#audrey won't allow it

[unproduciblesmackdown]

distracted a bit during the matt baume howard ashman video by more [lsoh inherent irreconciliability in an effort to nail down an audrey ii metaphor vs audrey ii's figurative core is Literal] thoughts b/c of that "personal preference for the stage musical ending b/c if not then murder is okay" like That's Right. the murders are okay

[tumblingxelian]

Personally, Chloe's been surrounded more by enablers but I won't deny that it can be its own form of abuse. They're just often a loaded words and I can't always tell how they're being used all the time.

Hope that came out right.

An enabler is "a person who encourages or enables negative or self-destructive behavior in another." Even if we only treat Andre as an Enabler, its still a form of abuse, just more round about.

& that is before we get into that he:

Shows he both can and will reign Chloe in when she negatively effects him.

Taught her to use bribery rather than to identify the thing she did wrong & apologize.

Explicitly teaches her to engage in corrupt & abusive conduct which makes everyone hate her.

Raised her to imitate her mother which is again super creepy.

Gets extremely possessive and seems to rely on her to be an emotional crutch or substitute for what he doesn't get from Audrey, which is multiple levels of yikes.

As well as seems to have largely left her to be raised by staff when he's not giving her the worst lessons or using her as a living prop.

Keeps her in the human equivalent of a fish tank with zero privacy or personality present.

Along with allowing and enabling his wife's verbal and emotional abuse, as well as negligence towards Chloe even while showing he can and will argue against her if she upsets him.

Andre fucking sucks.

[maxwellhauskaffee]

Spamton’s Personality and Complex Morality

Incoming autistic tl;dr ramble post while drunk concerning Spamton being woobified to the point of lacking any semblance to the original character.  

For some reason, many people forget or ignore Spamton's more of an “asshole victim” or “evil victim” by the time Kris and the gang met him. It’s interesting how frequent this is too. 

Of course, Spamton is not a woobie. He's not some innocent man caught in circumstance through no action or fault of his own. Neither is he someone who does things for "teh evulz". Spamton's more layered and complex than that imo, even with the limited information.

With that in mind, my interpretation of Spamton's entire being and arc through time has been inspired by several fictional characters I love. Those characters are: Kevin Lomax, Walter White, Seymour Krelborn, and Shou Tucker.

( I swear to god all of them wearing glasses and having themes associated with green was not initially intentional in my selection lmao. )

Currently, there's little to go on concerning Spamton's prior lore and who he was as a person through his actions. All we know is he was determined. He was anxious and desperate concerning the circumstances of this life. Of the lack of success in what it is an addison's meant to do. Those traits are expressed to varying degrees with each referenced character throughout all of Spamton's eras.

Kevin Lomax is a successful small-town lawyer whose innate pride makes it easy for John Milton, Kevin's future benefactor from NY, to exploit through tempting offers. Walter White's a brilliant and prideful chemist humbled by and chained to a more moderate and financially troubled life until given the choice to rejoin his former company or go his own way making meth. Seymour Krelborn's a meek, socially neglected / abused, and impoverished florist longing for a better life whose dreams turn to greed with the influence of Audrey ii. Shou Tucker’s a timid and desperate man who succumbs to harming those he loves to feed into his desperation and pride.

My take on Spamton encompasses all these traits into one little white fluffball. He's neurotic. Forever fearful of his misfortune and how others perceive him. This even extends to his big shot era where, despite his success, Spamton's aware of his incompetence and that the admiration's surface level is thanks to his benefactor. This is a trait and aspect of his arc he shares with Seymour in the 1986 LSoH film. He's a failure at what he does before his benefactor similar to Shou. No matter his attempts, he just can't cut it on his own. Like Walter, Spamton lives in obscurity compared to his peers with financial troubles far beyond his capacity to properly cope. And like Kevin, and later Seymour to some extent, when Spamton does obtain success through his benefactor, he pushes people away and causes strife through his hyper-focus on work and maintaining success.

All four men share aspects of greed and pride alongside Spamton. Kevin is successful on his own. Yet his wife Mary Ann, ironically a car salesman, and Milton both feed into his pride unintentionally ( via Mary Ann ) and intentionally ( via Milton ). Kevin, wanting more and knowing his capacity as a lawyer, accepts. While in NY, Kevin excuses his actions to explain and justify the consequences of them to continue the upward climb. It goes so far at the expense of his wife's life, though entirely unintentional on Kevin's part. Walter's similar, so I won't get into his arc.

Seymour's interesting in that he's also woobified by fans when in reality, he's a greedy and envious person, even if it's subtle. Greed allows Seymour to reluctantly excuse his actions to gain fame. His greed, envy of Orin, and resentment of Mushnik motivate Seymour to do horrible things. And of course, Shou needs little to no explanation. Greed tied with desperation fueled his actions...

I think Spamton's aspects of greed, envy, and pride were more subtle like Seymour's in the beginning. His personality and desperation more akin to Shou's. And honestly, a pinch of pride is good concerning self-esteem, determination, and motivation. It's when it's detrimental to one's self and others that it becomes a disorder.

Once Spamton gains a benefactor and becomes a big shot, his pride and greed metastasize to that of Kevin and Walter.

The other interesting thing of note is Seymour and Kevin both had benefactors giving them free will concerning choice laced with temptation.

Both Seymour and Kevin blame their benefactors for their inevitable misfortunes. When this happens, both benefactors correctly state they, Seymour and Kevin respectfully, made their choices with either clear knowledge of what could happen or knew their prior action's consequences and ignored them anyways.

"You blamin' me for Mary Ann? Oh I hope you're kidding… Mary Ann - you could've saved her any time you liked. All she wanted was love. ... Stop deluding yourself! I told you to take care of your wife! What did I say? 'The world would understand.' Didn't I say that? What did you do? 'You know what scares me, John? I leave the case, she gets better, and then I hate her for it.' Remember?" - John Milton

I think something similar occurred with Spamton and his benefactor. Despite his complaints and awareness of restrained free will, he still had some level of it. Even if he was controlled in a manner akin to Seymour, Spamton chose things that caused him and others harm along with his success. During this time, he also began rubbing his success in the faces of colleagues and friends who doubted or mocked him. Eventually, it got to the point that it caused his closest loved one, Blue, to disengage.

I think Spamton, despite the limited lore, has the potential for rich complexity concerning his more sour traits as a person. Like both games, there are many realities and routes. What you do decides what innate traits grow.

Spamton, to me, is in all paths of the game, corrupt on some level. None of them show a reality in which he is, by all accounts, a good man. And this is to not dismiss the reality that he is a victim of society, best explained here. We don't know much about his big shot era beyond him becoming a bit pompous. But... Wouldn't the best addison be that? A braggart of their wares and a confidence man? But he's also a culprit of his own demise while being potentially exploited by other entities.

With this in mind, Spamton best mirrors Seymour in the totality of his arc.

Both Spamton and Seymour are pathetic men by societal standards. While Seymour has a talent as a self-taught botanist of sorts, he's relegated to a basement at a struggling florist shop. His meekness and apathy are mirrored by his living conditions.

Spamton's similar in a different way. Unlike Seymour, he's determined, but like Seymour, is likely too meek and neurotic to be effective in his goals. Spamton can't keep a clear head nor direct himself convincingly.

Both men are forced into societal roles with limited choice. Seymour by Mushnik is pushed around and then later so by Audrey ii. Spamton, despite his passion to be a salesman, is seemingly limited to that alone based on what he is, an addison. It is likely taboo for an addison to have any passion outside of that. In one of my fics, Spamton was a mailman before attempting to work in sales and admits to loving that job.

Seymour and Spamton have benefactors. Seymour's is Audrey ii. Spamton's the person on the phone.

Both operate under the commands, suggestions, and temptations their benefactors provide. And both find success with their benefactors.

Seymour clearly loses aspects of free will with his due to his meekness and their relationship. I imagine Spamton, on some level, endured something similar. Especially with his theme being the loss of autonomy the more he pursues it.

Both are seen as tools by society and exploited as such; living in poverty in some regard with Spamton becoming homeless.

I think what makes Spamton woobie fodder is the state we find him in. The fact that by all accounts, he did what he was expected to do as an addison. That when he needed help the most, he was neglected and worse still, everyone knew and did nothing.

His friends and colleagues knew where he was as they show up at the end of the battle. They did nothing for years.

And it's this I think that blinds people to the fact that Spamton knowingly sold harmful and useless wares at his shop. That he tried convincing Kris to commit to his delusional murder-suicide pact so they'd both be free. That, in the Snowgrave run, he takes over Cyber City like a virus to the harm of its citizens. That the thorn ring "might sting" instead of "it literally takes away your life" when selling to Kris for Noelle to use.

At the end of the day as a said before, Spamton's more akin to an "asshole victim" than a full-on woobie. But maybe we can get the best of both. He can be the "asshole woobie".

Thanks for coming to my autistic Ted Talk.

[cherish--these--times]

Do not fret my fellow Siegfried x Audrey fans out there. If anything, the episode proved that Siegfried had forgotten other women even existed ever since he realised things were serious between Audrey and Gerald. These two things coincided, let's not forget. It also proves that he hates for his reputation as being habile with the ladies to be questioned or for Tristan to have one over him so he has to overcompensate. And lastly it made a point of showing us what really matters to him at the end. Not the book and therefore the potential romance with this woman, but the nurturance and care for his family. Hence why he dropped the damned thing and instead chose to go to the pub. Look at her face of disapproval when Siegfried first declined to go for a pint.

It's also very deliberate on the writers' part to have Audrey ask about said book, only for him to instantly dismiss it as a tedious read.

To me, it's obvious that it was about showing what a true pair bond looks like. Showing Audrey dutifully listening to Siegfried's concerns, offering advice which he immediately finds enlightening and useful? And both of them listening in on Richard's conversation over the phone with matching looks of fondness on their face? What was it that Carmody said? Ah yes:

"Humans generally thrive in pair bonds".

It is not as overt as what we are used to seeing certainly, but that's what makes this show so delicious. It's all in the little things. The nuances and the unsaid which define human relationships. It's closer to life. In fact, Siegfried phrased it perfectly to Carmody:

"There is a pace at which these things are done. A subtlety."

Also, an episode called Pair Bond and this is how these two are framed in the shot?? HELLO!!

I think the context is also important to remember. She's his employee. It would have been considered outrageously scandalous within the local community, I assume, for a gentleman and his housekeeper to have a romantic relationship. I think Siegfried knows precisely what gem he has under his roof, and also that the last thing he wants is to bring shame and potential ruin on such a pious, saintly woman. He won't allow himself to go there.

