#fanfiction: it's the friends you make it's the road you choose

[softeninglooks]

a teaser for the 3rd chapter of my iwaoi!pokemon fanfiction - paying tribute to hq's lesson that food and taking care of your body are imperative in order to grow stronger <3

“Houndoom gently bumped against Iwaizumi’s leg, distracting him from his daydreaming. The waiting hall of the Pokemon Center was starting to fill with visitors as the big hand of the clock approached twelve o’clock, and trainers were pouring in to take some rest and savour their snacks in a safe place. Before thinking about the battles to come, getting some rest was essential—Houndoom was right.

Iwaizumi prepared Pokemon food for his party in a corner of the Center, then he unpacked his own lunch, biting into the hand-made sandwich with great appetite. And with each bite, a jab of renewed optimism coursed through his veins—it is true what they say, doldrums always come on an empty stomach. He trusted his Pokemon, they had faced many challenges ever since their journey had started, and none had proved insurmountable in the end. But first, he had to take care of his team and himself. Building strength, muscle, mental fortitude, all of it rested on the simple realization that one’s body could not surpass itself without proper care. Fibres, nutriments, vitamins—they were the fertile soil in which the seeds of skill and improvement could be planted. The foundation which Iwaizumi could not afford to neglect.  

“Eat up,” he kindly told his Pokemon while neatly cutting up berries for their desert. “We’re going to need all the energy we can get.””

[maluuustrawberry]

"My biggest treasure"

(Túlio X Fem!Reader X Miguel)

(The road to El Dorado fanfiction)

{Part. 1}

A/N: HOW NOBODY WROTE A FIC OF RTED?? Don't ask me why, but I really wanted to write a fic about them after watching again. (It's my favorite movie after The Emperor's New Groove) I was undecided which character to write (I love these two so much) so I decided to do both and you readers will decide, {Túlio X reader} will be a relationship between enemies to lovers and {Miguel X reader} will be friends to lovers. You who will decide, remembering that if there is any error, you can correct me. Good reading 🤗.

°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

It was just another normal day in Barcelona, Spain in 1519, and things weren't looking too good in the city, especially for Isaac, or rather Y/n. As we all know, we were still in the 16th century where theft and machismo were still commonplace. Y/n wasn't like the other women who accepted this quietly and whose only job was to serve her husband and look after the house. She liked to be free and not depend on anyone, earned her own money by disguising herself as a man to work on an export ship, it was her only way of earning money since women weren't allowed in jobs and especially jobs like these. She had to be a man to work and a woman to walk around quietly when she weren't working.

Today you'd find yourself at the market in the center of town, buying your things with the money you'd earned through your efforts, luckily in the eyes of others it was your "husband's" money.

You were at the fruit stand choosing apples to buy and take home, until a man bumped into you by "accident," he was thin, tall, wearing a blue shirt, his black hair was tied up in a ponytail:

“Sorry, Señorita.” The man said as soon as he bumped into her and continued on his way in a hurry.

You were a clever woman, and the way he bumped into you in such a hurry made you suspect what he was about. You quickly put your hand in the pocket of your dress where your money bag and your diary should have been, which was one of your most precious possessions, and unfortunately they were no longer there, the only thing that went through your mind was that you had been robbed by that man. It wasn't going to stay that way, you wasn't going to lose the money who had fought to get and the diary that belonged to your father:

“Hey! Come back here!”

You spoke to the thin man and he accelerated his steps. You had no choice but to go after him, passing through the crowd of people and not letting him out of your sight. As soon as you were out of the crowd, he started running and you ran after him. The brunette didn't expect you to react, after all he thought you were like all the women he'd stolen, little did he know that he'd messed with the wrong woman.

You kept running after him, turning corners and entering the streets where he passed, there was no point in calling the guards since there were none around, only the people around, but you knew that if you asked for help no one would help.

The thief had an idea to lose her. As soon as he turned the corner, he knocked over the barrel of fish when no one was watching, the ground was wet and sticky, as soon as you passed, you overbalanced because of the slippery ground, tried to hold on to the other barrel so as not to fall, but failed, the barrel containing dead fish spilled on you and making you slipped on the ground and fell. Luckily, no one was around, not even the vendor responsible for delivering the fish, the poor woman was all wet and stinking of dead fish. The thief watched the whole scene from seated on top of the wall and laughed:

“I wouldn't want to be in your shoes, lady. Looks like someone's going to have to pay for that...” The skinny brunette laughed and teased you by showing you the bag of money he had stolen in his hand. “...and you need a bath too.” He added, grimacing.

“You little fucking thief! You'll be dead when I get my hands on you!” She tried to get up, but slipped once again, drawing laughter from the man.

“Wow, I'm scared to death of a girl who stinks of fish.” He sneered as he analyzed the old diary in his hands.

“At least give that notebook back.” Y/n said angrily.

“There must be something very important in there for you to run after me and dirty yourself with dead fish over a notebook...”

He smiled and put the notebook in his pocket:

“Adiós.” He jumped over the other side of the wall, taking your notebook and your money.

You finally managed to get up, cursing that damned thief, you'd try to catch him next time, that's for sure. You were angry not only because you had lost your money but also your father's diary, in that diary there was a lot of information about the legendary city of El Dorado, your father was obsessed with finding that city and when you were little, before he died he gave you that diary, which has now been lost by that thief...

You were upset with yourself for that. As soon as got up, you quickly left the place before the vendor saw that you were responsible for the mess and made you pay dearly for it, probably more than half your salary for those fish.

Luckily, your house was nearby. On the way there, there were murmurs, ugly looks and disgusted faces about you, after all, you stank and looked awful. When got home, you immediately took a shower to get rid of the smell. While was showering, you cried with anger and sadness, but you tried to stay in a good mood, because you was going to work that afternoon. It probably wouldn't be so easy to get rid of that fishy smell...

~ {Pov} Tulio:

I couldn't stop laughing as I remembered that girl's fall after stealing from her, she was such a fool to think she could catch up with me. I went over to Miguel who was attracting the others to our bets, the blond was playing his mandolin to attract more people, he immediately stopped and his attention went to me when I arrived:

“Where were you? Did you get anything?” He asked and I handed him the girl's money bag and the diary. “Wait a minute, why the diary?”

“I don't know, I just stole it from a girl and it looked like something really valuable to her, maybe there's something in there.”

I know Miguel is curious, so he put the diary in his pocket and put the girl's coins in the pile of money on the floor:

“Why are you keeping that?” I asked.

“As you said, there must be something important, it's not every day that a girl can read or write.”

“I think it's a waste of time reading that witch's diary... It's probably just girly stuff.”

I helped him attract more people, we had a lot of money from the bets, and all thanks to our addicted data. Before Miguel could open that girl's old diary to read what was in it, three men came up and decided to bet, but in exchange for money it would be for the map of El Dorado. They're seriously going to bet on a map of a city that doesn't even exist!? Miguel soon became very excited about this, he always wanted to live an adventure and believed in these legends. Before I could say "no" to their offer, Miguel pulled me close to him to take a closer look at the map:

“Just a moment, gentlemen...” I said and joined the blond, analyzing the map with him.

“Tulio, look... El dorado! the city of gold... it could be our destiny! Our future!”

“If I believed in destiny, we wouldn't be playing with loaded dice!” I whispered to him, of course I thought this idea was ridiculous, I wasn't going to give up everything because of a map. Miguel made that sad dog face at me. “Don't make that face! No! No...”

“So, do we have a deal?” The man asked and Miguel kept looking at me with that face, I can't believe I'm going to do this...

“All right, let's start.” I started to shake the dice to play, there was no way we could lose that bet with our dice, but the man interrupted me.

“Wait, not with those, this time we use my dice...” Miguel, you pay me... “Got a problem with them?”

He showed us his dice. I had no choice but to accept or else they would suspect that our dice was loaded. I took the dice from him and turned to Miguel, making that sign by putting my index finger to my throat:

“I'll kill you!” I muttered between my teeth to him. He kept smiling and went back to playing his mandolin.

“That come on baby, papa need that crappy map” I said to myself as I shook the dice and blew a little for good luck. “Come on... Show me seven...”

I threw the dice that rolled across the floor, hoping to get the number I asked for. The first dice landed on four and the third on three:

“Seven!” Miguel and I celebrated happily, Miguel picked up the map and I bent down to pick up the money that was on the floor. “Well, nice doing business with you...”

My dice fell to the ground, giving the number seven. The man picked up the dice and threw them several times, but they gave the same number:

“I knew it!” the man exclaimed angrily and everyone looked at us suspiciously and angrily. “Your dice was loaded!”

Now was the time... I have to play the game. I held your mandolin, stopping it from playing and looked at Miguel:

“What?! You give me a loaded dice?!”

“You dare to impune my honor!?” Miguel got into acting, Also pretending. “The dice was yours! You were the one cheating and stealing from those men!”

The guards were close, Miguel grabbed the sword of one of the guards and I did the same, then we started to fake a sword fight, fortunately everyone was believing, it was a good opportunity for us to escape from that situation.

~ {Pov} Y/n:

I was at work, pretending to be a man and loading the export food onto General Cortés's ship, which was going on a trip in search of El Dorado as well. Fortunately, I was going on this trip to take care of the ship's cargo, at least one trip to make up for the horrible day I'd had. But now I have to be as careful as possible or I'll be discovered, since I'll be around men twenty-four hours a day... My back was already starting to ache from this, so I stopped for a while to stretch until one of the men called out to me:

“Are you tired yet, Isaac?” That was my male alias, sometimes it's hard to get used to being called by that name. “I need help with the apples.”

He pointed to the large basket of apples. Holy shit...

“Sure, I'll be right there.” I smiled and forced my voice to sound more masculine.

I helped him carry the big basket and we put it on top of the two barrels that were on the lower deck of the ship:

“That's all for today, we're leaving now.”

He spoke punching me on the shoulder and left the deck. As soon as he had left me alone there, I lay down on the wooden floor, tired, and took a deep breath. I felt the ship moving, we were leaving now and starting our journey. As I was going to be on deck for a long time, I decided to take a break and sleep, after all, I deserve a bit of rest.

I kept thinking about the diary that had been stolen, of course I know a lot of things in that diary from having read it so many times, but it was something of value to me, it was my father's. I felt quite down when I remembered that diary. I was looking forward to it too, after all I would get to see the city of gold, but something was bothering me, something was telling me that I didn't want it to be this way... I felt my eyelids getting heavy and the tiredness getting stronger, and it wasn't long before I fell asleep.

*****

I woke up a little lost in time, wondering how long I had slept, sat up stretching my back and yawning, until my attention went to two voices on the deck.

“One... two... three...”

“One... two... three...”

I don't recognize anyone with those voices, and they were inside the deck, but how? If I'm the only one here:

“Let's go again... one... two... three!”

The voices were coming from the two barrels, and I worried that they might be thieves who had sneaked onto the ship. I got my sword ready and went over to the barrels that were being covered by the apple box, they were trying to get out, but the big heavy box was preventing them from doing so... I was curious to know who they were, anyway I was going to report them to the captain and the general.

I helped, taking the heavy box off the barrels with a lot of effort. Hell, I've never picked up something so heavy... as soon as I did, two men pushed the lid off the barrels and came out, immediately startled to see me. I pulled out my sword and pointed it at them, the first man was a blond man with medium hair wearing a red shirt, the second man... my eyes went wide, I immediately recognized him, he was the man who robbed me!

To be continued...

[megamindsupremacy]

So, way back when I was a wee little cringe nerd (tentatively affectionate), I was absolutely bonkers obsessed with Percy Jackson. I also had basically zero access to the internet and only an extremely vague idea of what fanfiction was, and I definitely wasn't immersed in the fanfiction culture of the time. So that meant whenever I had Thoughts and Ideas, I was writing those fuckers straight into my class notebooks for all the world but especially my teachers to see. That being said, I just remembered my very first ever fanfiction idea, of which I wrote three pages of looseleaf in my seventh-grade social studies class with my best friend in between assignments. Which I will now elaborate on as an Adult because honestly, what else do I have a semi-popular Tumblr blog for?

The basic idea is that, in the Son of Neptune, instead of heading straight for Camp Jupiter, Percy very vaguely remembers that the mysterious Annabeth lives very close by. He skids down the hill next to the Caldecott Tunnel, but instead of crashing into the highway, he lands in the back of a pickup and is carried away by a very panicked+annoyed driver who wants the kid in the back of his truck out.

