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redbleedingrose · 1 year ago

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i think eris collects fancy wine and lucien has a lot of old maps what do u think

Oh, I have been waiting all DAY for someone to send me an ask about my favorite Vanserra bro’s! I am so excited tehehhe!!

Hobbies for the Vanserra Bro’s

Eris Vanserra

Okay, starting with the love of my LIFE!!!

He is a master of all trades tbh. He has so many hobbies, especially once Beron goes bye bye LMAO. He has so much more free time, he was already practically running the Autumn Court, even when Beron was alive. But now, without the added stress of his father, he is trying to explore all different avenues for hobbies, especially when you can join him.

He absolutely collects fancy wines. I think Er is a collector in general. He likes collecting wines that you both can share after a long day of hard work, he likes to collect unique and rare editions of his favorite books that he can display in the library he built for you, he likes collecting rocks and geodes and seashells that he will use as decorations in Marwa and Twila’s nursery. When they are born, Eris becomes a collector of all things for his favorite babes. He collects dresses and jewelry that they will use when they are older, he loves collecting shoes and handbags for them. Eventually, a new wing to your home is added just so he can store all of things he has collected over the years for them that they have unlimited access to. I also think Er would collect children’s stories and books for them, he loves encouraging them to learn and grow into smart, young ladies. He absolutely expands the library for them, creating a little play space for them along with hundreds, if not thousands of books that all belong to them.

I also think Eris would become involved with creating DV shelters. He would absolutely love being involved in foundations and charities that specialize in helping women get away from their ab*sers, and building a new life for themselves. He has created a whole new job sector for these women, and often finds himself visiting these shelters so that he can help the older ladies running the home cook and clean. You can picture him in his apron, scrubbing away at the tile with furrowed brows trying to get the grout out. He would also bring his pups to the shelters so that they can play with the ladies and the children.

While Beron was alive, he did have a secret hobby that only you know of. One that you and him will take to the grave. One that was the reason for your first oathe to him, the reason that you have a tattoo that matches his on your left forearm.

Tehe.

You know those smutty books that Nesta reads?

Yeah…… He ghost wrote those.

Don’t ask questions, but he did.

The poor male had to express himself and his desire for you somehow.

Anyway, only you and him know that he is Prythian’s best selling romance author. And thats the way its going to stay.

That secret follows you both to the grave.

Oh and Eris is for sure an animals rights activist. He loves his horses and his pups so much, even though he will never admit it, but he has spent a lot of time creating laws that provide protections for endangered species and animal rights in general. He has limited hunting grounds in Autumn Court to allow for safe areas for animas to roam and exist freely. He absolutely tries to convince you to move onto a farm with him. He wants so many animals on that farm, he wants pigs and goats, dogs and cats, horses and cows. He also really loves the idea of having chickens.

One day you will give in from his incessant begging.

Not today, but one day.

Lucien Vanserra

Lucien is also a collector, just like his older brother. He absolutely collects old maps. He also collects coins that he finds on the ground, claiming they are lucky, and he also collects stamps from different courts, using them to depict his travels and act as an homage to his journey through life that lead to finding you. I think Loosh also collects art and pottery, and I know he himself, has dipped into the talent of pottery as a hobby. Even if all of his vases are a little crooked and his mugs are kinda cracked and a janky orange color.

He tries his very best, and thats all that matters to you.

So you will absolutely display his crooked vases in your home, and use his janky orange mugs, even if he glares at you while your coffee leaks in dribbles onto the floor and you smirk at him over the rim of the mug and you wiggle your eyebrows as you “cheers” him. Because you are a loving, good mate who displays your mates talent of course.

Even if it is just to make fun of him

But I also think he is a nature freak. He loves cultivating and collecting rare herbs and plants that he can grow in Day Court. He loves using those herbs and plants to create herbal remedies. He is a big naturalist. I think before you accepted him as your mate, he spent a lot of time in the Day Court libraries trying to get his mind off of you and he did that by studying old medicine. He studied different healing techniques and herbs that he could use to create medicinal potions. Over time, it grew into collecting these herbs and creating these potions for those who are sick, especially the elderly where he ended up donating a lot of his creations.

He also loves going fishing, he could spend hours in the ocean or in a lake or river swimming and fishing. He always releases them back into the wild, but I think there is something he finds peaceful about being in nature and being able to use nature in different ways. He loves going on hikes with you, and he absolutely is a camping nerd. His first holiday with you included going no-contact with every other person he knows for a week and spending that week in nature with you. He taught you different ways to find fresh water, and he would catch fish and cook them for you over the fire he stoked. At some point, he became really really good at cooking outdoors and was creating meals that are almost impossible for the most experienced chefs to make out door using nature.

Anyway, it was fun, and while it may not be your cup of tea for every vacation you take, you will go with him on this camping trip at least once a year to get away from society and spend time with your favorite male.

But!!! This does spark an idea for Lucien.

He loves to take young children out into nature to teach them about it, teaching them how to fish and how to survive in the outdoors just for fun. So he creates a little group of 5-10 year old children similar to Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, encouraging all children to join him as he takes them out into nature. He teaches them how to swim, and how to tie sailors knots, and how to safely make s’mores. The children of Day Court look forward to it all year, excited to spend one on one time with their high lord who teaches them so many things, who is so kind to them, who is so funny and cool to hang out with. Story time in front of a campfire slaps for those kids. Eventually, when your children grow of age, he brings them with him, giving you a whole week for yourself to rejuvenate and vacation in peace.

With that being said, Lucien does take action similar to his brother. He creates national parks and conservation areas to protect nature. It is something that he finds incredibly important and he knows that one day, his children and grandchildren, and future generations as well, will appreciate his efforts to protect the world. He goes as far as convincing other courts to join his efforts as well, expanding protected areas.

Masterlist

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tomorrowsgardennc · 5 months ago

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the food of tomorrow is in the seeds of today.

hello. i'm elizabeth. tomorrow's garden is my seed farm that i grow in charlotte, north carolina.

why seeds?

because growing your own food is amazing, delicious, enticing, and fulfilling. but it only helps with the here and now. what about food for later? how can you make sure that no matter what life throws at you, you have food for tomorrow?

i started this farm in 2019 when i came to the realization that no matter what happens, at the end of the day, what matters is that there is food in you and your family's belly. i initially started to grow and sell vegetables and herb plants, and then when shit hit the fan the next year, i realized we need to prepare for the future, too. that's when i started learning how to save seeds. i now grow and sell plants and seeds at the local farmer's market. if you're in the charlotte, north carolina area, then check out my instagram where i post what i'll have at the market every week and come say hi.

one of the ways to make sure your plants succeed year after year is to save seeds. the parent plant takes what it learned from it's term and passes those genetics through their seeds. how crazy is that?! so many people think that they can not grow any food because they either source their plants from big box stores (that rant is for another day) or source their seed from a commercial grower. it's not them, it's captialism that's making growing food so difficult. i highly recommend sourcing from a seed farm as close to you as possible and eventually getting into the habit of saving your own. if you grow in or next to zone 8b, then i do offer my seeds for sale on my website to get you started out.

well, if i'm saving and selling seeds, then why not use that as a good excuse to do my favorite type of art, too? linocut or stamping has always been my favorite medium, even when i was little. the fact that no matter how hard you try, nothing will ever match, and there will be mistakes. a lesson to be reminded of in life, too. i post my artwork - in progress and final - as well as my farmer's market setup on my pinterest profile.

as far as for here on tumblr, i'm not here to sell. i'm here to get inspiration and gain knowledge from other gardeners and to offer the same. this is where i will post my progress as the seasons come and go, what mistakes i made, and what i've learned in the hopes of helping others. my ama is open if you have any questions, especially about seeds or getting a garden nursery business up and running. information shouldn't be behind a paywall, and i never will do so. so let's get growing together.

