#i feel like an old man on a toadstool reading from a book talking about the Before time

[ahappydnp]

Heyy I'm sorry if that's not sth you wanna talk ab just ignore in that case but I just absolutely loved your response ab BIG and felt comfortable enough to ask this. I saw someone say the phandom is the reason dnp are so private and will never disclose their relationship status (which ofc none of them have to nor owe anyone)and that it took Dan so long to be comfortable w himself and open. I'm quite new here so idk, I know people have been very invasive but was it to that extent in your opinion?

Oof this is a complex question. First off, yes the community as a whole was incredibly invasive. (We could get into the semantics of how it was a vocal minority who were outwardly and directly crossing boundaries vs those who kept to themselves when it came to issues that shouldn’t have been discussed around dnp but who also consumed and interacted with things they shouldn’t have.) But overall, yes. The community had a tendency to be toxic in terms of crossing dnp’s boundaries.

People found private social media accounts/old posts from both the boys and their friends and posted them. People harassed Dan’s brother off the internet. Of course the big one of sharing and discussing the private video in spaces where dnp would see it (and sometimes just outright asking them about it). Asking about their relationship and sexualities. Bringing up old posts (which I understand can be a gray area in the beginning as some people were around for said posts and there was never a conversation about them not being comfortable with that narrative as they became more popular. But also like....it was clear over time they didn’t want things to get out. But then there’s the conversation about people attacking others over public posts? Overall, the important thing is it did cause them distress).

Now, when it comes to them disclosing or the timeline of them coming out, I don’t think it was just the trauma they had experienced with that subset of their audience. Dan talked about how he personally was not ready, how he was closeted in his personal life, how he had his own internalized homophobia to work through. They also had to think about their careers as a whole. Do you think the BBC would have allowed a gay couple to have their own show in 2012?! Would they have gotten as many opportunities if they were out? Absolutely not. The community absolutely played a part in it. What they went through was legitimately traumatic. It would be for any closeted queer person, but on that scale? Yes, it was horrible.

And I reallyyyy don’t want this to turn into a conversation of people trying to claim innocence or point fingers because it was That group and not My group and WE didn’t do anything. The damage still happened regardless of how many or who did it. And dnp understand it wasn’t everyone. If they held a grudge against their entire fan base they wouldn’t still engage with us at this level. Their relationship with us was complicated and hard at times back in the day, but (despite a few incidences *cough*) they never lashed out, always staying positive and kind (especially at times when it wasn’t particularly deserved). Regardless of where every person sat individually, we as a collective did put them through hell. Is the community the only reason they came out later? No, absolutely not. That was a personal choice that came from a variety of factors.

As far as their relationship, they’ve both stated that they’re private people and want that part of their lives to be free from media speculation (which is more than fair given that every aspect of who they are has been up for media speculation). The thing is though, they treat us as a separate entity from the media. We as their audience and their community, many of whom have stuck with them for years and years, have earned back a certain level of trust. I do believe they see us in a kind of bubble where it’s safer. But yes, everything they say and do is manufactured to not cause commotion outside the bubble. If they hated us and still harbored all this resentment that sooo many people love to mention, they wouldn’t...be here? They wouldn’t do weekly liveshows together where they have both stated time and time again that they enjoy it, they enjoy spending time with us. The thing that has set them apart from other creators since DAY ONE is their relationship with their audience. It’s something that people in the industry have commented on, it’s something their peers have commented on, it’s something THEY have commented on. Despite everything, their bond with their community is unparalleled.

[s1i9d]

AMPHIBIA: SEASON 2B TRAILER BREAKDOWN

NEW AMPHIBIA EPISODES!! (Trailer spoilers and speculation! DUH!)

Y’all have NO CLUE how excited I am!! After that huge mid season finale drop, Amphibia fans all around have been waiting for the second half of the season! I did a Speculation post based on the episode titles, and another one based off of the episode loglines for the March drop!

