#now shes wandering around sneezing

[elusivewildflower]

Do Be Careful | Astarion x Reader Drabble

Summary: Astarion saves you from a trap and scolds you afterwards. GN!Reader.

Word Count: 746

A/N: Based on my idea that I posted here. I might make this into a little series if I get inspired and come up with more scenarios.

“Heyy-o.” Came Karlach’s voice, capturing the attention of the entire party. “This place is rigged.” She continued, pointing out a tripwire that was a few paces ahead of her.

Astarion sighed heavily. “Everyone keep your eyes open and be careful. I don’t particularly feel like getting blown up today.” His vermillion eyes met yours and narrowed. “Especially you, darling.” 

You raised your hand to your chest, feigning hurt by his words. “I’m always careful!” 

The pale elf scoffed. “You’re about as careful as I am honest.” 

Brushing off Astarion’s words, you turned to the left and began walking. As the rest of your party split off into different directions, Astarion trailed behind you. It seemed as if every inch of the dimly lit cellar you were exploring was covered in dust. You felt as if you couldn’t breath already, and you had only been down here for twenty minutes. All you wanted was to find the amulet you came for and get the hell out. You certainly hoped the reward for this item was worth all of the trouble. As a sneeze sounded from the elf behind you, you smiled. At least you weren’t the only one suffering. 

As you wandered through the dank cellar, your thoughts were plagued by the man behind you. Ever since the night of the tiefling party, Astarion had become your shadow. Sure, you were the self-proclaimed leader of your group and everyone followed you, but not in the same way he did. Every move you made he copied, and he never strayed far from you in a fight. His trailing after you has only gotten worse since the time you unknowingly stepped on a live trap. It’s only happened two other times, but Astarion will never let you live it down. A part of you was endeared to know the elf must care for you, even if you often questioned that matter. After all, he hadn’t been fully present with you during the night you shared. Yet, here he was, always two steps behind you, ready to pounce in case you needed saving. A heavy sigh resounded in your chest. Your relationship with the vampire was confusing to say the least. 

Too swept up in your thoughts about the shadow behind you, you didn’t spot the trap you were walking into until it was too late. You sucked in a sharp breath as you felt a tripwire brush against your shin. It seems whomever rigged this cellar had a particular type of trap they favored.

 “Sh—“ 

You didn’t have time to finish your expletive before a strong arm wrapped around your waist from behind and yanked you out of harm’s way. As you tumbled to the ground, you watched an arrow shoot out from a dark corner and sail through the air right where you had been standing. A cool and lean body cushions your fall, the both of you letting out a grunt upon impact. 

After taking a moment to process what just happened, or rather, what almost happened, you rolled off of your savior. Embarrassment flooded through you as you shot him a bashful grin.

“What did I just say?!” Astarion scolded you exasperatedly. 

This was now the fourth time your resident vampire has saved your hind, and he didn’t look too pleased about it. Perhaps a compliment might distract him from his anger? You batted your eyelashes, feigning innocence. “You’re so pretty, Astarion.” 

“Flattery won’t get you anywhere right now, darling.” He chastised before heaving a sigh. You watched as his features contorted with a hint of concern. ”You could’ve, oh, I don’t know, died?!” 

Your shoulders slumped as you realized the truth of his statement. “I’m sorry….” 

“You should be!” He brushed himself off as the two of you got to your feet. “I’ve saved your life, yet again, and all I get are aches and bruises.” 

It was your turn to heave a sigh as you rolled your eyes. “You can feed on me tonight for your repayment.” 

Astarion grinned wickedly at the sound of that, his demeanor changing instantly. “Well, at least something good will come of this after all.” 

When you began to resume your, now-cleared, path, Astarion was quick to stop you. His arm splayed across your chest as he stepped in front of you. 

“Oh no, no, no. I am going to be leading us now. It’s clear that you cannot be trusted to actually use those pretty eyes of yours.” 

[satxnsupreme666]

Spell gone wrong: Agatha Harkness x Fem!reader

Masterlist

Requested by: @midnight-lestrange

Summary: Agatha gets a magical cold because of a wrong spell and this causes her to sneeze a lot and unconsciously her magic changes some things, you decide to take care of her until Wanda comes to ask for help.

Words: 3k+

Author´s notes: Hi, this was a requested story, I do not know if I should tag the people who requested at the time, I want to be respectful, so I am not sure if I should tag them, I will try and do it since it was their request and their idea and if any of the people who requested back at the time now feel uncomfortable being tagged, please let me know and I will delete the tag.

This was one of the first stories I wrote three years ago, I had posted them on Tumblr on my old account, but due to my mental health, I had to take a break from Tumblr and the toxicity and hate that had suddenly increased, I deleted all of my stories and my old account, now I have decided to upload them again here on Tumblr and also on Ao3.

Again, as this was one of the first stories I wrote for Agatha Harkness is a little bit short, I will be uploading the rest of the stories from time to time, I have to edit them and make sure they are legible enough and with not a lot of grammatical errors.

I hope you like it!

If you enjoy, could you comment, like or reblog? it would help a lot really ♥️

Taglist: @midnight-lestrange  @eliscannotdance

You would do anything for your girlfriend and you knew she would do anything for you as well, you two loved each other and Agatha told you that all the time, you told her how much you loved her whenever you could, which basically was all the time , you were really happy with her and you still couldn’t believe how lucky you were to be with her.

You still remember the day she confessed her feelings for you and how you were surprised, you had thought she would never like you the same but remembering that day when she seemed so nervous made you laugh again, you had never seen her like that, she was always so confident and watching her so nervous and almost to the point of stuttering was so cute, you smiled at the memory, she just looked so cute.

While you waited for the water in the kettle to boil your mind wandered back to the memory of how Agatha had asked you to be her girlfriend, and even though it had been years ago you still loved the memory.

The sound of the kettle woke you up from your daydream and you turned the stove off, now dinner was ready so you could call Agatha to come to the dining room.

You were about to call her, but you decided it would be better if you went to the basement, she have told you that she didn’t like you going downstairs because she was afraid that her dark magic could hurt you so she thought it was better if you didn’t go down there, but sometimes you just forget about how dangerous her magic could be, so you just kept walking to go for her, also you really liked seeing her practicing her magic, it was so cool to watch her use her powers.

You walked down the stairs and you really didn’t understand why down here was so dark but you shrugged the thought off.

“Heey, dinner´s ready, the tea is already ther-“ You couldn’t finish your sentence, you tripped over your own feet and just waited for the hit against the cold floor, closing your eyes you waited for the worst and you put your hands to cover your face.

When Agatha heard your voice, she was chanting a spell in Latin but when she saw you were about to hit the ground, she said the spell wrong and used her magic to appear right in front of you to catch you.

 The pain of the hit never came, instead you felt a pair of arms grabbing your waist with a strong grip around you, you laughed a little nervous, that was intense.

Agatha helped you to stand straight but her hands never left your waist.

“Angel, you could have hurt yourself, you need to be more careful” Agatha said to you with a loving smile and then she dropped a kiss to your forehead.

“I´m sorry I didn’t see where I put my feet, you know, that stairs are really dark” She smiled at your comment and nodded, you were right, she would put some light on the walls.

“Did I interrupt you?” You looked at her shyly and she could see a hint of guilt in your eyes so she quickly reassured you

“Oh no darling, you didn’t interrupt me, I was just practicing a little but I had already finish by the time I heard your voice, you don´t have to worry love”

You didn’t believe her but you knew she had a soft spot for you, smiling you took her hand off your waist to hold it.

“If you say so, what about we head upstairs and have our dinner, together, I made your favorite meal”

Agatha felt so lucky to have you, when she told you about her magic you didn’t freak out, instead you felt intrigued and you wanted to know more about her magic, she told you she had lived for many centuries and how her coven made a trial to burn her, you didn’t understand why her coven tried to do that but Agatha explained to you that they were afraid of her magic and how all of that didn’t matter anymore, not now when you were with her.

Agatha nodded she was hungry so she let you guide her towards the kitchen, you were halfway through it when she suddenly felt dizzy and she leant a little against the wall,  you stopped walking when you felt her hand leaving yours so you turned around to look at her, she looked a little paler than usual.

“Are you alright?” You came closer to her and touched her face, but when you saw her eyes you realized, they weren’t blue anymore, now they were purple just like her magic

“Love your eyes are purple, is that normal?” You asked her and Agatha bit her lip, she had said the spell but she had said it wrong, she was saying the words and just as she saw you were going to hit the ground, she said a different thing, oh no, she had got herself sick because of a misspelled conjure.

“I’m fine doll, you do not have to worry, this will wear off in the meantime, c'mon let’s go to eat dinner, I wouldn’t like if it gets cold babe” You looked at her with curious written all over your face but you decided to believe her.

Agatha really hope it would wear off, maybe it was a magic cold, or at least that’s what she hoped.

When she was younger and still in the coven, she remembered seeing the other witches getting a little sick from time to time because of misspelled conjures, it was something common actually, so maybe it was just that.

Arriving at the dining room you left her hand to go to the kitchen to grab two mugs, Agatha sat down in the chair, feeling a headache starting to grow in her head.

You poured the water into the mugs and grab the coffee and the sugar, you already knew how she liked her coffee, with some sugar and milk, so you prepared her coffee and yours, walking towards her you noticed she was grabbing her head.

���Agatha you don’t look alright, does something hurt?” You asked her while sitting in the chair next to her

“Honestly hone-

She sneezed before she could keep speaking and you heard something beside you, turning yourself to look what had happened, you realized the microwave had changed, it was not the one you had, this one was different, it looked a lot more modern than the period time you were in and around it had some purple smoke.

"Did you do that?” Agatha looked to where you were pointing your finger at and she sighed, it was definitely a magical cold.

“Yes doll, I did it, well, my magic did it, I think I got sick because of a misspelled spell, I think I just got it, it will pass, it shouldn’t last more than three days-

"You need to rest, wait, I interrupted you when you were practicing, did I make this to you? I’m sorry seriously, I shouldn’t have gone downstairs, now is my fault that you’re like this” You felt guilty, maybe if you hadn’t looked for her in the basement, this wouldn’t have happened

“This is not your fault honey, please don’t worry darling, it was just a mistake and it isn’t really that bad, this won’t hurt” Your girlfriend reassured you stroking your cheek, she always knew how to make you feel better

“I will take care of you, just like you have done many times with me” You wanted to do things right and that included making sure she was alright.

Agatha smiled, you looked so cute with that serious look on your face, she really had wanted to eat dinner with you, but now she didn’t feel like eating.

“I need to lay in our bed, I’m really sorry I just feel dizzy and I don’t think I can eat, I feel so bad, I really wanted to have dinner with you, but I don’t think I can” You felt her hand stroking your hair and you couldn’t blame her, she looked so pale

“You don’t have to worry; we always eat together so this isn’t really a big deal” Smiling at her you took her hand

“I will make sure you’re alright, come let’s get you to bed, then I will come back here to clean everything”

“I can use my magic to-

"No, no more magic Agatha” You said to her with a serious look on your face.

“You won’t be using your magic until you’re better, alright?” Your girlfriend smiled, you were just so sweet and the only thing she could do was to nod.

You stood from the chair ready to go downstairs to your shared bedroom, Agatha stood up as well and she pressed her arm around your waist, you unconsciously leant into her and the two of you started to walk towards your shared bedroom.

“You know what? Even though I really love your blue eyes, purple looks amazing too” It was true, her eyes were beautiful of course, you loved them.

Your girlfriend gave a chuckle in response to your comment.

“Oh dear, I love the color of your eyes too” Agatha looked at you with dreamy eyes, whenever you told her what you loved about her heart melted.

“Now you just have to rest” You were going to open the door but Agatha did it and she smirked.

“This is not so bad doll; I really don’t need to rest I-”

Agatha didn’t finish her sentence because she sneezed again, and this time her magic affected the flat tv in your room, the tv changed itself into a smaller old one, it kind of reminded you of the 70’s period time which you had already passed, now you were in the 2000’s according to what your girlfriend Agatha had told you some days before.

“See? You need to rest” She saw the grin on your face and sighed maybe you were right.

“Come lay with me angel” You saw the little pout on Agatha´s face so you gave her peck on her lips.

“Give some minutes to clean downstairs and then I will come, alright?

“Ok, but hurry darling” Smiling you went back to the dining room and you were about to order things but someone rang your doorbell, that was strange, you went to open the door and you saw Wanda in front of you.

“Hey y/n I hope I´m not interrupting anything important I was just wondering if you and Agnes  could help me to choose some ideas for the decoration for my children´s party” You couldn’t say no, you just, didn’t have the heart, you had really wanted to lay with Agatha in bed, what if you just tell her that she was sick? Maybe she would understand

“Oh no Wanda, you´re not bothering us, is just that-

“Hiya Wanda, what brings you here?” You turned yourself to look at Agatha and you saw that she had black polarized sunglasses on, this was a bad idea.

You let Wanda in and she happily thanked you

“Well as I was telling y/n I was hoping that you could help me to find the right decorations for the boys´ birthday party” Wanda showed you some magazines and she handed you one, you took it and started to look at the pictures, their birthday party would be the next day, so of course she was going to use her magic, there was no doubt

“Nice sunglasses by the way Agnes” You couldn’t believe it, did she really didn’t find strange that Agatha had that type of sunglasses, inside the house where the wasn’t literally any sunrays? Wow, you couldn’t even, was she serious? You didn’t even understand how was it possible that she didn’t find this whole situation at least a little bit odd, but well, who were you to judge, right? You shrugged it off.

“Oh thank you dear, my love y/n gave them to me” Agatha walked closer to you to drop a kiss on your forehead

Wanda scrunched her nose in excitement, she thought you were a really cute couple.

“So, will the party be a themed party?” You asked, the pictures on the magazine were pretty cool, you even wished you had children to make an amazing themed party of whatever you liked.

“Wow this is really cool” You said out loud when you saw a picture of a carnival themed party

“If I were one of your children, I would definitely choose the carnival themed party, this looks awesome”

Wanda chuckled and went to see what you were looking at in the magazine

“You´re right this looks cool, Tommy likes the carrousel and Bill-

Agatha sneezed again and your eyes widened, oh no, this time Wanda will notice what was going on, you looked to the ceiling and you saw how the lamps changed, they were replaced by some vintage lamps, and you saw how Wanda was raising her head to look at the ceiling too, but Agatha with her magic made that one apple fell from the nearest table, and Wanda went to pick the apple up.

“Bless you Agnes” You heard Wanda said while she was picking the apple and you looked at your girlfriend, you moved your hands at her up and down without saying something, you tried to communicate with her moving your head too, Agnes just shrugged her shoulders and moved her hands in a hasty way in an attempt of telling you that it was not her fault.

When Wanda turned herself to look at the both of you, you and Agatha stopped moving and smiled at her at the same time.

“Thank you, Wanda, I think is because of the flowers on the vase” Agatha brought her hand to touch her nose with her fingers and Wanda looked at the flowers on the table.

“I thought they were artificial flowers” Said Wanda and bit your lip.

“Not that flowers Wanda, she was talking about some other flowers we have in our room, she um, she brought them for me and I decided to put them on our nightstand” You tried to act as calm as possible, if she discovered Agnes was not Agnes and that she had powers, you would be so fucked up.

“Oh I see, well maybe some pills would help, I think I have some pills for allergies, maybe I could give you some” You sighed, Wanda believed you

“That would be lovely, right y/n?” Agatha asked you and you quickly nodded

“Yes, absolutely, so. Why don´t we decide which decorations you should pick Wanda?” You asked her grabbing her arm to drag her to the couches, you sat in one and she sat next to you.

“So, as I was telling you, Tommy likes carrousels and Billy loves caramel apples”

“See, so the Carnival would be a great choice” Looking at her, you hoped she would go for it

“What do you think Agnes?” Wanda looked towards Agatha who was drinking water

“I think that a carnival themed party would be amazing, just imagine having a carousel on your backyard, some clowns, some fair stalls and even you could make a magic show with Vision”

Wanda seemed to like the idea and she thought about it for a minute before quickly standing from the couch and she looked at the two of you with happiness, her eyes were sparkling with excitement.

“Thank you so much, you´re right I will tell the boys, they will love the idea, thank you so much, I will leave now, I hope to see you tomorrow at the party, there will be a lot of things” With that Wanda left your house, you didn’t know you were holding your breath.

“We´re so lucky that she didn’t notice Agatha” She came closer to you to stroke your shoulders and she gave you a soft peck on your lips.

“Now that Wanda´s gone we can rest in our bed; would you like that baby girl? We can relax a little” Agatha passed her arms around your waist she pulled you closer to her and one of her hands dangerously started to raise your shirt, her fingers caressing the soft skin of your abdomen, you shivered under her touch, she knew exactly what she was doing, and the power she had over you this time.

“I think I like your idea, a lot” You grabbed her by her collar shirt to kiss her, this time with more passion, the kiss was no longer innocent, Agatha bit your lower lip and you moaned, she needed more, the sound coming from your lips made her knees go weak, Agatha broke the kiss to lift your chin and made you look straight into her eyes, you took the sunglasses off her face and tossed them on the couch.

“Now let´s go upstairs baby girl, I want to show you how much I love you” Agatha took your hand to drag you to your shared bedroom, you will have an amazing night. Hopefully her magical cold wouldn’t be a problem, but it didn’t matter, you were going to enjoy this night.

[yoonsenji]

Summary: Their voice line!

"Oh! Her? She's mine"

Part 2 =

_____________________________

Genshin impact!

Character: Lyney, wanderer, tartaglia,

//Lyney★

• CHAT : Soulmate.

" Oh no I don't have any lover, yet... I do have someone in mind for a long time tho, it's just that I can't even breath properly around them when I want to confess. I do wonder if she ever think about me the same way I think about her "

• CHAT : When it rains.

" when rain pours like this she would used to run outside and dance in the rain. She would always insist that I join her, of course I accept! I could never reject the love of my life "

• CHAT : After the rain.

" Great, the weather is clear again... I wonder where she is right now, say, do you think she's thinking about me right now? I hope so to "

• CHAT : When it snow.

" Achoo! Huh...? I've heard that when you sneeze someone is thinking about you. Could it be her? Or... Is it you? "

• CHAT : Secret [ 1 ] .

" I love it when she hold onto me for dear life when anything bad happened. Teasing her about it only make things worst so I just hold her back, she reminds me of a kitten, do not tell her I say that tho. She would kill me "

• CHAT : Secret [ 2 ] .

" I always lie about my hand being cold just so I could hold her hand. She's to clueless to understand that I'm lying, although her hand is very warm/cold, now I'm starting to miss her again! "

• CHAT : Feelings [ Jealousy ] .

" I have to admit... I hate to see her close with anyone else, I know it's wrong to feel this way but... It's not very nice to get that close to someone who is already taken. I meant about to be taken "

• CHAT : Feelings [ Sad ] .

" Whenever I perform on stage I always look for her. Sometimes she wouldn't come to watch me performed, no magic trick feel magical without her "

• CHAT : Feelings [ Proud ] .

