#sam switch au

[narnour-momo-007]

dumping stuff made for @mack-timelines 's AU part 1

[swiggity-swexual-i-am-asexual]

Reminder for the dpxdc writers!

Yeah I know lots of us get canon and fanon confused and some never watched Danny Phantom which is why I’m going to *friendly remind everyone* that if you don’t want to use the Ghost King Danny thing, it’s—it’s fanon. Like. You do not need to go out of your way to make it Not A Thing, if you find it’s hindering your plot line or whatever. You don’t have to write around it. At this point, you might need to clarify it’s not something you’re doing, since it’s so common, but like—if I have to read one more plot where they’re twisted up in knots to avoid it, like. Pls. You can do what you want and that includes this, we already disregard canon all the time, you can buck common fanon as well I’m—

That’s not to say I’m against Ghost King Danny, but I’m starting to think it’s one of those things people are afraid to stray from because they think it’s it’s one of the more… pillar parts? Of Danny’s character and canon? When it’s, like, not. If you want to write in reasons why he’s not king and etc etc you CAN, it’s your story and maybe it even serves your plot or tone or you just want to, but you can also just not even have it be a consideration. You’re free to just not do it.

[brucewaynehater101]

Supernatural AU with the Batfam

Bruce Wayne is pretty much John Winchester. An absolute piece of garbage that raises his children to fight his war against the supernatural creatures that stole his parents from him. He is a negligent, abusive asshole.

When Dick is 9, the Graysons fall from the interference of some creature (any ideas?). Bruce, upon seeing a kid that he can train and that has the same vengeance against the supernatural as him, takes him in. He doesn't need legal documents since he forges all of his anyway.

When Dick is 16, they meet 11 year old Jason Todd. At first, Dick hates the kid. It's hard enough surviving Bruce's training on his own. It's worse when he has to take care of someone else. By the time Jason is 13, Dick is old enough to go to college. He leaves Jason behind (which causes some tension and guilt). Jason still dies at 15. He goes to hell like Dean did. When he gets pulled from hell by Cass (Cassandra Wayne), neither of them inform anyone. Cass is still with the LoA (a cult) because her body is still being raised as a vessel for her.

Barbara is the daughter of a family of hunters. After an incident with the demon Joker, she runs the worldwide network for hunters (with a focus on US).

Tim joins after Jason dies, and this causes Dick to drop out of college to look after him (and the grief of losing Jason was too much).

Alfred is Bobby and doesn't get to see the kids as much as he wants to.

As far as Bruce's no killing rule, he applies that to humans, verifiably sentient creatures, and beings on their first life. If they can't be reasoned with due to the creature's incapability to communicate, then they can be killed. Ghosts and such can also be eradicated. All others he locks up. He also is extremely against killing beings if doing so causes harm to bystanders. His contention around older Jason stems from the kid's willingness to kill sentient creatures (sending Joker back to hell isn't keeping him from crawling back out).

[alex-issad]

Here's a blurb about bloodmoon. I already posted this in a reblog but I wanted to put this in the master post for SWaS.

[killertoons]

Working on some more imp wally but the real question....

Is should it be the cute?

Or the s p o o k y?

[valhallavalgrace]

‼️ mod, like rick riordan, reserves the right to adjust universe logic and previously established lore as convenient for them ‼️ if ur seeing this it probably is not the first or last time I've changed something on a previous post retroactively, or otherwise am about to create an inconsistency ‼️ srry ‼️

[dannyphantomiscool]

Arcane AU... either a full-on AU where events take place in the Undercity with Piltover, or just an alternate history where Amity Perk like. fell into a chasm a century ago or something and This happened

[apollos-boyfriend]

hear me out,

[godsprettiestprincess]

I’m imagining Lucifer looks like Nick in this btw, but specifically fluid (however real Nick looks at the time) so he starts out as a teenagerish and grows up with Sam.

(He showed up looking like Sam at first and got lectured about it being creepy, and the same with looking like Mary (though with more crying), until Sam pointedly asks if there isn’t anyone else he could look like and Lucifer casts around in the bloodline for a bit before finding teenage Nick and going 👀)

[sailorsenshishitposter]

Why Mario Party is always a bad idea

After the disaster that was last week, it was decided that group trips would only be allowed if Armstrong knew about the plans before hand. Even then it would still be his call to allow such an event happening. There was also the matter of needing certain members to be chaperoned after that codec incident. Armstrong sat at his desk and flung everything off of it like he was participating in a Neil Breen movie. The man sighed and lit a cigar. "Christ, what in the hell am I supposed to do now!?"

