#can you see me in the dark? ( ASKS. )

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

In Regards To Your 2024 Summary:

Holy shit it’s been another year????? The hell?????

Also! Your art style is gorgeous and that being found in 2023 and then refined throughout late 2023 and the entirety of 2024 really shows, as does your growth in panel layouts, perspective, and — as you said — experimentation. If you ever post your animation or video game art I’m looking forward to it.

As cheesy as it sounds, being able to laugh at funny comics and look at all the details of your art really made my 2024 brighter, even when things were hard. Including looking at your older art— it doesn’t need to be new to be enjoyable! I’m glad your art is well loved and it’s a privilege to have been here since the (near) beginning. I hope you take care of yourself in 2025 and beyond!

You and your art bring a lot of people a lot of joy never forget that <3

Thank you so much for keeping up with my art journey throughout these last two years! Two years!!! I am baffled at how that feels both too long and too short!

Admittedly, my art summary didn't manage to capture the fact that I did a lot of comic layouts that I'm really proud of. I also drew more backgrounds and made some very detailed works (*Dungeon Meshi spoilers for these examples*).

The growth is lot more evident when comparing my 'best' comics of 2023 to 2024:

Sometimes the growth is vertical, sometimes it is horizontal - and damn, sometimes it goes out of sight into the Z-plane. But it is always happening!

[canisalbus]

So i remember an ask mentioning your mortal enemy, Felis Atra and their cats, and i thought it'd be fun to draw what Felis Atra's version of your italian dogs would be.

I think they would be called Butter Knife and Flamengo! Butter Knife is not his real name, it's an nickname given by his peers because of how harmless he is. I choose Flamengo because that's the name of Vasco's rival football team here in Brazil, so i thought that was the perfect name :)

Cat Machete was slightly inspired by the Oriental Shorthair cat because of their long noses and thin head shape.

Cat Vasco was inspired by the Scottish Fold cat, because FLOPPY EARS. I gave Flamengo longer ears and orange fur to make him more like his look-alike.

The last doodle is a reference to this ask (https://canisalbus.tumblr.com/post/728923918314946560/me-i-am-machete-ear-fan-number-1-those-ears) and contains the tumblr ask stand-in dog, whose cat version was inspired by the American Curl cat! They have round ears that are slightly floppy outwards.

Final notes: I know cardinal clothes don't come in vibrant blue, but i was ADAMANT on switching Machete's and Vasco's clothing color patterns. I would draw the rest of Butter Knife's and Flamengo's clothes, but i suck at designing cool outfits.

Speaking of outfits, for Machete's iconic void outfit, i figured it would be fun to make it more baggy for Butter Knife, in contrast to Machete's, that looks very tight-fitted. I think it's cute, it kinda looks like a sweater. Also i can't imagine a Machete doppelganger without high heels boots, so those HAD to stay.

Oh, and just to be clear, i'm not like, claiming ownership of these guys or anything. I just thought it would be a fun exercise. Hope you like them!! I love your art and your characters.

.

[yashley]

Say something true!

[diminamorpho]

Guess who is being a bit funny again? This guy hasn't even existed for 24 hours but I still decided to get my grubby little raccoon fingers on 'em.

It's called I grabbed that goofy carrot they call Opportunist from @deedjre simply because I thought the carrot comment was funny.

Get got you creature.

[hexcii]

Hi!

I saw on TikTok that someone was reposting your art and I'm sure that you don't allow that or gave them permission to do that.

Here the video I'm talking about: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNd8MBE2P/

Have a nice day!

Yeah no, I have definitely not given permission for my art to be reposted, quite the opposite. I don’t have a TikTok account so I can’t see the video outside of the thumbnail but goddd yea that’s my art alright -_-

Thank you so much for bringing this to my attention. I’m very glad that you caught this, thank you <33 There isn’t really much I can do other than to reiterate once again that I do NOT allow reposts of my art on any platform. I also want to say just to be sure that I do not condone any hate being sent to this person either. I might be upset that this happened, but that doesn’t justify it.

