#did you know drawing lego pieces hard actually. i like drawing boxes so i thought itd be easier but no. found lego references to get by

[dawnarts]

I think I died?

Image description: digital drawing of linclon from dungeons and daddies season 2. Linclon is a black teen wearing a blue, red, and yellow sweater and the same colored sneakers and torn jeans. He is falling backwards into darkness. Falling around are lego blocks in red, blue, and yellow. End image description.

[tomtenadia]

Remember us - part 4

Hello lovelies,

It’s Thursday evening and I have some angst coming your way :)

Please enjoy part 4 of Remember Us

CW: mention of depression and miscarriage

--------

Rowan had the week from hell. Rehab had been relentless and Dorian had taken him to the gym everyday, but at least now he could say that he was able to walk the length of the walking bars and back. In the last couple of days Dorian had pushed for him to start using crutches, insinuating to the fact that the doctor was thinking about discharging him.

On top of the pain from rehab he was still punishing himself for what had happened with Aelin. Every morning he woke up and the first thing he did was to look at his phone for a reply from her, but nothing ever came.

The doctors think they might discharge me in a few days. Dorian is making me a pro at using crutches.

Maybe a good news might cheer her up.

He tried to watch tv but lost interest very quickly so he went back to his phone. He had been reading the whole thread of messaged between him and Aelin and discovered some interesting tidbits. They bickered a lot but from the text messages it looked as if they would always make up in the end. He also found some texts that made him blush wildly. But what was always present was love. That he knew was real.

He was absorbed in the texts that he did not notice the woman who had entered his room.

She was blonde, the same golden shade that Aelin had.

“Hi Rowan,” she greeted him walking fully into the room “I brought you your favourite biscuits. Hospital food is atrocious.”

The stranger placed the box on the nightstand “orange oatmeal cookies.”

He looked at her puzzled.

“I am Evalin. I am Aelin’s mum and your mother in-law.”

Rowan straightened his back, wanting to make a good impression, realising a moment later that the woman knew him already.

She took a seat on the chair near his bed “how are you doing?”

He had good vibes from the woman and he was impressed just how much her daughter resembled her “Adjusting…discovering new things that are not actually new.”

Evalin patted his knee “are any memories coming back?”

“I had a couple. All related to moments with Aelin.” He paused, sighed and gathered the courage to ask about Aelin. He hadn’t her from Aelin in a week “How is she doing? I haven’t heard from her in a week.”

Evalin hesitated “she is not well. She had been off from work the whole week.”

Rowan worried. Without realising it he felt a pang of fear rise in him “is it the pregnancy?”

Evalin nodded “partly. She has been very stressed this last month which has been hard on her and the baby.”

He threw his head backwards and leaned into the pillow “and it doesn’t help that I pile on with my stupidity.”

“She told me what happened.” The woman said quietly and he had a feeling that all of a sudden she had lost all of her respect for him “It must be scary to be in your position right now.” she admitted “I can see that you were just trying to protect my daughter, because the heart is a treacherous thing and I don’t think Aelin would survive loosing you completely and again.” The woman’s eyes were on him now “As a mother who loves her daughter and her grandchildren deeply and accepted you like a son… all I am asking is to give it a try.” She took his hand in hers “I know I am asking a lot of you, but you two used to hate each other and look where you got in the end.”

“What if I am not anymore the man she loves? I am scared that something might have broken in me and I don’t want to hurt her or the kids.”

Evalin squeezed his hand “listen to your heart, what does it tell you?”

“Try.” He whispered and he knew it was true “if I tell you something will you promise you will not think of me as crazy?”

Evalin shook her head.

“When I saw her the first time, I could not recognise her, but my body somehow did. I felt a tug… as if something pulled me to her. I don’t know how to explain it. There was a sense of familiarity.” He explained, thinking he sounded like a complete lunatic, but Evalin smiled deeply at him.

“I think it was your soul recognising its other half.” And she chuckled “my husband used to tell me I was an hopeless romantic.”

“I dreamed our wedding day, the day both kids were born and some other moments with her have come back.”

“And how do they make you feel?”

“There is always love. I am sure Aelin and I had our bad days but the memories coming back so far are all happy.” He told the woman.

“Then treasure those feelings.”

They stood in silence for a moment then Rowan spoke again “can I ask you something?”

Evalin nodded.

“Aelin mentioned that before having Thomas and Freyja we had problems and lost as well. How bad was it?”

He wasn’t sure if he should talk about it but he wanted, needed to know. He needed to know more about his relationship with Aelin and Evalin seemed very keen to indulge him.

“You started trying after you got married. You were both obsessed about having a big family so you started straight away. But it took Aelin a year to get pregnant.” She told him and he could see the heartbreak in the woman “you lost the first baby in the first trimester. But the second one happened during her fifth month. She woke up one night bleeding heavily and you lost your baby girl. It destroyed you both.”

Evalin paused, giving him time to absorb the facts “Aelin was heartbroken and you were just the same. And your marriage suffered quite badly, but slowly you both found your way back together. Thomas arrived a year later.”

Rowan listened and he felt a stab of pain in his heart. How did they survive such pain?

“You both went through something more horrific, and I am positive you will survive this too. You have to.” The woman stood and placed her bag back on her shoulder “next time you see Aelin, talk to her. Tell her about your fears. Let her in Rowan, she is your wife.”

She was about to leave when she stopped and pulled something from her bag. It was a piece of paper “Thomas did this for you.”

Rowan took the paper and saw it was a messy drawing of his family. The four of them were all there “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

Evalin smiled and left the room, leaving Rowan on his own.

He thought about his options and realised that he had none. They were his family and in that moment they were all he knew. He had no idea if he had any friends close enough who would take him in. And who would do that anyway? He was a burden. But Aelin had offered him a home. A family. And eventually love. Maybe Evalin was right, maybe with time and patience he could learn to love her again. He just hoped he was not too late.

*

Aelin woke up from her afternoon nap and found her mother playing with Thomas. Freyja was napping as well on the sofa, her soft toy close to her chest, her blanket wrapped around her and a pacifier in her mouth. She looked serene.

Thomas was building something with lego. His father was obsessed with the colourful bricks and he had bought huge quantities and they would sit and build for hours.

“What are you building, Tom?”

“Our house.”

She ruffled his blonde hair and went to sit opposite her mother.

“How are you doing?”

Aelin sighed “the nausea stopped, but I still feel exhausted.”

“You should go back to bed.”

Aelin shook her head “If I keep sleeping I will not be able to do so tonight.”

Evalin took a sip of her tea “I went to see Rowan this morning.”

Aelin froze. She had retyped and deleted the reply to him countless times now. She had wanted to tell him she was scared too. Tell him that she knew it was hard for him and that she was ready to stay at his side and help him. They would find their way back. They always did even during the darkest moments of their marriage when she pushed him away because she thought the pain was only hers, Rowan had fought to be back at her side. Together they rose from the abysm and their bond grew even stronger.

“How is he doing?”

“Your husband needs you at his side. He is lost, and confused.”

“He told me to move on. He told he might not want to be my husband anymore.” She snapped, her heart aching.

“Have you considered that he might have said that to protect you? He is afraid you will not love the man that will come out of this ordeal. He thinks that by leaving him he will protect this family.”

Aelin sobbed, her face in her hands “I miss him so much.” Her sobs grew in intensity.

Thomas noticed his mother cry and walked to her and gave Aelin a hug “don’t cry, mum.”

“I am fine, Tom. Go back playing with lego.” She kissed his blonde hair and sent him back on the carpet.

“I know you are the doctor,” started Evalin caressing her sleeping granddaughter’s silver hair “but I did some reading and it seems like sensorial stimulation might help trigger the memories.”

Aelin nodded “He has his phone back with all the photos and the texts.” She took a deep breath “he texted me saying that the doctor might discharge him in a few days and I don’t know what to do.”

Evalin gave her a dashing smile “you are taking your husband back to this home where he belongs.”

Aelin felt fear at the idea “have you thought how the kids will feel at seeing their dad that way? I can’t put them through that.”

Her mother placed a hand on her knee in comfort “have you thought about the fact that being surrounded by a familiar environment might be best way to help him?”

She had not. All she had been thinking since that text had been her children. She wanted him back. There was no doubt about it. But she had to protect them. She was an adult and could endure the pain. They could not. They had no idea what was happening.

“You could explain to Thomas what happened and ask him to help you to get his dad back.”

Her boy, her wonderful boy, she could not do that to him. Her hands shook in fear.

“Aelin, he needs his family. All of us.”

She stood abruptly “he should go and stay with friends. Lorcan perhaps.”

Evalin stood as well and joined her “He and Elide have a baby who is only a few months old, they will not take him in. And they cannot help. He needs us. He needs all of this.” Her arms extended to indicate the house around them.

“He might not want this.” Aelin snarled “he made it quite clear.”

Evalin loved her daughter but she had inherited her father’s stubbornness. But if Aelin was stubborn, she was on another level “Aelin, you are going back to work tomorrow. You march in your husband’s room and tell him that he is coming home. Where he belongs. And don’t fight me on this.”

Aelin knew her mother had her best interest at heart. She was the one who had dragged her out of the abysm she had thrown herself into after they lost their daughter. After she had pushed Rowan away, Evalin had been at her side. Helping through the pain of the loss, fighting her depression with her. Slowly she had made her realise that Rowan was hurting too. That the pain was his as well and that he could be the one pulling her out completely. In the end they had helped each other.

To whatever end.

It was their pact, their promise.

An oath that went deeper than a I love you.

It was a thread that bound their souls together.

To whatever end.

[effieduan]

Dragon Pool Parties || SOLO

TIMING: July 22, 2006 - when Effie was 12-years-old.

LOCATION: The Duan’s old house in Portland.

PARTIES: @effieduan & a neighbor.

SUMMARY: All Scottish castles have dragons, and Effie is lonely.

CONTENT: brief mentions of heart attack. 12 year olds being 12 year olds.

Screams of laughter and splashing could be heard from over the tall fence. Effie sat on her on the back porch, facing away from the fence and her back pressed up against the railing. Her gloves - today a bright blue, like the sky - lay across her lap and her new lego set sat in front of her, only half-heartedly started.

Grandma was in town. Her mom’s mother, which meant she couldn’t spend all her time in her basement and had to go out and get ‘fresh air’ while her sisters, mom, and dad went to the pool party next door. Apparently, it wasn’t healthy for a 12-year-old to spend all their time in the basement tinkering with the ‘computer junk’, and she needed hobbies and interests beyond that.

That’s how the lego thing happened, and if she didn’t get this stupid castle built or at least substantially off the ground by the time Grandma tomorrow afternoon, she was going to be in trouble for being ‘ungrateful’ or ‘having a bad attitude’.

Effie heard a scream from over the fence, followed by a loud splash and laughter. She glanced over her shoulder, but couldn’t see anything over the tall fence. Technically, she had been invited to the pool party too, but she obviously couldn’t go. Effie didn’t remember what excuse her parents had used this time, but she hoped it wasn’t chickenpox again. It took ages for the Dugan boys to stop bawk-bawking at her every time she took a walk.

Grandma was supposed to be watching her play with her lego set - to spend time with her little darling granddaughter since “hardly got the chance”, but had wandered over to get some fun pictures of Ellie, Emme, Ed, and Eva in their new swimsuits. Her sister’s got new swimsuits and she got the lego set -- Effie still wondered what the hell her parents told Grandma to get her to go along with the gloves, and the homeschooling and whatever else. Her father had just gingerly patted her on the head and said “Don’t worry about it, we have it all taken care of.”

Effie ran her fingers along the smooth lego piece as she examined the problem in front of her. It wasn’t that she didn’t like the lego sets - or, well, okay, she didn’t despise them like she did the stupid easy-bake-oven Grandma had tried the last time. It was just the pieces were so small and all of them were the same color. This was a castle, sure, but did all the pieces have to be grey?!

“Is that an English or a Scottish castle?”

Effie jumped, disturbing the little board she had so the pieces didn’t fall in between the cracks in the porch. There was a pop somewhere in the house that told Effie she would have to reset the breaker again -- fine, she’d do it later. But she was more preoccupied with the boy that wandered over from the party on the other side of the fence. He had dirt on his nose, held a soccer ball, and wore a power rangers shirt with black swim trunks.  Effie gaped as the boy peered at the lego box she propped up as a reference

“Who the hell are you?!”

The boy took his gaze from the box to her, scandalized. “You can’t say hell,” he said.

“I can so!”

The boy looked like he hadn’t thought of that. “Oh.” He stared at her. “I��m Michael.” He went back to looking at the picture of what her lego castle was supposed to look like. She realized he was a kid from across the street - not one of the Dugan boys, but he was always playing soccer on the front lawn with his brothers.

Nervously, Effie put the lego piece back on the corkboard and quickly went to put her gloves back on. “I’m Effie,” she said. “I don’t know if that’s a Scottish Castle or an English Castle, I don’t know what the difference is.”

“There are differences,” the boy said, looking at her knowingly. She believed him but had no idea what he was talking about. “You don’t look like you have the chickenpox.”

Effie bit back a groan. “I don’t.”

“That’s what your mom said you had. That’s why you aren’t swimming with everyone else.”

“Yeah,” Effie said, giving a non-committal shrug. She couldn’t correct herself and saying she did have chickenpox actually because that would be a lie - she couldn’t do that.  She could figure out some fancy wording as her dad taught her, but she wasn’t exactly keen on the neighborhood children thinking she had chickenpox again.

“Are you sick or something?” The question was blunt enough to make her stop thinking about hawking prepubescent boys.

“What?”

