#she looks like she ate mud as a kid

[garlicrrow]

9 months later i STILL DONT HAVE A NAME FOR HER

[singmyaubade]

The Girl We Love

Poly!Marauders x Female!Reader

A/N: Hello! Long time no see; this came to me out of nowhere, and I just wrote it off the top of my head; I hope you enjoy it! <3 P.S. I have no idea what to think about this story.

Summary: Can all of them handle loving you at the same time?

Warning: Containing cursing, soon-to-be-smut, etc... Viewer discretion is advised.

--

The boys were enjoying their summer, basking in the hot sun and the chance to go in the pool anytime they wanted. Although it was just Remus, Sirius, and James, that was all they needed. Unfortunately, Peter was in France, but 3/4 Marauders was better than none.

"James, Sirius!" Euphemia yelled as James and Sirius groaned, not wanting to go downstairs due to their laziness, "I know you boys can hear me, and I am giving you five seconds," She yelled louder as the two boys looked at each other in fear as they both lunged to the door, James pushing Sirius into the wall.

"5..4...3.." The boys had rushed downstairs before two to see their Euphemia setting the dining room, "Why is Remus the only helpful boy in this house?" Euphemia huffed as Remus set down the dishes.

James ignored her, noticing the fancy table mats she would only bring out when people came over, "Uh, Mum, what's going on?" James asked, scratching his head, confused.

"Yeah, we never use this table unless James forgot he's human instead of dog," Sirius joked as James smacked him in his stomach, earning a groan.

Euphemia sighed, "Ms. L/N and Y/N are coming for dinner," She answered, setting the plates over the tablecloths.

James's mother and your mother were best friends, practically inseparable when you all were younger. Even when they didn't see each other, James would see her writing letters to your mom.

"Why?" James asked as Euphemia glared at him, "I just mean that we haven't seen her in so long, like since we were like thirteen,"

"You mean when you all would rough house and were into wrestling and Quidditch?" Euphemia hummed.

"The good old days," Sirius added, looking up in dramatics.

"Yeah, when you would tackle her and throw mud on us all," Remus muttered.

"Um yeah?" Sirius responded, "The good old days!"

Having you over was like having another brother around when it came to James. You always loved watching Quidditch and would yell with him when your favorite team won, chest-bumping each other.

You would always dress like the Marauders, wear whatever trend they were following, and play with whatever toys seemed remarkable to them.

You all ate like absolute slobs, and Euphemia and your mother would constantly reprimand all of you, but you didn't care because if you all did it, it was incredible.

When your parents divorced and you went to France with your Father, they all hadn't realized the switch in your presence as much. They would mention you sometimes but would only give it a short conversation. They were just kids; They didn't know much until later.

"This might be nice, you know?" Sirius said, "We haven't seen Y/N in so long, and I do miss having another one of the guys in the house," Sirius wrapped his arm around James's shoulders.

"Y/N is a girl," Remus corrected.

"You know what I mean," Sirius said, sitting in his seat.

"Wonder if she still plays Quidditch," James added, sitting beside Sirius.

"Can't wait to kick her arse in it," Sirius said, putting his hands together tauntingly.

Euphemia shushed them, "Enough of this talk, they should be arriving any minute now, and I expect the most from all of you," She tsked, moving near the door.

"She's talking about you two," Remus said, smirking.

"Oh shove it, Moony, you aren't a saint," James teased.

"Yeah, we know of your unspeakable acts in the bedroom," Sirius joked, winking at Remus as he bit his tongue.

James could hear voices from the front door as you stepped into view, hugging Euphemia, and he couldn't believe what he was seeing; none of them could.

Of course, you were different; the years did you well, but your hair grew past your shoulders, not the usual bob. You were wearing a lavender dress, a step away from your tomboy outfits. From what he remembered about you, your nails were painted in your favorite color, and you no longer wore a retainer everywhere you went.

Your dress hugged your waist perfectly, and none of the Marauders were perverts, but none of them could hide the fact that they were staring at you.

You looked at them with a grin, going over to James first as he stood up from his chair like a statue, "Jamesy!" You squeaked, the childhood nickname sounding different now.

You embraced him in a tight hug, your boobs pressing against his chest as he grew flustered. You pulled back, looking at him, "I missed you so much," You excitedly said, returning for a hug.

James could feel how soft your skin was, like a rose petal coated in shea butter. He had never felt something so gentle in his entire life like it wasn't real.

Once James squeezed you back, you moved over to Sirius, giving him a tight hug. His hands stayed on your back as your lips were on his neck accidentally. Sirius was never the type to blush, but somehow, you succeeded.

Sirius could smell home when he was near you, like cinnamon and hot chocolate, like a long day of Quidditch on the grass and Euphemia giving him a cold glass of Butterbeer kind of touch.

You pulled back, giving him a smile instead of words because moving over to Remus, pecking him on the cheek, and moving to a hug, "Remsy, long time no see," You giggled, giving him a hug as he smiled, trying not to let his thoughts get to him.

Remus could feel your happiness like sunlight as if it was glowing. When he hugged you, he felt happy like never before; it made him forget every stormy night or memory.

They all could feel your presence like a lightning bolt with each embrace, and it was hard to hide when you were up against them.

Euphemia and your mother were still chatting at the door, so you decided to talk with them about their social life as much as possible.

"I missed all of you so much," You cheesily said, sitting across from them all, "Please tell me how all of you have been," You looked at Sirius first.

You had developed a slight French accent, but only people would notice if they genuinely heard you.

Both Remus and James side-eyed Sirius, who looked shellshocked, "Well, I've just been focusing on school since graduation and just been enjoying summer," He awkwardly laughed, not knowing what to say, "I made Quidditch Co-captain with James,"

Your mouth fell open, "Oh my god, I am so proud of you guys; congratulations," You said happily.

"Thank you," James and Sirius said in unison as you laughed.

"What about you, James?" You asked, looking at him.

"I've been focusing on Quidditch and maybe becoming an Auror in the future when I'm done with my Quidditch career," James responded.

"I remember you always talking about being an Auror; I'm glad you still want to do it," You responded kindly, "What about you, Remus?" You looked at him.

"I've been focusing on becoming a healer or professor since I enjoy helping others," He said as you beamed.

"Well, considering you did help me when I cut my knee on the concrete when we were ten, I would say you are perfectly trained," You joked as Remus grinned.

"What about you, Y/N? What have you been up to?" James asked.

"Well, I hope to become a journalist or a write since it is a dream, but I was going to move back to London with my boyfriend," You said as all of the boys mentally punched themselves, "But then he cheated on me so I might just be alone," You said as the boys grinned from ear to ear.

"Yes!" Sirius said as you raised an eyebrow, "Yes, what an awful thing for him to do; I am so sorry, Y/N," Sirius said.

"Agreed, he must be a bloody fool," Remus added.

"I'm glad he's out of your life," James said, "Uh because, he's a horrible person,"

"Thank you, guys; I am glad I found out before I moved with him here," You said with relief.

Your mother and Euphemia approached the table, your mother sitting next to you and Euphemia sitting across, "I apologize, Fleamont couldn't attend; he has business matters in Rome," Euphemia said in a sweet voice.

"That man always focuses on business," Your mother tsked as Euphemia smiled before your mother looked at the three boys, "Oh my, how you guys have grown," She smiled dearly.

"You don't look like a day over twenty, Ms. L/N," Sirius winked as Remus elbowed him, causing the air to fall out of his lungs.

"Why thank you, dear," Your mother said genuinely as Euphemia glared at Sirius.

"First course is ready!" Minnie said, snapping her fingers to a variety of foods. Your eyes shot in amazement at the different dishes, even some being French.

"Thank you, Minnie," Euphemia said, nodding to the elf as Minnie bowed, disappearing.

"Y/n, how have your studies been at Beaubaxtons?" Euphemia asked, grabbing some potatoes.

"Delightful," You responded, "I know that it seems like a reform school for young girls, but I actually do enjoy it there, and we always watch Quidditch, surprisingly," You said as Euphemia grinned, "I do wish we had our own team though, I would love to play,"

"I'll play with you, Y/N," James said as the table looked at him, "If you ever need a partner," He whispered, digging into his chicken.

You cheerfully looked at him, "I would love to,"

James smiled to himself as Sirius side-eyed James, "And if you ever need another partner, I am here as well," Sirius added, making James kick him from under the table.

"Thank you, Sirius, I would love that as well," You said, still smiling.

Euphemia noticed the two boys rolling her eyes, "And your mother has told me you enjoy reading; Remus might know a thing or two about that," She said.

"I've needed a reading partner. The girls at Beaubaxton read, but they don't have much variety," You chuckled.

"Well, I can assure you that I do," Remus jokingly said as both James and Sirius glared at him, causing Remus to clear his throat.

"That's great! Considering I will be staying here, that sounds incredible," You said as James nearly spit out his dragon fruit juice.

"The cat seems out of the bag," Your mother said, eating another piece of meat.

"Oh, I apologize; you hadn't told them?" You said, looking at Euphemia.

"Not yet," Euphemia said with a slight smile, "Y/N and her mother will be staying with us for the summer,"

They all felt like they were in a dream that felt like reality; Sirius was close to pinching himself.

If they were thirteen again, they probably would've considered this a chance to have another Peter around, but now, it was entirely different.

You were sweet, still enjoyed Quidditch, and read while being entirely yourself.

You were like a dream.

"Trust me, they are all excited," Euphemia told you as the boys snapped out of the trance.

"That sounds amazi-" Remus started.

"I am so glad-" Sirius beginning.

"I can't wait to-"

They all said simultaneously, making you giggle, "I am excited too."

From then on, the conversations were light with laughs and banter, moving through the courses until Euphemia decided that all the kids needed to go to bed, to which James and Sirius protested.

They were all instructed to guide you to your room, to which you followed them up the stairs until they led you to a room with lavender walls and blue and white bedding.

You stopped them at the door, grinning ear to ear at the room, "Thank you all for leading me to my room," You said as they all said you were welcome at the same time.

You giggled, "I missed you guys so much," You said, hugging all of their tall figures with a kiss on each of their cheeks, "Goodnight, I will see you tomorrow,"

They all stuttered a goodnight as you closed the door.

And the Marauders didn't know they could ever want something so wrong.

[helpimstuckposting]

From Santa

Prompt: Magic | Rating: G | Wordcount: 2,957 | AO3 | @steddiebingo

Steve was seven when he found out that Santa did not exist. He tried, once, the whole ‘Santa’ thing. After hearing the stories from kids at school, he ran over to Melvald’s and bought a tin of cookies with his allowance before skipping excitedly home. Some of the kids mentioned feeding the magic deer, because flying took a lot out of them obviously, and Steve wasn’t quite sure what magic deer ate, but he left out a few carrots in the yard just in case.

He was so excited, setting out the cookies in front of the big tree in the living room and hoping he’d wake up to find a present underneath, just for him. Maybe it would be a cool Hess Truck like Tommy wanted, or maybe it would be an action figure, or comic books, or maybe his parents would come home. The other kids said Santa was magic, that he could do anything, so Steve wasn’t picky.

He went to bed excited and could barely close his eyes to sleep, but the other kids said Santa didn’t come if you were awake so Steve tried his very best. He finally fell asleep with the taste of ginger snaps on his tongue (there was a whole tin, and Santa had hundreds, maybe thousands of cookies every night, so he didn’t think Santa would mind one less).

He woke up to a spotless and quiet house, no puddles from snow on Santa’s boots, no bites out of the cookies, and no present under the tree. No parents either. Steve didn’t have any more cookies that day. He couldn’t bear it.

When his parents arrived a week later, Steve was greeted not by hugs and exclamations of how much his parents missed him, but by his mother loudly and forcefully demanding answers to why her yard was scattered with gross old carrots, drying and cracking and covered in mud from the melted snow. So he told her. He told her about Santa and how he wanted him to come, how he went to bed early like a good boy, and waited all night. How he didn’t show up.

She laughed.

It was cold and icy, like the shards still hanging from the gutters on their roof. She told him he shouldn’t be impatient for his presents — they were in the car like always — and really, Steven, it doesn’t look good for a boy to be so demanding, and the presents certainly weren’t from Santa because the man did not exist.

Santa didn’t exist.

So yes, Steve knew from a young age that the jolly man in the coat and hat was simply a lie — told to children to excite them and give them something to look forward to. He didn’t really get it at first; were the presents not enough? Was the week off from school not exciting? Did they not look forward to Christmas morning without the story of a man sneaking down the chimney? But he’d also fallen for it. He was so excited, he liked the idea of feeding the magic deer, and leaving a treat out for someone delivering gifts out of kindness. He liked the story, that a man with so much power wanted to use it to make children happy. He liked being thought of, liked being remembered by someone he didn’t even know, liked that it was a reward for being nice throughout the year.

But it wasn’t true. And that was fine, Steve tried to convince himself. He still got the presents, and he still got his parents, even if they were a week late. He still got a hug from his nanny, and his mom let him have the rest of the ginger snaps, and he didn’t even have to clean up the carrots from the yard.

His parents left again, and school started again, and it was fine.

It was fine, until Tommy came barreling through the door with his Hess Truck held high and the praise of Santa spewing from his lips, and Steve noticed that not everyone shared in Tommy’s delight. Most of them did, and a lot of them brought their favorite toy to school just like Tommy, but a few kids (maybe three) sat still in their chairs — like they could avoid any questions if they blended into the background. They ducked their heads and they sank in their seats, and Steve wondered if they also found out Santa wasn’t real.

But Tommy singled one kid out at recess. He dragged him out, to the center of the playground, and told everyone that Santa didn’t go to trailer parks, that the kids in Forest Hills didn’t get presents from Santa, because only good kids got presents, and how could they be good if they lived in a junk yard. Those words didn’t sound like Tommy, but he was always repeating things his dad said, copying him and taking his word as gospel.

The kid, scrawny with a shaved head and angry brown eyes, sank into his shoes. Not in retreat, not in a cowering way. He sank into his shoes like he was grounding himself, like he was making sure his footing was firm and steady, and he shoved Tommy right into the ground.

Of course, only then did a teacher interject, and only the boy Steve didn’t know the name of was dragged away to the office. Tommy angrily scrambled to his feet and spat at the ground where the kid had stood, remarking that he was right and the Forrest Hills kids were definitely on the naughty list, Steve, wasn’t he right? Did he see that? What a freak that kids was.

Steve rolled his eyes and didn’t say anything. He knew interrupting Tommy was just more hassle than it was worth, and Tommy was wrong anyway because Santa wasn’t real. He’d figure it out eventually, Steve supposed, but he wasn’t going to be the one to tell him.

It was his walk home that gave him an idea. He saw the bus pass by as he trudged along, down the road and off in the direction of Forrest Hills trailer park. He wondered if that kid from recess was there, if he saw Steve out the window as he passed, if he really didn’t get any presents. He thought about all the gifts his parents gave him that were still packaged up in his closet because he had too many and he didn’t really like them all. And he thought about how much he wanted someone to think about him on Christmas, with no other purpose or desire but to make him happy.

So, with an inkling of an idea creeping its way through his head, he ran the rest of the way home and pulled out the phone book from the hallway table, as well as his yearbook from the previous year. There weren’t many numbers from Forrest Hills, but he did find the three kids from his class and a couple from the year above. He picked out which of his unopened presents he thought they’d like the most, and he wrapped them crudely in leftover paper he found in the study. He ripped off a few pages from the note pad by the phone, and wrote out in his best writing:

From Santa, sorry I was late

And then:

P.S. my elf wrote this

Because his best writing was still pretty bad.

It took him a couple days to plan and gather things, but in the dead of night — after his neighbors clicked off their porch lights — he piled all five presents into a little red wagon and tied the wagon to the end of his bike. He took off toward Forrest Hills, a little list of names and addresses crinkled in his pocket. He tip-toed around the dirt paths, freezing in fear every time his little wagon’s wheels squeaked, and placed the presents and the notes from ‘Santa’ on the doorsteps that matched his little list. He checked it twice, just for fun.

He felt lighter on the ride back home, and not just because his wagon was empty.

Steve was seven when he decided to become Santa himself.