[d8tl55c]

oh boy !! ! ! ! !!! ! thANK y0u all for the kind words on my last art posts. you all get it and i was/still am so happy about it

as promised, here's some close-ups of the comic for image quality's sake, and other screenshots i rescued from the community whiteboard (and something else)

first up another sketch of mystery gender-ambiguous being. (please send me more name ideas for them if you got one- i like to hear em! (reminder it's the side character that appeared for <10 seconds in AvM Ep. 30))

a few fav scenes

emotional support cwab

they weren't meant for this purpose exactly, but i do have countless "fluffy sticks" loose in my notes and homework sheets from the school years.

papery critter.

even when i wasn't confident in fur or feathers, they helped me practice posing and create some satisfying gradients/flowing poses. (im a sucker for good tail poses) (oh yay! i found a good pic...)

and finally, little sneak peak for you for reading so far ;3

i realized that whiteboardfox is pretty great for my working needs. simple and to the point and all. feels nice with the mouse and the tablet.

so i started hashing out a big project idea just to see if it holds up and

[

several hours later ...

]

oh

oh man

it's a little bigger than i expected

<next>

[burningcheese-merchant]

I recommend being careful when mentioning Pitayafire around certain people in this fandom.I myself don't have strong feeling on the ship(I might be tempted to ship, but I digress.) The reason I say this is that I know how certain people from the fandom are, specifically from the old days of CROB. There are people to this day, who will argue Pitaya is fire spirit's parent or something, even though there is no evidence supporting that but old popular head canons don't die easily, sadly.....

Ahhhh I wouldn't worry too much about it (appreciate your concern, though haha). I don't really care what those people have to say about anything lol (the ones who will go out of their way to harass people, I mean). I've shipped PitayaFire for years and no one's ever stopped me, and they never will. (It probably helped that I stayed out of fandom and just enjoyed Cookie Run privately up until I made this blog lol)

People in this fandom have always been so frustrating about everything lol. Every fandom is like that to some degree, but Cookie Run is particularly awful. Whatever the majority deems to be cool/true is branded as gospel and anyone who disagrees is a heretic worthy of public execution. Harassment, doxing, death threats, dogpiles, everything. All because you ship a pairing that a bunch of people just randomly decided are parent and child, despite that being demonstrably untrue, or whatever else the hive mind deems unacceptable for nebulous reasons. Western Cookie Run fans by and large don't grasp the concept of "mind your own business" and "your headcanon is not MY headcanon". Best not to bother and just enjoy things tbh. Happiness is the best revenge + I have better things to care about than the opinions of chronically online teenage (or worse, adults that still act like teenagers) crybabies lol

I never understood the parent/child headcanon, nor where it came from, nor why everyone just unanimously decreed it Good and True. Look at it like this.

A man was fatally shot and left to bleed out in an alleyway, all alone. A stranger comes across him by chance. The dying man begs the stranger for help. Instead of automatically agreeing and helping (or just helping on sight without even being prompted), like a normal, sane, moral person would do, the stranger simply watches, beholds, and regards the whole situation as curious and amusing. The dying man continues to plead for his life as it slips away, eventually offering to give something back to the stranger if he helps him; a favor for a favor. The stranger is taken aback by this, but pleasantly so; he's used to being the one holding the promise of something greater over people's heads, not the other way around. He likes this guy's style. He likes this guy's gumption. He's bold. He's persistent. He's a fighter. The stranger likes fighters... So he agrees. They make a deal: the stranger saves him, and in exchange, the man gives him whatever he wants. And it is so. The stranger saves the man's life, sees to it that he's patched up and good as ever. Better than before, even. And as for the stranger's wish... though it remains a mystery, it is known that the man is now tasked with an important duty, serving alongside the stranger in his territory. And the man is now bound to the stranger, in body and spirit, forevermore.

Where, when and how does anyone get a parent/child connection out of that scenario lol

[realtapiocafan]

hi! feel free to ignore this lol but care to share any fic snippets updates/the likes if you have any? just remembering your amazing fic posts randomly and got kinda yearning abt it hehe 😊❤️

😁

thank you so much!

ok so notice me senpai has received the bulk of my attention recently, so this is the scene in the morning after (right before brimayden walk into joe and justin prepping breakfast)

this might be the most tooth-rooting fluff i've ever written! (also for context, jayden is completely oblivious to the fact that he's in love with brian and malik. lil bro just hasn't heard of polyamory. dw, when ja'marr sits on justin's lap in a couple of scenes, things will finally click and he starts looking at brian and malik like OH THAT'S WHY MY HEART BEATS FASTER WHEN I LOOK AT YOU.)

[toxintouch]

Requesting assistance, please?

