#kid version is the one that mostly shows up and sticks around

[solargeist]

Saint Xelqua is a miserable little guy bc he’s got no family and no friends and rly no world to even return to so sometimes he just sits in Grian’s house and stares at him and Grian has to be like .Would a vegetable help .

[pumpkinheadspacestation]

Agere Age Guide

2 years version

Hello, pumpkins! This is the second post in a thread of posts I'm making! You can find the first post here, I accidentally posted it to my alt account but the rest of the posts will be posted on this page. I also want to preface this by saying that not everything I'm saying here is going to apply to everyone and each and every person who regresses or dreams will follow these traits and stuff!

Okay, now to the post!

Traits and Behaviors!

☠︎︎This is about the time that babies start to get up and play around, small jumps, walking, bouncing and maybe even some small sprints

☠︎︎Babies this age are starting to like playing with other babies and parallel play could be really fun at this age, they may have trouble sharing though so make sure to have enough eye grabbing toys for all the babies

☠︎︎This is also the age where babies may start to throw more tantrums and have bigger feeling, they naturally want to test the boundaries at this age and they don't like being told no. They're also going to be a bit more bossy and want their way.

☠︎︎Since this is the time they're starting to have bigger mood swings and test the boundaries, that may result in having big reactions which may be aggressive, they may hit, yell, throw tantrums or even hurt themselves to try and cope with their big emotions

☠︎︎They may mostly use hand gestures but they're starting to babble a lot more and mimic language

Activities to do With Your Baby

☠︎︎This is a great age to play a lot of simple puzzle games and games to practice motor skills, patty cake is a great game to play with your baby and so is playing with toys like stacking blocks and ring-stack toys

☠︎︎Pretend play, these babies are growing up fast! They want to be just like cg. Playing dolls and stuffed animals, putting them to bed and feeding them is a great way to spend time with your baby

☠︎︎This is a great time for parallel play, though babies won't always feel interested or know how to play together, they still love to interact with each other and play together to some degree and parallel play is a great fun for babies this age

☠︎︎New textures and sounds are extremely interesting to babies in their two's! Playing with new textures like sand, slime, dirt and more can be super fun for these babies!

Foods and Recipes

These tinies are starting their food journey, they're starting to upgrade from baby foods and apple sauce to solid fruits and hard cereals!

This is one of those things that's very individualized to each regressor! I can tell you what this age range usually likes to snack on but you should ask your tiny what they like either way.

☠︎︎String cheese and yogurts

☠︎︎Cut up fresh fruits

☠︎︎Dry cereals like honey nut Cheerios and fruit loops

☠︎︎Oatmeal

☠︎︎Eggs and tasty proteins

Babies in their two's are starting their palate expanding journey, usually it's best to stay away from super strong flavors and stick to mild and bland flavors. Younger taste buds are much stronger than adult taste buds so when your regressor was a bio baby, they most-likely had blander foods so giving them some mild and bland snacks can be a comforting factor t their baby space

Shows and Movies

Again, this is one of those things that are super individualized to each and every baby! So still be sure to ask your baby what they like to watch either way! Some shows and movies two-year-olds like to watch are

☠︎︎Doc Mc Stuffins

☠︎︎Bluey

☠︎︎Storybots

☠︎︎Bubble Guppies

☠︎︎Octonauts

☠︎︎Peppa pig

☠︎︎Pete the cat

☠︎︎Mickey mouse

☠︎︎Disney movies are super great for babies this age two, the vibrant colors and animated voices are sure to keep their attention. Though with some discourse involving Disney has come up, I know a lot of people have stopped using Disney plus. You can still find some amazing shows and mov.ies on places like Netflix, Pbs kids, nickelodeon, and more!

Potty Time for the Terrible Twos

Generally, kiddos are using the potty on their own anywhere from 1.5 - 3 years old but that doesn't mean that kiddos older or younger may deviate from that. There's good info Here about how to properly diaper someone and what products to use

This is also a great video on how to diaper yourself if you're a baby who does their own diapy changes.

Know Your Baby

You're going to want to know and talk to your regressor before they regress with you! The only way you'll be happy with each other is talking about boundaries and the best way to cat or to each other's needs beforehand. Having the awkward conversations are hard but necessary

I hope this helped! Like I said before, not all these things will apply to all regressors in the 2 year range. If you have any questions, go ahead and feel free to drop a comment or shoot me a message

[ohnoitstbskyen]

The Heartsteel splash art is very bad, and here's why

I am not a fan of the collective Heartsteel splash art, and in fact, I think it's kinda s***ty. Not on a technical level, mind you, it is every bit as well rendered and nicely drawn as most other Riot art is, but as a way to introduce these characters? As a pitch to get us excited about them? This is genuinely kind of f***ing terrible. First of all, it's copying the original K/DA splash arts, which also had each band member copy pasted in different positions in each splash, with a different character in the spotlight. And that's not a great place to start from, because it feels like a total lack of confidence in the product, like some suit-wearing executive saying "just copy whatever worked the first time!" The splash art should be an opportunity to introduce what's new and unique about the band, and copying K/DA like this completely fumbles that opportunity and invites really unflattering comparisons. Second, the copy pasting is a problem. For two reasons: First, it looks cheap. It just does. There is no way to put out six splash arts with the exact same pixels copy-pasted into different positions that doesn't, on an instinctual level, feel cheap. All that says is "we didn't want to pay for more than one splash art." It looks like corner cutting. Second, it forces every character in the art to be completely separate from one another. A big part of the band's charm in their excellent music video is the interaction and camaraderie between the boys as they get into frat boy shenanigans shooting their music video, but since every character has to be able to be copy-pasted and moved independently in the splash, they can't interact or pose together in any way, making them seem completely disconnected from one another. One of the simplest ways to add a bunch of character and charm to these splash arts would be to have one character up front doing their cool pose, and then the other five boys dicking around in the background, armwrestling or hugging or, I dunno, giving each other piggyback rides. Instead, we just get sterile clip-art of each of them that don't even seem to be aware that the other guys are there. And when they are up front, the poses they do are also… mostly kinda lame? Sett is supposed to be this tough-guy with a heart of gold rapper with a big attitude and he's just, like, vaguely flexing, kinda. K'sante is supposed to be this imposing, powerful vocalist and he's just… standing there. Yone looks bored, Aphelios looks like an emo kid who's being forced to be in a family photo by his mom, and Kayn, who's supposed to be this rowdy chaotic bad boy, is just… doing a peace sign and sticking his tongue out? He gets completely overshadowed by himself: his Shadow Assassin and Rhaast forms in the background, which DO get to interact, which DO get to play with each other, and who are more charming than everything else these splash arts do. It genuinely baffles me that Riot couldn't be bothered to spend the money to get each of them unique splash arts, give these characters an opportunity to show off their costumes and their personality, or at least spend the money to have them drawn a little bit different in each of the six versions of this thing that they put out. This splash art, to me, feels like an active discouragement from investing in Heartsteel, because looking at this, looking at all the corners that are being cut, even Riot doesn't feel committed to them as a project. And like yeah, the music video is great and it's doing a lot of heavy lifting for them, but this splash art is an actual liability, it makes the whole project look worse.

[otomes-and-tears]

it’s meeeeeeeee i’m shiloh enjoyer #3!!!! revolving him around in my brain every day like it’s a microwave 😭😭 i know you’re busy with a lot of other asks at the moment but i’m eagerly awaiting the lizzie post!! and all of your other writing ofc <33 you brighten my day :D

HELLO TO THE MYSTERIOUS SHILOH ENJOYER #3! I think we're all here now haha I'm glad you enjoy my analysis posts! NOW BUCKLE UP, BUCKAROOS! THIS ONE IS GOING TO BE LOWKEY SAD: Elizabeth is perhaps the most complex and defining relationship in Shiloh's life.

First of all, it's one of the few we see glimpses of throughout several steps in his life-- we see how he idolises her as a child, how he acts towards her when they reconnect in his teenage years and glimpses of how the different versions of him act with her in adulthood. It's likely the oldest relationship he maintains that isn't familial, and I think that's incredibly significant when we take into consideration what I believe to be one of the paradoxical cores of Shiloh's character: Connections and relationships are disposable to him, but Shiloh is only Shiloh as long as there’s someone there. He still feels lonely.

I talked a little before about Shiloh's childhood. How the social dynamics he established as a kid ended up influencing his behaviour as a teenager: He sees Lizzie as the obvious leader, since she's older and more assertive than him and MC, and follows her around and obeys her every whim because of it. Whether he genuinely likes her or not is up for debate, but I don’t think it matters to Shiloh. What she means to him is something that can far supersede any simple likes or dislikes that he might feel at that age:

She provides stability and purpose. She’s his anchor against the mean kids, the teasing, the isolation. All he has to do is stay in her favour. Lizzie is his first encounter with a power dynamic he can rely on and emulate as he grows, and therefore she becomes someone he idolises.

Shiloh doesn’t need to be honest, or even be himself, as long as he’s useful and needed. He understands social hierarchies all too well, knowing what happens to people at the bottom. It’s why he insists he isn’t “different” and loses it when Cove calls him “weird.”

He was probably one of the kids who got picked on, so he’s always scrambling to stay just above water and not sink to the bottom with the rest of the “outcasts.” MC doesn’t mean much to him, but in Lizzie’s absence, he sticks to them just as obediently, as they’re the next best thing. Cove, on the other hand, is mostly just a mild annoyance but does give Shiloh a bit of relief because, for once, he’s not the one at the bottom. And it’s not like Cove was ever going to be Lizzie’s favourite anyway.

Whenever Shiloh gets ignored, he panics and tries to wedge himself back into the conversation however he can. And as soon as Lizzie shows up again, he immediately runs back to the safety of their old dynamic.

I think that while most of him admires her at that age, there's a little part of him that resents not being like her. Not being able to be a leader and being relegated to a follower, feeling aimless when she isn't around. As a kid, he's more prone to lashing out when angered, unlike older Shiloh who acts with fake cheeriness and this strange, eery coldness when annoyed. And that's why he pulls her down with him into the water in Step 1.

If he isn't willing to voice these things because he doesn't want to rock the boat and cause issues, he expresses it more subtly.

Shiloh’s just scared—a scared little kid who figured out a way to fit in. And because that method kept working for him, through moving out of state and getting through life without Lizzie, he never really had a reason to change, even if it did a number on his very sense of self.

He got better at these tactics over time, making sure he’d always have a way to fit in, but it cost him a real personality and genuine social skills beyond the manipulation tactics he fine-tuned throughout the years. Eventually, he started taking control in small but crucial ways: He’s the one who walks away from relationships, now. Removing himself from them becomes a choice. It’s not only about leaving when people cease being useful to him but about imposing a sense of control that he felt like he lacked in childhood since he moved schools and states a few times and was likely used to being the “new kid” in different places.

He learned to hide his feelings better, so he wouldn’t blow up the way he did when he was seven. That’s why his relationship with Elizabeth—and the times he had to start fresh somewhere new—were so essential to shaping who he is: Lizzie set the standard for the kinds of relationships he’d chase, and moving around gave him fresh slates and new people to practice on.

That brings us to the serendipity moment in Our life and what we know from him in Xoxo droplets. Now, I know a lot of people haven’t actually played XOD and only have a cursory knowledge of it and the fact that a few characters from it cameo in the Our Life series! But did you know that Liz is mentioned by name in Shiloh’s route?!?

Yes! Back in 2017 we actually had Shiloh mention the events of Serendipity, which I think is a crucial scene to understand Shiloh’s character.

But before we talk about that, Let's talk Serendipity!

After Jeremy brings up “Shiloh’s famous memory” and Liz realizes he lied about not remembering her in the Step 3 prologue, Shiloh actually goes ahead and explains why he is the way he is. His explanation lines up with what we know about him from XOXO Droplets and how he acts in Step 1.

I don’t think he’s lying. Not about all of it, at least. Some of the only concrete information we have on Shiloh’s character and how he functions comes from his childhood, and I think that what he’s saying is a natural progression of that information. He only does things for his own benefit, he’s afraid of being left out and he asserts his sense of control through his relationships with others. But it’s really important to remember that Shiloh doesn’t do things without it benefiting him. While I believe in the core of what he’s saying, the fact that he’s divulging this information at all (how he’s going about it, by putting Liz and her feelings on the matter first, and framing his choices as being mistakes he made out of care for an old friend and by reiterating that they’re too good and putting himself down for pity points) instead of trying to dodge the conversation again, he’s employing a few of his known manipulation tactics: the real me strategy.

Shiloh knows that this new information is hurtful to Liz, and like in Step 1, her opinion is really the one that matters to him. He knows that there’s a limit to how much he can play dumb before they snap, and by Jeremy revealing part of his MO, there isn’t a lot he can do to smooth things over, so the least destructive path is to do exactly what Shiloh does to JB during his route in Xoxo droplets: He feeds Liz little bits of truth because he knows he’ll damage their relationship if he doesn’t. He gives her enough so she feels like she knows him better, like she’s got some new, special insight into the “real” Shiloh that nobody else has, which keeps her around. He pretends to drop his manipulative schtick because by telling her this, she has “figured him out” and there isn’t a point in trying anymore. That itself is a manipulation tactic.

But why bother? He’d be gone again by the end of the afternoon regardless of her forgiveness or not.

It comes back to what I mentioned earlier: Shiloh is the one who exerts control over his relationships. He is the one who decides when they start, and when they end, and by Liz being upset and deciding she doesn’t want to be around him, not only does he lose the control he craves, but Shiloh loses it with the person he based all of his subsequent relationships on.

In the few hours that he spent in Sunset Bird, they all fell back into their old dynamics even though it had been so long since Shiloh stepped foot in that town. He still remembers that she prefers popsicles over ice-cream sandwiches, and even though he’s better at including MC and Cove, Shiloh in a lot of ways fell back into their old routine, looking back to Liz as his leader and following into step as her sidekick. It doesn’t matter if Liz isn’t an active part of his life any longer, what would it mean to him to have those memories tainted? For that perfect template to be ruined?

But Liz stays. 

And because of that choice, we get to see the ultimate consequences of it. Shiloh isn’t a good person. As pitiful and as tragic as he might be, he simply isn’t one. And I think that can be encapsulated perfectly in how he frames his interaction with Liz to his girlfriend in Xoxo Droplets.

He glosses over what he did wrong, he casually exploits that event to garner points with his girlfriend. He ultimately doesn’t care if she takes his and Liz’s relationship the wrong way and frames it as being romantic, even if that’s far from the truth. Even with Elizabeth being miles away and already hurt by him, he still finds ways to use people and spin narratives to his advantage. 

I do believe he holds Liz in higher esteem than most (and arguments can be made that JB, the main character in XOXO droplets and his love interest, and Elizabeth share similarities in both appearance and their strong-willed, confident personalities), since she was his “idol” by his own admittance, but this is a tiny way in which he asserts his control over the situation. It doesn’t matter if Liz believes she holds the reins. If she’s older, admirable and if he still follows her around like an obedient puppy when she’s around.

By choosing to stay, she tipped the scales in his favour. He is the one in control once again, and he's able to continue his interminable cycle of holding people at arm's length while playing the part of a devoted companion.

[yourfavoritewitchbitch]

Evermore - Steve's Ending

Series Summary: It's been 7 years since the love of your life left you behind for his career. When he decides to come back, is it too late to start anew? Will you decide to start over or realize what's been right in front of you this whole time?

Just a small note: Thank you all for sticking around with me on this small journey! Enjoy!

Masterlist found here!

18+ Only! MDNI!

Warnings: Reader is referred to as "Peach". AFAB reader. Tad bit if angst at the beginning, mostly fluff. SMUT. Unprotected P in V. Creampie.

Word Count: 6k

You turned the car around to head over to a house you knew fairly well. You’d been here a couple of times since he had moved Wayne out of Forest Hills.

The black sedan he’d rented sat in the drive as you pulled in behind it, shutting the ignition off and taking a deep breath. You sat there a few moments trying to gather yourself.

You slowly moved from the driver’s seat, as your feet that currently felt like chunks of lead, carried you up the drive. You took the steps one by one until you were face to face with the door.

You hesitantly lifted your fist, knocking three quick times, holding your breath in the process.

Muffled voices came through, he was standing before you as the door swung open. Bright eyes, but a little surprised to see you.

“Peach.” He breathed out.

“Hi Eddie.” You smiled, genuinely. Deep down he knew why you were here. “Can I come in?”

“Sure, sure.” He nodded, moving out of the way for you to enter.

You followed him into the kitchen. “Want something to drink?”

“No, I’m good. Come, sit with me.” He took the chair across from you, bracing for the worst.

“Eddie, I just came to tell you that our kiss wasn’t a mistake, but it made me realize that I should have closed that chapter of my life when you left me. I need to move forward, so should you.” You watched his whole demeanor deflate.

“You shattered my heart, and I was waiting for a different version of you to come back home. We're in such different places in our lives now. I… I’m sorry.”

“Yeah, yeah. I get it. It’s not like I wasn’t expecting it, Peach. But uh… You’ll be seeing me around. I’m not leaving Hawkins. I’m staying with Wayne for a while. Taking some steps to stay sober.”

“Eddie, that’s great. I’m so proud of you!” beaming at him. God he was going to miss that.

“Yeah, already smoothed it over with the boys.”

You both grew silent. Unsure of what to say next.

“Peach, it's ok. I shouldn't have been expecting you to drop everything and pick up where we left off like everything was fine. I can't tell we’ve both changed.” His eyes told a different story, but you didn't say as much.

“So, I guess I'll be seeing you around Hawkins. Come by the Hideout sometime. Maybe you can show these kids you can still rock.” You grinned as he laughed.

“Sure! I'll do that.” His smile grew, but you were unsure if he'd actually take you up on the offer.

“Well, I've got to get going.”

“I'll, uh… walk you out.”

You both stood, him leading the way opening the door as you began to descend the stairs.

“Hey Peach, maybe when you are ready to love someone again, don’t look so far, huh?”

You looked at him, brows pinched in confusion.

