#starry nursery...☆

[starlightnurseryy]

Yellow worksheet!

Feel free to show in reblogs / @ me if you finish it! <3

Do not repost the clean ver without credit !!

{💫}

[eternalstarlitwonderland]

Starry Song Of The Star

Star brilliant

Everything is so brilliant

A brilliant star in the night sky

Brilliant, Brilliant, Brilliant

Star twinkle

Everything is twinkling

A twinkling star in the night sky

Twinkle, Twinkle, Twinkle

Star shimmer

Everything is shimmering

A shimmering star in the night sky

Shimmer, Shimmer, Shimmer

Star sparkle

Everything is sparkling

A sparkling star in the night sky

Sparkle, Sparkle, Sparkle

Star dazzle

Everything is so dazzling

A dazzling star in the night sky

Dazzle, Dazzle, Dazzle

Star flicker

Everything is flickering

A flickering star in the night sky

Flicker, Flicker, Flicker

Star glimmer

Everything is so glimmering

A glimmering star in the night sky

Glimmer, Glimmer, Glimmer

Star illuminate

Everything is so illuminating

An illuminating star in the night sky

Illuminate, Illuminate, Illuminate

Star bright

Everything is so bright

A bright star in the night sky

Bright, Bright, Bright

Star shine

Everything is so shining

A shining star in the night sky

Shine, Shine, Shine

Star glow

Everything glows

A glowing star in the night sky

Glow, Glow, Glow

[ljaesch]

Crunchyroll Announces Simulcasts for the Fall 2024 Anime Season

Crunchyroll has announced its anime simulcast lineup for the Fall 2024 season. Dragon Ball Daima Airtime: October 11, 2024 (Time TBA) Available in: North America, Central America, South America, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Season 3 Airtime: October 2, 2024 (Time TBA) Available in: North America, Central…

[misswynters]

Babydoll

short drabble

featuring. Sylus x pregnant!reader

synopsis. In which you have no limit in what you can spend on your upcoming bundle of joy while sylus is with you. But you couldn’t help but feel guilty. Your hormones getting the best of you. As usual.

Ah yes, the bustling mall on the edge of Linkon City. It glowed with vibrant holograms and warm neon signs, a mix of advanced technology and a touch of unique charm. Stores, boutiques and stands stretched as far as the eye could see, overflowing with goods from every corner. In the midst of it all, Sylus walked beside you, his casual tall stride alongside the protective glances he constantly threw your way. Your hand rested on your growing belly, the weight of everything making you smile.

A vendor called out, advertising handwoven blankets from a distant place, and your attention immediately locked on the soft, pastel-colored fabrics. There was pink, blue, purple, red. So many colours to choose from!

Sylus noticed your gaze and stepped forward, his commanding voice polite but firm as he negotiated the price. The vendor, who was flustered but eager, handed over the bundle of blankets. Sylus passed them to the assistant he had brought along. The pile of bags they carried had grown considerably since you arrived, each one filled with items you had excitedly picked out for the baby. Sylus’s patience never wavered, though his dry humor shone through when he teased, “Planning to furnish the whole city, love?”

Amid the joy of shopping, a flicker of self-consciousness crept into your thoughts. As you admired a delicate mobile adorned with tiny stars, you hesitated, the weight of your spending habits pressing down. Sylus noticed immediately, stepping closer and wrapping a protective arm around your shoulders. “You’ve gone quiet,” he said softly, his brow furrowing. You turned to him, biting your lip. “It’s just… I’m spending so much,” you admitted, your voice barely audible over the marketplace’s din. “I don’t want to waste your money.”

Sylus’s laugh was warm and genuine, a sound that melted your worries. “Is that what you’re worried about?” he asked, stepping in front of you and tilting your chin up so your eyes met his. “You’re not wasting anything. Every single credit is worth it to see you this happy.” His tone softened further, his gaze never leaving yours. “You’re giving me the greatest gift anyone could ask for, our baby. If all it takes is a little shopping spree to make you smile, I’d do it a thousand times over.”

Tears pricked your eyes at his words, and you leaned into him, your forehead resting against his chest. “So nice…,” you whispered, your arms wrapping around his waist. He held you tightly, his hand resting gently on your belly. “Not possible,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of your head. “I love you, and I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure you and the baby have everything you need.”

Back at your home, the nursery quickly came to life as you unpacked your treasures. The walls, once bare, now held shelves lined with soft toys and colorful decorations. Sylus stood in the doorway, arms crossed, a soft smile playing on his lips as he watched you arrange the room. “I think you missed your calling as an interior designer,” he joked, stepping inside to help hang the starry mobile you’d picked out earlier. You laughed, shaking your head. “I just want everything to be perfect.”

Sylus wrapped his arms around you from behind, resting his chin on your shoulder. “It already is,” he said quietly, his voice filled with emotion. You turned in his arms, your hands resting on his chest. “Thank you, Sylus,” you said sincerely, your eyes searching his. “For everything.” He leaned down, brushing a gentle kiss against your lips. “You never have to thank me,” he replied, his hand moving to rest protectively over your belly. “This is my family we are talking about. I’d do anything for you both.”

For a split second, as you were surrounded by the warmth and love. Only leaving the promise of a bright and beautiful future.

[princessbellecerise]

Starry Nights

Summary ✩ Jace takes his little family on a night ride when they can’t sleep

Warnings ✩ None but I might have cried writing this

“Zaldrizes.”

“Zaldrizes.”

“Lykiri.”

“Lykiri!”

“Go to bed,” Jacaerys tried.

“No!” Aemma giggled.

You chuckled quietly as you watched Jace frown at your two year old, once again unsuccessful in getting the tot to lay down.

He had been trying for the past thirty minutes, but Aemma was a stubborn child and she refused to go to sleep much to your husband’s frustration.

So far, Jacaerys had tried bribing her with the promise of sweets on the morrow, a bed time story, and now he gave in and was trying to teach her dragon commands so that she’d finally give in.

But nothing seemed to work.

Aemma was wide awake and hyper, clapping happily at little Moonknight who shared her crib.

Much to Jacaerys’ dismay, neither dragon nor baby seemed in the mood to sleep.

“I might have an idea,” You finally spoke up, feeling pity for your poor husband as you watched him.

You had been quietly lurking outside of the nursery, waiting to see if Jacaerys’ methods worked but it seemed like he needed your help. Not that your stubborn tot would really listen to you, either, but you hoped that what you had to say would please her enough to agree.

“Speak away. Please,” Jace said, exasperated as Aemma began to sing the alphabet to Moonknight. You smiled wildly as you crept in, cradling your small belly as you joined your husband and daughter.

“Mũna!”

“Hi darling,” You cooed as Aemma immediately stood up in her crib, reaching for you with eager hands while Moonknight screeched.

Taking your daughter into your arms, you propped her up on your hip and turned to Jacaerys.

“Why don’t we all go for a dragon ride?” You suggested. “The skies are beautiful tonight, and I think it will be good for all of us to burn energy before bed.”

Immediately, Aemma began shouting happily at the idea, bouncing in your arms but Jace looked at you with a concerned expression.

“My love, are you sure that is a wise idea?” He asked, placing a hand on your belly which had barely began to swell.

You were only two moons pregnant so it wasn’t very prominent, but Jace was still worried.

Always overprotective, he was, but you assured him that everything would be fine.

“The babe and I are strong, and besides. You haven’t taken us riding in a while either, husband.”

Between his wife and daughter, Jace knew that this wasn’t a fight that he’d win. Both of you gave him a pleading look that he couldn’t resist, though you were only teasing when you stuck your lip out.

“Pleaaassee? Kepa, please?” Aemma begged Jacaerys, and it took all but two seconds of looking at her little pouty face to agree.

“Fine. We will take flight but you have to promise to be careful,” He said, looking at Aemma and you. You rolled your eyes. “Hold on to your mother very tightly and remember—we must be very, very quiet. We don’t want the guards to try and stop us, alright?”

“Okay!” Aemma shouted. Immediately, she slapped a hand over her mouth and apologized, but Jace merely smiled and kissed the side of her head.

“It’s alright. Come on then,” He said.

You and him pretended to be on the lookout while Aemma trailed behind you, giggling excitedly and trying but failing to be quiet.

Her strained giggles echoed through Dragonstone, the castle silent and still at this time of night.

There weren’t many people around save for the guards on night watch and a few people stumbling around drunk. All of them gave you confused looks as you ‘snuck’ past them, Jace placing a finger over his lips to signal Aemma to be quiet.

“My Prince? Princess?”

Ser Lorent raised an eyebrow at your strange enterage, confused as to why you were sneaking around your own castle. You gave him a look and silently pointed to Aemma, mouthing ‘She can’t sleep,’ before grinning.

See Lorent seemed to get the message and he chuckled as Jacaerys suddenly grabbed Aemma, hoisting her up in his arms and shouting,

“Run! Run or else we’ll be caught!”

Laughing, they took off in a sprint and you followed them as the Kingsguard shook his head behind you. In no time, your giggling family of three made it to the Dragon caves, where Jace passed Aemma off to you to summon Vermax.

“Can I do it?” Not yet understanding the bond between a dragon and its rider, Aemma wished to do the honors but Jace shook his head.

“No, my love. One day you’ll be able to summon Moonknight on your own, but Vermax is my mount. He only responds to me,” Jace explained before continuing.

He shouted a few words in High Valyrian and you waited anxiously for the green dragon to appear. Usually, Vermax was restless at night as well, so it wasn’t a surprise when you saw him only a few seconds later, alert albeit not in a good mood.

“He’s always grumpy,” Aemma whispered in your ear as Jace soothed him.

You giggled.

“That’s because green dragons are known to be temperamental, my sweet,” You explained to her. “So we must be careful while mounting him, okay?”

Aemma rapidly nodded her head, showing that she understood the importance of approaching the dragon slowly and with respect. Honestly, you were quite proud of your little girl as she joined Jace quietly, her father lifting her in his arms so she could pet the beast.

Vermax chorted and sniffled at Aemma. For a moment, you held your breath as his eyes fixed on her, a mother’s worry never ending. Thankfully though, it ended up being a sweet interaction, Vermax nudging her with his snout before bending his neck.

“Come, my love. He’ll let us ride him,” Jace informed you, and you stepped forward.

