#oh. just now realizing i forgot the lanterns :(

[basil-the-bulbasaur]

First piece for @mcyt-soulmate-sweepstakes

Close ups, the picture I took right after completion (different lighting), and the thumbnail/sketch under the cut

[rhyrhy]

“'Cause we're way too involved, just to cut and not call”

Situationship! Abby Drabble

࣪𖤐.ᐟ Warnings: none, just two idiots pining, fluff, 2k words. IFY This was 110% Inspired by this — more Abby here —

The sound of Abby’s door clicking shut behind you was second nature by now. You’d met her after being transferred to the WLF base. thrown into a new routine, a new home, with new faces. Eyes feeling- no, knowing you are sizing you up. And hers, Abby, had been one of them. What started as a proper passing familiarity. working the same routes, seeing her in the gym, nodding at each other across crowded mess hall tables. had turned into nights spent in her room, pretending it was casual.

But the feelings had started to bleed through…

First, it was the small things. Redoing her braid after you’d messed it up by tugging on it all night. Jokingly calling her patrol dog, your “baby” when she curled up beside you, earning a sound of amusement from Abby. Then she’d started catching your wrist before you could slip away, her fingers firm but careful. The dim glow of a lantern casting shadows across her face as she’d murmur, “It’s late. You can head back in the morning, yeah?” Now, after weeks of being apart. separate assignments. However the pit in Abby’s stomach from your absence was impossible to ignore. Too obvious to be anything other than what it was. Or what was building.

Abby was sprawled her bed, one arm tucked behind her head, a small smile on her lips as you stepped inside.

“Hey, stranger. Starting to think you forgot about me.”

You sat beside her, the mattress dipping under your weight as her arm stretched along the back, her fingertips brushing your shoulder, resting on the fabric of your shirt. This was supposed to be easy. No strings attached. But as she laughed, her gaze lingering on yours, something soft and knowing in her expression, she realized you both were in trouble.

in deeper than either of you would admit.

“Forget about you? Please, never.” You joked, bumping her shoulder with yours. Truth was, you couldn’t even dream of forgetting about her.

Abby humed, tilting her head to the side. Her braid following her small movement. “You say that now, but you haven’t even bothered to check in for almost three weeks.” There was tease lilt to her tone, but a small part of her was beginning to wonder if maybe you’d decided she wasn’t worth the trouble after all. Trying to push that past relationship troubles take over.

“Really?” You furrowed your eyebrows, thinking back to how long it had actually been. It clicked She was…counting? Regardless she was right. yes, it had been awhile. “Oh… shit, I’m sorry, Abs. Got busy, I guess?” You rubbed your arm, glancing over at her. It was a weak statement but it’s all you could mutter out.

Abby rolled her eyes, nudging you with her knee. “Busy, huh? Couldn’t even leave a note or something?” She gave you a pointed look, pouting dramatically. “Im offended.” But as she took in your sheepish expression, her gaze softened. Her bottom lip out.

“Hey! Don’t do that. You’re a horrible communicator too, and you know it,” you chuckled, reaching out to tilt her face toward you with a finger under her chin. Scanning over the new scar on the side of her cheek.

Abby scoffed, still faking offense. “Oh, so now it’s my fault, huh?”

She smirked as your fingers gently lifted her chin, her eyes meeting yours. A familiar spark flickered between you, something that felt like it was always standing behind you. Looming.

You nodded jokingly, scanning her face again. “Mhm. I’m soo not taking accountability here.”

Abby rolled her eyes again, but there was a mischievous glint in them. She pouted again, though this time it was clearly more playful than serious. “Oh really? I see how it is.” She leaned into your touch, her voice much quieter than before. Fingers twitching to reach over and hold you more.

You chuckled, brushing a few loose strands of hair behind her ear before cupping her face. “Oh Yeah? You do?”

Abby’s teasing melted away the moment your hands settled on her skin. Your touch was too gentle, too easy, and it sent a shiver down her spine. She knew she should keep things light, keep up the playful air, but the way you were looking at her? Like she meant something? It was fucking terrifying. You always looked at her like that, always.

“Earth to Andersonnnn,” you teased, your thumb caressing over her cheek. Eyes on hers, like you were trying to read her thoughts.

Abby blinked, cheeks tinged with a rush of heat. She let out a small laugh, shaking her head. “Sorry, got lost in thought for a second.” Her eyes fluttered shut for a moment, savoring the feel of your touch. It felt too natural. Too safe.

“I see that,” you hummed, shifting along the couch until you settled onto her lap, resting on her thighs. “Whatcha thinking about, hm?”

Abby’s hands instinctively found your hips, her grip firm but careful. The warmth of you against her sent a flood of emotions rushing through her. Ones she’d been trying to ignore for weeks, months. Ever since you first kissed her if she being completely honest with herself. Your arms around her neck, the soft sigh you let out. it wouldn’t leave her, ever.

She exhaled, her fingers absentmindedly skimming the hem of your shirt. “Nothing. Just… stuff.”

“Stuff,” you repeated, unconvinced. You sighed, resting your face in the crook of her neck, inhaling the familiar scent of pine. “I’m sorry I didn’t stop by sooner. But I… I thought about you.” Your voice was quieter now. “I promise.”

Abby’s breath caught as you nuzzled closer, her fingers tracing lazy circles along your back. She closed her eyes, relishing in your warmth, in the steady rhythm of your heartbeat against her. Worried hers was loud enough for you to hear.

“I thought about you too,” she admitted, barely above a hush. More than she should have. More than she wanted to. But admitting that meant something, and she wasn’t sure she was ready to face what that was. It screamed at her, little did she know it was mutual annoyance. That nagging to just face what was happening, like taking the sun away from a blooming flower. Forcing the petals to stay shut. She swallowed hard, gripping your waist just a little tighter.

“No, Abs… like, really missed you.” You sighed, pressing a small kiss to her shoulder before leaning back to meet her eyes. “Like more… than I should.”

Abby’s heart thumped at your words. She averted her gaze, trying to shove down the overwhelming feeling creeping up her throat. But when she felt your lips against her skin, her resolve broke. She looked at you then. really looked at you. That look you’d always given her whether you knew you were doing it or not. Your face, so open, so…unguarded. A expression she hadn’t yet memorized.

“More than you should?” she echoed, voice barely above a whisper.

You sighed, tilting your head back to stare at the ceiling. A thousand words wanted to spill but the only one you let fall was..

“Yeah.”

A long silence stretched between you, those heavy with unspoken words.

The warm of her fingers traced slow invisible patterns along your waist, her thoughts a whirlwind of emotions she didn’t know how to name. Or if she should. She took a deep breath, exhaling shakily before finally admitting, “I… I’ve missed you too. More than I should.”

You glanced back down at her, a small sigh of relief escaping your lips. “Not just me then?” you murmured, resting your forehead against hers, feeling the warmth of her breath against your skin.“Good… I feel better about that.”

Abby closed her eyes, savoring the weight of you against her, the way your fingers danced along her arm like this was something much more. “No, not just you,” she murmured, her voice softer now. She opened her eyes, searching your face for something. reassurance, maybe. A sign that this wasn’t just in her head.

You chuckled, running a hand along her arm. “I mean, you are so cute. How could I not think about your stupid face?”

Abby let out a short laugh, swatting at your arm. The tension eased just slightly. “Oh, you’re one to talk, Miss ’Too Busy to Check In,’” she teased.

“Oh, shut up! Now I’ll find you every day just to spite you. How’s that?” You grinned, tilting her face up once more, Faces much closer than before.

Abby huffed, pretending to be put off, but her heart was hammering against her ribs. “You better. I’ll be waiting for it. Every single time. No pressure, though.” She smiled, raising an eyebrow at you as your hands cupped her face. “Oh? And what else? Gonna bring me flowers too?”

You scoffed, arching a brow back at her. “Oh? What kind of flowers would Miss Anderson want?”

She pretended to think about it, tapping her chin before grinning. “Lilies. The white ones.”

You let out a soft laugh. “Lilies? That’s real romantic, Abby.” you hummed. “But I like the idea. It’s a deal then. ilies for your time.”

Abby chuckled, playfully swatting your arm. “Oh, so now it’s a trade? Fine, You’ve got yourself a deal.” Her fingers idly traced the back of your neck as she softened, her gaze stamped on yours.

“Good. You don’t have a choice anyway.” You leaned in, voice dropping to a whisper. “Now, can I kiss you, or are we just gonna flirt until the sun comes up?”

Abby pretended to think about it, her fingers still playing with the hem of your shirt. “Hmm… such a hard choice.” She whispered back, but the hunger in her eyes betrayed her.

“I think I’ll go with option one. C’mere.”

[killertoons]

I've got ideas and a theory for the recent welcome home updates (10/18/2024)

Walk with me-

So that short story alone already showed pulling ideas from Edgar Allen Poe with the tell-tale heart and the cast of amontillado

(I wouldnt be shocked if they reference other Edgar Allen poes works like the raven soon but that's me cheating to peek at clowns kofi and I won't speak further on that-)

Basically Sally is doing a rendition of the tell-tale heart and poppy got cast....only she doesn't want to be involved. It's a scary tale, and for those who didn't take advanced English

The story of the tell-tale hearts about a man so absolutely freaked out by this old man's eyes to quote

'I think it was his eye! Yes, it was this! One of his eyes resembled that of a vulture- a pale blue eye, with a film over it.'

So the man sets out to kill him, does so by lurking in the dark for 7 straight nights till finally the 8th night he finally does so, dismembered him and hide the pieces under the floorboards!

But when police came to investigate...he could hear both but a beating heart under the floors and from his guilt he admitted to the murder and ended the tale with

'"Villains!" I shrieked, "dissemble no more! I admit the deed!- tear up the planks!-here, here!- it is the beating of his hideous heart!"

So already Sally doing a rendition of this tale is wild already as I imagine it's been changed to be more family friendly for the neighborhood, but poppy isn't up for it.

And Sally's sad about it! And of course the neighbors all know why poppy actually didn't wanna do it. And Sally trying to be a good friend realized the play scares her so they gotta do something to let poppy have her cozy state of mind away from anxiety

So they form their plan-

To cask of amontillado her into her house, brick by brick.

Another famous story by Edgar Allen Poe, that one is about a guy luring someone he had a dispute over into a cellar and bricking him up down there to rot.

It's a revenge story, one we have no details other than a man was wronged (we never learn the reason) his anger and vengeance taking center stage.

Through the entire story time, the neighbors are supposed to be following a book along as a read aloud story but they keep breaking into separate lil conversations or making quips to each other... Till the end where audio is lost on the rest of the story after poppy was bricked away.

However...

Because we have the secret website we can check there and what's found was....worse

Poppy in the dark of her barn and something is lurking with her in the dark.

By the end someone gets her out but the sounds of the people aren't named... although they sound familiar to us

I could say what we were all thinking and state the obvious "oh those must be the puppeteers! That was poppy's puppeteer having a freak out moment-"

Which I personally agree but there's more to it.

Do y'all know how big birds puppet works?

It's one person in there, with a screen to tell you where to go and a script taped inside while they maneuver around like this!

I imagine poppy is the same way since she's based design wise off big bird

Now with this in mind, add how hard it is to move or see or perceive where you are in general in that suit. How clasterphobic your gonna be if you can't get out!

I get clasterphobic trying to get out of a dress that fits too tight at the store, I can't imagine how scary this would be especially if your on your own in the dark room as well!

with only your lantern to read your lines and something to occupy yourself- maybe knitting as it's a hobby you picked up-

When you hear breathing that's not yours. From within the suit. A suit that's JUST big enough for you, mind you.

So it be impossible for anyone else to be breathing...only you forgot someone.

The puppet suit itself...is breathing.

And there's scratching at the door, something else is lurking in the dark with you but you can't see it. You can't get out, the suit can't leave but your mind is stuck the doors open but in another world it's closed and sealed-

But I'm getting ahead of myself

What is said is...what if that IS poppy reacting in the dark to something...but also it's the puppeteers reaction to poppy as well. They share a mind and A space for a moment in the dark where their fear matches them and it doesn't break till the door opens and the puppeteers talk..

