#chils left behind

[imthefailedartist]

Saw someone say they didn't like Saltburn because the movie doesn't explain Oliver's mental state and why/what led him to do what he did.

And I. . . What? We are doomed. The children are being left behind, and they have no media literacy. No comprehension of nuance. Put down the YouTube, movies explained, and over analyzed reviews masquerading as film essays and pick-up books.

Other than the fact that not everything needs to be explained to make something understandable or even good, it is explained. Oliver wants what they have. That's it.

(Not fully it, but the majority)

Maybe him growing up upper middle class confused them, but still.

[chilschuck]

ok ridiculously specific request: reader with laios party + namari, namari and reader are talking in dwarvish about reader’s crush on chilchuck within earshot of him… then reader and chil are alone later when he reveals he speaks a few languages (from union stuff?) including dwarvish… hehehe

`✦ ˑ ִֶ 𓂃⊹ ANON THIS WAS SUCH A PRECIOUS IDEA. i’ve been looking so forward to getting to it, and now i’m finally able to give you something for it!!! hopefully it’s okay!!! <333

— HELPFUL: chilchuck x gn!reader.

꒰ warnings: ꒱ none! sfw + short but sweet! mutual pining???

꒰ wc: ꒱ 792

✦ so sorry if this didn’t turn out how you had envisioned it!!! i might’ve??? made them a lil ooc, but i just started going and couldn’t stop hgdjhdkdjdk. this was so so cute so i really hope you enjoy!!! <333

You and Namari had always been close, chatting with each other every chance you got. It was always nice to be able to speak with her in a language you were pretty confident not many others in the party knew, so tonight was no different.

Taking a sip of her drink, Namari let out a chuckle at your words. Knowing she didn’t have to quiet her own too much for this, she asked the question you’d been hoping to avoid. Little did you know, the conversation in Dwarvish between the two of you was being taken in by someone you didn’t expect.

“So, how’s that crush going? Still pining after you-know-who?” Namari asked with a big smile, her gaze locked on yours as she spoke. You let out a sigh, replying in kind.

“I feel like it’s gotten worse. Not like he’ll ever acknowledge it if he’s realized, though. All I can do is hope he hasn’t yet.” Your voice was laced with a tone of displeasure, having convinced yourself this was all one sided. Namari gave a reassuring pat to your back, that smile not leaving her features.

“Hey, you never know. What I know, though, is he’s a bit emotionally constipated. Do with that what you will.” Her own bark of laughter caused you to laugh in reply, taking a moment to take a drink.

Chilchuck frowned, furrowing his brow while taking a sip from his own cup. Yet, this revelation had him feeling… hopeful? You thought of him in that way? The half-foot continued to listen in, waiting to hear what you had to say next.

“I really like him, Namari… He’s so helpful, resourceful, handsome… I feel like we all can really count on him. I just wish I wasn’t such a coward.” A sigh left you, burrowing your face in your hands. The dwarf next to you tutted, waving off your shyness.

“Yeah, well, don’t forget how helpful you are, too.”

Namari was right, and even Chilchuck nodded to himself at that. After the fact he had to recover from the fact you thought he was handsome. He coughed quietly into his drink.

“Helpful enough to make him notice me?” Your voice was so meek in this language, he realized. It was so different than how you usually were, which only made his mind reel a bit at listening in to such a private conversation. The tips of his ears were still a little red from hearing your pining, which certainly wasn’t one-sided.

“If he’s smart, he’s already noticed how helpful you are.” She smirked, elbowing you in the side lightly. You couldn’t help but snort at that, noticing Senshi getting ready to put the dishes from dinner up. “Sure, sure… Let me go help put things away for the night. I’ll be back.”

Chilchuck watched as you took your plates to be washed, walking past his spot to carry everything to the water. Pausing for a moment, he took his own plate to follow you.

As you began finishing up the last few plates you had, soon moving on to the cups, you heard Chilchuck clear his throat behind you.

“Hey, need me to take care of that?” You motioned to his plate, watching as he reached for the rag next to you. Chilchuck shook his head, beginning to help you. “Nah, I came to help you, actually.”

You smiled and gave a thanks in reply, the silence comfortable between the two of you. A few beats of quiet passed before he cleared his throat.

“So, haven’t heard you speak Dwarvish in a while.” He muses, setting aside a plate after drying it. “It’s nice to see you and Namari chat again.”

Biting your tongue, you gave a light laugh at his words. “Yeah, it’s nice to have another common language like that.” Another beat of silence, before he gives a light grin.

“You know, I happen to speak a few languages myself. With working in the union, and all.” Your blood ran cold, nearly dropping the plate in your hands. Before you could reply, he brought his gaze to your own.

“By the way… I guess I must be pretty smart. Since I’ve noticed how helpful you are and all. Her words, not mine.” Chilchuck gave a playful smirk, taking the plate from your hands to dry. “Oh, and maybe you shouldn’t assume how I feel. Even if I’m ’emotionally constipated.’”

Your mouth was dry, trying to form the thoughts bouncing around in your head into words to say. As he dried the final dish, he turned to walk off, not before saying one final thing to you in Dwarvish.

“You’re cute when you act all shy.”

You’ll have to get him back for that.

— dividers by @/cafekitsune! <333

[grimm-writings]

Can I request something (I leave the format up to you) for Chilchuck x reader where the reader genuinely asks Chilchuck for his opinions and thoughts on things? (dungeon related things, union stuff, that sort of thing) Since he mentioned how he would like to be taken serious/respected like Senshi.

Basically reader respects Chilchuck and might have developed a little crush on him as well but doesn't want to make him uncomfortable by being unprofessional so they don't act on it. Maybe it's mutual.

Chilchuck is skilled as fuck and it would be nice if he got some well deserved genuine praise and appreciation for it.

mutual

…ft! chilchuck x gn! reader

…tags! fluff, headcanon format, some very very lightly implied maturity difference, marcille #1 wingwoman, reader is taller than chil

…wc! 992

…notes! YOU ARE SO CORRECT he’s genuinely such a valuable asset to the team!! every bit of praise here is well-earned!!!! 

You joined the party along with Senshi at the very start of their journey.  The group was rather small and you’d fear something might happen if they traverse the dungeon on their own.  You felt as if it were your duty to help out, eager to please as you are.

You realised fast that despite the dysfunctional way the group decided to acquire their food, they’re actually much more competent than you thought!

Though this is really you generalising your admiration for the picklock of the group.  Being more combat oriented, the ways in which Chilchuck easily bypasses puzzles and open doors left you rapt with his skill.

Before you knew it, you had acquired a notebook and pencil of your own (that you deliberated on robbing from orcs for a while before caving), and you were jotting down notes like nobody’s business!

(Only when alone or on night guard.  If anyone knew, you’d be so embarrassed…)

When Chilchuck offers a piece of advice about the social behaviours of adventuring parties, you notice.  When Chilchuck offhandedly mentions a tricky aspect of the dungeon, you notice.

When Chilchuck scolds Senshi for treating him like a child, you notice.

You had a feeling he wasn’t a child.  You were sort of observing him unendingly, and he seemed the image of a jaded, experienced adventurer.  You can’t help but feel your admiration for him grow upon realising that. 

It’s difficult not to come across too eager as you’re imploring him for more knowledge.  You’re just curious!  You’re expanding your dungeon knowledge!  He’s happy to tell you anything you need to know, as casually and calmly as any good teacher.

But you know deep down that you’re just really attached to the half-foot.  Maybe too attached…

When someone (Senshi) makes a comment about Chilchuck, even before he could retort like usual you’re standing in front of him telling him what’s what!  Chilchuck is too taken aback to make much of a comment about it afterwards, but he seems… pleased.

(It’s giving “his pronouns are they/them!”)

Marcille and Laios give each other a look whenever this happens.  Not saying you’re being judged, but…

Your earnestness to be the pinnacle of dungeon exploration gives Chilchuck pride in being your mentor.  He’ll make a comment about it occasionally but deep down…

You kind of wish it could be more.

You’re not young necessarily.  You’re years into your adulthood, but even with that in mind, Chilchuck already made it quite clear that inter-party relations are strictly a no-no.

And you just had to go and break rule number one!

It does leave you staring longingly at the half-foot’s peaceful expression when you’re supposed to be on night watch, wishing for a different reality.

It would be part way through your adventure, long after you’ve given up hope on your feelings being reciprocated, when Chilchuck gives you a spot of hope.

Just a run-in with a bicorn can really change your perspective…  Chilchuck actually asked if he could talk, just one-on-one, with you.

You had to contain yourself from exploding when you accepted, following behind him into a nearby corridor.  You pretend to ignore Marcille’s giggles and Izutsumi’s sigh and eyeroll. 

Just had to hold your breath…

Chilchuck turns to you, looking apprehensive.  You do appreciate his progress of trying to be a bit more open to people.  You’re always his number one supporter without even being coddling…  He takes a breath looking up at you.  If you only knew what you did to him with each round of praise and appreciation. …Well, only one way to get there, yeah? He says your name with a weight.  One you’re not able to put to name.  “I haven’t been… entirely honest with you,” he tells you. Your chest tightens and you feel your blood run cold.  “What… What do you mean?” “Nothing bad!”  He’s quick to ease your fears with a desperate wave of his hands.  He’s still working on this, and you can tell from how red his face gets that he’s definitely struggling with this.  You watch his Adam’s apple (small, but noticeable if you stare long enough) (not like you have) bob as he gulps. His gloved hands take yours.  You try your hardest not to blush. “You know how I keep telling you that you should get ahead?  Promote yourself to join the parties of more experienced adventurers?” “Yeah…?” “I was trying to push you away.”  He looks away from you, ashamed.  “So you don’t get any closer.  I also know… how you feel about me.” You’re back to feeling horrified beyond your wits. He's definitely going to reject you.  “I thought you said this wasn’t anything bad!” “I’m getting to it!”  He shoots back with the same increase in volume.  His nerves are getting the better of him. “Then by all means,” you say, “get to it!” Chilchuck’s hands over yours are shaking.  His mouth opens once more, but only a silent quiver of his vocal cords comes out.  He isn’t even looking at you anymore.  You probably think the worst of him by now, after all this time of trying his best to look his best, the image of professionalism. You know what?  Fuck this heart-to-heart stuff.  Marcille’s advice was shoddy from the start. The action is sudden.  Chilchuck unlaced his fingers from yours, and before you could process it, his hands on your shoulders, pushing you down to his height. And he’s kissing you.  A bit feverishly and you really would have thought he’d be a bit better at this considering his experience– But you kiss back, easing into it after your shocked “mmph!?”  He still definitely owes you for putting you through the five stages of grief twice though. Chilchuck breaks apart, and as you recover from your shock, he sighs and smiles slightly.  His face is nearly glowing from the heat; you can feel it quite plainly. “The feeling’s mutual,” he whispers.