“What are you talking about Eddie?”

“You’ve always been oblivious when it comes to him.” Letting out a hearty chuckle. “Bye Peach. I’ll see ya’ around.”

You’ve always been oblivious when it comes to him.

Those words tumbled around in your head as you drove back home.

You didn't want to accept the fact that Eddie saw something you hadn't yet admitted to yourself.

A few days have passed since your conversation with Eddie. You felt you were in a better place, feeling lighter and finally allowing yourself to move on gaining the closure you finally needed.

Steve and Robin weren't entirely convinced. You outwardly seemed fine, but they hovered and watched to make sure you didn't shrink inside yourself.

It was Robin who suggested it.

“Why don't we have a sleepover? Just the three of us like old times?” She blurted out as you all met for lunch one afternoon.

“Who'd watch Maddie?” Steve asked. He didn't want to impose on anyone knowing she usually stayed with either of you if he was busy.

“I'm sure Vickie won't mind. Maddie loves her. Peach, you in?” Looking toward you, wide eyes seemingly begging.

“Why not?” You shrugged.

She couldn't contain the grin that spread across her face as she reached over and hugged you.

“Yes! I'll bring a couple of movies and we can make some popcorn. Could even bring my old sleeping bag. Camp out in the living room all night…”

“I'm stopping you right there Rob.” Steve cut her off before her rambling really picked up. “I’m not 18 anymore. My back and body aren't going to lay on the floor all night.”

You laughed out as she threw a fry at him.

“Party pooper.”

“Daddy, I wan see Peach! I wan go with you and Bobby!” Maddie was protesting from the back seat as he drove over to drop her off with Vickie for the night.

“It's for adults only tonight. You stay at Peach's all the time it's daddy and Bobby's turn. Right? It's not fair you get to have all the fun.” He watched through the rearview as her scrunched brows softened as she thought over his words.

“Just for one night Daddy!” She finally settled down.

“Right, baby. One night.” He let out a small laugh, smiling to himself knowing how much she loves you as she finally busied herself with looking out the window.

He pulled into Robin's, helping Maddie from her seat as she made a beeline for the door. Knocking excitedly, not giving Steve a second glance when Robin opened it.

“Hey bug! Vickie's in the kitchen getting some yummy snacks together.” She said, bending down to greet her.

She stood, meeting Steve carrying all of Maddie's overnight gear.

“Hey Dingus!” She said, taking her small Baby Bop backpack from him.

“Ready to go?” He placed the rest of her stuff on the couch.

“Uh… about that.” He snapped his head toward her. “Don't get mad, but I'm not going.” She anxiously smiled, trying to deflect, holding up her hands.

“This was your idea, Robin! What do you mean you aren't going?” He huffed, placing his hands on his hips.

“And this was also my idea. You can go have a nice night. Look,” she produced a couple of rentals. “You can watch a couple of movies and talk about your feelings. Perfect! And you'll have all night to do…things. Whatever you get up to.”

She grinned wide, proud of herself and her foolproof plan as she looked back at his very unamused frown.

“Steve, just listen to me. She turned Eddie down and it's so painfully obvious to everyone but you two. You're both idiots. Just talk to her! Tell her how you feel! I'm tired of seeing you mope around.”

“I do not mope, and I just don't think I should bring it up right now.” He sighed, already exasperated.

“When's the right time, Steve? You've had 7 years to make a move. You know where she stands with Eddie. It's now or never!”

She grabbed his hand, pulling him toward and out the door.

“Now go!” Shoving the VHS tapes into his chest.

“Have fun!” Slamming the door in his face, not letting him argue or protest.

“Shit.” He breathed out, knowing she was right.

You'd gotten the house ready. Grabbing extra blankets for the living room, in case Robin held you to actually staying in there all night.

It would be good for you to spend time with them.

You totally hadn't been ignoring Steve because you were trying to hide from him and your rather obvious feelings, right?

After Eddie's comment it had you questioning everything. You and Steve were best friends, he wasn't in love with you. Was he?

Your inner crisis had to wait as you heard the front door open.

The hugs that lasted a little longer, the soft touches and sweet looks… fuck.

“Peach?” Steve called out.

“In the kitchen! I'm making your favorite by the way.” You called back, as he came into view.

“Hi.” He grinned, waving as he entered, sitting his overnight bag down on the counter.

“Hi. Where's Rob?” You looked past him, expecting her to follow in behind.

“Uh, she's not feeling well.” He placed his hands into his pockets, shrugging. “Guess it's just us tonight.”

“And that's a bad thing? You look like someone kicked your puppy.” You eyed him warily.

“No, I just didn't want you to be disappointed. S’all.” Shrugging again as he took a seat at the bar, noticing the way his cheeks blushed slightly. Steve was so painfully pretty. The way his shirt was tight over his chest and biceps when he leaned his arms on the counter, had you staring just a little too long.

“Why would I be disappointed? You're my best friend Steve. I love spending time with you.” You smiled, and turned back to the stove, trying to hide the way that your own cheeks heated at your thoughts.

“Steve, are you okay?” Knocking him from his current train of thought.

Best friend. Best friend. Best friend. He didn't need any reminders. His head and heart were both at odds with themselves already. And you were standing there looking absolutely beautiful in just a hoodie and some old shorts, his hoodie. Fuck.

“Hmmm, yeah. I'm fine. Need some help?” He smiled, trying to hide any hint of discomfort.

You put him to work chopping some veggies for a salad. It was easy with him. The way you both moved so fluid around the kitchen. Easing around each other because you've done it a million times before.

Steve was relaxing a little more as you chatted and got the rest of the food prepared but you could tell something was still bothering him.

“Hey Stevie,” catching his attention with a cupcake you pulled from a covered dish on the counter. “Want to ruin our appetites with dessert first?”

“Yes, please. God, I love your cupcakes.” He went to take it, but you pulled it back just out of reach, making him frown with his perfect pouty lips on display. Perfectly pouty and kissable lips.

You slowly peeled the liner from the spongy cake, as he watched you intently.

“You can have one, once you tell me what's bugging you.” You took a bite, with an over exaggerated hum of satisfaction. “Mmmm, so good.”

Frosting was left behind on your lip, that you quickly licked away, he couldn't help but watch the way your mouth moved. It was so unfair the way you were torturing him without even knowing it.

You, on the other hand, were completely aware of the way he was currently licking his own lips watching you.

“Here, have a bite you pouty baby.” Relenting and pushing the cake up toward him.

Instead of letting him take a bite, you shoved it a little upward. Frosting now dotting the end of his nose and top lip, he put his hands on his hips as you flew into a fit of giggles.

“Oh, yeah okay. Laugh it up.” Tongue in his cheek, trying not to give himself away. It was good to hear your laughter. Opposed to the tears you'd been shedding the last couple of times he's seen you.

He turned, dragging his finger through the frosting of another cake and holding it up.

“Paybacks a bitch, Peach.” Wiggling it toward you.

“No, Steve. No.” You started to back up but were caught in the corner of the counter. Nowhere to run as he advanced toward you.

He quickly grabbed the wrist that was still holding onto the chocolatey cake so you couldn't use it against him, as you tried to push him away, but his arms were longer than yours, hand pressed to his chest, still protesting. Easily maneuvering, he plopped the frosting at the end of your nose.

“There now we're even.” His laughter rang out, but he didn't make an attempt to pull away just yet wondering if you were going to try to keep this little game going.

You smiled, watching the way his eyes crinkled with his big, bright grin but then it suddenly felt too hot in the small space. His chest expands with each breath, warm beneath your fingers. All too aware when his laughter faded, and you were left staring at each other.

“Steve?” You asked, almost breathless.

“Yeah?” He searched your eyes for an answer. Anything to give him the go ahead.

“You can let go of my wrist now.”

“Right, sorry.” He let go, but you still felt his lingering warmth. He'd touched you countless times before but this felt different.

You reached for the napkins beside you, wiping the frosting from your nose. He stood there watching you until you pressed the napkin to his face, wiping the remnants from him as well. He exhaled a little loudly, as if he had been holding his breath.

He backed up, but you grabbed his forearm, holding his gaze, his caramel, mossy lined eyes staring back at you curiously.

You didn't realize the moment you inched forward, but your feet and body seemed to be moving on their own accord.

“Steve?” Inching forward still.

“Yeah?” He swallowed, eyes darting down to your lips and back up.

“Do… you want to kiss me?” Coming out a little raspy.

“Do you want me to kiss you?” He asked, hesitantly reaching his hands up to rest on your hips.

Your hand travels to his cheek, stubble prominent from the day scratching at your palm as your thumb barely traces his bottom lip. Hearing his breath hitch sends you into overdrive.

His fingertips find the exposed skin at your side as your (his) hoodie rides up, gripping just a little harder onto your plush, warm skin.

You're telling yourself to stop, but the back of your mind is telling you to dive, to fall headfirst because he'll be there to catch you, no matter what happens.

Your nose finally grazes his, chests pressing together. You close your eyes, lips grazing his as you speak.

“Is this what you want?”

His only answer is closing the small distance between you.

The moment your lips meet it feels like they tell you how it's supposed to feel in all those fairytales and movies. All those stories could never prepare you for the reality of it. Like it was always meant to be.

It was warm sunshine on your skin after winter’s long embrace. Heating you from the inside out.

His lips are softer than you expected, faintly tasting of the cherry Chapstick he always keeps in the car, as your lips mold perfectly to his.

He gently tilts his head, nose pushed into your cheek. He’s pulling your hips into his, tongue grazing your bottom lip, a silent plea as you grant him the access he so desperately craves.

He's dreamt of this very moment more times than he would like to admit.

He's hoping, praying it isn't a dream he's going to wake up from at any moment. He's barely had a taste and can't get enough. He'll never have enough of you.

His mind's racing, your lips, tongue, the way you taste. It's all he can think about.

Your tongues glide along one another, as your hand reaches the nape of his neck, trying to pull him closer as he backs you up into the counter.

Your kiss gets a little more needy, pulling at each other.

Pushing his hips into yours, his hard length presses into your lower stomach as he swallows another wanton moan drawn from you.

He surprises you when his hands suddenly wander to your ass kneading a moment before hauling you up quickly to sit on the counter making you break away from him with a loud squeak, hanging onto his neck.

He easily slots himself between your parted thighs bringing his forehead to yours, gently squeezing the plush of your hips, then moving to rest his hands on each of your thighs. Thumbs rubbing softly across your bare skin, just skimming under the fabric of your thin shorts.

His eyes were blown wide, as he stared down at you. The caramel mossy irises now just a small ring, rimmed around the almost black pools full of lust mixed with adoration.

“Is… is this, okay?” He asks, giving you an out.

“Yeah, Stevie. It's better than okay.” You rake your fingers through his hair, pushing it back from his face.

“I.." "we" you both began.

Laughing at the absurdity of it all. This was Steve, your best friend for the better part of your lives but it was suddenly a little stifling.

You felt bashful under his gaze. Cheeks heating at the possibilities of what might come next.

You wanted him. All of him. Knowing right then and there that one night would never be enough with him.

Grabbing the front of his shirt, you pulled him forward with ease as your lips meet once more. The timidness long gone; you were both greedy. In dire need of more.

Your hands grasp the fabric in your hold, as his begin to roam. Up past your thighs, landing on your hips once more. Trailing up a little further under the hoodie, his fingers found your exposed waist. The soft touch sending goosebumps across your flesh and a little spark to your core making you release a breathy moan that made him grin into your kiss, knowing just his touch could pull those sweet little sounds from you.

His thumb grazed the underside of your breast, making you keen into his touch, craving more, rolling your hips forward looking for a little friction.

Realizing you weren't wearing a bra underneath, he groans, pulling away slightly as if asking for permission, searching your face for any hesitation. You nod quickly, unable to hide your desperation.

His lips found your jaw as his large hand engulfed you fully under your shirt, kneading you softly before his thumb grazes over your nipple causing it to peak stiffly under his touch.

“Fuck, Steve.” You whine out, pushing your chest further into his palm, your head falling back, exposing more of your throat to him.

His lips find a sweet spot right below your jaw, sucking lightly before soothing it with his hot tongue.

You slowly move your hand down his chest and abdomen, hesitating just a moment before you find the outline of his stiff cock beneath his jeans. He hisses lowly as you palm him, breath hitching, hips bucking on their own, as he stops his current ministrations.

“Peach, I… fuck…” his forehead meets yours, arm curling around your waist, pulling you toward him as your core finally meets him.

You roll your hips into his, clit catching on the denim through the fabric that separates you so cruelly, wrapping your legs around his lithe waist holding him there as you moan in unison.

You look up at him through your lashes, he looks as wrecked as you feel, and he hasn't even touched you where you need him the most.

His eyes are closed tightly, brow pinched, and lips parted, releasing a shaky exhale.

“Steve?” You ask.

“Hmmm? Yeah?” Finally looking at you.

“Bedroom?” You smile, tucking your bottom lip between your teeth.

“Yes. Fuck, please.” He nodded, helping you down from the counter. Your body pressed tightly to his as you slid down.

He grinned that soft, lopsided smile as you took his hand in yours pulling him out of the kitchen. He held onto you tightly as you raced up the stairs, giggling like a couple of horny teens.

Pushing your bedroom door open, you swallowed the lump that seemed to be stuck in your throat, as he hesitated at the threshold. An invitation to your bedroom meant more than just sleeping over as friends.

There was a line drawn that you were about to cross. It would mean something more, be something more.

Kissing him had been toeing the line, this would be jumping headfirst.

"Are you sure this is what you want?" He asked whether for you or him you weren't sure.

"I'm sure. I want you, Steve. I… I need you.”

He crossed the threshold, kicking the door shut behind as he entered. Closing the small distance between you in just a few short strides.

One arm snaked around your back, the other palm to your cheek, fingers extending into your hair.

He pulled your face close, nose gliding down the slope of yours as your forehead met his. You moved your hands, one to his bicep and the other on top of the hand that held your cheek.

"Say it again, please." His lips grazed your top lip as he spoke. Wanting to take your mouth fully but he needed to hear those words once more. Making sure it's what you want. Confirming you want this just as badly as he does.

"Steve, I want you. I want all of you.”

That was all it took. His lips met yours once more. A searing kiss but had you begging for more. It was sloppy, teeth and tongues clashing.

He moved forward into your space, your hips meeting his. Taking the hint, you started to walk backwards toward the bed all the while, your lips massaged across his.

When you reach the edge of the bed, he guides you back to lay down. Caging you in. Slotting himself between your thighs as he pressed his clothed length where you need it the most, rolling his hips slightly.

He suddenly stops, body a little rigid and huffs out a small laugh fanning out across your face.

“What? What is it?” Searching his features, a little dopey smile as he pinched his nose.

"Fuck. I uh…," he giggled then. "I don't have a condom; not like I've had any action in… oh I don't know. How old is Maddie, again?"

You lightly smacked his arm and laughed out as well.

It was so sweet, watching him struggle with the words but you weren't any better off.

You looked at him, all innocent eyes when you spoke.

“Thank God for birth control, right? I'm on the pill Steve. You can even cum in me, if you want.”

His dick throbbed with your words, as he buried his head into your neck and groaned.

“You can't say shit like that. I'm already so fucking hard.”

“I know, I can tell. Now take your clothes off.” Nipping lightly at his jaw.

In one swift motion, he sits back on his heels, pulling his shirt over his head. You can't help but admire his bronzed body, still kissed by the summer sun. You've seen him shirtless plenty of times, but it was like seeing him for the first time in a new light.

Your eyes follow the hair from his chest down to the top of his jeans.

“Your turn.” He smirks, as he helps you sit up, taking it upon himself to find the hem of his hoodie and pull it up slowly over your body.

The moment you can't see, hoodie up over your eyes, your chest is exposed. You hear his breath hitch just a moment before you feel his lips latch to your pert nipple. So caught off guard, you barely wrenched the fabric off of your head letting out an obscenely loud moan as he lays you back on the mattress.

“Fuck, Steve.” Your hands find his hair and tugs as he moves to the other, swirling his tongue over you. His hand glides down your soft stomach slipping past the top of your shorts.

You suck in a breath, as his fingers brush past your clit, delving between your already soaked folds making your back arch off the bed with a whine.

His mouth leaves you with a pop.

“You're soaked, honey.” He grins, pulling his hand away, placing his lips back across your chest.

“Tease,” you cry out as he smiles against your skin.

He pulls back once more, hooking his fingers into your shorts, pulling them down and tossing them somewhere across the room. He takes a moment to appreciate you. Eyes not sure where to land.

“You're so beautiful, Peach.” He hums, getting up to pull his own pants off. He unbuttons them, locking eyes with yours, pushing them and his boxers down in one swift motion.

You knew he was big, but all those rumors from high school were true, he was huge. Your mouth hung open just a little, as you watched him spit into his palm bringing it back down to tug on his stiff cock. He was long and thick, curving slightly upward. His ruddy tip leaking a pearly bead of precum, as his thumb glides over the top smearing it back down his length.

“Fuck, Steve.” The sight has your cunt clenching around nothing, aching to be filled.

He crawls back over you, pushing your thighs apart, so he can see your pussy on full display for him. Your folds glisten with your slick, making his cock kick up at the sight before him.

“All that for me? Fuck… Peach, I'm going to be honest with you. I need to feel you, I need to be inside of you but I'm probably not going to last.”

You giggle at his confession, endearing as it was.

“It's okay, I need you too. Please, just fuck me, Steve.”

Your words, your body, everything has such an effect on him. He's afraid as soon as he gets in he's going to blow his load right then and there.

He leaned in to kiss you once more. Less feverish, less needy. Languidly his lips move against yours. Tongues intertwined, tasting and taking from each other all you were willing to give.

He was leaned up on one arm by your head, reaching between you both, fingers dancing across your slit before pushing through your folds, easing into your entrance.

Your head flew back at the sudden intrusion, mouth going slack, as he began to circle your clit with his thumb pumping his fingers slightly.

“So fucking tight, I… fuck. I need you.”

