#i went swimming today which wasn’t a great start

[shoveitevil]

grah

[maiden-of-the-waters]

Oceans Rebirth

Summary; Bèiké’s control is slipping, her mind is breaking, storms ravage the land, droughts rage and fishermen yield nothing. When the Buddha is consulted, he offers a solution to her and her alone, but it’s not answer Bèiké really wanted to hear. Can she do what needs to be done before Sun Wukong interferes?

Warning; Angst, broken minds, arguments, hurt/kinda-comfort, self sacrifice, this was before Bèiké knew she was one of the true immortals. Art depicting mild gore. Please read with caution.

Taglist; @vap0rwave-dr34ml4nd @tunadunanana @szynkaaa @marcu-bug @s0rr3l @bottyshaker-900o (if you want to be added let me know.)

It’s finally done!!! 😭😭Strap in folks, this is going to be a long one.

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Being stretched so thin makes it difficult to be where I am in the moment… It’s hard to be everywhere at once, all the time…

Those are words that Bèiké has said more times she than could count. Words filled with exhaustion and a reality she had no choice but to accept.

Her mortal mind ever the servant to the very thing she immortally personified.

Part of her often wondered if the universe had made a mistake. Should she exist as she is? What if the water was just supposed to just stay water?

Why have a body? A consciousness?

Why possess a human heart?

The human body is such a fragile form to hold when you are Water.

As she lounged in a plush pillow-nest that filled a luxurious room within the palace of the Water Curtain Cave, her thoughts cause another morose sigh to escape from her. Which - in turn - caused a disgruntled chirp to rip her from her thoughts as she turned to face her ever wandering attention back onto her Simian Stone Brother.

Who, in turn, stared at her with sulking expression.

“Your mind wandered again.” Sun Wukong stated matter-a-factly. His tone as grumpy as his expression. The Great Sage not liking being anything less than the center of attention.

Instinctively, Bèiké’s mind filtered through a hundred possible excuses before she settled her mind and sighed. “I’m sorry brother… it’s hard to be here today.” She answered honestly.

Sun Wukong blinked. His expression loosing its annoyed grouch as he moved to sit a bit closer, getting in her space until their knees touched, his hands went to grip hers. She tensed at his proximity but didn’t move away, allowing him to initiate contact.

For all his foolishness and impulsive nature, he what he wasn’t was dull-witted.

“Hard-to-be-here as in, within this cave? Or hard-to-be-here as in, being in a body?” He gave her hands a gentle squeeze. Having known about her mind’s struggle to exist within her human form for a while now. Having found her dangerously dazed on more than one occasion when she had come to visit him and the Phoenix Maiden on the mountain of Flowers and Fruit he proudly called home.

Her mind had been so scattered that she neglected the body she - for reasons unknown to everyone accept the Buddha - possessed. She’d forget to eat, forget to move, forget to breathe, and in extreme circumstances, she’d forget to make her heart beat.

Her eyes would be open but staring at sights that weren’t in front of her. Sun Wukong had been forced to jerk her consciousness back into her body on multiple occasions, even biting her harshly to shock her out of her dazed state. Kick-starting her heart back up.

He had - back then - harshly scolded her for allowing herself to get to that state until he had learned just what had caused it. What she was constantly fighting. What she was eternally trying to hold together with no breaks or reprieves or mercy. He pitied his sister as much as he found himself begrudgingly admiring her.

Now, she stared at his hands as she tried to focus on the Monkey King in front of her, not the rush of the water curtain cave as it beat the rock into submission, not focus on the fish swimming through the veins of the river or the clouds overhead moving as though on a breath.

She tried to focus on the soft fur, not the whales casting their bubble nets to catch fish on the other side of the world, their songs vibrating her ears. Or the blood running through the creatures of the worlds veins as they ran, or slept, or played, or fought, or-

A louder chirp made her flinch back to reality as she met the glowing ember eyes her brother ever possessed, staring at her with more than a little worry.

“Is it getting harder sister? Tell this Sun Wukong and I will do what I can to assist.” His stone calloused hands rubbing over her arms in an attempt to ground her, his nails gently scraping and pinching against her skin. Trying to comfort her in the way his people do.

She sighed and closed her eyes, allowing herself to be grounded as she leaned forward slightly to rest her forehead against his. His heat a steady anchor against her normally cool skin.

He cooed at his little sister. The sound reverberating from the back of his throat. For all his playful nature and mischievous tendencies, Sun Wukong, the great sage equal to heaven, was a good king who cared for his people. And he had claimed her as one of his. His nature wouldn’t allow him to be anything less than attentive to the woman he had taken as his younger sister.

So he took it in stride when his normally reserved and touch-adverse sister gripped the fur on his upper arms.

She gently rubbed her nose against his. “Forgive this Bèiké, Wukong. You should be anticipating the celebrations for the Day of your birth, you only have 4 full moons left… not worrying about a woman slowly going mad.” She released the hold she had on his fur with a sigh. “I can hear the voices of the water calling me, I don’t think I am strong enough to fight them anymore… do you blame me?”

Wukong nuzzled his forehead against hers with a soft coo. “Of course not dear sister. You’re forced to stretch yourself thin, I can’t blame you for something you have no control over. Go and rest. Regain your strength so that you can better worship this Sun Wukong later.” He grinned and gave her ear a chaste nip, hooting out a laugh when she flinched back and glared at him. “As you say, there are four months until the day of my birth is here. I expect great presents from you for my birth celebrations. An offering as great and handsome as I.”

She blew out a breath in his face to get him to back further away from her, which he did with his own flinch that left her chuckling. “Worry not brother, I plan on gifting you a treasure that will surely enhance your glory. Mayhaps it will also grant you some humility.”

“How dare you, insolence! I am a Pious Buddhist.” Wukong guaffs, crossing his arms, scowling but happy she’s feeling better enough to play with him.

“Yes and the Lady QuanYin throws celebrations every night for the inebriated.” She rolls her eyes as she gets to her feet. Finally giving into the urging of her voices in her mind commanding her to return to the sea.

“Your faith in this Sun Wukong is lacking sweet sister.” He pouts, snapping his teeth at her.

“I simply see the truth of you dear brother.” She smiles back at him as she steps to the Water Curtain, visibly relaxing as the spray drizzles across her skin.

She turned to give him one last hug before she allowed her physical form to quite literally melt away, rejoining the water curtain, then the river, then the ocean. Where she expanded to a vast nothing that was everything.

It was much easier to think when she didn’t have a physical form. Flesh, bones, organs and a functioning brain are complex and hard to maintain. It was much easier to exist when she didn’t need to worry about feeding her immortally mortal body, or keep track of her limbs, organs and senses.

The waters, or more specifically, allowing herself to rejoin the waters gave her clarity.

And she took advantage of that clarity.

The celebrations of Sun Wukong’s birthday for one. She already had an idea of what she wanted to gift him.

The storm summoning whistle and the abyssal armor.

Both grand and glorious and would be useful to him in his battles should he need to regear up to defend his kingdom.

Useful gifts, gifts that will give her brother a fun gleam in his eye. Gifts she knew Sun Wukong would love.

As whales sung in the distance, sharks made their migrations, carp fought their way upriver, children played in the streams, rain rehydrated the land and all the other things the waters of the world did, Bèiké thought about her families and friends, and wondered what they would do next.

And she tried not to think about how it was getting harder and harder hold her body in its physical state. Her chest painfully tight, her lungs stuttering.

She didn’t want to think about a fact so scary it had left her weeping in her hidden rooms on more than one occasion.

She may be immortal… but her body was failing.

And nothing could stop it or slow it’s failing down.

She didn’t know when it started, if she had to put her finger on a specific timeframe. Perhaps it was always that way and she only became aware of it the past hundred years or so. Or maybe it was just a switch that day she grew aware of her mind becoming more and more disoriented.

And as vast as the knowledge in the ocean was, there was little that could be done to stop a human body from being crushed by it.

But she didn’t want to think about that.

So she forced her wandering thoughts back to what she could get for her friends and family when she returned to her palace.

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Bèiké remembered the first thing she ever heard. She didn’t know when exactly her consciousness had begun, only that she had one day become aware of the fact she had one.

“There you are, what a beautiful child you’ll become. Welcome to the world, Maiden of the Worldly Waters.”

The voice had been masculine in nature. But gentle and happy. The voice one should associate with a person meant to be a mentor or a guide.

She had known with a certainty she didn’t know she possessed that it was the Voice of the Buddha. And she had decided she liked his voice before she even knew what it was to ‘like’ or ‘dislike’ something.

The ocean is old, timeless and ever shifting, No one truly knows exactly how old the Waters of the world are.

By the time that thought occurred to Bèiké, she was already a part of it. And to have a consciousness be born of the waters is an unexplainable experience.

Bèiké remembered the first time she opened her eyes.

She was in the deep ocean, the light far away but still visible. She felt so small yet far too large at the same time. She felt powerful yet small, loved and feared, wild and free.

Her first act had been to head to the surface, the light had been so beautiful from under the waves and she had wanted to see it up close.

The first time she stepped out of the water and onto land it was a wild storm. She laughed with the thunder and danced in the rain. Making it dance around her in turn with nothing but the mist to cover her modesty

The world felt so alive.

She can’t recall now how long she had danced. Only that when the storm had finally calmed, she was back in the middle of the ocean, the waves creating flowing skirts around her hips and her hair covering her chest to flow into the waters as pearls formed to begin adorning her.

She was sitting on top of the waters, leaning back to watch the clouds when they arrived.

She remembered thinking how pretty and bright their armor was, how delicate their movements. The bright objects they held gleaming in the light and appearing to glow - she’d later learn that they were called swords and spears, weapons. - And they guided down a Man and a Woman to stand before her.

Bèiké remembered thinking that the man’s clothes and hair were radiant. And that his brow was stern.

The woman, similarly, was a stunning beauty. Something about her felt familiar to Bèiké, and even without the older woman saying a word, the maiden knew in her heart that she was fond of her.

The conversation had been brief. Having been so long, Bèiké struggled to remember exactly what was said,l that day, but they held curiosity and caution towards her. Bèiké, in her innocence of being newly formed and freshly capable of speech, and done little help relieve any suspicion.

When she simply told them she was water, that they stood on her body, that they held her within them, it was the older woman, who introduced herself as the Lady Mazu, who confirmed their suspicion.

The Lady Mazu was delighted, and took the maiden as her own right away, giving her the name she most popularly went by. “Bèiké” little seashell, her precious ocean gift. Encouraging the Jade Emperor, to agree.

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The time in the jade palace had been a time of great learning, how to read and write, proper speech and posture, songs, poetry and dance, palace life and hierarchy, avoiding the empress and her secretive glares and false niceties.

Bèiké was kept busy

So busy, that it took a long time for the whispers to be heard.

She remembered when it happened the first time.

A dinner banquet for one of her brother’s promotions had been coming to a close. Beike had remembered being on edge all day but not knowing why. Her precious attendants, Tian Shui and HeHua were similarly concerned.

It had snuck up on her, like a snake hidden by shadows, coiled and ready to strike. Bèiké had no idea the danger was so close. Perhaps that was why it had snuck up on her with such success.

It wasn’t a trickle of sound that steadily grew louder, no. It had been a cascade. The dam bursting and the floodgates flying open.

Beike had collapsed holding her hands over ears, trying to block out a torrent of sound that was coming from her mind.

Rushing through her like a wild river and a riptide combined. The crash of noise that left a single repeating message in the front of her mind.

“I must return.”

She didn’t remember her body fading or her return to the water. Only that when the sound finally, finally stopped, and she was able to open her eyes once more, she was deep in the ocean. The only sound she could hear was the beating of her own heart.

Relief.

The rest was a blur, vaguely aware of dragons, great, shining, metallic beasts coming and checking on her on behalf of her royal family. But even the exchanged worse were fuzzy at best. Eventually she was able to “Wake Up” again and come out of the waters and she was later told she was gone for three weeks.

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She had learned since the day of her brothers promotion banquet, when the crescendo washed over her and forced her back to the ocean for over a fortnight. She had learned the signs to look for and the whispers to pick up on.

It didn’t completely disappear the problem, however it made it more predictable. She knew when she had to return to water, to listen to the voices before it was too late and the whispers went from a whisper to a scream, a small request to be heard to a deafening demand to be obeyed.

Instead of a tidal wave of noise that appeared all at once, it had in time become a creeping whisper that steadily grew louder at a much more tolerable rate.

Still…

It was easy to get lost in the whispers of her own nature. The waters from around the world, the clouds above growing fat with rain, the ebb and flow of the waters over the land, the last dried breath of the parched to the gasping struggles of the drowning. The rivers widening and bending, the lakes and ponds rising and falling.

Life ever moving, water ever flowing. And her mortal, human mind struggled to keep up.

It was getting worse…. How frustrating.

“My Beike!”

She jumped back to her body and blinked at her adopted mother, the Lady Mazu’s eyes fixed on her with worry, her hand clutching hers in a grip as tight as her delicate hold would allow.

Bèiké gripped her skirts as she forced her attention back to her present body.

“Mother, I am here.”

The goddess of the Sea and guardian of sailors looked at her daughter with eyes filled with doubt and worry. “…Are you?”

Bèiké sighed, unable to lie to her. “For the moment… I’m sorry mother.”

The Lady Mazu furrowed her brow and gave her daughter a chastising look. “Naughty girl, why must you make your poor mother worry so?” She sighed, gently ran her fingers through her daughter’s hair, untangling the pearls that inlay the long sea-colored strands before gently cupping the young woman’s cheek. “I am worried for you dear, I fear that I see less and less of you. And then when I do see you, I can’t entertain the joy in my heart because your eyes are still far away.”

Despite knowing it wasn’t truly her fault, Bèiké still felt guilt tighten her chest at her mother’s distress. “I have failed you mother, I haven’t been filial. I beseech you to forgive your foolish child.” Bèiké pressed her cheek into her mother’s touch, her hands soft and warm, soothing, grounding.

“Oh you silly girl. How can I blame you? I should be the one apologizing.”

Bèiké sucked in a harsh breath and flinched back. “What? No! Mother you mustn’t, I should’ve never put you in this position of worry.”

Lady Mazu simply sighed and and summoned her regalia, sitting up straight, fixing her skirts and holding her head high. “I am the mother of the sea, I can sooth storms and protect sailors, I am a guide, a saint and savior…” her face filled with sadness again. “Yet I can’t sooth your mind, I can’t guide you home… I can’t protect your heart. You must forgive your helpless mother.”

Bèiké shook her head, unwilling to let her mother take the blame for her. “My lady please, there’s nothing to forgive, I have never blamed you. Mother. I owe the person I am today thanks to you.”

“Oh my sweet child. I only wish I could fix your mind.”

The conversation had then turned to more light-hearted topics after that. Mother and daughter catching up and Bèiké happily gifting her mother with precious treasures from the deep, enriching her palace evermore. Doing her filial duty to the woman who adopted her as family.

They both tried to avoid the forbidden topic of the Pearl Maiden’s mind.

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It started a month ago with a single storm.

Bèiké had been swift to quell it. But it had devastated all the same.

Not in damage or loss of life. No.

In fact, since it had been in the middle of the ocean, nothing had been harmed. It was devastating in a far more subtle way.

Bèiké had had no control over it.

It had been created without her conscious control, and despite being water, it resisted her command.

That shouldn’t have been possible.

She Was water.

Quelling a storm was a simple to her as raising a hand above her head. And yet…

She felt fear take root in her stomach, her hands shaking as she kept them clenched to her chest.

She was losing control…

What did that mean for her? What did that mean for water? Her mind scrambled to find an answer but there was none to be had.

She had been far too frazzled to return to the Jade palace, she couldn’t risk the courtiers, the eunuchs, or even her precious attendants observing her in such a state.

But in desperate need for some sort of connection, something to stop the torrent of panic flooding through her, she went in search of it among people who wouldn’t judge her for being anything other than the gentle princess.

And so it was, that she had found herself on the mountains of flowers and fruit. And Sun Wukong, though surprised, had welcomed her into his home all the same.

“Pray tell brother - and you mustn’t judge me for this query- but say you feel like you’re loosing control over your body. How would you handle such a dilemma?” It was a question Bèiké had casually asked the victorious fighting Buddha hours after they had sat for dinner. Wukong’s limbs had been loosened with his favorite wine, he had been coming down from his more festive mood that had started the evening with his people.

Still, he gave the question some serious thought all the same… or as serious as the wine allowed him to be.

He answered her as he fell back, draping himself across her lap and putting her hand into his golden mane, demanding some head scratches. She obliged him as he answered her, his eyes shut and the smile on his face content.

“I would try to think about what could possibly be causing this body of mine to be so bold as to disobey its master.” He grinned all teeth. “If I came up with nothing, had no pompous trickster cursed me, had no imperious scalawag tried to poison me somehow, I would simply assume it was an internal issue and I’d open myself up to take an intimate look.”

She blanched as she looked at him. “I don’t presume you’re being metaphorical in your words.”

Wukong hooted out a laugh at her expression. “I take it Brother Wujing and my dear Phoenix didn’t tell you the story of the three insufferable Tao priests who presumed to be immortal?”

Bèiké slowly shook her head as she resumed his head scratches as his whined persistence. “No, I don’t believe anything involving Taoist priests came up.”

Wukong shrugged. “Well, it’s no matter, this Sun Wukong can happily give you a demonstration.” He jumped out of her lap and hopped to his feet. “Little monkeys! Go get this Old Sun a sharp blade! Watch as your great king demonstrates his greatness!”

Bèiké insisted he didn’t need to prove his immortalities to her of all people, she was there for the aftermath of Lao Tsu’s furnace incident afterall.