It will take something even more Earth-shattering than her potential departure for him to finally acknowledge that he fancies the pants off of her. With the implicit fallout that he will inevitably have to face. I can't wait.

[phoebepheebsphibs]

The Cause and The Effect

@boots-with-the-fur-club @tmntaucompetition

Prev | Next

Leo found he couldn't stop smiling.

Mikey was running around, fun and fancy free, all about the halls as they traipsed through looking for Donnie -- or rather, AudreyTello.

Last LeonAudro knew or could remember from his universe (before he'd been re-spored and transported here), tensions with mutants were still high thanks to the TCRI and Mikey wasn't yet cleared to leave the lair, not even in disguise. He would have gone stir crazy if it hadn't been for Draxum and the Hidden City, or Leo's portals. But there was very little to match the feeling of being allowed to run untethered and unafraid. Part of Leo didn't want Mikey to ever leave this place, the sanctuary it offered, the freedom and the peace and the strange familiarity of it all. But he knew that this wasn't home, and in the end that was what he and Mikey needed more than anything. Home. Family. Peace.

And so Leo had decided to keep Mikey as entertained as possible. Much to the annoyance of Luke.

"I don't know if he should be running around a lot," Luke grunted. "What if he gets lost again?"

"He won't!" Leo rebutted, pasting his classic smirk on to prove his confidence in Mikey. "Besides, Michael's got our scents locked in. If he gets too far, he can --"

"There are literally hundreds of you here," Luke growled.

"But how many Leos that smell like fungus?" Leo challenged, his grin only growing. "And how many Leatherheads, or Mama Bears? Hmmmm?"

Luke paused, his mouth opening and closing as he tried to think of a comeback. In the end, he grit his teeth and pushed past him.

"I still think it's a bad idea."

Leo chuckled at his small victory. He knew ragging on the croc was not the best way to make friends, but he couldn't help it if he was too cool for him. Leo ran past the grumpy Yokai to catch up to his brother, who was already zooming back their way.

"Hey, Mike!" Leo called out. "C'mere, I got an idea for a game we can play!"

Luke grunted as he rolled his eyes. Julia stepped in closer and placed her hand on his shoulder.

"What's wrong, honey?"

"He's gettin' on my nerves is all," Luke sighed. "I don't know if I can trust him. He's still connected to the hive. What if he's secretly working against us? Or what if Audrey III is using him to unwittingly spy on us?"

Julia paused, tutting softly as she thought it over.

"...We should try to give him the benefit of the doubt. For Mikey's sake?"

Luke nodded.

"Okay, fine... but he gets three strikes. Three. I think, considering everything that we've been through, that's fair."

Julia sighed. She couldn't control Luke or his temper, and she could understand his hesitance to trust the NFIF AU.

"If you think that's best..." Julia relented. "But remember, people aren't always what they appear to be. I know you know that, and I hope you remember that applies to them as well."

Luke's expression softened.

"I know. And I get it for Mikey. He didn't choose what happened to him."

"Neither did Leo," Julia reminded.

Luke's mouth tightened.

"...I'll try to be patient with him."

"That's all I ask," Julia smiled.

Luke smiled back before rushing away to catch up to the feral teens who had somehow gotten away from him and Julia.

"Hey, guys!" Luke called out, scanning the many intersecting hallways. "Where'd you go--"

Luke felt something hard and heavy spontaneously crash into his chest, sending him flat onto the ground and knocking the wind out of his lungs. He gasped on the floor, looking up in shock to see DM Mikey's giddy and silly face, tongue half-hanging out the side of his mouth as his tail wagged. Leo revealed himself from behind a corner, laughing so hard he started coughing and choking.

"Oh-ho, man!" he cackled, doubling over and wiping a tear from his face. "Nice going, Mikey! And you should have seen your face, Swampy! You looked like this, like 'blaaah! aaah what is happening, raaah!' Y'know? Mikey loves doing that to me and the guys back home... Oh man, Priceless!!"

Luke grumbled as he sat up, glaring at LeonAudro.

"...Strike one."

"Strike-huh? Whadjya say?" Leo asked, face still red from laughing himself silly.

"That was strike one."

"Strike one? What, I have a strike count now?" To Leatherhead's astonishment, LeonAudro seemed more curious than concerned. "What happens when I get to strike three?"

"You don't wanna know," he growled, hoping that would convey the seriousness.

"Yeeeaaaaah but I kinda do, that's why I asked--"

"I said you don't wanna know."

"But what if I--"

"You don't. Wanna. Know. Dude."

"Can't you tell me?" Leo asked, almost begging as pressed his hands together.

"I'll tell you when you get to strike three," Luke warned with a growl.

"Okay great awesome thanks!" Leo said with a smile before grabbing his younger brother off of the croc's chest. "MIKEY HELP ME OUT WE GOTTA GET TO STRIKE THREE AS FAST AS POSSIBLE!! WE'RE SPEEDRUNNING THE CONSEQUENCES OF OUR ACTIONS!"

The two ran off again, leaving Luke sprawled on the floor with a grimace.

"...I think I kind of hate that guy."

. . .

LeonAudro tugged DM Mikey along the path, trying to find another good way to keep Mikey entertained. Mikey had opted to try and run on two legs rather than four, but this was still a challenge at times and could impede his speed. Thus, Leo was tugging Mikey along and not the other way around.

Leo saw a stall offering snacks and beverages, and brought it to his brother's attention.

"Hey Mike, ya hungry?"

Mikey nodded enthusiastically, stumbling a few of the steps as Leo guided him to the stall.

"You don't have to walk on the two legs if it's bothering you, bud," Leo said.

"I-I knnnnnow, b-but it l-looks weird," Mikey mumbled. "I get sssss-tares."

"Don't mind them, they just think you're super cool and they're embarrassed that they can't match your level."

Mikey laughed and gave Leo a side hug.

"Thanks."

"No problem. So, whatchya wanna nosh? I think they have shish-kabobs here!"

As Mikey perused the options, Leo ordered a can of soda. The mod operating the stall handed the cold can of carbonation over to him with a nervous smile.

"Careful though, it might be a bit shaken."

Leo nodded, content to wait patiently as his soda calmed itself down. But then he saw Luke barreling their way. And he got an awful idea. Leo started shaking the can as hard as he could behind his back.

"Heeyyyy, if it isn't Lyle Lyle Crocodile!" LeonAudro joked, a grin on his face as he greeted the steamed Leatherhead.

"You guys gotta stop running off like that," Luke growled. "You keep leaving me and my mom behind!"

"Oh, relax!" Leo crooned. "We're just having some fun, don't worry! Geez, you look hot-headed. Why not cool down? Here, you can take my soda, I'll get another one."

Luke raised an eyebrow as he took the can.

"Awfully generous of you-- BLRBGLGLBRB!"

Luke was practically waterboarded by the spray of soda. He dropped the can and stepped back, spluttering and coughing as he came to the realization what had just happened. He blinked, and saw Leo cackling madly, with Mikey snickering in the background. Luke scowled as the soda dripped down his face and chest, soaking the few garments he wore.

"That's strike two."

"Oh come on!" Leo laughed. "That shouldn't count! It was just a prank! It's half a strike, at best."

"I thought you wanted to get to strike three?" Luke questioned.

"Yeah, but I gotta earn it!" Leo smirked. "That wasn't even my half-best work."

"I don't know how Mikey can stand being around you," Luke grumbled, shaking some of the sticky soda that was dripping down his arms.

Leo lurched back at that statement, his perfectly crafted smirk stayed in tact, save for a small crack in the mask and a twitch in the eye and smile.

"Yeah, I know right? His standards have lowered exponentially!" LeonAudro laughed.

Luke raised a suspicious eyebrow, but didn't push the matter when Mikey came trotting along, three grilled kabobs in his mouth. He grinned at the duo, grilled steak and barbecued veggies in his smile.

"I'll go get us some drinks. Luke, want anything?" Leo asked.

Leatherhead blinked at the suggestion, then shrugged.

"I'll just take some water and a ton of napkins."

"You got it. Mikey, you want anything?"

"Owamge Soba, pweash," Mikey answered, kabobs muffling his speech.

"Okay, one orange soda and one water with a truckload of napkins. And I'm gonna get a new soda."

Leo stepped away for a moment before returning with the requested items, handing the soda to Mikey and the water with napkins to Luke.

"Thanks," Luke said, already wiping his face off. "What brand of soda did you get?"

"Oh, this?" Leo asked, holding the can up for Leatherhead to see. "It's my favourite flavour of soda, it --"

Leo was stopped mid-sentence when Luke, with a completely straight face, took the can, shook it vigorously, pointed it at the stunned turtle, and cracked it open. Leo was instantly drenched by the spray. He shouted his protests, little good it did, and stumbled backwards. Soon enough the can was emptied, and Leo stared wide-eyed at Luke, who finally smiled smugly and simply replied "Payback."

Leo turned and glanced at Mikey, who was desperately trying to hold in his snickers. LeonAudro smiled, giggles filtering in slowly.

"Okay, okay. I totally deserved that. So, we're even? Can we say no strike two?"

"Half a strike," Leatherhead conceded.

"Cool. I'll go get some more napkins," Leo nodded.

. . .

A phantom rolled through the arenas, unseen by the majority of the contenders. A cloud of mists trailed after him as he followed the butterfly mod. His violet caped flowed as he stepped with haste and determination. Something about his demeanor set the halls with a sense of dread, cold and calculating.

He had been searching for someone. Still searching, only now it seemed he was finally getting somewhere. This person he was looking for, a lost soul. Someone who would undoubtably have no idea what to do without his brilliant brother. He had to find him quickly, before he got himself into trouble. Fortunately for the phantom, this Mod had approached him with the offer to help find lost items or people.

"You're certain you can locate him?" the phantom asked, his voice low so as not to draw attention to himself.

He may have blended in with the shadows, but his presence was sensed nonetheless. Almost like that of a dream in passing, a memory you were trying to forget. A fear you did not want to confront.

"Don't worry!" the butterfly cooed brightly. "We'll find the one you're looking for."

"Good," the phantom smiled. "Because I am running low on time."

. . .

DM Mikey was getting fidgety. Leo noticed it, so did Julia and Leatherhead. Michelangelo was a rambunctious teen to begin with, bursting with energy and excitement, his ADHD running him wild. But now, his ADHD mixed with his animalistic mutations and instincts to roam free and be a bit feral; and he wasn't just run wild, it ran him ragged. Mikey needed to move around so much more, his creature features causing his metabolism to spiral. The teen could usually find ways to occupy himself (especially with Dee's special home jungle-gym), but it was getting tough to find ways to keep entertained in these never-ending backdoor-looking arenas. Leo knew he had to do something, poor Mikey was starting to unravel from jitterbugs and boredom.

