#and now I dye my hair blue so I guess I'm back to my roots

[cookinguptales]

thinkin' about that post I wrote about writing vampires and low blood volume when it's something that I have myself, and how you have to be careful about skin discoloration because it tends to creep people out in a way you don't want

and like I just felt the need to tell you how I got one of two embarrassing childhood nicknames

so apparently when I was born I looked bad

like

real bad

they needed forceps to yank me out so I was already kind of weird-looking because of that but then I was also like

BRIGHT FUCKING BLUE

according to dad, I was literally sky-blue with a shade of gray and I just looked straight-up dead and he was internally panicking but he didn't want to upset my mom (who hadn't seen me yet) and the doctors were being calm which helped him be calm too, and he said apparently after rubbing me down pretty vigorously I eventually pinked up and started crying and all was well

(though I guess a harbinger of things to come)

anyway, this is why my childhood nickname was

smurfette

my dad still calls me that sometimes, too. like it's been 32 years and I still get smurfette'd sometimes, especially when my skin is turning interesting colors again.

FUN FACT: my baby pictures from the hospital were "lost" and they had my parents come in a few days later to retake them, and both of my parents believe that I looked so fucking horrific as a newborn (between the forceps marks, the weirdly shaped head (because of the forceps), and the skin color) that the nurses purposefully destroyed the photos.

I'm cute now tho!!

anyway my other embarrassing childhood nickname was "strawberry butt" but I guess I'll just let y'all use your imaginations on that one.

[damien-mlm]

Dead Man Walking (Angst, Dark!Red)

WARNING: PURE ANGST, BLEAK AND HOPELESS ALMOST ALL THE WAY THROUGH. Alcohol poisoning. Suicide attempt. Hallucinations, or perhaps not.

this happens immediately after Mama, and during Darrell's visit to Scarlet.

Darrell belongs to @bluecoolr, Skulk is @probably-a-plant-thing's, and Scarlet is by @kalid-raven

Once he was sure that Darrell was asleep, he stepped out of the bed once again.

He had managed to push the ideation away for so long, so many years.

He couldn't do it anymore. He was weak again. 

She never left his mind, she was always there, calling for him.

Singing sweet lullabies when he felt so, so alone.

She had abandoned him too soon. But she never really left.

She was there, standing beside him as he cried, her casket being lowered into the ground.

She was there, looking from over his father's shoulder as he administered his bi-daily sessions of shock therapy.

She was there, encouraging him to keep stabbing, to burn it all down on the night of the hurricane.

"Come home…"

She was there.

She's still here, and she's calling for him.

Calling him back into her arms.

What about Blue? I can't just leave him… what will he do?

"My boy… he doesn't need you. He's got Skulk, remember? And Skulk's got him. They still have each other…"

They still have each other…

"They don't need you… I do."

They don't need me… Nobody here does…

"Come home, my son."

"Darlin', you alright there?" Darrell's sweet voice brought him back to reality. He had been sitting in the dark cold of his living room 'til the sun started to shine. Darrell wrapped a warm comforter around his shoulders.

What would I do without you? 

"Yeah, sorry…" he took Darrell's hand and pressed his lips against it softly. 

God, I'm such a fool.

He made a cup of coffee and heated up a cornbread muffin for Darrell in the toaster oven.

"You're not gonna eat?" 

"Not hungry, hun" he said as he opened the door and sat on the porch, lighting up a cigarette for himself.

He didn't notice the way Darrell was looking at him.

He looked into nothingness as his cigarette burned. His mind felt foggy and clouded.

"You've changed since the last time I saw you."

I know, mama. I'm more like myself now.

"But you had such pretty hair before..."

I like red...

"Do you, really?"

...

I... I don't know... It just stuck with me, I guess...

Red was all he could see, always. Red, blinding and all-consuming.

I can't forget about it, mama. I can't.

Why did you have to go? Why did you leave me with him?

But there was no answer.

He tried to take a drag of his cig, only to realize it had burned entirely.

His face felt cold and numb.

Darrell's hand on his shoulder startled him more than it should've, he gasped and jumped slightly at the touch.

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to scare ya" he said softly, his chest stinging at the fact he made Red, of all people, jump in fear.

"That's fine, sugar. I was too deep in thought..." Red trailed off as he saw Darrell was already fully dressed and had his keychain in his left hand "You're going to see her?"

"Yes Sir, I know she can help us, we need to hide, lie low for a while... Are you sure you'll be alright by yourself?" Darrell asked, stroking Red's sunken and cold cheek with his free hand.

'Don't worry about me, I'll be okay" he answered as he leaned into Darrell's warm, gentle touch.

He doesn't need more problems, not now.

Once Darrell was gone on his way to Scarlet, Red decided to take a small trip to town.

He didn't bother looking into Germaine's eyes, or even her face, as he waited for her to ring the black hair dye, the pair of scissors and the shaving razor blade spare replacement.

