#cyn barks

[sixk-mutt]

You all want a dog girlfriend until she's holding you down and forcing you to take her knot while biting the back of your neck

[mothstothemaxx]

"Thanks for paving the way on this planet too, Lets Eat X3"

cyn dawg cyn dawg

[md-confessions]

Tessa to the alphabet squad and Cyn if she was able to become an adult and the solver didn't exist to ruin everyone's life

the alphabet mafia !?

[serial-designation-dz]

To make up for my silence in terms of art, heres a bunch of wips/stuff I never got around to posting!

Starting off with the rest of the murder kitties! Ik I still have to draw eldritch Tessa and noris core so not done yet QwQ

Basically screenshot redraws and my md ocs as cats. Speaking of ocs... they're below the cut

Rachel is a spiritdrones character I never posted... She's Thad & Lizzy's Mom! There will be another post like this coz of image limit.

[glossysoap]

price recs / poly 141 recs

requested by the one and only @vgilantee! i’m so sorry this took so long 😭

mind the warnings/tags when clicking on each link.

like i said with my last rec list, if i think of any others i’ll edit this post to add them, then i’ll reblog this post with a note saying it’s been added to.

in addition, as i was putting this post together, i read all of these recs again. i have reblogs of them all drafted up, even if i’ve already reblogged them before. after i post this, i’ll start posting those reblogs so i’m sorry if it clogs your dash 😅

price:

- the space in between by @391780 (i mean come ON. you know i had to. that series, and early, has me by the neck. i rec anything from early, duhhh)

- the arrangement by @/391780 (as i’m typing this i’ve only read the first chapter and i already KNOW i’m obsessed with it)

- mafia price au by @cordeliawhohung (there’s also pieces for ghost, gaz and soap in the same universe that i recommend as well! it’s all linked in the same masterlist)

- oral fixation by @/cordeliawhohung (foaming at the mouth for this oh my god 😵‍💫 and literally anything by core obviously)

- mask on by @/391780

- the captain’s wife by @/391780

- first time by @/391780

- sick day by @/391780 (so so sweet and what a cute read 🥹 tossing this at char while they’re sick because it’s absolutely perfect.)

- captain’s on the way by @/391780 (once i get that text, oh you can bet your ass i’ll be ready 🥰)

- price returning from deployment by @vgilantee (i recommend anything from char duhhh. if you check in the reblogs you’ll see any additions char has added to this post.)

- kissing price by @/vgilantee (literally the dream)

- subspace + oral fixation by @/vgilantee (oh jeez 😵‍💫 this is still just as hot as when we talked abt it in dms)

- cumming in his pants by @/vgilantee (if you check in the reblogs you’ll see any additions that char has made to this post)

- heavy by @/vgilantee (i know it’s heavy, i just know it. i can hold it—)

- were - price’s cock by @/vgilantee (if you check in the reblogs you’ll see any additions that char has made to this post)

- cockwarming him while sick by @/vgilantee (check the reblogs and you’ll see any addition that char has made to this post)

- devoured by @xxshadowbabexx (woof woof woof oh my god. still barking at this request you filled for me 🤭)

- rules are made to be broken by @/xxshadowbabexx (oh lord oh lord oh lord. foaming at the mouth for this request you filled for me 😵‍💫)

- you stopped sharing your location with price by @syoddeye (one of my first reads that yanked my ass into dark fic 😵‍💫 i need that man)

- barista sized hole by @/syoddeye (god this changed me 😵‍💫 bark bark bark. literally anything from sy!! duh)

- flashing by @/syoddeye (oh i’m gonna need him to chase me thru the house just like that)

- thighs + choking kink by @pfhwrittes (anything from p really. oh this made my fat little heart sing!!!)

- male submission by @/pfhwrittes (i need him i need him.)

- older by @femalefemur (oh lord this spoke to me 😵‍💫)

- calling him captain by @/femalefemur (GOD the title kink/honorific kink was fed with this. i rec anything from cyn, obvi)

- peeping tom i / ii / iii by @secretsynthetic (i wanna say these were the first pieces i read from naomi and ugh, they warmed my heart. i rec everything from naomi, duh.)

- priceghost/puppygirl reader intro i intro ii / i / ii / iii by @/secretsynthetic

- tiger balm by @/secretsynthetic (so so precious. i love pricegaz as a ship and naomi captures it so so well and adding reader into the mix just makes it even better 😵‍💫)

- take me home, country road by @ceilidho (duh, of course. and i think we all know i rec everything from ceil)

- pretending to be husband/wife by @/ceilidho (woof woof woof)

- babysitter au by @/ceilidho

- captain price x reader x captain mactavish by @sprout-fics (this was such a NEED. also i rec anything from her, duh)

- (re)organized crime by @charliemwrites (oh this series is so fucking cute. i’m in love! i rec anything from charlie, let’s be real.)

- price’s thighs by @captainswhore (i love everything they post and i love when you tag me for my thoughts on things 🥺 i rec anything from them)

- hoarfrost i / ii by @eilidh-eternal (the way this feeds my predator/prey kink is absolutely outrageous. i love it so much never stop please 😭 rec everything from eilidh, duh)

- house hunting by @/eilidh-eternal

- nevermind i / ii by @captainfern (these were one of the first cod fics i ever read and whew buddy, it not only infected me with the price bug (that’s never leaving) but its also one of the fics that made me wanna start writing for cod. so i’m absolutely rec’ing everything from fernie 🥹)

- headlock by @/captainfern (rorororo oh my god. y’all know how i am about headlock sex.)

- you know you’re right by @/captainfern (jealous bodyguard price fucking you stupid? oh i need him)

- about a girl i / ii by @/captainfern (i’m always fucking weak for the trope ‘he makes you squirt for the first time and now he’s gonna make you do it like 5 more times if it’s the last thing he does’)

- bury your teeth in me by @yeyinde (jesus christ this was so hot, i’m stunned. i rec anything from lev, ofc.)

- spanked by price by @/yeyinde

- keep quiet by @kyletogaz (woof woof woof! that’s me barking! i rec anything from jess!)

- retirement party by @sentientcave (i need to catch up on this but i’m rec’ing regardless bc i know it’s gold. i rec anything from charlie)

- firewatch by @roosterr (oh this was amazing. i loved their banter!! so cute! i rec anything from rooster!)

- outside it starts to pour by @/roosterr

- john? by @ghastlybirdie (sunny this was so 😭😭 when i first read it (and any time after that) i just about cried bc it’s so!!! so so sad but also precious. it’s so immersive and amazingly done. i rec anything from sunny ily)

- my daddy didn’t love me by @makoodles (oh lorddddd this fed me so well. daddy issues gang rise up 😭 i rec everything from them)

- walkthrough by @mikichko (sosososo cute!! i rec everything from kiko)

- inspections by @moondirti (fuck fuck fuck 😵‍💫 i rec everything from them ofc)

- price + nik inspection by @ghouljams (literal legend, ofc i rec anything from them!)