And Leo knew he had to make up for lost time.

LeonAudro glanced back at Leatherhead and Julia, who were whispering amongst themselves. Probably about Leo's antics. Oh well, they could deal with one more antic, right?

"Hey, Mikey," Leo said in a hush-hush tone. "Wanna play a game?"

Mikey looked up at Leo, his eyes wide as he nodded.

"What game, Blue?"

"Wanna race?"

Mikey nodded again, his scarred and torn lips curling into a sunshine-bright smile.

"But w-w-what ab-bout Luke a-an' Big Mama -- Mama Julia -- Bear Mom?" Mikey stuttered.

"They can play too, don't worry!" Leo stated. "Ready?"

Mikey immediately got into a ready stance, hind legs reared and spine stretched out like a cat about to chase after his prey.

"Okay, ready?" Leo whispered, before looking back at the others. "HeyGuysWe'reGonnaDoARaceBetterGetReady!"

"Wait, what?!" Luke yelled back, distracted by his conversation with his mother. "Hang on--!"

"OneTwoThreeGo!"

Mikey sped off like a shot, vanishing almost instantly as he bounded away. Leo ran after him as fast as possible, though he knew he would never catch up to him. He was tempted to use his ninpo, but for whatever reason the power that kept him tethered to the spores kept his teleportation skills at a minimum. Luke and Julia screamed after them to hold on, wait a minute! But Leo didn't seem to care. So long as Mikey had a good time.

Leo ran as fast as possible, yelling back with a laugh "Try to keep up! Don't wanna get left behind!"

He didn't see the look of disgusted horror on Luke's face as Leo turned the corner and vanished. It took Leo something around 10 minutes to catch up with Mikey again, and that was only because Mikey realized he'd gone too far and turned back to find him. The feral fungus lads wandered the grounds, exploring the various compounds and stalls.

LeonAudro had found a door leading to an outdoor station, where old fashioned stalls made up to look like something from a fantasy novel were set around cobblestone pathways, a few carnival games, and grassy hills. Mikey had the absolute time of his life meeting new people and playing the fun games. They had all but forgotten about the MBU clan as the bros enjoyed their time together; and by sunset they were sitting on a bench, Mikey humming softly as they watched the sky change tones.

"That was fun, right?" Leo smiled.

"Y-y-yessss," Mikey crowed. "Fun day. Thank you, Leo."

"Anytime, bud."

The two sat in silence, the heavens turning red and purple slowly.

"...H-hey, Lllleo?"

"Yeah, Mikey?"

"Where are Red and Purple?"

Leo's breath caught in his lungs, and he thought he was about to have a heart attack. He'd been waiting for this question, and the fact that Mikey used their colours rather than their names was a bad sign. Same with his stutter -- those factors only came into play when he was nervous or stressed, or dealing with issues from the mutations. He was more likely to forget how to walk upright, or what he'd done that day, or how to say certain words if he was struggling. It was a reeeeaaally bad sign if he forgot his brothers' names. LeonAudro felt something rising in his chest, a cold anxiety that made his head light and his stomach flip. Blue tints filled the edges of his vision. He blinked it away, breathing deeply as he sought for the right words.

"...I'm not sure where they are right now. Do you know their names, though?"

Mikey paused, lifting his head to look at Leo's face.

"...D-D-Donnieeee... An' Rrrrraph," he purred. "I-I remember."

"Just making sure."

Mikey kept his eyes on Leo.

"Leo? Can I ask you ssssomething?"

"Anything, dude."

Michelangelo reached up, his claws gently coming to Leo's eyes but not quite reaching them.

"Wwwwhat happened to your eyes?"

The big brother's gaze diverted away from his curious and concerned little brother.

"It's... a long story. I had wondered if you remembered what happened... Mike, do you recall a mission with mushrooms?"

Mikey leaned in close.

"You mean... l-l-like... drugs?"

Leo almost doubled over laughing.

"No! No no no, not at all!" he cackled. "It wasn't like that, it was just an evil giant mushroom with a glowing eye, and when we breathed in the spores it made us see these terrifying hallucinations..."

"That sounds just like dr-drugs, Leo," Mikey insisted.

Leo laughed again.

"I swear it wasn't! Anyway, to make a long story short, I got infected by the mushroom and it... made me do a lot of bad things. Things I regret. And this is kind of a... calling card."

Mikey stared at him, studying every aspect of his face and eyes.

"Leo... was like Mikey?"

"Huh?"

"Prisoner," he explained softly. "Withhhh a voice in Leo's head that made y-you do bad things. Like Instinct."

Leo slouched, his usually over-confident facade fading away as he took Mikey's hand and nodded silently.

"Can Mikey help?"

Leo shook his head.

"That's not your job, bud. I'm getting better, I swear."

Mikey rested against his chest, a gentle hug made mostly so they could feel each other's heartbeats.

"Please remember I love you, if nothing else."

Leo pulled Mikey closer, recalling those words from a long time ago.

"I will."

The stars began to twinkle in the skies above, constellations that neither had ever seen before. Just as Leo was about to suggest heading inside, a gruff and furious voice called out to them.

"WHAT THE HECK WERE YOU THINKING?!"

Leo's neck was struck with whiplash from how fast his head swiveled. Leatherhead was storming over, smoke practically pouring from his ears. Julia was close behind him, her expression hard and stern but not quite so frightening as Luke's.

"Oh, hey guys!" Leo waved. "Glad you finally caught up."

"Don't EVEN start with me!" Luke shouted. "How could you just run off like that?! We were supposed to stick together! Why did you leave us? And not tell us where you were going?!"

"It was just a game, dude," Leo snapped back. "Chill out."

"We had no idea where you were!!" Luke screamed, startling Mikey. "We were worried sick!"

"Hey, calm down!" Leo yelled, grabbing Luke by the wrist. "It was just a game --"

Luke wrenched his hand back, snarling in fury.

"That's strike three," he growled, voice deep and dark.

Leo gaped at him.

"Wait, for real? You're striking me because I took Mikey --"

"Do you even CARE about what's going on?!" Leatherhead shouted. "Do you even think?! Or do you only just play around like nothing matters?? While you've been goofing off and causing trouble, we've been trying to find a way to keep YOUR brother safe! Or did you forget that?!"

"Hey, don't get all grouchy with me because you can't handle a few funny pranks and jokes!"

"The only joke here is YOU," Luke rebuked. "You don't care at all about your brother, do you?"

Mikey growled at Luke, his tail swinging in between the two and encompassing Leo, who looked stunned. Luke's eyes widened and his face went pale at Mikey's reaction. LeonAudro looked back at Julia, hoping she'd mediate somehow. Julia simply had her arms crossed as she shook her head.

"I'm not mad," she sighed. "Just disappointed."

Leo's mask fell. Not the fake one with a carved smile that he'd discarded some time ago, but the one he'd been wearing ever since he was made leader. The mask that hid his true fears and insecurities. Blue began to fill his eyes up again, his head felt light and his hands trembled.

"I... I didn't mean..."

"Let's just go," Luke growled, "let's find a place to stay tonight. Because after today, I'm done with you."

. . .

Julia opened the door to the room and gingerly stepped inside. Leo had mentioned that last year, after a whole spore-zombie invasion (he looked quite queasy and pale mentioning that) he and another few AU competitors had gathered for a post-victory turtle-pile slumber party. It was like a fancy hotel room, nice and clean and magically sized to house everyone needed. There was even a basket of knitting needles for her on the table.

The three AUs walked inside, tensions high and animosity still brewing under the surface. Everyone felt on edge. Julia stayed in the doorway as the three teens stormed into the room, each one taking separate corners of the living space to sulk in. The Mama Bear took in a deep and rumbling breath before addressing the trio.

"Alright, I've had enough of this," she stated. "You three are going to have a talk and work things out. Right now."

LeonAudro gawked at her, his mouth open as if to ask her what on earth she was thinking. But one 'Mom Glare' in his direction, and Leo had elected to keep his thoughts to himself.

"I'm going out to get some supplies. When I come back, I expect you to have patched things up or come to an agreement. Understand?"

"Yes ma'am," their voices echoed.

Julia nodded sternly before stepping out, leaving the room in utterly uncomfortable silence.

LeonAudro sighed deeply, and turned to Mikey, who looked terrified. Leo signed for him to 'give us some space'. Mikey's shoulders bunched nervously as he scurried into the other room. Leo waited a full fifteen minutes after he heard the bedroom door close to approach Luke.

"Heyyyy, uh.... wassup."

Was that seriously the best he could do?

He cleared his throat and tried again.

"Um, I just wanted to say... I-I'm sorry for everything I did, and..."

LeonAudro stepped around the couch to face Leatherhead, and saw red rimmed eyes and a completely tear-stained face.

"Dude," Leo said, eyes going big as saucers. "Are you okay."

Luke grimaced.

"Do you actually care?"

Leo sighed as he sat down on the arm of the couch.

"I do care. I guess I just have a funny way of showing it. And I really am sorry, I wasn't intentionally trying to bug you."

"What about the soda can?"

"Okay, maybe that time. But that was just for laughs, I swear. I'm not trying to make enemies." Leo huffed. "Let's be real, it's not like I have to try to make enemies. It just happens. I'm great like that."

Luke wrung his hands and sighed.

"Fine. And I guess I'm sorry, too. I didn't mean to make Mikey so upset... I just really care a lot about him, y'know? He... he reminds me of my Mikey. And he reminds me of myself. I had a tough time growing up and... I just want him safe." Luke looked up at him, voice dripping with anger. "And I don't know how safe he is with you."

Leo felt the colour drain from his face.

"I-- I know I made a lot of mistakes, I got the three strikes, but I'll make it up to you! I'll -- look, here, you can hit me! I'll let you punch me in the face top make up for what happened. You can hit me twice!"

Luke's countenance fell, a disgusted look of horror on his face.

"Or... maybe not? I'm guessing not? How do you feel about community service?"

"I don't want to hit you," Luke hissed. "Why would you think that?"

Leo swallowed.

"I... I figured it would make us even. For everything. I thought you would have wanted..."

"No," Luke explained calmly. "I don't. If I made you think that... I'm not that kind of person. I've spent my whole life trying to fight the allegations that I'm only a 'beast', or a 'monster'. People look at me and assume all I want is to fight, to claw my way to whatever I want. I just want my family safe and happy."

