#finding frankie si

[porcelainleviathan]

Got reminded of my autism so heres some random doodles of Cash (Ft. some frankie)

Cash is a little shit i love him. {Bonus og page with the frankie doodles because 'man' had me in stitches when i first drew it}

[orionthecritter]

Any of y’all fucking with Finding Frankie…

[huntersselfshipocean]

Finally drew Reese in my normal style lol(Reblogs and fanart HIGHLY ENCOURAGED!!)

[cinnbar-bun]

Straw Hats- Reversed AU HCs

AU: In which YOU are the character of a very famous franchise, and they are regular people who are fans of your series.

Note: GN!Reader, crack, very unserious

Luffy

Thinks you’re neat! Super cool!

People think he doesn’t really “get” you and just likes you for your awesome powers and/or cool appearance, but he drops like an innocent yet profound tidbit about you that shows he really is thinking of you.

Honestly probably only has a bootleg figure of you courtesy of Ace. It’s goofy as hell but he adores it.

Maybe has one of those printed graphic tees.

Ace and Sabo joke about his love for you but then Luffy throws his slippers at them.

If he sees anything with you on it, he’s just gushing over it.

Loves finding funny comics with you online.

Zoro

Guy who likes you for your powers.

The same guy who is also a weeb in front of the mirror and tries to replicate your awesome moves.

Help his roommates caught him-

I think he’d get those compression shirts/shorts with you or a symbol of yours for when he works out.

Also the guy who’s working out to your voice like those ASMR videos so he can pretend you’re praising him and congratulating him.

Gets into fights with Sanji about who’s the bigger fan.

I don’t see Zoro as the type to “collect” things, but he’d probably have a keychain of you around his belt or something as a good luck charm.

Might even have an action and poseable figure of you like a Figma.

Nami

Likes you lots, but also recognizes your merch potential.

Works alongside Usopp to produce fan merch or zines for you to make money.

Has a unique piece of jewelry with your symbol/iconography to wear.

She’s not wearing “obvious” for merch, because she just isn’t about that.

Probably has a few very expensive figures of yours that are special edition or anniversary editions that she managed to get at a steep discount.

Reads a bit of fanfic but tends to mostly peruse fanart of you.

Tends to have multiple ships for you- she doesn’t really favor one over the other she just thinks they’re interesting.

Likes to do cosplays of your fits, though. She’s gotten very popular for her lovely cosplays. She tends to handmake most of her cosplays, but Usopp and Franky add to the amazing accessories.

Plays the gacha game for your series, and her amazing luck means she gets practically all your units easily.

Usopp

The artist of the group who has seen and had to do heinous things for a commission.

Unlike the others, he IS making a self insert and HE IS DOING ART AND COMICS WITH YOU AND HIM AS THE MAIN COUPLE!

Has made a name for himself of making doujins and art for you. His store has seen lots of purchases for his doujins.

Nami basically is his account manager and has made him raise commission prices many times in order to pay their rent and so he can realize how valued his work is.

He mostly just posts his work but does like answering questions from fans and posting about how awesome you looked in the new episode.

Always making art and stories from you.

Has done fanfiction for you but it’s mostly with his OC/SI and his artwork tends to be more well-known.

Always does special drawings for your birthday and various holidays.

Plays the gacha and has bad luck so he has to whale for your unit. He insists he prefers just regular console or PC gaming instead of gacha.

Sanji

Number one fan, he WILL get into arguments about you and inject you into everything.

All your figures, all your merch, all of it in one specific room dedicated to you. Sanji even has a lifesize figure of you in a cool/cute pose he religiously cleans (and prays to ngl) every day because AINT NO WAY HIS LOVE IS GOING TO GET A SPECK OF DUST ON THEM!!

His work as a chef makes him busy, but he likes to wear small things of you like a brooch or something on his uniform to cheer him up through the day.

Makes videos cooking things you cooked or dishes you liked within the series.

He sometimes shows off his collection and Zoro calls him a loser and they get into fights in the comments.

Commissions art of you (probably Usopp) to hang up in the (Y/n) room.

I feel like he would do a persona/self-insert but also I feel like he’d be like no!!!! I cannot sully my beloved like that!!! So he focuses on just you.

Blocks people who are fans of you and does not like shipping anyone with you, hell no his mellorine is HIS!!!

Has done fanfic, mostly self-insert, and that’s pretty much all he reads. No ships.

Robin

“Oh, (Y/n)? Yes, they are an interesting character. I like them.”

[1 Million word count fic series, tagged: slow burn, character exploration, heavy angst, found family, Book 4 of 7]

“I just think they’re neat.”

Probably the mother fic writer for you and/or one of your ships.

Doesn’t socialize much online, just tends to post and scroll through the fics for you and answers comments under her fic.

Likes to support her fellow creators so she does look into the art and projects other fans have made.

Does try to create her own aesthetics for her blog and fics, but sometimes she just commissions Usopp to make her things for her fics to fit her vision.

Is really into unique and often abstract or “dark” art of you.

Yes you’re her favorite character, yes she will still make you suffer in her fics and art for the ~development~.

It’s a running gag with her peers where they ask her how she will torture them next.

She finds the Nendoroids of you are quite cute, so she bought one to go on her desk.

Franky

Franky likes making garage set figures of you.

He’s also a bit of a dork, so he will often make you pose with a super sentai outfit or large gundam robots (since they’re also a part of his crafting hobby).

Makes videos showing off the new figures he made of you.

He loves you cuz you’re his hero, you just amaze him!

Printed a photo of the art your creator did where you guys were all dressed like super heroes or something- suuuuppper up his alley and he loved seeing it.

He likes collecting the manga/comics for your series and keeps them on his personal shelf.

Franky also helps Nami/others with specific cosplay accessories. Franky is known for his craftsmanship, so he’s made plenty of cosplay gear for others that are above and beyond.

Him and Usopp have collabed to create the original figures of you that Franky adores.

Does those videos where he takes cheaper/smaller figures of you and adds to the base and design to make it more “epic”.

What the hell is “fanfiction”?

Brook

Goes by the username “Soul King” and uploads his covers of your franchise’s music.

He really loves you though so he’s often rocking your shirts while he’s recording the music.

He does a lot of different genres for your theme covers- jazz, heavy metal, lofi, piano, music box- he’s done em all.

Whenever he’s not recording covers of his music and does streams, he very proudly shows his figure of you and a poster he has hanging up on his wall.

Also plays the gacha game, has pretty good luck but never with your units.

“Wow! 5 Sugo-rares! Who are they- GOD DAMN IT IT’S JUST THE OTHERS!!! RATE UP IS A LIE!!!”

Brook is a menace though and I’m gonna keep that under wraps for various reasons.

Maybe in the future I might explain further.

Jinbei

Jinbei is classy, unlike many of the others here (we will not name names).

He’s more likely to “make” his own merchandise for you.

Handmade doll with a lovingly sewn kimono, for example.

Fancy tea set that is painted with your symbols but it’s so subtle and chic that some of his viewers don’t even realize it’s from some random franchise he likes.

He prides himself on his traditional and handmade crafts and you’re just an avenue to experiment with them.

He likes to design the kimonos and outfits with you in mind and the season. He shows the process of creating it in these calm and quiet BTS videos.

Really they are beautiful and the amount of love and skillmanship put into the work he does is fantastic, it’s awe inspiring.

Does not know what a fanfic, a gacha, or what a “fan edit” is. He’s an old man he’s got things to do, man.

[thelowerdecker]

Luv this new Frankie Art by the original 2D Animator of Finding Frankie! 😍 🐰

Original YT Channel: https://youtube.com/@brendamaryanart?si=j9wl9hqJ1D6b_GdH

[comet-forgot-you]

Do you think you could write more for Max Fox? Smut or fluff or whatever cause there's not many fics of her that I can find on here. :(

yes omg, love love love max.

messes

max fox x reader

summary: baking cookies for max always comes with messes

warnings: 18+ pls, smut, fingering, oral, shower sex

a/n: this was supposed to be just fluff but i feel like im really bad at that 😞 this one honestly doesnt have anything too bad, super soft and fluffy at the beginning i think. do not repost for any reason.

max always got what she wanted from you. whether it be a bouquet of her favorite flowers, or a photoshoot of just you in nothing but a pair of underwear and a button up, she always got what she wanted, you were too much of a sucker for her to say no. tonight was no different. all it took was one quiet ‘please’ and slight pout on her lips for you to say yes.

which brought you to where you were now, stood in the kitchen while max sat on the counter, watching as you skillfully mixed the ingredients for cookies together. it was 2 am and max had woken up craving your chocolate chip cookies, causing her to wake you up to plead for you to make some. the house was quiet, and you assumed everyone was asleep, so you tried your best to stay quiet while making the cookies.

“you’re so nice to me,” she mumbles, swinging her feet. a smile tugs at your lips at her praises.

“only cause i love you,” you mumble. a smile breaks out on her face as she tugs your arm. you let her guide you to stand in front of her and she presses a kiss against your lips.

“you’re so cheesy,” she mutters, pulling back slightly. you roll your eyes playfully, pulling yourself away from her.

“fine, guess i’ll have these for myself then,” you joke, placing the dough on the covered cookie sheet.

“baby no, i was just kidding,” she quickly defends. “please let me have some,” she whines. she knows your threat isnt real, but she’s way too tired, and way too hungry to play around about it.

you place the tray of cookie dough in the oven before making your way to max. “you know im just messing with you, don’t take it too seriously,” you say, gently flicking her forehead. she quickly covers it with her hands.

“ow! why did you hit me? i just wanted some cookies! you’re so mean, i’m literally just a girl.” you roll your eyes at her over reaction, pressing a kiss to her lips to shush her. you reach to her side, scooping a little bit of flour out of the bag without her noticing.

you step away quickly, throwing the flour in her face. her jaw drops, “you didn’t” she mutters.

