#shadow's slice of life

[lunavagans]

Made some fanart for Elixiers, Remedies and Redemption by @adel-memes!! First one‘s a little thing based on the very first moment of the fic because I love the mental image. My rendition of it not so much but that‘s my skill issue.

And this one‘s some lineart practice (that you can‘t see in the final product because of the background :/) with different versions because I was playing around with the opacity of the shading and unsure what colour the gratitude crystal should glow in

[doodledrawsthings]

Hey, I was looking through your stuff about Shadow of Shady Shore, and I really want to hear the lore behind it! Why is this random dad turning into a fluffy werewolf-adjacent monster? Who are the two women he hangs out with? Did he have a wife of some sort? You don't need to answer, but I am very curious.

The Random Dad's name is Luka (he/him). He's a divorced single father. His daughter's name is Harriet (she/they) but he calls her Bug. One day he kinda just. melted. for some reason. and turned into that big snake/slug/ferret/werewolf adjacent creature you see in some of my drawings. He can shapeshift and hold that shape for only a certain amount of time so he uses that to take on human form to do normal people things like try to hold down a job and take his kid to school. They move to a tiny kind-of-quiet-but-not-really town called Shady Shore. In Shady Shore, they meet some people like the person with the freckles who studies plants (Clover - she/her), and the tall guy with glasses (MJ-they/them), they're an artist and part-time waiter at a local diner. Clover also has a niece she takes care of named Bonnie (she/her). They all become become friends eventually, but I like drawing them post-becoming friends because i currently have no plans to do anything with this at the moment and just wanna draw em holding hands and doing chores. (burnout recovery reasons) Luka's arrival to the town causes a bit of a stir as some of the townies spot him in the woods in creature mode and now everyone's on the look out for the mysterious cryptid that has suddenly shown up in town, both locals and tourists, alike. He did have a wife at some point, but they aren't together anymore.

[sparkles-rule-4eva]

Things I picked up from the latest TailsTube:

Shadow is antisocial and gets overstimulated when several people are talking at once, but still cares for the well-being of his companions

Knuckles likes it when Rouge compliments him

Tails decks out his lab in the Christmas spirit for the holiday season

Omega likes rocks (for the purpose of destroying other robots)

Knuckles considers gift cards to be practical and enjoys chili dogs like Sonic does

Omega may not realize he is a robot and also friends with Amy and the rest (?)

One time Sonic drew a face on the back of Eggman's head with marker, then took a selfie with Tails behind Eggman's back

Amy has several robot friends

Angel Island may or may not have fallen into the ocean?

Rouge is still trying to steal the Master Emerald, surprise 😂

Sage has been wanting to do family things with Eggman

Roger Craig Smith might be voicing Omega now?

Cream taught some Chao Christmas carols

Jewel is hosting a Christmas party at Restoration HQ! And Vector's bringing board games!

Shadow didn't teleport very far away from the group (seeing as he heard the chaos ensue when Knuckles realized Rouge had stolen the M.E.) so he was possibly eavesdropping/spying on the whole gift exchange 😂

Shadow and Tails seem to be on good terms (finally lol)

Shadow now has a red scarf with his name embroidered on it

[just-some-trans-nobody]

December Christmas Monster stories

December 3.) Shadow Creature head cannons

Minors don't interact

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Bright lights hurts their eyes, too many bright lights and they can't even form in your home, but the lights are off with only the Christmas tree lighting up the living room? Absolutely perfect. They feel comfortable in the dark room but still get to experience the beautiful lights. 

Will attempt to touch the lights thinking it will hurt but it doesn't, it does a little but it’s not as bad as it could have been. The more reds light the better, it's easy on the eyes and doesn't burn them at all. 

They can't wear clothes but if they could they would wear the Christmas sweaters you own, it smells like you and feels soft they would love to wear them.

Unable to eat or drink but still so loves to be close by when you make hot chocolate or bake some goodies, they like the smell of it. 

It's hard to pick things up being a living shadow but they'll concentrate the best they can to try and help you make garland. The most they can do is pick up the popcorn and hand you a thread but they're so so happy they can help you even if it's a little bit. 

They like watching the snow fall, it’s pretty. It’s odd watching them in the snow though, they don’t leave any tracks and the falling snow seems to be absorbed by their body. Just don’t think too hard about it, they get a little self conscious about it.

Being made of shadows they don’t feel cold but they’ll demand you go back inside the moment you start showing signs of being too cold, they love you too much to see you getting sick from the cold. It would give them a heart attack, the thought of losing you is too much to bare, they keep forgetting about modern medicine, the poor thing. 