He pulled his fingers away, taking hold of himself and slid it in between your folds. Bumping your clit, once, twice, three times, moaning out his name. He could die a happy man hearing you so breathless for him just for him.

He lined himself up with your entrance. The tip slightly breaching, already feeling like he's going to split you open.

He pressed in, inch by inch, already keening into him from the feeling of his girth breaching your walls, filling you completely. You moaned into each other's mouths. No longer kissing, exchanging short, labored breaths.

Your eyes were closed, relishing in the stretch, the slight burn trying to accommodate him as he bottomed out.

"Steve," you breathed out.

"Mmmm, yeah?" Almost too gone in the feeling of you.

"You can move." You giggled, as he groaned again.

"Yeah, just… I need just a minute." He breathed out, a little ragged. Trying to compose himself.

You let out a small giggle as you nodded.

"Don't, I can feel you moving when you laugh. You're clenching me.”

"Sorry, Stevie." You kissed his forehead, at the same time he moved his hips, withdrawing almost all the way before sheathing himself back in, burying himself completely.

Whatever you were about to say, died on your lips as you gasped, the feeling knocking the breath from you.

He set a pace that had you both moaning. You gripped his shoulders to ground yourself in the feeling of him.

"Oh God, Steve. Y'… You feel so good." He wasn't rushing, his pace near languid. You could feel every ridge and vein moving within your walls.

He hummed in response.

"You feel so much better than I could have imagined. So fucking tight, so fucking warm."

"You thought about this alot, hmm?" You quipped.

"Yeah, yeah. I have." He kissed your lips once more. A peck before slightly picking up the pace.

In and out. In and out. The heat in your belly started to pool. He was stimulating that spot within you with each pass, as your cunt fluttered around him.

“Fuck, are… are you close?” He hissed out, hips starting to lose their rhythm.

“Yeah, but I know you are too. Cum in me Steve.”

Your words hurdled him over the edge. His lower stomach tightened as he began to spill within you. Thick ropes of his cum painted your walls. A few more languid thrusts, he stilled. Falling forward, chests pressed impossibly close. He let his head fall in the juncture of your neck.

You reached up, fingers playing with his hair lightly at the nape of his neck.

“I'm so sorry. You… I thought you might be closer. It's just been so long, and you felt so fucking good.” Coming out a little muffled, lips pressed to your skin.

“Steve,” you pressed on his chest, “it's okay.”

“No, no. It's not. Can I taste you? I just want you to feel good too.” Sitting up, his face lit up at the prospect.

“Yeah, but you just came…”

“It's ok baby, just lay back. I'll take care of you.” His lips curled into a devilish smirk, as he finally pulled out his softening cock. His spend leaking slowly out of you, onto the sheets below.

“God, you're a mess baby.”

He pulled your legs apart, pushing himself onto the mattress, face so close to where you wanted him. His broad palm held one thigh, as he began trailing light kisses to the other.

“Please, don't tease me.” You whined, as his tongue licked a broad strip up your folds, the tip circling your clit, effectively cutting you off.

“Oh fuck, Steveeeee.” You whined out, hips bucking up, as he pushed you back down, pinning you in place.

His lips sucked your clit harshly, tongue swirling over the bundle of nerves setting you a blaze, humming as you tugged his tousled locks.

His finger circled your entrance, a mixture of his cum and your arousal making it easy to slip his finger in, pulling it back and quickly adding another.

He began pumping, then curling upward to reach that spot that would have you seeing stars in no time.

“Oh, Steve.” Breathless, as you brought your hands up to your breasts pinching your nipples. It didn't go unnoticed, as he groaned watching you.

“Fuck, your perfect,” he murmured into your pussy. Quickly pressing his tongue back to you moving rapidly, fingers continuing their assault against your frontal wall.

“Right… right there. Don't stop!” He kept the pace, lifting his eyes to watch you come undone.

Your eyes fluttered closed, brows pinched tight with concentration. You were so close now.

A few more licks and fingertips brushing that perfect spot, you gasped out. It felt like you were on fire from the inside out. It was pure bliss as those fireworks flew behind your eyes.

“That's it, baby. Come on my fingers. Come f’me.”

He worked you through it, until you had to push his mouth away.

He slowly crawled up to lay beside you as you tried to slow your heavy breathing, opening your eyes to him grinning wide, a sheen of arousal still coated his chin before he wiped it away with the back of his hand.

“Hi,” turning onto your side to face him as he does the same.

“Hi. Was… was that, ok?” He asked a little sheepishly.

“That was amazing, Stevie.” You giggled. “You might have to work on your stamina a little.”

He grabbed a pillow and threw it at you, laughing out, hauling you into his chest. The laughter subsided as you stared up at him, hand splayed over his heart.

“Peach, I hope this isn't a one-time thing… Fuck.” He rolled over on his back, covering his face with his hands, as he groaned. You could tell he was at odds with himself.

Reaching up, you tugged his wrist lightly.

“Hey, look at me. I'm not going anywhere. I'm right here. With you. You… don't regret it, do you?” Sinking into yourself at the thought.

“God no. I… I just… I'm in love with you. I think I've always been in love with you. I don't think I can go back to the way things were… if this… if you…” He closed his eyes, letting out a heavy sigh, ready for a letdown.

“I know, Stevie. I want this. I want us. You, me and Maddie. I can't imagine my life without you. I love you, Steve Harrington. I'm sorry it took me this long to realize it.”

His raised up, eyes softening at your admission. Hand coming to cradle your head, “Yeah?”

“Yeah.” Nodding, as your lips meet.

After what felt like hours of talking, he slowly fucked you into the mattress. The urgency was no longer there, and you were free to explore each other slowly.

Whispering “I love yous”, kissing, touching. Seemingly making up for lost time.

He watched you fall apart beneath him as his cock split you open, spilling inside of you once more soon after.

As you laid beside each other, coming down from your highs, he whispered in the dark.

“Can I keep you?”

Your answer came with a kiss, wanting nothing more than to always be his.

You finally pulled yourselves away from bed, thoroughly spent. Showering together and then making it back down to the kitchen for cold spaghetti, long forgotten between confessions and a love drunk haze. You made sure he got a cupcake this time.

With full bellies and full hearts, you snuggled in close to him. Pressed into his side with your head on his chest.

You were happy, with a man that you were undoubtedly in love with, jumping in headfirst.

The sun brought soft kisses in between the sheets, reluctantly untangling yourselves knowing that Robin would be dropping Maddie by soon.

You sipped coffee together and cuddled close on the couch before making breakfast. It all came so naturally for the both of you.

He couldn't keep his hands off of you. Soft touches to your lower back as he passed by. Squeezing softly at your hips as he came up behind you, pressing his lips to your temple and you couldn't get enough.

The door opened just as you were about to sit down for your meal, tiny feet running quickly through the house.

“Peachhhhh! Daddyyyy!” Maddie yelled, bounding into the kitchen. Bright eyes and chubby cheeks, as she ran straight over to you.

“Hey baby!” Hugging her tightly to your chest as you picked her up. “Did you have a good time with Bobby?”

“Yeah, she let me stay up til’ late an… an then we eat popcorn, but I missed you.” She threw her small arms around your neck.

“Hey!” Robin walked in, throwing Steve a sideways glance.

He just grinned and took a sip of coffee, looking down at his cup as his cheeks heated, turning the slightest shade of pink.

“Well?” She asked, already knowing the answer with his flustered appearance.

“Uh, yeah, Rob. We uh… finally had that talk.” He said, leaning back on the counter, smirking toward you.

“Well, we are going to talk all about this. Not right now of course. Oh my God. I can't believe you finally did it! Steve, you look really happy, and I can tell by that grin you got la…” Slapping a hand over her mouth, realizing what she almost said in front of tiny ears.

“I mean you got… lasagna… Yeah.”

“Nice save, Rob.” You snorted, sitting Maddie down as she ran over to Steve. “He did get spaghetti though.”

“Is that… is that supposed to be code for something?” She looked confused between the two of you. “You know what, never mind. I'm leaving. I'll call later. Bye Maddie!” She called over her shoulder.

You turned, grabbing your coffee and looked over to Steve and Maddie chatting away in the corner. She was telling him all about her night, with big enthusiastic giggles.

Her big hazel eyes and fluffy morning hair, mirroring his perfectly.

He was so focused on her, face lit up with every little detail he didn't notice the way you were staring at them.

A little teary eyed, you were so full of happiness as you watched them. Ready to start a new journey with these people you loved.

[cosmicredcadet]

So uhh.... I really dislike the Traffic light trio kid designs in the show because to me they look like the old art that just made babies look like shrunken adult men because literally nothing changes about the characters besides the height. Which lead me to decide I wanted to show how I would design the traffic light kids.

For Mei, Because her family seems rather strict i decided to make her look a bit more cleaned up. She explained in "Coming home" how she wasn't very proper when she played, which her parents looked down upon. So I imagine they would've liked for her to usually be more refined in how she looked - which means when things get out of place or messed up from her playing it's seen as a bigger deal. I also gave her some scales by her eyes because mei having dragon features gives me life and i think they look cute.

For MK i just made his hair shorter but also it's not exactly sticking up because he doesn't have his headband yet. He's got pretty simple clothes for the most part, with the coolest thing being that he has light up shoes (i like to think that's what drew Mei to him when they first met. she's not allowed to have light up shoes haha). He still is predominantly orange in color palette and I gave him some shorts because he's a pretty active kid so he likes to move around a lot. (Also headcanon that he didn't like pants all that much as a kid because they felt bad)

And then finally we have Red Boy. Which ohh boy i did the most research on this kid haha. I looked at other iterations of Red boy in different jttw media and kinda took inspiration from those! I took the most inspiration from his outfit in the 1986 series iirc (I cannot find my references I had collected...) I also got rid of his glasses because YES it might be petty but glasses hadn't exactly been invented yet in the era that jttw takes place in (Yes i researched glasses for this. Yes it was all done through spite). Anyways I decided to keep his hair long and I decided to put it up into two small buns - mostly becuz to me it would be cute to have them burst into little balls of flames hehe. I also gave him little bull horn ornaments to tie back to his family and also gave him back his spear. There's a version of him with and without a cape because some iterations have him with one and i thought it was cute :)

Annnnd thats all i have to say really.

[jackyandjackster]

Child au ideas

ut multiverse ideas ❤️

Wild Imagination

What if the multiverse is one big lie and was just a made up story by a bunch of childrens? Seems like a stretch but think about it, children have such wild Imagination and most of their stories come up of ethereal beings, magics, god just fantasy on an another level. This multiverse is specifically just a story made up by childrens, well child version's of the Main characters of course, the side characters are mostly just distant relatives, friends or just made up character that doesn't show up often. Character relationship & age Nightmare (Looks like passive) (Acts as corrupted Nightmare, King of negativity/and drama) age:8 *Dream's twin brother *Loves drama, very dramatic so he chose to be a villain *Loves fantasy story books * 'Big' brother Dream (Acts as the positive guardian) Age:8 *Night's twin brother *Loves hero stories *Loves cartoons *Often quarrels with twin brother but just light hearted and normal children quarrels. * 'younger' brother *Chose nightmare to be the 'big' brother Blueberry (Acts as Swap) Age:6 *Very honest and obedient *Lives Mexican food because he grew up in a Mexican family. *Has a brother named Honeycomb/Honey. (his papyrus's name) *Loves anime (influenced by Cross) *Loves cooking and play cook *Wants to be a Royal guard some day *Loves Knight in shining armor stories (same with Cross) *Besties with Ink, Dream, Cross and Rosie (Lust's name) *Cross's cousin Ink (Acts as protector of worlds) Age:7 *Loves drawing/painting but isn't allowed to paint because he's very messy *Loves Error (platonic) *Loves making friends *Loves kid's younger than him because he's an only child and wants a younger sibling. *Wants to play with Error a lot, often seen with him. *He's a cry baby when it comes to his stuff breaking or going wrong.reason why he quarrels with Error so much because Error is very clumsy and is a child and breaks Ink's stuff. Error (Acts as destroyer) Age:5 *Child *Does child stuff *Very clumsy and often breaks toys or paper *Slow learner *Probably autistic(?) *his brother's are Geno and Fresh *The only toys that survived his destructive baby hands are stuff toys. Geno (acts whatever he needs to be) Age:10 *Loves his brother's *Quite sickly but nothing deadly, like getting hospitalized 2-3 times a year and prone to fever. *Takes great care of his brother's *Has a crush on reaper (optional) *Very protective and caring Fresh (acts as the 'Parasite') Age:8 *Likes annoying Error *Loves his brother's *Very annoying *Tends to prank the kid's (reason why he's the parasite in the story) Killer (Acts as Nightmare's right hand man) Age:7 *Likes messing around and annoying people *Adhd kid *Very loud and confusing *Nightmare's best friend Horror: (acts as Nightmare's gang member) age:9 *Very sensitive to sound *Loves eating and sweets *probably broke a tooth because of it *Got into an accident when he was 6 and broke a part of his skull (not very big but big enough damage that it couldn't be healed) *Has SPD and Autism *Dust's big brother *Probably wearing a headset Dust (acts as a member of Nightmare's gang) Age:8 *Very silent *always sticks to Horror *Actually responsible *Very protective of his big brother *Loves playing with his friends Cross (Acts as someone who can't decide which side he's on) Age:7 *Always changing side because he can't decide and Dream and Nightmare doesn't care about it. *Loves chocolate, actually lost a tooth because of it (sneaking some sweets into bed and not brushing his teeth) *has a Brother named Apryx (his papyrus's name, age:11) *Loves knight stuff, swords or something similar to a soldier. Knight in shining armor type of fan. *Loves anime! (Influenced by his brother) *Swap's Cousin (add whatever ┐⁠(⁠´⁠ー⁠｀⁠)⁠┌ )

Child of chaos

Error sans as a kid! Ink was excited, after decades of boredom the destroyer was fated to be created soon and he knows it! finally an enemy and entertainment! but when Ink realized that his enemy was a kid he wasn't sure anymore. The child destroyer was probably from one of those child ver. of aftertale that had played around with dt and no clip through reality and get thrown in the anti void, just like any other Error. Ink decided to just adopt him, it's kinda unfair to be fighting with a kid y'know? (Similar to G!Ink and G!Error story)

Surprise you're adopted!

Ink was supposed to be soulless but what if Ink, the creator was born a god with no world? he has a soul, he has feelings, he only needs his paints to strengthen himself when he's low on magic or for emergencies. at first he created so many worlds, so many possibilities but as decades came by he soon grew bored. When the multiverse reached their limit and the god of destruction came to destroy a couple of worlds he didn't bother saving any of it. He knows it's the other god's job and didn't wanna make the other's life hell. He doesn't play hero, he doesn't show up either, only core knows he exist and promised not to tell anybody. he doesn't even show up to the infamous destroyer. when dreamtale came that's when he intervened, maybe it's because unlike him and Error, they were just guardians and kids, they have a childhood, they could have a proper childhood. so what did he do? nothing, because he can't, Dreamtale isn't his, he can do nothing about it, but he can intervene once it's script was all finished, when Nightmare finally got corrupted and Dream became stone he took the stone child to his doodle sphere and set to capture the corrupted monster child while the kid is still in stone. It took decades but when Nightmare stopped being an insane idiot running around ruining timelines he was surprised adopted by Ink, Dream came out of stone yadda yadda yadda it's all good, they slowly became brother's again, btw Error's an uncle now and somehow the supposed gang became baby sitters.

(I need more Ink parent au's)

Too relatable (Not a Child au but an alternate version of Surprise you're adopted)

An alternate version of 'Surprise you're adopted'. Ink born god of creation was a cheerful and energetic creator decades ago, creating different worlds, the destroyer came when the multiverse reached it's limit due to an accident of creative spree, Ink didn't intervene and decided to befriend the destroyer, it was rough at first and rather violent but slowly but surely they became best friends (Error would never admit it).

Prince of darkness

After the corruption in which Nightmare regains sanity he wanders in the multiverse, he's as tall as a regular sans and grumpy most of the time, he's more like a teenager trying to act cool and scary. he finds his 'gang' along the way in which they know he's the youngest out of all of them and decided to spoil the crap out of him.

[allwormdiet]

Interlude 2

Ahh, it's time for Brockton Bay's healthiest family to debut

Flight is so cool. Flight without having to get cold or wet or getting pelted by bugs is outright unfair.

Me, utterly charmed: oh my god she's a fucking NERD

And she's a nerd who's scaring the piss out of Nazis, who would hate this girl?

Which, oh yeah, the Nazis run around in Brockton Bay, bet those guys will never sour my mood

Glory Girl's got a whole bunch of powers, huh. Can't wait to get into the exact circumstances of how she got really cool abilities as an inadequate consolation prize for whatever hell she had to endure

I'm gonna be real, the description of this throw made me flinch a little bit. Like he's a Nazi so fuck him, but I hope it doesn't turn out that Victoria is this blase about all her targets

...So if the only spines she ever breaks are Nazi spines, then I'll give Glory Girl every pass she ever asks for, but if she ever wraps a weed dealer's skeleton around a lamppost I'm going to feel a liiiiiittle more concerned.

Everything else aside, this is fucking hilarious

So these two are at the epicenter of, as far as I can tell, one of the most divisive subjects in this fandom? With the others mostly seeming to be variations on "did such-and-such character have full moral justification to do actual for-real crimes against humanity." Let's see where this takes us

I feel a little bad immediately for the contrasts between Vicky and Amy. Five bucks says it's gonna turn out Amy is like the only brunette in the whole family, and while everyone else gets to show off a little she's dressed in a sackcloth. It's very white mage, but I don't know if she even knows what a white mage is.

Also it's a minor detail in the grand scheme of things but I fear for her hair's health if it's actively being described as frizzy

So apparently between ragdolling a Nazi like it's Garrys Mod and this passage, people have chosen to interpret Victoria Dallon as a monster. I can see how they'd be mistaken on this because technically speaking they're close: she's a teenager. For a lot of people the worst version of ourselves is one that exists somewhere between the ages of twelve and twenty, don't ask me how I know that one. The guilt trip here is definitely manipulative, but so is every kid who's trying to play whatever card they have to dodge repercussions for their fuckups. This is a kid, not a master manipulator who twists hearts around in her fingers like rings. This is normal behavior within an abnormal context.

