#the piper became the piped

[takusan-no-ai]

My Hubby calls Shotgun

PAIRING: Piper x Male Reader (Romantic) (Fluff)

SUMMARY: Phaethon is shocked when Piper’s husband makes an appearance.

Belle and Wise drove their car into The Outer Ring, with their destination being Blazewood. The Sons of Calydon had a new commission for Phaethon to aid in. “Fairy, remind me what Piper needed our help with again?” Wise asked Fairy.

“Of course. As my assistants it is only natural that I help you remember basic information.” Fairy sassed. Wise and Belle rolled their eyes and played along.

“Yes, yes, we’re stupid and need your help, Fairy.” Belle replied. In an instant fairy’s voice echoed throughout the vehicle as they pulled up towards Blazewood.

“Piper requested that Phaethon help retrieve lost cargo from inside a further out hollow; according to witnesses, bandits and ethereals were spotted nearby.” They finally pulled into a stop, parking just outside of Cheesetopia. The siblings exited the car, with Piper and Lighter waiting for them.

Lighter nodded for them to come over whilst Piper lazed around in her truck. “Proxies. Thanks for coming out here. Let’s just cut to the chase and get that cargo; those supplies are essential to the economy of Blazewood, and by association, the Sons of Calydon.” Lighter said. Belle already set up Eous, while Wise spoke with Piper.

“Ooh, and by the way proxies,” Piper put her truck into drive while Eous got in the passenger’s seat, “this is a really important commission for me, so I’m gonna be on my a-game.”

Belle and Wise look visibly shaken by the news; even Lighter cocks his head to the side. Piper yawns, “Ready, proxy?”.

Not long after, Piper parks her truck inside the hollow, now in front of the flipped over truck. “We got here pretty fast. All thanks to our hard working proxy!” Piper cheers on Eous, who was currently controlled by Belle.

Lighter swiftly hopped out the truck, immediately running off to fight against the gathering ethereals and fleeing thugs. Piper soon joins in with more energy than usual. The enemies are quickly dealt with, and Lighter proceeded to pack the cargo into Piper’s vehicle.

Eous walked up to Piper, who was currently looking at the drivers seat of the flipped truck. “Everything okay Pipe—WHOA!” Belle exclaimed, almost disconnecting from Eous in shock.

“Ahh, good. He’s just sleep’n. I could really use some good ZZZ’s myself.” Piper said while stretching, cuddling close to the passed out man before her.

Lighter walked over, having now finished packing up the cargo. “So he’s why you were so anxious for Phaethon to get here.” Eous looked between the two calydon members.

“I’m clearly missing some important details here!” Belle said.

“Yeah, who is that guy?” Wise asked, looking over Belle’s shoulder.

…

…

…

“He’s her WHAT?! I didn’t even know Piper was married!” Belle shouted with excitement. They had now returned to Blazewood, with the sleeping man who was called (Y/N), sitting beside his beloved wife.

“You youngsters get shocked over the littlest things. We’ve only been married for a few years. And we’ve only known you for a few weeks. It’s only natural you wouldn’t know.” Piper waved off the siblings clear as day surprise.

“So, (Y/N), why did you join the Sons of Calydon?” Wise asked curiously.

(Y/N) cracked his neck before leaning back in his chair, tiredness evident on his face.

“Cuz I won a bet and became Mr. Wheel.”

“?!” Wise and Belle were left even more confused. Meanwhile, Piper and (Y/N) just curled into each other without a care in the world.

- Fin

[kirbybecomesastarwarrior]

Why doesn't Marx want Kirby to forgive him, is it just the guilt thing?

Long story short, this is a combination of "the fear of getting hurt/rejected" & "shame and guilt," which results in self-sabotaging, but the main reason is...

HAMELIN REALLY MESSED UP MARX!

So, like Kirby with Cappytown... Marx was Hamelin's hero, but they betrayed him and thus turned to the dark side.

This all ties into his initial hatred for Kirby... he's very much angry at his former self for being so foolishly naive, and Kirby's good nature is too reminiscent of his former self.

That also makes it the main reason he could never truly hate Kirby... a younger self that he can't help but connect with. Leading to his "fake friend act" to accidentally grow to care for him and actually want him as a friend.

