#penelope was a squirrel

[starch1ldz]

Y/n, certified collector of all things creepy and weird: my bones are almost clean :)

Garcia: HUH?

Y/n: wait did I not tell you guys about the bones??

Morgan: what the fuck does that even mean

Emily: and you guys say I'm the crazy one

Spencer: I think you're all missing a very important piece of this conversation.

[ebbpettier]

OH MY GOD YES 🤩

Re: tokyo mew mew AU

so I changed the whole thing pretty much BUT.

Her animal is still a forest owlet, but her fruit is mangosteen. I changed things to fit mangosteen (quick drawing of mangosteen depicted on the left; ignore my attempt at a star fruit next to it. I was brainstorming)

Name: Mew Mango (not mangosteen cause that's too long to say :p) (slightly confusing) (I guess the whole thing is fine) (idk) (if anyone feels compelled you can create your own name I'd love to hear one) (I'm not being sarcastic)

Weapon: Da-mango-maru (instrument is a damaru)

Attack: ribbon mangostaan-u storm-o (or smthn)? (unsure on how well storm and the damaru match. but maybe the sound of the drum could be like rain?)

@ebbpettier

apologies that I took a month. I hope you have not perished

not sure where her mew mark would be? maybe on her back (like mint). I'm slightly tempted to have it on her knee/back of her knee lol

it's probably obvious, but none of this is set in stone

redrew this picture of mint:

[elsie-talisman]

bitches be like girl why are you cryin’?

…and I gotta turn my phone around and show them a picture of paget brewster literally just existing…

[fyeahsonicthehedgehog]

[funtasticworld]

Ice cream scoops

[neonshadows9000]

If there was an Echolalia Wrapped, Mr. Jalapeño would definitely be on it.

[theloversbox]

Sketch based from a @draw-the-squad-like-this prompt. Will redraw, ink and color. 😀

Draw your characters

[januaryembrs]

oblivious!reader x downbad!spencer who’s not even nervous to flirt with reader anymore cuz she just doesn’t get it (probs older episodes spence)

CLUELESS | Spencer Reid x reader

description: Spencer's got a crush, too bad you're entirely clueless to his dilemma. (S3!Spencer in mind)

length 1.2k

At first he’d thought it was the world’s gentlest form of rejection, how you would dodge his questions, barely bat an eye at him laying himself bare for you, thought that maybe you were pretending not to see the way his hands shook and voice quivered to save him some face. 

“I-I was wondering if you wanted to go see Zodiac at the movie theatre?” He stammered, obsessively tucking his hair behind his ear because it felt like it was ticking his cheeks, or perhaps that was just some residual sweat gathering on his temple because you were just so pretty when you looked at him like that, your eyes wide and excited, waiting for him to finish speaking because you always loved to listen to him, “I was thinking we could try comparing it to the actual case and figure out how accurate their hollywood version of it is,” 

Your face lit up like the fourth of July, and your smile was blinding, “Oh, I love the movies! It’s going to be so fun, Spence!” You chirped, whirling around in your desk chair to meet Emily’s bored stiff expression as she scrolled through her computer, “Em, Spencer wants us to go see Zodiac, you in?” 

Spencer paled, because that was not what he’d meant by we whatsoever. It wasn’t that he held anything against Emily, nor JJ or Penelope as they were quickly roped into the plans as well, he just hadn't had them in mind when he thought to ask you out on a date. From what he could tell you hadn’t escaped spending time with him alone on purpose. He just hadn’t quite been specific in his question, it was an easy mistake to make. 

But you looked so excited as you organised who was getting what snacks, quickly dibsing the seat slap bang in the middle of everyone so you wouldn’t feel like anyone got left out. He thought his chest stuttered when you grabbed his hand and asked if you could sit with him since he’d remember the most about the original case, and you’d need his big brain for the little game he had planned. 

Spencer agreed, instead of trying to make it clear what he’d meant by his original question, because he hated disappointing people and the other girls seemed just as thrilled to go see the movie as you were. It wasn’t until Morgan slapped him on the back with a chuckle, having watched the whole thing from his own desk that Spencer felt truly dumb. 

“You’re going to have to try better than that, pretty boy,” He exclaimed, and Spencer bit his lip in thought, “Try asking her to do something in a way that leaves no room for confusion, girls like it when you’re direct,” 

And he nodded vehemently, because dating advice from Morgan was usually sound and bulletproof, how else would would he have garnered the ladies man reputation?

Direct, he could be direct. Sure, Spencer could be direct. 

He swallowed heavily just thinking about it. 

–

“These are for you,” Spencer jumped in before you could get sidetracked by chatting his ear off about the squirrel you’d nearly ran over on your way to work, and your expression flitted into surprise. 

He handed you the big bunch of pink roses and baby’s breath, and your mouth cracked into a smile immediately. “Oh, Spencer, these are beautiful, you shouldn’t have. My birthday’s not for another week,” 

“And I booked us a table at that Thai place on your block that you always get- wait birthday?” Spencer stumbled over his script, the words he’d been practising all morning coming to an effective halt as he realised once again his intentions had flown right over your head. And yet before he could set his record straight, just like you had last time, you’d jumped at the chance of spending time with him without understand just what you were agreeing to. 