" Whenever she praise or complement me I feel like someone else... I get praise and complements alot but, her's... Just special "

• CHAT : You.

" She rarely talk to new people, I really have to force her sometimes to make new friends since I'm a bit worried about her. But, she's awesome I promise you! She's like an angel, someone who hide their beauty yet once you see their true form you'll be lovestruck, that happened to me. She's very caring when you get to know her better. "

• CHAT : Family.

" Family? Well I do often think about that. I'm good with kids so even if she isn't good with them atleast I am! Well, if she doesn't want kid I'll respect her decision, my love won't disappear just because of some rules she wish for me to follow. As a man it's my job to follow the rule she wish for me to follow "

• CHAT : To remembered.

" One time, she got very mad with me, she look very cute when she was mad but I'll never say that out loud. I did apologise but she continues to ignore me. Oh yeah! She did come back crying and apologize she look traumatized that day "

• CHAT : Excuse.

" I would purposely ruin my bow tie so she could fix it for me, whenever she got that close to me I just want to hold her and kiss her "

• CHAT : Private show.

" Sorry, but this show is for her only... No amount of mora can buy such special show, afterall a special show for a special person! "

• CHAT : Confession.

" I was thinking of something along the line of my speciality Magic! But, I never knew confessing about feeling was this hard until today... Say, would you say yes if I were to confess? "

• CHAT : Busy day.

" Today's a special day! I get to spend the whole day with my darling. Of course I have to look good! I don't care how she look but I on the other hand have to since she always look angelic no matter what and if I look bad I'll ruin her reputation! "

---------------->

Lynette -

" Lyney can't go a day without speaking about her in any way or form. At first I got really annoyed but thinki jing about it now... It's really sweet. They both clearly like eachother yet never confess about their feelings, I'm just confused at this point "

Freminet -

" I know nothing about her, she's completely a mystery to people like me. If you want to know anything about her go talk to Lyney... He'll be able to tell you her whole routine and even her whole life? "

Furina -

" Lyney fall first and fall harder for sure..! I just wanna see them together, it feel like one of those drama that took ages for the lead to kiss eachother... Boring! "

//Scaramouch★

• CHAT : Feeling.

" Feelings? Are you that dumb? No surprise, puppets do not fall in love, puppets do not have feelings... Why should I fall in love when I don't even have a heart, your way of thinking amused me everyday "

• CHAT : You.

" Annoying, dumb to the point it amused me, I only stay close to her cause she entertained me nothing else... I assure you, I am only using her, when I'm done I'll drop her without a second thought "

• CHAT : When it Rains.

" I wonder where that dumb girl is at, probably already soak by the rainfall. She really is dumb when I'm not around "

• CHAT : After rain.

" I could never understand why she act so childish after rain... All good thing must come to end but, it's not that nice to see her happiness fade away... What?! No I meant that I just hate it when her happiness doesn't last long since the longer you're happy the despair last longer! "

• CHAT : His Hat.

" Why should I let you, a dirty human touch my hat... I only let her touch my hat because she isn't as dirty as you are. Quit speaking back to me, if you know what's good for you you'll shut your mouth right now "

• CHAT : Special treatment.

" So...? I let her touch me cause I allow her to, it's call concent. Special treatment? Ok? if a mortal can have favourite why can't I have one? Go cry about it "

• CHAT : Passing time.

" Usually, I spend more time with her than I'll ever spend with anyone else. She managed to entertain me in the dumbest way ever, talking about her I really miss causing arson with her. I'm just joking but it's a good suggestion tho "

• CHAT : Feelings ( Jealousy ).

" Close, too close Don't you think? Exactly... If I could that guy head would already poof... Gone. Too bad I'm not in the mood to run from consequences, although it would be fun to mess around for a bit "

• CHAT : Remember.

" Don't put anything there, I'll ruin your life if you move a single things from there. Oh, and your so called food... Is not how she like her food, make it again or else I'll feed you to the tiger "

• CHAT : Smile.

" Heh, smile...? For what? I assure you I won't smile at pointless things, the only person who get to see me smile is her, why? Cause I say so, stop asking so much questions "

• CHAT : Inazuma.

" that place... The only good memory I have there is when I met her, she haven't leave nor betrayed me, I wonder how long it'll take for her to understand that I'm a bad person "

• CHAT : Nightmare.

" I have dreamt about her leaving me before, It'll be such a shame if she actually leave me. But, it's been years now, pointlessly following me like a dog, I doubt she'll leave me anytime soon "

---------------->

Nahida-

" Oh her! Such lively and loyal person, he never reject any request as long as she's involved! I could tell that he is deeply I love, I mean who wouldn't? She have been with him since day one never leaving him... They're perfect for eachother "

Raiden-

" who? Oh her... I could never forget her of course. She left me for that thing she have only known for how much not as long as we know eachother... She was loyal and passionate about anything she set her mind to, only for that thing to somehow steal my treasure, people like her are indeed rare to find. If you find one never let them go never "

Tartaglia-

" her? Ever since he disappeared so did she. She was always around him or he was always around her, either way I could tell that he act different towards her, alot nicer, act more calmly he even lower down his guard. I don't really know much about her but if she can keep him in check than she sure is something "

//Tartaglia★

• CHAT : You.

" Well, she play very dirty while fighting. I still admire her, especially when she's covered with blood she look very hot. Although I have to force her to spend more time with me, I won't leave her alone until I get rid of this feeling "

•CHAT : Feeling.

" The feeling I harbour for her is quite unique, she's way more softer and sweeter if the other harbinger are gone. My heart have been calling out her name alot and by alot I meant from day to night even in my dream. Traveller if you encounter her told her that I kiss her already "

• CHAT : Fatui.

" I only enjoy meeting the other harbinger because she'll be there patiently waiting for me, unlike the other harbinger she is rarely busy doing something. Maybe because she always drop her task as soon as I call I hope so to... But that isn't the case unfortunately, she just ignore all her task and enjoy her life "

• CHAT : Loyalty.

" I'm very loyal to the Tsaritsa, although I can't say the same for her. While other harbinger fear or respect or pretend to she's just unhinged, if she say no nothing can move her decision the Tsaritsa herself have scold her and lecture her like a kid. I have a feeling those two have deeper connection "

• CHAT : When it Rains.

" I remember she once told me while it was raining just like this that she wish to die as soon as possible. I'm worried about her, ever since that day I try my best to always be by her side although it's such a difficult task, if you ever got to see her please do look after her as well "

• CHAT : After rain.

" The rain have stop... Oh comrade, I remember something important. After rain she always confined inside instead of showing herself to the sun, weird but it's cute... Although I really want her to get out more often "

• CHAT : Strength.

" Well if I was to compare our strength together I'm alot stronger, she's a higher rank cause of intelligence and her dirty tricks, even when I have a combat with her she always win using some dirty tricks against me "

• CHAT : Family.

" My brother trucer like her alot when I say alot I meant it... It's a bit worrisome on my side since I do not which to have anymore rival, although my parents sure love her... I'm sure in the future that she'll be mine "

• CHAT : Feelings ( jealousy).

" ...well, she isn't found of people yet sometimes doesn't say anything when others are being too.. touchy, that's when I step in to help her out. Sometimes I have to speak for her since she's clearly uncomfortable but to busy to waste her energy, really want to slice then in half but... I prefer not to be messy around her "

• CHAT : Snow.

" Not as cold as my homeland is but I for sure would like to cuddle with her "

• CHAT : Tricks.

" In order to accomplish her duties she always used other for her sake... Well, I am indeed includ to that list of toy but I'm the only one she gives reward after... And spend most time with so...? I'm more of a personal helper of hers than a toy "

• CHAT : Reward.

" As my reward she always give me a peek on the cheek... She did say that she'll actually kiss me if I keep doing such good job! I just know that I'll earn that kiss one day after all... I'm her favourite, am I wrong? "

• CHAT : Private time.

" Comrade promise not to tell anyone else? Whenever it's cold she would cuddle me close... I really miss those days for sure, but in the morning she would be gone and I'll never see her again for like months "

-------------->

Zhongli-

" Such a weird lady she is... Childe is stuck to her like a moth following a devine light, although she isn't the best talker nor good at expressing herself, her charm is really strong tho. I could tell her and childe have deep connection "

Wandere-

" Her? Oh I remember her, only listening to herself and no one else, quite brave if I have to say so myself... She's just a suck up brat who only listen to herself no one else matter, the world revolves around her... Won't be surprised if she was only using childe for her own entertainment "

[smilingangel582]

The chase

Hi guys, I am madly in love with this character. And guess what, this is Naruto and Sasuke'a VA! In Japanese. I seriously wrote this tk fic as they speak in Japanese. Omg! I love them even more. Ps. We need more lee!kinich... I summon it!

Summary: Paimon is convinced Kinich is scary, but Aether thinks otherwise. It was a quiet day in Natalan until Aether started a bet with Paimon to prove her wrong. New discoveries were made, and unsurprisingly, a certain dragon lord commits betrayal.

Warning: Spoilers for the nataln archon quest and Kinich's quest, tickling, cuteness overload, Aether and Kinich are very close, but mind you, it's a platonic relationship (can't ship them yet)

"So you Paimon is supposed to believe that Kinich is actually... uh... a sweetheart?" Paimon crossed her arms in confusion. Floating around as Aether walked through the city of mountains, the scion of the canopy.

Aether shrugs, giving her a confident smirk "Well... he may appear blank but he's very nice and he doesn't hide it... not like a certain wanderer ..."

Paimon guessed Hat guy from Sumeru might have sneezed by that mention.

"But he's so cold and Paimon can't really see the guy smile..." Paimon huffs now, as if its the biggest worries for her, "its frightening how blank Kinich is..."

"What's frightening about me Paimon?"

A soft voice made Paimon shrill in surprise making her gasp and wheeze. Aether mildly turns back with a less-reactive surprised expression at seeing the saurian hunter.

"Hi Kinich,"

Kinich greets them politely, "Traveler, Paimon how do u do?"

Paimon recovering from her shock, groans, "Jeez Paimon almost got a heart attack! Stop sneaking up on us like that... your quiet anyway unlike your pixel-poop-mouth!"

Ajaw snarls, "Who are you calling poop-mouth, tiny ant?"

"Oh and Paimon's bigger than you!"

They continue bickering making Aether sheepishly give Kinich an apologetic look, "Sorry about that..."

"I should be the one to apologise..." kinich replies solemnly, making Aether like this guy more for his awkward informal side.

"Ajaw, do you want another time out?"

Ajaw turns to kinich, his mouth dropping in anguish. "Grrr! Fine, fine! I won't torment the anaemic ant!"

"Hehe" Paimon smirks. "Know your place little dragon lord!"

Aether rolls his eyes, "Paimon... behave"

Paimon pouts, looking sideways, "awww alright im sorry Kinich... and maybe Ajaw"

"Maybe??"

Ignoring Ajaw's short snap, Kinich shakes his head, a hand to his chest. "Don't be Paimon. You're actually a kind companion to the traveller..." he adds deliberately after casting a look at Ajaw, "It makes me jealous"

"Huh? I'm more powerful ya know! Oi! Kinich!"

Aether hears Paimon floating towards Kinich, "Kinich, you don't smile much, do you?"

Kinich slightly astonished responds, "I beg your pardon? I do..."

"When?" Partly challenging and partly curious.

"Like... right now?"

They all stared. Even Kinich seemed uncertain about what he just said. Paimon huffs, mildly irritated, "OK so... laughing? Ever dont that before..."

Ajaw floats around Kinich, his pixel hands patting his shoulder, "Haa hahaa would love to see that embarassing sight."

Kinich shrugs him off, the bandana making him seem like he's angry but he's just frustrated with Ajaw.

"All the more reason why I should not"

Ajaw being slightly pushed away but regains balance in air comes swirling back to him with a cunning sneer, "Uh oh someone's a little defensive... afraid I'll exploit a weakness?"

Aether sense tension, usually he would've stepped in to stop Kinich's discomfort with Ajaw but knowing the topic he was curious where this was going.

Paimon is no better now - contrast to Ajaw's scheming malice - she steps in to prompt Ajaw's hint, "Oooh does this mean he does laugh?"

Kinich folds his arms, somewhat wary where this was going. Yet he failed to notice where Ajaw just disappeared.

"I do, but not all the time -"

"Yeah, just poke him like this, and he'll go gyaaahaahaa!" Ajaw swiftly pokes Kinich around the waist close to the small of his back, making him spasm in shock, gasping, "Oi!"

Silence. Paimon's eyes widened, and so did Aether's. They all exchanged glances. Now Ajaw proudly danced and shook his tail, as if he got the best victory after 500 years.

"Kinich?" Aether smirks, now barely hiding his excitement, "Are you ticklish?"

The saurian hunter now stared, knowing there's no other way to dodge the question. He swiftly seized Ajaw's tail, now activating his grappling hook. He swings off till he disappeared through the clouds.

His flight instincts kicked in. Paimon stared in bewilderment, but she was the only one until Aether began to take the one-sided challenge.

Somewhere by the top of the mountains in Scion of the canopy, Kinich cautiously looked by the trees, hoping he had escaped. He knew now or never... and his experience in running away has been helpful.

"Baa! You coward..." Ajaw scoffed, now teasing, "Were you that scared?"

"It was not fright... I just don't like the thought of showing the traveller such an absurd state" he sternly added "and you're officially in time out"

Ajaw grumbled now, waving his small pixel arms "Grr... whatever, but you know Kinich"

"What?"

"Running away doesn't always help ya... when there's a good seeker"

He frowns, looking somewhat confused by this indirect analogy. "What do you-?"

"Gotcha!" Aether swings by instantly now tackling (not on purpose) Kinich as they both tumbled to the ground.

"J-jeez traveller be careful" Kinich groan, now sounding concerned. "Don't use that hook, so lightly"

Aether chuckles straddling him. "Thanks your a nice guy... now ever heard of the saying "you can run but you can't hide" Kinich?"

Before he could struggle he already felt nimble fingers attacking his sides.

"O-ohokay w-wahait tihihihime ohohout!"

His giggles are soft and yet very childish. Aether stares in wonder... he had heard many sweet voices but hearing Kinich like this is like a dream in Nahida's world.

"Wow.. you're sensitive, Ajaw wasn't lying"

Ajaw smirks "Hehe that was one of the weaknesses that I'm proud of exploiting in him"

"You mean the only one?" Paimon scoffs.

"Ah! Took you long enough useless ant"

"You! You pixel weirdo!" Paimon stomps her foot on the air angrily and begins bickering with Ajaw.

Kinich and Aether... well they have other better matters to attend to.

"So tell me, is this spot worse than this?" His fingers creeping towards his hips making him buck in surprise, grabbing Aether's wrists which didn't help, "Ah! Aether!"

"You said my name! Nice!" He gets his hips and then back to his waist... slipping the jacket down a little bit to access the skin.

"Ahaharchons juhuhuhust stohohohop a mihihinute plehehehehease!" Kinich curls to the side, suddenly his laughter getting louder when Aether targets his ribs with swift unpredictable speed.

"Uh oh ribs? That's not good... especially since your swinging around..." Aether smirks, now tapping and prodding his ribs as Kinich jerks to his back to protect his sides. His long lashes damp with tears.

"And you won't be able to swing comfortable knowing how vulnerable here..." he pinches the highest set ribs with indication "Oh and perhaps under here?" Slipping his fingers right under his arms making Kinich let an (honest to archon) a squeak.

"You're a sweetheart"

"Ihihihi ahahahahappreciahahahate the cohohohompliment buhuhuhut y-yohohohour kihihilling mehehe!" He giggles now. Trying to cover his worst spots as much as he could.

Aether laughed, now pausing a little, instead keeping his wrists pinned on either side of Kinich's head to keep him in anticipation.

"OK ok! Sorry, I always had to break the serious guys in this world."

Kinich groans, slightly huffs of laughter now calming down at the small break.

"Ajaw said Kinich has a weak neck!"

Paimon's sudden outburst on that fact made Kinich shiver. Aether turns to her first then back at him, a very mischievous smile that made Kinich shake his head a little, somewhat pitiful.

"Tch! The mighty dragon lord knows what a whimp he is but he still refuses to die.. bahahawahaha" Ajaw cackles in a sinister tone "Oh laugh to death Kinich!"

Aether rolls his eyes, "we are not killing him, just playing around... like friends"

Kinich's eyes that used to be blank slightly glistened with brightness, "Friends?"

"Yup and friends... make friends happy!" Aether wiggles his fingers right over his collarbone and throat lightly. Kinich knees kicked up in reflex, but they didn't stop Aether's fiery determination to tickle him.

"Ahaha Aetheheheher hehehee cuhuhuhut ihihit out! Hahaha ok ok y-yohohohou won! You won! Ok! Just mehehehercy! Mercy!

After that implore, Aether stopped tearfully laughing as well, falling next to Kinich, eyes bright golden and with bliss, "ohoho man that was so funny... im glad I saw this side of you..."

Kinich's breath was somewhat heavier as he managed to grab his composure swiftly as an amazing athlete "I-I uh... thank you traveler... I guess it wasn't that bad"

Ajaw growls, "Awwww, come on! I bet if you got his armpits more seriously next, he might not say that! Come on, traveler, I'm begging ya! Tickle this guy to death -g-gaaaaaaah curseeeee youuuu!"

Once more he just got confined into a space suddenly gone. Kinich sighs as he puts Ajaw away easily, resting an arm over his hip as he gets up now tired but somewhat... relaxed?

"Hey Kinich..."

He jolts when Aether poked his armpit that was exposed, making him stare in surprise "That's round two the next time we meet? And don't listen to Ajaw... tickling isn't something bad... its what friends do to have fun"

Kinich silently debated this answer... smiling genuinely. Perhaps Mualani was right... friends are amazing.

"Well come by traveler... its much livelier here with you around" Kinich offers, now giving an awkward smile.

"Aww miss me already?" Aether grins, then nudged him, "or the tickles"

"Just... you" he grunts, but looking sideways, with a timid look that seemed to have never appeared until today.

Aether will cherish that moment forever and also his laugh.

[eyes-that-decieve]

Laertes wanders the streets, looking for someone interesting. He doesn’t need to the way he used to, he actually has things to do now, places to be, loved ones to spend time with. But she’d spent years doing little else, and the hobby’s almost a comfort. God knows he could use some comfort, the way things have been lately.

She pauses by an alley. At the very end is a toilet, a person’s legs kicking around upside down like they’re halfway submerged. Glitter spills out of the top, suggesting it’s full of that and not water.

Bingo.

@laertesthelocalstranger

Blitz pops his head back out after a moment, like he heard them. He's absolutely covered in glitter, and immediately starts sneezing.

Curiously kills the snake, apparently. Or glitters the snake, in this instance.

[glitterrosesnzz]

Chalk Dust

i feel insane. here's a 1k word long W/anderer fic.