Touchstarved Fandom,

Has anyone noticed that each of the standees have constellations on them? Different ones for each character!! And I think they might be real ones? But I'm notoriously bad at identifying constellations.

Anyone able to help me out? Are these real constellations?

[Pics below]

[Leander] [Kuras & Vere] [Mhin & Ais]

[xxplastic-cubexx]

the fact that they had to make james wear heels so he could look taller 💀 we were robbed of a bigger movieverse size difference BUT WHATEVER!!!!WHATEVER IM TOTALLY OVER IT

the height difference that already exists in the movies is WILD i could not imagine him any shorter 😭😭

[callizinc]

YES.

i don't really mind shipping since it's been a fundamental part of fandom culture since 4ever, but I AGREE WITH YOU. ena is so non-romantic as a franchise that it's very difficult for any ship to have substance, but ahdhejf

a part of me dies when i see the nuances of canon disregarded for the sake of validating a ship. or for the sake of anything, actually. why are we ignoring canon, i ask, a tear sliding down my face.

why is ena a mother? why is ena a species?

seeing dbbq's release bring about a wave of new fans made me so hopeful for more people appreciating this incredible world and its characters, and then just. i see almost the entire fanbase throw away canon. the amount of "it's not that deep"s i've seen is enough to induce a psychotic episode in me

because IT IS deep. art will be intentional forever and always, and it kills meeeee to see people treating this masterpiece like it's a sequence of random events

Anon I am unsure how much i'll have to say on this particular war you've suffered because like i said I've tried really hard to ignore basically every fandom place that isn't my echo chamber #myechochamber Because of this exact reason. Because it's so fucking scary out there. Ojh that is so fucking scary + This post by my mutual eshi Shoutout literally never stops being true

But like. Yeah. 😭 Yeah. I just........ Well what is there to say. .....Yeah. AND THE THING IS. THE THING IS. I may be an annoying contrarian hater. but the truth is This exact thing has happened with everything that's ever existed, and it will continue to happen until the end of time. And well that's just the way it goes.

But tell me why I and i know many others waited 4 years for an extremely artistically talented game rich with beautiful artistry and interesting themes and meanings and just a wealth of amazingly cool things, Only for the majority of fans to either one: ignore it and throw their hands up and say "Lol it's all just random incomprehensibility for fun!!" or Two: to talk about FUCKING ANYTHING OTHER THAN WHAT ACTUALLY???? EVER?????? HAPPENED???????????????????? 😭😭😭😭😭

Sorry [My glowing red demon eye overtakes me]There are so many nice and whimsical people and mutuals on this blog. Y'all didn't see that. ignore that. But anon a part of me also dies every time i see that . All of those things. Can anyone fucking hear me. Please help me. 😭 I did not wait for 4 years for this to be the popular fandom landscape. (it's ok though....If i waited 4 years then By god i can wait out the storm. We can do this together anon)

Also:

Literally. literally. Literally Say That Shit . Like obviously i don't think the large majority of people who parrot that theory/interpretation are doing it with ANY sort of bad intention, I think they're. Either trying to make a genuine interpretation, or just completely making shit up. and playing toys 😭 EITHER WAY GENUINELY NO BAD INTENTIONS ANYWHERE HERE. I just still think it also Is so sucks and is bad And i hate motherhood headcanons YAYYYY

I also got crucified on twitter once like 2 years for saying I thought a popular fandom theory that awas around my old fandom was misogynistic, so. Maybe i'm wrong truly. It's all ok though. Who remembers my [EXTREMELY LOUD TRAIN SUDDENLY PASSES BY] era. Anyway

I will say some of that theory i've also seen isn't necessarily saying she "birthed the humanboard" but rather the usage of the term "birth" is supposed to be analogous and/or reminiscent of like. A past. ......miscarriage. or sometjing. Sorry i'm realizing how insane I sound as i say this but in my defense That's because this take is also so sucks. If you want the only good ena mother theory ever been made Stream this post by my mutual cube-cumb3r REAL!