I think the horror is going higher as both sides are gonna start interacting more and more with each other..

[worldstarz]

saving kaeya after his fight with diluc

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

pairing: kaeya alberich x fem!knight!reader

summary: after his fight with diluc, kaeya is thrown out of the manor to fend for himself. stumbling, bleeding, and on the verge of death, he finds you.

tags: hurt + comfort ; some angst ; mutual (?) feelings ; tbh could also be seen as platonic ; pre-storyline ; not proofread ; prolly ooc i’m so sorry

cw: blood ; injuries ; mentions of violence

notes: going through my notes app that is filled to the BRIM with oc x canon pairings. i haven’t played genshin in over a year (and this blurb was originally written like two years ago lmao) but i still love my flirty slutty cryo man! anyways i altered it so it’s reader x kaeya and removed some oc stuff, but idk how to fit in an explanation on why you’re in the forest… let your imagination run wild!!!

•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•

kaeya stumbled out of the winery, hand trembling over his bleeding eye.

'it's fine... everything will be fine.' thoughts raced through his head. his whole entire body was throbbing in pain. it’s not like he could go back inside the winery to rest—not after a fight as nasty as that.

"diluc will be running over to some maid any second now. ha, lucky bastard," kaeya muttered.

diluc had a team of servants that he could go to. kaeya only had diluc, emphasis on had.

at the dead of night, there was no way he could get care at the cathedral. he couldn't hold in a chuckle, realizing the situation he was in. he had no one, huh? though popular, kaeya didn’t have any particularly close friends who he could spend the night with.

with that, he knew he had no choice but to pitifully limp to the favonius headquarters—a long, long walk away.

he barely made it into the forest before he fell to the ground, wheezing against a tree. his ears were ringing, but he could hear footsteps cautiously approaching him. he didn't even have the energy to lift his head.

"kaeya? what the hell are you doing out here this late?" whose voice was that...? was it an angel’s? oh, wait. angels wouldn’t swear. it was your voice.

in the state he was in, he could only muster a grunt in response. you kneeled down in front of him, and gasped at the sight of his collapsed body. "just what have you gotten yourself into this time?" you muttered. "can't stand up anymore, huh?"

you tilted his chin up, and both of you wince—him as a result of pain, you due to getting a clear view of his injuries. his blue hair, usually tied into a low ponytail, cascaded down his shoulders, caked in blood. his crimson-soaked chest rose and fell rapidly. "ooh, that is nasty. come on, lean on me. we're going to headquarters." you kneeled down to wrap your arm around his torso, gingerly lifting him up.

"well, would you look at that. that’s exactly where i was heading,” he chuckled, leaning against your body. typically, he would never accept support from another. but, with this arguably being the lowest point of his life, his pride was the least of his concerns. plus, you were just so undeniably warm. if he’s on the verge of death, then maybe being by your side wouldn’t be so bad for a final memory.

you don’t respond, your pace slower from his weight and for his comfort. silence follows. you obviously had a million questions for him—what the hell happened? did he get in a fight with an abyss mage? why was he out so late?—but you could tell he was beyond exhausted, and from the sight of his gushing wounds, getting answers was far from a priority.

the two of you arrived in the city, streets barren in the pitch black of night. the tavern was closed, so, thankfully, no drunkards were hanging about near the path.

the inside of the headquarters was equally empty. the soft glow of lanterns lit the way up the stairs to the barracks. "kaeya, where is your room?" you asked, your voiced barely above a whisper as to not wake the other knights.

"all the way at the end of the hall. but... i forgot my keys," he whispered. you could tell he was smirking.

"how sly of you. if i didn't know any better, i would've thought this was another trick of yours to be close to a lady," you responded, though there wasn’t a hint of accusation in your voice.

"ha, you know me so well."

"to my room we go." you walked further up the steps.

after a moment of silence, you mumbled, "i know you're not the type of person to sneak into a lady's room."

"i'm grateful you understand me so well."

"zip it. i don't even know your favorite color."

unlocking your door, you gently set kaeya down on your bed. you immediately get to work, removing his coat and shoes. usually, his slick tongue would say something suggestive, but tonight, he had no choice but to refrain.

even with your limited knowledge of first aid, you knew just a damp rag would do nothing to help. "i have no tools with me," you say, beginning to walk away. "i'll go grab so-"

kaeya suddenly grabbed your arm, effectively stopping both you and your sentence. he looked so... pained. "please don't go,” he whispered. you never could have expected this level of venerability from him.

"...kaeya?" you whispered, turning to face him. "i have to find a way to tend to your injuries. you're in pain, aren't you?"

his hand slacked.

after coming back with medical supplies, the two of you were silent as you tended to his wounds. he gazed at the ceiling, the silence occasionally broken by you asking for permission for actions such as unbuttoning his shirt. you don’t comment on the new cryo vision in his pocket.

deep gashes littered his body, most notably a diagonal one across his chest. as you applied pressure against the gaping wound in an effort to stanch the bleeding, kaeya couldn’t help but hiss in pain. “sorry, sorry, i’m trying to be gentle,” you whispered hurried apologies, using one hand to continue applying pressure and the other to hold his hand.

his grip tightened, and the poor boy whispered, “i know, i trust you. or, well, i’m trying to.”

all you could do regarding his eye was wrap it in bandages to get it checked out in the morning. the basic first aid lessons you were required to take to become a knight did not cover an injury like that.

once you finished, you sat on the floor, leaning against the bed frame. he was still holding onto your hand.

"what happened?" you asked softly.

"..."

"was it an ambush?"

"..."

"i'll report it in the mor-"

"don't. please, don't," he whispered. “i swear i’ll explain everything to you one day.”

you grimaced. "fine. just... promise not to do anything stupid like that again, alright? i was worried."

kaeya didn't respond, going over your words in his head. you were worried? you didn't seem worried. but... you were worried. why would you so willingly take care of him like this? how would you react if you knew who he really was? would you still be worried?

he couldn't hold back his tears and restrained sobs. you lifted your head in surprise, leaning in closer to scan his expression.

"...kaeya?"

"my apologies," he tried to smile, covering his face with his free arm in embarrassment. no one has seen him like this before, and it was far too foreign for him. "especially when you let me use your room."

in response, you squeezed his hand, whispering, “it’s fine. i don’t think of you any differently.”

how do you always know exactly what to say? to grant him at least a little bit of privacy, you turn away as he quietly sobbed into his forearm.

after a while, he sniffles, saying, “i apologize. i don’t know what came over me.” trying to get some humor out of the situation, he adds, “well, i guess we are bonded for eternity now, aren’t we?”

you turned your head to face him, the furrow of your brows causing him to chuckle. “archons, you’re going to be the death of me,” you sighed, pinching the bridge of your nose.

“seeing how you saved me from death, that wouldn’t be fair, would it?” his foxy grin made you let out yet another exasperated sigh, but you still couldn’t help but smile slightly. it was obvious he was trying to act tough for you, but for now, you would follow along with his fantasy.

“alright, whatever. get some sleep.”

“and what about your sleeping arrangements?”

“i’ll manage. i’ve slept on the forest floor for missions, i can handle a hardwood floor.”

“oh? i couldn’t possibly let my savior sleep in such horrible conditions,” he teased. “won’t you join me in bed?”

“barbatos, give me strength,” you muttered.

he laughs softly, and you can feel your stomach tighten at the sound. even during such a rough moment, kaeya can still manage to put up a charming appearance. his single eye twinkled in the low dim of the candlelight, and you realized your falling for his sly tricks. “please, [name], won’t you grant a poor, injured man his dying wish?”

with a groan, you let go of his hand and climb into the bed beside him, careful not to touch him to avoid any unnecessary pain.

“i knew you were a saint!” he gives you a triumphant smile as you lay on your side to look at him. his tanned skin, though scratched, still was as enchanting as ever in the moonlight. the deep blue of his eye pulled you in deeper, and once again, you realized you were a victim of his charm. but, this was different—though he would never admit it, with your tender care of his wounds and unwavering support, he has unknowingly fell victim to your charm, too. his hand seeks out yours once again, intertwining your fingers.

neither of you commented on the continuation of the hand-holding, nor would you ever.

only then, as you two shared the cramped bed space, does kaeya come to a realization—he had you.

his grip on your hand tightened.

he has you.

[nomsfaultau]

Philza Malewife Competition Round 9

Previous rounds: Cleaning. Cooking. Decorating. Karens. Sick Day. Eggs. Hugs. Venting. Current points: The Lambs Wolves Wear (2), Lighting Lanterns (1), Weight in Gold (2), Fault (2), everyone else (0). And an honorary point to qsmp for a guest appearance.

For a quick synopsis for the fics I’m referencing- those are here

Next round: Handy man! Broke a Samsung Smart Fridge? Giant magical explosion? No problem! These Phils are on the job, dedicating their experience and skills to crafting, repairing, and home improvement!

GOLDEN APPLES (Gilded Atrophy): Well this Philza did repair all of L'Manburg after withers, tnt, and however many wars occurred. If he could patch up a crater, he can fix just about anything. This includes lovely walkways and infrastructure, beautiful residencies for the refugees of the nation, stunning air balloon lanterns, and overall just the prettiest town ever seen on the server. It's all developed from his centuries of knowledge, though might be a little slow since he's building it all by hand while his wings are recovering from the blast damage. If he can fix a country, he can fix anything. Also patches up creeper holes <3

The LAMBS Wolves Wear: He lives in an old house (built by his great great grandparents) and is used to fixing things up by hand. Doesn't have much in the way of materials, but can chop down trees or make rudimentary replacements. And given "Tommy" keeps destroying the house, he's putting those skills to use....or would, if "Wilbur" isn't refusing to let him, insisting on plastering illusions to 'fix' everything. So, now it's broken, and you can't tell it is until it's too late.

MANDATORY FAMILY REUNION: Hahahahhah......he has a check for 200k to make this go away..?

Where do BABIES come from?: "Heyyyy Dad? Could you swing by, I think my fridge is broken. And the shower, and backdoor, and- DID YOU START A FIRE IN THE WASTE BASKET?! Sorry, I- oh yeah, I have news about new...roommates?" Essentially, this dude just got out of college, does not have money for a repair person, and is replying on his own dad to dad for him. Also forgot to tell his family he now has...four kids? And counting?? So that'll be fun....

LIGHTING LANTERNS to Bring You Home: "Mmm I'm reading. Technoblade I humbly fall in supplication in need of your godly power blah blah fix it for me. "HAEH?! Your words fall upon closed ears for I am a god of Work, not of lazying about!" "Fascinating. I did not realize you were incapable." "NAY! VERILY I AM THE MOST CAPABLE!" "uh huh prove it. Do I win the tournament now?"

Worth far more than you WEIGHT IN GOLD: He has made a very fluffy nest! (this is all he is capable of building). Like technically he can use rudimentary tools...but that's kinda it.

LORD what fools these mortals be!: Poof. He conjures up the finest of new rooms. The ceiling is infinitely high and sparkles with constellations. There are floating steps and magic candles and waterfalls for bed curtains and jewel trees and just about any magic you can imagine. Doesn't show much hard work, though.

FAULT: Philza reveals a lot of craftiness and resourcefulness within Fault. He is shown carving a reed based woodwind instrument for Wilbur, tanning rabbit hide and creating sinew thread for a dagger sheath, contributing metallurgy abilities to the crafting of Tubbos' prosthetic legs, and constructing fairly serviceable tarp tens for everyone while on the run. Has lots of experience from building houses, crazy knowledge for all sorts of time period based skills, trades, architecture trends, etc. However doesn't currently particularly have a house to do home repair in.

I thiiiiink next round will be the Maid Outfit round but that will take a bit because I’m planning full drawings for each one.