However, Marx knows he deceives Kirby the same way the people of Hamelin did to him... "pretending they cared for him." Using the very same methods, the townsfolk did to him... ("became what he hated")

This is why Marx doesn't have the heart to forgive himself... even though Kirby was always ready to forgive him and welcome him back with open arms. Because he knows he can never forgive the people of Hamelin... Why should Kirby? And, of course, he does!

The restoration of a friendship between Marx & Kirby happens~, But unlike the people of Hamelin, Kirby has this unconditional love for Marx and wants more than anything to have him back in his life.

I'd say these events happened after Planet Robboot... Marx finally makes his return and "saves Kirby?!" (I'm not gonna reveal from what because of spoilers)

With my interpretation of Marx, I wanted to take him into a sympathetic route (to make him stand out from the others). He still has the sass and mischievous charm, but I wanted to give him a proper reason why he is the way he is. It's a more heartfelt version of Marx that Kirby would want to be friends with and him in turn.

Marx represents "self-worth"; if people don't appreciate or treat you the way you deserve, then they don't deserve you. (Minus the piping all the Dark Matter back into the town as revenge...) KNOW YOUR WORTH AS A PERSON PEOPLE!

And he stands as one of the main reasons why Kirby ultimately chooses to become a star warrior. Moved out of the Popstar to travel and pursue his aspirations & dreams.

Please keep reading for spoilers & quick bonus comic~

So Arthur pretty much reveals Marx's backstory to the rest of the Kirby gang... and needless to say, they're speechless!

He still doesn't want to be forgiven, so he stays with Magolor (which I cover here with Magolor's lore), but yeah, of course, Marx opened up to Mags about Hamelin. And that's why Mags is there, while Kirby & Marx are back in his place telling his story to Kirby. (Kirby saw it because of "empathic touch" but didn't know the exact details of it..)

And Dragato, yeah, he was already on his redemption arc (Falspar's already went through his with Fluff, so he's there for moral support, plus it's the reason why Arthur partnered up together).... he already knew he messed up. But now, hearing the full story that he was, not only did he fall for the people of Hamelin's lies, but... MARX WAS THEIR HERO. (I know kinda of shoehorned the crew for the sake of missing the gang, I just missed them I had to...)

There's actually a small bit of tragedy... while the adults sold Marx out, the children who really loved him would've vouched for him... it'll tie back into his character later.

And I know it seems like I'm painting Dragato in such a bad light, but it's part of his character development. And for those of you who don't know... HIS MENTOR WAS DAME MORGAN (LE FAYE)! So yeah, high standards, little affection, never impressed~

Which is why I still need to establish her a bit more! More Morgan coming up soon

I'm trying to get to the old asks I wasn't able to answer before (since I was still developing the lore...) And I just need a little break from the tournament plus, I've been working on some Kirfluff stuff for Oct.: Kirfluff week!

Also, little funny side notes and gags' "Hero to Zero... Hercules" reference and Mag's little side comment. Based on the meme, "you ruined a perfectly good child..."

So, hope you guys enjoyed it!

[zerogate]

Music and wild dancing phenomena recur in all shapes and forms throughout history. In the history of European Christianity, music in service to spiritual dance and ceremony has been a constant, periodically erupting into irrepressible movements. In many European dance epidemics, participants vied with the old Greeks in wildness, for example in the Festival of Fools, in which people donned costumes of animals, often disguising themselves as the other gender, happily doing and saying things out of character, all of which was outrageous to Christian piety.

The “dancing” was not square or genteel but explosive, spastic, jerky, and hopping. There were dances meant to promote the fertility of crops, as well as of women, or to celebrate a saint or a holy day. The hungry, the sick, and the miserable danced for relief, for healing, for companionship. There were dances of the dead meant to help the dead but also to ward off the dangers that might issue from the insulted dead. J. G. Frazer, distinguished British folklorist and anthropologist, has documented the curious fact that early humanity lived in extreme fear of the dead, even dead folks who in life were friends and loved ones....

There is a strange side to music that is dark. You’ve probably heard of the Pied Piper of Hamelin. An odd little fellow comes strolling through town blowing tunes on his pipe and the children spontaneously break free and follow the Piper out of town and never come back. It’s a true story, and 147 children were never seen again. All kinds of historical documentation bears this out. All we know is that the piping had the power to lure the children into whatever made them disappear...

As for the Dionysian frenzy, E. Lewis Backman, a professor of pharmacology from the University of Upsala, has tracked dance epidemics in Western history.

