#caden bear

[chermibear]

Before this incident, I didn't know much about HIV/AIDS. But I did some research in preparation for this story update. I hope I handled the topic well enough 🥹

This has been something different, and I learned a lot along the way. Please let me know if you have any thoughts or feedback on how I could've handled the topic better.

𖹭 Thank you for reading! 𖹭

I'll check in with them again to see how they fare, and give an update

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alt text:

TV: In today’s news, the price of land in Nordhaven runs the risk of rising beyond citizens... TV: Brindleton Bay properties are expected to go up in the next quarter and here is what Mr Bear, a resident has to say on the matter... TV: Next up we will be talking about the current health crisis in Strangerville. Authorities have issued warnings of severe danger and wishes for... Citra: *deep breath* Citra *to herself*: I can do this. I can do this. Citra clenches her fist to ready herself behind Caden. Citra: Cade... I'm back. Caden: Oh, I'm sorry I didn't hear you come in. How did it go? Citra: ...I have it too. Has HIV This Sim has HIV. They must take medication for it not to harm their immune system any further. So long as they take their medication, Sims who have HIV will keep their viral levels low and drastically reduce the possibility of transmitting the disease to WooHoo partners. Antiretroviral therapy may have some side effects, especially early on. Caden: Okay. Alright. Citra: They gave me the meds. Said it's manageable. That it's not what it used to be. Caden: Yeah. Same. I've been reading up on it. We're going to be okay. Citra: You don't have to do that. Caden: Do what? Citra: The whole "it's fine, we're fine" thing. I didn't handle it well when you told me. You don't have to pretend I did. Hard to Accept... (From Love Interest's Announcement) A love interest of Citra's just told her that they have a permanent WTD... That's big news, and perhaps too big news for Citra to handle. It's just scary... She's not sure she will ever know how to be fully comfortable about it... Granted, she doesn't know much about all that. Caden: You were in shock. I get it. (pause) I didn't tell you expecting anything. I just... didn't want to go through it alone. And I didn't want you to either. Citra: I thought maybe you'd blame me. Caden: I don't care where it came from. I care about what we do now. Citra: *voice breaking* I didn't mean to—I didn’t even know, Cade. I swear I didn’t know. Caden: I know. I believe you. Citra: I don't know how to do this. Caden: Me neither. But we're not broken. We're still us. Citra: I wanna have kids someday. You know? *laughs* I don’t even know why I’m saying that right now. Just— it just hit me. Like... is that still allowed? Caden: Yeah. It is. We’ll figure it out, babe. Together.

[itsbrucey]

EXCUSE ME SIR DONT THINK I DONT SEE YOU THERE /silly

It's a warning shot.

[howlinghunters]

Lmao this is gonna be a part two reblog 'cause brain is giving me permission to Yell™️ and also because this is entirely AEW and BCC inspired. 😽

Reblog and write in the tags who is your favorite wrestler and what song you associate with them.

[midnightsun-if]

DEMO — Chapter One: Part One [34K Words] — 11/12/23

FAQ || PINTEREST || SPOTIFY || DISCORD

Aurelian Academy, the pinnacle of evolution within the supernatural world; the first landmark to be erected after the Dark Ages— the time when supernatural races still lived within the shadows of the mortal world.

You’ve been prepared to go for your entire life— all one hundred years of it. Being the youngest child of a ruling vampire clan didn’t give you much choice in the matter. Going to Aurelian meant taking the next big step in your immortal life regardless.

Will you be able to prove yourself to your parents? To your siblings? Will you be able to uncover the mysteries that surround the ancient school?

Or will everything vanish as the midnight sun approaches?

Create your character. Customize your name, potential nickname, gender (male/female/non-binary), sexuality, appearance, and hobbies. (Note: The MC is a Vampire and is 100 Years Old.)

Choose from 3 Classes— Charmer, Shadow-Kin, or Warrior.

How does your character feel about humans? Are they simply ants that you don’t bother with? Potential allies? An intriguing conundrum?

Do you enjoy the modern world? Or do you miss the simplicity of the past?

Romance 1 of 8 potential romances.

Explore Aurelian Academy and uncover the secrets that litter the ancient halls. Just make sure you don’t miss class while doing so.

Koda Kingston — [He/Him] — Bear-Shifter — He’s a mass of muscle and warmth, eyes filled with good humor and overall joy. Might not have a lot going on upstairs, but he’s definitely got the spirit. [Male MCs Only]

Scarlett Voltaire — [She/Her] — Vampire — Cold as ice, ruthless to any that oppose her, with a flair of heated contempt at the people who annoy her, Scarlett is the middle child to the oldest ruling family within the vampiric race. [Female MCs Only]

Cyrus/Cyra Aurelia — [He/Him or She/Her] — Phoenix — Heir to the Eclipse Throne; they’re the eldest child of House Aurelia, Founders of Aurelian Academy. They’re the pinnacle of what an heir should be: dutiful, strong-willed, and loyal above all else.

Quinn Grant — [He/Him or She/Her] — Wolf-Shifter — An individual that’s been whispered about within the halls of your home; a prospected mate in the event that both your warring families wish to unite. Now that you’re meeting them, you may be able to see if that’ll ever become a reality.

Caden Randall — [He/Him or She/Her] — Phantom — Appearing on a random night five years before, they’re not exactly what someone comes to expect when thinking about a phantom: scared of their own shadow, fretful, and a complete neat freak. They’re tasked with ensuring your stay at Aurelian Academy goes smoothly.

Sloane Addams — [He/Him or She/Her] — Wolf-Shifter — A wolf-shifter without a pack, disgraced in the deepest way possible, they don’t seem to be that overjoyed at the prospect of attending Aurelian Academy, but that doesn’t mean they’re not set on proving themself and finding a pack once more.

Blake Herrera — [He/Him or She/Her] — Demon-Hybrid — Your best friend (and potential FWB). With a flirtatious air, a rebellious spirit, and an affinity at finding trouble, they’re a demon that takes a bit to get used to.

Reginald/Regina Presley — [He/Him or She/Her] — Human — A scholarship student to Aurelian Academy; the first of many that may be attending. With a thirst for knowledge, along with a devil-may-care attitude, they’ll try their best to fit in. Of course, that’s easier said than done. As they’re the first human to ever be admitted as a student.

PINTEREST (OTHER) || MALE ROS FCS || FEMALE ROS FC || FAMILY FCS || ROS SKIN TONES

[chil-aglia]

BAD THINGS HAPPEN BINGO CARD

Hey y’all, so remember when I said I’m doing a bad things happen bingo card thing? Well….I GOT THE CARD LETS GOOO

Now I haven’t done these before so bear with me.

RULES TO SUBMIT REQUESTS!

Has to be set in the ROTTMNT universe (during the show/present timeline/apocalypse timeline/movie timeline, an AU of sorts (I mean these bingo spots are basically all AU’s) etc, etc

Main character to write has to be my OC’s (Giovanni, Adriaen, Ronin, Three/Luca. You are also free to suggest Caden. I’ll even throw in Nico and Matt)

Canon characters can be part of it too. Like for example, Leo is helping Adriaen. Or Donnie and Ronin are there together doing whatever it is they are doing. Ya know? Kinda like the prompt ideas

You’re free to submit more than one prompt space for the bingo card. And you’re free to go crazy with your ideas

For the NSFW ones, I’ll be posting those on my NSFWblog, but you can submit the ideas here.

Make sure you also tell me that your request/ideas are for the bad things happen bingo! Otherwise, I won’t know

The fics will be posted here on tumblr and on my Ao3 (I’ll post a link to that after I get some suggestions)

No t-cest btw.

You’re free to draw art for these and idk, tag me or something

And that’s all. If I think of more, I’ll keep adding to it. But other than that…GO, GO, GO, SUBMIT YOUR IDEAS!

You can either comment the ideas here or send it through the ask box!

-----

Sacrifice: Nico is to blame for the Krang finding their base. Is to blame for death of innocent people. Nico needs to fix this. And there’s only one way to end this. Find the Key…stop the Krang.

Mind Rape: Krang Prime has Caden in his clutches. Terrifying him. Torturing his mind and soul. Caden needs an out, he can’t take it. Leo has to take charge now, and god damn if he couldn’t save Caden then he’ll never forgive himself.

Not afraid of you anymore: Giovanni is not the same scared little boy he once was. He’s grown. He’ll do what it takes to defend his family, especially from the EPF. Even if it means hurting someone.

Rape/non-con: Ronin has survived many dangerous things, has been through many battles. Has seen and experienced the ugliness in others. Now…it’s his turn to finally get some closure.

Cry into chest: Giovanni has tried to keep it together. He has been doing well since returning home. It’s only a few nightmares he gets. So why does he still cry? Why is his father comforting him like he’s a little boy?

Flashbacks: A younger Giovanni AU version, where he is fighting against Hypno but gets hit by a mind spell, resulting for him getting visions of his past making him now vulnerable.

Cabin fever: Things are getting a little paranormal in the cabin the turtles are staying in. What’s horrifying is that they are being stalked. And Adriaen is the one trying to fight, or else they die.

Panic attack: Adriaen hasn’t slept in weeks. It’s making him feel like he’s going insane. All because of the ominous white door that has continually been haunting him. He can’t take it anymore.

Self-harm: Ronin runs into the turtles, much to annoyance as he some cuts on his body, but he can’t let the others see. But he’s doing a horrible job at it.

Brainwashing: Ronin is hit with a mystical force that alters his brain. Forcing him to see everything as a threat. Forcing him to think and act like the days he spent in the Battle Nexus arena.

Therapy Session: Giovanni is convinced to give Therapy a go. With the help from his brother Mikey, Giovanni is actually doing well. Until he isn’t upon coming to a party for him.

Drugged: Getting sent back in time was bound to mess with Nico sooner or later. But meeting a human he only heard stories of in person? Getting drugged by them? That was a whole new mess Nico wasn’t used to.

Amputation: The Krang have been defeated but the infected people of New York still linger around. Adriaen sadly has been faced to face with one the more aggressive infected. His leg is covered in the slime, and it stings, burns. They have to take it off. They have to take away his leg.

Addiction/withdrawal: Ronin had always had bad coping mechanisms. Especially during difficult times. But he knows a way for him to feel…free. He can survive perhaps a few days maybe even 2 weeks at most without the drug. But not for long. It won’t take long for him to crack.

Forced to beg: Caden can’t come out of his meditative state. He’s trapped himself in his mind, the pressure getting too much for him. Leo and the others are begging for him to snap out of it, begging for Caden to wake up.

Body horror: Adriaen has a horrifying nightmare about the others turning into creepy monsters/creatures, he ends up having a massive panic attack after he wakes up from the nightmare and Leo is there to calm him down.

All of the other reindeer: It’s not his fault that he had some adult turtle, the leader of the Resistance inside his head. People need to learn that he’s not Leo. He can’t be Leo. So why…why do they insist that he is Leo?

Suicide attempt: Three can't take it anymore. The memories, the pain. It was all torturous for him. Huh…when did he get to this roof?

