#ofc i had to add the poppy’s

[quibvsposts]

a better knife, you are, than a person

[platonicau]

sinegard four doodles! based off of tdr 🤍

[bugisbonkerz]

makes me abit sad when people overlook dhmis. like no it’s not just garten of banban-poppy playtime-fnaf kids media that’s secretly evil. it’s SO MUCH MORE THEN THAT . there’s so much more depth to it that i can’t explain for the life of me like no piece of media has ever affected me like dhmis has. there’s so much to the characters and to the life they have and it’s also so silly and mysterious and cool and depressing all at the same time. (btw the whole thing about it being a sinister kids show is literally just a dull matpat theory and not canon.) also puppets. puppets are awesome ok?

[iatnen]

Thanks for the pookies 🤝

THIS IS SO GOOD LMAO I had to draw it up for you rq

GREAT QUESTION !!!! I mean ofc Daniel is friends with pretty much everyone yk ?? He’s already popular for being the new fifth year + quidditch only adds more to his fame. But I think besides Sebastian, Daniel would be closest to Natty and Amit 🤔 While Sebastian, I’d say Ominis and Poppy. So yeah, pretty big group if they all hung out together LOL 😅 And for future reference, you don’t have to ask me for permission to draw Daniel at all !!! It’s an honor to me that you love my content so much, so the answer is yes yes yes

OMG….. PEOPLE HAVE MY NOTIFS ON ?!??!!

This is insanity…… Glad you’re all liking it

[nerdcousin]

Do you ever just think of a different universe, in which the marauders realise that they are being dicks in like third year or something when it isn’t too late yet, and they stop bullying Snape, and apologies; and Snape (and a good few of the other Slytherins bc that whole portrayal is just lazy writing in my opinion) don’t have as much of a problem with muggles (probably because they actually spend time with people who don’t have blood supremacist views/have positive examples of muggles and muggle borns, depending on case); and they all become friends.

And when Regulus comes to Hogwarts Severus befriends him, and ofc he’s Sirius�� brother. And because he’s obviously friends with other Slytherins as well, and he introduces them to the marauders and their other friends and thus the gap between Slytherin and Gryffindor starts to mend.

A good few more people find out about Rem being a werewolf and become animagi. Lily also befriends the Marauders and stats dating James earlier (canonically she couldn’t stand at least James and Sirius until sixth year).

All the friend groups (Marauders, Snape’s gang, Slytherin Skittles etc) become intermingled. These people all get invited to so many weddings and anniversaries after Hogwarts, it is actually ridiculous. The wizarding world, canonically-ish, has no issues with queer people so whatever rocks your boat works. Charora, wolfstar, jili, sevity, snulciber, Jegulus, rosekiller, marily whatever you want.

And Sev isn’t mentally quite as fucked about Lily’s death, but now he’s of course also sad about James, Sirius and Peter, and Regulus, but he’s got other friends too, ones that are not death eaters, so he isn’t (actually) one either, and he’s mentally just more healthy. We’ll just say he still becomes a spy for the Order for the sake of convenience.

Remus is left mourning Regulus and his other new friends after the war, but the wizarding community is stronger, and he had more support.

The Order is also in a better position because the kids managed to change the views of their age group so drastically.

If you have ideas for other characters, please add, idk too much about them cuz I tend to fixate on just a handful of characters but I would love to read your thoughts.

When Snape goes to teach at Hogwarts he isn’t a downright antisocial asshole like he is in canon so he becomes part of the Big Happy Hogwarts Staff Family. (If you know fics for this trope please tell me I am starved)

He’s also actually a good teacher, because he has always been competent, and since he’s healed from his own trauma much better than in canon, he isn’t an utter arse to everyone.

And when Remus comes to teach they instantly become, or rather re-become, rampaging bffs.

When the staff starts a prank war they team up, and no one stands a chance against the man who knows virtually every potion in existence and the literal former marauder.

Sirius gets pardoned, because this time both Remus and Severus are willing to hear him out. Peter still escapes because Remus transforms, but everyone present demands Sirius is questioned with verita serum. Professor Binns is finally retired/exorcised, and Sirius becomes the History of Magic Professor. (Idea for this from Oh God, Not Again on AO3)

Remus still has to leave because of the curse, but he drops by now and again, now that his boyfriend and hopefully-soon-to-be-but-we-all-know-it’s-gonna-happen-so-soon-to-be fiancé works there. Harry never goes back to the Dursley’s.

Snape eats dinner with the other members of the Order. His hair isn’t greasy, because he isn’t too depressed to wash it. Minerva and Poppy (they are married btw) are mother figures for him, as well as the Marauders. Snape isn’t Nevils biggest fear, because he isn’t a bully. Everyone is actually shocked when he kills Dumbledore, and he is just generally more well liked.

Umbitch doesn’t know what hit her when she comes face to face with not only the Weasley twins and the contempt of the entire student body and faculty, but also prank-planing mastermind and gay disaster Sirius Orion Black the Third.

Draco isn’t a twat, or at least not as much, because his parents weren’t as bad as they are in canon. Him and Harry start dating.

Harry’s name-choice for his kid(s) isn’t terrible.

The marauders era gang comes together in the afterlife by the end of the second war and ‘lives’ happily ever after. The rest of course join then eventually, but they’ve got their lives to live at first.

Like these characters could have ALL had such beautiful relationships with each other, platonic and romantic, but nO, they HaTe each other and they have too much tRaUmA

Feel free to add and comment, but (and the fact that I feel I need to say this says a lot about this fandom or at least my experiences with it) if you’re going to insult me for liking certain characters or having certain head canons, just don’t. You don’t like, scroll.

[jdzone]

obviously band together spoilers but, RAMBLE RAMBLE

i’m so torn up abt the fight before branch poppy and tiny leave…

john dory getting caught up in his old role- having actually /seen/ floyd too, there’s a reality to the situation that adds pressure (HMM kinda like expectations from the crowd in BroZone days)

unfortunately, because of that pressure john dory falls back into that headspace and gets over critical of their performances (he doesn’t say his own criticisms outloud, but he never does which leads to younger bros feeling unfairly treated [WHICH IS FAIR] when jd is just struggling with perfectionism feeling the band is entirely his responsibility as the oldest and since he started it… not the sum of its parts. like he knows they’re all talented ofc he just couldn’t separate that from the performance as a whole. this was its own tangent)

clay and bruce get triggered, and they end up ganging up on john dory. poppy attempts to diffuse the situation and we see john look at her with appreciation. but bruce n clay finally have a chance after all these years to vent their frustrations - especially since in their eyes nothing /has/ changed with john dory in reference to managing the band.

(all the while branch is doing the same stressed stim from when he was a baby ARRGH)

but, like before, jd is getting riled up and tries to defend himself. it’s a lot of responsibility - the feelings that have been brought up remind him of why he left —

“Why do you think I left!? So nobody would treat me like you did.”

to hear that from bruce, who both the brother JD has spent the most time with and potentially troll altogether depending on how isolated he was during the separation… there’s layers to what jd mentions about being the oldest and responsibility. we see no parents, and regardless eldest children are often coparents and JD stands for Jeldest Daughter. anyway,,

clay raises his voice to correct jd when he deadnames bruce /again/ and… jd gives clay and bruce exactly what they want. (they don’t want to be around him. it’s abundantly clear.) he needs to diffuse the situation no matter how much it hurts. they’ll go their separate ways after saving floyd… and.. unfortunately he hits right on branch’s insecurities. so jd managed to hurt all his brothers in extremely personal ways…

and then bruce belittles branch “don’t be such a baby” (bruce you gotta take a deep breath big big) and.. branch, in all his hurt he feels towards john dory, can relate to him. the oldest and the youngest. not allowed to change. always seen as bossy or as a baby from the nature of their birth order.

we see john dory step forward, and regret and recognition on his face.

idk i wish they had all gone after branch when he left, but i realize for the narrative it worked perfectly…

anyway.

[trans-luis-serra-navarro]

OK GOOOOOOOO READ THIS POST FIRST I WAS TRYING TO REBLOG IT BUT TUMBLR WOULDNY LET ME ADD ANY MORE PHOTOS OR TAG ANYMORE PEOPLE CUZ IM USING THIS POST AS A JUMPING OFF POINT!!!!!!! GO FOLLOW @theprestigegirly AND @cloverisnonexistantbro !!!!!!!!!