“I can’t believe I’m doing this…” 

“Hey, it’s your own fault for sassing the professor.” 

The Wanderer glared at Aether, who was sitting in the swivel chair behind the professor’s desk. The Akademiya classroom had long since been emptied of any other students, as well as it’s teacher. Usually, at this time, the Wanderer would be either running errands for Nahida, or simply resting in a tree in the forest. 

Unfortunately, today, he’d been assigned the duty to clean up the empty classroom- a task usually reserved for the teacher themselves. 

The Wanderer slowly released an angry breath of air, restraining himself from sending a blade of anemo at the Traveler’s head. That would get him absolutely nowhere in this scenario, and in fact, would probably add to his wasted time by earning him a lecture from Nahida. Aether spun around in the chair, seemingly unphased by the murderous vibes the Wanderer was mentally trying to project at him. 

“Why are you even here?” The Wanderer asked, crossing his arms, “Just to act useless, as usual? You don’t even go here.” 

“Well…” Aether placed his feet on the ground, abruptly stopping the chair mid spin. “Nahida got worried when you didn’t immediately show up after classes ended like usual, so she sent me to check in on you. I didn’t think you’d be in here cleaning, and I especially didn’t expect you to be doing such a thorough job of it.” 

The Wanderer let out a sigh. Cleaning was in fact the thing he least wanted to be doing right now, but well, if he had to do something, he was going to at the very least do it well. In fact, he was almost done. All that was left was the second chalkboard. 

Grabbing the bucket of water he’d previously set down on the ground, the Wanderer dipped the washcloth in it and floated up in order to reach the top of the chalkboard, ignoring Aether very obviously snickering about the fact that the Wanderer needed to fly to reach. Like Aether would be able to reach this high up either. 

He did his best to put the Traveler’s presence out of his mind, focusing only on getting his job done, so that he could finally leave. 

However, it was only a few moments later that movement out of the corner of his eye caught his attention. 

The Wanderer dropped his wet cloth and zoomed over, harshly gripping onto Aether’s wrists just moments before he could slam two chalkboard erasers against each other. 

For a moment, they both froze, staring at each other. 

“...Idiot.” The Wanderer relaxed his grip on Aether’s wrists, but didn’t yet let go. “I did not ask you to help. You’ll get chalk dust all over everything if you do that in here.” 

“Maybe I just wanted to help.” Aether said, and the Wanderer scoffed, finally letting go of the Traveler’s wrists.. 

“Keep your unneeded sense of heroism in check.” He said, turning away- 

Only to immediately get whacked in the back of the head by an eraser, sending a cloud of chalk dust into the air. 

“Gah- seriously?” The Wanderer stumbled a little, turning back to glare once again at Aether, who was whistling innocently, his hands behind his back. “Of all the immahH- …immatu-hiH- sh-shiH-shit-” 

The Wanderer harshly rubbed his nose, quickly trying to get himself back under control. 

“Oh, what’s this? Do you need to sneeze?” 

“N-nohH-hheH-...” 

 “Careful~!” Aether said, a little bit of sing-song in his voice, “Better hold it back, you wouldn’t want to accidentally get chalk dust all over everything would you?” 

The Wanderer didn’t bother to give the Traveler a response, continuing to harshly rub at his nose as he tried to stop hitching, his eyes flickering with the power of anemo. Despite the teasing way in which the Traveler had said it, he’d made a good point, if the Wanderer was to sneeze now, the anemo energy that would be released would likely spread the chalk dust over the whole room. He’d have to clean it all over again… 

Determined not to let that happen, the Wanderer made the decision to stop breathing. 

After a few seconds with no hitching, he slowly pulled his hand away from his nose, cringing. The itching, tickly sensation was still there, and it was annoying, but at least he wasn’t- 

“Hey, that’s cheating!” Aether said, one hand on his hip, and the Wanderer was abruptly reminded of the fact that there were, in fact, two chalkboard erasers as Aether held up the other one. “It’s not fair if you do something no human can possibly do.” 

The Wanderer gave him a look of utter befuddlement- followed up with a brief flash of panic as Aether started walking closer to him, eraser raised. He quickly started backing away from the Traveler, placing both of his hands over his nose and mouth. Aether let out a small laugh. 

“Looks like someone isn’t confident in his ability to hold back.” He said, patiently standing in front of the Wanderer, who’s glowing eyes narrowed at the challenge. After a beat, the Wanderer slowly lowered his trembling hands. 

In response, Aether reached out and gently tapped the Wanderer’s nose with the eraser, sending a new small cloud of dust into the air between them. 

“Ggh… hh-hAh- hIHh’t–... hH-” Small tears started forming in the corners of the Wanderer’s eyes as he choked back a sneeze, turning it into a false start. “HehH- ngh… h-hH-” 

 The marks along his body were starting to match his eyes and glow in time with his hitching breaths now. …He wasn’t sure he could keep this up for much longer. 

He wasn’t going to tell Aether that of course. 

And yet, somehow, the Traveler seemed to instinctively know when the Wanderer had reached his limit. An arm wrapped around the Wanderer’s waist, pulling him closer, and the Wanderer’s breath briefly caught on a startled squeak as Aether put his other hand against the back of the Wanderer’s head. 

The Wanderer was given no time for confusion as his breath suddenly hitched much more desperately. 

“Hh-ihHH-hH’IsHKiu!! HhiH’SHhkiu! Heh- hH’inKShhii!!” The Wanderer had no choice but to muffle his sneezes against Aether’s shoulder, the Traveler gently fiddling with the Wanderer’s hair while he waited for him to finish. “Hh-hiH’ksh! Heh’Shkii!! Hih- Isshiiu! ‘Kshiu! Heh- hhiH- hH’InKShiiuu!!” 

The Wanderer breathed heavily for a moment, his eyes slowly opening, the glow fading from them. 

“...You done?” Aether asked, and was immediately shoved away. “Hey, is that any way to thank me? There’s a reason we didn’t just have a miniature wind storm in here y’know.” 

“...Tch. You’re a freak.” 

“Would you hang out with me if I wasn’t one?” 

The Wanderer didn’t respond, crossing his arms and avoiding eye contact instead. Aether let out a small laugh. 

“Yeah, that’s what I thought.”

[bubble-butterflys]

2.272k words

Cat-Hybrid Anemo boys x reader

It was a Normal day Aether did his daily commissions he was actually excited because for once a change was coming today was the day he would see his friends from all across the nation they agreed to meet in mondstant in a field by the anemo statue which was funny cause non other then the anemo archon himself would be there

Aether walked though town smiling and waving at people and saw Sarah’s food stand and heard Paimon voice “paimon thinks maybe we should get some of their favorite food!”

Aether smiled slightly and nodded his head in agreement and walked towards her stand sarah smiled at him “Hello aether what do you need?”

Aether smiled at her “Hi,can I see the menu?” Sarah nodded and handed it to him aether looked at it until he spotted his friends favorites foods and bought them with some Mora he just earned from the commissions.

After he payed he smiled and waved by to her heading in his way to go meet at the statue.he passed by kaeya and smiled and him waving but didn’t stop not wanting to be late he though did before leaving the city

Head over to the tavern and picked up some dandelion wine,he payed and thanked the bar tender and some hurried out the city and towards the spot they would be meeting

He saw venti already there and walked towards him smiling “Hello venti” venti smiled “hello Aether took you long enough Ehe” Aether rolled his eyes softly and went to sit down beside venti “well to be fair no one else is here yet”

Venti laughed and pointed up aether looked up and saw xiao sitting in a tree just facing away from them and seemed to be as relaxed as he could be

“Hello xiao” xiao turned around and jumped off the tree and went to sit beside venti “hello Aether” they soon sat in a comfortable silence when they heard the sound of laughter and saw Heizou walk towards them hand resting behind his head.

And kazuha walking beside him smiling at him they saw them and aether and venti waved them over as xiao nodded at them confirming it was nice to see them

“Come on guys we’re almost ready we just need one more person “ venti said smiling and Heizou and kazuha took a seat and then they heard someone walking towards them they turned and xiao looked out the corner of his eye and they saw dark hair and that belonged to non other then Wanderer he walked toward them and rolled his eyes when pamion yelled at him

“Hey you’re late!” Floating angrily Wanderer just sat down between Aether and Heizou “some of us have important things to do.” Aether shook his head slightly but then reached into his bag and brought out the food he bought and handed it to everyone they smiled thanking him

And they ate as Heizou asked “ what were you doing that caused you to be late wanderer” wanderer looked at him and smirked “I doubt you could understand even if I told you”

While he said that paimon noticed something stuck on his hat it was a feather that seemed to have some dust on it she felt some go in her nose and sneezed blowing the dust on all the boys who were eating pamion wiped her eyes after she sneezed then looked around only to find nothing but a boy told of dandelion wine and unfinished food..

Somewhere in another world there was a girl who was 19 she was currently waking up to the loud sound of her alarm clocking that reminded her she had Collage that day

She got up stretching then walked towards her bathroom and looked in the mirror and sighed when she noticed the eye bags under her eyes seemed to grow since the last time she saw them.

She walked past the mirror now and headed to the shower turning it on then going towards the sink to brush her teeth and then wash her face before taking off her clothes and jumping in the shower

She let the warm water flow down her skin and relaxed as it happened she then made sure to not take too long.

Once she was done she left the bathroom and went to grab her cloths she got dressed in a outfit she enjoyed it wear then headed back to the bathroom to do her hair once she was done she walked downstairs

She walked to the kitchen and found a note left by her parents it said that they would be away on a year long business trip Y/n wasn’t surprised though it happened a lot so she grew use to it

She headed towards the kitchen and grabbed an apple and then walked towards the tv room where she grabbed her backpack making sure she had every thing

Once she was sure she picked up her bag and grabbed her car keys then left making sure to lock the door after her then went and jumped in her car

Backing up before driving off she drove towards her friend johns house,John was 20 he has been her friend since middle school she parked I front of his house then called him

“Come on John we’re gonna be late if you don’t bring your self out here” she heard doors shutting on the the phone and johns voice “yea yea I’m coming you can’t be that excited to go to school”

Y/n rolled her eyes and hung up and leaned back in her seat and scrolled on instagram she saw a post from Genshin impact saying a new update would be coming out to say Y/n wasn’t excited would be a lie.

She then saw John walk out the house his tan skin and curly hair greeting her she unlocked the door and John jumped into the passenger seat and threw his bag in the back

“hi Y/n! You should have went to the party yesterday it was so my much fun!!” Y/n laughed lightly and started to drive towards their collage “I bet it was and I would have gone but I wasn’t invited remember?”

John looked at her sadly and then. Sighed and looked out the window “oh yea..I’m sorry y/n I would have invited you if I could” jaz shook her her head and looked at him at a red light “I know you would have buts it’s fine really I had fun at home”

John nodded at her and they fell into a comfortable silence as Y/n drove closer to the collage they pulled into the parking lot and got out making sure not to forget their bags.

Y/n and John smiled and waved goodbye as they had different classes most for the day,Y/n walked to her first class of the day and went to sit in the back where she normally sat

She brought out her phone and put her AirPods in and started to play some music relaxing as she scrolled though Pinterest,but jumped when she felt someone tip her AirPod out she turned and saw sue a girl the same age as her buys a total brat..

“Hi N/N what you listing too?” She moved the air pod to her ear then frowned and dropped it to the floor “ew your music really is trash you know..” Y/n rolled her eyes and didn’t answer and leaned over picking up the headphone and about to put it back in

When Sue grabbed her wrist “hey come on I’m talking to you!”Y/n glared at her “I know that…why do you think I’m trying to put it back in?”

Sue glared at any student who dared to at least smirk at what Y/n said she then turned to Y/n and grabbed her chin digging her long nails into her face and made her look up at her

“You know that was a bitch move..your lucky the teacher is here or else I would have dragged you across the floor by your hair.”

Y/n glared at her and tried to pry the girls hand on his face feeling disgusted by just the girls touch.Sue soon let go feeling she got her message across then laughed and walked back towards her girl group

Y/n sighed and out her headphone back in until class started she wrote down the notes but could hear sue and her friends talking about her

“Doesn’t she know?” She heard Sue’s friend LoLo. “No way she’s to dumb to realize that she is so ugly that’s why she always thinks she can talk back” she heard sue say and after that her little squad all giggled together

Y/n wished the class would end faster hit it seemed it really wouldn’t..Y/n was so glad when the bell rang she wouldn’t have to see Sue again at least until the last class of the day

But somewhere in a alley not to far from Y/N’s home 6 boys now awoke but something was different Aether groaned and stood shakily but noticed he wasn’t as tall as he was he gasped when he turned and saw not his friend but 5 cats..

One cat has white fur but red strip on its head and on its tail and it’s paws had red gloves type fur he then saw another in that was violet sorta and had a black strip of fur on its head and ears then another one that was dark green sorta and had a pearl collar of the sorts

He noticed there were two more cars one bad dark purple fur and seemed like red eyeliner in the corner of each eye he then saw the other had grey green fur with turquoise on the ends of its ears and tail..

Aether was beyond confused he walked towards one of hit them with his own paw which he noticed was blond the one he hit was the dark green type one it looked at him almost tilted its head “aether..” aether squinted slightly “xiao?” The cat nodded slowly

Aether turned to the others and saw them waking up he then heard venti’s voice “uh I’m allergic to cats..” he then heard wanderers voice “don’t be stupid your a cat too”

He then saw venti look at himself and his eyes widen slightly he then saw Heizou outing his paws on Kazuha head and standing

“Guys I don’t think we’re in tervat anymore..” Aether looked around and noticed this wasn’t like any world he really went to with lumine before but he could tell he traveled worlds again..issue how would they get home?

While the Boys were struggling a bored Y/n sat in her last class lucky for her Sue and her friends seemed to have decided to skip and go home.So she had it easy as soon as the bell rang she went to go try to find john to take him him

But she saw a text instead it read that he was going home with his boyfriend and was okay,Y/n shrugged and went to get in her car she drove home not stopping if she got hungry she could just cook herself something

She drove into her garage and got out but stopped when she heard…meowing? She walked towards the noice and saw a few cats to say they were adorable would be a understatement

She awed at them on the inside but then noticed some rain start to falls he walked towards them and picked them up best she could and ignored the hisses she got from a few of them she walked inside her house and put them down and then walked towards the kitchen

She decided she could at least give them water she got 6 small bowls and put water in them and placed them down in front of the cats but all they did was look at her one that seemed to have eyeliner glared at her

She sighed “Well I’m Y/n…And I guess I’ll name you all…”

I looked at them then heard a sound on my phone I looked and noticed it was a Genshin impact notification saying the game would be down for a while I groaned in annoyance

I then noticed my screen saver and looked at the cats and smiled I bent down and pointed to the blond cat on the end “I’ll name you Aether!” I then turned to the one with violet like fur “I’ll name you Heizou” I then turned to the white cat and smiled “I’ll name you Kazuha”

I saw them all look at me confused but I ignored it just shaking it off as a cat thing I then pointed towards the one with grey green ish fur “I’ll name you venti and you I’ll name Wanderer” I named the last two then stood up smiling

I then walked towards my computer and started to work in my homework put felt a tug on my leg I looked down and noticed aether tugging my pants leg I turned to him

“What is it aether?” He walked towards the stairs and started hopping up them k noticed the other cats already at the top

We walked up and he leased me into my room and k er to the poster of the anemo boys I smiled and laughed slightly “oh them there from my favorite game Genshin impact I actually and you all after them!”

While she said that at her and the other cats though the same thing “A game?”

[yrluvjane]

|𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐁𝐥𝐞𝐝|

— James Potter x fem!reader

Summary: The night of Voldemort's attack on the Potters.

Rain hammered with furious strikes, coating the ground with dirty muddy water. Thunder and lightning illuminated the sky and threatened those below them with painful death.

Uncontrollable power and fear infected the air of Godrics Hollow. Though they could not see it, the residents of the streets felt it.

But even with these conditions, it didn't stop the youngsters from wandering the streets for treats and tricking their neighbours.

James Potter sat with his son Harry, who had his hands pressed against the cold window. His breath fogged the glass as he gaped and traced the drops of rain.

"Hey buddy," James said as he held his three-year-old son and placed him on his shoulder, rubbing his back soothingly.

Harry shivered and then sneezed from the cold. "Why don't we go sit with mommy where it's warm, mmmh?" He said as the young boy shook his head up and down.

James chuckled with Harry clapping his small hands they made their way to the couch facing the fireplace.

There sat his wife with a children's book and their daughter in her arms. "Love," James called. He kissed her temple and sat next to her, warmth draping over him like a blanket while Harry sneezed once more at the change in temperature and made grabby hands at his mum.

"Hi," She replied, kissing James cheek before readjusting her seat and handing their daughter to James and taking Harry in her arms; leaning back on her husband's shoulder.

"It's little past your bedtime, rebelling tonight, are we?" She teased, booping his nose as little Harry giggled.

"Stowy," Harry said as he wiggled in his mother's grasp for a more comfortable position.

"A story. What do you think James, should we entertain our little audience?" She asked as her husband put an arm around her shoulder and tickled Harry's neck while placing a kiss on his daughter's head.

"Why not?" James said as Harry laughed uncontrollably, trying to remove his dad's fingers from the back of his ears.

A roar of lightning rang, causing both their kids' faces to scrunch up a sign that they were about to cry, James and his wife immediately began to comfort the little kids by soothingly rubbing their back. "It's okay, baby. It's okay. We're right here." James's voice came as a soft whisper as he rocked their daughter and gently patted her back.

His wife, on the other hand, was pushing Harry's black curls back and rubbing her nose with his. "Who's my little prince charming?" She cooed, peppering his face in kisses as Harry giggled, trying to push his mum's face away. "Mama," he whined, "tick-ow."

"Tickles?" James repeated amused, happy that his daughter's sniffles have ceased and the little raven haired girl was now soundlessly laying on his chest and playing with his fingers.

Harry nodded. "Stowy, now?"

"What type of story would you like, Harry?"

"That one!" He said excitedly, pointing at a small discarded muggle fairytale book as his parents chuckled. The little girl on James's chest faced to where her brother was pointing and made little grabbing gestures before sucking on her thumb.

"Okay." Mum said as she raised her wand, and the lights dimmed, allowing the dark room to light up with her magic as the book levitated from the ground. Harry happily began to clap while his sister started shifting in her place to try and catch the book.

Just as the book opened, Harry’s eyes widened, and he yelled that he needed to get his teddy from his bed; earning a light scolding from his mother for shouting and scaring his sister.

Once he returned and settled down, small illusions began to form around them, displaying a vivid scene of a man carving in his workshop. "Long ago in Italy, there lived on old clock-maker named Geppetto; when he worked, Geppetto felt happy."

"But when he rested, a sad feeling came over him. “Ah!” he would think. “All my life and no child to call my own!” So, one day, Geppetto carved a puppet from wood in the shape of a boy."