[withlove-xixi]

— TWO TONED: chilchuck x reader

KINKTOBER DAY ONE: COCKWARMING ᥫ cw: nsfw, cockwarming, breast play/nipple play, dom/sub ᥫ wc: 705 ★ i've shared this idea in toram's ask box before but it was something i was planning on writing regardless lol cross posted on ao3 — MINORS DNI! —

— CHILCHUCK CAN BE MEAN IF HE WANTS TO BE.

[♡]: it’s something you had learned since you first met him. like two sides of the same coin, he’s able to switch from cold, mean, and stoic to warm, sweet, and carefree. it was… admittedly a bit difficult to get used to. hell, even now when he’s buried deep inside you, whispering sweet praise into your ear, you can’t tell if he’s being nice or mean!

IT WASN’T FAIR! IT JUST WASN’T FAIR!

You wriggled in Chilchuck’s tight grasp, a mistake first and foremost because it only gives you a tantalizing taste of the friction you desperately craved. And like you have been doing for however long Chilchuck has had you in this limbo, you whine, a pitchy, bratty noise that’s only ever gotten an amused chuckle from him.

“Chil… Please…” The words leave your mouth almost instinctively now, having repeated them over and over again.

He pinches your nipple before you have a chance to plead again, causing you to squeal, arching your back against his chest. Though, your wriggling is no use since his free hand keeps an iron grip on your waist, pinning you against his chest and on top of his cock. You clench involuntarily around him at the sudden consciousness of how much he was filling you up.

“Come on, just a bit more.” Chilchuck whispers into your ear, the sound of his voice almost foreign from the way he’d kept so quiet from the moment he pulled you into the bedroom by your arm and kissed your neck. “Just a bit more for me.”

You whine at his request, hips moving in a feeble attempt at creating some form of friction between you two. The half-foot only lets out an amused sigh, his fingers tightening around your hip, stilling them. His other hand moves to press the pad of his index finger against your nipple, moving it in slow, gentle circles, the sensation shooting electric-like shocks down your spine. You moan quietly at the feeling, eyes shutting tightly, body trembling from sheer want and desperation.

Chilchuck shushes you, a low whisper ringing against the shell of your ear, the warmth of his breath fanning against your skin. You draw in a shaky breath. Chilchuck continues his assault on your body, the hand on his hip moving slowly up your body, tracing delicately on the goosebumps on your skin, past every dip, curve and muscle until it reaches your other nipple. With it, he holds your nipple between his index and thumb, gently pressing his fingers together and pulling on your bud, while the other hand keeps rubbing careful circles on the other.

Now somewhat free from his grasp, you buck your hips as an almost pathetic-sounding whine leaves your lips, drool beginning to pool on the corners of your mouth. His lips move to your neck, chuckling against your skin as he slowly and tenderly begins to kiss from behind your ear and down to your shoulder. You keep rolling your hips against him, the movement almost tentative— hesitant, like you were worried you’d set Chilchuck off, especially since he was being so nice.

Nice, because as mean as it was for him to keep you trapped against him, to dangle the promise of pleasure in front of you like bait, he was still kissing your neck, whispering sticky, sweet praise into your ear, playing with your chest with such tenderness. Now, if he were being mean, he’d have left you tied up in bed after toying with you as much as he was now, so you’re taking this as him being nice.

Besides, it wasn’t like he wasn’t going to fuck you. You could tell by the way his voice shakes that he was nearing his limit, that slowly but surely, you were chipping away at this stoic facade he wore. The thought made you clench around him, which reminded you of how full he stuffed you, which only made you rock yourself a bit more frantically.

He bites down at your shoulder without warning, tugging harshly at both your nipples. You gasp at the sudden feeling. “Behave.” His voice is deep, almost a growl against your ear.

But despite his warning, you feel his body twitch, the smallest hint to a thrust, the most friction he’s given you the whole night. It sparks something in you. A drive to fully push him over the edge, to snap whatever is left of the already fading restraint in him. You pause with deep breaths, mustering your courage before you begin to rock your hips again.

You can take it if he was mean to you.

[moonselune]

Could I request a woof elf/druid tav who goes with halsin after the events of the main game and once she and halsin return to the reclaimed lands she works with a team of wizards, clerics, sorcerers, paladins, and Druids to cleanse the land from the hundreds of thousands of rotting dead bodies including the gauntlet of shar, and the mindflayer colony which they destroy with rune powder but the Blight from the seemingly endless dead bodies cause an extended sickness with symptoms such as fever, chils, cold sweats, nightmares, severe coughing, vertigo, migraines that manifests just after they finish clearing the dead bodies and when she goes home to Halsin she collapses in the entryway of their home

oooo angsty

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Halsin x reader | Ridding the Blight

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

The journey had been long and arduous, but you had expected nothing less. After the defeat of the Absolute and the final battles that shook the land, there was still a great deal of work to be done. The land had been left broken, scarred, and corrupted by the death and decay of countless fallen foes.

It was in your nature to feel the pain of the earth, to sense its suffering, and to dedicate yourself to its healing. And so, alongside Halsin, you stayed behind to help cleanse the world that had borne the brunt of such horrific conflict.

You found yourself working alongside a team of wizards, clerics, sorcerers, paladins, and other druids, all dedicated to the same goal: purifying the land, ridding it of the sickness and rot that festered after the battles. It wasn’t just the gauntlet of Shar that needed attention, though that was one of the most challenging places to cleanse. You delved into the shadowed depths, purging the lingering darkness that seeped from every crack and crevice, and in those moments, you felt the weight of that unholy place in every breath you took.

The mindflayer colony, with its grotesque, pulsing remains, required a more direct approach. You worked together with the others to strategically place barrels of rune powder, ensuring that when it was finally ignited, the entire cavern collapsed inward, taking the corruption with it. The explosion was deafening, the ground trembled, and the dark taint that clung to the air seemed to disperse, but not without leaving its mark.

The endless rotting bodies and the festering blight they spread proved to be a challenge that magic alone could not conquer. You worked tirelessly, invoking nature’s power to break down the decay, to return it to the earth as nutrients rather than poison. But it was not enough to prevent the spread of sickness that had begun to rise from the very land you sought to save.

It began as a persistent cough, one you dismissed as nothing more than the result of dust and smoke. Then came the fever, burning hot through the nights, though you tried to conceal it from the others, especially from Halsin.

You knew he had noticed—he always noticed—but he said nothing, trusting you to tell him when you were ready. But as the days turned to weeks, your strength began to fade, and the symptoms grew worse. Cold sweats drenched your skin, nightmares tore through your sleep, and vertigo left you stumbling. Still, you pressed on, refusing to rest until the work was done.

Finally, when the last of the dead had been cleansed, when the land began to show the first signs of life returning, you and Halsin made your way back to the reclaimed lands that you now called home. It was a modest cottage, surrounded by the wild beauty of the forest, a place of peace you had worked so hard to create together. But as you crossed the threshold, exhaustion overwhelmed you, and the world seemed to tilt and spin.

You barely managed to take a step inside before your vision blurred, and your legs gave way beneath you. Halsin was at your side in an instant, catching you before you hit the ground, his strong arms cradling you with a tenderness that broke through the haze of your fever.

“Easy, my heart,” he murmured, his voice a deep, soothing rumble. “I’ve got you. You’re safe.”

You tried to speak, to tell him you were fine, that you just needed a moment, but all that escaped was a choked cough, your body wracked with shivers. Halsin’s brow furrowed with concern, his eyes flickering over you, taking in the flush of fever across your cheeks, the tremors that ran through your limbs. He scooped you up without a word, carrying you over to the bed and laying you down with infinite care.

“Halsin, I’m—” you began, but he hushed you gently, pressing a hand to your forehead.

“Shh, don’t speak,” he said softly. “You’ve pushed yourself too hard. Rest now. Let me take care of you.”

You tried to protest, to tell him that you could manage, that you didn’t want to be a burden, but as his hand moved to brush the hair from your face, the warmth of his touch melted your resolve. You leaned into him, allowing yourself to finally let go, the pain and exhaustion catching up to you all at once.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Halsin asked quietly, his thumb tracing the line of your cheek, his eyes filled with worry.

You swallowed, the effort painful, and managed to whisper, “Didn’t want to worry you. There was so much to be done…”

“And yet, you would carry this burden alone?” he chided gently, though there was no anger in his tone—only sadness and love. “You are not alone, my heart. You never have to be.”

Tears pricked at the corners of your eyes, the reality of your sickness crashing over you now that you had finally allowed yourself to feel it.

“I didn’t want to fail,” you admitted, your voice trembling. “I didn’t want to be weak.”

Halsin leaned down, pressing a tender kiss to your forehead.

“You are not weak,” he said firmly. “You are the strongest person I know. But even the strongest must rest, must heal. And I will be here to help you do that, every step of the way.”

You clung to him then, the dam breaking as sobs wracked your body, and Halsin held you, murmuring soft reassurances, his presence anchoring you as the sickness raged inside. He stayed with you through the fever’s worst, cooling your skin with damp cloths, holding you through the nightmares, and whispering words of love and encouragement when the coughing fits left you gasping for breath.

As the days passed, you slowly began to heal, the symptoms fading little by little, and with Halsin by your side, you found the strength to face them. He never wavered, never left you, his love and care a constant light in the darkness.

And as the blight that had taken root in your body began to recede, you knew, with absolute certainty, that no matter how difficult the road ahead might be, Halsin would be there with you to walk it.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Little bit of an angst snippet for y'all hope you guys enjoyed it! - Seluney xox

If you want to support me in other ways | Help keep this moonmaiden caffeinated x

[bamboozledbird]

HOWLING: TST Rewrite // Chapter 1 / next.

