#mari your post from yesterday inspired me i hope it's okay .......

[bredforloyalty]

my sister lover / if we shadows / ballroom figured / born on a different cloud / slide away / you know we can't go back / guess god thinks i'm abel / lock all the doors / it's a crime / shout it out loud

[l-in-the-light]

Hi, hope you have been having a great day! Your posts have always been my favorite, and they never fail to brighten my morning. I'd say it's the perfect way to start the day for me ^^

Today I have a question! Penny for your thoughts on Law and the Revolutionary Army? What might his stance and opinions about them be, and if he wasn't a pirate, would he consider being in the RA? (since there's little to no chance he would want to become a Marine)

Oh, hi! Now I do have a great day, because I read your ask ❤ Sorry that lately I don't post every day. Sometimes something else steals my attention, like sudden inspiration for a fanfic or some of my friends in need of quality time together :D yesterday it was an impromptu pokemon battle on discord with self-invented pokemons lol. I will take this opportunity to (again <3) thank you so much for enjoying my posts, I'm always so excited to see your reblog tags each time! :D

Law and Revolutionary Army, okay, let's go! *rolls up sleeves* I actually watched some analysis and theory vids about RA before, and I had a lot of my own reflection on them lately, so I already have an opinion about it. At times this might go slightly political, so a fair warning!

First of all, let's start with Dragon and his Revolutionary Army. Thanks to Robin, we know their goal is most likely the World Nobles (Celestial Dragons) and we know they have some longterm goals planned. They're basically gathering supplies, allies, weapons and information, and waiting for a good moment to strike. I don't think their attack on Marie Geoise was one of their ultimate goals in itself, because we learned they did it just to get Kuma back (their valuable ally and friend). Everything else was an extra, but they made sure it counts: destroying the symbol of Celestial Dragons (to declare war), cutting them off the food supplies and getting rid of their stock, freeing as many slaves as they could.

They're apparently still making sure the food supplies can't reach Marie Geoise, which we learned from chapter 1126. Interesting thing to note here is that they actually have an agenda behind "riling up rebellion in nations": it's to limit nations that will pay celestial tribute and hand them resources, in other words: to weaken their enemy.

Dragon declares he literally wants to collect his own army to fight for the better world, whatever that might mean to him. He was part of the marines once, but "found no justice there", so he left and created his own army instead. We can't really talk about Revolutionary Army without taking into account his stance on justice.

Seeing from his reaction to Luffy becoming a pirate ("Not bad!") and him and Akainu disliking each other, we can take some guesses here. Dragon's goals are probably: freedom for people, not allowing innocent people to suffer, making sure people in power do not abuse it (an army for hire sure sounds like a good method to at least make them think twice before overusing their power).

And what's their modus operandi when trying to reach these goals? Many people in fandom are frustrated with Dragon and Revolutionaries, because it feels like they're "just there", waiting all the time and doing nothing. They don't go around the world freeing kingdoms and fighting oppressive reigns, after all. What they do instead, is reach out to normal citizens and "ignite the flame of rebellion" in their hearts.

That's because Revolutionary Army doesn't want to be the ones who will win the war, they want the citizens to be the ones who will win their own country and freedom back, and RA will simply help them achieve that, remaining as support.

They're so interesting exactly because they try to empower those that are on the lowest steps of the hierarchy's ladder, they want to give power back into their hands, but for this to work those citizens have to wish for that themselves, try to fight back, and it needs to be their own decision to do that. The power they give them is the power to fight back, defend themselves and demand their own rights and independence. Revolutionaries show to people that common folk are also part of the system and so they have the right to decide how they want the world to look like, even if it's only in their small kingdom. And those of them that want to join the cause and change the whole world to become a better place, are invited to join the Revolutionary Army. That's how Dragon operates. He even makes it clear that it's his rule not to assassinate kings or overthrow them himself, because that's not his job to do; it's up to the people of the nation.

We can deduce that Dragon would rather avoid direct conflicts, bloodshed and anarchy (after all regular kings are not his aim!). What he offers people in need instead is that: an army for hire, and for free! But only to those powerless people who are oppressed. Now we should ask this question: as much as this all sounds very good and noble, is it really a good thing to do? Let's look at the consequences of the attack on Marie Geoise. It was aimed at Celestial Dragons, but who suffers hunger as the result? The nobles?

No, their slaves and servants instead. They would have to go around hungry because there's no way CD would go around hungry instead (and they make a huge deal that they miss ONE meal a day and snacks). And they're still as spoiled as ever! If anything, this only angered them and nothing more. For now, Revolutionary Army achieved only this: to make the life of slaves in Marie Geoise even worse.

Now let's look at Lulusia. Sabo getting involved with them caused the whole kingdom to vanish from the map (yeah, it wasn't his fault, but the fact this kingdom was before freed by Revolutionaries had influence on Imu's/Gorosei's decision). And then let's look at what they did to help Dressrosa: oh wait, actually, they didn't help much. Yes, they supported ciitizens, helping the injured ones and gathering them in safe places (not that there were any real safe places in Dressrosa's disaster).

They also did research and gather evidence from the underground port Mingo was running, which is interesting. Does it mean RA is gonna present evidence in a court against World Government? Or do they just want to trace back their sources so they can steal it for themselves? Anyway, RA did not fight Donquixotes though and did not fight the Marines, with exception of Sabo (and he got heavily scolded for involving himself in the conflict). Was that really the correct course of action? Is that what heroes should be doing? What would happen to Dressrosa if Luffy lost? Would Revolutionaries just allow everyone to die, despite being right there?

Which points me to my own conclusion: Revolutionary Army has lofty, noble goals, they want to help people who are oppressed, but they're not heroes. And they can't be ones. If you have an army, you're automatically disqualified as a hero, because you fight violence with violence, power with power, no matter how you try to sidestep that fact. I'm not saying Dragon is in the wrong, but... what he kinda yearns for is a form of utopia. People should be encouraged to step up and fight for their own good, they should have the means to do that, but what if what they fight for is a mistaken cause? What if years of resentment will lead the people to just keep on oppressing others as the result? It's a logical conclusion to that: you don't want to be oppressed, be sure to raise to the top so everyone is below you (and now you can opress them back). What if those previously powerless people will start to get back on the class that used to oppress them, like what the common folks did to Homing?

Giving power to common people is great, but it will not erase their hatred they collected for centuries, their rage for all the pain they and their close ones had to experience. If you want the world to be truly a better place, then it needs also education, damn, a collective therapy, besides just manpower in an army. But, you know, it's at least *something*, that's why I'm personally not judging RA. They do what they believe is the best thing to do, a first step in the right direction and they mean well, but I think it will backfire, because it's definitely not enough to overturn the world. And power has a tendency to corrupt.

And then we also have Sabo, who kinda went against Dragon's principles when he accepted to be called a Flame Emperor and used the fake news of King Cobra's assassination to encourage people for rebellion.

This might seem insignificant, but it's anything but: Sabo is part of Revolutionary Army, his actions affect RA's public image. If he didn't deny that he killed King Cobra, then it means killing King Cobra was RA's aim.

We will see how it goes in the future, but the recent "fractions" double spread Oda did (above) foreshadows that Dragon and Sabo will kinda go their seperate ways. Sabo took his stance, he wants to fight, not only watch citizens fight. Even if he did that mostly for Luffy, the consequences of that will be longterm.

Now finally I can switch to the actual question you asked: what would be Law's opinion on Revolutionaries. Remember my analysis on how Law taught Luffy what's "the right thing to do"? It was a lesson to always think of the consequences of your actions, to see the big picture. If you want to liberate a whole nation, you need to choose your battles, to strategize the damage, recognize the oppressor's structure of power and strike down the fillars of it so it collapses on itself. Law is a fighter, a commander, a leader. He will not avoid a fight or a war if that's what needs to be done, he won't leave those people to their own fate and will fight with them for the cause (not just offer support!), and he will do what he can to lead them to victory. And he will never accept credit for it. Officially, it's like he was never there, or just part of a nameless "pirate" crowd, no one important.

But if he can, he will avoid conflict and arrange things in such ways it's not even needed. That's how he wanted to get rid of Doflamingo, simply forcing him to give up his warlord status which meant he would have to leave Dressrosa. Just like that, without any blood spilled. But for achieving that, he doesn't shy from doing things that RA would never approve of: kidnapping people, making ransom demands, forcing people to give up their titles by his own actions. Also Law doesn't rile up any citizens, he leaves that up to others. Dragon would not approve of Law's methods, we can be sure of that. And I think Law wouldn't approve of Dragon's actions over Marie Geoise either (starving off slaves), because Law's MO is to always care about the consequences of the actions. In other words, I think Law would think there are better ways to achieve greater results, without hurting oppressed people even more in the process.

Wait a second, you might ask now, but what about Dressrosa? We get the Wano, but in Dressrosa Law didn't care even for a second about the citizens! Well, actually, I think he did initially, his actions and plan were meant to avoid any harm to them, let's never forget that. Later on he did throw it all out of the window for Luffy's sake, I won't deny that. Law might be hero coded but he's not a hero, at the end of the day, and he knows that, he's not a naive idealist like Dragon is.

Dragon voices no regret about starving the slaves for his cause (at least for now), Law on the other hand seemed to make a guilty face expression at the end of Dressrosa, seeing the injured people and ruins everywhere. And that's actually a good thing, that "reality check" is what keeps Law aware that everything he does and every decision he makes will have consequences, and sometimes you need to choose between lesser evil, because world isn't a pretty place, especially the world in One Piece. And idealism often isn't afraid to kill people for it's cause and not only doesn't call it a wrong thing, but calls it A Right Thing To Do. Remember Death Note? That's your unrestricted idealism 101.

Law might tell the Strawhats to just ignore the assault on one of the Flower Capital's districts, but he will never call it A Right Thing To Do. In fact, when Sanji says he can make it work, Law instead trusts him to do his thing. He's flexible in his ways, he always questions, but when it's needed he's firm in his decisions. He just knows sometimes he isn't doing the right thing, but he never loses the direction he aims towards, because if he always questions and seeks and rethinks it from multiple angles it's always for that purpose: to make sure he isn't on the wrong path and if he is: to change it or do better in the future. And seeing the consequences of Dressrosa and how the waves from that spread over the New World, it actually caused a lot of good changes: wars stopped, underground black market took a huge blow, and in longterm: warlord status got erased. And all of that? Is actually thanks to Law and his plan, that was literally the catalyst here. That's why it's 1:0 for Law when compared to Revolutionaries.

Now we enter speculation territory. I do think Law actually might be supporting what RA is doing. Let's think about it: how did RA know that Dressrosa has an underground port?

We learn they sent agents to Dressrosa before, but "they were all turned into toys" (that's revisioning what actually happened - they wouldn't know anything about the toys, because the existance of their agents would be erased from their memories). And they never answer the question: why Dressrosa? And my answer here is: someone had to give them that intel (anonymous intel, most likely) in the first place. Coincidentally they arrive in Dressrosa exactly when Law's plan is taking the stage. I don't think it points towards Law being a Revolutionary, because Sabo has no reaction towards Law, and Revolutionary army has no reason to hide their identities from each other, that's not how they operate at all. And I don't think Law actually cooperated with them either, because the conclusion after Dressrosa clearly took RA by surprise. They got weapons, they gathered important information, it's like this all was gifted to them by someone. And I think it's likely Law was the one who send them the intel, anonymously, or through someone else. Maybe he does support their goal of declaring a war on World Nobles (even if I think he would be kinda disappointed at some of the results of their actions). We saw at Sabaody already that Law isn't really fond of Celestial Dragons, human auctions and slavery; he was pleased with what Luffy did and he also took a stance by freeing Jean Bart.

Would Law join them in the future? I think he doesn't like to work under anyone. Luffy might be also the only person Law ever worked on equal level with. He acts and behaves like a lone wolf, especially when he says things like this:

That doesn't sound like a person who's on a leash, be it Revolutionary Army's, Navy's or Government's. Being a pirate gives Law freedom. If he's somehow with any of those fractions regardless of my analysis, it's just to use them to reach his own goals, just like he took and discarded his warlord status.

And like I said, I doubt Dragon would like Law's methods so Law would have to change them to be part of the RA (and I doubt the main problem here is that he's a pirate, if he wanted to he could have joined them anyway, they did accept former slaves that were pirates before). Also Dragon is playing the long game, and it feels like Law doesn't have that much time to play along with it, because his plans are always moving fast and cause really big ripples. It's not that he's impatient, but it seems like he can't really afford the slow game here.

As for the question you didn't ask: I actually think Law might be part of the Marines, in some way or form. Let's consider this: if he is aiming to overthrow such a big organization, what's the best way to do that? From the inside. Assuming his hate towards government and marines would stop him is not taking his resolve seriously enough, imo. If he is out for revenge, he will stop at nothing, because he is the last person to carry the memory of what truly happened to Flevance. His own resentments would not stop him, he would do that even if he would end up hating himself as the result. "Everything was for that moment", he could declare at the end of it (just like he does in Dressrosa), when he pushes the final blow from the place the Marines expect it the least: their own most trusted people.

Thankfully though he still didn't lose his heart, that's why he does have at least some brakes intact. That's why he cares for people. That's why he cares for consequences of his own actions. That's why he would throw his own plans away or tuck people dear to him to safety over reaching his goals. But he can never forget those goals or throw them away for good. We will see where his storyline will take him in the end.

Of course that's only considering the somewhat popular theories that Law is a member of Sword. I do think those have some really good observations, but the interpretation part falls flat. They got the dynamics completely backwards imo, because Law would not be an underdog to Drake. There, I said it!

[onlyonekenobi]

this was a half-formed idea I’d imagined for them for years, but after reading a post from @good-things-do-happen-dean​ yesterday, I was inspired to actually write it out! just some good old fashioned post-canon domestic fluff, 1.9k - link to read on ao3

Dean’s fingers held lightly to the crystal vial around his neck.

It was almost cool to the touch, he thought, like just the idea of a breeze. He remembered when Cas had given it to him, only a few weeks after Dean had gotten him back from the Empty. The angel had turned to him one night, right smack in the middle of Tombstone, and said, “Dean, I need to tell you something.”

Words had rushed out of him then about wanting to be human (and was that okay with Dean or would it bother him, because “I don’t want it to change anything for you, but-”) and Dean had simply replied, “Cas, I- of course you can be human if you want to be human, that’s your call, all the way, but why in the hell would you want to do that?”

The depth of Cas’s eyes had seemed infinite then, in the dark, as he worked up to what he had really wanted to say all along.

“I won’t lose you again.”

Dean remembered how his whole body had seemed to melt in that moment as the sincerity of Cas’s words-- mostly simple reasoning, though with an undercurrent of self-imperative gravity-- washed over him.

“Okay,” was all he had said in response, and then Cas had twisted his knees underneath himself to lean forward across the little space between them. It wasn’t their first kiss, but from the way Dean’s heart had tripped over itself, it could have been. Even now, when he thought of how Cas’s hands had felt that night, so careful at the nape of his neck, it threatened to fall out of step again.

He hadn’t known at the time what Cas’s intentions for his grace were. Truthfully, he just hadn’t really thought to ask-- which seemed deeply misguided in retrospect, but at the time just felt respectful.

So, it had come as a shock when Cas returned home one afternoon a few days later (he had left in the morning with an implication-heavy “I’m going for a walk.”) and marched right up to Dean with his fist clenched tight and a sheepish smile on his face. He had looked different, somehow, Dean thought. Softer, maybe. Or like his eyes had gotten brighter, as if that were possible.

“I was wondering,” Cas had said, presenting his hand, “if you might want to wear this. You might hear it ringing a bit sometimes, but just think of it… think of it as me telling you I love you.”

-

Now, Dean worried a thumb over the vial while, in his other hand, he cradled a small band of stainless steel. It had seemed only fair, he thought, to give Cas something back. And while he didn’t have anything as deeply personal as his own actual given-up-to-be-with-you-for-as-long-as-we-both-shall-live angel grace, he did have a box of old, thrifted rings from when he had wanted to be Mick Jagger back in his early twenties.

So, he had rummaged it out from the drawer of his nightstand last week, carefully moving a newer photo of Sam and Mary out of the way, and tried each band on again for reference. He had then been very careful, over those next few days, to compare his fingers with Cas’s every chance he got. (Cas had discovered him once, as he stared with what must have been bizarre intensity at their clasped hands, but Dean thought he had successfully played that off as an “I’m just still so overwhelmed with this great new thing that is happening” moment.)

Eventually, after what was almost definitely a great deal of overthinking, Dean had decided that this ring was his best bet. It was mostly unadorned, but care had been taken to crimp slightly raised edges running along each side. Looking at it had always reminded Dean of a road.

A road, he thought now, that would always lead home.

-

He heard a door close in the distance and knew Cas must be getting home from his new routine of sunrise walks. Dean’s heart accelerated wildly at the sound, and he took a steadying breath, laughing at himself. It’s not like Cas would turn the ring down, he reassured himself. Sure, he was still maybe a little embarrassed at the inequality of his offering, but he knew that Cas would recognize the meaning behind it. And anyway, if the grace was from Cas’s past life, the ring was from Dean’s just the same. They could give each other these pieces of their old selves for safe keeping while they made their new selves together. And in that way, at least, it would be a fair trade.

He held his breath to listen, and he was just able to make out the sound-- so much closer than the approaching footsteps, but magnitudes softer-- from the pendant hanging at his chest.

I love you, I love you, I love you, it rang softly.

Dean let out his breath.

When he looked up, Cas was standing in the doorway, tufts of dark hair sticking out wildly from under the new beanie Sam had given him. The lobes of his ears and tip of his nose were just slightly pink, and he wore a smile that radiated up through his crystal-bright eyes. Mornings always suited Cas.

Dean couldn’t help but let up a smile of his own at the sight of it all, but then he remembered the ring in his hand and practically jumped from where he had been sitting on the edge of the bed.

Cas’s eyebrows drew up in shock, but the smile stayed in place. Great start, Dean thought to himself. You probably just looked like an idiot. He tried not to let the creeping embarrassment slow his momentum, but Cas had already stepped toward him, his smile now replete with one of those quizzical head tilts Dean loved so much.

“Is everything okay, Dean? You seem… startled.”

When Dean opened his mouth to speak, he found that only a very small choking sound came out. Get it together, man! he screamed at himself, but Cas was laughing again. The former angel stepped lightly toward him until their chests were just barely not touching and his eyes were locked up on Dean’s. How anyone could look at him with such wonder-- such open adoration-- Dean might never understand.

“All well?” Cas asked gently, and he meant it, no teasing. He was always so earnest in his wanting to know every detail about Dean, and the softness in his voice was relaxing enough that Dean could breathe out a “Yeah,” and mean it back. He tried to maintain his hold on his words.

“It’s just, uh,” he stammered on, “I have something for you, and I’m not real good at this part of things, so I just, um…” His mind was going blank again, despite having rehearsed this roughly a dozen times while Cas had been out walking.

“Here, sit down,” he ventured next, and Cas graciously allowed himself to be turned around and nudged gently into a sitting position on the edge of the bed. His face was expectant, but he was practically leaking patience into the air. He was always being so goddamn multifaceted that way; Dean remembered being intrigued, actually, to realize that this nuance wasn’t an angel thing, but rather… just an endearing Cas thing. With that thought back in his mind, a fresh wave of resolve settled over Dean’s heart.

“This is for you,” he gushed, thrusting his hand toward Cas to reveal the ring sitting on his now open palm.

Cas’s mouth partled slightly in surprise, but he didn’t otherwise move or speak. He just stared at the ring, frozen. Dean felt a heat creep over the back of his neck. Had he misjudged this?

But no sooner had he let the doubt cross his mind than Cas had sprung back up and swiped the ring from his hand in an astonishing blur of motion. And then he was kissing Dean, still-cold fingers a relief against his flushed skin.

Dean’s hand had been clenched shut so tight for so long, it felt good to let it rest open against the small of Cas’s back. Well, it would have felt good no matter what, but it felt extra good now, like this.

After several moments, Cas finally drew back. There was an expression of heartbreaking tenderness on his face.

“Thank you,” he said, quietly.

“I know it’s not much-” Dean started, but Cas cut him off, already fiddling to see which finger it would fit on.

“It’s perfect.”

Dean caught Cas’s eye then, and Cas leaned up to brush another soft kiss across his lips.

“It’s from when you were young,” he said fondly, no hint of a question.

Dean was taken aback. “How do you know that?”

“Well,” Cas answered, all tilted smiles once more, “I didn’t. I inferred.” The ring, Dean’s heart swelled to see, was now placed snugly on the middle finger of Cas’s left hand. He kind of liked that it wasn’t quite the “traditional” placement. It added another layer of balance to the symbols; this was for them, and no one else.

“But you told me about your rings once, do you remember?” Cas went on eagerly. “We were driving back from Sun Valley, and, er, ‘Gimme Shelter’? ….came on the radio, and you told me about how you used to sneak away from your father to go look for them at second-hand stores. You said that in the end you had more than enough for one per finger, because you wanted ‘options.’”

Always, always the details.

“I do hope you paid for this, once, though,” he added, a note of cheek in the afterthought.

Hands raised in mock defense, Dean asserted, “Course I did.” (It was anyone’s guess.)

“But anyway,” he went on, the hint of a tease in his voice, “I guess I don’t really need options anymore.”

Cas smiled lightly again, and Dean felt him twine their fingers together. He instantly loved the new sensation of the ring pushing into his hand.