“Sick,” Michael said again. “Is that why you don’t go to school or come to parties or anything?”

Effie didn’t answer, and looked back at her lego set, reaching out for one of the larger pieces so she could keep her hands busy. It was harder with the thick rubber gloves around her fingers - it would be a nightmare trying to complete it with her gloves on.

“It’s just better like this,” Effie said, realizing that Michael hadn’t moved from the spot. More splashing and screaming from over the fence caught his attention.

“Why?” he asked, though he was craning his head to see if he could get a glimpse over the fence.

Annoyance crept into her. Why did he even come over here to bother her? “Can you go away?”

Michael looked back at her, surprised. “Why?” he asked. “You’re not contagious, are you?”

“No, I’m just trying to do my lego set.”

“You’re doing a bad job. You haven’t even started on the watchtowers, and you put the wrong pieces in for the draw bridge.”

Effie’s gaze snapped back to the set in front of her. “I did not!” Except there was a large possibility that they did. They all looked the same and were the same color. Whose bright idea was that? She frowned.

“You want to use the A-3467 parts, not those. I think my cousin has that set.”

Effie blinked, looking between Michael and the set. He was looking back over the fence again as someone turned the music up. Justin Timberlake grew louder. “Oh… So then is it a Scottish or an English castle?” Effie said.

Michael finally looked back at the box and looked like he was thinking very hard. Her dad would have joked that he could see the steam coming out of his ears. “English,” he decided, finally.

“Why?”

“Because it doesn’t have a dragon.”

Effie stared at him. “What?

“It doesn’t have a dragon. All Scottish castles have dragons.”

Effie didn’t know enough about English and Scottish castles to say otherwise, but she was pretty sure that wasn’t correct. Dragons didn’t exist… Right? She couldn’t say anything else though, because a bunch of boys was bellowing Michael’s name.

“Crap - I was supposed to get the ball,” Michael said, holding up the soccer ball. “See ya Effie, hope you’re not contagious for much longer!”

He was gone as fast as he came, running down the side of the house shouting to his friends, leaving Effie there alone with her lego set of a decidedly English castle.

She couldn’t explain why she started to cry, but she did. Something ached in her as she heard the party and the splashing and everything else on the other side of the fence. Effie wanted to play too. She wanted a new swimsuit and friends to yell at her because she took too long retrieving the soccer ball. No one should be able to stop her from having that. Effie could go march upstairs and dig through Emme’s dresser -- they were almost the same size, or so Emme said whenever she ‘borrowed’ her sweatshirts. She had tons of swimsuits. She could go. She should go.

Effie had half risen out of her little corner on the deck, wiping her eyes on her sleeve, when she realized what would happen if she waltzed over there ready to join in the fun. She couldn’t go swimming, but inevitably, she would be thrown in the pool and everyone in there would get electrocuted while she crash-coursed herself on learning to float.

Her neighbor with his eyes rolling back into his head as he fell, clutching his chest. The screaming from his wife and her mother’s iron grip around her shoulder as she pulled her into the house. What did you do? Everyone would know it was her this time.

Effie winced, and she sat back down, glowering at the lego set and the gloves that were still on her hands. She remembered the relief when her father put them on her. It was enough then to know that she wouldn’t kill anyone by shaking their hand. Effie checked three times to make sure she was still alone before she took off her gloves. She called it being thorough but knew she was just hoping Michael or some other kid would come back and talk to her.

A few minutes later, she was fiddling with the stupid directions again, trying to figure out how the drawbridge was actually supposed to look and trying not to think about how much more she wanted. Enough was all she needed, and she had better get used to it if she didn’t want a bigger body count. 

Now, if only she could find a dragon somewhere... 

[pinkykitten]

we’ll be okay

Marvel

Peter Parker x Lia Stark (oc) 

Warning: death, did not re-read srry, sadness 

Specifics: angst, romance, fluff, comedy, one-shot, oc

People: ...everyone....

Words: 3,375

Requested: By @barnes-parker peter parker x stark!reader, if you accept ocs her name is Lia, please hehe. they both reunite in the battle after peter was gone for 5 years. they both miss each other then share a kiss before they go on with battle, thank you!!! <33

Authors Note: i actually cried so hard while writing this beauty of an oc(༎ຶ⌑༎ຶ). i love how it turned out regardless lol. if you havent seen endgame like pls do not read this cuz there is spoilers up in here. thank you for requesting if yall know me i love writing yalls ocs like so much so thanks and hope you peeps love this one!(ˇ⊖ˇ)

All this time Lia spent fighting, convincing herself it wasn’t the end. Peter was not really dead. “I’ll use all that my father has taught me.” She would reason with herself over and over again. Trying every formula, every possible way and she always felt she was missing something. All the fails she has had just ended in sadness and loneliness. 

“Dad I’m back,” Lia entered into her father and Pepper’s house. It was cozy, a comforting feeling that actually felt normal. Lia never blamed her dad for leaving and trying to start a new life. He went through something traumatic and didn’t want to waste his life away trying to cure or fix a problem that was not fixable. Lia smiled, running her hands through the drawings Morgan put up. They were happy drawings, dolphins, rainbows, stars, unicorns. “At least someone has an imagination.”

“Lia?” Morgan ran down the stairs, jumping into Lia’s arms. 

“Hey sweetie,” she gushed over Morgan’s cuteness, it never got old. “Did you take down that evil pirate yet?”

Morgan squinted her eyes and went into her battle position. “I’m glad you asked. He’s been hiding all morning, I think I may need some back up.” Morgan lifted her arm up just like her father presenting a fake Iron Man arm. 

Lia set her purse down and got on her knees, ready to “fight”. She scanned the area. “Alright sport, so we gotta the evil land of Legos right in the living or dead room. In the cafeteria base we got a,” Lia gasped as she through her keys to make noise in the kitchen. “I think we found him Morgan.”

Morgan put on a brave face and they charged into the kitchen. Morgan impersonated Tony’s blast noise. The high pitch shriek probably waking the whole house up. Lia pretended to fight the pirate. Swinging back and forth, “I think I got him Morgan!”

“No wait! Mrs. Lavender is still on the battle field. She’s gonna get hurt. We’ll never make it!” Morgan pointed to a teddy bear lying in the middle of the hall. 

Lia as fast as she could ran and slid to pick up Mrs. Lavender, “got her!”

Morgan clapped her hands excitedly, “thank you Lia! You saved the day!”

Lia ruffled Morgan’s hair, “couldn’t have done it without you.” Lia picked Morgan up but was startled by a certain clapping. 

“Wow, my two girls are having fun without their dear, old, dad,” Tony grinned, a twinkle in his eyes making Lia feel calm about his safety and happiness. 

“Yeah daddy, you are old!” Morgan giggled as Tony scoffed. Lia sat Morgan on the counter, “sorry dad, did we wake you?”

“No not really. Beside’s I love to hear you guys laugh,” he went to Morgan and picked her up hugging his youngest tightly. He brought Lia in the group hug, loving both his girls. “So,” Tony clapped, “did you have breakfast yet?” Tony asked Lia. 

“No not yet, but I can make it.”

Tony set Morgan down. She jumped up and down raising her hand high up, “ooh ooh I know what I want! I would like a cheesy egg sandwich.”

“Then you shall get that my dear warrior princess Morgan,” Lia deepened her voice to sound high and mighty. As Lia got the items out Tony leaned against the counter, sipping his morning coffee. 

“So, how have you been doing?”

Lia put the eggs in the pan. The sizzle of the food was the only thing heard. Lia hated that question. She always wanted to breakdown and tell her dad how she truly felt but she didn’t want to pain her father or see him in distress, especially not in front of Morgan. Tony sensed the issue and called for Morgan, “hey baby, why don’t you go in the living room and watch some TV?”

Morgan nodded and sprinted off, following her dads orders.

“...Lia, you know you can tell me anything, right?”

Lia faked a smile, “I’m fine dad...I just miss him thats all.”

“I know sweetheart I know,” he embraced Lia, kissing the top of her head. “I do too. He was, he was something else that kid.”

Lia cried silently into her dad’s shoulder. 

“You know its okay not to be okay. Even though I have my family I still miss him.”

Lia wiped her tears in distraught, “yeah but how do you move on? I try to dad, I really do and it just feels like I never can. I see him all the time. I hear him. I miss holding his hand, his laugh, just everything about him. Its like I will never get over him...never.”

Tony bit his lip in thought. He wished he could take Lia’s pain away. To make her feel good again but after what happened he counted himself as one of the lucky ones, blessed that he still had the loves of his life with him. 

“Do you still try?”

Lia’s lips trembled as she watched the sprinklers turn on outside from the window. The heartache she felt was unimaginable. “All the time, dad...everyday.”

Tony was about to lecture his daughter but he was interrupted by a knock at his door. 

“Hold on.”

Tony went outside leaving a curious Lia. She could hear chattering quickly back and forth. She peaked through the window to see Natasha, Steve, and Scott. She gasped as her heart sped up. Could this be they found something?

“Hey who knocked?” Pepper asked, drying her hair as she just came out of the shower. 

Lia knew Pepper didn’t like discussing about what happened and frankly neither did Tony. “Oh its nothing Pep-”

“Mommy its the Avengers!”

Lia mentally slapped her self as she got a look from Pepper, “what? That is nothing to me.”

Pepper looked out the window, annoyed as well. “Hey honey why don’t you go save daddy.” Pepper told Morgan. 

Lia eyes widened as she heard the muffling voices of them. She heard about a Time Heist and going back in time to save all humanity and bring back all those who were snapped away. Morgan ran outside “saving” Tony. Tony walked back inside, looking distraught at remembering the past. 

“Hey dad are you o-”

“Yeah I’m fine I just need to think for a moment.” Tony walked to the backyard with Pepper going after him. 

Lia knew something was up. She couldn’t let this opportunity go. Opening the door she startled the others. “You think you can save them.”

They all looked shocked at one another, “Lia we told your dad already he didn’t want to-” Steve started. 

“Thats my dad, thats not me. I heard about all of it, the going back in time and all that my question is...do you think it will work?”

Scott smiled as he knew they had gotten Lia on their side. “We have a plan.”

Lia had just helped put Morgan to sleep when she heard F.R.I.D.A.Y come on and could hear her dad downstairs. Sleepily, she wobbled to see what he was up to. To her amazement he was putting the plan Scott had talked about together. Tony almost looked as if he were about to cry as he saw it was possible. 

“Holy sh*t!” Lia broke her cover. 

“Hey young lady what are you doing up at this time?” Tony quickly took off the model. Acting like nothing happened. 

“No, no, no! Don’t pull that crap on me. I saw everything! I heard what they were talking about earlier. Dad if there is a way-”

“Sweetheart this is just a model, its not for sure that it will work.”

“Are you serious right now? So what? Dad if there is even a small chance that I might be able to bring Peter back, you da*n right I will. I will keep trying and trying until my very last breath.”

Tony was quiet, knowing this mattered a lot to Lia. 

“Dad I know you’re scared. I know you don’t trust Cap but we’re in the endgame. We are more than desperate. You have Morgan and Pepper and thats great an all but its sometimes not fair. I feel like I don’t have no one. There are people out there that have no one. I want to help, I want to go back and change what needs to be changed.”

“You...”

Lia clenched her fist, “what?”

“You...you forgot about you. I have Morgan, Pepper and you. Baby, I don’t know what to do. I don’t know if I should tell them or just keep it locked up in a box forever. Should I set it free?”

Lia placed a hand on her father’s face, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Dad I believe you will make the right decision.” Lia was about to go back to bed but Tony called out to her, “you want to help me work on it?”

Lia beamed as she embraced her father. Nearly suffocating him. “Thank you daddy. Thank you.”

All night Lia and Tony worked on the model to perfect it. Only donuts, cookies, candy and coffee keeping them up for the job. Until the morning, “its perfect dad. I can’t believe it, it might actually work.”

Everyone got the stones back. A life was lost during that. Lia kept a remembrance of Natasha as she fought alongside her father. 

“I can’t let you do this Lia. You’re too young and you can’t fight with me.” Tony gripped your arms tightly as Thanos sat only a few feet away, waiting. 

“I have to kill that monster dad! He killed Peter!”

“No okay no! I can’t risk losing you too.”

They all fought with Thanos as Lia awaited behind some debris. Thanos punched her father and Lia flew to Thanos. She made a version of the Iron Man suit for herself just less technical. She always thanked her father for teaching her those things. Teaching her from when she was little about atoms to now saving all of humanity. She knew the great importance knew what was at stake and in the end all she wanted to do was bring back all those people. 

“How dare you touch my dad!” Lia screamed as she fought Thanos. Getting in a few good punches but Thanos caught her leg, swinging her, her hitting a piece of debris. 

“No!” Tony yelled as he flew to Lia’s body. “Baby, stay with me, baby?” He took his mask off to inspect his daughter further. “Sweetheart please talk to me.”

Lia took her mask off. Her nose dripping with blood as it seeped in between her teeth, she smiled, “I’m okay dad, just...thats gonna leave a bruise.” She looked to see Steve. He stood there seeming to wait. “Dad?” Lia pointed up into the sky and down came Thanos’s battle. 

“Holy sh*t,” Tony whispered in fear. They were only a few and this army was coming down from the sky. It was all over. Tony shook as he remembered the past. All the nightmares, panic attacks, they were all resurfacing, and Lia was not safe at home like last time...she was here, about to fight. 

Lia could sense her father’s fear, placing her small hand on his, “dad, its okay. At least I am with you.” Tony’s lips trembled as he accepted his and his daughter’s fate. 