It wasn’t obvious, the next day at school, and Steve didn’t do it just to listen to kids whisper about Santa visiting Forrest Hills a week late, but he did notice something. The three kids who had sunk low in their seats the first day back, who avoided talking to the others to brag about their presents, were no longer trying to blend into the background. They sat comfortably in their seats, and whispered among themselves, eyes twinkling a little more than they had a few days ago. Steve was ecstatic. He sat, buzzing silently with excitement as he tried to keep his face blank and neutral. Santa had to be kept secret, after all.

He did it again the next year, adding the newest kids to his list from the years below him, and saved up his allowance to get some cuter presents for the girls; some nail polish and art supplies, some coloring books and beads. This time he wasn’t late, and his handwriting had improved a lot from the year before (though he still blamed the elves for his wonky letters).

He had fun, learning how to wrap the paper around each gift, saving up his money to pick out presents he hoped the other kids would like, wondering what their faces looked like when they opened the door to find a present on their front step.

He was a little worried that the kids would be concerned Santa hadn’t made it inside, being magic and all, but he also noticed that none of the trailers had chimneys so maybe that was okay. He also learned that most of the kids in Forrest Hills did get presents, and he felt a little stupid for assuming they didn’t just from Tommy’s dumb comments, but he also knew they weren’t the fancy presents other kids got like bikes and new games.

He tried making his Santa presents a little more extravagant. After all, why would Santa give Tommy a brand new Lego set, but give Willie across town a pack of baseball cards? Steve just wanted to even the playing field a bit, knock Tommy down a peg or two when he tried humiliating another kid on the playground and that kid said Actually Tommy, I got the new Hess Truck from Santa, too! And Steve remembered wrapping it up, much neater this time, and almost getting caught on the stoop when a dog started barking at him. He muffled a giggle into his hand when Tommy floundered for something to say, coming up empty handed.

As the years passed and the kids in his grade stopped believing in Santa, he scratched their names off his list. He kept adding to it as well, though. He paid attention to the new kids in each grade, noticed if they had a little less than those around them, noticed if they were on the outskirts or if they looked a little nervous as the holidays drew nearer and nearer. He left presents for the Byers one year when he heard that Jon’s mom lost her job after his dad left. He left presents almost all over town, had the phone book highlighted with every address he wrote down in his notebook — a much needed upgrade from the crumpled piece of paper in his pocket. He wrote a list, he checked it twice, and he made sure to slip through the dark like a shadow, avoiding anything that might give him away.

He was always surprised when no adults tried to stop him. Surely, the stoop presents were well known throughout town by the time Steve reached high school, but maybe they didn’t want to know who was behind it. Maybe they wanted to keep the magic alive, too. Either way, Steve played a successful Santa for nearly two decades before anyone found out.

It was Eddie.

It was always Eddie.

Eddie, the boy who knocked Tommy clear to the ground that first winter. Eddie, the boy who made Steve want to help. Eddie, the boy who received the first ever gift from Hawkin’s own Santa, though Steve kind of hoped that was a secret he could keep.

They were putting up the tree in their apartment, the first Christmas they were spending together. Eddie had brought several old ornaments from the trailer, ones that he stole from right under Wayne’s nose because lord knows the man wouldn’t want to part with them if he didn’t have to — a collector, that man was. Steve picked up one that, at first, had been unassuming, a clear bauble filled with glitter. Hanging it on the sad twiggy branch of their Charlie Brown tree, however, he noticed a little piece of paper inside. It was aged and a bit crumpled, but not too shabby for how old it was.

From Santa, sorry I was late, it read in squiggled, messy handwriting, the wonky letters leaning to one side more than the other.

P.S. my elf wrote this

Steve stared at it for entirely too long, catching Eddie’s attention as he hung the last ornament.

“Wayne made that one, if you can believe it,” Eddie said, tapping the plastic bauble with the nail of his pointer finger. “I mean, not the note,” he clarified, “that was Santa.” He whispered the last part conspiratorially, as if letting Steve in on a huge secret. Steve felt like he was going to cry, suddenly, the tears pricking behind his eyes. With a start he realized, selfishly, that he didn’t want Eddie to know. He wanted to keep this mystery alive for just a little longer, like a parent too sad to let their child grow out of the world of magic and wonder, like it was too soon though the secret had been brewing for nearly twenty years.

Eddie wrapped a cautious arm around Steve’s shoulders, unsure of where his sudden teary-eyed expression came from. Instead of facing his questioning look, Steve tucked his head into the crook of Eddie’s neck and listened as the man regaled him with the story of his first ever gift from the Santa Claus.

That year, Wayne had lost his job as a trucker because Eddie had fallen into his lap. He couldn’t leave the kid all alone, had to stay and take care of him, and he was between jobs until the holiday snuck right up on them both. They had a tree, just as shabby and sparse as the one they currently stood in front of, but there was no money to spare for gifts. Wayne had apologized, and Eddie had been very understanding for an eight year old — after all, he had been learning not to rely on adults, anyway.

He’d gotten in trouble when the school year resumed, however, for shoving an insufferable Tommy Hagan to the ground during recess. Of course Tommy hadn’t gotten in trouble, since vigilantism was an under appreciated form of justice, Eddie declared. Steve snorted into Eddie’s neck, just imagining the ranting tirade the skinny boy with a shaved head must have gone on, trying to defend himself to the principal.

Eddie was furious as he got back home, pissed off at Hagan, pissed off at his parents, pissed off at the world. And then — what to his wondering eyes did appear — two days later, Wayne had opened the door to the shittiest wrapped present he’d ever seen. Steve bit his tongue. It was for Eddie, according to the name scribbled onto the wrapping paper, and the little note declared it was a lost gift from Santa.

“Like magic,” Eddie smiled.

Steve had no idea that was his first Christmas at Wayne’s, and he had no clue what that first shove on the playground could lead to. He could still picture Eddie’s scrunched brow as he glared daggers at Tommy, could still remember the way he sank into his shoes and grounded himself for a fight, like he was used to it, like he knew what was coming. He wished he could picture Eddie’s face as he realized Santa hadn’t forgotten about him.

“Anyway,” he said, startling Steve from his thoughts, still tucked away in Eddie’s neck, “Wayne kept that note, and I think he’s got the one from the next year, too. He’d saved enough money for a couple presents that year, but I think he was grateful for a little extra help.”

Steve pictured himself, a tiny little thing, curled up in the living room, all alone on Christmas Eve as he wrapped up presents and wrote out his Santa letters. He remembered feeling less alone for the first Christmas in forever, because he was too busy sticking too much tape onto glittery wrapping paper and worrying about not getting caught to care that his parents weren’t home again.

He thought about the bag full of presents, tucked away in the back of the closet so Eddie wouldn’t find them, and his list of kids he collected from the library’s giving tree. He had planned on sneaking out, planned to slip away from Eddie’s prone form and deliver the gifts alone, like always, but Eddie squeezed his shoulder and kissed the top of his head and he realized that he didn’t have to be alone anymore. Maybe this year there could be two Santas, delivering gifts to the children of Hawkins in the dead of night. Maybe this year he could have some help. Maybe this year, there could be twice as much magic as the year before.

—

Bingo Prompts

[divine0rdainment]

Operation Replace Lilith AU

Adam dies at the end of season one and ends up back in the begining, as in back to when he was in the garden after being freshly created. Lilith is also there with him. And in a panic, he runs off in to the deeper parts of Eden to clear his head. When he's come to realize what's happened, he thinks about life and all his regrets, one of those regrets being that he suffered a lot and got very little reward. Honestly, Lilith kinda got the better end of the deal, she got a husband, a kid, a long life, and in the end, she even got to go to heaven after making a deal! So even tho she did all this bad she STILL got rewarded.

While Adam basicly ate an apple because his wife asked him to, got sent to earth, starved alot, got hurt alot, lost two sons in horrible ways, grew old and died, went to heaven, got bored of heaven real quick, got condescended to by the angels (Cough cough SERA), became an exterminator, was constantly ordered around by Sera, and then DIED AGAIN FOR DOING AS HE WAS TOLD, AFTER GETTING THE SHIT BEAT OUT OF HIM BY LUCIFER AND THEN STABBED BY A BUG!!!

NO, he would not be doing that again. So he makes a plan, he is going to take Liliths place! He's gonna seduce Lucifer, be the one to go to hell with Lucifer, become a king beside Lucifer, and then later be welcomed in to hell like Lilith was after popping out one kid. (He'd figure out how that would work later. Probebly magic.) And then live happily ever after after by abandoning his husband and child like Lilith did, and live the good afterlife!

Plan made, he goes out and waits for when Lucifer shows up. Still ignoring Lilith of course, much to the woman's anger. She doesn't know what she did wrong, but it's making her mad that he won't even TALK to her. Also Adam is inventing things, like clothing out of Sheep wool, and strings and ropes and baskets and even figuring out how to make spices already. So the angels are a bit confused. They thought it would take humans longer to learn this stuff. But here Adam was, building a house out of mud, trees, and rocks, making an Axe out of a sharpened rock ans a long stick and rope.

Lucifer is so fascinated he actually comes down to visit Adam to ask how he figured out to make all this, and Adams plan starts. Too bad the only flirting Adam knows is very sexual flirting that an angel wouldn't get. And the fact that Adam keeps using slang from the 90s-2000s, and Lucifer doesn't understand half the shit he says! But he's trying! The real problem is, Lucifer seems to be the one doing the seducing by complementing Adam all the time for the smallest thing, and always touching Adams arms and shoulder and hair, and holding his hand without reason, and looking him in the eye like Adam holds the stars up himself. Fuck. Adam! Head in the game! You will NOT fall for Lucifer! This is your second chance!!! Your last chance to have the good life! You can't risk it by accidently liking him!!! Hell, your not even gay!!!

[summerlovingbaby]

shopping spree

The stroll around Hogsmeade was pleasant, if not a bit cold for Y/N’s liking. Remus told her to wear a sweater, but she didn’t want to ruin her outfit. She wasn’t gonna ask one of the boys because then not only would they be cold, but she would have proved Remus right. That she did need a sweater, and Y/N was nothing if not stubborn.

The mug of butterbeer defrosted her fingertips, and warmed her throat and stomach when she swallowed it, and she knew that they would be leaving soon anyway, James sluggish tread and Sirus’s frequent eyerolling was enough to tell her that. That, and they were walking back to Hogwarts, stopping mostly at stores to peer through the windows or to humor eachother. James buying Remus and obsinly large chocolate bar that was mostly supposed to be a gag gift, but with as much as Remus ate chocolate it would be helpful.

Y/N walked ahead of the group. The butterbeer she drank made quick work to energize her, not to mention the handful of gummy candy she bought at the store that she chewed on as she walked. Not to mention she was excited that she had the evening off with all her boys, no quidditch, no studying, no interruptions. Just her and the boys she deighned to spend her time with.

She almost started skipping until she saw a flash of yellow in a store window, she stopped suddenly in her tracks and turned on her heels, speedwalking to the store as fast as she could without slipping in the mud, and pressed her face as close to the window that she could get without touching it, her breath fogging up the glass. 

James couldn’t help but smile at the sight, Y/N nearly skipping along the path until she came to a skidding halt to stare at something at a store window, hunched over like a kid at the candy counter. He knew she was probably blushing, it didn’t take alot to make her blush, a simple kiss on the cheek, or holding hands, or calling her pretty was enough to make her glow. Sirius who held James hand was poised to follow when James drug him to stand behind Y/N at the store window, Remus trailing behind them, not wanting to be touched, his skin still raw from the recent full moon.

Sirius smiled at her outfit, though simple, it was pretty, though he was sure that she could make a paper  bag look couture. She was wearing a denim midi skirt that stopped mid calf, combat boots with ribbons for laces and a cropped yellow tank top. Her lips were shiny with black lip gloss and her hair was done up in pigtails tied together with a pink ribbon she stole from Remus.

“ Look at that dress it’s gorgeous!” she exclaimed, pressing her head against the glass, her forehead making imprints.

James peaked over her shoulder, standing on his tiptoes to see. Sirius squatting down to meet her eye line to see. The only thing they could see was a ghastly looking bright pink dress that nearly took up the whole window display. Remus was sure that it was heavy enough that the mannequin would collapse under it’s weight if magic wasn’t holding it up. It was covered in large chunky mismatched crystals and layers and layers of tulle.

Remus knew that wasn’t the dress that caught her eye. It was a dress in the center of the store, he had to slightly raise his head to see it, peaking out behind the pink monstrosity someone called a dress. It was a simple yellow dress, that draped off a hanger, the fabric was interlaced with gold glitter, making the dress seem like the sun, even in the fluorescent lights.

Remus angled their heads so they could see the dress too, and they were immediately smitten.

“ Go try it on,” Remus encouraged.

“ No, we’ve been out too long, and you’re tired, let’s go back to the castle,” she said tugging on his sleeve.

“ Go try it on, it’ll only take a minute,” James said pushing her through the door.

It didn’t take much convincing as she scurried through the store, snatchin the yellow fabric from the hanger as a attendant ushered her to a dressing room. The boys finding a seat near a wall of floor to ceiling windows.

Moments later, she emerged from the window, looking like the sun shining through a raincloud. As stunning as the dress looked on the hanger, it looked even better on her. The dress hanging off her shoulders and hugged her figure, especially her lower belly, which despite her insecurity with, it was James' favorite part of her. It glinted like pure gold in the light, and everytime she moved it sparkled.

“ You look beautiful,” Sirius said dreamly.

“ Thankyou,” she blushed.

“ So pretty,” Remus asked, “ You have to buy it,” he says.

Y/N shook her head sweetly, staring at herself in the mirror, adjusting the way the dress sat on her shoulders. “ No, its nearly 50 galleons,” she said, “ too expensive,” she chided.

Money was no issue for her boys, granted Remus didn’t have nearly as much as his counterparts, but had started a lucrative and illegal business a good bit of pocket change. James and Remus nearly had unlimited money, especially Sirus who could spend 400 galleons and not even notice.

“ Too expensive should not be in your vocabulary,” James clucked.

“ I’m not asking you to buy me this dress.”

“ Good thing you’re not asking,” James said still staring, particularly at her chest that was only covered with a thin layer of sheer fabric and satin.

A attendant clicked over, her heels chirping against the tile as she walked over with a shoebox, presenting it to Y/N.

“ These shoes go with the dress,” she said in a thick french accent.

Y/N opened the box, in the box was a short pair of pale yellow chunky heels, covered with the same fabric as the dress. Draped over the shoe, forming pleats, lined with strips of jewels that formed a large bow on the toe.

“ Ohh, try those on,” James says.

“ No, I’m not getting this dress,” she said, “ It’s very pretty, but I cannot justify spending this much on a dress.”

“ It’s imported from France,” Sirus spoke, explaining the price.

“ You’re imported from France,” she clicks back.

Remus, who seemed to busy to be glancing around  the store to engaged in the conversation, he pinged very suddenly behind Y/N, at a pale pink dress with a large bow on the front of it. “ You like that one,” he said, pointing to it.

“ Yes, it’s very nice, but it’s too expensive.”

“ I asked you if you liked it, not how much it cost,” Remus quipped.

“ I could unwrap you like a present,” James muttered, turning to the attendant. “ Can we have one of those dresses with the big bow at the front in size ___?” he smiled.

The attendant pursed her lips and gave him a tight nod, leaving to return moments later with the dress in that size and the accompanying heels and a handful of chunky jeweled earrings. James studdied the earrings in her open palm, talking in quiet voice with Remus about witch pair they liked, deciding on the the large ones, just because they could.

Sirius wandered off, somewhere Y/N couldn’t see, only to return moments later, while Y/N was begging James to put the dress back on the rack, and return the jewelry and the shoes. Sirius stood next to Remus and James, a lacy black thong dangling off his pointer finger, a cheeky smile accompanying it.

Y/N looked at him with wide eyes and motioned quickly for him to put it back, only for him to reveal the matching bra draped over his other hand. The attendant noticed her obvious discomfort and motioned to the lingerie in his hands, “ If blue isn’t your preference it also comes in green, red and black,” she spoke.

“ Red,” all three boys said at the same time.

Y/N violently shook her head, “ No, you’re not buying anything. Lets just leave,”

“ If you let us buy you stuff we can leave.”

“ No we’re leaving now,” she said stomping to the changing room.