[skyward-floored]

Whumptober Day 30 - Recovery

CONTINUATION TO DAYS 13 AND 28 read those or you’ll probably be confused 👍

Hola I have not given up yet 👋 I’ve only got one fic left now and it’s already half-written, and I’m going to do everything in my power to finish it before thanksgiving SO HELP ME. Please enjoy the finale of the animal transformation plot line :)

and forgive me for slipping in one of my Link OCs these are technically his bad guys I borrowed for the fic lol

Warnings: same as 13 and 28, body horror, injury, creepy people.

Ao3 link

Day 13

Day 28

————————————————————

Twilight bolted through the caverns, the others’ voices long gone behind him. The pain in his side only got worse the further he went, but he didn’t stop, tongue lolling, paws pounding.

He had to reach Four. Before it was too late.

The smithy’s cries grew louder as he ran, and Twilight abruptly realized they weren’t Hylian sounds— he couldn’t quite make out what they were over the sound of the water beside him, though. The current of the stream had gotten much faster, water rushing past rocks and frothing at the edges. But Twilight didn’t focus on it much, intent only on reaching Four.

Some measure of sense came back to Twilight as he made out more voices over the water, and he slowed his frantic pace, making an effort to quiet his steps. A different kind of light reflected off the water as he followed a bend in the stream, and Twilight crouched down, creeping hurriedly towards a clump of large rocks. He ducked behind them as he heard voices, then cautiously poked his head around.

Standing on the other side of the now-roaring water was a stone pedestal, partially carved from some of the glowing green rocks around. It was surrounded by a handful of figures in dark green cloaks, carrying lanterns that made strange shadows dance across the walls.

One of them shifted around, and Twilight’s gaze locked on the tiny, struggling figure tied to the stone, frantically trying to free itself. Twilight squinted, moving just a little closer, and sucked in a breath.

A small, rainbow-colored bird was trapped on the stone, fluttering its wings and attempting to peck at the rope with its beak. It was maybe a bit bigger than Twilight’s hand, and Twilight scanned the colors its feathers held, recognizing them with a sinking stomach.

“Let me go! I have no clue what you’re talking about with all this courage stuff!” Four’s voice squawked from the bird, fear creeping in on the edges of his words. “Quit plucking feathers! Will you at least tell me what’s going on? Seriously! What do you want?!”

None of the cloaked figures replied, obviously unable to understand him, and one of them drew forward, raising a hand up.

“Oh goddess Farore... greatest of the Three... grant us your courage as we initiate one of your chosen,” she said, and Twilight startled as he recognized the croaking voice from earlier. “His power will serve us well...”

Her other hand went up, and Four’s chirps grew to a frantic pitch as the long knife she’d drawn gleamed in the lantern light.

Twilight forgot any semblance of stealth and raced forward, leaping across the stream in one huge jump and landing on the other side with a snarl. The cloaked figures whirled around, and Twilight bared his teeth, prepared to fight every single one of them.

The old woman holding the knife seemed unconcerned at his appearance though. In fact, she seemed downright pleased, a gnarled smile stretching across her ancient face.

“Ah, another of Farore’s beloved. She must have taken a special liking to you, clothing you in one of her sacred beasts.”

She swept her hand forward and ropes surged from nearby of their own volition, snagging Twilight’s legs and sending him to the ground before he could do anything. He snarled, fighting against them, but they only grew tighter, and Twilight fell to his side with a grunt.

“Twilight!” Four chirped frantically.

“Oh he’s magnificent!” another voice squealed, and Twilight recognized it as the other voice they’d been hearing. “Mistress may I have him first? Please?”

“You know the rules, sister,” the old woman reprimanded. “Farore has chosen me to partake first.”

The other figure that had spoken drooped, but bowed her head in a nod, and the old woman approached Twilight, her knife still held high.

Twilight snapped at her, struggling fiercely, and the old woman wagged a finger at him.

“Now now, relax. We’re not going to kill you.”

“Right. We’ll only take some pieces of your courageous bodies, and leave you alive after,” the cheerful woman added. “And afterwards you get to stay with us forever!”

Twilight fought much harder against the ropes, but they refused to budge a bit, and Four let out a frantic cheep.

“Twilight, hold on!” he said hurriedly, his beak pulling at the ropes.

“Doing my best,” Twilight growled back. He kept fighting, but made no progress in escaping his bonds.

The old woman with the knife knelt beside him, unconcerned at his snapping teeth, and thumbed a bit of the drying blood off of his muzzle, studying it.

“Yes, you’ll be perfect. A proud, fierce beast. One of the blue-eyes of legend,” she said with a smile. “Never have we had so many true Chosen in our grasp... Farore’s providence is good indeed.”

Twilight snarled, struggling wildly, and the woman raised her knife again.

“Hold still.”

Twilight’s heart wrenched up into his throat, but then Four managed to bite through the ropes holding him, launching himself off of the platform with a cry.

His flight was miserable at best, but he still managed to land on the woman’s head, pecking and clawing at her furiously. She reeled back from Twilight with a shout, smacking at Four, and Twilight strained as hard as he could. The woman’s hand smacked down, hitting Four hard enough that he was stunned, and she snatched him into her gnarled hand with a glare.

“Do not interrupt,” she hissed, squeezing until Four cried out.

Twilight barked in anger, worry for Four strengthening him, and he snapped a few of the ropes around himself. He lunged for the woman’s legs and she shouted again, several of the other cloaked figures sweeping forward. One of them took Four from her grasp so she could wave her hand and fix the ropes over Twilight again, and he grunted as he was rebound and Four was carried away.

“Smithy!” Twilight barked, heart pounding at the sight of the limp bird on the stone. “Let him go!”

“Stop that this instant,” the old woman snapped as Twilight thrashed around, growling and fighting against the ropes. They abruptly tightened, and Twilight’s snarling was choked off, pressure squeezing his already-sore ribs.

“I know the adjustment is hard, but this really will be the best for you,” the giggly woman cooed. “We’ll only take some of your courage now and then, and you’ll live a wonderfully comfortable life with us! Farore will bless us all for our devotion!”

Twilight wheezed, unable to take in a deep breath, his ribs aching and squeezing. He could barely focus on the words being spoken, his head growing fuzzy from lack of air, and he couldn’t stop the pained whine that escaped him.

He had to get to Four, but Four wasn’t moving, and he couldn’t breathe, and these people were too powerful for him to take by himself—

The old woman approached him again, her knife glinting in the lantern light. It was made of some kind of pearlescent material, small rainbows rippling across the tip, and Twilight stared at it as he wheezed for breath, unable to move away.

What he didn’t expect was for the woman to press the flat of the blade to his forehead, the metal cold against his fur.

A familiar biting cold wrenched through him, and Twilight gasped, the cold shooting through his limbs like an icy flood, hungrily spreading and devouring him. The ropes stopped him from thrashing, but he jerked beneath them, a strangled howl escaping his throat.

Oh please not again—!

His limbs began to contort, his stinging muzzle shrinking in, already abused ribs pushed and stretched. It was worse than the first time, his limbs still sore from the initial transformation and the fight earlier, and stars flew and shattered in Twilight’s vision as pain ripped through him.

His howl turned into a scream that rang through the cave, his body contorting and twisting around back into its rightful shape. Legs stretched and fur receded, teeth and ears and eyes that rolled back in his head.

It felt like hours before it finally eased, the cold‘s intensity ebbing, and Twilight abruptly fell still, his breath rattling as tears slipped down his Hylian cheeks.

He might have passed out for a moment, he wasn’t sure. But he was so wrung dry from it all that he barely registered he was back in his rightful body, a shiver wracking through him.

A frightened chirp reached his ears, and Twilight pried his eyes open, a blurry spot of color moving in his vision. A flicker of relief hit him as he saw Four moving around, but then a hand grabbed his chin, tilting his head up.

“Hm, maybe not so courageous after all,” the old woman frowned, flicking some of his tears away. “But Farore has chosen you, so we will submit to her will.”

She dropped his chin, then lifted up his hand, Twilight shuddering as she traced the triangles on his skin.

“Courage touched. We’ll take this first,” she said almost hungrily.

Twilight’s hand was stretched out, ropes tightening on his wrist and pinning his arm to the ground. The woman raised up her knife again, and Twilight pulled weakly against the ropes, his strength sapped. All he could do was watch.

Twilight looked up as Four let out a cry of dismay, and the knife plunged down towards his wrist.

Then was knocked from the woman’s grasp by a boomerang.

The woman shouted as the blade fell with a clatter, a furious expression on her face. Twilight panted weakly as someone shouted, and loud steps thundered by, blurs moving around. Two smaller ones split off, and were suddenly in front of Twilight, looking at him in fear and worry.

“L... Legend?” Twilight wheezed at the blur of pink in his vision, and the rabbit nodded, the otter beside him quickly patting Twilight’s forehead.

“Yep, and me too. Hold still, we’ll have you out in a second,” Wind reassured, and he and Legend got to pulling and gnawing on the ropes, snapping them with their teeth.

Twilight followed their wishes and kept still while they worked, not really able to move anyway. It didn’t take Legend and Wind long to snap enough ropes for him to get loose, and Twilight tried to get his eyes to focus as he surveyed the scene.

Time and Warriors were attempting to keep the cloaked figures back, Wild helping them where he could. Sky clung to Time’s back, occasionally shooting out a paw, and Hyrule hovered closer to Twilight, still looking wobbly, but keeping his footing. All of them still looked battered and shaken, but they were putting up a fair fight.

Especially thanks to the teenager Twilight didn’t recognize in the middle of the fighting, damp hair falling in his face, his expression a mixture of determination and annoyance.

“You,” the old woman seethed, glaring at the teenager. “You’ve caused us nothing but trouble, boy.”

“Yeah a lot of people tell me that,” he shrugged, then threw himself out of the way of a sudden thrust from a knife.

“Who..?” Twilight started to ask, and Legend snorted.

“We picked him up on our way here, he fell in through the ceiling and nearly squashed Wild. Said he’d figured out there was trouble and came to help. Pretty sure he’s the hero of this world, even though he said he wasn’t much of one. He’s almost as crazy as the champion.”

Wind snickered. “Yeah, but I like him.”

Twilight struggled to sit up, body shrieking in protest at the movement. Legend and Wind gave him worried looks, but Twilight refused to be held down, and struggled upwards, breathing hard as he managed to get to his knees.

“Four,” he realized suddenly, jerking his head around. “Where’s—”

“There,” Wind said, quickly climbing up to sit on Twilight’s shoulder. Twilight looked where he was pointing, and he began to stumble towards the stone pedestal where Four was struggling to stand. The smithy chirped as they approached, something like confusion on his face, and Twilight realized with a flicker of annoyance he couldn’t understand him anymore.

“Yeah it’s me and Wind and everyone and also another guy, please don’t ask right now,” Legend replied with a sigh, obviously able to understand. “We need to go.”

“Here,” Twilight urged, holding out a hand, and when Four struggled his way over to it, Twilight picked him up and cradled him gently to his chest. He could see blood on Four’s feathers, and felt a sharp prick of guilt.

“Mistress, they’re escaping!” the giggly woman shouted, and Twilight just barely managed to duck away from a sudden thrust of a knife, the old woman looking extremely displeased.

“You’re ruining the ceremony,” she said with a cold anger, and lunged forward again.

Twilight dodged, but Wind cried out, the pearlescent blade nicking his side. A short ripple of magic shot outwards, and Wind dropped from Twilight’s shoulder like a stone, another pained shout coming from him.

Panic shot through Twilight and he quickly moved to stand in front of Wind, sucking in a breath as he saw Wind’s form ripple unnaturally, then convulse, a strangled cry ripping from his throat.

He began to elongate, his limbs stretching out, tail shrinking away. Twilight dodged another slash from the woman, and shouted for assistance as Wind slowly shifted back into his proper form, the curse peeled away from him agonizingly slow.