According to Wikipedia, "foreshadowing is a narrative device in which a storyteller gives an advance hint of what is to come later in the story. Foreshadowing often appears at the beginning of a story, and it helps develop or subvert the audience's expectations about upcoming events."

Fuck Nazis, and I'm gonna get in a preemptive "fuck Coil" while I'm at it

Hmm. So here we get the Docks from a third perspective (albeit a Nazi's, so let's take it with a grain of salt), and this time it's presented as something of material value. I wonder how much of that is due to the neighborhood being low-priority for the police and Protectorate, if they decided it's not worth policing if it's not going to recover any time soon.

It's also interesting seeing which names are being thrown around with the possibility of fighting over the territory. I know Squealer ends up part of the Merchants and they end up being a decent power in their own right, but I don't know if any of the others would have shown an interest in fighting for territory. I got the impression that Uber and Leet are more like unfunny and violent pranksters than anything, Circus apparently operates on their own which doesn't seem like how you'd make dreams of conquest come true, the Undersiders are sticking with the theft shtick at this point, and I don't know shit about Trainwreck or Stain. Wonder how much of this is legit speculation, how much of it is the E88 leadership blowing smoke for their followers, and how much of it is this specific guy blowing smoke.

Yeah, see, they're good kids. For now.

Current Thoughts

To pull back on the frame a little, I think this interlude was written with two goals: first and most obvious is to get us in the head of another young cape, a for-real hero this time, who will be featuring in future events to some extend, but then beyond that it's reflecting the rippling consequences of Taylor's actions. Taking down Lung was a good deed, it saved lives and weakened a major gang within the city, but now others are rushing in to take advantage of this and it could cause more harm than was prevented in Arc 1. Taylor couldn't have known these repercussions were coming, she's a high school sophomore who'd only engaged with the cape community in any way after she'd already knocked the bastard over, and she probably still would have made the play to take Lung down and save the Undersiders even knowing that there might be increased gang violence. She's big on action and she's big on pushing through to solve the problem, repercussions dealt with later, but I suspect that everything is going to ripple out in this same way until the whole city starts shaking with it.

Anyway, more to the first point, I like Victoria, she took very little time to endear herself to me and I'm not going to feel so awful about her bone-breaking habits as long as she keeps it to the Nazis

I haven't seen enough of Amy to have a full read on her yet, and I haven't gotten into her head to know how she thinks or feels, but for now I'm pretty solidly on sympathy/pity for her. I'd say something like "we'll see where she takes it from here" but I kinda already know that one

Hoo, boy. Arc 2 done with. 18 chapters in four days? That's not bad. I'm gonna stretch my legs and think for a bit and then I'll give my two cents on the whole of Insinuation.

[millersdjarin]

I Only See Daylight

Chapter Five

Pairing: Din Djarin x F!Reader

Rating: E (eventually)

Chapter warnings/tags: slow burn, dad!din, bonding, flirting, injuries (not in detail), negative self-talk, mentions of past trauma/abuse, teasing

Chapter Length: 5.5k

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notes: mando's new ship is basically just a bigger version of the razor crest. im not even sorry for this lack of imagination. :)

i don't wanna think of anything else now that i thought of you

Mando’s cooking left you feeling warm, full, and…taken care of.

He had, of course, cooked for you while you were in the cave, made sure you had enough to eat. But all you had was meat and rations. Here, at your hut, he found ingredients to make a proper stew, and spent a couple of hours at your stove. It was hard not to watch him in his silent concentration. 

He could have left by now. He’s got what he needed from all this, and you’re safe in your home, recovering well from your injuries. He could just take his ship, fly to the other side of the planet, and never think of you again. 

But after you and the kid ate—kriff, it was good—he sat at the outside table opposite you, and said, “I think I’ll head out in the morning. If that’s alright with you.” 

You’d swallowed a gulp of water, nodded. “Yeah. That’s fine by me.” You thought of your spare tent, much smaller than the one the storm had shredded. Then you thought of the empty space on the floor inside the hut, how it’s just the perfect size for two sleeping mats. “You can sleep in the hut. If you’re comfortable with that.” 

He’d hesitated, but nodded. “Thank you.” 

So now here you are, long before the sun will rise, just watching him. He’s asleep, you assume, his chest rising and falling evenly. The kid is tucked in beside him beneath the blanket, and it’s so kriffing cute, his little eyes fully closed, ears twitching in his sleep. One of his fingers is wrapped around Mando’s hand, holding him close. 

Not for the first time, you wonder about their story. How they found each other, and how they became so close. 

You don’t sleep. Just doze on and off, at best. There’s a painful dread stirring deep in your belly, spreading to your chest, under your ribcage. You try with all your might to squash it down, to fight it with logic, with the knowledge that you shouldn’t care that you’ll be alone again in a few hours—in fact, you should be happy about that—and that wanting them to stick around is not only stupid and naive, but also selfish. 

It’s just, they’re the first people to ever make you feel…safe. Accepted. Free to just be. 

You never though you’d find that. Hell, you thought you’d spend the rest of your days here alone, not a soul in sight. 

And now that it’s coming to an end, you can’t help the anxiety nibbling through your defences. The wall you’ve built around your heart, around this life of solitude. And you know it’s stupid not just because of all that, not just because growing attached is a surefire way to get hurt; but it’s also stupid because Mando was always going to be here only temporarily. You were just supposed to help him get off-world. Go on a hike. Do a good thing. 

It’s turned into more, and you shouldn’t have let it.

So, above all else, the only thing you can do now is to not let it show.

When the sun rises, Mando stirs. You’re in the kitchen making two cups of caf, and before you turn to look at him, you hear him yawning. It comes out all funny through the helmet, of course, but it’s still endearing. 

While Mando eats and drinks outside, you pack up a little parcel of berries and herbs that you found on your hike, wrapping it in some old paper and securing it with a string. The kid helps, although mostly he just steals berries when he thinks you’re not looking. You slip in a little gift, too, to remember you by; a piece of the tent that was shredded during the storm. It’s a joke, really, just something to get him to laugh. Because you’ve only heard that a few times, but it’s so lovely. 

Except, of course, you won’t be there when he opens this package, when he laughs.

You’re trying not to think about the fact that they’re leaving. That you’re not just going to miss Mando, but the kid, too. If someone had told you a week ago that there would be a bounty hunter with a child that you’d somehow form an attachment to, you’d have laughed in their face. 

“For your travels,” you say to Mando, handing him the parcel. You let your hands linger on his, feeling the leather beneath your palms, somehow becoming a familiar feeling. 

He looks at the package, then to you. “You didn’t have to…” 

“I wanted to,” you interrupt with a smile. Slowly, you pull your hands away. He twitches his towards you, like he wants to follow them, but holds himself back. “So, I guess you’re on your way, then?” 

Wordless at first, he nods.

You feel something tugging at your leg. Little arms wrapped around your good calf. Looking down, Grogu is there, staring up at you with wide eyes, ears turned downwards sadly. 

As you pick him up, you say to him, “Alright, kiddo. I’ve packed some of your favourite berries in there, but you’ve got to let Mando have some as well, alright?” 

He tilts his head, listening. Lifts up one of his little hands, and brushes it down your cheek. His face is sad with a tiny extra wrinkle in his forehead. Gently, you take hold of his hand as it falls from your face, and lift it up, giving his knuckles a little peck. 

“I’ll miss you too,” you say, smiling. Mando’s eyes are on you; you can feel them. Warming and comforting and uneasy. You look to him, and give a sad smile. “You’ve got the city on your map, right?” 

Parcel still in hand, he nods. “Yes. Only thing on this planet.” 

“It sure is,” you remember your first conversation with him, when you told him that there was nothing for miles. When you decided to help him. Some kind of melancholy settles in your chest, too far inside for you to push it away. With one last look to the kid, you wait for Mando to put the food package in his satchel before passing Grogu back to him. The kid clings to your arm for as long as he can, then when he’s against Mando’s chest, tucks his head into his cowl. 

You just stare at Mando, entirely aware of how absurd this is. How much of a strange image it is, this strong man of metal with a soft little child in his arms. You’ve been with him for almost a week now, and the contrast still isn’t lost on you.

“Take care of yourself,” Mando says into the heavy quiet. 

“I will. You, too.”

He nods. Still, he hesitates, not making a move towards the ramp, even though there’s really nothing else to say. You can’t bring yourself to look away, so you just wait. Maybe the longer you’re quiet, the longer he’ll let you stay like this; in this new little world you’ve found yourself in, where suddenly being alone again doesn’t look like any fun.

It startles you just a little when he steps forward. At first, you’re not sure what he’s going to do, but then he holds his hand out for you. 

Tentative, you reach out, and accept it. He doesn’t shake it like a greeting or a farewell. He just holds it, holds you, the bare skin of your palms separated only by his gloves once again, lingering long enough for you to feel his warmth. 

“Ret'urcye mhi,” , he says, ray-toor-shah-me. 

It takes a moment for your brain to catch up to the fact that you’re not glitching out; he’s speaking a different language. His voice sounds like poetry in whatever he’s speaking, tongue curling over the words, breath brushing across them like a prayer. 

“It’s Mando’a,” he explains at your confused frown, his hand still in yours. “The language of the Mandalorians.” 

“You speak that?” 

“A little, yes.” 

“What does that mean? Ray…tor…me?” 

“Ret’urcye mhi,” he corrects gently, giving your hand a squeeze that might be involuntary or purposefully reassuring. “It means goodbye. Or…” 

Your eyebrow twitches up hopefully. “…Or?” 

“Maybe we’ll meet again.” 

A breath escapes your lips, a new feeling sliding in beside the sadness inside you. Something like hope. Reassurance, even, that Mando isn’t the only one hoping that might be true. “Maybe we will,” you breathe, feeling yourself smile. 

With one last, lingering squeeze of your hand, he nods once, and pulls away. Some part of you tells you to reach out, pull him back in. The part of you that has already accepted the fact that you like him, and you like his company. 

The rest of you, though, pushes it away. 

Mando leaves the door open behind him. You stand in the doorway, watching as he walks away, the morning sun glinting off his armour. Grogu is looking over his shoulder at you, reaching out one of his hands like a wave. 

You wave back, finding your smile turning teary. 

You watch until they’re gone, disappeared into the tree line. Then, you just stay there for a minute, gathering yourself. Coming back to your senses. 

It’s quiet. So quiet. 

The smells and sounds are back to normal. No more burning engine oil, no more clinking of Mandalorian armour or cooing of little green Grogus. Just the forest around you, the distant trickling of the creek. 

You used to like it. Solitude. You never thought it would take just one person and his son to change that. But maybe that��s just it; maybe it’s that they’re the first decent people you’ve ever met, and that is drawing you in, making you vulnerable. Maybe you’re just being naive, foolish. 

That’s why you’re here in the first place. 

But, Kriff. In the distance, you see the glint of sun as it reflects off of his ship lifting into the air. You only just see it by the time it’s high enough above the horizon, a tiny silver dot getting further away. 

You close your eyes. So much, you wish that could be you. Leaving. Being free. Choosing where to go, instead of being stuck somewhere just because it’s safe. 

-

The idea only makes a little bit of sense, when Din thinks about it. When he rationalises it.

Having someone else along with him for a little while might not be such a bad thing. It’s been him and Grogu for so long, but they’ve been thrown around from place to place and fight to fight for most of their time together that they’ve never really settled into a routine. At least, not one that couldn’t stand to be changed. 

The ship is bigger now; an extra pair of adult hands could be helpful around here. 

And he hates to admit it, but it can get pretty lonely. At night, when the kid is asleep and everything in the ship is quiet, Din used to appreciate just having the silence to himself. The space to think, to meditate, to consider his next move. 

But things feel different now.

Somehow, after the last week, everything feels different. After you. 

So, once the hyperdrive has been fixed—for an extortionate amount of money, too; trust a backwater planet with only one city to charge that much, because they’ve got you right where they want you—he could just leave the planet’s atmosphere, go back out into the endless Galaxy and find his next bounty. Earn money, keep them under the radar. There are still bounties on him and Grogu; at least, there are stragglers who haven’t quite got word yet that the Imps who wanted the kid are long gone. There’s no one to pay the bounty, but they don’t know that. So Din knows they still have to lay low, stay moving. 

He could just do that. Just him and the kid.

But he can’t stop thinking about your eyes, every time he told you about a distant world. Every time you asked to hear about one. The way you’d confessed into the quiet of the cave that you wanted to see the Galaxy. 

He can’t stop thinking about you, period.

It’s a problem. He knows it’s a problem. He’s not blind to the way he feels when he sees you, how it felt the first time he saw the bright orange sun shining on your face, through the wispy strands of your hair in the gentle breeze. When you touched his hand for the first time, just the brush of fingers. When you were injured, and you tried to push him away, to get him to leave you alone when you clearly needed help, he knew what it was he felt in his chest. Right in his very core.

It’s something he’s not felt before.

And it would be fine, except for the fact that it’s not. He knows he can never have that, with anyone. His life just isn’t cut out for something like that. He has the kid, and that’s all he can give.

And he’s still…finding himself again, after everything that happened. After being excommunicated, realising that he was more than his helmet, more than the thin line he constantly had to walk within the Creed between doing what was right and keeping his face hidden. The disillusion with all he’s ever known is still eating away at him. 

He doesn’t even know where his heart lies, let alone whether or not it’s strong enough to give to someone. Whether or not he’s strong enough. If you’d even want that.…

He knows there is so much he can’t give you. So much that you deserve. 

What he can give you, though, is a way off this planet and into the stars. 

So it’s not really because he needs an extra pair of hands. It’s not even because he’s lonely. But that's just the problem: since when has he felt the need to tell himself, or anyone, anything but the blunt truth?

Finding the piece of the shredded tent in the food parcel you made for him is what does it, in the end.

He doesn’t fly away and never look back. 

When he climbs into the cockpit for the first time after it’s been fixed, still sitting on the platform at the repair shop, he sets the coordinates for the other side of the planet.

Kriff.

He’s screwed here, isn’t he?

-

It’s been two days since Mando and Grogu left. It’s been sunny every minute since. Flowers are blooming in the clearing in front of your hut, bright pinks and yellows in tiny little buds. It’s still so quiet, and for a while, you’d been able to convince yourself that you were enjoying it. 

But now, with insects dancing in the beams of sunlight cast in front of your home, the silence is deafening. You can’t pretend anymore.

It’s coming up to noon when you hear something strange. You must be hearing things; it can’t be that someone else has crash-landed here. That would be two in one week, which seems pretty impossible. Maybe it’s a nearby shindl making a nest. 

Though, it sounds too…mechanical for that. No, it’s definitely the rumble of an engine, the sky too clear for it to be thunder. 

Just in case, you head inside, but sit beside the front window, peering out from one of the corners. Your blaster is at your hip, sniper rifle by the door. If it’s another crash, this time the people might not be as nice as Mando was. 

Minutes later, you see it.

The familiar flash of beskar in the sunlight. The calm, collected steps he takes, the swing of his arms. The satchel, a tiny green head poking out from the top. 

No. You’re imagining things. The poison has come back, and you’re feverish, and delusional. 

Except you’re not. 

“Mando?” You question to yourself, closing the clasp on your holster before standing up and heading outside. Sure enough, it’s him, striding casually across the grass towards you, the kid cooing happily from his place in the satchel. They stop in front of you, just feet away. “What are you doing here?” You ask, a smile twitching at your lips.

He’s quiet at first, because of course he is. “I brought you some food from a market,” he says, fishing out a canvas bag hanging heavily with produce. “To say thank you.” 

You smile and take it from him, brushing your fingers together, definitely on purpose this time. “You didn’t have to do this,” you assure him, but peer inside the bag anyway, finding bright fruits, grains, vegetables, and some circles of cheese. Cheese. Kriff, it’s been a while since you had cheese. Looking up at him with a wide grin, you step closer. “Thank you.” 

He nods. The kid distracts you, then, reaching out a hand towards you in the way he does when he wants to hold your finger. Of course you’re unable to resist him; you thought you’d never see either of them again, despite what you may have hoped.

“I have something to ask you,” Mando says. 

“Oh?” 

“Come with me.” 

Your eyes shoot up to him. “That…didn’t sound like a question.” 

His helmet tilts. “…Will you come with me.” He rephrases, still not pitching his voice at the end of the sentence like it’s a question, but you can hear the smirk in his voice. 

It makes you weak in the knees. You put all your weight onto your good leg, disguising it as resting your bad one. “What are you talking about?” 

“You said you wanted to travel,” he says. “I can take you wherever you want to go.” 

There’s that warmth again. Right in the centre of your chest. Even if it weren’t for the sincerity in his voice, you would know that his words are genuine; he’s never said something to you that isn’t. “Mando…” you whisper. His offer settles on you, under your skin and into your bones. You wish you could say yes. Wish it was that simple. “I don’t…have anywhere to go, or anything to my name. I can’t…I can’t leave.” 

“You can stay with me. With us,” he gestures to the kid, who is still holding one of your fingers in earnest, big eyes staring up at you hopefully. 

You gaze into Mando’s visor, wishing you could look into his eyes, search his face. He really means this. He wants you to go with them. To stay with them. And every single inch of you yearns to agree to it. “It’s not that simple,” your voice comes out in a whisper. Tears hang in your throat, sting at the backs of your eyes. 

Fuck, you’ve already had to let him walk away once. Now you’re going to have to do it again, and this time, it’ll be after you’ve turned down the best, most sincere offer you’ve ever been given. 

“Why not?” Mando asks.

