#buster is elderly now but still The Boss

[pwhl-mybeloved]

it’s so cold rn and I’m yearning for late summer vibes in my favourite backyard on earth with aunty buster, the cat who raised me through my 20s with a no-nonsense attitude

[duckapus]

So, not sure how many of you remember this, but I've come up with some ideas for it.

First off, when Candace first wakes up in the Mystery Dungeon universe she's deep inside one of the most dangerous dungeons in the area, because of course she is. She nearly gets eaten by a Druddigon, but gets saved by a Mismagius, Kilowattrel and Klefki (not that she knows what any of those are). They escort her out of the dungeon and into the nearest town, Sunrise Cove, which also happens to be where the local Explorer's Guild is located. She's given permission to stay at the Guild headquarters while she's getting her bearings in this new world, and she obviously ends up joining officially because otherwise we don't have a story. Speaking of which, I actually don't have a proper story yet but I do have some characters.

So the Guild is called the Whirlpool Guild, and its Guildmaster is an elderly Empoleon named Lester. He's basically a big jolly grandpa kind of guy who doesn't take himself too seriously, but it's clear from his scars and the way he carries himself that he earned his position, and could probably still hold his own if he ever had to.

The Rescue Team that saved Candace are Team Mystic, consisting of Astrid the Mismagius, Bullet the Kilowattrel and Jangles the Klefki.

Astrid is Lester's second in command, and is very stoic and businesslike in contrast to her boss's more playful attitude. But serious doesn't have to mean unkind, and she's got a bit of a reputation as the honorary Guild Mom.

Bullet's the Head Training Instructor for new recruits, so if this were an actual game you'd be seeing a lot of him during the tutorial section. He's extremely loyal to those who've truly earned his respect, especially his teammates and the Guildmaster.

And then there's Jangles, the Keeper of the Keys, who's basically in charge of the Guild's security. They take their job very seriously. Also, they have a not-so-secret crush on Astrid, because I thought it would be cute.

On to Team Buster, Candace and Lena act pretty much how you'd expect based on their source material and the fact that they both have amnesia, while Nugget is both their excitable little brother figure and their guide to the new world they've ended up in, particularly what exactly Pokemon even are.

Team Buster has rivals in the form of Team Venoshock, consisting of Sting the Hisuian Sneasel, Harvey the Grafaiai, and Sprout the Oddish.

Sting initially seems like your classic bully towards Candace, but it quickly becomes apparent that not only is she not really antagonizing Candace in any substantial way, but she's actually looking out for her in a sort of roundabout fashion. She's also convinced that Guildmaster Lester is hiding something and thus doesn't fully trust him or Team Mystic.

Harvey on the other hand is pretty much exactly what he seems like; an easily offended hothead who isn't too bright and prefers to follow Sting's lead. He and Lena butt heads a lot.

Then there's Sprout. He's... well, he's kind of a scaredy-cat and doesn't have much self-confidence. He actually only joined the Guild because Sting and Harvey saved his life on their first mission and he wanted to pay then back for it. Still, the fact that he's still around and actually doing a decent job says a lot.

Now for some of the residents of Sunrise Cove.

Usually in the town square you'll find a lute-playing Pikachu named Ben. He's always got a new song to play or story to tell. He also knows a lot more about the lore surrounding the main plot than a random musician probably should.

Then there's Rusty, the best postman in the world, who is definitely an ordinary Delibird and not a poorly disguised Iron Bundle, honest!

The bank is run by Silver the Gholdengo. In his defense he was named that before he evolved and didn't feel comfortable changing it to something more fitting.

A Sawk and Throh named Stan and Lee run a dojo where they teach Moves that you can't learn just by leveling up. No one's sure exactly what their relationship is, and as is typical in small towns there is much speculation.

The Kecleon shops in dungeons are still thriving as usual, but around these parts they answer to Viola the Tsareena, who runs the general store in town. Considering what Kecleon are like in the PMD universe, one can only imagine how strong she must be to have that kind of power over so many of them.

Over by the docks is Cap'n Salty the Perrserker, an old sailor who takes Rescue Teams of sufficient rank out to any dungeons you can't reach by land.

And also by the docks is the Crashing Wake, a diner run by Meloetta of all Pokemon. Nobody's entirely sure what's up with that, but she serves the best food in town so they're not about to complain.

Also of note are two regulars at the Crashing Wake, a Dewott named Macy who's clearly infatuated with Meloetta but doesn't have the courage to actually make a move (can you say Long-term Sidequest?), and a Whimsicott named Nimbus who may or may not be a notorious pirate captain.