Characters: Thomas, fem!reader, Newt Pairing(s): Thomas x Reader (the slowest of burns) Word Count: 3.2k Tags: Mix of book and movie canon, newt!sister!reader Warnings: Canon typical violence and gore, sad times are ahead my friends

A/N: I honestly do not know where this came from. Mostly from my middle school love of Newt probably. Purely maternal. I thought that boy was gay way before Dashner. So here is newt!sibling!reader, and of course, the angst of being in love with your brother's 'killer' :( I think this will be more like snapshots of instead of a full story, mostly due to my schedule, but I do have a lot of moments in mind.

This place is full of bad omens. Broken mirrors, red skies, night terrors that bleed into daylight. They say you’re safe here, but you felt more at ease inside the Spring’s looming walls than you do in this quiet bunker. The concrete is cold, and the steel surfaces gleam menacingly, even in the dark. You always tuck your fork from lunch into the waistband of your sweats, just in case something jumps out from the other side of the funhouse mirror. 

You count 13 new immunes today. You should’ve known then that there was something wicked brewing in the wind. 

None of them stand out to you at first; they look just as dirty and shell-shocked as all the others did when they first arrived. You’re sure you looked the same on your first day at the compound. 

You poke at your apple with your fork, chin drooping onto your knuckles as your eyes lazily trail over a boy with spiky hair. A few tufts are clumped together with sweat, and he somehow looks unimpressed and exhausted at the same time. Your gaze shifts to a tall girl with messy black curls. Her face is delicate, pretty, even through the dirt and scrapes on her cheeks. She appears to be the only girl in the group—poor thing.

Sighing, you roll the ache out of your neck until it pops, and your eyelids start to wilt with your alertness. New arrivals stopped being exciting after you realized they were all going to disappear, one right after the other. It was just a matter of time. 

Your eyes are almost entirely closed when they land on a boy in the center of the pack. His Henley is torn, soiled like everything else, and his eyes are wide—calculating in the way he studies his surroundings. You don’t know him, and yet you’ve never wanted to strangle someone more. 

It’s striking, the anger, and it suddenly occurs to you that you’ve been angry for so long there might be nothing left in you but this rage. How odd, you think distantly. How odd how something can build in an instant; how you can remember a feeling from a void of nothing. 

You don’t know the why, but you stare at the boy and you know he’s the who. 

You’re on your feet before your brain can catch up to your legs. The boy turns to you, and his mouth parts—most likely to ask why the hell your gaze is so murderous—but you hit him before he can utter a single word. A solid jab to his eye socket that sends a jolt of pain through your thumb to your wrist. The grinding of your snapped bone makes your empty stomach churn, and you feel a little woozy with adrenaline and low blood sugar. 

It’s a good punch, but you’re the one who ends up on the ground. The guard escorting the new group drops you with ease and pins your arms behind your back. A few kids come to the boy’s aid, gripping his shoulder like they’re afraid he’ll jump on you, but he doesn’t look angry. He holds a hand over his eye and stares at you, dumbfounded and confused, but not angry. Somehow, that just makes your scowl even more bitter. 

You’re dragged away from the cluster of new immunes and directly deposited in a sterile examination room before anyone has the chance to say anything. It’s hauntingly silent in the room, and your thin tank top does little against the chill in the room. 

You should be more worried about what your punishment will be—if they’ll send you away to where all the missing children go—but you aren’t. It’s just so…loud inside your mind, a million ravenous locusts buzzing, feasting on your ear canal. You can’t make out what they’re saying, what they’re trying to tell you—what you’re supposed to remember about the boy with the bambi eyes and a dark cloud casting a shadow over his face. 

It’s been a long time since you’ve felt this much. For as long as you can remember, literally, dread consumed every one of your thoughts—no room for things like anger, hate, betrayal. You’re spilling over the missing pieces of yourself WCKD chipped away with their mindwipe. It would be fascinating if it wasn’t so awful.

Anger is a nasty feeling and so is weakness. They're bitter, poisonous, and you're afraid you might leak onto the rest of the kids in the compound. This feeling, this bright burning you’re trying to swallow, it's an epidemic of its own. 

A pair of guards with ridiculously large guns flank a mouse of a woman in a stark white lab coat. They’re there to protect her from you, you realize, and you feel like laughing. Two hulking men equipped with high-powered grenade launchers just in case you try to backhand someone else. They must be bored; there really isn’t much guarding for them to do in the middle of nowhere. 

You watch the doctor examine your thumb with mild interest. You’ve gotten used to the pain, mostly. You curse under your breath when she moves it, and the woman flinches like she’s been struck. You grin a little. You probably shouldn’t be so amused, but it feels kind of nice being on the other end of scary, even if it means being stared at like you’re a wild animal. 

The doctor mumbles something to someone in her earpiece, and they all move to leave. “What—that’s it?” you sit up on the examination chair and hold your injured hand to your chest. No one responds. They leave the room without looking back, and the groan that’s ripped from your throat sounds a lot like a growl. “So, I’m good? Nothing’s broken?” The steel door doesn’t answer your question, but the awkward angle of your thumb certainly does. Evidently, they just need you in one place, not one piece. 

The doctor could be coming back, but you’re impatient by nature; sitting around doing nothing after years of running for your life does that to a person. Besides, you’ve done this before. There were no white coats and examination rooms in the Spring; there were only your hands and a stick to bite on. A broken thumb couldn’t be that different from a dislocated shoulder and a sprained ankle, right? 

There aren’t any sticks in the room, so your shirt will have to do. You bunch the hem into a thick wad and shove it between your molars so that you don’t chip a tooth—and then you pull on your thumb until a sickening pop fills the silence like a gunshot. Your eyes water, and the fabric of your tank top is soaked through by the time you’re certain that you won’t make any noise. You release the material from your mouth and examine your work; the digit is certainly straighter, but the color and swelling are decidedly nasty. 

The whoosh of a door sliding open distracts you from bluing skin, and, for the second time today, you see a stranger and feel an overwhelming wave of familiarity. This time, however, it’s warm. You stare at him and feel the strangest urge to ruffle his floppy hair and crush him into your arms so that he can’t slip away from you. Again. The foreign thought strikes you in the heart, and it hurts. 

He sits down next to you, limbs loose and lax, and his head crooks down like a swan to examine your bloated thumb, “That doesn’t look too good.” 

“I haven’t ever punched someone before,” you mumble and lift a shoulder, “guess my form isn’t the best.”

Humming, he cradles your injured hand in his palm like a baby bird and looks around the room, “All this tech, and they don’t have a single bandage.” 

Your teeth catch against your bottom lip, and the constant gnawing starts to hurt almost as badly as your thumb, “Or the good drugs.”

He smiles at you, lopsided and familiar, and you feel like you’re home. “Surely they have some ice somewhere.”

It finally registers that he sounds different than the rest. You suppose that’s probably the first thing most people notice about him, but it’s a distant thought for you. You sound different too, after all. Your cadence isn’t quite as thick as his. You probably sounded more like him before your strong-voweled, mush-mouthed friends infected your inflection. You wish, strangely, that they hadn’t now.  

The corner of your mouth ticks up, “And to think, I never wanted to see another speck of ice again.”

He looks equally confused and amused. 

“Our maze,” you wave your good hand in the air, pulling a face as the phantom frost creeps up your spine, “it snowed all the damn time. Hated it.”

He lets out a low whistle, “I suppose sweating is better than freezing in hindsight.”

You give him the same look, and his face twists in a grimace that rivals your own, “The Glade was sweltering. Dreadful really, almost worse than the Grievers.”

“I imagine.” You nod sagely, face solemn, “All those boys and such a limited supply of soap.”

The boy’s head cocks back with his laugh, and it’s so heart-wrenchingly familiar you could cry. You really could. At least, you can blame any bizarre behavior on your broken thumb. 

“So,” he tilts his head, “Tommy.”

Your face wrinkles in confusion, and he nods towards your injured hand. Ah. So, the black eye had a name. 

“Tommy,” you repeat, far more glumly.

He smiles a little crooked thing, “I know he can be a pesky little shank, but thirty seconds hardly seems like a fair shot.”

“I don’t know what happened,” you say quietly, keeping your eyes on your lap and the ballooned, bruised proof of your guilt. “I saw him, and then everything went red.”

He hums softly in his throat, “Think you knew each other?”

“I don’t know.” Your cheek takes the brunt of your teeth’s abuse this time, “I don’t think I want to.” 

“Whoever he was before, whatever he did…he’s not the same,” he catches your eye, and the flash of hickory feels like an echo, “none of us are.”

You swallow and nod stiffly. He’s right. You know he’s right, but there’s still a little irrational twinge of anger when burnt umber clouds the back of your lids. “Why are you here,” you finally say. Your voice is small, like a lost little girl, and his arm wraps around your shoulders in an easy, fluid motion. You sink into it, still feeling small, but it’s not so terrible now. He’s a comforting weight, a shield you turn into reflexively. “I socked your friend in the eye,” you mumble towards your lap, “think that entitles you to a little hostility.” 

He laughs again, and his chest rumbles with it, “I can’t quite blame you. I’ve wanted to do it a time or two before.”

“Hmm.” You’re unconvinced, and he tugs on your hair a little. 

“Come on, let’s get you that ice.”

You follow him, your hand in his, and feel a little dizzy. There’s a hazy scene layered over the present. A much smaller boy flickers over his long frame; they have the same sandy hair, the same sweet smile. The little boy tugs at your arm, pulling you down the dark hall of a different facility, just as cold. Just as scary. The concrete walls don't loom so largely in your peripherals when he clutches your hand. 

It feels like a fever dream, that place between consciousness and sleep, the lingering brightness when you squeeze your eyes shut—so real for something cloaked in so many shadows. 

There are two faces looking back at you when he turns over his shoulder, the soft cheeks of a child overlapping with the hard lines of a young man. “Newt.”

It’s an odd thing to say, seemingly unrelated to anything around you, but somehow you know that’s his name. You give your own without a moment of hesitation.

Newt looks at you, still and sure, “Had a feeling.”

**************

One bag of ice and lengthy lecture later, you figure you should find Thomas and apologize—for Newt’s sake, not his and certainly not WCKD’S. You eventually find him sitting on a bunk. His face is clean, and his hair is wet, curling at the nape of his neck and over his forehead. Without all the dirt and blood, the purple under his eyes is stark against his pale skin. He looks like he hasn’t slept since he was dropped in his maze, maybe even longer.

You feel a little guilty when you see his black eye.