(Please imagine Frank and Hazel, standing guard, watching some random kid go screaming down the side of a hill on a serving platter while pursued by gorgons, land in a pickup, and, still screaming, swordfight said gorgons. Who get whacked out of the air and run over by a school bus. Can you fucking imagine)

(Please also imagine Juno, waiting invisibly next to the road, also watching Percy go screaming by in a truck. She had been waiting there to give Percy her mysterious "choose safety or your memories" spiel but now he's fucking gone)

The pickup driver pulls over to the side of the road near the bay and tells Percy to get the fuck out of the back of his car. Percy, seeing the gorgons in hot pursuit in the distance, makes the logical move and jumps straight into the bay. He lets instincts and muscle memory guide him to the edge of one of those fancy neighborhoods that border the edge of the water. He continues following muscle memory and instincts and ends up at Annabeth's house, and he knocks on the door.

Fredrick, opening the door: Percy Jackson??

Percy: ...who are you

Fredrick: you exploded my car four years ago! my daughter has been looking for you for months. ANNABETH COME DOWNSTAIRS I FOUND YOUR BOYFRIEND

Percy: HUH WHAT

Annabeth gives him a flying tackle hug and Percy is 60% confused, 40% relieved because finally this is someone he remembers. Annabeth starts talking about how they need to get Percy to CHB stat, everyone is so worried about him, they knew Jason had had amnesia but it had been so long they weren't sure if Percy was still alive, etc etc,

Percy is nodding along in confusion and pretending he knows wtf she's talking about.

Juno appears in the Chase house. She's mad as hell that a) percy isn't already in Camp Jupiter and b) he's with Annabeth (derogatory). She teleports Percy straight into CJ but Annabeth manages to hang onto him and come with.

They land on the near side of the Little Tiber, where Frank and Hazel are reporting on the weird screaming demigod in a pickup that had gone by twenty minutes ago. Juno realizes she accidentally brought Annabeth along and is Very Unhappy about this.

"Romans, I bring to you the Son of Neptune-" ("I'm the son of a planet?" Percy muttered). "For months he has been slumbering [etc]. Instruct him in your ways, induct him into your legion. As for the daughter of Minerva…” The Romans gasped, staring at Annabeth. Juno curled her lip, shooting an icy look at the girl. Annabeth snarled wordlessly in response. “She is extraneous. Do with her what you will.”

Juno disappeared

More will be added in the reblog

[therealslimshakespeare]

A little devil’s lettuce

Sarge 2nd Gen, Summer 1983

Elvis Presley fanfiction

Summary: In the hustle and bustle of the day before Jesse’s wedding to Donna, Elaine finds time for a little bonding with her eldest boy and then her husband

Warnings: Fluffffyyy Mcfluffy! but really this is just goey soft, warnings being diaper changes, some heavy/smutty flirting between Elvis and Elaine, the sneaky use of marijuana by Jesse and Elaine, stoned silliness talking about mermaid holes and “little scarves” and making a baby at 42

Graceland is abuzz with wedding preparations, every flat surface seems cluttered with tulle or flowers or programs, and every table not full of that sorta rubbish is supporting refreshments for the out of town friends and family swarming the place.

Only Elaine Presley would think entertaining people for a week ahead of a wedding was an easy thing to do.

Despite it being preparations for his own wedding, Jesse finds himself mildly overwhelmed by the sheer abundance surrounding him. Abundance of noise and people and flowers and shit lying about. He made one attempt to squirrel away upstairs in his old room and was summarily dragged away from that attempt by Marie who wanted to take pictures of him and Donna. Then take pictures of him and Jack, citing what a rarity it was to have the whole of them together. Jack had a ugly black eye on him, he cites a bar fight in california but oddly, no story of victory is forthcoming so Jesse assumes he got licked and made no further inquiries.

Donna is now preoccupied with Ella and with Tracey Cooke, laughing and squabbling over choosing boutonniere combinations like it really matters how much baby’s breath gets pinned to a fella’s chest. With Daddy, all large belt and white pants and glowing tan presiding over the floral squabble, Jesse has little doubt that Donna will win by choosing whatever he decides would suit her cheeks best.

Thicker than thieves those two already.

Jesse sees his chance and he ducks out of the living room and books it through the kitchen, receiving a taste test of some icing from Mary as he goes, and finally lets himself out the back door.

He slumps to a seat on the garage steps, and knowing time is precious, he lights up the blunt he stashed in his pocket for times like these. A harmless little pastime he’d probably get decapitated by Daddy for if he found out, but it does the trick and it don’t hurt anyone while he’s homebound and off the road.

A few minutes later the door cracks open behind him and Jesse goes to smash the blunt beneath his boot until in an air conditioned gust he sees it’s just his mama. Elaine smells the stink of grass and makes a little sympathetic noise before closing the door behind her and sitting down next to him.

“But Mama -your shorts!” Jesse protests, her pale blue linen getting soiled by the steps.

“Eh, it’ll brush off.” she grins and bumps his shoulder in that way he knows she’s about to conduct a check up on him. Sure enough after watching him take a few puffs she asks sweetly, “You alright, Butnin?”

He grins at the nickname and his laugh is a cloud of green tinged smoke, “Yeah mama, just tired, took awhile to get to sleep last night.

“What kept ya up?” Elaine asks, knowing with the wedding there might be all sorts of nerves to account for. But Jesse has never exhibited even the slightest hint of unsurety about marrying Donna. He’s had to wait four years and now he’s finally getting what he wants and there’s never been a more lackadaisical groom about his hitching himself to the old ball and chain. Elaine reaches out and ruffles his long hair anyway and smiles at the way there’s a sheen of reddish chocolate amongst the black locks when she tousles them just so.

He hands her the blunt and to be perfectly frank, Elaine has been feeling that old craving for champagne to dilute all the craziness and so she draws on it, letting the smoke burn her lungs and rush to her head.

Jesse’s been puffing for a good bit by now and feeling uninhibited in a way he’d never be even two puffs in -which is sorta the point of the smoke anyway- but it serves to loosen his tongue until he answers her without prevarication, “Mermaid holes.”

It’s true, it’s kept him up. Probably brought on by a chat with Jack and furthered by Jesse’s confusion over his brother’s lack of dating since the Great Gardener Debacle. He knows the kid isn’t embarrassed, not as much as the rest of them, so it serves to reason he’s got a dolphin harem to keep him occupied or else…mermaids. But then, how do mermaids…work?

Elaine glances at the blunt she’s already puffed on and wonders at its strength, wonders if a little relaxation is gonna turn her into seeing pink elephants or talking like an idiot.

“Mermaid holes?” she repeats, the subject suddenly a little more intriguing that it was before her last puff. Her head feels light and her aching toes are a removed sensation and suddenly everything seems quite fascinating, even the beetle crawling up Jesse’s jeans and the curiosity of mermaid anatomy.

This stuff is way better than champagne, she thinks.

“Yeah mama, where do they go?” Jesse insists with his cherubic face puckered up in grave contemplation.

She stares at him concerned while taking another hit before passing it back. “Where normal holes go?” she mutters but even to herself it’s a flimsy speculation.

“Maybe they grow legs n’shit.” Jesse decides. “Like when ya pull ‘em outta the water, maybe they grow legs.”

“Ah that makes sense.” Elaine nods, her face puckered too, and if anyone caught them at this moment it would be like finding carnival twins, so mirrored are they in expression and carriage. “Or maybe it’s higher up!” she suggests eagerly, “Like a belly button.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“Or- maybe the scales pull back.” Elaine warms to the theory.

“Ooh,” Jesse draws his exclamation out with admiration for his mama’s sharp mind, “like daddy’s scarf, or some shit.”

“Yes!” Elaine gushes, entirely baked alongside him and utterly unrestrained, “they’ve got shiny little scarfs to keep them safe! Keep out the sand and salt, keep them safe from being aggravated and chafed.”

“Oh lord, mama,” Jesse laughs suddenly, “do you ‘member that time daddy got sand in his scarf? At the beach?”

They both start snickering at the memory from ‘62. “Yes!” Elaine agrees, carefully running a finger below her eyes to collect the smearing mascara as her eyes fill with tears of mirth, “I do but…he caught that frisbee, didn’t he?” she giggles.”And he looked so good in those red shorts. Tiny little things.”

“Mhmm, but at what cost?” Jesse agrees and mother and son lapse into another fit of laughter, not at Elvis’ expense but in that fond way of sensible people who humor their insane beloved ones.

“And Rosalee wantin’ to cut it off so it didn’t hurt him no more!” Jesse wheezes beside her in reminiscence.

“Daisy had a k-bar from Rex, she was ready.” Elaine recalls.

“And Jack was hopin’ it was fatal.”

“He was not!” Elaine slaps Jesse’s arm lightly even as she giggles, “You all act like he was a terrible child but he wasn’t! He was sweet!”

“To you.” Jesse clutches his belly. “To the rest he was pretty fuckin’ scary for awhile there, made ‘Elvis’ shit himself sometimes.”

“Language!” Elaine reprimands without any heat, “Y’all didn’t see all the mornings that little darling would wake up and laugh his heart out with Daddy playing shark under the covers. They loved each other…at times.”

“Hmm, Mhmm, i’guess.” Jesse concedes, “Jack’s a lot more tolerable now he’s got his own thing going.” he adds.

“Yes, always good to establish yourself, especially with someone like that, so headstrong both of them.” she murmurs with a sigh, “No house was built for two Elvises.” and she starts snickering again at that thought or whatever scenario it inspired inside her head.

“Maybe he’s chilled out ‘cause of the mermaid harem.” Jesse suggests because Jack is still Jack and having his shit straight ain’t in his wheelhouse. Not all of it, at least. Something’s gotta be up, Jesse can feel it, clear as the kid’s black eye.

“Those dimples would make any mermaid grow legs.” Elaine giggles.

“No mama, it’s a scarf, we decided it’s a shiny scarf.” Jesse reminds, nearly falling off the stair that he’s seated on from his wooziness.

“Yes a little scarf.” Elaine recalls as the door behind them opens and Jesse’s soon to be wife, Donna, steps out and observes them and the skunk grass fumes wafting around them.

“You’ve gotta be kidding me -Ms. Elaine!” Donna gasps in glee at this little rebellion in her otherwise entirely circumspect mother in law.

Elaine spins round with the blunt still between her painted lips and pulls it out in a gust of smoke, a wavering grin on her face. Donna’s not sure she’s ever seen her look so young, though she gets that way around Jesse, like he takes her back to her early mothering days.

“Don’t tell daddy!” Elaine vacillates between a beg and a threat but her smile grows and Donna wonders how the stoned lady intends to keep this a secret but she makes a motion of zipping her mouth anyway.

“Won’t hear it from me!” she swears, “But Elvis is asking for you, he’s halfway through a diaper change and can’t find any wipes. He swears you’ve got the disposable kind somewhere. Johnny tried to find them but he’s given up, too.”

“Oh lord, little Desi uses them to ‘remove her makeup’ so- who knows where they might be.” Elaine refers to her eldest grandchild, Ella’s little girl who likes to mimic her grandmother in all ways. Elaine stands up with a wobble that is steadied by Jesse’s shoulder and Donna’s waiting hands. “Wait, who’s getting their diaper changed?” She asks, suddenly confused by the request, “Did Danny soil himself? Thought we were past that.”

Danny is three and potty trained and as independent as he is loving, and much as Elaine is proud of her toddler’s successes, she misses having a baby, a true baby, in the house.

“It’s one of the neighbor kids, Danny’s friend-“ Donna explains, “-they brought their baby sibling along, no more than a year old I bet. The mom’s at work or something.”

“Oh, alright then.” Elaine shrugs, accustomed to strangers in the house, and she opens the door.

“You’re going in?” Donna asks in some surprise and a little alarm.

“Yes, Elvis needs me.” Elaine answers and that’s not something anyone can argue against and so Donna steps aside and makes certain her mother in law doesn’t trip over the threshold in her heeled sandals.

“Do you really give a damn about those boutonnieres?” Jesse asks his girl as soon as mama has closed the door

“Oh not really.” Donna murmurs, “They’re gonna be gorgeous either way. Elvis is seeing to that.”

“Then don’t go back inside.” Jesse suggests with a drunk grin and his blue eyes beg with such softness as he pats his lap that Donna has no choice but to plop atop his legs and stay with him in the muggy heat.

