#oof coloring took ages

[magicomens]

Ah yes. Anthony Justdontgetstabbed Crowley.

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[katiefrog217]

Walks with Aziraphale were always so amusing, especially when he took one of his different forms. Tonight, Crowley took note of a few different reactions:

1. Much to his bemusement, quite a few people crossed the road entirely just to avoid him (he didn't know why, he thought this particular form was very charming).

2. Those who didn't avoid them either didn't notice at all, or cooed adoringly at his companion. A few snake enthusiasts tried their best to impart advice upon him (Yes, he was aware it was a chilly night to have a python outside. Yes, he was aware that he had a few extra rolls on him, and he would appreciate it if they didn't body shame him, please and thank you).

3. He had a particularly interesting encounter with a stranger who tried his best to buy Aziraphale from him (he didn't know whether to laugh or be offended on his companion's behalf when the person subsequently dropped their price offering upon learning he was male. He turned them down, of course).

This just in: local vampire hunter tries his hardest to look cool in front of his crush.

I said soon and I guess I meant now haha.

I could help but draw Crowley and Aziraphale from @mrghostrat 's new Vampire AU (thanks for the permission btw!!) and I'll be damned if I couldn't pass up the opportunity to draw Ball Python Azi after being deeply entrenched in Ball python morphs and drawing them for the past few years.

I'm also a big sucker (har har) for any kind of vampire au, so I was incredibly excited to draw this!! I'm still not confident in my ability to draw Crowley (or jackets oof) but I tried.

On that, while I have ya'll here, a few fun facts about Ball Pythons and Morphs:

Azi looks to me to be based on a Blue Eyed Lucy (Leucistic) ball python. Leucistic is different from Albino - both lack pigment, but Leucistics only lack pigments in parts, rather than entirely like with Albinism. The fastest way to tell the difference is the eye color.

Blue Eyed Lucies have eye colors that range from Black to Blue - blue obviously being the more popular eye color.

The whiter the snake, the more sought after it is (not all Lucies are pure white, depends on the morph combo)

Unlike a majority of ball python morphs, Blue Eyed Lucies don't have a distinct gene combo that defines them. Generally, their morphs included Mocha, Mojave, Lesser, Butter, etc. The combos are generally endless. A Super Mojave (Mojave bred to Mojave) will produce a fairly grey/white snake, but their heads tend to be a very dusty grey, and isn't an ideal combo for a Lucy.

A snake that seems incredibly white when hatched may change color as it ages and become less white. This is common for all morphs, and their patterns define themselves and get stronger with age.

In breeding, males are generally less desired than females, and run at a lower price generally. This is because a single male can breed multiple females, so it's less effective to have more males in a clutch than females.

Obesity in snakes IS a real thing, and generally hard to manage if you do have an obese snake. Snakes tend to retain weight well, so exercise is really the only method to help bring their weight down (plus smaller meals). Good luck if you have an obese snake that isn't particularly inclined to be active.

Ball Pythons generally tend to have what's called a 1,000 gram wall - in which a snake that hits 1k grams stops eating and will not gain more weight. No one is 100% sure why this phenomena happens, but it's incredibly common.

Not a fact but opinion: Paradox ball Pythons are my favorite morph. If you want to see some incredibly interesting genetics, look them up.

[bumblehoneybee]

Hi! Sorry if im bothering but i wanted to ask

Can we get a ddogday x player, this took place a few days before the hour of joy, where reader is a worker who was supposed to help DogDay take care of the kids from playcare

But reader has Cynophobia (extreme fear of dogs) and when they first met DogDay the first thing player does is panic and try to avoid dogday as best as they could, and DogDay being the sweet dog he is, tries his best to comfort and show reader he's not bad

Oof this is way longer then i expected sorry xd

Shaky Hands and Steady Paws

If it weren’t for how stern upper management was, you’d have switched positions ages ago. But they had a very firm air of finality to them when they gave you your assignment, leaving no room for objection or argument. So with a heavy heart and shaky hands, you went to the Playcare, and you met the toy who you would be caring for.

Dogday.

It helped, if minutely, that he was so different from a normal dog. Memories only tingled the back of your brain as you carefully took care of him, stitching up tears and hosing off mud whenever play got too rough. He was kind, he was a good boy, but you couldn’t spend more time with him than the allotted shift, else you’d sink into a hole you’d never climb back out of. You were afraid, you were frustrated, and most of all you were so, so tired of feeling this way.

And Dogday noticed this.

You had gentle hands, he noticed. They shook all the time. At first, he thought you were cold, so he tried to hold your hands, and when you politely declined that, he brought you gloves Crafty helped him make. They were poor quality, and your smile at them was shakier than your hands, but you accepted them all the same. Even wore them sometimes, when “winter” rolled around.

But you never let him get close. You always said what needed to be said and never anything more. He wanted to know you, your favorite color, your favorite treat, if you preferred warm summers or chilly falls. He wanted to share all his stories and fun memories with you, but while you always listened, you never offered any stories of your own.

It was disheartening, to put it lightly. But Dogday wasn’t one to give up on someone.

“Hi.” Dogday greeted when you walked into Home Sweet Home. Most of the kids were at school, leaving Home quiet and peaceful.

“Hi.” You greeted back, carefully moving around Dogday as you began to clean up the room he and the other male critters used. Dogday tripped over himself to help you. “Why don’t you go relax with your friends?”

Dogday winced, wringing a blanket in his hands as he watched you deliberately not look at him and keep your distance. “Um. . . you’re my friend too!” That caused you to perk up. Dogday straightened, tail beginning to wag behind him. Maybe that was the problem? You didn’t think you were friends? “Yeah! We’re friends! And I want to help my friends whenever I can!”

You hummed, but didn’t say anything more. Your hands were shaking, causing the little tower of books in your arms to tremble. You felt Dogday move towards you, watched his shadow fall over you, and the books fell. Your arms gave up, and instead your hands fired to your face.

Today was already not a good day. And now this.

“Oh!” Dogday gasped. He touched your shoulder, afraid you were crying, but you jolted away. You stumbled back, plopping onto the closest bed, and dropped your head back into your hands.

“I-I can’t. . .” You gasped. Dogday carefully lowered onto his knees, trying to catch your gaze, but you were hidden away. “Not today, I can’t. . .”

“Th-that’s okay!” Dogday said. His hands flapped around as he tried to think on how to soothe you. You were so distressed! It wasn’t like you, normally so composed and put together and polite and professional. “I can clean up! You don’t have to; you can just rest on my bed! Yeah?”

He panicked a little when you didn’t respond.

“Are you sick?” He asked, voice hushed in case your head hurt.

You let out a sob.

“Oh no!!”

Dogday didn’t know what to do. As you cried into your hands, he ran around the room, grabbing any and everything he could find. He threw blankets on your, found lost plushes to press into your arms, even nearly mowed the bathroom door down in an attempt to get you water.

It was. . . too much. You hated being this way, feeling this way. It’d be easier if he was mean, if he was like those other dogs you grew up around, who always bit first and asked questions later. Dogday was so sweet, though, and it confused you. Your fear mixed with your desire to be friends, actual friends, and it made everything so frustrating to deal with.

Dogday knelt before you again, a small mug of water in his large hands. He wordlessly offered it to you once you raised your head. His eyes were bright against the darkness of his sockets, flitting about your ruddy, tear-stained face. He was so worried about you, despite how you never let him close, pushed him away at every turn.

You smiled. “Thank you. . . and I’m sorry.”

“Aw, it’s no big deal!” Dogday brushed your apology aside, rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassed delight. You smiled at him! Actually, fully smiled!! Wait until the others heard. “If you’re sick, I wanna help!”

You nodded some, unsure if you should even let him know. You took the mug in your hands and sipped it, sighing some. He deserved to know, didn’t he? But would knowing hurt him? You’d done enough of that already.

“I. . .” You paused, at battle with yourself, but Dogday sat at your feet, ever attentive. “I haven’t had a good day today. Dropping the books was the last straw, kinda. I’m sorry.”

Dogday shook his head. “You don’t gotta apologize for that! You can’t help it.” He scooted closer, nearly resting his head in your lap, but the plushes he had put there earlier stopped him. It also helped him remember how you weren’t the fondest of touch. “Oh! Sorry.”

It was your turn to shake your head. “S’fine, Dogday.” Fear bit at your insides, and while you didn’t want to get any closer than you had to, you figured. . . talking would be okay. It would be a start, and as you got better, you’d tell him. When things hurt less. “I’ve always been a crybaby, you know?”

Dogday perked up, ears cocked. “Oh??”

“Yeah. When I was a kid. . .”

Dogday listened to your every word with stars in his eyes. You were opening up to him! Telling him things! He was so happy. Maybe now you two could be friends, like all the other critters with their own caretakers. He couldn’t wait to get there, but he knew this was going to take time too. He’d be patient, for you.

He’d do anything to get you to smile at him like that again.

[lokorum]

Your art so surreal, did you take inspiration from African masks it’s amazing. You have probably gotten this question before but what’s your process and how do plan these beautiful pieces out. I am a beginner artist and would like some advice on how start doing digital painting.

thank you for bringing me back from the dead with your kindness, (i was so sad today ughhhh i think watching vampire diaries starting to affect me hjkhjk), i really, really deeply thankful that you spend your time to write something so sweet (also sorry it took me literally ages to reply phphp THE USUAL)

yeah, in buryatia shamanism like the big thing, so when i went to search what's out there in the masks department - google's mess of the results for once was helpful and showed this massive collection of beautiful african masks. the one that was inspo for tiisha lived in my head rent free for weeks before the character was even born phphph now i cant even imagine her without it 

(here is little tiisha for you before i'll proceed to be not helpfull phphphph)

oof advices are not my strong side , like..........my process mostly is just sleep through the whole thing i guess..........................i very rarely do sketches, i hate study anatomy and perspective, drawing cubes makes me physically sick etc etc my approach to drawing were "fuck around and find out", always about chill and fun and barely ever about learning. imho thats why im so shitty at drawing simple things but not bad at coloring. so yeah, my biggest advice always and forever will be - be gentle to yourself, please

digital or traditional or whatever else is out there, dont forget you make it for yourself and for yourself only okay? it supposed to be fun, not sad tiring and competitive 

advices for digital specifically tho - very objective, apply with caution

learn all the keyboard shortcuts, ideally to press them without thinking 

explore more instruments than just brush. it will be tedious and sometimes feel like a chore so mb pick one victim once a month and browse youtube for a stuff like SECRET ULTIMATE TIPS ABOUT MAGIC WAND TOOL THAT WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE (they indeed will save your life) 

check if your drawing program has artboards - turning it on will give you more freedom over canvas positioning  and your refs will always be there and not in the separate window 

idk about others but using auto tone, auto contrast and auto color often gives me well needed perspective on what im doing 

in 99% cases be sure that you can reanimate even the most messiest artpiece you ever did. working in digital gives you the chance to mess with shapes, colors and perspective at any time so if you dont want to gave up on something - you absolutely didnt have to

from time to time while you are still learning - go out there in the wilds and search for the new brushes. tweak with them if you want. i have like ~500 and i use 6 max, but those 6 i found by at some point trying to draw with all of the 500

MADE. BACK UPS. and i mean not like save layers just in case before merging them (tho that's too will help) no, i mean click SAVE AS once an hour and create A NEW FILE. PLEASE. i lost so much stuff to sudden power outage. its never pretty and you loosing will to work for days

watch at least one tutorial about the whole rgb srgb and cmyk thing - i did, understood not a thing, but at least im not playing dora the explorer with my colors after the export now 

uh idk think thats it? tried to think about those that id hope i knew when i started so hopefully something will help 

have fun with your drawings!! 

[eyrina-avatar]

Explaining Periods to The Sullys

synopsis: reader explains what a period is to the Sully kids (with the help of kiri)

pairings: neteyam x reader implied couple(aged up), reader x sully kids + spider

genre: idk, informative??/ comedy???

author's note: you guys didn't forget about dr. max patel, right? I barely see him in anyone's writing. proofread once

warnings: mention of female bodies(?), periods, blood, slight gun mention(nothing violent), maybe a few swear words, slight suggestive comment, slight stabbing threat(threat was made as a joke- calm down guys)

word count: 1.6k words

"OOF" you rubbed your forehead as your butt had just landed on the floor.

"I'm always forgetting that my avatar form is taller than my human body" you sighed as you got up.

"This is the third time this week that you've bumped into that doorpost" Norm snickered before hitting himself on the light bulb above him that was illuminating the lab.

"Crap" he murmured, rubbing the top of his head in pain.

"Ha!" you let out in retaliation.

Spider and Lo'ak laughed at the scene unfolding while Kiri and Neteyam rolled their eyes.

"Anyways, what was it that you kids wanted from the lab?" Norm squinted at the Sully kids, weary of their intentions.

"We just wanted to see where it is that y/n does all of her experiments" Lo'ak responded as he played around with the light fixtures, flipping through some different light colors illuminating a plant.

"Whatever, just don't break anything or the top scientist with have my head for any more expenses." Norm warned

"It's alright, Norm. I'm watching them. They won't break anything. And if they do, I won't take Lo'ak hunting again." You reassured him.

"Hey, what do I have to do with that! You know if you don't teach me how to use one of those rifle thingies then I'll have to wait for my dad. And you know how that is. The last time he taught me was months ago, he's been too busy teaching Neteyam." Lo'ak side eyed his older brother.

"Pff, it's not my fault that you're not responsible enough and that dad gets nervous every time you have a gun in your hands." Neteyam shot back.

"But-"

"Then you'll just have to stop touching everything you see in the lab, Lo'ak. You see? Easy peasy. Problem solved. Then you won't break anything and I can give you your next lesson tomorrow." You patted Lo'ak's back and gave Norm a reassuring smile. 'Don't worry,' you mouthed and turned around, focusing your attention on the Sully kids.

"So, what's the plan?" you tilted your head in question.

"Well, I've gotta get a new oxygen tank for my mask and-" Spider headed for the cabinets

"SPIDER, are you for real?"

"What?" he shook his shoulder in question.

"You're still using those crappy RDA masks that need a wire and oxygen tank and all of that. I thought Norm gave you the new ones, from my research company."

"You own a company?" Max teased as raised his eyebrows at you.

"No... you know what I mean. I mean the science department that I'm part of. The new scientists that came to Pandora after your disastrous RDA was kicked out." You shot a look at the doctor.