“I know you’re in there somewhere. Fight”: Matt knows his twin brother is still inside. Underneath all that Krang gunk. That is still his brother. And Matt is going to bring him back.

Forced to hurt someone: Ronin’s first battle in the Battle Nexus (May or may not be canon to the story, but we’ll see)

Non-consensual touching: Being already triggered with immense touching was annoying for Dante. But he powered through it, he had to, especially during his monthly check ups with the doctors in base. But this certain doctor…they just kept touching and touching.

Childhood trauma: Three recalls some trauma from his childhood days with Baron Draxum after witnessing Leo being shocked by the shock collar made by Donnie (takes place during Donnie’s Gifts) (not canon to the actual story for Three)

Shock collar: It was only a prank. Matt found this weird collar, remembering that his uncle invented it and showed it to him. He thought it was fine. But then he just couldn’t take it off. It malfunctioned.

Non-consensual kiss: Everyone’s first kiss is suppose to be…magical? Amazing? Caden wasn’t too sure, he’s heard the stories but never actually experienced one himself. Until…he did, but it didn’t feel right.

Touch starved: Three gets injured, he hates himself because of it. He doesn’t think he deserves the help from his family, more so from Leo. But even he can get clingy when someone shows him the slightest bit of comfort.

[ethicaltreatmentofcowplants]

Rise and shine, everyone! Today we are heading out early to indulge in Aggie’s favourite - well, second favourite (👜) - hobby. Cross-Stitching!  Yes, one sim will be threading their way to a solo date with Lilac.

We’ve been curious to see just how well GOOD traited sim Spencer will get along with our adorable EVIL blorbo Forest, and so far they appear… joined at the hip?

Today’s mentor is Dodo, who is helping out contestants not with stinkiness, but the finer points of fitness. Caden is the first for a private training session, which Spencer does his best to make less private.

(It was Eye of the Tiger that Survivor sang, Spencer, not Pry of the Tiger...)

Cross-Stitch is not sparking joy for everyone. Briar and Giovanna prick their fingers and are forced to take a break, while Spencer dislikes the hobby but perseveres. If he continues his trajectory from the first round then he possibly won’t need the solo date, but damned if he’ll let Caden have it...

...Who for his part is getting rather sick of Spencer’s snooping (why are you so obsessed with him 😉) but manages to produce a NORMAL quality cross-stitch.

Forest appears to have taken Lilac’s critiques from the Strawberry Ceremony to heart and (so far) has been on his best behaviour. He becomes friends with Dodo and attempts some friendliness with Briar, but doesn’t appreciate her mischief interactions.

Giovanna manages to complete her cross-stitch pattern, which sadly is only of POOR quality.

Elsewhere LAZY sim Briar struggles with fitness but completes a nice painting, and even does some cloudgazing with Forest. Does that one look like a flying llama?

Since having Dodo in my save file, it’s become clear to me that he has some kind of telepathic communication with his Watcher, Ana. So here he is yet again dropping his 1001th hint that he wants a nooboo (and who he wants one with).

Eventually it’s Forest who (lest we forget knows the importance of a good skill grind) manages the highest quality work and will go on a date with Lilac tomorrow! Congratulations, Forest. Please consider leaving the autonomous meanness at home this time.

He also discovered that he was a MAKER, so good news all around.

Because the Watcher didn’t cancel Night On the Town and didn’t want sad moodlets from a ruined holiday, we went to the Spice Festival. Forest and Dodo, are you boys twinning?

Yes, we won’t be featured on Hot Ones anytime soon - not even Spencer, who I believe has the SPICE HOUND trait.

Briar shares something else piping hot with Giovanna, while Forest gifts Caden just because - and is strategic enough to make sure he does so right under Araminta’s nose. Her opinions have no bearing on final scores, but having the host anti-shipping you with the bachelorette probably isn’t ideal either.

Finally, it’s time to head back home (and possibly take some Pepto Bismol). As they don’t have to get up early tomorrow and skill-grind (plus have a far more comfortable bed back at Chez Minta), Dodo and Araminta sleep in the woohoo/guest room*.

*No nooboos were made during this stay.

@jonquilyst @mdshh @riverofjazzsims @ravingsockmonkey @akitasimblr

dodo harper by @akitasimblr

[redesigningxmen]

REDESIGNING MAGIK

Welcome to Limbo! Our group chose Illyana Rasputina, the marvelous Magik for this round! Introduced as the younger sister of Colossus, Magik joined the 80s New Mutants team as a young teen and has since flourished into an A-Lister in her own right. She's been a member of the Phoenix Five, Cyclops' renegade X-Men squad, the Krakoan New Mutants, and the 2022 X-Men team.

She has several inspiration points for artists and redesigners to pull from. She's most well-known for her all-black 2012 look but has also sported demonic and fantasy influences as someone connected to the hellish Limbo and her malevolent alter ego, the Darkchylde.

See what our enthusiastic and talented team of artists did this round, and make sure to follow them on social media for more fantastic art!

(The handles presented after artists names are their Twitter handles, but many use the same name on other platforms!)

Léa Dupic | @/kimodraw

"I went full speed ahead into medieval land and dressed Illyana in a full metal shiny armour, putting emphasis on her sword bearing arm with a biiiig spiky shoulder pad. Gave her a punk lesbian haircut while keeping her iconic bangs, because I think she should be allowed to be more of a punk lesbian. And I couldn't resist adding a touch of demon form with the horns. She's gloomy she's menacing she's spiky and shiny she's the girl of my dreams."

Giovanni Saroldi | @/RaulGiova 

"Just like matter, let’s give ‘Yana three states! Solid, liquid, gas? Kinda, not quite! From angelic to demonic, with her main form being the in-between totality of herself, where she can draw whichever power she needs.

It’s geometric, it’s chic, it’s retro-futuristic Terry Moore with the Horns of Galaxy The Prettiest Star meets Ludmilla from Bartok mid-transformation."

John Caden | @/johncaden64 

"I've always felt the Bachalo design was great, but could get very male-gazey.  I tried to make it more comfortable, while also keeping the same goth feel.  I do feel she needs to just go all-in goth, so let's shave her head, get some thick black mascara and commit to the bit! "

John Marsh | @/pastelrake

"What if Illyana had been a Russian figure skater?"

Joe Pryde | @/joeprydecosplay

"My inspiration for this design came from the idea of “what if Magik was an elder emo” complete with Kristen Stewart fem mullet, high waist buckled tights, and sleeveless crop top hoodie. I also wanted to pay homage to previous designs."

Haydn | @/ThatsSoHaydn 

"I had but one simple thought: What if the Soul Sword was a rapier? And thus fencing Magik was born. I wanted the geometric shapes of the dark bodysuit to contrast with the curves of the golden armor, whilst still adding a little magic and mystery with her cloak and mask. "

Dale Yaddow | @/DaleYaddow

Version 1 "The Savage Magik". Having been stripped of her magical knowledge, Illyana Rasputin hunts down various enchanted artifacts to replace what she's lost. Becoming desperate she seems to be willing to steal and sometimes kill to get these talismans. Among these are the Soul Dagger of Pixie, the medallion of Daimon Hellstrom, Holy bands from "Heven" and a cursed skull from an alternate version of Lockheed.

Version 2 "Mistress Magik" This is an older more seductive Magik that's been corrupted by the influence of Selene and embraced her sensuality, opening up a whole new avenue of mystical arts that she hadn't dared explore before. She now uses her SoulSword to capture the essences of her foes and much like Selene feeds on them keeping her young and vital.

Version 3 "Magik, Queen of Hell" Many questioned the logic of Magik giving Limbo to Madelyne Prior but the end game has been revealed. Illyana allowed Madelyne to tether her magic to Limbo, knowing eventually "Maddie" would get greedy and begin bringing more power to that dimension. With a carefully hidden clause in the Limbo transference spell Magik takes back Limbo and all the power within it and successfully overthrows all the Hell Lords, unifying the many dreaded dimensions under one fearsome rule, hers.

Anthony Ruiz | @/thwwipstickers

"Almost as soon as Magik was decided on for this design challenges I had two ideas strike me simultaneously ... The first of those ideas was the image of Illyana as a 90's Riot(ish) on the cover of a Magazine. I wanted to give her an edgy grungy vibe but still pay homage to her Demonic nature.

Shortly after Finishing my first Design I just knew I had to make my second idea come to life.

What if Illyana was an Anime Mech Pilot and Wore a Plugsuit... thats it... thats the idea. I really wanted to strike the Balance between Anime Plugsuit but still being noticeably Magik and X-men.

I kept the Bright yellow Color scheme with hints of black and red and chose to interpret her Armored arm into a Mechanized oversize cybernetic arm that helps fuel her Plasma Powered Soul sword that springs forth from her Gauntlet."

Isaiah Cox | @/isaiahbeenlost

"When designing my Magik look, I wanted to expand on ideas I had when drawing her a couple years ago by keeping her look sleek, yet scary stylish! So, I referenced a lot of Castlevania and Yoshiaki Kawajiri designs to get that cool anime look for her down! I plucked some fashion inspirations for the costume from places like: Mugler, Alexander McQueen, LaQuan Smith, JRPG rogues and medieval accessories! And for her new soul sword, I decided to give her an Odachi because since she already lived her Cloud Strife fantasy starting from the Bendis-era, I thought it was time for her to live her Sephiroth moment with this giant Japanese sword!"

David J Hughes | @/0ddeity

"I think with Magik I started out pretty traditional for her. Then I got to thinking our Russian Queen deserves a Mugler-esque fit. I wanted to go down the knight or warrior route, but then I thought ‘What If’ this was an AU Illyana raised by Patch and she got all of Logan’s training rather than Kitty and Jubilee, or, alongside them. So, bham, Oni-demon menpo mask and samurai elements on top of the Mugler flair."

Fleshmonk | @/fleshmonk

"Went through a bunch of design iterations, but settled on this cool plasticky vinyl plugsuit like version of Magik. I gave her a bob to mature her a bit and to move her towards a new silhouette."

Joshua Bruckner | @/joshingtonbear

"I took a bit from Magik's more armored designs, which I've always liked the most, and her goth jock aesthetic, and blended them. I rejected the Bachalo booty shorts in favor of a skirt, which gives her a bit of a 'cheerleader from hell' look."

Seye Sanyaolu | @/seye_art

"My intention for this redesign was Magik in a very dystopian future and so I imagined a 3/4 darkchylde Illyana that is in control of her self and powers (although almost lost it). In this future, most of the X-Men are gone and Illyana keeps a worn and frayed X-jacket on for the nostalgia :’)"

[lady-merian]

Seeds of Community

finally finished my 2023 @inklings-challenge story! Once again a huge thank you to @valiantarcher, who has read this almost as many times as I have and caught many errors for me. Posting the whole thing from the beginning rather than reblogging the old post with the new parts added on.

>>——> 

The knock at the door gave Rose Bryar a start at first, but halfway to the door she realized it was probably a neighbor who had missed her family at the kirk services yesterday and was coming to check on them. 

It was not. 