Also say that shit, Because assuming children and the typical child adult growth cycle even exists in the ena world , If ena was put in the care of any child she'd get thrown out in 5 minutes for trying to sell pyramid schemes to their parent, yelling swears at the kid for no reason, Or both. #AbortThatThang

[thebumblingbookbee]

Kit x Ty College AU

Grumbling to himself Ty moved through the over crowded halls of the dorms, he pulled his headphones up over his ears and hit play on Ludovico Einaudi letting the soft notes ease some of the tension in his shoulders. Honestly why everyone had to hang out of doorways to talk to eachother he couldn't understand. As he walked around the corner to the stairs down a girl bumped into Ty, she giggled and fell around the hallway with her friend - Hazel Ty thought to himself. She was friends with Kit. Hazel burst into even louder laughter before darting back towards her friend grabbing her by the arm and tugging her away shouting behind her as she walked "Sorry Ty!"

Ty didn't respond since she was too far away now but he figured it had been an accident and accepted the apology mentally instead. Surprised that Hazel knew his name and rather hoping it was a good thing he continued on his way, half jogging down the stairs hands in his pockets. If Helen were here she would fret and tell him to keep his hands out of his pockets in case he fell and Ty almost ignored the thought before removing his hands from his pockets with a sigh.

"Ty! Tiberius!? TY!!" Startled Ty stopped in the middle of the stairs and turned back around to look back up the way he came only to see Josh Brown grinning down at him wiggling his fingers in a wave. He looked like a mess, his honey brown curls sticking up at all angles, t-shirt hanging out underneath his zipped up hoodie and an open backpack slung over his shoulders.

Ty barely held back his noise of annoyance and shoved his hands back into his pockets to fidget with the pipe cleaners he kept in his pocket. He hadn't liked Josh the first day they had met almost three years ago and his dislike had only grown over the years. Ty had done his best to be polite, at first.

Mark and Julian had made him cards as a child with examples of polite conversation topics for people he didn't like after he told one of their neighbours he didn't want to play with her because he didn't like her. Julian had painted lovely pictures to match each card, while Mark who was better at words wrote the phrases. Ty still didn't want to play with her, she shoved and would poke him to get his attention, but he didn't want to upset her either. But after that she no longer burst into tears when he said no.

Whenever Ty had to deal with Josh he had resorted to the phrases in those cards. Asking him about the sports he knew Josh followed and played until he realised Josh had a lot of very aggressive opinions on that topic and had switched to talking about homework and the weather even though they could both see it.

The class he and Josh both attended was one of the smaller ones Ty was in and so they often got paired together. So it really made sense to be polite. Even if Josh was irritating.

That was before The Kit Herondale Incident.

"Did you want something Josh?" Ty asked irritably.

"Huh?" He asked brightly "I didn't call you mate" he laughed. Ty sighed, of course he thought to himself rolling is eyes.

"Nah just kidding with you Ty, can I bum a light off you?" Josh asked rooting in his open bag for a pack of Benson's that looked like it had been run over. With yet another loud sigh Ty pulled a lighter out of his pocket and held it out to Josh.

Josh frowned as he stepped down the stairs closer to Ty "You alright mate you looked pissed?" He asked coming to a stop on the step above Ty hand outstretched to take the offensively bright pink lighter.

Ty was but it wasn't appropriate to say so. He just smiled and shrugged at the other man, hands moving back into his pocket as soon as Josh took the lighter from him. He shook his head as Josh tried to offer it back, a cloud of smoke already flowing around him.

"Keep it, I hardly ever need it" he told him. Josh put it in his back jean pocket straight away and thanked him with a wink. There was no point telling Josh that he couldn't smoke inside the building, the last time Ty had tried Josh had grinned cheekily and blown the smoke out directly into Ty's face.

Assuming they were finished Ty turned to leave just as Josh announced "So I heard a rumour about you Blackthorn".

[kacievvbbbb]

I don't know especially with the lastest chapter (ch 265) this just feels so much like Yuuji.

Like especially in the first season people kept asking why he is doing all this, why he wants to save people, why he's beating himself up so much over people he barely knows. People kept wanting to know Yuuji's why and he couldn't explain it he was holding unto the promise he made to his granfther as an explanation but that wasnt really is.

And then you have Mahito who tried to force his own defintion of who yuuji was unto him and beat him down until Yuuji believed it too. He's just a machine killing curses because thats his nature vs Mahito killing humans cause thats his nature. They are beings of instinct slaves to their nature, cogs in the machine. And Yuuji internalizes that so much it weighs so heavily on him the idea that his job isnt to save people but kill curses doesn't sit right with him.

but then at what should be his lowest point he stares his biggest tormentor in the face and said you know what I don't particulalry care what you or anyone else thinks about my reasons. I don't think you have to have grand or innate reasons to do something. Sometimes you just do! and what yuuji wants, more than anything; more than killing curses more than keeping the "weak" safe, is to save his friends. And it's too late for a lot of them, Yuuji was too late but goddam it he won't be late for this. So fuck Sukuna he's bringing Megumi home.