(Sometimes, when Cas held him, he was afraid it was a dream. Or a trick of the light, like if he blinked wrong, Cas would disappear. Dean knew he wasn’t alone in that, though. They had been through so much, it was really no surprise that they now took turns waking up in cold sweats, clutching for each other, murmuring, “I’m here, I’m here,” until they could fall back asleep.)

So, as the metal bit gently into his finger, he relished the bracing feeling.

It’s real, it said.

Dean mused that he might have to get them matching rings after all, just so Cas could have that feeling, too, if he wanted it.

“I guess not,” Cas answered playfully, and his voice was so full of love, Dean knew he could never have dreamt it. He turned to rest his forehead against Castiel’s and felt his hand get squeezed gently in return.

He would savor this moment. Let it anchor him, overwhelm him, do anything it wanted to him.

He tried to breathe steadily, listening for the soft ringing emanating from the vial around his neck.

I love you, it said.

He shifted his focus down to his hand, where he could feel Cas’s fingers wrapped in his, the edge of the ring pressing into his skin.

It’s real.

[andyet-here-we-are]

I Would Get Into Millions of Accidents Just to See You, Chapter 1

For @wolfgeralt as a little ‘thank you’ for his stunning art -which I really adore, you can see it here: (x)

and for @hecky-heckicravedeath (x) who gave me inspiration for this fanfiction. Also Thanks @3tothe1 for being my beta. (You’re such a sweetheart, and I love you so much)

Anyway,  I hope you like it, my dear Witchlings! 💛

I present you: NURSE GERALT!  

Chapter 1 Word Count: 2461

ao3: (x) 

Chapter 2 Tumblr link: (x) Chapter 3 Tumblr link: (x) Chapter 4 Tumblr Link: (x)

When Geralt arrives for his shift, still feeling exhausted from yesterday, he has no idea what’s waiting for him at the hospital. His days are never too ordinary because you never know what you’ll come across.

That’s a part of being a nurse.

But he could never think that one of the not-so-famous musicians, his daughter, Ciri adores, was going to have a terrible traffic accident—which somehow isn’t on the news—and end up in the hospital he works at.

He already knows his name since Ciri just can’t stop talking about how nice he is and how he sounds like an angel. To the point where sometimes Geralt wants to say “Okay he is wonderful, so kind and lovely and you really love him, I get it. Can you please just keep eating your pasta? Yes Ciri, yes, I know that pasta is his favorite food, you say that every time we’re having pasta. ”

Geralt isn’t there for his intake, apparently, the accident happened last night, and the musician was badly injured.

Jaskier has a ruptured spleen that caused internal hemorrhaging, which the doctors were able to repair. He also has a mild concussion, a couple of broken ribs, along with some cuts and a broken leg which he is probably going to need another surgery for.

Since the other nurse who was responsible for Jaskier last night,  is having some family issues and has to take his annual leave, Jaskier is in Geralt’s care now, they let Geralt know.

When Geralt is home, Ciri starts talking about how Jaskier hadn’t posted anything in two days, and how worried she is since Jaskier had promised them a new song, “He never breaks his promises,” she says.

Geralt thinks that keeping the fact that the young man was in a traffic accident to himself is a better idea.

***

Three days later, when Geralt cracks open the door to Jaskier’s room, the man still sounds asleep, his chest rising and falling with every slow breath he takes as the morphine keeps dripping into his system. It’s enough to keep him subdued, if not completely pain-free.

He checks his IV, and takes a few notes onto his clipboard, right before the musician comes to, his eyelids fluttering.

And damn if he hasn’t got the most breathtaking eyes he has ever seen in his whole life. Even when they lack the spark Geralt is sure they normally hold in them.

Jaskier is confused, of course. So he tells him about what has happened and clears his throat before speaking.

“Mr. Pankratz, I need to take your vitals and then give you some medicines for the pain, may I have your arm?”

“Hell you can, might as well take my poor heart that seems to be beating for—”  Jaskier flirts and coughs before he has the chance to finish, his voice is low and hoarse from lack of use.

Geralt makes no comments, and fills a cup of water for him instead, helping him to drink it. He is surprised by the musician’s flattering words, and he is also glad that he is good at keeping a neutral expression on his face.  

“…you.” He finishes. “Well, I would normally use the ‘am I dead and in Heaven?’ cliché, but, see,” Jaskier keeps talking after sipping some water “I’m in too much pain to think that I’m in heaven. You sure look like a sexy angel or something though.  Ohoho, are you gonna give me a sponge bath, too? Just wondering. If so, I’m totally down for it. Just so you know.”

Geralt can’t help but snort at that a bit, “Do you always talk that much?”

“Maybe it’s you who doesn’t talk enough, you ever considered that?” Jaskier teases, and then suddenly his whole playful expression changes like he remembered that he had left his cat on the stone, and he frowns to himself, “Oh God, three days you said? Shitshitshit,” he drops his head back onto his pillows in a way too dramatic manner, covering his eyes with one hand “I had promised them a new song,” the nurse hears him mumbling “I am such an idiot.”

Jaskier truly seems so disappointed in himself that Geralt feels the need of comforting him. The man had a traffic accident, for crying out loud!

And yet, he is concerned for his fans because he couldn’t keep his promise, rather than being worried for himself.

Not even an hour has passed since he had the chance to talk to the man, but he already can see why Ciri likes this guy that much.

“It’s not your fault that some idiot decided that running a red light and colliding with your car was a good idea,” Geralt says “don’t beat yourself up over it.”

Jaskier still seems disappointed, but he mumbles a silent 'thank you’ before he says “ you may be right, but I promised them.”

***

Days go like this: Jaskier keeps flirting with him every time Geralt steps into his room to check on him and give him his medicines. Geralt never flirts back because of obvious reasons, but he never tells him to stop either, even though he does judge him with his eyes now and then.

The moments Geralt can spend with the man is the most he feels happy at work.

He can’t even deny that at this point.

Ciri keeps asking him why he looks happier nowadays, and why he suddenly became clumsy all of a sudden because he loses his focus easily.

“Who is the reason behind your smile? I gotta know! C’mon, it’s not fair! Don’t leave me hanging like this!”  She insists, being the stubborn girl she is, and after a second she grins like cheshire cat “You’ve finally met someone special?”

“…I might have, pumpkin”  is his answer. “I might have.”

***

He doesn’t know why, but Geralt doesn’t like Thursdays. Well, it’s probably because everything bad has ever happened to him seemed to happen on Thursdays, usually.

And sadly, this Thursday is no exception.

Hank, a seventy years old man who has been here for more than a month, and who has been very ill passes away. Who he had become really close with and really cared about.

Jaskier catches his change of mood when he goes to check on him and simply says, “Talk to me. I mean, you don’t have to. But you look like you could use a friend. And I’m so bored of watching television anyway.”

So Geralt talks to him.

He talks about Hank, about how wise he was. He talks about how he has been working here for years but how it still affects him so much when someone passes away. How he doesn’t suppose to feel a connection with his patients, how terrible of a nurse that makes him.

“That makes you human, not a terrible nurse.” Jaskier assures him, his voice as gentle as always. “Believe me. I wouldn’t lie to you.”

Geralt isn’t sure when Jaskier’s hand finds his hand as they talk, and when his dainty looking, long fingers link with his; but the intimate gesture feels so natural, so right that he just lets him.

***

Jaskier has surgery for his right leg the next day, and it’s not the first time that Geralt hears his patients saying the most ridiculous things after their surgery, thanks to the sedation.

But oh boy, if Jaskier doesn’t take it to a whole new level.

“Maaarry meee, my dear nurse!” the musician yells, “we could make the most adorable babies together! One of them would have my voice, one of them would have your weirdly sexy brooding or something. One of them would have my…. my tongue?  Or eyes? Cheeks! Yes, cheeks. And the other would have your lips while the other would have your… DIMPLE! I love that cute dimple you have on your jaw! ”

Geralt laughs, because how can he not?

“That’s biologically impossible.” the nurse says. “Also how many kids you have in mind? That was awfully a lot.”

“Hmm, let’s see. Marie, Duchess,” Jaskier starts to count with his fingers, and he looks so damn adorable that Geralt finds it extremely hard to not just reach out and ruffle his hair. “Thomas O'Malley, Toulouse, and Berlioz. So, six!”

“It’s five, actually,” Geralt tilts his head to the side slightly and corrects him with a fond, little smile. “So… you’re planning to name your kids after The Aristocats?”

“Our kids, mind you. And I’m not straight, love. You can’t expect me to do the math, I don’t make the rules.”

Love.

He just called Geralt ‘love’

“He probably calls ‘love’ everyone,” the nurse reminds himself and swallows, not being able to focus on what Jaskier says for a minute or so. “You’re no special.”

But the way Jaskier utters that one word, makes him feel like he is lying to himself.

When he can finally focus on what he is saying,  Jaskier is still talking about the same topic.

“…and you should be grateful that I’m not planning to name them after Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! If we’re gonna have more than six, I’m totally doing that though.”

“Why Mr. Pankratz, we’re not even married yet. But I already don’t have a say in anything, it seems.” Geralt can’t help but tease with the young man in return.

Jaskier waves one hand weakly: “Don’t take this as my marriage proposal though, I’m better than that. If I were to propose to you I would do that in the most wonderful way. Roses, candles, and everything. Even fireworks.”

Geralt remains silent, so Jaskier talks again: “And ya know, joking aside, actually we couldn’t name them unless we adopted them when they were babies.”

“Why do you want so many kids?” the nurse wonders, raising an eyebrow.

“Well, growing up in a foster care system will do that to you,” Jaskier lets out a loud and somehow cute yawn.

Geralt knows that he wasn’t even supposed to ask that, and he shouldn’t even listen to Jaskier rambling about his life, which he won’t even remember after the sedative effect wears off.

But he can’t suppress his need of knowing more about him.

He just can’t.

“Wanna adopt as many kids as I can, so I can provide ’em a life filled full of love and everything they deserve. All the beautiful things in the universe. All the things I couldn’t have when I was a kid.” Jaskier admits, and his words make Geralt’s heart clench in his chest.

At that moment, Geralt is sure that he is falling so hard for the musician.

Maybe he already did.

“Don’t think that I’m not gonna name our dogs after them though. Or cats.” Jaskier mumbles. He looks like he is just two seconds away from falling into a deep sleep.

Right when he moves to leave, Jaskier grabs his hand as he softly, sweetly whispers, “Geralt, don’t leave me.” And he sounds so vulnerable, so weak that the nurse’s heart skips a beat in his chest.

Geralt would love to say that he doesn’t leave all night, but he has other patients he needs to check on, so he leaves.

But not before staying for five minutes as he holds the musician’s hand, and watches him fall asleep. Nobody needs to know, right?

***

The next day, Jaskier doesn’t remember most of the things he had said last night, but somehow he remembers that Geralt had stayed for a while.

That day, feeling guilty about yesterday, Geralt talks about his life.

“It’s only fair,” he thinks.

He talks about Ciri, and he lets the musician know how crazy his daughter is about him. That makes Jaskier smile at him warmly, but then again, his smile is always like this.

Warmer than the sun on a hot summer day.

Blushing, Jaskier hesitantly says that he would love to meet her. His big, baby blue eyes seem to be searching for something in Geralt’s eyes.

And Geralt understands that he finds whatever he was searching for when Geralt nods and says: “We would love that, too.”

***

“Look! Jaskier finally posted something!” Ciri says one morning while they are having breakfast, well, more like Ciri is having breakfast, and Geralt is just busy with his coffee since he is in a hurry.

“Hmm?”

“Wait, was this an ‘I’m Actually Curious About What You Have To Say’ type of ‘hmm’? Because it definitely didn’t sound like your usual ‘I Don’t Care’ type of ‘hmm’. Nice! That might be the first time you actually seem curious about what I have to say about him.” Ciri smiles, and lets out a sad, little “Oh.” After reading whatever Jaskier had posted.

“He says that he is having some minor health issues…”

Geralt huffs at that.

‘Minor health issues’

If what he had gone through is “minor” to Jaskier, Geralt doesn’t even want to imagine what “major health issues”  mean in his dictionary.

But he is sure that the only reason why the musician says “minor” is because he doesn’t want to worry his fans.

“‘I am in good hands though—I mean it, really really good hands—so no need to worry. Love you all, xoxo’ Hmm… I hope it’s nothing serious.”

The nurse looks at his daughter’s phone screen and the excessive amount of winking face emojis after ‘really really good hands’ part catches his attention.

He tries to hide his smile behind his black coffee mug.

And luckily, he succeeds.

***

A few days later, it’s time for Jaskier to be discharged from the hospital. And Geralt feels a bit sad about it, to be honest. Because he is already used to having the young man around.

To his never-ending flirting and jokes, to his smile, to his everything.

But the good thing is, that means that he will be no longer his patient.

Jaskier gives him his number before he leaves, and tells Geralt to call him whenever he is free.

“I’m totally getting into another accident and make sure they bring me here if you don’t call, Mr. Handsome Nurse,” the musician jokes in a low voice.

“We wouldn’t want that now, would we?” Geralt smiles. “You can be sure that I’ll call, Jaskier. And we can even have some pasta maybe.”

It’s the first time that Geralt calls him by his first name, and the nurse can see how the other man’s smile widens when he does that, eyes sparkling.

“Wow. Now I have no doubt about how much Ciri talks about me,“ scratching the back of his head, Jaskier chuckles shyly, and it’s music to his ears. Ciri is right. He does sound like an angel.

"Till we meet again, Geralt. Till we meet again.”

[bluemoon-writer]

Childhood Friends AU: MariKim

Part 2- in which the class discovers the MariKim friendship

You can find Part 1 here

Here is background head canons about their families

-it started in the wake of a disaster

-Francois DuPont is a magnet for crazy shit, to the point that many students are starting to become immune to some of the more mild occurrences

-a giant boulder crashes through the window one day and rolls across the room and out the door, crushing the front row of desks in the process and passing inches from Ms. Bustier

-students scream and jump, more in surprise than actual fear at this point, but back away from the windows (Marinette and Adrien both immediately dash out of the room)

-all except Chloe, who didn’t move a muscle when the boulder flew through the window, and Sabrina lays praise on her like usual

“Wow, Chloe, you’re so brave. You weren’t shocked or scared at all when that boulder flew right past you!”

“Pff, Sabrina, I’m Queen Bee, the only thing that could shock me is if Ladybug turned out to be some weakling like Dupain-Cheng”

-The class is used to ignoring Chloe at this point

-Except Kim is high on adrenaline and doesn’t want to listen to Chloe insult his friend when she isn’t even here to defend herself

-Tells Chloe to shove it

“Marinette is super brave! Remember that traffic akuma from two weeks ago? she ran straight at it so the class could get away. Last week, Marinette literally saved you from the lunch lady you akumatized by throwing a chair at her. And bravest of all, yesterday when I accidently broke one of my mom’s sculptures, Marinette took the blame for me!”

-Chloe is not impressed, “Of course you of all people would come to her defense. If she impresses you so much why don’t you go back to being best friends with her instead of glasses over there?”

-Kim is visibly confused “I…what are you talking about? I never stopped being best friends with Marinette?”

-Chloe is more focused on the dirt that’s on her sweater at this point. She rolls her eyes and drags Sabrina off to the bathroom to makeout clean her sweater

-Alya, who had been getting ready to jump into the argument, is looking more confused than Kim.

“What do you mean you’re best friends with Marinette? Everyone knows that Max is your best friend, and Marinette is mine.”

(Alya is just a bit jealous, because she’s still the ‘new kid’ and while she gets along with the other girls in the class, she’s not super close with them)

-Now Kim is really lost. “Uh, Max isn’t my best friend?”

- :0

“Kim! How could you say that, he’s right there! Max are you okay?”

-Max is also confused. “Yes? Why would I not be? It would be illogical of me to expect Kim to call me his best friend when he is not mine.”

-the classes current mental statues: ??*confusion*???

-Nino is the voice of reason, “Who’s you’re best friend then Max?”

“Markov of course! I spent years programming him, he knows everything about me, and I know everything about him.”

-Markov’s eyes turn into hearts for a moment. “I concur, Max is also my best friend!”

-The class is fucking exhausted, Kim is beaming at Alya

“Wait, but that doesn’t explain how Marinette is your best friend! You never even talk to each other.”

-Nino is subtly trying to get Alya to stop, but when Alya hears something that doesn’t add up she pushes until she learns the truth. It’s great for a journalist, but it lands her in some embarrassing situations sometimes.

-Kim is flabbergasted. The idea of him and Marinette not being bffs is so foreign to him that his brain physically can’t process it. He opens and closes his mouth like a fish trying to figure out where to begin explaining their history

-Alix rolls her eyes and comes to his rescue. “Those two dorks have been tight since before primary school. Be glad they don’t act like best friends, trust me, I went to primary school with them and they almost burned the building down.”

“Hey! That was…Marinette’s fault.”

“What was my fault?”

-Marinette is back, the class was so absorbed in the drama they didn’t even notice ladybug defeating the akuma right outside the window

-Kim is a smug bastard. “Burning down our primary school”

“WHAT! I PREVENTED you from burning the school down. You lit a match in the art FULL OF PAPER MACHE SCULPTURES!”

“Uh-huh, and when you blew the match out you dropped it in the trash, that was full of paper. Which then caught on fire.”

-This argument lasts for several minutes while Ms. Bustier recovers from the shock of almost being flattened by a giant rock

-She decides she needs to medicate with a bottle of vodka, so class is cancelled for the rest of the day

-No one tells Marinette about the argument that happened just before she walked in

-Alya watches as Marinette and Kim walk into the bakery together

-Rose swoons, “That’s so sweet. Do you think they’ll date? It would be so romantic!”

-Juleka nods in agreement, secretly hoping they do so that she can ask them for pointers on how to ask out your best friend

-Nino been knew, so he doesn’t say anything and just asks Alya if she wants to go to the movies

-Adrien got back after Marinette and has no idea what is happening

-Likewise, Ivan was listening to music and didn’t even realize an argument happened.

-Nathaniel is hit with sudden inspiration for his comic and rushes off to write it all down before he forgets

-Max and Alix…don’t care. They already knew and are more surprised by their classmate’s surprise than anything else

-Lila mentally makes Kim her new target

Why the class didn’t realize Mari and Kim are such good friends:

 1. Most of them didn’t go to the same primary school as Mari and Kim. The only people who went to their primary school were Chloe, Nino, and Alix. But even then, Chloe didn’t arrive until the second year of primary school and Nino didn’t transfer until the fourth year. 

Alix was there the first year, but was constantly switching schools when she was younger due to her father traveling for work.She doesn’t come to Francois Dupont until the second year when her father takes a permanent position at the louve so that she can stay at the same school for a while

2.  For the first two years at their Lycee they were in different classes.No one saw them interact much at school. They ate lunch together, but most of the time they went to Marinette’s house for it since it was so close. 

and sure Marinette went to Kim’s games consistently, but no one else did so they had no way of knowing just how often Mari went. And the few times other students went to the games they just assumed Marinette was there for the whole team. Because Mari’s just nice like that.

3. Even when they were in the same class again, they didn’t hang out. This is partly due to the classes’ own perceptions, they already don’t think Mari and Kim are tight, but both are friendly people so they don’t find it strange when they wave at each other or have small conversations before and after class.

Plus they have other friends. The two years in different classes did them some good. They learned that they don’t have to constantly be hanging out.They see each other enough outside of school that they figure they can use their in-class time to hang out with their other friends.

4. The Class is Oblivious. This is almost the same as the previous point, but slightly different. Whether or no Marinette and Kim are friends doesn’t really matter, it wouldn’t change anything in the eyes of their classmates, so no one is bother trying to figure out how close they are. 

They don’t see them interact much so they assume they aren’t close

This is gonna be the last part, but I couldn’t resist that Lila bit, so there’s gonna be a Part 3 ig lol

Also, look out for my upcoming post about Max and Markov’s deep friendship lmfao

[dailyaudiobible]

03/13/2021 DAB Transcript

Numbers 19:1-20:29, Luke 1:1-25, Psalms 56:1-13, Proverbs 11:8

Today is the 13th day of March welcome to the Daily Audio Bible I'm Brian it’s great to be here with you today as we…yeah…as we sort of put a bow on the end of another week, which puts us at the end of the ninth full week of this year, ninth week and some change, a couple days. And there is only one way to go and that way is forward. So, that's what we'll do. It's a…it's a day of transition here. When we get to the New Testament, we will be entering the third of the four Gospels. This is known as the book of Luke. We concluded the book of Mark yesterday. So, we'll talk about Luke when we get there. But first, Numbers chapters 19 and 20.