His head tips up from his hands when you step into the room, and his shoulders immediately tense. You hold up your hands and lean against the opposite wall, as far away from him as you possibly can be in the same room. “I’m not gonna hit you. Promise.”

His shoulders don’t relax, but his fingers uncurl and fall flat against his thighs. His jaw is tight, and you can’t help but notice how it sharpens all the lines of his face. He looks like he’s made of granite, a sculpture from a different time, a time before all this ugliness. There isn’t a lot of room for art in this place, this world; beautiful things don’t last long in the Maze, the Scorch, a society rotten with the Flare—but he has. You hate to admit it, but Thomas is striking. The bruising just makes him look more like a Greek antiquity, a tragic hero with a pretty face.

Thomas looks restless, looking at a spot on the wall just left of your head, and you realize that you’ve been staring for too long. Gritting your teeth, you glance at him and then look down at your shoes, “I’m…I probably shouldn’t have hit you.”

Thomas blinks at you, eyes big and brown…and bruised. You wince a little and fold your arms over your chest, shrinking into the wall, “I definitely shouldn’t have. Sorry.” There’s a part of you, one you don’t understand, that thinks this is more than he deserves. Another part wonders how the hell that’s possible.

He lifts a shoulder and looks to your right now. You aren’t sure if that means he’s forgiven you. You aren’t even sure if he heard you. He looks like he’s in another dimension, a glaze of isolation. You wonder where he’s gone; if it’s nicer there than it is here, or if it’s a bad place. A night terror leaking through the cracks.

Thomas licks his lip and finally looks at you. His face is grim, somber, like you’re visiting your own wake. “I saw you,” his voice is scratchy when he speaks. You’re curious if it’s from disuse or too much use. You’re curious about a lot of things; what exactly is this boy like? This boy who introduced you to the sin of wrath. 

You lick over your teeth and push yourself off the wall, “I figured.” He watches you cautiously until you sit down on the bunk across from him. “Question is, can you still see me?” You hold up three fingers to his swollen eye and hum, “How many?” 

His face remains solemn, not even a hint of a smile, and you sigh, “So you saw me?”

He nods and digs his elbows into his thighs, “In a memory.”

That gets your attention. “You remember things?”

Thomas gestures to his purpling eye, “Don’t you?”

“Feelings,” you pull your knees to your chest tightly, nosing into your kneecap, “just feelings. Not all the time, but sometimes I get that annoying itch you get when you can’t think of the name of a book, but you know you know it.”

He nods, “I get those too; this was different.” He pauses, and presses his tongue to the roof of his mouth like he’s waiting for the right words to roll onto the tip. He doesn’t look entirely content when he speaks again, but his struggle is valiant, “Griever venom...it made me see things—memories, like…a movie I’ve seen before, but I forgot the ending."

Your brow pinches, “Griever?”

Thomas hums a little, “WCKD’s cyborg guardspiders.”

Ah. You pick at some lint on your sweats, and a kittenish whine vibrates through your throat, “Lucky.” He tilts his head and studies you so seriously that a small grin slips through your stoic exterior, “Ours had wings.”

There’s a ghost of a smile on Thomas’s face, and it’s nice enough you’re curious what a real one would look like. It fades once he starts talking again, “I know why you hit me. The mazes…they were mine—that’s what I saw. I watched so many of them…” His eyes fade, and you know he’s in the bad place. The place you go when you think about that day. The day half your friends were ripped apart by WCKD’s pets. 

Clearing your throat, you pull him back to the present with a quiet voice, "And then you saw me.”

He nods, and his throat bobs as he swallows, “And then I saw you.” 

The corner of your mouth tugs into a sad little smile, and his responds in kind. “I think I knew you.” Thomas chews on his lip and picks at his nails, doing his best to tear himself apart, “Not well…you were in a different group, but I knew you…because of Newt.”

Your eyes widen, “Newt?”

“I think…he was your brother—is, is your brother. You were close. Like twins.”

The fever dream is back. There’s sun-drenched flashes of a boy reading to you, pelting you with snowballs and laughing, eyes bright, nose pink. They’re too bright to see everything clearly, but it’s enough to wind you. 

Your eyes flutter open, and you see that Thomas is watching you carefully. Concerned. Odd, considering you broke your thumb against his face a few hours ago. “It could be a plant. Who knows what they put in our heads when they took everything away.”

Thomas tilts his head and then shakes it, “This is a good thing. WCKD doesn’t give us good things.”

Your eyes burn, and you aren’t quite sure why. “Is it?”

Thomas looks confused. It’s a common expression on the munies, confusion. Tends to happen when you don’t know who you are or where you came from. For some reason, it makes you sadder than it usually does.

“Come on,” you curl in on yourself, squeeze your shins tightly and peek at him over your knees, “why’d you tell me before you told your best friend?” 

Thomas looks down at his hands. Caught.  

You answer for him, “You and I both know the last thing that kid needs is one more person he’d die for.”

The solemn look is back on Thomas’s face, and you sigh, “You want me to trust you?”

He nods sharply.

“Don’t tell him. Don’t tell anyone.”

[nagy-bari]

musings on Mrs. Tims - aka Chilchuck's wife

she left Chilchuck after 12 years of being married they brought up the girls together, they were moving for 11 years of their marriage she left after meeting the adventurers Chilchuck was currently working with. this we know.

now the speculations and round up info:

as they grew up together as friends they probably talked about their dreams and hopes.

they were adventurous enough to move out of their home village with 2 toddlers and a baby on the way

they did not settle down for the next 10 years, living a traveling life all the while Chilchuck probably did some adventure on the side. but as professional Chilchuck is now there bound to be some early mistakes. still right until he started up the guild for half-foots his job did not cause too much problem.

from how their daughters are Mrs. Tims does not seem the extreme adventurous type - she probably never went into dungeons as dangerous as Chilchuck, but as we learned from Marcille's memories, natural dungeons can be found all over the place, she might have went to safer waters.

Chil says May is the one most like him - taking up the profession and keeping a level head at all times, while Fuller is the social connection of their family. she's housing her mother at the time, probably keeps tabs on Patty as well and sends gifts and letter to Chilchuck. visually she's the least similar to her father, but she has his eyes (round and youthful, with a bit of a mischief there)

as sharp tongued and bitter Chilchuck can be, he knows how to have fun, he's just way too serous about what is important (making sure he does his part well because the others do depend on him) he probably took his family serous as well (hence the remaining anger at not understanding his wife) because 4 of them depended on him for a while.

even so only the eldest has the usual "eldest sibling responsibility" heaviness at first glance the other two turned out to be bubbly, cheerful little ladies.

is it proof of the parents being easy-going traveling between towns and islands, staying here and there while a job lasted, having fun all the same because they were together?

i've seen some speculation that the wife was the more serious of the two, while Chilchuck was the easy going, easy to talk with guy. for me their dynamic is more on the 'we were so similar for so long, that to see other sides of them with how they act around others reminded me that i might not know who they really are - who am i really...'

if Chilchuck is around the midlife crisis age, maybe the wife is as well. Maybe seeing her husband start up a guild for other half-foots, taking responsibility for them and expanding his serious care for strangers made her feel just a bit left behind. the guild was for adventurers, dungeneers, something she wasn't really a part of - maybe it never interested her, maybe it was always reinforced that since it's always the two of them, they divide the tasks, and the dungeons are just not her world. maybe she wanted to join but realized she'll never be as good with the tools and traps as Chilchuck, and didn't wanted to add on another stress.

if we go with the speculations that she is the kid on the right side of this picture with the little dragon plushie we get an even (bitter)sweeter arc for their life: two little half-foots growing up closely together, always playing together, one dreaming of going on adventures (wife) and the other wanting to go with them no matter where (Chilchuck) slowly growing up and learning their skills and limits (short term advantage and benefits gained by deceit can lead to long term negative consequences / Chilchuck is not a fighting type, neither is the wife, and maybe her sense of adventure never really took the threats seriously enough that came with the task and discovery) only to shift again. You can't go in a dungeon with 3 little kids. One of them have to stay behind and since Chilchuck is the more talented he goes to earn a living, working really hard to get an early retirement so they can live comfortable settled down with him as a locksmith. She's okay with following him around cause they do share their dreams, they have their own way of talking and trusting each other.

but. what did upset her then? that he was enjoying being in an adventure that she wanted to go on years and years ago? that their gap in skill and knowledge will grow only bigger and bigger even if she would to join him now that their kids are all grown up? that no matter how hard she would work, most people would only know her as Chilchuck's wife, you know the guy who set up the guild and all? that even though they were always the same, she became a shadow? that even if he retires early he won't have these lively nights with her because there are no such grand adventures to reminisense about as with the others?

or was it the settling down that was wrong? they were on the move for half their lives, maybe she was a true traveler - but only if they go together. we know she is with Fuller and Fuller herself has simple life-goals - marry a rich dwarf. not exactly the up and about attitude. but Patty sounds just like that, not taking things too seriously, (maybe not understanding the gravity of situations) she sounds like she fell in love with the constant on the move, traveling life she was born into. and maybe their mother really just waits for Chilchuck to once again offer to travel with her, no matter where her wanderlust takes them. but they don't talk.

Chilchuck says he's still angry because he doesn't understand. Or he understands but feels like she's just acting dramatic for drama's sake and he hates that. So he's angry. and because he avoids emotional decisions if possible he does not initiate any reconnection as of yet. above all he respects others, if his wife says this is the end then okay. maybe it is the end. he's not big on romantics anyway

he loves the person not the concept of 'being in love'. he's practical like that. knows his preferences and all, but he cares. deeply. for the person, not the feeling. this is really important.

so he will respect his wife's decision, cause it might just be true - they are no longer in love. or never was, not in a sense Marcille (and the fandom) thinks love works.

being friends first builds up love of practical ways, the intimacy starting with mundane little habits, gradually building up to something more. and how strange could it have been for these two friend from childhood to see their daughters start as well in a set. but that's another topic. so what i'm trying to mumble out - Chilchuck being a practical man first and a cautious one, likes to keep his head calm when making decisions. and he feels he cannot keep calm enough to decide if he wants to go and talk with his wife over this strange misunderstanding or not. he knows when to admit if he's wrong, so he probably is not in the wrong. or is he?

we have this wonderful cover depicting his view on the whole socialization and it's traps mentality with feelings and such. lovely lovely details all around.

we see him hesitating between obvious options, things people usually say and things he knows he has to say. or would like to say. we get an early tease at Patty and the others here, right at his feet.

see how he accepts Izutsumi just as she is (that cursor is searching for the prompt to 'pet' - fight me on this, i dare you)

and see how he usually is with people he's comfortable with

and this right here? that's the wife (me thinks. no evidence, just a hunch)

the little heart meter with each ask box? check them to see how much he cares for the other.