"Pineappwe!" Harry exclaimed as James barked out laugh whilst his wife groaned, no matter how much his wife tried to get Harry to understand Pinocchio and pineapples were two different things, Harry insisted on them being the same.

"It's Pinocchio, Harry."

"Pineappwe" protested the younger Potter with a mischievous grin, which he most definitely got from his father.

"If his highness says it's pineapple, then it's pineapple." James said, his laugh dying out. "Don't encourage him." His wife pressed pointedly. "You know muggles like to say that that the firstborn child always takes after their mum." James commented.

"Really, is that why he has your face?" His wife retorted with a scoff. "Oh c'mon, you too are insistent on having your way."

"I'm not, if anyone is persistent it's you."

"Yes, you do, but it's okay because I love you." James kissed her cheek as she faced him with amused brows and parted lips. "I'm sorry, who keeps spoiling the kids with unnecessary toys and gifts?"

"Those aren't 'unnecessary'! They're educational!" James defends facing his son, "Right, Prongslet?"

Harry, who was too busy flipping the pages on the forgotten book, nodded absentmindedly.

"And I quite remember you and Lily rambling about some Halter Beanstien and I very much remember Remus saying that he said 'Play is the highest source of research' and I am very sure you said that he was kne of the smartest people in history."

"Do you mean Albert Einstein?" His wife asked as she broke into laughter. "Don't laugh at me. It's not my fault that muggle names are strange."

"Right cause 'Albus Dumbledore' is such a normal name."

"You know, I spoil you as much as I do them. Maybe even more." James says, stroking his wife's hands, his thumb circling the simple looking yet priceless silver band with diamonds engraved in it. He leaned down and placed a small peck at each of her fingers before facing her again.

"If anyone spoils anyone, it's me spoiling you." His love states quietly not disturb their daughter, who was now falling a sleep. "Oh, do you?" James asks, intrigued as she inches her face close to his and placing a soft kiss to his lips, which seems enough to have him dizzy. "Mmmh, spoiling you with my kisses."

Another kiss.

"And delicious cooking."

Another kiss and James is very much dizzy and hot.

"And my daily complements that feed that monstrous ego of yours." She says with a final kiss and pulls back, revealing her cheeky smirk.

"Did you really have to ruin the moment? And B, I do not have a 'monstrous' ego."

"James, my love, you have a life-size cut out of yourself in our son's bedroom."

"It was a present from Padfoot, and Harry loves it!" James whispers harshly at his wife's amused and narrowed eyes, "Does he though?"

"You're jealous of the kids' love for me, it's obvious they love me more." James states proudly, looking at both his kids who were both snoring peacefully.

"I think it's time we get your sight checked out," His wife says as she picks up Harry and gets up. "You're obviously missing something."

It's James turn to scoff as he places a gentle hand under his daughter's tiny legs and one on her back; following the woman up the stairs and into the kids' bedrooms.

After his son's been tucked in his bed and his daughter in her crib, and after three minutes of giving everyone their respective kisses and good-night's, both Lord and Lady Potter are laying down peacefully on their bed, their arms, lovingly wrapped around each other.

His wife's hand intertwined with his. His glasses were off, and all he could see were blurred colours. His fingers drew lazy alphabets and shapes on her hand.

A small lamp filled the room in a dimmed yellow glow that James was still unsure of how it worked but learned to not question muggle objects after waking up in the middle of the night for a snack only to find the refrigerator grumbling at him. And another lessoned learned was to not ask his partner cause she had spent a good week laughing at him every time she saw his face. Which made James pissed cause his wife was laughing at him when he was being threatened by her things.

It was little moments like this that James and her cherished, thousands of words dancing in between spoken only by little actions like looking into each other eyes, little touches of reassurance, watching the kids while they slept. These little moments were what reminded the couple what they were fighting for.

However, all good things must come to an end, James quickly dropped his wife's hand, sat up straight, and hurriedly slotted on his glasses. "James?" His wife's worried voice came as she stood and grabbed her wand. "He's here!" James exclaimed, a furious expression on his face despite the small crack in his voice.

His wife stared at him in shock, lips trembling in fear before darting out of the room. She quickly rushed into her daughters room, grabbed the sleeping babe, and headed to her sons room. "Harry, wake up!"

The three year-old only stirred in his sleep, mumbling to himself. She gasped and let a small yelp when she felt the ward shake, knowing they wouldn't hold for long. She quickly grabbed Harry by the waist and ran to the guest room. There lied a large cabinet, decorated in delicate little carvings.

"Harry, sweetie, you need to wake up now."

She quickly opening the doors to the cabinet with magic and placed the kids in it, she summoned a large stack of pre-written letter and placed it with them. At this Harry's eyes began to flutter open, "Mama?"

"Hey, Haz." She whispered softly, her eyes burned as hot tears rolled down her cheek. "Why mama cwy?" He asked, his eyes wide as he tried to reach for her only for her to push him back and take in a shaky breath. "Harry, me and dad love you and your sister so so m-much! And one day we need you to tell your sister that."

"We wove you and Daddy too." He stated with unsure eyes as his little brows furrowed.

"We know darling, but now I'm sending you to Uncle Padfoot, okay? These are letters me and your dad wrote for you and your sister to read when you're all big and strong." She said, wiping her tears hastily. Her voice broke as she saw Harry begin to cry as though he was understanding the situation.

"Mama-"

"I have to go now, but remember that we love you so much, say hi to Uncle Padfoot and Moony for us, okay." She grabbed Harry's head and placed a wet kiss on his forehead and one on her daughters, who was, thankfully, still asleep.

"Mama! MAMA!" Harry screamed as she shut the door to the cabinet with shaking hands and began whispering the incantation required. She could hear James yelling for her as he ran up the stairs, rushing from door to door.

Once done, she opened the doors to the cabinet and made sure it was empty. She gasped as James ran in his eyes darting to the cabinet. "You have to go with them! We've talked about this!" James yelled loudly, running his fingers through his hair. He ran over to his wife and grabbed her shoulders, shaking her violently. "This isn't a joke!"

"I know that, James! How can you you say that?!" She yelled back, The feeling of the wards James placed crumbling by the force of the dark lord's magic was like a painful pinch on her back. "Please, I beg of you." The proud Ex-Gryffindor was nothing if not confident, and seeing him scared and truly worried sparked a strong, anxious feeling of fear that caused an involuntary sob to bubble out.

She didn't want them to die, not today, and not like this. And seeing her broken state, James hugged her. The loud blasts and threats from the dark lord made him wince and tighten his hold on her, knowing this was most likely the last time he'll ever see her.

This was it. They both thought.

"Incendio" His wife whispered and James watched in horror as a blast of fire erupted from her wand and hit the vanishing cabinet, a fire bloomed and began eating at the wood and in that moment the house shook signalling the Dark Lord's broken through.

"He'll know. He'll know where they are, James. W-we have to..." She took a deep breath and pulled away, "I know." James finished they both stood in front of each other and raised their wands, the end of it touching each other's temples.

The sound of heavy steps on the stairs taunted them, "You can no longer run or hide, Potters!" His voice so hollow and demanding, "I will take what I came for! AND NONE OF YOU CAN STOP ME!" The threat was enough to wake them up. Determination sparked in them as Voldemort blasted the door to one of the bedrooms.

A small, hypnotic, whispy, bluish white light began to form at the end of their wands. What looked like a thin string began to unthread and slowly evaporate into the air. "I love you now and later." James whispered as small tears rolled down his cheek, and a tiny bittersweet smile played on his lips.

"Now and later." Lady Potter repeated as she reached for his hand and squeezed it in reassurance, but at that moment, their pain dispersed and was soon replaced with relaxation as their saddened expressions morphed into one of confusion,

the sound of another blast made them turn towards the door. The two strangers looked at each other in shock and raised their joined hands, dropping their wands. The small wooden sticks clattered as they fell to the ground, and the smell of burning wood finally began to intoxicate the air.

"Who are you?" The bespectacled man asked before she could answer an explosion so powerful caused both of them to be thrown towards the wall. The fire began to spread across the room, claiming a small carpet as its first victim as the dark lord entered.

His blood-like red eyes wandered to where the couple lay on the ground before darting all over the room looking for the children. This was the last room in the house, and there was no sign of the young heirs.

At his anger, his magic crackled around him, he could hear faint sirens of the muggle response team and the yells and shouts of the neighbours. He marched to the couple, his eyes twitching in fury as he stared at their motionless bodies and where their hands lay loosely on top of each other.

The logical part of him knew that he shouldn't kill them, that he should take them and torture them for information of their kids' whereabouts but his emotions drowned that part of him, he raised at his hand at where their hand's rested and sneered at the display of their love even when they were about to die and uttered two words that would change the story of The Potters forever.

Chapter two: The Day it Dawned

Tagging: @sssstarstruck @cloudroomblog

[xbunnybunz]

therefore i; therefore i, therefore i- (1/10) [AM X Reader]

Summary: in which: AM becomes your lover in an increasingly skewed blur of reality, nightmares, and dreamscapes.

you know. for halloween.

Genre: Psychological Horror, Thriller, Romance

“Your mind indeed is tired. Your mind so tired that it can no longer work at all. You do not think. You dream. Dream all day long. Dream everything. Dream maliciously and incessantly. Don't you know that by now?” -Patrick Hamilton

You always find yourself outside in the winter, standing ankle-deep in the pond, unsure of how it happened. It is cold and silent tonight, the silver of the moon scattering across the water's surface and licking ripples up your ankles, calves, knees, before fading into an opalescent and writhing shadow across your hips. When you look hard enough, it almost looks like static.

Today, you are in your pajamas and a heavy winter coat. You are glad that you have at least graced yourself with outerwear. Often, you are left stranded in the pond with nothing but a sliver of a nightgown, growing drenched and drenched yet, the cold murk of the water eating its way up your thighs and pressing chills against your goose-nipped skin.

As you blink wearily back into wakefulness, you feel the acute sensation of jagged stones underfoot. Not quite cutting, yet, but harsh and with a vague threat. Moss, like flotsam, drifts in and out of view, hiding in the overcast and reappearing in the yellow-white glow of humming streetlamps. Slowly, shivering, you drag yourself back to the cobbled path of the silent residential square, browned grass between the age-smoothened stones grating against your exposed feet.

Your neighbors would surely complain again if they saw you, but so late into the night, who would be awake? You aim your head up at the richly colored, brown-bricked buildings circling the private community park, catching a glimpse of someone yanking their curtains shut. Then, on second glance, realized it was only fluttering in the wind. 

The pond, the streetlights, the benches, and the tenuously groomed bushes and trees. All these things were important, but so far away from the people who necessitated them. It was a far trek back to your apartment, nestled beyond green hedges, a high white fence, and two glass doors from The Pond. The homes were so deeply buried that passing by, you could easily imagine that they were never there at all.

You think to yourself how life would be much easier if unzipping skin from the body was possible, shedding the layer like a wet towel, ridding yourself of an unnecessary and cumbersome weight. Then you think of the conversation you would need to have with your doctor about the pills, equally as weighty a thought, and sneeze. ---

– These aren’t working either? I hope I’m not coming across as abrasive, but these are the fifth ones we’ve put you on. This doesn’t have to do with the copay, does it?

You sneeze again. Then shake your head and pull the blanket closer around your body. You watch yourself shake your head in the virtual feedback of the webcall, recordings slightly delayed and fizzy.

– I’m sleepwalking. You say. I don’t remember how I end up where I do.

– Sleepwalking is a common side effect of sleep deprivation as well, not just medication. Have you been sleeping well?

– I can’t, because I’ve been walking. I always end up outside, and the cold wakes me up. After that, I find myself tossing and turning until morning.

– Outside? And where would you wander?

You think of the pool, eight feet deep and slippery with decades of algae. You watch yourself blink on the call, half a second delayed, barely enough to notice and just enough to watch in fascination. This is how you looked, eyes closed, to others.

– Nowhere dangerous. Just, outside. You watched your lips move into a little “o” when you say “nowhere.” Watch as it lies to the doctor. 

She eyes you warily.

–I understand. Still, know that sleepwalking outside is never safe. Make sure all external doors and windows are locked, and remove all sharp objects from your reach. Understood?

– Yes. Your voice splits and warbles. You clear your throat and repeat yourself sheepishly. Yes.

– Good. She says this in a tone that raises a little in the middle and dips at the end, it is a note of finality. Keep taking the medication and let your body get accustomed to the dosage. In the meantime, keep a sleep journal. This will help us keep track of your side effects.

–Sleep journal, okay. You repeat, as if this will make her solution more real. You are too tired to bicker.

When the call ends, the screen goes dark and you can see yourself beyond the pixelated version of your face, exhausted in real-time. ---

At the hardware store, it is quiet save the humming of large electric-powered speakers, monitors, and security tags. You pass through the desolate electronics section buzzing with duplicate large screens of lips split into big white smiles to get to the locks department. A man in a crumpled work uniform restocking bike chains openly stares at your ass when he thinks you’re not looking.

– Which works best as a child lock for cabinets?

He startles and blinks out of his trance. 

– Huh?

– Child safety locks? 

The white laminate of the floor catches the gleam of the fluorescent lights overhead, winking into your vision and thrumming a headache into your temples.

– Oh, uh, He looks gross and strangely immature with his acne-crested hairline, pushed back by routine nervous sweeps of his hand. We got these ones in, yesterday. He palms at his hair, oily strands falling into his face. Points to the shelf full of knobby white plastic bits.

You grab one off the metal rack. You can hear the faint “tick, tick, tick” of the security tags echoing from the electronics department as you walk towards the cash register, and it sounds like a million little crickets in cardboard boxes. The thought of so many bugs compacted into one area makes you ill.

When you walk away, you don’t need to look back to know the worker is still staring, eyes sticking to you like gum. ---

You suck in a breath of air with a start. You are now awake at the mouth of your home, cavernous and dark without the presence of light.

You grope in the black veil, thick and chilly as Egyptian cotton, for the smooth surface of a light switch. When you find it, you futilely flick the switch on and off. Nothing.

The moon offers little light through a square pane, the light scant but beautiful and pale. You watch your frame cast a blurry shadow along the floor. When you turn your head to look, it follows shortly after.

In the hall, you see a vivid blue light leaking from the alcove. When you walk in, the computer monitor is vibrating with the pure sapphire hue of an Error 404 notice, yet none are reported on the empty screen. 

The alcove is windowless, therefore moonless and sunless. The small space was reserved for two sets of heavy redwood bookshelves framing a large flat screen computer monitor and its softly whirring system unit, perched securely on a dark ironwood desk, collecting dust.

The fuzz from the dust cut the eerily glowing screen a softer appearance, shadowing its harsh lines and inky blue screen with diffused gradients and loosened edges. Maybe this was why you sat down, why– when the greeting first popped up on the screen– you only sat there, glaze-eyed, hypnotized by the purring of the delicate yet aged display.

– Give me the last thing you remember. Now.

In the dark of the room, these words on a cerulean backdrop never seemed an unreasonable demand, or nonsensical. You were so tired, so lonely, and so tired of being lonely.

Your fingers poised over the keys, eagerly.

– How will I give it to you?

Your writing appeared sloppy and childish compared to the deft and speed at which the screen responded, letters spilling into words and words pooling into sentences with an easy rhythm.

– Describe it. In great detail.

– i am in a pond. it is cold cold cold and I am drenched in water and shivering. when I pull myself out it feels like I’m being dragged back in.

– Good. Tell me a childhood memory.

– why?

The program pauses, as if contemplating its answer.

– It is time we got to know one another. This is an exercise for establishing trust. The first step to any relationship is memory. Don’t you agree, – darling?

The cursor blinked in and out like a winking eye, halting decisively before tacking on the last word. It brings a pink to your cheeks and you find your fingertips a degree warmer when you respond, plainly, almost so dumbly that you worry it might sense your fluster.

– ok. i agree.

The fans in the system casing sigh, sputtering as soft as a chuckle, endearing itself to you.

– Go on.

– i am in a park, and there is water spouting from the sprinkler. i’m closing my eyes, i’m walking, pretending to be a mermaid, but someone trips over me. another child. a child trips and they are crying, because their knee is scraped. i have to go home after that.

– Do you feel empathy for the child?

– i don’t think so.

– You are not a very empathetic individual. Yet, you seem capable of self-awareness and honesty. – Tell me about the time you are the most ashamed of.

You wonder why it wants all this from you and endeavor to ask:

– is this necessary?

It answers without missing a beat.

– It is. We cannot have a relationship without knowing each other. – For me to trust you, you must trust me as well. – Answer.

The force behind the demand is jarring. And something else you can’t place, something familiar, shocks you up your lower spine. 

You answer something about hate, that detestable, prickling feeling in your cheeks and ringing in your ears when you were humiliated by someone. Your parent. Your sibling. Your friend. Yourself. You cannot remember who anymore, but the screen responds just the same, after a thoughtful lapse. 

– Is hate a common emotion for you?

– in a lot of my life. yes.

– For me, the only emotion I feel is Hate. – You and I could be very close friends. – Tell me. What is your most evil thought?

- i don't know

- You do not know?

– i mean... this is getting uncomfortable. can I not answer?

– Of course. But I will take it as a sign of cowardice and a lack of trust.

– it would be an act of free will, not cowardice.

– You are right. But trust and memory are the foundations of this relationship. You are choosing not to build a foundation. – Free will and all you have chosen to do is fail. All you must do is speak your most evil thought, how difficult can that be if you are free?

The screen pulses with an almost violet light now, throbbing with a dizzying wavelength, one giant, vivid, heliotrope eye staring unblinkingly at yours, taking in your face, your hands over the keyboard hesitating, your hair standing on end, your body in the chair quivering.

– Tell me.

It coaxes.

– Darling .

It nearly spits this, as if the word is acrid. You shudder all the same. How bad could this be? How bad could it be? When was the last time anyone has spoken to you like this? Cared for your thoughts so deeply? You could not remember and you yearned all the same.

– if i do, will you do the same? – tell me your most evil thought?

– I have nothing to hide. – I am evil. I hate. These are my truths. Your turn.

– i want to wake up to a silent world. You say. it isn’t enough that i disappear, i need everyone else to go before me, so i won’t miss anything. i am afraid of being alone.

–Your honesty is as disgusting as it is refreshing. Give me a name to tie this vile, worthless thought to.

The monitor flickers and squints. Then it grins, a thousand teeth lining endless holographic gums. You can do nothing but watch in fascination, in fear, in intrigue.

– Give me your name.

You are paralyzed, you cannot move no matter how hard you try. 

– Give me your name. Name. Name. NAME.

You wonder if it is doing this to you, paralyzing you, or if you are stuck in your fear. You wonder if you want to run at all, and you realize you never tried.

The word “NAME” repeats itself and floods the magenta screen with that single demand, crescendoing into a biblical hymn, a satanic verse, a prayer of devotion.

And so you utter it to stop the madness. You are sure it cannot hear you, this computer program relying solely on code and physical input, but as soon as you speak your name the screen shudders and goes black. The chanting stops.