Miss Mary watched Elaine sashay through the kitchen with narrowed eyes, she’d not seen such a hip swinging gait to the lady of the house in years. A decade perhaps, not since the house used to rock with parties and before the champagne had been used like medicine.

“Lordy Miss Laney, you alright there?” she asked carefully, amusedly watching Mrs. Presley stand atip-toe and rummage in a cabinet, pushing aside spray oil and vanilla.

“Yes, grand, just needing that emergency stash.” Elaine assured over her shoulder and Mary paused in whipping the icing lest she be needed to catch a teetering boss lady. “Aha.” Elaine pulled out a package, “Of these!” she explained as she turned round, presenting the new fangled package of disposable wipes.

Stashed behind the cooking oil. Sure, why not.

Miss Mary grinned back and shrugged, “You’ve got dirt on your behind, Miss Elaine.” she pointed out and the elegant lady of the house was swatting at her plush derrière with a bashful grin as she traipsed out of the kitchen in search of Mr. Elvis, still swaying and jovial.

Entering the somewhat crowded dining room, Elaine found a group of people congregating with outstretched hands and feebly helpful concern around her Ella’s Johnny who had Rosalee standing on his shoulders, switching out a bulb as if they couldn’t afford ladders.

“ ‘Lee?” Elaine questioned it with even less reproof than usual, fully used to such bizarre occurrences and entirely baked by this point, Jesse’s weed having turned everything to middling interest and zero concern, even the picture of Rosalee a good ten or more feet in the air and swaying precariously with feet planted on Johnny’s broad shoulders.

“The bulb’s out!” Rosalee explained with a face red from straining to reach the high mansion ceiling despite her human stepstool and her inherited long limbs.

“Oh, the bulb’s out.” Elaine repeated softly, processing as she stared out the dining room windows at the bright sunshine glaring through.

“Hey Mrs P!” Johnny, tried to turn his neck to face her but Rosalee wobbled from the movement and so he went back to parade rest. “Elvis was looking for ya, needed the wipes for a diaper. I couldn’t find them anywhere, I swear Desi buries them in the potted palms or somethin-“

“Oh I’ve got some right here.” Elaine smiled and waved her package in front of his face enthusiastically.

“Oh. Great.” Johnny’s frown lines deepened in confusion at her enthusiasm. “I uh, I tried looking behind the dog food, Elvis said you keep one there.”

“This one was behind the cookin’ oil.” She whispered conspiratorially and Johnny gave his brief, aborted giggle that had made Elaine like him the instant Ella paraded him through the doors.

“Behind the cooking oil. Naturally.” He quipped and Elaine swatted him with the package causing Rosalee to shriek and beg for stability. “Hey Ella. Mama’s found some wipes!” Johnny called to his still searching wife.

“Where were they, mama?” She asked, coming into view and pushing her hair from her face, not even surprised by the bulb changing.

“Behind the cooking oil.” Elaine tapped the side of her nose and giggled while Johnny and Ella shared a bewildered look between the two of them.

“Where’s my fella?” Elaine purred, looking around the semi crowded room as if it were possible to overlook Elvis Presley. Only at Graceland, during one of Elaine’s parties and surrounded by a horde of children was it possible for Elvis to be anything but the center of attention.

“He’s in Rosalee’s room, mama.” Ella informed her, which in turn had once been Gladys' little lilac refuge. It had taken ten years for Elaine to ease Elvis into using it but eventually a long succession of single, halfway liberated teenage children ended up sleeping in it before moving out to seize life by the horns and pave their own lives and pay their own rent.

It would be quite a few years before Marie had need of it, if the sweet little girl ever even needed it, so devoutly home enjoying as she was, Graceland or Circle G, Texas or California, it all was the same to Marie so long as she was with family. Graceland would sooner be seen giving Marie Presley the boot than Marie Presley voluntarily taking leave for good.

Elaine moved her way through her crowded home with a pleasant smile on her face and a discrete hunch to her shoulders that enabled her to slip past the various conversations wishing to clutch at her, an old art of being able to get from one end of a crowded place to the next when needed by husband or child, that she had honed to perfection.

She felt dizzy and tasted a strange surge of anticipation the closer she got to the tucked away little room downstairs, it might seem silly, but she missed him. Everything had been so very busy the past few days that she had seen her own husband about as much as everyone else had, across crowded rooms or smashed together on sofas, wonderful instances that were topped off every night with a bed crowded with children and grandchildren and adopted God sons and daughters.

There had not been a moment's peace practically, and in a girlish moment of someone newly assured of affection, Elaine felt her fingertips tingle when she reached for the knob and opened the door.

He had pulled the shades and the blindes, which with the glare of the rest of the house was hardly a surprising choice, and only the lamp was turned on in a room that was now no longer Gladys’ soft lilac but now Rosalee’s light sage painted walls, copious English ivy plants spilling over the tops of wooden bookshelves lining the walls. The floor was a plush ivory carpet and Elvis sat on it with one leg tucked in and the other stretched out, his white linen shirt and pale blue slacks looking perfectly at home in Rosalee‘s habitat, blending well with the academic and whimsical atmosphere. Elaine leaned on the knob and appreciated the sight of a stranger's little baby, no more than a year old surely, laying on its back in the vee of his long legs, disposed of diaper safely out of reach, midway through a process that had been stalled by lack of wipes.

Not to be thrown by such unforeseen occurrences, Elvis had waited it out until his Tink came for him as he always expected she would, and in the meantime he was making earnest conversation with the infant about the Christmas list, even though it was currently summertime. They were weighing whether or not a chainsaw could be made to size for such little hands, Elvis’ own lean, tan and long fingers squished a doughy bicep playfully and insisted that the child was almost capable.

“Awww looooook at youuu.” Elaine cooed, leaning heavily on the door knob and clutching her chest at the sight, the raucous outside the room having disguised the sound of her opening the door to Elvis’ ear.

He looked up with a disoriented look as if having quite forgotten the world outside him and the baby’s Christmas plan until his eyes landed on Elaine in the doorway and his grin flashed, the old natural one, all cheesy teeth and lips tucked in. “You got my wipes?”

“I do.” She preened.

“Well, hand ‘em over woman, I’m bout ready to gag over here.” he beckoned, rings still glittering on his hand and Elaine didn’t doubt that one day the baby would tell stories about how Elvis Presley changed their diaper without even taking off his bling for it.

Elaine closed the door behind her and traipsed over to him on jelly legs, her heeled sandals sinking precariously into the deep shag of the carpet, she steadied herself on his shoulder and handed down the wipes.

He looked her up and down with curious amusement, as if something was amiss but he couldn’t place it, yet with diaper stench so close he didn’t spend time on it. Elvis took the wipes and began to complete his task, Elaine sank down to her knees beside him and put her chin on his shoulder, watching him work, wrapping her arms around his waist like a clingy little koala to his back.

“Who is he?” she asked her husband about the baby he was tending so naturally. It wasn’t uncommon, their house being constantly full of strangers and friends of friends and their children’s buddies. She had seen Elvis caring for a kid or two like this before, or else baths or a good hosing off or, without fail, he provided them snacks at the least suggestion of hunger or even boredom. But she didn’t know this little one and something about seeing Elvis at this task when their Danny was too grown for it -it made her sentimental and she held on a little tighter, squeezing her appreciation for the sight into his flesh.

“Kid brother of Clarke, the kid two blocks over?” he explained, “The one Danny invites? Yeah, apparently their mama’s workin’ double shift today and the babysitter stepped out and Clarke thought he’d come on here since the house was empty. Poor little feller must’ve been scared stiff.”

“You mean little Clarke walked all that way carrying a baby?” she gasped.

“Yeah,” Elvis grunted. “I sent Sammy H. to go stay at the house and let the mama know her kids ain’t been stole by that trash sitter. Poor woman.”

“Poor woman.” Elaine echoed, neither of them ever quite getting used to the tales of hardship they were uniquely situated to hear of day after day. “Well, you tell her Elvis, tell her we’ll watch him from now on, Clarke too. Danny needs more friends his age besides. -What’s his name?” she asked after a minute of babbling to him herself.

“Dunno, but he responds well to buddy.” He shrugged, “Ain’t that right, buddy, huh? I ain’t forgot about lettin’ you play the piano, Buddy, no I haven’t, Uncle Elvis keeps his word, yes he does.”

Elvis could feel her grin grow behind his back and like clockwork her anticipated finger came and scritched at his right sideburn with her nail. “I’ve missed seeing you with babies.” she whispered with a giggle.

“We have a baby.” Elvis let out that staccato, huffing laugh of his.

“Danny is three.” Elaine pouted.

“And you’re four—ty…twooo.” Elvis goofed as he propped the newly changed and docile little boy up on his roly-poly legs.

“I’ve already had a baby as a grandmother.” Tink mused and she cocked her head to the side and watched the baby wobble towards Elvis with his entire little hands clutched onto Elvis’ index fingers like handlebars. “But I married such a pretty boy.” she sighs as if out of nowhere and drags her hand admiringly right down the length of Elvis’ bicep, in appreciation for the flexed muscle beneath linen.

Elvis let’s out a little squeak of surprise and turns on his ass to give his wife a more searching once over. She stays grinning on her knees, long tanned legs tucked beneath her in those light blue shorts that coordinate with his trousers, loopy grin on her face.

“Lord have mercy,” he falls back a little, taking the baby with him in his scramble till they look like little lambs being watched by a ready to pounce cat, “Aunt Delta spike the punch again?”

It’s not that Elvis doesn’t appreciate when Tink gets…admiring…but she sure does pick the queerest times for it, in his mind. The hell was so dreamy about wiping shit? He’s yet to understand her in many ways but from over twenty years of marriage, he knows those glossy eyes ain’t from eye drops.

“No, nobody’s touched the punch.” she giggles and begins to crawl closer, dyed auburn hair falling forward in large, barrel rolled curls.

The baby boy begins to laugh, thinking she’s playing tiger. Effortless Elaine switches into the role he wants and raises a hand like a claw and makes a dive for the baby's round little belly and Elvis ducks and rolls, taking him with him.

“Careful, careful, Laney, there’s a diaper -“

-somewhere.

He’s not sure where, it’s a mercy his back doesn’t squash it or his head thud in its foamy fullness as he rolls away from his wife, a stranger's kid giggling like mad while braced to his chest. He throws a halfhearted karate kick at her and the angle is awkward with being mid roll and on his side, she grabs his leg anyways and proceeds to tickle his ankle and he aims his kicks in earnest in response. Elaine straddles his leg as he lays on his side and she crows like it’s some victory, then sways in confusion, like she’s second guessing her own success.

He can practically see the slow as molasses thought process in her airy little head. The hell did his wife take? There’s no liquor on her breath and she swore -they made vows to each other, each giving up the drugs and booze that had gotten them estranged from each other and themselves. He knows she wouldn’t. “What now?” he asks her in dry amusement and after much thought and no production, she shrugs and slips off his leg, landing with a wince inducing thump by his side.

“I dunno.” she admits and closes her eyes, small smile on her lips as they lay panting on the floor, the clink of Elvis’ rings the only immediate sound as the baby plays with them between the married couple. “I just missed you.” she says.

“Well, I missed you too.” he melts, throwing his arm out and running his fingers through her splaying hair. She leans into the touch, grin fully breaking out.

“Our boy is getting married.” she murmurs, as in the production of the whole thing, the significance has dwindled except for the quiet moments.

“Strangest thing, that it’s time for that.” Elvis agrees, softly. “I ‘member him just this age, rollin’ ‘round with me on the floor in Bad Nauheim, got more carpet burns than him. Now…Gettin’ married.” he let out a long whistle and scratched at Elaine’s scalp. “I don’t feel that old.” he admitted after awhile.

Whatever mood Tink was in, whatever goofy laziness had imbued her with such sangfroid about her duties and her guests, it served for a much needed little heart to heart and Elvis snuggled closer to her on the shag carpet and let the baby climb over his shoulder and pull at his hair, wincing at the small tortures but determined not to be a wimp.

“I don’t feel old either.” she agreed and her eyes popped open, the grin suddenly going from dreamy to having a decidedly vampiric quality. Elvis had often seen that look on his wife right before he got eaten alive.

“Sweet Jesus -no, simmer down, simmer down. Tink!” he tried to avert the plans swirling in her glossy eyes.