I had @void-detective ask me a few days ago if the ornaments on Luis’ jacket had any particular meaning and as with everything I fell down,,,,,, one hell of a rabbit hole HDNWHWNEHDNX

So, first off; I couldn’t find any super definitive answer to what was on his jacket but I have some pretty good theories!!!!!!!

@vespereargentum and their friend on Twitter helped point out to me that the floral designs are really reminiscent of old Spanish Renaissance furniture and like yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I mean look at it!!!!!!!!

These photos aren’t very good but you get the gist!!!!!!!

Why would Capcom put visual designs from FURNIATURE onto clothing I have no clue, but considering the fact that almost every single detail of Luis’ character down to the damn rings are extremely purposeful I’m sure we could pick up some pieces!!!!!

It also kinda makes sense, like,,, character wise too y’know- Valdelobos was a glorified Catholic cult and obviously they kept a very old-fashioned mindset so visuals-wise it makes sense!!!!!

@ 11cool also pointed out that his jacket has a lot of similar motifs to Matadors and Traje De Luces which they have their own post you can check out if you wanna!!!!!!!! Ofc there brings up the whole issue of y’know, Bad spanish stereotypes and bullfighting etc etc but this whole post is just throwing stuff at the wall in complete honesty!!!!!

And like the og post and @cloverisnonexistantbro said there’s a not for none Chance that the designers were trying to play into abstract windmill motifs would would be super cool!!!!!

@theprestigegirly and @kaychen666 were also kind enough to point out that the flowers on his jacket kinda look like poppies!!!!!!

And I think most people already know that poppies are a pretty common symbol for death (especially after war which I’ll touch on in a second) which. Y’know. Would be just SUCH A FUN AND SILLY DETAIL if true HAHDHENDHSJ

And like the og already has put so eloquently there are just,,,,,, S O many lil design elements of Luis’ that are so perfectly purposeful,,,;,,,… down to the fact that Luis has a gun from WWI (Realistically probably passed down from hsi grandfather, who would have probably had to have lived through Spanish civil wars (yayyyyy we love generational trauma yippeee another thing to add onto Luis amirite /lh)) and down to the fricken rings he wears and what fingers he wears them on!!!!!! (One of the rings for instance is of the Virgin Mary and it’s supposedly said that wearing a ring on the fingers Luis does symbolises leadership and compassion etc etc etc Yknow ring logic HDBEHEBXHX)

So like idk!!!!!!!! If anyone who actually has knowledge of Spanish culture wants to chip in PLEASE PLEASE DO!!!!!!! I’m the whitest Mf on planet earth there’s only so much justice I can give Luis BSNDHENDJSNSJ

Tl;dr: until Capcom or somebody whose more of a professional in this field outright explains what little design details like that mean for certain I’m just throwing stuff at the wall and letting people see it HDHEHEJEID

[ofdemonsandangels]

20 Questions For Fic Writers

Thank you for the tag @marley-manson!

I'll be tagging @seaofolives, @alovelyburn, @white-winter-hymnals, @moonlight-blue-rose, and @shiroganeryo

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

Currently six, five complete and one ongoing

2. What's your total AO3 wordcount?

16,145

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Mainly Berserk but I also write for D.Gray-Man and dabbled in SK8 the Infinity

4. What are your top five fics by kudos?

A Familiar Canvas ➡️ wild (like young volcanoes) ➡️ say me, wight in the bom ➡️ One of Heart, One of Mind ➡️ Encompassing Lust

5. Do you respond to comments?

I always do!

6. What's the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Probably Take Me to the Poppy Field. It's pre-canon ManaCross, so ofc it's angsty, and I do love myself some good ManaCross angst

7. What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

Easily One of Heart, One of Mind. It's a Yulma wedding fic and I shoved all the fluff and happy feels into it as possible

8. Do you get hate on your fics?

Not yet and not to my knowledge

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

Uhhhhh let's see. Encompassing Lust contains sexual content but I wouldn't go as far as to call it smut. I'd like to write a proper smut fic one day but I'd have to be in the proper mood for it, if you get my gist

10. Do you write crossovers? What's the craziest one you've written?

wild (like young volcanoes) would be considered a crossover by some, but it's really just an au, a Percy Jackson au

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Hopefully not

12. Have you ever had a fic translated

Not yet

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Not yet

14. What's your all-time favorite ship?

This is hard! Can I cheat and make it a three-way tie between GriffGuts, Yulma, and Matchablossom? I tend to alternate a lot between these three and I love them so much.

15. What's a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

My GriffGuts lovechild au. I've shared snippets of it on this blog before but every time I try to work on it, my mind takes me elsewhere. I still want to finish it though! The question is when

16. What are your writing strengths?

That's a very good question that I have no good answer to. I guess I'm pretty good when it comes to descriptions. And metaphors. I love myself a good metaphor, so when I have the opportunity to add one, I will

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

I'd be here all day if I listed off every one of my writing weaknesses lmao. But if I did have to narrow it down, it'd definitely have to be my perfectionism and chronic revisionism. I can't stand it when a word or sentence structure doesn't sit right with my mind. I'll just stare at it for minutes and if I can't find a solution, I'll just straight up nuke the entire doc because everything else starts to look wrong in my mind. My beta readers can attest to this

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in a fic?

*traumatic flashbacks of all the VLD fics that had Lance speaking bad Spanish/Spanglish*

I don't think writing dialogue in a different language is bad at all, it's just very obvious when the author is 1) a non-native speaker and 2) uses Google translate. Don't be afraid to reach out to friends who speak the language you're trying to write!

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Officially published? Berserk. But first ever? That would be Percy Jackson. It's a stapled five-page, handwritten reader insert fic and I still have it in my room, under my bed.

20. Favorite fic you've written?

Oh hands down it's One of Heart, One of Mind. Yulma is a ship that means so much to me and it quite literally defined the way that I viewed queer ships in media. It took me forever to write this fic but that was because I wanted to do them justice.

[nikkiiiscute]

Julie Joyful's Character Analysis !TW! Mental health, Joblessness, Murder

Hey can I tell you a thing i did? she gave away the clue to "dox" Home hehehehehehe, Alright let's dive in to her vague analysis

She's Jobless? - Yep, you read that right, Julie Joyful doesn't have a job. every other character has some sorta job, But her? nahhhh. Either she's too young to have one (Spoilers: She's 24) or she doesn't have the mental capacity to get one as we know her MO is based off of Children's Games like hopscotch, jump rope and managing to get on top of Howdy's Bodega....and having chlorokenesis (Power over Plants).The only job-y thing she does is play business woman. I'm wondering if she's still a kid or it's just she's working for the show, idk.

Ofc Julie's autistic - Ya bois know that @partycoffin confirmed that She's autistic. Her stimming includes running, jumping up and down and flapping her arms like crazy (Wholesome fact: She and frank got the flapping arm stim from poppy🥺), Oh righttt! Did i mention that she's Level 2 Autistic?

She's hangin on frank - Remember when i said she was jobless? "How'd she's standin?" bcuz Frank is helping her out. Since she has the mental capacity of a 4th grader and add in her autistic behavior, I propose a theory that julie would be impulsive / indecisive to know what to wear (Ur not alone julesss). I feel like frank is just standing outside her room contemplating about his life's decision and she would just stick her head out for a moment going like "....Is this dress cute or i'll just stick with maroon?".

No wonder there's Frankly x Joyful ship - Yeah i figured out why WHRP, The Fans and the time period ship Frank and Julie together (BISH THEY'RE GAE). Cuzzzz they made Julie make romantic advances towards frank but i feel like frank doesn't know the gist of whats going on so ofc he's gonna reject it (U can see this sheet happening in art) hell, Wally knows about this (Thank you guestbook) and is just bringing out the apple slices to watch sheet like this happening.

HOLD THE PHONE!!! - Is Home targeting her? cuz theres like a cycle where home looks side-to-side, at howdy's and eddie's then finally up at julie's before they're eyes go black. A bit strange ain't it? There's blind spots for Home and its Frank / Eddie's house and Sally's Theatre / House so ofc both of those fever dream hallucinations would survive.