“i did,” you say proudly. it doesn’t take long before the counters and floors are covered in flour, laughs from the both of you loud enough to wake up the entire house, which is what it does.

“oh my god.” sam’s voice carries surprise and disappointment, and both of you turn to face her, laughs instantly stopping. frankie and duke stand on either side of her. sam’s eyebrows are furrowed, you and max look at each other, then back at them before bursting out into even more laughter.

—

the two of you stood in the shower, rinsing the left over flour off of your bodies. it had taken almost 2 hours, and 3 more flour attacks, for you two to finish cleaning up. the early hours of the morning were finally catching up to you. you wrapped your arms around max’s waist, the warm water cascading down your bodies. her back was flush against your front, your thumb tracing the letters of your names on her hip.

“tired?” she asks in a mumble. you nod against her shoulder, pressing kisses against her neck. she lets out a shaky breath at the feeling of your lips against her neck. your hand glides across her wet skin, the sound of shaky breathing and the shower echoing in your head. your hand reaches the heat between her thighs, scissoring your fingers against her folds.

her hips buck into your hand, a needy whine escaping her lips. you circle her clit with two fingers, your teeth sinking into the skin of her neck. you sink your fingers into her cunt, scissoring them ever so slightly. she lets put a quiet moan, grinding against the palm of your hand.

it doesnt take long for her to topple over the edge, her juices coating your fingers as the shower water get colder. you pay no mind to it, pushing her back into the wall and dropping to your knees to lap up the mess between her thighs.

as soon as the two of you are dried off, your lying in bed held in each other’s arms. limbs tangled together as sleep overtakes both of you. neither of you wake up until the early hours of the afternoon, limbs still interlocked with one another.

[littleliterarylesbian]

spy x family jegulus au thoughtsssss

James being a spy for The Order, Agent Eclipse I think would be a good name, called to be a simple family man to gain info on the terrorist organization called the Death Eaters. One of their highest benefactors has a son enrolled in a highly prodigious school, but is very closed off and doesn't go to many events outside of ones held by the school.

So he finds and adopts Harry, who's a silly little telepath and gets attached too easily to the man that bought him peanuts and has so many fun gadgets to mess around with and he thinks being a spy is so cool he wants to be one to and help his new da save the world.

Regulus works at City Hall for some cover reason, but also works part time for an assassin company that has the front of a bookshop and after one of his missions he has to get his outfit mended, only to run into James, have that classic meet cute that gets immediately crushed by Harry running up, only for it to immediately back in business because Harry is going to have another parent one way or another damnit!!

Peter is like the Franky equivalent. He doesn't want to be here, but he is anyway.

Sirius works for the DE, but only because he's doing what he thinks is best for his brother (they don't have the weird yuri and yor sis-con dynamic, instead Sirius is just super protective over him and is PISSED when he finds out that his brother got eloped to some rando he's never even met????)

Remus is also a spy for The Order, and is usually tasked with James, and when Sirius and he first meet Sirius immediately jumps to the worst conclusions that James is cheating on his brother and it's v much a one sided enemies to lovers. Remus is very confused on why this hot man hates him.

[billboard-hotties-tourney]

Round One Is Over

Thanks for participating in the first round of the Tantalizing Tunes Tourney! The surviving songs are:

“The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” by Gil Scott Heron

“Good Vibrations” by The Beach Boys

“La Vie En Rose” by Edith Piaf

“Let’s Get It On” by Marvin Gaye

“Mirror Freak” by Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel

“Barracuda” by Heart

“The Boys Are Back In Town” by Thin Lizzy

“Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’” by Gordon MacRae

“Let’s Stay Together” by Al Green

“Because the Night” by Patti Smith

“Time of the Season” by The Zombies

“Moonlight Serenade” by The Glenn Miller Orchestra

“Nobody Does It Better” by Carly Simon

“Layla” by Derek and the Dominos

“Whole Lotta Love” by Led Zeppelin

“Bolero” by Maurice Ravel

“Si” by Gigliola Cinquetti

“Put the Blame on Mame” by Anita Ellis

“Simple Twist of Fate” by Joan Baez

“Love Hangover” by Diana Ross

“Ring of Fire” by Johnny Cash

“I Want to Be Evil” by Eartha Kitt

“Cracked Actor” by David Bowie

“I Only Have Eyes for You” by The Flamingos

“Foxey Lady” by The Jimi Hendrix Experience

“Beast of Burden” by The Rolling Stones

“Dancing Queen” by ABBA

“Black Magic Woman” by Santana

“Sexy Mama” by Laura Nyro

“Breakfast In Bed” by Dusty Springfield

“Crimson and Clover” by Tommy James and the Shondells

“You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine” by Lou Rawls

“C’mon Little Mama” by The Guess Who

“Candy and a Currant Bun” by Pink Floyd

“You Sexy Thing” by Hot Chocolate

“Light My Fire” by The Doors

“Sugar Sugar” by The Archies

“Venus In Furs” by The Velvet Underground

“I Put a Spell on You” by Nina Simone

“(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” by Carole King

“I Heard It Through the Grapevine” by Marvin Gaye

“I Wanna Be Your Dog” by The Stooges

“You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)” by Sylvester

“Sway” by Julie London

“Mack the Knife (Live)” by Ella Fitzgerald

“Lady Marmalade” by LaBelle

“Let’s Do It (Let’s Fall In Love)” by Ella Fitzgerald

“How Deep Is Your Love” by Bee Gees

“Beggin’” by The Four Seasons

“Love Machine” by The Miracles

“Magic Man” by Heart

“Puttin’ on the Ritz” by Fred Astaire

“The Jean Genie” by David Bowie

“Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered” by Ella Fitzgerald

“Chantilly Lace” by The Big Bopper

“You’re Getting to Be a Habit With Me” by Peggy Lee

“Moving In Stereo” by The Cars

“Sweet Transvestite” by Tim Curry

“Fever” by Peggy Lee

“I Just Want to Make Love to You” by Etta James

“I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” by The Beatles

“Voodoo Child (Slight Return)” by The Jimi Hendrix Experience

“Magic Carpet Ride” by Steppenwolf

“Summertime” by Ella Fitzgerald

“Jolene” by Dolly Parton

“December, 1963 (Oh What a Night)” by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons

“Fire” by The Jimi Hendrix Experience

“At Last” by Etta James

“The Crystal Ship” by The Doors

“Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen

“Walkin’ After Midnight” by Patsy Cline

“Heartbreak Hotel” by Elvis Presley

“Sunshine of Your Love” by Cream

“Nightclubbing” by Iggy Pop

“These Boots Are Made For Walkin’” by Nancy Sinatra

“Paradise By the Dashboard Light” by Meat Loaf

“Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)” by ABBA

“Summer Wine” by Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood

“Spring Affair” by Donna Summer

“Nights In White Satin” by The Moody Blues

“I Feel Love” by Donna Summer

“The Lemon Song” by Led Zeppelin

“I Don’t Know” by Ruth Brown

“I Was Made For Lovin’ You” by KISS

“Golden Years” by David Bowie

“La Vie en Rose” by Josephine Baker

“Get Down Make Love” by Queen

“One of These Nights” by Eagles

“Night Moves” by Bob Seger

“Misfire” by Queen

“I Put a Spell On You” by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins

“Why Don’t You Do Right?” by Peggy Lee

“Trampled Under Foot” by Led Zeppelin

“Crazy On You” by Heart

“Get Off” by Foxy

“Biding My Time” by Pink Floyd

“Daddy Cool” by Boney M

“Crazy Love” by Van Morrison

“Corazon Contendo” by Marisol

“Dream a Little Dream of Me” by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong

“My Heart Belongs to Daddy” by Eartha Kitt

“Moondance” by Van Morrison

“Isn’t She Lovely” by Stevie Wonder

“Love to Love You Baby” by Donna Summer

“Smoke Gets In Your Eyes” by The Platters

“Stiletto” by Billy Joel

“Feeling Good” by Nina Simone

“(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” by Aretha Franklin

“Baba O’Riley (Live)” by The Who

“Whatever Lola Wants (Lola Gets)” by Sarah Vaughan

“Use Me” by Bill Withers

“Here I Am (Come and Take Me)” by Al Green

“If I Can Dream” by Elvis Presley

“Distant Lover” by Marvin Gaye

“Master Song” by Leonard Cohen

“You Belong to Me” by The Doobie Brothers

“Son of a Preacher Man” by Dusty Springfield

“Since I've Been Loving You” by Led Zeppelin

“Por Una Cabeza” by Carlos Gardel

“20th Century Boy” by T. Rex

“Soul and Inspiration” by The Righteous Brothers

“Tell Me Something Good” by Rufus ft. Chaka Khan

“Rock Your Baby” by George McCrae

“Larks’ Tongues In Aspic, Pt. 2” by King Crimson

“The Masochism Tango” by Tom Lehrer

“Can't Help Falling In Love” by Elvis Presley

“You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’” by The Righteous Brothers

“My Melancholy Blues” by Queen

If you have something to say about any of these songs that you want featured in the Round Two polls, drop it in the inbox!

Round Two will begin on December 16th around midnight PST.

[cienie-isengardu]

Zuko & Azula in "The Beach" [2]

Another thing I like about Zuko and Azula’s relationship in “The Beach” episode is how Zuko does not question his sister’s sincerity nor look for hidden goals, the way he does when they are at the palace.  

At the palace there are “why” and “what you want” questions looming over their interaction. It does not matter if Azula is telling the truth and acting out of sibling love/sympathy for her older brother or if she is a clever mastermind that will use Zuko as scapegoat in case of her own failure. The point is Zuko can’t trust his sister, because his self-preservation instinct and fears of Ozai won’t allow him to lower his guard around her, because Azula is the person that will gain the most from his fall out of grace. It is however worth to note, that despite the uncertainty of his relationship with Azula, she is one of three people Zuko comes to seek advice, comfort and/or information before leaving Fire Nation on his own accord. The other two are Mai and imprisoned uncle Iroh which shows both A) how important Azula is and B) how complicated is their relationship, at least from Zuko’s perspective.