��🌱☀️

#gardenblr #garden blog #farm blog #home garden #gardening #food not lawns #nature #homegrown #homesteading #homestead #food #grow food #food gardening #garden #farmers market #farmcore #farm #plants

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fantomette22 · 2 years ago

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Disturbing discovery about the fishing hamlet

I made another discovery concerning the fishing hamlet and the "parasite farm" towards the end of the hamlet.

I know the main interpret is that those white slug/squid looking creature (found everywhere across the hamlet) are Kos parasites, but I think it's more complicated than that.

Kos parasites are supposed to be small. Really small.

So, I think those will made more sense.

Also, I know in the concept art they look more like augur/gastropod but in game they really look like baby squid hunter don't you think?

But maybe they are parasites. But then why are they so many? how do they multiply? I might have figure it out 💀 (yes, they could have fish them too but now I really doubt so)

Here's the really short version.

Now to explain I think…. That the "farm" is more of a nursery? Idk what they do with them after. And really, I don't wanna know…💀

I think that the snail ladies, take the giants ammonites shells (that we can found in the caves rocks) and lay eggs in it. Then the fishmen gather the eggs (we can see them scratch the grounds with tools + priests seem to pray to them or smt.

Then the eggs hatch and that make all those little things.

In the end I don't know if they really are parasites and they multiple via they’re host (fishing hamlet villagers) or if after being infected by kos parasites and being to transform & the villagers couldn't have children anymore and try that ?

Also, idk if it's because of the nightmare and it's just at one point in time that are show to us, but the little white squid seems all to be dead? Did they stop growing and dies like the celestial larvae who we don't see older expect in dead statues? (except Ebrietas who's the exception) + there's nothing that seems to indicate the presence of children in the hamlet compared to, Yharnam.

Are they praying to Kos in this goal? That their children might live ? (also Kos look a bit like a giant version of the snail women...)

It is the coast to pay after all… all great ones lose their child…wouldn't it b ethe same for humans becoming kins and trying to ascend?

What do you think…?

#bloodborne #bloodborne theory #bloodborne theories #bloodborne thoughts #fishing hamlet #no wonder Maria and other get traumatized...#i gain insight but at what cost...

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littlebrushprint · 1 year ago

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Add a touch of adorable charm to your nursery with our delightful digital pig nursery wall art. This baby pig print is a perfect addition to your farm-themed nursery decor, creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere. This farm nursery art captures the essence of baby farm animals, showcasing the cuteness of a pig in a whimsical and endearing style. Perfect for a farm nursery, barnyard bedroom, or farmyard nursery, this print brings the spirit of the countryside into your little one's space. Let the vibrant colors and the lovable character of the cute pig create a joyful ambiance, inspiring your child's imagination and fostering a love for farm animals. Our pig nursery art adds a touch of sweetness and nostalgia, completing your farmyard art set. Embrace the adorable charm of the baby pig and let its presence bring happiness and warmth to your nursery.

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yamelblr · 11 months ago

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my kids are watching pocoyo, and yours should too.

note: i don't have kids; the headline is merely an expression.

so, as someone who is very passionate about art, i try to hold back from critiquing artworks solely based on personal preference...

that being said, i really like minimalism; the concept of achieving something grand with minimal resources captivates me, and pocoyo, in its ambitious yet lighthearted approach, successfully embraces this artistic philosophy in a way that is both interesting and groundbreaking.

in contrast to the prevalent corporate memphis seen in various enterprises' branding, pocoyo distinguishes itself by avoiding the trappings of a simplifying obsession meant to dumb down iconography.

this contemporary minimalist art style is not inherently bad—i personally find it relatively pleasant when used right— but its proliferation often acts as a visually unobtrusive background for corporate spaces. this is like the muzak of visual arts.

for those who don't know, is what we often call elevator music—fabricated to create a facade of a calm work environment for low-income workers, masking the exploitation they endure.

pocoyo utilizes minimalism with another purpose. it invites viewers to immerse themselves in the simplicity of its visuals, employing limited objects that encourage the mind to actively participate by "filling in the blanks."

the cartoon unfolds on an all-white canvas with only certain characters and key items strategically placed, creating ample negative space.

the intentional use of negative space allows the viewer to focus on the characters and the story without unnecessary distractions. the storytelling approach in pocoyo resonates with performative theatre, where negative space is abundant, engaging the audience by encouraging them to fill it with their interpretations; it keeps the viewer at the edge of their seat trying to fill that negative space, if not with items, with an ambientation and abstract elements.

in an era saturated with mindless maximalism and visual oversaturation in media targeted to children, pocoyo stands out by embracing responsible minimalism.

this approach contrasts sharply with the likes of youtube content-farms and cocomelon, a cartoon exemplifying this aggressive maximalism i'm talking about.

cocomelon's rapid scene cuts every 2 to 4 seconds contribute to overstimulation and potential addiction in young viewers.

they're putting our children on crack.

in contrast, pocoyo's deliberate pacing, occasionally featuring tracking shots and long takes, challenges and improves attention spans.

furthermore, pocoyo employs a narrating language akin to normal adult conversation, fostering a healthy communication style. this stands in stark contrast to cocomelon's patronizing approach and zombie ass nursery rhymes, which oversimplifies language and undermines the development of critical thinking and abstract appreciation in young minds.

so, in conclusion, pocoyo's nuanced approach to minimalism and storytelling not only sets it apart in the world of animated content nowadays, but also challenges the prevailing trends that prioritize overstimulation over depth. it stands as a testament to the potential of thoughtful, intentional design in captivating and educating audiences of all ages.

i love it so much.

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mspixie85 · 3 months ago

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Farm Sunflower Nursery BOTANICAL WALL ART

4 swatches

base game compatible

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welldonebeca · 2 years ago

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The Pack (I)

Summary: Sam and Jess decide to spend Spring Break with you and Dean and finally - after a good night together - join your pack. And you all mate. Of course. WC: 3.5k words Warnings: A/B/O dynamics. Tension. Hurt/Comfort. Flirting. Lactation kink.

If you like my work, consider buying me a coffee or subscribing to my Patreon. It’s just $2 a month and helps a lot while I go through these hard times.

Masterlist

“We decided on a neutral colour,” you told Jess as you showed her your nursery, which you had just finished painting a couple of days ago. “Because we can reuse it, you know? We plan on moving her to a bigger room by the time we have a second.”

Jess was Sam’s girlfriend, his Omega, and was just visiting along with him for spring break.

“So you know it’s a girl?” she asked.

You shook your head, caressing your belly and your barely-showing bump.

“No, the doctor said it’s still a month until we can see anything officially. Maybe even more. But I think she is a girl.”

You were her mama, and mamas never got it wrong.

“Aww, this is so exciting!” she exclaimed. “I can’t wait to be an aunt.”

She touched your belly happily, and you were happy that it was finally starting to show a little bit, though it was nothing near your tits. Now that you had started pumping, they had stopped growing so much, but they were still bigger than their past self.

“You know,” she looked at you. “Have you ever thought about having a mural? Something sweet, maybe behind the changing table?”

You nodded a little.

“Well, I thought about it. But we don’t know anyone who can paint like that,” you told her. “And it’s our baby. I don’t know if I’d let a stranger do something without any meaning on the wall, I want it to be something she looks at and I can say ‘daddy painted it for you’ or ‘mama painted it for you’, but neither of us is good with art.”

Jess pouted a little.

“Oh,” she nodded a bit. “Well…”

You finally realised what she was talking about.

“I do like the sound of your ‘auntie Jess painted it for you’,” you teased her.

