#of the Pride Firemane

[fernrisulfr]

Theoren Firemane

My second attempt at a Cleric. I once again ended up with a dead Cleric. This time it was definitely my fault. He was a Leonine that spoke with a thick Scottish accent I’d practiced thoroughly, and he entered into the game playing Scotland the Brave. This was for a Curse of Strahd Campaign. Because these are characters I actually used, there are occasionally additional notes relevant to how the game played out. 

Theoren died at the hands of two Needle Blights, trying to save a party member’s adopted NPC. Forgot I’d taken Meta Magic as a feat and risked two op attacks to try and cast Spare the Dying. 

Theoren Firemane (Cleric 4 - Deceased)

Concept: Leonin - Cleric (Nature - Nobanion) Neutral/Good - Far Traveler

Pride From: Theros, then transported to Shining Plains (Faerun) Deity: Nobanion. (Less worship, more an "alliance" with his people).

Personalty Trait - - Determined - Prideful - Kind - Quick to act

Likes - - Meat - Nature - Rain

Dislikes - - Evil - People who break their word

Habits - - Cat Habits (including emotive tail) - Hand talker - Walking into a room first.

Misc - - Plagued by feelings of inadequacy. - Out to prove his worth.

Questions- - Have you seen any Leonine - Ask Silence about her God - Ask Holly what she thinks of Nature - Ask Reena what she thinks a god is. - Ask Luscius about Planar Magic - Ask Luscius about the Lanturn. -

- IMPORTANT: Theoren has realized the Annise Hag is the little girl. She almost died. This means that the conflict he kicked off almost killed the person he was trying to save because he didn't find out more information before hand.

Pride Notes: - Matriach is Speaker Gera Firemane - Pride has crossed worlds and planes multiple times since arriving in the Shining Plains, but has yet to find a clear path to Theros. - The Firemane Pride does not consist completely of Leonin, as they have allowed Tabaxi and Wemics that prove worthy to join them. - Clerics not chosen as Prideseekers maintain typical cleric duties. Training acolytes, teaching children, tending to the sick or injured, and helping out among the pride.

Backstory Used: Centuries ago, the Prides once supporting the Tyrant Archons were exiled to the plain of Oreskos in Theros. Yet this would not be the last time some of these prides would be cast out from their homes. For reasons unkown, a collection of smaller prides found themselves deposited in the world of Toril, in the Shining Plains of Faerun. Stranded in a land they did not know, the Leonin were forced to overcome their ancient distrust of other races and search of aid. They found it in the Wemics, and in the primal spirit Nobanion.

Once considered an outsider like them, the lesser deity did all he was able to help the Leonin establish themselves in this world. In time the prides developed an alliance with the Wemics, and with Nobanion himself. In honour of this, and of the Leonin's unification into a single pride, they took on the name Firemane.

From this alliance a new group was formed, one to pursue the desires of both sides. Known as the Prideseekers, they would go out into the world in search of a path back to Theros, and reach out to any Leonin they managed to locate. To aid them in this quest, each would receive the blessing of Nobanion himself, and in turn all he asked was that they aid anyone they could along the way.

Every few years the pride's Matriach, the Speaker, would select a handful of clerics to go out into the world as Prideseekers. Theoren is one such cleric; or at least he had long wanted to be. After completing his training and being ordained, he was certain it would not be long before he was chosen for this honor. Yet it never came. Over a decade passed, and not once was he among those selected. Theoren was not the strongest among them, nor the smartest or most nimble; but he was capable! They let Gaulbriel go! Gaulbriel! And he didn't even come back! May his soul rest in the golden fields, but many could have seen that coming! So why was he left behind?

One evening in particular, Theoren decide he'd had enough. Gathering the equipment he used for training, and what little he owned, the Leonin departed in the dead of night. As he left a warmth built in his chest, filling him with a surge of courage and vigor. Nobanion had given his blessing; clearly that meant he was on the right path. Clearly...else the Diety was trying to save him from his own foolishness...

When Theoren received word from Chillgrave Fortress, it took little convincing. In many ways the order and their cause seemed ideal. He could defend others from that which lurked in the dark, all while searching for other Leonin out on the frontier and beyond. Perhaps investigating the mist would even yield clues on how to reach Theros; or at least another world with it's own hints to the path home.  

Appearance: 6′7, 300 lbs, Gold Eyes. His fur and mane were a cream colour. Like that sort of cream where if you rub it the wrong way it looks flecked with brown. He had a scar over the bridge of his snout. He wore bronze scale mail, and an emerald green cloak. For weapons he had a braided quarterstaff and a shield. 

A member of the party was an artist, and I was going to commission her to draw him, but while we were working things out (and I got a little ahead of myself which is my fault) Theoren perished so we cancelled. These were some of the reference images I was using. 

[msmc-796-official]

Correspondences from Pilot NET #2

[BEGIN CHATLOG]

C0ns1d3r1tW0n: Hello? Who is this, and how did you find our private server information?

calibanhammer: Greetings, Linchpin. This is callsign Lockbreaker, from the 796th Detachment. I apologize for not using the official channels to contact you, but as this job offer isn't an officially-sanctioned deployment, I had to use your backdoor. May I have a word with your commander, if they're online?

C0ns1d3r1tW0n: Oh, shit, you're with the PR squad? Yeah, of course, gimme ten seconds, I'll tell 'em to log on. Forgive my hostility, I didn't recognize your username - Angel never mentioned you were one of her squadmates.

calibanhammer: It's a fact I try not to advertise. Given my history prior to joining MSMC, it's probably not a wise decision for someone like me to be known as a spokesperson for a rival corporation.

C0ns1d3r1tW0n: No, no, I getcha. You were with the Armory before MSMC, yeah?

calibanhammer: Yes. Briefly. It is a time in my life I much regret.

C0ns1d3r1tW0n: Ouch. Sorry to hear it. Oh, there he is - here's squad commander Halogen for ya. I'll log off and give you two some privacy. Pleasure speaking with ya, Kennedi.

[USER "C0ns1d3r1tW0n" OFFLINE]

[USER "URBN-NYTLYF" ONLINE]

URBN-NYTLYF: And to whom do I owe the pleasure of a visit from "Heaven's PR Team"?

calibanhammer: This is callsign Lockbreaker speaking. But please, call me Kennedi. The 796th requires your squad's services.

URBN-NYTLYF: Is that so? And why, pray tell, couldn't you go to any of the higher-ups for these "services"?

calibanhammer: This mission is of a more... personal nature, I'm afraid. Requesting this as a sanctioned deployment would only paint a target on the back of MSMC. Discreet measures were a necessity.

URBN-NYTLYF: Interesting. Consider me sufficiently intrigued; what do you need us for, Kennedi?

calibanhammer: There's an AGNI-class NHP currently housed inside a "Worldkiller" Genghis Mk. 1 which we suspect to be the cause of a recent rogue NHP cascade over at Harrison. The offending NHP (a THOR-class, I believe) has since been contained by HA's PR Intern, but the AGNI (if indeed responsible for the cascade, as it claims to be) has yet to be apprehended.

URBN-NYTLYF: An AGNI in a Worldkiller? My goodness, Kennedi, you spoil us. Prowl will be thrilled to test his newest virus suite. Do you simply want it neutralized, or are we authorized to kill?

calibanhammer: Neutralized is preferable, but there's a catch.

URBN-NYTLYF: Oh?

calibanhammer: To my knowledge, this AGNI is under the protection of the KTB, and claims to live in a mansion sufficiently sized to house its frame within their territories. I'll warn you now: expect more resistance than just the Genghis, whichever approach you choose.

URBN-NYTLYF: Oh, I see. Worried about upsetting the Baronies, are we, Colonial Legionnaire?

calibanhammer: Please. I've already been called a "corpo bootlicker" by the offending AGNI once today, Halogen. I don't need any further reminders of my previous affiliations.