Someone shouted as Legend growled, and despite his injured paw, he launched himself up at the woman, sinking his teeth into her arm. Her green eyes flashed and she threw him aside with a squeak, horrible cracking and shifting noises coming from where Wind lay.

She turned her sights on Twilight again as Wind’s cries turned to a scream, his body almost finished shifting back, and Twilight leveled shaky fists at her as Four puffed himself up and tried to look menacing.

The woman stepped forward. “You will not—”

The unfamiliar teenager lunged in front of Twilight, blocking her attack with a swipe of his own dagger. He shot a glance back at Twilight, worry on his face as he looked at Wind, then dodged another swipe.

“Wretched child!” the woman shrieked, and the teenager in green leapt over a burst of magic, his hair flying in his face.

“Go, get out of here!” he shouted, and Twilight stumbled back, dropping to his knees beside Wind’s trembling form.

He was gasping for breath, eyes shining with tears, and Warriors suddenly ran over, urgency in the neigh he let out.

“Can’t understand you,” Twilight frowned, and Warriors jerked his head in Wind’s direction, then twisted around and motioned at his back. “You... want to carry him? Can you handle that?”

Warriors snorted, and that was enough of a confirmation for Twilight.

He ran a quick hand over Wind’s head, a bright swirl of blue on his forehead, and the sailor winced.

“O-ow,” he moaned, still trembling, and Twilight did his best to sit him up, his own arms shaking as he moved him. He knew he wouldn’t be able to lift him up onto Warriors’ back, and Warriors seemed to realize it, quickly crouching down on mostly-steady legs.

“Wind, can you hold onto Wars?” Twilight asked, and the sailor gave a bleary nod, still shaking.

Twilight did his best to shove him up, and Wind slumped on Warriors’ back, tangling a few shaky fingers in his mane. Warriors winced but didn’t otherwise react, and carefully stood, Four chirping worriedly. Warriors neighed something in response, and Four made an irritated sound, squawking as he flapped a wing.

Another cloaked woman ran up, but the new teenager kept her back, his blade glinting in the light of the rocks, and he shot a glance back at them all.

“Get going! Didn’t you hear me?” he shouted, then reeled as he was struck on the shoulder.

He recovered quickly, but Twilight had seen blood, and he knew the kid was right. This wasn’t a fight they were going to win.

As if to emphasize the point, Time suddenly ran over and shoved Twilight towards the entrance to a tunnel he hadn’t seen before, barking something at him he couldn’t understand. Twilight stumbled, but regained his footing, holding Four to his chest.

Wind swayed where he clung to Warriors, but he hung on tight, Warriors keeping as steady as he could. Time ended up staying beside Twilight as a furry crutch, Sky giving him and Wind concerned looks, and they all rushed for the tunnel, furious shouts coming from behind them.

Twilight noticed a bloody scratch on Warriors as they reached the tunnel, blood marring his pale side. He whinnied something behind him, and Hyrule stumbled forward, his flanks heaving as he tried to keep up. Relief flickered through Twilight as he saw Legend limping beside him, and Four cawed happily.

“Coming through!” Wild’s voice yelled, and the unfamiliar teenager ran forward with the squirrel clinging to his shoulder, a bomb in his hands.

They all charged forward as the teenager chucked the bomb behind them, and an explosion shook the floor, rocks falling where they’d been standing moments ago.

Time dropped back and snatched Legend up by the scruff, and Warriors began shoving Hyrule, the teenager Twilight didn’t recognize helping with pulling the deer forward across the rocky ground.

The tunnel curved and Twilight saw light ahead that steadily grew brighter. A furious shout came from behind them as they ran, something echoing through the tunnel that was lost in the sound of it collapsing.

The ground shook and he held tight to Time’s fur as the wolf practically dragged him forward, rocks crashing down, his head spinning, the light growing bigger and brighter by the second.

The teenager shouted, Time lunged forward, and they all spilled out from the tunnel into a grassy clearing, the whole thing collapsing in behind them.

Twilight landed on his back with a wheeze, Time and Legend panting beside him. Four was still resting on his chest, feathers puffed in alarm, and Twilight gasped for breath, every bit of him aching and sore.

They’d made it out.

Twilight wheezed and closed his eyes, exhaustion he’d been ignoring hitting him like a moblin.

Oh thank Ordona.

“That’ll hold them for a while,” the new guy panted, swiping some of his hair from his face. He gave Twilight a weary grin when he looked at him. “This isn’t the only exit, but it’ll take them a loooong time to get to the other one.”

He let out a loud whew, then flopped on the ground beside the others, Wild hopping out of his arms. The champion sniffed at his shoulder, his head tilted in concern, and Twilight saw a line of blood on the teenager’s neck, dripping into his hair.

“Hey you okay? That looks painful,” Wild asked, and the teenager (or Link, probably) waved him off.

“Ah, this? I’ll be fine, no worries,” he said with a grin, though Twilight saw the edges were strained. “Just a scratch.”

The dust from the collapse began to settle, and Twilight wearily raised his head and looked around, making sure everyone else had made it. Warriors was sitting close by, saying something to Hyrule flopped beside him, the two still panting for breath and looking a bit worse for wear. Wind had been slid off his back, and Sky was curled up beside him, the sailor pale and looking like he was going to be sick. Wild was still sitting by the unfamiliar teenager, and was saying something to him, scratching at one of his ears.

The teenager caught Twilight’s eye again as he looked at him, and gave him a half-grin.

“Not too bad of a day’s work,” he said cheerfully, as if they hadn’t all just escaped by the skin of their teeth. “You alright there? You look like you’re going to pass out.”

Wild wasn’t the only one who immediately looked over at Twilight, and Four let out a worried chirp, getting to his feet and cocking his head as he looked at him.

“I’m alright,” Twilight reassured weakly, and Legend let out an exhausted scoff.

“Yeah, sure. We all heard you screaming back there, don’t start that.”

“You all aren’t exactly in... pristine condition, either,” Twilight huffed, and let his head fall back to the ground.

Time whined from nearby, and Twilight let him sniff over his sore and aching body, even putting up with the cold nose Time accidentally poked his neck with. Finally he seemed content enough with his examination, and Time sat back down beside Twilight with a huff, Twilight trying to ignore the darkness wavering on the edge of his vision.

He blinked dizzily, conversation floating over his head and past his ears without turning into anything recognizable. A groan from Wind was perfectly legible though, and guilt gnawed at Twilight as he tried to look at the sailor.

Wind was still deathly pale and shaking, and Warriors was saying something to him, Sky translating. Wind shook his head to whatever it was, then pressed his face against Warriors’ neck with a whimper.

If you hadn’t run ahead, this probably wouldn’t have happened, his mind whispered, and Twilight closed his eyes, headache growing suddenly worse.

“Rancher? You all right?” Legend’s voice asked from somewhere close by. Twilight mumbled a response, his head spinning and darkness tugging at him.

Four chirped quietly, nuzzling his head against Twilight’s cheek, and something soft settled itself on Twilight’s other side, patting his shoulder.

“Go ahead and rest, Twi,” Legend said from his side, his voice surprisingly soft. “We can handle things.”

That and Time pressing himself against his side were the last things Twilight was aware of before darkness overtook him.

(...)

It felt like both an eternity and barely a moment when Twilight awoke with a start, eyes shooting open as he lurched upright... and nearly clocking his forehead against Time’s.

“Whoa, easy there pup,” Time said, catching his shoulders when he pitched forward.

Twilight blinked a couple times, willing his fuzzy vision to clear, and realized he was in a bed, soft sheets over him, early dawn light rippling over the blankets. He raised his head, but barely took in the room as he focused on Time’s face, squinting as he noticed something off about it.

Then he startled as he realized Time wasn’t a wolf anymore.

“Huh?” he asked blearily, and Time cracked a smile, gently pushing him back down again.

“Good morning to you too. Our new Link and a few of the others found our belongings, including the Master Sword,” Time explained, brushing some hair out of his face. It looked more brightly golden than normal, and Twilight saw a few strands of white streaked through it. “Sky said we could use it to shift back, and he was correct. It still wasn’t pleasant, but I believe it went much more smoothly than you or the sailor’s experiences.”

“Huh,” Twilight repeated, and Time smiled again.

“Are you hungry? The inn here has excellent food. If you’re not up for that you should have some water at least, you’ve been out for more than a day,” he replied quietly, a flicker of worry in his eye.

Twilight’s stomach growled before he could answer, and he and Time both smiled.

“I’ll fetch you some of both,” he said with a pat to Twilight’s shoulder. Time then stood up a bit stiffly, stretching his arms behind his back with a grimace. Twilight heard a crack, and Time straightened, then walked quietly out of the room.

Twilight properly studied the room then, tired eyes glazing past curtains and a picture of flowering tree on the wall, then zeroed in on another bed in the room.

Wind was curled up under the sheets, still looking pale where he lay. Four was flopped beside him, the tips of his hair and cheeks shimmering with color that matched the feathers he’d been sporting. Warriors was snoring quietly in a chair beside them, his hair paler than normal, with a light-colored spot right in the middle of his forehead.

Twilight slowly sat up, grunting as his sore body protested, but he managed to get upright enough to see the other bed in the room as well. Sky was the one the most under the blankets, his hair color paler with some darker bits scattered throughout, but Wild and Legend were both under them somewhat as well, Wild’s hair streaked with silvery-blue, Legend’s back to fully pink. Hyrule was at the foot of the bed, just as deeply asleep as the rest of them, green flecks scattered across his face, two larger spots on his forehead.

The only one unaccounted for was the new kid, but when Time came back a few moments later, he was following behind him, grey-green eyes fixed on Twilight.

“Hey, you’re alive!” he said with a grin, grabbing a chair and sitting on it backwards. “That’s great, we were starting to worry.”

“I’m alright,” Twilight reassured, taking a bite of the warm bread Time had brought him. Oh that tasted good. “Just... tired.”

“You and everyone else, it’s been nothing but sleeping around here,” the teenager said with a glance at the others, his grin fading. “You guys had it really rough down there, I’m sorry.”

“It’s hardly your fault,” Time said, eating his own piece of bread. “I doubt we would have made it out of there without you.”

“Yeah... maybe. I just usually keep a better eye on the Farore weirdos, and right when I think they’re pretty much just down to stragglers, they somehow get twice as active and kidnap a bunch of people and torture them,” he said miserably. “I thought I’d taken care of them. I thought their leader was gone, and yet she was down there carrying on like always.”

“I’m certain that’s not your fault,” Time said grimly. “The reason we’re all traveling together is likely to blame.”

“You think it was the Shadow?” Twilight asked quietly. Time shrugged.

“I’m not discounting it. But,” he said, taking another bite of bread, “theories can come later. At the moment, all anyone needs to be doing is to rest. We deserve a break after all of that.”

Twilight smiled. “I agree.”

The other Link looked like he was bursting with questions, but he nodded, and bounced his leg as he drank some kind of juice from a cup. Twilight studied him a bit, looking at his unkempt hair and mossy green tunic. He looked about like all the rest of them, and Twilight couldn’t help his sigh, finishing off his bread. Yet another kid dragged into this mess.

A yelp from across the room interrupted his thoughts, and all three of them startled and looked over at Wind, who had shot upright with his eyes wide.

Time stood to go over to him, but Warriors was faster, waking up and going to Wind’s bedside with a worried look. He said something quietly as Four also sat up, and the three of them looked over at Twilight at the same time.

Relieved smiles lit all their faces, and Twilight gave them an exhausted one in return.

“Help me up,” Wind urged, and Warriors complied, helping Wind stand and supporting him as he wobbled over. The sailor shimmied up onto Twilight’s bed, then settled himself beside him with a smile.

“Hey sailor. Feeling better?” Twilight asked, and Wind hummed.

“Better than I did. I have no clue how you go back and forth between Wolfie like that,” he said tiredly, and Twilight sighed.

“My transformation isn’t nearly that painful, and only takes a few seconds,” Twilight replied, slinging an arm around Wind. “This... was not the norm.”