[forecast0ctopus]

what do you like about star trek the most?

i dunno.... its just really fun i guess. not going to categorize what i like The Most since im bad at that but ill just put my scattered thoughts about it below lmao

lit has some Deep and Heavy topics but its generally rather optimistic + hopeful for people to do better which is nice. personally i cant stand doom and gloom type stuff – drama and violence and stuff is great stuff in a story, but when its approached from a point of view of outright pessimism just feels bad

the character relationships are great, im a huge fan of things being left somewhat vague because theres a lot of room for speculation – makes examining the actions/interactions characters have vs what they say etc etc fun.

oh it s COLORFUL.... the colored lighting the costumes the set dressing. idk i think a lot of tv/movies gets caught up with things looking too real (especially with lighting) but man im there to watch a film im there to watch a story.. not to look at real life.......

the scripting of a lot of it sounds a lot more subtle in what the characters are saying which again goes to the point of vagueness, i dunno i like that theres a lot of room for interpretation

to the point of vagueness again – sci-fi technology is also very fun to speculate about. give a hand wavy explanation and its very fun to try to think of how any of it even works. i need to know more about the relationship between the ship's artificial gravity, inertia, and orientation POSTHASTE

AH the fight scenes are fun. like no its absolutely not good fighting irl but its like watching cartoons to me. tom and jerry type stuff except theyre writhing on the ground much more. i love it when characters shove each other around lmao

im sure thats enough of all that though

[softquietsteadylove]

Red and Green

Gil is glowering. He's been glowering almost since they arrived. He's happy to help, of course. Jack is in the winter play, and since Sersi is also teaching at his school, they've all come to help out with last minute decorating and such. He's baked five sheet pans worth of goodies for the bake sale taking place before and after the play.

Thena is on stage, helping Jack and a few other kids with putting fake snow everywhere. She's not exactly taking part but she's good at keeping them from throwing it on each other or anywhere unnecessary.

That's not the problem. The teacher talking to her is the problem.

Gil doesn't know who he is. Ben says he thinks he's the gym teacher or something. Seems a little young--aren't gym teachers always old dudes who don't actually play sports? This guy is their age, visibly handsome, even from a distance.

"You're a natural with them," the tall, blonde stranger insists.

Thena shakes her head, "I couldn't disagree more. I am here for Jack and no one else. The little hellions can fend for themselves."

She says, and then still decisively stops two boys close to the stairs from seeing what the fake snow tastes like.

"Well, I think you're a natural." Who does this guy think he is? He was moving some larger stuff around with Ikaris all afternoon. Apparently until Thena caught his eye and lured him away.

Gil rolls his eyes as Mister Blondie pulls off the fleece he's been wearing. His t-shirt gets pulled up a little with it, just enough for the stage lighting to really emphasize the full, washboard eight pack of abs he's got.

Phastos clears his throat loudly in Ben's ear. "Ahe-hem, Mister Stoss."

"Habibi, please," Ben attempts to lean away from his husband. "It is not a sin to have eyes, my love."

Gil sneers to himself. Thena has eyes. And while she wasn't openly admiring like Ben had - no matter how briefly - he knows she's seen them. He just...knows it.

"Gil?" Ikaris walks over to him, tugging at his own t-shirt now that boxes are moved or sets are arranged, or whatever they've been doing. "Wanna give us a hand?"

"Who is that guy?" Gil points blatantly at the man still chatting Thena up while she's trying to keep an eye on Jack and his friends.

Ikaris looks and shrugs. "Teacher."

Gil shakes his head at him. If Ikaris weren't both Thena's brother and Sersi's husband, sometimes he really wonders how they would have become friends. "Thanks, helpful--I meant how did he and Thena get to talking. She doesn't usually talk...with people."

It's not his most subtle tactic. But Ikaris doesn't seem to pick up on his greenish aura. "I heard him ask her a little about what she used to play. Guess they're talkin' about college sports?"

Gil's discomfort only increases, though. Thena did play sports when they were younger. He didn't. And he knows that she misses how she used to play soccer in high school and even in the first year of college.

His eyes are glued to them as Thena smiles and even laughs faintly as she talks to Whats-His-Face.

