#the eye and the lantern merge well enough together

[emiplayzmc]

Made a logo for the Bad End Friends fandom last night for fun just because- Probably gonna change and edit it as time goes on but just thought I'd share this, :D

[greedbent]

Kaz took this as a good excuse—apparently becoming more and more of a norm for him, when it involved Spring—to further prolong their walk together, for when he caught her hands going into her pockets out of the corner of his eye, producing what could only be these samples she’d mentioned, his strides became shorter. Slower. He tested something here, moving in close enough that his sleeve brushed her arm as they walked. It shouldn’t have made his breath catch, and yet, the fool, he sensed a dwindling grip on reality from that alone.

Distracted, again. She was a distraction. One he couldn’t claim was unwelcomed.

Because, while the easy explanation for stepping into her space would be to get a good and respectful look at her drawings, what it really did was give him a proximity to look at her. And Kaz noticed something new from this angle, from the dim lantern light that flashed across her face rhythmically as they walked along the street: something sparkled in her eyes, like a field of flowers dancing and weaving in the wind, their colors cascading, merging, flickering against a green canvas. He caught traces of goldenrod he hadn’t before seen, melting into a bronze hue as it neared her wide, expressive pupils. Kaz had never needed to wonder what it meant to be “lost in someone’s eyes.” Before, it had been sheer lack of interest—or maybe just convincing himself it was something he’d never have. Now, it was because he suddenly understood.

Just as suddenly, he had to bite the inside of his cheek to force himself out of a nonsensical stupor. He snatched back the reality that had slipped through his fingers, and as Spring fervently expressed a desire to pay him for his services, he expelled a breath indicative of a laugh. “If we do our job correctly, you won’t even know we’re there,” Kaz illustrated. “You want to throw away your kruge to some ghosts . . . ?” He arched a brow, impishly challenging, just as they rounded a corner and a new wash of color from a streetlamp offered a perfect opportunity—

“Over here.” Kaz used his free hand to usher her under the pool of light, fingers lingering—hovering mere threads away—at the small of her back. “Let me see what you’re showing him.” But he had to remove that hand for the purpose of taking her art, and he tucked his cane under one arm as he began flipping through the pieces. Unsurprisingly—she was nothing if not overly modest—they looked about as good as if she were studying at the college to become a painter. (He silently mused even Wylan would be impressed.) But he was no expert in the field, himself.

No, what he could glean from this was worth sharing to settle her nerves. —even more, he supposed.

Kaz didn’t say much while he examined them, poring over the notes as equally as he did the visuals. Then, after carefully folding them up and passing them back, he claimed, “Felix will like these.” He set his cane back on the pavement, continued their walk. “I’d suggest starting with the middle one. The more outlandishly extravagant, the better.” His own steps faltered for a moment, though, and as he angled his head back, Kaz added as an afterthought, “But all of them are well executed.”

"Oh!" The observation caught her by surprise, even though it shouldn't have. Of course he hadn't seen her paintings—Kaz had only ever been inside the shop, and there was hardly space to hang them among the displays and merchandise. "It is nothing much; I am far from a professional," she confessed. "It is simply something I like to do in my free time. But it is rather helpful for situations like this, when bringing sample arrangements would be especially cumbersome."

Naturally then, thinking of the artist's renditions she'd brought as an alternative made her realize their helpfulness in this situation, as well!

She withdrew those pocket-sized paintings and carefully unfolded the stack: three in total, each bearing a watercolor version of one of the arrangement designs. Writing littered each page, from labels beside the different types of flowers, to pricing estimates at the bottom for various sizes. "They are not quite the same—I usually do not write on them, of course, and it is different on paper than on canvas—but I do have these, if you would like to see."

But just as she was about to offer them, Spring's pace faltered moments after her companion's. Shock once again painted her face. And if a bit of that pink tinge still lingered? Well, there was nothing she could do about that. "Really? Are you sure?" It was her own fault for not considering this consequence; the last thing she wanted was for her problems to become Kaz's problems, too. He may have "been in the neighborhood" this time, but every time? She couldn't see any way for that not to become burdensome.

"It is very kind of you to offer, but you do not have to do that..." Then again, if this deal did go through, she'd likely have to hire bodyguards anyway; wouldn't it be better to give that money to someone she already trusted? "Though, I would certainly pay you for the trouble!"

Her fingers toyed with the edges of the papers she held, fluttering the stack around in a dismissive gesture. "A-and besides, this is all theoretical. I do not know if Felix will even like my designs. I have only spoken to the man once; I did my best to adhere to his specifications, of course, but I cannot claim to know his tastes."

[ready-to-obeyme]

[OM!] Compliments from the Demon Brothers + Undateables

[Non-Appearance Related Compliments]

I used these quotes and paired them up with a character to write a short snippet/HC. I hope you like them!! these types of compliments always make me warm :))

--

“You light up the room.”

Simeon

It’s strange to think that seeing you walk through the door would make him so happy. He knows he’s written plenty of adventures and romances, but to think he’d be able to live through one is something else entirely. 

When Simeon laughs, you turn toward him in slight confusion and walk to him when he beckons you. “I almost forgot there was no sun in the Devildom for a moment,” he tells you, wrapping his arms around your waist. “You light up the room.” he says teasingly, enjoying the flustered expression on your face. “Did you know that?” 

You’re more than just a pure soul-- full of conviction, bursting with love and a strength that you don’t even know you possess-- and Simeon feels lucky to be able to hold you in his arms like so.

“You have the best laugh.”

Mammon

“You have the best laugh,” Mammon tells you, laying his head on his arms as he watches you throw your head back after retelling a funny story. It’s not something that he’s thought through in saying-- it just came out because it was the simple truth. How many times has he thought before about how lucky he was to be able to have you in his life, giving him the best time of his life, full of laughter and love. He’s always thought your laugh was cute-- and if it wasn’t cute it was contagious, and he loves every laugh that he can coax from you. 

He wants to be able to make you laugh like that for the rest of your life together.

Of course, after saying it, he’s immediately embarrassed, but you cajole him into removing his hands from his face so you can bury him in kisses instead. 

“You inspire me.”

Diavolo

Diavolo has met and seen more people of all kinds as the stars in the sky, and yet the one he is most mesmerized by is you. Life has not always treated you kindly, and he admits that whisking you away to the Devildom to attend his exchange program without warning played a part in it. Regardless of what happened, you always manage to make the best of it all, creating close relationships with the brothers, with the angels, and even with him. You are but one human, and yet you seem to be the strongest person he’s ever met.

“You inspire me,” he says warmly as the two of you enjoy drinks together in a rare quiet moment of the ball. “Truly!” He tells you, laughing when you look at him incredulously. “It might sound strange, but you have many traits to be admired. Many more, I believe, if I continue to get to know you better.” He smiles at you even while you flush. “I hope you’ll allow me that opportunity during your stay in the Devildom.” 

“I love how passionate you are.��

Satan

It’s no surprise that Satan would value the mind out of all the brothers. There is something inherently breathtaking to see you speak with such fervor about the things you care about. The topics in which you talk about ranges, but even when you talk about something from defending the rights of the lower-class to how there shouldn’t be uniforms for RAD, he feels himself fall a little more of you every time-- with your mind full of ideas and words that seem to overflow.

“I love how passionate you are,” he says almost breathlessly. “No, I mean it!” He tells you, chuckling when you give him a strange look. “I’m not... being sarcastic or anything. I truly, truly love the way your mind works, and I like hearing about the things you care about.” His eyes twinkle, and the way he sits up straight, attentive, and hands folded in front of him and eagerly listening to you makes your heart skip. “Keep going,” he says. “What else did you think about it?”

“You make the world better just by being in it.”

Barbatos

“Why do you look so surprised?” He would ask you, chuckling as he watches you gape at him with a flushed face after his spoken compliment. “Is it that  much of a surprise to hear me say that?”

These words coming from Barbatos means so much more than you could possibly imagine. How many timelines has he seen? How many worlds has he merged and destroyed with his powers? He isn’t one to mince his words, and yet to hear him say that you make the world better just by being in it is something that holds meaning. And it does-- he’s seen the things you’ve done, the good you put into the world just by being: the small smiles you give those who are down, the kindness in which you treat others, and most importantly, the way you love him and make him feel.

Barbatos truly means what he says, and you have no choice but to accept that as truth.

“You make me feel comfortable being myself.”

Beelzebub 

Beel has always thought it a little strange that whenever you’re around, his voracious appetite quiets down to something as little as a stir that, if he’s talking to you, almost disappears completely from his mind. He’s convinced that perhaps it’s best that he likes spending so much time with you, because he may as well spend all his time with you if it meant he could stop eating so much-- or so he thought. But you never fail to sneak him a snack during class, suddenly when you walk together to town, or after waiting for him after club. Beel knows his appetite is something monstrous, but you never seem to mind. You tell him you love him anyways, 

He finds that this thought is enough to quell his hunger completely, even for a moment. 

“You make me feel comfortable being myself,” Beel tells you when you settle next to him for a movie, snacks in hand. “I never feel like I have to change or hold myself back so...” He smiles at you warmly, holding your hand in his. “Thank you.” 

Leviathan

Levi used to lose to you in Mario Kart only once every five games, but he watches you speed past him, cackling at his side, and realizes that he’s coming closer to loving once every three. Yet, seeing you laugh, shoulders touching as you lean against him, he can’t find it in himself to mind at all. 

Laughter has never come as easily to him. Words and affection have never come so easily to him before now. It feels so natural being by your side that he supposed he forgot he’s ever been alone. 

“You make me feel comfortable being myself,” he tells you one day, just as he finishes talking about another anime that has him excited. He’s flustered, but he feels the need to tell you how you make him feel, and how much he’s grateful for the fact he feels heard and truly seen. “I hope you feel the same with me too.”

“You make this world so much more beautiful just by being in it.”

Lucifer

Lucifer doesn’t think he would have been able to lie in his own bed as often with you convincing him to join you. Or go enjoy the carnival rides with you there. Or see the colors of the lanterns as vividly or think the view as charming without you. And he knows that it’s because of you that he feels like he can breathe-- that he feels like the world will be fine without him for a moment-- that he can laugh and love even after everything that has happened. 

The two of you lie in bed together, talking in low voices before sleep overtakes you both, and Lucifer is so full of love. “You make this world so much more beautiful just by being in it,” Lucifer whispers to you, cupping your cheeks and enjoying the way your cheeks warm under his palm. “Good night,” he tells you, hoping he’ll be able to say this to you every other night thereafter. 

Belphegor

It means a lot to have gotten to know you and to be by your side, especially considering the fact he almost prevented that from happening. It’s something that he regrets, giving a twinge of guilt every time, but whenever you’re with him, the guilt gets easier to bear and he can focus more on how much he loves you. How much happiness you bring to him and to others, and how much you enjoy life and all the little things in life-- all the bitterness that used to overtake his entire body seems to ebb into nothing when you’re around. 

“Thank you,” he tells you just as you leave him to his nap. “For being alive.” He peeks his eyes open when you turn around and stare at him with wide eyes.  “You make this world so much more beautiful just by being in it,” he says, and he lets you walk up to him and engulf him in a hug that’s as warm and loving as the afternoon sun.

“I love hearing from you!”

Asmodeus

He adores you when you go off on tangents when the two of you spend time with each other, whether you’re in the bath together or while he’s painting your nails. The sound of your voice is very soothing to him and he’s always endeared by the way you’re excited when you speak about something you love or even when you just talk about your day-- he really can’t get enough of you.

“Sorry,” you say, feeling yourself redden. “I feel like I’ve talked a lot.”

“No, no!” Asmo tells you, leaning over to you so he can pepper small kisses onto your cheeks. “I love hearing from you! About your day, about what you did, what you ate,” he says, entangling your hand with his. “You make everyday life just seem so... exciting! And I want to be a part of that world with you.” 

“Your mind is so powerful!”

Solomon

As a man (whom I suspect has lived for centuries), having the opportunity to have gotten close to you and see how your mind works is incredibly rewarding to him. Within your ideas or your plans or your jokes, he feels like he gets to see a different side of you and gets to know you more-- and fall in love with you again and again. 

You scoff when you first hear this coming from Solomon though. Any compliments could have any type of meaning, but when you turn around, you immediately feel yourself flushing when his gaze is unwavering and sincere.

“I mean it,” he tells you even when you huff at him, laughing. “Your mind is incredibly powerful. The ideas you come up with always have a twist of your own personality, whether it means it’s unique, or creative, or kind.” 

[amelialincoln]

We're Still Standing

She hadn't realized she had fallen asleep until she was being shaken aggressively out of subconsciousness. Amelia opened her eyes drowsily and realized immediately how cold she was. It took her a minute to adjust to the dim light illuminating from the lantern that hung beside the swing on the porch.

“What the hell are you doing? I was worried sick.” Her boyfriend’s familiar voice rang from above her and she felt his warm, oversized jacket wrap around her shivering frame. Amelia blinked at him, trying to recall why she was on Meredith’s front deck. Oh shit.

“I’m so sorry,” she slurred, shaking her head out of its daze. “I drove to Mer’s out of habit and I must’ve passed out.”

“We’ve been living in the apartment for two weeks.” His tone was firm and he stretched out a hand to pull her off the uncomfortable wooden swing. “Did you--” She knew what he was going to say before he had the chance to finish.

“No, no, I’ve actually barely been thinking about it since I started working again. I think my body is just still adjusting to the long hours.” She accepted his hand and glanced at her dim phone screen. It read 2:50am. No wonder he seemed so shaken up. She bit her lip, trying to hide her guilt.

“Oh, really?” He paused, trying to find the right words, cautious as always. “You seemed like you were struggling with it a bit while we were living at Mer’s.”

“I haven’t taken that much time off work since I was an intern, other than when I was using,” she explained as he opened the car door for her. “My sobriety depends on being able to fill my time with things I’m passionate about. I’m just getting back to feeling like myself again.”

“Okay…” Link replied, shutting the door gently and climbing into the driver’s seat. He pulled out of Mer’s driveway and waited until they were on the freeway. “So this has nothing to do with the conversation we had last night?” She was almost taken aback by how well he knew her. After spending almost every second together, over the last couple of months, she could barely keep anything from him without Link somehow noticing when something was wrong.

“It's just kind of a lot to put on someone,” she muttered.

“What do you mean?” He asked, glancing at his girlfriend who was twisting pieces of her chocolate brown hair nervously.

“It’s just that the expectation of me to be popping out your babies all the time is a bit overwhelming,” she glanced out the window as Link merged into their usual exit. “I just got back to work, Link.”

“Hey, I’m sorry. I was just getting excited. I didn’t mean like now.” He placed a soft hand on her thigh and felt her relax slightly. “We talked about having other kids a lot while we were at Meredith’s. I’m sorry if I jumped into the future too quickly.”

“Meredith’s was a different time. I was really hormonal and barely had time to actually process what was happening.” She forced a grin which made him raise an eyebrow.

“Well, how many of our conversations and decisions were made when you were hormonal?” He turned to look at her and watched her gaze fall. “All that stuff about marriage and houses and massive backyards?” He was dancing around the four kids that she had specifically outlined to him as her preference.

“Link, you and Scout are enough for me. I don’t need anything else.”

“Don’t need or don’t want?” He asked as he pulled into his apartment’s parkade. “Those are two very different things, Amelia.”

“Can we talk about this in the morning? I’m not thinking straight right now,” she answered honestly.

“Yeah, whatever you want.”

[][][]

Amelia was awoken the next morning to Scout being placed on her bare chest. Sun streamed in through the shutters of their third story bedroom and the glittering light from the ocean reflected like shards of glass on the white walls of the room. Link’s apartment was utter perfection, with a perfect view of Elliott bay and situated on a central, but not too busy, street close to downtown. It made her question why he was itching to move out so fast and start building the house he’d been fantasizing about for the last couple of weeks.

“Hi baby,” she smiled as Scout’s blue eyes stared up at her sleepily. He was always the most cuddly in the morning and she shifted to a position where he was able to wrap his pudgy arm around her neck. “Where’s your Dadda?” As if on cue Link strolled into the bright room, his long hair was disheveled and his face wore a hint of exhaustion. Probably from being up all night searching for her, she realized. He held two steaming mugs of coffee and the scent hit her forcefully as he held it under her chin for her to take a small sip.

“He’s been missing you a lot lately.” He lowered himself onto their bed gently and placed both of the mugs on the side table. “Ma ma, ma ma, all day long.” She laughed at his decent impression of Scout’s latest attempts at talking. “You think with all the time he’s spent with Dadda,” he spoke the word loudly at his giggling son, “He’d start liking me at least half as much as you,” Link joked.

“Mama’s boy.” Amelia shrugged, pressing a kiss to the top of her baby boy’s head and suppressing a yawn.

“Bailey texted you not to come in because neuro is slow today but she put you on call. I turned off your alarm. Thought you might need the rest.” He explained, his voice free of judgment. “You also got a call from our health insurance place. Our plans are ending in a week and we’ve still got some credit so I called the pharmacy to renew your birth control prescription. I noticed your pack this month was almost finished.”

“Oh,” she turned to face him, suddenly reminded that she needed to take her pill. “Yeah...thank you.”

“No problem.” He shrugged. “I can probably pick it up sometime today.” He handed her the cup of coffee, reading her thoughts before she could even ask for it and watched as she swallowed the tiny pill down.

“Link, it’s--” “Fine,” he shrugged. “I don’t have any expectations of you, Amelia. I know you went through a lot with Owen,” he made a face she didn’t recognize before taking a large gulp out of his own mug and clearing his throat. “I don’t want to make you feel trapped or obligated to fulfill my own selfish desires. It’s your choice and I’m not going anywhere...unless you want me to,” he paused, allowing her space to speak if she wanted to before continuing. “I was an only child and it was tough. It would’ve helped to have a sibling to lean on during my parent’s divorce and I guess that’s my own stuff that I should probably work through instead of pushing you into a situation that you don’t want to be in. I’ve seen you go through hell with your sisters and I understand where you are coming from. Most of all, I’d never want to force you to quit the thing you love doing the most. I also think that would be doing a disservice to the world because my girlfriend is a freaking superhero and she’s got hundreds upon hundreds of people to still save. So can we just pretend that everything I selfishly said to you didn’t happen? Cause I usually don’t like to talk everything out but I was up all night trying to put how I was feeling into words and I still feel like I did a shitty job.” “Now you know how I feel all the time,” she laughed, slipping her hand into his and wishing she could erase the stress that was radiating from him. “Screwing up while trying to get my point across is my specialty.”

“That’s not true, you’re one of the most well spoken people I know.” Link rolled his eyes, taking another sip of his coffee and looking a little bit more relaxed.