However Wukong was already too deep in his feverish mania to be stopped, he wanted to brag and show off, and so he would. Bèiké doing her best to not be obvious in her looking away.

She had politely excused herself shortly after getting him drunk off of his favorite wine again so that her departure wouldn’t be noticed.

Well that had been…

Graphic…

Fruitless in answers as well… she doubted ripping herself apart to look at her own insides would enlighten her to the answered she desired.

She couldn’t even hold a physical form for long, let alone focus long enough to disembowel herself. Wukong was mad she decided, utterly mad. Not that that was really surprising news to her.

Still…

As her heart thumped audibly in her chest, she laid a hand against it as she found herself thinking.

As the waters churned around her, and she felt her control slipping bit by bit as the sun began to brighten the sky once more, she contemplated…

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Bèiké huddled in a corner of her room, her head in her hands as her body shook.

“You’re okay, you’re okay, keep it together, you have to breathe.” She repeated that mantra to herself over and over.

The whispers were a near constant yell in her mind now. And much to her horror, control had fully slipped weeks ago.

And even worse, she couldn’t return to the water.

She was stuck in her human body, and as her mind and nature struggled to return to its source - return to water - it beat and slammed against the fragile, mortal shell like a vicious trapped beast. Shredding and biting and screaming.

It hurt so bad.

Her need to return was a constant pounding in her head. Her mind ripping itself apart.

Water acted now without her permission, her own body betraying her. Storms either ravaged the land or refused to hydrate the land entirely.

Massive floods and severe droughts were reported around the world. The loss of life had already overwhelmed the kingdom of shadows, the underworld was choking on the dead.

Fishermen, too, yielded nothing. No fish, no urchins, no crabs or shrimp, no octopus, not even seaweed were successfully caught.

And combined with the severe droughts and floods, the mortals were starving and thirsty.

And as mortals do when desperate; They prayed.

Prayed for relief, prayed for mercy, begged for something to save their families and themselves.

The gods, celestials and denizens of the sea did what they could. But fighting a never ending storm was no simple task.

The Lady Mazu had run herself to the ground in exhaustion trying to sooth the storms and save the people with little to no results. The waters disobeying her as much as they had sliced themselves loose of Bèiké.

Her heart thumped painfully in her chest, causing her to sob as she sucked in a breath that she distantly realized she had not taken for 7 minutes. Black spots littering her vision as her mind was pulled in a thousand different directions.

Someone spoke to her, the sound of the voice echoing in her head like so much agony, she flinched away from the sound and clenched her hands over her ears tighter.

“Breathe, you have to breathe, keep breathing.” She mumbled reminders to herself as she manually counted her breaths.

Thunder crashed far too close, the rain beating on the windows- against the walls, the clouds holding the city churning, the panicked blood flow of the guards and citizens,

Flood washing poor creatures away, areas of dead space that refused to be quenched, lighting striking the ocean in an electrified jolt, wind blowing far too quickly, the sun being blocked out. The world darkening.

Pain… so much pain.

She sobbed, feeling it all, begging it to end.

That voice again, more insistent, but just as painful. She shook her head and whimpered, it was too loud to hear.

She was only vaguely aware of the shadowed figure walking away from her quickly on hurried footsteps.

Her mind was beset by the suffering of those below, weak heartbeats, panicked breaths, last breaths, waters’ destruction. She couldn’t focus.

It hurt.

Help… She doesn’t know if it was said out loud or not. Someone please help me

“Some-ing…Done… this-ing t-.. kill her.” She couldn’t tell how close those words she heard were. She didn’t know who said them or what they were talking about. She couldn’t even focus before her mind was pulling her to look at the great western oceans, another storm violently being born.

“Stop… please…” she didn’t know who she was begging. “You’re hurting them.”

A twisting turret of water shot into the sky to connect to violently twisting clouds above, dragging life into it and breaking their bodies. Bèiké felt their violent, panicked end as she retched and gagged.

“Stop, you’re hurting them, stop.” Tears forming in her eyes, running down her face, staining her clothes… or was that blood? What was water?

Help me please, it hurts… she begged again.

“Shhh child, breathe.” Hands, somehow both warm and cold, comforting in their touch, caressed her face and settled over her ears, gently lifting her head towards the source of the voice. “Breathe now.”

She sucked in a breath as more tears fell from her eyes, her hands gripping the ones steadying her head.

Her eyes opened to reveal the Buddha, that smile ever present on his face. She was dimly aware of her mother, father and attendants standing behind him a ways.

She looked back up towards the Buddha, her breathing slowing enough to allowed some capability of speech.

“Somethings wrong with me. I can’t control it.” She choked out, her eyes blurred with her tears as she begged him to help her. “I’m being ripped apart.”

“Yes maiden of the waters, I know. I must apologize. I gave you a mortal heart so that you’d love the land. I never intended for your body to rebel so violently against mortality. You were never supposed to be mortal. I see now that even without it, you would’ve loved the land all the same.” His ever calm smile was apologetic, Bèiké found herself instantly forgiving him even though she didn’t fully understand his words in the moment.

“It hurts…” Bèiké sobbed, gripping his kasaya as she’s seen children do a hundred times to their mother’s skirts. “Please, end the pain, I can’t bear to feel their suffering any longer.”

She wanted to scream, but her voice was so damaged, her pleas were barely above a whisper.

But he heard her all the same. He waved his hand, and shooed all onlookers out. Which they did with varying degrees of hesitation, some being pulled out of the room, voices of concern rising.

“At ease child, I can’t end the storm, that’s something only you can do. But I can grant you the clarity to think your next choices through. For the next choices you will have to make are not to be easy.” He nodded and properly sat before her, still allowing her to cling to him in her pain. “I will take some of the blame for that, as it was my well intentioned gift that put you in this position in the first place. Water can never be mortal, I have learned that now, and I will not forget. Mortality only throws off its balance.”

He placed a hand over her eyes, his touch a golden glow. And with that glow…

Came silence.

Sweet, merciful silence.

Bèiké sobbed her relief.

“Oh you poor thing, you’ve been feeling it all, but chained and unable to be apart of it.” A pain pinched his features as he took on her burden to relieve her.

She fought to calm her breaths as relief washed over her. She tried to settle her mind. So much was broken, so much needed mending. “Can you break the chains? Can you revive my control” She looked to him, hoping for an answer.

His expression was one that made her chest tighten ever further as she felt dread hang above her like a damned sword of Damocles. “Alas, maiden of the waters, I cannot. And for that you have my eternal apologies. You have become too mortal… this body of yours… its yin and yang are too broken and out of balance. It will no longer support the job it’s been tasked with.” His voice was gentle even as his words were heartbreaking.

Still, Bèiké pushed forwards. After all, all problems had to have a solution… right? “If it’s the body that is broken, will it not do for me to just shed it and return to the waters?”

The Buddha shook his head. “You misunderstand me child, I speak not of this physical body, but your innermost core. The body of You…. It is not so easily shed.”

She tried to understand his words, what he was saying. And found she could not. “Auspicious One please, help me learn, I am dull-witted. What must I do? Innocents are dying because I’ve lost control.”

A sad look pinches the Buddha’s features. “Pitiful child, I wished there was a simple solution. In order to shed your core… to reclaim your identity as the Worldly waters… You must cease.”

She froze, it felt even as though her heart in her chest paused as a horrible understanding washed over her “…Cease?”

The Buddha looked said, but still he nodded. “Yes… cease. The Jade emperor is tasked with keeping balance, the core of the current imbalance resides in you… in order to quell the storms, to spare the land and break your chains, you must offer that core to him. And with its Oceanic Dharma, he can restore the world. But in doing so… you will cease.”

Her mind raced. It was an answer, a solution… but at what cost? Of course she’d pay it, it was one life compared to millions, the math was easy… but… “…. If I did that… mother’s heart would break….”

“Yes… it will.” He nodded solemnly once again.

The plans she had…. The people she met… “… I made friends, I made promises to those friends…. They would mourn me.”

“More people would mourn you than you realize sweet child, you have become beloved.” He gave her a sweet, sad smile. One that reassured her as much as it broke her heart.

“…. Doing this… choosing to cease… will that save them?” She had to be sure… because what was being asked of her…

She felt a breath of relief wash over her as the Buddha nodded once again, reassuring her worry. “It will restore the balance and bring about the gentle rain and revitalization of the world once more. They will be safe, they will be free to mourn you.”

She stared at him, biting her lip harshly as tears fell fresh, the choice made, her heart and mind settling to the decision she has made. “Then I will do this… for them.”

The Buddha was silent for a moment before he carefully place a hand on top of her head. “I’m sorry for putting this task on you child, please forgive me.”

“We didn’t know… we couldn’t have known. You’re not at fault Auspicious One. There’s no villain to defeat or to place blame on in this.” She offers a shaking smile at him, trying to be brave. “Just a duty to perform… correct?”

The great and merciful Buddha stared at her for a moment before he smiled and nodded, gently reaching to take her hand. “You are truly a Propitious and Filial Child. No matter the outcome, I shall ensure your sacrifice is immortalized. The gentle and tranquil Yìn Zhēnzhū gōngzhǔ, and her love for the land.”

Still trying to keep a brave face, but unable to stop the tears, she sat up straight and kowtowed before the great Buddha. Offering her thanks for both the merciful silence within her mind, and a solution to the great problem.

As the Buddha bid her to rise, she looked up at him, a new determination in her gaze.

“How much time do I have left?…. I…” her face fell again. “I must say goodbye.”

The Buddha nodded in understanding before he looked out the window and contemplated. “I can hold your storm back with my dharma for two days… forgive me child that’s all I can permit. Any more and your core will shatter, the oceanic Dharma housed within will be irreparably damaged and the balance will never be restored.”

Beike kowtowed again. “Thank you Auspicious One… I shall not dare waste even a second of it.”

He led her out of the room where her loved ones, her father, mother, her beloved attendants and loyal guard… even her dear cousin, Erlang Shen all of them were there.

She rushed to hug her mother first, and as she was held by her family, both her and the Buddha explained the situation.

It wasn’t easy…

Her mother had collapsed in grief, even her Sage of a father, the honorable and steadfast great Jade Emperor, let out a sob as he looked upon the two of them in horror.

“Auspicious One, I beseech you, there must be a way to spare my child. We haven’t even had a millennium with her.”

But upon receiving no such solution, He excused himself - after giving his daughter a hug and an order to come and see him tomorrow - to go and grieve in private for a bit with his beloved consort and wife.

The Buddha excused himself next to go and use his dharma to temporarily silence the storms.

Her attendants clung to her and her faithful guard bowed and wept. They asked to follow her and she was quick to forbid it. She needed them to aid in helping her mother. Because she knew her mother would be hit worst by this. They needed to stay alive to grieve her so that they would have her mother, and her royal mother would have them.

And her attendants would be well taken care of, and build their cultivation to become powerful ladies. They would become a force on their own so that they would never, Never need to serve another royal ever again. And her faithful guard would grow in strength, rise in rank, become a great general and never need to depend on her or another king ever again. She held their hands tightly as she made them promise.

It took convincing. But they agreed. Holding their chins high and putting on a brave face as they served their Lady dinner, prepared her room and vigilantly stood guard.

Her beloved people… she never did deserve them…

That left Erlang.

“Are you too going to convince me to try and find another way dear cousin.”

“…. No, the solution came from the Buddha himself, he wouldn’t have suggested it had there been another way…”

“Then what is that look for?”

“…..” He sat next to her and reached out to grip her hand. Fingers entwined, shoulder leaning against hers. “I can’t protect you… I am sorry.”

“You don’t have to apologize Erlang,” she leaned her head against his, allowing him to support her weight. “Besides, my dear cousin, mayhaps one day you will find someone who you can protect, who will drive you crazy and be strong enough that you don’t allow those hovering instincts of yours to rule you… mayhaps one day you’ll have a couple kids, a charming family… a good life.”

She smiles and holds his hand tighter as she watches his face pinch in a pain that has no physical wound.

“And when that day comes, and you’re truly happy, and the sun is setting pink over an orange and purple sky, I hope you gather your children and sit them down under a weeping willow next to a gentle river, and you tell them tales of their silly Cousin-Aunt who would’ve loved and spoiled them so much.”

Tears weld in his eyes, the only thing refusing to let them fall is pride.

“That could’ve been us…”

“No…” She was quick to stop him in the trail of thought. “It couldn’t have been. We are too much alike… we would’ve fought and made each other miserable, you wouldn’t have been able to keep an eye on me the way you need to in order to settle your battle-mind, and I would’ve become odious of the way you hovered and restricted me in the name of safety… and deep down, I know you know this….”

Silence before a pained chuckle and Erlang used his free hand to pinch the corners of his eyes, holding his nose. “You would’ve been an awful wife.”

Beike makes an aghast sound in her throat. “How dare you. I would’ve made an amazing bride.”

“Just not to me?”

“Just not to you… but, I am happy we are family. And I’m happy I was given this time to say goodbye to you…” she leaned her head against his shoulder again. “You’re a good man Erlang. You have such a big heart. Don’t you dare let others take advantage of that okay? And when you do decide you want to take a partner, make sure you’re not blinded by your dedication and choose someone with a good heart, okay? Choose Someone who will love you back wildly and most ardently.”

He looked at her with red eyes for a bit before he nodded and leaned forward to kiss her. And though she tensed, she let him say goodbye.

When he pulled back, he gently caressed her cheek. “I vow to you that I will do as you say. I will carry your name… I will keep them safe.” He glances at her beloved attendants and guard.

Bèiké felt a tightness of worry in her chest loosen as she placed her hand over his. “Thank you Cousin… you have no idea how much that means to me.”

He nodded and stood up, going to take his leave before he stopped, and looked back. “You need to say goodbye to him…. His Birthday is in just a couple dawns. He needs to know, or he will carry that anger.”

Bèiké clenched her fists against her skirts, but loosened them as she sighed and nodded. “I can’t tell him when…. He will try and stop it…”

Erlang nodded then gave a shrug and a whistle. Calling his dog next to his side. “Then don’t tell him when… but he deserved to know as your brother.”

The Water Maiden gritted her teeth. “I hate it when you are correct…”

He smiled and left the room. The hound on his heels.

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Beike had two days… two days to say goodbye.

She wanted to spend most of it with her family, and that first day… she did.

Her beloved attendants and guard stood by her side as she was prepared and escorted to her Royal mother and father.

Together, they wept, and held one another. Then spoke of stories and laughed and remembered. She sang for them and performed for them one last time. Served her mother and father tea. Did her filial duties as a daughter.

Bèiké was unable to stop her tears flowing again as her brothers and sisters arrived as well, coming to embrace her and love her and say their goodbyes. Sharing their own stories with her, singing and celebrating the time she had had with them, with her. Apologizing for past arguments and disagreements, and showing remorse for not accepting her right away.

The Maiden of the Waters listened to them all without interruption, forgave the ones who asked for it and embraced them. Wanting to spend this time as family with no drama’s or petty rivalries.

They all did their best to enjoy the moment without acknowledging too much the impending doom creeping ever closer.

It was everything Beike could’ve wanted as a last day with her family. Forever grateful that she’d been adopted into it.

And it was done too soon, Beike looked out and saw the world in that stage of blue that’s common as the sun sinks that certain level below the horizon…

Day one was done.

She bid farewell to her siblings, sharing her love with them once more. She went and hugged her parents and told them of her plans for tomorrow, how she knew she needed to say goodbye to her sworn brother.

And while her royal mother wanted to spend her last day with her, her father nodded and understood her need to bid farewell. Placating his wife and asking that she only return in the morning so that they may spend some time together before….

He couldn’t finish that sentence, but the Maiden nodded and understood. Giving her word.

With that, she spent the remainder of the night with her beloved attendants and guard, sharing stories and fragile time….

It was when the early morning came about that she got ready. The sun still far from breaching the horizon as she made her way out on her cloud pavilion, her body still chained from rejoining the waters.

She carried a delicately wrapped gift carefully in her lap. The wrappings gold, orange, purple and red and shimmering. Colors that had reminded her of a beautiful dawn, something she had always associated with her sworn brother and his bright personality.

As the great Mountain Huaguo came into view, she felt her chest tighten in nervousness.

Sun Wukong could be unpredictable at the best of times, and completely irrational at the worst. She knew not how he was going to handle this.

She carefully stepped into the water curtain cave and called out. Some monkey Guai she recognized as a general raising his brow at her from his lounging position on the roof. She smiled and gave a polite bow before holding up the gifts to show him.

The general rolled his eyes and disappeared into the palace, Sun Wukong appearing a handful of minutes later. His clothes were not pajamas, though also not his royal regalia. He smiled at her, though his eyes were curious.

“My my! What a wonderful sight! My sister come to visit this Old Sun! And with gifts, a generous woman you are!” He wrapped an arm around her and began to lead her inside. “I feared you were stern with me! Such storms have been beating my mountain! Why, the young ones have all needed to find shelter in high ground! But if you are here with gifts, that clearly mustn’t be so. Though you must satisfy my curiosity Young Pearl. The sun is still a long time in rising, what brings you by this odd hour?”

Bèiké smiled, her voice tight as she answered him and allowed herself to be led. “I will tell you everything, my dear brother. But first, invite me to your table, let us sit. I want to see your smiles as you accept these birthday gifts before I must regrettably darken the mood.”

Wukong paused and looked at her, his smile dropping. “Darken the mood? Pray tell, why must you do such a thing? Has someone dared to insult you? Tell this Wukong and I shall have them apologize.���

Beike shook her head, and patted his hand. “Let us sit first, i shall tell you then.”

Wukong scowled at her vagueness but led her to his dining hall all the same. Sitting them down and getting a pot of tea on the fire.