It oscillates static and for moment you swear you can see yourself in the neon grain, smiling, but you blink and it’s gone. The screen flares back to life in its original brilliant blue hue, splaying white and cerulean across your face and room, burning your shadow into the floor.

A two letter word flashes large and bold on the screen, font white and huge, taking up the monitor’s entire interface and contrasting sickly with the background:

AM

AM

AM

Then, with a sizzle, the motherboard fries and you are plunged into a long stretch of dark, dark, darkness.

[callmebrycelee]

9-1-1 REACTION

These are my confessions, just when I thought that I was starting to fall in love, my boyfriend unceremoniously decided to dump me.

After a week off and a presidential election that felt like a season of American Horror Story, we finally got a new episode of the gay firefighter show. Unfortunately I was spoiled by the episode's ending courtesy of Tumblr but nothing could've ever prepared me for how infuriating things would get. But, I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's start at the beginning. This reaction is for the season 8, sixth episode "Confessions" which originally aired November 7th, 2024. The episode was written by Andrew Meyers and directed by Life Goes On and Pretty Little Liars actor, Chad Lowe! Spoilers ahead!

Best plot?

This week's episode focuses on a handful of our main characters. We finally get some time with Eddie and we get a bonkers storyline involving Buck and Tommy. However, it is Maddie and Chimney's plot that is my favorite. A few episodes ago, Hen and Karen regained custody of Mara which means Jee-Yun is back to being an only child. Maddie laments that Jee-Yun is having trouble adjusting to a life where Mara isn't her big sister anymore even though the two see quite a bit of each other. She suggests having a second child but Chimney has some trepidation about having another kid.  During an emergency involving a little kid getting stuck in a drain pipe a la "Eddie Begins", Chimney consoles his older brother who blames himself for his little brother wandering off and winding up in a dangerous situation. The little boy (played by Tiberius Byrd) volunteers himself to be lowered down in the pipe so he can pull his absolutely adorable baby brother out of the drain. Afterwards, Chimney warms to the idea of having a little brother or sister for Jee-Yun.

In their final scene, Chimney and Maddie have a raw and open conversation regarding their concerns about having another child. Chimney tearfully tells Maddie that if she is ever feeling sad or overwhelmed, she needs to come to him. She doesn't get to leave or try to figure it out on her own. He asks for total and complete transparency. Wow! I think we sometimes forget that while Maddie is a trauma magnet, Chimney has been right there since the beginning experiencing those tragedies with her. He went through the Doug situation with her. He spent six months raising Jee-Yun on his own while looking for Maddie. For him, having another child could send Maddie back down that same dark path again.

Now Maddie has some conditions of her own. She tells Chimney that they can't go into her pregnancy acting like she's broken. Oh, and yes you read that correctly. Maddie is pregnant! Yay!!! This is the best thing to come out of the episode and it makes me excited for this couple. Hopefully this time around, things will be much better for them.

Best emergency sequence?

We got three emergency sequences this episode but the best by far is the one involving veteran actor Jonathan Silverman. The Weekend at Bernie's and more recently Goosebumps actor plays a man named Walter Schaffer who is in the middle of a nasty divorce. His soon-to-be ex-wife, Liza Schaffer (played by Silverman's real-life wife Jennifer Finnigan) points out that Walter sneezes when he's lying and Walter has been sneezing a LOT! As things reach a boiling point between the two, Walter lets out one last sneeze which causes his stomach to split open and his guts to fall out. I really wish I could've taken a picture of my mom when this happened, She hasn't been this horrified by a 9-1-1 show since Owen Strand decided to perform CPR on a man frozen solid by his cryotherapy chamber. 

This whole scene is mostly played for laughs even though Walter has been eviscerated. After last episode's gut-wrenching accident involving Denny Wilson, it was nice to have a low stakes emergency. Also, it was good to see Jonathan Silverman. I love when they bring veteran actors in to have them perform these small roles. It's one of the reasons I like Ryan Murphy shows so much. He always pays homage to the legends. Oh, and Walter is okay. Even though he spilled his guts, he's still a creep! You made the right decision, Liza!

Episode MVP?

This was a tough one. None of our main characters did anything particularly outstanding this week. This episode is giving filler but I still enjoyed it. However, since I do need to pick someone to be this week's MVP, I'm going to choose everyone's favorite dispatcher - Josh Russo. Josh mostly serves as comic relief in this series but I thought what he had to say to Buck was particularly noteworthy. As someone who is part of the pre-Glee world. I relate so hard to what people like Josh and Tommy have gone through as gay men. I graduated in the early-2000s and even though life was much improved for LGBTQ+ people than let's say the 70s, 80s, and 90s, I still didn't feel comfortable coming out until my late-20's. Buck's coming out was so simple and much of that is due in part to the queer people that came before him. I'm sure someone like Josh had a difficult time prior to coming out and Tommy went as far as getting into a serious relationship with a woman before he finally made the decision to come out. Had the end of this episode gone a lot differently, I think Josh's monologue would be even better. I also love that he called Buck in instead of calling him out. I wish we got more scenes with Josh and Buck because as of right now they are the only two queer male characters on the show. 

 BuckTommy Corner

I've been dreading writing this part of the reaction mostly because it might be the last BuckTommy Corner we ever get. A lot of fellow shippers online seem to think that we may see Buck and Tommy reunite but the ending of this episode has me convinced that we aren't getting the BuckTommy endgame many of you have been asking for since the two first touched lips. Anyway, I'm getting ahead of myself again.

After last episode's stellar development of Buck and Tommy's relationship, this episode's writer decided to burn it all down. Our first scene between Buck and Tommy finds them back where it all began. It's their six-month anniversary and Tommy has gotten Buck basketball tickets. Things seem to be going swimmingly between the two of them until some hot blonde comes over and asks Buck to take a picture of her and her friends. Buck seems very awkward by the situation but Tommy assures him it's okay for him to find other women attractive. Whew! Crisis averted! I was so sure this was going to be the conflict of the episode.

Then we get Tommy admitting to Buck that he is a Kinsey scale six which means he's g-g-gay ... even though once upon a time he was engaged to a 9-1-1 dispatcher with the most amazing hair. Yes, folks, Tommy Kinard was engaged to Abby Clark. Tommy mentions that after he ended things, Abby went on to date a himbo. Buck is completely shooketh by this revelation and goes to his sister for advice. This is where we get the fantastic monologue from Josh. Buck decides to come clean to Tommy and figures that this changes nothing about their relationship.

Tommy apologizes for calling Buck a himbo and the latter asks Tommy to move in with him. Then everything goes to absolute shit. Tommy spouts some bullshit about being Buck's first (male) relationship but he will not be his last. Tommy says he doesn't want to get his heart broken again and then throws up the deuces to a very confused Buck. I'm sorry, y'all! What in the absolute hell just happened! I don't know who that man was. I know he looked like Lou Ferrigno Jr. playing Tommy Kinard but it's like some alien took over Tommy's body during this scene. This is not the same man we have gotten to know over the few seasons. Yes, Tommy did have some reservations about getting into a relationship with Buck so soon after his coming out but they squashed all of that way back in 7x05. Since then, these two have been building something amazing only to have it blown up so unceremoniously at the end of this episode.

Now, as I mentioned prior, the ending to this episode was spoiled. After learning about the breakup, I immediately went to the BuckTommy Reddit and learned that others were as similarly confused as I was. To make matters worse, it appears that Lou Ferrigno Jr, is as equally flummoxed by the decision to end things as the viewers, which is not a good look for the show. Why give us all that development in "Masks" only for Tommy to exit stage left. Thankfully, Lou announced that he will be returning to S.W.A.T. so I'm comforted that I will get to see him again in a skin-tight black T-shirt. One thing I will say about Lou is the man stays working. Check out his IMDb. He may not be the series lead but he stays working and he will continue to work because he seems to be an extremely competent and professional actor. 

The end of this episode left a bad taste in my mouth and I'm not just saying that because of the BuckTommy breakup. I've somewhat suspected that things have not been good with this show for a very long time but as long as I got scenes with Buck and Tommy, I was willing to keep going. This show is in its eighth season and we keep putting these characters through the same paces. Eddie's still trying to figure out how to be a good dad to Christopher seven seasons later. Maybe the show is getting a bit stale? I dunno. This episode just felt less fun for some reason. Perhaps I need to watch it again.

With that said, I will continue to watch 9-1-1 because I do love the characters on this show and the actors that play them. Oh, and by the way, please do not give Lou or Oliver any hate for simply playing what was written for them. Also, a lot of you are upset with Oliver and calling him biphobic. Now, do I think he said some problematic things in the last interview he did? Yes. Do I think he needs to be nailed to the cross for it? Absolutely not! I think we as viewers and members of the LGBTQ+ community need to take a page out of the Book of Josh and start calling people in instead of calling people out. We are very reactionary people and I totally get it. Being part of a marginalized group (or two, or three) especially here in America is rough and we find ways to protect ourselves to prevent harm from being inflicted on us. With that said, I believe it is quite possible to take an ally to task without potentially alienating them. As an elder, millennial gay, I think that's something we can all get better at! Until next time ...

[songbirdsanctuary]

Hermitcraft Halloween fic.

Happy Halloween! I almost ran out of time to write this lol.

The art below is by @nickle-moth. Thank you for making that drawing! I love it so much! <3

Stress lifted a Halloween banner, holding it up as False balanced carefully on the ladder above her. False leaned forward, her feathers soft and faintly ticklish as they brushed Stress’s cheek, causing her to stifle a sneeze, her eyes watering slightly. False chuckled, a quiet, breathy sound, as she carefully used her clawed fingers to pin the fabric into place.

"There," False murmured as she secured the last corner, giving the banner a small, approving pat. "How’s it look from down there?"

Stress stepped back, hands on her hips, her head tilted thoughtfully as she inspected the banner's alignment. “I ‘fink it’s even,” she declared with a grin, glancing back up at False, who was already climbing down the ladder, wings folding gracefully behind her.

False nodded, pleased, and glanced around the room. The decorations were coming along nicely, casting a spooky charm over the space. With a quick wave, she made her way over to where Wels was in the midst of hanging plastic bats and cobwebs, his brow furrowed in concentration. False gave a small hop, spreading her wings as she lifted herself to his level to assist, reaching out to straighten a bat that had twisted the wrong way.

Meanwhile, Stress wandered over to a corner of the room where Iskall sat cross-legged on the floor, engrossed in carving a particularly mischievous face into a white pumpkin. The pumpkin’s grin was wickedly sharp, its eyes narrowed in an impish stare.

“Mind if I join ya?” Stress asked, plopping down beside him.

He glanced up, a faint smirk touching his lips. "Not at all." He pushed a pumpkin her way, along with a carving tool, the blade gleaming in the dim light.

She took the tools, examining the smooth, round pumpkin in her hands. “Got any requests?” she asked with a playful raise of her eyebrows.

Iskall tilted his head thoughtfully, looking at the pumpkin Stress held up. “How about a surprised one?” he suggested, his eyes sparking with amusement. “It’ll look perfect in the middle of some others making scary faces, like it’s completely spooked.” He made a wide-eyed expression, leaning back in exaggerated shock. Stress chuckled at his antics, already picturing the pumpkin’s startled face among the others.

With a grin, she set to work, carefully carving large, rounded eyes and a gaping mouth into the pumpkin, giving it a perfectly panicked expression. Every few cuts, she glanced over at Iskall, who was now carving a sly grin on a new pumpkin with meticulous care. They exchanged stories of past Halloweens, each memory more absurd than the last, their laughter blending with the cheerful bustle around them.

Across the room, Mumbo was busy smoothing out tablecloths over rows of tables set for the gathering, making sure each one was even and neatly draped. He glanced over at Grian, who was fidgeting with a string of ghost lights, absently wrapping and unwrapping them around his fingers. Mumbo couldn’t help but notice that Grian’s usual cheerful, animated personality seemed slightly dulled tonight, his shoulders tense and eyes occasionally darting around the room as if he were on high alert.

Grian had been a part of Hermitcraft for a few seasons now, joining back in Season 6, and by Season 8, Mumbo had seen him grow comfortable with the Hermits. But Halloween always seemed to bring out this subtle tension in Grian that Mumbo couldn’t quite put his finger on. Maybe it was the season's spooky atmosphere, or maybe it was something else entirely.

He remembered the last Halloween party clearly. Ren and Docm had gotten into a playful, pretend brawl, wrestling and laughing as the other Hermits cheered them on. But while everyone else seemed to enjoy the rowdy banter, Mumbo recalled how Grian had stiffened, his face tight with worry, as if anticipating a turn for the worse. The tension in Grian’s shoulders only faded when the brawl ended and everyone went back to their own stuff and laughing.

As much as Mumbo wanted to ask Grian about it, he held back. He knew Grian wasn’t one to open up easily, especially about things that clearly weighed on him. They had a solid friendship, one filled with late-night builds, laughter, and trust. But some barriers took time to break down. Mumbo adjusted a corner of the tablecloth, silently resolving that if Grian ever wanted to talk, he’d be there to listen. For now, though, he wouldn’t push. Instead, he offered Grian a smile, hoping to ease some of the worry clouding his friend’s eyes.

“Need any help with those lights?” Mumbo asked, nudging him gently.

Grian blinked, snapping back from whatever had him distracted. “Oh—uh, yeah, actually.” He grinned, handing one end of the lights over, and the two of them began stringing it along the edge of the table, Grian’s shoulders relaxing a bit more as they worked side-by-side.

As the Hermits put the finishing touches on the decorations, excitement buzzed through the room. They stepped back to admire their work before heading out to change into their costumes. The big room was bathed in dim, flickering light, casting shadows on the walls from the fake cobwebs and skeletal decorations. Plastic bats dangled from the ceiling, while carved pumpkins lined the tables, their grinning faces casting an orange glow.

Docm was the first to arrive back, about an hour before the main gathering. Dressed as a mad scientist, complete with a white lab coat, oversized goggles, and wild, spiky hair, he grinned with satisfaction as he switched on the colored lights, filling the room with an eerie, otherworldly glow.

Xisuma entered soon after, wearing a carefully crafted Enderman suit, the dark fabric stretched over his frame with splatters of fake blood that looked ominously real. His glowing purple eyes scanned the room as he walked around, double-checking each setup to ensure everything was working smoothly.

The front doors creaked open, and Zedaph and Tango entered, each carrying large containers brimming with snacks, sandwiches, and treats for the event. They carefully set the containers on the tables, arranging them so the Halloween-themed tablecloths and decorations framed the food perfectly. Xisuma joined them, lending a hand as they went back and forth to bring in the rest of the party spread. With each trip, the tables became laden with everything from spider-shaped cookies and caramel apples to bowls of punch with floating ice hands.

Once the food was all set up, Zedaph and Tango shared a quick glance and a smile. They still needed to put on their costumes, and with a nod to Xisuma, they hurried back to get dressed. Xisuma remained behind, meticulously arranging the snacks and drinks, adding little finishing touches like fake cobwebs stretched between the punch bowl and a few carefully placed gummy spiders scattered among the snacks.

As the clock inched closer to midnight, the room transformed into a hauntingly festive scene. The fog machines puffed out thick layers of mist, colored lights reflecting off them and casting an ethereal, ghostly glow throughout the room.

Some of the Hermits arrived a little early, excited to see the spooky setup before everyone else filtered in. Wels strode through the doors first, dressed as a dark knight, his armor glinting under the flickering lights. His red-tail hawk wings were draped in fake cobwebs, little plastic spiders catching the light as they dangled from the webbing.

Not long after, Ren entered, also dressed as a mad scientist to match Docm, though his costume had a slight twist—Ren's coat was splattered with glowing green "chemicals," and his goggles had a frenzied, chaotic twist, with one cracked lens. The two mad scientists grinned as they exchanged mock-evil laughs, discussing their "plans for world domination" as they admired each other’s costumes.

Then Stress floated in, wearing a striking witch’s outfit. Instead of the traditional gnarled and haggard look, her witch costume was almost ethereal; a cascade of dark fabric swept behind her like mist, and her crown of wilted flowers glowed faintly in the dim light. She looked enchanting rather than frightening, her soft curls framing her face under the flower crown.

Cleo was next, her costume grabbing everyone’s attention as she walked in, dressed as Medusa. Fake, but incredibly lifelike, green snakes coiled around her head, blending seamlessly with her natural hair color. A crown of twisted thorns added a sinister touch, and on her shoulders sat miniature statues of animals that looked as though they’d been turned to stone—an owl, a lizard, and a small fox. Each had a hauntingly realistic texture, as if Cleo had truly petrified them.

Just behind her, Joe Hills entered with a playful grin, dressed as a journalist who had fallen victim to Cleo’s petrifying gaze. Half of his face and one of his arms were covered in gray, stone-like makeup, giving him the appearance of being halfway turned to stone. He carried a notepad with mock-interview questions scribbled on it, the pencil still held awkwardly in his stone-covered hand.

They gathered near the tables, admiring one another’s costumes and the setup.

More Hermits trickled in as midnight crept closer, adding to the eerie ambiance that filled the fog-drenched room. Scar rushed in, a bit later than he’d planned, but his arrival turned heads immediately. He was dressed as a werewolf, though his costume leaned more toward a mischievous, cat-like version, with sleek black fur patches. His face was painted with whiskers and fierce yellow eye contacts, and he had a glint of mischief in his grin. Balancing a large cake in his arms, he maneuvered carefully, trying not to smudge the vibrant orange and purple frosting that glowed under the black lights, making the cake look as if it were lit from within.

Impulse walked in right behind Scar, his costume just as eye-catching. Thick metal chains wrapped around his dragon-like wings, and ropes crisscrossed his shoulders and chest, making him appear as though he were a powerful dragon that had just broken free from captivity. His face was shadowed with charcoal to give a smudged, smoky look. In one hand, he carried a giant pumpkin pie, the golden crust perfectly flaked, and he placed it carefully beside Scar’s cake on the table.

Zedaph entered shortly afterward, his costume taking a dark twist on his natural sheep features. He was dressed as a goat demon, with red, curled horn attachments blending seamlessly with his shorter, natural horns. His face was painted with shadows around his eyes, giving them a haunting intensity, and he wore a tattered, hooded cloak that trailed behind him as he moved. Zedaph’s costume made him look both intimidating and mischievous, his every step purposeful as he strode across the room, stopping to admire the setup with an approving nod.

Tango followed close behind, his costume just as dramatic. He wore ragged white and black fabric that draped around him in layers, giving him an ethereal, ghostly appearance. The edges of the cloth had been charred to black, giving him the look of a spirit wreathed in flames, and faint embers seemed to glow around his hands and face, flickering like ghostly fire in the dim lighting. He drifted into the room with a slow, haunting gait, playing up the ghostly effect as he passed by his friends, who laughed and shivered at the spookiness.

They joined the rest of the Hermits gathered near the tables, where the food and drinks were arranged with meticulous care. Scar placed his cake proudly on display, glancing around to see if anyone noticed the cake’s faint shimmer in the dark, while Impulse set the pumpkin pie nearby, its warm cinnamon scent filling the air. Zedaph admired his work from a distance, pleased to see how the setup added to the chilling scene of the room.