Or not a near neighbor, at any rate, considering the young man on the doorstep only made it to the services once in a while. She knew his name, and that he had no family nearby, and lived some distance away, and very little else.

“Erran,” she said, hoping he didn’t notice her disappointment. If it’d been a concerned neighbor offering help she could’ve used it, if only to set her husband’s mind at ease that the work would get done. “Is there something I can do for you?”

“I thought, actually, that there might be something I could do for you.” Erran held up the bulging bag he carried. “I have so many apples on my trees right now, I’d thought to bring some to you all when I saw you on Sunday, and then I asked when you weren’t there and heard your husband had taken ill. I hope it’s nothing too serious.”

There was some trepidation in his bearing that hadn’t been there a moment before. He shifted awkwardly and rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand. 

Two surprises in one day. Whether because of the distance he lived that kept him from attending kirk services every week, or some other reason, he had not gained many ties to the rest of the community. Though he was a few years older than Alastair, her oldest, he had not seemed to have much in common with him, let alone any of her younger children. That he would take the time to visit when he hardly knew them was one thing, that he had cared enough to save some apples for them rather than sell his surplus was another. 

“Ill? Well, yes, in a matter of speaking.” She beckoned him in out of the chill wind. Erran’s tunic was looking a mite threadbare. Her oldest boys were out at their chores, but she’d seen to it they were well bundled before they set out. 

 “He was mending the thatch and took a hard fall. The broken leg would be hard enough, but he isn’t comfortable getting about on crutches just yet, the bruising was that bad.” 

Erran entered. If he had been afraid of the illness spreading it ought not to trouble him any longer, but a glance at him showed the same hesitancy.  He had to duck under the herbs that hung from the roof. Perhaps she’d misjudged and he was simply nervous and slow to get acquainted with his neighbors. 

But then he smiled and waved to the twins, to Lachlan, to Shona, and to Isie who was minding the youngest while she carded wool for Shona to spin. 

“They said at kirk that at least the harvest was well in, but I hear there’s never really a good time for a croft to be short handed. I’ve little experience but if there’s anything I can do…” He trailed off. 

She was, absurdly, filled with the urge to ease his mind. She took the offered apples.

“If it’s help you’re offering, I’d be most grateful, but it’s my husband you’ll have to talk to.” She smiled to show her appreciation. “He’s mending, but he’s anxious to be up and about and seeing to things himself. It’s been a hard thing to dissuade him. He knows what needs done and what Alastair and Tann can handle. Shona?”

Ten year old Shona looked up, her spindle still whirling and pulling the cloud of wool she held into thread. 

“Will you check and see if your da is up to a visitor?”

Shona gave a nod, and without a break in the rhythm of her spinning she darted into the other room. 

Meanwhile the sight of the visitor and his bag had caused some minor disruption among the story Isie was telling Lachlan and the twins as she carded. No longer would two year old Caden be content to sit and hear about the brownie who left because he thought the farmwife had insulted him. (Rose was surprised he had lasted this long.) Now he clamored over asking to see what was in the bag. 

“Is it all right if I give them an apple, or will that spoil their appetite?” Erran gave a nod towards the pot she had on the hearth. 

“I like apples,” Caden solemnly declared, reaching for the bag. “They won’t spoil anything.”

“How about we start with one to split with your sisters now?” Rose said, right as Shona returned.

“Da’s awake, and says aye, he’d be pleased,” she said.  

Rose selected an apple and handed it to Shona to split amongst them. Alastair and Tann could split one later, and she had a plan for the rest that she thought they would all like.

Erran held back a pace from her as she led the way in to where her husband Iwan lay, propped up on every pillow they owned to cushion his bruises and ease his breathing. He’d struck his side against the edge of the roof as he fell, and though nothing was broken there the bruises were an added hardship.

But he had a smile ready for Erran when they entered.

“Hello… Erran, isn’t it? Shona tells me you brought a treat for us,” he said.

Erran ducked his head, though there were no low-hanging herbs above him now. “Only some apples. I also came to see if there was anything I could do to help.”

Rose hovered in the doorway as Iwan gestured to the stool beside the bed.  “Have you ever thatched a roof, by chance?”

Erran sat. “I’m afraid not. I do have a decent head for heights and good sense of balance though. I’m willing to learn if there’s someone who can show me.”

Iwan looked up at Rose. “Alastair? Just to show him how?”

Rose relented. Alastair knew what to do, but after what had happened to Iwan she had been wary of letting any of them up there. But it was true, the task needed done, and if Alastair need not be up for long she could rest easier. 

“My oldest two are capable lads,” Iwan continued once she agreed, “but altogether ‘tis a lot on their shoulders. There’s also a large portion of the pasture fence needs mending. Normally I’d be seeing to that with them. The lads would be making sure the shed is ready to shelter the sheep and trimming their hoofs, keeping a watch for foot rot after this damp weather turned their pasture muddy.”

Aye, this damp weather, and Erran in need of warmer clothing if he was to be out in it. Rose left them to their discussion on what else Erran might help with. She had the beginnings of a new task nudging her to action.

>>——> 

The sun was high overhead, and unfortunately so were Alastair and Erran. Alastair should be climbing down any moment now, but he was inspecting Erran’s progress so far and looked to be enjoying himself.  

Twelve year old Tann fidgeted beside Rose as she looked on in concern. She had no head for heights herself, but it mightn’t have been so hard on her if it hadn’t been for the recent accident, and her husband the experienced one among them. Tann seemed envious of his brother, but one son and a kind neighbor was enough to be up so high for now. Alastair had sense enough to be cautious, but so had Iwan. It was a pity the part that needed mending was at the very top. She hated to think what would happen if Erran also slipped, let alone Alastair. 

She refrained from calling Alastair to hurry down and instead sized up Erran, comparing his size to her son since she couldn’t very well have asked Iwan to stand up beside him and she needed to know before she could proceed with her plan. Erran was taller, which had been evident from the first, but seeing them together it was also evident that he was broader in the shoulder. She remembered thinking of him as a lanky youth when he’d first made an appearance in town, all arms and legs, but he had grown significantly since then.

Erran noticed her scrutiny and gave a little wave, then said something to Alastair, who came down as carefully as even she could wish. 

“He’s doing all right,” Alastair said. His cheeks were reddened from the cold wind up there, but when she remarked on it he said it was warm enough up there in the sun. 

She’d been waiting for him to come down before she went indoors to finish getting the noon meal ready with an easy mind, but hesitated when she saw Erran still up near the peak. 

“Does he know he’s welcome to come down and eat with us,” she asked. “He didn’t come prepared, and surely he’s getting hungry.”

Alastair looked up, shielding his eyes from the sun. “I didn’t think to tell him.”

“Neither did I.” Erran had gone straight from visiting Iwan to the pasture to see Alastair about learning how to mend the thatch. They’d had a busy morning.

“Can I climb up just to tell him,” Tann begged.

Rose ruffled his hair. “You may go halfway up the ladder, I’m sure he will be able to hear you from there without you having to shout.”

He mumbled that it was not the same, he wanted to be at the top, like Alastair, but dutifully went no further than that. Even so the ladder wobbled under his exuberance as he climbed. 

Erran noticed its movement with a start and reached out to steady it as Tann called up the invitation. Erran called something back to Tann, who said something back before he bounded back to them. 

“He says if it’s no trouble. I told him of course it wouldn’t be.”

>>——>

Alastair and Tann went in to report the day’s progress to Iwan. His mind was already greatly eased with the prospect of help, even if it was inexperienced help, and he would be eager for news of how it was coming.

Erran’s awkwardness returned as he came in the house, and she thought at first that he would just as soon have taken his meal out on the roof, but it wasn’t long before he relaxed again. Bless him, he even wanted to help, and contributed by entertaining Lachlan and the twins and keeping them from running underfoot as Isie set the table and Shona sliced the bread. Erran taught Lachlan a silly rhyme about a bunny, with hand motions so simple that soon even Caden and Lissie could join in. It had them in fits of giggles and kept them for a time from running around in the house like wild things. She’d have to remember it.

It made her wonder about his family. He had to have had one once. What had brought him to their town all alone and so young? At the time he could not have been older than Alastair was now and had seemed even younger.  Too young to be without family. Mayhap it wasn’t shyness that had kept him from developing ties in the community, but grief. 

This occupied her mind while she portioned mutton and carrots onto everyone’s dishes and cut the youngest ones’ meat into bite sized pieces for them. 

“Is Master Bryar going to be able to come in to eat, or does he take his meals in there?”

Erran’s voice behind her startled her. Goodness, his tread was light. He moved as quietly as the cat. 

There was a bashful grin on his face.  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

She waved him off with a smile. “It’s all right. It is a lot of trouble for him to come to the table, so the older ones have taken turns eating with him, and keeping him company.  It’s a hard thing to eat alone when you’re used to being surrounded by family.“

He nodded. Not a flicker of anything showed on his face to confirm or deny her guess, but it seemed he understood. 

“I asked because I thought I might bring his in for you and sit with him a while,” he said, “but they should have their time with him. That would be something special, I’m sure.”

It was a treat for them, and she nearly said so aloud, but on the other hand, Iwan would probably enjoy getting to know Erran better as much as she would. And it would be a long recovery. There would be time for many such visits for the children. 

“I think he would welcome a visit from you as well,” she said. “Tell you what, it would be Isie’s turn, but I know she won’t mind waiting just a little longer for her turn.,” she lowered her voice so it wouldn’t carry to the table where the little ones were now sitting, “There’ll be a surprise after we eat. Isie can bring that in to him and she might enjoy that more because she helped me make it. Isie?”

Isie readily agreed to the switch, and so while Rose wouldn’t get to engage Erran in conversation and learn more about him during the meal, her husband surely would, and then there would be the apple tart she had made. 

>>——>

The only thing that didn’t go according to plan was that the children were so excited about the apple tart she’d made that all the talk around the table centered on apples. 

“I swallowed a seed,” Lachlan said. “Will it grow an apple tree inside me? Shona said it might.”

“I never did,” Shona protested. “I said that’s what Alastair told me when I was little, but apple trees need dirt and sun and rain to grow so it couldn’t work.“

Alastair snickered, and Rose shushed him. 

“They do, Love, so no, don’t fret, there’ll be no apple tree growing inside you.”

“Caden ate the dirt outside,” Lachlan said. “I saw him. And Isie made him wash his face and drink some water. All he needs is sun. Could he grow a tree inside him if he stood outside in the sun? He ate all his seeds. 

“It still wouldn’t work that way,” Rose said.

“Why?”

“You’d have to find a way to eat some sunshine to make it work,” Erran said. “And more dirt. Every day. That’s what my n— that’s what my family told me.”

There would have been the opening she was waiting for, but Lachlan hardly stopped chattering for her to ask.

“I saved most of mine ‘cause I didna want it to grow inside me. I want one outside. Can we grow one? Please?”

“We’ll ask your da,” she said. “I don’t know where we’d plant it, but he might have an idea. It would take a long time before it grows enough to give apples, mind you.”

All too soon, and before she could work the conversation back around to Erran’s family, the tart was gone, and the boys went back out to work. Ah, well. She would ask Iwan what they had talked of.