“ 7 things,” Sirius suggested.

“ No things,” she yelled from the changing room.

“ 8 things?” James said.

“ Zero!” she said, flinging open the curtain to search for the hanger for the dress/

“ 10?” Remus shrugged.

“ No, no, no!” she exclaimed, she saw sirius eyeing a dress with an inlay of diamonds and finally came to a resolution. “ Fine, I will get the yellow dress and the one with the bow and the shoes, but no jewelry,” she said, snatching the bow dress from his hands.

“ One necklace,” James added.

“ And one necklace that I don’t need, and the..” she leaned close to them to whisper something quietly, “and the painties,” her face going pale when each odf the boys had a new pair of lingerie dangling on their fingers. Remus, a pretty silk yellow slipdress, and James a bright red teddy.

“ Fine,” she exclaimed out of nothing but embarrassment, snatching the stuff from them and stomping over to the counter.

[rainylana]

Patty Munson

note: a potential series if you guys want it! so please, let me know your thoughts and if you like my version of eddie’s daughter, named after pat benatar!

warnings: mentions of an absent parent, single dad!eddie, and language.

Patty Munson was the exact replica of her dad. From her looks to her attitude, you knew she was the daughter of Eddie Munson. With curly, jet black hair and doe, brown eyes, she had a spit fire attitude that raised a brow with strangers.

She didn’t like her vegetables like him, either, but Eddie always made sure she ate them off her little plate. “Eat at least some of it, Patty.” He’d say.

She started cursing at four, and though Eddie tried to correct her when she’d say something inappropriate at the age of five, he always had a laugh about it when she wasn’t around.

“Look at this crazy bastard, daddy!” She had said, holding up a fish that Uncle Wayne had helped her catch. Wayne shook his head, laughing quickly behind her with a hand to her back, making sure she didn’t slip in the mud.

“Patricia.” He tried to keep his voice from shaking from a choked laugh. “What did I say about grown up words?”

She was an extremely stubborn child. She liked doing things herself, absolutely everything. She was a daredevil, another thing she’d gotten from him. She almost always threw a fit when she had to hold his hand when crossing the street. He had just began letting her get the mail down at the driveway by herself, and she was smiling widely the whole walk down there.

Her mom had left Patty to him after she’d delivered her, and Eddie hadn’t heard from her since. It was hard raising her alone, especially in the beginning, suffering from a broken heart. If it hadn’t been for Wayne and his friends, he surely would have crumbled.

She didn’t talk much about the fact she didn’t have a mom around, but Eddie knew one day she’d start asking questions. The idea of it made him sick to his stomach.

She liked her dad’s tattoos. She colored on some of them sometimes with markers. He had outlines, line work, of tattoos that “need pretty pink color, daddy.”.

When she was a baby, she pulled on his hair all the time. Never Steve’s or Nancy’s. Always dad’s. Eddie never had trouble with the terrible two’s, however three was a particular rough age. She was sick a lot then. Nothing serious, but it always seemed she had a cold or some sort of allergy. He took of work a lot during that time and lost money he didn’t have to loose, but he made it work. He quickly learned that as a parent, you somehow always found a way to manage. It was a superpower.

She was a good kid. She didn’t cry much as a baby, and when she does cry, it’s usually when she’s tired. She hates naps, but anytime she pouts and her lip pulls down, her eyes start to water and she stomps her foot, Eddie knows she’s ready to take a nap. He can almost always bribe her to lay down with reading a story to her.

Anytime she tries a new food, he always makes sure they’re at the parking lot of the hospital, paranoid you’re going to be allergic to something he’s given you. He also learned that being a parent takes years off your life. You’re scared all the time, yet you’ve never been happier. You love like you’ve never loved before. It was the most joyous, powerful thing he’d ever felt. Patty was the love of his life.

She always wants to go to work with dad. She doesn’t like school much. Yet another thing she got from Eddie. She’s good at her letters and numbers, has friends, but more often than not she’s being send home with a note about cursing in class or saying something out of turn.

Her first day of school was hard on both of them. She didn’t understand why dad couldn’t stay. He tried to make it seem like a playdate with all her friends, just a really long play date. He almost cried on the way home, hating the way she cried with her teacher when he left. It was like that everyday for the first week of school, becoming easier over time,

The first time Eddie punished her he could barely do it. He’d told her she couldn’t watch tv before bed. She’d gotten angry and cussed at him. He almost backed down, because it was his fault she learned the words anyways. But he stayed strong, though her tears tore him up on the inside, thinking that she would hate him forever. Another thing he learned, kids got over things quickly.

Patty and Eddie were best friends, two peas in a pod. They were the dictionary definition of father and daughter. He loved nothing more on planet earth than her, and he knew now, that his life finally had meaning.

[awarmbowlofhomemadesoup]

Unofficial Guide to Yuichi Usagi's Friends and Family

This is for the fanfic readers who want to read about Leoichi but aren't as familiar with Samurai Rabbit: The Usagi Chronicles. Note that I'm not a diehard fan but I did watch the two seasons so here are my thoughts.

This post is also spoiler-y to the show and have referneces to the Usagi Yojimbo comics.

Gen

Samurai Rabbit's Gen vs Usagi Yojimbo's Gen

Samurai Rabbit's Gen is based on Usagi Yojimbo's Gen. UY Gen is a self-proclaimed best friend of Miyamoto and constantly has him paying for the food and drinks every time they meet in their separate journeys.

UY Gen is a bounty hunter who knows how to wield a sword but refuses to follow the samurai code because of daddy issues (his dad chose to be faithful to the samurai code over providing a good life for his wife and kid).

More on Samurai Rabbit's Gen

SR Gen is also a bounty hunter but the similarity stops there. He was once from a rich family until his mother chose to heal a wanted convict. This made the people of Neo Edo mad at her which brought down her hospital.

Gen, upon growing up, had to make the hard decision to sell their mansion to the shogun and live his life as a bounty hunter.

Similar to rottmnt Raph, he's the oldest brother and carries that energy to his friends. He has a sister, Yoshiko, who looks like him. But they both insist they look nothing alike.

Toshiko is more free-spirited than Gen, but in Gen's opinion, she's more reckless, which ends up with him cleaning up her mess.

They also have a family car called Ashibasha that is possessed by a yokai that enters into any neglected non-living object. They keep Ashibasha in slight disrepair since they got attached to the yokai possessing it.

Other Stuff I Can Remember about Samurai Rabbit's Gen

He fights with a pair of kaikishi weapon of studded metal clubs called kanabo. Its special abilities are not yet known.

He and his friends are all staying in his ancestral home that his sister bought back.

He's a hypochondriac who would overworry over a paper cut and is a frequent patient of the Neo Edo hospital (which used to belong to their mother) run by three Shiba Inus who like to stay silly despite the horrors.

He's also a germaphobe and one of his greatest challenges against the Machine is going through the sewer part of their ship.

Aside from being a bounty hunter, he's also a sign spinner.

He and his sister has a background on fixing mech.

He sometimes is the advisor to Usagi's naïveté. Like telling Usagi to read the situation first in their first meeting or when he told him that the birthday venue for Kitsune should be something she likes because Usagi kept showing fighting venues.

He knows how to be intimidating for his advantage but is actually a big softie like following Usagi's idea to be their Kaiksihi sensei even when it's going badly so as not to hurt his feelings.

Kitsune

Samurai Rabbit's Kitsune vs Usagi Yojimbo's Kitsune

SR Kitsune is based on UY Kitsune. UY Kitsune is a street performer who robs her audience. A friendship was formed when Miyamoto stole back his wallet from her at the end of the chapter.

Despite being a righteous stick-in-the-mud, Miyamoto does have a sense of humor and doesn't seem to hold it against her when she robbed him of his money pouch that made him washed the dishes in a restaurant he ate in.

More on Samurai Rabbit's Kitsune

SR Kitsune is a street performer too. But instead of tricks with a fan and a toy top, she does puppeteering. She's also easygoing and has the tendency to make casual remarks about her life that ranges from zany to kind of concerning.

Like never having a birthday party in her life because she's an orphan, or that her childhood friend is a puff of gas that smells of fermented soybeans that she assumes is a ghost.

Similar to Mikey, she's just as playful and carries an energy of lightheartedness. She's the glue that holds Chizu with the others while Chizu is busy being the leader of the Neko ninja clan.

Other Stuff I Can Remember about Samurai Rabbit's Kitsune

She fights with kaikishi weapons which is a pair of bladed fans called Tessen. Its special abilities is not yet known aside from being able to return to her like a boomerang when thrown.

Has gay energy with Chizu.

She has a habit of stealing stuff but is trying to rein it in since she has her friends now.

Became sisters with a deadly alien ai that adapted its personality to her own. Her little sister is named Kiyoko. In the Usagi Yojimbo comics, Kitsune also has adopted a street orphan named Kiyoko whom she taught how to steal stuff.

Able to pilot a giant mech because of her puppeteering skills. Someone give that girl a gundam.

Chizu

Samurai Rabbit's Chizu vs Usagi Yojimbo's Chizu

Yuichi's Chizu is based on another character in the Usagi Yojimbo comics. Miyamoto's Chizu is also a ninja. But Chizu's brother, Shingen, got to know and work together with Miyamoto first.

I'm not yet finished with the comics, but all I know is that Chizu's brother died but she has heard of the samurai that he has worked with.

She has trouble with the ninja clan accepting her as their leader, and at one point was told by another ninja leading the clan to marry him so that the ninjas would take her authority more seriously. She refused.

In the end, the other ninja died after he tried to kill her to overthrow her. She then forced a kiss on Miyamoto as thanks or something and then left. (Seriously, I can count three female characters that forced a kiss on Miyamoto.) Chizu is a possible love interest for Miyamoto in the series.

I haven't finished the comics. But after a quick scan in Wiki, I find out she also fails to lead her clan and became a fugitive.

More on Samurai Rabbit's Chizu

SR Chizu has something like a mother complex but a third secret thing with Neko ninja crew leader Lady Fuwa. She was kidnapped as a baby by Lady Fuwa and was trained to be a weapon alongside other cat orphans.

So she kinda has a "You raised us but you kidnapped us. You destroyed our childhood for your gain but I wouldn't be here if not for you. You lie and cheat and backstab including me but I don't want to kill you" complicated thing with her.

Despite ninjas being famous for deception, she's the most strait-laced character in the group.

She tried to be loyal to Lady Fuwa. But Yuichi, Gen, and Kitsune reminded her of her childhood friend that Lady Fuwa took away so that Chizu wouldn't have any other bonds but her. It was Kitsune who was most hurt by her betrayal and Chizu made every effort to make it up to her.

Similar to rottmnt Donnie, she has a dry sense of humor. But again, that's where the similarity stops. If Donnie has evil-scientist-vibes, I think Chizu needs to be reminded to get loose sometimes. Well, at least Kitsune's there to remind her.

She really tried to lead the clan to no crimes but she has so much to learn first. Her clan, with the exception of one who was still loyal to her, turned on her in favor of Lady Fuwa.

Other Stuff I Can Remember about Samurai Rabbit's Chizu

Chizu fights with a kaiksihi weapon bow and arrow, along with her ninja gear of throwing stars and wrist-mounted crossbows. She's also familiar on how to use the naginata (it's like the Japanese version of a polearm).

Is ship-teased with Usagi but it's probably a callback on the Usagi Yojimbo comics.

Has gay energy with Kitsune.

Is looked up to by Hana and the other ninja kittens.

Tetsujin

Based on a sunbear, Tetsujin is the last warrior and guardian of the mystical ki-stone aka Kaikishi warrior. He's the tech guy of the group and his form became that of a sci-fi ghost because of the ki-stone.

He and Lady Fuwa used to be together (which neither Usagi, Gen, Kitsune nor Chizu wants to hear about), but it turned out Lady Fuwa was just using him.

Yuichi Usagi's Aunt

Usagi's Aunt's name is not yet known despite two seasons. She's not based on the Usagi Yojimbo comics. She taught Usagi everything he knows about sword fighting.

Although there was an implication of war a long time ago, judging by Usagi's aunt's leg and ear prosthetics, and that Usagi's parents are nowhere to be seen, there doesn't seem to be any samurais in Neo Edo.

Did She Ever Give Usagi Formal Training on How to be a Samurai? I don't know.

I'm not sure if she has formally taught him how to be a samurai, aside from sword fighting, such as the samurais' philosophies, virtues, and principles. But Usagi once quoted her words about protecting those who need to be protected. So it's possible.

But unlike Miyamoto Usagi, Yuichi Usagi didn't follow the traditional path of being a samurai:

Miyamoto received his sword, Willowbranch, when he was acknowledged by his lord and future master, Lord Mifune, upon proving himself in a tournament.

For Yuichi Usagi, he was given his Aunt's sword, Edgewing, when he wanted to go out to the city. In the Usagi Yojimbo comics, the sword of a samurai is his soul. But it doesn't seem to be the case for Edgewing.

So maybe it's more informal? Since Yuichi Usagi seems to be the only samurai around, the samurai tradition may have become obsolete by the time Yuichi Usagi became Miyamoto Usagi's thousand-year descendant. Similar to how the samurai class was abolished in the late 1860s. But that's just my assumptions.

Did They Pass Down Katsuichi's Unique Style of Swordfighitng? I don't know either.

It is Katsuichi, Miyamoto's sensei, whom Miyamoto learned the way of the sword that had made him a great samurai. But it is not yet confirmed if Usagi's aunt learned the same style.

How does the Yuichi Line Connect to Miyamoto Usago? I don't know that either.

While Miyamoto Usagi is acknowledged as their ancestor, it didn't say in the show if Usagi and his Aunt came from the line of Miyamoto's paternal cousin, Yamamoto Yukichi, or from a descendant of (surname unknown) Jotaro, Miyamoto's son that was raised by his childhood love, Mariko, and childhood rival, Kenichi.

Hana and the other Ninja Orphan Kittens

In the Samurai Rabbit series, Hana and the other orphan ninjas are basically child soldiers. Chizu and Usagi rescued them and the orphans now lived a peaceful life with Usagi's aunt.

They still have a long way to go as they're still trying to get used to civilian life without looting or destroying property (as they did when Usagi and Gen took them on an outing).

Karasu-Tengu

Karasu-Tengu is the Master Yokai of all martial arts and also a nature yokai who doesn't like how Neo Edo had become because it destroyed a forest for it to become so big.

She was going to seclude herself into the deeper parts of the forests to protect and live in it. But Usagi figured out where to find her. She tried to shoo him away like how one would be whacking a slipper after a bug, Usagi fights her as he asks for her to be his sensei.

In the end, Usagi proved himself worthy, and they make a funny pair by how small and harmless Usagi looks like next to her -similar to Miaymoto and his sensei.

Samurai Rabbit has a lot of references to the Usagi Yojimbo comics with more characters. But this post is long enough.

[starsfic]

Xiaotian did not, in fact, stop liking poisons.

its a genuine coincidence, when he smells poison in somebody else's food.

"Chef Zhu, I need you to not panic. We're at the hospital."

Contrary to Long Taitai's words, Pigsy felt panic twist his stomach. "Is Xiaotian alright?! Why are you at the hospital?!" Tang jerked his face out of his book on the other side of the bar, eyes wide. "What happened?!"

The dragon woman sighed on the other end, and Pigsy felt concern mixed with panic. In his opinion, Mrs. Long had always been a touch snooty, never allowing what she felt to show on her face. She allowed Xiaotian to play with her kid, Long Xiaojiao, and let Tang in to study the Long collection of artifacts for his research and, as far as he knew, never said anything unkind, but there was just an aura. Right now, he couldn't sense that aura.

"A person who I assumed was a friend tried to poison my family," Mrs. Long explained. Pigsy wasn't sure what expression he had at that tidbit, but Tang looked even more worried. "I cannot explain further over the phone. Could you please come to the hospital on Third and Lotus Street? We brought Xiaotian here at the authorities' request and they need you."

"Sure," Pigsy said, realizing that she couldn't see him nod. "Yeah, hang on, I'll be there in a sec." Before Mrs. Long could answer, he hung up. "Tang, look after the shop. Xiaotian ate poison again."

Before his boyfriend could respond, Pigsy was already out the door.

