#none of em coherent

[the-force-awakens]

now that it's finally over, I feel comfortable enough finally sharing the good news: two of the (emotionally abusive) relatives me and my folks have been living with for the last five years have finally moved out, and I can breathe easy for the first time in that long.

[ninyard]

thanks for answering my previous ask‼️‼️ it’s okay if you can only write tips for your pov, i asked you YOUR process not someone else’s cus i like whatever it is you do to write, if that makes sense? i also don’t mean to shit on the way other people do things tho sjsjdnddjdj. you weren’t rude at all and i do see where you’re coming from‼️ i guess if i need to ask more specifically, how do you plot out ur socmed posts? i think that’s what i struggle with when it comes to writing my own? like i can find funny haha tweets or tumblr post for my/my friends charas to say but i wanna be able to write funny original stuff too? if that makes sense? 🫶🏽

I get that!!! This got long and it’s really messy so,, sorry if it doesn’t make sense~~

When it comes to making posts I personally don’t like to use already existing tweets. sometimes I can find inspiration in em but I’ve never intentionally looked up tweets to use for my socmed stuff. To each their own but it’s not for me! I don’t think they’re really socmed aus so much as like… incorrectaftgquotes type things? And I don’t really find much inspiration from it tbh. I might have one or two somewhere that are loosely based on a tweet I seen but I try my best to avoid that n make most of them as original as possible.

I guess know what kind of thing you’re going to make, in a way. My Exy fans au is essentially every big event in canon from an in-universe fans perspective. So that one’s easy to plot because it already exists and it’s just about coming up with the posts. Sometimes the fox tweets will just randomly branch off into their own things (like the Kevin-outing-Jeremy au) or sometimes they’re just their own standalone au series’ (like the andreil outing au).

I don’t really make long multiple-post “plotted” socmed stuff in the same way someone like Jas did with the Trojans au, but that’s just my personal preference. it takes a lot of work and it’s a lot like a fic in some ways!! It’s like writing a fic except it’s all dialogue and the dialogue has to be under 260 characters. And SOMETIMES there’s pictures. But they’re kind of just the same thing when it comes to plotted stuff. So maybe just do what you’d do if you were writing a fic!

In terms of coming up with funny things I guess it’s just like… don’t force it. If you’re finding something isn’t working, then don’t force it to work. I have all these ideas and scrapped tweets that just didn’t quite work for the post I had bc sometimes ya gotta accept something isn’t quite right. If you don’t want to just copy tweets and use those then try to find somewhere to start - for me that’s the hardest part of the ~random~ fox tweets and why it’s 1000000x easier to make a post that has purpose (like the party, or the q&a, or X au). I think finding pictures is a pretty good place to start, but I swear I’ve spent more time staring at a wall just trying to get into the zone of making tweets than time I’ve spent actually making them.

And I suppose it’s important to check like,,, are you (in the general sense) making them because you want to and have a funny idea, or is it because other people are/fomo/you see how many notes some of em get? Neither answer is wrong! But it’s easier to be funny, in my opinion, when I’m making them because i just randomly thought of a funny idea, versus making them because I feel obligated to or forcing things that aren’t funny because I “have” to post. Does that make sense? I always like to see when peoples’ socmed aus have some sort of story or reason, like the psu intern, or the foxes kids, or the Trojans au, or the au where Seth is still alive and tweeting like the menace that he would be. They’re always more interesting to me than posts that are just reposted tweets with Neil Josten slapped on em. But again that’s my personal preference!!!! Do whatever you want!!!!

Do you care if it’s ooc or not? Is it something that could happen in canon, or canon adjacent, or is it just an au where canon compliance doesn’t really matter at all? For me I try to make them as in-character as possible (with the exception of the fact that I don’t believe Neil, Andrew or Jean would tweet at all irl). I know it doesn’t bother some people if they’re ooc because they’re just for fun and that’s fine too. But them being “in-character” for me takes up a lot of space when it comes to coming up with the “plot” of the posts, if that makes sense!! (There’s always leeway when it comes to this tho - they’re never going to be 100% book accurate)

For me I almost have the characters as their own characters in my posts - which sounds crazy but bear with me. Like Kevin always typing with proper punctuation, and Dan always typing in lowercase. Neil doesn’t use text speak or shortened things like ‘bc’ or ‘lol’ whereas Nicky and Allison do. Nicky uses a lot of punctuation marks, Andrew uses proper grammar but doesn’t always use periods at the end of his posts, and he’s more likely to just post a picture than type out words sometimes. Does that make sense? Figure out how your characters are going to somehow have an individual voice through tweets. And it’s little things that probably don’t make a huge difference to most people but I care about those kind of little things way too much!!

TLDR; Why are you making them? Find where to start, don’t force it, and how in-character do you want them to be? Come up with your characters “voice” - how do they type/tweet? Just have fun!!! And don’t care about what other people are gonna think!!!!

[chiropteracupola]

a moment's pause along the way

[xrosevoidx]

thinkin about trent crimm and roy kent parallels.

[feywildfox]

Mm i left bandom space a long long time ago. I mean I'm not that old but ten years ago is still pretty long. And frankly if i overstep lemme know.

Honestly at this point i shouldnt be surprised so many people are actually still inherently racist towards Ray, but also i think, i should be. Because i genuinely expected better from mcr bandom, but again, left bandom spaces a decade ago...

It's pretty sad? Like. I'll admit, I didn't realize Ray was actually a man of colour when i was younger. I think i realized right around the time i left at 15 or so. Which also really goes to show that racism towards him and making him seem as white as possible which definitely i think was a thing. Like in comparison, I knew pete wentz was mixed long before i figured out Ray was a poc. It says a lot about the space at the time and i had honestly thought it'd be better now.

I've loved mcr for years, but i havent been IN love with them for a while. It happens, relationships and feeling wax and wane. But this tour, the excitement and love recently ignited in not just Gerard with all their gender fuckery, but the whole band, has brought a love and joy back into my life for music that hit me in the heart as a preteen and teenager.

And none of that would be possible without Ray Toro putting his all into the feelings and conveying of in his music. Mikey made the band, but ray MAKES the band. He is absolutely fucking integral and it is disgusting & disheartening to see him treated such a way. What the fuck even, hearing that streamers are zooming in on frank during Rays solos?? Like do the fuck better? I'm honestly disappointed as fuck in that shit. Like I know this whole thing is a little disjointed stream of consciousness type post but really. White people do better challenge! Its literally SO fucking easy. The real camera guys are RIGHT THERE showing what to fucking do!

You can love the others as much as you want but jesus fuck give Ray the same fucking courtesy. Stop ignoring your racism, start recognizing the issues that plague you from being white and growing up in white privilege. I sure as fuck still have plenty of shit to work on but at least i can say i can do the bare fucking MINIMUM of giving Ray Toro the respect and attention he absolutely fucking deserves.

Like I do hope this is understood I am not trying to speak over anyone but simply say from one white to another: you need to do better. If that's how you treat a member of supposedly one of your fav bands, i genuinely fear for the poc you encounter in your life. The harm you cause by staying blind may be incremental but it builds up until it's a mountain. Do fucking better.

[lokideservesahug]

Chasing

Pairing: Lando Norris x Fem!driver!reader

Warnings: None that I can see?

Notes: I'm not really a LN⁴ girlie but I thought why not try and dabble?

Summary: Y/N Y/L/N is the youngest and freshest face on the grid. Being the only female rookie, she has everyone's eyes on her; especially a certain orange dressed Brit's...

•Part 2 •Part 3

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☆-☆-☆-☆-☆

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Yourusername

Yourusername: It's a great honour to be racing this weekend and I wish a speedy recovery to @schecoperez.

Fp3 and quali went well so here to hoping that luck continues into the race!

Liked by landonorris and 897,654 others

View all 5,860 comments

User0: Lando in the likes.... we see you🤨

Landonorris:Well done Y/N and good luck for tommorow. You did great today! :)

↳ Yourusername: Thank you so much Lando! Im looking forward to seeing you on the track tommorow! :)

↳ User1: Norizz strikes again

↳ User2: Come on Lando that was so bland

↳User3: @yourusername did you see the interview!?!?

↳User4: I'm sure she saw it. It's everywhere

Liked by yourusername

User5: GO Y/N ILY

Liked by Landonorris

User6: Y/N one chance please. I'd do anything to even have a conversation with you!

↳ User7: Lando wishes he could

↳User8: Norizz can't even form a coherent thought in her presence. He's cooked

↳User9: No, no, no. Let him cook...

User10: Please go on a date with Lando. You're perfect for each other (even if you don't know it yet)🙏🙏

Liked by Landonorris

User11: Lando liking simp comments and ship comments of him and Y/N. He's so real for that.

☆-☆-☆-☆-☆

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Is anyone interested in a second part to this?

Taglist (idk if you want to be tagged so please let me know if you don't): @nikfigueiredo @mysoulispainted @leclercings @d3kstar @hiireadstuff @a-beaverhausen @nichmeddar @lozzamez3 @stinkyjax @littlesatanicassholebitch @insanedeathwish @a-disturbing-self-reflection @ems-alexandra @marymustdie @mehrmonga

[sardonic-the-writer]

—a text away

SUMMARY | in which you have a habit of blowing up wilburs phone

PAIRING | wilbur soot x reader

REQUESTED | no

WARNINGS | none

WORD COUNT | 1.2k+

AUTHORS NOTES | long distance fic. tagging @lyssys @zooone @beep-beep1

🍂 Masterlist 🍂 Navigation 🍂 Rules 🍂

Technology is everywhere these days.

It's the one thing that's almost impossible not to notice anymore. From the stoplights that direct traffic, to the earbuds nestled tight in pedestrians ears as they go about listening to music. Even our microwaves have been a product of humanities thirst for creation. Or maybe it was the thirst for power that spawned that one. You can never decipher the difference between the two these days.

But, you think your favorite bit of technology might be the ability to text your partner. Even when you're sat hundereds of miles away, watching as he livestreams.

"Alright chat—no. No that was not funny. I don't know why I even turned on media share."

Wilbur sat in his studio, cheek smushed up against his foam covered mic as he glanced at the speedy chat screen, looking for a coherent group to words to string together.

"I thought today was a chill day yeah?" He pretended to chastise the people on the other end of the screen, smiling as he went for a sip of water. A bit spilled from his mouth as he attempted to speak again, laughing it off before swallowing this time.

"No making fun of that. An—hold on! Yes it was a laugh, but we're not doing you laugh you lose. I already explained this. It's just a talking day. Don't—don't boo me you hooligans. I could end stream, do you want me to end stream?"

Sometimes being a twitch streamer, eyes constantly looking and expecting you to do something, or slip up, was enough to wear down everyone. Wilbur has had his fair share of bad days, a few of them ending in the thought of him ending streaming completely. But then there were moments like this that countered it, where the heckling didn't really feel like heckling and he could just be comfortable.

"Mods, I gonna need you to ban the next person who says babybur. I am not being a baby. This is—hey! This is not a tantrum! Ban them too!"