"Really, you didn't have to go that far..."

"Oh, lighten up Max." you patted his shoulders. "Anyways, where are those new masks? Spider needs one, he's still using those outdated ones."

"Really, those old masks shouldn't even work anymore." Max shook his head and handed Spider a mask, "Here you go, kid."

"I thought Norm gave him one." Max crossed his arms while conversing.

"Nah, I guess Norm's been too distracted with the Na'vi school he took over after Grace" You shrugged.

"Yea... well, see you later guys, I have some more research to work on." he waved before walking away.

"So, Spider, let's get this thing on. All you have to do is take off all of those wires and that old mask. Next, just put this one on like you did the old one and adjust it and it should start working immediately." You helped Spider with the process while Kiri visited her mother's avatar body.

"No tank or anything?" Spider questioned.

"Nope, this has a little filter thing that automatically filters out the carbon and nitrogen inside the mask. No more heavy tank for you to use." You threw the old air tank to the disposal pile and was headed towards one of your plants before being interrupted by Lo'ak.

"Hey y/n, what's this?" Lo'ak held up a packet of pills.

"Lo'ak, put that back." Neteyam scolded before snatching the pills from his hand and placing it back on your table.

"It says, birth-control," Lo'ak scrunched his eyebrows while reading the words on the wrapper.

"Take once a day to prevent pregnancy..."Spider read aloud before putting the pills back.

"Woah..." Lo'ak and Spider let out in unison before giving you and Neteyam looks.

"Are you guys...doing ummm...having errr" Lo'ak stumbled as tried to get the words out of his mouth.

"First of all, that's none of your business! Second, those pills aren't even for my avatar body. They're for my human body, and not for what you think it is."

"Then for what?" Spider raised his eyebrows at you.

"They're for my period. But only for my human body because my avatar doesn't get periods." You sighed in having to explain periods to fifteen-year-old boys.

"What's a period?" Lo'ak asked.

"Women things." Kiri responded as she rolled her eyes at her brother's nosiness.

"And how would you know? You're a na'vi." Spider interrogated.

"Because girls talk to girls about things they don't talk to boys about. Duh." Kiri shot back.

"So, what is it?" Lo'ak waved his hands in question.

"Yea, what's a, um- a period? Isn't that the little dot that goes at the end of a sentence? At least that's what Norm taught me..." Spider trailed off.

"Yea, you're partially correct, Spider," you gave a small nod as you thought about how you were going to explain things.

"But umm.. I'm talking about a different type of period called menstruation. It's when a female human bleeds for 5-7 days straight each month." you let out as you saw Spider's and Lo'ak's faces change from curiosity to shock.

"L M F A O- Is that how you spell it? FIVE TO SEVEN DAYS STRAIGHT?? You've got to be kidding me. You don't expect us to believe that, right? I mean, sometimes Spider and I do dumb things but you don't expect us to be stupid enough to fall for that, right?" Lo'ak simply stared at you, waiting for a response.

"No, she's right. You guys could definitely learn a thing or two about humans." Neteyam rolled his eyes at his younger brother's ignorance.

"Wait, wait, wait," Spider held his arms out in shock, "You actually bleed for up to a week and don't die? How the hell do you not die?"

"And why do you bleed for that long? And from where are you bleeding?" Lo'ak pitched in.

"She's bleeds from her pu-"

"Kiri." Neteyam warned.

"What? It's true. Might as well be blunt with these two skxawngs." Kiri rolled her eyes again.

"So basically, when a human female starts getting more physically mature, sorta like coming of age.. Her body starts preparing for pregnancy every month. It basically lines the uterus and gets ready for a baby. When the body sees that there is no baby, the uterus starts shedding it's lining for about 5-7 days until it's cleaned up. The shedding comes out in blood and that's what causes the bleeding."

"..."

"What?" You cocked your head in question.

"So basically, because you didn't get knocked up, your body bleeds?" Lo'ak squints his eyes, trying to understand the information he was just given.

"What's so hard about that?" Spider shrugged.

"WH- WHAT'S SO HARD ABOUT THAT?! Are you guys kidding me or what?" You mouth drops at the nonsense you hear coming from the younger boy's mouth.

"You bimbos, it's not just bleeding. It involves many symptoms such as heavy cramping, back pain, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, mood swings, headaches, appetite changes , and more." Kiri stated as she crossed her arms.

"So the symptoms of a cold, big deal." Spider spat out, trying to minimize the severity of everything.

"Oh I'm sorry, did you just say big deal? Maybe I should put a fucking knife in your stomach to see if that's a big deal or not because that's what the cramps feel like. Or maybe, better... I should kick you in the fucking balls, right?" You lashed out at the boy in front of you.

"Damn, chill, he didn't mean it, right, Spider?"Lo'ak tried to calm the situation, "Maybe she's on her period right now..." he whispered.

"Avatars don't have periods you dingbat" Neteyam let out.

"Well maybe her human form is experiencing cramps in the link pod and so the emotions are traveling through the conscious connection and that's why she's so cranky." Spider stepped back, not trying to get on your bad side.

"..."

You only blinked in response as Kiri and Neteyam bursted out laughing.

"What in the name of eywa..."

"I've never heard so much bullshit come out of someone's mouth before." Neteyam shook his head at the human boy's imagination. "You know, y/n told me that humans usually read a big guide book before joining the avatar program... well maybe you should read one on human biology. It's only fitting since you're ehh, you know..." Neteyam trailed off.

"Ha, I'm glad I wasn't the one to say something stupid this time" Lo'ak applauded himself.

"Nah, you too Lo'ak. How about you read it with Spider so you can both giggle at the pictures and whatever shit you two happen to read" you turned away from the boys as you went back to examining the plants you were experimenting on.

"Does she really bleed from her va-" Lo'ak was cut off.

"And for a week straight..." Spider chimed in.

"Shut up!" Kiri's voice rang through your ears as you quietly giggled to yourself.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: .☽ . :☆ﾟ. ───

should I make more fics like this; reader teaching the sullys some human things? Tell me what you think!

as always, comments/reblogs are much appreciated❤

do not steal my work and please don't post it on ao3 or wattpad

© eyrina-avatar

colors used: #01DBFA and #01B3CC

[in1-nutshell]

Hey me again maybe a few more interactions with team bee and old Predacon buddy maybe a bit more hijinks and stuff and maybe seeing prime again Predacon buddy will most likely berate Optimus and then hugging him because of them missing their Orion pax basically just overall acting like a mother hen and just overall fretting over team bee

I went with a little reunion with Buddy and Optimus... then I had a little fun with it.

Hope you enjoy!

Bot Buddy the Old Predacon reunites with Optimus Prime

SFW, Platonic, Slight angst, mentions of injury but nothing too graphic, Familial, Cybertronain reader

RiD 2015

Buddy was with the rest of the team fighting this ‘Megatronus’ character.

They were not impressed by the name.

Buddy and Grimlock took over most of the heavy hits and hitting, but even Buddy was struggling against the mysterious mech.

They blamed it on the age and years of damage to their frame.

Oh, they would have given for some years shaven off right about now.

Megatronus was going to get the jump on Bumblebee when Buddy tackled him.

The mech easily got them off and slammed them to the ground.

Buddy was very familiar with wounds after years of being in the arena and war. They know what a stab wound feels like, especially one near a vital area.

Buddy looking up at the mech with hatred in their optics.

Megatronus has both of his servos together raised above his helm.

“I think its about time to finally get rid of you Predacon scum from the face of this world.”--Megatronus

Buddy hears some of the bots scream for them.

All they can focus in was the sneering pain in their gut and the slow-motion servos coming straight for their helm.

This was it…

At least they would see Prime again.

A blur of red and blue tackled Megatronus down.

Out of the corner of Buddy’s optics they see him.

“Optimus…Orion…”—Buddy

Buddy’s vision gets darker and darker.

They could feel their frame get colder by the minute.

The older Predacon knew that it was a bad idea to close their optics.

But they were so tired…

They forgot to take their nap today and the ground below…

A little nap wouldn’t hurt right?

Buddy heard some pede steps heading their direction, but they had already closed their optics as the fading sound of yelling disappeared.

Buddy woke up with the sight of the last rays of sunlight hitting their face.

They groaned propping their elbows up a bit, flinching at the pain in their gut. Where the giant sword used to be was now replaced by some expert wielding. It’d take a bit of buffing out and coloring to get rid of that thing.

Buddy looked around and noticed they were in the scrapyard. Specifically in the section where they had most of their medical supplies.

It was quiet.

Too quiet…

Buddy swings their pedes to the side of the berth and tries to sit up.

That was an immediate regret.

“Primus… this is going to hurt like the Pits…”--Buddy

Buddy pushes themselves off the berth and stumbles to the wall next to them.

They slowly prop themselves up thanks to the wall.

“Now… where are the others…?”--Buddy

Buddy hears multiple pede steps coming their way.

They grabbed the closets object near them, which was a crowbar and held it tightly in their servos.

The intruding bot turns the corner and Buddy, out of pure instinct, whacks them on the helm.

“OW!”--Bumblebee

“Bee! Sorry about—Oof!”--Buddy

Bumblebee gets over the whack and hugs Buddy tightly, yet mindful of their injuries.

Buddy could feel him quiver a bit.

They patted his back a bit before he turned to them.

“You shouldn’t be out walking.”--Bumblebee

“I know, but it got too quiet and I needed to see for—”--Buddy

“I made sure they stayed quiet.”—Ratchet

Ratchet stood behind Bumblebee with his arms crossed with a tired smile.

Buddy’s optics widen in surprise.

“Ratchet?! Ratchet!”--Buddy

Buddy tries to walk over to Ratchet but the medic walks to them instead.

Both Bee and Ratchet try and drag Buddy back to the berth.

“You know what I’m going to say...”--Ratchet

Buddy does a mocking salute.

“Got it Dr. of Doom.”--Buddy

“Don’t call me that. Anymore moving and you’re going to mess up my wielding job.”--Ratchet

Buddy sits back down on the berth trying to hide the pain that flared up when they did.

“How did you get here anyways. Not that its bad or anything.”--Buddy

“I followed his signal.”--Ratchet

“Who’s—"--Buddy

“Mine.”--Optimus

Buddy’s optics widen when they see Optimus standing by the corner.

He slowly approaches Buddy’s side.

Buddy just stared at him in disbelief.

“I know this may be a lot of information to say all at once Buddy… but I am—”--Optimus

“Prime.”--Buddy

Optimus quiets down and looks at Buddy’s optics that had started to spring leaks.

“Just…just come over here…”--Buddy

Buddy opens their arms and Optimus goes in for the hug.

Buddy tries their hardest not to cry when Bee and Ratchet join in.

They really do try.

“I swear to the Primes above, if ANY of you wise bots decide to pull a stunt like that… Great I can’t even threaten you guys now, thanks a lot. There goes my reputation…”--Buddy

The four of them ended up catching up a bit before the rest of the team came back from patrol.

Finally, Prime was home.

[talesofesther]

is it too late to call you mine? | ch 2

Sebastian Sallow x Reader

Summary: In Sebastian's prettiest dreams, you'd wear a gown of a color that matched his tie, he'd take your hand and dance all night until morning came. But those dreams felt like a farfetched reality. Would you even consider going with him? As more than a friend?

A/N: Right I lied before, we're gonna have one more chapter for this story after this one lol. Written for @spaceyaceface's HL Writing Challenge. Hope you guys like it. <3

Masterlist | Read ch 1 here

"One would think that with a library of this size, the school would have more books about this," you mumbled under your breath, brushing your hand over the cover of the thick book to rid it of the dust.

Hogwarts library had to be one of the most enchanting libraries you've ever been to; with its tall dark wooden bookshelves, high windows, spiral stairs leading up to the second floor, paintings, warm orange lighting, and desks and armchairs scattered about for each student to read to their heart's content—it all made you adore spending hours in here. It was common for Sebastian to join you, you'd both sit together and exchange thoughts about the books you've been reading until Madam Scribner had to kick you out so you'd be back in your common rooms before curfew.

Today, however, you were alone; skimming between stacks of books which were mostly forgotten and had a layer of dust covering them.

The Yule Ball was less than a week away, and it only just occurred to you that you didn't know the first thing about dancing. At least not the kind of formal dancing that one does at an event like this, with a partner.

You stared down at the book in your hands for a few long seconds before closing your eyes with a sigh.

Praying that the single book you managed to find would help you, you turned around to make your way to Madam Scribner's desk so she could check out the book for you. Once you rounded a corner, however, you bumped straight into something firm and warm, a startled oof escaping your lips as your feet lost their balance.

Only it wasn't something, it was someone. Gentle hands quickly took hold of both your elbows so you wouldn't end up falling to the floor. When you finally looked up, you were met with a familiar array of freckles and a dazzling grin.

"Picking up a new book? Without me?" Sebastian slowly pried his hands from you, his dark eyes giving a quick glance up and down before he laid one palm over his chest; "I'm wounded."

You chuckled, your knuckles going white around the book because of how close he was standing. "I'm not picking up a new book… Well, I am," you hesitated, "but you won't be interested in this one, I'm sure."

Sebastian raised a curious eyebrow at you, the golden candlelights of the library shaping the outlines of his face and highlighting the auburn of his hair to perfection. "Oh? And what book might that be?"

You bit at the inside of your cheek, not directly answering him but loosening your grip on the book ever so slightly. There wasn't a thing you could hide from him anyway.

Reaching a hand out, Sebastian tilted the book away from where you held it against your chest, coming to stand right beside you so he could properly read what was on the cover. And you could suddenly feel the warmth radiating from his body; his shoulder brushing yours and raising goosebumps on your skin while your lungs already lacked air. You could hate Sebastian for the obvious effect he has on you.

"Dancing techniques through the ages?" Sebastian read the title of the book out loud, and when he turned to look at you, the expression on his face was nearly comical, "are you even interested in that?"

You gave him what was half a smile and half a grimace, hugging the book closer to your chest again and taking half a step away from him. If you weren't so flustered you probably would've noticed the slight bit of hurt that flashed through his eyes because of your movement. "Yes?" You tried, and then groaned, "not really, but I kind of have to read it."

"Why? I don't remember us having any classes on dancing," Sebastian shrugged, stuffing his hands in the pockets of his pants.