Check them out, cause I will be referencing them as we go!! I’m first gonna do a scene by scene breakdown, then I’m gonna see if my predictions were right, or wrong. So many theories!!! I will also be mentioning the episode titles Matt released in the AmphibiaDirect, so if you don’t want to know, leave now!

If you haven’t seen the trailer yet, click here to see it all!!! Let’s begin shall we!

00:00–00:21: Completely old information and clips from Season 2A that we’ve all seen before with the music box and Sasha-Angst. One thing I did not expect was that this trailer would be so Sasha heavy. I expected her to kinda fade into the background and we’d focus a lot more on the temples, so this makes me have theories I may not have had before.

00:22–00:26: Marcy’s new bird (as teased in the Amphibia-Big City Greens promo). We have two shots with them, one where they are flying down with only a bunch of books that would last a lifetime, or a few minutes with Marcy. The second shot is them flying in the air with Anne and Marcy riding through the sky. I am trying my absolute hardest to not hope for gay then to be disappointed, but c’mon!!! Has no one seen How to Train Your Dragon?!!?!? But Hop Pop is being held in the second shot by the Bird’s talons so I think this is a little more Marcy and Wartwood kind of situation. Maybe somewhere around “Ivy on the Run” with Marcy and her bird being the B Plot.

00:27–00:31: The First Temple. We know from the colours and the shape from the book that it is the First Temple. It seems to have water flowing out of Frog statues’ mouths, and on the temple’s walls there are imagery of brains and a vague Newt Shape reading a book! Definitely talking about wit here! Even all the mushrooms are green, and we know how much Amphibia loves to use colour.

00:31–00:33: The Second Temple! We don’t actually see the Temple, just the archway leading to the Temple. Marcy seems to have the charged green gem on the music box, which is pointing them in the direction of the Temple, very Onyx Equinox-esque.

00:34–00:36: The entrance to the Third Temple. Lava pouring everywhere and pink statues of buff Amphibians? Definitely Sasha, no questions asked. I have no other thoughts about this shot other than the jagged rocks atop of the cave, seems like it could collapse in on itself and cause people to get hurt.

00:36–00:37: Ivy and Sprig jumping on treetops, I think this is from “Ivy on the Run” where Ivy is running from her mother’s strict rules, and Sprig is trying to talk her out of it. They’re so cute! It makes me wanna hold onto them and never let go.

00:38–00:39: Bessie jumping over a ravine with Sprig and Polly at the reins, which is from “Night Riders”, the first episode we’re seeing this Saturday!

00:39–00:40: A First Temple Puzzle where you have to solve a cube to enter the next stage. Seems like Marcy is in “her own little bubble” (heh. sorry i had to) and as she’s solving the cube, the room also moves on its own, with the Plantars being shifted to another side. Kinda like Wulfric’s gym in Pokemon X and Y. This sets interesting character work for Marcy, since she’s known to have issues with connections, but she’s so into knowledge and smartness that she may not realise the issues she’s causing to the people around her.

00:40–00:41: MADDIEEEEEE!!!! Definitely from “Maddie and Marcy”. I feel like they would get together and Marcy would be so into learning about Maddie and creepy magic that they will form a bond. This is how nerds make friends everyone, they find something the other is SUPER invested in and they learn about it. Either that or an extrovert claims them both, and they know each other via association.

00:42–00:43: Giant chicken bat for “Return to Wartwood”. Don’t ask me how I know, I just do. Seems like the Plantars set up a banquet for them, and they’re running away. So shenanigans!

00:44–00:45: Okay, so I initially thought Sasha’s next episode was gonna be in episode 16 (”Toad to Redemption/Barrel’s Warhammer”) and I initially thought that it would be Toad to Redemption, because y’know... Toads. But with Sasha’s pink powers shown in her using that giant warhammer, I think it’s going to be either one of the two, but Sasha is definitely showing up in 216. They don’t seem to be on a train, but the Earth is moving very fast for some reason. 