"Ya going back to the natural look?" she asked curiously.

"Huh?" 

"Oh, it's just, I can see your roots" she said sheepishly as she pointed at her own scalp.

"Ah... Yeah. Red's worn out, I guess" he answered as he handed her a 100 bill, much to her shock.

"Oh, I don't think-"

"Keep the change for yourself, hun. I won't be needin' it" he said before snatching the items he had bought, throwing them in his backpack and storming out.

The bar was next, Neil's eyes went the size of dinner plates when Red slammed the money on the counter.

"I'm paying my tab off, and I'm taking two bottles of your strongest bourbon" he said without looking up.

"My boy, you know damn well this will cover all that and more, twice over..." the old bar owner trailed off as he grabbed two bottles from the top shelf, then placed them between them, without letting go of them. Red was just about to grab the bottles when Neil pulled them back just a smidge, calling for his attention, "What are you gonna do, Damon?" 

Red's eyes shot up and met Neil's at the mention of his true name. The old man's stare was unwavering, yet full of worry.

"I'm fine, Neil. You'll hear of me again soon." he promised, giving the old man a faint smile as he gently placed the pair of bottles inside his backpack.

Neil watched him exit the bar with his head down, hunched over.

Red's last stop around town was the diner, his boss had told him to take the day off, since he was so out of it that almost caused a grease fire the last time he clocked in.

He entered through the front and greeted the server kindly, she smiled at him and he handed her a small note, intended for the owner. 

That's the last of them.

He haphazardly chopped the longer parts of his hair off before dying it all black, he was sitting on the closed lid of the toilet, anxiously chipping away at his nail polish til his nails were clean, waiting for the dye to do its work.

Red was almost on autopilot, he soon ran out of polish to scrape away at, his sight was blurry and dazed. Almost as if he was looking at his point of view from a screen. Not his own eyes. Everything was out of focus, distant. Fake even, it all felt like plastic, like a big set full of props.

"It looks awfully similar, doesn't it?"

The red chips of polish contrasted with the white tiled floor, and under his unfocused sight they looked liquid.

Liquid red staining the white tiled floors again.

He nearly jumped out of his skin

I can't get the image out of my mind…

"I know, my child. But once you are with me, you won't have to remember it ever again. I promise"

I'm scared, mama. What if dad is there?

A pause.

Mama?

"He can't get to you, my child. Come to me, I'll protect you."

No, mama. I'll protect you.

"Now you look more like the last time I saw you. I missed this look on you"

Once his hair was clean he stared at the mirror, for how long, it's unclear

Last time he had his hair black and this short was back before…

He closed his eyes, thinking of that beautiful night, the night they were back home from Ambrose.

It feels strange to me… I know it's my natural color, but it doesn't feel like me entirely…

Now that I think of it, I don't remember the last time I truly felt like myself.

That was it, that was my peak.

It all seemed to go downhill from there, rolling down violently. Hitting rocks and being scratched by thorny bushes on his way. 

At the end of the hill, there wasn't land. There was a chasm. An infinite fall into darkness, and he was rapidly approaching the edge.

He never had the chance to mourn, to let it out, to let himself just be. He had been stuck in survival mode for as long as he could remember, and the moment he let his guard down, the moment he first felt peace, it all came down on him at once.

"Come into my arms, my love. I'll never let you hurt again"

It seemed like the perfect solution. No more pain, no more nightmares, no more…

Darrell…

"He'll be fine. He doesn't need you."

Skulk can take care of him, they can care for each other… I don't want to abandon them, though…

"It'll be a weight off their shoulders."

What?

"Skulk can take care of himself, he's agile and good at hiding. Darrell has enough trouble in his hands right now. None of them have the time for you."

…

"None of them have the energy to care for a deteriorating alcoholic."

And as if to give her reason, he sat down on the toilet again and took a long swing of the bourbon he had bought.

Damn it, Neil. Shouldn't have wasted your best tasting shit on me…

Several gulps per swing, 4 swings and the first bottle was empty. Heat traveled down his esophagus and into his stomach. The first thing that has gone in there since last night's single cornbread muffin.

I can't just leave without a word…

He stood rapidly, and whiplash hit him like a truck. His head spinning, his hands reaching for the sink in order not to fall. 

I guess liquor hits faster when you're in a rush to leave.

He stumbled his way out of the bathroom and into his bedroom, opened his bedside table drawer and ripped a page out of his small notepad.

What do I even say?

He felt awful to leave them like this. 

Darrell, my fallen angel

Skulk, my sweet guardian 

See you on the other side

I'm sorry. I'm so sorry…

I had to go

All that was mine is now yours

I love you both

Take care of each other please

He grabbed that old silver letter opener. Used it as a stake to adhere the note on the outside of the bathroom door. A silver nail on a white coffin.

Originally, his plan was to burn it all down, and himself with it. Wipe it all away, just like back then.

