grab two glasses from the cupboard.     

“Hey, did you ever get that cat you wanted?” he called, eying a little snow globe she had set on the mantle, featuring a little calico cat sleeping on top of a stack of books. Head tilting, she walked over, passing him his glass of lemonade while she took a sip of her own. She’d gotten the snow globe from a home goods store during her first month in Paris.

“No,” she sighed sadly. As a child she’d begged and begged her parents for a cat, but they’d refused on the grounds that Celia was allergic, even after Celia had moved out to go to college. “I’ve been so busy with work, I just never got around to it,” maybe someday. “You have any pets?”

“Nah,” he said, “I travel way too much. It wouldn’t feel right,” but his shoulders slumped at the admission, Alice’s hand coming to rub between his shoulder blades in sympathy. As a kid Robert had all but pleaded with his father for a puppy or a kitten, but Maurice had just harrumphed grumpily and told him that Fischers didn’t concern themselves with such trivial things.

Stupid old man. As if they couldn’t afford to have an entire house full of animals if they wanted to.

Robert was still examining the trinkets she’d set on the mantle. Her cheeks heated when she realized he was looking at the old photos she’d kept of them. The springs in the couch squeaked when she sat down on it, glass of lemonade set on a coaster on one of the side tables.

“My hair was so long back then,” he laughed wistfully, fingertip tracing over one of the pictures. His hair was certainly shorter than it had been in college, but it still looked soft and fluffy. Turning, his gaze fixated on the silver case sitting on her coffee table in front of her, eyes growing wide as saucers, bright and excited. For a moment, he reminded her of what he used to be like when they were children, running excitedly on the playground together. “Is that your PASIV?”

“Yeah,” she fiddled with the clasps holding the case closed, opening them with a harsh snap. Robert moved to sit next to her on the couch, peering over her shoulder.

“Cool,” his voice was barely over a whisper.

“This is the Somnacin,” she said, gesturing to the little vials of liquid. “And here’s where the IV spools go…” beginning to grow excited, she pointed to each little aspect of the machine, Robert listening attentively, only interrupting every once in a while to ask questions. “The IVs can reach up to twelve feet, which is nice in the field if you have a bunch of people scattered throughout the room–what?” she stopped her rambling upon noticing that Robert was just staring at her, a funny look in his eyes.

“Come stay with me.”

“What?”

“Don’t stay in this shitty little condo. I have plenty of room at my beach house. Please.”

“I don’t want to be in your way…”

“You won’t be. Besides, the place has dozens of rooms. I want you there,” his hand swallowed hers, thumb massaging circles over her knuckles. “I’ve missed you.”

It would probably be good for her, to not be alone all the time. Not being locked away with her own thoughts, for the fear and guilt to rip her mind apart into Swiss cheese. And after so many years spent separated, the last thing she wanted to do was be away from Robert.

As if she could ever say no to those big, pleading blue eyes.

“Okay.”

He grinned so wide the dimples in his cheeks appeared, hand squeezing hers before he was pulling her into a tight hug. And then all she could smell was his expensive cologne surrounding her, the heat from his body somewhat thawing the numbness that had taken root in her bones. She could feel his heartbeat through his shirt, loud and strong. Arms locking around him, she squeezed tightly, needing to know that he was real. At some point, her eyes slipped closed, wondering if this was what it actually felt like to finally come home.   

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Thank you for reading! Please consider leaving a comment, reblog, or like. I always appreciate feedback and love getting the opportunity to interact with you and hear your thoughts!

[liviavanrouge]

Spoiled

Livia: *Smiles trying on a pink dress with strawberry prints on it, a leaf sun umbrella in her hand*

Malleus: Try on another dress...

Livia: *Vanishes behind the curtain, then comes out wearing a pale yellow dress, bluebirds on it, a blue fake rose pin in her hair* This?

Malleus: Hm, try another one

Livia: *Vanishes behind the curtain, coming back out wearing a purple dress with pink at the hem of it, a little crown on her head* How about this

Malleus: *Smiles, looking amused* Another one

Livia: *Pouts and goes back behind the curtain, coming out wearing a blue ballerina outfit, her hair up in two pigtails, blue bows keeping them together* I like this one, Mal Mal!

Malleus: ......Hm *Looks at the nervous looking royal clothes designer* bring out more outfits for her to try

Livia: *Pouts, the designer bringing over more clothes*

Malleus: Try these

Livia: *Steps behind the curtain, stepping back out, wearing a white no sleeve dress with pearls draped from her shoulder and waist*

Malleus: Gorgeous...

Livia: This one?

Malleus: Try the other two

Livia: *Sighs, feeling as if this was a fashion show*

Malleus: *Smiles, looking surprised*

Livia: *Stands in front of him, wearing an outfit made for horse riding and the hunting competitions*

Malleus: Try the last one

Livia: *Grabs the dress and hurries behind the curtain*

Malleus: *Tilts his head to the side*

Livia: *Leaps out and Beams twirling, wearing a purple dress with fake flowers on the chest part, purple ribbon shoes on her feet with flowers covering her leg up to the knee, her hair in two pigtails with purple ribbons with fake petals on them* Isnt this one pretty Mal Mal!!

Malleus: .....We'll buy all the clothes she's tried on

Livia: *Stares in shock* MAAAAALLLL MAAAALLLL!

/The next day/

Malleus: *Hands Livia a key made from a diamond* Here...

Livia: What's this?

Malleus: I ordered the miners to find you as many jewels as they could and I made you your own treasury

Livia: My....own....treasury

Malleus: I filled it with the finest of jewels and the shinest coins...

Livia: *Laughs nervously* Thanks Mal Mal

Malleus: Anything for my Beastie...

/The day after/

Livia: *Stares in shock, finding a giant library waiting for her*

Malleus: I had the library built for you, you said you loved books

Livia: W-Wow...

Malleus: I have filled it with your favorite books..history, action, adventure and fantasy

Livia: Thanks Mal Mal

Malleus: If it makes my Beastie happy it shall be done...

/two days later/

Livia: *Smiles nervously, staring at the gift in front of her*

Malleus: You mentioned to me that you always wanted to have a vacation area, so I bought land in the Land of Pyroxene, and a vacation spot is being built

Livia: Th-Thanks Malleus, this makes me happy

Malleus: *Smiles* Good

/A week later*

Livia: GRAN GRAN MALEFICIAAAAAAA!

Maleficia: *Smiles, beckoning Livia over* I'm glad you called me the way I asked to be called, you are very important to Malleus and I

Livia: Your welcome, but it's Malleus!

Maleficia: What is it?

Livia: He got me a whole chest of jewelry, the miners and jewel makers looked Bone dead tired

Maleficia: Do you not like our gift

Livia: *Stares, then smiles nervously* Of course I do, I was just surprised

Maleficia: *Smiles, looking relieved* Excellent

Livia: *Mentally cries, wondering when the spoiling would stop*

(TIMESKIP)

Livia(Sixteen years old): The spoiling never stopped, I have so many dresses, so much jewelery, three treasuries with diamond and emerald keys to them, and much more

Sebek: *Sniffs, tears threatening to fall* THE YOUNG MASTER CHERISHES MY LADY SO MUCH!!

Epel: So you're spoiled spoiled

Livia: Yep....getting spoiled by both the queen and Mal Mal...

Epel: They must really love you

Sebek: OF COURSE THEY DO!! ONE TIME MY LADY WENT MISSING, THE WHOLE DRACONIA ARMY WAS SENT OUT TO FIND HER!!

Epel: .........a whole fricking army..

Livia: They found me in three hours and I was given five bodyguards to protect me

Epel: You're so spoiled...it's not even funny anymore..

Livia: *Laughs nervously, looking embarrassed* Yeah, guess I am

[lledron]

Louis James Moriarty Albert James Moriarty

Louis James Moriarty x Albert James Moriarty :

¿Quién es más probable que se resfríe? 

Albert una vez se olvidó el paraguas y siempre llueve en Londres. Aunque disfrutó mucho ser cuidado y mimado por Louis. 

¿Quién acapara las mantas?

Albert ha evolucionado en su arte de tejer el mal… perdón, tejer mal para tejer mantas. Louis cree que son horribles, pero Albert acapara las mantas sólo para envolver a Louis como un rollo de canela y abrazarlo por detrás. 

¿Quién mata todas las flores? 

Albert quiso armar un ramo de flores y salió horrible. Él está vetado del jardín de rosas. 

¿Quién se come todos los dulces antes de Halloween?

Creo que irían a las casas de los nobles malos y les lanzan huevos podridos. 

¿Quién toma las duchas más largas? 

Ninguno, duchas rápidas. Excepto la vez que Albert salió de prisión y Louis lo baño. Hubo muchas lágrimas, dolor, arrepentimiento.

Albert dejó que las manos de Louis se juntaran con las suyas.

“Di algo”

Él estaba preparado para que él le gritará. Albert quería que Louis lo hiciera: él había abandonado a Louis por más de tres años. Era un estupido, un malnacido…

“ Quiero gritarte y no puedo, Albert, no puedo. En los primeros días lo hice… Creo que es un recordatorio de que yo no soy suficiente, ni para ti ni para William” los ojos de Louis se tiñeron de lágrimas. 

Quería explicarle que él había sido el culpable de todo, del plan, de la suerte de William. 

“ Hubo un velorio y un entierro… Y ya no puedo estar seguro que no volverás a lastimarme, Albert”

Volveré a publicar más sobre esta escena y este post.

Louis James Moriarty x Albert James Moriarty : Who is more likely to catch a cold? Albert once forgot his umbrella and it always rains in London. Although he really enjoyed being looked after and pampered by Louis. Who hogs the blankets? Albert has evolved in his art of bad knitting…sorry, bad knitting to knit blankets. Louis thinks they're awful, but Albert hogs the blankets just to wrap Louis up like a cinnamon roll and hug him from behind. Who kills all the flowers? Albert wanted to put together a bouquet of flowers and it came out horrible. He's banned from the rose garden. Who eats all the candy before Halloween? I think they would go to the houses of the bad nobles and throw rotten eggs at them. Who takes the longest showers? None, quick showers. Except the time Albert got out of prison and Louis bathed him. There were a lot of tears, pain, regret. Albert let Louis' hands join his. "Say something!" He was ready for him to yell at him. Albert wanted Louis to do it: he had abandoned Louis for over three years. He was a stupid, a bastard…. " I want to yell at you and I can't, Albert, I can't. In the early days I did… I think it's a reminder that I'm not enough, neither for you nor for William" Louis' eyes were stained with tears. He wanted to explain to her that he had been to blame for everything, for the plan, for William's fate. " There was a wake and a funeral… And I can no longer be sure that you won't hurt me again, Albert." I will come back to post more about this scene and this post.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

[ralexsol]

my brother, my sister, and i played the squid game board game earlier today, and we each had two different teams to play as. we like to have fun with putting our favorite characters into life-threatening situations (survivor and hunger games simulator, anyone?). naturally, i made one of my teams the beatles. the way the game works is you start with 7 characters on a single team, and then with each proceeding round (which there are 5 of, not including the 1st round), you add another. so my starting group was john, paul, george h, ringo, maureen, yoko, and linda. the other characters were pattie, george m, brian, mal, and eric. (i wouldve chosen olivia or cynthia instead of eric, but for some reason, the yellow team had more male tokens than female ones vs. my blue team which had a 8:4 female to male ratio, which i chose mlp for lol)

the 1st game is red light green light. paul goes out onto the field first boldly, being the confident prettyboy that he is. john follows close behind because he cannot let paul take all the glory. he is accompanied by yoko and ringo. unfortunately both paul AND john get taken out IMMEDIATELY, leaving the timid duo of ringo and yoko to move out on their own. the next duo is george h and maureen. and SUCCESS! ringo, yoko, george h, and maureen all make it through. unfortunately, as the last straggler, linda is also killed in the first round.

2nd round is the cookie game. the core four are joined by pattie. yoko chooses umbrella because she's quirky like that, while ringo chooses star because Hello. pattie and maureen team up on triangle while george h is like hm i think i will go with Circle because um Easy. and while pattie's unfortunately cracked, SOMEHOW. THE CORE FOUR ONCE AGAIN ALL MAKE IT TO THE NEXT ROUND, ALL IN THE SAME TURN.