“A voice...,” Lia shushed her father as she listened intently. She could hear a voice on Steve’s ear piece. “Dad?”

All of a sudden portals started to open up. Out came King T’Challa, Okoye, and Shuri. Lia held onto her dad, fearing this was all a dream. “Dad...whats going on?” Lia felt her heart beating rapidly. 

“Oh my god...,” Tony and Lia stood, amazed. 

The portals opened up, one by one. All those who had been snapped away were...there. Lia placed her hand on her mouth, shocked. Could it be? Planet Titan appeared and who swung by was no other than Peter Parker. 

“Oh my god dad look,” Lia looked to Tony and then Peter, sobbing uncontrollably. 

When Peter made instant contact with the ground his eyes searched for no other than his love, Lia. 

Lia stood, silent, breathless. She wanted to scream at him, call his name but it all felt so surreal, like a dream. Peter looked and looked until his brown, puppy eyes landed on Lia’s. His smile melted Lia’s heart as he looked at her full of love. 

“Oh Peter!” Lia flew to him, not even bothering to close the mask. With a loud thud she landed in front of him. “Oh my god Peter...is it really you?”

Peter chuckled, his eyes getting watery. His hands found themselves on her cheeks. Her smile never faltering. “It is Lia...it really is me. I’m,” he glanced around her, his head down, “I’m sorry Lia. I’m sorry for everything that I have put you through.”

Lia scooted her face to be under his. His eyes widened as he saw her beaming grin, tears falling effortlessly down her face. “Peter, you have nothing to be sorry of. It was not your fault. I’m so happy you’re here. You can’t believe how much I missed you-”

Peter picked her up in a embrace. Twirling her around as he giggled and cried, stuffing his face in her hair. “I felt so lost without you too. When Dr. Strange told me how long you had waited, I just, I cannot imagine.”

“But its okay now because you’re here with me and I’m never ever letting you go Peter,” Lia and Peter fell onto their knees. Peter inched closer and closer until finally kissing the love of his life. Lia closed her eyes, her lips moving slowly with Peter’s. Peter kissed all over her face making her chuckle. 

“I love you so much Lia,” Peter exclaimed as he held onto her tightly, not wanting to let go. 

“I love you 3,000 Peter.”

Peter stood alongside Lia, the two holding hands. “Are you ready?”

“Oh yeah Peter, I think I’m ready to kick some as*.”

Peter and Lia knelt down, giving their superhero landing. Peter covered his face and so did Lia.  

“AVENGERS...!” Steve shouted...”assemble.”

In that instant they were ready. Lia flew into the air alongside her father and Pepper. Blasting any of the enemy she can get her hands on. 

They gave Peter the gauntlet. Peter was saved but then he crashed leaving Lia worried, “Peter!” She quickly flew to him, forgetting about the battle and only about his safety. 

Carol swiftly took down one of Thanos’s ship. Peter lay against a piece of debris. “I don’t know how you’re gonna get through all that.”

Carol smirked, “don’t worry,” Wanda appeared. All of a sudden the women superheros appeared. 

“She’s got help,” Okoye held her head up high. 

Lia giggled as she landed beside Peter, “she will always have help.”

The ladies all shouted and proceeded to fight. 

He held his gloved hand, all the Infinity Stones placed in their correct orders to be used. 

“And I...am...Ironman.”

One by one they started to disappear. They, the enemy, Thanos and his men, his army all started to wander about but only to poof away, their ashes swarming in the air. 

Until finally, the one and only Thanos disappeared himself. 

There laid Tony. His skin pale as a ghost. Some of his armor already broken off. Lia, everyone knew time was important. That there was not much time left. 

Rhodey, Peter, and Pepper said their goodbyes acknowledging the fate of Tony.

Lia knelt in front of her weak father. Peter stood beside her, consoling her. Lia kept her cries at bay not wanting her father to feel guilty. She held onto his hand. It took everything out of her to not want to scream for her father not to leave. She felt like she needed him, but she was okay. She had people there who loved her and would make sure that she was fine and happy. 

“Hey daddy,” she sniffled as she clutched his limp hand, “its okay. I’m okay. I’m gonna be okay. You can go to sleep. I’ll be alright...I’ll watch over them...I’ll watch over her you have nothing to worry about. Sweet dreams daddy...I love you.” As her tears hit the ground Tony Stark was not alive anymore. He made such incredible memories with everyone. He managed to make an impact on each soul and he left some amazing people that will forever keep his name going. 

Lia sat on the couch, being there for Pepper and Morgan. Everyone watched as Tony gave his last recording. 

“Everybody wants a happy ending, right? But it doesn't always roll that way. Maybe this time. I'm hoping if you play this back... it's in celebration. I hope families are reunited. I hope we get it back, in somewhat like a normal version of the planet has been restored, if there ever was such a thing.

God, what a world. Universe now. If you told me 10 years ago that we weren't alone, let alone you know to this extent... I mean, I wouldn't have been surprised. But come on, you know. That epic forces of darkness and light that have come into play. And for better or worse, that's the reality Morgan's going to find a way to grow up in. So I found a private area to record a little greeting in case of an untimely death on my part. Not that death at any time is ever timely.

This time travel thing that we are going to pull off tomorrow... it's got me scratching my head about the survivability of all this. But then again that's the hero gig. Part of the journey is the end. What am I tripping for? Everything is going to work out exactly the way it's supposed to.

I love you all 3000.”

Lia smiled as she wiped her face with her sleeve, holding onto tightly Morgan’s hand. “I think its time.”

They all walked outside. As Lia was about to head outside as well she heard the recording still continue playing. 

“Hey Lia, you still there sweetheart.”

“Dad?” She turned around hastily. 

“Hey kiddo...I hope he’s there with you. I hope you continue growing and learning, and teach Morgan all the stuff I taught you. Don’t teach her the bad things though, Pepper would hate me.”

Lia chuckles as she stares longingly at her dad’s recording, wishing he was there.

“I’m proud of you Lia, I really am. You have grown into such an incredible woman and I’m proud to have you as my daughter but I left you something.”

Lia raises a brow.

“Its in the garage...remember me Lia, but most importantly live on. Live your life how you want it. Make your own story or however the saying goes. I thought if anything should happen to me, theres gotta be a new Iron Man and well I thought who would be better than my own daughter so go and save people ,” a tear cascaded down Tony’s cheek, “now...go get’em.” The recording ended with Tony’s hand laying flat against the recording. Lia held up her hand against his hologram one. She smiled as she ran to the garage. 

As she turned on the lights she gasped in shock, “no way dad!”

Standing in the garage having all the gadgets of the Iron Man suit stood Lia’s own Iron Man suit.

(not mine! do not own!)

“Holy crap that thing is awesome!” Peter said in awe. 

Lia laughed as she saw the beautifully made suit. She saw something peeking from the bottom of the boot and looked to see, “I love you 3,000″ carved from Tony. “I love you too dad.”

After the funeral Peter and Lia walked through the forest are of Tony’s house. 

“You think you’ll be okay babe?”

Lia wrapped her arms around Peter as she got on his back. Peter and her share a laugh as Lia kisses Peter’s cheek lovingly. 

“With you and my family by my side...I’ll always be okay.”

“So, what are you gonna name yourself now that you have the new suit?”

Lia grinned, taking in the setting of the trees, nature, and now knowing her responsibilities

“I am Iron Girl.”

Tag list: @harrington-lover, @angelgl16, @perfectlybeautifulsuit, @hyehoney, @haven-prelude (wont let me tag), @leasly, @totally-alexa21, @creamy-pasta-boi, @multireese, @fanfictionrecommendations-com, @prentisskelley, @malereaderforkpop (wont let me tag), @guardian-of-cookies, @justafangirl-97, @teenageshitposts (wont let me tag), @andreaoreas, @dippergravity (wont let me tag), @some-booty, @fromfoolishpeopletodeadpeople, @collectiveyou, @wtfisalltherandoms, @dirbel, @eastcoasthaven, @fangirl-4-life415 (wont let me tag), @marwantr, @divaanya, @wassupitschloe, @idontknowwhattocallthisworld (wont let me tag), @spycii, @eminemsgiraffe 

wanna be tagged in my crap? comment!

[writinglionqueen]

Lego House

Summary: You and Finn just play with Legos. It’s fun. He let’s you do things not many people get to do with him. 

Pairing: Finn Bálor x Reader 

Word Count: 1925

Warnings: None. It’s all fluff. 

Tag: @adriennegabriella @amariemoore @andie01 @artemisapalla316 @biforbecky2belts @br0th3r-n3r0 @burning-coco @calicina @calum-hoodwinked-me @calwitch @claymoreme​ @crossfitjesusinskinnyjeans @darlingambrose @demonkingsangel @demonqueen29 @desstehhnee @detectiveramen @finnsauroraborealis @fireyegale @fivefootxo @flawlessglamazon @homeorbust @i-have-saracasm @jazzy-tzw @kalliravenne @littledeadrottinghood @lolorockstar101boom @lovesweetpeaa​ @madamaholmes​ @meishaabae @mermaidqueen @mondaynightrollynch @moxleysbaby @moxtiel @neversatisfiedgirl @new-zealand-chic @nothinginlifebutgreif @reigns420 @sassymox @savemeroman @scuzmunkie @shieldgirl18 @softmoxymuffin @southsidebucky @superrezzy00 @taryn-dibiase @the-beastslayers-queen @thewrestlingwarehouse @theworldofotps @trashofambrolleigns @writing-reigns @writtingrose @xprincessofthefallenangels @yaint-me @youcantreignonmyparade 

Special Thanks: @i-have-saracasm for helping me beta. She’s technically my person and saved beta by this point. 

The times Finn is home with you….well they’re the best times for you. He was home. Being in his arms was its own kind of magic. One you cherished when he was home. Some of those times were filled with passion the two of you missed while he was gone. Filled with its own kind of oxymoron; soft but fast and hard but soft, all at once. Filled with curses and soft, sweet nothings also filled with promises and pleasure. And other times, it was filled with ease. Like when he was building his LEGOs. Something he did to keep his mind off of things. His own form of meditation. Your form of meditation was watching him craft things, following the instructions step by step to get to something cool, like a car or a pirate ship. Watching him put your own mind at ease. Which you found yourself doing now.

He was busy at the table, working on another set. Music playing quietly next to him on a playlist you knew he made for his time at home. Sometimes his tongue would peek out or he’d sigh and stretch out his sore limbs as he continued to build. He had been working for a while and was halfway done with this piece when you decided to sit next to him, leaning against his side to rest your head on his shoulder. He was quick to lay back against you for a second.

“This one looks cool,” you murmured, reaching for one of the minifigures, decked out like a pirate captain; sword, pirate hate, and eye patch. You pointed the minifigure at Finn. “Argh.” He let out a giggle. 

“I think this will be even cooler when I finally finish it,” he murmured, turning the page to the instruction booklet. You reached for one of the little plastic pieces he needed to hand it to him.

“Here.”

“Thanks, baby,” he murmured to you. You bit your lip. It kinda looked fun to build things like this.

“Can I help? Or….is there one I can build with you. I’m bored.” You playfully whined the last part. He chuckled.

“There’s some in the room,” he said to you. “Pick any that you want.” You perked up at that.

“Really?” he asked, surprised. He nodded, looking away from the booklet.

“Yeah, go ahead babe.” You stood up and ran to the bedroom, finding a small stack of LEGO sets next to Finn’s suitcase. Out of all the ones he had, even the cool ones he received as gifts from the LEGO company, you picked a race car one. Like the ones from Nascar...it even came with a pit crew and extra tires. You smiled to yourself. If you finished it before Finn finished his, you could probably play with it. You took the box back to your spot beside Finn. You settled the box down before plopping back down yourself.  

With curious eyes, Finn looked to see which set you decided to build with. He smiled at the car on the front.

“That ones a cool one,” he murmured.

“Yours looks cooler,” you argued back. Finn giggled.

“I don’t know, pirate ships and race cars are on the same level of coolness.” You nodded in agreement, knowing he was making his own little joke. You began opening up the box and the packets sorting the pieces so it wouldn’t be hard to find them later. Finn watched you curiously.

“What’cha doing?” he asked.

“Sorting,” you answered, simply, gesturing to the piles. “That way I won’t have to search for them as much and I’ll know if I’m missing one when I get to them.”

“Ooh, that’s a pro move.”

“Then why aren’t you doing that?” you giggled, teasing him. He giggled back.

“I guess I’m not much of a pro at this.”

“Nah, I think your pro enough.” Finn chuckled as he went back to his booklet as you opened yours to start building. You got the flow after the first several pieces were put into their places. It felt nice and peaceful to keep placing pieces, one after another until something started to form. “You know, this is nice,” you said to Finn. “It’s relaxing and you get to make something.” Finn chuckled in agreement.

“See why I like it so much,” he said back, placing another brown piece onto his pirate ship.

“Yeah, of course. I think it’s good to have something fun to get your mind to relax.” You turned to look at him. He was eyeing you with a small smile.

“You don’t think it’s childish at all?” You shook your head, a little confused by his question.

“No. It’s a you thing and...it’s fun. It’s not that childish. I actually think it’s fun. Why?”

“Some of my...exes thought it was kinda childish...which is why I’ve stopped building them so much.” You nodded. A memory of him saying that he had stopped building with LEGOs for a while popped up into your head. Not with the same excuse this time but he just the idea that he had...stopped. Now, he’s said his reason. The real one and you felt your chest clench in pain. “But when you got me the cool custom one, the one with me in it, for my birthday...it made me so happy. It...showed me you liked me being myself. LEGOs included.” He gave you a smile but you could see that it was a tiny smile. Some of the sadness seeping through his blue eyes.