But then during “The Beach” episode, Zuko only once questioned Azula’s motivation and accepted her reasoning without further doubt or scorn:

Zuko: Why didn't you tell those guys who we were? Azula: I guess I was intrigued. I'm so used to people worshiping us. Ty Lee: They should. Azula: Yes, I know, and I love it. But, for once, I just wanted to see how people would treat us if they didn't know who we were.

From all the people gathered here, Zuko is the one that knows best how people may treat you when they don't know who you truly are - or in case of Zhao, when you were no longer protected by Fire Lord. As he spent around three years working hard to earn back his title of the Prince and the respect that comes with it, he had the most reason to argue against sister’s plan and simply enjoy the prestige he wanted. But he did not try to discourage Azula from pretending to be a normal teenager and rolled with her plan with no complaint - even though he knows very well how bad his social skills are. 

Another important thing to note, once Zuko had an argument with Mai and in result was kicked out of the party, he has never used the “I’m Royalty” card. If Azula chose to stay there, her anonymity was secured and she could still pretend to be a normal teenager and to flirt with boys without any supervision (any risk their father will find out).

But as the episode showed, Azula didn’t stay at the party and she went to look for Zuko, presumably once she learned what happened (she was at that time trying and failing to flirt with Chen, so she may not witness her brother’s outburst). And here comes the thing that contrasts a lot with their interaction at the palace: Zuko doesn’t question Azula’s motives.

When she comes to their vacation home, he doesn't ask why she left the party - her occasion to be just a teenager, something she was curious about - or why she would even bother to check on him. Zuko doesn’t even look surprised to see Azula there, only commenting “Those summers we spent here seem so long ago. So much has changed.”

Similarly, Zuko doesn’t question Azula’s “Come down to the beach with me”. There is no “why would you want to spend time with me?”, nor demand to be left alone - and mind you, the one time in flashback Azula insisted Zuko join her and her friends, it was to make fun of him and Mai. Here, Zuko takes sister’s invitation without any hesitation or without further persuasion.

Franky, the same can be said about going to the party itself. When Chen & Ruon-Jian invited Ty Lee and Mai, Azula immediately asked “What about me and my brother? Aren't you going to invite us?”, like she and Zuko are a package deal. It was not “what about me, and hey, this loser sadly must go with us”. Without second thought Azula included his brother and there was no following scene in which Zuko questioned why his sister would want him to tag along, when she already has her friends to accompany her. 

And this contrast between Zuko’s mistrust when they are both at the palace and how they are getting along without constantly questioning if Azula has some hidden goal really highlights the difference between those two settings. The same as could be seen with their teamwork during the game, the siblings can support each other without bitter rivalry imposed on them by father’s favoritism. And yes, there is still (emotional) tension between them when they talk about their traumas, but I think Ember Island is a place where Zuko and Azula feel more free to act as siblings. Which really makes one wonder what kind of siblings they could be, if they were allowed to grow up as such.

[a-dauntless-daffodil]

clankie otp prompts that ran on a bit oops

1.) Who spends almost all their money on the other?

Cleo.

Which is impressive, considering her family is honest to Ra entombed in gold, but she manages. Buying things is how she grew up seeing affection done-

(RE: her parents getting her new sparklies every birthday and Nefera coming back from Scaris with MORE jewelry for her)

-so shopping sprees are the default when she first tries showering Frankie with love.

She’s more thoughtful about it than just random shinies though (she knows what it’s like to have something on your wish list for centuries and Never Get It) so it’s a lot of lab tools, weird things Frankie hasn’t seen before, and things like always getting them their fav snacks and drinks at the Coffinbean.

Frankie likes a lot of the stuff Cleo gets them, but also just bluntly says spending time with Cleo is the best

(this after Cleo spent a whole NIGHT trying to track down this one thing she KNEW Frankie would love, while Frankie sprawled on the floor all droopy and limp and pining for her).

This clicks something on in Cleo’s brain and she realizes she ALSO loves being with the monsters she cares for.

So after spending time recharging Frankie by looking at (but NOT buying) weird things on amazombie together, she drops in on Nefera, just to sit around and bug her while her older sis is doing schoolwork.

Nefera can’t believe it’s happening at first. Then she FLINGS her homework across the room so the sisters can have a good gossip session together for the first time in centuries.

2.) Who sleeps in the other’s lap?

Frankie likes falling asleep with Cleo in their lap. They just kinda drape themselves around her whenever their charge gets low, and Cleo makes sure they're securely snuggled before she settles in with her icoffin.

Frankie’s a deep sleeper, so Cleo can be as loud and giggly as she wants, BUT she keeps hush instead and shushes / death glares anyone who makes a ruckus around her monster while they sleep.

She also likes playing with Frankie’s hair without realizing it, or reach back to cuddle their cheek, just checking on them.

More intentionally, Frankie sometimes naps with their eyes open if they’re really tired (its a stasis thing). It freaks out everyone else except Cleo, who can spend a looooong time just sappily staring into their mismatched eyes.

3.) Who walks around half naked and who yells at them to put some clothes on?

Swap clothes for limbs and you have Frankie Stein, wandering around without an arm or leg or eyeball because they had a thought half way thought swapping out body parts and tots forgot what they were doing.

Cleo’s reaction is less of a yell and more of a concerned yelp when she finds Frankie’s arms stuffed between sofa cushions and runs over to find Frankie trying to fry a skillet of scary side up eggs with just their teeth.

4.) Which one tells the other not to stay up all night and which one does it anyway?

I think this is Cleo when she gets in party planning or scheming to take over the throne mode.

Frankie’s like, okay, but even queens need sleep right? So you’ll go to bed at some point, right? Uh-huh, Cleo says over her shoulder, absolutely getting no sleep.

Frankie enables this a little because watching Cleo get nerdy and passionate about stuff makes them all fizzy-happy inside, but they DO want Cleo to get some sleep eventually.

So Frankie learns the best way to break Cleo out of this is to just stay with her and fall asleep themselves under a snack food table or something, because Cleo WILL check on them to make sure they’re comfy, and Cleo WILL NOT be able to resist cuddling up with them. Just for a bit. A few minutes that’s all she swears.

5.) Which one tries to make food for the other but burns it all by accident and which one tells them that it’s okay and makes them both cookies.

Cleo loves all the homemade stuff Frankie gives them, so as part of her exploring other ways of showing affection that Don’t involve gold and gems, she tries making paincakes.

Pain def happens. The cakes? Not so much. Not even Cleo’s beetle babies can salvage a batter bowl once Cleo gets her hands on it.

Frankie finds the mess really impressive (once they’ve hosed things down with their fire extinguisher attachment, specially built after Cleo started taking an interest in cooking) and, as a monster who eats other monster’s popcorn off of theater floors, the taste of char is kinda yummy to them actually.

Them and Cleo make cookies together afterwards mostly just for the fun of it (and so Cleo can have something to snack on too).

6.) Which one reads OTP prompts and says “Oh that’s us!” and which one goes “Eh, not really”?

Frankie’s very literal. Unless the prompt is something they and Cleo have SPECIFICALLY done, they are just a flat Nope We Haven’t, sometimes then followed with a thoughtful and worrying Yet.

Cleo, meanwhile, is so enamored with Frankie as her gallant protector she REFUSES to accept she’s actually an angry Smol protecting her Tol. She’s not yelling at people for upsetting Frankie- It’s just called saying THE TRUTH, which is that the person should be ashamed and if they are not then she will Curse Them.

7.) Which one constantly wears the other’s clothes?

We all know Frankie is never getting that varsity jacket back once Cleo gets her hands on it.

Though it’s more like, Frankie drapes it over her shoulders once because Cleo felt a chill (she was hoping for a hug or a snuggle) and saw how cool Cleo looked in it, and how much she liked wearing it, and it made Frankie shoot off sparks for the rest of the day.

So. Even though it does NOT go with Cleo’s carefully selected and matched royal regalia outfit (even more classy than Nefera's)… yeah. She starts wearing the jacket A Lot. And, snuggling with it.

Friends try teasing her about it but she’s immune because she is WEARING FRANKIE’S JACKET HELLO???

8.) Which one spends the day running errands and which one says “You remembered [thing], right?”

Frankie loves running errands. Frankie almost NEVER comes back with what they set out to actually get on said errands.

Cleo checks in with them via text, or just tags along, because she always makes lists and loves checking them twice. And this way maybe Frankie makes it back with the copper tubing they wanted instead of a giant scorpion plushy.

9.) Which one drives the car and which one gives them directions?

As per @bluebelleisabelle‘s idea, Frankie behind the wheel of a car isn’t a good idea do to potential brain bit memories distracting them at bad moments, so Cleo works hard to get a license (the first one in her ENTIRE family) just to drive them around (Drac helped her learn and it was an Experience).

Frankie is in charge of the map and does a good imitation of a car GPS (global positioning scream).

Sometimes their brain bits remind them of a shortcut- sometimes the shortcut is still there, and sometimes they’re remembering a donkey track that got built over a hundred years ago. No matter how many times it turns out to be the latter, Cleo's never stops trusting them or making sudden U-turns on command.

Its always an adventure to get in the car with Cleo and Frankie! Which is why most of their other friends Don’t.

10.) Which one does the posing while the other one draws?

Cleo would LOVE posing, Frankie would LOVE to see her do it, but it’s probably more of a scrap metal sculpture done with loud as heck hacksaws and torches than soft romantic drawing thing.

At least plenty of sparks would fly, though.

And Cleo would probably install the sculpture in pride of place in her section of the family tomb, much to the confusion of later visitors.

11.) If they were about to rob a museum, which one does backflips through lasers and which one is strolling behind with a bag of chips?

Okay so Cleo legit in the first episode lowered herself from the ceiling like a character from a heist film- AND she likes planning stuff.

