#morro secret santa

[morrotober]

Calling all Morro fans! Thank you to everyone who participated in Morrotober this year, but now it's time for our winter event! (I will still be on the lookout for late Morrotober posts though so don't hesitate to share them!)

Sign-ups for the Morro Secret Santa are now open! Please note we will be using drawnames to assign giftees.

This event is split into two categories. You can do one or both of them:

Low Effort Morro Secret Santa: This event is focused on low effort digital cards, with a maximum of 30 minutes spent on each card. Just create something fun and silly! All works will be a digital card. Posting time for this event is December 20-January 1.

Normal Morro Secret Santa: This is a normal secret santa event, where you are expected to put some effort into creating a gift. Every participant will fill out a wish list on drawnames with at least 3 prompts they would like to receive, and you will pick one from your giftee's list to do. Works can be anything, not just limited to digital art. Posting time for this event is January 20-31.

Check out the full rules/guidelines here!

Sign ups will close November 30 so be sure to join by then! Results will be sent out Dec 1-2 and you must accept the drawnames link and confirm your participation by December 10 or else we will consider you no longer interested.

For any questions, feel free to drop an ask or bother me in the Morrotober discord server!

[reinadraus]

Greenie for a secret santa

[sensei-twinkles]

What time is it? That’s right it’s Secret Santa time! Thanks to @kokosnuss-jaguar for hosting another year! ☺️

I got @pangolinsandnewts and it was such a pleasure to draw these three! I hope you enjoy it 💕

[purplerose244]

Recipe for a Smile

Hello! This is my entry for the Ninjago Secret Santa! 🥰 Thank you @kokosnuss-jaguar as always for hosting the event!

My gift is for @sensei-twinkles! I hope you like my present, I had lots of fun working with Kai, Lloyd and Morro! ❤💚🖤 Also I went with my guts for your OC, Kael, a really cool and interesting one! I just wanted to let him have some fun between these clowns ����

Have an amazing holiday, and enjoy! 😚😚

So, this was his nightmare.

His underworld, his agony, his lifelong fear that for so long he had fought against in order not to make it come true, and whatever further philosophical term Kael was struggling to come up with at the moment, while squinting his eyes at the brightest Christmas lights he had ever seen that were so incredibly unfitting for the place. It was pure suffering for him, and the more his eyes went over the complex decorations all over the kitchen, the more the exit of this fine building was calling to him. He could make it. He could totally make it in a sprint, taking advantage of the general confusion and excitement over the festivities.

Then it hit him where he was: the monastery of sensei Wu. Then it hit him why he was here: because his apartment had caught fire after an idiot had thought of a cool trick for Christmas – Kael was gonna show him a good trick, now you got a hand now you don’t. Then it hit him with who he was here: the elemental masters and their descendants, power beings all reunited for the party with an invite ready for him like his contempt for them all wasn’t emanating like an aura.

A land of blinding corny decorations, in a place of peace where he was supposed to stay the night out of his will – turned out it was hard to rent a place or a room when you got a robot arm and look like a bounty hunter, thanks Ronin –, surrounded by elementals he disliked and that prevented his escape – well no he could take them, totally… but why though he was on winter break.

So, therefore, this was his nightmare.

His interior monologue about misery was interrupted with the sound of the fridge closing abruptly. Right, currently the kitchen was the least crowded place of the monastery. Unfortunately, the master of fire was currently working on whatever dessert, therefore messing with his solitude. Him pouring hot chocolates into mugs was especially noisy.

“Okay, I gotta ask, even though I think I know the answer already.” He even dared talking to him, this was officially Kael’s worst day ever. “Would it kill you not to frown?”

It was a trap. It was gonna make him look so very stupid.

His displeasure devoured all common sense and Kael crossed his arms.

“Yes.”

Ah, the cringe, it was like a self-punishment.

“Ah, knew it.” Curse this guy, curse that stupid haircut going all up, curse him being red every day of the year despite it not being Christmas, curse him offering a warm cup of cocoa on a cold winter day – okay Kael needed to take a deep breath. “Well to be honest with you, I don’t think you’re the grumpiest we got at the moment.” Kai huffed. “At least you’re not actively observing everything in here while making sarcastic remarks about a certain someone.”

“Well well well Lloyd, I didn’t think you would actually pick star-shaped cookie cutters.” Right on cue two more masters emerged from the door. A very pissed off looking blondie with a dark-haired ghost floating in mid-air. The moment Morro got in a breeze erupted into the kitchen, shaking the decorations and all the bells around. “Must be for being the star into everyone’s eyes, their champion, their guide, even with all the pressure coming with it pushing down and down on you. A thoughtful choice, I must say.” With a gust of air, the master of wind pushed himself a little over the green ninja’s shoulder, smirking as widely as he could.

Lloyd rolled his eyes, put the cutters onto the counter Kai was preparing that weird cookie mixture on, and turned to face the floating entity.

“Okay, first, you do know this pisses me off more than breaking me inside?”

“I’m aware, I take all I can get.”

“Very well. Second, I didn’t pick night stars.” He took one without turning around, grinning much more than his opponent. “I picked starfishes.” Morro blinked, confused as they clearly were not- “Oh wait, sorry you’re right, I got confused. You see we went to the beach the other day, lots of sun, the beach… water… how about you come next time, we’re gonna have fun!”

Morro’s delighted mocking fell apart and he resorted to glare again.

“I believe sensei Wu asked you to avoid such attacks on my persona.”

“I believe my uncle asked you to do the same thing.”

“Well I believe my dad also asked you to…!” Alright, Kael wasn’t the most embarrassed out of all the people in the room anymore, there was no way the massive green blush wasn’t going to be visible miles away. “I mean my master! My d- dear master! No not dear! I mean…! STOP LAUGHING YOU FOOL!” Honestly there were green neon lights in the New – how many times new now? – Ninjago City that couldn’t get even close to such a bright.