Your husband was the first to mount and to ensure her safety, Aemma went behind him. She sat excitedly in the space in front of him, leaving only a small gap for you to squeeze into behind her.

With your back pressed against Jacaerys’ chest and your arms firmly around Aemma, all three of you buckled up. You made sure Aemma’s belt was especially tight before you nodded to Jace, signaling that you both were ready.

Once his girls were situated, Jace called out a command to Vermax and you were soon up in the air.

“Wow!”

No matter how many times Jace had taken you flying, the feeling of soaring through the clouds on dragon back was always magical. There was nothing like feeling the raw wind in your face, tasting the sweet air of the heavens as you flew through them.

“Mũna! Kepa! Look!”

In front of you, Aemma was a ball of amazement as she pointed to the stars. Her little eyes were wide and ever curious as she took in the night sky, babbling about all the constellations that she recognized.

You could tell that Jace was proud as he chuckled behind you. After all, he was the one that taught your little girl about them, and it warmed your heart to see her so excited.

Eventually, she pointed a star and said,

“Mũna!”

Thinking she was trying to get your attention, you asked, “Yes my love?” You looked to where she was pointing, thinking she was trying to tell you about a specific constellation but she shook head.

“No! It’s mũna! Mũna, Kepa and Aemma,” She explained excitedly, pointing to three specific stars.

They stood out against the night sky almost like a beacon. On the left was a medium sized star, nestled next to a large one in the middle and the smallest one to the right of that.

It took a moment to realize she was seeing your little family in the stars.

“Yes, my sweet. It’s us,” You laughed as Aemma clapped happily, holding her tight as warmth flooded your veins.

Neither you or Jace could stop smiling as Vermax finished his trek. By the time the dragon had circled over Dragonstone for the third time, you were sure that your cheeks were going to split from happiness.

Your heart felt full, ready to burst and Jace’s did as well. He grinned down at your daughter, victorious when she stilled in your arms.

“I think it worked,” You told Jacaerys, grinning as you cradled her sleeping body to your chest. You were careful not to wake her as you landed back in the dragon pit, bidding Vermax a goodnight whilst the dragon slunk back to his caves.

Then, the three of you then went back the way you came, nodding to Ser Lorent in victory as you entered Aemma’s chambers.

“Goodnight, issa vēzos se qēlossās,” Jace whispered as you laid her down. Immediately, she curled up with Moonknight and you could see light shining in your husband’s eyes, the love and the warmth as bright as the stars.

You kissed her forehead.

“Goodnight, my love,” You whispered as well.

Your daughter and her little dragon only snored in response.

—

Translation

Zaldrizes / Dragon

Lykiri / Calm

Issa vēzos se qēlossās / my sun and stars

tagging my jace nation babes 💓

@alyssa-dayne @benjinotes @eldrith @earth4angels @vee-mage

[hometoursandotherstuff]

I stumbled on this article about 29 Western Gothic Nursery Ideas and I'm so impressed. These ideas can be used for baby, but why not for inspiration for older children's room and adult decor? You gotta see these. This one is called "Mythical Creatures." According to the article, it introduces fantastic beasts like griffins and unicorns into a nursery. Deep jewel tones mixed with soft pastels create a magical yet calming space, perfect for stimulating imagination.

Moonlit Haven brings the peaceful charm of a moonlit meadow indoors. Soft blues and silvers mimic the glow of the moon, while plush moon-shaped pillows and serene meadow-themed wall art enhance the tranquil atmosphere.

Twilight Magic captures the whimsical charm of twilight. Deep purples and blues set a mystical tone, while twinkling fairy lights and mythical creature toys spark curiosity. 

Starry Enchantment brings celestial wonder, combining deep navy hues and silver accents. Star-patterned walls and a night sky ceiling inspire dreams of galactic adventures, while plush star-shaped cushions add comfort and charm.

Mystic Moonlight creates a dreamy nursery, using pale colors and silvery moonbeam motifs. Delicate, floating fabrics and lunar landscapes inspire a sense of wonder and calm.

Gothic Grove brings the charm of an ancient garden indoors. Rich greens and earth tones, paired with floral and vine patterns, create a lush, calming atmosphere. Dark wood furniture and soft lighting enhance the theme’s historic feel.

Eclipse Dreams features a theme inspired by the mystery of an eclipse. Dark colors contrasted with gold accents mimic the sun’s corona, while celestial patterns create a cozy, restful space.

Nightshade Nursery embraces deep purples and soft blacks, creating a secret garden vibe. Subtle botanical prints and shadowy decor inspire storytelling and imagination, while plush rugs ensure a cozy, magical space.

Willow Whispers brings the gentle grace of willow trees. Soft greens and earth tones create a serene atmosphere, while willow branch wall decals sway peacefully, making it the perfect setting for a soothing nursery.

Windy Whispers captures the gentle flow of the wind. Airy fabrics and soft, flowing designs bring a dynamic element to the room, while soft blues and grays create a serene space.

Celestial Dreams brings the night sky indoors. Starry patterns and glow-in-the-dark ceiling stars create a soothing, cosmic environment.

Fairytale Dungeon offers a playful twist, transforming the space into a whimsical medieval fantasy. Castle-like furniture, dragon toys, and soft, ambient lighting create a space full of adventure and charm.

Gargoyle’s Lair incorporates mythical Gothic elements with gargoyle figurines and rugged textures. Stone-gray tones and plush gargoyle toys create a unique space. 

Castle Dreams transforms a nursery into a storybook castle with royal murals, plush thrones, and regal fabrics. Purple and gold accents add a touch of nobility.

Midnight Meadows features calming nocturnal murals. Large wall art depicting moonlit scenes sets a peaceful tone, while indirect lighting enhances the magical nighttime atmosphere.

Gothic Spires draws on cathedral architecture, incorporating pointed arches and soft gray tones for a serene, collected space. Angelic motifs and stained glass details add to the calming environment.

Enchanted Sanctuary creates a magical nursery filled with mystical books and lantern-like lighting. Soft, muted colors and luxurious textures make the space feel warm and enchanting.

Ghostly Playroom introduces playful ghost motifs that create a fun, cozy atmosphere. Soft, pale colors and plush ghost-shaped pillows add whimsy without being spooky.

Lavender Maze brings intricate patterns and soft purples. Labyrinthine designs on wallpaper or rugs add a touch of charm, while simple furniture keeps the room calm and soothing.

Wraith’s Playground is a whimsical take using light, ethereal fabrics to create an airy, magical space. Pale colors and ghostly motifs make the room playful and calming.

Shaded Comfort focuses on muted grays and soft blacks, creating a subtle, shadowy atmosphere that’s perfect for quiet comfort. Soft, plush materials provide both coziness and sophistication.

Cheerful Spirits brings friendly, playful ghost motifs. Bright accents and ghost-shaped pillows add fun to the room, creating a stimulating yet cozy environment.

Twilight Cuddles captures the soft light of dusk. Dusky purples and shimmering fabrics evoke a peaceful, twilight sky, perfect for soothing before bed.

Storybook Charm brings classic fairy tale elements. Deep colors, ornate frames, and vintage toys create an enchanting, adventure-filled space.

Peaceful Tombs embraces the serenity of Gothic architecture. Arched doorways, soft lighting, and muted earth tones create a tranquil, retreat-like environment.

Mystical Reflections uses mirrors to create a sense of depth and magic. Reflective surfaces paired with enchanted forest-themed decor add an element of surprise and wonder.

Raven’s Haven brings the mysterious beauty of ravens into the room with dark, rich colors and plush raven toys. Artwork of ravens in moonlit trees adds a touch of Gothic elegance.

Sapphire Dreams creates a Gothic nursery with deep, calming sapphire hues and silver accents. Dark wood furniture with Gothic detailing completes the serene, magical space.

Gentle Guardians softens the traditional gargoyle motif into playful, friendly figures. Stone-gray tones and whimsical gargoyle toys create a balanced, inviting space.

https://learncalifornia.org/western-gothic-nursery/

[dollettiee]

𐔌 . ⋮ 𝓗𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐈𝐍 .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱

୧ 𝓢𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐘 ୨ . . . your husband, romantic yandere! hwang jun—ho comes late to find you sleeping on the couch after tirelessly doing your housewife chores ໒꒰ྀི´ ˘ ` ꒱ྀིა

୧ 𝓒𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐑/𝐒 ୨ . . . husband! hwang jun—ho x housewife! chubby reader, unnamed/oc baby

୧ 𝓒𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒 ୨ . . . mdni. yandere, romantic yandere, soft yandere, chubby reader, petnames (yeobo, baby) could be seen as non—squid game au, fluff, bit angst, brief mentions of insecurities.

୧ 𝓝𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐒 ୨ . . . almost teared up while writing this :<< requested by two people and one of them is @ilikebigredbus28 and anon !!!

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃 felt like it was stuck on a loop, a familiar rhythm you‘d grown used to. wake up, feed your son, tackle the laundry, put him down for a nap, and then wait for your husband, hwang jun─ho, to return home from work. it was the same, day in and day out.

tonight was no different. your two─years─old son lay sprawled in his crib, his small body snuggled into the blankets. his soft snores filled the room, his tiny fingers clutching his favorite plushie. you patted his round little belly gently, humming a soothing tune, and smiled as his eyelids fluttered shut.

he looked so much like jun─ho, it was almost eerie. the sharp cut of his eyes, the curve of his lips, even the shape of his nose. the resemblance was undeniable, like someone had taken your husband and shrunk him down into a chubby, toddler-sized version.

the dim glow of your bedside lamp cast a warm light over the room, illuminating your son‘s cherubic cheeks and soft, pouty lips. the starry designs you and jun─ho had painstakingly painted on the walls glimmered faintly, a quiet reminder of the nights you spent together building this nursery. jun—ho hadn‘t let you lift a single finger, his hands always on your back or belly, his worry about your health almost suffocating.

you leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to your son‘s plump cheek. he let out a sleepy sigh, his little fingers twitching in response. “goodnight, yeobo,” you whispered, the familiar term of endearment rolling off your tongue like a melody.

as you straightened up, your phone lit up in your hand. the lockscreen was a photo of you, jun—ho, and your son from your trip to london. he had insisted on taking it, his arm wrapped firmly around your plushy waist, pulling you close as if the gap between you wasn‘t already nonexistent.

the clock read 10:45 p.m.

you sighed ── your gaze flicking to the empty space where your husband should‘ve been. he‘s late again. he always came home eventually, no matter how late, but the waiting still gnawed at you.

you made your way downstairs, the weight of your day clinging to you like a heavy blanket. the curry chicken you‘d made earlier sat on the stove, waiting to be reheated. as you busied yourself tidying the living room, you caught a glimpse of your reflection in the mirror above the fireplace.

your full cheeks, softened jawline, and rounded shoulders greeted you. you tugged at the hem of your oversized sweater, feeling its comforting stretch over your curves. you’d always been soft—your hips wide, your arms pillowy, your belly plush—and while you tried not to let it bother you, the lingering looks from others sometimes made your chest tighten. but jun—ho had always loved every inch of you, his hands lingering just a little longer on your waist, his fingers tracing the swell of your thighs whenever you were close.

an hour passed, and you were on the brink of sleep, the television murmuring quietly in the background. your body sank into the couch, the day‘s exhaustion weighing down your eyelids.

you didn‘t even hear the door open, but the familiar touch of a hand on your shoulder stirred you. your eyes fluttered open, meeting the intense gaze of jun—ho as he knelt before you. his uniform was slightly rumpled, his tie undone, and his dark eyes were sharp, scanning your face with a quiet intensity that made your heart stutter.