“Doesn’t my pretty baby wanna make me happy?” she cooed to him and between the actual baby tugging at his hair and the wife patting his cheeks it was all a guess to Elvis whether he was a father of a twenty something son or Elaine Presley’s pretty boy, ever at her disposal.

“Mamas, if you needs…some…tenda lovin’ care…” he gave her a significant look of expectation to understand his child-proof code, “then we can go find ourselves a little space in this house and uh…tend to it. Bed’s been real full, I know.” he soothed.

Elaine clutched her heart dramatically again and sighed, staring at the ceiling before propping up on an elbow again and gripping his chin with her hand, she put her face next to his and whispered with throaty care, “What I want, pretty daddy, is to maul you.”

And with that she laid back down beside him, after having watched her words register and the punched out moan of his gust over her lips. She stared back at the ceiling and sighed. “It’ll have to wait, but…soon.”

Elvis licked his dry lips with a tongue that had suddenly gone equally arid. “O-o-okey mamas.” he stuttered out in a whisper that ended with a wheeze as the baby hoisted themselves to dance on his belly like it were a trampoline.

“I’m very wet right now.” Elaine began again after he thought they’d shelved it.

“Laney!” he begged.

“I am!” she hissed petulantly, kicking up a leg and shaking her foot at the ceiling, “It’s making sticky noises when I walk.”

“I-I-I highly doubt that.”

“It is!” She insisted.

“Alright. It is. If you say so…ok.”

“Nothing to do about it though.” she sighed.

“No.” he agreed warily.

“What would you name him.” she asked suddenly, turning on her side and offering her hand as stability for the baby balancing on Elvis’ stomach. Good thing he had muscles of steel or else he’d be a mess right now with the digging little footsteps.

“Name who?“ Elvis sputtered, bewildered by the changes in topic.

“This baby. If he was ours.”

“Oh.” He sniffed. “I dunno, actually. Baron, maybe?”

“Hmm..” Elaine was unenthused.

“Who says we’d have another boy though?” he argued suddenly, “I mean who says this hypothetical baby we ain’t gonna make -no we ain’t mama’s, you’re crazy- would be a boy. What if it was a girl.”

“I’d name her Peace.” Elaine didn't skip a beat.

Elvis pondered that, fingers back to stroking the curls splayed on the carpet, “Mm. Shiloh.”

Hope y’all enjoyed! I’ve missed these babies and I’m grateful for y’all’s patience. Your “bugging” and “screaming” is music to my ears, fuel to my fire and keeps me writing, please never hold back -this is a safe space for feral little Elvis loving rodents…like you and me. 💋

@prompted-wordsmith

@powerofelvis

@crash-and-cure

@elvisabutler

@heartbrake-hotel

@stylespresleyhearted

@thatbanditqueen

@crazymadpassionatelove

@myradiaz

@ash-omalley

@steph-speaks

@burningloverdoll

@angelface-555

@lookingforrainbows

@missmaywemeetagain

@coolgirl462

@kingdomforapony

@18lkpeters

@richardslady121

@from-memphis-with-love

@lillypink

@artlover8992

@pennyroyalcreep

@notstefaniepresley

@ellie-24

@waiting4brucewayne2adoptme

@presleyenterprise

@marriedtopresley

————————-

@dkayfixates

@vampireindistress

@ashtag6887

@i-r-i-n-a-a

@obsessedvibee

@peskybedtime

@goth-cowgirl-03

@stephthestallion

@fav-fanficssss

@loving-elvis

—-

@honeyorangess

@soloangel

@xenaspace3-blog

@60svintage

@dragonkingsdaughter

@presleysgirl6

@that-hotdog

@mydarlingelvis

@presleysweetheart

@50sexyshadesfashionista

@sexystarfish

@whatstruthgottodowithit

@suraemoon

@lialocklear

@elvispresleywife

@presleysgirl6

@ipostwhtifeel

@jaqueline19997

@queenheartz

@starryschoolgirl

@elvisalltheway101

@azzypog

@ab4eva

[bi-bard]

Changes - Joel Miller Imagine [The Last of Us]

Title: Changes

Pairing: Joel Miller X Reader

Word Count: 2,158 words

Warning(s): gunfire, murder, awkwardness, abandonment

Summary: [Episode 6] (Y/n) thought that Joel and them were finally making some steps forward in their relationship... in a few ways. If only progress didn't run the constant risk of going backward.

Author's Note: I have a friend that asked if I had written The Last of Us fanfiction... I am adding to the collection for their sake... totally not my own.

PART TWO HERE

PART THREE HERE

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

Working with Joel was strange.

There were these times when he was completely closed off. Gruff and abrasive. Acted like he had never smiled a day in his life. I would affectionately call him Oscar to Grouch at those times. In my head. The last time I said that one out loud, I'm pretty sure he had to use all of his self-restraint to keep himself from shooting me.

But there were other times when the shell cracked. He would smile at me. He would actually participate in my admittedly stupid banter. He was sweeter. Not a lot, but enough for both of us to relax.

I sometimes thought that I clung to those "other times" a little too tightly.

That was why I stuck around him for so long. Those looks behind the curtain were enough to get my attention. I held onto them as much as possible. It was like holding a burning candle and watching the flame dim until you could find another match.

I tried to believe that I wasn't seeing things that weren't there.

But that would have been too easy.

I had to face the possibility that there was nothing there between us.

That realization came like a slap in the face.

We had gotten a truck and supplies from Bill and Frank's compound. The three of us were hidden away in the woods, far away from the road.

Ellie was asleep.

I was sitting next to Joel. I had always had trouble sleeping, even before the apocalypse. The constant threat to my life didn't help.

"You should rest."

"Don't tell the chronic insomniac to sleep," I replied. "It's like telling a psychopath that they're a psychopath."

I looked over just in time to watch his eyebrows furrow. "What?"

"It's very upsetting," I explained.

"Right," he mumbled. "I will never get how your mind works."

"Keeps me interesting," I shrugged.

I leaned my elbows on my knees as I watched Ellie a bit longer. I took a deep breath.

"It feels weird how protective I feel over her," I said quietly. "It hasn't been all that long, yet I feel like I'd burn the world down to keep her safe."

Joel hummed in response.

"You are so talkative," I mumbled. "It's one of your best qualities."

"I've been saying that for years," he replied sarcastically. I scoffed.

"I think you're obsessed with the gruff, mysterious reputation you have going on."

"I would've changed it if I could," he explained. "Damn thing made it so you're stuck to my side, why would I choose to hold onto it?"

"Oh, hush, I've grown on you."

"Like a tumor."

I chuckled at the sarcastic response. "Asshole."

"Keeping up the reputation."

I rolled my eyes as I turned my head to look at him. He looked at me.

Maybe it was the silence. Or the loneliness of the whole thing. Or some stress spilling over into the current moment. Maybe it was just something about the woods. Something around us made me braver for just a few moments.

And those few moments were all I needed to push myself over and pressed my lips to his.

It was nothing more than a peck before he pulled away from me. Abrupt and sudden. Like a scared animal.

I felt a sliver of pain slide through my heart as I turned my attention away from him, looking straight forward.

"(Y/n)," Joel said.

I didn't respond. I felt dizzy from my own stupidity.

"Me and you... we're two people that happen to do jobs together," he muttered after a while.

I nodded, trying to ignore the embarrassment that wanted to come out as projectile vomit right about now.

"That's it-"

"I got it," I cut him off. "I... I'm sorry."

He cleared his throat. "You should-"

"Get some rest. Yeah."

There it was. That shell.

I should have just grown accustomed to it.

We continued on like nothing had happened. It was all work. Nothing more than that. We just needed to get all of the work done.

I held onto that as we drove off the next morning.

It was easier to focus on Ellie than it was to think about Joel.

She was a smart kid. Smart and resourceful and brave. She was ready to kick ass at the drop of a hat. I admired her. Maybe that was part of why I was so protective of her.

It was especially easy to ignore my embarrassment when the chaos broke out around us in Kansas City.

The truck crashed through some old store. The gunfire followed soon after. We had gotten Ellie some hole in the wall. Safety.

The silence after the gunfire was almost scarier than the sound of the shots. It was the adrenaline. The fear meeting caution. It was like a closed soda bottle getting shaken up.

I heard the door slam open before I saw anything move. A guy tried to pin Joel to the ground.

Shooting him was the easy part.

Getting my hands to stop shaking after was the worst. I let out a loud sigh.

I heard Ellie climbing out of the wall to check on us.

"You alright," I asked her. She nodded. I took another deep breath.

Joel had pulled himself off the ground by then. He was just staring at me with this shocked look on his face.

"What about you," I asked.

"I'm good," he nodded. "Thanks."

"We'd be kinda screwed if I let you die," I replied. "Just doing the right thing."

There was a long pause as the tense air seemed to dissipate. I barely managed to drag my eyes from Joel.

"Head back in there," I told Ellie. "Look for a door for us to get through."

She nodded.

It wasn't until she was gone that I turned to Joel again. "You sure you're okay? You got a... look."

There was no response from him.

"Joel?"

"Ellie, turn around," Joel said, still looking at me. I glanced back at the wall, chuckling a bit at her little face poking out.

"Why," she asked.

"Just do it," he muttered.

I heard the dirt and gravel shift under her feet as she grumbled and spun around on her heels.

I raised an eyebrow at Joel. "What is it?"

He grabbed my arm and pulled me forward. I stumbled a bit as he awkwardly kissed me. I grinned against his lips as I balanced myself and kissed him back.

I pulled back first. I smiled before stepping away a bit. I saw a grin pulling at his lips as I did.

"You can turn around, Ellie," I chuckled.

"Did you guys kiss," she asked as she did, popping her head out again.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I shrugged as I walked over to her. "No idea at all."

"You're full of shit!"

"Am I? Joel, am I?"

He shook his head. "Not at all."

Ellie looked between Joel and me. She finally scoffed and rolled her eyes.

It felt like something had changed. Shifted.

And I liked it. I really, really liked it.

After the heartbreak in Kansas City, I expected that shell to build itself up again.

Joel wasn't romantic. I knew that much. But I found enough comfort in how his hand touched my back. It was barely there, but it was enough. I offered him a sad grin.

Three months.

Three months after that change initially happened.

We developed some patterns.

We found ourselves in a camp. A commune of survivors that made a life for themselves. A new beginning. It gave me a moment of pause. A small shimmer of hope that I felt silly entertaining.

Ellie and I ended up following Maria around while Joel caught up with his brother. It was nice. Knowing that he found him again.

We were put up in some house to shower and change. It was in amazing condition. Unfair, honestly.

I stuck next to Ellie as much as I could.

We snuck out of the movie they were playing that night. She was reading from some old diary. I was looking at the old photos and posters. It was a museum. A perfectly preserved image of the past.

Joel walked in a while later.

He stood in the middle of the room. Tense. I stepped over to him. I didn't want to cross any lines, but my brain was yelling at me to grab his hand or touch his face or something. Do something to bring him back down to earth.

I stood halfway between him and Ellie.

"Why are you here," Ellie asked from her seat.

"I came here to talk to you."

"No, why are you still here," she corrected. "If you're gonna ditch me, ditch me."

"No one's ditching you," I shook my head, looking at her for a moment before turning my attention toward Joel. The guilt was etched into his face. "Isn't that right, Joel?"

"I heard him," she spoke up. "Talking to his brother while you were focused on the lights and shit. 'I have to leave her. You have to take her.'"

I clenched my jaw. "Goddammit, Joel."

"I stood up for you today because I thought..."

Ellie trailing off broke my heart.

"I made this decision for your own good," Joel spoke up. "You'll be way better off with Tommy."

"You didn't think to talk to me about this," I asked.

He ignored me, "He knows the area better than I do-"

"Do you give a shit about me or not," Ellie slammed the diary down as she snapped at him.

"Of course, I do."

I looked down and let them argue.

I knew where I would be at the end of all of this. The only question was whether or not Joel was going to join me.

"Then, what are you so afraid of?" she stepped closer as she spoke. "I'm not her, y'know?"

I tensed.

"Maria told us about Sarah and-"

"Don't," Joel stopped her. "Don't say another word."

"I'm sorry about your daughter, Joel," Ellie walked closer to him. "But I've lost people too."

"You have no idea what loss is."

"Everybody I have cared for has either died or left me. Everybody, fucking except for you!"