Introduction to the gospel of Luke:

Okay. As we said at the beginning, that now that we’re in entering the New Testament portion of our day together we’re moving into some new territory, the third gospel known as the gospel of Luke. And the gospel of Luke is probably the most well put together, the best written of the Gospels, the most concise of the Gospels. And the gospel of Luke and the book of Acts are more of a two-volume set. Like Luke/Acts written by the same person to the same recipient with the gospel of Luke chronicling…chronicling the life of Jesus and His ministry and then the book of acts, essentially chronicling the early church formation, and specifically the lives of the apostle Peter, and then the apostle Paul, who we have yet to get to know. So, Matthew, Mark, and now Luke ,these three Gospels are known as the synoptic Gospels, largely because they share a lot of the same material and cover a lot of the same ground with just about all scholars believing that Mark is the first gospel that was ever written about Jesus that has been preserved and that Matthew and Luke used Mark in their construction because they cover the same territory but in many cases they are Word for Word. But then there's many deviations as well. A lot more detail is inserted into the gospel of Luke, for example, then the book of Mark, filling out those stories. It's because these Gospels, they were written to different audiences to fulfill different purposes. So, for example, in the case of Matthew, we've already read this, so we can think back and we can remember that Matthew is a very Hebrew centric gospel of Jesus where Jesus is shown to fulfill many Hebrew prophecies all along the way. In fact, like I said, you can’t hardly read a page in the book of Matthew without Jesus fulfilling a prophecy. It's very front and center. The gospel that we’re about to read, the gospel of Luke, is likely more written primarily to a Gentile audience or a seeking audience, the story of Jesus revealing that the gospel of Christ includes the whole world and…and not just those of the…of the Jewish faith. So, let's settle into the gospel of Luke here. Like I said, it's in narrative form probably the best constructed of the Gospels to read. And we’ll be covering some familiar territory as we do that. So, today Luke chapter 1 verses 1 to 25.

Prayer:

Father, we thank You for Your word. We thank You for the passing of time that has brought us to this day. We thank You for Your faithfulness during all of that time. We thank You for what You are speaking in the time that we know as this year and we are grateful that You have brought us to the threshold and now we have entered the gospel of Luke. Come Holy Spirit we pray. Continue to lead us deeper into Jesus. Continue to lead us on the narrow path that leads to life. Continue we pray to lead us into all truth. We pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Announcements:

dailyaudiobible.com is always home base, it's always been home base and that's where the Global Campfire is, that's where we come together around that apparatus that's on the Internet. And, so, be aware of that.

Be aware of, as I mention often, of the Community section because that is where to begin to get connected. That's where different links are on the social media channels that we’re…that we’re…that we use. It's also the home of the Prayer Wall which is a constant. We can always go there to pray. We can always go there to ask for prayer. So, stay connected. It's important to stay connected in the journey that we’re on as we continue through the year because it's just nice to know we’re not alone as we take the journey. It's nice to know that when those things come up that are too heavy for us to carry, we don't have to carry them alone. And, so, be aware of the Community section.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible, you can do that at dailyaudiobible.com. There is a link on the homepage and my heart is full of gratitude and in awe out a daily basis that…well that we’re even here. And the truth is we’re here because we’re in this together. And, so, if…if what we are as a community matters and brings life to you than thank you for being life-giving. So, there’s a link on the homepage. If you’re using the Daily Audio Bible app you can press the Give button in the upper right-hand corner or the mailing address, if that’s your preference, is PO Box 1996 Spring Hill Tennessee 37174.

And, as always, if you have a prayer request or encouragement, you can hit the Hotline button in the app, the little red button up at the top or you can dial 877-942-4253.

And that's it for today. I’m Brian I love you and I'll be waiting for you here tomorrow.

Community Prayer and Praise:

Show Me God's Love Ephesians chapter 3 verse 20 and 21 and Matthew chapter 18 verses 19 and 20. I just wanted to give a shout out to Peter and God’s Smile for the song that they played on her tummy. We need more tummy drums. I haven't laughed and smiled so much, and I was having a really bad day until I heard that so I want you guys to know you are responsible for giving me my first laughs and smiles of the day and perhaps that week. So, thank you for that. Slave of Jesus it's good to hear your voice. Mark Street good to hear your voice. And there's so many others that I can't even get into it now, I guess but Candace from Oregon it's good to hear your voice and hope that you're doing well. Well, that's it for now. Show me God's love.

Hello this is Steve from Pennsylvania my moniker is Face Like Flint from Isaiah 50 verse 7. And I'm calling to ask for partnership with the world-wide body of believers that is listening to this podcast. I'd like you to pray for my sister Catalina who is entered in a hospital behavioral health ward for the ninth time in the last 30 years. She's been struggling with schizoaffective bipolar. It’s a very difficult diagnosis and it's cyclical. And I want you to ask that the Lord would give her some supernatural revelation into her own condition and that the Lord would deliver her from any spiritual aspect of this illness, this brain disorder, and that she would be able to read a letter I'm about ready to deliver to the hospital from my sisters and I as we're trying to get her to cooperate with the professionals and to help us in rescuing her stuff from her apartment, her cats, and be ready to move into my mother's, the homestead where we grew up. My mother passed in November and the children have inherited the household. So, I'd like you to join me in that. We really need Jesus to break through here. There's just a lot of anger and darkness inside that comes out during these periods. Otherwise, she's perfectly normal and just a wonderful sister and very intelligent. But she needs Jesus and I pray that you would join me and pray for Catalina. Thank you.

Hey DAB family this is beautifully broken. I just was thinking today as I was listening to people call in and as I've listened to people call in and I hear people say I've been listening for 10 years, I've been listening for five years, I've been listening for the whole time all 15 years. Personally, I myself this is my 4th year going through, but it really struck me today how amazing it is that there is a troop, an army of people reading the Bible from start to finish year after year after year. And what is God raising us up for? I just think that is amazing. There is no other format that I know of that allows this and that lets people interact in the way that we interact in going through the Bible together. It is such a unique community. And we are a Facebook post away, a telephone call away, a prayer away from each other the majority of the time. I think God has something really wonderful planned for this community. It’s just amazing to be a part of it.

Hey guys this is Mary calling in. I'm 19 years old. I just wanted to comment and…and just give a praise report about this community. Over these past few months, I've been learning about community and how important it is especially during times like these and I just…I thank God every day for the community I'm surrounded by, my church community and, you know, the things I like community and just, yeah, I just want to say I'm so grateful and you all inspire me so much every day to just be a servant, to be more humble and be aware and just give my all. So, I thank you. I really hope you guys all have a blessed week and weekend. God is so good. Yeah. Thank you. Bye.

[teamhook]

Just another CS MOVIE AU… Happy Valentine’s Day Ch 2/5.

Hello! Okay, so I bring you, musician!Killian AU inspired by Forever My Girl cause I see CS everywhere! Sorry, I’m stubborn and although I was told this should be a SF fic. Maybe I’m wrong but I couldn’t stop myself.

Maybe you guys can tell me if I was wrong...

I wanna thank @searchingwardrobes and @ilovemesomekillianjones for their Beta services. They each helped me so much. 

So allow me to give you all Chapter 2 of my Valentine’s Day gift to all of you, my lovely shipmates.

AO3  FFN

The following morning Killian woke up and made his way around the old house. Photos still in the same spot along with other mementos. He reached the kitchen to get his much-needed caffeine fix. The old coffee maker was still there so he made a pot.

"Good morning, Killian, I'm surprised you're still here."

"Made some coffee, how can you drink this junk?"

"That's rich coming from you, years you were gone and you come back to insult my coffee? Why are you back?"

"I heard about Robin. I-"

"You what? Suddenly you remembered you had a family?"

"Whatever. What happened to mum’s garden?"

Liam laughed, "I tried Killian but I lacked the green thumb you inherited from her. You were always the one that was more like her."

"Is there anything I can borrow, I mean to get around town, because I assume there is no Uber here?"

"Your bike is still in the garage. Oh and Killian, don't forget to do your dishes. There is no maid service here."

Liam watched as the temperamental younger man slammed the door on his way out.

Killian almost tripped running out of the house, with so many memories. So he did what he did best, he left,  and although he felt utterly ridiculous riding his childhood bicycle, he pedaled until he’d gone as far as his legs would take him.

His destination ended up being the hospital, but he was sure he was not welcomed inside.

He took out his old phone. He knew he had to call Scarlet soon but what was he going to say? He readied himself for the stern talking to from his manager. One ring.

“Killian, where the hell are you? You missed a whole concert! Do you have any idea how much that has cost us? People are asking questions. Does that prehistoric cell phone of yours even have Wi-Fi? Where is Killian? Why is Killian Jones running around like a madman? They are wondering if you are on drugs? If you disappeared to rehab... Mary Margaret is going insane! She wants you to call her."

"I will, but first I need you to send me a credit card and I need a car."

"First, tell me where you are."

"My hometown. My best friend was in an accident and is lucky to still be alive."

"Oh, Killian I'm so sorry mate. I mean, are you all right? I wish you would have confided in me. Take your time."

"Yeah, I think so. I'm not the one that was in the accident."

"Okay. Don't worry about anything. I will take care of it. The good thing is that was the last concert date on the tour. We will set up Denver after Europe. Just be with your family and friends. I'm sure Mary Margaret already has a story about why you missed the concert."

"All right. Scarlet, where are my credit cards?"

"I didn't know you knew how to use one since I've never seen you use one by yourself before mate."

"There are a few things I want to buy. All I have is the cash in my pocket and it isn't much."

"I'll overnight them."

"Thanks, Scarlet. I'm gonna need a car too."

"Text me your address." Beep "It's Mary Margaret. I got to go, we'll talk soon."

With his conversation over, he noticed he had walked towards the small convenience store. He really needed a drink, so he went inside the store and proceeded straight to the liquor, maybe it was muscle memory. Grabbing a bottle of rum, he proceeded to pay at the counter where he encountered tabloid after tabloid with pictures of him shoeless while he frantically looked for the cell phone store. He rolled his eyes at the countless theories as to what was going on with him.

The cashier was helping a customer while he flipped the magazines around, and when he looked up she was looking at him expectantly, waiting for his items.

"Hello. How are you?"

"Good." He nodded unhappily at the small talk.

"There are more in the back."

"I'm sorry?"

"Magazines with your face on them. Do you want those too?"

"This is all."

"You don't remember me, do you? We went to high school together. My name is Ashley."

"Sorry."

"24.99, please."

"So. Ashley, you don't happen to know where Emma lives or where she works do you?"

She smiled sweetly and purposefully ignored his question in an attempt to protect Emma. "Thanks for shopping at Doc's."

"Yeah, thanks." He grabbed the bottle and left. Outside he looked around as he grabbed his bike and walked alongside it to a nearby bench.

He wondered who would be willing to point him in the right direction, he wanted to know where to find Emma. Looking around the street he noticed how everything had stayed the same. The flower shop across the street. He smiled at the fond memory that hid in his mind, but chose to put it away. Some things were too painful for him still.

He noticed the yellow bug pulling up in front of the shop. He couldn't be that lucky, he would know that car anywhere, but he waited for the owner to exit from the monstrosity just to be sure. The door opened and a petite blonde exited the vehicle. It was her!

Killian crossed the street to get to her as she entered the flower shop. He gathered the last bit of courage to prop the door open and was greeted by a chiming bell.

Emma came out of the back to greet the customer and her bright smile faltered as soon as she laid eyes on him. "Killian, what are you doing here?" She tried to busy herself at the counter and the bell chimed once more. Emma turned away from the man who broke her heart and smiled welcomingly at the older woman who had entered the store.

“Hello, Granny Lucas, how are you?"

"Well, I could be better.” The pointed look she gave Killian indicated her dislike for him. “Do you have any Anemones?"

"I think so. For the Locksley's?"

"Yes, I hope they are aware of how truly blessed they are, unlike some people that don't appreciate their fortune." She glared at Killian as she said the snide comment.

"Okay, Granny I will be right back." Emma headed to the back of the shop.

The tip of his ears turned red, he was no fool. He understood the backhand comment was meant for him. He could feel the glare of the older lady.

"Granny, I have enough for a medium bouquet." Emma smiled brightly at the lady.

"That is perfect. How much do I owe you?"

"That will be $9.90."

Killian cleared his throat.

"I'm with a customer," Emma snapped as she and Granny both glared at him.

He raised his hands in surrender.

"Thank you, dear. They're beautiful." She handed Emma the money.

"I'm sure Marian and Robin will appreciate such a thoughtful gesture. Have a nice day."

"I’m sure they will, dear." As Granny made her exit, she mumbled idiot under her breath and slapped Killian on the back of his head.

Killian stared at her back as she left. "Wow, she has a strong hand for her age."

Emma snorted "I really wish she could hear right now, she would give you another good smack."

The sudden silence between the two was overwhelming.

"That was quite the punch you socked me with yesterday lass."

"It was just a warning shot."

"Ah-yeah?"

"Mhm-hmm."

"How long have you been working here?"

"It's mine, I own it. I bought it after Mrs. French passed four years ago."

"Impressive."

"Killian, I know it's surprising but I actually did something with my life after you walked out on me. You didn't break me. So many people have come and gone since you were last here. My mama passed away. Did you even know or care about that?"

"No, I'm sorry, I didn't know."

"Of course not, why would you?"

Emma studied his face and hardened her heart. "Haven't you noticed that since you left no one in this little town has ever spoken to the press of your life here? Nothing of your life here has been mentioned or posted on Facebook, Instagram or any of the social media sites. Do you know why that is, Mr. Big Star?"

"Because I abandoned you."

She laughed. "Killian, it's because you left us all that day, the whole town. No one has ever spoken about you, because we're family. We are loyal to our own and you don't belong here anymore. Please do what you do best and leave."

He was silent while she dared him to deny anything of what she had said to him. The door's bell rang once more and a bubbly redhead walked in with a little girl in tow.

"Mama!" The little girl ran to Emma and hugged her tight.

"Hello, my love." She held onto the girl. "Anna, hi, I thought you were taking her for ice cream?"

"I was?" She looked at Killian momentarily and then her focus was on Emma's pleading face.

"Hey, kiddo, your mom is right. How about some ice cream?"

The little dark-haired girl was studying the adults in the room. "Hi, I remember you."

"Oh, you do?"

"You were at church yesterday. Mama, isn't he the singer you listen to? Not my kind of music, sorry no offense."

Emma tried to change the subject. "Baby, don't you want some ice cream?"

"Mama, I don't want to ruin my appetite."

Sometimes Emma hated how much of an adult her little girl was.

"None taken, and it is always nice to make an impression on such a beautiful lass."

The courteous girl extended her little hand, "My name is Alice Hope."

"Such a lovely name. I'm an old friend of your mum, my name is Killian. " He looked at Emma then at the little girl in front of him. "How old are you lass?"

"I'm kind of small for my age. I'm seven."

"Sweetie, why don't you get going with Anna. A treat once in a while is nice."

"Come on Alice I want some ice cream and I would love some company," Anna added trying to aid Emma.

The girl defeatedly agreed. "Bye, mama. Nice to meet you too, Killian."

Anna grabbed her little hand and exited the shop.

"She’s seven, huh?" He was doing the math in his mind.

Emma sighed, "Yeah, I have played out this conversation in my mind millions of times. I guess it’s finally the moment of truth.”

"It would appear so." He balled up his fists until they turned white. He couldn’t believe it, he was a father. He had a daughter. He rubbed his sweaty hands on his pants as he waited for Emma’s confirmation.

"I'm gonna need something strong to drink," she nervously said.

He extended the bottle of rum he had with him.

"I didn't find out about her until a couple of weeks after what was supposed to be our wedding day." She paused for a second… "I was so angry and humiliated after you just walked out on me. Somehow I mustered up all the strength that I had left and I called you to tell you about the baby. You didn't answer, it went straight to voicemail. I left you a message begging you to call me back. I promised myself that if you didn't care enough to call me back, I was never going to try again because we deserve better."

Killian shut his eyes as tears threatened to come. He had thought of calling back, but he still had no explanation for her. How could he call her back if he still couldn’t explain to her his reason for leaving her behind, for being a coward. "You named her after my mum."

"I did that for Liam, he said she had her eyes, your eyes. She loves him so much, her Uncle Liam."

Lost in their conversation, they didn't hear the door open. Her brother entered, unhappy at the sight in front of him.

"Hey, Em.” David greeted his sister with a charming smile before he glowered at Killian. “What are you doing here, Killian? Haven't you hurt her enough for one lifetime?"

"Nice to see you too, Dave." Killian forced a cordial response.

"David, he was just leaving," Emma said to calm her brother.

"Yeah?” Killian asked confused.

"Yes," she said firmly.

"It would appear... I was just leaving."

"Good," David said, his arms crossed as he stared Killian down as he made his exit.

Killian was so upset as he made his way back to the house. Once he reached his destination, he entered the house slamming the door. "Liam!"

The older Jones walked out of his room. "What is it?"

"Why didn't you tell me, brother?"

"Tell you what?"

"That I'm a father, about Alice Hope."

"Sorry to disappoint you, but I did tell you."

"When? What the bloody hell are you talking about? Liam, we haven't talked in years and this is a conversation I would remember."

"It seems it is not as memorable as you would think. Brother, I went looking for you, to your first concert. I believe it was in Seattle. You weren't returning any of my calls. So I tracked you down like some kind of fan." Liam defended himself to his brother’s accusation.

"You were at that show?" He surely would remember his brother. "I was. I even went backstage to see you after. I had to beg one of the security guards to let me in to see my own brother. You were unrecognizable, I honestly thought I'd stumbled into the wrong room. But I still had to try. I still had to tell you about Ali. She was on her way." "I don't remember any of that," Killian reiterated. "I'm not surprised. Allow me to refresh your memory? You told me to leave and never come back, the only difference was that you weren't as considerate of the language you used. What was I supposed to do? Killian, you were an adult. I couldn't force you to come home with me." "I'm not proud of that time in my life, I was indulging too much." "Then? Well, you really seem to have it all together now." "I'm better now." "I just don't understand brother. You were a good kid. You were a good son and you were so in love with Emma. What happened?" "I don't know," he mumbled as he struggled with past memories. "That guy I saw in Seattle that night, I knew that Ali and Emma were better off without him. So yeah, shame on me brother." Liam stared down his brother. "You call her Ali, just like everyone called mum." "She is an amazing kid, Killian. Alice Hope Jones is everything to all of us. You have to be sure you are ready to be a father, her father.

The next day for the Jones brothers was one of peace. Liam prepared a basic breakfast for them. There was a comfortable silence between the two. Killian ate quickly and darted out of the house. He wore blue jeans, a white t-shirt, cap and sunglasses. Outside he found an envelope delivered by courier and there was a black convertible parked in the driveway. He let out a triumphant dance. His brother appearing just in time to catch his performance.

"Killian!" he called out with a smile on his features.

Killian slowly turned to face Liam. "Yes?"

"I've been thinking, since you're home, I was hoping you could help me with something."

"Sure. What is it?"

"Mum's garden after you left I could not maintain it. I never had the green thumb you do. We could return it to its former glory."

Killian scratched behind his ear. "Middlemist?"

"Those were her favorites."

"Okay just let me know when."

"One last thing. Come with me to the church for Sunday's sermon. I want to help ease your time here. It will not take long. I just want to reintroduce you to the church."

"Liam, I don't know if that is a good idea."

"Marian will be there and her son. Emma will be there too."

"What about dear old Dave?"

"He will be there."

Killian took in a long breath and scratched his beard as he considered his options.

"Is he giving you a hard time?" his forever overprotective older brother asked.

"Aye, nothing I can't handle or don’t deserve."

"Are you sure? I can talk to him..."

"Brother I can fight my own battles," he shrugged and continued, "Robin and Marian have a son?"

"He is Ali's age. They are a few months apart and very good friends. I don't know brother, I think in the future he could be your son in law."

"Ali-Alice Hope she is barely 7 years." Killian glared at his brother, he’d barely found her and now Liam was marrying her off. "Liam, what does she prefer to be called? You call her Ali and Emma calls her Alice"

"To me, she is simply Ali, to Dave she is Hopey. It really depends on the person, and if she likes you, she will let you give her a nickname."

"Do you think she will like me?" Killian's voice cracked a bit.

"I don't see why not, I like you."

"You're my brother. You have to like me."

"She is your daughter and once she gets to know you, she will too."

"Fine, service still on at 8:30 a.m.?"

"Yes. Sunday 8:30 a.m.."

"What are your plans for today?"

"I'm going to go see Emma. I'm hoping she will agree to let me know Alice Hope."

"Good luck. She will, but you have to be patient."

Killian smiled as he waved goodbye and headed to the black, shiny, soft top convertible. He drove to the Flower Shop and parked. He was trying to work up the nerve when he saw a familiar face arrive. The deputy car was adjacent to his. He wanted to say hello but stopped as he saw Emma pulling up on the other side of the deputy car. Graham opened his door and rushed to help Emma out of the car. Killian just stared at the interaction. He slid down the leather seat to hide.

Graham and Emma entered the shop smiling at each other.

Killian slumped on the seat of the car. His back pressed firmly against the leather of the seats, the cap tightly hugged his head, and the sunglasses covered half his face. He questioned if he should go in or not, but the reality was that he was there for his daughter, not for Emma. He forfeited her a long time ago. As he waited for the other man to leave, he wondered why Liam hadn’t mentioned Emma and Graham being together. He had known Graham had feelings for Emma years ago but she had chosen him, much to David’s dismay. Some minutes later he saw Graham leave with a silly grin on his face. Bloody git.

Killian took in a breath and exited the car. The bell chimed as he entered the shop.

Emma emerged from the back smiling. Killian approached the counter.

“Killian, I wasn’t expecting you.”

“Oh, did you think Graham had forgotten something?”

Emma rolled her eyes. She had always loved the jealous streak he had when it came to Graham, and it seemed that he hadn’t outgrown it.

“Not your concern. Now tell me what you are doing here.”

“You’re the mother of my daughter and,” he paused, she was right, he had no right. “I want to get to know Alice Hope.”

Emma stared at him as she subconsciously cleaned the counter. As if she was summoned, the little girl walked in with a trailing Anna.

“Hi mama.” She smiled at Killian. “Hello, Killian.”

His breath hitched for a second as he returned her simple greeting with a warm smile.