As he sat down trying to contemplate tomorrow's lesson he heard a strange voice coming out of the hall. Not this shit again! He ran and knocked down the door, confirming his suspicions. He was face to face? (Helmet?) with his employee. "Damn it Monsoon, how many times have I told you to keep it down in here!" The cyborg tried to protest but it was no use. Armstrong would not tolerate the Japanese and their "Hatsoone meekoos" anymore. He took the switch (controllers and dock included) and his massive binder of cartridges.

"You'll get these back at the end of the week. Now go to bed or do something that doesn't keep the entire building up!" Armstrong then opened the door and slammed it as he left. The cyborg let out a chuckle. "Anger, what an exquisite meme! For now I shall return to r/atheism!" And with that he zoomed to his gaming PC. Armstrong placed the console down and tried to massage his massive forehead bump. To be frank, he still had no idea for what he was going to do for tomorrow's lesson plan. Maybe he should just have everyone take the day off?

He opened the binder and cringed in disgust, remembering an incident with Sundowner. The man had to be taken to the operating table because he was curious why the cartridges tasted sour. It's not that they were poisonous to him, just that he decides to see how many he could eat before Monsoon cut him apart, demanding his game collection back or he would "cut them out" himself. Unfortunately they needed the Alabama man alive and couldn't risk his Cambodian boyfriend to play operation.

Armstrong flipped through the pages. "What is all this degenerate garbage? It's deseased, rotten to the core!" He kept looking until he spotted something familiar. "Ah, good old Mario. I remember you back from my collage days. Time does sure fly by!" He took a closer look. "Mario ... Party? Huh, never heard of it." Since there was no box (another relic from his days of youth) he picked up one of his laptops that somehow hadn't been smashed to oblivion and turned it on. After using Google he found out that it was an up to four multiplayer game. "Hmm. This gives me an idea."

It was now the next day and all four winds of destruction eagerly awaited their next assignment while waiting for their boss to arrive. The door opened and everyone settled down as Armstrong made his way to the front of the room. "Today's lesson plan will involve something different. I've realized that you all need a teambuilding exercise and should learn how to work together successfully. That is why I have brought out this." He took the contents out of the bag and placed them on the table.

"MY SWITCH!" Monsoon cried as he pointed his finger towards said item. "Oh boy!" piped Sundowner. "Do we get to eat anymore of those fancy chips?" The rest of the team all turned towards him and stared silently. Mistral started whispering to Sam. "He knows they're not actual potato chips right....?"  Suddenly Armstrong slammed his fists down. "I can't deal with this shit again! Look, I'm offering you all the chance to play Mario Party and you can take it or leave it. Which is it going to be?"

"Mario Party...." Their boss let out a laugh. "That's what I thought." Armstrong had no idea how the console worked so he handed it to Monsoon who was overjoyed to not have his device manhandled by giant hulk fists. Everything was ready to go except for the fact that there wasn't a television. Sam then stood up. "Don't worry, I'll take care of this." He leaped out the window and ran to the nearest Wal-Mart and bought one of their HDTV's. He raced back, carrying the electronic like it weighed no more than someone casually carrying their bag. "Here goes nothing!" He then proceeded to double jump to the height of their floor and launch himself into the open window. Monsoon used his magnetism to stop the television from crashing into the wall while Sam gently landed on his plush cheeks. The older man looked down at him. "How can you be so reckless?!" Sam pushed his hair aside. "Hey, I got the TV here in one piece didn't I?"

Everything was now set up and the group listened to the little jingle play as their boss sat down and tried to look through his cooking magazine. All four controllers were paired and now it was time to choose what character they would play as. Sundowner looked at Mistral and started to giggle. "What is it now?" The man tried to contain himself. "I bet a girlie like you is gonna pick peach!" Just then someone chose peach but it wasn't who he expected. "Sam, what the hell are ya playin' as a woman for?!" The other man grinned. "What can I say? I love the ladies and I've got an ass like a peach." Sundowner didn't have a response to that. Next thing he knew and Mistral had chosen Donkey Kong. "NOOOOOOOOO! I WANNA BE THA ONE TA GO APESHIT!" He was humiliated and now would have to choose another character. "Hey Monsoon! Let's be allies, whaddaya say! I'll be Wario and you Waluigi!" He looked at the man, desperate to have an advantage. "Sorry but you knew it was survival of the fittest when you started dating me." Then he chose Birdo.