“There’s a lot of people who would say otherwise,” Amelia joked, pulling their duvet up to Scout’s shoulders as he began to fall asleep on her chest. “You weren’t being selfish,” she finally sighed. “If anyone’s not being fair it's me. I feel like my mind is switching up on me a hundred times a day. Since I’ve had the tumor I find myself constantly second guessing myself, trying to figure out what I want. Some days all I want is to be a mom. I feel like having Scout has made me become a better person and a better surgeon and I wouldn’t change that for the world. I don’t regret having him for even a second. Every single part of me loves him...and you. To the point where when I am at work, where I am usually at my happiest, I still find myself missing the both of you. Which scares me because there’s never been a doubt in my mind at work that I’m not exactly where I want to be. And I know for a fact that if we were to have another baby, or two or three, that I would find myself not being able to compromise between my love for operating and my love for my family. I know I would have to choose. And I don't think that I can. At least not right now.” Link nodded his head in understanding. “But when I can, you’ll be the first to know,” She laughed, causing him to grin.

“Well, I would hope so.” He rolled his eyes, pulling her closer to him gently, careful not to wake their sleeping son before pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "I'm not going anywhere, Mia, and I'm not going to force you into anything. So for the love of god, stop running and just tell me how you feel because it's going to take a whole lot more than not wanting another baby right now to scare me off."

[flameo-firelord-hotman]

Part 4

Pairing: Zuko x Fem!Reader

Genre: angst

Warnings: depression

Words: 2.2k

Summary: to everyone she knew, [y/n] was a peasant, destined to be a servant just like her parents. To Zuko, however, she was his best friend. After losing his agni kai and being exiled, [y/n] was devastated. She thought she would never see him again. Three years later, she almost wished he never came back.

A/N: here it is! I finally got it out after a busy few weeks :)

Part 3 <- Part 4 -> Part 5

Series | Masterlist

[Y/n] clutched at her chest. Her breathing suddenly became short and shallow. Her heart pounded relentlessly in her chest.

“W-what?” [Y/n] croaked. Her face contorted in confusion and shock.

“I know. It’s just horrible, isn’t it?” Azula lamented.

[Y/n] was speechless, but her mind rambled rampantly. What happened to him? How did he go missing? Was he taken? By who? Where would he be? She had so many questions, but it wasn’t her place ask any of them.

“But it’s strange,” Azula continued, putting a long, sharp fingernail to her chin, “the day Zuko disappeared, he wrote Mai a break up letter. It’s almost like he left on his own accord, like it was planned...”

But...why would he leave? [Y/n] was puzzled, and Azula, as perceptive as she always was, knew exactly what she was thinking.

“We called you here because we hoped you knew something that we didn’t. You are his best friend, of course. But, according to what you said, he didn’t give you any notice that he was leaving. What a pathetic way to treat his best friend,” she remarked.

“I’m so sorry, Princess Azula and Firelord Ozai. I really wish I could help.”

Azula turned her back to [y/n]. “Father, is there anything you’d like to say?”

Firelord Ozai silently shook his head. He never spoke a word, yet [y/n] felt terrified by the man, and the silent gesture sent shivers down her spine. Azula turned back around to face [y/n]. “You’re dismissed.”

On her way home, [y/n] did her best to hold herself together and remain calm. Some tears managed to escape. But once she got home, she collapsed. Streams of tears coated her face and neck. She choked on her sobs. She felt so many emotions, but, most of all, she was in utter disbelief.

Zuko was gone. Again.

This time he left on his own. But why? Was he really that unhappy? He had so many wonderful things: royalty, honor, prestige, riches and wealth, his lavish home--a royal palace--and a beautiful girlfriend among so many other things. Was it not enough?

Regardless of the reason, [y/n] felt just as devastated as she did three years ago. Only this time she blamed herself for being so upset. Not only did she push him away over something completely stupid, she also took their friendship for granted.

Zuko was [y/n]'s only real friend, and, despite being royalty, he was always so kind to her. She wanted to kick herself for not spending time with him that one day. She should've accepted the offer. She should've gotten over her dumb feelings.

Now, once again, [y/n] didn't know if she would ever see him again.

Days passed. Then, days turned to weeks. And weeks to months.

Like three years ago, it was hard to get out of bed, it was hard to eat anything, it was hard to focus on simple tasks. Some days, she felt sadness. Other days, it was anger. On rare occasions, she felt content, until grief would knock her down like a tidal wave.

[Y/n] kept the letter Zuko wrote to her under her pillow. It was the only thing she had left of him...a relic of a recent past, a brief reunion, that felt so long ago. At night, she would gingerly trace the paint brushed characters with her finger. And when she cried, she made sure her tears never touched the ink so that she could trace them again the next day.

Like three years ago, [y/n] faced reality and came to terms with what happened. Maybe her and Zuko were never meant to be. Or maybe the universe gave her what she wanted all those months ago: distance from the prince to kill her love for him.

Another evacuation of the city was ordered. This time, [y/n] had no idea why. She didn’t speak to her parents as often as she used too, and, with what happened recently, her mother was extra cautious about gossiping around her. [Y/n] didn’t expect anything crazy to happen anyway. They would leave, they would come back, and that would be it.

But when [y/n] and her parents marched through the streets back to their apartment, they saw something incredibly unusual. Messenger hawks were cawing and soaring all across the skies, and people in different colored clothing were bustling about all over the city. It was like they stumbled into a whole different world.

Groups of people wearing shades of green were earthbending to repair burned buildings. A few people in shades of blue were gently waterbending on people who appeared to be injured.

[Y/n] was amazed. She had only heard about other forms of bending; this was her first time seeing them with her own eyes. She had also never seen such beautiful garbs either. All of her life had been spent living in the Fire Nation, which was like living in a bubble. She genuinely had no idea what the rest of the world was like aside from what her parents had told her, which was not a lot.

[Y/n] was also confused. What’s going on? Why are they here? What happened? She wasn’t the only one who was puzzled. Her parents and all the other Fire Nation citizens looked just as confused as her. Particularly, the nobles seemed frustrated. Perhaps it was best not to question it.

As [y/n] and her parents quietly made their way to the apartment, they overheard lots of chatter...

“...Ozai imprisoned...” “...Sozin’s comet...” “...burn down Ba Sing Se...” “...Avatar Aang...” “...Azula should be next...” “...the last airbender...” “...just a group of kids...” “...this is treachery...”

And when they reached their home, they were met with a messenger hawk perched on their window. Her father removed the letter from the hawk’s leg. After a quick glance, he smiled widely and handed the letter to [y/n].

“It’s for you,” he told her cheerfully. [Y/n] raised an eyebrow and took it. She unrolled the parchment and, immediately, her eyes widened. She recognized the handwriting.

Dear [y/n], I hope you’re well. I’m so sorry for disappearing without saying anything. I can explain, in fact, I have so much I want to tell you! Before I do, I want to invite you to my coronation ceremony. Yes, you read that right! I’m going to be the next Firelord! If anyone should be at the ceremony, it should be you. I hope to see you there! Your friend, Zuko

[Y/n] stared at the letter, jaw slacked.

“[Y/n], sweetie, are you okay?” [Y/n]’s mother delicately placed a hand on her shoulder.

“I can’t believe it...” she shook her head at the letter. “Zuko is back, and he’s going to be Firelord!”

A long, scarlet red tunic draped over [y/n]’s body. The ends of the fabric trailed behind her through the air. Her shoes clacked on the marble flooring, sending echoes down the hallways of the palace. Her [h/c] hair was coiled into a bun and held together with a single, long, gold colored pin.

For the first time in a long time, [y/n] held her head high and stood straight when she walked. She did a complete 180. Her best friend had returned and she was more than excited to see him again. Today was Zuko's coronation ceremony, as well as a second chance to tell him how she really felt.

Sure, Mai and Zuko had a brief relationship when he first returned, and maybe that break up letter was just a way out. But what if it wasn't? And besides, [y/n] was tired of being sad and pathetic. She wanted to tell him. No, she needed to tell him, she had to get it off her chest, and she was not going to waste this opportunity.

The reception was held in the palace ballroom. It was a grand room, perfect for the size of the large crowd that appeared at the ceremony. Paper lanterns and drapes of all colors hung from the walls and ceiling, giving it a festive atmosphere. A small band played soft, up-beat music in the background. Some people danced, some mingled and others ate food that [y/n] could smell from the moment she walked in.

[Y/n] searched the sea of green and blue for red. It wouldn't be hard considering how few of her own people attended the coronation (so few, they stuck out like sore thumbs). Then, she spotted him, the new, young Firelord, speaking to a group of people that appeared to close in their age.

“[Y/n]!" Zuko called, waving his hand. "I’m so glad you could make it!”

“Of course, I made it. I would never miss your coronation,” [y/n] said, hugging Zuko before continuing more quietly, “especially after you disappeared again.”

“I know. I’m sorry, [y/n], I had to do it. But I should’ve told you. You of all people deserved to know,” he quietly responded in her ear.

Zuko tightened his embrace before pulling away and looking at [y/n] apologetically. She gave him a nod and small smile. [Y/n] didn't have the full context of what happened, but she knew her friend was sincere in his apology (though, that didn't diminish the pain she had felt).

“There are some people I want you to meet. These are my friends.”

Zuko gestured to the group of teens and kids he was just talking to. A Water Tribe boy and girl who were siblings, two Earth Kingdom girls—one with lots of makeup on and one who was blind—and, of course, the Avatar himself.

“It’s so nice to meet you all, especially you, Avatar Aang. It’s an absolute honor,” [y/n] said, bowing respectfully. Aang beamed and bowed in return.

“Soooo, Zuko, is this the girl you were talking about?” The Water Tribe boy, Sokka barely whispered, nudging Zuko with his elbow.

Zuko chuckled, “yeah, this is [y/n]. We've known each other for years. Now, if you'll excuse us,” Zuko spoke to his friends before turning to [y/n], “I believe we have some catching up to do.”

“Oh, yes we do!” [Y/n] said with glee.

Together they departed the group and walked out onto the balcony.

Outside, the sun was setting, radiating gold and orange hues, which merged into the deep blue sky up above. Only a few of the brightest stars in the sky sparkled. Down below, Caldera City glittered with lanterns, outlining the streets and houses of their people.

[Y/n] admired the view. It certainly wasn't often that she got to see the city like this. Then, Zuko began talking.

Three years was a long time, and this conversation proved it. It was long overdue. Neither of them realized how much time had passed, but, to them, it felt like they talked for hours outside.

Zuko explained everything as promised: the hundred year war, what banishment was like, what the outside world was like, how he really felt when he came home, when he realized that his father was an abusive, cruel leader and that his destiny was to help the Avatar, how he escaped, and all of the incredible adventures he had with his new friends, including the historic defeat of Azula and Ozai during Sozin’s comet.

[Y/n] was flabbergasted. “Wow...that’s...just...I-I don’t know what to say.”

“I know. It’s a lot to take in, isn’t it?” Zuko asked, leaning his forearms on the balcony railing.

“Yeah. I had no idea we were such a horrible country. We've been lied to and sheltered this whole time. It all makes sense now.” Zuko hummed in agreement.

“You’re so brave for leaving and going against your family. It must’ve been hard and really dangerous.”

“You have no idea.” Zuko looked into the distance and slowly shook his head. “But it all worked out, and I’m back—for good this time!”

"Well, you have no idea how glad I am about that!"

Zuko smiled and placed his hand on [y/n]'s shoulder, giving it a gentle rub.

"So, there's something I want to talk to you about," Zuko continued in a more serious tone. [Y/n]'s head perked up.

"Okay. I actually have something I want to tell you too, but you go first," [y/n] said. Her heart already began to race in anticipation.

"Well, I was thinking. You've been my best friend for a really long time…"

Suddenly, [y/n]'s palms sweated and her heart picked up the pace. She gulped.

"So, I was wondering if you'd like to—"

“Zuko! There you are.”

[Y/n] turned toward the doorway. She felt Zuko immediately retract his hand from her shoulder at the sight of a woman. A tall woman wearing a beautiful, wine colored, silk robe, whose dark hair was bunched up into two buns.

Mai.

“I’ve been looking all over for you.” Mai walked up to Zuko’s side and wrapped her arms around his bicep.

“Sorry, Mai. I was just catching up with [y/n],” Zuko replied.

“I see.” Mai turned to [y/n]. “It’s nice to see you again.”

“Yeah, um, it’s good to see you too.” [Y/n] couldn’t tell if Mai was being genuine or not. Likely, she wasn’t.

“Well, I hope you don’t mine me stealing Zuko from you. He promised to dance with me tonight,” Mai said, cupping his cheek. The two smiled at each other.

“Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten," Zuko said. "[Y/n], we’ll talk later, okay?”

“Yeah...”

And she watched the two walk away, arms linked.

[inkweaver22-blr]

Here’s another filler chapter! I like how it turned out so I hope ya’ll do too! Enjoy.

AO3 Link

<Previous | First | Next>

Scattered Cicadas - Chapter Twelve: Memory Proof

Tang learns a bit about the twins. Being in the same body as them might have something to do with that.

----------

Tang hid behind some debris in the ruined theater as he watched Macaque approach the shattered Shadow Lantern. He had been hoping to collect the pieces for himself to try and study the artifact’s ability to trap souls. The data he could potentially obtain from it would be priceless in trying to come up with a counter to his curse once he found it’s cause.

But just because they were intelligent, didn’t mean they had common sense. The amount of harebrained plots and ideas they had that blew up in their faces due to not thinking everything through was almost comical.

Abandoning his plan for now, Tang waited patiently for Macaque to leave so he could make his exit as well.

Suddenly the Mayor was there.

Tang tensed in his hiding spot as he watched the man taunt Macaque before surprising the monkey and grabbing him by the throat.

Tang’s pulse raced as he watched Macaque get captured with little effort.

Was this why they never saw Macaque again after these events? Did this happen in every cycle? Just how strong was the Mayor to be able to subdue the shadow demon so quickly?

He needed to get out of here.

Tang froze when he realized the Mayor had vanished without him noticing.

“Now what do we have here?”

Blinding white and blue pain flashed behind Tang’s eyes as he stumbled back. Gasping in panic he looked up to find the Mayor right in front of him, giving the scholar his trademark nonchalant smile.

“Can’t have you running off to spoil the end of the show for the others, now can we” the Mayor said as he held up the Shadow Lantern. “I do love a captive audience!”

Before Tang could react, the lantern was activated, and he knew no more.

----------

He was in the cave, thankfully. The voices called out in concern. The golden-yellow light wrapped around him.

----------

Tang awoke with a start, gasping in panic.

Damn that man!

He hadn’t been killed this time, but being a puppet for the Mayor until the cycle ended was just as unpleasant.

The more he learned about him, the more terrifying to Tang he became.

He would have to do his best to avoid him as much as possible from now on.

Once he got his breathing under control, Tang made his preparations for the day and began his remembering ritual.

It seemed this cycle was one where there were only a few changes. Everything seemed mostly the same except for two details.

The first was that Jin and Yin had been good friends with Mei for years, acting almost like older brothers for her.

The second was that this cycle had Fusion.

Tang groaned at this revelation.

There were many strange and weird magics and powers he had come across in the timelines, but Fusion was the most conflicting for Tang.

Fusion was a special ability where two or more beings would physically combine together into a new, more powerful being. The result was usually a much larger combination of the participants that mixed together their physical characteristics and often sported extra limbs and eyes. Whether the minds of the original beings remained separate or fused into a new personality as well as the permanence of the Fusion tended to be randomly determined like most things in these cycles.

The only constant was the need for absolute trust between all parties that fuse.

Fusion was an intimate process as you shared not just a body with someone else, but your mind as well. Thoughts and memories could not be hidden from a Fusion partner. It was an implicit sign of trust, and oftentimes love, to want to fuse with someone.

Forcing two unwilling beings to fuse was possible, but never went over well in Tang’s experience.

Tang didn’t dislike Fusion. It was an incredible experience the few times he had done so with either Pigsy or Wukong. He had never felt so close with anyone as he did when fused with them.

The problem was the curse.

Fusion required trust and the participants working in synchrony to function. His curse made it impossible for anyone except himself to know about it. When fused, his partners would become confused at the strange gaps in Tang’s mind they couldn’t perceive. The disorientation would destabilize the trust between them, causing them to fall out of sync, and result in the Fusion ending prematurely.

The questions he would receive were ones Tang couldn’t answer, and he was usually treated with suspicion and distrust for the remainder of those cycles. The same problem would occur if he refused to fuse at all, as that implied he didn’t trust anyone.

Luckily for Tang, he wasn’t in a romantic relationship with anyone this cycle and hadn’t fused with anyone yet. There was also a precedent this time for some people finding Fusion nauseating, so he could always fall back on that if pushed.

Hoping it wouldn’t even come to that, Tang left his apartment and made his way to work. He began to think of the second change as he walked.

Jin and Yin. The Gold and Silver Demon Brothers.

The two trouble makers loved to spread chaos wherever they went. Even during the rare occasions like now where they were allies. Schemes, pranks, and hijinks were to be expected whenever they were around.

The twins were smart. That was pretty much a given being the former lab assistants of Lao Tzu. Their talent in crafting magical items was impressive by mortal standards.

But just because they were intelligent, didn’t mean they had common sense. The amount of harebrained plots and ideas they had that blew up in their faces due to not thinking everything through was almost comical.

Tang had to admire their tenacity though. Their determination never faltered no matter how many failures they had. This was particularly handy when they were allies.

The twins’ self destructive tendencies usually got smoothed out whenever they befriended the group as well. Tang was genuinely surprised a few times by what they had managed to come up with when given a proper sounding board to help point out problems.

He may not consider Jin and Yin to be a part of his extended family, but Tang couldn’t help but have a soft spot for them. Perhaps, in time, he could include them. Maybe when their redemption became more common in the cycles.

But for now he was perfectly fine with just being their friend.

----------

The attack came without warning.

They had all been hanging out at Pigsy’s Noodles when multiple explosions went off across the city. Tang wasn’t sure what happened in all the confusion, but he was currently with Jin and Yin, the three of them separated from the others.

They had been trying to find everyone when the twins had suddenly pushed Tang away from them. There was a loud crashing sound and the air was filled with dust.

Coughing and waving away the dust, Tang stood and looked around. As the smoke began to clear, his heart dropped at what he saw.

“Jin! Yin!”

The twins were trapped under the rubble of a partially collapsed building. Jin’s entire left side was stuck under the debris while Yin was pinned from the waist down.

Neither demon had super strength and were completely helpless. They couldn’t even fuse to escape as they were just out of reach of each other and Fusion required contact.

Tang scrambled over the torn apart street and knelt next to the groaning brothers.

“G-go get help Tang,” Jin said, teeth clenched in pain. “We’ll be fine for now.”

“I am not leaving you two here,” Tang said, looking around for anyone to help, but the street was deserted.

“Come on, we’ll be right here when you come back,” Yin said with a strained smile. “I promise we won’t get up and leave.”

Before Tang could scold him for joking, there was another distant explosion followed by a rumbling sound. The three looked up in horror as the remainder of the building began to sway.