Your chest tightens. As if on instinct, you pull your finger away from the kid’s grasp. “Mando, there’s…” looking away, you shake your head. Images come to mind of the place you were in before here. The place you fought so hard to escape; the people who would still try to find you and bring you back if they ever got the chance. Fuck, you thought Mando had been sent here by them, at first. There’s nothing they won’t do. “There are people…who want to hurt me,” you confess into the breeze, words so small that he might not have even heard them. You cross your arms over your chest, defensive. “I can’t leave. They’ll find me.” 

He’s quiet for a moment, considering. His visor is still on you. “I can offer you protection,” he says. 

And, Gods.

You have to close your eyes. A painful pang hits your chest. Yearning, the feeling of having something you want so badly so close but yet so far. You’ve felt like this before. For so many years you wanted to escape your family, and it took you your whole life to find the courage to do so. 

You don’t doubt that Mando could protect you. Hell, you know no one will mess with you if you’re hanging around with a Mandalorian. At least, not anyone with half a brain. 

But this? Leaving this planet, this safe haven that you’ve found and created for yourself, leaving it all behind for the sake of following your dream to see the Galaxy? This might be even scarier than the escape that took you decades to plan. 

“You don’t have to say yes,” Mando’s voice comes through the chaos of your thoughts. “I would understand. We don’t know each other well. But I will protect you from whoever it is you need protecting from, and I can bring you back here if and whenever you need.” 

“And what if the people who want me are hunting me for good reason? Maybe I’m some ruthless criminal.” 

The helmet tilts along with the lilt of a smirk in his voice, “I…doubt that’s true. Whatever it is, I can handle it.”

Without moving your head, you move your eyes from the floor to him, and feel that warmth blooming, a familiar kind of comfort that his presence brings to you settling in. “I can’t tell you about it,” you whisper. “I just…I can’t.” 

“I’m not asking you to.” 

“But to protect me, don’t you need to know who you might have to fight?” 

“…In a sense. But, you know, I could use an extra pair of hands around the ship. You’d be doing me a favour, too.”

You look away again. “Mando…” you sigh. You’ve run out of reasons to say no. 

He’s the first person you’ve seen in years, and somehow the first person you’ve ever really trusted. Maybe it’s the kid, maybe it’s his gentle voice and demeanour beneath the armour, maybe it’s how he protected you against the storm, stayed with you when you needed him, patched you up. 

Maybe it’s because he’s different to how you thought he’d be. 

And maybe that’s more comforting than it is scary.

You look up at him. Bite your bottom lip. “Are you sure about this?” 

“Yes.” 

Of course he is. Look at him: all wide shoulders and casual stance, standing here in front of your home like he’s always been here, like he’s always known you. Staring at you like he can never stop. It’s harder to look away from you.

“Alright,” you decide. It’s too quiet, so you say again, “Alright. I’ll come with you. If—if you’re sure.” Melancholy shifts to make way for a new emotion, something you don’t think you’ve ever felt before. Excitement. Anticipation of something good.

He lets out a breath. You wonder if he’s smiling. 

The kid definitely is. He makes a happy shriek, waving his hands about excitedly. 

You laugh, reaching out to gently bump his nose with your fingertip. Then you look back to Mando, squinting in the light that’s reflected off of his armour. “Thank you,” you say, so quiet he might not have heard you. “I mean it.” 

He nods once. “Take your time getting ready to leave. The ship is just in the nearest clearing. We’ll be waiting for you whenever you’re ready.” 

As he walks away, you watch him go, admiring the swing of his hips and arms despite the fact that that should be the last thing on your mind. 

Kriff. 

I’m leaving. I’m actually leaving. 

A stir of panic swirls in your stomach, right in the pit. 

You expected that. 

It’s okay. 

I’m okay. 

-

He presses something into your hand, closing your fingers over it, holding your fist. 

“Ret’lini,” he says, rayt-lee-nee through his modulator, close to your face. 

“What does that mean?” He lets you go and you open your fist, finding a commlink sitting in your palm. 

“Just in case,” he translates. 

You look back up at him. “Thank you,” you say, feeling like you’re going to be saying that a lot, and put the link in your pocket.

You’ve only got a small bag of belongings. Just some clothes, some leftover meiloorun, and the necklace you brought with you from your old life that will now come with you into this one. It was from your aunt, the one person you trusted before she passed.

Mando shows you his quarters. They’re down in the hull, tucked behind a door that gives a gentle hiss when it opens and closes, with two bunks, one on top of the other. The bottom one covers most of the width of the room, slightly bigger than a single bunk but smaller than a double. The top one is definitely single, and between them both there’s a hammock made from a mixture of leather and soft fabric, with a little frog toy sitting in it. 

The ’fresher is next-door, hidden behind a similar door, just a simple toilet, sink, and an open shower. A shower. It’s been a while.

Then, on the main deck, a small living area with a kitchenette, leading into the cockpit where there are three seats; two up front and one directly behind the copilot chair. 

Once you’ve put your bag on your bunk—the top one, where a little light sits on the wall, diffused by a metal sconce—you head into the cockpit, finding Mando in the pilot’s chair, Grogu in the one beside him. Mando is looking at holomaps, twiddling with controls on the panel in front of him and above his head. You wonder what it all does, how well he knows the ship. 

“Where are we going first?” You ask, tentatively sitting in the third chair behind Grogu. 

“Any requests?” 

“Uh…I don’t know much about the Galaxy. Is there anywhere you need to go? Or want to go?”

“There’s a Guild outpost not far from here. I could do with picking up a job.”

“The Bounty Hunters’ Guild?”

“Yes. But if you’re not comfortable with that…” 

“You have to make your money somehow,” you say. You didn’t go into this thinking that Mando would just stop bounty hunting altogether because of you. 

He looks back at you, just the side profile of his helmet visible. “It doesn’t bother you?” 

“I’ve seen worse,” you say, then wish you hadn’t, and look away. “I don’t want to interrupt your life.” 

He looks at you for a minute, then turns away again, pulling up a holomap. “We can go to Nevarro,” he says, pointing at it on the image in front of him, not that that helps your understanding of where the hell it is in the Galaxy. “I’ve got friends there. While I find a suitable job, you could go to the library, think about places you might want to visit. Have a look at some maps.” 

He says it like he’s just fine with you rocking up and saying Hey, Mando, take me here. Take me there. 

“Do you moonlight as a taxi service?” You tease, throwing a smirk at the back of his head. 

He huffs a laugh. “I’ve been known to.” 

“Wait, really?” You find yourself laughing. The idea is funny; this scary Mandalorian just ferrying people back and forth. “I don’t believe you.” 

“I’ve been roped into it,” he says, sighing dramatically, “not my proudest moment.” 

You smile at him, not sure if the fact he can’t see the fondness on your face is a good or bad thing. “So what’s this, then?” You ask, only finding courage because he’s not looking at you. “Am I another one of those shameful moments?” You’re mostly teasing. Mostly. But a part of you genuinely feels guilty for taking him up on his offer, and if he wants to back out, now is the time to do it. You want to give him chance before taking off. 

Surprising you, he closes the holomap, and spins his chair to face you fully. You sit back, suddenly overwhelmed by how small this cockpit is, or how small it feels. “You know that’s not what this is,” he says, “…don’t you?” 

Nervous, you swallow. “I’m…not used to people helping me just because they…well, why are you helping me?” 

He considers this for a moment, his hands splayed on his knees, helmet tilted slightly as he looks at you. “I could use the help,” he answers, though his voice is smaller than usual, no conviction in it.

“So I’m an employee?” 

“No,” he answers. He seems flustered, all of a sudden, though you can’t put your finger on what gives you that impression. “It’s not like that.” 

You don’t like the strange feeling that’s suddenly settled between you. You want to look into his eyes, read them. Want to understand him and his voice and what he means when he doesn’t say things entirely candidly. So, changing the tone, you give him a smirk, and say, “So you are a taxi service.” 

He laughs again, this time a surprised kind of chuckle. “I’m not dropping you off anywhere in particular, so you’re going to rack up quite the fare.” 

You smile, and he leans forward. You find yourself leaning forward too, though you don’t know why. “I’ll find some way to pay you,” you say, your voice dropping to a lower tone, going for teasing, but ending up somewhere else, somewhere that you definitely didn’t intend to— 

Nope, that came out all wrong, you did not mean it to sound like that—

“I mean—” you stammer, backing up again, “I—didn’t mean…I meant I can find something to give you—I mean—”

The helmet tilts, and you stop talking. 

You’ve seen this before. The tilt, the stillness as he just watches you fumble. He knows exactly what you meant in the first place, and is enjoying your floundering. 

“I know you’re making fun of me under that helmet,” you frown, folding your arms over your chest. “And it’s rude. Stop it.” 

He leans back against his chair, his splayed hands dragging up thighs in a way that is, quite frankly, far too provocative to do in front of a child—“The helmet has its uses,” he says. 

You stammer for a response, for some kind of retort. But your cheeks are burning red still from the insinuation that you would pay him with a service and you can’t form a sentence right now. 

“You blush a lot,” he says it quietly, like he’s just saying it to himself, or he didn’t mean to say it aloud.

Your brain actually malfunctions. 

“I—what?” 

He stays still, quiet, stares for just a second longer before he quickly looks away and turns back to his control panel. Like he’s caught himself. Like he definitely didn’t mean to say it. “Nothing. Are you ready to go?”

“I…yes,” you answer. Welcoming the change in topic, you gaze out of the window, at the forest stretching ahead of you, the spring flowers swaying in the breeze. Five years you’ve been here, made a life for yourself. Found a type of peace that you never thought you’d have. 

It hasn’t been easy. And it hasn’t been what you would choose, if you’d had another choice. But it’s been your home, and you’re going to miss it.

But it’s time to make a different choice. And you’re okay with that. 

“I’m ready,” you say, even though he didn’t ask you again. 

He glances back at you, and nods. 

“Are you, though? I might be terrible to live with and then you’ll have to drop me back off here in a day’s time,” you tease. 

Grogu hops down from his seat and starts to tug at your leg, asking for you to pick him up. As you do, Mando fiddles with switches and dials, and the engines start to power up behind you, roaring to life. 

Mando eventually says, “I can find my way back here if you’re trouble.” 

You smile at him, getting the kid comfortable in your lap. His tone is teasing, deadpan. You could hear him talk like that for hours and not get bored; banter with him, wondering if he, too, blushes a lot.

Which, come to think of it, is something you’re going to think about a lot. The fact he said that to you. The fact it seemed like he didn’t mean to say that to you.

You distract yourself by watching the world fall around you as the ship lifts off from the ground. The roof of your hut pokes up through the trees, its small clearing coming into view once you’re up in the air. The sky gets nearer, the ground gets further. 

You take a deep, controlled breath. That murmuring feeling of panic stirs again, deep in your belly, but now is not the time. Looking away from the window and the closest thing you’ve had to a real home fading beneath you, you look instead at the kid, who is gazing up at you with wide, loving eyes. 

“Hey, kid,” you murmur, quiet enough that it’s just between the two of you. He coos back, lifting his finger to brush it down your cheek. 

You close your eyes. 

Take a deep breath. In, out. 

There are so many more stars up here than you ever could have imagined. 

notes: as always thank you for being here. all interactions are appreciated, but comments and reblogs especially make me happy and help with my engagement :) posting schedule is mondays and thursdays!

take care of yourself!

taglist:

@toobsessedsstuff @granillx @keepingitlokiii @shoe1412 @kiruoris @quentinor @yourunstablegf @moonknight-s-cumdump @senassn @samanthacookieone @local-fanfic-addict @your-slutty-gf @brilliantopposite187 @whenpugzfly @elsasshole

[cyanvalour]

Update (1/12/24): updated mostly the hollows with a more accurate version of the au rn, will come back in the future to update the AvM sticks

Hi folks I'm back with another weird au, because I have no self control. What au is it this time?

A "swap" au.

It's really weird because half of them came from me rolling a d20 and praying i can make them make sense so please bare with me.

With that, let's start with -

torment (Originally The Chosen One):

- This version is basically fanon Dark who ate a Victim and Mango sundae. Trust me it'll make sense

- torment was made first, and was tormented (hah) for a long time by Alan.

- Alan made another stickman (FREEDOM MENTION) as his friend. They became close (almost canon Chodark/p close) before Alan deleted Freedom since he was trying to help torment escape.

- this was the last straw for them as torment proceeded to trick Alan into unlocking his chains and then broke the computer, allowing him to escape.

-he was still pissed and kinda depressed over Freedom's death so he continued his rampage across the web, slowly trying to find a way to take revenge against all cursors permanently

- At some point he meets this version of Dark, adopts him and set off to become the greatest terrorists the outernet has ever seen

- HE NEARLY ACCOMPLISH HIS GOAL TOO, DESPITE FIGHTING ALAN, TSF, CG+TPC+TCA. THIS CRAZY MAN-

Some fun facts about torment!:

- after everything is said and done, he decides to go by another nick of mento. SF thinks it's cute

- at some point he manages to find a way to go into Minecraft and he uses it as a stress reliever. What kind is up to you :3

- he's so chaotic I wasn't even kidding about the fanon Dark comparison. He will see a happy family chilling and will just divebomb on them

- he's well aware of the fact that Alan messed up his name when creating him, he was supposed to have an "-ed" at the end but Alan pressed enter too early

- a couple pre-escape things I mentioned in my fic but yea torment didn't think of himself as a stick for a while and stole Freedom's pronouns when he died. He also has a bad ankle for being dragged around so much.

- He's mentally ill 20 but physically 18. Freedom was like physically 1 years old before dying but he was mentally around the same age as torment back then (so like, 12?)

I haven't fully figured out how torment plans to carry out their plan but there will be a "King sees Purple as his son" moment for them, except this time it's Dark. Speaking of Dark-

The Second Fool (Originally The Dark Lord):

- TSF "swapped" with Purple but borrows a couple of traits from Victim (I'm sobbing why did the dice and I decide this)

- Alan made him next, meaning to replace torment with a more cunning but weaker version of him (so no powers rip)

- He gave TSF a mission code (still deciding on the exact one) which basically gaslights him into thinking his only purpose in life is to fight Alan

- So when Alan deletes the poor dude, he feels unworthy and shit like that

- he kinda stays in there for a good year, just floating around

- At some point, he manages to escape the Void and ends up in the outer net, where torment finds him and picks him up

- torment convinced TSF to join him, and TSF, thinking this would show Alan that he would be worthy enough again, agrees

- during their terrorism arc, TSF slowly realises that terrorising people probably isn't the right thing to do and that this wouldn't get Alan's attention back to him so he tries to stop torment. tor, the revengeful dumbass, doesn't listen.

- at some point during this au's version of showdown, TSF tried stopping tor themself, but got punted away before eventually getting blasted by tor's fire (I'm still figuring out the exact details bare with me)

- He got saved by one of the TSCs after torment found his unconscious body

Now some fun facts! Not a lot since I'm waiting till I write more of them but for now:

- being in the void really fucks you up, and SF isn't any different. He doesn't really know how to interact with people, often coming off a tinge insane and scary sometimes

- they're really blunt too. Which makes interactions with Arrival and Current kinda awkward.

- he's a sweetheart under... everything. Yea, he's really nice, especially to Arrival! Wonder if there's any reason for that?

- doesn't know what to think of torment after everything. They still believe 'ment thinks of them as a servant, and he doesn't feel like breaking his heart again

- can see the code of everyone around them, which makes bringing someone to the Void awfully easy since he still has some of his own code edited from the Void. Pretty easy to adjust someone else's to match theirs.

Now onto the 2 TSCs (why do I do this to myself), starting with-

Meet, The Chosen Arrival! (Originally The Second Coming):

- simultaneously Second, Dark and Freedom/Chosen. I'm sorry myself

- an accident (IM SO SORRY I DID NOT KNOW HOW ELSE TO PHRASE IT)

- it kinda follows canon, Alan doodled this little guy, left them alone for a while and when he came back Arrival n co. was messing around on Facebook.

- however, this time, when Alan deletes CG and then Arrival, Arrival went fucking ballistic and unleashed his powers on the pc, nearly destroying it in the process

- in a panic, Alan drew his last stick on accident again, this time being:

The Peaceful Current!! (Originally victim):

- Current is swapped with Second!!

- Current has this really calming effect to them for some reason. To this day no one can figure out how she manages to calm Arrival down.

- when they were created, the tab she was in had the wall between it and Arrival's broken down, and Arrival crashed in, planning to destroy everything in the computer.

- but when they saw Current, they kinda just froze. Like they were buffering. Current, for whatever reason, decided to hug Arrival. Arrival then crashed, breaking out into sobs as the two kinda just stood there.

- Alan tried deleting Arrival at that moment of vulnerability, but Current, seeing his cursor move, started speaking and pleading for Alan to hear them out. Alan, shocked to find out that the sticks were actually sentient and not just little desktop creatures he could fight against, heard them out.

- from here it continues from canon, Alan letting the gang chill on his pc, Current found out that she was a great artist, and Arrival decided to start learning how to make tools and stuff for CG to defend themselves.

Some fun facts about these two:

- Arrival fucking hates torment lmao, it's actually really funny how hard they hate him. Current on the other hand doesn't mind torment, as she can see him trying to change

- Arrival does not like going by Chosen, so they prefer to be called by their last name. Peaceful doesn't mind being called either of them, but they're mostly referred to as Current because she likes to copy her brother

- both of them actually have powers, the problem is that Current doesn't know about them, while Arrival refuses to use them. This makes Ava S3 very fun for me :3

Now you might be wondering, who could be the victim in this story. Now bare with me,

Purple.

- little shit got orphaned so hard she became spiteful and decided to start a company just to prove her dad wrong.

- company got way too successful and she let the power go to her head.

- one day she saw a video of Chosen and decided she needed him to be in her team. So she decided to kidnap Dark.

(Idk what else to add I'm still figuring stuff out)

Alright, you might reply, but if purple is busy being victim, then who's taking their place in AvM?

You see, this is where the "swap" part of this au kinda starts veering away. Because, haha,

It's Gold.

- Basically what happened was when Gold got stuck in Minecraft, he kinda became a Minecraft entity like Herobrine. So he just wandered around the world aimlessly before coming across a village.