“Baby...this is a you thing. You like this. There’s no reason why I wouldn’t want you to be yourself and do something you obvious like doing.” His smile grew as he turned away a little. “It’s kinda sucky that you’d have to...give up something you like doing because someone thought it was childish.” You saw him nod slowly. A change of subject was needed. “Also, this would be cool if these were motorized.” You held up the unfinished car. “A little remote control car. Get some more and you can race against others….that’d be cool.”

“That would be really cool,” Finn agreed. “I think they make remote control cars.”

“Ooh, really?” you asked. He nodded, giving you a brighter smile than before.

“Yeah….I can see if I can find you one.” You smiled at the suggestion.

“Now that’d be cool.”

“I’ll see what I can do.” He placed a few more pieces on his ship and you continued to build your car. The two of you kept on going in a comfortable silence. It felt nice. It felt like peace. And it felt like home. Ironically enough, the tune to “Lego House” by Ed Sheeran started to play as you sat next to your boyfriend. If he had noticed the song and the irony, he didn’t give it away.

The lyrics made you think and reflect on your relationship with Finn and how ideally perfect for the two of you. He had his things to do in life and you had yours. When the both of you worked together, it just felt nice and relaxing.   

It didn’t take you long to finish the car with Finn still having a handful of pieces to place onto the pirate ship. While waiting, you rolled the car back and forth across the table. You grabbed the car and rolled it. Little car noises left your lips as you rolled the car as if it was in a race. Finn giggled.

“Gotta make a pit stop,” you hollered as you rolled the car close to the pit crew. Little shrieking noises left your lips as you attempted to sound like breaks.

“Pit stop!” Finn hollered back. You giggled back. Little whirring noises were next as you changed out the tires for a “fresh set.” Finn reached for his phone, turning the music off. But you paid him no mind as you started to move the car out of the “pit area.”

“And he’s back in the race!” You began routing the car across the table and over to Finn’s, now completed, pirate ship. “Oh no folks, there seems to be an obstacle in the course. It’s a pirate ship!” Finn giggled some before before he took the pirate captain in hand, wielding it in front of your race car.

“Argh,” Finn growled. “We have come for the booty. And we will not leave ‘til we get it.”

“There’s no booty. It’s only a race.”

“Yer land ship shall do instead.” Finn plucked the car from your fingers. You giggled as he sat the minifigure and your car on the table. Finn stood up to stretch and you couldn’t help but watch him as he groaned. He lifted his arms over his head. His shirt riding up a bit to show off a sliver of his lower stomach. You bit your lip as he reached a hand for you. “Wanna finish the rest of this night with a movie, darlin?” he asked. With a smile and a nod, you took his hand as he helped you from the table.

Quickly enough though, you found yourself in his arms, making you giggle. You were carried off to the living room and was settled on the couch, with you in Finn’s lap.

“Anything in particular?” he asked as he grabbed the remote and went to Netflix.

“Nope, whatever is fine,” you answered as he flipped through the movies and TV shows. Finn found one; something sweet and a little romantic to watch, if only just to relax the two of you into sleep. You settled yourself back into Finn’s firm chest, head on his shoulder as you watched the movie. Finn’s hand idly swept across your hip in slow circles, causing you to sigh. The warm peacefulness of this all drawing you into relaxation. 

“You know, love...I’ve never built LEGOs with anyone else,” Finn murmured to you. The sudden statement surprised you. It caused your head to turn so you could look into his eyes. “I’ve never let anyone build with me...except for you.” You bit your lip at that, wondering why this was his sudden thought. “I liked it; having you work right next to me, doing something I like with me. I’ve felt more at peace than ever. I’m glad you’re the first one to ever build with me”

“But no one’s ever built with you?” you asked quietly. You drew your hand up to card your fingers through his beard, right under his chin. With a small smile, he shook his head.

“Never. It’s always just been a me thing...to do by myself. No one ever wanted to build with me.” 

“Would you want me to keep building with you more?” you asked him. His smile grew as he looked down at you.

“I would like that a lot, actually.” His tongue flicked out to lick his lips and you watched it.

“Alright, then I’ll build with you whenever you want me to,” you murmured as you reached to place a warm kiss to Finn’s lips. He sighed and kissed you back. When you pulled away from him, you both gave each other a smile. You rolled off Finn’s lap to sit beside him, allowing him to lay back into a more comfy position on the couch.

Finn allowed you to settle into his side, kissing your temple one last time as you both got comfy. You smiled.

You like it whenever Finn’s home. For the peace, the ease, the comfort. It was like your own little LEGO house.

[tanadrin]

Today’s project was reboxing the family Lego collection.

I really forget sometimes how much of my brain seems to be indexed by physical objects: memories and games and trains of thought that I can go literally decades without thinking about until something I’m holding in my hand reminds me of it--and I think that’s one reason that my current adulthood feels so qualitatively different from my childhood, is that I’m not constantly surrounded by the detritus of years of living in the same house, in the same city, for 18 or so years. I’ve moved on average once or twice a year since I was 18, and I haven’t lived in my current city for more than a few years, and even when (rarely) I go back to Nashville, the place has changed so goddamn much in the last 12 years that it’s basically unrecognizable. And anyway, the house has been sold, all the stuff that used to be in it thrown away, nobody I know lives there anymore, etc., etc.

So, the Legoes. Basically, for most of our childhood, Legoes were The Thing. It was what we asked for for Christmas, what we asked for for birthdays, it was our go-to when we were bored. Oh, sure, we had other games--there were four of us, three triplets and an older sibling less than 3 years our senior, so we were all very close in age--like the Creek Kingdom (the creek behind our house was the site of a powerful realm we ruled as tetrarchs), War (running around with sticks with the neighbor kids until somebody got whacked hard enough to go crying to an adult, and we had to play something else), Trial (the convicted person got trapped in the downstairs bathroom until they got bored of trying to escape), and so forth. But Legoes were the good shit, the sure bet on a rainy day.

And I think you can immediately understand a lot about my family if you know exactly how we played Legoes. Like a lot of kids, when we got a Lego set, we’d build it excitedly, and then eventually break it down for parts to build other things. All Legoes went into a common pile, and while in theory you still owned the specific Legoes that belonged to the sets that had been given to you, or that you’d purchased with your own allowance, owning a piece was not the same as having custody of the piece. Pieces that were in your custody were kept separate, in another little box or collection, and were usually rare and useful ones, or ones you were sequestering for a specific project or goal, and it was the norm (and expected) that these would eventually filter back into the common pile when you didn’t need them anymore. You could also trade them, which we did, and trading pieces was facilitated by a common descriptive language, which I think we basically invented ourselves (e.g., “stone” referred to any 1-stud-wide gray wall piece). Sometimes we would get really ambitious and draw up a list of the most-demanded pieces and a generally agreed upon value, either in Lego gold coins (of which we had very few in actual circulation) or another good (usually stone bricks, which were always in high demand, though quite common).

Our taste for factionalism and rivalry was expressed by things like the Lego parliament (our older sibling’s idea; and wisely gerrymandered by him so that he always had the most votes in it) and the epic spaceship battles, full of shifting alliances and sudden betrayals, whose conclusions were arrived at through a combination of arguing about whose spaceship had more guns and what would make for better drama. But for the full effect, you have to imagine, like, three eight year olds and their ten year old brother running around the family room making “pew pew” noises and imitating phaser blasts with their hands, and occasionally hurling a pirate ship hull studded with wings and various gun-like protuberances to the ground to watch it explode into dozens of little pieces.

And I would say that, much to the satisfaction of our younger selves if only they knew, that these are not games we ever really grew out of; they only found different expression as we got older. Now, we have things like the weekly sibling multiplayer game sessions, and the sibling Minecraft server, and (once upon a time) the World of Warcraft guild we started and wrote an elaborate backstory for, but even though I think there are some ways in which I’ve changed a lot as an adult, sometimes even for the better, I find it immensely satisfying that my taste for the kind of games I used to play as a kid is basically unchanged, if only now a little more sophisticated.

When Mom was getting ready to sell the house, she moved everything in it into a couple of storage units out in the part of town that’s all strip malls and gas stations and fast food places. The last time I was in Nashville (which was the occasion of the solar eclipse, and also when I got married without telling anybody), I had to spend a couple of days with my siblings and Dad going through all the things in there and deciding what we wanted to keep, what we wanted to throw away, what needed to be shipped to Berlin, and so on. It was frankly a little heartbreaking--like I said, a part of my memory has always felt extremely external, and throwing away even little nothing objects from your childhood is kind of a wrench when you feel like you’re also losing basically all the memories associated with that object. And a big chunk of the things I had to get rid of was my book collection. And I still have dreams filled with a deep sense of unease principally concerned with walking the halls of a ruined version of the house I grew up in, discovering more piles of my belongings that need to be sorted through, lest I lose some object of intense personal value forever.

My mother has many virtues, but even at retirement age is still, for lack of a better word, Weird About Stuff, in the sense of family objects, especially family objects which she has no moral (or sometimes even legal) right to. I don’t know if it’s a combination of being sentimental and not liking change any better than I do, or her deep-seated psychological need to be in control of everything at all times, but among the things she segregated in her own storage unit, with the intent that they remain with her in Nashville, were the twelve large plastic bins in which the Legoes were then stored. As kind of a last-minute stealth operation (and this incident has weird parallels to a much older family story involving my grandmother, a case of beer, and a dining room set that was hotly contested after the death of a great-great-aunt), we liberated the Legoes and stuck them in the back of Dad’s car to ship them to Berlin, where they have since sat in my older brother’s apartment. Hence the reboxing, since he needed to make some space for houseguests. If Mom noticed the Legoes were missing, she has at least wisely refrained from commenting on it, and of course, we have wisely refrained from mentioning it to her.

The flagship of my fleet (whether space age or castle) was always built on the hull of my favorite ship, the Renegade Runner. Happily, I found her wreckage, including both her original cloth sails (wrinkled but otherwise perfectly intact), while digging through the boxes, and it is now sitting on my desk. Next weekend I’m gonna go over and rebuild her, and I am way more excited about this than is probably reasonable for anyone whose 31st birthday is approaching as rapidly as mine.

[transformationstuck]

Basket in the Pool

Target; A store that remained in constant across all of time. The soft lighting, dark carpeting in the clothes areas, casually dressed employees. The pretzels and pizza were advertising through smell across the store and faint indie music could be heard if you listened hard enough, though it might’ve been from one of the shops adjacent in the mall.

Another constant of Target happens to be teenagers acting like asshole when it is well past dark and there are more employees than customers in the store.

“Pleeeeeaaseeee give me enough for a pretzel. I’ll give you half, I’m so hungry,” Dave said to Karkat as they walked down one of the aisles back to the men’s clothing section. Dave clung onto Karkat’s sleeve and started to try and drag Karkat down.

“Don’t let me starve, dude, you’re so mean,” he continued in a louder voice. While Dave seemed like he didn’t realize or care that he was being entirely too loud in the store. Though the aisle was empty, registers were manned and some poor souls were probably still wandering the aisles of the store. Forced to not only clean up after asshole customers, stock shelves, work overtime, deal with angry people all day, and now some loud boy yelling about pretzels…

“Dude, shut the fuck up. Just let me get some pants first. I fucking hate people being able to see my boxers with this tear,” Karkat softly delivered the words to Dave as icily as he could. Karkat had also pulled his arm up quick to get Dave back on his feet.

“Yeah sure,” Dave said as they continued towards the clothes. Their arms were locked at the elbow so Dave could feel Karkat tense up when he started to replicate dubstep with mouth sounds.

The dubstep was an in joke and, of course, was almost entirely ironic. A twitter joke Dave had made his mission to keep repeating to get on Karkat’s nerves. At Karkat’s place, Dave doing this would’ve led to Karkat faking anger and pushing him on the bed, eventually leading to them making out. Here, however, it led only to Karkat pushing him away as he knelt down to view the jean sizes available to them.

As the sounds continued, Karkat quickly grabbed all the darker jeans in his size range and hurried to the dressing room. He was mortified to see an attendant on duty folding clothes. They approached and the dubstep introduced them before they were sighted.

“You need to try those on?” The attendant asked. Her smile twitched as Dave continued to make noise as she spoke.

“Yeah, thanks,” Karkat said and laid out the jeans on the counter so the woman could look through them to make sure there was no merchandise hidden in the pile. Soon the jeans were handed back to him with a key attached to a plastic card with the number ‘4’ on top of the pile.

“Thanks,” Karkat said again and turned to the row of dressing stalls. He began walking to the rooms. Dave followed him to the hall.

“Alone,” Karkat said and gently shoved Dave back with his palm to Dave’s chest. Dave frowned and grunted, but turned away from Karkat’s glaring to walk back through the clothing section. Not having anyone to annoy, and his jaw starting to ache, Dave stopped the mouth sounds.

He continued down the aisle. To his left, the toy aisles stretched on. The lego sets jumped out in his sight first. He glanced at them discreetly from behind his sunglasses and didn’t stop walking as his sight jumped from toy to toy. Sure they were cool, but he had no money on him, and any money he would hypothetically have would need to be spent on utility bills.

It didn’t make him not nervous at the sight of the AT-AT lego set on display.

His journey down the back aisle continued through the sporting goods. He passed bikes and baseball helmets. Next the printers and bluetooth speakers. Finally the video games.

He walked to the xbox section and looked at what was available. He eyed the boring looking new releases and looked over the sale games. It was all they ever had; Payday, Battlefront, Call of Duty…

Nothing worthy of interest he continued walking. He passed the seasonal goods and came to the mall entrance of the store, connecting the Target to the hall of Game Stops and Hallmarks.

