#princess of light; sofía

[canirove]

The invinsible princess | Chapter 1

"Champions of Europe"

Index | Chapter 2

Masterlist

“C’mom, go talk to her. Look at how miserable she looks.”

“Why don't you go talk to her?”

“Because she doesn't fancy me, Gavi” Ferran smirks.

“That's something the press made out.”

“Or not” Ferran shrugs. 

“If you don't go talk to her, I will.”

“Fermín, don't you have a girlfriend?” Gavi says.

“Yeah. And?”

“You can't go talk to the princess. That's cheating.”

“It's just talking, Gavi. Relax” he chuckles.

“Unless the press sees you and then boom! Fermín the Prince” Ferran laughs. 

“Fermín I of Spain. Sounds cool, I like it. What do you think, Pedri? Pedri?” he says, looking around for his teammate.

“Where is he going?” Ferran asks.

“He’s… Oh my God, he's walking towards the princess!” Gavi gasps.

“There he goes. Pedro I of Spain” Fermín chuckles

━━━━━━❃━━━━━━

“And then it all had been a mistake!”

“That is so funny” my dad laughs. “Isn't it, Sofía?”

“So funny” I say with my best fake smile. 

Why am I stuck with a bunch of old men? This is a party to celebrate that Spain just won the Euros. I should be out there mingling with the young people, talking with the players and their families, getting to know them all a bit and properly congratulate them. But no. I'm stuck with a man telling us about his latest golfing trip to Scotland. 

“Something similar happened to me last time we went to Mallorca” my dad says, making me already disconnect from the conversation. I know which anecdote he is about to share. I probably already know it by heart just from hearing him telling about it to everyone he's met lately. So instead of listening to him, I start looking around.

There are some players dancing with their partners, others playing with their kids (which is the cutest thing ever), others are just chilling… And then, there is someone wearing red and a medal around his neck walking towards me. Or trying to. 

“Right, Sofía?” my dad says again.

“Yeah, yeah” I nod. 

One of the good things about him having told this anecdote so many times is that, by now, I also know when he asks for my support and how I have to react to it, what I have to say. Which comes very handy when your eyes are stuck on the guy smiling and standing in front of you, and who is currently moving his head to one side to make you follow him somewhere. 

“Dad, do you mind if I go get myself a refill?” I ask him.

“Yes, sure. But just beer.”

“Just beer, I promise” I smile before finally leaving the group of men and following Pedri. 

Oh, yes. Because the guy who had been smiling at me and asking me to follow him, was freaking Pedri González. 

“Ma’am” my bodyguard says behind me. “Are you going somewhere?”

Shit. Fuck. I had forgotten about him.

“I'm just going out to get some fresh air. I'm feeling a bit dizzy” I say with a nervous laugh.

“Alone?” he says, looking at the glass door that leads outside the room, Pedri waiting on the other side.

“I… Ummm… It'll be just five minutes.”

“Ma'am…”

“Five minutes, Carlos. It's not like he can kidnap me or something with his leg like that” I chuckle. 

“He cannot, no. But what about others? You are Spain's Princess.”

“But not the heir. No one cares about me.”

“Don't say that, ma'am.”

“It's the truth” I shrug. “Anyway, can I go outside for five minutes? Please? He may just want a photo for his mum.”

“Ok, fine” Carlos sighs. “But don't leave the building.”

“I won't, I promise” I smile before basically running towards the door. He may still regret letting me go.

Once outside, it takes me a moment to find Pedri. When I spot him, he is resting against one of the huge windows, checking the brace he has to wear on his knee. 

“Is it too uncomfortable?” I ask him as I walk towards him.

“Uh?” he says, looking up. And maybe, just maybe… I gasped when the lights from outside illuminated his face in all the right places.

“The brace. Is it uncomfortable?”

“A bit, yeah” he smiles. 

“I'm sorry about what happened.”

“Thank you” Pedri smiles again. “Though everything worked out in the end” he says, touching his medal. “Do you want to try it?”

“Oh, I, ummm…”

“Here” he says, taking it off before walking towards me and putting it around my neck, carefully untucking my hair so it doesn't get tangled with the strap. “Perfect. How does it feel?”

“Heavier than I expected” I chuckle.

“It can't be heavier than a crown” he laughs.

“I don't know. I've never tried on one.”

“Wait, really?”

“Yeah. It's not like I'm gonna be the one who is gonna have to wear it. That's my sister, the heir.”

“But you still are a princess, aren't you? Don't all princesses wear crowns?”

“Nope. I may get to wear a tiara one day if I'm invited to a big event like a royal wedding or a reception for someone important, but other than that…”

“I'm sorry.”

“Oh, don't be. Sometimes being the second born that everyone forgets about actually comes with its perks. Like being here today, for example.”

“I thought it was because you liked football.”

“That too” I chuckle.

“And football players?” Pedri asks me. “Do you also like them?”

“What?”

“My friends were talking about you fancying Gavi.”

“That's my sister, not me.”

“Ha! I knew it! I knew it was her and not you. But they were so convinced they didn't want to listen to me.”

“I'm used to people mixing us, don't worry” I say while playing with the medal. “And I actually am more into dark haired guys than brunettes like him.”

“Are you?”

“Yeah” I shrug, still focused on the medal. 

“Anything else you like in your men?” 

“Why are you interested?” I ask him, looking up and at his face, a little smirk on his lips. 

“Just curious about how the future Prince of Spain could look like” he shrugs.

“Well… I like men with interesting noses.”

“What?” he laughs.

“Yeah… I don't know how to explain it. But if you look at the list of men I'm attracted to, famous or not, they all have that in common. Yours would actually make the cut.”

“My nose?” he laughs again.

“I… It is too weird, isn't it? Urgh” I say, covering my face with my hands. And that, my friends, is how you ruin things with the guy you are trying to flirt with. 

“No, no. Not at all. Is just that no one had complimented my nose before. Most girls talk about my lips.”

“Your lips?” 

“They say they were made to kiss and be kissed. What do you think?”

“What?” I say, still covering my face.

“Are my lips kissable or not, your royal highness?” Pedri says, his hands suddenly on mine, moving them away to rest at my sides. But he doesn't let go once they get there. He keeps holding them, his fingers playing with mine, his thumbs sometimes caressing my knuckles or the inside of my wrist and sending waves of heat all the way up my arms. 

“They are ok” I manage to say.

“Just ok? I think I'm gonna have to move closer so you can see them better” he says, closing the space between us a bit more. 

“They just look like lips” I shrug. But that's a lie. Because his lips do look made to kiss and be kissed.

“Maybe if we moved towards the light…” he says, his hands suddenly on my waist, moving me until my back is against the big window, the light once again hitting his face in all the right places. 

I knew Pedri was handsome, but this handsome? Wow.

“Better now?”