“There.” He stated. “We have sat, and the tea is brewing, I have done my hostly duty, now explain.”

Beike tried not to laugh, for this was no laughing matter, but she smiled as she handed him the gifts. “Will you not open them first?”

He waved her off as he bared his teeth at her. “You stall. I am impatient young Pearl, what is the bad news you bring?”

Beike sighed before she pulled the gifts back. Staring at her hands before she looked back up at her brother. “I wanted to celebrate with you before I shared the news. I didn’t mean to cause you worry brother. But there’s no easy way to say this.”

She sat up straighter and looked her Sworn brother in the eyes. “Wukong… I’ve lost control, my body has rejected me, my mortality has run up… I don’t know exactly how much time I have left, but.…” she gave a shaky smile. “It wasn’t fair to not come and say goodbye…”

Wukong froze as he took in her words, his eyes searching hers as he searched for a lie, a jest, a deception. “That can’t be…” his hand reached out to grip hers. “You are immortal, that cannot be.”

She gripped him back, her lips beginning to tremble and her sight beginning to blur as she nodded. “It is so… the Buddha himself confirmed it. The only reason the storms aren’t raging this very moment is because he is holding it back…. But dear brother, my mind is broken, my body has failed…”

She shook her head her tears falling. “I did not know how to tell you, but you deserved to know. You are family, I couldn’t leave without saying goodbye…”

“You hush.” Gritted words.

“I wanted so much to celebrate your birthday with you, and see your happy reaction as you open these gifts… I wanted to give you a chance make peace with this.”

“Be silent.”

“I have failed my duties and lives have been lost due to it… I can never make that right, but I need to try and fix this. However I want to still say goodbye. It’s not right to just disappear-“

“HUSH!” Sun Wukong roared as he pushed her down against the pillows, snapping his canines inches from her face. “YOU BE SILENT!”

He shook above her, his breathing harsh, his hands gripping her wrists to the point of bruising. He looked down at her with golden eyes blazing, using his sight to see the horrible truth of the Pearl maiden.

And of course he saw that she was speaking the truth. Her very core was failing, her body all out of balance, her mind being held together by only the Buddha’s Dharma. Oh he knew the feeling of that power intimately well, for he was trapped under it for 500 years. And even that was swiftly breaking under the force of a torrent storm that was only just barely being held back.

His younger sister holding a power within her that was far too large for her current body, and he could see it was quite literally ripping her apart. An awful sight.

“I….” His voice shook as he is mind quickly ran through a hundred different scenarios. “Yes, an idea, I have an idea! I could sneak back to the shadow kingdom, erase your name.”

“Wukong…”

“Lao Tzu has a hundred different medicines, I could go steal a couple again.”

“Brother-“

“The immortality peaches bloom in another handful of days, you could eat them. I could mend your core! I’m sure it wouldn’t be too hard! The Buddha misses things all the time! There must be some loophole. You are immortal, there’s always a way ou-“

His words cut off as the maiden leaned up and buried her face against his neck, pulling her wrists uselessly against his grip.

He shuddered and let out a whine when he felt her tears dampen his fur.

“You… you are not supposed to leave… How are you to leave? Young as you are, the young pearl that has slammed this Wukong with your waters in play. The skinny little princess who has stood up to me more than any of those celestials who dare call themselves warriors… yet you can’t beat this? How dare you…”

“I am sorry brother… you must forgive this Bèiké.”

“I do not! How dare you, you can’t leave. How dare you.” His hands released her wrists only to wrap around her and drag her into a crushing hug.

She of course hugged him back, Sun Wukong had always been steadfast and strong, even when he was angry or stubborn or doing something reckless he always somehow made her feel safe. To feel him tremble against her made her chest tighten to a near painful degree.

“My impulsive brother… please, I need you to make peace with this.” She rubbed his back as she did her best to choke back her tears. “I don’t want to leave with regrets.”

He snarled against her throat but refused to look at her. “You dare ask me to be okay with this? You are selfish.”

She combed her fingers through his fur, desperately trying to comfort him in the way his people do. “Will you let me be selfish in this? I want us to spend the day together, I want to celebrate your birthday early. I want to enjoy my time with my sworn brother and leave with good memories and no regrets…”

Slowly he began to relax and his grip on her loosened. “You ask a lot of this Sun Wukong Bèiké.”

Bèiké blinked rapidly at hearing her brother say her name, but nodded even though she knew he didn’t see her. “I know… I want today to be a good day for both of us… let your little sister be selfish, please?”

Long moments passed before he finally nodded.

“Because I am a good and gracious King and brother… I will do this.”

“You are a wonderful and handsome king.”

“Your praises flatter me sister.”He leaned back and gave her a look. “I… do not like this…”

Beike gave him a shaky smile. “I am not fond of it either… would you rather I left?” She asked genuinely.

Sun Wukong was quick to shake his head. “I would not chase you away. I want to spend the day with you. But alas, it feels odd to pretend nothing is wrong, you sit before me so it feels odd to grieve, yet I see your core shattering…” he rests his forehead against hers. “Would you be stern with me if I hid you away in the mountain where I knew it was safe?”

Bèiké closed her eyes and similarly pressed her forehead against his. “I’d be sad, because I know it would not change anything. You know that too… But… Thank you for caring about me…”

A growl rumbled in his chest. “I am your brother, of course this Sun Wukong is going to care.” A grumpy statement, but one that made Bèiké give a wet laugh all the same.

“I am so lucky to have you as a brother Wukong… the Valiant Victorious Fighting Buddha, strongest in the world. Brave old Sun.”

“…I don’t want to let go…”

Bèiké nodded, but took a deep breath and leaned back to give him her bravest smile. “Come! Let me celebrate your birthday early. No more tears! Let’s smile and make merry.”

It took convincing, and he wasn’t nearly as festivious as he normally was, but he eventually began to smile and laugh as they ate and drank. Some of the denizens of Mount Huaguo joining in on the merrymaking. Loving any excuse to celebrate, why not start the games early?

His eyes glittered at the gifts she had given him, the storm summoning whistle and the abyssal armor. He danced around and showed them off.

As the day grew brighter, more people joined in.

It was… fun.

Music played, the food was good, the games were chaotic and creative, everyone was laughing and smiling. One could almost forget that the Princess had a time limit…

But Bèiké could see when Sun Wukong remembered, he would randomly grow quiet and his brow would furrow. His hand gripping hers as if afraid that if he let go, she would disappear.

Bèiké did her sisterly duty and tried to ease his mind and keep conversation topics away from anything that may remind him. Today was about celebrating, sharing stories and making merry. She had even pulled him out to dance a couple times, both of them clumsy from the wine and making them laugh all the more.

As the sun began to set once more, the maiden of the waters knew she had to return…

She wasn’t about to lie and say that the thought of getting him drunk to the point he passed out, so she could leave without him noticing wasn’t enticing… but she ultimately decided it would be cruel to not give him a chance to say goodbye. And Wukong, seeing the change in his little sister’s demeanor and the far away look in her eye, felt his throat tighten.

“Must you leave already? Ba and Liu are about to get on the drums.” His hands gripping hers tightly.

She smiled sadly and gripped his hands back. “Come to the balcony with me Wukong… come tell me goodbye. Send me off with a smile.”

He snarled, but did so. His mind once again beginning to race as he thought of ways to fix the issue, heal her core…

And Bèiké gently tugged his fur. “You are going to hurt yourself if you keep trying to mend what’s already breaking. You have to let it shatter.”

The gaze he leveled on her was equal parts stubbornness, pain and manic. “How can you ask me to do nothing? I am Sun Wukong!”

Her cloud pavilion materialized as she gently held her brother’s face. “Wukong… I am hurting. My mind has shattered and it’s causing me so much pain… it hurts, and I am so sorry I’m not strong enough to deal with it.” She feels her voice choke as she thinks about what the Buddha told her. Takes a deep breath before smiling at her brother. “Those storms that are so out of control are destroying what is precious, you have always fought to keep your precious people safe. But this time, I have to be the one to fix things… you have to let me do this so that the pain can end.”

He trembled, his eyes squeezing shut as he let out a whine and crushed her in a tight hug.

“I swear to you… I will find a way to fix this. You must hold on young Pearl, promise me you will hold on.”

Bèiké bit her lip as she felt tears well up in her eyes once more… it would’ve been too easy to promise, to trust him, to let him shield her and depend on him…

But as she looked back behind him and saw the lives of the denizens of the mountain that were much more fragile, whom had already suffered and survived so much… whom she didn’t want to risk anymore than she inadvertently already had, she took a deep breath and settled her nerves. She raised her arms to hug him back. The monkey Guai who - from the start of his existence - didn’t know what it was to turn down a challenge.

“I trust in your strength Wukong… protect your people, I will never forgive myself if they come into harm when I am broken.”

He shook his head as he leaned back, giving her a hand as she settled onto her cloud pavilion. “I shall allow no harm to befall them, rest assured. You must focus on your own health. I will reach out to you soon.” He gave her hand one final squeeze before he released her and watched her float away.

Bèiké didn’t dare tell him that she wouldn’t be there to answer him come dawn, and she knew he would be angry at her for that. And she accepted that.

She knew in her heart that, should she ever be reincarnated, she would spend the next several lifetimes making up for the pain she would cause her dear brother when he found out.

She could only pray he would forgive her.

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Bèiké would’ve liked to think she was being brave.

To sacrifice one’s life for the protection of others, especially including beloved friends and family should be an honorable act. And an act that one usually faced with their head held high.

But Bèiké couldn’t pretend that she wasn’t trembling.

The early morning consisted of the Princess spending her final peaceful moments with her family. They sat in silence, both having no words to say and too many to voice, and just holding each others hands.

As the sun began to rise, the Buddha had called upon them. Guiding them to a location in the heart of everything where the ceremony was to take place.

While the world was still calm, the Buddha and his monks set up the area, blessing it and preparing it for what the Jade Emperor and his ever attentive obligation demanded him to do.

The storms had broken free of the Buddha’s great Dharma moments ago, the world was dark even though it was meant to be the middle of the day.

Her beloved attendants had wanted to accompany her to her final destination, but she had forbidden it. Not wanting to risk them. Their goodbyes had been tearful and filled with vows and promises. Beike was unable to bring herself to look back as she walked away, knowing that if she did, she would’ve have the strength to do what needed to happen next.

She stood with her mother and father on an exposed piece of land in the middle of the ocean, they were in the heart of the storm. The honorable and noble dragon kings of the four cardinal directions risking their lives to hold back the storm, allowing the Jade Emperor and his family to stand in the eye of it.

Bèiké sat in the shallow water where the ocean met the sand as the weight of everything crashed upon her. The whisper-screams that the Buddha was still mercifully holding back slamming against the barrier of her mind, making her dizzy.

There was no specific sign or signal that indicated what exactly needed to be done, but it was like a shift in the wind. Her heart pounding in her chest.

She looked up at the black clouds as the monks around her began to chant and she felt her royal father’s strength and power begin to spread over the world and demand its submission. And she felt herself begin to respond to its demands, even as another part of her twisted in defiance and raged all the more.

It was a particularly painful thump that had her clenching her chest as Wukong’s words reverberated in her head.

“If I came up with nothing, had no pompous trickster cursed me, had no imperious scalawag tried to poison me somehow, I would simply assume it was an internal issue and I’d open myself up to take an intimate look.” …. “Take an intimate look….”

“In order to quell the storms, to spare the land and break your chains, you must offer that core to him. And with its Oceanic Dharma, he can restore the world. But in doing so… you will cease.” The Buddha’s words echoed as she realized truly what she had to do.

Her breath quickened as she forced herself to swallow down her fear. She closed her eyes as the faces of her family and friends flashed in her mind. The pain of those who had been lost to her lack of control, the faces of those who would be at risk if she didn’t do what she needed to do.

“I will cease… but they will survive…” She murmured as she felt her hand break past her fragile mortal shell of a body, easily finding her own core. “The sacrifice of one will preserve billions, the trade is worth it.”

She grit her teeth and prepared herself. “It is worth it.” She let out a pained cry as she gave a swift wrench and tore her core free. Hearing the horrified gasps and cries of her parents.

As she held her core out to her father, and begged him to save… everyone, she quickly felt her strength fade.

Despite his horror, the Jade Emperor kept his composure. His strength and power moving his body instinctively to do what needed to be done. He took her core, the blood staining his hands, and the oceanic dharma that flowed within responded to his dominant presence.

He glowed as the wind kicked up and the sky filled with magnificent colors. Energy plunged through the earth and oceans as the balance between land and sea reentered equilibrium. Everything going back to how it was supposed to be and the effect almost immediately becoming apparent.

No longer shackled by a mortal shell, the waters fell back into balance and the world began to heal.

And as the Jade Emperor did his honor-bound commitment, Bèiké felt her mind settle, and the whispers fade. There was a pull to rejoin the waters as was her nature, but the mortal shell she was bound to still held her. She could feel herself fading, her body dying while still desperately trying to survive.

Her heart beating, her blood flowing, her breathing erratic. She distantly wondered if this is what mortals went through, the mind realizing what was happening while the body continued to fight.

The sobbing voice of her beloved mother caught her attention as she found herself embraced in her mother’s arms.

She tried to raise a hand to hold her mother back but found her body was no longer responding. And as she tried to respond to her mother’s desperate Pleas to not leave her, Bèiké found that her voice no longer worked.

As her breathing slowed, the clouds above them finally parted, revealing a truly beautiful view. A dawn of pinks, purples and golds…

It looks like Wukong…. Ahhh… I’m going to miss his birthday…. His heart is… going to…. Break…

As her vision faded to black, she heard a wailing scream that pierced the void…

Her last thought was that it sounded like the purest heartbreak.

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It had been sixty years since that day.

The world had long healed. The droughts had been banished, the floods dried up. The fishermen resumed their craft and taught the next generation and the next, and the dead had been buried and honored.

However, mortals still talked about the phenomenon that had been observed on the ocean those sixty years ago.

The magnificent lights and that feeling of protection and security followed by a great cry that shook the world. Most everyone cried that day after hearing that sound; mortals, beasts, Yaoguais and immortals alike wept.

But most memorable of all, was the utter lack of motion of the seas days after the great mourning.

Not a wave, not a breeze, not a current was seen or felt upon the ocean.

It was as though the entire ocean was dead.

It had taken around fourteen days for movement to circulate within and above the oceans again. And from there, life had returned to a relative normalcy.

However, it wasn’t so easy for everyone to simply move on.

The Victorious Fighting Buddha, Sun Wukong had stormed the heavenly palace in anger, demanding an explanation for the ocean’s state and to see his sister. It had taken the Lotus Prince, Nezha, and his lordship, Erlang Shen to placate and comfort the mourning Simian after the unfortunate news of her death had been shared.

The Stone simian had been leaving, intent on heading back to his mountain to grieve with his people, when he had been stopped by the still grieving Lady Mazu.

She had broken royal decorum and invited him over, offering for him to view her daughter’s memorial and offer some final words.

There had been no body, she had solemnly explained, for after her last breath, her body had melted and became water that fell through my hands… all that had remained were the pearls that had always adorned her, and I had collected as many as I could before they rolled and were lost to the water.

It was said that Wukong had broken down before the memorial of the Pearl Princess, though only the Lady Mazu would know for sure.

Though servants and attendants claimed to have seen the two afterwards sitting at a table and sharing stories. When Wukong had gotten up to leave, the goddess had gifted him a pearl that had belonged to the Maiden.

Sun Wukong had not left his mountain much after that, the king remaining dedicated to his kingdom.

Though, there were rumors that drifted around about how he and the phoenix maiden, and sometimes Erlang Shen, would visit that island in the middle of the ocean once a year on the anniversary of the great mourning.

What they did on that island, it couldn’t be said, but those who dared to venture near swore they heard the most haunting melody and a whistle that always seemed to summon a storm.

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What a curious thing life is… always finding a way to exist even in places where you would think life would be impossible.

Everything in life has a cycle, for some it’s life and death, for others it’s a constant journey of recycling.

Water is one of the latter, it’s always been here as long as life has existed on this wonderful world. And even before. There is no true death of water, for the water that exists today is the same water that existed billions of years ago.

Water is one of the true immortals, ever present, life bringing and ever flowing.

The ocean is old, timeless and ever shifting, No one truly knows exactly how old the Waters of the world are.

Deep within the depths, the waters churned and swirled in a circular motion, as if creating a cacoon. And as life shaped and formed within it, the beating of a heart reverberated through the ocean.

A light the shown down upon the churning waters, and a voiced ever familiar called out; “You have yet to finish forming, but allow me to be the first to greet you. Welcome back, Maiden of the Worldly Waters… you have been greatly missed.”

Upon hearing that voice, The Maiden of the Waters, for the first time in sixty years, opened her eyes and blinked up at the light above her.

She felt small and yet large, feared but loved, wild and free… and more so than before, she felt unshackled and eternal, endless and ever renewing.

She felt like water.

“Pray tell, Maiden of the Waters, do you know what you want to be?”

The Maiden felt her brow furrow as she thought, snippets of memory, some clear and some blurry filtering through her mind. A previous life, a mortal body… a broken mind.

She wasn’t that person anymore, part of her knew that. She wasn’t shackled by mortality, her mind wouldn’t break as that woman’s did.

Still…

“Maiden? My my, Do you remember who you are?”

The Maiden blinked back up at the light, and allowed her eyes to adjust, seeing the enlightened figure within.

She nodded as she answered.

“I am Bèiké, the Yín Zhēnzhū Gōngzhǔ, filial daughter, sworn sister, the deceptive Tranquil lady, The capricious and unpredictable waters… and I was loved.”