“Anna, what are you guys doing here?”

“We were on our way to visit with Marian and Roland but Alice realized she had forgotten Roland’s favorite book.”

The little girl did as she had done the previous day and just stared at her mother’s actions in her friend’s presence.

“Sorry, Anna,” the little girl dashed to the back to grab the book.

“We didn’t mean to interrupt. We will be on our way once Alice has the book.”

Emma and Killian replied at the same time, “You are not interrupting anything.”

Alice Hope returned with her book in hand and walked towards Anna and extended her hand. “Bye mom, bye Killian.” They finally walked out and left. As soon as the door closed, Killian made his request.

“Emma, I want to know her, and although I don’t deserve her, I’m her father.”

“Killian, she doesn’t know about you, but you are right. You are her father, but I will leave it up to her. If she wants to get to know you, she will. Just know if you break her heart, I will hunt you down.”

“Love, Liam already made the threat.”

“Not a threat, a promise. She’s my kid, and her heart is mine to protect.” She raised a single eyebrow as if challenging him.

“Okay, I understand and I’m willing to do it on your tems. Whatever you’re comfortable with. Will you call me?” His nervousness showed as he kept tugging at his clothes.

“No, I will let Liam know.” Emma nodded.

“One other thing, I wanted to buy some flowers for Marian.”

"Okay, she loves hydrangeas." She gave him a small smile.

"Perfect, I'll get...I'll get 24."

"Twenty-four?" she confirmed.

"Yes, please."

"Okay, uhm, this is 12, can you grab those?"

"Aye."

They headed to the counter so she could charge him.

"That will be $180.15."

He handed her his credit card. "There, got my own credit card today."

"Good for you. Please, sign here."  

“You got a pen for me to borrow?” He air-signed to show his intentions.

“Uh, you use your finger, you know to sign?”

“Ah, I knew that.” His elven ears had turned blood red.

“Okay, if you say so.”

“Thank you. Emma, please don’t forget to let me know about Alice Hope.” He grabbed 12 hydrangeas on one hand and the other 12 with the other.

“I will let Liam know.” She followed him to the door, opened it for him, and she was about to follow him outside.

“I can take it from here.”

Emma sat across the dinner table from Alice Hope. “Sweetie, there’s something I want to talk to you about.”

“Yes, mama?”

“About your daddy.”

“I thought you didn’t like talking about him?”

“I don’t, Sweetie, but that is not fair to you. You have a right to know your father, but only if you want to. If you don’t wanna get to know him, that is okay too.”

The little girl stopped eating for a second. “He seemed nice to me. The guy from outside the church and the flower shop, Killian, right?”

“How did you know?”

"I'm not dumb just cause I'm a kid and you two weren't sneaky." Alice Hope rolled her eyes in a perfect copy of her mother's iconic eye roll.

“How did you get...so smart?”

The little girl shrugged and grabbed the last berry on her mother’s plate and popped it in her mouth, Emma feigned insult.

“Alice, your dad and I met when we were very young. I just want you to know that he didn’t abandon you, okay? He didn't even know that I was pregnant, I didn’t even know.”

"He did look surprised. Can we invite him for dinner so he knows I'm not scary?"

Emma snort laughed and suddenly she was serious, “Are you sure?”

“Yes, mama.”

“Okay.”

_________________________________________

I didn't tag some of you before because I didn't want to be too presumptuous but gotta share the love:  

@its-imperator-furiosa @djlbg @mayquita @andiirivera @captainsjedi @wellhellotragic @ultraluckycatnd @onceuponaprincessworld @aprilqueen84 @tehgreeneyes @hookedonapirate @thesschesthair @krustybunny @alexandralyman @artistic-writer @kymbersmith-90 @whimsicallyenchantedrose @snowbellewells @resident-of-storybrooke @flslp87 @searchingwardrobes @pocket-anon @branlovestowrite @seriouslyhooked @sherlockianwhovian @doodlelolly0910 @courtorderedcake @ilovemesomekillianjones @shireness-says @donteattheappleshook @jennjenn615 @bethacaciakay @thislassishooked @shipsxahoy @shady-swan-jones @tiganasummertree @cat-sophia @hollyethecurious @thejacketandthehook @dassala @allofdafandoms-blog @kday426 @winterbaby89 @snidgetsafan @delirious-late-nights @onceuponaprincessworld @let-it-raines @profdanglaisstuff @revanmeetra87  @stophookingatmeswan @kmomof4  @optomisticgirl  @lenfaz  @gingerchangeling @darkcolinodonorgasm @daxx04 @jennjenn615  @lizacstuff @lassluna @xemmaloveskillianx @xhookswenchx    @peglegsjones @shireness-says @laschatzi @onceuponataarna

[gaming-rabbot]

Salmon Run and Presentation

A (not so) brief dissertation on narrative framing in video games, featuring Splatoon 2

With the holidays in full swing, I took advantage of a deal one day when I went into town, and finally got my hands on Splatoon 2. Having loved the prior game as much as I did, waiting this long to get the sequel felt almost wrong. But like many another fellow meandering corpus of conscious flesh, I am made neither of time nor money.

Finally diving in, I figured I might take this excuse to remember that I write game reviews, sometimes. You know, when the tide is high, the moon blue, and the writer slightly less depressed. I ended up scrapping my first couple drafts, however. You see, a funny thing was happening; I kept veering back into talking about Salmon Run, the new optional game mode the sequel introduces.

Also I might look at the Octo Expansion later, on its own. After I get around to it…

Look, the base game already has a lot of content to explore, and as previously stated, I am sadly corporeal, and not strung together with the metaphysical concept of time itself.

My overall thoughts, however, proved brief, so I’ll try to keep this short.

(Mild spoilers coming along.)

Gameplay wise, I think the story mode is much improved upon by handing you different weapons for certain levels which were specifically built with them in mind. Whereas the prior game left you stuck with a variant of the starter splattershot all the way through. This keeps things interesting, pushes me outside of my comfort zone, and it’s a good way to make sure players will come from a well-informed place when deciding what weapon they want for multiplayer; which, let’s face it, is the real meat of these games and where most players are going to log the most time.

I also love the way bosses are introduced with the heavy drums and rhythmic chants and the dramatic light show. It endows the moment with a fantastic sense of gravitas, and manages to hype me up every time. Then the boss will have an aspect of their design which feels a bit silly or some how rather off, keeping the overall tone heavily grounded in the toony aesthetics the series already established for itself.

Narratively, I felt rather okay about the story aspect of Story Mode. The collectible pages in the levels still have a certain amount of world building, though this time it seems more skewed toward explaining what pop culture looks like in this world, such as, an allusion to this world’s equivalent to Instagram.

Cynical as it is…

That’s definitely still interesting in its own right, though perhaps it’s less of a revelatory gut-punch as slowly piecing it together that the game takes place in the post-apocalypse of Earth itself, and the inklings copied ancient human culture.

We still got some backstory for this game’s idol duo, though. And that, I appreciate. It means Pearl and Marina still feel like a part of this world, rather than seeming obligatory for the sake of familiarity, given the first game had an idol duo as well.

Meanwhile, perhaps it is a bit obvious that Marie’s cousin, Callie, has gone rogue, and that she is the mysterious entity cracking into the radio transmissions between her and Agent 4. If I recall correctly, that was a working theory that came about with the first trailer or two. That, or she had died.

As soon as Marie says aloud she wonders where Callie has gone, I knew right away. And that’s just in the introduction.

That said, on some level, after stomaching through certain other games and such that actively lie or withhold information to force an arbitrary plot twist for plot twist sake, it feels almost nice to go back to a narrative that actually bothers to foreshadow these things. Plus, having gotten already invested in Callie as a character from the first game, I still felt motivated to see the story through to find out why she went rogue. And, loving the Squid Sisters already, there was a hope in me that she could be redeemed, or at least understood. In terms of building off the prior game’s story, Splatoon 2 is moderately decent.

Also, I mean, c’mon. The big narrative drive might be a tad predictable, but hey, this game is for kids. It’s fine.

That, I think, is something I love the most about Splatoon. Despite feeling like you’re playing in a Saturday morning cartoon, and being aimed primarily at children, it doesn’t shy away from fairly heavy subjects. Such as the aforementioned fact that the humans are all long dead and you’re basically playing paintball in the ruins of their consumerist culture.

Which brings me to what fascinates me so much about Splatoon 2: the way in which Salmon Run is framed.

You see, on the surface, Salmon Run appears to be your typical horde mode; a cooperative team (typically comprised of randoms) fights off gaggles of foes as they take turns approaching their base in waves. Pretty standard for online shooters these days, as was modernly popularized by Gears of War 2, and Halo ODST.

I say “modernly,” as the notion of fighting enemies as they approach in waves is not exactly a new concept for mechanical goals within video games. Rather, the term itself, as applied to multiplayer shooters, “horde mode,” became a point of game discussion when Gears of War 2 introduced the new game mode by that same name back in… 2008?

No, no that can’t be right. I played Gears 2 back in high school (I had worse taste back then, okay?). Which, from my perspective, was basically yesterday. That game being ten years old would mean I myself am old now, and that just can’t be. I’m hip. I’m young.

I am, to stay on theme here, fresh.

But okay, existential crises and game talk terms aside, the writing team behind Splatoon 2 probably decided to absolutely flex when it came to the narrative surrounding Salmon Run. It is one of the most gleaming examples of the nontraditional things you can do with writing in video games, to really elevate the experience.

Let me explain.

You see, narrative in video games typically falls into one of two categories: either the story sits comfortably inside of the game, utilizing it like a vehicle to arrive at the destination that is its audience’s waiting eyes and ears. Or the narrative, on some level, exists rather nebulously, primarily to provide something resembling context for why the pixels look the way they do, and why the goals are what they are.

Not to say this is a binary state of existence for game writing; narrative will of course always provide context for characters, should there be any. It’s primarily older, or retro games that give you a pamphlet or brief intro with little in the way of worrying over character motivation, and the deeper philosophical implications of the plot, etc (though not for lack of trying). These would be your classic Mario Bros. and what have you, where the actual game part of the video game is nearly all there is to explore in the overall experience.

Then you have games like Hotline Miami that purposely sets up shop right in the middle to make a meta commentary about the state of game narrative, using the ideological endpoint of violent 80’s era action and revenge-fantasy genre film as inspiration and the starting point to draw comparison between the two. It’s bizarre, and I could drone on about this topic.

But I digress.

Despite falling into that latter category, that is to say having mainly just an introduction to the narrative context so you can get on with playing the game, Salmon Run is a stellar example of how you can make every bit of that context count (even if it does require the added context of the rest of the game, sort of, which I’ll explain, trust me).

First, a (very) brief explanation of how the game itself works, for the maybe three of you who haven’t played it yet.

A team of up to four inklings (and/or octolings) have a small island out in open waters. Salmonid enemies storm the beaches from various angles in waves. Each wave also comes with (at least) one of eight unique boss variants, who all drop three golden eggs upon defeat. Players are tasked with gathering a number of said golden eggs each round, for three rounds, after which their failure or success in doing so shows slow or fast progress towards in-game rewards.

And it’s all an allegory for the poor treatment of labor/workers, utilizing the fishing industry as both an example and a thematically appropriate analogue. Yes, I’m serious.

First, Salmon Run is not available through the main doors like the other multiplayer modes. Rather, it is off to the side, down a dingy looking alley. And when you’re shown its location, either because you finally entered the Inkopolis plaza for the first time, or because the mode has entered rotation again, Marina very expressly describes it as a job.

A job you should only do if you are absolutely, desperately hard strapped for cash. You know, the sort of job you turn to if, for one reason or another, you can’t find a better one.

An aside: technically, playing Salmon Run does not automatically net you in-game currency, with which to buy things, as regular multiplayer modes do. Rather, your “pay” is a gauge you fill by playing, which comes with reward drops at certain thresholds; some randomized gacha style capsules, and one specific piece of gear which gets advertised, to incentivize playing.

The capsules themselves drop actual paychecks in the form of aforementioned currency, or meal tickets to get temporary buffs that help you progress in the multiplayer faster via one way or another. Which, hey, you know, that helps you earn more money also. Working to get “paid,” so you can get things you want, though, still works perfectly for the metaphor it creates.

When I first saw it open up for rotation, I found out you had to be at least a level four to participate. Pretty par for the course, considering it’s the same deal with the gear shops. But, again, it’s all in the presentation; Mr. Grizz does not simply say something akin to the usual “you must be this tall to ride.” He says he cannot hire inexperienced inklings such as yourself, because it’s a legal liability.

After returning with three extra levels, I was handed off to basic, on-the-job training. Which is only offered after Mr. Grizz (not ever physically present, mind you, but communicating with you via radio), the head of Grizzco, uses fairly typical hard sell rhetoric when it comes to dangerous, or otherwise undesirable work: calls you kid, talks about shaping the future and making the world a better place, refers to new hires as “fresh young talent,” says you’ll be “a part of something bigger than yourself.” You know, the usual balancing act of flattery, with just the right amount of belittlement.

Whoa, hang on, sorry; just had a bad case of deja vu from when the recruiter that worked with the ROTC back in high school tried to get me to enlist… several times… Guess he saw the hippie glasses and long hair and figured I'd be a gratifying challenge.

The fisher imagery really kicks in when you play. Which, I figure a dev team working out of Japan might have a pretty decent frame of reference for that. A boat whisks you out to sea with your team, and everyone’s given a matching uniform involving a bright orange jumper, and rubber boots and gloves. If you've ever seen the viral video of the fisherman up to his waist in water telling you not to give up, you have a rough idea. Oh, and don't forget your official Grizzco trademark hats.

It’s on the job itself where a lot of what I'm talking about comes up the most; that is to say, despite buttering you up initially, Mr. Grizz shows his true colors pretty quickly. While playing, he seems to only be concerned with egg collecting, even when his employees are actively hurting. This is established and compounded by his dialogue prior to the intermediate training level, in which informs you about the various boss fish.

Before you can do anything remotely risky, even boss salmonid training, Mr. Grizz tells you he has to go over this 338 page workplace health and safety manual with you. But, oops, the new hire boat sounds the horn as you flip to page 1, so he sends you off unprepared. “Let’s just say you’ve read it,” he tells you, insisting that learning by doing is best.

This flagrant disregard employee safety, in the name of met quotas; the fact we never see Mr. Grizz face to face, making him this vague presence that presides over you, evaluating your stressed performance with condescension; that we are not simply given the rewards as we pass thresholds to earn them, having to instead speak with another, unknown npc for our pay… It all drives toward the point so well.

The icing on the cake for me is when a match ends. You, the player, are not asked if you’d like to go back into matchmaking for another fun round of playtime. Rather, you are asked if you would like to “work another shift.”

The pieces all fit so well together. I shouldn’t be surprised that, once a theme is chosen, Splatoon can stick to it like my hand to rubber cement that one time. It has already proven it can do that much for sure. But it’s just so… funny? It’s bitterly, cynically hilarious.

Bless the individual(s) who sat in front of their keyboard, staring at the early script drafts, and asked aloud if they were really about to turn Mr. Grizz into a projection of all the worst aspects of the awful bosses they’ve had to deal with in life. The answer to that question being “yes” has led to some of my favorite writing in a video game.

All of these thoughts, as they started forming in my skull, really began to bubble when I noticed Salmon Run shifts become available during my first Splatfest.

Splatfest is, to try and put it in realistic terms, basically a huge, celebratory sporting event. Participation nets you a free commemorative t-shirt and access to a pumping concert featuring some of the hottest artists currently gracing the Inkopolis charts.

The idea, the notion, that a hip young inkling (or octoling) might miss out on one of the biggest parties of the year because they need money more than they need fun? It’s downright depressing.

It got me thinking. I looked at my fellow egg collectors. In-universe, we were a bunch of teen-to-young-adult aged denizens missing out on all the fun because we desperately needed the cash. We became stressed together, overworked together, yelled at by our boss together. But in those sweetest victories, where we’d far surpassed our quota? We celebrated together.

Spam-crouching, and mashing the taunt, something changed. I felt a greater sense of comradery with these squids and octos than I did in nearly any other coop game. And it’s all thanks to the rhetorical framing of the game mode.

It accomplishes so many things. It’s world building which wholistically immerses you in the setting. But mainly, its dedication to highly specific word choice does exactly what I mentioned earlier: it elevates the experience to one I could really sit down and think about, rather than use to while away the hours, then move on to something else. So many games make horde modes that feel inconsequential like that; it’s just for fun.

There’s nothing wrong with fun being the only mission statement for a game, or an optional mode of play. But this is exactly what I mean when I say this is the nontraditional writing games can do so much more with. And Splatoon 2 saw that opportunity, and took it. And what a fantastic example of bittersweet, cold reality, in this, a bright, colorful game meant mainly for children…

Happy Holidays, everyone!

[searchingwardrobes]

Christmas in Storybrooke: 6/11

I know the number of chapters keeps getting lower, but usually I have the opposite problem. So when I outlined this, I underestimated how much I could fit in each chapter, so they keep getting combined. But it's been working out since posting a chapter each day has been more difficult than anticipated.

I'm a little nervous about this chapter because it and the next one are the reason for the M rating. And, well, it's Henry. Just remember - he's an adult. Andrew J. West. Andrew J. West. Repeat that mantra. It isn't smut, but Henry is definitely acting like a grown man. Having said all that, I love this chapter so much and hope you enjoy it too!

The title of this chapter comes from the song by Kelly Clarkson. I've been listening to her Christmas album a lot as I write this and my CS Secret Santa fic, and this song is so perfect for Henry and Evie!

Summary: My Hallmark Christmas movie fic in which flights get cancelled and Henry’s “best friend’ gets snowed in with him in his quirky hometown for Christmas. Only with magic and fairy tale characters.

Rating: M for suggestive scenes and adult situations, not smut

Trigger warnings: Henry is an adult. Read that again: Henry is an adult. Look at the picset: that’s Andrew J. West. If Henry actually behaving like an adult makes you feel icky, the don’t read this.

Can also be read on Ao3

Tagging @snowbellewells @kmomof4 @jennjenn615  @kday426 @bethacaciakay @teamhook @whimsicallyenchantedrose @snidgetsafan @delirious-latenight-laughs @winterbaby89 @yohoyohoafandomlifeforme @distant-rose

 Chapter Six: Wrapped in Red

The day Henry met Evangeline Crawford, he knew they had at least one thing in common. He had been staring down at his phone, not looking where he was going, when he smacked right into her. She was struggling to carry a box of paperbacks as she moved into the apartment across the hall. When he knelt to help her collect them, he teasingly asked her what grade she was in.

“Is that some sort of sick pick up line?” she had snapped with clear disgust.

He had rubbed the back of his neck, distressed that she had misunderstood. He had waved the book in his hand around. “I can tell you’re a grown woman. It was a pitiful joke about your taste in literature.”

She had snatched the copy of Ella Enchanted out of his hand and stuffed it back into her box as pink stained her freckled cheeks. “Lots of people read YA lit these days. Ever heard of The Hunger Games? Divergent?”

But the box she clutched defensively to her chest wasn’t filled with dystopian novels. Instead, they were all written by Gail Carson Levine, Shannon Hale, Melanie Dickerson, and Marissa Meyer. They were all fairy tales.

Henry really hoped in this moment that Evie’s reading tastes meant she had the heart of a true believer because what he had to tell her was incredibly difficult to believe. Of course, she’d almost fallen through a portal, so there was that.

She clutched a mug of hot cocoa in her trembling hands. His mom sat across from them at the kitchen table. His siblings had been sent outside to “practice their magic” on clearing the walk of snow. Hopefully, there would be no Frosty impersonations along the way.

“So,” she said, setting her mug down slowly, “you said let’s go inside and sit down. Well, we’re sitting. Now care to explain to me how a hole opened up in your parent’s shed and almost swallowed me?”

Henry let out a long, slow breath. “Okay, I don’t really know how to ease into this, so I’ll just say it. Storybrooke wasn’t on the GPS because it’s not supposed to be here. It was created by a curse that my mom – Regina – cast the day my other mom was born.”

“Seriously?” Evie’s voice was halfway between incredulous and hysterical.

“My mom,” Henry continued, pointing at Emma, “is the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming. I introduced them to you as my Uncle David and Aunt Mary Margaret, but they’re really my grandparents.”

Evie scowled at Henry. “You must really think I’m stupid. Those people are nowhere near old enough to be your grandparents.”

Henry swallowed nervously. “They are if time was frozen in Storybrooke for 28 years.”

“This is . . . this is . . . “

“Impossible?” Emma finished for her softly, putting a hand gently over hers. “I understand how you feel. I felt the exact same way when Henry first brought me here. But It's all true.” She tugged on Evie’s hand. “Come here, let me show you something.”

Evie seemed to be in a daze as she followed Emma to the front door. From the doorway, they could see Hope with her hands outstretched, sending bursts of magic to clear the snow from the front walk. By the side of the house, Leia and Charlie were supposed to be doing the same with the driveway. Instead, they were using magic to hurl snowballs at each other.

“Leia Snow and Charles David!” Emma shouted. “Is that what you’re supposed to be doing right now?”

“No mom,” they grumbled, turning reluctantly back to the driveway.

Evie swayed slightly on her feet. “Am I dreaming?”

Henry put his arm around her and guided her back inside. But instead of steering her to the kitchen table, he sat her down on the sofa. He took both of her hands in his; they were cold as ice.

“I know this is a lot to take in,” he said hesitantly.

Evie shook her head. “So, you’re saying that this town is magical?”