-_-

The Li Nezha Hospital had to be the fanciest hospital Pigsy had ever seen. However, that didn't matter. What did matter was being led into the private room and hear Xiaotian's delighted "Dadsy!"

They sat on the couch, Xiaojiao next to them and holding their hand. Mr. Long was holding Xiaojiao's other hand, his eyes red. Mrs. Long was nowhere to be seen.

"They're in perfect health, shockingly enough." The doctor explained. "They ate enough cyanide to kill two full-grown adults on the spot. Although," They flipped the papers. "According to their medical history, that has been covered already."

Pigsy nodded. "Yep. They keep trying to eat rat poison."

"It's spicy!" Xiaotian called from the bed.

The doctor's brows furrowed. "I see." They glanced at the papers and they furrowed even more. "Mr. Zhu, have you had a-"

"DNA test? Yep." The authorities had done about ten of them- eight were for trying to find the small mud-stained toddler's parents while the other two were after the third poison-eating incident. All were inconclusive. "If they have yaogaui heritage, it's nothing in the database."

"I'm a mystery!"

"Yes, you are."

"Well, the justice department does want to keep at least the children here, at least overnight," the doctor explained. "They want to see if they can get a sample of the cyanide from Xiaotian's stool and pee and make sure that Xiaojiao didn't ingest any of the cyanide herself."

Pigsy nodded. "Okay, I can do that."

The doctor led him out to sign the right papers and that was where he saw Mrs. Long.

Her eyes were also red, but she looked ready to throw the phone in her hands. Pigsy waved, and she immediately headed straight towards him. "Thank you," were her first words. "If it wasn't for Xiaotian, I am sure neither I nor my family would still be here."

Pigsy nodded. "No thanks needed. Just..." he sighed, rubbing his brow. "What happened?"

"I cannot give all the details since it's a live case," Mrs. Long said, tucking her phone into her pocket. Pigsy nodded in understanding and she continued. "But I received a box of chocolates from a family friend. The plan was to have them for dessert. Xiaotian and Xiaojiao found them, and the nursemaid found them after Xiaotian ate them all." A smile tugged on her lips. "She told me that the chocolate on them had a strange almond smell, since my husband is allergic to almonds."

"Yeah, I remember that."

"Something in my brain told me to call the justice department and the poison control officers identified the cyanide in them." Mrs. Long's smile faded. "If Xiaotian hadn't found them, according to the officer, my family and I would be experiencing an extremely unpleasant death."

Pigsy felt a shiver roll down his back. He didn't exactly like Mr. and Mrs. Long, but the thought of anyone suffering a death like that was enough to make him nauseous. Xiaojiao was so small...

"I'm sorry this happened." He pulled out his wallet. "I can repay you for the chocolates-"

"No need." Mrs. Long chuckled, her smile returning. Her aura of snootiness was gone, replaced with an unfamiliar warmth. "I already promised the children that we could go out for ice cream once the hospital released them, if that's alright with you."

"Why wouldn't it be?"

She laughed. "Fair. Hopefully, the ice cream's less poisonous."

"Yeah."

Although Xiaotian wouldn't mind...

[shirohige-pirates]

A Truly Mythological Christmas

Cisfem!Reader x Marco the Phoenix

Also on Wattpad // Ao3

18+ - this story is going to get steamy in ways not allowed for your holiday Lifetime specials. Swearing, cheating, assassins, intrigue - you know, all that simple small town stuff.

Chapter 12: Twitterpated

“Are you okay?” Sabo questions, tapping your arm lightly while you all ate breakfast.

“Yeah, I’m good, why?” You hum.

“You put jam on your eggs and pepper sauce on your toast.” He says.

“You’re dipping your bacon in your coffee, too.” Ace grumbles as you come out of your drifting thoughts and return to the world of the living.

“What? I’m—ack!” You pull the bacon out of your coffee and survey the damages of your wandering mind. Putting the jam covered egg on the sauced toast you grin and bear it, eating it like an open face sandwich.

“Is that good?” Luffy questions and you shake your head.

“It’s marginally edible, but good,” you admit, taking a heavy gulp of bacon-flavored coffee, grimacing down to your toes. “Good is not the word I’d use.”

“You don’t have to eat it.” Dadan snorts, but you wave it off.

“If it was unbearable I’d cave, promise.” You assure her. “It’s certainly bracing enough to bring me back to reality.”

“Did Marco drug you?” Ace questions and you choke on your jam-egg-sauce-toast. Dadan cackles, pouring you a glass of water so you’re not trying to clear your throat with bacon coffee.

“No!” You wheeze before taking a big drink. “No, he didn’t.”

“Ah, she’s just twitterpated.” Dadan says. “Pay it no mind lad.”

“Twitterpated?” Ace crinkles his nose. “Like that bunny in that old movie you let us watch?”

“Old movie?” You start to say something and then realize it was probably twenty years old when you watched it as a kid.

“Yeah, kid, like that.”

“If I itch your chin will your foot thump?” Luffy questions and you lean your chin toward him. The crummy and greasy mess that constituted his little five-year-old hands was more of a lesson than the eggs, but you wiggle your foot in response to the fingers under your chin. Luffy giggles and it’s worth the whole affair, as far as you’re concerned.

“Any plans today?” Dadan prompts and you shake your head.

“I was thinking about heading out into the backwoods with the boys this morning, unless you had something else in mind?”

“With us?” Ace tilts his head.

“If you didn’t mind, I thought I’d go play in the woods.” You answer evenly. “See if you lot can keep up.”

“Uh oh.” You hear Dadan mutter and the boys all respond differently.

“Keep up?!” Ace huffs, cheeks puffed.

“Aren’t you too old to play?” Sabo questions earnestly.

“Are you faster than Ace and Sabo?” Luffy beams.

“She’s not!” Sabo and Ace answer at the same time.

“Sure am.” You say smugly. You’re going to regret it later, you know you are, but it’ll be nice to run wild in the backwoods for a couple hours.

The mud should be frozen enough now not to cling so bad to your boots, the air would still be cool and crisp, but not so cold that it would hurt your nose and ears. It was the perfect time of year to do something as reckless as playing in the woods after ten years of being in the city.

“I brought my boots.” You say to Dadan. “I’ll take a snail too.”

“Yah-huh.” She murmurs vaguely.

Rolling your eyes you dismiss her concerns. You’re not yet thirty, you can do this.

Three hours later you’re laying in the mud room with the boys on top of you. All three of you are covered in mud, you’re pretty sure you accidentally ate some at one point. Luffy’s still holding the hercules beetle he found, the sleeve of his coat missing, and three of you are breathing hard.

Dadan looks down at you. “Anything broken?” She asks and you shake your head. “What the blazes happened? I heard you caterwaulin’ from before you broke the tree-line.”

“Bear,” you huff, still catching your breath.

“Bird.” Ace adds, a harrowing tone in his voice.

“Beavers.” Sabo nearly cries, a gnawed off stick in his hand.

“Mama Dadan I found a beetle!” Luffy declares, holding up his prize.

“Well I’ll be.” Dadan says and you groan at the pun.

“Bite me.” You growl, laying flat on the floor for another minute while the boys finally manage to pull themselves together and off of you. “That crotchety old bear was, uh, bigger’n I remember.” You admit.

“The bird almost flew off with Luffy.” Ace says, hand still gripping the back of Luffy’s coat.

“I didn’t even know beavers could be mean.” Sabo sighs, finally letting go of his mostly eaten stick.

“What did we learn?” Dadan prompts, starting to help you and the boys clean up enough you can get proper baths before lunch.

“I’m taking the thunder stick next time.” You admit, pulling a clod of mud from inside your coat sleeve, and opening the back door enough to chuck it outside before taking your coat off.

“Luffy is food-shaped.” Ace says.

“Dadan, can we have steel pipes?” Sabo prompts.

“Feyth finds the coolest things!” Luffy declares, carefully setting his beetle in a small box before letting Ace help him out of his coat.

“It started out perfectly fine,” you assert, pulling off a boot and shaking rocks out. “We were racing for the lightning tree, y’know, the big oak that got hit all those years ago.”

“Yeah.”

“And we made it, but the old bear was there. With his - sorry - her babies.” You explain giving Dadan a look. “Which was to say she had both the right of way, and the ire to back it up.

“Yearlings?”

You nod. “They were thick and fat and dumpy, but a little small, I bet she ended up off-season cause of her age. Probably gave birth early spring instead of mid-winter. Gonna be rough this winter, but she’s fattened the whole lot up. Successful old bat.” Having pulled all your outside gear off you sit on the wood bench near the mudroom.

“Don’t you dare say it.” Dadan growls and you laugh.

“Never crossed my mind, ma’am.” You assure her with a shit-eating grin. “Anyway, we got into the trees and started working our way away from ‘em.”

“We ran out of trees.” Ace interjects, and you nod.

“Hit the clearing, but we’d lost the mom and her kids. Figured we’d relax a bit, and sat down, but that was another not-so-good idea, because there was a pinky.”

“Went for Luffy, huh?” Dadan says and you three nod.

“Almost took Ace with him, but fortunately Sabo and I were enough extra weight to rip Luffy’s sleeve free.”

“You were off the ground?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.” You sigh, waving a hand. “We found the beavers on the way back.”

“They surrounded us!” Sabo cries.

“Steel pipes wouldn’t be a bad idea. These two are already really good at using branches as staves.” You explain to Dadan. “I bet they could tame those woods with a couple metal pipes.”

“Humph.” She nods toward the dining room. “Marco called earlier. If you want to call him back I’ll get the boys started on their bath.”

Nodding, you grab a slop towel and clean up as best you can before you have a seat at the table while Dadan herds the boys upstairs.

You: I’m back, I have a few minutes if you can call.

There’s silence for a moment, and then your phone rings. Marco’s name and number pop up and you answer it.

“Hey.” You greet him, voice maybe a little breathier than you meant, the tone a little higher pitch.

“You have fun, yoi?” He questions, a smile in his tone.

“Uh… yeah, I think so.” Laughing a little nervously you give Marco a shorter version of the summary you gave Dadan.

“Not the luckiest day for the backwoods,” he admits and you can hear the nervousness in his voice.

“No, no, not even a little.” You admit. “But we’re okay, and I mean, it wasn’t any worse’n what we went through back as kids, so, it’s fine. It’s fine. It’s… ah… hells, there is something I meant to ask Dadan but maybe you know.”

“Hm?”

“Who hunts in the backwoods?”

“Huh?”

“I know there’s game trails behind the manor, and south of town is where most of the deer and boar are, that hasn’t changed, right?”

“It hasn’t.”

“Fuckin’ tourists then, maybe.” You bite the words.

“Did someone shoot at you?”

“I think they were going for the pinky.” You admit. “It was one shot, too low, but then we got mixed up with the beavers and I didn’t have a chance to try and sort out what kind of dumbass was trying to bag a pinky.”

“I can check in with my brothers, but I know none of the locals would hunt in the backwoods, and I can’t imagine a tourist heading out without checking in with the local branch, yoi.”

“I’ve met plenty of near useless cosplay hunters, who wouldn’t think to check with local game warden before wandering off into the woods.” You sigh. “Especially in a small town like this.”

“Eh, yeah.” Marco sighs. “I’ll see if one of the boys can hit up the hotels and make sure the front desk sends out some refresher notices.”

“Sorry,” you hum. “I wasn’t trying to make you go grey, fineapple.”

He chuckles. “You’re not the one hunting pinkys, yoi.” He assures you. “How do you feel?”

“Oh gods, like I’m sixty.” You whine even as you laugh and Marco chuckles along with you. “Once the boys are done getting cleaned up I might just move into that tub until dinner.”

“Well, then not today, but maybe starting tomorrow, I was hoping I could convince you to give me a hand at the store.”

“I doubt you actually need the help.” You tease. “But, yes, I wouldn’t mind having an excuse to spend time together. We have plenty of catching up to do.”

“We do.”

“No funny business during business hours, though, Mister store owner.”

“I make minimal promises.” He says honestly, and you can imagine the look on his face.

“Humph. What time do you want me there?”

“Sunrise to sunset if I could only be so greedy, yoi.” He answers immediately. “But if you come down after lunch, it’ll help. Resetting the shelves after the morning crowd can get tedious, and the afternoon slows down until everyone gets off work. The perfect lull to chat while we work.”

“As long as you actually put me to work, sure.” You grin.

“Wouldn’t dare insult a sincere offer to help,” he assures you. “Official uniform’s just a business casual shirt and slacks, but whatever you have will work, yoi. It’s not like you packed with this in mind.”

Laughing, you nod. “That’s fair. I’m sure I have something passable. You, uh…” You can feel your face flush despite everything. “Working late tonight?”

“More like than not, sadly.” He answers. “Busiest season is the next three weeks. It’s one of the reasons I was hoping you wouldn’t mind coming in to help out.”

“Alright.” You agree cheerfully. “I certainly can’t give you grief for working hard.”

Marco laughs. “No, I suppose not. I would like to go on at least one more date while you’re here, yoi.” He admits. “Christmas Eve, if you think you can keep your dance card empty?”

“Even if it were full, I’d have room for you.” You say as evenly as you can. There’s a moment’s silence that’s a bit longer than you expected before Marco replies.

The soft slip of air that’s half sigh half nervous laugh makes you a little sad you can’t see his face right now. “That’s… good.” Marco clears his throat. “I look forward to it, pretty bird.”

“Yeah, me too.” You can feel yourself starting to talk in circles. “I’ll see you tomorrow, have a good day.”

“Not as good as tomorrow will be, but I’ll try.”

Hanging up the phone you hide your face in your arms. There’s no one around to see how bad you’re blushing, but you can’t help it. Getting flustered like some teenager at this age wasn’t something you expected.

Getting flustered wasn’t something you thought you did in the first place.

Maybe it was just because of the events earlier. With the boys and the bears and the bird and the beavers. Everything had gotten your heart rate up and that’s all it really was, but you didn’t even believe that for the moment it took you to think it, so there was no use trying to lie to yourself like that.

Dadan wouldn’t have pushed you into anyone while you were here, but you know she was tickled pink to see you and Marco trying. No matter what did or didn’t happen.

The fluster of the phone conversation ebbed away slowly and you sat at the table, tapping your finger against the wood in thought. The only thing that really bothered you from this morning was that shot. Maybe it was just the timing or the adrenaline, and maybe it was just your imagination, but if Luffy’s coat hadn’t ripped…

You shake your head. There was no use dwelling on it. If something as fantastical as a hit man was in Sphinx they would’ve fired more than once. The clearing where you landed was no more protected than you had been up in the air. They would’ve had to been another full hill over if anything else was giving you cover.

And marksmanship to that degree was impossible. If the shot had come from that far away it was probably someone who missed what they were aiming for, and accidentally threaded the shot over to where you were. In all your years in this town it would not be the strangest thing to ever happen.

[florsial]

I was directed to you by @/starzzmissthesun

So now I must know every thought you have on Xeno. Specifically how well would he connect to other people/relationships, your favorite headcanon/least favorite headcanon, favorite food, and biggest fear. And any other information.

I also ask for your favorite ship/character or the easiest ship/character to write.

Also hi!! I hope your day has been going well.

hi hello welcome to my blog its a mess here rn but we will find a way to fix it (soon hopefully!)

And I hope your day is also going very well <3333

Here's a couple posts i have that center around Xeno: <3 :D and here are the ones about his relationships! Xenodora 1 2 and one a small insight on his relationship with Lucius! ꒰��. .ᐢ꒱₊˚⊹

The thing about Xeno is that isolation is a crucial part of his character! I've said before that he's basically in a maze and never wants to leave and when he does it's because of Pandora (when she dies, he takes Luna and hides further). He's alone with creatures and beliefs of his own making, the ghost of his wife dancing, the shadow of a "brother" in the corner, and his daughter's pale white hair as a mirror of the moon.

He doesn't connect with others outside of his family very well and even then he's kinda disregarded by everyone in his family except his mother, he was very isolated in Hogwarts, and even he and Pandora didn't get along very well initially. His views and eccentric thinking tend to throw people off balance and drive them away, he creeps them out, and sometimes he doesn't understand the line between being blunt or just straight-up rude (he's a bit tone-deaf). He's so in his head that he comes off as passive (derogatory) and spoiled/selfish by others.