Leo tried not to look as small as he felt.

"I only want that too... and I'm sorry about the three strikes."

Luke rolled his eyes.

"Just... don't make it to four, okay?"

Leo looked up with hope, a faint smile on his face.

"So... does that mean we're cool?"

Luke nodded.

"Up to you. But for now... yes. We're cool."

. . .

Julia had gone out to procure some snacks for her boys and a few more balls of yarn for her knitting. She'd not realized how long she'd been until she returned to a dark room, with everyone asleep. Luke was passed out on the couch, and the only light in the area was a soft neon blue glow coming from one of the bedrooms...

The colour made her stomach flip. She knew that blue glow, she'd recognized it. It haunted her, even now. She would wake up late in the nights, convinced she'd heard one of her kids screaming or that there were vines crawling across her floors, walls, and ceilings. She did her best to confront these fears and recurring nightmares, but some things lingered even still.

The fact that there was no screaming or crying was a good sign. She glanced towards the couch to inspect Luke. His head was rolled back and mouth wide open as he snored. Julia grabbed a small throw blanket folded in the closet and spread it over him, inadvertently waking him.

"Sorry, love," she whispered. "Didn't mean to startle you."

"It's fine," he mumbled, stretching softly. "I should move to an actual bed anyway."

"Did you talk to Leo?" Julia asked, accompanying him to his own private room.

"Yeah," he whispered. "We talked..."

Julia and Luke discussed the conversation the two had before they'd each gone to bed. She listened carefully, taking note of some subjects she felt were important to focus on when she talked with him herself. Julia wished Luke goodnight before closing his bedroom door and turning her attention to the ominous blue glow. She inhaled deeply and covered her nose (a self-preservation habit she'd taken from the last time she encountered the spores), then slowly approached the source.

In the other room, on the bed, a nest of vines had grown around two slumbering figures. The vines were the source of the glow, with no signs of any spore clouds or fungus beyond that. Julia exhaled deeply, somewhat relieved. But the vines only confirmed her hidden fear. Leo was still connected to the hive mind, to Audrey III.

She stepped closer, looking the duo up and down with concern. LeonAudro slept in the center of the nest, cradling DM Mikey close to his chest. Mikey was curled up tight, knees against his chest and hands clutching onto Leo as he dreamt. The two were inseparable. Not from the vines, but by choice. Which was a consolation to Julia.

She may or may not have been worrying in the back of her mind about LeonAudro. She knew he was DM Mikey's brother, but he was also under the control of a homicidal mushroom. He'd tried to kill her just a few months ago. Her and a lot of other people. Julia was not the type to hold a grudge, but she understood that sometimes danger lingers. People are always capable of change, but that doesn't always mean they will. Take Draxum, for example. Many of her kids were the result of Baron Draxum and his cruelty. While some lived in universes where he had been redeemed and reformed, others lived in dimensions where he was incapable of such feats and had remained a cruel and manipulative villain his whole existence.

What Julia needed to decide was if LeonAudro could be trusted.

She stared down at the two teens, sleeping with the utmost peace in each other's embrace.

This boy, this Leo...

He wasn't a villain. He wasn't a bad kid. He'd been under someone else's control, no choice in the matter. He had been sleepwalking. Just like Mikey that first night in the daycare. It was not his fault, and she couldn't continue to hold him accountable for that.

She pulled a blanket out and spread it over the two kids, gently tucking it here and there before turning around to leave.

"...Are you going to make me leave...?"

Julia paused, glancing over her shoulder to LeonAudro as he spoke, his eyes glowing bright in the darkness.

"No, cub," she whispered back. "I'm not going to make you leave."

Leo gripped DM Mikey just a bit tighter, pulling him close to his chest and resting his chin against the top of his head.

"...Why not?"

Julia was taken aback by the question.

"Because I would never do that to you," she answered sweetly, tiptoeing back to rub his head. "Or to Mikey. You two need each other, I see it."

Leo's forehead scrunched, his eyes looking away. He was gently rubbing Mikey's spiked and shattered shell, hidden under the soft but tearing fabric from Julia's hand-knit sweater.

"Luke told me you asked him to hit you," Julia mentioned, sitting herself down on the bed. She noticed Leo flinch at the mention.

"I thought..." Leo shifted, hugging Mikey while making him more comfortable. The mutated boxshell boy hummed in his sleep as Leo adjusted him, trying to avoid Julia's inquiry. "I thought it would make us even. I didn't know it was a trigger for him... he's a big dude, and I figured -- I mean, with all the stupid stuff I did today -- I figured he'd leap at the chance to pummel me."

Leo hid his face behind Mikey's.

"Anybody would."

Julia cooed sadly, reaching forward and stroking what she could see of LeonAudro's head.

"Ohhh, cub! No, no no no..."

"All I do is cause problems and hurt people and--"

"Leo, that isn't true--"

"But I do, I know I do," Leo mumbled, his voice muffled as he buried his face deeper and deeper into the nest of vines and Mikey's sweater. "After everything I did, all the trouble and pain and fear I caused... All I do is cause pain. Any time something bad happens, it's because of me. I'm always there. Donnie always talked about catalysts, cause and effect. I'm the cause, I'm the curse. It's always my fault. I destroyed the future, I caused the apocalypse, I gave strength to Audrey III during the competition, it was always because of me --"

"That wasn't you."

Leo looked up, eyes wet with tears as he stared at the Mama Bear.

"B-but --"

"It was not you, my dear cub," she repeated. "You are right about cause and effect, but you have it backwards. Those things happened, but not by your hand intentionally. You weren't the cause, so much as the effect. How do I explain... Bad things happen everyday. But good things come to counterattack, and bring light to the dark. You were there because you were the good counteracting the bad!"

Leo stared at her, not entirely sure he believed her.

"You didn't start your world's invasion, you fought against it with every breath you had. You didn't purposefully let the spores loose, and you didn't choose to have Audrey III capture you or your family. You can't hold yourself responsible for something you had no control over. The day I first met your brother and Chaplin attacked us, Mikey was sleepwalking and Chaplin made him do things he never would do otherwise --" Julia raised her arm to show LeonAudro her injury, "-- do you think that was Mikey's fault?"

Leo shook his head.

"Then how are you any different? I know you didn't want to do any of the things Aufrey III made you do. And so I can easily forgive you for that."

"But today -- I was just a burden to you -- Luke was right, I goofed off and didn't contribute to the mission at all..."

"But you did," Julia insisted. "You were there for Mikey. He needed you, and you took care of him. I saw you, and you cared for him as only a brother can. You're a good kid, Leo."

Leo's eyes ran with bright blue tears. They streaked down his cheeks and left stains on his mask. He wiped his face, trying to hide his emotions as best he could. Julia hummed sweetly, pasuing to see if he would want any affection. Leo eventually looked up from his cry-fest, realizing that she was waiting for him.

"Th-thank you," he whispered.

Julia nodded with a smile, reaching out to touch his shoulder.

"Of course, cub--"

She touched him. All it took was a touch. And she saw it all. Hallucinations that filled the entire room, converting it into a scene -- a memory. A dark room with half-dead people bound by vines and roots, the centerpiece held a blue-clad ninja turtle that was being eaten alive by an enormous mushroom. The air was visible, muddled and murked by blue mists and fog, the stench of fungus.

Julia pulled away quickly. The world was put to rights. Leo was still laying there, still cradling a peacefully sleeping Mikey. It seemed neither boy understood what had just happened. Julia barely knew what had happened.

She reached out and touched him again.

She was in a laboratory with a godless man trying to drag Leo away by his legs as his brothers watched and screamed. When Leo fought back, he was hit with an electrifying device that sparks burning his shell and skin just a few feet from where Mikey was caged, tears flooding down his terrified face.

Julia released Leo. The room was still and quiet once more. Leo glanced at her, unsure of what she was doing. She wasn't sure either. But she had discovered one thing: Leo could still use his fear powers.

He suddenly sat up straight, eyes wide as his pupils flashed pure white. DM Mikey groaned in his sleep, trying to reach for his brother when he couldn't feel him anymore. But LeonAudro sat stock still, chest rising and falling frantically as he hyperventilated.

"Leo?" Julia whispered cautiously, wondering if he'd seen what he'd unintentionally made her see. "What is it, what --"

"Something's about to happen...!"

. . .

Baudrey hummed as he lead the way through the halls. It was always difficult to tell what time it was in here, since time technically didn't exist in this realm. There was a sun and a moon and a sky, but that was more so for decoration than anything. People from all sorts of timelines and years congregated here, and while months could go by, they wouldn't age a day and no time would have passed in their homeworld. All that to say, clocks were useless. But he could assume that it was late in the evenings based on how few people were still trotting about, and from how quiet it had gotten. Not that Baudrey needed sleep anymore.

"Hurry along now," he said, his voice sing-songy as he directed Chaplin to the daycare. "Wouldn't want to be late."

"I don't see why we're attacking again," Chaplin grumbled, his face alternating between shades of pale caucasian and purple. "It didn't fare well the first time around."

"Ah, but as a scientist you must know that new variables can alter the experiment greatly!" Baudrey chuckled. "You have me now."

The villainous duo approached the daycare; the purple dome surrounding it shimmered upon their arrival as a warning.

"You know what to do," Baudrey crooned, stepping aside and gesturing at the door.

Chaplin stepped closer, frills on his neck revealing themselves as he took in a deep breath, then yelled. Sound waves reverberated, cracking the dome and causing it to slowly melt away. Some areas stayed in tact, but there were plenty of holes for the men to enter through. Baudrey pushed the door open with a dramatic flourish and stepped inside.

"Your turn," Chaplin sneered.

Baudrey waved his hands, and clouds of blue began infiltrating the sleepy daycare.

"That should help keep the snotty brats entertained," Baudrey smiled. "Meanwhile we have free reign to roam as we please."

"And if they aren't here?" Chaplin growled. "What then?"

"Oh don't worry, I have a man on the inside. Though he has been somewhat of a disappointment to me as of late... no matter. There are other ways to get what we want..."

Chaplin smirked as his body grew and deformed.

"Shall we?"

The two strolled along the halls as the children began to scream from their nightmares.

. . .

"What do you mean, something is about to happen?" Julia asked as she followed after Leo. "What's going to happen??"

"Something bad, I don't know," Leo gasped, hurriedly rushing around the room. "I-I got a feeling -- almost a glimpse -- Audrey III, they're planning something --"

"Planning what? How do you know...?" Julia froze. Leo turned to look at her, his face pale and expression sick, as if he might throw up.

"I... I don't know how to explain it, but... it's in my head... he's still in my head..."