However, in front of the mall entrance, there was an unattended Target cart with some boxes in it. Thinking it was maybe a cart with items on sale, Dave approached it. First he looked at the box that drew his attention in the first place, a bluetooth/record player.

The box looked fine, however the electronic pieces falling out of it dissuaded Dave from looking at it any further. A cracked blender in a box, handfuls of clothes hangers, opened dvd cases… All damaged items it seemed.

One other item did draw Dave when he started peering in, however. There was a large pile of yellow plastic like a balloon. The yellow seemed too bright to him, as if he were looking at a banana on a computer screen and not seeing it through sunglasses in a fluorescent lit Target. He reached down to grab it and determine the item’s original shape.

No much seemed to remain. Tears and rips plagued the surface of the item. The way it felt, though, reminded him of water wings that he used to wear at the public pool what felt like decades ago. There was too much plastic to be kiddie water wings though, so Dave guessed it was a pooltoy of some kind. Maybe a goldfish or part of a palm tree?

He guessed at what it had been meant for and rubbed the plastic between his fingers.

*Squeeeek*

*Squeeeek*

His fingers rubbed the plastic vinyl again and again. His thoughts trailed off and the sound grew in his head, louder and louder. What if he…

“Hello?” someone said behind Dave.

“Ah..!” Dave exclaimed, somewhat startled. Before him a Target employee was eyeing him nervously.

‘Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you,” the man said, and looked down at Dave’s hands. He seemed to sigh in relief. Dave glanced back at the mall entrance and realised the employee might’ve been wondering if he was trying to steal something away into the mall.

“I don’t know where that came from, but it wasn’t here,” the employee said at the lack of Dave’s response. He had been absentmindedly rubbing the plastic again as he stared into the mall. He turned again when the employee started speaking to him again.

“Yeah, somebody asked where they could find an undamaged version, but we don’t carry pool items this time of year. I suggested the Sear’s at the other end of the mall or Spencer’s. Honestly, I don’t know what that was supposed to be anyway.”

“Oh, thanks,” Dave said and looked down at the plastic. “Well, I’m going to go back to looking around while my, uh, friend is still looking at clothes.”

“Sounds fine,” said the clerk, relieved. He then held out an open hand to Dave. “If you give me that I can throw that away for you.”

“Thanks,” Dave said and started to hand the trash to the clerk, but hesitated. The plastic had rubbed against his hand as he moved to give it to the clerk, reminding him of the oddly satisfied squeaking he had been drawn into earlier.

“Actually, I’ll throw it away later,” Dave said and lowered his hand. “I’m going to use it to annoy my friend if he takes too long.”

“Oooo-kay,” the clerk said, confused. “Well, let me know if you need anything else.”

The clerk turned away and began walking back to the front of the store. Dave watched him go for a second before turning back to the direction of the dressing rooms. He took a step and stopped, startled.

He hadn’t even realised he was sporting an erection, but the movement of it against his jeans made it quickly apparent. He moved into one of the seasonal aisles to adjust it with his jeans. While in the aisle, he looked again at the torn plastic. Now he noticed something else on it. He moved it closer to his face to look at an air nozzle.

Dave smiled and ripped the nozzle off. It was perfect.

He moved the nozzle around his hands, inspecting it. The more he played with it, the more the bits of yellow plastic seemed out of place on the nozzle. He made quick work of removing the remaining yellow bits and brushed the now naked nozzle with his thumb, moving the valve open. He then brought the nozzle up to his lips and sucked it partially in. Once he moved it securely between his teeth with his tongue, he blew into it.

Air whined as it exited the tube in a tune that wouldn’t be out of place in the intro to a 13 year old’s minecraft channel introduction, only missing the metal instruments and replacing it with mouth sounds. This was sure to get Karkat even more pissed.

He looked back down at the plastic in his hands. Although he no longer needed it, it still felt nice on his skin. He shoved it into his right pocket and moved back to the dressing rooms. He absentmindedly continued to breathe through the nozzle between his teeth, needing less and less pressure on it.

Dave was unaware as his lips started to seal to the nozzle in his mouth. His tongue and teeth began to sink into his mouth, leaving more room for the nozzle to inhale and exhale. The cavern of his mouth began to shrink as well, soon leaving only a tube as big as the nozzle’s opening from the nozzle to his throat.

His lips took on a red sheen someone could’ve easily mistaken for lipstick. The Red sheen continued to spread across his face, however. His nostrils closed up and his nose was drawn into his face until Dave just had a small pyramid poking out from his face. The plastic was making quicker work of his lower body. His neck was quickly overtaken with red plastic and his chest soon after.

Dave continued his walk along the men’s section as his breathing through the nozzle continued. He passed a rack with hoodies and paused. He looked down at his own hoodie in puzzlement, his neck squeaking as his head tilted his gaze down. Why was he wearing this? It was too hot! He pulled off the hoodie, revelling the feeling of the fabric of his shirt as it was pulled across his plastic chest and face.  He looked at his hands to see his shirt had also come off with the hoodie.

He felt like he should put his shirt back on, but the cool air felt so good against his skin. The breeze felt so good against his plastic stomach. Why was he wearing clothes to begin with? He brought a hand up to scratch at his head in thought, but continued to scratch to keep the squeaking sound of his hands against his plastic hair going. It was much too hot for this, too much clothes, too much thinking…

Dave fumbled with his belt and let it fall to the floor. His fingers fusing together made it difficult for him to untie his shoes but he eventually managed to kick them off when they were untied. He pulled his left sock off of his plastic foot quickly. He attempted to moan at the feeling, but could only let out a more desperate exhale through his nozzle. He removed his other sock slower to prolong the feeling. He unbuttoned his pants next and let them drop to the floor, soon followed by his boxers.

He stood naked in the shirt selection and ran his hands along his body. The feeling of his hands making depressions in his skin as they ran along the plastic with long squeaks made him terribly aroused. He moved his mitten-like hands down to his crotch, whining at the sensitive bulge he now sported, devoid of any of his genitals.

Wait, wasn’t he supposed to be doing something? Right, he wanted to play with Karkat! Dave turned back to the changing rooms. Each step he took rubbed his thighs together, making Dave even more aroused. He soon reached the hall of stalls, relieved to see the attendant gone. It sure was hard to see with the sunglasses on. Dave put them on the counter and sighed at the feeling of his skin re-inflating the depressions the glasses left on the sides of his nose. It was much easier for his painted-on eyes to see without the light-blockers on.

Which stall was Karkat in again? He tried hard to remember as he made his way down the hall. He had barely made two steps before his legs gave out. Dave landed on his stomach, the carpet feeling nice against his exposed body. He looked back behind him, unable to move his legs. His head began to turn to the front, though. He felt his neck and head lock to keep him viewing forward.

There was little he could do to stop his arms from moving to grab his ass behind him, not that he would’ve wanted himself to stop. The strands of carpet moving against his skin felt too good. He continued not to panic as he felt his legs begin to retract back into him.

As his legs were drawn back into his body, he felt his back also begin to depress. His middle section fused with his arms, leaving them as an inflated ring from his ass to his head. His middle section had deflated to a thin plastic sheet with the record logo on his old shirt as a decal on the circular depression. His legs were not fully gone, along with his hands and midsection.

Dave’s continued ignorance of his changes continued as his breathing grew shallower and shallower. There was less and less of his body to convert, now just his brain remained. As a pooltoy he had no need of independent thought, just the need to be played with and used.  

Shorter and shorter breaths now, every exhale removing his mind through the air. Shorter and shorter, then nothing.

There was air moving across his skin, creating undetectable ripples. The carpet strands kept his body up, each strand shifting with the air to create a nice feeling on his body. All he needed was someone to play with him. He was okay with waiting, though, people didn’t always have time to play with toys.

“Dave? Were you the one breathing creepily out here?” Came Karkat’s voice from the stall behind him. He heard a latch click and a door open. There was padding on the carpet as Karkat moved forward. “What the fuck?”

Karkat stood unmoving in the hall. Oh god, this couldn’t be happening. His boyfriend had put an honest to god sex toy in the hall. This was way too far, even for him. Karkat was so going to murder Dave, what if that attendant had seen this?

He knelt down to grab the sexual pooltoy up. As soon as his fingers brushed against the plastic vinyl, though, his thoughts were gone. That felt… really nice actually.

Karkat picked up the pooltoy to further inspect it. That ass did actually look really nice, it kind of reminded Karkat of Dave’s. He turned it around to look at the front half.

“Whoa..” Karkat exhaled. There was an unmistakable resemblance to Dave in the toy. It almost had his haircut, the nose was a bit smaller though…

“Fuck,” Karkat said and removed his hand from inside his jeans. He had been absentmindedly pawing at his dick. This was dirty, he was touching himself in Target now. That plastic did feel nice, though. And his erection was in one of the hardest states it had ever been it. Fuck it.

Karkat quickly glanced out of the hall. The woman was still gone, he was alone. He pushed the door back closed and latched it. His hands kind of fumbled with his leather belt, but he soon had it unlatched. He dropped his jeans and boxers quick. He dropped himself down on the plastic chair in the dressing room.

He then brought the pooltoy on his lap, dick in between the exposed asscheeks. He then began rubbing the toy up and down on his dick. Sounds of the toy squeaking only made Karkat groan louder. The plastic felt so good against his dick, he needed to fuck this thing.

Karkat gripped the toy tightly and brought it up and down, up and down, faster and faster. The feeling of the plastic on his cock drove Karkat wild. He groaned as he felt his climax nearing.

Glancing in the mirror, Karkat saw himself fucking what he could imagine being Dave’s ass. God, this was so hot. His cock sputtered and began letting out a stream of cum all over the toy’s ass and flat midsection. Karkat let out a long, low moan. His cock continued to spurt, slowing down as he went empty. In the moments of ecstasy, he let go of the pooltoy and sighed.

The toy quietly bumped against the floor, bouncing up once before settling on the carpet. Karkat continued to gaze down on it, his mind slowly returning. His eyes went wide. He just fucking masturbated in a Target! FUCK!

Karkat quickly stood up. He threw his pulled his pants back up his legs, wincing at his still sensitive cock rubbing the wrong way across his zipper. His belt buckle clinked loudly as Karkat re-did the belt buckle. He looked back down at the pooltoy. It still had his cum on it.

He looked back at the plastic seat where he put the jeans he decided to purchase already. He grabbed the pair on top of the pile and used one of the pant legs to wipe the toy clean. Hopefully he could just have the cashier scan it without picking it up, or hopefully the self-checkout was still open.

He looked back down at the pooltoy. There was no way he was bringing that with him. He opened the door. He then turned back and walked into the stall again, screaming internally. The attendant was back. He poked his head back out.

He felt like collapsing in relief, the woman had headphones in and seemed absorbed in the clothes folding. Anyway, he couldn’t leave that toy in his stall now. There might still be some residue on it, and there was no way he wanted the attendant to think he was some kind of pervert. He knelt down and picked up the pooltoy. He made an effort to put the pleasing sound of the toy squeaking out of his mind as he shoved it into the open slot above the door to the stall opposite his in the hallway. He heard the toy bounce off against the far war and settle on the floor. He then scooped up all the jeans in his room and exited the hall.

“Anything you don’t need?” The attendant asked. Karkat gulped and realised he might still look exhausted. He made an effort to calm his breathing.

“Yeah,” Karkat replied and handed her the jean pile in his left hand. “Thanks.”

“Thank you,” The attendant said and turned back to the unfolded clothes. Karkat kept walking to the checkout area.

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

Dave remained on the floor of the stall. It had felt amazing to have Karkat play with him, his cock moving nicely along his ass. Now it was over, however, and nobody was playing with him.

He didn’t know how long he had been on the floor. Eventually he heard the whirring of a vacuum. His stall door opened and the whirring stopped. Whoever was cleaning removed Dave from the floor and placed him on the dressing room counter. The vacuum turned back on.

The whirring continued, someone picked Dave up again. He was moved down the aisle towards the mall entrance. His painted eyes were able to see the section he had removed his clothing in. His hoodie and jeans were gone, no evidence he had been there at all. The person carrying him absentmindedly brushed their thumb across his skin. If only Dave could moan out for more, his nozzle had closed with a final inhale hours ago.

At the mall entrance, he was handed over to a man with a Spencer’s shirt on. The man turned with Dave in hand and walked down the mall. People were walking all around him, and there was light coming in from the skylight signaling early morning. The man turned into the Spencer’s and walked to the back counter. He looked around the store for where the display of weird  pool toys was, but couldn’t remember. His thumb brushed against the plastic. Maybe he should just keep it on the counter. His thumb brushed across the plastic again.

Dave was placed on the store counter. The man went into the back room, presumably to stock or count something. Dave didn’t really attempt to guess, it was enough to know he wasn’t going to be played with again by him anytime soon.

The mall music drifted into the open doorway to the Spencer’s, bringing with it customer after customer. Hours dragged on. Anyone who came in for longer than a second found themselves drawn to the back of the store. Sooner or later they would notice Dave on the counter and pick him up to examine him.

Dave was happy as he was poked and prodded over and over again by customers. The squealing of their skin against his plastic calmed him and kept him horribly aroused. He could feel customers’ eyes drawn to him again and again. He could tell some of them had been subconsciously fiddling with their groin or groping his ass in a blatantly sexual way. Sooner or later they would return him to the counter, however, to Dave’s disappointment not wishing to further play with him. The customers seemed too embarrassed after realising their actions to ask the clerk the price of toy Dave. Time rolled on.