[late-to-the-magnus-archives]

Snippet from Corrupted: TMA x Malevolent Fic

Tim opened a book he shouldn't have, and now has the last remaining god in the universe stuck in his head.

He's stuck without answers, and so finds himself back at the Magnus Institute - where he happens to run into Jon for the second time.

Last time Tim met the guy, he couldn't see.

Now, he can (at least through one eye), and has some thoughts on this dude.

—————

It’s a lot easier to reach the Magnus Institute now that he can see.

Funny enough, he arrives at the same time as that researcher again.

Huh, Tim thinks, because the guy doesn’t really look like his voice. It’s a rich, big voice, but the guy is… Kind of scrawny.

“Mister Stoker?” says researcher-Jon. “You’re all right.” He sounds relieved.

“For now,” says Tim. “Might not be unless I get some help, though.”

And oh, this guy’s face is a journey.

It communicates a lot more than his voice, actually - which is perfectly expressive, but tightly controlled.

Just listening, Tim had thought Jon was a prick.

Looking at him too, he thinks Jon is actually a nerd - probably a bullied one, who’s wearing spiky intellectual armor to stay safe. 

Tim knows the type. He’s adopted a few in the past.

“I’m… sorry to hear that,” says Jon, still sounding like a prick, but looking like mourning. “I’m not sure what we can do, precisely. We’re research - merely the gatherers of information, not… Ghost Busters, or whatever popular supernatural media you follow.”

Oh, yeah, this guy definitely got bullied.

Well, Tim is nothing if not a champion for the downtrodden. “Hey, there’s no pressure, and no worry. Elias already offered,” he says.

There’s another face-journey. “He did?”

“He did.” Tim smiles his best, goofiest grin, and shrugs expansively. “Maybe he was lying?”

“I wouldn’t know,” mutters researcher-Jon, and goes a little red.

Tim thinks he did that.

He’s pleased that he did that. “So, uh. I guess… let me in?”

“Sure.” Jon already has his keys out, and his dark cheeks are still a little flushed. “You know, this is highly unusual. I’ve worked here for three years, and I’ve never once seen Elias get invo- ”

“Mister Sims, what are you doing?”

Tim stiffens.

There she is - the little old lady who doesn’t at all look like a bad-ass god-fighting motherfucker, but Tim was there, so. She’s tiny, would be cute if she weren’t so fucking severe. Her reading glasses are on a chain around her neck - and though he can’t see any obvious weapons, he notes she still has books in her jacket pockets.

Tread carefully, Yellow says, unnecessarily.

“Hello,” says Tim. “Your boss asked for me.”

Her look flatly dismisses what he says like wiping away footprints in the sand. “Did he.”

researcher-Jon looks confused. He’s frozen, key in hand.

“He did!” says Tim. “So why don’t we all go inside and… see what happens?”

The old woman stares him down.

Gimlet eyes, Tim thinks, having encountered the phrase in publishing a few times, but never before now actually seeing them.

“Let’s do that,” she decides, takes out her own key, and brushes past researcher-Jon to open the doors.

Jon glowers at her back.

Well. At the backs of her feet.

Tim’s not surprised. This woman makes one want to cower, a little, and he wasn’t bullied as a child.

“In we all go now, chop chop,” says elderly Lara Croft.

He’s already inside. Bouchard. It’s safe to enter.

Tim would give a lot of money to know how Yellow knew that, but he can’t ask. He smiles his absolute warmest at both of them and walks into what he desperately hopes is not his tomb.

[signor-signor]

Pre-S3 Shorts Idea

May 18, 2020 - We’re 40 days away from the 4th anniversary of Wander Over Yonder’s second season finale, and have I got something special to share with you.

You know how there was a series of shorts (directed by @owner-of-wendys) involving Lord Hater’s broadcast of his attempt to destroy Wander taking place between S1 and S2? I just thought of something innovative, and anyone who’s ever worked on the show should also check it out.

Suppose Hater is still chasing Wander and Sylvia around the new galaxy in his Skullship, as depicted at the end of The End of the Galaxy (just before the cliffhanger that still hasn’t been resolved). Meanwhile on the ex-secret planet, Andy the Watchdog has quick interviews with various groups of refugees who provide their own reasons for wanting to get off the planet as soon as Wander and Sylvia return. Some others just give an update on their status. As we might have noticed after Dominator’s ship exploded, other Watchdogs became acquainted with the refugees, so it stands to reason that Andy did the same.

Without further ado, I give you... (drumroll)

The Eye on the Galaxy

The Rulers - Bingleborp, King of Flendar (with Flendarians) King of Sherblorg 7, Beeza (with Ballzerians), an appearance from the queen from The Axe, Cashmere (with Baahallans), Demurra and Dracor (with their guards). Just as Destructor’s about to start, time runs out.

