#that i was totally perfectly wonderfully happy with

[helios-co]

You'll catch me crying because there's no daisies on a phone case

-A, W

[thekeeperof-thefandoms]

How they react to finding out you're an animal lover

Based on the actual Zoo's worth of pets, I acquired.

Let's assume somehow there's a scenario where the Hazbin Characters are able to see your life on earth, to review what might have gotten you sent to Hell. As far as most of them were concerned, you may have been chaotic, maybe you jumped to violence quickly (it's Hell though so defending yourself is important), maybe you drank or used drugs or slept around, but not to an extent that would warrant Hell.

And it's not that you aren't capable of being friendly or nice, but you're always wary of new people. You seem uncomfortable in large groups and tend to stick to people you know and unfortunately have Resting Bitch Face, so aren't very approachable.

So imagine their reaction to seeing your life and noticing from a young age your obsession with animals. You watched Animal Cops instead of Cartoons as a kid (and boy, your little brain sure got creative when imagining how best to punish [torture] animal abusers. Even Alastor's impressed by the level of violence). You begged and cried for a pet your whole childhood and did your best with the fish you got or the guinea pigs, though poor misinformation from adults and lack of proper husbandry being available in easily accessible media meant that your setups were....lackluster. And boy did you literally sob over that as an adult.

Every animal you met, horse, snake, cat, dog, rabbit, rodent, lizzard, frog, fish, they were all met with the brightest smile, a gentle cooing voice, happy baby talk, you getting on their level to coddle and and pet. The total opposite of your response to people.

Alastor

He's never been a big fan of dogs, especially after his death. But watching you with the numerous dogs you owned, the bond you shared with them, how they weren't perfectly trained but you tried so hard, and they all lived such long happy lives, he thinks he would have tolerated it. Especially your first dog, a small yappy thing that was wonderfully trained to do many tricks using just hand signals. Watching you shut down, breaking into billions of pieces when that dog died is probably the closest his smile has come to dropping.

Cats though, Alastor adored cats and you, despite being allergic, took in every feline in need. Even ones with health issues. You shelled out your hard earned cash left and right and the once ratty, crusty, scrawny, timid, strays blossomed into sleek, healthy, playful cats. He's going to laugh at all the curse words that arise from the various shenanigans that come with owning cats though.

As for your snakes, he's not phased. He isn't particularly fond of them, but he isn't scared either. But he could listen to you gush for hours about genetics, morphs, breeding, and proper set ups. He liked your bearded dragon though. Would get one for you if he could.

His favorite though was your rats. The quartet of rodents that were as smart as human toddlers and as likely to get in trouble. Watching you build and construct cardboard play structures, teach them tricks, feed them all sorts of fruits, veggies, meat, grains, insects. The constant cleaning and remodeling of their cage to entertain them. Oh you clearly adored them. Especially since they lived longer than their average 4 year expectancy by a whole year, with the exception of one rat that had been born ill but he still lived to by nearly 3!

All in all he just thinks you're precious, is amused by your entirely sincere and intensely violent response to abusers, and admires your caring nature and dedication (it reminds him of his ma, working hard to shell out every penny to ensure he thrived). He's probably considering getting you a pet.

Charlie

Heart eyes! You're so soft and cuddly with your pets! So patient with them, even when they're still adjusting, scared and prone to biting. You take every bite, scratch, hiss, growl, and in cases like snakes and turtles musking, in stride. Sure you flinch but your tone stays calm, you relax quickly, adjust your approach.

The way your eyes water and light up when the black cat with a stiff limp and crusted eyes, and swollen cheeks finally approaches you instead of hiding behind the water heater in your basement after you managed to trap it in indoors melts her heart. The way you have to visibly control yourself when you pet it for the first time and then finally lift him into your arms to take upstairs where the heat works and you aren't relying on a space heater and old blankets to warm him.

She's not thrilled about your violent tendencies, but they also remind her of Vaggie. Your protective and have strong feelings about injustice and she admires that.

She's definitely asking you to watch Kiki more often.

Angel Dust

Another proud pet parent! He gets you. Animals are so much easier than people. He loves watching you dress your pets that would tolerate it and take them to get pictures done, sending them to family members like you would send pictures of your kids. And hey, they essentially are! He's gonna ask you to dress up Fat Nuggets with him and do a photo shoot!

He's not a fan of rodents, but you're rats, and the hamsters were cute. He thinks he'd be ok with them if he met them, may even enjoy them.

Really liked watching your fish tank though once you got older and had more understanding and were able to set up a proper one. Even when things went wrong like algae blooms, fish fighting, your $35 betta beaching itself on your crabs basking platform, you were determined, and eventually you get a nice little live planted tank going that's mostly self sufficient and some fish that breed. You never quite mastered the algae issue, but it never overran your tank again, so he considers it a win. It's just cute watching you try so hard and dedicate so much time too it.

Lucifer

You're literally his spirit animal. He would rather be around animals than people, too. And honestly, you're right, animal abusers are the worst and he's probably taking notes from you on fitting punishments. He is trying to be more active as a ruler of Hell now.

He thinks you're incredibly smart for learning and memorizing so much about animals at such a young age and that you learn more as you get older, keeping up with proper care techniques. Kinda shocked you didn't become a vet, but also gets it. He doesn’t think he could handle having to let an animal down either. Or deal with stupid owners.

Gets heart eyes when he sees your obsession with snakes and is genuinely sad for you when your small collection of them dies off. Reptiles are hard, even professional keepers can have snakes die for seemingly no reason, so it's not anything you did, but it still sucks that within a 16 months you lost both your corn snakes and then a 8 or 9 months later your ball python.

He's the Serpent of Eden so anytime you had a snake draped around her neck, coiled around your wrist or arm, anytime they slithered under your shirt or up your pant leg while holding them is giving him inappropriate ideas. If you're someone with sensory stim needs and you loved the feeling of snake scales on your skin he'll offer to be one for a while (he's gonna go in your shirt and probably just coil around your waist or your chest, maybe rest his head on your shoulder peeking out of your shirt, blepping).

He's also sad that you can't see your beloved pets now since you're in Hell and it makes him even more bitter towards Heaven. Your beloved pets deserved to be reunited with an owner who gave them everything they could and you deserved to see the furry little wonders that got you through your darkest times. He can't imagine how much pain you were in when you realized you wouldn't see them again.

Is determined to get you a pet and find a way to reunite you with yours.

Husk

Was never big on pets before, but he thinks yours are cute. He may let you pet his ears more often now and be more comfortable purring around you. If it helps you feel better since it's obvious you miss your little furballs.

The entire time they're watching your life play out your eyes are glued to your pets, eyes misty, and smile adoring. It's more of a highlights reel so you're constantly babbling over it telling story after story. You mention how pissed you were tattoos didn't show up when you died because you had every pet you ever owned's (with the exception of ones you had really young), pawprint tatted on you when you died, staring with the rat tail and feet at your ankle and the top of your foot all the way up your leg, hip, side, so many of them it looked like a zoo walked across your body.

He misses having that kind of enthusiasm and devotion to something and admires you for being able to so deeply love and care for your pets despite what you've been through.

He maybe feels a little inspired himself to open up a bit more.

Vox

He grew up when a wife, two kids, a dog, and a white pickett fence was a standard, but you go beyond that. Animal care has gotten so much more detailed since he was alive. Aside from his sharks, especially Vark, he doesn’t really know much about pets, though.

He loves your commitment to trying to keep a fish tank, but he is going to critique you. He probably will get you one and help you set it up, a nice, moderately sized 50 gallon. It's something you two can bond over.

Watching you step between two dogs about to get into a fight because their owners were drinking at the dog park and didn't pay attention nearly gives him a stroke though. But you effortlessly snag an 80 pound mutt and lift them up and pivot, using your arms and legs to corral that dog back towards the fence and keep yourself between them while someone else snags the other dog. Once both dogs can't see each other anymore and you have effectively redirected their attention to the treats you brought, using a stern, sharp voice to direct it to sit, the dogs settle. He can visibly see you seething as the guy gets up, uncaring, and leashes his dog to leave the park.