URBN-NYTLYF: You really are no fun, you know that? But no matter. Consider the 148th Detachment willing and able to fulfill this "special request". I'll inform my squadmates shortly.

calibanhammer: Excellent. Thank you for humoring me, Halogen - I'd have gone to someone else, but your squad is well known for its ability to deal with hostile Genghis and Tokugawa frames, despite its... let's say glaring eccentricities, and not using your talents felt like a waste. We'll discuss matters of compensation after.

URBN-NYTLYF: Naturally. Take care now, Lockbreaker. Oh, and do send the rest of your squad our regards for me - we so seldom get to cross paths with the 796th, you know.

calibanhammer: I'll pass the greetings onwards. Farewell.

[END CHATLOG]

[defiant-firefly]

Okay so I’ve been back from Pride for a few hours now and. I’m calling it now, my voice is not gonna work tomorrow lmao I was talking to so many people for so long it was great

Like, the show was great, the acts were a bit hit and miss but honestly I feel kinda bad for some of them given how awful the wind has been but you know, they did great all things considered. It really was fuckin’ wimdy like maaaan. Loads of such nice people to talk to, and the companies that sponsored it literally did not pull punches like I know we talk about companies being performative or whatever but like. They did not half ass this holy shit?? They even made the fuckin’ lawnmowers gay whadda hell?? Oh and some of these people had the best rainbow hats like they had felt rainbow cowboy hats and fedoras, and then dresses of mixed flags, and flag capes and shit it was so fuckin’ cool.

And you know what? Everything was so fuckin’ cheap???? In a world where everything is so stupid expensive I got ten sugar donuts for £3 which is honestly ridiculous. Burgers and shit were the same and they were huge??? I only had the donuts there were too many there for me so I went around some of the cool stall holders I’d spoke to and got them to take a few from me they were so good. Speaking of stall holders, my old PE teacher from school was one???? For one of the charities there???? She was a fun teacher but I swear it was like Perry the fucking Platypus. She took her sunglasses off and suddenly I knew exactly who she was as if we hadn’t been talking for a few minutes already and then she immediately clocked onto who I was and it was just crazy that is the last place I expected to see her and the last person I expected to see at Pride of all things. She gave me free flowers because I kept losing on the tombola lmao

But yeah for reals everything was so cheap and often straight up free like I feel like I robbed some of these people what. And you know what? Two of the stalls sold phone charms despite modern phones not having a thing for those anymore. Not a problem for me though, I use an MP3 Player still and let me tell you... the audible gasp I got when I pulled it out of my pocket like ‘oh will it work on this?’. Guys people love the MP3 player apparently. Old tech for the win.

I’d say babys first Pride Event was a success that was great. Happy Pride Season and happy first day of Disability Pride month!

[clairintr]

Bisexual Pride Icon cuz it's why not because June right now

[prettyboypistol]

Yo, cis guy here, I've always felt a lot of shame about being super gay for the tf2 men, because it made me feel like less of a man. You reckon I could possibly get a scout or engie x reader when theyre calling the reader handsome, pretty boy, big man, and lots of masculine petnames? Smut or fluff or ignoring this is fine

I really like your work dude 😁

fellow cis guy here- I totally get it man. i'm glad that other guys like me enjoy my work. I also struggled with my attraction to men and fictional men were (and still are) my escape from homophobia and biphobia. Stay safe, you're valid.

TF2 Mercs With a Masculine!Male Reader

Scout

He loves squeezing your muscles and feeling your abs, totally not thinking of you as a goal for himself!

Nicknames include: Big man, big boy, sweet cheeks, hot shot/stuff, bossman, stud, etc.

likes the feeling of your facial hair when you kiss him- it tickle/scratches him in the best way!

Soldier

Thinks of you as the best man in the unit of RED! You're an exemplary man with gusto and power to spare! Solly fell for you when he caught you on a morning run "to keep yourself fit". That dedication got his heart skipping!

Nicknames include: Soldier, pride, the unit's pride and joy, big man

arm. wrestling. as. flirting., sparring. as. flirting. honestly anything that gets him up close and personal to you

Pyro

Hold onto you like a damsel in distress and loves how protective you are over them. As much as Pyro would and has protected you from enemy Spies, they like depending on someone who can hold their own.

nicknames include: My fire, firefly, my fireman, big boy, handsome

They love how you treat them like "just another one of the boys" rather than "the creature"- it really hurts their feelings when they're excluded due to how they cope with life.

Engineer

God he couldn't have asked for a better assistant. You grab heaps of metal for him, toolboxes, and sentries you can pick up with both hands and carry over to him!

Nicknames include: Hoss, handsome, big man, sir, boss

loves watching you work out while he works on his bench (sometimes even being your bench weight)

Demoman

He treats you like how he'd treat any partner of his, no changes. Demo's kind, loving, tender, but would let you fend for yourself to not baby you.

Nicknames include: dear, darlin', lovely, loverboy, handsome, best-shag-of-my-life

loves cuddling up to you and just burying his face in your muscles- but when he's not sleepy he is constantly hooting and hollering about how awesome his boyfriend is.

Heavy

a lot more friendly about his romance, treating you more like a best friend than a romantic partner in public mainly due to his anxiety about "being caught"

nicknames include(mostly in russian): lover, love, handsome man, hero, heart

he loves kissing your strong hands and sliding his hands over your muscles, it assures him that you're strong enough to take care of yourself, and that eases his worries.

Sniper

god this is a useless gay man. he sees you crush a bonk can and his heart skips a beat. you take off your shirt and he's speechless. you make him unprofessional and it ruins him internally.

nicknames include: Hotstuff, love, mate, darling, chickadee, big bugger, bear

he likes asking you to carry his stuff, complaining about his aching arms (totally not to watch you carry his things!!!)

Medic

ooooh god this man is a HOMOSEXUAL for you. on GOD.

nicknames include: honeybear, my love, my heart, my magnum opus, big man, beast

can, has, and will continue to flirt with you on the battlefield, no matter who sees him do it. If anyone gives you shit for being gay, he's instantly at your side and ready to beat them down with you

Spy

i mean... if you have a degradation kink go ahead i guess? he treats you like a bodyguard in public and is cold and callous in other's eyes. they think he hates you. In private however he is all over you. kissing, holding, embracing, etc., whispering sweet nothings in your ears.

nicknames include: my sweet love, my man, my handsome, big beauty, sweetness

although he seems uncaring in public, anyone who disrespects you gets backstabbed as "target practice" later when they least expect it.

[wannaeatramyeon]

do not know if youre accepting requests rn but i keep thinking abt james lee carrying us w/ one arm😍😍😍😍

Gotta be honest, I had no idea what this carrying with one arm was until I googled it!

James Lee/DG x Reader: One arm

G/N. Pre DG. Fluff.

"What?" James lifts up his head from his school desk to find you hovering over him, hand on your hips and face full of challenge.

"Carry me with one arm."

"No."

"Why? Is it because you're weak?"

.

.

"Not like this!"

"I'm doing it, aren't I?" comes his voice from somewhere behind you. "I'm not using anything."

He's not wrong. Having heaved you over his shoulder in a fireman's lift, and now leaving you to balance precariously while he stands with one hand in his pocket, and the other twirling the lollipop in his mouth.

You can't see his face but you know for certain he is looking unbearably smug.

.

.

"Put me down!"

Talk about manhandling. James grabbed you with one hand, curling it around your waist and lifting you effortlessly until you're left parallel with the ground. You're tucked snug under his armpit and into his side like you weighed hardly anything.

Like an exasperated parent with an errant baby. This is not the vibe you were going for.

"Fine."

"W-wait!"

The fall was no more than a few feet. It hurts your pride way more than your body.

You slap the lollipop out of his hand as payback.

James just pulls a fresh one from his pocket.

.

.

"Damn, you really are strong."

"I know." James flashes you a smirk, lollipop poking between his fangs.

He gives you a small bounce, adjusting his arm beneath you, hand lightly gripping your thigh. You tip off-balance, ever so slightly, and throw your own arms around his neck for support.