"Yeah, I know, I know," you sighed, then closed your eyes as you spoke, much quieter; "it's because of the Ball."

"The… Ball? Why would you-" Sebastian cut himself off when he finally understood, he hesitated, his plump lips hovering for just a second, "oh, you don't-"

"No, I don't know how to dance," you huffed, feeling your cheeks immediately warming up. You avoided Sebastian's eyes then. There was really no reason to feel ashamed, dancing wasn't a skill everyone was expected to have. Yet, you couldn't help but feel at least a little self-conscious under the gaze of those dark eyes.

"And you expect to learn that from a book?" The smile could be heard clearly in Sebastian's voice; not mocking, at least not your lack of skill, maybe just your choice of a solution.

You glanced up at him again, raising your eyebrows as if to say; 'yeah, what of it?'.

An amused chuckle stumbled past his lips just before his cheek molded back to that smirk of his. "It's like learning to duel by reading a book about it. Doesn't work."

More often than not, Sebastian frustrated you to no end. It was just his luck that he looked damn good while doing it. "How else am I supposed to learn anything about it, Sebastian? The Ball is in less than a week." You argued, dropping the book on top of the nearest table as you grew restless.

Sebastian stayed quiet for a few beats, his lower lip stuck between his teeth as he apparently mulled over his next words. "I could teach you… If you'd like."

He refused to look you straight in the eye as he spoke, and you doubt you'd ever heard him sound this… timid. Hesitant. Changing his weight from one foot to the other as he picked at a loose thread on his sweater while waiting for your answer.

Sebastian was nervous.

"You know how to dance?" You were surprised at how your own voice sounded somewhat shy. The thought of Sebastian teaching you—his hands holding you close, guiding your movements; his body close to yours, personal space forgotten—made you feel all warm.

Sebastian hummed, his teasing smile making an appearance again, "you pick up a thing or two if you attend enough parties. I could teach you the basics at least, you won't be completely at a loss of what to do then."

You breathed in deeply, pursing your lips as you nodded. "Alright." It was a much better option than just reading a book about it anyway.

"Alright," Sebastian repeated after you, his throat working through a gulp, "meet me near the Undercroft entrance after curfew tonight."

"Not in the Undercroft?" You frowned.

"Not quite," his sultry voice kissed your ears, "no music in the Undercroft, after all."

── ·❆· ──

The hallways of the Defense Against the Dark Arts tower were completely empty as you walked, the pristine tiles reflecting each of your steps. It was past 10 PM and the moon was high in the sky, you could only hope you wouldn't run into any of the ghosts… again.

Sebastian waited for you with his back leaning against the wall near the Undercroft, just as he said. His arms were crossed over his chest as his foot tapped the ground rhythmically. He perked up once he laid eyes on you, a gentle and sincere smile coming to his lips.

"Ready for some dance lessons, my lady?" He asked in an over-the-top courteous voice that got you endearingly rolling your eyes.

"As I'll ever be," you smiled softly then, feeling your hands growing a bit sweaty, "thank you for doing this, by the way."

Sebastian only shook his head, his own smile still playing on his lips. He avoided your eyes, "don't mention it," he told you quietly, before pushing himself off the wall and walking past you, "come on then."

You followed Sebastian up the stairs, trailing behind him until a gentle, familiar classical tune reached your ears. He lead you to the enchanted violins and cello that were constantly playing in the tower, and now you finally understood why he said 'not in the Undercroft'.

"I suppose it's close enough to what will be playing in the Ball," Sebastian gestured to the enchanted instruments.

You chuckled, taking half a step closer to him, "clever."

As the soft melody swirled around you, the air seemed to shift between you and Sebastian. Different from the usual commotion during the day, the DADA tower was entirely too calm tonight; dimly lit as it was bathed in various shades of golden coming from the candlelights that reflected against the polished floor, completely devoid of any presence save for you and him—what once reminded you of Professor Hecat's assignments, now felt like a private ballroom, tailor-made to hold this moment alone.

Sebastian cleared his throat. You wondered if he felt the shift too. "Right so, in a dance, you'll want to be as relaxed as possible, trying to move in sync with your partner," he told you, "I doubt that-" he hesitated then, words seemingly heavy on his tongue, "I doubt that Weasley is much of a dancer, so if you know a basic waltz it should be more than enough."

There was something about the way the candlelights shone against Sebastian's features, all soft and pretty, turning his expression into something akin to adoration. For you.

Your heart was suddenly in your throat. Sebastian's stare was almost too much. You'd gladly drown in that 'too much'. It holds you hostage, pierces like the afternoon sun.

"May I?" He asked, one hand outstretched, waiting for your permission to hold your waist.

You only nodded, not trusting your voice.

Sebastian looked as nervous as you felt, and you didn't want to dwell on why that was. Not now.

With a delicacy only you had the privilege of knowing, Sebastian placed a hand on your waist; the other finding your own hand so he could intertwine your fingers with his. His chest was a hair's width away from touching yours.

Your free hand came to rest on his shoulder then, as if your souls were always meant to be this entangled. You refused to look him straight in the eyes, praying that he wouldn't feel the shaking of your fingers when you squeezed his hand.

"Relax," Sebastian whispered, his voice so close to your ear that it sent shivers down your spine.

But the shaking of the syllables betrayed his own statement. Sebastian's hand on your waist tightened its grip, as his mind drowned in the possibility of you and him. Here, in this fraction of a moment, with your heartbeat following the rhythm of his own, the dream felt almost within reach.

You didn't know, but every minute with you was torture for him. Every minute you dangled something in front of him, something he knew was unattainable.

Every minute that you weren’t his was another droplet from his bleeding heart.

"What now?" you breathed suddenly, quiet as to not break the peaceful bubble around you, yet still startling him back to reality.

Several emotions were swimming behind Sebastian's eyes then, too many for you to put a finger in any of them. A soft blush formed under his freckles, barely noticeable against the faint candlelights.

But you saw it. There was a beat before either of you said anything, a beat where you just looked at each other, wondering whether the other person’s feeling the same way.

"Right, it's not hard," Sebastian straightened in his posture, adjusting your joined hands as he took one deep breath, "just try to follow me, slowly, from one side to another."

Surprisingly, Sebastian was quite a skilled dancer. At first, he did most of the work, guiding your body through each step and turn, getting you comfortable until you were aware enough to follow him quicker and on your own. And you found that it was easy to follow him; your feet, hips, and hands complemented his movements as if you were one.

You weren't sure how long it had been, all you knew was that Sebastian's hands were warm on you, your body feeling as light as a feather as you waltzed around the empty tower. Any tension any of you had felt before was long gone now. Sebastian's smile was soft and his chuckles were a music better than the one of the enchanted violins. Your soul moved in tandem with his and your bold hands pulled his body closer to yours.

If anyone were to glance, you two could easily be mistaken for the dancing ghosts that sometimes appeared around the castle.

"I think it's safe to say you're a natural," Sebastian said in between laughs, amused at the way you were dragging him around now.

You felt the squeeze of his hand on your waist, fingertips tracing the curve of your spine. "It's much more fun than I thought it would be," you told him, just a little breathless. "But I had a good teacher too, I suppose," you teased, tilting your head with a smirk.

You let go of his shoulder then, allowing him to twirl you around and then straight back into his arms. This simple night turned into a moment you'd be happy to live in forever.

Sebastian's own smile gets a little loose and gone when you do this—staying too close, smiling at him, touching—but you seem oblivious to it.

Whatever the future may hold, he was happy to say you were his; if only for this night.

⋆* ☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ

Read ch 3 here

Thank you for reading this little story. Feedback and reblogs are literally what keep me motivated to continue posting here, so I’d appreciate it if you could take some time to reblog and comment if you want. <3

You do not have permission to repost, copy or translate my works on any platforms (even with credit), please respect.

Sebastian’s taglist: @milkiane @v1ci0us @auxiliare @arawai

[flowerpot-broppy]

Atlantis au

Omg I'm so glad I got all these done before Halloween!!! I LOVE how everyone came out, but moving forward I'm probably just gonna do line art and flat colors cause oof... doing all this took WAY too much effort.

(pt. 2/2)

Thrash - (75) an eccentric millionaire, industrialist, philanthropist, and an old friend of Rosiepuffs from their school days. He only makes public appearances when necessary. Otherwise, he is reclusive and only allows those closest to him to meet with him, often letting his daughter be the figurehead of their business. He is financing the trip to Atlantis due to a long lasting deal he had with Rosiepuff before her passing.

Barb - (23)  the extremely skilled and majorly dangerous daughter of reclusive Millionaire Thrash, began learning combative arts and multiple different languages at an early age, she was introduced to Creek at 17 when she began to learn tactics and firearms training. She currently works as a bodyguard, personal assistant, and chauffeur for her father.

Creek - (24) born into a military family, Creek resolved to follow in his father's footsteps and joined the military at age fifteen. There, he exhibited a remarkable talent for leadership, owing to his analytical mind, charisma, and refusal to acknowledge the white flag surrender. He was recruited to lead the expedition but seems to have his own motives for this little research trip.

Peppy - (8,800+) The King and ruler of Atlantis at the height of its power. In his arrogance, he uses the Heart of Atlantis as a weapon and begins a campaign that sees him conquer and colonize other lands and cultures. This would end up bringing about his downfall as his pride is carried over into his army, which results in the accidental weapons discharge that creates the Great Flood that sinks the city. Additionally, his eldest daughter is chosen by the crystal in an act to save the central city from being destroyed outright. With the city no longer the empire that it once was, and recognizing how his actions brought about their situation, Peppy had virtually all of their history erased and the Crystal locked away in a chamber under the throne room

Viva - (8,800+) previous acting Queen of Atlantis, she tried to help Poppy during the Great Flood, however she was caught and bonded by the crystal light and was carried toward the heart of Atlantis while her crying sister looked on. She took Poppys bracelet with her.

[galebrainrot2024]

Enemies to Lovers Part 32

Long time no see - had a bit of the real life blues, we are slowly getting our creativity back. I hope everyone is doing well out there and thank you for being patient with me!

Part 31 | Master List | Ao3

The next morning, Gale woke to the sound of twigs snapping outside of his tent. He was teetering between sleep and consciousness, the nights events playing and replaying in his mind. He could taste forgiveness, the imagery of their lives shared as one. It was bitter sweet, knowing his time left was finite if they found no alternative to destroying the Absolute.  

He stood, knees creaking with the stiffness of sleep. “Oof,” he grunted and stretched. Despite the inevitability of age, Gale was still surprised when his joints betrayed him, when his bones felt brittle and weary with toil. The orb had ravaged more than his gifts and his body felt more like a bag of bones than anything of use. He wasn’t that old, not in the scheme of things anyway but the orb had aged his organs beyond what was reasonable. 

“Oh good, you’re up,” he heard a voice echo from outside. Karlach. 

“Instead of lingering outside like a stray, come join me.” The flaps of the tent ushered open and Karlach stood, flames licking. She fell to her knees and inhaled a shake breath before a sob choked out. Gale was then behind her, hand landing on her shoulders. “Easy,” he cooed, deftly maneuvering his wrist so that a mage hand brought forward a cuppa. 

“I was just a kid,” she wept, the anger from the night before giving way to the true emotion: grief. “I was just a kid when that piece of shit sold me to Zariel. It was my heart. My life. And now he’s at the center of this crock of shit,” she slammed her fist into the dirt, creating a small crater. 

Gale sat silently, rubbing her shoulders. It was a moment before he offered: “Are you in need of sage words from a dusty wizard or a moment of pure indulgence and release?” Gale comforted his mother this way many times before and learned rather early that people were not always keen on solutions despite his eagerness to offer them. Often, their only desire was to be heard and understood. 

She snorted, shaking her head and her voice broke. “I’m just so… angry. I’m so angry that my life was determined by that witless snake and there’s nothing I can do about it other than mash his face into the dirt.” Karlach’s eyes fluttered shut and she took a deep breath before standing. “Thanks the Gods Wyll was there last night when the fires were burning hot.” 

Gale rubbed the back of his neck as his brow furrowed, “I’m sorry I wasn’t -“ 

“Don’t be, I don’t mind spending a bit of one-on-one time with the Blade of Avernus.” She gave a wink.

Gale let out a short puff of air, “Over Dammon so soon?” 

Karlach shrugged, “I’m a woman of need, and after decades without human touch, I’d say I am more than permitted to have my share of fun.” 

“No quarrel from me,” he said, holding up both of his palms in truce. “If you’re happy, I’m happy.” 

“Despite it all, I am, yeah.” She said, taking him by the shoulders and giving him a bit of a shake. “As long as you don’t blow yourself up, I’d say I’m over the moon.” 

**** 

The group agreed that based on their brief exploration of moonrise, their first task neeeded to be finding where the Tieflings and the Duke were held captive. 

Astarion, ever the contrarian, bemoaned the rescue. “Why must we help everyone we come across? All I wanted was to get rid of this tadpole.” 

“You’re free to leave,” Gale quipped. Astarion bared his fangs. 

“Cut the shit, both of you, my Gods.” Karlach groaned over breakfast. 

Tav avoided him most of the morning, though in a different way than she did before. Gale noted the stolen glances she shot towards him, her face flushing whenever he caught her eye. 

He thought about how often he spent studying the back of her head at Blackstaff, how he would memorize the colors in her hair, the texture, how it would tuck over her ears. He had never seen hair like it, so full and alive.

There was a memory that stuck out to him, one where they were reviewing the merits of necromancy. It was not an art Gale was interested in and it repulsed him. Bringing back anyone or anything from the dead as ghouls rather than re-connecting soul to body was appalling to him. 

Tav was sat beside him in class, sketching the under dark. His head was resting in his hand and he tried coyly to peak at her paper without her noticing. She did and covered her paper, scowling at him. 

“You’re a wonderful artist,” he whispered to her, hoping to gain some grace. He remembered how her face softened, how she moved her arm to show him more. 

“This is a Myconid Colony,” she whispered excitedly, her eyes bold and bright. They were perhaps thirteen at the time and he was bewitched by her until their professor called attention to them. 

“Mr. Dekarios whatever you and Tav are engaged in must be far more interesting than Necromancy, so why don’t you come up and share with the class?” 

His body froze, his face beet red and Tav stood, taking the fall. “Gladly,” she said and skipped to the front of the room detailing her drawing and telling fantastical stories of the under dark that had the entire class memorized, including their professor. 