He would have to instead drink both bottles and hope that, if blood loss didn't take him, alcohol poisoning would.

But it wouldn't be fair for them.

There is no closure to be found in a pile of ash and a charred corpse.

He was sitting on the bathroom floor and almost entirely through the second bottle when he dug into his wrists with the razor blades. Both of them now have a vertical opening.

Red, warm, slick and slippery. 

A little too slippery, perhaps, he was already weak, but now the slick didn't let him hold onto the bottle no more.

He lied back, too tired and drowsy to sit up straight. Red pooling around him, pouring from his wrists.

Mama, I'm on my way.

But mama wasn't there.

He was, looming and towering over him. Looking down with a crooked smile.

Damon's breath got caught in his throat, his eyes burning with hot tears. Pure, unadulterated fear coming over him.

Everything around them was on fire, even Dr. Herring himself. 

Damon couldn't move, he could do nothing but watch and silently weep as the sinister burning man grabbed him by the ankles, setting them on fire. 

"You don't know how long I've waited for this moment. Now you'll burn with me, forever."

He was being dragged to hell.

And he could do nothing but beg silently.

Help me, please.

He felt his father's nails dig into the flesh of his ankles.

I'm sorry, I take it back! I don't wanna go, please!

He could hear the screaming and wailing of tortured souls, lost to the flames forever.

Help me!

"You're mine"

PLEASE!!!

The door swung open with such force, a being bathed in blinding golden light coming through it.

Everything was white and gold. Suddenly soft and warm.

An angel kneeling over him.

His angel.

He felt tears fall on his cheeks, raining down on him from above.

Even in such pain, he was beautiful.

Peace washed over him, and he let himself go.

Darrell's distant voice and visage fading to black.

A/N: here I go, just pouring a bucket of gasoline on the dumpster fire that is our boys' poor lives

Taglist: @rottent33th @slaasherslut @the-pinstriped-hood @texaschainsawslvt @angxlslasher @allthingsblood @ajarofpickledtears @mr-trick

[fromthenotesapp]

Last year I

Gave myself a haircut.

I chopped myself into bangs and

Gave a lovely faceframe and

Dyed some purple over

My long red locks.

One month later I

Cut 9 inches off

Gave myself a long bob

Like dora the explorer like

Coconut head like

Lord farquaad with bangs.

I cried in the bathroom.

Two months later I

Gave myself a shag and

Bleached my ends white and

Somehow it actually ended up

To my roots so I just

Bleached my whole head and

Dyed it all pink and

Let my past no longer define me.

Three months later

After blue touchups and

Red roots coming in and

Ombre looks with

Grown out matilda vibes.

The vivid tones had lost their luster.

I stood in the mirror, lightening the colors.

Then I dyed the rainbow hair my

Best guess of my

Orange natural color and

Went to a job interview.

I got the job and

Got fired from the job and

Eight months later I'm

Sitting on my lawn

Wondering where it all

Went wrong.

Four months later

A year and a half passed

Since I first took my scissors to my hair

She is mostly back to normal.

It's still my grown out shag

With the bleached out ends

All the dye has faded out, even the cover job.

Now I can put her in a ponytail

Braid her down my back and

Protect her from the elements

Later I walked into a trainee salon

Said goodbye to my dead ends

My bangs, the blonde, my shag, my trends

Got the most boring most

Basic most

Prematurely adult haircut

Right below my chin.

I braided it half up, half down

All the same length

No extra colors but the

Ones lightened by the sun.

So now I'm sitting

With myself and the turn of the leaves

It's been long enough that

The bleach is all gone.

My hair has grown past my shoulders now

No purple, blue, gold, brown

Just the strawberry blonde coming from my roots

I knew I'd get back to me soon.

[moa-broke-me]

Percy woke up at 10 in the morning the next day, hopping in the shower and making sure he was presentable, going so far as to paint his nails a bright turquoise. 

He almost never did that sort of thing, even though he knew, logically, that nobody would attack him. Childhood trauma, he guessed. But hey, therapy is expensive, listening to Mitski is free. 

He picked out his only pair of dress shoes and the second nicest pants he owned, since the absolute nicest were still in the laundry basket from last weekend’s performance, along with his work clothes. He really needed to go to the laundromat later today, but every time he went, it always took like 4 hours, and he ended up spending way too much on the vending machines. 

These were just regular jeans, so old most of the blue dye had faded from them, but they were sturdy, no rips or holes, so they were good enough for a first date. He pulled on a Hawaiian shirt, printed with blue macaws and flowers. He never actually met his dad, but he always gave him a birthday package in the mail. A card with a hand-written note, a keychain of whatever city he was in, and a present. This was what he got for his sixteenth, and he really loved it. It was colorful and loud and busy, but flowy and light. 

He was so glad that it was April now, that he’d be able to wear it and not freeze. 