“I love Thai food, that’s so thoughtful of you, Spence,” You said, hopping up out of your chair to give him a bear hug around his lithe waist, the flowers still tightly in the palm of your hand. He reciprocated, even if his expression was a terrible mix of frustration and confusion. 

It was like someone had cast some sort of spell over his words so that he’d never be able to ask you out on a date, like he was trying to speak in a dream, the words never really coming out. You weren’t dumb, not by any means, you could be a little naive sometimes, but never cruel. Spencer had no idea what the answer was. He guessed he was right back at square one.

–

“I don’t know man, I tried asking her to the movies, she thought it was a group thing. I tried taking her out for dinner, she thought it was for her birthday, I even asked if she wanted to come over to mine and she thought I meant a sleepover. What’s romantic about pillow forts?” Spencer sighed, leaning his head into his palm as he watched you swan around the office without a single inkling of his affections, “I mean, don’t get me wrong, I had fun at every one of them, but I just want there to be more. Maybe she just doesn’t feel the same,” 

“Don’t lose hope, pretty boy,” Derek comforted, the seemingly appointed love Guru that had had to witness two weeks of Spencer’s advances get sidelined. He followed Reid’s gaze to where you hummed a song to yourself as you collected files from Emily’s desk to take them over to your own. He bit his lip in thought, “I don’t think it’s personal, honest, I don’t think she means anything by it. You just need to be clearer,” 

“Clearer?” Spencer said with raised brows, using a single prod of his converse to swivel himself around to face you, and your expression perked into a smile just from seeing him. Derek watched the two of you closely, his theory all but game set and match as you seemed genuinely excited to see their resident genius who was convinced there was nothing there, “That shirt is really cute on you. It makes your eyes look really pretty,” Spencer said, in his most direct tone possible, because the nervousness seemed to dissipate when he knew you wouldn’t pick up on his intentions. The only sign you’d heard him at all was the way your fingers ruffled his hair affectionately. 

“Aw, thank you, Spencer,” You said, a little bounce in your step as you passed his desk to your own, running a gentle hand over his arm, where his blue striped shirt bunched around his biceps, “I like your purple one the best, but this one’s quite handsome too,” You replied, grabbing the other wad of papers from your drawer without much of a reaction and heading up the stairs to Hotch’s office, and he turned back to Morgan, throwing his hands up in exasperation. 

Morgan laughed, shaking his head and yanking his cup of coffee towards him, “She’ll figure it out some day, lover boy. I give it a month, tops,” 

And Spencer huffed, wheeling himself back to his desk, his eyes naturally trailing up to the large window that divided them from Hotch’s personal space, the two of you discussing something jovially as if you were none the wiser to his internal predicament. 

He made a note to wear his purple shirt more often.

[eggfriedricedwasian]

The batfam owning pets each

Alfred- a senior basset hound named Pugsley that uses a wheel chair(Like Pops from the secret life of pets)

Bruce- a german shepherd named Ace(We know this already)

Dick- he already has Haley aka bitewing, but he also has an illegal monkey Damian got for him as a birthday gift and he brings it to gymnastics when he teaches classes. It's a girl as well and her name is Penelope

Babs- 3 squirrels she named after Velma, Simon, and Donny and, somehow someway, she has a trained red tailed hawk named Dexter

Jason- A Burmese mountain dog and his name is Rex

Cass- She has a persian cat named Sofi whom she takes to ballet practice and learns how to step even more lightly than she already steps and also how to land lightly when jumping by watching Sofi play

Steph- She has a yellow and bright blue macaw named Astrid. She got Astrid after watching HTTYD and now Astrid knows how to fetch things from even the fridge(She sometimes helps on patrol when Bruce isn't out)

Tim- If you asked him if he has a pet he'd tell you he has 4 dogs and 2 cats which is understandable bc he's rich. He technically isn't lying but in actuality he owns 4 wolves, a snow leopard, and a tiger. No his family doesn't know about his precious babies, he tends to keep it that way because he doesn't want damian stealing them. He uses his money to advantage

Duke- He has a sugar glider he sometimes takes on patrol who he named Apollight. Dont ask him how he got that name, he's embarrassed to admit he mixed the name Apolli with the word light.

Damian- He has alfred the female tuxedo cat and titus the black great dane

Kate- Don't ask how she owns and tamed a bat, she just stole one from the bat cave and named it Luna

Selina- you know she has and picks up every stray cat she sees

Harley- She has her two hyenas named bud and lou

Ivy- she has a tarantula name Sweetie

[illdowhatiwantthanks]

The Peapod (The Surprise, Part 6)

Emily Prentiss x fem!reader Warnings: pregnancy times, established relationship, fluff on fluff on fluff, some fairly innocent references to breasts, the most wholesome BAU content, platonic love/found family 4ever Word Count: 1.7k

Summary: You and Emily are finally ready to tell the BAU your good news, so you invite everyone over for a dinner party. Celebrations ensue.