Also thinks it adorable when watches you pull over and dart across a highway to get a turtle out of the road. Or to get a baby bird out of the street once it's been pushed from the nest. Watches you circle back to watch dogs you see wandering the neighborhood to see if they're lost. You approaching gently and sweetly, not even remotely upset when they startle and you nearly get bit. You apologized to the dog for spooking it.

Really, he just thinks you're cute and have no self-preservation and doesn't think a dog or cat would do well in the tower, but lizzards and fish are ok, and you two bond over the fish tank.

Valentino

So if that whole thing about him getting one of the little insect dogs and then shooting it within a day thing is still canon, he's probably lowkey afraid for his life right now. There's just something about watching an year old version of you say you might wanna be an animal cop so you can shoot bad people with such a serious face. Listening to teenage you threaten two boys who had joked about pouring chemicals on a cat with jamming an anti-freeze bottle down their throats and water board them with it. Or offer to toss puppy mill breeders in a cage too small, no ac, no heat, no food, no water, naked and in their own filth while walk by them every day. He can't even repeat the threats you made against dog fighters or cock fighters. He's pretty sure Satan, prince of Wrath himself, is scared of you. How does a 13 year old come up with shit that twisted?! Like maybe you're in Hell for a reason you fucking psycho.

But! Assuming that's not true, I think Valentino wants to be a cat person. He thinks they're elegant and fashionable. But watching yours he realizes if you're lucky they're snuggly, mischievous, trouble makers who even without trying can and will fuck shit up. If you're not lucky, their terrorists that get into everything, bite you for attention then run off when you pet them, get hair everywhere, are literally so fucking messy, and somehow are both incredibly smart and incredibly stupid. Like smart enough to open doors and drawers and plastic treat containers, dumb enough to run into a window or jump in the dryer.

Honestly, he is shocked to learn that he's a snake/rodent kinda guy. Literally, the snakes are so pretty, have such smooth textures, and yeah, they can be derpy, but he thinks they're kinda hot. Like the image of you, the four-foot ball python draped around your neck and chest. Or some of your bigger five and six foot snakes. He likes the idea of maybe doing like a naked photo shoot with the snake wrapped around you. (HE AND LUCIFER SHOULD NOT SHARE KINKS BUT HERE WE ARE).

Personality wise, hyper, gets into things he shouldn't, bored easily, needs attention or gets depressed and stressed, too smart for his own good but too dumb to get himself out of trouble. This man is a rat/ferret. Whatever irony made him a moth demon is dumb. He would have adored the little fuckers. Maybe not by himself, he doesn’t have the time or attention span to dedicate to them alone, but with your help caring for them and playing with them, he'd be great.

In general I don't think Val is the kinda of person who would get a pet for himself or should have one, but if you're helping and it makes you happy he'll do it. He got Angel one after all.

[sitp-recs]

HP Rec Fest, Day 20

I almost didn’t get this post ready on time but here we are for another @hprecfest day and I love today’s prompt! Some fandoms like Drarry are strongly driven by shippy feels and it’s easy to overlook great Gen fics. I rarely read them, but the G and T fics I’ve enjoyed have left a big impression on me. After allowing myself to rec popular smutty series yesterday I’m very happy to share two underrated comfort fics!

Day 20) a fic rated G:

Drarry

Tidings of Comfort series by @blamebrampton (G, 10k)

When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life. Luckily for Draco Malfoy, London has places where the tired can rest and recover.

BB is my go-to when I’m looking for top quality Gen fics - she’s written a total of 10 for HP and I can attest they’re all fantastic reads, charming, clever, creative and entertaining like few stories are. it was hard to pick just one but I chose by a) number of comments and b) Christmassy vibes. Tidings of Comfort (how brilliant is that title alone?) is an all-time favorite advent read when it comes to redemption arc. it has such a wistful evocative vibe, gorgeous religious refs and Draco and Harry’s voices are wonderfully mature and full of personality. their tentative reunion and existential conversations provide so much insight into their lives and background it’s crazy to think this series is just under 10k. I’m in love with the quiet and exploratory slow burn, cautious but full of promise; it becomes even more serendipitous due to the Christmas magic surrounding their encounter. a wonderful pre-slash read, sensitive and poignant, and a perfect treat for this holiday season!

Rare pair

Aftermath by @static-abyss (Harry/Ron, G, 2.7k)

A soulmate, Ron knows, is someone chosen, not destined.

my kingdom for a Rarry soulmate AU 😭 this trope fits the ship so perfectly and as always Ana kills me softly with the loveliest short fic. something about Harry’s tender longing for Ron hits me just right; his pov is very insightful and there’s a brilliant scene in which he analyses Justin that stayed with me for a long time (“He thinks of Sirius and his father, of how being raised in money makes it easy to believe that everything will always be taken care of” - what a quote!). I love his camaraderie with Ron and the way both romantic and platonic love are explored here - this fic gets into my favourite thing about Rarry which is the fact that Ron is “the first the first person Harry loved who loved him back.” I feel like that’s such a powerful yet overlooked aspect of their friendship and I love seeing it acknowledge here. the fic has also a creative take on Harry’s soulmark changing after the war which was really interesting and perfect angst material! I urge all Rarry lovers to go check this gem and give it a little love ❤️

[goodluckbabeheffron]

I wanted to say that I absolutely LOVE your Taylor Swift Winnix edits! You do a fantastic job! I also wanted to know your opinion on Guilty as Sin as a Winnix song because to me it is a great one for them in the pining stage of their relationship. I also LOVE Ivy from Evermore as well for them, I think it’s very gay coded and was wondering what your thoughts on that might be as well.

tysm!! the band of brothers x taylor swift agenda is sooo important to me personally. i got so carried away writing this im so sorry please accept all my apologies (and i really hope it makes sense)

Guilty As Sin is such a Winnix song you are so correct! While both my Winnix x Taylor edits have come from Dick’s perspective, I think GAS fits so much nicer coming from Nix.

I like the idea of the “vow” they’re upholding being that Nix would take him to Chicago and that they’d still be together after the war is over and they’re changed, and the fantasy is that they could stay together forever. The fantasy he’s pining for is obviously fatal, as Nix knows that if he commits fully to Dick that it’ll change his life, and he wouldn’t be able to go back to what he did before the war. The idea of the “cage” and the “locks” he has to crack being his marriage is interesting, and how he wants to throw his pre-war life “to the rocks” so he can completely be with Dick and begin the new life that he’s longing for.

And Nix knows that by doing this, by being with Dick the way he wants to be with him, is going to get him crucified and the people back home would rather him in long-suffering propriety than with another man because they don’t know the real extent of how he feels for Dick!! And on some level Nix doesn’t know either because he’s too afraid to let himself fall fully into a life with Dick, so he’s still keeping it all locked away in his vaults. He’s fallen in love in a way he’s never been in love before, and as right as it feels he knows it’s wrong, and he’s either committing the sin of infidelity to his wife, or by being gay depending on how deep you think his internalised homophobia goes.

+ Ivy also fits beautifully with Nix’s perspective on the way they are. It also lends back wonderfully into the internalised homophobia thing in a way, and how Nix knows what he wants with Dick would change him.

I love the idea that Dick is the ivy, and the stone house is Nix and his pre-war life. When ivy grows on a house, it destroys the stone as it gets bigger and it irrevocably damages the house. It also costs a fortune to take down and then fix the house afterwards. Nix knows that by not running and sitting and watching what will become is damaging him and his life permanently, and he knows that once he falls the only way he could climb back up is using the ivy, since it’s roots (Dick) are bonded deep into his stone (Nix and his life).

But he’s also grieving. He grieves for the life he knew, and the security that it gave him and how he knew it’s what people wanted for him. It’s the living he grieves for, his present, because he knows he’ll never get it back the way it was even though he was miserable. And yet somehow that pain and suffering fits perfectly into Dick and even though he’s committed to another he can’t help but let Dick take from him and put his roots in his dreamland and cover him and what he wants for his future completely.

