#and to experience joys with childlike wonder with her so much...

[sappho-knight]

commentary

[crowthefox9000]

i love hilda so so much and it's gonna be so hard to let it go again once i finish it. there is so much i'd love to see more of. i wanna see hilda get to explore the wilderness more. for her to go on adventures on her own, just her and twig (i really love frida and david but COME ON. HILDA'S A CHILD OF THE OUTSIDE. THE WILD, THE FREE! and sometimes freedom is a bit lonely, but that's ok! she's never gonna be lonely cause she knows she always has them to come back to once she's done exploring for the day.

i just think that since she got her friends it feels like they're together all the time and it seems like the other two don't really enjoy wandering if there isn't a set objective, which hilda is THRIVED to do! ... i just wish i could see more of her beeing free and wild outside of all humanoid contact for just a few hours. wait am i just projecting-

[the-dumpster-fire-of-life]

Hiii, loved to see that you a writing for arcane again. Tbh I just loved Isha and Jinx, so could could you make headcanons for how Jinx, Vi and Cait would be like taking care of or rising a kid with a girlfriend or s/o?

Sure I can! I don’t want he post to be huge though so I’ll break it up into three separate ones! Enjoy!

Family Bound

Raising or looking after a kid was not easy by any means, but taking care of one with Jinx was even harder

Jinx does not know how to be a paternal figure, or an older sibling kind of figure

She has really bad experiences with the only ones she’s ever known, so how was she supposed to fix that with some kid she’s not even related to?

But, for your sake, I feel like jinx loves you enough to try

If the kid was your sibling, I feel like she would be more reserved and distant from the child

In some way you and your little sibling remind her of herself and Vi when they were young and it’s not a good thing

She’s only able to take care of the kid once she separated those two things and finally able to bond with the kid

It takes a lot of time and patience from you for Jinx to be able to bond with the kid

If y’all found the kiddo, I feel like it would be easier for her to take care of it more than it being your sibling

When she does come around, Jinx can be very protective of the kid

She’s more the parent that doesn’t discipline and lets the kid get away with stuff, which causes some behavioral issues and arguments between you two cause that’s not really a good thing

So she has to learn from you how to take care of the child

She teaches the kid lots of things like how to invent gadgets, to make sure they work, how to protect yourself, and lots of other things like that

On more positive notes:

You’re the main bridge between the two so when they’re left alone together, they have no clue what to do or how to bond

But you do find little bits and pieces of a genuine bond forming between the two

You see the little smile Jinx wears when she finds genuine joy in taking care of them

She wonders how anyone could abandon their child or harm them when the one she takes care of with you is so beautifully innocent and childlike

In a way the kid heals the inner child and the Powder still inside of Jinx

She takes care of them in the way she wished Silco or Vi was

And she understands them in a way not even you can, especially if they show signs that Powder and Jinx did when she was young

She likes goofing off with the kid, and she likes playing around with them

You’ve found them roughhousing and giggling more times than you could count

and you’ve found them testing out bombs, which only happens when it’s in a safe place and a safe distance away

Jinx would never intentionally harm your guys’ child

She loves them so much that sometimes it’s scary to see how attached she has become

She doesn’t know what she would do if anything happened to you or the kid

She doesn’t ever wanna scare them, which has only happpened once

Jinx was having a freak out after everything has happened, probably after Vi was found to be an enforcer or after their fight

She was going through it, yelling, breaking things and crying and screaming

She didn’t notice how scared your guys’ child was until they started crying

Jinx felt her heart break, and even if she was ashamed of doing it, she ran out

She didn’t know how to handle the gaf she scare them so much

She was gone for a while and when she came back she was visibly distant

It took a lot of patience and reassurance for her to come back around the kid without being hesitant about every move

But the kid loved her, and when she saw your child was more sad about the fact she was gone, it broke her heart and almost healed it at the same time

She doesn’t know what she would do if they feared her badly

She loves coloring with the little girl or boy, and she likes helping them figure out outfits

She likes running around the lanes with them, or going to the old hideout

The two also love messing with Sevika as the woman has now joined your little mini family

Jinx and the kid often pass out together, both on the ground or wherever and limbs tangled and snoring with drool on the corners of their lips

Which means you have to carry both to bed a lot of the time

Jinx loves. Showing he kid to invent, and how to fight and everything

She loves seeing the sparkle in the kids eye when she shows them fireworks and anything Jinx

She and the kid have a bond you don’t know how to describe

She also doesn’t try to keep the fact of who she is and the things she’s done a secret from the child

Sometimes she can be harsh, but it’s from a space of love even if the kid gets hurt feelings

She always makes up for it though

[sehunniepotwrites]

with a little pixie dust | mk.l

It’s just a little faith and trust, and with a little pixie dust, your wildest dreams will be yours.

SYNOPSIS. There are so many ways your friend group could have chosen to celebrate your graduation from university but they chose the one way that fit their childlike antics most of all–going to Disneyland. With all the screams of joy and laughter filing the atmosphere, you see why people call it The Happiest Place on Earth. It’s where magic comes alive, hearts soar to the skies, and where dreams come true. With your dream job already lined up for you once you get back from this vacation, you wonder if your last and wildest fantasy–the one that carries Mark Lee endearingly close to your heart–will take flight. (But don’t worry; your best friends, with a little help of pixie dust, are determined to make it come alive by the end of night.)

GENRE. Fluff, Comedy, Best friends-to-lovers!AU, Theme Park!AU, Disneyland!AU, meddling/matchmaking friend group, all the romantic tropes that come with a theme park setting

WORD COUNT. 11.9k

WARNINGS. a lot of Disney references (movies, songs, parks, etc.), profanity, food/drink consumption, theme park rides, nothing too crazy tbh

PLAYLIST. 200 - Mark | Popcorn - D.O. | Dreams Come True - NCT 127 | Angel Eyes - NCT 127 | Fireflies - NCT Dream | Amusement Park - Baekhyun | Candy - Baekhyun | Sh-Boom - The Chords

PARK ANNOUNCEMENTS. I understand that not everyone has been to Disneyland. Because I want to paint the perfect picture in your head as you read through the fic, each scene will be titled with the land/area they are in and a picture of the land/area will be hyperlinked with a visual. It's unnecessary to click them but it would be a lil helpful! <3 DISCLAIMER. This is work of fiction. I do not own the people/characters and concepts I have written about. You cannot translate or copy my work.

Your graduation commencement came and went. The spectacle flew by so slowly but so quickly at the same time. You can’t exactly describe how you’re feeling now that you’ve graduated–relief is mixed in with panic, happiness mixed with dread. It’s a jumble of emotions you can’t quite comprehend but alas, that is the wonder of adulthood.

The happiest takeaway from your college experience is not the expensive degree you earned but the special friends you made. Karina was the first friend you made in college because she was your roommate. She introduced you to her high school friend, Jeno, who then dragged you two to the ginormous welcome event. It was there you met Donghyuck and last but definitely not least, Mark Lee. 

The other two boys were attractive, yes, but there was something about Mark that drew you to him. Donghyuck talked as much as him, sure, and Jeno’s attractiveness was on another level than Mark’s but that boy immediately caught your attention. Maybe it was the way he spoke and never completed a thought or the way he’d laugh so unabashedly, losing all control of his body that got to you. He was so incredibly endearing that your heart just claimed him.  Years later, when the friendship is stronger than ever, that beating muscle in your chest refuses to let Mark go. 

One morning the summer after graduation, you wake up in a hotel room with an alarm blaring at 6:00am. You roll over and groan, blindly reaching to stop the device. Karina is rustling inside the sheets next to you, hoping the noise will go away. Jeno and Donghyuck are on the other bed snoring up a storm. Mark, on the other hand, rolls uncomfortably on the pull-out couch. 

On normal days, the alarm set for six in the morning would be a sin but today is not a regular day. It is the day your group saved up for. 

The five of you, with your similar interests in movies and theme parks, wanted to go to Disneyland together for years. After graduation, you finally had the money and freedom for it. 

Your hypothetical plan finally made it out of the group chat—that is your driving force to get up. While doing so, you hit Karina’s side and she grumbles in response. The two of you agreed you’d wake up earlier since it would take you longer to get ready. The guys, however, could sleep in. 

As you quietly pass by the couch, Mark asks, “Is it time to get up already?” He must’ve heard the shuffling. There's darkness under his eyes. You can tell he didn’t sleep well last night. On top of his eyes struggling to open up, his voice sounds incredibly hoarse and filled with fatigue.

“No,” you answer, patting his messy head of brown hair. His body reacts positively to your touch, eyes closed and neck stretching to meet your touch. He releases a relaxed sigh as your fingers card through his thick strands. 

Lowering yourself to his level, you continue to play with his hair. “Sleep well last night?”

“Nah, not really, like dude, this shit really isn’t comfortable,” he complains with a deep exhale, “but I volunteered to take the couch so…”

“Move to mine,” you tell him, gesturing to the unmade bed. You hear the water running and figure that Karina jumped into the shower to help wake herself up. “Try to get a little more sleep, I’ll wake you up in a bit.”

Too tired to fight back, Mark languidly moves towards the bed. Once close enough, his body drops onto the mattress and he wiggles his way under the covers. You watch him until his breathing evens out. It didn't take long for him to fall asleep; after all, he did most of the driving on your road trip down to Southern California. Satisfied, you move to start your morning hotel routine. 

The fresh smell of coffee hits you as you do your skin care, apply your makeup, and brush your teeth. Karina’s done in the bathroom shortly after and you claim it to change into your outfit of the day. When the final touches of your look are finished, forty minutes have passed and it’s time to wake up the rest. 

You wake Jeno first because he’s the easiest and whisper that there’s fresh coffee waiting for him. Donghyuck throws a bit of a fit when you shake him awake, stuffing his face in his pillow. He gets up after a few threats from Karina, whining over how mean she is to him. 

Part of you wants to let Mark rest for a little bit longer, especially after knowing how exhausted he is. There’s the option of letting the other three go first while you wait for Mark to wake up naturally. The other half of you, however, thinks about two things: how much money you all spent getting these tickets and how you promised each other to be at Disneyland from open to close to make your splurge worth it. Being Mark’s best friend, you know how disappointed the guy would be if you stayed behind with him. So with no choice left, you wake him up.

You do so gently, your hand immediately going back to his unruly hair. You comb back his bangs and hold them in place. “Mark, it’s your turn now, everyone else is almost ready.”

As soon as he hears your voice, he stirs. Mark blinks the sleep away, and suddenly, you are the first thing he sees. With you sitting on the bed next to him and your hand still in his hair, Mark thinks he’s still dreaming. “Hmmm?”

“It’s your turn, Spidey,” you say, taking a sip of coffee. “We’re all ready.”

He buries his head in your lap for just a second, wanting to keep this little moment with him a little longer. 

“Okay,” he finally says a minute later, before slipping out of bed. 

Karina claims her rightful place next to you on your shared bed, still warm from Mark’s little nap. She shoots you a look and you ignore her knowing stare. “Don’t look at me like that.”

“Like what?” she challenges you, perfectly drawn eyebrows raised in question.

“That,” you gesture to her face.

“Oh, you mean the look I’m giving you when you share a little cute moment with your best friend who is most definitely more than a best friend, fine,  I won’t do that,” Karina pretends to give up, her hands raised in surrender.

You shush her at once, looking over to the boys that are currently fighting over the sink. Mark’s already dressed in some black cargo pants and an oversized Spider-Man shirt. He’s in the midst of styling his hair, struggling with one strand that will not stay in place. You hear his frustrated huffs and puffs while Jeno and Haechan chuckle at his antics. 

“Does my baby need help?” Donghyuck teases, reaching for Mark’s hair. 

“Yo, dude, no, stop! You’re gonna mess it up!” Mark shouts, backing away from him. “Don’t you dare touch me!”

“But you can’t do it on your own, my sweet baby, I’ll help you,” Donghyuck continues with the bit.

You remove yourself from Karina’s conversation and break the two idiots up. 

“C’mere,” you gesture towards Mark. 

He instantly comes to you, dipping his head down to your level as you lean against a piece of furniture. Your fingertips curl that one strand just the way he likes it, framing his forehead, and smile when it’s all finished. So focused on his hair, you almost don’t notice how close his face is to yours. Your breath hitches and you lean back to create more distance. 

Removing your hand from his hair, you smooth the non-existent wrinkles on his baggy tee.“There you go, not hard at all.”

“Right,” he murmurs back, body frozen in place but his large, pretty eyes still aimed at you. 

You clear your throat. “I, um, need to–”

“Oh yeah no, sorry,” he stumbles over his words, moving so you can get through. You shuffle past him, pretending to do a last minute check of your crossbody bag. His stare lingers on you as you fuss over your belongings and put on your Mickey ears.

You try to shake away your thoughts but Karina won’t let you. She slides up to you with a playful smile. “Not even eight in the morning and you’ve already had two little moments. When’s number three happening?”

“In your wildest dreams,” you snap back with a hiss, slinging your bag over your shoulder. Wanting to avoid the conversation from moving further, you open the door. “Let’s move, slowpokes, we gotta go!”

“Or yours,” Karina takes the last word as she exits the room. 

You can’t argue with your roommate because she’s right. You've been wanting to be with Mark and calling him yours since your first year. Yes, there were times in the past when it seemed like he wanted the same–moments just like the two you just shared–but nothing was explicitly said or done. Feelings were left unsaid. They lingered in the air until the romantic vibe fizzled out and the moment ended.  To love and be loved by Mark Lee is your wildest dream. It’s the one you’re sure will never come true. However, there’s a sort of magic in the air in Disneyland–a magic that will make even the impossible possible. You wonder if that bit of magic will apply to you, too.

✨ TOMORROWLAND

7:45am arrives and your friends are following you like little ducklings following their mother. Without you, they would be lost causes. 

It’s not your first time in the parks so naturally, you are the one who takes charge. You have all the tickets on your phone, scanning them one by one at the main entrance gate as your friends go through the turnstiles. They wait patiently until you are the last one through the gate. 