Henry nodded.

“And you’re the grandson of Snow White and Prince Charming?”

He nodded again.

“So, that makes your adoptive mom, who? The . . . Evil Queen?”

Henry squirmed a bit. “Um, yes, but she’s given up her evil ways.”

Evie nodded, staring down at the floor. “Are you telling me that fairy tales are -”

“True? Yes, that’s what I’m saying.”

Her brow wrinkled as she lifted her gaze to his. “Your book. That was all true?”

He chuckled. “I like to say it’s inspired by real life. I did get kidnapped and taken to Neverland like the character Elias in my book. And Peter Pan was an evil demon. But the rest? I made up.”

“So Tinkerbell and Tiger Lily aren’t co-captains of a an all-female crew of pirates?”

“Um, no. As a matter of fact, you met Tinkerbell yesterday. Tina?”

Evie dropped her head between her knees for a moment, then sat up and massaged her temple. “Who else have I met?”

“Well,” Henry began hesitantly with a glance at his mom, “my stepdad is Captain Hook.”

Evie rolled her eyes and let out a wry laugh. “Of course he is. He’s missing a hand. What? Did he hide is hook because I was coming?”

Emma shrugged apologetically. “We didn’t want to freak you out.”

Evie surged to her feet. “So instead you let me stumble around in the shed and . . . and . . . I don’t even know what happened in there!”

“It was a magic bean -’

“A magic bean?” Evie shouted, hysterical now. “What the hell?”

Henry stood, reaching his hands out tentatively to rest upon her shoulders. He was relieved when she didn’t shrug him off. “They open portals,” he explained slowly. “They used to be rare, but Tiny has cultivated fields of them on the outskirts of town. People use them to travel between the realms.”

“We keep a bag here and in the sheriff station in case of an emergency,” Emma spoke up. “I’m sorry we didn’t keep them in a safer place.”

“I’m . . . I’m . . . ,” Evie’s eyes looked panicked as she pressed her hands to her cheeks, “I need to go lie down.”

“Evie -” Henry started, but this time she did shrug him off when he went to hold her.

“Give her time, Henry,” Emma encouraged him, reaching out and squeezing his hand.

He looked up the stairs and hoped she wasn’t going up there to pack her bags.

************************************************

Henry tried to give Evie space, but after almost an hour, he couldn’t take it anymore. He made his way upstairs, opening the door of his old room as slowly and quietly as he could. The room was dark, and Evie was curled up on the bed in the fetal position. He couldn’t see her face as he eased down on the bed, wondering if he should say something to her. He reached his hand out twice, but both times, he snatched it back, unsure if she wanted him to touch her.

“Who’s Tiny?”

He startled as she rolled towards him. “I’m sorry?”

“Tiny,” she repeated, sliding up to lean back against the headboard, “you said he grows the magic beans.”

“Oh, um, he’s a . . . giant.” He winced, knowing how crazy it sounded.

She arched a brow. “As in Jack and the Beanstalk?”

He nodded. “Yeah, but Tiny wasn’t the bad guy, Jack was. And . . . um . . . Jack was a woman.”

Evie blinked. “Okay.”

Henry slid up to lean back next to her, swinging his feet over the edge of the bed. “The true stories are a lot different than the ones you heard growing up.”

She nodded, and they were both quiet for a really long time. Finally, she shifted closer to him and nudged his shoulder.

“I just have one question.”

He took her hand. “Anything.”

“How did you manage to hide a giant from me all this time?”

He laughed in relief, relinquishing her hand to envelop her in a tight hug.

****************************************************

Evie looked nervous as he opened the passenger side door for her. She stood on the sidewalk, staring up at the mayor’s mansion, her eyes wide.

“You grew up here?”

Henry cleared his throat. “Yeah. It was quiet and boring, though, trust me.”

She reached for his elbow and clutched it as they made their way down the walk. “I’m even more nervous about having dinner with them now that I know who they really are.”

“They can come across as a little . . . intense,” Henry admitted, “but they aren’t the Evil Queen and the Wicked Witch of the West anymore.”

“And Robyn’s Dad was Robin Hood.”

“Yes, but my Aunt, she . . . kind of tricked him into thinking she was Maid Marian.”

Evie stopped abruptly, and he turned to see her shaking her head incredulously. “Don’t take this the wrong way Henry, but your family is really screwed up.”

He sighed and rolled his eyes. “You don’t have to tell me that. I lived it, remember?”

“And your other grandpa is Rumplestiltskin who married Belle, also making him the Beast, but he also is the one who took your stepdad’s hand, so he’s also the Crocodile?”

He gave her an admiring grin. “You catch on quickly.”

She shrugged, seeming pleased. “Well, they don’t exactly want idiots on the FBI.”

They had reached the door now, and before Henry could even ring the bell, his mother had opened the door and embraced him. She then turned tentatively to Evie.

“Henry called and said he told you everything?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Evie replied, “and though my head’s still spinning a little bit, it’s also kind of . . . an adventure.”

Something about Evie’s expression seemed to make Regina relax her stiff posture and release a breath. “I’m so glad you’re taking this all in stride. I was a little worried . . . “ she trailed off as she ushered them inside.

“Just as long as you don’t serve her any apples,” Zelena teased as she came out into the foyer to join them.

“That’s not funny,” Regina hissed.

Zelena rolled her eyes and winked at Evie. “I’ve always been the one with a better sense of humor.”

Evie laughed as Zelena threaded her arm through hers and escorted her into the dining room. As they passed the stairway, Henry noted that heavy plastic still hung from the ceiling.

“Was the upstairs heavily damaged?” Henry asked his mom.

Regina waved her hand in irritation. “No, it’s just that the work crew isn’t too keen on putting a lot of work into it with the holidays and all. The three of us are going to have to camp out in the den tonight. I apologize for the state of my home, Evie.”

“No need,” Evie assured, as they all took a seat, “I’m honored that you had me over under the circumstances.”

“Well, you need something besides burgers at Granny’s and Pop Tarts,” Regina snarked.

“Mom!”

“Well, it’s the truth,” his mother huffed.

Henry dropped it as Robyn bounced in with a basket of rolls. “Hey, Evie!” she said as she plopped down beside her mother.

“Hey isn’t the proper greeting,” Regina corrected her.

“And don’t slouch, dear,” Zelena added.

Robyn sat up straighter, though she let out a huff as she did so. “Be glad you don’t have two moms,” she told Evie.

“I second that,” Henry laughed, giving his cousin a fist bump.

“Okay, you two, enough of that,” Regina scolded mildly. Then she picked up a spatula and started cutting into the dish in front of her. “I hope you like lasagna, Evie.”

“I love all Italian food,” Evie replied, accepting a helping from Regina. “One of the things I love about New York are the restaurants – especially the Italian places.”

“Well, I hope you like my recipe. It’s famous here in Storybrooke, but this isn’t little Italy.”

Henry had never seen his mom so nervous about her lasagna. She was usually downright cocky about it. Now she was holding her breath and watching as Evie took her first bite.

“I can see why,” Evie told her with a genuine smile, “this is really, really good Ms. Mills.”

“Thank you, and please, call me Regina.” She rose from the table to get the wine, and as she walked past Henry she whispered, “I really like her.”

Henry wanted to clarify to his mom that he and Evie were just friends. He wanted to roll his eyes when Regina winked at him. But honestly? He was pretty sure his feelings were obvious to everyone in town. But were they obvious to Evie?

***************************************************

“So, how bad was it?” Henry asked as they got out of the car at Emma and Killian’s house.

“Not bad at all,” Evie told him. ”Your Aunt’s a little . . . “

“Insane?”

Evie chuckled. “I was going to say eccentric.”

“How polite of you. Or are you doing that thinly veiled insult thing you say southern women are so good at?” Henry nudged her. “Should I call you Scarlett?”

Evie backed away from him with her hands behind her back, her winter boots leaving tracks in the snow. “Please, if I were a southern literary character I would never in a million years be Scarlett O’Hara.”

“Oh?” Henry asked. “Who would you be then?”

“Scout Finch, of course.”

“Ah, the tomboy.”

“Mhm, and Scout is way more fun. Scarlett would never do . . . THIS!” She punctuated the final word by attempting to throw a snowball at Henry’s head. He doubled over laughing when the snowball burst into a small flurry before it made an impact. Evie’s disappointed pout made it even funnier.

“And like both Scout and Scarlett, you know nothing about making snowballs. Have you ever even been in a snowball fight?”

“Yes!” Evie grumbled, putting her hands on her hips, “We do get snow occasionally back home, for your information.”

Henry gathered up some snow in his mittened hands. “Okay, and how did those go for you?”

Evie glanced away from Henry. “Kind of . . . the same way that first snowball I threw. But I thought it was just because the snow was . . . mostly ice and mud.”

“That’s pitiful, Scout Finch,” he said as he continued to work the snow in his hands, “because the key to a good snowball is to pack it really well. See?”

He waited until Evie had drawn close to see his snowball, then he grabbed her and shoved the snowball down the back of her shirt. She drew in a sharp breath at the sudden cold, then screamed as she danced around to dislodge the snowball.

“You are going to so pay for that fairy tale boy!”

“That’s a horrible nickname,” Henry laughed nonchalantly as he worked at another snowball. Evie was gathering up snow, but he wasn’t worried. She still wasn’t packing it hard enough as she ran for him. But instead of throwing a fistful of loose snow like the last time, she leapt towards him and smashed it in his face. He sputtered to get the snow out of his mouth and blinked his eyes. Evie was already sprinting away from him as she laughed, and he took off after her. Soon they were slipping and sliding all over the snowy lawn as they threw snowballs and stuffed other ones down each other’s shirts. By the time they made it inside, they were breathless with both exertion and laughter.

They stomped as much snow off their boots in the mudroom as they could, then peeled off their snow encrusted coats, hats, scarves, and mittens. Henry found a drying rack in the laundry room, and they draped all their wet outer wear over it.

“My clothes are soaked too!” Evie said with a half moan/half laugh.

“Me too,” Henry said, rubbing at his wet hair. His nose and ears were numb too.

Evie shivered as she rubbed at her arms. “I want nothing more than my warm pajamas.”

“And a pile of blankets,” Henry added as they made their way towards the stairs. The house was quiet, and his parents had turned off the Christmas lights. It seemed everyone else was already in bed.

They made their way as quietly as they could to the attic, and then Evie grabbed her pajamas from the end of the bed and dashed into the bathroom. Henry peeled off his wet shirt, then struggled out of his soaked jeans. Even his boxers underneath were wet. He hurried into fresh ones as well as a pair of pajama pants and a t-shirt. Then he draped his wet clothes over the radiator. He had just finished up when Evie came out of the bathroom. He turned towards her, and what he saw caused the breath to rush out of his lungs.

It took his mind back to that summer. Evie had come across the hall in a tight little black dress, the back half undone. She was red-faced and irritated that she couldn’t reach the damn zipper. To say it was a little dress didn’t really convey how short it was. It was for work, some undercover thing, and her legs had been on gorgeous display.

Just like they were now. She was standing there, the light from the bathroom spilling around her, in nothing but her pajama top. It was the same button-up flannel thing she had been wearing all weekend with the little snowflakes all over it, and it hit the top of her thighs. Nothing overtly sexy, but a complete turn on all the same.

“I - uh – forgot to grab the bottoms,” she explained, tugging at the hem of the shirt. He moved towards her, unable to speak. “Henry?”

Her hair was down, the ends slightly damp and curling slightly. It was hanging over one shoulder, and the side of her neck that was exposed drew his attention. He reached up and tucked a stray hair behind her ear, then drew his finger down the skin just behind it. She drew in her breath a little, but didn’t speak or pull away.

“Do you remember that day you came over and asked me to zip up your dress?”

She nodded. His gaze shifted to her eyes, which were watching him intently.

“You turned away from me, gathering your hair up off your shoulders. I felt like I was some bumbling teenager as I worked the zipper. I noticed this freckle here,” he bent and kissed the one behind her ear, “and the one here,” he kissed another on her neck, then he pulled back, his nose brushing hers. “I saw freckles on your shoulder blade, right next to the strap of your bra. I even noticed a cluster on the back of your right knee. And I wondered just how many you had and what it would be like to count them all and kiss every single one.”

She still didn’t speak as he pressed a kiss to the freckles on her nose. “One,” then he kissed each cheek, “two, three,” he kissed her forehead, chin, and each eyebrow, “four, five, six -”

“Henry,” she breathed as his lips hovered over hers, “there are a lot more than six freckles on my face.”

“Oh, you’re right. I missed one here,” he brushed a kiss against a freckle just below her lower lip.

He grinned when her breath hitched. He wasn’t sure who moved first, but then their arms were around one another as their lips moved together. He cupped her face as he swiped his tongue across the seam of her lips, and she parted for him on a sigh. Evie slipped her hand up the back of his shirt, running her fingertips along his spine. He broke away from her lips and kissed the freckles at the hollow of her throat. She let out a moan as his lips drifted lower, his nose nudging aside the neckline of her shirt. Then he was undoing the buttons, and he glanced up to see her eyes closed, her head tilted back. He took his time kissing each and every freckle as he undid the first button, then the second. He felt her tremble slightly when he exposed her breasts.

“Henry,” she moaned, “maybe we should . . . “

Her words were contradicted by the way she dug her fingers into his hair. And maybe they should have paused and considered what this meant for their relationship, but by the time Evie’s shirt hit the floor, neither of them were considering anything other than the way their bodies reacted to each other’s touch.

[daniellethamasa]

Hey all, Dani here.

Greetings! I usually like to do these monthly wrap-ups on the first of the month, but I had a couple post office delays with the delivery of my OwlCrate and a Book Loft package, so I decided I would wait one more day since the shipment tracking said I would get them both today. Thankfully they arrived a few hours ago, so I was able to put the finishing touches on the post.

April was actually a really good month on the being in home and watching shows, reading books, blogging, and playing Animal Crossing. Granted, it was also a lot more stressful in terms of going into work, and I have a feeling that it’s only going to get worse on that, as more and more people are deciding that they are tired of the restrictions of social distancing and now with mandatory wearing of masks, so they are taking their unpaid leave and just not dealing with it. Unfortunately it means those of us who are left have to work even harder, which is physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausting. I’m now actually finding myself wishing that the factory would just close for a week or two until the manpower struggles lessen a bit, but I don’t think that will happen. It’s immensely frustrating. I don’t want to be there with everything going on, but I can’t afford to take two weeks without pay.

But today’s supposed to be a pretty nice day, so I think Damian and I are maybe going to go to a state park that has some pretty nice and wide hiking trails, so we can get outside and walk around a bit. We’re obviously taking our masks with us too. I bought some of Etsy, getting him a Slytherin mask and me a Ravenclaw one. I ordered a couple others but those haven’t shipped yet.

As usual with my monthly wrap-up, let’s start off by checking in on my overall goals for the year.

Reading: I read 30 books in the month of April, 10 of which were manga volumes, two were re-reads, and three were novella length. Overall that takes me to 101 books read already in 2020. Still, I’d say that is a pretty good month of reading. I should probably count up how many pages that is. Okay, I did the calculations, and only counting finished books I read 8,707 pages in April…but really I’ve probably read a few hundred more if you include unfinished reads. Overall though I’m super happy with that. I successfully completed my requirements for the OWLs Magical Readathon, so all I have to do is pass the NEWTs in a couple months and I’ll be a Trader of Magical Tomes. I also participated in Dewey’s 24 Hour Readathon, and that was a whole lot of fun. Plus, I am currently in the middle of the Calendar Girls Springtime Whirl, going until May 11th, so I’m hoping to read a few more books at least for it–I haven’t achieved a bingo yet, but I’m really just having a good time trying to read to fulfill random prompts.

Blogging: It was the best month on my blog so far this year, and pretty close to being my best month in the history of Mousai Books, in terms of stats anyway. In terms of number of blog posts, this was definitely the best month overall…but I’m going to dial it back a little bit, because there’s no way I can keep doing like 10+ posts a week. It’s not sustainable for me right now. But I do still feel pretty good about continuing to have posts up pretty much every day. I wrote up 46 blog posts in the month of April, which is impressive, but it was also a whole lot of work. I did really enjoy the content though. I had a lot of books to talk about, and I especially enjoyed my National Library Week posts.

Writing: Well, I wrote a lot of blog posts, though that doesn’t count on the creative writing front. I was all excited about jumping into writing my book and then the world went to crap and I can’t get in a good mind set to write, so I’ve focused my attention on reading, and more study of the craft of writing. So it’s progress, but it isn’t progress in a trackable form such as increasing word count.

Conventions: Right now we are waiting to see what’s going to happen with Gen Con in late July/early August. It is a massive convention, so we’re expecting there to at least be a ton of restrictions. Lexington Comic and Toy Con ended up being postponed again, this time to June 18-21, and then it was just announced like yesterday that the 2020 convention is being canceled. But we both really want to work with Colorworld Books again, so we’re hoping that Cincinnati Comic Expo in September will still be good to go. My friends at Colorworld Books are trying to continue with their business as a digital affair, but 99% of the profits were made from attending conventions, so this has been a struggle for them. If you want to go check out their online store, that would be great. They have metal art prints and bookmarks, geeky t-shirts, and books. Oh, and you can use ConLife30 for 30% off of all metal, or CORONACON for 10% off any shirts. Oh, and they have actually started doing Colorworld LIVE convention style events just about every week. They gather up three or four awesome voice actors, hold a livestream panel, then a VIP panel for anyone who buys some signed merch, and of course you can get shirts, metal art prints, and more with characters these actors have portrayed. It’s pretty cool.

Okay, I guess I should start with wrapping up my time with the OWLs Magical Readathon. I was going for the Trader of Magical Tomes career path, which required me to read 4 books. I ended up changing one of the books from my TBR out because it was taking me so long and I worried I wouldn’t finish it in time. But, other than that, I was successful in reading all four books, so I’m ready to continue my Magical Tome training in the NEWTs later this year.

I’m also in the middle of the Calendar Girls Springtime Whirl, which is a bingo inspired reading challenge running from April 13-May 11. Once the reading challenge is over I’ll share a post with an updated bingo board covering all the categories I completed.

All right, let’s run through everything I read in the month of April. If I have a review up, I’ll also include the link back to that post.

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare — 4.5 stars

Bonds of Brass by Emily Skrutskie — 5 stars

The Winter Duke by Claire Eliza Bartlett — 4.5 stars

Manga Classics: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte and Po Tse — 4 stars

The Queen of Raiders by Sarah Kozloff — 5 stars

Mr. Penumbra’s 24 Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloane — 5 stars

Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren — 4 stars

You Deserve Each Other by Sarah Hogle — 3.5 stars

The Library Book by Susan Orlean — 5 stars

Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron — 5 stars

Hickville Crossroads by Mary Karlik — 4 stars

An Affair of Poisons by Addie Thorley — 4.5 stars

Fruits Basket Collector’s Edition Volume 4 by Natsuki Takaya — 4 stars

The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman — 4 stars

Steering the Craft by Ursula K Le Guin — 4 stars

Witches of Ash and Ruin by E. Latimer — 4.5 stars

This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone — 5 stars

Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey — 5 stars

Fairy Tail Volume 8 by Hiro Mashima — 5 stars

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin — 4 stars

The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu by Joshua Hammer — 4.5 stars

Fairy Tail Volume 9 by Hiro Mashima — 5 stars (review coming May 4, 2020)

Fairy Tail Volume 10 by Hiro Mashima — 5 stars (review coming May 18, 2020)

Fairy Tail Volume 11 by Hiro Mashima — 5 stars (review coming June 1, 2020)

Fairy Tail Volume 12 by Hiro Mashima — 5 stars (review coming June 15, 2020)

Fairy Tail Volume 13 by Hiro Mashima — 5 stars (review coming June 29, 2020)

Fairy Tail Volume 14 by Hiro Mashima — 5 stars (review coming July 13, 2020)

Fairy Tail Volume 15 by Hiro Mashima — 5 stars (review coming July 27, 2020)

The Last Smile in Sunder City by Luke Arnold — 3.5 stars

The Honey Don’t List by Christina Lauren — 4.5 stars

Whew, that was quite the list of reads for the month. Seriously I had a lot of fun reading this month and definitely found some books that are contenders for my Top Ten Reads of 2020 from April to June, so that’s great. Unless something bad happens, I have a feeling that this will be my best year of reading in a long time.

All right, next it’s time for the book haul portion of things, starting with the OwlCrate unboxing.

I think I’m really going to enjoy putting together the Moony puzzle, and the book sounds rather interesting. Clearly I enjoy having another notebook, as those are handy to have around. Same with the tote bag. And Damian really likes the wooden phases of the moon banner, so I gave that to him to add to the decorations in his man cave. I actually do like the OwlCrate version of this cover better than the original. The people are a bit closer and bigger, and the cover has this wonderfully eerie glow to it, almost as if it is bathed in moonlight, which is great. Plus those sprayed edges.

And, before I get into the rest of the books for my monthly haul, I want to talk about some other purchases I’ve made lately.

The stickers I bought off of Redbubble and they are from a dozen different artists. A few of the stickers are for Damian (and he already put them up in his man cave) and the rest are going on my art wall collage. The metal art prints are from my friends at Colorworld Books, and I love the metal art, but it is not easy to capture their beauty in a photo because of the reflection of light. Maybe I’ll think of doing a little video of them in my Instagram stories or something. I might pick up some more art this weekend. We’ll see.