An epidemic erupted in a region near the Rhine in 1374. That year was a time of unprecedented floods; the water of the Rhine was twenty-six feet higher than normal from the biggest snowfalls in hundreds of years. In the midst of this chaos arrived the choreomaniacs, victims of a mysterious disease called choreomania, dance mania, which became a big epidemic sweeping across Europe. According to one French historian, “the dancers were seized by some crazy madness, a frenzy hitherto unknown. They took off their clothes and went about naked; they put wreathes of flowers on their heads; they held each other hand in hand, and so they danced through the streets.”

Was this a disease or a Dionysian explosion of ecstatic consciousness—an unconscious rebellion against boredom, poverty, and oppression? However bizarre and frightening their behavior, very few died; in the end, they all recovered and were restored to their normal selves.

-- Michael Grosso, Yoga of Sound: the Life and Teachings of the Celestial Songman, Swami Nada Brahmananda

[kekaki-cupcakes]

hi! hope you're well!

could you please do one where jason breaks up with Piper because he realises he's in love with reader since he was little?

like reader and jason are the bestest friends with mutual crushes but were too oblivious to do anything about it and the seven have to drop the fact that reader likes him back?

Thanks

heya! I combined this ask with someone who was asking for a Jason x reader songfic with the song Bad Idea Right? by Olivia Rodrigo <3

Romeo and Julieting---Jason Grace x reader [soundtrack: Olivia Rodrigo]

»»————-　★　————-««

“It’s a bad idea, Pipes!”

Piper pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed. “You are going to go to their cabin, you are going to make them sit down, and you are going to tell them that you have a crush on them, okay? And then you can both have a cutesy little romantic moment or whatever you're supposed to do in a relationship, okay?” 

“What do you mean, ‘whatever you’re supposed to do in a relationship’?” Jason asked with a confused frown. He glanced up at Piper who was pacing back and forth as he sat cross legged on her bed, picking at her Olivia rodrigo doona cover. “We were in a relationship, like, five minutes ago.” 

Piper cocked her head at him with a raised eyebrow, “that didn’t count and you know it, now go kiss them!”

“Not with tongue though,” Leo added, slurping a juice box as he spun in circles on the chair by Piper’s desk. “At least not the first time, it’d be a bit over the top. I mean unless you’re into that I guess-” 

“What are you even doing here?” Jason asked him, not unkindly. 

Leo smirked and then became distracted by the make up box on Piper’s desk, pulling out a dark lipstick and uncapping it with wide eyes. He turned back to Jason, “oh I’m watching you fail at both of your relationships.”

Jason frowned, “I just got dumped, why are you making fun of me?” 

Leo twisted the base of the lipstick and then proceeded to lick it. He screwed up his face and put it away quickly. “You two forgot you were dating for an entire week, I had to remind you when you started drooling over a certain demigod that you already had a girlfriend.” 

“Okay, that’s fair,” Jason muttered. Piper chuckled and moved her things away from Leo’s curious grabby hands, quickly taking her eyeliner off before he tried to taste test that as well. “But… but I can’t just walk up to them and be like, ‘hey, you’re my best friend, wanna kiss?’”

Leo blinked. “Why not?”

Jason wasn’t sure how his friend was still alive, but then he remembered that Leo had died already anyway. Piper shrugged, “don’t blame him, he doesn’t know how romance or social situations work.”

“Hey!” Leo hissed, pointing at her with a contour brush he’d managed to find, “that’s homophobic!”

“How can I be homophobic?” Piper screeched, pointing to the rainbow flag pinned up lopsidedly above her bed, next to the hello kitty poster and the giant banner that read ‘i fucked your mum and all i got was this stupid flag’. 

Leo just stuck his tongue out at her. Then he turned to Jason. “If you don’t go romeo and juliet your way into a make out session, I will personally turn your stash of musk sticks into soot.”

Piper fiddled with her portable speaker, connecting it to the demigod proof phones Leo had managed to whip up in under three days after he discovered the Pokemon Go map reached CHB. “

“What do you mean Romeo and Juliet?” Jason asked.

“You gotta go up to their window and pretend it’s a balcony, Grace,” Piper said. SHe looked away from Olivia Rodrigo’s spotify and to the window. “It’s even raining outside. Perfect.”

Jason crossed his arms stubbornly, “I can think of a million ways it could go wrong.”