The Elderly - Stella Starbella and Mittens, the lost and found guy, Trudi and her clones, the Slug Boss (with the two mummy thugs), Papa Doom (with his gargoyle companions), a call from Ms. Myrtle, who just saw Wander and Sylvia dashing by with the Skullship in pursuit and having deployed an Eye Drone for Andy to check on anyone and anything too big to sit on the ex-secret planet.

The Teammates - Badlands Dan and his gang, Oink and the Motorhogs, red and blue ants, the Insurgent Generals, maybe a call from the Robomechabotasquad asking what happened to Robomechabotatron.

The Youth - Melodie and the kids who appeared in The Legend, Olive (with her mother), the Slug Boss’s grandsons, rock babies carried by the Rock Lady, Huckleberry Knucklehead (backed by his parents), the smartphone son (with his camera parents), the trio of teens from The Black Cube, maybe Demurra and Dracor’s daughters and son.

The Gutsy - Ripov, Thrax and his cohorts (Andy would have added Thrax to The Business Folks, but that group was fully booked), Harvax and Stok, the Slug Boss’s nephew (with the two mummy thugs from earlier), Ryder being shown via Eye Drone and “trying to free a karate sensei from his chamber,” explaining his abscence in The End of the Galaxy. I’d mention the three bounty hunters from The Bounty, but I’m not too sure about their status.

The Reformed - Destructor (picking up from The Rulers), Major Threat, the Black Cube accompanied by his new girlfriend Tracy (plus Stacy and her new boyfriend, both of whom have already realized the Cube turned over a new leaf), a postcard from Westley (found by Barry), maybe the half-torn picture strip of Wander and Bot 13/Beep Boop (found by Jerry when he was sent to check on Dominator and Emperor Awesome in The Rival), Something the So-and-So, who gets cut short like Destructor did previously.

The Business Folks - Blarpee’s cashier, Okeydokian restaurant manager and his employee Michelle, apple-and-lemon-headed bartender, landlord and fast food manager/fry cook, garbage collector, Dr. Scrivellix (the dentist), Clancy and Nancy Shmancy, the plumber, curator of MOGA, Weasel, the two Okeydokian movie directors, hat shop owner, the locksmith.

The Mysterious - Neckbeard, Lords of Illumination, fortune teller, Mooplexians, Keister von Derrière and the other Gnees (with censored heads), the Eye Drone checking on the planet where the currently closed structure of the celestial star being stands, a special one-time visit from the Intergalactic Guru via hologram.

The Creatures - The bunny rabbit from The Good Deed, the pit monster from The Birthday Boy, the fire lion, Grizzlocks, Giant Hoarder Scorpion, Trigrex of Nil, electric bird mother and three chicks, the Frankenstein monster, squills from The Wanders, the Hufflerumples, animals from The Breakfast, animals from The Night (the centipede being the only one from the episode to speak), Frederick, maybe a doom dragon or two, the mother and child from The Egg. Seen via Eye Drone are the Gracknore, Buster, and the giant worm from The Hat that promptly gobbles up the Drone.

The So-and-So - You can guess who the interviewee is in this one. Just like The Whatever, this short foreshadows what’s next for Wander, Sylvia, Hater, and Peepers.

The Rest - Of all the shorts, this one has the most interviewees, each one taking 2-3 seconds to give an answer. Cluckons, hogs, Bobbles, Zetuons, Flankarians, Tiki beings, rabbit-like folks from The Showstopper, Mr. and Mrs. Brittle, ornament beings from The Gift, the balloon man, Dragor the Distractible, Galactia, Veronicron and her husband Jim (the Neon Knight of Nalpraxis), Gelatinous Bob animatronic, Fleeblebort and Marsha and the two hillbilly families, flower-headed birds, any notable residents of Okeydokia, cloaked refugees from the end of The Secret Planet, Brad Starlight and his wife Remora having returned from their honeymoon, his cousin Chad, anyone I might have left out. Lastly, the hooded refugees, also from The Secret Planet.

DISCLAIMER: If these shorts should happen, some of the refugees mentioned here but not seen in The End of the Galaxy may or may not appear.

We can all relate to the refugees in some way. The refugees (most of them) have to wait for Wander and Sylvia to get them back home so they can go about their normal lives. At the start of S3, that’s where the Star Nomad, the ship allegedly made from the one that appeared in The Secret Planet, would come in. We have to wait for the COVID-19 pandemic to be over so we can go about our normal lives. Considering those who worked on the plans for S3 still haven’t given us more clues even in these difficult times, I think the time is right to make more people aware of WOY with this particular idea.