Less backflips, more cunning doges and precision crawling under the camera’s blind spots. It’s awkward, not elegant, but she’s got this, she knows what to do and how to do it. She’s, almost there-  

Frankie, thanks to their ballet brain bit, is pirouetting freely around security in the background. Until they spot someone’s gum on the floor. And reach for it. And reach right into a laser trip wire and- oh zaps- RA HAVE MERCY- sorry cleo! do wanna split the gum with me-? FRANKIE QUICK OVERLOAD THE SYSTEM- oh uh right um-

*distant explosion sound effect*

Clawdeen and Drac don’t even look up they just sigh as Clawdeen grabs a spare pair of ski masks and Draculaura fetches the keys to her dad’s fastest stunt car.   

12.) Which one of your OTP overdoes it on the alcohol and which one makes the other stop drinking?

Listen. I’m not saying Frankie sees a human car for the first time (Cladween’s dad’s car??? powered by LIQUIFIED DEAD THINGS???) and instantly tries a sip of something they shouldn’t have, and then likes it so much they keep trying to go back for more-

But I AM saying that Cleo would NOT want her precious monster getting poisoned, and would skip out on learning more about the human world to keep dragging Frankie away from the car- one body part at a time if necessary- and then hold their hair back when they get sick in the storm drain an hour later.

It’s just what ghoulfriends are for, sometimes.

13.) Which one likes to surprise the other with a lot of small random gifts?

Cleo cannot open her locker without there being some little origami note or flower or baked treat inside from Frankie.

No matter how tired or dispirited she is after a long day of still not getting any new followers or popularity after organizing the last school function, the little surprises from her monster always make her smile.

Maybe not too many others in school think about Cleo De Nile on a daily basis. But Frankie does. Always.

14.) Which one keeps accidentally using the other’s last name instead of their own?

Clawdeen joked once “Frankie, when it comes to your feelings for Cleo? Frankly, you’re in DE NILE!” once and “Frankie De Nile” has been rattling around Frankie’s brain every since.

It pops out sometimes. Cleo thinks it’s so cute.

They both died a little inside tho when Frankie met her parents and introduced themself and… well….  

Frankie brought out the brain getter out two-thousand again after THAT little memory got created (Cleo had to call in Clawdeen and Draculaura as reinforcements to get the plunger away from them)

15.) Which one screams about the spider and which one brings the spider outside?

Beetles? Cleo loves beetle babies

Any other bug? Cleo is screaming. Cleo is running. Cleo is climbing Frankie like a ghoul’s damn tree and shrieking for them to KILL IT KILL IT AAAAHH!!!

Frankie picks the spider up in their bare hands and takes it outside

(only after looking at it very closely for FAR TOO LONG in Cleo’s opinion. No Cleo will not climb down form off of Frankie if being near the spider creeps her out this much. Clinging to Frankie’s back is the safest place she knows and more importantly it's HERS and NO she is NOT giving it up to a SPIDER)

16.) Which one gives the other their jacket?

So I said Frankie earlier, but now I’m thinking- there’s no way Cleo doesn’t have a fancy, snazzy royal jacket stuffed in a closet somewhere, maybe kept for formal occasions.

And Frankie? Wearing her colors?? Is it even possible Cleo could RESIST that idea?

I think not.

Absolutely they go on dates wearing each other’s jackets.

Cleo takes a million selfies of them, and gets increasingly frantic comments from Nefera wondering why someone else is wearing the family regalia Cleo, Cleo mummy and baba follow your social media if they see this they are going to Get Ideas and Start Planning and, Cleo, stop giggling with Frankie for a sec you do NOT want mummy and baba Planning Things- Cleo? CLEO! BY HATHOR PLEASE CHECK YOUR MESSAGES. I CAN ONLY SPAM CUTE BABY SCORPIAN PICS AS A SHIELD FOR SO LONG!!!! D:

17.) Who keeps getting threatened by the other’s overprotective older sibling?

Nefera would never, and Frankie’s too much of a sweetie, so Cleo doesn’t worry about that too much.

Until Clawdeen and Draculaura drag her into the lab one day start explaining Exactly how long hypothetic mummy would last if she hypothetically made a werewolf and vampire upset by hypothetically breaking their franken friend’s heart. Hypothetically.

Cleo listens in shock and then rates them an ehhhhh 7/10. Could have been more detailed. Not quite as much passion in the threats as Cleo would have hoped for. Maybe try again somtime?

Next time, they bring Lagoona.

(Meanwhile Nefera and Frankie have a lovely chat at the coffinbean over gutshakes and Nefera cheerfully tells them she can completely disembowel and dismember a body in less a minute but Frankie won’t make Cleo unhappy and will never have to worry about that~)

(Frankie thinks about this all day, finally confessing to Cleo she’d really like to be autopsied by Nefera, but NEVER if the only way is by upsetting Cleo.)

(Cleo assures them anyone would be lucky to autopsy them and then has a little Chat with her big sis)

(From Nefera’s ensuing terrified screams, everyone else realizes they REALLY need to step up their game)

18.) Who’s the first one to admit they have feelings for the other?

Oh Frankie’s been feeling them longer, and they’re the kind of monster to examine each new feeling with great interest as an when they first appear, so they’d def KNOW about their feels first. And they seemed pretty, hrm, direct and unabashed about it in Horoscare. That held eye contact and little head tilt at the end… oh they WANTED Cleo to notice their little spark, notice them noticing it, and check her reaction to all that…

But. They also get anxious and shy easily when it comes to interpersonal stuff. Unsure.

I can see them being chill about the feels until they start gathering more data about it, then starting to freak out a little. Because where there’s parameters and social norms, there’s things they can get wrong, wrong with CLEO and-

They REALLY don’t like risking pushing any of their friends away with their feels (re: crushed and what’s up watzie) even if it makes them sad.

So, smooth as they’ve been, I can see them choking up when I comes to actually out loud admitting it.  

Who actually SAYS it first?

Cleo.

Probably bc Frankie was doing everything EXCEPT saying “Hey! I have a crush on you!! wanna date?” and getting all frazzled about it, and miss high level emotional regulation Cleo looks at her poor precious rambling monster and goes

“Frankie Stein? Would you, ah-hem, like to go out sometime? You know. As like, friends but also… more?”

Frankie’s ecstatic “ohmyzaps YES!!!” causes a school-wide power outage.

their first date is technically in detention

(they giggle so much headmistress Bloodgood lets them leave early just to her head from falling off with the force of her eyerolls)

19.) How good would your OTP be at parenting?

I have head canon-ed them a scarab swarm child and they would be very worn out and overwhelmed but also great at it.

Cleo is all “who’s a little bug baby? who is it?? You! Yes!! You are!!!!” while Frankie’s reading a giant monster’s guide to parenting monstrosities like

“okay so routines are good and consistency is good and explaining stuff is good and beware of the flesh-threshing threes, and- Reading about all this is kinda boring, actually. I don’t know what the flesh-threshing threes are, but I wanna make those traumatic memories together, as a family! Now who wants to start a pre bedtime eyescream ritual?”

The bug baby grows up with a great relationship with them bc both mummy Cleo and themmy Frankie are very open about emotions and admitting when they’re wrong and figuring out your own identity, and also lots and lots of hugs.

(the one problem is separation anxiety- cleo has it worst, but fankie gets it too and the bug baby tries to hide it later when she gets old enough to go to school and stuff but, yeah, all three of them really really suffer and facetime / text CONSTANTLY just to ease the agonies)  

Also if you touch that child, you are DEAD. Frankie will vaporize you. Cleo will curse your remains so that they never rise again.  

20.) Which one types with perfect grammar and which one types using numbers as letters?

Canon Cleo legit SPEAKS in brb and such. She’s def typing “can’t w8 2 c u QT <3 <3” at Frankie and Frankie def spends so long trying to decode the message that Cleo ends up having to come looking for them in codes and foreign languages section of the library.

(Twyla tried to help but also had no idea and the two got so wrapped up learning about morse code they forgot to ask Manny the puzzle wiz)   

21.) Who gets attacked by a bully and who protects them?

Toralei finds her first grey hair on her tail the day she’s mean to Frankie in front of Cleo.

(canon Frankie also saved Cleo from Toralei, by actually carrying her away from the werecat’s attack, but they’re better at the whole whisking away from danger than they are picking up on and countering social stuff)

(Cleo makes sure anyone who thinks that’s an invitation to bully Frankie learns the flaw inherent to their logic. In the most traumatizing way possible, preferably.)

22.) Who makes the bad puns and who makes a pained smile every time the other makes a pun?

Cleo makes terrible puns IN CANON and Frankie laughs at them so fucking stupidly im sorry they know the pun is terrible but Cleo said it and they can’t help themselves.

The laughter only gets louder and longer and more delighted over time, which only encourages Cleo to come up with worse and worse ones, ��and all of their friends (except Clawdeen) are in PAIN.

Drac especially so.

23.) Who comes home from work to see that the other one bought a puppy?

So. Frankie did kinda in canon adopt the first puppy they saw and brought it home with them.

BUT! Cleo has no control or resistance to cute things in need of help (re frankie), and I can really see her hiding a new puppy behind her back like

“Oh hey Frankie! You’ll NEVER in a THOUSAND YEARS guess what I totally thought really long and hard about before bringing home with me!” and Frankie just tilts their heads and points “is it something to do with the happy wagging tail of a dog? Or did you just get that for yourself?” “IT IS IN FACT…… OUR NEW DOG!” “Oh wow! Good job hiding it Cleo, you’re right! I never would’ve guessed!”

Cleo is never able to hide it for more than a few seconds and Frankie is always impressed with her sneakiness (and the dog)

24.) Which one gives the other a piggyback ride when they’re tired?

Frankie to Cleo, full stop. Cleo wraps her arms around the tall monster’s shoulders with her organ bag in front of them, and Frankie lifts her like she’s nothing (remember the boulder? Yeah. Frankie lifts)

There’s at least one scary moment though when Frankie runs low on charge and Cleo’s so frightened of them wearing that little last bit out with walking that she INSISTS on carrying Frankie the rest of the way, no matter how awkward, hard, or silly it looks.