This. This is what you wanted.

"I know what you're doing." His voice is completely flat except the glimmer in his eyes gives away his fondness for you.

"And?" Well if James knows, then you make no secret of your next move, snuggling up close to him and feeling his huff of laughter on your cheek.

He eases, a little. Not familiar with gentle touches, not familiar with this forwardness. It's not what he's used to, but it's not not nice. Maybe he can get used to it.

"And nothing."

[growingstories]

Fireman

Once upon a time in, the bustling city of Firewood, there lived a handsome very tall and fireman named Eric. With his chiseled jawline, piercing blue eyes, and muscular frame, he had always been the object of admiration for his fellow firefighters and the ladies of Firewood. Eric prided himself on his physical fitness and found solace in his high-intensity workouts.

However, life took an unexpected turn for Eric when he began dating his girlfriend, Sarah. Sarah had a weakness for big men and enjoyed cooking hearty meals. As their relationship progressed, Sarah's portions gradually grew larger, catering to Eric's desire to put on weight. Initially, Eric embraced this change, believing it would enhance his masculine appeal.

In an effort to balance his newfound appetite, Eric increased his workout routines, desperately trying to build muscle while cutting down on the inevitable fat accumulation. But his body seemed to have a different plan, as the stubborn fat refused to dissipate, even with his rigorous exercises.

To make matters worse, Eric's fire department welcomed some new colleagues, bringing along their culinary skills. Unknown to Eric, these new firefighters were renowned for their indulgent cooking. Each shift brought mouthwatering dishes with hearty portions that Eric found irresistible. He couldn't resist the temptation indul andged in these culinary delights.

As the months passed, Eric's weight began skyrocket to. He could barely fit into his fireman uniform, and his peers started noticing his increasing waistline. Frustration consumed him as he struggled to pass the physical fitness tests required for his job. Eric felt trapped, unable to break free from the cycle of overeating and his sedentary office job.

Determined to regain control of his life, Eric reluctantly accepted a desk job at the fire department headquarters. This decision, though necessary, had adverse effects on Eric's physical well-being. The monotonous office routine left him feeling unfulfilled and dissatisfied. Seeking solace, he turned to the comfort of food once again, finding temporary happiness in each bite.

The combination of Sarah's, cooking his colleagues' culinary expertise, and the long office hours led Eric to a point of no return. Every night, Eric and Sarah would curl up on the sofa, with a pint of Ben & Jerry's ice cream, and engage in passionate lovemaking. The food and sex became intertwined in a never-ending loop of pleasure and indulgence.

Months went by, and Eric's expanding waistline matched his growing appetite. His once muscular frame was now concealed beneath layers of fat, making it almost impossible for him to find clothing that fit. The fitness tests were a distant memory, as even the simplest physical tasks became insurmountable challenges.

Despite the limitations his weight imposed on him, Eric continued to indulge in food. The frustration of his growing size seemed to be overshadowed by the pleasure he derived from his new office job, combined with the joy of devouring copious amounts of food. His lunch and dinner consisted of supersized portions, followed by a late-night rendezvous with Ben & Jerry's and his girlfriend.

Eric's transformation did not go unnoticed, and he was eventually promoted to safety adviser at the headquarters. His new role only contributed to his sedentary lifestyle, as he spent most of his time sitting behind a desk, basking in the warmth of his office routine.

Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. Eric's weight showed no sign of stopping its relentless climb. His once athletic body had been replaced by an immense, round form that seemed to fill every space he occupied.

But Eric found solace in his seemingly never-ending cycle of indulgence. He reveled in the pleasures that life offered him, finding pleasure in his big lunches, oversized dinners, irresistible ice cream, and the passionate lovemaking that followed. His love for life overshadowed any concerns about his health or appearance.

And so, Eric lived each day, embracing the path he had chosen. In his mind, there was no stopping the pleasure he derived from his newfound routine. The road to self-restraint seemed distant, as he surrendered himself to the pleasures of food, sex, and sleep.

In the end, Eric had created his own world, a world where he found immense happiness in his gluttonous habits. His journey was a testament to the power of indulgence and the allure of a life driven by pleasure.

[haveyouseenthisskeleton]

https://www.tumblr.com/haveyouseenthisskeleton/752192652944048128/so-brought-skeleton-to-a-pride-parade?source=share

Can we please have this with the UT cast?

Sans and Papyrus are on the original ask!

Undertale Toriel - She's not too sure how she ended there, but now she is kinda stuck in the middle of the crowd so she guesses she's a part of it now? She's more concerned about all these young people walking in the street topless. Don't you know it's still cold outside? You're all going to be sick! What if it rains? She learns a lot of things about nonbinary people though and keeps taking notes to report to Frisk as soon as she gets home :')

Undertale Asgore - He just had a bunch of rainbow flowers in front of his shop and somehow now his shop is invaded by young people who kept congratulating him for some reason and he has no flowers anymore after an hour. He's a bit in shock and confused, but, eh, at least his business is working! He's still not sure what happened though.

Undertale Undyne - She's having fun, both proudly representing lesbians and scaring the shit out of any queerphobe guy too close to her. She has Alphys on her shoulders the whole time and even takes breaks to get out of the crowd when her lizard wife is too overwhelmed.

Undertale Alphys - So many people... She's holding for dear life to Undyne, but slowly relaxes as the day goes on, as Undyne makes sure to let her breathe from time to time when she's too overwhelmed. Eventually, Alphys even starts talking to some people and finds another lesbian scientist and they end the day talking excitingly about nerd things while their girlfriends sympathize.

Undertale Frisk - They're both here to represent genderless people and queer monsters! Frisk has to do a lot of speeches during the day. They're the one everyone sends when journalists ask too many questions as Frisk is trained to answer most of them. Frisk is excited they can help their way and make things move because they're a little bit of a celebrity now.

Undertale Chara - They're following Frisk around, being the second prince(ss) of Monsterkind but Chara refuses all interactions with other humans. They clearly stated they're here to support monsters during pride month, not the others. They're hissing at every journalist or giving death glare, letting Frisk handle everything.

Undertale Mettaton - He's an official guest of the pride and he's performing all day to support his fellow queer people. He's having fun, everyone is calling him a trans icon and he could never get bored of all the attention.

Undertale Gaster - What... What's going on? He wanted to go to the grocery stores. And now he's in the middle of a crowd. With his groceries. And people are drawing random flags on his bones? And somehow he's too confused to say no? Gaster is completely lost. Can he go home now?

Undertale Grillby - He's making sure everyone stays hydrated and well-fed. He cooked a lot for the pride and he has his own Grillby's float where everyone can come and buy food during the walk. He's also watching his niece, walking with the lesbians like 10 meters in front of him. He's multitasking!

Undertale Muffet - She's mad because Grillby has a float and hers got refused. So she's selling her pastries at the foot of Grillby's float, trying to steal his clients lol. Sure, all that she sells technically goes to the same association Grillby's sales are going, but still! She will sell more than him! Her ego can't take it!

Undertale Burgerpants - He's hiding from Mettaton in Grillby's float, making himself busy by helping the fireman because he can't stand the idea of staying an entire day next to Mettaton. It's not that bad though. He keeps flirting with gay people so he's having fun! At least until he flirted too much with a guy already married and got chased by the husband across the entire parade.

Undertale Flowey - Well he can't really participate since, you know, he has no legs. So he's insulting homophobes from the window. He even throws himself from the balcony after he saw someone insult Chara and then he bit their ankles like an enraged chihuahua.

Undertale Gerson - He's only there to show all these stupid Karen that old boomers understand what being queer means and that they have no excuse to be queerphobic. He painted his shell with flags so he's visible from far away!