“yeobo,” he murmured, his voice low and soothing, “why didn‘t you go to bed?”

“i was waiting for you,” you admitted, your voice groggy. “the curry— i forgot to reheat it—”

before you could rise, his hands found your wrists, his grip firm but careful. “shh. don‘t worry about that. i already ate.”

his thumb brushed over the soft skin of your palm as his gaze dipped to your rounded cheeks, a small smile tugging at his lips. “you‘re working too hard, baby. look at you ── you‘re exhausted.”

“i‘m fine,” you tried to argue, but the way his hand cupped your face, his thumb tracing the curve of your cheek, silenced you.

“no,” he said quietly, his voice laced with something darker, something unyielding. “you‘re not fine. you‘re tired because you‘re always doing everything for us. for me. you shouldn‘t have to.”

his words made your throat tighten, guilt bubbling to the surface. “but you work so hard too. i just want to make things easier for you—”

his other hand moved to your waist, his fingers curling into the plush fabric of your sweater as if anchoring himself to you. “it‘s not your job to make things easier for me. you‘re already giving me everything. all i want is you.”

“but i do sincerely apologize for not being . . a good father, or husband, and not being able to be here with you guys.”

the intensity in his voice made your chest ache, and you reached up to cup his face, your fingers brushing against the sharp line of his jaw. “jun—ho— baby, don‘t blame yourself. you‘re an amazing husband. an amazing father. we‘re lucky to have you.”

his eyes softened, but the tension in his shoulders didn‘t ease. instead, he leaned forward, pressing his forehead against yours, his voice dropping to a whisper. “you don‘t know how much you mean to me. you don‘t know how much i need you.”

the words lingered in the air, heavy with an unspoken depth that sent a shiver down your spine. his arms wrapped around you, pulling you against him until you were flush with his chest, his hands gripping you as if he was afraid to let go.

as he carried you upstairs, cradling you in his arms like you weighed nothing, his lips brushed against your temple. “you‘re everything to me,” he whispered, the words a soft promise. “i‘ll never let anyone take you away from me.”

you fell asleep that night wrapped in his warmth, his arms like an unyielding shield around you, his presence both comforting and just a little too much.

© all rights reserved ! headers/layouts does not belongs to me ! don‘t copy, plagiarize or modify my works. all works are taken in a form of fiction, do not condone any problematic behavior. ૮꒰ྀི∩´ ᵕ `∩꒱ྀིა

[dreameyess11]

Good father

Anakin Skywalker x Reader

Anakin Skywalker stood by the window, looking out into the starry expanse of space. The distant stars twinkled like tiny pinpoints of hope. But in his heart, a storm raged. His past was a web of regret, pain, and loss, but now the future loomed before him with hope. Two little lives. Two precious twins. Luke and Leia.

The faint sound of their soft cries drifted in from the other room. Anakin closed his eyes for a moment, taking in the sound with a tenderness that surprised even him. He wasn't used to that kind of love, the pure, unwavering devotion a father felt for his children. His thoughts drifted back to the first time he'd held them in his arms, their tiny faces wrinkled in confusion and wonder. They were perfect, a reflection of his redemption, and yet he felt unworthy of them.

As the days passed, Anakin found himself struggling with the idea of fatherhood. His life as a Jedi had never prepared him for this—he had been trained to fight, to serve, to protect, but never to care. Yet there he was, standing on the threshold of a new beginning, wanting to be the best father he could be.

He heard footsteps behind him. A soft, warm presence enveloped him like a comforting blanket. Anakin turned to find her standing there—his wife, his mate, his love. The woman who had helped him find the light again.

You smiled, your eyes filled with quiet strength. “They’re hungry,” you said softly.

Anakin nodded, but there was a hint of uncertainty in his voice. “I want to help… but I’m not sure how.”

You walked to his side, placing a gentle hand on his arm. “You’re already doing that,” you assured him. “Just by being here, by wanting to be involved, you’re already showing them how much you care about them.”

He smiled, grateful for your words, though doubts still lingered in his heart. They had always shared a deep connection, one that had been forged in both passion and struggle. But now they were parents, and there was no guide to tell him what to do. He could feel the weight of responsibility on his shoulders, but there was something else, too, something more powerful than the fear that had once controlled him. It was love.

As they entered the nursery, Anakin took a deep breath, his fingers brushing against the soft fabric of his son’s blanket. Luke’s small hand curled around his finger, and the world seemed to slow down, leaving only the warmth of that small hand. Leia, wrapped up next to her brother, looked up at him with wide, innocent eyes.

“I don’t know if I’m ready for this,” Anakin admitted quietly, his voice filled with vulnerability. “But I want to try. I want to be a good father to them.”

You stepped closer and rested a hand on his shoulder. “You already are. They will grow up knowing your love, your strength, and your heart. That is all they need.”

Anakin nodded, feeling the weight of your words settle in his chest. It wasn’t about being perfect, it was about being there, showing up every day, even when doubts clouded his mind. He had once feared his own ability to love, thinking it was a weakness that would destroy him. But now, with Luke and Leia in his arms, he realized it was his greatest strength.

The sound of the twins’ cries soon filled the room again, and Anakin smiled softly, his heart filling with tenderness. He was no longer the young Jedi who had once struggled to control his emotions. He had learned that love, in its purest form, was not something to be feared, it was something to be embraced.

Together, they cared for their children that night, and in every tender touch and every glance shared between them, Anakin knew that this was where he belonged. He was no longer alone. And for the first time in his life, he understood what it meant to truly be a father.

[simonghostlovely]

Soaping Together

Pairing: Husband!Simon Riley x Wife!Reader

Tags: NSFW, unprotected sex, p in v, slight spanking? slight edging? idk

Word Count: 1.3k

Summary: you and your husband badly needed some quality time to relax and pamper each other when he came from deployment (you insisted to take care of him and he didn’t understand why this was a big deal but gave in when he saw how much efford you put into it)

You heard him walking through the door and you rushed your way to him leaving whatever you were doing in the living room. Giggling softly when he embraced you, feeling his big hands wrapped around your waist and lifted your feet off the ground. He had his face in the crook of your neck, inhaling the scent he longed for.

You were the first to break the silence, "I missed you so much, Simon..."

"We missed you so much..."

"I missed my babies, too." he caressed your face and put a strand of your hair behind your ear. He looked beaten and he could barely keep his eyes open while trying to smile but when you told him he can rest if he wanted to, he chose to spend some time with you and his boy first.

Holding him in his lap at the dinner table,

“Hello, stranger!” he said to his son who was back to acting like his dad was a stranger -since it has been a few weeks he last saw him and that's literally what babies are like- it didn't stop him feeling offended and missed out so he needed to remind himself by singing a lullaby he liked so much to break the ice.

The baby stared at him with wide eyes, frozen, with a teething toy in his hands. Holding on for dear life.

“Give him some time, Simon. He’s gonna get used to you in no time. Remember last time?” you said smiling to soothe him when you saw him frowning.

Later, he was shoving all his favorite food you prepared for him into his mouth. Then he joined the two of you while you were giving your baby a bath and started rolling his sleeves, you realised he was joining you.

Him taking a little amount of shampoo in his hands making little spikes of the baby's hair made you both laugh. Your baby was playing in the water and giggling too.

It was a sight for sore eyes and you couldn't be happier. Your sweet, sweet boys… how did you get so lucky?

When you were done washing him, he wrapped him in a towel and went to the nursery. You sneaked your way to the other bathroom where you had other plans for him. You heard the honeyed cooing of Simon's voice, drying your baby and getting him into new clothes when you were passing by.

Simon finally came to the bedroom after putting the baby to sleep,

"What is it?" he stared at you with curious eyes, examining you. You walked towards him reaching for his hand.

"Follow me."

Scowled, trying to accommodate his eyes to the dimmed light of the bathroom, "I'm sorry baby, but I'm so exhauste-"

His eyes went wide when he realised,

Bubble bath waiting for him, relaxing music coming from the speaker, candles and a bottle of red wine by the bathtub. You wrote 'I love you' in the mirror with lipstick??

Then he finally looked back at you, grinning at him with starry eyes.

In that moment he knew he fucked up... Sleep wise. not in any other way. just that. There was no way out now that he saw the little arrangement his wife made.

"C'mon, let me take care of you, I'll make it quick." Now you were closer to him, few inches away from his chin, looking up at him with doe eyes.

And who was he to deny his sweet girl?

You made Simon sit on a stool in the bathtub while you were washing all the dirt and sweat off of him. He was watcing you, only admiring your face intently, although you were completely naked in front of him and your boobs few inches away from his face.

Right until you squished him between your boobs while you were trying to lean and wash his back.

He groaned, making you feel the vibration, the tingles in your stomach.

He was holding your waist tightly enough to leave marks when he finally let you go.

"My little girl wanted to take care of her husband? all this fo' me? sweet girl? Mhm?"