“Shit! Tang you need to leave now!” Jin pushed against the concrete trapping him, but made no progress.

Tang’s mind raced.

None of them were strong enough to push the rubble away. He had no time to go get help before the rest of the building fell. Jin and Yin couldn’t grab each other to fuse.

But he could.

Tang reached out and snatched up the hand of each twin.

“Fuse with me!”

“What?!”

“There’s no time! Fuse with me!”

Spurred on by the urgency of his voice, the twins closed their eyes and focused. Tang did the same and the world melted into gold, silver, and yellow light.

Fusing was always an indescribable experience. Tang felt warm as he felt his body stretch out and merge seamlessly with the twins’. He had no idea which physical traits would be picked from each of them, but their appearance was the least of his worries.

When they opened their eyes, they were standing several feet away from the pile of debris, just as the building began to topple.

“Shit! Go go go,” Jin said from their shared mouth.

They quickly dashed away from the area, their much taller stature allowing them to easily outpace the collapsing structure. Their new body didn’t feel strange in any way, and their combined movements came naturally.

‘Damn, I think my legs are broken,’ Yin said in their shared mind once they paused to take a breath. ‘We’ll have to keep this up until we get to a hospital and unfuse inside.’

‘Pretty sure some rebar had stabbed into my side so ditto on that,’ Jin added.

‘That might be a problem...’ Tang’s nervousness caused their stomach to twist.

‘What does that- Oh. Huh. That’s interesting.’ Jin explored the gaps he found in Tang’ mind with curiosity. ‘Hey Yin, take a look at this.’

‘Whoa. Trippy. Haven’t seen a memory-proof seal like this in a while.’ Yin poked at the spaces gingerly, not wishing to be caught completely in its effects.

‘Look at how big it is though,’ Jin said. ‘You are much older than I thought you were Tang.’

‘No, no, no. His body is definitely only 41 years old. So that means his mind is much older.’

‘Time travel?’

‘That usually has the person physically moving through time, so I doubt it.’

‘How are you two not disoriented by this,’ Tang said as they began to move towards the sounds of the explosions.

‘Should we be?’

‘Oh, yeah, I see what you mean,’ Jin said as he found the context for Tang’s confusion.

The demon didn’t vocalize it, but he projected how he found it interesting that he could get the knowledge on Tang’s past experiences with fusions without the full picture.

‘Oof. Forcefully unfusing and being treated as untrustworthy must suck,’ Yin said.

Tang was about to ask how they were being so unconcerned about this when the context came unbidden from their minds.

Lao Tzu had placed his own memory-proof seals on the twins to prevent them from revealing his secrets. They had to deal with it every time they fused.

Along with that knowledge came the feelings of the desperate need for approval and attention from their master, but never receiving it.

Always having their ideas dismissed. Being told their work was never good enough. Belittling their reliance on one another. Outright destroying their inventions at one point.

‘What an ass,’ Tang said vehemently.

He had worked too hard across the cycles to keep MK from drowning in his insecurities. It was insulting to him that someone he had once respected for their vast knowledge would ever treat anyone like that to make them feel this way.

‘I know, right?’

‘Why do you think we left,’ Jin said.

Tang sent over the context that, while he couldn’t tell them how, he had become an accomplished magician and artificer in his own right.

‘We’re going to make him regret ever dismissing you two,’ Tang vowed.

‘You… You want to take us on as students?’

Tang’s righteous protectiveness over how small Yin had sounded shocked the twins as they felt his warmth of comfort envelope them.

‘I would be honored to have you two as students. There is no way I’d ever let my family feel like they are unwanted.’

‘Family?’

Tang let the context for that free as well as the love he felt for his family, which now included his two new students.

They had to stop walking for a moment as Jin’s and Yin’s emotions caused them to start crying. Tang made sure to keep watch from his set of eyes while they were indisposed.

The joy and appreciation they sent his way in silent thanks was returned with his own.

‘Let’s get you two to a hospital.’ They continued to move once they had composed themselves. ‘I would never forgive myself if I let my favorite students perish from a simple collapsing building.’

‘Aren’t we your only students?’

‘Oi! And what do you mean by a “simple collapsing building''? Are you saying there are other ways you’d let us perish?!’

The master and his students bickered playfully back and forth as they looked around for a hospital that had been undamaged in the attack.

Tang may not have been expecting to add the twins to his family this soon, but he knew he wouldn’t regret it. How he felt for them would live on even past the memory erasing effects of the curse.

Jin and Yin returned the sentiment a hundredfold.

----------

And thus Tang’s family grows in numbers once more! He’s almost completed the whole set by now.

Fusions are an interesting concept and there are plenty of great designs for different combinations out there. While none of them show up in this chapter, I’d like to give a shout out to @winterpower98, @smallpwbbles, @sketchquill, and @ninja-knox-ur-sox-off for their amazing fusion designs! Go check them out!

Don't worry about that bit with the mayor. It's fine.

Next chapter will be another filler! Until then!

[nitewrighter]

Can you tell a short Halloween story with wee Rei and gency?

5-year-old Rei was sitting cross-legged on the floor of the living room, a bit closer to the holoscreen than Mercy would have liked, still in her ‘Hero of My Storm’ D.Va costume and frequently shoving the sleeves of one of Mercy’s labcoats up her arm to dig around her pumpkin-shaped bucket of candy. Mercy and Genji had changed out of their own costumes and were curled up together on the couch behind her. While most of the year, the locals on Gibraltar gave anyone from the watchpoint a wide berth, trick-or-treating turned out to be one of the few exceptions, at least with regards to the children. It had been Mercy and Genji’s turn to chaperone this year and while Mercy was glad to get out of the infirmary office for a night, the kids had proven tireless in their pursuit of candy and had exhausted her and Genji nearly as much as any full-on Overwatch mission.

“We now return to the Midori Rider Halloween Special: FrankenRider!” said the announcer on the holoscreen, and the image cut back to the titular green sentai hero (now donning bolts in his neck and stitch decals over his armor) striking dramatic poses before fighting a giant pumpkin monster. 

“Shouldn’t it be FrankenRider’s monster?” said Mercy, her voice low so as not to distract Rei from the show, and Genji snorted slightly.

“Angela, you said it’s important to get Rei familiar with the classics,” Genji said as Midori Rider dealt a flying side kick to the pumpkin monster on the holoscreen.

“Yes, Mary Shelley would be very proud of this,” said Mercy as Midori Rider struck another dramatic pose with two explosion effects going off on either side of him.  The plot of the show, of course, verged on the incomprehensible, but Rei was absolutely riveted throughout the whole thing.

“Now you understand why you shouldn’t accept unwrapped candy, kids!” said Midori Rider, looking in the camera and now directly addressing the audience.

“Because of pumpkin monsters,” said Rei, talking to the holoscreen and nodding.

“I’m pretty sure the candy tampering thing’s been debunked,” murmured Mercy.

“You still threw out that apple,” said Genji.

“Well, who gives apples to Trick-or-Treaters?” said Mercy. 

The lights suddenly flickered overhead and the image on the holoscreen distorted. Rei perked up and looked around. “Ghosts?” she said, looking back at Genji and Mercy. Genji���s comm buzzed and he pulled it from his sweatpants. A text message had appeared.

Merging Athena’s software with some of Sombra’s newest encryption tech. There may be power fluxes on the watchpoint for the next three hours while the system updates.

-W.

Excellent timing as always, Winston, thought Genji.

“Not ghosts,” said Genji, smiling at Rei, “Just Watchpoint grownup business.”

“Hmph,” Rei turned back to the screen.

“You’re disappointed there aren’t ghosts?” said Genji, smiling.

“There should be ghosts ‘cuz it’s Halloween,” said Rei, unwrapping another piece of candy.

“Last one for the night,” said Mercy.

“But Mooooom,” Rei whined.

“You won’t be able to sleep with too much sugar,” said Mercy.

“Coming up next, the Pachimari Halloween Special!” The announcer on the holoscreen announced.

Rei swiveled her head around at them, “Can I watch it?”

“It’s already a bit late, Sunneschii...” Mercy started warily. Rei gave her a puppy-eyed look, crinkling up those thick Shimada brows. Mercy huffed, “But given all the candy you’ve eaten already... I suppose you’ll probably be up that much later anyway.”

Rei’s eyes lit up as she turned around for a spooky version of Pachimari’s squeaking theme song, and Mercy leaned her head on Genji’s shoulder. “Pachimari always knocks me out,” she murmured, low enough for Rei not to hear.

“Oh I know,” said Genji, smiling at her.

“Wake me up if I start drooling on you,” said Mercy as Pachimari bounced onto the screen.

“Mm-hmm,” said Genji, leaning back into the couch. It only took about 10 minutes of Pachimaris in witch, mummy, and black cat costumes, bouncing and squeaking rhythmically around a cauldron to make Mercy close her eyes, and Genji casually scrolled through newsfeeds on his comm as she dozed on his shoulder, but then the lights flickered and the screen distorted again.

“Ghosts!” Rei said again.

“It’s fine, it’s not--” Genji started but then the lights went out and the holoscreen blipped out of existence. Rei screamed and Mercy flinched awake hard.

“What is it?! What--!?” she said but both her and Genji’s comms buzzed. She fished her comm out of her pocket.

My bad. Recalibrating. Watchpoint security systems still online. I’ll have residential power back up in a little bit.

-W.

The lights turned back on briefly before shorting out again. Rei at least didn’t scream this time. Their comms buzzed again.

Okay, by ‘little bit’ I mean.. at least an hour.

-W.

“Winston...” Mercy sighed, rubbing her forehead.

“Winston’s the ghost?!” said Rei.

“There aren’t ghosts, Sunneschii,” said Mercy, standing up, using her comm as a flashlight, and getting a small emergency lantern from their watchpoint evac kit. She turned it on and set it on the coffee table before taking her seat back on the couch, “But it looks like we’ll be in the dark for a while.”

“Aw,” Rei pouted, before glancing back at the projectors for their holoscreen, “We’re gonna miss Pachimari...”

“Well, you’ll be able to watch it tomorrow, probably,” said Mercy.

“But tonight is Halloween! We need to watch Halloween stuff tonight! That’s how it works!” said Rei.

“We could tell scary stories,” Genji suggested, and Mercy gave him a wary, You realize if you scare her she’ll be in our bed all night, look, and Genji just gave her a lopsided grin.

“Reinhardt tells the same story every year,” said Rei, mindlessly shaking her pumpkin bucket.

“...I could tell you a story your grandpa used to tell me,” said Genji, with a glance at Mercy, “Nothing too scary, either.”

Rei’s eyes lit up and she sprang to her feet.

“Grandpa story!” she said, hurrying over to the couch, scrambling up on the cushions, and wriggling between Genji and Mercy.

Genji snickered a little. “All right,” he said, tucking Rei’s hair back in the light of the lantern, “Have you ever heard of a Tengu?”

[jossujb]

Cos I complain a lot in this blog about Big Finish cover art despite me loving Big Finish products, let me give my opinion on all Jago & Litefoot covers.

S1 basic, you can see the clash of poor quality rip of Jago & Litefoot’s appearances from The Talons of Weng-Chiang and the ridiculously crisp pictures of Dr. Tulp and digitally created werewolf and stuff, but it is not ugly, and it communicates the inside content rather well.

S2 The same problems as above, especially the poor quality picture chosen for Litefoot drives me nuts in how ugly it is. Gabriel Sanders looks cool, tho I never imagined him looking like that based on audio.

S3 Just about the best of the early season, basically the best quality photos for Jago & Litefoot they ever had in their disposal, and that particular picture of Jago is for that exact reason reused multiple times. This one also has a thought put into composition and visual interest.

S4 I love the Kempson & Hardwick part of, just these black and white eery images, but the portraits or J&L, Leela and the Doctor are ugly as sin and I wanna rip my eyes out.

Voyage to Venus: Beautiful. This one I would buy as a poster. Sure it looks a collage of images glued together, but it fits the sort of whimsical Jules Verse - style of the story. This will clearly influence the latter half of the covers, but none of the others Make the sort of awkwardness of digital composition work for it.

Voyage to the New World: Ugly as sin. I would make a better one eyes closed.

S5 The worst quality of Jago & Litefoot portrait pictures so far, you can almost count the pixels with your own eyes xDDD Still, my favorite of the early cover by a long mile by just the trippyness of it and how lovingly their profiles combine into this psychedelic circle.

S6 Last of the old style of covers. Tries to be S3 but isn’t.

S7 First of the new, higher quality covers that have clearly gone through more substansial level of graphic design. Litefoot has been photoshopped with Homburg hat and Jago with a bowler, and that’s just  adorable and fitting their social status.

S8 My favorite of the new cover style. Quite frankly, they never came close to merging the poor references and digital mashes so well. The Scorchies are just delightfully cursed and the fire of the New Regency theatre ring lighting their heads, ah <3 I love it, I am actually making a big Jago wall decoration based out this one in particular.

S9 I really loved this one when I first saw it, but it has kinda annoyed me since... I don’t think the elements are particularly well blended together, and it kinda looks like random pictures overlayed with each other. First time Jago is pushed forwards in the composition tho, which is interesting trope that comes around - maybe as a reflection of his internal belief that he’s a protector of Litefoot haha.

S10 Same problems as above, but where as S9 was still pleasing enough to look at, this just makes me angry. And Summerton looks nothing like like I imagined either xD

S11 Second time Jago is pushed forwards. The Master looks good, so does the 6th Doctor in flamboyant but still period accurate clothing, but it’s still kinda awkward in composition.

S12 I hate it. I hate it so much. Everyone looks like a papercut out - which granted, I am willing to forgive with Litefoot, as it is the fake!Scarlet Gallery!Litefoot, but jesus no.

S13 This one I hate the most. I’ve ranted on my blog about this one in particular so many times it’s not even funny. Why is Litefoot inside a hexagon of shame? Why is Dr. Betterman there, but he’s not accompanied my Mr. Aubrey? The LOW POLY RATS. The awkward way Xiu Xiu looks straight at the camera when Jago doesn’t I hate it. I hate it so much.

Jago & Litefoot Forever: Basically just S1 redux, with same faults and benefits. Kinda fitting for something that was fairly designed as series finale.

Jago & Litefoot Revival: Cute, I love the gimmick of you having the room to choose if you want Tenth or Eleventh Doctor on the cover. Nothing much fancier than that, it’s a short trip after all.

S14 Funny thing, I had exactly the opposite reaction to this one than S9, that I really made a gnarly expression when I saw it the first time. Reusing the the same old picture of Jago they used so many times and coupling it with a picture of Litefoot, that I get feeling was some unrelated to DW picture of Trevor Baxter edited to suit the cover made me cringe. Plus the lantern is is held very awkwardly, like it has no wight at all. But somehow it’s become my second favorite of the new covers and like, maybe fourth in overall ranking. You can’t really go wrong wit blue-orange color scheme, plus all the element in it are coherent and relevant.

My top five is rather obvious, from bottom up S7, S5, S14, S8, Voyage to Venus. 

The worst of the worst are Voyage to the New World and S13, especially S13 I seriously wish they would just do a new one.

[thecanadianowl]

Justice league Snydercut review

Wow talk about a long movie. Remember Mass Effect's 3 shit endings that were later improved (sorta) with DLCs. Well that is kinda how this movie is.

Before we start this, I just wanna say that I was very impartial throughout the whole snydercut movement. I wasn't part of it but I do see the good that they did in regards to some of their charities and with how the fandom itself has been painted in a negative light. So its good that they got what they have been demanding for quite some time. Snyder as director for me, I really am not the biggest fan of. His movies have some great cinematic moments that look amazing but the context around it is what muddles it for me.

Is it better than Whedon's JL? YES. To start I'll look at some of the things that I do like.

I do like how it was split into parts.  Gives it that miniseries/Comic book feel

Thank god they removed that stupid cringy flash landing on top of Diana's chest scene.

Darkseid looks good. I know some people have issues with it but I liked it. I mean looking at it first glance has me convinced its Darkseid. His voice isn't too bad either. Reminds me a bit of Injustice 2.

As much as I have issues with Darkseid being introduced so early I do like that he had a brief confrontation/glaredown with the League, foreshadowing a possible in person encounter and that the League needs to expand if they are going to fight against Darkseid.  

Steppenwolf's design has greatly improved and looks better than before.

Loved the scenes between Alfred and Diana.  Wish there was more of that.

I loved how the movie added Cyborg, Aquaman and Flash attempting to stop Superman from getting to Batman. I also liked how in this version,  Batman pleading to Clark's humanity telling him that world needs him and he needs to snap out of it.  Also bonus for taking out that scene of Batman on the ground groaning about how old he is getting.

Okay seeing Clark get the black suit and having the voiceovers of both his father's merge together works in terms of Clark's arc into becoming the person he was meant to be. Also like the use of Zimmerman's Ideal of Hope score wished they let it play out a little longer.  Probably my favourite moment in the film is where Superman just takes Steppenwolf's Axe like its nothing and freezes it.

Now to go into some of the more critical stuff that bugged me when watching.

For a movie that is 4 hours long, pacing issues were bound to happen. I think the first example of this can be found in the opening with the Superman scream wave (which started to get a bit hilarious when his screams could be heard every now and then) hitting all three mother boxes. they are shown individually reacting to it and it takes time, where it could have just showed them together or an compilation of each of the motherboxes waking up. I know it Snyder's thing but tone down on the slow mo. Like some instances its fine (like with bullet time or Flash's scenes) but other instances I'm just like alright I get it.

The scene involving Cyborg transferring money into that single mother's bank account. Is he gonna do this for all the people suffering just like her? or just for that one person? I mean if you can hack into the world monetary system, you can solve a lot of financial issues affecting  the majoirty and not just one person. Did I miss the scene but why did Cyborg go from helping one poor person, suggesting the potential good he can do to change the world for the better  to "Fuck the world". Seems a bit inconsistent in character. Especially since he knows who Diana is (from what he says)  and that Parademons are after the motherbox. Maybe her offering help, you should take it? idk Vic. Also the whole Auto defense system malfunction, would it not be better if this was established beforehand where we see Vic struggling to maintain his body's autonomy leading up to the Superman confrontation? Prior to that it seemed he had it under control and his biggest conflict throughout the movie seemed more to be with him coming to terms with his new body. With that being said, Cyborg's character here is much more interesting and better than it was originally. I can see why Ray Fisher is so pissed (well that and the abuse he faced).  I am glad this was improved and gave the character a lot more to do.

The movie still has the same issue as before in regards to the whole motherbox plot and how convenient it was that all three are located on earth. You would think that with the involvement of Darkseid/Steppenwolf that separating them to distinct locations across space would make it more difficult to collect them. I mean we know that the Green Lanterns exist (we saw one get chomped), you'd think that they or the guardians would take one and secure it on Oa. The pushback to this would be "well there was only one green lantern and he died, so how could they retrieve the box?" which begs my question, why send only one? I mean it has been established that Darkseid is a known conqueror of worlds, you'd think the Guardians would be smart enough to send more than one Lantern to aid Earth in their fight.  Did they not think it would be a good idea to have the corps be more involved/keep an eye on earth since it is the only planet that was able to repel Darkseid's forces?