He also considers Dick’s “fatal flaw” to be how he is gay, and that it is cursing him and by extension Nix himself. But despite his internalised homophobia and that how he knows what he’s doing is wrong everything he does with Dick and the way he feels just feels right!! And obviously he’s scared, he knows people will find out eventually and he knows what that means for the two of them, but for now in those begged and borrowed moments, he doesn’t care about that and is happy to watch what will become of himself under Dick.

It’s a fire, and its a a war, and Dick totally shamelessly started it, and as much as he wishes he could stop Dick from growing and being attached to him, he doesn’t want to! When the question “how’s one to know?” is asked, it’s like Nix is wondering how he ended up the way they are, and how he found himself longing for he and Dick’s secret trysts and fighting for them. He feels so right, irreversibly a part of Nix deep inside (where the spirit meets the bones), and though they’re tarnished and it’s wrong it’s also so perfect, and Nix is almost ready to throw away all he knows and let Dick grow and cover him forever.

God I hope that all made sense!!

[randomstoryenjoyer]

Hello!

I’d like to welcome you to writing x readers! I hope you have fun while doing so, and remember to take care of yourself!!

If you would like to, would you be okay with writing for Financier Cookie (CRK) x reader (GN), where the reader is really short and just a small person in general? And they like to occasionally wear heels and stacks and other shoes to make them seem taller.

Hope you have a good day! And again, welcome!!

(Here it is, the first ask of my blog. Hope you enjoy and thank you for the request!)

Financier Cookie x Short Reader

When Financier Cookie first met you, she actually mistook you for a little young cookie, asking if you were lost and where your home was. Cue one awkward conversation later, and she’s left feeling shocked and also partially embarrassed.

Soon enough, her initial surprise turns into slight concern. You had spoken to her as if was a common occurrence to you, getting mistaken for a kid due to being such a short cookie. She’ll begin wondering if you ad ever faced any hardships from other cookies due to your size. Were you made fun of often? Did other cookies not take you seriously?

All these thoughts in her head eventually lead to her seeking you out on her own whenever she’s off from her main paladin duties. You soon became a bit confused as to why she was always seemingly nearby you, but you decided not to worry about it. Financier Cookie’s reputation in the Crème Republic was nothing to scoff at, after all!

As the connection between you two continuously grew, Financier Cookie began to see her time with you as another task for her Paladin duty. She’s always claiming it’s for your safety and for making sure your days in the Republic were pleasant, despite what some of her ulterior motives might say…

Despite being such a short cookie in general, your personality and disposition are often cheerful and outgoing. Your determination to enjoy your life to the fullest despite the difficulties you face due to your height is something she really admires. This also leads her to discovering one of your occasional habits…

Your tendency to wear high heels or stacks is something she now enjoys seeing too. She’s always making sure that you feel taller than ever when you have them on, sometimes leaning down to you so you can reach the same height as her just to see you smile more. If her Paladin wear allowed it, she’d totally be wearing heels too.

To her, no matter how what type of shoe you wear, it always manages to perfectly fit your whole cute look. Once in a while, you’ll even find a gift or two left for you that consists of a high-heeled or stack shoe with the paladin or republic emblem on it. It makes Financier Cookie feel content whenever she sees you wearing them and walking alongside her.

It truly has started to become difficult to keep her professional and calm demeanour whenever she spent time with you. Your personality, coupled with your height are one of the only things that cause her to loosen up with her formality, replacing it with a normal, more calm demeanour that she’s starting to like having as well when she’s spending time with you.

Anytime you ever do happen to feel a bit insecure or self-conscious about your size, she’s always there to comfort and reassure you that your height is not a negative aspect of you for you’re perfect just the way you are, her voice often slipping up and becoming more affectionate than her usual formal self. If anybody ever dares to make fun of you for your size, she’s always more than happy to let her sword do the talking and reasoning…

She thanks the Divine light for having had the chance to meet you, someone who’s both so adorably small and so wonderfully unique in the Crème Republic. As odd as it might seem, the constants urge to protect and socialise with you is something she doubts she can live without at this point…

[riley-coyotl]

Yesterday, Maple had a consult with an orthopedic surgeon in Chattanooga. It went very well! We were very happy with the vet hospital--their facility was excellent, and everyone we talked to there was kind, respectful, professional, and helpful. Maple, of course, was a very good girl and did wonderfully at the hospital! Ultimately I feel we received good news, and I left feeling encouraged and more confident in both medical management and surgical options for her hip dysplasia.

We mostly went there to discuss total hip replacement (THR) surgery for Maple. According to the surgeon, she is a good candidate for THR surgery, and it would be a reasonable choice for her, with the goal of eliminating pain and returning normal function to her hip(s) for the rest of her life. There is even a good chance she would regain function well enough and be pain free with only one hip being replaced.

We were also told that it is perfectly reasonable to wait and possibly get the surgery done in the future if we want to continue to try medical management first for now; the surgeon assured us that Maple’s age is not a factor that should prevent her from getting this surgery, not now nor when she is older. As he put it, “[dogs] don’t come with an expiration date.” He regularly does THR on older dogs and told us there is no reason that they cannot get and benefit from the surgery; just the other week he performed a THR on a giant schnauzer who was around Maple’s age, as well as another dog recently who was 14 years old. With Maple turning 12 later this year, it was a big relief to hear that there isn’t this big looming time limit on her being able to be helped with surgery.

(The surgeon did not particularly recommend FHO surgery for Maple, which is already in-line with how we felt about it, which is that it’s not the right choice for her case.)

That said, we also talked about medical management. In the surgeon’s opinion, at Maple’s current age and progression of arthritis in her hips, there is no reason for us to limit her activities at all—he does not think that she will really be able to do further damage/make her arthritis any worse than it already is. In his opinion, we should let Maple choose how she wants to limit herself and how much she wants to do. I am a little skeptical on that simply because Maple is a high drive dog who has a tendency to push through pain...however I feel like I can try to make informed judgment calls based on her pain levels (especially now that I know her issue is there,) and continue to do what I’ve always done throughout her life—be her sense of self-preservation for her. I am going to try to compromise with Maple—she can do what she wants as long as I don't see her struggling with pain. If she is noticeably having a hard time, she's gotta stop, and at least take a break.

So, especially since there is no reason we cannot choose surgery for her in the future if we decide that's best, our plan for now is to see if medical management (pain meds + supplements + physical therapy) can help Maple be pain-free and mobile enough to have good quality of life and continue to do the things she loves. We’re gonna see how it goes. I already see some improvement since starting her on gabapentin and omega 3s, and hopefully that trend continues. I hope she will be ok and continue to be able to be Maple to the fullest capacity. 🧡

[kirkenovak]

I’m here for all the betrayal headcanon but as far as my own expectations/headcanons go, I think Jaskier and Radovid will be separated by something far more nefarious than betrayal or family or magic or being forced to choose sides; I think their separation will come down to politics and societal expectations *shudders*

Ok so I never actually read the books.

Or played the games*.

But the internet was kind enough to spoil for me that Visimir dies and Radovid ascends to the throne.

Radovid comma Prince who spends all days drinking (allegedly) flirting with guys (canonically) and being King’s idiot, vapid younger brother can one hundred percent have a perfectly acceptable relationship with a wayward bard who may or may not be a viscount.

Radovid The King? Yeah. Nah. He will be excepted to get married to someone who can push out a heir, and his relationship will be fully political and arranged and not in a sexy fanfic way. I can even see the push to betroth him to Ciri and wouldn’t that be a wonderfully fucked up.

Now, HAVING SAID THAT, Redania is clearly based on fake medival Poland and heirs were never be all end all for us. We had a woman inheriting the throne and being crowned king (ask you local Pole about queen Jadwiga). We had country being split into pieces to avoid succession wars. And of course we had elective monarchy (yea that thing from the end of GoT that people made fun of is how Poland would get its monarchs for hundreds of years).

Radovid could totally announce he’s not getting any wives thank you very much and marry a dude (coughsJaskiercoughs) since clearly gay marriages are a thing that exists in N!Witcher!verse and just choose his successor. But to do that he’d have to hold actual power which I don’t think Djiekstra will allow. Radovid will be his puppet and for his own good and the good of the county he will be forced to play along and dance.