Ethnicity Analysis Time!!!!!! - Okayyy her ethnicity's a bit vague Buttttt i'm gonna guess on a whim, She's Half Latina and Black, Specifically from regions of Oceania / Australia cuz of her natural blonde hair cuzzzzz It's rare to have dark skin and Blonde hair due to genetics, but it's possible from the indigenous parts of Oceania.

Julie's Story - Julia Alegré was born in 1945 as the 4th child younger than Jonas, Beatrice and France (I swear these names are real). As a child she had to be taken care of more due to her Level 2 ASD but atleast she made friends to support her. At high school she dated 출격선 (Chulgyeong Sun / Sally). fast forward to 1964, at 19 she moved out and then 5 years later she got isekai'd into Welcome Home, She was different as she plays along very well and she's a bit gullible but shes still a fan fav and then 4 years later she got frickin murdered.

Yeaaaaaaahhhhh She's a bit vague but too bad she gave away a clue to dox her town lmao.

Thank you for reading! (´▽`ʃ♡ƪ)

[yourmommasdate]

🪩BRANCH AND POPPY’S SLUMBER PARTIES(HC’S)🪩

Skincare:

I believe that poppy is CRAZY about keeping her skin healthy. So she keeps those rules with her boyfriend, Branch. She always makes them a homemade mask (with the help of Bridget ofc) and forces Branch to wear matching robes

Movie night:

Branch enjoys having movie nights- especially with Poppy. Cuddling on the couch with a bowl of popcorn, scrolling endlessly, trying to find the perfect movie to watch. He likes comedy’s and horror but secretly really prefers romcoms and romances.

Cooking:

Poppy and Branch both find joy in putting on aprons and finding recipes for a nice dinner. Nothing better then some soft music in the background, cooking some steaks for you and your lover.

Sleeping situation:

Poppy and Branch both jump on the couch after cooking and doing skincare and watching a million movies. Both tired from the long night, Poppy turns on their favorite show and cuddles up next to branch. Branch holds her tight and kisses the crown of her head before drifting off into a deep slumber.

I’m sorry I didn’t add anymore! I couldn’t think of anything!! But this is my first write so if it’s weird or just not what your expecting, so so sorry!! I tried my hardest and had to think from two little troll’s point of views. 😭😭 anyways Bye babies, I hope you liked this blurb 🫶🤍

[midnightmah07]

Barbs hear me out- Poppy probably feels the most comfortable around Rook through her recovery from PTSD and lupophobia cuz He reminds her of the hunter from that night and since she has stunted emotional growth, she sees everything from a child's view so trusting him is easy 😭😭

Bro Poppy and Epel are lagging cuz don't get me wrong I love my babies together (Epel went into a panic when he first saw Poppy-insists he was js embarrassed)

👆 An ask I sent barbs and I wanted to add more here.

Epel totally would get jealous of Rook and how Poppy finds comfort in him 😭 like Poppy coming to NRC with a basket for Rook asking where he is and Epel is like "uhh dudes out walking his fish or smth so ANYWAYS we should totally have a picnic(date ) so the stuff doesn't go bad "

And I also imagine Poppy had a friend (based on Chip, basically filler like Pierre) and Kid! Epel would get jealous of him too trying to impress poppy with his Apple carving skills cuz that's js what girls are into yknow? Dude has Rizz

FOR A MOMENT I THOUGHT U WERE CALLING ME BARBS I WAS LIKE ☹️☹️☹️☹️SKSJKWJSKSHSKSJSN

ANYWAYS THIS IS SO CUTE!!! Yeah like ever since u first thought of her I always assumed her and Rook would be close-ish (back then I said romantic but even with them being just platonic it fits so well) and it makes so much sense now that you say it!! Ofc she'd find comfort in him🥹🥹

And oh my Gosh EPEL💀💀💀💀💀💀💀 PLS SKSJKWSBKSHSKS GIM TRYING TO IMPRESS HER WITH HIS APPLE CARVING SKILLS IM SOBBING HE HAS THE RIZZ™

[olivethe-fourth]

(this is OLD, just ignore it bbg)

so i figure if everyone else is making a welcome home au I might as well

This au is called the Porcelain Doll Au or PD

I absolutely suck at drawing so I’m going to describe it and you can use your imagination to do the illustrations

In this AU, all of the puppets are now porcelain dolls being possessed by the spirit of the unfortunate children that decided to come across home

Also, the dolls can move but their bodies are very stiff and heavy, so it’s extremely tiring to move

Home is still possessed in this au and is basically a ghost house (a land ghost ship) that lures people, mostly children, inside to get killed. I would like to mention that all of the furniture inside is alive and it basically looks like a torture dungeon, there’s so many sharp objects and ways to kill someone in there it’s wild. Anyways, home basically lured them inside, shuts the door and locks it so they don’t come out, and they have 60 seconds to pick how they want to die or home picks for them, and you can tell who has picked their death and who hasn’t. Anywho, now onto the victims

Wally was the first victim, ofc he was Mexican and had a very colorful outfit on, and dark black hair that everyone said looked blue, he died by getting his eyes pierced (that’s why he stares, sometimes his eyes on the doll leak), he also died in the living room, the room that you see as soon as you walk in. He was 5 years old when he died. Wally stumbled across house after wandering off with his friends, eventually loosing them and coming across home trying to find them again. Wally was the first one to find out they they could move, because of how badly he wanted to draw. He usually scoots over to corners that haven’t been dusted (which is every corner) and makes lines with the dust on the floor/wall.

Julie was the second victim and also Wally’s friend, she had long blonde hair and a white dress on, she encountered home when was picking flowers and so she died holding flowers, and she died by being stabbed in her heart so her dress is a bright red and there’s a crack In her chest (her doll has a flower in her hair) She chose her death, trying to do the least painful thing possible. She was 6 1/2 when she died. Sometimes, in the middle of the night she remembers that she never got to give the flowers to her mother, and begins to cry. Water drips down from the painted glass eyes and the soft sound of weeping echoes through the halls. Home uses her weeping to an advantage however, he mimics the sound and lures people in with the weeping. She died in the upstairs bedroom. Also an unimportant detail but she has very mesmerizing blue eyes.

Sally was the third victim, she is a Hawaiian with short blonde hair, wearing an overall skirt and a white t-shirt, she died by having her head set on fire, so she has the sun for a head and her Temperature is always warm. She died in the bathroom In the tub, trying to put out the fire, but she had one dilemma, home didn’t have any plumbing. Although she is a doll now, she likes to sing songs from various musicals in the middle of the night. Because of that, Sally has a voice draw string that she can only talk out of when it’s pulled. I forgot to add this, but she was 7 when she died.

Barnaby was the fourth victim, he’s a Mexican (quite like wally) and wore a blue polkadot t-shirt and the same pattern pantsc he was a little chubby and was walking his dog when he found home, his dog began barking and ran towards home, to which he followed. He found his dog strangled in the downstairs bathroom before he died. he died by getting his head cut off, and so his head is always loose and sometimes falls off. He died in the downstairs bedroom. He chose his fate and figured that decapitation would be the quickest and least painful. He still likes to tell jokes, and sometimes thinks of a really funny joke and begins to burst out laughing in the middle of the night. He was 7 when he died.

Poppy was the fifth victim, she is Caucasian and lived on a farm, she ran into the woods to avenge her chickens that were eaten by a fox, she wore a rainbow dress and had rainbow highlights in her hair, she died by getting skinned, and so the paint slowly chips away on her doll. She died on the balcony, so closed to freedom but just a little to late. She was 8 1/2 when she died. She usually comforts the other kids when they feel homesick of they’re just starting to get used to their new bodies. She is the most responsible next to Frank and is like a mother to all of the other children. She sometimes dusts the walls and floors, making sure to keep at least one corner for Wally!

Howdy was the Sixth victim, he helped his father work at his job and was taking a hike in the woods on his break, he had black hair and had a love for caterpillars. He died by getting his ribs torn out, making it look like he had multiple arms, and so his other set of arms are a little off than the other. He was 8 when he died, and he died in the kitchen trying to grab a knife to protect himself. He is mature and organizes the torture devices when he’s bored. His arms sometimes fall off, and have to be put back on by home, when home feels like it of course. Other times he is found talking about how much he misses his dad and the shop he helped out at. He tried to refrain from talking about his dad, to try and not get homesick. He once tried to break everyone’s dolls to set their souls free, but failed and was punished by having his arms off for a week. After that, he didn’t try and free himself again. Sometimes however he tries to climb on top of tall objects, but always gets put down by home.