Her eyes sparkled, and her lips curled in a big smile. Jess was so pretty!

“If it isn’t much to ask,” you told her. “Because you are a guest, I don’t want to make you work.”

She waved a dismissive hand.

“Oh, no, don’t worry!” she assured you. “I mean, we have all week!”

Such a short time… you wished they could stay a little longer.

“And it’ll be my birthday present to you!” she affirmed, squeezing your hand.

Sam had bought you some gift cards as your birthday gift, which you didn’t mind.

But a mural… well, it would be very nice.

“I’ll see if I can ask Dean to take you to Home Depot for some paints later,” you offered, taking her hand as you both went outside to find your boys.

They were in the backyard… arguing?

“Dean, those are humans!” Sam stomped his foot. “They are treating those Omegas like livestock!

Oh… so they were talking about that.

“You know, for a guy who is all about researching, you’re really bad at looking into Shurley’s. All the omegas consent to it and they can quit anytime,” Dean reminded him.

“The only kind of omegas they would seek out would be the ones who are desperate, and you think they wouldn’t target that?” his brother insisted.

Ever since you two started donating milk, there had been a boom in the company’s popularity. You would like to think it was you, but you also knew they were expanding, and with that came fame.

They set up farms East, and now they had plans on going west, which Sam was not happy about.

“It’s predatory!”

“It’s a job!” Dean corrected him. “Like… like OnlyFans. And escorting. And something for the greater good, like sperm donation! They help people everywhere!”

Sam took a hand to his face, growling.

“I don’t even know why I’m talking to you about this, especially with how you treat-“

“Um? Sam?” Jess called out, stopping both men.

The way he treated… you.

Sam was very critical of your relationship with Dean. Well, he was critical of anything and everything Dean did.

It made you very sad because Dean loved him more than anything in this world.

… maybe not you. You didn’t like to ponder on that, because it wasn’t a competition.

But he adored Sam, and always made sure things were always perfect for him, so he could have everything he wanted.

Even with college, Dean wanted to pay for everything, so Sam would just study. His house, his car and tuition… but he didn’t let him do more than put his name on the lease. And since he had gone to college, he was distant from his brother.

This visit was new to him.

But he liked you, you knew that. Sam always said he wanted you to be safe and happy, but you felt like he didn’t listen to you. You had said to him a thousand times that this is the happiest you have ever been, but he still wouldn’t understand.

It was good that Omegas could do whatever they wanted, and have the lives they wanted, but you liked your life. You liked being a housewife and attached to Dean by the hip and having him take care of everything. It made you happy!

“Oh, hey, sweeties,” Dean flashed you two a smile. “Do you need anything?”

“Is everything alright?” Jess asked

“Oh, yes,” he assured you, but you knew he was lying. “Don’t worry, doll.”

Sam’s lips curled in a growl.

“Don’t call her that.”

But Jess smiled. She didn’t seem bothered at all.

“You know what?” Sam decided and walked to you two. “How about they contribute? They have a voice, you know?”

You frowned. What now?

Dean always asked your opinion on things.

“How do you feel about what Shurley is doing to Omegas?”

Jess sighed, putting a hand on his shoulder.

“Oh, that… Sam…” she looked at him, clearly something they both knew about. “I mean, we don’t want them being abused under them, you know?”

“But they are nice,” you told her. “Their Omegas have a good contract, their needs are all met, and I looked into it and their health insurance is the best in the country. Dean is even getting me in it. The insurance company, I mean.”

Jess raised her eyebrows, surprised.

“Really?”

“Yes,” you confirmed. “We’ve looked into the company. Well, I did more than Dean.”

You tried not to flush thinking of it. They didn’t need to know how you knew all of those things.

“They distribute breast milk even to smaller hospitals, and to families who don’t have ways to feed their pups,” you told her.

“Wait. Why are you looking into them?” Sam looked at you, curiosity getting the better of him. “Is Dean making you-“

You couldn’t take it.

“Can you be nice for once?” you interrupted him. “Everything is ‘Dean’s doing this’, ‘Dean’s doing that!”

Your husband’s eyes widened, and you stomped, walked closer to his brother and raised your head to look at his face, now fully angry.

You were so tired of Sam accusing Dean all the time!

“The rain starts out of time, and it’s Dean’s fault. You can’t find a shoe, and it is Dean’s fault! If you disagree with something, Dean has to be wrong because you are never wrong!” you growled at him. “Dean doesn’t treat me right, Dean doesn’t know this, Dean’s help is useless… will you, please, stop?”

Someone put a hand on your back, very delicate, but you shrugged them off.

How dare he be so mean to your Alpha? Your husband was a very loving man, even if he wasn’t good with his words. He always compensated them with his actions.

“Dean redecorated the guest room just so that you two would be comfortable!” you told him. “He bought a new mattress, made sure we have your favourite foods, and has been spending the whole week trying to find a way to convince you into letting him get you some dental insurance because you are too stubborn to let you help him!”

Sam stared at you with wide eyes, shocked, and you stepped away from him, not wanting to get into a fight, but came back as soon as you realised you weren’t done.

“Your brother thinks the world of you! He tells the people all the time that his little brother is a smart lawyer and got into Stanford all on his own,” you continued. “He keeps pictures of when you were little all around because you don’t like to take pictures with him anymore, and always talks about gifting you and Jess a house in the town so that we could see one another more often without you being overwhelmed by his presence.”

“Baby,” Dean called you.

“So don’t come to me with that talk of Dean forcing me to do anything! Because I only cook when I want, I only clean when I want, and I am very spoiled every day because he is a very good Alpha, the same way that he is a very good brother! And I value that very much!” you finished. “And just because you think an Omega is only good when she is working, it doesn’t mean we can’t be happy staying home!”

Your eyes welled up, but you kept your stance, walking away from him in strong steps and stomping right back into your room.

After that massive rant, you curled up into your big pillow to scream, though you could still hear the three outside.

You had never, ever, been so upset with someone before, but he needed to hear that!

"I... I don't-" Sam tried to speak. "I mean..."

"Sam, you should talk to her," Jess interrupted him.

There was a moment of silence before she continued.

"Dean... I know this is strange, but she wanted to know if you could drive me for some paints. I'd love to do a mural for the baby."

"That would be very nice, Jessica," your husband agreed. "We can go now. And they should have a moment alone."

You looked up from your pillow, still hugging it.

"Come in," you mumbled.

He opened the door carefully.

"I added the colourful marshmallows you like," he tried to smile.

You glared at him, bitterly.

"Oh, how presumptuous of you," you grunted.

Still, you took the drink anyway.

You did love the colourful marshmallows.

He sighed, putting his own mug aside, and it looked way more boring than yours.

“Listen, I’m sorry," he apologised. "I shouldn’t have been so hard on Dean."

"You're right, you shouldn't," you confirmed.

He smiled the littlest bit.

"I just... I get so worried for you," he told you.

You lowered your mug, chewing one of the marshmallows.

“Why?” you finally asked him. “Sam, you’ve known me for years, why do you think I can’t take care of myself?”

Sam hesitated for a moment, and you continued to stare at him.

What, did he think you were dumb?

"You're an Omega," he said, at last. "And a woman. A very feminine woman. People sometimes take advantage of people like you."

You sighed. Of course you knew all of that. Your whole life, people looked at you different for being girly and wanting to settle down and just have a family. No fancy schools, just a house to command and babies to raise.

"I know, Sam," you touched his hand. His hand was so warm. "But I live like this because I chose this life for myself. I see how people treat me, and I’m very aware of it. The last thing I want is someone thinking they know what’s best for me.”

He nodded with you.

"You're a very nice girl," he told you. "Dean is... very lucky. To have you."