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

A familiar presence soon entered the store, to Dave’s excitement.

Karkat walked into the Spencer’s searching for the plastic red toy he had left in Target last night. He had been unable to get in touch with Dave after purchasing his jeans and waiting in the car for two hours. He returned to the Target to find Dave’s clothes and glasses near the changing rooms with his cellphone in his pocket.

The pooltoy had wandered back into his mind. The familiar ass and face had been a lot to take as coincidence, and the feeling of his cock on the toy was unwilling to exit his mind. It was a stupid idea, thinking the pooltoy might be his boyfriend, but it was his only shot.

The Target employee had told him that the other employees had called someone from Spencer’s, thinking the toy to be some strange novelty item. Karkat glanced around and quickly found Dave on the counter. He rubbed his right hand along Dave’s tubular side.

Dave didn’t pay attention to the muffled conversation above him as he was sold to Karkat. His boyfriend’s hand continued to run along his side, driving him wild. Soon he felt himself lifted in the air by Karkat and exiting the store.

Dave could feel the glances from all the other shoppers as Karkat exited the mall. If only the would all play with him, but his owner probably wouldn’t want that. Karkat was so smart.

He heard the familiar beeping of Karkat’s car unlocking remotely. The driver’s door opened and Dave was tossed onto the passenger seat. Karkat soon followed and settled on the driver’s seat, closing the door. He sighed and looked out the windshield before him.

Karkat then turned to the plastic toy on the seat next to him. This was so stupid. He brought one of his hands up to rub his thumb along the side of the toy’s face.

‘Well?” Karkat asked aloud. “Are you Dave? Are you my boyfriend?”

Silence filled the car. Karkat sighed and ran his thumb back down the toy’s face. There was another squeak of plastic moving beneath his thumb. As his thumb moved down Dave’s face, he moved it to the air nozzle. He flicked up the valve and felt the air push past his thumb.

Air began to leave Dave, who began to feel more and more tired. Why was Karkat putting him to sleep? Maybe he should get his attention.

Karkat jolted as the air leaving the toy changed, airflow altered to make a crude tune that reminded Karkat of the annoying mouth dubstep from last night…

Karkat hurridley stopped the air escaping and put his thumb on the air nozzle. He brought the nozzle up to his mouth and began to blow air back into the toy.

Dave felt himself re-inflate. He soon realised it was his boyfriend filling him up with air and felt stupidly happy at his owner filling him up with air from his lungs.

Karkat removed his lips from Dave’s nozzle. Dave felt as though he had just left one of the best make out sessions he had ever been in. The air nozzle was resealed and he was placed back on the car seat. Karkat just stared at Dave.

‘Well?” Karkat asked. “...Aren’t you going to do something?”

Dave could only stare with painted on eyes as he waited for Karkat to continue to play with him.

“Gah!” Karkat screamed and pounded the steering wheel. “This is so stupid! Why am I acting like an idiot!”

He turned back to the toy and grabbed it again. He moved it to look at its face.

“What happened to Dave, huh?” Karkat said, though not really expecting an answer. He turned back to look out the windshield. His fingers began subconsciously rubbing along Dave’s body again. His mind flashed with memories, Dave blowing into the nozzle, discarding his clothes, getting fucked by Karkat...

“Hah!” Karkat said and looked back at Dave. “You are Dave!”

The squeaking of Dave’s skin began to drive itself back into Karkat’s mind. There might be some way to turn Dave back, but right now he wanted to torture dave a bit more for a few days, a punishment for embarrassing him last night. Karkat licked his lips and realised he was hard again.  Maybe a bit longer than a few days.

Karkat’s hands found their way back to Dave’s ass and he squeezed on the sexy inflated plastic. He turned the toy to begin to grind his denim-covered cock along Dave’s ass again, but stopped as he realised he was still in a parking lot. He tossed Dave back on the passenger seat and started the car.

As Karkat backed out, his mind drifted him to images of home and the many times in the future he would make time to play with Dave…

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

Some months later, Karkat was laying down on his bed while on his phone. He was absentmindedly pawing at his erection underneath his jeans and looking at twitter. Eventually he sighed and tossed his phone to the other side of the bed. Karkat then undid his jeans and pulled them down enough to grab at his erect cock.

Karkat then stood up and walked to the closet in front of the bed. He opened the door and knelt down to retrieve the Dave pooltoy, laying on the floor of the closet. Karkat turned and walked back to the bed.

He had long since stopped leaving the toy on his bed. It was too distracting, leaving him more horny than usual. Karkat did use Dave quite a lot still, though. Dave was turned around and Karkat’s cock fell neatly between his asscheeks in the familiar position. There was some staining from all the times Karkat had blown a load on Dave’s ass that only served to make Karkat more excited.

He bobbed Dave up and down on his cock, over and over. The sound of the plastic rubbing against his hands and dick drove Karkat wild. The feeling of the plastic skin against his cock felt even better as he was quickly drawn into a climax. He came on Dave’s ass and breathed out a sigh.

He was using his sleeve to wipe away most of the cum when he noticed that his cock was hard again, ready to pound Dave again. Karkat smiled and grunted, grabbing his cock to reposition it over the toy’s ass. All Dave felt was pure happiness at how often Karkat was playing with him.

Art by @chutzpah-draws

[littlepryingpandorica]

Project Rebuild Chapter 5

EXT. BUS STOP – DAY

The song “Operation New Me” begins playing.

[SONG: Operation New Me by Jingle Punks - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoXlrhojd3g ]

[Out the door and I’m ready to go-oh] Lloyd walks up to his other classmates as the bus stop and waves hi.

LLOYD: Hello!

[It’s me version 2.0 –oh, Here’s something, you never see it, makes it right] None of Lloyd’s classmates want to associate with him. They tear up Lego bricks from the surrounding area and build a literal brick wall in between them and Lloyd. They shun him, looking the other way with arms crossed, chins up and eyes closed. 

[People talking about my dad’s situation] The bus arrives and Lloyd walks into the bus. Everyone is fighting in a rowdy dust ball of violence. The moment Lloyd steps into the middle of the aisle, everyone stops whatever they were doing and sits down, glaring at Lloyd. There are a few empty seats left.

[I’ll always be the shame of the nation] Lloyd’s other classmates rush into the bus, shoving Lloyd out of the way and claiming the few remaining seats.

LLOYD: Hey!

[Could it be that they’ll never see me as me] Lloyd sits down in the last remaining free seat. Someone tosses a crumpled piece of paper at him. Lloyd unfolds it and he sees a crude drawing of himself in black Overlord robes when he used to be evil.

[Operation New Me] After taking a seat, Lloyd looks at his other classmates and sees they all moved to the other side of the bus.

[Operation New Me] Lloyd looks out the window and forces a smile but it melts away quickly as the bus starts to move.

[If you don’t like what the world’s saying Time to start a new conversation] The bus is entirely tilted to one’s side as it moves. 

EXT. NINJAGO HIGH SCHOOL - DAY

[You are not a no one] Panning shot of Ninjago High School as the bus rolls into view.

[Deep down you’re a top gun]   Shot of multiple students entering the school either by foot, skateboard or bike.

[Be your own wingman Wheels up to the sky] Lloyd steps out of the bus and surveys the area. The bus door slams shut and the music cuts abruptly.

Sounds of students chattering all silence when Lloyd comes into view. Everyone glares at Lloyd. Lloyd slowly walks to the school entrance. As he passes by, he can hear the other students whispering about him behind his back.

KID # 1: Shhhh. That’s the kid I was telling you about. 

KID # 2:  He and his dad ruin everything.

KID # 3: I don’t even think that’s his real eye color. Ever notice how his eyes only started being consistently green around the same time the Green Ninja started showing up? What a copycat!

Lloyd can feel everyone’s gaze on him as he walks. But suddenly Zane slides in and diffuses the tension. Lloyd’s mood lightens up considerably. Zane talks with a very robotic inflection. 

ZANE: Hello fellow teenager!

LLOYD: Zane, buddy! How ya been?

ZANE: Man, my mom is on my case all the time! She’s like...

Zane makes modem dial up noises as his face glitches. 

ZANE (CONT’D): ... and I’m like “Lay off Mom! I’m just a teenager!”

LLOYD: I hear that!

ZANE: Anyway, my internal calendar indicates that today is the anniversary of your birth. Would you care for a sugar-based confectionery delight? I baked it this morning. 

Zane offers Lloyd a box of lime green Lego stud cupcakes (round 1x1 with swirled top).

LLOYD: Ooooh! Matcha! My favorite!

Lloyd grabs a cupcake and takes a bite. He speaks with his mouth full.

LLOYD: Mmmmm. Thanks Zane! 

Lloyd and Zane walk up to the school doors. Lloyd pushes the double doors open. 

INT. NINJAGO HIGH SCHOOL - DAY

On the other side of the hallway is Kai. Kai jumps up and waves to get Lloyd’s attention.

KAI: Bro!

Kai walks up to Lloyd with his arms wide open.

KAI: Dude, gimme a hug, man! Gimme a birthday hug!

LLOYD: Kai!

Kai tackles Lloyd in a tight embrace. Lloyd struggles to breathe, helpless in Kai’s grip.

KAI: That’s a good one!

ZANE: Birthday hug? Let me get in on that! I’ll increase the pressure dramatically.Zane walks toward Kai and Lloyd and wraps his arms around them. He squeezes them tightly. Lloyd struggles even more desperately.

LLOYD: Zane! Zane! ZANE!

We hear a distinct and audible CRUNCHING NOISE, like something being broken. Lloyd grunts. Zane releases Lloyd and Kai. Lloyd takes deep breaths. 

KAI: Haha! Good one, Zane!

LLOYD: Yeah! (huff) good, just... give me a moment, (breathes) where are the others?

SMASH CUT TO: INT. SCHOOL LOCKERS - DAY 

We see a close up of Cole as he listens to “In the End” by Linkin Park on his radio boom box at full volume. He has his hair down.

[SONG: In The End by Linkin Park - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVT... ]

[I tried so hard and got so far] Cole has a despondent look on his face. He has mostly resigned himself to his fate as the once great ex-leader of the Secret Ninja Force. 

[But in the end, it doesn’t even matter] We see from Cole’s POV, Jay is in front of him, chatting enthusiastically. His voice is being drowned out by the music.

[I had to fall to lose it all, but it the end, it doesn’t even matter] We see a mid shot of Cole and Jay leaning on Lloyd’s locker as the music dies down and Jay’s voice becomes audible. Jay has a long strip of paper in his hands. He is reading his fortune prophecy out loud. 

JAY: “Your Master Builder application has been received. Ask again later.” Auuughhh!!!! But what does that mean? Did I get in? Did I not get in? What if Nya gets in and I don’t? I feel so excited and nervous at the same time! I just... auuugghhh!!!!!

Jay grabs a hold of Cole’s shoulders and shakes him back and forth wildly. Cole smiles softly and pats Jay on the back as though to say “There there.” 

JAY: (to himself) Maybe I should ask Lloyd how he got in. (to Cole) What does yours say?

Cole wordlessly takes out his fortune prophecy and unfolds it. He shows it to Jay without saying anything. It is completely blank. Cole’s facial expression is equally empty.

JAY: Lazy writing huh? That’s rough.

Cole sighs, folds his fortune prophecy and returns it to his pocket. He closes his eyes and continues listening to music. 

A couple of kids approach the lockers shaking cans of black spray paint. Jay sees them and tries to give them a death glare but he is not intimidating enough. Cole opens his eyes, notices them and gives them a proper death glare. The kids back away slowly. As the bullies leave, Zane, Kai and Lloyd come into view, completely unaware of the bullies’ presence.

LLOYD: Jay! Cole! What’s up? 

Cole turns off his boom box and smiles softly. It is a genuine smile, but his eyes betray a certain sadness.

JAY: Look! No one messed with your locker today! Happy Birthday! 

Jay and Cole step aside to show Lloyd’s spotless locker. 

LLOYD: Thanks guys! 

Lloyd gives the Lego equivalent of a high five to Jay and Cole. 

A loud roaring sound is heard as Nya rides in through the school’s hallways on her motorbike. The motorcycle’s tires screech noisily as she stops just in front of the other Ninja. A passing teacher yells at her for not following school guidelines.

TEACHER: (SHOUTING) NO MOTORBIKES IN THE HALLWAY!

NYA: (SHOUTING) I HAVE A MEDICAL CONDITION!

TEACHER: (SHOUTING) OKAY!

LLOYD: Hey Nya! 

Nya turns to Lloyd and the others. She waves her hand.

NYA: Yo bro!

KAI: What’s up sis? 

NYA: Oh hey, actual bro!

JAY: Hey, Nya! Where’d you get that bike? At the great stuff store? (whispers to Cole) Nya is so boss!

Jay latches on to Cole’s arm and Cole rolls his eyes.

NYA: Check out my new paint job! On my new BIKE! ‘Cause I made them both myself!

EVERYONE: Cool!!!

NYA: It’s the Lady Iron Dragon! My HERO! 

Nya gestures with her hands in enthusiasm. We see a close up of Nya’s painting. Then we see a close up of Lloyd’s face. He sees the image and has a knowing look in his eyes. He recognizes Lady Iron Dragon as the vigilante alter-ego of his mother, Koko.

NYA: Have I ever told you guys the legend of Lady Iron Dragon? 

Kai and Jay answer at the same time. 

KAI: (dismissively) Only like a thousand times...

JAY: (eagerly) No, you haven’t!

Kai facepalms. Nya goes on storyteller mode. Everyone huddles around Nya.