Jaskier may be no more than A Thing On The Side which in any other circumstance he’d accept… except here. Because he actually loves Radovid and that would break him.

(Obv they are getting a happy ending after the war hahahah I’m talking about the end of s3 and s4 ofc ofc. Yea my boys are getting their happy ending thank you very much for asking)

*my friend worked for cdproject while they were developing the very first Witcher game and let me play it on his home computer, before it was even in beta

[revivemyreverie]

PROLOGUE

A train arrives at a station. The weather outside is considerably gloomy, rain sprinkling down onto the small town’s streets. As the train’s doors open, out steps a horrified Winston, giddy Zackery, disappointed Pat, Grim, and Yuu.

Winston: H-hah…. Wha….

Winston: WHAT IN TARNATION KIND OF PLACE IS THIS?!!

A regular day in Toytoriya, save for a certain interaction between the dorm leader and his rival…

Lotsie: Oh, please Pat! It’s just a little favor!! A small fetch quest!!!

Pat: Oh sure, going to your hometown is just a little favor, along with talking to multiple big studios to borrow their equipment for stunts, or forcing me to debate with Headmaster Crowley himself on why the stage budget is perfectly sound!

Yuu and Winston walks up to the duo

“What’s with the yelling?”

“What does Lotsie mean by ‘pick up’”?

Lotsie: Aha!! Prefect! Winston! Just on time like always! I’m just trying to convince this big ol’ meanie to pick up a few things back in my city, Brightinten Town. 

Winston gasps.

Winston: You live in the Brightinten Town?! Pat, you have got to take me there!

Grim: Nyeh? What’s with all this talkin’ about this “brit tin tin” town?

Winston: It’s Bright-TIN-TEN! And it holds only the best Spring Fair in all of Twisted Wonderland! I remember when I was just about 4, and me and my twin ran all around that place, we even got to ride the Ferris Wheel! Now that I think about it, shouldn’t the fair be in season right now?

Lotsie: Ah! You’d be right! I totally forgot the date.

Winston: Pat! You HAVE to take me and Yuu with you! It's a once-in-a-lifetime chance!!! Yuu won’t be back EVER to experience once they find a way home!!!

“Me and Grim?!”

“That does sound fun when you put it like that…”

Pat: Sorry, but I don’t remember accepting a babysitter’s job.

Lotsie gives him a look, causing Pat to sigh and pinch his nose. 

Pat: Fine, fine! I’ll pick up your stuff and bring those two to the fair, happy?

Winston cheers, before dragging Yuu and Grim away.

Lotsie: Hey, I know our first years can be a bit clumsy at times, but they might help you out!

Pat: At this point? I can only pray that you’re right.

Chapter 1

In the hall of mirrors, the 4 of you gather with suitcases in hand. To Winston’s surprise however, a familiar face has appeared.

Zackery: Ohoho!! If it isn't my archenemy of the stage and the only person stopping me from taking over the world! 

Winston: Tch, of course the most annoying guy in Toytoriya has to be here…

Zackery: Hah?! How dare you call me annoying! It's not my fault you can’t get to my level in intelligence!

Winston: You..!

Pat: Stop fighting, you two. And Zackery, what are you even doing here?

Zackery: Hm? Isn’t it obvious? I’m heading to my gloomy and horrendous hometown, Brightinten.

Winston: …KA-BWAH?

Zackery: What’s with the surprised looks? Don’t tell me, are you guys heading there too?! 

Winston: …P-possibly…

Zackery: Ahahaha! You absolutely must allow me to join your party! I can even get you guys free lodging!!! 

You don’t need to do that, we can find a hotel ourselves.

Winston: Y-yeah! Yuu is right! There’s a lot of hotels in Brightinten, right Pat?!!

Pat:...

Winston: ..Pat?

Pat: Actually Zackery, we’d love to take up your offer. Last time I checked online, the only hotel in your town shut down a year ago. 

Zackery cheers for himself as Winston remains shocked. Yuu and Grim simply sigh at Pat’s decision, not willing to argue too much with the arrangement. 

Zackery: Just you see! I’ll show you the wonderfully evil place that is my birthplace!

Zackery: Just as I said! My perfectly miserable hometown! Brightinten is just the place for villains to be born!

Winston: B-but the sun, and the flowers… And the grassy fields… 

Pat: I told you to bring a jacket and umbrella, but you simply said that the sun would warm you up. Now you’re freezing to the point of mad rambling.

Pat: But now that I think about it… Even I remember the bright and sunny weather the town was known for. What the heck happened here?

Zackery: As long as I’ve lived here, the weather’s always been like this. The elders around here say it's because the town’s “legendary witch left the sky”. 

Sounds magical…

Maybe they wanted to move?

Maybe, but I personally attribute it to the factories popping up all around town. Those things tend to pollute the air more than they think! Now c’mon, we have to get to my house before dusk!

The group grabs their luggage and trudges on through the rainy town. Who knows what awaits in the fog of such a place?

TBC

[aelinfireheartgalathynius]

I think it's awesome that you're such a big fan of fantasy novels, me too! I wanted to your opinion about something. I came across a post where you say SJM's books are masterclasses, and I found them to be solid books, but not uniquely great. Can you explain what in your view makes them great at narrative pacing and worldbuilding, and how that compares to other great books in the genre like those by Ursula K. Le Guin or Jacqueline Carey? I'm curious about your pov, since you've been reading fantasy for so long. Please keep up the great blog!

Happy to meet another fantasy lover! And thanks!

Honestly, I don't think comparing authors to each other (unless it's in a "you'd probably love X" way) is useful — fantasy has grown to encompass such a wide array of writing styles. Sarah's style isn't 100% certified unique, because no art is 100% unique. But her style does stand apart from most fantasy writers, especially ones who stuck to a more rigidly traditional style. I think plot pacing, tropes, writing style etc are all personal preferences. I personally prefer the styles of VE Schwab, Sarah J Maas, Naomi Novik, Kristin Cashore... To name a few. Others might hate all of those authors' styles and prefer something completely different. And that's totally fine. Great, even. (As long as those people don't judge me or call me a child for not enjoying the type of writing they find "good," but I know that's not what you're doing here!)

I stand by what I said in that post about Sarah's writing, but that doesn't mean it was objective truth. My mother, for example, has different reading preferences than I do and would probably dislike SJM. And that's fine.

In my opinion, Sarah's style stands out. I came into this not really wanting to get into the reasons but I'll touch on them since you asked:

Her worldbuilding is phenomenal, but I don't feel the need to write a dissertation about it. I feel like the huge level of acclaim she's received for what I call the "Marvel Cinematic Universe of fantasy books" speaks for itself. She has done something remarkable and, in my experience, very unique. If you don't know what I'm referring to, I'd recommend looking up the ending of House of Sky and Breath (I don't like to post about it explicitly because it's such a world changing plot twist).

Her plot pacing is, again, phenomenal in my opinion. All of her books have that 'unputdownable' quality that comes from an author knowing exactly how to pace chapters to keep readers engaged. It's doubly impressive knowing that the majority of her books are multi-POV, too, so she kept multiple stories well-paced and engaging at the same time in each book. It's most obvious when you look at Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn: the reason the tandem read works so well is that she was extremely thorough in making sure the plot pacing and timelines lined up perfectly in two books that came out a year apart.

Her characters are wonderfully written — again, in my opinion. Their thoughts, feelings and motivations all feel real and make sense to me. Her characters experience things like periods (including actual mentions of bleeding and cramps), realistic depictions of trauma and PTSD (I have PTSD, so that's not hypothetical), characters that grow and learn, characters that fuck up, characters that are multifaceted, characters that fall in love more than once, and more.

The emotional rawness of many of her characters and plotlines is also something that sets her apart from many authors. Yes, a lot of books can make readers feel things, but there is something so deeply raw and heart-wrenching about Nesta's self-hatred, Feyre's PTSD, Aelin's struggle with her title and power (and her torture), Manon's questioning about whether monsters are born or made (and whether she is one), Hunt's deep guilt, Bryce's inconsolable grief, literally everything about Lidia Cervos, and more.