——————————————————————

ModPost;

AHHHHHHHHHH!!! We’ve finally reached the end! I’ve been working on this for two weeks!!!! All the art took me a while too. I hate doing backgrounds but it gave be a chance to test some water colored brushes I purchased and techniques for expressions and poses.

I hope you all enjoyed if you made it to the end! Let me know what you think.

I tried to proofread as I went along, but if I missed anything please forgive me.

[blueberrymocha]

hiii!! Do you mind writing about the main 4 surprising reader on their bday?

main 4 surprising you on your birthday

gon

gon’s wasn’t very great at hiding things, so you knew he had something planned for your special day. his enthusiasm that morning only assured you more. he’d had a party horn in one hand and breakfast (which was a birthday cake) in the other.

“happy birthday y/n!” gon exclaimed, nearly dropping it. he decided to bake the cake himself, as a thoughtful gesture. unfortunately, the first few times it burned or he forgot to add an ingredient, but eventually the cake was perfected

the two of you opted to spend time out in the sun. you adventured through the forest, went for a swim along the coast, and eventually grabbed dinner at a local restaurant.

“put this on, ‘kay?” he instructed, handing you a blindfold and taking you by the hand. your suspense built as he guided you into a part of town you were sure you hadn’t been to before. fifteen minutes of walking later, you arrived at the mysterious location. feeling yourself get onto something before it started moving up, you all but screamed.

suddenly your blindfold was removed, and you heard a loud “surprise!”

glancing around, you realized you were on a hot air balloon. turning to gon, you hugged him and muttered a quick thank you before moving to the ledge and gazing out at the sky. the view was breathtaking, and soon you found yourself pointing out every little thing to the boy next to you.

“ooh do you see the little dipper? there’s an owl!” you paused to look out a different side before continuing, “doesn’t whale island look so small from up here?”

he hummed in agreement, even though the whole time he could only stare at you.

killua

when you woke up to an empty bed, you knew something was off. seeing as it was your birthday, you figured he might’ve had something planned, but before you could figure anything out, a knock came to your door. in front of you stood alluka, holding a gift with a bright smile on her face. and when she asked to spend the day with you, no just wasn’t an option.

after a few hours, your curiosity had grown too much, “say alluka, where’s your brother at anyway?” you asked her causally.

“hm, i’m not sure… why don’t we head back to the house? he might’ve gone back!” she suggested, and you decided she was right. upon walking in, you noted how dark it was.

“hey, didn’t we leave the string li—“

there was a popping sound as you watched the lights come on.

“everyone run right now!”

you immediately turned and started for the door, but in the absence of any other footsteps, you stopped. whipping back, you saw all your friends, until your gaze stopped on killua.

“hold up, what’s going on?” you asked blankly.

taking the time to look around the room, you saw birthday banners, balloons, presents, and a cake on the table… at your revelation, killua burst out laughing.

“killua, that’s not what we rehearsed!” you heard gon complain. seeing the mischievous look on his face though, you knew something like this should’ve been expected.

“hah, happy birthday,” he said, recovering from laughing, then adding “but want some cake?”

“i swear, if you shove my face into it, you’re gonna be sleeping outside tonight.” he rolled his eyes as everyone made it to the kitchen. as annoying as his jokes were, you couldn’t have asked for a better day.

kurapika

you wished kurapika could be with you today, but naturally he was off doing something. it wasn’t uncommon for you to be left in the dark about his whereabouts, but you thought he could’ve at least left a text or something.

regardless, sulking around at home on your birthday was out of the question. deciding to get a coffee, you grabbed your keys and walked up to the door.

in that moment, you watched the handle twist before it made a clicking noise. freezing where you stood, the blonde walked into your apartment holding a box in one hand.

as you ran to embrace him, he instantly wrapped his free arm around you. “you made it!” drawing away just enough to not damage his ears with your yelling.

he replied with a chuckle and paused before saying, “i didn’t know your expectations were so low, you thought i’d miss today”

you huffed, “if you haven’t noticed, it’s almost 5 o’ clock in the evening. of course i didn’t expect you to come.”

giving you a quick sorry, he continued to the dining table, setting the box down. grabbing a lighter from his pocket, he lit each candle before looking back at you. but you just stared at the cake. it was the nicest dessert you’d seen in your entire life, fit more for a wedding than your party for two.

“you know you’re meant to blow them out, right?” he joked.

“kurapika, thank you.” you spoke. there was no better gift than getting to see this side of him. the playful and loving part of him he let no one else see. no one except you.

leorio

it was morning and your boyfriend was nowhere to be found. as you got to the kitchen, you spot a note next to some pancakes

“mornin’ y/n! get dressed and head down to the park? see you soon.”

and you couldn’t hide the grin forming on your face. once you finished eating, you went back to your bedroom to find something to wear.

‘he never specified what the dress code was… guess i can’t go wrong with casual’

walking into the park, you soon found the ravenette sitting on a blanket peering inside a woven basket.

“babe! i’m here,” you announced, earning a yelp from the old looking man. his surprised face quickly morphed into glee as he shouted,

“happy birthday!”

you sat down and began to look at all the food he’d prepared. you remembered how much you loved the dinner rolls he made last thanksgiving, they were here. the tomato soup he fed you when you got sick? here. thinking of all the wonderful memories you’d made with him, you couldn’t help but smile.

“leorio… i’m so thankful to have you,” you said, reaching for his hand. his face flushed red as he seemingly searched the park for any sort of reply. when nothing came to him, he grabbed your hand back.

“let’s cut all the sappy stuff and get to the eating, alright?” he eventually stated after a long silence. smiling once more, you nodded and grabbed a plate.

[frozenjokes]

A Mermaid Learns English, Races Clams, And Breaks Up What Was Definitely A Vicious Human Fight

I’ve decided to post these ‘one shots’ on tumblr as well since y’all seemed to enjoy the last one

With the passing of a couple days, Mumbo was beginning to pick up on a few more human words. There was ‘Hey!’ to get Grian’s attention and ‘Look!’ to get Grian’s attention and ‘Clam!’ to get Grian’s attention, all of these words usually used in quick succession. However, Mumbo was most proud of figuring out the human pronoun. He. That’s what it was. Scar was a he and Grian was a he and they had both considered Mumbo a he, which was cute! It was like Mumbo was an honorary human with hes and hims just like them, how sweet! (And they were okay with that! Excited even! He was excited, yeah, look at that! He! Me!) How many other animals did they consider to also be human? Did humans even use separate pronouns for their own species and others? Maybe every animal was just a really big or really tiny human to them.

Regardless. After learning about human pronouns, Mumbo learned that Scar and Grian talked about him constantly. Constantly! They talked like Mumbo wasn’t there, even when he very much was, and he knew, because whenever they bothered to include Mumbo in their conversations about him, they would be looking directly at him. At first it was flattering, and then it was a little bit annoying, and currently it’s been quite frustrating! What are you squawking about? Tell me! Mumbo made sure to let them know how he felt. He got pushy, getting in their space (never closer than a few feet), but they didn’t seem to register that as aggression at all, in fact, Scar never looked anything less than delighted. Utterly confusing! Though, Scar in particular was quite physically affectionate with his human friend.. was that how humans always acted, or was something wrong with that one’s head. Grian didn’t seem to reciprocate very much, sometimes pushing the other off of him or simply doing nothing (looking generally displeased, though that’s how he always looked), but who knows! Humans were weird and apparently not very protective of their own space.

“Look! Look at that, Grian, he’s getting so comfortable with us! He gets closer every day, isn’t that great?” Scar waved his arms around carelessly, and Mumbo had to shimmy back to avoid being touched.

“I don’t know about that. Can’t tell. He doesn’t emote very much, does he?”

‘Will you two quit talking about me.’ That got their attention, whistling clicks always did, but when they didn’t hear a word they recognized (their names), they just stared before going back to chatting with each other. Fine. Be that way, then. Mumbo was hungry anyway.

So he left, trying to throw in a bit of petty flair, but Mumbo didn’t have to look back to know the gesture went over their heads. Given the splint still holding his sore tail in place, Mumbo doubted a mermaid would have understood either. Ugh. Hunting was going to take ages like this.

And it did.

Mumbo spent an hour in deeper water getting batted around by currents and the like, but chasing fish as he usually did had been out of the question since getting stuck in Grian’s net. So he had to wait. Wait for fish to come to him.

Mumbo was not very good at waiting.

It wasn’t that he was an impatient person. He could be plenty patient when he needed to be, but Mumbo was also a fidgety mer, and typically fish aren’t too keen on swimming very close to the visibly hungry big thing with sharp teeth.

He did not get many fish today. He did not get many fish yesterday. He did not get many fish all week. Maybe there was a reason he was starting to get so irritable.

Regardless, Mumbo wasn’t too worried about starving or even losing all that much weight; if he was really having problems he would just have to take a detour back home to the deep and get fixed up. He could go today if he wanted. But he didn’t, not really. The humans would miss him! They would wonder where he had gone. (Not that Mumbo would be thinking of them as well, worried about what they were getting up to. But humans were so fragile, and these two in particular seemed to have impaired survival instincts. What if Mumbo left, came back, and they were gone? What if he never saw them again?) Needless to say, Mumbo was only going hungry for normal, sane reasons. Maybe he could steal some of the humans’ food, though, they hardly ate anything at all. Wouldn’t be worth the grief.

When Mumbo returned, hungry and irritated about still being hungry, Scar was looking for clams. That seemed to be his favorite activity, sifting through the sand, digging up clams, piling them up, then at the end of day, scattering them back in the sand. Today, Scar was lining up his clams on the shore, letting them sit in the sun for whatever reason. Mumbo wondered if he ever planned on eating them, or if the clams were just toys to humans. Maybe Scar didn’t understand how to get inside them? Mumbo snorted, bubbles floating to the surface. Humans probably thought the clams would just open up for them if they waited long enough.

But not even his sour mood could withstand Scar’s bright smile as the human spotted Mumbo returning; its entire body lit up, every single encounter met with the same excitement as the first time it saw him. Sure, Mumbo was more easily flattered than most mermaids he knew, but anyone would break under the weight of that joy. Was Scar that excited to see everyone, or was it just him? He hoped Scar knew he felt similarly. He wished he could tell him.

Scar’s attention quickly shifted back to the sand though, bending over to sift through with a hand then plucking a clam out of the water. “Oooh this is a big one!”

Across the water, sitting on a rocky outcrop, Grian rolled his eyes. “Pretty sure you’ve shown me that same clam every day since you first got here.”

“It’s big though!”

“It is pretty big.”

“Do you think she’ll win?”

“The- did you finally remember to bring nail polish? And I don’t know, I’ll have to take a look at all of them before I decide.” Grian went back to fishing (and Mumbo was keeping a closer eye than he’d like to admit on the line), but Scar seemed satisfied, taking his bounty to the shore to line it up with the ten or so other clams.

“Well you’d better get ready, because our athletes are all lined up! They’re revving to go, Grian! You should look before they speed away! They’re chomping at the bit I tell you, they’re gonna run right away if you don’t come and look right now.”

Grian made a small noise of assent, not moving. “I'm in no rush.” He re-cast his line.

Scar huffed, trotting to his bag (which Mumbo couldn’t help but notice was placed very far from the shore, what was up with that anyway? Did they not trust him? They could trust him. Come on, no harm in putting them a little closer to the water..) and producing a small vial. Mumbo dragged himself a little closer to inspect it as Scar sat back with his clams. It smelled weird.

“What,” Mumbo said in human, another very useful word he’d learned, and Scar smiled, unscrewing the top.

“We paint our..” he paused, thinking, before gesturing to his dull claws, “Nails.” With the brush attached to the cap, he drew some of the brightly colored liquid inside across one of his ‘nails’, coloring it. Huh. So humans painted their skin just like mermaids did sometimes, very interesting. Unfortunately, Mumbo didn’t have the materials to show him. Scar examined his hand thoughtfully when he finished, throwing Mumbo a soft smile. “This won’t last. I’ll save it for the clams.”

With great care, Scar began to examine his clams one by one, picking them up and spinning them in his hands, saying something about names to Grian, then painting little symbols on the shells once they were dry enough. But why? Mumbo got the sense Scar was preparing them for something- to eat, maybe? Mumbo have never actually seen either human prepare any food; they seemed to bring pre-hunted meals with them every day. Was this.. part of the process..? Why in the world would they name their food?

Well. It was possible Scar wasn’t trying to eat and Mumbo was just thinking about food due to his own hunger. But then what was the point!

Apparently, the painting activity piqued Grian’s interest despite his previous dismissal, a common trend for that human it seemed. Despite holding a somewhat stubborn facade of disinterest, he was quick to contribute a name, and eventually, stopped fishing altogether to check out what Scar was working on.

“This one will be Jellie, the cutest, prettiest, fastest clam,” Scar said, practically shoving one of the clams in Grian’s face. Mumbo couldn’t quite make out the symbol painted on it, (none of the human symbols meant anything to him) but Grian seemed to understand, reaching insistently for the paint in Scar’s other hand. Scar held it out of reach, leaning away, but not without a smile on his face. “What? You don’t like Jellie?”

“Let me make one.”

“I thought you didn’t care about clam racing,” Scar grinned as he shoved back, Grian stumbling a bit in the sand before scrambling back to Scar, throwing himself across the other’s arms in a way that made Mumbo’s fins stand on end. What were they doing? Why were they fighting? Was it about food?

“You can’t put Jellie in the race without Maui and Pearl. At least one of them! I want to draw them.”

“There’s only so many slots for the race, Grian. I’m afraid your cats didn’t make the cut, very sorry, very very sorry.”

“You haven’t even painted all of them yet!” Grian said, in a tone that could have been a growl, though Mumbo had never heard a human make that noise before. Grian pushed at Scar’s face, and Scar laughed(?) hurriedly trying to cap the paint before he dropped it. Grian climbed onto Scar’s back, but as soon as the paint was secure, Scar fell backwards, howling as he crushed Grian in the sand behind him. Grian squeaked, the breath knocked from him, but it wasn’t long before he was squabbling under Scar’s weight, clawing and pushing and being very loud in tones that made Mumbo’s skin crawl. He had to stop them somehow- they were going to hurt each other!

Mumbo tried whistling, ‘Stop, stop, stop,’ but they were too preoccupied in their wrestling, Scar yelping as Grian poked at his eyes. He meant to call their names, but his voice wouldn’t form the human words, even names, the sounds refusing to materialize on his tongue. The humans were close to the water, close enough to splash maybe, but Mumbo’s use of his tail was so limited with his splint and the water was so shallow. Who knew if he’d even be able to kick up enough water to distract them, or if they would even stop? If he was going to hurt himself, better to make sure it counted for something.

Mumbo closed his eyes, bracing himself before heaving out of the water and grabbing Scar’s arms with his hands and a shoulder in his jaws, yanking backward. Two things were immediately clear; one, Mumbo failed to remember how small and weak and light-weight humans were, and two, their skin was so fragile. All this to say, Mumbo was thoroughly stunned at how far back he pulled Scar, and even more alarmed to taste blood, the shock at both of these two things overpowering even the electric pain in his tail. Scar yelled and Grian shrieked, and suddenly everything was just too frightening and overwhelming and Mumbo needed to be away, away, instinct so strong, he pushed away with a strong flick of his tail despite the splints, agony shooting up his body. But in a way, that was okay. He was gone. All he needed was to be gone.

But being alone and safe from the noise gave way to thought, and in a way, that was worse.

He felt bad. He didn’t know what to do. He didn’t even know if he had hurt Scar, or how badly- he hadn’t meant to! He didn’t want anyone to get hurt at all! Mumbo buried his face in his arms, hiding from the sunlit surface. Mermaid fights were nasty things, and it usually took multiple sets of teeth to dislodge one mer from another, not to injure of course, just to hurt enough to get them to see sense and release each other, which, honestly, was a hassle in it of itself; mermaids with long tails could get all sorts of tangled. Why was human skin so thin! Were they built to die!?

Distantly, Mumbo heard the humans talking. Grian was saying Scar’s name an awful lot, loud as he always was, and it sounded like they were arguing even more than before. Mumbo buried his face deeper into his arms. He hadn’t even made a difference.

Then, splashing. A lot of splashing, both humans by the sound of it, but the second source quickly stopped short at one, big splash and- oh.

Mumbo lifted his head, and there was Scar, swimming directly toward him. There was a definite bite mark in his shoulder, still bleeding, but it didn’t seem to be bothering him at all, the human still swimming strongly. Mumbo put his head back in the sand.

“Mumbo! Hey, Mumbo!” The words were barely recognizable under the water, but Mumbo didn’t care to hear them anyway. He didn’t want to talk. He didn’t want to move. Everything hurt and he was hungry and all he did was make everything worse. Humoring the human with zero survival instincts wasn’t going to make him feel any better. The human lingered regardless, though mercifully kept its distance. It got air several times before finally realizing Mumbo didn’t want to talk and eventually, after what felt like ages, it left him alone. The lack of disturbance in the water was a sensory relief. Still, he heard the humans talking above the water.

“Still think he was trying to kill me, Grian? Seriously. He feels awful, the poor thing. We probably set him off or something, I don’t know. Like how some animals can’t tell the difference when we raise our voices playfully or because we’re mad.”

Grian took a long time to respond, but when he did, his voice was stony, “That was extremely stupid, Scar.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“You don’t know what he was thinking. You don’t know! Sometimes it feels like I’m the only person here who gives a shit about your life. That’s not a person, Scar, that is an animal, an animal that has been documented as something that eats people. I don’t care if he ‘looks sad,’ personifying him like that directly after he attacks you is going to get you killed. Even if he is ‘sad,’ jumping right in after him is an objectively insane thing to do! You could have set him off a second time and there would have been nothing either of us could do. I- Honestly, Scar, I really shouldn’t be having to tell you this! You know this! You own a god damn zoo!”