Overall they love winter time, it always means you staying home more due to it being too cold to hang out with friends or go to events. They love having you around constantly, they never get tired of having you around. The pretty snow is just a bonus to them. 

[shadowtriovibes]

let this be our little secret

Pairing: Ominis Gaunt & Sebastian Sallow & MC

Word Count: 1.5k

Rating: G

Summary: request: "Could I request MC feeling bad about invading Omins’ hideout (even though Sebastian invited them) so they show the two of them the Room of Requirement?"

“Is that… did a door just appear?” Ominis asks softly. “How did you know?” Sebastian asks, curious. Ominis smirks and murmurs, “I’ve come to learn what the sound of shifting walls sounds like. The way the stone bricks move, how they form themselves into new shapes. Usually it’s the staircases, but every now and then, something else will surprise you.”

Cornering Ominis after Potions class ends is easier said than done.

“Ominis!” you call out, weaving through the rest of your classmates as they gather their belongings. “Ominis, wait, please!”

He attempts to ignore you and continue on his way toward Central Hall, but you manage to catch the hem of his robes and suddenly find yourself at the end of his rather intimidating wand.

“What do you want this time, hmm?” he asks, annoyed. “Have you not yet caused enough chaos in my life for one week?”

You balk, mildly shamed. Indeed, it hasn’t exactly been a banner week for your burgeoning friendship, but “chaos” is a strong word.

(…It’s a fair one, though.)

On Monday, you’d accidentally spilled a vial of Wiggenweld on one of his enchanted library books he’d left out in the Slytherin common room, irreparably ruining the Braille charm he’d worked so hard on.

On Wednesday, a rogue Diricawl had gotten out of your nab sack before you had a chance to drop it off in one of your vivariums. Before your eyes it had vanished with a puff of smoke and reappeared directly in his path, causing him to take a rather nasty fall.

Worst of all, on Friday he’d caught you sneaking out of the Undercroft and given you quite the earful, even if entering in the first place wasn’t even your idea.

“Please, just – I need to talk to you,” you tell him quietly.

Ominis bristles. “Why?”

“There’s something I want to show you,” you explain softly. “Both you and Sebastian, it’s… I want to try to make up for everything that happened with the Undercroft.”

All week long, Sebastian had been similarly out of sorts after Ominis had caught up with him and loudly expressed his displeasure that he’d shared the Undercroft with you after only knowing you for a matter of weeks. To your chagrin, you’ve somehow managed to become a point of contention in a friendship that has spanned many years, built on countless hours spent together in Ominis’ secret hall.

Needless to say, you’re desperate to fix it.

You shift anxiously while Ominis considers your plea, his shrewd expression never once betraying his thoughts.

“What is it that you want to ‘show’ me?” he asks you hesitantly. “Is… is it something I can, er…”

“It’s nothing you need to see,” you quickly stress. “It’s a place. Another secret place I found.”

Ominis raises an eyebrow. “You found another secret place? Merlin, it’s barely been a week.”

“Professor Weasley showed it to me,” you explain. “Please, will you let me take you there?��

Ominis huffs and lowers his wand. Finally, he drawls, “I suppose. After dinner will be fine, if you can manage to track down Sebastian.”

–

Sebastian and Ominis trail awkwardly behind you while you lead them up the stairs of the Astronomy tower. As you climb higher and higher, you keep a careful eye out for any lingering students hoping to secure some stargazing hours, but when you finally arrive at the seventh-floor corridor, the three of you are alone.

“We’re going quite high up,” Sebastian comments. “Trying to take us as far away from the dungeons as possible, are you?”

You roll your eyes as you come to a stop in the middle of the corridor. “We’ve arrived, actually.”

Sebastian looks around expectantly while Ominis passes his wand across the corridor.

“This is an empty hallway,” he deadpans.

“Right now it is,” you say teasingly. “Give the Room a moment, it’s a bit shy.”

Ominis scoffs and Sebastian simply smirks as you pace the length of the empty hallway three times. As you come to a stop after your last turn, the stone wall across from that ridiculous troll tapestry starts to rumble.

Instinctively, Ominis reaches for Sebastian’s hand like he’d done countless times as a first-year, every time the two of them (or was it three, back then?) had found themselves on a set of stairs that started to move.

As the door to the Room comes to life, you beam brightly at Sebastian.