"D'oh!" Sundowner then chose Wario while letting a single tear shed. No one knew which level to pick so they just kept it to default (Yoshi's Tropical Island). As they were going over the options, Sundowner had hoped they would keep the handicap mode on but there was no chance in hell that was happening. "What game mode should we choose guys?" Mistral voted for N64 (of course someone with multiple hands would have no problem playing with that kind of controller) while Monsoon picked GameCube. The Alabama man didn't have a particular choice but he was interested in carrying around his boyfriends head like the console he had chosen. In the end no one could agree so Sam chose the default settings.

Now it was time to roll the dice. Mistral scored a ten, while Monsoon rolled a seven. Sam had gotten a five and Sundowner... He had ended up with one. "I'M GONNA SPLIT THAT MUSHROOM SON OF A BITCH IN TWO!" Mistral then told him that it was just a game and that he needed to calm down. Oh well. At least they all started off with the same amount of coins. None of the rolls were particularly interesting yet. Then the first mini game appeared. "Hot rope jump?" It was everyone against each other so they would have to do their best. Sundowner chuckled and thought it would be no problem. The challenge started and he immediately lost. "HEY, MY FINGER SLIPPED! I DEMAND A REMATCH!" Everyone groaned. "It's kill or be killed! And you're the one who said you didn't need to try the practise option!"

That thankfully shut him up.  Sundowner then started snapping his fingers near Mistral's ears, causing her to lose. "BOSS!" Armstrong wasn't pleased to be woken up from his nap. "Strike one. Two more and it goes off!" That just left Monsoon and Sam who seemed evenly matched. "Give it up Sam! You know you can't beat a true gamer!" The Brazilian man gave a hearty laugh. "Oh please, I can do this all day!" He then tapped the button with so much speed that Peach began to double jump. Monsoon was stunned. "Wait what-" and then he had lost the match. "How did you do that?" Sam was confused. "Are you telling me that you guys can't double jump?" Sundowner then yelled at them to start the next round.

The rest of the game had gone rather well for Mistral, Monsoon and Sam. Sundowner on the other hand... He had landed on countless red spots, losing all of his coins. The one time that he had managed to get to a star before the others and he was flat out broke. He had also lost every mini game, the rest of the team joining up to make him lose when they could. Things could still change though. He finally managed to grab enough coins for one of the last stars. He then bought it and began to cackle. "I'M FUCKIN' INVINCIBLE!" The rest of the team didn't really care, already owning multiple at this point. It was eventually Monsoon's turn when the man decided to do some particularly cruel. He chose to use an item he had been saving. But not just any item.

Sundowner began to scream. "NO BABE, WAIT! PLEASE DON'T DO THIS I BEG OF YA!" It was too late. He had just stolen Sundowners star. The man looked up at his boyfriend, heartbroken. "Why....?" Monsoon went down on one knee and began to cradle his face. "War is a cruel parent but an effective teacher. It's final lesson is carved deeply in my psyche." Mistral and Sam had enough. "JUST GET ON WITH IT NERD!" The cyborg stuck his tongue out at them. "I'm doing this for your own good. You need to become stronger. Mario isn't even a real person!" Sundowner looked up at everyone with tears in his eyes. "Wait, he's not!?" Mistral then punched Monsoon with one of her many arms. "Way to go asshole! We've been keeping that a secret from him but now you've ruined it!" The man was confused. "I'm afraid I don't understand." Then they heard a loud crash and noticed Sundowner taking his rage out on the TV. "That's why." said Sam.

And with that Armstrong decided he would be banning anything Mario related from headquarters along with Cherry trees.

[amphiptere-art]

CC

Eclipses have always been the ones who take the longest to change so. Give him time.

I’m actually surprised in you Sun

BiM let's go.

Why's sunny one there?

Going!

Oh! Bye bye sunny one!

Sigh. Give him time. Some people like complacency.

I don't. I just want things to change. For everything to feel normal for once.

I could check on your arm while you're here? Exercise it's motor functions.

Sure.

[thesoulspulse]

Sad to say, but Danielle has every right to feel paranoid since things are slowly being set into motion that will change her life forever. The question is, are these changes good? Or will they only make things worse...? But for now she’s just happy about getting the unexpected opportunity to become a lot closer to Vallen as a friend (possibly more) and that’s enough for now.