>>——>

Isie’s pile of carded wool varied, depending on whether Shona was spinning or plying. Lissie was too young yet to be taught how to card or spin, but she could and did chase after stray balls of yarn if they got away from Shona as she plied. She lined them up in neat rows and she and Caden practiced counting with Shona’s help. Caden could also chase after the stray balls but he would throw them wildly as often as return them, so that had to be discouraged—at least until his aim was better. 

Both carding combs and spindle were abandoned for a time when, after they ate and the boys went back out to work, Rose let her girls in on this new project. It wouldn’t be finished fast enough if only one worked on it, but if the three of them pitched in it could be done before long. Nothing very fine, just a serviceable tunic out of a sturdier wool. The linen he was wearing now was terribly frayed at the cuffs and had small holes at the elbows that would grow into bigger ones if left unpatched, besides not being warm enough for this weather.

She cut, using one of Iwan’s tunics as a guideline, and the girls began the seaming, taking turns at first the shoulders, then setting in the sleeves. She finished the bottom of the sleeves as they worked on the shoulders, and hemmed the bottom as they set in the sleeves. It left them all room enough to work. For a time, Lachlan, Caden, and Lissie were convinced to sit quietly and listen to more stories from Isie, Shona, or herself while they sewed. Sometimes they sang. The time passed swiftly.

The thatching was not finished that day. It was growing dark before the hems were complete, and Erran took his leave shortly before sunset, promising to return the next day, and the next, if it took that long. 

Rose paused her hemming mid stitch as she realized she had not given a thought to an important detail..

“Oh, but where will you stay?”  It was sure he couldn’t make it home that day. If there was one thing she did know about him it was that he lived too far from town to make the trip in a day. “If you need—“

“‘I’ve a friend in town who’s asked me to,” he assured her with a wry smile. “He often does, so that I won’t have to leave town before the evening services or travel at night. This morning he asked if I could stay longer and I told him I’d see about it. I can make it back there before dark if I leave now.”

He parted from them with a wave of his hand before she had time to ask after his friend or thank him.

Other neighbors had sent well wishes, and some had likewise visited and even brought gifts of food, but all had their own homes and families and tasks needing done and she’d understood. She had children old enough to take on some extra responsibilities, so there was no question that they could get by. Which might be why Erran’s offer of help felt like such a gift, despite his lack of experience. He could have looked at what they had and assumed that he wouldn’t be needed or wanted. He could have decided that his own responsibilities (whatever they might be, for surely he had to make his living somehow,) were more important, and yet here he was intending to see these tasks through. 

Working on the tunic till it was time to start supper brought them a fair ways toward completion. Shona and Isie each finished setting in a sleeve while Rose finished the bottom, then once the sleeves were set in place, the long sleeve seams were begun. They often stopped to compare progress and make sure neither of them strayed off course. If Shona had a slight advantage in age and experience over Isie, it showed more in speed than in neatness, and at the end of the day when Rose compared the sleeves they were both even. 

>>——>

The next morning, earlier than before, Erran was back and the work on the thatch resumed. He’d arrived with red cheeks, twinkling eyes, and three more apples for the children to share but his hands had been very cold.

She did raise her brows at the apples though. Where had these come from?

“Wynn Fullrede sends his greetings and says to say thank you for feeding me yesterday,” Erran said, rather sheepishly in response to her look. 

Rose smiled. Wynn must be the friend he had stayed with. A good man by all she knew of him, and a good teacher…and one who knew what it took to feed a growing lad. “You can return my thanks to him for these and for lending your help to me when I’m sure he’s missing his student.”

Erran lifted one shoulder in a half shrug, but smiled. It was enough of a confirmation of her guess, though he said only that he would pass along her thanks and no more before heading out to work.

>>——>

The tunic was coming along, but the ordinary interruptions of everyday life delayed them. Toddlers to keep out of mischief, fires to keep going, food to prepare. Those sorts of things. Even so, with at least one pair of hands always working away at them, the side seams were complete before noon. 

As it happened, Iwan hadn’t learned much from his conversation with Erran the day before. They’d talked mostly of the work, as she might have known they would. She pondered over what she’d gleaned from Iwan as she prepared food for the day: only a confirmation that Erran was not from the area, and that he had lived in a city before coming to live somewhere away west of town. An odd change to make, especially coming alone as he had. What sort of work had he done? Had he been apprenticed in a trade? Iwan did not seem concerned about his lack of experience. He was willing to learn and the fact that he’d offered his services at all seemed to speak well of him, and that was enough for Iwan.

“The lads know enough to teach him,” Iwan had said. “T’will be good for them as well. Don’t fret.”

It wasn’t that she disagreed, but something more ought to be known about him.  

Erran indeed had a good head for heights, and though she could not watch him work for long without a shiver, Alastair assured her that from what he’d seen Erran’s sense of balance was fine and he’d taken to the work quickly. 

In fact before the food was ready, Alastair popped in to say Erran was finished with the roof and they were ready to tackle the fence. As Alastair went to tell Iwan, Rose breathed out a sigh of relief and sent up a quick prayer of thanks for the job being finished without further mishap. She had seen Alastair wobble up there on the roof once, and once was enough. 

She had hoped to be finished with his tunic before this, but it was better that the roof hadn’t taken as long as she had expected. Now she needn’t worry about another fall. 

“Don’t start on the fence straight away,” she told Alastair as he headed back out. “All of you should wash up, lunch is nearly ready.”

>>——>

She learned little more from Erran that day in conversation during their meal. He was good at keeping a conversation going with her children, as well as with her, but so little of it told her anything about himself or his life before coming to the area.

 The more she observed him, the more his shyness seemed an unnatural thing to him. 

Lachlan had been deemed just old enough to be careful and take his meal in with his Da, though not of course to take in the tray himself. Erran had volunteered for that, and so when they finished at the table and while the dishes were being cleared away, Erran also retrieved the tray and brought it to her. 

“Master Bryar says to say it was delicious. Lachlan seconds it.”

“Thank you,” she said. She was surprised he’d thought of retrieving it for her. She’d thought he would be on his way back out with Alastair and Tann…but no, they were helping the girls clean the table.

“Thank you again for the meal,” he returned with a crooked smile. “My cooking doesn’t turn out nearly so well, and,” he lowered his voice just a little, “Wynn’s is better than mine, but he doesn’t have your knack either, so it’s not just a matter of experience.”

“Some of it is, I’m sure,” she laughed. “You do enough of it every day for growing children and it begins to come easier to you. How long have you cooked for yourself?”

He thought for a moment before answering. “It’s been a few years since I was doing all of it. A friend of mine stayed with me for a bit when I first moved near here. He was somewhere between you and Wynn in skill, and took more than his share of the turn cooking. He certainly enjoyed it more than I did.” 

He sounded a little wistful as he spoke. If she thought about it she ought to remember anyone else who had shown up at the same times Erran had, but another line of thought seemed more pressing at the moment and she had little time before he would be out again with her sons. What had brought him to Wettham, if not family?

“Erran, before you go back out, may I ask you something?”

She felt a change in his whole bearing as soon as the words left her mouth, though his expression seemed as open as before. “If you like.” He took hold of the cleaning rag she’d set down and scrubbed at a spot on her table.

“You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to, but until yesterday I would have guessed you preferred to keep to yourself, and yet after yesterday and today I think that’s not true, even if you do live away out there alone.”

She halted before getting to the question. The last thing she wanted to do was make him close himself off. What right had she to push?

“That is not really a question,” he said. There was enough of a smile to his voice to encourage her. 

“You’ve not once mentioned a family. Did something happen to them?

He let out a light breath, almost a laugh with that slight twist of his lips, but not quite; the wistful expression was back. “I should have known you’d be wondering about that. Aye, I did lose my father right before coming to Wettham.  Wynn was a friend of his, and helped get me back on my feet along with another of his friends. That’s the one who stayed with me.”

“I’m so sorry.” She instinctively put her hand on his arm. “And your poor mother?”

He twisted the rag in his hands. “Fever. Years ago… I was a child.”

To her eyes he was little more than a child now. This grief was older, but it was still a grief. To have lost so much and him scarcely older than Alastair…

Was this why he had come so readily to help when he heard about the accident?

Erran glanced up and his eyes were kind. “You were right about me though, I’ve kept to myself long enough. Far longer than is good for me. I’ve—“

“Erran!” Tann waved from the door. “We’re ready.”

She tried not to be disappointed at the interruption and took the rag from his hands. “Well you’re welcome here anytime, if that helps at all.”

His smile was quick.“It truly does. You have no idea how much.”

>——->

With renewed effort, keeping in mind the chill in the air and wondering how in the world Erran had managed thus far on his own, Rose threw herself into finishing the tunic.

She reinforced the neck opening with extra stitching on the border. Her boys were too often rough on that to leave it a weak point. And it might as well look nice. 

Shona and Isie resumed their carding and spinning. They all alternated mediating arguments between the youngest three. It didn’t help that today Caden wanted more than anything to be out of doors with Alastair and Tann, whom he was convinced were having fun without him. Rose had decided they had enough to do out there without minding Caden and ensuring he stayed warm enough. There would be time for that when he didn’t need so much minding to keep out of trouble.

The time flew by, and as the light outside began to dwindle Erran took his leave for the day.

She was prepared for his leaving this time. She handed him a hot pasty. “For the road home. T’will keep your hands warm until the inside is cool enough to eat.”

>>——>

The low-hanging grey clouds the next morning showed their respite from the wet weather was nearing its end and it was nearly time to bring in the sheep to their sheds and the smaller pasture where they could get into shelter themselves whenever they liked.

 Between the morning chores and breaking their fast they wasted no time since the weather did not appear willing to tarry long for them.

 Whatever sense of urgency was in the air, it had spread to Erran as well, as he arrived shortly after the boys left for the field. Rose wondered at how early he must have started off. Surely before it was light out. 

“Are you hungry?” She asked. “There’s plenty here if you like.” 

“Thank you, but I had something on the way here.”

She eyed him, but before she could protest that he’d be working hard and that “something” didn’t necessarily mean it would hold him till lunch, he had gone to catch up to Alastair and Tann. 

She came to fetch Iwan’s breakfast tray from him and saw a twinkle in his eyes. “Rose, when did we get an eighth child?”

“Oh, about two days ago. Don’t tell me you just now noticed?” She raised her eyebrows and he chuckled. “Not at all, my Rose, nor am I surprised.”

She sat with Iwan for a while as she sewed, sometimes in conversation with him and sometimes in companionable silence until she had to begin preparing the noon meal. 

>>——>

While Alastair, Tann, and Erran went back out to the pasture after lunch, Shona bundled up Lachlan and the twins and brought them out with her so they could play while she gathered more willow bark for Iwan’s tea. They came in with rosy-cheeks and high spirits. Rose nearly sent them back out to run around and spend that energy out of doors in case Iwan was ready to sleep again, but Iwan called out to them to come and sit by him and tell all about the games they had played outside.

“Is coooold outside, da.” Lissie could be just heard, plopping down to sit on the bedside rug.