“What was it you told me about Hogwarts?” you tease him. “‘Loads to see, and places to discover?’”

“Is that… did a door just appear?” Ominis asks softly.

“How did you know?” Sebastian asks, curious.

Ominis smirks and murmurs, “I’ve come to learn what the sound of shifting walls sounds like. The way the stone bricks move, how they form themselves into new shapes. Usually it’s the staircases, but every now and then, something else will surprise you.”

Wordlessly, Sebastian steps closer to the door to inspect it. He reaches out and skims his fingertips along its surface, humming softly to himself once he’s satisfied that it is in fact real.

You take Ominis’ hand and walk him toward the door. “Come feel it.”

Every time you enter the Room of Requirement, your door looks exactly the same. You suspect that if others make use of it, they might come across a wholly different door with a different room inside — but ever since you were shown how to summon the Room, you haven’t encountered another soul waiting in the corridor for a turn inside.

Besides, you don’t want the boys to find a room. You want them to find your Room.

Ominis lifts his hand toward the wood, tracing his fingertips gently over the intricate pattern made of wood and wrought iron. Then he presses his palm flat against its surface.

“It feels… alive,” he whispers. “What is this place?”

“It’s the Room of Requirement,” you tell him. “It’s available to anyone who discovers it who happens to have a great need for it.”

Beside you, Sebastian perks up interestedly. “I’ve read about the Room of Requirement.”

“You’ve read a little about a lot,” Ominis comments.

With a withering look that Ominis can surely feel, Sebastian continues. “It’s said to be quite tricky to find — Unplottable, even.”

“Care to take a look inside?” you offer.

Both boys step back while you open the grandiose door. As you enter, Ominis follows you with his wand drawn.

“Merlin’s beard,” Sebastian breathes, unable to resist the temptation to wander straight into the middle of the room, soaking it in from every angle. “This is… this is brilliant.”

Ominis, on the other hand, is as still as a statue as he takes it all in. You suspect that the symphony of sounds inside the room must be a bit overwhelming at first — bubbling potions stands, lacewing flies flitting around your potting tables, the steady whirring of your loom.

“Is this — this is like a greenhouse and a potions laboratory all in one,” Sebastian exclaims. “And a library!”

He goes straight for one of the bookshelves tucked beside your potions stand, where textbooks on helpful enchantments and intriguing magical history have a habit of appearing. Delightedly, he plucks one of the books off the shelf and cracks it open.

Satisfied that Sebastian will be occupied enough to stay out of trouble for a few moments, you turn to your other guest.

“Ominis?” you ask tentatively. “…What do you think?”

He remains quiet for several more moments until eventually he lowers his wand.

“Why did you bring us here?” he asks quietly. “Or — why did you bring me here, I suppose.”

You frown. “What do you mean?”

Hesitantly, he adds, “You barely know me. This is obviously a very special place to you, and I just… want to understand.”

“Well, I just thought it was what friends do,” you say lamely, wincing. “Sebastian showed me the Undercroft, so…”

“Is that what we are?” Ominis asks you. “Friends?”

Even though you know he can’t see you, you nevertheless feel like he’s studying something about you when you meet his smoky-white eyes.

“I hope so,” you admit. “…I’d like us to be.”

Ominis nods almost imperceptibly as a small smile forms on his lips.

“Alright then,” he agrees. “Perhaps you could tell me more about this Room of yours?”

You don’t bother hiding your smile as you take Ominis’ hand and start to give him a tour of your ever-expanding sanctum, pointing out your growing collection of vivariums and the sitting area you’d designed with late-night study sessions in mind.

“I will admit, it’s much cozier here than in the Undercroft,” he comments. “I can tell already that Sebastian will have a clear preference between the two.”

“The Undercroft is useful too,” you counter. “But the two of you are welcome to join me here any time you like.”

“We won’t impose,” Ominis tells you, but he’s still got that curious smile on his face as you lead him into your grassland vivarium.

You leave him to explore on his own for a bit while you return to check on Sebastian, who’s started to unabashedly dig through your potion supply cabinets. When you both return, you find Ominis curled up in a patch of sunlight with a Niffler in his lap, both fast asleep.

“Good luck getting him to leave now,” Sebastian jokes. “I think you’ve got yourself a new Room-mate.”

You playfully nudge him in his side and murmur, “Hopefully two Room-mates.”

[bepisbee]

smth smth cute vidow short

"Hi baby~ <3" Shadow leaned over their bar edge counter, hat curling into a heart shape. His eyes scrunched up and cheeks flushed. Hands holding his head as he once again greeted his exhausted boyfriend. He was floating off the floor, of course. Shadow looked like a lovesick teen gushing about their latest crush.