“Let me see…” I say as I move forward a little bit, the medal doing it with me and hitting his chest. We are so close right now… “Nothing. Just lips.”

“Well, if you can't see anything, I'll guess we'll have to try with a different sense. Like touch, for example.”

“What?”

“How does this feel, your royal highness?” he says, gently taking one of my hands and kissing it, the other still resting on my waist.

“You can start calling me ma'am now. Royal highness is just for the first time you address me.” And how I've managed to give him a protocol lesson while feeling my skin burn on the spot where his lips have been, will forever be a mystery.

“Ma'am sounds like something for someone old. What about my lady?”

“You could also call me by my name” I shrug. 

“We just met, my lady. Aren't you going too fast?” Pedri smirks.

“Me? Who is the one looking for a way to kiss me?” I smirk back.

“Busted” he laughs. 

“Though if you want to kiss me, you just have to ask.”

“Ok, then. May I kiss you… my lady?”

“You may” I whisper. 

“Thank you” he smiles. “But…” he says, stopping just as his lips brush against mine. “After I've done it, will you tell if my lips are made to kiss and be kissed?” 

“I will.”

“A princess must keep her promises.”

“I will, I promise. Now are you going to kiss me or not?”

“As my lady commands” he smirks before finally doing it and kissing me. Pedri… the Pedri… is kissing me. And it is… wow. Just wow. “And?” he whispers against my lips.

“I haven't told you to stop.”

“So bossy” he chuckes.

“Well, I am your princess, am I not?”

“You are, yes.”

“Then as your princess, I'm telling you, Pedri González, to keep kissing me.”

“With my lips made to kiss and be kissed?” 

“With your lips made to kiss and be kissed, yes” I say, making him smile before kissing me again and… Oh, my God.

I thought winning the Euros earlier had felt amazing, but I was wrong. Being kissed by him, and in the way he is right now, is what truly feels amazing. 

━━━━━━❃━━━━━━

“I think this is yours” I say, giving Pedri his medal back.

“It looks better on you, tho.”

“Oh, stop it” I laugh, putting it around his neck, the place where my hands were resting not that long ago.

“It's the truth” he shrugs. “And do we seriously have to go back in there?” he says, nodding towards the party.

“We do, yes” I sigh. “But, we are meeting again tomorrow.”

“We are, yes. And you've promised me a tour of the palace. And a princess…”

“Keeps her promises” I smile.

“Exactly” Pedri smiles back. And we stay like that, just smiling like two idiots, until someone clears his throat behind us. Carlos, my bodyguard. “I think that's our cue to go inside.”

“I think it is, yes.”

“Do you think he will send the secret service after me if I kiss you one last time?” he whispers.

“There is nothing like trying” I shrug.

“Ok, then. Bro, look the other way!” he says to Carlos while I just laugh, his hands suddenly cupping my face before kissing me one last time. “No secret service?” he whispers, opening one eye. 

“No secret service.”

“Thank God” he sighs, making me laugh again. “Anyway… I should probably go in first, shouldn't I? Distract everyone with my limping so they won't look at you.”

“Oh, don't worry. No one looks at me, I'm the invisible princess.”

“Only someone blind would not look at you, my lady.”

“Thank you” I say, feeling my cheeks getting warm. We've been kissing and flirting, and him saying that is what finally makes me go shy. “But like I told you, I don't mind being invisible sometimes. This” I say, playing with the strap of his medal. “Would have not been possible if I was the heir. And the secret service would have definitely jumped at you the moment you got too close.”

“Lucky me, then” Pedri smiles.

“Lucky us” I smile back. “Now go. I can see Carlos getting impatient.”

“Urgh, fine… See you tomorrow?”

“See you tomorrow.”

“Ok. Good night, my lady” he says, kissing my cheek.

“Good night, sir” I giggle as I watch him walk back into the party, laughing one more time when he turns around to look at me and blows me a kiss.

“Feeling better, ma'am?” Carlos says behind me.

“Much better” I smile. 

“Then I'm sorry about what I'm about to tell you, ma'am.”

“What?” I say, turning around to look at him.

“It's about him, about Pedri. Something I heard his friends talking about when I went back inside to give you some… privacy.”

“Carlos, you are starting to worry me.”

“I… I'm sorry, ma'am.”

━━━━━━❃━━━━━━

The next day…

“My lady.”

“Pedri.”

“I wasn't expecting to be offered croquetas at the royal palace” he chuckles, nodding at the table in front of us.

“Yeah, well.”

“When we met earlier it was kind of awkward, wasn't it? Shaking hands with your parents and your sister, acting as if we didn't know each other and nothing had happened last night…”

“Did something happen last night?” I ask, eating an olive and finally looking at him. “Besides you winning the Euros, I mean.”

“We… you… what?” he says with a confused look.

“I don't remember anything important happening” I shrug.

“You don't… Oh. Oh, I get it. You are teasing me because out here someone could hear us” Pedri says, looking around at his teammates. After meeting the whole team inside the palace, we are now in the gardens, everyone chatting, having a drink and relaxing before they have to go to Cibeles to celebrate.

“I'm not teasing you, Pedri. I don't remember anything” I shrug again. “Wait, no. I do remember one thing” I say, moving forward. “That you are a dick” I whisper in his ear before walking away.

“That I'm what? What are you talking about?” he says before following me. 

“Is your hearing also injured?”

“My hearing is perfect, my lady” he says, struggling to keep up with me. “What I don't understand is why.”

“Why what?” I say, suddenly stopping. We've walked away from where everyone else is, kind of hidden behind some bushes.

“Why are you calling me a dick? What did I do?”

“Do you seriously have to ask?” I laugh.

“Yeah.”

“I can't believe it” I laugh again. “You fucking used me, Pedri!”

“What?”

“You used me to have a laugh with your friends! You made a bet with them to see who could get a kiss from me first!”

“What?” he says again, looking more and more confused by the second.

“Carlos heard them talking about it, so don't you dare try to deny it. I'm sure you all had a laugh this morning when you told them everything that happened between us.”

“We don't… I…”

“I was an easy target, wasn't I? The poor princess that no one looks at, the one who always is in the shadow of her sister, who always is the second option. I'm sure you felt so proud when you told them how easily I fell for your charms, how stupid I was. But not anymore, you hear me. Not anymore.”

“That's not what happened” Pedri says, grabbing me by the arm when I try to walk away, earning himself a even more deadly look than the ones I was already giving him. “Sorry. I'm sorry” he says, letting go. “But please let me explain myself.”

“Why? Why would I do that? You manipulated me once, you could do it again. I am that stupid.”