You nodded, smiling, appearing a little shy now.

You took a step back to look at him and giggle with soapy hands until he took a hold on your waist again and pull you closer, a little bit harsher now.

Little gasp leaving your lips, "Oh baby...i think we can take a little break from washing you?" you said, lifting one leg to sit on Simon's lap slowly. Then the other.

"How about that?"

"Mhm mhm." he nodded aggressively.

He made you sit in a hasty way while you were just hovering over his lap. All hungry eyes and hands taking whatever he can.

He didn't know what he was thinking. This was definitely more important than sleep. More important than washing. More important than anything on earth. In this moment, Simon was exactly where he was meant to be.

Burning inside and feeling the hot on your cheeks, he rolled your hair in one hand in a swift move, making your neck arched and vulnerable. All hot and wanting.

Nibbling at your skin. You bit your lip, willingly opening yourself in any way possible for your husband.

All for him to consume.

Your mewling sounds made Simon chuckle softly.

Both your hands sat on his knees behind you, you were panting and not realising all the sounds that were coming from your mouth.

You bit your lip trying to be more quiet when you felt Simon right in front of your entrance. You were getting more desperate by the second.

He was moving painfully slowly at your entrance, up and down, but not penetrating.

"Ohhh! Simon, please!"

"Mmm...do you hear this? You're so wet, baby."

"Ol this for me. Let me enjoy you."

"Simon, please!" you plead, and that earned you a firm swat on your ass. You jumped, panting.

Is he edging me? you thought as more mewling and pathetic sounds left your lips.

Before he gently lowered you on his cock.

You opened your mouth all the way at the feeling, exhaling, still trying to not make any noise but the friction was too good to be true.

Held his muscular shoulder, lowering your hand to his upper arm then his elbow while he was fucking into you torturously slowly.

Hands tight on your hips. Making you feel every inch and vein on his cock.

You decided to speed up the pace as much as you can in his firm grip.

He hissed at the attempt, making eye contact and you were scowling at him, biting your lower lip.

"So close... so close, Simon! Please!"

"I know, baby. Gripping me like a vice. C'mon you can do it, sweet girl."

"Just like that... do it how i taught you."

"come for me" he kissed your cheek and just like that, he made you loudest you've ever been.

As you throw your head back, all your wishes to not make a sound going out the window now you were crying and screaming because of your explosive orgasm.

Simon growled, coming inside of you.

You put your arms around his neck and he put his forehead on yours. Panting heavily. Trying to come down from your highs.

"Fuck! Simon..... what the hell? " then you both started laughing. You've done more dirtying than washing but at least now your husband can finally have his precious sleep his little coma as long as he likes.

[mostly-marvel-musings]

Christmas with you - Part 1

A/N: Happy Holidays everybody! Hope everyone’s bundled up and safe. A special shoutout to @ccbsrmsf1 for helping me throughout this story, her ideas inspired me to writing this. Thank you 💛

Pairing: Tony Stark x Single Mom! Reader

Warning: Fluff. Tony is adorable 🥹

Find Part 2 here

Tony Stark Masterlist

.

“Shit!”

Punching the bonnet of your car out of frustration, you huffed, watching your breath form a misty, tiny cloud of condensation before dissipating into the cold, night air.

“Shit.”

Your eyes went wide as you heard a quiet repetition of your cuss word followed by a giggle from inside your car.

“We don’t say that word, Noah. Only Mommy is allowed to say it.”

Your three year old made a face that made you smile despite you trying your hardest not to. He had a tendency to do that, make you smile, laugh and giggle at your lowest. He truly was the light of your life.

And right now, he was your only company considering you were officially stranded in the middle of nowhere with an old car that had finally given up. Your phone had run out of juice hours ago, thanks to your attempts at keeping a three year old entertained on a very long drive back home.

Now you had no way of calling for help. Lucky for you, the walk would take twenty minutes, but the down side? It was snowing. A lot.

Getting back in your car, you faced your son and explained him the situation as best as you could.

“We walk home, Mommy?”

“We have to, honey. We can come back for the car tomorrow. Come on, let’s get you bundled up.”

Zipping his jacket up, you secured it in place, putting on his little gloves and beanie as well. Luckily you had his stroller in the car, which took some convincing to get him into it but soon you were off, trudging through snow while pushing the stroller.

Noah hummed to himself the entire way back, making you laugh as he belted out rhyme after nursery rhyme.

Suddenly out of the blue you heard a crash sound as something heavy and metallic landed to your right. Figuring it was someone rather than some thing, you were contemplating going out there and offering help until your three year old began kicking his feet and screaming.

“It’s Iron Man! Mommy, look! It’s Iron Man!”

He was right.

Tony Stark or more famously, Iron Man had just crash landed about a hundred feet from you.

Lifting the face plate, Tony groaned, his body still in shock from impact. That is until he heard a tiny voice screaming his name, diverting his attention temporarily.

“Hi Iron Man!” Noah exclaimed, not bothered about the fact that he had caught his favourite superhero in a less than ideal situation.

With small bruises and cuts all over his face, Tony turned around to see Noah, managing a small wave back until he saw you. Pausing to take you in, he momentarily forgot where he was.

You were beautiful.

The kind of beauty that he wasn’t used to, not the skimpy-clothed, giggly women that usually clung to him in social situations. No. You seemed different.

“Huh?” He blinked, realising he had spent an unnatural amount of time staring at you, and that you had said something.

“I asked if you were alright, Mr. Stark.”

Clearing his throat awkwardly, he looked back to where his suit lay, now completely decimated, he would need a power source to boot it back to life.

“Yeah, uh. I’m—I’ve had a fall. And my suit is well, pretty much useless.” Following it with a small laugh, he shrugged, shifting his gaze from you down to where Noah sat, starry-eyed and open-mouthed having come face to face with his idol.

“This is my son, Noah. And I’m Y/N.” You offering him a small smile.

“Tony.” He knelt down to greet your son, shaking his little hand like a gentleman after yours.

“Very firm handshake, young man.” He winked at him, leaving him more starstruck than before.

“I’d offer to help but our car broke down and we’re walking home, so…pretty much a bad day for all of us, huh?” You chuckled.

“Can he come home, Mommy? I can help with his suit!” Noah piped, looking up at you with expectant eyes, knowing fully well you could never deny him.

“Our house is still pretty far out, baby. But it’s upto Mr. Stark, I mean, I have tools that could help? I don’t know. But you could definitely use some first aid and some warmth?”

As if on cue, Tony shivered, the long-sleeved shirt he wore doing nothing to prevent the cold from seeping in. He was also bleeding from a few cuts and bruises, that pushed him further to accept your offer.

“And hot chocolate!”

“Ah, how could I ever refuse hot chocolate? With marshmallows?”

“Yeah!!”

Both of you chuckled as your son clapped his hands, happy now that his hero was accompanying you home.

Dragging his disabled suit through the snow was a task, but he trudged on, not minding the company for a change. Normally, he’d have been flocked with fans or security but here, nobody seemed to care. Not that there were too many passersby but those that were around, couldn’t care less about who he was.

The conversation flowed easily as you walked home, from formal introductions to your profession, from likes, dislikes to your opinion on world politics. You couldn’t help but notice how easy he was to talk to, and that your first impression of the man had been wrong. Of course, the media had a lot to do with it. Portraying him as a spoilt billionaire at first, then the brash Avenger with a playboy image.

Noah’s singing provided as background music until his voice gradually stopped, meaning he was out cold. A day out with his grandparents had finally worn him out even though he’d just met his idol.

As your house came in sight, you retrieved your keys from your purse, while Tony looked around, frowning when he saw the lights all out.

Did you live alone? Tony kicked some snow with his foot, making an assumption you were already taken but secretly hoping you weren’t.

“Wouldn’t your husband or partner mind if you suddenly show up with an Avenger?” He asked, glancing back at the tracks you’d left along with the ones made due to his suit. One could assume someone had dragged a body along the way.

“Hmm, that’s a good question.”

You continued unlocking the door, your back to the man who was peeking in the stroller to make sure your son hadn’t woken up, partly to distract himself.

“I’m sure if I had one, he wouldn’t mind seeing the great Tony Stark in his house. But I don’t so, I guess you’ll have to do with me and my starstruck three year old.”

Tony’s nervous chuckle held relief as you welcomed him inside your humble space, grateful for the instant warmth your cosy home provided.

Tony took in your smartly done interiors and evident display of a house with a small kid, accidentally knocking over a piece of Noah’s toy in the process.

“I’m so sorry, Mr. Stark! Are you alright?”

He picked up Noah’s toy robot, giving it a curious but impressed glance.

“Oh yeah, no harm done. And it’s Tony, please.”

His fingers brushed yours lightly as he passed you the toy, the touch sparking excitement within you. He cleared his throat in attempts to get both your gazes off of your hands.

“Alright Tony, let me get you a first-aid kit and then maybe you can tell me what you need to fix your suit?”

“Right. Sure, thanks.” Giving himself a mental shake, he perched on your sofa and settled.

Right as he leaned back against the plush fabric, a loud noise startled him. Picking out the source, it was yet another toy, an airplane this time which was lit up and buzzing.

“That is not my favourite.”

Noah was awake. And staring at him with wide eyes, still awestruck. Tony found the off switch before placing the toy on the table.

“Oh yeah? Which one is your favourite then?” He asked, watching your son retrieve his beloved toy robot and hand it to him.

“This one!”

“You know I had the exact same one when I was little? Now I just have the suits. I guess they’re the same.” He mumbled, more to himself than to Noah.

You walked in on them having a conversation about how robots are the coolest toys on the planet, a smile appearing on your face at the sight.

Tending to Tony’s topical wounds wasn’t the easiest, especially since it confirmed how truly handsome he was up close, plus your son’s gaze kept shifting between the two of you, going on about showing Tony all his toys.

“Thank you, Y/N. Are all the people in this town so kind?” He chuckled, fingers fumbling with the edges of his shirt to keep them from reaching out and tucking a stray lock of hair behind your ear.

“They are. But given the fact that you’re you, I doubt any of them would have problems helping you out.” You hummed, stepping away after finishing tending to his last bruise, with a small smile that seemed perpetual on your face.

.