Karina holds your hand, giggling as you stroll through Main Street, happily taking in the sights and sounds of Disneyland. Mark, Jeno, and Donghyuck are behind you, phones out to capture anything and everything in sight. You hear them excitedly discussing the map, mentioning things that they want to do, and you mentally take note of them all. 

At exactly 8am, the ropes held by the cast members drop, signaling the official opening of the park. You quickly lead your friends towards the right of the famous castle and fight your way into Tomorrowland for Space Mountain. As one of the most popular attractions, it’s not so bad in the mornings when you’re one of the firsts in line. Jeno mentioned this ride in the past and you are determined to get him on it. 

The crowd is packed like sardines and Karina links her arm through yours as people shove their way through. Amidst the craziness, someone grabs hold of your free hand from behind. From the way his hand fits in yours, you can tell exactly who it is. Jeno’s hand is much larger than this one and it’s a lot rougher than Donghyuck. 

You turn your head to see Mark who asks you a question with a simple look. He knows you’re not too fond of crowds and is using this silent exchange as a check-up. You appreciate the gesture, much like how you appreciate every other way Mark looks out for you, and reassure him with a squeeze of his hand. You’ve frequented the park many times over the years so despite the mass of people, you know the theme park like the back of your hand. Mark returns the action and brushes his thumb against your knuckles. He doesn’t let go as the crowd dissipates into the ride queue and you don’t mind that at all.

As much as you love this dark roller coaster, you partially dread going on the ride, or any ride for that matter. The uneven number in your group guarantees that one person will be a single rider throughout the day and you are certain that will be you.  Jeno and Karina have been dating for a while now, so it makes sense that they ride together. Even with Mark’s hand still in yours, you’re certain he’ll sit with Donghyuck. When it comes to Mark, Donghyuck loves to cling to his best friend, no matter how annoyed the older one gets. It’s their thing and has been since childhood so who are you to get in the way of that? 

The wait goes by quickly, especially with the entertaining debates your friend group comes up with while queued up. It takes your group a mere thirty minutes to get to the front of the line. Once assigned your rows, you wiggle your hand out of Mark’s grip and silently move toward the last gate to make room for Donghyuck.  

“Wait, where are you going?” Mark masks his hurt with a confused tone.

“To the back,” you say like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. 

“Oh,” his tone drops and you can barely hear him through the echoing sounds of the ride. “I thought–”

“Huh?” you shout from the back row.

Seeing you in the last row, Donghyuck pauses for a second as if contemplating on where to go. “Wait. Why are you here?”

“What do you mean? Are you saying I can’t be here?”

“No. You’re supposed to be–” Your mischievous friend is cut off by the gates opening and the employees instructing you to enter and lower your lap bars. You do what they say and Donghyuck sighs before moving to sit with Mark.

You notice the frustrated look on Donghyuck’s face and an exasperated one on Mark’s but it’s too loud in the room to hear whatever serious thing they’re discussing. You try to lean in closer to catch a glimpse of their conversation but by the time the safety checks are done, you’re launched into darkness at a high speed with the ride soundtrack and Mark’s screams of terror filling your ears.

The ride ends quickly and you all rush to find your photo. Everyone in your vehicle looks like they enjoyed the ride minus Mark, who hid his handsome face in Donghyuck’s arm. The green-eyed monster makes a short appearance in your mind and you wonder how it would’ve been if you stayed with Mark. Would he cling onto you like that too, with his arm looped through yours and his face buried in your neck?

“Why didn’t you tell me this was a roller coaster?” Mark whines as you take a picture of the screen. You immediately send it to your group chat and Giselle, the one person missing on this trip, reacts to it right away.

“Because I knew you’d try to get out of it, you scaredy cat.” 

“Rude,” he scoffs, clinging onto you as you lead them to a breakfast spot. 

“Spidey, it’s really not that bad.”

“Yeah, says the thrill seeker,” Mark pouts at you, which makes you pinch his cheek. It’s not as soft as it used to be, his baby fat from your first year long gone. It’s replaced by the prominent bone structure that only highlights the features that you secretly want to kiss. “Warn a guy next time.”

“Okay, okay but you still did it! I’m proud of you!”

“Yeah but…” His voice trails off.

“But?” You echo, wondering what Mark wants to say.

He looks shyly at you, a faint redness painting his skin, “Can you sit by me next time?” He asks because you make him feel brave even when he isn’t. 

Mark’s timid request has you grinning from ear to ear and your heart beating faster than any roller coaster you’ve been on. Your best friend is expecting an answer, you can tell by his teeth sinking into his thin bottom lip and brown boba eyes widening with each second. 

“I mean, you know, like, sitting with Hyuck is cool,” Mark stutters when you don’t answer, trying to explain himself, “but I’d–well, I thought you were gonna sit next to me?” His voice raises at the end due to nervousness and you can’t help but giggle. 

“You mean, you were gonna leave poor Hyuck all alone?” you poke fun at him.

Mark deadpans, “He’d survive on his own.”

“I mean, I’ve been here before and it’s everyone else’s first time. I’m okay riding by myself,” you push back with a frown, trying to convince Mark and yourself for that matter, “I just want to make sure everyone is having a good time.”

“I get that but–”

“We’re here!” you cut him off, stopping in front of a quick-service restaurant. You gesture to the door and the others go inside. 

Donghyuck, Jeno, and Karina make their way in. You move to follow them but Mark stops you with a hand to your wrist. He hesitates, his mouth opening and closing, and you patiently wait for what he needs to express. The boy lets out a long exhale. 

“Look, what I’m trying to say is that riding with Hyuck is fun and all but I…” He pauses again. Mark has this habit of not finishing a full thought and you think this is one of those times. Despite that, you listen attentively. “I want you to be my ride partner today, okay?”

And again, your heart shoots to the moon. Its fuel is the adrenaline that runs through your veins as you process his words. A hint of a smile begins to peak out as Mark fuses in front of you.

“I mean, like, I’ve been to theme parks with Hyuck since we were kids, I’m not missing much with that and I just–I kinda–you know–want to experience things with you today.”

The way he confesses this, like every other thing Mark does, is adorable. You hope your forgetful brain will store this memory along with the rest of your core ones. He’s about to go off on another rant, you can tell by the small puffs of breath he takes and the redness that’s flushing his ears, so you end it before it starts. 

You cup a hand over his cheek to stop him from going even further and your fingers sense his rapidly beating pulse. “Okay,” you reply softly. 

That one word alone has Mark’s expression changing from an unsure one to the brightest face you’ve seen him make all morning. He rivals the sparkles on top of the castle and the bright sun that’s shining over you. 

“Really?” He perks up.

“Yeah,” you giggle at his change in mood, “now let’s get some food in you, Spidey boy.”

✨ THE CASTLE

“Get out, Hyuck! Why are you like this?” Karina yells from her spot beside Jeno, clearly frustrated with your friend. 

Karina and Jeno stand at the side of the castle, far enough from the crowds but close enough to still get their picture with the iconic landmark. Donghyuck is just out of frame, ready to jump in to ruin whatever adorable shot the couple is trying to take. It doesn’t really matter since you’re continuously snapping away on Karina’s phone. Knowing those two, more than one picture will turn out beautiful. Looking at them, how could they not?

“Because you’re taking too damn long and I want pictures too!”

“You already got yours!” Completely used to their bickering, you shake your head behind the camera.

She’s right. You’ve already taken everyone’s solo pictures at this picturesque spot–Karina taking the longest–and now there were requests for group or partner shots. Jeno, being the perfect Instagram boyfriend, helped take the shots of you and your girl best friend with no pointers needed. You thought you were almost done with this photoshoot but you guessed wrong.

“Not with Mark though!” Donghyuck shouts back, pulling Mark to his side.

“Yo, wait, what?” Mark squeaks.

“You got good enough shots, so move!” Donghyuck has no shame when shoving the resident couple away and dragging Mark to the exact place they stood. You shoot Karina an apologetic look, handing her phone back, right before you grab hold of Donghyuck’s device.

The younger of the duo, as affectionate as he is, has no problem hugging Mark tightly for a picture. Mark sighs but goes with it without much of a fight. You take pictures of Donghyuck hugging Mark from behind, clinging onto the older’s arm, forcing him into making a heart and standing back-to-back. As this goes on for several minutes, you endlessly snap pictures, not even looking at the screen anymore. While doing so, you miss the hushed conversation that happens at the other end of the camera. 

“Why am I doing this with you?” Mark hisses in between a grin. His arm around Donghyuck tightens and the younger one almost chokes at the sudden attack. “Are we done yet?”

“Why? Is there someone else you want to take pictures with?”

“Shut up.”

“I will not,” Donghyuck whispers under his breath, wiggling out of Mark’s grip. His volume raises as he announces, “Mark, catch me!” With that, the mischievous kid jumps onto Mark’s back and the elder of the duo has no choice but to do what he says.

Mark groans, “Why are you so annoying?”

“I will continue to be annoying until you man up,” Donghyuck nuzzles his forehead into Mark’s hair with a smirk. “I could keep this going or–”

With that, Mark lets go of his friend’s thighs and Donghyuck slides down with a helpless yelp. The boy is dramatic while dropping to the ground but Mark pays little attention to the action. Instead, he smiles shyly at you.

You raise an eyebrow at the duo’s suspicious actions. “Are you guys good or can we move on now?”

“I–um, actually–” He’s stuttering over his words more than usual, a red tainting his normal skin tone. You know he’s embarrassed but you can’t figure out what’s making him feel this way. The chaotic duo is up to their usual antics of Donghyuck being irritatingly touchy and Mark slowly losing his patience with it all so there’s no visible variable in your eyes. So, what’s the difference in this situation?

“What’s up?” When he doesn’t answer right away, you take that as a sign to keep moving. You turn your body away from him, adjust the straps of your bag to feel more comfortable, and get ready to move on. The park app on your phone is open to all the current wait times and you note that Fantasyland has low numbers, determining the most logical choice for your next destination. 

You open your mouth, preparing to spill out your plan to explore Fantasyland when Mark’s feeble voice breaks the silence. 

You don’t quite hear him the first time, leaning towards him in hopes that will help you focus on his voice alone. The excitement around the area only increases when the park marching band makes their way to the center of the castle for their afternoon set. Mark huffs in frustration when you fail to hear him for the second time. 

But as they say, the third time’s always the charm.

“Take a picture with me!” he yells when the band goes silent. The flush on his face increases tenfold and you almost coo at how flustered he is. His eyes were wide, almost begging for you to grant his request. His ears match the color of his Spider-Man plush hanging on the belt loop of his bottoms. 

Wanting to tease him a little more, you say, “We already took a group picture, Marky.”

You hold back your laugh when his hand goes back to fumble with his hair. He muses it, the strands now messy, making him look even more endearing than ever. 

“Yeah but–you know what I mean,” Mark’s voice drops at the end, his lips forming a pout. How desperately you want to peck his cheeks but you refrained, still scared of crossing that line. His brows furrowed. “You know what, never mind, dude, let’s go.”

Just as he began to walk away, you tugged him back into place. “I know what you meant, Spidey, I just wanted to mess with you.”

“You’re so mean to me,” he sulks and your fingers reach out to pinch his cheeks. It’s not quite a kiss but it’s close enough. 

You run your fingers through his messy hair, quickly fixing it and Mark just lets you, enjoying the little touches you are so willing to give.

“Hyuckie, can you please?” Donghyuck knows exactly what you’re asking of him, taking the phone out of your hands. He sets your phone to 0.5, bends down to get a better angle, and begins to snap away. All the while, you and Mark are a bit awkwardly standing side-by-side for the pictures. Your bodies are stiff--his hand is barely around your waist while his other hand is holding up a peace sign. You copy his pose, your fingers automatically making a V. 

“You guys,” Donghyuck sighs, grabbing the attention of Karina and Jeno, “at least act like you’re having fun with these pics. We’re at fucking Disneyland right now.” 

Karina laughs at how hopeless the two of you are. She takes pity on you and jumps in to give directions on how to improve your poses. “Mark, if you can just tighten your grip around her waist–”

Mark gulps, his nerves at an all-time high. Your best friend underestimates his own strength as he does what he is told. It happens a little too abruptly and you’re suddenly lurching into his body. Your head lightly hits his chest and you place a hand on the spot to create a little distance. He immediately fusses over you, looking down to check if you’re okay and it turns you into a giggling mess. 

“I’m fine, it’s fine,” you reassure Mark with a bright smile on your face.

Once he notices that you are nothing but smiles, the curve of Mark’s pretty mouth matches yours. It brightens his handsome face so much that it matches the glitter found at the castle tops. You take a mental picture of the face he makes, eyes and nose scrunched up with happiness, and the golden glow of the summer sun illuminating his beaming aura. 

Mark shakes his head and chuckles, pulling you into a hug. You sink into his hold, your chin perching on his shoulder. 

In your mind, Mark Lee is your (awkward) Prince Charming. While you stand together by the castle, you cherish every second he makes you feel like royalty.  He rocks you for a couple of seconds, swaying to the song playing in his head, and then pulls away. His stare, however, never leaves yours. You don’t dare break the connection. Your eyes curve up into little crescent moons and your hands drift back down to his chest. You feel the slight heaving from his laughter and it makes you giggle even more. 

“Stop laughing at me,” he says with a smile.

“Never,” you reply, sticking your tongue out at him.

The two of you are so caught up in your little moment, that you forget that your friends have phones in their hands, documenting everything that just occurred. 

“Oh, that one’s cute,” Karina says, snapping the two out of your shared reverie. Jeno and Donhyuck’s heads peak over her shoulders to look at the picture she’s talking about and they hum in reply. Then, she lifts up the phone to your eye level. You and Mark lean forward to take a closer look but the boy refuses to let go of you as you scroll through the selection.

Your finger swipes through what feels like thousands of photos before landing on one that catches your eye. In the photo, you’re so consumed in your laughter, lids closed happily and your dazzling smile half-covered by your hand. Mark holds you in his arms, fondly looking at you with sparkling eyes.

You stare at it a little too long, taking in the way he looks at you. You steal a glance at him and he’s wearing that same soft smile as he scans the photo. It made you wonder if your best friend always looked at you that way. You wonder if this was your first time making note of it. 