[ramp-it-up]

Just because. 🤗

Queen of Heaven

Pairing: Mob Boss! Bucky x Sex Club Owner! Reader

Word Count: 4K +

A/N:  This comes directly after Carnivores, Vegans, and Boy Scouts, Oh My! This is in the This Thing Of Ours AU

Warnings: As usual 18+ ONLY; MINORS DNI. Not Beta’d, all errors my own. Woman centered Sex club, graphic depictions of sex acts, ex-free-use Sharon Carter, voyeurism, fantasies, kinks, fetishes, choking, breath play, masturbation, bi-sexual proposition, dp, sex with multiples, Switch reader, definite dom/sub play, oral sex (m/f recieving) use of pain as pleasure, Switch Bucky, restraints, slapping, spitting, explicit talk of topping Bucky, orgasm denial, cum play, use of ‘Puppy’ pet name.  Basically reader turns Bucky out, lol. This is PWP.

I no longer operate a taglist. Follow @rampitupandread to be notified when I post.        

I Do NOT consent to my work being reposted, translated or presented on any other blog or site other than by myself.

Two weeks after his first meeting with you, Bucky and Sharon Carter rolled up to a Tribeca hotel in a black SUV. His driver, Robbie, was also protection for his date tonight.

Robbie parked and Bucky stepped out, then went around and opened the other door for the blonde, who stepped out to reveal a black mini dress and steep black red bottoms. Bucky could tell that she wasn’t wearing anything else, and although it was intended to be alluring, it had no effect on Bucky.

But he played the game, smiling at her smirk as they headed into the lobby. 

“This is way outside of your wheelhouse, isn’t it Bucky? Are you sure you are not trying to give it a go again?”

Sharon turned toward Bucky and looked up at him.

Bucky stepped back and cleared his throat, establishing a boundary.

“Sharon, we talked about ground rules before we came. No. We are not giving “it” a go again. If that is a problem for you, we don’t need to go in here. Robbie can take you home. I’ll find another way to get in.”

Keep reading

[alex-issad]

It's like midnight but here, have a SWaS bloodmoon ref sheet.

[im-just-a-dumb-gay]

Ramble about Jem Au

Drama! When Ecliese/Pizzazz finds out RoxCee/Reaper and Scthye are their half siblings and her mother stayed in the city. (Nothing like this happened in Jem btw. This is specifically for this au. Initially Roxcee and Pizzazz weren't related but the idea popped up so made this scenario)

(Gonna actually try to write a thing).

Ecliese ran out of the studio, hearing voices behind her but she wouldn't look back. She kept running until she found a storage area filled with nothing but boxes. Most of them being old papers and small office equipment. Ecliese closed the door and breathed loudly. Their mother, their mother was in the studio.

Ecliese gritted her teeth. Why, why now did she decide to show herself?! Never in the past (forgot age mother left whoops) years did she think to talk? To show her face? To be her mother!

In her rage, Ecliese broke the boxes surrounded her. Why?! Why!! Why did she leave?! Why did she stay?! Why now?! Sobs broke from Ecliese and they slowly slid down to the floor, apparently and cardboard surrounding them. The door then slowly creaked open.

Jake was shocked at the arrival of Rox and Cee's parents, let alone the reveal of their mother being the missing mother of their leader Pizzazz. When they ran off, Jake looked between where she left and RoxCee. Eventually, leaving the two to talk it out with their mother.

He walked through the halls, looking at every room until finding an old storage room. Slightly opening the door, his heart froze at what lay before him. Pizzazz, their strong and ruthless leader, broken down on the floor. He walked towards them, kneeling beside them before gently speaking. "Pizzazz..."

Ecliese had heard Stormer, his footsteps not difficult to decipher with the idiotic shoes he decided to wear today. They jingled at each step, tacky. Ecliese wanted to stop her tears, to instead scream and rant like she normally did. But now they were tired, and crying seemed to be the only thing they could do. Pathetic. Then a usually loud and grating voice whispered. "Can I come in?" A small nod was given. Ecliese too tired to try and hide.

Initially, Ruin didn't want to be part of this drama. The other members knew Pizzazz longer than they did. But he'd be lying if he said he didn't care about The Misfits. What was initially a money and fame grab had actually become something treasured...something she didn't want to let go. And so she followed Stormer. Ruin never really dealt with crying, this was something Stormer would be much better at. Quite honestly, they was surprised Pizzazz let them enter.