25.) Which one competes in some sort of activity and which one does the overzealous cheering?

Oh they both can get into it and both cheer like there’s no tomorrow (Cleo's getting good at catching Frankie's limbs when they go flying off at random, or having her beetle babies fetch them if she's not fast enough). The energy these two have together is Intense.

Ra help you if they ever complete against you as a team, or cheer for the person you’re competing against.

They may not win. But you WILL be terrified the entire time they're working against you.

26.) Who takes a selfie when the other one falls asleep on their shoulder?

Cleo is steadily heading towards a solid MILLION pics of her with Frankie napping on her shoulder. The ones where Frankie is making weird faces and snoring are her favs.

(Frankie doesn’t take pics- they know how sensitive Cleo is to embarrassing pics after her fearbook photos- but they have sleeping Cleo’s face etched into their brain and sometimes absentmindedly doodle a cross hatch sketch of her so lifelike people who glimpse it think it’s a pic with a filter on it at first. Then frankie erases it at light speed before any incriminating evidence of Adorable Sleeping Cleo can be gathered)  

27.) Which one would give the other a makeover if they asked?

Frankie wonders aloud once what it’d feel like to be royal as themself (not their king of goreway brain bit) and before they’ve even finished their sentence, Cleo is dragging them off by the disembodied hand to go have a makeover date~

28.) Which one owns a pet that the other is absolutely terrified of?

It’s mainly the Judgement of Cleo’s pets that Frankie fears, but yeah, they’re absolutely terrified.

"Cleo...they're smirking at me..." "Oh Frankie they're just smiling at you!" "They hate me don't they." "HATE YOU?? Pffa! You're Frankie Stein, how could anyone hate YOU! You're too sweet for it~" "Aww, Cleo! I- ..... they just glared at me." "Frankie..."

29.) Which one holds the umbrella over both of them when it rains?

Frankie has an arm-brella prosthetic and brings it out on romantic dates in the thunderstorms.

Cleo always groans when they get back and she see’s Frankie’s other arm and shoulder are soaked AGAIN  bc they wanted to make sure the umbrella covered Cleo completely, even if it meant getting a bit wet themselves. She punishes Frankie for this with a smooch, which really has the opposite effect <3  

30.) If your OTP went on vacation, where would they go and what would they do? Who would take the pictures?

They would go. Everywhere.

But the highlight for Frankie would be Japan, to finally try some homemade wormen just like Kuma always raves about, and Cleo’s family home in Egypt, bc Cleo really loves it and loves showing it off and Frankie loves when she gets all excited about stuff.

For Cleo, visiting various places in Europe and listening as Frankie’s brain bits spark up this or that tidbit of gossip from their past lives would be a Treat, by FAR the most fun she’s ever had traveling.

Cloe takes pics of Frankie posing with or trying out all the tourist trap usuals. Especially the cliché ones.

Frankie takes candid shots of Cleo handling their passports and tickets and checking time tables and happily reorganizing their itinerary at various unmentionable bus stops or train stations...

Sometimes (a lot of times) there's an iconic landmark blurry and out of focus in the background when they take pics of her

(here's the Eldritch Tower in Scaris, mostly blocked by Cleo's head piece)

(the Leering Tower of Scares-a, waaaaay in the corner as Cleo chats with a local and gets directions to a nice little cafe)

(the shadows on the ground reveal Frankie climbed ON ancient Stone Haunt to get a better angle of Cleo spreading all the maps and tickets and brochures on the grass nearby, smiling as she works out the BEST trip they could POSSIBLY have together)

so yes. All these sights they came to see, that other monsters can't take their eyes off of, and Frankie has even less to compare it too, all the easier for them to get impressed by it-

Even so, right then, they were happier just looking at Cleo

and cleo has the pictures to prove it

<3

[akwolfgrl]

Do you want the masculine or feminine side I can do both. Part 2

“It was originally made to be a captain's room, then it became storage, but it's not used for that anymore either. I knew I'd find a use someday!” Franky opened the door to a room they must have passed by more than once or twice but never paid much mind to.

It was about half the size of Nami and Robin's room on the Marry, maybe a little bigger. There was a port window where they could smoke! They weren't allowed to smoke in the boy's room. There was an extra infirmary cot they could use as a bed.

“I can fix it up in no time! Vanity, bed, an end table and dresser good for you? There's not a lot of room.”

“Can I get a chair by the window? Maybe a small shelf for an ashtray?” They asked, Nami and Robin's old room had a desk for Namis maps. That wasn't something they needed. They tended to work and write their recipes in the kitchen. It made the most sense.

“Yah not a problem! Anything eles?”

“A small jewelry box, and this isn't for my room, but I need a bigger or second spice rack.”

Franky gave them a big thumbs up. “You got it! You should see some of the ideas I cooked up,” Franky winked at them. “For improving the kitchen mostly a hidden pantry for preserves and space for dehydration and freeze drying food! Cook, you are gonna love it! It will be a super way to preserve food!”

“Are you serious!” Sanji exclaimed. Only the lovely ladies and Franky who installed the fridge knew the code. They couldn't trust that the others wouldn't blurt it out or let Luffy in. “That would be perfect! Fuck I have so many ideas alredy!” If Franky wasn't a man Sanji would be gushing over how amazing he was.

“I'll get started right away. You'll have a super bedroom in time!” Sanji expected him to leave, but instead, he paused in the open door. “Wanna hear what else I got planned for the Sunny? You'll think it's super.” Franky asked them.

Sanji shrugged. They highly doubted they would care, but they would be nice since Franky was going through all the trouble of fixing up a room for them. “Sure I guess.”

Sanji watched as Franky opened their stomach and pulled out blueprints. “I already showed Nami-sis and Little-bro. It's a greenhouse!” Franky held the paper open to allow Sanji to look at them. “Of course, a lock to keep Luffy out.”

“Wow!” Sanji couldn't help but to exclaimonce again, already dreaming up all the wonderful dishes they could cook up with the fresh produce how they could preserve. From their own greenhouse.

“Little-bro volunteered to plant everything! Nami-sis had belli in her eyes at all that she would save on grocery runs!”

“I look forward to cooking with our own vegetables.”

<>

Zoro climbed out of the water after destroying the ship he was on. A familiar presence waited for him on the shore. Someone he had been waiting for. Sanji had changed in the two years apart, and Zoro couldn't stop staring at them. The skin-tight black pants left little to the imgasion, the heels made their muscular thighs look even better, the white shirt was flowy and fussy. His hair was much longer, pulled back in two long braids, except for bangs covering his other eye. A trail of smoke trailed above his head as he smirked at Zoro.

Fuck, Zoro wanted to kiss that smirk off his stupid face, brush back the bangs and see both eyes as the pupils grow with lust. He wanted to use the damn cooks flexibility to bend him all sorts of positions as he fucked him. How the hell did the damn ero-cook get even fucking hotter in the last two years?

[porcelainleviathan]

My finding frankie S/I Cash rabbit!!

Fun Facts:

-his rabbit ears work

-Hes trans (he/him)

-he is a little sassy bastard adrenaline junkie.

-Hes very much a simp who adores frankies attention.

[dissvicious]

Talking about the Buggy to Crocodile simp pipeline : Would Crocodile be Reds type? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying he actually has any chances when Buggy is around or that Buggy need to worry about his wife being unfaithful, not even a little, more in a:

Getting silly after sex and shooting the shit with each other „Okay, Okay, „Fuck, marry,kill“ Sir Crocodile, Boa Hancock, Mihawk“ „Okay…. Marry Boa, obviously“ „Obviously.“ „…. Ooof… hard decision. There’s no way in hell I would come close to being able to kill either of them…. So I guess I’ll just go by who’d be the better lay…Kill Mihawk, fuck Crocodile I suppose.“ „…. Really? Huh.“ „Is that so surprising?“ „Nah, nah, he’s super hot, just didn’t think you’d go for him.“ „Listen. Mihawk is really handsome and all but Crocodile is just… god…“ „…“ „…. Aw. Too much? I’m sorry babe you’re still the hottest thing around. It’s just for the game. If we’d have played „Fuck marry cherish“ you’d be all options for me.“ „Haha, no it’s fine Bugs-„ Red smiles at her husband. „I’d totally fuck Crocodile too.“

Haaanw that's a cute prompt, thanks anon!

But to be honest I don't think Crocs would be Reddie's type. Neither Mihawk, tho. They are tooooo much serious! They take themselves too seriously! She really would find them annoying. I think she could have some "hate fuck pulsions" to them and could be somehow attracted by Mihawk sarcastic bitch jokes buuuut that would be all.

She fell for Buggy mostly because

She was bored as hell and he brought so many laughter into her life

He's an overcute pathetic whiny ass and she fell for this vulnerability.

sooo the big dark-sasuke-I'm-too-badass-to-show-feelings energy isn't really for her.

I thiiiink she would rather have a soft spot for men like Franky (would respect too much Frobin to ever admit that - just I can easily imagine Robin and Red spending time on the Sunny's desk and looking at Franky and Red saying "damn sis, you have good tastes in men") or even Bonclay.

... Which may or may not piss off Buggy who could feel kind off insulted to not find himself in the "super badass casually sexy men" case.

She would also have a thing for Ace I think. He's way too young for her but nothing real, just a "damn if I had met you in my 20's, I would have fell for you young wolf" feeling you know?

However when it comes to women she can go Sanji mode real quick.

(so in your scenario, she would have say Fuck Boa without hesitation) (it may or may be in a situation like this that Buggy realised his wife goes both ways, tho.)

[huntersselfshipocean]

gay.(Reblogs and fanart HIGHLY Encouraged!)