You pull yourself out of it, knowing that if you ruminate on it anymore, you'll sink into a deep neverending ocean. Your finger taps the bottom of the screen and the heart fills up, adding the picture to your favorite album. You just know this is a picture that had to be included in your photo dump.

“I like this one,” you muster out, fighting the urge to make eye contact with him.

You feel a squeeze around your waist, one that lingers for a moment, and hear him whisper, “I like this one too.”

Mark says it with certainty and with a hint of longing like there’s a deeper meaning behind his words. 

There is, of course, a message buried in his words. Mark likes how it’s just the two of you in the picture. He likes how it encapsulates how happy the two of you are in each other’s company. He likes it because it shows how in love with you he is. Mark especially likes it because it has you in it.

Mark Lee likes–no, loves–anything with you in it.

Mark loves you. 

Point blank.

Mark loves you.

And Mark hopes that by the end of the night in this magical place, where anything can happen, he can gather enough faith and trust in himself to tell you how he truly feels.

✨ FANTASYLAND

While strolling through Fantasyland, where all things fairy tales come to life, you make a pit stop at a store filled with costumes for princes and princesses. Your friends were amazed to see that deeper into the store, there was a salon that catered especially to children. All the kids sitting in the salon chairs were beaming with excitement as they got their hair and makeup done while dressed up as their favorite characters.

Karina coos as a little princess dressed as Rapunzel passed by her. She ran her fingers through the skirt ends of the costumes, admiring all the different dresses, while the boys immediately reached for the plastic weapons and shields. You hear their dramatic noises as Donghyuck stabs Jeno with a sword. Mark’s familiar laughter bounces off the walls as the fight continues, his hand shakily recording the ridiculous exchange.

“What is this place?” Karina asks curiously, turning to you for an answer. You knew she would love this place–the girl, although people perceived her as a tough girl, loved anything that had to do with princesses. 

There’s a sparkle in her eye, which only brightens when she approaches the section belonging to her favorite princess. Karina grabs hold of a pretty character headband, removing the one that’s on her head and tries on the new one. She spins to face you, silently asking if it looks good on her, and you nod enthusiastically, giving her a thumbs up. 

“Welcome to the Bippity Boppity Boutique,” you reply happily. Pointing to the cast members working on their guests, you continued, “They’re called Fairy Godmothers in Training. They help the kiddos with their makeovers.”

“Have you done it before?” Mark pops up out of nowhere, a little out of breath from the play fighting he did with the other two. He must’ve joined in the little spar after taking some pictures.

“Yeah, when I was little. I was Cinderella,” you laugh, remembering how pleased you were to be in the chair. You remind yourself to look for those photos; it’s been a while since you’ve seen them. “Can’t do it now as an adult though. Sorry, Rina.”

“Then why’d you bring me here?” She pouts at that, “To torture me? That’s mean. There goes my dream of being a princess.”

Mark bites back a chuckle at her bitter response and Karina has no trouble slapping his shoulder to shut him up. You choose to ignore the childish exchange.

“Well,” you start to say, inching towards the counter where a cast member eyes you curiously. “We can’t get full makeovers but we can get pixie dusted.”

“Pixie dusted?” Mark echoes, tilting his head in confusion. Your fingers twitch and you fight the urge to pet his head.

“The fairy godmothers have wands with them and they basically sprinkle glitter on top of your head while you make a wish. It’s really cute!”

The light in Karina’s eyes glows even brighter than before. “Really? Oh my god, can I do it?!” she asks, bouncing on the heels of her feet. 

“I knew you’d like it,” you giggle.

“Babe!” She calls Jeno over. 

His head pops up over a display, resembling a puppy hopping out of a hole they just dug. “Yeah?”

“Get pixie dusted with me,” Karina requests, reaching out for him with her wiggling fingers. 

Jeno quickly sets down the toys he was playing with, leaving a whining Donghyuck behind, and follows his girlfriend’s lead blindly. 

You and Mark watch them silently, both with smiles on your faces, as the couple holds hands and closes their eyes. The worker mumbles a little spiel as she taps her wand, the glitter raining down on their heads. Your camera is at the ready, finger holding down on the burst button for this special moment, capturing Karina’s tiny squeals and Jeno’s chuckles as the pixie dust settles in their hair and on their skin. 

“Anyone else?” The Fairy Godmother in Training asks politely, looking at you expectantly.

Mark nudges your side. “You gonna do it?”

“Of course. I’ll never pass up getting pixie dusted,” you say matter-of-factly, stepping forward.

“I want to do it, too,” Mark proclaims, stepping with you.

You laugh and warn him, “You wanna deal with glitter in your hair? It’s going to stay there for days.”

He shrugs, “They grant wishes, right? Maybe I need mine to come true.”

“Oh, yeah? And what wish is that, Spidey?”

He holds a slender figure to his lips. “If I tell you, then it definitely won’t come true. And I need all the help I can get with this one.”

You eye him suspiciously and when he doesn’t give it up, you sigh in defeat. Preparing yourself for the glitter, you bow your head down and close your eyes with your fingers linked together in the tightest hold. Your best friend nudges his forehead against yours and you let out a surprised giggle.

Just like Mark said he needs all the help he can get. He isn’t wishing for any regular thing. He wishes for something more precious than that–your heart. 

Sure, this is most likely playing make-believe but Mark Lee wants to believe in it. Maybe this is the little bit of magic he needs. Some might say he’s too old for this sort of thing but he wants to believe in fairy godmothers. He wants to believe in the shiny powder that they call pixie dust. He wants to believe in the magic that you do.

So when the glitter pours down on him, Mark shuts his eyes tightly and grips your hands with all his might. 

Mark wishes for your wish to come true,

Mark wishes for your happiness.

But most of all, Mark wishes to be yours.

Your next stop is quite the staple in the park and it’s a must-do on your list. Luckily, they all agree with you and suddenly, you are in line for the iconic teacups. For the summer, the wait isn’t too long–a mere fifteen minutes before it’s your group’s loading time. Before getting on the ride, the five of you decide to break into two groups instead of all squeezing into one tiny spice.

In their excitement, Karina and Donghyuck rush to claim a vehicle. Donghyuck lightly shoves Karina’s side when he realizes they are both aiming for the same cup, causing her to lose her balance. She groans once he hops into the pink teacup with hearts decorating the sides and scurries to grab another pink cup. 

“Why are you two like this?” You shout after them, shaking your head.

“When are we not like this?” Hyuck shouts back, his arms already spread across the rim of the cup. He calls you to join him and you do, closely followed by Mark.

Once you are seated and the door to the vehicle is closed, Donghyuck’s expression changes. “We need to spin this baby as fast as we can and we need to last longer than”–he sends a playful glare towards Jeno, whose hands are already resting on the wheel–“them.”

“Oh god, not this shit again,” you roll your eyes. 

The boys have an ongoing competition when it comes to spinning rides like these. Whoever spins for the longest period wins; the losers have to treat the winners to a prize of their choice. In the past, it’s been food, plushies, and anything else you can think of. 

“Can we just be normal for once?” 

“Bubs,” Mark laughs, “when are we ever normal?”

“Touche.”

Donghyuck dramatically drops his hands on the wheel, “Are you ready?”

There’s really no point in this competition. Although Jeno has a stronger build than you, Mark, or Donghyuck, there are only two of them in their cup as opposed to the three of you. There’s a clear winner. Despite that, you copy your mischievous friend’s actions,  a smile breaking through your unamused facade. “Alright, Hyuck.”

The spiel is blasted over the speakers, the music begins, and off you all go. Laughter surrounds you as the ride begins to spin. Your hands speedily make work and giggles spill out of your mouth when your hands pile on top of Donghyuck. Your friend matches your enthusiasm, his face crinkled in concentration as he turns the wheel, his whole body moving along with the teacup. You steal a glance at Jeno and Karina; seeing them only fueled your competitiveness and motivation to win this useless contest.

Mark, on the other hand, did not add to the spinning. He just watches his best friends, phone in hand. The device captures the most candid moments of you—smile wide enough to hear your laughter through the screen, hair flying in the wind, hands either gripping the wheel or Donghyuck when the cup goes a little too fast. 

Mark snaps a picture of you and Donghyuck cackling, bodies thrown over each other in the height of their fun. Even when your gorgeous smile is aimed at his best friend and not him, jealousy isn’t coursing through his veins. A warm feeling does instead—Mark just loves to see you happy.

He captures one last picture of you, your bright grin shining at him, and your hand reaching towards his camera. If someone were to play that Live Photo back, they would hear the giggles living in your voice as you call Mark’s name to join in on the fun.

This picture is the one he saves in his favorites folder and of course, in his heart.

✨ AVENGERS CAMPUS

“You’re nervous, aren’t you?” you ask Mark although the answer is obvious. Ever since you got in line, the boy beside you fidgeted with anything and everything possible. When he wasn’t playing with the keychains on your bag, he messed with the drawstrings of his cargo pants. He had a hard time staying still.

“No one asked you, Bubs," Mark hisses. His voice softens a moment later when he apologizes for snapping. The fussiness he exhibits is adorable in all kinds of ways and you fight the urge to mess with his hair in the meantime. You know it would only make him feel worse.

“It’s okay to be nervous, you know,” you reassure him as the people in front of you step forward. “It’s not every day you meet your childhood hero.”

“Isn’t this–I don’t know–a bit childish of me to feel like this? I mean, it’s just a guy in a suit.” 

“Hey,” you say, hating the way your best friend tried to bring himself down, “we’re here to let our inner child out. If you’re nervous or excited or whatever you’re feeling, just feel it.”

Mark sighs as the line moves again. “Right. You’re right.”

You laugh, ruffling his hair, “Aren’t I always?”

The boy groans, fingers immediately rising to fix his fringe. “Don’t mess it up, dude, it’s almost my turn.”

A soft giggle escapes your lips instead of an apology. You’re so fond of him. “You’re too cute.”

His cheeks flush with a bright red which only increases his cuteness factor. Mark, flustered as ever, opens his mouth to ask what you mean by that. His sentence is interrupted by the character attendant calling for the next person in line. Your best friend’s nerves are at an all-time high at this point and he looks to you for support.

You shake your head negatively and gesture to the phone in your hand. “This is all you, I have to take your pics!”

Mark sticks his tongue at you in retaliation before taking a deep breath. He approaches the awaiting figure with a cautiousness you’ve never seen from him. But with all due respect, Spider-Man is standing right there in front of him. If your favorite comic book and superhero character of all time stood in front of you, you’d probably react the same way. 

“H-hey,” Mark stutters out. You stifle a laugh as you snap the first picture of Mark and Spider-Man shaking hands.

“Hey, man, what’s your name?” Spider-Man greets enthusiastically. He gestures to Mark’s Spider-Man shirt, “Love the shirt.”

“It’s Mark,” he manages to say, “I’m a big fan. We just went on your ride and it was so cool.” Mark gestures to the building behind them, which housed the ride. It was an interactive ride that tasked the riders to help Spider-Man save the Avengers-themed area by shooting webs with motion-tracking technology. “My arm’s kinda tired though, I don’t think I could shoot webs like you.”

His rambling comment makes Spider-Man chuckle, his voice muffled through the red mask. “Yeah, I guess slinging webs isn’t for everyone. But hey, maybe if you train more, and go on the ride a few more times, you’ll be just as good as I am. We’re always looking to recruit new members to the team. You look like you’d be a great addition.”

Mark’s eyes glow with delight as the actor continues to shower him with compliments. “Yo, wait, that’d be so cool!”

“Should I show you some poses to start off with?” Spider-Man excitedly suggests. Mark easily complies and happily follows all the instructions the superhero gives him. While doing so, they stare right into your camera and you snap several photos of each pose. 

The joy radiating off of Mark’s face is enough to make your heart soar to a new height. The merriment he and your other friends exhibit as they make their way through the park is why you keep coming back. Disneyland brings everyone’s happiest self out and you will never grow tired of seeing people’s youthfulness shine through. 

“Got ‘em!” you shout from your place, giving the duo a thumbs up. 

You laugh as both of them return the thumbs up with a lightning-quick speed. Many people pointed out Mark’s speedy reactions, calling them his Spidey senses. Seeing Mark stand tall right next to Spider-Man himself, reacting the same way the character does, makes the term all the more fitting for your friend.

“Hey, you wanna jump in with us for a picture, too?” Spider-Man calls out to you. 

“Oh!” you exclaim, not expecting that at all. Your sole goal was to take Mark’s picture with his hero.  The thought of you joining in for a picture didn’t even cross your mind. “Sure, why not?” you grin, quickly handing the phone to the attendant on standby.

You swiftly shuffle into position, copying Spider-Man’s iconic pose, as the cast member takes a couple of shots on your phone. They prompt you to pose for the professional camera they have on hand as well and the three of you switch up your poses. The wide smile on your face is identical to Mark’s as the flash goes off. A feeling higher than contentment floods your entire being. You’re happy, incredibly so, to be in this moment with Mark and his hero.

You’re happy.

You see Mark dive right into another rambling burst with the prettiest little sparkle in his eye and you’re in love.

You’re happy and in love with Mark. 

Standing by for just a second, you see Spider-Man turn to you and nod his head in acknowledgment. Wordlessly, you open your arms to ask for a hug and the character accepts. “Thank you for making my Spidey’s day,” you whisper as Spider-Man squishes you to his side. “It means a lot to us.”

The actor catches onto the nickname and comments, “He’s your hero, huh?”

“I’m pretty sure he’s my everything,” you confess under your breath and your face immediately heats up upon realizing what you said to a complete stranger.

“Your secret’s safe with me.” 

The moment passes so quickly, that Mark doesn’t even grasp that two of his favorite people held their own side conversation. You give Spider-Man one last wave, retreat back to the attendant who hands you your phone, and stand off to the side to swipe through the pictures. Mark stops his little rant to watch you with a slight tilt of his mouth.

“She’s a good one,” Spider-Man brings Mark out of his thoughts, “We could use a recruit like her too.”