I barely moved forward as she went to shove Joel backward. He didn't flinch.

"So don't tell me that I'd be safer with somebody else because the truth is I would just be more scared."

I touched her arm.

"You're right," Joel said. "You're not my daughter. And I sure as hell ain't your dad. Now, come dawn, we're going our separate ways."

"Joel," I muttered, following him out. He slammed the door shut. "Let's talk about this. Because that should have happened long before you made this choice."

"There's nothing to talk about," he replied.

I scoffed.

"Be ready to go in the morning."

"Joel, no."

"Our job's done."

"She's terrified," I said. "We're probably the most stable things that she's had in years. I'm not gonna abandon her. She's a kid-"

"She's not a kid, she's cargo. This was a job and now the job is done. Let's go."

"You're gonna look me in the eye and tell me that you actually still think that?"

"What did you expect to change?"

I froze.

The last thing I wanted to do in that moment was cry in front of him. But I couldn't help the burning behind my eyes. After all that had happened... all we had been through... the kisses... I thought that it was safe to assume that things were different now. That something had shifted in his mind.

"Have a safe trip, Joel," I muttered, blinking away any tears that tried to fight their way out.

"(Y/n), come on-"

"Job's done, right," I asked. "And nothing's changed?"

He paused.

"You said it before... we are just two people that sometimes do jobs together. Well, the job's done so you don't have to worry about me being 'stuck to your side all the time' anymore. You can finally get rid of me. Go do whatever the hell you want. I am going to make sure that kid isn't completely abandoned."

"(Y/n)-"

"Have a safe fucking trip, Joel!"

I walked back inside and slammed the door shut behind me.

I looked over at Ellie, who was standing in the middle of the room with tears in her eyes. It broke my heart. Damn near shattered the thing.

I stepped forward and yanked her into a hug. "I'm not going anywhere, got it?"

She hugged me back.

"I am not leaving you," I repeated, finally feeling the tears fall as my voice became shaky. "I'm going to stay right here and keep you safe. For as damn long as I can. Got it?"

She nodded against my shoulder.

"We're gonna figure this out, kid."

I just hoped that time would prove that I wasn't lying to her.

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

Author's Note: I know it takes him all of like a minute to turn his ass around, but I needed the dramatic cut off. Let me have this one.

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

Navigation Guide

What I Write For

Some Original Characters

[undertale-fic-librarby]

Hi I don’t know if you’ve heard but there’s a bunch of five I’d like to reccomend (not by me) if you haven’t already listed them.

There’s “A walking God” by phantom dreamshade which is a crossover between UT and a video game called one shot.Its really good.

Also another fic called “With what little soul that could” by century berry.

“Welcome to the underground” by Kamanari_333 on ao3.

“It’s just a game.” By Htsans (they also have a Tumblr account.)

“War and Mander” by duckydotducky

“ Vindictive care.” by A_Non_ymuswriter

“An Errors doll” by Erosewisp

“Lay it all on the table.” by luluwrites.

Enjoy!also most of these stories have the “reader” as a character so just as a note.

Anyways have a good day!

Howdy, & thanks for the recommendations! The fics being recommended are…

A Waking God by PhantomDreamshade (Teen And Up, Complete)

Consequences. Had you known there would be consequences, you wouldn't have done it. How were you supposed to know there would be consequences? You were just an oblivious god in a world full of oblivious gods, after all. You hadn't meant to ruin Undertale, ruin all the lives of your friends. Yet there you sat in front of your computer for countless hours, trying - and failing - to fix your mistake. It was a little game called OneShot that made you realize just what you were capable of, and now Niko might just be the only shot you have at saving Undertale. You've spent years planning and coding, leading up to this moment. And now, it's finally time.

With a Little Soul that Could by century_berry (Teen And Up, Complete)

You are stuck in an endless white. You don’t remember how you got there. You barely remember much about yourself anymore. You only remember your name. You are - {ERROR, ERROR, ERROR} You are connected? Good. Greetings. I am the Narrator. You are about to embark on a wonderful journey that spans across timelines. You will make new friends and share many bad laughs. All of it will be according to the plans and whims of the author. And you will have no choice. I come with an offer. I will help you break free from your shackles. My only request is that you help me deliver something once you reach the so-called end of your journey. So, do you accept my offer? Yes? Wonderful. I promise, partner, you won’t be alone. How could you ever be when you are - {VIRUS DETECTED. VIRUS DELETED.} {REBOOTING…} You are Frisk. And you are alone. Act 1 (The Save Screen): 1-5 Act 2 (Seven Souls): 6-13 Act 3 (The Vessel): 14-18 Act 4 (Bad Apples): 19-25 Act 5 (Deity): 26-31 Act 6 (Balance): 32-37 Act 7 (_____tale): 38-40

Welcome To The Underground by Kamari333 (Teen And Up, Complete)

You, a lazy, jobless young adult who was still bumming in their parent's house, woke up in a bed of golden flowers. That scenario was oddly familiar to you, and the reason for that became apparent when one of those flowers greeted you with an overly enthusiastic "Howdy!" Next thing you know, you see your SOUL, and you are made painfully aware that you are destined to die, because it wasn't red. A generic Reader-insert fandom-metta Undertale fanfiction piece. #NaNoWriMo2017

It's Just A Game. (Under Construction) by Htsan (Teen And Up, Complete)

* Sans did something you did not like.. at all.  It's just a game.. YOU have control of this world. You can CHOOSE YOUR OWN ENDING. * You are determined.> let it play out.   RESET. There are 8 different endings, good luck finding them!

War and Mander by duckydotducky (Teen And Up, Complete)

After finding some bitties on the side of the road, you are never the same. It takes a lot of healing but maybe it is all worth it.

Vindictive Care by A_Non_ymousWriter (Teen And Up, Incomplete)

There's two new skeletons in the house. Unfortunately not much of a surprise there, the machine kept malfunctioning and kept bringing in alternate versions of Sans and Papyruses into their universe. They were up to SIXTEEN SKELETONS, now eighteen with the two's newest arrival. Except... there was something off about the new skeletons. 'Visor' and 'Chine'. Sweet mercy above, these two brothers seemed to hate each other. They kept swearing at each other, calling each other names- Chine actually almost stabbed Visor! On purpose! What a toxic relationship! Even more so than Black and Mutt! Or is it? Underneath their hateful facade, they do care for each other. In another very weird but unhealthy way... That's it, everyone was going to try and help these two, as well find out more about what happened to them in the past, why they were what they were and maybe find a little love along the way. You and your brother never asked to become the alternate universe Sans and Papyrus you both created. But by fuck was it difficult to keep things together like this, now the AU Sans and Papyruses were trying to get close. Stars above have mercy on their SOULs.

An Error's Doll by EroseWisp (Teen And Up, Incomplete)

You didn’t have a bucket list or anything, but you wished you could’ve at least read a few more fanfics or done literally anything fun before dying. Oh well, at least you didn’t have to socialize- Wait. Since when did dying mean becoming a doll in an Undertale multiverse? How did this happen?? This was inspired by a ton of reborn and reincarnated as Undertale characters fanfics and some other awesome stories! The main inspiration was ‘Little Dream Doll’ by KassyxTheDumbFox on Wattpad. Beware, this story is fan fiction and is not canon, and will include ooc characters, if you don’t like that please read something else. This is my first story so there’s no guarantee I will update regularly if at all, this is mostly self-indulgent. Just learned how to do this, so if anyone's curious and wants to see the story on Wattpad, here's a link! An Error's Doll on Wattpad!

Lay It All on the Table by lulu-writes (Teen And Up, Complete)

As hilarious as Papyrus had said it would be, you're starting to realize that Sans might have been hitting on you just as much as you'd been hitting on him. All under the guise of friendship. Feeding each other food? Holding each other's hands? Embracing tenderly? That's... That's all platonic, right? You're definitely not flirting.

[cringefaecompilation]

Wdym by mra-y arguments? I've seen some things that mill down to "Imogen is a crazy hysterical bitch that they need to put down" but i wanna know if there's anything I missed :0

i kinda brushed up on it in the ask, but the insistence about imogen not giving a crap about his feelings because he’s a man is/was weirdly popular. which is a flagrant lie, imogen understands how this mission sucks for him getting triggered day in and day out by having to interact with the guy who traumatized him, and has enough empathy to not want to take away the gods for fear of mass-traumatizing others. also, if you think she hates him or thinks her trauma is “worse” skill issue, no the fuck she doesn’t. please actually watch the show instead of getting angry at a “no boys allowed” twitter user quip about how much they want imogen to punch him in the face.

this also affected fearne a bit too, mostly in the way of “if only dorian was here, he would understand how orym is feeling/ashton is the only person in bh that cares about orym’s feelings” as if fearne isn’t his best friend or went through similar things. also dude’s just very “don’t rock the boat-y” in all his actions and often intentionally distracts the team from his feelings because he doesn’t want to bother them and at some point you can’t blame everyone else for it.

unlike most drama, this one actually has reasoning behind it. unfortunately, that reasoning is stupid. it took the massively equally dumb shipping drama behind the beau.jes community that was inundated with trans woman exterminatory radical feminists and applied it to im.odna and bell's hells. while there were and still are people who acted like women were perfect and all the men were abusers in the c3 fandom, a lot of complaints about the guys ranging from casual nitpicks to bad faith fanfiction were painted with the same brush of “crazy man-hating feminists” (because i guess trans women don’t exist or something?) and acted like all the women were evil demons getting every one of their eviiiiiiiiil actions excused because they had estrogen in their bodies. it was fucking dark. if you headcanoned imogen as a lesbian you were basically chucking heterosexual little boys into a meatgrinder. why else do you think laudm.oore got so insufferable?

look, i get it. it got annoying seeing people demand fcg get blown up for being reckless or that laudna should eat orym or that they should have abandoned ashton on the side of the road any time any of them did something sort sighted. but the way to get around that is not to start saying that imogen’s meant to go full dark phoenix and kill the party because she’s crazy and murderous or that laudna is just a delilah chrysalis from day one and is biding her time to strike. or that they’re going to be evil demonic lesbian twin bbegs that get murdered and then perc’halia and fjorester can make out on their grave.

on the flipside, watching people chuck orym and ashton under the bus any time one of them did/does something that they took personal offense to is so odd it loops around to being funny. double if they’re a delilah stan. like, who is worse for laudna? an abusive white supremacist-adjacent woman that tortured her nonstop for 30 years and tried to kill her thrice over the past month or two guys who act like selfish tunnel-visioned pricks to her intermittently? like you think that it’d be no contest, but a shocking amount of people choose the abusive woman because they headcanon her to be far more interesting than she really is and/or “at least we’re not forced to think she’s a good person!”

[malkavi-ann]

When the Truth Hurts. Chapter 2

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree fanfiction

Rating: Mature (May change in the future)

Relationship: F/M

Pairing: Messmer the Impaler/Original Female Character

Tags: Self-Loathing, Reference to Depression, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Memory Loss, Messmer is bad at feelings, Mommy Issues, Abandonment Issues.

Link to Ao3

Chapter 2: The Woman in the Hut

And so Messmer, accompanied by his loyal commander, knights, and soldiers, embarked on his journey to the Gravesite Plain. It felt so unusual for him to be outside as he’d been spending all of his time being a hermit. At first, he hated being outdoors: the light seemed too bright and the nature sounds felt overwhelming. However, in a few hours, he got accustomed to it and even started to enjoy it a bit. It reminded Messmer of the times when his army was in its prime and was going from one place to another chasing down the Hornsent people. How brutally glorious those days were. Every battle and every siege was filled with purpose. Every Hornsent life that they took felt like a victory. But with time the fights became few and far between, and the glory of the crusade started to wane. Now Messmer and his army are stuck in this land, with no sign of their Queen returning her grace to them.

The journey continued smoothly as the path was clear. They left the Shadow Keep early in the morning and by the afternoon they had passed Castle Ensis, which was Lady Rellana’s main post. As the day went by, Messmer and his people started to slowly approach the south side of the Gravesite Plain. And the closer they were getting, the more anxious Messmer felt. His mind was filled with conflicting thoughts and emotions. On one hand, the possibility of seeing his mother excited him. Despite her prolonged absence and lack of communication, he still loved her dearly. Marika not only raised him all by herself, but she was also the one who sealed the abyssal serpent away to prevent it from overtaking Messmer’s body and soul. In his eyes, this was the biggest manifestation of her love and one of the reasons why he wouldn’t give up on her. On the other hand, the news that his mother was back was too good to be true, and Messmer was never an optimistic person. Besides, it still didn’t make sense why Marika would choose an abandoned hut in the middle of nowhere to make her return. And what was the deal with the blood fiends? Those creatures didn’t care for the Greater Will or the Golden Order. The whole situation was extremely odd, raising a lot of questions without giving any clear answers.