"What?" Ikaris asks him outright (no tact at all).

Gil huffs, deciding he's done just watching things unfold. "I don't think you'd like it if he was chatting up your wife."

Ikaris makes a face. "I guess not. But he's not. And Thena's not your wife."

Gil doesn't have a defense to that. He storms off so Ikaris can't announce to all the auditorium volunteers how flushed he is. Instead, he hurries up the little stairs onto the stage. "Uh, hey."

Thena stops dead in her conversation to smile at him, "hey."

He has to give it to him, if Mister Golden is bothered at all by the interruption, he doesn't let it show. "Hey, thanks again for helping out. The school doesn't have much to offer for things like these. Volunteering really goes a long way for the kids."

Gil tries not to scoff at Mister Perfect's magnanimous speech. He offers a stiff smile and hovers closer to Thena. "Yeah--I need Thena's help with the bake sale stuff, if you'll excuse us."

Thena lets him grasp her hand and all but pull her away. She only lingers enough to point over her shoulder, "Jack is in charge."

The other kids whine, but he's still riding the high of having all his 'cool' aunts and uncles help.

"Oh," Mister Friendly laughs faintly with a bright smile (and perfect teeth). "Well, it's already snowing out. You should stay warm inside."

Gil bristles as Mister Flirtatious' hand comes dangerously close to touching Thena's shoulder. He pulls her closer to him.

"I can give you a hand," he offers.

Gil is now borderline tugging Thena with him. "Thanks, but I need to, uh, ask her opinion on some things."

He wants to get right in the guy's face and tell him that of course he knows it's already snowing. He's not going to let Thena get cold! He rushes off the stage with her and makes sure to grab her coat off the back of one of the chairs. Maybe it's a bit obvious, but he loudly shakes it out and holds it up for her to slide her arms into the sleeves.

Mister Sunshine just smiles and waves before going back to watching the kids.

Gil sniffs. "He's friendly."

"Quite." It doesn't tell him what he wants it to. Usually Thena isn't warm to people just coming up and talking to her.

"What were you guys talking about?" he asks, realizing it's too late for him to be asking in a fake-casual way. He shoves his hands in his pockets as they walk out of the auditorium and head outside.

"He introduced himself as the physical education teacher," she states factually, which at least isn't the smitten fondness he was dreading hearing from her after their interaction. "He told me Jack is doing exceedingly well in his activities."

Of course that was his in; Thena is a sucker for talking about Jack, in any way, shape or form.

"Phastos is insistent Jack learn American football, but my practices with him have been paying off," she states with her nose all the way in the air with pride.

Gil laughs. Thena is determined to get Jack so hooked on it that he calls it football instead of the American 'soccer'. "It is a little less physical than football."

They get outside and Gil shoves his hands deeper in his pockets. Maybe it was dumb for him to get Thena's coat for her and not go looking for his own.

"Gil, aren't you cold?" she asks outright.

"It's okay, I just need a hand with a few of the trays," he excuses with a smile, unlocking his car from where they stand.

"What did you need my opinion on?"

Oh, right, the blatant and bold faced lie he told in order to soothe his own jealousy. What was he thinking? Ikaris was right, Thena isn't his wife--she's not even his girlfriend. But that never really bothered him so much as when he saw Mister Model up there chatting her up...showing off his abs to her.

"Gil?"

"Uh, well," he hesitates to get out as they step out from the school doors' cover and into the light evening snow. "I guess...do you think what I made will sell well?"

It's lame--it's super lame, and embarrassing. It's a bit late, isn't it? He's made a full dozen of five different desserts. Wouldn't he have asked this before he got so far into the process? And she and Jack were there when he baked them at Ben and Phastos'!

"Of course they will," she answers honestly, though. He likes the blunt and earnest realism on her more than Ikaris. "Your baking is always amazing. I'm sure the school will make back the cost of the play and then some."

"If they make the 'then some' I think I should get to keep the profit," he mutters. Thena laughs at his joke, but butter is expensive, and he's made three dozen different shortbreads! "Here."

He hands Thena a tray of the frosted cookies, which have to be separate from the rest to keep their design integrity pristine. He carries the other three trays himself and closes his trunk.

"It's nice that Jack is excited about it."