That's also why I can't see him with anyone except Pandora (and maybe Evan), she'll always be the only person who can understand the way his mind works and I just can't see anyone else doing that (I'm sorry 😭)

My favorite HC of them is that they are genderqueer and very pretty! I mentioned before that Xeno loves white, they look like an angel and easily the brightest person you can pick out at a party! But that is before they run off with Pandora! When he was with his family, his white clothes were constantly replaced/cleaned when dirtied but now that he isn't with the Malfoys anymore, he likes to leave his clothes "marks of his thinking" (dirt/mud/blood from running around the woods) but it's also kinda meant to represent how lost they are now that Pandora is gone (the common trait of depression is lack of energy/motivation to do basic tasks)

I don't really have a least favorite since I'm open to a lot of things but one I just can't see is the age gap where Xeno is this way older guy than Pandora. Idk he's very childlike to me lol

He's very into sugary things! Gives him energy! He's like Regulus in that sense that they are inhaling cakes and candies whenever they get the chance! I like to think Lucius would shut him up with some grandma-esque candy from their fireplace when they were kids and Narcissa would catch him sometimes just sitting in the kitchens listening to him rant about something around him as he ate a cake in the middle of the night.

HE SHOULDVE BEEN A BIOLOGY TEACHER (he reminds of my bio teacher from last year actually lol) he bushes the boundaries of life BEYOND WHAT IS POSSIBLE HE'S LIKE LIFE JUST LIKE PANDORA!! THEY ARE BOTH CREATORS OF THEIR OWN WORLD THEIR OWN FAMILY!!

I think his biggest fear is Luna, since Pandora is already dead at a certain point, this possessiveness derives from fear. That's his daughter, the only thing left of his love, the only family they have now, his flesh and blood so carefully crafted together to form the most beautiful little girl with pretty eyes like her mother and moonlight hair. He isolates Luna with him in a maze of overgrown vines because it's the only way he's ever felt happy and maybe his daughter will be happy away from everyone too.

Maybe at one point, he feared the loss of his older brother but as he grows, he'll come to accept that he never had a brother in the first place.

And yes, I like the thought of him being Lucius' younger brother.

on a lighter aspect, Lucius and Xeno are def the brothers who go out to buy groceries in the middle of the night in their PJs

On the second part! I think the easiest character that comes to me is Regulus! I carefully had to work with his character for a couple months and even now I'm making slight tweaks but I'm pretty satisfied with him rn! (On the other hand, James is a weird one for me, the way I view him is very different from how others view him so I'm working on carefully drawing a line I can balance lol) (plus Barty, he's an odd one to write) but writing Bartylus is very easy for me! Their relationship is like the most normal thing about them so it's like writing a teenage romance lol (jegulus is pretty tricky for me to get down since they are complex for me) (But make no mistake I LOVE JEGULUS AND WRITING THEM it's so satisfying when I get the dynamic just right!)

[misstycloud]

Evan Carter

Character profile- OC

::::::::::::::::::::::

Name: Evan Henry Carter

Height: 186 cm

Appearance: Black hair, blue eyes and pale.

Likes: His darling, his son, cats, gardening, the rain, IKEA, soccer, coffe with milk.

Dislikes: People who hate on cats, too much sugar, standing in line, his old school bully, anyone who disrespects him or his darling.

TW: bullying,

————————————

Evan grew up in a smaller town on the country side. The small population crated a community where everyone knew everyone. His family were no exception. Growing up with his parents and older sister, he got to see the rotten side of people. As he grew, Evan noticed that the people in his home town weren’t the nice. Not like they wanted everyone else to believe.

For example- there was Mr. Becker who was known for bringing up his wife in any conversation; No matter what it was. You could talk about a bathroom renovation and suddenly it was somehow about Mrs. Becker. A pair of ‘newlyweds’ folk said. ‘It’s like there’re still on their honeymoon’. The ideal couple the Beckers were. So how come Evan could sometimes see a flash of red hair through the window, right before the curtains would close. Mrs. Becker was a plump older woman with blonde locks, and there was no way she’d have dyed her hair. Besides, if she did; why was she blonde again next morning. Not wanting to be shunned by the community, they play the part of living spouses. Evan wasn’t sure, but he had a gnawing feeling they could tell that others knew.

Then there was his elementary school teacher Ms. Jenn. She was the school saint. The one who always asked how you were doing, praised you for every little thing, played with you. It was no secret that absolutely everybody adored her. Ms. Jenn loved all kids no matter who they were or loked like. So why was she looking at him with so much sustain? No, no, of course she didn’t hate him! She just forgot to ask if he wanted to partake in games. It was no big deal though. He seemed like one to enjoy playing alone, after all.

Even his own family was not spared from sin. His parents were just as bad as the neighbours, with their fake smiles and concealed resentment. The awfully long garden parties created solely so they could examine each other and judge. The fabricated friendships and affection made him want to vomit. He did not want part of that. What’s the point of making an effort to peruse a friendship with someone you don’t even like? Evan saw it as utterly meaningless, and perhaps that is one of the reasons they doesn’t have a good relationship.

Evan could not remember a single moment of his childhood where he felt any hightend emotion. Not when it feel like it’s gonna explode out of your body and it’s impossible to hold it in. In fact he was very good at holding in emotions, since they weren’t even strong to begin with. You know when you do something exciting and you just want to happily scream and jump around like a crazy person? Or maybe, when you see something incredibly sad that you want to ugly sob in your room 3 am.

Yeah, he never felt that. Not during his birthdays. Not when his class got to visit an amusement park. His grandfathers funeral did not make him shed tears either. Honestly, he was a bit glad the old man died, he nagged him about being a normal boy.

But he wasn’t. He wasn’t normal. Not by others standards at least. Although he breathed, ate, slept and had interests; no one seemed to think he was ordinary. At first when he was younger, he tried to argue against those opinions. But after a while he accepted that no matter what he said or did, no one was gonna change their mind.

With the judgement also came other inconveniences. One of them was bullying. It ranged from verbal harassment to ruining his clothes. If it rained the day before; they decided to push him into the mud. If his clothes were slightly nicer; they’d cut holes and rip the seams. Worst was it when they stole them. It happened when his class went swimming in a big lake near the town. When he got up from the water and prepared to get dressed, he saw multiple of his garments had disappeared. He got horribly sick after being forced to return home in simple swimming trunks. Evan thought he would freeze to death before he got home.

Not wanting the torment to continue, his ten year old self made a decision. If he wanted to be treated better, he would have to act like them. So he did just that. He faked excitement, regret, sadness and more. After using his newfound acting skills, did the town treat him better. It was a subtle change. It started with his bullies not threatening him for lunch money. Then they stopped cornering him in the boys bathroom. Eventually they left him alone completely. Evan supposed they perceived they couldn’t bully someone who was normal. That’s what he was; a normal boy. Actually most students left him alone. Only addressing him when absolutely having too, like under pair assignments.

The adults first chose to ignore the acts of the wretched kids, because of his strange behaviour. Why would they defend some weirdo kid who didn’t fit in on their description of a suitable child? But when Evan suddenly transformed into an ordinary boy, then it was a whole different story.

Things really turned around when he came back to middle school, after summer break. It was then that students started speaking to him without mockery. They even tried to befriend him! Saying things like; how smart he his and complementing his appearance. It seemed like the had all forgotten about the past. But Evan hadn’t forgotten a thing. He played along however. Made ‘friends’ and socialised everyday. He even joined a club; the soccer club to be exact. In it was his closest companions. They were the ones he hung out with most of the time. The ones who he formed close ‘bonds’ with. They ate together, laughed together and fought as well. But it never lasted long.

Despite appearing to feel so many things, Evan felt non of it. It’s not that he didn’t have any emotions at all, they were only not as strong. He felt very limited compassion when his geography teacher died, while everyone cried at the funeral most he could think of was that he hoped the new one would be better. Evan felt bad for the family, no doubt, but he wasn’t able to say the death moved him.

It went on like that until the day when he graduated. By then he’d already made plans to move to the city. His parents tried to convince him to stay, but yielded when he promised to send them money he earns with his good job. It was a small sun to pay in order to get the hell out of there. Finally he could live alone, without having to forcibly interact with people. He could make good money and just live life. But Evan understood it would take time before he could have a real good job, and he was willing to work for it.

In the big city, the young man worked his way through the years. Getting different jobs, and eventually better ones. With that also came bigger demands. His mother and father began asking for more money. If they could leech of their son in their now old age, why wouldn’t they? From his older sister they didn’t ask much. While on a phone call with them he found out she’d married a guy from her university. They’d met through mutual friends apparently. He didn’t inquire why he found out about it after the wedding.

When he met the love of his life, everything turned around. No longer did love seem pointless, no longer did he have to fake happiness, no longer was he alone. The party he met his darling was hosted by mutual friends. At first, he showed reluctance to attend, but after being practically threatened to come he put on his suit and went.

The best decision he ever made.

——————————-

[summerlycoris]

Is it really a birthday party if you wake up in a hospital?

Chapter 18- I had my cake. I ate it. It ate me too.

Ao3 link- here

Chronological link- here

Well, Cassie couldn't dodge this bullet anymore. She was due to have her second appointment with Ms Tyrian. Except this time, she'd be meeting her at her home. Because Ms Tyrian was working from home- being a Friday, her kids only had a half day. So it made sense for her to be home for them.

Mom was laying some ground rules on the drive over- she had other stuff to do, so she'd be dropping Cassie off, then picking her up later.

"Be polite. Don't do anything there that you wouldn't do at home. And don't leave the house until I get there. Ring me when you're done with your appointment, okay?"

"Yes, I will."

"Good."

Mom drove into a large yard, and pulled up near a kinda rundown house. The yard was muddy dirt and scraggly wet grass, from last night's storm. Full of sun-bleached toys, and various equipment. The kind you'd find out in rural areas. Plus a huge shed out back, visible from the street. Which made sense- this house was in Virgin. Cassie hadn't expected a therapist to live in a place like this.

Cassie went to get out, grabbing her crutches. But Mom called out from the front seat. "Cassie, you're just going to slip over, or track mud through the house. I'll carry you to the porch."

That just made Cassie feel like a baby-

"No- I'll be careful. And I'll take my shoes off so I won't track mud, either." She had to go quickly, before Mom could come around and get her. Which… kinda meant putting 'careful' on the backburner. But she was up, and shutting the car door by the time Mom had gotten to her. "See? I can do it."

Mom just shook her head, and clicked her teeth. "Okay, come on then."

She got over there carefully, trying to avoid the muddier parts of the yard. With every step, her crutches and shoes would slightly sink into the ground. Which made things harder. Luckily, they didn't have far to travel before the porch. Cassie slipped off her shoes, while sitting on a little bench out front. But she couldn't do much about her crutches. "Umm…" She could feel Mom staring at her with a 'you should've listened to me' look.

"I've got some tissues in the car, hang on."

She retrieved the tissues from the glove box, and gave some to Cassie. "Thanks, Mom." She started wiping down the ends of her crutches. Mom started wiping up the soles of her shoes, which confused Cassie.

She asked why, and Mom told her. “You'll need to wear your shoes with your brace, unless you want to damage it.” 

… That made sense. Sometimes, she was still surprised when she had to wear shoes.

Mom knocked on the door while Cassie put her sneakers back on.

By the time Cassie was done, the wooden door had been opened by two little girls- one blonde, one brunette. Both wearing witch costumes. They both looked the same age- maybe eight years old? The wire door was still shut. Cassie could hear a boy's voice inside, calling out about the door.

"What's the password?" Said the one on the right. The other just giggled into her hand.

"... Open sesame?" Mom suggested. Only to be met with more giggles.

"Nope! Can't come in!" Laughter now, as the girls shut the wooden door on them. Cassie could see Mom fuming, but she could hear bigger footsteps approaching. 

"Gemma! Nikki! Stop driving away my clients!" There was the sound of a bunch of little feet running away, and then the wooden door opened again. This time, Ms Tyrian was there. "I'm sorry about that, Marcela. The girls can be a little mischievous."

"Oh, it's not a problem." Mom lied. Ms Tyrian didn't seem to notice, and let them in.

The house looked like a home full of kids. Toys everywhere in the living room, with the tv clearly playing some cartoon show, from the exaggerated noises. A few lounge chairs and a sofa over to the side, with a familiar boy laying on the floor reading to a young baby…

He looked up at them with a start, and yelled out "What are you doing here?! I haven't told you where I live yet!" While pointing at Cassie.

"Chris, be polite. She's here to see me."

He blushed, looking embarrassed. "It's just… sorry. Hi? Pardon the mess, um…"

"Chris- it's okay. I think your house looks cool." Because it did look cool- it may have been run down, but it looked like a family home. And Cassie liked those sorts of homes best. 

"Um, okay. Thanks?" He seemed a little confused, and embarrassed, trying to hide some of the toys around him.

"Well, I just got finished with my last client." Ms Tyrian said, addressing Cassie. "Would you like to come with me? Marcela- are you waiting here or…?"

"Oh, sorry. I need to get to the shops before they start closing. Groceries wait for no one, Sophie." She joked. "I'll pick her up when she's done, she's got a phone to ring me up on."

Ms Tyrian nodded. "Well, okay then. I'll talk to you a bit later then. Cassie?" She motioned for Cassie to follow. 

Cassie waved bye to her Mom, before going with Ms Tyrian. She needed to be a bit careful going through the house, because the hallway beside the living room, leading up to the office, was fairly narrow. But, it was only narrow once they got past two doors facing each other. And only because there were cupboards, and little tables along the sides. At the end of the hallway was a door, labeled ‘Mom's office- stay out unless you're on fire.’

"Nikki made that sign- she thought it was hilarious. And well… she's not wrong." Ms Tyrian sighed. As they approached the door, a teenage boy opened it quietly. A few years older than Cassie, by the looks of it. With brown hair, blue eyes, and tanned skin. He started when he saw them walking towards him, then stared at Cassie.

He looked a little familiar-

"Were you sneaking around my office again? You cheeky boy- I thought you'd already gone home." She crossed her arms.

Ms Tyrian probably would've said more. Except there was a loud CRASH, and the sound of something breaking. Then a girl scream-crying, and another screaming "MAMAAAAA!"

Her face went pale, eyes wide, as she wheeled around and ran through a door near the front of the house. "What are you- oh Gemma! How did you get in here?" Cassie went to follow her, before feeling a hand on her shoulder. 

She gasped- and nearly fell over, turning that quickly. It was that boy. "I'll go check- don't worry." He didn't wait for a response- just ran past her and into that room. Shutting the door behind him.

She didn't really know what to do- this wasn't her house, and she wasn't sure if Ms Tyrian would want her wandering around, even if it was to try and help. Besides, that boy was there now, too. So things should be okay?

The continuous, yet now muffled, screaming from the girls said otherwise.

“Cassie? Hey, Cassie?” She could faintly hear Chris calling out over the din, and carefully made her way back towards the living room. 

Once she got there. Chris was sitting up holding the baby in his lap. He looked a bit confused. And frightened, from the way his face went even paler than usual. 

“Do you know what’s going on?” He asked her.

"Uh, yeah, kinda? I think your sisters broke something and hurt themselves. Your Mom and another boy are in there, though.” she said, pointing in the rough direction. 

She wasn’t sure what room it was. But he seemed to get it. He furrowed his brows a bit, and sighed. “They must’ve got into the kitchen. Mom probably left it unlocked again.” he looked back up at Cassie, while the baby fussed and tried reaching for his face.

Cassie kind of got the message- the kitchen was off limits to his sisters, and they’d hurt themselves in there. Possibly badly, from the way they were crying.

“Well, no one's yelled for an ambulance yet… your Mom and a older boy are in there with them. Is the older boy your brother?" she asked, rubbing her arm and feeling awkward. 

He shook his head. "God no- I’ve got enough siblings! Sounds like Tony- he’s one of Mom’s clients, and he babysits sometimes. He must be working off the clock." he sighed, and rolled his eyes. "Well, um. Sorry again for being weird when you came over. I just wasn't expecting it at all. I didn't even know you were one of my Mom's clients."