It was the times like these, where his face felt sore from smiling for so long, that he really appreciated being able to do what he did for a living. And the best part of it? He had met you along the way.

"No, (Y/n)'s not with me here today." Wilbur was quick to change the topic from everyone spamming babybur to his partner currently overseas. Chat always loved to pester him about you. Not like he cared. After finding out you were okay with him talking about you on stream, he found every excuse in the book to include you into each and every conversation he had, proudly boasting about how much he loves you.

"You guys want to see them again? Yeah, me too. Maybe if their okay with it next time their here, I'll bring em back on for a bit, yeah?" Wilbur already knew the answer before he had even asked it, watching as his chats speed broke the frame rate on his monitor after mentioning it.

A few more minutes of talking passed before he felt the days hours catching up to him. Normally he knew when he was getting tired enough to sign off, but this time it had taken his legs cramping up for him to take the hint.

"Chat I've got to go. And don't say five more minutes becuase the last time that happened you tricked me into staying for an hour more and I was late to a wedding." Wilbur began his wave at the screen, smiling warmly at his camera before clicking the end stream button.

Pushing his chair out, he was quick to stand up and stretch his legs. The office he worked in was great. Most of the time. It would be perfect if not for the fact he was just a little above the height average that the room seemed accustomed to holding.

"Bloody fuck." He sighed.

His phone was quick to be picked up. Wilbur liked to keep it a couple arms lengths away as he streamed. He had most of what he needed at his computer, and his insesent need for doom scrolling was sure to get in the way if he didn't limit himself while live.

However this did seem to get in the way of your equally peristant need for blowing up Wilburs phone like it was the last thing you would ever do.

The line only rung once on your end before you picked it up.

"Really darling?" That was the first thing you heard, your boyfriends warm chuckle following it shortly after. "Fourty eight messages? That's a new record for you."

"I missed you Wil. Plus I was watching this time from my computer. Chat was funny today." Your smile was audible to him, only resulting in him shaking his head with a laugh.

"You think so? All they talked about this entire time was a really sweet and adorable sounding person. Said they wanted to see them again soon. Couldn't recall their name though. Did you happen to catch it?" He teased you, sinking into his desk chair while wiping the edge of his fake glasses on his shirt.

"Did it happen to be (Y/n)." You answered with false curiosity.

"That's it!" Wilbur snapped his fingers even though you couldn't see him. "And honestly I think they're onto something. They sound amazing and I'd really like to see them. Preferably soon?"

You rolled your eyes. He always did this when you were on call. Well, he always did this anyways, not just on calls. You didn't like being away from him anymore than he did. But Wilbur had always been the more antsy one out of the two of you.

"Just a week more Wil and I'll be back at your flat in no time."

"Promise?"

"When have I ever lied to you love?"

"Well—" Wilbur cleared his throat. "—there was that time on Halloween when you said you were going to dress up with me, and when you lied about getting McDonald's without me, and don't even get me started on all the lies you said just to get that suprose party for me organized last year."

"Wow. You must be really proud of yourself for remembering all that Wil."

"I am, actually."

"Do you want a gold star."

"I know you're making fun of my but yes. Yes I would."

He listened as you laughed from the other end of the phone. He couldn't help falling in love with you. It was too perfect, the two of you. Like something out of his own songs. Wilbur wasn't one for the whole soulmates shtick, but he'd be damned if he said you were anything but that. His soulmate.

"I love you so much (Y/n)." He whispered. "And I hate I can't hold you right now. I hate that I can't kiss you and feel you in my arms."

Your laughing had ceased with a soft sigh. You knew what he meant and more. Too many a night you had laid awake, unable to sleep without the feeling of his hands around your waits and hoodie around your torso.

"I know Wil. Just seven more days and I'm all yours."

"Don't forget my gold star." It was quiet, but you still found yourself gently smiling.

"Seven more days, then me and that gold star are all yours."

[adobe-outdesign]

Thoughts on Glastrier and Spectrier's designs?

(This is the last Pokemon review request in the inbox right now. You know the drill, send 'em if you got 'em.

Also, note: the Ice and Shadow Rider forms were already done as part of Calyrex's review here.)

Glastrier reminds me a bit of a Gen 1 mon, in that it's like the first thing that comes to me if you mixed animal + element. Much as the Ponyta line is just "horse, but on fire", this is "horse, but with ice", with all the ice bits in the places you'd expect ice bits to be.

The most interesting part of Glastrier's design is the head—the large crystal coming off the back of the head is arguably vaguely unicorn-ish, and it transitions into a short ice mane down the back, which is kind of neat. It's also kind of neat that the mask is asymmetrical, with ice going all the way down one side but not the other, making it effectively half-blind. However, none of this really means anything or comes together particularly coherently, resulting in a fairly forgettable 'mon.

Spectrier is definitely the better of the two here. While it's still a bit straightforward, it does has one really cool element that feels particularly notable: the hooves are completely disconnected from the body and are actually backwards on top of that, calling to mind some mythologies like the Kelpie. This is actually both really cool visually and a good concept to build upon that goes a bit beyond just "horse but ghost".

However, the rest of the design, while not as bland as Glastrier, is kind of underwhelming compared to those cool legs. It has a wavy purple man that feels weirdly solid (though the tips of it do fade away a bit)—I could've easily seen it matching the ethereal look of the hooves. The body is just a regular black horse, nothing notable there. The eye is kind of interesting, as it basically never ones it. And that wasn't a typo—it has one eye on one side of its body, similar to how Glastier's second eye is covered with ice.

This is kind of neat, but once again, it doesn't have any real purpose to it. If these two were able to fuse together to form a single horse with both eyes or something, that would add meaning. As is, it's a neat detail but not one that amounts to anything.

Similar to Glastrier, it feels like the design could've been pushed more and expanded to continue off of those cool hooves. Make the mane and tail completely disconnected, make the body be two separate pieces that only get a glowing middle bit when saddled by Calyrex, make the head detached or upside-down—there's so many options here, and this just feels like the safest route.

I already went over the Rider forms in the Calyrex review so I'm not going to repeat myself too much, but it also feels like these guys could've tied into Calyrex's design more (and by extension, the Pooka mythology that the Rider concept is arguably based on). Maybe they have ice and spectral saddles or naturally occurring reins, for example—something to hint that these guys can be mounted as steeds.

Overall, these guys are fine, but feel a bit under-baked and could've used fleshed out more from both a visual and conceptual standpoint. Between the two, Spectrier is the most interesting option. I do wonder if they could get alternate forms or megas in the future, as there's definitely room for expansion here.

[puckpocketed]

tag game! pick a song for each letter of your url and tag that many people (if you can)

thank u for the boop @maxkeplers <3 i WILL be flexing my listening range and overdoing the assignment (song blurbs!!!). additionally, all songs link to youtube + collected playlist at the end if anyone would like to listen to them all in one place :3

P - Perfect Blue by Macross 82-99. I used to stream my art years ago and one of my viewers linked some Macross, and I’ve never looked back. this is one of my faves from their discography. I hope that guy is doing okay!!

U - Uh Huh by TrippyThaKid. hehehe weed song . i confess this one’s on my ranked valorant hype playlist for when i need to Lock In <- duelist main (derogatory). the music video by itself is such a wonderful experience but also his flow is bizarrely sick and compelling to me <3

C - Cold Turkey by The Happy Fits. Everyone moved on from 2010s british alt rock but i’m still there and so are THF. theyre still releasing this type of stuff in the year of our lord!! there’s whimsy to them… they have a whistle only section in this song… u will have to pry this music from my cold dead fins…!!!!!!

K - Kiss Me by Sixpence None The Richer. i love rom coms so bad, and every time i listen to this song i am filled with the sweetest nostalgia <3 if you haven’t seen How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. please. it’s a batshit film about two deeply damaged people trying to play relationship chicken whilst torturing each other in an effort to get the other person to leave them. they simply do NOT make films like this anymore !!!

P - Pressure by Abhi The Nomad. he’s an Indian hip hop artist, he raps and sings and has this habit of slotting these gorgeous little electric guitar solos into his songs. there’s a pop twist to his music, and he collabs far and wide. this song is slow and buttery smooth and such a pleasure to listen to.

O - Oh Yeah! by Green Day. they’re still making music and it still fucking slaps and i will nevaaa move past my based punk KINGS.

C - Chocolate by Day6. alright so has anyone ever run into that problem of finding a song from an artist/band and it vibes with you hard and brings you joy and you go to check out their other music and it turns out the song you liked was some experimental B-side track and none of their other stuff is like that. well. this was me with this song except this song was a thing they wrote for the OST of a kdrama. i wish i was joking. </3

K - Karma Bonfire by Diablo Swing Orchestra. ill be real. this is theatre kid music. but its somehow not attached to a musical. it’s also got jazz and swing elements. yeah idk either.

E - Escape by Asta. just one of my faves. nothing smart to say i just love this.

T - The Dreamer by The Vaccines. this is not the first song from this album i’ve recommended. this is my album of the year. it’s about remembering a relationship, the end of it, the never-end of it. my favourite lyrics in this song are from the chorus, “I know the night has got two faces, there’s one that runs and one that chases, but if I caught you in between, then I would wait for you in dreams.”

E - Eternal Groove by Android52. what it says on the tin. i could listen to this on loop for hours. i have done so!

D - Dark Matter by Steve Vai. to round out our instrumental theme… Can we have him on a Hades 2 music dlc. pleek. steve vai i love uou <3 he writes music i would blast if i was condemned to running solo tank on a raid you know what i mean??

Here’s the whole thing on youtube in a handy playlist as promised! it’s not very coherent in terms of genre or vibes at all so caveat emptor BIGLY

tagging: @oensible <- if u find a way to include weezer i would simply perish from laughter. @em-ptynet @sevennone @brocksfaber @chownkie @mkaugust @larsnicklas @wheelsnipecelebrini as always no pressure to play!! and if you see this and would like to join in, consider yourself tagged 🫵💯🔥🔥🔥

[aspoonofsugar]

Could you analyse ‘Insane’ (the Alastor song by his original voice actor) with the added context of the show itself?

Hello anon!

Thank you for recommending the song, I had yet to listen to it!

That said, I don't really know if there is much to analyze, as the song was written before the series. It seems mostly a fun way to characterize Alastor. It gives you some vibes about who he is, rather than exploring his arc or giving hints about the future. In the end, it is pretty coherent with Alastor's superficial demeanor, which is rooted in his enjoyment of violence and power.

In any case, I would say the most interesting part is this:

Wait a minute, do I know you? Weren't you an old pal of mine? Departed from us far too early But now we're meeting a second time We used to have such fun together And maybe you have what I need But first, I have one tiny question Tell me, do you demons bleed?

It might foreshadow some kind of future character since none of Alastor's current aquaintances fit. It is implied he meets Husk and Vox in Hell and the lines do not fit his dynamic with Mimzy. Of course, it might also be generic, but it is still interesting.