Gil smiles, some of his earlier agitation melting away. Thena, for all her insistence that she didn't like anything to do with children, lives for Jack. She loves coming to his school events, helping with parent stuff. He knows she's lied at her job so she can attend every single soccer game he has, even when they're at 4 in the afternoon on a tuesday.

"I didn't expect him to be so happy to have all of us here."

"Well sure," Gil chuckles, breathing a little easier now that it's just them. "Jack thinks you're the coolest aunt in the world. He's bragging to his friends right now about how you were a pro soccer player and know how to use swords."

Thena rolls her eyes modestly. "I keep telling him it's an amateur fencing class."

Calling it amateur is a disservice; Gil has witnessed a little of it giving her a ride once, and she dominates in it.

"I hope he never gets tired of having us around for things like this," she admits to him quietly, maybe even sheepishly. "Even when he's a teenager."

Gil smiles even wider, because Thena is just so sweet and loving under her calm and placid exterior. "I'm sure he won't. At least not you--maybe Uncle Ikaris."

Thena laughs, and it shows off her teeth in a cute way.

Gil shifts his load to open the door for her. He really didn't need help with anything, but he doesn't need to confront what it means that he was so desperate to get her out here with him just yet.

"There you two are, people are starting to arrive!"

"Sorry, just had to keep 'em nice and cold y'know," Gil murmurs as Sersi rushes forward to take Thena's tray for her. He sighs but Ikaris has some decency and extends his hands. Gil lets him take the top tray from him. "Are you sure I'm supposed to have this much real estate?"

Sersi waves a hand. "I've run this bake sale the last three years. I am not exaggerating when I tell you two parents at most will actually bring enough. Everyone else just brings a store bought cookie platter and lets it suffice. They don't sell well and they just take it home with them after the play."

"Gil will put them all to shame."

He blushes at the confidence Thena has in him. "If it's to help the kids put this play on again next year, then fine."

Ben has his phone out, snapping pictures. "They're gonna knock people's socks off, Gil."

"Thanks guys," he sighs as he unwraps his trays upon trays.

"They certainly look great!"

Gil's blood pressure spikes again. He turns and someone has let the golden retriever with a whistle around his neck out of the auditorium. "Thanks."

"Jack's been bragging about how his uncle is the best cook on the planet. I hope I can snag one for myself before the play!"

He's just being friendly, but Gil can feel his veins tightening under his skin with every word out of this guy's mouth. He looks at Ben, who's all excited and bouncing with his phone up. "What?"

Ben points.

Gil looks up, as does Thena. There's a pretty half-assed sprig of mistletoe hanging from the decorative archway put up over the table. He looks around; none of the other ones have this. He's ready to tell Ben to stop messing around. But then the presence of Mister Smiley and the memory of him flirting with Thena resurfaces in Gil's mind.

Thena's eyes go wide but she doesn't move as he pulls her closer. He slides his hand up her cheek, letting his palm angle and hide where their faces make contact, and not too briefly. Her eyes flutter closed.

Everyone's jaws drop (except Ben's).

Gil pulls away. He's kissed her close enough to her mouth that it will look the part, but not actually on her lips. But far away from her cheek that it can't be misconstrued from her view. He smiles as her eyes open again and she blinks at him.

He's never seen Thena blush before.

"You know I wouldn't kiss you without asking," he whispers before pulling himself away from her. "But, uh, come find me after the play is done?"

"H-Hm," she squeaks out, taking a few stiff steps away, her heels clicking like a fawn's hooves as it learns to walk.

Gil goes back to setting up his bake sale spread, some renewed vigour swirling in his chest. He peeks up from the table. Mister Perky seems to have gotten the hint and has started directing parents with trays to take the other (smaller) tables. Gil is satisfied.

Ben loudly snaps a picture, practically giggling. "Habibti, you're as red as the tinsel."

"Stop it! And delete that!"

Gil chuckles to himself as Thena rushes back into the auditorium and away from the commotion he's just caused. He does hope she comes find him after, and not just because he's her ride home.

Ikaris gives him a strange look but Sersi rushes him inside too. She leans back into Gil's view to give him an enthusiastic thumbs up. He blushes, but if Sersi thinks it was the right move then maybe he's onto something.

Gil takes a seat, ready to start selling. He has to admit that maybe he owes it to Mister Chatty to save him a brownie or something. But only if he gets to kiss Thena again later.

[skeletalheartattack]

I keep thinking your pfp is Lois Griffin lol

they're calling me the wife of peter griffin these days