It was one of the first moments Gale realized how enamored he was by her. 

“Gale?” He started and turned, gripping his chest, pulled from the memory. 

“Sorry.. lost in thought.” He cleared his throat, “Whatever I can do for you, consider it most enthusiastically done.” He shook, the adrenaline still pumping through his veins like fire, and ran a hand through his hair. Not even the Absolute could strike such fear into his heart as the unknown of her. 

“Are you ready?” Tav cocked her head to the side, twirling her staff in one hand before taping him on the shoulder with it playfully sending a jolt of shocking grasp through him that made his hair stand on end a bit.  

** 

Once in Moonrise, they followed a trail of blood to the dungeons of the Tower and came upon someone they did not expect. 

Minthara. 

Two guards were interrogating her as she gripped her head and cried out in pain. 

The last time they saw Minthara she was prepared to slaughter every Tiefling in the grove. Gale was surprised to see her alive, he was sure they killed her. Now, she stood terrified and fighting for her life like a caged animal. “Are you sure this is in our best interest?” Gale hissed, his back up against Tav’s as they both harnessed the Weave, holding the two guards in place. 

“Where’s your sense of adventure?” She retorted, a cheeky grin etched on her face. “Besides, we can use her brute force.” 

** 

They took out the two cultists within a few moments. They were unable to break free of the enchantment, allowing Karlach to eviscerate them in one fell swoop. All things considered, silently too as no additional forces came to the guard’s aid. 

Minthara’s eyes narrowed before her face softened as the artifact shielded her mind. “Why help me?” 

“Would you rather the alternative?” Tav said.  

“No.” She said, matter of factly. She shook her head and looked helpless, a strange emotion for such a force to wear. “No.” 

***

“Do you remember anything?” Tav asked Minthara as they sat around camp and broke bread together. 

“I remember everything.” She said somberly, setting her bowl down. Halsin and Wyll were suspicious of Minthara, understandably so. Most were surprised Tav allowed her to join their camp, but Gale knew Tav’s interest in the underdark’s races trumped any fear that may have lingered in her heart. “I was the Absolute’s dagger. I remember every throat that it held me to, and every drop of blood it forced me to spill.” Gale shuddered and he heard her snort in disdain. “I take no responsibility for the lives I took. I did nothing in the Absolute’s name - I was merely a weapon that it wielded.”

“Convenient,” Wyll muttered and Karlach elbowed him. 

They let the silence hang until she continued. He was surprised by how forthcoming she was, by how… amenable she was under the protection of the artifact. 

“The tadpole… the absolute…. They work together like a drug. I did not feel compelled to act against my will. I felt ecstatic to serve. Every action seemed a deliberate choice - the best choice… even though I could no more have resisted its commands than flesh can resist decay. Even rational minds like ours cannot reject such a powerful influence… The absolute can make the impossible seem inevitable.” 

Karlach let out a heavy sigh. “This whole thing gets more grim by the moment,” she poked at her strew and set it on the ground before leaning forward to rest her arms on her thighs. 

Gale interjected. “I suppose I’ll ask the lingering question…What do you know of Ketheric, about his power?” 

Minthara continued, “I have lived long enough to know that few things in this world are impossible. Kethric’s power is a rare thing - I have never seen its like. I fought at his side once, shortly after my… conversation. Before the battle, he was everything a general should be - a charismatic leader with a brilliant, strategic mind. And when the fighting began, he led his troops from the front and cut through the enemy like a scythe through stalks. Blows and arrows rained down on him, and before long his face was a mask of blood but he did not fall - he did not even falter.” She paused, the note of admiration in her voice not lost on him. “When we won that day, Kethric’s armor was bent and shattered, but his flesh was unmarked.” 

“How can that be?” Gale murmured, the seeds of doubt planting themselves in his mind. Perhaps the orb was the only chance for the survival of all. 

Except him. 

“I do not know. Perhaps the answers lurk in Balthazar’s chambers. Someone who has mastery over the dead may well be able to help the living cheat it. We should ransack his chambers and see what secrets he keeps for the great general.” 

“There was nothing of the sort that we found,” he said, handing her a fresh canteen that she drank eagerly. “Though, another peruse couldn’t hurt.” 

***

The next morning, Gale rose to see Tav deep in conversation with Halsin. “She looks awfully cozy…” he muttered beneath his breath, the familiar tinge of jealousy stoking him. 

Gale groaned, rolling his eyes as he turned away from them. The burly meat-man had finally begun to contribute to their party beyond his basic wisdom and ability to summon endless berries. 

Gale, for one, was tired of berries and conjuring them was hardly impressive. Karlach snickered. “You’re terrible at hiding your jealousy mate. You might want to get that checked out, before you turn the same color as Lae’zel.” 

“Tsk,” Lae’zel huffed, “He should be so lucky.” 

Tav’s laughter echoed through the morning air and sent envy trickling down the nape of his neck. “Tav is welcome to enjoy the company of whomever she pleases. Even if it is an ancient, empty-headed Druid.” 

Karlach laughed. “Easy, solider.”  

“A savvy move, recruiting Halsin to our cause.” Gale tried to sound sincere when Tav joined them, but the inflection of his voice betrayed his true feeling. “While I’m adept at most forms of Weave manipulation, druidic magic is not my area of expertise. He will make for a most useful option to have in reserve.” 

[captainlilyuniverseworld]

Let's Play Pretend

A/N: Karlach really wanted to make her thoughts known and this was the result. Full length on AO3 and as always happy reading

A/N2: If you ever wanna see specific scenarios feel free to poke my inbox :) im enjoying seeing where this goes

Let's Play Pretend

Gale tugged at the sleeve of his robe once more. He used to enjoy going to parties, granted it was often because he was performing feats of magic most people could only dream of doing. But the conversation was also stimulating. 

He wasn't meant to rub elbows with Lords and Ladies. Or rather, he didn't want to. And he was really only there because-

“Gale!” 

Gale let out a soft oof and chuckled as he was enveloped in Karlach’s arms. He hugged her back. She smelled less of sulfur and the hells this time around. More like oranges and sandalwood. It’s warm, but not a burning type that might sear his skin if he’s not careful. It’s comfortable. 

Familial. 

She was happy as they let go of each other. And he admired her choice of attire. Simple, elegant and entirely her. Her dress, Gale notes, is in the Ravengard house colors. Form fitting, sleeveless but with thin straps over her shoulders and a slit up the left side to show off her toned legs. 

“Do you like it?” She does a small twist this way and that. “It was the least god-awful thing I could get them to make me. No movement in anything else ya know? What happens if we have to go into battle?”

“And what would we be fighting?” Gale asked. 

“These stuffed up tarts,” she answered. “Minus Wyll and his father.” 

“If I’d known we’d be doing that, I would have brought my quarterstaff,” Gale joked. She smiled and leaned against the wall next to him with her arms crossed over her chest.

“How ya been Gale? Feels like ages since we’ve seen each other,” she nudged his shoulder. 

“Just about a year I think,” he nodded and sipped his wine. “How have you been?” 

“Oh you know, fighting imps, killing demons…found a forge master fixed my engine right up,” she grinned and tapped her chest. “Part of the reason we're here. Wyll’s been a real friend, keeping up with me in Avernus and first thing I told him once my engine got fixed and could survive out here, we'll take a break so he can spend time with his dad.”

They both looked over and saw Wyll talking with his father. Both Ravengard’s enjoying each other's company. 

“I ain't complaining about the break either. Even got my own little private villa,” Karlach grinned. “And his dad really knows his cigars.” 

Gale smiled. “I'm glad. You deserve it Karlach. You both do.”

“So where's Fangs?” She asked. “Figured he'd be all up for a chance to rub elbows with all these stiffs.”

“He had some business to take care of. We agreed to meet here,” Gale answered. He drank more wine and scanned the room for one of the servers with another tray of glasses. 

“And things are good with you two?” She asked. 

He doesn’t miss the inquiring tone of her voice, borderline skeptical. 

“Of course, why wouldn't they be?” He asked. 

“Just, two of you, kinda sudden ya know? We all go our separate ways then Withers gets us all together and you and Astarion are living together, engaged. I mean fucking hell, am I gonna come back after another year to find out you two adopted or something?” 

Gale snorts into his wine and coughs. He quickly sets the glass on the table to keep from spilling the remainder all over himself and a few people are looking their way. Karlach usher’s him outside to one of the emptier balconies patting his back. 

She’s joking. He knows she’s joking but god’s does that still make him squirm. Marriage, even one of willing convenience is one thing. But a child? He wouldn’t even subject Tara to this kind of life let alone a child. 

She winced and checked over her shoulder to make sure they weren’t being watched by prying eyes. 

“Sorry, sorry,” she apologized. “Bad joke?” 

He coughed and took the napkin she offered to wipe his mouth, and let out a potentially strangled laugh. “Just a bit Karlach.” He patted her shoulder. “And...it just sort of happened.” He wanted his wine. 

“Alright well, how?” She asked. 

“What do you mean?” He frowned. 

“You say it just sort of happened, but you've never actually answered the question. Even then, ‘oh ya know, just one of those whirlwind things’,” she tried to imitate his voice. “‘You know Astarion, he’s never one to do things half-assed.’ ‘Just swept me off my feet…’”

“My voice is not that high,” he crossed his arms over his chest and caught the engagement ring in question on his finger. 

Gold band with ruby center. Diamond’s set on either side. It’d been enchanted, so the only way it was coming off was if Astarion wanted it off or Gale cut off his own finger. He just didn’t have the nerve. 

“It kinda is,” she replied. 

He ran a hand through his hair. “There isn’t much to tell Karlach. It really sort of just…happened. I was surprised as you were but, when he looked at, when he asked me, when he…when he told me, I suppose I got caught up in it all. Isn’t that what they say love is supposed to feel like? Like your hearts caught in a vice?”

“Are you asking me or telling me?” Karlach put her hand on his shoulder. 

“There you are!” 

They parted as if burned. Astarion stood in the open doorway with his hands on his hips. Red eyes flitting between Karlach and Gale. Her hand still hovered in the air from where it’d been on Gale’s shoulder.

Continue

[frenchhoneybee]

I’ve always wanted to do this huehuehue. All odd numbers from the get to know me asks :3

omgggggg - first thought is you hate me for having to answer all these questions but i know you don’t 😘💛 ahhhh okay!

1. selfie (hoping y’all focus more on the beautiful Cali rather than me in this pic)

3. do you miss anyone? yes. i miss my friends, especially the ones i haven’t seen in a while

5. is there anyone who can always make you smile? my childhood and high school friends

7. what was your life like last year? the first half of the year i couldn’t drive bc my epilepsy meds were not controlling my seizures BUT i got a clean EEG in april so i was able to start driving in june which helped SO much. i had a great spring semester with my cohort in grad school and a good fall semester with a new cohort. i spent my free time doing theatre stuff, spending time with friends, bingeing tv shows, and doing school stuff.

9. who did you last see in person? my mom

11. are you listening to music right now? yes! haze by tessa violet just came on

13. how do you feel right now? tired and a bit anxious bc school starts next week

15. personality description: like if a cat were a human and swore a lot but also super empathetic and thoughtful

17. opinion on insecurities. everyone has them, therapy can help with them, and you’re your own worst critic

19. have you ever been to New York? apparently when i was like 2, my mom and dad took me to Cooperstown, but bc i don’t remember it, i feel like it shouldn’t count

21. age and birthday? hahahahaha you’re not gonna get me that easy. what - do you want my SSN next??

23. fear(s) - abandonment and cockroaches

25. role model - probably my theater friend/colleague (who is actually younger than me 😅)? they’re super cool and weird and kind and emotionally intelligent and i strive to be like that in my life

27. things i hate: idiotic logic (MAGA, terfs, etc.), ham (but especially if it’s heated in some capacity bc the smell makes me nauseous), the american healthcare system, capitalism, and Arizona drivers

29. favourite film(s): the princess bride, hush, scream franchise (minus 4), the suicide squad, everything everywhere all at once, barbie

31. 3 random facts: a. if public housing tenants, any members of their household, or guests engages in any drug related or other criminal activity on or off the premises, the tenancy will be terminated. b. “the Navajo apply the same word to the color of a robin’s egg and to that of grass. a psychologist once assumed that this meant the Navajo people didn’t have the physiological equipment to distinguish “green” from “blue”. when he showed them objects of the two colors and asked them if they were the same colors, they looked at him with astonishment” - Clyde Kluckholm (i hope that psychologist felt appropriately stupid). c. Cesar Chavez spoke to nearly half a million queer people at the 1987 March on Washington, acknowledging the impact gay support had had on United Farm Workers’ boycotts and pledging ongoing labor support for gay and lesbian rights.

33. something you want to learn. i want to learn spanish (i know a little but i want to learn more)

35. favourite subject. history

37. favourite actor/actress: uhhhh Daniel Craig is pretty top tier and Lucy Liu is also one of my faves. don’t have specific absolute favorites though

39. favourite sport(s)

fuck all sports except for football in ted lasso specifically

41. relationship status - single pringle

43. favourite song ever - OOF yeah no this is an impossible question can’t answer it

45. how you found out about your idol - i don’t think i have an idol? like i have various ppl i look up to but i learned early on in my life that idolizing ppl doesn’t end well for me bc we’re all deeply flawed individuals - we’re all human.

47. turn ons - sexual: confidence, communication, foreplay; romantic: confident sense of self, good scent, passion; platonic: sense of humor, parallel play, communication

49. where i want to be right now - in a cabin with rain falling, curled up on a couch with a mug of tea and a book

51. starsign - cancer ♋️

53. 5 things that make me happy: a. rain b. chocolate c. my cat d. spending time with my friends e. singing along to my favorite songs

55. tumblr friends - okay so i know that i have moots that i’m friendly with but idk if that counts as friends??? like if i regularly reblog and like their stuff and they regularly reblog and like my stuff that’s probably friends? i still don’t know how internet friendship works and i’ve lived on this earth for over a quarter of a century.

57. favourite animal: house cat. sounds basic but i’ve had so many of them over the years that i know they’re my favorite 😽

59. why i joined tumblr: in high school my friends were on tumblr and i wanted to connect with them better and then i never left (even tho they all did)

thank you @tearlessbbshampoo for the ask! ily for connecting on this supposed “social media” webbed site 🫶💛

[jacksgreysays]

ooooh glad to see your requests are open again!! how about- "things you said that i wasn't meant to hear" for shikako and kakashi?