Julia's eyes searched his. She knew that those infected by the spores had bright blue sclera, irises and pupils a lifeless white. Leo's eyes were only half-blue, his pupils dilating between the black and white.

"I-I promise I'm not going to hurt you!" Leo insisted, getting ahead of the conversation he knew was coming. "I swear on pizza supreme, on my life, on Mikey's life--! I won't hurt you! I'm not a bad guy, I promise!"

"I know," Julia said, trying to calm him down without touching him. "I know, don't worry. But... I don't understand?"

"Like I said, it's hard to explain," Leo answered, words fumbling out of his mouth faster than he could process as he paced anxiously. "I am and I am'nt. Am not, are not -- whatever. Audrey III doesn't control me anymore, but it still has like, a direct line to my brain. I'm kind of plugged in, and sometimes I get a signal -- A-and I just got a big one! A signal or command, or m-maybe even a message."

"What message?" Julia questioned nervously.

There was suddenly a knock at the door. The two heads snapped in unison, staring at the entrance. They exchanged a glance laced with reservations and nerves before Leo timidly went to the aperture and unlocked it. The door lazily swung open, revealing a phantom in a deep purple cloak.

"Finally, I found you," he whispered, lowering the hood and revealing a softshell turtle with a purple mask and bright blue eyes with white irises. "Hello, brother."

Prev | Next

[draurer]

Top 5 quick headcanons about Percy + Oliver + Penelope + Audrey

Percy:

• Stores Oliver's entire medical history in a separate folder. He has two home first–aid kits – one for simple illnesses, the other for treating injuries that may occur to a professional Quidditch player.

• He washes dishes by hand because it's a meditative activity for him.

• He would never allow other Weasleys to get on his plate and taste his food, but for some reason it doesn't work with Oliver. For the first three years, Percy hit him on the fingers when he climbed in his plate with the words "oh, what do you have, can I try it too?" He couldn't wean him off. Penny has unwittingly adopted Oliver's habit, although she asks more politely. When Audrey joined their group, she behaved decently and did not get into Percy's plate, - PERCY THOUGHT, - until he noticed Audrey secretly stealing one or two pieces of food from his plate when he turned away. Since he turned about twenty, he helped himself to more food than he could eat, and sometimes added food that only his friends liked.

• After Hermes' death, he won't get a pet owl for many more years. He will learn how to use phones to send messages or calls, just to avoid having an owl anymore.

• The threat to all nearby coffee shops. After Penny introduced him to coffee, he regularly visits coffee shops in London two or three times a week, trying all the coffee variations that are on the menu. So far, his favorites are glass, Irish and marocino.

Oliver:

• Under Penny's influence, he became familiar with Muggle sports. Since then, he loves hockey and basketball (this guy obviously loves getting injured during games).

• The only child in the family, and IT SHOWS.

• He regularly gets up at 5:30 for jogging and morning workout. During his cohabitation with Percy during his studies at Hogwarts, he always unwittingly woke him up with his clumsy assemblies. After they moved in together as adults, she continues to wake him up – but now he kisses him before leaving.

• Likes to sleep with other people. On weekends, he breaks off for daytime naps and pulls Percy down with him, not listening to his excuses. During sleepovers in their apartment with Audrey + Penny, he can often fall asleep with Penny on the couch.

• He doesn't cook in everyday life, but in fact he loves cooking meat. Anything – chicken, pork, veal, turkey, different roasts, different sauces. Seriously, he LOVES meat.

Penelope:

• She's the best tech expert in their company. Her parents are muggles, so Penny has always had access to such unimaginable things for wizards as a TV / microwave / Freddie Mercury's creativity and so on.

• She is also the best versed in psychology – child, adult, and social. Wizards don't care about psychology (and that's why 98% of the children of the magical community are traumatized to varying degrees), but Penny, on the contrary, likes to immerse herself in this science.

• She introduced Percy to coffee shops, Oliver to video games, Audrey to Disney cartoons ("no, I'm not crying, you're crying").

• She is engaged in volunteer work in animal shelters. Just look at her, it's written on her face that she's a natural volunteer.

• She used to straighten her hair, but since the sixth year of study she stopped doing it because of the heavy workload. After graduation, she still didn't go back to straightening her hair, because she noticed that the curls really suited her.

Audrey:

• She looks like a serious, strict lady, but she really loves humor and goes to Muggle stand-up with Penny.

• Two years older than Percy + Oliver + Penelope, studied at Ravenclaw.

• She seizes stress and fatigue with sweets in small quantities. The top drawers of her desk always contain some chocolate, a jar of small chocolate ice cream under a cooling spell, or a pack of sweet and sour marmalade.

• She is very organized: at work, all papers are stacked in separate signed folders, all reports are in chronological order, printed and laminated tips on what to do in different situations are in the drawers of the desk.

• Sings while doing housework, mostly songs from Disney cartoons. She sings beautifully. Sings songs from "Beauty and the Beast" with Percy when they drink.

[gracies-baby]

this account is the reason i am on tumblr fr. could you do one where audrey and abby are plotting to get gracie and y/n together but theyre already together and audrey and abby either see them kissing or bump into them on a date or something

Monopoly

(Gracie Abrams x Reader)

I’m so sorry this took so long 😭

——————————————————————————

"What're you smiling at?" Audrey teases her friend when she sees her smiling at her phone.

"Nothing. It doesn't matter" Gracie replies as she puts her phone down to face her best friend.

"Nothing wouldn't happen to be coming over today, would she? Me and Abby decided we should talk to her. We know you're never gonna make the first move so we're just gonna have to convince Y/n to like jump on you or something" Audrey smirks as she watches her roommates face turn red.

"Ew Audrey! What the fuck?!" The brunette groans as she walks to the kitchen.

"Don't act like you wouldn't love that!" Audrey teases before walking back to her room.

--

"Hey!" Gracie exclaims as she answers the door to see Abby and Y/n on the other side. She steps aside to let the other two girls in. Abby greets her cousin before walking to the kitchen to find something to eat, leaving the other two girls alone.

"Hi, I missed you" Y/n smiles as she quickly leans up to press a quick peck against the brunette's lips.

"I definitely missed you more. Audrey thinks I've got a crush on you by the way. She won't stop bugging me about it" Gracie replies as she looks around to make sure neither of the other two could hear them.

"Well, is she wrong? Abby thinks I've got a crush on you too. She keeps telling me stories about you as a kid by the way. Did you really rip the heads off all her dolls?" Y/n asks as she walks further into the apartment to sit on the couch.

"She was being a bitch. I wouldn't have done it if she didn't deserve it" Gracie replies, wrapping her arm around her girlfriend's shoulders, allowing Y/n to rest her head on her shoulder.

"You seem like you were a mean kid. I don't think we would've gotten along" Y/n jokes as Gracie scoffs jokingly.

"I wasn't mean! Abby was just annoying. She would always cheat at games. One time, we got into a big fight over monopoly and my mom said we weren't allowed to play anymore. We haven't played it since then"

"She still cheats at games. We should play monopoly tonight. I wanna see you being competitive" Y/n replies as she moves away from the brunette, seeing Audrey walk in.

"Gracie's always competitive. The other day, she threw my phone across the room because I beat her at Scrabble" Audrey tells her as she sits on the chair next to the couch.

"You definitely cheated. I would've won if you hadn't cheated" Gracie grumbles as she turns her eyes to the TV.

"Gracie, not everyone cheats at games. Maybe you're just not as good as you think you are" Y/n replies causing the brunette to jokingly glare at her before Abby walks in.

"Yeah, she kinda sucks at games honestly. She only thinks she's good because she always beat Henry and August but that's only because they suck even more" Abby teases as she takes a seat next to Y/n on the couch.

"Fine, lets play monopoly then. I'm gonna kick all your asses" Gracie grumbles as they all go to sit at the table.

--

"You need to pay!" Gracie yells at her cousin when she lands on her property.

"No I don't! You didn't even pay for the property! You just took the card" Abby yells back as she covers her money, making sure the brunette can't steal it.

"Y/n, tell her I paid for it!" The brunette asks the banker only to be interrupted by her cousin.

"Of course she's gonna side with you! You're her favorite!"

"Guys maybe we should stop playing-" Y/n tries to say only to be interrupted.

"I am not her favorite! You're her best friend and roommate! She would only side with me because I'm right" Gracie yells at her cousin before storming off to her room.

"That was.. intense" Y/n says as she begins packing up the game.

"Well, Gracie did tell you we weren't allowed to play. Now you know why" Abby replies before getting an idea.

"You should go follow her. Me and Audrey can finish packing up"

"Are you sure? It's just a game. I think she'll be okay"

"Just go. You would definitely cheer her up" Y/n agrees before walking to her girlfriend's room and closing the door behind her.

"Are you okay? I'm sorry, we shouldn't have played" Y/n tells her girlfriend as she takes a seat next to her on her bed before leaning her head on her shoulder.

"It's not your fault. Now you know why I broke her dolls" Gracie replies as she lays down on the bed, bringing Y/n with her and allowing her to rest her head on her chest.

"By the way, you're definitely my favorite. I love Abby but she's got nothing on you" Gracie smiles before leaning down to connect their lips. Y/n sighs into the kiss before Gracie moves to lay on top of her girlfriend so she can deepen the kiss. Just when she's about to take the other girls shirt off, the door opens causing them to jump away.

"Don't you two know how to knock?!" Gracie exclaims while Y/n lays on the bed in shock.

"How were we supposed to know you two were sucking face in here?! When did this start?!" Audrey replies with a big smile on her face.

"Around 3 months" Gracie tells them while Abby and Audrey begin to glare at the other two girls.

"So this whole time we've been trying to get you two together, you already were? Why didn't you tell us!" Abby asks.

"It's just been kinda fun sneaking around. Besides, you two would always leave us alone for hours trying to get us to confess and the alone time was kinda nice" Y/n speaks up for the first time since the other two girls walked in.

"Do you know how much I was panicking when you came home the other night with a hickey? I thought you were with some random girl! It would've completely ruined my plans" Abby tells her roommate while Y/n grins at her sheepishly.

"I'm so happy you two are together but if you ever have sex anywhere other than one of your beds, you're both getting kicked out 'cause we don't wanna deal with that" Audrey tells the both while Gracie and Y/n both look away with guilty looks on their faces.

"What the fucks wrong with you guys?!"

[rudnitskaia]

Rocky and Mau could possibly have two kids.