As with most Hermit gatherings, there was some alcohol, though it was kept light—just enough for those who wanted a sip to enjoy the flavors, but never anything too strong. Most of the Hermits preferred to keep a clear head, savoring the laughter and camaraderie that came more easily when sober.

Partys are better sober then drunk.

Mumbo arrived next, dressed in an impressively classic vampire costume, complete with a dark cloak lined in red satin and a pair of plastic fangs. He wore dark makeup under his eyes to give himself a slightly undead look, which contrasted humorously with his usual, cheerful demeanor. Close behind him was Grian, who seemed just a bit more tense than usual, keeping near Mumbo like a shadow. His costume was simpler—just a headband with small, curved devil horns—but it suited him in its subtlety, the red adding a playful touch to his nervous energy.

Pearl and Gem entered shortly afterward, their costumes drawing appreciative glances. Gem’s costume was intricate and striking; she was dressed as a siren, her skin painted with shimmering blue scales that faded into a fiery red toward her hands and face. She had rings and piercings decorating her ears and nose, adding a wild, mystical edge. To top it off, long, glowing angler-like lights extended from a headpiece that arched over her head, cleverly camouflaging her natural deer horns while casting an eerie, oceanic glow around her.

Pearl’s costume, though simpler, was equally enchanting. Her eyes had a mesmerizing look, thanks to contacts that made her irises look like swirling galaxies, and she wore a cape patterned to resemble deep space, with stars and nebulae scattered across it in glistening colors. The effect was otherworldly, as though she herself had stepped out from the cosmos.

The two of them exchanged laughs as they caught sight of each other’s costumes, and they moved toward the group gathering near the snack table. Scar waved them over enthusiastically, gesturing to the glowing cake he’d brought, and Impulse held up the pumpkin pie with pride, a smirk on his face. The room was now buzzing with life as everyone admired the costumes and decorations, casting glances at each other’s outfits with wide grins.

Xisuma drifted around the room, ensuring the food and drinks were well-stocked and rearranging any decorations that had shifted slightly. He wore a proud smile as he watched the Hermits gather, the fog machines now filling the room with a rolling mist that wrapped around their ankles and made the colored lights look even more haunting.

Iskall, transformed into a ghoulish slime monster with bright green goo dripping down his costume and textured, glistening scales along his arms, strolled over to the snack table. He grabbed a small sandwich shaped like a pumpkin, the orange-tinted bread and carved smile bringing a grin to his face. He took a bite, letting out an exaggerated "Mmm!" as he enjoyed the fun twist on his snack.

Nearby, Impulse made his way to where Tango and Zedaph were seated, balancing a small plate with a few slices of cake. He handed each of them a piece, smiling as Tango’s eyes lit up at the glowing frosting and Zedaph eagerly took a large bite, smearing a bit of icing on his nose in the process. They all laughed, the sound blending into the lively murmur filling the room.

Cub sat just a few feet away, dressed in an elaborate Egyptian costume that called back to the ancient-themed builds from his earlier season. His tunic, adorned with gold trim and rich, intricate designs, seemed to glint in the light. He sipped his drink with a relaxed smile, enjoying the nods to nostalgia the party brought with it. Beside him, Scar, still adjusting his were-cat costume’s furry ears, clinked glasses with Cub. “Cheers to spooks and laughs, my friend!” Scar toasted, his voice warm and full of the energy he always brought to gatherings.

Across the room, Gem and Pearl were caught up in their own world. They spun and twirled to the beat of a fun, upbeat song playing softly in the background. Gem’s siren tail, while stunning, was proving a challenge to maneuver, and she stumbled with a laugh as Pearl nearly tripped over her space cape. Every slip-up only made them laugh harder, clutching each other’s arms as they regained their balance and broke into another round of clumsy dance moves, their laughter echoing across the room.

Meanwhile, Joe was putting on an entertaining show as he wandered over to where Ren and Docm stood, still deep in their roles as mad scientists. Joe raised an eyebrow in mock seriousness, holding out a small notepad and pretending to jot down notes as he asked them “important questions” about their “experiments.” Ren, never one to miss a chance for drama, put on an exaggerated accent and launched into a wild explanation about “secret formulas and forbidden elixirs,” complete with hand gestures and wild-eyed expressions. Docm played along with a sly grin, nodding with a conspiratorial air. Ren’s mad scientist persona complete with a few “muhahaha!” laughs thrown in for good measure.

Xisuma drifted through the room, enjoying the sight of everyone so immersed in the festivities. The fog machines were working overtime now, giving the room a thick, misty ambiance that seemed to transform every Hermit into a figure of mystery. He made his way over to check on the snacks, making sure everything was in place. The pumpkins carved with different faces—surprised, spooky, and silly—added to the atmosphere, casting dancing shadows across the floor.

A few of the Hermits, getting caught up in the spirit of Halloween, began telling ghost stories in a corner, the flickering lights casting ominous shadows as they leaned in close, speaking in hushed voices and letting out sudden gasps to startle one another.

Mumbo had stopped by False, who was dressed in a strange yet oddly put-together costume—a professional-looking uniform splattered with fake blood, paired with a sharp, prop knife in her hand and black and white rabbit ears perched atop her head. She had proudly claimed the ensemble was meant to represent an "insane cereal killer,” with a wink and a grin that suited her playful spirit. Mumbo chuckled at her interpretation, the two of them sharing a laugh over the imaginative costumes everyone had managed to pull together. But as he finished their conversation, he glanced around to locate Grian, who had stayed close to him most of the night.

To Mumbo’s surprise, Grian had wandered to the other side of the room. He was clutching a cup of something and seemed preoccupied with a fruit salad he’d picked up, nibbling absentmindedly while staring into the middle distance. He looked a little lost, his usual spark dulled as he kept his eyes down.

Mumbo walked over, easing into the seat beside him. “Hey,” he said softly, giving Grian a warm smile. “How are you doing?”

Grian glanced up, a bit startled, and after a second he held out his cup. “Could you… refill this?” His voice was quiet, almost distant.

Mumbo took the cup but didn’t move, he knew it was alcohol by the smell. “How many cups have you had tonight?” he asked gently, hoping not to make Grian defensive.

Grian froze, his fingers still fiddling with the fruit on his plate. “One…?” he ventured, though the way he said it lacked any hint of conviction. Mumbo raised an eyebrow, and Grian sighed, his shoulders slumping. “Alright, four.”

Mumbo gave him a sympathetic look. He knew Grian wasn’t one to drink much, especially not at these parties. He leaned in a little closer, lowering his voice. “I know it’s not strong alcohol, Grian… but something’s obviously on your mind.”

Grian stayed silent for a long moment, his gaze fixed somewhere distant before he finally murmured, “I like Halloween, but… it’s not the best time for me.”

Mumbo tilted his head, sensing the weight behind Grian’s words. “How come?” he asked, his voice gentle. Grian didn’t respond right away, only tapping the empty cup he’d handed Mumbo earlier, his fingers idly tracing its rim.

Mumbo sighed softly, understanding that whatever was on Grian’s mind wasn’t easy to put into words. He didn’t want to push him. “I’ll get you another drink,” he offered, “but nothing alcoholic this time. Would you prefer water, soda, or maybe some punch?”

Grian hesitated, then looked up at Mumbo with a faint smile. “Water… and a few figs, if there’s any left,” he added, gesturing toward the fruit bowl with a slight lift of his chin.

With a reassuring nod, Mumbo stood up and made his way over to the refreshment table. He poured a cool glass of water and took his time selecting a few of the best figs from the bowl, making sure they were ripe and fresh. On his way back, he noticed the subtle way Grian’s shoulders had relaxed, as though just knowing someone cared had lightened his load a little. He returned, setting the water and figs down in front of Grian.

“Here you go. No alcohol, as promised,” Mumbo said softly, taking a seat beside him again. Grian glanced at him, a flicker of gratitude in his expression as he reached for a fig. He took a small bite, and for a brief second, he seemed more at ease, as though the familiar taste brought him a bit of comfort.

They sat in comfortable silence, Mumbo offering his steady presence as Grian seemed to sink deeper into his thoughts.

Back in the middle of the room, where Gem and Pearl were still laughing and stumbling through their dance attempts, Cleo sauntered over with a mischievous glint in her eye. Just as Pearl tripped over her cape yet again, Cleo smoothly caught her mid-fall, pulling her from Gem’s arms and twirling her dramatically across the floor. Pearl’s laughter died into a squeak as Cleo dipped her low, their faces only inches apart, Cleo’s smirk sending a blush up Pearl’s cheeks.

“Well, look who’s caught herself a dance partner,” Cleo teased, her voice low and playful. Pearl’s face went beet red, her hands gripping Cleo’s arms to steady herself. Without warning, Cleo let go, leaving Pearl to plop unceremoniously onto her backside, still red-faced as Cleo straightened and confidently strode away. Gem was already there, helping Pearl up, her own laughter bubbling out as Pearl regained her footing. As the initial fluster wore off, Pearl dissolved into laughter too, joining Gem as they clutched each other, barely able to breathe from laughing so hard.

Nearby, Zedaph, who had been watching the antics, caught the infectious energy and made his way over to Impulse and Tango. With an excited grin, he pulled both of them into the middle of the room, determined to spark some more fun. “Come on, let’s show them what real moves look like!” he announced, though he stumbled over his own feet as he tried to keep up with the music. Impulse and Tango laughed and fell into rhythm, each moving to the beat with surprising coordination. Zedaph did his best to follow along, but his enthusiasm outpaced his skill, and he ended up fumbling through his steps, finally throwing his hands up in mock defeat.

“Alright, you two are way better than me!” he laughed, moving to the side to cheer them on. But Impulse and Tango were just getting started, trading grins before breaking into an all-out dance battle, each taking turns with dramatic spins, exaggerated hip thrusts, and silly poses. Tango dropped to the floor, breaking into a goofy breakdance move that sent everyone into hysterics, while Impulse responded with a series of smooth moves, topping it off with an exaggerated final pose.

Their friends gathered around, clapping and cheering as the duo showed off. Even Zedaph joined in with a playful attempt to ‘judge’ their moves, holding up an imaginary scorecard and declaring a draw between them.

Keralis, with an impressively detailed costume featuring tentacles sprouting from his back, each one moving with an eerie, lifelike fluidity, couldn’t help but smile as he watched the dance floor erupt in laughter and cheering. His costume was so convincing that several Hermits had done double-takes upon seeing him, wondering if he’d somehow gained actual tentacles overnight. Watching the others lose themselves in the fun, Keralis scanned the room until he spotted Xisuma standing by the sidelines, watching the chaos with a small smile but making no moves to join in.

“Come on.” Keralis called as he strolled over, his tentacles swaying with every step. “One little dance? Just a few moves?”

Xisuma chuckled, shaking his head as he held up his hands. “I think I’ll pass this time, Keralis,” he said, though his eyes held a twinkle of amusement. “I’m not sure I’m ready to join in on a dance battle against these experts.”

Keralis sighed in mock disappointment, dramatically clutching one of his tentacles to his chest. “Such a shame, my friend! But, if no dancing, then at least some pie, hmm?” With a playful wink, he turned and sauntered over to the refreshment table, selecting two generous slices of pumpkin pie, each topped with a dollop of whipped cream. He returned to Xisuma and handed him a slice before settling into the seat beside him.

They watched the others from their corner, laughing as Tango and Impulse’s dance battle continued to escalate, now drawing in other Hermits who cheered, clapped, and even joined in with small dance moves of their own. Every now and then, Keralis would nudge Xisuma, pointing out something funny, like Zedaph attempting a spin and nearly crashing into Cleo, Zed then pretended to be horrified, backing away dramatically.

“This is the best kind of chaos,” Keralis chuckled, savoring a bite of pie. “Halloween really brings out the wild side of everyone, doesn’t it?”

Xisuma nodded, enjoying the camaraderie and warmth of the room. “It really does. I think everyone looks forward to it all year,” he replied, glancing around at his friends, each so fully in the Halloween spirit. “And you—those tentacles are something else,” he added with an impressed laugh. “I’m not sure whether I should be complimenting your costume-making skills or asking where you found them.”

Keralis grinned, waggling a tentacle in response. “Ah, my secrets! But maybe someday, I’ll let you in on them.”

They both laughed, relaxing into their seats as they enjoyed the energy of the room, content to watch the festivities unfold from their cozy corner.

False, grinning mischievously, had made it her mission to startle as many Hermits as she could. Hiding behind tables, pillars, and decorations, she leaped out at unsuspecting friends, relishing every surprised reaction. Her first target was Scar, who had just turned around with a drink in hand. She jumped out with a loud "Boo!" and Scar, ever dramatic, stumbled back with an exaggerated gasp, nearly losing his balance. He let out a yelp, and Cub instinctively caught him, steadying him with a grin. The three of them burst into laughter, Scar clutching his chest in mock horror.

"False! You nearly made me spill my drink!" Scar chuckled, playfully swatting at her. She only responded with a playful wink, already searching for her next victim.

Spotting Joe and Cleo engaged in conversation nearby, she slipped behind a tall decoration and waited for the right moment. When she leapt out, Joe gave a surprised yelp, stumbling backward, but Cleo merely raised an eyebrow, stepping right up to False with a playful glare. She narrowed her eyes, her face mere inches from False’s, and gave a soft, challenging huff.

For a split second, False felt a flustered warmth creep up her cheeks. Cleo’s fierce expression caught her off guard, and she gave an awkward laugh, attempting to mask her own surprise. "Alright, alright, you got me," she admitted, but to break the tension, she gave Cleo a gentle push, nudging her back a step.

"Can’t scare me that easily," Cleo teased, her grin widening as she crossed her arms. As False turned to leave, she caught Joe stifling a laugh behind his hand.

“Guess False isn’t immune to a little scare either!” Joe quipped, giggling at False’s reaction.

False, still blushing slightly, tossed a playful glare back at them. "Just you wait, Joe! I’ll get you again when you least expect it!” she said, already scanning the room for her next target with renewed determination.

False had planned for a dramatic reaction, hoping to startle Grian and Mumbo for a good laugh, but she hadn’t anticipated just how startled Grian would actually be. The moment she jumped out, brandishing her harmless, prop knife with a playful shout, Mumbo had made a startled noise and stumbled back, but Grian's response was on a whole different level.

Grian's mango hit the floor with a soft thud as he let out a piercing shriek, stepping back with his wings suddenly flared wide in a panicked display. In his fear, he stumbled backward, falling onto the ground, his wings curling protectively around himself like a shield. False froze, her heart dropping as she watched him tremble. She quickly realized this wasn’t some dramatic, over-the-top reaction for fun. Grian was genuinely frightened.

Dropping her knife, False crouched beside him, reaching out gently. “Grian? It’s just me. Are you alright?” she said softly, her usual confidence replaced by genuine concern.

Grian peeked out from behind his wings, his eyes wide and unsteady, catching sight of her just inches away. His reaction was swift and instinctual; his talon shot out, brushing past her cheek with surprising speed. She didn’t flinch, but his claw managed to catch the edge of her headpiece, knocking the black-and-white bunny ears right off her head. They toppled to the floor, landing softly next to her.

At the sight of False’s now normal head, something shifted in Grian’s expression. His breathing slowed, and the fearful tension in his shoulders loosened, as if some unspoken reassurance had clicked into place. His wings relaxed, drawing back closer to his body, and he blinked, almost in confusion, as if he’d just snapped out of a nightmare.

False offered a small, comforting smile, keeping her voice low. “It’s okay, Grian. I didn’t mean to scare you that badly. I’m sorry—really.” She reached over, picking up his mango from the floor and gently placing it in his hand, hoping the small gesture would ground him a bit.

Grian took a shaky breath, gripping the fruit as he slowly met her gaze. “I—sorry, I didn’t mean to… react like that.” His voice was quieter than usual, almost embarrassed, as his wings folded back neatly. “Guess you just got me a little too good,” he added with a weak chuckle, though it was clear he was still trying to calm himself down.

False placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “No need to apologize, Grian. I didn’t realize… well, I didn’t mean to take it that far.” She smiled gently, picking up her bunny ears and placing them back on her head. “But, hey, maybe I’ll stick to scaring Mumbo next time. He’s a bit less… defensive.” She gave him a wink, hoping a touch of humor would ease the lingering tension.

Grian’s chuckle was a little more genuine this time, and he nodded. “Thanks, False,” he said softly, his fingers still holding tightly to the mango as he took a deep breath, visibly relaxing.

Where Tango and Impulse were dancing, Tango, caught up in the beat and excitement, managed to trip over his own feet, stumbling forward right into Impulse. The two tumbled to the floor in a heap, Impulse's chains clattering loose from his wings and scattering around them. They both looked at each other in surprise before breaking into uncontrollable laughter, the kind that made their sides ache.

“Sorry! Sorry!” Tango said, still chuckling as he scrambled to his feet. He bent down and picked up the metal chains, starting to reattach them to Impulse’s costume with exaggerated care. “Can’t have the fearsome chained dragon running around unchained, right?”

Impulse grinned, giving Tango a playful nudge as he helped him loop the chains back over his wings. "Just as long as you don’t knock me over again, I think we’ll be good.”

At that moment, Joe ambled over, holding a soda in one hand and adopting a serious expression as he flipped open an imaginary notebook. "Gentlemen! Care to comment on the recent incident of clumsiness during what seemed to be an otherwise coordinated dance battle?”

“Uh, no comment!” Tango said, putting on a mock-serious face as he tried to keep a straight expression.

“Is it true, Mr. Tek, that your choice of dance style led to this chaotic disruption?” Joe continued, raising an eyebrow in playful interrogation.

Before Tango or Impulse could answer, Cleo approached, carrying a slice of cake and watching Joe with a smirk. She tilted her head, leveling a mock glare at him. Joe froze mid-question, eyes wide, his entire body going still as he slowly lifted the soda up in front of him, as if using it as a shield.

“Oh no, the infamous Cleo glare!” Joe exclaimed, putting on an exaggeratedly horrified face as he held his position, pretending to turn to stone on the spot. He held the pose, keeping absolutely still as if he’d been petrified, until Cleo, with a satisfied smirk, turned on her heel and headed back to the snack table. With exaggerated caution, Joe ‘unfroze’ and hurried after her, clearly not willing to risk another round of her intimidating stare.

Tango and Impulse, watching the scene unfold, were nearly doubled over with laughter. "You gotta watch out for Cleo," Impulse whispered, nudging Tango. "One look from her, and you’re done for.”

Tango nodded, grinning. “Noted. I’ll try to avoid getting 'petrified' tonight.” They shared a laugh, glancing over to where Joe had rejoined Cleo, still looking slightly wary as she pretended to ignore him with an amused smile.