Of course, there is the matter of which medium to use. Animation will probably be time consuming, and much to the perpetual dismay of Wander fans, Disney still doesn’t want to pay to make more WOY. Heck, if there’s no time for animation, animatics might do. A much cheaper method might be the podcast - this way, no visual art has to be made. Hey, it worked for Futurama doing an audio episode titled “Radiorama,” not to mention The Loud House having a podcast titled “Listen Out Loud.” Then again, there’d have to be multiple voice actors reprising their roles, and I doubt they’d do it for free. In the case where visual art is needed, we could do what @suspendersofdisbelief and @benbalistreri did for Star Wanderer and make a comic version of the shorts with help from them and the other writers and illustrators, assuming they’re not too busy with their own projects. We don’t really need Disney’s permission to know exactly what’s supposed to happen after S2, do we?

Regardless of circumstances, I still think it’s a great idea, one @crackmccraigen and the crew could take into consideration whether or not Disney gives them a chance to properly close out the show after Kid Cosmic is done. After all, I am a Disney employee and the only one to come up with this particular idea as far as I know. The only question is, why didn’t anyone else in the fandom think of it before? Also, if @andydaly knew about my idea, maybe he’d be all for it, what with the country still in lockdown.

Look, many of us are still bummed WOY got canceled before S3 could get made, but moping about it and not doing anything to save it won’t get us anywhere. Formerly canceled shows like Hey Arnold!, Samurai Jack, and The Clone Wars got true closure, so I don’t see why WOY can’t do the same. If we all work together, we’ll make history.

To all you pessimists, cynics, and skeptics out there...

Hopelessness stops now.

[setoangel01-fanfiction]

Offering

Rocker and the Mechanic - Chapter 19 (Previous Chapters)

Rated: T

Fandom: Sing 2016 AU

Pairing: Johnny x Ash

Chapter Summary: After a successful performance, Buster approaches Johnny with an offer.

--- o 0 O 0 o ---

Fanfiction.net

A03

--- o 0 O 0 o ---

It was a strange feeling, one she swore she hadn't experienced in way too long. In all her years of performing, Ash never ended a set feeling like this before…

Ash was…happy.

Content.

Thrilled!

Fucking ecstatic!

An almost annoying constant pull at the edges of her lips that wouldn't relent and she knew it wouldn't waver anytime soon. Especially now that the audience was on their collective feet and clapping loudly as Johnny and Ash stood side by side. The final song long since faded around them and Johnny suddenly was looking at her like that; his coffee tinted eyes crinkling on the edges and flashing her the most gorgeous smile she'd ever seen.

Fuck, she never wanted this feeling to stop...

But sadly, the cheers slowly wavered when Eddie took to the stage and stood to her right. Calming down the audience with one hoof, the sheep quickly shot her a look she did not want to decipher so she turned back to look gratefully at the audience instead.

"Thanks for sticking around everyone! It was totally worth it though, right?" Eddie spoke confidently into the microphone and, going by the intense reaction from the audience, it was a resounding 'yes'. Smiling at them, Eddie suddenly gestured toward the performers in a flourish, "Than be sure to give it up for Ash and our newcomer, Johnny, for providing us with such great entertainment tonight!" he nudged her side was when she realized it was her cue.

Without even thinking, Ash breached the small space between them to grab Johnny's hand. Her tiny fingertips brushing across the callouses at the base of his fingers; the sensation of those rough markings caused her fur to bristle pleasantly. Ignoring her tingling spines, she craned her neck to meet the gorilla's confused eyes.

"Take a bow," she mouthed and Johnny's face lit up in understanding.

Johnny inadvertently scooted toward her before gently grasping her hand. Taking her lead, they both bowed low to the cheering audience.

The crowd 's excitement quieted when Eddie's voice dispersed their cheers, "Thank you all for coming and be sure to come back tomorrow night for some more great live entertainment. Have a goodnight!"

After a final wave, Eddie turned to Ash; motioning to the end of the stage toward the exit, and while she could bask in the spotlight forever, she sent one last wave to the audience before squeezing Johnny's hand and nudging him as Eddie led them both off the stage.

It wasn't until they were back behind the safety of the curtain when she realized she was still holding his hand.

--- o 0 O 0 o --- As soon as they were backstage, it was like a fucking paparazzi rush of crew running here and there; sending the pair congratulatory smiles and waves.