Said crush sighed and grumbled, re-reading the potion instructions. Whoever thought of making an intoxicating liqour potion was going to get a stern talking to. Poor Shadow didn't know any better, and the shopkeeper took advantage of that. Couldn't let his heathen do anything without some stupid shit...

"Viiiiiiiiiooooooleeeeeet," he complained. Shadow was not recieving the attentiom he so clearly deserved!! "Lemme see those pretty eyes darlin'. pleaseeeeeee?" he spun in the air dramatically.

"I am trying to figure out how to un do this, Shadow."

He settled back against the counter with a pout. Vio felt the stare boring into his back. With another sigh, he relented amd stood by him. on the opposite side of the counter. Shadow immediatley brightened and held his face.

"Hello," Shadow whispered. He very gently caressed his face. Vio couldn't help but relax into it.

"You are so much trouble, you know that?" Vio's tone held nothing but affection. Maybe it was better to wait this out after all. At least he could keep a closer eye on him.

Shadow hummed and leaned down for a soft kiss. "Whatever you say darlin' "

Vio shook his head and stole his boyfriend's hand in his own. "Alright, come on. A little sleep will do you some good."

"In the same bed??" His ears twitched up. Vio snorted in response. They did have seperate rooms for when they wanted alone time, privacy, or whatever. Although, most nights, one of them just ended up joining the other in their bed come sleep time. "Have I ever told you how warm you are?" Shadow rambled. "And soft. But not in your hands, w-which is okay! Uh and- you smell really nice... like the lilac soap from the bath. er you don' mind when I'm cold do you? Zel said I'm like a snake or a dragon that way."

Vio squeezed his hand. He tried to ignore how the compliments made him feel tingly. Shadow was never this verbal. He sat him down on the bed's edge and took off the black tunic while his random spewing continued. Vio also stripped into just the undershirt and shorts.

Shadow scooted over to let Vio lay next to him. He once again continued his verbal assault of compliments.

"An' your hair is pretty, I like braiding it. Iss it's like honey."

"Enough, Shadow." Vio scoffed and wrapped his arm around his waist. "Try to rest."

"But you're so close." he pressed their foreheads together and went cross eyed to keep looking. "An' comfy..." He felt Shadow's whole body relax into him. "An' lilac..." his words slowed, resting his face against Vio's chest. "An-an'....mm. An' adorable. an' smart. an' a good kisser." his compliments became softer and further apart.

"Goodnight, Shadow." when he thought he had finally passed out, "I love you, you insufferable man."

"love... too." mumbled into his chest as his breaths evened out and slowed into sleep.

Vio blew out the bedside candle and just hoped this potion wore off by morning. He really couldn't take much more of over affectionate Shadow.

[xx7raid7iator7xx]

tried out a new style for sonic characters hmm

1st attempt

i think it turned out alright!

heres the 2nd attempt

i like this one a lot actually he looks quite dumb/pos

[moonlit-escape]

Aphmau, coming home: Hello, people who do not live here.

Dante: Hey

Laurance: Hi

Gene, Zenix, and Sasha, playing Mario Party: Hello

Aphmau: I gave you a key for emergencies.

Dante: We were out of Doritos

[dragontamer05]

GIMME THE ASA AND YURU SLICE OF LIFE!!!

I wanna se these two trying to carve out a new normal life in the world

[spop-romanticizes-abuse]

There's a problem that few people have noticed in the series, and that I call "sociological inconsistency." By this term, I mean that I don't have the impression that the characters act in accordance with the environment and education in which they grew up.

For example, princesses. I expected the series to make them noble, honorable, responsible, etc. in short, a “princely character”. It could even have been a good possibility of deconstruction, by showing them hampered in military but also political and diplomatic responsibilities, as well as in stifling protocols and etiquettes. But instead, the series just showed me how little girls imagine life as a princess: the privileges without the responsibilities. Frosta could have saved the day, but the writers thought it was too good an idea and so canceled it.

Another example: the child soldiers of the Horde. Given that they grew up in a strict, militaristic and propagandist environment, I expected to see them indoctrinated, disciplined, hyper-violent and withdrawn because of an education whose sole purpose was to make them docile and docile killing machines ready to die for the cause of the Horde and refusing to flee in the face of danger… Well, ultimately, they are the luckiest child soldiers in fiction, because I find them just as normal as if they had just come out of a summer camp . The worst examples of this have to be Adora and Scorpia, where I never really got the impression that they received a military and cult education (technically there should be Catra, but we concluded a long time ago that she was a mary sue, too smart to be fooled by Horde indoctrination).