Oooh, anon, the first thing that came to my mind with this prompt was pretty mean. Like… I’m going to explain what it was after, but I think it might be TOO mean to actually write in full:

---

Naruto is the one to go through the pictures, of course, the colors faded with age; but the bright blue of his father’s eyes and deep red of his mother’s hair still visible. He presses uncharacteristically gentle hands against the worn fabric of a light pink kitchen apron, a jacket with bold patterns around the red Uzumaki spiral, an unused baby blanket with his name embroidered on it. The soft sentimental things, remnants of a family that should have been, this is what Naruto focuses on as he finally, belatedly, goes through the inheritance that should have been his all along.

Kakashi says nothing, turns away so as to give his student a small amount of privacy, but does not leave him. Not this time.

Down the hall, his other students are focused instead on the more practical items: Weapons and armor. Storage scrolls—some of which are labeled, but the majority of which are not. Fuinjutsu research notes both in Minato-sensei’s slanted chicken scratch and Kushina-san’s looping, cresting hand.

“This is fine,” he hears Sasuke say, no doubt using his Sharingan to pick up any hidden, lingering security techniques. “Something’s weird about that shelf, we should skip it for now.”

“Look at all of this,” Shikako’s words are followed by the rapid rustling of paper. “This is beyond ingenious, this is… this is impossible.”

The part of Kakashi that isn’t constantly grieving feels second hand pride on behalf of his mentor.

“You do the impossible all the time,” Sasuke’s response is somehow flat yet still conveys exasperation.

“Not like this,” she says, her tone absolutely certain, not just the usual flavor of humility and self-doubt. “I can’t even imagine… to have been able to learn from either of them—from both of them?—I would have been able to do so much.”

Sasuke says something after that, but the words don’t make it through to Kakashi. The constantly grieving part of him rises swiftly as guilt, flooding his ears with white noise. Because he knows Shikako would never imply it, but he can hear it anyway:

Had she been Minato-sensei’s student, had she been the child practically adopted by Kushina-san through force of will alone, had she been there, then, if it had been her…

She would have been able to do so much better than Kakashi did.

—

Okay, it’s pretty short and I took a lot of the sting out of it, but the original idea was basically going to JUST be Shikako and Kakashi going through some of Minato’s old fuinjutsu notes and then Shikako kind of accidentally implying that had Kakashi bothered to learn under Konoha’s, perhaps, greatest fuinjutsu master (I think Minato apparently perfected a lot of things Tobirama only had protoypes for?) then a lot of tragedies, both personal and public, wouldn’t have happened or been as bad. I think the meanest one that came to me was that Rin wouldn’t have died since Minato had been working on a way to temporarily transfer a jinchuuriki seal from a person onto an item—probably in preparation for Naruto’s birth—such that they both could have made it home to Konoha where then the actual sealing masters could fix the seal on Rin which, uhhhhh, so sorry Kakashi T_T

There were other things like—a student of a sealing master (especially one that had Sharingan) would have noticed and been able to tweak or remove ROOT seals or find Orochimaru’s fucked up laboratories, etc. etc.

Just me bullying Kakashi, the saddest string bean in the world.

But at least I made it a little nicer? Oof, soooo sorry, anon, I can’t really think of anything else that is as meanly compelling as this.

[bellalampwickrossi]

Disney Descendants: Who Where You? Before they Broke Your Heart?

By Me and @hannahhook7744

Summary: In one world, the likes of Kyle White, Joyce 'Joy' Foxworth, Haul Bjorgman, and Amira Bint Aladdin Bin Cassim Al Hamad of Agrabah were a part of Hannah Hook's crew. 

This is not that world. 

(Part of the Killer Queen Universe).  .....

“Well this outta be good” Joy, now sixteen, said as she pressed play on the old video camera.

The video wobbled as the person holding it ran around erratically. Taking sharp turns around counters and giggling—only to almost immediately run into a pair of legs. 

“Oof.”

“I wonder who’s video camera this is,” Joy said out loud to herself and no one else.

“Nadia? What are you doing with Luke's camera?” An unfamiliar girl, around Joy’s age, giggled. Kneeling down to the camera’s eye level to reveal that the girl wasn't so unfamiliar after all…

Because it was Hannah Hook.

“Holy cow... is that our new ruler who destroyed my father’s old home and EVERYTHING that I’ve cared about?!” Joy shrieked, suddenly becoming more angry.

The one holding the camera didn't seem afraid, however. No, instead she just giggled harder. “Se-kret!” 

Which in turn caused Hannah herself to giggle as she took the camera from her. “Don't tell Luke see you with this thing or he'll never make you cookies again.”

“Huh, she is kinda cute for a nutcase .. maybe I can use this video as dirt against her?”  Joy thought out loud, weighing the pros and cons.

The camera spun around to show a little tan girl with long black hair and big brown eyes in a white dress. She looked to be around two or three years old, and just pouted at the camera.

She was holding a tiny stuffed monkey. 

Joy wasn't seeing any kind of dirt so far which frustrated her, though she did wonder how some one so cute could go completely bonkers.  

“Hey! Has anyone seen my camera?! That thing cost me sixteen apples?!” A voice in the distance called. 

“SH–SUGAR HONEY ICE TEA!” Hannah swore, nearly dropping the camera before quickly shutting it off. 

“Well that wasn’t helpful! “ Joy muttered.  “Well maybe... if I go back to where I found the camera there might be more dirt somewhere!”  ....

“Why are we doing this again?” Kyle gripped. Wiping the sweat from his brow as he dug in one area of the abandoned house on the isle where Joy had found the abandoned camera. 

“Because Joy wanted us to?” Haul suggested quietly, his long blonde bangs falling in his face. Searching another part of the house. Just as sweaty as Kyle was. 

Which, if you asked Joy, they deserved for wearing black leather jackets on such a hot day when she had clearly told them they were going exploring.

They should have taken a page out of Amira’s book and worn short sleeves and lightly colored clothes but nooooo…. They just had to wear their leather jackets. 

“Because we are looking for more tapes for the camera” Joy responded, rolling her eyes.

“Why do you even care about that stupid camera so much?” Kyle grumbled. Rolling his eyes as he threw some of the random junk that had been left behind across the room and out of his way. 

Right into Haul’s way. 

He said nothing, as usual.

Amira, on the other hand….“Hey!”

Joy rolled her again, though she was starting to admit that maybe this was a stupid idea after all. Not out loud of course but still… “ I care Because I just do ok ?! “ Joy Snapped.

Kyle didn't accept that for an answer, unlike the other two because of course the son of Snow White just had to be as difficult as always. “You haven't even told us what's on the crappy thing. You can't blame us for being curious.”

“Ok fine! You know the girl who destroyed Neverland and took over Auradon? Well she’s in this camera.”

“WHAT?!” ....

The camera was less shaky this time as it ever so slowly zoomed in on a sleeping Hannah Hook, from when she was about ten.

Her face was pressed up against the steering wheel of a ship, which she was leaning on. No, practically laying on as she sat on a barrel. 

 “Well that’s an  uncomfortable looking way to sleep” Kyle muttered. “Who Would film someone while they slept ?” Amira questioned.

The camera turned out to reveal a giggling ten year old boy with red hair and green eyes—one who looked and dressed suspiciously similar to Hannah Hook's right hand man, Luke Tremaine-Westergaard. 

“I told her she drools and yet—” he zoomed in further on the brunette. “There she is! Here's my proof, Bam-Bam!”

“Lame! Who says Bam-bam?” Kyle asked, rolling his eyes.  

“It's clearly a nickname you idiot.” Amira snapped, clearly tired of his non-stop complaining. 

“Will you two be quiet like Haul ?!  I’m trying to see if there's more !” Joy snapped at both of them.

The brunettes both rolled their eyes. But only Kyle spoke. “Haul’s always quiet!”

“Yeah and you two could learn a thing from him, ” Joy muttered under her breath”.

The camera turned off. .....

“Hannah?” The boy from earlier called out. Zooming in on the girl in question, who looked about seven now instead of the ten in the other video.

Seven and holding a bundle of something in her arms.

“Yes?”

“What's that?”

“...a… small human?”

The camera hit the ground, causing the video to shake as a pair of running sneakers came into view. “No!”

Hannah could still be heard in the background, yelling “yes!” As a baby gurgled. 

“Why is she holding that baby?” Joy wondered. 

“I heard a rumor that she has a lot of little kids in her crew…” Haul quietly replied from where he sat a little aways from  the rest of them. As he always did.

“So her crew consists of babies ?” Kyle snorted. “Apparently,” Joy replied.

“He didn't say it consisted only of babies. He just said there's a lot of them.” Amira pointed out. “And he would know, seeing as her crew did destroy his home and family.”

Joy had forgotten that. “Gosh Haul I’m so sorry that happened to you” Joy said to the blonde even though it was cold comfort.

The blonde didn't look up from his lap. ....

A loud scream rang out as the next tape played.

“Man could they scream any louder ?” Kyle Complained. “Turn the volume down !”

“Fine whatever.” Joy responded, rolling her eyes as she turned the volume down.

The screaming continued as the camera zoomed out to reveal a ten year old Hannah Hook, screaming bloody murder as she clung to a fourteen year old Harry Hook's back. 

All while he looked down at a cat sized spider with thinly veiled disdain.

“Woah, that spider is HUGE!” Joy exclaimed.

“I think he looks friendly.” Haul mumbled.

“You think EVERY ANIMAL looks friendly !” Amira snorted.

“MAKE IT GO AWAY! MAKE IT GO AWAY!” the ten year old wailed. Looking pale. 

“I wonder if she’s still scared of spiders ?..” Joy mused, secretly thinking of a revenge plan in her head. Then there was this voice in her head saying NO ! Revenge is not the answer. What she needs is some serious help! “Nevermind it’s stupid idea�� Joy muttered out loud.

“Aw man, I wanted to see where that thought was going.” Kyle whined. 

They all ignored him.

“Hold your bloody horses, I'm going.” Harry huffed, before holding out his hook towards the spider—glaring. “Shoo!”

The spider didn't move an inch. 

“I said shoo you bloody menace!”

“Is that the brother who was executed by King Beast?” Amira asked.

“Former King.” Kyle corrected. “and yes.”

 Poor Hannah..” Haul said sympathetically. 

Kyle almost looked as if he agreed with the other boy. 

“You guys might have a point .. “ Joy mused. “Losing your older sibling can’t be easy…”

Harry scowled down at the spider and kicked it, causing it to hiss and scurry off. Basically the spider version of a bad guy’s ‘I’ll be back!’ speech. 

Hannah whimpered and buried her face in the ravenette’s shoulder. Still hiccuping. “Is it gone?”

“Aww poor Hannah .. that spider was so mean !” Joy started. “ Guys .. I think Hannah Hook needs a support group ..”

“Don't let your parents hear that or they might disown you.” Kyle mumbled. “She did still destroy Neverland, even if she didn't kill most of its population.”

“True.. but honestly.. I don’t know WHAT to think anymore!” Joy replied. ....

“Hi Luke! Sorry I tooks your camera but I hads to make this video somehows since our bir-th-day is coming up ands I wanted to gives yous a gift!’ a six year old Hannah Hook rambled as the camera turned on. 

She had two missing front teeth and a freshly healing black eye as she wiggled around in the oversized coat, dress, and boots she was wearing. The oversized hat on her head sliding down her face. 

Yet she was smiling.

“So here it ‘tis! My gift to you!”

She started to tap her foot. 

“Yo! My b-best friend, b-best friend 'til the very end!”

She stumbled slightly.“Ok I CAN’T take this anymore!” Joy shouted. “ I Can’t believe I'm saying this but I feel sorry for Hannah Hook !”

“Same.” Haul was, surprisingly or not depending on who you asked, the first to agree with her. 

“Me too..”Amira sighed. 

“Ditto.” Kyle replied, far less reluctant than anyone was expecting.

“There’s gotta be a way for her to step down peacefully!”  Joy said.

“'Cause b-best friends, b-best friends don't have to pre-tand!” Hannah hopped from one foot to the other, stumbling back. A nervous smile on her face as her goggles slid down her nose. “You need a hand?”

She held out her hand before pointing out at herself. “and I'm right theres right be-sides you!”

“So ..anyone got any ideas for how we get her to step down?” Kyle asked.

“None whatsoever. I'm bad with people…” Haul  winced. “But… then again, maybe if we treat her like an abused cat—”

“Would that work or would it just piss her off more?” Amira interrupted.

“We have to try,” Joy said with a determined expression.

“You in the dark? I'll bes da bri-ght light to guide you!” Hannah fell forward onto the camera, causing it to turn off. 

“Come on guys, “ Joy said. “ We have a scared little girl to see.”

The End

[therottenkingsreckoning]

As it turns out, writing the sections after the big reveal are significantly harder. Nevertheless, I have completed another chapter for you, and have plans for many more!

As bonus, I'll also add at the bottom the lil clipart that inspired the Emperor's Treasure. Nothing special, but I might as well include it.

Enjoy!

~Little Flame, Chapter 6~

Frank loved bugs. The shimmering beetles and bright butterflies; cute fluffy moths & beautiful, deadly mantises and hardworking ants. Even the creatures that weren't technically bugs: spiders spinning their webs, snails with their elegant spiral shells, worms crawling blissfully under the dirt. As much as he loved studying them, they loved to catch them even more, the thrill of the hunt and the joy of exploring all in one. It was his favorite thing to do.

And today was the perfect day for it.

Net in hand, they scanned the horizon, eyes landing on the shimmer of a beetle's wings amongst the leaves. A pretty thing, orange and blue and white, as yet unaware of the approaching scientist. Slowly creeping forward from a crouched position, he took the swing and-

WHAP!

"Gotcha!" Frank shouted triumphantly, holding the scuttling insect inside their net. Quickly scooping it into a jar, he stood up, hissing and groaning as their joints protested the movement. "Oof, I'll have to get used to that," he said, hand on the growing belly that stuck out of their shirt. "You make this hard to do right now."