00:45–00:46: The Newt Lady from the Bizarre Bazaar seems to be activating the tippity-top of the Second Temple, with Anne near her. The position of this is high above the clouds, and there is a blue glow coming from the writings/symbols on the ground. Perhaps this is the charging method for the gems on the box.

00:47–00:48: More First Temple stuff! Writing’s on the wall (man these visual puns just write themselves y’know!) and they are in the inside of the temple. Interestingly enough, the main floor is green like the rest of the temple, but the other side (puzzles) seems to have red and blue squares, perhaps representing the heart and strength (blue and pink) which is what the wit lacks.

00:49: The Newt Lady from the Bizarre Bazaar opens a Scroll with the Music box, the three gems (which seemingly came before the box) and three people in coats almost praying to it. This is definitely “After the Rain” with the story of the Music Box being revealed. Cause we still have no idea what “After the Rain” is gonna be about.

00:50: GENERAL YUNNAN!! Scourge of the Sand Wars! Defeater of Ragnar the Wretched! The youngest Newt to ever be named General in the GREAT NEWTOPIAN ARMY!! (Can you tell I stan her? because I stan her.)

Anyways, she seems to be in the first temple or King Andrias’ throne room. I’m mainly assuming this because the temple because the building is blue or because the spires from King Andrias’ throne room are in the way back there, but there are several Toads there defeated on the ground. Either these were people to protect Marcy at the Temple, or this is an episode where all of Grimes’ command are trying to take over Newtopia under Sasha and Grimes’ command. Quite the plausible amount for theories and plot just from a one-second Yunnan shot.

00:51: A chess board with Frog knights shooting lasers at Marcy. Another one of the First Temple’s tricks, or it could be King Andrias’ plot, since we saw him with Chess pieces of Anne and Marcy at the end of “Marcy at the Gates”, so this clip could either be “The First Temple” or “True Colors” and either or are exciting!!

00:52-00:53: A mole comes out of the ground as Mayor Toadstool walks around seemingly trying to please Newtopian guards and soldiers. “Toad to Redemption” now makes complete sense! I called that it would either be Anne and Marcy helping a battle-hardened Toad, or it would be a Sasha episode. I think its the first part, where Newtopian inspectors are coming to suprise visit Mayor Toadstool and inspect if he’s doing a good job taking care of Wartwood, to no one’s surprise find out he’s embezzling money from the town. The episode would be Marcy and Anne helping Toadstool to become better so he doesn’t lose his job as Mayor.

00:53–00:58: We have three shots here, one of each of the girls. Anne looks back in the rain, almost distraught. This is definitely “After the Rain” and I’m not ready for the angst. Marcy is visibly frustrated over chess pieces, this is either a challenge from the Temple or she’s found out about Andrias’ plan. As much as Option 2 is interesting, I think the first one is more realistic. Sasha in the Third Temple, activating her Colour Power and breaking the ground underneath her to a circle. I am constantly terrified by and for Sasha.

00:58–1:00: Polly and Sprig’s silhouettes running in the rain. Also “After the Rain” but still nothing much to say here.

1:00–1:01: Giant tentacles grab Sprig and the Plantars. I have no idea what this is, but it also appeared in the “Night Riders/Return to Wartwood” trailer/promo, so I’m assuming it’s from that episode.

01:02: Sasha is facing off against a giant golem! Probably the Third Temple’s trial.

01:03: Newt Lady from the Bizarre Bazaar reveals the secrets of the Music Box. Definitely an “After the Rain” episode. I did not expect Marcy to be there though, that’s interesting now. 

01:04–01:06: Two shots from the Third Temple. First one being Anne having a moment of realisation, and the other with the Golem roaring in front of Anne and Sasha. This freaked me out because wtf??? Sasha and Anne together?? Are they solving it together too??? Interaction equals resolution/conflict/character drama.