Frank was the Seventh victim, always a grumpy and never did anything fun, he wore a black suit and had full black hair, he was always bullied and was dared to go inside of home, despite all of his instincts he went inside. He died by getting his hands cut off and surgically replaced by bleeding out, and so the hands on his doll are more detailed and slightly discolored, they are also always loose and slightly damp. He is the oldest, he was 9 when he died. One time Frank tried to burn down the home, to release him and his friends from this hell (their spirits can only be freed if the dolls are destroyed) but when he lit the house aflame, and closed his eyes to embrace death, he realized the humidity from the flame awww was gone, he opened his eyes to find the fire gone, And although everyone else excepted their fate, Frank still tries to break his and Eddie’s doll to free their souls he always fails and whenever he does home punished him by locking him in the room he died in for a day. Frank and Eddie were best friends, and eventually more, that didn’t last long however, for Frank died on the same day him and Eddie had their first kiss. Frank tried to be clever and tell home that he wanted to die of old age, but instead Home chose for him. Frank also died in the library upstairs, I’d like to mention how Frank and home are enemies, if home could he would banish Frank to relive his death everyday, alas that isn’t possible. A little thing I’d like to add is that Franks doll is coated with pollen and nectar during the spring and so all throughout spring/summer butterflies doesn’t completely cover him but a whole lot of butterflies like to land on him daily

Eddie was the eighth and final victim, he was a mamas boy and always listened to his parents, but after his family dog ran away his mother was devistated, trying to cheer up his mourning mother he ventured off into the woods. He was Caucasian and had bright red hair with freckles and a gap between his teeth, he died by getting his legs cut off and died of shock. His legs are always falling off and severely cracked. He was 8 1/2 when he died and died an exact week after Frank did. He did try and chose his death, but home couldn’t understand him through his stuttering and sobbing and so home chose for him. He died in the hallway trying to crawl to freedom despite the unbearable pain he felt. Eddie didn’t want to be a mail man, but he did help out in the post office to gain money to give to his mother.

However, after Eddie died the deaths seemed to come to a sudden stop, at the same time tho, Wally seemed to start acting a little different..bad different.

That’s all folks, if u got any questions feel free to ask, I’m happy to answer them ^^

[jeanmoreaux]

ahhh i missed your birthday, sending (belated) best wishes ✨ i'd love to know more (unspoilery, tho) abt what you thought about honey girl and ppl we meet on vacation, i have both on my tbr and since you have a similar taste in books i'm very 👀👀 yk:) hope your week's going well!

ohh, thank you so much sabrina, you're an angel <333 hahaha yes, i wasn't really on tumblr that day and after that it felt weird to be like 'yay guys it was my birthday!' so no worries.

ofc i am happy to give you some opinions on both these books! honey girl was actually quite a disappointed for me. i was expecting to end up loving it since it includes topics i have loved to read about in the past (mental health, sapphic relationships, academia and race, the importance of queer support networks/'found families'). but in the end i was just kinda bored while reading it? i couldn't really connect with most of the characters, probably bc the plot was moving at such a weird pace. every time i was getting used to a setting or a set of characters the story would change locations or have a time jump that took me out of the story again. it was still an okay read and i would still recommend it to people who are looking for a queer contemporary that focuses on issues you face in your 20s, but i wasn't majorly impressed bc the writing style just wasn't for me.

pwmov was quite entertaining and i definitely had more fun with this one. but i also really like emily henry's writing style and i generally eat up the friends-to-lovers trope so i might be bias. it's definitely a lot more romance-y and lighter than honey girl, but that also means it makes heavier use of romance tropes. if you despise miscommunication tropes, i think you'll have hard time with pwmov. while i personally don't think it was a big issue, i can see why some people are annoyed by the use of this trope in this story since it is a major conflict. ((idk if it's spoilery since it's basically something you figure out right from the start as an attentive reader—but skip the rest of this parenthesis NOW if you like— but there is literally no reason why poppy and alex cannot be together other than that they are both too chicken to tell the other how they feel... i absolutely sympathize with this fear they have to open up to each other but some people are REALLY bothered by that so if you feel the same and you need a major conflict that is more intense you'll be disappointed with this one.)) another thing i saw people complain about is the non-linear narrative. i enjoyed the non-linear storytelling, but if that's not you're thing either i would definitely think twice about picking it up. it's easy to follow the story tho, so if you're on the fence about picking it up just bc of that i'd say give it a try. generally speaking i don't think this books is or did anything special. beach read was definitely better in my opinion and it brought much more to the table than many other romances. pwmov is different in that regard. it's full on romance without trying to add any interesting contemporary aspects. pwmov is just a cute, light friends-to-lovers romance that doesn't try to be much more, and if that's something you're in the mood for i'd recommend it, but if you don't really care about romance novels unless there is anything special about them you probably won't have the best of times with this book. ((i still think it's better than most romance novels that are out there bc emily henry writes realistic and relatable characters that employ common sense, so i'd rec it to people who like most romance novels))

[misshoneybee]

⟣ 𝑊𝐸 𝐿𝐸𝐴𝑅𝑁 𝑇𝑂 𝐿𝐼𝑉𝐸 𝑊𝐼𝑇𝐻 𝑇𝐻𝐸 𝑃𝐴𝐼𝑁 ⟢

— 𝑉𝐼. 𝐻𝑂𝐿𝐷 𝑂𝑁 𝑇𝑂 𝑇𝐻𝐸 𝑀𝐸𝑀𝑂𝑅𝐼𝐸𝑆, 𝑇𝐻𝐸𝑌 𝑊𝐼𝐿𝐿 𝐻𝑂𝐿𝐷 𝑂𝑁 𝑇𝑂 𝑌𝑂𝑈

Masterpost — OFC Biography — Playlists — Chapter V — Chapter VII

❧ Pairings | Post-Infinity War!Steve Rogers x Original Female Character, Minor Original Male Character x Original Female Character

❧ Warnings | Mature content, explicit language, canon-typical violence/injury, themes of mental illness (depression, anxiety, ocd, ptsd)

❧ Wordcount | ~7k

❧ Disclaimer | Dividers are by firefly-graphics. If you are a minor, or do not have your age in your bio, and I catch you interacting with this, you will be blocked. If you believe you were blocked unfairly, send me an ask with your url.

Please don't ever become a stranger, Whose laugh I could recognize anywhere ( New Year's Day | Reputation )

November 22, 2018

It was like clockwork. For the past several years, when Maggie was in the country, Poppy's parents would insist she that came over for Thanksgiving dinner. She'd always gravitate to the kitchen to help Poppy's mom, they'd all sit down at the table and eat, spend several hours afterwards chatting, and then the dynamic duo would end up having a sleepover like they were still in high school rather than grown women with multiple degrees and jobs.

This year, it felt odd. Perhaps it was because of the state of the world, or perhaps it was because she'd left Natasha and Steve earlier that morning, but there was just something that felt different.

The family's home was one place where Maggie always felt welcomed. Since losing her mom and dad, Maureen and Morrison Stewart had become something of surrogate parents to her. They'd known her since she was fourteen with braces and incredibly thick glasses, when she was still growing into the woman that she'd become, and they'd been there for her ever since. When she'd graduated with both of her degrees, the Stewarts had been in the stands cheering her on, they'd call her occasionally to check in despite the fact that she was used to being on her own, they even sent care packages to Europe when she'd been in Ukraine in case she was ever homesick.

Though they'd never replace her parents, they'd managed to help knit back together the large scar that the loss had left upon her heart. It was fitting that they spent every Thanksgiving together; she'd never be able to express the gratitude of her gratefulness for the family's love and affection. Their yearly routine had led Maggie to where she currently resided: on the ruffled, light pink cushion of Poppy's childhood bed.

"Do people our age even use tinder?" Maggie whined from where she laid, flopped on her stomach with her chin resting on her crossed arms.

She watched helplessly as her best friend used her phone to create, yet another, dating profile for her. They'd gone through several of the applications that were now downloaded on to her phone: Bumble, Hinge, Tinder. Maggie had to cap the number of apps that she had wanted add to her phone; somehow Poppy knew of even more, each claiming that you could find love or make a connection with just a swipe of a finger from the comfort of your living room couch.

