#happy left over from a mini adventure I had

[onlyhereforthestories]

Most Wonderful Time Of The Year (Leah Williamson x Reader)

Day 4! Anyone else think that decorating the tree is one of the best parts of the festive holiday?

As the holiday season approached Leah got more and more excited. You knew she loved the holiday but being as last year you had only been officially dating for about 3 months, she had dampened it down a little as to not overwhelm you. This year though you could tell she was fully comfortable sharing her excitement with you, something you were more than happy with.

Leah had insisted that this Christmas, you’d be decorating the tree together in her apartment. Last year you had left her house one evening and came back the next night to find her house transformed into a winter wonderland of sorts. This year however, she was going to make sure you were a part of her plans, being as you were a lot more involved with each other.

You could tell she’d been looking forward to it all week, she’d already picked up the perfect tree which has spent the last day dropping out. She had also spent an afternoon at the garden centre, bringing home boxes filled with ornaments, lights, and ribbons stating that as this was your first joint tree it had to be new things that you both would like.

Tonight, she’d even set up a holiday playlist so that while you decorated, the living room would be filled with soft, nostalgic carols. She pulled out a big box filled with ornaments, each one carefully wrapped in tissue paper. “I went a bit overboard,” she admitted, laughing as she took out a few of the shiny baubles. “I just couldn’t pick!”

“You went all out, huh?” you teased, grinning as she unwrapped a glittery red ornament and held it up for inspection. She rolled her eyes at you, a playful smile tugging at her lips, and handed you a few decorations to start with.

“Christmas isn’t for half assing a job, not that I ever do that anyway love. But this is like the best holiday of the year, you have to do it proper.” You couldn’t help the smile that took over your face at the excitement coming from the Lioness captain. Only offering her a slight hmmm of semi agreement, before you took the box of ornaments off of her.

As you both worked, Leah passed you ribbons, tinsel and ornaments, her eyes lighting up whenever you hung one up. Some of the decorations were traditional, tiny wooden reindeer, little stars, and glass bulbuls in classic red and gold. But Leah had also picked out a few quirky ones: a mini soccer ball, a tiny camera, and a little book with “Our Adventures” scribbled across it. You couldn’t help but laugh as she explained each one, her enthusiasm bubbling over as she shared the stories behind each choice.

“We obviously have to have a football one, its literally the only reason we are here now…”

“If I had a pound for every photo you took of me or a pretty view then id be richer than a men’s player…” You did mention her and a pretty view are one and the same which got your favourite pink cheeks and scoff reaction from her.

“This feels like the beginning of our adventures, and I saw that one and thought is was a fitting first Christmas together properly ornament. Much better than the cheesy actual ones act least.”

After a while, you noticed a small, lumpy bundle at the bottom of the box. Unwrapping it, you found an old, handmade ornament. It was a little star painted in Leah’s favourite colours and was a bit worn around the edges. “What’s this one?” you asked, holding it up.

Leah looked at it and smiled, a little sheepish. “I made it when I was a kid. It’s terrible, isn’t it?” She laughed, looking a bit embarrassed, but you could see the fondness in her eyes.

“It’s perfect,” you replied, giving her a warm smile as you carefully hung it in a prime spot near the top of the tree where everyone could see it with just a glance. She watched, her face softening as she took your hand and squeezed it gently.

After an hour or so, the tree was nearly complete, draped in lights and covered in the mix of classic and quirky ornaments Leah had chosen. You both stood back, admiring your work as she reached over to switch on the lights. “This is always the best part, the first light up. It’s just magic.” The tree glowed softly, casting the room in a warm, magical light. You couldn’t help but agree with her.

Leah wrapped her arms around you from behind, resting her chin on your shoulder as you both gazed at the finished tree. “It’s perfect,” she murmured, her voice warm in your ear. You leaned back into her, feeling her arms tighten around you in a quiet, contented hug.

She glanced over at the last item on the table, a silver star meant for the top of the tree. With a grin, she picked it up and handed it to you. “You want to do the honours?”

You nodded, feeling a spark of excitement as she lifted you up slightly, helping you reach the top of the tree. Carefully, you placed the star on the branch that stuck out at the top, and she set you back down, pulling you close once again as you both admired the final touch.

“Absolutely perfect,” she whispered, kissing your forehead softly. Her hand stayed at the small of your back, grounding you as you both took in the soft glow of the room.

After a moment, Leah grabbed a couple of candy canes from a nearby bowl, handing one to you before popping the other into her mouth, grinning as she let it dangle between her lips. She looked at you with that cheeky spark in her eye. “Come on, I can’t be the only one getting into the Christmas spirit,” she said, nudging you playfully.

You laughed, taking a bite of your candy cane and settling down beside her on the couch. She pulled a blanket over both of you, leaning against you as she pressed play on a classic Christmas movie that she’d queued up earlier. Together, you snuggled up, munching on candy canes, watching the lights twinkle on the tree, and laughing at the silly holiday scenes unfolding on the screen.

As the night came to and end, you tried to unwrap yourself from the cozy blanket covered position you and Leah had gotten into. The blonde didn’t let you; she tightened her hold on your waist and whispered into the calm night, “Thanks for making this the best Christmas.”

You smiled, reaching to take her hand that had settled on your stomach. “Thank you for letting me be part of it.”

With her hand in yours and the lights from the tree casting gentle shadows across the room, you felt like this was exactly where you were meant to be. It wasn’t just about the tree or the decorations, it was about being with Leah, sharing those little moments that you hoped would happen for years to come, and feeling perfectly at home in each other’s arms as the night settled around you.

[taevbears]

Acorns & Thimbles - 01

I met the devil by the window, traded my life Temptation touched my tongue, spread the wings of desire

⤑ pairing: hoseok x reader ⤑ genre: faerie au, yandere, dark fantasy ⤑ rating: 18+ ⤑ word count: 5.7k ⤑ warnings: YANDERE/DARK ROMANCE, manipulation, blackmail, mc is often called "darling", faeries are evil creatures in this world lol. nothing too crazy in this chapter but, uh... it does get pretty crazy lmao. ⤑ note: happy birthday, hobi ♡ if i were to have a coin for every time i'd post a mini-series on a member's bday, i'd have 2 coins. which isn't a lot, but it's still funny that it happened twice💀. anyway, i've been working on this story for literally over a year, and i've finally had the drive to complete it! i'm so glad to share this story with you, and i hope you all enjoy!

Chapters 01 | 02 | 03| 04 | 05 (End)

Your grandmother is an odd, old woman, closed off from the rest of her small, quaint town with her little cottage on a hill.

She’s become skittish and grouchy, raising her gravelly voice and cursing animosities in the air. Weary neighbors whisper their growing concerns, bearing witness to her arguments against invisible foes.

More than once, someone had found her in front of her yard, squinting at the ground beneath her frail hands and feet. Alarmed, they’d cross the iron gate to help her up, only to realize she’s there with purpose. Meticulously, she’d count the number of leaves on clovers out loud, grumbling under her breath as she desperately tries to find one with four.

It seems that with her age, her mind is starting to deteriorate. She’d walk around town with her clothes inside-out, leave fresh milk, butter, or cream out by her front door to rot instead of putting them away, and pocket random things like iron nails, red jaspers, packets of salt, and small bells and chimes.

“It’s a shame to see her like this,” one of your younger brothers confides. It’s been decided that your poor grandmother can't live on her own anymore. That she needs someone to take care of her.

“Yeah,” your other brother agrees with a long sigh. “Nana wasn’t always like that.”

In fact, your grandmother had always been so full of life and joy. Despite her wrinkles and graying hair, she was a child at heart, witty with a silver tongue, and made the long stays at her home fun when you were all children. The nursery, where the three of you slept, had a toy box with wooden swords and costumes, a collection of fairy tales she'd read to you all before bed, and a large window with a thin curtain that was always open.

Growing up, your parents had to work a lot and often left you and your brothers under her care. Your childhood is full of fond memories of make-believe adventures for hidden treasures, running barefoot across her lush garden and pretending to fly, and listening to her wonderful stories about mermaids, pirates, dwarves, elves, and faeries.

Your imagination was so vivid as a child, surely influenced by your grandmother and her long tales. Sometimes, you still see pieces of your time at her cottage and your thrilling expeditions of pretend. Fragments of following the leader through the thickets and foliage of a beast-filled jungle, of playing house in an underground bunker and punishing your unruly sons with vile, sticky-sweet medicine, and meeting the very creatures who inhabit the dream-like island located second to the right of the north star.

One of those inhabitants, if you could recall correctly, was a boy.

A faerie, to be more precise.

His skin was golden like the warm rays of a summer sun. Pointed ears folded over a hat you sewed for him one day, and he refused to take it off since. He always had a bright smile on his heart-shaped lips, and had a contagious laughter that could make flowers bloom.

He was a friend to you. Maybe something more.

He'd tuck wildflowers in your tangled hair when you slept on his lap, teach you how to fly and fight so you’d triumph over your enemies together, and come by the nursery window each night so he could sneak you out and take you on another adventure.

Then, one day, the window to the nursery was closed shut. The curtains were drawn together, and you were no longer waiting for him to take you away somewhere.

Because like all children, eventually, you and your brothers started to grow up.

The visits to your grandmother’s cottage became less and less frequent. The memories of that place and that boy long-forgotten like a distant dream.

School kept you occupied through your youth. Then, you attended college and studied hard to earn your degrees. Then, you applied for jobs and worked through shifts. You made friends over the years – ones who aren’t lost boys or creatures from fairy tales – and spend a lot of your time with them. You’ve even met a couple boys that taught you love when you got together, and taught you heartbreak when it didn’t work out. You became independent of your parents and made a home for yourself, and before you knew it, you realized that you had grown up as well.

Both of your younger brothers are well accomplished with their lives. One is married with their first child on the way. The other is studying abroad in a foreign country. Neither of them, however, would be able to take care of your poor grandmother full-time.

So, rather easily, it was decided that you’d be the one to move in and look after her.

It felt like a blessing in disguise.

You’ve become a writer with the intention of creating novels of fantasy and adventure. Instead, you work in a soul-sucking office job, where the company berates young women like yourself and it feels very much like a boys club among the staff. The friends you made, you hardly keep in touch with now, as all of you have become too busy to meet up with each other more than a few times a year. And after a recent messy breakup, the place you shared with your ex is no longer your home, and you can’t afford to live on your own with your current measly paycheck.

A fresh start at a place that you once grew up in feels like a miracle.

You could start all over. Never having to look back at the burdens and troubles that have been weighing you down and keeping you from flying.

After talking to your family about it, and eagerly insisting that you’d be more than happy to take care of your grandmother, you packed your bags, quit your job at the office, and quietly moved away. Gone with the wind as your next adventure unfolds.

“Good luck, sis. Let us know if you need anything.”

Your brother gives you a hug when he drops you off at your grandmother’s cottage. It’s a big change, and it’s been years since you’ve last been here. But as you grab your bags and turn to face the old cottage, perched up on the hill, with an iron gate around the flourishing garden of vividly-bright flowers and lush greenery, the nostalgia hits you like a wave.

Memories of your childhood, your play-pretend adventures with your brothers, and the wonderful stories your grandmother would tell all flood back to you like arms of an old friend welcoming you home after a long time apart.

Your grandmother greets you and your brother with tight hugs and remarks of how you’ve both grown up. It almost seems like she’s her old self again, quipping at your brother and asking how his wife is doing. You let them catch up and take the opportunity to settle in.

Not much has changed from what you remember. The aromatic notes of herbs and teas your grandmother likes to brew still linger in the house. The antiques she’d collect are still on display, and the furniture she has are a bit worn and outdated. Even the nursery that you stayed in as a child hasn’t changed much: the toy box is still there, your brother’s teddy bear is on the bed he used to sleep in, and the window with the thin curtain is still shut.

The floor creaks as you slowly walk around the nursery, reminiscing on the old furniture and dusty toys. Yet, your gaze keeps drifting toward the window and the little latch that keeps it shut.

How many times have you sat by it and daydreamed about that world of make-believe? How lonely had you been to longingly gaze out of it and wish to meet an imaginary friend that’d keep you company? How often have you used it to look at the stars and wish – and hope – to be taken away and leave all your childish worries behind?

Before you know it, you’re standing right in front of it.

You draw back the dusty curtains and let light flood in.

“Don’t open that window, dear.”

You nearly jump in surprise, quickly turning to see your grandmother had come to the door. “Hi Nana. Why not?”

She doesn’t answer. Rather, she simply stares at you for a long moment, almost as if she’s lost in her own thoughts. But her eyes shift. You realize it wasn’t you that she was staring at, but the window. When you turn to face it, you see nothing there.

“Don’t open the window,” she repeats firmly. “He’s been waiting for you to open it again.”

“Who is?” you ask, thoroughly confused.

You don’t know who she’s talking about, or why it would matter when the window is on the second floor. But when you turn to face your grandmother again, she’s gone. 

Your brother left hours ago, and you’ve finally unpacked the last of your belongings after an exhausting afternoon of cleaning, laundry, rearranging some furniture in the nursery, and cooking dinner for you and your grandmother.

She follows you around all day as you catch her up on how you’ve been doing. It feels nice to connect with her again. She’s still a great storyteller and seems happy to be in your company. But there’s a worried look on her face when she thinks you’re not looking as her eyes drift to something unseeable over your shoulder.

“Are you sure you want to stay there?” she asks as you help her settle in bed. She suddenly looks uncomfortable with the idea of you being in the nursery.

“I’ll be fine, Nana. Don’t worry.”

“Don’t open the window,” she reminds you before you wish her goodnight.

Luckily, you can still fit in your old bed, although it is clearly designed for a child. You grimace a bit at the heart-shaped frame and the faded green paint, and make a note to yourself to start looking for new furniture soon. You send your other brother a picture of his old teddy bear, and he exclaims how he remembers it once he had a chance to see your message. Soon, that led you to face-timing both of your brothers and showing them all the old toys and costumes that are all still in the room.

“I should’ve stayed and helped move some of them to the attic,” your brother remarks with a slight shake of his head. “Maybe I’ll stop by this weekend and do that.”

“I don’t know. I kind of like seeing them here,” you admit with a fond smile, opening a tiny drawer. Inside are stools of thread, loose buttons, pins in cushions, and other sewing tools. You rummage through the drawer and realize you’re missing a silver thimble.

However, in its place, you find something else.

“What’s that?” your brother asks when you pull out what looks like an old necklace. Hanging on the black, leather thread is an acorn with a hole in the middle.

“I don’t know,” you reply, holding it up by the thread. Your pulse quickens, your heart remembering something that you can’t place the memory of. Yet, somehow, you know that it’s yours. “Did either of you give this to me?”

Both of them shake their heads and shrug. If neither of them gifted it to you, then who…?

Outside, you hear a strange sound. Like the whistle of a flute. It sounds close, yet far away at the same time.

“What’s wrong, sis?” your brother asks, seeing your perplexed expression from his phone screen.

“I thought I heard something,” you tell them, standing by the window now. Through the glass pane, you can’t see anything, and your free hand touches the iron lock that keeps it closed. Was it a bird? What was it doing, crowing at this hour of night?