“You aren't stupid, and I didn't manipulate you. I…” he says, running a hand through his hair. “The boys were talking about who could get you out of your misery, that's true. We were watching you talking with your dad and those men, and you looked so… Bored. Like you wished to be anywhere but there. But I wasn't part of it, I swear. I actually was getting mad while listening to them and the way they were talking about you. So before any of them found the guts to go talk to you just for fun, I did it myself. Not the go talking with you for fun part. The one about finding the guts to go talk to you. Because I… I have a bit of a crush on you.”

“What?” I laugh.

“Yeah” he says, nervously touching his cheek. A cheek that had turned almost as red as his Spain's shirt. “Here, look” he says, taking his phone out of his pocket. “I have proof.”

“Proof of what? You being an idiot?”

“An idiot for you, yes” he says, showing me what he had been looking for on his phone. “It's a WhatsApp conversation I had with my brother yesterday before the game when it was announced that you were attending. You can check the date and the time, it isn't fake.”

Your girlfriend is gonna be at the game tonight 🤭 If you win she may give you a kiss 😚 Instead of Casillas and Sara Carbonero, Pedri and the princess ⚽���🏻👩🏻‍❤️‍💋‍👨🏻 

“This… This means nothing” I say, giving him his phone back. 

“I can show you more messages from him teasing me about it. Look.”

People are shipping Gavi with the princess after the game 😂 Maybe he could introduce you to her little sister 😏 Gavi king and you prince 😂

“I… Pedri…”

“Everything that happened last night was real. I swear it” he says. “I didn't kiss you because of a bet with my friends. I kissed you because I wanted to. Because I like you.”

“You don't know me. Like, you barely know anything about me, only what the press publishes.”

“I know enough. Because to me” he says, taking one of my hands on his, his thumb caressing my knuckles like he had last night. “To me you aren't invisible or someone's shadow. To me, you shine brighter than anyone else. King, queen, heir to the throne or whatever.”

“That's so cheesy” I chuckle.

“But the truth.”

“Pedri, I…” I say, meeting his eyes. He isn't lying. Everything he's said about kissing me because he wanted to and not because of a bet, about liking me, about me not being the invisible princess I always believe myself to be… All that is true. I can see it in his face, on his blushed cheeks, in his eyes. He is being honest about it all. “I believe you.”

“You… You do?”

“I do” I nod.

“Thank God” he sighs. “I thought any moment now you would call the secret service and they would send me to… Where do they send people when they arrest them?”

“Can't tell you. It is the secret service for a reason” I wink.

“Makes sense” he chuckles. “But does this mean that I am not a dick anymore or…?” he says, closing the space between us a bit.

“Well… There is something you could do to make me completely forget about it” I say, also moving closer towards him.

“Something like what?” he asks, his other hand finding mine, now both his thumb caressing my skin, bringing back the waves of heat I felt last night. 

“You could kiss me with those lips of yours” I smirk.

“Here?” he says, looking around. “What if someone comes this way and sees us? Like someone from the team, your dad or… your mum. Your mum is quite scary, you know?”

“Oh, I know” I laugh. “But if we move over here…” I say, walking us behind a big tree, my back against it. “No one will see us. We'll be… invisible” I smile.

“You are anything but invisible, my lady” Pedri smiles back, his hands letting go of mine and moving to rest on my waist.

“Then show me” I say, wrapping my arms around his neck. 

“Will you then give me a tour of the palace? You promised it last night, and a princess…”

“Keps her promises, I know.”

“Exactly” he smirks.

“First we kiss, then we do the tour. But just so you know, Carlos will probably join us.”

“Wait, is he here?” Pedri says, looking around, his eyes wide.

“He may be hiding behind a bush, yes” I laugh.

“Shit. If he sees together after what he heard last night…”

“I'll explain everything to him, don't worry. But if you are being serious about getting to know me…”

“Deadly.”

“Then you better start getting used to his presence.”

“I think I can do that. Because you” he says, brushing his nose against mine and making me giggle. “Are worth it, my lady. So worth it” Pedri says before finally kissing me again, making me feel what he has been telling me since we met: that I'm not just someone's shadow, a second option. That I am not the invisible princess anymore. 

[igetthedisneybox]

Zoe Madrigal

Inspired by @hannahhook7744's Encanto AU, and her own character headcanons.

Third image made using https://picrew.me/en/image_maker/1558575

Fourth image made using https://www.dolldivine.com/la-colombiana

Fifth image is a model of one of the Encanto kids I edited.

Zoe’s full name is Zoe Carina Madrigal.

Her first name means “life”, and her middle name means “beloved”. 

She is the last adopted child of Luisa Madrigal and Juana Aguado.

She has straight dark brown hair, light brown skin, and brown eyes.

She is five years old.

She has two older brothers by five years, Tomás and Rómulo.

She is currently uninterested in romance and sex.

Her gift is object personification. Any object she wills, will come alive. Any object she wants to un-personify, she can. If it has a face, it will speak. She just received her gift, and doesn’t understand why the townspeople find her gift odd and disturbing.

Her door portrays her smiling, with her hands at her sides, surrounded by a variety of household objects, like a candelabra, a clock, a teapot, and a plate, all with smiling faces.

Her room looks like a princess castle, with a grand four-poster bed with a thick rainbow canopy. All the furniture is teak wood, painted beautiful colors. She has just about as much random stuff in her room as Carlos, and it’s all been personified. The objects are her best friends, and anything she personifies that she wants to keep, she steals takes to her room. 

Her symbol is the alchemical symbol of life, an upside down greek omega.

Luisa is an anxious and overprotective mother, which Zoe doesn’t mind. She basically worships both her parents, and loves snuggling with them. 

Juana is the mom who tries to get Zoe out of her shell, and interacting with other kids.

She has no memory of her birth parents, but she does remember her grandfather, who raised her until she was four. When he fell ill, Luisa and Juana volunteered to take her in, so she wouldn’t be alone.

Zoe looks up to her two brothers, and wants to have adventures like them when she gets older.

She ends up hanging out with the other “outcast” cousins: Sofía, Fuega, Andrés, Hugo, and Óscar, because the Encanto people find her gift horrific.

She gets along best with Julieta, Mirabel, and Hugo. 

She used her powers to bring a huge group of potatoes to life, and has dubbed them her “potato people.” Isabela ended up loving them so much, Zoe gave them to her as a gift.

She also used her powers to bring Bisabuelo Wilmar's taxidermied animals to life, and they end up with the ability to speak like humans. Everyone in Casita refused to let her change them back.

She has a special love for machinery, as her biological grandfather was a mechanic in the city. Her best friend is a tiny radio she named Katalina.

She likes to hear stories. Her favorite is the creation of the Encanto, as told by Alma.

She loves to sleep, and takes naps regularly. Curiously, when she’s asleep, all her personified objects sleep as well, and can’t speak or move.

Her favorite colors are pink, red, light yellow, and rainbow.