A Note on Timeline: In my head and in this fic, we're forever stuck in the Elite Team era of the BAU (Unit Chief Hotch, Morgan, Rossi, Garcia, JJ, Reid, Emily).

Week 13: The Peapod

“What did you say this was called?” Rossi asked you, dipping a hunk of cornbread into his stew.

Light music played from the record player in the corner, and the sounds of people enjoying good food and good company surrounded you. You and Emily had invited the whole team over for dinner. Emily was dying to tell them about the baby, but she’d wanted you to be there, too. This was, you knew, Emily’s version of sharing the news with her family, especially since her mom hadn’t been very enthusiastic. The BAU was her family, and you were her family, and she loved when her two worlds collided.

“Brunswick stew,” you answered, putting a few pieces of ice in Jack’s and Henry’s bowls as you ladled so that it wouldn’t be too hot.

“Thank you much.” Will nodded at you, grinning. “Been a while since I had Brunswick stew.”

“Us southerners gotta stick together up here, right?” You placed little slices of cornbread at the corner of their bowls. “You and JJ and Henry should come over for brunch sometime. I’ll make you biscuits and gravy.”

“We’d love that,” he said warmly, settling Henry in his seat before taking his own.

“You know, Brunswick stew may have originated in either Brunswick County, Virginia, or Brunswick, Georgia, but nobody knows which one.”

You shook your head. Of course Spencer knew the origins of Brunswick stew.

He kept going, tearing bits of cornbread and sprinkling them on top of his bowl. “Originally the stew would have been made with squirrel, rabbit, or possum meat. It cooks so long that it was ideal for tenderizing wild game.”

The room went silent. You passed behind Spencer carrying your own bowl and patted him on the shoulder.

“No squirrels here, though,” you assured them. “Just pulled pork from Hill Country.”

You settled in your seat next to Emily, Derek on your other side, and looked around for a moment, smiling. You were so thankful for these people. Thankful that they took care of each other so well, that they took care of Emily so well. They did such difficult work, but they got through it together. They really were like family. Overlapping conversations washed over you, and you were content to just listen for a while.

After dinner, everyone sprawled across the apartment, conversing happily. You were standing and talking to Penelope about the new Zelda game when Emily came over and took your hand. It was time. She grinned at you, and there were no nerves, only excitement. You gave her the slightest of nods, and she tapped her wine glass.

The conversation trickled to a stop as everyone looked to Emily.

“So we actually have some news,” she started, looking at you and squeezing your hand. “Y/N and I are, uh… we’re having a baby.”

Jaws dropped and huge smiles broke out.

“What!?” Penelope squealed excitedly, wrapping both of you in a bear hug. She was echoed by the whole team’s congratulations, happy calls of “Wow!” and “Congrats!” and general sounds of happiness, even a few scattered claps.

“Which one of you’s carrying?” Rossi asked.

Spencer answered before you could. “It’s Y/N. You can tell because she’s gained weight around the face and also because her breasts are significantly bigger to prepare for breastfeeding.”

“Spence!” JJ exclaimed, smacking his arm. A happy roar of laughter broke out, and you blushed beet red.

“Reid, can we not talk about my wife’s boobs, please?” Emily chastised, but you could tell she was overjoyed. This was the reaction Emily deserved from her family. You were so glad she was finally getting it.

Hugs were given all around and happy mumblings took over the room as you and Emily were swarmed for conversations and congratulations.

Rossi put his arm around your shoulder and squeezed. “I’m happy for you kids,” he said, placing a quick kiss on your cheek.

“Thanks, Dave,” you said, smiling at him.

Penelope swallowed you up in another hug. “I am so excited!” she gushed. “You and Emily are gonna be the best, most kickass moms, and we’ll have another little BAU baby! Have you all been clothes shopping yet!? Can I come!? Do you know if it’s a boy or a girl?!”

You laughed and rolled your eyes. “Well, Emily’s pretty sure it’s a boy, but that’s based purely on her ‘profile,’ so it’s still up in the air.”

“Ugh, profilers, am I right?” Penelope groaned, commiserating with you.

JJ and Will came over to offer their congratulations, too, hugging you tightly.

“It’s the greatest gift,” Will told you. “There’s nothing like it in the world.”

“How far along are you?” JJ asked.

“Thirteen weeks.”

“Second trimester,” she observed, nodding.

“Yeah, thank god,” you said, chuckling. “Morning sickness kicked my ass.”

JJ laughed, then shuddered. “Oh, I remember. Is Emily taking good care of you?”

You couldn’t help but smile. “The best. She’s amazing. I couldn’t do it without her.”

“Well, I’ll try to keep her home as much as I can,” JJ told you with a wink.

“Thanks, JJ.” You squeezed her hand.

“And, you know, if you need anything, we’re here,” she added. “Even if it’s just to call and talk about the shitty parts of being pregnant.”

You groaned, but smiled. “Please. And thank you. Emily’s here and she’s great, but…”

“It’s different when it’s your body.”