- backshot hc by @/ghouljams

- landscape with honey by @/ceilidho

- neighbors by @eowynstwin (i rec literally anything from madi!!! send them love <3)

poly 141:

- origins of poly 141 x reader by @/vgilantee (keep an eye out for any additions to the post, as always. i rec anything and everything from that au)

- monster 141 au by @/vgilantee (i know it’s not all technically poly but in my head it is, so 😌 and i rec anything and everything from that au) click the tag under that post to find all posts in that au

- #141omegaverse~ by @/vgilantee (idk how to make links for tags unless it’s already made into a link, so go search that tag on char’s blog 😅 and i rec anything and everything from that au)

- price’s girl is the 141’s barracks bunny by @/vgilantee

- mafia au series by @groguspicklejar (y’all KNOW i had to include this. really anything from kelsi ofc)

- from specgru with love by @/charliemwrites (the angst in this is so fucking good. the 141 yearning for reader while readers moved on and leaving them in the dust? AND the jon bernthal face claim for the hot as fuck captain on readers new team? i’m fainting.)

- mister(s) steal your girl by @/charliemwrites (i need to catch up on this one but i’m rec’ing anyway bc i know it’s pure gold)

- tf141 kinks by @/pfhwrittes

- tf141 kinks pt2 by @/pfhwrittes

- tag, you’re it by @/sprout-fics (what a classic. i’m 99% sure i reblogged them a lot earlier in my fandom days but regardless, i’m going through and reblogging everything in this list anyways.)

- omegaverse au by @/sprout-fics (i need to catch up on this but i’m rec’ing regardless bc i know it’s so fucking good.)

- afterburn by @/sprout-fics (what a great aftercare fic, so soft and sweet and heated all at the same time.)

- poly 141 headcanons by @/sprout-fics

- netflix and chill by @luvit (this series was sooo 😵‍💫 the variation of kinks between each one was so hot. also it’s totally obvious that i rec everything from them)

- that man is a dog! by @/luvit (i need to catch up on this but i’m rec’ing this regardless bc i know it’s gold)

- contractor au by @/kyletogaz

- vampire 141 making you cum with a bite by @/kyletogaz

- you, gaz, and price by @kyletogaz

- squirting by @chamomiletealeaf (woof woof this is so fucking hot. i rec anything from them)

- 141 sharing you by @/captainfern

- backshots by @/captainfern

- free use by @ohbo-ohno (oh lord,, that is just the dream. where do i sign up? also i rec anything from bo)

- orgy by @/ohbo-ohno

- fucking machine by @/ohbo-ohno (i know this one isn’t including a reader but its sooo 😵‍💫 that i had to include it)

- body electric by @/yeyinde (THEE call of duty gangbang fic.)

- virgin reader x 141 i / ii / iii by @/yeyinde

- spoils by @/syoddeye

- pack cuddles by @mockerycrow (so so so cute. i’ve reread this countless times. i rec anything from crow)

- spread open by @iciclesses (oh lord!!!!! oh my god 😵‍💫😵‍💫 i rec anything from them ofc)

- they decide you’re theirs by @fulltacs (bowing down to you and your genius brain. thank you for feeding us and for doing the lords work ykwim 👀. i rec everything from them)

- poly 141 therapist sharing au by @kyletogaz (holy fuck holy fuck holy fuck)

- heavy hitters; a wrestling au by @dwarvenales (love love LOVE. i rec anything from kai ofc)

- scp au by @ghouljams (ok i know it’s not technically described as poly 141 per se but it’s a 141 au and i couldn’t resist adding it)

- binders and boyfriends by @pfhwrittes (again i know it’s not poly 141 per se but it includes the 141 as a whole and i couldn’t resist adding this to the rec list)

- tradie 141 au by @/pfhwrittes (again, couldn’t resist)

[dronebiscuitbat]

Oil is Thicker Then Blood (Part 12)

It took a lot of convincing to make N go home after that, too busy fretting over her to look at the time and his own needs for oil.

But eventually, with a promise to see him in the morning with their planned visit to Tera, he reluctantly made the journey home, the vision of Uzi injured and terrified stained in his permanent memory as he flew back to the spire.

He wanted to protect her, he ached to in a way he wasn't sure until today he was capable of. It was overwhelming, how badly he felt the need to. He'd felt like this before, at the manor, over V, and over Cyn, but at that time the only thing he could do for either of them was take the punishment meant for them on himself.

If Tessa hadn't been so good with machines, he was certain he wouldn't be around today to spend time thinking about it.

But Now? He unsheathed his claws and flexed them, and felt his wings on his back.

He had everything he could ever need to protect her, armed until his chassis was overcrowded with weaponry. Made for killing as quickly and as brutally as possible.

That made no difference when the thing that was threatening her was part of her. It wasn't something he could kill, or threaten or scare off. So how?

He didn't know. He didn't even know if it was possible. But he was going to try.

Those thoughts lingered when he flew directly into his nest, not even taking the time to say hello to V before crashing into it. He likely wouldn't get any sleep, despite how tired he felt. Screw getting oil, he'd had enough to get by for another day at least.

“What's got you in a mood?” V's voice wafted towards him, she sat on the edge of his nest, looking both curious and annoyed. Her stilt-like legs hung over the side and her hand was holding her face, looking mildly bored.

He was absolutely not in the mood.

“Since when do you care?” He barked back, crossing his arms and glaring at her in a quite convincing impression of Uzi. V looked taken aback for a moment before smirking.

“Purple Thing's rubbing off on you.”

He felt the heat rising to his visor, he could almost taste the “Bite me.” that threatened to fall from his mouth, but that would only prove her point, wouldn't it?

“Just…” He deflated, he wasn't angry at V, not really. Just upset at himself for being unable to protect his best freind possibly love of his life for the umpteenth time. “Leave me alone tonight V. You don't want to talk to me anyway.”

If he'd been looking at her, he would have seen her wince at that before looking a little bit guilty.

“Normally, No I don't.” V said, although something in her voice told N that she wasn't entirely telling the truth. “But I don't think I've seen you this upset before.”

He was uncharacteristically silent before he turned to her, searching her face for some resemblance of the girl back at the manor, and was mildly surprised when he found it her eyes were soft.

“I'm useless…” He murmured. Avoiding her gaze, feeling… not butterflies but definitely something as old and familiar, rise into his core.

V… didn't know how to respond to that. Any other day she'd agree and make fun of him, but hearing him say it about himself and mean it. Seemed to momentarily turn off that part of her brain.

“For what?” She asked, she refused to show any kind of weakness to him, voice still having bite.

“I don't know! Everything!” He stood up suddenly, throwing his hands forward in a display of utter frustration, something V was noticing him expressing more of recently. No longer was he N the doormat, he was N, the guy who called her out and was starting to speak his mind.

Some part of her was happy for him. Not that she'd ever admit it to him.

“I can't protect Uzi, I couldn't protect you, I live in a mound of freaking corpses! Corpses! This isn't a house V! We're essentially homeless!”

“I'm useless! I've always been…” He deflated again as he trailed off, anger shifting into quiet misery. He leaned his head on one of the walls of the spire.