- AvM 9&10 happened and Purple betrayal happens but this time it's Gold and he didn't go for the egg because he wanted to prove it to his dad, but because he heard rumours around the egg and wanted to test it out.

Now you're thinking, alright, if Gold's purple, then King has to be someone else, right?

To that I show you an image of President Haltmann and Susie from Planet Robobot. Iykyk. (Yes King is still King, he just has amnesia and tbh Gold doesn't really look the same after the fair.)

I'm still deciding on whether I want to swap CG and Mercs personalities but that's all I got for now!!

[twistedtummies2]

Top 15 Portrayals of Peter Pan

A while back, in 2021 - in celebration of the 110th anniversary of “Peter Pan” - I posted a list of my favorite portrayals of the villain of the story, Captain Hook. Earlier this year, I updated that same list. I said then that, even as a kid, I always liked Hook more than his nemesis, the titular Peter. While this is true, I do think it’s important to state that, as much as I may love the dastardly pirate Pan battles constantly…this does not mean Peter is a bad character. I think that Peter Pan gets a bad rap a lot nowadays, mostly because, if you read the original book…Peter is kind of a little psychopath. He’s sort of a little tyrant, threatening to kill or banish anybody who doesn’t do what he wants, and refusing to listen to reason when people try to help him or keep him under control. And that’s the entire point: Barrie’s story originally didn’t HAVE Hook. The original idea behind what would become “Peter and Wendy” was that Pan was a representation of both everything good AND everything bad about childhood: he is not necessarily EVIL, but he is stuck perpetually in a state of infantile, underdeveloped youth. He’s brash, cocky, and has a LOT of power that I don’t think even he is fully aware of. There’s a lot of mystery surrounding Peter, which actually makes him more fascinating to adults than I think many might realize. Peter’s arc in the story is one of coming to grips with emotions he’s never experienced before, and taking up a kind of responsibility he’s always tried to deny in the past. He’s much more dynamic and more interesting than many people give him credit. I’ve been in a Peter Pan mood lately, so I decided…what the heck? I might as well give a bit of a spotlight to some of my favorite portrayals of the Boy Who Never Grows Up that have come around over the years. (On that note, there has long been a tradition, particularly in stage shows, of women playing Peter, so there will be some ladies included here. Don’t you dare whine about it, they’re absolutely awesome.) Some of these versions stick to the ambiguity of Barrie’s original, while others make Pan either more heroic or more villainous depending on interpretation. There’s a lot of ways you can go with the idea of an eternal child, both idealistic and cynical. So, think Happy Thoughts, everyone, and don’t forget the pixie dust! Here are My Top 15 Favorite Portrayals of Peter Pan!

15. Sandy Duncan, from the Styne-Charlap Musical. (The most famous stage musical version of the story; Duncan first played Peter in a 1979 Revival of the show on Broadway.)

14. Greg Tannahill, from Peter Pan Goes Wrong.

13. Petermon, from Digimon: Ghost Game. (Yeah. Peter Pan as a Digimon. That weirdness speaks for itself.)

12. Mia Farrow, from the 1976 TV Musical.

11. The Version from “Peter and the Starcatchers.” (I’m referring specifically to the books; there is a stage version based on the first book, but I haven’t seen it for various reasons. I love the original books, though. This is probably one of the “nicest” versions of Peter on the list, for lack of a better description.)

10. Robin Williams, from Hook. (Come now, you all knew he had to be here somewhere.)

9. The Version from “Alias, Hook.” (Without going into detail, this really shows how scary a Barrie-accurate Peter can be without much real change.)

8. Charlie Rowe, from SyFy’s Neverland.

7. Betty Bronson, from the 1924 Film.

6. Robbie Kay, from Once Upon a Time. (By far the most evil version of Peter Pan ever made, at least that I've discovered.)

5. Mary Martin, from the Styne-Charlap Musical. (She originated the part on Broadway, starting in 1954.)

4. Cathy Rigby, ALSO from the Styne-Charlap Musical. (She’s been playing the role off and on since the 1970s - no joke, look it up - with her most recent stint being in 2015. She was in her sixties then! Talk about Never Growing Up!)

3. Jason Marsden, from Peter Pan and the Pirates.

2. Jeremy Sumpter, from the 2003 Film.

1. The Disney Version. (Originally played by Bobby Driscoll; this one wins out mostly just because this is the first version I think of when I think of Peter as a character, and because I think the various spin-offs and such have really helped to make him a more likable protagonist over time, while still keeping him true to his established persona.)

[landofanimes]

My 2024 Anime Watchlist

Anime (and related media) I watched last year

Sailor Moon Cosmos (2023)

After 10 years Crystal finally comes to an end! The 2-part movie is cool, it gives us an epic streak of final battles in the second part, things feel very grand and it brings emotion. The ending is oh so lovely. Also I was happy to see some things animated for the first time! That said…Most of it goes by too fast, specially in the first movie. Too many beloved characters have limited screentime, which really brings the arc down. I know these are problems from the manga too, but damn…This solidified to me that in the manga/crystal version of events, Dream Arc is more enjoyable. That’s not the case in the 90s anime, which butchered a good chunk of the Dream Arc but has the characters around much longer in Stars (yes I know screentime in a movie is obviously shorter, but still). I think in the end the musicals brings us a good balance of Stars. If only they had included the Sailor Quartet in those myus, they would feel complete. But anyway… this was it. Could Crystal have been better? Yes. Should it have been longer? Yep. But overall? I really enjoyed the whole thing through and I’m happy it was made! Just really wish the last two arcs were seasons instead of movies, but oh well...What a decade!

I watched subbed and dubbed. Brazilian dubs are usually great but a couple choices sadly kinda killed this one, just like in Eternal (somehow I thought this time it was worse but I think it's just that in Eternal I was happy to see it dubbed, since Crystal wasn't). Unless they redub it, I'll stick to the subs.

Kaleido Star (2003-04)

Sora is a Japanese girls who finally gets to live her dream of working as a trapeze artist on Kaleido Stage, a famous american circus. Every spectacle means new challenges and lots of hard work. But some people want to see her (and even the whole circus) failing...

I used to watch this as a kid! Finally sat down to watch the whole thing, and it’s a great show. It has cool characters and it’s very entertaining to see them training and performing new shows at the circus. However season 2 has some annoying characters, so season 1 is better. Except for the final arc, cause personally I found the end of season 2 much stronger than season 1, it was a great way to end the show (I could see people prefering the s1 ending, it just didn't hit me as hard). There are also a couple of OVAs. The first one is so-so, but the second is pretty cool and it’s a nice second ending.

Watched it dubbed (except for the 2nd OVA since there is no dub)

Yu Yu Hakusho Stage Plays (2019, 2020)

Picking up from last year's Yu Yu maraton, I've watched the stage plays! First one is really just the beginning: Yusuke dies, comes back as a spiritual detective, and we get the Three Youkai mini arc. We also see Kurama and Hiei's first meeting, like in Two Shots. The second play covers both the 4 Beasts castle and Yukina's rescue (they basically skip the training). Since Kurama and Hiei are not much in the second half, their actors get to play a side character each.

Sadly I don’t think these were very good. Sure, visuals are cool, the characters are well done, and they have their moments, but overall these plays were not it, imo. The bit where they play the opening song with a fighting montage is great though, very entertaining.

Rurouni Kenshin (1996-98)

Another from my childhood I hadn't seen in full! First two arcs are good, specially the second one (plus you can notice there’s some filler in the first, but it’s ok). Third part diverges from the manga and is mostly anime original stuff - and noticeably much weaker. If I ever rewatch it I'll stick to the first 2.

Watched it dubbed.

The Apothecary Diaries (2023-)

I had been hearing about it and decided to catch up in January. What a Good series! I was impressed. Maomao is a great character, the court intrigue is a thrill and I’m looking forward for a better understanding between her and Jinshi, and yes, rooting for actual romance. The series got drama, mystery and comedy, it’s great. Happy for the upcoming second season!

Subs cause the dub only came later.

7th Time Loop Season 1 (2024)

Rishe is stuck in a 5 year time loop that starts at the annulment of her engagement with the prince. No matter what profession and life she lives, it always ends during a war. 5 years into her 6th life she swordfights Emperor Arnold, from the neighbouring country, who is responsible for the war - and is killed by him. In her 7th loop, she soon meets Prince Arnold and he unexpectedely is smitten with her and proposes. After working hard in her previous lives, she is determined to finally relax and hopefully find out more about how the war starts, so she accepts. Ashis fiancée she soon notices Arnold is not completly cold as she expected, wondering what makes him go down that path.

I believe I saw some posts here and then I saw a clip of Rishe dealing with poison and so I decided to watch. I loved it! It was not quite what I was expecting, but rather better. Rishe is a delight and the whole mystery surrounding Arnold’s past and future, which lead them to the war seen in the previous loops, is very intriguing. I’m also captured by Rishe’s past jobs (merchant, harbalist, knight, etc), they’ve made her very resourceful. I really like the court day to day stuff and the drama, and the way she navigates all that. The dynamic of her knowing certain people from past loops but them not knowing her is always intriguing – and we get to know a little more about her this way too. And of course, I love her growing romance with Arnold!

I watched a bunch of dubbed episodes but then I caught up and the subs come faster, so.

Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End (2023-)

This one seemed to be a fan favorite of the season and well, I can see why…While 7TL and tAD are more my vibe, I can’t overlook Frieren. The way it presents grief, time, connection, and the mortality of people through the eyes of this seemly apathic elf is very touching. It made me cry a few times! It also has cool action. And of course, I can’t resist a good medieval fantasy setting. I’m not versed in rpg but even I can recognize some basic elements, it’s pretty cool.

Watched it dubbed!

From Studio Ghibli

Only Yesterday (1991) - This one is pretty slow, contemplative. It’s also a little boring imo... I can see its value, but it’s not really for me. Subs cause there is no dub.

The Cat Returns (2002) - I didn’t intend to watch this one but changed my mind at some point. It’s pretty fun! Not sure what I expected but it wasn’t this haha I quite liked it!! Subs cause there is no dub.

The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013) - This is a pretty long one, and the different artstyle threw me off at first, I thought I might not like it... I finally got  to watch it though, and not only it is not boring, but it is visually very pretty. It could have ranked high but I didn’t vibe with the ending, so. I could see it being other people’s favorite though. Watched it dubbed.

Earwig and the Witch (2020) - This one’s got a bad reputation but I thought it was fine. Like sure, this 3D animation did not capture that Ghibli charm, but the character design does seem on point and I thought it  had an interesting setting. Overall I liked it, even though the ending is rather anticlimactic. Things shift abruptly and are over soon after, leaving some stuff unresolved too (I imagine there would be a sequel). It was still entertaining though. Watched it dubbed.

The Boy and the Heron (2023)

I think this was the first time I watched a Ghibli movie in cinemas! It’s a good film. Not among my Ghibli favorites, but it would rank in the upper half. I'm sure it's other people’s favorite. I think the relationship with the stepmom could have been better developed, but it's still cool. The crazy, whimsical world kinda reminded me of Spirited Away at times. It's got that Miyazaki balance of weird and wonder, with a rather unique mythology and intriguing characters.

I wanted to watch it dub but there were limited screenings and the day I went had only subs.

Buddy Daddies (2023)

A duo of assassins with very different backgrounds and personalities are sent to kill a criminal. The mission is accomplished, they just didn't expect him to have a little daughter. Now they have to figure out how to take care of a child.

I heard good things about this one - and I loved it! I wish it had been longer, I believe it could easily fill 20 something episodes, but oh well… The trio is very endearing, their dynamics are great.

Subs cause no dub.

Yona of the Dawn Season 1 (2014-15)

Princess Yona has to flee her castle with her chidlhood friend/bodyguard Hak after her beloved cousin, Soo-Won murders her father. While searching for the four legendary dragon warriors to help them reclaim the kingdom, Yona finds out her people have been suffering for years, and feels it is her duty to help them.

I was honestly surprised to see this series is already TEN years old. I remember people talking about it but I didn't remember it had been this long? Maybe I heard of it afterwards? Maybe not…Anyway. This series is great. I didn’t expect it to be so good. It’s an epic (east asian) medieval fantasy! It’s got drama, adventure, action, and I’m looking forward to the romantic plot development with Hak. It’s cool to see Yona growing from sheltered princess to a warrior. I’m honestly shocked they never made a second season, like, wtf. Fortunately they’ve started selling the manga in here, and I’ve been following it! Good stuff. I wish I could watch the plays, but specially the musical. Oh, I'm saving the OVAs for when I reach the respective manga chapters.

Subs cause no dub

Snow White with the Red Hair Seasons 1-2 (2015-16)

This one is also medieval fantasy, has plenty of drama, and while it does have action and adventure, it’s not so much in the epic side - it’s more…mundane? I mean sure, it’s got court intrigues, swordfights, and there’s a kidnapping at one point and whatnot… But the vibes are more on the quieter, lovelier side? It’s cool to see Shirayuki’s journey in becoming a great herbalist while Zen trains in his princely duties and how they both fight to be together despite the obstacle of their different status (something which worries Zen's older brother and other influential people). Their friends also form a cool cast. Wish there were more seasons, but the ones we got are good. I’m not even mad at the misleading title cause the only reason I remembered its existence and watched it was because years ago I saw there was a Snow White anime. Alas, this has close to nothing to do with Snow White, but it’s so good I don’t even care. 

Subs cause no dub

Spy x Family - Code: White (2023)

Yes it’s filler but it’s fun! Plus it's not like Spy x Family plot moves fast anyway... So here we got a little winter trip in search of a recipe (for the Mission!!!) turned into a crazy kidnapping and rescue as Loid and Yor separately go after Anya…it’s action-packed, whacky and fun! It’s Spy x Family!!! There are also a couple of cute Twiyor/family moments, which I love, of course. It’s a good pastime. Bring me season 3!

Watched it dubbed at the cinema!

A Sign of Affection Season 1 (2024)

A lovely show! It’s about the daily life of a deaf college-age girl, and her new romance with a guy who loves to travel, and how her world expands when meeting him and other people in college. I think most school settings stories I see are in high school or middle school so this is a nice change.

Watched it dubbed

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury (2022-23)

People talked so much about this one I had to give it a go. The only Gundam series I had contact with before was Gundam Wing (watched some assorted episodes as a kid), so I thought that would be the first one I watched in full, but I still haven't done it, oops. And now I’ve seen Gundam Witch! Intriguing developments and characters! Deals with some serious issues, which apparently is an usual Gundam thing. It has some cool dynamics and the queer romance is cute, it has a good arc. The show is not quite my jam, so not a favorite, but it’s a good show, felt solid.

Watched it dubbed

My Happy Marriage (2023-)

Miyo lives in a Cinderella situation until she is engaged to Kyoka, a rich guy with a bad reputation… In a society where powerful  families have superpowers, she’s got none, so her family wants to get rid of her…The poor thing lives with no affection and the guy is desensitized to previous fiancées chasing his status, but then he sees that’s not the case and is decided to treat her well AND to stand up to her family. Oh, and it’s got an historical setting. Also Kyoka is part of the special forces which fight evil spirits or something. He controls elements. I gotta say I was not expecting that kind of action in a Cinderella-esque story, ha! It was a good addition. It's kinda tough to see Miyo so meek, but it's key to see she is not magically cured after the engagement, she still struggles from the abuse of her family, but with help, little by little she gains more confidence, which is lovely to see. She also finds her own way of helping Kyoka herself, the end of the season really brings it up. I don't think it's gonna be a favorite of mine, but it IS good. Season 2 incoming!

Watched it dubbed

My Happy Marriage Movie aka As Long as We Both Shall Live (2023)

The movie is basically a compressed version of what we see in season 1. As such, it is definitely inferior to the animated version, but it’s okay...Like, it has its moments but overall it doesn't hit the same. I would say it has all the important bits of the first half of the season, but a lot of the second half is lost.

Shaman King: Flowers Season 1 (2024)

I was entertained, I wanted to see more of the kids and their dynamics (and more of their parents), and I wish they would continue it…But I don't know, it's got some odd choices. Granted, it's a short season, if it had been longer it might have been more charming/intriguing. For example, Ren's son is the last to join so we don't see a lot of him, which is a shame. I also thought it was going to be a complete story but turns out the Flowers manga was continued in Super Star, and the season we got was really just Flowers…Also I still think it would have been a better investment to use the money to improve on the Shaman King remake, but anyway. I wonder if they will ever continue it.

Watched it dubbed

Saint Seiya: Knights of the Zodiac Season 3 (2024)

This was about the same level as season 2 I guess. It was cool but still not even close to the original series. It has its moments, but parts of it are too quick, there’s a lack of stronger soundtracks to enhance the scenes, etc. The original content was interesting enough, but we had so little time it would have been better to use it on canon events... or at least parts of it. I would watch more if they made it but it seems they’re going to stop this version in this arc – and I get it, like I said, its really not as good as it should/could be. I’m glad they finished it though, it would have been a bummer to see the arc only halfway done. I hope we don’t have to wait too many years until a new saint seiya anime…also I wonder what it will be.

Watched it dubbed

Delicious in Dungeon (2024-)

Everybody couldn’t shut up about it so I had to watch it XD yes, yes, it’s good! Well made rpg-esque medieval fantasy setting. It’s got plenty of comedy, and the story is pretty different from the usual stuff… It wasn’t until things started to get serious that it really got me though, like halfway through the season. From what I’ve heard, it should be done by season 2. I'll be there to watch it!

Watched it dubbed

Sailor Moon: Musical Festival Chronicle (2022)

Finally could watch this one, yay!!! Story-wise it's not really impressive, but then again this one is more of a celebration of myu history than anything else. Cool to see the old numbers back, lovely to see Satomi’s guest appearance and, of course, the BANDAI MYU team, hooray!!!! Oh and we could see more of Riona’s Mamoru too! Since The Super Live full recording was never released, we don’t have much of that, so this is nice.