Maybe this wasn’t a nightmare, solely because the night-time anguish and the despair usually didn’t come along the bafflement Kael was feeling right now. That was the only word he could describe the sensation of being in a kitchen with a bashful ghost screaming at a ninja rolling on the floor.

The red one was laughing out loud as well, pouring that mixture from the bowl to the counter.

“Don’t be like that Morro, you’re probably entitled to call him that more than anyone! And speaking of, that kinda just makes you closer to us all!”

The ghost made such a sudden disgusted face Kael almost let out a dangerous chuckle.

“What horrifying sentence have you just spoken to me, ninja?”

“Dude you’re not a villain anymore and I know you know my name, use it.” Now the ghost was pouting. Seriously, what kind of weird black matter inducing dream Kael was currently living in and how could he wake up in his beat-up burnt to a crisp apartment? “Anyway, calling Wu dad is basically an old monastery tradition, you didn’t really experience life here until you completely humiliated yourself and everyone laughed at you.” Kai snickered, pulling his sleeves up and stuffing his hand onto the dough. “Wanna know who was the first one who called him-”

“You?”

“You.”

“You.” Alright this time Kael answered out of reflex and didn’t even regret it, considering the look of absolute indignation and how the red one had turned around specifically to glare at him. “What? You seem prone to such embarrassing situations.”

“Am not!”

“He so is.”

“Lloyd!”

“What?? You are!” This hallucination was degenerating considering that now the green ninja was chuckling without restrain while the red was trying to shoulder him without taking off his hands from the mixture. “Did you forget your roller-skates performance at the Ninja Roll? Ouch! And the whole Skylor situation? Ouch! That’s without considering how absolutely eager you were of being the green ninja, you even tried the gi while doing catchphrases! Ouch ahahah!”

“You were kidnapped by the Serpentines back then, how do you even know??”

“You guys are like a bunch of old ladies that love to gossip! Although yours is not as juicy as the stuff Nya got from being samurai undercover. All I’m gonna say is venomari and Santa…”

“LLOYD!!”

When the red one gave up on the preparation and attacked those blonde hair, causing the boy to gasp and respond to the attack like a kid, Kael found himself wondering how in the world were these the saviours of Ninjago and how exactly were they all not extinct yet. At the moment his best bet was that most villains were taken off guard by the amount of chaos this specific group of warriors was able to display, and the rest was done out of sheer luck, determination and ultimate magical power of whatever – NG News were actually kinda repetitive after a while.

On second thought, in all honesty, it wasn’t even that bad of a strategy. On second thought, in all honesty, the green saviour was getting cookie mixture all over his hair by the red ninja so all possible logic was for nothing.

It should had been annoying how little of the situation Kael was finding unpleasant, but he was sure it had to do with how these people behaved. It was all too easy to remember how individuals like Paleman and Turner were unequivocally masters and that was enough to make him want to roll his eye to the back of his head. His dislike for elementals could never soften with them.

Yet these guys were… normal? That wasn’t the right term, but without the gi and away from the battlefield it made it simple not to think of them as the descendants of those individuals.

He wasn’t going to lower his guard regardless, though. He was smarter than that.

No way to catch him vulnerable.

“You do know they’re not gonna attack you, right?”

Ah, the moody ghost was talking to him. With Morro it was a whole other story altogether actually, because separating him from his master of wind persona was nearly impossible. Yet the tragedy of his past and his choices was stuck on him forever, and Kael could relate with that.

Again, it didn’t mean he wasn’t ready to strike, deepstone daggers weren’t that hard to find. Yet it did make him shiver looking at him, almost to the point of awakening ghost pains in his body.

Kael huffed, crossing his arms. They clinked when they collided.

“How am I supposed to know that? It could be all a setup.”

“Does the ninja with the hair shaped like chocolate ice cream strikes you as the cool mischievous type?” Ah, another dangerous risk of letting out a chuckle, it was getting more and more pressing. Morro grinned a little. “Relax, master of manipulation, the reason you’re here is the same obnoxious and honestly ridiculous one we’re all here for, no cover needed: to celebrate this stupidly cheerful day in company.” The ghost snickered evilly at the fight still happening, although there was a weird endearment into his transparent eyes. “The sooner you come at peace with it, the more the chance to calm down.”

Peculiar. It wasn’t like Kael was interested in an elemental master in the specific, but he was under the impression that one like Morro would have been much more reluctant to participate to such a party. It was suspicious, obviously… but intriguing too.

Kael frowned, while the two litigants finally stopped messing each other’s hairs.

“How are you entitled to give me the speech about trust?”

“Oh, I don’t trust them. In fact, I pretty much hate their guts.” That matter-of-fact tone actually managed to catch him off guard. Morro shrugged. “But you don’t have to like someone to have a peaceful day. If you stop to think for a moment, you might even find some points in common with those so called ‘enemies’.” With a simple gesture a small piece of the mixture detached from the dough, unbeknownst to the two idiots catching their breath.

This conversation was so out of nowhere, going towards unknown territory, that Kael would have pinched his hand – wasn’t for… you know… not having a fleshed one.

“The adept of the Preeminent? In common with the saviours of Ninjago?”

“Mhm.” Morro nodded while tasting the agglomerate, apparently both in affirmation and to confirm the flavour of the thing, right as Kai was back to it to knead it. “You can never tell when you’re on opposite site, in the good or the bad you’re too focused on a goal to even think about who you’re really fighting. But after that ends… well…” He hesitated for a moment, looking straight at the red ninja. “You got time. Even too much, in my case. And these ninja are annoying, but not uninteresting, and they got quite the number of familiar sounding stories.”

Alright, now this was shifting from confusing to impossible. Kael huffed.

“Sure, you’re totally like them. Let me guess, you and your cousin are one and the same!”

“Wouldn’t call us that, but…” No way to hide his shocked face, even with all his willpower. Morro huffed. “Don’t get weird ideas, we discovered stuff only because Wu wants us to. If you try not to hate each other, you talk about anything and everything else. And… he was alone as a kid, before he was taken by his uncle and the ninja. All alone against the world.”