So some will tell me that these "sociological inconsistencies" can be explained by the fact that the screenwriters wanted to make the characters sympathetic to young audiences to the detriment of coherence, but in my opinion if they succeeded in making a catgirl with sadistic and incestuous tendencies sympathetic in the eyes of the public, I don't see what stops them from being able to do the same for princesses and child soldiers stuck in their education.

this.

[garabako]

Chapters: 1/44 Fandom: Sonic the Hedgehog - All Media Types Rating: Mature Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Relationships: Shadow the Hedgehog/Sonic the Hedgehog, Shadow the Hedgehog & Sonic the Hedgehog, Amy Rose & Sonic the Hedgehog, Amy Rose & Shadow the Hedgehog Characters: Sonic the Hedgehog, Amy Rose (Sonic the Hedgehog), Shadow the Hedgehog, Miles "Tails" Prower, Knuckles the Echidna, Rouge the Bat, Cream the Rabbit, Vanilla the Rabbit, Sticks the Badger, Marine the Raccoon, Mighty the Armadillo, Honey the Cat, Vector the Crocodile, Charmy Bee, Espio the Chameleon, Dr. Eggman | Dr. Robotnik, Original Sonic the Hedgehog Character(s), Other Sonic the Hedgehog Character(s) Additional Tags: Romantic Comedy, Comedy, Alternate Universe, Angst and Tragedy, Slice of Life Summary:

Alternative and inspired story to the universe created by @e-vay

~❄"Where it's about how the perfect life of the proclaimed daughter of the Sonamy: "Aurora the hedgehog" takes a 360° degree turn due to an unexpected visit and several secrets revealed..."❄~

[babybulls15]

(Lestappen, 1.6k, rated G, 1/1)

(Slice of Life, Established Relationship, Marriage, Domestic Fluff, just all around Tooth-Rotting Fluff, Anniversary)

Summary:

Usually Charles would be rather quick to find him or call out to him, when he got home. Today, the only answer he got, was the sound of something being dropped in the hall and then the repeated opening and closing of the front door. He had left again. Max furrowed his brows. Why would he leave again? ----------------------- Max has the perfect plan for the perfect anniversary dinner. But when your husband is unpredictable at the best of times, there is no way it is going to be that easy.

Read it on Ao3 or below. :)

(I hope you enjoy and I'd love to hear your thoughts! :3)

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

Max couldn’t help smiling when he heard the familiar rattle of the front door opening and closing.

Right on time.

"Hello there!", he called from his place at the stove into the general direction of the hallway.

He had been at it for about 2 hours now – prepping and cooking the perfect anniversary dinner. Carefully planning everything to be done exactly when Charles would come home. So far most of it had worked out perfectly, but as he waited for an answer from his husband, he got the feeling it would not stay this easy.

Usually Charles would be rather quick to find him or call out to him, when he got home. Today, the only answer he got, was the sound of something being dropped in the hall and then the repeated opening and closing of the front door.

He had left again.

Max furrowed his brows. Why would he leave again?

As far as Max remembered, Charles had left with no luggage except for his backpack that morning. And he hadn’t mentioned he was going grocery shopping today either. Had he maybe forgotten something in the car?

But as Max waited for the more distant sounds of car doors clapping, through the open kitchen window, he grew worried.

Was he missing something?

It wasn’t so much the fact that Charles had left the flat immediately after arriving, but more the lack of a response all together. Normally he would at least get a verbal acknowledgement, but today he hadn’t heard Charles say anything, not even to the cats, that were sure to have swarmed him as soon as he opened the door.

He waited a bit longer, to see if Charles maybe really just went to the car or the mailbox. But when after 10 minutes there was still no sign of the Monegasque, Max became even more worried.

As he looked at the pots and pans on the stove, the set kitchen table and half plated food, he began to think that he was indeed missing something.

They hadn’t talked about any elaborate plans for their first wedding anniversary, because, despite the winter break, both had known they’d need to work that day. But Max had spontaneously decided to just be that guy and reschedule half his meetings, so he could at least prepare a special dinner for the two of them. Seeing as it was meant to be a surprise, Max also hadn’t mentioned it to Charles. He didn’t expect it would be a problem. Surely his husband must’ve noticed the coat on the rag and the light under the kitchen door.