In general, I would say the main message of the song is that he likes Hell and refuses redemption, which is more or less what we learn about him from the pilot. It is also highlighted by Alastor's own reprise of Charlie's song:

Inside of every demon is a lost cause, ha But we’ll dress 'em up for now with just a smile (Wicked smile) And we’ll chlorinate this cesspool with some old redemption flair And show these simpletons some proper class and style (Class and style) Oh, here below the ground, I’m sure your plan is sound They’ll spend a little time down at this Hazbin Ho—

What's interesting about the Radio Demon so far is that he doesn't really have his own song. Rather, he likes to "steal" others':

Alastor: Can you butt out of my song? Lucifer: Your song? I started this!

As a matter of fact Alastor:

Takes Charlie's Inside of Every Demon is a Rainbow and twists it into Inside of Every Demon is a Lost Cause

Takes over Vox's Stayed Gone song and uses it against the TV Demon himself

Tries to make Lucifer's song his, but Mimzy comes and takes over herself

He also has small parts in other songs, where he sings unheard by the protagonist of the scene:

He sings with Rosie (and to himself) in Ready for This, while Charlie is distracted

He sings alone in the Finale, while the Hotel Crew is all together

Why is there such a stylistic choice when it comes to his character? The reason is quite simple. As I have discussed here, Alastor is everyone's Jungian Shadow. This means that he embodies what other characters repress. He is Charlie's fear to fail, Lucifer's sense of inadequacy as a father, Vox's unsolved feelings. So, he either takes over the characters' songs as they fail to face these hidden emotions or he sings unheard, because they are not even ready to aknowledge some parts of the self.

This also ties with Alastor's radio motif. After all, what is a radio if not a technology that "captures" people's voices and songs?

Mimzy: No one knew what happened to 'em, until these strange radio broadcasts started going out. All you could hear were screams. Every time an overlord went missing, there'd be a new voice screaming in the broadcast! That's when Alastor revealed himself as the radio demon, and anyone that would mess with him… chuckles well, let's just say, his broadcasts never lacked new voices.

Alastor grows in power by defeating Overlords and broadcasting their screams. So, he takes others' voices and makes them louder (in a bad way). In the series, he has a similar double role:

He takes over others' voices by hijacking their songs or twisting their messages

He makes and will make other people's voices stronger (in a good way). For example, he is gonna amplify Charlie's voice and message:

At the same time, Alastor himself uses the radio to hide his own voice, which is constantly filtered:

The moment his staff gets broken, Alastor shows his real voice, his real self for a short moment. His mask cracks.

So, Alastor not having his own song is actually much more meaningful for his character than having one. It shows how he likes manipulating others and their insecurities, so he doesn't have to truly show who he is:

Alastor: Just because you see a smile, don't think you know what is going on underneath. A smile is a valuable tool, my dear. It inspires your friends, keeps your enemies guessing and ensures tha no matter what comes your way, you're the one in control.

He is the radio demon, a jungian shadow who steals and twists others' music, so that he can hide his voice behind others' words.

In conclusion, I don't think the Insane song is very meaningful (I might be wrong or change my mind), but I think there is much to analyze in Alastor's lack of a song. Moreover, his parts in the song he invites himself are actually loaded with meaning. His foiling with Charlie, Lucifer and Vox tells a lot about Alastor, much more than any solo song :)

Thank you for the ask!

[thescarletnargacuga]

KINGER DESERVES LOVE!! So I propose this prompt to you:

Kinger is dating again and isn’t sure what to do or how to prepare as well as also feeling slightly guilty for trying to date again…the circus comes together to encourage him and help him plan for his new date.

They all help him set up a venue, buy a gift, as well as reassuring him that it’s okay to find love again.

Once his date actually arrives, everyone is shocked to find out it’s Bubble…

As everyone leaves the two weirdos to their moment, Kinger and Bubble enjoy being weird and enjoying their time together like only insane people and AI can…

It also makes sense to Caine why Bubble was trying to quit smoking now….

A/N: KINGER DOES DESERVE LOVE!!