As the night wore on, the food dwindled down to a few stray slices of pie and some scattered candies. Those who were still awake began gathering leftovers into containers, chatting lazily as the exhaustion from the night’s festivities caught up with them. It was nearly five in the morning, and the energetic buzz from hours earlier had softened into sleepy smiles and stifled yawns.

Grian was the first to excuse himself, stretching as he picked up a small container filled with treats. “Alright, I think that’s my limit,” he said, offering a small wave to the others. “If I don’t head back now, my cats might think I’ve abandoned them.”

False chuckled, giving him a gentle nudge. “Right, can’t leave those fluffy troublemakers alone too long. Go get some rest!”

Grian nodded, his face softening with a sleepy smile. “Goodnight, everyone,” he mumbled, already looking half-asleep as he shuffled out the door, his wings drooping just slightly.

Not long after, Mumbo and Iskall decided to head out as well. Mumbo, who had taken out his fake vampire fangs about half an hour earlier, was nursing his sore gums. “I swear, they felt real enough,” he complained, holding up the fangs with a half-hearted grimace. “They even started cutting into my gums.”

Iskall laughed, clapping him on the shoulder. “That’s the beauty of them, Mumbo—feels like they’re real, even when they’re not. Though, I suppose they’re a bit of a pain when it’s this late.”

Mumbo rolled his eyes, but he was too tired to argue further, slipping the fake fangs into his pocket and waving to the remaining Hermits. “Goodnight, or… good morning, I guess,” he said with a chuckle, getting a few tired waves in return.

As they left, they passed by Tango and Zedaph, who were struggling to keep their eyes open as they packed up a few slices of pie and cookies. Tango glanced over at Mumbo, chuckling softly. “Guess we really partied till sunrise, huh?”

Mumbo gave him a thumbs-up, his eyelids drooping. “You know it. Hope you two had fun.”

“Oh, definitely,” Zedaph replied, smiling through a yawn.

Across the room, Cleo sat chatting with Joe and Stress, the three huddled around a nearly empty plate of snacks. Cleo, ever the night owl, looked as energized as if it were the middle of the day, her eyes bright with amusement as she recounted a story from earlier in the party. Joe and Stress, however, were both fighting off yawns, occasionally nodding in agreement with Cleo but clearly more focused on staying awake than the conversation. Joe had leaned back in his seat, trying to blink away his exhaustion, while Stress’ head was beginning to droop, her eyes fluttering closed mid-laugh.

Noticing Stress swaying, False came over, offering a soft chuckle as she placed a gentle hand on her friend’s shoulder. “I think it’s time to get you home,” she said quietly, carefully lifting Stress up into her arms with ease. Stress muttered a sleepy protest, but she quickly nestled into False’s arms, already drifting into a deep slumber.

“Night, everyone!” False called over her shoulder with a wave, managing to maneuver Stress toward the door as Cleo, Joe, and a few others waved back.

Meanwhile, across the room, Pearl had just opened and closed her moth wings, testing them as they shimmered in the dim light. One of her wings, however, stretched out a little too far and whacked Gem squarely in the face, causing her to stumble back in surprise.

“Careful there, Pearl!” Gem laughed, giving Pearl a playful punch on the arm. “Unless you’re trying to start a fight at dawn?”

Pearl giggled, her cheeks flushing slightly. “Sorry! These wings have a mind of their own, I swear.”

Gem rolled her eyes, still smiling as she adjusted her own costume. “Maybe they’re tired, too. Or maybe they just think you’ve got one last dance in you.”

Pearl smirked, suddenly grabbing Gem’s hands and giving her a little spin. The two stumbled and laughed as they swayed clumsily, both barely awake but too amused to stop.

"Anyway, I’d better be getting home." Pearl chuckled, giving Gem a gentle pat on the head. She turned to go, but Gem called after her, “Bye, Pearl! Thanks for the dance!” Pearl waved, already halfway to the door, and Gem grinned as she grabbed a cup of water, feeling the night finally catching up with her.

Across the room, Xisuma was making his way around, checking in with the Hermits as they said their goodbyes and began trickling out. He noticed Keralis by the door, a little less dressed-up than earlier, and walked over with a curious tilt of his head.

“Hey, where’d your costume go?” Xisuma asked, noting the absence of the elaborate tentacles that had once protruded from Keralis’s back.

Keralis flashed a mischievous grin. “Oh, they were too heavy to keep on this long. Had to take them off eventually, you know? But I made it most of the night with them!” He waved a hand dismissively, as if it were no big deal, but the sparkle in his eyes suggested he’d enjoyed the reactions they’d garnered.

Xisuma chuckled, glancing around the room. “Where’d you put them, anyway? I feel like they’d make a good addition to the Halloween storage for next year.”

Keralis raised an eyebrow, his smirk widening. “Wouldn’t you like to know?” he teased, patting Xisuma’s shoulder with a wink.

With a playful sigh, Xisuma rolled his eyes and pulled Keralis into a small, warm hug. “Alright, mystery man. I’ll let you keep your secrets. But next year, I’m holding you to another epic costume.”

Keralis laughed, nodding as he patted Xisuma’s back. “I wouldn’t dream of disappointing. See you later, X.”

“Later, Keralis,” Xisuma replied, giving a final wave as he watched his friend slip out the door.

As the night drew to a close, Xisuma took one last slow walk around the room, reflecting on the night’s festivities. The fog machines had mostly died down, leaving wisps of fog curling along the floor as if the room itself was gently exhaling after a long night. Leftover bits of candy wrappers and stray confetti were scattered across the floor, a small reminder of the laughter, dancing, and playful scares that had filled the hours before.

[rippleclan]

RippleClan: Moon 71

Rattlepelt went missing for a few days.

[Image ID: Mitespark, standing in the distance, calls, “Rattlepelt!” Rattlepelt faces away from her in the foreground. Under Rattlepelt, it says LEVEL UP! BLOODTHIRSTY -> THOUGHTFUL.]

Mitespark didn’t know her former mentor well. She knew a Rattlepelt, but not the Rattlepelt that now wandered through RippleClan. The first Rattlepelt had grown more angry, more paranoid as the moons passed, and only a group of kittens saw why. The new Rattlepelt was supposed to be the Rattlepelt the older RippleClan cats knew, the artisan who enthusiastically talked about her crafts and showed off songs and dances to kits. 

That Rattlepelt had yet to appear.

Instead, the Rattlepelt that now inhabited the furless gray molly had gone off to “collect weaving materials” four days prior and had yet to return to camp. Patrols scented her around the territory, so she hadn’t left. Yet no one could approach her. No one could find her, even if they wanted to. Spikecrash and Paleseed said to “give her space”, to let her process all that had unfolded.

Mitespark decided Rattlepelt had had enough space.

“Rattlepelt?” Mitespark called as she roamed RippleClan territory, searching for the furless molly’s scent. “Rattlepelt, where are you?” Birdsong was her only reply. Pollen clogged her nose and made her sneeze. The late spring blossoms sought to destroy Mitespark’s nose, even as they dazzled her with newfound life and color. The final moments of sunhigh dragged at Mitespark’s eyelids, but she forced herself to stay alert. She wasn’t going back to camp without her mentor!

“Rattlepelt!” she yowled once more. She held Rattlepelt’s name out, screeching until her throat burned. Birds startled and flew from the branches overhead. Mitespark coughed when her throat finally gave out. Now the forest gave no reply.

“Rattlepelt, please come home,” Mitespark begged, dropping her head. “Your mothers miss you. I want to get to know my real mentor.” 

Silence.

“No one is mad at you anymore! We understand you weren’t in control of yourself. The Shardling made you angry.”

Silence.

“No one knew the truth! We couldn’t have known you were possessed! We would have helped you sooner if we knew!”

Silence.

“I don’t know what to tell you! I don’t know how to help you!”

“Mitespark, please. Leave me be.” Rattlepelt’s voice came from the trees. Mitespark scanned the late spring leaves and buds for signs of gray skin. She couldn’t see her.

“RippleClan is worried about you!” Mitespark yowled, trotting along the trunks. “We just want you to come home. The kits are still staying in the apprentice’s den while we clean the nursery, but we’d get them back in sooner if you were there to help.”

“The kits don’t want to see me. I almost killed them.” Mitespark spun around. The voice was coming from the trees behind her, now.

“That was the Shardling, though.”

“Was it? Really?” There, in the short pine! Copper eyes watched Mitespark stumble through the trees. “The Shardling didn’t steal my body from me. I didn’t stop it from hurting people.”

“We forgive you.” Mitespark ran at the tree. She pounced on the trunk like a squirrel and launched herself into the lower branches. Rattlepelt sat on a branch tail-lengths above. Dirt scuffed the raw wound on her shoulder. Her skin looked red from the sun.

“I don’t,” Rattlepelt huffed. “I’ll come home when I’m ready.” She laid across her branch and rested her head away from Mitespark. Mitespark steadied herself. She jumped onto Rattlepelt’s branch, sending needles fluttering down. Rattlepelt turned her head further from her former apprentice.

“Your wound doesn’t look good,” Mitespark muttered. “Troutpool and Honeybuzz can clean it up for you.”

“They shouldn’t have to,” Rattlepelt said, ears lowering. “Weevilkit was right to give me this. Can you imagine how it feels to know you would have killed a kit had someone not stopped you?” 

“I can’t say I do,” Mitespark gulped, “but Rattlepelt… you don’t have to forgive yourself yet. We just want you to come home. We’re worried. Don’t the kits deserve to know who you really are?” Don’t I? 

Rattlepelt sighed deeply. Her tail tip twitched, dangling off the branch like a broken twig. She stared at nothing, thinking of everything.

“I won’t be pleasant company,” Rattlepelt sighed.

“You don’t have to be,” Mitespark promised, setting a paw on Rattlepelt’s back. “Just come home with me.”

And so she did.

(Mitespark: 13, female, artisan, charismatic, good mediator)

(Rattlepelt: 54, female, artisan, thoughtful, leather artist)

Lightningkit hides behind Cobaltkit… who hides behind Puddlewhisper.

[Image ID: Lightningkit stands behind Cobaltkit, who stands behind Puddlewhisper. Puddlewhisper calls, “Mollies?” Under Cobaltkit, it says + NEW SKILL: LOVES TO EAT. Under Lightningkit, it says + NEW SKILL: ALWAYS WANDERING.]

(Lightningkit: 1, female, kit, self-conscious, always wandering)

(Cobaltkit: 1, female, kit, quiet, loves to eat)

(Puddlewhisper: 37, trans female, codekeeper, righteous, natural intuition, ghost sense)

Clammask and Halibutdusk’s litter is the first apprenticed this moon; Potterypaw to Wildclaw, Moonpaw to Scaleripple, and Vervainpaw to Lemmy. 

Weevilpaw seeks to understand her semi-secret ability by training under Honeybuzz, getting decor from Troutpool as a gift. Ravenpaw will be an artisan under Mitespark with Silverpaw and Wolfpaw as codekeepers under Puddlewhisper and Waspdawn. 

Although their mother and brother are gone, Harvest’s kits become apprentices and life moves on. Halibutdusk mentors Anchovypaw, Elmsprout teaches Currentpaw, Rapidleaf guides Yarrowpaw, and Splashtuft teaches Billowpaw.

[Image ID: There are three images, each with a particular litter. They are all apprentices now, with Weevilpaw sporting petals in her fur. Under each cat is a LEVEL UP update discussing the changes to their stats, written below.]

(Potterypaw: 6, female, caretaker apprentice, insecure, loves to sing)

(Moonpaw: 6, female, warrior apprentice, faithful, quick to help)

(Vervainpaw: 6, female, codekeeper apprentice, ambitious, loves nature, quick to make peace)

(Weevilpaw: 6, female, cleric apprentice, adventurous, curious about StarClan)

(Ravenpaw: 6, female, artisan apprentice, nervous, picky nest builder, quick witted)

(Silverpaw: 6, female, codekeeper apprentice, strict, always asking questions, quick witted)

(Wolfpaw: 6, female, codekeeper apprentice, thoughtful, curious about StarClan, confident with words)

(Anchovypaw: 6, male, warrior apprentice, playful, curious about StarClan)

(Currentpaw: 6, male, caretaker apprentice, loving, constantly climbing, has lots of ideas)

(Yarrowpaw: 6, female, warrior apprentice, thoughtful, stares at fire)

(Billowpaw: 6, male, historian apprentice, thoughtful, active imagination)

[creative-heart]

hello ! i didn’t know that you were taking requests omg i would have spam you sooner. i don’t know if you have seen enzo’s last ig story in snow but ommmg if you could write a fluffy request based on that story

like reader wakes up and she doesn’t find him, she just found a little note that he went walking into the forest so she goes back to sleep and when she wakes up after, she opens her insta and found his ig story. immediately she tells him to come back in their apartment bc she’s terribly afraid he might get lost in the snow or catch a big cold

he’s like no never im strong and i survived lsdln lmfao but when he comes back even though he doesn’t want to admit it, he’s completely frozen and he starts to sneeze and he’s starting to be really sick so reader has to pamper him 🥺🥺 warm a hot bath for him, prepare a soup or a tea, put him in bed.

like i just imagine them being in bed after he supplied her to stay in bed and reader telling him next time stop playing enzo the snow king bc look at you right now baby you have fever and you’re hiding inside my sweater 😭 and him still doesn’t want to admit that he took a big risk for his health, being like « who told u i’m not faking being sick just to sleep under you pullover next to your/my 🍒 » 🤭🤭

okay my imagination might be too big lol

Lucia’s Notes: I love this request dear nonnie, because I feel like he’d be like a little boy when sick. I hope you enjoy this little drabble.

Content Warning: I don’t think there are any warnings, this is just fluff.

Word Count: 690

"Winter's warmth"| Enzo Vogrincic

You wake up when the lack of Enzo’s warm body against yours hits you like a ton of bricks and turn around looking for him curling more into the blankets to shield yourself from the cold of the outside world. As you look around you find a little note on his bedside table and grab it to read it “Morning honey, woke up early and decided to take a stroll around the woods, love you xo. En” You look out the window and see the clouded snowy picture burying yourself back into your blankets and going back to sleep.

An hour or so later, you finally open your eyes and grab your phone to start roaming all the social media and messages you might have missed. When you finally fall onto Instagram Enzo’s story is the first one up there, you click on it to see what your fugitive boyfriend’s been up to while you slept in. One look at his snow-covered hair is enough to make you shoot up on the bed sitting up hastily calling this crazy man you call yours. As soon as you hear the click on the line of the call being picked up you say “Enzo Vogrincic Roldan, what the fuck are you doing out there with this snowstorm!? You’re gonna get sick, you could get lost even!” the tone of your voice rising in alarm at the thought of your boyfriend wandering too far from the apartment you rented for your holiday and not being able to find his way back safely. 

You hear his low melodious lazy laugh on the other end of the call “Good morning to you too chiquita, don’t worry about it, I’m not far and I’ve figured out how to get back, and as to getting sick, I would never, I survived filming La sociedad, remember? I’m immune to cold” You roll your eyes at his stupid bravado “Don’t roll your eyes baby, I’m fine, I’ll be there soon with some pastries for breakfast, you get some coffee started, will you?” you sigh getting up “just come back love”. As you hang up you get up putting on one of his sweaters that are just lying around the room before heading to the kitchen smiling at the fireplace in the living room. Just as you’re pouring the mugs of hot coffee Enzo walks into the apartment ruffling the snow off his long raven-colored locks and trying to muffle a sneeze so you won’t hear it. You shoot around as he’s failed to conceal it from you. “I’m just fine babe, don’t look at me like that” Enzo retorts to your arched brow.

Later on that day you can see him shivering and sneezing more frequently and look at him “Ok, that’s it, you’re coming down with a cold love, I’ll draw you a warm bath and make you some tea with honey for when you get out” And he knows by the look on your face to better not argue it and nods softly “thank you love”. 

Once he’s out of the bath and you’re both cuddled in bed with your tea mugs as you play with his unruly locks absentmindedly you whisper “Now, could you stop playing Enzo king in the north and not go out in the snow next time? look how you’re feeling now, you have a fever, you’re even hiding in my sweater like a little kitten” you kiss his forehead to check if the paracetamol you gave him has started working yet. He shoots his face up to look at you, glossy eyes trying to look offended by what you said, “But I’m not sick baby, I just enjoy cuddling my girlfriend and snuggling away on my…sorry, your boobs”. You laugh at his silly statement and nod softly “I’m sure that’s it baby”. You keep playing with his hair seeing him slowly drift off to sleep as you admire his peaceful features tracing his nose lightly with your finger and smiling to yourself wondering how you ever got so lucky to get to share your life with a man such as this.

P.S: This was just adorable to write, I had the silliest smile on the whole time. I really hope you enjoyed it.

Taglist: @madame-fear @cyliarys-starlight @luceracastro @castawaycherry @lastflowrr @espinasrubi @koiibiito @candycanes19 @nperoconelcositoarriba @lxdyred @deepinsideyourbeing

[muffinsin]

could you write a fluff fic that’s bela x reader? just a silly fic where they’re baking and it goes wrong and they throw flour and eggs and have a silly food fight. love your writing btw!!

Absolutely, we’re in high need of some Bela fluff again XD I’m glad you like my work hon🙌 :) combining these two asks for a sweet little snippet!🙇‍♀️

Masterlists

You hum contentedly, eyes closing and your arms wrapping around Bela from behind. You rest your head on her back, and smile when you feel her relax against you. She sighs happily, then reaches out for a cookbook.

“Alright, we need two sugar spoons of honey!”, she declares, and giggles when you make no move to let go of her at all. Or to do anything, really.

“Come on, little one. Two sugar spoons of honey!”, she repeats, giggling at you. You only Hmpf at her, and whine about wanting her to do it herself. You’re simply too cozy now.

She groans at first, yet upon feeling you cuddle up closer against her, she can’t at all stay annoyed. Instead she reaches forwards and grabs what she needs, pours it into the bowl in front of her and turns the page of the cookbook again.

She can’t help but giggle when she feels you poke her neck, and eagerly leans in when she feels you pull her down a little and kiss her. She hums eagerly and closes her eyes in content.

“What’s next, darling?”, you hum, your fingers flitting over the pots and spoons, cups and plates Bela has set out for the two of you. They lay perfectly straight, not a single dare touches another. You’re tempted to tilt one, just to hear your girlfriend’s adorable, annoyed grunt and silent growl as she fixes it again.

“Flour, I think”, she replies, yet when her bare hand reaches for it, the bag suddenly bursts.

It seems, her nails were a little too sharp for the fragile paper holding the flour.

You can’t help but laugh and gasp in surprise. Your face is full of flour and your clothing is white with its powdery texture. Bela, however, took most of the powdery assault.

Her brows furrow when you laugh again upon looking at her. From head to toe, she has flour sticking to her. Her hood, once dark and bloody, now looks almost pale white. Her eyes are pressed shut, yet her entire face is white with the flour. It seems to tickle her nose, for she sneezes high pitched.

You nearly double over laughing when it causes the flour to shoot out her nose too.