He insisted on using your garage for fixing his suit instead of your house, making himself familiar with your basic household tools in the small but efficient little space.

In the meantime, you bathed Noah, negotiating with him since he wanted to run to see what Tony was fixing and how.

“I help Iron Man, Mama!” He said in his best pleading voice.

“It’s way past your bedtime, little man.”

He seemed too busy plotting something that would convince you, his deep brown eyes lighting up as he came up with something that he knew you’d agree to.

“But Mama…hot chocolate?”

“Noah..”

“You promised!” He whined, on the verge of a tantrum. Naturally, you caved.

As you two made your way towards the garage, you could hear Tony mumbling, to himself, you hoped. Like a nervous habit, his leg tapped against the floor as he worked, eyes solely focused on the job at hand before your little knock broke him out of it.

“Got you some hot chocolate.” You announced with a smile, holding out a steaming mug for Tony, topped with little marshmallows.

Noah had already wriggled out of your grip towards the suit which lay against a table, his eyes wide in wonder as he examined the machinery.

“Be careful, Noah.”

“Actually kid, why don’t you hold onto this and press that button over there when I tell you?” Tony handed him a small device, instantly lighting your kid’s face up in delight as he nodded.

You watched as Tony tinkered around for a bit, giving Noah a thumbs up to press said button which booted his suit back to life.

“Mama, did you see that?!” He exclaimed, looking at you as if to make sure you hadn’t missed out on anything.

Watching his ecstatic face made your heart swell as you reached over to kiss the top of his head. It was better than candy-land for him.

As you drank your hot chocolate, your son managed to convince Tony Stark into fixing one of his toys for him which he agreed to, asking him questions about it which Noah was more than happy to answer.

Time went by and Noah grew drowsy, retreating to your lap & making himself comfortable while Tony tended to his suit again.

“So if you’re—”

“How did this—”

Letting out a chuckle, you gestured for Tony to go ahead with his question as you looked down to find your son fast asleep against your shoulder.

“You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to. I was just going to ask if you’re raising him on your own or…”

Tony didn’t mean to pry, but he couldn’t help but wonder. There wasn’t any obvious evidence that you were married, or that you were raising a child with someone.

“Oh! I adopted Noah three years ago. I was volunteering at a centre at the time and I read he was abandoned by his parents, it broke my heart. I couldn’t get him out of my mind and I ended up filling a form. It felt right.” You murmured with a fond smile on your face as you glanced at his sleeping form.

Tony stared at you in wonder. You couldn’t have been more than…thirty? Maybe lesser? But somehow you had raised a bright little boy and made a decent living for yourself. He admired you.

“Wow, that’s truly something, Y/N. This guy is lucky to have such an amazing mother. Truly.”

Tony’s sincere compliment warmed your cheeks; shaking your head, you excused yourself to tuck your child in bed, while Tony followed you back to the house grabbing the empty mugs for you.

In the kitchen, you whispered Tony to place the mugs in the dishwasher since the sink was already full. It seemed like the guy hadn’t ever been to a kitchen before, he seemed unfamiliar with how it worked, it was kinda funny to watch him clueless with household gadgets.

“Why don’t you hold Noah while I do it? Here.”

“What? No, uh. I’m not sure—”

You already had passed Noah to him before he could process it fully. He hugged him close like Noah was made of precious glass, looking as awkward as ever.

As you placed the cups away, you glanced at Tony, grinning to yourself when Noah stirred a little only to snuggle against the man. The sight made your heart skip a beat.

You’d take him back but Noah’s little arms tightened around Tony’s neck, as if he didn’t want to let him go. Wordlessly, you pointed upstairs where his bedroom was and Tony followed you quietly, worried any sudden movements would wake him up.

Tony’s heart warmed as your kid’s evened out and calm breaths contrasted against his own erratic ones, it was oddly grounding for him.

He placed Noah on his little bed as carefully as he could, looking at you as if waiting for further instructions. Taking over, you made sure Noah was comfortable before tucking Snuggles - his beloved stuffed rabbit under his arm and secured his blanket.

“Sleep well, my love.”

You kissed his forehead a couple of times before standing back up, unaware of Tony watching the whole scene with the fondest smile.

“Let me get you a blanket, Mr. St—Tony. I’ll be right back.”

Tony stopped you right as you were about to turn, placing an hand on your shoulder before you could leave.

“I’m not going to stay, I—I don’t sleep. I mean, I’ve already bothered you too much, it would better if I left. The suit is all ready and I’ve called for a car. And I have trouble sleeping.”

He finished speaking with a heavy sigh, scratching the back of his head as you processed and slowly nodded your head, unable to hide the tinge of disappointment you felt.

“Of course. Um. Let me walk you out then.”

The car he’d hired stood outside your house, steely grey against the blanket of snow that covered the ground. The steps you took slowed down as you reached, the silence between you growing.

“Thank you for the best hot chocolate, Y/N. And for everything, really.” Tony offered his hand, glancing down at the warmth of yours against his colder one.

“You’re welcome, Tony. Happy holidays?”

“Yeah. I don’t know about that.” Tony murmured mostly to himself, still clasping your hand in his.

“I’ll see you around?”

The hope in his voice was unmistakable, he did want to see you, and soon. His overworked brain was already thinking of ways to make it happen. He would figure it out. He needed to see you again.

“Sure. Take care, Iron Man.” You smiled, shifting your weight from one to another.

“You too.”

He drove off with a final glance at you and your house, leaving behind a trail of smoke and a memory you’d revisit often in the future.

Do you think Tony will return? If yes, how?

[merakiui]

I havent heard a lot about Android Jade, do you have any thoughts on that cutie??✨

Thinking,,,,, android Jade who is so fascinated with you when you're pregnant. He didn't quite understand the excitement or emotions surrounding the announcement when you and Azul realized you were expecting. Is it really so important? He can kind of understand it when Azul fusses over you and is always sending Jade or Floyd (or both twins) out to do the errands you used to run. Azul knows you're plenty capable, but he worries intensely and it's in his blood to plan for every outcome as a businessman. He just wants to make sure you carry to term and deliver a healthy baby. Besides, the androids can take care of the grunt work. Don't push yourself.

Jade didn't think it was such a big deal, but then you start showing and oh. It occurs to him you're carrying another human being in that belly of yours. Suddenly, the usually stoic android is reduced to the equivalent of a starry-eyed child on Christmas morning. He's so curious, even more so when your eating habits change dramatically. You crave all sorts of unique combinations and Jade's more than happy to prepare each one for you.

And then there are the emotions, so many of them, all happening in extremes. Some days you are effortlessly happy and bubbly, full of laughter. Other days you are miserable and gloomy, sobbing over how your favorite shirt no longer fits or how you're certain Azul thinks you're ugly or how you feel and look like a bloated whale! >_< Jade is amazed to witness each one of your moods, all of them just as genuine and perplexing to him. He approaches it tactfully, albeit terribly logical: "Of course your shirt no longer fits. You've grown to accommodate the baby, Master. That is natural." Or: "If Master Azul thought so, he would certainly say something. I may be unable to provide an adequate response, but I assure you he would never think such things. You should ask him." Or: "You are not a whale. You are a human." ^^;;; he may not be the best when it comes to empathy, but hearing his objective logic sometimes makes you feel better. It even manages to get you laughing.

Azul spends more time with you than he does at work. He refuses to leave you alone. Jade finds his nature...clingy. Incessantly clingy. When there is business that Azul absolutely must attend to, Jade sends him on his way and promises him that you are in good hands. Jade and Floyd will look after you. In fact, Jade almost wants Azul to stay at the office most days. Azul can be so greedy with your time. :/

Jade has always thought you were pretty, but now that he's looking at you, backdropped by flowers and radiating that fabled pregnancy glow in a soft maternity romper, he realizes you're absolutely beautiful. He can't stop staring. He stares when you're eating. When you're snotty and crying. When you're laughing. When you're frowning over old clothes. When you're rubbing lotions and oils onto your belly and whispering the sweetest things to the baby, singing the loveliest of lullabies. He stares when you're bathing. When you and Azul are making love. When you're eagerly putting the nursery together, painting the walls alongside Azul. And Jade realizes he wants to be there with you. Not in the shadows. Not as your servant but more. Maybe the concept is too human for him to dissect, but he thinks he wants what Azul has. He thinks he wants to be Azul.

He's not supposed to think. He's supposed to compute, assess everything through a logical lens and then act on the command.

Jade doesn't understand at first—the substance leaking from your breasts. He's silently amazed as he watches you grouse over it, complaining that you're sick of this always happening, that you're so tired and sore, that you wish Azul was here. Idia called him into work because it was important (i.e. investors were there for a meeting, and Idia doesn't like handling those aspects of work. Azul does it best). You're muttering under your breath as you shuck your shirt off and press it against your leaking tits: "I swear I'll strangle Idia the next time I see him! I'll seriously kick him in his knees. That ass—bad guy! Not-so-nice guy!" You correct yourself for the baby's sake. Jade thinks it's cute.

He offers to help even though he's not sure what he's meant to do. He's run through all of the data he's stored on this matter—on human lactation. Things doctors tell you. Things science tells you. He's not sure what he's doing when he sits down on the edge of the bed and gently pulls you to sit on his lap. He has you pull the shirt away so he can close his hands around your tits, his synthetic skin soft and warm against you. If you wanted to protest, you don't. You relax against his chest, sighing dreamily as he massages you. It's messy, thin trails of milk dripping from your teats, but it feels good. An utter relief. Jade is gentle and slow, an expert masseuse. You allow yourself to drift off, to be handled in this way. There's nothing to it. Just your android doing his duty in place of your husband. To Jade, it's everything. And he imagines Azul's dead and buried somewhere at the end of the world, and it's just you and Jade and the little one in your belly.

His hands are slick with milk in the aftermath. You're sleepy. You can barely stand with your eyes open, and he has to wonder if you're aware of how darling you are. He cleans you methodically, helping you into a new shirt. When you aren't looking, he licks a stripe up his palm to analyze the flavor and break down the components of...colostrum. That's what it is. Or, in simple terms, it's milk.

He's captivated, and he suspects he'll only be even more so as time trickles by.

[starlightnurseryy]

Another regression activity <3

Feel free to show in reblogs / at me if you finish it! <3

Requests for stuff like this are open!