[a-dumb-sarcastic-bisexual]

These Nimona headcanons are dedicated to the people who keep asking me how I come up with them (short answer: I have no fucking clue)

While Ambrosius is the one to keep the house clean Bal is the only reason their schedules are even somewhat put together 

This man has multiple calendars one physical calendar in their living room

A digital one for just him that’s dedicated to things that he knows the duo would be bored by 

And a digital calendar for the trio themselves which is his pride and fucking joy 

His baby a digital miracle and what he genuinely considers to be his magnum opus 

Because Ambrosius and Nimona are the hardest people to organize schedules with

Every conversation with them would go something like this “Hey what are you doing next week” “Oh I’m going to work” “Okay do you know what time you have to head in” *shrugs* “Do you know if you have days off” *shrugs again* “do you even know what days you’re going in” *shrugs one last time*

And then Bal would have to walk away because he was really to commit a crime 

No one knows how he actually got their schedules 

Nimona doesn’t know how Bal scheduled plans for them when he didn’t have their friend's contact info

It scares Ambrosius how Bal’s able to fit is incredibly hectic days in nice neat color coordinated boxes 

The duo doesn’t ask questions and they don’t fuck with the schedule 

They just follow it cause it’s always right 

Which is kind of horrifying 

There is one chore in the house that not even the resident clean freak (my baby golden boy) likes 

And that’s washing the dishes 

Not a singular person in that house will ever do the dishes without complaining even a little bit 

They always take turns and it’s always a lose-lose situation 

Because even though there’s this feeling of “dodged that bullet today” they’re also a little guilty because they know the person doing it hates it just as much 

They bought dish gloves because that slightly helped the problem 

But those things tear like it’s no one’s business which is the fucking worst 

One time Bal walked into the kitchen to see Ambrosius crying over the dishes 

He asked what’s wrong and all he had to say was “glove” 

And Bal knew what he meant because Ambrosius swears that having wet rubber rub up against your skin is almost as bad as touching the bare dishes 

Every time Ambrosius or Bal have to leave for more than a couple of days the other will joke that they're a single father 

Anytime someone checks in on them they’ll say something like “The life of a single parent is hard but fulfilling” 

This basically just translates to them missing their spouse so could someone please bring them back as soon as possible 

Nimona always jokes they’re a child of divorce when the boys make that joke 

The jokes range from “Being a child of divorce is so stressful” to “Good riddance I never liked him anyway” 

Mind you those remarks come after Nimona hung off their legs as they walked out the door 

One time when Bal went on a solo trip Nimona asked Ambrosius to go to the park with him 

He didn’t question it just packed up the car and drove them to the nearest park

And he swears he only took his eyes off Nimona for a minute and when he turned back around he saw a group of sad-looking kids and adults crowding around a kid 

And he instantly knew where he went 

He watched in horror as Nimona pointed up to the sky and said “Dad!” a mom asked with a sad voice “Is your dad a pilot sweety?” to which Nimona responded with “No but Papa says he’s in the sky somewhere which is why he never visits” 

He just scooped her up apologizing while making a run for the car 

A lot of parents were very concerned about why the kingdom’s golden boy just snatched a random child they’d never seen before and will never see again

And they genuinely debate on calling the knights while Ambrosius fireman carries this cackling child away

They do and Ambrosius has to have a very awkward conversation with his old coworkers

[kharmii]

I've got to write an appreciation post of my new favorite thing. I recently watched Black Clover E.138 'In Zara's Footsteps' which was a Zora Ideale themed episode that made me love him more.

-So it starts out a flashback into Zora's childhood. His now deceased father gets a sprig of white gladiolus from a meek flower seller who gives them away for free because Zara is his hero. He tells his equally meek son that he was partial to the fragrance of those particular flowers.

Fast forward to the present. Zora is lounging seductively in a tree dressed like a dirty whore. He looks somewhat like Zagred and eerily like a zoroark gijinka from pokemon. (HAHAHAHA...don't go there in that fandom, yeesh...)

He says sarcastically, "Yeah.....like I have time for crap like that... I don't need to train with them. I didn't join the Black Bulls to make new friends and play around."

(The teeth look real, and his jaw looks unhinged. There's some not spoken of f-up somewhere in this design)

He goes off on a solo trip to really put his nose to the grindstone. They have to fight wars with demons and sheeit, so he has to really focus on his training. He dons a full-body-covering nondescript robe to cover his tiddies so random creepos with freaky tastes don't flash cash at him again. Zora is actually a sensitive introvert, so he doesn't appreciate that sort of attention. For some odd reason, he decided to put some unnecessary accessory on his robe that looks vaguely like a collar and leash. Whatever dude.....

This comes on the heels of the Gordon themed episode. Gordon is a freaky soft-spoken guy who can't handle being alone. He needs the constant company and emotional support of his friends. Zora, otoh, claims he doesn't need friends. He probably doesn't mean that 100%, but he's the type of person who thrives on solitude and needs a lot of alone time to recharge his social batteries.

Zora stops at his village to visit his dad's grave and leave his favorite flowers. Viewer sees a lot of good shots of his sad tired looking eyes and can tell his flippant and douchey manner of speech is hiding a deep sadness and weariness.

He's surprised to find out someone else already left those same flowers recently, and he talks about how his dad was the pride of their village because he was the first commoner to become a magic knight. Now there are more of them, thanks to Yami, but back then, it was unheard of.

Walking through a forest, he happens on some kid training fairly decent water magic without a grimoire. He says, "This kid's got potential. Well, good luck with that..." and prepares to walk away unseen, but the kid gets accosted by some visiting nobility.

Zora ends up chasing them off with a stink bug, but the kid gets a parting shot at them. Zora admonishes him for going against three guys. The kid's dad shows up and asks him why he looks upset. At no point does he assume the freaky looking guy with sharp teeth and tattered robe might be the cause. Good thing, because he would have been wrong. Zora doesn't scare the children.

The kid rants about how he wishes he had a different family that wasn't poor, and how he wished his dad was more like Zara so he could train to be a magic knight. Zora is perturbed, but the dad says he's right and starts denigrating their family for the hard times they were going through.

Zora wordlessly picks the child up and hauls him off in a fireman's carry while the dad is in no way panicked. Zora must have that sort of presence. He dumps the kid in front of his dad's grave and tells him to call him, "Awesome Mask Guy" and he will call him "Snot-nosed Shrimp". He talks about how his dad never complained about anything and never had a harsh word to say about anybody. The kid expresses resentment that he is aiming too high.

The sentiment brings back a memory of when more normal looking Child Zora told his dad he was aiming too high because commoners couldn't become Magic Knights. His dad kept trying over and over and failing. The dad replied that he may have failed the Magic Knights exam more times than he can remember, but he didn't think he set his sights on something unachievable. He only tells him he will join the magic knights someday because he honestly believes it will happen one day. -And it eventually did happen.

-So he tells the kid that if he told the other kids who accosted him that he would be a magic knight someday with a straight face, then he must believe he can do it. If that was the case, then he wasn't aiming too high. He said his dad used to talk like that too.

Zora shows the kid the doll his dad gave him, and the kid starts ripping on him asking if the doll is supposed to be him? Zora replies that the doll is Zora the Supermage the Mysterious Herald of Justice. He may talk a lot of smack but he's a good man. He fights evil from the shadows. The kid keeps ripping on him and saying he's not a toddler. He says it's a lame back story and asks him if he's srsly into dolls? He asks him how old he is?

Zora gets all dreamy and tells the kid that (doll) Zora was the son of a peasant, just like him, but he wasn't impressed by nobles or royalty because deep down he knew there was something he could do that they couldn't. Kid was intrigued wondering what Zora would have that rich people didn't have. Zora replied he wondered what that could be? If the kid wanted to be a magic knight someday, he'd better figure it out.

Zora is asleep in a tree late afternoon, presumably after a day of really getting some hard core training in. Since his magic deals with complex traps, he probably has to sit around doing deep thinking 90% of the time, and only 10% of the time is execution.

The kid is out practicing magic nearby when the visiting nobles attack him, this time armed with a powerful magic item. Luckily, Zora was able to step in to assist with his Uno Reverse Card Trap before the kid is incinerated. He sends the fire back, but only in a harmless way that gives the kids a scare. They drop the magic item, and the kid picks it up.