01:07–01:12 & 01:17–01:22: So how are we integrating baby Marshanne into this??? As for which episode, I have no idea! But some interesting details in this is that Sasha seems to have been the last out of the three to have joined. Since Anne and Marcy are together crying, while baby Sasha is one on the slide standing up (hehe) for them. Between the first clip and the second, Sasha has a bruise on her forehead, so she may have gotten hurt trying to protect them. They introduce each other and that’s the end of the clip. I’m assuming this is finale material, because otherwise I have no idea where this is coming from or going to.

01:13–01:16: Anne pulls the Plantars in for a hug. Still not sure where this is for, but it is a thing.

01:23–01:28: Two shots of Sasha and Anne, which seemed to have been slowed down to around half speed. Shot one has Anne standing, almost distraught wearing what seems to be Newtopian armour, with Sasha’s foot in the foreground. The second shot is Anne holding her sword at the top of the Newtopian Walls to Sasha who is weaponless and has her hands up in surrender. Smoke is rising from the land below, and Anne looks visibly angry. I have no idea what is happening, but this definitely has to be finale material.

A title card shows Amphibia returning 6th March!! Hype.

01:34–01:45: Of course we need happy stuff to counter ANGST! So we have a bizarre sequence of Frobo making a garden and growing flowers in a matter of seconds. Hop Pop is enthralled by this and welcomes him to the family, and Polly looks at him knowingly. This is a very big development played very casually, since we know nothing about the robot besides his goofy self being able to do this. Frobo is the most cryptic thing this season besides the King’s basement, we also have no information on Frobo so this is a striking change. This will take place in “Friend or Frobo?” and I am stupid hyped!!! I don’t know anything about Frobo and I want to know more!! Also Wartwood is on fire. It’s just a normal Tuesday everybody. 

That ends the trailer breakdown!! But I did have some more general theories and thoughts I’ll include here.

Something I did want to mention before we started was the music in the beginning of the non-speaking part of the trailer. To me, it sounded like an epic reprise of John Legend’s “All of Me”, and I’m thinking there’s one of two things happening: one is that the finale song that we’re all crying to is “All of Me” by John Legend, like how Reunion’s was “Lean on Me” by Bill Withers; or, I’m just theorising like a mad person. Who knows!

Also another general observation is the puzzles and how we’ve been prepped for them by “Family Shrub” where each one has puzzles and riddles each person who fits a specific role must solve. Each girl with each of the Temples, and they need each one to deal with their own Temple. Meaning Sasha being at the Third Temple means some form of resolution/character interaction.

As for Sasha, I don’t know if she’s gonna be redeemed necessarily, but I think she might go to the good side and Marcy goes to the bad side. I don’t wanna believe that cause I love Marcy to death, but Season 2 finales are always horrifying before Season 3 finales wrap up nicely. So I’m expecting even more drama than the Season 1 finale. I want all the girls to be happy, and it’s not happening this season for sure. So much excitement!!!

That concludes all my thoughts on the trailer for Season 2B! Let me know what you’re excited for, your thoughts and theories, and if you agree or disagree with what I’ve said here!! So excited!!!!

[fluffyballme]

Garden

Let's put this in their second year, because we all know they are school sweethearts

It was sunday and spring just started which means Neville will be there to see his beautiful flowers grow

He dressed fast and eated faster and if Harry wasn't staring at Draco he would be suprised of why is he hurrying so much

But Hermione explained him (because she is good friend and remembers when her firends talks about something they love) as she continued reading book

And so he made it to green house just in time and oh god he could already see small flowers growing! Spring is-

There was anoder boy, at his flowers, smelling them and talking to them- what is going on?

,,Umm sorry uh.. who are you?"