“She’s really special,” Mark lets out a fond laugh as you happily show your friends the pictures you’ve captured. “She’s my MJ, man.”

The character beside him laughs, not out of ridicule, but because of the similarities the two of you share. “Does she know that?” 

“Nah,” Mark’s hair ruffles with the breeze as he shakes his head. “Not yet.”

“Better let her know soon then,” he pats Mark on the back, gently pushing him in your direction. “And don’t let her go once you have her,” his hero adds as an afterthought. 

Mark turns back to give Spider-Man one last smile, “Don’t worry, I won’t.”

Mark Lee doesn’t have you in the way that he wants to, at least not yet, but once he does, there is no way he is letting you out of his sight. He may be the one who carries the heroic nickname but you are the one who has caught him in your web of love. Wherever you go, you have his whole heart. 

You are his whole heart. 

How can Mark Lee ever live without his whole heart?

✨ CARSLAND / SH-BOOM

“Hurry up, hurry up!” you call to your exhausted friends, who drag their feet behind you. 

“But we’re tired,” Karina whines as her steps grow heavier. She’s stolen her boyfriend’s hat to beat the heat but has little luck doing so. Jeno, noting this, turns his portable fan to face her. She wearily smiles at him, squeezing the hand conjoined with hers to thank him.

Donghyuck echoes Karina’s sentiments but you ignore their complaints altogether.

There’s no time to slow down, you think, as you make note of the time. The sun is about to set and your group still hasn’t reached the spot you want–no, need–to be in. You understand their exhaustion because you feel the same way but deep down, you know the hustling will be worth their while. 

“You guys, just do what she says,” Mark comes to your defense, giving you a reassuring glance, “I mean, she hasn’t let us down this whole day. I’m sure whatever she’s rushing us for will be worth it.”

You weave and bob through the crowds with ease and your friends fall in line behind you. You pass through the entrance of Avengers Campus and lead them straight into Carsland. A mass of people are gathered at the entrance of the land and you cringe at how packed it is. But upon hearing Donghyuck gasp with excitement, you grin and bear it. In the past, your friend mentioned that Cars was one of his favorite childhood movies. Since you’ve found that out, you’ve gifted him a Lightning McQueen present every year for his birthday.

“Holy shit, bro, I’m in Radiator Springs,” Donghyuck clutches your arm, “This is the best thing ever.”

“Oh, believe me, Hyuckie, it gets even better,” you say, pulling your friend along with you. You giggle at his reactions to every little detail you point out–how everything is built to scale, that all visitors are meant to be cars, how every third blink of the traffic light is slower just like the movie–and his brown eyes widen in childlike wonder.

Once again, Mark stands back as you take care of Donghyuck. He appreciates all the thought you put into this trip–making sure you know everyone’s specific interests and adjusting the day’s itinerary to meet everyone’s wishes. Jeno wanted to get on every thrill ride possible, so you purchased the Lightning Lane express passes to guarantee he had a good time. Karina wanted to feel like a princess, so you took her to the Boutique to get pixie dusted and scheduled time in the Fantasyland area to take as many pictures as she wanted. You spent a bit of time in Avengers Campus so Mark could get the entire Spider-Man experience. And now, you’re expertly guiding Donghyuck through Radiator Springs, equally excited as your friend who’s experiencing everything for the first time.

When everyone else voiced how worn out they were throughout the long summer day, you kept the spirits up and took care of each and every one of them. You may have not outwardly mentioned how spent you were but Mark caught onto the signs. While you were busy tending to each person's wants and needs, Mark found himself taking care of you. You’ve done so much for the group, he wonders what exactly he could do in return.

“Alright, stop right here,” you stop in the middle of the land, granting the group the perfect view of the land, “and face this way.” 

“Why are we stopping? Isn’t the ride right there?” Donghyuck points to the end of the area. “I thought we were heading there.”

“Yeah,” you reply, “there’s something we gotta do first.”

“What’s everyone standing around for?” Jeno asks, hugging Karina from behind. 

The others take a look around to see that a large crowd has formed in this area of the park, all facing the same way. Everyone is eagerly waiting for the same thing you are, their phones propped up in the air. You take another peek at your weather app and it deems it around one minute before sunset. Perfect. 

“Well, my good sir, you are about to find out,” you answer cryptically.

You squeeze Donghyuck’s hand. “You ready, Hyuck?”

“For wha–” His sentence is cut off by the area loop music increasing in volume. Everyone around you cheers as Sh-Boom by The Chords starts to blast through the speakers. “Oh my god.”

The rest of Donghyuck’s sentence is trapped between his teeth as the neon lights, starting from the furthest point of the area, begin to light up. It’s an exact replica of the movie, the lights flickering on with the beat of the old-time music. The bright lights resemble your friends’ expressions, the giddiness of experiencing this iconic moment apparent on their faces. Donghyuck is practically glowing with childlike wonder, bouncing on the balls of his feet. You snap a photo of him as he continues to take it in. Jeno sways Karina back and forth, his arms wrapped around his girlfriend’s waist and chin resting on her shoulder as she records the whole thing.

Smiling, you turn to look at Mark whose eyes are solely trained on you. His phone is in hand, aimed in your direction, and you assume he took a picture of the lit-up signs behind you. “Isn’t it so pretty?” you ask, hands gesturing to the entire area.

Mark’s gaze doesn’t falter, doesn’t leave you when he answers, “It’s the prettiest.”

A heat spreads to all parts of your face and body at his flirtatious response. You turn away from him, too embarrassed to meet his soft stare. “It’s one of my favorite times of the day. My family always came here at sunset just to watch it. It’s fun watching everyone’s reactions and seeing people dance to the music, like them”–you point to a dancing couple, the man spinning his partner and the woman laughing gleefully–“I dunno, it just makes me happy.”

“I can see why,” Mark chuckles.

Your gaze lingers on the duo and Mark spots a look of longing in your eyes. Your best friend sees a chance, one as clear as day, and with all the bravado he can muster, Mark takes it. He tugs you towards him and you gasp at the sudden movement.

“What?” you whisper.

Mark sticks out a hand for you to take and bashfully says, “Dance with me.”

“What?” you repeat in shock, eyes dropping from his face to his outstretched hand.

“You heard what I said,” your best friend chuckles, “Dance with me.”

Instead of waiting for a response from you, Mark takes your palm in his and gently places his other hand around your waist. Your breath catches in your throat, anxious eyes meeting his own, and the boy shoots you a reassuring smile. He takes the lead, guiding you through a few swing steps as you dance on the street. You’re a little unfocused through it all, your mind wandering from the warmth of his touch to his unfaltering look. 

“Have you always known how to swing?” you ask as he leads you into a spin.

Mark dances with an ease you don’t expect from his clumsy self. You’re used to his harder, sharper style of dancing he exhibits when you all go out dancing–the lighter style catching you completely off-guard. It makes you fall for your best friend a little more than you already have.

He nods as he catches you in his arms before turning you around again. “Yeah, I learned from watching my parents dance. I only really danced with my mom, though. I guess I was just–” Mark coughs, shaking his head.

“Just what?” You egg him on, wanting to hear what your crush has to say.

“No, never mind, it’s nothing.”

“Doesn’t sound like nothing to me,” you quip.

“Nah, it’s stupid,” Mark tries to dismiss it, distracting you with another spin.

With him being the perfect leader, your sneaker-clad feet move in time with him, following wherever he goes. “Nothing you say is going to be stupid,” you add, squeezing his palm.

You know you’ve won the argument when Mark sighs. He’s so close to you now, you can feel his breath hit your face. There’s a hint of fresh spearmint, coming from the gum you offered him earlier. Any closer and your lips can press right into his, completing the romantic moment that you could only dream about. 

Mark gulps nervously as you look up at him with confusion. The words come tumbling out before he can stop himself from making a fool, “I guess I was just waiting for the right partner.”

There’s more to Mark’s sweet reply than meets the eye. Once again, you burn up at the implications. You shouldn’t assume the meaning behind your crush’s words but something about the way he said it makes you believe that you are the partner he is waiting for. To be deemed worth waiting for is a girl’s deepest fantasy and your heart swells in your chest at the thought of it all.

Despite the rapid thoughts running through your head, the only thing you can spit out is a quiet, “Oh.” 

Mark renders you speechless at the favorite part of the day and in your favorite place in the entire world; he pockets this as a big win. With his warm hand resting at your waist and the other clutching your calm, Mark leads you into a flurry of sequential moves. Never once does he bump into another person in the crowd, he navigates through the small space you’re granted so gracefully. Dancing with him brings you to such a natural high, you feel lighter than air. 

The laughter that spills from your lips fills his heart with joy and as the song reaches its end, the arm at your waist tightens enough to usher you into a dip. As your torso lowers, his body follows your own. He keeps you in this position, his pretty brown eyes glued onto your shaking pupils. He’s so near, that your sight triangulates from his eyes down to his grinning lips. You notice the pink that tickles his skin, from his squishy cheeks to his pierced ears.

As Mark pulls you back up, you circle your arms around his neck and give him the biggest hug in existence. You whisper a light and heartfelt, “thank you,” in his ears and Mark responds by pulling you closer.

While the song that played through the speakers announced, “Life could be a dream,” Mark Lee deems that his life already is. To him, his life is a dream and that’s because you’re in it. 

✨ FIREWORKS

The sun has set and your entire group is tired but the day’s not quite over yet. The five of you are amongst the throng of people seated on the asphalt, bodies splayed in all sorts of configurations. Karina and Jeno are in front of you, whispering happily as they go through all of their pictures together. Donghyuck has no problem taking a nap on the floor, using some plastic bags as his makeshift mattress and Karina’s new plushie as a pillow. Mark, on the other hand, is seated on your right and silently playing a game on his phone. 

The extent of your tiredness didn’t hit until you sat on the floor, a groan leaving your mouth as you fought to find a comfortable position. The ground really isn’t the best place to sit but you have to camp out for the best view of the castle and the fireworks. You find yourself hugging your legs and resting your face on your knees to keep yourself warm. The weather is a lot cooler than it was earlier in the day and the slight breeze has you shivering. 

“You okay?” Mark asks, still looking at his phone.

“What makes you think I’m not?”

“You keep moving around like you’re uncomfortable or something,” Mark pauses his game and notices the goosebumps on your skin, “Bubs, are you cold?”

“Yeah, just a little bit but I’ll deal with it.” You leave out the fact that you’re tempted to buy a sweater from a gift shop, just as you do every single time you get cold in the parks. It’s an expensive tradition you need to break. Plus, there’s no more room in your closet for more cozy crewneck sweaters. 

Another quiver runs through your body as the winds blow through the area. Mark frowns as you tighten the grip around your legs. He immediately shrugs off the zip-up he wore, draping it around your curled-up shoulders. The warmth of the fabric combined with the smell of his cologne hits you all at once. 

“Mark, I told you I’m okay,” you pout at him as he gets up from his spot. He stops you from taking it off, his palms firm on your back. “You’re gonna get cold.”

He disagrees, pulling the hood over your head. “Nah, I run hot anyway. I don’t want you to get sick or anything so just leave it on, okay?”

“But–”

“For me?” Mark pushes. He smiles when you pout even further, knowing there’s no way you can beat him in this conversation. “That’s my girl,” he adds, a hand coming to cup the back of your neck. A sudden urge comes over him and before he even places what he's doing, Mark plants a tiny kiss on the top of your head. You feel the slight pressure of his lips between the fabric and your head is reeling the second he pulls back.

“I’ll be right back,” Mark whispers before setting off into the crowd.

You’re frozen in place, the ability to respond nonexistent in your mind. You simply watch as he fades away and then, the shyest smile breaks through. There are no clouds left in the sky but you’re officially on Cloud 9, your heart beating rapidly in your chest, and your face buried into the sleeve ends of his jacket.  

True to his word, your best friend returns fifteen minutes later with a plastic bag in one hand and a hot drink in the other. Mark pulls out the coziest Disney-themes blanket you have ever seen, folds it in half, and then places it onto the floor. He motions for you to sit on it and you smile even wider. “Better?” he asks as you settle crisscross on the soft fabric. 

A relieved sigh slips past your lips as the soft material rubs against your skin. “So much better.”

Mark plops himself right beside you. His bare arm presses against yours in an attempt to fit on the blanket. There’s lots of space left but you don’t mind, snuggling right up to his side. He chuckles at your action, draping his arm around your hoodie-clad shoulders to pull you closer. “Got you a hot chocolate too, passed by the cafe across from the gift shop,” your crush gently places the drink in your hands.

“You really didn’t have to,” you mutter, hiding your smile behind the drink.

“Wanted to.” 

“Thanks,” you reply in between your tiny sips.

“Anything for you, Bubs.”

With his arm around you and your body cozied up to his side, the time passes quickly. You’re in your own world, your quiet conversations drowned out by the chatter of the large crowd surrounding the castle area. The cocoa is passed back and forth between his hand and yours, an indirect kiss shared each either of you takes a sip. You laugh over things that happened throughout the day, from Mark’s burnt tongue to all the hideous ride pictures your friends took while wholeheartedly enjoying themselves. 

When Mark takes a big sip, you crack an unexpected joke that leaves him choking on the drink. Your roaring laughter attracts the attention of the others around you but you are so into Mark, you don’t even notice.  He’s a sputtering mess, with the hot drink all over his cheeks and hands. You help him through it, one hand patting his back and the other reaching up to wipe away the liquid with his sleeve. 

“You’re so silly,” you whisper fondly as your thumb rubs against his soft cheek.

“No, you just caught me off guard,” Mark replies, nuzzling into your hand. The moment feels a little too intimate, especially when his fingers reach up to connect with yours, but you don’t want it to end. It finally feels like something good is happening. It feels like the dream you’ve kept deep in your heart is coming true and you don’t want to fight it. 

You pay no attention to the way your friends are staring knowingly at you like this was all meant to happen. Your eyes are solely trained on Mark and how he holds you so delicately as if you were a bubble about to burst. Mark keeps you tucked into him until the five-minute before the fireworks announcement blasts through the speakers. 