I believe that people should read whatever makes them happy, and everyone reacts differently to art — there are books that touched my soul in ways I can barely describe, that I see as beautiful and astonishing... And they still have some one star reviews. That's the beauty of art.

I don't like a lot of "classic" fantasy, but I don't feel the need to convince anyone that those books or writers aren't good or don't deserve their acclaim. Just like I don't really think I need to convince anyone that SJM's books deserve respect — her work speaks for itself, and if you personally don't see why so many people love it, then it wasn't meant for you. And that's totally fine. No need to force yourself to read it!

I don't need or want to convince you that SJM's writing is a masterclass. If that doesn't ring true to you, that's fine. It's true for me, and for hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of other readers (over 38 million copies of her books have been sold worldwide, so I don't think millions is a stretch).

I hope that last bit didn't come across as aggressive or rude, it's just my thoughts on your question! Thanks for dropping by, anon, and thank you for asking in such a nice way. A lot of people don't do that. ♥️

[parkitaco]

hi!!!!! just read your recent fic and i wanted to say WHAT THE FUCK WHY WOULD YOU. HOW COULD YOU. but also your writing is. absolutely incredible and you blow me away every time.

i often end up craving something different looking for byler fics, and your fics just absolutely do it for me. like, byler exes to lovers??? we need MORE of that angst and you wrote them so perfectly i couldn't have asked for better and cried multiple times (i don't cry over fics very often lol).

but like. mike's complete and total heartbreak over losing will was handled so wonderfully and the way they so Clearly want each other back but just. not yet. they aren't ready. god im Normal they are so. sniffs im emotional

i wish you all the best with your writing now and in the future, you're immensely talented wtf 🙏🙏🙏 kudos ×10000 to the windows of love fr fr. thank u for doing this for free so that rabid little creatures like me can consume it 🙏🙏🙏

omg hi tysm!!! i definitely think we need more exes fics in this fandom and part of the reason i wrote this one is bc i wanted to explore some of the reasons for why they might break up and creating the breakup scene was like the longest most contemplative writing session i've had in a while <33 and yes ur right they do want each other back and aren't ready (but they will be. soon. *eyes my chapter 2 draft warily*) anywayyy thank u so much i am so happy to provide content for rabid little creatures like u MWAH

[starleska]

Ah, what a wonderful world that'd be LOL. I'm sure Gargamel wouldn't mind that too terribly..<3 I haven't actually been able to watch The Lost Village unfortunately, but he looks wonderfully squishy in the screenshots!!! I had no idea he was voiced by Rainn Wilson until now, what a crossover!

For real 😭 And I wouldn't have it any other way! Oh, strange? I wonder why they'd write that, maybe a misintepretation somehow- A peculiar little collector, then!!

OH my god, you've described it perfectly😳😳😳 He's got such a wonderfully unique and flustering sound! I know, ohh, I've been making do with silly joke fics (not to bash them, of course!, but there's so much potential to explore the more serious side of things). I would be totally on board if you wanted to?! I'm not much of a writer myself, but I do plenty of daydreaming, so if you needed any ideas...😉

I'm so glad to hear that! That's what selfshipping is all about really, gathering a group of characters that bring you joy :) Whaaat, I can definitely see that, she got it down! It defintiely makes a lot of sense putting it that way, they're just like the perfect mix to grab our attentions like that.

Yes, you too! I hope your day goes super smoothly, and you indulge in something that makes you happy!!

ohhh that's the perfect word, he is so squishy!!! honestly he's just a little angel, i can't be afraid of him, he's too cute 😂💖

yes yes yes!!!! i don't know about you, but i have this terrible curse of fixating on characters with distinctive voices/ways of speaking and just getting their voices stuck in my head, generating their own words 😳😳 incredibly useful when writing fic, but not so much when i'm trying to focus on work!! and absolutely, please do send in whatever you like - my favourite thing in the world is seeing what kind of ideas get other folks flustered about fictional characters, and i'd love to write some headcanons for Gargamel 😉 tell me all about your daydreams!!

ahhh, you're so right 💖💖 dfgfdf it was mortifying at the time, but very validating - apparently lots of people from all walks of life do this in one way or another. i don't think there's anything wrong with just loving whatever characters make you smile - let's keep doing it :3c

d'aww, thank you so much sweetie!! right back at you - looking forward to hearing from you again 🔥🔥

[miens-reading-nook]

Year of the Reaper by Makiia Lucier

Pages: 352 Published: 9 Nov 2021 My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Content warnings at the end

Both versions of the cover are absolutely stunning, and as soon as I started reading, I knew I was going to love this book.

From the get go, the picture the author paints of this universe is so fraught with tension and fear, it becomes instantly terrifying in the way only ordinary and real-life things are. Even though the author started writing this book in 2018 and thus was not inspired by the recent pandemic, I think no one alive today can remain unaffected by the genuine dread a world ridden with plague inspires. My first thought when I realized Cas was 18 was to roll my eyes and think, why are these characters always so young, why couldn't he have been 22 or something. But then you get to meet him and know him better and your heart breaks because yes, this boy is too young, and that's the whole point. Cas has spent the last three years in absolute hell, he's been irreparably changed by it, but he is still a boy. He's kind, and sensitive, and even though he's technically a man now, he's still so young in all the ways that matter. Every time he swallowed back tears, I wanted to reach through the pages and pull him into a hug. He is so loved, so cherished by everyone around him, it's so beautiful to see. Especially because it feels genuine. And yes, he's smart, strong, he has really good instincts and he saves the day as a main character is wont to do, but he's also kind, flawed, afraid, vulnerable, and so very, very human. He's so tired of death, so tired of suffering, but instead of turning into a bitter, jaded man, he retains the kindness and gentleness that made everyone hold him in such high regard in the first place. I think things would probably be different if he had found a different situation waiting for him in Palmerin, but regardless, he's so good, even if he doesn't believe so himself. I absolutely love how savage he is in the first flash back, by the way. The descriptions and the mental pictures I got as the story unfolded were so clear that it felt like watching a movie at times, I swear. And this scene in particular is so damn striking. And the hunt for the killer. Throughout the whole story, you're following Cas as he tries to figure out who tried to kill the baby prince when he arrived in Palmerin, and the author is leaving you crumbs and clues for you to reach a very obvious conclusion only to rip the rug from under you in a wonderfully constructed shocking reveal. I'm sure many people guessed who the killer was, but I'll admit the author totally had me fooled. It was an absolute pleasure to find out I was wrong. Cook's son in the corner absolutely broke my heart. I loved this book's take on spirits and afterlife. It's was nothing exceptionally different or groundbreaking, but it felt original in its own way. I loved the lynxes. Such a tiny detail, but I loved the idea of a city littered by pet lynxes, what a choice. And the fact that all of them gravitate toward Cas is wonderful. The surprise queer representation! However small and sad, I loved that the king’s answer to it was to imply half his military is queer too. Reading the author's note at the end and realizing it was inspired by a real story was also very cool. I think I would read more stories about this universe if the author decided to turn this into a series, but it also works perfectly as a standalone. The writing is incredible, the kind that makes you forget you're reading because you're completely absorbed by the story, the plot is great, the characters are fully fleshed and three dimensional, and it has just the right amount of hope and happy endings that you finish the book with a smile on your face even though it's filled with so many heartbreaking things. Content warnings: implied torture, gore, illness, amputation, human experimentation, black plague

[thepetitenymphet]

Wine Me, Dine Me... - A Canberra Companions Guide To Eating Out

Love the idea of stepping out to dinner, a captivating and alluring woman on your arm, ready to enjoy a night of indulgence, however... you don't know the local restaurant scene, or where best to take a lady who enjoys fine food just as much as fornication?

Then let me make some suggestions - a total foodie, I love eating out and sharing the experience (the scent, the taste, the atmosphere...) with a lover for company. Below are my favourite restaurants to enjoy while in my hometown of Canberra, but don't worry - if you want to take me dining interstate I have a long list of places we can chow down at as well!