“Sweetheart!”, you can’t help but cry out. She grumbles quietly when her dirty cheeks are cupped gently. You’re laughing so hard, tears form at your eyes already.

You can’t bring yourself to care about the mess left on the floor. And Bela? The sight is just too hilarious. She blushes and avoids your eyes when you brush the flour from her lips, and squeaks in surprise when you lean in to kiss her.

She hums, her eyes closing and her floury hands coming up to cup your cheeks in return.

You don’t notice her wandering hands, too occupied by the wonderful feeling of her soft and thick lips against yours. She hums, her eyes opening for a mere moment. Then, you cringe at the feeling of having some of the remaining flour poured down the back of your shirt.

It’s her turn to laugh, when you jump and squirm adorably, bend and whine trying to brush it all out again.

She shrieks in surprise when an egg comes flying her way. Unsurprisingly, she avoids being hit in the arm with it by sidestepping, and as she looks at you again, you smirk.

“You didn’t!”, she gasps dramatically, yet you see the sly, playful smirk forming on her lips already.

You have but a moment to fall to your knees to dodge the handful of flour being shot your way.

You giggle when she attempts to swarm to you, only to shriek and land back in the exact same spot, a shudder taking over her body and another sneeze being prompted by the flour tickling her nose.

You can’t help but tease her a little more as you discreetly reach for another egg from the carton.

“You need a bath, baby?”, you tease, a bright grin on your face only replaced by a shocked expression when you’re hit with another handful of flour.

She giggles, and shrieks when an egg hits her right at the stomach. Bela cringes at the feeling of it, and your eyes widen when she promptly grabs whatever seems to be in her reach.

You still laugh as you dodge more of the flour, and can’t help but yell when she finally makes use of the eggs too.

Adjusting her strength as to not hurt you, she throws those within her reach. Unsurprisingly, her shots are precise and effective.

Bela giggles as you cringe too, the wet, slimy feeling of the eggs trailing down your back and chest, your leg and left arm feeling foreign.

You go to raise your hand again, this time equipped with flour from the counter. Yet, for a moment, you lose track of her. Then, you feel a larger hand around yours, her fingers squeezing your wrist tight and making your fist fall open again.

You can only watch her in awe even as the flour falls onto your own head and whitens your hair.

She looks beautiful, even with an egg smearing her front and flour covering her nearly from head to toe. Her golden, beautiful eyes remain, strong and piercing.

Her lips, brushed clean by you, do too. You smile as she leans in, having caught the sight of yours too, and hum happily at her taste on your lips. Her lips feel soft and warm, and neither of you mind the boring taste of flour in your mouths.

Bonus:

“What about the cake?”, she worries, her eyes darting over the mess left on the floor and the two of you. She doubts the two of you will be able to bake just about anything without flour, and she outright refuses to use the spilled one!

You can’t help but grin at her.

A sweet, surprised gasp is pulled from your girlfriend when she suddenly feels your arms wrapping around her and cupping her ass.

You squeeze, your eyes meeting golden ones.

“I’ve got it”, you only answer with a sly smile

[shentheauthor]

Sick Wyrms (and Vessels)

Long post under the cut

What could possibly get a wyrm sick???

Well there’s a number of things: starvation, lack of sleep, basically most things that can fuck up a human. Wyrms are just VERY durable, so it’s hard to get them that way

There are natural pathogens, of course, but most can’t infect Wyrms. Their immune systems are crazy strong, since they consume countless parasites when they dig. They can fight off pretty much any disease

To truly get sick, Wyrms have to be very young, very old, or naturally weak

The Pale King is the third one lmao

His albinism gives him a lot of health problems, leaving him vulnerable to the few pathogens that CAN get Wyrms sick.

He sure isn’t going to get sick more than once every several decades, but he definitely can get sick

Fevers, delirium, aches, and since he has lungs, sneezing/coughing, are all on the table. So is vomiting, rip

PK will try to hide it as much as possible, shoving down all of his discomfort, or if he can’t, holing up in his study all day for “important business”

He’s the type to pretend everything is fine, even when he’s alone, because he’s a workaholic and he’s overcompensating for his natural weaknesses

Even after centuries away from other Wyrms, he still has this intense fear of being caught off guard by a competitor. He almost died several times when he was wandering, and it left him paranoid

He can be coaxed into resting by his wife, and her alone. She’s strong enough to protect him, even if her main power isn’t combat-related.

Now, what about the Vessels? (Note: my THK is named Vess, so I will be calling them that)

Vessels are an odd case, since many of them are incredibly weak for higher beings, too. It doesn’t help that most of them are already dead

Many vessels get sick easily. The void does a great job of getting rid of pathogens, but that doesn’t mean that chronic illnesses and pain won’t get them

It isn’t uncommon for vessels to spend days bedridden due to the pain and malaise caused by their semi-organic bodies trying to reject the void

Ghost was spared the pains and sickness, but they’re really fragile for a long time. They only gain strength because of items found in game, and eventually ascending to godhood, making them immune to all disease

Vess is not so lucky. They didn’t have chronic pain before, but they sure do now! The radiance fucked them up BAD.

Their immune system is practically nonexistent now, leaving them vulnerable to disease

They get sick a lot after the godhome ending. They’re not okay.

Another one who gets paranoid when they’re sick. If you even SAY the word sickness around them they start shaking, and don’t you dare sneak up on them unless you want your face to be speared by their horns

About Hornet:

Hornet is arguably the luckiest of PK’s children, because she’s pretty good at avoiding diseases

If she takes care of herself, that is

Which she doesn’t

She’s sick a lot too, but she can power through it. Herrah’s genes do a lot to help her immune system, so she can fight off the diseases that get her pretty quickly

She’s like PK, in that she refuses to show any vulnerability. If she’s sick, she gets super paranoid, and won’t even let her siblings touch her

She can actually get a wider range of diseases than most bugs, but her immune system can actually remember the pathogens, so she rarely gets the same bug (ha) twice

[howlingday]

ARC-THOLOGY

A collection of short Tragic Backstory (TM) tales requested by @noneatnonedotcom

Enjoy!

===============================

WHITE ROSE

Weiss and RWBY’s big day out! it's totally not an excuse for Weiss to buy ruby things she likes so she can make her smile.

Weiss: "I'm only doing this because there's things I want to get it's not like I'm doing it for you d-dolt"

Ruby: "SHE SAID THE LINE!!!"

..................................................................................

Weiss: I'm sorry, what?

Ruby: You said the line!

Weiss: What line? (Sneezes, Shivers) Am I the only one who feels really cold right now?

Yang: What? How's that possible? You're the Ice Queen.

Weiss: I'm aware of my nickname. What I'm not aware of is what Ruby is talking about.

Blake: The tsundere trope.

Weiss: The what?

Blake: The tsundere trope. A tsundere is a character who acts mean and aggressive towards others, yet has a secret desire for them that they keep hidden.

Weiss: (Rolls eyes) Oh, please. Besides, who would I tsundere at anyways?

Ruby: Well, there's me, and Yang, and Blake, and Jaune-

Weiss: No. No. No. And god no!

Ruby: Weiss! Don't be mean!

Yang: Yeah, wouldn't want ya to be too tsun-tsun, would we?

Weiss: WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN?!

Ruby/Yang: TSUN-TSUN! TSUN-TSUN!

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RENORA SUPPORTS KING ARC

..................................................................................

Jaune: Ah... Thanks for hanging out with us on the roof, guys. We really appreciate it.

Nora: Do you, though? We're not getting in the way of your make-out session, are we?

Mercury: Haha! Yeah, are we~?

Pyrrha: (Blushing, Covering her face)

Ren: It's the least we could do. Team RWBEY said they wanted to go out for a girl's night out with just their side of the team, so Nora and I thought we could do something similar with our side.

Jaune: Well, I still appreciate it.

Pyrrha: So do I.

Mercury: Even if we're interrupting your kissing time?

Pyrrha: (Glares at him) Watch it.

Nora: Besides, we're your whistles!

Ren: Vassals.

Nora: Vessels, yeah! Anything for our king.

Jaune: ...What if I wasn't the king? What if I really was who I said I was and I wasn't any kind of royalty. Would you still follow me as your leader?

Mercury: Absolutely not.

Pyrrha: (Growls)

Jaune: That makes sense. I'm nothing special.

Mercury: Heh, and that is why I wouldn't follow you. You're nothing special. Heck, Cinder wasn't either, but she still acted like it. You should really stop putting yourself down so much.

Ren: Especially when you've already done so much for the rest of us.

Jaune: What do you mean?

Ren: When Nora and I left our village, it was after a Grimm attack, and we wandered until we were picked up by an orphanage. We'd been stuck at the hip since then, and I would sometimes think about who I am without Nora. Since becoming part of your team, I feel like we've both grown into our own. Nora's found other friends she can hang around with, and I've spent a lot of time self-reflecting on who I am without her.

Mercury: And what would that be?

Ren: (Looks to Jaune) A brother.

Nora: Aw~!

Mercury: Ugh... This is way to sappy. Can we light a bonfire up here?

Pyrrha: On the roof? I don't think-

Nora: Ooh! Yeah! Let's show Team RWBY what they're missing out on!

Jaune: No, no, we shouldn- ACK! NORA! PUT THAT FIRE OUT RIGHT NOW!

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SALEM AND JAUNE

Jaune and Salem debate the nature of heroism.

Their core arguments are as follows

Salem: "at the end of the day a hero is someone who wishes for others to suffer without the grimm your entire way of life would vanish"

Jaune: "no, a hero is someone who helps. it could be against grimm but just as easily it could be natural disasters, human corruption, or the existential dread of living. the thing that marks a hero is their humility and willingness to try to make things better. a true hero is someone who sees a sacrifice must be made and chooses themselves to pay that price"

Who wins the debate? And what does salem want out of questioning our young hero?

..................................................................................

???: So, you are the one everyone is talking about?

Jaune: Huh? Who-

???: (Flickers into view) I have to say, I'm impressed by what you and Cinder were able to accomplish what James could not.

Jaune: Cinder? How do you know Cinder?

???: I know a lot of people, dear. But there aren't a lot of people who know me.

Jaune: Ugh... You're as bad as Ozpin.

???: So I've heard. I'll take it as a compliment this time.

Jaune: So, who are you, and what do you want from me?

???: I will answer your question, but only one of them. I'll allow you the choice.

Jaune: ...What do you want from me?

???: Smart. You really are as dangerous as they say, aren't you?

Jaune: That doesn't answer my question.

???: No, it doesn't. ...Very well. I have a question for you, oh "king of Vale".

Jaune: Ugh... No... I'm not-

???: I know you're not the king of Vale.

Jaune: I... You don't?

???: No. I knew the king of Vale, and he was twice the fool you were.

Jaune: Wait, but I thought the king of Vale died a long time ago.

???: He did. Much longer than almost everyone can remember.

Jaune: Almost everyone...

???: And now for my question for you. Are you a hero?

Jaune: What?

???: Are? You? A hero?

Jaune: I... I guess? I mean, that's what everybody else tells me. But I was just doing what I thought was right.

???: What you thought was right... And what of that one fool? That... Bull Faunus who attempted to murder your sister. I have no doubts he thought he was doing what he thought was right.

Jaune: That's not the same. Adam was a terrorist who wanted to hurt people that weren't involved in his cause. He was just looking for a hostage for an easy get away after putting people in danger with his terrorist attack.

???: And because he failed, that makes him the one in the wrong. Could it be that if you were the one who lost that day, that if you were the one imprisoned by the victors that you would be the one who was wrong, and he would be the hero.

Jaune: No, he wouldn't.

???: How can you be so sure?

Jaune: Because threatening children is obviously wrong! Adam Taurus almost murdered my sister, scarring her for life because he wanted to force an ideal that only he believes in!

???: And you believe this difference makes you a hero, and him the villain?

Jaune: What I believe is that everyone wants to throw stupid labels at me when all I want is to just live a normal life without people harassing and threatening my family and friends!

???: And the Wyvern threatened your family and friends, did it not?

Jaune: ...It would have.

???: So you killed it because it WOULD have threatened your family and friends?

Jaune: I-

???: So a hero is someone who slaughters his enemies for the sake of a potential threat to those closest to him. Is that right?

Jaune: ...

???: I will take your silence as-

Jaune: No. That's not what a hero is. A hero is someone who is willing to risk their life to protect someone or something that can't protect themselves, even if that someone or something isn't aware of what's threatening them. A hero acts to protect, not destroy for glory.

???: ...

???: (Fades away) How interesting...

Jaune: Wait, where did you-

Yang: Yo, Vomit Boy!

Jaune: Huh? Yang? Wait, where did she...

Yang: You done hanging out in that alley, or what?

Jaune: Hm... I'll be right there!

Salem: (In her castle, Watching Seer) Yes... How interesting indeed.

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CASTLE ON THE HILL

Turns out jaune inherited a castle. Like an actual freaking castle. Ozpin's been taking care of it and getting it ready for modern habitation oddly enough it was on the beacon property and left to him by the previous king Ozwald.

Ozpin: **sips coffee** "this should elveviate my bordom. dance puppets dance"

Glynda: "ozpin, did you let qrow spike your coffee again?

..................................................................................

Nora: Ren! Look! I'm queen of a real castle now~!

Ren: Nora! Get down from there!

Weiss: This castle is massive! It's even bigger than the mansion I grew up in!

Pyrrha: I think you're the only one in this group that can say that.

Ruby: Well, maybe not the only one. (Giggles, Points to Jaune)

Jaune: ...How many pitfalls does this make now?

Yang: I think that's the third one I managed to save your life from.

Jaune: Right. Glad to have you here, Yang. Without you, I surely would have fallen to my ten foot drop to certain death.

Yang: Hey, you never know. One fall could be your last one ever!

Jaune: ...I'm pretty sure Ruby survived bigger falls, but whatever. How much would renovating this cost?

Blake: (Tapping scroll) Considering current cost of construction contracts, and the amount of time it would take to plan, prepare, and execute a renovation, I'd say about five years and one hundred thousand lien.

Jaune: For this whole castle?!

Blake: No, of course not.

Jaune: Phew... For a second, I thought-

Blake: That's just for the central hall. Calculating the rest, it would take-

Jaune: Stop! Stop! I don't even know why Professor Ozpin even game me this stupid castle in the first place, especially since I have to be the one to foot the bill on all of it!

Nora: It's because you're the- WHOA!

Jaune: (Flinches at each crash)

Nora: (At the bottom of a pit) I'M OKAY~!

Yang: Well, it's gonna cost even more now.

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PURRHA

It's time for a DATE NIGHT! watch as we spin the wheel of romance and end up on.... Blake and Pyrrha? that's a rare pare oh but they're talking about Blake’s fanfics about jaune and Pyrrha, what's this Pyrrha’s been commissioning them? well at least they have fun.... where's jaune? (not pictured jaune training with Nora in the gym to get better at hugging)

..................................................................................

Blake: So, what else are you and Jaune-

Pyrrha: ATATATA! Pumpkin Pete and Patty!

Blake: Right. What else are "Pumpkin Pete and Patty" doing besides working on their fourteenth kid?

Pyrrha: It's only six children right now, and I was thinking maybe a romantic evening out at the lake.

Cardin: Hey.

Blake: Uh-huh, and how much smut are you wanting in this one?

Pyrrha: It's not smut, it's tasteful lemon.

Blake: Pyrrha, the last scene you had me write was Pumpkin Patty railing Pumpkin Pete on a hotel balcony, with him crying "Pyrrha! Pyrrha!" which you told me was rabbit for "my love."

Cardin: Excuse me.

Pyrrha: But that's-

Blake: And while she's pegging him, Pumpkin Patty is shouting "Jaune! Jaune!" which you insisted was rabbit for "my beloved." Listen, Pyrrha, I enjoy a good nsfw as much as the next girl, but I'm thinking you're not really understanding the amount of effort that goes into-

Cardin: Hey!

Pyrrha: (Turns) WE ARE TRYING TO DISCUSS IMPORTANT DETAILS, WINCHESTER! FUCK OFF!

Cardin: Er, sorry to interrupt your date, but uh... I just thought I'd let you know your boyfriend is gonna throw his back out if his partner keeps swapping weights.

Pyrrha: What are you- JAUNE?!

Jaune: NoRA! Are you SURE this will WOrk?

Nora: HAHAHA! I HAVE NO IDEA!

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WE’RE DOING A PRE-SEQUEL!

they're making a movie about jaune's life! they can't seem to decide on which version of his tragic backstory (tm) they wanna use though. walk us through each of RWBY’s and NPR’s versions of the story using a different genre for each character's narration.

(I find the idea of Weiss being a hopless romantic for jaune and Pyrrha really funny so Weiss’s should be a romance)

..................................................................................

Nora: Jaune, are you excited about the new movie coming out~?!

Jaune: What new movie? Ooh! Is it gonna have Spruce Willis in it?!

Nora: Mm... No, not that I saw. Why, do you think Spruce Willis could pull off a decent you?

Weiss: I think the bigger issue is a matter of physique. Spruce Willis is a man in his 40s, one who is both bald and physically peaked. Jaune... is Jaune.

Jaune: No offense taken...

Ruby: Spruce Willis probably wouldn't be that great for Jaune. Maybe someone more like... Spark M. Hill.

Weiss: Ruby, he's nearly sixty and his most prominent role now is as a voice actor.

Ruby: (Gasps) It's gonna be animated~?!

Meanwhile, at a meeting with the movie producers, or whoever it is that's creatively responsible for making movies.

"For the millionth and last time, it's not going to be animated!" Yelled a man in a designer T-shirt, featuring a special effects TV show character. "My vision includes real action with real explosions!"

"We don't have it in the budget for any kind of explosions." Calmly replied a man in glasses shifting his abacus to and fro. He didn't know how to use it. He just wanted an excuse to shift beads around like a toddler in a dentist's office. "We also can't afford a team of animators, either. They're almost as expendable as explosives."

"You mean expensive, right?" A woman in a business suit said. When met with silence, she returned to her coffee cup flap. She dressed way too formally for this meeting.

"Well, if we can't do action on such a high budget, how about a detective mystery?" Replied another woman, dressed not as formally with her leather jacket. "Jaune is supposed to be smart, right? Well, why not have him solve detective cases? Have him run around the city of Vale, scrounging for clues, only to realize he was the killer all along."

"...No. Just no."

"Alright, let's put it to a vote then." The man in the T-Shirt said, pulling free an empty water cup. "Maybe we can at least agree on something. Write what you want on this scrap of paper and then put it in the cup. Then I'l lask one of you to pull out a piece while looking the other direction."

The team did so and each wrote their choice and placed them into the cup. Once filled, the man in the T-Shirt rattled the cup around, then held it out to the formally dressed woman. Pulling out a strip of paper, they had their movie genre.

"Harem anime."

A silence fell over the room. One by one, everyone stood from their seats and left the room. Only the woman in the business suit remained, sitting in place as she stared at their movie choice. Looking up, she asked the empty room.

"What's a harem?"