He was about 20 weeks in by now, Frank had kept track of that. Both for their own love of organized notes and with the encouragement of Jaya, who was naturally eager to be kept abreast of his health and the baby's. My baby, he thought contentedly. They still couldn't believe that it was actually true. All those daydreams & what-ifs, all the things he'd only imagined they'd ever have- all of that was real now. He had a home to call their own, a bunch of friends, a husband to love and who loved them back. And soon, a family.

"daydreamin' love?" A familar voice piped up from behind him, the mailman stepping off the road to stand beside them in the shade of the trees.

"Eddie!" Frank exclaimed. "What a pleasant surprise. You're not normally over in this part of the woods."

"Well, thought I'd drop by and see how you're doin'," Eddie said with a chuckle. "Even if it does mean being in the... buggy part of town."

"Aww, my brave man," Frank teased, kissing him sweetly. "You don't need to worry about me sweetheart, I'm doing fine. Just, well, thinking about our little one."

"I still can't believe that's true!" Eddie said, "I'm gonna be a daddy soon." He pulled his mate into a careful hug, the cautious, floaty grasp he'd been doing for several weeks.

Frank let out a huff, making the concious effort to squeeze him tighter. "Oh honestly, you treat me like I'm some china doll right now. I promise I won't break if you hug me. I'm stronger than that."

Eddie broke away and rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "I-I know that's probably true," he said. "But Poppy told me..."

"Poppy worries," Frank stated matter-of-factly. "She worries constantly about everything. Last thing I need right now is both of y-"

He froze, eyes wide as a flash of color suddenly appeared over their husband's shoulder. There was no mistaking it: the rosy and curlicued wings of an Emperor's Treasure.

On instinct they crouched down low, motioning Eddie to do the same. "I never thought I'd see one in person," they breathed in awe. "They're so rare!"

Eddie turned to look at what was so important behind him, then carefully crept out of range of mate, chuckling softly. He knew what was about to happen.

Slowly, cautiously, Frank raised their net. This was it. The prized jewel of their collection, the one he'd longed for for ages. If they could just catch this one, all his dreams would come true. They tensed his muscles, aimed and-

WHAP!

The net hit empty tree bark, its prey fluttering quickly off to settle on a different branch.

"Aww, ya almost had it!" Eddie laughed, starting to rise from his spot. "You'll get it next-"

WHAP!

Another miss. The butterfly flew higher now into the branches of the tree, seeming almost to mock Frank with its refusal to run away entirely. They started to reach up, preparing to climb, but a hand on his shoulder stopped them. "H-hey now darlin," Eddie started, all laughter suddenly gone from his voice, "please don't be climbin' things right now. I know you want it, but that's really not-"

Frank shrugged him off without a word. Their mind was a lazer beam of focus at this moment, a frenzied loop of the single desire to catch. that. bug. he scaled up, net in mouth until they reached a point where he could swing, the butterfly so close that he could practically already feel it in their hands. Releasing one hand from the branch it was holding, he began to pull the net from their mouth, preparing to take his shot.

It might've been the strange position he was in, the unaccustomed added weight put on a single branch admittedly just a bit too small to support it. But suddenly, with a horrid CRACK the branch splintered and broke, the scientist letting out a yelp of shock that was drowned out by Eddie's scream of "FRANK!!!"

Wind rushed out of Frank's lungs as they collided with something on the ground. Or rather, two somethings, those being the arms of his husband who had dove to catch them. "Frank..." Eddie grumbled, not yet looking up from where his face had hit the dirt.

Above, the butterfly soared on, its brilliant pink hues disappearing into the sky. "Oh, hurry!" Frank exclaimed, reaching around for his net. "There's still time, I can-"

"Frank."

"Just gotta-"

"FRANK YA AIN'T LISTENIN' TO ME!!!!"

Frank paused, hand still reaching out towards the net. It wasn't just the sudden shout- a thing Eddie rarely did at all- but the undeniable note of pain inside his words. They turned to look at him, and as they'd suspected he was...crying, fear and anger and grief plain to read on his face.

"Eddie..."

He sniffled. "I love you. I... Frank, I love you both so much." His voice was small and fragile now, his hand laid over his partner's belly. "Can't begin to tell ya...how happy being a father makes me."

Frank carefully put a hand over their love's, looking into his teary eyes.

"And..." the man continued, "I don't...I don't know what I'd do if I lost either of ya. And I know ya think I'm overreactin', I know ya think it doesn't matter, but...p-please...please just..."

"Ok."

Eddie looked up at this, and met Frank's eyes which themselves were now brimming with tears. Gently cupping his face with a hand, they went on. "I'm sorry. You're right, I wasn't considering you or the baby at all. That's not fair to you."

They sighed. "And you're right. Much...much as I hate to admit it, I do need to be more careful now. At least until the baby's born." He straightened up and said "from now on, no more catching bugs."

Eddie chuckled weakly, wiping the tears from his eyes. "W-well, I wouldn't go that far. I just don't want ya climbin' trees about it or nothin'."

"Ah."

"I wouldn't be that mean." he pulled his mate into another hug this time, squeezing tighter than before although he was still taking care not to press too tight.

"You're not mean," Frank huffed gently, leaning gratefully into the embrace. "I get it, you do it because you love us."

They kissed him. "And we love you too."

[gamerbearmira]

Trinkets - Ballet au

Alma had asked all three of her balletos to visit her in her room for something very important. Her face was stern, and her steps were quick paced. The three grandkids didn’t know what was going on but decided to follow her anyway. Once all four madrigals were in her room, she closed the door and her face softened. She turned back around to face them with a smile. 

“Ok, now that I have you here, I have something special for all of you” Alma walked over to her bed where three items were neatly placed on it. 

“Mirabel, you first” Alma smiled softly as she picked up one of the items, her first pointe shoe from when she was 16 years old. Mirabel stepped closer to her abuela, slight confusion etched in her features. 

“Abuela?” Mirabel’s brow lifted as she stared at the shoes. 

“I got these shoes when I was just sixteen years old. I was so happy to the point where I was fighting with myself on whether I should take them off” the older woman chuckled at the memory. “Now with a little polishing and some magic, they are now…yours”

Alma hands her the pointe shoes and Mira…just stared in shock and awe. She didn’t know what to say or do. After a few seconds Mirabel takes the pointe shoes and some tears fall down her cheeks. 

“Th- thank you abuela” 

Alma pulled Mirabel into a tight hug and patted her head “It’s ok nieta, no need to cry”. Mirabel hugged her back tightly and after a few moments she let go. The young girl took a moment to really grasp the situation and sat on Alma’s bed, just thinking about how long Alma had the shoes and how important they are. 

The next two items on the bed were for Luisa, a silk bow and the beaded magenta bracelet. Alma picked the two items up and walked up to Luisa. 

“These are for you, nieta. This bow-” Alma gestured to Luisa to bend her head down and she obliged. After a few seconds the light pink bow was tied into Luisa’s bun, “was something I put on every time I practiced in my younger years, and now it belongs to you.”

Luisa was too stunned and well…grateful to speak. Before she could say anything Alma then put on the magenta colored bracelet on her wrist. She, Mirabel, and Antonio already know the sentimental value behind but now…it’s hers. Hers to keep and cherish for as long as she could. Like Mirabel, she let the water works flow out. 

After another minute or two of comforting Luisa it was now Antonio’s turn for his gift. He really didn’t get why his primas were crying and continuously asked them if they were ok. Alma took the final item off the bed and kneeled down to Antonio’s level. 

“Now tonito, this final item is for you” The older woman revealed to him a music box. “I used to dance to the music it made all the time at your age and so much older” she took a necklace off her neck and at the end of it revealed a key. 

She put the key into the keyhole and twisted it around. After a few turns she stopped and the small circular box opened to reveal a small twirling dancer. The little person spun as the music played out of it. 

“Wow…” Antonio stared in awe as the little dancer that spun. Tonito carefully took the music box and Alma placed the key around his neck.

Now Antonio isn’t stupid, he’s fully aware of how important the thing in his hand is and he highly appreciates it. “Thank you Abuela, I promise I’ll never break it!” 

“Wh…why are you giving these to us?” Mirabel finally spoke up after practically crying while clutching her gift in her hands. 

“Because you all worked hard for it so you deserve it- oof!” Before she could say anything else all three grandchildren crushed into a tight loving hug.��

As the days & weeks pass the three balletos can’t find it in themselves to really part with their gifts outside of their room or Casita. Luisa refuses to wear her bow or bracelet when doing chores just barely wears them while practicing. 

Mirabel won’t put on the pointe shoes unless she’s performing. And even then she hates it because she doesn’t want to scuff them up. Antonio mostly uses the music box when he draws, reads, or feels like dancing to the music. If you ever catch him doing it, it’s an adorable sight. 

-

Idea 1:

Just for funsies, let’s add Bruno to the ballet thing (but only if it’s ok with you). Now this man just barely has Antonio’s experience in ballet. But he’s only there to bond with his mama and be a total goof in the studio otherwise. I imagine that if he stayed in the au, his gift isn’t in high demand so he could pop in and “practice” from time to time. 

But, when it came to the nutcracker he actually did perform surprisingly well. Granted he improvised because he didn’t know much ballet at the time but he’s a theater kid so he made it work. And trust me, it took EVERYTHING and I mean EVERYTHING in him to gather the courage to play the role. And it took even more courage for him to not run off stage. 

Of course Alma had him wear the beaded bracelet and yes he took a picture after the play and it hangs up in the studio next to the others. Alma is a little upset that she doesn’t have a trinket for her to give him but she’s trying to find something. 

Idea 2; 

When it’s a no practice day Alma likes to share stories from when she was younger and doing ballet or just stories in general. Bruno, Luisa, Mirabel, and Antonio love listening and it’s a great bonding experience for them. 

Idea 3: 

After Antonio gets his gift he absolutely slays the role of Snow white in plays and he knows it very much. 

Idea 4 angst tehe: 

The other three grandkids + pepa feel like Alma doesn’t notice them as much anymore. Mostly at dinners Alma talks about whatever new skill one of them learned or the conversation surrounds all of them and ballet. 

Julieta, Agustin, and Felix don’t mind it at all. They actually find the way their kids/brother/mom light up when they discuss the topic adorable. Whenever the other three grandkids try to discuss what their day was like it just gets brushed off and the attention is focused on Mirabel again, and by extension the others. 

The way I see things; Alma helps Mirabel, Luisa, and Antonio get better at their ballet skillset every other day of the week for hours at a time. 

Mirabel’s schedule is from Monday to Friday for 3-5 hours. Early morning from 9am to 12 or 9am to 1pm. 

Luisa’s schedule is from Monday to Wednesday for 3 hours. Afternoon from 1pm to 3pm or 12pm to 2pm.  

Antonio’s schedule is every weekend for an hour each. So his sessions are from 1pm to 2pm or 2pm to 3pm. 

I’m not sure whether Bruno would have a clear schedule but I’m sure he would prefer weekends. 1 hour each after Antonio, but only if Alma isn’t too tired. 

So, I’m not really sure if Alma would really have time for the others, but honestly tell me what you think. I could honestly see a rift between the grandkids because of it but I’m not so sure. But also…do you think Casita would collapse in the au or not?

THIS IS SO CUTEEEEEEE……

Alma keeping that stuff for all those years and then. Giving to them. That’s so sweet I’m gonna cry. And she gave it away, and they were fully understanding as well. She definitely was so happy when they accepted them. Also it’s so sad but so sweet how they don’t want to use it outside their rooms. Like. Dies.

So if Bruno was in the AU, it’s entirely by accident. He had been contemplating on coming back. He has the same vision (or not, it might be different, not sure yet), and he saw that Mirabel and Alma were close. The cracks weren’t…as bad, and the magic seemed fine. So he was really thinking of coming back. How he needed up down ballet by accident, he was in the studio at night, checking it out. Alma came in cause she forgot something and Bruno managed to convince her he was a figment of her imagination and it was dream.

Yeah that’s what he thought. She was like “Oh if this is a dream. Then I can teach you ballet as well.” Bruno had no choice but to play along 😭 he really thought he had her fooled. But by the 3rd or 4th session, she had figured it out. And after she revealed he did, she managed to convince him to come back. He still continued ballet, and yes, since his gift wasn’t in demand, he would be able to do it more often.

Yes, Alma loves telling stories, tbh she’s actually got a lot of them, you’d be surprised 💀 Antonio indeed does, he had his animals play in the play in exchange for food.

Alma does notice them, they just don’t realize it 😭 they just don’t really make an effort to try and communicate cause they’re scared of how she’ll react. But she won’t realize what’s happening if they don’t TALK. And they just think that, but Alma regularly talks to them and says things to them. Literally any given time she’s not in the studio, she’d be talking to literally anyone else. It’s insane what tunnel vision can do 😨

And the other adults not minding makes sense, they see it as Alma not being so uptight and strict all the time. Also, if they just speak up, Alma might actually try and engage in conversation. Let it be Isabela, suddenly no one has a problem 🤨

I think the schedules would work. On the days she can, Mirabel would probably try and dance with Luisa in the afternoons, and then come and watch Antonio on the weekends <3333

[lostonehero]

What remains after eternity

Moving forward and backwards

"Jonny, before you leave, I am being hailed." Aurora grabs Jonny with mechanical hands.

"And my brats left before this came through." Jonny sighs. "Alright, I'll answer it." He watches a screen pop up as he is placed down. Tim had followed his brats. "This is Jonny D'ville first mate of the Aurora."

"Captain!" Aurora corrects.

A woman with an eye almost identical to Tim's except for the color of the glow appears. Her normal eye is yellow with scales surrounding it. She had bolts in her neck and tall metal antenna from her head that both seemed to spew electricity. She smiled as she had too many sharp teeth in her mouth. "Aha! This explains the sudden hail. I am Isabella Drezturn. You may refer to me as Izzy. I am the scientist of the Dread Knot. It's quite nice to finally meet the man the others talk about."

"My brats talk about you guys a lot." Jonny crossed his arms. "We do have plans on getting to Xeonia. However, for the moment, we are in Thanos."

"Ah, that is good to know, we were preparing to leave since we've done all we could here, and it's currently thriving. Would you like us to meet you guys or wait here?" Izzy smiles seemingly relaxing. "I didn't think it would have taken this long, and I want to apologize for making them wait so long. We also do have to find Lazarus. He took the wrong ship again."

Jonny smiles softly. "We found him..." The screen glitches, and he gives a soft oof as two people crash into him.