Patty's full - he is a proud dad, knows how to say no but clearly loves his daughters.

Senshi's almost full - and we know they bond well after clearing up the no communication problem. hey even his succubus forms are kinda- look the story is amazingly written, i'm not here to profile the character's sexuality, i'm here to discuss the relationships and motives.

we don't see Izutsumi's but i have a hunch it's similarly up.

Laios's almost full as well, while Falin's is pretty low. the memories are from different times, Falin's is probably the first time he was healed by her (pretty early on in their adventure, he was only joining their group because a friend asked him and the siblings paid up front) Laios's is a memory we saw happen - after about 3 years of adventuring together, he finally admits he cares about them.

there's a little indicator of his mental state (drunk, scared, deadly injured, average) all together a lovely concept that depicts so much so well.

if we take the layers into account as well, they represent how much he thinks about them. the guild, the daughters and the mysterious hands on hips are all in the background, (as is Izutsumi and Senshi), comfortably tucked away but not forgotten.

the chapter starts with him being moody cause Marcille went full on fangirl gossip girl mode and it's a bit too much for him.

when they try to lure in the bicorn with the sins, we see this little interaction. he's setting up a little game here, we see how he's at ease, this is friendly banter for him. so when Marcille reacts the way she does, because he was too mean, we see the 'other route' he thought this could go. just like the cover. a or b.

then he's busted. he started the chapter with snapping at Marcille saying he cheated on his wife but turns out, by the laws of monsters and virtues he's all good.

he's threatened yes, but he also has to face the reality of admitting he doesn't understand this situation. which is hard.

the more speculative Marcille gets, the more dread comes over Chilchuck as she 'unlocks' some secrets about these little games for him. he probably knows his wife better than anyone, yet he can forget just how mean he can sound like. or how aloof. but sadly we'll never know which part did Marcille nail in her rambling, the part about the wife or the part of how the wife saw Chilchuck.

cause she's too eager too, we'll never know WHAT exactly struck the uncanny valley projection for Chilchuck. ah well, pity

BUT

Marcille being a good friend doesn't let him have the existential crisis only, she gives a good advice - and reminder. he might be horrible with words describing feelings so honest and raw as loving someone, but he has his actions and reliable nature. and if they were friends first, she would know that as well.

Chilchuck being his realistic self is catious but this not quite smile/grimace feels timid and genuine. (also once again we see him reach out of the frame, think outside the box, yada yada visual story telling, i'm no expert but it's there, as well as Laios and Izutsumi's face just a tad bit curious and surprised - not just Marcille would love to know more about this man's family)

and once again the whole chapter ending with this. from the thank you letter we know he meets up with the daughters, the wife is still a mystery hence the whole post but i rambled on too long again.

whatever, i cannot help being Marcille with this.

[avoidcrowdraws]

do chil or laios ever cook for each other? who does it more often/who's better at it? could be for the d/s au or just in general :)

Went with the D/s AU, hope that's okay!

Unfortunately in an AU without the necessity to eat monsters, I think culinary exploration would get left a little behind in favour of other things, so they don't cook for each other

However, Laios is also into general service submissive roles, so maybe he starts looking into it after a while?

Much to consider

[psiroller]

im so close. heres something for the believers

“I was just playing around, Chil.”

Chilchuck stopped dead in his tracks.

“What makes you think that you can call me that?” Chilchuck whipped around to stalk back up to him, shoulders back, chest out. Even with the rowdy group perched on the barstools behind them, Laios could hear his voice loud and clear. “I’m not your friend.” Laios’ heart sunk. “It’s—not that serious, it’s—maybe it’s a tallman thing? I—” “You think I don’t know tallmen? Oh, I know tallmen, buddy, I’ve been here a lot longer than you have. You got a lot to learn about half-foots, pal. I have family members that can’t call me Chil. Okay?” Chilchuck jabbed a finger at Laios’ chest, prodding at the muscle—strangely soft when not flexed. It distracted Chilchuck for a minute. “You think because you hired me and you pay a half-decent wage that I have to like you, or something?” “No, I just thought—” “What? What did you think? Do you think? What do you think? What?”

The patrons around them had gone quiet to eavesdrop. Marcille didn’t have the same pinpoint hearing Chilchuck did, but she could smell drama a few miles downwind, and had momentarily dropped her trimming shears; Falin was left with mismatched bangs and only secondhand embarrassment.

Chilchuck bounced his foot on the soggy floor, a rabbit-quick stick-tap-stick-tap-stick-tap. He was red from his ears to his throat where it disappeared into his turtleneck.  His eyebrows were furrowed and that vein on his temple looked fit to clot and kill him. Laios’ train of thought had crashed messily into a brick wall, spilling coal and molten metal everywhere. He grinned. “I think you’re cute when you’re mad.” Chilchuck boggled at him. He opened his mouth to speak, then thought better of it. He held up a finger to speak again, reconsidered it, then took a long, sloppy drag from his stein until it was empty. He dropped the cup on a stranger’s table and wiped the foam off on the back of his sleeve. “How you feeling?” Chilchuck asked, suddenly calm. “With the venom, and all. It’s all good? Just a little loopy? Having a good time?” “I’m—good, yeah. Sure. Falin took care of it.” “Cool. Cool. Awesome. Glad to hear it.” Chilchuck sucker punched Laios in the gut.

[biggestsimp12]

Hi could I request the toy animatronics interacting with a young child reader that gets left behind after closing?

{Hi! Sorry for the late response, I had some health problems lately and couldn't bring myself out of the laziness and fatigue to write. But I'm all better now and ready to write! So here it is! ^^}

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---––——

Child Reader who gets left behind x toy animatronics! (+puppet)

---——–

---——-

You were simply a mere child, whose parents left you at a friend's birthday party in the famous Pretty smart to leave your child alone in a strangers supervision, right? Not. For some reason, your friends decided it was a good idea to play hide and seek, just before closing time. Of course, you found the most phenomenal spot to hide, which was behind puppets music box. It was rather naive of you, to think someone will actually search for there. That's why you hid there on the first place. Time flies by, yet slowly but surely, less and less voices could be heard around. It was rather strange, but you, the determined kid who loved to win on hide and seek remained curled up in a ball, dead silent with a small grin on your face, falsely believing that you will eventually get pinpointed by your friends and go home as the winner of hide and seek. Your grin quickly vanished off your face when the lights went out, leaving you baffled. As the night sky gets darker, you ducked out of your hiding spot and started looking around the now empty pizzeria, feeling alone and frightened. You were the only one left behind and locked in after all their friends had gone home. The sound of the animatronic characters' movements is unnerving and you feel vulnerable being alone in this place. You start to walk around the pizzeria, hoping to find a way out. Suddenly, the remaining lights go out and you are left in total darkness, the sound of the animatronics' movements echoing in the empty pizzeria. You curled up into a ball as you sat on the cold tiled floor, sobbing uncontrollably whilst shaking. Out of the blue, sounds of metallic steps could be made out, as if they were approaching you. An animatronic with a pair of glowing green eyes stepped past you, heading towards the rather noisy vent, as if it had abnormal ideas of whereabouts. Watching a little, you realised it was one of the toy animatronics, none other than Toy Bonnie. You hesitantly walked up to him, pulling on his artificial fluffy tail. The animatronics' head twisted in your direction, emanating some sounds as if it was scanning you.

"H-hello mr bon bon... Can you help me find my parents? My friends left me here alone.. Do you think they will come back?"

You wistfully stated, looking at the animatronic with those innocent pleading eyes. You weren't sure if he was going to hurt you or even understand you for that matter. Before anything could occur, a black slender palm was placed over your head, making you flinch slightly. Your gaze moved to the slender figure, which was the indistinguishable, Puppet. It's minimal glowing orbs were gazing over you, as if asking you to trust it. The puppet was one to always frighten you but for some reason, it just felt right to trust it right now, as no one else was currently there for you. It lightly scooped you in its long arms, carrying you to the other toy animatronics. Like magic, the animatronics turned on, all gazing towards you. The puppet kindly placed you down, leaving you to play with the toy animatronics. Toy chica brought you a real cupcake, feeding it to you while Toy freddy was singing to you and toy Bonnie was making rather silly poses for you. It only cheered you a little bit, though it was nicer than being alone, even though you could only see their glowing orbs. Just as your sobs died down, a sound of the security camera was heard and it's flashlight turned on, making you squint your eyes. Not even a second later, running footsteps were creeping out of the halls as a security guard rushed to you, freaking out to why was a literal child at almost 1 a.m in the freaking pizzeria?! After lots and lots of questioning, (and lots of unresponsive calls)

the security guard finally managed to contact your parents, which were very upset with your friends "responsibility" (as if theirs was any better)

Long story short, you were never ever going to a party without a capable family member ever again and that friends' parents weren't throwing poorly supervised parties anytime soon..

———––--

The end

{have a good day/night :)}

[grimm-writings]

HI ITS BARD ANON I MISSED YOU!!! insane request but what about a situation where the party + kabru + chil’s family orchestrate a date between chil and reader? like setting them up… i think that’d be so cuteeee

for the dancing and the dreaming

…ft! chilchuck x gn! reader

…tags! fluff, post-canon spoilers, chilchuck’s wife remains nameless, i love chilchuck's family can you tell

…wc! 1887

…notes! BARD ANON I’M BACK FROM WAR (burnout) !!!! these two requests are similar so i decided to make ‘em a wombo combo!!! enjoy my loves!

The woman gives you a kindly smile as she waves you off, you and her ex leaving the tavern.  She sighs and leans back, crossing her arms.

God, Chilchuck is more stupid than she remembered.

How could he possibly miss the affection in your eyes when he called out to you both before you left?  Or how you clearly wanted to ask if you can stay with him longer?  He’s just going to ignore that and consider it all platonic?

What an idiot.  Do I really have to step in for him again?  Just like old times, huh…?

The half-foot taps a finger against her cheek in thought.  Maybe she can push you to confess?  No, you’d probably wave your hands around and insist against having feelings for Chilchuck in the first place.  A heavy sigh escapes her.