“It isn’t that cold,” Lachlan said, with all the superiority of an older brother; older by three whole years, who could better tolerate the cold. “But it’s getting wet. And windy too.”

Rose looked out in alarm. It was only a little drizzle, not loud enough to be heard in the house, but she thought of the cold and the wet and the wind all combining, and the last thing they needed was for the boys to become ill, and then there was Erran in his thin, worn tunic. 

“Tis just beginning,” Shona confirmed for her as she prepared the bark for tea. “I imagine they’ll be in soon. Or would you like me to fetch them in early?”

Rose shook her head. “If it gets worse and they’re still not back, I’ll go. For now I’ll trust their judgment on how close they are.” She didn’t yet know the measure of Erran in this respect, but Alastair had sense enough to know when to push forward and when to stop.

She set a pot of broth to heat, and hurriedly put in the last reinforcement stitches on Erran’s tunic. 

She clipped the last thread with relief as well as satisfaction. Though it was too late for it to have given him more comfort in the rain, at least he could warm up afterward.

There was still no sign of them and the weather took a turn for the worse. Just as she decided she should go out to them the boys came in, soaking wet, having made sure the animals were secure in their shelters. They had been close, but not close enough and the fence was not yet finished. 

Alastair and Tann she sent to change out of their wet things straightaway, but she held Erran back a moment rather than send him along with the bundle she had already collected. By rights Shona and Isie should be there to see his reaction.

“I couldn’t help the trousers without borrowing from Iwan’s. They’re old and worn, but they’re dry. As for the tunic, well we had that sorted already. 

She presented him with the folded tunic. “From all of us, though t’was Shona, Isie and I that did the sewing. I only just finished it.” 

Erran held it up, looking intently at it. She could not tell what he thought. She waited with hands folded for him to say something, but though his mouth was open he was speechless. 

“Will it fit you, do you think?” She hesitated then added,  “I cut it loose for comfort but if it is too large we can fix it, Shona, Isie and I.”

Erran brushed his finger over the stitching. “You three made this for me?” He looked round at their grinning faces, his astonishment plain. 

“Aye, we did. Go try it on and tell us if it will do.”

“Oh, but you didn’t have to do— I didn’t—“

“T’was not a question of us needing to,” she said. 

“But we didn’t even finish the fence. If I’d known more about carpentry I’d have been more help to you., but—”

“But someone who knows more about carpentry hasn’t come. You have. Go on and ask Iwan. He’ll tell you just how much of a load that has lifted off his mind. Besides, though this may have started out as a token of our thanks, tis now just a gift.”

 His gaze was drawn back to the stitching around the neck. “It’s very fine.”

“Thank you. Now go on with you!” She shooed him to follow Alastair and Tann. “Put it on and get out of your wet things.”

He shook his head and laughed softly. “All right, I won’t argue. Thank you.”

Tann emerged first with his wet things to dry by the fire, then Alastair, and very soon after Erran also returned, looking pleased with his new tunic. It was a good fit. Loose, as she’d intended, but not over-large. 

She gave them the warm broth to ward off a chill and they held a council. 

There was no question of them finishing the fence until it let up, and it showed no sign of letting up before dusk.

Likewise there was no question about sending Erran home in this weather, and even if it let up before dusk he wouldn’t make it back to town that night. No, it was better for all concerned if he stayed here where there would be a roof over his head. Even he had to see that an evening tramping out in that weather was unwise, though she had to dissuade him from camping in the sheep sheds with the flock rather than staying in the house. He had some idea about it being a bother. 

“I’ll make you up a comfortable bed by the hearth,” she insisted. “Tis no trouble.”

Erran finally relented to that on the condition that she let him help in some way. 

He could keep the little ones from being underfoot, clean up for her after supper, that sort of thing. Or anything else she might think of. 

To that she agreed readily. Less because there was anything she could think of that needed done, and more once again to put him at ease. She supposed in his place she would feel awkward about being an unexpected guest. The children had been in and out of the room where Iwan rested, as he’d been sleeping less and needing distractions more. She could tell he was awake now. Alastair had probably told him of the state they’d left the fence in as he passed on his way up to the loft he and Tann shared. 

“Why don’t you have a visit with Iwan?” 

It would, she thought, do them both some good. 

>>——>

For supper they all crowded in. It would end up with more cleaning, this picnic indoors, but it had been too long since they had all eaten together. 

And it would have been worth it for the look of utter contentment on Iwan’s face alone, but it was that good for all of them. The meal had a celebratory feeling. True, there was work yet to be done, and the boys were all disappointed that they hadn’t had a little more time to work on the fence, but they were dry now indoors with a freshly mended roof and laughing together. 

It was Caden who begged a story. He seemed to have been guessing at the approach of bedtime and was greatly interested in delaying it, and decided a story would be a fine way. 

Erran spoke up before Rose could think of one. “What was the one with the brownie that Isie was telling the first day I came? I only heard a little and I don’t remember ever hearing that one.”

“The one with the farmwife who insulted the brownie?” Isie asked. 

“Did she? Last I heard, she was pleased with him.”

“She was, ‘twas an accident. Do you know what to leave out for a Brownie?”

“Bannocks,” Caden said before Erran could reply, and at the same time that Lissie added “Cream!”

Erran grinned. “Bannocks and cream.”

“Well there are things you must never leave out for a brownie,” Isie said solemnly. “You must never leave money, as you can’t pay a brownie for their work as if they were a hired servant. They take great offense.”

“Ahh,” Erran said. “So she left money for him instead of bannocks and cream?”

“Oh no. She made him a suit of clothes, but to this  brownie at least that was just as bad as money! See, at great houses where they have servants, part of their pay comes as nice clothes to wear because everything must look fine in a great house, including the servants. And the farmwife knew none of that, but this brownie did.”

Erran coughed. He seemed to have gotten something stuck in his throat, so Isie paused until he took a sip from his mug and asked her to continue.

“Well that’s almost all of it. The brownie found the nice little suit and thought not only that the farmwife was putting on airs, but that she was considering him her servant and that he would never abide.

“Do the voice!” Caden said with a giggle. “Do it, Isie!”

Isie obliged with a twinkle in her eye and her high voice that she gave a cantankerous twist. 

“Give brownie coat, give brownie shirt, ye’ll get no more o' brownie's work!” 

Before the giggles had quite died down she resumed her storytelling voice. “And then he took himself off and ne’er returned again.”

“Never?”

“At least not that I ever heard,” Isie added in a normal tone. “It is a sad ending, don’t you think? But there. Brownies are a strange folk, and easily offended.”

Lachlan cocked his head, a furrow in his brow. “Erran, you’re not a brownie, are you?”

Erran blinked. Rose could almost see him trying to trace Lachlan’s train of thought to see where the idea had come from, though it was obvious to her, and had to suppress a laugh. Of all the stories to have told that night.

 “I’m rather tall for one, don’t you think?”

Lachlan shrugged. “I dunno. I never saw one.”

“Of course he isn’t one, silly,” Shona said with a laugh. “A brownie would be smaller than the twins.” 

“He came and helped,” Caden put in. 

“Brownies have magic, maybe he could make himself big!” Lissie stretched up her hands as high as she could reach. 

Erran had to have the input of the twins translated for him, as they’d spoken so quickly and their words ran together and he wasn’t so used to that yet. But he smiled and said “No, I’m no brownie. I’ve never seen one myself either but I do hear they’re very wee creatures indeed, and they don’t change their sizes like others of the fair folk can seem to when they’ve a mind.”

“That’s good. I wouldn’t want you to leave and never come back now that mama’s made you something to wear.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Erran’s mouth dropped open in a startled Oh before he gave soft laugh and shake of his head. “Don’t worry. I won’t be able to stay long but I’ll visit. You can be sure of that.”

-Epilogue-

Late spring saw Iwan back on his feet with only a slight limp when he wore himself out. Which, knowing him, would continue to be often. One fine Sunday though they walked to the kirk and when Caden got tired Iwan carried him, as had once been their usual arrangement, and he only needed his walking stick towards the end of the journey. 

Erran was there by the door, greeting one of their neighbors. His eyes lit on them and he waved. A moment later he turned back and was on his way to greet them. The children met him halfway, even shy little Lissie.

“Erran!”

“You should see our apple tree!”

“It’s thiiiis big now!”

It certainly wasn’t as big as all that, but it had survived the winter and the sprout seemed hardy.

“You should come see it!”

Erran laughed, then crouched down to be on their level. 

“I’m glad it’s growing so well. I’d love to come and see it.”

“Da says it’ll take a while to bear fruit,” Tann put in. “And when it does they might taste different from yours even though they came from your seeds. When we get ours you’ll have to come and taste some.”

“Hear, hear.” Iwan called out. He was leaning on his walking stick a little now. Erran stood and offered a hand to help him at the steps.

To Rose it mattered less what came of the tree in the end, whether the apples were good for eating, or for cider, or if it bore nothing at all; she was at this moment giving thanks to the Almighty for one seed that had already borne fruit. 

[wordstome]

What are Price's daughters like? What are their names? Are they sweet or pranksters or crafty like their father?

Also, which of the 141 + KorTac dads are on the PTA?

OMG how did you know I wanted to write more about Price??? I love you Spec <333

Price's daughters are named, from oldest to youngest, Alice, Brianna, and Clara! Alice is a classic cool older sister, undeniably her dad's right-hand woman. When she and Brianna were younger, she would mess with her younger sister all the time, but since Clara the baby came around, she decided to be a "grownup" (which is of course, adorable). When they're a bit older, I can see them taking on the same dynamic as (bear with me, this is a deep cut) Flavia de Luce and her sisters from the Flavia de Luce books by Alan Bradley. Alice and Brianna band together to mess with Clara, but I can see Clara growing up to be very smart and quick-witted, probably taking after Price.

As for the PTA:

Price: is definitely on the PTA. He runs it like the military: no room for middle aged mom drama or passive aggressiveness in his PTA!

Ghost: absolutely not. He's not touching that stuff with a ten foot pole. As long as nobody's making things difficult for Caden, he's good, thanks.

Soap: he's on the PTA, but he's not getting shit done. He'll do whatever Price asks of him, but he's just there to shoot the shit and flirt with moms. Rascal.

Gaz: He might drop in once in a while and help out at events, but he's a busy busy man and can't make those meetings, unfortunately.

König: No, much like Ghost he isn't interested in suburban school district politics.

Horangi: Horangi, similarly to Soap, is on the PTA, but his presence is sporadic and he's solely there to pick up gossip and instigate. Wait a second, why is he allowed in here? His daughter's not even in school anymore!

Keegan: didn't even know there was a PTA

[gyrovagi]

caden trevelyan voice i always knew i was a boy because even as a child i displayed the wrathful and violent nature that all men bear, following in the footsteps of maferath

[chermibear]

Bear Legacy in 2024 (Final Part)

Max aged up into a teen! 🤓

Caden found a new girlfriend while at uni. 💕

Bear Legacy will resume in 2025. I can’t wait. I love this family too much. I miss them. 🥲

Thanks for reading! 💕

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

Watch from Gen 1 here.