He walked to the steakhouse, Adelina’s, waiting on Jason and Nico. He ordered water while he waited, after all, he could order a more extravagant drink for dessert. For now, he just snacked on the complementary bread, pão de queijo. His mom’s was better, but this was still really good. 

After a little while, the two of them showed up, and oh my god, Nico looked so pretty. The white tips of his hair were gone, and his makeup was very subtle, if he had any on at all. His lips were very, very pink, but otherwise, there was no indication that he had any on. 

His jeans were black and tight and ripped, revealing black lace tights underneath, a huge contrast to his baggy, black band shirt. He couldn’t tell what band, but that was probably because he hadn’t taken his pills today. Then again, it had that same tangled roots sort of look that all metal band logos had, and he could never read those, with or without the meds. Nico had a pair of headphones around his neck too, bright red, and a thick, fleece-lined, brown suede jacket, with a bunch of pins and patches. 

Nico smiled lightly when Percy’s eyes made contact with his, and Percy could swear he felt his heart climb into his throat. He was blushing so much already, glad he’d decided not to wear another layer. “Ciao, Percy. Hai un bell'aspetto, come stai?” 

He looked to Jason, who sighed. “He just asked how you’re doing. Oh, and he said you look nice.’ 

Percy smiled. “Thanks, um. I’m ok, you?” 

Nico took a second or two to understand him, but he caught it by himself, and was even able to respond, though very simply. “Ah, good too.” 

“I'm glad to hear it. Oh! There's pão de queijo, want some?” 

Nico didn’t seem to understand fully, but he shook his head. “Sono certa che siano buoni, ma ho appena fatto colazione.” 

Rather than translating, Jason got a very concerned look on his face. “Nico… Non ti ho visto mangiare niente.” He replied softly.

Nico crossed his arms. “Ho fatto. E' solo che non stavi guardando.” His voice was tight and defensive. 

“Ok, se lo dici tu.” He started. “Ma se c'è qualcosa di cui devi parlare, sono qui.” 

Nico just huffed, turning away from Jason. “Ordinami un caffè, quando arriva il cameriere.” 

Now, Percy had no idea what they were saying, but the tone and body language made him think the conversation went something like; 

‘I’m worried about you.’

‘Fuck off.’ 

‘Ok, I’ll back off. But just know I’m here for you.’

‘Leave me alone, I don’t need your pity… Oh, and order me a coffee.’

Then again, Percy’s been wrong about that kind of thing before. 

He waited until the waiter came, and took his now empty glass for a refill before asking if they could get started on drinks. Jason ordered a water with lemon for himself, and a coffee for Nico. 

Once everybody had their drinks in hand, Nico looked over at Percy’s hands. “Mi piace le tue unghie. Di solito li dipingi?” 

Jason smiled. “He likes your nails. He asked if you usually paint them or not.” 

He shrugged. “Not really, no. But I wanted to look nice for you.” 

Jason turned to explain, and the conversation lulled again, until the waiter came back with their drinks. “Cos'è questo?” Nico muttered after a single sip. 

“Cosa intendi? È caffè.” Jason replied. 

“No, ce n'è troppo. E non ha sapore di niente.”

Jason sighed. “Nico, se volevi un espresso, avresti dovuto chiedere un espresso. Adesso sii carino.” 

Nico muttered something under his breath that neither of them caught, and Jason turned to the waiter. “I’m so sorry about that, he’s still recovering from a bad fall, so he’s a little pissy.” 

“Oh, not a problem. I’ve dealt with customers much worse than him. Can I get your orders?” 

Jason ordered the picanhas, Nico a Caesar salad, and Percy couldn’t actually read the menu, so he just got the same thing he usually got. But, since he knew this waiter, and knew he spoke Portuguese, he thought it would be impressive to order in Portuguese. Just to show that he’s not actually the stereotypical ‘ignorant American’ that europeans complain about. “Vou levar o camarão no leite de coco, por favor e obrigado. Ah, e mais pão de queijo para a mesa. Novamente, muito obrigado.” (I'll take the camarão no elite de coco, please and thank you. Oh, and more pão de queijo for the table. Again, thank you very much.)

Nico looked dumbfounded. “You… L'hai pronunciato perfettamente…” He muttered to himself. “Você fala português?” (You speak Portuguese?) 

Percy smiled, shocked end delighted to hear those three simple words. “Sim! Então, voce me entende?” (Yes! So, you understand me?)

Nico nodded, smiling and turning to Jason. “Sembra che non abbiamo bisogno di te, dopotutto.” 

“Stai zitto, hai ancora bisogno di un passaggio.” 

“So camminare!” 

“Eri appena in ospedale. Non ti lascio tornare a casa a piedi, Nico. Hai bisogno di riposare.” 

“Non sono un bambino.” 

Percy didn’t want to freak him out, but he could understand Nico’s last sentence. Well, not entirely, but he knew the word ‘bambino’, and ‘non’ isn’t that hard to figure out. So, his best guess was ‘I’m not a child’. 