“That’s good to know,” Four said as he slowly walked up, parts of both his arms wrapped in bandages. “...I’m fine, Twi, I see you looking guilty.”

Twilight lowered his gaze, and Wind squeezed himself a bit tighter against his side.

“I should’ve done more. I shouldn’t have run ahead,” he murmured, looking at his hands. “If I’d waited for you all, we might’ve been able to make an actual plan that didn’t involve... everything this one did.”

“It wouldn’t have changed anything if you’d waited, Rancher,” Four chided, sitting on the bed. “They we’re already hurting me before you showed up, and I would’ve been changed back with that knife. Plus, who knows? They might’ve taken off my hand if you’d taken too long.”

“While I don’t appreciate you tearing ahead, it did end up being the best for Four,” Warriors added, crossing his arms.

“There’s no use dwelling on it, it’s in the past,” Time finished, and faintly smiled. “Besides, if we’d all rushed ahead, or even all held back, we might not have met our other hero here.”

The new Link blushed a little, but also smiled, a grin pulling at uneven teeth.

“True. Though... I still don’t totally get the whole time-traveling-multiple-guys-named-Link thing,” he admitted, scratching the back of his neck. “The guy who was a rabbit explained, but we were kind of in a rush...”

“Well there’s not much more to it than that, but once everyone is awake I’ll give you a more detailed explanation,” Warriors assured, and Wind grinned.

“And then we can give you a nickname!”

Wind started listing off ideas, each more terrible than the next, and Four squeezed Twilight’s arm as he looked over at him.

“Seriously Rancher, thank you,” he said softly, and Twilight nodded at him, feeling a little better. “I know you’re feeling torn, but it was in the heat of the moment. I doubt you could’ve made a perfect decision.”

“I still left the others behind,” he murmured, and Four sighed.

“Yeah. But they handled it. And so did we. And so did Wind. Try not to worry about it, we’re all safe now.”

Twilight breathed out, and tried to heed Four’s words. He didn’t exactly regret running ahead, but he’d gotten himself and Four hurt in the process, and Wind as well, thought somewhat tangentially, and he knew he’d be thinking about the whole situation for a while yet, wondering what he could’ve done better.

But... Time was right. It was in the past.

And they’d all made it out alive.

Twilight finished off his bread as he listened to the others chat, a hesitant sort of peace settling over him. The new guy was saying something about a swamp monster and how he’d ended up meeting Zelda, and Twilight settled back to listen, a smile pulling at his cheeks. Wind nestled a bit more tightly against his side, setting his head on his arm, and Four also leaned against him, listening contentedly.

Twilight looked around at them all while they talked, Sky and the others on his bed beginning to stir, everyone injured and marked by magic in some way.

But they were all back to normal. All recovering.

Twilight smiled, and closed his eyes, resting his head over Wind’s.

All safe.

[shyficwriter]

i love your writing !! can you please do a fix where the reader had a bad day and is overthinking decorating a pumpkin and loki tickles bcuz they won't start it

I could maybe produce a drabble... lol (Thank you!) [Edit: Sorry this is late! I started it and then got busy and forgot all about it!]

***

Loki walked into the kitchen to find you standing still, staring intently at a pumpkin on the countertop.

"Are we expecting it to do a trick?" Loki quipped, resulting in you jumping as you had been so focused you hadn't noticed him enter.

"No," you sigh, returning your gaze to your bare pumpkin. "I just don't know what I want to do with it. I mean- I could make it funny, but I not sure what would be funny. Or I could make it scary- but there's so many possibilities for scary- like the classic jack-o-lantern face, or I could make it a monster-," the corners of your mouth twitch as you continue, "or... I could model it off of your face..."

"Hey, now!" Loki scolded in mock-hurt as he calmly closed the gap between him and you. "One might take offense to that!"

You grin cheekily at him briefly as he joins you at the counter, but don't apologize. Within moments your attention returns to the pumpkin and your face returns to one of concentration.

"What about a happy face then?" Loki suggests.

"Not feeling it." you respond. It was true, carving something happy just didn't feel genuine considering just an hour ago you had been scolded by Tony for spilling some paint in the lab. You knew he wasn't actually angry, just frustrated from lack of sleep and you knew that he knew his robots would get the stain out of the floor in short order, but your anxiety still pulled you into a funk where you couldn't quite focus on doing anything productive- even something fun like decorating your pumpkin.

"Hmm..." Loki ponders, walking behind you to your other side. "Maybe I could help with that?" he pokes you in the side, making you jolt.

"Loki!" you scold, eyes popping wide as you grab his hand as he went in for another poke, "What are you doing!?"

"Helping," he said, matter-of-factly, using your distraction to latch onto your ribs with his other hand, sending you into a fit of giggles.

"Loki!" you scold again, giggling as you both crumple into yourself and make a poor attempt to defend yourself by grappling for his hands.

"Yes?" he asks, grinning mischievously as he further melted you into helpless laughter.

"Quit it!"

Loki hummed as if considering it before asking, "Are you feeling happy yet?"

You knew this was a trick. If you said no, he'd tickle you more. If you said yes to make him stop, he'd take that as a 'confession' that tickling would be a way to cheer you up in the future, and would probably definitely use it as an excuse to tease and/or tickle you. Given that, your brain must have short-circuited in your answer, because you only managed to reply with a giggly, "I'm going to bite you!"

"Oh!" Loki exclaimed in humored surprise. "Well that's not very kind of you at all! We should fix that- you're much too grumpy." He pulls you in again as you try to pull away and starts to rapidly dart his hands around your ribs and stomach so that you can neither get used to one sensation nor manage to grab his hands to stop him.

You're now doubled over in full belly laughter, uselessly trying to fight him off and scolding, "No fair!"

Loki chuckles and shakes his head in response. "Are we going to be less grumpy?" he asks, cheekily.

"Okay! Okay!"

"Hmm?"

"Yes! Alright!" you manage to get out, realizing he was fully intent on being a little shit. "Alright! I give up!"

Loki stops, but doesn't yet remove his hands. "Are we feeling happy yet?" he asks in a lilting voice.

"Okay- yes! I'm happy now! Are you?" you reply, still giggling as you catch your breath.

Loki thinks for a moment before deciding he was, but also deciding to give you one last quick tickle just for good measure, which you then swatted him for, only to then hold up your hands in surrender when he gave you a look that told you he had absolutely no issues with tickling you to pieces again.

"So, have you decided how you wish to decorate your pumpkin?"

"Yeah... Yeah, I think I know what I'm going to do with it now." you respond, already picking up a marker to get started.

"Well, I'm glad I could be of service." Loki gives a cheeky bow before departing, leaving you grinning in his wake to decorate your pumpkin.

You watched him leave as you drew on the goofiest, dopiest, face you could manage, before raiding the kitchen cabinets for some tin foil, which you then molded into a fairly good replica of Loki's horned helmet.

He was sure to be surprised when he saw it sitting with the other pumpkins later, though that might spell more trouble for you.

You'd decide later if it was worth it.

[blood-grove]

odd adjustments

prev <- part 2 -> part 3

adoptive!soap and ghost + adopted!reader

× pairing: soapghost

× summary: the now retired couple decides that there house is feeling a bit empty besides there two cats and german shepard.

× tws: medication, mentions of ptsd, angst, minor injuries

The ride was long they lived ways out from the city which would be a change of pace and scenery.

Simon was quiet through the drive the silence wasn't uncomfortable it was nice you found yourself dozing off here and there along the trip jostled awake by the sudden bumpiness of the road glancing out of the window to see you were pulling up into a gravel drive way.

You grumbled quietly mainly out of tiredness you caught Simons eyes in the car mirror checking up on you as he parked.

"You can head inside out of the rain I'll grab the bags." Simon said as he promptly got out of the car with his own umbrella.

You quickly did the same heading over to the house where a cat waited behind the glass door seeing you it left.

Aw.

The door opened luckily it was unlocked as you stepped inside wiping your feet off on the mat setting your dripping umbrella into the umbrella holder nearby awkwardly shifting around as you stepped into the short hallway glancing around at the pictures on the walls as you made it to the living room the house was quiet aside from the movement upstairs which you could assume was possibly John.

You felt increasingly awkward as you glanced around flinching once the door opened once more Simon coming in holding both your bag and suitcase gently brushing past you as he sat them next to the stairs glancing back at you.

"You can sit anywhere you'd like" He hummed as he headed upstairs and so you did that sitting down on the couch as you slipped your phone from out of your pocket it was a bit cracked but it worked.

You eventually heard footsteps coming down John coming into the room with the grin you remembered.

You found the mohawk funny.

"It's nice ta' finally have you here!..I made some food so you can eat if you want or If your tired yer bedroom is upstairs first on the right its bare bones for now since we didn't know what ye'd like to decorate it with."

His accent was funny.

Oh you should answer.

"Uh um.." You just mumbled which got you a confused look with just made you tense which he noticed.

"Oh ah sorry forgot to mention- Cant hear very well out of my right ear n all supposed to be getting a new hearing aid soon So you may need to shout ever now and then—"

"I'm uh kind of hungry." You spoke up a bit more which John luckily heard this time

"Oh! Good Ah didnae waant the food tae git tae cauld even if its just sandwiches."

This wasn't as awkward as you thought it'd be.

You had eaten chatted up with John a bit more he was a nice guy a lot more talkative than Simon but you knew that from the interviews.

Simon had come down as well not without John badgering his to sit down something about his leg and medication you weren't too nosy.

He'd seemed to be getting the dog situated as he brought her down Riley was her name wasn't it?.

She was a German Shepard you thought as you stretched out your hand towards her with a glance at Simon she sniffed it before licking your hand you guess it smelt like the deli meats from the sandwich.

You scratched behind her ear as her tail wagged.

You'd put up with the awkwardness of adjusting to here for the dog.

Simon and John started talking about something as you pet Riley the rain hadn't really let up and began to pour down a bit harder thunder rumbling out as John mumbled something to Simon the man getting up with a grunt and headed back down the hall.

"He's just going to check if we have lanterns in case the power gives out." You flinched as John spoke you didn't even realize you were staring where Simon had left you just nodded.

"You can go up to your room y'know still early in the day plus so you can unpack and unwind n' all." John glanced at you as he spoke you just nodded again maybe too quickly getting up Riley leaving your side and heading down where Simon had went.

You felt nauseous laying in bed so many things running threw your head.

Also there was a cat on your bed.

You were pretty sure this was Old man, The gruff appearance and the near mustache and beard combo look in his fur fur and the greying hairs.

You held you hand out for him to smell and he just looked at you with near human unamusement.

You pulled your hand back and went back to thinking.

Right.

God what were you thinking about even?

These are good people.

This room is good.

This house is good.

The animals are better.

Why do you have to start spiraling now? Always sinking yourself into doom spiralling.

Hypothetical's that made no sense as the storm just picked up outside.

You grumbled as you got up and started to search through your suitcase Old man had hoped down to watch you as you swallowed trying to ignore the nauseous feeling your now sweaty hands find your medication.

You fumble with the cap always forgetting how to open it before you finally pop it off and dig out a couple of pills swallowing them dry even if you know you shouldn't.

You just tried to focus on not hurling on your new floor taking deep inhales as you shakily dug your fingers into the carpet below sniffling.

Fuck.

a/n: idk why i had to leave on a sad end ALSO I LIED ITS GETTING MORE PARTS

[desertfangs]

How do you think Daniel would realise he had the fire gift, if he ever develops it?

Since I imagine him returning to writing at some point, I think there is a distinct possibility that writer's block or some similar frustration could lead to the paper or computer just bursting into flames 🔥 (thankfully anywhere he stays has a very robust fire suppression system, but now everything is wet 😥)

Oh my god, I am so glad you asked. this!