First one is their son Niccolò, who was born in the middle of 1930. After the shootout in Casa di Rondine in November of 1929 Maura and Augusto survive and manage to flee from St. Louis to some backwoods. And soon Mau finds out she expects a child, but she can't contact Rocky, because this was extremely dangerous in their situation. The threat of the New York's crime syndicate that pursued the Venza family since 1926 vanishes in early 1931, since the syndicate was practically exterminated both by rival gangs and law enforcement authorities. This allows Maura to go to find Rocky. If he's still alive and has no other partner by that point, she'd find him through Calvin and they'd start to live together. Otherwise, if Rocky's alive, but has a new life and a new partner/family, Mau won't interrupt - she'd ask Calvin not to tell Rocky about her, and Rocky most probably never knows Niccolò exists, while Mau stays a solo mom. Technically, in both cases Rocky and Maura would still be married by that point, but if Rocky is with someone else in 1931 and Mau decides not to interfere in his life, she would be considered dead/MIA after a while and Rocky could easily claim and achieve the annulment of their spontaneous marriage. Mau usually calls Nic nocciolino mio (my little nut), and it's easy to think she actually named her kid like that because he was a little bean with hazelnut fur (or hair in human version). But the real reason why she called her son Niccolò is because she's an awful punster and his dad is a violinist, and she desperately wanted to joke that the mix would be Niccolò Punganini. Thankfully, the boy will never know the origins of his name. x')) And I also assume that if Mau stayed a solo mother, Nic would've carried the Venza surname, not Rickaby. Nic took more after Maura in his appearance, but his physique is more like Rocky's. He's a smart and lively kiddo, who will grow into a vibrant young man. His highest dream is to become an aviator (pun intended) and to see the world, and one day he'd pave his way to civil aviation, achieving both of his dreams.

The second kid of Rocky and Mau is their daughter Lily, who was born in the end of 1932. As I stated above, the birth of Lily happens only in case Rocky manages both to stay alive and stay single until 1931. Lily was conceived in even hungrier years of the Great Depression, and therefore was born prematurely and had a huge chance of not surviving. Lily's name was also undoubtfully predestined by it. When Rocky saw her for the first time, so weak and small, he was a crying mess, constantly repeating something like "these little fingers", "these little ears" etc., and the sound of this word, "little", was so similar to the name "Lily" that it was decided to keep it. Was her appearance also a result of it or rather her genetics, is a mystery unsolved, since her granddad Augusto is rather short. She's small and short (i prefer to call that elegantly petite :D), and even when she grows up, her older brother could effortlessly put both of his elbows onto her head and would often badger her with jokes about her height (not in an evil way, just in a sibling way). Her facial features are more like Rocky's, but smoothed with Maura's subtlety, and I honestly think that in her human form she'd very much look like Audrey Hepburn. She definitely joins the beatniks movement in her young age and will find herself in journalism, starting simply from stenography. One day she could also possibly meet a nice young man, who happens to be the son of her dad's old acquaintance, Mordecai Heller, and her life journey will continue with a loving and caring partner who holds her hand.

[redtippedfox]

I wanted ask how would a corrupted reformed Chloe act around young and future ladybug and cat noir? Basically what if Chloe character development not only but became fully reformed after both Andre and her got professional help. Would she just have sibling relationship with Marinette or like Zoe some fan theories have suggested she has own romantic feelings for marinette and wants either cat blanc to share or wants marinette become her bride instead?

Chloe isn't corrupted in this story, and Future Chloe isn't in this story. Future Chloe hasn't been in Paris in years she moved away once she graduated high school to get proper therapy and stay away from Monarch.

Though she's not in this story she gets a happy ending where she lives in New York and gets proper therapy after being manipulated by Hawkmoth/Shadowmoth. She's currently staying with Zoe's dad who offered her a place to stay since Andre and Audrey disowned her after Zoe moved to Paris permanently(aka they wanted to replace Chloe with Zoe but Zoe won't allow that and cuts them off). Zoe and her are close, but she won't go back to Paris until Monarch is defeated.

[panthera-tigris-venenata]

AK Girlies

In order: Lonnie, Jane and Audrey

I fixed their hair, no need to thank me.

Audrey bleaches her hair btw.

She's dissociating so hard it's not even funny. She tries so hard to be perfect; she spends hours at her looks every day. For that effortless beauty, y'know.

But it goes for behaviour too. She tries very hard to be nice even when she'd like to scream.

Jane is genuinely nice. She's just a sweetheart.

A bit shy, yes, and has a complex about being fey.

But she is fey, and visibly so: no matter how hard she tries, her hair won't hide her ears.

But also, she deserves fun earrings.

Oh, Dizzy could make fun earrings for her later! That'd be so cute!

Lonnie likes fun looks too. I've just decided she likes graphic eyeliner. That's more or less the only make up she does.

But don't let her looks fool you, she's one of the two most dangerous people on Auradon Prep prior to the VKs arrival. The other being her brother.

The two of them are also Ben's official bodyguards: way to keep bull-headed youth from having time to ask too many questions by yours trully, King Beast.

They are not allowed to work together tho. That'd result in a coup also.

(Ben is incredibly embarassed about this.)

Lonnie is fine with it, she likes Ben and she adores teasing him when he gets to/back from dates.

[realm-sweet-realm]

For audrey. What would happen if she took a reformed ink demon out of the studio?

I think the short answer is that though the ink demon is grateful to be brought out of the studio, and though it would be a lot more docile now that it's been given love, it's still the ink demon- a traumatized, aggressive, and powerful creature who will have a hard time adjusting at first.

-The ink demon's behaviour towards Audrey is much like a cat's. He can be sassy and snarky at times, especially when she won't let him do something he wants, but he's also grateful for her and likes spending time with her. She's received many an inky hug.

-For a long time, the ink demon isn't allowed to leave Aubrey's apartment because she was worried it would hurt someone. It passed its time by drawing, watching TV, and, with Audrey's help, learning to read.

-In time, and after he showed good behaviour with Audrey's visitors, the ink demon was allowed outside. He wanted this- he was feeling awfully cooped up inside- but he was also scared, given how humans have treated him in the past. People gawked at him, and he roared and acted threatening in order to get them to stop. Suffice to say, his outing did not last long.

-It wouldn't be ethical to keep a being in a confined space, but Audrey also couldn't risk having him around people. So, she began helping him to re-integrate into the inky studio. Some were quicker to forgive than others, but he has a few friends there and plenty of space to run around, so he comes with Audrey whenever she pays the mysterious realm a visit.

-Audrey buys him toys to play with! He has art supplies, books, a teddy bear, a train set, a scratching post, some chew toys and, when Audrey is feeling generous, some dog chews to gnaw on. He's gotta use those giant teeth for something!

-He has his own room and bed, but when he has bad dreams, he'll curl up at the foot of Audrey's.

[princess-of-the-corner]

https://www.tumblr.com/princess-of-the-corner/773508900019388416/not-try-and-make-audrey-a-sympathetic-figure-but?source=share

Oooh I had something on this for what I called character cinnamon, IE, not sugar that makes them too sweet or spice too sexy, or salt IE too evil, but adds depth and complexity to a character.

Anyway in regards to Audrey, I usually lean on her either being a lesbian or entirely asexual and aromatic suffering under comphet and entirely unaware of it. Concoting the idea that the reasons he didn't like any of the men hitting on her is because they simply weren't up to her standard.

Because if she just didn't like them when everyone else did maybe there is something wrong with her and she can't allow that.

She internalized the idea that a male romantic partner and children were things she needed to do due to pervasive cultural pressures that got exaggerated by her position as a public figure. IE, constant "Are you getting married soon" BS from the press.

So she tried with Andre who did pull that suit off well on a purely aesthetic level and is a friend even if he had always wanted more. So she tries and it sucks, she hates it, all of it and she's fucking miserable being pregnant and the whole experience is, she won't use the word traumatizing but it certainly wasn't good for her view on these things.

Because of her well ingrained complex, the issue is obviously with Andre and the kid, so she tries again with Zoe and this also fails. Now she has two kids, a husband and an ex and she can't stand either man and the kids are just this walking reminder of a now joint 18 month experience she found utterly horrific and they expect her to be something she honestly can't be.

Audrey's more suited for wine aunt than she is a mother and she at least can see this much, but she is exceptional, she has to be she's worked too hard not to be. Yet she's no closer to knowing what's wrong or missing and if she can't figure out the problem in herself then it must be an external issue, something she can critique and corral into shape until things finally 'work' the way they are meant to.

It doesn't work and at some point she stops trying.

Basically, regardless of how powerful Audrey's personality is, regardless of her wealth she is still a woman growing up in a very sexist society and possibly queer and entirely unaware of it. Dealing with being pa public figure with expectations in that scenario; who is used to regarding all problems as something to either dismiss or attack. But she cannot figure out what's wrong and so is projecting that increasing sense of alienation and anger at things not working inside herself outward. Its not helping, but at least its not festering inside her anymore.

This, I should stress doesn't make Audrey good by any stretch.

She's a grown ass adult with issues in this situation to be sure, but taking said issues out on others isn't OK anymore than Gabriel's terrorism is OK because he's sad hi wife died. But it does give a degree of context to her specific disdain for her role as mother and family that could in one way or another be potentially addressed. Likely not in a way that ends in a happy family hug, but could at least lead to something semi functional and not abusive like canon.

But it'd require Audrey becoming very aware of some sides of herself that she so far is entirely unaware of at a minimum and that's hard.

Honestly I like all of this it-

There's a handful of characters I do think are.... I won't say 'past reformation' because I'm a soft bitch who thinks anyone can change. But it's.

While there's reasons that are on some level sympathetic to how they got here, they also are fully aware of what they're doing and how bad it is. They're not forced by a bigger power, or under the belief that they're doing what's needed, or so desperate for love/safety/etc. that they jump through hoops to justify things.

This is someone who had several options, and chose the worst one. Because it was easiest, because it would harm someone they hate, because otherwise they'd have to give up what they have.

[rosehp]

Eleanor "Rose" Quinn Royce

(Small thanks to @kiwiplaetzchen for the template! Thank you!)

Quick note before I introduce my girl! Eleanor/Rose is a multi-fandom oc, mainly a rise of the guardian oc. I just throw her into whatever current fandom I'm obsessed with. She's technically my MC for Hogwarts Legacy, however her actual storyline/plot line takes place years after the original game storyline. So her original story takes place in 1905, which is 15 years after Hogwarts Legacy. I mainly did this because I wanted to create an original story with what happens years later Hogwarts Legacy, is the MC still recognized to this day, what are they doing now, etc. I'll also be mentioning @choccy-milky oc, Clora Clemons and Sebastian, as Eleanor looks up to them as Curse Breakers. Eleanor doesn't admit it but she suspects that they're the students who were able to cure an incurable curse.