Kael clenched a fist, to avoid letting a shiver taking over his body. A ghost couldn’t read minds, right? He couldn’t know how much that line resonated with him. It was easier to understand his unsettlement though. Knowing you have something in common with the disliked, it was strange.

He looked at Lloyd. A beacon of hope, a hero of this world, passing the cookie cutter to his teammate with a smile. How many still connected him to his dark past and his darker father?

“That’s… something.” He cleared his voice. “Must be comforting or something.”

“Watching him pisses me off, actually.”

Alright, the ghost had actually managed to earn a snicker from Kael this time – his stomach was hurting from holding it in anyway.

“Ah, what a surprise.”

Morro turned to the boy as well. He pressed his lips together.

“Not for the reasons you might think, though. Or not for the ones I thought before.” It felt like the images of the two ninja was getting further away, and suddenly the master of the wind’s gaze was shifting to the red one. “As I said, some of the stuff they told me rang a bell… like a guy so incredibly obsessed with the green gi, so convinced it was going to happen, that he was ready to leave everything behind.” His eyes narrowed. “Not knowing he was running like a madman towards his very demise.” His body seemed to gain consistency for a moment, like a human shiver.

Kael’s lips parted, as he followed his eyes. In the ghost’s words, it was clear he was talking about his own personal story. Yet in his attitude, his gesture, he was pointing at someone else completely and it was hard for him to put such different figures in comparison. Even so, Lloyd mentioned something about Kai wearing green. He was prideful, aggressive.

It didn’t make sense, and it made perfect sense.

“… why does the green one bother you?”

Morro laughed bitterly.

“Apparently, as usual, he’s the one that made all the difference, especially between two obsessed people. One of us perished while trying to prove himself with no one around, the other was reborn through a new sense of duty, and I doubt it’s hard for you to image who’s who.” He breathed, like he needed it, like it felt better now. “On one side, it’s maddening how being born at a different time might have made the difference between like and death. On the other, I know it’s not nearly as easy and that perhaps it was that stupid destiny again.” Surprisingly he laughed, again, heartedly this time. “Maybe I’m not pissed at him. Maybe I’m jealous. He’s special and didn’t ask for it.”

Another contraction of his body prevented Kael from letting out more than what he wanted. He didn’t ask for this after basically being evicted for the week from his house, why all the unfairly and uncomfortably relatable talk?

He groaned.

“What a delightful conversation, now I’m sure swelling up with the spirit of the holiday.”

“Why so gloomy, gloomer?”

“Seriously?” Ah, and now the ghost was smiling. Perhaps being naturally lunatic was a trait of his… species? – what were labels even. “Isn’t this just a reminder of your failure?”

“Most days. But in some rare and vey recent ones, honestly…” Morro made another gesture, this time towards the oven, turning one of the buttons around. He looked serene, even. “It’s kinda nice seeing another dimension taking place. Like the path of rage that brought you to your end isn’t the only one, and all there needs to be is the courage to change.” The corner of his mouth went up after that, like he was incredibly smug for coming up with that line.

Maybe he didn’t even realize that the most shocking part of it all for Kael was how this was the closest to a compliment this ghost had ever given, in his humble opinion. And it was, while fairly indirectly, directed towards probably the clumsiest of the ninja team. Yet the fact that something similar to respect came from him, it meant it was genuine.

Right as that thought brushed him, Kai turned to them and chuckled.

“Aww, grumpy one and two are becoming friends! So you guys can do something other that glare, now how about that!”

Never mind the respect, never mind the existential talk, never mind even wondering for an instant if this guy was worth admiring, now Kael wanted to charge at his stomach while running towards the closest exit. Again, why were these the heroes of them all?

Somehow Morro didn’t look even remotely touched.

“Something is better than nothing, ninja.”

“Still on that? Seriously Morro, you’re basically Wu’s son even without the whole dad fiasco, you really don’t have to put up the façade!” No way of telling if this guy was being clueless of his death wish or genuinely thought he wasn’t risking battle of Stiix number two. So far he looked more focused on reaching the oven. “Fighting on opposite sides develops a special bond, you know? I’ve seen you at your worst, you’ve seen me at my absolute best, that kind of things.” He opened the oven and went to grab the tray… wait. “Wouldn’t surprise me if you admired me because of- AAAHHH WHY IS THE OVEN PREHEATED ALREADY?!?”

Ah, that was the reason behind the serenity. Or perhaps the ghost just wanted to admire the master of fire lamenting a burn… relatable.

The master of wind smirked.

“You’re right, I’ve yet seen your worse. You reach new lows every time.”

“YOU JERK THAT HURTS- LLOYD STOP LAUGHING!!”

“How am I… supposed to…” The green ninja was literally holding onto the counter not to fall onto the ground once again, and perhaps for the first time since he had arrived Kael saw Morro smiling at his cousin. “How do you keep forgetting to focus? You’re heatproof when you concentrate but you just forget, just like when you were with Skylor!”

“YOU WEREN’T THERE THAT TIME TOO!”

“You were screaming that loud.”

“LLOYD!!!!”

This was too much. Kael had done his very best and while some of his feelings might have shown, never to an absolute extent. Yet now, seeing this massive déjà-vu resurfacing for no reason at all. Now, with the red one literally tackling the green one on sight with the most merciless tickle attack ever seen to man. Now, with the ghost casually pulling out the tray and closing the oven back again, there was no way to contain himself.

He laughed. Never as a full burst, covering his mouth, hoping no one was going to notice, but he did. What clownery was this? What did he get himself into? Was he really thinking that despite the place, despite the elementals, this wasn’t all that bad?

The fight lasted much less time – if Kai’s hair were crazy before look at him now. A moment later, they were all over the counter, putting the now well-cut cookies onto the tray.

There were stars, snowflakes, trees, and men. The last was to be expected.

Kai carefully put them next to each other with a smile.