“What did you hear?”

“I thought… I heard…” you slowly answer, pulling on the latch and the lock clicks open. You slide it up, and the wind gathers, seeming to assist you at that moment, letting the window fly open. A chill runs up your spine as a cold breeze pass, but all you hear now is the rustle of leaves and the distant sound of a dog barking. “It’s probably nothing.”

The wind dies down, but you still shiver. Suddenly, you remember your grandmother wanted you to keep it closed. You stand on your toes and pull the window back down, unaware of how the shadows seem to shift around the nursery as it shuts with a soft thud.

“Sis?” your brother calls out to you, and you’ve almost forgotten you were still on the phone with them.

“It’s nothing,” you repeat, more to yourself than to them. Perhaps it’s the paranoia of disobeying your grandmother’s request, but it suddenly feels like someone is watching you. 

When you sleep that night, your dream is vivid. More than it’s ever been in a long time.

You dream of swords clashing and cannons firing amidst a grand battle against a ship of pirates for their buried treasure. You dream of a mermaid’s lullaby in a moonlit lagoon, and how she knows all the secrets of the dark waters. You dream of elven wanderers and their ancient traditions, bearded dwarves and their brave expedition into a skull-shaped cave, and a group of handsome men cloaked in animal skins as they enjoy their meal in a woodsy hideout. You dream of faeries glowing like fireflies as they dance together with the moon and stars above them.

“I missed you.”

The voice that whispers is familiar, but belongs to someone you can’t quite put a face to.

“What is this place?” you find yourself asking, sitting on a pink cloud and looking at the island below. A little world that you strangely feel attached to. It feels nostalgic. It feels like home.

And it feels like it’s beckoning to you. Compelling you to warm its cold, icy seas after so many winters without you. To bring light into the world where it’s been so dark without your presence. To stay forever, and never leave this world again.

Someone is with you. A friend, you think. The person the voice belongs to. The one who rules over this world you dream about.

His skin is golden like the summer sun, body lean and strong as he wears clothing made of leaves and vines. A coy smile curves on his familiar heart-shaped lips.

“You don’t remember, darling? This place is ours.”

You wake before you figure out who it is. Or what he meant.

Sunlight shines through the nursery window, and a breeze gently blows in.

You frown as you stare at it.

You’re certain you had closed it before you went to bed. 

For the first time in a while, you open your laptop, pull up a blank document, and write.

You write about the dream you had: the peculiar island and the strange creatures that inhabit it. You write about their adventures, and the magic that faith, trust, and pixie dust can bring. You write about the feeling of floating and how thinking happy thoughts can lift you in the air.

You write about the boy you saw and what you can remember of him.

Then, you stop. The room is silent without the tapping of your keyboard. For a moment, you stare at what you wrote and frown.

Somehow, trying to remember the boy in your dreams feels strange. You can recall the clothes he wears, the way being around him feels like basking in the sunlight, and the small dimples on his cheeks that look like tiny hidden kisses that reveal themselves when he smiles. But you can’t remember his face. You can’t remember his eyes.

It feels like you’re searching for a memory. Even if you’re certain you just made him up.

Was he based on someone you knew as a child? An old classmate? Someone you wanted to be friends with?

It doesn’t seem like it. Yet, whoever that person is in your dream, he must have been important to you.

“This place is ours.”

You save the draft and close the laptop with a sigh, fiddling with the acorn necklace you decided to wear lately. What did he mean by that? And why did it feel like he was actually in your head?

For the next few nights, you have the same recurring dream. You see glimpses of that island: the mermaid lagoon with crystal clear waters, the dark and damp caverns of the skull-rock cave, the giant trees with deep roots that hide hidden houses for faeries and the lost boys, and the grand ship the pirates use to hunt for treasures. You hear the sound of twinkling bells from the tiny faeries, the sound of laughter in the woods, the song of pirates as they sail the sea. You smell the firewood of a large bonfire the elves made, the strong stench of alcohol the dwarves share with each other, the salty air of the island where water meets shore. Your dreams become so vivid, you could almost swear you’re there.

“This can all be yours if you wish it.”

The next time you see him in your dreams, you’re no longer floating on a pink cloud above the island. You’re on the island now. Your bare feet touch the green grass and dirt. You feel the cool, sea breeze against your hair and skin. You see flowers bloom prettily, drawn to the warmth of the person behind you.

His arms wrap around you, pulling your back to his chest. Being in his embrace doesn’t alarm you. Rather, it feels familiar, like he’s held you like this before. You find yourself melting into his touch.

When he kisses your cheek, warmth lingers on your face. Somehow, that feels familiar too.

“Who are you?” you ask him this time.

His kisses trail down to your neck now. His lips on your neck are something different, but not unwelcome. A soft sigh falls from your own lips and you feel his smirk against your skin.

“A friend,” he tells you. He places a kiss on your shoulder now.

“I meant your name.” 

He laughs. And something stirs inside your heart, like a magic spell has been cast from the sound. “That, you’ll have to work a little harder for, darling.”

And before you could turn and look at his face, you wake up.

When you dream of him, he’s always just out of view. Yet, always with you wherever you go. Like a shadow.

As soon as you open your eyes, you grab your laptop and flip it open. The document is already on the screen as soon as you log in, and while the dream is still fresh in your mind, you write everything you remember: the adventure you went on this time, the part of the island that he showed you, what you guys did there, what was said.

What his name is…

Your fingers type it out. Without thinking about it, without even realizing what you’ve done. And suddenly, the answer is there before you.

Four letters that form one name.

Hope 

“My darling,” your grandmother begins, sitting on her rocking chair by a warm fire. “Do you remember the rules I taught you?”

You pause what you’re doing. The water in a large pot continues to roll into a boil as the red sauce you’re making heats the fresh tomatoes, meatballs, and herbs.

At first, you think it’s about the window at the nursery. The night you arrived here, you only opened it for a minute before you quickly closed it again. Surely, your grandmother was sound asleep then. She couldn’t have known that you opened the window, right?

“What rules, Nana?” you ask her, adding the pasta noodles into the boiling water.

“The rules about the Fae.”

You stop again. “The Fae?”

“The first rule,” she begins as she continues to rock on her chair. “Do not draw the attention of mischievous faeries.”

“But—” You part your lips, almost pointing out to her that faeries aren’t real. But something stops you. Somehow, telling her that feels like a lie.

“The second rule,” she continues. “Do not tell them your name.”

Names hold power to the Fae. You remember that much from your grandmother’s stories.

“Like Rumpelstiltskin,” you mention, recalling the tale of a naïve girl who gets out of a bad contract she later regrets by learning the little spinster’s true name.

She nods her head. “The third rule. Do not lie to them.”

Guilt starts to creep up on you for opening the window at the nursery. Although she hasn’t mentioned it again, a part of you is paranoid that she somehow found out about it anyway.

“Sounds like the moral of a children’s story,” you comment, half-joking as you finish up making the pasta. It’s nearly finished.

“The fourth rule,” she goes on more sternly, a small frown on her thin lips. “Do not accept gifts, food, or favors from the Fae.”

“Right,” you mutter, turning off the heat of the stove and serving the meal.

This rule, you know as well.

Your grandmother has told you stories of how faeries lure lost souls into the woods, trapping them into their world. Of bargains that don’t go as planned, leading to a price to pay with one’s servitude and torture to the tricksters. You’ve seen strange reports of mysterious disappearances and rings of mushrooms and pebbles left behind, of people entranced in a waltz-like dance as they edge toward the end of a cliff and slip to their deaths, and of people who’ve tasted the food and drinks of the Fae and later find themselves poisoned from the sticky, sweet indulgence.

“And the fifth, but most important rule of all,” she finishes, turning to look you in the eye. “Should you find yourself in their debt, you must give something of equal value in return. Only then will your debt be repaid.”

You sense the worry in her voice, and it occurs to you then that she knows. You had opened the window, let something in that you shouldn’t have, and whatever it is now targets you. The dreams, and now the rules about the Fae.

“Nana, why are you telling me this?” you ask her, helping her to her seat on the table.

“So you could learn from my mistakes.” She is quiet for a long moment as you serve her plate. She doesn’t seem to want to eat as she looks at you with guilt in her eyes. “I have a confession, my dear.”

“What is it?” you ask, settling down on your own spot on the table.

“When I was young, there was a place that I went to. A wonderful world full of adventure. I didn’t want to grow up. I still wanted to play and have fun, and not think about grown-up things like work, bills, and raising a family.” She grimaces as she thinks about how foolish she was then. How she loves her children and her grandchildren more than anything now. “I made a deal with the faeries then. I didn’t want things to change. I wanted to stay the same, but once I started to grow up, I realized that this wasn’t what I wanted anymore. So I made a new deal with them.”

Neither of you have touched your plates. You look at your grandmother with a small frown. “What was the deal?”

“I would take back my contract, grow old and allow time to resume normally again, if they leave my children alone,” she admits with a frown. “I fell in love with your grandfather. I knew we’d be married and have a family together, but that wasn’t good enough. A change of contract means nothing to them when the family I was going to have meant everything.”

You feel your chest tighten. “So, what did they want?”

“They wanted you,” she tells you sullenly. “The first-born of my kin from the child they couldn’t have.”

“That’s… quite a story, Nana.” You’re not sure what to say, or how much of it is true. Things like dealings with faeries, contracts, and such are all make-believe. Isn’t it?

“I just want to remind you of those rules, my dear,” she replies with a sad smile. “Before he tries to take you from me again.”

You don’t believe in faeries.

But your grandmother does.

Perhaps, as a child, you once did too. Mischievous by nature, you’d once claim that they’re the reason your hair gets tangled in the morning when you wake up, or why you seem to keep misplacing your things. Your brothers would call you silly and forgetful, but your grandmother, upon when you had first told her about these minor inconveniences, suddenly looked at you with worry.

That day, when you were still a child, she had tightly held your hand and told you the five rules. The five things to always remember when dealing with them.

However, you were just a child. Following rules seemed boring to you when the temptation of adventure came to your window every night.

In the shadows, the one called Hope would silently watch you as you played with your brothers, jumping on the bed and swinging around a wooden sword as you’d re-tell your version of fairy tales – ones that often involved defeating treacherous foes and overcoming difficult obstacles, but always ended with a true love’s kiss.

Embodied as a boy around your age, he slipped through the open window and personally invited you to his world of adventure. He liked your stories, he liked that you could prove you’re just as tough as your brothers and could fit right in with his group of friends, and he liked how you had a sweeter, softer, motherly side of you as well.

Every time he took you to that place, he didn’t want you to leave. Yet, you always had to.

You’d worry about your brothers when they weren’t with you, or you’d be afraid your grandmother would forget about you and shut the window before you could make it back home. You had school, a family, and a home here – you couldn’t stay with him all the time like he wanted you to.

So, Hope brought between worlds with the condition that you’d come back.

And for a while, you kept your word, meeting him again by the window the very next night.

Until one day, you didn’t.

The nursery window had been shut and locked, and you and your brothers had returned to your parents to grow up and forget. Your promise with the faerie had been broken.

You find yourself with your laptop open again, reading through the notes you’ve jotted down every morning after you’d wake up. Tabs are open on your browser on websites about the Fae, and your grandmother’s illness is starting to make sense to you.

It’s not the air she’s scolding and warning to get away from her. There are reasons she’s seeking protection in forms of four-leaf clovers, inverted clothes, and carrying objects of iron with her at all times. That the dairy and sweets she leaves by her door are an offering to appease them so they won’t cause her and her family harm.

Because she can see them.

Wisps of light that float out in her garden at night, lingering hauntingly until the dawn breaks. Forms of small animals like squirrels, mice, and birds that come to her door for old buttons, pretty stones, and shiny objects. Tiny, mischievous winged humans that can spoil food before their expiration or hide keys and coins when no one is looking.

Faeries.

For some reason, they’ve been harassing your grandmother lately. Perhaps, they’ve been bothering her longer than you thought, angry that she had taken you away from them and that world they wanted to keep you in.

And now that you’re here…

“So, you figured it out?”

You gasped, turning to the source. By the open window, as the ends of the curtains float with the wind, the one called Hope stands before you. Only, he isn’t a boy anymore.

Rule #1: Do not draw the attention of mischievous faeries.

The man before you is tall and thin, with a sharp jaw and a perfect nose. The apples of his cheeks rise with his heart-shaped smile. His skin is golden, glowing warmly like rays of the sun. The tips of his ears are a little pointier, and sunlight seems to naturally highlight his hair and brown eyes.

Faeries, as you’ve researched, come in different forms. Sometimes as small animals. Sometimes as nymphs, sprites, wisps, and pixies. Sometimes, however, they appear to you in a strange form. Human. Visible.

Only strong faeries can do that. Like kings and queens of the Fae.

He looks at you curiously, and although it should alarm you that he suddenly appeared in your room, it doesn’t.

You know him. You’ve seen him in your dreams.

Rule #2: Do not tell them your name.

“Hope?”

His smile widens, almost devilish. “Hope? What happened to Hobi?”

“Hobi,” you repeat, and somehow, that name sounds familiar on your tongue as well. “Is that what I called you?”

“You don’t remember?” He feigns hurt, placing his hands on his hips and shaking his head a little. “You sure changed a lot since the last time I saw you, darling.”

“Darling,” you echo, feeling your heart stir at the pet name. You remember him calling you that in your dreams as well. Is that what he always called you?

Rule #3: Do not lie to them.

The faerie moves closer to you, frowning as he looks you in the eye. Your heart pounds nervously as you hold his piercing gaze. “You’ve forgotten all about me, haven’t you?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. We’ve never—“ you start, but you catch yourself. You have met him. Considered him a friend, even. The dreams, the memories of your childhood. How much of it was real, and how much of it was make-believe?

Rule #4: Do not accept gifts, food, or favors from the Fae.

“Well, it doesn't matter,” he states, finally backing off. “You’re here now. I can show you all the things you’ve forgotten again.”

That paradise island. The one that you’ve been dreaming so often about. A small part of you can’t believe it’s real and not just some figment of your imagination. That this faerie could actually take you there.

“At what cost?” you find yourself asking.

The faerie smirks. “Clever.”

A commotion comes from downstairs. You hear the distinct sound of twinkling, like the chimes of a small bell. Following that, your grandmother’s voice.

“I told you to stay away from me!” she snaps from downstairs. A crash of a shattering plate, flung to a wall. Thuds of other things being knocked over as your grandmother continues to yell at the faeries to leave her alone. Alarmed, you jump to your feet, ready to rush down to help her. But the presence of the faerie intruder makes you stop in the middle of the room.

How long has she been enduring them on her own until they drove her mad? How far will they try to break her until they get what they want? How much longer can she still protect you from them?

Rule #5: Should you find yourself in their debt, you must give something of equal value in return. Only then will your debt be repaid.

You turn to the faerie. “If I go with you, will you leave my family alone?”

“If you wish it,” he simply replies, but his mouth twitches in a small smile. You feel like you’re falling right into his trap.

The commotion downstairs gets louder. Your grandmother is shrieking as she tries to chase the faeries out, her voice desperate and exhausted from their illusions and magic. You want to stop it for her sake.