"How do you think I meet people?" The dirty blonde wiggled her eyebrows at Maggie with a brilliant grin and a little shimmy of her shoulders before directing her attention back to the phone in her hand.

"With your sparkling personality and ability to have a conversation with almost anything that has a pulse." Maggie deadpanned.

They'd always been polar opposites; where Poppy was light, Maggie was dark. Where she was personable, Maggie was reserved. They were different sides of the same coin.

"Well, that too." Poppy's grin didn't fade, "You just have to get out there."

"I don't want to 'get out there,'" Maggie used air quotes and rolled her eyes, "I'm comfy right here, thank you very much. And I'm really busy with the foundation and petitioning the board for the new division so there's no time for me to even date anyway—"

"At least, not with your standing Friday night dates with an Avenger." Poppy cut her off, not even bothering to look up from the screen to see Maggie's annoyed expression.

"They're not dates." She repeated for what felt like the hundredth time. The pair had no secrets; they'd been with one another through thick and thin, there was nothing that went unsaid between them.

The night after she'd overheard Natasha and Steve, she'd called Poppy. She'd locked herself in her private bathroom, turning the bathtub on to run and muffle her voice with the running water, paranoid that she'd be overheard by her neighbors in a reverse twist of fate.

Upon Poppy picking up the phone, Maggie confessed like a parishioner: she hadn't realized that, somehow, she'd developed feelings for Captain Fucking America of all people and that he definitely didn't feel like she did, according to the conversation she eavesdropped on, and she didn't know what to do except shove the feelings down.

"I still think—"

"Pops, there's literally no other way that I can misinterpret him saying: 'she's a friend. That's it.'" It was like his words had been branded on to her brain, seared into the wrinkled flesh of it with a hot iron.  She turned so she was resting on her back, her espresso eyes trained on the spinning, white blades of the ceiling fan. Surely, she and Steve could be friends. "It's okay. I'm fine."

"I'm just saying. If you never talk to him, you'll never actually know." At Maggie's unimpressed look, Poppy shrugged.

They both knew that wasn't a step she was willing to take. She'd rather run and hide and she'd made peace with that but, even after a decade, Poppy still hadn't gotten past the fact that her best friend's persistence in academia and work got lost in translation when it came to interpersonal matters.

Several more minutes passed in silence before Poppy tossed Maggie her phone back, landing on the bed with a muffled thump. The small device weighed heavier with the new possibilities that Maggie knew she'd never take advantage of.

"Don't you dare change the bios or pictures, Marguerite Brynn Hall." She pointed a pastel-painted fingernail at Maggie with a feigned look of sternness, her green eyes sparkling with the fairy lights that still hung on the walls after more than ten years. "They were expertly curated by the person who knows you best." She smiled serenely, coming to lay beside Maggie and resting her head on her shoulder before adding, "And loves you the most."

The familiar cotton candy perfume worn by her best friend was a comfort; Maggie grabbed her hand and squeezed it silently, sending her love back through the fond gesture. Even when she had nothing, she knew that she always had Poppy.

Maggie knew that Poppy was only trying to get her to open up to the possibility of something other than the current dreariness of her life. Though she'd had several partners in the past years, her last long-term relationship had ended over five years earlier—Nicholas.

She'd been the one to end their relationship but she knew that it hadn't been the most graceful of dissolutions; she still held a lot of guilt for the way that she'd left. She'd gotten scared and she'd run, like she always did. Perhaps the ending of their multi-year union was what had spurned her from embracing the possibility of new beginnings.

Over drinks a few weeks earlier, Maggie made an offhand comment that had put Poppy's plan in to action. She'd mentioned that she couldn't remember what it felt like to sleep in a bed with someone. She had been lying in the center of her gratuitously large bed, sprawled out as the ivy vines of sleep began to curl around her to take her away to her dreams, when she realized that she no longer had a specific side of the bed. In the years she was with Nick, the left sides of each of their beds had formed an indentation in the shape of her body but her new bed had begun to slowly sink in the middle, contouring to its only inhabitant.

The pair laid in a comfortable silence, watching the lights twinkle and the fan spin as quiet music came from the record player in the living room. Outside the glass window, snow flurried through the dark night, swirling in the wind, being carried through the bustling city that would typically begin its transition to the Christmas season come morning.

In the wake of disaster, no one seemed to know what was going to happen when the holiday season rolled around. It seemed as though there'd been a silent agreement among those who remained to try and remain as close to normal as possible.

The world was still turning, albeit with half its occupants. The tides changed, grass grew, the sun and moon rose and fell. Life went on for those who had been left behind but, like the snow falling on the ground outside, it was all new now.

The passing moment of contentment was broken by Poppy's quiet, caring voice when she turned to face the brunette, "Mags, I really think that getting railed would solve a lot of your problems."

She let out a surprised snort of a laugh at her best friend's words, setting off the blonde as well. Tears streamed down her face as she tried to stop laughing but each time she'd come close, she'd look to Poppy and the cycle would start all over again. She didn't know how long they laid there, cackling like they were crazed, but it had been the hardest she'd laughed in, at least, the last six months.

December 25, 2018

As it happened every year, Maggie found herself visiting multiple parties over the course of the day when it came to Christmas. Earlier that morning, she awakened at the Stewarts' home, sharing breakfast and exchanging gifts before she'd had to leave to go see Tony and Pepper for a yuletide lunch. Since their moving out, Pepper had been the driving force to arrange a weekly get-together where she could catch up with the older couple.

As much as she missed them, she couldn't help but admit that retirement suited them well. It seemed as if there were an opalescent bubble of serenity surrounding the eco-compound. They'd taken up hobbies; Tony tinkered around in his workshop, Pepper took up gardening and reading wellness books. They deserved the peace they'd found.

From the speakers throughout the home came the soothing sounds of old Christmas carols; the classic songs and cozy room brought a familiar nostalgia that enveloped her in a warm blanket. Through the window in the kitchen, Maggie saw the winter sun had slowly descended to the horizon, the pastel blue sky now bathed in hues of purple and peach swirled with the white wisps of clouds. "I should get going."

Tony came out of the kitchen, bustling as he carried three glasses before distributing them to the two women and keeping one for himself.

"A Christmas toast, first." He raised his glass with a smile that crinkled the sides of his eyes. All afternoon, Maggie had noticed a spring in both Pepper and Tony's steps as they moved around the house, preparing lunch and talking with Maggie. It seemed as though time had begun to heal all wounds, even those that had cut deeper than the eye could see.

Maggie looked down into her flute at the dark green liquid swirled with sediment and put it to her nose, taking in the faint, verdant, earthy aroma like the ground after a rainstorm had passed. "You know, we usually toast with champagne and not...this." She let out a soft laugh, peeking up to see a strange look exchanged between the couple. "Unless we're not drinking anymore...?"

Their silent looks to one another became a quick conversation that, although Maggie couldn't hear, she could see. Pepper gave a tiny shrug to Tony, an encouraging smile spreading across her face as if she was telling him, 'go for it.'

"We aren't drinking anymore." Tony's coffee eyes might as well have had hearts in them as he looked at Pepper tenderly, "We're..."

"Pregnant." Pepper finished for him, the word almost a whisper as it fell from her lips as though it would become untrue if spoken loud enough.

"Oh my god!" Maggie's eyes went wide, her heart flooding with happiness as she embraced Pepper. The older woman laughed melodiously and hugged her surrogate niece tightly, rubbing a hand in small circles on her back.

"Congratulations, that's amazing." Maggie pulled back to look at her, "How far along are you?"

"Ten weeks." Pepper let out an exhale, allowing some of the tension she'd been carrying in her body to be released, her shoulders falling slightly. Up close, Maggie could see that although she was glowing, her eyes were tired and there was the smallest inkling of a bump beginning to form on her abdomen.

"You're the first one to know." Tony pointed out as Maggie embraced him as well.

If, a decade earlier, anyone had told her that Tony Stark would settle down with a wife and child, she would have laughed outright, but now, she couldn't picture anything other than this life that the couple had built from the remains of a fragmented world.

"Well, Maggie is a great name for a baby, you know. Classic. Pretty." She teased.

"He's sold on Morgan." Pepper rolled her sky-blue eyes playfully.