Cassie laughed nervously. She wished shed been able to keep the fact she was seeing a shrink quiet. "Yeah, In your defense, I've only been to her once before. And that was at the hospital, so…" She changed the subject. "Is that little baby your brother? He looks really cute.”

"Oh no- my nephew. My sister's busy with schoolwork, so sometimes we look after him. His name's Danny- wanna come hold him?" he asked, holding him up slightly, so that she could grab him.

She nearly agreed, until Ms Tyrian poked her head out the (kitchen?) door. The noise of that door opening alerted Cassie, as she turned back to look at her. 

The screaming had stopped, replaced with sobbing noises. "Cassie?” Ms Tyrian looked down the hallway, before seeing Cassie standing in the doorway leading to the living room. “I'm so sorry- I have to deal with this. Did you want to wait in my office? I shouldn't be long at all."

She nodded. Ms Tyrian shut the kitchen door again, and Cassie turned back to Chris. Who just clicked his tongue. "Sorry- can I come hold him afterwards?"

"Yeah, sure. He loves meeting new people- good way to socialize him, y'know? I'll see you after."

"I'll see you then." She said, before heading back into the hallway, and shutting the living room door. The office door was still open from where the boy had come through earlier. 

She would've preferred to hang out with Chris, than sit there alone. But Mom had asked her to be polite. 

She didn't want to cause more problems. By the looks of it, Ms Tyrian already had enough on her plate.

Ms Tyrian's home office was small, kinda cozy. With a filing cabinet and a full bookcase against the wall to her right. There was a computer on her desk, pressed against the left wall. And in the middle of the room were two chairs, facing each other with a rug in between. One chair was a couch, and the other was a lounge chair. The lounge chair was probably Ms Tyrian’s, so Cassie went and took a seat on the couch. 

She waited for a bit, just looking around, until she decided to send some texts to Lawrence and Siobhan.

After a while, Cassie got distracted by the door creaking open. She put away her phone, and looked up at it- that boy from earlier was back. His eyes went wide as he saw her. "Um- hi? I'm allowed to be here." He said. 

Well, that's suspicious. "Uh-huh. Sure you are."

He grinned sheepishly at her. "I am actually! Kind of… Ms Tyrian lets me hang around sometimes, to read the books." He pointed to the bookcase. "She doesn't want me hanging around all the time- it'd interfere with her job. But she's busy right now… do you mind me being here?"

"No, I don't. Just as long as you aren't setting up any secret cameras or something." She teased. 

He laughed and shut the door behind him. "Oh no, don't worry- I'd never do that… or at least, I'd never be caught doing that." He joked, with a wink.

She couldn't help but laugh. He looked at her, a bit pensively. "Y'know, you look familiar… are you Cassie Oliveira?

That took her back. "Um, yeah, I am. Do I know you from somewhere…?"

He nodded, and went over to the bookshelf. "Yeah- from Greg's thirteenth birthday. You were there- he introduced you as a family friend."

That jabbed a shard of glass right into her heart. She'd thought he couldn't have hurt her anymore. "Family friend…" 

Shows how much he thought of me.

His shoulders slumped, as he leant against the bookshelf, looking at her, arms crossed. "I'm guessing, from that, that you, uhh… have a complicated history with him?

She bit the inside of her cheek and looked at her lap. She didn't want to get into this. "Yeah. Guess you could say that."

He sighed. She looked up at him. He looked… relieved? What- "to be honest, I… get that. I have a bit of a complicated history with him, too." He looked at her confused look, then slapped himself in the face. "I haven't even introduced myself properly- you must think I'm a weirdo! My name's Tony Becker. I… used to be one of Greg's friends? Like I said, it's… complicated."

Used to?

Cassie relaxed a little. "Do you want to sit down for a bit? I don't think Ms Tyrian's gonna be here for a while." The crying had stopped. But that didn't mean whatever she had to ‘deal with’ was over.

He nodded, and sat down on the couch beside her. Moving the crutches that had leant up against that side, so he didn't knock them over. 

For what felt like a while, neither of them knew what to say. Cassie chewed on her cheek, and Tony picked at a loose thread in his turtleneck sweater. 

"We used to go to the same school. Probably still would've, if, y'know... We would work on projects together, and hang out after school."

"His Mom was my Mom's old college roommate. They'd been friends since forever. It just made sense we would be too. And we were. I think? I thought we were best friends. But best friends don't…" try to kill their best friends by cutting the elevator cables.

He stopped picking at his sweater for a bit, and pointed at Cassie's leg. "Did he do that to you?"

Her eyes went wide. Had she said too much? How does he know? She opened her mouth to ask him, but he interrupted- "I'm asking because, it wouldn't be the first time he's hurt a 'friend'." He pulled the turtleneck down, showing a faint, thin scar on his neck. 

And her mind whirled in place. Like a wheel stuck in mud. She was sure her jaw had dropped. What could she possibly say to that? Because it was obvious what that line meant- Gregory tried to slit his throat? What the fuck?

That was… so much more personal than cutting an elevator's cables. You could drop someone's elevator, and never even hear them scream. But to cut someone's throat- that's a whole different kettle of fish.

It left her wondering if she really knew Gregory at all. 

"I'm sorry for scaring you like that. Did you want me to stop talking about this?" Tony asked, letting the turtleneck slip back up. That helped bring her back to earth. 

"No, you're not scaring me. It's just- that doesn't even make sense. What he did to me- there was some logic behind it." He didn't want to let that monster out. That monster that killed Janet. That nearly killed Andy and her friends. That nearly killed me. "That logic wasn't sound- it got out anyway-" 

She stopped, and realized that Tony looked completely confused. 

"... How about I start at the start?"

________

She told him everything. V.A.N.N.I Mask. AR world. Killer robot. Being tricked by the killer robot. Best friend. Betrayal. Two weeks under sedation. Six weeks of trying to get back any semblance of her normal life. Janet. Guilt. Anger.

"Like I said, the logic wasn't even sound. The monster just climbed through the fallen elevator to get out. So it didn't even matter. He didn't have to drop the elevator. He could have let me out. Maybe we could have done something about it, I don't know. But he didn't. He didn't…"

They'd gotten closer on the couch without Cassie realizing it. Until he wrapped her in a hug. "God, I don't know what to say to that…"

She didn't know what to say either. She just hugged him back. It felt like the world was hanging upside down- any minute now, everything she thought she'd known would fall away.

"... What I don't get is why he'd do that to you." She said.

He let go of her, and looked sheepish again. "Yeah- there was a weird logic behind what happened to me too. I was snooping around, trying to figure out something about the Pizzaplex. I ended up getting too close to unraveling something he was trying to hide. And that's when he tried to take me out. He invited me there, and we stayed later than usual- I lost track of time. He said he'd show me what was really going on…" Tony laughed, bitterly. 

"He certainly did! First, he kept asking me to see Freddy with him. But I'd been suspicious of that bear earlier, so I refused. Then… he must've gotten desperate. He invited me into a weird little room, and… went for plan B." He looked down into his lap, Cassie just listened patiently. He'd listened to her, after all. “He tried to slit my throat first, then…” he looked like he wanted to say something, but thought better of it. “But it… none of it worked out for him. Things got really blurry. But I got away- he wasn't strong enough to do it I guess? I don't think he was expecting me to fight back. I had to sneak around, it seemed like every one of the performers was looking for me. By the time I got out to the entrance, it had locked down for the night. And all the staff had gone home." He went back to fidgeting with that loose thread.

"Why didn't you tell anyone?" She asked. "He could've been brought to justice- and 'my friend tried to kill me because I was too nosy' is a lot more believable than 'my friend cut the elevator cables to keep a terminator-thing down in the sinkhole'!" She just couldn't believe it- this could've been prevented. If Gregory was in Juvie, she'd have had no reason to believe he was at the pizzaplex in the first place! 

She could've just stayed home and sorted out what movies she'd watch with Mom the next day-

He withdrew a bit, crossing his arms over his chest. "It's… it wasn't that simple. Like I said… It's complicated. Ms Tyrian should be back soon- I'll grab that book and get out of your hair-" Tony stood up, and went to go towards the bookshelf. But Cassie reached out, grabbing him by the wrist. He tensed up under that touch, and looked a little… Scared? Guilty? when he turned back to her.

There was a surge of guilt through her- he'd opened up to me- and now he thinks I'm judging him because I couldn't keep my mouth shut. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be weird about it. It's just… a lot to take in. I don't blame you." He relaxed a little, and she let him go. He didn't make any moves to leave, this time. "The Pizzaplex was closed- How'd you get away?" 

Tony sat back down next to her, and said- "I didn't get away."

________

It was over. All over now. 

He'd been caught. Now he was staring up into Monty's green snout, as he leered over him. Or were there three Monty’s? Vision blurry and spinning. Sirens blaring in his ears. Everything hurt. 

After a whole evening of narrowly avoiding attempted murder by his ‘friend’. Then animatronics, stalking him through every room. Then, a creepy bunny girl with a knife… he had nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide. 

The fire escape wouldn't open, no matter how hard he had wrenched at the doors. And he couldn't find any other way out of this awful place. It was only three am. In desperation, he'd come here. And it had been a mistake- such a mistake- And this camera- The stupid freaking camera didn't work. Not on Monty-

And he couldn't keep running. He wasn't gonna make it until the doors opened again- He was gonna die, with the only evidence of tonight being a blurry photo of Monty, slamming Tony into the ground. Disorientating him. Making his entire head spin and ache. Leaving bruises on his neck and back to join the cut from earlier. The shallow cut on his neck that had still bled down to his shirt collar. Only stopping when he found a bandage. Cuts through his shirt on his belly, and more cuts on his arms and hands from when he tried to grab the knife. 

And the sirens blared. It felt like they would never stop.

All those painful memories in his head. Memories that would all be gone soon. All he could do was shake in fear, still laying where Monty had thrown him down. Panicked gasps, his left hand clinging to the carpet. Right hand holding that stupid camera. Because what else could he do? He wasn't going anywhere.

There was a soft sound of footsteps near him. Human footsteps. He looked over, and sobbed. Of course he was here. But without Freddy, this time. Instead, he had the white rabbit as his backup. She had a large knife in one paw.

Monty, his ‘friend’, and creepy bunny-lady. The whole menagerie was here! 

If they're going to kill me, I don't want to go out begging. I want to be brave. I want to be brave- 

He wiped the tears from his eyes, and tried to look determined, forcing himself to sit up. But he couldn't stop shaking. 

"... Why do you always leave me to clean up your messes?" The bunny-lady asked, stretching her arms into the air, standing behind Greg.

Greg just rolled his eyes, and looked back at her. He had been walking gingerly, and had a hand pressed against his ribcage. It must've been from where Tony had fought back, trying to get away earlier. "I dunno, because I'm just a kid? Besides, you're the one with a real knife. That utility knife was useless…"

She walked over to Tony with a forced-sounding giggle. The lights in Monty Golf shone awfully off the knife-edge. She knelt down in front of him. Sirens still blaring in his ears. Some from Monty Golf. Some from this bunny. She had something with her- like Greg- that disrupted modern technology. Her big, red eyes piercing his- 

She stared at him for what felt like forever. As he fought not to sob, or cry, or beg for his life.

Instead, he lifted his camera. And caught her. The whole reason he'd wanted that camera- because there was a weird bunny-lady chasing him, who couldn't be seen on the security cameras. He wanted proof that she existed-

The picture printed- with her face on it. Greg was visible in the background, with a look of surprise on his face. Tony felt a bitter sense of accomplishment.

Until the bunny-lady grabbed him by the throat. Tony could feel her fingers, through her suit and his bandage. Strangling him in the same places Monty's claws had grabbed him earlier. Pressing her palm into the scabbed line. "Well, aren't you cute?" She wrestled him back to the floor as he gasped uselessly for air. He could hear the muffled clatter of something hitting the carpet. 

Her knife? His camera? Both? 

He wished he could lie and say he'd put up a good fight. But she was heavier than him, and bigger than him. It wasn't a fair fight. Kicking- punching- none of it seemed to do anything. He couldn't find any strength to put into it- his vision went black-

He could hear himself whimper in pain as she let go of his throat, rolled him onto his belly, and pulled his arms behind his back. There was a pressure around his wrists- something plastic-feeling- zip-ties? He tried to move, but her knee was pressed down into the back of his rib-cage. He could only catch shallow breaths that made him feel lightheaded. Or maybe he'd always been lightheaded? His throat hurt so much. The alarms continued-

"For fucks sake Monty, would you go disable that noise?!" He could hear Greg whine. Nothing else was said, as Tony heard heavy metal feet stomp away. 

He buried his face into the carpet, trying to get his breath back as she… rubbed her paw through his hair? Was she… trying to comfort him? What the hell- 

"What are you gonna do to me?" He asked in a raspy voice. Because he should've been dead by now- she had a knife. She could've easily finished the job.

"I’m still thinking, sweetie. There are other options for you…"

"Really, Vanny? Why don’t you just cut to the chase, and cut him up!"

"Because that’d be a waste. He's that wannabe-reporter you've been complaining about?" Tony couldn't see what happened, and couldn't hear anything said, either. "Well, then he has some useful skills. Haven't you learnt by now- what you're doing isn't working. We need to… change our approach."

This made Tony's brain work fast. Because what Greg had been "doing" was murder. Maybe the bunny lady would take mercy on him? 

Or maybe she'd do something worse. 

More silence. "He's got that rebellious streak. I can tell. We could really get something out of him…" she grabbed his hair, and pulled his head up. Sending a jolt of pain up his already injured back and neck. He cried out- 

"Just do it- kill me already!"

He didn't want to be tortured into silence. He'd already been tortured enough.

And she laughed. In her harsh, electronic voice. "Sorry, sweetie. I've got another idea." She let go of his hair, and got off him. Letting his head fall to the ground. He caught a few deep breaths, and tried to get the world to stop spinning. But he couldn't rest for long- she flipped him onto his back, trapping his wrists underneath him. She sat him up by grabbing his shoulders. Holding him steady as he wobbled in place. 

The whole world spun around him and the bunny-girl. Like a merry-go-round. And she stared him in his eyes. Again. 

"How about this? You play a game with me? You play a game, and if you win, you get to go home. If you lose, you help us. But if you do win, you gotta be good and stop messing with us. Doesn't that sound fun?"

Greg was grinning behind her. Barely containing his laughter. Like he was in on some joke that Tony wasn't. Holding that picture in his hand. 

And this whole deal seemed off to Tony- wasn't she scared of being exposed? Of people realizing what was going on here?"

Maybe she thought he'd be scared into silence? If she thought that, she thought wrong… but he could take advantage of that.

He played it up- the scared kid look. Puppy eyes, trembling lip. The works. He couldn't do it as well as Greg did, but he could still do it if he tried. "You'll really let me go? I'll be good… I'll never tell a soul…"

She stroked his cheek with her paw, making an "Aww" sound. He had to fight not to shiver under it. How many people have her hands killed? She giggled, and pulled him up, standing. She grabbed his bound wrists. "Of course we will, sweetie. Now, if you'll just come with me…" As if she was asking for a favor, instead of leading onward her captured prey. 

But he followed. He had no choice- her hand was around his wrists, after all. 

All he could do was hope she'd stick to her words. And that he could even beat her game. It'll surely be rigged. 

________

Once he'd finished telling his story, Cassie couldn't do anything but stare at him in horror. 

He picked at the loose thread in his sweater, and couldn't look at her, staring at his knees. "In a way, it was rigged… but I won anyway. I got really lucky that day!” He grinned for a second, before his face fell again. “I… promised I'd drop it. They let me go. But they kept an eye on me afterwards. I had no evidence- except the cuts and bruises. The photo was destroyed. If I'd told anyone… people would've thought I was making it up. 'Help! My friend's working with a bunny-themed serial killer out of the Mega Pizzaplex- and Monty nearly killed me!' They'd tell me I'd been playing too many video games." 

He laughed, and looked back up at her. "Do you know how weird it was? To have to pretend everything's okay after experiencing that? I couldn't just not have anything to do with him. Because he was Ellis's friend, too…"

"Yeah. I do know what that's like." She admitted in a whisper. "I can't tell anyone anything about Gregory without looking like I'm crazy. The only people who know what really happened to me are, well, you, and Andy. Everyone else expects me to still miss him. And I do… kind of?" She had to think for a moment. Tony waited patiently, without interrupting. "I miss the Gregory I thought I knew. The one who'd watch dumb movies with me. Or go camping with me. Or would play Fazer Blast with me. But… that Gregory… it was just a lie?"