I'll be sharing screenshots and head canons for both her game play and original storyline.

Now some fun facts about Eleanor!

She only allows close friends and family to call her "Rose". She doesn't like it when strangers call her by that nickname, as it makes her uncomfortable.

Her mother, Audrey Royce, was born a Squib. Audrey was casted out of her pure blood family home at the age of seventeen. She erased her family's name, The Griffin, declaring that she doesn't want any of their blood to pass down onto her future children. She meet her husband (Eleanor father), in London attended university with him. Eleanor has lived in London all of her life, however she hopes to one day travel to America to visit her father's side of the family.

The Griffins aren't mentioned in the Royce household, as her parents say it brings bad luck and that they're dangerous. The Griffin are well known Poachers, often making money this way in the Wizarding World. Legend of the family says that they were cursed after Eleanor Great-Great Grandmother killed a powerful Griffin and its baby. They were cursed by an unknown witch, an unknown Blood Curse. Since it skipped a generation, Eleanor now has it and is determined to solve a cure. The curse causes extreme pain after using magic, it builds up over time with less powerful spells. The curse sends strong numbness sensation that turns into shocks of pain throughout the body. For Eleanor, she's most sensitive of these pains in her hands and back, causing them to turn her veins black after performing large amounts of magic. Often she hides her pain by explaining that it's her time of the month. Or some other reasonable excuse, that won't worry her housemates or friends. In extreme causes, she'll have fainting spells and becomes disoriented after waking up.

Her father, Eric Royce, is a muggle and works as a surgeon. He doesn't have much knowledge of the Wizarding World and thinks of it as parlor tricks. He only knows that his wife family is 'dangerous', which is why Audrey cut communications.

She has a little brother on the way, born just before her sixth year of Hogwarts. Arthur J Royce is a muggle born as well. Eleanor loves her little brother and sends him letters over the years.

Eleanor never knew that the Wizarding World existed until she discovered a book hidden underneath the floor board in her family attic. "The Guide of Magic and Witchcraft" Audrey A. This was her first real introduction to magic and spells, as she also believed that it was nothing more than parlor tricks like her father. Eleanor doesn't know much of her mother's side of the family, besides that the maids sometimes mention that she doesn't have 'pure blood'. And that there's a 'sickness' that seems to run in the family, females only, and spared her mother.

As in terms of her personality...I would say that she has qualities of some of the houses. Eleanor always tries to think of the world and art in peculiar ways. She likes to learn everything from a different point of view, which can cause her to become naive at times. She's extremely stubborn, once she's made up her mind it is hard to change it. I wouldn't say that Eleanor is a coward, however she doesn't like stressful situations and it causes her to become indecisive or reckless. Because of this, she often has a hard time thinking forwards the future and worries on if the choices she's made are the correct one. Eleanor is a bit standoffish in the beginning, she can strike up a conversation and is friendly once she warms up others. She cares very deeply for her friends and family, seeing them as a lifeline if she starts to fall into her own despairs.

I would say her MBTI would be ISPF (Adventure) and her star sign is Sagittarius. While in terms of DnD, she would fall under Good Neutral.

She loves blueberry muffins, made by her childhood friend Jordan (Hufflepuff). She demands that she must have a cup of coffee in order to function every morning, if not she becomes extremely grumpy.

Eleanor would be active reader, often finding herself lurking towards the forbidden section in the Library. She mainly enjoys fiction and mystery, so it isn't uncommon to see her carrying around an old beaten up copy of Sherlock Holmes.

While her hobbies mainly focus on reading or creating water color copies of her pressed flowers, Eleanor is good at playing the Violin! She often plays the violin while her father plays the piano to help entertain guests. While Eleanor doesn't like it, she'll admit that it helps calms her down.

Eleanor often gets into trouble with the perfects for her 'night wanders', as she's often seen walking around the castle late at night. She loves exploring the castle, trying to find the highest hiding spot in order to read her books in peace.

Because of the Griffins, Eleanor has slight Metamorphagy abilities. She can only change her hair color, as she does this when she runs out of potions. Her natural hair color is a medium brown, she uses potions to dye it a red/maroon color instead.

She has a pet cat that she would secretly feed named Lulu. While her hogwarts pet is a brown short-eared owl named Cocoa.

Her Patronus would be a Calico Cat, while her Amagus form would be a Raven.

Dueling Style: Agile, chaotic, lots of defensive spells/charms, loves using fire spells, and uses dark magic rarely. She doesn't like to use dark magic, seeing it only as a last resort depending on the situation. While it is illegal, that won't stop her from at least learning dark spells, even if she doesn't plan to use them.

[gamequoteshowdown]

It's that time again! Here are the match-ups for tomorrow! - Mod Villain (Spoilers For: Metroid Dread, Fire emblem: Three Houses, Slay The Princess, Splatoon (Expansion Included), Kirby's Return to Dream Land, Kirby Star Allies)

Poll 9: "In this world, it's kill or be killed." - Flowey, Undertale | "Hadar sen olmen (Power is everything)" - Raven Beak, Metroid Dread

Poll 10: "Listen, Ephraim. I've always loved you. I've always hated you. I've always looked up to you. I wanted to be just like you. Then one day I realized... Someone like me could never become someone like you." - Lyon, Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones | "...You worthless piece of garbage..." - Rhea, Fire emblem: Three Houses

Poll 11: "Mwa-hahahaha... I turned myself into a tiny splinter, waiting for just this moment!" - Exdeath, Final Fantasy V | "Ahem... there's SAND on my boots" - Kefka Palazzo, Final Fantasy VI

Poll 12: "Oh, you would like to hear what we're thinking, wouldn't you? But I think we hold the power right now." - Voice of the Opportunist, Slay the Princess | "This isn't a challenge, it's a tragedy!" - The Narrator, The Stanley Parable

Poll 13: "The wind. It is blowing." - Ganondorf, Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker | "Do not think that this ends here... the history of light and shadow will be written in blood!" - Ganondorf, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

Poll 14: "What is crackalackin, home skillet?" - The Telephone, Splatoon | "Valued employees… we appreciate your feedback back. However, it will not be implemented this time" - Mr Grizz, Splatoon

Poll 15: "Truth be told, I want to hear the screams of every living being in the universe... Screams of JOY, that is, as they visit my very own amusement park! It'd have all kinds of surprises!" - Magolor, Kirby | "Well then… it seems we do not have enough energy… to revive our dark lord… must we allow ourselves… to fall… into oblivion?.. NO! NO! No no no no no! NONONONONONONONO! NOOOO I SAY! We are the masters of a power driven to the far reaches of the universe, and we have but one desire! Can one such as you possibly fathom how dearly we have clung to this dream across the aeons? How could you! You couldn't! Never ever ever! We who once faced those who were in such fear of our power that they sealed us away and banished us to the edge of the galaxy! US! As if THAT loveliness wasn't enough, they tried to erase our very existence from history! RUDE! Only through our magic were we able to overcome their science and achieve great prosperity! We alone were responsible for stopping that repulsive nightmare of a galactic crisis, yet this is how you repay us! This won't stand! It won't be forgiven! It won't be forgotten! Never ever EVER! Those who called us mad, are you listening? You left us at the edge of the galaxy to be forgotten, then went along your merry way, probably living somewhere pretty and peaceful! But know this! Your future is a farce! You have none! We, masters of a matter most dark, vow to be restored, as foretold in the book of legend, which everyone thought was just a fairy tale! It WASN'T! We have already obtained the vessel that contains our Dark Lord, and he will soon awaken and shower us in compassion! Look! The vessel of our Dark Lord is filling up even as we speak! Now the time for his greatness to enter our world has come! Welcome to a new history! A new age! The age of awesome! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DARK LORD! HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Grace us, Gloriously Dark Looooooord!" - Hyness, Kirby Star Allies

Poll 16: "It's time, Audrey. Your road is broken. Join the Dark Puddles and give in to your suffering. You have nothing. You are without purpose. Your very existence was a terrible lie. You're a mistake. A monster. Like me." - The Ink Demon, Bendy And The Ink Machine | "Uroboros will be released into the atmosphere ensuring. Complete. Global. Saturation." - Albert Wesker, Resident Evil

[nicolettecallednikki]

Something silly I wrote last year and found in my drafts. It's incomplete and kind of pointless, but as I relate to the version of events I have in my head, I felt somewhat compelled.

Monaco Grand Prix, June 28th

He had gotten beyond wasted in Monaco last year when they'd fought about something, something stupid, and the videos of him obliterated had only made her more mad. Charles and Charlotte had fought too, and the girls had gone off together, had a sleepover and didn't answer their phones. This year, Isa couldn't make it, but he'd fucked up again and was spotted out with a Brazilian model, a friend of Kika's. That was the end of it, for Isa.

The Monaco curse was real, he surmised grimly.

Blanca's Wedding, July 9th

It took him a minute to place the familiar melody, but he recognized it from that movie Isa and his sister liked so much, the Audrey Hepburn one.

"Lando," he smacked his friend who sat next to him, "Lando do me a favor."

"Get your own drink," the younger man pulled a face, but Carlos shook his head.

"Go ask her to dance," he said, "She likes this song, it'll make her happy."

"Ask who to dance?" Lando questioned, before following Carlos' glance, "Oh."

"It's Breakfast at Tiffany's," he said, remembering the title of the movie.

"You go ask her," he nudged his shoulder, "I'm sure she'd rather dance with you, mate."

"I don't think so," he shrugged, but across the room Isa was chewing on her lip and he was standing before he could stop himself.

"Would you like to?" he extended a hand to her, and she accepted it with a small smile.

"What will your date think?" she questioned.

"Lando?" Carlos cocked an eyebrow playfully. Like this, he could talk to her, "He'll be okay."

"You didn't bring anyone?" she asked, but he shook his head sharply, "It wouldn't have been right, after I asked you to be here."

She snuck a glance at him. God he was gorgeous, but that had never been their problem.

"I'm glad you came," he said softly.

"I came for Blanca," she replied resolutely. Her other friends had thought she was crazy, but she really did come for her, and not for him.

"Thank you for being so graceful with the media," he slurred his words slightly, "I know I don’t deserve it."

She'd entered through a side entrance at both the church and the reception, so that no one would spot her coming in and distract from the bride.

"It's not for the public to know," she gave another small smile, "I didn't date you for that reason, and I won't use it against you, now."

"I'm glad you came tonight," he said. He'd said it a number of times to her already that evening.