Mark is the first to get up off the blanket and you hate how easily he does so. The feeling of pins and needles travel down your legs as you try to get up. You moan in pain, struggling to get up. When you finally rise from the ground, your knees buckle and you lose your balance. A little noise slips out as you stumble, your clumsiness almost leading you straight into another person. Strong hands from behind immediately fly to your hips to keep you steady and you fall right back into Mark’s sturdy chest. 

His hands remain at your hips as you turn to look at him. You mumble an apology and he clutches your waist a little harder. “Who’s the silly one now, huh?”

“Shut up.”

Even as the moment ends, Mark’s hands stay in place. The only movement he makes is a minuscule tug that molds you into his chest. He hears no complaints from you, just a pleased little sigh, that signals you’re one hundred percent okay with what is happening. 

The surrounding lights dim, projections on the castle come alive, and music that could only be described as magical begins to play. It’s the scene of your dreams–you are in the hold of someone you love as fireworks light up the sky. The show’s just begun and here you are, wishing you can stay in this moment forever.

Seeing as how he’s made it this far, Mark puts on his bravest face and circles his arms around your waist. You hum in approval, resting your hands right above his. He replies by tangling his digits with yours and you smile so widely, it’s brighter than the pyrotechnics shooting off above you. 

The soundtrack isn’t new to you; it’s the show the park features every summertime, so you find yourself humming along to every section and transition that passes. By the time the love-themed section bleeds through the sound system and the castle glows with pinks and reds, you tell your best friend, “This is my favorite part.”

He says nothing in response, too busy admiring you instead of the show. Mark rests his chin on your shoulder, his gaze directed at the side of your face. He takes in the sight of the glow the lights cast on you, your lips curled up as you mouth each and every lyric.

It’s quite obvious that he’s staring at you. Even if you didn’t catch him from the corner of your eye, you feel Mark’s steady breath hit your neck and cheek. Your entire body radiates heat upon this realization. You sink your teeth into your bottom lip to calm the hopeless romantic inside you. 

You want to look at him, you really do, but you’re scared of what will follow after you meet Mark’s eyes. But when he whispers about your favorite song playing, your heart swells at his great memory, and you turn. 

The tip of Mark’s nose grazes yours after your sudden movement. You’re right there, less than a breath away from him, and his eyes are filled with immense tenderness. In your years of knowing Mark Lee, you’ve never seen him look at another person the way he’s looking at you at this moment. It’s a look filled with endearment and affection, leaving your heart swelling in your chest. 

You barely hear the boom of the fireworks shooting off, not when Mark’s eyes flitter down to your parted lips. He’s captivated your heart and soul, you can’t help but nudge your nose against his as you inch closer. It’s a silent signal, one he understands without further explanation. Your best friend shuts his eyes, calls upon the glittery pixie dust that sits in his hair and makes his final wish of the night. He wishes for the strength to make his next move. 

Mark’s soft lips touch yours most delicately; the press is merely there, and it throws you for a loop. The kiss makes you so incredibly giddy, that you turn your head even more and your hand anchors itself to his cheek. It keeps you steady as he dives in for seconds, this one more eager than the first. With your favorite love song in the background and the fireworks booming in the distance, you are happier than ever.

You are so happy that your wide grin and little giggles cause Mark to break away for a short moment. He plants another peck amid your laughter and soon he’s chuckling too. The arms around your waist lock you in place as he burrows into the crook of your neck, placing the tiniest kiss where your pulse hammers against your skin. 

Mark’s feet are on the ground but he feels like he’s flying. His heart has grown wings, allowing him to soar to new heights. He feels like he can touch every little star in the sky. Kissing you in this land of make-believe, underneath the fireworks, feels like a miracle and he fears that he will never come down again.

He’s pretty sure the gleam in your eyes mirrors his own. It’s so pretty and bright and magical–it encompasses all the emotions stirring in his chest. They start from his heart, bubble up through his neck, and the words he’s been meaning to say spill out as a crescendo booms throughout the area. “You’re my wish come true.”

Turning in his hold, you circle your arms around his neck. You draw him closer, your lips ghosting against his to say, “And you are mine,” before closing the sentence with another kiss. 

You’ve always loved fairytale endings–how the prince always gets the princess at the end of the story. When he grins against your lips, you realize you’ve been in one the entire time. The story of you and Mark is more than a dream that filled your head. It’s more than something you wished upon a star for. Your story is the slowest burn that led to the greatest happy ending. 

All it needed was a little faith, trust, and a whole lot of pixie dust.

TAGLIST. (tagging my gen taglist and friends that I think will be interested in it hehehe) @winwintea @johtenrecs @lavendersuh @itsapapisongo @nctsworld @hotdogct @smileysuh @suhnnyskiess @jaemdonuts @haetrack @bat-shark-repellant @bebsky

FINAL PARK ANNOUNCEMENT. Hey everyone! Long time no post. I think the last time I posted a fic was in either December or January? I'm happy to be back for a hot second. This fic was inspired by many things: Mark calling his fans "his MJ," my personal visits to Disneyland over the years, and especially the trips I've gone on with friends that I've met on this site. Hehehe. I really hope you all enjoy this rainbow of magic and fluff. Please let me know what you think of it. Your feedback keeps me going! Love always, Nikki <3

© SEHUNNIEPOTWRITES, 2024

[mukimokai]

having "childlike wonder" doesn't mean a character is "childish" or a little baby

childlike wonder is an attitude: of finding joy in the mundane and enjoying the simpler things in life. Having an inherent interest and excitement in new things, places, and experiences. Wanting to take in every detail of something, even if it's something small. It drives exploration and discovery, wanting to know how the world works and figure it all out. Having inquisitive minds. Being fascinated by the world around oneself. Being open to new perspectives.

childlike wonder doesn't mean "childish."

Yeah. I believe Alhaitham can see Aranara. It makes perfect sense because he has every quality listed above.

Yes: Alhaitham has childlike wonder. No, he is not childish. There is a distinction between "childlike wonder" and "being childish"

So can he see Aranara? Most likely yes, it's probably canon: Web events have always been that way anyway, always introducing you to the characters and their respective personalities and interactions if there are any. Web events are canon in the sense that: if the scenario happening in the event took place, this is how the character would act in said scenario.

Yes, I do think there is enough evidence he can see them just looking at his character as a whole: plus why else would the Sumeru lobby have us turn into Aranara if almost the entire Sumeru cast were adults that the Aranara don't inherently trust? The only character who would've been there in that case would've been Nahida but we had Alhaitham and Nilou as well? And it makes sense for them to be able to see the Aranara so like. I was actually completely unsurprised that Alhaitham and Nilou could see them so uhhh-

oh and also. to the ppl who say "Kaveh can't see the Aranara bcz he's traumatized" girlie. the one child in Yoimiya's quest was going through such a traumatic illness and she could still see them.

Kaveh can't see the Aranara not because he's traumatized or whatever. but because he's pushed away his past. Kaveh is actively removing himself from childlike wonder in favour of idealism: he is constantly chasing after his goals, constantly trying to do more and more, constantly striving for perfection that he forgets the mundane, everyday things in life due to the sheer amount of stress he is putting on himself on a day-to-day basis. Kaveh is also not open to new perspectives; following his own ideals to a point and shutting away anything that contradicts his ideals. He is not an inherently curious character either; we've only seen him comment on a few things that pique his curiosity (i.e. the one voice line abt lightning) but as a whole, he's not interested in much else if it doesn't have to do with the arts or things he is passionate about which is unlike Alhaitham who seems to take an interest in literally everything other than gossip.

again: childlike wonder and being childish are different things, PLEASE understand that...

i might have 50 million people come at my throat for my take on all this but like ykw idgaf: I'm entitled to my opinion and this is how i see the whole situation.

I do think people who said it's "out-of-character" for Alhaitham to see Aranara are either mischaracterizing him or they don't understand what exactly it takes for Aranara to be seen by adults. Maybe it's both; i know a lot of people skipped the Aranara quest dialogue, and, for the longest time, Alhaitham has been one of the most wildly mischaracterized characters in the fandom (and still is being mischaracterized to this day unfortunately) so idk tbh.

and ppl always say Nilou is bland so like... i don't think ppl pay much attention to her at all which is unfortunate because she's really silly actually. Nilou stan number 1 right here tbh.

idk it's just my thoughts on it: yeah I do think it can be seen as "basically canon" but I don't think it should be used to justify "omg!! hahahahah they're so childish lmaoo!! alhaitham and nilou are such babies ahahah!"

like. gen. nuh uh. what.

yes i call them babies because they're my babies but that's just bcz i like their characters, i called them that even before this whole fiasco with the aranara... so like. uhm.

this was way longer than i planned it to be. sorry for the yapfest holy.

considered not posting this but eh who cares, it's just my take lol

[wavesoutbeingtossed]

Randomly thinking about “tolerate it” (narrator voice: it was not random) and how under the cloak of fiction it is ostensibly inspired by works like “Rebecca” (which Taylor said she read during the 2020 lockdowns I believe?), with the line of “you’re so much older and wiser” indicating that the speaker is significantly younger and inexperienced compared to the person she’s speaking to and a pretty direct reference to the plot of the book.

But I saw something somewhere once that stuck with me about how it might not be referring to relative age between the characters but chronological age as in the passage of time in a relationship. And that made me think about how in a contemporary context, it might not necessarily be referencing an actual age gap between the two characters, but rather a sarcastic or cynical response to the man’s claims that he has matured (“you’re so much older and wiser [than you were before/than you were when we met/etc.]”), which then made me think about that line in relation to the woman. And that it could be taken like, “you act like you’ve matured so much in our time together and like you know everything, while I’m supposedly still stuck as the girl I was when we first met.”

Which then made me think of the “right where you left me” of it all and did you ever hear about the girl who got frozen time went on for everyone else she won’t know it and the bit in Miss Americana where she talks about how celebrities get frozen at the age at which they got famous, and how she’s had to play catch up in a lot of ways not just in her emotional growth but kind of in general. (Which also made me wonder if she’s ever been called out for immaturity/lack of curiosity/lack of education about things in her life…)

Which then made me think about the rest of the song, and @taylortruther’s posts yesterday about “seven” and “Daylight” and the way Taylor idealizes her youth yet contrasts it with an almost sinister reality in its wake, and the line, “I sit by the door like I’m just a kid,” because the discussion raised that her relationship let her recapture some of the childlike joy and wonder she’d lost. So this line is a double-edged sword: the speaker sits by the door with childlike hope that the person will come home and cherish her, but on the darker side, feels like the child dealing with the monsters she doesn’t have names for yet and the feelings of isolation she felt as she aged.

I’m not saying the song is necessarily autobiographical; like most of the songs on folkmore, it’s clearly a fictionalized story based on media she’d consumed and created, but we know a lot of the fictional songs were infused with her own feelings and experiences and… This idea swirling in my head picked up steam and now I kind of can’t stop thinking about it. Sorry but I’m a little obsessed now.

Like maybe it might start to shed light on why she identified so strongly with the novel in the first place…

[likesunsetorange]

here’s a small wip for @emweek!! it’s from the friends to lovers au i’ve mentioned before on here, it was mostly finished so i figured why not post it for em week! so i guess it’s a friends to lovers au with a twist!

For all of Mikasa’s life, there wasn’t a part of it that she couldn’t remember that didn’t involve Eren.

From that very first day, being the new girl in school, six-year-old Mikasa, shy and bashful, looked at him in a bit of wonder when he declared to her, “Me and Armin, we’ll be your friends,” not giving her much of a choice in deciding whether or not she wanted to. But the sheer amount of childlike confidence and the toothy grin he gave her, emitting a warmth she would later find herself always seeking out, it would have been impossible for her to say anything other than “Okay,” in response.

And since then, it was always them. Where there was Mikasa, there was Eren. Where there was Eren, there was Mikasa. (Well, and Armin.)

Through years of school together—fending off bullies, dances, studying and (Eren) struggling through math tests; all of their firsts—dates, kisses, new experiences (all of which hadn’t been with each other, something that always hurt a small part of Mikasa); and every high and every low, Eren had always been there.

He was her best friend, her better half, and she was sure that most of those years she spent following him around, indulging and parading in his hot-headed antics, there was a level of love that she had been too young to fully comprehend. But it was there. It had always been there. And it probably always would.

She didn’t notice it at first; he was her best friend. Because how could she be in love with the boy who had somehow managed to convince her that it would be fun to slide down the slide face-first, causing her to fall off and cut her face and leave her face permanently scarred? The boy who had gotten her into detention one too many times, not wanting to leave him sulking alone for an hour after school? Or the boy who had jokingly told her that it was okay if she drove with two feet, one for the gas and one for the brake, and almost sent her flying through the empty parking lot?

But she eventually did notice. Because Mikasa loved Eren. She was in love with him. And it took her a bit too long to realize it. Because while Eren had brought chaos and calamity into her life, he had brought so much joy, and so much happiness into it as well.