Why is it that the best idea of security when it comes to humans is to bury it? Would it not be better in optics to look over it and know its location instead of dropping it somewhere on the off chance that someone might find it due to being  curious or the land changing/altering  making the box more easy to attain? A situation as dire/serious as this, you would think that the Amazons/Atlanteans would have been better prepped with armor/weapons for such an event. I mean you have the arrow of Artemis that shoots quite a distance to give Diana a message but not some kind of weapon that hurts/cripples Steppenwolf? Or better yet, how about the moment that the boxes started acting up after Superman's death, that Atlantis/Themiscarya would put aside any differences they had with one another and to the outside world to come together to secure the boxes?  How could Darkseid forget the name of the only planet that was able to force him to retreat? nor does he know that it harbors the anti life?

Did this movie break Aquaman's continuity? because from the dialogue between Mera and Arthur, its implied that Atlanna abandoned/left Arthur at Tom's doorsteps whereas in the movie,  we see Atlanna spend a couple of years with Tom and raising baby Arthur before she was forced to come back. You'd think Zack being a producer for the Aquaman  movie would have edited that line or made it more clear. Well that or James Wan F'ed up when making the movie.

"I've never seen a being as strong as Steppenwolf" Did Diana just forget Ares aka the god of war who killed the Greek Pantheon/Old gods and orchestrated the first World War? Hell from the looks of the flashback it seemed Ares (I'm assuming its Ares, if its Hades, my bad) was getting some good hits in on Darkseid, who is superior to Steppenwolf.  While we are on the topic of Diana, it's a bit odd that Snyder who  was a producer on WW84 where one of the biggest focuses on the movie that Patty Jenkins talked about was how Diana doesn't solve her problems with violence (even though her primary weapons in this movie are a sword and shield but okay. Then again New 52 hasn't done a good job in disproving that), yet in this movie we see her using her gauntlet smash to fucking kill the one remaining terorrist. Like sure you can argue that they were terrorists and deserve to die, but given how easy and quick it was for her to take out the previous guys, why do something that runs the risks of destroying the very building that you are in (with hostages). I mean from the look of the blast and how much debris fell from the building outside, and it was a miracle no one (but the terrorist) got hurt/killed.

Why did Steppenwolf  kidnap  them in the first place? Just use that mind extracting device you used on the Atlantean soldier to see if they know. Seems like a waste of time to collect them in one location only to interrogate them later.

Okay, I'm sorry but even in this cut I still don't like Miller's Barry Allen. He isn't as bad as he was in the theatrical cut but man does it stick out. When he is helping to escort the kidnapped civilians out, why doesn't he just grab them and transfer them to a safe distance? He even makes a comment about how slow they are going. Can I also just say how weird it is for Barry to take time saving Iris to caress her hair and look at her more creepily in slow mo? Like yeah its in slow mo but still I think your priority should be to get everyone to safety as quick as possible and check if anyone else could get hurt.  I will admit that Barry's speech as he is running so fast to reverse time at the end was really good. Tho the more I think about all the slow mo Flash scenes are good.

They still kept the "Let's use the mother box to bring back Superman plot". Why? This is a piece of tech that you don't fully understand how it works and you are going on the whims of someone you just met. Especially if they come back as a different person/mindset all together.  If Superman 's death was the reason that allowed for the Mother box to call to Steppenwolf/Darkseid, what the hell were they doing prior to Superman's arrival on earth? I mean we've seen how easy it was for Steppenwolf to attain the two boxes even if they were guarded, so why the wait ?. I get that Batman is going through an arc and trying to change from the person he was but how does go from "1% chance of absolute certainty" to "let's go on a whim and have faith" when it comes to resurrecting Superman? 

Its gonna be awkward as to how Clark will explain his sudden return from the grave around the same time Superman came back.

I was wondering when the Knightmare scene will play out. Jared leto's Joker isn't over with me, it seems way too try-hard to be edgy. Other than that yeah, not much I can say about it. Tho do we seriously need another iteration where Superman (or someone with Superman like powers) is evil?

I also love how nonchalant Bruce is about J'onn appearing in front him. However the revelation that J'onn was that army general all the time breaks so much of continuity (and just why now did you decide to show up and help and not idk the time Zod invaded and nearly  terraformed earth, HELL WHY TF DIDN'T SHOW UP TO HELP THE LEAGUE IF YOU KNEW ABOUT DARKSEID, I'M SORRY TO RAG ON BUT REALLY THIS CAMEO JUST OPENS UP SO MANY QUESTIONS, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE AN "PALPATINE WAS BEHIND THIS ALL ALONG" KIND OF THING ).

In terms of getting a sequel, I am not sure if WB is going to go through with it given that their current vision seems to be a different route than the one Snyder intended so who knows. Despite my criticisms I do believe this is Snyder's best DCEU film to date and probably one of his better films. You could tell that he put in a lot to make this. The movie itself does have issues mostly due to the plot surrounding the motherbox as well as pacing. I would say it's worth the watch at least once, though I think its best to watch it in doses rather than one sitting. Ultimately this is the version that we should have gotten and I can see why so many people who were supportive of Zack wanted or vouched for him to finish it. Regardless, I think the very least I am happy for Snyder. If you like Snyder's previous stuff, you will like this one, if you don't, your perception of the film won't change significantly other than some cool bits here and there.  

[adhd-wifi]

MDZS Modern AU Fic Tips (Festivals)

So I asked a while back if anyone was interested in some fic tips for writing Chinese modern AUs, and y’all seemed enthusiastic. But…when I tried putting it all in a single post it got…really…really long…

So I split them into a bunch of posts (Yes I copy-pasted this intro on all of them because I’m lazy)! Here are the links:

Names & Stuff

Modern Chinese Cultural Stuff

Superstitions & Beliefs 

Festivals (You are here)

Living in China

Anyways, these are based on my experiences living in Singapore and China, and I hope these posts are helpful. On to it.

Content Warning: Magpie Bashing

Festivals (Warning: LONG. Good Luck.)

Note: I do not have personal experience with all of these. For those I have celebrated, I’ll indicate with a (*). Also I’ll only be talking about how we celebrate them (typically), because diving into the history and meanings of it all would take like 8 years (not literally but you know). Fee free to look them up, and ask your nearest Chinese human for any extra details. If they know it. You might want to look up what the lunar calendar is too. It’s basically the moon cycle calendar, but I am too bad at memorizing how it works so I just google the dates every single year. 

Also, I’m restricting this post to ONLY Chinese & Singaporean versions of celebrations. Many other regional ethnic groups celebrate the same or similar festivals, but I don’t know enough about their versions of the festivities. Another thing is that my family is from Dalian & Harbin in the NorthEast, so there is more Northern bias in my post so I might have some info that is inaccurate to festivities in the South. I did try to search for some South-specific traditions, since Yunmeng/Hubei is in South China, but I’m not entirely sure how accurate those details are.

Chinese New Year (*) - Late Jan to Early Feb (15 days after CNY day)

Before CNY, often on the eve of the actual date, we decorate our homes with red (don’t you dare skip out on decking your home with RED) decorations such as lanterns, red and orange flowers, those vertical paper banners with auspicious calligraphy on them (what are they called in English???) and whatever these things are

As kids, my sister and I would make those loop paper chains out of red and yellow paper a lot. We never knew what to do with them when the festivities were over

Spring cleaning is extremely important, we usually do it (extensively) from about a month before the festivities (and get yelled at a lot by our Chinese mothers & grandmothers especially) up to CNY Eve

Please don’t do any cleaning, particularly sweeping or throwing the trash out, on the day itself. You’re throwing the new year luck away. 

Other preparations include: buying new clothes, often with at least one red thing, visiting friends during the month prior so you don’t have to do so on the day itself and giving them little gifts and red packets, & burning new year offerings for ancestors

You will probably see lion dances on the streets and during new year parades a lot, sometimes accompanied by dragon dances, though the former is much more common. They also tend to give private performances at a discount during the CNY period, though lion dances aren’t restricted to only perform on CNY and in fact perform for special events in general, not just cultural festivities

On the night of CNY Eve, we have reunion dinners, in which we gather our entire extended family (when possible) and have a really loud, really energetic dinner party while watching the CNY Spring Gala on TV together. Or just eating if we don’t have access to a TV.

Include fish on the menu. At least one major fish main dish, not a side dish. It’s from a lucky saying: 年年有余 - nián nián yǒu yú, meaning something along the lines of “To have more prosperity this year”. The Chinese word for fish (鱼 - yú) sounds the same as 余, therefore we have fish every year. Yes it’s a pun, as many Chinese superstitions and beliefs are

Other menu items you could include: homemade dumplings (a FUCKton of them), uncut noodles, chicken or duck, pork, Chinese radish/carrot cake (side note: why the FUCK do Western articles ALWAYS translate this to “turnip cake” it’s made out of fucking RADISH or CARROT I swear to HELL), Chinese yam cakes, good alcohol and traditional sweets like tang yuan (this is basically the original version of mochi, filled with black or normal sesame filling and served in a clear, sweet soup)

There’s also one Cantonese dish known as (撈起 - Lo Hei) which is basically a salad of shredded carrot, radish, cucumber with strips of sashimi-style fish strips like salmon. You serve it to the table, pour crushed peanuts, fried dough crisps, and sweet sauce all over it, and your entire table reaches in with chopsticks and mixes everything together. It’s more common in Singapore and Malaysia than it actually is in Hong Kong and China, but I’ve had it in China before in the springtime. I fucking hate it. 

By the way, a fun game to play is the coin dumpling game. Basically, when you make the dumplings, put clean coins into some of them, and whoever eats the dumpling with the coins inside are considered super lucky for the year. I wasn’t ever allowed to make them though, my 20 years of dumpling-folding have failed me I still suck at it so everyone knows which ones are mine.

Usually, relatives living overseas would go to China for the New Year if they can, and they would take turns hosting the dinner each year. You would traditionally only have a reunion dinner in a family home, mostly because everything outside is closed

During the celebrations, lighting firecrackers and sparklers is part of the fun. Keep a close eye on the kids. 

Wearing traditional clothing isn’t necessary, but encouraged

At midnight, the younger, unmarried family members will present their married elders with gifts (usually two oranges per person or a small handmade craft) while wishing them well for the year, and in turn the elders will return the wishes and gift the youngsters red packets with money. 

The celebration period lasts for 15 days, but people typically go back to work a day or two after the actual CNY date

Personal note: I have only actually celebrated CNY once in China, back when I was tiny, so most of this is based on Singaporean experiences, what I know my in-China relatives, who live in Dalian, do, and what I’ve double checked online. But CNY is huge in China and many places celebrate it differently, so don’t get too worried about following this to the dot.

The Lantern Festival - Early to Mid Feb

In Singapore it’s actually illegal to celebrate the Lantern Festival traditionally on a large scale because of the potential fire hazards & pollution, so it’s somewhat merged with the Mid-Autumn festival here and thus I don’t know as much about this one in a “proper” Chinese context (I had to go to school in Singapore this time of year)

But anyways

The Lantern Festival comes immediately after CNY, on the 15th day of the first lunar month. It’s seen as a day of freedom for all, so everyone takes to the streets, lighting up the night with candles and lanterns

Lantern-walks are common, in which everyone holds a lantern - there are many kinds to choose from - and just walk up and down the streets together

These lantern-walks often take place alongside the official festival parades 

The dragon dances mentioned earlier are more likely to appear during the lantern festival than CNY, and the lion dances of course come as well

It gets crowded a lot. Hold onto your kids. 

Lantern riddles are fun games, in which they string up lanterns with papers hanging from them. Upon these papers are the riddles, and if you got them right you could win prizes. Or at least bragging rights amongst your family and friend groups

If you’re in a river town, you’ll likely have a chance to see water lanterns, which are also common during the Mid-Autumn Festival. They’re paper lanterns, sometimes made in lotus form, carrying wishes of prosperity. This can come in two forms, an official river lantern parade where they make HUGE lanterns for show, or smaller lanterns that just flow along. Sounds perfect for a Yunmeng Jiang family celebration, don’t you think?

Another one is the sky lanterns, which CQL watchers will recognize. People will gather together, usually on a hill, and release lanterns into the skies. Some will make them themselves, but most people will just buy pre-made ones. Like in CQL, you make a wish upon these lanterns, then sit down and eat tang yuan together.

They apparently eat a lot of tang yuan on this festival

A lot of romantic meet-ups happen on this festival (and the Mid-Autumn Festival) (y’all know what to do with this information)

This is considered the last chance of family time following on from CNY before you all return to your normal lives

The QingMing Festival (*) - Early Apr

AKA the Tomb-Sweeping Festival

To put it very basically, this is when we go to our deceased loved one’s graves and clean said graves 

We go to the cemetery in the early morning, wipe down the gravestones, clear them of debris like leaves and such, then we make offerings of food. A lot of the times, we would basically lay out a feast before the grave(s), lighting incense and also decorating the graves with flowers and such

Please do not ever eat anything in those offerings. It’s not for the living. Therefore, please feel free to stab your chopsticks upright into that bowl of rice.

You can burn offerings like paper too, usually in a burning urn (??? is it an urn?), but in my experience we weren’t allowed to do that at my grandma’s grave since it was a crowded cemetery so I don’t know how it works exactly

In my personal experiences, we usually stayed in the cemetery for about an hour, praying to the deceased and sort of chatting with them, hoping they’re doing well in the afterlife and updating them on our lives

After that’s done, we go have a picnic somewhere down the mountain and fly kites while getting bullied by asshole magpies

They keep stealing my food because apparently even they know you shouldn’t eat the food left out for the dead

One stole my necklace once ;-;

Anyways the food offerings left out are typically cleared the next morning (latest) by us or you pay the cemetery caretakers to dispose of it, but the latter is looked down upon for good reason

It’s really just best to clean it up yourselves when you can. For everyone’s sake.

The Dragon Boat Festival (*) - Late Jun to Early Jul

You could probably make a sports anime about this festival, because the main even at the Dragon Boat Festival is the dragon boat racing (shocking)

Okay all joking aside, during this festival, which is a summer event, dragon boat racers compete with one another in long, narrow wooden canoes with a Chinese dragon head carved out in the front and painted scales on the side, often really brightly coloured

They row to the beat of loud drums, with a drummer sitting at the head of each boat, facing their boat’s rowers, beating the drum as their team rows

People watching the races can do so from the shore, where they’ll be eating glutinous rice with meat/nuts/beans wrapped in large, woven bamboo leaves into a triangle shape, called 粽子 - zòng zi.  (The Malaysians & Indonesians have this too, but they use banana leaves instead)

In some places, you have viewers in viewing boats too, with the race course marked off with buoys. I fell into the water once from one of these. Luckily they make you all wear life-vests. 

Also a limited occurrence but rarer, some places will have sort of official “cheerleading” boats, in which a bunch of colourfully dressed people will shout and cheer for the racers as a whole, often waving flags the same colours as their clothes. They’re often standing, but in the same kind of dragon boats. You have to be affiliated with the local dragon boat community / heritage board to be allowed to be one of these “cheerleaders” though

When the official races aren’t happening though, visitors are often taken around the river. You can technically do this at any time, but the Chinese believe that the time of the Dragon Boat Festival is the best time for traversing the great rivers

Other things people do during this festival include drinking realgar wine, making perfume packets for children, and hanging mosquito-repellent herbs on doors and windows, but I’ve never seen this in practice and couldn’t find much else on these

To be honest, this particular festival is seen as a thing of lingering cultural heritage or just something of a traditional ceremonial practice, but is overall kinda dying as a full-fledged festival, with only the racing surviving the passage of time (In fact, this has become more of a leisure event than a festival in Singapore in recent years)

The QiXi Festival - Mid to Late Aug???

Not gonna lie I didn’t know this one existed until I looked it up

I knew the legend surrounding it (The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl - Please look it up it’s a beautiful story even though it’s not realistic because the magpies aren’t assholes) but didn’t know it was an actual holiday at all

Basically it’s kind of the Chinese version of Valentine’s Day, but it takes place in like August

Traditionally, girls took this time to show off their skills in the “feminine arts” such as weaving, sewing, fruit carving (???), tea-making (?????) and poetry (?????????). I’m confused.

They also ate special pastries and children gave flower garlands to the sacred ox statues

Apparently it’s mostly only celebrated in more traditional/rural areas now because most modern Chinese people just celebrate the Western Valentine’s Day

The legend gets to stay though

The Hungry Ghost Festival (*) - Late Jul to Early Aug (Start) / Late Aug to Early Sept (End)

This one is not a festive festival at all. You shouldn’t be enjoying this festival as a living person. But this is probably the best festival for any fics set in the modern world revolving around dead spirits being active out of everything on this list

This festival lasts the entire 7th month of the lunar calendar, so the Chinese will literally just call it the “Seventh Month (七月 - qī yuè)” or the “Ghost Month (鬼月 - guǐ yuè)” 

I’ve never even heard anyone refer to it by its full name in Chinese, which is apparently 中元节 - zhōng yuán jié or 盂兰盆节 - yú lán pén jié according to Wikipedia

Basically, the Gates of Hell the Afterlife have opened for the month to get the spirits of the deceased ease their suffering for a bit. So, the festival is actually NOT celebrated by the living, instead, it’s “celebrated” by the ghosts of the deceased

Living human practices during this festival include making various food offerings (the main point of the festival) for the spirits, usually much more seriously and/or extravagantly than typical offerings, burning offerings such as paper money, paper houses, paper cars, etc in large quantities because this is the best time for the spirits to receive them, putting on special “performances for the dead” in which performers will dance and sing to a room of empty chairs, and having special family prayer sessions in which we “speak” to the deceased directly (Luckily, they don’t usually answer us)

Nowadays, only the first two of those practices are really still practiced as seriously as they used to be, for individual families at least

Again, if you see food being left out on the side of the street, especially if there’s incense or something next to it, please don’t eat it or even touch it. Don’t be the ignorant guy in a horror movie

People who can see/hear/sense spirits and environmentalists hate this festival, because ghosts can be terrifying even when harmless, and all the burning contributes to climate change

I happen to be both of those. I am also sensitive to smoke. So...

Ironically I don’t actually hate this festival THAT much but...

Personal note: I’ve never been to China during the seventh month, and because they make it a point to not really talk about it, I only know the Singaporean experiences. Telling ghost stories is both encouraged and shunned during this month here. Malaysian-Chinese ghost stories are fucking horrifying. Give me more.

Mid-Autumn Festival (*) - Late Sept to Early Oct

My personal favourite festival on this list. I don’t like crowded places, but I make exceptions for this one when I can. I would call this the most fun and enjoyable festival out of all of them. 