Looks like she has to do things the old-fashioned way.

Step 1 – Family

The quickest way to alert someone is to see who the people closest to you know.  Flertom is rather in-the-know about any gossip.  Usually, as a mother, the half-foot really doesn’t want to encourage such things, but for now…

“What’s trendy in dating circles nowadays?”  She asks offhandedly, eyeing a bouquet Flertom bought to gift a possible suitor.  “Is the man still expected to be the one to initiate everything?”

She could nearly scoff at her own words.  Only reason she and Chil got together was pure happenstance.  Practically a blur by now.  He’d be hopeless at actually trying to start anything with you.

The younger woman hums in curiosity, before stopping to think.  “Not really nowadays, no…  If you have enough charisma, you can charm any man into taking you out for a drink.  Why do you ask, Ma?”

Flertom squints as she watches her mother laugh and shake her head in response.  “Oh, I just think your old man might need some… encouragement with a new flame is all.”

Just as she expected, Flertom was immediately on the ball with planning, rushing out to the town in order to visit her sisters and inform them of the operation.  She practically commanded her old mother to see if she could look for any clues about Chilchuck’s possible beau.  With a knowing smile, she remarks that she’s very happy to pay a visit to Melini.

Step 2 – Friends

“You really think something that elaborate could work?!”  Marcille Donato leans forward in her chair.  Her eyes shine with a certain kind of joy at the idea of playing Cupid that amuses the matured half-foot significantly.

She nods.  “I don’t see anything else coming close to pushing them.  Force might be the only way.”

A female tall-man, Falin if recalled correctly, squints and hums, tapping her finger on her chin as she tilts her head.  Her brow furrows.  “From what I know, Chilchuck seems to be more open, but… I don’t know if he has the courage to be truly vulnerable in front of someone like that.”

“No need to tell me twice,” his ex scoffs.

“Oh!”  The king, of all people, seems to have an epiphany.  “We could hold some sort of ball, encourage him to invite a plus one.  That can work, right Kabru?”

All eyes turn to look at the advisor standing to the side, clearly enjoying the conversation but not wishing to intrude.  He startles at the sudden attention, before clearing his throat behind his fist.

“It will take some time to plan, but it could work…  You mentioned having three daughters, ma’am, you can take one as a plus-one, and the two will take each other.”  He’s calm with his conclusion, which the half-foot woman can definitely respect.

“A banquet of all their favourite foods,” the dwarf Senshi, as food-brained as ever, sighs in daydream.

Kabru takes a step forward.  “Though I have to ask,” he enquires, “is it really necessary to call upon all of the king’s advisors and himself for a Cupid scheme?”

Silly boy.  He doesn’t yet realise the stakes.

If Chilchuck and you don’t say something soon, then you may stay silent forever.  This idea might be the best shot they have.

Step 3 – The Preparation

“What’s even the occasion…?”  Chilchuck sighs as he adjusts the sleeves of the formal outfit he’s wearing.  He’s definitely unused to something so high-class.  Being invited as a guest of honour certainly isn’t doing any favours either.

Not to mention, Laios was stupid enough to not even bestow upon you a guest of honour title!  Chilchuck has to go through the means of inviting you as a plus one due to some ‘organisational issues’, as Kabru put it.

What a load of crap.

“I ‘unno!”  Puckpatti peeks her head around the corner to look at her father.  “Royals just seem to like their balls!”

“This isn’t one of your period romances…” Meijack’s voice rings from the other room too.

You sit with them, talking amongst one another.  Flertom’s plus one remains a mystery to you, though she assures you that you’ll meet with her when you get there.  You can only assume it’s the girls’ mother but you have no clue why she’s so giggly and secretive about it.

“On the contrary!” Flertom announces.  “I think it’s exactly like a period romance.  Maybe one of us will be swept into a dance so beguiling, you forget there’s a whole ballroom of people!”

You squeal in surprise when Flertom takes your hands and pulls you out of your chair.  You dance together in a fit of giggles.  You only barely miss Chilchuck walking out to meet with you all, a fond smile on his face.

Little do you know, he’s thinking about what it would be like if joy like this could be shared in a household with the two of you.

“Come on now, settle.  Apparently there’s gonna be a carriage taking us to Melini.  I couldn’t fight against the theatrics, according to Marcille…”

“Oh Papa!”  Puckpatti sighs blissfully.  “We truly are living like nobles now!  Maybe you can… ah…”

Both you and Chilchuck spy her eyes darting towards her sisters with unsureness.  How strange.

“You can find… someone nice there!”

“No, Patti.”  Chilchuck shakes his head with a sigh.  “I’m not gonna marry some rich dwarf.”

“You are too cruel, Papa,” Flertom points out with a pout.  “No one will want you if you just keep saying no.”

As the three bicker, Meijack spares you a sympathetic glance, and she rolls her eyes.  Her sisters hardly know subtlety.  Finally she stands up and walks to your side.

“I’m glad you’re here with us,” she says with uncharacteristic softness; she’s similar to her father like that.  “Papa has good taste.”

You go red just as much as Chilchuck.  For a moment, Flertom and Puckpatti wonder if their less romance-focused sister has some secret charisma she’s been hiding up her sleeve this whole time.  It seems to work though, as they chorus their agreements loudly.

“Very good taste!”

“Their formal wear matches yours fashionably well!”

“Just as pretty as Ma too!”

“If not prettier!”

The entire carriage ride to Melini was full of this type of chatter, asking questions about you and Chilchuck’s time together the whole way.  A few times you had to clarify that you are only as close as the rest of your old party were close, but were only met with a few smug “mhms” and “sures”.

Chilchuck can only roll his eyes when he gets the chance to comment on it privately with you.  “I have no idea what’s up with them.”

“Oh, cheer up!”  You laugh softly.  “I’m flattered that they like me.”

Chilchuck can’t help but hear your laugh and chuckle along – music to his ears.  “...Yeah, I’m glad they like you too.”

“Come on!  Ma is here to greet you two!”  Flertom’s voice calls out.

The mastermind has been watching you and Chilchuck the whole time you approach.  Her expression remains neutral, with the smallest sliver of a smile.  Seems like the proximity has been lending itself quite well.

“Well, aren’t you two a pair,” she greets you both.  “Ready to take the ball by storm.”

“Your jokes haven’t gotten any better,” Chilchuck replies.

“And you’re still wearing the same shabby suit from sixteen years ago.”

Chilchuck flushes red once again and you can’t help but laugh, patting his shoulder sympathetically as he hooks his arm through yours.

The watching half-foot knowingly grins.  Yes, you two are definitely going to take it up a level after tonight.

Step 4 – Profit!

The ball came and went.  It goes as typical as the dark-haired half-foot expects.  What really is supposed to be a high-class noble event is a mask for foodies, romantics, and those looking for a fun time.

Senshi’s food was as wonderful as promised, and even if this was all done in the name of romance, Flertom and Puckpatti had to be held down from trying to approach the dwarf with lowered eyelids and twirled hair.  Chilchuck doesn’t need more heart palpitations than he already did.

She did her best to encourage Chilchuck to drink.  She knows better than anyone that his tongue only loosened when he got enough alcohol in him.  It hurts just a little, knowing that this is one of the only ways Chilchuck can be open with someone romantically.

The temptation did cross her to ask how Chilchuck views her now, but she stood against it.  It’s not the night for that.

By the time the party drew to a close, people were exhausted, drunk, in a food coma, or all of the above.  The King had to be dragged over to his quarters, and Marcille had since passed out on Falin’s shoulder, who’s bidding farewell to guests.

The dark-haired half-foot swirls the last of her wine in a glass as she stands outside, making small-talk with the tall-man.  It’s not until you stumble out with Chilchuck clinging to the fabric on your hip that she looks up.

“Do you—”

“No need for help!”  You reassure her with a grin.  “He always seems to get clingy with me when drunk, so I’m kinda used to it at this point!”

Your laughter meets a knowing smile, not knowing exactly what she’s so smug about.  “Yes, he seems to really like you.”

“I sure hope he does, considering he’s accepted my request to go on a date with him.”

Falin perks up enough to wake up the elf on her shoulder.  “A date?”

The half-foot across from you is stunned into silence.  It actually worked.  The atmosphere and passion of it all actually egged you both on!

“Congratulations.”  You’ve seen more emotion from the dark-haired woman than ever before.  Her smile relaxed but her eyes shining, the lines underneath crinkling with happiness.  “Treat him well, okay?”

“Of course,” you reply, and you lean forward a little.  “Thank you for your help.  Kabru couldn’t help but gossip to me.”

You wink and lean up again.  Chilchuck at your side whines for your attention and you laugh, walking towards a carriage.

Safe travels were promised, and the dark-haired half-foot turns to the two blonde women.

The elf blinks slowly, red-faced from drink.

“Did we win…?”

The two other women laugh.  Stories must be exchanged the next time you all meet – especially on your end of things.

[mocksyoucondescendingly]

I don't understand this marchil thing what's the appeal

I JUST wrote about this haha

and knowing that you may not get to see the rest of someone's life doesn't mean you shouldn't enjoy the moments you will get with them.

overall, I like their dynamic and chemistry...

at the start, it feels as though marcille is not very knowledgeable of the world outside of academics. she isn't comfortable in most of society because she's always seen as an outsider. she does her best to put up this image, and she cares a lot about it. but it's all based on this Fear that she's not enough or too much, and nobody will ever understand her. that she will always be alone.

I think Falin helped crack that in Marcille (og farcille truther); she showed her that it's okay to just slow down and notice the moment. to breathe it in and not even worry about the passing of time.... but Marcille was young and caught in her fears still... hard to shake them. so she took it more like a challenge, like, "how can I let everything I love slow down so much that I don't have to notice that it's left me???" so desperate to capture the things she loves.

...

And Chilchuck is just like. this guy ??? and he could die so young ????? he had a life and a family and a moment to enjoy, and he's out here risking his precious short life ???? she's shocked she's concerned she's invested.

but we know Chilchuck has experienced loss. he's most likely experienced it so much that he doesn't even consider it *should* phase him. his parents are likely dead, his wife doesn't want him, his children are adults out living THEIR lives. halflings don't live that long, so what ?? it's his life and He is living it 🙄 he is an Adult and he can do what he wants !? who knows when it will end anyway !...?

and you know,, it's that. where they connect. like. you can't get too close to someone; they could die! they could leave you ???