,,Theodore Nott"

He was Slytherin, he heard about him

He was different from other Slytherins Neville met, he was much more caring than other Slytherins, he heard about him because kids weren't so nice so they talked behinde his backs mean stuff about "how he could be Slytherin when he should be Hufflepuff!" and other mean things he doesn't even want to remember

And that boy- Theodore made him feel.. weird

He had small curls at end of his hair, like really small, he smiled to him- he also had most beautiful smile ever and his eyes, god his eyes

,,I am sorry I just wanted to see these flowers-" he started to explain himself and why he is here but just stopped, ,,I am sorry, I will leave if I am making toruble"

He apologised and wanted to leave but Neville couldn't let him leave

,,No! Uh I mean, no you can stay, I mean I have nothing against you here because this is school's and everybody is welcome- I am sorry, I am talking to much"

And Theodore laughed and Neville felt like he could die instantly, his laugh was soo cute that it made Neville blush and amile softly

,,How is this plant called?"

,,Leaping Toadstools"

,,Oh and that?!"

,,Mimbulus mimbletonia"

,,And that! What's that? It looks soo beautiful!"

,,Uhh it's just Narcissus."

,,Oh.."

Neville just couldn't help but smile/blush whole time Theodore was asking him

And from that moment they just somehow started to hang more and more, it just happened

It started as hang outs in green house and then as learning sessions, walking around halls together and even eating together

Sometimes if day was bad other would take food from great hall for both and would sit on wall eating silently enjoying each others company

They became inseaprable

And finally in 4th year Neville got courage to ask him out

Both never realised they were falling in love but they were, hard

Theo blushed hard when Neville (finally) asked him out

And Neville was so stupid because he thought Theo would reject him- quoting Theo Nott's words!

On their first date Neville was a little late and he got good reason, he was picking narcissa's for Theo because now Neville made plan, from now on till rest of his life he will give Theo one narcissa after he got from work (not that he was so madly in love that he was already planing marrying Theo and spending rest of his life with him, certanly not!)

Theo blushed when Neville explained why he was late

But loved Neville even more because of how caring and sweet person he is

And so they dated, at first it was awkward for both because they were also each other's best friends but what they felt wasn't friendly, it was more than friendly feelings

They were school sweethearts, both socialy awkward to show it in public but alone they couldn't get enough of each other

And then everything started

(Theo for every Neville's birthday sended him present and one narcissus in sign of love)

Dark Lord is back.

Death Eaters were called and Neville not knowing Theo's family were Death Eaters, talked about how he joined Dumbledore's Amry and he should too! He praised everything against Dark Lord and Theo agreed , he hated Dark Lord and loved his family

Neville was always caring boyfriend and he will stay one forever, but it was just he never noticed Theo being off, he never noticed Theo being forced into being Death Eater

And so war started and everybody had their side; one heart broken in two peices, both good but teared into something more than themselves

But Theo decided he couldn't do it

So he ran and ran and ran

He run to try to find Neville, he wanted him, needed his soft hugs, softer kisses and his calming voice telling him everything's gonna be fine

He found him just before fight started, Neville was preparing for fight all tensed

He noticed Theo and he wanted nothing more than run to him and give him biggest hug ever, but he can't, he couldn't

He ignored him and Theo's poor heart broken every time more and more until he screamed on top of his lungs at Neville making him listen

He explained that he (and Draco, Blaise and Pansy and half of Slytherins) were forced into becoming Death Eaters because of their pureblood families, he apologised for not telling him, for just running away from him, for everything he could

And Neville kissed him hard and pssionate- he never kissed him like this unless they were having small make out sessions-

That was last time Theo saw him (he had to defent Hogwarts) and so did Theo, this was his true home

He stood next to Draco and Blaise looking at Harry's dead face and crazy lunatic of wizard being happy over finally killing a teenager

Draco screamed on top of his lungs when he saw Harry's dead body in Hagrids amrs

They all fought together, side by side

They all sat down in circle next to each other cuddiling still in shock

He was in Neville's conforting arms, everything was already better

(everyone spend their summer in Grimudal place taking care of each other, it was better with company)

Eight year came and every student got job help rebuilding Hogwarts

Neville got to rebuild Green house with Theo and planting plants, drawing on pots, cleaning mess and making new furniture for Green house was Neville's best dream ever and he wish never to wake up

,,Neville, look! Narcissus are growing, who planted them?"