NYA: Many years ago, before the Secret Ninja Force protected this city, Ninjago was safeguarded by a mysterious vigilante. She was called the Lady Iron Dragon. But to know the legend of Lady Iron Dragon, we have to go back, way way back.

ZANE: Ooooh, story time? This calls for a round of sugar-based confectionery delights! 

Zane takes out his box of matcha cupcakes and offers one to each of his friends. They each take one and eat it. After Zane offers Cole the last cupcake, Cole leans on Zane’s shoulder. The others speak while eating their cupcakes.

We pan over to Kai.

KAI: Oh man! Zane, these are amazing! I wish I had a mom who could bake like you!

We pan over to Nya.

NYA: I wish I had a mom who could be Lady Iron Dragon!

We pan over to Lloyd.

Lloyd smiles awkwardly at this but no one notices.

We pan over to Jay.

JAY: I’m actually super uncomfortable with wishes and what if scenarios so I am perfectly content with my current mom. And also my dad.  

Nya leans into view and pats her boyfriend on the back. We then pan over to Cole and hold on him. He does not comment his thoughts on his mother. While the others are finishing their cupcakes, Cole instead takes a shiny black rock out of his pocket and looks at it wordlessly before placing it back. It is shard of ONYX, the Stone of Strength. 

Cole looks back up at the others and Nya continues her story.

NYA: So anyway, many years ago, Ninjago was a small, peaceful village...

A/N: Don’t click on the Onyx link unless you want to be potentially spoilered. 

CHAPTER INDEX

[buckybabybaby]

Everything Backwards (Chapter 10/12)

Summary: When you make-out with a ‘James’ on a night out, you don’t expect to see him again, so imagine your surprise the next day when it turns out he’ll be your new sort-off-flat-mate. As Nanny for Peggy & Steve’s three children, you’ve lucked out, but now the guy across the corridor is threatening to ruin it. This is the story of how it all works out.

Chapter 10 summary: Mario Kart and meddling children. Also, protective Bucky.

Pairing: Bucky Barnes/Reader (gender neutral) Slow Burn.

Word count: 2601

Warnings: Creepy guy in a bar… It’s not that bad though, and he gets what he deserves. So there a little bit of violence and language because of it.

A/n: I’m on holiday right now and wifi is patchy, so lets hope this posts…

Previous: Chapter 9

Everything Backwards Masterlist | Masterlist

Children seem to have a way to bounce back from distressing situations quite quickly, and by the next day it’s like it never happened. Sarah, absolutely delighted with the bow Bucky made for her by salvaging the end of her ribbon and glueing it to a hair slide, is playing quite happily with her brothers, but you still feel the need to spoil her. After checking on the dish in the oven you go to the living room to see if she wants to help, but stop in the door at the sight before you.

Joe and Michael have obviously got bored of playing the game themselves, but they seem quite happy to just observe as Bucky wins at Mario Kart. He’s sat on the floor in front of the sofa, one of the children’s plastic crowns half falling off his head, and you smile as his nephews cheer when he slides easily into first place.

The next race loads and you make your presence known. “Ooh, rainbow road. This one’s hard isn’t it?”

“Only for amateur’s like you,” he winks and you giggle, taking a seat next to him and absent mindedly attaching the strap of his controller to his wrist.

“Alright Mr Professional Racing Driver, let’s see what you’ve got.”

Sarah wanders back over from the Lego castle she’s been building for weeks, and together you all settle in to watch. Halfway through the third lap you feel something being placed on your hair, which you quickly identify as another one of the crowns by the spikes digging into your scalp.

Joe pats it down, explaining, “We were playing make believe, see, Uncle Bucky’s got one too.”

“And it’s very pretty on him.” Bucky gently kicks your foot with his, grinning at the screen as he weaves around the track.

Sarah claps suddenly. “We couldn’t decide who should be who, but I’ve just worked it out.” She slips into the seat behind you, and readjusts it on your head. “It’s perfect. Next time, you can be the most powerful in the land, and Uncle Bucky is the Prince in love with you.”

Everyone watches as Bucky’s cart runs straight of the road just before the finishing line, causing all three children to scream in horror and delight as his perfect streak is destroyed. When you risk glancing over at him he’s already looking back, blushing whilst breathing a little deeper than normal, and the world narrows to the two of you as he searches your eyes. Just as it feels as though you may never be able to move again Joe flops down in his Bucky’s and breaks your staring.

He pulls himself up and whispers something in his ear, causing Bucky to splutter and stand quickly, picking him up and spinning him so he’s hanging upside down by his ankles.

“This one needs to wash his hands for dinner.”

“I do not!” Joe’s giggling wildly as he’s carried out of the room, and Michael follows, unsure if he’s missing out on fun or not.

Your left with Sarah as you try to compose yourself, and she notices how you’ve changed outfits since earlier.

“Are you going somewhere tonight?”

“Yes. But I can stay if you want.”

“No! No, you should go. Are you going with Uncle Bucky?” She’s concentrating on clicking her Lego’s together but you can see the small smile she’s trying to hide.

“No…”

“Oh. That’s a shame.” She searches in the box for a suitable piece. “Uncle Bucky’s very…” Her face scrunches as she thinks. “He’s got nice hair, hasn’t he?”

“Nice hair.” You laugh, starting to see where she’s going with this.

“Yep. And you do too, so that’s good. Mummy and Daddy have nice hair as well. I think it’s important.”

The look she levels you with holds too much wisdom for an only-just-nine year old, and you know she knows exactly what she’s talking about. Apparently you haven’t been as subtle as you’ve thought. “You’re very observant, aren’t you?”

“Maybe I am.” She passes you the flower she’s been making, and you’re impressed at it’s intricacy. “Or maybe, it’s just very obvious.”

A timer goes off in the kitchen, reminding you why you came out here, and you’re quite thankful for the disturbance as Sarah jumps up and rushes out the room. “Are you making macaroni cheese?”

“Yes,” you reply, pleased when she squeezes you in a hug as thanks. “And garlic bread, so go wash your hands and call your brothers.”

“And Uncle Bucky?”

“Er, yeah, if he wants?”

“If you’re there I’m sure he will.” Laughing, you send her on her way, shaking you head at her persistence, but you’re delighted she approves. Or at least you hope this is her approving. You’re not at all surprised when she reappears two minutes later, her brothers and a very flustered Bucky in tow.

Later that night, you order a cocktail off the specials menu and, distracted by what Sarah said earlier, manage to get one that makes you pull some pretty hideous faces. But when you spend that much money on a drink you’re going to finish it, especially as you’re friends haven’t arrived yet and you need to look busy to avoid unwanted attention. It doesn’t work though, and you tense as a tall blonde man slides on to the stool next to you.

“Name’s Ryan.”

You don’t look away from your glass. “That’s nice.”

He laughs and leans on the bar. “Don’t I get to know yours?”

You cringe again, but this time it’s not at the alcohol. Why are guys like this? Despite your silence he’s not put off.

“Let me buy you a drink, then you can tell me your name.”

“I’ve got one thanks.” Please take the hint, you scream in your mind.

“Let me get you another.”

“I’m really fine.”

He’s not giving up. “Okay, no drink. Are you waiting for your boyfriend? Is that it? Someone like you should not be kept waiting.”

You look at him incredulously. “Do lines like that actually work for you?”

“We can only see, can’t we?” He seems encouraged by your eye contact and moves closer. “When someone as hot as you is the prize, then I’ve got to do all I can to win.”

“What makes you think I’m available to be won?”

“You wouldn’t be wearing that if you had a boyfriend.”

“And why is that?” Actually you don’t want to know.

“Bit slutty, isn’t it?”

You need to leave.

“Right, well, this has been lovely but all of a sudden I need the bathroom, have a nice night.” You move to stand but his hand stops you, gripping your wrist tightly.

“I watched you come back from the bathroom five minutes ago.” He forces you back into your seat and moves his hand up, along your arm to your shoulder and then back down to your leg. You’re frozen. This end of the bar is empty and you seem to have lost your ability to speak, let alone draw attention to yourself or call for help.

He’s leering at you as he squeezes your thigh.

“Nothing wrong with looking easy. I can give you what you so clearly need.” His hand moves further up. “Now, why don’t you be a good little whore, and let me take you home?”

Your heart is racing but the threat obvious in his words unfreezes you. Sliding your own fingers under his, you smile sweetly at him.

“Why don’t you go fuck yourself.” With that, you pull his middle finger up and away from your body, before twisting his hand and slamming it back into his lap, punching him in the groin in the process. As he curls in on his self in pain you grab your phone and blindly make for the exit. When you burst through the front door into the street, you run into a wall of muscle and nearly cry when you see it’s Bucky.

“Is that you Y/N? What’s wrong?” Sam, who you hadn’t noticed standing beside him, rushes forward to prevent you from falling when you trip over your own feet and you whisper a hello as you tumble into his chest. “Fuck, how much have you had?”

You push away from him angrily. “Hardly anything! There was this man, I had to…” You frown at the pavement, not knowing how to finish, finally having a clear enough mind to process it all. It wasn’t that bad, was it? Maybe you over reacted? No. He had barely got two sentences out of you before his hand was on you, despite the clear ‘not interested’ signals you sent him.

When you look back up the two men in front of you are furious.

“Where is he now Y/N?” Bucky looks ready to snap someone’s neck and you hesitate. As you’re trying to determine if the creep deserves to receive a kicking he’ll never forget, the very guy stumbles from the bar and stops dead in front of the three of you. He’s holding his hand close to his body and you’re pleased his finger is swollen, the move you’d used on him wasn’t practised but as an improvisation it looks like it had been quite effective. He looks at you and you swallow but don’t turn away.

“There he is.”

Bucky wastes no time in pinning him against the side of the building by his collar.

“Did you hurt Y/N?” It’s said as a growl but ‘Ryan’ doesn’t look fazed.

“Oh, it’s Y/N, is it? We didn’t get that far.” He sizes up the two guys staring him down but he doesn’t look like he’s going to walk away quietly and you whimper, drawing attention back to you. He smirks hatefully. “Right, so which one of these two is your boyfriend? Or are they both?”

The grip on his jacket is tight but he still manages to shift to face you fully and spit his fatal words.

“I was right, you are a fucking slut.”

The back of his head cracks sickeningly against the wall behind him as Bucky’s fist smashes straight into his nose. Sam leaps forward to pull him away, and somehow the two of you manage to force him along the alley behind the bar and into the car park at the back. You didn’t look back as you all ran, but when you gently take Bucky’s hand into your own to examine his knuckles, the blossoming bruise suggests that 'Ryan’ should be quite hurt. You’re glad.

Everyone is breathing heavily as Sam turns to you. “Did he touch you?”

A glance to your wrist shows there’s no mark. “Not really. Just my leg.”

“I’m going to fucking kill him.”

Both you and Sam grab at Bucky’s coat to stop him running back.

“Believe me, I’d be right behind you but there’s the small matter of cameras and consequences and, fuck, cameras. Do you think we should go back and explain?” Sam asks.

“They don’t have any.” Bucky looks up at you and you realise you’re still holding his hand, but his grip tightens when you go to move so you stay, and inform them; “They have some cameras inside, but there aren’t any on that part of the street.”

“How do you know that?”

“This isn’t the first time something like this has happened. It’s a bit of a rough place. I don’t actually know why I agreed to meet there.” One thing’s for sure, you’re not going back. And just as you remember that you were meeting your friends tonight, a taxi pulls up behind you and they both step out.

“Y/N?” Natasha sounds bemused. “And, Bucky right? And, Sam, wow, haven’t seen you in ages! How are you?” She continues rambling as Wanda takes in the way you’re all standing, Bucky’s hand in yours and the bruises, and concludes that something isn’t right. She nudges Natasha to quieten her.

“Are you alright?”

“Yeah, I-I think so.” You let out a shaky breath and try to summarise the last twenty minutes to them.

Their cab is still idling, waiting to be paid, and it makes you realise that you are no longer in the mood to be anywhere but your own bed, so you ask Natasha and Wanda if they mind you leaving. They assure you they don’t, insist in fact that you go, and Bucky volunteers to escort you. Natasha watches through the window as he helps you with your seatbelt but she keeps her mouth shut for once.

Despite it not being that late when you get home you’re careful to be quiet as you move along the corridor, Bucky right behind you, and when you reach your door you turn to him. He’s closer than you thought but neither of you move back.

“Are you going to be okay?” You attempt to smile at him but it’s clearly not convincing. “Do you want me to stay with you?”

“Yes please.” You’re too tired to think of all the reasons this may be a bad idea, letting him into your room as you go to the bathroom to clean up. When you come back he’s sitting on your bed, your pyjama top in his hand, and he looks slightly guilty when you catch him.

“Is this what you’re wearing in bed?”

“What’s wrong with it?” You’ve already been criticised about your choice of clothing once this evening and you’re not about to sit through another insult.

“It says 'the most wonderful time of the year.’ That’s a Christmas thing. It’s only September.” You laugh in relief that he’s not being that rude, swiping it back from him and swatting him with it playfully as he moves to use the bathroom himself.

“What am I supposed to do with it? Wear it for a week in December and then put it in the loft with the tinsel? Pyjama’s are for life, not just for Christmas, Bucky!” He rolls his eyes, smiling as he leaves and you feel a lot lighter. Normally you just sleep in the middle of your bed but you can’t tonight so once you’ve got into your nightwear you choose the side furthest from the door and slip under the duvet, waiting. You would have thought that you’d be freaking out at the thought of sleeping in the same bed as Bucky again, but today it almost feels natural.