“Ugh. Stop.” V said, annoyed.

“For the record. I can protect myself.” She proved it by unsheathing her claws and giving him a feral smile. He wasn't fazed, that had been V's default expression for a long while now.

“And I'm pretty sure your little purple girlfriend can too. She's not fragile. If you want proof go look at J's empty nest.” He didn't even register she'd said “girlfriend” only continued to wallow in his sorrow.

“So it doesn't matter if you're useless at that. Those bases are already covered.” She shrugged, smirking again, but it gradually left her face as she realized he still didn't look like he felt any better. He grumbled at her, sitting back down. Clearly still in misery.

“And if living here bothers you so much, move out!” She shouted, and that caught his attention. He shifted his gaze to look at her, cocking it like a curious puppy.

“I promised I'd always be there for you…” His voice was so quiet she'd barely registered it, but once she did she felt all her processors stop at once, an old yet familiar feeling rising in her chest.

She answered it with violence, growling like a feral cat until it was buried in her once again. No. She didn't feel that way about him, not anymore.

“That was years ago. I'm not…” She trailed off, she remembered how terrified she used to be and how powerless she was. N had been the only good thing the manor had ever offered her. And while she didn't feel the same way she used to about him (stupid in love) it wasn't like she wasn't appreciative. Or that she didn't care.

“I'm not the same terrified little girl you need to protect anymore. I've changed.”

“I know you have…” She dared to glance at his face and found some part of her aggression instantly melting, he was smiling softly at her, reminecent of their time at the manor and yet not quite the same.

“I'm… proud of you. You know?” He choked out, something that surprised even himself. He looked down for a moment, thinking more about his words before meeting her eyes again.

“You don't need me anymore, and yeah that hurt for awhile. But… I am proud.”

V had to look away, feeling something bittersweet crawl up her throat. She wasn't about to cry was she?

“I just wish you didn't feel like you had to close yourself off. I do miss talking to you.”

This conversation had gone a very different direction then either of them expected, and it was probably the longest one they'd had in a very long time.

V didn't have a response for that, at least not one that wouldn't completely ruin any semblance of self respect she had. But she didn't want to just say nothing. It had been nice… to hear that from him.

“I don't need that from you.” She said, aggression trying and failing to lace her voice. His face fell a little, and she felt the pang of guilt hit her harder than usual.

“But me too.” She said softly, and N couldn't help but smile. For a moment just a moment, he heard that sweet girl from the manor again, the one who's eyes lit up whenever she saw him and he'd spent many nights huddled under a blanket with, reading a stolen book from the library.

They made eye contact and V found herself blushing, not because of any lingering feelings, but because she'd been vulnerable and was still vulnerable and she didn't like it.

He warily opened his arms, silently asking if she wanted a hug. It wasn't the usual, “please hug me, I like you.” Kind she'd come to expect from him either, it was… more familial, less urgent.

Maybe that was why she crawled toward him and accepted, wrapping her arms around him loosely. She remembered being wrapped in his arms before, it had made her feel so safe. And it still did. Just… not in the same way.

“I really did miss you… you still into reptiles?” He asked softly, making a genuine laugh escape her before she answered.

“Yeah.” Was all she replied with, hiding her smile by looking away. This felt good. This felt right, and it lacked the weird tension that had lingered between them for a long time.

It only took another minute before she decided that the hug had reached it's end. N would cuddle with anyone who'd let him, and so she started to back away far enough to get out of his reach, but still sat beside him.

“If it really does bother you… you can move out.”

“I might, if I do though, would you want to too?” He asked, still looking at her, thankfully he didn't look as upset, still smiling softly.

“Like… with you…? N I thought we were-”

“No. Like, just out of here, in your own apartment. Like the one Uzi has.” He clarified, without any stammering either, so he wasn't covering his ass in a unsubtle confession.

“Am I even welcome there?” She asked, pure confusion on her face.

“I mean, you go to see Lizzy all the time. Why wouldn't you be?” With that she did blush, she hadn't realized he'd noticed her gone that much. Was she gone that much?

“I guess. The tower of corpses is menacing though… think they'd let me drag some of it in?” She gave him a feral smile, both hands switched back into claws, N just looked deadpan.

“Do not.”

She laughed, taking a liking to the fact he wasn’t all fun and games now. It made him more interesting, at the very least.

“What? Are you gonna stop me? Aren't you a lovable little sweetheart who's so worried about. “Protecting Me?”” She fluttered her eyelashes at him, sealing the mock with exaggerated kissy lips.

“I swear to robo god…” He mumbled under his breath, but he was amused, and happy oh so happy that she was talking to him. And being goofy! Wasn't that a sight.

“I don't sound like that.” He complained, but he was smiling, begrudgingly. For whatever reason it didn't sting as bad as her usual mocks.

“You do. If it makes you feel better, purple thing likes that about you~” V was satisfied, N felt better and honestly, she felt closer to him then she had in a long while, so falling back into teasing the life out of him felt safe to do.

He flustered, way more than she figured he would. A golden blush appearing at the bottom of his visor. She saw him glance to the floor and he gulped.

Oh

Oh

“Oh my robo god. You have a crush on her!” She cackled, letting out a wheeze as his blush only grew, he tried to look angry again, but it only made him look pouty.

“No! I-I Don't!” He stammered out, voice cracking like the liar he was. V continued to die of laugher, using her claws to dig into the wall of the spire to hold herself up.

“W-when did you. OH haHaha. When did this happen?!”

“It just sorta happened okay!” He yelped out, looking so embarrassed she was a little concerned he would bury himself in the corpse spire.

“Figures, she's you're type.” She finished, still laughing lightly. Honestly she saw a lot of herself in Uzi (yes she did actually know her name) her fiery personality tended to make them butt heads, but the little worker had a sweet side. And that was the side she assumed he'd fallen for.

“Wait Wait, don't tell me. Is she really shy around you? Does she let you cuddle with her? Do you make her feel safe?”

He blinked, how did V-?

“HA! You totally do have a type!” She dissolved into a fit of hysterical laughter. Watching as N looked at her with wide eyes.

“What do you mean by that?” He squealed, trying to think back, the only other person he'd ever had a crush on was the one currently laughing at him. But she wasn't shy, didn't let him cuddle her, and he seriously doubted she felt any safer with him then with her own claws. So what gives?

Well… she was shy at the manor, always more soft spoken and seemed to avoid speaking when she could. Plus all the little blushing, and then… well… they did often crawl under the blankets together, sometimes falling asleep in a heap until Tessa or J woke them up. And he'd been bigger than her then… always keeping her safe.

Oh

Oh

“Oh…” Was all he said, feeling the fluster even worse now. Crap did… did he really have this specific of a type?

“Uzi isn't shy! She's determined! And fiery!” He defended himself, while also convincing himself that he wasn't that predictable.

“That's true. But how is she with you~?” She asked teasingly, as if she already knew the answer.

Soft was the first thought. Sweet was the second.

Oh come on.