“If I go with you, will I see my family again?” you ask, thinking about your brothers, your parents, and your grandmother. A sudden wave of déjà vu hits you, as if you’ve asked him this before. You fumble awkwardly with the memory, trying to grasp it.

“What about my brothers?” you ask the boy by your window, looking at their sleeping forms. He doesn’t seem enthusiastic with the idea of bringing them with you. “And Mother, and Father? Nana will surely find out too.”

“There’ll be mermaids,” he tells you, smiling as your eyes light up.

“Mermaids?” you echo, thinking of how amazing it’d be to meet one.

“Pirates.”

“Pirates!” you exclaim, then quickly cover your mouth, nearly rousing your brothers from their sleep. He wants you to tell the ending of your Cinderella story yourself to his friends, and in exchange, he’ll take you to a magical place.

How easy it was for him then, when you didn’t know any better. And how terribly naïve you were, making deals with the devil by your window.

You hear your grandmother shouting your name now, trying to make her way upstairs. The faeries, it seems, have suddenly stopped bothering her. They’ve quieted down, but she knows that something is wrong.

“Forget them, darling. Forget them all,” he whispers, coming up behind you. His lips brushes against your ear as your pulse races, kissing you as lightly as the wings of a faerie. “Come with me, and you’ll never, never have to worry about a thing again.”

Your grandmother’s shouts are getting closer. You can hear her running up the stairs as fast as her frail legs can take her.

You turn to face the faerie behind you. He stands so close to you, you could kiss him. “Never is an awfully long time.”

Your grandmother is an odd, old woman, and there are five rules that she taught you, in hopes that you’d remember them when facing the Fae. Since you were a child, she’s protected you and your brothers from the devilish creatures she sees, from the one in particular that has staked his claim on you.

It would be nice to say she made it to the nursery on time. That all her charms and rituals of protection are enough to repel him and banish him from her home.

But as she opened the door to the nursery, you were gone. Vanished into thin air, just as she feared.

All that’s left is the gentle breeze that blows the thin curtains from the open window.

Thank you for reading ♡ Comments & reviews are greatly appreciated!

Masterlist | Next

[ticklygiggles]

Jelly | Gaming, Aether & Wanderer

Commissioned by @wertzunge

A/N: big thanks to my always special and loyal commissioner MWAH MAX 💕 Thank you for your endless support and patience! I hope you enjoy thiiis 💖

Summary: The jealousy bug has bitten Aether! Luckily, his friends are there for him!

Words: 2.1k

The Serenitea Pot was exactly that, a heaven of serenity.

A sanctuary that Aether had carefully created for Paimon and himself. After their exhausting missions and adventures, they could unwind in this small realm, surrounded by peace and tranquility. It was a safe space where Aether could hide when he didn't feel like traveling, fighting, or seeing anyone at all. A place where he could feel a little down and miss his sister without anyone looking at him with pity in their eyes. 

It was also a happy place. A place where all his friends from across Teyvat could visit and hang out with him, drinking tea and just chatting and enjoying time together. This time, he had invited Gaming and Wanderer to a picnic in his stunning garden.

Wanderer, having visited his Serenitea Pot multiple times before, seemed unfazed, but Gaming, Man Chai, and Mini Durin were impressed, showering Aether with praise and inflating his ego. 

Aether had prepared, (with Paimon’s help, who was rewarded with five sandwiches), a special picnic area. A blanket was spread out on the grass and there was so much food, snacks and candy from different parts of Teyvat that there was barely any room to sit down. As they settled in as they could, Man Chai and Mini Durin started running around, chasing each other playfully. Meanwhile, Aether couldn't help but worry... how would Wanderer and Gaming interact? 

Aether was well aware that they were complete opposites and that Wanderer wasn't exactly the most patient person in Teyvat. However, their pets happened to be the perfect icebreaker. Before he knew it, Gaming and Wanderer were engrossed in conversation, bonding over their experiences with Man Chai and Mini Durin.

Gaming laughed, “Man Chai is always so bright in the morning! Always enjoys waking me up!” 

Wanderer rolled his eyes with a groan. “Mini Durin as well. It's so terribly annoying,” he said, but anyone could see the affection for the dragon in his eyes. “And he eats like he's feeding a small army!” 

Gaming snorted, almost spilling his drink. He coughed a bit, laughing softly. “Man Chai as well!” 

Aether watched them awkwardly, struggling to find a way to join in their conversation. Just as he thought there was a chance to change the subject, one in which Aether could also participate, the two creatures dashed towards their respective owners. 

“Man Chai!” Gaming giggled, gently nudging the little lion onto the blanket, and showering him with scratches in his tummy. Man Chai responded with adorable huffing sounds that Aether could only assume was some kind of laughter. 

“Wanderer~” Mini Durin squealed in delight as Wanderer's fingers wiggled under his chin. Mini Durin kicked his little legs, his wings flapping about as he giggled happily in Wanderer's lap. 

Aether watched the adorable scene unfold before him, and he should have felt happy, delighted that his friends were having so much fun with their pets, right in that place that he had worked so hard for, but... why was he feeling so grumpy?

Aether knew the answer perfectly, but he flatly refused to admit it. It was something extremely stupid and ridiculously embarrassing, and yet, he felt that sensation that made his blood boil and caused his stomach to twist in discomfort…

He was jealous. 

Jealous of a mini dragon and a little lion that looked like a suanni. Jealous because his friends seemed to be having a blast, bonding over their pets while he was left out. Wasn't that a little unfair? Aether had been running here and there in Natlan, he was tired and wanted to sleep for five days straight. Instead, he'd decided to invite his friends over for a fun gathering, but it seemed they were the only ones having a good time. 

Aether knew he was being ridiculous, irrational. Acting like a spoiled child, but he couldn't stop himself from pouting as he nibbled on a sandwich. He should've let Paimon stay; at least she loved being the center of his attention. 

As he nibbled on some fruit and chips, he tried to ignore Gaming and Wanderer's conversation about whose pet was the most ticklish. ‘Trying’ was the key word here. His curiosity was so strong, he found himself listening, pretending to inspect a flower near him. 

“What. Wanderer, are you even seeing how much Man Chai is kicking around?” Gaming asked with a soft laugh as he scratched the lion's belly.

Wanderer huffed, “Are you listening how much Mini During is laughing?” he counterattacked, his fingers wiggling gently under the dragon’s chin, making him giggle brightly.

Aether let out a frustrated sigh, rolling his eyes in exasperation. Who cared which pet was more ticklish, anyway? Certainly, not him. He let out a sigh, his own behavior was making him feel ashamed. He suddenly thought that his friends would really hate him if they knew the thoughts he was having at that moment. 

He knew he shouldn't feel that way and he scolded himself strictly, trying to seem the same vibrant and kind person he always was, watching the scene with a small smile on his lips that didn't reach his eyes. But he couldn't hold on for long and his gaze drifted away from the scene in front of him. 

He looked over a small fountain in his garden, he watched the water fall and somehow made him feel more relaxed. He heard Mini Durin and Man Chai escaping their owners' playful ministrations and they started to run around them, playing catch. 

Aether blinked, his mind suddenly drifting far away, his expression turning a little sad as the memory of his sister's smiling face filled his mind. The chirping of the birds, the running water, the soft whisper of the wind, everything was slowly fading away, he almost didn't hear Wanderer's voice when he spoke to him.

“What's wrong?” Wanderer had asked, but Aether didn't answer, thinking he was talking to Gaming until he felt a soft touch on his knee that brought him back to the two in front of him. 

“Oh, s-sorry,” he apologized, his cheeks blushing pink. “What did you say?” 

Wanderer arched an eyebrow, his arms crossed over his chest, his expression clearly annoyed after Aether ignored him. Gaming, on the other hand, looked at Aether with a soft smile, concern in his eyes. 

“I said,” Wanderer started through gritted teeth. “What is wrong?” 

Aether blinked, shaking his head a little. “Nothing's wrong.” 

Wanderer’s eyebrow twitched. “Okay,” he sighed in exasperation. “Let me rephrase that: why are you jealous?”

Aether's eyes widened, his cheeks turning crimson as he watched the other two. His mouth opened and closed like that of a fish. He didn't know what to say, he didn't really think they were looking at him to notice his feelings. Was he being really too obvious?

“I'm not-” he started, but was promptly interrupted. 

“You are, traveler,” Gaming said with that soft smile that made Aether feel somehow guilty.

He had never felt so humiliated in his whole life. Aether looked away, incapable of meeting their eyes as he thought of something to say, but his brain couldn't form any coherent thoughts, too overwhelmed after being caught red-handed. 

“It's not that hard to say you want tickles, is it?” Wanderer asked and Aether's eyes widened even more as he looked over at him, the warmth of his cheeks spreading down to his neck. Wanderer was looking at him with a grin. “Hit the nail, huh?” 

“That's not-” he was interrupted again. 

“So traveler wants to be tickled too?” Gaming asked with wide, excited eyes. “That's why he's upset? Let's tickle him then!” 

“N-No! That's not what I want, you are- ahahahaha! Nohoho!” His sweet laughter filled the air as Gaming pounced on him, gently nudging him against the grass just like he did with Man Chai, and tickling his belly with both hands. 

Aether laughed brightly, squirming and trying to push Gaming's hands away, but he was too weak, incapacitated by the tickles. And he didn't want it to stop either, at least not yet. 

He felt a rush of happy sensations washing over him like a tidal wave. The heaviness of his heart dissipated as Gaming reassured him with kind words. 

“Traveler, if you wanted to play too, you should've just said so!” 

Aether whined, but a burst of laughter escaped his lips when fingers started to pinch and squeeze his hip bone. His laughter turned more frantic as he twisted from side to side. 

“Oh poor thing,” Wanderer teased with a grin, his hand latched to Aether's hip. “Were you jealous because Gaming and I were talking and you were left out?” 

Gaming gasped, “is that so, Traveler?!” he asked  in genuine concern, making Aether flush even more. “I'm so sorry! Aaah, how could I be so disconsidered?!”

Wanderer chuckled, his other hand latching against Aether's other hip, making him shriek with laughter. “I guess we were very disconsidered, right?” He asked, half-joking and half-serious. “How could we ignore our host in his own home?” 

“N-No! N-Nohoho! AHAHAHA, wahahait!” They were right, but Aether was also at fault and he knew it. There was no need for him to act like a kid, but he did and he knew he should apologize, but he couldn't at the moment. 

He felt his heart fluttering, so embarrassingly happy that his two dear friends were making him laugh and validated, (in their own way), his feelings. He laughed brightly, barely trying to stop them as his hips and tummy were under attack. 

Wanderer and Gaming chuckled softly, watching Aether squirm like a little worm under their tickling. 

Gaming giggled softly. “Traveler truly is ticklish, who do you think is more ticklish, Wanderer?” He asked with a bright smile as if Aether wasn't losing his mind as Gaming's finger wiggled into his belly button. 

Wanderer chuckled again, pinching Aether's hips in a way that was driving him crazy. 

“That is a good question… I would say… Mini Durin is on the top,” he nodded with a grin.  

“Don't be biased,” Gaming giggled playfully, his fingers wiggling and digging up towards Aether ribcage making him cackle and arch his back, his hands desperately trying to get hold of any of the four hands attacking his sensitive torso. “Traveler is clearly the most ticklish.” 

Traveler was positively dying. Gaming was playing with every one of his ribs, rubbing them with his thumbs as if trying to polish them, viciously trying to get the best cackle out of Aether. To his horror, Wanderer had left his hips only to grab his wrists and pull them above his head, exposing his ultimate worst spot to their tickly fingers. 

“NOHOT THEHERE!” He shrieked, although Wanderer was still fighting Aether's hands underneath his knees and Gaming was still pretty busy playing his ribs like some kind of instrument. 

Wanderer chuckled at his plea and Gaming giggled softly. “What? Where? His armpits?” Wanderer nodded, finally pinning Aether hands with his knees while Aether shook his head, laughing frantically in anticipation. 

“He's so ticklish there,” Wanderer commented almost too nonchalantly an Aether shrieked, arching his back as light fingers scribbled against the bare skin of his arms, his elbows causing him to giggle brightly. 

“He's so ticklish everywhere, though!” Gaming laughed, slowly making his way up Aether's ribs until he was tickling that hypersensitive pair of ribs close to his pits and Aether was in stitches.

“He might be,” Wanderer said, his fingers tortuously walking towards Aether's underarms. “But he's the most ticklish right… here!” 

Aether threw his head back with loud bouts of laughter as Wanderer poked the middle of his armpits, a single finger wiggling and digging into that deliciously ticklish nerve that always made him see stars. Soon after, more fingers joined into the tickle fest, not only Wanderer's, but also Gaming's who had reached that dreadful spot as well. 

Four hands tickled his armpits. Wiggling, digging, poking, prodding and pinching into the soft, tender and so very unprotected spot. 

Aether was nearly choking as he laughed into nearly insanity. Tears of mirth streamed down the sides of his face, snorts, squeals and cackles filling the fresh air. He didn't feel uncomfortable at all, even though his legs were kicking desperately and he was pulling at his arms to free them, he felt happy and loved. 

“His face is too red, shall we stop?” Gaming asked with a soft chuckle, seeing that cute expression in Aether's face. 

“He can take a little more,” Wanderer said with a grin. “Right, traveler?” 

Gaming was surprised by the soft nod, but Aether was squealing in delight by the promise of more tickles!

[littlespacereader]

I haven’t regressed for a while because you know, life sometimes gets in the way. But I finally got a moment after class to have the rest of the evening off and just regress. At first I was worried I wouldn’t be able to regress after a stressful day at college. Then I literally was two second into a Blue’s Clues episode with Steve and suddenly I’m a baby😂 Steve just had the magic touch🥹💞

I felt inspired to write a cute fic with him and a little reader. I’m actually thinking of making a mini series of fics with a little reader in a kids show. What do you think? Would you guys like something like that? Let me know😄

So please enjoy another “side quest fic” I didn’t plan on writing😂💞

Looking for Blue’s Clues🐾

Caregiver!Steve Burns & GN Little!Reader

Tags - scavenger hunt, Steve is the most gentle and patient CG ever, hand holding, hugs

I held my head up high as I walked through the woods, stuffie in hand, backpack on my shoulders, wandering around on my own little adventure. I needed this, just some time away from the busy and hectic working world. I just needed some time outdoors to regress in peace.

And that’s what I did. All my supplies shoved into my backpack, my favorite stuffie in hand, I am ready to go! I started on a trail, following the winding trail through the thick woods. I’ve been on this trail before, it’s calm, quiet and peaceful. Perfect for a regression day.

As I kept walking I noticed something with my usual trail. The trail split into two pathways. One, the usual path, went right and down towards a river. But now there’s a left path, a path that’s never existed before. Maybe the parks department decided to make a new path for everyone?

There was something deep down inside of me that filled with excitement for the new adventure. I looked to my stuffie in hand, “What do you think (stuffie name)?”

Though they didn’t outright say it, I knew my stuffie wanted me to go forward towards the adventure.