He looked back at Percy. “Então, onde você estudou?” (So, where did you study?) 

“Não estudei, só aprendi com minha mãe. Os pais dela vieram do Brasil. Você?” (I didn't study, I just learned from my mom. Her parents came from Brazil. You?) 

“Zia Hestia.” He answered, but Percy figured ‘zia’ and ‘tia’ meant the same thing. “É uma longa história, basicamente, meu pai me mandou morar com ela por um tempo.” (It's a long story, basically my dad sent me to live with her for a while.) His voice trailed off, like that wasn’t actually the whole story. “Ela mora em Portugal, ela se mudou para lá quando era jovem, muito antes de eu nascer.” (She lives in Portugal, she moved there when she was young, long before I was born.) 

The waiter came back with their food, and refills for everyone. 

Nico picked at his salad, and there was kind of a lull in conversation. It was kind of funny, Percy thought, that every pair of people at the table had a language to speak together, that the third person couldn’t understand. Percy knew very little Italian, so Nico and Jason could be talking about basically anything and he wouldn’t have a clue. Nico seemed to know even less English, and Jason couldn’t speak Portuguese at all. 

Percy took a bite of the shrimp and coconut soup, and decided to start the convo up again. “Eu gosto da sua camisa. Que banda é?” (I like your shirt. What band is it?)

“Chama-se 'Epitaph', é uma banda de metal. Ou, eles eram. Eles terminaram alguns anos atrás.” (It’s called 'Epitaph', it's a metal band. Or, they were. They broke up a few years ago.)

Percy had no idea why he was so invested in this band he’d never listened to or even heard of, but he was. “Bom, isso é péssimo. Alguma ideia do porquê?” (Well, that sucks. Any idea why?)  

Nico shook his head. “Algo sobre uma disputa pela custódia.” (Something about a custody dispute.) He sighed. “Eu não queria me aprofundar nisso. Minha irmã mais nova cresceu sob custódia dividida. Caso internacional também. Ela passou os verões na Itália com meu pai e eu, e o resto do ano com a mãe dela aqui nos Estados Unidos.” (I didn't want to delve into it. My younger sister grew up in split custody. International case too. She spent the summers in Italy with my father and I, and the rest of the year with her mother here in the United States.)

Percy sighed and nodded. “Ei, entendi. Não a parte internacional, mas acabei de passar por uma batalha pela custódia há alguns meses.” (Hey, I get it. Not the international part, but I just went through a custody battle a few months ago.) 

“Espere, você tem filhos!?” (Wait, you have kids!?)

“Sou pai, sim. Apenas uma criança, no entanto. Minha filha, Zora. Você a conheceu na noite da sua apresentação, lembra?” (I'm a father, yes. Just one child, though. My daughter, Zora. You met her the night of your performance, remember?) 

Nico perked up, seeming to suddenly remember that little girl. “Ah... pensei que fosse sua irmã ou algo assim. Você parece em idade universitária.” (Oh... I thought that was your sister or something. You look college-age.) 

Percy laughed. “Idade universitária? Me formei há seis anos. Minha irmã mais nova é Estelle e ela tem quase 12 anos.” (College-age? I graduated six years ago. My youngest sibling is Estelle, and she's almost 12.) 

“Seu caçula?” (Your youngest?) He asked. “Quantos irmãos você tem?” (How many siblings do you have?)

“Apenas um, além de Estelle. Tyson tem 22 anos agora, quer ver algumas fotos?” (Only one, aside from Estelle. Tyson's 22 now, wanna see some pictures?)

Nico nodded, leaning over to get a better view of Percy’s phone, when his own rang. “Cazzo.” He muttered to himself. “Sinto muito, preciso atender uma ligação.” (Sorry, I need to take a call.)

Most people's first drag show was at a bar. Percy's was a dinner theatre performance of Swan Lake.

He figured he'd go to support his old university's arts program, after all, he couldn't afford to donate as much as his colleagues did every year, and he figured this'd make up for that. Plus, it was his custody weekend, and he always wanted to do something special for his daughter to make these measly two days a month count.

So, he decided he'd kill two birds with one stone, his daughter swinging her feet on the stool she was sat in, eating her macaroni and cheese. "You like it?" He asked.

She nodded. "It's a lot better than the box stuff you make, daddy. Mama Piper makes hers with adacvo, and I'on like adacvo."

He laughed a bit. "Yeah, it's fun eating away from home, isn't it?" He asked, before taking a bite of his ravioli. It was miles ahead of the canned stuff, no offense to Chef Boyardee.

"Mhm! Uncle Jason, can we go get dessert after?"

Ok, so really it was three birds with one stone. Spend time with his daughter, support the art program, and catch up with Jason.

Jason laughed lightly, jostling the baby carrier he had on his chest and causing Leo's baby to stir. "Zora, they're serving dessert here. I'm sure it'll be much better than anything you could get at a fast food place."