As part of the bookhaul portion of today’s post, I need to do a shout out to The Book Loft of German Village in Columbus, OH. After some requests on social media, they complied and decided to offer a Malamarkus Mystery Box. You pay a single price for the box, tell them in your order comments what genres you would like, and then they fill the box with items such as books, a tote bag, bookish pins or stickers, etc for you. I have purchased two of these boxes, and it’s really fun to get a package where you have no idea what books they will select for you. The first box I ordered I gave them the genres of Epic Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, and Manga, with a couple examples of authors/series for each. I loved the selections so much that I picked up a second box, asking this time for fiction that makes me feel like I’m playing Dungeons & Dragons.

What’s really fun about both of these boxes is that they ended up having books for both Damian and myself. In the first box he got Dr. Stone because he watches the anime and wanted to try the manga, and The Starless Sea because I already owned a copy. In the second box I gave Damian The Last Wish, Heart & Shadow, and The Shadow of What Was Lost, again because I owned all of them already. What is really funny is that I had just bought and received that last one from my Barnes & Noble order a few days ago. Oh, and Damian also got the tote bag because I already have one–in that exact same color.

Okay, now for the standard bookhaul segment of the post.

Along with picking up the two books in her Dasreach Council series that I didn’t have, I also was able to buy that lovely Beauty and the Beast stained glass cloth mask from author Josette Reuel as well. We are now required to wear masks while at work, and I wanted to have a selection of cloth masks instead of relying on the disposable paper ones they are going to hand out at work. Though I’m still trying to figure out a good/easy way to be able to get a drink while also working on the factory floor, because the masks make you overheat even faster and that means you dehydrate even more.

Finally I guess it’s time to talk May TBR. I am sort of participating in Moody May, hosted by Kathy from Books and Munches and Destiny from Howling Libraries, and the whole point of Moody May is to read whatever you are in the mood for, which is perfect for mood readers who don’t like TBRs. But I’m sort of a mixed reader, because I enjoy having a somewhat planned TBR and then picking up mood reads to supplement my reading. So, I have made a rather ambitious TBR, which will probably be supplemented by shorter mood reads.

See what I mean? This stack of books is massive. Why am I doing this to myself? Honestly it’s because I seem to pick up thick fantasy reads as the weather gets warmer. I don’t even know how many pages are in these 10 books. So, yeah, I was curious and checked and those ten books are 6,276 pages.

Now that doesn’t include the fact that I’m in the middle of three or four other books that are also around 500 pages each. What can I say? I do love a good lengthy read, especially right now when my weekends are not filled with running around or playing D&D for hours and hours.

April Wrap Up and May TBR Hey all, Dani here. Greetings! I usually like to do these monthly wrap-ups on the first of the month, but I had a couple post office delays with the delivery of my OwlCrate and a Book Loft package, so I decided I would wait one more day since the shipment tracking said I would get them both today.

[aftgonice]

11 questions tag

I was tagged by a lot of people, I kept this in the drafts for weeks and just kept adding questions since they’re always different, so thank you for tagging me and sorry if this post is long (I’ll just put it under keep reading).

Also it might be that I forgot or missed someone who tagged me so if that’s the case I’m sorry I’m not ignoring you I promise!

Rules: 1. Always post the rules 2. Answer the questions given by the person who tagged you 3. Write 11 questions of your own 4. Tag 11 people

Questions by @severeminx

You are hosting a dinner party and can invite 5 historical figures. Who would they be? Mozart, Da Ponte, Aristotle, Lucretius, Marie Skłodowska

What was your favorite cartoon as a kid? probably Pokémon!

What’s your signature drink when going out? Japanese ice tea

Do you have any tattoos? If not, would you like to? i don’t have any and i also don’t think i’ll ever find something that i want on my skin permanently, but we’ll see if we get there i guess

Who was your favourite classmate when you were 16? oh god...thank god this didn’t ask when i was 17 lmao...anyway my fav classmate was my then-BFF. there were also a couple of girls i really found interesting but i guess it wasn’t reciprocated so they always only hung out with a bigger group and being the shy person i am i couldn’t let myself try to be friends with them

How did you meet your best friend? we were in kindergarten together lol, but we didn’t talk (play??) much. then we were in different classes during elementary school but we got in the same class again in middle school and that’s where we became friends

Do you like going to museums? What is the art style you want to check out the most? okay i’m going to admit this here. i like museums, okay? but i’d rather see something like a natural history museum or something like that, honestly i’m a big science nerd and i don’t get as excited about art i guess. but i do go to art museums when visiting cities and i actually find them really interesting, but if i’m just in my town and there’s some temporary art exhibition i just don’t really care about going unless it’s something suuuuper famous :/// i feel like a lot of people will hate me for this buT LISTEN SCIENCE IS IMPORTANT GUYS

What feature or quality do you get complimented on the most? are we talking physically?? people like my hair and my nails I guess. If we’re talking personality-wise then idk, they tell me I’m good at listening (which I admit) and my bff told me he thinks I’m brave and I guess I understand why he said it but honestly I still don’t believe it

What is the most romantic place you have ever visited? I’m not sure because since watching YOI the only romantic place on earth for me is Barcelona and I haven’t been there yet lmao. The places I’ve been to aren’t exactly romantic so I don’t know

What would you define as ‘magical’? That thing that your mind does after 1 or 2am when it becomes more loose without needing drugs but it just gets high on lack of sleep and you’re suddenly really talkative and funny and you can have really deep conversations with people and your jokes are honestly on fucking point and you wish you were like that during the day

What is the most expensive item of clothing you have ever bought and was it worth it? I honestly don’t know oh my god. Probably the suit (pants + blazer) I bought a few years ago and that’s still good and whenever I have to be dressed in a “serious and elegant” way that’s what I go for. So yeah it was worth it.

Questions by @yakoucchu

 The piece of makeup that you always wear. i don’t always wear it but if i wanna put on a bit of something then it’s definitely gonna be mascara + lipstick (or colored lip balm) because I think they both make a ton of difference. Actually now in summer I almost always have colored lip balm from Lush because it’s too humid to be wearing mascara and I don’t feel like wearing a waterproof one lol

If you’re gonna be the author of your favorite series, what are you gonna change in it? well that would be a spoiler lmao but i guess i’d make someone who died in it live

There’s a fact that is happened to you and it makes you heart warming a lil bit when you think about it? you mean besides YOI and captive prince? cuz that’s all i can think about lol (there’s more but i’m being lazy with my answer sorry)

 Someone have ever done something that we can define crazy for you? yeah when my bf first came to visit me and we met for the first time (because we met online)

Do you like your current occupation? i’m unemployed but i’m “working” on being able to find a job soon but tbh i have food and a roof on my head and i’m needing this time of doing nothing but trying to take care of myself so i wouldn’t say i like this but it’s all i can do now

Smoothies, or Milkshakes? smoothies

What’s the thing that you love the most about yourself? hsrghsghshgshgsh most difficult question ever tbh. i like that i’m...rational? yeah rational 

The most strange thing that you ever tried to eat grossed you out? ummmmmmmmmm watch me get a lot of hate for this but....................................................sushi grosses me out and i almost puked when i tried it

Are you ever tried to write something, and after a while giving it up? Why? i did, a lot of things actually. i had an idea for a fic that i realized was going to do me more harm than good so i had to ditch the idea. there are things i know i could write but they’re too personal and still too raw so idk if i ever will write them. other WIPs are just there in my folder for no other reason that I either lost inspiration or that they’re honestly fucking hard to write and I still don’t have all the plot 

How do you feel right not? If I said to you “you’re doing great” it can change something? i’m struggling to keep my shit together. and yes, it changes something so thank you a lot for telling me that :) <3

What’s your favorite movie? idkkkkkk i rarely watch movies but of the latest ones i guess interstellar

Questions by @crescendotayuri 

1. what’s one thing you could never live without? my phone lmaoooooo so cliche

2. what’s your favorite part of your daily routine? probably right after managing to get out of bed, the moment i finally sit down for breakfast with a croissant and a cappuccino (typical italian breakfastTM)

3. what are you most passionate about? ...yuri on ice and captive prince and lgbt+ rights and the environment

4. what’s the best dream you’ve ever had? I don’t really know but sometimes I dream that I become internet-famous and it’s really sad that this is literally one of the best dreams I have lmao

5. happiest memory? I have a few but one of them is seeing Florence and the Machine live (i have others but they’re a bit too personal so idk)

6. are there any videos/jokes/etc that never fail to make you laugh? oh god yes........i’m so lame but like any meme will have me laugh tbh. kermit meme? i laugh. dude blinking meme? i laugh. spongebob meme? i laugh. i could go on lmao but i’ll stop embarrassing myself. there’s also a few comics that I have saved on my phone and they never fail to make me laugh but it’d be hard to explain them here

7. one talent you with you had/could perfect? it’s never been my wish to be able to draw but now that i’m into fandom i guess i would like to be able to do it at least a little. and i wish i could perfect my writing (or at least perfect my English at a native speaker level so it’d be easier)

8. a song you relate to the most? Help I’m alive - Metric

9. how do you take your coffee/tea? i only have cappuccino or latte macchiato and only rarely espresso. get american coffee out of my sight. tea is earl grey usually without milk bc i mostly use tea (without sugar) to stop me from wanting dessert lmao but if i’m feeling like it i’ll take it with milk bc it’s too good

10. what do you do to make yourself feel better when you’re sad or upset? i rewatch yoi or go on twitter and hope there’s some good memes but i trust my squad so yeah usually there’s something

11. what makes you proud of yourself? being a decent person despite everything

Questions by @pllsetskyonice:

1. What’s a song you can’t get enough of at the moment? AAAA it’s too hard to choose one! Just one yesterday by Fall Out Boy and literally every song from Lorde’s Melodrama

2. If someone asked you for a book recommendation, what’s the one book you would recommend? The question is trickyyyy because obviously not all books are for everyone especially if we’re talking about stuff with major trigger warnings etc etc but if I have to say I’ll just go with my fav trilogy Captive Prince (granted I’m talking to an adult) but I’ll leave it to them to decide if they’re up to reading it or not

3. Do you play any musical instruments? Nope :( used to play the piano and then stopped like the idiot I am, but I sing

4. Book or movie? Book

5. Do you ever wish you could turn back time? Eh. I guess.

6. Favourite subject in school? Science in whatever form it came (it was different things every school year but it doesn’t matter if it’s geology chemistry or w/e I’m just a huge science kid)

7. You’ve been given tickets to a concert for an artist you’ve always wanted to see live but never had the chance to. Who are you seeing? Maybe Marina and the Diamonds but there’s so many oh my god I also wouldn’t mind seeing Florence again but I’ve already seen her.......oh wait LORDE YES LORDE probably if I had to choose right at this very moment

8. Is there an accessory you don’t feel dressed without? Not really

9. Have you ever been to a festival? I’m not sure what kinda festival you mean but I think not

10. Have you read all of the original seven Harry Potter books? Yeah but still not in English oops

11. What’s the last film/TV show you watched? Last film was Beauty and the Beast when it came out lmao I’m not a huge movie person, last TV show mmmh let’s say that YOI counts for this yes? because it’s always YOI and I don’t feel like watching anything else rip

My questions:

If you were a character in the last book you’ve read, what would be your role? Protagonist, side kick, villain...?

What’s your biggest pet peeve when reading a book or watching a show/anime/movie? (if you can’t only name one feel free to name a few)

Do you consider yourself to be a creative person?

Describe one person in your life you admire without mentioning the type of relationship you have with them

What’s one personality trait you’d give up immediately if you could?

Think of the farthest place you’ve traveled to and describe one culture shock you had while there (even something small)

What’s the one thing that always manages to motivate you?

What would you tell your 10 year old self?

What’s your favorite trope?

If your BFF tells you (lovingly) “why are you like this?” what are they referring to?

Are you scared of something right now? If you are, what’s one sentence you wish someone would tell you about the thing that scares you?

I tag: @betelxeuse @ilgattopatata @ehsocietypretendstoomuch @otayurl @argentoheart @nerily @janiedean @robb-greyjoy @laurent-rose @dotingdamen @venenix but obviously feel free not to do it (but if you do tag me bc I love reading your answers) fdklahrgag I hope I don’t get annoying with all these tags

[amwritingmeta]

Regarding Jack: comments on the finale, with S13 Spec

I love the curveballs this show throws at me. I love these particular types of balls because they are so goddamn hard to catch that when I do, oh, the satisfaction is so sweet. Let me begin by stating (as it needs to be stated) I was wrong when I said Cas was powered up as in full-feathered and back to his Castiel-shaped angelic form - this did not happen when the nephilim worked through him to kill Dagon. I read that wrong.

And watching 12x23 on Friday, what threw me for the absolute biggest loop was Cas’ description of “the future” that Jack showed him; Kelly’s death; and that final image of Jack in the nursery in the dark.

All of these things are on the side of the rather overtly ominous and it shook me to the core, because even though I believed they weren’t going to have baby Jack come out with rainbows shooting out of his fingertips, I did expect him to be neutral: not glow-y eyed spitting image of daddy Devil having just killed the Good Mother figure and seemingly happy with leaving that rainbow-tree-sunrise mural in perpetual shadow. *internal screaming*

Now, breathe, refocus, reassess.

Nothing is ever exactly what it seems at first glance on this glorious piece of television (okay, some things are, except usually not, not even the fucking car the brothers drive is simply “a car”. moving on) and this morning, mulling over my reading of 12x19 and the cliffhanger of 12x23 it suddenly struck me, like a curved ball flapping itself all over my face until I had to slap it away to be able to actually process what it was flapping at me about. It was flapping about this simple statement by Cas:

Call it a miracle.

And holy bedazzled Chuck in the sky with diamonds - that’s it, isn’t it? That’s how Cas will come back!! 

Jack is - or, at least he can be - the bringer of miracles.

And whether Cas comes back because he has residual nephilim grace coursing through him after the power up - which to me just makes an enormous amount of sense (and big shout out to everyone who has pointed out that Cas’ healing of Dean revealed that something was different about Cas’ grace, because I didn’t notice that on Friday) or because Jack actually physically decides to resurrect him, it doesn’t matter in the slightest to me: the point is that the resurrection will be tied to Jack and I am certain of this now.

So, why does this make so much sense to me?

Because the baby nephilim was good, it was the angelic side to Jack, reaching out for an angelic Protector because it didn’t want to cause suffering and rejected Dagon’s evil side, it wanted to protect Kelly at all costs, sending an image of the world THE ANGEL SIDE OF THE NEPHILIM WOULD THINK IS PARADISE BECAUSE IT DOESN’T HAVE FULL UNDERSTANDING OF FREE WILL YET in order to restore Cas’ faith and get him into Mission Mode. The nephilim did not control Cas by doing this, it never wanted to control him because above everything else, the baby’s goodness is pulled towards Cas’ humanity: his free will, that has always pushed Cas to break the mould and do what is right. This vision was a defence mechanism, however, stemming from a baby angel, meant to inspire and provide Cas with the certainty of being right in his OWN CHOICE TO PROTECT IT, and, to be honest, I believe this future is what the nephilim, in it’s innocence, would have wanted to strive for, it was not a lie or rooted in deception: because the nephilim did not understand that Utopia cannot exist without the exclusion of Free Will and it did not possess the capacity to UNDERSTAND WHAT FREE WILL IS. 

It didn’t. And Newborn Jack still doesn’t. Not yet.

Furthermore, there are so many reasons why this vision would appeal to Cas - especially where he has been at emotionally for so many seasons - and I know @mittensmorgul spoke about this in one of her recent posts that is saved for reblogging and there was so much that I agreed with there, but for here I’m leaving Cas’ internal motivations alone because it feels like a tangent. Safe to say it’s more than possible that to him Free Will is beginning to have a bad, bad connotation and a World Without Suffering is what has always, always appealed to him the absolute most, no matter what the cost. Remember him touching that crying baby and making it feel better: all Cas wants to do is to help. Cas on Mission Mode is not thinking straight: and that is why he died. To shed that persona. (I am screaming right now. I am sincerely screaming with glee at the very thought.)

Oh, my brain is on overdrive and oh, my God, I hope I could be right in this because then everything I’ve thought since 12x19 fits. It fucking fits! Ok, sorry, digressing, let’s continue.

Why does The Newborn Jack not represent the angelic side of the nephilim? Because what fun would that be for a cliffhanger? What fun would that be as a problem in urgent need of solving at the beginning of S13? Newborn Jack is the DEVIL side, the corrupted angel side, the side that is volatile and dangerous and in NEED OF GUIDANCE.

What makes me think this? Oh, this is the best part! I’m so sorry for being so over-zealous but I’m fucking ecstatic!

Newborn Jack’s Devil side is overshadowing not only his innocent baby angel side (underlined by the visual of Jack’s glowing eyes in shadow, tying him to all the times we’ve had that visual of Lucifer this season), but more importantly this side of Jack - just as his innocent angelic side - is not yet in touch with his humanity and this fact is LITERALLY SHOWN IN A FUCKING VISUAL AS HE SITS IN DARKNESS BY THAT MURAL.

Kelly’s LOVE was poured into that mural, her HOPE for the future, her FAITH in her son. Remember, what she chose to paint on that wall is not connected in any way to the baby nephilim’s vision of “the future”, the vision that it showed Cas, because KELLY DID NOT SEE THE VISION OF PARADISE, ONLY CAS DID. That mural was painted by the Good Mother, filled with true devotion for her child, and trust in what she was doing was right: because it was right, guys. The mural represents what could be up ahead, once the nephilim has been raised right. Not “paradise”, but a world in balance. And for Jack to be raised right, what needs to be reached by Dean Sam Cas TEAM FREE FUCKING WILL by that person who is strong enough to lead Jack down the righteous path is what that mural represents: Jack’s humanity.

He needs to be taught the value of choice because even though his father is an arch angel, he was BORN WITH THE BUILT IN CAPACITY FOR FREE WILL by having a human mother. A mother who is good and who died telling him that she loved him.

MIND FUCKING EXPLODED.

Okay, calming down. Again. This might all be wrong, my lovelies. But if it’s right…

I feel it’s still possible that the lingering goodness of the baby nephilim - the angel side wanting to perform miracles - brings back both Kelly - it’s mother - and Cas - it’s chosen and trusted Protector through both of them possessing its lingering grace, and that Kelly will prove a positive force in dealing with Jack, but that her function will still be to die at the hands of Lucifer, because it would be so profoundly symbolic for Jack to have a reason to hate his father, as it ties in so damn nicely with theme for the entire goddamn series.

The troubled family, guys, ’tis the name of the game, is it not? 

The family you’re born into vs. the family you choose. 

The perpetuated obligation of being bonded by blood vs. the bonds you choose to honour because they are unconditional and made of your own free will. 

For Jack to finally properly reject his evil side it is possible that a truly evil act will need to take place, so that he can feel the loss, gain perspective and realise who his real family is, his real friends, who the people are that truly have his back, no matter what he does or the mistakes he makes. I would really, very much love this to be part of the comment on our overarching theme for next season and, possibly, S14 (though I do get the feeling, after watching the J2 panel from yesterday, they might make that a shorter season and that they are ending the series with episode 300, which feels so right somehow.)

But hell, as with everything, all of these comments of mine is me spitballing and boy, I could be completely completely missing the mark here. It needs to be said. (I think I’ve got a pretty good aim though) (stop that) (sorry) 

Getting back to Lucifer, I just always felt like Luci would kill Kelly and there was no way around it. I’d like that, anyway. It makes sense to me because it ties Luci so firmly to the Bad Dad category of parents and Bad Parents get snuffed. *shrug*

For this to happen Luci obviously can’t be trapped in another dimension, but I think Lucifer and Mary will be back in the narrative fairly quickly (at least by 13x04 at the latest) and I think Lucifer will be a real, big, huge threat next season as he vies for control over his son. At least this is my very deep hope. This combined with the continuous threat of the BMoL Elders, of course. 

Lucifer deserves to be frightening again, and his demise at the hands of Team Free Will aided by Jack would be a fucking beautiful bookend to the series itself - where Lucifer has hovered somewhere in the background, like the catalyst of horror that he has always represented - and this demise needs a proper build up. I don’t count S12 as proper build up, it really did nothing to further Lucifer as a threat for me and he mostly annoyed the casual viewer into just wanting him to go away already, which I find understandable. I would love to see him interact with Jack and manipulate him into doing bad things etc. I feel Jack is volatile, but that he is literally Jesse now - our previous taste of the antichrist. Jack might do bad things, but from an innocent perspective, because he doesn’t know any better. 

He. Needs. Guidance.

For me all of this makes sense because I feel the narrative is pulling so strongly towards positive endgame that, for them to turn around and make Jack kill the world, well, it wouldn’t make any sense. Then again, perhaps he’s not here to bring balance either. I just really, really like that idea and I would love that ending for our TFW: they can all still hunt and engage in this life they love, but they don’t have to save the world and risk their necks on such a huge scale every year. Their suffering will lessen markedly. I want that so very much. That and happiness for them!! Please, Dabb!! :)

TEAM FREE WILL IN S13!

[dragon-temeraire]

Unexpected

I saw some people talking about the “Stiles comes back from college hot” trope, and it reminded me that I needed to make a seperate post for this fic!

Inspired by this post. (On AO3)

He’d been hoping for a reaction.

If he was being honest, he’d actually been anticipating a reaction.

While he’d been away at school, he’d started meeting people and making new friends. Some of those friends had turned out to be fitness guys, who loved running and working out. Stiles had ended up accompanying them on numerous gym trips, until eventually he liked it enough to just go, with or without them. He’d liked the feeling of being stronger, being able to trust his body to do what he wanted.