“You’re so right! New trail it is!”

The path wasn’t very different than the other trail, though it did go deeper into the woods. But there was a clearing up ahead, I could see there was a colorful neighborhood with a yellow house.

A blue dog ran infront of me, stopping me in my tracks. She began talking to me before she skipped away. I smiled to myself, a blue dog?! That’s a first!

Suddenly out of the corner of my eyes I spotted something. On one of the tall trees next to me is a blue paw print. I walked over and looked at the print and smiled. Why would there be a blue paw print here? Did that dog leave it behind?

“A clue!”

I quickly turned around to be greeted by a man in a stripped green shirt. He smiled, happy to see me as if he knew me his whole life.

“You found a clue!”

“A clue?” I pointed to the blue print.

“A blue’s clue! Great job! You’re very smart.”

I couldn’t help but smile at the praise. “Thank you, but I wasn’t even trying.”

“You weren’t trying to find blue’s clue and you found it anyway? You’re better at this than me! Wow!” Again, the stranger glowed with praise.

“I’m Steve, it’s so nice to meet you.” He put his hand out to shake.

“I’m Y/N. It’s nice to meet you too.” I gladly shook his hand.

“Now that we have our first clue, we gotta put it in our handy dandy notebook!” Steve pulled out his notebook from his back pocket, popping the crayon out from the top and flipping to the first page.

He stood along side me so I could see what he was drawing. “So our first clue is a tree. We’ll start with two big lines for the trunk of the tree, then we’ll draw smaller lines on the top for the branches, then we’ll make this curly lines for the leafs at the top of the tree. There, a tree.” He looked up from his drawing to smile back at me.

“Our first clue is a tree. So what could Blue want to do tonight after dinner with…a tree?” He asked me.

I began thinking of all the possibilities a tree could mean. What does his dog want to do tonight? “Maybe she wants to play fetch with one of the branches of the tree?”

Steve hummed in agreement, “Good idea, maybe she does watch to play fetch. But we have to find the other clues to be sure.”

I nod my head in agreement but I can’t help but ask. “How many clues are there?”

“There are three clues. Once we find all three clues we sit in our thinking chair and think, think, think. Because when we use our minds, we take a step out of time and we can do anything that we want to do.” His smile is utterly contagious because I smile just as big as him.

“I’m really going to need your help to find the other two clues. Will you help me find them?”

“Yeah!” I practically jump saying.

“Really? Thank you! You’re the best! Now, this second clue must be around here somewhere…Lets go this way.” He hold his hand out to me as a silent offer.

I appreciate him not being pushy or just grabbing my hand. It was an invitation if I wanted it, so I took his hand in mine. Together we walked to the yellow house I saw earlier.

Steve opened the door and lead the way into his house. It’s beautiful with its peach tone wallpaper and big red chair in the living room.

“That’s the thinking chair,” Steve pointed out, “Once we’ve got all three clues we’ll sit there and think.”

Then it was off to the kitchen to further find a clue. Inside on the counter top is a family different spices.

“Y/N,” he squeezed my hand, “I’d like to introduce you to Mr. Salt and Mrs. Pepper and their children Cinnamon and Paprika.”

I couldn’t believe my eyes as the Salt and Pepper shaker waved and talked to me.

“Bonjour Y/N! Welcome to our home!” Mr. Salt waved.

“So wonderful to have you here.” Mrs. Pepper added.

“So nice to meet you both.” I smiled back.

But then my eyes caught it, across the kitchen on another counter top sat a bag of marshmallows. And on the bag? A big blue paw print!

“Steve! A clue! A clue!!” I squeezed his hand back and was jumping out and down.

“The flu? You don’t look sick to me. Here let me check.” He held his hand to my forehead. “No, you don’t have a temperature.”

I couldn’t help but giggle to Steve. “No! A clue! Over there!” I pointed to the paw print.

Steve gasped and quickly the two of us ran over to the bag of marshmallows. “So our second clue is…marshmallows. You know what we gotta do. We gotta put this clue in our handy dandy…”

“Notebook!”

“That’s right! Our notebook! Now, a marshmallow. We’ll make two round lines on the side and an oval on the top. At the bottom we’ll make half a circle to connect the sides. There! A marshmallow! But what could Blue want to do tonight after dinner with…a tree and a marshmallow?”

The two of us stopped and started to think about the clues. There were pretty different from one another. It would be hard to tell what they meant together.

“Maybe she wants to play fetch then eat some marshmallows?” I suggested.

Steve gasped and nodded his head, “Maybe! But I think we should find our last clue before we decide.” I nodded in agreement.

Mail time, mail time mmmmaaaaaiiilllll ttttiiimmmmeeee

“Oh! The mail is here!” Steve grabbed my hand and together we ran into the living room. Blue and him started dancing around happy for the mails arrival. After a minute I started to join in the fun.

“Here’s the mail, it never fails. It makes me want to wag my tail. When it comes I want to wail, MMMMMAAAAAIIIIILLLLL!!!”

Steve plopped down into his thinking chair and held his hand out for me to sit as well. “You’re more than welcome to sit on my lap or on the arm of the chair. Whichever is more comfortable for you Y/N.”

After a moment of consideration, I chose to sit on the arm of the chair next to Steve. The mailbox stretched into the room and over to our chair. “Mails here! Mails here!”

“Mailbox! I’d like you to meet my friend Y/N. Y/N, this is Mailbox.”

“It’s nice to meet you.” I smiled to the purple mailbox.

“It’s nice to meet you too! Infact this letter is for you.”

“It’s for me?”

“Yup! Here you go!” Mailbox opens his lid and Steve grabbed the letter for me.

“We just got a letter, we just got a letter, we just got a letter, wonder who it’s from.” He went to open the letter but paused and looked to me. “Y/N this is your mail. Would you rather open it or would you like me to?”

“Could you open and read it?” I asked a bit shy. But Steve brought me back to feeling comfortable with his warm smile and nod.

“Of course I can. Now let’s see, oh! It appears that this letter is from a (stuffie name here).”

I gasped and looked down at my stuffie. “It’s from (stuffie name here)?!”

“Uh-huh. That what it says. The letter goes,

Dear Y/N,

Thank you for always taking such great care of me. Thank you for always coming to me whenever you need extra love and comfort. Always know I will forever be with you even when you have to go to school or work. There’s always a piece of me inside of you just as there a piece of you inside of me.

Love you always,

(Stuffie name).”

Tears started to fall down from my eyes as I looked at my stuffie in hand. They looked back up at me with a smile and a wink.

“What a beautiful letter! Your stuffie is very grateful for you Y/N, just as I’m sure you are for them. Oh, I don’t think we were introduced. It’s nice to meet you (stuffie name).” Steve leaned over and shook the stuffie’s (hand, paw, fin, ect.)

“They said it’s nice to meet you too.” I add back to Steve, wiping the happy tears from my eyes.

“Are you okay?”

I hum in agreement. “My stuffie was just so nice.”

“They seem great! You’re perfectly matched because you’re great and they’re great too.” Steve smiled. “Now, would you like to take a moment here or would you like to go find the last clue?”

“The last clue!!”

“Alright!” He stood up and offered his hand again. I jumped off the chair and took his hand in mine again. “Off we go looking for clues…but ummm…where do you think we should go?”

I looked outside and saw the sunsetting. It might be nice to get some fresh air again. “Maybe outside?” I offered.

“Great idea! Follow me.” Steve led the way as we ventured back outside.

Outside we started to walk around the town. Steve showed me the eye doctor where Blue’s friend Magenta got her new glasses, then there was the present shop where his brother Joe works and another house down the block where his cousin Josh lives. The town seemed so nice and peaceful.

Since we didn’t see anymore of Blue’s clues we ventured back to Steve’s house and into the back yard. There it seemed all of his friends were handing out around a picnic blanket, tree and a fire pit. WAIT A MINUTE! THE FIRE PIT!

“Steve!! A clue!! Another clue!!” I pointed out again.

“Really?! Where?”

“There by the fire pit! The final clue!”

Steve gasped and looked at the fire pit. There, at the base of it was the clue.

“A clue!! Our final clue! And it’s on the fire pit. You know where we need to put this, in our handy dandy…”

“NOTEBOOK!”

Steve grabbed his notebook from his back pocket and began drawing. “So our last clue is…a fire pit. We’ll start by making a cylinder for the fire pit. Then spark points for the fire inside of it. There, a fire pit!”

He closed the notebook then looked at me just as excited. “We have all three clues! We have to sit in our-.”

“Think chair!!”

“Yes! Come on!”

The two of us raced back inside the house and over to the thinking chair. Steve sat in his usual spot and I opted for the arm of the chair again. Blue ran over and joined us, to see if we got it right.

“So now that we’re in our thinking chair, let’s think. So what could Blue want to do tonight after dinner? What’s our first clue?”

“A tree.”

“That’s right! A branch! Good job remembering. So our first clue is a branch. But what was our second?”

“Marshmallows!”

“You’re right it’s marshmallows! You have an amazing memory.” He smiled.

“Finally our last clue is a fire pit. So what could Blue want to do tonight after dinner, with a tree, marshmallows and a fire pit?”

The two of sat in the chair together and think, think, think. They did seem random at first but they meant to go together. Then suddenly it hit me!

“Steve! I’ve got it! I’ve got it!!”

“What is it Y/N?”

“Blue wants to use the wood from the tree to make a fire so that she can roast marshmallows!”

Steve’s face lights up to the idea. He looks to Blue who start jumping around the room happily. “You did it Y/N! You figure out Blue’s Clues!”

Steve jumps up and put his arms open to me. I immediately run into them, getting a big hug from him. “You are so smart! I am so proud of you!”

Tears build up in my eyes hearing the admission. He’s treated me so sweet for hardly knowing me. I haven’t felt this safe and happy in such a long time.

“Come on, let’s go outside and get ourselves a marshmallow.” Steve says as we break apart.

The two of us join the rest of the neighborhood outside to roast some marshmallows. There I meet Joe and Josh as well as the rest of the family including Magenta, Sidetable, and more.

I sat next to Steve as the evening turned to night. We looked up at the stars above as we ate our marshmallows.

“You know, you could stay if you wanted?” Steve said after a moment. I looked at him shocked at first. “It’s just that, you did such a good job finding all the clues. And Blue and I loved having you here. Plus, I could look after you and show you the rest of the town and-.”

He stopped himself. “Sorry, what I’m trying to say is. If you like to stay you’re more than welcome to. I’d love to have you here. And before you say anything, I don’t mind your regression. I’d love to help take care of you and maybe even possible be your Caregiver. So what do you think?”

I immediately began to tear up again. “I’d love to stay and I’d love to have you as my Caregiver.”

Steve’s nervousness turned immediately to happiness as he put his arms out again. I didn’t waste any time as I joined him in a hug.

“I’m so happy to hear that Y/N. I think you’re going to be the best person for this town. I couldn’t be more happy to have you here Y/N.” Steve added as we broke apart.

“I couldn’t be more happy to be here.” I smiled back.

[the-greatest-magic-of-all]

Leaving a mini offering for when you awaken - Thanks for chatting with me while work has been boring me to death :3

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

Fae Wilds

Fabian flinched his hand away when Riz swatted at his fingers, the goblins hand connecting with his knuckles with a stinging crack since he wasn’t pulling his punches. Not anymore. The creature that had tried to hand Fabian a strange piece of fruit snarling at the goblin and earning a venomous hiss from the detective in response before it skuttled up the tree and out of sight into the canopy.

“Just because someone is handing you something doesn’t mean you have to take it.” Riz took a calming breath, rubbing at the bridge of his nose under his glasses before resettling them on his face properly. “In fact, put your hands in your pockets. Please.”

The goblin had needed to explain this to Fabian six times already but the Fae Wilds tended to make most people who weren’t native a little vague at the best of times. He wasn’t mad at his friend, not really, he was just kind of wishing he hadn’t let the half elf invite himself on this little mission in the name of ‘watching Riz’s back’ for him. Sure, adventuring with a partner was much more enjoyable than going solo like he usually did but gods was it stressful when he had to keep an eye on Fabian the entire time. If he’d known Fabians human heritage would cause this much of a handicap on his resistance to the confusing influence of this realm he wouldn’t have let him come at all.

This excursion wasn’t in relation to Fabians case anyway, the leads on that one having run dry a while ago, but Riz still had bills to pay and the half elf was fine with him taking other clients in the meantime. They were in the Fae Wilds searching for information, the detectives current client swearing that his daughter had run off with a member of some fairy court and wanting to know where they’d gone. When Riz had gone through his daughters things he’d had to agree, some of the items and letters she’d left behind faintly humming with traces of magic from this realm when he’d checked them over.

So here they were, just the two of them, trying to find someone they could get information out of without trading away something irreplaceable. Riz had gotten a few leads from some of the less dangerous creatures in the area and had been verifying some of it with another when he heard Fabian speaking with someone behind him. The goblin having to whirl around quickly to smack Fabian on the leg to stop him from saying his name to a beautiful, naked woman that looked like they were carved out of a still living tree. Riz narrowing his eyes and baring his teeth when they ran a flirty finger under Fabian’s chin before giggling and wandering away into the forest around them.

“Oh, sorry The Ball. You were trying to get my attention?” Fabian had stared wistfully after the retreating figure until they were impossible to spot among the foliage, the half elf making a choked noise when Riz reached up to grab him by the collar of his jacket and yank him down to the goblins eye level.

“Stop. Saying. Your. Name. and REALLY stop saying your FULL name. Even if they don’t want to steal it they can do some pretty horrible stuff to you if you’re not careful.”

“Ah. Right. Sorry. Force of habit.” Fabian grinned, happy to let the goblin manhandle him around if he wanted to even though it would be very easy to resist. It meant he got to look at his face up close, even if his brows were knitted together in a frown and his ears were pinned back in a way he knew meant he was upset or worried.

“Fuck, okay. I know you’re having issues remembering all this because of-“ Riz let go of his collar with one hand to gesture vaguely around the pair of them, indicating the fae wild at large. “-but it’s going to cause problems if you keep doing that. So. Give me your name.”

“Hmm? Okay, It’s…” The half elf frowned, his own ears drooping slightly while his eye darted, unfocused, from side to side as he tried to think. “I don’t… why can’t I remember?”

“Oh, good. Excellent. I still remember it so that worked.” Riz let go of his collar, pressing their foreheads together in a brief nuzzle before stepping way from him. “You gave me your name. I’ll give it back once we go home but at least I can keep it safe for you until we do. For now you’ll just have to go by… I dunno. Maximum Legend until we leave.”

Now that a creature of this realm had control of the half-elfs name hopefully it would have the duel effect of helping to clear his mind somewhat. Maximum Legend, for his part, was doing an excellent impression of a stunned fish. Mouth hanging open slightly as he stayed crouched in the position Riz had left him in.

“That’s…. what the fuck The Ball? How in the Nine Hells did you even do that?”

“I am a creature of many talents.”

The half-elf scoffed in response but didn’t argue, standing back up to his full height and following along behind Riz as he started walking again.

It's always a delight to chat with you, and it's one of my favourite things to do! Thank you for this gift. Here's a little something in return, pulled from some of our recent chats.