[the-berries-and-the-plums]

birch trees is such a sweet song, and the innocent, youthful tone makes me think susan’s romanticism—her need to experience life as a story—comes from a much younger, more vulnerable part of her. rolling up birch tree bark like a cigar and using it to whistle a birdsong isn’t just poetic flourish; it’s play, like something a grandparent might teach a young child. susan, distant from her grandmama growing up, perhaps never got to have that kind of childhood experience. now, she is free to provide that joy and magic of play to herself. even common annoyances, like getting gravel in your shoe, are rewritten as moments of magic and whimsy, personifying the gravel as “nibbling on your toes.” in happy/crazy, she expresses how much she loves the freedom to “laugh and play and sing and swing,” now that “the world is away”,—not just an embrace of joy, but a reclamation of something lost.

i think that her need to be part of a grand, whimsical story (real af btw) probably comes from childhood. her ability to effortlessly access this childlike wonder, to see magic in the everyday, to shape her life into a storybook fable—this has probably always been how she protects herself from uncertainty, both moral and existential (“nonfiction is harder than fiction”). narrativizing isn’t just how she makes sense of things; it’s how she holds onto that younger self who still feels safest in the immersive, magical embrace of a good story, shielding her from being swallowed by grief and uncertainty. it’s also probably why she became a novelist, drawn as she was to the allure of storytelling. the tragedy is that in doing so, she also walls herself off from real connection. because to let life happen outside the boundaries of a controlled story is to risk pain, to risk being a character instead of the author—reacting instead of deciding, swept along instead of shaping. but stories are meant to be shared; they are fundamentally about connection. for susan, they often become a fortress (a clochán?) rather than a bridge.

this part of her is terrified of losing control of her own story, which is why she chooses to divorce julian rather than follow him, even though she has no real reason for staying in new york. if she moves for julian, she’s neither the author nor the main character of the story anymore; she’s a secondary character in his. for someone whose sense of self is so deeply tied to authorship, this isn’t just a practical or emotional dilemma—it’s a fundamental threat to her identity. for this part of her, co-creating a story with julian—one of their move, rather than his move—is not even an option; there must be a singular, undisputed truth.

but this part of her isn’t inherently wrong, or regressive, or unhealthy. we can see that this part isn’t just about protection; it’s deeply creative and generative. it’s what allows her to find joy and pleasure, even in the middle of the trauma of a global pandemic, to feel connected to her grandmama in a way she was never able to before. the cause of her pain and tormented rumination isn’t this part of her—it’s the way she pushes it away, pathologizes it (“trying to trace the tumor,” “the demon inside of me”), demands justification for it (“why am i like this?”), shames it (“i know that i shouldn’t be happy”).

maybe if susan can “dance” with this part of herself (her ‘wolf’), she can help it to become “unstuck” from its rigid habits, to recognize that now, as an adult, she has other strategies she can rely on, and to invite it to take on a new role. maybe then it can stop carrying the burden of hypervigilance, of being a ‘firefighter’ tasked with extinguishing “the bubble of panic inside” whenever uncertainty rears its head. perhaps it could trust that it’s safe to let go a bit and do what it really longs to: to honor the wonder and magic in the everyday, to help susan tell her story on her own terms, to fuel her creativity rather than control her life.

[aventurineswife]

can you do march 7th + male!reader (they'd be friends) and the scenario would be the reader taking march 7th out shopping for a day?

A Day to Remember

Summary: You and March spend a fun-filled day shopping together at a lively space station market. March's excitement and curiosity lead the two of you through various shops as she picks out new camera gear and stylish boots. Along the way, you share laughs and create lasting memories, with the day turning into an unexpected adventure. It’s a simple day that strengthens your friendship, bringing joy and a sense of discovery.

Tags: March 7th x Male!Reader, Friendship, Fluff, Shopping, Lighthearted, Humor, Photography, Everyday Moments.

A/N: FINALLY A MALE READER REQ!! 🗣️🔥

[Credits for the header]

The Astral Express was bustling with energy as usual, but today felt different. March had been talking about wanting a new camera lens for weeks, and after some convincing, you'd finally agreed to take her out shopping for the day. You were both excited, but also uncertain about how it would go—March's adventurous spirit sometimes led her into trouble, and you weren't sure what kind of trouble a shopping spree would lead to.

"You sure you're ready for this?" you teased as you approached her, leaning against a pillar.

March flashed you a bright, excited grin, her eyes practically sparkling. "Of course! I’ve been dreaming about this day for ages. Who better to go with than my best friend?" She twirled around, the flow of her pink-and-blue overcoat making her seem like a whirlwind of energy.

"I guess I can’t argue with that," you said with a chuckle, offering her a hand. "Let’s go, then."

The two of you stepped out into the vibrant shopping district, where the sounds of merchants calling out their wares filled the air. March immediately darted ahead, her curiosity leading her to a stall with a variety of camera accessories. You caught up quickly, amused by her enthusiasm as she inspected every lens, filter, and strap with childlike wonder.

"Look at these! Imagine how much clearer the stars would look with this one!" March exclaimed, holding up a sleek, silver lens that shimmered in the light.

"I think you’ve got a good eye for photography," you replied, smiling. "Maybe we should check out the prices first, though."

March waved you off with a laugh. "Prices are for boring adults. I’m here for the experience!" She threw a playful glance at you, her cheeks flushing a little from the excitement.

You shook your head, unable to stop laughing at her antics. "Alright, alright. Let’s take a look at what else this place has to offer."

As you continued walking through the district, you could tell March was in her element. She darted from one shop to the next, trying on clothes, examining accessories, and occasionally snapping pictures of random objects that caught her attention. You followed her with a sense of amusement, content to watch her embrace the world with such joy.

"Hey! Look at this!" March shouted suddenly, holding up a pair of boots that matched her signature style. They were sleek and sturdy, perfect for her adventurous spirit. "What do you think?"

You raised an eyebrow, glancing at the boots. "They’re definitely your style, but do you really need new boots? Aren’t yours still good?"

March pouted dramatically, her lower lip jutting out. "Come on, please? These ones are way cooler! And they’ll go perfectly with my outfit!"

You sighed, a smile tugging at your lips. "Alright, alright. You’ve convinced me."

As you made your way to the checkout counter, March bounced on her heels, clearly excited about her new purchase. You couldn’t help but feel grateful for this simple day out—watching her discover new things, sharing a laugh here and there, and just enjoying the moment. There was something magical about seeing her so happy.

"You know," you said, handing over the payment for her new boots, "I never thought a shopping trip could be this fun."

March looked up at you, her expression softening. "Well, that’s because you’re with me! Who else would make shopping an adventure?"

She was right. Somehow, March had turned an ordinary errand into a full-blown journey. It wasn’t just about the camera gear or the boots—it was about sharing the day together, capturing moments, and finding joy in the simplest things.

"Thanks for today," March said as you both left the shop. "It was exactly what I needed."

You smiled at her, your heart light. "Anytime, March. Anytime."

And as you walked together, you couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment. You may not know everything about your past, but with friends like March, the future was already looking brighter.

[Credits]

[djsherriff-responses]

Poppy Playtime au where Molly is the prototype rambles/wips below (REALLY long btw) open to opinions/feedback

Warning for body horror, insane asylums, abuse of children and disabled people, sexism of the time period 1930s to the 60s, ableism and dysfunctional family dynamics (an autism diagnosis would’ve fixed these three)

Doodles of the Ludwig family : D I actually did these before doing Molly as a crash dummy , as ORIGINALLY I was gonna have Molly and Elliot somehow fused together since it’s likely in canon the actually prototype is a combination of sorts himself, but dropped it because I gotten a better idea for Elliot in this au

Specifically , he’s gonna be paralysed in a Sir Poops a lot body . Like Mouthwashing Curly except instead of a burned crisp, Elliot is stuck as a teddy bear, may pick a different toy however. In the events of the AU in 2005, he’s being taken care of by Dr White in the labs. He was spared from the Hour of Joy by Molly, in exchange for his servitude (Harley is completely clueless and would be so pissed off if he found out)

Still figuring out details as I may go off the rails a bit (no point trying to predict what will actually happen in the last chapter) but Elliot did the surgery on Poppy (gonna maybe have Eliza as her human name) which was a success , attempted it on Molly after a car crash but oops,things went a little wrong with her. She came back wrong some could say details of how she came back wrong are uncertain atm

THEN Harley and Leith walked in on Elliot having a heart attack and hastily tried saving his life with the little notes Elliot had laying around on how he did the surgery on Poppy and Molly. However Harley not only accidentally paralysed Elliot during the transfer but also fucked up because Elliot still needs to eat unlike Poppy and Molly, so the experiments post Molly/Prototype is essentially them trying to replicate Elliot’s success while Elliot can’t communicate and Molly is just …. Difficult to get answers out of. Poppy herself is clueless about how Elliot did what he did, so they usually don’t do much with her

Also Poppy was actually 30 when she was transferred into the doll and inherited undiagnosed autism from Elliot. I like the idea she also had some kind of chronic illness or other condition that made movement difficult but gotta research a bit more on that

Wip of the story thus far, or at least the events that led to everything going to shit

———

Elliot and Molly were childhood sweethearts, marrying each other very young. While Molly had ambitions in the field of medicine, working as a nurse in an Asylum, she put more focus on helping Elliot achieve his grand dream of opening a toy factory.

At the beginning , their romance was like that of a fairy tale, with Elliot having a childlike wonder towards the world that Molly couldn’t help but adore. The two often shared each others’ findings to one another, Elliot with new toy designs and Molly with her new study of poppies she's been doing in the asylum. Both of them hoped their work would one day make the world a better place for everyone.

Though one day the Asylum was set ablaze, Molly being the only survivor of the incident. When people tried asking what happened , she gave no response, too shaken up.

Molly only ever told Elliot what happened, that a doctor she trusted with her research had went behind her back and done cruel, unimaginable experimentation on the patients she cared deeply for, that she actually set the place on fire to ensure a stop to it.

As the only other person who knew of her findings, Molly made Elliot promise her that the knowledge will die with them.

However things became complicated when they began trying to start their family.

For reasons unknown, almost every attempt led to Molly having a miscarriage. Doctor’s at the time couldn’t figure out why it was happening , Molly simply having her heart broken over and over. They suggested adoption as a possibility, but Molly was stubborn and wanted a baby of her own.

What hurt most however, is that when she needed him the most, Elliot was nowhere to be seen. Instead, choosing to isolate himself in his factory office for days or even weeks, seemingly preferring to give toys attention than to comfort his grieving wife. 

1930, Elliot finally gets his factory opened .... and Molly divorced him, unable to cope with the emotional neglect. Elliot begged her to stay , but Molly demanded the divorce out of him and declared she wanted nothing to do with him.

By some miracle, Molly later found out she was actually pregnant and gave birth to a baby girl. While not a secret who the father was, Molly kept Elliot at a distance from them both. Elliot , feeling guilty he had little time to bond with Poppy due to his factory, made up for it by gifting her various expensive things , mainly dolls. This led to Poppy idolising Elliot while her relationship with Molly became strained , who was struggling to be a single mother in the 1930s.

As Poppy grew older, it became apparent she inherited some of her father’s ”quirks”. This terrified Molly, fearing her own child’s safety and tried hammering into her head to be a “proper lady” or else be thrown into an insane asylum. Elliot already got judgement but made it as a business owner, Molly knew Poppy would not be as fortunate due to being a woman.

Molly genuinely loved Poppy and tried her best, but Poppy felt like she wasn’t allowed to be herself, even feeling “robbed” of being a little girl by her mother’s insistence on behaviour “proper”.

[natsuki-bakery]

⁎˚ ఎMoral Orel Agere໒ ˚⁎

hellooo can i please request cg!stephanie and little!nurse bendy hcs if it’s ok for u?? have a nice day

Caregiver Stephanie

•Stephanie’s difficult upbringing and experiences in Moralton have made her fiercely protective, especially of those she cares about. She takes on the role of caregiver for Bendy as a way to provide the nurturing she never received

•Given the harshness of Moralton, Stephanie is determined to create a safe and comforting space for Bendy. She transforms her home into a sanctuary where Bendy can feel free to regress without judgment or fear

•Stephanie isn’t overly expressive with her emotions, but she shows her care through actions. She might prepare Bendy’s favorite meal or make sure her favorite blanket is always clean and ready. Her care is subtle but deeply felt

•Stephanie’s voice is naturally soft and calming, which helps soothe Bendy when she's feeling small or overwhelmed. Steph often hums lullabies or reads simple stories in her gentle tone

•Life in Moralton is unpredictable and often harsh, so Stephanie creates a stable routine for Bendy when they regress. This routine helps Bendy feel secure amidst the chaos, giving them a sense of stability

•Stephanie’s own struggles with isolation and loneliness make her particularly empathetic towards Bendy’s needs. She understands the importance of feeling cared for and goes out of her way to ensure Bendy feels loved and understood

•Stephanie may not be outwardly sentimental, but she shows her affection in small, meaningful ways—like making sure Bendy’s favorite snacks are always stocked or quietly joining her during playtime without interrupting her flow

Age-Regressing Nurse Bendy

•Escaping Reality : Bendy’s regression is a way to escape the grim realities of life in Moralton. When she enters little space, she retreat to a simpler, more innocent world where she can feel safe and carefree

•Despite the bleakness around them, Bendy’s little space is full of childlike wonder. She might be drawn to coloring, playing with simple toys, or watching old cartoons, finding solace in these innocent activities

•Bendy often turns to Stephanie for comfort, especially when the pressures of her adult responsibilities become too much. In little space, she become more reliant on her Care giver, needing reassurance and gentle care to feel secure

•Sensitivity to Criticism : In little space, Bendy is more sensitive to the harshness of Moralton’s judgmental society. Stephanie shields her from this, offering a safe haven where she can express themselves without fear of reprimand or scorn

•Bendy’s regression might involve clinging to nostalgic items or routines that remind her of a simpler, happier time, whether it’s a childhood toy, a favorite book, or a comforting bedtime routine that Stephanie helps her with

•The rigid moral expectations of Moralton weigh heavily on Bendy, even in little space. She might worry about being seen as "weak" or "childish," but Stephanie’s unwavering support helps her embrace her regression as a healthy coping mechanism

•The unpredictability of life in Moralton makes Bendy crave stability. Stephanie’s consistent presence and the routines she establishes become a crucial part of Bendy’s ability to feel safe and grounded when she regress

•Despite the darkness around them, Bendy finds genuine joy in her regression, whether it’s through playing games, cuddling with Stephanie, or enjoying simple pleasures like cookies and milk. These moments of happiness are fleeting but precious, making them all the more meaningful in the bleak landscape of Moralton

If you're in the basic criteria , are DSMP fans, vivziep0p fans , h0tel/h3lluva b0ss fans, Owl h0use fans, St4r butterfly fans, Ghibli fans, ddlg/abdl blogs, nsfw/k!nk blogs, anti-agere blogs, or anti Christians/Christianity blogs : just dont interact !