You tilted your head.

Oh, you knew those eyes.

Sure, you weren't school sharp, but you could read people like paper.

"Do you remember..." you spoke slowly, starting to reminisce. "When Dean asked me to Prom, and he had you helping?"

Dean always wanted to share everything with his brother.

Everything.

You giggled.

Dean didn't want a prom date, he wanted an easy lay.

And you weren't an easy lay.

"So he did it again," you reminded him. "And a third time."

"And then you accepted," Sam pointed out.

You chuckled.

"I remember how jealous you looked when I did," you teased him.

Sam stopped, frozen and flushing.

"I don't know what you're talking about," he tried to deny it.

You laughed.

"I always knew you had a little crush on me, Sammy," you told him. "I just didn't know it had never gone away,"

Sam was blushing so much. It was adorable.

"Y/n," he stuttered. "I... Dean... Jess..."

"Families are packs, Sam," you reminded him. "It's very normal for a pack to be big."

Still, he pulled away from you.

"Listen... I do love you," he affirmed, your heart soar and your chest ache. "But I won't do that to Jess. Packs are too traditional, and we don’t want that."

You raised an eyebrow at him.

"Does she?" you asked him. "Are you sure?"

You had seen the way Jess looked at your belly, and how she was fascinated with the ins and out of your life as you told it to her.

“It’s not wrong to want it,” you whispered to him.

Sam nearly growled.

"Not wrong?" he asked. "To want to own my omega or take control like some knot head?"

"Yes," you whispered. "Exactly. To care for her and spoil her."

He didn't look at you, and you rested your head on his shoulder.

"You know, Dean treats me very well," you told him. "He is so sweet, Sam. Always giving me little gifts, always making my life comfortable... I barely lift a finger around here."

His skin was so warm against yours. Still, Sam kept drinking his mug, and you just then realised what he was drinking.

You didn't have milk at home.

Not conventional milk, at least. Just yours...

You were producing so much, you kept a bit of yours to yourselves.

And Sam seemed to be enjoying it very much.

"I used the milk in the half-empty bottle," he told you. "I hope that's alright? I wasn't sure if it was something you were saving it for some recipe."

You shook your head.

"No, it's just milk," you assured him. "It's just not pasteurised. We got it fresh today."

“I mean, yeah, it’s really good," he nodded again, emphatic. "You guys don’t even have cows anymore, where do you get it?”

You smiled smuggle,

“Oh, just some other farmers were kind enough to give some of theirs…. Deans been experimenting with it...”

Your husband had been very curious with what your milk could bring before a baby.

“He's actually made some fresh ice cream with it," he told you. "You wanna try it?"

You raised your head from his shoulder and Sam relaxed completely now.

"Yeah," he agreed. "Of course."

You really shouldn’t get turned on by this.

You were tricking your brother in law... but you knew if Sam knew he would start worrying, and you just wanted this week to be perfect!

"I'll serve you," you hopped off your bed. "Come on."

Sam didn't say anything as you guided him downstairs and waited as you served him a big ball of sweet vanilla ice cream, and Sam almost immediately dug in.

"Oh, God," he huffed. "This is really good. It's so sweet!"

Sam licked the spoon with his skilled tongue, and you squirmed, feeling yourself getting wet, and your chest felt a little tight and-

"Oh," you gasped, feeling your clothes wet.

You were leaking again!

"I'm sorry," you covered your chest. "I need to go clean up."

You rushed out of the kitchen before he could say anything, looking for your pump.

Where had Dean put it?!

Finally, you managed to find it and hid in your work room before setting it up.

What would Sam and Jess think if they saw you like this?

Before you could overthink, your door opened, and Dean walked inside.

"There you are!" your husband smiled. "Baby! Jess is so perfect! I didn't know how perfect she would be, she is all sweet."

You raised your eyes to him quickly.

"Oh, you think so too?" you asked him. "I was thinking... oh, Dean, we really could have a pack, couldn't we?"

You two had talked a bit about it - before and after getting married.

But you never found someone who would be a good fit.

Until today, that was.

"Now you’re reading my mind,” Dean smirked, taking a seat beside you. "You, me, Sammy and Jess... I don't even know how Sam has bred her up already. They’ve been dating for four years!"

You shook your head. That was way too long of a time.

But they were at least mated.

"Of course you're thinking of breeding," you giggled. "Another cow for the family business."

He chuckled, touching your leg and caressing your thigh slowly.

"She has so much untapped potential, baby," he hummed. "Beautiful tits, long legs... oh, I imagine she can bounce pretty well on cock, uh?"

You squirmed, warmed by his words and the pump.

But Dean pulled away from you and rested on the chair slowly, just smirking a little.

Suddenly, Jessica walked into the room.

"Dean?" she called.

She gasped, though, when she looked at you.

"Oh!" she covered her eyes. "I'm so sorry!"

"It's alright," you assured her. "Just... Omega business."

She flushed and Dean looked back at her.

"Yes, doll?" he asked.

Her cheeks were flushed, and Jess couldn't look up.

"Sam wants to talk to you," he told you. "In the kitchen."

Dean nodded.

"Thank you, sweetheart. I'll go talk to him."

He left and Jess hesitated, about to do the same, but you stopped her.

"Hey," you called her. "Sit down, it's alright. Nothing you haven't seen before."

If she was going to be part of your pack, then she had to get used to this, right?

She sat down, but still didn't look at you.

"Sorry," she mumbled. "I just... always thought this was private. My mum always says people should cover-up when breastfeeding."

You scoffed.

"Oh, come on," you shook your head. "Boobs are made for babies. Anything else is an extra."

Jessica giggled.

“I guess that’s true,” she finally looked at you, and then frowned, pointing to your chest. "Uh... is that from Shurley’s? Is that why you were so defensive before?”

You hesitated a bit.

Oh, well.

"It is," you agreed. "I have a... special situation. Condition. Something like that, I can say."

Jessica frowned, worried.

"It's alright," you assured her. "I just have milk. Lots of it. So I needed a special pump and only they have it. It's been helping me a lot in the last month."

She nodded along.

"I guess that's good," she pointed out. "You wouldn't want a mess everywhere."

Oh, if a mess was everything you were worried about.

"And it hurt so much," you told her. "My body ached to feed my baby when she isn't even out yet. I was so desperate I thought about just offering to feed newborns at the hospital."

You both laughed at the joke.

"I donate my milk," you told her. "So I guess I do feed hospital babies. Just not directly."

She beamed.

“That’s amazing!” Jess exclaimed, awed. “I wish I could do that… sometimes I volunteer, but to make a difference like that..”

“And your body loves it too!” you praised it. “It can be messy, but it’s all for the babies and that’s all I care about.”

She watched you, impressed.

"That sounds dreamy," she told you. "Your life is just wonderful. I wish I could just... you know."

She lowered her eyes, unsure, not wanting to finish it.

You looked into her eyes.

"Wish you could, what?"

She hesitated, sighing and looking at the door.

"I mean... you guys are so lucky," she explained. "Sam and I... I don't want it to come out wrong, but we are struggling a bit. With our loans, you know?"

You nodded a bit. School loans were very expensive, especially for schools so big, such as Stanford.

"It's not a crippling debt, but it will be a while before we feel ready to have a baby, and you are ready to have another as soon as this one comes out!" she pointed at you. "It's such a good place and it... it makes me a little jealous."

"Well, what if we could help?" you suggested vaguely.

Her eyes shone at the idea, but she quickly looked away.

"Sam wants to do it on his own," she shook her head. "I have to support him."

"You are such a good Onega," you praised her, and Jess flushed. "But you know... if we all work on convincing him, he can't say no. Especially if he hears how much you want a baby."