3RD GAME! it's tug of war. the core four receive the new teammate of george m. this game i was really worried about george h because he got stuck on a team by himself, but all was successful. maureen and yoko stuck together while ringo joined up with my brother's Main Character (chase devinoux from carmen sandiego). YET AGAIN, the core four survive while george m fell into the abyss. look, i was just trying my best to keep them alive til the end at this point, even if it meant sabotaging any new characters.

next up is marbles. brian steps up to the plate. now, it's round 4, and this game involves a lot of chance rather than strategy. unfortunately, yoko loses a game of marbles to jordie, kaz's brother from soc (one of my sister's teams). but everyone else survives, including brian, so good for him! yoko was a real one. o7

now, the 5th game is FUCKING EPIC. ringo and maureen end up being 3RD AND 4TH IN FUCKING LINE. and guess who gets shoved up to the front? maureen. MAUREEN LEADS THE WAY AND SUCCESSFULLY GUESSES WHICH GLASS PLATE TO JUMP ON 3 TIMES. she only fails on the FUCKING 2ND TO LAST PLATE. i was so sad to see her go, she shouldve FUCKING ONE THE WHOLE GAME. IDEC ABOUT RINGO I NEEDED MAUREEN TO WIN. now the core two, ringo and george h both make it across, followed by brian again. mal joins in this round, but he doesnt even matter, im too focused on the others to bring him further than the first square, and he runs out of time.

the final game. tied for the 2nd largest team, the beatles are now a squad consisting of ringo, george h, brian, and eric fucking clapton. this is squid game. eric steps out first and is IMMEDIATELY stabbed to death. ringo decides to brave it. also gets shanked. brian makes a run for it and manages to get into the triangle zone, but is also killed by paperstar, another carmen sandiego character. finally, george h stands alone. he makes it to the triangle. he faces off with paperstar. and my stupid fucking ass accidentally pulls out the wrong card, playing a push instead of a shield. and i lose the whole game to the carmen sandiego team.

SO. beatles squid game au <3

[mvgnvsvntimvjoris]

French songs recommendations for @your-ace-cousin-clover !

(I had a ton and I wrote a lot so I made a post to share them)

Specific Artists :

Julien Doré, he sometimes turns poems into songs, some don't have a clear story behind them but I do especially love "Corbeau Blanc" the whole album "Love" is incredible to me, he's an indie pop singer

Stromae, obviously ! He's Belgian but since he sings in French he's very welcome here, the play on words are just incredible, he recently sang about depression and suicidal thoughts in "l'enfer" and it touched me deep, he's doing electro (he has tons of good ones, like "Papaoutai", "quand c'est", "Tous les mêmes"....

Mylene Farmer, she's around since decades and was one of the few famous singers singing in french to talk about LGBT+ subjects and she just is so goth at times, a whole vibe if you will ! I have tons of favorite from her but it's very difficult to find online...I would recommand (from all decades) : "Tristana", "Comme j'ai mal" "Je te rend ton amour" "Beyond my control" "Sans contrefaçon" "C'est une belle journée" "L'histoire d'une fée, c'est..." "l'instant X", she's more 80s pop, synth

Mc Solaar, a true poet and rapper, "Mephisto Iblis", "Solaar Pleure", "RMI", “Da Vinci Claude”, "Caroline" (this one is a bit more sad raggae)

Eddy de Pretto, also a rapper but more singing and talking kind and more recent, he's one to break the code of “you can be gay and a rapper” in France, he's a really good one, I recommand "Kid" and "Fête de trop" from him, I need to listen to more of his work !

Orelsan, rapper friend with Stromae (they worked together a lot), he's a controversial guy because he uses characters in his songs and so he can talk with awful words but he doesn't condone them, I recommand "La pluie (feat Stromae)" , "L'odeur de l'essence", "tout va bien", "Basique", "fête de famille"

Angelo Branduardi, an oldie but a goodie ! He's more like...medieval kind of songs ? It's lovely haha "Confession d'un malandrin", "Bal en Fa dièse mineur", "La demoiselle"

Michel Polnareff (most 70s and 80s but I grew up with that kind of music so...) "Le Bal des Laze”, La mouche", "Goodbye Marylou”, “Lettre à France”, “Dans la maison vide","Qui a tué grand-maman"

Indochine (a french rock group that started in 1967 but still a big thing in france ! I'd say look through a bit of everything they've done ? big LGBT+ advocates, I'd say "J'ai demandé à la lune", "Marilyn"...The full albums of 2005 and 2007

Specific songs :

Thomas Fersen - "Chauve souris" (a song about a bat falling in love with an umbrella)

Desirless - "John" (about a man dying for his religion) and "Voyage Voyage" (about traveling ! classic 80s songs with an iconic singer)

Vendredi sur mer - "Ecoute Chérie" (kind of vaporwave synth song about a lesbian gaslighting her girlfriend)

Moos - "Au nom de la rose" (a sexy song about a man singing his wish to resurect his past lover)

VIDEOCLUB - "Roi" (talk singing electro a sort of poem of two lovers)

Ysa Ferrer - "Les yeux dans les yeux" (A true 2000 song, futuristic at the time, weird but fun now, a strange love affair)

Claudio Capéo - "ça va ça va", "Un homme debout" (about a homeless man calling for people to see him as human), "riche" (about how proud a man is about his future son no matter how smart or strong he will be)

Madame Monsieur - "Merci" (Mercy is the name a baby born on a boat of migrants, born in the name of all the lost lives)

Igit - "Lisboa Jerusalem" (a man singing how he regrets traveling because nothing is better than the woman he loved and left to travel)

Katerine - "78 - 2008" "100% V.I.P" "Louxor J'adore" (a VERY special singer, like excentric as F ? The first song is like a poem, the others are really weird but fun)

Kamini - "Marly-Gomont" "Parce qu'on est con" (Humoristic rap ? but with a true message, the first one is about his childhood, a black familly living in northern rural france and suffering the racism there but still loving the town, the second is about how humanity can really be stupid and do all the wrong choices)

Helmut Fritz - "ça m'enerve" (typical club humor song from the 2000's a classic lmao, it’s about a rich guy being pissed off about mondane things)

SAULE - Dusty men (feat Charlie Winston) (It's both english and french about cowboys looking for a treasure)

Barbara - "L'aigle noir" (really old song but I always loved it ? It's about a girl falling asleep and waking up to a black eagle with red eye getting close to her and approaching her gently. It seems so sweet and dream like until you learn what the theme of the song really is about...The singer later explained that it's about her father who abused her as a child, so..yeah, the song is powerful)

Emmanuel Moire - "Beau Malheur" (singing about how to heal you have to first suffer)

Ben L'oncle Soul - "Petite soeur" (Soul ! Uplifting and fun song ! The man talks to his sister about how she scares potentiel boyfriends because of her attitude and she is really something !)

Jeanne Mas - "En rouge et noir (1986)", "Johnny Johnny" "Sauvez moi" "Toute première fois“ (oldie but I just love her vibe, it's pure 80s pop)

Bibi - "Tout doucement" (a woman leaving her husband and singing about how she wants to change things and how slow the healing will be)

Les cowboy fringants - "Plus rien" (a depressing song about the end of the world and the last man standing, scary how on point it might be and this is years and years old)

Daniel Balavoine - "Tous les cris les S.O.S", "Le chanteur" (a singer with a lot of power in his voice and powerful messages, I love his voice ?)

Manau - "La tribu de Dana" (Rap, the story of a town from the celtic ages and their fight against invaders)

Aaron - "Le tunnel d'Or" (about a relationship that ended badly and the suffering of the man who loved a woman who didn't love him in return)

Emilie Simon - "Chanson de toile" (a really soft remake of a medieval song that women used to sing between them while sewing, waiting for the return of their husbands)

Michel Berger - "le paradis blanc” (a really sad song about loss), “la groupie du pianiste" (about a woman loving a pianist but the man is an egoist who only loves his craft)

Cabrel - "Les murs de poussières" (about generations and what it means to have a place to call home)

Les Rita Mitsouko - "Marcia Baïla" (a must at french parties ? It's excentric and the song that is a tribute to a dancer and friend of the band)

M - "Matchistador" (about a macho man trying to flirt), "Onde sensuelle" (a love song, flirty) (he’s a talented guitar player and lover of word play, lots of his songs are fun to listen to !)

Michel Sardou - "Les lacs du Connemara", "Afrique Adieu" (also an oldie one but i grew up with these songs)

Charlie Widstock - "Rendez-vous" (the man wants a rendez-vous, with you !)

Serge Gainsbourg - "Mon légionnaire" (originaly it's an Edith Piaf song but I love his version more ? he sang/talk it and it's still about a short love story about a military man who left his lover and died at war, so here it's pretty gay even tho to avoid being censured by TV at the time he made the video about losing his child to war)

Gjorn - "Tout l'univers" (the live eurovision version is the best in my opinion ? Incredible song about being a part of the universe and being reunited as one after death)

Clio - "T'as vu" (small breakup song, the couple argued and she went for a walk but is coming back)

Alice et Moi - "c'est toi qu'elle préfère" (calling this the lesbian anthem of sad jealousy)

The musical theater : 

Mozart L'opéra rock (that's a favorite of mine),

Notre Dame de Paris,

Roméo et Juliette,

Les Dix commandements

Also :

Don't hesitate to watch disney in french or listen to the songs ! Unless you don't like dubbed songs, which I understand ! I always loved the Nightmare before christmas in french !

[13uswntimagines]

Loser Buys Dinner (Lindsey x Reader)

Request: team goes to an ice rink and the reader is really good at ice skating and the team didn't know. you can add a pairing if you want

Author’s Note: Special Thanks to @literaryhedgehog​!!! Also this one has a slightly awkward ending, but we thought it fit. 

You stared at the sign as Kelley brought the car to a park. Ice Town skating rink blazed in neon letters as the outline of a skate seemed to circle around them. Around you, you heard the chattering of your teammates as they registered where you had come for today’s team bonding activity. They at least were excited. You unbuckled your seatbelt and followed Rose out of the car, still not taking your eyes off the neon image circling around your vision. It was fine. Today would be fun. 

“Hey fun size, you excited?” Lindsey bounced up to walk at your side. You flicked your head slightly to clear your thoughts and turned to smile quickly at her.

“I guess. It’s definitely been a while since I’ve ice skated.” 

“Don’t worry,” Lindsey said grinning, “I’ll stay with you the whole time if you’re worried about falling.”

“I won’t fall,” you said matter of factly. Lindsey raised an eyebrow. Before she could challenge you to a competition that she would lose, you said “if anything I’m worried about you. If you fall you’ll get frostbite.”

If Lindsey was concerned about the cold, she didn’t show it. She was from Colorado and was quite used to the terrible temperature. While Kelley had instructed everyone to wear layers, Lindsey was only wearing a jacket and flannel over a pair of skinny jeans. She grinned at your comment and shrugged. “I’ll be fine. What’s it going to be, like 30 degrees?”

“Yes. That is literally the temperature ice freezes at.”

“It’s just your California blood that makes you chill faster,” she smirked, elbowing your side. 

You rolled your eyes at her and entered the building. As the smell of the ice rink washed over you you inhaled deeply through your nose and exhaled through your mouth, intentionally relaxing the muscles that had tensed up at the memories the smell elicited. You still felt your spine straighten from habit, but chose to ignore it. 

“Are we sure this is a good team bonding activity. Like what if we break our legs before the game?” Rose asked, strapping a skate on her foot. She had always been the clumsier of the team. 

“We ran it by the coaches and they signed off on it so long as we’re all willing to be serious. Looking at you Sonnett. No fooling around on the ice. There are walls to hold onto if you feel unbalanced Rosie, but it’s a good chance to practice our flops if you feel like you’re going to fall. Remember- fall back and protect your head.” Carlie said with a grin.

“And then you want us to roll on the ice for the pretend ref?” Lindsey asked, quirking her eyebrow up at the ludicrous implication. There weren’t going to be any hands going near any skate paths. 

“The pretend ref would assume you were throwing a temper tantrum if you did since NO ONE will be skating at each other,” Beckey said, looking up from tightening her skate to catch the eye of each troublemaker on the team. 

Emily frowned, there went her idea of trying to joust with their umbrellas. 

“You alright?” Lindsey asked, sliding her hand along your lower back. 

“Yeah,” you said, looking at the rink logo imprinted in the center of the ice. 

“Well you’re kinda blocking the entrance to the rink,” Lindsey said very close to your ear, sending a shiver down your spine. When did she get so close to you?