“Yeah. It is.”

Reid came to stand awkwardly between you and JJ. You were all silent for a moment before Spencer blurted, “I’m sorry I talked about your breasts.”

You and JJ burst out laughing.

“It’s okay, Spencer,” you assured him, patting his back.

“I’m really happy for you both,” he said, so straightforward, so awkward and sincere. You loved that about him.

You noticed Hotch standing off to the side, waiting his turn to speak with you, and excused yourself to join him.

“Congratulations, Y/N,” he said, smiling softly, wrapping you in a quick hug. Hugs were rare for Hotch, and you felt honored to be a recipient.

“Thank you,” you said, and you really meant it. You stood in comfortable silence for a few minutes, watching the team gather around Emily, smiling and laughing. You beamed at her. She looked so happy. You loved seeing her happy. You loved seeing her loved as deeply and as well as her team loved her.

“I hope you know,” Hotch ventured, his voice serious. “That I do everything I can to make sure she comes back home to you safely.”

“I know,” you said, taking his hand and squeezing it. “Thank you, Hotch.”

The last to approach you was Derek, and he had already known. Emily had told him just a few days earlier, swearing him to secrecy until the dinner party.

He smirked at you, pulling you into him for a hug. You wrapped your arms around him and squeezed.

There weren’t any words needed, not with you and Derek. He was Emily’s best friend. He was over for dinner or video games or a movie at least a few times a month. He was like a brother to her. And, therefore, he was like a brother to you, too.

You both watched Emily, who was showing the rest of the team a photo of a peapod to illustrate the baby’s size. Her face was alight, her cheeks tinged pink with joy and probably a little too much wine. God, you loved her.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen Prentiss so excited.”

“Me neither.”

Derek looked down at you, smiling. “You know she loves you more than anything, right?”

You nodded, feeling so happy you thought you might cry. “I know.”

“She picked good,” he said, his arm around your shoulder.

“Are you gonna be Uncle Derek?” you asked him. You hadn’t talked about it with Emily, but you were sure she’d be on board.

“Girl, I better be Uncle Derek.”

You laughed and rested your hand over your belly, your heart full. This baby was going to be so, so loved.

Later that night, Emily crawled into bed next to you, flopping onto her back and grinning like an idiot.

“Happy?” you asked, eyes shining as you stared at her.

She exhaled deeply, her tongue pushing at her bottom lip then, so quickly it took your breath away, flipped over and kissed you. It was a happy kiss, a light kiss, a kiss that wasn’t quite a kiss because you both were smiling and laughing so much.

“You make me happy,” she said, her hands gently cupping your face. You pecked her on the lips once more before her nose crinkled up in a smile and she fell to your side, wrapping an arm around your waist and laying her head on your chest.

You held her close and kissed the top of her head, running your fingers through her hair. So soft, like it was running water. It wasn’t often that Emily let you hold her, and it was even less often that she initiated it. So you held her tight, taking advantage of the rare and beautiful moment. Maybe it would become less rare, you thought. Maybe the little peapod was making Emily go soft. She already was, of course, but she had a hard time admitting it, showing it.

“You deserve to be happy,” you told her as she drew lazy circles on your stomach with her fingers. “You deserve people who love you.”

She was quiet for a while, and when she finally replied, her voice was barely above a whisper. “You really think so?”

You kissed her head a few more times for good measure. “I do.”

Emily took your hand and kissed your palm, holding onto it and twisting your wedding ring back and forth. Neither you nor Emily said anything else, and you didn’t need to. Everything unsaid had already been said, time and time again, year after year. All the words of love and dedication and admiration–you’d said them so often that sometimes the silence simply spoke for you. And sometimes you just held each other and let it.

[myblacknightworld]

Of course Argos is coming!!! Can't leave him at home alone! AKDJDJDJSJD THE BABY CARRIER YES oh yeah of course Penelope's glasses look better, she's the one with the fashion sense lol

Oh, do you mean one of these?

It'd really complete the ensemble lmaoo

Oh!!!!!! Do you think the brim hat also has the little cords to keep it around your neck when down???? I think he would own one of those

Niko, Niko, may I present you with the week-long trip to Sparta! Odysseus in his matching t-shirt and shorts, socks and sandals and brim hat, Penelope looking very chic and Telemachus on one of those leash backpacks

(I'm still at work, but Brim Hat Ody never left my mind and this idea hit me)

Odysseus carries Telemachus in one of those baby carriers for hiking. Argos is coming along too btw.

The visual you just provided is so striking and you are so so right. How will i go normally about my day now

[sera8273]

Things that are practically cannon to the Epic the Musical Universe:

•Hermes Laughs like a Horse so of course Ody Laughs like a Squirrel-

•Odysseus name is Ody so Penelope should be Penny, Eurylochus is Eury or ‘Lochus, Polites should be Poli.

•Ody is a short king, Gods and Godesses are literally just doing it to activity fuck with him but some of his friends will take pity on him.

•Little Ajax is literally just a child that got adopted by all the Soldiers-

•Ody tucks his hair behind his ear in Suffering. That’s it.