“This year we got a lot of guests, but I think we get to make one personalized gingerbread man for person.” It looked like Lloyd was about to speak up – possibly another wandering towards old embarrassing stories? – but Kai promptly elbowed him. “You’re on thin ice, green ninja, I suggest you to zip it unless you want to give up on cookie rights.” Blondie obeyed, despite the smile still being strong on his face. “You got a cookie too Kael, you wanna decorate it yourself later? Maybe you’re not comfortable with someone repainting your face, I don’t know.”

Why did that sound thoughtful and condescending at the same time? Whatever, he was honestly a bit busy with whatever feeling of inclusion he was experiencing at the moment. Huh. Without the finishing touch they all looked the same. How weird.

… alright enough existentialism for tonight.

Morro huffed – maybe he was forced to by his element.

“Decorating cookies is such a hassle, I’ll give up mine happily.”

“Is it because you suck at it, or the idea of covering your cookie in water icing scares you?” Ah, the battle of the greens was still at it. The glare contest had commenced once again.

“Alright, alright, enough you two!” Kai put the tray into the oven – no repercussions, yoohoo improvements –, turned around and went over the stove. He poured a second round of hot chocolate for them all and carefully carried them in one go to give them to them. He raised his own mug. “I’m guessing a toast would be too corny for you two.” He looked at Kael and Morro, who simply shrugged. “Well then.” He turned to Lloyd with a grin. “Merry Christmas, my annoying brother.”

The green ninja blinked, laughed, then made their mugs clink together.

“Merry Christmas, my sometimes heatproof brother.”

“Still resent that, watch out.” Kai smiled, then went over Morro with a smirk. “Merry Christmas, my extremely grumpy friend.” Perhaps he did want death after all.

The master of wind seemed fortunately amused enough, imitating his cousin.

“Merry Christmas, my very cringe friend.”

“You did not just cringe call me.”

“Your whole life is a cringe call, Kai.”

“And you use my name now?? Watch your back of New Year’s party, I’ll get my revenge!” What was this clown even talking about? Kael didn’t know. Honestly, he didn’t particularly care either. Thinking too much with these people felt like getting dumber. “Well then…” Kai faced him at last, winking at him. “Merry Christmas, my paranoid guest.”

Kael should have expected from the start that this was never going to be something predictable, but maybe going beyond his comprehension was the reason why he was feeling less on the edge. Maybe he could take a moment to see what it was like.

Kael smiled, mugs colliding.

“Merry Christmas… you embarrassing fool.”

“What the- KAEL!!!!!”

[weekend-whip]

well it’s Christmas Eve somewhere I suppose

Hi, @senseiwu! I’m your Ninjago OC Secret Santa! I adore all three of your OCs, so...couldn’t help but do a little thing for all of them! Hope you have a good one!

And here we have image descriptions + my ramblings:

Top: Mei, wife of the FSM, prepares an early morning hot chocolate for her sons on a particularly snowy day. Garmadon and Wu peek above the counter, excited to see what she’s made. Garmadon’s mug is purple and flavored with peppermints, while Wu’s mug is yellow and decorated with cookies. 

Left: Lar, younger sibling of Kai and Nya, opens an early gift by the fireplace while Kai and Nya watching. Stockings for their whole family (Ray, Maya, Wu, Kai, Nya, Lar) are hung above the fireplace, where a raging orange fire warms up the trio. 

Right: Jun, child of Wu and Misako in an alt timeline, falls asleep on Misako’s lap (cuddling her owl plush Hoohoo—which is SUCH a cute name gah) while Misako reads her a story in her personal study beneath a Christmas tree. Morro sits to the side, also listening in but trying to be cool about it, while Wu is on the other side watching with adoration. 

Took the prompt about ‘spending the holidays with their families’ and ran with it XD

[fandomsareforlife]

Spirits In My Head And They Won't Go

Summary: Morro couldn't really wrap his head around the idea that Lord Garmadon was safe. It was just such a violation to everything he knows. So he does what anyone else would do: Isolate himself in his record shop. Hopefully, his baby cousin Lloyd doesn't try to force him out.

A/N: Hello, and hi. Here is your secret santa gift! Apologies if it is only kind of good, I admittedly do not write Morro as the hurt character, so it was an interesting challenge. Anyway, hope you enjoy!

Tw: Anxiety, PTSD, avoiding people to not have to deal with your issues

Morro loved being a record shop owner. He loved the music he would get to listen to. He loved seeing the regulars and the new customers come into the shop. He loved the vibe he cultivated in the shop.

The best part was that if he needed to retreat in his thoughts, there were plenty of mindless things he could do. Like sorting the records on the shelf.

Morro picked the first one up. It was a shark themed one. Something Garmadon would like-

Morro had to force down the panic in his throat at the thought of Garmadon.

Sometimes, Morro wished that Garmadon would go back to being evil and trying to take over the city again, just to justify the panic that came up whenever he was in Morro’s mind.

It wasn’t like Morro didn’t understand why Garmadon not attacking the city was a good thing.

He saw how much more relaxed Lloyd was when he wasn’t constantly looking over his shoulder, trying to brace himself for whenever there was a Garmadon attack.

He saw how his shop had way more profits because people didn’t fear getting attacked just because they went shopping at the store owned by the dark lord’s greatest enemy’s son.

He saw how the city could actually function when they weren’t constantly trying to rebuild from the destruction that followed Garmadon.

That didn’t stop Morro from making up reasons why he was staying up in the room above his shop instead of going back to Wu’s, because he was too scared to be in a room with Garmadon.

That didn’t stop Morro from wishing he could go back to fighting Garmadon’s forces, because that was simple and easy and gave Morro an actual purpose.

That didn’t stop Morro from wanting Garmadon to be evil again just so it felt normal again.

Morro knew that it was pathetic, because he was 23, and he was too cowardly to admit he was scared of being in the world without Garmadon constantly attacking. That was a constant for as long as he could remember, and his childhood had been shaped so much by the dangers that brought.

He didn’t know how to live in a world without having to make sure he could get away if there was a general prowling the streets.

He didn’t know how to live in a world without having to carry a knife on his person at all times in case an attack happened when he was just out and about.