When speaking Chinese, most of the time we’d just shorten it to 秋节 - qiū jié from the full name of 中秋节 - zhōng qiū jié 

When speaking English (in Singapore, but you can use these in English fics and people tend to understand it fine), we also call it the Mooncake Festival, the Autumn Moon Festival, or the Harvest Moon Festival (this one is quite an old name though)

In modern times, this is celebrated very similarly to the famous Natsu Matsuri (Summer Festival) in Japan, in which a huge festival site is fully decorated in colourful lanterns and filled with countless stalls of food, games, and festival products such as more lanterns, traditional dress rentals if you’re lucky, wooden toys, cloth products, “festival” tea & wine, and many more

You are encouraged to wear cheongsam/qipao to the festivities, but honestly most people don’t anymore, but they dress their kids in cultural clothing a lot (in Singapore you’ll also see kiddies running around in other traditional dress, such as yukata, summer hanbok, festive baju kurung, etc.)

In some places, special dragon or lion dances will be performing

Expect to find a FUCKTON of fresh fruit stalls, including pumpkins, melons, pomelos, persimmons, pomegranates, maybe starfruits, dragonfruits & guavas, and probably a heck lot of longans if you’re somewhere in South China. Also expect every individual large fruit to be decorated with red ribbons and colourful wrapping paper

Also out of every five stalls, at least one will be a mooncake stall

Mooncakes come in multiple varieties! The most common are the white lotus bean paste ones, the ones with salted egg yolks (single yolk and double yolk), snowskin ones which as much softer and sweeter, red bean paste cakes, etc.

They make some super cute shapes too!

There are even more savoury options with minced pork filling or prawn/fish filling (not a fan of the fish ones), but they’re made with a flakier pastry than the sweet ones (Note: sometimes we don’t call these mooncakes, but it depends)

Basically the sweet ones use a pastry that’s more like a typical sweet tart shell while the savoury ones use something that’s more like a non-sweetened croissant 

Traditionally, people would make the mooncakes together at home, and offer them to the moon goddess during moon worship, but nowadays most people just buy them and eat them

This festival also shares a lot of the same customs as CNY & the Lantern Festival, such as: 

Having another reunion dinner. Duck is a very common dish, along with seasonal crops. Lotus dishes are also popular around this time, depending on where you are. 

Lanterns everywhere. Water and sky lanterns are also common. You’ll also see people playing with firecrackers and sparklers.

In much more rural areas, you might get to experience the Burning Pagoda tradition, in which they set up a seven-tier tower made up of wood and straw and burn it while dancing around it. This practice is similar to the Bon Odori even in Japan. 

Fun fact: This is also basically the Lantern Festival of Singapore, because the actual Lantern Festival isn’t celebrated here

Bonus: I made a post about the most famous myth of this festival that relates to MDZS.

The ChongYang Festival - Mid to Late Oct

Also known as the Double Ninth Festival (in English) and the Senior Festival (slang)

This is basically the festival of paying respects to our elders, both living and dead

There are...going to be a fuckton of chrysanthemums everywhere. Chrysanthemum flowers decorating the place, chrysanthemum cakes (I don’t recommend googling it if you have severe trypophobia, some of the more traditional cakes have a lot of seeds and stuff on top which may be upsetting, but I would say it’s at least better than a hollow lotus pod), chrysanthemum wine, all of that

Common activities include going on easy hikes or mountain walks with the living elders, and maybe visiting the graves of those who have passed and paying respects

It’s dying in modern times, but still seen as at least a day of relaxing with your elderly family and friends

The DongZhi Festival - Late Dec (just before Christmas mostly)

The Winter Solstice Festival

Nothing much is done, we really mostly just have a special dinner together, eating dumplings, noodle soup, mutton, and hotpot. Alcohol is often present at such dinners, and you would toast to the solstice 

You’d also pray and stuff like most of these festivals, but I think that’s a given by now lol

Modern Chinese people will often get together during this time and merge it with their Christmas dinners

Aside from that, we really just celebrate Christmas, though now you can add a line of cultural significance to those modern AU Christmas fics :3

Bonus Info: There is also a Summer Solstice festival called the Xia Zhi Festival that’s essentially the same as this, except you eat a lot of noodles and go swimming, but it’s not really significant anymore in modern times, the DongZhi festival only really surviving because of Christmas, so I didn’t include it in the list

Alright, that one took like 84 years. I’m tired LMAO. 

[thecomicsnexus]

The Untold Story

LEGENDS OF THE DC UNIVERSE: CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS FEBRUARY 1999 BY MARV WOLFMAN, PAUL RYAN, BOB MCLEOD AND TOM MCCRAW

SYNOPSIS (FROM DC DATABASE)

Numerous earths of alternate realities are destroyed by a wave of anti-matter controlled by the Anti-Monitor. From his station in the Antimatter Universe, The Anti-Monitor and the Psycho Pirate watch as Pariah rescues Lady Quark from destruction on Earth-Six.

Elsewhere, in the 30th Century, Barry Allen lives happily with his wife Iris, having somewhat reluctantly retired from superheroism and moved to the future to be with her. However, a sudden change in the weather makes him suspicious, and he decides to don his costume, and investigate. He soon discovers that the world is being consumed by the wave of anti-matter. Without thinking, he slows his body down so that it will travel back to the present, and he can warn the Justice League. He manages it just as the wave passes over him.

He finds himself not in the present of Earth-One, but on an alternate earth known as Earth-D, where Tanaka Rei is the current Flash. Without being seen, Barry follows Tanaka home, and watches him meet with his own wife, and embrace happily. The scene reminds Barry that he left Iris to die back in the 30th Century, and he despairs.

In Earth-D's New York City, the Justice Alliance of America fights with a giant squid controlled by Medulla. The tone of the Alliance is significantly more positive and family-oriented than their Earth-One counterpart's. Meanwhile, Pariah and Lady Quark are transported there, and they watch from afar as the Alliance takes care of things. Seeing the Alliance handle Medulla in a somewhat lenient fashion, Lady Quark becomes angry, and blasts him with energy. The Alliance is outraged, and confronts her. With their attention, Pariah takes the opportunity to warn them that Earth-D is soon to be destroyed by Antimatter.

Back in Central City, Barry knocks on Tanaka's door, and introduces himself. Tanaka realizes that Barry Allen is the same Flash that he read about in his earth's comic books. Barry explains his situation, and begs Tanaka for help getting back to Earth-One. Tanaka offers his help, and when a gets a signal from the Alliance he decides to take Barry to ask the rest of the team for help.

In the Alliance's underwater headquarters, Pariah explains to the assembled that the red skies and aberrant weather are the first signs of the coming wave of antimatter, and that the wave erases anything it touches from existence. He admits that his presence there is signal enough that Earth-D will soon be destroyed. Just moments later, an earthquake damages the integrity of the structure, and the HQ is flooded. Aquaman aids everyone's escape to the surface with the help of some dolphins.

They travel to the Fortress of Solitude, where Flash convinces Pariah to go to Earth-One, and beg the Justice League for help. The return shortly, but seeing their attempt to band together, the Anti-Monitor sends his Shadow Demons to distract them. The heroes battle valiantly, but their powers are ineffective against the shadows.

Earth-D's Hawkgirl is crushed under a pillar, and in his grief, Hawkman is murdered by the shadows. In trying to save his wife Kara, Earth-D's Superman is zapped by the shadows, as he desperately cries out for them all to escape, and use the Phantom Zone Projector to get rid of the shadows. He is not killed instantly, but the projector is destroyed along with the rest of the Fortress, and he dies not long after. The heroes hold a funeral for him on a nearby mountain. Following the funeral, most of Earth-D's heroes return to their homes to make peace with their own families.

Elsewhere, in Brazil, José Hernandez discovers the crashed ship of Green Lantern Tagin Sur. As the alien dies, he gives José a Green Lantern Ring, which briefs him on the situation. He rushes off to join the Justice Alliance.

In New York, the Alliance and the League attempt to keep the citizens from panicking, despite their own inability to do anything about the coming wave of antimatter. In the process of saving an elderly woman, Earth-D's Robin is erased before his father's eyes. Wonder Woman is erased while saving a young boy. Green Lantern John Stewart nearly loses a child to the antimatter wave, but a last second save by José serves as their introduction.

Tanaka decides that they should create a new Cosmic Treadmill, one large enough to take much of the remaining population of Earth-D to Earth-One. All of those with some form of super-speed board the treadmill, while the remainder fights off the oncoming shadow demons. The heroes open a portal which allows the citizens of Earth-D to travel to Earth-One, where they will presumably merge with their alternate universe counterparts.

Watching the heroes' efforts, the Anti-Monitor decides that he has a use for Barry Allen, and at great cost to the heroes on the Cosmic Treadmill, he teleports Barry to him, depriving the heroes of their fastest runner. Without Barry to help them, and with the other heroes quickly tiring, Tanaka takes it upon himself to take on the whole effort alone, while the other heroes fight off the shadows.

José is killed by shadows, saving Kara from the shadows. John Stewart is outraged, knowing that it was only José's first day as a Lantern. As Tanaka gets more and more exhausted, there is little time left, and he begs the Justice League to return to Earth-One and save their people, rather than staying behind and dying with Earth-D. The League leaves through the portal, and soon after, Tanaka collapses, closing it behind them. Earth-D's remaining heroes choose to go down fighting.

Meanwhile the JLA finds themselves aboard the Monitor's Satellite. There, Alexander Luthor briefs them on the scenario, alongside Harbinger. The Crisis on Infinite Earths is well underway.

NOTORIOUS DEATHS IN THIS ISSUE

Earth-D

REVIEW

As a rarity, it is an ok issue. As a Crisis Tie-In, it doesn’t fit correctly into that story (as some characters should forget about this story once they go back to Earth-1).

For Barry Allen, the inconsistencies are more obvious. Both, he and Iris had different faces in the future, so it wouldn’t make sense for them to look like they used to. This is acceptable post-crisis (even though the trial happened, everyone forgot about this little bit of information), but it is not acceptable for Crisis continuity.

The other piece of information that doesn’t sound right is Flash’s affirmation that genetic doppelgangers will merge with their counterparts on Earth-1. This didn’t happen before. The only way for this to happen is if one of them die (like it happened to Julius Schwartz).

Tanaka mentions comic books getting darker for a while, this is a meta-reference to the modern age (or how many called it back then, the dark age of comics).

It’s a nice tribute to Barry Allen more than a Crisis tie-in. Have in mind that in 1999, Barry Allen stories were only flashbacks and many writers missed him.

I give the issue a score of 7

[carryonmyswansong]

Mother’s Day Introductions - a Sterek Oneshot

This blog publishes works of fiction that contains adult themes and subject matters. Please do not read, like, reply, or reblog, from this blog, if you are under the age of 18.

Summary: Stiles visits the cemetery, on Mother’s Day. Derek finds him there, but not where he was expecting. Word Count: 2696 Characters: Stiles Stilinski, Derek Hale, Talia Hale, Claudia Stilinski, Noah Stilinski, Peter Hale, Melissa McCall-Argent, Chris Argent, Pairings: Stiles x Derek Warnings: Sneaky Stiles, Mother’s Day, Fluff, Established Relationship, Love Confessions, Sterek, Meeting the Parents, Magical Stiles Stilinski, Good Peter Hale, Mention of Tragic Deaths, Future Fic, Stiles Is In His Mid 20s, Pack Mom Stiles, Sheriff Stilinski's Name is Noah A/N: I wrote this for Mother’s Day. My own mom is alive but I haven’t seen her in a very long time. Life and circumstance. We are in contact but I miss her very much.

POVs change from Stiles to Derek, and merge in the middle of Derek’s POV without a label. All POVs are written in second person. Past events are in italics.

Beta’d by @arrow-guy. Thank you so much! <3

Fairy Lantern Flower Info and Meaning

Angelic Symbol Chart

Snapdragon meaning, under “ANTIRRHINUM”

Link on AO3 Mobile Masterlist

All page dividers were created by me. If you’d like to use them, please message me. I make these to sell and offer sets of two for $3.

Stiles’s POV

Stiles has done the research. He put in the hard work. He is ready. A little nervous, since today is the big day, but it isn’t as bad as he thought it would be. Probably has something to do with the fact that he is going to go see his mom, after he is finished.

When the town of Beacon Hills was established, a very large dedication monument was placed in, what is now, the very center of the cemetery. Under which, what changed to a memorial to the Hale Family, was a vault. Not many people were buried in this vault. Those that aren’t, still have their names and birth and death years chiseled on its base. There are a lot of names, but some are missing.

Stiles had visited his mother a couple of months after he and Derek became official, and true to his nature, Stiles’s curiosity got the best of him. He went to lay a rose at the base of the Hale Memorial, and found that all those lost in the tragic Hale fire, were missing. He vowed to have them added, even if he had to do it in secret.

It would be two years before he was able to master the spell to permanently carve words into stone. The hard work would pay off, though.

Stiles talks to his dad about his idea and, good man that he is, Noah helped him figure out the names and birthdays of everyone lost. Stiles even asked Peter, who was reluctant to help, though he did, eventually. Peter filled in the blanks of those the police couldn’t identify. Sadly, there was a life lost that hadn’t had a name yet and Stiles’s mood had darkened when he added the final entry to the list of those lost in the fire, as simply “Baby Hale”, with the year of the fire. Under that name, Stiles added Derek’s sister, Laura, since she was the most recent death.

It is the name at the top of the list, that he is focused on today. He is gifting his chosen family with the proper memorial they deserve.

Stiles exhales a shaky breath as he adjusts his tie and runs his fingers through his hair. He takes another deep breath, steels his nerves, and walks to the large monument. It is very early in the morning and he knows he won’t be caught.

Stiles stands on the short path leading to the monument. Concentrating, he wakes his magic to full charge, silently reveling in the way it lights up under his skin and flares in his eyes. He feels the power start from his chest and radiate out. Once it reaches his fingertips, he sweeps his hands in the air and cleans the walking path until the concrete looks like it was freshly laid. Next, he does the same for the entrance to the underground tomb and the stairs leading down into it. He doesn’t think it appropriate to enter, so he leaves it alone.

Once everything but the monument itself is clean, he lays out a towel he brought with him, and pulls a piece of paper from his pocket. Kneeling on the towel, Stiles sets the piece of paper on the ground in front of him. He concentrates, allowing his magic to fill him, once more. It pulses with anticipation, waiting for his instructions. Taking a deep breath, he holds his hands side by side, palms facing the stone, thumbs touching. Lining up his hands, and looking down at the paper, he lets his mind and magic meld for the task at hand and power flows from his palms.

He is at it for over three hours, before the final name, Laura Hale, is carved in the stone. It is time consuming, delicate work, and he wants to ensure the monument doesn’t get damaged by accident. The magic begins to take its toll and sweat is trickling down the sides of his face, and down the center of his back from the effort. Once he is finished, the magic flowing from his hands dissipates and he looks up, a smile bubbling up from his belly and warming his face.

He catches his breath and sits on the towel, trying to regain feeling in his legs. Once he feels he has enough strength built back up, the last thing he does is clean the monument itself, and blanket the ground around it in several rows of Fairy House flowers. Satisfaction shows on his face, as the monument looks as new as it did the day it was installed, with the addition of the new names. Exhaustion starts to seep into his bones, but he knows he can’t sleep here, even though everything in him wants to.

He sits in quiet contemplation as he builds his nerves back up. He is actually here to introduce himself to the Matriarchal Alpha, who just so happens to be his boyfriend’s mother. He knows she isn’t actually in the vault or buried anywhere on the grounds but this place is symbolic, and he can still feel the power of it. He knows that if her spirit were to visit Beacon Hills, this is the place she’d pick.

Stiles takes a deep breath, while his eyes are closed, and clears his mind. He focuses on what he wants to say and begins.

“Hello, Alpha Talia Hale. I am Mieczyslaw Stilinski. Most people just call me Stiles. I am the Spark of Beacon Hills, and I am in love with your son…”

Derek wakes and stretches, spreading his whole body across the bed. Without thinking, he sweeps his hand along the side of the bed that isn’t his, and scrunches his face. He opens his eyes and blinks a few times, remembering that Stiles slept over at the Sheriff’s house so that they could have breakfast together. Today is Mother’s Day and both men would be honoring the women they miss the most.

He gets up and goes through his morning routine, then makes his way to the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee. He hums in appreciation, noticing that Stiles set the timer on it, before he left last night, so Derek would wake up to fresh coffee. He smiles as he fills his cup.

Once he’s had some coffee, and something to eat, he gets dressed, and heads out the door. Today, he’s decided to visit the Hale Memorial. Since rebuilding Hale House, and living on the grounds that his family died on, his feelings towards the space changed from one of sadness to feeling whole again. It feels more appropriate to visit his mother, where the rest of his family is honored, even if the most recent Hale deaths aren’t cataloged there. He thinks that maybe he can begin to finally plan to add the missing names.

Arriving at the cemetery, Derek parks his car and makes his way along the winding path. Halfway to his destination, he smells a familiar scent in the air. Stiles is here. Derek assumes he is visiting Claudia’s headstone and makes a beeline in that direction, hoping to see his love.

Disappointment crosses Derek’s face when he reaches the headstone of one Claudia Stilinski and there isn’t even a sign that Stiles has been there. Stiles’s scent is still on the wind, so he knows that the man is nearby. He continues to walk to the Hale Memorial, stopping short when he sees Stiles kneeling in front of it. He moves closer when it looks like Stiles is going to speak. Derek is very curious as to what he’s going to say. What he hears next, has Derek standing there, eyebrows raised in surprise.

“Hello, Alpha Talia Hale. I am Mieczyslaw Stilinski. Most people just call me Stiles. I am the Spark of Beacon Hills, and I am in love with your son. Derek is such a good man. I didn't know you, but I have a feeling you’d be proud of him. He has come a long way from being the kid who first took the Alpha spark. He eventually gave it up to save his sister, and then became a True Alpha, after dying and coming back in a fully shifted Wolf. The Pack is stable, even if it is full of a bunch of misfits who love each other enough to kill and die for each other. I know Derek was never meant to be the Alpha, but I honestly couldn’t imagine anyone else keeping this town safe. I’m so proud to call him my boyfriend, my partner, and my Mate. One day I hope to call him my husband, but that is a different conversation entirely. What I want to do, today, is introduce myself to you and your family, and to thank you. I know you didn't have Derek as a gift to me, but I am so thankful he is in my life. I would have died, so many times, if it weren’t for him. My hope is that I can be a man that you’d be proud to call Pack, as well as your son-in-law.”

By the time Stiles finishes saying his peace, he is sniffling. Derek is was actively trying not to let the tears in his eyes spill down his face. He decides to back up from where he’s standing and act like he was walking up, as he clears his throat. This gives Stiles a chance to stand, and fold the towel he brought. He stuffs the list of names in his pocket and turns around when he finally hears Derek.