She didn't know what else to say after that, so she just looked down at her lap. She could feel Tony edge closer to her, and put a hand on her shoulder. "That's… that's it. I couldn't put it into words before, but that's it. I miss playing dumb games, or hanging out at lunch, or calling ourselves stupid names. But the rest? I don't miss that."

She nodded, and they sat like that for a bit. He took his hand off her shoulder after a while.

"I think I've seen that rabbit lady before- was she wearing all white?" Cassie asked. He looked surprised, and nodded. "In the AR world- one of the security cameras changed to her chasing Gregory. But that footage didn't play in the real world. Maybe… she's the reason he went missing?"

"That's a real possibility… Maybe he messed up, and she had to take him out?"

"Maybe she was trying to. But I don't think she succeeded. Because I saw him not too long ago- at the hospital. He'd changed his hair style and clothes, and grown a little taller. But it was clearly him. He ran away when I tried to follow him…"

Was he only there to finish the job? That thought sent a shiver up her spine. 

…

She couldn't get that thought out of her head, until Tony spoke up again. 

"I've had this theory for a while now- no proof, though- that maybe… maybe there were two Greg's?"

She just looked at him. "Gregory's an only child. He definitely doesn't have an evil identical twin, if that's what you mean-"

"No, not quite." His eyes locked onto hers, looking intense. Like he was looking through her. A shiver went up Cassie's spine. "I'm thinking more like… a split personality? Or maybe mind control- maybe both- ever watched Spirited Away?"

She nodded. "You're thinking he's like… Haku?"

"Perhaps.” He shrugged. “He did say he was 'the wizards most favored apprentice.' And he didn’t seem like himself that night… If he was being controlled, that would explain some things." 

They pondered that for a bit. It was… a possibility. And a possibility Cassie wanted to be real. A possibility she suspected Tony wanted to be real, too, from the look in his eyes.

But mind control? If that existed, it’d be known about. The government would be using it to keep people in line. Mom would be out of the job if mind control existed. Because there’d be no reforming offenders- they’d just get stuck to the straight and narrow by force.

"You've known him for years, right?" Tony asked. She nodded, and he continued. "What do you think about this? Do you think it's a possibility for people to end up under that kind of control?"

"I… I hope you're right. Maybe? It could've happened."

But she didn’t have much hope. It just seemed like pseudoscience to her. And he must’ve seen the look on her face, because he dropped the subject. 

She looked back up at him, as he changed the subject. "Y'know, Ms Tyrian knows about what happened to me. She… has had similar experiences. She's not gonna think you're crazy, even if the rest of the world would."

She hadn't realized just how much weight she'd been carrying, just with that thought. Until he said that, and she felt it all fall off. "You really think so?"

"I know so."

She thanked him, as the door into the office opened up, catching them both by surprise. Ms Tyrian must've finished helping her daughters. She leant against the door-frame, and rolled her eyes with a faint smile. "Tony, are you on fire?"

He grinned and shrunk into the couch. "Not yet, Ms Tyrian."

She crossed her arms, smile widening. "In that case, don't you have somewhere to be? You should get going, before you miss it."

"Hah, yeah. Guess I'm being a bit slack today." he replied to Ms Tyrian, then whispered to Cassie. "Newspaper club. Mom thought it'd be good for me to do it…" He stuck out his tongue, and Cassie had to keep from giggling. "It was nice to meet you again, Cassie." He stood up and quickly grabbed a book from the shelf. 

From what Cassie could see of the cover, it was about… exorcisms? Or demons? It has that kind of cover-

He then went to walk out. Until Cassie yelled out "Hey Tony- wait a minute!" He did, as she staggered over to him, after fumbling with her crutches for a moment. "Do you want my number? In case you want to talk about other stuff?" She kept it vague, because she didn't want Ms Tyrian's first knowledge of her Gregory-issue being overheard in this conversation. 

Tony seemed to catch on, at least. "Yeah, sure. If you give me yours, I'll text you mine, okay?"

She nodded, and gave him her number. He checked it was accurate with her, and then she got a text notification from him. Just as he said. 

And there was so much relief running through her right now. That she wasn't alone. That she wasn't crazy. He left with a wave, and she turned to face Ms Tyrian. 

She was looking at Cassie with a funny expression on her face. "Cassie, he is way too old for you. He'll be sixteen soon. Don't let him charm you, okay?"

"Wait, what? It's nothing like that! We just have some things in common…" She blurted out. Why does this always happen?

"I'm kidding! I'm kidding!" She laughed, putting her hands up in front of her. "Well, do you want to get started? It's been a long time since I've seen you. I'm sure you have a lot to talk about.”

Ms Tyrian took the lounge chair, leaving Cassie the couch. "I'm sorry that I'm late for your appointment, Cassie. Sometimes the kids get a bit… Well, girls will be girls, huh?" She said, shaking her head. 

"I guess so. I didn't realize you were Chris's Mom. You look so… different from him."

Maybe Cassie shouldn't have said that last bit, as Ms Tyrian's eyes went downcast. "Yes. He takes a lot from his father. Luckily, only in looks." She straightened up, and looked at Cassie, holding a notebook. "But we're not here to talk about my family- we're here to talk about you. I heard from your Mom you went up to Salt Lake City, for some rehab" she looked down at Cassie's leg brace, then back to her tlso, leaving her feeling a bit self conscious. "It looks like the rehab went well. Did you have fun there?"

"Uhhh, yeah. It was fine. I met a girl there. We didn't get along at first. But now we're friends? I hope we are, anyway. She said she'd like to see me again next summer break."

Ms Tyrian clapped her hands together. "Oh- that's brilliant! I'm glad you got to meet someone nice."

Cassie fidgeted a bit, stammering out. "Um, yep."

"So. How has school been treating you so far?"

Cassie fidgeted a bit before answering. "Um, it's been a learning experience? I thought my ex friends wanted to be friends again… but I think they just got curious about me. They didn’t really want to talk to me." She sighed. "But I have Lawrence, and he's introduced me to his friends, so that's nice."

Ms Tyrian nodded, and took some notes down on paper. Then she asked a few more questions about school.

Meanwhile, Cassie answered and fidgeted. For the first time in ages, she wanted to talk about Gregory. But Ms Tyrian wasn't asking that question.

"Well, it sounds like you've been doing well. I'm glad that you've been readjusting back into school without much trouble. This might be our last session- your Mom would be happy that things are turning around for you, Cassie-"

"Actually- Ms Tyrian- can I ask you something?"

“Oh- of course. What would you like to ask?”

Cassie couldn't help but fidget with her skirt. “Um, about Gregory. I… I got talking with Tony about him earlier. And Tony said you'd understand…” Ms Tyrian's face was impossible to crack. Still, like a rock. “So… would you?”

She took a few notes quickly, which didn't fill Cassie with much hope. “I strive to understand all my clients. If you're worried about me judging you, I won't.”

That… wasn't much of a confidence booster. At all. Now she just wanted to be out of there-

“I'm sorry if that sounded curt. For confidentiality reasons, I can't go into personal details about Gregory. It wouldn't be ethical. But I can listen to you- it'll just… be a more one-sided conversation than you may be expecting.”

“… ‘Confidentiality reasons?’ Have you worked with Gregory before?”

“... I cannot answer that question.”

Okay…

“... In that case, is it okay if I start from the start?”

“Of course it is.” She said, putting down her notes. Now fully paying attention. 

________

It took a while to explain everything- everything she'd gone through at the Pizzaplex, everything she thought she'd known about Gregory. What she had discussed earlier with Tony. 

She tried to stick to the facts, or at least what she thought was fact. It still hurt to go into the feelings- she felt a bit hypocritical because she'd just bared her soul to Tony. But she’d trusted him. Even if she’d barely known him. Despite reassurances, she wasn't sure if she could trust Ms Tyrian yet.

Once she was done, she took a deep breath and sat back into the couch. Still feeling tense- she couldn't tell what Ms Tyrian was thinking. 

“Tony said that you'd had experience with him too. What… What did Gregory do to you?” She asked Ms Tyrian in a rush of words. 

She sighed. “Cassie- I can't go into this with you-”

“Then how does he know what you've been through?!” She blurted out.

And regretted it when a shadow fell over Ms Tyrian's eyes. Anger. 

She sighed, and pinched the bridge of her nose before answering. “I can't go into my other clients' details with you Cassie. All I can say is this- if you start investigating this like… certain other clients have done in the past. I will drop you and you will need to find a new therapist. My days of rewarding bad behavior are over!”

Now she just felt ashamed. Mom had asked her to be polite, and not do anything she wouldn't do at home- and she hadn't. “I'm sorry.”

Ms Tyrian sighed again, and shook her head. “No, I shouldn't have gotten so confrontational about it. I'm sorry for getting heated with you.”

Cassie didn't know what to say to that. She kind of didn't want to say anything, in case she put her foot in her mouth again. 

“How about we start with your experiences- or rather, how you feel about them. You must've felt something when he cut the elevator cord.”

And she did. She had felt a lot of things after Gregory betrayed her. But she… didn't want to go into them.

She looked determinedly into her lap. And could hear Ms Tyrian’s lounge chair squeak as she stood up from it. 

Then saw Ms Tyrian's shoes, from the top of her eyes. Standing in front of her. Then kneeling. Cassie looked up, to see her green eyes right there. “Oh, good. Now I can see your eyes.” Ms Tyrian said, with a slight smile. 

Like she was trying to reassure Cassie that she isn't mad anymore.

“It must've been hard, thinking you were safe, only to have the rug ripped out from under you like that. How did that make you feel?” Ms Tyrian asked. Her eyes piercing Cassie’s. 

She couldn't help but squirm a little. She wanted to run away. Far away. But she had crutches to use, a muddy yard to cross, and miles to walk before she got home.

“I… I…”

Ms Tyrian looked at her weirdly. “You don't need to be self-conscious. I remember you telling me about how special he was to you… about that camping trip, where he helped you dive into the lake. The fishing. The campfire. The little moments that you still remember. Those memories must've been nice at the time- but how do you feel remembering them now?”

Cassie swallowed a lump that'd been building up in her throat. And it took her a bit to find any words. And they still weren't right- “... Bad. I feel… bad.”

Ms Tyrian nodded, keeping her eyes glued to Cassie’s. “Of course you do. It's best to tell people how you feel, instead of bottling it up. So, tell me more?

Cassie’s heart was beating hard in her chest. 

How did she feel about Gregory?

…

She wanted to bite him. Kick him. Pull his stupid self-cut hair. Make him cry too. Make him feel something like she did.

That was how she’d felt in the hospital.

Do I… still feel that way?

She’d had time to cool off a bit. But the ache was still in her heart, from when he’d stabbed her in it. Metaphorically, of course.

The blood didn’t flow as readily as it had. But it still trickled. Still burned.

And she couldn't forget what Tony had suggested, either. Maybe it hadn't even been the real Gregory. 

(Maybe she’d never known the real Gregory.)

(That thought hurt more than knowing he'd tried to kill her.)

She felt like crying. But she didn't want to cry in front of Ms Tyrian. Instead, she just wrapped her arms around her chest.

Her eyes and nose started to get watery, as she looked back down at Ms Tyrian’s shoes. 

Cassie heard the sound of movement, and those shoes walked away. Then they came back, and Ms Tyrian was touching her face with something, near her eyes. 

A tissue. Dabbing at her tears.

Green eyes. Filled with concern. Staring directly at her. 

She tried to say it. How she had felt. How she feels now. Her mouth opened, but nothing came out. 

Her own arms weren't a good enough hug. She felt like a wounded animal, trying to guard itself against the vet.

“It's okay to feel upset about him, Starbright. Do you want a hug?”

And her arms were open. Waiting for Cassie. Damp tissue held in one hand. 

Cassie let go of herself, and broke down into Ms Tyrian’s arms. Sobbing against her shoulder, as she patted her back. “There, there, Cassie. You'll be okay…”

She didn't feel like she would ever be okay again.

________

It had been a very… enlightening talk, once she’d calmed down enough to talk.

Afterwards, while she was waiting for Mom, Cassie went back to the living room to see Chris and Danny again. 

They were now playing with a little baby play-set. The kind where the baby's on their back, and there's jingly toys above them. Chris was now on his belly, smiling and shaking around the toys while Danny squealed with excitement, and tried to bat his hands at them. 

Chris hadn't seen her yet, so she got to watch them play for a little bit. It was… cute? That was a word she would've never thought Chris could be.

Eventually, he turned his head and caught her. Blushing furiously. "Hey- don't just stand there and stare at me!" He said, brow furrowed, and the smile now gone.

"Sorry! Sorry!" Cassie said quickly. He rolled his eyes, and now Cassie wasn't sure if she was still invited to hang out with him-

"Well? What are you waiting for? We can't come to you- so come here!" He waved her over.

She clicked her teeth and rolled her eyes, before going over to him to sit cross-legged near Chris. She had to lean on the nearby coffee table, to have any luck with getting down that low. Meanwhile, he sat himself up slowly. Pushing himself up into a strange sitting position, with his legs splayed around him. Like he’d been sat earlier, now she thought about it. 

Danny kept eyes locked on Chris, and Chris muttered "I'm setting a bad example for you, you should watch how Cassie does it- not me." He turned to Cassie. "Speaking of, this is Cassie. She's a friend of my friend." 

She crinkled her face at that. He wasn't exactly wrong… but it felt strange to say it like that. 

He caught her expression out of the corner of his eye, and slightly amended it. "Well, okay. She's an acquaintance of mine, because we haven't known each other for very long yet."

… That was a bit nicer. It left open the opportunity to become friends, at a later date. 

"Anyway, you said earlier I could hold him. Is that still okay?" She asked. 

Chris nodded. “Do you know how to hold a baby?”

She nodded, and reached out to pick up Danny. Making sure to support his head. He was so tiny. She was kind of scared she'd drop him.

"He's about six months old. He's doing well, he can roll over all by himself now."

Danny reached out to tap Cassie's face. But he kinda missed and put his hand on her mouth instead. Her mouth felt all slimy. She backed up a bit, so the hand could fall away, then she wiped her mouth with her sleeve 

"Good idea. He'd been chewing on his hands earlier."

"... Thanks for the heads up." She said, sarcastically.

For a little while, they just played with Danny. Wiggling their fingers near him, for him to try and bat with his little hands. Until Chris asked Cassie- "I saw Tony slinking out the front door earlier. He wasn't trying to snoop on your session, was he?"

She shook her head. "Oh no! We were having a chat, while your Mom helped out your sisters. He, um. Helped me out with some things." Cassie didn't want to go into detail. She'd had enough of baring her soul for one day.

Chris didn't pry. Even though he must still be able to see the puffiness around my eyes. But he did make a suggestion. "You be careful with that guy, Cassie. He's got a silver tongue. Very good at getting people to say what he wants them to say- and what he wants them to say is too much."

Cassie scowled a bit and rolled her eyes. "Yeah, sure Chris. Maybe he's just nice? Not everyone's like you, y'know?"

Chris threw his hands up, besides his head. Palms spread wide. "Don't get me wrong! He's nice. I like talking to him sometimes. And I wouldn't let him near my sisters if he wasn't nice… but he's stubborn, and pushy. He could get a fish to admit to dancing the tango. If you remember that, you'll have a better time with him."

She clicked her teeth again, and put Danny back down. Honestly, she felt like that description better fit his Mom… but she couldn't exactly say that. She could hear a car pull up out-front. It sounded like her Mom's car.

She didn't want to leave Chris on a bad note. 

"I'll remember that for next time I talk to him, thank you for the heads up. Hey- I'll see you at school on Monday?"

"Yeah, I'll see you there. Thanks for playing with Danny." He waved her goodbye and she waved back, as Cassie heard her Mom knock on the door. When Cassie stood up and turned around, grabbing her crutches, she could see Mom through the window.

"Ms Tyrian- Mom's here. I'll see you next time!" She yelled out. Hearing a distant goodbye back.

She went out, and went home with Mom. 