Jess blushed even more.

"You'll be such a good mama," you told her, teasing her now. "You're so sweet and caring, and with Sam, you'd have a big belly, you know? Maybe even twins."

The machine stopped, and she looked right at your tits before you moved to remove the suction, bottles now full.

"I should put these away," you sighed, sweetly. "Talk to Sam, Jess. He will appreciate it."

You leaned by her side and placed a little kiss on her cheek, tits barely in your bra, and adjusted yourself before actually dressing up fully.

. . .

"The Pack" is the second part of "The Milk series". To read its sequels "The Farm" - a Castiel x Reader x Dean - and "The Family" - a Jess x Reader & Sam x Reader - subscribe to my page! It's just $2 a month and helps me a lot through these hard times.

. . .

Forever Tags: @emoryhemsworth @amythyststorm33 @shaelyn102 @yknott81 @maximofftrash @kgbrenner @thefridgeismybestie @magpiegirl80 @mogaruke @shadowhunter7 @musicalcoffeebean @megasimpleplan4ever @deemoriarty @05spn18 @malindacath @kdcollinsauthor @random-fandom-fangirl2112 @widowsfics @frozenhuntress67 @averyrogers83 @notyourtypicalrose @nerdypinupcrystal @giruvega

Supernatural tags: @its-daydreamer23 @imagefanfictionlover @imagefanfictionlover @smalltowndivaj @tayrae515imagines @random-fandom-fangirl2112 @oneshoeshort @andkatiethings @wakanda-sometimes @akshi8278 @xoxabs88xox @izbelross @calstielwinchester @isabelle-faith @flamencodiva @lyarr24 Supernatural Kinky Fics (+18): @littlecassisub @stoneyggirl2 @death-unbecomes-you @phoenixblack899 @that-dark-girl

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macthekat82 · 2 years ago

Text

Roll for build challenge

Inspired by @hiphiprenee over on tiktok I made my own Roll for build list. I am mostly using her lists but I have modified them, since I am not building for content, I want houses I actually want. You are all welcome to use or modify it all you want.

You can either roll everything beforehand or do a few rolls and build, and then give yourself another challenge. Roll either a physical die or a online dice roller.

I have tagged my build I do with this as #roll4build on the gallery and I am macthekat82 on there as well.

Type of build

Micro home (4-32 tiles)

Tiny Home (33-64 tiles)

Small home (65-100 tiles)

Starter home (max §20.000 + 2000 per bed)

Regular home

Lavish home

Open concept or closed concept?

Open concept (Even)

Closed concept (odd)

Household type

Single sim

Couple

Family

Roommates

Style

Cape cod

Contemporary

Shotgun

Mid-century modern

Victorian

Tudor

Georgian

Mediterranean

Cottage

Container or mobile home or pre-fab

Colonial

Craftsman or arts-and-craft

Ranch

A-frame

Bungalow

Abandoned

Tropical

Farmhouse

Roll for twice

Dealers choice

Colour scheme

Earth tones

Natural materials

Pastel

Cool tones

Jewel tones

Monochromatic

Bold

Duo chromatic

If you want more of a challenge do as many of the following as you feel like.

Exterior features (roll twice)

Pond

Vegetable garden

Sandbox

Patio

Porch

Driveway or garage

Shed

Hot tub or pool

Fire pit

BBQ area

Play area (monkey bars, swing set etc)

Craft area

Tower, spire or turret

Chimney

Second structure

Basement

Greenhouse

Farm animals

Roll one more time!

Dealers choice

Interior style (reroll if you don’t have the items for it)

Cottage chic or cottagecore or English country

Southwestern

Minimalist or modern or Asian Zen

Mid Century modern

Farmhouse - modern or traditional or French Country

Maximalist or Bohemian

Transitional Style (traditional + modern elements)

Eco friendly

Traditional japanese

Shabby chic or coastal

Very gendered

Hollywood Glam or Hollywood Regency

Rustic

Industrial

Child friendly or child centered

Scandinavian

Mediterranean or middle eastern

Art Deco

Grandma chic

Dealers choice

Bonus room/area

Office

Storage room or pantry

Gym

Art studio

Nursery

Game room

Home theater

Music room/studio

Craft room

Guest bedroom

Greenhouse

Hidden room

Spice roll

No CC

Travel

So many plants

Ups another child

A dark secret

They really love cooking

Pets are the best!

Obsection!

A big collection

SPORTS!

A lot of clutter

A supernatural lives here

#sims4 challenge #sims 4 build challenge #Sims 4 Roll4build

80 notes · View notes

ironychan · 10 months ago

Text

Homecoming

Part One - Arrival

Part Two - Discovery

@writer652 @dysphoria-sweatshirt @careless-whispers

Maria woke up in the middle of the night when she heard the clatter of wood, and sat up sharply, blinking in the dark. Had something fallen over? Was there a stranger in the tower? She couldn't see any familiar shapes in the half-light. Had somebody...

Then she remembered – she was not in the tower. She was in her childhood room, now turned into a nursery for Massimo and Helena's baby. She'd been asleep on the mattress on the floor, and Alberto was in her arms, now awake and whimpering. The window was open, and the sound she'd heard was the wind blowing the shutters against the wall.

Shaking slightly, Maria got to her feet and shut the window, sliding the latch into place with a soft whine of rusty metal. Then she sat down again and gathered Alberto up for a hug, reaching under his shirt to rub his back.

“It's okay,” she soothed. “It's just the wind. We're warm and safe in here. Uncle Massimo and Aunt Helena are going to look after us.” At least, she hoped they would. As long as she managed to keep Alberto's secret.

She lay down again, and Alberto curled up against her. It was nice to be back inside a real building. They'd put up canvas at the tower to keep the worst of the weather out, and Giancarlo had always talked about repairing the wall properly someday. He'd never gotten around to it, though, and stormy nights like this had been terrible.

Maria had to wonder what Giancarlo was doing right now. He'd probably been back to the island, and discovered his wife and son were missing. If he looked, he would find the boat in Portorosso's little harbour. What if he came to the door and showed her up as a liar? What if he revealed his son's transformations in front of everybody? Would Massimo pull one of those harpoons off the wall and run him through? Would he then do the same to Alberto?

She shook her head and stroked her son's curls. Thinking about what if was never productive. She just had to take things as they came. Hopefully she was up to it, for Alberto's sake.

In the morning it was still wet and stormy out. Maria could see the boats in the harbour, riding up and down on the swells, and the leaves on the tree outside were thrashing in the wind. It seemed a luxury to be indoors, even as the walls creaked and the radiator whistled.

“Good morning,” said Helena, appearing at the door with a bundle in her arms. “I brought you some spare clothes... I won't fit back into these until well after the baby arrives.”

“Oh, thank you,” said Maria. She was too tall to borrow clothing from most women, but Helena was almost as tall as she. “You don't have anything that would work for Alberto, do you?”

Helena shook her head. “We've got baby clothes, but nothing big enough for him.”

“I'll make do,” Maria promised.

Helena's dresses were a little tight, but not too much. Maria washed up and dressed, changed Alberto's nappy, and headed downstairs.

She found Helena sitting in the kitchen with her bare feet up, eating some rather damp pastries Massimo had brought back from the baker, and surrounded by sketches. Maria came to see what she'd been drawing, and found a dozen views of Portorosso and the dramatic cliffs and terrace farms that surrounded the town.

“These are lovely,” she said. They made her dull little hometown look like a place from a fairy tale.

“Thank you,” Helena replied. “I got accepted to art school in Firenze, but then I met Massimo, and you know how plans change.”