But apparently he hadn’t.

Because the only thing Max found when he walked through the flat into the hallway, was the hastily dropped backpack in the corner.

Still confused, Max turned around and began looking for his phone. He had planned everything to the minute and if Charles stayed gone for any longer, most of the food would be cold.

Predictably his phone had gotten lost in the kerfuffle that was cooking dinner and soon he had turned over every single item in the kitchen twice, without having found it.

Max was sure it had to be in the kitchen, because he had used it as a timer.

But when had that been? And hadn't he gone to the bedroom to change after that?

Just as he entered the bedroom and saw his phone lying right in the middle of the bed - taunting him - he heard the front door open for the third time in the last hour.

Max made sure not to actually run out of the bedroom, but in case Charles decided to leave again he needed to be quick this time.

It appeared that he didn’t need to worry though, because he found his husband in the hall, slowly taking of his shoes while holding what looked to be a king-sized bouquet of roses in all different colours.

So that’s why he had left.

There was a flower shop at the end of the street, where they often got some thing or other for special occasions or sometimes just because. Charles loved to give Max flowers because he liked that each one had a specific meaning that didn’t need words to convey. ‘You just know by looking at them.’ , he always said. Max was not as well versed in flower language as Charles, but he enjoyed having something colourful and pretty in the flat. It made it feel more like home.

Charles was wearing his headphones and kept nodding to the music, which explained his lack of response to Max’s call earlier. It also explained why - when he looked up and saw Max coming towards him - his eyes got wide, he jumped and let out a high-pitched shriek. In his surprise he lost his grip on the bouquet, but managed to catch it just in time.

“Oh my god Max, you almost scared me to death!”, he said, taking off his headphones and trying to catch his breath. “What are you already doing here I thought you would come home after me?”

Charles’ voice was still slightly high pitched.

Max laughed.

"It’s nice to see you to, love. I’m sorry I scared you." , he apologized, not even trying to suppress his grin. Charles stepped a bit closer to hug and kiss him hello, Max melting into his embrace.

"I took half the day off to surprise you with dinner. I thought you would notice I was here.”, Max explained. “And I did call to you when you got home the first time.’’ He raised one eyebrow at Charles who just looked at him confused, which made Max's grin get even wider.

“But”, he continued, “you keep insisting on listening to your music on maximum volume. So I probably could’ve used a megaphone and you wouldn’t have heard me.” Understanding bloomed in Charles’ eyes and he had the decency to look sheepish.

Max laughed again. "I tried to plan everything so we could eat right when you got here. But you sped out of the flat even faster than out the pit lane, so now it’s probably mostly cold.", he said, his eyes wandering to the bouquet still in Charles' hand. "Although I see you got something to make up for that?", Max smiled at the his husband and the Monegasque grinned back.

Then he cringed a little.

“Oh I’m sorry about earlier, I was just convinced you would come back later and so I didn’t even spare a glance in any direction.", Charles said apologetically. He put his free arm around Max’s waist and continued. "I just wanted to get the flowers sorted, so you could see them on the counter right when you got home.”

That made Max’s smile grow impossibly wider.

“Seems like we got similar ideas.’, Max said, “But as always I seem to be just a tad bit faster.”

He grinned into the kiss Charles gave him for his arrogance.

“As always you are a prick. But you made me dinner, so you are forgiven.” Charles replied, his eyes full of mirth and his words without bite. Then his look went soft and he put his other arm, still holding the flowers, around Max’s waist to pull them closer, foreheads touching.

“Happy anniversary, chéri.”, Charles whispered.

Max put his arms around Charles’ neck.

‘Happy anniversary.’, he smiled at his husband and pulled him in for a kiss.

Even after one year Max still couldn’t believe he got to call this man, this impossibly perfect man his husband of all things. It was intoxicating to think that only one year ago, they had stood at the altar, surrounded by flowers and their closest friends and family. And today, they got to celebrate all over again.

Max broke the kiss and giggled at the thought, that he was surrounded by flowers once again. Charles looked at him confused but Max just wiggled out of his embrace, took his free hand and led him to the kitchen. Charles’ eyes growing wide at the scene in front of them.

Max had tried to think of everything. Had tried to make it as romantic as possible. He put candles and rose petals on the table, got their best plates out and had prepared some of their favourite dishes, in addition to some they’d had at their wedding.

Charles tugged at Max’s hand and pulled him into another heart-meltingly soft kiss. "Thank you for this", he said, cupping Max’s face with one hand.