He didn’t know how to live in a world without having to make sure he would be able to come back home every night without being incapacitated by Garmadon.

It wasn’t even like the change was bad. It was a big one, sure but it only had positive benefits for Morro’s family in theory. Wu was so much less tense now that his brother was willing to not destroy the city. Lloyd was a hero to everyone, not just Morro, not just a kid of the world’s greatest villain. Auntie Koko was so much happier, and laughed so much when she was around Garmadon.

Heck, Garmadon wasn’t even that bad, once you got past the whole crazy part. He was really into sharks, and he would talk about them as long as he was allowed to, so Morro had an easy conversation opener for him if he needed one. He also was trying so hard for Lloyd, trying to do father-son stuff with him to make up for being evil for half of Lloyd’s life.

However, that still didn’t make Morro not freeze whenever Garmadon came into a room with him. Morro has to calm his racing heart whenever Garmadon reaches a hand towards Auntie Koko or Lloyd, his brain automatically assuming that he was going to hurt them. (And maybe he was going to hurt them, because he had only been good for such a short amount of time compared to him being evil-)

Point was, Morro was not adjusting to the idea of Garmadon being good, and he knows that is an issue that he was to deal with, but he doesn’t know how to go about it.

He supposed he could just go to Wu, but there was a likely chance he would just give a lecture about being unsupportive and given some cryptic metaphors instead of actual advice.

He couldn’t hang out at Auntie Koko’s apartment, either, like he usually did because Garmadon could be there and that was just the issue, wasn’t it? He can’t be around the man that destroyed so much but brought so much to jay to their little family.

Morro just had to figure out the solutions to his issues himself, he supposed. So Morro spent more and more time at his shop, and he lied about it being extra busy, and he spent hours laying awake trying to figure out what to do.

One solution, and the simplest in theory, was just push through. Force himself to get used to Garmadon’s presence and ignore the panic attack or the adrenaline in his veins. However, Morro had been doing that for so long and it didn’t seem to be working very effectively.

Another solution was to just talk about his feelings. He could do all that gross mushy gushy feeling stuff Wu liked to preach about. Sit down with the family at the table and talk about his issues. Morro thinks he would rather fire himself out of Garmadon’s volcano before he did that.

Maybe he could just leave. Stay in his shop forever, and never come out for anything but food deliveries. He would never have to confront his issues then. Morro could just fade away from their memories and not bother them at all.

It would have been easier to go with that option if it wasn’t for one thing. Lloyd.

Lloyd, who had been sending Morro more and more concerned texts as he stayed away longer and longer. Lloyd, who had been trying to convince Morro to come hang out with him. Lloyd, who kept trying to force the address of Morro’s shop from him for a ‘friendly visit’ (read: an intermission).

Morro couldn’t help but feel guilty as he laid on his makeshift bed of blankets and pillows as he thought of Lloyd. It wasn’t Lloyd’s fault Morro didn’t want to have anything to do with his dad. It wasn’t Lloyd’s fault Morro couldn’t deal with the fact his dad wasn’t completely evil. It wasn’t Lloyd’s fault Morro was just broken and messed up.

Maybe Morro was just too broken for a familial relationship now. He had a good run, but all good things had to come to an end.

Letting out a sigh, Morro forced himself out of his thoughts as he went back to sorting the records on the shelf. He had to finish this up before he could let himself sleep for the night.

Ching!

Morro looked up from the records, trying to figure out where that noise came from. It sounded like the door opening, but that would be ridiculous, the shop was closed, who would be-

“Hi, Morro,” a voice greeted behind him. A very familiar voice Morro did not expect to hear here, and one he did not want to hear.

Tensing, Morro turned towards the door, and turned his gaze downwards slightly at the figure standing in front of it.

Lloyd was standing there, in that stupid green hoodie and jeans, with a backpack slung over his shoulder and his hair pushed back. He had a smile on his face, but it was a strained one. He looked exhausted, his eyes having bags almost as deep as Morro’s and his posture slumped.

“What are you here?” Morro interrogated as he put down the record in his hand so he could cross his arms. “Does your mom know you’re here? It’s almost 10 pm, for master’s sake.” Why was Lloyd here so late? Did something happen?

Lloyd nodded. “Mom said that I could come visit, and I can even sleep over if you don’t force me out. And I came to see you, duh.” Even looking half-dead, Lloyd still seemed so cheery. First Spinjitzu Master, Morro loved this guy? He was questioning his standards.

Morro rolled his eyes as he started to push Lloyd outside. “Well, now you have seen me, and I am alive and well. So shoo.”

Lloyd shook his head, and planted his feet so Morro couldn’t push him. “Nope, not going. Not until I get an answer as to why you’re avoiding everyone.” He crossed his arms and tried to glare, but it just looked like he was a cute hedgehog.

Morro huffed as he picked Lloyd up, prepared to carry him outside. “Nuh uh, not talking to you, squirt. You can go, because I’m perfectly fine.”

Lloyd frowned and pushed Morro, causing them to land in a heap on the floor. “I am not going, because you have been acting weird ever since Dad became good, and I need to know why.”

Morro shook his head. “Nothing you need to worry about,” he tried to reassure Lloyd, “I am fine. Go hang out with your dad or something.”

Lloyd scoffed at that. “No, you are not. You haven’t talked to anyone in weeks and don’t even leave the shop. That probably isn’t heavy.” Lloyd looked away from Morro, and pleaded, “Please, just talk to me, Momo. I don’t want to see you hurt.”

Morro’s heart seized at that. Here his baby cousin was, trying to comfort Morro, even though he was so much smaller than Morro and was hurting too. Master, what did the world have against Lloyd?

Morro sighed. “Lloyd, it’s nothing you can help with. I just need time.”

“What is it?” Lloyd asked. “It will help you to talk about it.”

Morro shook his head again. He can’t tell Lloyd. Lloyd would be crushed.

“Is it about my dad?”

“What?” Morro sputtered. Did Lloyd just asked what he thought he did?