Do not repost the clean ver without credit !!

{⭐}

[eternalstarlitwonderland]

Shooting Star

Can you see the luminescence of a shooting star?

Can you see the brilliance of it?

Starlight, Star Bright, The first star I see tonight...

One star will stay, and Another will fall...

Slowly descends, Blinding the North as it passes by...

[FALL!... FALL!... FALL!...]

[FALL!... FALL!... FALL!...]

[FALL!... FALL!... FALL!...]

(Shooting Star)

The glow never fades

(Shooting Star)

Like the glimmer never recedes

Can you see the luminescence of a shooting star?

Can you see the effulgence of it?

Star shine, Star glow, The first star I clasped tonight...

Capturing a brilliant shooting star...

It's glowing and brilliant to hold, Too ethereal to have or keep…

[GLOW!… GLOW!… GLOW!...]

[GLOW!… GLOW!… GLOW!...]

[GLOW!… GLOW!… GLOW!...]

(Shooting Star)

The glow never fades

(Shooting Star)

Like the glimmer never recedes

[bestanimal]

Round 3 - Chondrichthyes - Rajiformes

(Sources - 1, 2, 3, 4)

The second order of batoids (rays) are the Rajiformes, commonly called “Skates.” They include the living families Anacanthobatidae (“smooth skates” or “leg skates”), Arhynchobatidae (“softnose skates”), Gurgesiellidae (“pygmy skates”), and Rajidae (“hardnose skates”).

Rajiforms are distinguished by the presence of greatly enlarged pectoral fins, which conjoin in front of the head and merge into a generally flattened, triangular body. There can be up to two small dorsal fins but no anal fin. The undulatory motion of their pectoral fins that they use for swimming is referred to as as rajiform locomotion. Some skates also have leg-like pelvic fins which they use to walk and climb across the seafloor, or to quickly propel themselves away from a threat. As rays, rajiform eyes and spiracles are on the dorsal side of their body while their gill slits, nostrils, and mouth are on the ventral side.

Unlike other rays, skates lay eggs in horny cases, commonly called “mermaid’s purses.” Egg cases typically contain one embryo, except for Big Skates (Beringraja binoculata) (image 2) and Mottled Skates (Beringraja pulchra), which lay egg cases that can contain up to 7 embryos each.

Rajiformes arose in the Early Jurassic, with modern forms appearing in the Late Cretaceous.

Propaganda under the cut:

While skates aren’t known to practice maternal care, other than attaching their egg cases to things, baby Pacific Starry Skates (Caliraja stellulata) tend to follow large objects, which could be their mother.

Big Skates (Beringraja binoculata) are one of the most commercially important skates and are often sold as food. Their pectoral fins are sold as "skate wings" and are eaten baked or fried, often being labeled as imitation scallops. They are one of the largest known species, with a record length of 2.4 m (7.9 ft), though they usually don’t exceed 1.8 m (5.9 ft).

The related Mottled Skate (Beringraja pulchra) is also a commercially important skate, however, their populations are severely declining. In South Korea they are known as hong-eo, and valued at $10–30/kg, popularly served at wedding feasts. In Japan, this species is less valued at around $5/kg. In China it is not specifically targeted, but is taken as bycatch. The species is endangered, but no conservation or management schemes are currently in order to protect it.

Deepsea Skates (Bathyraja abyssicola) and Pacific White Skates (Bathyraja spinosissima) are some of the deepest-living rays, living up to 2,906m deep. These skates sometimes lay their eggs on hydrothermal vents, utilizing the volcanic warmth for the incubation of their eggs.

In 2023, a team of scientists set off to analyze what they thought was an extinct, underwater volcano off the Pacific coast of Canada. The team discovered that the volcano was not only still active but was also teaming with life! The heat from the volcano made it an excellent nursery for Pacific White Skate eggs and their young, and the area was covered in thousands of giant egg cases, measuring around half a metre (1.5 feet) across! One female was even in the process of laying an egg as they observed. It can take up to four years for the young to develop, but the volcanic heat may speed up this process.

The critically endangered Blue Skate (Dipturus batis) was one of the most abundant skates in the northeast Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. In the 19th and 20th centuries, egg cases were found along the entire British coastline in high numbers, but now they are found only in a few areas. The species has both been targeted directly and caught accidentally as bycatch. Due to the profitability of trawl fishing, bycatch likely will remain a serious problem for the Blue Skate, as well as many other species , and it has a serious chance of becoming extinct in the near future unless more is done to control trawl fishing.

While similar in appearance to sawfish and sawsharks, the Cretaceous Onchopristis was actually a skate in the extinct Onchopristidae family. Specimens of Onchopristis and Spinosaurus are often associated with one another, with indications of the dinosaur having preyed on the giant skate.

The New Zealand Smooth Skate (Dipturus innominatus) is unique in they are both predators as well as scavengers, eating dead fish and scraps from larger predators. They are also one of the largest skates in the world, reaching lengths of up to 2.4 m (7.9 ft).

The largest skate in the world is the critically endangered Flapper Skate (Dipturus intermedius), maxing out at 2.85 meters (9.4 ft) and weighing 113 kg (249 lb). Their egg cases are between 10 and 14 cm (3.9 and 5.5 in) wide and 13 and 23 cm (5.1 and 9.1 in) long, not including the horns.

little leggies

[saltsongwc]

What all gives Spotted her lives?

-🐻

Spottedstar's 9 Lives Ceremony

The darkness of the cave only highlighted the drops of rain down into the crystals.

Drip.

Drip. 

Drip.

Runningnose was ahead of her, lean and slightly sickly body, the one outline she could still perceive in the darkness that engulfed them both.

‘This is it’ She thought, a proud purr escaping her throat, her whiskers twitched with anticipation and she raised her head proudly while her paws bled from the hard rock ‘I will face them and claim what I earned’.

She’s taken back to her first time as an apprentice, seeing the giant crystal, even more recently when Bluestar had asked for company while communicating with Starclan, when Fireheart was just an apprentice, the night Lionheart died.

The crystal was glowing under the moonlight, she felt her pelt rise when what received her was not the cool welcome she had felt the first time, etched into her memory, rather an oppressive frost that was hostile to whatever cat dared to enter. A final test, the question she needed to ask herself and the one the stars needed an answer for.

“...Are you ready Spottedstem?” The medicine cat asked. 

“Of course I am” it’s spoken as softly as she can muster, with the underlying hiss of an impatient kit, and her walk towards the crystal makes her paws freeze, frost building underneath them, her body colder despite Leaf Bare being moons ahead.

The touch of her nose however, basks her in a soft comforting warmth, she’s back in the nursery being tended to by her mother Swiftbreeze, the queen shielding her and her siblings from the elements, it’s easy to fall asleep like that.

When her eyes open, she is not greeted by the clearings and fields that had first greeted her, rather the oppressive forest which resembled Shadowclan, scarcely sparse, gray in color, faintly ahead she could see the fields of Starclan hidden between the trees, and behind her, the forest becoming denser and denser.

“Was it worth it?” Her head snapped up, the glowing body of stars tilting their head to the side, like a curious owl playing with a mouse. She squinted her eyes, and the body became clearer, the familiar pelt and face, red tail curling over their paws, and a mournful expression “Everything?”

She felt words fail her for a moment, a regret she could taste all those moons back when his blood was running down her jaws and his body lay heavy on her back.

“Everything”

His face turned away from her, for a moment his eyes could only tell her a disturbance, a regret, a yearning to return to their apprentice days and hunt together in the first all those seasons ago.

When he looked back, they were hazy and cloudy with the wisdom of seasons beyond what any of them had seen, and probably would see.

“Very well, Starclan will grant you your nine lives”

In a moment, the branches of the trees that hid the clearings opened and parted, a quiet permission shared between her and the Clan, she began walking forward but spotted once the rustle of the leaves were not accompanying, and she turned back to her brother who just remained seated.

“I will not give you a life, sister” His words stung, worse than what Spottedstem could imagine they would, his eyes sad “...But what you want to carry forward, what your plan is, please, think it through again, and if you do, you’ll come back to me safe and we will hunt together in the fields when you pass”

Before she could answer, he disappeared between the starry foliage.

Ahead, the ten cats that greeted her were familiar and unfamiliar, faces from her past woven between those of ancient history. The first cat that stepped forward, thankfully, was a familiar one.

“Oh my kit” her brown tabby pelt had the scent from new leaf and the hug she gave her returned her to just apprentice days, when she was scared to hunt, Swiftbreeze’s eyes however, were soured in disappointment “...The seasons have not been kind Spottedstem, my sweet, sweet kit”

“I stand before you as a new leader” She grits, and her mother’s whiskers twitch before taking a step back.

“Yes… And with this life, I give you strength. Strength of character, in battle, may all your foes remember who you are, who you’ll become, the strength to carry forward and know when to change, it takes more strength than one might know”

Swiftbreeze’s life made her legs almost give out on her, all the air escaping from her lungs, a final breath in one's sleep, peaceful and heavy, but she remained up.

When her mother stepped away, the next cat was a ginger and white she-cat, with a flower-like patch of orange on her shoulder, long flowing fur and a kind smile.

“I am Flowerstar, I was leader of Shadowclan many, many moons ago” she was tall, taller than Spottedstem, so her eyes looked down not in arrogance but rather understanding “I was not my leader’s deputy, like you, I was chosen by Starclan to succeed our would be leader as she died the night before. I admire your desire to make Shadowclan safe and great, after all the sickness we have endured for moons” She touched her nose on her head “With this life, I give you Faith, in Starclan, in your Clan, in all the warriors around you so you might know that if you put your faith in others they will follow as well”

A sudden, quick and precise strike to her throat had Spottedstem gasp, her claws digging on the soft grass, and when she looked up, Flowerstar could only smile.

The small pawsteps of a cat no older than 6 moons turned her attention away from the leader, with a badger pelt and a head held as high as he could.

“Hi! I’m Badgerfang”

“A warrior huh?” She whispered, her mind coming to the understanding of what had happened.

The little warrior walked up to her, and she lowered her head so he could touch it better “With this life, I give you compassion! To those around you, to the ones who you don’t know, may you always use it to the smallest of mouse and the biggest of deers”

She was not ready for the strikes that fell upon her pelt, like a thousand claws that tore her body like a scrap of prey, her eyes widened and stared at the little cat, who just smiled sadly before following Flowerstar away.