•Hermes gave Ody drugs during Wouldn’t You Like.

•Ody and Circe had a Pokemon fight in Done For.

•The Lotus Eaters are just lil fuzzy furballs and Ody after the death of Poli kept 1. It stayed with him until the start of Underworld Saga.

•When Polite dies Ody either wears his Blue headband or uses it as a hair tie and at some point during Monster it gets lost.

•Eury has a Giant ass anime sword.

•Poseidon is literally just water but…alive.

•Athena, being an Owl, has traits like one.

•Zeus eyes glow Yellow.

•Zeus is also just Clouds and Lightning but…alive

•Aeolus is a fucking energetic speedster

[alcnfr]

2 of the Pet Doggos in the backyard this afternoon with some Squirrels.

Tricolor= Penelope

Red= Maxwell Egbert Wickersham III

[funemployed-fangirl]

Modern Bridgerton AU

Family Pets

Once Gregory and Hyacinth are the only two left in the house with Violet, Anthony gets them a small doodle mix of some kind. He thinks it’ll help now that all their older siblings are out of the house. He does not ask their mom before bringing the dog home. Violet is pissed at first, but it becomes her constant companion once Gregory and Hyacinth both leave. 

Anthony and Kate have a goldendoodle and a spaniel. Newton the Corgi lives with Kate’s sister Edwina. 

Benedict and Sophie have two rescue pitties. They dress them in matching PJs (and when they have kids, they take photos of the entire family, dogs included, in match Christmas PJs). 

Colin and Penelope decide against pets, since they do a decent amount of traveling. But they pet sit all the time. 

Daphne and Simon have two purebred Maine Coon cats. Everyone makes fun of them for having the fanciest pets in the family. 

Eloise and Phillip have an honest to god working farm dog. It's a Great Pyrenees, and its job is to protect some of the smaller animals they have on the farm.

Francesca gets a small rescue mix of some sort not long after John dies (it’s something Sophie encourages her to do, and she goes with Francesca to find the right dog). She takes the dog with her to San Francisco. 

Gregory and Lucy quickly decide no cats or dogs, but somehow keep ending up with animals in the house. A goldfish from a school carnival fundraiser. At turtle. at one point a rehabilitated squirrel. 

Hyacinth and Gareth have an orange cat that Hyacinth found the first week they moved to Chicago. The cat is dumb as rocks (no brain cells in that head at all) but they love it more than anything.

more (x)

[faneliansficaloh]

A Lifetime of Happiness

(Ch 1) (Ch 2) (Ch 3) (Ch 4) (Ch 5) (Ch 6) (Ch 7)

This is Chapter 8

Notes

----------

25 November 1817

Dear Penelope,

I attended my first Court ball last night. I found it not very different than what you will find back in England, except that I found myself missing a gigue. The fashions are of course a little different than you would see in an English ball room, but I would only make a fool of myself trying to describe them to you, as I am not well versed in fabrics, pleats and frills. But the etiquette was the same as you’d expect in any European court, which this technically is.

It was odd being at a ball after so long. I had the eyes of experience which let me see the frivolous and the romantic mixing at the helm of the ladies dresses as they twirled away. The young couples that were besotted, unaware of anything else in the world but each other, the laughing young men who do not suspect love might struck them down at any moment, if they set their eyes in the exact pair of lips that slightly part and silently, inadvertently beckon; and of course, the less honourable that are just playing games to pass the time. This, I noticed, includes some of the ladies.

The food was delicious. I dare say so far it is the one thing I have found to be much superior. I could spend my days just eating the fresh fruit and the cheese filled bread our cook bakes. It is a good thing I do not have the time and that I have to set an example. The coffee is also the best I have ever had, but I’m afraid the same cannot be said of tea. It does not agree with me to have coffee in the afternoon, it is simply not the same. There are no cobnuts to be found, either, but that is true of anywhere but Kent, I guess.

Nothing truly is the same, but that is the point of travelling, to learn and understand what is different, is it not?

Yours, Colin.

1814 – Kentish Cobnuts

The remainder of the summer and the fall went away pretty quickly. By the time they were on their way to join the Featheringtons on December, he was absolutely sure it had all been a momentary lapse. He was in fact looking forward to seeing Penelope and confirming that everything was as it had always been. He was the picture of contentment the whole way, chatting and pointing out random facts about things he would spot on the way, like an eager child.

“Oh, those are cobnut trees!” He said, excitedly “When we were little, father would bring us out here and we would forage for them. He always knew the best time so we could beat the squirrels to them.” A fond smile plastered in his face at the cherished memory “We’d fill baskets to store them and eat them through the winter. Francesca hates them when they’re green, but those were Father’s favourite. Daphne and Ben would fight for the golden ones, because we had to wait longer for them, but I love them in all their stages. It is a shame the picking season has passed already.” He ended, wistfully.

“That’s nice” Marina muttered, in a distracted tone, without looking out the window.