"Really? Even subway cookies?"

"Yes, even subway cookies." He turned back to the baby he was sitting, checking that he was ok. The cherubic little boy was almost two, and could walk, so he didn't really need the carrier, but he liked being strapped in tight. "Raph, you good buddy?"

Raphael cooed up at Jason, reaching up to squish his face. "Coo-kie."

Jason laughed. "Aww, man. This kid is adorable." He reached around the carrier to eat his steak. "Thanks for taking us out here. I know it was like, 50 bucks a person. I can wire you back if you want."

"No, no, it's fine. Just enjoy the ballet." Percy looked over, and Odette had just been captured by the wizard, and the transformation sequence was about to begin. He'd watched both the barbie version and the one from 1994 with Zora before, so he knew the plot, but it was so different seeing it on stage. She had been in a simple loose-fitting blue dress, period-appropriately modest but still short enough to move around in. Now though, once the swirling ribbons fell and the colored smoke and glitter dissipated into the air, Odette was in nothing but a white leotard and black ballet shoes, the leotard strapless and embroidered with pearls and feathers and lace and thin black boning. They were all seated in the front, so he could see every detail, every individual feather draped on the underside of her arm, the otherworldly white lashes and pearl in the middle of the forehead, the thin black swirls of eyeliner on her face and sad, swoopy brows and bold black lipstick forming a pout, like an infinitely more attractive version of an old french mime. The white-dyed tips in ink black hair and rich, dark brown eyes and the gentle outward curve of her nose. The freckles on her shoulders and cheeks, dotting her hauntingly beautiful olive-creme skin. the flat chest and narrow, boyish hips...

He looked at the playbill again, to find the name of this incredible being.

There were two names on the bill, one for uncursed Odette, and one for cursed Odette. He skimmed past the first to get to the second.

Nico diAngelo.

He smiled. "Hey, Jason, you took intro to dance right?" I asked, pointing at the name on the bill. "Do you know her?"

"Him. And yeah, we've been friends for years."

"Wait... Him?" He looked back at the stage. "... So that's a guy up there?"

"Yeah."

"... Wow... He's very pretty."

Zora giggled. "Silly daddy, you're s'posed to say handsome for boys! You only say pretty about girls!"

"He's not, though." I told her, lost in thought. "He's... Pretty. The way girls are pretty."

"Huh... So boys can be pretty too?"

"Yes, dear. They absolutely can."

"So... Does that mean girls can be handsome?"

"Oh yeah." Jason answered. "If you want an example, I can pull up a picture of my sister."

"Jason!" Percy scolded.

Jason snorted. "She'd take that as a compliment and you know it."

[rayj4ck]

So I made a couple posts and a fic of this Rolling with Difficulty High-school AU idea that wormed its way into my mind like a fungus, and I definitely don't think I have the time or energy to make it a whole thing.

But I kinda want to make it a whole thing.

So here are some character headcanons as a compromise

Dani

Adopted by Otto in exchange for working for him in his scrapyard (and occasionally his "scrapyard")

In this AU, I like to imagine her getting her name by seeing an episode of Danny Phantom somehow and seeing one of the ones with Dani Phantom and being like "Oh yeah, that's a role model baby."

Wears clothes with a fire aesthetic, but dyes them all blue. Also dyes her hair blue. Says she doesn't really care but also goes through all the time and effort to dye the roots as soon as they start to show.

Says the car is hers, which is not true because it's still Otto's and also she doesn't have a license.

Carries a multitool around with her everywhere she goes. It's pretty big as is, and she knows how to use each tool in at least three different ways

Anyone who wants to use the shop room at school has to pay tribute to her in the form of soda, hot sauce, or money.

Yes, she does have a fireball tattoo on the inside of her arm. Yes, it is blue.

Barely scraping by in her classes, but only because she refuses to put any effort into them.

VR-LA

One day Dani's fucking around in the woods when she stumbles across an unconscious guy in a barely functioning car on some dirt road in the middle of nowhere.

So of course she's like

She drags Virla (not that she knows his name yet) into the passenger seat and drives the car (poorly) back to the scrapyard.

Otto says he'll keep the car but not the kid. Dani says "Ok, bet." and sneaks Virla back into the house every day for a month before Otto gives up and says fine, he can stay, but he has to work too.

Still doesn't have pretty much any memory, just his name and vague flashes now and then.

Really good at sleight of hand magic, but also tech and circuitry and that kind of stuff. He combines the two to make fascinating (and rarely ever dangerous I swear) electrical magic shows.

Trained dove named Bing

Also he has a prosthetic leg. When Dani found him he had one that was barely holding together, so she whipped him up a new one on principle alone. It has two secret compartments and a battery for his shows.

Acing all his classes while barely trying

Finbar

The tallest guy in school, teachers included.

Has a giant family. Like ten brothers and sisters, with his parents and siblings in the most chaotic house in the state.