Marcille wears her heart on her sleeve, yells,and fights and kicks for them. she can't say it but you Can See It. she can't leave a friend behind she can't stop herself from wanting the best for others.

Chilchuck cages himself in iron. he runs, and he hides. he can't stand to be responsible for others wellbeing, it only hurts. he can't let them know he cares because then he would have to acknowledge it himself.

but we SEE the group becoming more comfortable with the idea that they Do care about one another. and we see all of them get closer and worry for the others. opening up and saying as much.,

chilchuck sees the way marcille cares Whole-Heartedly, and he can't look away. he can't believe someone would be so foolish and has lived that long. has she not been hurt enough? how could she lay her heart out so willingly? it makes him curious, and it makes him concerned. it gets him too close in a way he doesnt usually let himself get. scary...

marcille sees chil closing himself out from others and can't help but want to know what's on his mind. can't believe someone could have NO time at ALL with their loved ones ?? and not want the most of it...? he loved! how could he not want to keep that??? he's running from something she would love to have. but she doesn't know the complexities of it all,

they have to learn how to change, how to grow as people. they gain a wider understanding of the world through each other (and the rest of the entire group and through the events of the manga OBVIOUSLY) ! !! ! and through their differences they find the same root fear and that same root love.

is this coherent I do not know. love and light ✨️🥰✌️

[canirove]

Broken Hearts Football Club | Chapter 21

Author's note: This chapter happens a couple of months after he previous one. Just letting you know in case it is a bit confusing.

Previous chapter | Next chapter

Masterlist

"Girls, you don't need to come with me. I'm just going to jog on the grass, nothing else."

"But it is the first time you are doing it since you injured your knee, June!" Lauren said.

"And we are really proud of you, so we are joining you" Vittoria added.

"What about your training session?"

"We told the gaffer we will be a bit late, don't worry. Shall we?" 

"Ok, fine" June sighed.

After many hours working in the gym and the pool and spending time with the physios, she had finally gotten the green light to go outside onto the pitch and do some light running. There still were a few months left before the World Cup, and everyone was being very optimistic about her being able to make it. She just needed to keep working hard and stay focused on her goal. 

"What the…" June gasped as she walked outside.

"Surprise!" Vittoria and Lauren said, hugging her from behind.

"What… what is this?" 

"Thought we were the only ones proud of you?" Lauren said.

"I… I…" 

"Aww, June" Vittoria said, wiping away a tear.

Her whole team was waiting outside for her, doing the usual passageway they do for the winners of a trophy. Though this time, it was just for her. 

"Will you girls walk with me? I can't do this alone."

"Of course" Lauren said while holding her hand, Vittoria doing the same on her other side.

"Ok, then" June said, taking a deep breath. The moment she took the first step forward, everyone started clapping, making her cry and smile at the same time.

"C'mon, Maxwell!" someone shouted.

"Reece? What… Oh my God." 

It wasn't only her teammates waiting for her. The men's team had also joined them, some staff members too.

"Everyone wanted to be here for you, June" Lauren smiled.

"And when we say everyone, we mean everyone" Vittoria said, nodding towards their left. 

"Mason?" June whispered. He was there. He was actually there, smiling at her. And it looked like an honest smile, because his dimple was showing.

"I… I don't know what to say" she mumbled when she made it to the end, tears still rolling down her cheeks. "It means so much that you are here today. All of you" she said, looking at Mason. "Never in a million years would I have expected something like this, so thank you very much, everyone. Thank you."

"Three cheers for June Maxwell!" Reece shouted again.

"Oh my God, he is so lame" Lauren said, making June laugh before everyone started chanting. 

━━━━━━❃━━━━━━

"Pst, Maxwell. Maxwell!" someone called when June was leaving the changing room.

"Ben? What are you doing here?"

"I came to watch you on the grass for the first time" he smiled.

"You… you did?"

"Yep."

"But I didn't see you. Where were you?"

"At the offices. I came with the excuse of visiting some old friends from when I was still playing."

"Oh, I… Thank you."

"I'm so proud of you, June" Ben said, walking towards her. "You are gonna make it to the World Cup."

"We'll see" she replied, nervously playing with the strap of her bag.

"I know you will. I believe in you" he said, his hand suddenly next to her face, his fingers caressing her cheek before putting a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Thank you" June whispered, the butterflies on her stomach going crazy.

"Can I kiss you?" 

"You don't have to ask, Ben" she chuckled.

"You already punched me once, I don't want to risk it" he smiled.

"Idiot."

"Can I or not?"

"Of course you can" she said before his lips found hers. 

"Oh my God!"

"Mason!" June said, quickly moving away from Ben. "What are you doing here? You scared the hell out of me."

"I work here" he replied.

"I meant now. Shouldn't you be in training?" 

"We… Chilly, are you ok?"

"Yeah, yeah" he said.

"Ben, you are too pale. Are you sure you are ok?" June asked, touching his face.

"I'm fine, I just…"

"Mason, help me!" she screamed as Ben's eyes started to close.

"Chilly! Chilly, hey!" he said, holding his friend and helping him sit down on the floor. "Chilly, can you hear me?"

"I… I don't feel ok" he said. "June…"

"I'm here" she replied, taking his hand on hers. "I'm here."

"June, I…" 

"Ben! Ben, wake up!" she cried as his eyes closed once again, his body going limp. "Ben!"

"I'm going to find a doctor" Mason said before disappearing through the corridor.

"Ben, please. Wake up. Wake up, please, please" June sobbed while holding him. "Please, wake up. You can't leave me, Ben. You can't. Please."

[dunmesh]

falin/marcille for the ship ask game 😌

yessss the one and only dunmeshi ship 🥹 loved them since ever theyre the only ones i truly care abt besides chil and his wife ig lol. i was always a sucker for the childhood best friends to lovers trope so they won me over easily. with that said... i feel like i haven't paid enough attention to their relationship in canon? idk how to explain it but it's really easy to kinda assign farcille certain tropes or label them in certain ways and then not think much deeper abt them. i think the first time i started to really Get it was when i thought a lil more abt marcille blaming laios for falin leaving and infantalizing her during their reunion. sure, we know she has a problem with understanding how much falin has grown, but what if there's a part of her that simply refuses to direct her anger towards falin because she can't believe falin would ever choose to hurt her like this? she's the first real friend marcille ever made besides her dad, so it's understandable why she put her on a pedestal. and if falin knows about her father- which i bet she does after over a decade of friendship- then it becomes even more painful. because she's supposed to understand, right? how marcille doesn't want to be left alone? how fucked up it is to leave in a hurry, without any regard to marcille's feelings, without a word, without even the knowledge that falin is alive and well? i mean, do you think falin even thought about sticking a note on her desk before rushing out the window? so then, how many days had passed until falin sent her a letter? how agonizing it was for marcille to wait for some sign that her best friend is still out there? so of course it can't be falin's choice. it's that brother of hers that made her do this, made marcille go through this terrifying experience.

but it was falin's choice. she did this of her own accord, even if only because she had to prioritize her own brother at that moment. and when falin died in the first chapter, leaving marcille behind again- she hurt her worse than ever, and marcille refused to accept it again. but at some point she had to- she had to realize it was falin's choice to leave her like this, and she had to accept how much pain that caused her. she had to, in order to also accept that because of this, she found joy and meaning in things and people she otherwise would've never thought could become so dear to her. and it's a step in the direction, i think, of separating falin from her own idealized viewpoint. she's her everything, the person marcille always dreamed of having by her side and maybe didn't even believe she could actually find after losing her dad. but she's also just meat and skin and bones, and a soul that may never come back. she's not bound to her. but she'll always be a part of her, from the memory of rearranging her bones to the taste of her flesh in her mouth. in short, i think farcille would be pretty similar to marcille's parents in the way it would take a few more years until they can fully understand and appreciate one another. falin needs to grow on her own, marcille too. and they will have to discover each other again, learn and accept these versions of themselves they don't know as well as they used to. loving again and again. anyways yeah i love them

[martinys-world]

The Girl

this is my first time ever to wright this on tumblr. let me know if you are want to see more. I have a whole back story to this. This is not proof read, so please let me know if there a mistake I want to see if it worth working on.

“You get everyone to the ship and escape with the key.”

One ape hand it to another. 

“what happening.”

“What about you. “

“I will distract scrope and his terracons as long as I can. It will give you and the others a chance to esape.”

I wont let you be left behind. Scrouge will kill you. My sacrifice will be nothing compared to what unicron can do with the key...

“ we need a …..”

Slinceing the other ape.

“ you are there leader now.” 

“ now go” 

With the idea of knowing there was no debate let alone time. ran. Leaveing the only place they called home. that will be devour by unicorn the planet eating monster. 

“ahh.” Hand covering my face. Trying to protect my self even thought it would do nothing. I felt a chil was what It felt like. The one that get you spinal core to shake. 

Looking back at the runaway ape did not see me.  I have to be dreaming. 

Then there this metal man robot. Is this a terrcon. What going why dose this look real. Is he losing what going on. 

“ please, stop fighting.” 

Everything was muggy. I don’t understand what going on but one thing was clear. No one is leaveing this fight alive. Everything happen so fast. They were both standing up and now one is loseing a battle that he cant win. 

Sound of a rocket was happing like it was blasting off. 

“ your not getting the key.”

“Today I won’t but my master with have a feast with your planet.”

I was running to the ape theat was laying on the ground. I couldn’t let him feel pain while he was dieing. I know none of these metal or anmials being cant see me. but dosent me I would sit back and do nothing. The one that won. Was melting something on him. He just became a blur. 

I slip pass his legs. If that was what they called them. I was at the apes face. 

“ what do I do? What can I do?”

“ put your hand on him and breathe.”

Spinning around. Trying to find something to show any type of alive or being. 

“wh-“

“If you want him to not be in pain anymore, just put your hand on him.”

I heard a groan. I will slove that voice mystery later. Put my hand on him I felt him skin want cold but smooth and warm. Surprisingly but what shock me more was the area my hand was. It was glowing and a green color. 

“huh?” 

Out of my instinct I want to pull away but the ape groan out of relief. Like he was in less pain. 

I knew that I was doing something. what would happen if I used both of my hands. I lift my hand. And place not tnext to mine but in the same level as mine. I felt eyes on me I  was next to his eye or what ever its called. Two eyes staring at one. 