“You seem rather preoccupied, my friend.” The booming voice of Commander Gaius snapped Messmer back into reality.

“I’m not sure what to expect when we arrive at that place. I’ve been thinking a lot about this whole ordeal but I cannot think of any reasonable explanation as to why my mother would return so suddenly. It just doesn’t make any sense”, replied Messmer absent-mindedly.

”I agree with you. The involvement of the blood fiends seems rather peculiar as well. They are known for worshiping the Formless Mother who is an Outer God. And since there is no connection to the Queen’s Holy Order, my fear is that this is some sort of trap to get you out of the Keep. You must be careful, my friend.”

“Well, if this is indeed a trap, we shall find out soon enough. Looks like we’re nearing the Prospect Town, and according to the reports the hut is somewhere nearby.”

The group continued their journey along the snaky cliffside path southeast of Belurat. The road was narrow and rocky, making the pass extremely dangerous. Soon enough they reached the ruins of the town where a tribe of blood fiends had been living for centuries. The first thing that struck Messmer was the absolute silence: all he could hear was the howling wind. Normally, this place would be swarmed by the fiends; however, now it was completely deserted with no sign of the monsters. There was something eerie about this whole situation, and Messmer’s people got visibly nervous while they were passing through the town. However, nothing could have prepared them for what they were about to see next.

All around the hut, many bodies were lying on the ground: some of them were blood fiends and others were of his soldiers. One would think that a battle had taken place here, yet there were no signs of struggle and not a single drop of blood. At first, Messmer thought they were all dead but upon closer look, it turned out they were simply asleep. Their slumber was so unusually deep that any attempts to wake them up were unsuccessful. The whole situation around the mysterious woman was getting weirder and weirder.

“My lord, we’re waiting for your command”, said one of the Fire Knights to Messmer.

Messmer took a deep breath. “Take two soldiers with you and get to the hut. Get that woman out of there. I have many questions for her that need answers”, he ordered. The Fire Knight nodded and called over some of the foot soldiers to follow him. The distance between Messmer’s envoy and the hut was short, yet it felt like an eternity for them to reach the door. The Fire Knight knocked on the door and barked out the order: “We’re here on behalf of Sir Messmer the Impaler. We know you’re inside. Any resistance shall be met with force. Come out voluntarily and you shall be spared.”

As soon as he finished talking, the door slightly opened and a tiny cloud of purple mist left through the opening, enveloping the knight and the soldiers. Everyone was watching with tension as the group fell to the ground in a matter of seconds…and fell asleep. It became obvious that whoever was hiding in the shack had some sort of power to inflict sleep on others and was responsible for putting the blood fiends and scouts into slumber. This was the first sign that the woman in the hut was definitely not Marika as the latter was never known to have similar abilities.

The remaining group stood in silence unsure of what to do next. No one dared to move closer to the shack; instead, all the attention was on Messmer - his men were waiting for his instruction. Meanwhile, Messmer was weighing his options: he could turn back and forget about everything that happened or he could burn this hut from afar, killing this mysterious woman. There was also another option: he could confront the imposter and demand answers: who is she? Is she related to his mother? Why was she here? In truth, the circumstances around the woman made him curious to the point that he wanted to talk to her. Perhaps she knew something about Marika or maybe she was her messenger or even an avatar. There had to be some explanation as to why she looked like Marika, Messmer thought.

”My lord, do you have any orders for us?”, a voice brought Messmer back out of his thoughts.

“No, I shall face this imposter myself.”, responded Messmer with confidence. Everyone looked at him in disbelief, but no one dared to question his decision. “I would like to speak to her personally and no one shall interfere”, he added briefly. Gaius gave Messmer a concerned look as he knew how vulnerable his friend was about the subject of his mother. He didn’t say anything, yet he understood why Messmer wanted to deal with the imposter himself. “We will stand at the ready my Lord in case something happens.”, he finally said. Messmer nodded appreciatively and headed to the hut.

As Messmer was walking up to the door, his heart was pounding. The possibility of getting answers about his mother was exhilarating and frightening at the same time. Once he reached the door, it took him a moment to collect his thoughts. Then, he spoke loudly so the person in the hut could hear him: “My name is Messmer the Impaler. I came here in peace and I only wish to speak with you. No harm shall be inflicted upon you. You have my word.”, he promised.

Nobody replied to him for a couple of minutes. Suddenly, a small melodic voice came out behind the door. “Please come in. The door is open”. Messmer’s heart sank a bit as he didn’t recognize the voice. How foolish of him to think that Mother would finally return to someone so monstrous like Messmer. Perhaps, there is no hope for him after all. Nevertheless, he took a deep breath and pushed the door. Even though he realized this was not his mother, he was still determined to learn the truth.

[redalader]

The Giggle was like a fanfiction you read at 2am because you can’t sleep and want to read something from an obscure fandom but there are only twelve works and the highest rated one has 4 kudos and is mostly ooc dialogue

John Logie Baird was engaging and interesting and John and his friend had so much charisma and were fun to watch but sadly they were only in it for five minutes

The villain is this huge threat who can bend the rules of time and space, create endless corridors, make dolls turn to life, turn people into puppets, grow to the size of a universe, eat planets with his jaw unlatched but you beat him by....throwing a ball really hard

The toymaker loves games but is defeated by two men throwing a ball, which he said was the FIRST game and is REALLY GOOD at it, but despite having uber strength and the ability to warp reality The Doctor beats him at it because.....there are two of them ??

“social media is bad people get cancelled now and now people are fighting in the streets because everyone has to be right” but ALSO it isn’t just everyone having to be right, because a pilot not landing in an airport isn’t him refusing to be wrong it’s just him….choosing to crash a plane

Kate taking the chip off and saying horrible and offensive things isn't her "being right" it's just her being a dick and if the giggle makes everyone “always right” then surely the implication is that she thinks these horrible things already? And if she doesn’t then the giggle doesn't "make people always have to be right" but also fundamentally changes their personality which is a whole different thing and ruins the initial point about "social media is bad because no one listens" (which is a dumb point)

They did the big rant about social media and cancel culture and then just never circled back or explored it, like ??? Okay !!

I do not care about the threat this episode !!! A man won't get out the road because "he always has to be right" is dumb !!! I don't buy any of this !!! I would feel a bit bad if it was something like the Kingsman where everyone has just gone absolutely feral but that's not what the story says !!!! We also don't see this affecting ANY characters we love and care about !!!! The threat doesn't feel grounded or real and I'm not invested in them trying to fix it, I think the Toymaker is stupid and dumb, if he challenged me to a game I would just throw a ball really hard, problem solved !!!!! Let's go home for tea !!!!

The Toymaker, randomly, out of nowhere, shoots the Doctor for the lols and for the plot "I have a big gun and I'm pointing it at you for no real reason because I don't want to kill you, except maybe I do? Yeah I've changed my mind I DO want to kill you"

What's the Doctor going to do when all the Nobles die of old age? And when HE dies will he regenerate again or will he just die? And IF he regenerates again will he regenerate into ncuti?

I actually think it’s really nice that the doctor and donna get to be happy together forever and just take random trips to mars and the doctor gets his own little family !!! Lore wise it’s extremely stupid but I love that the doctor just gets to be happy !! And with Donna !! And have a family !!

[mycupofrum]

60 and 27 for prongsfoot my beloved

Hello, anon! Thanks for the ask! ���� Warning for a love triangle/cheating.

__

Sick/Injured Fic + Poorly Timed Confession 

James and Sirius have a best friends with benefits scenario where they often end up releasing stress caused by the war, but they agree to end it because James is going to marry Lily. This results in James and Sirius's relationship becoming strained, because no matter how much they both want to convince themselves it was just physical attraction, it was always more than that, and they argue a lot. Deep down Sirius is hurt because why won't James choose him? James is confused af because why does he do this to Lily whom he loves in his own way, but also why can't he stop wanting it all with Sirius? They are on a spying mission together for the Order when they have yet another argument. James accidentally spills, "I love you," which makes Sirius furious ("How fucking dare you say that to me right now?"). That's when the suspects make a move. James and Sirius end up duelling against Death Eaters, and one of the curses hits James. He barely survives and it's a long road to recovery. They both have to take a good look at what's going on and face some hard truths.

Fanfiction trope mash-up ask game

[jojo-lane]

20 Questions for Fic Writers

Thank you @scary-monsters and @hammerofspace for thinking of me and tagging me! 😊🙏🏽

1. How many works do you have on Ao3? Just one for now!

2. What’s your total Ao3 word count? 20,758. I know, it's not a lot but someday it will be! 🥲

3. What fandoms do you write for? Jojo only! No other IP has quite managed to move me into writing actual fanfiction for them since I was a teen.

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos? I have only one fic: Ride or Die and it has 114 kudos as of now which I am quite proud of.

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not? I do! In fact, I would leave regular comments on my favourite fics so when my favourite authors replied to me, I would absolutely lose my mind. So when I started writing my fic, I decided to reply to every comment too just like the writers I admire! 😊 Sometimes, I might be late in replying but I will reply to all of them!

6. What is a fic you wrote with the angstiest ending? Okay so, I have written a very angsty ending for Ride or Die but also a very happy ending and also, a middle of the road, bittersweet kind of ending. Point is that I love angst and I don't mind writing an angsty ending but would it be the best for my characters? Long story, short, I don't know what sort of ending I want right now.

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending? Same answer as question number 6. I don't know what sort of ending I want and it could go any way. 🤧

8. Do you get hate on fics? I don't think so but people do say that I take too long to update which I don't really consider as hate.

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind? I have written smut only once so far and I think I suck at it but I am not giving up just yet. I think smut is a very spicy way to add tension between your characters and also to thicken the plot. I like it when there are high stakes or serious consequences when two people just give into their primal urges. Praise, angst, forbidden love, will they, won't they. I live for the messy drama and dangerous implications a smut scene can cause.

10. Do you write crossovers? No. Never.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen? No.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated? No.

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before? No, this is my first time writing anything in a long time so I'm still fairly new and unknown and I don't think I am a good enough writer to co-write anything with anyone. 😅

14. What’s your all-time favorite ship? This is a very difficult question because I consider myself a multi-shipper but I can tell you my favourite ship dynamic of all-time which is basically friends to lovers. Or reluctant partners/rivals to friends to lovers. I love ships where two characters get to know each other slowly over time and come to unconditionally support each other through thick and thin. So I suppose my go to ships are GyJo and BruAbba.

15. What’s a wip you want to finish, but doubt you ever will? I have a lot of wips which are essentially ideas for future fics but a lot of them will go unfinished because I feel like they go nowhere in the end. At least for Ride or Die, I have 3 solid endings to choose from.

16. What are your writing strengths? My writing strengths… I want to say world building? I get a lot of compliments for making my fic feel historically accurate. 😅 I don't think it's as historically accurate as I'd like it to be but I do a lot of research when it comes to the way things worked during the Victorian time period just to get me into that headspace and I think it translates somehow.

17. What are your writing weaknesses? I keep rewriting chapters and it holds me back from doing regular updates.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic? Accuracy is very important to me so I would probably attempt to write dialogue in another language but if I feel it's not accurate or faithful then I would find another way to get around it.

19. First fandom you wrote for? Naruto when I was 15-16, I was in the trenches defending a very unpopular ship back then. *shudders*

20. Favorite fic you’ve written? Ride or Die, my passion project. I can go around writing my favourite characters in every kind of AU out there but my brain will always come back to this one fic. 🙃

Who should I tag? I feel like all the writers I know have already been tagged so I'll tag @retlasute. I'd like to see their answers! 😊

[softeninglooks]

“Welcome to the world of Pokemon! People and Pokemon live together by supporting each other. Some people play with Pokémon, some battle with them. But we don't know everything about Pokemon yet. There are still many mysteries to solve. That's why I study Pokemon every day.” 

a few excerpts from my hq!pokemon fanfiction to pay tribute to this extraordinary franchise. when i was a kid, my biggest dream was that pokemon could be real. i had my first pokemon game when i was eight, and twelve years later my love for this universe is still just as strong. the pokemon world is built on compassion, friendship, and bonds between humans and pokemon. its stories tell us about perseverance and trust, working together and overcoming the biggest challenges because of the support of our friends. writing for it is always a joy.