He recognized he must have annoyed her by talking so much for most of the trip, so he remained silent the rest of it, which was not much longer. The trees he had pointed out were an indication they had reached the Featherington grounds. He hadn’t been there in a very long time as they had never returned to pick cobnuts themselves after his father’s passing, which had been years before Archibald Featherington inherited the title and the families became more closely acquainted.

When they arrived and were let in the drawing room, they were greeted most cheerfully by Mrs and Mr Finch, who were apparently still very much enjoying their newly wed bliss, while Prudence sulked in a corner and barely acknowledged their arrival. Portia welcomed them and asked them to take a seat, while the children were taken upstairs to sleep and their belongings put away in their rooms.

The Featherington house in Kent was where the mismanagement the estate had suffered under Archibald Featherington made itself the most evident. The furniture could do with some fresh upholstery, the wallpaper in the drawing room was starting to yellow, which was not the bright citrus yellow tone Portia favoured, but the sad yellow of aged things that smell of cigar. This sad state reminded Colin that he needed to speak to Portia and offer his help as Jack Featherington had disappeared with the ill gotten funds he had swindled, and presumably left the Featherington women in financial trouble. Seen as it had been him who unmasked Jack, he felt responsible, and knowing Portia, that might be the very reason why they had been invited to join them in the first place.

Such were his thoughts when the drawing room door opened and Penelope came in. He felt a flutter in his stomach and when she smiled at him with her full poppy-red lips, the swelling in his heart did away with the notion that he was past the emotions he had been battling with since July.

“Marina, Colin! How good to see you. Did you have a pleasant trip?” She said as she closed the door behind her, the cascade of red hair swinging around the fair skin of her neck and shoulders.

“Oh, yes. Rather uneventful, really” Marina responded. Colin had remained seated and seemed to be having a headache, as he had closed his eyes and was rubbing at his forehead, with a frown, as he shifted his position on the sofa to be able to rest his head on his hand.

“Are you alright, Colin?” Of course she was truly concerned.

“My apologies, I just need some rest” He said, a little flushed and unable to look at Penelope in the eye.

“You really do not look well, Mr. Bridgerton. You should go lie down” Portia rang the bell.

“I really should. If you’ll excuse me.” As she came into the room Mrs Varley was charged with showing Mr. Bridgerton to his room.

“Has he been ill?” Penelope asked Marina

“He was perfectly fine until a minute ago. As he said, he’s probably just tired, he was talking non-stop the whole way” she said, more complaint than explanation.

“Did he tell you about the--” Penelope said, knowingly and a little excited herself, but Marina did not let her continue.

“Oh, whatever it is he must have, amongst a million other things.” She rolled her eyes “It is me who should have a headache, truly.”

Penelope did not press the matter any further, even though she felt a little slighted that Marina had not let her talk. She figured she was really tired from the trip, even if it was not a very long one from Aubrey Hall.

Colin spent the rest of the afternoon upstairs, on his own, watching the fire in his room. He was wrestling with his thoughts, trying to understand what the upheaval inside him was all about. So far he had been working under the premise that he had been confused in a heated moment.

But he was now wondering if that night, that wretched dream and all the confused thoughts that followed were really just a natural progression of something stronger that had started much, much earlier. But when? Can anyone truly ever pin point the exact moment when their feelings shift for someone?

A knock on the door startled him, but he welcomed the interruption.

“I’m sorry to disturb you, but I wanted to make sure you’re alright” It was Penelope, along with a maid who was carrying a tray. “We’ve brought you tea and biscuits.”

“Pen, you shouldn’t have troubled yourself. I’m feeling much better, thank you.”

“I’m just worried that you’re ill and will make us all sick, that is all” She joked, with a soft smile. She had a small box in her hands and showed it to him “These are for you, I’ll leave them here” she deposited the box on a table beside the door. “I’m glad you feel better, we’ll see you at dinner then.” He nodded, and she left with the maid.

After the door closed, he crossed the room to inspect the box. It was filled with cobnuts. He stood frozen in place, as if his feet were nailed to the floor, as a flood of shared memories washed over him.

Oh, it had definitely started much, much earlier indeed.

***

“Ah, Mutton! It’s been ages since we had roasted mutton!” Prudence seemed too excited, prompting her mother to giver her a scolding look.

That evening they were joined by the Dankworths, to celebrate their son Harry’s engagement to Prudence. They had met in church a couple of months back and Portia had since then been using all of her powers to ensure that Prudence did not betray all of their recent misfortunes, as unfortunately her name was only that—she was in fact anything but prudent.

“What a coincidence! Mutton is my favourite, Miss Featherington, especially roasted and with such a beautiful arrangement of vegetables to accompany it, what a delightful combination!”

Penelope was convinced that if it were left to him alone, Harry would have married Prudence not a week after they met. Nothing was more agreeable to him than a thing that pleased her and nothing more detestable than that which annoyed her, he was a newborn learning about the world through Prudence’s eyes. And even though Prudence did not show any inclination as overtly as her suitor did, Penelope could tell she was very pleased with him.