“Bite me!” He yelped before clasping his hand over his mouth. Blushing furiously. If anything V howled in laughter, digital tears pouring down her visor.

“Awww. The soft boy has a thing for soft girls~” She teased again, watching as N became more and more flustered.

“V!” He shouted, so what if he did?! It didn't give her the right to tease him about it. He liked feeling soft. It was comfortable. And it wasn't like he didn't like all the other aspects of her too!

“That's not- There's other things I like about her!”

“Oh? Does she look good in a little maid outfit?”

He kinda wanted to see that.

No. Don't prove her right!

“She's really smart, and brave. She always has a plan and… she's so strong.” His voice lightened up a bit, getting lost in it for a moment.

At that V ceased her laughter a little bit, she could keep teasing him telling him that “She was all those things too.” But at this point she'd had her fun. And wasn't all that interested in listening to him swoon over her.

“Alright, Alright… You totally wanna see her in a maid outfit though.”

“V!”

Next ->

[cyn-write]

MEET: Grace Wilde (Yuusona)

Thank you, @bunnwich, for the beautiful art!!! I love how she and Kerby look!!

Note: My TWST AU had NRC as a college instead of a high school, so all the characters are aged up 4 years! But in regular Au's Grace is 18.... maybe

Background: Prior to NRC, Grace was a college student at a small university in the middle of nowhere. She is the oldest sibling of 5 kids and came from a big, close nit family. She was really close with her mom and grandma as all three loved to read. She was always an over-achieving student, and her 4.0 helped her get a ton of scholarships from her university. Grace is an English-History Double major and wants to become a professor one day. All of this changed when she was hit by a car heading back to her dorm one day in an attempt to save some freshman girls from getting hit. Much like Yuuta and Yuukun in the manga, Grace died, and the black carriage took her to NRC.

Time at NRC: Once the whole opening debacle and the Grim situation are figured out, Grace is hit with the reality that she died, was sent to another world, and has no way home. Initially, it was rough, but thankfully, all the strange events kept her from mulling over all those traumatic events. Other than overblots, troublesome classmates, her dilapidated dorm, and a very hungry talking cat, she's fine. She actually really enjoys school and the challenges of being in a magic school with no magic. A few of the things that have kept her going are Ace, Deuce, Riddle, Azul, her friends, and Kerby (her Service Familiar).

The school nurse, Nurse Pinklee, with the help of Professor Trein and Crewel, convinced (blackmailed) Crowley into getting Grace a service familiar after Trein found her having a panic attack in the broom closet. Due to everything that has happened to her, dealing with so many overblots, and her being one of the only girls in the school and a magicless one at that, they made a very convincing argument. Crewel had a friend who trained service familiars and had the perfect pup. Trein and Crewel gave Grace the pup as a midterm gift (after Azul's Overblot). It was very similar to the scene in "Lady in the Tramp," Trein called Grace into his office, and a big box was waiting: A big Grytrash pup was waiting inside with a purple and green bow. Kerby, short for Cerberus, is a special type of service familiar. He helps her with bother her panic attacks and protects her from harm. On command, he can turn into a huge Cerberus with a Bark that can push people back. When Kerby is "resting" or there is no space for the big boy, he becomes a tattoo on Grace's arm. Kerby has helped Grace a lot and gives her a sense of comfort during extremely stressful or dangerous times. (Further explanation in a later post)

After Azul's overblot, Grace and Azul started to connect as she told him: "I know what it's like to be bullied over your looks, so if you want to talk about it, just let me know. We can talk, or I can listen. Kids can be awful, but I am here for you if you need... by the way, I think you were a pretty cute kid." Ever since then, Azul's heart grew three sizes for the magicless girl. Over the break, the two grew closer and by the end of the "Scarbia incident" Grace agreed to work at the Lounge (partly because she needed money and partly to be closer to Azul) and Azul worked up the courage (through relentless tweel bullying) to ask Grace out. She helps him deal with his insecurities, and he helps her deal with the fact that she can never go home. What started as a friendship for mutual gain became a loving relationship.

Before Pomefiore moved in for VDC, Thatch School for Delinquent Mages joined Ramshackle, Crowley tasks Cyn and Grace to not only continue doing Crowley-chores but watch over the delinquent students and help them fit in. Now, with a houseful of problems and more overblots occurring, things in Grace's life are chaotic and busy than ever, but fun, and she wouldn't have it any other way.

Trivia:

Much like Wendy is the "Mother" to the Lost Boys in "Peter Pan," Grace is often referred to as the "Mom" or "Mother" of the first year gang.

She is a year older than most of the first years and being an older sister in her old life, her mama instincts often take over when dealing with the first years + her friends (I see NRC as a COLLEGE, so I have aged up the characters for my au).

The "Mother" friend, she, Trey, Ruggie, Jamil, and Lilia, have a "parent-friend support chat" where they complain and can ask for help if someone's in trouble.

After the Thatch students join Ramshackle, Grace's mom-stincs skyrocket as she tries to make sure they stay out of trouble (as Cyn seems to encourage the mayhem) and help them adapt to regular college life again.

Ace, Deuce, and Grim are VERY overprotective of Grace. They see her as their sister, and no one is good enough for her. That being said, when Azul and Grace started dating, the trio tried (and failed) to stalk them on their dates, but each time, the Leeches showed up and booted them out per Azul's orders.

Grace and Cynthia are very close. Between splitting the Crowley Chores and Grim-sitting, they have a very special bond. Grace mainly deals with the overblots, but she asks Cyn for help with Leona, Azul, and Idia before Cyn herself overblots.

The reason Grace joined the Equestrian Club was because of Riddle. He agreed to join her book club as a way of taking a break if Grace agreed to join the Equestrian Club.

Riddle regards Grace as an Honerary member of Heartsyble after his overblot. The relationship the two have is odd as they are as close as family. Riddle tutors Grace to aid her in the knowledge that she was missing from not growing up in Twisted Wonderland while in return, Grace helps Riddle in "temper relocation" through writing, painting, crafting, or reading poetry, books, or plays aloud that Grace picked out.

Riddle, Grace, Deuce, and Carter are the first members of the NRC Book Club. Grace is a book nerd, and reading is her comfort in the craziness of NRC. Riddle joined because of the deal with Grace. Deuce thinks reading more will help him with his grades, and Cater joined to keep up with book trends on social media (for the aesthetic). After some time, Azul, Jade, Silver, Rook, and Malleus also join. They read a variety of books from Rom-coms (Carter's suggestion) to Classics (Malleus' Suggestion), and Grace loves the exposure to literature.

Grace and Trein have a special bond. After the first few classes, Grace goes up to Trein to talk about history because she thinks it's fascinating. Having a student who engages in class, does the reading, and wants to learn more is rare in his classes, so Trein appreciates it when she comes up to talk. Grace also reminds Trein of his stepson, Ellain, who attends RSA (despite his protest of wanting to be with his dad).

Trein steps in as Grace's Father Figure when parents are needed or it's a family-centric event. During the family days, when all her friends are off with their families, Trein offers to walk around with her and have tea while they discuss a range of things from history to her past.