BUBBLING INTEREST

WARNING: none

~~~

Kinger stood before the portal Caine snapped into existence. He nervously held a small bouquet of digital flowers, his posture hunched and unsure. "Are you sure they'll like this?"

"I have no doubt!" Caine reassured with a wave of his cane. "Now, beyond the portal is your requested venue! Made to your exact specifications! You have nothing to be nervous about! Well, except rejection, BUT LET'S NOT FOCUS ON THAT!" Caine laughed.

Kinger's eyes went beady with nerves and he started to shake. This was a terrible idea.

"Caine! You're not helping." Ragatha put her hands on her hips.

"I'd say I helped plenty." Caine sat in the air with his legs crossed hautily. "Who makes everything around here? I don't remember the answer being you." He sassed.

"The only thing you're making right now is Kinger feel worse!" Ragatha turned her attention to the quaking chess piece and held her hands out in a calming gesture. "Everything is going to be fine. You're a sweet guy. Whoever you asked out is very lucky."

"Do I detect jealousy?" Caine arched his top teeth teasingly.

Ragatha exhaled heavily, ignoring Caine, and gently put a hand on Kinger's back. "You'll do great."

Kinger relaxed some. "I just...haven't done this in a long time. I can't even keep a coherent thought for more than five minutes. I can only hope they give me a chance."

Ragatha smiled warmly. "You have nothing to be afraid of. If they agreed to this date, they must like you too. I'm sure they can look past the....uh, disassociating."

Kinger blinked. "Who can do what now?"

"Okay." Ragatha facepalmed. "Nevermind. Go get em, tiger. Who is them anyway?" She looked to the other circus members gathered to see Kinger off on his date.

Everyone looked at each other and shook their heads. Kinger hadn't asked any of them out. Caine chuckled from his mid air perch. "As if any of you would be so lucky."

"Did he ask you?" Jax grinned.

"Oh goodness, no." Caine lounged back. "I'm unobtainable."

"If it's not any of us here, who did you ask, Kinger?" Pomni spoke up.

A light pink blush dusted Kinger's asymmetrical face. "I-...I asked-"

"SORRY I'M LATE!" Bubble rushed over. "It took me forever to get ready." They looked like they always did. A bubble with very large, sharp teeth.

Kinger jumped, throwing the bouquet. "GAH! Oh, hey Bubble."

"I'm ready for our date! What adventure do we have planned for today?"

Kinger shrugged. "We're going through a portal."

"Sounds like fun! Let's go!" Bubble flew through the portal and Kinger followed. The portal vanished a second after.

"I would pay good money to see that date." Jax sniggered.

Pomni was holding the bouquet Kinger threw. She didn't want it so held it out to Ragatha. "Uh, here."

Ragatha stammered with surprise. "Oh! Thank you, Pomni. That's so sweet of you." She held the flowers close to her face and sniffed. They didn't smell like anything but it was fun to pretend.

~

Kinger and Bubble were in a vast sunny field of tall green grass and flowers. Insects buzzed and fluttered in the gentle breeze. The world was quiet. Peaceful.

A small pink butterfly landed on Kinger's hand. "Lots of little bugs here."

Bubble immediately went after a dragonfly, zipping around in circles. They crunched down on the dragonfly and licked their teeth. "Delicious!"

Kinger tilted his head curiously and put the butterfly up to his face. His attempt to bite it failed and it stuck to his face, flexing its wings. "Hmm, you can taste them. Neat."

"You gonna eat that?" Bubble floated close to Kinger's face.

"Uh-" Before he could answer, Bubble licked his whole face with their massive tongue. They got the butterfly and left a trail of soapy saliva in their wake. "MMM-MM! That one was my favorite!"

Kinger blushed so hard, the wooden texture of his head turned cherry. "So forward. You kiss on a first date?"

"I do whatever I want! Wheeeeee!" Bubble rolled about in the wind.

"That must be freeing." Kinger rubbed his hands. "How do you do it?"

"Do whatever? I do whatever! Let's play a game! Bet you can't catch me!"

Kinger's eyes smiled and he ran after Bubble through the field of floral greenery. His disembodied hands were an advantage for his reach, and at one point he accidentally got Bubble a little too hard. They popped and Kinger stood mortified for all of three three seconds when Bubble reappeared.

"HA! You got me!"

Kinger nearly collapsed with relief. "I thought I hurt you."

"Nah, popping is fun! It tickles."

"Really?" Kinger poked at Bubble again, popping them.

Bubble reappeared, giggling. "Heeheehee! Why do you think I do whatever? I can't die." They said cheerfully, though with a hint of existential dread. "Now it's my turn!" They bare their teeth and rush Kinger.

Kinger dodged out of reflex. He's been in the game for a very long time and has had to dodge literal bullets. Bubble wasn't getting him that easily.

~

Kinger eventually returned, alone and covered in pointed teeth marks. Caine was waiting in the main circus area to welcome him back. "I see it went well." Caine chuckled.

"It did. We want to do this again tomorrow." Kinger sighed dreamily.

"Congrats on your second date. However, I feel the need to warn you." Caine zoomed in close to Kinger's face. "Bubble is my closest friend. Break their heart, and the cellar will be a mercy compared to what I am prepared to do."

Kinger lifted their hand in a thumbs up, eyes lovestruck. "Whatever you say."

Caine backed off and patted Kinger's head. "I'm glad we understand each other."

[ofthehands]

Talk To Me

@texas-chainsaw-fanworks

Disability Fan Week, Day 1- Alternate Communication

A short, roughly 4,000 word genfic about the Sawyers learning the different way the youngest member of their clan gets things across. And the difficulties along the way. Warnings for general Sawyer-isms, and some fairly canon-typical/ time-period typical ableism.

Ever since he was born, everybody knew little brother was going to be somethin’ different. He was the forth Sawyer boy, and the only one to be born a normal-looking weight, despite arriving a week or two early. Apparently, the new boy was just absolutely huge. Drayton thought that meant he would be healthy- maybe he got good, strong genes from whoever the hell his daddy was. 

But only three months after he was born, Mama up and left, blaming it on her boys, and especially little brother, and how damn sick they were. 

Showed Drayton how little he knew. 

And so, he was left alone, with three little boys to look after. A grown man, sure, but a grown man with no idea how to take care of a baby or raise up a child. Especially not three damn children, who needed as much help as he quickly realized his little brothers did. But soon he would find he was even less prepared to help the littlest one along. That boy was somethin’ else indeed. 

Drayton wasn’t sure how long it was supposed to take a baby to talk, but five damn years was way too long, and it was obvious. Little brother- or Bubba, as the boys had taken to calling him- had never spoke a word in all that time. He would babble, and make sounds, and point at things, and Drayton could tell he understood. But he just wouldn’t speak. Drayton tried every damn thing- he talked to him all the time and let the twins talk his little ears off too. He read to them- as well as he could- each night. It was usually the same book over and over, or a receipt book from that day, or an instruction manual of some kind, but he didn’t think being unable to afford new books should make it impossible to teach him to talk- all the damn twins ever did was talk, and they didn’t even get to hear the instruction manual. Bubba should be able to talk. 

So Drayton figured maybe he just wasn’t willing. Maybe he was just being hard headed. So he tried punishing him, and threatening him, but that didn’t work a lick. The boy babbled then- tried his damndest to make some noise, just to keep Drayton from givin’ him the belt. But he never spoke a single damn coherent word. Drayton tried bribery. Which felt stupid, but he was desperate for it to work. Even got the twins in on it, promising the three of them a little reward for just one word. 

But he still didn’t talk. 

It frustrated the hell out of Drayton. He worried, of course, that there was something wrong with his little brother, and worried he was doing something wrong himself. That the twins could talk because Mama was still around then- because she did it right, and he was too damn stupid to figure it out.

Like she always used to say he was. 

Bubba turned six wordlessly. And Drayton stopped trying. Decided either the boy was too stupid to learn or he was too stupid to teach him. And either damn way that he had more important things to do.  

Little Bubba didn’t talk. But Nubbins didn’t really care. He still thought his littlest brother was fun to play with, even if he didn’t ever say nothing. Their old man though, he didn’t like none of that. And Nubbins could tell. Usually he didn’t care about what that old man did and didn’t like. But he could tell this was upsetting Bubba too. And for some reason he couldn’t quite explain, he didn’t want baby brother upset. So even when Cook stopped messing with baby brother, gived up on him, Nubbins kept trying. Usually, most days, he got Bobby in on it too- the both of them talkin’ and talkin’ to little Bubba, teachin’ him all sorts of words- even the fun ones like swear words, though Nubbins always whispered those ones real quiet. But Bubba didn’t seem to pick up on ‘em. The only words he really said was his name, but it still weren’t quite the way everybody else said it. Sort of “Buh-Buh.” But it was close. They had almost gotten him to say Bobby’s name- Bubba was good at sayin’ B’s. But he never quite got it all the way. It just didn’t sound quite right. But Nubbins was determined. He was going to get his little brother to say just one undeniable word. So Cook would stop bein’ all mad at little Bubba. So maybe things could be more nice-like again. 

That particular mornin’, Cook had gone off to work, and Nubbins and Bobby were left to look after Bubba again. Bobby was feelin’ bad- sick in his own way- and curled up in bed and wouldn’t get out, even when Nubbins poked him and prodded him and caught a scorpion to put in bed with him. Eventually, though he was frustrated by his twin’s laziness, he gave up with a huff, and went downstairs to mess with Bubba alone. 

“H-hey Bubba!” Nubbins said, falling in a heap next to where his little brother was playing with some bones and bird feathers. “W-what are you up to?” Bubba looked up, and around. He seemed confused for a moment. He made his noises again for a second, then one that almost sounded right- 

“Bah? Bah-Buh?” 

“Yeah. Bubba. That’s your name,” Nubbins said with a sigh. Bubba clenched his little fists and shook them all around, his whole body with them, like he was angry. Nubbins just didn’t get it. Clearly he knew words. So why didn’t he say ‘em? Bubba then unclenched one of his little fists, and did something odd. He stuck out two of his little fingers, and pressed them into his cheek, on the left side. Then he brought them together, and down his face, ending in a little fist to the side of his chin. Nubbins thought it was just one of those fun hand things he did, and he flapped his hands a little too. Then, with a furrowed little brow, Bubba did it again, just the same. Nubbins figured it had to mean something. He watched Bubba do it a third time, then he mimicked the motion on himself. Which was when he realized the pattern Bubba made matched Bobby’s birthmark. Bah-Buh. 

“B-bobby!?” Nubbins exclaimed. He repeated the motion. “That means Bobby?” Bubba jumped up a little and wiggled excitedly. It did! It wasn’t a coincidence! It really did! “Bubba- can- can you do me? What’s me? Nubbins?” Bubba took the pointer finger of his right hand this time, and put it just under his right eye, before folding it, holding the ball of his fist at the side of his face, where Nubbins’ birthmark ended. Nubbins and Bubba both jumped up and down with joy. “Whu-what about Grandpa! Do Grandpa!” Bubba traced the lines of his face- like the deep wrinkles Grandpa had around his mouth. “Oh uh- uh- What about Cook?” Bubba made a sweeping gesture with his hand, like Cook did when he hit one of them upside the head. Nubbins laughed at that. “Oh- Oh- W-wait a minute! I gotta get Bobby! I gotta go show Bobby! I- I come right back!” Nubbins ran up the stairs to harass his twin with glee. Bubba could talk! Bubba was talking! He was just talking with his hands. Which meant Cook was wrong- Bubba wasn’t stupid. He was smart! Really, really smart. Nubbins never woulda thought of talkin’ with his hands like that. “Bobby! Bobby! Get up! Get up!” 

“I-I don’t wanna,” he muttered. “I-I feel like shit-” 

“Bubba’s talkin’!” 

“Whu- really? He’s talkin’?” Bobby looked like that word he said they weren’t supposed to say, as he sat up, black hair in a mess and snot dripping down his face.

“Yuh-huh! Come lookit!” Bobby valiantly dragged himself out of bed, and downstairs to see little Bubba talk. It took him a minute to understand the hand-words too, but once he did he was just as excited as Nubbins, only a little sleepier. They spent the whole day trying to understand Bubba’s new words, and talking with him, in a mixture of the way they spoke and he did, their excitement only building. Nubbins couldn’t wait to show big brother what he’d learned. 

Drayton got home dead tired. He hadn’t had time for lunch that day, hadn’t had time for any damn thing. His whole body hurt. Which was why he was pissed off before he even stepped through the door. And why he quickly got more pissed off as he heard his little brothers giggling, undoubtedly up to no good. Then-

“Cook’s home! Cook’s home!” Drayton grimaced. They never got that excited when he came home. Something had to be wrong. The twins ran at him quick, Bobby following along a little slow, wrapped up in a blanket. 

“What the hell has gotten into you-” 

“Cook! Cook! Lookit! Come Lookit! Bubba’s talkin’!” Nubbins said. Drayton felt a bolt of energy go through him- energy he really didn’t think he had. 