When he walks back in he almost lands on top of you when he trips over his shoes, having just turned off your light but not looking out for hazards before hand. You have to pull the covers up over your face to hide your giggles as he swears under his breath and kicks them away before lying down beside you.

Your laughter dies when he faces you.

“Your bed is a lot softer than mine.”

“I know.”

“Which do you prefer?”

“This one, definitely.”

“Noted.” You don’t ask what he means, instead reaching for his arm to find his hand and lace your fingers with his. He watches you with a soft smile and moves his other hand to tuck some of your hair behind your ear, smiling as you fight of a yawn.

“Go to sleep, Y/N.”

You sink further into the mattress to resist the urge to cuddle up to him. “Will you be here in the morning?”

“If you want.”

“I do.”

“Well then, I will.” He watches you close your eyes and relax under his touch, now tracing circles above your collar bone. “I’ll always be here, if you want.”

Chapter 11

Tagging: @tieddown-withbattleshipchains @i-had-a-life-once @attorneyl @scamandaaaamn @superwholockian5ever @marvel-trash07 @bohemianrhapsodaisychains @the-renaissance @davros2004 @sergeant-james-bbarnes @sebastianst-n @summerbummer2001 @ginger-wayward-assbutt @sadanddeadsoul @satans-knitting-club

[arplis]

Arplis - News: There is no room that I apologize for more than this one

And while I know we are all done apologizing, I physically can’t help it because I’m TRULY regretful that I can’t seem to figure this one out. When new people walk in I immediately distract them to the left, into the living room with a ‘nothing to see over there!’ vibe. It’s gotten better, thank god so today you are going to see where we are at now, and how I’m stuck and another epic DIY fail. When I started this playroom, the kids were 2 and 4. They are now 3 1/2 and 5 1/2 and if I don’t start speeding this up I will have two tweens no longer interested in playing ‘horsies’ or ‘inventor’. But I was distracted by the mountain house and at such a loss of what to do here that I just couldn’t. Here’s where we started: BEFORE: When we bought the house, it looked like the above photo. Sure, easy enough. It would be the playroom, er, TV room, er both… But I’d make it cozy…paint it really dark, not realizing that it would chop up the house so much and make it feel so much smaller. That was makeshift, obviously, with leftover furniture, not actually designed, but you get the idea. So we painted it light and got a sofa that was better scale for the space, but it was still a TV room with some toy storage in the back. (The sofa now lives in the apartment of our last Feel Good Flash Makeover. But then we realized that the kids really needed a playroom, a space just for them. We nixed the sofa and TV and brought in a bunch of toy storage. We made the same mistake that a lot of new parents make—too many toys, not enough that they actually play with or engage with for a long time. Bins of balls, action heroes and garbage that they pull out all day every day but they don’t really engage with. They liked the play kitchen, but the rest was mostly for other kids to be enamored with, not them. As much as I begged them to play dollhouse with me, they weren’t old enough. Even that adorable workbench that we got for them for Christmas sat totally untouched unless we did it with them. What they love are two things: arts and crafts and building things (think Legos). THE CHALLENGES: It’s a long skinny room that needs to function as the playroom (for now) but you see it IMMEDIATELY when you walk in. I actually wanted to put in some glass doors and somehow figure out how to decrease its importance and give it its own space (because someday it would be a great home office) but Brian wasn’t on board as he thought it would break up the space too much and make it feel smaller (it would). It has an architectural break in the wall, almost creating two different spaces, but it’s awkward. You can see it from many rooms on the first floor so it can’t scream TOYS and instead, should look pulled together. You know, as if an actual designer lives here, but I still want it to be playful and fun, you know, as if it’s an actual playroom. Additionally, the lighting felt too big. It doesn’t look like it in the photos, but I just wanted to simplify it a bit. After trying a million different layouts, I drew inspiration from, well, our preschool and had the idea that maybe where the wall juts out should be its own “room,” with cubby dividers creating walls and a sense of privacy for them. Not because they need privacy, but because creating zones seems like what little kids like, and areas where they can imagine and play felt right for their age. I was right and this was a huge hit with them. The good news: MURAL: I love that mural so much. I ordered it from Rebel Walls and you can size it exactly to your wall so it fits perfectly. And yes, we put it over the plaster wall because we didn’t want to skim coat over the original pretty plaster as we knew that someday we would likely remove it and then we’d have one flat wall. We customized the color to be a nice muted navy blue and white. It’s graphic yet exciting, as it’s not too busy and it’s playful in an old-world way (matching our 100-year-old English Tudor). LIGHTING: I switched out the lighting so that the sconces matched the living room (we stole two from the living room over the bookshelves and instead put in horizontal art lights—I’ll show you soon). They project less into the room but still provide nice lighting (the house has no can lighting and we didn’t put any in except for in the kitchen and bathrooms during the remodel). We switched out the ceiling fixture to be glass (from Rejuvenation) so it took up less visual space. It is raw brass so it will age really nicely. I love them both. RUG: The round rug really helps that space feel brighter and more playful. Obviously a round white rug in a playroom seems a bit nuts, so I bought an inexpensive one in hopes that if it only lasts for a couple of years, I’m at least not wasting too much money. The other options we considered are a darker round rug (which might have been a better choice long-term) or using Flor tiles. But out of desperation on a Saturday morning, I pressed “purchase” and you know what? It’s been TWO months and it still looks this white. It’s cheap, 100% polyester or rayon and for some reason, maybe that it’s such a high pile, it hasn’t stained at all. I came up with a genius rule that there are not paints in the craft room, which they don’t miss (remember we can play/paint year-round outside in LA) so it’s actually GREAT. ART TABLE: I bought the table a year ago and put on the taller legs that came with it so it’s a great height for them (and us) to sit at. I used Target stools that come with a different table that was too small, but we had leftover from another project. I wish they sold them on their own. Elliot sits here for HOURS a day. She spends more time drawing than I ever knew a child could. It’s amazing. BOOKCASES: I used that architectural break to divide the room with bookcases. They each take a side. On Charlie’s, he has his Legos (the kid is SUPER into Legos, guys) and he displays them on the top shelf. Birdie has a ton of beads, treasure boxes, princess crowns and horses. I already had these Pillowfort bookcases/cubbies from Target that were functional and great but the back of them had a wood/white detail that was too busy to be seen from the back. So here were our options: Make it look more “built-in” and cover it with with the same white as the molding and even add trim pieces like a baseboard and a trim piece against the wall to make it look “built-in.” That is a lot of work though for two pieces of furniture that are definitely NOT built-in. Make the back of the shelves functional (as in create some sort of feature for them). The Pottery Barn shelving (from the “befores”) is now upstairs in their room (not all of it—some is in storage). After thinking about it for a while, we realized that we would be spending way too much time/money trying to make a piece of furniture look built-in. If it were something we could do ourselves (Brian and I), that would be different but paying someone (our handy PA, Shade) to do it could take hours and add up to hundreds. So instead, we had this idea that we would put a pegboard on the back that could be a few different interactive things, such as: Rubberband art: images: left via instructables | right via kara paslay designs Marble run or tubes that you snake around the pegs: images: left via frugal fun 4 boys | right via frugal fun 4 boys You can use cardboard tubes like they did on the left, or really bendable tubes, or PVC pipes like they did on the right. We do need more art storage for more maker supplies so we also thought that one of them could be styled out more like this: image via cup of jo This is where it all started going/rolling downhill. Because we are perfectionists, we felt that we couldn’t use something readymade. WE don’t just buy pegboard, no, and certainly not a system from IKEA that would, well, create the most perfect and functional art wall. NO, we have far too much time and money to waste to do a simple solution! Instead, Shade would buy some plywood, cut it perfectly to size and drill each hole INDIVIDUALLY, then attach it to the back of the shelves (after bolting them together).  Sounds easy, but this did, of course, take time and time is money. I think he spent a day and a half on it, which is about $350 in labor (not including materials). We ordered some marble run stuff and attached the pegs to them so they could move it around and create their own creation. The problem is by customizing our own holes, it fits no art system because they aren’t spaced apart in a standard way. I’ll remind you what it looks like: We found these raw wood marble run pieces and glued pegs into them, with the hope that they can be rearranged on the peg wall and be an interactive game that our kids will spend hours quietly playing with. The kids came home that first day, got excited then realized that they are VERY hard to take in and out and went back to Legos and art. Even when I sat down to do it, I got frustrated. It could be that they are too young, but it’s frankly just more annoying and the payoff (a marble rolling) isn’t worth their frustration. Admittedly, it does look fun, but for whatever reason, they don’t like it. It’s kinda hard and again the payoff isn’t worth it. Around the same time, we bought an art system for the play attic at the mountain house that was awesome (update on that space with photos coming soon). I then realized that we had gone through all this trouble to create a custom system that already exists readymade and affordable, only better and more functional! It would be like spending months designing a chair that already exists. Cool. Sure, it’s white and plastic and ours is raw wood and pretty, but I actually think that white would work better in here anyway. Why didn’t we just do this in the first place? Honestly, because I haven’t been to IKEA in years and didn’t know it existed. I was hasty. Too busy to research. Preferring instead to spend time and money customizing something that doesn’t work. Additionally, after ours was done, I thought we couldn’t find pegs that really fit easily because the ones that we bought for the marble runs were too big and tight. Then last week, I decided to, you know, measure the holes. From there, I Googled pegs that size, ordered them and boom. The morning of the shoot, I set up the rubber band activity and it looked cute. I couldn’t find rubberbands so I used Birdie’s hairtyes to show you the function. PLOT TWIST: When the kids came home from school on Thursday (when we shot this), they started playing with the rubberband wall and proceeded to play for a while (I’d say around 25 minutes which is a long engagement time for a 3 and 5-year-old). Birdie wanted rubber bands on her side so we took out the marble run and they put the pegs in where they wanted them, moved them around and made patterns, letters and shapes with the hair ties. We then found our actual rubber bands, started playing with those and guess what? It’s a really fun guitar wall and they played with that for a while. So now I’m thinking that maybe it wasn’t an epic DIY fail but only time will tell. Part of me wants to fill the holes and paint it white and then attach the art organization system I mentioned we already have at the mountain house. I did, however, buy them a cart full of garbage to play with in the meantime. We call it the “makers cart” or the “inventor cart.” It’s full of recyclables (plastic containers, cans, paper towel rolls, newspaper), different tapes (I need to buy stock in 3M or Scotch because the amount of tape we buy for them to make things is INSANE), magnets, screws/bolts/brackets, strings, pipe cleaners, etc. Hell, we put all takeout materials in there—chopsticks, plastic forks, etc… Like I said, LITERAL GARBAGE, but it makes us feel way less bad if they at least get some creativity out of that waste. Charlie LOVES it. Birdie is much more into art and coloring, but Charlie loves inventing things and our neighbor (my best friend’s son) tortures her with bringing home his “inventions” daily (riddling her house with our garbage). So there’s one success. I also LOVE this art wall. Like nothing makes me happier than when they finish something and ask me if they can put it on the wall (not sure why they ask). So the next challenge is making a big bulletin board that is actually pretty. Here are my ideas: Put it in an interesting shape, like a house. Have it lean or start on the floor so that they can reach and add their own finished pieces. Use masonite (a soft composite) and cover in a fabric (likely a pretty linen or maybe a subtle pattern). Mount a thick roll of cork to plywood then paint it a color or white. Frame or trim it out with thin wood. Like so: image via live loud girl I’ve tried to think about different shapes that make sense, to try to reinvent this but I haven’t come up with something that would be easy to execute that makes sense for art. I love the graphicness of the house, and remember that we have a big moment, the mural on the opposite side of the room. Okay. This room also needs to kinda function as the kids mud-room. So we brought in that bench that has great storage, but also provides a great drop place for the kids’ bags and shoes, as if they put them there, EVER. HA. They are getting better, but the first week of school they dropped them within inches of the door, on the floor. The drawers right now hold more art supplies and paper, but will be great for either shoes or homework stuff later. We had it at the foot of our bed for a while (which we loved) but we needed it down here more. I was going to get a bigger mirror, possibly pill-shaped because its 2019 and evidently we DON’T do rectangles in 2019, but then I found this vintage Thonet mirror at a thrift store near the mountain house and couldn’t not buy it (I think it was like $45) and so one day I put it up on an already existing nail and realized that I actually might love it here. Side note: I never bought or installed nice grate covers. I meant to. I have had it on my list for 2 years now. It’s a long list but above it are things like “raise children” and “stay alive” which are taking more time than I had predicted, so the bottom of the list sits there unchecked. Instead, we have the $3 ones that I feel like you could buy at 7-11. I really need to replace them and will, I promise. (I have a personal assistant now so maybe it will happen before 2025!). Now I need to decide if I want to add hooks for bags and make it look like a proper Pinterest-worthy mudroom or just call it and let them put their bags on the bench because that is more likely to actually happen. So I’d love any and all opinions on what to do in here. I know I want to create a more awesome art wall. I know that Birdie would like easier access to art supplies, but we could just do another cart full of supplies and tools and keep the rubberband art. Also right now she is super into colored pencils because that is what is in front of her, why do I need to add more? Less is more with kids, right? Resources: Toy Cubbies | Table | Stools (similar) | Rug | Bench | Wall Mural | Ceiling Flushmount | Sconces | Supply Cart | Marble Run Set | Play Kitchen ***Update photos by Veronica Crawford The post Our LA Playroom Update With Solutions That Work For Us + Another DIY Fail appeared first on Emily Henderson. #Playroom #Kids #MyHouse

Arplis - News source https://arplis.com/blogs/news/there-is-no-room-that-i-apologize-for-more-than-this-one