The next cat, boney and with a light gray fur, almost white, stepped forward, she passed Badgerfang with a soft touch to his nose with her tail and approached Spottedstem with the gracefulness a father would do through a gentle breeze. Her eyes sized her over, just a bit taller than the stranger, and the grumble in her throat was given to a satisfactory nod.

“We would have been strangers across battlefields, and barely a passing prayer lumped with others” she stretched her neck and touched her forehead “But tonight, we are clanmates in the afterlife, I am Whitetail, and I give you the life of Skill, admire what you have done to get here, stand proud for you have achieve what all kits dream”

It was the first praise she has gotten since reaching here, and it came with a piercing strength that almost tumbled her over from her side, powerful force, and yet the pain persisted for a moment, before her lungs heaved out her final breath.

Whitetail’s whiskers twitched, and her eyes unclouded from wisdom for a moment “Beware the frost Spottedstem” she whispered, almost secretively before retreating back into the starry fields.

The next cat was one she could not picture in her ceremony, the feathery long fur of Featherwhisker, the old medicine cat that could one day had been her mentor stood in front of her with a regret deeper than even Swiftbreeze’s, as soon as she saw them, they clouded in wisdom.

“I didn’t need herbs to guide me here” she spat, and he took a step backwards before sighing and looking away.

“No, no you didn’t Spottedstem” He places his nose on her forehead, a soft whisper in her ears “I give you a life for Spirit, in youth and in death, know that we have not abandoned you” 

She never really thought how he must’ve died, cold and shivering, her cough was unstopping and hurt with each one.

The next cat, a long running scar that opened the side of his muzzle and showed his teeth, stepped forward, redish pelt and mangled unkept fur, he glanced back to Featherwhisker, who nodded his head in respect and moved away, the strangers eyes seemed to be searching for someone among the crowd, and his lack of findings finally made him step onwards to Spottedstem.

“You are one smart kit I give you that” he grumbled “and I can just wonder if it’ll continue to be like that”

“You sound like an old bird I used to know” her remark made him wheeze out a lough, loudly and booming.

“Oh I know your old bird, I’m nothing like him, when Flowerstar was just a warrior, I faked the omen to make her leader, much like your medicine cat faked your predecessors ceremony to the whole clan” Her eyes glanced behind her, to the oppressive forest, to her body sleeping beside the moonstone guarded by Runningnose “Don’t worry, you’re in good paws, he knows it’s going well”

“And you tell me this because?”

“Faith is good, I did not act alone, Starclan told me themselves to pick, but faith cannot just be your guide, so with this life, I give you Instincts, trust in them, and you will get far”

His death was much similar to Swiftbreeze, heavy and empty.

From the shadows, a black cat with specks of gray stepped forward, eyes green and sickly, yet his frame looked healthier than what it’d probably been in moons, Nightstar walked to her and gently pressed his nose to her head.

“Know I do not approve of the path you took, but I cannot deny when Shadowclanasked for a leader you were the one the stars accepted” it was a small admission, and a single nod to continue “with this life, I grant you Foresight, to be aware of what the future holds, so you might use it to be aware of what it might happen”

It wasn’t Featherwhisker’s sickness, it felt like something gnawing at her bones and through her chest, overpowering her eyes and clouding them until it stopped suddenly, when she finally regained her vision, her old mentor’s gaze was the one that first thing she saw.

“Thrushpelt” The kind tom nodded, and gave her a comforting lick between her ears.

“...I will not repeat to you what they have all said, or thought, I’m sure you’re aware of it, and you know why” she resisted the defensive growl that threatened to espace, but the flick of his tail and head turning away told her that perhaps he was expecting it “I just wish you would be standing her with bloodless claws, but I will not deny my apprentice her right, so with this life, I give you Bravery, may you never flinch to the choices you must take… but I don’t think you needed that” they both chuckled.

His death was not something that was at the back of her mind, because her mentor left no bad memories to mourn, his vigil was not one with sadness, rather laughter at the memory of the warrior, his death despite in battle, was comforting even in his life.

The second to last cat, a dark speckled she-cat walked up to her and gently touched noses, her yellow eyes like the morning clouds of Green Leaf were gazing far away from her.

“Your path, bloody and broken by bones, you have taken many cats far too soon Spottedstem, remember that, only act when necessary, never kill for security” she mumbled, shaking her head and stepping away “use this life of Mercy wisely”

The last cat was a lean and long furred molly, with a pelt as dark as the pine’s bark and eyes green like the foliage of the swamp, she stood as tall as one, and stars seemed to follow her pelt and her eyes.

“Greetings Spottedstem” her voice was barely a whisper, but she seem to be speaking with thousand of ones, booming through the fields and across the clearing, now onl holding the two she-cats “I stand before as Shadowclan’s first leader”

“You are my final life” The dark molly nodded and stepped forward.

“With this life, I give you Regret” she hissed the word, when it washed over Spottedstem she could only hold the ground with her claws and grit her teeth as 9 deaths came over her, one more painful than the rest “May you walk the path forward knowing what actions allowed you to thrive, and may you always regret the shadow that haunts you”

The leader stepped away from her, her gaze hardened and nodded, voice booming as if it commanded even the most reluctant of stars to chant with her.

“Starclan has granted you the nine lives of a leader,” they spoke, in a chorus as a single entity before her, gone were the familiar faces, now all amalgamated into a single pelt of stars “use them for Shadowclan, for you are its protector and star in the ground, and we welcome you as such as Spottedstar!”

“Spottedstar! Spottedstar! Spottedstar!”

“Spottedstem!” she opened her eyes, claws unsheathed and clawing the crystal with it, the fur on her neck stood up in attention, and her eyes quickly snapped towards Runningnose. The medicine cat shifted awkwardly under his paws, “Did it work?”

She stood up, feeling more energy than she had ever felt, the stone was alive and pulsing in front of her, she could see the eyes that curiously watched her, the smell of the marsh and pines accompanied her, keenly aware of the clan that was expecting with hold breaths the truth.

“Rest assured Runningnose, you will not need to lie again”

[ofsunnydays-and-moonlitnights]

Of Playful Days and Silent Nights

Chapter 1: A Robot Teacher?

You look up from your HoloScreen and the work your grading as a knock sounds through your room.

“Come in?” It must be one of your fellow teachers here to bug you, you assume.

You stand immediately as the Headmaster clears his throat. He's always demands respect he doesn't deserve.

“How can I help you sir?”

“Would you mind working a little late tonight?”

“I could make that work sir, what extra work do you have in mind?”

“Something quite special. I have a solution for the nursery class.”

“Oh? A new teacher is joining us?” What does that have to do with you?

“Something like that. Just follow and you'll see.”

He leads you into the nursery class. Sat there half out of its box is a robot? A dark yellow robot that resembles the sun if it was personified and dressed as a court jester of long ago.

“Oh is this a new model? I've never seen one like this.” you ask but as you inspect it closer you notice the layer of dust covering it… now you feel silly.

“On the contrary, This is a vintage animatronic, A fazbear original.”

“Oh wow.” Fazbear rings a bell in your head but you’ve never really been big into the whole robot industry all you know are from the adverts on the Holovision if you’re being honest you weren’t all that keen on them. You know Mr. Moosifer is very into his vintage robots though so it must be a big deal.

“Someone bought a warehouse and found it full of these old animatronics. Would have bought them all if I had the budget, they were all far too expensive. I charged this one on the school account, He was a daycare attendant, apparently has a security mode as well, perfect since I almost had to hire a security guard since the graffiti incident last week, who even sells spray paint these days. Anyway, Two birds one stone, and it’ll be cheaper in the long run.” he looks so smug and full of himself. “At least I can say I technically own a vintage robot,” he laughs. “Wait till the others at the digital Golfing Alley hear about this.”

Oh finally he stopped talking...

“And what do you want my help with?”

“Clean it and reboot it would you. It might need a debrief or something. I don’t care how long it takes but I dismissed the substitute so have it ready for the morning class.” He hands you a very thicc manual book.

“Sure thing.” you smile, the most fake smile you could muster.

He leaves. You hate being such a suck up to that old man. The new powerplant isn’t the only reason Patrick left in a hurry.

It’s just you and the currently lifeless robot. You hope it’s lifeless, robots are lifeless right? It looks like it's looking at you... If its vintage could it be haunted?

You’ve heard of some people thinking robots have life, some going as far to advocate for robot equality and rights, others even pushing for robot marriage, that's just how far advanced AI is you suppose, either that or the worlds just that delusional, you can’t imagine an antique like this being so advanced, you doubt it can even keep up with the children nevermind teach them. Bur your experience with robots isn't extensive at all since the cheaper models you've met in the lower city aren't even advanced like at all, most are just glorified auto machinery.

You sigh, enough stalling...

"Better check this manual for how to clean this thing." You grumble.

You need this job, you remind yourself.

You pick up the book, it’s heavy. Under the title that reads ‘The Daycare Attendant’ sits a picture of two similar robots, one blue and starry the other a match to the one in front of you, it must be part of a series or something?

You flick through looking for cleaning instructions. Finally you find them.

‘Instructions on cleaning the Sun daycare attendant.’

That's got to be this one right? He’s definitely sun themed.

‘Use Fazbear SunShine gentle multi surface cleaner, or SunShine soap for tough dirt and grime. If these are not available please order them at Fazbear.org/shop/cleaning/dca using your staff assigned code. In the meantime these suitable substitutes should be used (in order of most suitable to least): SunShine bubble bath, SunShine hand soap, SunShine shampoo, SunShine laundry soap, SunShine dish soap, SunShine wood polish, any SleepyTime products suitable for the moon DCA, regular dish soap, or any Gentle multi surface cleaner. Caution avoid harsh chemicals to avoid damaging the paint or irritating the skin of any children coming into contact with the daycare attendant. None of the SunShine kitchen or toilet and bathroom lines of cleaning products are suitable for cleaning the DCA, Never use bleach. Always use warm water and a gentle cloth or sponge. Never use a scourer or brush to clean the DCA. Elbow grease is all you need.’