“Talkin’? What’d he say? What happened?”

“I- I came downstairs, tryin’ to talk with him, but Bobby was sick in bed- and- and Bubba said his name! He asked about Bobby! Then he said m-my name, and- and Grandpa- and yours! He says all kinds of things!” Drayton felt a surge of relief, so overwhelming he could’ve cried. He didn’t, of course, the boys needed a strong role model, not some damn sissy, but the feeling was certainly there. “Come lookit!”

“Okay, okay,” Drayton said, letting the twins tug him by his shirt sleeves. They took him to the living room, where Bubba was sitting on the floor, a big grin on his face. Drayton went quickly to his little brother. Bubba reached for him when he came in, and he hefted the large six-year-old up, and into his lap as he sat on the couch. “Your brothers told me you been sayin’ a lot today, Bubba.” Bubba nodded. That gave Drayton even more hope- he had seen Bubba sort of nod, or at least he thought he had, but this time it was clear. Confident. “S-show me, Bubba,” Drayton said. “Say- say anything. Talk to me.” Bubba paused a moment, thinking. That was alright. Drayton had waited six years already- another few seconds wouldn’t hurt. Then, Bubba pointed, with his little right hand, touching Drayton’s chest, before curling it to a fist and pressing it to his own chest, holding it there just a second. Then he didn’t say anything. “What… What was that?” 

“Bubba talks with his hands!” 

Drayton gave both the twins a spanking for being little rat-faced liars. Bubba cried and hollered during it, but didn’t say anything. He flinched up when Drayton came towards him, but Drayton didn’t punish him any. It wasn’t Bubba’s fault the twins were stupid. Drayton all but accepted at that point his little brother wasn’t ever gonna talk, and he had might as well just give up. Accept that he ruined it. Or that Bubba was ruined to begin with. 

He couldn’t help but wonder if somehow Mama knew. 

If maybe that was why she left.

The next day the twins were sulking and Bubba was too scared to even let Drayton look at him. Drayton did his best to go to work and ignore the sludge-like guilt that poured over his every waking thought looking at those boys. He had to be tough on them. Nobody else would ever look out for them. 

The day at the old gas station was hard. His manager was a pain in the ass. One of these days, he was going to kill that old dickhead and skin him and eat him. But it was not yet that day. So Drayton stood around in the hot sun, dealing with the flow of stupid customers and their various car problems and personality problems, pointedly not thinking about his little brothers. 

Until something really strange happened. 

It was a woman and her baby. Well, not quite a baby- a child maybe Bubba’s age, five or six- though the little girl was much more confident walking than Bubba was. The husband went in for some barbeque, and the lady and the little girl got out of the car to stretch their legs while Drayton cleaned the windshield and gassed it up. He glanced over at them, mostly just to assess them as meat, when he noticed it. 

The little girl paused at the soda machine, and made some kind of gesture- quick, oddly precise movements with her hands. Then the woman spoke back- 

“Well I don’t know about that. We’ll have to ask Daddy when he gets back.” Drayton cleaned their windshield off quick and a little sloppy before loping over towards them. 

“Uh- Miss- ma’am-” The woman turned. 

“Oh uh, is there a problem?” 

“No- I- I just uh- what was that you were doin’ there?” he asked. “I- I’m sorry if this is sudden or uh-”

“What I’m doin’? How do you mean?” she looked more confused than fearful, which was always good. 

“Your- your little girl, she made- she made those gestures and-” 

“Oh! That’s just- sorry, that’s just sign language. Maggie can talk she just- my sister is deaf, and she’s been practicing so she can speak with Auntie Ruth-” 

“What’s- What’s ‘sign language’?” Drayton asked. “I- I’m sorry to be botherin’ you with all these questions I just-” He paused. He hated giving people any information, but this time the truth would probably comfort her and get him his answers. “I’ve… I’ve got a boy at home who’s mute. He… He’s never spoke a word and… I don’t think he’s liable to.” 

“Oh!” The woman’s eyes lit up. “I’m- I’m sort of surprised you never heard anything about sign language before.” 

“Well we’re uh.. Kind of cut off, out here,” Drayton said. “My boy- he- he just started doin’ somethin’ like that on his own, though, somehow.” 

“Oh! Home signs,” she said. “That’s- that’s pretty common. I mean, I only ever really heard about that with deaf kids- my sister Ruth did it when she was little, before our parents figured out what what goin’ on and started teachin’ her American Sign Language. I guess it makes sense a kid who don’t talk could do that sort of thing too.” She paused for a moment, glancing down with a look of pure adoration at her own little girl. “It’s crazy what all kids can teach you if you just listen,” she said softly. Drayton chuckled, a hollow, guilty little noise. 

“Yeah. ‘Spose so.” 

Cook ruined it. Nubbins was certain that Cook ruined it. The rest of that whole entire day Bubba never said not even one word. He barely even babbled, or grunted, or cooed at them. He just sort of sat around, looking sad. Bobby, after his spanking and with his sickness, just ended up back in bed. So it was up to Nubbins to big-brother him all alone. Which wasn’t easy. Nubbins didn’t think quick like Bobby did sometimes. So he didn’t always know how to help. This time was one of those times. 

Nubbins slinked up to Bubba, who was messing with feathers and sittin’ on the floor. He tried to figure out how to get Bubba talkin’ again- how to make him understand that Cook was gone and he didn’t have to be scared without sayin’ all that and admittin’ that Cook kind of made him scared too. He watched his brother pick at the feathers and bones for a minute, lining them up in a row, before something clicked in his brain. 

“Hey Bubba! You- You wanna do somethin’ fun?” Bubba just looked at him with those big sad baby-cow eyes of his. “Here- lookit!” Nubbins dumped out some string in front of him, and took up some bones, and feathers, and started weaving them together, best he could, till he made a skinny, sort of crooked little dolly. “See! We- we can make little dollies! You like dollies, yeah?” Bubba stretched out his hand and Nubbins passed it over with a smile. Bubba played a minute with it, then Nubbins started making another. Bubba babbled a little, and pointed at the pile of string. “You want me to show you to make one?” Nubbins asked. Bubba nodded, and the both of them smiled. 

Nubbins tried to show Bubba how to do it real good, and how to make the little dollies stay together right, and how to make ‘em real pretty, but it was hard to do that and watch Bubba’s hands incase he said anything too, so Bubba’s little dollies weren’t turning out right. They were real pretty, but he had thick little fingers that weren’t so good for the delicate stuff and the weaving like Nubbins’ skinny ones were. Nubbins kept trying to tell him what to do, the same way over and over and maybe a bit fast, and Bubba just couldn’t keep up. 

“You got to do it this way!” Nubbins said, showing him again how to weave the arms into the torso. “It ain’t gonna be no good if you don’t do it right!” Bubba snapped at him- making a loud noise and throwing his little dolly down. “Wh- th-that ain’t gonna make it any more good!” Bubba shook his arms, hard, and fussed. 

Then the front door was slammed open. 

Only one person ever slammed that door. Bubba darted under the couch as quick as he could. It wasn’t a very good hiding spot, since he could barely get under there, but it was better than Nubbins’ spot, which was nowhere. 

“Nubbins? Bobby?” Cook called. That was bad. He came into the feather room. “There you are-” He reached down to snatch Nubbins up and he tried to bolt like a wild cat, but Cook seemed ready for him to do just that. “Damnit Nubbins- Come here!” Nubbins thrashed and snapped his teeth at Cook as best he could, but the old man was getting used to picking up the twins when they were trying to scratch and bite him. “Calm down, boy, you ain’t in trouble.” 

“I-I-I don’t believe you! You’s just sayin’ that so I won’t wiggle so you can take me somewhere-” Cook hefted Nubbins over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Normally Nubbins thought that was funny, but he knew he was in some kind of trouble. 

“C’mon, boy. Up you go.” He carried Nubbins off, up the stairs, and into his and Bobby’s room. He chucked him up and onto Bobby’s bed, wakin’ his poor sick twin up. 

“W-whu did I do?” Bobby moaned. Cook shut the door and Nubbins knew this was gonna be bad. 

“You two learnt that hand-talkin’ thing with Bubba, right?” Cook said, sitting down on Nubbins’ bed and looking at them- his face so plain he didn’t even look mad somehow. 

“Well uh- m-maybe. What’s it to ya?” 

“I want you to teach me.” 

“What?”

“I want you to teach me Bubba’s words. So I can understand him.” 

“B-but you said that it was stupid!” 

“Well now I’m sayin’ it ain’t!” Cook snapped. “Show ‘em to me, damnit!” 

“W-we won’t get in trouble if we do?” Bobby asked, speaking up for the first time in a while. 

“No. You won’t.” 

“Show him, Nubs.” Nubbins hesitated, still not wanting to do anything for that mean old man right then. “C’mon, or he’s gonna make me do it,” Bobby moaned. Nubbins sighed. 

“Oh… Okay,” he said. “T-this one-” he touched the start of his birthmark, then traced down it and made a fist, resting it at the bottom of his birthmark. “M-means me.” Cook mimicked it. 

“Alright. Easy enough.” 

“This one is Bobby.” Similar, on the opposite side, starting with two fingers. Cook did that too. 

“Makes sense.” 

“This is Grandpa.” 

“Oh. They’re all just… About how we look?” Cook asked. He cringed a little, hand going up over his mouth, almost instinctively. “God, mine’s about my teeth, ain’t it?” 

“Oh uh- t-this one is you,” Nubbins said, miming the backhand swiftly. For some reason Cook seemed more disturbed by that than a jab at his teeth. 

“Oh… Is it… Is it that… Mean? When he does it?” Cook asked. “Or just-” he made a sweeping motion, a little too slow and a little too soft. 

“N-no- it’s like-” Nubbins flicked his hand like he was swatting at a fly. Or, more likely, since it meant Cook, a brother in the way. “Like that!” Cook mimed it right and Nubbins flinched a little, reflexively. “Y-yeah! That’s right.” Cook looked sadly down at his hand. Weird old man. 

“Alright,” he said, softly. “Oh, and uh, what’s this mean? I saw him do this-” Cook poked Nubbins in the chest, then balled his fist and placed it over his heart. The thing he told Cook before he got mad. “What’s that?” Nubbins hesitated. He didn’t want Cook mad at him again. But he couldn’t think of another way out. He tried to be wishy-washy, so at least maybe Cook wouldn’t get so mad. 

“I uh- I-I don’t know for sure, but we think it means.. Uh..  ‘I love you’.” Cook hesitated then. 

“What?”

“‘I love you’,” Nubbins repeated. Cook’s hand slowly fell to his lap. “Wh-what? Are you gettin’ mad?” Nubbins asked, curling up a little. 

“No,” Cook said, standing up all of a sudden. “I ain’t mad.” 

Drayton left the twins to whatever the hell they were doing and went downstairs. He saw Bubba dive under the couch- he was too damn big to get his ass under and always got stuck. He needed to make this right. He had to fix it- somehow- someway. He approached as quietly as he could, trying not to spook Bubba into wedging himself further under the couch. 

“Bubba?” he said softly. The boy tried to wiggle further under the couch. Goddamnit.  “Come on out from there.” He did not. “C’mon, Bubba. Are you stuck?” He put his hands on his brother’s hips, trying to give him a little tug, but that made the boy skitter further- lodging himself as deep as he could. “Dammit, boy!” Drayton was losing the little patience he had quick. He yanked his little brother out from under the couch while Bubba squealed like a piglet. “Don’t do all that! I didn’t hurt you- you’re fine,” he hissed. He pulled Bubba up, and then onto the couch, before sitting down next to him. Bubba curled up like an armadillo for a minute, then slowly but surely uncurled. “Bubba I-” I’m sorry. “I… I get it now.” Bubba perked up just a little. “I… You…” For once Drayton was the one without words. “You…” He tried not to sound too somber as he said it. “You’re different, Bubba. You… You always have been. You ain’t like me and.. You ain’t like your brothers. You’re… Really somethin’ else kid… And that.. That’s alright. You don’t talk like me and the twins do. And you probably ain’t ever gonna. And that’s alright. You don’t have to. I’m… I’m listenin’ now, kid.” Bubba looked up at him, with those big ol’ eyes, curious, maybe hopeful. But Drayton wasn’t sure he believed it yet. He sighed, a little. Then  Drayton, stiffly and with a slightly shaky hand, poked Bubba in the chest, before balling up his fist, and pressing it to his own. Bubba squealed again- a happy little noise this time, and burrowed against him. Drayton petted his hair softly, letting the boy rub his face on him like a cat. Drayton tried to just seem happy, in that moment. But deep down he knew he was still woefully underprepared. He didn’t know how the hell he was gonna raise a boy like Bubba, when he had to pick up the most basic of concepts from a stranger at the gas station.

 But the Sawyers had always been resourceful. So he guessed he’d just figure it out. 

As the years went on, Bubba slowly felt more and more understood.  And his older brothers realized Bubba was quite the chatterbox. He talked to them all the time, about a lot of different things, in a lot of different ways. They learned a handful of his home signs and enough about his body language, expressions, and sounds to understand him- even if those outside the family probably never would. 