Grace talks in her sleep, and when Cyn, Grace, and Grim stay with Leona in book 3, Grace woke up all three of them as she called out, "WATCH OUT!" In her sleep.

Grace always has a sewing kit, medicine, and a first aid kit in her book bag, which has been nicknamed - the black hole.

[canadiannationalfox]

Murder Drones Prequel fanfic - Gone Girl part 7 - Raising the Stakes

James Elliott paced back and forth in his office.

Cyn sat in a corner of the room, playing with a newton's cradel.

The was a pounding at the door before two human workers dragged in Alexandria who was still dressed like Tessa.

James approached the girl and scorned aggressively, "You have some major gall, young lady, for running away like that."

The little creepy absolute solver robot chimed in, "Sir, that is not Tessa."

The slightly taller guard confirmed dryly and sternly, "The drone is right, this is not your daughter, sir."

Alexandria was shoved to the floor, she sat looking up at the JC Jensen CEO, a glare of vitriol in her eyes as she glared.

"Why were you impersonating my daughter?"

Alexandria spat back, her voice teeming with disgust, "You really think I know what your daughter dresses like? I snuck out to the club to have fun and next thing I know your goons are dragging me away." She crossed her arms as she stood up, trying to make her 5'6" self look slightly taller as she stood up to the one who employed her and her father.

Cyn suggested in her maniacal monotone voice, "I think you should fire her, sir."

James couldn't believe it but he was actually sort of liking this drone. "I think the little robot is onto something."

Lexi barked back, "So? I could open my own shop and repair robots."

Mr Elliott didn't like that response. "You realize that JC Jensen holds the patent to all worker drones under the brand and 3rd party repair technicians will be forced to Cease and Desist all unauthorized work."

Lexi held strong, she wasn't going down without a fight that easily. She stated back, her confidence unshaken, "All because I was at a nightclub. I've read over the remote employee handbook and there's nothing in the dress-code about after hours attire and there's nothing in the guidelines about not being allowed to have downtime, especially for minors."

The little robo-anti christ responded in a sinister monotone beep, "[Giggle] Unless you knowingly dressed like Tessa to help her escape... Sh-should we actually be looking for a g-girl in pink argyle socks?"

Lexi went a little pale but did her best to try to not let them get to her.

James raised his cane over his head, ready to bring it down and shatter Lexi's kneecaps when his phone at his desk rang. He calmed himself, collecting his thoughts before he walked back over to his mahogany desk. "James Elliott, CEO of JC Jensen speaking," he greeted as he answered the phone.

--------------------------

"Hey Father," a soft and upset Aussie voice greeted into the payphone at a gas station still 185 kilometres away, "I'm safe... I'm sorry I ran off, that wasn't right of me... I'm coming home, I've been walking home, and if you're looking for me, right now I'm at the gas station diner outside of Cumberland and I'll be hitch hiking home."

-------------

Lexi perked up as she heard Tessa's voice, thankful her friend was safe.

James Elliott scolded into the phone, "When you get home, there's going to be serious consequences, young lady! Now get yourself home by tomorrow or your little robot is going to get it," he put the phone on speaker so Cyn could say something.

"[Giggle] I a-am in danger, Tessa," Cyn teased, knowing very well she could rip Mr. J Elliott's spine out of his back like it was bubble gum tape out of a hubba bubba container.

----------------

"No! I'll make it home, I promise, just don't hurt any of my robots" Tessa sobbed over the phone. Her eyes welled up as she heard her father shout at the phone, "Don't push your luck, dingo... You have until 10am... get going," before the line fell silent. She ran back to the van and hopped in, she hugged herself tightly once she was seated in the front seat with N and J. "Drive, J, drive," Tessa urged as she switched with N to the middle seat, buckled up, and began pulling her pink and purple wig off. N, who had just switched spots with Tessa, put his hand on her leg to comfort her. "What happened, if I can ask," he worriedly inquired, his insides whirring with anxiety for his human friend.

"Dad's going to kill Cyn if we don't get home before 10am," Tessa almost gagged from fear on her words. She clenched the pink wig in her hands and hugged it like it was a teddy bear, "It's going to be my fault... This is terrible... I... I... I shouldn't have gone out."

The once again formally dressed J, who would've normally boasted about being right, didn't feel that was the best option right now and chimed in reassuringly, "Tessa, princess, it's not your fault."

Tessa dried her eyes as she looked to her favourite girl worker drone, the mentioning of J's pet name for her had snapped her part way out of her panic spell.

"Look... You're subjected to actual torture and you're kept locked up like a budgie in a cage, you wanted an escape... and if things had gone differently, yes we might've gotten away forever... but... even if we didn't, we still had a great night out, and that's a memory you can cherish and recall." She felt a pang of guilt as she sighed, "Even when you're punished for however long they're going to punish you for..." J's voice got brave again, she soothed strongly, "And even then, I will be there for you... and so will N, even if I think he's as useful as a team morality pizza party."

Tessa let out a little giggle, despite her still crying. "You're right J..."

And N chimed in optimistically, "And it's not over yet! We have 8 hours to get home! That's lots of time!"

The road seemed to stretch on and on, the trees along the highway loomed like watching giants. J would pull over and switch off the van's lights whenever they'd see the headlights emitting a perfect #FFFFFF white light of another car coming up the road, since only JC Jensen had the right to use perfectly white tinted headlights.

The dark road stretched ahead, it was the final stretch back to the Elliott manor when.

"J, LOOK OUT A DEER!" Tessa screamed!

There was a deer on the road.

N, J, and Tessa braced himself for impact as the van landed into the ditch. All were unharmed, thanks to seatbelts.

J swerved the van and landed it right in the ditch. She cursed, "Son of a board room meeting!" before hopping out to assess the damage. The embankment back to the road was far too steep, even if the van was fine.

Tessa got out of the car and looked up the road, she knew that if they tried to walk home, they'd be caught. She felt herself get sick, her stomach lurched with anxiety and she hurried off the bushes.

J sighed feeling a sense of strong dread and finality, "I guess that's it... There's no other way home besides turning ourselves in and becoming scrap."

N remembered something and pulled out a spare flip-phone he kept on him any time he would take Tessa for a walk around the estate. He beamed as he started dialling.

"Who are you calling, dipshit?" J inquired as she crossed her arms, "That coma patient to let her know you're gonna die?"

N rolled his eyes and responded, "Actually yes. I'm calling that sweet little maid, and she has a name, it's V."

To be continued

[sixk-mutt]

Need a puppy to use, wanna teach em how to be a dog and how to play. Wanna hold em down while I mount them and shove my knot inside of them so deep while they whimper and bark for me

[arg-machine]

Comics at machine HQ

Well, looking back at the posts on this blog, arg sees that it’s almost time for a new Comics at machine HQ post, since the most recent one was published nearly half-a-year ago! So here’s one this week!

As regular visitors to this blog know, arg has been tackling a family emergency arising out of a family member’s passing and, with so many issues to be resolved, he hasn’t been able to read as many comics and/or graphic novels as he’d have liked to… As a result, this instalment of Comics at machine HQ has fewer titles than usual.