“Yes, I do,” Maria agreed. Except... she really hadn't had any plans until she'd met Giancarlo. Only vague dreams of doing something with her life besides selling fish in the middle of nowhere. The two of them had then made plans together, how they were going to travel the whole world and see its wonders... but then, yes, things had changed.

"I'd wanted to spend a year in the countryside and paint, anyway,” Helena added. “This is such a beautiful town. There's always something new here. The sun hits the roofs in a different place each day, the sea has a thousand moods, the stars reflect on the water... I could paint this place for a thousand years and never run out of subjects.”

That sounded bizarre to somebody who'd always thought of Portorosso as the most boring place in the world. “Where are you from?” Maria asked, sitting down at the table.

Helena offered her the soggy paper bag with the pastries. “Genova. Not far away, I guess, but it feels like a million miles sometimes. It's so much bigger and busier there, all crowds and noise. Portorosso is so peaceful.”

Dull. Portorosso was dull. Genova had always sounded like a metropolis, like a place where big and exciting things were always happening. It wouldn't have occurred to Maria to think of it as crowded and loud.

“There's coffee,” Helena added.

“Oh, thank you.” Maria fished a pastry out of the bag for Alberto, and went to pour herself a cup.

Alberto examined this strange foodstuff. They'd had bread sometimes on the island, when Giancarlo brought it back from the various places he'd been working, but most of their food had always come from the sea. The cream-filled croissant didn't look like anything the baby had ever been given before. He dug his fat little fingers into it and pulled it apart, fascinated by the filling oozing out. Finally he thought to taste it, and his face lit up. He stuffed the rest in his mouth.

“Is that good?” asked Maria, sitting down beside him with her coffee.

Alberto grinned with his mouth full and his cheeks puffed out, and reached for the cup.

“Ah, ah, this is not for you,” Maria told him. “You can have a drink when I'm done.” He really was too old to nurse anymore, but she hadn't had a lot of other treats to offer him. Now that they were in town, the baby could be properly weaned. That would be a relief.

“He's so curious,” said Helena fondly, as Alberto sucked pastry crumbs off his fingers.

Maria moved a little, so that Helena would not be able to see if Alberto's hands began to turn purple. “This is a new place,” she said, “but he's a bright little fellow.” Alberto always needed to investigate and study everything shown to him, from snails on rocks to pieces of sea glass.

“According to the newspaper, the rain is supposed to let up later,” said Helena. “We could do some shopping. He'll need new clothes and so will you.”

“That's a good idea. I'll pay you back when I have the money,” Maria promised.

“If that would make you feel better,” Helena said. “Massimo told me you'd always been very independent.” She watched as Alberto slid down from his seat to start exploring the kitchen again. “I think he must take after you that way.”

“He does,” Maria agreed. “He tries to dress himself but he always gets stuck. He'll manage someday.” She looked around the kitchen, to make sure there were no more buckets of water and creatures sitting around.

Helena noticed. “Massimo delivered the lobsters last night,” she assured Maria.

Massimo himself joined them a few minutes later, his hair and shoulders wet from being outdoors where he'd been checking on the boat. “The water is too rough for fishing this morning,” he said, without any other greeting to the women. “I may go out later if it calms.” He sat down, and Maria pushed the coffee pot towards him. Massimo nodded thanks and poured himself a cup, then sat and watched his nephew opening and closing cupboard doors. “How is he this morning?”

“Into everything already,” said Helena. “Maria and I may go out shopping later, since we were saying he needs things.”

Massimo nodded.

It was always difficult to tell what Massimo was thinking. Maria had once been good at it, but she'd been away for a long time, and she'd gotten used to Giancarlo, who showed everything he was thinking on his face even if he sometimes put great effort into lying about it. Was there something on Massimo's mind, or was he just being his usual quiet self?

“Is something wrong?” asked Helena.

“Maria's boat is gone,” said Massimo.

Maria's heart leaped into her throat. Giancarlo must have come back for it. Why hadn't he visited the house? Was it because he was afraid of Massimo? Or had he been there looking in the window while she'd closed the shutters in the middle of the night? The idea made her shudder. “I must not have tied it properly,” she said. “I didn't think what would happen if the wind came up.”

Massimo gave her a sideways look. He knew she was good with knots. “Somebody went through the equipment in mine, too. Nothing was taken, but I brought everything back to the Pescheria.”

Maria bit her lip, wondering what Giancarlo had been looking for.

“That'll be a very wet and disappointed thief in this weather,” was Helena's only observation.

Maria was terrified that one or the other of them would realize she was hiding something and demand more information, but neither did. Once breakfast was over, Massimo went downstairs to go through the shop, sorting yesterday's catch into what was still fresh enough to sell and what would have to be turned into fertilizer. Maria would have offered to help, but she would have had to take Alberto with her, and the Pescheria would be full of water and ice. Instead, she helped Helena clean up the plates and cups.

“When are you due?” Maria asked the other woman.

“Six weeks,” Helena replied, running an affectionate hand over her belly. “It can't come soon enough, honestly. I'm getting so tired of hauling this extra weight around.”

Alberto chose that moment to tug on Maria's skirt, and she scooped him up and poked the end of his nose with her finger. “You really think that ends when they're born?”

“I guess not!” Helena said with a laugh, “but at least you can switch arms when one gets tired!”

The weather remained windy and grey, but the rain petered out by lunchtime, and Helena and Maria were able to go for their shopping trip. Even after promising to pay it back, Maria didn't want Helena to spend too much money on her, so she chose their first stop: a place that sold second-hand clothing and furniture, halfway up the hill. The break in the weather meant that more people were outside now, hoping to get a few tasks done before it started again.

“Hello, Maria!” Concetta Aragosta called out, as she and her friend Pinuccia passed. “Ottavia Brugnole said you were back.”

“That I am,” Maria replied, a bit puzzled by the greeting. The Aragosta ladies mostly kept to themselves, and didn't seem to be related to anybody else in town as far as Maria knew. They'd never spoken to her before.

Then again, after Signora Brugnole had been the first person to see her back, it was probably the talk of the town: Maria Marcovaldo returns, dressed in rags and carrying a toddler. Maria hadn't thought about that. She'd been so worried about what Massimo would think of her reappearance that it hadn't occurred to her to wonder what other people might say, any more than it had what she would say to them. Were they picturing her as fallen woman, wandering the world in rags with some stranger's bastard on her back?

But Concetta and Pinuccia did not look scandalized or even unhappy. They were smiling kindly as they came closer, and Alberto, who was alert and looking around in Maria's arms at all these new things, greeted them with the same wide eyes as he had every other stranger.

“Hello, there, little fellow!” Pinuccia said, wiggling her fingers at him in a wave. “Has your mummy got you out and about today?”

“Will his father be joining you?” Concetta wanted to know, although she sounded dubious.

Maria shook her head. “His father is... no longer with us.” It was so much harder to lie to somebody's face than it had been to do so to Helena's back last night.

“I'm so sorry,” said Pinuccia.

“If you need any help with the baby, you can always come and ask us,” Concetta added. “I promise, we know all about unusual children.” She winked.

Maria stared at her. What did she mean, unusual children? Did she know? How was that possible? She held Alberto a little tighter, making him squirm.

“We'll see you around and about, we're sure,” said Concetta.

“Arrivederci,” Pinuccia agreed, and the two of them puttered off.

Helena watched them go with a puzzled expression. “Do you know them very well?” she asked Maria.

“No,” Maria replied, just as confused as her new sister-in-law. “I think that's the first time I've ever spoken to them. I was right about Signora Brugnole, though,” she added. “She told everybody.”

“She certainly did,” Helena nodded. “We'll be hearing all kinds of theories about where you've been, I'm sure.”