Wild DuckPopular with the pollies, Wild Duck is one of Canberra's best Chinese-fusion fine dining experiences. Ever since I first ate here, quite a number of years ago, it has remained one of my favourite dinner spots in the ACT. Cosy, but with delightful service and a delicious mix of traditional & inventive menu items, make it a lovely date spot - especially if you manage to snag one of the intimate booths for a meal, which can really make you feel as though you have your own personal waiters & chefs, and is the perfect spot for making eyes at each other from across the table while enjoying a meal.

Italian & SonsClassy-yet-casual and set in the heart of Braddon, Italian & Sons focuses on fresh seasonal produce to create delectable Italian fare. The open kitchen lets you watch the chefs at work - busy tossing pizzas and chopping, sautéing, and preparing meals. And of course, no Italian restaurant is complete without an extensive and well-thought-out wine list, and Italian & Sons does not fail to deliver on this front.

Black FireA gorgeous Mediterranean restaurant that heavily focuses on meat, with a lot of their dishes cooked over a roaring fire pit ensuring that they are as flavour-packed as they are succulent. With friendly staff that will happily talk you through the menu and comfy seating, it has a warm and inviting feel while still being elegant enough to feel like a special night out.

RakuIf you enjoy Japanese food, you simply can't go past Raku! The essence of modern, high-end Japanese dining, Raku creates beautifully presented and equally delicious meals for its patrons. With a sleek aesthetic, open kitchen, and extensive menu I could happily stay all night picking at different dishes and sipping away on a sake flight.

Chairman & YipAn iconic Canberra institution, Chairman & Yip serves up modern Pan-Asain cuisine that never fails to leave me happily satisfied. The epitome of fine dining, with impeccable service set among low-lit black and red decor, it's a wonderfully romantic spot for a night out. With an extensive wine list that pairs perfectly with the menu, it's no wonder this excellent restaurant remains a staple of the capital's dining scene.

And to finish this blog, I feel the need to bring up the ongoing debate in the world of escorts: should you enjoy dessert before or after dinner?

Personally, as someone who is known for her oral skills and enjoys showing them off, I tend to suggest we opt for bedroom time before heading out and refuelling. Working up our appetites together before heading out to eat... sharing knowing looks over a glass of wine and continuing to flirt through our mains, only the two of us knowing what debauchery we were enjoying just an hour or two earlier always helps sharpen the appetite.

If you have your heart set on the more traditional romancing over dinner before retreating to bed for dessert I'm happy to accommodate - just be aware that this is better for longer dates where we can enjoy some lazy time cuddling together after a full meal before getting down & dirty behind closed doors.

You can read the rest of my blog entries on My Website

[hertzwritings]

Daisy, part 5: Love

A/N: I’m a slut for Daddy!Henry, if I’m totally honest. Nothing more to say.

Feedback feeds the soul, my darlings and requests are always open!

MASTERLIST

SERIES MASTERLIST

ASK ME ANYTHING/REQUESTS

Pairing: Henry Cavill x reader and daughter

Warnings: Pure fluff

Wordcount: 2.241

Previous part

Part 5: Love

Daisy, 7 years old

You smiled as you looked at Daisy twirling around in her flower girl dress, her smile almost as wide as yours. Her eyes lit up every time she turned, and the skirt danced around her ankles. You grinned as you caught her eyes in the mirror, and she bounced over to you, her small arms wrapping around you. “You look beautiful, baby!” You whispered and kissed her temple. “You’re like a princess, mama.” She said, tugging at the white silk, that rested on your knee. You smiled.

If someone had told you 5 years ago that you were about to marry Henry Cavill, you’d have laughed straight in their face. But here you were, less than an hour to go, with your daughter bouncing around in her fluffy dress. It had honestly taken you by surprise – it was nothing but a normal evening, having family over for dinner, and Henry had found your eyes across the dirty dishes and smiled softly. You had looked at him funny, not really understanding the hidden question in his eyes. “Hey, have you ever thought about your last name?” He asked, putting the dish on the rack. You frowned. “Uh, no? Why? I mean, it’s… My last name.” He grinned and turned to you, the slight noises of your family and Daisy at the table filling the air – all of them were clearly oblivious to whatever was going on. “I was just wondering…” He had gotten down on one knee, hands still wet from the dishes, and pulled out a beautiful ring. Silver band with three stones on; one large, centered on the ring, and two smaller stone, all of them glinting beautifully in the light. Your family had hushed in the background, finally seeing what was going on in the kitchen. You gasped as you looked at the ring in his hands. “I was just wondering if you were particularly attached to it? I feel like Y/N Cavill has a nice ring to it.” You grinned widely, tears in your eyes. “Are you asking if I want to marry you?” You had said with a slight chuckle. “I am. I love you, I love our little girl, and this life we have. If you’ll have me, I’ll do my best to show you how much I love what our life is.” He said. “Y/N, will you marry me?” You nodded happily and heard Daisy squeal in happiness somewhere behind you. “Of course, I will!” He had slid the ring on your finger, and you had hugged him tightly, only breaking the hug when Daisy had pulled at your leg, so you could wrap her in your arms, while Henry’s circled around the both of you.

You family had been all smiles and tears, and here you were; six months later, in a beautiful, silk-gown that hugged your curves perfectly. The lace on the top made you feel ethereal along with the flowing sleeves that hung down from your arms. The veil hung low from your hair and flowed beautifully from you – it contrasted the silk wonderfully and the details of lace, where Daisy’s name was spelled out, flowed behind you. You felt beautiful. “Thank you, sweetheart.” “Daddy’s gonna lose it.” She said with a devious grin. You chuckled. “Ha, yeah?” You asked and stroked her hair, gently centering the flower crown on her hair. “I think he might cry.” You whispered. She nodded in agreement. “If he doesn’t, we have to start over.” She said surely. You grinned and stood up, smoothing shaking hands over your dress. “You ready, darling?” Your mom came out, a large smile on her face. As soon as she saw you and Daisy, her lower lip wobbled, and tears welled up in her eyes as she went to hug you. “Mom, easy. It’s just a wedding.” You tried to joke. “Oh, hush. You’re beautiful, both of you.” She said, pulling back from the hug and looked at Daisy with a soft gaze. “Let’s go get your momma hitched, huh?” She said, holding her hand out to Daisy, who nodded and wrapped her hand around your mothers. You grinned at your best friend and maid of honor, who came in and gathered the long veil in her arms, making sure it wasn’t crumbled or would be stepped on. You smiled gratefully at her and followed your mom and daughter to the car, that would take you to the rose-garden where Henry was waiting for you. Where your future would start.

You smiled nervously as the car stilled and you could hear the faint chatter and music from the garden, where everyone awaited you; you felt your breath hitch as the sun shone down on the bushes and flowers that led to your future husband.

Daisy jumped out of the car with your mom and when you got out, your mom hugged you tightly. “I’ll see you up there.” She whispered and you nodded once. Your best friend stood in front of you and handed you the bouquet of lilies, baby’s breath, and soft pink roses before she turned her front to the entrance. You heard the music change to the soft, dulcet tones of the music you’d chosen – the instrumental version of Here Comes The Sun rang out and you saw your friend move slowly away from you. Daisy held your hand tightly and refused to walk. “Honey, you’re supposed to walk before me.” You whispered. She shook her head. “Together, mama.” She insisted, her little voice full of determination. You smiled. “Together.” You whispered back, holding her little hand in yours as you began moving down the aisle.

You saw the faces of friends and family smile at you and Daisy as you walked past them, but you could barely focus on them – Henry’s smile was as bright as the sun, tears spilling silently and unabashedly down his cheeks as he saw the two of you move towards him. Daisy was sniffling next to you, and you saw the smile on her face; you mirrored it as you walked – too slowly in your opinion – to Henry’s waiting, outstretched hand. You stopped in front of him, Daisy still clinging to your hand. “Hi.” Was all you could whisper to him as you finally stood in front of him. “Hi, my love.” He whispered back. Daisy grabbed his hand and stood between the two of you, sun beaming down on you, as the music ebbed out and the priest stood in front of you.