,,I did- uh that's our flower so I had to, you know plant that one too ove-" he was cut off by Theo kisssig him with biggest smile on his face

_

It was hot summer day, it just fited for late July weather. In early morning was still cold and little foggy but at 12 it already started to brun, afternoon was kind of better but only from 5 and then night falls and it was once more colder.

Neville was just sitting on ground in garden, it was around 6pm and he was enjoying in shade that house made while slight wind was making perfect shade for Neville to take care of his plants.

It was late July, to be more precise it was 30th of July Neville's birthday. Whole day owls were just flying in and out of their house bringing birthday cards sending him best wishes, much love and even more happines and of course teasing how old he is now. All of them made him happy and he loved every single one of his friends, he was luckiest man alive to have such great friends and even better husband- Theodore Nott, oops Theodore Longbottom.

Today Neville got to sleep late in morning, to be precise he woke up at 10am and there was already over 20 letters waiting for him to be opened. But also there was no sight of his husband, actually his husband went missing for whole day but Neville was sure he's doing something very important so he didn't want to bother but also that meant he would have whole day for himself to relax and enjoy on his birthday.

So he did. Whole day he waited for weather to cold down so he could go out and take care of his beautiful and big garden. And it finally cold down, it was perfect time to garden and drink tea or some cold drink in garden. So he made himself a cup of tea and put on table on balcony they had to cold down a little while he took his tools for garden and went in garden.

,,There you are!" Soon enough Neville heard so fimiliar voice behind him and he recognised it the second he heard his voice.

,,Oh there you are! I was now a little worried where are you whole day." Neville confessed as he was about to stand up to greet his husband but it was too late, Theo already kneeld down to kiss his beloved husband.

,,Yeah well I was searching for something special and it's of course for you." Theo said slightly moving away from Neville's comfrotable pressence to get what was in bag, ,,Here you go, new plant book! I knew yoy were searching for this for a long time and well I kinda pulled few strings to get it," Theo confessed and laughed to himself a little and he continued, ,,and how would this be your birthday without these," Theo suddenly pulled from his back beautiful white flowers; narcissus. ,,happy birthday love." Theo wished to Neville as he pulled him from kiss and smiled softly while he still conected their forheads together.

,,Thank you love." Neville thanked him as he smiled softly being blessed he has such husband, God was he lucky.

Im literally posting this in 23:15, but i was preparing for hospital im going in tomorrow so i didnt have time to finish this but whatever; happy birthday to one of my fav characters ever, he learned me that i can be who i am no matter how i look outisde its important who i am inside! So here it is for neville and he's lovely husband, happy birthday! <3

[smudgedtoon]

Freeday, or Lets RP

(Day4 of @lapamedotweek.)

As night fell in the forest, a shadow could be seen leaping from tree to tree though it never made a sound. It leaped down from a tree that marked where the forest ended and the civilized lands began.

“It's a purrrfect time to go out to hunt, for shinies!” The shadowed figure said they're eyes reflecting the light from the moon. Surveying the surrounding area to the left they see nothing but open field with odd shapes scattered throughout. With night vision they can tell the shapes are cows sleeping and other cowly things that cows do at night. To their right they see the tell-tale sign of people, lights, a bunch of them like tiny little bubbles of sunlight. There was a town.

“Let's get wrecked.” Shouted the figure dashing to the town.

Inside that very town, best described as a fusion of Magic, Nature and Technology. So think houses and building made of trees or nature augmented either magically or scientific-

“Laaaaame.”