"Everything for you, Schatje", Max replied with a fond smile. "Thank you for the flowers. They are beautiful.” Charles smiled and kissed him again.

They revelled in each others touch and it was another few minutes until they broke apart again. The candles were half burned down and most of the food cold at this point, but neither of them cared as they sat down and started to recount their days to each other – Max listening intently to everything that had happened at Charles’ countless meetings and Charles laughing loudly at Max describing the look on Christian’s face when he had rescheduled most of his day on account of ‘husbandly duties’.

For all the worries he’d had about planning, Max thought to himself that night - lying in bed, Charles tightly snuggled to his side and flowers on the night stand - it had all worked out perfectly in the end.

Sure his planning hadn't actually worked out all the way, but what was a bit of cold food, when he had all he needed right there beside him.

Charles always brought chaos into his order.

But - Max concluded while slowly drifting to sleep - what would he be without it.

[adel-memes]

New chapter uploaded!

[asliceoflife]

[makeartnotfriends23]

✨🕰️Time Bash is an assortment of silly and wacky adventures of Ray a private investigators, Gravity the embodiment of time and Ash the muscles. As they try to get clients and solve mysteries. While also being incompetent at their jobs. 🎞️✨

Meet the cast of Time Bash!

[gentleoverdrive]

Once the last bastion has been conquered, the Deliverance prepare to march towards the Rigelian Capital. The Deliverance's field commander and one of his most stalwart allies allow themselves to take it easy before that happens, however.

(Previous oneshot/chapter is here. If you don't want to read it in AO3, see below!)

“Well met, and salutations, Alm.” Hearing those first two words from someone out of his eyesight would often leave the young leader bereft of any energy and force him to grin and bear with what was needed of him; and while he had grown to adapt to his position atop the Deliverance fairly well, part of him simply wanted to avoid the etiquette of it all when it came to people calling him ‘Sir’ or something to the effect. “Well met, and salutations to you too, Clair!” But he was easily able to make that melodious voice out among the crowd, and luckily for him, neither his ears nor the tap on his left shoulder managed to deceive him, for it was none other than the spirited lady who had become his confidante among said upper echelons of the Deliverance, the cheerfulness that populated his reply all the more apparent now because of that. Following her older brother publicly decreeing that this fortress had been successfully conquered was just as good a time as any to find her emerald-haired friend since, for Clair, having these one-on-one talks with the leader of the Zofian effort was one of the few boons she could still count among, what with almost everything else in her day-to-day life having become mostly stripped away to make way for actual necessities. “May we speak once more?” “As always, I would most certainly love to.” The jovial back and forth allowed Alm to hand his quasi-personal blacksmith the remnant parts of his armor so that it could get a lookup and, perhaps, some proper restoration work done ahead of the march to Rigel Castle the army was preparing towards. “Milord.” Clair deigned to offer her hand for Alm to take… “Milady.” …an offer which the boy quickly took her up on. And before long, they were walking away–respectively letting out a hearty chuckle and dignified titter as they did–from the makeshift tents the Deliverance had set next to the front gate for miscellaneous tasks. --------------------------

As they made their way into the main hall, Alm noticed that his walking companion was barely able to suppress a wince. “Wha–-hey! Clair, are you OK?” “I… well, I deign most unsuitable to lie to you, but I did not want you to worry over such a minor affair.” “This goes beyond my being your commander. Answer me: Are you okay?” For a brief moment, with Alm’s face occupying part of what she considered her personal space, the celebrated falcon knight briefly felt that same funny pang in her chest from back when she was still getting acquainted with the Ram Village boy she now called both her friend and commanding officer. “I…” Clair felt the need to find her verbal footing once more. “...I may have flown afoul of a small deployment of archers as I directed my partner into your general direction. Perhaps I should count my blessings, for all but one arrow was the one that managed to graze my right greave.” “I see… will you be able to hold on until we arrive at the mess hall?” “My my! Could it be, perhaps, that there is something you have in store for me?” Seizing upon the opportunity to lighten up both of their burdens, she teasingly poked at his cheek to dispel that frown that currently inhabited his visage. Along with turning the tables and having his cheeks turn a flush red, Alm’s frown quickly gave way to an awkward smile as he offered his arm for her to hold on to. “Heh, I just might!” -------------------------- “So, you saw my scrap against Slayde.”

After finding appropriate seating arrangements upon a relatively isolated table, the young man from Ram Village and the girl from the Zofian Capital had exchanged pleasantries for some time, before the touchy subject resurfaced.