[jedifarmerr]

Wasteland Masterlist

Pairing: Frankie Morales x F!Reader/OFC (established backstory, no y/n or physical descriptions)

Summary: Sentenced to a life underground after a nuclear attack, what was said to be a quick and painless process somehow ended up taking 200 years. Waking up alone with everyone else still frozen, a search for help and answers turns upside down when four mysterious men come into the picture.

Rating: E (warnings: language, food & eating, mentions of death.)

Word Count: 5k

Chapter 10

Frankie watched her relief morph into confusion as Preston went over the Council’s stipulations. She was clearly not expecting this. Perhaps, they should’ve told her outright why they started calling her Blue, but she never questioned it. Never even mentioned it aside from a slightly confused look.

Frankie watched her relief morph into confusion as Preston went over the Council’s stipulations. She was clearly not expecting this. Perhaps, they should’ve told her outright why they started calling her Blue, but she never questioned it. Never even mentioned it aside from a slightly confused look. 

He assumed she understood, but it seemed she thought the alias was more temporary, rather than possibly permanent. 

They knew that if people found out the truth about her it’d tear through the Commonwealth like a grass fire. Uncontrollable. Unpredictable. One big mouth and within a month, Jamaica Plains would be roaring with the news. 

The chances of Vault-Tec catching wind of it was slim, but not impossible. Even a 1% chance posed too much risk. Sanctuary would seriously be fucked. That wall would be as worthless as wet mud against an all-out synth brigade. 

Truthfully, Frankie was more concerned about her safety. He wasn’t an idiot, and definitely not a hypocrite. He could realize she’d be a hard sell to some – people like Tom, who wouldn’t take the word of a Vault-Tec employee’s kid. Everyone knew those people would want concrete proof, some hard evidence that they didn’t quite have just yet. Without it, there would be riots demanding her head on a stake, and there was bound to be one crazy enough to take matters into their own hands. 

Frankie wasn’t gonna let that happen. She was their responsibility. 

“Do you accept?” Preston finally asked her and the room went still and quiet as a tomb. She gnawed on her bottom lip, toying with the hem of her shirt. 

The red rug she stood upon was like her own little island. She looked so lost in the center of the room. So helpless and small and so utterly alone that it made his skin feel tight. He supposed - she was alone in this world. Everyone she loved was either dead and gone or deceived her. Her entire life was one big facade. She must’ve been so fed up with all these secrets and lies and cover ups. 

For a moment he worried she might say no, but she inevitably folded. She nodded and he didn’t know if she thought there was much of a choice. This was so much bigger than her - than all of them. He wondered when Tom would finally realize that. 

Preston appeared to notice her distress and quickly assured her that he’d take the blame if her cover got blown. As long as her true identity didn’t leave this room, they didn’t anticipate that happening anytime soon. 

If ever. 

Unless they could figure out how to crack into the cryogenic pods, she would always be Blue. If her and her dad were as close as she said, then he’d be desperate to find her. The synths in Lexington had been looking for her, after all. Somebody had noticed she was missing from the vault. 

In order to avoid any suspicion, she would need to integrate herself into Sanctuary immediately. There would be no special treatment. Just like everyone else, she would need a job. 

Stable hand? Greenhouse worker? Waitress at the town tavern? No - no - no. Each one was axed for one reason or another. 

Suddenly, Tom cleared his throat, his eyes fell on Frankie. 

“What about your mom?” he asked – challenged. “Last I heard, no one’s taken Susan’s spot since she retired.” 

Frankie’s mouth watered, he nearly spat the sour taste in his mouth onto the cheap lino tile. He could not believe Tom was using his mom as bait. Out of anyone, Tomy knew how protective Frankie was of her, how tender a spot that was, and yet…

Whether to prove his point or get his way, Frankie didn’t know Tom’s motive, but either way it was low, even for Tom.

No - especially for Tom. As if bringing up his dad wasn’t enough, Tom had gone for the jugular. 

Preston straightened, his chair howling through the hall. He hesitated before saying, “It is just your mom and Yovanna. If they did catch onto anything, I’d trust they’d be discreet.” 

“Exactly.” Tom’s chin cut through the air. “Whaddaya say Fish?” 

Frankie looked at Blue, and she gave him a weak smile. She expected him to say no, he realized. She’d even seemed to accept it, and he instantly felt bad. Even though he had his reasons, he’d been the least welcoming, by far. 

Everyone on the Council was staring at him – Tom’s gaze was searing. Usually, Frankie would back down to him. He could tell Tom thought he would concede here, as well. And three weeks ago, Frankie would’ve without question. He would’ve said not a fucking chance – that was too far, too much, too personal. 

But, everything was different now. Tom had asked if he trusted her, and he did. He meant it when he nodded. 

Frankie folded his arms across his chest before saying, “Okay.” 

Tom’s lips thinned with silence. He didn’t say a word, nor did he have to. Frankie could tell he was pissed – the vein on his forehead was thick and throbbing. Still, Frankie didn’t budge. Not this time. 

“Is that a yes?” Preston asked – speak now or forever hold your peace. 

“Yeah,” Frankie confirmed and Tom didn’t look at him again for the rest of the day. 

—

That night, at the welcome home party, Preston announced there’d be a new face in town. The Council had thought it would be best to roll out the story before anyone laid eyes on her. This way, they could get ahead of it. Control the narrative, so to speak. 

They had crafted up a perfect poke-proof cover story; something no one could cross-examine. 

It’d been decided she would come from a survivalist bunker, way north of Diamond City. Over the years, an especially hard last few months of attacks – bloatflies, ghouls, and ants, had dwindled their numbers. By the time their unit found them, the survivors were few and mostly wounded. The entire compound was in absolute shambles. Despite their open offer, she was the only one who took them up on it. She had no reason to say, having buried the last of her family just before they arrived. 

All night, Frankie had to navigate an overly curious crowd. Lost in the crush of questions, he barely had a moment to catch his breath or even catch up with the people he actually wanted to. He’d hoped for more than a few seconds alone with his mom to tell her about the arrangement, but instead, he’d have to tell her over breakfast. 

Probably better that way. No distractions.

The next morning, Frankie arrived at his mom’s shop. Bay’s Soaps. The powder blue sign hung above a hinged glass door. He went around back, up the stairs and knocked twice before letting himself in. 

Cast iron pans sizzled on the stove top. The smell of eggs, beans, and frying sausages brought back memories of his childhood. Every morning, his mom used to get up extra early just to cook him a hearty breakfast before school. 

“Pollito!” His mom kissed him firmly on both cheeks. The food on her apron smeared across his worn t-shirt as she hugged him, a tad tighter than usual. 

Most of the time, his missions only kept him away for a month – maybe two. Their unit in particular had a reputation for being timely, effective and efficient. It was rare for them to be more than a few days late, unless something went terribly wrong. Like that one mission over a decade ago. 

Frankie shuddered, recalling the bad operation. Them, along with two other units had been sent to scope out a lead past Weymouth, but only made it as far as Quincy. Shit went south so quickly. A pack of ghouls had busted free of an apartment building. The scar that ran down Pope’s spine came from that day – a ghoul’s long fingernail, sharper than a knife, sliced him right down the middle. 

He could still remember those screams – the harsh crack and wet slashing of flesh. Brutal. Bloody. A gruesome scene – three young soldiers mangled beyond recognition. Their squadron captain had insisted on bringing them home for a proper burial. They had wrapped their carcasses in dusty, dirty sheets and tied it shut with copper wire. The whole trek back, his ears had buzzed with swarming bugs. 

The oven dinged and his mom pulled away with an affectionate pat on his cheek. As she finished up, he brewed them a fresh pot of coffee, poured out two cups, then took a seat. 

Of course, his mom made way too much food for two people to eat. The bistro table was spread thin with heaping platters that meant days of leftovers. 

“Saw Susan last night. Sounds like she’s enjoying retirement. Have you found anyone to replace her, yet?” Frankie eased into the conversation. 

“No luck.” She sighed – Susan had retired even before he’d left. “You wouldn’t happen to be interested, though would you?” 

Frankie chuckled, shaking his head. He shuffled the scrambled eggs on his plate with his fork. “But the new girl - Blue - she’s looking for a job.” 

His mom hooked up an intrigued brow as she continued to stir a little milk into her coffee. 

“I don’t think she’ll give you any problems. She’s smart, catches on quick.”

“What else’s she like?” She probed, trying to appear casual as she took the mug in both her hands and brought it to her lips. Coy, though, had never been her strong suit. Her eyes gave her away. 

Frankie speared a sausage onto his fork, and ate it whole. He needed a moment to figure out how to answer that. Blue was supposed to be a girl from bumfuck, so he couldn’t say she was a spoiled brat, even though she was sometimes. He couldn’t say that she was charming or even sweet when she wanted to be without his mom getting the wrong idea. The last thing he needed was her meddling. 

Still, he had to give his mom something. At least a crumb, or else she would keep hassling him until he spilled. 

Frankie swallowed – shrugged. 

“She’s…funny, I guess. She’s got a lot of opinions. If you let her, she’ll probably talk your ear off. She can sometimes be a little stubborn, but that might just be with me-” 

“Do you two get along?” She interrupted – confused, her brows slightly knitted. 

“For the most part.” 

“Meaning?”

It’s complicated. “Sometimes, we get on each other’s nerves.” 

She pursed her lips – eyes squinted with suspicion. 

“What?”

“I swear, I better not hear that you were mean to that poor girl.” She jabbed an accusatory finger towards his chest. “Think you were raised better than that-”

Frankie scoffed, “Trust me - she’s not innocent.”

She made a face – not totally convinced. Ultimately, she waved it off. “I guess, I’ll see for myself, now. Won’t I?” 

“Guess so.” He grinned then felt a pang of guilt in his chest. Even though he didn’t have much choice, he still hated lying to his mom. 

He wondered how she would react if she knew who Blue really was. 

—--

For a few days, you were to remain a ghost. Just long enough to give the Council time to get their ducks in a row and the story to sink in and travel. 