“I don’t agree.”

“What do you mean you don’t agree? What about?”

“I think he’s a person. And I think we have the opportunity to do something really special here, so I’m not going to throw it away over a dumb misunderstanding.”

Another pause from Grian, longer this time. “Scar.” Scar didn’t say anything and Grian didn’t either for a while, long enough that Mumbo thought the conversation was over. It wasn’t though, apparently. “Can’t you wait? Wait until he comes back to us? We’d know he’s calm at least, safe.”

“No. He might be flighty and I really don’t want to scare him off from this. I just have to make sure he knows we’re good.” Another pause, but Mumbo got the impression it was more from a lack of things to say. It didn’t last long though, Grian breaking the silence after a bit of shuffling.

“Hey- what are you doing, Scar you can’t- those are my fish.”

“How much do you sell these ones for? I’ll pay a better rate.”

“No. No, absolutely not. No. This is the bad idea to trump all bad ideas, I am not going to let you throw away your life trying to feed- Scar, come on, I’m trying to work with you here and you’re being impossible!”

“I won’t take them if you say no.”

“I’m saying no! I’m saying no, Scar, I’m saying no so stop- stop looking at me like that.”

“This whole thing means a lot to me, Grian, I just want to preserve it.”

“Well you mean a lot to me and you don’t seem to care at all! How can you just stand here and be okay with throwing your life away- do the people that love you mean nothing to you? Do you even think about it? I think about it! It drives me crazy when you just-“ Grian made a strangled noise, “Don’t! Think!”

More silence, the heaviness permeating the water as much as the air.

“I won’t go in. I just need a fish. The smallest one you got.”

“You won’t go in?”

“I won’t go in. I promise. And I’ll pay for it, I mean it. I’ll pay for everything you caught today if this works out.”

If Grian said something, Mumbo didn’t hear it, only hearing the muffled shuffling of above-water activity that went on for ages. Eventually, he heard the telltale splash of Grian’s lure from the other side of the cove. The whir of the reel was nice; a soft white noise.

Not so nice was the massive splash right above his head, frightening Mumbo off the sand in a cloud of dust, frantically looking around for the source of the noise. He smelled the blood before he saw the fish, eyes widening at the sight of it. Certainly dead, but also fresh, the kill just about as clean as it gets; if Mumbo had found this in the wild, he would have assumed it had been sick and avoided it, but the little gash in its face was a clear enough indicator on how this was caught. The rock tied crudely to its tail with fishing line was a bit of a clearer sign of human intervention.

After calming his racing heart, Mumbo drifted over to inspect it, somewhat painfully aware of Scar’s eyes on him from the shore. Was this a gift? Mumbo touched the fish gingerly, then flinched back. It was cold. Why was it so cold? Did humans have some sort of cooling ability Mumbo didn’t know about? He was pretty sure he’d have heard about a thing like that. Hunger stopped that train of thought. The fish was a small thing, not much in the scheme of things, but right now Mumbo would take anything. After a short inspection (and removing the rock), Mumbo devoured the whole thing, pleased.

Maybe this was okay. Scar clearly wanted Mumbo to know he wasn’t angry, and while he still wasn’t sure about Grian, maybe there was something proactive he could do about it.

Mumbo didn’t even surface before swimming deeper, straining with his injured tail. His foray onto land might have broken his splint; it sat uncomfortably now at the sides of his already throbbing scales, but there was nothing Mumbo could do about it now. That would have to be a later fix.

As much as his tail hurt, Mumbo really wanted to catch something fast, and at this point, it was sort of feeling like he was already going to be in pain for awhile, so why not make this hunt quick. He didn’t go deep, hardly much deeper than Grian’s fishing lines, but deep enough to catch an alright sized fish if he could push through the pain enough to chase it properly. He was still patient; Mumbo wasn’t about to swim after every fish he saw, but in the end he did end up giving chase more than intended, and by the time he had something suitable, his entire body felt like it was on fire. But that was okay. Now he could deliver his own peace offering.

And it was a good thing he surfaced when he did; Mumbo had gotten a bit worried when he stopped hearing Grian’s lure, and it turned out that was because the two humans were getting ready to leave. Alright. Fine, good even.

As much as he longed to eat the fish he had caught, Mumbo still dropped it to whistle, ‘Scars,’ and both humans turned around, surprise coloring their faces. Not a particularly bad emotion, Mumbo hoped. He brought his fish to the shallows, wincing heavily as his tail touched the sand, the splint hanging off and bumping it in increasingly uncomfortable ways.

“Oh! Mumbo, you shouldn’t have, really!” Scar met Mumbo near the water, and while Grian hesitated, he joined his fellow human, though lingered a little further back. Mumbo dropped his fish, though Scar didn’t take it, only looking to Grian, “Can you use that?”

Grian grimaced, “No, probably not. I mean, I’m sure we could eat it, but it’s a bit mutilated. I definitely can’t sell it.”

Scar nodded, turning back to Mumbo, “You keep it. Unless you’re not hungry, but I feel like I barely ever see you eat. I guess you don’t really know what I’m saying, I’m probably just confusing you by talking this much, aren’t I.” Mumbo stared. Scar stared back. Why wasn’t he taking it?

Mumbo craned his neck forward, straining to grab the fish again to drop it closer. Moving across the sand felt like dragging himself across magma, and he couldn’t help the small hiss that escaped through his gritted teeth. When he managed to open his eyes, Scar’s head was cocked to the side, and he still hadn’t taken the fish.

“I think he’s hurt,” Scar said, soft and sympathetic, “Whatever’s attached to his tail looks kinda broken, doesn’t it?”

“I’m sure he is, he’s been swimming oddly all week, and a couple weeks before is when he got caught in my net and bit me. He was really tangled, I think his tail was at a bit of an odd angle. I think whatever’s attached is a splint to keep it somewhat still- did you not think so?”

“No??”

“What did you think was on his tail?”

“I don’t know! I thought it was like- mermaid fashion? How was I supposed to know!”

“I thought that was a joke!”

‘Will one of you just take the damn fish!’ Mumbo whistled, irritated by the bickering and quite honestly, a little concerned they were going to start fighting again. Thankfully, the humans stopped, both staring at Mumbo again with wide eyes.

“I think he wants you to take the fish, Scar.”

“I don’t want the fish! I want him to have it!”

“Well right now he probably feels like you don’t like his gift. Does the bloody mess in the water not appeal to you?”

“You know I’ve seen worse.”

“Then take it!”

Scar frowned, bending over to gingerly touch the fish, though he didn’t look like he was all too thrilled about it. Did humans.. not eat fish? They must, surely they must, humans fish all the time! But the way Scar was holding the fish away from his body, touching it with as little of his hand as possible, Mumbo was really starting to think they didn’t eat fish. Why were humans so weird? Though, Grian seemed to be laughing at his friend, so maybe Scar was the weird one. Mumbo wouldn’t be surprised.

“I want you to have this,” Scar said, slowly extending his arm back toward Mumbo, and Grian seemed to find it extra funny when Mumbo huffed, but ultimately accepted the returned gift. Whatever. He was still hungry and had absolutely zero intention of letting this go to waste.

And.. that was that.

Mumbo retreated to deeper water where his tail felt a little less like his scales were going to peel off his skin, and the humans left soon after, the clearing returning back to its tranquil quiet. Not a great day, definitely not, but maybe that was just part of learning. Interspecies relations were never going to be easy with all the different customs and body language. Mumbo had little idea how Scar and Grian were feeling most of the time, and honestly, no matter how stressful they could be, he was grateful they were so expressive. Gosh, reading him must be a nightmare; mermaids didn’t emote nearly as much. Mumbo had tried copying some human expressions on his own time, but he was pretty sure he physically couldn’t, just lacking the facial muscles. Strange. Strange..

But good too. This was still good. And as much as Mumbo really should be headed back home for more help with his tail, right now, there was still no place he’d rather be than here.

[starcharmed]

If you're taking requests, could you do Lyney fluff? With the reader as traveler and they aren't exactly dating but there's mutual attraction, but no one confessed yet. Basically Lyney has the day off and the traveler is still new to Fontaine so they finish mapping it out and he tags along. Like a vague telling of doing commissions, underwater exploration even, and going back to the city at the end of the day all filled with romantic tension( like butterflies n stuff). The entire thing is just very general fluff, so like some specific moments in the day where they were like this close 🤏 from just leaning in. And it ends with the two about to confess but Lynette shows up out of nowhere and is like "am I interrupting?".

Exploring (feelings)

Pairing: Lyney x Traveler!reader

Reader type: Any

Content: Fluff

Word Count: 712

Triggers: none

Extra: My requests are always open unless I’ve said otherwise :), I love this idea sm, shorter than I would like but it is 11:35 pm rn, reader’s kinda in their Adrein Agreste era, not proofread

“So after we get done with this location where do we go next?

Lyney voiced the question as you continued to fill out your growing map of Fontaine. You and Paimon had opted to go and explore Fontaine after the duration of trails you had.

Lyney had spotted you two and had opted to tag along, since it was his day off. You didn’t seem to mind as you agreed to his offer, both of you going on a long trip around the main areas of Fontaine.

You had completed your commissions with the help of Lyney. Surprisingly enough he seemed to be skilled with a bow and arrow, along with some flames from his hat.

Getting some teleport waypoints, to which you had to explain to Lyney what they were, you both had cleared half of the map. All that was left was to get one last underwater waypoint.

Apparently Lyney was just as skilled as his brother in swimming because he made sure to spin and do tricks for you when you both ventured underwater the first time.

He had picked a bouquet of underwater flowers for you, and you had to hide your face in them to cover up your blush. Paimon had caught the gentle pink dusting your cheeks, however, before you could hide it.

You were honestly surprised she hadn’t blabbered about your on-growing crush about Lyney yet. He was being cheekier than usual with his teases and gestures. He even went as far as to go get a waypoint for you so you wouldn’t have to “stress your pretty legs for such a silly thing”.

Getting the waypoint underwater, you decided that it was enough progress for today and walked tiredly back into the somewhat city with Lyney.

“Say why don’t I treat you to dinner? My treat after you did so much work today”, Lyney spoke gently as he flipped around a card or two in his hands.

“That would be great!” You jumped a little at Paimon’s quick reply. Giving her a slight glare you glanced at Lyney.

“Yeah, if you want to.”

Tucking away the card to who-know-where Lyney grabbed your hand and started to lead you to what you presumed would be the cafe.

After walking for a bit more, Lyney guided you to an outdoor table with an umbrella, “Here sit.” He pulled back a chair for you, “I’ll go order.”

You stretched as you go comfortable in the chair, eyes trailing to watch Lyney order. Paimon fortunately seemed too invested in the smell of food to notice your staring.

As soon as Lyney turned to go sit with you, your gaze snapped to the table. Seemingly trying to play it off you were interrupted by Lyney’s voice.

“Are you okay? If you’re not feeling well I can get it for takeout.”

You shook your head, “I’m good, just spaced out.”

You gave him a small smile and he returned it as he sat down. A somewhat comfortable silence surpassed over the two of you as you waited on the food.

You didn’t even need to tell Lyney what to order you because he had already memorized it for some reason. Maybe he just had go memory skills. It wasn’t long before your food arrived and you all started to eat.

Paimon excused herself to leave, most likely to go rest on a bench from all of the food she ate. Leaving just you and Lyney.

“Y’know watching you today was better than one of my own performances if I do say so myself.”

“Oh, thanks”, your cheeks turned slightly red again.

“If..if you have time maybe we could do that again sometime?”

You glanced up at Lyney. Was he proposing a date? Before you could reply someone cleared their throat from beside you.

You jumped as Lyney sighed in somewhat irritation.

“Hello Lynette”, Lyney emphasized her name as he stared at the monotonous girl.

“Am I interrupting something? Sorry, the crew needs you back at the theater, a prop broke.”

Another sigh from Lyney, “Right, right. We’ll talk later, hm?”

You nodded as you met Lyney’s slightly pink-purple gaze. He gave you a curt tip of his hat before he left with Lynette. You yourself sighed at the current change of things.

Standing up, a card slipped from your seat. You picked it up and it revealed that it was the queen of hearts.

Huh, so he did mean a date.

[fandoms-in-law]

The Birds Go By

Summary: Steve birdwatches as a hobby: Here's how that developed over time, and how the first time he told someone went.

Author's note: I'm tired, so I've not written much today, but that kinda fits the story too.

My idea for this fic: Birds (Ultimate Storytime Tour, Thomas Sanders) is a good song for giving Steve interests, add in birdwatching hikes and his interest in staying fit included too, plus I can definitely see him using it for time alone both from the jerks he was friends with and the Party making demands of him. Robin is the first to be told about it.

/\/

Everyone thought Steve Harrington had the perfect life. He knew it all through high school. His family had a lot of money and he never wondered if he’d have a car after getting his licence; it was already a guarantee, but it wasn’t perfect.

It was rules, expectations and creative punishments if he failed to meet them. Nothing could be done which would diminish the belief of the town that the Harrington’s had perfect lives, but enough within that could change to keep Steve stressed out too much to actually focus.

As a kid, he took to exploring the woods in an effort to escape those expectations. His father didn’t mind as long as the house was quiet and his mother assumed nothing could happen to him there. Besides, they viewed it as a way to use up his energy and prepare him for the sports he definitely had to join clubs and teams for.

Then he was actually made to join those teams, swimming and basketball at a minimum and hiking or exploring for hours at a time seemed like too much exercise to be doing on top of that. Instead he’d take out some homework each time and try to do that somewhere in the woods.

That was where he found the greatest thing about the woods: Birds. Listening to their song was fine, but seeing them, especially the small ones people took for granted hopping closer and closer was riveting. He didn’t want to study, just watch the birds around him.

As his parents started taking long business trips more and the popularity at school grew, Steve found different ways to bring bird watching into his life, just to feel as if he got something out of it all. Skull Rock might be known as a make out spot because of him, but before that it was a great spot to watch birds and even if his eyes couldn’t always look for them with a date there, he could usually still spot one or two. And sneakily drop some bird seed on the way out just to encourage more to visit.

If Nancy had accepted any dates outside at all, Steve probably would have told her, or at least tried pointing the birds out as they landed, but she preferred study dates or dinners so it never came up. He wondered, once, if maybe he should have realised she wasn’t as invested in the relationship because she never asked about his interests.

/\

“Why are you hurrying me home? Got some game you want to catch?” Robin asked, resisting as Steve tried to herd her out to his car.

“No. And before you ask, it’s not a date either, I just want a break.” He briefly explained, knowing she wouldn’t accept a one word answer.

Robin remained still, but did stand up, “And what does having a break mean to you? I thought chilling with a friend and a movie would be it.”

“Birdwatching.” He tensed, expecting some teasing for the admission.

She did laughed for a moment, but smiled at him, not as if she was teasing him. “Is that why some of the girls you dated complained that you just made them hike rather than taking them anywhere? You wanted to birdwatch and make out at the same time?”

“They never complained to me! I wouldn’t have done that if they’d said they didn’t want to!” He protested immediately, “But yeah. I wanted to relax even if I was expected to be a playboy.”

“Okay then. Let’s go.” Robin finally headed towards a door, but it wasn’t the front door. “Tell me about the birds, Dingus.”

[ruruumin]

cramps galore.

₊˚ ᗢ kazuha x afab!reader.

⤷ it's that time of the month, again.

You let out a few groans as you squeeze your pillow, holding onto it as tightly as you can. You were breathing very carefully, trying not to upset the raging monster that was bleeding profusely. The pain in your abdomen was rather terrible this week. You swore it wasn’t bad last month, but now it feels like your body was out to get you. What did you do? You swore you did nothing wrong! 

It felt like someone was applying pressure onto your stomach, and you were caving in. It was the worst feeling. And what’s worse was that you were supposed to go out today with Kazuha. And yet you’re still in bed, dressed in new pajamas, struggling to get through the pain. You hated that it came in waves. You wished it could just go away once you went to the bathroom, and to spite you, it continued to persist. You pray to the Archons that you don’t sneeze any time this week, otherwise, your pelvis might just explode.

The door creeks open as platinum-hair peeks through, you start to whimper as a figure emerges. Kazuha sits on the side of your bed, brushing aside your hair as he stares at you with concern lacing his eyes. “My sweet goose, what is the matter?”

“Not again with that nickname, Kazuha,” You flip the pillow over to cover your face, “Call me something normal! Babe, baby, darling, honey, all of those would be fine! Why do you have to call me a goose…” 

He chuckles, rubbing his fingers against the side of your body. He draws circles on your slightly exposed skin, sending shivers down your spine. Your breath hitches for a moment when he sinks a little lower. “Sorry, starling, I thought that a nickname like that would be fun to tease you with.” He softens his expression, “What is wrong? Are you feeling discomfort?”

You sigh, “Discomfort would be an understatement.” Burying your face into the pillow you groan, “We’re supposed to go out today… my body thought it would be great to torture me. I’m sorry love, I know you wanted to visit Ritou, but right now I just can’t. I won’t even be able to swim.” 

There was a moment of silence between you. Kazuha uses his other hand to press against the base of his chin, a small hum escaping from the slit of his lips. “I suppose it's that time of the month, no worries. We could always go another time.” 

“Really?”

He nods, gently scooting you over so that you may make room for him. He sinks lower beneath you, his face resting against your chest as he wraps his arms around you. He presses his warm body against your stomach, hoping that the heat could calm your raging abdomen. And to your surprise, it does. 