Lloyd just raised his eyebrows and asked again, “Is it my dad? Are you scared of him? Is that why you’re avoiding us?”

Morro froze. He can’t tell Lloyd what he has been feeling for so long. It would make Lloyd upset, and Lloyd can’t do anything.

“It’s okay,” Lloyd reassured Morro, “Mom and Wu won’t care. We just want to be happy.”

“But you guys aren’t scared of him, and you seem so happy with him, and I just get in the way,” Morro blurted out, and then wanted to vomit as soon as he realized what he said.

Lloyd frowned and argued, “But you always are so nice to me, and you make Wu smile, and you are not in the way.” Lloyd sighed. “You don’t have to be scared of Dad, ya know? He won’t hurt you.”

“You think I don’t know that?” Morro yelled, his body on fire inside with the anger he felt. “I know that I shouldn’t be scared of him, and that he isn’t that bad anymore. I know that!” Morro felt some of the anger go out of him, and he mumbled, “I hate I am scared of him.”

Lloyd threw his arms around Morro, and squeezed. Morro felt tears behind his eyes build up and he blinked them away. Lloyd mumbled, “I don’t care if you are scared. I just want my cousin back. It sucks that you’re ignoring me because of something as stupid as fear.”

“I’m sorry,” Morro apologized, “but I don’t want to hurt-”

Lloyd unlatches himself from Morro and gets up on his feet. “You won’t hurt me,” Lloyd states with a certainty Morro never heard from him. “You never will when you talk to me. You being away is more painful than you saying you’re scared of Dad.” Lloyd sighed and picked his bag up. “I guess I should go-”

“Wait,” Morro cried, causing Lloyd to turn to look at him. “You can stay,” he mumbled, and he got up from the floor. “But you get the floor, cause you are forcing me to house you for the night,” he finished with a teasing tone, closer to how he usually talked to Lloyd.

Lloyd grinned and rushed to hug Morro. “Yes!” he cheered, “Just like we were kids.”

Morro ran a hand through his hair. “I guess,” he replied as he turned towards the stairs to the room upstairs. He beckoned for Lloyd to follow. “Come on, squirt. Gotta get you in bed, or else Auntie Koko will have my head.”

Lloyd giggled as he followed Morro. “Fine,” he grumbled.

Morro laughed at his cousin’s petulant expression. “Let’s get you in bed,” he chuckled.

Maybe it would get easier, having Lloyd in his life again. Maybe Morro would be able to look at Lloyd and not feel guilt in his veins. Maybe one day, Morro would be able to leave the record shop.

For now, Lloyd was going to get in his pajamas and tell Morro about the weird stuff he did with his dad, and Morro would listen. And then Lloyd would sleep with the knowledge he had just learned heavy in his head. Morro would stare at his ceiling at the fact that Lloyd knew that knowledge.

Now, Morro could try to heal. Maybe it wouldn’t go back to his old normal, but maybe Morro could find a new normal.

[ice-emperor-zane]

Secret Santa for @nin-jay-go !!!!

[nightlybirdie]

@coco-jaguar 's 4th Annual Ninjago Secret Santa!!! I had so much fun making this and dreaming of snow. For @vylad243 who wanted Lloyd or Morro so I drew the cousins enjoying a snowfall. 💚

Happy Holidays everyone!

[bemmiecake]

@shamefullycut Hi!! I was your secret santa!! I hope you like it, because it really is an ugly sweater.

( @coco-jaguar )

[zukoromantic]

When idk what the fuck you write so...

Excellent point!! I know you won't care or read them but still, this is as good a time as any for some good ole self-promotion eh?? Scroll to the end to see a short summary of what I DO usually write. BUT here's three small things i uploaded in recent years:

Weblena (DuckTales) thing for the Secret Santa 2018. Set post s1. As you'll can see it was written before we knew how the whole Lena thing ws going to play out. Uhh i mean technically spoilers for s1 but like who even cares. It's just two small girlfriends missing each other's whole presence. This isn't my favorite in terms of writing, it's a bit all over the plsce but I like to think I have improved since then hehe!

Short thing for the Beakley appreciation week 2020 (DuckTales). Honestly, I don't hate how this one turned out. Beakley dealing with weird unexpected grief. Grief was also the theme!

The one people here will be even less interested in whoops. It's Ninjago. It's Greenstorm (aka Lloyd and Morro). Small shippy thing, the green kids are having a small break and they just feel comfortable around each other and I like that. This one was mainly for my mental health but I like how it turned out.

Okay so but in general. Usually (when depression allows), I write at least slightly angsty stuff. Or sometimes comforting too. Lots of canon compliant or fix-it. I just really love exploring things that canon didn't. Strong tendecies to one-shots though. Sometimes I'll come up with AUs but unfortunately, I never manage to write for those.

[morrotober]

In the morrotober sign up form, where do we put our wishlist?

The wishlist won't be on the sign ups form!

The assigning of people and the wishlist are all done on drawnames.com.

For those who don't know, drawnames is a secret santa site that lets a group of people anonymously draw names for a secret santa event.

For this event, after sign ups close, I'll send out a drawnames invite link, which will take you to the Morro secret santa group (there will be one for the low effort, and one for the normal so if you signed up for both, you will get 2 links).

You will be prompted to pick your name from the list (this will be the tumblr username you submitted on your sign ups form) and then sign in with an email (the email information will not be shared).

Then, the wishlist will pop up, where you can fill it out. After filling that out, you can go back to the group main page, and draw a name.

After drawing a name (this is who you will making a gift for), you're all set! This counts as "accepting your invite", which you have to do by December 10, otherwise we will consider you no longer interested.

As always, feel free to drop by if you have any more questions, or if that wasn't clear!

[gwendolynlerman]

Langblr Secret Santa 2020

Bon dia, @guillemelgat! Sóc la teva amiga invisible :D Thank you to @langblrsecretsanta for organizing it!

Com sé que t'agrada molt la música catalana, volia compartir amb tu una llista amb nadales.