“Amethy-st!” Whined a young chubby boy with curly black hair, he held a small notebook in his hand called Dungeon Master's Steven’s nefarious manual of dugenonly, masterly, nefarious things. He was sitting in the lap of Lapis while she sat on the porch floor.

“Come on, you already got to do your part. It's my turn now.” Peridot said clearly annoyed, couldn't she see that high stakes were about to had in their adventure if they  could just get to the adventure. “Go on Steven continue.”

“Now where was I.” Steven said, as he put his hand to his chin in thought. “No, seriously, where was I?”

“You were explaining the town where Amethyst's character was going to meet Mine and Peridot’s.” Lapis said giving Steven a big hug.

“Thanks Lapis, but you better not be looking in the DMSNMDMNT.”

“I promise.”

Steven cleared his throat.

The town by day was full of travelers, but by night it belonged to the engineers. They were a group of dedicated citizens trained to take care of this town, they used the best of magic and technology to build, repair and upgrade the town. Each one was gifted with something special, a power or tech or combination of both. They were divided into smaller teams  that worked on a rotating weekly schedule. Tonight, the last night of this team's shift they were finishing the task of updating the waterways and installing the recyclo-mana filters. They split off into groups of two's and three’s and headed to their locations leaving one all by their self.

“Clods.” Said Perina as she uses her special gift, a set of gauntlets that had magical floating fingers, to find her where her assignment is.

The location was an old model toadstool house on the edge of town. Perina hesitantly knocks on the door, she feels watched.

“Hello?”

There’s no response, but she hears a noise,almost like a splash,coming from behind the house.

“That's weird.” The young engineer says going to check out the sound.

As she's about to leave the front door suddenly opens and a old plump woman calls out. “Hello Dearie, sorry for taking so long these old bones aren't what they used to be.”

Perina turns back around to greet the lady of the house, as she does she feels her gauntlet vibrate. Frowning she tries to remember what that means.

“That's hogwash, I clearly rolled an eight.” Peridot whined, “I should know what the vibrations mean.”

“You didn't roll high enough babe, you needed at least a twelve.” Lapis said leaning over to pet Peridot's head.

“You are looking in my notebook.” Steven said, his face dropping. “Aww man now you know where the story is going.”

“She totally is Steven.” Amethyst said giving a Lapis a wink, which earned her a glare.

Still glaring at Amethyst Lapis spoke. “I am not, and I don't know anything. I wouldn't do that to Steven.” She nuzzled him and he giggled.

“Okay, well anyway Lapis it's your turn.” Steven said though now he kept the book close to his chest.

As the young engineer talks to the old woman unknown to them, they have an eavesdropper. Huddling next to the shadows of the house is a young woman with blue hair, if the area was lit one would see that the woman was wearing what looked like a bathing suit made of shimmering scales on her wrists were beautiful metal bangles. She sees the engineer and smiles, she doesn't know her but likes the way she looks. If only she could hear what was being said a little better.

As she slowly creeps up to get a better listening point, she has to stop midtrack as the woman is leading the engineer towards the back, she knows she can't be seen.

“I'm sure you have a lot of work tonight, this old toadstool hasn't been connected to the main water system.” The old lady says as she and Perina walk past the blue haired woman without noticing her. “I've gotten by, though this house has the only natural well left in this city. Do what you have to do to connect me to the main water system, but stay away from the well, it was my daughter's favorite and I'd hate to see something happen to it.”

The blue haired woman sighs in relief as the two move past her and go behind the house proper. Her glamour had worked. Seeing it as her chance the woman breaks away from the house and tries to run towards the city, only to be stopped as her bracelets began to glow and seemed to pull her backwards. Just then she see’s something move from underneath the shadow of a tree and stops struggling. “Hello?” She whispers not wanting to be caught.

The shadow stops and hesitates, before answering back. “Hello, I'm was just uhh taking a stroll.” The shadow moves a little closer but stops as a breeze blows towards them carrying the other woman’s smell. It hisses and takes a step back reaching for something in it's pocket. “Vampire!”