You blinked away the feeling of a spotlight and thousands of eyes in your back to look back at her. Then you grinned slowly, “Just… creating some anticipation.” 

“I know you Californians probably don’t know much about moving on the ice, but you’re not supposed to just stand and stare at it,” she said, kissing your cheek. “just remember that I won’t let you fall,”  

You raised your eyebrows at her, then turned around fully to face her, still blocking the entrance intentionally. “Wanna make a bet Linessie? Because I think you’ll fall more than I do today.”

“In your dreams short stuff,” she snorted, refraining from saying that she had fallen for you already. 

“You taking the bet or not?” You said, a little louder this time so that you caught the attention of Emily and the rest of the youngins.

Linsey’s grin grew to match your own, “I’m always game, you know that,”

“Loser has to eat like Carlie for a week?” You proposed, sticking out your hand for her to shake.

“Hm, those stakes aren’t high enough. Loser has to eat Alex’s weird vegan shit for a week,” Lindsey said, her lips ticking up at your scrunched nose. 

“That would be cruel. I’m not doing that to you. Loser pays for winner’s Costco run?” 

“I think you’re just scared you won’t be able to eat ice cream for a week,” Lindsey scoffed, crossing her arms. 

“Okay, I tried to go easy on you,” you said, shaking your head dramatically. “If you’re willing to eat like Alex for a week, I’ll take that bet.”

“You’re on pipsqueak,” Lindsey shook your outstretched hand, squeezing it a little too tightly. 

You grinned at her and holding her gaze stepped backward onto the ice, crossing one foot over the other to gain speed as you glided to the center of the floor. 

It felt natural, as though the last 12 years had only been 2. You did a quick counter turn, letting the muscle memory carry you over the ice. You did a twizzle and grinned. Not too shabby. 

“Holy fuck,” Lindsey said, her jaw dropped as you glided effortlessly across the ice. So much for her plan to be your hero on the ice. Your protector from the cold. 

“Shoulda pretended you were the terrified one,” Emily snickered, bumping her lightly as she passed her. You may be oblivious to Lindsey’s feelings, but the rest of the team was not. 

Lindsey shook her head and skated off after you, not as smooth on the ice as you were, but pretty damn close. She had always preferred hockey over figure anyway. She easily caught up with you, skating relatively close behind you. 

You saw her and turned, arabesqueing a leg into the air behind you. Then you leaned into a tight camel spin so you looped around Lindsey as she moved. 

“You forwards are always such show-offs,” Lindsey rolled her eyes, catching your outstretched hand once both feet were back on the ice and pulling you close to her. 

“Cause diving headers and Bicycle Kicks are totally not showing off either,” you said, scrunching your nose at her. 

“How did a Cali girl like you learn to skate?” She asked, moving so she was behind you again, holding your waist as you skated. 

“Some way most girls who don’t live in a frozen wasteland do,” you said, shrugging. “I took lessons.”

“Wasn’t action-packed enough for our little firecracker?” Lindsey questioned and you could practically hear her eyebrow ticking up. 

You fought to keep your smile normal. “Believe it or not, there was a time when I wasn’t a firecracker and didn’t like being the center of attention.”

“Not a firecracker, impossible. I’m pretty sure most defenses are terrified of you, especially after you made that English defender pee her pants when she went after Mal,” Lindsey carefully pulled you into her chest resting her head on your shoulder, mindful that you two were still hurtling along the ice. 

You grinned. “Well, she deserved it.” You leaned out to the side then in again, pulling you both into a gentle spin. “But yeah, around middle school I dropped out of skating. My partner for pairs skating broke his ankle skateboarding and,” you paused, trying to find the words to explain, “I just really didn’t like singles.”

“Is it bad that I’m glad he got hurt? Cause now I get to be your pairs partner and you never have to be single again if you don’t want…” Lindsey mumbled, glad that you weren’t facing each other. She wasn’t sure she could have looked you in the eye and finally shot her shot. 

“Well, I am known for being a damn good team player, even if I am a showoff,” you nudged Lindsey playfully. “But I refuse to eat vegan for a week. I need my chocolate icecream.”

“Well,” said Lindsey with a dramatic sigh, “how about we amend the bet. Loser pays for dinner on the first date?”

Lindsey waited just a second for your agreement, enjoying the feeling of you in her arms, and then she gently pushed you away. You slid easily across the ice, turning just in time to see Lindsey “trip” and fall to her knees. 

“Guess I’m buying,” she said smirking up at you, her blond hair framing her face. 

“It’s a date loser,” You smiled so wide, your pink cheeks started to hurt. 

“You’re supposed to flop backward, Linds,” Carlie called across the ice.

[ratsoh-writes]

Crush asks out skele, and the two of them go in a date somewhere. However, as they're leaving, it starts POURING. Crush offers skele their jacket with a smile. Main ten's reactions?

Sorry, but most of the sanses are cheaters who can escape the rain in a flash

Simply just shortcuts home or to the car with crush: sans, red, mal, star

Papyrus: he uses your coat as the umbrella, and together you two sprint to the car underneath it lol.

Honey: at the exact same time you offered, he was offering his lol. You both find it so funny that you two decide to swap coats before you hurry home

Edge: you mean he’s offering YOU the jacket. Edge always comes prepared. His gentlemanly ways won’t let him accept your coat simp

Cash: he takes the coat and uses it just like papyrus did. One problem. Puddles. You two hit distracted on the way to the car and ended up kicking water at each other and got soaked. Your next date will be a movie night, since you’re both too sick to do anything else lol

Oak: if it’s the car you guys are going too, he might not remember where it was parked. So oak uses the coat to protect the hole in his head as he rushes behind you. You’re his hero

Willow: he has a coat as well. And an absolutely terrible idea lol. Your coat isn’t waterproof, so why doesn’t he zip you up in his and carry you to the car? That way you both stay mostly dry! His back hurts like a b*tch the next day. He regrets nothing

[jangmi-latte]

Can I request a oneshot/x Reader with Malleus Draconia? Reader is very shy, timid, but overall sweet and bubbly and talented. She goes somewhere she thinks she is alone and sings her heart out to a sad song? but Malleus is there and hears it. He confronts her and tries to raise her spirits and confidence. Fluffy maybe? Uwu sorry if this was long.. ❤️

❝ 𝐌𝐲 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐞 ❞

➻ content: milk and honey

➻ warnings: minor angst

➻ comments: i have a lot of requests that involves singing. anonie, you made me look for sad songs and i had to listen to a whole ass playlist followed by sad pianos. aaaaaaa i can finally write some angst!!

The rain poured that late afternoon.

The pitter-patter of droplets calmed you down as you stared outside of the classroom. It was five minutes before classes would end. The sounds of your professor’s voice were muffled in your ears as you watched nature unfold its tears in front of you. It’s tears being the life source of plants and rivers while also healing the souls of humans. The critters that would often bustle around the school campus now stay within their homes for shelter. The sun was barely seen as its beautiful colours now drowned behind the dark clouds. You assumed the rain would get heavier later on.

The bell rang and students began to pack their things, ready to head back to their dorms to finish homework and rest. Clubs were cancelled for today due to the rain and it would be unfair if outdoor clubs would only get the cancellation. However, you figured the rain won’t stop Malleus from doing his nightly rounds around his school either for his gargoyle research society or for his usual hobby. At least, that’s what you’ve heard from Lilia.

Yet, the rain didn’t stop you from secluding yourself from the others. Surely, the dorm would be a good place to run to, then sleeping on your warm bed while the rain poured. However, you couldn’t, not yet. Maybe, you could enjoy the rain during your little walk? Less likely. It’s not like you would see Malleus when you’re worlds apart. With your umbrella sheltering you from nature’s tears, you walked away from the school building and around the grounds. Luliton, Academy Of Sorcery’s grounds at night looked scary, that’s why you stayed where there were lights and stayed as near as you can around the mirror chamber. 

Yes, you could say Luliton was The Valley of Thorns’ own version of Night Raven College. It wasn’t that popular nor as prestigious as the said school but, itis the perfect school for you. It’s smaller than NRC, best fit for someone who likes to value their alone time.

You sighed and walked over to the hooded bridge near the mirror chamber. Nature’s tears love blending in with your mood, no? Perhaps, it’s because you miss your darling fae. Your friends have probably gone back to the dorm by now. It’s just you and nature while the time of crepuscule finally dawned on the earth. You closed your umbrella, hooking it on the bridge’s ledge, leaning your arms on the platform. It was peaceful. The lanterns were on yet the absence of fireflies somehow affected you.

You remember how Malleus would make fun of you by disappearing and appearing anywhere. Every time he would do that, small green firefly-like lights would dance around you. They would tickle your skin a lot.

My, why are you reminiscing as if he’s gone?

“Remember me…” you hummed, leaning on the bridge’s post. “Though I have to say goodbye… Remember me…” You reached your hand out from under the shelter. The rain dropped on your hand gently, drenching your uniform sleeve as the droplets fell to the flowing river under you. You tilted your head to the side as you watched the rain dance on your hand. Or is it, you, catching nature’s tears since no one would pay attention to it?

“Don’t let it make you cry…” You brought your hand back and dried it off. “For ever if I’m far away, I hold you in my heart…” You looked over at the other end of the bridge and began walking. You left your umbrella behind, not like it would disappear. “I sing a secret song to you… each night we are apart…” Your voice, calm and mellifluous, blended with the water hitting the soil. Subconsciously, maybe even not, you pushed yourself under the rain.

Her tears hitting your clothes and skin, drenching you almost immediately. You didn’t care, you wanted to accompany mother nature with her emotions. Is she in need of a hug right now if she were human would you run and give her one. Is it that you are touch-starved? How childish of you to suddenly miss your beloved. You remember…

“Remember me…”

“Though I have to travel far…”

...that night where you both were chosen by your schools. His was a black carriage, and yours was a golden one. It pained you to separate ways for your own good, but that’s the test. It won’t last long, it won’t take forever. It’s not like you won’t see each other again. The feared dark fae would’ve been smirking and teasing you by now if he saw the desperate look on your face. He knew you would miss him. Wouldn’t he be as well?

“Remember me…”

“Each time you hear a sad guitar…”

“Know that I’m with you…”

You dwelled deeper into the forest-like garden Luliton had. Your face was already wet in her tears, maybe even yours. You wouldn’t know. You missed him. It has been months since you last saw him. You wished he was doing his best. And you wished he was by your side, right now. Selfish is thee to hope, but not to force.

“The only way that I can be…”

“Until you’re in my arms again…”

Your voice cracked and you covered your mouth. Is it one of those moments where you saudade on the presence of the other? Perhaps. Homesickness was an understatement. You sniffled, looking up to the sky and watching as the ongoing droplets freely fell from the clouds. No stars painting the sky nor animals around to join you in your solemn walk. “Mal mal…” you sobbed and covered your eyes. Crying along as nothing can comfort you but nature’s own tears dropping on you.

“Why are you out here and not inside your dorm?”

You quickly spun around and slouched. Relaxing your shoulders as your eyes laid on your dragon’s form. More tears cascaded down your cheeks, lips quivering into a solemn smile just when you hastily ran over to him and wrapped your arms around his chest. You broke down into more sobs at the very moment that you felt his warm body against your cold and soaked frame. Your hands clenched on his clothes feeling that if you would let go, he would disappear.

Cliche, yes, but you’re in a state of wanting to be touched. 

“What’s wrong little beastie?” Malleus asked, a hand holding the umbrella above both of you and the other holding on your fragile form. He hears your cries, he heard your song. Though he already knew the answer, he wanted to hear it from you directly. Both you and Malleus are touch-deprived, even from those who are in the same school as you. “I miss you…” you hiccuped, “...so much. I look stupid b-but I really—” you fell into short breaths as you looked up at his green eyes.

He was smiling down at you. Smirking, maybe? You couldn’t tell. Either way, he was probably going to tease you again. “I wasn’t even gone that long. I just gave you a letter a week ago.” He tilted his head to the side, his lips stretching more, amused by your puffy nose and small hiccups. He likes the feeling of being missed. Makes him have a purpose in your life other than being your boyfriend.

“I don’t care…” you breathed out and hugged him tighter. “I want you. A-And if you’re going to tease me, do it already.” You buried your head on his chest before mumbling, “I missed that too…”

“My, little beastie, you’re such a cry baby.” He laughed and easily scooped you up. You adjusted your arms and wrapped them around his neck, hiding your flushed face from his view. “I know…” 

“And haven’t I warned you about going out when it’s raining? You’ll catch a cold.”