And yes, though not all the issues have been resolved, things are gradually returning to a new normal and this, as he explained in his previous post, may mean that arg will finally be able to get back to machine HQ work [provided no new hurdles/problems arise]...

Anyway, let’s move on now, to the comics/graphic novels that arg has enjoyed in the past few months…

Funnybooks! Here are the comics/graphic novels arg has read [and enjoyed!] in the last few months. All titles are arranged alphabetically, and related titles – or titles from related genres – are listed in the Also recommended sections. Keep in mind that a few of these titles are suitable for mature readers only.

“In 1969, a feisty new comics magazine emerged to rival the popular horror magazines Creepy and Eerie: Web of Horror. Conceived by a plucky, independent publisher, Web of Horror showcased instant classics of horror and science fiction by such rising stars of comic art as Bernie Wrightson, Michael Kaluta, Bruce Jones, Ralph Reese, Frank Brunner, Roger Brand, and Wayne Howard, as well as seasoned veterans such as Syd Shores and Norman Nodel, illustrating stories written by Otto Binder, Nicola Cuti, and others.

Now, over 50 years later, Fantagraphics presents the complete Web of Horror in one expertly edited and designed volume. In addition to all three published issues, this collection includes over a dozen stories intended for subsequent issues that have been rarely or never-before published, several long thought to be lost and recently unearthed…” Pretty freaky!

Also recommended: Epitaphs from the Abyss, Tales of the Unnamed - The Blizzard, The Midnite Show, Brynmore and Destiny Gate.

“Compelled to oblivion, driven to entropy, all life in our cosmos can only end in one place: COMPLETE ANNIHILATION! For the first time in 70 years, the limitless fury of EC Comics rages back to life to shred the very fabric of the universe itself and wrench bizarre tales of time and space into our dimensional plane!

Our guides across this double-sized, 40-page introduction to a cosmic maelstrom of strange extra-terrestrial entities, malevolent scientists, and terrifying technological catastrophes? Learn to fear the void with the irradiated imaginations of various acclaimed writers and artists.

The unpredictable return of EC Comics continues with the quantum comics event of the millennium! Galaxies will collapse. Space-time will be distorted. And your very will to exist, too, shall be broken… Just remember: it's all in the name of science!” A lot of fun, this one.

Also recommended: Judge Dredd: The Complete Case Files 44, Dandelion, Cyn, Crave, The Singularity and Hexagon Bridge.

arg loooves ducks! Especially when they’re called Daffy or… Donald! And yes, that short-tempered, lovable waterfowl is now 90 years old!

“In honor of Donald Duck's 90th anniversary, join us in tracing his comics career from 1934 to the present!

Carl Barks' Lost in the Andes and Don Rosa's Return to Plain Awful take the Ducks to the legendary land of square eggs while Romano Scarpa's Legend of Donald Hood pits Donald against Scrooge in a feature-length Sherwood Forest spoof! Marco Rota's Life and Times of Donald Duck traces our hero from birth as a wild duck in a nest, while William Van Horn's The Black Moon finds outer-space peril threatening Duckburg!

From Daisy to Gladstone to Gyro and the Beagle Boys, the gang's all here for an unprecedented look at everybody's favorite duck!”

Also recommended: The Goon - Them That Dont Stay Dead, Groo - In the Wild, Marvel and The Heavy Bright.

“Andrew Vachss' writing has been described as ‘red-hot and serious as a punctured lung’ (Playboy), hypnotically violent… made up of equal parts broken concrete block and razor wire’ (Chicago Sun-Times), and ‘short and choppy, like the ticking of a time bomb’ (Seattle Post-Intelligencer).

In this graphic novel, dozens of comics writers and artists bring to life an assortment of Vachss' trademark life-at-ground-zero stories. This edition of Hard Looks contains 15 entries from the first Dark Horse edition as well as "Half Breed," a never-before-published prose story by Vachss, with illustrations by Geofrey Darrow, creator of Shaolin Cowboy and conceptual designer for The Matrix trilogy of films. Darrow also provides a new cover illustration.”

Also recommended: Leone - Notes on Life, Pocket Full of Rain, Seoul Before Sunrise, The Really Complete Paradise Too, Memoirs of a Man in Pajamas and Monica.

“An FBI agent from the cult crime beat and a woman with a past linked to the Satanic Panic are drawn into a terrifying hunt for an insane killer hiding in the shadows of the underworld. Can you ever escape your past, or are all your bad decisions just more ghosts to haunt you, wherever you go?

Houses Of the Unholy is a riveting horror thrill ride from bestselling creators Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips, the award-winning team behind Criminal, Reckless, Night Fever, and Where The Body Was.”

Also recommended: The Horror, Men of Wrath, FATCOP, Out of the Blue - The Complete Series, Ain’t No Grave, Lost Boy and Invisible Wounds.

…and now, it’s time for a machine HQ’s Retro Pick!

“Sandman Mystery Theatre was an ongoing comic book series published by Vertigo Comics, the mature-readers imprint of DC Comics. It ran for 70 issues, one annual, and a cross-over special between 1993 and 1999 and retells the adventures of the Sandman, a vigilante whose main weapon is a gun that fires sleeping gas, originally created by DC in the Golden Age of Comic Books. In a similar vein to Batman, the Sandman possesses little to no superhuman powers, though he has minor precognitive abilities through his prophetic dreams, and relies on his detective skills and inventions.

In this film noir-like series by writers Matt Wagner and Steven T. Seagle, Wesley Dodds (the Sandman) and his girlfriend Dian Belmont (daughter of the District Attorney) encountered several, often grotesque, foes in multi-issue storylines…” Classic stuff!

That’s it for this new comics/graphic novels list, visit The Apocalypse Project on Mastodon, twitter/X and on tumblr, and don’t forget to check out the machinstagram too!

Header image features artwork from Weird Work and from Voices That Count - A Comics Anthology by Women.

[md-confessions]

I'm the best Murder Drones character but you peasants aren't ready for that discussion.

how did you get here. shoo shoo no eldritch horrors allowed!!! this is a no eldritch horrors zone!!

[serial-designation-dz]

Part 2 of misc. Wips I never posted.

First: Spiritdrones wips!

The last one is how Uzi met Cyn for the first time.