“ midnight star.” 

Instead of correcting him. Knowing his time is running out.

“ its going to be okay. relax its going to be okay.”

I sounded confident but I was far from that. 

“you were always a star. in the darkest of times.”

For that slipt moment it steam like he accepted his death but wasn’t alone. I have no clue who he is but i am just glad he not alone or in a lot a pain. I saw the light shirnking as it seem like these minutes. Are turning to hours. I don’t care how long I knew the least I could do was make bearable. He closed his eyes for the final time and whisper his last sound in this life. 

“ thank you.”  

I pulled my hands back after his skin turned cold.  I was crying. I knew I was crying because there was not much I could do. I mean almost everyone cries when they see someone died, But this was different type of crying. Like I lost a friend but I never seen him before.

“sliver”

I fell to my knees in front of his eyes. It started to get windy. I wouldn’t have notice if a golf ball sized rock hit me in the side of my head.   turning to see what all the rush was about. This golden sphere was coming closer. And the center was opening up and there was rocks. My brain wasn’t comprehending what was happening. 

“Unicorn!!”

Chatper : (2)

[eyeslikewatercoolers]

Reminders of Her -Sashnetra (Part 2/3)

From the poll I posted a couple days ago, this is now going to be split into three parts instead of two! Here's part one if you missed it.

Thank you to @puppywritesthings for being my temporary beta for this chapter

read on ao3

Sasha didn’t see Anetra in class for the first few weeks. Instead, a tall blonde named Marcia brought Jace to and from class. Sasha assumed that Marcia was Jace’s other parent, while Anetra would be busy with work and unable to take him. 

At the end of the class, all the parents lined up in the studio behind their respective children. Sasha held a stack of papers and placed them on the fold-out table her teaching assistant had set up. 

“We’re having our photographer come in next week and take pictures for our programming. So I need parents to sign these releases so he can take pictures of the kids,” she explained as the parents started filling out their paperwork.

Except for Marcia and Jace, they stayed put where they both stood. Jace looked up at Marcia, and they shrugged “I’ll talk to her about it. Maybe she’ll let us take it home for your mom to sign.”  they said to reassure him. 

Sasha walked over to them with a copy of the release in her hand, “Did you not want to sign this? If not, it’s not going to upset me or anything.” she said.

“Oh, I would love to, but I can’t. I’m not a parent or guardian,” they explained. They looked at Jace, “Why don’t you wait in the lobby while I talk to your teacher?” 

Jace nodded, “Okay, Auntie Marsh.” he said before walking out of the studio to sit on the bench near the door. 

Marcia turned their attention back to Sasha, “Anetra has been a single mom since Jace was born. We’ve been close friends for years, and I’m just trying to help her whenever I can.” they explained. 

“Really? I didn’t know that.” Sasha said, her tone softening. She’s seen single parents struggle to balance everything outside the dance classes. “Could she come in any other time? I’d love to tell her how well her son is doing in class.” she smiled, glancing at the curly-haired boy in the lobby. 

Marcia nodded, but their eyes seemed apprehensive. “I can ask her tonight, no problem.”

As Sasha greeted parents and kids coming in for the pre-ballet class, she felt her heartbeat quicken when she saw Anetra walk in alongside Marcia and Jace. She hoped that this might mean she would get to see Anetra more often.

“You needed me to sign something?” Anetra asked her, eyes looking anywhere except in Sasha’s.

“I do. Would you like to stay for the rest of the class to watch? I’m sure Jace would love to show you what he’s learned.”

Anetra took a deep breath, “Of course I can.”

During the class, Sasha stole glances toward the observation room to seek any look she could get at Anetra. She noticed that Anetra’s eyes never left Jace during the class. Towards the end, she and Marcia looked at each other, and both smiled at the woman enjoying watching her son dance.

Sasha just remembered about the photographer in the studio with them when it was time for the group class photos. Once the children were allowed to break apart from being lined up for the posed group photo, they ran to their parents. 

Anetra was kneeling as Jace ran into her open arms, “You did so good, J. I’m proud of you.” she said as she ran a hand through his curls. 

“Do you think she’ll come back next week?” Sasha asked Marcia quietly as they both stood a few yards away.

“I don’t think she would ever want to miss seeing her son so happy in your class.”

Anetra returned during the following week’s class without Marcia this time. She even kept coming to class with just her and Jace. 

Sasha continued to sneak glances at Anetra’s astounding facial expressions during class. It was the only time that Sasha saw her face change from her usual bored expression when talking to the other dance moms.

A few weeks into her seeing Anetra during classes, parent volunteer opportunities opened up for the season. Parents of older children already in the studio signed up immediately for the ‘good’ spots (like selling T-shirts and organizing bake sales). 

This meant the only spots left were the more mundane tasks, like organizing the music library and measuring for costume sizes. But Sasha was pleasantly surprised that Anetra’s name was first (and only) on helping Sasha organize the costume closet. 

Anetra came into the studio in the late morning on a weekday when there were no classes. She arrived alone, the first time Sasha had seen her without anyone else. 

“You didn’t bring your son?” she asked Anetra as she led her to the costume closet in the back of the building. 

“No, I dropped him off at my dad and stepmom’s house earlier. He loves going over there, they spoil him every time they see him.” Anetra said with a slight smile. 

After about an hour of creating a plan to organize the closet, the two women found themselves in light conversation as they worked.

“What do you do for work?” Sasha asked from the corner of the costume closet that she was working on. She showed Anetra how everything got organized by style, size, and color. 

“I’m a medical coder for a neurologist's office,” Anetra said as she folded tights from her side of the room.  “It’s boring, but it pays the bills.” she shrugged. 

“How did you get into doing that job?” Sasha asked. If she was being honest, Sasha had no idea what a medical coder was, but at least she could try to make conversation about it. 

Anetra softly sighed as she moved the pile of tights into the storage box. “It was never my original plan. I was training to be a professional in taekwondo, but then when I found out I was pregnant, I had to throw away that plan.”

Sasha moved to sit closer to Anetra, placing spare hangers on the rack. “That must have been a hard decision to make.”

Anetra nodded, “At first it was. But I’m really lucky I had Marcia my dad and stepmom, and my other friends to help me out.” she said with a small smile. “I didn’t want to believe this when I was 21, but Jace is the best thing to happen to me.” 

Sasha gave her a warm smile, “He is a special kid.” 

“Even if he looks nothing like me.” Anetra laughed, as the two continued to work and chat throughout the rest of the afternoon.

Cleaning the costume closet soon became Sasha’s favorite chore to do in the studio. It wasn’t because it was something that she liked doing, but it was the only time she could spend with just her and Anetra. 

But the closet was nearly fully organized after a few weeks of Anetra coming to the studio alone to help on various days. Despite being great for the closet, Sasha still wanted to spend time with her. 

As she waited for Anetra to arrive to help do the last-minute touch-ups on the closet, Sasha was racking her brain for another volunteer opportunity for her and Anetra to do together. 

“When’s the last time we waxed the floors?” Sasha asked out loud as Kylie was doing computer work from the other side of the small office. 

“You know we have a guy that comes in to do that,” Kylie responded without looking away from the screen. 

Sasha thought for a moment, “Well, what about-” before she was cut off by the blonde turning around. 

“You know you can hang out with her outside of here, right?” Kylie suggested and ignored the look of shock that Sasha gave her. “I’ve seen you two in that dusty old closet, it’s okay if you want to be friends or something more with her.” 

“Something more? What do you mean by that?” she asked but heard the electric bell on the lobby door chime. “She’s here, I gotta go,” Sasha said before bolting out of the office. 

After a few short hours of finishing the costume closet, Sasha and Anetra stood in the doorway, admiring their hard work. Even if Sasha knew it would look trashed again in about six months. 

“I’ll see you in class next week, okay? I’m glad I could help you out with this.” Anetra smiled and started to turn to walk back down the hallway. 

“Wait a moment,” she said and saw the younger woman turn around. “Are you free on Saturday?” she asked, trying not to not choke on her nerves. 

Anetra looked surprised, “Oh, was there something I missed from the calendar you gave us? I thought the recital practice was the week after next.” 

“It still is, don’t worry,” Sasha reassured her. “I meant just you and me this Saturday.”

“As in, like a date?” Anetra asked for clarification. 

Sasha nodded after a moment. She didn’t plan for it to be called a date, but maybe being something more could be a good thing for them. “Yes, like a date.”

“Let me find a babysitter first, then yes.” 

Sasha only had a couple of small dates with Anetra before the recital season kept her busy. But after the winter recital was over and the pre-ballet class finished its last session before the small in-class celebration, Sasha’s attention flew back to Anetra. 

The two had met with each other at least once a week. Sometimes they would be with each other’s friends, other times it would just be the two of them alone. 

Sasha enjoyed spending time with her new friend but noticed something was slightly off about Anetra. 

“I need a favor from you.” Sasha walked swiftly into the studio office, sitting in the rolling chair opposite Kylie. The computer screen showed the edited pictures in a programming book from a few months before.  

“Yes?” 

“Do you find it weird if a woman in her twenties doesn’t have social media?” Sasha asked. 

She tried asking Anetra for her Instagram (or any social media), but the younger woman would change the subject. She couldn’t ask Marcia or any of Anetra’s other friends since she didn’t feel that close to them yet. 

“Depends, is it your new little date friend?” Kylie asked with a lifted eyebrow, already knowing the answer.

“Yes, it’s Anetra. But I looked up her name on everything, and I can’t find her.” Sasha said as she watched Kylie type on her phone for a moment.  

“Found her.” The blonde said as she turned her phone screen to Sasha to show the Instagram profile. 

She squinted at the screen, looking at the username, “But I tried that one.” she sighed, pulling out her phone to check again. 

Kylie tilted her head, holding out her hand for Sasha to pass her the cell phone “Let me try something.”

“Okay, but I don’t think that-”

“You blocked her.”

“What? Why would I block her when I have never met her before?” 

Kylie shrugged, passing back the phone, “No idea. But I unblocked her for you.” 

“Thanks, I appreciate it.” She smiled as she pressed the follow button, before scrolling deep into Anetra’s profile. 

Soon she was looking at a picture of a younger Anetra, in a taekwondo uniform, with bright red hair.

The image of the younger woman with cherry red hair stayed in her mind for the rest of the day, wondering where this sense of familiarity came from.

Had she and Anetra met before?