"Close enough to Maggie." She gently nudged Tony with an elbow. Her cheeks had almost begun to hurt from how hard she was smiling at the new development. In the wake of the world, this was beautiful news.

"We're keeping it a secret for at least another few weeks. Just until, you know," He took a deep breath, "we're out of the woods." Tony added, gesticulating at the end of his statement with a wave towards the window.

"Of course, mum's the word." Maggie nodded, understandingly. Since the snap, everything had felt so delicate, temporary, it felt as though the smallest noise could shatter the glass bubble of their new reality. "I am so happy for you guys."

"Thank you. And, if you could find a nice guy and settle down, our kids could have a  playmate around the same age." Pepper grinned, nudging and raising an eyebrow at Maggie who let out a laugh at the notion.

Her relationships, or lack thereof, was not a topic she typically broached with Pepper or Tony and she didn't intend for it to ever be.

Tony made an uncomfortable noise, "Ugh—don't talk about her having kids, Pep! She's still six and just lost her first tooth as far as I'm concerned." He shook his head, taking a swig of the green juice like he wanted to wash the taste of the idea out of his mouth. Maggie was silently thankful for the redirect in conversation.

"Just make sure you don't slip them a hundred bucks every time they lose a tooth." Maggie let out a laugh at the memory as she pulled on her coat to brave the cold outside.

"You did what?" Pepper was amused and scandalized at once, Tony dropped his chin to his chest in defeat as Maggie grinned, loving the opportunity to poke fun at him.

"Oh yeah. He was babysitting me when my parents went to the capitol and I lost my first tooth. He decided to consult absolutely no one about the amount that the tooth fairy normally leaves and instead, just shoved a hundred-dollar bill under my pillow." She failed to muffle the laugh that followed, "Imagine my parents surprise when their first-grader came home with a Benjamin in her Barney backpack."

"Thanks, Magpie." He rolled his eyes with a half-smile, using the childhood nickname that he'd affectionately bestowed upon her; it all stemmed from the times that she'd come to his workshop and pick up any shiny thing that she could get her hands on. He'd quickly figured out that he had to create small things to keep her attention so she wouldn't get into any big trouble when she was under his care.

"You're welcome, Stork." She gave him one last hug, using his own avian moniker in response. "I love you guys. Let me know if you need anything. I can always babysit!"

"Love you too." He gave her a firm pat on the back as she embraced Pepper once more.

The couple watched from the porch as Maggie quickly descended the stairs and made her way to her vehicle to find reprieve from the frigid, winter weather. She started her car quickly turning the heat on full blast, the warm dry air causing her hair to fly around her face before her teeth could even begin to chatter but perhaps that was from the happiness blossoming in her chest, warming her from the inside out.

December 31, 2018

It always felt as though time moved differently when it came to the holiday season—this year more than most others. The days seemed to drag on as they went unfilled by work or other obligations, sometimes hours passed by like minutes, and she never quite knew what day of the week it was if she didn't consult her trusty planner but New Year's Eve was hard to miss.

Maggie had never been much of a partier (aside from a brief stint in college) and she typically had to be dragged, her heels digging into the ground as she resisted, to social engagements. But this year, she had been one to plan something in an effort to brighten up the season despite feeling as though the last eight months had plunged them in to a pit of darkness that they'd had to fight their way out of.

Less than fifteen people in total, this was the New Year's Eve that they'd been dealt. After talking with Natasha and Steve, who had both given her the go ahead, she'd invited her coworkers from the Relief Foundation. While not all could make it, those that had been unable to return home to their family, or those that no longer had one, appreciated the intimate celebration.

With midnight looming, the gathering had slowly begun to wind down leaving the residents and their guests sitting around the living room, talking and drinking as the awful year drew to a close. A smaller-than-normal New Year's ball drop was cast to the television as thousands gathered in the city just miles away waiting in the freezing cold to celebrate the dawn of a new day that had been long awaited.

Despite the frightful weather outside, the apartment was warm from a combination of the heat circulating, more bodies present than normal, and the logs that crackled merrily in the small fireplace. Taking a seat, she silently cursed the black leather pumps that she'd strapped on her feet earlier that evening. The ankle strap dug into her heel and she briefly contemplated ducking back to her room to change them before her attention was drawn by the cushion beside her sinking down.

"I didn't get to say it before everyone came." Turning her head, she met a familiar pair of eyes, "You look really beautiful tonight."

At Steve's words, a shy smile spread across Maggie's face and she brushed a hand over the dark satin of her dress.

"You do too, Steve." She nodded at his ensemble; it was nothing special but it seemed as though he could wear anything and always be the most attractive man in the room. "Handsome, I mean." She corrected herself, sitting up straighter as she realized that she'd let her guard down, "Not beautiful—well, I mean, you are kind of beautiful."

"Careful, you're starting to sound like me." He chuckled. She watched as he tipped his drink back, his hand strong and sinewy while wrapped around the neck of the bottle.

'What else could those hands do?'

She had to force herself to look away, feeling her face grow warm at just the thought of her very platonic friend in that way. Her throat was suddenly dry at the image. It was safe to say that she had yet to sort out her feelings.

"Shut it." She rolled her eyes at his light jab as she took a sip from the thin, glass coupe that she held gently by its stem. "It's the champagne and shots from Natasha. We can't all have your metabolism, soldier."

He grinned, shaking his head before moving forward, "Where's Poppy? I thought we'd finally get to meet her tonight."

"I did too."  Maggie frowned, sparing a glance at the blank screen of her phone. "Something happened at one of the labs in Seoul so she's there for the next two weeks. She was looking forward to tonight."

When Maggie brought up the invitation while video-calling Poppy over dinner one night, she'd had to quickly yank out her headphones as her friend let out a scream before beginning the interrogation: When? Where? How many guests? Dress code? What should I bring? How do I address a former Avenger? Or a present one? Are there still present ones? Maggie had answered all of the questions in stride, excited for the two sides of her life to finally collide.

Without a doubt, she'd been disappointed when Poppy called the day before to explain the circumstances as she boarded the plane for the fifteen-hour flight that lay ahead. The girls typically tried to spend the holiday together. Poppy was adamant about it since she knew that Maggie actually did mind ringing in the new year alone, although she'd never say it aloud. Poppy's perceptiveness of Maggie's inner-thoughts had always been a running theme in their friendship.

"I'm sorry." Steve was earnest, as always.

"It happens." She shrugged with a sad smile, "She'll be home soon enough. And we talk everyday so it's not like I have much time to miss her before she's back."

"I always forget how much easier it is to keep in touch these days." Shaking his head, he watched the other party-goers move about the room. "You don't have to call the operator and ask to be connected, and it's not a big to-do to call overseas."

"No more carrier pigeons." Maggie continued listing off, hiding her grinning lips behind her glass.

"I told you, I've never even seen a carrier pigeon!" Steve looked at her sternly but he couldn't hide the glint of affectionate humor as he watched her shoulders shake with giggles.

"They used them in the war!" Maggie defended, playfully, "And it's not like you were looking for them!"

Steve opened his mouth before he was cut off by Natasha. She took a seat on Maggie's left side, leaning forward to see past the smaller woman and speak directly to him, "Are you going to give her a kiss, Rogers? It's bad luck for the new year if you don't."

At the abrupt question, Maggie almost choked on the tart, bubbly sip that she'd taken only seconds earlier. She turned and saw that there was only about two minutes left until midnight. Where had the time gone? They stood as everyone gathered closer to the television, counting down the seconds until they could put the year behind them.

Dabbing at her lips with a napkin, she sat her drink down. Maggie's face was now undoubtedly almost the same shade as Natasha's red dress. She couldn't bring herself to look at Steve's face, unsure, and almost nervous, about what she'd see in his expression at the idea of kissing her. Would he be completely aghast? Would he laugh it off?

She stumbled over her words, thoroughly ruffled by the thought that Natasha had planted in her head, "What about you?"

"Yeah, I don't believe in luck." She deadpanned, taking a sip of her drink before gesturing to the man with a smirk on her lips. "To be fair, he's not a bad kisser."

Maggie knew her usually carefully controlled expression faltered at Natasha's words, her lips pressed together as she busied herself with brushing some nonexistent dust from her skirt before clearing her throat. Natasha was one of the most beautiful women that Maggie had ever seen, she and Steve had probably been a show-stopping couple. "Oh. So, you two—"

As if she read her mind, Natasha quickly corrected Maggie's assumption with a nonchalant shrug, "No, definitely not. It was a Hydra thing."