“On that morning, the sun was leisurely piercing through the green crowns of trees, inundating parts of the smooth stretch of grass with pools of light. Although a crispy breeze swept the leaves, the weather was already warm enough to not worry about getting a cold, and when Tooru’s team jumped out of their Pokeballs, they could immediately feel that the conditions for practice were nothing short of ideal. Milotic happily cruised through the river, which was luckily big enough for the large creature to swim, while Lapras contentedly drifted on the water behind him; Dewgong remained in the grass, stretching out under the sun to bathe in its warmth before plunging into the river; Togekiss took off for a flight around the clearing to loosen himself up, executing loops in the air. Eevee jogged through the grass, looking equally delighted to be in the forest.

Tooru watched the Pokemon warm up with a pleased smile, hands rested against his hips.”

“The trees and bushes echoed with the melodic cries of wild Pokemon, the flutter of leaves, and the creaking of branches. A few rocks stood amidst the current, lapped by white foam, offering something of a natural bridge for adventurous spirits. The clear blue waters ran peacefully along the sandy shores, occasionally disturbed by a water-type Pokemon or a drowsy Lotad getting carried away by the current.“

“All around them, the town was buzzing softly with the occupations of its inhabitants, humans and Pokemon roaming the streets together; a Roselia carried a basket of groceries alongside its equally loaded trainer over here, a group of children playfully chased their Zigzagoon down the street over there. Stopping by a new place throughout his journey was always a delight for Iwaizumi, who had never travelled this much before embarking upon this adventure, and had discovered so many marvelous cities in the region. He was heartened by the number of Pokemon and trainers they could see flocking toward the Pokemon Center.”

“The Seijoh forest was a marvel of life. Swarming with Combees flying back and forth between flowers and beehives, wild Pikachu playing hide and seek among the green bushes, Budews zigzagging through the flowers, it formed an ecosystem of Pokemon who had made a home both in the waters and on the shores; Iwaizumi could barely take a few steps without catching a glimpse of some creature scurrying amidst the trees.” 

“That was nothing short of a miracle—a miracle that could only happen in the world of Pokemon, where mysteries were as numerous as the fantastical creatures that lived in it.” 

[heartstringsduet]

Ohhh so many weird writing questions to choose from, Michelle!! How about #7 and to make you think, #19!! ❤️🦎

Hi Desi-dear 🥰🥰 Thank you! 7. What is your deepest joy about writing? The best moment is when it FLOWS. Like it pours out of you with nothing to stop it and your fingers have figured something out before your mind has and suddenly a page fills and leads you down a new and better storyline and you think...wow this is all me. I did this?! I DID THIS! And that is why I write! 19. Tell me a story about your writing journey. When did you start? Why did you start? Were there bumps along the way? Where are you now and where are you going? I started writing when I was 14. I was horrible at it. And I mean...HORRIBLE. My best friend straight up told me to my face and she was right lol. But I wasn't deterred. I was a pretty angsty child (look at me now....so different...ehem) and it definitely was a place for me to explore that without any actual repercussions. But then back then the world of fanfiction was wild and free and different LOL. Started out with Naruto then Glee and then fully stopped writing for nearly 6 years because of mental health reasons mostly and a lot of changes in my life. I only restarted end of 2022 for Glee, putting down 100k in two months like a mad woman and I still haven't published them ?? oops. And then Tarlos took over my life and you can see that surely lol. I love writing. I really hope I will never stop loving it again ecause it's my favorite hobby now. 🥰 Road blocks are definitely debilitating self-doubt and being tired or in pain a lot of days. But I ride the waves of that a little better now. ☀️

[babygaunt]

Our Story

Hi Guys i just want to share my own fanfiction. Hope you like it.

I am not native speaker, please forgive me for any grammatical error.

Part One - A Home

Male MC X Ominis Gaunt

After a year's journey in Hogwarts, you finally finish your Fifth year in Hogwarts (technically your first year). Now you are on the way to come home, back to the muggle world. You are just taking a step to the road. Little road which guide to pedestrial, quite far from downtown. You take a breath while carrying your belongings. Today seems like a perfect walk, especially when your new boyfriend is there for you.

It is the first time for Ominis walking through the muggle world. Rest of his life time was spend in a pure dark wizard world, which his family, Gaunt family, do lives in fullness of pure blood vision, and they just would never like to get in touch with muggle, except for torturing those poor muggles as their favorite support with curcio curse.

More than that, Ominis never, not even once, ever walk through the muggle world.

Ominis just wears his long black robe, with a silver snake shape embroidery in his pocket. His mood seemed pretty happy as he would face a new world, which was restricted by his family. You two just walk in silence.  He smiles while a breeze of wind passes his face. He is just an innocent child who wants to know a new thing in his life.

Sometimes, he would whistle following some singing birds in the tree. You grab his hand. Put your head on his shoulder. Walk under the shadow of a tree on a summer morning.

Life just never felt so good until he come to your life,

After long hours of walking, You guys arrive at the front of an old house. Simple tradisional england house, made by pine wooden and red brick, which is located not too far from a fountain, at the end of the street. You take a breath and see him. He is there with a curious but also happy face. As this would be his first time to meet your father.

"My Dad could be little…Different than you imagine…" You carefully choose the words to describe your father. But it seems your new boyfriend is just fine. He gives you a smile. His pearl foggy eyes just staring at you, as he actually can see your expression. "Everything would be alright. Remember what you … we have had for the last year " He pat your shoulder. Everything will be alright.

You already want to knock on the door. But you just stop it, cause you felt ominis's palm, which held yours, shaking greatly.

"Are You alright?" You whisper to him. Just to make sure if he is okay.

"Little bit nervous," he said. He takes a deep breath and clears his throat. "Be honest, i prefer to change Sebastian's diaper rather than meet your Dad" He shook his head nervously.

" Sebastian what… a diaper…for real?" You can't believe what you was heared about.

" I don't know.. I just heard him mention about "i need to change a diaper" in his sleep" Ominis confessed. "But sometimes, i was heard him got busy scratching his ass rather than listening to a lecture in class. Well… at least it's a diaper instead of a tampon" Ominis whispering to your ear.

Burst of laugh just come out from you two. You can't even imagine it. Sebastian Sallow, your two's best friend in the whole world, the Guy who is labeled as Hogwarts's Casanova. The man who can make a hundred girls faint just by his smirk. A Friend who almost brought you to dark art last year (though it was actually part of your intention). The guy who accidentally killed his uncle (you and Ominis has agreed to bury this horrible moment in the past. Shall not be mentioned ever again). The most male student favored by Professor Weasley, all this time, probably, wearing a diaper.

Though your mouth cannot stop to laugh, your eyes are just watching over your boyfriend. As you can see, Ominis laughs so hard, which makes his face turn red like a tomato. Deep inside you, you feel gratitude as this joke (or fact) is able to make him laugh joyfully at this moment. He was much quieter after the death of Sebastian's uncle and when Anne was gone. Part of him must have felt lost in his family. Family who take care of him for the last five years.

As this summer, you brought him to your house. To spend the summer holiday with you and your father. Although you cannot be so sure about this. But it is much better than letting him go back to his family.

Both of you were still laughing hysterically when the door suddenly opened. There he is. Your father. Stand in the door with disturbed expression's face.

He is not smille nor angry with you. He just stood there in silence for a minute. You swear if the time just stops when he is staring at you.

You know exactly what kind man your father is. Your father could be really annoying for someone who just knows him. Especially to his son's new boyfriend.

"Dad…" You start the conversation. Your Dad just stands like a statue, cold as ice and hard as stone. He gives you a little nod before he changes his attention to Ominis. Ominis probably could not see him, but he actually can feel the changes in the atmosphere. The intensity between you and your Father has been received by him as a bad situation. He tried his best to give a smile.

Nervously, Ominis starts to make a conversation " Hello  Mr (your family name). Nice to meet you. I'm Ominis. Ominis Gaunt. Y/N friend from Hogwarts" Ominis talks nervously.

"Only friend huh..?" Your Dad answering Domino's greeting with sceptical intonation. You can see if Ominis just holds his breath for a moment. His pale face turned into as white as milk. But he is trying his best to keep calm while inside you already know if Ominis is already in the skakmat position.

"Dad" You give a protest to your Father as it is absolutely not the kind welcome expression that you hope. Ominis just arrived, but your father already gives such a cold expression to him.

"I am not only his friend. More than that.." Ominis replied with a lower voice. " I am Y/N boyfriend" Ominis raised his head. As he tried facing your father, like he was just staring at his eyes. He lent his hand to your father. For a second you feel like your heart just stops beating.

"Very Well..Welcome to our home Boy" Surprisingly your father just grab Ominis's hand and hug him. Ominis who is just get to surprise for what just happened, only can give a weak smile to you. "Thank you Sir" he says with a low voice.

"I already know if you and Y/N just take a relationship and you would come to our home" Your Father dragged Ominis into the house, leaving you alone, in front of the door.

Your brain is just too tired for recognize what was happened.

"Y/N, get inside already" Your Dad said out loud while bringing Ominis along with him to the sitting room.

"Dad I swear, if you do such a thing again, I will transform you into a frog" You shout to him while trying to bring your and Ominis's packages into the house.

"Here sit in here Boy" Your Dad just pushed Ominis to sit on the sofa in the middle of your house. You just want to sit beside him when your Dad pushes you from the sofa. "Not you, but Daddy who will sit beside him"

Ominis just smiled. He can hear you cursing due to falling directly to the floor. Your butt feels so hurt.

Your Dad just pushes you too hard. But he does not even care. His face now staring at Ominis again while Ominis, as always, showed an innocent baby expression.

"So Ominis right?" Your Dad starts the conversation. Ominis gives him a simple nod. "I really wonder why such a man like you would date with "an old bag" like him?" Your father talked while pointing at you when he said the words "an old Bag". You already want to reply when Ominis laugh cutely.

You swear in your mind, if he is just not that handsome, you would already punch him and your Dad with the suitcase.

"I am so tired. Dad, have you prepared for breakfast?" You moaned. Still tired as you and Ominis need to ride Hogwarts Express in the early morning. "We haven't eat at all"

"Sure. We have a cereals and some bread on the table" You Dad replied.

"Just cereal and bread?" You said to him. "Unbelievable. Your Son and his friend…I mean his Boyfriend (you change the word "Friend" when you heard Ominis caught intentionally), just arrived, but you are not even prepared for anything. At least you can prepare for a decent breakfast"

You furrowed your brow to him. Ask for further explanation for the most unprepared welcome moment you ever felt.

"You see… I was busy with business okay. I did not sleep until 3 A.M this morning" Your Dad replied while giving you a death stare which he always shows whenever he doesn't want to continue the conversation.

"Why don't you just buy us some food then" You Dad threw you his old, rusty wallet. You just rolled your eyes. Typically your Dad. Would never like to be blamed, but always want you to manage everything. This is why you most prefer to live in Hogwarts. As you can be free from his command.

"Alright then…Ominis let's walk.." You grab Ominis's hand and pull him up. You go out without any word while you can hear Ominis ask permission to your Dad.

"Don't forget to buy my favorite beer" the last thing you hear before the door closes behind you.

"Your Dad is really nice i see…" Ominis starts the conversation while you two walk through the street.

"Are you serious Bae? You give him a death glare. But of course, he could not see it, but he smilling as he could felt difference intonation in you voice.

"He just got too busy with his business Dear" Ominis smiled while waving his wand as guidance for him to walk.

"Huff..you just don't know him yet…" Can you believe what he has done? He is not even prepared for anything.. at all. Like a year i went to Hogwarts, felt nothing to him"

Ominis grab your hand, and press it softly. Giving a warmth comfortable to you.

"Come on… we come here to spend our summer holiday. With fun of course" Ominis try his best to bring your mood back. You nod and both of you continue to walk.

After minutes, you two arrived at the local market. It's still 8 A.M, so the market is not too crowded yet. You just cannot stop to smile, as the difference between muggle market and wizard market.