First, like.. Marius discovering he has the Fire Gift is PEAK COMEDY. You all probably know but in case you forgot this amazing moment, basically Marius is being set upon by two immortals, and he reaches for a lantern hoping to burn them, and then as he's wishing he could set them on fire, one of them bursts into flame! And Marius stares horror-struck, realizing that he made that happen with his mind.

Like, just imagine you don't even know that's possible and suddenly you've set someone on fire with the power of your desire to do so. Incredible!

But I digress.

Our boy Daniel will hopefully get the Fire Gift! Because damn that would save on lighters. And how cool would he feel if he could spark a flame on his finger and light a cigarette that way? He'd do that party trick every chance he got, Armand rolling his eyes behind him and reminding him to try and blend in, while the mortals around think it's just some cool magician's illusion.

I love the idea of him discovering this skill as he's trying desperately to get words on the page (I do think he will get back into writing at some point!) and then the fire alarms go off and the room is soaked. That's an amazing mental image of soggy, downtrodden Daniel, frustrated and then amazed at his own power, only to have it literally washed out immediately.

I do wonder if Daniel tests his powers every so often. I would imagine Marius had him test them after he recovered from his illness, probably taking him out into the jungle to see if he could fly or set a tree on fire, things like that. Out of curiosity, mostly, because both of them probably did wonder. I kind of like to imagine he still occasionally checks to see if he can do things other vampires can do, to kind of see where he stands.

But if he does develop the Fire Gift between these little tests, and he doesn't discover it from the sheer frustration of writer's block--a pain so many of us know all too well--I would love to think it happens during a fight with Armand.

Like they're arguing over something silly, and it escalates, because it always escalates, and Armand is being intentionally obtuse, twisting Daniel's words and acting like him wanting to go to Germany for a concert or something means he doesn't love him anymore, you know how they get. And then suddenly Daniel's rage hits a boiling point and the curtains behind Armand burst into flame. And they're both so stunned that the fight ends and Armand makes him do it again, and then the sprinklers go off or the room fills with fire suppressant and then they're both laughing so hard that they can't breathe. 🔥🔥

That would be so amazing, to be honest.

[beesmygod]

What's your take, if you have one, on the cut moon presence boss on the lake of mud?

as always, i dont know. i thought i didn't really have much to say but the more i typed the more i Realized. but i still don't really know lol. this is really image heavy, which made it long, so most of it is under a readmore.

e: hello bea from the future here. hey. this gave me so much to chew on for the next section in a shockingly positive direction. thank you so much for getting this ball rolling

it half-relevant but there's also some kind of. intermediary thing. i think it's the same shape as the used moon presence but its blue. for some reason.

no animations on this one, so it was cut early. different "faces" as well. or the low quality of the cut one doesn't maintain the "features" as accurately.

oh what the fuck. hold on. look at the head of the "lake of mud" (LOM from now on) moon presence compared to the others

ive made posts in the past about anti-clockwise and clockwise metamorphosis runes possibly referencing the in-game phenomenon of creature's heads being turned in odd directions. loran silverbeasts and the crawler enemies (ostensibly both loran/nightmare frontier residents) have their "heads" turned clockwise, like above. slime scholar and probably other things i cant remember turn anti-clockwise.

the crawlers are....i mean they're gross. but also uncanny. there's SOMETHING going on here, right? god only know what though. they are also known for the grim sight you can take in when they rear up to Get You: their...stomach?? is rife with messengers. being consumed? maybe? it evokes the image of the artbook moon presence, who is swarming with messengers in the same area of its body.

anyway back to the little creep.

in the center of its chest there's this bizarre unknown thing. if you peel away the majority of its body it looks like this. a grey blob with tentacles. as far as i can tell it doesn't have bones to animate, unlike the rest of the model. the entire model has unfinished textures so its hard to tell what it's supposed to be.

judging from the blisters on the creature, it is CURSED. the orphan of kos' placenta weapon (which is, i think, just a huge cursed blood gem?) has these same blisters, marking it as a fellow "cursed" great one infant (? probably? look at what a runt it is).

curses are a complex aspect of the bloodborne universe. sometimes they can be identified by the appearance of "sickly spots", but other times, curses are color-coded with purple (or red, but that seems strictly related to cainhurst nope i forgot foetid offering can give enemies red rally auras and change their drop tables to include cursed blood gems. much to think about) auras and magic.

a curse is exactly what you expect it to be: great power at a high price (like a huge weapon bonus but your health depletes per second), but the source is arcane. the cursed and defiled pthumerian chalice states, "curses are caused by inciting the anger of the Great Ones, and used to hex others." winter lanterns, the enemies with the heads made out of messengers fused into a brain shape, are the only enemy that consistently only drops cursed blood gems (and, evidently, blood gems only form in the dungeon or nears its entrances). given the pattern of these spots appearing on bosses, it can be reasonably assumed that winter lanterns are the result of a great one's wrath. what the fuck! i dont know what that means!

we're not going to bother going into the nuances of rites and data-mining because holy shit. this garbage is needlessly complex for how half-baked its implementation is. but cursed offerings create cursed dungeons to explore with cursed blood gems to collect. cursed and defiled pthumeru is differentiated by the purple (!) skull vapor overflowing from the chalice. cursed rites required cursed materials: bastards of loran are the mummified bodies of infants who died midway through their transformation into a silverbeast. with the clockwise heads.

okay. that wrapped us up back around to the beginning. i think the lake of mud arena was intended to be in loran, canonically. it has a bunch of different variations that probably would have been used for root dungeon generation rather than canon usage. a lake of dried up water fits perfectly with the terrifyingly arid climate of loran (which generates the blue bolts in the atmosphere). at one point, it seems that several chalice dungeons would have had secret 4th layers (they're still in the game and can be accessed with some light hex editing); i propose that this is where that fight would have taken place. the previous layer would have been the cut great one beast. and layer 2 would have been the loran darkbeast. layer 1 would have been the abhorrent beast instead of the baffling loran silverbeast boss fight that's completely inexplicable otherwise. isz has similar pacing issues. oh shit, i wonder if that's what that blue one is supposed to be. fuuuuccckkk.

the ailing loran chalice tells the player that "some have made the dreaded extrapolation that Yharnam may be next" but the game is telling YOU the player that YOU are supposed to look at loran and extrapolate the fate of yharnam from it. loran was also using old blood as medicine and became a place overrun with beasts and abandoned by god. the loran moon presence is bloated with curses and lives in a place devoid of water, a horrible thing for a great one given how much they love to yammer about lakes and the sea. the area outside of the LOM arena is, amazingly, the exact same facade as the entrance to mergo's loft. there's a stained glass window above the door that's shared between locations, yet again linking loran, the nightmare frontier, and the nightmare of mensis together. and, really, the hunter's nightmare, since the LOM arena was very, VERY similar to the orphan's ocean with identical architecture.

holy shit i guess this is what im working on tonight. and now i see how micolash fits into the entire timeline. neat

[starmatzz]

Chapter 1: Unknown

Treasure of Utopia

Seonghwa inhaled sharpy as he regained consciousness, the smell of sea salt and wood hitting his nose. The rough ropes burnt into his skin as he wiggled uncomfortably on the small chair. He couldn't see around him, his eyes were covered with a cloth.

"Looks like the prince is finally awake" a voice behind him echoed through the whole room and Seonghwa tensed, moving his head around.

"W-Where am I..? What happened..?" he asked, voice soft and careful.

"You're on my ship" the male voice said, ripping the cloth covering Seonghwa's eyes away. The prince blinked a few times, his eyes didn't need much adjusting as the room was dimly lit with lanterns.

Seonghwa looked at the pirate in front of him. He was a little shocked; expecting an old pirate with full beard, perhaps a wooden leg or an eye patch. Those he heard about in tales. Instead he was met with a young male, who could be around the same age as him. Realizing this, he used his prince attitude towards him.

"Get me back home, immediately! Or...or" he stuttered, seeing he hadn't spark any emotion in the pirate's face. "Or I will have your head cut off!" he lifted up his chin proudly, while his eyes nervously scanned the person in front of him.

"Oh will you?" the man chuckled, stepping closer to Seonghwa as he grabbed his chin, holding it up. "Don't think you rule the world just because you're the prince of Utopia" he winked at him and stared into his eyes.

He could smell the prince's sweet scent. Mix of almonds and flowers almost making the pirate close his eyes in bliss. And his porcelain skin, long eyelashes that brushed against his flushed cheeks every time he blinked. Platinum white– almost white hair falling into his eyes.

"Oh pardon me, my majesty, I forgot to introduce myself" he said with sarcasm when he was done observing Seonghwa's features. "I am Hongjoong, the captain of this ship".

Hongjoong leaned closer to Seonghwa, their faces nearly inches apart.

"If you—" Hongjoong paused when the other suddenly spat in his face. His smile dropped, staring dangerously at the prince through his eyebrows.

"So you wanna play like this, huh?" he tilted his head, his hand immediately striking forward to grip Seonghwa's chin. Pulling a sharp blade from under his belt, he held it against Seonghwa's neck.

"Your prince title doesn't give you privileges on my ship" he growled. Seonghwa looked up at him, letting out a little whine as he felt the cold blade press against his neck. The pirate could kill him on the spot, he thought.

He took a deep breath in, smelling Hongjoong's scent; whiskey and pine tree.

"What do you want from me..?" Seonghwa suddenly asked when Hongjoong pulled the knife away. He was scared, but he wasn't stubborn.

"Well..you have something I want.." Hongjoong said, opening his mouth to finish his thought, but his speech was interrupted by the sound of wooden door creaking.

"Captain, Yunho sent me to ask if—" the person who came inside suddenly stopped in front of both, eyes settled on the prince tied to a chair.

"Mingi..not now, can't you see I am busy?!" Hongjoong growled in frustration, his sudden change of attitude giving Seonghwa goosebumps.

Mingi kept standing there, closing his eyes briefly as he deeply inhaled Seonghwa's scent. The prince could smell his scent too; strong rum and leather, making Seonghwa's nose scrunch. Hongjoong watched Mingi with a cold stare before he let out a deep chuckle at Seonghwa's reaction.

"Now, leave. And I won't repeat myself, you know that" he ordered firmly, and Seonghwa was surprised that the other pirate actually bowed his head and left without saying another word.

"You have something I need.." he continued with the previous conversation before it had been interrupted. He grabbed the knife again, Seonghwa's eyes squinting protectively. But Hongjoong pointed the tip of the blade at a necklace decorating his neck. It had pearls on it, with a circular gem in the middle.

"My necklace..?" Seonghwa asked, brows pulling in in confusion as he looked down at it.

"Have you ever inspected it closely, Seonghwa?" Hongjoong said, pronuncing his name extra carefully.

"It has a compas inside, but—" suddenly it hit him. Hongjoong hummed softly, kneeling down in front of him.

"It's exactly how you think it is. I took you here because I need the compas you have inside the necklace" he replied, tilting his head.

"Then take it. Take it and let me go" Seonghwa said eagerly, making Hongjoong burst out in laughter.

"Of course I will take it, darling. But that's not all" he said, sighing softly before tracing the knife along his arm. Seonghwa shivered, the hair on the back of his neck standing up.

"The compas might lead me towards the treasure..but one more thing is needed to open the chest..a sacrifice" he dug the tip of the blade into his forearm, making Seonghwa wince in pain.

"Blood..royal blood of a male omega to be exact. And looks like you're the perfect candidate, my highness" he smirked, pulling the knife away and tugging it back behind his belt.

Seonghwa swallowed dryly, looking at the little hole in his skin from being punctured with the knife. The condition was pretty specific, but Seonghwa wasn't surprised after all. Only a small percentage of males with royal blood were born omegas. Seonghwa was a treasure for sure.

"What if I won't let you?" he asked boldly, catching Hongjoong's attention. The pirate let out a high pitched laugh, hands gripping the chair handles as he hovered over the prince.

"Let's say, you have no choice. Because I will do anything for that treasure. You have no idea how long I've been searching for it.."

"Well you're not that old-" slipped past Seonghwa's lips, earning a sharp slap across his cheek.