His expression sinks as he takes in the blank face of his Mate. “I’ll just..” and he makes a vague motion in the direction of the small path and starts to walk away, embarrassment making his face hot and red; rejection making his heart heavy.

“Stiles! Wait!” Derek finally shouts, coming to his sense. What Stiles thought was anger or rejection, is just shock. Derek had no idea Stiles felt the way he does. They hadn’t talked about being Mates. Taking the step from being normal human boyfriends, to crossing the cultural barrier into werewolf mating rituals. Which is basically a marriage contract.

Stiles puts his hands in his pocket as he’s walking and then he hears it.

“Misha Stilinski, you get your ass back here, or so help me!”

Stiles stops walking and winces at the nickname, but slowly smiles as he realizes the tone is playful, not angry.

He turns around and faces Derek, an expression of shyness on his face. Derek motions for him to come back, with his arm out like he wants to hug Stiles.

And that’s just what he does, when Stiles gets to him. He slings he arm around Stiles’s waist and pulls him close. “What are you so afraid of? You smell terrified.”

“I… uh..” Stiles stammers and then just gestures wildly to the monument and surrounding space.

Derek follows the direction of his boyfriend’s flailing hands and the look of complete shock sweeps over his face. “You cleaned it! And put flowers in.”

“I did something else” Stiles mumbles, almost too quiet for Derek to hear.

They walk closer to the monument and Stiles tries to squirm out of Derek’s grasp. He doesn’t let him and just squeezes him tighter. Stiles goes stiff once he hears Derek gasp in surprise.

Derek lets Stiles go, as he falls to his knees, hand outstretched, running his fingers over the new text adorning the stone. He crushes some of the new flowers, but doesn’t pay them any attention. His eyes are swimming with tears as he traces each letter and number reverently his fingers.

“You did this?” he asks Stiles, not really expecting an answer.

“Yeah, Sourwolf, I did it for you. I wanted it to just be here when you next visited. I didn’t expect you to show up here. I assumed you’d just think Peter did it or something.”

“Oh Stiles, you beautiful idiot.”

He gets to his feet again, as he says this. He grabs Stiles and hugs him tight, tears silently falling down his face. Stiles brings one of his hands to Derek’s hair, toying with it reassuringly, and holds on to Derek’s middle as tightly as he can with his other. They stay like this for several minutes.

“Hey, before we go, I have someone I need to introduce you to”, Stiles says, as he slowly ends the hug and steps back a little. He looks down at where Derek crushed some of the flowers and fixes them with a sweep of his hand. Derek looks at him curiously, but nods his head. They hold hands as they walk down the path and through the rows of headstones and end up in front of the one for Stiles’s mother.

Stiles kneels in front of it and uses his magic to clean the stone and clear the space of any fallen leaves or stray grass clippings. In the attached vase, he adds a bunch of snapdragons in assorted colors, his mom’s favorite flowers.

Stiles grabs Derek’s hand and pulls him down so that Derek is kneeling next to him. Stiles gives him a warm smile before turning back to his mom’s headstone.

“Hey Mom. I know it’s been a while. I miss you so much. The Pack is doing great. No new disasters, but Dad finally accepted that he has been Pack for at least the last few years. The Pack spend a lot of time at his house now. It’s actually really sweet how they all started calling him “Dad”. Anyway... Today is Mother’s Day and I wanted to come see you. You know how I go on and on about the Alpha of our Pack, and all the brave things he’s done? Well, he’s here with me now. Mom, this is Derek Hale. The love of my life. Derek, this is my mom, Claudia.” Stiles takes Derek’s hand and places it on the headstone, in the center of her name. As soon as Stiles lets go of Derek’s hand, a spark of light flashes under his palm for a brief moment. Derek looks at him, questioningly.

“Wasn’t me, Der. I think that was Mom. I can feel her here, sometimes.”

Derek pulls his hand away and on his palm is a rapidly disappearing symbol. It is a heart with three dots under one of its sides. Derek knows this symbol, because of the books Stiles has scattered around their home. It is an Angelic symbol that means “universal love”.

“I guess that means she accepts you.” Stiles smiles wide at Derek and kisses him, deeply.

Derek and Stiles linger for a moment, before they both stand. They walk hand in hand until they have to separate to get to their own vehicles. They kiss before they depart, and both drive back to their shared home.

Once they both arrive, Derek waits for Stiles to climb out of his Jeep and join him on the porch, before he opens the door. When he does, Stiles is greeted with a very loud shout of “HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY, PACK MOM!”

Stiles stands there in shock. The whole house is full of people. Melissa, Chris, and Noah are there. The entire Pack, including spouses and children, extended family of the main Pack, and even Peter is there, with a genuine smile on his face, no less.

Derek guides him into the dining room, to table full of food and a large tower of plates. Everyone else follows in behind them and lines up. “Let’s eat!” he declares.

After everyone has gotten a plate and sitting on whatever chair or surface they can, Stiles looks around at his giant family and he can’t help but feel his eyes get a little misty. A single tear slips free and Derek catches it with his thumb. No words are exchanged because the whole house has the sweet scent of love and happiness floating in the air. Derek leans in and Stiles meets him halfway, in a tender kiss.

Today is a very good day.

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[ofmorninglory]

Space Pirates (idk like Treasure Planet maybe?) + Stony or Clintasha

An expansion piece!!! To this post right here --> that’s Halbarry Space Pirates AU and honestly one of the Best AUs, no questions asked, that the lovely @magicalzatanna​ and I came up with when Crossover AU hell first started. Am I also adding that Barry and Clint are twin brothers? Why yes, I certainly am, and there is absolutely nothing anyone can do to stop me! This is basically Star Trek meets Something Like Treasure Planet: 

(I wanted desperately to put this under read more but it won’t LET ME so I’ll tag this as “long post” and hope you guys don’t hate me too much)

Clintasha 

Does Clint absolutely hate his brother for getting him into this? He does, he most certainly would love to suffocate Barry while he was sleeping. Unlike his twin brother, Clint Allen would very much love to have his feet down on Earth. Space was unpredictable, unknown, and it gave Clint the heebie jeebies to actually think about all the things that were out there, floating in space, waiting to pounce on human idiocy. Nevertheless, he was Barry’s twin brother and they had never been more than a couple of days apart. Clint loved Barry more than anything (and how could he not? How could he not adore his twin brother, who was kind and solid ground, who taught everyone around them ASL so they could talk to Clint when he wasn’t feeling like wearing his hearing aids) and the thought of letting him go off-world without him? It was unconceiveable. Sure, he hates space, but he hates the thought of his brother out there all alone even more. (Their mother is gone, their father is in jail--Clint only has Barry and he doesn’t even want to let go) 

It’s a miracle that he gets into the Academy, given his hearing issues, but he figures it has something to do with being buddies with Tony Stark (who also designed all of his hearing aids, no charge or favors owned; “only the best of the best for one of my best” Stark had said back then) and how many recommendation letters administration got from other students (all of Barry’s friends, of course) commending him on his skills (near-perfect aim, spoke 3 languages fluently, skills in combat, great strategist and tactitian, also good with tech when it came down to it). He’s afraid that they might separate him and Barry, but Bruce Wayne is Captain, and chooses him and Barry in their respective departments (he’s Safety & Security while Barry’s Reasearch & Development) for the USS Justicia. Clint actually gets along pretty well with everyone in the ship, specially with the people in Barry’s Lab who all learned basic ASL language for him. He absolutely hates space with a burning passion (and he’ll continue to hate it no matter how many fucking times Barry and Tony get excited over aliens and other equally distressful scenarios), but at least he’s with his brother and that’s about enough for him.

But then there’s a fucking pirate space ship and Clint’s life goes to hell. He thought he had something going on, he really did, but space really is unpredictable. He tried telling this to Barry and Iris about five-hundred-and-forty-six times in the past, but no one ever listens to him. 

Cue in Natasha Romanoff (Natalia Romanova, Natalie Rushman, she doesn’t really know anymore) who was given a second chance at life by the Captain and the Commandos (”It’s my ship!” Hal screams everytime “We are not the Commandos!” “I’m the Captain,” Steve says back, calmly, “And we are.”) Before being found by the Highball, a hideous name if she ever heard one (she’s told Hal as much), Natasha was an asset for a well-known Space Trafficking Ring. She had been picked up as a child, and then whipped into shape by Madame B, under Thaal Sinestro’s orders. Since then, she’d been doing their bidding, hollow and more than a little lost. When Sinestro came back as a Yellow Lantern after being kicked out of the Green Lantern Corps, she was sent to eliminate Hal, of course, but the power of the ring stopped her from doing it. Hal extended her an olive branch, and asked her if this really was what she wanted to be doing. Natasha fled, at first, but the more she hid from Sinestro and Madame B, the more she thought maybe Hal had a point. She finds him, his ship and his crew, and asks to join them. She had to learn to adjust to being part of a team, and she still sometimes feels odd and out of place, but Steve and Sam help her through it. Bucky tries, sure, because he understands, but he’s never been really good. The Highball is as good as any home, she thinks, and she’s warming up to the people around her little by little. 

When the Highball crashes into the USS Justicia (and Tony and Hal bond over rumoured Treasure Planet that they may have been looking for since the ship was space-borne), Clint and Natasha are forced to co-exist, just like everyone else in the ship. Reparations for the USS Justicia are slow with little to no materials to actually do it, and if Clint hated space before he outright despises it now. He takes an instant interest in Natasha, because there’s something there that Clint can’t explain himself but he wants to know. Natasha is elusive and will go to great lengths to avoid him, but he’s sneaky and very good at finding her on every single hide-out in the ship. She hates him a little bit for it, but actually respects him. She starts warming up to the idea of him little by little (and it has nothing to do with how blue his eyes are, shut up, Sam) and they become kind-of-sort-of friends. They talk about combat, martial arts, his great marksmanship, the 800 languages she knows (“They’re 10, Clint.” “I CAN BARELY SAY MY NAME IN ENGLISH, TASHA”), and how their lives turned out like this. Clint probably finds Nat mid nightmare, mid panic attack, mid-I’m-still-in-the-Red-Room spiral down that seems never ending, and he’s the only one who’ll hold her and whisper sweet words into her hair, until she’s fallen back asleep in his arms. Natasha jumps in front of danger every single time Clint is in any bad situation that’s about to get worse. They suddenly start merging into a couple and no one really knows what the fuck is going on, those are facts. Barry’s just happy his brother’s got this out of space, which he seems to hate so much. 

Stony

Tony Stark is head of the R&D department and second in command in the USS Justicia. He and Bruce W had never gotten along much (not like he and Bruce B, who’s a sweetheart and owns Tony’s entire heart) but they’re effective enough together that the Federation thought it was a good idea to give them their own goddamn ship. Tony doesn’t complain. Much. There’s not much waiting for him on Earth (his father disowned him, Stark Industries fell to Obadiah Stane after his parent’s untimely death) and Bruce W is a good Captain that keeps their crew in top-shape. He’s not leading any of them into battle, like so many other Captains did nowadays, and Tony revels in the quiet existance that is flying through space in a glorified saucer. He likes his team (picked Barry himself, deeply interested in his thesis) and they discover heart-stopping, amazingly cool stuff every. Single. Day. Tony couldn’t be happier, he really couldn’t. (Some days Bruce W will go to a Federation Post somewhere for meetings and Tony will get to be Captain, that’s the only instance of all of this that made it better.)

Captain Steve Rogers, or former Captain at least, used to be the captain to an important Federation vessel, the USS Valkyrie, that doesn’t exist anymore (unless you count the heap of scrap that was left of it after it was decomissioned). He was never one to follow rules, and while the Federation had given him his dream to see the stars (something he never would have dreamed of in a million years as a sickly kid, who could never even get out of bed some days), there were still some rules and regulations he simply couldn’t agree on. After getting his rank revoked and his crew relocated (except Bucky, of course, who was with him to the end of the line; he couldn’t blame the others, either, they had families to feed) Steve and Bucky are back on Earth, feeling miserable and forlorn. That is, until the Highball docks in San Francisco (illegally, might I add) and Hal Jordan, in all his glory, offers them a spot in his crew of misfits, and the rest is pretty much history. They travel space, they help people the way they always wanted, they kick-ass, take names--Steve would have never thought, at the beginning of his career, that this is where years of training at the Academy would take him. He finds he doesn’t care very much. 

Until the day the Highball hits the fucking USS Justicia. Steve wants to pull out all of his hair because of course it had to be a fucking Federation vessel. Harold steps up as the calm, collected, reasonable adult that he never is, and get everyone on board. Steve thinks “hey, it can’t get much worse!” and then Tony-fucking-Stark walks through the door and he wants to die. 

Steve’s been crushing on Tony since the younger man stepped into the Academy, all those years ago, except he was never really good at expressing his feelings, and no matter how much Bucky tried to get him to ask Stark on a date, all Steve managed, every single time, was get Tony angrier at him and their relationship becoming even rockier. Tony immediately recognizes him and it’s like they’re younger now, back at the Academy, and being enemies (even when Steve wanted anything but that). Tensions are high at the Highball (hah!) and Steve, bless his heart, just wants to fix the USS Justicia as fast as is possible.

Except, you know, Clint and Natasha find a goddamn map to Treasure Planet (Steve never believed it to be a thing) and Hal and Tony can’t stop vibrating in their places, shooting off at the mouth, overexcitedly, about how many things could be in this planet!! Somehow, they all get roped into searching for this planet, and Steve really, really just wants to rest. Somewhere along the way, Tony stops being all fire and brimstone, and in turn, Steve tries to be less of an awkward idiot around him (Barry helps a lot, he really does) and the two form an unlikely friendship. Since Steve is still Captain of the Highball (Hal appointed him; there was a SIGNED CONTRACT in between; Hal could own the ship all he wanted, but he still was Captain) he feels responsible for everyone inside his ship, and the adventure they’re about to undertake is, perhaps, one of the most dangerous. Steve just hopes they’ll make it through it. 

[ussjellyfish]

Gee...I don't know your opinion on these guys, but how about Dragon Queen? ;)

what? me??

hehehe. 

Okay, so if they get married after the finale, these are the big, royal wedding headcanons. 

where they get married:

The big central castle where Regina was crowned queen. It’s a state function, which provides her all kinds of unpleasant reminders of marrying Leopold, and she and Snow have long conversations about it. You don’t have to get married like this, we can come up with something different. Regina ends up concluding that last time she got married because she had to, this time, she wants to. She can put up with a little pomp and circumstance. 

when they get married ( ie what time of day, what month and season etc. )

The Ceremony is just about sunset, so they can have fire afterwards, time’s more relative in the merged realms. It’s an autumn wedding, full of harvest symbolism (there are many apples). 

what traditions they include ( do they get married under a chuppah and crush a glass, garter toss, ‘something borrowed, something blue,’ etc. )

We don’t know much about what the traditions of the old world are, which means…I can make them up. 

Maleficent arrives in dragon form, because it’s far more impressive than a carriage. Lily flies with her as an honor guard (bridesmaid sort of thing). They land in the courtyard and turn to human form. (it’s very impressive). 

Regina has a borrowed garter (Emma thinks it’s hilarious and necessary), her wedding ring is ancient (something Mal’s horded for centuries), Snow lends her a pretty blue handkerchief because she’s going to cry. (Regina jokes that she’s not, but she’s almost crying saying it and hugging Snow, so yes, it’s a good idea). Regina doesn’t really have anything new, and Snow says that of course she does. She’s in love, and happy, and full of hope. That’s the newest thing she could have. 

There’s a garter toss, Mulan catches it. 

what their wedding cake looks like

It’s ostentatious, several layers, several flat cakes because it is a HUGE wedding. It’s very nicely ostentatious but it’s intense. There are sugar dragons and fancy apples. 

….who smashes cake into whose face

They’re very polite abut it at first, but Regina gives in and Mal smashes it back, laughing. It’s very cute. 

who proposed to who first

Regina, like the good nerd she is, researched dragon mating customers and proposed with some outrageous gemstones that she went on a quest to find. (with Henry, Ella and Lucy, it was a family thing and Lucy really wanted to go on a quest). 

who walks down the aisle and who waits at the altar ( or neither )

Regina’s the queen so she waits at the middle. Not quite an altar, but the dais, where she was crowned, etc. 

Mal jokes about poofing in or flying up as a dragon (the hall’s not really big enough for that) in the end she walks up with Lily. Alice and Robin walk up before them, so does Lucy because she really wanted to get to throw flowers. Little Neal gets to carry rings. 

Henry waits with Regina at the top. (both Henrys? All Three Henrys?), Zelena’s up there too. 

what their wedding dresses / suits / other look like

Mal wears red, or purple, she looks killer in those tones. Something with a train, it’s very met gala old school fantasy wedding. covered in gemstones so it sparkles, she really likes sparkles. 

Regina wears blue (she wore white last time and hated it). Her’s is more subtle but no less fancy, gorgeous and kind of old school, It is the royal wedding, after all. She has something simpler for later. 

what their wedding colour scheme is and what sort of decor they have

It’s autumn, so it’s red and gold and black, which could be kind of villainous, but isn’t. Mal refuses to have pastels. It’s tasteful. The leaves are turning around the castle, the apples are ripe, it’s an excellent time for a wedding.

There are huge bonfires to light after the ceremony. 

what flowers are in the bouquet ( if applicable. bonus: what do the flowers mean? )

Snapgragons, just for giggles. Orchids, because they’re fun and purple and delicate and tropical, but enduring. Maybe Iris? I’m rather terrible at choosing flowers. Robin and Alice pick nice ones. Globe amaranth, because they’re immortal love and that’s really them. Also purple! 

what their vows are ( eg poetry, traditional, improvised etc. )

Traditional dragon wedding vows are VERY serious. (they live forever after all). Probably something about sharing your fire or binding your fire together, because fire is eternal and the source of all life. So that part probably involves fireballs being wound together, and dragon magic. It’s very pretty. 

It’s also not really officiated by anyone (dragons are terrible at recognizing an authority greater than themselves, so it’s led by the pair. Your flame, my flame, and together we’re flame everlasting.

It tingles, makes their eyes glow for a bit. I could have fun with the special effects budget. 

Also very different from Regina’s last wedding, but she’s okay with that. 

if anyone’s late to the wedding

Hilariously, Regina, almost. She’s talking to Snow and it’s very intimate and..they’re not watching the clock. Luckily, she teleports. Still, it’s funny. 

who’s in the bridal parties / groomsmen / other

Mal has Lily, and since she’d be alone otherwise, she also gets Alice, Robin, Lucy and little Neal to walk up the aisle before she does. 

Regina has Henry, and Henry, and Henry? (grown up, wish realm and original author Henry?), Zelena, Snow and David. 

what their bridal party / groomsmen / other are wearing

Mal’s side is red, and has dragon scale motifs, or metallic little scales in the details. 