“Well I can’t,” Leo said as he started curling his eyelashes. The speaker next to him skipped a few beats and staticked it’ way through the music for a moment. Piper grinned. 

“It’s a bad idea! I’m not doing it!”

Seein' you tonight, it's a bad idea, right?

»»————-　★　————-««

Jason sucked in a breath and shut the Aphrodite cabin door behind him, hitching up his checked purple pajama pants and plodding through the dirt between the cabins lined up. 

Seein' you tonight, it's a bad idea, right?

Even if he didn’t work up the courage to tell you how pretty he thought your eyes were when you smiled and how endearing it was that you wrapped and arm around his shoulders every time you were walking together and how that thing you did with your tongue on your lip drove him crazy, he’d still get to see you. So technically he was just visiting his best friend, what was wrong with that?

Seein' you tonight, it's a bad idea, right?

Maybe the fact that if said best friend asked to kiss him Jason wouldn’t even hesitate.

Seein' you tonight, it's a bad idea, right?

»»————-　★　————-««

You pulled your curtains shut and waited for your younger siblings to finish putting all of their teddies to bed before the lamps were clicked off. After a few minutes, only the snores of your cabin mates and the rain on the roof were audible.

Hypnos dragged away everyone else in your cabin quickly, but you lay awake staring at the roof, your doona pulled up to your chin. A few polaroids were stuck to the walls next to your head, and the axolotl Squishmellow Leo had bought you for your birthday was in bed with you. You hugged it to your chest and shuffled around, trying to get to sleep.  

You ignored the first tap at your window, which was probably just a Harpy checking everyone was tucked into their beds and not planning to sneak out. 

The second one however, roused you from the warmth of the blanket Annabeth had crocheted as she discovered her skills with weaving. You paused in front of the window, sitting cross legged on your pillow. Whoever it was outside tapped again, so you pulled back the curtains and peeked out with narrowed eyes. 

A grin spread across your face before you could help it, and you heaved the frame up, poking your head out into the night to whisper shout. “What are you doing dude? It’s pouring!”

Jason blinked up at you with soggy hair and muddy pajamas. He plodded through the puddles up to your window. Luckily he was tall enough that you were eye level when he hopped onto a little boulder. “Um…”

“Gimme a second,” you muttered, and crawled out of bed to the shoe rack by the door. Avoiding the floorboards you knew would creak, you hopped back into bed and slid the pink spotty umbrella through the window, opening it up above Jason. 

He smiled, the scar on his lip twisting. You restrained yourself from reaching out to touch it and instead held the umbrella for him. “Is there a reason you’re Romeo and Julieting?” 

Jason eyes were wide and pale blue, like the sky behind a thin veil of clouds. “How am i the only one who- never mind. Uhm… I need to tell you something. 

The rain made it hard for you to hear whatever your best friend was muttering, so you beckoned him closer with a confused smile, “yeah? Did you forget how to use the toaster again? Because honestly I don’t know why you’re opposed to Leo just-” 

“Because of hygiene, for one,” Jason started, “but that’s not why I’m here.”

You gave him a second to think, not used to the genuinely fearful look on his face dripping with rain you hoped wouldn’t turn to tears. You didn’t really know where this was going.

He took a deep breath, his fingers curling around your window sill. “If this goes wrong, please blame Leo and Piper.”

“I could blame them for anything, and I’d be right.” 

Jason ducked his head and spoke to the ground. “I kind of… really like you. I’ve liked you for a long time, actually. I didn’t realize for a while, but it’s sort of…Yeah. It’s you.” 

So it wouldn’t be Jason crying, you realized. It would be you. 

You took a second to try that deep breathing thing someone had told you about, and smoothed out the front of your mickey mouse pajama shirt, blinking rapidly. The reality hadn’t really set it, you were in a sort of shocked state, so you tried to talk before you burst into tears. 

“Uhm,” you said weakly. “I think you might’ve forgotten about your girlfriend again, Jase.”

He went pale. Then he started shaking his head like a wet dog, which he sort of was, really. “No, no not like that. I mean, yeah I like you like that, wait- okay. Piper broke up with me, like five minutes ago, and-”

You took another deep breath and then handed Jason the umbrella. He took it with a lost expression, and you shut your window quickly, breaths turning as shaky as your hands. You were your childhood crushes rebound. You sort of wished you hadn’t opened that window, actually.