When they walked into the second-hand shop, the woman behind the counter turned to her teenage son, who was assisting her, and said in a low voice, “that's her. That's Maria Marcovaldo.” Then she flashed a bright smile and approached the two women. “Welcome, Signora Marcovaldo,” she said in a much louder voice. “And welcome back, Signorina Marcovaldo – I'd heard you were back in town.”

Maria hadn't been addressed as Signorina Marcovaldo since she'd left home, and she wasn't sure now whether it was a good idea to start again. She didn't particularly want to use Giancarlo's surname, but being miss while carrying a small child would only make her a pariah. So she said, “it's Signora Scorfano.”

“Oh, so sorry,” said the woman, her smile not faltering a moment. “Signora Scorfano. I expect you need something to wear, and something for your boy, as well.”

It really was that obvious, wasn't it? “Yes, please.”

Alberto was the most important thing, so Maria went to the children's section first. She found him a lovely little set of rust-coloured overalls with sailboat on the front, and a yellow shirt to go with them. This was far more clothing than Alberto was used to, and he squirmed and complained as she put it on him in the changing room. As soon as she had the last button done, he escaped his mother's arms and went running out into the shop again.

Maria ran after and scooped him up, and Helena laughed at the sight.

“You come back here, you little scamp!” said Maria with a laugh. She gave Alberto a kiss on each cheek as he continued to wriggle. “Look at you, you look so handsome!”

“Doesn't he just?” Helena agreed with a grin.

“We'll take this set,” Maria told the shopkeeper. “Let me find a few more.”

She chose a couple more little outfits for Alberto, and then two inexpensive dresses for herself. Both of these would have to be let down before she could wear them, but that would give her something to do for the afternoon, at least. They paid the shopkeeper, and then Helena insisted on treating Maria to lunch at the trattoria on the Piazza. The sun was starting to come out now, glinting on the puddles and sparkling in the spray from the fountain. Fishermen were mopping rainwater off the decks of their boats before heading out to make up for lost time.

“Massimo will want us to hurry,” Helena observed. “He'll have work to do. So many of the men in Genova have office jobs nowadays, I always just assumed I'd marry a man who'd be doing that. A fisherman's schedule is so different.”

“Is that a good thing, or bad?” Maria asked.

“Oh, it's good,” said Helena. “On a rainy day in Genova, everybody goes to work like normal. On a rainy day here, we get to linger over breakfast and spend a little more time together. I still get to have a routine, but instead of just one, I have several, and it's a surprise in the morning which one I'll need to follow today. Now that I've lived here a while, I think trying to live in the city again would bore me to tears.” She'd been watching pigeons peck at crumbs under a neighbouring table, but now she looked at Maria with a smile. “Your husband was a diver. I imagine that was very unpredictable.”

“Yes,” Maria said. “We moved around a lot as he looked for work. Until Alberto came along, of course. Then we had to settle down.”

“Where were you living?” Helena inquried.

Maria hadn't thought of an answer to that. They'd been on that awful little island since about three months before Alberto was born. She wasn't about to tell anyone the truth. For one thing, it might lead them to Giancarlo, but for another, and perhaps more importantly, she was rather ashamed of it. The island had seemed like a good place to stay while they sorted the situation out, but then they'd somehow just never left. It hadn't been a very nice place to live, certainly no place to raise a child, but they hadn't known what else to do. Why hadn't she left months ago?

“We were in Montpellier when Giancarlo died,” Maria decided. They had stopped in that city, so she'd be able to answer questions about it if anyone asked. “I came back as fast as I could, but I didn't have much money.”

“I'm glad you made it,” said Helena. “It'll be okay now, I promise.” She smiled gently. “Massimo is so happy you're home. I honestly thought he might cry about it.”

Maria felt her chest tighten. That was why she'd stayed so long – because she'd had nowhere to go but Portorosso, and she'd thought Massimo would be angry with her. If she'd only known.

As she and Helena stepped outside again, Maria saw that the two Aragosta ladies were sitting on the edge of the fountain, enjoying some gelato. One of them smiled and waved, but Maria did not respond, still put off by their earlier conversation. Alberto, however, wriggled out of her arms, and before she could stop him he took off across the open space towards the two old women.

And towards the fountain full of water. Maria ran after him.

“Alberto!” she called out. “Alberto, come back here right now!”

Concetta Aragosta handed her ice cream to her partner and held out her arms to pick the boy up. That wasn't reassuring to Maria, who didn't want strangers handling her child. She'd almost caught up, only to see the woman grab for Alberto and miss. He hadn't been heading for her at all; he'd been running for the water, and now he toppled over the edge of the fountain and into the basin with a splash.

Maria shrieked in dismay, and then cried out, “no!” as Concetta Aragosta stood up and pulled the transformed baby out of the water. Immediately, Maria snatched him away and began drying him on her shawl in a panic. This could not be happening. There were so many people here! Not just the two old ladies and Helena right behind her, but a dozen others in the surrounding shops and businesses who might now see the little fishy creature in Maria's arms. Concetta and Pinuccia crowded close, perhaps for a better look, and Maria hunched as if to curl protectively around her son. It was too late. Much too late.

“Is he okay?” asked Helena, coming up next to Maria.

Maria swallowed hard, trying not to burst into tears. What were they going to say? They'd think she was worse than a fallen woman, that she was raising some monster...

“There we go,” said Concetta softly, rubbing Alberto's face dry on her apron. “There we go, all human!”

Maria blinked her tears away and stared at the old lady, uncomprehending. “What did you just say?”

“Nothing, dear,” Concetta said. She took a step back, and Maria clutched Alberto closer, shifting his weight as his tail vanished again. “We told you we knew about unusual children, didn't we?”

“We'll see you again soon,” Pinuccia said. She gave her friend her gelato cone back, and the two of them started back up the hill towards their home.

That left Maria standing there watching in confusion as they vanished around a corner – and Helena standing there looking at Maria with a similarly befuddled expression.

“What was that?” asked Helena.

Maria licked her lips as she tried to decide what to say. Her sister-in-law didn't look frightened, at least... maybe because the two old women had been so calm about it. She just looked confused.

“What did you see?” Maria wanted to know.

“I'm not sure,” Helena replied, coming closer to examine Alberto. There was nothing outwardly odd about him now, just a toddler squirming because his mother was holding him too tight. “I... is he your son?”

“Of course he is!” Maria huffed. “You have to promise not to tell Massimo!”

“I don't even know what I'd be telling him!” Helena protested. Her eyes went to something behind Maria.

Maria turned to see what she was looking at, and found that Massimo was waving to them from the Pescheria door. Maria waved back with what she hoped was a normal-looking smile, although she had her doubts. Massimo pointed to his boat, and Maria nodded.

“We have to go back to the Pescheria,” said Helena. “Somebody needs to mind the shop.”

“Of course,” said Maria. The Pescheria would be a relatively private place where she could... she didn't know what she was going to do. Somehow she must reassure Helena that this wasn't a problem, and then she had to be sure Massimo wouldn't find out.

They returned to the building, and stood in the doorway to watch Massimo start the engine on his boat and putter out to sea. Helena then went straight to the cash register to deal with their first customer, a woman hoping to purchase some squid for calamari. Maria waited in a corner with Alberto in her arms. He whined because he didn't know what he'd done to make her upset, so Maria stroked his curls and murmured reassurances, planting a kiss on his forehead.

“You scared Mamma so bad,” she whispered, “and I think you scared Auntie Helena too... but the two Signore Aragosta, they didn't mind.” She would have to talk to them. What did they know? Was it obvious to them in some way that Alberto wasn't fully human? Was there something she hadn't even noticed before that Maria was now going to have to worry about hiding?