Maximum Legend—ugh, he couldn’t believe Riz was throwing that one drunken night on Leviathan in his face—kept a hand on the hilt of his blade as he stood back to back with Riz as several masked goblins surrounded them. They’d been on their way through a forest of trees as tall as skyscrapers with thick and colourful underbrush. Following their only lead regarding the location of Riz’s client’s daughter, Sarah. Up until they’d been ambushed, of course.

He’d been ready for a fight, but he felt Riz hesitate at the same time he did, thanks to giving their attackers a second look over. Rusty pitchforks, worn sickles, and recently repaired spears. Masks made up of ripped fabric and threadbare work clothes covered with patchwork leather armour. If they were bandits, they had only just started out, but something told them that these people weren’t even that.

Riz glanced at Maximum Legend to make sure they were on the same page before he called out to one of the goblins in Gukliak. Maximum could only follow parts of the back and forth that occurred. He could surmise that Riz had asked the troupe if they’d seen a Halfling girl running around with a member of one of the nearby Courts.

For a moment, the goblins looked shifty about it, but Riz… insisted that her father only wanted to know that she was safe and bring her home if she wasn’t. A bit of conferring between the troupe and another quick exchange with Riz before they lowered their weapons. Giving them both a nod to follow.

The troupe of goblins kept them close as they led them through the forest toward a small village by a winding creek. Small farms on the outskirts of it with farmers tending to strange beasts and even stranger crops. Little houses and shops were built into the massive ivied tree trunks or carved out of giant moss-covered boulders. A village square with a tall pole wrapped in colourful ribbons and flowers that goblin villagers pass by and congregate at to stare at him and Riz as they’re led deeper into the settlement.

Eventually they are led to a hollowed out giant tree stump where the missing daughter, Sarah, a young ravenhaired Halfling woman, sat in a garden of tall grass and wildflowers, playing a guitar for a hoard of young goblins. It was a sweet sight to watch for a moment or two. But sooner than later, one of the kits noticed their and their guides’ presences and a whirlwind of chaos erupted.

Sarah stopped strumming, sitting up alarmed as some of the kits raced towards a couple of the goblins who guided them here—their parents, obviously. While others, the ones on the older side stayed and began to swarm Sarah as if they could hide her with their bodies. And that is nothing to say of a matronly Goblin woman bursting out of the stump and rushing to put herself in front of Sarah and the kits as she hissed at the guides and the outsiders.

Maximum watched as Riz lowered his ears in submission to her obvious authority in this place as he began to speak to her slowly in Gukliak. At first, she wasn’t having it; not even some nudging from their guides was enough for her to let them come any closer. But luckily, Sarah was far more willing to humour them.

Slithering out of the pile of kits, she threw her guitar over her shoulder as she walked over to the Goblin matron to put a hand on her shoulder. Telling her that they most likely weren’t here on the Goblin King’s orders. She recognized their clothing; they were from her home plane. Here to rescue her. Sarah smiles at them and tells them that Drezza is just worried about her because she sees her stolen daughter in her, that’s all. She’s happy to talk to them and explain what happened to her.

You see, Sarah Timbersage had been having a really tough time at college, at her dead-end job and at home and… she’d met a guy. Handsome, almost too good-looking for words. Elven, she’d guessed at first, but he’d been light on the details. They’d exchanged letters, back and forth; old fashioned, but she’d liked it. He’d said that she could come live with him, that he’d take care of her, and she’d want for nothing…

As the fifth daughter of eight children, it was an enticing offer. Believable, too, he’d given her a beautiful necklace as if it were nothing. She hadn’t even realized she’d been enthralled until she was deep in the Feywild, within the Castle of the Goblin King. Who, she’d quickly realized, was only going to add her to a collection of “brides” he kept as a testament to his power. Including Drezza’s daughter, Pollina, though Sarah hadn't known that then. Only by pure luck did she manage to escape the fortress and disappear into the forest surrounding it.

Sarah doesn’t know how long she wandered, but one morning, after spending the night hidden in a rotted log, she was found by some of Drezza’s children. The sweet things had realized that she was not only hungry and thirsty, but also the mortal woman the Goblin King had sent scouts to find.

Now, you have to understand. Within the Goblin Court, you’d be hard-pressed to find a soul that actually revered or even liked their King. Hell, they hadn’t particularly liked their last dozen Kings! Might makes Right in the Court of Goblins, so one of the most popular ways for anyone to gain power is to kill a more powerful being than themselves and assume their title.

The worst thing is? It's an arcane issue. It doesn't matter if the courtiers and subjects of the Court despise whoever holds the title of Goblin King, no matter how this so-called King drags their Court’s reputation through the mud unless one of them can defeat him? There's nothing they can do to strip the Court-given powers from him. As much as they hated to admit it, the current Goblin King was very powerful.

And if the smoke signal from the outermost of the village's farms was correct, he was on his way here.

[aziraphales-library]

Y’all are awesome and I appreciate the hell out of this account! Any fics that are an attempt at a season 3? Preferably comedic ones! Thank you so much and keep up the amazing work! ���️

Hello. We have a #good omens s3 speculation tag, so check that out. Here are more to add that have some kind of humour tag...

a place to be by kaiyen (NR)

In which Crowley moves back into his flat, Aziraphale has problems at work, and the Second Coming of Christ is but a stone's throw away. In the end, Crowley makes it to rolling green hills, leant against a stubbornly yellow Bentley. He remembers the first morning. He had slithered out of the ground not long before dawn, the dirt damp even before the first rain, the grass cool and crisp against his scales. And the sun had risen, jewels spilling across the great blue sky, warm and golden from the East. Crowley – Crawly, then – had wanted to follow it, had felt a great pull Eastwards. He went, too, until he found the ripe red fruit nestled amongst the lush green leaves and knew what they were for. It was luck, then, that the humans had left in the direction of the sunrise. Luck, or– ineffable. The sun rises over the South Downs, and Crowley finally wants to stay.

The Ineffable Shades of Gray (Good Omens Season 3) by altsernative (T)

After returning to Heaven, Aziraphale learns the Metatron's true intentions, finds himself disillusioned, and regrets his choice to leave Crowley, who has been working in the Temptations department. They reunite, and find themselves stopping the final war between Heaven and Hell and learning God and Satan's true intentions for the world and each other.

Demons are Forever by in_a_pickle (T)

After finallly finding the courage to tell his best friend his feelings, Crowley's dreams are shattered when Aziraphale once again chooses Heaven over happiness together. With ‘Great Plans’ afoot upstairs, Aziraphale discovers that the starring role he accepted comes with some unforeseen duties and that Crowley’s kiss has become something of a distraction. Crowley meanwhile is trying to come to terms with a broken heart and is trying to fathom why Heaven is so keen to have Aziraphale back in the fold. A mini adventure with our favourite group of two, written in case I get hit by a bus and never get to find out what happened next.

The Intended Effect by Esme_Abner (E)

A post-S2 fic that begins with a very sad Crowley and a conflicted Aziraphale and a surprisingly not-awful Jesus. It's all building toward our boys reconciling, because like everyone else, my heart is broken and I need to pick up the pieces somehow. And they might try to like save the world again, too.

(I just can't wait for) Season 3 Good Omens! by RCReveal (T)

After Season 2, I really needed to find out how Aziraphale and Crowley could get their reunion: a real reunion & not 'pretendy real'. They both have so much growing to do with neither of them, yet, being able to even say 'I love you' clearly to each other. Angel, what's going on? What kind of doublethink are you doing to still think that Heaven is the Good side & that you can't even admit to being friends? But you'll do anything to protect the World. Crowley, always planning on running. Sorry, but that won't work. If you had run at Armageddon there'd be no here to be in. But somehow, still a little seed of optimism. And wow! what you two can do together! Especially with a little help from old and new friends. So here's a story about averting the Second Coming with that great ensemble cast of characters in Heaven, Hell, and Whickber ST. Long set up, but then starts to speed up, kinda a wild ride from chapter 42 onto the end. This story is at about the same level of cursing, violence (well, maybe a little more Gaiman-esque), humor (definitely much more Terry Pratchett-esque) and romance as that of the second season.

There's a Special Place on Earth for Beings Like You by Kipje (T)

Set two years after Aziraphale leaves to become Supreme Archangel. It’s the Second Coming. Aziraphale is tasked with finding parents for the new Christ and returns to earth. He needs Crowley’s help, but the two haven’t spoken since the break-up. Crowley doesn’t want to forgive the angel, nor does he want to help out with the baby, but he finds it incredibly hard not to get involved. OR Aziraphale and Crowley raise the new Christ together; a girl named Eden. While they try to sort out their feelings and avert the apocalypse. Excerpt: Crowley had always assumed Aziraphale would want to run away with him in order to be together. He had never bothered to ask if there was a version where they would be an ‘us’ on earth. What was Aziraphale supposed to do once they arrived in the Alpha Centauri system. How would that even work with his book collection? Sure, Aziraphale had fallen in love with the demon – and it had taken him a while to be able to admit that – but he had also fallen in love with humanity, with earth. He had never planned on leaving. He knew earth would be no fun without his favourite wily serpent, but that did not mean he would be fine anywhere as long as Crowley was there. He had standards.

- Mod D

[the-broken-truth]

Last Meal - Jamil Viper [Yandere] [Female Yuu] [Mini-Series?]

Summary: After spending a year in Twisted Wonderland, Crowley finds a way to send Yuu back to her Original world; while she is happy with this news, a certain serpent servant is not. How does he cope? By making a very special meal - their last meal together.

[Notification: New Message from Jamil Viper 🐍]

Jamil Viper 🐍: I heard the news... Crowley found a way to send you back home, correct, Prefect.

Prefect: Yeah! I'll be able to head home tomorrow morning. I'm actually glad you texted, I wanted to take you for everything you've done for me, Jamil-senpai.

Jamil Viper 🐍: I see... What about Dinner?

Prefect: Dinner?

Jamil Viper 🐍: If tonight is going to be your last night in Wonderland, I would like to make dinner for you and we can talk one last time. I already prepared the food and I'm currently on my way to Ramshackle. Is that alright?

Prefect: Sure! I would love to have one last meal with you!

Jamil Viper 🐍: Yes... One Last Meal.

About 5 minutes after the last message was received, there was a knock on Ramshackle's Front Door. Yuu placed her phone in her pocket, left her room, walked down the stairs, and opened the front door to reveal Jamil Viper standing on the other side of the door with two large bags in his hands while dressed in his casual clothing, his signature hoodie on display for the Prefect of Ramshackle to see.

"Hello, Jamil-senpai!" Yuu said as she moved to the side to allow Jamil to walk in.

"Good evening, Prefect." Jamil said before looking around as if trying to find something, "Is Grim around?"

"No. Grim decided that he was going to head to Heartslabyul and stay with Ace and Deuce; it was kinda weird because it was as if he was hiding something." Yuu said as she closed the door behind her before walking over to Jamil, looking down at the bags in Jamil's hands. "What did you bring?"

"Some high-grade steaks and some other sides that would best compliment the steaks." Jamil looked into the eyes of the Prefect before smiling at her," This is going to be a lovely dinner. Just for the two of us."

Yuu looked into Jamil's eyes - an unknown emotion, mysterious but dangerous. Something within her was telling her that something was not right with Jamil, however, Yuu knew that Jamil was always a mysterious person and that could just be how he currently was since he wasn't too happy about Yuu leaving in the morning.

Jamil walked into the Dining Room and began to set the table after collecting plates and wine glasses from Ramshackle's Kitchen Cabinets; Jamil brought the crystal wine glasses with him. Yuu watched as Jamil placed the food on the plates before pulling her chair out for her, waiting for her to sit, and pushing her chair in before walking to the other side of the table and taking a seat. The two of them said a prayer to the Great Seven before they started eating while enjoying conversation about their past adventures.

After dinner, Jamil was washing the dishes while Yuu was enjoying the dessert that Jamil made for her: It was a Strawberry Parfait with whipped cream and some small fruits that resembled seeds; she felt like she had seen something like that before but she couldn't place her finger on it and ate the dessert before turning to Jamil who was placing a plate in the drying rack.

"Jamil-senpai, you don't have to wash the dishes; ya know?" Yuu asked.

"I just want to be a good guest. This is your dorm after all." Jamil said, not turning to face Yuu, but the tone in his voice was...different; she remembered that tone when she met him when he was hiding his true intentions.

"It won't matter in the morning... I'll be gone." Yuu said.

Jamil was silent for a while before he spoke again.

"Prefect... In your Original World, do you have any Mythology that originated in Greece that you are familiar with?" Jamil asked while he was drying a wine glass.

"Greek Mythology? I mean, they taught us some but I don't remember everything. Why?" Yuu asked.

"I am curious if your Mythology matches with our own." Jamil answered.

"Hmmm...." Yuu pondered for a moment before answering with the first thing that came to mind, "Oh, I remember this one rule: Do not eat food in the Underworld, otherwise you will not be able to leave! Oh, and avoid pomegranates unless you are offering them to Lord Hades!"

"I see... Your Knowledge is similar to our own in regards to the King of the Underworld, but there are a few...differences." Jamil said as he placed the glass on the drying rack; that was his last dish but he kept his back turned to Yuu for a moment, "Our myth is about food, but it's more about cooking it there."

"Huh?" Yuu questioned.

"Here is our myth: If you consume food that has been cooked in the Flames of the Underworld, regardless if you are in the Underworld or the Mortal Realm when you eat the food, you will die if you are not from a host of high power." Jamil explained, "However...if you consume pomegranate seeds before the effects of the tainted food take effect, you will survive but... your soul will be...reborn. Everything you once were will be erased and you shall be a new template; ready to be shaped. It is a painful process...painful but necessary."

"That's rather...brutal. Why are you telling me this?" Yuu asked.

Suddenly, Jamil's Phone started ringing; the Viper pulled his phone out of his pocket and looked to see who was calling before telling Yuu that he needed to take this before walking out of the kitchen, and out the front door to have his conversation in private.

Yuu sat there for a while when she felt a light tightness in her chest before using her fist to lightly hit her chest as if she was trying to bring up a burp, but a cough came up instead; she instinctively covered her mouth and violently coughed into it before removing her hand from her mouth and looked down at it - her eyes widened as her eyes landed on a crimson stain on her palm of her hand...

"Blood?" She questioned herself before she coughed once again, even worse this time, and her heart was hurting even worse; as if something was pulling her apart from the inside. She tried to stand up but her body suddenly felt weak as she fell to the ground, causing her phone to fly out of her loose pocket and slide across the floor.

Yuu continued to cough up blood, the pain getting worse and worse with each passing moment; she clenched her shirt over her heart as she looked at the door, she wanted to call out for Jamil but her voice was hurting; she couldn't speak. She looked around, her vision starting to blur when her eyes landed on her phone. She pushed through the pain and crawled to the device, she reached out for it, only for a tan and to reach down and pick up the phone before she could grab it. Her eyes landed on familiar tennis shoes as she weakly looked up and landed in the face of Jamil Viper, watching as he placed her phone in his hoodie pocket. Yuu attempted to speak through her blood-stained lips but Jamil knelt beside her and gently caressed her face while shushing her.