També vull escriure sobre una tradició de Nadal en Catalunya, encara que potser ja la coneixes. El tió de Nadal és un costum celebrat la nit o el dia de Nadal. Simbolitza la natura adormida (perquè és hivern), i cal despertar-lo picant ben fort per obtenir els regals (símbol de la fertilització). Dies abans s'ha de preparar tapant-lo amb un sac o drap perquè no es constipi. Se li dóna menjar cada dia: galetes, fruita, etc. Moments abans de fer-lo cagar se li crema el morro i se'l rega amb vi (símbol de joventut i vitalitat). Després es pica ben fort tot cantant:

tió

Tió, Tió

caga torró,

no caguis

arengades

que són salades,

caga torrons

que són molt bons

I aquí et presento un moodboard relacionat amb el malaiàlam, espero que t’agradi 😊

Espero que t’hagi agradat aquest post i que tinguis un bon Nadal!

[sensei-twinkles]

I was @ooflifeshard Secret Santa! I hope you enjoy Morro and Cole hitting the slopes together! And thank you @coco-jaguar for hosting another amazing year! Thanks as always 😌

[pennywisethedancingclownofderry]

Happy Holidays @give-me-food-and-ninjago !

I was your secret santa partner! I'm sorry that I wasn't able to find the time to familiarise myself with your oc's and I wasn't able to find a way to stick Morro in there anywhere so I hope this will suffice! It's under the cut! (Nevermind I can't figure out how to cut it off sorry everyone)

Thankyou to @coco-jaguar for hosting the event and affording everyone this wonderful opportunity!

Cole peered in through the glass, grimacing when he was forced to wipe away the misting of breath that condensed against the tank’s visage.

“Are you satisfied with your purchase?” Pixal’s voice was cool, yet it held a trace of amusement as the nindroid watched the gecko���s movements alongside him.

“Yeah I am! Look at the little guy!”

The ‘little guy’ in question was currently sleeping inside the faux cave that served as a shelter for the reptile.

“So, what will his name be?” Cole turned to face the android, forehead creased.

“I don’t know really, haven’t thought about it.”

Despite the lack of forethought alluded to in the previous statement, the gecko hadn’t really been a spur of the moment purchase, though it may have seemed like that to the other residents aboard the Destiny’s Bounty. Cole had been considering getting a pet for months and had spent many a late night on his phone, researching pet enclosures and care, hurriedly shoving the phone under a pillow when he heard footsteps patrolling outside the bedroom door.

Luckily, the assorted ninja no longer shared a bedroom, meaning that he didn’t necessarily have to run his plan by the others. However, that wasn’t to say that he had kept his newest acquisition strictly a secret, it wasn’t long after he’d decided on a pet that suited him that a certain curly-haired motor mouth had caught him comparing the prices of tanks on his phone.

‘Pets R’ Us’ was offering a tank for about $90, however ‘Petz Mart’ was offering one of similar specifications, except that it was priced at $150. The only difference? ‘Petz Mart’ had a warranty that lasted about a year longer than its competitor.

A weight landed on his shoulder and Cole jumped as his assailant offered his opinion. “I think you should go with ‘Petz Mart’, can’t beat a longer warranty!” Cole flinched around, staring at his friend’s freckled visage. Jay’s grin split nearly from ear to ear as he watched the earth ninja sputter and choke on his own spit.

“Sooooo, what are you doing? Looking for “Rocky 2 point-“

Cole slammed his hand against the lightning ninja's much maligned 'mouth of lightning' with a hiss. “Shut up!” he glanced about the empty kitchen, concerned that more busybodies would suddenly make themselves known.

He glanced back at his friend and was grateful to find that, as opposed to being offended, Jay seemed to be nothing other than amused. Cole could feel him smirking behind his callused palm and one gingery eyebrow ascended higher and higher up his forehead.

Jay then did the predictable, and utterly disgusting. Licking up the earth ninja’s sweaty palm, the broad grin stretched to near nightmarish lengths, painting his face in a sadistically humourous light.

Cole retrieved his hand with a noise of deep disgust, eyebrows scrunching together.

Jay noticed this movement and couldn’t help but quip, “I’m just saying! I didn’t think you needed any more pets than that lovely pair of caterpillars on your face!”

Said caterpillars then attempted to take their relationship to greater lengths as they pressed further together.

Jay laughed, noticing Cole’s glare. “Oh come on! It’s a joke! What are you doing anyway?” he inquired, not very subtly changing the subject.

Cole sighed. “I’ll tell you if you promise to keep that big mouth of yours shut!”

Jay responded, for once, nonverbally, by miming zipping his lips shut and then, somehow, throwing away the zipper.

“I want to get a pet, okay? I’ve been looking into it lately and a gecko seems like a good fit to me! They sleep a lot and-“

Now it was Jay's turn to physically silence the other. “Okay! Okay? I get it, I don’t need the whole rant.”

Cole turned his eyes downward, “Well isn’t that ironic?”

Jay chose to ignore, or simply didn’t hear the thinly veiled insult. “Sooooooo. . . What are you going to call it?”

Cole blinked back at him. “I don’t know, not yet at least. I’ll figure it out when I meet them.”

And so, Cole’s hypothetical pet remained unnamed, yet even when he did first lay eyes upon the miniscule reptile, still he had no idea what to name him.

Kai was the next to learn about the new acquisition to the ninja family and as he came across the gecko he came up with what he considered to be the most creative and cutting edge among pet names.

“Scales!” he claimed. “Scales is a great name for a lizard!”

Cole frowned, nowadays that seemed to be his default expression. “But we already know a Scales and I don’t think we know him well enough to go naming pets after him!”

Kai nodded, giving his version of what was considered to be understanding. “How about . . . Godzilla, then?”

Cole fixed him with the coldest glare he thought possible. “No.” He stated, steely tone leaving no room for argument.

Zane was the next to come across the gecko, exploring his friend’s room in the hunt for dirty washing.

“Why don’t you name him something with cultural or personal siignificance? Like after the first Spinjitzu master or your father?”