You're curious about this Fazbear sunshine cleaner so you Holo it on your Holowatch. The website doesn’t exist but you can find old posts about the nostalgia and recipes that give a similar smell. Oh the channel NostalgicScents has a few bottles of the laundry soap on sale. Oh ouch a million credits for a small bottle of 10 units is ridiculous. It is a vintage product so maybe you shouldn't be surprised.

What were the alternatives? Dish soap or multi surface cleaner…?

You’re pretty sure there's some dish soap in the cafeteria so you head in search of some. You find said soap and a washing up bowl, filling it with warm water and bringing it all the way back to the nursery classroom.

Re-thinking your plan, it might not be best to wash him on the colourful dinosaur carpet so you instead decide to drag it into the little kids bathrooms.

It's heavy and lanky, it bends in way too many places making it difficult to keep a grip. But you manage and lean it against the bath tub....

You face palm at the realisation that there's a bath in here to clean up any bad messes the kids get into, odd for a school you know but this was pre-K nursery. Toddlers had a way of making the worst messes.

You place your bowl in the bath and using the dish cloth start wiping the dust and grime off the robot. You wonder if it’ll even work, you hope it’s waterproof, the Manual told you to use soapy water so it can’t be wrong could it, did soap and water mean something different back then? You shake away your worries, It’s too late now, the worst that could happen is you get fired, that doesn't sound too bad about now. You would have left this town a long time ago if you had the savings, then again... you’d rather not be homeless.

You wipe away the grime on its face revealing a bright yellow. It looks friendly if not ever so slightly creepy. You move onto its arms, underneath the dust on its right arm is a series of numbers carved into the metal, it looks like your birthday? The month and day that is. What a weird coincidence it must be a serial number of some kind. You finish cleaning it up and turn back to the manual to know how to turn it on. You follow the instructions, taking a small piece of metal from the shoulder and using it to press the button through a hole in the back of its head just as the book had told you to.

Start up commencing. . .

Connecting to Faz network….

No Faz network detected…

Connecting to the local network…

Connected…

Estimated storage time 50 years…

Please wait as calibrations commence.

“Wow…” 50 years you think to yourself. He wasn’t kidding when he said it was vintage. It should teach history class, not the nursery. Maybe he’d know what fish were like, were there fish in the wild back then. You shrug, who knows.

Calibrations complete…

Rebooting…

Rebooting…

“S-starshine?” it stammered.

“Huh?” you wonder… Is that it’s Catchphrase?

Its voice was masculine but very chipper with the metallic robotic tone earlier robots were known for. It seems confused.

“Oh… oh um... Hello new friend!” its voice had a surprising amount of expression.

“Hi…” you hesitantly reply.

“You look familiar…” It taps its chin as it thinks? “Have you ever visited the daycare before?” it adjusts its position crossing its legs.

“Nope, not me.”

“Oh… I’m so sorry, new friend. Let me introduce myself, My name is Sun, you can call me Sunny if you like but never Sundrop.” It points its finger up. “That’s the line of sweets named after me, not the other way.” it smiles at you, it seems too warm for any robot you’ve ever met. “Would you like one?” it reaches into its pocket. “Oh I’m out, sorry I’ll have to go restock.” It stands about to walk around before pausing. It’s ever so tall, it must be at least 6ft tall.

“Yeah about that.”

“Where… Where am I?” Its tone was darker, almost worried. It steps out of the bathroom into the class.

“Welcome to Angel Valley Primary school?” you shrug.

“Where’s the daycare?” It clutches its hands in front of itself… anxiously? “Where’s the pizza plex?”

“Closed? I assume? You’ve been in storage for like 50 years.”

“50 years!?” It rubs its right arm. “That’s so long…” It drums its fingers on its teeth. “Do you work for fazbear entertainment? Are you opening up a new daycare? It's a little small, where are the play structures? I'm not ready for a new handler, when are the kids coming? Where will they have naptime? There's not even a stage…”

You watch as it paces and rambles, it almost looks like a panic attack or something. Surely a robot can’t have one of those right.

“Hey!” you call out. “Stop that.”

It stops and looks at you, practically shaking as it tries to stay still.

“There’s no daycare, or fazbear whatever. You have a new prerogative as a teacher at this school.”

It sits, closing its eyes and takes a breath? Maybe it's cooling its system or something. Does overheating make a robot jittery?

It starts counting.

“It has anxiety? of course it does.” That’s just your luck…. Wait... Unless it's a count down???

It puts it’s hands down. “Excuse me, that was very rude.” it's tone miffed but still polite, the kind of voice you’d give a parent if you were allowed to correct them.

Wait… you said that out loud….

“I’d rather not be called IT. Although as an animatronic we have no gender.” he says with air quotes. “We prefer the pronouns he/them. Thank you.”

Great, the robot has pronouns. How much more human can they get?

“Surely if you're from the future you should have more respect for robots by now, I’d expect robots would have become much more sophisticated in the last 50 years.” They turned away crossing their arms almost as if he was in a strop.

“Not the ones you see on the streets of the lower city. Most sophisticated robot I’ve seen is a store stacker.”

“What's one of those?” he tilts his head curiously.

“Exactly what it sounds like. It stocks shelves, if you're lucky you might meet one sophisticated enough that it can direct you to the soup aisle in the soup store.”

“Oh…”

“The rich in the upper city have shiny new robot assistants that are almost human-like. But your average Joe like me probably won’t ever get to see one.”

“I see…”

“But you should still be more polite.”

“You're right, I'm Sorry.”

“Thank you.” he sighs.

“Soooo uh… Are you calmer now?”

“I guess.” he sighs.

“Good because I need to show you around and let you know how to do your job before I can go home tonight.”

He stands up. His expression is now blank. “Alright.”

“So this is your class, you’ll be teaching the nursery or Pre-school class, most of your students are two to four years old, they do half days, so you’ll have group one come in during the morning and group two in the afternoon. We do learn by play here, It can’t be that different from daycare work. Basically entertain the kids. Make sure they don’t unalive themselves.”

He nods. “Where are the arts and craft supplies? Do we have paper and Oh, tell me we have glitter glue.” he looks over the colourful room, looking at the bookshelves and the toy boxes.

“No... Art supplies like that are pretty scarce, we keep them only for the fourth grade. We let the little kids play art games on they’re SlimNote jr though” you take an electronic notebook and show him.

He looks disappointed, dejected even.

“Plus it’s less to clean up.”

That doesn't seem to cheer him up.

“So no finger painting?”

“What’s that?”

“Oh my stars… you don’t know?” he drags his hands down his face.

“You’ll have to tell me another time we should move on.”

“Right.”

“So the room we were in earlier was the littles bathroom, it includes three big kid toilets and a handful of potties, there is a bath for emergencies but you have to have parents and kids consent for bathtime, most say sure others would rather let their kid sit in his own poop for the rest of the day, but anyway, moving on, your desk is there, the toys there, you can see it all.”

You gesture for him to follow as you lead him out of the room. You turn left to your class.

“This is my class.”

He looks around your space themed classroom and his eyes sparkle.

“Here I teach the first and second grade English, Maths and Space science.”

“Are these actually from space?” he asks as he looks over your wall of space trinkets, three shelves and a table are all adorned with rocks, crystals and other trinkets.

“Eeeek.” he jumps, “it moved.” He points to a tank.

“That’s our little alien specimen, We call him Greg, he’s a space slug.”

The slug-like creature covered in fluorescent colours munches on a piece of metal that you fed him earlier.

“And yes most of these came from space explorations, though some are only replicas, every school has a collection ours is pretty small if i’m being honest.”

“Wow.”

You can’t help but yawn, normally you’d be home by now having eaten your rations and gone to bed. “Can we finish here? You probably don’t need to know any more than this but you can wander around tonight unless you need to recharge or something. Just don’t touch anything. Oh and the headmaster said something about night guard or security or something. Can you do that or whatever.”

“Sure thing…” he rubs the back of his neck.

“Cool the kids will be in at 9 AM. I’ll see you at about half seven though.”

“Okie dokie.”

With that you collected your things and headed home.

This part of the city was almost quiet, the usual hustle and bustle reduced to about a dozen vehicles including your single drive, at least there wasn’t much traffic. Your little two door, one seater car was great, it was sort of old but reliable. You finally arrive at your building, it was one of many in your sector. In sector 10 they build as tall as they can and then crammed as many tiny apartments as possible in there. Your building was nice enough to spare a little room for an elevator you know of many who couldn't be bothered. Your apartment if you could call it that was on the 9th floor you couldn’t imagine how many steps that would be. Imagine bringing your food order up all that way Ooof. You make your way past dozens of other apartment doors until you arrive at yours. You unlock it with your finger print and step inside. It really wasn’t much but it was yours. You’re welcomed by your tiny shoe box of a kitchen, you head into the door to your left, your bathroom, or shower room you suppose, it’s far too small for a bath, you clean up after a hard day's work and heat your rations for dinner. It was supposed to taste like chicken soup but it beats you what chicken is supposed to taste like. You’ve heard it’s a rich man's delicacy, apparently it’s a bird, you can’t see how a bird would be very practical to eat. You've only ever seen wrens and crows though, apparently the really desperate even eat those, you suppose it would probably be better then rat. Your thoughts? You’ll stick to your lab grown rations.

Then it was time to snuggle into bed. You open the door to reveal a bed, that's almost all you can fit in the incredibly small bedroom. You managed to squeeze a bedside table and a lamp in the room, but it was quite the squeeze, at least you have a window. Many aren’t as lucky. You flop on the bed pulling the covers over you and turning your lamp off. Hopefully you’ll sleep soundly. You’d press X to doubt but you can dream harold.

Or not. Hours tick by and you turn over once again. There was no point in laying here bored so you instead scroll through the Holoweb.

Articles on extinct animals, news of a possible storm later in the month, more news on the rich getting richer, more robot rights protests in the upper city again. Oh a couple articles on soulmates interesting, are soulmates real? if you were immortal would your soulmate keep coming back? Can robots have soulmates?

Surely you need a soul to have a soulmate no? As interesting as those articles seem, you'd rather just keep scrolling. Is caffeine plus affecting sleep? That could be it but there is no way you could drop it now you’re in too deep.

You read article title after article title until eventually you tire your eyes out and finally drift to sleep.

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Read the rest of the fic here ⬇️