But, Bubba didn’t worry too much about the outside at first. He didn’t need it. The Sawyer property and his family were his whole world. And in his world, he was listened to. 

But Bubba also listened. To his brother’s exploits, at work, or causing havoc in Newt. To complaints and curiosities about the neighbors, apparently so very close to them. And to the radio, and the hundreds of lovely voices that poured through it, talking about far away places and interesting people that Bubba sometimes imagined himself meeting. 

But for the time being, at least, Bubba didn’t have too strong of an urge to go there and be with them. He was happy on his little farm house, with his family, and his chicken, and his routines. It was a good life. He didn’t yet want more. 

But those voices on the radio had him curious about more. About seeing the sights. About meeting those people. Drayton told him often that they wouldn’t like him. Wouldn’t understand him the way other Sawyers did. But Bubba remembered it took his family a long time to understand him too. So he let himself be curious, at least. He wondered about those strange and beautiful cities. He wondered about the people with their strange and beautiful faces. And, of course, as he watched his brothers bicker at the door, heading out into that strange and beautiful world, he wondered if he ever asked for more, if anybody would listen.

[lyriumsings]

the excuse of “it’s an adaptation of coURSE it’s not going to be perfect” is so funny to me as if one piece didn’t do MONUMENTALLY WELL bc it is a literal frame by frame copy of the source material and tbh that’s not even exactly what i wanted (mostly bc it’s impossible to achieve with atla in live action and it not look cringey and cheap as fuck) but it’s such a lazy excuse lmfao they had what? over 8 hours of content atla runs for the same time (actually even less if you take out the beginning and ending credits) so this excuse of cutting down for the sake of time is a joke. they had the time to do the proper plot points they chose not to for the sake of adding weird death scenes, weird clunky romances with sokka? and massacring the plot points. it felt like the people who made this show hated atla tbqh. like the only parts they liked were the “main quest parts” (spoiler alert damn near everything that happens in atla is relevant to the main plot down to katara’s fucking necklace and sokka’s boomerang) it feels like they didn’t know the source material at best and at worst straight up didn’t fucking care. None of the characters are true to their core traits, none of the arcs are treated with any kind of respect or even just the courtesy of basic coherence. i don’t understand how anyone who actually likes and understands atla can go “oh em gee it’s just bandwagon hate it was actually so good teehee” have some fucking standards for gods sake

[littlelesbinonny]

The Devil's Den

Chapter 41: In Which The Daylight Is Dawning Pt. 2

You can read this also on Ao3 at: https://archiveofourown.org/works/46831621/chapters/117962293

Donna was frozen in place. She knew Karl was still holding onto her but she couldn't comprehend it. All she could see was the trail of blood on the ground where Alcina had been drug to her fate. Every single event was replaying slow motion over and over again in her brain. She had been so lost in thought she hadn't noticed everyone filing out of the hall and back into the city, leaving the few who were brave enough to show their remaining loyalty to Alcina lingering just as still and silent as she was.

"D - "

A voice said in her ear.

"D! You gotta snap out of it - D."

Her dark brown eyes on the verge of spilling tears finally looked over to find Karl, his face just as riddled with grief but definitely more rage than she had ever seen.

"I..." she mustered, "we - the - we -" 

Donna couldn't even form a coherent sentence, she was too overcome with shock she brought her palms up and buried her face. Karl's warm, secure embrace was quite literally the only thing holding her together.

Without Alcina, their fight was over. No one would unite without her. None of the pitiful fucking vampires would act on their own! Her only hope was the lycans, who would be gnashing to fight, she had no doubt. The underworlds only hope now was the lycans. And that was fine with her. But they had to do something and they had to do it fast. She had to snap out of it!

She broke away from Karl momentarily and was about to whisper her hasty plan to him, but that chilling presence she hated now more than ever invaded her space.

"Donna, my dear!" Came Miranda's cool voice, "I have some pressing business that needs attending to, but I will send for you later as we have much to discuss," she smiled, "and Karl, I will require your time here very shortly as well - and try not to get into any trouble in the meantime. My soldiers have direct orders to destroy anyone who steps out of line... you've seen the damage they do. Please don't be stupid. I'd rather not lose either of you to fruitless defiance."

Karl lunged for Miranda but Donna haphazardly clambered herself nearly onto him to stop his assault as she walked away so annoyingly nonchalant.

"Don't be an idiot!" she hissed through a hushed whisper in his ear, "your shop - now!"

~

Everyone of key importance had gathered in Karl's work space: Donna, Karl himself, Dmitri, Angie, Sylvia, Mitch, Diego, Gerard, Mateo, Elina, and shockingly, Clarice from the council.

"Keep your voice down!" Donna huffed.

"I don't give a fuck what they can hear! I'm about to start poppin' bullets in every single one of their skulls!" Karl raged, pulling a new and very decently sized revolver out of his underarm and aiming it to the mutants on the other side of the thick glass, "I'll blow the underground to kingdom-fucking-come before I let this bitch take this place!"    Donna forced his arm down and grabbed the collar of his dirty, beat-up, oversized khaki colored trench coat, "will you keep your shit together! We have one fucking shot at this and we can't afford your hot-headed, bull-skulled, idiotic temper to ruin it for everyone! Alcina needs our help! We have to be smart about this!"

Angie popped a blood lollypop out of her mouth loudly and hopped her butt onto the table, shoving it right back in her cheek before reaching for Karl, "listen, my man, I've been watching these weirdos for weeks; they are brutally strong but they are fuckin' DUMB. I'm not sure what operates them but I swear to god it's not the brain in their heads. They're very easily distracted and drawn apart when psycho-whacko isn't present. The sunrise is barely hours away, we need a calculated diversion, lots of 'em - you know, bombs and stuff - and a quick moving team and we can get Alcina and her girls out with no issue at all. But that's only if Mother Fuckface isn't near."

"There's the biggest issue; Mother Miranda." Dmitri stated, his usually calm and vivid demeanor very visibly shaken by witnessing what everyone else did.

"Yeah - that -" Angie chimed back in, "she's really the messiest dingleberry. I dunno what to tell you about that one. Sheer force won't do jack shit to her with all these mutants around. She's their HBIC - it's like she thinks it and they do it - very disturbing."

"HBIC?" Clarice piped up very confused.

"Head bitch in charge." Angie clarified.

Donna huffed and rubbed her temples aggravatedly, "alright - heads down - focus! We have very little time, we've got to move quickly."

~

You felt like you were under a boulder.

It wasn't terribly bright where you were but it took all of your effort to force your eyelids open. 

The room was decently sized, wide open, the lights were dull and a light ochre color. It smelled slightly sterile but also metallic the way dried blood did. The walls were lined with shelves and storage lockers, weird glass globes and vials that made you feel like you were caught in a mad scientist movie. It was also full of all kinds of medical looking equipment, and in that instant everything that had taken place rushed back in, including that cunts words; take her to the lab, NOW!

So. This was it.

You were strangely alone. You thought that was probably not the smartest move, but then again you felt like you'd been hit by a bus. There was barely enough energy coursing through you to breath without labor.

What the fuck was around your neck and wrists? They had to be the reason for this feeling.

Using all your might, you tried to lean forward in the reclined chair you were clearly bound to to see if you could make out the heavy cuffs.

It was a dark grey material, a metal of sorts maybe? It appeared polished and looked kind of shiny, but it wasn't glowing the way Alcina's had been. 

The unlatching of a door to the right of you caught you off guard and your head snapped in that direction, a bad move as the room started to spin.

"Iron."

Came that sickening voice.

"The best raw iron one can find," Mother Miranda continued as she waltzed happily towards you, "the only real weakness to a fae like you."

...Fae? 

What?

You were finally able to get a good close look at the living terror you had envisioned killing many times before, the rage you felt twisting your lips and face into a scowl that made Miranda smirk. She might be a pretty thing if she weren't such an awful waste of air. To you she was ugly, hideous even, wearing the pain she'd caused your Alcina like a badge of honor and it made your magick spark.

"I had hoped to meet under better circumstances, but Alcina never would have allowed that to happen..."

Miranda placed her hand on your upper arm and it burned. Whether or not that was your imagination reacting out of pure spite for her or an actual sensation you weren't really sure. 

"She's very possessive, you see. She would have never shared you with me willingly."

Her smile made you want to explode.

"Though her appetite for strong blood has always been her weakness, and her strength. I could always count on her to find the most delicious humans. Granted, Madeleine was a sorry loss, truly, which I'm sure she told you all about her, and what I did... villainize me all you want, little fae, but I did what was best for her in the end."

You wanted to scream more than anything, break free and grab her face and gouge out her eyes, but you were locked in a prison of hatred that rendered you still and silent while you bickered with your inner thoughts trying to stay on top of your reactions. Then Malka's voice sounded in your ear; telling you to remain calm, to use the situation to your benefit, to store the emotions brewing inside of you because they would come in handy. So you remained quiet, letting her drawl making you angrier and angrier.

"Madeleine came from a long line of witches, I'll have you know," Miranda continued as she walked around the chair you were strapped to, heading to the side table that had a large syringe and several long vials, "but she had strayed from that path, as did her mother before her, so her blood would have been no use to me in the long run. It was too weak, her power was too weak, but it made her irresistible to our dearest Alcina."

Watching as she grabbed for the syringe, you swallowed and eyed her like a hawk, gritting and grinding your teeth with what strength you had.

"I knew what I put her through would wane her from seeking anything less than the most powerful blood until the right time came. I had no idea it would be this soon. I figured a century may pass perhaps, but here you came along... a most pleasant surprise. I thought your kind had long been lost."

Curiosity was hard to deny. You'd been searching for answers your whole life. Now you had to ask.

"What exactly are... my kind?"

Miranda's eyes gleamed, "I told you; you're a fae! Now which kind I'm not totally certain. Fae folk in the human world are the rarest, which makes you the most desirable! A fae in the olde world is too impossible to catch. They're too strong, too flighty, too unusable. But you! Your blood is some of the oldest I've ever had the privilege to come across. I'll truly enjoy my search to find your lineage, if I can, because your blood will be the striking force to begin our journey into this new age!" 

Syringe in hand, Miranda darted back to your side and examined you with fever in her eyes, her delicate fingertip tracing your face that came with a sensation of you wanting to rip yourself out of your skin.

"You will be everything I need for my new species of vampire. Your blood will make me stronger than any that have ever walked this earth before, and my children, the new breed that I will introduce, will be the perfection I have so long since desired."

You had to bite your lip as her twinkling blue eyes made your skin prickle. Keeping your head about you to continue to store this rage deep inside of you, in a nest in your core for your chance to strike was getting harder.

"The army that follows me now are less than what I desired. They are controllable, but... albeit a failed experiment. Yes, they are brutishly strong, and purely loyal to me, but... they have no mind of their own, a downside to the parasite I bred. But! It was a good start!" She grinned, "When I mutate your blood along with my parasites I hope to weed out the rest of the weaknesses that make us fallible - there will be no desire but to be beautiful and powerful. To follow me. And only me. To deny love for any, but me. To go with me to whatever end I desire... to never repeat the same mistakes I face, over and over..."

Her eyes went vacant as she stared off at the wall behind your head, the forest of thoughts she'd just gotten lost in seeming to lead her down a foggy path that blinked your existence out of the picture, and yet she kept talking.

"It was a dream my daughter and I had..." her voice dwindled to a more somber tone, "she had been so young. Twelve years old. Too young to be what she became. The years passed, and we do not change physically of course, and it becomes hard for one so young to bare the burdens of the world, to watch everything change around you when you do not when you should... Eva... my darling... she wanted to change. She wanted to change so much, but I... was able to give her everything her heart desired, but that..."