Regina’s side has more purple and gold, and is more regal, with her insignia as the Good Queen on their capes and stuff. 

who gives speeches at the reception ( bonus: what do they say? recount a sweet memory or two between them? tell an embarrassing story? )

Formerly of HH Henry and Henry the from Storybrooke give a speech together, and it’s very positive and sweet. They talk about how they only had a mom until they were ten, and they didn’t think that was enough, they didn’t know how much their mom loved them, and now, they have a mom, brothers, in a way, another mom, a step-father, a little sister, and now they’re gaining a big sister who happens to be a dragon, which is pretty cool, and Maleficent, whom they are very much looking forward to knowing better. 

Snow gives a very touching speech about love and forgiveness, and how ost of all you need patience when you’re married, and taking as long as they did to get together is really a nice thing for them both. 

who catches the bouquet( s )

Mulan! 

what their wedding photos are like

Their wedding photos are mostly candids, they don’t pose much, maybe for a few, but neither of them really considered it that important. Henry gets a really nice illustration for the book, but neither of them are that concerned with documenting it. 

There are a few sneaky really sappy ones of them dancing and holding hands. No one admits taking them. (it was Robin, she has a good eye) 

what sort of food they have at the reception

It’s a great and glorious feast of epic proportions that includes some fun things from the new world as well as the old (yes, there are beignets) and grilled cheese, no onions rings though, those tempt fate too much. 

who cries first during the ceremony

Mal, she’s a really easy happy crier. 

how wild their reception gets ( who dances the best, who gets drunk first, etc. )

The reception has fireworks, and fire throwers, and fire breathing acrobats. There are some enchanted flames safe enough for kids to play with so there’s some running and laughing with enchanted torches and a lot of chaos. It’s at night outside, and the stars are high and there’s a huge bonfire. 

As it’s a royal affair, there is a very impressive amount of drink. There’s quite a bit of tipsiness and giggling, Snow gets drunk enough to argue with some Vikings who have known Maleficent for a very long time, so that’s pretty funny. 

Younger Henry has his first champagne (it’s not bad, but kind of bitter) and beer (why does anyone like this?) wine’s okay, but really, it’s cocktails he end sup liking, but he’s careful about it.

Most of the very drunken behaviour is the guests, which is fine. There are many enchantments around to prevent the fires spreading anywhere and plenty of room in the castle and on the grounds. (there are perks to having a castle).

Lots of tents. 

what their rings are like

Regina’s is a little subtle and Mal’s is much more ostentatious and has a ruby. 

what sort of favours they have ( heart shaped sparklers, mini champagne bottles, personalised candy etc. )

Pet flames! Well, little bits of the great flame that are harmless, but will provide light forever. They burn in these cute little lanterns and there are plenty for everyone. 

where they go for their honeymoon

Traveling! There are parts of the realms Regina hasn’t seen, and it’s pretty quick to travel with a dragon. Mal also has a thing for elephants and strange creatures so it’s almost a nature safari. They disappear for a few weeks and come back full of stories with gifts from far away. 

something memorable that happens during the party / ceremony 

It’s the first big party since Regina’s coronation, and despite EVERYONE waiting for something bad to happen, it’s very calm. 

Regina and Mal fly off together at the end. It’s very romantic. 

[glassy-star]

Ninth house;

After shedding some light on the darkest corners of ourselves in the 8th house, we emerge painfully from its black waters—still remembering how curiously thrilling it was, fighting our own monsters—to find that the sky is blue, the breeze is kind and birds swim between clouds. Under gentle sunlight, we contemplate the horizon, feeling the warming promise of a brighter future: this is the 9th house.

Be it through studying, travelling long distances or receiving guidance from a mentor, the 9th house always describes our ability to push forward in order to go beyond any kind of existing boundaries. Like Jupiter, this is where we want to know more and more, always expanding, flourishing.

With material boundaries, this house symbolizes the distances we’re motivated to travel in order to experience the world in its entirety (or something close to it); somehow what we are, the society we live in and the culture we know aren’t enough. Because we experience something different from our own reality, travelling blesses us with Jupiter’s ability to contemplate everything from a distance, so even the most minor of things come to acquire meaning. By contrast with our 3rd house, representing our familiar environment, here we learn different things and are able to acquire new, more useful habits and thoughts.

The opposition to the 3rd house also symbolizes that the 9th house is where we build our own knowledge, instead of simply absorbing it from our surroundings. Here we perceive the world with Jupiter’s cultivated eye and never rest until truth has been extracted in its purest form from the source we’re trying to study. This also means the 9th house despises all 3rd house form of superficiality and dispersion. Moreover, this opposition also depicts the contrast between logical (3rd) and abstract (9th) intelligence.

Planets and signs involved with this house also point to how the individual deals with spirituality, philosophy and the creation of higher meanings from all things, and this is perhaps this house’s deeper value: we’ve experienced excruciating pain in the 8th house; now we want know what was the meaning of it all while trying to become a better version of the selves we once found in the 1st and 5th houses.

Sun in the 9th house: after the passing of the storm, arrows of light break through the clouds; survivors look up to see angels dancing in the sunlight. Symbolizing the delivery of light to what was previously darkened, this Sun’s destiny is to illuminate his surroundings with his higher knowledge. With bright eyes fixed in the future, the individual with this configuration has a broad and often optimistic perspective on the world; any kind of segregating boundary exists only to be violated and broken, symbolizing tolerance and the appreciation of differences. It is important to sometimes draw one’s attention from the future to the present and enjoy what is there, or risk being in constant discontent.

Moon in the 9th house: under the moonlight, the twinkling seas and the starlight skies will be one and the same. A symbol of flexibility, people with this placement can make anywhere in the world their home. This Moon thrives when in contact with differences and nurtures herself emotionally whenever she encounters things that go beyond her initial understanding of things. Naturally, those with this placement enjoy the company of cultivated people who can enrich their knowledge of things. Moreover, being a symbol of the past, the Moon in this house symbolizes that past experiences are constantly being revised and given new meanings as the individual travels, even if this only occurs inside of their minds.  The emotional realm, however, is highly idealized, and so this Moon can be eventually shocked to find that the world is not quite as she had imagined.

Mercury in the 9th house: a lonely traveler comes to a bifurcation on their path…; what direction should they take? This a curious symbol, as it points to finding balance between Mercury’s superficiality and Jupiter’s need for depth. The individual with this configuration is likely to experience both: intellectual interests are spread in all directions in Gemini’s fashion; yet, at the same time, there’s a need for detail and insight in every one of these interests. This Mercury, then, is constantly playing this game, and his curiosity prevents himself to stay at one place or mental status for long. People with this placement tend to be rather flexible or unpredictable when it comes to studying habits, and they usually make interesting connections between very different disciplines or fields of knowledge, all for the sake of uncovering higher truths, which are many.

Venus in the 9th house: a student reads quietly in a library, books scattered all over their table; from a distance, an admirer watches, dreaming. This placement symbolizes how closely connected the ideas of self-esteem and being knowledgeable are. People with this placement see value in themselves when they acquire higher knowledge, when they travel beyond the horizon they could see initially. Automatically, they love anything external that is related to this concept, and will attract it to themselves. Venus in this house, then, values curious, complex people, as well as objects that can help expanding the mind. Relationships with this placement are highly idealized, and there might be issues with space and privacy, as Jupiter enjoys guarding a distance from the object of his attentions.

Mars in the 9th house: a captain directs their ship towards the end of the world, a thin line of watery horizon, and holds their head high as they fall into the unknown. Courage and determination are here best identified when the individual faces boundaries to their expansion. The search for knowledge and meaning is blazing and exciting. It also tends to be more effective if there is some kind of conflict or dispute permeating the studying habit. Understanding Mars’ characteristics, it also means this search for knowledge tends to occur independently, spontaneously, as it should be a demonstration of dedication and bravery. Passion and determination are best seen in the field of ideals, so the individual often has strong opinions. Fights are of intellectual nature.

Jupiter in the 9th house: a figure stands on top of a cliff, admiring the beauty of the night sky: a long, limitless veil decorated with stars. In this Jupiter’s perspective from up above, there are no boundaries. The world is one vast, beautiful place; people are all interconnected, and their differences are only what makes it all more interesting. People blessed by this Jupiter, then, see no limit to their moral, spiritual or mental expansion. They thrive when faced with adversity and can enjoy noticing how each individual is unique. Studying is in the mind’s default. Absorption of deeper knowledge seems natural. Like Sagittarius pointing his arrow, people with this placement tend to have clear objectives in their heads. However, this determination may present itself as stubbornness when the objective is too specific. Moreover, living in this idealized world, always looking at the future, might mean that there’ll be constant disappointments.

Saturn in the 9th house: right next to the starstruck figure on top of a cliff, another individual looks down, considering the world at their feet: an intimidating flow of humans, guarded by mountains and seas. Where Jupiter in the 9th people are amazed by this worlds possibilities, those with this placement are not so impressionable. They see clear limits between people and things, also representing the fear of failure. The world is a harsh, dangerous place, and Saturn in the 9th people are afraid to know what lies beyond the horizon because, after all, what happens if they can make it there? Thus, Saturn here symbolizes extensive planning and careful studying before setting sail to one’s goals. Ideals are deconstructed here, and objectives are considered for a lot of time until the safety of that path is ensured. Studying and travelling can be demonstrations of maturity and security, as well as intellectual debates and spiritual enlightenment.

Uranus in the 9th house: a lonely student sits on the floor at a deserted portion of the library, reading ancient books in dead languages. Uranus in this house symbolizes that the search for knowledge is erratic, chaotic and often lonely. People with this placement have not only an idealized perspective on what knowledge they’d like to acquire, but a very unique one. The process of acquiring this knowledge is unconventional and unorthodox, and the individual tends to feel discontent when faced with other people’s or institutions’ limiting rules and habits. The interest in a field of knowledge and quickly overwrite previous interests, and intelligence here is highly intuitive. Because Uranus is the angelic messenger, travelling and studying can reveal to this individual the true meaning of things, and so their minds are constantly growing in tumultuous fashion.

Neptune in the 9th house: at the bottom of the sea, legend tells there is an old, isolated city with brilliant lights and loving creatures. A symbol of intellectual idealization, finding out what lies beyond the horizon is a dream. Specially when dealing with the 9th house trait of describing the better version of the self we want to achieve, this dream might prove itself rather unattainable, revealing Neptune’s tendency to produce beautiful illusions. Like other placements, Neptune here dissolves boundaries, merging all people together in a charming perspective of the world. Blessed by Neptune’s magic, this individual may come into contact with the most fantastical of things when travelling or studying.

Pluto in the 9th house: in the dark, an archeologist lights up his lantern, revealing the stunning architecture of an old temple. These people usually use Pluto’s investigative traits when travelling or studying, always getting to the bottom of things. There is much passion (or obsession) related to 9th house affairs, and the analysis of other planets, aspects and the sign on the cusp can help describe what are this individual’s interests in the intellectual realm. Opinions are strong with this placement, and maybe the individual finds many obstacles in their way to building knowledgeable, but this quest will be always transforming.

Detail: Caspar David Friedrich, “Der Wanderer über dem Nebelmeer”; 1818.

[not-a-statement]

Chasing ghosts. Chapter 1

I’m finally posting the first chapter.

Forgive me for my grammar, like I said I'm not a native speaker, but I hope you'll find it at least readable.

As always big thanks to @edward-or-ford for all his help and guidance

I’ll soon figure out how to create a master post, but just for now I’ll leave a link to a prologue (if you haven’t read it) here

Hope you guys enjoy this chapter

New City, NY, August 31st 2024

Dipper set aside the empty glass and glanced around at the merry people gathered to celebrate the Pines twins’ birthday. There were friends, a couple of relatives, colleagues. Mostly the Zach Turner’s colleagues: Dipper himself did not have personal contact with many people every day. A freelance journalist is called freelance for a reason. But if you are a stockbroker, even a beginner, then you might be in this kind of crowd. All of them fit, most of them tanned (probably from a solarium), wearing fancy Trussardi polos, a full set in order to impress you. To make you believe that you are looking at a wealthy confident man who knows no worries and ready tackle any money issues.

No, It’s not that Dipper could blame them, it's just their job to look successful and reliable. But from all this dazzling crowd hanging out in the backyard of the house he began to feel a ruffling sensation in his eyes. As if somebody poured a bucket of transparent glue on each of them and after they were shot with a sequins canon or whatever. It’s just seemed that each movement of these people somehow refracted the rays of sunlight at such an angle to hit Dipper directly in the eyes with a piercing beam. But anyway, Mabel was probably over-delighted with this kind display. Somehow it became a sort of tradition for the past ten years: what was painful for Dipper was pretty joyfull for Mabel.

Pines mentally kicked himself for that last thought. It sounded terrible, even if he didn’t say it out loud. And it sounded even worse coming from the thoughts of a loving brother.

Hah, a loving ... brother. It's odd even to put these two words in one sentence…

Another mental kick. Don’t you even dare to think about your feelings for your own sister, not now. Better to not ever.

Disgusting thoughts.

Wrong feelings.

Bad brain. Very bad and being an ass right now. We need to focus on what is important: today's birthday. Stan could get to us from his backwoods. Dad and Mom are also going to visit in a couple of days, when they return from the next trip around the country. They are probably happy with their new life without the constant care of children, busy only with each other and with their dreams.

Everyone was happy. Why couldn’t Dipper at least relax a little and pretend that he enjoyed this noise, instead of constantly thinking about escape paths from this house filled with smiling mannequins and idle talk? From the house where every piece of furniture, every spoon from the gift set and every word uttered by its inhabitants would forever remind Dipper of what he lost, and more than that, what he could never get. It was taken away from him by this slender hard-built bastard with a radiant smile from ear to ear and the sweetest speeches that he poured in huge doses into the ears of everyone around him. All these manners, courtesy. Damn, was it really only Dipper that was sick of this man-made likeness? Did no one else see his essence? Why did no one else see him as the dirty bastard he was? And why was Mabel, sweet smart Mabel, so blinded by all his fake ... this fake ... facade?

Dipper let out a deep sigh and reached for the glass again.

You know what? Forget it. You once again begin to come up with wild ideas and seeing things. Not every man hovers around Mabel actually turns out to be a psychopath, a juvenile maniac or a bunch of wild Fae creatures.

Yes, but I was right then!

Because then you tried to protect your sister, not the girl you are in love with.

As if there is any difference.

Newsflash. Of course there is. Want an example? Okay second year at college, the black guy what’s-his-face? Always found an excuse to hang in your dorm room with Mabel. You do remember him, right? And how long did it take your eye to recover from swelling.

Hey, it's not my fault that he got into a fight.

It happens when you get a lot of suspicious glares.

There weren’t so many of them ...

Dude, he still probably thinks you are a racist or something.

The rumble of a bourbon being filled in a glass was almost a lullaby. Dipper did not even notice how he filled the vessel almost to the brim.

Well, that was great: he was talking to himself now! Not that it was the first time. He often arranged internal disputes on this or that topic, clashing his rational part with itself or with the sensual, but never before his emotional side sounded so offended and pitiful.

Dipper frowned, sipping an amber drink, which burned his tongue and throat, but at the same time it became a little easier to consider everything that was happening and himself in it. With this ease, eyelids grew heavy, thoughts became slower - only the footage of the last six months of his life began to flash before his eyes.

If it could be called that. A life ...

Life is something sensible, controlled in the most of things. With no comprehensible forecast, only with assumptions - and that's enough, believe me.

And this kind of floating in the time-space with rare interactions with random objects floating there as well could hardly be called a life. It's like flying on autopilot without a specific purpose. And even you can not enjoy a journey in spite of what they say. A kind of asteroid in the cold space.

Or more like....

Perhaps it's ... like a satellite? Yes, a satellite that spends its entire life quietly orbiting its planet - a circle after a circle, year after year. It's boring, but you can adapt, especially if you do not think about why you get in this orbit and what happened before. If you do not replay in your mind moments from the past when at the age of fifteen you started to notice things that should not have been noticed, when your sweating hands, weak legs and lack of words turned the simplest conversation into an attraction of strangeness and awkwardness. If you do not replay memories of prom night over and over again in your head, which you found an excuse not to go to having no date to bring along, and your sister spent the whole night accompanied by that tall blond guy from her Spanish class and returned only the morning after. Or how you secretly threw out letters from the MIT that was ready to tear you away from the opportunity to choose a college in the same city as Mabel did.

Collect all these pieces together, and here you are - Dipper Pines - a proud mayor of the city called "What am I doing with my life?". Population: one person.

No, not like that.

And you are ready to go out into the streets and tear leaflets to passers-by with an invitation to the seminar "Are you too happy with your life? I will tell you how to get rid of this feeling. Every Sunday at a local community center. BYOB"

Yes, that's better. I can at least raise a little money.

Wait, what am I talking about? I need to open my eyes ...

A little more ... a little more ...

Oh, No! Bad idea!

Too light! Too light and too many people!

Oh... damn it …

Hmm ... although what am I? This was like it before I fell into my thoughts.

And yes - I'm still here. In the backyard of this hellhole, where Turner dragged my May ... um ... my ... my sister in his clawed paws. And from this hell I will never get her out of.

Dipper opened his eyes a little wider and looked at Zach's two-story house with complete disdain. Painted in a sky blue color, with windows washed up to the illusion of their absence and a neat backyard with garden gnomes, miniature paths lined with wooden footbridges, solar-powered lanterns and a low fence separating this site from the neighboring ones, it fit perfectly into a quiet family scenery, which New City of himself represented. This house came in no comparison with a small apartment in Brooklyn, where the twins has lived for almost a year after moving to New York. The apartment, which was a witness of moments of happiness and sadness, where the TV sometimes wasn’t turn off til morning because of the another marathon of cheesy horror movies, which housed the whole world of two closest friends, who loved each other sincerely and unselfishly. And which kept the secrets of one of them about where in its sincerity and disinterestedness there were footnotes in small print.

At the age of sixteen, Dipper told himself that only time was needed and that everything would end, everything would pass.

Now that’s a funny statement. Like a film or a book with an open ending, it gives a choice. For example, how long will it take or what will end? How many more will a small gray spinning top spin before shaking and gradually slowing its course until it stops? And will it stop at all?

Well, anyway, Dipper learned one thing - nothing can depend only on his will and obey the dry logic and, therefore, control. At the age of eighteen, he began to feel how gradually the situation began to develop according to his own scenario, regardless of his efforts to manage it. At twenty-two he could hardly find an explanation for his actions and decisions, and six months ago …

Six months ago, the satellite nevertheless descended from orbit and began its journey through the cold dark and empty nothingness. Six months ago, time had finally passed and everything was over.

On that day he walked from the editorial office with a new assignment. It was Friday, there was nowhere to hurry, although on the streets of New York even if you do not want to you have to merge with the eternally rushing crowd. There was a smell of spring in the air, and no matter how cliched this phrase was, damn it, it was true. Even Dipper felt something like that. Light and warm whiff. For the short time that he walked from the editorial office, the world around acquired more color, more smells - not literally, New York, with its busy streets, always supplied smells even above normal. Everything around seemed to come to life, blossoming in all its glory.