Rest below the cut

[divergenceau]

Multicare Patreon Leak (Divergence TTKM)

vanilla sections only btw (lol) (gru answered)

honestly man i feel like anything past nurse mood's section probably makes literally no sense so if there's anything i should probably change to make this roster not stupid tell me

no i don't support the absolute pile of pure subhuman filth that is smash bandicoot

Xenophanes - Ctesias

Boyfriend - Garfield (or just boyfriend as an anthry)

Tails - Barry

Knuckles - Caroline

Eggman - Cuddles

Metal Sonic - Kneevil

Amy - Hemera

Shadow - Nurse Doom

Rouge - Rem

Big - Polly

Chaos - Peepbeep (DEBATABLE)

Majin Sonic - Doodle Uni

Spy - bear5

Silver - Mel

Blaze - Cyn

Cream - Jay

Team Chaotix - Miley, Jandy and Bec

E-123 Omega - Nurse Mood

Chip - Finnegan (DEBATABLE)

Scratch and Grounder - Funfetti and Puppy

Sally - Kiki Piralis (DEBATABLE)

Sticks - Sunshine

Babylon Rouges - Social Workers

Emerl - Solva Puzzle (DEBATABLE)

Erazor Djinn - Handerson (DEBATABLE)

Bean - Orange

Orbot and Cubot - Sugar Twins

Chris Thorndyke - Ribbon Pop (DEBATABLE)

Heavy and Bomb - The Kiddois

Bark - Chipsky

Infinite - Party

Omochao - Sickov Thistle/Kitter Catter

Eggman Nega - Dr. Prickles

Fang - Reese

The Deadly Six - The Cometkids (PROBABLY THE WORST OFFENDER)

Honey - Nya

Flicky - A Random Worm

Tikal - Jean Errie

Ray and Mighty - Scratch and Pepper

Tails Doll - Barrific

Tom Wachowski - Nadia Snare (DEBATABLE)

Metal Knuckles - shit uhhh bearry??? idk (honestly dawg idk)

Mecha Sonic - Charles Wells (DEBATABLE)

Black Doom - Bea (DEBATABLE)

King Arthur - Stone (DEBATABLE)

Lumina - Lee Pinata (DEBATABLE) (he would be coconuts if he had a section but he doesn't sooo)

Imperator Ix - Healy Yum or Suffuzz (DEBATABLE EITHER WAY)

Bunnie Rabbot - Till Fate

Tangle and Whisper - Kills and Shortnick

Soul Spy - Phantom bear5

Kyle and Tom - Emem and Tears

Super Xenophanes - Enchanted Ctesias

Hyper Xenophanes - idk dawg

[cynical-werewolf]

undefined

An important message from Odin.

[vespertine-legacy]

OC Voice Reference Meme

(technically tagged by @rainofaugustsith​ when she was talking about Ror, even if that was not her intention)

Let’s give Zuvi a go!

Bold what applies to your muse, italicize situational ones. Feel free to add your own suggestions and carry it on.

► ACCENT

“country” │ “backwoods” │ “sailor” │ “noble” │ foreign speaker | “The Queen’s English” with a dash of cockney | “socal surfer”

► ELOQUENCE

educated │ uneducated (or at least comes off that way to some) │ don’t use conjunctions │ shortens words │ just make up their own words! │ old English │ doesn’t use contractions |  mispronounces big words (not because she doesn’t know better, just to piss people off if they’re being too pretentious)

► TONE

loud │ soft │ room volume │ high pitched │ low pitched │seductive │ velvety │ speech impediment │ abrasive │ gruff │ shrill │ booming │ matter-of-fact │ toneless │ husky │gravelly │ breathy │ nasal │ barking │ chatty │ condescending │ musical │ suave │ world-weary │ brash │ authoritative 

► HABITS

refers to self in third person plurals │ incorporates different languages/terms/sayings │ uses gender-specific terms │ adapts to audience │ changes pitch around animals or children (especially around her pets) │ shifts tone when lying │ gives others nicknames │ uses terms of respect towards others (although sometimes with great sarcasm) │ uses terms of affection towards others

► VOICE REFERENCE

Kath Soucie, the voice actor for the female smuggler, is just about everything I wanted for Zuvi’s voice (even if every now and then, if I close my eyes while she’s talking, I hear Kanga from Winnie the Pooh and it is disorienting to say the very least). She’s got a little bit of the “charming hick” from a small town/backwater planet thing going on, but she manages to keep her accent neutral most of the time--it’s easier to put people off their guard and keep business transactions friendly that way. But she is also able to shift her accent around and pick up the accents of people around her a little. Her tone is incredibly versatile: her baseline seems to be loud and brash, but her natural pitch is low and just a little husky, and she has taught herself to speak with authority to counter being a woman of diminutive size in a man’s galaxy. And her voice easily shifts down into seductive/velvety/breathy territory in the company of anyone she’s trying to flirt with or around certain individuals (*waves at Risha, @rainofaugustsith​’s Ror, @sunsetofdoom​’s Cyn*).

If you’d like to do this, consider yourself tagged!

[seromreven]

title: songbird.

pairings: cynthia lennon/female!reader, (kinda) | cynthia lennon/john lennon, (former).

summary: it’s 1968 and the aftermath of John and Cynthia Lennon’s divorce. You’re her best friend through many years; staying at her house to support her and her son through this hard time.

author’s note: hard feels time, y’all.

---

The rain beat hard and fast against the wooden roof of the house known as Kenwood. It was early August but you could easily be fooled by the weather into thinking it was late autumn as the wind and rain knocked hard against the windows of the old house.

You were there visiting your good friend Cynthia in a show of support as she went through a tough and unjust divorce from her musician husband John Lennon. And, by God, did she need it. It was destroying her emotionally and physically as she yet again laid flat on her stomach, crying her heart out, on the large queen bed that she once shared with her so beloved husband.

You were out in the large garden, out in the pouring rain, with her young son Julian. Trying to distract him from the drama and the depressive state of his mother. He was five and was well aware of the situation so as much as you wanted to distract him from all that went on; it was far too late. He had, when you first told him to dress up and go outside, asked you if it was because his mother was crying again. It broke your heart and there was nothing you could say to it but put on your coat and boots in demure silence.

You had known Cynthia long before John had entered the picture. Long before Julian and The Beatles. And you had loved her for just as long. Not as a sister or as a friend; as your best friend. You loved her as something more. Something you never had found the ability to give a name to. You were sure it was more than platonic. Something bordering on romantic, but it had never been confessed. Never something even slightly hinted at. You didn’t want to risk the relationship you had with her. And it definitely couldn’t be brought up now in the mess of a situation John had left her in.

Oh, you could kill him. How he dared to do this to her! Cheating on her with who knows how many women over the years and then all that culminating in bringing in some abstract concept artist into their marital bed while she was on a vacation he sent her on! The gall of the man!

And, oh, you had made your feelings very known when he once showed up unannounced with his new lover at the apartment you stayed at with Cynthia in London. They no longer liked Kenwood, it being too solitary or some bullshit, and wanted to stay there instead. You told him to stick where the sun wouldn’t shine and then some but was quickly ushered away by Ringo Starr, the actual owner of the aforementioned apartment.

Cynthia was fine with it as she had come to miss Kenwood in the time she had stayed in London. But the sight of him and that Yoko Ono had sent her back into a spiral she had otherwise slowly been crawling out of.

So, here you were, in the rain, hopping around in puddles with Julian and the white terrier dog that you shared with Cyn. He seemed content enough at the moment. Pearls of the wonderful laughter of children getting caught in the wind as he kicked and splashed water and mud into the air. Mickey, your West Highland White Terrier, barking along as it rolled around on the wet grass, much to your dismay.