[geminixevans-stan]

Sweetest Thing - 1

Pairing: Curtis Everett x Female!Reader

Words: 4.5+k

Summary: When reader decides to start over, she moves to a new town hoping that she can make in the world on her own.

Warnings: 18+ Minors DNI, explicit language, nothing too bad, more world building than anything

I do not consent to my work being copied, plagiarized, or translated in any way >:P

Just the thought of starting your new life was all the reason you needed to finally open your eyes. The sight of your room fills you with joy—you’d decorated it yourself, and spared no expense. The walls are painted a baby-soft pink, offset by the butter-soft white sheets that adorn your bed. Soft, sheer curtains blocked the rising sun on the other side of the wide window, beneath which was a plush window seat. You already made up your mind that this area would be for when you wanted to look out and take in the world without having to leave your home. Two small side tables accompanied each side of the bed, holding a small vase housing a plant that you are currently trying your very best not to kill.

When buying that particular plant, you knew that it would probably not last long. But you were determined to live on your own and take on the responsibilities of a proper homeowner. The warmth of your bed enveloped you like the bear hugs that your daddy used to give you. The feeling was so good that you decided that maybe thirty more minutes of sleep wouldn’t hurt.

… Or that was the intention.

The next time that you blinked your eyes open, the sun had finally shown its beautiful face through your curtains, and the faint noises of cars passing by indicated that everyone on your street was up. You sit up, rubbing the remnants of your satisfying sleep from your eyes, and raising your arms to stretch. The comfortable silence that you were striving for was here and you smiled at the realization.

You swing your legs over the edge of the bed to slip your feet into the softness of your bedroom slippers, an item that you couldn’t leave without. Everything from your old life was dead and gone… except for those slippers. They were the last things that you received from your grandmother before her untimely passing. She was the only person, besides your dad, who really and truly wanted the best for you.

Victoria de Montfort was a name to be reckoned with in the world of fashion. She made such a name for herself that you suspect the generations following you will still be called fashion royalty. She was a powerhouse, her attention to detail in every stitch. She poured herself into each piece—that was something she’d taught you, too.

“Nothing means anything without love.”

After doing your morning hygiene routine of brushing your teeth, skincare, and a shower, you go downstairs and head straight for the kitchen. With you waking up so late, your stomach was saying some not-so-nice things to you and you needed food immediately. Another lesson that your grandmother taught you was to always keep a clean kitchen. No matter if you didn’t need to clean while you were still under your parents’ roof.

You lived a very wealthy life before this, and you know that naturally, anyone would wonder why you gave it all up. If anyone would outright ask you, they would think that they were part of a soap opera with all the drama that you had to endure. It took all the strength that you could muster to leave the comfortable life you’d known. But you weren’t happy—your mother, Nora, made sure of it. To her, you were just another link in the chain of the De Monfort family, and she’d groomed you to be the perfect heiress.

In a sick way, you had to thank her for being the evil woman that she was. If she hadn’t pushed so hard, you never would have decided to start your new life. With the constant bullying you’d endured from both your mother and brother, Caden, you had enough stories for your future therapist to write volumes. If they hadn’t pushed you away, you'd never have found yourself here— in Camden, Maine, living the life you’d thought you’d never have.

You step onto the tiled floor of your kitchen, standing there for a moment to take in the area as a whole. A wide kitchen island sits in the center of the room, and the counters are littered with your growing collection of silver appliances. The surfaces on the stove and counters gleamed beautifully in the sun, innocent of the future stains of your failed attempts to learn to cook and bake. Something that you couldn’t do because the De Montfort’s never lifted a finger.

Luckily for you, Grandma Victoria showed you a few recipes that stuck with you, ones that she would make for you when no one was looking. On mornings when it was just you and her, she would make the most sinful thing — a heaping stack of chocolate chip pancakes, eggs, and a hot side of bacon. That was one secret that you were more than happy to keep from your own family.

The kitchen smelled just as it did when you were a little girl. The sweetness of the chocolate chips mixed with the syrupy sweet concoction of the maple bacon had your mouth salivating the entire time that they sizzled in the pan. You sit down at the table, setting it beforehand with your utensils and orange juice. You happily sit down with your plate in both hands, setting it on the table and saying a quick thanks before digging in.

Cutting into the pancakes is like a breath of fresh air, and you groaned with satisfaction when the familiar sweet taste touched your tongue. The mixture of flavors sent you back to your grandmother’s quaint kitchen table.

Whenever she had some time to herself, she would take impromptu ���vacations” and would go off the grid, no one hearing a word from her.

But not you…

One vacation in particular was a week-long trip to Aspen. It called for heavy clothes at all times. The snow sparkled in your innocent eyes, nose moist as you tried to withstand the cold. You marveled at the pillows of soft ice on the ground, wanting to be one with it.

And so you were…

Without hesitation, you pulled off your bubble coat, tossing it on the ground as you fell back, feeling the instant coldness on your skin. You sigh in contentment, letting your joy fill you with warmth against the coolness. Bursts of laughter erupt from your lips, not paying attention to someone else watching you.

Victoria watched on, startled at first to see you doing something so ridiculous. But she warmed at the pure joy radiating from you and she could swear she saw her younger self lying in the same spot as you.

Her soft chuckle rouses you from your world, snapping up to see your grandmother with the most loving smile on her face. You tilt your head a bit, sure that you were in trouble but her face said something different, “You okay, Grammie?” You say in a confused tone.

She chuckles again, shaking her head, “More than, sweet bee, it’s like I’m looking at my younger self….”

As you enjoyed the most perfect breakfast, you couldn’t help but think of your grandmother and how proud she would be of you. To know that you got out and dared to start your path was something that you always wanted to do. Sure being wealthy had it’s perks but was that living?

One thing is for sure, you were going to find out and seek out a life that you could be proud of. As you begin to get lost in your thoughts, you hear a familiar sound coming from the kitchen island that held your phone. The ringtone only belonged to your one and only best friend, Thea. Your body moved before your feet could, rushing over to snatch your phone off the counter and answering quickly.

“Hello?” You answered, almost out of breath.

“It hasn’t been two days and you’re already whoring,” she says amused. You roll your eyes at her, eliciting that laugh that you missed so much.

“Yeah, yeah laugh it up. I haven’t even been out of this house yet to touch anything or anyone,” snickering as you looked at your friend who had a gleam in her eye, “What is it?” You ask, pulling a stool from the island and taking a seat.

A tremble formed on Thea’s lips and she continued to keep her eyes on you. You knew that she was getting emotional and before you could even say another word, she burst into tears. It didn’t take much for those salty drops of fluid to form in her eyes, Thea was just like that.

She was the most normal person in your life besides your grandmother. You two grew up together in the same circles. Although, her family were less… vapid than yours. Thea had been a breath of fresh air to your high-strung situation. You two were each other’s safe space and she was the only person that knew exactly where you were.

Everyone else knew that you were gone for some “you” time. That’s the story that your mother was pushing around since your untimely departure. You stare at the screen watching Thea’s eyes well with tears as she begins to talk super fast.

“It’sjusthtatyoudiditandi’msohappyforyou,” she says quickly, unable to form her words correctly as she bawled in front of you.

You were so used to her antics that you knew that you just had to let her go on with her spiel before you could get a word in.

“You’re doing it again! Slow down weirdo,” you chuckle as she lets out a watery laugh.

A smile forms on Thea’s lips as she grabs a nearby tissue to fix her face, “You know how I get. I’m proud of my friend! She finally got out of that castle with that evil dragon of a mother,” disgust on her tongue as she made a fake retching sound.

If anyone was a hater of Nora De Monfort, Thea would put them to shame. To say she loathed your mother was an understatement. If she met her untimely demise, Thea would plan an entire parade around your mother’s death.

And you can’t say that you wouldn’t be in attendance…

You and Thea talked on the phone for almost an hour. Catching up on the move, what you needed to do, and how her life was going. It was nice to know that she was slowly making a name for herself and getting comfortable with becoming a well-known socialite. The lights and fame were where Thea shined the most and she knew how to balance that life and still be her true self.

After you two caught up, you let her know that you had some errands to run and the first place on your list was to find a hardware store to add some more embellishments to your room. You were thinking of adding a small shelf above your bed to put some added Knick knacks, plants, or even pictures. It was whatever your heart desired and this was going to be your little project.

Pushing open the door of Everett Hardware Store, the ringing of the bell startled you a bit making you jump in alertness. A man with a weathered face, placed his eyes on you, freezing you in place. But it didn’t last for long as you were put at ease by the wide smile he gave you.

“Welcome to Everett Hardware! You don’t seem like you’re from around here and I should know,” he chuckles, never taking his eyes off you, “The name’s Jerry, little missy, what can I do for ya?”

“I’m looking for wood? I guess? I’m not sure…”

“Well, what do you need the wood for?”

“I’m trying to build a mantel to go over my bed. Something big enough that I can put some plants or little decor pieces,” you say with certainty. You were determined to do this for yourself.

Jerry furrows his brow in thought, a low sound coming from his throat, “Seems like a good maple wood would be good for that. You’ll go down to aisle 4 and if you want I can help pick out a nice maple for you.”

“That’d be great and can I ask another question, Jerry?”

“Shoot.”

“What would I need to do the mantel?”

Jerry’s eyebrows rose at that question, “A pretty lady like you? Doing her dirty work. Now I don’t think I can let that happen,” he says, folding his arms.

You stare at Jerry in confusion, “Hey! I can do it!”

“And I don’t doubt you can but, what you’re trying to do ain’t a one-person job. I tell you what, I know a guy that will have that mantel up in an hour… two if you’re trying to get fancy.”

“Well, I do have a little fancy about me,” you say, doing a slight curtsy that made Jerry erupt with laughter.

“Funny gal, We’ll get along just fine. Just as a new member in the community, we want to make sure our own is taken care of. You pay for the wood and I’ll have my guy come and get that fancy mantel of yours done in no time.”

“Oh no that wou-“ your words cut off before you could even finish them as you see Jerry put his hand up.

“Now I won’t hear another thing, little lady. Let’s get you something nice,” determination in his voice and he leads you to the aisle holding all sorts of wood.

He was just like your grandmother, stubborn and wouldn’t hear a thing from anyone who lent a helping hand too. That made you feel a little more at ease as you followed Jerry down the aisle, amazed at all the different types of wood and the sweet smell coming from the maple solidified the suggestion that Jerry made.

Your eyes landed on a thick piece, sturdy and looking heavy enough to hold just the right amount of things that you wanted to put on it. Taking a look at Jerry, you point up to the piece of wood high on the shelf, “I like that one. It speaks to me and that’s the only one I want,” you take a subtle gulp, not used to getting your way where it counted, you were ready for a rebuttal and you didn’t get one.

A gleam came into Jerry’s eyes as he did a deep chuckle, “You got a good eye, I’ll tell ya that! Would have been my pick too.”

The time at the hardware store was your first time paying for anything in your life. Usually, others did the shopping for you and it was refreshing to be able to pay for something that was all yours. You and Jerry found the right size of maple wood for the mantel and even bought some tools — just in case you were in the mood to fix other things in your house.