“It is really a very good roast” Colin felt compelled to note once they had started eating, since a prolonged silence seemed to have befallen the dinning room after Harry’s exultation.

“The potatoes are very good, too.” Said Marina, prompting Colin to look over at her plate, and then he noticed something that incited his curiosity.

“I thought you loved tomatoes” It seemed Marina had been taking them off the mutton and putting them aside.

“Oh. I do like them, but they make my mouth tingle and itch sometimes, so I don’t eat them.”

Penelope raised her eyes to meet his and bit her lips in to avoid laughing at him, but he felt teased and couldn’t avoid chuckling.

“The carrots are excellent” Penelope added taking a bite.

“And the peas?” Colin asked her, with journalistic interest.

“Superb, I declare!” She beamed

“Indeed!” Colin nodded, with affected seriousness. Marina rolled her eyes but neither paid any attention.

“Any comment on the beets?” Penelope asked him

He mocked deep thought “I dare say they are positively exquisite!”

“I found them scrumptious my self”

“Very well put, yes” he nodded.

Penelope was extremely glad to see that he was in good spirits and was being friendly to her again. She had noticed he had been avoiding her since their arrival, and she had assumed he was either feeling ill or was upset with her for some reason. It was such a relief to know she still had his friendship.

“It is all very good, yes, we shall commend the Cook for this wonderful meal. Thank you.” Portia put an end to the game. She didn’t have time to address whatever that was, she needed to focus on Prudence, who had already been sulking about Jack Featherington disappearing and thus abruptly ending their forced engagement. However favourably it all had turned out for them, she needed to ensure Prudence wasn’t jilted once more.

***

January was already coming to an end when Portia got truly alarmed. Of course she knew Penelope had always had a tender attachment to Colin Bridgerton, which she had tried time and again to discourage. It was simply unrealistic; the boy seemed to live in the clouds and had more attention from the ladies than he knew what to do with. There was nothing worse in her experience than a man that knew himself to be a catch – At the time she had feared that he would only waste Penelope’s time leading her on forever until he had had his fill of all the frivolous flirting and actually decided to take a wife, possibly sometime in the next twenty years.

She hadn’t had much trust that Marina’s plan of seducing him would succeed and was thus extremely surprised – and relieved – when it did. Not only were they out of the predicament they faced with the girl expecting a child under her roof, but also because finally, her daughter would be persuaded to leave her hopes behind and focus on her future. Of course she did not enjoy seeing her daughter suffer as she did when the marriage was a done thing -the poor thing tried very hard to disguise it, but it was evident to her mother. She was so young, though, Portia assumed she would move on quickly.

But now, well over a year later, much to her dismay she started to notice a very unexpected development. Penelope’s friendship with Mr. Bridgerton had only gotten stronger now that, as he liked to say half-jokingly, they were cousins, and what was even worse, he seemed to allow himself some new liberties under the guise of them being so related.

They would often carry conversations on their own, laughing at their little jokes that, frankly, weren’t even that funny. He was always looking after her, very attentive and making sure she was not left out of things, which was all very kind and good of him, but it was the lingering glances that made Portia start to pay more attention to Mr. Bridgerton’s behaviour.

Nothing untoward had occurred, of course, but that particular January morning she noticed something more. A too-pleased smile on his face accompanied his outright stare directed at an unsuspecting Penelope, who was playing with Marina’s girl on the floor of the drawing room of her own house. It was rather pathetic and she fully expected him to let out a dramatic, longing sigh at any moment – if it were any other girl, she could have laughed at him.

“Penelope, I need you here!” she had called her, trying to break the stare but not being able to think of an excuse quickly enough. And then, of course the gentleman he was went to help her get up. Was she imagining things? Could no one else see the way he stared into her face as she lifted her, quite unnecessarily close? But Marina was busy with her boy, and her other daughter and her son in law were never paying attention to anything. She crossed glances with Mrs. Varley whose alarmed face confirmed her own fears.

“What is it mama?” Portia brought her hand to her head, fidgeting with her hair

“I forget, but come, sit here with me” She positioned her so that Penelope’s back would be turned to Mr. Bridgerton while she could see him. She then started fidgeting with Penelope’s skirts. “We should get you a new wardrobe for this upcoming season”

“Weren’t we already going to do that anyway?” Her mother was acting oddly, even for her.

“Yes, but – I will let you choose whatever colours you prefer this season” She said with the softest smile she had ever given her and Penelope did not know how to feel about it. Was she dying and nobody had told her?

“Is everything alright, mama?” It was her turn to be alarmed.

“Of course it is! I only want you to have whatever you feel you need to succeed this year”

It was the look of tenderness in her mother’s eyes that really made Penelope worry. She got closer to her mother and whispered “Have we lost all our money again, mama?” Portia so far had not made any real push for her to marry, and now she was talking about her succeeding. She immediately concluded she was scheming to get her a rich husband to get them out of some new trouble.