"I know. I know it hurts, My Diamond... It's so painful but necessary." Jamil whispered.

Yuu's eyes widened.

The story.

This pain.

Everything made sense: Jamil fed her food that had been cooked using the flames of the underworld.

She was dying...

"No, My Diamond, you are not dying; you are being reborn. Your dessert is making sure of that." Jamil said while smiling at her before gently holding her in his arms, not caring that her blood was getting on his hoodie.

"I never wanted to do this, none of us did, but we could not all you to turn to the world you came from; you belong here in Wonderland but you never understood that. You wanted to leave me and the world we were building together, but I couldn't allow that to happen. I need you, My Diamond, just as you need me." He gently kissed her forehead, "You will experience more pain in the coming days, but everything will be for your betterment, and once everything is said and done... We shall have our Happily Ever After. Rest, My Diamond, don't fight it... Let the rebirth happen and I shall be there to guide you."

With those words, the pain became too much for Yuu to bear and she slipped into an unconscious state of mind. Jamil looked at her body for a while before pulling his phone out of his pocket and dialing a number, putting it up to his ear.

"It's done. Prepare the room and get everyone together." Jamil said.

"Understood." The other persona said before hanging up.

Jamil looked at Yuu's face before pulling a handkerchief out of his pocket and wiping the blood from Yuu's lips, "Everything is going to be alright, My Diamond in the Rough; once everything is done, no one will be able to take you from me again...nor will you escape me. Everything will be as it is supposed to be." Once her face was clean, he placed a tender kiss on her lips, "I love you. I love you so much."

The front door opened and Jamil looked behind him at the eyes watching him. He lifted Yuu in his arms and carried her out of Ramshackle before the door slammed behind him, leaving the Prefect's Dorm in darkness.

[END?]

[brainrotbabe24]

Could I please make a request for Thorin's company reuniting with their love after Erebor is retaken? For the line of Durin you can can make a what if if you want 😢

Thank you for this request. It was fun writing mini-scenarios for each. 💖🤩

Side note: I love the Durin boys they are gonna be in part 2 hehe

Reuniting: Part 1

Balin: You wake to the sound of familiar boots in your living room. Adrenaline surging, you jump out of bed and down the stairs. Your heart drops when you only see Dwalin. Fearing the worst, you gasp. Making Dwaling look up. He smiles and moves out of the way, and in walks Balin. Balin looks up at you and smiles. "Oh, my heart…" you say, running to him. You hug him and whisper thank you’s and other quiet gratitudes in his ear. He holds you close and says, "I'm here now. I'm here." 

Dwalin: Dwalin saw you from afar; you were laughing at something your friends were saying. He smiled, loving how your face lit up. Then, your friend leaned in and whispered something to you. Your eyes snapped up, locking with Dwalin's. You dropped what you are doing and walked towards him. It's like a weight had lifted off Dwalin's shoulders as he took a step forward. He collapsed into your embrace, letting your smell envelope him. Dwalin didn’t let go. He couldn’t let go. He was finally home. 

Óin: You were out in the woods, harvesting mushrooms, herbs, and other supplies for the clinic. You had continued working in Oin's shop while he was gone. It was stressful, but you were counting down the days till you saw him again. As you tried to recall how long it had been since he left, you heard your name. You turned and saw him, exhaustion written all over his face. You rushed over to him, kissing his nose and cheeks; he held you close and kissed your arm rapidly. ( like Gomez would do, Lol) He couldn’t stop touching you. He needed to feel you, too feel that connection again. He ended up picking you up bridal style and carrying you home. "Harvesting can wait," he grunted. 

Glóin: You had heard the news of Erebor being reclaimed and expected Gloin any day now. It was his laugh you heard before anything else. You ran out of the house and saw him, a big smile on his face, his cheeks rosy. He dropped everything and opened his arms wide. "Come here,Y/N! " he called out, laughing. You giggled and ran to him. He wrapped his large arms around you, lifting you up and twirling you around. "Welcome home, Gloin!" you giggled.

Bifur: You were busy working at the tavern with a customer when you heard the front door open. "Please seat yourself. I'll be right with you," you called out over your shoulder. You smiled back at the customer when you suddenly heard someone speak in Khuzdul, behind you. You immediately turned and saw Bifur standing there. He nodded before looking at the ground. Overcome with joy, you hugged him. Still in his embrace, you looked into his eyes, noticing how deep and tired they were. Then it hit you, "You could have died!" you cried. Your face was filled with shock as you gently touched his face, eyeing his scars and missing ax. He squeezed your waist and finally spoke, "I've missed you so much," this time in plain language—not Khuzdul.

Bofur: Bofur left for the journey, saying, "This is the journey of a lifetime. I have to go". He was excited to go, but after the battle, he is more than ready to come home to you, with something important on his mind. He returns a few months later and sees you shopping in the market. Smiling, he sneaks up behind you, wrapping his arms around your waist and kissing you. You yelp in surprise, before your expression melts into happiness once you see it is him. Bofur smiles, taking a step back and removing his hat. He clears his throat,"I've been thinking. This adventure made me realize you mean a lot to me. I need you in my life. S-so let's create some memories together, hm? Would you want to do that with me?". He fiddles with his hat before pulling out a courting bead. Bofur's heart flips when he sees you beam up at him and say yes.

Side note: I finally did some research and found out that beads are a way for dwarves to ask to court. 

Bombur: You stood in silence, watching as Thorn's company returned. You saw each member return to their loved one, saw their happiness and relief. But you felt guilty. Guilty for agreeing to let Bombur go. You thought you had betrayed him, and now you feared letting him go had killed him. Was it because you said yes that he was gone forever? But all worry faded when you saw an orange mop of hair bounce through the group. You saw his smile as he approached you, pulling you into a tight hug. "I'm sorry," you said. He shushed you and said, "You have nothing to be sorry for."

[themultiuniversal]

I think it's a shame that The Boy and The Heron was released under that name rather than the original Japanese title "How do you live?" because that's literally the theme and the core message of the film.

Like, I spent a good few hours after I finished watching it puzzling over the film's themes because at first glance it looked like it had a million different themes and most of them either didn't resolve by the end, happened only briefly, or appeared out of thin air in the last half of the film.

(Heavy spoilers under cut)

So the first part of the film discussed the effects of war, loss, and acceptance in typical ghibli fashion as Mahito lost his mother and struggled to move on past it. There's also a dash of classism, self-harm, and masculinity when Mahito went to the new school looking obviously like a rich kid, gets beat up for it, then hit himself with a rock in, what i assume, is either an attempt to not go school to avoid the other kids or to look to his father like he actually put up a fight and didnt just got away with light bruises in a misguided attempt to look tough/masculine.

In the second part he went into the tower world and there's the topic of death/life (with the warawara and the noble pelican), taboos, leaving a legacy behind (as the great granduncle wants to leave the world behind to Mahito and let him decide how to build it forward), self-worth (Mahito denying the offer and choosing to go back to the world because the scar was a sign of his "malice" which he thought could affect this new world), and plot thread of loss/acceptance is tied together as Mahito accepts Natsuko as his new mother and choose to return to the world.

And for the life of me I couldn't figure out how the whole thing ties together. It felt like there's a divide in the middle, around when Mahito found Natsuko then blacked out and met his great granduncle, where the films kind of shifts from one set of themes to another.

*mini aside*

(I also felt like the worldbuilding/settings kind of changed around here. Initially the world was an afterlife of sorts with dead people and warawara as reincarnated souls. Human visitors gets attacked by the pelicans unless guarded by the blue heron, a stand in for the reaper/boatman/charon who guides and guards souls to the underworld. Then at the end it turned into a world created by the great granduncle using the power of the stone, with the whole afterlife dealio just being discarded. Like, when the parakeets were first introduced they were at the blacksmith and it was implied they weren't meant to be there - so who occupied the blacksmith in the first place? The dead people? Were there other people there? I assume not since you need to get to the tower and there's the whole bit about the blue heron bringing you in so why would there be other people there? So who was in that house???)

(Also the parakeets were going to use himi to bargain for more power and stuff but the king just brought her up to the great granduncle, told him "yo, mahito did a taboo", then kinda left without asking anything before immediately sneaking back and destroying all the stones??? What was up with that???)

*end of aside*

Anyway, so I couldn't figure out how it all tied together until I remembered the original japanese name for the film.

"How do you live?"

And it clicked.

Mahito was struggling with that very question in the first part. His mother died. There's war. Life sucks. School sucks. How do you live?

And through all his adventures he kind of accepted all that and made peace with it. He made friends. He appreciated the people around them for who they are. He rejected his great granduncle's offer of a perfect world he can control in favour of the real world with all the people he loved, despite the war, the suffering, the evil, and everything. Himi rejected Mahito's offer of going to his time with him despite knowing her fate because she know that, regardless, she will have lived a happy life.

They answered the question - "How do you live?"

And it's a bloody shame that core context, that crux of the story, got changed in the English release.

[fantasyfan20]

GOOD MORNING!! I was up super late again last night, and it’s already starting to hurt my sleep schedule ;-;

I AM EEPY BUT THE ADVENTURES CONTINUE! ENJOY THE NEXT PART OF THE SPIRIT MINI SERIES AND HAVE AN AMAZING DAY

The Beckoning Ruler

The Little Prince was sitting on the floor of the boat, watching with amusement as his friends took turns to jump into the geyser. A small girl with flowers in her hair walked up, but she seemed hesitant—until a tall boy wearing goggles gave her a nudge. She jumped right in, and flew up into the star filled sky with a shriek of excitement! The Prince watched as she took control of the geyser’s momentum and flew back down in an impressive nosedive. The boy with the goggles furrowed his brow. He is worried for her, the Prince thought. But she is a good flyer. She proved the Prince right when she pulled up at the last moment and landed gracefully on her feet! Her friends clapped, and she gave them a sheepish grin. It was then that the Prince came up with a fun idea.

“Would one of you mind taking me to the floating island with the throne?”

All the children raised their hands enthusiastically, some waving to get his attention. The Little Prince laughed as a boy with a mohawk almost tripped over himself trying to climb on the boy with the goggles. He made a show of deciding who to choose, pacing and thoughtfully placing a finger on his chin. Then, without another word, he took the hand of a boy wearing a purple cape and ran off! The other Children started laughing, and the Prince smiled as he and his friend left the beach.

It didn’t take long to fly to the island, since it was just past the garden. The Prince looked down to admire it. Such a beautiful and relaxing place, he thought. It was nice to have such a lovely place where he could freely spend his time. His friend looked down at it too, also to admire its natural beauty. They flew over the first stretch of clouds, then expertly landed on the circular island. The Little Prince took in their surroundings. This is nice, he thought. Such beautiful architecture! He looked at the throne, and saw a man with a lion mask and a tall crown sitting there. He seemed to be the ruler of this little island! The man stood up and gestured to one of the statues standing to the side of the throne. When it made no effort to move, he put his hands on his hips, strode over, and asked it to move closer. Once again, it did not move. After all, it was only a statue! The man sulked, disappointed that the statue would not bend to his will. The Prince’s friend nudged him, then shrugged. He is confused as well, the Prince thought.

He walked closer to the man, cocking his head to the side as he asked “You know they can’t move, right?”

“I am entitled to command their obedience!” the man said, rather indignantly. “My orders are reasonable.”

“From now on, stay where you are,” he said to the statue. The Prince glanced back at his friend, who now looked confused.

“Grown-ups are so strange,” the Prince said. His friend nodded, agreeing with the sentiment.

“Want to go back to the beach?” he asked his friend. He nodded and smiled, then took the Prince’s hand to fly back. As they flew over the garden, the Prince’s friend pointed down to the gazebo. Apparently their friends had moved! They flew down into the garden to find them lying on the grass, stargazing. The Little Prince smiled and lay down next to them. It’s nice to have people to do this with, he thought. It made him think of his Rose. She would be happy that he had made so many friends.

YAAAY BECKONING RULER! Chaotic Little Prince is fun to write hehehe

I hope you enjoyed reading this one! We’ve got one spirit left! Gasp! I’ll probably write my next OC story in a couple hours. Can’t wait! 🥳🥳

[ludicix]

Drink till I'm drunk

This is a mini series of scenarios where the obey me brothers get drunk and Mc takes care of them.

*Pairing: Leviathan x reader *Genre: Fluff, Comfort

Is someone calling my name? You think to yourself. Initially, you were scared, of course you would be. You were alone in this big house with the only forms of protection being far away, probably drunk off their asses.

Your frightful thoughts were put to rest as a very wobbly Levi stubbled into the room. “I knew you would be here” you were in his room in his bathtub on devil-tok waiting for their return. It felt safe in his room, not to mention you had the privilege to use anything in here. “Well, I did tell you before you left I would be here, right?”

“Oh yeah,” he says with a giggle and flushed cheeks. His clothes look ransacked. His cardigan was falling off, his shirt halfway up his torso, his hair was messy and you could see his underwear since his pants were falling. It’s safe to say he had an eventful night with his brothers.

You stand from the tub and walk over to him. “How was it Levi,” you say, fixing his clothes out of habit. He wraps his arms around you and rests his head on your shoulder with the giddiest look on his face, he smelt of alcohol and heavy perfume. “I’m so happy baby” hearing this you could help but grin. It was such a rare thing to see all of them happily spending time together. An even rarer one to have Levi call you sweet nicknames without frothing from the mouth. 

“I love hearing about your adventures darling but you need to shower,” you say, pulling him so you could get his clothes off. 

“No, I don’t, you just wanna see me naked perv” He mumbles scrunching his face up as if he were a child preparing to throw a tantrum. “Takes on to know one,” You say softly as you guide him to the bath. He complies with you and allows you to bathe him.

*****

“Come on drink some water love” you both are now in his tub with you on top of him trying to get him to consume even the smallest drop of water. It's been like three minutes and he just won’t. 

“I am not a mere human my henry, I am much stronger, I can withstand my liquor”

He really talks a lot when he’s drunk even if it’s random bullshit.

“Levi stfu and drink the water,” you say through a laugh. “You love me,” He says with a smirk, he gets cocky too. “Yes I do very much but you wanna know what I would really love right now is for you to drink this fucking water,” 

He eventually caves in and drinks it.

As soon as he does he begins to get sleepy. You're both cuddled up under his blankets laying on the world's softest pillows slowly drifting off to sleep right as Levi mumbles something under his breath and begins to squeeze you tighter.

A/n: It was short I know. I'll try to make the others longer regardless I hope you enjoyed<3

Ludicix

[gingerjunhan]

Happy new years! I hope you have a great 2024! This is actually my first time requesting ever so... 😅

May I request Junhan teaching us how to play guitar but we fail miserably and it just ends in cuddles? I'm desperate for some more Junhan fluff.🥰

Also may i be your 🥥 anon?

☆彡 hi 🥥anon! I’m your first request ever? 🥹 OMGGGG welcome!!!!!! Sorry this took me so long to post, but I hope you enjoy it!

word count: 494 | pronouns used: none | genre: fluff, established relationship | cws: frustration, they are so cute :(, not proofread, lmk if I missed something

“I don’t understand why it doesn’t sound right!” You huffed.