He helped you load everything in the car before mentioning someone by the name of Curtis would be stopping by to help with the mantel. You let out a sigh, shaking your head at him, “I swear I have it, Jerry. That’s too much.”

Jerry folds his arms, dead set on what he promised, “This ain’t up for discussion, little lady. Think of it as a welcome present from the town,” a small smile appearing on his lips, “It’s okay to get some help sometime. If you want, maybe Curtis will let ya help. Show you a few tips or two,” you could no longer decline the gesture.

“Okay… okay. I’ll let him come over. Under one condition…”

“I’m sure he can meet yer’ demands. What’s the condition?”

“He can’t say no.”

Jerry furrows his brow, unable to grasp what you just said, “He can’t say no… to what?”

“To anything. Not that I will ask him to do anything crazy. But that’s the rule,” you wanted to hide or disappear for making a rule. You didn’t know how this would play out but you were proud of yourself.

Jerry shrugged his shoulders, “Alright. I’ll let him know. Now if he’ll listen is the real challenge,” he chuckles, walking back to the store, pushing the door open, “Go easy on him will ya?”

“I’ll try my best,” your words caught in laughter as you waved goodbye and got back in your car. You take the scenic route back home, looking at all the places that Camden has to offer. Down the street from the hardware store was a cozy-looking coffee shop, small enough to fit enough people and you made a note to visit later. Maybe even tomorrow.

You take in the oranges, yellows, and golds for the leaves littering the streets, signaling the changing season. The noticeable change in temperature when you first got here was indicative that you may see some snow for the first time in ages. That puts a small smile on your face as you turn into the driveway, happy that you made it back home.

Home….home…

Something that you haven’t felt in a long time came back to you and all you could do was enjoy that moment for a while, lying your head back against the seat as you finally realize that you have a home of your own. Your place of peace.

Thunk

“Ouch..”

Thunk… THUNK!!

“OW!! Dammit!!” You screech out, dropping the hammer to the floor and you suck on your injured thumb. The stinging pain ran down the whole of your thumb, throbbing slowly as you tried to quell the discomfort. It was hour 2 of trying to put the mantel up and no YouTube tutorial in the world could help the obvious.

You were not a handy person…

Nor did you have enough manpower to get the job done. There was no way you would be able to hold a heavy piece of wood and drill it into the wall. At least that’s the excuse that you came up with. You got off the ladder, frustrated by the entire idea.

But one thing is for sure; you couldn’t be mad and hungry. You didn’t have the energy to attempt to cook anything so you decided that pizza or takeout would be the greatest choice. With a half-defeated spirit, you plop down on your couch and start to search for restaurants on your phone. There were a couple of pizza places that stood out as well as some Thai and Chinese places.

You were stuck on both but before you could make a choice, a ring at the bell startled you, making your head snap to the door. The figure on the outside covered the entire length of the door so you couldn’t get a good look at the person’s face. The bell rings again and you stay still, uncertain if you should answer or not.

“Maybe they’ll go away…” you thought to yourself, noticing some movement at your door before the person stood still again.

A ding coming from your phone fills the room and you jump, finding it behind you as you look to see what app went off or your weekly email from your dad that you don’t bother reading. Instead, you see a text message from an unfamiliar number reading.

It’s Curtis from the hardware store. Jerry told me to come over. Just wondering if you’re home.

“Shit!” You whispered loudly, running up to the door to swing it open. Curtis steps back, giving you a first look at him as you crane your neck up to look at him. He is… very tall with a clean buzz cut to match the neatly trimmed beard on his face. His plaid shirt spread over his expansive shoulders, a thin cotton shirt hugging the noticeable broad chest that could be a great pillow for someone.

Or you….

Nope! You couldn’t be thinking this way about a stranger, even if he looked like a warm hug and a piece of art. You have been staring at him for too long, the clearing of his throat snapped you back to reality and you finally could think, “Um, you’re Curtis? Jerry’s guy right?”

Curtis chuckled, adjusting his bag as he took a look at you, “Yeah I’m the guy. I help him out sometimes,” a smirk pulled on his lips as if he knew something you didn’t.

But it was no matter, you needed a mantel and you were going to let him do it, “So Curtis… Chinese or pizza?” You say as your stomach grumbles for something greasy, “Pick or I’m choosing both,” you look at him with a straight face, feeling small on the inside with him almost towering over you.

“I’m not opposed to both and I’ll even pay for it.”

“Nope. I pay. You fix. There’s a hammer that lost it’s life in there and I just can’t go back into that massacre. So, I’ll pay and feed you. That a deal?”

Curtis takes one long look at you, standing straight before shrugging his shoulders, “It’s not like I can say no, right? You are the boss, ma’am.”

A tiny shock sent through when he said those words, but you quelled it down before you were able to speak, “I like you already Curtis. I think we’ll be just fine,” you smile, moving out of his way so that he can come in.

A small smile pulls at the corners of his mouth before he walks past you, stopping to lean down, “ You had me at food, ma’am. I’ll never say no to eating,” he steps into your house as you follow behind, closing and locking up. Curtis takes a look around, making note of the familiarity of the house, “This is the old Hancock place. We didn’t think they would ever sell it,” the timbre of his voice trailing as he begins to look around the place.

You follow behind him, mimicking the path of his sight as you notice some things that need to be repainted or even redone. The mention of the previous owners intrigues you and you decide to ask, “Were they well known around here?”

“One of many. I live down the street so I was here many days playing with the other kids. Time goes by fast is all,” a small smile pulls at this lip as he turns to you, “By the looks of everything, I think this house is in good hands.”

His words warm you in a way that you’ve never felt before, causing a nervous chuckle to escape you before you could stifle it. You quickly recover, taking a deep breath as you try to change the subject, “Ready to see the bomb I let off in my room?” Smirking a bit as you begin to walk down the hallway.

Curtis follows along, snickering at you, “I’m sure it’s not that….” He takes a look at your room as he stands at the threshold, taking everything in. “What exactly did you try to do in here?” Genuine confusion on his face as he tries to make sense of all the scattered materials on your floor.

You stand in the middle of the room, looking around before looking at him, “I was trying to put my mantle up. I read all the instructions, looked at tutorials and nothing,” You knew that you should have waited but determination surperceded your memory. Which is why you were in the predicament you were in now. You look around, finally seeing the actually mess in your room, feeling your heart race and before you knew it… “You know what? Let me clean this up. Shit… I should have never… I’m so sorry let me get this cleaned up. I’ll be quick, I promise,” you say hurriedly as you begin to pick things up and put them back down, feeling the frustration arise as you try to grab anything on the floor in sight.

The sight before Curtis was like a tornado and he needed to stop it before you went into a full on panic attack. He steps over, placing his hands on your shoulders, looking down at you, “Woah, woah! Slow down there. It’s fine, I’ve seen worse okay?” He says softly, keeping you in place as you begin to calm down, breathing deeply, “There you go, keep breathing,” his instructions are all you can hear as the blood lowers from your ears slowly. You hadn’t felt that feeling in months and one mistake sent you into a frenzy.

You’re not there anymore…

You’re free…

You’re going to be okay…

You repeat that in your head over and over, listening to Curtis as you keep your breath steady until you no longer feel that familiar tightness in your chest. The room begins to come back into view the first thing you see is the cerulean orbs staring down at you. For a moment, you see just a speck of green in them and you decide to get lost for just a second.

The sound of your name brings you back to life as you hear it come from Curtis’s lips, sounding like a the sweetest thing you ever heard. He’s silent for a second, paying attention to beauty of your eyes, clearing his throat before he sees you fully alert, “You okay?”

You do a quick nod, taking another deep breath, “Yeah… yeah. I’m sorry about that.”

“Don’t sweat it. We all get overwhelmed,” he says in a reassuring tone as she squeezes your shoulders lightly, “Relax. I’m here to fix and you have some food to order. M’ not picky either,” he smirks lightly as you let out a soft laugh.

“Who’s the boss here, you or me?”

Curtis takes a deep breath, letting out a quick chuckle, “You are and what happened to the food boss?”

“Oh right! What kind of boss am I?” You teased, pulling away from him and walking out of the room, “One round of sinful food coming up!” You shout, going out to grab your phone before sitting down. You take another breath, replaying the way Cursis said your name. It wasn’t said with vitriol or disgust.

But with care…

You wanted him to say again. Just like that… Just to give you something that you always craved….

[tpnprojecthollows]

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!! Here’s what the gang got for their annual secret gift exchange!

Zarina (for Uzi): A toy knife

Varian (for Jax): A mini robotic centipede (He spent months making it)

Ennet (for Chance): A friendship bracelet made of paper and colored with crayon

Uzi (for Varian): A knife (she gets one for every person she gets every year. They’re not from the kitchen, no one knows where they’re from)

Nana (for Ennet): A pack of handmade stickers of dogs and planes

Kyouya (for Molly): A hand sewn bear stuffed animal (made with Tessa’s help)

Erza (for Kyouya): A handmade cook book

Tessa (for Zarina, the 2 youngest aren’t required to give gifts): A new set of test tubes

Chance (for Wendy): A handmade book about birds

Caden (for Erza): A pack of homemade yogurt popsicles with little bits of strawberries in them

Agatha (for Nana): A couple new flower hair clips

Jax (for Caden): A porcelain cup (in reference to how Caden got the scar on his forehead, when he tried to balance cups on his head and failed miserably)

[midnightsun-if]

Do we have an alternate ending to the true love kiss scenario but the kiss ended up working? 🥹💔 asking for a broken hearted fellow

A heavy buzzing is what alerts you to your surroundings first, your eyes fluttering open blearily as you try to make sense of the world coming into focus around you.

You were in a familiar room. Faint aromas and scents waft over you, soothing, instead of alerting, the beast within you.

You were on a bed. That you could tell by the soft sheets underneath your hands.

You weren't alone. Your gaze settling on the figure seated directly next to you, a wave of warmth crashing over you at the familiar sight.

Koda: "Hi, sunflower," he whispers, conscious of how loud he needed to be in case you were still disoriented. A large hand cups your cheek, tears causing the gold within his deep brown eyes to shimmer like flecks of liquid sunlight. "You've been asleep for a bit, I'm glad I was able to wake you up." Koda dips his head. "We should get you a medal. I think you beat out a hibernating bear."

Scarlett: "My heart." The whispered admission, spoken through a strangled noise, as if the breath had just been forced back into her lungs, is filled with adoration. "You've finally awoken." A look of complete relief is etched upon her face, Scarlett moving closer, as if on instinct, to clutch your hand. The usual viridescent quality of her gaze was darker than usual, a pallid hue to her complexion, but the happiness the shone through seemed to make her glow from within. "I'll have to ask you desist from ever scaring me like that again. I don't know what I would do if I lost you."

Cyrus/Cyra: "You're awake." A soft smile comes to their lips at the sight, golden eyes shimmering with all the love they felt for you. "I wasn't certain if you would awaken. If I--" They pause, shaking whatever thought away. "I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't been able to help you." They gently take your hand into theirs, pressing a light kiss to the back of it. "You've helped me in so many ways, my flame, I'm glad that I was able to pay, at least some of, it back."