Buster was suddenly there, pushing his way to the front, and Ash had to remind herself that they did fucking brilliant tonight so whatever complaint he had about her changing up the set, tardiness or the fact she brought her own duet partner wasn't going to bother her. But criticizing seemed to be the last thing on Buster's mind as he approached her in a rush of gray and blue.

"Ash!" Buster, completely out of breath from running all the way backstage as fast as he did, approached them. "…Johnny," he acknowledged the gorilla a second later with a disarming smile.

It was only then that Ash noticed how warm one of her hands was and that it was indeed still nestled comfortably against Johnny's palm. Ash gingerly brushed her thumb across his palm before gingerly removing her hand from his grip before Buster realized her slip up but Eddie's eyes latched onto her reddening face knowingly.

"Moon," Ash replied, crossing her arms and waiting for Buster to finally blurt out what she wanted to hear.

Buster's fists were fidgeting by his side before he met her eyes and in a seemingly unbelievably deep sigh later, he acquiesced, "Great job."

"...and…?" she baited her boss in a sing-song voice, missing the confused look Johnny flashed her.

"...And…" Buster sighed, averting his eyes to the floor than toward the ceiling as if asking a higher power for strength before he uttered out in the most pained voice she heard out of him. "…you were right."

Ash smile stretched eagerly across her face giving him the toothiest smile possible. Ahh, it felt so fucking good to be proven right; her only regret was not recording those words to be enjoyed again later.

"...And Johnny," Buster ignored the cocky grin Ash sent by turning his attention toward Johnny.

Johnny flinched at suddenly being addressed in such a serious tone and Ash heard him gulp before muttering, "Um, y-yes, Mr. Buster Moon?"

"...I owe you an apology - I was wrong about you."

Ash's eyes grew wide. Buster Moon admitting his faults not once but twice?! Was hell actually freezing over?

"I-It's okay." Johnny stuttered out and as fucking adorable as it was to hear his British accent get thicker the increasingly more nervous he became, Ash was tempted to elbow him. He didn't know that you never apologized to Buster without it biting you in the ass later. But she didn't.

"Ya never heard me singin' before so ya don't really owe me nothin'," Johnny continued with a shrug, "I just appreciate ya giving me a chance to sing tonight."

"Oh, but that's where you're wrong, dear boy!" Moon trilled, gesturing widely with excited hands, "With a voice like that, you deserve more than just one chance!"

Johnny looked down at the small mammal in confusion, "...Pardon?"

"Johnny!" Moon suddenly grabbed Johnny's large hand and held it in his tiny shaking paws, "My boy, how would you like to join the prestigious Moon Theater Company?"

"I - uh..."

"You shall do no such thing, Johnny!" Nana Noodleman's domineering voice suddenly broke through their conversation like a samurai sword through warm butter.

"Excuse me?" Buster Moon was almost hyperventilating by this point and Ash was merely enjoying the show.

"I want him. I heard how you admonished the poor boy before the show and you should be ashamed of such behavior." Like a predator after her prey, the elderly sheep's sharp eyes turned toward the towering gorilla with an unsettling smirk crossing her lips, "Now, don't listen to him, darling. Now, how would you like to do performances for me and, occasionally, my dearest friends? I shall pay you handsomely - much more than Mr. Moon could offer a talent such as yours."

"Uh...You don't own a theater, grandma…" Eddie pointed out.

"Exactly! What sort of venue do you have?" Moon cried, his face turning ten different shades of outrage while Ash merely bit back a laugh.

Other than the intense drunken haze covering her eyes, Miss Noodleman spoke with the seriousness of a heart attack and eloquence coating every word, "I prefer…private performances at my residence."

"Grandma, you're drunk," Eddie was finally a voice of reason.

"...That may be so, but I know talent when I hear it."

"Uh, grandma? …His face is up there…"

Ash stifled a snort when she seen exactly where Nana Noodleman's eyes were hovering on the statuesque gorilla. The same place Ash just happened to be eye-level with…

"I'm well aware of that, Edward. I was merely appreciating his strong form; such a statuesque man of his caliber would make a fine employee."

"*cough* boy toy *cough*" Eddie hacked into his hoof but wasn't fooling anyone.

"Miss Noodleman!" Buster cut in, "I think it should be up to Johnny who he decides to work for. Besides, if he worked at my establishment, he'd be getting to work with Ash and it's already obvious how well they work together! And even solo! Especially since he established how well he can play piano! With that kind of talent, he'd be able to branch out doing multiple venues and would have a very successful career working for me! I see big things happening for this boy! Huge even!"

"Hogwash!" Nana broke in with a cackle, "That little theater of yours is on its last legs - when was the last time you renovated that place?"