[patheticbatman]

I’m not really a doll blog but I finished my painted dolls a couple weeks ago and I think I’m going to do a little photoshoot with them soon! They make me so happy :D

Below the cut are them all laid out for basic pictures, I’ll probably do the more ‘for show’ pictures later this week. The spot where I want to place them doesn’t have good lighting and it’s too dark now and I’ll be away for the next couple days.

All of them together, plus a few small animal toys :)

Order of the smaller dolls (which is chronological from when their movies came out and in order of appearance) is as follows: Snow White, Cinderella, Alice, Wendy, Aurora, Eilonwy, Ariel (Jodi Benson), Belle, Jasmine, Olly the Octopus and Gabriella (attempt at human form) from the Little Mermaid tv show, Pocahontas/Matoaka, Esmeralda, Mulan, Melody (Little Mermaid II, attempted human form, see bottom of post for a context picture), Kida, Jane (Peter Pan II), Giselle, Tiana, Rapunzel, Merida, Vanellope, Sofía, Amber (Sofía the First’s stepsister), Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, Sven, Olaf, Elena, Moana, Raya, Namaari, Sisu, Mirabel, Dolores, Isabela, Luisa, Shuri, Ariel (Halle Bailey) and Asha!

Big dolls are Kit Kittredge in a Barbie dress, Big Raya and Big Ariel.

These guys are just The Little Mermaid crew together. Left to right it’s Big Ariel, Ariel (Halle Bailey), Jariel (Jodi Benson), Melody, Olly and Gabriella. Here is a picture of Gabriella in case you didn’t recognize her. She wasn’t a huge character but she’s a favorite of mine, and has an interesting creation backstory.

Below are close ups of the painted girls, in alphabetical order

Alice, Ariel (Halle Bailey), Asha, Dolores, Eilonwy

Alice is an Elsa head (Young Elsa, Yelsa, in Blue dress with hair flattened to be not a braid) with Belle’s blue dress. Ariel was a Moana doll. Asha is a Moana doll with an Elsa body (final white outfit from Frozen II, Welsa) and a bag made of hot glue on the side. Dolores is a Kristoff head (for the ears) with a Tiana bun (see Tiana) and Belle’s yellow dress, with hot glue used to make her bow. And Eilonwy is a Kristoff head (luck of the draw) with hair added via hot glue strips and an Anna dress (green Queen dress from Frozen II, Granna).

Esmeralda, Olly and Gabriella (since he is her sign language interpreter, he stays with her :D)

Esmeralda was an Ariel doll with her ribbon made from hot glue. Olly is play dough, hot glue, paint and a spray on gloss. Gabriella was a Snow White doll. I decided to give her a human body because I already had human bodies. She doesn’t have silver in her original outfit but I added it because I thought it looked nice. The other colors should match.

Giselle, Isabela, Jane, Kida, Luisa

Giselle has an Anna head (Anna in her purple overcoat outfit from Frozen II, Panna) with an Aurora body. Isabela has a Welsa head with a Rapunzel body, and a nose arch added via hot glue. Jane is a Granna head with a Panna body. Kida is an Aurora head with a Moana body - the belt in the middle is made of hot glue. Luisa was a Cinderella doll but I added triceps (?) via hot glue.

Melody, Mirabel, Raya, Shuri

The original Disney Princess dolls who had pants (Jasmine and Kristoff, arguably Pocahontas) were either rarer (J&P) or came with less desirable heads (K) so Melody did not get real pants. Instead, she was a Cinderella head and a Tiana body with her pants painted onto the dress’s skirt. Mirabel was a Belle doll (I cut off the midsection of her hair and attached the ends to the top, making it look curly) with glasses painted on. Namaari was a Jasmine doll with a belt and earring added via hot glue (had to cut a lot of her hair off. And Shuri was a Tiana head (See Tiana) and a Kristoff body. She’s probably my favorite to have worked on. You can’t really see it in this picture, but if you look at the picture with everyone, she has a purple heart (for the heart shaped herb) in one hand and is holding a blue bracelet (like the one Namor gave her, made from his magic vibranium plant) in the other.

Sisu, Sofia, Tiana, Vanellope & Wendy

Sisu has a Rapunzel head and a Kristoff body. Sofia was a Belle doll. Tiana - see the below paragraph. Vanellope was an Anna head (the blue dress when she met Hans, Banna) with a Yelsa dress, the ponytail being made of hot glue. And Wendy was a Belle (from the Blue outfit) head and a Banna dress.

So there were occasional discrepancies with the official Disney Princess dolls (too much glitter, crowns when they never head crowns, often painted pink on spots where they never had pink) but for some reason they made Tiana wrong and gave her two buns! One on each since of her head. It was cute, but too inaccurate for me!

So I cut both off of my original Tiana, repasted one right behind her crown, and the other on Dolores’s head. And then when I decided to do Shuri (very last minute decision) i just cut off her buns and pasted them one behind the other in the middle of her head, to mirror the below hairstyle better. The curl was part of the face and looked cute so I kept it on both Tiana heads.

(Additionally I accidentally rubbed an eye off of Tiana’s face so the scullers is slightly repainted)

So those are my dolls! If you look through my blog you’ll probably find some progress pictures. I actually took Asha and Kida with me to see Wish, because I was finished with them by then :).

[theonlinemuse]

In honour of the Elena of Avalor episode “Festival of Lights”, In Each Retelling has decided to post a Bonus Blog recipe for the bimuelos (also known as buñuelos, birmuelos, bermuelos, burmuelos, bunyols, bonuelos or even bougnettes depending on which version you grew up with) that were featured in the episode.

We’re specifically sharing a Cuban version of the recipe where they’re shaped like figure eights in honour of Princess Rebecca’s voice actress, Jamie-Lynn Sigler.

Bimuelos with Anise Syrup

— (adapted from The New York Times Cooking by Ana Sofía Peláez and Christina Morales)

FOR THE SYRUP

1 cup granulated sugar

1 whole star anise

1 cinnamon stick

1 (3-inch) strip lime peel

1 tablespoon lime juice

FOR THE BIMUELOS

½ pound peeled yuca (cassava), cut into 1-inch pieces, or precut frozen yuca

¼ pound peeled boniato (sweet potato), cut into 1-inch pieces

¼ pound peeled malanga (taro), cut into 1-inch pieces

¼ pound peeled ñame (Jamaican yam), cut into 1-inch pieces

1 tablespoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon whole anise seeds

¼ pound peeled calabaza (pumpkin or other winter squash), cut into 2-inch pieces

3 to 4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting

3 large eggs, beaten

2 cups canola oil

PREPARATIONS

Step 1

Prepare the syrup: In a saucepan, combine 2 cups water, granulated sugar, star anise, cinnamon stick and lime peel, and bring to a boil over medium high, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Reduce heat to a simmer, then cook until the mixture is thin and syrupy, 15 to 20 minutes. Off the heat, add the fresh lime juice. Let the syrup cool while you make bimuelos.