“You just need to press down on the strings harder, that’s all.”

Hyeongjun had been trying to help you learn an easy guitar song for the past half hour, and it’s been an adventure to say the least. You had started off with a twinkle of excitement in your eye as you asked Hyeongjun to help you, but now you were just getting angry.

“I’m pressing as hard as I can!” You looked at Hyeongjun who was sitting across from you on his mattress, and you could tell that he was finding all of this very amusing. He’s been very patient with you- because he’s been in this position before- but there were a few times that he had to bite back a laugh.

“Do you want my help?” He asked, gently reaching one of his hands towards yours to help you press down on the strings.

“No!” You protested, causing him to pull his hand back with a laugh. “I can do it!”

“Okay,” he chuckled. “Only if you’re sure.”

Despite your continued struggle, your effort was admirable. Your willingness to learn was one of the things that Hyeongjun loved most about you. He watched as you stared at the neck of the guitar, making sure your fingers were placed on the right fret of each string, pressing as hard as you could. You readjusted your pick in your other hand, and took a deep breath.

“Okay,” you looked up at him. “Watch this.” With confidence, you strummed down on the strings, emitting a sour sound from the instrument. You groaned in defeat as Hyeongjun finally failed at holding back his laughter. “That’s it!” You proclaimed, “I need a break.”

Hyeongjun gently took the guitar from you, getting up and putting it in its stand across the room. You flopped down on the bed, letting out a long, exaggerated sigh. Once again, Hyeongjun laughed as he made his way back over to you.

“It wasn’t that bad, was it?” He asked while crawling his way into your arms.

“No,” you sighed again. “It’s just frustrating. You make it look so easy.

He chuckled, “Practice makes perfect.” His hands moved soothingly up and down your back as you relaxed in his hold. There was a silence between you both for a moment before you pulled your left hand between the two of you.

“My fingers hurt.”

“Here,” Hyeongjun smiled. “Let me see.” He gently took your hand, glancing over your fingertips. He smirked to himself before gently giving each of your fingertips a light kiss. “Better?”

You blushed as you looked at him, unable to miss the playful look on his face. You buried your face into his chest and wrapped your arm around him again, trying to hide your blush from him. He moved one of his hands to your hair, gently combing it through his fingers.

“I’ll take that as a yes.”

taglist: @dazzlingligth , @mini-mews , @mxlly143 , @somethingaboutcheese , comment to be added!⁎⁺˳✧༚

[torque-witch]

Anywho I have definitely left everyone here out of my life over the last few months so here are some highlights of my big accomplishments/adventures recently.

Buffalo Oddities Expo - Aug 3/4

Because my husband got in a wreck a few weeks before, I was able to snag my Bumble BFF along for the ride to Buffalo AND DC, which was such a blessing. Two traveling disabled enby’s was difficult but so so easy at the same time and I am very grateful for them!

Buffalo as a city was super weird bc everything closed at 5 on the weekends (?) but it ended up being the best show record so far for me! And that helped a ton going into our next leg of the trip. We also found this super cute boba place that uses loose leaf tea, real honey and mini boba (but we really just wanted the bottles!). Also Buffalo hotels are super expensive??? We stayed at a Red Roof and it cost almost as much as our DC hotel that was leagues better??

Then we drove home and immediately left again the next day for DC for my first Kpop concert 😬🥹

I was having an absolutely terrible flare up from traveling and vertigo in the hotel, but a couple sets in to the concert I felt like all the pain and yucky feelings went away. This was a birthday present from April to myself as a kind of, “I’ll probably never be able to do this again” that I had to wait until August for. ATEEZ came into my life at a really hard point last year and they have been an inspiration to me to keep going, so it was really an amazing experience to see them in person. Idc how cringey that may seem, but music is healing and the crowd was at 100% the whole show. The rafters were BOUNCING.

Now did I feel awful all the way home? Yes. But truly it made me so happy and my friend had a lot of fun too (so much that they said they will pay for their tickets next time 😂).

So now, late August I also have a few things on the agenda.

1. Pittsburgh Oddities & Curiosities Expo at the David G Lawrence Convention Center Aug 24th and 25th. I think its $10 entry online or $15 at the door?

2. I got accepted into the GROTA Envisions magazine for my Hel Mary pieces! So I've been working on a new one that fits their requirements for the last month or so. Will update when that is available to the public!

I think that's really it for now, but I do have a lot of shows in October, which is to be expected. September, hopefully I can work on these areas that need help in my business. And, more art has already dropped!

You can follow me elsewhere at

Instagram/Threads - dhdivination (where I post most often)

or join the Discord! https://discord.gg/3jrzh9V2Qc

[alex-journal]

Hay Fever

Summary: y/n has hay fever for the first time, and it isn’t fun. Pronouns: They/them

The Straw Hat crew was sailing on the Grand Line, course set to the next island. The last one was a beautiful fall island, the weather got warmer, not as warm as the summer, and the wind brought a grassy smell. y/n sneezed, as the wind tickles their nose. “Did you catch a cold? I told you it wasn’t warm enough to swim in that lake!” Chopper scolded him like a worried mother - or as then overprotective doctor, that he was. y/n laugh, “Na, everything is fine. I don’t feel sick, just a sneeze.” “I'll make you a broth to boost your immune system. Better safe than sorry.” Sanji handed Chopper, y/n and Usopp their lunchtime snacks and tea. “I am fine, but thanks Sanji.” y/n was sure they weren’t sick but appreciated how much the others were worried about them.

-

The Straw Hat crew took two more days to reach the new Island, and y/n had to endure more teasing because of their sneezing. The Crew was sure they caught a cold, even tho y/n swore they felt fine and just have an itchy nose. As they reached the new Island, it made more sense, for y/n at least.

This one was a beautiful spring Island and everything was filled with life, and pollen. They were greeted by a beautiful scenery filled with blooming flowers and lush greener, birds sang a happy melody and the wind carried everything over to them.

Everyone was excited to explore the Island. Luffy was so eager, that Nami had to order him to help Franky to anchor before their Captain would just jump over on the Island before they were close enough to set over with the Mini-Mary. y/n wanted to explore the island too, but the Crew thought they had a cold, so they were on house arrest - or better ship arrest - and have to rest and keep an eye on the Sunny with Chopper and Zoro. Not the fun they had hoped, but Nami made it clear that there was no point in arguing with her. 

While the others explored the Island, the three were left on the Ship. Zoro took a nap, Chopper were in his Room preparing some Medicine and y/n stand on the deck not knowing what to do. Their eyes were heavy and watery, but y/n wasn’t tired. Even if they were tired, their itchy and runny nose made it impossible to rest. Combined with the couch, it felt wore than the last flu. y/n swore they weren’t sick, but this wasn’t normal and the first time they felt like this. y/n tried to ignore their discomfort. What ever this was, it wouldn't stop them from what ever they're going to do! But the only thing they could do was to sniff, sneezes and coughs - which annoyed Zoro. “I’m gonna get sick, just listening to you, Sniffles!” Usually nothing could wake up Zoro from his nap, nothing that wouldn’t threaten his life at least, but y/n concert seemed to be life-threatening if it kept Zoro from sleeping. “Sorry, Zoro…” y/n sniffed and waked away. y/n went inside and sat in front of the aquarium. It was a little bit better, the cough stopped and breathing was a little bit easier, even tho y/n had to breathe through their mouth. You only appreciate what you had when you don't have it anymore. “WE ARE BACK!!” Luffy announced in full volume. y/n looked tired as they stepped outside to great the adventurers. “Hey, did you find something cool?” y/n asked and sniffed again. “Look! I found a cool bug!” Luffy said and shoved a big purple flower in y/n face. They saw the blue shimmering bug, sitting in the center of the flower, but they also smelled the pollen the beetle kicked up as it rubbed its legs. Without a warning, y/n sneezed, and the only thing left was the stem in Luffy’s hand. The bug landed on the ground, the petals and pollen flew around and filled the air. y/n couldn’t apologies, because that flower set off a chain reaction of sneezes and y/n stumbled backwards. “Noooo! My bug!” Luffy cried out and tried to catch his shimmery friend so that y/n couldn’t step on him. The rest of the crew quickly noticed y/n struggling. Robin used her Devil Fruit Powers to catch them, before falling. “It seems you have a severe case of hay fever, y/n” Robin stated as y/n tried to stop sneezing. “My nose burns…” y/n wined as they finally could do more than sneezing and crying.

“You should stay inside and don’t come in contact with anything from this island.” Chopper advised, but it was difficult. The Crew tried to find a place for y/n to rest, but no matter where they went, they were still affected by the allergens on the island Everyone and everything had contact with the pollen, so even after a shower and cleaning, y/n had difficulties breathing. “I am sorry... That you lost your cool bug...” y/n sniffed as they sat beside Luffy in the aquarium bar. “Ah, don’t worry. Hope you feel better soon.” Luffy smiled.

- As they finally left the island, y/n started to feel better. Their symptoms slowly faded away, and they were able to enjoy the journey with their crewmates again.

Although they were disappointed that they couldn't explore the beautiful spring Island, they were happy to finally breathe freely again. Chopper made sure to do his research and take any necessary precautions to keep everyone healthy and safe next time, and prepared allergy medicine for every future adventure. Just in case, they encountered another spring-like island.

[lunawolfiefoxy]

Welcome to My Blog!

Thanks for stumbling into this blog! Allow me to introduce you!

@lunawolfiefoxy

This is my main blog. Here I post about little LU things. Example: Mini-fics, maybe a drawing or two here and there, reblogging things I think are funny, ect. I also post other things, like aro/ace/aroace things or funnier items I find while doom scrolling.

For this blog, I will allow asks of all kinds, I love to receive them and don't mind answering your questions!

@luna-sketch

This is my main art blog where I will post my drawings, sketches, and where I will take my art asks to. So if you would like to ask me to drawing something, please come on over! And if you do use my main blog, don't worry! I will reblog the ask to this one here!

@kingdom-of-ethrior

This is my story blog. This is where the world of Ethrior lies. Here I will post a comic about a place called Ethrior, as I've said twice now. Let me give you an intro to the story:

Screams rent the air, creating a cacophony of pain and anguish. Feet pounded against the rocky path, swords clashed, blood splurged, making one’s stomach churn, cries of pain and cackling all added to the cloud of dissonance. Blood and bodies were everywhere around the mountain village, covering almost every surface. The screams and pounding died down, leaving only laughter and cheering. Arms, legs, hair, and torsos were grabbed. Scraping filled the space the screaming left, and thumping covered where pounding once was as they were gathered into a pile. A pile of bodies, blood, bows, arrows, and katanas sat in the middle of a crowd of murderers. The leader walked past the smallest, obscuring her view to the pile before her. He turned around, throwing his arms in the air, grinning madly, prompting an uproar of cheering from his clan. Then he turned back to the pile, pulling out a small object and blowing into it. From the other end of the round silver object a hot flame escaped, licking at the bodies hungrily. The golden light seems to attach itself to the pile, growing in mass and intensity. The blaze lit up the faces and bodies of those closest to it, watching with glee as the recently dead burned to ash. The crowd shouted and trilled, long tails slapping the ground in their excitement. The smallest one in the crowd pulled the cloak she wore tighter over her head. The pounding never ceased to her; the screams continued on. She could still hear the clashing swords and broken off cries. Turning away from the burning pile, she made her way out of the crowd, careful of flying tails that obscure her vision and feet that threaten to trample her. The dense crowd seemed to bring in more heat than the fire did behind her, and she found herself sweating as she searched for the end. It seemed to go on forever, but she did manage to find a break in the crowd. Holding herself from running, she made her way there, then to the path that led down the mountain. Her bare feet padded down the stone, getting cut by small rocks that lodged themselves in her soles. She passed by a pool of drying blood and raced into the trees at the bottom of the mountain. Pink leaves and white and tan bark blurred in her vision as she raced past, her chest heaving for much needed air. She couldn’t stop; stopping could lead to her death. As she fled, she turned her head to look at the mountain. She tripped over a rock that lay in her path and fell to her knees. A small, choked cough left her and she looked up. In front of her was where she knew the edge of the border was. Slowly, she began to crawl towards it, huffing and coughing as a stifled sob escaped her throat. Looking up into the sky, she found the moon, hanging high over the land like a lamp on a darkened street. Tears that she had been holding captive sprung into her eyes, and from her lips left a long cry, filled with anguish, fear, and regret.

This is the written prologue

Happy travels! I wish you well on your adventures through Tumblr!

[popculturebuffet]

Morphin Time: A Boom Studios Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Retrospective: Issues 0 and 1 (Patreon Review for Brotoman.exe)

It's Morphin Time all you happy people! Yes folks it's time once again to launch another respective! And this time we're looking at a series i've only glanced at. Yes it's time to let the power protect us as we look at the BOOM Studios! Power Rangers Comics.

If your reading this post you probably DON'T need an introduction to the mighty morphin power rangers, but the short version for those of you who stumbled into this because you like kermit the frog, because you have good taste and deserve good things: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers is the first in the long running massively popular Power Rangers Franchise, a cheesy series that followed five 90's as hell saved by the bell looking teenagers with attitude who were picked by a blue tube man and his nerdy robot son to fight the evil sorceress rita replusa, who tube man zordon had left on the moon in a dumpster which astronauts found. Our heroes would spend the days with various teen shenanigans, fight a monster, then Rita would MAKE HER MONSTER GROW, they'd get in a super fighting robot using stock footage and the day would be saved. The teens also reguarly delt with bumbling dumbasses and everyone's faviorite characters bulk and skull. Rita eventually remembered she had a shiny power coin of her own, so she turned new kid and franchise icon Tommy Oliver into her own green ranger. After a dope as hell 5 parter, the rangers defeated their new counterpart, freed him and turned him to his side. There's a bunch more including peace confrences, australian cat women, failed kamen rider spinoffs, aliens, flying cars, robot ninjas, ooze men who aren't canon sadly, skydiving that also isn't canon, marriage being the greatest evil scheme of all, baby carraiges, many a cast change, and explosions. And that's just the first series, but for today's comic we really only need to get up to when Tommy joined as that's when this story began.

The comic came about during Boom's big mid 10's liscensing boom period, with tons of licenses from Adventure Time, Regular Show and Steven Universe, to Rocko and Rugrats, to John Fucking Carpenter himself co writing a Big Trouble in Little China comic. It was really the companies golden age as big hits like Giant Days were also out and about, though the companies mildly pivoted more towards the indies these days. Not a bad move given their backlog includes Giant Days, Once and Future and Lumberjanes. The former two are some of my faviorite comics period with Giant Days possibly being my faviorite comics run period, while the latter is something I badly want adapted but keeps getting jerked around in that regard.