Not surprisingly, Mabel was always so happy about the arrival of spring, wherever we were. Maybe I should learn from her? Observe her today while taking a walk in Central Park - why the guy can’t invite his sister to take a walk in Central Park? Also, it’s now so beautiful there - bare trees are just beginning to be covered with the first signs of foliage, old men and women and young lovers are walking slowly along the paths of the park, contemplating what’s happening around them ...

It is possible to pretend that there is no hidden sadness that there is no emptiness inside. You can just move your legs, do not think about anything and absorb the sensations. And all this next to the most beloved person in the whole world …

Immersed in these thoughts and not particularly paying attention to scurrying hurried to and fro people around him, Dipper did not notice how a lazy and pacified smile began to creep across his face.

At least today life is good!

Mabel was waiting for him in the Ferrara bakery on Grand Street, where she was heading after another interview. It turns out that it's not so easy to find a job in New York for a mobile designer, but Mabel was not one of those people who despairs even after four months of searching. Although it seemed to Dipper that her enthusiasm was already at an end, and only by some miracle she still finds the strength to get up in the morning. He wanted to cheer her up, somehow raise her spirits, even if she does not admit that she is sad. Show that he is near, that he was always and will be there.

He planned everything: meet Mabel after work, a walk in Central Park, pizza for dinner and several pre-prepared playlists to choose from - romantic comedies, musicals, horror films and detectives. When they were sixteen, they could spend the whole night before the TV screen watching this kind of marathon of films. It's clear, they are older now and they have work and responsibilities, but, hey - today is Friday.

Simple and sincere. Only two of them, together.

It sounds like a date. Something like that…

From Worcester Street, on which stood the editorial building, it was ten minutes to go to the venue. Turn to Grand Street and go east, bypassing Green, Mercer, Broadway, Crosby, Lafayette, Center, Baxter and Mulberry Street. Piece of cake.

Despite the fact that after the turn the only thing that he had to do was to be on the straight line all the time, Dipper repeatedly checked the route in Google maps to make sure that he does not get lost and will be in place on time. Yes, it sounds odd, but New York is a big city, and it needs to be able to navigate. He didn’t want to repeat the story when Mabel mistakenly left for Jersey City and Dipper had to explain to her how to send her geolocation message to find it and pick her up.

Although now, probably, Dipper with all the desire could not not find the place where his sister was waiting. Huge signboards to the owners of the establishment seemed to be not enough, so they hoisted a giant plastic cones with a multicolored ice cream on both sides of the entrance, put a showcase with sweets on the street, and on the visor above the entrance for some reason they’ve put an old red baker's truck or something like that. Only the red carpet leading inside was missing. Oh, no, here it is …

Mabel sat in the far corner at a table for two. Before her stood a half empty mug of latte (obviously with a syrup of bubble gum, how can one drink it at all?) And a barely touched strawberry cheesecake. A slight dreamy smile played on her lips, a look through half-open eyelids was directed against the wall opposite her, the cheek is propped up by the palm, and the head is slightly tilted. Oh, so might it be that today she was at luck?

And how did it always happen that in any situation, in any position and with any expression of her face, Mabel was more beautiful than all the girls, that he’s ever seen in his life?..

"Hi, sis," Dipper said with a smile. "How was today?"

Whatever Mabel dreamed of, she was deep in her thoughts, because only the creak of the chair being moved in front of her and the appearance of her brother in her field of vision could bring her back to reality.

"Oh, hello, Dip," she chirped smiling wider. "I didn’t expect you so early."

“What?” Dipper was slightly taken aback. “I thought that I was even five minutes late ... wait, is this sarcasm? ...”

"No, no," Mabel said, quickly removing her elbow from the table and tucking the hair into her ear. She scanned the bakery, as if not quite understanding where she was.

“What time is it now?”

"Um, seven o'clock, just the time we agreed to meet”

"Oh, already?" Mabel lowered her eyes slightly and began fiddling with the tips of her hair.

"The time flew by so quickly," she added in a half whisper. Her cheeks glowed softly.

“Yes, already”  something suspicious was in the behavior of the sister. But put it off, Pines. You were going to offer something.

"Well, how did it go this time? Everything’s worked out? Looking forward to the call?”

"Or I can call first," Mabel playfully giggled.

“Mmm? Can you call them first for what?”

Mabel raised her eyes to her brother, in which a certain perplexity was read. For another couple of seconds, the sweet mist of dreams in her gaze dissipated until something clicked in her head, and she finally realized what Dipper was talking about.

"Ah, yes," she did her jazz hands "an interview. Well, it seems that next month you’ll still have to pay for the apartment. "She sighed and took a mug of coffee with both hands, lowering her head," again ... "

"Hey, hey," Dipper reached out and covered Mabel's arm, "it's all right. It's not important, the main thing is that you find a place where you’ll be appreciated and where it’ll be interesting for you to work and manifest yourself. You're the most creative person in this world. Heck, they're just idiots, if they didn’t take you right away!”

Mabel looked into Dipper's eyes and sadly, but sincerely smiled.

"I'll help you with what I can and will be around," Dipper smiled back.

God, how beautiful she is. There were so many guys in high school who liked her that the fingers of Ford's hands would not be enough to count them. True, none of those who had the luck to be with her, did not last more than two or three weeks, because none of them saw that behind the beauty of her there is also a very sharp mind. The whole universe with its rules and colors was stored in this charming fair-haired head. But none of them seemed to notice this.

Unlike Dipper.

Mabel embodied all the things that he lacked so much: freedom, creativity, infinite energy. Without it, he would not be a whole person. No one would have him learn to enjoy life and look at the world from a different angle, different from the position of dry logic.

"Thank you, bro bro," Mabel said quietly. "It means a lot to me, really”

"Any time, May," Dipper snapped his hand away and looked at his watch. "We still have plenty of time until the sun sets. It's about 20 minutes by metro to the Central Park, so I thought that we could wind up our heads a little. What do you say? You didn’t have any plans for tonight, did you?”

Mabel looked away and blushed profusely, covering her mouth with her palm and softly giggling.

Oh no. No no no! He screwed up, did he? He said it as if he was inviting her on a date. Oh, damn, oh, damn it! He rehearsed this phrase so much that it sounded like a simple friendly proposal in order to funk up anyway ?! She knows, she knows for sure, and now this situation will become even more awkward.

Set the panic aside! I need to figure out how to get out of this. Just laugh it off or try to explain what he meant.

Shit, why his palms are so sweaty? Is he in the eighth grade again?

“It sounds tempting, Dip. I’d really like to take a walk now …”

Oh, my God, phew. Everything is fine.

"... but, you see ..."

But? What’s for but? But what?

"... I really don’t know how it happened ... it seems that I have a date tonight!" Mabel finished her phrase. Her eyes were just glowing with happiness. The smile was broader and more dreamy than before, which made Dipper feel cold in the lower abdomen.

“I really didn’t know that this is the case in real life, but when I was walking from Five Points here ... i mean, our eyes just met, and I realized that he’d come up to me and ask me some question or say something... I just don’t understand how you constantly experience such stress every time you try to talk to a girl, this has never happened to me ...”

But Dipper wasn’t listening anymore. Only now he finally noticed all the details surrounding them. Strawberry cheesecake - when was the last time Mabel allowed herself something sweet in the city? Of course, they were not so poor, but given the fact that Mabel still did not have a permanent job, she tried to save money and not squander the money of her brother over trifles. So it was a treat. Then, how did Dipper not notice the empty espresso cup standing on his side of the table? He was too busy contemplating his sister to draw attention to this and to the fact that Mabel was constantly fiddling a napkin in her hand, on which was visible the pen-written sequence of numbers and one word.

Zach.

He left her his phone number. Who does this now? What kind of moron should one be to do this, instead of just dictating a number to be recorded in the phone?

That invisible, light breath that warmed Dipper so far from the moment he left the editorial office was instantly replaced by an importunate cold draft, from which all the muscles of his face grew cold and numb, turning nis face into a fixed mask that did not express any emotion. The bright March evening began to be replaced by a dark emptiness.

And Mabel kept talking and talking. She was extremely excited by what was happening: so many emotions, so many assumptions and hopes. As many as many times the only one phrase sounded in Dipper's head:

It happened again …

Sooner or later, it should have happened, but why today? On the day when he finally felt a barely perceptible wave of happiness?

Sometimes it seems that the universe itself is against you. Whether you achieve something desirable say some fun and joy come to life - bam! Sign here, please.

On the one hand, you can, of course, decide that this is "designed" so, that it’s fate and junk, that everything is natural and the time has come. The time for whatever - for example, the time to give up.

On the other hand, one can regard this same "bam" from the Universe as an appeal not to relax and to act further, to become better, to grow and all that.

You can, of course, just not react at all.

It depends.

A lot of dependencies happens to be all around us. Someone sits for hours with a guitar, learns to play the way his or hers favorite performers do, someone shoves career needle into his or hers veins, someone’s obsessed with science - yes, there are plenty of examples.

And love is something you can depend on too.

It’s even addictive.

And for someone who already has a strong addiction, something smoother will ... be like ...

Damn ... words ... how to make them into sentences? ..

So, enough for today's memories.

And speaking about strong and smooth ... I need another drink.

The glass stood on the table right here. Where is it ... hey?

Hey!

What the...?

"You tell me. That's enough for you, kid."

Kid? Oh he didn’t...

Dipper opened his eyes, trying to make out the speaker with him. It would have been better if it was anyone, but Zach.

"I think you might have the wrong glass, buddy," he croaked, trying to focus on the figure of the man next to him holding a vessel with amber corn liquid.

“Oh yeah? And didn’t you have the wrong party, knucklehead? The last thing I want to see right now is how my nephew gets drunk as hell at his birthday party”

Wait…

Stan? ..

“No, Pope John Paul II. Who do you think?”

In a second, Dipper's eyes flew open, and consciousness returned to online mode. Was he talking all this time out loud?

“I ... um” Dipper uncomfortably fidgeting on the chair, adjusting the edges of the shirt that was pulled up and briskly brushing his hair with fingers.

"Stan ... how long ... are you sitting here?"

"What? You wanna know how much of that nonsense that you muttered I heard? Don’t worry, your secrets will die with me.”

Oh no…

Dipper swallowed nervously and nodded uncertainly, looking before him. Stan responded with a laugh and added, changing his tone from more strict to good-natured:

"It's a joke, kid," he lifted his massive hand onto his nephew's shoulder, "there's nothing for me to blackmail you. This time.”

If they were in another place and under different circumstances, Dipper would have laughed along with his Gruncle. Now he did not even try, because together with laughter it would have turned out to be some silly awkward likeness.

"And yet, what made you to portray that guy ... Kain Rivers? Give you a piece of cake in the hand, and there’ll be complete similarity.”

"You mean Keanu Reeves?"

“Him, too.”

Dipper sighed and lowered his head, covered his face with his hands. Stan, having sipped a little bourbon from the glass, put his hand on his shoulder again.

“Seriously, Dip, what's wrong?” he added worried.

“Nothing, I'm fine” telling lies to a man who has proved over many years that he is the most understanding and caring member of the family left a disgusting taste on the tip of his tongue. If someone than it would be Stan to always be able to hear out and help. He would lay down his bones for the well-being of his family. Maybe he can at least somehow pour out his soul? ..

“What did you feel when Gruncle Ford disappeared in the portal? What’s it like to understand that your closest friend’s gone forever?”

Stan also sighed, setting aside his glass, and turned to face Dipper.

“Listen. You and Mabel, as long as I can remember, have always been together. You grew up, studied, moved to another cities. As I said, you rarely see such a relationship between a brother and a sister. But sooner or later, both of you should have had other companions of life. This is normal - it’s so arranged in the world. People get married, have families, children, invite each other to their dinners, go to work, dig in the garden in the backyard. It’s not the same as getting lost in another dimension for thirty years. Mabel just got married, she didn’t disappear from your life. Yes, now you’ll be separated not by the walls of the rooms, but by a good one and a half hour drive, but ... I’m not a good speaker... anyway,” - he drank some more whiskey.

"You two are better than we were with my brother. I'm telling you this, Ford claimed it until his last breath - believe me. Even if you were separated by space and time, you’d find a way to find yourselves... I mean to find each other. Do you understand what I mean?”

Dipper looked at the old man. In Stan's glance, God bless his heart, confidence and love were read. As always. And although he did not come even a bit close to understanding what was going on in Dipper's heart, his words still warmed.

"Yes, I do, Gruncle," Dipper smiled slightly. "Thank you."

"Well, it takes more than a simple thanks to be stuffed" Stan laughed and rose from his seat, leaning on the cane, "if you knew what they feed you on the plane, you’d understand what I mean. Next time I fly business class, and you pay. I spotted like a table with snacks inside, it's time to visit it.”

With these words he headed toward the house, stepping unsteadily and constantly leaning on his cane. Dipper saluted him in the style of Lando Calrissian and frowned. It was not fair  to upset Stan today with talk like that. So much of a burden was falling on his shoulders lately, and then there's just a glimpse of joy. Still, not every day his grand-niece marries.

It's a pity that Ford did not live to see this day. I definitely need to take a couple of  days off and go to Oregon. Stan becomes too weak to regularly care for the grave.

“Dipper! Bro-bro!”

Oh no.

Dipper pulled a smile on his face and turned to the source of the sound. There she was, flying to him in a light purple summer dress with a white collar.

"Silly drunken little brother. Where did you disappear?“ Mabel laughed, catching him with an empty glass and a half-empty bottle.

Dipper rolled his eyes and smiled wider.

"Mabel, we're the same age. Also I noticed that one bottle of champagne was open before the guests arrived”

He frowned in a mocking way and rubbed his chin,

“Hmm ... But who drank the champagne?..”

He pretended to be chewing a pen, thinking hard.

Mabel stuck out her tongue at her brother and laughed loudly.

"You’re such a nerd!"

She plopped down next to him and laid her head on his shoulder.

“Just think of it, we’re twenty-five now. Do people even have to live so long?”

"I'm still surprised that you even lived to be of age, considering the amount of sugar you absorb daily ... Ow!"  light elbow pokes from her still caught him off guard.

“You deserved that. Be grateful that Mister Tickles didn’t show up for such conversations with your sister.”

“Okaaaay. Mabel, are you sure you’re twenty-five?”  Dipper quickly moved away from Mabel, who was ready to attack on his brother's ribs with his fingers spread out, and raised both hands, "Okay, okay! No more of that!”

"Good brother." Mabel nodded with a satisfied look. "And now, if you'll allow me, jokes aside."

She took a small rectangular bundle from her handbag hanging from her shoulder on a thin chain and solemnly handed it to Dipper.

“Here!”

Dipper took the package from his sister's hands and for a few seconds admired this neatly wrapped in a nice-to-feel gift paper object. It was a pity to spoil such beauty.

“Come on, open it!”

In one motion Dipper opened the package, and in his hands was a large, thick notebook of dark blue. On his soft leather cover was woven golden threads of a small pine tree. Dipper carefully opened the title page, which was encoded with a neat letter. This time Dipper's face was lit up with a sincere smile - they invented the cipher together, many years ago, when in the classroom they passed notes to each other or left them in lockers.

"Wow ..." Dipper sighed. "I ... um ... thanks, Mabel."

"You're welcome, Dip," his sister shone, "I just wondered where it's seen that Dipper wouldn’t have a journal, would he?"  she again laughed and wrapped her arms around him, pulling her brother in a bear hug.

“Happy birthday, Dipper.”

"Happy birthday, Mabel," he replied, breathing in the fragrance of her floral perfume. "I ... um-uh ..." he cleared his throat and pulled away. "My present ... it... I decided not to carry it with me, so it's in the house, but ... I'm sure you'll like it too.

“It would be better if it was so.” Mabel said haughtily. With these words she jumped up, grabbing Dipper by the sleeve of his shirt and dragging him toward the house.

"There's a whole bunch of them there! Gifts!” she skipped off to the house, taking her stumbling brother along with her. "Let's go! I can’t wait to open each one right now!”

* * *

“Son of a…”  the lighter was still sent to the garbage because of malfunctioning, and now all the hope remained that the houses still had matches. Dipper had already rummaged through all the drawers in the kitchen, but not even one sucker was found in this abundance of kitchen utensils and cutlery, such an absurd abundance for the apartment, now serving as a lonely young man's refuge.

Dipper's gaze wandered around the kitchen, the space in his eyes doubled, quadrified - in general it was multiplying in every possible way, and it was extremely difficult to focus on something definite.

Was it really necessary to get so drunk? He did not have a car in New York for the time being, he used to travel by public transport and a taxi, but this is not an excuse for finding a pub on his way home to Brooklyn and staying there until midnight. The morning will be very bad. Very painful and bad.

But, it looks like this is the problem of tomorrow's Dipper, not today's, who has a real business to do now.

He held his hand to the countertop, and staggered to the gas stove, which looked like the last chance to light a damned cigarette, clamped in his teeth. Unsafe last chance. After meditating for couple of seconds, Dipper shook his head, muttering "No, sir," and went to investigate further. Still an eternity, according to the present chronology of Dipper, was wasted - there were no lighters or matches in the house, so that the stove was again in his field of vision.

Still adhering to the nearby interior for a safety net, Dipper drove to the suspicious fire-breathing inhabitant of his house. The fire was only lit from the fifth attempt, and, bending over to the hotplate itself and almost putting his shirt collar on fire, Dipper finally sucked in the pungent tobacco smoke.

And, it turned out that trying to smoke his first cigarette in life right now was a bad idea. Even disgusting. Not only that, he immediately became overwhelmed with a heavy cough and the shaking of his diaphragm awakened something dark in the stomach, consisting of half of bourbon, and half of the birthday cake.

Oh, shit, shit, SHIT!

To the left from the kitchen into the corridor, to the end ... lights on...

Where’s this switch ?!

Oh no! ..

FUCK!!!

At the last second Dipper managed to touch the toilet before he utterly unpleasantly vomited. All thoughts and emotions were compressed into a dot, leaving the consciousness with a devastatingly pure emptiness.

At some point, it might even have seemed that Dipper had blacked out, but as soon as the last urge receded, he straightened leaning with his hands on the rim of the toilet bowl and stood on his unsteady legs and went to the sink, much more tired and much less drunk.

At least giving the face a splash and rinsing the mouth with a freshener will not hurt.

And what do we have here? Oh, nothing, just your dirty still green face with a week stubble and some substance smeared around your mouth.

Oh, gross, ew!

He pulled off his shirt right over his head, doused his face with cold water, rinsed his mouth and staggered into his room.

Well, that's my life now. Drinking, no permanent job, a broken heart ... what could be better?

Dipper hobbled to the bed and plumped on it, without even bothering to remove the veil and pull off his trousers.

At least here I can quit pretending, he thought, as the tears came down bombarding his pillow.