Jason tapped again, a lot quicker this time, and urgent. 

Ignoring him was the obvious choice, but that felt too kind. You yanked open the curtains again and then the glass, sticking your head out with a sharp glare. “I will not be your rebound-”

“She broke up with me because of you.” Jason blurted as soon as he realized you could hear him. 

He paused then, and you took in the holy depressing sight that was Jason Grace in dirty pajamas standing outside your window in the middle of the night, rain and tears dripping down his cheeks. “Well, not completely. We never really liked each other, it was all because of Hera, really. We just, well… neither of us could be bothered to figure out our feelings so we stayed together.”

Jason looked down at the ugg boots covered in grass and soil he was wearing. You were pretty sure they were Drew’s. “Apparently she got sick of me pining over you, so she dumped me so that they could make me come here and well, yeah, tell you.”

You blinked in shock for probably too long.

“I don’t wanna make you do anything, and you don't have to say anything, ever, actually.” Jason said quickly, with only honesty on his cute face. “You don’t have to keep being my friend, if you don’t want to, but I won't be weird, I promise. We can pretend this didn’t actually happen. I just sort of wanted to tell you, so I didn't have to hide it forever, I guess.” 

“They?” You asked.

Jason glared in the direction of the Aphrodite cabin. He spoke in a hollow voice. “It was an ambush. There were no survivors.”

You grinned, and then reached out into the pouring rain and held the umbrella, your hand over his. Jason whipped around with red cheeks and a frozen expression. “Uh-”

“Jason,” you began softly. “Did you want to Romeo and Juliet me?”

He blinked. 

“That means come here so I can kiss you,” You muttered, and dragged the son of Jupiter closer by the front of his shirt. Jason’s eyes widened and he made a shocked little sound.

He hopped back onto the boulder and reached up to your window sill though. His eyes were that bit lower than your own in that way you knew exactly what he was thinking and of course you’d oblige. 

“Just c’mere,” you whispered, trying to hold in your smile. Jason leant forward eagerly, and you held the umbrella in one hand tightly, the other sliding up to cup his jaw. You’d wondered what the scar on Jason’s lip felt like. 

Turned out it was just as soft as the rest of him. 

You tilted your head as heat seemed to build in your veins, making your head light. You couldn’t help but pull him closer, if that was even possible, and kissed him firmly. He made another odd sound and opened his mouth slowly.

From what you’d heard from your older siblings, kissing was awesome. You’d always thought it sounded a bit gross though, I mean, someone elses mouth? Their tongue?

This badly timed badly worded fucking adorbale boy in front of you proved that theory wrong. Jason threaded his fingers through your own and you leaned further out the window, drawing him back in and pressing your mouth deeper into his own, lungs burning.  

“Oh my gods,” Jason croaked, opening his eyes a little when you finally pulled away, gasping for air and trying to straighten out your thoughts. 

“Oh my gods,” you agreed, slipping your hand around the back of his neck and holding him close, fingers fiddling with the baby hairs there. Jason grinned, his cheeks as red as his lips. 

“Oh my gods! Go Jason!”

You both turned to see Piper and Leo cheering from behind another cabin, holding a barbie umbrella between them. 

Jason blinked at them, and then turned to you, “I told you, it was an ambush.” 

»»————-　★　————-««

[hyacinthusmemorial]

Marsyas Verses Apollo

I was researching for my story Forgotten Age yesterday, and I specifically was looking into the story about Marsyas, the satyr who played the pipes and thought he was just as good as the god Apollo. I had a lot of feelings that I needed to unleash before I could go about my day--and I just want to preface that this is an analysis of Lucius Apuleius's Florida and not other sources regarding Marsyas.

Lucius Apuleius recounts that Marsyas played music in the days when "the art was but newly born and only just beginning to grow." He was playing the pipe in early times of civilization, before it was truly developed. He only knew how to play simple songs that were entertaining, but they were great compositions. Lucius Apuleius says aptly that nothing can be perfect in its conception, its new, it has basic elements that need to be developed. High musicians were bound by what they knew, and they knew about as much as shepherd and cowherds. But, Marsyas's father/instructor, Hyagnis, was already developing the art, and he learned how to separate the pipes into two, he learned how to play with two hands, one breath for two pipes.