He’d become more confident with his looks, and started accepting invitations to parties. He’d started buying better-fitting clothes to show off his physique, and felt incredibly flattered when he was flirted with often. He’d kissed a lot of people, talked to a lot more, learned as much as he could, and even hooked up a few times.

He’d spent a lot of his days hanging out with everyone in the quad, wearing fitted tank tops and catching the sun, getting a nice light tan. Then his friend Marie, who was studying cosmetology, had begged him to let her cut his hair. She’d promised the style would ‘flatter his face,’ and wow, she hadn’t been wrong. It’d made his features look even more refined, drawing attention to the line of his cheekbones and the strength of his jaw.

He knew he looked good, and better yet, he really felt good about himself.

So, when he’d showed up at the pack meeting, he’d expected them to say something about the changes, maybe even tease him a little. He’d been all psyched up for them to see that he’d been thriving, that he wasn’t pale, skinny Stiles anymore.

What he hadn’t expected was Derek to throw down the book he was reading and mutter, “Fuck you,” as he stomped right out of his own loft.

“Um, what?” Stiles says, bewildered. Then he has to ask three more times, because Scott is laughing too hard to answer.

“I tried to warn him,” Scott gasps, “but he wouldn’t listen.”

“Seriously, what?” Stiles says again. He’s really starting to feel like the butt of a joke, because the rest of the pack’s still snickering, and they all seem to know exactly what’s going on.

“The thing about having werewolf friends,” Scott says with a grin, setting a hand on his shoulder, “is that you can’t keep your crush a secret.”

Stiles feels his stomach plummet. Had it been that obvious that he’d come back mostly just to see Derek?

Had that bothered Derek so much that he’d actually felt the need to leave?

“I think I’m gonna go,” he says thickly, not meeting Scott’s eyes.

“You should really talk to him,” Scott says encouragingly, squeezing his arm.

Stiles is very sure he’s not going to do that, but he can’t help looking for Derek on the way to his jeep. That’s when he notices the Camaro is gone.

Derek actually drove away.

Stiles tries not to think about what that means the entire way home.

*

Scott comes over the next day, while Stiles is out front watering the plants.

“Derek feels really bad about yesterday,” he says, no preamble.

“Yeah, well so do I,” Stiles grumbles, knowing Scott will hear him anyway. “I shouldn’t have come back.”

Scott gives him such a painfully benevolent look, Stiles is tempted to spray him with the hose.

“Derek took it really hard when you left,” Scott says. “More than I would have expected. He’d been looking forward to you coming back for like a month, so when you walked in—”

“He smelled my awkward crush on him and bolted?” Stiles angrily cuts in.

“No,” Scott says, eyes wide. “Definitely not.”

“Oh,” Stiles says, surprised. “What was it, then?”

“I could tell he was lonely, you know?” Scott says instead of answering the question. “You were at the loft a lot this summer, getting ready for college, and once you were gone...” He pauses for a moment, thoughtful. “So I would go over there sometimes, and mention something about you, and he would just light up. I would tell him about our skype conversations or texts, and he was always so happy to hear about you, so glad you were doing well. But I could tell he missed you a lot.”

“Oh my god,” Stiles blurts. “When you were saying that crushes don’t stay secret around werewolves, you were talking about Derek!”

“Yeah, man,” Scott says, laughing. “Erica thought it was great. She would print pictures from your facebook and give them to him all the time, with CALL HIM written in big letters on every one.” He shakes his head, grinning. “I don’t think he ever threw them away, either.”

“I can’t believe it,” Stiles says wonderingly. Then he pauses. “You’re not fucking with me, are you?”

Scott shakes his head. “I wouldn’t joke about that. You should talk to him, let him explain.”

“Yeah,” Stiles says, trying not to feel too giddy. “But I have to finish up here first,” he says, winding up the hose.

“Okay,” Scott says, pulling him into a tight hug. “I’m glad you’re back.”

“Me too,” Stiles says, and he means it.

*

Derek shows up just as he finishes the weeding. Stiles watches his cautious approach, trying not to grin.

When Derek gets close enough, Stiles glances down at his box of garden tools, then back up. “Do I need to give you one of these, so you can throw it down and walk away again?” he asks coolly.

Derek looks suitably chagrined.

“I’m sorry about yesterday,” he says. “Scott tried to warn me, but.” He swallows audibly. “I had been thinking about you coming back for so long. Then I looked up and there you were, and you looked so good, and your scent was—” he cuts himself off. “I may have panicked.”

Stiles bites his lip, trying not to smile. This nervous version of Derek is too adorable.

“I mean, I get that I looked different. But why such an…over-reaction?” Stiles asks curiously.

“I didn’t realize it until after you left,” Derek says hesitantly. “How I felt about you, and I regretted not saying anything. So I was really anticipating telling you. Then you showed up looking like that, so gorgeous when you’re already so smart and funny, and I figured I was…” He sighs. “I figured I was too late.”

“Too late for what?” Stiles asks, tapping his fingers nervously against his thigh.

“Too late to ask you out,” Derek says. “You had to be dating someone already.”

“Me? Too—” Stiles suddenly laughs. “It’s not too late,” he says, still grinning.

“It’s not?” Derek says, brightening. “Then, Stiles would you—”

“Yes, I will be your boyfriend,” Stiles cuts in impatiently. “Now kiss me already.”

“I was going to ask you to lunch, or maybe a movie,” Derek says against Stiles’ lips. “But boyfriend works, too.”

[rheaamyett]

RECAPITULATION, Vol. 2 OF 12

And so our SECOND art stew recap begins.

{February 6th-5th of March}

I am not a four exclamation marks kind of person but if I were they would be framing every sentence here because the fact that we had a whole hearted, contribution filled February just sunk in for me.

Every week art consistently flies into the Art Stew pot… there are over 300 deliberate and relevant posts in the #artstew52 on Instagram!

SO! It’s time for that sentimental (really fun for me) task of reminiscing and highlighting the month that was in the Art Stew Fifty-Two. I’m thinking what better way to start than in all the “Lovey-dovey”, sappy ways which was...

WEEK SIX—LOVEY-DOVEY/VALENTINE

Love can be celebrated by us anytime but there was an extra focus on it for the Stewards the very first week of February. All your individual takes on the prompt gave me the warm fuzzies and some inspired chuckles and well…. inspired me to be a better person like Sophie’s did...

Art by Sophie Greve, @wild_and_precious_creative, “…last week’s prompt was Lovey-dovey, and I just so happened to have the great pleasure of making over 80 Valentine’s for this amazing home in my area that takes in women who are in domestic abuse situations. I love love love card making and hand-lettering, and I pray each one finds it’s way into the hands of someone who needs it. I hope today you get to spend time with the people you love, and I also hope you show some love to strangers too—you never know who needs it.❤”

WEEK SEVEN—INSPIRING FIGURES IN HISTORY

You guys are all-time saying that I’m torturing you by making you pick favorites!! Well, it is kind of true... it is always hard to pick just ONE from several favorites and inspiring figures are especially near and dear to us. It is so exciting and rewarding for me personally to see “works of art” week after week that solely came to fruition because of the Art Stew prompts. This piece in particular reminded me of that as well as put me into a “wow” trance.

Art by Emily Holtane, @emilyh_art, “This week's prompt was "historical figures" so, I decided to draw this white and black charcoal portrait of Virginia Hall. She was an American spy during WWII. She was a badass. Look her up.”

I found myself wanting to do a lot of “looking up” for our Inspiring Figures this week. There were some I had never really focused on and others that I hardly heard of SO! to make it easier for all of us to keep up here is a list of everyone’s INSPRIRING FIGURES IN HISTORY with links to the art they inspired:

@bertillustration started the week off by making the prompt extra awesome by imagining her Inspiring Figure dinner party guest list. (Click on the Stewards names to be linked to the original Instagram post.)

Elizabeth the First

Anne Boleyn

Beyoncé

Carrie Fisher

Michelle Obama

Virginia Woolf

@lungfamine - Thomas Paine

@teaganolivia - Winston Churchill

@opallonia - Mary Winston Jackson

@ariellebacon - Sydney Smith

@coreycatkins and @gracie_eyre - Vincent Van Gogh (there were two, no surprise here!)

@klaing_ - Dr. Seuss

@wilkinsonsophi1 - Eleanor Roosevelt

@hatchingartist​ - J. M. Barrie

@alyssa.kinde - Lilias Trotter

@thistleandleaves - Atticus

@jennapaddey - Audrey Hepburn

@homebodiesco - Abby’s: St. Francis, Reagan’s: Cleopatra

@1bird2go - David Hockney

So take this as another “to read” list when you’re feeling you need some inspiration. Hmmm... maybe someday we’ll appear on someone’s Inspiring Figures list. :)

WEEK EIGHT—MUSICALLY

Music and creating art goes hand in hand doesn’t it? (Oh, speaking of, I’ve got a music themed gift for you... more on that later.) The post below was submitted by one of my old friends and I actually met her grandad once. The memory is unforgettable!

Art by Bronwyn Cotten, @themythicalphoenix, “When I saw that the prompt for this week’s #artstew52 was Musically, I thought of this song. My granddaddy used to sing this to my grandma. Most of my time with them was at the end of their lives, and it was easy to focus on the negative, Granddaddy had Alzheimer's and Grandma had dementia. But every now and then I think back to my childhood, to him singing this song and I smile. Granddaddy called Grandma his sweetheart until the day he passed away. 

I Love You Truly

I love you truly, truly, dear, Life with its sorrow, life with its tear, Fades into dreams when I feel you are near, For I love you truly, truly, dear. Ah! love, 'tis something to feel your kind hand, Ah! yes, 'tis something by your side to stand; Gone is the sorrow, gone doubt and fear, For you love me truly, truly, dear.”

I can think back to a very fond memory of the man in the picture that was not so long ago. I was standing in a crowded reception room. Everyone was shoulder to shoulder bumping into each other trying to see the bride and groom as they were getting ready to drive away when suddenly someone straight up ran into me. They grabbed hold of my neck to steady themselves, both of us apologizing, and I was laughing and looked to see who it was. At the time I had no idea, he just looked like a little happy old man. I was about to step forward and then realized after a second that he wasn’t planning on letting go of my neck anytime soon so we had a meet and greet right there! Him looking up at me and asking me who I was and how I was doing from an inch away. Someone came by to collect him then but before he left he told me I had a beautiful smile and I believed him because no one had ever gotten such a good look at it before!

One last highlight for me from this week was hearing some of the Stewards use their art to play and sing. Did you know that Coralyn (@coreycatkins) has the voice of an angel? She said this was “An attempt at Gloomy Sunday.” (I’m still waiting for the attempt part because this is wholey and totally beautiful.)

A post shared by Corey (@coreycatkins) on Feb 25, 2017 at 1:18am PST

WEEK NINE—WINTER’S LAST BREATH

“Her crimson cheeks and white velvet cloak dissolve into vernal rains and floral gowns. Winter's Last Breath is Spring's First Song.”—Arielle Bacon (see the art combined with her words here: @ariellebacon) 

I learned this week that Arielle is a writer as well as a core artist. You go on to Teagan’s embroidery piece, I’ll catch up in a second, I’m going to read that again, it’s so beautiful.

Art by Teagan Olivia Sturmer, @teaganolivia, “My piece for this weeks #ArtStew52 prompt—"Winter's Last Breath". Loved this prompt so much. Today really does feel Spring-y. I slept through my first tornado yesterday, but this morning was bright and beautiful and filled with chirping birds.”

Okay, we’ve reached “gift” time. 

The Stewards in the Facebook group all put their heads together and came up with some songs they felt had “spring-y” vibes. You’d think the different genres and styles would not sound good together but It’s that stewy dynamic magic I tell you! Our tastes all compliment each other. This playlist is really special. We’ll have to make another for summer.

I named it:

SPRING STEW

Listen.

I’m getting to know you all so well and I’d like to give one particular Steward a shout out for helping keep me inspired behind the scenes this month.

Lydia Grace!! (@gracie_eyre) She does a weekly Instagram live in which she plays the piano and takes requests. I do not have an example for you but I do have a tiny clip of a very relatable epiphany she had during one of our conversations the other day...

A post shared by Rhea Amyett (@artstew52) on Mar 5, 2017 at 1:58pm PST

We share so many favorite books and films and she sent me this after one particular film conversation. I died laughing. :D Make sure you follow her, she is pure comedy AND she will enlighten you on how to successfully make an Instagram Live video!

I will close out with the bonus prompt we had running all month (and will continue to run forever because INTRODUCTIONS are timeless.)

There are so many us “profligate guppies” now! (As @lipstickandgelato dubbed us.) If you want to add your own introduction or already have an introduction but don’t see it here just tag with #artstewards on Instagram! (Also if you want, click the hashtag to read more about each Steward or say “hi”.) There are a handful of men around here but just in case...

The Stewards do not bite nor cook man-artists!!

;)

Okay, see you on the flip side! Particularly when we start sharing our art for March’s extra exciting Prompt List! 

MERRY MARCH, EVERYONE!

P. S. There is not an option to leave comments below but I would love for you to leave any thoughts, reactions—anything, by clicking the tab under the header that’s labeled “Comments & Good Conversation”.

[baneismydragon]

OT4 Nonsense pt 4.

YES IT’S BACK! (I am reposting this without the art this is inspired by to make it easier to link to the others later.) This is set about a month or so after where part 3 left off. I might go fill in the gaps later. 

This chapter is based on the following art: http://hchano.tumblr.com/post/155309545851/yo-fangirlmorelikefangay-im-your-mlsecretsanta

“Nino!”

“GAAAHHH!” Nino shrieked, spinning towards his open window to see a distraught looking Chat Noir poking his head in. “Dude! I… Jeez, you cannot just sneak up on me like that!”

The hero hunched his shoulders, his cat ears flattening ashamedly.

“Sorry, I just… I needed to talk and I thought it would be ok…” Chat Noir began in what might have been the most pitiful voice his friend had ever heard from him.

Nino sighed, shaking his head slightly and trying not to laugh at the pathetic picture clinging to his window sill. “I don’t mind that you are here just, I don’t know, knock or something,” he said, gesturing for him to come into the room.

“Sorry.” Chat said again, his transformation dropping away in a flash of green light to reveal a sheepish and somewhat disheveled looking Adrien. His small black companion immediately darted into the corner of the room where Nino had turned one of his old toys into a kwami den the last time they had stopped by.

Nino got up from his desk chair and sat down on the edge of his bed, patting the mattress next to him in a beckoning gesture.

Adrien wasted no time climbing up onto the bed and curling up into Nino’s lap, his arms wrapped securely around his boyfriend’s waist.

Nino began softly carding his hands through Adrien’s hair, knowing that the easiest way to get the severely repressed boy to open up about anything was to simply say nothing and wait.

It didn’t take long.

“Have you ever thought that something was one way, and then found out that you were completely wrong and that everything you thought was true is a lie?” Adrien said, his voice somewhat muffled as he buried his head into the fabric of Nino’s tee-shirt.

“Huh… I donnow. I mean, two weeks ago I was a normal guy with just a normal- well, somewhat normal- girlfriend. Now I find myself in a complex polyamorous relationship with both said semi-normal girlfriend, and my best friend, who apparently I have been unconsciously dating since November- who, by the way, decided for our one week anniversary to tell me that he has secretly been running around saving Paris for the last two years in a skin tight leather cat-suit. Nah, that is a completely foreign feeling. Your own your own my friend.”

“You’re so mean,” Adrien whined, squeezing his arms tighter and shaking his head in irritation. “I am going through a profound and deeply distressing emotional epiphany and all you can do is make fun of me.”

“I am not mean, you are just melodramatic,” Nino teased, eliciting an irritated huff from his boyfriend. “So do you wanna tell me what happened or are you just going to be vague and depressing?”

Adrien stiffened slightly.

“It’s stupid,” he said softly. “I’m just stupid. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“If it matters to you than it isn’t stupid. And if it matters enough that you are going to come chasing me down, after midnight, less than three hours after I got home from my trip- which you already knew- then clearly you should say something, regardless of how stupid it is. So talk to me, what’s going on?”

Adrien muttered something incomprehensible, burying his face further into the fabric of the tee-shirt.

“What was that? I didn’t catch a word you just said.”

“I said I don’t want to make you mad at me.”

“Why would I be mad at you?” Nino asked, scratching at Adrien’s scalp with his fingertips in the way he knew never failed to relax the boy.

“Because I am an idiot,” Adrien sighed dejectedly, his muscles going limp.

“Did you kill someone?” Nino asked calmly.

“No…” Adrien replied, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

“Did you suddenly decide to join up with Hawkmoth in his quest to seize the miraculouses in order to achieve… actually what does he want out of all of this?”

“Honestly? No idea. He wasn’t really up front with his motivations. And no.”

“Did you start dating Chloe?”

“God no!”

“Then I can’t think of anything stupid you could have done in the last 48 hours that would make me hate you,” Nino said smiling. “So, what horrible cat-astrophy brought you scampering to my window at one in the morning?”

“Did you just make a cat pun?” Adrien asked, his eyes lighting up and a hint of a smile playing at the corner of his lips.

“Well, I have it on very good authority that you like them.”

For the first time since his arrival Adrien seems to calm down and Nino smiled to himself. Score one for the boyfriend.

Adrien sighed contentedly and wriggled around a bit, adjusting his position so that he was face up with his head propped against Nino’s thigh.

“You are the best, you know that right?”

“Hang on, can you repeat that into a microphone so I can play it on repeat to Alya?” Nino teased.

Adrien laughed, catching a hold of his friends hand and entwining their fingers.

Nino said nothing but raised his eyebrows expectantly to show that he wasn’t going to be that easily distracted.

Adrien’s expression sobered and he stared absently at one of Nino’s many posters, a soft blush staining his cheeks.

“So, yesterday was New Years,” he said softly.

“Yeah I think I got that memo.”

Adrien rolled his eye. “Do you want me to tell you what happened or not?”

“I’m sorry, please continue.”

“Anyways, father was out of town and so were you so I thought I might go and… um… well I decided to go try and visit Marinette.”

Nino bit his lip to clamp down on the string of questions that THAT statement evoked.

“Did it not go well?” he said instead, attempting to sound casual. He knew that Alya had spent the holiday at Marinette’s as well, and she hadn’t mentioned anything about Adrien being there, which was already suspicious given her obsessive matchmaking. Either Adrien was really making a big deal out of absolutely nothing, or something had gone extremely wrong.

“Well… She didn’t exactly know I was there… I sort of… um… I might sometimes… goandvisitherasChatNoir.”

“WHAT?!”

“She is like my biggest fan! And she totally gives me cookies and gets all excited, and she is really cute and it’s adorable, don’t judge me!”

“And how long exactly have you been ‘visiting’ Marinette in disguise?” Nino said, punctuating his statement with air quotes.

“Only the last 5 months or so.”

“Only the…” Nino took a deep breath, “you know what? We are tabling that for now, back to the original conversation. So you are creeping outside Mari’s house in disguise-“

“I wasn’t creeping!”

Nino raised an eyebrow.

“Ok I was kinda creeping, but the point is I get there and…” his expression darkened. “Well she was sort of… occupied.”

“Did… oh my God, did you walk in on her and Alya making out?”

“I didn’t walk in so much as saw it through the window.”

“You’re jealous!”

“I never said that!”

“But you are!”

Adrien didn’t say anything, instead he twisted around again, curling into a fetal position with an irritated pout.

Nino couldn’t help it, he burst out laughing flopping back on the bed and covering his face with his hands.

“Okay, I might have been a little jealous,” Adrien confessed softly.

“You think?”

“Do you hate me?” Adrien asked quietly, his tone heartbreaking vulnerable.

“Oh, dude of course I don’t hate you,” Nino said reassuringly, reaching to haul the miserable looking boy up into a tight cuddle. “You are my best friend AND my boyfriend it would be rather inconvenient if I hated you,” he said soothingly, stroking Adrien’s back. “Not to mention it would pretty much make me the world’s biggest hypocrite, seeing as how I already have a girlfriend and a boyfriend and agree with both of them that Mari is smoking hot.”

Adrien relaxed, snuggling into the embrace and letting out a gentle purr at the affectionate attention. Nino wondered idly if he would ever get used to the surprised thrill that shot through his system every time it happened. He rather hoped not.

“In fact,” Nino continued smugly, “if I remember correct I was the first person in our group to ask her out.”

“You mean try to ask her out,” Adrien laughed, “You failed miserably remember?”  

“It’s still more than you have accomplished Mr. cat stalker,” he retorted causing Adrien too blush and bury his face again. “Besides I have no complaints about how things worked out in the end.”

Adrien hummed noncommittally, closing his eyes and continuing his purr filled snuggling.

For a few minutes they just stayed as they were, Nino occasionally rubbing his hands down Adrien’s back or ruffling his hair, hoping to reassure the boy that he was, in fact, loved and wanted.

“So have you been beating yourself up for the last 24 hours because you have a crush on Marinette?” Nino asked.

“Maybe.”

“You are killing me man,” he sighed, chuckling a little at the whole ridiculous situation.

“I told you I am an idiot,” Adrien said.

“No it’s not that. Do you have any idea how much I want to hold it over Alya’s head that I was right this whole time? Seriously, it is taking every bit of self-control I have not to grab my phone and just start screaming I told you so for the next 20 minutes.”

“You knew?”