“I most certainly did.”

At that confirmation, Alm guided his eyes away as he took in a deep breath and his clasped hands became ever so slightly shakier as he remembered his violent act of unfettered retribution against the now slain turncoat.

“You do not have to pretend when around me, Alm.” Just in the moment she felt her friend pulling back, Clair placed her right hand upon both of his. “Slayde visited some sort of heinous act upon you or, perhaps, a loved one, did he not?”

“He did.” His reply came swift and almost as though it were instinct, his eyes still casting their sights elsewhere.

“Then say no more.” Clair’s own response came along with her left index flicking the green-haired young man on his forehead. After wincing from the slight sting, Alm directed his attention towards his confidante once more, her bid to regain his attention a success.

“I have known for quite some time how much of a right craven that man was. Some of said experience came first-hand too, no less. You did Valentia as a whole a favor by besting him the way you did.”

Upon hearing those words, a sense of relief flowed through the leader of the Deliverance, both obvious due to his neutral expression soon switching to a sober but genuine smile and the easygoing sigh after he allowed himself a deep breath.

“...a cutting remark from the Queen of High Society herself? Alas for his reputation!” At his sudden retort, both quickly embraced the levity their back-and-forth allowed them, with his open chuckle and her serene titter.

“I thank you, Clair.”

“Perish the thought. You ought to be in as high spirits as possible if we are to have you properly lead us to victory.”

Her refined manner of speech might have made a good show of hiding it, but seeing as though they were all but knocking at the doors of Rigel’s imperial capital, Alm understood her friend’s burning vigor all too well.

“Right you are, as usual.” Alm quickly cleared his throat after those words. “Apropos of what we briefly talked about earlier and if it’s not too terribly imposing, may I see your right shin?”

“Mm? Is this pertaining to my injury?” The falcon knight suddenly felt put on the spot by such a request. At seeing her friend and fellow in arms reply with a quick nod and brief non-verbal grunt, Clair decided that she might as well allow him this ease of mind.

With a slight bit of difficulty, she put her right leg atop her seat to start undoing the armor covering her leg. Fortunately, her armor was relatively light and well cared for, so it came off without much problem, with Clair’s bare leg now in full display as Alm stood up from his seat and walked to her side.

All of a sudden, Clair felt a slight tinge of embarrassment at her current position, even as she knew the boy would not have any untoward intentions.

“Right.” Upon inspecting her injury, the aforementioned boy quickly closed both his eyes and took in a deep breath; a few words which Clair herself did not recognize started coming out of his mouth, and before she was able to put in two and two…

“And… there!” Alm placed both his hands near her injury, with a faint glow appearing soon after, fading before long.

Caught completely unaware, Clair did not even eke out any sort of reaction… not until she noticed that her injury and the fatigue that came with it both were gone.

“W–wait! W–”

The boy probably did not mean to cut her off, but when he exhaled a breath of relief, Clair’s thoughts were unable to be properly put all in one place.

“Would you kindly keep this a secret?”

The combination of her being unable to suppress her surprise at what just transpired and his plea of secrecy to this soon allowed a small bit of frustration to seep through as he walked back to his seat.

“And what, pray tell, was the meaning of that?” She was careful to not raise her voice, lest she were to bring the attention of the rest of the hall down upon their table, but the Zofian noble still felt like an explanation was needed.

At her line of inquiry, Alm realized he needed to come clean.

“You are absolutely right.” Once he seated himself once more, Alm placed the Royal Sword in front of them both.

“At some point after toppling Desaix and recovering this sword, I started hearing… well, not quite sure what it was, but I think something started to change within me as we journeyed further north. To make a somewhat long story short, thanks to sister Silque, Luthier and Kliff, I have been making strides in an attempt to learn healing magic.”

At that confession, Clair’s eyes widened.

“This is still very much a path I am just starting and to properly walk forth, I’m sure. So, as I previously begged of you, if we can keep this a secret for the time being at least, I would very much appreciate it.”

As he finished, Alm winked at her while bringing his left index finger to his mouth.

Clair was never much for mincing words or enjoying sweet nothings. However, she could not help but to admire as the man she had grown strangely close to throughout these hostilities showed her a side of himself he was still trying to prove worthy of.

At that, she revealed an open-hearted smile…

“Ow!” Before ‘chastising’ him for his transgression with yet another light flick to his forehead. Same as the previous flicker, too.

“Such an underhanded, cheeky friend I must have.”