Buster's face turned scarlet before stuttering out, "I just added a few new seats that needed replacing, the overhead lights, sanded and re-stained the hardwood floors of the stage, not to mention - "

"Bandaids, Bandaids, Bandaids, Mr. Moon… I'm well aware of your minuscule upkeep you perform to keep the bank off your back, but with the crumbling foundation and poor sense of management, I fear it won't help much…"

Buster outright growled, his ears stiff as he wagged a finger at the elderly sheep but Eddie placed a hand on his shoulder which stopped him in his tracks.

Johnny, by this point, was just trying to keep up with the argument going on in front of him and Ash. The adrenaline of a kick-ass performance was a hell of a high so it probably wasn't easy.

"Um…" Johnny stuttered out when he found himself at the center of all of this attention. Ash felt a pinch in her chest when he suddenly looked down at her for guidance and she just smiled and shrugged.

It would have to be up to him to decide.

Johnny let out a resounding sigh, lifting his hand to rub the back of his neck, "I-I'm sorry. I really don't know what ta say. While I sincerely appreciate all the offers - I really do - but… ya need to understand, I have a business to run. I can't exactly just drop it to pursue something else."

Moon and Nana Noodleman's face filled with discouragement at Johnny's words, and seeing that, Johnny elaborated.

"I-I'm not saying no exactly! I'm just saying…ya know - not now. This is all so sudden - i-if it's alright, I need 'ome time ta think on a decision like this." Johnny finished thickly, hands shaking a bit at his sides and Ash resisted the temptation to reach out and steady it.

"Hmm. I suppose that's reasonable." Nana butted in quickly, "It's been an exceptionally long night after all." Out of nowhere, Nana Noodleman pulled out a card from her purse and handed it to Johnny, "Now, you go home and think about my offer, dearie."

Johnny flashed her a brilliant smile, "I will. Thank you, ma'am."

"It's Miss Noodleman to you…" she outright winked at him before passing by him and Ash didn't even bother hiding her laugh at Johnny's loud "EEP!" when Miss Noodleman pinched his ass before sauntering off to her group of drunk friends to her awaiting limo (and hopefully a sober chauffeur to drive the old biddies home).

"...Does this always happen after performances?" Johnny asked, rubbing at his tender bum and Ash couldn't stop the smile from creeping up her cheeks at just how red Johnny's face became.

Ash shrugged a shoulder, "Eh. Typical Friday night." she laughed when his jaw seemed to unhinge. "Just kidding," she clarified with a wink.

"Johnny," Buster made his presence known once again once things quieted, "I can't offer you as much money as she can but what I can offer you is coming from a mind uninfluenced by alcohol." Buster flashed him a smirk and pulled out a business card. "I know you have other responsibilities and I respect that, son, but hearing you tonight - you shouldn't hide your gift from the world. A voice like that deserves to be celebrated. I'm not gonna force you, but just think about it, okay? I'd love to have you on my team."

The tenseness in Johnny's hand fled as he accepted the card.

"Thank you, Mr. Moon."

"Please. Call me Buster," the koala replied, before suddenly, he was gone and Johnny and Ash were left alone backstage.

[starryburglar-archive]

Cinderella Info

Full name: Cinderella Desrosiers

Species: Human

Age: 19 ( verse dependant )

Sexuality: Bisexual 

FC(s): Lily James || Diane Kruger || Yuki ( The Cat Returns )

Bio: Cinderella wasn’t born a servant. She used to have a nice and pleasant life, with a loving father and not too many worries. After her father married Lady Tremaine, Cindy thought things would get better, since now she had a mother and also two new sisters. But when her father passed away Lady Tremaine showed her true colours to Cinderella. She wasn’t a mother to her, only to Anastasia and Drizella, and slowly but surely, Cindy went from daughter to servant. Years went and things haven’t gotten better for poor Cinderelly.

Mistreated every day and working hard non-stop to please her step-family. But she never stopped being nice and having patience with them, she almost never breaks down in front of her step-family; but at night, after long days of work, Cinderella enjoys resting on her bed, having dinner and talking about the day with her friends, the mice and the bluebirds. Cindy never stops dreaming, hoping for a better future in her life. It may not come right away, and it will probably take time, but she believes it’s possible. After all, a dream is a wish your heart makes.

Note: Follows original film and both sequels, plus KH lore.

[ MAIN || INBOX || HEADCANONS || VISAGE || MUSINGS ]

V001: Life of Servitude

Default main verse. Cinderella is a servant to her step-family, who lives in the attic of the chateau of her family. She doesn’t have much, just one pair of shoes and one type of clothes; a used bed and by change even has a mirror and a brush to use in the morning. But not everything is bad, the view of the town and the palace from up there is beautiful, but the clock in the morning gets on her nerves.