Kid comes back with his dad who accuses them of stealing the magic item. They attack with fire power, but the other dad surprises them with strong water magic. The accuser threatens to call the magic knights. That's when Zora shows up in his usual costume of tiddies out and pants cut so low one can practically see the top of his junk.

Zora talks about how he witnessed the whole thing earlier, and the son was the one who stole the magic item looking for a fight. He tells the guy he's a shitty father and doesn't deserve the magic item. The two guys run off humiliated, probably because they thought they were showed up not only by a commoner, but a commoner who is also a male prostitute who services clients with a magic knight fetish.

The kid and dad relate how they took the magic knights exam several times and failed, but they knew that their hero Zara also tried and failed several times. That inspired them to not give up. The kid seems to come to the realization who Zora really is, even though he doesn't say it out loud. He says he believes he knows what Zora the Supermage has that the nobility doesn't, and he also doesn't say out loud what it is. Then he apologizes to his dad for saying bad things about their family.

As Zora leaves, the kid thanks him and says he must really be Zora the Supermage. Zora replies that he's just trying to be a good mage, and then he encourages him to keep trying and leaves with a stink bug prank with the worst hrrderking look on his face.

On the way out, Zora says something interesting. He thinks about Yuno and Asta and how they always make the assertion they are going to become the next Wizard King. He says out loud, "The only reason those two can say that all the time is because they truly believe they can do it. You just wait and see, Dad. I'll make it to that zero stage everybody's been talking about lately, and I'll start by whipping my sorry squad mates into shape."

I was like, "AHAHAHAHA!!!! You'd better deliver, Mr. Background Character!"

Level zero is like Wizard King level ability in that world, -like Julius Novachrono who can control time is probably that level- although I don't think Zora is the type who'd want to be the actual Wizard King. He has the attitude like being a magic knight is more than the costume and recognition. Maybe he'd want to be the first commoner who'd reach that level of ability? Add to that, but Zora is probably the weakest in the squad, like Julian said when he encountered Zara, his magic wasn't that strong, but he was able to execute it in complicated and well-thought-out ways. Zora probably takes after his dad in that way. He's not a 'push past your limits' type of guy like Asta. He's careful. He has to think things through and only act if he feels like he's 100% going to succeed.

[traintrainingmontage]

Assorted Character Headcanons: 5-7 (+ Emily)

James:

James is shockingly good at learning other languages. He picks up Sudrian rather quickly, surprising his crew, and gets snippets of Gaelic and Welsh when other engines or railway employees slip into those tongues. He even knows some French. It's a point of pride, but certainly one that makes him conceited at times. He's had a quite few moments where he asks the wrong question in the funniest way possible.

Percy:

I'm copying this over from where I submitted it to another blog, but Percy loves delivering the mail so much not just because it's a unique job, but it lets him make and see a lot of friends. In the RWS, Percy is shown to have a bunch of friends on the mainland; he probably has friends all around Sodor that he gets to catch up with during his mail runs and that's a huge motivator. He probably has the most friends of any engine on the island.

(Side note: I also have a headcanon about Percy's history and why it's never been confirmed in-universe.)

Toby:

His favorite pasttime is watching the stars with Henrietta. His driver and fireman have told him all about the constellations, and the two of them go stargazing all the time since they can get away from all of the light pollution and see the sky for what it is. It makes him feel small sometimes, but Henrietta says that it makes her feel like part of something bigger. All of the constellations make up the sky, just like all of the engines and coaches and trucks and vans make up the railway, and even if some constellations are bigger or more famous than others, it doesn't matter. They're all loved. And Toby finds that thought to be incredibly comforting.

Emily:

Emily really enjoys sunrises and sunsets. The beautiful colors are absolutely enchanting to her, and even though she's not a morning engine, she finds that on mornings when she manages to catch the sunrise, it makes her feel better. People have wondered what her fascination is, and to her, there's something marvelously comforting about how, when there's always new situations and complications happening, you can count on the certainty of the sun rising and setting to see something beautiful and uplifting at least once a day.

(My hc's for Thomas through Gordon are here!)

(Headcanons for the engines on the Little Western are here!)

[duskstargazer]

[1969]

Sir Topham Hatt had recently come into ownership of a new engine. The general opinion on said new engine was nearly unanimous -- and it wasn’t a positive one.

Henry grunted sleepily as the warmth spread through his boiler. He enjoyed having Vicarstown Shed to himself for once. He cracked open an eye, then was fully awake in an instant. Surrounding him, on all sides, were rows upon rows of tankers, all filled with water.

“For god’s sake!!” He roared.

“Okay,” Percy chuffed, “now that’s just silly. I deliver the post - letters, parcels, that sort of thing. My trucks don’t carry weed - that’s what grows between the ballast on unkempt track! My driver told me!”

Percy’s driver scratched his head, and began to explain. The fireman made wild shushing motions, which the driver - rather fortunately - took heed of.

“Aah, finally. Time for a versatile engine like myself to--”

James froze. His spot in the shed was covered from rails to ceiling in bright blue paint. It dripped from the ceiling, coated the walls, and even ran down the window on the one side.

The red engine made a scream not unlike the sound of locked wheels skating on solid rails, and hurtled backwards, quickly deciding to sleep somewhere else - and nearly mowing Edward down in the process.

Gordon stared in baffled fury. His express coaches - his pride and joy - had been defiled. No longer did they bear the iconic red and white; they stood coated in the livery of the railway he despised the most.

“Who… in the name of Sir Nigel Gresley did this?!” He seethed.

[sparkarrestor]

Henry The Green Engine 2: Whistles & Sneezes

Written By: Rev. W. Awdry

Adapted By: SparkArrester

Gordon was cross one night at the sheds.

“I’ve pulled expresses for years!” He said, “But do I get anything for it? No! But Henry here makes us cover for his work until he gets his special coal, and now he can’t stop saying how happy he is!”

“Not to mention I was the one that actually fetched it…” Muttered James.

“Coal good enough for me is good enough for him!” Continued Gordon, “ And another thing too, Henry whistles far too much! No respectable engine whistles loudly at stations. It isn’t wrong, but we just don’t do it.”

Henry wasn’t feeling very happy anymore, and looked towards his buffers.

“Nevermind them.” Whispered Percy, “I like your whistling! Don’t let those two oafs get you down!”

That made Henry feel a little better.

The next day, Henry was being steamed up. He felt great, and whistled without really meaning too. Nobody minded except Gordon.

“Remember what I said about whistling!” He called as he left for the station.

Later on, Henry took a passenger train, and presently stopped at Edward’s station.

“Hullo Henry!” Said Edward, “You’re here early.”

“I thought a faster run would help me get in better spirits.” Replied Henry, and he told Edward what Gordon had said.

“Pay no mind to him.” Sniffed Edward, “He’s just jealous. I think it’s great that you’re feeling better, and the rest of us enjoy your happy whistling.”

“Oh, thank you Edward!” Smiled Henry.

On the contrary, Gordon wasn’t smiling. He was still grumbling about Henry as he rocketed down the line.

“I could be going faster than ever!” He snorted, “But that special coal is just for Henry and no one else, not even the pride of the line. Pah!”

And he picked up speed as he rounded a bend and approached a bridge. Some boys were stood on it. Gordon and his crew didn’t take much notice until…

“Oof!” cried Gordon as stones cascaded on his boiler. He whistled in fury and was just about to yell when he found out he couldn’t stop whistling. The stones had damaged something, and he was stuck whistling fit to burst. He was purple in the boiler as he sped down the hill at a tremendous speed. He paid no mind to Edward or Henry as he passed by the station and disappeared into the Horizon.

“...It isn’t wrong…” said Henry quietly, “But we just don’t do it.”