Jetta seemed to be awkward. In any other situation, Ecliese would've laughed. Instead, she quietly watched Jetta eventually sit on the opposite side of Stormer. Stormer had one hand on Ecliese's shoulder while Jetta sat firmly, looking back at the door. The two were quiet. It stayed like this for a while until Jetta sat up, and 2 sets of footsteps were heard.

Reaper and Scythe were not expecting their mother to actually show up. She always found an excuse to never stop by or even attend backstage to their concerts no matter how much they assured her they allowed it. What was a pleasant surprise, however, turned sour. Now they realized the root of all her excuses. She didn't want to face Pizzazz. The two didn't know much about Pizzazz's mother. All her paintings were thrown out and neither Pizzazz nor their father spoke about her. It was if she disappeared. Except she didn't. She was here the whole time, she was their mother. At first, the two didn't know how to react. It was then Reaper who spoke up.

"Why did you lie to us?" Prompted, Schythe continued "Why did you keep this hidden?". Their mother then explained. Explained her loveless marriage and how she had to leave her old life behind. How she did initially want to leave further away, until she met their father and stayed with him. She had wanted to see Pizzazz again, but that she was afraid. And that her guilt became too strong to ignore and finally, after all these years, meet Pizzazz.

Reaper and Scythe were stunned. It was, a lot. To know that the mother they loved and cherished all these years, was the same mother Pizzazz would angrily shut down at the mere mention of her. "We need to find Pizzazz. It might be best...you're not here when we find them." Their mother simply nodded in understanding, initially going for an embrace before stopping herself and going through the door. The two then went in the direction where Pizzazz and later Stormer and Jetta left. Eventually they found an open door and walked in.

Ecliese braced themself. Much like thenself, RoxCee were never great with their emotions. Ecliese knew she must have made their mother cry. Before all this, the two would speak praises of their mother. Surely, they sided with her. It seemed Jetta had the same thought, getting ready to yell back. What they didn't expect, however, was an embrace. It was sudden and in any other occasion, the two would have been shoved off and yelled at. Instead, Ecliese accepted it. She knew what it meant, they were there for her...Stormer and Jetta then joined as well, the four holding their band leader close. Ecliese was never much for hugs and all that mush, but...maybe this could be the one exception. She gently closed her eyes and fell further in the embrace.

[thesundowncrew]

Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe...

For a ghoul who used to have trouble sleeping, Samhain had long mastered the methods and exercises to help him calm his mind enough to fall asleep. It was like meditating but letting go at the very end and letting oneself fall... fall... fall...

He had to keep reminding himself not to get caught up in the illusion. Not to trust whatever the creature showed him. Remember, Sam. It's just a dream. It's just a dream... a dream...

Remember the music box spirit, trapped. All alone with nothing but her thoughts and remnants of what used to be. Don't get caught up in the illusion, Sam. Don't get trapped... Don't fall... Don't... fall...

“Sammy!”

The forest air was crisp and sweet, carrying the smell of pine and earth and wildflowers. The sun was shining but it wasn't too hot, and the grass felt warm between his toes. His fingers curled, gripping bits of grass and soil in between them. He remembered this feeling... He remembered this voice...

As if he'd just woken up from a dream (Was he dreaming? He couldn't remember..) Sam's eyes fluttered open and he gave a great yawn (He must've been asleep for a while if he was yawning like that. How long had it been since he had such a nap on a day as perfect as this?)

“Sammy!”

He heard her again, this time as clear as a bell, though his eyes and head still felt heavy. It was when she got closer that Sam felt like a wave of cold water wash over his entire being, stirring himself up from his very core. Her hair. Her eyes. Her smile. Just as he remembers it...

“I heard it this time!”

Suddenly a pang of guilt stabbed him straight through his chest (But why? What was he guilty of? What had he done wrong?)

“The oldest tree! I heard it speaking.”

He grabbed at his chest. It was hurting. He couldn't breathe (This is wrong wrong wrong wrong Something's wrong...!!)

“Sammy..?”

He snaps his head towards her voice, Liore suddenly just inches away from him. Her wavy locks that always seem to fall in all the right places. Her eyes that glowed like ambers in the sunlight... “Sammy, you all right..?”

(Eyes...)