“I don’t care…” you huffed, starting to calm down from your break down. The presence of your man warming your whole body. “Gives me a better reason to have you by my side.”

“Little beastie, you know that doesn’t impress me in the slightest.” There goes his protective side. 

Perhaps, nature’s tears do bring some joy to others. She continues to cry down on her creations, cooling the atmosphere, feeding the plants, and hydrating other creatures. It is when in someone’s distress she would be of a company. She knows when it is time to bloom. Fret not, she will smile again and let the warmth on the sun light down on the future of a human and a fae.

[thebirdandhersong]

The Year So Far Book Ask

Tagged by @madamescarlette <3 thank you, darling!! (I DO SO LOVE TO TALK ABOUT BOOKS!!!!)

1. Best book you have read in 2021 so far?

HOW can I answer that!!!! Here is a top 10 because I cannot narrow it down!!

Middlemarch: read it twice this year (liked it the first time, LOVED it the second time)

David Copperfield: my new favourite Dickens. There is a lot of joy and compassion at the heart of this book, and I Loved it very much.

The Mill on the Floss: can’t explain the feeling I got from reading this book (tbh if you know, you know!! It warms your heart but it also makes you want to stand in the rain and cry)

The Queen of Attolia: a roller coaster. Very overwhelming. Was incredibly Shocked many times. (Also, who’d have thought?? Gen??? In LOVE??? Fantastic in concept and in execution)

The Adventures of Sally: a new favourite Wodehouse. You will laugh so hard tears will spring to your eyes.

Night Watch: this one stuck a knife in me and twisted..... but in a good way.

Anne of the Island: much-needed comfort read!!!

Leave it to Psmith: another new favourite Wodehouse. Modern rom-coms wish they could do rom-com like Psmith, Eve, and the umbrella that was Definitely Not His.

The Penderwicks at Point Mouette: A DELIGHT (speechless!!)

The Penderwicks on Gardam Street: ALSO A DELIGHT (still speechless!!)

2. Best sequel you have read in 2021 so far?

Ohohoho. All the Discworld sequels. (Especially A Hat Full of Sky, Night Watch, Thud!, I Shall Wear Midnight.)

Also, The Queen of Attolia. That book decimated me. Admittedly no one’s emotions are very stable at two in the morning, but I was an absolute Wreck that night (morning?).

3. A new release you want to check out?

I am behind on the times so my idea of ‘new’ is rather skewed.... I still really want to read Spin the Dawn, The Goblin Emperor, and Spinning Silver. And am making my way through Queen’s Thief.

4. Most anticipated book release of the second half of the year?

I... don’t follow new releases that much, to be honest. I am currently looking through the lists and don’t see anything I recognise s;lfdjsdlk;

5. Biggest disappointment?

The Hunchback of Notre Dame. I knew how it was going end, but i was still mad. (These days I like books with a hefty amount of Hope and that one.... definitely did not have that.) I also read Tess of the d’Urbervilles for the first time and remember being just... really frustrated with all the characters and about the lack of Hope in that one, too. I was also hoping to love I Capture the Castle and was a bit grumpy about the second half of the book!!

6. Biggest surprise?

The books I read because my friends loved them!! Such as The Blue Castle (Eden), The Man Born to be King (Magpie), Gourmet Hound (Eden), Queen’s Thief (Fran), Blandings Castle/Psmith (Rebekah), Discworld (I think I started reading it for the first time because of Fran as well)...... I also reread a bunch of old favourites (Lord of the Rings and a few Jane Austens) and they were even better than I remembered!! Which was just wonderful!! (though not very surprising, I guess!!)

7. Favourite new author (either new to you or debut)?

MEGAN WHALEN TURNER. I also have a new appreciation for P.G. Wodehouse (after crashing through all of his Jeeves books and most of the Blandings Castle audiobooks) and Terry Pratchett (after bulldozing through a good number of Discworld books, most of them two or three times) and Georgette Heyer (read my first few Heyers this year and had SUCH a blast).

8. Favourite new fictional crush?

In general: Ik-jun from Hospital Playlist (He’s not from a book sksfjkl ;sdfj k I wanted to mention him because I just love him a Lot)

In terms of books: Sam Vimes (sdlkfjs;kls) and Henry Tilney (I loved him before, but this year cemented him as one of the top, if not The Favourite Austen hero in my heart). I don’t know if Gen counts, because I feel very friendly towards him, and alternate between wanting to make soup for him and wanting to bonk him on the head with a cardboard tube.

Mal (from S&B) had some Really Good lines, too. Especially in the last chapter of Ruin and Rising.

9. Newest favourite character?

A whole PLATOON of them. Sasha and Lysander from @magpie-trove​‘s story, Beatrice and Romeo from @imissthembutitwasntadisaster​‘s story, Emilia and Lily from @itspileofgoodthings​‘s stories, Tiffany Aching, Granny Weatherwax, Helen and Irene and Costis from Queen’s Thief, Dorothea and Maggie from George Eliot’s books, Sally from The Adventures of Sally....

10. A book that made you cry?

Literally cried so many times this year over all sorts of stories. But a few off the top of my head:

The Penderwicks (all of them): cried from sheer joy!!!

Seven for a Secret: there are so many lines in the most recent chapters alone that brought tears to my eyes.

The Keys of Fire: which is The definitive Fairy Tail fanfic for me. I just love this story so much. And i was surprised all over again by the forgiveness and the love and the grace and the healing in this story this time around!!

The Queen of Attolia/The King of Attolia: cried out of surprise and joy at nearly all the Gen/Irene scenes (not the beginning ones sl;fksdsdlfk jd but my heart did a great leap when Gen remembers seeing Irene dance)

Ruin and Rising: cried at the ending. Also because I was so happy. (There is no such thing as an ordinary love!!!)

Crooked Kingdom: cried at what Kaz did for Inej (couldn’t help it. That moment was beautiful)

(It has been quite an emotional year. The waterworks are triggered by the smallest things. But I’m happy to say that I’ve cried out of happiness mostly in the book department.)

11. A book that made you happy?

(Nearly all of them tbh!!! I have so many new favourite books from this year’s reading list alone!!!)

The Penderwicks series. Was in bliss for the whole week. I was also incredibly happy listening to the Discworld audiobooks, and reading new installments of Emilia and Seven for a Secret and The Stars Hold No Part In This!!! All the Wodehouse and Heyer books I read were delightful.... David Copperfield was so full of joy and grace and it made me want to prance in a field. All of the Anne books I reread were comfort reads. And of course The Keys of Fire, which kept me smiling for hours: I feel like a kid being handed an ice cream cone with three scoops and a cherry on top whenever I read it. Incredibly happy.

12. Most beautiful book you have bought or received this year?

The second-hand Vintage Classics Jane Austens!! :’) especially Northanger Abbey, which was in Excellent condition. Very floppy (unlike the longer Austens..... alas for Mansfield Park, which is harder to flip through) and fits comfortably in my hands.

And the Tundra Classics edition of Anne of the Island. (I liked the way the paper felt and the text was a really nice font and size!)

13. What book do you need to read by the end of the year?

OOH TONS. I’m still reading Anna Karenina (stopped because I thought: I need a happy story right now). Would love to keep reading Queen’s Thief (I’m taking it slow because they’re books that should be savoured), make some headway in Dorothy Sayers’s Lord Peter Wimsey books, read more Georgette Heyer, start on The Goblin Emperor and a Bunch of books I've been meaning to read for a while (The Eagle of the Ninth, Piranesi, Phantom of the Opera, Surprised by Joy, Crime and Punishment, War and Peace are the main ones. This is an ambitious list but I’d like to read at least two of them before the year is out sl;kffdksl;dfjslk;)

tagging: @imissthembutitwasntadisaster​ @soldier-poet-king​ @septembersung​ @lady-merian​ @called-kept​ if you would like to!! And YOU, if you think it looks fun and want to give it a try!! :D

[seance]

› gif maker appreciation tag

rules: answer the first half of the questions with gifsets of your own, then answer the second half by tagging gif makers you love!

in honor of dia’s wonderful two years gif-iversary ♡ i was tagged by a bunch of cuties: @iridescentides / @flynncarter / @molinareggie / @miriammaisel / @juliesdahlia / @madeline-kahn / @malikjavaddzayn / @faeryglass / @winterfrosted

LINK A GIFSET › 

Link a gifset you’re really proud of:

on this old ass five gifset, i don’t know there’s something about it i guess, the fact that i managed to keep it simple (i have a problem with overcomplicating things, making them way too messy) but still got the point and the feeling i was going for across › NEVER FINISH A WAR WITHOUT STARTING ANOTHER

Link a gifset where you tried something new:

I WANTED TO BE STRONGER › this was one of the first gifsets where i really went all the way with the style experimentation and where i had the idea of the ‘blubble frame’ as i like to call it, which i love using from time to time

SHADOW AND BONE MAIN CAST › i actually first used this particular style in one of my assassin’s creed edit (NO BOOKS, NO WISDOM) but that never on my main so!

THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY EDITORIAL › i still like this edit a lot, completely different from my usual style but it came out neat!

JATP SCRAPBOOK › experimenting with textures and blending modes!

Link a gifset that features your favorite character or celebrity:

WICKER PEOPLE › my favorite chaotic disasters and special mention to THE RAIN WILL EVENTUALLY COME because this poem just kills me.

Link a gifset that you want more people to see:

i think maybe my last shadow and bone one? HERE COMES JUDGMENT DAY just because it took forever and i’m kinda proud of that first gif + i made it feeling super ill so it’s double the value agsgs- 

Link a gifset that you had fun making:

this JATP + BODIES OF WATER one, cause i absolute love finding things to associate characters to and i’m very happy how the blending turned out in the end!

Link a gifset that you created as part of a meme, challenge, or series:

FAVORITE S1 EPISODE › when i still used to gif somehow normally ahah 

Link a gifset of yours that makes you smile:

YOU WERE ALWAYS GOLD TO ME › this song and these characters just mean a lot to me and i poured my whole heart in this gifset!

Link a gifset that you made for someone else:

the love i feel for my friends is stored in the random gifsets

READY OR NOT for @overzonen

NO LULLABY / PARANORMAL INVESTIGATORS for @number5theboy

ON LOVE AND ANGER for @evakant

TAG SOMEONE WHO ›

Tag someone who inspired you to start making gifs:

Oh gosh, I think I started around 2011 so I really can’t remember. I never really stopped but I had some kind of renaissance last summer, in july and I owe that to all the amazing creators in the Umbrella Academy fandom.

Tag someone who makes great vibrant gifs:

@captainheroism @meliorn @ughmerlin and @nina-zenyk all make such unique use of colors, in their own personalized styles but with such consistency and I never fail to recognize their edits on my dash, they stand out in the best of ways!

Tag someone who makes great pale/pastel gifs:

I’m not really a fan of pale or bw gifs, I live and breathe colors but! @ciriofcintras is the only one I follow who edits  like that and the only one I need because everything she makes is amazing, neat, and sharp. Always the right balance of shades. special mention to my girl @mariathorpe use of muted colors that always fit the mood so well!

Tag someone who gifs for a fandom you love:

Well, too many to count I think. If we’re mutuals, there’s a good 90% chance that’s because you’re gifmaker too and we share fandoms! To name a few, @number5theboy you already know I’m ride or die for lizzie but the thoughtfulness she puts in each gifset makes it extra special! @andyoudoctor myra is constantly improving and dishing out amazing content

Tag someone who uses text/typography really well in their gifsets:

becca @inejz-ghafa engy @alina-mal and ava @anya-chalotra are my go to for this particular type of inspiration! their careful placements and gradient and font work is always lovely, you can feel the effort behind it. typhography is the thing i waste more time on when i gif so i can really appreciate their art!