[fandom-nursery]

Hi I just saw that u like vox machina :] I loveeee VM

What r your personal hcs? :0 /nf

- @/thetinyblossom 🌸

I have a lot! (please keep in mind I have only seen the show so this may not perfectly fit with the actual campagne)

Percy 

Big age range. Regresses between ages 2-9

Starts regressing after the Briarwoods are dead and his revenge is over he since he no longer has revenge to focus on and finally feels safe enough and trusts his friends enough to be little around them  

Struggles to control his facial; expressions when small. Everyone can always tell what little percy is feeling 

He is usually very talkative while little however he struggles to pronounce larger words 

He’s a pretty happy little full of all the curiosity and childlike wonder he had as a kid 

He loves to play adventurers or detectives while little. He enjoys running around the woods with a magnifying glass and studding the bugs. He keeps a “field journal” while little where he catalogs cool things he finds complete with drawings. He also loves to read or if he's feeling particularly young, be read to 

He has a particular book of stories that his parents used to read him when he was little. He found a copy one day while big and purchased it on a whim. If he’s ever feeling bad while little the book is a sure fire way to comfort him 

He prefers to change into more plain and durable clothing when he regresses. He doesn't want to ruin or mess up any of his fancy clothing so he makes sure to have at least once clean set of “play clothes” he can use 

All of vox machina know about his regression. The twins found out first and from there so did everyone else. 

Vox machina typically take turns watching him or babysitting when he’s in a younger headspace. The twins in particular tend to watch over him the most 

Scanlan 

Regresses the youngest of anyone in the group and us never older than 2

He also regresses the least out of any of the team's littles. He really tries to avoid doing it at all costs 

He is very good at noticing the signs that he’s about to slip into headspace and usually either finds a hidden place away from everyone or pushes it down 

He is terrified of being teased about his regression by anyone which makes it a sensitive subject for him. 

Because he regresses so little he has a hard time even walking on his own and prefers to be carried. He won't admit it but he loves being picked up and carried even while big

When little he's very openly emotional. He isn’t able to repress his emotions or play them off with jokes while regressed so they end up coming out at full tilt 

He mostly babbles or goes completely nonverbal while regressed however there are a few words he can pretty reliably say including mommy. The fact that it’s one of the words he can always say when little is the main reason it’s his safeword. Regression absolutely means he needs to be able to get out of any sexual encounters he may have been in the middle of. 

He hums almost constantly as a way of self soothing and just because he really does love music 

This man will happily fall asleep at any time. Because regressing tends to be such an emotional experience for him he gets drained easily 

Does not have a paci but really should. Currently resorts to chewing or sucking on his fingers most of the time 

Vex

Regresses between ages 4-6

Usually regresses voluntarily although she sometimes needs some prompting (usually from Vax) to actually do it when she needs to 

She is incredibly expressive and prone to very big emotions that she doesn’t have much of a handle on. While little Vex feels things at 100% wether that's joy, sadness, anger, or fear 

Her accent becomes stronger while regressed and she gets a bit of a lisp while speaking. She also tends to struggle with her volume control and is either mumbling or borderline shouting

She really loves magic while regressed. Something about the shiny lights and sparkles really entertains her. She also loves spending time with Trinket. She is also very dead set on doing everyones hair while little. It’s not uncommon to see almost the entire party sporting braids, ribbons and flower crowns after vex has gotten ahold of them. She is also a bit of a prankster and especially loves to pull them on Vax and Grog because they have the best reactions (Vax’s are usually fake but Grogs are very real) 

Vax bought her a stuffed bear that she calls mini trinket and Percy regularly gifts her little inventions he’s made for her to fiddle with

When Vax can’t be there with her while shes small he leaves one of his cloaks behind with her so she has something of him to hold onto until he gets back 

Vax has always taken care of her when he can and once the others know vox machina does their best to help her out and watch over her while shes regressed 

Vax 

Regresses between ages 3-8

Regresses less often than he should. He feels the need to always be available to watch over and protect Vex so he doesn’t let himself be small as much as he really needs to 

He finds himself slipping quickly and without warning into headspace especially when his separation anxiety kicks in. He has a few methods of pulling himself out of headspace though so he can usually stay big during emergencies 

He’s a very calm and quiet little. He relaxes and follows others (usually Vex) around like a lost little duckling 

He’s a very sleepy guy while small and if he feels safe and is around the people who care about him he will pass out wherever and become very cranky if he’s woken up 

Loves to play elaborate pretend games and gets annoyed when Vex doesn't want to play along. He’s usually pretty much happy to do whatever Vex is doing. He also loves to climb up big rocks and trees and then jump off or out of them which gives everyone else a heart attack 

He will spill his drinks if they aren't put in a bottle 

When she's not also regressed Vex is his caregiver but he is also taken care of by the rest of vox machina 

Keyleth 

Regresses between ages 2-6

She is a voluntary regressor and does as a way to cope and help her relax and calm her anxiety 

She tends to ramble while small about anything and everything that’s on her mind or go totally silent with no in between. She knows a little bit of sign language that she will occasionally use if she doesn't feel like speaking 

She’s a social napper and will only really take one if others are regressed with her and also being put down for a nap 

She loves making flower crowns and playing outside in the sun. She also really loves animals and if you put a creature in her lap she will sit with it for hours 

She loves fruits and berries and her fingers and mouth are almost always stained with juice 

She has a lot of toys because she keeps buying them while big. She's very good at sharing them with the others 

She does have a paci and will occasionally use one on days she isn’t talking or when she starts biting at her nails 

Grog 

Older kiddo. Regresses between ages 7-12

He has sort of a hard time noticing when he’s feeling little and usually it takes someone else pointing it out to him for him to realize he is small 

What little volume control he has goes out the window 

Very much plays a big brother role to the other littles in the group. He’s very protective of his friends. Pike has caught him attempting to beat up multiple rocks and logs because they “tripped his friends” 

He loves asking pike questions when small and will not be stopped from throwing rocks into water or off of cliffs to see what happens. If he’s not currently by a cliff or body of water he will pick up good throwing rocks to save for later 

Pike

Caregiver all the way 

The only one Scanlan tells about his regression first 

Hates being separated or splitting the party because she wants to be able to keep watch over everyone 

Very good at calming down upset littles 

She is very lenient when it comes to rules and tends not to be too strict 

Very good storyteller 

[catch-me-hello]

Nothing guilty about it.

Yesterday morning, while I was getting ready for work, I re-watched the 1980 movie Xanadu on my phone, and I felt happy and hopeful for the first time in months. 

I saw Xanadu in the theater when it first came out, and       I was absolutely enthralled.  I was about 12 years old, and   I bought the soundtrack and played it a million times.  It was such a magical, uplifting experience. 

I was kind of bummed when it went on to become a critically panned box office failure that led to the creation of The Razzies, the snarky awards ceremony for bad movies.

I think seeing Xanadu at age 12 was a significant event in my life, when I started letting sarcasm and cynicism make me feel ashamed of the things that made me happy.  Loving something means opening your heart to it, and when you open your heart, you become vulnerable to mockery.  I’ve been calling Xanadu my “guilty pleasure” for years instead of calling it what it really is – a movie that makes me happy and hopeful, despite the parts of it that I now see as cringe.  Yes, I agree with the Redditor who called it “Cocaine: The Movie,” because some of the creative decisions are downright bewildering, but I still love it with all my heart.

After watching it again yesterday morning, I felt happier at work.  I know I sounded better and more patient and positive with my co-workers.  If the media I love makes me so happy, why don’t I consume more of it, even if the rest of the world mocks it?  During my lunchtime power walk, I listened to the Xanadu soundtrack again.  I felt lighter.  I felt like I had reconnected to the magic I used to feel when I was a child.

I remember telling someone once that if I were to ever remake my all-time favorite movie, 1987’s Moonstruck, I wouldn’t change a thing.  It’s perfect the way it is, so there really isn’t a point to remaking it.  But what if I had the chance to remake Xanadu? 

I wouldn’t change a lot.  So much of it is wonderful the way it is.  But I would change a few things.  I’m going to present this as something I would change, followed by something I love. 

For starters in the things I would change, I’d re-cast the role of Kira.  I can already hear the howls of protest from other Xanadu fans.  I’m sorry, my fellow fans, but I have to be honest.  And I’m sorry, Olivia Newton-John.  I truly love your singing, but you played the centuries-old muse with too much wide-eyed innocence.   

ONJ’s Kira even speaks in a childlike voice and is amazed by everything, giving the impression that she was just born yesterday and shouldn’t be allowed outside without adult supervision.  That’s why I get kind of creeped out when she has romantic scenes with Michael Beck.  It feels a bit inappropriate. 

I could imagine a 1980s Demi Moore or Kim Cattrall playing Kira.  Someone who could bring a bit maturity and maybe a touch of world-weariness to the role, which would make her falling in love with a human for the first time more significant.  I find it hard to believe that ONJ’s Kira has never been in love before.  She comes across as someone who falls breathlessly in love with every human she comes across, cries over a broken heart when she has to leave them, and then forgets all about it when she falls in love again.

Now for something I love.  It’s the first musical sequence when the painted mural of muses comes to life, dancing to ELO’s “I’m Alive.”  This sequence took my breath away when I first saw it in the theater. It was the most beautiful, magical thing I had ever seen, and the song is still one of my favorites from ELO.  I would not change a thing about this.  The dancing, the costumes, the music, the joy of it all.  I’d keep it exactly the way it is. 

Next up, something I would change.  The roller skating.  I know that roller skating was a huge thing when Xanadu came out.  I owned a pair of roller skates and loved going to roller rinks.  And even then, I knew the whole skating thing was weird in this movie.  Everyone skates everywhere.  Watching this movie gave me the impression that roller skating was the primary mode of transportation in California in the early 80s. 

I also couldn’t help worrying about the potential injury of it all.  When Sonny needs a lift across town, he grabs the back of a van and rolls along behind.  The Xanadu nightclub opens with everyone on skates, which is the biggest potential class action injury lawsuit I’ve ever seen.  That nightclub would have been shut down by OSHA in less than a week.  Which brings me to something I would change about the character of Sonny Malone, but first I have to name something else I loved about the movie and would keep.

The next thing I would keep is also one of the dance sequences.  (For the record, I would keep every song on the soundtrack.)  This scene comes about midway through the movie, when Sonny Malone and Danny McGuire are imagining what Xanadu is going to look like.  And when people say that this movie was brought to you by cocaine, I’m pretty sure this is one of the scenes they’re talking about.  Consider how eye-poppingly and brain-fryingly high you have to be to come up with this idea for a musical sequence:

It's a duet.  One part is sung by ONJ, who is fronting a 1940s-era big band and singing a bluesy ragtime song while surrounded by swing dancers.  The other part is a frenzied 80s rock song sung by The Tubes.  You remember The Tubes.  The insane art school band that brought us such classic hits as “White Punks on Dope” and “Mondo Bondage.”  Yeah.  The Tubes and Olivia Newton-John.  Two artists you wouldn’t expect to find on the same planet, much less on the same stage.

And it is fucking fantastic. 

I love every glorious, batshit crazy moment of this musical number.  Hearing it on the soundtrack is great, but you really have to see it onscreen.  And this brilliantly bizarre performance, presented as a daydream being imagined by two of our lead characters, is what makes these two characters decide that building this nightclub is a GREAT IDEA and they need to do it RIGHT NOW.   Ah, cocaine. 

Moving on.  Something I would change would be Sonny Malone’s lack of common sense.  He’s a very talented painter who wants desperately to get out of his paint-by-numbers job and do his own thing.  But he doesn’t understand the concept of a side hustle.

In the opening scene, we watch him painting still lifes and portraits and getting frustrated, tearing up each attempt and trying again.  He finally says, “Guys like me shouldn’t dream anyway,” and crawls back to the art studio to beg for his job back.  He complains to his co-workers that he was unable to make a living on his own as an artist.  Which begs the question, why didn’t you try selling your art on the side until you had made a name for yourself and started making money and THEN quit your job?

But that’s not even the part I would change.  Later on, when he and Danny are building Xanadu, he breezes in to the studio late, insults his boss, quits on the spot, and joyously stuts out the door, yelling over his shoulder that his co-workers are all invited to the grand opening of his new nightclub, and drinks are on the house.  The club hasn’t made a single dime yet, and he’s already burning his bridges and promising free drinks.  We’re supposed to see him as the artistic hero and cheer his long-desired exit, but I never could.  Even at twelve years old, I remember thinking, this guy is kind of stupid. 

In fact, this could have been done so much better.  Keep the original opening scene where he couldn’t make it on his own and has to crawl back.  Then have him open Xanadu on the side, and once it becomes a huge success, finally digging its way out of the financial hole from giving away drinks and paying for all the roller skate-related injuries and structural damage caused by The Tubes, he could invite his boss and co-workers to the club.  The boss would see how his employee finally realized his dreams and wish him well, maybe even offer to invest in the club or build a giant medical tent in the parking lot.  Sonny would show gratitude to the boss for keeping him employed while he chased his dream, and the boss would see that dreams really can come true, which is the whole message of the movie.  It would have been perfect.

But no.  When Sonny flees the art studio for the last time, his angry and frustrated boss slams his hand down on a palette and gets paint all over himself.  We’re supposed to find this funny.  I just feel bad for him.  I felt bad for him at age twelve. 

Now for something I love, which is the casting of the two male leads.  I love Michael Beck as Sonny Malone.  Andy Gibb was originally cast for the part, but he had to drop out due to his drug problem, so they hired Michael Beck because of how much he looks like Andy Gibb.  I mean, I just can’t un-see it.

Poor Andy.  I would have loved to see him play Sonny Malone, but Michael Beck is a charming, handsome substitute, even if he’s not the best actor.

I also love that Gene Kelly is in this, playing Danny McGuire.  Xanadu was the last movie Gene Kelly did before he passed away, and I really hope that the bad reviews didn’t bring him down.   He was so dashing and playful, and I love the tapdancing scene he does with ONJ early in the movie.  I hope that he was proud of his performance until the very end of his life.  He deserved to be.  No matter what the Razzies had to say.

Now for something I would change.  I understand that the movie needed a sequence to put behind the ELO song “Don’t Walk Away,” but if the filmmakers had put down the cocaine for just ten minutes, I’m sure they would have stopped themselves before picking up the phone and calling Don Bluth.  I mean, just … what the hell is this?