Your eyes were transfixed on this woman. Alcina told you she had never told a soul what had happened to her daughter, that everything the vampires knew about it was purely speculation, and yet here she was spilling it to you like you were a guard at the gates of heaven or hell, and she must tell her tale before she passes.

"Her beauty was unmatched. An angel, really. A young but vicious killer that gave my soul so much joy. My only absolution to the life we had no choice but to dwell within. And we... oh, we had such plans! Such visions we would share and collaborate - the future of our kind - the path we could lead - the power and control we could have! There was a future we so desired to live back amongst the humans as one! To be feared and loved and worshipped as the greater species we are! Untouched by time... illness... every little thing that defeated humans at the drop of a hat..."

Miranda looked back down at you as she seemed to come back into herself, her palm caressing your face as she sunk her sight into you, and you stilled, held your breath out of what emotion you weren't sure.

"But... we aren't as perfect as we should be. There is one, only one, illness that is our downfall. It ruins everything... every plan, ever desire, every need behind a motivation - it can be thwarted by the worst of all illnesses... do you know what that illness, that weakness is, little fae?"

You shook your head very carefully, the wild look behind her eyes making you uneasy.

"Love," she whispered, leaning into your face, "love, little fae... the worst ailment any living creature can endure! It... ruins everything!" 

Miranda leaned back up and stepped away from you with haste, pacing manically as she continued her bizarre rant. 

"It took my Eva!" She nearly shrieked, "it took her from me!" Her wild eyes went back to you as she walked back and forth across the floor, "she fell from me! Away from me! Abandoned me and our plans! Everything we were working towards - she left it all behind - dropped it like it had never meant anything, all because - all because - this - this boy! A human! A human boy she could never coexist with! She was stricken down by this folly and I lost her to it, to him!"

She was growing more and more fitful and you were trying very hard to not fear for your safety. Miranda was a loaded loose cannon, that was all too apparent.

"I - I had no choice. I had no choice, little fae. For our own betterment, for hers, I had to cure her. I had to end it. How could I possibly let this infection of love for a human taint my bloodline?! Humans would be our end! She knew this, she knew, and yet she gave in. She bowed to this weakness. And I... my reign, my dynasty, could not be tarnished. We were too far into our plan to stray. I couldn't allow it. I couldn't... and so I had to kill her, don't you see?"

She was out of her fucking mind. Absolutely mad.

"But... time marched on. I marched on. I never abandoned our plans, our hope, our desire for our kinds future. I had to abide my time. Calculate. Measure. Collect. Create. Watch. And plan. Plan, plan, plan, until the time was right."

Once more she turned to you and came to your side with a face full of psychotic hope.

"And here you are - my beacon of light! The turn of my tides! We will be great together. We will create such a dynasty that will rule this world for the rest of time, it will be marvelous! You... and me... we will change the course of the worlds future."

The fuck WE will.

You had to keep calm. You had to.

You were facing a deranged vampire who was old and powerful, but you would fight tooth and nail to make sure this plan of hers never saw the light of day. Pun intended.

Swallowing carefully, you tested the deep water you were in for your own benefit, you needed information, and more catalyst to your stash of emotion, "what have you done with Alcina?"

Mother Miranda's visage took a deep dive from hope to scrutiny, "what does it matter? She is a lost cause, as all of the vampires I have placed my hopes in have been."

"If you want my help, which I will give you, I simply ask in return that you tell me what you've done with her."

Rising slowly away from you, Miranda went back to the small table and retrieved a vial, with it and the syringe in hand, she returned and eyed you flatly, "she and her daughters will die by sunlight. I sealed them in the sun towers to burn."

There it was.

Oh that fire began to burn brightly. Now all you needed was your window of opportunity.

"You offer your alliance so willingly, I had not expected that little fae," Miranda mused as she looked down at you, calculating your words, "why?"

Fighting down your rage you locked your eyes in hers and forced a small smile, "you give me little choice. I would rather go willingly than fight you."

Her hardened facade broke into a faint grin. 

Was it that easy?

"I somehow knew I was going to like you. Fae are usually very feisty and yet you are so malleable - you are wise beyond your years! Or, perhaps, the human world has beaten you down enough to make you this compliant... either way... we really will be a great team together."

She stroked your face once more that made your insides lurch, but you held your tongue and waited less than patiently.

"Still... you will have to fully earn my trust in time. Now, hold still, I need to fill these vials so I can begin my research."

Mother Miranda reached for the heavy iron collar around your neck and snapped the latch open, pulled it from your throat and you felt the overpowering flood of everything you had been holding onto slam into you.

Show time.

All you saw was red. Rage. Alcina, on her knees and bleeding at the mercy of the woman in front of you. The shallowing of your breath was accompanied with the narrowing of your space; the honing in on everything you felt; the numb, surging, overflowing power of your need for revenge for what she'd done to Alcina, and what she had in store for the woman you loved so deeply. You couldn't fathom the future she spoke of, the terror she would instill, and you would be damned before you, or your Alcina, became the played pawns in the start of this chess match. Miranda would pay dearly. You would make certain of it.

It was hot, prickly. Seething to be released.

You harnessed your magick with all of your might; the gnashing, howling hunger to lash out giving you only a brief pause before you let it off its leash at your intended target.

The heat of this explosion of magick was so strong you felt like you could touch it. It permeated off you and hit Miranda with an invisible choking cloud.

She stumbled back, dropping her tools to the floor with a clatter as a sputtering scream began to emerge from her throat. Her hands reached for her eyes with a shaking intensity as she screamed louder and louder, her knees threatening to buckle as you forced every ounce of your hatred through her. It wasn't long before you saw trails of blood pouring down her cheeks from her eyes before she all but fell into the table, knocking it over, the glass vials shattering on impact to the floor as she struggled to get as far away from you as possible.

Miranda tumbled through the door from which she came and you jerked on your wrists with might. The iron split around your wrists without struggle and you were free. Nauseatingly light headed you headed for the door opposite of where Mother Miranda had fled and dashed as fast as your wobbly legs would take you.

The further you got into the ways of the city the more and more powerful you felt, almost like you had to collect your power back before you yourself burst. Finally, against your will, you slammed into a wall and took heavy breath after heavy breath, looking down at your open palms that felt like they were on fire. Things were beginning to spin less and less and now you could hear yelling and screaming, howling, gun shots, and what you were pretty certain were explosions. 

My hell, you were underground in the middle of a real war.

Out of the blue you heard your name behind you.

Oh fuck, oh fuck, please let this not be real. You weren't entirely sure enough on your feet yet to run. 

Hesitantly you looked over your shoulder and found a face coming at you that allowed you to relax.

"Angie," you huffed, still relying on the wall for support.

"Ho - ly shit! You escaped?!"

You nodded a little disjunct and let the familiar vampire grab hold of you, "y-yeah - Miranda - "

"Ooo shit, fuck fuck - c'mon lets get outta here!"

She scooped you up like you were just a stuffed doll and dashed down the hallway, turning here and turning there, the labyrinth of this place making you so confused you stopped trying to keep track of your surroundings until you were being set down in a dark corner of a room with several other people.

"She escaped Miranda!" Angie shouted.

Three more sets of eyes landed on you, one you recognized; Donna.

"What?!"

The burliest of them asked as he shot around from behind Donna to get a good look at you.

"I'll be fucked! Little human's got gumption! How, though?!"

"I - I'm a fae," you answered very unsure of yourself. You weren't entirely sure if that Miranda bitch was right, but somehow it made sense.

The pause made you uneasy as they all looked at you as if you'd grown a second head in the last five seconds.

"I have magick," you tried again, "I attacked her, but I don't know how much damage I did."

Donna placed her hand on her shoulder in a very comforting way, her smile was warm but it didn't last long.

"You may have bought us a large window of opportunity, my dear, thank you," she offered, "are you alright, did she harm you?"

"N-no, no she didn't hurt me - I'm ok. Where's Alcina?" you blurted.

"The Eastern sun tower, that's where we're headed now."

Said the very handsome man with the most strikingly white hair and Russian accent.

"This is Dmitri, and this is Karl," Donna relayed with haste, "and the one who brought you, this is Angie, my sister."

"Yeah, we've met before," you responded with a smile at the blonde.

Donna halted grabbing for the bag she was fuddling with, "what?"

Angie jumped in immediately, "mmmyeah, about that; that's a story for another time, we really gotta get going. The sun rose three hours ago, our time slot to rescue is cutting way too short."

"Let's go then," you butted in, feeling much more like yourself which was a great relief.

"No, no," Donna warned, "this is no place for you, dear, I don't want to risk your safety."

"Did you not hear what she just said?" Karl interjected, "little pixie dust handed Miranda's ass to her - she's comin'! We want this little magickal hot shot with us."

"We really don't have time to argue, let's go!"

Dmitri was the final say.

The rest of the way wasn't completely barren of mutants, but they seemed oddly discombobulated and killing them was easier than it should've been. 

The radio comms worn by Karl and Dmitri were going off the entire way. From what you gathered, the lycans and vampire soldiers were executing well calculated and stealthy attacks through the city, confirming your suspicions of hearing explosion earlier, which, fittingly enough continued as the three of you made your way to what was referred to as the Eastern Quarter, where the Eastern sun towers resided. 

You were privileged front row seats to watching how vampires and lycans fought. Well, Karl at least. He was manic and hasty, although swift and effective with knives and a very large gun that made easy work of skulls. There was little left remaining after the blasts but an eerie blue glowing substance that oozed from whatever body part had been obliterated. The vampires were elegant and ruthless. They preferred blades above all else and Donna, though small, was terrifyingly agile and precise in the way she killed. Angie was a lot like Karl; pure mania. Dmitri, almost robotic; blunt and brutal.

Luckily you didn't have to go up against any mutants, you were far too preoccupied with familiarizing yourself with your surroundings and getting to Alcina as quickly as possible.

A sharp turn and a steep decline on damp stone stairs led you all to your destination. 

It was eerily silent here and it made everything more dire. There were slots in the low ceiling where it met the stone wall that allowed, what you assumed to be, sunlight in. Safely enough it wouldn't harm a vampire if they didn't come too close, but in a horrifying way to let whomever was down there know that the sun was in the sky. The area was cold, and everything echoed loudly as it was quite literally a simple stone corridor with one door and two exits, the one you came from and the one that had dried blood leading to a very lonely door.

But there was no longer a door there.

The barely six foot tall archway had been cemented shut. 

At some point during the night Alcina and her girls had fallen into a dreamless, slumber-like state. The frigid cold keeping them stored motionless and thoughtless until the impending white light of their looming fate began to spill over into the silo.

Bela was the first to wake.

She was stiff and so cold that when she peered gingerly towards where they all rest with their fingers still touching their mothers, she realized that their digits had turned completely grey. Void of all color or circulation.

It was then the shock and panic of realization that light was filling the silo, that Bela used all her might to push from the stinging cold floor and assess the situation.

Her wide eyes peered up to see the crescent moon of sunlight was growing larger and larger at the very top of the silo walls.

The sunlight was coming, death was coming. Help, was not.

Severity set in.

"Mother," her raw voice rasped, "mother please, wake up - wake up! Sisters! Get up!"

Their movements were just as slow as hers but they joined her, sitting up and leaning into the cold brick of the wall, eyes flying from the blue sky above to their mother who still lay completely unresponsive.