Tag someone who motivates you to step up your game:

miss ava for sure, becca again, @ogaferoga is a artist in their own right and no one does it like them. honestly ALL the people i’ve tagged here are the reason why i always strive to try new things and experiment more, i feel like we’re all learning together, at our own pace but together nevertheless and that’s so inspiring and comforting ♥

Tag someone who you have taken inspiration from:

again, i won’t ever deny the huge impact @anya-chalotra had on my current style. i try not to go with the exact type of edits of other gifmakers, unless it’s a particularly popular trend that doesn’t involve a particular attention to composition both out of respect and because i like to experiment on my own. but that’s exactly what ava pushed me to do, her edits showed me how much potential photoshop had that i wasn’t really exploiting so i got down to learn more about it! she remains my # editing goals for sure ♥

Tag gif makers who you admire and appreciate!: i love you guys so much, keep doing your thing and being awesome! @arnos @alethiometry @milkovivhs @allisonshargreeve @rockyblue @evakant @dykejaskiers @arthurpendragonns @starkkov @jessiemeili 

[mycroftinthemindpalace]

Descendants Alphabet - L is for Lost

Mal didn’t have the heart to turn Carlos down when he came back from welding class with a ring. The band was made from two different types of metal, and the dragonfly perched on top had green wings from broken glass. Mal didn’t wear jewelry, and asked if he’d meant to give it to Evie, but he insisted it was for her, so she wore it, and his face lit up, so she wore it again, and again, and again. She wore it until the morning she reached onto her bedside table and her hand came back empty. She searched the floor, but the ring was lost. “I’m sorry, Carlos,” she says, and means it. “I don’t know what happened to it.” But Carlos just smiles, and two days later comes in with another, with wings of purple. And when she loses this one, he makes one with wings of blue, then wings of red. (Mal keeps all the lost rings in a box beneath her bed, one that she takes out when she’s alone and holds by the window to see the sun scatter the colors along the wall. Carlos knows, but never says a word.) 

Jay was cold and wet. His chest hurt from the tackle he’d taken – because Chad had missed the block, he thought grumpily – and a colorful assortment of bruises spread across his body. The locker room after the game was quiet. Someone should say something inspirational, but the plain truth was that they’d lost and their season was over and they all just wanted to be sad about it. Jay was the last to leave, half-dragging his equipment behind him, and, distracted by his thoughts, he didn’t realize he wasn’t alone until the rain overhead suddenly ceased. He looked in surprise over his shoulder and Evie gave him a silent smile, the umbrella gripped tightly in one hand, and Jay’s palm in the other.  

There were no street names on the Isle. That would have been too orderly, too much like the world their parents had left behind. Most places were nondescript – the dock by the red barn, the broken bench just past Dr. Facilier’s place – or infamous – the street where CJ Hook got stabbed, the alley where Mal first met Jay. The kids knew their way around, and that was all that mattered. But Evie leaves the Isle, and when she returns, the red barn has been demolished, CJ has been stabbed more than once, and, for the first time in her life, Evie gets lost. 

Sometimes Carlos’s thoughts get the better of him. He tries to control them, keep them a path going forward, away from all the shadows behind him, pointing only towards the sun, but sometimes the path veers left and loops around and then he’s back where he started, back where he never wanted to be. It would be easy for him to get lost in those thoughts, to step off the path and into the woods and get tangled in a thorn bush and trapped there forever, and just when he thinks it might happen, Jay emerges from the trees, hacks through the thorns, and pulls him back. Even though Carlos knows he’ll probably see that thorny bush again, he knows he’ll see Jay too.    

[eviesmyspiritanimal]

Pool Pandemonium

Summary: When the gang decides to spend a day at the pool, some rather interesting events transpire. Lonnie's trying to steal Jay from Audrey, Carlos is caught in an interesting situation and Ben's sleeping through it all while Mal and Evie do their usual sisterly stuff. Plenty of familial/friendship feels with everybody with some Jaudrey, Huma, Bal, and Jarlos dashed in.

  “Don’t you think it’s kind of weird that Ben is over here tanning with us?” Evie questioned, gesturing to the sleeping boy nearby, and Mal raised an eyebrow as she gave Evie a onceover.

  It was a nice, hot Saturday afternoon that Mal, Evie, Uma, Audrey, Jane, Carlos, Jay, Harry, Gil, Ben, and Lonnie had all made their way to the pool. They had scheduled it since the summer days had been so hot recently that they were nearly intolerable even with air conditioning. At this point, almost everyone had come out and joined them at the pool except Audrey, who was no doubt ensuring that she looked perfect before being seen by everyone.

  Of course, Mal herself did not particularly want to get into the pool, but she did want to spend time with the others. Therefore, as a result of Mal’s choice to abstain from swimming, Evie resolved to join Mal on the poolside in hopes of getting a tan and also to keep her favorite person in the world company.

  “First of all, out of the two of us, you’re the one tanning. I’m the one taking cover under an umbrella. Second of all, just look at his pale butt, E. He needs a tan more than anyone here,” Mal pointed out, raising her eyebrows as she looked between Evie and Ben. Ben was soundly asleep, enjoying the warm sun against him as he snoozed.

  “Yeah… You guys are like a couple of vampires, aren’t you?” Evie asked, and Mal scoffed, narrowing her eyes at the bluenette who even this early in summer had a gorgeous tan covering her skin. Of course, Evie was always that way. She always turned an absolutely beautiful shade of golden.

  “Well, look here, golden nugget, not everybody can get a tan,” Mal bantered with the other girl, and Evie barely held back her adoring grin as she gazed at her sister.

  “Yeah, especially not you,” Evie commented teasingly with a giggle, and Mal simply glared at her. Evie just snorted hard, holding her stomach as she laughed unashamedly.

  “Don’t make me push you into the pool,” Mal pointed a scolding finger at Evie, and Evie just reached her hand out and grabbed the finger as she persisted in her mirth, seeing right through Mal’s words to the joking undertones.

  “Hey, I can arrange that,” Uma suddenly piped up, emerging from the pool water as she rested her arms on the edge and looked at the two best friends with a mischievous glint in her eye. Evie quickly pulled her legs up to her chest, her laughter slowing significantly as she quite obviously took Uma’s threat seriously.

  “At ease, Blue. I ain’t targeting you just yet,” Uma waved her concerns away, but Uma’s last words still stuck with Evie, so she decided to keep away anything that Uma could potentially grab onto.

  “Watch out, ladies, coming through,” a voice suddenly declared, and Uma raised an eyebrow, a slight smirk pulling at her lips as Audrey suddenly came through in her hot pink bikini.

  “Look who they let out of the circus,” Uma commented aloud, referencing Audrey’s bright colors, and Audrey just rolled her eyes, ignoring the pirate captain.

  “Wow… Is there some reason you’re dressed in a bikini?” Mal questioned, wrinkling her nose a bit as she took in the vast amounts of skin that Audrey was displaying. Of course, most of her disgust was simply disguised envy. Mal did sort of wish that she could get a tan like Audrey and Evie could.

  “Hey, what’s wrong with a bikini?” Uma questioned defensively, and Mal almost grinned as she remembered that Uma had one on as well.

  “Yours is functional. Audrey looks like she came out of Victoria’s Secret,” Mal pointed out, and Evie immediately chuckled in response to Mal’s statement. Mal just shrugged as Evie’s hand snaked around her own and squeezed it tightly.

  “That would explain her lacy underwear, though, wouldn’t it?” Uma acknowledged slyly, and Mal cackled wickedly.

  “Ugh… Anyway, to answer your question, Mal, besides the fact that my bikini is absolutely the most stylish, Lonnie is going to be here with us today,” Audrey stated, and Uma looked at the princess confusedly, trying to decipher this enigma.

  “What? You trying to impress Lonnie with your ability to tan or something?” Uma asked cluelessly, motioning toward Audrey, and Audrey huffed in aggravation.

  “No! I’m trying to outdo her! Jay’s right over there, and I do not intend for Lonnie to get his attention!” Audrey explained her logic behind her mode of dress as she gestured in the general direction of the opposite side of the pool. Uma turned her head, following Audrey’s hand movement, and the pirate’s eyes widened a bit as she realized the scene that was occurring in that direction.

  “Well, don’t look now, Princess, but it looks like she’s over there trying to get his attention right now actually,” Uma spoke, and Audrey’s eyes snapped to where Lonnie was getting much too close to her Jay. Jay was just talking to her happily, grinning and laughing as they conversed, and Audrey felt her insides catch on fire with the pure infuriation she felt at the entire ordeal.

  “She’s trying to steal my guy!!!” Audrey declared, and Uma pursed her lips, nodding her head.

  “Sure looks that way.”

  “We’ve got to do something, girls!!! Help me!” Audrey cried, and Mal squinted as she gazed at them.

  “Just chill out, Thorn. I recognize that body language from anywhere. He’s not into her,” Mal waved the princess off, and Audrey narrowed her eyes as she clenched her teeth in her anger.

  “But she’s definitely into him,” Uma commented, and Audrey almost growled underneath her breath. Uma looked up at the princess, raising an eyebrow.

  “Hey, you want me to whoop her butt for you?” Uma offered, and Audrey knew that the pirate captain was being completely sincere with her words.

  “Well, no! We’ve got to use finesse! We can’t just charge in like some kind of rabid pack animals!” Audrey almost screeched, trying to keep her voice down at least a little so Lonnie would not hear her.

  “UGH!!! She infuriates me sometimes!!!” Audrey practically snarled, and Uma looked between the princess standing nearby the pool and the two people at the far-off end of the area.

  “Welp… Finesse or not, there’s only one way to fix it,” Uma told the princess, and Audrey paused. However, just as soon as she did, Uma surged up and grabbed Audrey’s arm, yanking her into the pool.

  “You got to get in and get started!”

  Audrey squealed just before she splashed heavily into the water.

  Mal and Evie flinched, squealing a bit as they tried to shield themselves from the incoming water. However, Ben never even reacted, simply snoring as he relaxed in the seat.

  As soon as Audrey came up to the surface, she was sputtering and looked nearly feral.

  “WOULD YOU STOP DOING THAT?!!!” Audrey screeched as she went into a coughing fit, and Uma cackled evilly. Mal could not help but smile and laugh with the pirate. Evie tried diligently to avoid laughing too much, but she was failing miserably.

  “Hey, consider yourself lucky. At least this time it wasn’t gnarly old pond water or Enchanted Lake water. It was all fancy and chlorinated just like you like it,” Uma leaned into Audrey’s space, moving her fingers to accentuate her words, and Audrey leaned away from her, wiping her face hard with her hand.

  “Yeah, which is why my eyes are burning now!” Audrey whined, and Uma rolled her eyes with a deep sigh.

  “Nothing is ever just right for you, is it, Goldilocks?” Uma questioned somewhat rhetorically, and Audrey squinted angrily at Uma.

  “Hey, don’t call me that! My hair is brown now, you know. I stopped dying it blonde a while ago,” Audrey pointed out, coughing a little as she tried to get the last of the water out of her system. Uma rolled her eyes, completely unimpressed.

  “Sure thing… Anyways, let’s go get your dude,” Uma waved her off and took the princess’s arm as she guided her through the pool in the direction of Jay and Lonnie.

  Mal looked at Evie, raising an eyebrow. Evie gazed back at her.

  “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” Mal questioned somewhat tiredly.

  “We shouldn’t have let everyone get together in the same pool,” Evie questioned in a manner that was more of a statement.

  “Precisely,” Mal agreed, and Evie shook her head slowly as they watched Uma and Audrey head toward Jay and Lonnie.

  “Alright, now how’re we playing this?” Uma questioned, and Audrey huffed as they grew closer to the two.

  “I don’t know. The sudden stunt you pulled a few seconds ago seems to have taken any ideas I could have had,” Audrey snidely remarked, and Uma grinned widely.

  “Oh, well, in that case, I’ll just dunk her and him and be done with it,” Uma proclaimed with false cheer, and Audrey groaned and shook her head.

  “Just follow my lead.”

  “How did I know you were going to whoop out that bossy streak?” Uma asked aloud, and Audrey just shot Uma an ungrateful glance before forcing the most overly happy and sweet grin that she had in her considering her current emotions in regard to both the situation at hand as well as Uma’s irritating ways.

  “Hey, Hottie,” Audrey greeted, and as soon as Jay looked at her, she planted a giant one on his lips. He made a small noise of surprise, but before he could get into it too much, she pulled away, looping her arms around him as she rested her head on his shoulder. He smiled at her, despite the fact that he was terribly confused at the moment.

  “Hey, Foxy.”

  “Oh, and Lonnie! How are you?” Audrey questioned, and Lonnie grinned a little, somewhat put out by Audrey’s sudden appearance.

  “I’m pretty good. It’s really been a while since we talked, hasn’t it?” Lonnie replied, and Uma nodded.

  “Yeah, it’s been too long,” Uma piped up, keeping as much cordiality in her tone as she could. At this moment, it was all Uma could do to keep from dunking Lonnie and fully submerging the girl in the water. After all, Uma was rather protective of Audrey and her feelings, despite the fact that Uma would sooner die than let anyone know that.