The gang goes over to eat and hang out because it's the best food in (insert preferred range of measurement here). Dani still thinks she hasn't met them because whenever she goes she gets blackout hammered and forgets the whole thing.

Joins Dani and Virla in their jobs because it makes it a lot easier for him to stop by a grocery store and grab meal prep in the car.

Can and will lift Dani and carry her away when she's being too much of a little shit.

Everyone in school either has a story or has a friend who has a story of dating him and the gossip has hit self-sustaining critical mass

Despite this, his only relationship that seems to be provably happening is the on-again-off-again with Elyse.

Had to retake his senior year two or three times, but is managing to get through his classes now thanks to previous experience, and the teachers liking him.

Kyana

Also adopted, but by an apocalypse death-cult in Wisconsin

Trained from a young age to be a "soldier" when the "new world" comes around.

Gets one wiff of the fact that there's an outside world beyond the bunker she lives in and goes "I'm outta here."

Runs away, hitchhiking across several state lines before being found by Enok

Enok is like "Oh, a child. I guess she's mine now." One of the other members of his religion he's traveling with is like "I don't think you have to-" "[while already holding Kyana's hand] My daughter now."

Rounds out the PERASPRA crew when they're driving around and see her holding her own against some wolves on the side of the road. Dani tries to help out by shooting a slingshot but misses and almost hits Kyana before she catches it out of the air.

They find out she's starting at their school tomorrow and the friendship is solidified instantly.

Like a mountain goat, can and will climb anything.

Still in those training habits, so the fittest in the school, and barely not as strong as Finbar. Whatever team gets her in gym, the other just gives up.

Once her tragic backstory gets out, one of the biggest mysteries in the school is how she manages to be so sunny and upbeat despite the terrible stuff she's been through.

Is constantly (in a friendly if unaware of the pushiness way) trying to recommend diet and wellness tips for others

Doing above-average but not fantastic in her classes

Misc

Takes place somewhere in the middle of nowhere, Midwest America

A lot of illegal stuff going on. Dani, Virla, and Kyana's adoptions are all basically moot. Kyana's legal guardian is still technically the doom cult, so she's on the lam from them. Otto's junkyard is legit, but he also runs a separate smuggling business that all four of them participate in on occasion. Finbar's doing the best out of the four of them, but some of those romance rumors include things with teachers. It was after he was 18, but that's still not allowed.

Alright, that's all I got for now, but I'll probably come back and add stuff as I think of it. Feel free to throw in any ideas this sparks in you, and you have my permission to take this framework and turn it into fanart or fanfic if you want. Just send it to me because I'd love to see it.

[kayssweetdreams]

Maestro Hiccups

It was a a simple fact in the Multiverse, that in Wonderworld, ANYTHING was possible. Magic Rollercoasters with infinite track? In Wonderworld! Clocks that could rewind Time? Found in Wonderworld! Fruits that gave you magical abilities? Only in Wonderworld! Of course, In a world where anything is possible, there are also problems that come with it...and one of those come in the form or reality warping hiccups.

Leo peered inside of the theater, looking for the maestros that ran the place "Leo? Are they in there?" Emma asked. "I think? I just don't see them..." He said, opening the door wider for the others. "Wouldn't Balan be performing for someone?" Mei asked as they went deeper inside the theater "Maybe they're on a break?" Rebecca asked. To the kids, entering the Balan Theater, WITHOUT the titular maestro that ran the place was off putting, scary even...

Suddenly, Kaylo spotted a Tim hopping towards them, chirping as it did "Hey Little Guy!" She said, picking up the Tim, but she started to feel that something was off. "Uh...Guys? Are Tims supposed to have big wings like this?" She asked. The others looked at the Tim in her arms and found that it had gigantic bird sized wings. "No...That's not even possible. Tims have little puffs for Wings, not these." Trisha Jane said. "Well, Either Balan created a new form of Tim, or something is very wrong..." Mei said as they reached the auditorium of the theater. "BALAN!! BALAN!! Where are you?" Leo shouted.

"I'm in here Leo, but please don't get close. I don't want to affect the ones I adore the most." Said Balan's voice. Suddenly, the theater had turned a full 180 degrees, sending the children tumbling forwards. Leo grabbed onto the bar on the side of the room while Mei held on to the stage. "WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT?!" Rebecca shrieked as she found her footing "I don't know, but we better get back to solid ground..." Mei said as she carefully moved so that she was standing on the wall. The children walked over to the source of Balan's voice. "Balan? Are you in here?" Rebecca called out. Balan poked his head out from a sideways curtain. "Hey Bal! Is something wrong?" Leo asked

"Leo my friend this is not choice, Of you'll listen you'll see that-HIC!" Balan was cut off by a loud resounding hiccup, as a big poof of smoke surrounded Leo.