I honestly thought this would be the end of the myu/moon renaissance, but after the announcement of the long run of the new Super Live in London, I'm not so sure! But alright, let's not get ahead of ourselves...

Ranma ½ (2024-)

Ranma’s return!!!! Its been rather fun to follow Ranma and Akane’s shenanigans again. I’m glad I watched the og anime a few years ago!!! I hope they get to adapt the manga until the end this time (I’ve never read it myself). Waiting for season 2!!!

Watched it dub (I’m so happy Netflix got the cast back!!!)

[terresdebrume]

Got the idea for this snippet in the limo driver!Joe verse, and I *could,* have left it in the wip folder for later but I thought eh, it's gonna be super short, might as well share it! Turns out it's not that short after but oh well. I'll live xD

Takes place in the same universe & year as Blessings of the Children [Tumblr version]

"I think I'm going to go refill my drink," David announces in the middle of a lull in the conversation. "Anyone wants a top off?"

Janice Roberts, the Hummels and Alan Parrish puts their orders in—two punches, one soda water, one coke—and Joe's elbow is unceremoniously seized and pulled aside.

"You're helping me carry all that."

In normal circumstances, Joe would tell him exactly where he can shove the idea. He'd probably end up going anyway but you know. He'd at least put in a protest out of principle. But then he normal circumstances he wouldn't be caught dead talking to a woman who not only birthed Ruthie's one time bully but also managed to make a pointed remark about the size of his nose and make a pass at him in the same conversation.

So, exceptionally, Joe lets himself be dragged away.

"I'm never covering another fucking dance," he tells David in German as they circle around the crowd of dancing teenagers to reach the buffet. "I don't care if Ruth begs me on her knees, I'm fucking done."

David throws him a skeptical glance over his shoulder, and it would be a hell of a lot less irritating if they didn't both know Joe is being full of shit. Oh, sure, he put up a fight when Ruth asked him to chaperone at her winter formal, but it was mostly for show. Not that Ruth needs to know that, of course. David doesn't need to know that either, for that matter, but he's always had a nasty habit of getting Joe, even when he was a kid, so... There they are.

"I swear to God," Joe continues anyway, lowering his voice when they step up to the table and he spots Ruthie's German teacher in the queue, "if fucking Janice leans on me one more fucking time, I'm gonna murder her."

"She is handsy, isn't she?" David hums as he maneuvers the three solo cups he's carrying onto the table and begins to look for Janice's soda water. "I like Denise though."

He's sticking to German too, quiet enough that Joe almost doesn't hear him. His words make Joe shrug. Sure, Denise Hummel seems fine. Not best friend material, probably, but not someone Joe is actively repelled by at least.

"I ain't talking about Denise," Joe hisses, gathering the coke and soda water cups while David fills the remaining ones with punch, "I'm talking—"

"Talking about Janice, yes, I heard," David says, eyes still on the cups.

He starts shuffling his way back around the room, and Joe plants himself firmly in his trail to avoid the bulk of the jostling.

"Don't act like you like her," he hisses at David's back. "I know your fucking face."

"I prefer to remain polite in social situations," David says, going for prim and landing on snotty.

Joe snorts. German or English, David tends to go formal when he's trying not to let on what he thinks. It doesn't really work, but it's funny to watch. Also, Joe's heard enough stories from David's days of mandatory upper crust socializing to know that line about staying polite is a big fat lie. He's probably just saying that to get a rise out of Joe for trouncing him at Mario Kart again. They run into Ruthie on their way back. She's guffawing about something with her friends Marisol and Isaac, and gives Joe a big smile before scowling at David in the most unsubtle way possible. Joe can't help a scowl of his own at the sight, but David just smiles harder and nods at Ruth and doesn't stop to talk to her.

When they rejoin the group that absorbed them earlier, the conversation has moved from the latest cinematic success to the merits of yoga vs pilates. Joe couldn't give a shit about either of those, but he tries to make some noise. It's mostly for Ruthie's sake. If it was just him, Joe would follow David's lead and keep his fucking mouth shut until he can escape the group.

The conversation goes from sports to self care, and Janice is in the middle of talking about her new haircut when David cuts her off to ask:

"How much did you pay for it?"

He doesn't look annoyed anymore, the stony look gone from his face. Instead, his eyes have widened in this faux-innocent sort of expression he does when he's about to give someone a piece of his mind, and Joe hurries to bury his nose in his cup of punch.

"Oh, not a lot," Janice says with a smug smile. "Only twenty-five dollars, why?"

"Mhm. You got ripped off."

There is absolutely no fucking way anyone mistakes Joe's loud snort for a cough. Not even when he starts choking on his drink and David reaches out to pat his back without a concern in the world. Joe's too busy not dying to look, but he knows exactly the kind of face he'll find there. It's the same face he pulled as a kid when he'd tell adults they were annoying or asking stupid questions. It's the same face he gave his driving instructor when he was eighteen, right before he told him the only reason he agreed to be in a car with him was to get his permit. The same face he'd made, last summer, when his mother asked him if he'd rather spend time with the driver than his own family and David blinked, and stared at her, and said 'yes of course' as cool as a fucking cucumber.

You wouldn't get torture that shit out of Joe, but he loves this face.

"Well," David says just as Joe gets his coughing and laughter somewhat under control, "now that everyone's uncomfortable."

And he must nod, the fucking asshole, right before he grips Joe's shoulder and drags him away from the group and next to the door. Joe follows him with his hands in his pockets, clinging to his poker face for dear fucking life as they come to a stop. Then, because he simply can't resist, he whistles and says:

"Don't hold back Web. Tell them what you really think!"

David rolls his eyes.

"This is me holding back," he mumbles, and Joe can't help huffing a heartfelt:

"Jesus. Now I'm curious to see what it looks like when you don't hold back."

David's expression turns outright smug, and Joe has to hide his answering smirk behind the rim of his solo cup.

[blood-injections]

Ooookay killjoy suitehearts masterpost here we go, been putting this together for a while now since everyone started posting their suitehearts stuff..

So I kinda have two versions of stories for them, i mean thats the great thing about writing and headcanons is that they can varie from story to story but anyway! this is like their main story and what I'll write if I ever get to writing a story focused on them, and varients of it will be similar with some like little changes if theyre more like background characters in something. But the two versions rn are just this main one and a slightly differing one for some other stuff in my drafts bc this main one is focused in the city bc the suitehearts are just such an underground rebel crew to me versus loud and proud killjoys in the desert, while the variation story is one where they are in the desert, or at least theyre like split between the city and desert, you'll see.

Some like basics before I get into their individual stuff, yeah they have, well mostly have their crazy looks, they're a crew of theater kids lol, not really they just have a sense of whimsy. I'll post art of each of my designs for them eventually their outfits arent as crazy because they have to like be able to fight and run and shit in them, but they stick with the colors and facepaint, because facepaint throws off facial recognition scanners so that the cameras cant track them, so they might as well have fun with it, and they turn it into part of their killjoyesque personas, the facepaint becomes them, marks them as crew and their personas kind of become characters in urban legends that everyone in the citys heard of.

ANYWAY

Dr. Benzedrine

Dr. Benzedrine? More like Mr. Medical Malpractice. Kidding. Mostly. He grew up in a wealthy family with parents that were good citizens and he always wanted to be a scientist or a doctor, to help people, and he was smart and they had money, so he was able to get into school and be just that. To learn all about science and medications and surgery and over the years he moved up the ranks, until he was one of the best surgeons in the city, and one thing about doctors, especially surgeons is that they have to be clear minded, not drugged up and foggy headed. And one thing about being good, about being a respected professional? Its like being an exterminator, you're never off the hook but the people in charge? They dont care as much about the state of your head, as long as you're loyal. So Benzedrine has benefits, and one of them is getting clean, of the decidedly mind altering stuff at least. But with clarity of mind for the first time in his life comes horrifying realization, because as a respected surgeon, he sees shit, because hes working in places that screams echo down the halls of and he can just tell that somethings wrong. He snoops and learns of re-education and of what happens to captured killjoys, interrogations and experiments and those are people and hes sickened. The more he digs the more he learns and the more he develops an intense hatred for better living and maybe he starts.. doing experiments of his own. Beause he works on a lot of respected folks, a lot of higher ups. He never botches a surgery but he starts messing with things, fucks with something while hes at the operating table, something that can't be traced back to him but that'll take the patient out in say, a couple months.

He's never disgusted by what hes doing, only finds pride in it, and maybe his hatred has twisted him but he likes himself better that way. The officials catch him snooping, though, eventually, but luckily they don't expect a thing, especially not when hes grown a master at lying. Because he's a respected doctor that has in their minds proven himself loyal, and when he bullshits his way through them finding him snooping about the lower levels of the hospital, they're nothing but happy at the fact he's grown curious about re-education, in fact they show him around, tell him all about it, their words are all propaganda and lies about how they're helping the people there, of course, but he smiles and nods along and makes comments like he agrees wholeheartedly. They say if hes interested in helping these people too, they can get him a position. He asks of he can still be the top surgeon if he takes up this position too and they say of course! As long as he doesn't overwork himself theyd be glad to have him assert himself in different fields of research.

So, he starts working with the prisoners. Because thats what they are. He sees them come in beaten up and hissing and spitting and he gets to see them grow complacent as they forget their whole lives in favor of some made up sob story and how theyll be so much happier once they're introduced back into society after their treatments. They'll only go on to be sanitation workers or office nuts at best, maybe scarecrows if they seem smart, but half of them will probably be plagued with nightmares once thyre released, broken memories trying to break through the chemical haze. They'll relapse, snap, do something drastic and they'll either be dracced or sent right back here to repeat the process all over again. Re-education isn't a complete fix, a guarantee of normalcy. It'll never be, not as long as they're just traumatizing people and praying they stay comatose long enough to get work done.

Hes there when a new batch of them come in, delinquents from the rebel underground, he learns, which flips his world upside down, theres a rebel underground? And they're apparently dangerous enough to be treated like captured killjoys. He sees these new patients come in in bonds, theres five of them captued, some silent and glaring and the others screaming until theres a needle shoved in their neck.

His new position is that of a twisted sort o psychiatrist, they gave him a whole slideshow to get ready for it. It told him to get in their heads, learn the secrets that interrogations couldnt get out and replace them with better living propaganda, until theyre nothing but smiling citizens ready to be let back into society. It's fucking brainwashing, nothing but, he fucking hates it. But they trusted him to do it and now hes here, but since he's here maybe he can help. Not brainwash these people, but help them, and if theyre really part of a rebellion, maybe if he helps them get out they'll take him with them and he can help people that probably actually need it, not just rich assholes from the center city.

Thats his plan, and it works, it takes a while to get the patients to trust him but once they do, they all get out. Sandman, Crab, and Donnie were all part of that group and its how the four meet and bond and start becoming a crew. Dr Benzedrine picks his name and quickly becomes a very valued member of the resistance because theres medics, but no professionals, let alone surgeons.

Mr. Sandman

Street kid, his parents were ritalin rats that stirred up too much trouble and got dracced when he was pretty young. He was hiding under a bed when it happened and Better Living didn't find him, but they didn't bother looking because he was a poor autistic little kid that they saw no use in. So they left him to his empty shitty little apartment in the slums. They never kicked him out, so hes luckier than most that he still had a place to sleep, but once he ran out of food he had to head to the streets, figure out how to either get food or money to survive. He learned and he grew up dealing illegal merchandise, not as low as you could stoop, but pretty low, low enough that if you're busted you could get dracced. But it kept him just afloat enough to not starve.

Illegal merchandise is stuff like outlawed music and media, cds he burned himself off the originals, cassettes, vhs. Just whatever he could get his hands on. And when he could get a signal, he'd play the stuff over the old radio equipment in his basement, making sure to scramble where the signature was coming from, because he'd definitely be dracced if they found out he was putting that stuff on air. Not like it got out of the city, bli has shit that doesn't let any signals in or out, but once in a very rare while, he'll get some faint killjoy frequencies and record whatever he can onto cassettes.

But even though he was dealing in secret and even though he didn't want to be a cog in the machine, even though he wanted to be one of those juvie halls, the rebels on the streets that you can hear hollaring at night, throwing bricks at scarecrows and running off before facial recognition gets them, he strived to get into the Better Living Academy, because it hasn't crosed his mind that he might not be stuck in battery city yet, like most people that rebel, he doesn't want to be on his streets his whole life, so he tries getting in to learn anything, even to get some shitty cubicle job, as long as it means maybe he could actually afford more than the shit slum slop he pawns for. But at he end of the day, he isn't on his pills and he knows they won't like that if they find out, and they keep turning him away anyway for his temperment, for his oddities, because he's still autistic and the bright lights and white expanse of bli spaces make his head scream and he just doesn't get half the questions they ask him and if he has his own questions, they dont explain things furthur for him.

So he gives up on that plan, whatever, at least he's still got his shit to deal out, at least he isnt drugged up like everyone else he saw in the screening rooms for the academy, all empty in the head. He can think, at least. And he has his music, he likes music.

Then he meets Horseshoe Crab, a really weird fellow who takes most of his stock for a hefty handful of carbons that'll get him along for a couple weeks, and the guys so nice he's suspicious, until their deal is interrupted by an ambush, a patrol scarecrows that must've gotten a tip about them, and Horseshoe pulls out a fucking gun, shoots the two closest ones and takes sandmans arm and has him run. At that sandmans convinced the guys not nice at all, hes just fucking crazy, but he runs away after him anyway because the guy just shot two fucking crows, he knows he'll probably live to see morning of he sticks with him. Turns out Horseshoes a juvie hall, like an actual one, not the brash gangs of kids that run around and say they are, actual juvie halls are untraceable, a solid underground, a real rebellion, well hidden from Better Livings watchful eye, its something you have to be smart enough to find and brave enough to join. And sandmans thrust right into the center of it, just a street dealer that followed a crazy guy with a gun that pulled him into a safehouse in the slums that was down a maze of dark alleys, and theres so much illegal shit inside he kind of wants to call it in just for the hefty reward he could get, but he also kind of wants to drop to his knees and worship it all. Theres books, weapons, color. And a few rough looking people that at their sudden entrance, scan them and one goes. "Dammit, Crab."

Long story short, they're members of the fucking rebellion and theres a short but terrifying debate of whether or not to shoot him, but Horseshoe defends him and it turns out the rebellion likes people that risk their lives to deal rock and roll, because he basically gets an invitation. And well, that was his real dream, the one hes had since he was a little kid, wanting to be those unapologetic rebels in the street messing with bli for shits and giggles. This is obviously more than that, but still. So he accepts, and hes thrust into the center of it all. He has to prove he can be trusted by going on so many missions or passing along packages and illegal goods, but once he's proved hes no rat hes showed the base, how to get into the rebellion underground. Its a scattered maze of random apartments that are safehouses, and then the actual underground shit, the tunnels and whole rooms and shit, the stuff from what Battery City used to be that bli just built over and forgot about.

He and Horseshoe become quick friends and he learns that crabs not just a juvie hall but a zonerunner, that he risks his life sneaking in and out of the city to deliver news and supplies to the killjoys out in the desert and vise versa. Sandman turns out to be quite useful, because hes good with computers and especially, radio equipment, since he grew up with that stuff in his basement and copying all that music and playing some over the frequencies when he could, and he fixes up their old shit and becomes the radio operator of the underground rebellion, the voice of the voiceless. He's basically the cherri cola of battery city, as in hes given the task of feeding news to the juvie halls on the streets and so he's always on the air and monolauging what is just weird poetry or random stories to any untrained ears, but while cherri colas thing is actualy just poetry, sandmans is actually speaking entirely in code that only juvie halls will be able to pick apart, because PAX AM isn't some far off station in the zones like WKIL, no, it broadcasts from inside the walls of battery city and better living could always be listening in. Did I make this his thing entirely to play into the lyric all the walls lean in to listen? Maybe.

Hes actually known as Mr Sandman now, took the codename when he became their radio operator, but the suitehearts aren't a thing yet, no, thats still a long way off. Benzedrine isn't even part of the rebellion yet. He also gets his distinct style, encuraged by the juvie halls who just like killjoys push for everyone to be an individual and fuck the citys mandates, so goth gnc bitch it is. The longer hes in the underground the more disconnected from gender he gets.

There's a raid to the underground, someone must have tipped bli off. A solid blow is dealt to the rebellion in the form of a good number of juvie halls being captured, sandman one of them. Now being some low level dealer can get you dracced, but being a real juvie hall gets you something much worse, re-education, because you have to be smart to be a rebel and have survived this long, and bli can use those smarts, as long as they tear you down to a blank slate first. Thats what re-education is, picking you apart piece by piece, drugging you up and pouring propaganda and altered history down your throat until youre a 'functioning member of society'

He's assumed dead or beyond saving from the mindfuck of re-education by the remaining rebellion, who after this bust has to move base to a different part of the city. But about six months after he was taken and the radio went silent, his voice mysteriously reappears, speaking in code about the old base, where the escaped suitehearts went back to and found abandoned as they expected it to be, but had hopes of scrounging old supplies or this, broadcasting their return.

The juvie halls find them and bring them and the radio equipment to the new base, and Mr Sandman is officially the voice of the voiceless again, now with a crew.

Eventually they get fancy tech or an antennae or something thats just strong enough to get a signal out to the zones, and theres always been a slow feed of news between the killjoys and the juvie halls via zonerunners, and the cnnectiom can still be stratchy, but now on the good days Sandman can talk directly to doctor death defying to get news out to the zones and vice versa.

Horseshoe Crab

The only sand pup of the suitehearts, grew in the zones with his dad, who was in the helium wars, but he was dusted when Crab was about eight and he went right to gravel gerties, where he stayed until he joined a group of the older kids when they left gertie to go on their own, and let him tag along even if he was the youngest of them by far. They were all crash queens and glitter brains and he put up with them for a while, but eventually drifted off on his own, and was sixteen when he forst got hired by Tommy to meet with some runners in zone one when they cane outta the walls and to help them get their supplies back to his shop. These jobs always paid well, with either his share of supplies or a handful of carbons, so he kept doing them and eventually tagged along with the runners to go in-city to the rebels there. He liked it there, oddly enough, liked meeting so many different types of rebels, because killjoys are.. killjoys. Theyre all gearheads and glitterbrains but juvie halls tend to be more serious while still having fun. They understand the risk of what they do. Killjoys are just kids with guns, they have growing up to do or things to lose before theyre level headed enoughfor Crab to feel lile he gets them.