Meanwhile, Gordon screeched along the line, causing mayhem at every turn. People ran out of their houses thinking it was an air raid, 5 fire brigades got ready to go out, and old ladies dropped their parcels. At the big station the noise was awful. Passengers ran for cover as the Fat Controller came up. He barked orders but no one could hear him until he was right in their face.

“Take him away!” He bellowed at last, “And stop that noise!”

Gordon slunk away sadly. He whistled across the points, he whistled in the yard, and he was still whistling when a pair of fitters came to mend him. Gordon winced at the large hammer one was holding. They climbed on top of his boiler, and hammered his whistle valve until it was back in place. There was silence.

“They’ll never let me hear the end of this…” muttered Gordon.

“Speak up, I can’t hear you!” said his driver, who could only hear ringing.

Back on the mainline, Henry was in high spirits.

“Silly old Gordon, whistling loudly. And at a station, no less!” He chuckled as he approached a bridge. The boys were still there, and Henry spotted them.

“Trainspotters, how lovely. They might take down my number!” Thought Henry.

“Peep! Peep! Hullo!” He called, “Peep! Pe-Woosh!”

The boys dropped more stones on him. They bounced off his boiler, hit the fireman on his head, and even hit the carriages.

“What a shame! What a shame!” Hissed Henry, “Fresh paint, too!’

“They’ve broken our glass! They’ve broken our glass!” sobbed the coaches.

They stopped the train to check over Henry and see if any passengers were hurt. The Driver got out the first-aid box and began to bandage the fireman’s head while he and Henry discussed a plan. None of the passengers were hurt, but they were all angry. They told the fireman what he could for his head and looked at Henry’s paint.

“Call the police!” They all shouted.

“Don’t worry about that!” Said the Driver, “Me and Henry can pay them out!”

“How?”

“This new coal burns great, but leaves extra ash in my smokebox” Said Henry, “If enough gets built up, it’ll block my tubes.”

“Henry’s fire draws in air and puffs it out through his tubes with smoke and steam, then up and out his chimney. If we puff hard enough with all those ashes blocking the tubes then…”

The driver trailed off. One of the passengers spoke up.

“So… you’ll sneeze on them?”

Henry and his driver just smiled.

Henry started the train again and reached the terminus. He had to work extra hard to make up for lost time. He rested, and then took the train back. The fireman shoveled lots of coal and Henry worked harder. A group of people were waiting at the station before the bridge. They wanted to see how this would go.

“Henry has lots of ashes!”, announced the Driver, “Please keep all windows shut until the next station, please!”

He turned to Henry.

‘You ready, old boy?”

Henry was too stuffed up to reply, but he gave a wink, like this.

The guard blew his whistle, and Henry started off. They soon came up to the bridge, and there were the silly boys, stones in hand.

“Ready…” whispered the Driver, “Ready… Ready… Now!”

“Atisha, Atisha, Achoooooooooo!!!!”

Smoke and steam and ashes spewed from his funnel. They went all over the bridge, and all over the boys. They ran away, as black as tar.

“Well done Henry!”, Laughed his Driver, “Those boys won’t be causing trouble again!”

“I imagine so!” puffed Henry, “But my paint…”

“Don’t worry about that. We’ll clean you off and touch you up tonight, then you’ll be good as new!”

Henry no longer sneezes under bridges. The Fat Controller gave him a half-hearted earful about it.  His smokebox is always cleaned out at the yard. Now, he’s gone under more bridges than he can count, and there are never any silly boys with stones.

[edwards-exploit]

Back in Bournemouth West

November 1947. Maunsell’s finest meets Bulleid’s newest.

A little oc fic for @konnosaurus. Consider this a late birthday gift!

---

The wind brought November’s biting chill, and 926 was only protected from it by the warmth of his firebox- thank goodness for that. He really can’t comprehend how humans go without it in this weather. Still, 926 thought, as he felt his fireman tended to his fire, people and rolling stock must work for the good of the railway, after all.

Bournemouth West was bustling as usual- yes, up trains going to Bournemouth Central, and he whistled goodbye to a departing sibling of his; Midland engines coming in through the SDJR, surely there for their little hotel; shunters in the yards marshaling coaches and parcel vans; and passengers boarding and departing from their trains. Steam hissed from all the platforms as engines came and went, and 926 let himself be immersed in the music of his railway’s workings- if only to distract himself from the boredom building up in his boiler, as he awaits for his departing train- at the very least, the mousy little shunter has already took his coaches.

A bit of pride was swelling up as well, as 926 observed the proceedings. All of these engines coming together like well oiled gears in a machine, running the railway like clockwork. It’s something beautiful to him, and 926 will gladly say that he’s part of the finest railway in all of Britain.

Which is the thought of most engines, really, who work up and down their lines- pulling trains, shunting coaches, banking… No matter who they are, they believe that their railway is the best, but 926 hasn’t seen any evidence of that hogwash. No, he only sees what was in front of him, and what was in front of him was the Southern Railway’s rails that have been very carefully maintained.

WHOOOT-WHOOOOOOOOOOT!

A truly frame shaking whistle trumpeted throughout the station, which 926 has learned to recognise as one of Bulleid’s engines, after six years of existing alongside them. Those engines can’t help but make an impression wherever they go, 926 thinks, and with good reason!

Air-smoothed (not streamlined! There’s a difference, you see, and 926 made that mistake, once. Never again,) and powerful, 926 couldn’t believe his awestruck eyes when the Merchant Navies first rocketed down the tracks, pulling loads that he would have struggled to pull with ease. They came at the right time- the war was difficult for all of them, as they were in the front lines- 926 still shuddered at the sound of planes overhead. But the Merchant Navies rose to the occasion, and he wasn’t surprised that it was announced that the Bournemouth Belle was to be handed over to them from the Lord Nelsons.

If the Southern Railway was the finest railway in the world, they were the finest engines of the railway. Still, he glanced at the next platform over, at the very least to identify which one is arriving- was it 21C1, or another of her twenty strong siblings?

Steam billowed through the station, as the Bournemouth Belle arrived at a sharp 2:52- right to time, as expected, and 926 sized the engine up. It was not, in fact, a Merchant Navy at all- his buffers read 21C167, signaling that he was part of the Merchant Navy’s younger siblings- the West Country? The Battle of Britain? Well, in any case, they were smaller in size, but larger in number- and 926 considers them on the same tier as the Merchant Navies, as they’ve been dedicated workers the moment their doyen ran under their own power.

21C167 came to a smooth stop, grinning to himself as the passengers left the coaches, and 926 idly wondered if the engine couldn’t be older than a few weeks old- certainly, most young engines had that grin on their faces when pulling their first few trains.

926 was prepared for a lot of things, but he was not prepared for 21C167 suddenly glancing up at him, and eyeing him wonderingly. “Hullo,” said 21C167, still with that annoyingly charming grin, “Are you going to talk to me, or are you just going to sit there with your mouth open?”

Regrettably, 926’s mouth worked faster than his brain, “Don’t they teach you manners, back in Brighton?” He says dryly- and to his surprise, 21C167 only snickered, but he still felt the need to apologise, “I’m sorry, that was beneath me. I’m 926, of the Schools class. You must be 21C167.”

“Tangmere.”

“Pardon?”

21C167- er, Tangmere donned a slightly annoyed scowl as his eyes flicked to his side- a polished nameplate was stuck proudly there, “I’ve a name! The men gave it to me, and I quite like it! ‘Sides, I see you have a name too, er…” The young engine trailed off, squinting at 926’s own nameplate.

926 sighed magnanimously, and figured, for a fact, that this engine mustn't be very old at all. “Must I teach you your letters, Tangmere?” He asked, and a little part of him enjoyed Tangmere’s scowl deepening- but he quickly relented to his senses and sighed. He shouldn’t treat a fellow engine like that, “It’s Repton.”

“I know,” Muttered Tangmere sheepishly, “It just took me a minute. Can’t see too well, this up close. You know how it is. ‘S a little… blurry.” He defends. In fact, 926 doesn’t quite know, but it’s improper to point it out, so he let it slide.