BOOM is kinda the middle child of the big indies. Image is the big shadow looming over all, regularly churning out era defining comics like Invincible, Radiant Black (A comic I badly want to read from the same creator as this book and it's sister book go go power rangers), Saga (Which I haven't read but have heard good things) or the Wicket + The Divine, as well as smaller stone cold classics still close to my heart like Chew and Farmhand, with it now getting into lisensed work with the Energon Universe. IDW was at least for a long time ahead lisensing wise and tends to recover quickly there and still has both Sonic, which has had an impressive and healthy run and TMNT, which ran for 150 issues and has had nearly that many alongside it in mini series, crossovers, mini series for other continuities, and one shots and is about to relaunch next month, and Dark Horse which while fumbling for a bit has steadily rebounded becoming both a lisensing juggernaught once again. In contrast boom used to lean heavily on it's lisenses while allowing it to take risks on indie titles, oftne paying off with stuff like again Giant Days.

Still Power Rangers , likely like TMNT at IDW, provides a nice stable backbone overall, with this very book having ran for 8 years ending this year, and it being clear Hasbro isn't leaving BOOM. In addition to a long as hell main book, the series has had two diffrent companion series: GoGo Power Rangers, my personal faviorite, which covers the teams adventures just after getting their powers up to right before green with evil, and Mighty Morphin, which followed a second team I can't get into much but you've probably heard about. And that's not getting into the mini series, graphic novels, and other various power rangers spinoffs, alternate universe things, etc. Boom has been good to the franchise, this franchise has been good to him and despite wondering if the end of the mighty morphin series means the end of power rangers, it's clear the company has no signs of loosing their cash cow even after Saban sold it to Hasbro.

So that brings us to this series. The Boom Continuity is a soft reboot of the Mighty Morphin era: It's now set in modern day with modern fashion and Bulk and Skull naturally running a youtube channel, more on that later, but a lot of the event sof the show still happened. No word on if they fought the rapping pumpkin still but i'm inclined to go with "Yes". So the series picks up right after green with evil but dosen't take place in the same universe as the live action shows, something they seemed to bounce back and forth about for a bit before deciding "Nah".

They also decided to start right after green with evil instead of adapt it though I expect it's part an audience thing, most people picking it up or reading this various article know the broad strokes, and part simply wanting to tell their own stories, as that's more attractive to fans than an adaptation anyways.

So our series picks up with the team having a new member and decides to play with that a bit, with our first arc having Tommy adapting to being a ranger, having a tight knit friend group, and the voice of the woman who brainwashed him in his head voicing all his insecurities. So you know, high school. It leads into a larger arc with a big beastie, world destruction and an evil tommy I haven't read, having only read this first 6 issues and thought they were fine. I later read gogo in full and read through the necessary evil era by writer Ryan Parrot, so I haven't dove into this era of rangers that deeply. But now thanks to brotoman i'm going in deep, from the start to at least the massive shattered grid crossover. Wether we go on AFTER that... is up to him, but i'm fine wither way and curious to see if this series improves a bit in my eyes on a second look. So get out your morpher, shout tyransaurus or doot on a flute, however you prefer and let's look at MMPR #0 and #1

We start at 0. This was, as far as I can tell so they could release an issue before the proper run to hype the series up at conventions and such, something I can't blame them for: Power Rangers had had a history in comics, a marvel series at their height, a few others after, and most recently before this a few graphic novels by papercutz for samurai, mega force and mighty morphin itself. Nothing bad, but not really the big nostalgic rollout other franchises had had in comics and nothing aimed at older fans of the franchise like this, so they had every reason to hype it.

Picking mighty morphin was also a good call. It's what the public knows as power rangers, it has a simple enough setup to explore with some depth while stilll getting that nostalgia pop that makes money. I do hope they move on from it as while I like MMPR, I grew up with it and all the franchise has had a MASSIVE life after it I've discovered thanks to history of power rangers. MMPR isn't bad and some projects kinda HAVE to be this: launching in it was the right call as is the upcoming brawler rita's rewind, which I intend to buy as soon as it comes out, being set there as MMPR had a smorgasbord of games in the 16 bit era, I just think expanding a bit beyond one arc covering a team made up of legacy rangers and a few graphic novels isn't a bad idea and i'm glad ranger academy exists for that. At the very least i'm mistified they've only done the dream team concept once so far.

We begin the issue with the green ranger having.. killed everyone with Rita praising him and him willing to serve and please make it stop. '

Thankfully it does as this was all just a dream by one Tommy Oliver, the ranger among rangers. Jason asks what ya dreamin about bud but can't really get through to him, with Tommy deflecting it's just nervous it's his first day. And I do like the response a lot. It's one of the better scenes in these first two issues

It's simple but it really works for me and shows the sheer pressure they have. YOu may of also noticed rita. This isn't the real her but a voice in the back of tommy's head voicing all his doubts. I hear you tommy, my anxiety also resembles a witch. WOn't stop rhyming or talking about that bear and bird. It's exhausting.

I like this concept: That Tommy dosen't get over his guilt at what he did while mind controlled or his doubts easily and has trouble fitting into the gang: while Jason and Kimberly warmly welcome him, it's clear they already have a vibe going, with the gang being blindsided by a test they thought was next week. It's hard to crack in and Rita may be all of tommy's insecurities manifested as his greatest enemy.. but she has a point: do they even want him too. And as we'll find out next issue while most are open to it, one of them very much dosen't.

That said while I like this concept.. it has flaws. For one focusing so heavily on Tommy.. means the others don't really get to do much this issue, bantering a bit about Billy's push notification obession and setting up who they are for new readers, as well as hinting at Zack not liking tommy much, but otherwise it's mostly on tommy and most we get from him at least early on is he's a sad boy. I'm not saying he has no reason to be.. but it may of not been the best choice to do this story arc one. It would've been better to have some time to get to know our six, let tommy's unease and zack's tension build.. but instead at arc one tommy is at a pretty low point, and the story goes up to 10 right after this with a huge crisis. There isn't time for our characters to settle before the world gets flipped upside down.

Part of this is being spoiled by later series GoGo Power Rangers, with Ryan Parrot having a more relaxed take: There's an ongoing story to it, but it's more focused on fleshing out the five teenagers with attitude (minus Tommy as it takes place before Green with Evil). It's why his later run with necessary evil, while also starting with the rangers in a tight spot as it takes place just after the transfer of power and has team adjusting to three new recurits and tommy adjusting to leadership... flows better to me. It let the characters build so when it puts them in a tight spot, you feel more. Here it feels like Kyle Higgins has a LOT of plot he wants to get to so he lets the characters hurt a bit. We do get more character intreractoin next issue that helps a bit but i'm hoping this arc has more than I remember.

At class we get a talk about counter intellegence before i'ts morphin time: Rita has evil plans, as we see iwth a cutaway to her moon fortress which looks as cool as ever, and she sends Bullzer down.

And look I don't want to make this review "Oops all gripes".. but we have another problem right away: the monster design.

As you can see... Bullzer.. is really generic and trying to be scary. And i'm not against making a monster intimidating, tha'ts fine. But it dosen't look.. power rangers. I'm not asking the artists to imitate cheap rubber or have it be a skeleton with a fancy hat. I would prefer bones but I love skellingtons. I just do. But the monsters were creative. You had guys like my guy eye guy whose just made of eyes or pudgy pig whose a pig head in a roman soldier helmet. I mean sure looking thorugh a gallery of season 1 monsters there were duds

But even mr ticklesneezer, and yes that is his legal god given name, is at least creative being trini's childhood doll made into this abomination. They even had, to my shock a better looking gamera knockoff

Is he a tad goofier? Yes. Does he still have dope claws and the name shell shock. Yes. Im not saying you have to be as campy.. but it's weird to have no camp when the costumes and zords aren't changed. You didn't update the zords to look more realistic, thank god, why are the monsters suddenly trying to be more down to earth? I'm not asking for rapping pumpkins or pudgy pigs or that fucking elf, please for mr ticklesneezer's sake

But it put me off the book instantly that the first monster they fight and most they do , if my memory serves..a re just bland generic monsters. I like a good turtle boy, but this is just... trying too hard to be "ADULT" and "EDGIER". I"m not saying power rangers can't tackle complex topics but I am saying you can't forget that it's still power rangers

To contrast this I went to look up gogo's first monster and I do wish he was a tad campier too

But while Flog here is also generic.. he at least dosen't stick out as much like a sore thumb. He's still perhaps a bit too hyper realistic for this universe, but details like the simple mildly goofy name, the earring, the bhoots.. it feels like they put a bit more effort in. I get Bullzer is just a one off.. but so was most every other power rangers monster. The people at super sentai put hard work into these things.. most of the time and the people on saban's end had to come up with new names and gimmicks. Sometimes they were horrible ideas but it feels like more effort was put in. Hopefully this gets better.

The fight itself thoguh is neat as the team has to use strategy as gamera's angsty teenage son has thick armor, while Tomm'ys ptsd anxiety ghost rita causes him to freeze up at points. he's able to beat the monster, giving it a drill that will pierce the heavens.. but freezes when trying to save a bridge. Tommy blames it on technicals and Jason.. is a bit of a dick and blames it on tommy not following orders, as he rushedin at the start of a fight. Zordon tells them both to cut that shit out: Jason needs to help loop tommy in better and Tommy needs to ask for help. And they both need to prepare: while getting Tommy back from rita was a big victory, Rita is petty.. and her revenge is coming. Rather than possess a teenager struggling with his sexualityt hough her plan is instead to have Scorpia fish a crystal out of a river. A new era begins.

We then get a backup story that was in the back of my trade so I only read it as I wrote this, but boy it is fun: The Ongoing Adventures of Bulk and Skull. Since BOOM! knew who the real heroes were, we got this backup feature with our heroes in all their glory, written by gay icon Steve Orlando. Orlando's been easily one of my favoirite comics writers, currently writing the phenominal scarlet witch ongoing at marvel and formerly having reinvented midnighter at dc before taking on the justice league with his own nicely mismatched team.

It's a short two issue gag story as Bulk and Skull deal with Principal Caplan: Caplan is an excessively minor power rangers character who as far as I can tell mainly showed up to be a foil to our faviorite goofuses. It's still a nice deep cut and I love the joke about him having taken up glassblowing for the stress, made a scream jar and somehow filled it. "Screams have no mass! Your not supposed to fill it!". They use a large deli lunch order to escape and then try to hit on some girls unsuccessfully who are more intrested in the rangers. It's there Bulk gets a terrible idea: if girls like the power rangers, then they'll BECOME power rangers. A truly perfect bulk and skull shenanigan.

There's another backup that's beautfiully drawn, but i'll mostly skip as it's just a one off fight with goldar. Not bad at all, lot of fun, but not why we're here. Granted Bulk and Skull isn't either, but it's both a dedicated backup and a nice bit of levity after all the emo.

Speaking of which our proper first issue opens with the dynamic duo giving a recap of events up to the start of this series on their youtube channel RANGER STATION. Ranger Station is a fantastic concept: our doofy heroes always had some shenanigan or hustle going and later zeroed in on finding out who the rangers were... this just combines their two schticks perfectly. I love Skull interjecting, Bulk saying every episode is someone's first and their gateway to susbscribe which is how I approach my blog so, respect, and we have Skull plugging their premium content which would be on a patreon these days, just like the early days of this blog. My patreon is still active by the way and 5 dollar contributors get a 5 dollar review a month. If they can shill for themselves so can I.

They recap the events so far: how the power rangers came about when rita did, green with evil and now the shocking development from the 0 issue: The Green Ranger has joined the team. Bulk is naturally super pumped but asks the average citzen what they think. Some think due to the bridge mishap, Tommy's still evil, the first woman theya sk has the very valid point of wanting the rangers to you know, explain why the guy who tried to kill everyone is now on their side. And given the Rangers DO have the valid explination of "the person behind the monster sbrainwashed them"... yeah probably shoudl've done a press release. And one guy thinks it's too many colors. He later died of cardiac arrest when we got up to 8 ranger teams.

Bulk and Skull end up talking to tommy, who is awkard and Kim luckily is able to ward them off. Tommy plans to get some training in after school so Kim joins him to spend time with her crush then hopefully get a coffee date. Kim has game.

Issue 1 is step up in tone. I complained a lot and likely will again about the sries sometimes bleak tone... but this issue ballances the every day stuff better with the teenagers with attitude. Since Tommy isn't seeing PTSD Rita EVERY second, we get a chance to breathe, still feel him doubting himself and wallowing in self loathing, but not be strangled by it.

We then get Jason and Zack in class where an assholish teacher wakes Zack up from his nap and puts him in detention for it. Now you might say "Jake that's not exactly a dick move, he shouldn't sleep in class" and to that I say... captain beard has no idea WHY Zack did. He could have a job, of had an emergency. All Zack says is "I didn't get enough sleep", but given how stressful teenagers lives are, there's a LOT of reasons for that beyond "Ranger Stuff". I"m not saying it's good to sleep in class but i'm saying maybe talk to your student. And when Jason tries to stand up for him... he also gets detttention.

The rangers have lunch and break down their plans; Kim's hanging with tommy, Jason and Zack are in a dettention Zack boldy assumes he could get out of.. though then again I do have this pet theory that like zack morris he can freeze time because all zacks have that power, so maybe Jason jumped in too soon. Tommy tries to join in but they all gotta go, diffrent lunch periods. We then get Bulk interviewing Jason who stands up for Tommy.. but it's clear Zack's a bit more hesitant.

Meanwhile we go to Rita's Moon Castle, where she's working on her vauge evil plan: the mystery crystal what Scorpina dredged out of the river is charged a bit thanks to the bullzer but it needs more energy... apparnetly too much green energy can be dangerous too.

In class Jason clearly knows SOMETHING'S up with Zack and why he can't sleep no good, and tells zack he's ready to listen when he's ready to tell him. IT's a nice friendship moment. After Zack asks if Jason's SURRREEE all this okay. Jason admits that Zordon adding tommy to the team without asking them sucks.. but Zordon picked them. If he has faith in tommy, they have to trust that. I do like this tension, that adding someone who just attacked them, brainwashed or not isn't easy. I also like that, as we'll get later, ther'es more to Zack's issues than just being the token douche. His backstory behind this is still a TAD douchey but it's intresting.

Tommy and Kim are up next running a training sim. Unfortunately for them... it's a kobiashi maru bitch. The survivors their leading from some putties.. get lead straight into some and if they hadn't, they would've gotten squished. Tommy.. can't accept that and Kim sadly accepts she's not getting a date... but dosen't you know.. TELL him she's upset. "Sigh" Teen Angst, I do not like reliving it.

We end the issue with Tommy mopnig at home.. only for Scorpina to hav ea knife to this throat.

TO BE CONTINUED

We continue bulk and skulls antics before we go: the two race to the scene of a battle and accidently knock out a putty thinking he's a guy asking for directions. Good stuff. Bulk decides he can use this. He'll fight the thing for a raging crowd! or something.

So that ends our first look at boom and while I had a LOT to gripe about the first issue the second.. is much better. It feels like the characters have more room to breathe and thus get fleshed out. Granted issue 0 was just supposed to be a slow start.. but given there was a backup story thrown in there to fill the issue, it would've made more sense ot just.. do a full issue teaser since issue 0 still kicks off events. Still so far the series isn't bad and might be better than I remember. Either way this is going to be a long trip and I thank you all for coming with me. May the power protect you.