  “So what were you two talking about? Uma and I didn’t mean to interrupt,” Audrey innocently spoke, and Uma barely held back the smirk at Audrey’s wicked ways. Sometimes Uma could not help but think of how Audrey would have excelled as a villain kid.

  “We were just talking about my upcoming spot in Men’s Health magazine,” Jay pointed out, and Uma could almost feel the jealous rage emanating from Audrey. However, the princess quite admirably kept it together.

  “Oh, yes, my Jay is such a hunk, and as soon as I heard he was going to be in the magazine, I could’ve just popped. I’m so proud of him,” Audrey noted as she kissed his jaw, stroking his chest gently with her fingers as she spoke. Jay looked at her strangely, but grinned anyway, honestly not quite sure what was going on, but enjoying the attention nevertheless.

  “Yeah. I imagine you are pretty proud of him,” Lonnie awkwardly acknowledged, and Uma almost laughed at the strain in Lonnie’s voice as she spoke.

  “Yep,” Audrey agreed, and Uma nodded along with the princess. The energy was just overwhelmingly territorial at this point, and Uma could have sworn that she saw claws coming out, despite how subtly.

  However, not too far from the scene unfolding with Jay, Audrey, Lonnie, and Uma, Carlos and Jane were sitting next to one another on the edge of the pool as they peacefully talked.

  But they were soon joined by Harry and Gil.

  “Hey, Wee Laddy. Lil’ Duckling,” Harry greeted, and Jane shrunk back just a little as she moved a bit closer to Carlos. Carlos took her hand protectively, looking at Harry with as much confidence as he could possibly muster. Especially considering the fact that Harry was significantly outdoing Carlos with all of Harry’s rippling muscles and barely clothed form. Carlos could not help but feel a little intimidated, and he really hoped that Jane did not like what she saw with Harry.

  “So, I’ve got a bit of a… Proposition for ye,” Harry spoke, the beginnings of one of those maniacal grins for which he was so infamous. Carlos furrowed his brow, not liking where this was going. He really hoped that this idea had nothing to do with Jane.

  “Alrighty, so me and Gil were thinkin’.”

  “You could go get up on the high dive and jump,” Gil excitedly declared, smiling dopily as he glanced at Harry for approval. Harry nodded along with a crazy look in his eye.

  “And why would I want to do that?” Carlos questioned, furrowing his brow, and Harry shrugged.

  “Well, I just thought ye might wanna prove that ye aren’t totally chicken. After all, if ye refuse, Janey ‘ere might ‘ave to find ‘er a real man, eh?” Harry explained, and Carlos frowned a little at the thought. Jane shook her head.

  “Don’t listen to him, Carlos. I wouldn’t think any less of you if you didn’t jump off. Even I wouldn’t jump off.”

  “Oh, it’s alright, Carlos. Don’t cry, pumpkin pie,” Harry teased relentlessly, making his voice more high-pitched as he tried to goad Carlos into going along with his plan.

  “I’m not doing it,” Carlos declared, and Harry gasped in mock surprise.

  “Ooh!!! Chicken boy, chicken boy!” Harry declared, and he started to make chicken noises. Gil wasted no time in joining in with the sound. After several moments of this, Carlos groaned.

  “Fine! I’ll do it!” Carlos conceded, and Harry grinned widely, reaching around Jane and clapping Carlos on the back.

  “There ye are! Go for it!” Harry encouraged, and Carlos swallowed hard, getting up before Jane could say anything as he headed for the high dive nearby.

  “Oh, no… Carlos, don’t go!!” Jane called after him, but Carlos kept going. Harry grinned at Gil as he slid into the pool. Gil followed him quickly, and they headed out to the center of the pool to get a better look at the spectacle.

  Carlos climbed up the ladder carefully, working his way up to the top. Soon enough, he was at the diving board. He carefully stepped up on it and started to head toward the end of it. However, as soon as he got somewhat closer to the edge, he suddenly realized that it was an exceedingly long way down and that the water did not look nearly deep enough for him to safely jump into.

  So he froze up and he carefully got down on his knees, aiming to back up toward the ladder safely. But he found that he was completely frozen with fear, so he grabbed onto the diving board with his arms and shut his eyes tightly, clenching his teeth as he tried to keep his terror at bay.

  “Oh, no,” Carlos whimpered, hanging on tightly to the diving board.

  Down with the others, Jay was fully distracted by how Audrey was practically hanging onto him like a koala as Uma stood to the side, looking as if she might bite Lonnie’s head off at any moment.

  However, he suddenly felt a tap on his shoulder. Jay turned around to look, and he was met with Harry’s wild eyes.

  “Hey, tell yer baby brother to hurry up and jump,” Harry spoke, and Jay furrowed his brow as the rest of the group turned to look at him.

  “What? Jump from where?”

  “The high dive!” Gil pointed out, and Jay immediately looked up. His eyes went ridiculously wide as he gaped at the sight of Carlos clinging to the diving board.

  “Carlos?!” Jay cried, but the boy did not reply. Jay just stared at him for a long moment before Audrey started smacking his shoulder insistently.

  “Don’t just stand there! Go help him!!!” Audrey exclaimed, and Jay was jostled into action. He quickly swam through the water, pulling himself up onto the edge as he hurried up the ladder to where Carlos was currently stuck.

  “Whoo!! That’s my man!!!” Audrey yelled loudly, and Uma smirked a little, knowing that the words were just a flex on Audrey’s part as she tried to rub her ownership in Lonnie’s face.

  Mal and Evie soon hurried over to see what was going on.

  “What is happening?!” Evie demanded, and Mal shook her head swiftly.

  “And why is Carlos on the high dive?!” Mal questioned frantically. Uma laughed a little as she looked at Harry and Gil.

  “Y’all wanna explain why he’s up there?” Uma asked, and Harry smirked widely.

  “Me and Gilly dared him to!” Harry told the both of them, and Gil smiled widely as he gazed up at Evie with adoration.

  “He was chicken! But I wouldn’t be chicken. I’d jump right off of it,” Gil proudly announced, staring at Evie. The blunette was immediately uncomfortable as she crossed her arms before her, trying to resist the urge to shudder in reply to his attentions. Mal immediately sniggered at the ordeal. However, her attentions were soon brought back to the matter at hand.

  Jay had finally made his way to the top, and he carefully walked out on the diving board, his eyes fixated on the form of his little brother.

  “Hey, Frosted Flake,” Jay greeted, and Carlos just trembled a bit.

  “Get me down from here!” Carlos begged, and Jay nodded slowly.

  “Alright, come on backwards,” Jay coaxed, but Carlos shook his head swiftly.

  “I can’t move!” the younger boy expressed, and Jay groaned a little.

  “C’mon, dude, you gotta get down,” Jay told him somewhat softly, pulling at his shoulders as he tried to get the younger boy to move. Jay was quite honestly somewhat afraid that they would both fall in at this rate.

  Jay kept working at the younger boy, trying to persuade him to release the diving board and come with him. However, despite Jay’s tugs, Carlos would not budge a single bit. In fact, the more Jay pulled, the more the boy glued himself to the board.

  “Hey! Do you need me to turn into a dragon?!” Mal suddenly shouted, and Jay shook his head quickly, gesturing dismissively.

  “Oh, no, no, that won’t be necessary,” Jay called in reply.

  “Carlos, come on! This is embarrassing!” Jay told him, muttering the words under his breath in stern tones. Carlos was seriously starting to get aggravating. He would not move no matter how hard Jay tried to make him.

  “You don’t have to jump, okay? Let’s just back up carefully, alright?”

  “I can’t, Jay, I can’t!” Carlos quivered, and Jay groaned deeply.

  “Jay, do what I do!! Stroke his head and tell him that he’s going to be okay! Cuddle him if you have to!!!” Evie yelled to the both of them, and Jay laughed loudly.

  “I am not doing that,” Jay declared, and he then began prying at Carlos with a renewed vigor.

  From below them, Audrey could easily see that they needed help. So she looked to Uma, hoping that the pirate would put away her initial wickedly mischievous urges in favor of helping the two.

  “Uma, can you please help them get down?” Audrey questioned, and Uma nodded eagerly. Audrey immediately knew that asking Uma for help was undoubtedly the worst idea she could have had.

  “Sure! I’ll help them down,” Uma replied, and Audrey winced, already having a strong inclination of how this was going to end.

  Uma headed up the ladder quickly.

  “Dude, would you move? It’s not that far!” Jay aggravatedly addressed the boy. Carlos just shook his head.

  “Hey, boys, how’s the weather up here?” a voice suddenly questioned, and Jay looked behind him quickly only to see Uma as she held onto the ladder, the mischief swirling in her eyes.

  “Nice enough, I suppose,” Jay hesitantly replied. Uma nodded easily in reply.

  “Well, that’s just peachy. Now, look, you two, this is gonna end one of two ways, but whichever way you choose, you’re getting into the water,” Uma told them, getting down to business immediately as a wicked smirk played across her face while she held onto the ladder carefully. Jay glanced between Carlos and Uma and sighed deeply as he realized that Carlos was just going to have to jump.

  “C’mon, Frosted Flake. You gotta jump.”

  “WHAT?! I thought you said I didn’t have to jump!!!” Carlos cried hysterically, and Jay groaned.

  “You’ve got to. Uma’s going to push us if you don’t,” Jay informed him, and Carlos glanced in the direction of the ladder. Uma smiled at him, full of false cheeriness as she offered him a little wave.

  “PUSH HIM, PUSH HIM, PUSH HIM, PUSH HIM!!!” Harry and Gil chanted, and Uma blew them a kiss with a waggle of her eyebrows.

  “Would you two stop! That’s terrible!” Audrey cried, and Harry and Gil just kept going. Lonnie shrugged.

  “Honestly, I kind of want to see her push them in,” Lonnie noted with a laugh, clapping along with Uma’s first mate and prized barnacle as she cheered Uma on. Audrey rolled her eyes.

  “Of course you would,” Audrey huffily pronounced, and she placed a hand on Jane’s shoulder as the girl gaped up at the high dive in horror.

  Realizing he had no other choice, Carlos swallowed hard, shakily standing up. Jay held out an arm, trying carefully to balance on the high dive as he attempted to help Carlos to his feet. As soon as Carlos was standing, he looked down at the water and Jay could see him tense up in fear.

  “I can’t do it!!” Carlos proclaimed, and Jay shook his head.

  “C’mon, dude, be a man.”

  “I’M NOT A MAN!!!! I’M A BOY!!!!” Carlos screeched, and Jay shook his head, almost feeling Uma’s energy as she was readying herself to push them.

  “Well, there’s no better day to jump into manhood with both FEEETTT!!!!!” Jay yelled as he was suddenly shoved forward and ran into Carlos as they both lost their balance and descended into the deep water.

  They both hit the water hard, but Jay soon emerged, dragging Carlos with him. Carlos was coughing violently, and Jay patted his back as he glared up at the high dive.

  “WHOO!!! That was AWESOME!!! WHAT’S MY NAME?!!!” Uma cried excitedly, and Harry and Gil whooped with pure enthrallment. Lonnie even cheered a little, and Jay rolled his eyes, allowing himself to laugh a little with the entire ordeal. After all, it was a bit humorous.

  Jane swiftly swam over to Carlos, placing a hand on his back as she fretted over him. Jay released him, allowing him to join Jane as they headed back over to the edge of the pool. Audrey moved over to Jay, and he wasted no time in grabbing her waist tightly. She placed her hands on his chest.

  “So, do I get a kiss for my heroics?” Jay questioned, raising an eyebrow, and Audrey rolled her eyes but leaned in nevertheless as she gazed at his lips.

  “Who says you’re deserving? I didn’t see a hero. I saw you two have a great fall like Humpty Dumpty,” Audrey commented, and Jay smirked at her wickedly as he kissed her suddenly. Audrey gasped a little but giggled in spite of her shock and kissed him back vigorously.

  However, they were suddenly interrupted by an enormous splash. Audrey gasped as she recoiled in Jay’s arms. To her surprise, Uma suddenly emerged, coughing hard as she wiped her eyes.

  “Uma?” Audrey gaped at her, and she suddenly realized that Uma looked totally disheveled. Audrey almost laughed as she suddenly realized what must have happened.

  “Did you fall off the high dive?” Audrey questioned her voice wavering with the barely contained giggles, and Uma immediately stopped as she stared at Audrey.