“Hmph. Well. Is this your first outing to Bournemouth?” 926 asked, steering the topic to more proper pastures- it is not unusual for engines to talk idly at stations, after all, and he knew the Bournemouth Belle’s departing train wouldn’t leave for another hour or two. “I’ve not seen you here before.”

Tangmere smiled, pride still dancing on his features, “It is! I’m pulling the Bournemouth Belle. I’m usually based at Ramsgate- ’s real far from here. But it’s not my first express, believe me.” He sounded like he’s mustering all his humility to say his words.

Annoyingly charming is really the only phrase to describe the scene. “I believe you,” He conceded mildly, “Your lot is seen pulling all sorts of trains, I hear- no offense.” He quickly adds- despite the Bulleid Pacifics being proper express engines, the title is… unofficial, according to the board. They’re mixed traffic, and while 926 does not scoff at goods trains, he’s aware that goods engines… they’re not as respected, you see.

But to his relief, Tangmere brightened up instead, “That’s right! I got to pull my first goods train the other day! The trucks gave me no trouble at all, no sir!” He reported.

Something about that sentence…. Well, it gave 926 pause. “Your first goods train… You must be very new, then, for your first.” He notes, and Tangmere shifts on his axles, a bit shyly.

“Well, I just went to service in September,” He confessed, all the while smiling ruefully, and 926’s eyebrows raised a little. He did figure that Tangmere’s young, but just two months! “But I’m very capable, really!” There was a defensiveness in Tangmere’s voice, and 926 decided to soothe Tangmere’s worries. It would be cruel otherwise.

“I know. The Bournemouth Belle, it’s the heaviest train on the route. You must’ve handled it with ease, seeing that you’ve still got steam left.” He says, with real awe in his voice- the Lord Nelsons were always a little red faced, when they pulled to the station, but Tangmere was looking like he was running light engine!

Tangmere visibly relaxed to 926’s relief, “Thanks, Repton,” and 926 blinked in surprise, yet Tangmere continued, “When I was in Waterloo, Channel Packet warned me about the load, and I was rather worried, but I managed! It’s like my other trains, really.” He earnestly says, “But ‘s not as nice as boat trains. Do you like boat trains?”

The question threw 926 off a little, who was mainly expecting to be a listener to this conversation, not an equal, still, it would be unbecoming of him if he didn’t answer. And besides, Tangmere’s got a refreshing frankness about him that made 926 want to answer, “I like all my trains,” He claims and he liked to think he was doing it humbly, “The Southern Railway needs all of their services running well, after all.”

And it’s true- delays and accidents are the enemy of railways, and 926’s proud to say that he’s got a clean record, and even prouder to say that he’s never shirked work. “You shouldn’t play favourites,” He advised a wide eyed Tangmere, “You should work hard on all your trains.”

“But I do!” Exclaimed Tangmere, and 926 thought he was being a little dramatic, “I just like seeing the docks, when I pull boat trains. ‘S why I like passing by Southampton, really. And the boats are nice, too! I just look forward to pulling boat trains, that's all.” His words were tumbling out of his mouth, and 926’s still not quite sure how he still had steam.

“I see,” 926 really didn’t but he once again, generously, let it slide, “... In that case, I look forward to pulling the Royal Train.” He admits, and Tangmere smiles.

“See! You like Royal Trains, I like boat trains. We both like our trains,” Tangmere sounds like he’s making a reasonable sentence, despite sounding so… simplistic. “It’s as easy as that.”

926 smiled wryly. “In that case, tell me about your first boat train.” He challenged, and he quite liked the way Tangmere’s face brightened, despite himself.

“Oh, ‘s nothing special, really, but-!”

“Excuse me, 926?” A voice behind him interrupted, and 926 looked back- and he can’t help but feel annoyed, when he sees his new coaches being shunted to him by an Adams B4. “Your train is ready.”

“I see. Well, another time, then.” 926 graciously said, but paused in surprise when Tangmere looked down, a disappointment evident in his face, “Oh, chin up, Tangmere. We’ll see each other again yet. You did splendidly on this run, after all.”

And Tangmere’s eyes widened, and he grinned shyly, “You really think so?”

For the first time in the conversation, 926 smiled back. “I do.” He sincerely says, readying himself as he eyed his guard about to blow his whistle, “Well, I suppose I should get ready for my guard. I hope I’ve been good to you, Tangmere. Be a good engine, now, and wait for your next train.”

Tangmere’s shy smile became more lively, and he laughed, “Oh, there’s not much else I can do! G’bye, Repton!” He whistled, and 926’s guard whistled too. With his own whistle goodbye, 926 chuffed off with his up train back to London, thinking about the young express engine.

[hazel-of-sodor]

Day 14-Paint it Black

Day 14-Screech

Other Stories

Other Days

Other Chapters

Screech hummed contentedly on the docks, simmering quietly in the afternoon sun. Mali was laid on her runningboard, also enjoying the sun. Pest was sprawled on a crate beside them, the skyrat having stolen someone's chips earlier.

Screech had almost dozed off when she heard the familiar puffing of a Star class approaching.

Abbey backed down into the adjacent siding, her freshly cleaned paintwork gleaming in the sunlight.

“You three seem to be enjoying the heat at least.” She said with amusement.

The seagull let out a self-contented sigh in response.

Freda snorted from Screech’s cab, “Pest snagged someone's chips and Mali’s still trying to get a tan.”

“You can't blame a girl for trying.” Mali grumbled.

“You weren't particularly good at tanning before Screech.” Megan said as she climbed down from Abbey's cab.

Mali sighed.

Megan ducked as Screech stretched out her tendrils to lay over Abbey, then climbed up to sit next to Mali.

“Have you decided what livery you will be painted in?” Abbey asked Screech.

Screech rumbled irritably, “Great Western Black.”

Abbey raised an eyebrow at the tone, and choice.

Gywn sighed,“the young lass won't budge.” He explained. ‘no matter how many times we tell her she can be any color, she just wants plain black.”

Screech cracked open an eye to glare irritably at her fireman, “You keep saying I can choose my livery, then refuse to accept my choice.”

Freda patted Screech's cabside, “We just want to be sure you are happy with your paint, as you will be wearing it for a while. We may be stable now, but we can't afford to repaint engines regularly.”

“Then why am I being repainted?” Screech rumbled, frustrated. “Why not an engine that actually wants a repaint.”

“Because you need one,” Gywn said.

“My paint is fine.”

Abbey raised an eyebrow, “when was the last time you were repainted?”

Screech thought for a moment then shrugged, “Fifty-seven, we were painted in Lined Express Passenger Green.”

“And you don't want that back?” Mali asked. “Wasn't that supposed to be a prestigious livery?”

“I am not a passenger engine,” Screech said firmly, “I have no desire to pretend to be so.”

Gywn sighed,“The work’s crews don't want to paint you black because they think painting you black would make us look like the Other Railway.”

Screech paused, her tendrils stilling, “Pardon?”

Freda explained, “We take pride that all our engines are painted the colour of their choosing, rather than all our engines besides express locomotives being painted black.”

“I like being painted black.” Screech said.

Freda frowned, “we’ll figure it out dear, they just want your livery to reflect our care for you.”

Screech stretched and closed her eyes, “My paint will be dirty soon enough either way.”

Freda sighed fondly.

A/N: Hello loves! This takes place shortly after Something Holy This Ways Comes, before the next (as of yet unnamed) installment. Love Y'all!

[weirdowithaquill]

I think it's time you consider sharing your Duke and Rheneas ship concept (and the pufflings' sabotage efforts!) with the world 🙏

My memory is that they were too cute to languish forever only in DMs

Your memory is correct! And also really good! This conversation was months ago!

But here goes nothing - how I ended up shipping Rheneas and Duke:

It all begins with a certain @jobey-wan-kenobi and shipping Skarloey and Neil. These two are very important for Dukeas (Rhenuke?) - so let's cover them first.