Yet again Cole shook his head. He couldn’t really see any reason to name a lizard after the first Spinjitzu master.

Besides, 'Lou' seemed a stupid name for a gecko.

Nya's take on the situation was just as unhelpful as she attempted to list the unnamed gecko’s physical features as a way of selecting a name for him.

“Spots?” She drummed her callused fingers across the bedside stand Cole had selected to hold the tank.

Cole didn’t even bother to lift his face from where he had mashed it into his pillows, which were luckily softer than those afforded to him on Chen’s island.

“No.”

Nya hummed, peering into the tank.

“Webby?”

Cole frowned. “Webby?” he repeated.

Nya turned and began pointing with her right hand at the junction between finger and thumb on the left.

“You know, like the webbing between your digits.” To emphasise the point the water ninja began to enthusiastically waggle the fingers on both her hands.

Okay, she was definitely doing jazz hands at this point.

Cole groaned. “He’s a leopard gecko, he doesn’t have webbed feet!” he snapped.

Instead of being offended, Nya grinned. “Sorry, not everyone’s a lizard expert, you know?”

She looked back at the tank, peering intently at the gecko, who stared straight back.

Eventually the water ninja was the one to lose the staring contest. Straightening, Nya turned once more to the earth ninja.

“Scales?”

“Your brother already suggested that.”

Nya’s grin flickered as a look of disgust crossed over her features.

“Well, that’s one great mind I don’t want to think alike with.”

Lloyd didn’t so much as offer advice on naming the gecko, but rather sat on Cole’s bed with a book of baby names. The earth ninja had no idea why he had such a thing. When asked Lloyd offered little to no explanation. Stating that he’d bought it for personal reasons.

Of course Cole could respect such a thing, and as such he didn’t question the green ninja any more.

“Aberforth?”

“No.”

“Abraham?”

“No.”

“Adam?”

“No.”

“Then what do you want to call it?”

Cole couldn’t honestly answer. He could only hope that the next person he asked would be more helpful.

“Sensei Wu?”

The old man didn’t offer any verbal answer, instead fixing his aging eyes on his hopeful student.

“I’m trying to find the right name for my pet.”

“Hmmm.”

“And no one’s really offered any good advice for what I should name him.”

“Hmmm.”

Cole blinked. “You’re not going to help me either, are you?”

The elderly teacher’s lips curled upward into a fond smile. “No, Cole. But I believe in this situation it is best not to offer one’s own opinion but to allow the other to formulate their own.”

Cole hummed in response, fixing his eyes on the aging boards of the land bounty.

The two sat in silence for hours, the elder deep in meditation as his student pondered his gecko. Eventually, Cole looked up to meet his sensei’s eyes.

“Ferdinand.” He mumbled, eyes fixed on the teacher's face. “Ferdinand sounds right.”

A small smile began to form on the teacher’s face. “And is that the name you think fits your pet?”

Cole smiled as he thought back to the gecko. “Yeah. Yeah, I think it is.”

Cole peered through the pristine glass of the tank.

“Ferdinand?”

The gecko’s eyes blinked from inside the tank.

Cole smiled. “Ferdinand it is then.”

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Massacre by Military Police in the Fallet-Fogueteiro Favela and the Role of Brazilian Media

Special Operations and Shock Battalions of Rio de Janeiro’s Military Police Kill 13 People

On the morning of Friday, February 8, thirteen people were executed after surrendering to police, according to residents of Morro do Fallet–Fogueteiro in Santa Teresa, located in Central Rio. Many of the victims were shot in the back, an indication that no shootout took place. Another strong indication is that not a single police officer was injured in the alleged “confrontation” with over twenty people. Another four were arrested. The killings took place during an operation by the Military Police’s Special Operations Battalion (BOPE) and Shock Battalion. According to the Municipal Secretary of Health, thirteen people arrived at the Souza Aguiar Hospital in Central Rio already dead. One injured person is in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the same hospital.

Furthermore, residents report that they were threatened by police, who told them to leave the scene or else “everyone would be cleansed”—in other words, they would kill everyone.

According to witnesses, of the thirteen killed, ten were inside the house of a resident who had nothing to do with drug trafficking. The ten people had surrendered to the Military Police inside a house. Even after doing so, they were executed by the officers.

No expert report was conducted; the bodies were dragged through the house and then placed by the very police officers who shot them in a dumpster—a standard procedure to get rid of evidence. It’s no secret to residents of Rio de Janeiro that in situations of conflict between drug trafficking factions, the government (by way of the Military Police) takes sides—and executes the opposing side.

As always, a good share of the Brazilian press constructed a narrative of the incident as told by the police—the official version of all police operations conducted in favelas. Residents and witnesses are ignored. The articles that are produced feed into the false “war on drugs,” citing a single source: “According to the police, the victims were drug traffickers.” Period. It’s enough to justify a massacre in Brazil.

Continue reading.

Updates by the mod:

It was 15 murders, not 13 (two bodies were found elsewhere);

The Public Ministry’s inquiry claims there was “no crime or transgression” from the police;

The Public Defense says the forensic investigation, made on the same day the massacre took place, is “questionable” and “fragile”;

A mother and other witnesses say the policemen tortured their victims. The mother’s testimony [warning for highly triggering content]: “My youngest boy had a mark on his forehead, they made a mark on him. I can't explain if it was lightning or an N, but he had it. I didn't watch any of the videos people made, but I know the cops practically ripped his leg off. Apart from the perforations he had, they broke his leg. I don't know what it was, what the gun caliber was. I know my son died 22 minutes after his younger brother. What they did there was cruelty without measures. From the moment they were all cornered inside [a house where 9 people died], their duty was to arrest, bring justice, and if proven, were tried. Who was innocent had the right to life.”

In February, Rio de Janeiro governor Wilson Witzel praised the police over the operation, saying it was legitimate action.

[elementaldragonninja]

@youken2 I’m your secret Santa! Here’s Morro and Lloyd chilling out in some ugly sweaters!

Thank you @coco-jaguar for hosting this!