“Technically I suspected, since you never admitted it until now. But I can’t say anything because you know Alya. She is going to want details and I can’t really explain what happened since she doesn’t know that you’re Chat Noir.”

“I mean, if you need to we can tell her. Plagg doesn’t really seem to care that much about the whole secret identity thing, right Plagg?”

“It’s your life kid do what you want. Tikki’s the one with all the stupid hangups about it,” the kwami called out from his nest on the other side of the room.

“See,” Adrien said, “it’s not a problem, and besides it’s not like I don’t trust Alya.”

“It’s ok, you don’t have to feel pressured into revealing yourself for my sake,” Nino said, slightly awed that Adrien would even offer something so monumental.

“I want you to be happy.”

“I am happy,” Nino said, squeezing Adrien a little tighter.

“I know but… I know that it would make things easier for you. You guys are always telling me about how the key to this whole relationship thing is being honest and communicating, and this is a pretty big thing to be hiding from Alya.”

Nino worried his lip lost in his own thoughts. It would definitely be less stressful if Alya knew about Adrien’s double life. Plus they would both be able to potentially support him- helping to come up with excuses when he ran off after Akumas, filling him in on missed homework, that sort of thing. Not to mention that it would pretty much make Alya’s year having direct access to the Super heroes. On the other hand… an idea began forming in Nino’s mind and he smiled.

“You know let’s wait a little bit. You know, have some fun with the whole thing first.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, Alya and I are supposed to be meeting up at Mari’s tomorrow night for a study group to finish off that physic project that’s due on Monday.”

“You guy’s still haven’t done that?”

“Not all of us are you Adrien. Anyways my point is, since Chat Noir has a history of visiting Marinette anyways, you could just show up. You know Al would love it.”

“Yeah ok. I mean, Marinette usually makes me wait up on the roof. I think she is worried that I am going to attack her yarn collection or something.”

Nino tried to repress a snort of laughter. That certainly explained a lot about Adrien’s continued obliviousness. He wondered how Adrien would react to Marinette’s- admittedly toned down since she had started- choice of décor.

“I am sure between Alya and myself we can talk her into letting you inside,” Nino said with a smirk. This was going to be a lot of fun.

“Okay, it’s a date.” Adrien gave him a wide smile, then sighed again. “It’s late I should probably go.”

“You can stay if you want. It’s not like we have school tomorrow and you already said your dad’s out of town.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I mean, you might not have noticed but I kind of enjoy your company.”

Adrien grinned again before kicking off his shoes and wriggling back into a comfortable position.

“I really do mean it, you are the best,” Adrien murmured sleepily.

Nino smiled, dropping a gentle kiss into his boyfriend’s hair. “I love you too Adrien.”

[kekepuaa]

Ladyblogging, part three

Summary: in which marinette realizes that the internet is a lot smarter than she thought and that the only way to protect her identity is to join the ranks. identity reveal. adrienette.

Notes: Here’s a list of blogs/twitter accounts; they’ll be updated regularly as I go along c: 

Mari: @littlestutterbug/Ladybug Alya: @theladyblogger/The Ladyblog Adrien: @adrienagreste/chatblanc (AHA!) Nino: @djxbubbler Chloe: @queenbee Sabrina: @pastelprincess

-

part three: theory [Previous][AO3]

-

Saturday had been a rather peaceful and uneventful day for the most part. The weather was lovely and Marinette had woken up bright and early to help her parents out in the bakery. Since costumers usually didn’t start coming in until 11 or noon, Marinette was allowed to man the register while her parents caught up on some work out back.

Marinette spent about half an hour doodling in her sketchpad before taking her phone out: No new news. 

Looking over her shoulder to see if the coast was clear, she opened up her internet browser and went to her blog, which was at this point more popular than the Ladyblog. Marinette knew what to expect from creating a blog under her superhero alias and she was somewhat aware of the risks it came with, but never had she ever imagined how much closer her blog had brought her to the people who frequented it.

She talked about her favorite movie yesterday, of all things.

No Hawkmoth, no akumas--just one lonely Parisian bellringer and some friendly banter with a few commenters, one of which who spoke like Chat Noir.

She shook her head: Ladybugs seemed to attract eccentric cat-themed characters where she went. Nevertheless, despite the risk she was taking, blogging was proving to be a very interesting pastime that she had invested in. 

It wasn’t until early evening when Marinette was relieved from register duty, the young teen skipping up to her bedroom, two steps at a time. She was expecting Alya any minute, and her room was still a disaster from the stroke of inspiration that had struck the girl the night before.

As Marinette ran around her room, quickly picking up discarded slips of fabric haphazardly scattered across her bedroom floor, Tikki zipped up to Marinette’s bed, snuggling deep into the warm sheets. 

“You gonna sleep, Tikki?”

“Mmhmm,” the kwami sleepily replied, “Just for a bit. Wake me up if there are akumas.”

Marinette climbed the loft and found Tikki, dozing on her pillow. Smiling softly, she learned forward and pressed her lips against Tikki’s forehead, who hummed and burrowed herself deeper into Marinette’s bed. 

With Hawkmoth’s Akumas attacking more frequently, Ladybug’s kwami had been exerting more energy than usual, which left Tikki fatigued and often dozing away in Marinette’s purse, a half-eaten cookie by her side.

Marinette wondered if Chat Noir’s kwami was the same too.

If his kwami was anything like her overdramatic, pun-loving kitty cat, then she was more than positive that he had his hands full right now. 

Marinette had just finished putting everything away when her bedroom door swung open. Alya hopped into her room, her curly, dark and red ombre locks looking slightly disheveled. 

“Hey!” Marinette greeted her best friend and gestured for her to take a seat, “I was wondering when you were gonna get here.”

“Sorry,” Alya said, “I had some stuff to go over. I didn’t get much sleep last night.”

“I figured,” Marinette replied, eyeing her friend’s appearance, “What kept you up? Have you been stalking Ladybug’s blog again?” she added playfully. Alya stuck her tongue out at Marinette and huffed indignantly.

“I’ll have you know that I was doing research, not stalking.” 

“Okay, yeah, sure. Did you find anything?” 

To be honest, Marinette wasn’t exactly expecting any groundbreaking theorizes from her best friend other than the fact that she and Ladybug had the same favorite film. In the past, there had been a few close calls, but now Marinette could proudly say that there was no way that anyone was gonna find her out while she was still alive.

“I’m, like, 99% sure Ladybug goes to our school.”

...or, Marinette thought, I could just go into hiding until people forgot who Ladybug was. She knew that option was out, but Alya was already on her trail and drawing closer.

Okay.

There was no need for her to panic yet, Alya didn’t exactly have proof that Ladybug went to their school.

“Check out this list I compiled of Ladybug sightings and why I think she’s a student at Collège Françoise Dupont.” Marinette willed her hands to remain steady as she gently accepted a worn notebook from Alya.

Tikki was going to kill her when she woke up. (Well, not really, she corrected herself, but this could be disastrous for her.)

Marinette opened the book.

--

Theory: Ladybug is a student at Collège Françoise Dupont  (A compilation of pieces of evidence that I literally just remembered and probably should fact check but will do that later)

Ladybug knew my name when Stoneheart was around (Source: ME, she called my name after she activated her Lucky Charm.) 

Ladybug has a history textbook that is only used by our school in all of France (Source: ME, see the Ladyblog for video footage of LB dropping the textbook.)

Ladybug appeared at school with the Horrificator had sealed up all entrances and exits. (Source: ME, and everyone else in class.)

Ladybug’s interactions with Adrien Agreste are reason for me to believe that she either knows the boy or is in love with him. Or maybe both. Most likely both. (See page 3 for details. Note to self: Ask Marinette for her opinion.)

--

Wordlessly, Marinette handed Alya the damning log, trying her best to not scream. Was this what criminals felt like when the police were just about to bust them? Marinette considered transforming and leaping off her balcony, but she knew that wasn’t even a logical option.

Okay, calm down, calm down. She wasn’t found you out yet, she told herself, she’s just put together some things in the past, so as long as I don’t slip up while I’m in the suit, I think it’ll be okay.

“So?” 

Marinette jumped, “S-So what?”

Alya didn’t seem to notice the nervous energy unraveling from within Marinette, as her attention seemed to be focused on her phone. 

“So do you think Ladybug likes Adrien?” Marinette stifled a squeak, “This is really important for my research.”

“I-I don’t know,” Marinette answered as calmly as she could, “I mean, s-surely she has a crush on him because he’s a m-model and she must have seen him somewhere before. H-His face is all over Paris.” 

Calm down, Marinette thought, You’ve got this. You can totally do this! 

To Marinette’s relief, Alya seemed to take in her response, nodding sagely. Feeling encouraged, Marinette continued, “And Ladybug is aided with magic, so I wouldn’t rule it out that things like knowing people’s names and even appearing in the school when Mylene was akumatized--maybe all of that was a result of magical influence?”

Of course, Marinette knew what she was saying was total garbage, but Alya didn’t need to know that. She could only hope that Alya would listen to her and keep her eyes off the school.

“Maybe...” Alya muttered after a few beats of silence, “...besides the only girls Adrien’s spoken to are the girls in the class, and as far as I know, every girl has been akumatized--” Marinette flushed pink, “--so Ladybug definitely couldn’t be in our class.”

“R-Right!” Marinette was quick to agree, “Remember when you thought Chloe was Ladybug?”

“Oh God,” Alya rolled her eyes, “Don’t remind me.”

It seemed that luck was on Marinette’s side today.

--

Ladybug Posted: 2016-04-30

Subject: DON’T YOU WORRY ‘BOUT A THING MAMA

Let’s just say that I am one lucky son of a bug. I won’t go into it, but phew. Talk about a nail biter.

You know when you get so anxious, your blood seems to feel cold?

Yeah, I had the pleasure of experiencing that this afternoon. The feeling passed quickly enough, but I had to drink, like, six cups of tea to recover.

God. 

Worrying about little things will be the death of me. I’m pretty sure my life span was reduced by 2 years.

I need a croissant or something. Maybe I should just go to sleep. Excuse me.

-LB

Comments:

Response to DON’T YOU WORRY ‘BOUT A THING MAMA Posted: 2016-04-30 Subject: Just start breathing into a paper bag.

Chop Suey: Girl, you’re a superhero. Just knock out before someone gets akumatized again.

Response to Just start breathing into a paper bag. Posted: 2016-04-30 Subject: Hopefully it won’t get to that omg

Ladybug: T R U E.

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Response to DON’T YOU WORRY ‘BOUT A THING MAMA Posted: 2016-04-30 Subject: Lavender & Chamomile tea should do the trick ;)

The Ladyblog: You act like someone was close to uncovering your secret identity ;)

Response to Lavender & Chamomile tea should do the trick ;) Posted: 2016-04-30 Subject: ALREADY BREWING IT. 

Ladybug: Wouldn’t you like that, Mlle Ladyblog?

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Response to ALREADY BREWING IT. IT’S GOD’S GIFT TO THE WORLD. Posted: 2016-04-30 Subject: It’s God’s gift to this world. The Ladyblog: DANG IT. SHE’S ON TO ME. ABORT! ABORT!

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Response to DON’T YOU WORRY ‘BOUT A THING MAMA Posted: 2016-04-30 Subject: COZ I’LL BE STANDING ON THE SIDE WHEN YOU CHECK IT OUUUUTTTTT

chatblanc: If you’re looking for a good bakery, I definitely recommend the Tom & Sabine Boulangerie Patisserie on Rue Gotlib? I happen to be friends with the daughter of the owners; their food is to die for. You’ll definitely gain back the two years you lost, especially if you try the salmon and spinach quiche.

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Marinette frowned at chatblanc’s comment. She knew them? There was a possibility they could be lying to her (CATFISHING IS A REAL PROBLEM, FOLKS), but why would they lie about such a minuscule detail?

Maybe Marinette was just paranoid, but it was better for her to check to see who the mystery person was than to be surprised when said mystery person showed up at her bakery, screaming “hey Ladybug!” in front of all their customers.

She felt a headache coming on at the thought.

A click on chatblanc’s URL led Marinette to a locked blog. Well, that didn’t seem sketchy at all. The only lead Marinette had on this person was that they created their blog the day after the Ladyblog was created and that they had a whopping total of 3 journal entires.

Other than that: Marinette had nothing, left in the dust by a mysterious cat who had questionable taste in Disney movies, knew exactly what Stevie Wonder song she was referring to in her subject line of her last post, and who apparently loved her dad’s quiche. 

She made a mental list of who it could possibly be, but came up empty every time.

Frustrated, the young girl exited out of her browser and switched her monitor off. Sleep seemed like an attractive alternative to the headache pounding in her ears.

Curling up next to Tikki on her bed, Marinette rolled over and shut her eyes, clearing her mind of her overly-curious best friend and the stranger-not-stranger on the internet.

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Alya C. @theladyblogger #AKUMAALERT: There is a child transforming cars into giant wooden trains...

Alya C. in reply to Alya C. #AKUMAALERT: [LINK TO LADYBLOG STREAM]

Alya C. in reply to Alya C. #AKUMAALERT: The Eiffel Tower is falling!

Alya C. in reply to Alya C. #AKUMAALERT: #Ladybug and #ChatNoir are on the scene!

Alya C. in reply to Alya C. #AKUMAALERT: #Ladybug has been taken and tied down to railroad tracks!

Alya C. in reply to Alya C. #AKUMAALERT: #ChatNoir’s cataclysm has destroyed the track and the incoming toy train

Alya C. in reply to Alya C. #AKUMAALERT: Akuma cured. #Ladybug and #ChatNoir saves the day! 

Alya C. in reply to Alya C. Livestream will be on the site with a follow up article.

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Ladybug Posted: 2016-05-01

Subject: Hawkmoth is literally the Most Inconsiderate person Ever.

LOL guess who was taken and strapped down to some railroad tracks like a Damsel in Distress in one of those classic American Westerns? 

It’s all good though since Chat’s cataclysm saved me :’) (sends virtual fist bump to my kitty cat)

WHO AKUMATIZES A 5-YEAR-OLD CHILD ON A SUNDAY MORNING? Sundays are for sleeping. 5am?! You should be A S L E E P. 

I had a bunch of things due this week, so I would have appreciated an extra five hours of sleep. Ugh.

What a jerk. 

It was a quick fix (insert insincere ‘Better luck next time’ here), but still. By the time I got back to my house, my papa was already making noise in the kitchen and my maman was checking my room to see if I was awake. 

I need some green tea, like pronto. 

And possibly 53 waffles to gorge on to make up for this morning.

-LB

Comments:

Response to Hawkmoth is literally the Most Inconsiderate person Ever. Posted: 2016-05-01 Subject: Rise and Shine, LB!

chatblanc: 53 is a pretty exact number, Ladybug...

Response to Rise and Shine, LB! Posted: 2016-05-01 Subject: Don’t tell me what to do.

Ladybug: For your information, 53 is the perfect number for waffles. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some waffles to be devouring and some sleep to be catching up on. PS: Your friend’s bakery is 10/10. I may or may not have helped myself to 3 additional croissants on top of the first one I wanted. #carbqueen

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Response to NO. Posted: 2016-05-01 Subject: Don’t be like that :(

chatblanc: !!!! My friend will be ecstatic when she hears that her food has Ladybug’s approval.

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“So, I see you’ve developed an interest for blogging,” Chat Noir casually mentioned that evening. The duo had just completed a rather uneventful patrol around the city and decided to stop for a break, sitting side by side on top of an old brick building, a little ways away from the bakery.

Ladybug shrugged, keeping her eyes trained on her feet, which she swung back and forth.

“It’s a good pastime,” Ladybug admitted, “Sometimes I get so wound up from my day-to-day life that I just need some kind of outlet to let my brain decompress.” 

He nodded, and stretched out beside her, his glowing green eyes trained at the dark sky above him.

“Hawkmoth’s been so active lately,” Ladybug continued, laying back beside Chat, “I hardly have time to sleep, everything is picking up around me, I’m getting behind on my school work--”

“I thought you were 5,000 years old?” Chat joked and Ladybug slapped his arm, effectively shushing her partner.

“--it’s like he’s trying to wear us down or he’s getting desperate and is really trying to go for our Miraculouses,” Ladybug knew for a fact that Hawkmoth didn’t exactly work like her or Chat. He didn’t fight his own battles and could summon multiple akumas without needing to recharge his kwami. At this point in the game, Ladybug found it miraculous that he hadn’t sent out multiple akumas at once.

“Well, Buginette,” Chat sighed and turned onto his side, facing her, “It’s not like we can do anything to prepare for it. We just have to keep provisions on us at all times in case our kwamis have to recharge.” 

“I guess so...” Ladybug agreed, “...but you have to admit it, Chaton. Haven’t you been feeling a bit worn from all these akumas?”

“Not really,” Chat Noir confessed quietly, “I see this life as an escape for me, and if I have to fight some cranky old man sending off evil butterflies to keep it, then I will.” 

For the first time, Ladybug found herself wondering about Chat Noir’s other life. Never before had she expressed an interest (it was more one-sided on his part), but if chasing down akumas was something her chaton considered liberating from his day to day routine, she couldn’t help but wonder.

“And besides,” Chat Noir said, suddenly playful again, “I get to spend time with my lovely Buginette, so I’m more grateful to Hawkmoth for being so persistent.” 

Ladybug rolled her eyes and sat up, Chat quickly following her example. 

“We should turn in for tonight.” 

“Man, I would kill for a pastry right now,” Chat Noir grumbled, rubbing a clawed hand on his rumbling stomach. 

“Well, I heard from a little kitty that there’s a good one on Gottlieb.” Ladybug casually replied, “I’ve had some of their stuff before; I think you’d like the salmon and spinach quiche.”

Ladybug didn’t see the strange look Chat Noir gave her, turning in time only to catch the wide grin stretched across his face. He stepped closer to her, swiped up her hand, and lifted it to his lips, pressing a kiss against it.

Ladybug pulled her hand away from Chat’s with a small chuckle and pushed him gently against his chest.  

“I’ll try it out tomorrow then,” Chat Noir declared, “I’ll see you soon, Buginette.” 

It wasn’t until Chat had vaulted off the roof that his words had fully registered in Ladybug’s mind. I’ll try it out tomorrow then. 

“Wait. What?” 

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Ladybug Posted: 2016-05-02

Subject: Foot, meet mouth.

You know how you get yourself tangled in compromising situations because of your big mouth?

Yeah, this seems to be a running theme this week. And it’s Monday.

Stay tuned, all!

-LB

No comments have been posted.

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When Marinette walked into the classroom Monday morning, she wasn’t surprised to find everyone congregated around Alya as her best friend read her theory to their classmates; however, the words still made her rather anxious.

Here she was, here Ladybug was, overhearing her best friend openly talk about Ladybug’s secret identity with all their other classmates. She felt like she was on the edge of a cliff and the only thing keeping her from toppling over the fact that nobody had seen her transform.

Nor had anyone noticed the fact that she and Ladybug had never been seen in the same place and the same time, save for the one time when Alix was akumatized.

From the door, Marinette strained to listen to her conspiring classmates.

“Well, if Ladybug goes to our school and is in our grade, then who could she be?” Alix asked, “We already know that she isn’t in our class since everyone here’s been akumatized.” 

“Well,” Alya said, “There are only two other classes in our grade level, and according to my research, none of those girls match Ladybug’s body type, nor do they have black hair and blue eyes--”

“Hey, remember when Alya thought Chloe was Ladybug?!”

“--shaddup Nino. The point is, it’s unlikely that she’s there too. We already know that she’s in this school and in our grade because of the history book. We just need to think of someone who hasn’t been akumatized...”

Marinette’s heart pounded wildly in her chest.

She thought of things that could possibly save her: sneaking out of the classroom before they noticed she was there, dying her hair, changing her hairstyle, but everything was impractical. Illogical. She had been far too careless in the past to cover this up.

“Wait a second,” Max said, “Marinette hadn’t been akumatized yet!”

Soft murmurs grew in the circle. Ice settled in Marinette’s stomach and sweat began to bead at her temples.

“This is it, Tikki,” Marinette whispered, “They’re going to find me out and then Hawkmoth’s gonna find out and we’re all gonna be doomed--”

“Marinette, that isn’t true!” Tikki squeaked from Marinette’s side, “Just stay calm!”

“What’s the point? They’re already right there.”

“Marinette--” Tikki began to say, but clammed up with a yelp. Marinette watched from the corner of her eye as Tikki ducked back into her bag.

“Tikki?” she whispered, “Tikki!”

She didn’t get to investigate any further, as her sight had been obscured by one blonde-haired, green-eyed angel who smiled softly at her. The ice she had previous felt in her stomach melted, quickly forgotten, and, like second nature, a pretty pink flush rose in her cheeks.

Adrien grinned.

“Hey, Marinette!” 

And Marinette slipped, not noticing the class observing the exchange, now aware of their recent suspect’s arrival: Adrien caught her before she could sink any lower, prompting the girl to squeak, flail, slip and proceed to fall again, her descent towards the ground quickly halted as Adrien wrapped his arms more securely around Marinette.

“Woah, you okay?” he asked, “No bones broken?”

“Y-Y-Yeah,” she stammered, “You thank, Adrien! I mean, I love you! I mean, thank you, Adrien!”

Marinette scrambled away from her crush, nearly tripping over her own feet as she stumbled into the classroom. She overheard Alix whisper to the crowd, “There’s no way she could be Ladybug.”

In that moment, Marinette had never felt so lucky before.