V002: Now a Princess

A princess consort/post first movie verse. She never expected anything else from that beautiful ball at the royal palace. Sure, she danced with a gentle guy, but during that magical and wonderful moment, Cinderella had no clue she was dancing with none other than the prince. And to think he looked after her the following day. Now she was no longer a dirty servant, but a princess and married; learning how to be a ‘proper princess’ will be difficult.

V003: Exiled but Rising from the Ashes

An alternate Cinderella 3 verse. Cindy tried, oh how hard she tried. Just when she thought her life would change forever Anastasia managed to fit her foot into the crystal slipper. After that, she did everything in her power to get into the palace and talk to the prince, to prove she was the one he danced with at the ball; but she didn’t expect her step-mother to have the Fairy Godmother’s wand, and that put her at a big disadvantage. When the guards caught her, Cinderella was forced to be exiled from the kingdom.

It was hard to take in, to accept this new life away from everything she knows. She lost a life, a horrible one, and was close to starting a new and better one. Maybe, just maybe… this could be the start of something new?

V004: Stroke of Heart

A KH verse. As a Princess of Heart, she’s one of the most important people of all the worlds. Alongside the other six Princesses of Heart they’re recognised by being people without a single trace of darkness in their hearts, After the events of being kidnapped by Maleficent, Cinderella has been very cautious wherever she goes, and with the Keyblade War getting closer and closer, she and the other princesses must stick together. Nowadays, Cinderella may no longer be an official Princess of Heart, as her light moved on to someone else.

ALTERNATE: Despite no longer being a Princess of Heart, this doesn’t mean she isn’t involved in the grand battle. Cindy, alongside the other princesses, has all gathered to train; turns out, the keyblade deemed them worthy to become wielders! Her keyblade is Stroke of Midnight.

EDIT ABOUT ABOVE: Some lil extra information, with this verse, if I feel like it or is requested by a mutual, I can use this new meta in rps and interactions. That is if it is desired. This is a silly AU within a verse, after all, an idea born from some friends over Discord which I got hooked on.

V005: A Modern Twist

A modern verse. All Cinderella wanted for so long is to have enough money to move out of the house and start studying in college. But her step-mother did everything to keep her still, being a simple assistant/servant for Lady Tremaine, who is the head of a big and important company. Organising meetings, getting her coffee... just about anything Cindy has to do to please her step-mother, and nothing ever makes her happy.

It wasn’t until one day that she finally moved out, with the help of her godmother who had returned from travelling around the world. They found a stable place for her, where the rest wasn’t cheap but neither too pricey. Plus, Cinderella was lucky enough to find a job.

NOTE: Age can range from young adult to late twenties.

V006: Royally Kind Online

A Wreck-it Ralph 2 verse, in which Cinderella is one of the official Disney Princesses who live inside the “Oh My Disney” website, meeting fans every day and hanging out with her fellow princesses and friends, as well as the characters from other Disney properties and acquisitions.

V007: Enduring in Insomnia

A Final Fantasy XV verse. Born in Insomnia, capital of the kingdom of Lucis, Cinderella at first had a modest and content life with her father. Everything changed, however, after he got married again to a woman named Agatha Tremaine. Not immediately, but shortly after their marriage the poor man passed away, leaving her alone with her new step-mother and step-sisters.

They began to treat her like a servant, not a daughter nor a sister, and never once changed their ways for years to come. Not even Cinderella’s beloved godmother, an elderly woman – an old friend of her father – who lives next door can take custody of her, so she must endure a life of servitude. Honestly, at this rate, Cindy is grateful for being allowed to still go to school and finish her studies.

V008: Behind the Scenes

A Sing verse. Most of the information can be taken from her regular modern verse ( so you can read that and I don’t have to repeat myself again here ) but now it's in the world of Sing, in which she’s an anthro white cat!

The new job Cindy manages to get is at Buster Moon’s theatre -- she isn’t much of an actress or dancer but has quite the sweet singing voice, however she prefers to stick to her cleaning duties and assisting her new boss in any way possible.

CONNECTIONS

Noctis Lucis Caelum :: [ Queen ]

:: Cinderella ♥ Fairytale romance [ Noctis ( mythosbornc ) ] ::

Snow White :: [ Queen ]

:: Cinderella ♣ Sweetest princess ( Snow White ) ::

[punkrockloverpaige-blog]

What I’ve Learned from Leaving Corporate America

9 months ago, I left my high stress job as a Senior Vice President at a major movie studio.  Since then, I’ve been on an incredible journey of healing and insight, and want to share some of my meaningful discoveries.