"Romanoff!" Steve chastised, exasperated as his friend made another obvious attempt to shove him and Maggie together.

She never stopped; she'd asked him to cover Maggie's training several more times over the past months as the younger woman became more and more competent. He was certain that if she ever found the chance, Natasha would simply shove he and Maggie in a closet together, refusing to let them out until they were a couple.

Maggie finally looked over at Steve as he rubbed a hand over his face. The skin that had been shaved smooth months earlier now had a dusting of stubble across it. Though it wasn't as thick as his beard, it made him look more distinct, almost darker in a way. The veins in his forearm rippled, showed off by his rolled sleeves. How would those arms feel wrapped around her? Trapped in her thoughts, with the champagne clouding them, she absentmindedly caught her bottom lip between her teeth.

Steve watched as the plush cushion of her cherry lip bounced back as it was let go, his swallow would have been audible had the other guests not already begun their countdown. Something about her, whether it was their easy conversations, the passing glances, the casual touches, made him boyishly nervous. When he found her eyes again, he gave an embarrassed smile and a shrug, insinuating that it was her decision.

She knew it was juvenile and that he didn't feel the same way, but there was a part of her that wished he did. For a moment, she allowed herself the possibility to think that Poppy could be right.

Maybe she had misunderstood what he and Natasha were discussing when she'd eavesdropped months earlier.

It would explain the way that he'd hesitated as they said goodnight after the first time they'd had a real conversation.

It would explain his flirtation when they sparred at the gym, when he'd pinned her to the mat below.

It would explain the look he was giving her in that moment. As if she was the only person in the room that he could see despite the fact that they were surrounded on all sides.

As the crowd shouted "Eight," Maggie nodded at him in consent, an anxious smile forming on her lips as a kaleidoscope of butterflies took flight deep within her stomach.

"Seven!" When Steve stepped closer, her breath was taken away as he cupped her face. He tilted her head up to look at him as his thumb brushed over the sensitive spot where her jaw met her neck causing an unsubtle shiver to go down her spine as he gave her a lazy smile.

"Five!" He rested his other hand on her hip; it felt as though it were searing a hole through the thin fabric. The expression he wore was like none she'd ever seen from him before. For once, it was bright like the morning sun that would soon rise, seeming to hold so much hope and tenderness at the idea of new possibilities.

"Three!" She could feel his warmth radiating through the knit cotton of his dress shirt, heating her own body as they stood only inches apart. In the back of her mind, she had to admit that she was now grateful for the heels that made up for some of their considerable difference in height.

"One." He murmured with everyone else before leaning down to her, her eyes drifting shut as his lips touched hers.

Maggie had always believed that the feeling of fireworks after a first kiss had been made up by Hallmark or movies, something that people said to sell the idea of romance. But the bursts of pyrotechnics outside the window lighting up the night sky with glowing streaks of blue and white begged to differ when she felt them in her heart.

She felt the warmth spread through her chest, setting her aflame as his soft lips danced with her's, his stubble scraping across her sensitive skin. She slid her arms around his neck, staying close to him as the faint notes of the fruity champagne that she'd been drinking invaded his senses, intoxicating him more than the drink ever could.

It wasn't the kiss that either had anticipated; it wasn't chaste or sweet. There was something deeper, smoother; like amber honey slowly dripping from the back of a spoon in to a warm, swirling pool of tea.

And as suddenly as it began, it was over as they heard the beginning notes of Auld Lang Syne. Pulling apart, they broke for air as though they were breaching the surface after days spent underwater, exploring a world that neither had known before that moment. She stayed in his embrace, pressing her swollen lips together as she found his eyes, his blue drops of rain meeting her earth that waited below.

'We too have run around the slopes and picked the daisies fine. We've wondered many weary foot since auld lang syne.'

His tongue darted out to caress his bottom lip as though trying to find the taste of her once more, to remind himself that it had been real, that it had happened. If she didn't know any better, she would have thought the expression behind his tempestuous eyes was nervousness.

She beamed, letting out a breathless laugh as everyone around them celebrated the new year, kissing their significant others, hugging coworkers. Though her voice was soft, he could hear her clearer than anything else in the chaos surrounding them when she spoke, "Happy new year, Steve."

'For auld lang syne, my dear. For auld lang syne. We'll take a cup of kindness yet for auld lang syne.'

He gently tucked a curl behind her ear, returning the sweetest smile that he'd ever been gifted with, "Happy new year, Maggie."

January 8, 2019

“Natasha, it’s fine.” Maggie wedged the phone between her cheek and shoulder as she gathered the scattered files that had been spread across her desk over the course of the day. “Poppy’s out of town too so I’ll probably just grab dinner with Steve and turn in early. Twenty-eight’s not a big deal.” She paused, thinking for a moment as she slipped the files into her tote bag, “But if you feel that bad about it, you could give me the rest of the week off from training. I’m still waiting for that bruise on my ass to fade from two weeks ago.”

“Yeah, I don’t feel that bad.” She could almost hear the smirk on Natasha’s lips; her friend insisted that Maggie’s skills were improving despite her own inability to tell.

“Didn’t think so. Have a safe flight!” Maggie stifled a small yawn as she entered the elevator, pressing her floor number.

“Talk to you soon.” She heard the line drop as Natasha ended the call.

Slipping her phone in the pocket of her jacket, she closed her eyes as she rolled her head back, trying to alleviate the dull ache in her neck. She’d stayed late in her office working until long after the sun had set, plunging the world outside into navy blue darkness.

The work restrictions placed on her keycard by Pepper had expired and so she had tried to strike a balance between using it to her advantage while not abusing it to her own detriment as she had in the past. She’d begun to use the extra time alone to refine the presentation that she was scheduled to give to the Board of Director’s the following month.

In the back of her mind, she knew that no matter what, the new division that she was proposing would mysteriously be approved regardless of the presentation. It seemed to have become something of an occupational hazard since the other employees realized that she was close to Tony and Pepper. The thought only made her work harder; she refused to let anyone believe that she didn’t put in the work for the outcome that she wanted. Nepotism be damned.

Entering the apartment, she heard the sharp clang of a metallic clatter, followed by a quiet curse from a familiar deep voice. Turning the corner, she spotted Steve Rogers in the kitchen surrounded by several bowls and utensils as the oven preheated behind him.

On New Year’s Day, when Maggie made her way into the kitchen to get her morning coffee, she was prepared to field questions about why she’d disappeared so quickly after midnight. After the spell had been broken and she'd looked away from Steve, she'd felt that telltale swell of pure anxiety within. As if she were the trained spy instead of Natasha, she had stealthily slipped from the party and into her room to repeatedly ring Poppy until the exhausted woman finally picked up her phone across the globe.

As it typically went, Maggie word vomited every tipsy thought to her half-asleep best friend until she felt somewhat calmer and finally allowed her to go back to sleep. She was pleasantly surprised when, in the morning, Natasha only gave her a raised eyebrow and Steve poured the liquid caffeine into her favorite mug and slid it across the counter to her with a silent, exceedingly normal smile.

Once more: water under the bridge.

Crossing her arms, she watched amusedly as he consulted a recipe in front of him, his lips mouthing the words silently to himself as his finger traced down the page. His brows were drawn together in deep concentration. His large frame took up so much space in the kitchen, making the room around him seem comically small. A tea towel was tossed over his shoulder, but it hadn’t spared his dark green shirt from the light dusting of flour that covered it.

“Steve?” She spoke cautiously, amused at the sight. His head shot up spotting her across the room, his expression like a child caught with his hand in the cookie jar. “What are you doing?”

With a sheepish smile, he shrugged, “I was…trying to make a cake. I thought it would be done earlier but something happened to the first one I made, and it looked like a sinkhole, so I was going to try again.”

Her heart warmed at the gesture before she tilted her head, her brow furrowed as she ran through her memories, “How’d you know it was my birthday?” She’d only mentioned it to Natasha, in passing, the day earlier, as she complained about going to the DMV to renew her license.

“Poppy called me.” He chuckled with a shake of his head. “She’s something else.”