Step 2

Make the bimuelos: To a medium or large heavy pot, add the yuca, boniato, malanga, ñame, salt and anise seeds and enough cold water to cover. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce to a simmer, cover and cook for 10 minutes. Add the calabaza and cook, covered, until all the vegetables are tender, but not mushy, 10 to 15 minutes more, then drain in a colander.

Step 3

While the vegetables are still warm, press the vegetables through a ricer or food mill onto a large lightly floured surface or bowl. Form the mixture into a big mound, then make a well in the center. Pour the eggs into the well and use your hands (it will be sticky) to fully combine. Sift 3 cups flour, 1 cup at a time, over the dough and knead after each addition until it forms a smooth, soft dough that holds together. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons more flour if needed for the dough to come together.

Step 4

Cut the dough into 14 equal pieces, and transfer to a clean work surface. Roll each piece into a 16-inch rope about ½-inch-thick. Moisten one end of the rope with a little water, shape it into a figure eight, then press the ends together. Transfer to a sheet pan lightly dusted with flour.

Step 5

In a 10-inch skillet, heat the canola oil over medium-high until it reaches 375 degrees. If you don’t have a deep-fry thermometer, you can test the oil by dropping in a bit of dough. If the oil is hot enough, it will float to the top right away. Working in batches of 2 or 3 (don’t crowd the pan), carefully add the bimuelos to the oil, and fry until they are golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil. Spoon the syrup over the bimuelos and serve.

Serves 14 in total.

TIP

If using fresh yuca root, chop off each end and cut it into manageable pieces—yuca is very hard, so be careful. Use a knife or a vegetable peeler to remove the outer bark and the white, waxy layer beneath. Remove the woody core in the center before boiling. If using frozen yuca, remove the woody stem after the vegetables are drained in Step 2.

[desomniis]

Crimson, Gold and Azure Blue | Chapter 3 Excerpt

WIP | 3/? | 19,924 words | RWRB-inspired Charlos fic | Enemies to Lover | Fluff | Royalty AU

Before he knew it, they were walking into the stage smiling and waving at the audience. Cheers filled the studio as they made their way to the couch in front of the host, named Sofía, who wore a red dress. She greeted them both with a kiss on the cheek before they sat down on the prop couch. Behind the blinding light of the studio, he could see the faint outlines of the audience carrying banners with Carlos’ name emblazoned on them. The Royal guards and his carabiniers formed a barrier between the audience and them. 

He felt Carlos scooting closer to him, his arm slung around his back, their legs touching. The prop couch was big enough for five people. Charles felt warmth spread through his cheeks. It must be the lights. Yes, the lights.

As the host started the interview he can’t help but fixate on Carlos’ face. Too close, too much, too… beautiful. His big brown eyes sparkled like amber, Lashes fluttered delicately with every blink, lips red as crimson. He wondered how it would feel to—What was he thinking? The interview, yes, his lines … But Carlos’ lips, they look plusher and fuller than pillows, softer than silk. The hairs on his chest made a teasing appearance through his unbuttoned shirt. No, Focus. He should focus. He can’t miss his cues. But those big brown eyes look even better staring directly at him.

Wait, why was he staring at him?

Carlos nudged Charles’ back a little too aggressively. “She’s asking about the wedding,” Carlos hissed through his smile.

“Oh yeah, Thank you for the question, Sofía,” Charles said as he proceeded to reply as scripted. “First and foremost, let me start by congratulating Prince Alejandro and Princess Martha…” Charles had recited his lines flawlessly, and the interview was going according to plan. He was ready to get it over with, retrieve his belongings from the pavilion, fly back to Monaco and forget this trip ever happened. But just when he thought he could sail through the rest of the questions, Carlos decided to rock the boat.

Read the whole chapter here. Ask me questions!

[of-avalor]

Closed Starter: Royal to Royal (Sofía/Jason)

Sofía strutted through the school, waving flirtatiously at the girls she passed on her way to the cafeteria. She loved the attention of pretty girls. She slung her jacket over her shoulder and winked at a particular beauty.

The princess grabbed some food and headed over to a nearby table. "Hi, sweetie. Can I sit here?"

@frost-flower-child

[untxld-stxries]

nxttheendxfthestxry​:

“Well–” Maelona tries to sit up and start to explain it but the other waves her off and she stops, biting her lip and clearing her throat a bit. “Oh.”

She shrugs a bit. “I don’t know about that. I’m just a girl who happens to be used to the idea of spirits and such. What about you? I’m sure you’re far more interesting.”

Astrid rolled her eyes. The princess was such a useless lesbian.

Prue scoffed lightly, raising an eyebrow slightly and smirking. "Me? Interesting?" She leaned forward. "Sure, if you think that nightmare spirits are interesting." She chuckled dryly. "You know what I do in my spare time? I jump into people's nightmares, and I analyze them. Figure out what makes everyone tick."

She paused, letting that sit for a moment. "Grew up on the Isle, found out the Nightmare King's genes were a lot more powerful than a human's, and now I spend my time annoying ghosts, scaring the living, and dream hopping." She smirked a bit more. "That interesting?"

[spanishroyals]

I read that El País article and…wow. I have so much respect for Letizia. She hasn’t had it easy between the press, royal staff and even some of her own in laws and family working against her but she continues on. I think she’s more confident in her role now than ever before, working on causes she cares about and supporting Felipe and the girls in every way she can. It’s lovely to see her flourishing as Queen and although there will always be some who never like or accept her I think more and more people are seeing her in a different light.

I don't think we'll ever know what went on and I imagine it's much worse than what little is reported. The press has no incentive to uncover it since they were a fundamental part in the witch-hunt of Letizia. She will never talk since it would be a scandal that could only harm her daughters. I am just glad she was not "broken" and has been able to overcome it since her husband took the reins.

Honestly the in-laws are the worst of the lot, the others took their cues from them. The staff wouldn't have received the order to "briddle her" if it didn't come from the top, she was the Princess of Asturias. Thanks to Cristina's tax returns in her and Urdangarín's court case we know Letizia received less money than Elena and Cristina, who had very well paid jobs outside their royal roles and undertook very few official events while she was the future queen and a full-time royal.