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast, it is not arrogant or rude…” The priest’s voice disappeared in your head as you looked into Henry’s wet eyes. They said so much in their insistent gaze, the love and admiration for you swirling behind the blue color. It was home.

“And now, the vows.” You breathed deeply and unfolded the piece of paper that had been tied to your bouquet. You handed the small piece of extra paper to Daisy, who took it gratefully and nodded with a smile.

“Henry. When I met you, I hardly dared to believe that you were real. I have loved you for a lifetime, maybe even before that, just not knowing you. Nobody has measured, not even poets, how much love a heart can hold. I never thought my heart could hold more love for anyone else but Daisy, but you came, and I realized that my heart didn’t have to hold more. You fit in, like pieces of a puzzle that I didn’t know I was missing, and made my heart grow tenfold. Your love for me, and for our daughter, has made me happier than I ever thought I could be.” You swallowed back tears and smiled at him. “I love you. No conditions, no reservations, noting but unbridled respect and honor.” You exhaled a shaky breath. “I fell in love with you as easily as I breathe. It was not in my ear, you whispered, but my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my very soul. I promise to love you for however long I exist.” You folded the paper back and wiped a tear from your cheek. He cleared his throat.

“For small creatures such as we, the vastness is bearable only through love.” He said in a strong voice, despite the wetness of his eyes. “I never found the vastness unbearable, until the fear of going back to the infinite, blank, vastness without you came. I had a hard time finding the words to describe the endless ebbs and flows of my love for you and for Daisy.” He smiled at your daughter, who sniffed and wiped tears away. “Do I love you? My God, if your love were a grain of sand, mine would be a universe of beaches, my love.” Tears overflowed in his eyes. “And I’d walk forever through the beaches and endless sand if it were to get to you.” He sighed and smiled happily. “I love you, and in you I found a love I never thought I would have. I love you.”

You sniffed and wiped another tear away, and Daisy drew a deep breath. “My turn?” She asked, a soft rumble of laughter coming from the pews. You looked at Henry, who looked surprised at your daughter – he didn’t know she wanted to talk. You nodded and she cleared her throat.

“Dad.” She looked to Henry, who already looked like he was on the verge of tears again. She smiled sweetly. “I remember the first time I thought this is my dad.” She sniffed, tears spilling over her cheeks, but she continued unrelentingly. “You were cuddled up on my bed, way too big for it, and you read The Little Prince and stroked my hair. I fell asleep and I right before, I heard you say that you love me.”

You were crying fully now. You didn’t know what she wanted to say – except for the part at the very end, you’d helped her with – and it took you aback how clearly she spoke and loved.

“I knew you loved my mom the first time I remember seeing you look at her, when she wasn’t looking. You had a crown on, and you just sat on the floor with me and looked at her with these eyes… And you held my hand and smiled.” She grinned at him. “I don’t know much, but I know love.” She gestured for you to hand her the final piece of paper in your hand, and you nodded and handed her it. “So… I hope you are okay with saying yes to more than just my mom.” She said quietly. “Because mama isn’t the only one who wants your name.” She unfolded the paper and handed it to him with shaking hands and Henry fully sobbed, falling to his knees and wrapping his arms around her, the adoption-papers in his hand as he hugged her tightly. You were crying wildly too, completely taken aback at his reaction. You could hear the soft sniffles and cries of the people in the pews, and you even saw the priest wipe a tear from his face.

“My darling girl, of course. I would love nothing more.” He didn’t let go of her as he stood, holding her tightly to his body as he nodded at the priest. “Ready to continue?” The priest asked. You all three nodded.

“Y/N Y/L/N do you take Henry Cavill…” You focused on Henry’s eyes as the priest asked if you wanted him. You said yes loudly and full of assuredness. There was no one else, you’d ever want. He almost gasped his answer, the yes falling over his lips as if he could hardly wait to say it.

“You may kiss your bride.” The priest finally said, and Henry kissed you deeply, his arms still holding tightly to Daisy; you returned the kiss with all the unsaid thanks and love in you, flowing into it.

As you walked down the aisle again, your hand in Henry’s free one, and his other hand supporting Daisy, rice and confetti raining down on you, you all three sported a wide smile and wet eyes. You felt the sun warm your body and you could barely contain yourself in your joy as you all three sat down in the car, that would drive you to the reception.

“I love you.” His voice was soft and gentle, like a caress to your heated skin. You looked at him, Daisy sitting between the two of you with a smile – and her trusted Pinkie in her hands – and bit your lip with glinting eyes.

“Do you think you can handle any more surprises for today?” You asked with a grin. He raised his eyebrow. “From you? Always.” You kissed his cheek softly. “We’re going to have to clear a room out in the house.” You whispered. Daisy looked at you, clearly confused. Henry’s face went through several emotions through a single second, before he gasped and looked to your stomach. “Are you…?” You nodded.

“Are you what, mama?” Daisy asked, clearly annoyed she wasn’t in on it. “You’re getting a brother or sister soon, love.” He said with tearful eyes and a grin, that might split his face in two. She rolled her eyes and threw her hands in the air.

“Finally.” She murmured.

TAGLIST:

@acaceta @a-skov @angelmather1 @cooldreamlandsandwich @est1887 @enchantedbytomandhenry @fionnthebandersnacc @herroyalbubbliness @keiva1000 @kebabgirl67 @luclittlepond @one-sweet-gubler @perfunctory-username69 @sleutherclaw @summersong69 @spookyboogyuniverse @stardusted26 @thereisa8ella @timetraveller4 @thatonechickhere @themanfromu

@thelastpyle @yourlocalhoney @wheretheriversrunintothesea @herroyalbubbliness @ms-betsy-fangirl

[caker-baker]

Of Convenience

The protagonist was sometimes asked if they were married. They would always say no. There was no point in the whole truth.

To be fair, they were young, in college, and both them and their spouse figured being married would make things just a bit easier with money.

So, marriage. Totally platonic marriage between two broke best friends that was meant to last only through the end of their schooling.

Then their spouse disappeared, and stayed disappeared for ten years.

Legally, the protagonist wasn’t even married anymore, they never lied when they said they weren’t married. How could someone be married to a presumed dead person?

Sometimes they felt guilty. All the mourning for their best friend had been done with, and they weren’t by any means in love with them in the traditional way one would love their spouse, but it never stopped the protagonist from feeling bad.

Bad about moving on with their life. Bad about this date.

But it had been ten years, and the protagonist reasoned their best friend, wherever they were, would be happy for them.

It was supposed to be at a nice place, this date. A traditionally formal restaurant, one with valets. The protagonist enjoyed that. They didn’t always have the time for nice outings.

It was also relatively public, a little ways away from the heart of the city, close enough to home in case things took a turn for the worse.

But that was just a what if. Their friend gave this blind date a glowing review.

The bad feeling still ate away at the protagonist. Not for their possibly dead spouse, but for the lack of knowing. They didn’t know this person, and sure, the goal was to get to know them, but there was no basis for anything.

Regardless, it was going to be a nice night out with a nice meal in their nice clothes. All thoughts the protagonist had to remind themselves of as they watched the valet take their car away.

The door closed behind them, and the protagonist jumped.

Online, the place looked lively, warm. This was empty, abandoned of all people.

The tables and chairs and lights were all there. Lovely centerpieces of flowers and candles decorated empty spaces. No chatter filled the room, no host stood at the front, and most notably, no date.

It was all under a second the protagonist was able to observe these factors, and took less than three to turn and push on the door that wouldn’t budge.

“It locks electronically.”

For the second time that night, the protagonist jumped.

“How wonderfully modern.” They said, not taking their hand off the door.

“Wonderfully.” The faceless voice agreed. “Wouldn’t you like to sit?”

“Actually, I think I was just about to leave.”

“What about your date?”

The protagonist turned, and nearly screamed.

They thought they could deal with a regular person in this irregular situation. However, dealing with a villain was much, much different.

“Funny enough,” the protagonist managed “I’m beginning to think they stood me up.”

“Oh?” The villain grinned, sitting slowly at one of the tables. “What makes you so sure?”

“It’s been a few minutes since the agreed upon time.”

This was wrong. Talking with a villain while waiting for help.