"Mother! Mother, please!" Bela called once more.

Daniela and Cassandra reached for each other, then Bela, trying to pull on their chains once more to see if by any mishap of fate they could break free. But they could not. They were too weak and it was too late.

The light melted down the brick above further and further as the moments passed, and the girls took to holding onto each other instead, inching as far from the wall as possible to give them any more time that might be possible before death seared them.

"M-mother - " Dani whined, "wake up... the sun! Please!"

Still, nothing.

Cassandra held fast to her sisters and brought their attention to her, the most somber expression they'd ever seen taking her beautiful face. She shook her head, accepting the fate that had befallen them, refusing to let it end without expressing the love she never truly said out loud, with actions.

So there, in the chilling wake of the sunlight, Cassandra, Bela, and Daniela held each other in an embrace of sisterhood as they braved their fears for what was to come.

Staring up at the sky, they waited for it all to end.

[randoms-fandoms]

Hi!! Can I please request the ninja(from Ninjago) X older brotherly reader platonicly?? Ofc where the reader acts like an older brother to each of the ninja.

If U can only do one may it please be kai that boy needs some brotherly affection

Have an amazing day💖

YES IVE BEEN DYING TO WRITE KAI CONTENT :D in this one, the reader will actually be Kai’s (and Nya’s) older brother :)

Warnings: none, I just make things unnecessarily sad and Kai has a breakdown.

Relationships: Jay has a crush on Nya 🫢

Kai had always had a hard time expressing himself. That, paired with his strong emotions, lead to one thing: consequences.

He picked fights. When he didn’t like something, everyone knew. He was constantly rumbling with other kids in his neighborhood growing up, and you (as his older brother) typically had to patch up his wounds afterwards.

Not much about this aspect of Kai changed you and your younger siblings moved in with Sensei Wu and the rest of the ninja— except now, Kai got in bigger fights, with his friends, and you were now realizing that your job had just gotten a whole lot more complicated.

“You should go check on Kai.” Nya said, poking her head into your room on the Bounty.

You groaned, already having a headache from trying to work out your responsibilities with the blacksmith shop. The building had already been repossessed, but somehow the local government hadn’t got the memo and was still sending you business taxes. Still, no matter how hard it got, you refused to ask Sensei for help.

“I’ll talk to him. Don’t worry about it.” You said to Nya after a pause. She nodded, not quite comforted, and left the room.

Leaving the papers on your desk— that way I won’t forget about them— you stood up and stretched. You had been working for quite some time; it was already nearly dinner.

You found Kai in the ninja’s shared bedroom, lying on his bunk facing away from you. He held completely still, obviously pretending to be asleep.

“Hey.” You said, sitting on one of the other beds.

Kai didn’t turn around. He didn’t say a word.

“How’ve you been?” You tried again.

This one got a reaction: “Just fine.”

You didn’t believe that for a second, and were kind of losing your patience. Why does he always do this?

“Okay. Why are you in here instead of training?”

Kai groaned and flopped onto his back. “Because I don’t want to! Just leave me alone!”

You briefly regretted not asking Nya for more details when she initially came to you. Kai rarely ever told you what was on his mind.

“I can help you, you know.” You said, impatiently. “Whatever you’re dealing with this time—“ you struggled to make your thoughts into a coherent sentence. “We’ve always done things together, why can’t—“

“You don’t get it!” Kai shouted, sitting up. “You’re not a ninja!”

“So what?” Your expression didn’t change. You felt bad for pressing his buttons, but you knew he’d get over it. “I still want to do what I can.”

“What could you do?” He asked.

You frowned. I don’t know. You were silent for a moment. “…I’m sorry, Kai.”

Kai glared. It wasn’t very threatening, with fresh tears running down his face. “Why.” He demanded. “It’s not your fault. It’s no one’s fault, this is just how it is.” He replied bitterly. “So don’t apologize. There’s nothing you can do.”

You had no idea how to make him understand just how much his pain broke your heart.

You remembered when he was younger… how excited he was when you finally let him help make weapons. How he always hid his report cards from you so you wouldn’t know he was failing. How he put on a brave face after your parents went missing, how he’d insist on staying awake to protect your home during the night.

Kai sighed. He took a deep breath. He leaned back against his pillow and closed his eyes.

“Who are you fighting with?” You tried, voice lowered, almost a whisper.

“All of ‘em.” Kai replied just as quietly, shaking his head. “…Jay.”

You looked over him more closely, noticing a bruise forming under his right eye. You didn’t comment on it. “What about?”

“Family stuff.”

You nodded in understanding. Kai was easily ignited when it came to his family.

“I’m sure he didn’t mean to upset you, he’s just kind of an idiot sometimes.” You said sincerely. Jay really was a sweet kid, you thought, but he was kind of tactless.

Kai frowned. “I’m not upset, he’s just being stupid.”

“What did he say?”

“It’s dumb.” Kai prefaced, not meeting your eyes. “We were training, and you know how he likes Nya…”

“Mm-hm,” you nodded along. You knew Kai was protective of Nya in general, but his anxiety really amped it up after your parents went missing. You also knew that Jay was aware of this, at least the first part.

“He said we could duel, and if he wins he gets to ask her out.”

“You know he’s not going to do that,” you reasoned.

Kai nodded. “Whatever. He won obviously, you know I’m not that good at fighting—“

“No way dude,” you objected.

Kai just rolled his eyes. “—anyway, I got all mad, and he made fun of me. I was pissed. Whatever.”

You knew that wasn’t the full story. “Anything else?”

“He said… that Nya prob’ly hates me ‘cause I’m so— you know.” Kai scrunched his face up, trying not to cry again.

You stood and made your way across the room to sit next to him on the bed, waiting for him to start breathing again. When he did, they came ragged and short. “Kai.”

Kai turned away, bringing his hands up to cover his face. He rolled over to face the wall, whole body shaking from the effort to hold on a sob. The room was completely silent.

“Kai, he wouldn’t say that. It’s not true.”

Kai finally broke, gasping and sobbing. He balled his fists up in his hair, groaning in protest.

“Come on, bud.” You placed a hand on his shoulder. “Breathe.” You gently pulled him into a sitting position and modeled measured breaths for him while he coughed and heaved, still not wanting to cry. “You gotta breathe. It’s okay to make noise.” You said more firmly.

Kai shook his head, squeezing his eyes shut. You gave up and just held him, tightly, regretting that you couldn’t remember the last time he’d let you hug him. How did we get to be like this?

Kai finally began to cry in earnest. He cried hard. He was hurting too much to hold it back anymore, head pounding, lungs burning, bruises from training blooming on his ribs.

You couldn’t think of anything to say. It would be easy to comfort Nya if she was breaking down, but with Kai, you didn’t want to accidentally set him off again. So you just waited.

When Kai finished crying, he just lie back on his bed, exhausted and angry-looking. His face was red as he wiped his tears with his sleeve.

You found his backpack and dug around in it until you found his water bottle and a box of pain relief pills. He took them wordlessly, before handing the bottle off to you so you could take some as well. Your head was killing you.

“You hungry?” You asked. Kai shook his head. “Okay, I’ll let you skip dinner tonight if you promise to have a midnight snack later.” He nodded.

You stood up, pausing. “Uh, Kai?”

He still didn’t say anything, not looking at you. You thought he might be embarrassed about crying. I should probably leave.

“Nya loves you. I love you too.” You said a little awkwardly. “And you know what? I bet Jay loves you. And Cole, and Zane, and Wu… so just…” your confidence wavered when a tear slipped down his cheek. “You can tell us if something’s bothering you. I know it’s hard to be a ninja.”

Kai nodded. He took a shuddering breath. “Thanks,”

You nodded. “Any time. Get some rest.”

As you left the room, you checked your phone. It was ten minutes into dinner time. You were hungry.

You also noticed, a moment later, a text from Jay.

Is Kai ok?

You smiled, exhausted, and just replied with a thumbs up emoji. I’m turning in early tonight.

A/N: Jay actually said “I bet Nya hates how overprotective you are” btw Kai is just depressed and thinks everyone hates him. Anyway hope you enjoyed ❤️

[ladylooch]

Okay here is an idea for Timo and Emma

Somewhat angsty lol

So maybe life is really busy with the 4 kids and it’s been a little while where Em and T were able to have some time alone. So maybe every little either Timo does or the kids do sets Emma off and she is easily irritated and annoyed. Like maybe making lunch for the kids and they don’t want to eat what she has cooked or Timo is gone longer than he said and Emma missed her workout class. So Timo is like okay obviously you have some tension let me help you loosen up 🥵and so they run off during the kids nap time

By Emma’s calculations, she should be about to her cooldown right now in her pilates class. She should be sweaty, but relieved to have gotten a work out in with how crazy the family schedule has been this week. Instead, she is sitting on the couch, monitoring Logan and Liam as their play time borders on becoming a slap fest. 

Timo is still not home.

He was supposed to be home two hours ago. Emma keeps getting texts from him with updates. 

I’m going to be a little later than I thought.

Still going here, babe. Need a bit more time.

15 minutes or so and I’ll be on my way.

I just left. I’m getting home as fast as I can. 

Fuck, I’m so sorry!

Emma believes him. She knows those RPMs on that Mercedes of his are going to be roaring through the streets of New Jersey. She had asked for one thing this week. ONE THING from her now retired NHL player of a husband. It was to make sure that he was at home by 1:00pm so she could hit her pilates class. Emma knows he is doing hard work right now. He is getting more involved in his friend’s clothing company that he has invested in for years. Now, that Timo  has the time, he has been asked to be more of a decision maker. Timo is very excited about the prospect and Emma is supportive. But she has needs too. Very hot ones that have not been met by her husband in weeks. 

“Logan.” Emma murmurs, watching him start to pat at his brother. A string of words in Swiss German and English come bumbling out of his mouth with none of them being coherent. “Baby, no. Hands to yourself.” The twins, who practically came out holding hands, do not understand this concept. “Be nice.” Emma finishes. Another thing they don’t understand as two year old terrors. 

“Baby! I’m here!” Timo calls into the house before he looks around. His eyes land on his wife so close. “Oops. Sorry. I thought you would be upstairs.” He flips his wrist, looking at his watch. “Can you still make it?”

“At 1:45? No.” Emma snaps. 

“Okay. Fuck. I’m so sorry. Is there a later one you can go to… or…” Timo purses his lips at the irritation puling her eyebrows together. “No? Okay.” He scratches at the back of his neck. “Um, how can I make it up to you?” 

Emma gives him props for the awareness and recognition and the genuine apology. But she doesn’t feel like she was asking for too much. One thing. In the millions of things that she has sacrificed for him in his career. Today she wanted one fucking thing.

“Make it on time tomorrow, please.” She says tightly.

“Yes, I will. Promise.” He comes to the living room. He kneels down by the babies then drops a big palm on each of the twins heads. “Hannah coming today?” 

“No, she is on vacation with her friends. It’s us against the kids.”

“Oh yeah, Tulum.” Timo grins. “Good mems, eh?”

“Mhm.” Em agrees. Timo craws over to her on the floor, literally on his knees. 

“I’m really sorry. You know that?” Emma nods. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“Okay, can you just yell at me?” Timo groans, putting his forehead on her thigh.

“No. I don’t want to.” Emma shrugs. 

“This feels worse.” 

“Than me yelling at you? Good lord. We needed therapy more than we knew.” She leans forward, cupping both his cheeks. She kisses him deeply, letting her tongue swipe along the seam of his lips. He sighs, reaching a big hand around to the back of her neck. They make out like that, touching tongues and soft moans to each other until they’re both worked up. Liam comes to smooch their faces, breaking them out of their trace as Logan comes too. 

“Gonna bend that sweet ass over my knee tonight. When all the babies are in bed.” He murmurs hotly in her ear so the boys can’t hear. Emma smiles at him as he settles into the couch next to her with Liam. Logan curls into Emma’s arms. His little feet go over to his brother and he starts kicking. Liam begins to do the same immediately.

“Hey!” Emma and Timo say at the same time, grabbing the feet of the respective twin in their arms. 

“They just had to be boys.” Emma chuckles, leaning her back into Timo. He wraps an arm across her chest, gripping her opposite shoulder to keep her close.

“The universe knew I couldn’t have three girls.” Timo laughs as Logan starts to gnaw on Timo’s arm. Emma cups his little chin, wiggling it so he releases his dad’s skin. Emma smirks at the sweet grin he gives her. He looks like a little dinosaur with his jagged teeth. 

“Yeah, that is probably true.” She finally responds. 

Two more Livys would surely put Timo in an early grave.