Part of the press would have always been brutal, cruel and dehumanising, Letizia became royal at the begining of the golden age of trashy/tabloid tv and internet gossip. I don't think people outside Spain can grasp how big that industry was, the hours upon hours of gossip and "scandals". And Letizia was the perfect target, she never sued, the Royal Household never complained on her behalf, no matter what was said (and even fed the flames using friends of the family and staff (cough, secretary of Elena and Cristina, cough)). She is also, almost 20 years after her overnight celebrity, the most famous person in Spain. Press and photo agencies say that her photos are always the best-sellers, fashion and jewelry brands state that no matter what famous Spaniard (Rosalía, actresses, influencers) wear their stuff, it's nothing compared to the sales and reach as when Letizia wears it. And we're talking of a (almost) 50 year old who's been in the spotlight for 20 years and has two teenage daughters. So of course the press was going to exploit her image but in the last years, since she became Queen and they purged Zarzuela you can see the shift in the media coverage. The big narratives (that she's cold, rigid, overprotective of her daughters, is not royal 24/7) still prevail and Hola magazine, the royal magazine in Spain, is dismissive because they used to enjoy direct communication with Sofía sr. and Juan Carlos (they gave Corinna a cover and an interview while she was JC's mistress, a total wtf moment) and miss their access and their old masters who still try to put out their narratives. But in general the tone is much milder and less going for her jugular.

[ronniemacswan-mills]

Rules: we’re snooping in your playlist. put your entire music library on shuffle and list the first 10 songs and then choose 10 victims.

I was tagged by @slytherincarmilla

So I have 300 songs in my I love list from spotify. Here we go!!

1 Defying Gravity - Idina Menzel, Kristin Chenowith (You won't tell me I'm wrong singing this in the shower believing one thing 'Idina is singing about being a lesbian')

2 Girls just want to have fun - Cindy Lauper (I just love this song AND Finn sang this to Santana after she came out)

3 L.O.V.E. me - Hayley Kiyoko (are you kidding me? It's Hayley and it says 'So girl, don't tell me you love me If you don't really want me I'm working through my issues Yeah, I'm gonna kiss you In front of everybody that wants to be your honey If you have a problem, don't tell me you love me' So BIG feelings about SQ here...)

4 Casualidad - Sofía Reyes (I just love the 'ritmo and flow')

5 Fearless (Valiente duet) - Isabela Merced, Eiza (listen to it. It's a beautiful song about being who you are and being fearless and free)

6 Bad Reputation - Joan Jett & The Blackhearts (I'ts Joan Jett, I should not give explanations 'bout this)

7 The eulogy of you and me - LILHUDDY (I'll not talk about the lyrics but I really love the music and screaming the song out while jumping)

8 I'm the greatest star - Barbra Streisand ('Looking down you'll never see me. Try the sky cause that'll be me!' The title says it all and really want to see Funny girl and I already know most of the songs in it :c)

9 Kitchen light - Xana (She talks about being lesbian and in love with a girl who is yet to make up her mind and I love it)

10 Happy together - King Princess (I'll just say that when found out King Princess had made a cover for the song that was theme in 'Imagine me & you' I yelled and since I love the song cause that was my first lesbian movie and I love it)

Most of them are queer so I'm happy JAJAJA. Literally you guys, my music library is full of almost everything. I have everything from ranchers to mariachi to pop to rock to musicals to a lot of things. So yeah hahaha

tagging @morrilladaily @fuckyes-swanqueen @swanqueensalad @reginasknight94 @emmaswcns @notreallysuresq @queen-ofgaypanic @notenotenotenote @mcpercky @insanetwin @italymystery-swanqueen

[felipeandletizia]

Leonor and Sofia will visit a house museum and a socio-educational project in Mallorca with the King and Queen

Don Felipe and doña Letizia will also visit Menorca and Ibiza in their most atypical summer

Since the decision of Don Juan Carlos to move out of Spain was announced last Monday, the expectation around the Royal House has been at a maximum. While we await to know his destination, all the lights have already moved to the island of Mallorca where the King, the Queen and their daughters, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía, begin this Friday a summer period that will be very different from all those they have experienced since Felipe VI was proclaimed King in the Cortes Generales. This will be the first days of the Royal Family in the Balearic Islands in a summer marked by the health crisis and the departure of Don Juan Carlos.

As expected, the schedule that the Royal House has just shared confirms that their majesties and their daughters will continue the line of work they have been doing since the state of alarm ended in Spain. The traditional posing and the reception of the authorities in the Almudaina Palace won't be happening, but the King and Queen will attend various institutional events with the regional, island and local authorities and will have direct contact with different sectors of society in support of the productive activity, projects of social interest, culture or tourism.

Monday, August 10

Felipe VI will start the morning with an audience at the La Almudaina Palace where he will receive the authorities, including the President of the Government of the Balearic Islands, Francina Armengol. In the afternoon, already in the company of Queen Letizia and their daughters, they will make a cultural visit to the Birth House and Museum of Fray Junípero Serra, in Petra (Mallorca). There they will be able to enjoy a home that is an example of a traditional house and delve into the history of the Franciscan religious who starred in the exploration and Christianization of California in the 18th century.

Tuesday, August 11

King Felipe, Queen Letizia, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía will visit the Naüm socio-educational project, in the Son Roca neighborhood of Palma, which has been operating since 2000 to promote the integral growth of children and young people.

Wednesday, August 12

Felipe VI will have an office meeting at the Marivent Palace with Pedro Sánchez, President of the Government.

Thursday, August 13

The King and Queen will head to the island of Menorca. Don Felipe and Doña Letizia will visit the production plant of Coinga (a livestock cooperative) in Alaior in the morning and meet with representatives of the Mahón cheese Denomination of Origin.

In the following week the King and Queen are scheduled to visit the island of Ibiza. Once their stay in Palma de Mallorca comes to an end, on August 18, they will return directly to the Palacio de la Zarzuela in Madrid, instead of enjoying a few days of private vacations in an unknown place, as they used to before.

[untxld-stxries]

"It's more like a regular annoyance at this point," Sofía sighed. "Truthfully, I feel like many of us simply accept that it happened and move on with our lives."

Mara rolled her eyes a little. "She's able to compartmentalize everything. Ignore her." She smiled, giggling. "You'll get used to things being chaotic around here, though."

untxld-stxries​:

“Wait, hang on.” Mara held up her hands. “Are you telling us you’re the daughter… of Santa? Actual Santa?”

Sofía shrugged, smiling. “I think she said her last name was St. North, so really, I’m not very surprised.”

“You’re never surprised.”

“Sometimes I’m surprised.” Sofía giggled, smiling sweetly at Winter. “I’m sure you’ll enjoy being around here. Although, I should say that you should be a little… prepared. This place isn’t exactly known for staying on the good side of the balance.”

Mara nodded. “There’s a villainous takeover once every few months, but they don’t last very long. I think the longest recent one was… Audrey?”

Winter laughs and nods. “I am, though he’s also known as Nicholas St. North. My dad’s one of the Guardians of Childhood.”

She pauses and frowns a bit, looking worried at that description. “Goodness, that’s… problematic. Both that it happens, and that it happens often enough that you come to expect it and warn new students about it.”