The Welcome Home party had served as a perfect diversion, so no one had spotted you. Kasumi had been nice enough to offer up the apartment above her garage. While it wasn’t much bigger than your freshman year dorm room, at least, it didn’t smell like that weird bean soup your roommate always used to heat up in the microwave. 

This place had only been vacant since this summer when Kasumi’s daughter moved out after getting married. The space wasn’t really meant for two. You supposed the tight squeeze wouldn’t be terrible for people in love, but you were holed up in here with Frankie.

Three days. He must’ve been assigned as your guard or maybe he thought you’d take off and run again if he left you alone because he barely let you out of his sight.

It was impossible to ignore him, either. You couldn’t just pretend or forget he was here when his body swallowed the doorways. He was too damn broad for this place. 

The two of you fought like territorial kangaroos over the boxy kitchen. Shoulder jabs, bumping elbows, you’d snap at him whenever he got too close after the first night when he nudged you in the arm while you were stirring spaghetti sauce. It was a huge mess. Globs of red splattered over the secondhand apron, under the storm-gray cabinets and even a little on the pastel yellow walls. He claimed it was an accident, but his schoolboy snicker made you think otherwise. 

In order to keep you entertained, he brought over a deck of cards, but would only play speed, which he annoyingly called Spit! 

And even worse, he won 90% of the time. 

After a few losing rounds, you’d pout and demand a different game. He’d taunt you, call you a sore loser until you gave him a rematch. You wanted to smack that stupid smirk off his face when he’d win again. 

But for all that you cursed and griped and grouched about him, you hated even more when he left. All alone, there was no TV - no radio to fill the silence. You’d betrayed your family, and could not stop reeling with it. 

What did you do? What have you done? 

Second-thoughts slithered in, and you found it impossible to stop your head from spinning. You didn’t know who to trust anymore. You’d blindly believed your dad, and didn’t want to make the same mistake again. 

What if these guys were wrong? What if they were the ones lying?

If you let it, these doubts would consume you. Instead of being swallowed whole by anxiety, you were intent on busying yourself. 

Sadly, the bookshelves were depleted and anything left had seemingly been forgotten for good reason. However, you noticed a thick layer of dust on the encyclopedia. Underneath the sink in the kitchen, there was a basket full of rags and sponges and cleaning supplies. 

You’d scrubbed every square inch and surface in this apartment until your fingertips were pruny and raw as leather. The 24-piece china set was freshly polished, the hand-painted goldfinches and delicate butterflies now shining in the spotless glass hutch. Afterwards, you’d taken to rearranging the furniture and jilted knick-knacks and leftover decor. 

Frankie, much too perceptive, seemed to notice. 

On your last night of temporary house arrest, he’d left to pick up dinner. 45 minutes, and multiple trinkets had shifted around the room like haunted figurines. You’d caught him eyeing the porcelain pigs on top of the mantle, the hourglass in their previous spot on the second row of a built-in shelf. 

For a moment, you thought he was going to say something, but instead - he unpacked the food and laid it out on the coffee table. After dinner, he had grabbed the deck cards from the side table without mentioning the change of vase. 

That night, he hung around longer than usual. 

One more game. Go Fish this time. Ever play Slap Jack? Is the sink still acting funny? I’ll fix it. 

He did leave, eventually. Just not until your eyelids were stuck at half-mast, your words sluggish and slurry from needing sleep. 

The next morning, he was at your door bright and early, ready to take you to the first day of work. 

—

You hadn’t really been able to see much of the town. Kasumi had smuggled you from the Council building at night, so you made a few things out in the dark. The windows in your apartment didn’t offer much of a view. 

After Diamond City, you expected a town of steel houses. Surprisingly, Marblehead looked nearly identical to before.

As you walked in the middle of the street, you could finally scope out the cottages and colonials that still lined the narrow, windy roads. On a sunny day like this, you would’ve anticipated a traffic jam, a bad headache, but there was no honking. No SUV’s hogging up space. Not even a single car in sight. 

It was peaceful. It was nice. Strange, but nice.

During the walk, Frankie explained how people got around the old-fashion way: foot, bikes, and horseback. There was even a carriage taxi service that seemed very on brand with the 18th century architecture. 

Frankie led you onto the main street and you looked around at the familiar storefronts. Suddenly, you noticed everyone was staring at you. The street buzzed with whispers and glances. 

There had been some lingering looks and stares in Diamond City but it was much more crowded, denser. You could slip into the masses and disappear, but not here. Your arrival had been announced, everyone was expecting you. 

You averted your eyes to the cracked sidewalk, feeling very self-conscious. The insecurity reminded you of second grade when you were the new kid in school and had to stand in front of the class to introduce yourself. All the kids had stared at you. Nora had threatened to spit on them if she caught them looking too long again. For that comment, she had to walk laps at recess for the rest of the week.

These people, though, scared you more than a classroom full of eight-year-olds.

Frankie must’ve noticed them staring too since he inched closer, the hair on his arm tickled your skin and you could smell his soap in the air.

“They’re just curious,” Frankie whispered. “It’s not everyday someone new shows up.” 

Still, Frankie straightened. He had on just a plain black t-shirt and jeans and still looked uncommonly intimidating. Even without a gun strapped to his back, it seemed like nobody wanted to fuck with him. He glared at one shopkeeper and it put the fear of God into them, they immediately turned away and went double-time on raising their sun-salt dull awning. 

You couldn’t help but feel a twinge of warmth at his protectiveness. But you supposed it was his job, after all, to keep you safe. 

“Have you fought a lot of people or something?” You lightly nudged his shoulder with yours. A tiny smile toyed with his lips. 

“Wouldn’t you like to know.”

Frankie guided you into a cape cod building that was wedged between a tailor and a sub shop. It used to be a funky cafe with fancy latte art and slam poetry on Wednesday that Nora dragged you to one night. 

Luckily, the soap shop didn’t smell so potent that your eyes watered like at Bath & Body Works. There was a fresh scent of lemongrass and citrus and something else flowery. 

“Pollito?” A woman’s voice - his mom, you guessed - shouted from the back.

“Little chicken, huh?” You looked him over. “I see it.”

“Funny,” he grumbled when the back door swung open. It was definitely his mom. 

She came and greeted him with a kiss on both cheeks, and he slung his arm around her shoulders. It was sweet, but also shocking to see him be so affectionate. At times, he’d rest his arm on Benny or Santi’s shoulder, he’d hugged Piper goodbye, but other than that, it wasn’t a side you often saw from him. 

His mom fished out a pair of glasses from her apron and slipped them on. She rapidly blinked as if surprised. She looked you up and down as Frankie introduced you. 

“Josefa.” She shook your hand. “But everyone calls me Pepa.” Her eyes were warm and doe-like, that same shade of earthy, dark brown as Frankie’s.

She had a perfectly round face - plump cheeks and a button nose. Truly, she was a beautiful woman, though much softer than Frankie. He must have inherited his striking, sharp angles from his father. His aquiline nose. That divot in his bottom lip. A square jaw that you swore was carved from stone. Even though he could be such a grouch, he really was quite attractive. 

You wondered if you would ever meet his dad. Was he still around? Or was he long gone? You had enough common sense not to ask. 

You made a turn about the shop, in particular admiring the back wall that resembled a beehive of sorts with hexagonal boxes in honey-golden wood that each stored a wicker basket brimming with a colorful assortment of soaps. 

Pepa must’ve noticed you staring because she proudly boasted, “Frankie built that. And all by himself, too.”

He’d never mentioned being into carpentry, but it was clearly more than just some throwaway hobby. This was high quality. 

“I gotta admit, I’m impressed.” 

Frankie’s lips parted as if he couldn’t believe those words just came from you. “Is that a compliment?” 

“Don’t get used to it.” 

Pepa gave you a quick tour of the store. In the back, there was a kitchen with ample counter space to make soap, along with a pantry, now used for curing. The shop wouldn’t open for another hour and a half, so Yovanna had not come in yet. She was the one who did the cold-process, whereas Pepa was exclusively liquid. 

For the last few months, the two of them had been splitting your job, which would be manning the counter and packaging. It seemed easy enough, given that you had worked retail, just two summers ago. 

Frankie offered to stick around and help stock the shelves, just until Yovanna arrived. Pepa happily agreed, on the condition that he didn’t get in the way of your training. 

She started with the register which, at first, you pretended to act clueless on how it worked. You’d pause for a few seconds as if trying to recall her instructions. Every once in a while, you’d hit the wrong button. Pepa was relieved to hear that your compound was big on education, so you knew basic math. Frankie couldn’t help but grin behind her back at your bold-face lie.

She was demonstrating how to package the soaps when Yovanna showed up. The woman was fucking gorgeous - perfectly arched eyebrows and skin as golden as Frankie’s. Her long, dark hair was pulled into low, messily braided pigtails that pretty much no one else except for her could pull off. 

For some reason, you found yourself unable to look away as Frankie wrapped his big arms around her tiny frame. You could see his lips moving, but his voice was far too hushed for you to hear. His chin rested on her shoulder and he glanced up. 

Shit. 

Abruptly, you turned away and returned to studying Pepa’s hands. 

When Yovanna finally came over, she politely introduced herself before heading into the kitchen. She was somehow even more beautiful up close. 

Frankie finished up with the last few baskets before asking if you were going to be okay. Despite your thumbs up, he appeared hesitant to leave. Pepa offered him a reassuring smile, and he tugged his cap over his eyes, gave a single wave goodbye before heading out the door. 

—

All morning, there were faces pressed up against the glass like you were a Saks Fifth Avenue mannequin during the holiday season. 

The customers could rarely hide their surprise when you spoke in complete sentences. It was hard not to notice their furtive looks and pitiful glances, even on occasion you caught Pepa and Yovanna staring. 

It seemed like despite Preston’s best attempts to make your compound sound grand - a whole neighborhood of doomsday preppers instead of a few families - everyone expected a girl with seven fingers and missing toes and teeth. Perhaps, they imagined Mystique. Or someone with a single eye like a cyclops. 