Perhaps boyfriend treatment was the answer to your problem after all. You smile, bringing your hand to pull away his hair tie, letting his hair sprawl out onto the bed. He mumbles under his breath a short haiku about the softness of your body, to which you rolled your eyes, squeezing him tightly as the two of you took comfort in your bed.

"Thank you," you murmur, "for being there for me. Even if we can't be in Ritou swimming right now."

"As long as I'm with you, starling, I think we'll be just fine."

⤷ a/n: i know i was supposed to post my next small thing on wednesday, but i couldn't help myself to this prompt!

[gumnut-logic]

“Thunderbird Five, I need more information.”

“I’m sorry, Commander, I don’t have any. Too much electrical interference.”

Jeff cursed under his breath. He knew John was doing his best, but there had been so many lives lost today.

Lee wasn’t happy. All the data they had pointed to a structural fault in the mall that caused the collapse. It left Jeff grateful that his engineering son wasn’t here for the incident. Virgil reminded him of Lucy when he went off the deep end – rare but a force of nature.

But today Virgil was with Gordon for a very important moment in his little brother’s swimming career.

Jeff was disappointed that he wasn’t there for Gordon, but responsibilities were responsibilities.

“Commander?” His eldest son was covered in dust. Jeff noted the dark smears on his arms but didn’t have the time to acknowledge what they meant.

The fire in Scott’s eyes was enough.

Jeff let out a sigh. “John can’t get more detail, so we are going in almost blind.” A breath and he stared at the remaining pile of crumpled masonry. “We’ll have Two lift off that piece of roof and go from there.”

“Two is not going to be happy.”

“Yeah, well, none of us are happy. “

“FAB.”

A glance as his son started issuing commands to the team. Jeff allowed himself the briefest flash of pride. Scott had become a mainstay of International Rescue and Jeff was ever so proud.

The roar of a Thunderbird shifting overhead and Two appeared, her VTOL reflecting Lee’s mood, no doubt. His partner-in-crime had been a great help the last couple of years, filling in to help with IR when he was available. Jeff envisioned that one day perhaps all his family could be involved, so it was great to have his brother-in-law on the job.

After all IR was to be his sister’s legacy.

Lucy was never far from Jeff’s thoughts, particularly today.

She would have been so angry.

Jeff had to settle for being her vengeance.

The clunk of all four of Two’s grapples as they clamped onto the broken roof. A roar of energised VTOL and the roof lifted ever so slowly.

Slowly not because Two wasn’t capable of lifting it easily, but slow and carefully in an attempt to protect the lives possibly below it.

And they were rewarded. As the weak and wintery southern Californian sun flickered onto the newly exposed rubble, there were voices, both terrified and relieved.

Jeff signalled to Kyrano and Scott and all three of them moved to evac the rescuees.

Thirteen in total. Five didn’t make it.

They dug deeper with Two pulling off smaller and smaller pieces of rubble. Jeff found himself wishing for some kind of mechanism to lift the rocks himself. A pod wasn’t practical in this space and it hampered their progress.

The weak sun headed towards the horizon.

Virgil checked it with the good news that Gordon had won and had another trophy for his collection.

Jeff gritted his teeth as he hauled out yet another poor soul who had been in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Scott found someone to save and for some critical moments there was activity to keep that life going. Jeff’s heart clenched as he shifted more rubble.

The night crawled over the sky and powerful lamps were set up.

It was far too many hours later when they called it. Jeff was exhausted. They were all exhausted.

He gave the order to pack up and retreat. It was always a dreaded order, but they had scoured the site and there were no signs of life left. John had managed to penetrate the majority of the electrical disturbance, which had been a relief…

“Commander?”

Jeff blinked. John sounded worried. “Thunderbird Five?”

“I’m getting a fragmentary lifesign signal. Unconfirmed.” A pause and the sound of his son pushing buttons. “I can’t clear it up. I’m sending coordinates.”

Jeff’s wristcomm flickered into life, a map of the site with the location flashing. It was in the remains of what used to be an ice cream palour. His heart dropped. “FAB, Thunderbird Five.”

He jogged over, steeling himself for what he might find. The shadows were hard and sharp, sketching out the remains of what had been a cheerful, family place. Innocuous everyday objects discarded in a disaster zone always forced him to face the horror of their existence. A statement made of the tragedy by the tragedy and the sight of the remains of ice cream tubs, tables, chairs and even broken cones in the dark dust stabbed him where it hurt.

But there were no signs of life.

He shifted rubble and moved the tables. A counter and a gaily painted menu revealed nothing of their patrons or owners.

It was all eerily silent.

Until someone whimpered.

“Can you hear me? This is International Rescue. We are here to help. Please respond.”

A pause.

No answer.

So, he repeated himself in Spanish.

The silence was ominous.

But then there was another whimper. Followed by a whine.

Jeff moved, throwing broken fixtures out of his way, narrowing in on the sound.

It wasn’t until he picked up yet another upturned ice cream tub that he realised his rescuee wasn’t human.

Curled up fearfully in the dirt was a tiny little puppy, barely recognisable, drenched in melted ice confection.

A pair of wide dark eyes looked up at Jeff in fear.

Jeff didn’t hesitate. A life was a life and he was the son of farmers as well as adventurers.

“Hey, there, little one.” He held out a gloved hand for the puppy to sniff. “I won’t hurt you.” Tone was everything.

The puppy stared at him a moment as if considering, whimpered, and tentatively sniffed at his finger.

A pitiful whine broke Jeff’s heart.

Ever so carefully, he gently picked up the puppy. When the dog didn’t protest, he stood slowly, bringing the little creature to his chest.

It shivered in the cold.

Its eyes never left Jeff’s.

He crooned nonsense words and he hurried over towards Thunderbird Two.

Lee met him halfway, all the questions on his face. Jeff shushed him with a look.

Up Two’s ramp and he found the supplies and the quiet he needed.

Gently placing the trembling puppy on a hastily gathered emergency blanket. It whined in fear.

Jeff yanked off his helmet and the smell of damp earth, broken rock and burning electronics made it up his nose, but a stronger, sweeter smell fought it all off.

The little puppy smelled of pink sherbet and childhood memories.

It whimpered again, and as Scott strode past with Lee in prep for lift off, Jeff picked up Sherbet and clutched the little dog to his chest again.

If Jeff rode home with Lee instead of with Scott on One, which was his usual choice, it was his right as Commander to not have to explain himself.

There would be questions and inquiries as to the puppy’s owner, but there was something in the little dog’s eyes that just entranced Jeff. As if it was some cosmic meant to be.

“Got yourself another kid there, Tracy?” The smirk on Lee’s face as they approached Tracy Island was fond and irritating.

Jeff glared at him. But if he was honest with himself, maybe Lee was right?

He brushed a finger over its tiny furry forehead.

It was still staring at him.

Quiet. “I’m here to help.”

He ignored Lee’s snort, as the puppy finally curled up and relaxed in his hands, promptly falling asleep.

-o-o-o-

[estellamoria]

Ignus, Luna, and Stella Ch. 1

“My dad and I will be okay eventually. We always are.” Najuma sighed heavily. “I just wish I could get him to trust me.”

Standing side by side on the shore of the small lake, Najuma and I had been chatting for a while. As it usually did, the conversation had veered back to her father. 

“He does trust you,” I said gently. “He’s just afraid.”

Najuma answered with a noncommittal shrug.

“You are the single most important thing in his life. You know that.” We’d had this conversation so many times. I bit the inside of my lip, hesitating before I said what I hadn’t before. “And he almost lost you once.” 

Najuma gave me a startled look. I never brought up the cave-in unless she did first. I knew it was difficult for her to talk about. But part of me was frustrated at how long the two of us had been going over this topic.

I fixed her with a look I hoped was as compassionate as it was stern. “He’s trying. But this is hard for him, too.”

She thought about that for a moment, her gaze drifting out over the water. “...But you’re important to him, too, Stella.” She looked back at me out of the corner of her eye. “He worries about you all the time. But he doesn’t keep you from doing stuff.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m not his kid. He can’t exactly tell me what to do. That’s…not really our dynamic.” Najuma and I didn’t talk about my relationship with her father much. We both preferred it that way. Still, I was there most mornings when Najuma finally went to bed after her father made breakfast. She was too smart to not notice things like that. 

Obviously uncomfortable with how our chat had developed, Najuma shifted awkwardly. As much as Hodari thought she took after Leta, it was moments like this that I saw the most of him in his daughter. “Did you want to see the new designs I’ve been working on?” Najuma said quickly. We were both grateful for the change in subject.

“Are these the ones Zeki’s been telling me about? He says they’re very impressive.”

Najuma grinned with pride. “He said that?”

I nodded. I loved seeing her like this, full of fire and passion. As she led me back to the workshop, she rattled off the specs for a series of inventions. I did my best to follow all the technical details, but mostly I just enjoyed watching her bounce with excitement next to me while she spoke. Moments like this, I thought, were when I came closest to understanding the Galdur concept of “Oneness.”

When we reached the shed, something hit me like a panicked sernuk. I covered my face and backed away. “By the flames, Najuma, what is that?”

“Huh?” She turned back with a puzzled look.

“That smell,” I said breathlessly. 

Najuma took a few deep breaths through her nose. “I don’t smell much of anything? ..Are you okay?”

The workshop reeked of sulfur and grease. It always had a bit of that smell to it, and I had gotten used to it over the last year. But today it was unbearable.

 “New explosives?” I asked, stepping a few paces further away. 

“No? Stella, you look pale.”

I waved off her concern, which only made her frown deepen. “I think maybe I just need a walk. I’ll see you for dinner?”

“You should see Chayne,” she insisted. 

“I promise I’m okay, really,” I said, my head only slightly swimming. The fresh air was helping. 

She glared at me. “You’re starting to sound like my dad.”

I sighed, mildly irritated but doing my best not to show it. “I’ll talk to Chayne. …Thank you for the concern. But I am okay.” 

Najuma’s expression softened. “Okay…But actually talk to him. I’ll ask again at dinner.”

I smiled despite the headache beginning to take hold. “And I know I can’t get a lie past you. See you in a few.” 

It wasn’t quite noon, and I knew it would take me a good while to walk home. I often shortened the trip by jogging part of it, but I didn’t want to aggravate whatever was ailing me. Besides, it was uncomfortably hot for an autumn day. Not great weather for running. 

The walk over the hills in Bahari Bay was really more trudge than anything else. Maybe Najuma was right. Seeing Chayne might not be such a bad idea. It was very strange for me to be struggling this much. I was one of those crazy humans often found free-climbing up cliff faces and running across the fields after Proudhorns. Hodari complained of the walk from his house to mine, but it had never bothered me much. Not before today. Luckily, Chayne’s home was right near the new human settlements. He’d usually be in the village around this time, but I could hope.

It had been a very strange year. Materializing out of nowhere like so many others in the Reemergence. All of us lost and confused, with only spotty memories of the ancient world we knew. I remember being stunned at the open-armed welcome I received from Kilima. Jina’s ecstatic curiosity. Ashura’s kind words for me. And of course, Hodari’s lopsided smile when I found him at the plot that was to be mine. We were strangers then. So many memories later, it was his beautiful pin I wore over my heart. 

“Stella?” 

I looked up to see Hassian on the road ahead of me, along with Tay at his side. I straightened up and tried to make myself look more presentable. “Oh, hey. How is it going?”

Tau trotted up and licked me on the hand in greeting. 

“You’re sweating,” Hassian said in his blunt way.

I forced a laugh. “It’s warm today.”

“Are you sick?”

I gave a one-shoulder shrug. “Maybe?”

He wrinkled his nose a bit. “You look positively feverish. Come, I’ll take you to the healer.”

“I was already on my way, you don’t have to--”

Hassian cut me off with a flat glare. “I was not asking. I will not hear any argument.”

And so I followed Hassian. He was walking faster than I wanted to, but I kept up without complaint. Tau walked more at my side than Hassian’s. I raised an eyebrow at the plumehound as if to ask, ”What, you too?” 

Tau simply regarded me with his typical unbridled joy and affection.

Hassian led me not to Chayne’s house, but to the much closer shrine at Maji’s Hollow. I was relieved to see Chayne there fiddling with the telescope. It meant I got to stop walking for a bit. 

“Ah, welcome,” Chayne said with his standard warm smile. 

“Stella is unwell,” Hassian said, more aggressively than needed. 

Chayne’s expression became one of mild concern. “What ails you, Phoenix's Child?”

I glanced at Hassian to make sure he wasn’t about to answer for me. “Just a bit lightheaded I think. I might have a fever.”

Chayne nodded. “Here, come have a seat by the water. I’ll take a look at you. Thank you for escorting her, Hassian.”

Hassian nodded and took his leave, Tau trotting dutifully along behind him. 

As I set myself down on the grass, Chayne picked up his healer’s kit and made his way over, kneeling beside me. “I’m afraid I’m not the most versed in matters of human health, but I’ve found that most things are about the same.” 

“I trust you,” I said, laughing softly. As much as I found myself helping others, I wasn’t entirely comfortable with a fuss being made on my account. 

Chayne quietly checked me over--looking in my eyes, my ears, listening to my heart and lungs. He seemed satisfied with whatever my condition was. He nodded and asked, “How have you been feeling lately?”

I made a so-so gesture with my hand. “I don’t know. Mostly fine? Just tired today. Bit of a headache. Almost like I’m dehydrated, but,” I pulled my rather large water bottle from my bag. It was almost empty. I shook it to prove my point. 

“Any other symptoms? Anything amiss?”

I had to think about it a bit. “My cycle’s late, but that isn’t the strangest thing. I’ve always been a little off-schedule.”

Chayne nodded. “When was your last one?”

“Oh, goodness, give me a sec,” I said, laughing again. “I’m sorry, now I have to do math.”

“There is no rush.”

I watched the small waterfall as I tallied weeks in my mind. …Wait, that couldn’t be right. I counted again. “Almost two months ago?”

“You missed a month?”

I nodded.

Chayne nodded again, looking away briefly as he thought. “Forgive me for asking, but--”

“Only Hodari,” I said, knowing what he was about to ask. 

He nodded. “That cleanly rules out pregnancy, then.” Chayne stood, and offered me a hand to help me to my feet. “I suspect you’ve been overworking yourself. Menstrual cycles can be disrupted by overexertion. Fatigue, poor temperature regulation, and headaches can be explained thusly as well.”

“So I need to slow it down a bit?” I asked with a small smile. “Cool it on the cliff-jumping and mining?”

“And fishing and bug-catching and foraging and gardening, yes.” Chayne chuckled softly. “Are you feeling recovered enough to walk back to your plot?”

I told him I was. “Am I still alright to see Hodari and Najuma for dinner?”

“Hm. If you take the rest of the afternoon to recuperate, I would say so.”

“Us incorrigible fire-type personalities, am I right?”

He laughed again. “Indeed. Take care of yourself, Stella.”

The walk home was much easier than the walk to the shrine had been. Just being able to sit for a few minutes had been very helpful. As such, I did take Chayne’s advice when I returned to my plot and curled up in my bed for a nap. I had planned on doing some work on my apple jam that afternoon, but I obeyed the healer’s orders.

Sleep didn’t come easy, though, tired as I was. First, I was just thinking about that jam, and how I had intended to bring a jar of it over for Najuma that evening. Thinking about the jam made me think of Najuma’s love for it after making it often with her mother. Which, of course, made me think of Leta.

I was grateful Hodari hadn’t asked me what I was doing in the Remembrance Garden that day that I’d returned the picture of his family to him. I’d found it resting on the ground in front of Leta’s memorial. A place that I visited more frequently than I cared to admit. 

The only one who knew of my trips out there was Ashura, who had caught me in the act once. He said my secret was safe with him. He also said I shouldn’t worry so much what Leta would have thought of me--that it mattered much more what Hodari and Najuma felt now. I asked him if he’d be able to say that as easily if he were the one dating again. 

Ashura laughed. “No, I would worry about what Sabine would have thought too. But I wouldn’t want my new partner fretting over it, either.” 

I’d looked back down at the incense I’d lit, smoke trailing off into the air. 

“For what it matters, and I don’t think it does,” Ashura said after a moment, “I do think you and Leta would have gotten along.”

It was a strange feeling. To know that if she was still alive, I wouldn’t have the relationship with Hodari I had now. But all the same, I wished she hadn’t died, and that Hodari and Najuma could have been spared that heartache. 

I rubbed my face against my pillow to wipe the tears from my cheeks. It wasn’t the first time I’d cried over the death of a woman I’d never met. I took a deep breath, and studied the shadows on my bedroom floor. It was time to head back to Bahari Bay if I wanted to be there before Hodari started grilling. 

I put my sweater in my bag, just in case, and opted to change into a lighter outfit--a floral patterned dress. Something more suited to a different season, but I was not looking to overheat again. Stepping out the front door, I was lucky enough to catch Auni placing a letter into my mailbox. He waved at me excitedly.

“Hey Stella! How are you feeling? Hassian said you were sick!”

Word traveled fast in a small town.

“When did he tell you that?” I asked while striding over. “Also, thank you for the mail.”

Auni beamed. “When we were playing cards.” 

“And did you let him win this time?”

“Yeah, he seemed worried. Are you okay?”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m right as rain, Auni, but thank you.” I opened the mailbox. The letter was from Caleri--probably letting me know that the history book I’d requested had come in. 

“That’s good.” Auni waved again. “Well, the mail isn’t going to deliver itself! Bye Stella!” And he ran off.

I shook my head as I opened the crisp envelope. The letter was indeed a library notice--though folded inside was a personal note asking about Eloisa. Apparently the twins were fighting again. I felt my headache threatening to return. I didn’t enjoy getting between them. I’d told Caleri as much, but she continued to ask my advice on matters relating to her sister. 