These two are terrible at flirting. Like, legitimately bad. Neil gets a repaint when he's bought by the Crovan's Gate Mining Company (into SKR red!!) and Skarloey attempts to flirt and be suave to capture Neil's heart. Here's how he does:

"I like seeing you in my colour--" So far so good - but the engines don't really have good metaphors for clothes so it sort of falls apart: "--it would look better on... uh... oh..." Human pickup lines don't really work for engines, do they? Neil is so confused, and Skarloey is dying of embarrassment (the fireman said that it would totally work!)

Rheneas laughs himself sick.

Skarloey - after grumbling about Rheneas laughing at him - swallows his pride and asks his brother for help. (Side note - this is where our conversation started. We were talking about how the SKR is more interesting for family-values in the RWS.)

Rheneas has never had a crush before, and so his best idea is: "Why not ask him to double head a train with you?" Now, those of you who've instantly spotted the problem with narrow gauge Skarloey and standard gauge Neil double heading a train are doing better than these two hopeless idiots.

But Skarloey is not to be deterred! So he builds 'the truck' to pull trains on the standard gauge railway! Ah... but there's not enough traffic for double heading, so none of the managers will allow it.

It's not like Neil is any better though - this is the same boxy engine who saw Skarloey and went "he's so cute, but I'm too ugly for him..." at which point his crew face-palmed. So his crew convinced Neil to invite Skarloey to hang out at the works while he's being repainted into NWR colours (circa 1915). So Skarloey's there when he's sanded down and repainted.

Skarloey gets a nosebleed and passes out.

And Neil thinks that Skarloey just fell asleep! Even as the mechanics at Crovan's Gate are gathering around him to study him because no engine has ever had a nosebleed before, oh my goodness look at our discovery!

These two are disasters.

Peter Sam is no help either. Peter Sam is about as innocent as a three-year-old (Duke was not going to let no dock workers sully His Puffling, thank you very much) so his best advice is to: "Sing to him!" "What song?" "Uh..." Peter Sam doesn't do proper songs, he makes up ditties! What do you mean, wooing the boxy engine involves actually knowing music?

Skarloey just skips over asking Sir Handel for advice. Which is probably for the best, considering Sir Handel's attempt at flirting was to basically stun Gordon by talking his ear off and insulting his own coaches.

Yeah... none of these engines are very good at this.

But yeah, it probably takes until Rusty and Duncan figure themselves out for Skarloey to get some good advice. Cause of all the engines on the SKR, these two are the first to get into an actual relationship (with each other, but it's not Duncan's first, let's be honest). So, here's this centennarian-and-then-some engine that is Skarloey needing his romance to be chaperoned by these two youngsters... AND IT WORKS!

Finally he has the wingengines he needs: a foul-mouthed factory worker and something called a 'diesel'.

And Rheneas is still laughing in the background.

But it works! Skarloey buys some flowers with his driver's money and asks Neil out - and Neil says yes! (Let's all just headcanon that he was the Crovan's Gate Works engine at this point, okay? Okay.) Rheneas's first words upon hearing this are lost to time, but were either "Oh thank God" or "FINALLY!"

He is very lucky that he is at the works and hears about it there, or else he'd have gotten into a massive argument. But at the same time, he's rather sad, cause he's been using this romantic trainwreck as his entertainment for the last 100 odd years, throwing out slightly bogus suggestions to stir up the drama.

These two are going steady enough in 1965 for Skarloey to tease Neil by calling him "ugly but kind" in front of the Reverend - who accidentally takes it to heart.

We are all very lucky that said Anglican Reverend was out of earshot when Neil shot back a quip about nosebleeds.

But this is Rheneas' life up until 1970 - it's spent doing his job and laughing at his brother's absolutely hilarious and terrible love life. But romance? No, it's not in his cards...

And then Duke arrives.

And Rheneas goes “oh no, he’s hot.”

Rheneas immediately goes to his brother - because they're brothers, and they're supposed to help one another - completely forgetting the past 100 years.

Skarloey bursts into laughter. And then tells Neil, who also laughs. Rheneas is humbled with his own crush on Duke - much to his consternation.

But it’s worse cause Rheneas has to deal with two very overprotective children. See, Sir Handel and Peter Sam don't want to share their Granpuff. Cause they see Rheneas as a friend, not a weird step-grandpa, so stop butting in on our family. These boys have Granpuff-related trauma, and they are not handing over their Granpuff to just any old puffball. Duke for his part thinks Rheneas is cute - but his pufflings just keep calling him "a bad influence" - which is hilariously ironic considering Sir Handel.

Of course, being Peter Sam and Sir Handel, they also do their 'sunshine and thunder thing': "I think it's nice!" "You WOULD." Which naturally evolves into good-cop-bad-cop as Peter Sam is swayed by Sir Handel (and a sniggering Skarloey, but Skarloey's always had the best of intentions, right?)

Rheneas takes his own advice and asks to double head a train (cause at least he's the same gauge!) and Sir Handel slots himself in. Duke thinks it's sweet that Sir Handel is trying to spend more time with him. Rheneas is pulling his metaphorical hair out (oh, he knows - but he's also messing with Rheneas. He also talks to Skarloey).

Can you imagine how ridiculous it would be for everyone? Rheneas is just being interrogated in the background while Duke does a deadpan to some documentary crew like he’s in the Office: “This has been going on for 25 years. I have been dating Rheneas for 20 of those years.”

He has conveniently forgotten to mention this fact to Sir Handel and Peter Sam...

And that should have been that.

Right?

No. Cause then we talked about humanisations - and the story picked back up, only now we have to jump back to the year Duke got together with Rheneas. Now, for some reason or another (I blame the boulder), the entire SKR crew (Neil included) are suddenly turned human. After a few days of figuring out how being human works (cause we take most of three decades before we settle into 'humaning' - these engines are gonna need some help), they begin to act as normally as a bunch of engines-turned-humans can. There was one occasion where Peter Sam bear-walked across the yard because he couldn't figure out how walking worked, and humans have four legs! "Those are hands." "Good enough for walking!"

See, the engines pop into being human with bodies and clothes (this is important) - and for the most part, it's pretty stock standard. Rusty has overalls, Duncan has a few piercings, Sir Handel gets wheelie shoes (for his steamroller wheels!) and Duke has a massive overcoat that makes him look - for lack of a better term - rather chubby.

And he does nothing to dissuade the other engines from this line of thinking. On the surface, it makes sense after all! Duke has his large saddle tank, which translated over.

So it comes as a great surprise to everyone when Duke takes off his overcoat after the engine Duncan (who was pulling them in one of the passenger coaches) derails. Duke is not fat - no, he's been hiding tools in his overcoat... like a crowbar. In fact, Duke randomly takes off his shirt too so he can use said crowbar to lever Duncan back onto the rails all by himself (the shirt was... uh... too constricting?).

Rheneas gets a nosebleed - only none of the engines know how human nosebleeds work and panic. This of course tips Duke off that yes, Rheneas does have a thing for him.

So, Duke basically tortures Rheneas for weeks by volunteering to join the track-workers gang, and wearing a singlet and he has arms, why does he have arm muscles he is a steam engine! (I told someone about this, and they said - and I quote: "It's cause they're always pumping iron!")

Duke also keeps Werther's Originals in his overcoat to distribute to both his Pufflings and the local schoolchildren. Rheneas' heart cannot handle the adorableness.

This of course led to Rheneas confessing to Duke in the rain after the stationmaster's cat got lost. Rheneas had thought Duke would think he was cool if he found said cat first and rushed off... and fell into a ditch and sprained his ankle cause he's a human now, and people don't walk normal, why don't they have wheels - (oh wait, that's what trains are for). Rheneas had saved the cat, and then Duke helped him, asked why Rheneas ran off and didn't stick with the search party - and so Rheneas confessed in the moment. Very cliche romantic, but so am I a bit.

So that's how Duke and Rheneas ended up as a couple. A bit of magic, a whole lot of Duke's family torturing Rheneas and a missing cat.