"Lazarus what the fuck?" Mae growls. "I'm allowed time with my husband." She grabs Laz by the neck as they both scramble to their feet. "You know what you've been avoiding him for ages you fuck. What the fuck do you have against him?"

Laz purposely looks away. "I don't have to tell you shit."

Jonny jumped up, grabbing both of them by the ear. "How about you both shut the fuck up."

"Oh hi, dad!" Mae growls. "I'm still mad at you."

Jonny clears his throat, and his voice is strict and sends shivers on the four that hear it. "Lazarus explain to my daughter, and Sallie Mae, you will explain the husband comment."

Laz swallows. "I knew Noel... er Charlie before I was turned into an acolyte."

Mae looks at the ground. "Charlie is my husband. We've got an open marriage, and we always seem to come back to each other, so it makes sense to us. That's why I have the golden ring on my tail."

Jonny sighs. "Fine. Now go say hi to your crewmate." He motions to the screen.

Mae's eyes light up. "Hi Izzy! We found Laz before you."

"You didn't find me, Brian found me." Laz smiles softly.

"So you knew Charlie when he was going by Noel?" Mae smirks.

Laz huffs. "Don't push it."

"I'm glad to see you're not drifting in space." Izzy sighs. "I'll let you three talk. Just let me or Hal know if you want us to come to you guys." She signs off.

Jonny turns back to Laz and Mae. "I'm disappointed you didn't tell me you were married." He turns his gaze directly to Laz. "Face your past for my daughter, or I'm stranding you here to find a way back."

"Understood." Laz rubs his arm.

Mae flinched. "I'm sorry."

"And since I found you first, tell your two brothers and one sibling that they lose and no day trip to the Vegas quadrant." Jonny sighs. "I have to find Tim. Join me if you want, but I'm heading out."

"Motherfucker." Mae groans. "Come on, you sad sack, we're going back, and you're talking to Charlie."

"I want my husband." Laz scowls.

"I want my husband too so fuck off shut up and come on." Mae throws him over her shoulder.

Jonny smiles watching them leave.

"I do not like that tone of voice." Aurora interrupts once the pair left.

"Get used to it. I'm a father, Aurora. You have to figure out a voice to get your kids to listen." Jonny rolls his eyes. "Where the fuck did Carmillia go?"

"She is hiding on your mother's ship, refusing to set foot on the planet." Aurora pauses. "It is quite amusing to tease her."

"Well, have fun. I'm heading out and alert me if she gets out so we can leave her here." Jonny takes out his harmonica to play.

Aurora gives a thumbs up.

......

"You don't belong here." A New Texan growls low and dangerous.

Marius flinched. "I'm just... we're just..."

Janet popped up from his back, cursing in New Texan. She hopped off, confronting the other woman.

Ashes raised a brow. "My New Texan is rusty, but I think this is actually a eugenics argument."

Brian blinks. "You're right."

Marius slowly stepped back. "We can just go another way. I'm sure it will be fine."

Ashes grabbed Lyf and shook their head. "Don't, Marius has dealt with this shit too often, and it's a response we don't try to change in case he gets cornered by himself."

"What Ashes means to say is that when Marius stands up for himself in these situations, he is out numbered and out gunned. As you can see by the others coming out of the sand." Brian stopped. "Fuck it's a ambush."

Ashes pulls out their lighter, gearing for a fight when loud screams were heard and gone as the group was dragged deep into the sand.

Marius blinks. "Um...."

A man comes into focus. "I told you that we didn't find all of them."

A deeper voice from a mouth in his neck huffs. "Maybe next time we check the borders!"

"You insufferable me -" The man stops as Janet rushed him.

"Hiya fledgling long time no see. Thanks for the save. You know how these eugenics fucks are." Janet chuckles.

"Aha, it has been a while." The deep voice seems fond. "Who are you traveling with? I don't recognize them."

Lyf approaches slowly. "You know this guy?"

"Guys, Arthur is the blind one using the normal mouth, and John is his eyes and the mouth on his neck. Yeah, we've run into him a few times, well me and Trevor, less so with everyone." Janet smiles. "Ah, they're the fledgling God together. This is Lyfrassir Edda, Yog Sogoth acolyte. The Xeon is Marius. The dermoid is Brian. Ashes.... I'm not actually familiar with your species."

"Where is your brother?" Arthur raised a brow. "He promised us a game of chess. Uh Trevor not Thomas."

"I knew who you were talking about." Janet shrugs. "He was sleeping when I left, and Mae was already deep into exploring."

"What do you mean by fledgling?" Brian crossed his arms.

"You're the new god." Lyf hums.

"I wouldn't call us new, but compared to the others, that would be correct." Arthur sighs. "It's a bit complicated." He dusts himself off with one hand and turns to march forward. "You would think that the ripple would bring the best or the ones who need help. However, it indiscriminately takes what it plesees and you -" He is cut off as he falls down a hole.

Janet snickers. "Think that's a new record."

"Fuck you." Arthur and John say at the same time.

The four exchange glances.

........

Marius didn't mind Arthur and John. They seemed nice and mostly harmless. His arm hurt, though, just right where he was given the vaccine. He knew he was lagging behind, his limbs just felt like they were filled with lead. His head felt like it was being filled with cotton. He had a feeling that he wasn't going to be sticking around for whatever was happening next. He only shut his eyes for a moment, but he couldn't see the group ahead of him. Someone was speaking, but he couldn't make out what was being said. His vision went black as he fell on the sand.

Byron woke up holding his head. The people who took him on their ship were weird and had very strong drinks. He didn't think they liked him, but he didn't understand what they were saying. He looked down, seeing the metal arm he was still getting used to. That was still there. He suddenly sat up, realizing he wasn't on the ship.

"Whoa, relax. Byron, just breathe, won't ya?" It was a woman with long hair speaking the only language Byron knew. He knew her voice. "Never thought I would see you again."

Byron gladly takes the warm mug of a bright red liquid. "Misery."

"The one and only." Misery laughs. "How'd you even get stuck in the desert?"

"Desert?" Byron furrows his brows. "No, I was on a ship. A doctor made me a new arm and took me aboard. Have they finally let me go home?"

Misery frowns and sits next to Byron. "Byron...." She sighs. "Maybe we can figure this out together. It's been a while since I've seen you, buried Zaza a long time ago and our brother I don't know what happened to him." She held an expression on her features. Byron didn't quite understand, but she looked tired.

"How long has it been?" Byron gripped his mug shaking.

"Breathe. I'll explain everything." Misery smiles. "I've written so much of this down to record, but I'll start at the beginning like all good history lessons."

Byron cracked a small smile staring at his sister. Misery was tall and built like a wall. She was broken, her own heat mate killed in the conflict, causing her to look different than a normal Xeon. She had two large leathery wings covered in eyes that she kept folded on her back. Her ears were longer than Byron's. She had curled horns on the top of her head. She even had a mouth on her stomach. Although he didn't really recognize the outfit she was wearing. He didn't dwell on it as she started to explain everything.

Mister held both of Byron's hands. "That's why I have to ask, how much time has passed for you? Did you get sucked through the ripple? Byron, you have to believe me."

Byron was crying. "I don't... I don't know. The last thing I remember is being on that weird empty ship. I.... what do you mean I went through heat?"

Misery gently guides Byron's hands to his horns, and she listens to the soft gasp. "Come on, I've got a lab on my ship."

"You have a ship too?" Byron wipes his eyes.

"I have a lot of things, comes with age and time. Let's figure this out together. I honestly thought you died when you vanished eons ago. Didn't think you would have been experimented on and kidnapped." Misery smiles, trying to joke.

"I don't actually know if they even wanted anything." Byron hums. "Tell me more about eternity and...." a name extremely distorted from his lips. "Is it alright working for them?"

"Now I don't really work for them. I do my own thing. However I can tell you about my friends." Misery smiles. "Some of them even stuck around."

"So please tell me I've missed you a lot. I wonder who my mate is. Can't be any of the people I was traveling with. None of them are Xeon like us." Byron hums. "I wonder if they're tall."

"If our partner survives the heat, we can bond with other species." Misery chuckles with the soft gasp.

"Have you tried again since it's been so long?" Byron tilted his head.

"I wanted to. I just haven't found the right creature." Misery pats Byron's back. "Come on, let's find this group that took you to get answers."

Byron nods.

Misery's ship wasn't anything fantastical, but her lab was fascinating. "Now this will sting." She takes a large needle syringe and takes blood from Byron.

Byron waits a creeping dread was filling his mind. It felt like worrying that wasn't his own filling his thoughts. "Misery?"

"What is it?" Misery was looking at the results feeding Byron's blood into the computer.

Byron bit his lip, blood threatened to spill. "I... uh...." He hugs himself tight. "I think something is wrong with my mate." He's seen too many of his friends on the battlefield collapse in anguish from losing their mate. Is this how it starts? He remembers that when Misery lost hers, he could never forget those screams.

Misery whipped her head around and gasped in relief. "No, Byron. No, you're, they're ok. Didn't I teach you how the heat bond works? You have a piece of them, and they have a piece of you. They are probably worried they can't find you. I can tell by the levels of hormones in your blood that this bond is quite new and it's not uncommon for memory to be an issue in the beginning, but this also means you didn't bond to a fellow Xeon." She turns back to the results. "But this doesn't make sense."

"W-what?" Byron could feel his own worry mix with his partner's.

"It says you've got the virus, but that would mean you would be nearly as old as I am with how long it's been in your system." Misery frowns. "I think there must be a mistake. You look nearly identical, save for the metal arm from the day you were drafted to fight."

"You -" Byron is cut off by a bright rainbow static he tries to block the brightness with his metal arm.

"Oh thank the fucking gods you're ok!" The blue skinned being runs at Byron pulling him into a hug.

Relief floods Byron's system as he relaxes into this stranger. No, not a stranger, his mate. This was his mate. He didn't know their name or species, but that didn't exactly matter. He returned the embrace with all the force he could muster.

Misery clocked the interaction almost immediately and smiled. "You must be Byron's mate."

The being spun around to see Misery. "I uh... I don't know what you said." They responded in common.

Misery raised a brow but began to speak in a language Byron didn't know.

"My name is Lyfrassir Edda.... he's reverted that far back again?.... er, yes, it's been happening a while." Lyf nodded and sat next to Byron. "I don't know how long exactly..... uh yes actually Yog Sogoth.... no, Byron isn't. He's a Mechanism. Of course, I know who Jonny is he attempted to poison my drink like two days ago and refuses to tell me what he used because it tastes good."

Lyfrassir Edda, that was a very nice name. Byron stared at Lyf, not understanding a lick of the conversation. Lyf was very, very, very nice looking. He wanted to hold his hand. This was his mate. The one who survived against his heat. Would he even like him like this? He had a metal arm, and he wasn't their species. He has a soft looking tail, too. He wanted to study every inch of them so he couldn't just forget who and what his mate was. He makes a small yelp noise, feeling his tail get interwind with Lyf's. His face was lit up with a bright blush. He wasn't some teenager anymore. He wasn't... he had a mate, and he... he was amazing.

Lyf paused, looking over at Byron. "Oh! I'm sorry, do you want me to move my tail back? I don't wish to make you uncomfortable."

Maybe it's a combination of not being able to understand anyone or just his hormones because Lyf is his mate, but Byron leaned forward and locked his lips with Lyf's. He even tasted like a dream. He could feel a twinge in his back and can recall when Misery got her wings and how they lost their fur and grew armor and eyes when her mate was killed. Of course, this mate bond was new he hasn't gotten his wings yet. Oh, Lyf was in his lap now.

Misery cleared her throat. "I will leave you two to get this out of your system. The new information will help." She waves to the two men as Byron was tugging off Lyf's clothes.

......

"I'm not actually mad at you." Mae rubs her arm as she looks out the window of the hyper rail.

"I... I know." Laz sighs. "Your dad is scary."

"When he wants to be." Mae huffs out a short laugh. "Your personal traumas are yours. I don't have to know. Thomas doesn't tell me anything, and I respect it."

"It was a really low part of my life. I was a drunk of a priest who was looking for a purpose. I put my faith into a man who was into something I was in no way to process. There was a light until he cut off my arm, stopping a creature from possessing my body. He dropped me off at the hospital, and I never saw him again. Noel... er Charlie did come back. I already went back to the bottle. I tried to put my hope into my faith, but gods like I thought existed never did." Laz grips his cross. "I never did give up my faith. I still know the prayers. Thomas knows this. He knows all of it. I just... I spent a long time with Scratch getting on my feet again. At the time, he was still Lilith."

Mae reached out, stopping Laz. "That's enough. I don't need to know everything. Things sucked but now you have my brother and whatever future shenanigans we come up with. Tie up your loose ends, and I'm sure my brother will come along to support you."

"I'm not telling him I ruined his bet." Laz cracks a small smile.

"Fuck you." Mae matches the small smile.

.......

Misery picks up the ringing communicator. This was probably Lyf's, and well, they were busy. She hums picking up the call. "Hello, I know this is Lyfrassir Edda communicator. However, I am not them, and they are currently preoccupied with Byron at the moment, so how can I help ya?"

"That explains the missed calls." A hologram appears a woman with scales and gills on her neck. Her ears were fins and held her head, and she was shaved, revealing a mechanical implant. "Janet has informed us that Lyf has vanished to find Marius, which is assuming by how you referred to him he is currently Byron again. Before or after his arm."

"After, and you must be Ivy." Misery hums softly. "I have extensive records of you Mechanisms in my library. I must thank you for keeping dead civilizations stories alive. Anyway I like to consider myself a historian. You may call me Misery because that's as close to common as my name gets. I am Byron's older sister. Well, we aren't related. We were adopted, but unfortunately, I was plucked and became an acolyte, to-." The audio glitches horribly.

"Historian? Do you keep records?" Ivy focuses straight on the communicator.

"I have my journals and recordings and even some video. I've been at this a long while." Misery raised a brow as the woman is replaced with an androgynous looking person.

"Don't get her started. Ashes O'Reilly quartermaster, what is really going on with Mar- Byron?" They scowl looking at the screen.

"I could show you if you want." Misery picks up the communicator. "However, the bond is new, so what they are doing is moving the process along to a more stable line of growth so they can function normally. It is really different when it's not two Xeon." She holds up the communicator and turns the camera.

"Turn it around! Turn it around! For fucks sake. I'm good with a lot of weird shit but fuck..... seriously what the fuck." Ashes gags as the communicator is handed off to another with wings.