  “No!” Uma squeaked as she suddenly started coughing once again.

  “Oh, she did, alright!” Lonnie cried excitedly, and Uma flashed her an irritated glare.

  “She danced right off the side of it,” Mal added with a wide smirk. Audrey just stared at Uma for a long moment.

   “What happened?” a voice suddenly piped up and they all turned to look at the source of the voice. There before them was Ben standing there, his skin practically glowing red as a beet as he gaped at all of them.

  They all shared a glance before bursting into laughter.

[hopingforromanoff]

I Love You, Goodbye

Pairing: Natasha Romanoff x Reader

Words:1,368

Requests are open, so feel free to send in requests and I will do my best to get them posted ASAP.

Warnings: medical stuff and talk of character death

A/N: This hurt and is super sad but i’m really proud at how this turned out. I MAY do a second part but i’m not 100% sure how I want to end this, let me know what you guys think!

My Masterlist

The thick covering of the trees caused the sky to almost vanish, only allowing a few specs of blue to break through the green umbrella of leaves. The scorching sun began to soak up the water from the recent rain however the mud still squelched beneath your feet. The only other movement present was the occasional bird, fluttering by singing it’s song and squirrels diving between nearby branches. Your lungs struggled to get oxygen to your already weakened muscles; you could do this, you had to do this.

The ground hardened under your feet as more light began to break through the foliage that surrounded you.The warmth of the sun heated your already burning skin. A brown frog hopped around the path in front of you, pausing for a moment before continuing its way into the leaves that littered the muddy ground.  Your foot splashed in a shallow puddle briefly cooling your fevered body. Just a few more feet Y/N, just a few more feet, you can do this.

By the time you reached the top, you were completely out of breath. Your legs stumbled on the uneven ground, Natasha’s hand fell to your back, steadying you. You glanced down at the water below you, thinking about how nice the cool water would feel on your skin. A stream of water flowed into the lake as children splashed on the nearby beach. They giggled as they chased each other, not a care in the world. You wished you could be so carefree but you couldn’t, not in this life, you wouldn’t get the chance.

“Baby-” Natasha started.

“Shh Tasha, just let me enjoy this, one last time” your words were faint and barely audible. A warm breeze ran over you, drying the tears that had begun to trickle down your cheeks.

“I won’t allow this to happen Y/N, I won’t just watch you die” you felt wet tears hit your shoulder as she pulled you close to her.

“We don’t have any choice”

                                           ~24 Hours Earlier~

Steve and Natasha’s laughter filled the air as you entered the mission room. The sound of your combat boots echoed as you approached them.

“You’re back early” Steve greeted you with a smile.

“I told you it would be a piece of cake Rogers. Are you doubting my mad skills?” You pulled the small black flash drive from the back pocket of your suit and proudly pressed it into Steve’s open hand.

“Oh I never doubt you. I’ve seen how you work, I’m just surprised that they let go of this information so easily” Steve flipped the drive around in his hands, examining it.

Nat’s lips moved however, no audible words came out. Steve laughed in response but you couldn’t hear it. You stumbled away, trying to come to terms with the loss of your hearing. Your vision blurred as your sense of sight began to go. Natasha supported your drooping neck as your eyes frantically tried to keep focus on her blurred face.

The pain started as a dull ache in the center of your brain that rapidly spread through your head and extended down your body. You cried out as your legs finally gave out from under you. You didn’t hit the ground though as someone caught you and lifted you into their arms. The movement made you nauseous and you had to resist the urge to throw up all over Steve.

The pain had at least doubled by the time you made it to the medical wing. People rushing around you, pushing Natasha away and beginning to poke and prod you. Your shaking hand reached for hers.

“I’m here Baby” her voice managed to break through the ringing in your ears.

A sharp needle pierced your arm, shooting heavy pain-killers into your veins. It coursed through you, dulling the pain as it went.

The tests had been long and tedious, blood test after blood test, multiple MRI’s and CAT scans, all taking you away from Natasha for far too long. All you wanted to do was be in her arms. You had to be dosed with fresh pain-killers every few hours or the pain would return, stronger each and every time. With each dose, you only wished for it to be over. When you finally were able to return to Natasha’s arms you were shaking like a weak and scared puppy; the combination of heavy medication and fear left you weak and fearful.

The look on Bruce’s face when he returned didn’t inspire any hope in you.

“I’m sorry Y/N” he started, almost looking like he was going to cry himself. “We are unsure but we think this is something that Hydra did to you, probably when you were still young, long before we pulled you out” he paused trying to figure out the best thing to say.

“It must be some sort of fail-safe, a kill switch to stop you from spreading their secrets”

“What are you trying to say?” Steve speaks up from the corner of the room, where he had sat lurking in the shadows hoping that you could not see his fear and concern.

“Umm well it’s designed to destroy neural tissue, it will cause extreme pain, grand mal seizures, cell damage and eventually neuron death” Bruce’s voice was shaking as he spoke.

“Bruce. English Please” Natasha broke away from you and began to pace the length of the room.

“What he means is that I’m gonna die. Very slowly and painfully” Natasha didn’t stick around long enough to see your reaction as the door slammed behind her.

                                               ~Present Day~

You had ultimately made the decision to go peacefully while you slept, you had already suffered through one seizure last night and you didn’t want that again. While Natasha hadn’t been exactly happy with your decision, she couldn’t watch you suffer either. You and Nat spent what little time you had left doing the things you loved. They had not been exactly sure how long you had but the seizure last night had made their decision. If you wanted it to be peaceful, it had to be now.

Natasha’s presence lit the otherwise dull hospital room. You didn’t know how she would cope without you but you hoped she would find love again. You hoped it would be as ever consuming as the love you felt for her. You hoped she would feel a spark every time they touched and she would never want to let go. It brought joy to you to know that you would leave this world being completely and wholly loved by her and you hoped she would get the same in the very distant future when her time eventually came.

Your skin pinched as Bruce inserted the needle into your hand. They had decided the best way for this to go down was to pump you full of pain-killers and then send you into a coma while you waited for death to come for you.

“I’m going to give you two a few minutes while I get everything ready” You smiled thankfully at Bruce as he left the room.

“Y/N, please this can’t happen, there has to be another way, I can’t live without you” Natasha’s tears hit the mattress beside you.

“Tony and Bruce have been trying to find another way, they would have found another way by now” you kissed her. “Please be strong Natasha, I need you to let me go”

“I can’t be happy without you” she wiped your tears from your face softly.

Bruce returned, he asked if you were ready and you only managed a nod in response. As soon as he started the IV you could feel the medicine weighing your body down.

You stroked Natasha’s tear-stained cheek. Her eyes met yours, and you tried your hardest to remember them, because you knew after today you would never see her again. Sleep began to pull you in .

“Goodbye,I love you Natasha” you whispered as your head fell gently against the pillow and your eyes fluttered shut.

“Baby, please don’t go, I lov-” Your consciousness faded and her final words disappeared with you into the silent and black void.

[pulaasul]

Virtuous Blood - Chapter 7

Beings and creatures all over the world are suddenly attacking one another. Is this a work of the recently released villains or someone else is behind the scenes? Set after Descendants 3 and The Last Battle

A/N: The non-italicized paragraphs denote a present setting while the italicized paragraphs denote a past setting.

PLG I 1 I 2 I 3 I 4 I 5 I 6

FFN I AO3

---------

Carlos was busy working on something with the three Erlenmeyer flasks filled with clear liquid and the flowers Carlos had requested as it boiled on top of Bunsen burners.

"Care to fill us in now C?" Jay asked impatiently as Carlos did his work.

"The mushroom Dude ate is of the hallucinogenic kind," Carlos answered. "This bulb's extract can ease the victim's hallucination." He explained. "That and I'm also extracting the bulbs' sedating properties." He added. "Or at least most of them."

"Hallo-what?" Jay's eyes narrowed in confusion.

"It causes hallucinations." Evie answered. "Where'd you learn this C?" She asked the other boy in the chemistry room.

"I happened upon someone with the same condition and together we discovered this flower's ability to cure the affliction," Carlos answered the question.

Jay and Evie looked at each other then watched Carlos separate the liquid extract from the dry extract.

"Let's hurry to Dude." Carlos exclaimed as he hurriedly placed the dry powdery extract in a container and capped it with a cork.

---------

"That is what happened during my patrol," Arlus bowed at the elders present. "I deeply apologize for failing to return on schedule."

Carlos looked around, it seemed like Arlus brought him to a palace, the palace's audience chamber. He was surrounded by elderly centaurs, dwarves, dryads, and even satyrs. They made the council of elders in this place.

"At peace General Arlus," One of the elderly centaurs commented. "It is by Aslan's grace that you met a son of Adam during your patrol Arlus," She continued. "However, you may have just confirmed our fears."

"Why don't we make use of the Son of Adam's cure on everyone with this affliction?" An elderly dwarf suggested. "We need to administer them as quickly as possible, that we may restore peace in this land."

"I would really advise against that esteemed elder." Carlos voiced out in a respectful tone. "It may be too dangerous if the mushroom the others ate wasn't the same as that brown closed umbrella-looking mushroom." He cautioned the council.

Let it not be stated that Carlos and the rest of the VKs never learned how to talk to the ruling monarch or council during his stay in Auradon.

Ben may not mind the informality from his peers but, their AK friends, especially the AKs whose parents carrying a huge grudge on their respective villain counterparts, insisted that they learn the etiquette.

It was for their safety after all.

"Why do you say so, milord?" Another elderly dwarf questioned.

"It may do more harm than good," Carlos answered. "From where I came from, people's conditions worsened as soon as they ingest a cure meant for another sickness instead of their own." He shared.

"The Son of Adam makes a good point." One of the elderly dryads voiced her agreement as the others nodded.

"We have eyewitnesses claiming that those who made one tiny bite off of the devil's mushroom suffered the affliction." An elderly satyr relayed.

"Devil's mushroom?"

"It's the mushroom you saw me nib at milord," Arlus answered. "That's what eyewitnesses have also relayed to the council." He shared. "Even when I was cautioned about the toadstool, I was still entranced by its appearance, and for some reason, I was convinced to eat it."

"We have long suspected that magic was involved in those mushrooms," A Naiad commented. "Even those of us who don't eat those toadstools were entranced by it and were convinced to at least nib at them." She added.

Carlos frowned at the information shared. As far as he knew, none of the villains used food to gain an advantage against their enemies. There was Evie's mother, but other than her, no one used food to gain the upper hand.

As much as he wants to go back home, or at least find Ben, he can't, in good conscience, leave these Ainrans to this fate.

"If that is indeed the case, then I am willing to help," Carlos announced. "Just fair warning about the probable harm that this will cause."

"A son of Adam has never lead us astray before." One of the dryads shared.

"Haunted no more When Adam's brain is in fore. Seeing red they shan't be, clear skies they shall see, hauntings will cease and they will know peace." A few of the elders recited.

"We have complete faith in you Son of Adam." The elderly centaur from before smiled.

----------

Mal had just arrived at Evie's Castle when she noticed that the workshop had a sign saying that the business was closed due to an emergency. She opted to enter the castle's main entrance when she heard a dog growling and barking incessantly from inside.

Mal opened the door and went inside her home and followed the sound of barking and growling. She followed the growls up to a closed room she knew was vacant.

"Mal don't enter!" Carlos shouted as he ran up to his friend carrying with him a vial of purple powder.

"Where were you guys?" Mal asked. "What's happening?"

"Dude ate some bad mushroom and he's on a rampage," Carlos explained. "I'll just let him get a whiff of this powder and he'll be fine in a matter of minutes."

"Rampage?" Mal questioned in alarm. "Wait, wha-"

Carlos went inside the room without even registering Mal's response as Jay and Evie entered the castle.

"Carlos don't go in there alone!" Jay managed to yell as soon as the pair got to the hallways.

Jay's words fell on deaf ears as Carlos closed the door and locked it from the inside.

"What's happening?" Mal questioned in confusion.

"We don't know ourselves," Evie admitted. "Dude and Jay came back from their walk as I got Carlos new measurements when the dog fell ill." She narrated.

"That's when Carlos went panic-ky on us." Jay supplied worriedly. "Dude ate some bad mushroom and he got us to pick some flowers and extracted something from them." He finished.

"No." Mal's eyes widened. "This sickness has reached Auradon." She gasped in realization.

"What sickness?" Evie's eyes frowned.

Mal relayed to everyone present what happened in the King's castle.