What help? No alarms were triggered. There’s no sign of a villain being here at all. No hero would have any clue of potential danger.

“Still.” The villain moved their eyes to the chair opposite them. “You should sit.”

At this point, the protagonist was only conscious through fear and adrenaline, so, they moved to the chair, and sat.

“Now, forgive me if I’m wrong, but aren’t you married?” The villain said, leaning forward to rest their chin in their hand.

“I-” Two more people came out then, trays in hand, and all the protagonist could do was watch as they set them down, and left wordlessly. “I- what?”

“Well,” the villain started again, lifting the lid to their tray. “I could have sworn you had a spouse. Yet here you are, waiting for a,” they sucked air in through their teeth, a harsh sign of disapproval. “date.”

“What an unlucky bastard my spouse is, huh?” The protagonist felt dizzy.

“Oh, surely.” The villain’s eyes looked as if they darkened. “I’m glad, at least, corporate life hasn’t knocked the humor out of you.”

What?

“No, just all my free time.”

“Still free enough to try for a date.” The villain looked at them with a matter of fact stare, something the protagonist had been on the receiving end of before.

It was a stare their best friend, their spouse had mastered.

It was the same stare the villain was giving them now.

It was the same eye color the protagonist used to know well.

It was…

Oh.

“There they are.” The villain - or rather, their presumed dead best friend, their spouse - looked amused, and leaned back in the chair. “I knew you were smarter than that.”

“But you-”

Oh, God.

“You vanished.” The protagonist whispered.

“And you never even looked for me.”

“Looked for you?” The protagonist repeated in disbelief.

“I’m only teasing, love. I didn’t leave a single trace. No one could have found me.”

The protagonist stood. “And now you’re a villain.”

“Mm. I prefer goal-oriented entrepreneur.”

“You’re a villain!”

“If you insist. You are really going to let the foie gras go to waste if you don’t eat.”

“You’ve been alive this whole time! You’re perfectly fine!” The protagonist sat again, lowering their voice. “We had a funeral for you. We mourned you. The police could only assume you died.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, love. I didn’t realize my disappearance would upset you so.”

The protagonist slammed their hands on the table. “You were my best friend! We got married.”

“I know, I was there.” The villain held up their hand, the old, cheap ring still on their finger. “Bringing me back to my point. Why go on a date?”

For a brief moment, the protagonist had to wonder if they were the crazy one for not seeing the villain’s side of things.

“Why was I trying to go on a date ten years after you left?” They spoke slowly, still trying to decipher if there was something strange about it.

“We both know it wasn’t just the one date. Maybe the first one in a while, but-”

“Have you been watching me?”

“No more than I need to. You’re my spouse, Protagonist.”

“It was a marriage of convenience. Neither of us really ever…and legally, no, we aren’t married. You can’t be married to a dead person.”

The villain let out a single scoff. “You’re not dead, and I’m still very much married to you.”

“That’s not-”

“Point being, Protagonist, I got tired of watching these people come in and out of your life.”

“And you get to do the exact same thing, is that it?”

“Absolutely not.” The villain scowled. “What kind of a person do you take me for anyways?”

“The kind who disappears for ten years without a call or even a postcard!”

The villain at least had the decency to look slightly embarrassed. “Touché.”

The protagonist’s tone turned less angry, and more serious. “I’ve seen you online. The news.”

“Ah.” The villain let a look of annoyance pass over their face. “Most people have, love.”

“What makes you think I wouldn’t go running to the closest person I could find to tell them about you? I know your identity now. There’s someone to find and blame for the things you’ve done.”

“I do have your car.”

Stupid valets.

“And, really, love. Do you know me? My civilian self has dropped off the face of the earth.”

The protagonist felt a chill up their spine, but the villain was just getting started.

“You also seem to be forgetting I’m the one who kept on eye on you. I know you. For better or for worse, I know you. How it’s only six blocks to home, how you visit your parents and sister every other month. She’s sixteen now, right? How you meet up with my parents every anniversary of my disappearance, and how you manage to avoid telling everyone who asks that you are indeed committed to someone.”

“What do you want?” The protagonist spat.

“Other than your company?” The villain tapped a finger to their lips in faux thought. “Now that you mention it, that cushy corporate job of yours has a hold on some valuable assets of mine. And believe me, love, it’s honestly something they wouldn’t want to get too deep in.”

“You’ve been watching me this entire time just to threaten me? Because of my job?”

“Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, love. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not threatening you. I adore your family, and I would never hurt you. You know that right?”

“Do I?”

“Mm.” The villain tilted their head to the side. “Tell you what, love. You don’t even have to do any of the corporate espionage. You just have to give me your boss’ number. I can go from there.”

The protagonist found themselves shaking.“Why are you doing this?”

“I couldn’t think of a better reason to stay in your life than to bring a little chaos.”

[karlakattz]

Okay, so Anne sent me a Gif of this scene on twitter

… and while I wrote a little 'meanwhile' for it, I also had the idea for a slightly longer story.

It‘s not beta read, I‘m sorry for mistakes. I wrote it just this morning:

I try to stay awake. x

Aaron smiles, reading the message from Robert, when he walks up the stairs. The pub is still busy, he can hear the dull noises of people talking and music playing, but upstairs it’s quiet. After a long day at work, the prospect of 8 hours of sleep in his warm, comfy bed and Robert‘s arms is heavenly bliss.

It’s pitch black in the small corridor and Aaron used his phone to light up the way to his room. Right outside the door, he switches it off though, because Robert sent his whatsapp 45 minutes ago so he might have fallen asleep after all and Aaron doesn’t wanna wake him up. Basically being an old lad, Robert needs his sleep. Aaron grins at himself, knowing all too well how much his boyfriend hates being teased with his age.

He carefully opens the door, trying to be as quietly as possible, but all his attempts to not wake up Robert are obsolete anyway, because the man in question is still awake and leaning against the headboard with a book in his lap.

Robert hasn’t noticed him so far and Aaron takes a moment to just stand there and look.

At first, of course, he gets his fill of the man. The flat hair he always wears after showering in the evening and that feels so wonderfully soft when Aaron runs his fingers through it. The relaxed face, all focused on the story he’s reading and the bare chest. Aaron loves the contrast of the tanned, smooth skin to the dark bedding. The long legs under the covers that Robert often wraps around Aaron’s hips to pull him closer, deeper, faster.

Then he lets his eyes wander across the room. There is this huge bed and Aaron remembers how Robert wouldn’t stop going on about buying a box spring bed. Aaron didn’t even know what the hell that was - he didn’t want to box in it, just sleep! Admittedly, their new bed is super cushy and Aaron loves it despite the king size monstrosity taking up half of the room, where there was just a smaller wooden framed bed before.

Of course it came along with two new bedside tables and lamps.

The rock band posters of his late teenage years had to give away for the wallpaper that had been Robert’s idea as well, but Aaron was the one who picked it and put it on. And for the first time ever Aaron notices he has now candlesticks on his drawer and two new framed pictures on the wall. The subject is totally random, just a boardwalk in front of the blurry lit up skyline of a city. The other picture shows the same diffuse lights, so they must have come as a set. It wouldn’t have been Aaron’s first choice of art, but they do look nice with their colours perfectly fitting the rest of the bedroom.

Everywhere, he spots little pieces of decoration, like modern shaped glass vases, perfume bottles and piles of books.

It hits. It hits that this isn’t his room anymore.

“Hi.” Robert is now smiling at him, so warm and welcoming, and his eyes are incredibly soft.

Aaron’s breath hitches, because he didn’t know.

How had he not noticed it before?

“Hiya,” he breathes.

Robert puts the book aside and opens his arms. “C’mere.”

In record time, Aaron gets rid of his clothes and all but crashes on his boyfriend’s waiting body with a happy sigh. Strong arms are being wrapped around him and Robert’s soft chuckle washes over him soothingly. All the tension leaves his body in the rhythm of Robert’s heartbeat.

“Missed ya,” he mutters against the freckled chest and gets a gentle kiss on his curls in return.

He’s home.

This once was his room above his mother’s pub, but Robert made it their home.