[pirates-and-art-no-apologies]

A Different Kind Of Talk

(@armanda-lucia-salazar I am operating as though this is a separate universe. I own Sofía, but in this story, she’s an only child. Not that something happened to Carolina, just operating with my own OC cause I wanted to experiment with something. Also, in this story Sofía is 9, not 5)

Guillermo Lesaro was experiencing something that was not common for him, and he wasn’t sure if he could handle it if things didn’t go well. He was scared. He hated feeling scared, weak or helpless.

He had arranged things carefully and meticulously, but... he was still terrified that it would all be for nothing. It had to go perfectly.

But, the worst part was that there was a lot about this he couldn’t control. He couldn’t make anyone be happy about this, but he couldn’t bare the thought of anyone hating each other either.

“Are you alright Gui?” Armando asked from the seat next to him. He looked at Lesaro with concern written across his features. “Y-yes, I’m... I’m just a little nervous is all.” Mando just smiled at him, “Oh come now, it will be fine. I don’t see how this could possibly go wrong.”

Lesaro groaned. Why did he have to say that. Now something was definitely going to go wrong!

They arrived at Lesaro’s house a few minutes later, and they climbed out of the carriage. As soon as the carriage began to pull away, the door to the house opened and Sofía came running out to greet him. Even with his nerves, Lesaro couldn’t help the smile that crossed his face as he leaned down and returned the hug.

“Welcome home, daddy! How was your trip? Who’s this man? Is he a friend from work? Did you kill a lot of pirates? I missed you so much!” Guillermo just laughed! She was such an energetic child, always had been.

“You’ve met him before mija. The trip was long, but successful. We killed many pirates!” He picked her up with a bit of effort as he spoke. Reminded that his daughter was still growing every day, even if he wasn’t here to watch it happen.

“This is my friend, Armando. Don’t you remember? He is the Capitán of the ship I work on. Can you say hello?” “Oh, right! Hi! Nice to see you again.” Armando was grinning like an idiot and fighting a laugh at her infectious energy, but didn’t forget his manners. With a little bow, he answered, “Well, hello there niña. It is very nice to see you again.”

His bow earned a giggle from Sofía, and a smile from her father. “Alright, let’s go inside shall we? Dinner shouldn’t be too long and I’m getting too old to be carrying you around mija.”

Armando didn’t bother to hide his laughter this time and it quickly got he and Sofía laughing too. Thankfully, Armando was more than happy to keep Sofía entertained while Guillermo went upstairs to unpack. He came back downstairs to find them playing very well together. The sight was so endearing that he ended up stopping partway down the stairs just to take it in a little longer.

Soon after though, dinner was ready and they all sat down to eat.

Much of dinner was spent hearing what Sofía had been up to since he was last at home. Every now and then he’d catch little glances from Armando that bordered on impatience, but he tried to ignore them. He understood why, and knows Armando is right; he shouldn’t keep stalling, but...

Instead he decides to continue the conversation with Sofía out of genuine interest and manners, ...at least, that’s what he told himself. Really, he was just afraid to start the conversation Armando was waiting for.

After dinner, Sofía ran upstairs to grab a painting she had made while her Papi had been away. As soon as she left the room, Armando turned to Lesaro and gave him a stern but sad look. “Gui? Are you ever going to tell her?”

Lesaro looked away from his gaze in shame. “I-I will, it’s just... what... what if she’s not happy about it?” Mando’s gaze turned sympathetic and he reached across the table to hold Lesaro’s hand. “We will never know, if we never ask her, querido.”

Smiling, Lesaro lets out a sigh, “Sí, Mando, I know you are right. I’m just... scared...” “Of what? A 9-year old?” “Yes. Wait! No! That’s not-...ughhhh.” Armando chuckles. “You aren’t helping.” “I know, I’m sorry. Look, Gui. I know you are scared, but I promise you it will be okay. Do you want me to leave the room when you tell her? Or do you want me to stay?”

“I-I don’t know... I’m not sure if-“ “Papiiii!” Lesaro quickly retracted his hand from Armando’s and put on a smile for his little princess. “Hello there mija! What a lovely painting that is!”

After about 15 minutes, Armando ran out of patience and decided to play dirty. “Sofía, your father has something he wants to talk to you about.” He eyes Lesaro’s now terrified face with his calm, but smug one.

Before anything can be said, he leaves the room so he has no other option, but to talk to her.

“What do you want to talk about?” Her eyes are big and full of happy curiosity as she eagerly waits for his answer.

After taking a deep, shaky breadth, he turns to look at her. “Y-yes, I-... Mija, do you... what do you think of Armando?”

She tilts her head and pauses a moment before speaking, “I like him. He’s nice and has a fun laugh. Why?”

“W-well... what would you say if I told you, that, I like him too?” “Well, it wouldn’t make sense if you were friends and didn’t like him.” “N-no mija...” he takes a very deep breadth. “I... love Armando... and... I would like him to stay and... be a part of our family... you... you could have a second padre... what... what do you say?”

At first, she’s confused. Slowly, recognition seeps in and her little eyes go wide in understanding. “Ooohhhh... hmmm...”

As Sofía collects her thoughts and tries to further comprehend what her father just told her, she unknowingly makes her father very anxious. As he waits, he delves into his own thoughts and starts to fear the worst.

“Okay.” “Wait! What-what did you say, mija?” “I said ‘okay’.” “Okay...what?” “You asked me what I say to him being a second padre, and I said ‘okay’. I would like that.”

Guillermo’s heart stopped, and, for a moment, he completely stopped breathing. Did she just say ‘yes’. He had no idea what to do now. He’d spent days thinking about what to do if she said she wasn’t okay with it. Thinking over all the possible reasons she would be uncomfortable and how to change her mind, but, now,... what was he supposed to do? He was completely unprepared for this turn of events.

“Papi? Are you okay?” Without a response from Guillermo, she asked louder, “Papi?! Papi answer me!” “Guillermo? What’s going on in here?” “I don’t know. He won’t answer.”

Armando suddenly came into his field of view and shook him lightly. Eventually, he ended up having to lightly smack him to snap him out of his trance.

“Ah! A-Armando? What-?” “Are you alright, Gui?” “Y-yes I-“ then he remembered why he’d been frozen and he tackled Armando in a crushing hug, “She said yes, Mando! She said Yes!!”

“W-what?... she-? She did? Amor! That’s Wonderful!” Immediately Armando was kissing Guillermo fervently, barely giving him any chance to breathe.”

“Ummmm... Papi?” Quickly, he pulled away from Mando, earning him an eye roll from the other man, and remembered the little 9-year-old was still in the room. “Oh! Ummm... sorry Cariño.” Lesaro couldn’t look her in the eyes, a light blush dusting his face in embarrassment.

He only looked at her again when he heard her giggling, “Wow, Papi. You really do like him!”

Armando barked out a laugh and couldn’t seem to stop. The situation too happy, too wonderful for words. Soon, Guillermo and Sofía were joining him.