"Enough!" he growled, voice bouncing against the wooden walls. Seonghwa bit the inner side of his cheek, blinking away the tears which started gathering in his eyes.

Hongjoong stepped behind Seonghwa, his hands striking forward to unclip his necklace. Seonghwa stayed quiet, he couldn't do anything much while being restricted with ropes.

Slipping the jewelry into his pocket, Hongjoong sighed and rubbed his temple. Without any more words, he left the room, leaving Seonghwa alone with his thoughts.

Go to next chapter

[intcritus]

It's always a little difficult to plan the perfect birthday, let alone the perfect birthday gift when one's mora doesn't quite live up to the name he has made for himself throughout Sumeru, Teyvat for all that matter. But of course, what would an architect be without his creativity (and horrible sleep schedule) than yet another fool unwilling to go a little extra further to ensure that there'll at least be something offered to the charming smile he loves so dearly, hands tucked firmly around Kaeya's as Kaveh guides him into the studio they have spent so many hours within.

"Don't, don't open your eyes," he pleads warmly as he steps backwards into the studio, glancing back at the setting behind him.

Surely, Kaeya can already smell the dishes prepared as well as the wine lingering in the air. Potentially the flowers Kaveh has gathered and arranged into various bouqets, but a part of him hopes that he does not smell them, at least not yet; " just a little further, okay, I promise it will be all worth it, at least... I hope it is? I wasn't sure what to figure out for your birthday as you keep telling me that you - watch your step - already have everything you could've asked for, so," and he'd guide him further, onto a blanket sprawled on the floor of the studio where he soon enough tells Kaeya to sit.

Sit and don't peek, not yet.

For there are still some things he needs to put in order, some smaller gifts that need to be in order such as the box he gathers from the counter of the kitchen before scurrying back over to him. Jewlery clinks as Kaveh positions himself in front of Kaeya, knees tucked under him as he places the box in the other's lap so freed hand can reach upwards and caress his cheek.

"Open your eyes," and in doing so there'd be possibly hundreds of flowers put neatly around the room, some put as decorations dangling from the roof, the entire studio dimmed with a few lanterns lighting it up; "I know you're not too fond of the sand in your clothes, and I for one don't enjoy the bugs during the evening so I wanted to bring the beautiful sight of nature inside with us, and... I wasn't quite sure what to get you as a gift, but I hope that the contents of the box is enough."

Once opened, there'd be a key within (to no other place than the studio, a welcoming gift for the captain to come and go as he'd please) alongside an earring crafted in a similar manner to the one Kaveh wore. Though, where his sported red and green, Kaeya's held bright, beautiful blue and purple, polished brightly.

"Happy birthday," he'd add in a hushed whisper, smiling as he'd lean over to offer a kiss against his cheek; "I hope I made the earrings in the right size, I forgot to measure them."

      Two surprises in one day ? First Beorn, now Kaveh. It makes him chuckle, even as he tries to keep his balance as Kaveh guides him. He hadn’t been kidding when he told the love of his life that he had everything he wanted. There’s nothing physically he needs for his birthday. Kaveh’s kisses ? Maybe being able to spend the rest of his life by the architect’s side being silly and in love ? Heh, he likes the thought of just being old and grey with Kaveh. Archons, even grey, Kaeya is sure Kaveh would be fucking stunning. ❝ ━ I’m sure it’s more than worth it.❞ What Kaveh will come to understand about Kaeya is that the very thought that the architect put something together for him at all ? That he thought of him ? That would always be worth it to the Captain, it was almost enough to make him emotional. 

The subtle scent of flour puzzles him, but the smell of food ? His mouth waters. He’s so ready to eat whatever it is he’s smelling. Like right now. Oh. Something is placed in his lap and he leans into the hand caressing his cheek, nuzzling his lover’s palm for a brief second with a content hum. At Kaveh’s prompting, lone eye looks around, realizing the reason he’d been smelling flora and it was gorgeous.❝ ━ This is… ❞ Even inside, it reminded him of being outside, by the water, surrounded by nature and oh, it was incredibly thoughtful and creative. The Captain takes it in, the emotions bubbling up in his chest threatening to choke him.

❝ ━ You did all of this for me ?  ❞ It’s truly the thought of Kaveh arranging this flora, bringing the beauty of nature inside for both of them to enjoy that really makes him emotional, the ball in his throat tightening. ❝ ━ You don’t have to convince me you adore me, y’know ? This is enough to make me chain myself to your– ❞ He pauses as he opens the box in his lap, brow wing upward. Fingers curl around the key, thumb brushing over it as he looks from said key to Kaveh then back again. Oh. ❝ ━ Really ? ❞ His voice cracks and the Captain has to clear his throat. A key to Kaveh’s studio ? It’s a show of trust, and it brings tears to Kaeya’s gaze, swallowing past the emotion choking him. But no less than the earring that he picks up out of the box.They’re gorgeous.

Placing the items back in the box, he sets it to the side, ❝ ━ These gifts, the thought you put behind all of this ? It was more than worth it, in fact, it was more than I could have asked or hoped for. Thank you, Kaveh, for making this a memorable birthday. ❞ Hands reach out to cradle Kaveh’s features, pulling him in for a tender kiss,a smile on his lips as one kiss turns to two, pressing his forehead to the architect’s, ❝ ━ I really love the earrings, I’ll probably never take them off. As for the key ? It means a lot that you trust me with that, I won’t break your trust in me. Now, are you going to feed the birthday boy or will I have to put out more kisses? ❞ He murmurs, cheekily.

kaeya's bday2k24. | @avaere

[noonajoe]

His Long-Distance Birthday Gift for You (Kuroo Tetsurou x Reader)

“Because of a business trip, that doesn’t mean I have to forget my girlfriend’s birthday, right?”

Word Count: 843

©noonajoe (Published on 22 March 2023 - 13:58 Bangkok Time) this story is not going to be sold, modified, or translated in any manner.

*phone call from Kuroo*

“Tetsu…?”

“Hi Kitten”

“What’s wrong? It’s 10, don’t you have to meet with your clients tomorrow?”

“I know, but that doesn’t mean I have to forget my girlfriend’s birthday?”

“Oh… Oh yeah!”

“Don’t tell me you forgot again”

“Uh, no-no. I mean, I just half-asleep in the living room watching TV, so… Yeah, I remember”

“Heh, is that so… Can I turn on a video call?”

“Wait, my face is really in mess-”

“It’s ok. It’s not like I never saw your bare face. I make it quick, I have something for you but I need to turn the video call”

“Uh. okay…”

*turning on video*

“Okay, I want you to go to my wardrobe”

*walks into their shared bedroom while carrying the phone with video call turned on*

“Okay, see that box on the bottom in a drawer? Get that box on the bed, hon”

“Okay, wait, it’s pretty heavy”

*carrying the medium-sized box into their bed*

“Okay, first. I just want to tell you, happy birthday, hon, sorry I don’t have cakes right now because of our long-distance whereabouts. I want you to open this gift box, but don’t turn off the video, okay? I just want to see your face opening the box”

*Open the box, it contains:*

[A paper written in colored markers and Kuroo’s doodles:]

Dear Kitten,This is my first surprise gift for you, I hope it’s not cheesy

“Happy birthday to my most strong-independent-sometimes stubborn but lovely partner, people said I’m too unrealistic but I do realize I could not pass every challenge in my life for the past 4 years without you. I could say every day is tiring but you always welcomed me. I have 4 gifts inside, I hope you understand each gift’s essential meaning"

*Long Goose Pillow* "I know your anxieties still occur for the past year and it’s worsened when I’m not with you because business trip. Yet, you always never told me:( I know you don’t want me worrying you but still, I know everything even if you don’t tell me ok. This goose pillow is really soft and squishy so I hope you have a good sleep hugging this if I’m not around."

*2 Packages of Miniature Lego* "I’ve talked to some physiologists and Akaashi (Akaashi is a doctor here), actually, lego helps avoid overthinking. Lego also trains your focus, I hope this can reduce your night habit of overthinking or crying. I can estimate if you slowly complete this two it’ll be done in 2 weeks. Just don’t finish it too fast, you’ll get a headache! :<"

*Ipad* "You always use your laptop to hear lofi or lullaby songs to help your anxieties. This iPad has the same features, and the sound system is good as well. Why I didn’t buy you a speaker, because I hope you can also watch movies with this. Sometimes when I suggest you buy Ipad refused because it’s too expensive, yet I want you to feel comfortable watching movies with this effective device rather than watching on your laptop. Plus I already installed nfix and hb*. Don’t feel bothered because I already subscribed to those for you. Don’t dare you pay me back."

*Bunny Lantern* "You know what I always got scared when you always use that dim desk light of yours when we slept. I mean, it’s too dim and sometimes the light turns off when I woke up I almost panicked myself because I thought I’m going blind all sudden. This bunny lantern also have an orange light on it, those lamp can help you through your sleep too. Even if you woke up at night when you see the lamp, hopefully, you can go sleep easily after."

*Wrist strap lanyard with a small picture of both of you* "I know it’s really cheesy but I really want you to have this in your working bag. I really don’t like that boy names (random names) that have been chatted to you each night! He got the lesson when I met him at that time. Plus if you look closer it also contains my number so if there’s something going on people will recognize me as your ‘partner’. Other men will get off you quickly when they saw this keychain."

[Last, a piece of paper glued in the bottom of the box:]

This is my first time not having your birthday on-site. I hope my gifts can at least cover your longing, I also write this by myself. No google translate or help from google sites! The gifts may replaceable but my love is more than this, okay?&lt;3 Your only man, Kuroo Tetsuroo

You literally cried and laugh at the same time because you read each of his messages in the box. You also cried because you don’t know Kuroo has been prepared for this before his business trip, it's a really sweet side of him.

He sees you crying, wiping your tears while unboxing each of gifts.“Oh my, I wish I can hug you right now" he sighed, his smile indicating that he was glad that he prepared this before his 2 weeks business trip.

He asked, "Are you happy? Are my messages too cheesy?”

“No! I’m happy, it’s my first time to have this sort of gift, you know?”

“That’s good then. I’ll see you next 3 days and you can have birthday cuddles, okay? Love you"

“Yes, thank you so much, Tetsu… I love you too”

[wicked-secretsanta]

Merry Christmas @galindaarduenna-upland!

Galinda should have known this was a lie because both of them hadn’t attended the seminar in the last week due to Madam morible coming down with a dreadful flu from the coming winter. Elphaba wouldn’t say that Galindas critical thinking was one of her most prominent ability’s, however it did allow Elphaba to get out of the gathering.

Elphaba had enjoyed spending time with a few other students since the Oz dust ball but large gatherings with people that, unlike Galinda who crawls onto Elphabas bed and un-promtly cry’s profusely at the most random of moments apologizing for her actions at the start of the term, these other students or sometimes as Elphaba refers to them as ‘Galinda’s Cronies’ and ‘Cult following’ have never uttered anything close to apologies to Elphaba. Since her friendship with Galinda they have instead resorted to pretending she doesn’t exist, well unless promoted by Galinda to include her in whatever conversing was happening, which was a stark contrast to the start of term, but it was one that Elphaba happily accepted. However they were still far from the people she would spend a Friday night with, well, person.

The only source of light in the dorm is the small lantern blazing dimly accompanying a feathered pen that scratches across Elphabas sketch book finalizing an illustration that she was rushing to complete before Galinda arrived home. So fixated she hasn’t to notice that the window beside her that Galinda never shuts is spurting ice cold air into the room as snow starts to fall softly outside.

The wooden door is shoved, swinging and hitting the wall beside it, the noise breaking the silence and the light switching on nearly gives Elphaba a heart attack and blindness at the same time, making her jump out of her seat and snapping out of perfecting the pens strokes.

“Honey im hommeee!” Galinda’s voice cried into the air, Elphaba turns around unable to hide a wide grin.