After a long while, you had no way to keep track of how long, you were getting pretty wet. And exhausted from all the running around. Telling Julian so; you forced the young boy inside and gave him the chore of drying up Mickey as you went to boil water for a nice cup of tea for the both of you.

Setting Julian down at the kitchen table; you told him to wait for you there with a set of crayons and a colouring book as you went upstairs to check on his mother.

Cynthia had been quiet the entire time you had been back inside and you had assumed she must have fallen asleep in the aftermath of her fit of sorrow. And so it seemed as you entered the room to fit her gently snoring with her head resting on her arms in what looked to be a rather uncomfortable position. There would be nothing you could do to help her out of the future soreness without waking her up so you resigned yourself to pull over a thin quilt gently and quietly made your way back down to Julian.

Julian was sitting in deep concentration as he drew into the big book with a yellow crayon held fast unto in a tiny fist as it went well beyond the lines of the drawings. You had given him a glass of milk as he was yet to have any interest or taste for tea. His feet swung back and forth from the high seat, narrowly hitting Mickey on the ground who seemed to have no interest in moving out of the way.

You hummed along to the radio that was playing at a low volume as you watched Julian colouring the various pictures of animals and plants. None of the colours fitted the real-life counterparts and the sight of it made you miss the creativity and innocent of childhood in contrast to the sharp and sudden swings and responsibilities of adulthood. You sipped slow sips from your mug as time went by in your watching of Julian. No talking was done as you were quite sure he had completely forgotten you in his enthrallment of the drawings.

If one good thing had come out of Cynthia’s involvement with John; it had been Julian. You loved him as if he was family of your own, which he practically was. You had been around him since his birth. Been around him more then his father had, due to his tight schedule of touring and recording and sleeping around.

No! You refused to get angry again. Angry at the thought of a man that wasn’t even present. Angry at the harm and emotional torment he had caused not only his wife but his son!

Your knuckles were turning white around the grip you had on your mug as you shimmered silently in anger, hoping it would go unnoticed by the young boy next to you. But, fortunately, you were distracted from your sullen thoughts at the sound of a motor roaring and stopping right outside on the road belonging Kenwood.

You went to the window and looked out, mug still in hand, and immediately recognised the car. It belonged to none other than Paul McCartney; a man you otherwise hadn’t seen in a while. You watched him go up the stone pathway leading to the house until he reached the main door and knocked.

Julian’s head shot up from his intense staring contest with the picture of a gorilla and he looked eagerly back and forth between you and the door.

“Julian, it’s uncle Paulie coming to see you!”

You laughed as the young boy jumped down the chair with a great big grin on his face and rushed to the front door. You heard the familiar laughter of Paul as you made your way to the entrance. His arms were in a tight embrace around Julian who was carrying in his arms as he was closing the door behind him; talking and laughing with the kid as he did so.

Julian was animatedly talking about his day, waving his arms around as he described the rain and the animals in his book and how he had played around with Mickey in the garden and how he had painted the tiny dog brown with the mud. Just like in his book!

Paul could only nod to you in greeting as he went into the living room with the boy in his arms, still talking and laughing. You followed along after you had cast a single glance up the stairs towards the room Cynthia were sleeping in. You hoped desperately she was staying undisturbed as sleep had been something she severely needed.

You sat down quietly in an armchair facing the sofa where Julian was still talking. It seemed the conversation had gone from his day to the socks he was wearing. It was a pair he had gotten for his birthday by your parents (they were, in a way, adoptive grandparents of his. Something John had never liked) and they were decorated with small giraffes in bright colours. It was the only pair he ever wanted to wear, though you had the misfortune of crushing his dreams every time they needed a wash.

The moment you had the change; you told Julian to go play with his toys as you needed to have a ‘grown-up’ chat with his uncle. He didn’t seem to mind as he quickly nodded and rushed to his various spinning tops and variants of wooden toys your father had made for him.

Paul looked at you, curious and with his brows raised as he leaned forward to sit closer to you as you said in a hushed voice; wanting to avoid Julian overhearing.

“Cyn’s finally sleeping,” you said with some relief as you glanced towards the entrance hall where the staircase proudly stood. He nodded in thought with the slight mutterings of ‘good’.

Paul hadn’t been a rare presence in the house. Often visiting and checking up on the three of you when his schedule allowed it. He hadn’t deemed the divorce as an end to his friendship with either of you and for that, you were beyond grateful. You needed the extra company for when your feelings for Cynthia and your rage for John (who she still held deep feelings for) became too overpowering. He had become your confidant. And, in a moment of weakness, you had confided in him the feelings you harboured for Cynthia. He hadn’t shunned you. Hadn’t cursed you out for the things you felt for the other woman. He had seemed, in a way, understanding of your situation. Though he hadn’t said so.

Paul got you out of your thoughts (again) when he said; “I wrote a song. For Jules. To cheer him up, y’know.”

“A song?” you asked with a raised brow. Not all too surprising considering who he was. But it still took you by surprise as it was a gesture you hadn’t expected.

He nodded; clearly excited about his musical feat; “it’s not finished yet but it’s… good, if I do say so myself. Did it all on me own,” he said with a wink and you laughed. Though you didn’t admit to it; you were quite excited to hear the song. Especially if it was meant for dear Julian.

You had a long line of questions ready to be asked concerning him, the song, the bastard John, when you overheard the small tapping of feet from the floor above you. You looked up, for some reason thinking that would serve you as a guide as to what was making the noise. Quickly glancing back to Paul, you realised what or whom it was; you stood up with a sigh.

“I’ll go check on her,” and you quickly left to make the journey of the stairs. You whispered her name as you entered the bedroom and saw her staring blankly at the wall where they once had hung a portrait of her and John. It’s current location you didn’t know. It had been long gone once you had finally arrived at Kenwood weeks ago.

She didn’t seem to notice your appearance, though you had called out to her. She didn’t stir or look away from the wall and you were about to leave again when a gentle voice asked you something you hadn’t expected; “lay with me.”

You halted in your steps and swore that your heart stopped beating. Had you heard correctly? You turned and closed the quietly behind you as you looked at her, feeling very confused as you looked at her from your place against the door.

She finally looked to you, tears in her eyes. Her cheeks already a bright pink from her earlier crying.

“I mean nothing improper. I just… miss having arms around me. To hold me.”

You nodded and slowly made your way over to her. Your hard was beating fast as you neared her and the world felt like it was starting to spin. So it was a good thing you laid down on the soft bed, atop the covers. She turned on the bed and with her slender hands, guided yours to hold her gently. With a small whimper and sigh; she leaned against your chest with her hands still on yours.

It didn’t take long before you felt yourself relax and both of your breathing slowed down. You felt her warm breath on your skin through your thin summer shirt which was quickly followed by her calm snoring. And though you knew it was but a momentary event; something that had been followed by pain and unjust suffering, you wanted it to last eternally. This serene, peaceful, moment that so rarely came around these recent years.

You figured you would eventually be missed downstairs but, oh, how you couldn’t give a damn as Cynthia held tight unto your fingers as she finally got the rest she desired.