All the anxiety Guillermo had been building for the past week or so was completely gone now. His mind finally free to ponder the wonderful future that awaited them.

Sitting up, Lesaro held a hand out to his little girl, “Come here, mija. Come give your new Papi a hug.” Armando easily hoisted the little girl into his arms and, shouldering her to one side, used his now free arm to pull Lesaro into the hug as well.

Armando ended up staying the night, and Guillermo had never slept so peacefully in his life. Everything was just... perfect.

@piratesangel @ninjacat1515 @mysticalgalaxysalad

[of-avalor]

Well, hello milady. It's nice to see you outside of regular functions of course, and you still look as ravishing as always. (David)

"David, it's so wonderful to see you. And it seems to me like you still haven't yet met that one person who might just deliver a nice swift strike to your face. How have you been?"

@muchstrongerthanforever

[untxld-stxries]

Closed Starter: Hello Beautiful (Sofía/Sabrine)

Sofía opened her locker, smiling at the mirror inside. "Hello, beautiful." She propped her books up on a shelf and grabbed one of her lip glosses, humming to herself. It was a good day to be gorgeous, and to be in a school full of gorgeous people. The princess slowly applied the gloss, pressed her lips together, and winked at her reflection. "Absolutely ravishing, as always."

Gathering her books for her next class, she closed her locker and turned to head off, stopping dead in her tracks as she nearly ran into someone. Sofía smiled. "Oh, my apologies. I don't know how I could've nearly missed such a beautiful face."

@ruby-slippxrxd

[untxld-stxries]

Sofía took deep breaths, stabilizing herself. "That... that was... that was horrible." She looked over at Charissa, shuddering, nodding to what Sarah said. "Nothing in that spell was good, or light, or anything you'd expect from... the queen of fairies. That..." She shuddered again, closing her eyes. Nope.

"What's going on in here?" Prue asked, materializing on the edge of a shadow. Crystal appeared in a puff of black smoke, trembling still, trying to look like she hadn't been crying.

"James was correct," Sofía said quietly. "I don't... want to dwell on that. We have a much bigger problem now."

Crystal nodded, clearing her throat. "And that problem is getting to Ben before the fairy does. Prue... filled me in. Let's go. Now."

themagicwxmade​:

“Mom, no!”, Charissa shouted at the image, unable to see the futility of her attempt. Before she knew it, the images conjured by the scepter had faded away and she was standing there, holding back her tears as to not be seen crying in front of the others. Another habit that her mother had instilled in her from a young age. A princess is dignified and serene. She doesn’t show her sorrows or her weaknesses.

She turned into pixie dust and flew away to another room, where no one else would see her.

How’s this for dignified, Mother? Charissa thought as the windows around her shattered, sending shards of glass all around her.  She leaned on a wall for support and started crying. 

Charissa wasn’t unfamiliar with the bitter taste of betrayal but this was the last place she’d ever expected it to come from. Her own mother, who had been her mentor and confidante. Who had shaped her entire life up until the takeover. The takeover that she had indirectly caused.

But, of course, Charissa’s been oblivious to it all along. And the entirety of her realm suffered because of it. 

She wasn’t sure how much time she’d spent there, but eventually, she wiped away her tears and flew back. This was far from over- she’d have to confront her mother sooner or later and tell the fairies what had happened. But for now, she had to go and fix the mistakes made that night. Or at the very least, try to. 

She appeared again with the others, giving them half a smile. There was no point pretending she was alright- they could all guess what she was feeling right now. But she could still put on a brave face. The moon fairy outside wasn’t going to wait for her, anyhow. 

“Thank you, Sofia,” she said. Then, turning to the boy, she added, “I’m sorry for what happened to Tayen and Celena, James. I am fully determined to help you fix my mother’s mistakes.”

James flinches, closing his eyes and reaching up to cover his ears–

And it’s over. And it’s over and it’s quiet, too quiet again, and James just shakes his head to himself and picks up his pencil that was sitting on the table by Mackenzie, tapping it absently against the table.

Of course he knew it was bad. Of course. But… but shit, that was–

And he looks up when Charissa comes back, still drumming his pencil against the table, shaking his head and clearing his throat. “I’m sorry about your mom. I know it’s… not easy to have someone in that kind of place in your life betray you like that.”

He winces. “Bad word choice. Very bad word choice. I’m sorry. I meant, I– I’m gonna shut up, I’m only gonna make it worse.”

[fastbending]

Castor Arbore 41, Minister of the Interior High Court Executioner, Loyalist

Eye in the sky manipulating puppet strings of mortal man; widow-maker who made himself a widower; mercenary morals beneath trappings of the divine; the wolf at the door; light touch and hot breath; murder to the nth degree. See also: the chessmaster / fully-embraced fiend / deadpan snarker / dark messiah / cry for the devil / enemy mine / freudian excuse / red right hand /  pragmatic villainy / badass in a nice suit / bigger is better in bed.

Haniyah Bikri Akemi Sato 29, Pipeline Crew, Outsider

Grease on her cheek and sniper rifle on her shoulder; concentrated chaos; legs for days; the kind of girl who expresses adoration with a swift kick to the teeth; no one’s princess; always the cavalry, never the call. See also: combat pragmatist / kick them while they’re down / the “hey, you!” haymaker / too clever by half / the unfettered / big badass rig / family-unfriendly aesop / tsundere / real women don’t wear dresses.

Ozma Valentine 26, Private Detective, Skeptic

Unlit cigars gnawed down to nubs; trench-coat and fedora aesthetic; calculating eyes and a healthy dose of universal suspicion; heart of gold still beating stubbornly in caged chest; never one to deny a damsel in distress. See also: unkempt beauty / took a level in cynic / hardboiled detective / broken pedestal / alone in a crowd / determinator / failure knight / guile hero / cartwright curse / defector from decadence / scrap heap hero.

Aesop Leventis 25, Revolutionary, Heretic

Science experiment gone wrong; the monster to his father’s Frankenstein; asylum escapee hiding like rat in hole; most expensive piece of equipment to go missing yet; basically Pietro Maximoff meets Jaime Lannister, complete with trigger warning sister-love. See also: schizotech / suicidal cosmic temper tantrum / collector of the strange / talking appliance sidekick / cut his heart out with a spoon / troubled but cute / a match made in stockholm / don’t you dare pity me.

Sofía Sueiro 20, Courtesan, Civilian

Sad smiles and secondhand finery; coy looks over gently rounded shoulders; anyone’s for a night, for the right price; no one’s at all, no matter the cost; luxury goods, bought and sold; worth every penny; dreams not dead but simply hung to dry, like roses, or pressed between pages of a fading memory. See also: never a self-made woman / politeness judo / fille fatale / silk hiding steel / lipstick and load / be a whore to get your man / parasol of pain / show some leg / bullet-proof fashion plate.