Leo coughed as the smoke flew into his vision "'COUGH, COUGH,' Gee Balan, what did you do that for?!" He asked as the smoke cleared. He could see Balan's eyes had widened, and that Emma was snickering at him. "What's so funny?" He asked, a southern accent taking over his voice. " Hey, what's goin' awn? hooaah do ah soun' like this? Balan, what evher ya're doin' stop it!" He said, pointing a finger in Balan's direction...only to see his arm covered in sparkly white sleeves with fringe on it. "What in Tarnation?!" He shouted, walking over to a nearby mirror. Leo's eyes widened in terror, as he now had on a white, glittery cowboy costume.

Balan looked down, almost embarrassed at Leo's new look. "Forgive me Leo, I didn't mean to, It's just something out of my control for you" He said. Rebecca looked confused "Out of your control? What do you mean?" She asked, Balan looked at her "Maestro Hiccups, I must confess, When me and Lance get them they're always a mess..." He said. Balan then released another hiccup, as Emma scratched her head. "C'mon Balan, it can't be that bad." Mei comforted. However, Kaylo started tapping her shoulder and pointing to Emma "What?" The girl asked, still scratching away at her hair. "Uh...Emma? Did you spontaneously dye your hair blue?" Trisha Jane asked. The girl looked confused until Leo pulled to a mirror, true to the scientific girl's words, the roots of Emma's hair were turning blue.

Emma grasped her hair, hoping what she saw was an illusion, but to her dismay, most of her hair was royal blue now. "Balan. Explanation. Now." Trisha Jane said, confused at the turn of events. Balan sighed, "I guess an explanation is in order for, when Me or Lance get hiccups, bad news is in store. Our magic becomes unstable, and things go awry, In Wonderworld, things can get-HIC!" Balan was interrupted by another hiccup, which caused the maestro and the children to become stuck to the ceiling, as if it became a human magnet

"Balan! I can't move!" Rebecca cried, trying to move her arm "I've realized...it appears that the ceiling is a magnet, and we're all magnetized." He said. Leo tried to move, but the spurs on his boots seemed to be magnetized more than him "Hooaah kay-yun't ya jus' snap yo-wr fingers eend unmagenetize us?" He asked as he tried to move his leg. "I'm afraid that my magic is out of whack, The Hiccups are random magic until I get my control back." Balan explains. The group are stuck on the ceiling until a familiar sight catches their eye.

"Lance! Lance! Can you help us!" Emma cried as the negative maestro walked into the room...completely opposite to how he usually looked. Instead of being black with neon marks, he was now white with pastel Markings. "Hello dear Children, how are you feeling...and can you explain why you're on the sideway ceiling?" He asked. "Well...Funny story Lance, Uh, Balan got the hiccups and-" Kaylo was cut off by Lance holding out his hand, signaling her to stop.

"Say no more, I know of Balan's blight. Those hiccups are a problem alright." He said, lifting his tentacles so that he could pull them down. An hour (and a LOT of Strong Negati) later, he had managed to get Balan and the children down, but not before Balan had started to hiccup again. Mei now looked like a Chinese empress, Trisha Jane looked as if she were a futuristic warrior, Rebecca had gained pristine white hair and rainbow eyes, and Kaylo had donned an angel lolita cosplay.

"Have the other inhabitants gotten wind of Balan's hiccups?" Mei asked, trying to get used to her new look. "Yes they have been warned, but also affected, both them and their worlds, I inspected." Lance explained.

Emma got worried "Well, It can't be THAT bad...Right?

(A little Balan Fic I made, inspired by this! https://shadowqueen402.tumblr.com/post/691857479604305920/hi-could-you-please-write-a-fic-about-balan

Mei belongs to @sundove88

Trisha Jane belongs to@lovelyteng

Rebecca belongs to@thehypercutstudios/@thehyperrequiem

The only one I own is Kaylo)

[saevus-brutalis]

unusual asks; 3, 4, 41, and 49?

3: How old are you and how old do you get mistaken for?

19, but one time when i was 17 this one guy at the gay club thought i was like 21 so- aksjhdasjkd i guess i do be looking older sometimes, but at the same time i believe a look way younger?

jokes on you bc i will be looking 20 at the age of 40 lmaooo

4: Have you ever dyed your hair?

bleached it full for the first time maybe like 4 years ago and i'm not going back. dyed it red, black and green, black and dark blue, black and grey (think Cruella vibes). now its platinum blonde/black (messy split dye with bleached roots) but I'm dyeing it in a diff way soon so akjsdhasdj

41: Last movie you watched

rewatched The Matrix (1999) bc young Keanu Reeves and Matrix 4

49: Where’s the most magical place on earth?

akjsdsha- you're asking the wrong person. i don't leave my house often but idk I think Paris? (as corny as it may sound) mainly for the architecture, the art galleries and historical monuments. been there once and I'm dying to go back. mainly to visit the entire Louvre museum bc I didn't get to see all of it.