********

Author's note. Yes. I know Vanny can be seen on the cameras in Security Breach. And even that one camera in Ruin. But the therapy tapes imply she is not visible, at least, not properly. Fifth therapist can kind of see Vanny. But not really. The footage is blurred. Also, it makes sense for Vanny to not be visible story wise- otherwise, if Vanessa would have to delete any footage showing Vanny frolicking around anyway, she wouldn't need a costume at all. (Though, regardless of whether Vanny is visible, footage would need to be deleted of at least the murder of the kids. Otherwise someone would find out immediately after reviewing the footage.) Ruin cam is. Not actually something that happened. Vanny never chased Gregory through the bakery. I think it's just The Mimic playing tricks on Cassie lmao.

I think Vanny being visible on cams in Security Breach is, like a lot of things in SB, just a case of gameplay and story segregation. Pretty sure Chica, Monty, and Roxy aren't supposed to possess the power of teleportation, either. But they do in game, because that was just how they coded them to be dangerous. 

(Well. Maybe Chica's supposed to teleport. I'm a possessed Chica truther.)

I couldn't find anything online about whether someone wearing a kafo brace can sit crossed legged. I imagine its possible- but probably not super comfortable for very long. If you wear one, and know if its possible or not, please let me know. I'm trying to be accurate, but I cant always find answers. I know people wearing afo can w-sit from experience, but that doesn't really help with this case.

Also, for anyone confused about why Cassie doesn't consider Lawrence as someone in the know about her- she told him about the weird robot who tried to kill her, and who killed Janet. She didn't have to explain Gregory then, so she didn't. Andy and Tony are the only ones who know about Gregory and the elevator.

Also also- Poor Tony. He tried to camera-cancel Monty post patch. Press F to pay respects. 

Song title is from Penelope Scott’s Feel Better.

Bit of a hiatus now until i complete chapters 19, 21, and 22, like I've mentioned previously. 19 and 21 are halfway done- but 22 still needs a bit of work. We'll be back soon enough!

[littebugbird]

crickets origin part 4-5

@crossoverbaps

After lunch with pig, pig walked cricket to his next class which is social studies, but cricket got nervous because he was too smart to be there.

“Wh-what if the kids don’t like me.” Cricket said scared.

“Don’t be scared I have that class to with you.” Pig said happily to cricket, he walked him to his class with a few kids whispering which makes cricket very scared.

“Excuse me, are you new?” A teacher asked cricket.

cricket nodded his up and down.

“alright everybody this is you’re new classmate, he moved to this school, so be polite to him.” The teacher said to everyone in the class.

“Let’s sit here.” pig grabs crickets hand and walks him to his seat by a sheep with glasses and was quiet.

“Oh, do you know her?” Pig asked cricket.

“no.” Cricket nodded left and right.

“hey, I’m cricket what’s your name?” Cricket introduced himself to the sheep.

“I’m Coco, could you be my friend?” Coco said with a soft voice asking cricket to be her friend.

“sure it’s nice to have another friend.” Cricket chuckled.

“so far I already have 2 which is you and pig.” Coco said a little disappointed.

“Don’t be disappointed, I have 2 friends too.” cricket said while looking down.

“well we have each other tough.” Pig said happily which makes cricket and coco less disappointed and makes them happy.

after school pig walked cricket and coco home which doesn’t know there neighbors so cricket asked if they can come for dinner which both said yes.

when cricket came home the butterfly mother asked cricket how’s school.

“it’s fine.” Cricket sighed softly.

“what happened” I got bullied. Cricket said sadly.

“it’s okay Ignore them” mother butterfly told cricket

“no, I got pushed in the mud, I wish my brother protected me again.” He said tearing up and whining

The mother butterfly noticed he was about to cry and then she hugged cricket.

“I know you’re struggling with this but you need to get over it.” The mother butterfly comforted cricket.

“Is it fine I can tell you about it? Cricket asked mother butterfly while crying softly.

“Yes.” Mother butterfly said as rubbing crickets back which stops from him crying.

PART 5

A few hours past cricket was looking at the window while he cuddled his miss cutesy meow meow plush while the mother butterfly helped the dragonfly father cook some dinner

“Cricket, do you wanna help us cook for dinner?” The dragonfly father asked cricket.

cricket then nodded his head up and down. A few seconds later cricket helps mother butterfly and father dragon fly (keep messing up on his name) cook dinner.

“mama butterfly, can I taste test the soup?” Cricket asked mother butterfly

“sure you can I’ll let you know when.” Mother butterfly told cricket. Then he nodded his head up and down happy

A few moments later pig and coco came to crickets house and ate dinner, but cricket was a bit nervous to tell his backstory.

“Um.” Cricket said nervously “do you guys wanna go to my room?”

“Sure!” Pig and coco agreed, so they went to crickets room na had fun for a while until cricket had to tell how he came here.

“do you wanna know how I ended up here?” Cricket said with a sad face

“Of course.” Coco and pig agrees again

When cricket was born his parents were poor but can at least afford food he was small with small arms and feet.

Jimmy Ron was 9 when cricket was born his parents were late 20s.

Cricket would always get sick by throwing up and coughing and having headaches the most which makes his parents worry even his big brother Jimmy Ron.

Although Jimmy Ron would always take care of cricket and his parents.

when cricket was 5, he was very smart and get diplomas except for a kindergarten one because he was very sick and couldn’t really do anything in kindergarten but will always impresses his family.

Cricket would always cry at night due to him having headaches and throwing up at midnight but every-time Jimmy Ron would help cricket, and comfort him, nuzzle him on his cheeks, or his nose, and would sing him songs to make him sleep again.

Cricket would always play with his miss cutesy meow meows plush that his cousin got him from his birthday, but would play with Jimmy Ron the most to show how much he loves his brother much.

His parents were always a loving mother and father to him and he will always to a good thing to make them happy

After their parents left them Jimmy had to steal stuff to make cricket happy but cricket never notice that his big brother was stealing from others until the 3rd week and 3 days

Polices took crickets big brother away, the other 2 polices took him to a adoption place and the mother butterfly and father dragonfly had him but he felt sad that he left his parents alone and his brother.

“so that’s how you came here cricket?” Pig asked cricket.

“I-I-I JUST WANNA GO BACK TO MY FAMILY AND JIMMY!!!” Cricket screamed and then started to cry hard while pig and coco started to comfort him

“It’s okay cricket you still have us” Coco said to cricket while patting in on the back.

“NO IT ISN’T THE SAME, I WANNA GO HOME!!!!” Cricket cried even harder

“Shhh, cricket your parents might hear you.” Pig gives a heads up to cricket then hugs him and cricket hug him back to.

“Can I give you a hug cricket” Coco asked cricket.

“Okay” Cricket then hugs coco then coco gives him a friendly kiss on the cheek which makes him smile.

“coco wanna do our secret high five?” Pig asked coco.

“sure.” Coco said to pig then cricket tags along to

“Pig Cricket Coco high five!” Pig cricket and coco celebrates with happiness.

part 6 coming on the 18th.

[halffootguildofficial]

*The kid hummed, swinging ther feet over the bar stool as they thought. A name they liked? They shook their head, nervously smiling at Chilchuck.*

"I don't th-think so...Most of them w-weren't nice ones, l-like tiny or pest." *The kid nervously admitted, glancing towards Fawn who was just sitting there, seemingly content. They knew if Fawn was calm, that everything was okay. She only ever acted rough when the people were bad, after all!* "Y-You can call m-me whatever you want th-though! I don't mind."

*The kid tilted their head at the second question.* "Hot chocolate...? Wh-What's that? Is it like...chocolate th-that's melted or something?" *They questioned, ears twitching a bit at the thought.* "I've never h-had chocolate before. I-It always smells really g-good though!"

*Now that Chilchuck had a good look at them, he could see their features easier with most of the dirt gone. They were covered in scars, most of them small and from being a kid probably, except for one that went from the kids jawline to the bridge of their nose.*

*They had white hair that he could actually see now with all the mud off of it, it was pretty long and mangled, probably matted to hell with it reaching their hips. They also had red-purple colored eyes. Their face was pretty soft and innocent, very child-like and delicate despite the scars.*

- kid half-foot anon (I tried to describe them a bit so you could have it easier, does this help while I make them- also I'm just insanely autistic and your chilchuck au makes me go yippie!!)

4/?

Yeah. Okay. This kid is getting a hot chocolate. Chilchuck rounds the bar and goes about brewing the kid something good to drink. In the meantime, he's trying to think of something better than Kid to call them. He hasn't had to name a child in many years. Fayfinn had always been better at it, anyways.

He looks over Fawn again, and though it is supposedly short for Fauna, it brings to mind deer young with spotted backs. This kid was something of a Person Doe, too... A kid with no name, no parents looking out for them, no companions save for a lone walking mushroom. He feels angry on this kid's behalf. This whole situation is enough to make his blood boil. He's dealt with many missing persons over the years, funded dungeon search parties for half-foots who had 'gotten lost' down there, but seldom has he found a child no one was looking for.

The smell of melting chocolate washes over the tavern. It brings back memories of making hot chocolates for his own children when they were younger. It had been a treat for good behaviour, and the three of them had always loved it. He was never really a fan of sweet things himself but he'd enjoyed the memory all the same. He sets the cup of chocolately goodness down in front of the kid down on a coaster.

"Be careful, alright? It's hot, and it'll burn your tongue if you aren't careful. When's the last time you ate something?"

First/Previous/Next

[bunbeeplays]

The Lemon Legacy: Generation 1, Chapter 108 - Winterfest Woes Part 1

It's Winterfest, and Ophelia should be excited, but she can't help but feel… weird about Jane's passing. Surely she would love to know her death was ruining Ophelia's day. Still, she powers through.

Gemma: Mommy, t'ee!

Ophelia: That's right, it's a Winterfest tree!

Gemma plays with her diced pears rather than eating them.

Ophelia: Gemma, eat your food please.

The honey toast Ophelia made is probably too sugary and sticky for Gemma to handle but she was willing to give her some if it meant she actually ate.

Ophelia: Do you know what today is?

Gemma: Winnerfes!

Ophelia: That's right, Winterfest! Today's the day we give people we love presents to show them how much they mean to us.

Gemma: P'esant!

She laughs.

Ophelia: We'll open presents tonight, sweetie.

When Gemma runs off to play, Xander checks in with Ophelia.

Xander: How you holdin' up?

Ophelia: I'm fine.

Xander: Are you sure? I know you and your mom had a bad relationship but are you sure it's not affecting you at all?

Ophelia: Why would it?

Xander: Don't you lie to me, Lemon Cake. I know you.

Ophelia: …I don't know how to feel. It's not like I miss her. I never expected my mom to apologize and try to mend our relationship, but now that she's gone, it feels… bad that it's definitely never going to be an option.

Ophelia: I just want to enjoy our day. Let's go decorate the tree, okay?

Xander nods and gives his wife a deep kiss, as if that would make things less complicated. It helps, at least.

While Gemma plays with Chompy, her parents trim the tree.

Ophelia: Popcorn and cranberries? The cats will eat it!

Xander: I don't care! It's a Pappas family tradition. I took your name, I should get to pick the garland!

Ophelia can't argue with that. Xander wins this round.

Ophelia's in charge of the grand meal, and she knows she's going to be able to finally make something her picky girl will like. No toddler can resist baked mac and cheese, right?

Gemma's pulled out her art supplies, determined to make her first Winterfest the best one ever.

Gemma: I make Mommy an' Daddy p'esants, Lulu!

Lulu is nowhere near as thoughtful.

Ophelia comes to check on the girls.

Ophelia: What are you making, Gemma?

Gemma: P'esant for Mommy an' Daddy!

She's absolutely tickled Gemma, at her age, would even think of that.

Ophelia: Oh, okay, I won't peek! Mommy's just going to feed Lulu on the couch, okay?

After Lulu is fed and burped, Ophelia just holds her in her arms. Lulu loves being held, and besides, maybe Ophelia does need some comfort.

Ophelia: I know I'm not going to do everything right, but I'll try my best. I love you and your sister. I'll try not to screw up too bad.

The baked mac and cheese cooled off and the Lemons are ready to eat.

Gemma sits on the floor so Marshmallow won't be lonely. She takes a few bites before getting up and putting her bowl back on the table.

Gemma: No more!

Xander: Gemma, you barely touched it. Your hunger bar definitely isn't full.

Ophelia: Ugh, whatever. She doesn't have to eat it.

She doesn't know why Gemma refusing to finish another meal has her suddenly feeling so dejected. She tried her best and Gemma still won't eat it.

Xander: Ophelia, she has to-

Ophelia: I'm not going to force her to eat my awful cooking!

Xander: It's not awful, it's great! Kids go through picky phases. Maybe she's just sensitive to certain textures.

Ophelia: Or maybe she just hates me!

Xander's never seen her like this.

Xander: She doesn't hate you! Why would you-

Ophelia: I would have eaten mud if it made my mom happy and my kid won't even eat macaroni! What if I try my best and our kids STILL hate me, even when I'm dead? Maybe my mom really tried and I-

Ophelia: I… I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me.

Xander: You're grieving. It just looks different than it normally might. Gemma's saying no because she feels safe with us. You didn't have that luxury.

She knows he's right. Her mom scared her stiff growing up and yet…

Ophelia: I'm going to… freshen up.

She stands up and practically runs to the stairs.

Gemma, who had been too preoccupied playing with Marshmallow to listen to the conversation, sees her mom running off.

Gemma: Mommy?

Ophelia doesn't hear her.

[songforten]

I’ll just never to be able to be pissed at River Song’s ubiquity. Crammed into at least one work of every single incarnation. Like. Moffat saw the power of Rose Marion Tyler and immediately needed to be like NO MY DOLL IS BETTER AND IS THE BEST ACTUALLY. LOOK AT AND LISTEN TO HER ALL THE TIME FOREVER.

I truly feel like the two are masterclasses in how to write a good female character versus how to. Not.

I will forever be so fucking mad.

i’m going to fucking cry i had the whole reply typed out and then the tumblr app glitched and ate it. anyway. let’s talk about river song.

here’s the thing. i like to put river into what me and my mutuals call “the salad spinner”. one of these bad boys:

where you put in your soaking wet lettuce or whatever and press the button on top and it goes WHHSHSHHHHHHSHHHSSSHHH and all the water drains out? yeah i’m putting moffat’s river in there and draining out all the sexism and weird fetishes and she becomes the character that she always could have been.

like, she’s a bisexual time traveling crime committing archeologist. of course i fell in love with her age ten. the “mercy” scene in the big bang was a sexual awakening for me. the scene in THORS where she’s like “i’m an archeologist from the future. i dug you up.” is in no small part responsible for me getting a minor in archeology. river’s a really important character to me, but the more i grew up, the worse her storyline and origins got to me.

and then in early 2021, i had a revelation. the one step you have to take to fix just about everything about river.

make her NOT amy and rory’s kid.

that’s it. that’s all you have to do. it fixes so many of my issues with the story immediately.

my friend @nounpolycule has much more developed headcanons about this based on the audios (and maybe she’ll explain them when he gets the chance?? 👀), but river as a completely unrelated child taken by the silence who grew up in that environment before escaping and running as far as she could is so much more compelling to me than “amy and rory’s kid who is also their childhood best friend”. she escapes the silence, makes a life of her own, puts herself through school, and becomes an archeologist. in this situation, the first time she meets him (in her timeline) is less “i am programmed to kill you and nothing else matters” and more “you showed up in my doctoral thesis research and dude. you’re REAL? the fuck?”

i really like river’s personality, and most of that is thanks to the depth that alex kingston gives her. river would not be nearly as important to me with a different actor; kingston is just incredibly talented and she loves river and she loves playing her, and she gave so much more to the character than moffat ever did.

like you said, moffat notoriously hates rose and originally wanted river to be “better” than her, but he twisted himself around so much and ended up neglecting river just as much as he did rose. according to alex kingston, moffat was the ONLY writer allowed to put river in episodes. no one else could use her but him. a big part of it is “my doll is better than yours!!!” except at the end of recess his doll is left out in the mud, forgotten entirely. he didn’t even believe that she was the best, didn’t care about her at all past her relationship to the doctor, and you can tell!

river deserved better from the narrative from the beginning.

and she and rose should kiss send post