Her best friend, riddled with guilt for missing Maggie’s birthday, had secretly called Captain America the day before to ask him to make sure that Maggie celebrated and didn’t pretend that the day was nothing special—something she’d done too many times before.

Maggie hated the traditions that birthdays often held; blowing out a number of candles, being sung to by an off-key and off-tempo group, opening gifts awkwardly in front of those that gave them to her. It was torturous.

“Don’t I know it.” She had to press her lips together to stop the giggle that threatened to break free as she approached him, brushing some of the excess flour from his shirt. The white powder floated into the air, swirling wildly for a moment before dissipating. “You really didn’t have to do this.”

“You did it for me.” He murmured, looking down at her as she rested her hand on his chest for just a moment too long. Clearing her throat, she took a step back, breaking their shared gaze as she moved into the kitchen.

After the kiss a week earlier something between the pair had changed. It hadn’t felt like a simple, platonic kiss that two friends shared but she was paralyzed; no matter how much she wanted to talk to Steve, she couldn’t. Not when she could lose a friend that she’d come to rely on more than she cared to admit. So, she’d kept the secret to herself, crossed her heart, and hoped to die.

“Take a seat, Captain.” She nodded to the bar stool on the opposite side of the counter, grabbing the checkered apron that she’d hung in the pantry.

“Nope. Come on, you can’t make your own cake on your birthday.” He shook his head firmly, trying to take the apron from her hands.

“Look, it’s sweet but I don’t believe you’ve ever made a cake in your entire, very long, life.” Maggie bent backwards holding the apron as far from him as she could in a game of keep away. Of course, he was only humoring her; he could have effortlessly snatched it from her grasp by just reaching across her body, his arm-span easily dwarfing her own.

“I can—” She cut him off, pushing his chest gently with her other hand before she quickly tied the apron around her waist, the strings making a neat bow on the small of her back.

“You can do super soldier things. I can do this.” Maggie grinned, already measuring ingredients that he’d retrieved from the cabinet earlier.

Steve watched her move around the familiar space on autopilot, a muscle working in his jaw to stop himself from arguing with her. They both knew that no matter what, he’d cave to her and she’d win. In the past eight months, he’d developed a soft spot for her; something Natasha ribbed him for mercilessly.

“Fine.” He acquiesced with a huff, narrowing his eyes at her mischievously. “I’ll be back.”

“Whatever you say, Terminator. Ooh! We’ll watch that sometime soon.” She called as he made his way down the hall, raising her voice before adding, “You’ll probably hate it!”

Heading down the hall to his quarters, he easily found what he was looking for. Before Maggie left for Poppy’s home on Christmas Eve, the trio had exchanged gifts. While talking some months earlier, he mentioned in passing that he used to draw; it was something that he’d picked up as a kid, unable to play outside for as long as other children. Along with the gift, she’d slipped him a note, ‘To pick up your old hobby again. xx, Maggie.’

“What are you doing?” She raised an arched eyebrow as he marched in, carrying the pad of paper and charcoal pencils and taking a seat at the bar across from her.

“Focus on that, leave this to me.” He teased, tilting the pad towards himself so she couldn’t watch him work as he watched her.

“Whatever you say, da Vinci.” Rolling her eyes, she pressed her lips together unable to squash her smile.

“Ready?” Steve watched as Maggie covered her eyes, appeasing his request before he turned the drawing towards her.

Her smile was wide, unable to be hidden by the hands covering her face. Because she’d been in the kitchen, most of her curls had been tied back, save for a few that framed her face like she was a piece in the Louvre; something so near, but so untouchable. Though she’d escaped without a smear of frosting on her face this time, she smelled of vanilla and sugar; a warm, sweet familiar scent that reminded Steve of home.

“Yes!” She criss-crossed her legs on the couch, eager to see what he’d secretly been working on as she'd baked and frosted the small cake. It was clear that he’d been drawing her, the way his eyes would move between her and the paper, asking her to pause for a moment or turn her face a different way. He’d made the marks so carefully; at times, she wasn’t even certain that the tip of the pencil had touched the page.

“Did you draw me like one of your French girls, Steve?” She wiggled her shoulders, teasing him.

“One of my what?” At his entertained inquiry, her cheeks went red as the implication of what she’d said flashed through her head.

“Just a dumb movie reference.” She cleared her throat, hoping he couldn’t hear the way her voice cracked as she brushed it off, relieved that he obviously hadn’t seen the film.

“You’ll have to show me that one too.” He nodded, banking the knowledge for later.

“Maybe someday.” She gave an awkward half-laugh, grateful her face was still hidden by her hands. That was an uncomfortable conversation that she wasn’t ready to have with him.

“Anyway, can I look? Please?” She drew out the middle vowel, shifting to sit up straighter.

“Somebody’s impatient.” She stuck her tongue out at him, the frosting from the cake having stained it neon blue. He shook his head, an affectionate smile playing on his lips while she was none the wiser to his enchantment. “Three, two, one.”

As his countdown completed, she removed her hands excitedly. On the thick, cream colored paper was a sketch of her in the kitchen. Each stroke had been carefully placed and thought through; she stood behind the counter, smiling in the direction that Steve had been sitting as he watched her. It was like he’d frozen a moment in time, leaving it on the paper to last forevermore. She didn’t take her eyes from the drawing as she reached for it.

Her breath was stolen from her lungs, taking in each small detail swiped across the page. It was uniquely her. The slight upturn at the end of her button nose. The deep dimples on her cheeks that framed her smile. The extra fullness in her bottom lip that complimented the sharp cupid’s bow that rested on the one above.

Each pencil stroke had been thoughtfully curated before being pressed into the paper. As he waited with bated breath, her hand ghosted over the lines, careful not to smudge his work. On the back of the paper, scrawled in his messy handwriting, was a small note.

Happy Birthday, Maggie.

- Steve

Quickly placing the drawing on the table, afraid she’d bend or fold it accidentally, she sat up on her knees before flinging her arms around his neck, her chin resting on his shoulder. Reflexively, Steve’s arms went out to catch her as she fell towards him, laughing at the sudden movement as he wrapped her in a tight embrace. Maggie fit comfortably against his body, his hand softly rubbing up and down her side as they sat in silence for several moments.

“It’s perfect.”

[dovewingz]

hi!!! i was usin ur au genderator and i got an au where Breezepelt is an medicine cat n... thought it was so cool. i was wonderin if u had any spiball ideas for it?? i really wanna use it isngienbr

shoreee i think i have some

> the first thought i had was breezepelt deciding to become a med cat after the great battle, bc he realises how much damage hes done and wants to help others. this doesnt rlly diverge from canon much tho so ill toss out some other ideas

> altho initially wanting to be a warrior, he changes his mind after the daylight gathering, when jaypaw saves him + lionpaw. hes intrigued by the Medicine Cat Life. maybe part of him believes that if he has a big important role in the clan, then crowfeather will pay more attention to him

> so like! i think it would still make sense for him to train in the dark forest, but obv hes not as talented at fighting... so maybe he uses herbs (etc) to harm his opponents? like small amounts of yew, or excessive poppy seeds lol

> im pretty sure canon breezepelt rlly enjoys the idea of physical strength + sees med cats as weak. so depending on what u do with that u could make him insecure in the dark forest bc hes not that talented at fighting, or very confident and defensive of his position!

> his relationship with jayfeather is now way more important because !!!!! thats a cat he trained and worked alongside for basically his whole life. which adds some extra SPICE to when/if breezepelt attacks jayfeather at the moonpool, or hurts his littermates/family, etc

anyway. ofc u dont have to use any of these ideas but do lmk if u continue to work on this au, im rlly interested in it :]

[gossipgirls]

I know this wasn’t intentional by the show but in the episode where Serena models for eleanors show with poppy and Blair tries to sabotage the show out of insecurities. I noticed that in a scene with Jenny, blair kept picking at her hair and combing her hand through it. I’ve had an ED and that is very common to do esp when stressed. I wonder if Blair’s ED came up during that time off screen. It would make sense if it did. Ofc I’m not saying she was dealing with her ED then but just an interesting observation.

i never noticed this, i’ll have to go back and rewatch this scene, but that’s such a good observation, thank you for sharing! you never know, leighton could have done her own research on eating disorders and found out about trichotillomania and decided to add it in herself!

i hope you’re doing well, anon! ❤️