“Shhhh, please don't yell, she'll hear you.”

“Who'll hear me? You're master.”

The vampire shakes her head the bracelets are starting to heat up and glow brighter as smoke can be seen coming from her wrists. “No my mother. Please just help me get unstuck.”

The shadow moves forward but pauses again. “Why should I help you? What if it's a trap?”

“I have no actual powers, my mother bound me. Which is clear by the glowing bracelets that are keeping me stuck here.” The vampire tried to pull away but was held in place.”See.”

Just then a voice was heard drawing closer from the back. “Foolish child, how many times will it take before you learn I'll always know when you try to escape.” It was the old woman, her scent on the breeze carries the smells of power and something else.

“Please.”

The shadow sighed, before moving forward. “You're lucky, you're so pretty. So what do I do?”

“I don't know, she normally uses a type of spell to remove the binding.”

“I don't know magic, I'm a thief.”

Both parties stop and look at each other. “I mean uhhh…I was just going for a walk.”

“Whatever. If you help me, I'll give you the most valuable thing in this house.”

The thief drew closer at the offering of a reward. “I may have just the thing, but this reward better be worth it.” They drew out a small blade and the vampire drew back hissing and baring their fangs. The thief almost dropped the knife but recovered quickly. “Hey, you want my help or not. Hold still.”

Just as she was about to slide the knife underneath the bracelet she was hit with something invisible and causing her to jerk and then crumple to the ground. The knife cut through the bracelet sending a jolt of power through the vampire who went limp.

“Hey Steven are you ready to see the movie?” A young girl's voice broke everyone out of the game.

“Connie!” Steven said as he jumped from Lapis’ lap and ran to his friend. “Games over guys for now. We'll continue later.”

“But what about the part where I rescue Lapis and Amethyst  from what I can only assume was a big bad witch.”

Lapis who looked down to find Steven’s book in her lap and snorted. “What makes you think you were gonna be the one to rescue us?”

Because you two were unconscious.”

“According to Steven's book you were knocked unconscious as soon as you went around the back.”

“You clod, you're not supposed to read the DM’s notes.”

Lapis smiled at Peridot mischievously and leaned in to tease her“You want to be my hero that badly?”

“Of course I do. I'm your girlfriend. “ Peridot said bluntly. “I will be there to help you out of trouble be it fictional or real.”

Lapis blushed and tried to come up with something to say. Amethyst roared in laughter .

“Peri that was smooth as all hell.” Amethyst said punching her girlfriend playfully in the shoulder. “I should be careful or you'll have me swooning like Lapis over here.”

“I'm always smooth.” Peridot said with a nasally cackle, breaking her spell over Lapis.

“Not really, but you have your moments.” Lapis said giving her girlfriend a kiss.

“Don't I get one too? After all I was promised a reward for helping.”

“Your character was promised a reward, but if you behave until later tonight you'll get a reward.” Lapis grinned and winked.

“I want the reward too.”

“It's the kind of reward you're usually not interested in Peri.”

“Yeah the physical kind.”

“Gross, can we change the subject to like, how the hell are we going to escape the witch?”

“Well I have Steven notes.”

“I couldn't betray Steven’s trust like-”

“I can.” Amethyst shifted to lean against Lapis to get a better look at the book as her older girlfriend wrapped an arm around her. “You joining Pear?”

“Fine.” Peridot said scooting into Lapis’ lap. “Only because you're both doing it.”

They spent the next hour pouring over the book and laughing as they prepared strategies for their next rp session. When they got to the last page they laughed harder. In Steven's handwriting was one final note, ‘Perina, Purpur Crystal, and Lapis will only get through this quest with the power of love. I hope they all say yes to the coupling ceremony, which would kick off the beginning of the next campaign, Love is a battlefield.”