So it becomes his thing, zonerunning, getting supplies out to Tommy's and news into the city and vise versa, he makes friends in the underground and eventually meets sandman, then gets caught with him and meets the others too. He isnt around all the time, still does runs, and takes Benzedrine in and out with him if theres someone in the zones that desperately needs a real doctor.

Donnie the Catcher

Hell of an engineer, even figures out robotics, he grew up working in a garage in the neon district, and as he got older, started helping out androids that needed repairs in secret. Its looked down upon to help androids, simce theyre not human and not seen as human, and thats what their service hubs are for, to request repairs, but he knows theres no real help there, not if they're an older model or anything other than some high ups customized pornodroid. Most droids just end up recycled in the incinerators or rusting in the streets, so he does what he can to help when they start falling apart.

He doesn't agree with bli, with how he treats these people, and when a service droid named Jenny that he's helped a handful of times invites him to the underground, because droids can be juvie halls too, theyve gotta be fukin brave to be, because where human juvie halls will be reducated or dracced, rebelling droids will just be shot for going against their programming. Donnie tells Jenny he has to stay and support his family at the garage, but if he can help out he'd be glad to as long as he can get back to the garage at the end of the day. Thats how he becomes a juvie hall. One day down the line he heads to the base and he was there for maybe a half hour when the raid happened and he was captured with the others. He was newer than sandman and crab and had never really crossed paths with them since he didnt spend a whole lot of time in the underground, so hes meeting them for the first time when theyre brought in for re-education. He was one of the ones that stayed quiet and glared, mostly worried about Jenny, that they were there and maybe caught in the raid, becaue she may be all metal but they totally kissed a couple times.

When they all escape he becomes a full time resident in the underground, knowing he can never go back to the garage a fugitive. But not seeing his family is better than the alternative of having been reducated and torn apart at the seams. Besides, once he's got the suitehearts, they're all inseparable.

That's it, once they're a crew, all their experiences and skills combined, they're a unique group for sure. Sandman and Crab already have their own looks and weird relstionships with gender, but Donnie and Benz have never put much thought into the individuality stuff, Benz a slave to Better Living his whole life and Donnie focused on working and surviving. Eventually they find their weird styles, colors theyre fond of as a fuck you to bli, and then the facepaint, it marks them as a crew and as people ready to fight for their cause. Anyway what if I said Donnie transfem she/he(and yes. rocking the beard) :3

------

As for the second version, its mostly the same, its just like.. the zones version for stories where they know they fab four. They're all younger and they're basically split between the city and the zones. Their backstories are pretty much the same except Benzedrine got out before he was even really a surgeon, hes still a damn good doctor though, and Sandman left to be a killjoy instead of sticking around the underground. Crabs still a zonerunner that gets Benz in and out to help people and when hes in the desert he bunks with sandman in his concession stand turned weird little trailer in the outskirts of zone two. And Donnies zoneborn too instead of Mrs androidfucker in the city, shes Sandman's good friend and mechanic when he gets into racing at the crash track. They're all good friends and still very much a crew, theyre based out of he zones, Benz too, theyre just still a bit spread out at times when someone in the underground needs help.

Ugh man is there anything missing idk well if there is I guess I can add it later. Okay the end 👍

[nobodysdaydreams]

Hello TMBS fandom. This is a request for a little help with some of my fic writing from any extraordinary education fans.

So I write mostly for the show, but am at the point where I want to start writing and referencing “show versions” for some of the book characters, and the one I’m working on right now is Violet Hopefield. Sadly, I have not read extraordinary education, and was hoping to get some character details.

I do want to preface this by saying that my intention is to write the character in a way that follows the plot lines I’ve set up, so while I won’t be writing an exact copy of the character, I do want an idea of what she’s like. Think the differences between book and show Noland and Canonball or even book Curtain and show Curtain. Are they the same? No. But you see the book character they are based on in them, while acknowledging that this is a slightly different story and a different version of them, while still enjoying both the show and book versions of the characters.

Head canons or popular head canons are appreciated, but I'm mainly looking for what's canon so if something is "canon to you" based on how the character acts, I'll consider it, but please specify what's canon and what's not.

With that in mind, here's a rundown of what I know and what I'd like to know. I'll start with Violet, but I might include a few things for John too (and I'll have some questions about a few other book characters eventually, but I'll stick with them for now).

Violet Hopefield:

The biggest gripe I think people might have with the way I'd write her is her age. Apparently in the books, the ages are Nicholas (9), John (12), Violet (14). The fandom wikipedia stuff I found only said that Violet had an 8th grade education and didn't list her age, so in a book series about genius kids, I just imagined her being younger than John, around Nicholas' age. Obviously this was a mistake, and given that show Nicholas is 12, that bumps the ages at which he meets them to Nicholas (12), John (15), Violet (17). My question is, if I made her character younger, like...around Nicholas' age, would that completely destroy the character? I know this is a big ask, but please, it's for plot purposes, and you'll be grateful later. I just want to know if it's a situation where "yes the characters are technically different ages, but at the end of the day, they're all just friends hanging out and who the oldest is doesn't really matter" vs. "Violet is the older mature one of the group. This is one of, if not her main defining character trait and changing it completely changes the character." If it's option two, I might still make Violet younger, while being very careful to make her a younger but mature child, like what they did with show Constance where she's not a toddler anymore, but she makes up for it by being extremely violent and fighting falcons (or what they did with the twin's ages, and Number Two and Rhonda's ages, etc.)

I know Violet is deaf, and Nicholas learns sign language to talk to her, but she's extremely good at reading lips. Her disability would for sure be part of the fic, and I've already read tips on and thought about ways I can incorporate this (at the risk of finding false info on ASL signs, I plan on writing when signing occurs, but won't make an attempt to write out the exact hand motions unless I can verify that what I'm describing is factually correct). Her ability to read lips is interesting, and I'm not sure how it's done in the books or whether it's done accurately (It is estimated that only 30% to 40% of speech sounds can be lip-read even under the best conditions and extra information is usually required to understand what is being said. That's from google, but I've heard that stat a lot). I plan to stay true to the books in this regard, but will be highlighting the fact that this is unusual and extremely impressive on Violet's part. How will I be doing that? That's a spoiler so unfortunately, I can't share, but I do have that covered. If there are any descriptions of sign language or aspects of deaf culture included in the books that are also important to include in fic, please let me know (I am also aware that her mother is also deaf, more on her later).

I know she's an artist. Not sure what she likes to draw (people? nature?) or what style she uses (painting? sculpting? sketches?), but if there's info on that, I'll take it. I also know she had an interest in going to art school (the whole Nicholas thing isn't an issues anymore since he's adopted by the Glenn's), so I will have her doing art competitions and stuff like that.

And that's a summation of everything I know about her. Other details that are appreciated are physical appearance (though that's subject to change, the show certainly changed that a lot for some characters, but I'd like to know what I can use), any defining beliefs or principles she lives by or revolves her life around, the top adjectives you think describe her, character quirks (e.g., Kate's bucket), and if possible, some snippets of dialogue from the books that give a good impression of her character.

I'd also like to know if there is anything that falls under the "she would NOT say/do that OR she would not say/do that without very special circumstances. For example, book Curtain would never adopt a child. In the show, he does, and most of us are fine with that, because they explain and clearly show the differences between the show and book characters. In another example, they made show Benedict a more flawed or maybe a better word is relatable mentor. And most of us were fine with that too, again, because they showed us how he arrived at that point. However, if they made Mr. Benedict a mean or unpleasant person, that would totally rip apart his character, regardless of the justification you gave for it. Obviously, what falls into the "would never" and "under the right conditions" categories is subject to debate, so I'll use my best judgment, but would still appreciate a starter list to go off.

Finally, anything else you think is relevant about Violet or her relationships with other characters is appreciated.

John Cole:

I know John Cole is Violet's brother, and he is adopted. I understand this happens in the books and that Nicholas and John are in an orphanage together, but since this is a show version of the character, this will actually happen before Nicholas meets them, but John Cole is still adopted. What I don't know are the circumstances of his adoption. Did the Hopefield's adopt him because he was friends with Violet? Is that why they wanted to adopt Nicholas too? How did the Hopefield's meet him? Do we know anything about John's bio family and culture that differs from the Hopefield's?

I've seen a lot about John Cole and farms. And a post about he and his wife having a farm. Does he actually have a wife in canon? Do the Hopefield's have a farm? Or does John just have "farmer vibes"? Is getting a city job something John would do or did he declare himself to have a deep seated hatred of the big city?

I know John calls Nicholas "Nick" on at least one occasion. Is this what John normally calls him? Do the Hopefield's and Violet call Nicholas "Nick" too, or is this just a "John thing"?

Other details that are appreciated are physical appearance, any defining beliefs or principles John lives by or revolves his life around, the top adjectives you think describe him, character quirks, and if possible, some snippets of dialogue from the books that give a good impression of John's character.

I'd also like to know if there is anything that falls under the "he would NOT say/do that OR he would not say/do that without very special circumstances as discussed above.

Any of course, anything else you think is relevant about John Cole or his relationships with other characters is appreciated.

The Hopefields:

I know Mrs. Hopefield is also deaf. Can she read lips too? Is Mr. Hopefield also deaf?

What are the Hopefield's occupations? I read something about them being miners and poor, not sure if that's accurate.

Why are they interested in adopting? Have they always been interested in adopting? Why did they want to adopt John?

Are there any important aspects to the Hopefield's culture or family philosophy? For example, if the Hopefield's are, say, Jewish or immigrants, or some sort of culture is mentioned, I would like to know so I can represent that properly and not accidently write it out of the story.

Are there any other members of the Hopefield family besides the parents, Violet, and John? Any beloved pets?

Other details that are appreciated are physical appearance, any defining beliefs or principles they live by or revolve their lives around, the top adjectives you think describe them, character quirks, and if possible, some snippets of dialogue from the books that give a good impression of their characters.

I'd also like to know if there is anything that falls under the "they would NOT say/do that OR they would not say/do that without very special circumstances as discussed above.

Any of course, anything else you think is relevant about the Hopefields or their relationships with other characters is appreciated.

Thanks guys! Feel free to add to the post, DM, or drop by my ask box.

And yes, eventually with enough time, I might like to read extraordinary education someday, but I'd likely write this fic first, so I want to get some accurate info. Plot spoilers are fine, that won't deter me from reading it.

[whereismyhat5678]

I'm gonna take a lot of time

GIVE US ALL THE HEADCANONS JUICE!

please 🙏

ALRIGHT THIS TIME IT’LL BE A MIX- (I missed some things about Peppino and I’m just gonna do the people that come into my head at the moment-)

ALRIGHT HEADCANNONS IS A GO-

- I FORGOT TO MENTION- When Peppino got older, like present Peppino, he got into playing golf, he’s pretty good at it too! He wears the entire set he got the golfer dad hat the golfer dad fit he got everything. I wanna draw him in a golf fit now-

- Peppino’s parents were pretty tame, his Father was a mechanic/chef and his Mom was a stay at home, she was THE SWEETEST person you would ever meet, Pep was definitely a Mama’s boy- His Father was good too, he taught him how to cook and make GREAT pizzas

- After The War Pep was still a bit uneasy but he still kept in touch with his parents, they always told him if they ever needed them they would be there (Now in the present he still talks to them! They’re great ❤️❤️)

- As a kid Peppino was a bit of a rascal, he liked eating a ton of sweets which is why he was a bit bigger than most kids, BUT he could REALLY do a good punch, he was the strongest kid around, if you needed him to do something he’ll do it as long as you pay him 5 cents or give him candy 🤷‍♀️

(- I guess the anxiety didn’t really start until the War….. That shit really does something to you…..)

- But still I think before the war he was still athletic at the least, yeah he was, again, chubby but he could run pretty fast and was really good at punching- He was gonna do football but he ended up doing soccer cuz he loved the sport so much, he was great at it

- As a Teen he was still really talkative but more serious- you get that teen angst once you get older y’know? Yeah that was him, he wasn’t much of a trouble maker but he did stay out late nights and partied a lot, this is also the time he was a big flirt, to girls AND boys 🔥 (“Yeah I like boys too, watcha’ gonna do about it?”)

- I SHOULD ALSO MENTION when he was a kid he met Mr. Stick

- I call Mr. Stick Samual since at the time of picking a name for him I kept meeting people named Samual- It was pretty funny-

- Stick was a pretty shy kid, it was mostly cuz he was bullied a lot and not many kids liked him (except for Peppino, they were good friends)

- Y’know Eustace Bagge from Courage the Cowardly Dog? Remember that episode that showed a younger version of him and he didn’t have any hair? Yeah that’s what I picture Stick to look like as a kid-

- Poor honey was lonely, and unfortunately he had to move away for a short time because his Dad got a new job :(

- Should I mention his parents? His Dad was a big ol’ business man and his Mom was a Doctor, unfortunately his mother was really overprotective and feared for her baby which passed to Stick as a kid and therefore was even more scared, nervous? He was just anxious-

- I think Stick doesn’t talk to his parents much because, one his Mom didn’t even want him to move out, and two his Dad, although tried to be there like hanging drawings on the Fridge and called him Sport and stuff like that, he just was really busy, and wanted him to be in the same business as he was which intrigued Stick but he just didn’t like the feeling of being tied down by his Mom so he moved back to where he grew up as a kid. FAR AWAY.

- When he did get back it took him a while to find Peppino but when he did they got lunch and just hung out, they had a good time knowing each other again :] (Throughout the years they did change a lot, Pep got more anxious and had a bit of anger problems and Stick was more stuffy and serious, and other than the fact that after Stick dropped from his job and kind of become a con artist and…. Asked for money most of the time- They were still good friends, although Pep was annoyed with the fact that Stick made him pay at the Tower, he’s still angry about it-)

- Stick met Burton at a lab, Stick took engineering science (unfortunately he didn’t stay for long but he still likes inventing-) and he met Burton as an appointment.

- Burton is the most gentle soul imaginable, after their appointments Stick started to want to be around him more, which they ended up doing when after Stick was kicked out (for a certain accident 😬) and moved in together in their new apartment.

- Like the concept art, the apartment they live in is haunted, Stick constantly is seeing shit in the building and he’s scared but a bit intrigued, he’s gonna do something about it eventually 🤷‍♀️

- Burton stays at the apartment most of the time, he cooks and he cleans and Stick does- whatever the fuck he’s doing to get money- and come back to a very loving caring kind husband 💕💕

- Yes they did get married, and Burton’s brother the Pizza Pope helped them, he is a very supportive brother 🫶🫶

- When Stick comes home angry he goes straight onto Burton and screams into the void of softness (his chest) and hugs him afterwards, Burton is like a big ol’ pillow and he’s very comforting 💗💗💗

- ALSO, I’d like to think Burton is very soft spoken, like a very calm comforting deep voice. And he almost reminds me of a big cuddly teddy bear 💖💖💖

- Burton asked how Stick got all the money and why he was gone for so long, (poor hun was worried sick SOMEONE GIVE HIM A HUG) Stick replied, “TOWER”, and walked to bed and stayed there for hours, he was very drained-

Oh I have some Brick headcannons now YAAAY-

- All the rats in the Tower have their own personalities, and the poor things probably got hurt along the way from Pizza Head not only from him experimenting on the Fake clones and having them loose, therefore they attacked a lot of the rats, but they also just have to generally fend for themselves because of how dangerous the tower is…

- Brick is a civilized rat, although he is feral when he needs to, and he didn’t trust humans much before Pep, trust me, he had a grudge.

- He likes to play chess, poker, any type of card game really-, he’s athletic, a therapist, a doctor in philosophy, AND he’s known for being the BEST cheese maker there is, he makes the best home made cheese delights!!

- HE ADORES CHEESECAKE, specifically strawberry!!

- He’s also a smoker, not to often to were he’s addicted but he favors having a cigar or cig or just a pipe every once in a while (he favors the pipe-)

- Have I mentioned that although he doesn’t do it often, he can cook! Mostly stews or anything made with cheese- he can be a pretty good chef 💪💪

- He’s also quite strong, his claws mostly help with defense and he has a strong jaw but other than than he can throw a good punch.

- Okay, when he finally got to meet Gustavo he was VERY skeptical, and Gus tried to get him out of the dark by being sweet but it really didn’t work. Brick did not trust him.

- Gus was jumped by Brick

- After a little…. Incident…..Brick saved Gus, and Gus is forever grateful, and Brick, well, he discovered being pet was the best thing in the universe. ESPECIALLY BELLY RUBS 🫶🫶🫶🫶

- Brick was corporative with Gus at the least, the Tower was the worst thing to happen and Brick hated it, so he was more than happy getting Gus and Pep out with the reward of being set free from the tower.

- When more levels were completed Gus and Brick started to bond, and once Brick found that he really did like being with Gus, he started getting protective…

- If anyone were to threaten to hurt Gus, you are getting jumped. By a 220 pound 6’7 beast that has the bite strength of a jaguar.

- He will kill someone if told too, but Gus would never have him do that. He did almost kill Snotty though-

- AND FINALLY, after moving in with Gus and Pep he wanted to bond more with Peppino since he’s seen that Gus REALLY likes him, therefore he feels he should like him too. After a few attempts it finally happened where Pep patted his head in contentment. Brick was finally able to go in the bed with them both, he is very happy now :]

(Gus wanted him on the bed to begin with, it’s just Pep was hesitant)

ALRIGHT FINALLY I’M DONE- I know it was long and a bit of a scatter hopping to one character after the other but hey- HEADCANNONS ARE AWESOME 👏 👏👏