Whatever they imagined, it was certainly not you.

Around lunch, you spotted Frankie outside on the sidewalk. He was storming towards the pack of teenagers peeping in through the window like an angry bull. The kids dispersed like terrified ants. 

Quickly, you went back to wrapping the bar of soap in cream parchment before he could notice that you saw. He’d undoubtedly ask about them if he noticed you looking. You really didn’t want to talk about being the town freak show. 

The out-of-tune bell above the door rang as you tied a perfect, hemp string bow around the soap. 

He glanced around the shop - it was only you on the floor. After the morning rush died down, Pepa and Yovanna retreated into the kitchen. Soon, one of the two would wander out to check-in, as long as they heard the bell.

“Well, look who couldn’t stay away,” you said with a playful grin. 

“Don’t flatter yourself.” His steps echoed over the hollow laminate floors as he moved towards you. “Just wanted to see how things were going.” 

“What? Did you not have anything better to do?” 

“Than this?” Frankie shook his head. 

He clipped his aviators onto his shirt collar as he approached the checkout counter. His palm slid easily over the smooth butcher block - the same honey-gold as the boxes on the wall behind you. You wondered if he also made this with his own two hands, sanded it down and stained it. 

Frankie’s eyes dipped over your outfit. “Nice apron.” 

You huffed at his sarcasm. “I look like a Starbucks worker.”

“What the fuck is a Starbucks?”

“Coffee shop.” You pointed across the street. “There used to be one where Willy’s Good Juice is now, whatever the hell that is.” 

Frankie grimaced. He wrinkled his nose like he was about to be sick. “Some advice: don’t ever drink that shit. You’ll regret it.”

“Noted.” You had the same visceral reaction when anyone mentioned Mango Burnetts. 

Yovanna stepped inside the room. When her gaze landed on Frankie, she gave him a mischievous smirk. She leaned back, her body propping open the door. 

“You’re right,” she yelled over her shoulder into the kitchen. “It is him.” 

Frankie let out a huff of annoyance, narrowing his eyes at her as if she was his tattletaling little sister. The pointed look reminded you of Alice, though she never smiled at you afterwards. Instead, she’d call you a rat and a blabber mouth or simply a bitch, even though she was the one tormenting a kid. 

She seemed to enjoy ripping up your coloring books and decapitating your stuffed animals and dolls until dad forced her to buy a new one with her own allowance. 

As Pepa slid into the room, she squeezed past Yovanna, then put her hands on her hips. She looked serious, squinting at Frankie before turning to you. 

“Is he bothering you?” Her tone was light - her lips twitched and there was no real malice in her eyes. She was messing with him. 

“When is he not?” You asked and Frankie scoffed. He was not as much as the rest of you. 

“How’re my employees suppose to do their job?” Pepa tsked her tongue at Frankie. “I swear between you and Santi.” 

Santi? 

You glanced at Yovanna, who was twirling her braid around her finger and giggling like a girl with a crush. Was something going on between her and Santi?

Mary had said the guys didn’t technically date, but perhaps she was wrong. After all, Will clearly had feelings for Curie, judging by the smile on his face when he saw her in the Council hallway. He’d cradled the back of her head, holding her tightly in his arms as if he could not bear to let her go. Label or not, there was something going on there.

You didn’t know about Benny, but during his visits this week, he did talk an awful lot about some guy named Keith. 

You wondered - did Frankie also have someone here?

—-

Since he was already there, his mom suggested that he take Blue out for lunch – at Polly’s. 

“Are you hungry?” he asked her and she shrugged. 

“I could eat.” She hung up her apron, then he guided her next door into the sandwich shop. 

Past the lunch rush, the narrow dining room was practically empty. Just a few people eating at the counter, who all turned and stared at her without any shame. God – what was wrong with these people? As she looked over the menu, he gave them a hard glare. Immediately, their gazes dispersed around the restaurant – to the retro wood paneled walls, mustard lino floors, and the half-eaten plates on the beige formica bar top. 

After ordering at the register in the front, they found a table tucked away in a corner. His jeans scratched against the cracked leather cushion as he slid into the booth. Silently, she examined the ceramic-cow salt & pepper shakers, the out of commission tabletop jukebox and its list of songs. He would’ve asked if she knew any of them if they were alone. 

The cushion squeaked as she leaned back. “So, what have you been up to today? Other than missing me, of course.” 

He rolled his eyes at the last part, before answering. “Nothing really. Ran some errands – helped Pope fix up his fence. How’s work been?” 

“Good. Your mom’s been great, so has Yovanna.” She glanced down at her water cup and twisted it around in circles. “Are she and Pope like a thing?” 

“A thing?” What the fuck did that mean? 

She snorted at his confusion. “Are they like - together?” 

Frankie tilted his head from side to side as he figured out how to answer. Technically – no, they weren’t together in the traditional sense of boyfriend-girlfriend. In their line of work, it was hard to maintain a normal, healthy relationship. 

His first and only girlfriend was his highschool sweetheart. Lacey. Charming Lacey with long, golden hair and dimpled cheeks. Striking summer grass eyes that had never seen the cruelty of the wasteland. She was born in the safety of the walls of Sanctuary unlike him. 

After his first mission, she told him it was over. She wanted a family – a husband who would be around to help raise the kids, not someone who was constantly in-and-out, who she didn’t know whether they were alive or dead. It was almost word for word what Molly had said to Tom after she found out she was pregnant with Tess. Tom wasn’t ready to retire, but he didn’t have much of a choice. 

“Sorta,” Frankie finally answered. “It’s complicated.” 

“Same with Will and Curie?” 

Frankie nodded and she hummed thoughtfully. He waited for her to push for more information, but she didn’t. 

Instead, she sat silently with her hands clasped neatly on the table. Her brows slightly furrowed, appearing to be deeply in her own head. He didn’t think she had a crush on Santi or Will. At least, she never acted like it. If he had to guess anyone, it’d be Benny only because of how well they got along. 

Still, something was bothering her. He’d become exceptionally well-versed in her facial expressions, her subtle and not-so-subtle shifts in mood, and with her – silence never meant anything good. 

“What is it?” He nudged and she didn’t answer. She could be so goddamn obstinate. “What’re you thinking about?” 

She must’ve realized he would not let this go as she let out a sigh. She glanced at him and then at the painted seahorse above his head. 

“I guess I’ve started to realize how little I know about you,” she whispered. “All of you.” 

“We could say the same about you.” He winced when the words left his mouth. It sounded more demining than he intended. 

“It’s different and you know it. You guys have lives, all I have is…memories.” She stared down at her lap as if defeated. “None of it really matters anymore.” 

“That’s not true.”

“Fine.” She harshly scoffed. “It’s irrelevant. Better?”

He shook his head in disagreement, but that was all the denial he could muster. He wouldn’t go as far as to say it didn’t matter, but it did no longer exist. The life she knew had been extinct, after all, for two centuries. 

“Order 43!” 

Frankie signaled for her to stay, then went and grabbed the two baskets from the bar. He plopped back down, sliced his sandwich down the middle, then did the same to hers without thinking. Wordlessly, he pushed the basket across the table to her. 

“Thank you,” she said, then awkwardly lifted her sandwich up to her mouth and took a bite. 

Frankie sucked a little mayo off his thumb. “So, what is it that you wanna know? About me - us?” 

For a moment, she appeared stunned. Her cheeks were full – there was a drop of sauce on her lips. She licked it off, and his eyes followed the pink of her tongue. 

She swallowed. 

“Anything.” She shrugged. “Like, what’s your favorite color?” 

“Seriously?” He snorted – out of everything. 

She picked up a fry and pointed it at the center of his chest. “Judge all you want, but it can tell you a lot about a person.” 

“You would think that,” he said before answering. “Green.” 

“What kind of green?” There was a crisp crunch as she chomped on the fry.  

This was ridiculous, but if it would make her feel better. “Dark green, forest green. What about you?” 

“This might be a little cliche, but pink. Not hot pink, though. Soft pink, like cherry blossoms or peonies.” 

For the rest of lunch, she continued to ask trivial questions. 

Dogs or Cats: dogs. 

Favorite Holiday: Christmas. 

Birthday: August 23rd. 

“Virgo,” she said, like suddenly everything about him made perfect sense. 

She wiped her mouth with a napkin, then slurped the last of her water. 

“Last one - if the world never ended, what would you’ve wanted to be?” 

Easy. “A pilot.” He’d been obsessed with the sky ever since he was little. 

He could remember spending hours on the cold floor in his bedroom, flipping through faded illustrations in children’s books. He wished and hoped and prayed that one day – he could see it for himself. 

Suddenly, he thought about having to tell her about that part of his life. How would she react? He couldn’t stomach another bite and lightly shoved away his basket. 

Frankie knew he would have to tell her, but not right now. Not at Polly’s. Not anywhere in public. 

But soon. 

If he had learned anytime from last time, it was better to tell her before someone else let it slip. 

[thevalicemultiverse]

To the group (Cuddlepile):

I found this trailer for a new video game that coming out this year and thought you guys would be interested in it.

Here's the link:

https://youtu.be/WEIzHD_nI8c?si=S_DkIBZfTwCFUI4X

Cuddlepile

Alice: ...Well, "parkour horror" wasn't a genre I expected to be invented this year.

Smiler: The movement mechanics look interesting, at least! Nice to see people trying new things with their horror games!

Victor: Mmm...I -- I don't think I'll be playing it, but I wish the people behind it the best.

((For the curious, the video is for the trailer for Finding Frankie, an upcoming "mascot horror" game where you are trapped in what is essentially a giant parkour-based theme park using all your parkour skills to run from Frankie and whatever other evil things are in the park. ...I have to confess to having more LISTENED to the trailer (and read the description) than watched it because jumpscares really freak me out and I don't always do great with mascot horror -- I still have to avoid too much exposure to classic Five Nights At Freddy's!))