"That's horrible!" Evie exclaimed.

The room's door opened once more as Carlos, with an unconscious Dude in his hands, got out. He gently carried his canine friend and faced his friends.

The trio looked at the state Carlos was in. His clothes had scratches and bite marks. Tears and dangling threads clung to his shirt's fabric while his pants were relatively unharmed.

"It's too early to assume if Dude's, Timon's, Pumba's, and Phil's case are connected, let alone one and the same." Carlos voiced. "For all we know, it could very well that they ate different kinds of mushroom that produced the same results.

"It couldn't hurt to try the cure you've concocted right?" Evie asked.

"Yes, it does." Carlos shook his head. "That's why it's ill-advised."

"Why?" Jay voiced out.

"They'd suffer overdosing effects," Carlos sighed. "The main ingredient, the only ingredient, for this cure is a plant known for making tranquilizers," He gently petter his unconscious friend. "It's not a guaranteed cure if the mushroom they've ingested is different than the one Dude has eaten."

"I see." Mal frowned.

Carlos was being cautious. Ever since he got out of the isle, he knew that anything in excess is bad for anybody: be it human or otherwise. There was a high chance that the cure for the brown mushroom would simply overdose the people who haven't eaten the mushroom.

Carlos was also cautious for another reason. He knew how the other VKs, who were enjoying their lives in Auradon, would be treated once the cure he made fails.

"If it turns out that what Phil, Timon and, Pumba ate the same mushroom that Dude ingested, then I'd be happy to help." Carlos smiled. "If you don't mind, I'd tuck the little guy in, he's still under the flower's sedating effects."

"Go." Mal nodded. "Go take care of Dude."

As soon as Mal gave her approval, Carlos immediately walked to his room.

"I'll call you later tonight for another fitting Carlos." Evie called out.

Carlos merely nodded in response as he immediately went to his room to tuck his canine confidant on the bed and observe what other side effects the cure had on normal animals. As opposed to the mighty creatures in Ainran.

----------

"Carlos said that Dude ate a brown mushroom that looked like a closed umbrella." Mal explained to her audience.

"And what of the dog?" Rafiki voiced his question. "Was he cured?"

"He's still under the flower's sedative effects," Mal answered. "Carlos is sure that he gave Dude the cure."

"Then what are we waiting for?" Rafiki questioned. "Shouldn't he share his discovery with the rest of the populace instead of hogging it for himself?"

"Tell me esteemed healer, Rafiki," Mal responded after taking a few breaths to calm herself. "What do you think would happen if the cure Carlos has concocted turns out to be a dud?" She questioned. "What then?"

"What are you implying milady?" Rafiki's simian eyes narrowed.

"Not implying anything esteemed healer," Mal replied coolly. "Merely letting you see the bigger picture. Not everything revolves around you, Simba and his subjects." She finished.

"Calm down Mal." Ben placed his hand on his fiancé's shoulder. "I'm sure Rafiki's aware of that." He assured.

"I apologize if I implied something uncomfortable milady." Rafiki bowed. "I think it's worth the risk to administer his cure." He offered. "I assure you no one will think ill of Mr. De Vil if the cure turns out to be, as you say, a dud."

"No!" Mal yelled as her eyes glowed green. "You don't get to make that promise!" She growled. "Not when a misplaced pen is immediately written off as 'stolen by some VK'." She snarled. "Just like what you just did."

"Mal is that true?" Ben asked worriedly.

"Oh dear!" Fairy Godmother gasped. "That won't do! That won't do."

"I understand what Lady Mal is trying to say." Simba voiced out. "Remember Kovu, Rafiki?"

"If I remember right, he's Scar's cub." Rafiki hummed.

"Lady Mal is merely saying that they have a lot more to lose if the cure turns out to be a dud." Simba stated as he glanced at the High King's fiancé. "Mr. De Vil more so than the others."

"I believe there to be more reason than simply prejudice Lady Mal." Lumiere offered. "If I remember correctly and, I'm sure Rafiki is aware of this as well."

"What would that be?"

"Overdose." Evie helpfully supplied as she entered the room before Lumiere closed the door behind her.

"Overdose?"

"Mal, when will you learn to stop making assumptions?" Evie sighed.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Mal pouted. "I'm only thinking of everyone's safety."

"Closing the Isle for good?" Evie raised an eyebrow.

"Then why won't he help Auradon? Everyone?"

"Like I said he's mindful of the victims getting an overdose," Evie placated her best friend. "We may not have known about that concept before Auradon, but it's a huge problem that has lethal consequences."

"Overdose aside, Carlos is not a licensed doctor, not yet at least." Evie stated as she walked towards her friend. "Practicing medicine without a license is illegal." She helpfully supplied. "The medicine Carlos made was for personal use, a small loophole he unconsciously exploited in the hopes of curing his friend as early as possible."

"She's good!" Rafiki whispered to Simba.

"She'd make a good lawyer." Simba agreed.

"Not unless the King gives Carlos the authority and a team of medical professionals to supervise Carlos's work." Evie finished.

"Ben?" Mal looked at the King.

"As much as I hate it, Miss Evie is right," Simba announced. "I think we need to make sure of what my subjects, Timon, Pumba, and Phil have eaten before making any approval regarding Mr. De Vil's cure."

"I have no doubt that it's the same mushroom." Rafiki stated. "However, it can't hurt to confirm things for ourselves."

[blightarts]

Choices Academy

Story Chapter: After-School Adventures

Characters: Kite Nightbloom (BoLas Elf M!MC), Mal Volari, Tyril Starfury

Summary: On the way home after school, the three young men stumble upon something that will lead them to a great adventure.

Author’s Note: Choices Academy is an AU where all characters in Choices are put in a college life situations.

Disclaimer: All rights belong to Pixelberry.

Taglist: @princessstellaris, @mechaspirit, @mahariel-theirin, @brightningstar, @cal-north, @lxdy-starfury, @imturaxamara, @tyrils-star

It was Thursday afternoon and classes in Choices Academy just ended. In the suburban residential area, Kite, Mal and Tyril are walking home from their school. While Kite was talking to Mal about his date with Nia the other day, Tyril is ahead of them, in his own headspace. He pauses and stumbles upon a meter-long stick, the kind that kids use as swords when playing Pretend. He crouches and picks up the stick out of curiosity, but suddenly, he senses Mal leaping from behind him, ready to swing his umbrella towards the unsuspecting elf. Tyril immediately reacts by turning and gently swinging the stick across Mal’s tummy, almost as if the former is slicing the latter in half. Mal reacts in return by letting go of his umbrella, dropping to his knees, and pretending to be in despair and disbelief. He mumbles in a stutter, almost as if he’s acting that he’s dying.

Mal: Impossible… 😨

Tyril sighs and turns to Mal, aware of him playing Pretend.

Tyril: Never come at me from behind, Volari. 😒

Kite then plays along with Mal’s game and starts to narrate, as if Tyril is a protagonist in a role-playing game.

Kite: “And thus, Tyril began his quest to become the strongest swordsman.” 🤔

Tyril turns to Kite with slight annoyance before shaking his hand and continuing on his way home.

Tyril: I’m not “questing” and nothing’s beginning. 😑

As he walks past Mal, the latter grips the former’s shirt.

Mal: Wait, my lord. There is no point if you don’t equip your weapon properly. 😟

Now annoyed, Tyril brushes off Mal’s hand.

Tyril: Shut it, Volari! 😤

He continues to walk, giving the stick a few good swings harmlessly. Mal stands up and follows Tyril with Kite behind them both. The two resume their playing of Pretend.

Kite: “Tyril has taken 5 damage.” 😐

Tyril holds the stick with both his hands after swinging it in order to admire it.

Tyril: This is quite a delicate stick. 😯

Kite: “Tyril has taken 5 damage.” 😐

Tyril holds up the stick, again to admire it, but Kite continues his narration.

Kite: “Tyril has taken 5 da—”

Tyril grits his teeth and turns to his two friends.

Tyril: WHY AM I CONTINUALLY TAKING DAMAGE?! 😡

Mal: Like I said, you weren’t equipping it properly. 😐

In Kite and Mal’s imaginations, the stick is a sword and Tyril is holding it by the blade, making him take 5 points of damage every few seconds.

Tyril: How am I supposed to know that I was holding it “that way”?! 😤

Tyril sighs after venting out his frustrations. Meanwhile, Mal leans back against a fence and crosses his arms. In a deep voice, he continues the game.

Mal: Hey, you. Are you headed to the town down South? If so, take me with you. 😎

Tyril, still irritated by Kite and Mal’s game, unknowingly plays along by asking…

Tyril: Who the hell are you supposed to be?! 😠

Mal smirks and turns to him.

Mal: My name is Jack. I’m looking for a suitable warrior to become the third Dreadlord and oppose the other two Dreadlords who are fighting to possess this world. 😏

Tyril rolls his eyes and glares at Mal.

Tyril: Do not make up such grandiose backstory! This whole Pretend game will end once we reach our houses anyway! 😤

Mal ignores Tyril’s words and starts singing a recruitment music. He takes too long as he walks past Kite and Tyril, stopping in front of them before finally…

Mal: “Jack has joined the party.” 😐

Tyril displeasingly points at Mal.

Tyril: That was too long! What’s that music supposed to be? 😠

Kite: Well, it’s a music that plays whenever you recruit a new member in a roleplaying ga—

Tyril turns to Kite.

Tyril: I get it, you don’t have to explain. 😑

Mal then takes a combat stance.

Mal: Then let’s go on an adventure, young man! 😎

He starts running forward before…

Kite: “Jack has taken 5 damage.” 😐

Mal pauses and pretends to feel hurt. Tyril rolls his eyes and gives into his friends’ game. He knows that Mal’s character, Jack, is holding his dagger by the blade.

Tyril: You’d better equip that properly. 

He sighs and follows Mal.

Tyril: So, where are we headed? 🙄

Mal turns to Tyril.

Mal: Isn’t it obvious, scum? We’re going to one of the Dreadlords’ castle.

Tyril: Hey, don’t call me “scum”. Who the hell do you think you are?

As the walk forward, Mal smirks.

Mal: My name is JACK.

Tyril: Enough.

Kite runs ahead of them and as Mal and Tyril go around a corner, they encounter him, posing as a monster.

Kite: “A monster apprears!”

Tyril: Wait, what?

Mal stops in front of Kite, and Tyril follows suit.

Tyril: Well, mister Jack? What are we supposed to do?

Mal was silent for a few seconds until…

Mal: We ignore it.

Tyril: ….Are you serious?

Mal just walks past Kite while Tyril facepalms and does the same. Kite walks ahead of them once again and as they turn another corner, Mal and Tyril stops.

Mal: We’re here, young man. One of the Dreadlords’ castle. We should be meeting our quest client here.

Kite then appears, taking the same pose as he did when he was pretending to be a monster.

Kite: Oh, you’ve made it, heroes!

Tyril then notices it.

Tyril: Wait, why is everyone doing the same pose?!

Mal pretends to see through Kite’s disguise before taking a combat stance.

Mal: You cannot fool me, member of the Shadow Court!

Tyril is baffled by the sudden twist of the story.

Tyril: Really? I doubt he’s a Shadow Court member.

Kite makes an evil grin.

Kite: You are correct, for I AM a member of the Shadow Court! 😈

Tyril holds his hands up in confusion.

Tyril: Are you kidding me?!

Mal then lunges forward and lightly chops Kite’s shoulder to which the latter responds by pretending to die.

Kite: I’ve been defeated! NOOOO!! 😱

Tyril: Okay, too fast! You’re making the plot move too fast!

Mal drops on one knee, pretending to be exhauseted after his “fight” with a member of the Shadow Court but unfortunately, he says…

Mal: It seems… we somehow defeated one of the Dreadlords…

Tyril has had enough and just facepalms.

Tyril: Oh, so now he’s a Dreadlord? I think you guys are just moving the plot too fast since we’re almost home. 😑

The group was silent until Kite stands up, realizing his and Mal’s mistake.

Kite: Crap! Where’s my bag?! 😱

Mal drops his character and looks back.

Mal: Wait, did we leave them back there?! 😱

Tyril chuckles and puts a hand on his hip.

Tyril: I was wondering why you two weren’t holding anything. 😅

As Mal and Kite run back to grab their bags, Tyril follows them, but not before dropping the stick he picked up. As the three leave the area, the stick just lays there… waiting for whoever picks it up, to play Pretend with it once more.