I decided I would deal with the letter later, and shoved it deep into my bag. Out of sight and (hopefully) out of mind. With one last look at my preserves jar sitting unattended to on the porch, I set out. The walk back to Bahari Bay was more manageable, either because of the rest, the cool of the evening, or a combination of the two. 

I counted six chapaas running through the meadow. Hassian and I were trying to keep a better record of their numbers, and no matter how many pelts I saw drying outside of human homes it never felt like we were making a dent. I wondered if Jina’s biologist friend would have any advice on the matter. I made a mental note to ask later. 

The salty breeze coming out of the bay welcomed me as I walked down the slope to the Pavel house. Hodari and Najuma had dinner later than most of the families in Kilima, which gave Hodari a bit of extra time working in the mines. Najuma was already at the table outside when I got up the steps. 

“Hey,” I said, causing her to jump.

“How do you always manage to sneak up on me like that?” Najuma rubbed the goosebumps from her arms. “People say Grimalkin are light on their feet, but I think humans are way worse about it.”

“Ah, yes,” I said, wiggling my fingers at her. “All the better to sneak up and eat your brains!”

Najuma wrinkled her nose. “Ew.” 

“You’re the one always calling me a zombie.”

She fidgeted a moment. “So, did you see Chayne?”

Hodari’s deep drawl surprised me when he asked, “Why would Stella need to see Chayne?”

I turned, smiling at the sight of him walking out of the house towards us. He must have just cleaned up for dinner. Hodari was always handsome, but something about the lantern light just made him all the more breathtaking. “I was feeling a little unwell earlier,” I said. The muted concern came to his expression almost immediately. I put my hands up like I was calming a riffroc. “I’m fine. Chayne just said I was working too hard. You wouldn’t know anything about that,” I teased gently. 

At the reminder, Hodari pressed a hand to his lower back and stretched. “Yeah, I had a rough day myself.” 

Najuma piped up, “So what did Chayne say?”

I gave her a grin. “Rest and recuperation. And I’ve already been doing that, and I’m feeling much better.”

“Good.” She said, a stern edge to her voice that made me have to stifle a laugh. Najuma usually only used that tone with her father when he was being stubborn. 

“Whelp,” Hodari said, clapping his hands together. “Who’s ready for sernuk steaks and mushrooms?”

Having forgotten to eat lunch, I was definitely ready. 

And dinner was of course lovely. Though Reth got all the credit for being the village cook, it was exceptionally nice to be dating a man who knew his way around a grill. After we cleaned up the dishes, Najuma made her way back to the workshop.

“Don’t stay out there too late,” Hodari warned her. 

Najuma replied that she wouldn’t, and all three of us knew she was lying. Najuma would materialize at four in the morning for breakfast and then finally crawl into bed. 

Hodari and I went to his room. I sat on the bed with a contented sigh. When I glanced up, Hodari was giving me a particularly intense look, arms crossed over his chest.

I blinked. “What?”

“Y'are okay, right darlin’?” His expression shifted, softening to more open worry.

“Yes, dear.” I gave him an understanding smile. “I wouldn't lie to you.”

Hodari relaxed, letting his arms return to his sides, and the world slip off his shoulders. “...I know. I trust you.”

He slowly got to his knees in front of me.

“Doesn't that hurt, after working all day?” I asked with a sympathetic wince.

“Mm, but the view is worth it.” He began to run his calloused hands up my bare calves. “I do like this dress on you.”

I raised an eyebrow. “But you'd like it more off of me?”

Hodari blushed. I loved that after everything, I could still make him do that. “Yeah.” His hands wandered further up my legs, under my dress, up my thighs…

I let out a slow breath, letting my head tip back. “You have me, dear,” I said softly. “I'm right here.”

“‘M glad for that, darlin’...Not sure what I would do without you.”

His words replayed back to me later when we were cuddling. It felt like that cliche carried more weight coming from him. Hodari had loved before. And lost. And even having lived through that with his wife, he didn't know what he'd do without me.

Hodari buried his face in my shoulder length hair and chuckled to himself. “You are just somethin' else, Stella.”

In spite of my morbid thoughts, I laughed too. “You tell me that all the time.”

“You're special. I want you to know it.”

“Maybe I'm not,” I teased. “Maybe all humans are fantastic in bed.”

The bed shook with his laughter. “If that were the case, everyone in town would be dating a human and not just me.”

It was admittedly a strange arrangement. No one seemed overly perturbed by it. Other than a couple of snide remarks from Eshe, the village just seemed happy that Hodari had found someone. To be fair, I wasn't sure how prevalent Grimalkin-Majiri couples were. And though humans were emerging all over the place, there hadn't been a lot of stories of romance that had made their way to Kilima. It wouldn't be long, I was sure, before Badruu heard some songs about such things. Kenyatta had already told me she had her eye out for any romance novels featuring humans.

All that to say, Hodari and I just…worked. Like we were meant to be. He often asked what he'd done to deserve me. I usually told him it wasn't for us to question our blessings. 

Something in my musings reminded me of a remark Delailah used to make when I was first building my house. That perhaps one day I would settle down and fill it with babies. She'd stopped saying that since I started wearing Hodari's pin. 

I must have been quiet too long thinking about that, because Hodari asked, “Somethin’ wrong darlin’?”

“No…” Hodari held me a little tighter. “No, I'm fine, it's just…I know we're happy together. But do you…ever wish I was a Majiri?”

“What?” Hodari sounded absolutely bewildered by the question. “No? You wouldn't be my Stella if you weren't all of you.”

I hesitated, but my mind was racing ahead of my better sense. “Does it bother you that we can't have children?”

Hodari took his arm from around me so he could sit up. “Where is this comin’ from?”

“I don't know.” I rubbed at my eyes to hide that I was tearing up. I didn't want to worry him more than I already was. “Maybe it was when I was talking to Chayne today. He asked me if I was sleeping with any humans, to make sure me feeling sick wasn't pregnancy, I guess. But it's been bothering me.” I should have stopped talking, but then I said, “And I never asked if you and Leta had ever talked about having more children and that's not anything I can give you--”

“Whoa now Stella,” Hodari put his hand on my shoulder. Even though I wasn't looking at him, I could hear how flustered he was. “Easy. That's…a whole lot.”

“I'm sorry.”

“No, I…” Hodari made a frustrated sound in his throat. “I don't want you to be sorry. I just want you to be okay. Look, even if…If you were a Majiri, right? We wouldn't be at talkin’ about kids yet.” He sighed. “I…can tell this is upsettin’ you and I don't want to say the wrong thing. But no, none of this has even crossed my mind, because I'm not worried about what could be. I focus on what is. And what this is…it's perfect the way it is.” He tucked some of my hair behind my ear. “I'm content with you, and this, the way it is. And that's a lot for me.”

I finally turned to look at him. I half-smiled. “That’s also a lot of words, for you.”

“I try.”

I let the tension ease out of me as Hodari took me back into his arms and settled down. 

“Darlin’, whatever the world has in store for us, I’m okay as long as I get to face it with you.” He kissed my neck. “I mean that.”

I love you too, I thought. And together we tried to steal as much sleep as we could before the morning. 

[otter1962crystalball]

The English Patient (Kind of)… or The Little Red Truck

June 19th, 2024

Happy Pride, everyone. Today is the 19th of June and my 19th blog for Pride Month. After I posted yesterday, I realized that I had forgotten a major point in that time. During my stay in the hospital, I got a phone call from my mortgage specialist and he told me that he could give me a mortgage. He had rerun the numbers and said I was able to carry the mortgage on my own. That piece of news helped me get on with my life. It really gave me hope.

When I left the hospital, I felt this incredible sense of freedom. Being locked up in a small area for three weeks was difficult. Bill picked me in my car and took me home. There I was united with my dogs and cats. I told Bill that I wanted to do something spontaneous, so we went to the swimming pool in the neighbourhood. It had three diving towers and we were allowed as swimmers to jump off them. I had never jumped off the highest one so we made plans and went. Needless to say, it was scary, but I finally jumped from the highest tower.

During this time, Dean was still in the basement, but was due to move out at the end of that month. Things had been settled with the lawyers and my mortgage was refinanced under my name only, which was a major relief. To help me deal with the stress I did a 12 step program for those who have dealt or are dealing with addicts through Nar-Anon. Bill went as well from but also went to meetings for former users. Those meetings really did help - giving me a place to talk and to listen to others’ stories.

The day when Dean would leave finally arrived. He had three people helping him move his stuff out of the basement into two pods.  I went outside to check with Dean about my stuff that remained in the basement. Dean wouldn’t talk to me, but one of his friends almost came at me. Bill was watching from the back stairs to the upper part of my house. He told me to get up there quickly. When I got up there, he said the guy was spun out on drugs and likely carrying a weapon. It was safer to just let Dean take everything and not risk my life. In the end, the two pods were filled and they left. Dean left the keys in my mailbox. It turned out that most of my tools were gone, but my Christmas ornaments, washer and dryer were still there. I considered myself lucky.

During all of this time, Bill and I starting what I guess one would call dating. Bill had taken care of me during my stay at the hospital and then the month afterwards in my place. Looking back, I now realize that I was feeling emotions due to Bill taking care of me - like in the movie. After the month, Bill went back to his apartment but we kept seeing each other. After about six months, cracks appeared in the armour of our relationship. 

Bill had some major issues due to his former addiction. Those issues often popped up when we were together and I came to realize that it wasn’t working and basically told him that we needed call it quits. Bill didn’t take it well and got quite angry and he showed his true colours to me. I knew that I had made the right decision. When he was gone, I felt another sense of freedom because I was now totally in control of my life and where I wanted it to go.

Dean on the other hand, would come the first day of every month to pick up his cheque for alimony. He always came alone and always seemed disjointed and out of sorts. One time he brought a sketch book to show me. It was as if nothing was wrong between us. He showed his drawings and I told him they were great. There were a couple I thought were of me, but when asked, all the drawings were him and that he drew them while on heroin. He was so self-absorbed that he didn’t know life was going on around him.

I can remember one time that kind of hit me with a ton of sadness. He came one day to pick up his cheque and handed me a red toy truck. The wheels had fallen off, but he said that they could be put back on. He said that maybe I could give it to a classroom at school. I asked him where he got it and he told me that he and a friend had a shopping cart and they went through dumpsters for cans, bottles and other things. I felt this great sense of pity for Dean. The little red truck represented what was broken in my former life with Dean.  There was no real way out for Dean. The addiction had its claws into him and would not let go.

After that, I decided that I didn’t want Dean to come around anymore. I gave him the last three cheques, but post-dated two of them. I ended up getting a call from a loan company saying that two of my cheques had bounced and that I owed them money. I told them that Dean had obviously changed the dates and when I saw them, they had indeed been changed. My lawyer told them to back oof and it was no longer my problem.

Dean came to my door one last time. It turns out all the money was gone and he wanted help. He said that he and his friend had been kicked out of where they were staying. I remembered something Bill had said about enabling addicts and told Dean to leave and never come back or I would call the police. Thankfully, he never did come back.

The last time I saw Dean, I saw him pushing a shopping cart in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver. It is known for its homeless and addicts. That area was rather scary as I sometimes took that route to get home. People were often shooting up in the open and the police were doing nothing - not even in front of their department nearby.

One day, I had an appointment with my family doctor. I asked him if he had seen Dean later and he said that Dean had probably died of an overdose somewhere in the Downtown Eastside. It was really sad for me because I remember the Dean I fell in love with and also the monster that I had to force out of my home. That part of my life had finally come to a close. To this day, I still have feelings for the old Dean. I loved him very dearly.

I had gone through one of  the darkest times of my life. In fact, my counsellor said that I was suffering from PTSD from the trauma. It took me almost a year to feel like I was better and the bad dreams finally stopped. Even to this day, I sometimes have to be aware of how the PTSD can pop back into my life.

For Pride, I am celebrating self love and believing in ourselves. I got through all of that and came to understand that I was stronger for having gone through it and dealing with it.

I hope that you give yourself credit for your beliefs and your self love. 

Carpe diem and happy Pride.

[crystalninjaphoenix]

MerMay 2023 Day Seven Murky Memories

Jameson was not scared of the open ocean. That was one thing that he and Marvin didn’t have in common.

Of course, Marvin would deny being “scared,” it was just that anything could come from any direction and it got super dark and that made him a little nervous. He was perfectly capable of going out there if he wanted, as long as it wasn’t too deep. But if Jameson wanted to go instead, Marvin wasn’t about to stop him... And while Marvin rambled, Jameson would stare at him, listening and nodding, and then he would say That sounds a lot like being scared to me, and Marvin would glare, and the two of them would smile.

Jameson was not scared of the open ocean. But the journey through the river to get there always made him uneasy.

Ironic, really, considering he’d lived most of his life in rivers with no problem. But then... well, you couldn’t change the past. You could only change how you let it affect you. So Jameson worked on not being uneasy in rivers anymore. He was making progress! Until TridentCorp came around and started kidnapping merms. Now, the rivers full of humans once again seemed unfriendly.

Today, he’d made it down the river just fine. He had spent a while in the ocean, gathering plants and other materials. Marvin’s guardians were coming to visit soon, and so Marvin and Jameson were planning on making the place a little nicer for them. Now, the sun was starting to set, its rays slanting through the water. And Jameson hovered in the ocean water, staring at the mouth of the river, trying to convince himself to go inside.

There was always a faint current in this area. Very faint, but it was there, pushing Jameson ever so slightly backwards. As if saying, Go away. You’re not welcome here anymore. Which was ridiculous. It was just his imagination. Just like the way he was interpreting the shadows cast by the riverbanks as hiding places for nets.

He kept staring. It was a short journey through the river to the safety of the lake. The relative safety. Because there were many humans there as well. No, no. He was being silly. Humans had never caused any trouble for the lake other than dumping trash. They didn’t... hunt... or anything.

“Jameson?”

The voice came from behind him. Jameson spun around, clutching his bag to his chest, swinging his tail in a wide arc—but he hit nothing. Because the source of the voice knew better than to swim too close.

“Whoa! Just me!” Jackie raised his hands. He gave Jameson a smile. “What’re you doing out here?”

What are YOU doing out here? Jameson asked.

“I was on my way to see you and Marvin, actually. I-I know you guys invited me for the life friend ceremony, but you know... what’s the harm in checking in on you before then?” Jackie shrugged. “So. Your turn.”

Jameson sighed, gills fluttering. It’s nothing. I was just picking up some stuff.

“Oh cool.” Jackie hesitated, clearly wanting to ask more, but then decided not to. “So... do you want to swim together?”

Yes, that would be great! Jameson nodded, trying not to seem too eager.

“Alright, then.” Jackie swam forward, passing Jameson as he headed towards the mouth of the river. Jameson quickly hurried to follow. “So... last I remember, you were about to work on your talisman. How’d that go?”

It went well. Do you want to see? Jameson reached into his bag and pulled out what looked like a small rock, unnaturally smooth, round, and flat. And then he opened it, revealing a circle of orange sea glass inside. There was also a loop sticking out from one side with a small rope threaded through it.

“Oh cool!” Jackie swam closer. “It works like a clam, huh? Reminds me of this thing Stacy has, it’s like... a... a ‘com—com-backed.’ No, wait.” He went silent for a moment, struggling with the human word. “A ‘compact.’ That’s it.”

Jameson put the talisman back in his bag. I was actually thinking of this human thing called a ‘watch’ while I was making it. The last human he’d seen, before meeting Chase’s family, had carried a watch. She let him hold it while she worked on the ropes—

He shouldn’t have thought of that.

He shouldn’t have remembered that.

The shadows were back to looking like nets.

Jameson froze, eyes darting around, slowly sinking through the water to the bottom of the river.

“Jameson? Hey.” Jackie reached out, gently grabbing his arm and pulling him back up. “Are you alright? You look pale.” He looked him in the eyes and gave him a soft smile. “It’s okay. Everything is okay.”

A solid minute passed before Jameson answered. He closed his eyes, holding his bag close to his chest. Jackie swam closer and put an arm around him. Then another, holding him close in a tight embrace. Unconsciously, Jameson’s tail wrapped around his. He focused on the feeling of his closeness. Then he pulled back. I’m sorry, he said. I know I’m a mess recently. He gave a silent little laugh. Sometimes I wonder if Marvin would want to cancel the ceremony.

“Marvin would never do that, mess or not,” Jackie said firmly. “And you’re not a mess, anyway. Everyone’s been freaking out about... things lately. A-and you and Schneep, you have more reason to freak out than any of us. Having a reasonable reaction doesn’t make you a mess.”

Jameson stared at him. Then he nodded. Thank you. That does help a little. He straightened the strap of his bag. Now, let’s keep going.

“Do you want me to swim in front?” Jackie asked.

No. Let’s swim together.

[writing-yarn-goblin]

I’m here to post shit and have fun!

In honor of Halloween! Here’s some stories to have fun with!

Anime: One Piece

Character: Penguin

Monster: Hobgoblin (more specifically- a Brownie)

Warnings: asthma attack.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A brownie is a Hobgoblin from Scottish folklore that is said to come out at night while the owners of the house are asleep and perform various chores and farming tasks

“Fuck, not again…”

You cursed to yourself, it was the third time today that you’d have to look for your phone and it didn’t want to appear as always.

It always happened.

“I swear, the hooligans are pulling on my leg lately…” you mumbled, trying to grab your phone from underneath the sofa.

You were no stranger of strange occurrences, but you certainly wished that for a moment things would just be normal.

You were familiar with Kappa’s trying to convince your Neighbour’s kid into swimming with them- to which you had to bow your way out of danger and make sure the kid was doing the same in order to escape.