"Can I have a recording to study that?" The woman puffs out her mechanical wings.

"....no." Misery shuts the door behind her. "Some things are meant to be private. I only showed you guys to prove that they are both safe and fine because you obviously don't trust me."

"You've been at this a long while." A Russian accent speaks up.

"Yes, and I've been warned about you guys. You're quite an interesting lot. I've met with your first mate ages ago now. Got my information from him back in New Texas. Is he still in his little palace?" Misery clicks her tongue.

"No." Mulitple respond at once.

"Ah well, they both will be back at it for a long while, so I'll call you guys back later." Misery shuts the device and goes back to her lab work. "I'm glad I wasn't there to witness this nightmare. I can cure it at the original state, but this has mutated, and his body is adapting." She sighs and cracks open a new notebook. "It's been a while since I've had a true challenge, and I get to help my brother."

.......

Jonny raised a brow and opened his communicator. "Is someone dying?"

"No, but do you know a Misery?" Nastya sighs.

Jonny chuckles. "She's still doing her thing? Ha, I thought she would have gotten bored of herself proclaimed notion to record history as it laid out before her. She's a acolyte of a god I can't actually speak, or I'll break this damn thing. She claims she is Marius's adopted sister or some shit. Wasn't awful a bit weird about biology but not Raph levels of mad science. Spent a few centuries telling her about Aurora and the crew and didn't accept her offer to leave with her. She's dangerous when crossed, but she's friendly with everyone." He hums. "I guess she mentioned me."

"Huh." Nastya clicks her tongue. "So she's honest?"

"Oh, she can't lie for shit. She's worse than Tim. I didn't think I could meet someone worse than Tim when it came to lying." Jonny snickers. "She's shit with ranged weapons, prefers close combat, don't underestimate her if you pick a fight. So why are you concerned about her?"

"She has Marius and Lyf, and Marius is back to going by Byron, but post arm." Nastya sighs. "So I just didn't want him to get in trouble."

"To think you used to hate the man." Jonny chuckles. "Anyway, the both will be fine. I have to stop Tim from accidently shooting his siblings. Who the f-" The call cuts out.

"Shit, I forgot to ask who called Aurora." Nastya huffs.

"Aurora won't tell you?" Brian raised a brow.

"She says it's a fun surprise." Nastya crossed her arms.

"That could mean anything." Ivy hums.

"Fucking I know!" Nastya groans.

........

"Aha!" Thomas jumps out of the sand.

Arthur screams along with John.

"Oh fuck it's only you." Thomas groans. "I'm looking for my sister, not you."

"Didn't your father teach you decency?" John regretted the words as soon as he watched Thomas smirk.

"Wellnhe taught me to lie, cheat, and steal. He's also an immortal space pirate, so what do you think, John?" Thomas snickers.

Trevor pops out next, causing more screams. "I would have at least liked to see golden boy and not you two."

"No, he's here." Alex waves pointing at Charlie. "Fuck really thought Mae would be over here with him."

"Are you three quite done?" Arthur sighs, smoothing down his shirt. "Charlie, where is that wife of yours?"

"Behind you." Mae chuckles at the frightened scream. "Brought Laz back with me, and dad found me first."

The three say fuck at the same time.

"Mae, are you ok?" Charlie gets up.

"Pffft, I'm fine. Landed on my dad it's all good." Mae hums, pushing Laz forward. "Collect your husband, Thomas. I already have one."

Thomas rolls his eyes. "Oh fuck off you wish he was yours." He approaches Laz and hugs him. "Happy I'm back on my feet."

Laz nods. "Of course I'm happy to see you whenever you're near."

"Your voice is familiar." Charile walks over. "Excusing your little disappearing act, who are you?"

"You knew me before this you three did." Laz sighs, and in a puff of black smoke, he returns to how he looked like for Scratch. "I go by Lazarus these days, but you can just call me Laz to make it easier. Please don't use my old name."

"Os- Lazarus, it fits. It's nice to know you didn't uh well.... that isn't important." Charlie pauses. "How do you do that?"

Laz raised a brow. "Do what?"

"You look normal." Charlie motions to Laz. "I have to hide stuff still."

"Oh! Uh, practice mostly. The arm thing is tougher. My body doesn't excatly like me missing an arm." Laz turns to Arthur. "It's nice to see you looking healthy." He rubs the back of his neck.

Arthur smiles. "I'm glad to know you survived. I didn't... look, we have a lot to say." He takes a breath.

"You got married." John interrupts.

"John!" Arrhur huffs.

Laz chuckles. "I did." He snaps himself back to normal. "He's a bit feral, but he keeps me sane."

"Oh, you flatter me." Thomas snickers jumping on Laz's back. "Now that I'm able to you're fucked."

Laz laughs like a weight is taken off of him. "Come on backpack, I believe Arthur and I have some catching up to do. Charlie and fuck off with Mae."

"Gladly." Mae picks up Charlie from behind. "I've got to show you all the new tricks I learned."

"Gross." Alex stocks their tongue out in mock disgust.

"Slut." Thomas flips his sister off.

Arthur follows Laz and Thomas chuckling at the banter.

.........

Lyf shuffled out of the lab covered in various fluids and bits of flesh of his and Byron's. He was completely naked. "Shower?" His voice was hoarse, and he looked like he was about to collapse.

"It will dry and peal off." Misery waves him off.

Lyf grumbles, and there's a growing sound of static.

Misery sighs and turns around. "Return to my brother and ask again when he's awake. It's not going to kill you."

Lyf narrows his eyes, but he does feel drawn back to Byron. Why did he leave? He wanted his mate back. He slipped back into the lab and snuggled up against Byron using his wings as a blanket. His own back ached, but it was probably nothing. Byron's wings were soft, and he wasn't awake enough to determine if it was feathers or fur.

Byron wrapped himself around Lyf and mumbled something incomprehensible before drifting back off to sleep.

.......

Jonny stepped onto Misery's ship. It's been a few weeks since they landed, and everyone was doing their own thing. However, Marius and Lyf still were MIA. He knew a bit more than he wanted to about heats for Xeon thanks to Misery, so this wasn't unheard of. He managed to get Tim to stay with Bertie and his siblings while he headed over here. It was as he remembered, and he knew Evelyn and Aaron were lurking about.

"Jonny?" Misery spotted Jonny passing the room she was in. She watches him stop and enter. "It is you. It's been awhile."

"It has." Jonny smiles meekly, taking a spot next to her. "You already know why I'm here."

"I do. Unfortunately, both of them are still out of it. Not mentally, they've just been eating and sleeping as they recover. There used to be health centers just for newly formed heat bonds, but that was before everything. Only read about that in books." Misery raised a brow. "So you you found your kids."

"I did." Jonny smiles softly. "I'm assuming you've already met them."

"Oh, I have, but I didn't know they were yours when we met." Misery chuckles. "Heard your palace became a museum."

"I wasn't fucking there to stop it." Jonny rolls his eyes.

Misery smiles. "How is it? I haven't visited. I got sucked through the ripple on my travels. I've been here a while, I was going to check out Xeonia, and I heard it was finally healed up. The Dread Knot crew did a good job that the Xeon here are even moving back."

"My kids like running it when they get sent back there, but it's nothing new." Jonny snickers. "I suppose that is your thing."

"I am a historian, after all." Misery hums, attention turned to Lyf stumbling back out.

Lyf was much skinnier than what he was when Jonny last saw him. He had new discoloration all over his body from Marius various fluids. His lower back was slightly swollen and looked painful. He was completely naked as he rubbed his eyes. "When did you get here, Jonny?"

"Today." Jonny hums. "You weren't lying."

"I was not." Misery sighs.

"And what is today?" Lyf rubs his face more. "Fuck I want a shower."

"It's nice to want things." Misery smirks when Jonny snickers. "What is Byron doing?"

"Hmmm?" Byron was equally disheveled and naked. He had his normal scars and the ingrained metal from his mechanism spreading. His eyes were glowing a soft purple, and the new changes to his body were on full display. He was developing thicker skin, which will eventually become armor on his chest and back. The nice pudge he built up and was proud of was gone, replaced with dense muscle. The spurs on his shoulders have tripled on both sides. He had new ones on his knees and elbows. There was a soft fur slowly growing on his legs as well. That's all Jonny could tell from staring on the surface wearing his goggles.

"Byron, are you alright?" Misery got up switching back to Xeon.

Byron nods. "Mmh, hungry and off balanced."

Misery smiles. "I'll teach you how to keep them folded. They are on your lower back like mine, but they are much wider, so we'll figure it out."

"Can we eat first?" Byron huffs.

"Yeah, yeah, you can eat first." Misery smiles.

Lyf stumbles to the table. "How long?"

"A few weeks, nothing crazy. How are you feeling?" Jonny grimaced seeing Lyf's back up close.

Lyf glares at Jonny. "How do you think? My back feels like it's going to explode, and I am starving."

"No need to be pissy pillow princess." Jonny smiles softly. "I'll feed you."

Lyf nods and follows Jonny, getting back up. "Although I do feel less foggy, and I can think clearly."

"Gee, I wonder why?" Jonnys voice was laced with sarcasm. "You two needed marathon sex, exchanging as many fluids as possible. Unfortunately, I have an uncomfortable level of intimate knowledge of Xeon heats, with the same species and without. If you ask me why or anything about it, I will shoot you."

"Fine, fine." Lyf blinks. "How about a small question, and you can stab me in the back."

Jonny raised his brow. "And why do you want me to stab you?"

"Pressure, way too much pressure like my back will explode." Lyf groans. "I don't.... I can't do it myself."

"Do you want me to count down or just surprise you?" Jonny walked behind Lyf.

"Just- FUCK." Lyf gasps out as the pressure releases. Rainbow static colored feathery wing unfolded out they were wet and covered in gore. "I think.... no, I'm gonna...." Jonny catches him as he passes out.

.......

Jonny watches as Byron groomed Lyf's wings, ignoring his own. The blood and gore didn't bother him, and he knew the reasons why they were left unspoken. To think he used to adore the idea of going to war. Things change when you take pride in something, he guesses. That wasn't right. His kids just disappeared, and a civil war broke out. He quickly flipped open his communicator to see his family group chat filled with various things. He relaxes, they were fine just fucking around.

Misery handed a plate to Jonny. "It's something you can eat, and it won't kill you." She sat next to him. "You alright?"

Jonny nods. "Yeah. Thanks for this." He takes the plate and slowly eats. He watches Lyf eat almost robotically. He wasn't entirely aware, but he seemed stable enough. "So how long will Lyf be out of it?"

Misery sighs. "Hard to tell, you did do him a favor, but his body needs to recover. Thankfully, Byron is fine he just needs to eat some more, but he's in caretaker mode for his mate. Once Lyf is more aware, that will end."

Jonny nods. "I'll try to stay, but I make no promises. I have my own man to look after."

"Oh, congratulations." Misery smiles. "I'm still searching, but eventually, I'll find that again. Keep an eye on my brother, I don't want him to be broken like I am."

"Yeah, I will don't worry about that." Jonny sighs.

.......

Lyf groaned in relief as he sunk into the hot bath. His wings were new but not as sensitive as he would have thought. Byron was with him. It was an enormous tub, and it felt like paradise. The wings are a bit shocking, but he wasn't entirely well versed on Xeon biology or how it would affect himself. Misery promised to translate some heat books for him. Apparently, the new changes on Byron were normal. This explains the panic when it first happened. He will look physically different when it's finally over.

"Lyfrassir, are you alright?" Byron sits back up.

Lyf wasn't one for muscles. He never liked the gym rats on Asguard, but Byron looked very nice. He rubs his face. "I'm fine, just happy to finally get clean. Are you ok? You've changed."

"A-ah, right, you aren't Xeon. This must be confusing to you." Byron moves to sit next to Lyf. "The transformation is normal, and it's a point of pride when it finishes. You get stronger tougher and just better overall. Although...." He sighs. "My sister lost her mate in the civil war. The transformation gets worse after being broken, and she's stronger terrifyingly so. She lost her fur too, and got more armor. I'll keep you safe, I promise."

"Isn't it rude to call Misery broken?" Lyf raised a brow leaning on Byron.

"Huh?" Byron sounded confused. "No, that is the proper term for a Xeon to survive a break in their heat bond."

"Oh right, my apologies." Lyf rubs the back of his neck. "Are you ok? I mean.... would you believe me if we've had this conversation before? I know I'm not Xeon. Are you ok with that?"

Byron frowns. "Why wouldn't I be? You survived, and I didn't kill you." He slowly traces the patches of discolored skin on Lyf. "I have a piece of you in me, and you have a piece of me in you. To be loved is to be changed and we are changing together from our union." He lifts up Lyf's chin to stare him in the eyes. "I couldn't imagine anyone, but you. I can't tell you why, but deep in my own being, we seem to fit perfectly together, and I can't possibly think being a different species would change that. I feel as if I've known you for lifetimes. My body knows you better than my own mind, and I can only trust it to guide me to eternity with you in life and death."

Lyf sucked in a breath he knew he was glowing bright with rainbow static. "It is so unfair that you have such a great way with words." He leans on Marius in the sudsy warm bath. "I love you."

"I love you too, my everything." Byron smiles.

.......

"I do have to ask. How did you get Byron to not freak out about Lyf?" Jonny raised a brow.

"I may have stretched the truth." Misery sips her drink. "I knew it's way longer than our normal lifespan when I first caught him. His blood isn't the right color either. It is common for the initial heat bond to mess with memories, but that would only last a day at most in the post heat puddle of fluids, not.... not as long as it has been." She frowns. "I didn't realize your Marius was also my Byron till I saw him collapse in the sand. He's the only living family I have left."

Jonny nods. "Sometimes we all need a gentle lie now and then. I try not to lie to my children, but it does happen. It's easier to just omit the truth. Don't let them look at your books on me or New Texas. Just do me this favor."

Misery had a knowing look. "As you wish. I look forward to collecting that favor one day. I shall keep them from Ivy as well."

"Thank you." Jonny sags in his seat. "You want to hear about Marius and the truth of what he has been going through?"

"I would like that. However, before, would you like some more tea?" Misery smiles softly.

"That would be lovely it's not a short tale as it is still unraveling as it will for eternity." Jonny gives a sad smile. "It starts with Nastya....."