"I'm happy to be here," she emphasized, "For Blanca."

Isa was a strong girl, but there was only so much she could take. She'd thought she was going to marry this man, and now that they're broken up she's putting an end to that dream, but his constant closeness to her, his hand ghosting over her arm as if he can't help himself, the way he leans in a little too close when he wants to speak. She'd planned on avoiding him all night. Not to make a scene or anything- just to steer clear of him. It should've been easy, she knew other people here, but it was like a magnet kept pulling them together and she wasn't sure how much longer she could resist the pull.

"I thought it was going to be us next," he slurred his words. Caco tried to drag him away from her, but drunk or not, he stood his ground.

"Me too," she replied honestly, "but life doesn't always work out the way you expect it."

"I'm sorry about Monaco," he said, avoiding the actual root of the issue, "It'll never happen again, you have to believe me."

"Carlos," she said it almost like a reprimand, chastising, before sighing, "Think of your sisters. If someone did that to Ana or Blanca, would you want them to still marry him?"

She knew she'd gotten him then. Although he was a little more than a year younger than Blanca, he was very protective over both his sisters, and would never allow them to be with someone that disrespected them as he had.

His face fell as he realized her point. He'd truly planned on marrying her, and it hadn't occurred to him that there'd be a scenario where they didn't end up together. Sometimes on the road, traveling all the time, at these sorts of parties- things happen. Everyone involved in F1 knows, things happen, but it didn't mean he didn't- doesn't still- love her.

Singapore Grand Prix, September 17th

Caco tapped his cousin, a phone clutched against his chest, "It's Isa."

"Why'd she call you?" he furrowed his brow.

"She wasn't sure if you wanted to talk to her," he replied with a shrug. Carlos' jaw ticked and he took the phone, moving away from the group for some privacy.

"Isabel?" he said, "Everything good?"

"I just wanted to say congratulations," her voice was lower than usual, which is saying something for his normally soft spoken ex, "That was genius strategy, with the DRS."

"You're just happy it got Lando P2," he teased. She'd always gotten along well with his former teammate, more so than Charles, even.

"That, too," he imagined she cracked a smile, "Well, that's all I wanted to say. I'm sure you have to get back to the celebration. Drink water- it's hot there."

Trust Isa to be looking after him, even now.

"I will," he promised, "And thank you- for calling. It means a lot."

"Of course," she said. There was a pause and he could tell she had more to say, so he prompted her, "What is it?"

"They're calling her your lucky charm," her voice cracked and he felt a clutch in his chest. He hated that he was still making her cry.

"Isa," he sighed, "They say all kinds of things."

"Do you believe it?" she questioned.

"I thought you said we make our own luck," he countered. She had said that- every time he'd called her his lucky charm, in the past.

"Well, you have been great since summer break," she insisted.

"Isa," he sighed again, "How did I win?"

"Qualifying well, driving smart, and giving Lando DRS," she summarized.

"There," he made an agreeable sort of grunt, "So if anyone is the lucky charm, it is Lando, okay?"

He always knew what to say- a Smooth Operator indeed, "Fair enough. Anyway, I didn't call for all this- you should be celebrating."

"Have a drink for me, huh?" he asked.

"I doubt you'll need my help," she laughed, "Congratulations again, and to Lando, too. You finally did it. P1-P2, like you always said."

"I'll tell him you say hello," he assured her.

"Do that," she smiled, "Bye Carlos."

"Good bye," he returned, waiting for her to hang up first, in case she had anything to add. He felt he had to treat her especially carefully now with this whole Rebecca business, because he didn't want to hurt her after she'd been such a good sport about everything.

When he got back to the group Rebecca pulled his arm over her shoulder, leaning into his chest. A minute ago that would've been fine, but now he was conscious of every phone, and therefore camera, that was pointed his way. When Lando called him over, he was glad for the excuse to step away.

Austin Grand Prix, October 22nd

The rumors were admittedly silly, but they were gaining traction. Even other drivers on the grid were joking with him and Esteban, asking which one of them were the baby daddy. Half out of courtesy, half because he was glad to have an excuse to talk to her again, Carlos called Isa.

He made sure to call at a time he thought she'd be by her phone, but not with her friends, Lord knows what those women thought about him, and he was hurt when the call went straight to voicemail.

Does she think it is true? he thought to himself, What other reason would she have to ignore my call?

He was relieved when a few minutes later she called him back, and when he picked up he heard music in the background, so he assumed she'd walked away from a group, knowing as he did that this conversation was best kept private.

"I hear congratulations are in order," she said icily, and he gnawed his lip, disappointed.

"Isa," he struggled to keep his voice even, "Isa, you know it isn't true. I wouldn't- I could never do that to you."

"I should know you couldn't?" she repeated, her tone unchanged, "Really, Carlos, that's your argument?"

His heart clenched, "Okay, then this- would I abandon a child? Even if it meant losing you?"

She was quiet and he knew she knew he had a point there. He wasn't a bad man, he'd made one- albeit gigantic- mistake, but overall she knew his heart was in the right place.

"I didn't think it was true," she said honestly, because she hadn't, not really, but it hurt to hear the rumors again. She had thought by stepping away from him she'd be out of that particular spotlight, but it seemed that wasn't the case.

"Are you sure?" he smiled despite the situation, and she confirmed, "Your father would have your head if it were true. No, forget your father- your mother."

"You're right about that," he chuckled, "You should've heard the phone call I got when this all started."

"I believe it," she wasn't so cold now, "Thank you for calling, anyway, I appreciate it."

"Of course," he said, "I owe you at least that."

"You don't owe me anything," she told him, and she meant it, too, "You've been a wonderful ex boyfriend, Carlos."

"Better than I was a boyfriend?" he asked and was met with a sharp intake of breath. He regretted the question immediately.

After a moment of careful consideration, she spoke quietly, "You were a great boyfriend, and I hope, one day, to call you a great friend. For now, I have to go, though. Thank you again for calling."

"I'm sorry, Isa," he said, "That was stu-"

The phone clicked.

Las Vegas Grand Prix, November 19th

After the disastrous race, Caco pulled him aside for some more good news- to let him know that Rebecca was pissed.

"What happened?" he asked. As far as he'd known she and Alex were enjoying themselves. His mother and sisters weren't as taken with the Scot as they'd been with Isa, but Charles' new girlfriend was forming an alliance with the older girl. Even that, though, was compared to the friendship Isa had had with Cha.

"She was standing next to me when Lando crashed in lap four," his cousin explained, "And she saw Isa texted me."

"Why would Isa text you?" his head shot up.

"Relax, Primo," he said, "She was asking about Lando, that's all."

"She was watching?" he questioned, and Caco shrugged, "She watches a lot of races, I'm sure."

"Oh, you're sure?" Carlos' eyebrows raised, "Why, does she text you a lot?"

"Only when it looks like there's a bad crash," Caco answered honestly, and he saw a flash of something in his cousin's eye that was not good.

"Did she text you after my crash?" he asked, and Caco frowned. Carlos had always been a bit of a sore loser, yes, but not a sore winner. He had Rebecca, why should he ask about Isa?

"To be fair," Caco pursed his lips slightly, "I don't think she watches Free Practice. And you were fine right away, anyway."

Carlos' nostrils flared, but he didn't respond. After a moment, he took a breath and said, "I'd better go find Rebecca."

[generalluxun]

Hi, anon who made that ask about Gabriel's and Nathalie's lovechild (the recent one). To be honest, I just thought of it a while ago. But maybe mid-late season 3 will work or early season 4. I really want to explore the messy relationships between the Agreste and the Bourgeois families, including Nathalie. Because how can you cut off someone who was basically there for your whole life? What do you mean when you basically see Nathalie as another parental figure amongst the many failed parents around you? How come that the coldest (exaggerating) and emotionally constipated person, who is your cousin and semi-childhood friend, gets to have a loving mother while both of your parents are assholes? (It's the abandonment issues for me, Adrien and Chloe have them and they'll suffering from the same issues as me).

I keep imagining where Adrien finally gets to discover some things about his family and himself while taking care of Nathalie and his half baby sibling. Where he doesn't have to mask his personality (personalities, he has identity issues, my god) around this baby. He can act silly, he can act serious, he can cry, he can get angry, he can feel like himself without anyone judging him for it (the baby will have a judgemental look though, all babies have that, only a few weeks/months in this world and they think they can judge people). And it'll make him feel more free than with Chat Noir. Chat Noir is focused on saving the world and his beloved lady, that's his number one priority (self sacrificial ass). Even when there are times when he disagrees with Ladybug or leaves, he'll always come back because Chat Noir is his escape, and Ladybug has his heart (no matter how many others may be his girlfriend, LB will always have the softest and constant place in his heart). And it hurts because he can't do anything that he can proudly call his own. He's too used to others ordering him around that he'll malfunction without them (a puppet who was made into flesh). And his baby sibling may just be the catalyst to make him take the first step to prioritizing himself, and he'll start by officially recognizing his half-sibling despite his father's demands and protests.

And with Chloe, I think she'll be able to separate herself from Audrey. I think she'll experiment with different clothes and accompany Adrien with his silly antics (she likes them, she grew up with him, they're both divas and have that default sassiness ingrained in them). Maybe she'll finally allow herself to be unexceptional, where she'll just be Chloe. Not the daughter of the Mayor of Paris or The Style Queen. But just Chloe, Adrien's and Sabrina's friend, Felix's childhood frenemy, a person who is proud but also hides herself from so many others, who is desperate for validation that she'll take it from anyone (even to those who'll break her to pieces). Because (to me) she's still that same little girl who kept trailing after her mother who will never notice her, nor give her the dignity to call Chloe by her name (and Audrey even calls Zoe by her name. She really hates Chloe so much). She has a lot of bad experiences with adults who let her down and didn't love her enough. Chloe knows that Nathalie has a heart (despite her last name) but she's also heartbroken and depressed due to these events (add in the fact that she might even be dying, that's one more parent that Adrien will lose). So, Chloe steps up, helps Adrien give this kid the love she didn't and can't have(she won't refer to the baby as her sister but she also doesn't deny it when others proclaim that they are).

Adrien and Chloe are blorbos, gremlins in my head, they can't leave it. Everytime I try to come back to Lukanette or Adrienette or Marigami, these two always pull me back in. It's been years, I just returned and they're never letting me out of their grasp.

Wow anon, that is quite a narrative journey you have going on. You should write it down and share it with people on AO3.

Is it Chloadrien siblings or a sort of childhood friends to eventual lovers sort of deal?

I will admit I do like Chloadrien whenever I explore up-aged later in life fics.