Finally the customer left, and Helena came out to speak to Maria. Maria swallowed hard, wondering what in the world she was going to say. Would she throw her out, saying she didn't want a freak like that in her home?

“Is he all right?” Helena asked. “I mean...”

Maria sighed and set Alberto on the floor. There were plenty of puddles and ice he could get into here, but it hardly mattered when Helena had already seen. “He's fine. He's...” how could she explain, without making the situation look even worse? “What has Massimo told you about the sea monsters?”

Helena frowned in confusion and watched Alberto sit down on the floor to pick up a dropped coin. To her, the question must have seemed like something out of nowhere. “He said he first saw one the same summer you left. He tried several times to catch it, but it always got away. He said you and your boyfriend laughed at him when he talked about it...” her voice trailed off.

Maria winced at the memory. She hadn't realized in the moment that Massimo would be hurt by that. Her first instinct had been to protect Giancarlo. That whole summer they'd been terrified that Massimo might find out what Giancarlo was, especially when he kept saying how determined he was to catch the creature and mount it on the wall. Maria had feared he was hinting he already knew, and all her secret-keeping was for nothing.

Helena was still waiting for an explanation. For a split second longer, Maria thought about just making something up, but she knew that nothing she came up with would seem believable, even if it were still more plausible than the truth. Especially when she had already insisted that yes, Alberto was her son. She couldn't have denied that, even if it would help her story. She didn't have it in her.

“Giancarlo was the sea monster,” said Maria. “They transform when they get out of the water, and change back when they get wet again. I know it sounds like a fairy tale...”

With the coin still clutched in his hand, Alberto had wandered over to gaze at a basket of crabs. The crustaceans' claws had rubber bands wrapped around them so they couldn't pinch, but that didn't mean it was a good idea for Alberto to try to touch them. Maria went and ushered him away again. He stepped in a puddle on the way, and his bare foot transformed again.

“So he'll do that every time he gets wet?” Helena asked.

Maria nodded. “You see why you can't tell Massimo, right?”

“We have to,” said Helena. “He needs to know.”

“No, he doesn't!” Maria insisted. “You can't. If he finds out...”

“He would never hurt your child!” said Helena. “No matter what.”

“What if he doesn't believe that Alberto is my child?” Maria asked. “You didn't! He's told everybody in town he was going to kill that sea monster. He'd never let one live in his house.” She shuddered to think about it.

“It's your son,” Helena said. “He'll understand.”

Somebody cleared their throat, and both women turned to see a man standing in the shop doorway. Maria went cold. How much had he heard?

“Sorry to interrupt, Signora Marcovaldo,” the man said to Helena, “but my wife sent me to see if you have any large shrimp.”

“Of course!” said Helena, hurrying to find them. “Here we go! They're yesterday's, but they lived through the night just fine. Will these do?” she offered a basket.

The man studied them critically while Maria backed towards the inside door with Alberto in her arms. Some haggling followed, and she slipped through and shut the door softly behind her, then sat down on the stairs with her face in her hands.

“Ma?” Alberto asked.

“Sorry, Berto,” she replied. “It's not your fault. I want you to know that. None of this is your fault. It's all your father's and mine.”

The voices outside eventually ceased, and Helena cracked the door open.

“I don't think he heard anything,” she said to Maria. “He didn't ask any questions.”

Maria nodded. “You've got to promise,” she repeated.

“Massimo will find out anyway,” Helena said. “You can't keep children from getting into things. Alberto has been into everything from the moment he arrived.”

“Then I'll have to watch him better,” said Maria. Her son was used to being allowed to run around wherever he liked on the island, and was quite happy in or out of the water. It was going to be a very different life he would have to get used to here in town. Perhaps she should have waited until he was old enough to understand why they would have to hide what he was... but no, Maria couldn't have lasted that long, and neither could Alberto. He needed other children. He needed a life Giancarlo wasn't willing to give him.

“Maria,” Helena began.

“No. I need you to promise, because if you don't...” she swallowed. “Then I'm going to have to leave.”

Helena sighed, clearly uncomfortable with the situation, but she nodded. “I promise. I won't tell Massimo myself, but I know he's going to find out one way or another. He doesn't miss much.”

“He missed Giancarlo,” said Maria.

“I don't know if I'd be sure of that,” Helena said.

Maria shuddered. “I just... I can't make this more complicated. I feel like I'm going mad as it is.”

“I won't tell,” said Helena, “but I think you should.”

That would have to do for now, Maria decided.

Massimo came back that night with a catch that needed to be sorted and packed in ice for tomorrow. Maria had spent the afternoon washing and re-hemming her new clothes, and had allowed Helena to trim her hair, so she was looking far more civilized by the time her brother came upstairs to eat the fish stew his wife had made them for supper.

“It must have been a productive afternoon. You certainly smell like fish,” said Helena, going to kiss him. She then winced and took a step back, a hand on her belly. “The little one's excited to see Papá!”

Massimo closed the distance between them and kissed his wife's cheek, then bent down to kiss her swollen abdomen. That done, he looked to his sister. “Your shopping trip went well?” he asked.

“Yes, it did,” said Maria. She was finishing up sewing a button on one of the shirts she'd bought for Alberto, who was napping beside her. “He doesn't like his new clothes very much, but he'll get used to them.”

“He needs shoes,” Massimo observed.

“He does,” Maria agreed. “He's never had any.” Alberto would probably hate them, but Maria wouldn't have to worry about him stepping in puddles.

“Good catch?” asked Helena.

“Yes,” Massimo replied. “There'll be deliveries to do tomorrow, so I may not be able to go out again until late.”

“I can do them,” Maria volunteered. “I need something to do besides sit around the house. That would drive me crazy.”

“What about Alberto?” asked Massimo.

“I can watch him in the shop,” Helena suggested. She caught Maria's eye, and Maria nodded. Now that Helena knew, it was safe to leave Alberto alone in her care... Maria hadn't thought of that.

They ate their supper. Helena apologized, saying that she wasn't as much of a cook as Massimo, but it tasted just fine to Maria. She was a decent cook herself, though she hadn't been able to do much with some of the things Giancarlo had brought her, the seaweed and shellfish and random things that lived in the mud. He'd cooked them himself sometimes, but had said he didn't remember most of the recipes his own mother had tried to teach him. Having real food again felt like a royal feast.

“I can do the cooking on the night's Massimo can't,” Maria suggested. “Especially once the baby is born.”

“You don't need to earn your keep,” said Massimo.

“I'm not trying to earn my keep,” Maria told him. “If I'm going to be part of this household, then it's only fair I should contribute to it. You want to help me, I want to help you.”

After the meal, Helena collected the dishes to wash, and Massimo went downstairs to make sure everything was locked up and properly stored. Maria, meanwhile, scooped up Alberto, who'd managed to get stew all over his new clothes just as he'd doused himself in trenette al pesto the previous night.

“You like your aunt and uncle's cooking, don't you?” she asked. “If the mess you make is any measure, then you thought Auntie Helena's stew was delicious!”

“It's good to have a fan,” laughed Helena.

“Come on, bambino,” said Maria. “I think tonight you're going to need a proper bath.” She looked over her shoulder at Helena and saw her nod – Helena would keep Massimo from bothering them, and Alberto could splash in safety.

As she climbed the stairs, Maria though of that old saying about how one person could keep a secret, but once a second person knew, it wasn't a secret anymore. Here, that was not true. Helena knowing and being willing to help would actually make things much easier in several ways. Was it too much to hope for that the two Aragosta women would be the same?

She would have to deal with that tomorrow.

#pixar luca #fanfiction #alberto scorfano #massimo marcovaldo #maria scorfano #alternate universe #homecoming #i apologize to anyone who dies of cute from the illustrations

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