Quinn: "It's about time you woke up," they tease, easy smile on full display. If it wasn't for the strain around sapphire eyes, you would have almost believed it too. "I don't know how much longer I could have put up with your snoring, sweetheart." Quinn shakes their head, settling on the bed, making sure they didn't jostle you too much. "I'm just glad to finally see you awake."

Caden: "I'm glad to see you awake," they murmur, gently swiping a strand of hair away from your face. Argent eyes softened to a pale gray, black curls falling haphazardly across their forehead as they smile gently at you. "Is there anything you need? Anything I can help you with?" Caden settles on the bed beside you, light as air. "I will do everything in my power to make sure you're okay." They press a gentle kiss to your brow. "No matter how long that may take."

Sloane: A rush of emotions flickers across their face at the sight of you actually staring back. Hazel eyes flashing with the depth of the storm raging within them. "You're an ass," they grunt, hands tightening on the covers. "Do you have any fucking idea what you've just put me through?" Sloane barks out a laugh, shaking their head. "If you ever act like that much of a dumbass again, I might just leave you sleeping." Staring at you for a moment, their eyes soften, as does their tone. "But I can't say I'm not glad to see your beautiful eyes."

Blake: "I know I've said I enjoy Sleeping Beauty, but that doesn't mean you need to reenact it, angel." Violet eyes appraise your form, noting everything that could possibly be wrong. Seemingly content with what they find, Blake takes your hand into theirs, relief causing the tension within their body to rush out. "Let's leave curses and hexes to witches and animated movies, okay?" They run a hand through their hair, making the already messy locks even more haphazard in appearance. "Have no interest in almost losing you again."

Reginald/Regina: Blue green eyes brighten, a sunny smile overtaking their lips. "It actually worked!" They beam, rushing to your side in an instant. Slim hands cradling your face as they seem to simply want to soak you in. "I can't believe it actually worked! I'm happy that it did, of course. I don't want to even imagine it failing, but--" They cut themself off, clearly aware that they were headed towards a rant. Reigning themself in, they continue with a softer edge to their tone. "Even if I'm profoundly curious, I don't think I want to ever experience this again. I like it a lot better when you're the one answering my questions."

[chil-aglia]

For The Bad Things Happen Bingo Card:

Bingo Slot: Forced To Beg

Character: Caden

Plot: For this one, let’s just say Caden is still having a hard time getting used to existing and being a part of the resistance, and at one point it starts to be a bit too much for him so he hides in his room and tries to do some meditation to try and relax, but after a while the others find him and he’s basically stuck in this meditative state and won’t wake up so the others basically beg him to wake up (which doesn’t work) and Leo is the one to help him wake up and get Caden out of the meditative state that he’s in.

This will be marked off as 'Forced to Beg' as that is the main focus!

Hope you enjoy this! And sorry for any grammar errors made!

@badthingshappenbingo

Link to the fic on Ao3: Not Leo - Chilaglia - Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Cartoon 2018) [Archive of Our Own]

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Not Leo

Quick note: This is not canon to the main story of Do I Look Like Him. This is set in the bad future timeline!

Bingo slot: Forced to Beg

Fandom: Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles + my OC’s

Warnings; ANGST GALORE, identity crisis, implied depressive thoughts, implied near character death, etc

Summary: He’s not Leo. Why can’t they see that? Why doesn’t anyone listen to him? They have to listen. He’s not Leo. He’s not Leo. He’s not Leo. He’s not Leo. He’s not Leo. He’s not Leo—

——————————————————————————————————

“Do better.”

“Try harder.”

“Be quicker.”

“You can do more than that.”

“Leo could’ve easily done this in less than 2 minutes, tops.”

But I’m not him.

Caden has heard these comments numerous times, from the moment he was awake to the moment he went to bed. It was hard to adjust to this new life that he had no choice but to accept at some point.

He had a 30-year-old turtle, a Master, living in his head, sharing a body. The Leader of the Resistance. And now, Caden was left to have this burden? All because Leo “died” and his soul was saved and transferred over to Caden’s body to possess?

Caden still wondered why he was even made in the first place. He asked Draxum about that, his creator, and all he got was the same damn response.

“Because you could help save humanity.”

No…he was supposed to be some kind of replacement for the turtles. In case someone was dead, or way too injured to carry on.

That was his purpose? To be some mindless soldier for this stupid war?

His head began to throb, wincing he placed a hand against his forehead, almost recoiling when it was getting a bit painful for him to bear. He heard meditation could help in these situations, he guesses he could give it a shot.

Luckily, he was already in his room—Leo’s bedroom, so he didn’t have to go anywhere. He took in a deep breath, sitting cross legged on the mattress as he concentrated on relaxing, letting his mind try and shut off.

In….out.

…in. Out…

….in…out……………..

-----

“Where’s mini-Leo? He’s supposed to come to my lab an hour ago.” Donnie huffs, walking towards Mikey and Raph who were taking a much-needed break in one of the office rooms that no one really comes in.

“Mini-Leo…? Oh, Caden right? Hm…haven’t seen him since breakfast.” Mikey tilts his head in a confused manner, it was a little odd for Caden to not be seen by them for some time now.

Usually, they spotted him walking the hallways. Sitting alone at a table, people watching from afar. Or even just doodling something down in a notebook.

“Have you checked Leo’s room? He could be sleeping.” Raph suggests, smiling lightly to calm down Donnie who had been grumbling under his breath, tapping his feet impatiently. Donnie perks up at this and immediately beelines to Leo’s sleeping quarters.

Mikey and Raph followed, unable to stop Donnie from barging in. “Get up Caden! I’m supposed to run tests on you to make sure you’re all healthy and whatnot.” He exclaims loudly when he sees the young mutant sitting quietly on the bed.

His eyes closed and chest falling up and down lightly. However, he didn’t even so much as flinch or twitch upon the brother's arrival.

“Is he asleep?” Mikey questioned, curious about the position he was in while Raph seemed as equally dumbfounded. “Sleeping while sitting up? Looks uncomfortable.” He muttered, eyeing back to Donnie who raised a suspicious brow at Caden.

“Hey, wake up.” Donnie orders, walking over and shaking the mutant's shoulder, but…nothing happened.

Now he was really starting to get concerned, vigorously shaking Caden by his shoulders, his voice growing louder and shakier.

“Hey…hey! Wake up! Caden? Hello?!”

Mikey rushes over, his eyes glowing as he pressed a hand to Caden’s forehead, where an orange outline glow radiated off him, indicating that Mikey was using his mystical powers to see what was wrong.

“He’s…it looks like he’s in a deep state of meditation. But he’s bad…Donnie, check his pulse!”

The soft shell wasted no time and placed his fingers against Caden’s neck, waiting for a heartbeat…but it didn’t come for a while.

“Not good, his pulse is weak.”

Raph sweats at this, hovering over. “W-what do we do?! Mikey?” He questions, turning to his youngest who narrowed his eyes in thought. “I can…I can try and bring him out of it. But it might work if he can hear all our voices. So just...talk to him?” Mikey answers, questioning his own response as he closes his eyes to focus, the glowing outline remaining on Caden’s body as they lay him down onto his shell.

-----

It is dark and cold and lonely. Caden’s small body huddled somewhere in the void of his mind. Quiet…and shell facing away from the larger turtle who stood a few feet behind him.

“Caden? What’s wrong? You’ve been…quiet for a while.”

……

“Come on kid. Talk to me. I mean, I’m the only one around to hear you out.”

…….

Leo furrowed his brows, walking over before crouching down to Caden’s height, placing a hesitant hand on his shoulder. “Kid, you awake?” He questioned, recoiling lightly away when Caden shrugged his hand off him.

“Shut up….”

Well at least he’s talking.

“What’s wrong? I mean, I know you were feeling off and wanted to meditate. But-“

“I’m not you.”

What?

Leo tilts his head to the side, “Of course you’re not me. I’m standing right here.” He proclaims the obvious, he noticed how Caden began to shake, as though he was controlling himself from not crying out.

“So why….?”

“Why?”

Caden turns around, glaring viciously at Leo, his eyes watering with tears threatening to fall down his cheeks. “So why the hell am I constantly mistaken for you?! Constantly being asked to be like you?!” He yells, and for a moment it felt like the void was getting darker, cracks around the space Caden was in forming.

“I’m not you…I’m not—“

He starts hyperventilating, turning back around and curling in on himself as he rocks back and forth. Leo steps back out of surprise, looking down he sees the cracks growing larger, more unstable.

“Caden? Caden, hey it’s okay. Just calm down and—“

Leo stops, being cut off by various different voices. All belonging to his brothers who were calling out for him. No…not for him. But for Caden.

“Wake up please!”

“Caden come on little man! Come back to us!”

“You dum-dum. I’m not one to usually beg here, but just this once, please! I’m begging for you to wake up.”

Leo smiled lightly at their comments, before looking at Caden who sniffled, refusing to listen as Leo softly exhaled and sat down.

“You hear that? They’re calling out to you. Not for me. They need you back.”

Caden curiously looked over his shoulder, his eyes red from tears as he looked up slightly, listening to Raph, Donnie and Mikey begging for him to wake up and return to them.

“They don’t….”

“What? Care about you? Think of you as you? Kid, listen to them. They’re calling out your name. Not mine. They came to you and are trying to wake you up. Don’t you feel Mikey’s mystic powers? Calling out for you?”

Caden blinked, looking around and it was strange. He did feel Mikey's presence around, the warm and welcoming feeling that Caden remembered feeling for the first time when he first met Mikey officially.

Leo had strolled on over, gently grabbing Caden and helping him stand up. “Go on kid…go back while you’re able to. Otherwise…well, you could be stuck here with boring ole me.” He smiled with a hint of a joking tone at the end of his sentence.

Caden stared, watching him quietly as he let it sink in.

“I’m sorry…for being a mess.”

“Who isn’t? Now go…they’re begging for you out there.”

-----

Caden groans, his eyes fluttering open as he takes in the environment. He was looking up at the ceiling. A familiar ceiling that he was used to seeing every morning he woke up.

Leo’s room.

“Caden! Oh, thank god you’re okay!” Raph exclaims, letting out a nervous breath of relief as Caden observes the figures in the room.

Raph.

Donnie.

Mikey.

The brothers were all here, each looking equally relieved that Caden was all right.

Caden couldn’t help but smile softly.

“I’m sorry…for worrying you.”

“Just…don’t do that again.” Donnie scolds lightly, hesitantly patting the young mutant on the head.

Caden hums in agreement. Yeah…he was going to be done with meditation for a while now.

——————————————————————————————————

Bad things happen bingo (OPEN)

[violetcancerian]

Posting him with texture because 🤌🏻🤌🏻✨

*insert Layla playing loudly in the background*

BUT THERE HE IS, MY FAVORITE BEAR!!

CADEN !!!!

Co created with a bestie of mine 🥹❤️

Y'all can also check him out here!