He studied her for a minute, eyes wide and unmoving. He reached out and cupped her face, with hands of flesh and skin. His thumb gently caressed her cheek, now flushed a rosy pink, and he could feel her breathe on his palm. He brushed the hair away from her eyes, earning a confused flutter of giggles from her. “Sammy, what's the matter with you?”

(Nothing. Nothing's the matter)

"Nothing. Nothing's the matter," he replied, as if on cue. Finally he smiled and Liore smiled in return, looking relieved.

Finally she tucked her hair behind her ear and offered Samhain her hand. “Wanna listen with me?”

"Sure."

-------------------

Back in Sundown, Nightshade felt restless. The moment Samhain bid her goodnight, she felt the hair on her neck stand on end.

Though the circumstances of their 'bonding' was not ideal, there were some upsides to having shared spirit essence with one another. Not only were they connected on a physical level but on an emotional and spiritual level as well. Whatever Samhain felt, Nightshade could feel it to a certain degree. And with her feline sixth senses doubling down, Nightshade could feel it now; something was definitely wrong.

"Ah fudgeknuckles..!"

“His name…? It started… with an L, I think... or maybe… a C? I don’t know… I can’t remember…”

These memories fragmented and slipped beyond her reach. The shadowy silhouettes on the stage grew fainter. Dust drifted from the curtains.

With a shiver, the spirit folded her legs to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. Weariness crept in again. Samhain spoke, but his words flitted away from her; and when a soft weight settled over her shoulders, she couldn’t quite process where it came from. The sensation seemed far away. Still, the girl pulled the blanket closer around herself on instinct, seeking any warmth and comfort it could offer.

“My mother… must be so worried…” Tears slipped down her cheeks. Heavy regret coiled in her chest where her heart once beat. The spirit leaned her forehead on her knees, her words shaky and broken. “I left her all alone… I didn’t even say goodbye…”

She didn’t notice when Samhain left. His presence had already faded from her awareness.

—

Feldmire waited outside Samhain’s door.

It had eavesdropped on the conversation at the dinner table. It heard Samhain reveal he wasn’t quite human. Moreover, it heard Maude advise Samhain to leave soon. It would scold her for this later, but for now, it had bigger concerns. Tonight was likely its last chance to ensure Samhain never left.

But how could it reach him? It ruffled its feathers as it wracked its mind for ideas, its talons scratching the wooden floor impatiently. It couldn’t squeeze its way inside. The barrier shielding his room—

— the barrier dropped.

Feld hopped backward, shocked for a moment. Then thrill washed over it. It crept closer and tapped the door with its talon, just to make sure. Yes, the barrier was gone. Gone. Feld’s eagerness and hunger kept it from questioning the reason the barrier fell. It only cared that its absence meant Feld could enter.

What marvelous timing. Feld could barely contain its excitement. Regaining its wits, it forced itself to wait a little longer. It pressed against the door. Listened as Samhain’s breathing evened into the slow, steady rhythm of sleep. Then, silent as a shadow, it slithered inside, onto his bed, and sank into his mind.

How to create a dream?

It was simple, really, with enough practice (and Feld had years upon years of practice). The trick lay in letting the dreamer’s mind do most of the work. Feld simply nudged their focus toward memories laced with the delicious feeling of longing. These memories formed the main ingredients for the dream. Once the dream had formed, Feld tugged it into the perfect shape and sprinkled in other details and memories for extra flavor, like a chef preparing a lovely meal.

A meal for itself, that is.

The creature made sure the meal lasted long enough to satisfy its hunger. Of course, it was always hungry, so it never let the dreamer wake up. Simple.

This required control over their sleeping mind. After diving into Samhain’s dreams twice already, Feld brimmed with confidence in its abilities.

It couldn’t resist having a bit of fun.

—

A forest.

Sunlight flickered overhead, and birdsong drifted between the branches. A red-furred squirrel darted up a tree trunk. A breeze rustled the leaves and carried the rich smell of moss and soil.

“Sammy!”

A girl bounded toward Samhain, leaping over stones and roots with deer-like ease. Her long black hair flew out behind her. She beamed upon reaching him, her words already tumbling out. “I heard it this time! The oldest tree! I heard it speaking.” Her voice, though a bit breathless from running, rang with excitement, and her brown eyes glimmered with delight.

With another warm smile, she tucked her hair behind her ear and offered Samhain her hand — a familiar hand, dirt-smudged but free from burns. A hand just as human as his own. “Wanna listen with me?”