The less said about this the better.

Now for something I love.  There’s a great moment when Kira is trying to explain to Sonny that she’s not human, and she can’t be in love with him because she’s a muse.  Sonny thinks she’s just being silly, but then she picks up a dictionary and tells him to look up the meaning of “muse.” 

Sonny looks up from the dictionary and stares at Kira, stunned, and then she turns on the TV.  A gangster movie appears on the screen, and the actors break the fourth wall and take Kira’s side.

This is just so clever and funny.

Okay, just one more of each, before this goes into a hundred pages.  And it could.

Something I would change is the way this movie portrays Mount Olympus.  Kira leaves Sonny and returns to the afterworld.  Sonny roller-skates around Venice Beach, trying to find her, and then he figures out that he needs to break through the mural we saw at the beginning of the movie, which is a portal to Mount Olympus.  He builds up speed, slams into the painting, and then, finally, this incredible other world is revealed …

Well.  That’s disappointing. 

Sonny and Kira talk to each other across the celestial Studio 54 dance floor. We don’t get to see Zeus and Hera, but we hear them as they argue with this recently unemployed painter and aspiring nightclub owner in gym shorts and roller skates who is asking to date their daughter.  I am not at all surprised when they deny his request and kick him out the door. 

It really is surprising that they couldn’t make Mount Olympus look better than this.  The filmmakers had all kinds of money for the Tubes performance, the Don Bluth animation, and a metric ton of cocaine, but when it came to showing the mythical world of gods and goddesses, they were like, nah, nobody wants to see that, it’s not like this is a fantasy movie called Xanadu.

Okay.  Now for the thing that I love most about this movie, just barely edging out the “I’m Alive” dance sequence at the beginning of the movie for the Number One spot.  It is, of course, when ONJ sings the title song in the nightclub of the same name.  It’s opening night at Xanadu, and Zeus and Hera have relented and allowed Kira to return to see it.  She takes the stage in a bunch of different outfits, singing country and rock and jazz songs, and honestly, it’s kind of a huge mess.  But then, finally, she stands on a pillar in the middle of the stage in that gorgeous dress and sings the theme song.  It’s so emotional for me, because she’s not just singing a celebration of a dream come true, but she’s also saying goodbye to Sonny.  As she hits the final notes of the song, she flies up into the heavens, back to Mount Olympus, and it’s exciting and heartbreaking and just amazing.

I remember crying in the theater when she disappeared.  Part of it was because Sonny was losing her forever, but it was also the emotional intensity of it all.  I felt overwhelmed by it. 

We didn’t have the internet or steaming services back then, and another reason I was crying is because I thought I’d never get a chance to see the movie ever again.  That’s why it meant so much to me when I was able to buy it on Amazon Prime.  But because I still felt a little embarrassed about loving this movie that the world has rejected, I didn’t watch it for a long time.

I’m glad I watched it yesterday, and I’m also glad that I learned I’m not the only one who loves it unironically.  I did some web searching and found the Xanadu Preservation Society, founded in 1999. 

I also found Reddit posts and a Facebook fan club.  Xanadu has been turned into a Broadway play.  There are plenty of us out there who refuse to call it a guilty pleasure.  It’s one of our favorite movies.

Watching Xanadu made me feel happy after a really rough year.  I really need media like that right now.  I’m going to spend time consuming the movies and TV shows and music that heal my soul, no matter how cringe they may be.

Tomorrow, I might get back to my Barry Manilow playlist. 

[ettawritesnstudies]

Please please tell me more about Otherworld Explorers Club (Honestly that's one of the best names I've ever seen)

So! I developed it in this post but the premise is exploring what happens when the protagonist of a middle grade portal fantasy story comes back to the "real world" and has to keep quiet about their fantastical experience??? The story follows four girls who had adventures in four separate Otherworlds (dystopia, high fantasy, fae, and high tech respectively), but all ended up back in their boring mundane "Real World" and now they're adults and they've found each other and they're trying to rediscover that wonder again when a lost Traveller crash lands on their planet. She's a dragonrider who's been separated from her soulmate and wants to return to the stars and so the Otherworld Explorer's Club decides to help her get home.

It's very much inspired by The Little Prince and the fact that my entire friendgroup is currently going through the 20something existential Angst of having our first corporate jobs. I'm in a relatively good position and I am militant about maintaining my sense of childlike whimsy, but it's so difficult to watch these people I love be so DEPRESSED about the daily rise and grind. I know adulting sucks and the world is big and scary but also these are such first world problems to have and we need to have gratitude!! And joy!! in the mundane joys and the small pleasures! So this story is about that wanderlust and escapism and romanticising your life and finding friends who encourage you to be authentic and rediscovering what made your child-self soar and learning how to do that on purpose again.

And also, it's about space dragons.

[bookshelf-in-progress]

Well, I'm running out of time to have a Valentine's retelling ready, so although I'm losing faith in this story by the minute, let's just keep moving forward with this experiment.

After Part One and Part Two, here's Part Three--the remaining 1,300 words of the draft I have so far. Feedback appreciated--it doesn't have to be in-depth, just general comments about if it makes sense/is readable/any points of confusion would be helpful.

Part Three

On the third day, you and your sisters return to the garden in the company of a prince--yet another who has taken up your father's impossible task. To spare you the horror of seeing me, I keep the white rose in my buttonhole and invisibly tend the wishing trees while you entertain the prince nearby.

Prince Ivan is sterner, more solemn than some of the others. Even I, a lowly gardener, have heard tales of his valor in battle. A thick saber-scar runs from his temple to his chin. He knows the danger he has placed himself in and faces it without flinching. There is something in his eyes that makes me think he welcomes it.

As I watch him, I wonder how he will fare in his quest. Will he reveal your secret or remain in the enchanted world with all the others? For the first time, I question the fate of those other princes. I have assumed they remained by choice, but in such a magical place, can first impressions ever be trusted? For their sake, as well as yours, I must follow you to the dance one more time.

When I reach your chamber in the evening, Prince Ivan is already among you. The twins, Melody and Harmony, focus on flattering him while your sisters tie on the last of their ribbons, but his eyes are for the dark-haired, sweet-tempered Princess Melisma, and I think she does not dislike the attention.

As you descend the staircase--Melody and Harmony taking the lead with Prince Ivan--Princess Aria keeps Melisma at the end of the line to scold her.

"You mustn't encourage him," Aria says. "It might give him reason to follow us back home."

"He is so brave," Melisma says, "and so gentle. Would it be so terrible for me to have him as a husband?"

"If he weds you, he will take you to the Northlands, and we shall never see you again. Is that the life you want?"

Melisma blushes. "No," she whispers.

"Then let him drink," Aria says in a low tone. "He shall be here always, for you to dance with as much as you like. He will be the same brave and gentle prince, but will never take you away from us."

That night at the dance, there is a banquet in honor of the new guest. The tables pile high with delicacies I cannot name, and silent, ghostly servants keep your plates and goblets constantly filled. Prince Ivan looks younger, almost childlike, as he takes in the wonders, and his eyes have lost their haunted look.

"Such a wondrous place!" he breathlessly declares. "All beauty and joy! No sorrow, no politics, no battle."

Aria, seated at his right hand, plies him with red wine, and leads him to speak upon the war he won such honors in. He served with valor and is proud of protecting his people, but he has lost friends and brothers, is haunted by the fields strewn with the bodies of those who died too young.

"I should not speak of such things," Ivan says, putting down another empty goblet. "They are better forgotten."

"Do you not cherish some memories?" Aria asks.

"If I could forget every moment of it, I would," Ivan declares, "and stay always in this dance.

Aria smiles, then takes a golden goblet--the largest and most ornate in the room--from a servant standing at her shoulder. "You may do so," Aria says, "if you only drink this elixir. You shall have no regrets. No duties. No memories of battle. Only the beauties of this world."

Ivan looks to Melisma, seated at his left hand. She squeezes his scarred fingers in her long, delicate ones. "I shall come every night," she says softly.

Ivan takes the goblet from Aria's hand. His face holds the grim determination of a soldier, and the innocent bravery of a child hoping a bitter tonic will bring relief from pain. He drains the cup to its dregs.

When Aria takes the empty goblet, the prince is transformed. His eyes hold the same light of joy as all the other princes, but the honorable nobility of his bearing has drained away, leaving behind an empty imitation, all paper and gold leaf with nothing solid behind. For the rest of the night, he dances every dance with Princess Melisma. She is all joy when she looks in his face, but every time she turns away, she seems close to bursting into tears.

For the rest of the night, I cannot enter into the enchantment of the dance. I see only those princes, and wonder who they were before their will was drained away. I see your sisters dancing, each with one partner more than all others, and wonder if they too renounced marriage to someone they admired for the sake of this endless courtship. I travel across the lake in Aria's boat instead of yours, and as her prince hands her off to shore, I see even she seems on the point of asking him to come with her, before dropping his hand and turning resolutely to the diamond forest.

When you alight from your prince's boat, I see no similar love or regret in your eyes. At first I am relieved, and then my anger flares at your heartlessness. I snap off a diamond-spangled branch so fiercely that the sound of its breaking makes your every sister jump.

They glance in all directions, bewildered to know the source of the sound. You look directly toward me, your face burning with shame. Though I remain invisible, I know you feel me standing at your shoulder.

"What was that?" Melody shrieks in alarm.

"My guardian angel," is all you say, and though your sisters pelt you with questions all the way through the forests and up the staircase, you do not say another word.

When I leave your room, part of me wants to run to the king and tell all, but I cannot let judgement fall upon you without giving you a chance to speak for yourself. The diamond-spangled branch I place in your bouquet is both an accusation and an offer of parley.

You come to me--though you do not know it--when I am tending to the wishing trees, in the most secluded corner of the garden. Your eyes are downcast, your face red. "You have seen," you say.

I say, "You have witnessed every one and said nothing. I want to know how you can defend yourself."

The innocent confusion in your eyes makes me repent of every crime I imputed to you. "What is there to defend?" you ask. "Every prince chooses to drink. We cannot deny them their choice."

"Do they know what it makes them?" I ask.

"If they do, they don't care," you say.

"Because they have been made incapable of caring for anything but the dance."

"Would you send Ivan back to his wars?" you ask. "Edmund to his awful father? Kristoff to his plague-filled land? They all have horrors they are escaping. It would be cruel to make them remember all the sorrows they were so desperate to forget."

The things that seemed so simple when I stood invisibly at your shoulder are more muddled now that you can look me clear in the face. There is one place in the world untouched by sorrow or strife--can I judge those who have fled for refuge there?

"You have had your wishes granted," you say softly. "Would you deny all of us ours?"

Looking into your innocent, imploring face, I find that I cannot. Your silence, I see now, is not heartlessness, but compassion. Loyalty to your sisters who wish to remain together. Pity for those princes who can find no other peace from their sorrows. There is no simple answer to the riddle that has entangled us all.

"I will not speak," I say, "if you do not wish it."

"Will you follow us again?" you ask.

"I do not know," I say. I don't know if I can bear it.

[sonnenreich]

continuation of (☀️) ⸻ @vikasgarden

The fae's childlike enthusiasm had a positive effect on his own disposition and he couldn't help but smile at her words. His joy was less about the offer of sweets - Zeev had never had a great passion for them - and more about the sociability and colourful hustle and bustle of the people. Seeing how cheerful and friendly everyone was with each other warmed his heart in a way. Apart from that, he thought it was nice that Vika had the opportunity to gain experiences outside of her seclusion that would soon enough develop into warm memories. 

A wave of nostalgia overcame him as they strolled through the market. He, too, was not free of memories that were both painful and pleasurable. He had often travelled with his siblings and family members into the heart of his home town when they too had offered a farmer’s market. Everything from crafts to harvests had been present. Long before they had to hide completely, they had offered their own work from time to time. From herbs and dried flowers to tea blends and minor spells - which for the common people were nothing more than gimmicks and small hints at the history of the city. For the Coven, these days were of particular significance, as they usually coincided with festivities that they themselves celebrated. The approaching start of autumn on these days was able to evoke equivalent feelings and with Vika, who was not a witch but came very close, these moments were easy to reproduce. 

Vika's cheerfulness was easy to mirror and made him forget any worries he carried with him wherever he went. Maybe that's why he liked her closeness so much, and not just because they had similar interests. 

There has always been something magical about the Scottish Highlands. Proof that the earth was a marvellous place and so much more powerful than a human, a witch or even a fairy. It was no surprise, looking down, that anyone looking out over the uneven lands felt exalted. On one side, the sea beat against the rocks; on the other, the view fell directly onto the small town, which looked like miniature figures from this distance. One could imagine that it was possible to take them with your index finger and thumb and rearrange them. No wonder the English wanted to conquer this country for themselves. Zeev's ambitions in these regards were rather limited. Ruling had never been his goal; the earth and its inhabitants were far too wilful for that. Instead, he leant back on the bench and took in the scenery. Vika's offer was accepted with hesitation. His first impulse had been to refuse, as she was clearly enjoying the sweets more than he was. However, politeness prevailed and he surmised that a sweet would do him no harm. 

At the altitude they were at, it was surprisingly warm, despite the stronger wind. Vika's wavy brown hair waved like grass in the breeze and she savoured the taste of her accomplishments. Zeev couldn't remember the exact last time he had been so blissfully close to another person. A peace that felt fleeting, but complete. From their position, they could watch the sunset perfectly as it set behind green and lush hills. The daily loss of sunlight was always associated with a certain sadness for the Sundawner, the certainty of their return, however, comforting. “That was a beautiful day,” he spoke openly and smiled at her, his nose outstretched towards the last rays of sunlight. “Thank you for tagging along.”

Expressing feelings openly was easy for Zeev. Being at peace with himself and with life opened many doors that few people were even aware of. Despite all the pains of the past and the supposed mistakes he had made, he had never lost the gentleness of his upbringing. “I don't think I need to ask if you had fun?” His laughter was muffled, but sincere. His smile was evident in the sparkle in his eyes. “Do you often go to markets with your sisters?”