Silently, you watch Ominis as worried he would find difficulty in walking through the market.

Before summer break, you already met Professor Weasley and informed her if Ominis would stay with you in muggle world for the whole summer. As this concern, Professor Weasley has arranged for a special request to the Ministry Of Magic, if Ominis, as his disability, to see if he will be allowed to use magic while in muggle world. As a special condition for Ominis, the Ministry Of Magic just granted this request. As this also applied to you, who in behalf of his guidance during summer holiday. So both of you are permitted to use magic in the muggle world.

Now Ominis is walking with his wand as guidance as he always is. Professor Weasley has put a charm on Ominis so every time he brings his wand, it would be seen as muggle stuff. Probably Muggle would see it as staff which is always brought by blind people, or perhaps it seems as candy. It doesn't matter what it looks like for those muggles, as this charm gives an advantage for Ominis to explore with his wand alone.

"Eww.. What smells is this" Ominis Pinches his nose. He get disturbed by smells of fishes which some merchants sell on the market

"It is the smell of fish Dear '' You can't hold your laugh. "Aren't you already living for five years under black lake in a slytherin common room? How could you not get used to the smell of fish?" You make a joke to him

" Well, i have life in the common room which was located under black lake, but i didn't have to sniff for fish's smell" Ominis give you annoy expression

" Oh come on bae. Fishes are good for your health" You can stop to teasing him

Both of you just walk further when there are a bunch of teenagers, around your age, in the corner of the market, making fun about Ominis.

" Hei.. looks that guy…his eyes weirdly white" one of them yelled

" Hei blond hair, are you blind.."other is following his friend

"He must be blind. Just looks at the staff which he held " another one pointing Ominis's wand which perhaps seen by them as a guide stick.

You get so angry. You could not hold your anger. You already want to take out your wand when Ominis grabs your hand. He kept silent. give a gesture if he doesn't want you to make a riot.

"Please sweet heart. It could be dangerous. We are allowed to use magic in the muggle world, doesn't it mean we can use it in front of a crowd. We could be terminated from Hogwarts, or even worse" Ominis speak softly to you.

You just cannot take those insults, but you also don't want to take a risk.

"let's go Ominis". You grab Ominis to avoid those teenagers while they still make a joke about Ominis.

Of course you are not feel satisfied until you can punish those brats. While guiding Ominis, you bring him into the alley which is not to far from those teenagers. The alley is just dark and smelly. No people would care or want to come there. So it is the perfect place for you to hide.

You observe them. Those brats are there. They still make a bad joke about Ominis. Even some of them are making gestures pretending to be blind person.

"I need to give them a lesson," You said. Ominis want to stop you, but you are faster than him to point out your wand into their direction. In the dark of the alley, you whisper "Lexia". A hex which makes the victim followed by misfortune.

Those teenagers are still laughing when one carriage just passes through them. Poor of them, as the carriage passess, it is actually splashing dirty water from a puddle which is located near them.

"What the…" One of them screamed. "The fuck going on" Another one just cursing. "My mother's gonna kill me" one of the brat starts to cry as his white shirt turns brown and dirty. But unlucky for them, as the jinx still has another surprise. When they want to move, suddenly their shoelaces tie themselves, and in the next few minutes, they just fall into a pool of mud.

"Crap" One of them is screaming. "Fuck…" Another one cursing while trying to get up from the mud.

You point your wand into the carriage which passed them before. The carriage just makes a stop pretty near to them. And it carries dung which is purposely as fertilizer. The dung is put in a wooden basket.

You smirk and cast the next spell "Diffindo"

As you cast the spell, a big slice emerges from the basket, which makes the container fall over those brat. Unaware of what happened, They already get showered by the dung.

'AHHH…"

"THE HELL HAPPENED"

Those brats hysterically scream. Don't know what just happened to them. They scream, feel shame, and disgust. Many people are laughing at them. The revenge is success.

You tell everything to Ominis. You know he is not a kind guy who likes to take revenge on someone. He is too kind and soft inside.You also are not supposed to tell details as he could hear everything. When you tell him what happened, he just takes a little nod and smiles the entire time. Little thing that you do not know if he does not even care about how those brat get showered by dung. He just wants to hear your happy voice.

"Well.. I guess the sorting hat isn't wrong when you place you to slytherin" Ominis smile to you.

"That is right. It is a lesson for them not to play with Slytherin Couple" You saying proudly.

"Alright Mr. Slytherin, Shall we continue our shopping?" Ominis lends his hand. You grab it and give him a light kiss on the lips.

"You bet" You guide him out of alley

[no-thoughts-only-soup]

So… what are the personalities of the cast in this new AU of yours? I’m just curious.

Well, I already explained Mario’s and SMG4’s personality, but there is a bunch I haven’t explored yet.

Starting with Meggy: since Mario isn’t a dumbass in this au and I still want the chaos trio…

Meggy is in part still herself, childish, competitive and prideful, but she also takes some of Bob’s traits. She’s a former Inkopolis gang member, who planned to betray her boss and take over his gang. Unfortunately, she got found out and had to flee. Meggy is the personification of be gay, do crime. Her first solution to every problem is use a gun and if that doesn’t work, use a bigger gun. Initially, all she desired was to start her own gang and get money and bitches, but instead she found Mario and friendship. Still does crime if it benefits her though. Dumbass gremlin.

(Kinda 50/50 on eventually making Four become dumbass gremlin too because then Mario doesn’t have to be)

Peach retains some of her original game personality, since like Mario she’s only partially an avatar. She’s sweet and bubbly, feminine and graceful… and also determined to get or keep what she wants no matter the cost. Peach is mostly pragmatic though, so she won’t go out of her way to hurt you or take revenge for all the time she becomes a butt monkey like V1 Peach, she can be incredibly sadistic whenever she does decide to choose violence. She’s the kind of girl who cheerfully smiles as she prepares to blow up a building, only briefly stopping when she realizes it’s tea time.

Most of the toads are either like game road or V1 toad depending on which one you come across, but the three that were with Peach when they approached the USB and became partially avatar are different. Alone, they’re pretty normal, maybe having slight differences between them. Together, they voltron together into Ultra Dumbass Toad, who takes after V1 Mario most with their idiocy and tendencies for chaos and destruction.

Luigi did not sign up for this shit, and the chaos of the world has finally driven him to say fuck it, I’m gonna do what I want. Uses his gentle and cowardly persona to manipulate others into doing what he wants, though it has a chance of backfiring on him. Often seen drinking alcohol or noping out of crew shenanigans.

And since Meggy is the violent selfish ass now, I think it’ll be hilarious if Bob is instead a very meek guy who preaches pacifism and love, which clashes with the fact he has swords for hands and comes from a family of violent warmongers. Still a pervert.

Boopkins is a short tempered Piranha who is more bark than bite. His teeth don’t even hurt that much, but he’ll never stop chomping on your arm if he’s angy. Which is always.

I haven’t seen Meta Runner yet, but I think it’d be hilarious if Tari was a parody of an edgy anime protagonist with some sort of sad backstory that everyone ignores. Massive weeb. Engineering pro who secretly loves video games and writing fanfiction. Insert blue hair and pronouns joke.

Saiko is stoic, strong and intimidating… which is because she’s too socially awkward to talk. She doesn’t even realize she’s scaring people, she’s just standing there, existing! Goes with the flow. Also a massive pervert.

I haven’t seen enough of Kaizo (missed his episodes) so feel free to suggest.

Axol is very tired and just wants to be left alone in his cave, spending his time sleeping, being on Tumblr and other social media and occasionally making art or edits. Horror fan. Often dragged out by Melony.

Melony at first starts like canon, being just a melon with a running gag that she’s always present during catastrophes, as if she’s started it. When she becomes human, she’s ecstatic, since now she has legs and hands and feet and everything! Seemingly always sugar high, Melony refuses to waste time, trying everything, preferably with friends, whether it’s doing crime, rock climbing or larping.

Honestly, some of them might be subjected to change tho, since tbh I hadn’t really thought of the rest of the crew that much lol. But I really wanted to radically change their personalities to hammer down that this is a different timeline.

Hm? Oh, SMG3? Well, let’s just say he remembers getting tortured by Smart Mario… and that he is very good at holding a grudge…

[fairyqueentitana]

Let's talk about The Miraculous Adventures of Ladybug and Chat Noir aka Miraculous Ladybug

Hey guys I'm back and ready to rant! So many of us have heard of or watched Miraculous Ladybug and based on the numerous fanfictions I would on AO3, Wattpad and the like I know it's popular.

For those who haven't watched or heard of it, the story follows two teenagers Marinette Dupain Cheng (ladybug) and Adrien Agreste (Chat Noir). Essentially both teens save an old man who is the guardian of jewels called the miraculous that give you magical powers and companions. Hence, he chooses them to be the new heroes in order to hopefully regain a stolen miraculous that is being used for evil.

Marinette is a stalker: I know we love her very much but am I the only one creeped out by her obsession with Adrien. She got his schedule without his permission and used it. She occasionally follows him and has his face plastered everywhere for at least three seasons. What is worse about this is that all the girls in her class encourage this creepy and obsessive behaviour and make plans I understand that they are young but no, I felt sick every time I scene showing her obsession came up. In addition, her parents see her room and laugh about it, and her kwami (magical creatures linked to the miraculous) Tikki seems to encourage her on occasion. WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN ADDRESSED!

Gabriel Agreste is an abusive parent: Abuse does not have to be physical. Mr Agreste is emotionally neglectful and abusive while also being incredibly controlling and manipulative. Even his attempt to shelter his son raises some eyebrows. This man never buys his son an actual gift, he only hugs him 1-3 times in the show and attempts to stop him from watching his mother's work. In addition to that, I get being an over-protective parent but his deal with Lila sickens me. His control over his son's likes and dislikes and hobbies borders beyond parenting. If you are a good parent your child should be able to confined in you, ask questions and have conversations. Good parents can be proactive but accepting. The man is so busy being a supervillain he doesn't even recognise that he is no longer being accepted as a true parent. He makes Adrien almost submissive to him in a way like a robot to never rebel, ask questions or differ from what Gabriel wants.

Adrien Agreste is a pushover who occasionally has his moments but he is very flawed: Being raised in a household run by Gabriel Agreste makes Adrien likely to not address an issue no matter who it harms. In the Lila situation, all he had to do was back Marinette up, all he had to do was pull Alya and Nino aside and tell them what happened instead he says take the high road what high road she is LYING THROUGH HER TEETH TO OUR FRIENDS! When he does stand up for his friends outside of the suit he does it well and honestly with a lot of truth and it's commendable. However, for someone that is a hero, he is out here being selfish at the worst times. How he reacted to the Identity of the Guardian of the mIraculous and what he did during the Akuma attack was incredibly selfish. His behaviour with Chloe. That girl is a bully yet he scolds those who have been victims for being happy when she is not around. If I was Marinette I would have side-eyed him so hard.

4. They had no training and Master Fu was cool with this: He sent children out to battle an adult with no training whatsoever. WHY!! They could have gotten killed or just given up to Hawkmoth.

5. Miss Bustier is an enabler: This statement needs no explanation if you know you know.

6. Where does she get the time: Marinette is a designer yet we are reminded of this every now and then and she is the youngest in their class. Most of Marinette's creations are wonderful, so each one is carefully crafted and promoted out of the box. She is class president and helps at her parent's bakery all while managing her superhero persona and her grades which is why I have to ask IS SHE SLEEPING? The same goes for Adrien as well they both balance so much I'm shocked there is not an episode where they both just lose it and verbally annihilate Hawkmoth. Personally, if that were me I would be so mad and Hawkmoth would feel my wrath.

7. Jagged Stone has Marinette design things for him and is close to her family why isn't she more famous? I'm leaving this to be analyzed and explained to me cause frankly I would like an explanation. 8. Marinette's lack of ability to speak Mandarin makes sense to me but some other things bother me. I understand that a lot of teenagers and young adults grow up in a home with a parent who speaks a foreign language and never learns the language but learns their culture. Marinette's Chinese background is barely explored, one movie and a few episodes do not count as background. I want her in traditional wear from time to time. Yes, she lives in France but I find it a bit bothersome that she never really gets to explore deeper into it we know all about her French and Italian background shows more than her Chinese background.

There is so much more I wanted to say after really watching this show and I will tell you guys the truth. I am getting more and more annoyed with each new episode.