“Wow more sober that i thought you would be at this time of night”, Elphaba smirked as she got up to greet her. She couldn’t call Galinda a light weight, especially for how small she was but drunk Galinda is easy to spot, so Elphaba was surprised how she seemed to be not stumbling or slurring her words much at all tonight, the sobering sight was startling.

“Mmm shut up and don’t act so surprised,” Galinda said with a giggle as she dropped her hand bag and embraced Elphaba in a tight hug, humming softly as her nose met the crook of Elphaba’s neck. Both the girls clung onto one another tightly giggling softly as they swayed in the hug, it had only been a matter of hours but Galinda’s physicality and softness to Elphaba already reminded her how much she missed her as the scent of Galindas sweet conditioner wafted back into the room. while distracted by Galindas hands rubbing her back it also reminded Elphaba of another thing, how DAMN cold is was in this room!

“Thank Oz its freezing in here!” Galinda cried beating Elphaba to the realization as she twisted her face up so she could look at Elphaba disapprovingly.

“Did you really not get the fire on or even close the window! Come on you love closing that window on any perfectly good summer day !” Elphaba giggles and shrugs at Galinda’s words.

“Oh i honestly didn’t notice how cold it was in here until just now”, Elphaba rubs Galindas back softly in attempted to make sure her friend doesn’t freeze right here on the spot, her revealingly cut dress was obviously no suit for this weather.

“Well there’s no time like the present Elphie, in other words hurry the heck up and lets get the fire on otherwise im going to turn blue and you teal!” Both girls laughed and unlatched themselves

from one another shuffling around the room and warming the fire. Elphaba went to shut the window when she remembered the illustration that she was working on earlier.

“Shoot, i almost forgot”, Elphaba murmured to herself as she quickly rushed too her stained wooden desk and put the finished portrait into one of the numerous pockets of her robe.

In a matter of time both girls were curled up on the couch. Elphaba had first plopped down her body a lot less numb now the room wasn’t in negative temperatures, then Galinda followed deciding that, no, there actually wasn’t the rest of the couch to inhabit and dropped right onto Elphaba with a grunt as she hit her bony figure. Elphaba complained but complied willingly in the end as Galinda began to stroke and un-knot her hair.

“Soo how was the party? As Scandalacious and thrillifying as always?” Elphaba prompted, the sarcasm that Galinda finds so humorous evident in her tone. But since she sat down Galinda had stayed oddly silent, esspically after just attending a party with her ‘one true love’ the prince of Winkie country, who when thinking about it Galinda had not brought up as much in their nightly conversation recently. Galinda didn’t answer immediately, she hummed softly acknowledging she head but continued to busy herself with Elphabas hair, resting her head in the crook of her neck.

“It was not very thrillifying and much less Scandalacious as i wouldhaveliked”, Galindasoftlysaid. Elphabalookeddownand noted the saddening expression that she rarely sees on Galindas face.

“What happened, my sweet?” Elphaba asked her voice softening to a tone that Galinda has only known. Galinda trailed her hand along the blanket and interlocked her fingers with Elphabas, something she has done numerous times a day of the past months, a form of comfort.

“I’m not sure, its not that something happened more like nothing happened at all! Oh but i do have to mention did you know that I’ve been calling your sisters boyfriend Biq this whole year! His name is Boq Elphaba! BOQ! and i only found that out today!

Elphaba couldn’t hide her giggling, reminiscing on all the times that she noticed Boq correcting Galinda since the first day of term.

“Oh shush you wicked thing its really not funny! Well since you asked, During the party i was talking some peoples ear of about the play that i love, you know the one-”

Elphaba in fact knew the one because she was the one who went to see it with Galinda but she sometimes feels that Galinda forgets that factor because it doesn’t stop her from reciting the entire plot and describing the characters relationships in intense detail to Elphaba daily.

“And well Fyario just looked totally uninterested, like he couldn’t give a twig, can you believe that! I’m just not sure about marrying him anymore i think i might have rushed into things,” Galinda pondered.

“Well, Galinda you know he hasn’t even proposed yet-”

“Oh yes but that’s beyond the point! He’s just been so moodified recently, but he could have at least listened to some very important information about the history behind the play, and now he’s missed it. and really that is his loss!” Galinda scrunched up her face and crossed her arms which Elphaba couldn’t help but eliciting a laugh at how adorable she looked. Galinda sent Elphaba a death stare which ceased her laughing.

“You might just not have found the right man, the right person yet Galinda, you know Boqs been pining for you for a while…”

Galinda jumped off the couch in outrage and threw some of the pink fluffy pillows at Elphaba. Screaming and giggling spread around the room for the next few minutes a noise that if anyone asked Elphaba she would deny it ever elicited from her.

Once they re-settled on the couch, Galinda’s worries put behind her, Elphaba remembered,

“I’ve got something to give to you”, she murmured into Galindas hair. she unlatched herself from Elphaba and tilted her head in confusion as Elphaba dug in her pocket for the illustration she was working on and hands the folded piece of paper to Galinda who immediately unfolds it and lets out a loud squeak.

“Elphie what!” Galinda shouts jumping up from the couch and knocking Elphaba slightly. Galinda stared at the paper, a detailed illustration of both her and Elphaba was inked on the page, facing one another in fluffy coats and wide smiles dragged wrinkles along their portraits. Galinda recognized what it was referenced, the first photo taken of the two of them from the night of the Oz dust ball. She stroke her thumb over the drawing as her eyes start to glisten.

“It’s really nothing much,” Elphaba says, blushing from Galindas reaction.

“Nothing much!” Galinda said jumping down back onto the couch, and onto Elphaba with a grunt.

“This is the best present I’ve ever been given, and that’s saying something because i have received a lot of presents”, Galinda grins from ear to ear seeing how much Elphaba is blushing. She places a soft kiss, her full lips meeting the green girl’s skin. Elphaba releases a soft sigh from the contact, the fireplace cackles in front of them as they rest in a peaceful serenity.

[thattimdrakeguy]

DOCTOR WHOOOO - All I can say, frankly, is WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! AW, IT'S AWESOME. I LOVE IT TO BITS AND MORE BITS AND EVEN MORE BITS ON TOP OF BITS!

I didn't realize I forgot to speak about it, BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUT, I seen both Space Babies, and the Devil Chord and adored both.

Ncuti Gatwa, a freaking natural, numero dos in my heart as far as Doctor's go. (I'm very loyal to my number one, but Ncuti is insanely strong competition)

He's good at all the things that made me fall in love with my number one, but he doesn't carry the same baggage, so it's this new slightly more care-free incarnation of the Doctor that I love seeing. He's having so much fun, the Doctor is, and it is so diggity dang infectious. I feel like I'm on the ride with him I love it. DARE I SAY IT, this man is perfect casting. And all other fan casts i've seen have been blown out of the water by this very real casting I am so grateful for. HE'S CHARMER, and confident, and strong, and emotionally sensitive in just the right way where you can feel his empathy and vulnerability, but also the safety people have with him. And he's such an adventurer already. The universe excites him again like brand new! It's words beyond what I can describe to give the full picture.

And Ruby, oh, dear, Ruby Sunday. An amazing companion who's charisma rises to the occasion with Ncuti's Doctor. She feels more like a real person, who's be yearning for adventures than ever before. It's too early to call it of course, but honestly, at the rate she's going, only being in two episodes, and one special. She might be my VERY FAVORITE companion already, as in right now, with that alone. Her performance by Millie Gibson is KILLING IT. IN A GOOD WAY. Not that bad way. She is that damn good at what she does. Taking me by absolute surprise. I love Ruby Sunday as much as I love the Doctor.

Space Babies is goofy camp. I don't mind it at all. In fact, I'm cherishing it. Because the weird, ridiculousness of Doctor Who is what makes it so cherished to me. It's goofy camp comedy sensibilities.

MY FIRST EPISODE WAS THE IDIOT'S LANTERN. And it was that same kind of stuff that made me love it.

So when I watched the Devil's Chord, and they're doing the whole dress-up thing, WITH BIGGER BUDGET. COLOUR ME IN LOVE.

They're showing off the Doctor's powers more that have only been alluded before, that's great. The bigger budget is showing. THE ONE WHO WAITS, that mystery has me so curious, and I haven't been curious in a Doctor Who mystery...well, EVER, actually. Not this much!

To see the next episode is like dessert. It's a treat after a well-fed meal that these two episodes gave ya.

AND HERE PEOPLE WERE, worried what would happen with David Tennant, who in fairness, is also my favorite Doctor in the whole wide universe.

But with the bigeneration, oh, my gosh, this show has so much life breathed into it! A Doctor Who got to relax and take his much, much, much needed vacation, now has this new zest in him that HE'S NEVER HAD BEFORE.

He's truly in a different state of mind, that will work MAGNIFICENTLY with the show to keep it fresh and new in it's own way.

The perfect continuation, and representation, of a show that's been going on for so long, running out of gas, one adventure to another, now replenished.

That's what the Doctor is, that's what the show is.

AND IT IS--

FANTASTIC.

(groan if you must. but it is FANTASTIC)

[tanalogyosc]

Argument (Story)

Just like always, just like it has been.

Once the challenge was announced, the teams scurried to the glade to continue with the challenge. It would've been an easy challenge to do... if it wasn't for the fact that Quill and Mango started arguing.

"What the? The challenge was to collect a certain plant specimen! Dividing ourselves is the fastest way to go with it!" Quill spoke out.

"Welll I'm sooorrry! But unlike you who have a perfect eyesight, we literally have two people who only have one eye in our team, we need to search for it together in case someone missed it!" Mango replied.

The two bickered while their teammates watched in silence. Yes, this was just their daily routine by now.

The moment they wake up, the two would go to the cafeteria only to argue about how the food they were eating was better with this or that. It doesn't help that their cultural differences clash with each other too.

After arriving at certain locations, they would immediately go their separate ways. Quill preferred anything that could give him inspiration for his novel, and Mango would go see the entertainment and beauty the location could offer. However, they would usually meet each other again and start to bicker about how the other was following them.

Toast, Street Lantern, and Beetroot can do nothing but wait until they somehow resolve their issues themselves. But today was not the case for that, the countdown of the challenge still moves even when they're bickering.

"Guyss, can we just like, go in pairs?" Toast spoke up. Mango and Quill immediately paused, of course, if the first and second options can't be decided then why not settle for a third option? But... the problem was how they would split the pairings.

"Ahem, it is true that we could simply go in pairs but," Quill thought, "We have an odd number of people, how are we going to split?"

"Well, since you can be much more precise with those eyes of yours, why don't you just go alone," Mango scoffed.

"Hey, it's not my fault I have a sharp eyesight! That's just the perk of being bird-related," Quill replied immediately.

Beetroot watches in defeat as the two starts bickering again, "Sigh, we're never gonna get this challenge finished are we?" It would seem like the argument would continue forever when suddenly Street Lantern had a perfect idea.

"Hey, um, Since like, Markov and I have one eye each that means we have a pair of eyes," Street Lantern looked at Beetroot, "And that would mean we need Beatrice to be the second pair of eyes!"

Toast looked at her in confusion, "Wait why all thr- Oh, I see." Toast looked at Beetroot and both nodded in unison, as they understood Street Lantern's plan.

"Yeah, Marko, Victoria and me are gonna go look together. So you two should pair up, ok bye!" and with that, the trio quickly exit stage left into the forest.

Quill and Mango stared in confusion as their form disappeared into the woods, "T-they can't be serious?! Argh, fine, we need to work together if we wanna win this challenge, capiche?", Mango spoke to Quill.

"Hah, as if I would want us to lose just because I'm forced to be with you," Quill replied.

As the two walked in the opposite direction, the trio silently watched from the trees in relief. Hopefully, they can just resolve their conflict when the challenge has ended.

But for now, they must find a certain plant to win.

"Wait, I forgot, what plant were we supposed to find?" Toast asked. The girls stared in horror as they realized the only ones who remembered what they were supposed to find was Mango and Quill...