“Why would you say that? Of course not. Believe it or not, I care for you, and only wish to see you settled and secure” And far away from Mr. Bridgerton, she would have added if not for the risk of being overheard. She nibbled on the tip of her thumb. “And perhaps we should extend your social circle, beyond your family, at least”

“Oh?” Portia gave her a significant glance, tilting her head a little bit. “Oh, Yes, I suppose I should.” It was true that she had been spending most of her time with Marina’s family since they had joined them in the country. “Can I be excused, I would like to go to my room”

“Very well”

And, of course, as Penelope left the room Colin’s gaze followed her.

“Mr. Bridgerton!” Portia called him a little too harshly.

“Yes?” He was startled and quite confused at the tone.

Portia changed her face from scolding to a more amiable smile “Are you planning on going back to Aubrey Hall before the London Season?”

“No, we will be going to London directly from here, I have business to tend to in town.” Marina gave her an intrigued look. He had never before had any business to tend to.

“Isn’t it odd that Penelope is going and you are not?” Phillipa finally uttered from the other side of the room.

“Is she?” His interest seemed a little too much sparked. Portia could see him reconsidering his visit. The one time Phillipa had paid attention to something that wasn’t about her and it had to be this.

“I’m still considering if I will let her go” Portia said. “Why, she’s my only company now that my other two are married, I may want her to stay with me. Who knows, next season she might be married as well” She said raising an eyebrow, ready to catch the slightest sign of a reaction. His frown cemented her resolution.

“I am utterly tired of being a guest in other people’s houses, I wish to be back on my own home” Marina said and Colin nodded as if to agree.

And with that, it seemed the matter was settled.

Colin and Marina did return to London the very next day, and since Penelope had been very insistent on going to Aubrey Hall with Eloise the following month and Portia thought that it would not hurt Penelope to have Lady Bridgerton’s support in the upcoming season—she would in fact need every possible advantage she could get, so she let her go with the warning that she should never be unchaperoned under any circumstances. This puzzled Penelope enormously, as she had never required a chaperone at the Bridgertons.

It did not matter. She would not let that dampen the joy she felt at the prospect of spending time with her dear friends.

Chapter 9

[an-adhd-infested-nerd]

Intro post

This is for me. I like lists.

Basic Stuff and info!

I'm a big old lesbian

My gender is "I don't fucking know"

Pronouns are whatever.

Neurodivergent as hell

I am an adult despite having the interests of a twelve year old boy

You can always tell when I'm scrolling through a tag cause I'll reblog 50 posts in a row about it

I am not responsible for my current hyperfixtations flooding my blog. I go where the audhd takes me

I may not always be super active in certain fandoms but they never truly leave me

Tagging System

all fanart reblogged is under #fanart

specific fandoms are always tagged by name

Fanart for specific fandom is tagged as #"fandom" fanart (ex #star trek fanart)

Original posts by me are tagged under #original

I'm hilarious in that tag

Long Replies are tagged as #reply

Commissioned art is tagged as #commissioned art

Interaction and Content Guidelines

I'm not gonna do an DNI because I think those are flawed and kinda dumb but I'm never gonna ~purposefully~ engage/interact with anything bigoted nor do I wanna hear or see it.

TERFS, zionists, homophobes and all bigots get off my blog. This is not a safe space. This is a danger space. I’ll hunt you for sport.

If I do reblog something bigoted, please let me know!

I'm almost never gonna interact with NSFW stuff, I’m not a huge fan.

Send me asks! Message me! Comment! I gain strength off interaction!!!

Fandoms I'm in! Also just some general interests

Cartoons/TV Shows

What We Do in the Shadows

Good Omens

House MD

Supernatural (embarrassingly)

Ghosts (specifically the CBS version)

Star Trek (TOS, TNG, DS9, Lower Decks)

Animaniacs

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Mutant Mayhem, Rise, 2012)

Inside Job

Ed, Edd n Eddy (I had some amazing art commissioned by @mar-saturn for EENE. Check out my #commissioned art tag!)

The Owlhouse

Gravity Falls

South Park

Over the Garden Wall

Hilda

Wander over Yonder

Fairly Oddparents

Full Metal Alchemist

Spy x Family

Helluva Boss

Smiling Friends

Video Games

Minecraft

Pokemon

Legend of Zelda

Subnautica

Don't Starve

Psychonauts

Spiritfarer

Strange Horticulture

Jenny LeClue

Night in the Woods

Monument Valley

Dave the Diver

Dredge

Broken Age

Rusty Lake

Tangle Tower

Later Alligator

The Frog Detective series

#blud

Cult of the Lamb

Stardew Valley

Musicians and Bands

They Might be Giants

Will Wood

The Front Bottoms

AJJ

Weird Al Yankovic

ABBA

Chappell Roan

Marina and the Diamonds

Penelope Scott

Weezer (I will not be bullied)

Misallanious

The Night at the Muesum movie trilogy

The Muppets

Back to the Future

Scott Pilgrim

Dream Smp

Batfam

Squirrel Girl

Jane Austen books

The Barbie animated cinematic universe

PBS kids shows, specifically from the 2000s to 2010s

Various Broadway musicals. (I was a theater kid in middle school and I’m more embarrassed about that then any thing else)