A few days after that- you had encountered a black dog with fangs and a dark miasma being emitted from him- only for you to go and scratch the creature’s ear and have him turn to putty in your hands. The big dog would lounge around your yard and came and went as it pleased.

But now? Dealing with troublemakers? It’s isn’t bad, just annoying.

You couldn’t find your things on time and they just seemed to thrive on watching you suffer.

For example- tonight they had the great idea of hiding your asthma inhaler.

You were getting a little irked cause you couldn’t find your replacement inhaler either. The attack was coming and you getting excited like this wasn’t helping.

After a few more sprints across the house trying to reach for the inhaler that was making sounds in several different parts of your house- you fell to your knees coughing.

Your eyes were starting to water when you felt your lungs constrict.

Then came the gasping.

Your phone wasn’t close enough for you to crawl to it and you still didn’t know where your inhaler was as you kept trying to breathe and felt like if someone was strangling you.

Your eyes closed in order to try and ride this attack but to no avail. You prepared for the worst until you felt something being pushed into your mouth and was told to inhale.

Once you heard the push and swoosh of what you believe was the medicine cartridge, you inhaled. You did this two more times and finally felt like you could breathe again as long as nothing made you excitable.

“There we go, Miss. Note to self- inhaler is off limits.”

“Agreed!” You wheezed. Before you could turn your face to see your new housemate- they left.

“My names Penguin, Miss (L/N). Nice to formally meet you.” You heard around the house, hushed to the outside but loud to you.

“What are you?”

“A friend. Now- you gotta take that inhaler in three hours as directed. Your lungs are too weak to be without it. Your phone is in the kitchen counter and there’s soup on the stove. I hope you like chicken.”

This puzzled you.

“Why help me?”

“Why not?”

The chuckle that reverberated across the house, after a few minutes you stood up and saw one particular detail you haven’t noticed yet.

For the past 4 weeks you’ve been working overtime and never cleaned- and the house was always sparkling and fresh. Ever since you left out a cup of cream and other goodies at night one time you came home drunk. You thought you dreamt the ordeal until you saw said thing disappeared.

“Wait…I’ve heard of your kind. You’re a Brownie.” You whispered, earning a laugh from the walls. “You won’t turn into a Boggart, right?”

“None of the sort. Think of me as your Housekeeping Hobgoblin.”

[unknowncreature19]

((disclaimer This will be sad. Plus there will be a lot of references from friends of mine!))

This is part one!!! Enjoy!

* it was a normal day for all engines from shapes and sides. from airplanes in the sky, trains on the railways, cars on roads and tug boats, and ships swimming on the ocean/the sea, today, all the top boats from the stars from the Z’s working as usual, except for one… bello woke up very very early in the morning, it was his day off, so he should do something nice like draw or watch the sea with sea creatures from different shapes and sizes. This time was different today he was a mood to get flowers for boats with spirits that do not move on or tug boats, or any boat were dead,  He believes if he gives flowers to these poor souls, maybe they can rest or maybe become friends with him.. honestly, he doesn’t know. hours after hours he went the queen. Mary were all the spirit who passed away on her. He gives her and the spirit some flowers maybe the comfort them for the longest time… he went to Pearl Harbor to give the ship some flowers too but of course he has to stay away from the oil… but of course, every time he plays flowers, he gives them a small prayer for them to give them rest… he went so many places, but now he had to go to one place that is so far away it will take him hours to come back to the shed… the titanic..

* it took him very a lot of hours to get to the spot of the titanic. He believe he saw her once and give her a little bit of flowers before she had to go back to her sleeping Grounds or a.k.a. her grave… he was humming this tone of songs that no one even knows about as he gives the last pieces of flowers in the middle where she is…* “ I don’t know if you here… but I hope this actually helps you a lot to make you feel better…. Honestly.. this actually help me to feel better too..” * he didn’t know if he was watching or listening to him as he takes out one flower from the sea* “ my past wasn’t.. wasn’t great… at the beginning it was.. but after that, it became like a broken glass in a dying fish…”

* as he slowly was opening up, he was starting to tug a flower petal.. softly* “ you know….. I used to have a brother… an older brother in fact! He was the sweetest guy who ever met… we were born with different sizes, but it didn’t stop us….” * and then he pulled one Flower, petal, and slowly dropping it as he explain his past*

* as the little tugboat explain, bello could remember that he was super big, and he was very little, but somehow size didn’t Bother to them! They were built different after all, plus they were customized with robotic arms to move boxes and other stuff then other tugboats do! Every time his big brother goes, bello follows along and they talk so many topics* “ back then I wasn’t very…. Shy or nervous… OK maybe a little shy.. but I was so energetic and joyful that every talked about who were built, normally starting to make fun of me…”

“ but thankfully, my brother stops them every single time if they try…. Which they started to give up bulling….” * After flower, petal after flower petal, memories from him, hit him like a hurricane. Remembering the good times are playing around eating sea plants or water plants upside down or pretend something.. small giggle came out of him as he remember a lot* “…… you know… I didn’t learn this song from a music video or the radio…. Actually, it came from my brother…. We both sang this song every time something bad happens or something else…..” * as he explains about the song and the good times there was one flower petal left… this one.. oh geez…. He wish to forget this one he would he can burn it or eat it but he can’t. He need to let it out…* “… I was really… well I don’t wanna explain the last part what happened….. what happened to him…” * His hand, was starting to shake as his body as well…. And his tears start to form…*

* it was the day that he wish he can avoid it…. The time that his curiosity almost killed him… the trama and the guilt eating him alive.. it was years ago before he met the stars and Z’s or anyone… this is before his factory was never shut down and never been sold to someone… it was a normal day for him when his brother had to work, bello was doing his business being curious, and just wandering around he didn’t have work, what he didn’t know that didn’t came to him. It was a crate boat. Is going near him, full of smoke coming out of it as the older brother noticed and honk from fear* “BELLO!! BELLO!! WATCH OUT!!! “ * the older brother was yelling to bello to get him out of the way! But back then bello didn’t notice he was looking at his brothers way* “ brother…? What’s wrong—-?” * After turning the other way, he notice the crate boat, and he was too scared to move-he really thought he was about to die right there and now, but it wasn’t bello who is going to die…..*

((reference of Queen Mary with spirits is from humanize version and humanized version of the titanic ghost by @projectanimations

((the stars and The Z’s are reference to the show called tugs!

((the other reference is from the ship from Pearl Harbor

[dylvana-v]

Diary of a Hopeless Romantic

Pt. 11 - possibilities

My day started pretty badly today. I woke up with a headache, I am on my period and I was excited to have a new coworker in my office who would stop my loneliness, but she stays at some other office. So yeah, I was about to cry at 9am in the morning, but since my best friend came over to be there for me I had a glimpse of hope that it would all turn out to be okay.

Glad I trusted in her, since my day actually got better. I took some painkillers, did all my work in 3 stressful hours and was able to breathe again the moment she entered my office. (I know she is reading this as my number 1 supporter, so thank you, my love.)

I was so stressed out by my bad mood that I wasn’t able to meet E and his coworker before lunch break and actually I would not have been the greatest company, so good for them.

At lunch I really thought we wouldn’t see each other since they were quite late, but then they came over and I awkwardly waved them over to us. I think they contemplated where to sit but then they asked if they could join us. Jokingly I declined at first, but they sat down and immediately started talking to me and my best friend.

They asked about my best friend a lot and made her be part of the conversation as much as possible, which I really loved. Of course, they had it easy since she was looking forward to talking to E, but the conversation was ongoing because he actually put in some effort.

We joked around a lot and they lifted up my mood in seconds. I don’t think there was a lunch break that was this funny before. I am a big fan of his kind of humor, I noticed. His coworker’s humor is also great. We laughed a lot just because they kind of made fun of themselves.

“If I weren’t a doctor, I don’t know what I would be. I am useless in life. All I can do is medicine.”

That cracked me up way too much. I keep thinking about that sentence of E’s coworker. My best friend is a doctor too and I feel the same way about him. If he weren’t a doctor, he would have been homeless. I am convinced.

At the end of our conversation I told them that I will visit them in their office to give them a present. They were confused, but I expected that. First they thought I would give them a handful of documents to fill out and the relief in their faces when I told them it was not work-related: comedy for a social worker.

So I went upstairs, confidently entered their office just so that all confidence would leave my body immediately. I even started shaking a bit and struggled to take the lego box out of the bag. When I placed it on the desk in front of E, I saw only one thing in his eyes: confusion. I don’t think he would have ever guessed that I would give something to them.

He then lit up a bit when he noticed it was lego and he immediately tried unpacking it. I saw him shaking a bit while struggling to open it. He joked around that he would call me if he struggles and I told him I would spare some minutes out of my “busy” work day. He thanked me a couple of times and I am pretty sure he started building it the moment I stepped out of his office.

The way he looked at me was so funny to me. He was so confused, surprised and happy about it. That really made my day and I am excited to see the finished flower on his desk tomorrow.

If this is not making him fall in love with me, what is? (I am just joking but at the same time... I am not entirely).

Usually if I meet someone (who often turns out to be quite toxic (since I am not valuing myself that much)) I drown in the feelings I have. It takes my air to breathe because I put pressure on myself, I change myself so this would last. I would intoxicate myself with hatred towards myself and it would burn me alive.

This time I am swimming in the possibility of him and I. I am learning to fly. It’s comfortable and comforting. It’s warm, not hot. It’s a little, not much.

I am warming myself up on the possibility of him and I.

- the hopeless romantic

[adultswim2021]

Tim & Eric Nite Live #11: “Eric's Gone” | February 26, 2008 | S01E11

We open without the standard introduction. Tim somberly reads a statement that Eric has filed a restraining order against Tim. Tim vows to find common ground with Eric very soon. He asks David Liebe Hart to perform a song about unity and peace. James Quall performs a stand-up comedy routine. David Liebe Hart can be heard chuckling, sportively. I often associate DLH and Quall as being some kind of duo because they are (or were?) neighbors, and you can find pre-Tim-and-Eric clips of DLH’s public access show where Quall is a participant. But this is maybe the only time I can think of where you can sense any kind of actual camaraderie between them; I feel like DLH is often seen throwing Quall under the bus. 

Finally, Richard Dunn reads a hopeful poem about the show. DLH awkwardly ad-libs as his puppet as Tim ends the show. The entire episode is about 5 and half minutes long. We get a text crawl reading that “...Nite Live returns 3/4/08 …. Tune in 3/11/08 for the Season Finale.” In fact, Nite Live did return on March 4th, but there was no episode on March 11th. 

I don’t remember tuning in live for this, but I had friends who did. You couldn’t help but feel a little cheated to not get an actual episode. I rarely tuned in live myself because my internet connection wasn’t terribly strong and it was just too tortuous having it start and stop constantly. I opted to view the archive, which I knew how to rip from the site and watch without interruption. And that’s this episode, everyone. I respect it’s place in the mosaic of the Tim & Eric Nite Live show, but I can’t help but wonder if there was a practical purpose for it? Was Eric planning to be out of town? Like the last episode, I wonder if they actually did this live. No reason to believe they didn’t, but there’s no real reason for them being live at this point. Who knows!

This has been great for me. I only had to watch five minutes of television today! It’s practically a day off! WOWIE! I’m going to spend the entire afternoon masturbating! See you later everyone! 

EPHEMERA CORNER:

12 Oz. Mouse: The Complete Series DVD (February 29, 2008) 

Oh. Uh, I don’t know if anyone else remembers this, but I think I promised in a somewhat off-handed way that I intended to watch the movie when we got to the 12 Oz. Mouse DVD. If you don’t know what I��m talking about, it’s this: 

12 Oz. Mouse came out on DVD and was released exclusively through the Williams Street Store, which sold exclusive Adult Swim merchandise. Instead of including the individual episodes, show creator Matt Maiellaro prepared a new version with all the episodes stitched together as a big long movie. That meant dropping the opening sequence all but once and closing credits, cleaving away significant portions of the “Auraphull” episode, and producing new transitions between episodes that needed it. It flows well together, honestly. There were some other minor tweaks, and you also missed out on some of the post-credits tags.

Many people were oblivious that these DVD releases even happened, but I was very aware, and would check their site periodically to make sure I didn’t miss out. I got this, and I got the Lucy: Daughter of the Devil DVDs, among others. Times got and remained tight, so I sold both of those for obscene amounts of money. One time I almost sold my Space Ghost Volume 4 & 5 DVDs on eBay, but then became handsomely employed and took them both off eBay immediately. We’re currently in a will-they-won’t-they tête-à-tête.

Around the time I got this, I had suffered a hernia, which went undiagnosed after two different hospital visits. It was causing problems at work, as I’d call in late or go home early just from being in severe abdominal pain. One day I woke up and there was a noticeable bulge in my pelvic region, as well as the severe pain. I called completely out of work to go to the emergency room, and they actually gave me shit for it. Long story short I was rushed into emergency surgery.

My parents came to get me because I was supposed to drive home for a funeral that evening. I brought this DVD with me, anticipating a short stay at home while I recuperated. I remember stopping in at Best Buy to buy the new Human Giant Season One DVD, which I was mostly getting for the commentary tracks. The commentary tracks were hilarious, but laughing caused me actual physical pain after healing from surgery. So I switched to watching this. 

This was how I actually first experienced watching the entire series of 12 Oz. Mouse. I caught a couple random episodes before this, but decided the best way to experience this as a whole was to watch the movie cut. Imagine being deprived of hearing that bitchin’ theme song 19 times! I did that to myself! Voluntarily! 

I don’t really have much to say about the movie. I do think that they are roughly equal experiences. I did genuinely watch this again before this post, but it predictably had a hard time holding my attention. I like the show’s vibe and I can get into it. But if I told you I didn’t use it as an opportunity to organize files on my computer then brother, look alive, you’ve got a thing or two to learn about (does a backflip) ME! 

The extras included a soundtrack (found on the DVD itself) and promos and probably other stuff I’m forgetting. If you can find it online, you should download it.

[silverjellyfish-witch]

8: Waiting game

Rhea decided to go to the beach on her day off.

She had always wondered about her father. He was a siren and had relations with her mother, a witch descended from more witches.

Why? No one knows. But after that night her mother never saw him again. She didn’t even remember his name.

Being part siren has its perks. No one can lure her into the sea and drown her, or at least attempt to drown her. She does have gills to ensure that she wont drown. Which is great, except Rhea doesn’t know how to swim.

Its funny to Rhea. A siren who can’t swim.

When Rhea arrives at the beach, she finds a secluded pile of algae covered rocks to sit on. Ever since those sirens grouped together to gawk at her while she was on her date/not date with Luke, she has been even more curious about the ocean and the sirens.

She has been near the beach before, but has never gone in the water. Her mother and grandmother made sure of that. They had convinced themselves that her absent father might try and steal her away. Though he could attempt that on land as well, and it never stopped him.

He had been powerful enough to enchant her mother, who was a very powerful telepath, which made him all the more revering for Rhea.

Rhea sat down on the rocks and looked out to the sea. Was this a dumb idea? Yes. This is probably one of the more dumber ideas she’s had in a while. But she was curious to see if a siren would show.

Sirens were a more secluded race. They were rarely seen to begin with, unless they were in their underwater cities. Which is what made the group of sirens who third wheeled her date all the more interesting. What was so important that a dozen or so sirens needed to group up and gather at the beach that night?

Was it to find Rhea? Dagon had told her that hybrids were extremely rare and hard to concieve. She was half witch, half siren. Could they have been looking for her? Or was it something else that they had gathered there to see?

Rhea knew that it wasn’t safe to sit near the water like this, even with the tide being as low as it was. A siren could pull her under the water in mere seconds and she would never be seen again. Nona would kill her if she could leave the premises.

“This is probably the stupidest idea you’ve had yet.”

Rhea jumps at the sudden voice. She stands quickly and falls back into the water. It is shallow and she stands up quickly again, looking up the see a smirking Dagon, perched on a rock just above the one she was sitting on.

“Are you serious?! Why did you sneak up on me like that?” Rhea asked angrily, awkwardly climbing back onto the rocks, cursing under her breath as she does.

“Wasn’t my intention, usually you can sense me coming but I guess you’re distracted today,” Dagon smirk widens as he says this, “What the hell are you trying to do anyways? It’s not like sirens come when they’re called.”

“I’m curious to see if they would is all,” Rhea sits back up on her rock, soaking wet and angry now.

“And if they did? What would you do?”

“Ask questions. Figure out what they wanted.”

“They’d kill you in five seconds flat, Rhea. I doubt they’re friendly.”

“We don’t know that.”

“Sirens can hardly be trusted, Rhea. They spend most of their time alone and they group up at weird hours of the night to gawk at you and pretty boy.”

“So you don’t trust me?” Rhea quipped, turning to look at him with a slight glare.

“For one thing, I did not say that to mean anything against you. For another, you’re part witch too. Demons are often the familiars of witches,” Dagon held his hands up when he sensed her hostility towards his comment.

“Oh so you’re my familiar then? Following me around on my day off?”

“No I’m not your familiar. We haven’t struck a bargain or a contract. And for another, I wasn’t following you. I happened to find you here while on patrol.”

As he finished his sentence, the wind picked up, and fresh storm clouds started forming in the sky above them. When Dagon could see that Rhea was still angry, he went to sit down next to her.

Rhea notices this and brings her knees to her chest, “You’re not gonna order me to go home?”

“When have you ever done what you’re told?” Dagon quipped back, “Besides, I’d feel better if you had back up. I doubt sirens are intimidated by storms.”

“It knocked your brother on his butt.”

“You got lucky.”

“Sure I did. I saved your ass regardless.”

“Sure you did,” Dagon states sarcastically.

They wait on those rocks for a few hours, until the sun went down.

The sirens did not come to meet them.