It takes time to ‘turn off’ your patterns, whether physical or mental ones.

For me, it was a tough transition to stop habits grown over decades. I was conditioned to check my emails constantly, brace myself for long days of meetings, and feel stressed out about some project or what my boss was thinking. What do I do with this quiet and this space? I felt unanchored and a bit purposeless at first. After a few weeks, I relaxed into and then relished the gift of unscheduled days.

I don’t need much to be happy.

And, guess what? It’s the non-material things that bring me joy.  Things like gardening, reading, listening to music, exercising, spending time with friends and family. I didn’t have time for much of this when I was working and these pleasures don’t really cost much money either!

I remember a conversation with my dad, who was a very successful and high powered attorney, during which he described his ideal retirement. He imagined spending his days reading good books while drinking coffee and petting his dog. This is a good snapshot of how I’ve spent the past 9 months and you know what? He was on to something. It is pretty great.

I can live comfortably on a lot less than my previous salary.

Why? Because I have time to do things that previously I outsourced. Things like meal planning and cooking instead of ordering take out every night. And I, Paige Lewis, who abhorred cooking (an epic fail in the eyes of my mother), learned how to cook and now ENJOY DOING IT. Today, I find great satisfaction in knowing what is going into my food and being able to control how healthy it is. It’s cheaper than a restaurant and when it tastes good, too (I’ve had my inedible fails, believe me), that’s a win!

AND, I’m not buying unnecessary clothes, makeup or a new set of towels to provide a short term endorphin boost. Because I have downtime to decompress, I don’t need to relieve stress with shopping.  I’ve learned to ‘shop my closet,’ realizing that I have plenty of basics for a “capsule wardrobe” (Look it up. It’s trending with Minimalists).  I’m wearing and enjoying items I forgot I owned, and it is kind of fun!

I had time to heal myself (and my dog).  

Without health, you cannot do much of anything.  The main reason I left my job was because it nearly killed me. I was so stressed and run down that I contracted MRSA (fancy name: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), which is an antibiotic resistant staph infection. Even worse, it can become deadly quickly if it enters one’s bloodstream. It’s something that very ill people or those who’ve had long hospital stays acquire. Very unusual for a fairly healthy 46 year old to get it. What I thought was an insect bite turned into a palm sized infected crevice on my right butt cheek. A legit pain in my ass.  I was hospitalized for a week and on disability for six weeks afterwards.  The blessing of this scary life disruption was that I had time to realize that my job wasn’t bringing me any joy. I needed to make a lifestyle change.

With this time, I’ve educated myself about wellness which has evolved into a passion. I always considered myself a healthy eater but had some bad habits that were significantly impacting my health. These are the four steps I took to heal myself:

1. I did a three month cleanse to clear up my gut health and restore the good bacteria. A lifetime of illnesses and antibiotics had wiped out most, if not all, of my good bacteria. Good bacteria are the important foot soldiers of strong immunity.  

2. I quit drinking Diet Coke. For my friends and family, this is a jaw dropper. I’ve been an addict since my teens, even sneaking Circle K 32 ounce “Thirst Busters” into class. Aspartame breaks down into formaldehyde, and one diet drink wipes out all of your good gut bacteria. 

3. I got off the sleeping pills. I needed Ambien or Lunesta nearly every night to take the edge off of stressful days and counteract all of the caffeine from the 4+ daily Diet Cokes. 

4. I switched to an anti-inflammatory diet. This one materialized in a humorous way. I have an elderly Labrador Retriever who has some health issues so I consulted with a vet specialist. She suggested I put her on an Eastern medicine based diet to reduce inflammation (e.g. arthritis). I started cooking for her and saw significant results. So I adopted her meal plan, choosing anti-inflammatory foods from her approved list. So yes, you could say eating ‘dog food’ has healed me.

I’m the healthiest I’ve been in my entire life.

I’ve learned the power of my mind. This is a big one and so simple. Thanks to a dear friend, I met a wonderful human, Betty Jones. She is a Transcendental Meditation guru and exudes encouraging healing energy. She taught me how to still my mind with meditation. It’s led me to exciting and invaluable discoveries.

I’m still on this journey of awareness so I’ll share one substantial lesson.  Quiet reveals your intuition. And your intuition is always the truth. With busyness as the new status symbol in our society, it’s nearly impossible to have time to slow your thoughts and just “be.” You can get there in many ways: meditation, time in nature, exercise, listening to music, yoga. Nevertheless, it’s critical. It calms anxiety and lets creativity and innate knowledge come to the surface. It reveals your path if you listen to it.