Marsyas became famous for his pipe-playing Phrygia, which is to say for comparison he was a bango player from Tennessee, pretty skilled at his pipe, but ultimately, he knew how to play a simple tune with energy. The problem is not that Marsyas thought he was good, or even that he wanted to prove he was good. The problem was that he insulted Apollo when he challenged him.

The scene of their competition that Lucius Apuleius describes is so interesting--Marsyas in his boisterousness, Apollo in his cool silence. Marsyas is cocky, loud, speaking of his greatness in comparison to Apollo while Apollo is a god, he is quiet, observant, almost snake-like in his serenity as he watches his prey make his moves. Lucius Apuleius takes great care to illustrate the dichotomy between the two, even down to the physical level.

Marsyas is described as being with "a filthy beard" and "grim and shaggy face of a wild beast." In fact, Marsyas may have been a man, not a satyr, but he looks so much like a beast--they will call him half man and half goat. "His body was covered with hair and bristles." As Lucius Apuleius says, "Twas hideousness contending with beauty, a rude boor against a sage, a beast against a god."

Apollo is described by Marsyas himself:

In the first place...his hair is smoothed and plastered into tufts and curls that fall about his brow and hang before his face. His body is fair from head to foot, his limbs shine bright, his tongue gives oracles, and he is equally eloquent in prose or verse, propose which you will. What of his robes so fine in texture, so soft to the touch, aglow with purple? What of his lyre that flashes gold, gleams white with ivory, and shimmers with rainbow gems? What of his song, so cunning and so sweet? Nay, all these allurements suit with naught save luxury. To virtue they bring shame alone!

Marsyas denounces Apollo for being Apollo: beautiful, wise, calm. Marsyas despises his pretty clothes and his pretty lyre.

Marsyas then makes an exposé of himself to Apollo--he shows off his unkempt body and his unwashed state, and he says he is the model of perfection, not Apollo.

This imagery of a savage man trying to tell god what perfection is and how he might obtain it. The god needs no instruction. Apollo says nothing in this account, the Muses and Minerva (Athena) are amused and laugh at Marsyas--not because he possesses any humor but because it is so outrageous. His insults are comical in their depravity.

They have their contest, Apollo wins, and you can see his quiet rage in how he kills Marsyas. "When this boastful piper had been defeated in the contest and had been skinned as though he were a two-footed bear, they left him with his entrails torn and exposed to the air." They treated Marsyas like he was an animal because he acted like an animal. But, Apollo seems to regret this savage action--"Apollo he was ashamed of so inglorious a victory."

Apollo, it seems, regrets the whole situation because it drove him to the same depths that Marsyas sat in. It seems more of a story about Savagery verses Civilization than a story about Hubris in Lucius Apuleius's work. Yes, Hubris is a theme, but the dichotomy between Apollo and Marsyas cannot be ignored either. It is directly called out, and when Apollo sinks to the same depths as Marsyas, he is ashamed. It's not a glorious victory.

[dayz72]

Day One Wilderness/Nicknames

Piper Mclean had only the wilderness school for a few weeks now, but she was already so done with it. Honestly, she had been done with this dump of a place since her dad's dumb assistant had suggested it. She never wanted to be in a place full of these spoiled rich delinquents, even though she guessed she was one. All you do is borrow one little car (which was actually given to you freely, by the way, but no one would listen to you), and your life is practically over! Every day it was the same old crap, waking up at five am, eating slop, doing a load of unpaid child labor, some shit like that, and on the weekends, those awful offline campouts in the middle of that weird old dying forest. And to make it worse, she had been immediately singled out by Stacy's dumb little clique. Maybe it was because she didn't dress like a preppy Instagram girl, maybe it was because she was Native American, maybe it was because she was different in some other way... but it didn't even matter. All that mattered was that she wanted that girl dead in a ditch. Speaking of that devil of a girl, "oh look, Lina, that poor little homeless motherless girl is sitting by herself." crooned Stacy with fake sympathy.

”shut it, bimbo,” bit back Piper. She was not in the mood for this today. Stacy rolled her sky-blue eyes. And scoffed,

”Why don’t you return to the res if you don’t like it here?” Stacy chuckled and answered her question, “Oh wait, you can’t. You're stuck here, so get used to it. your daddy may be a movie star, but that doesn’t mean shit over here, freak.”

”What did you call me?” Piper rose to her feet, ready to pounce. Stacy's eyes widened in fear as Piper charged her, dropping her coat on the bench as she did. She was gonna teach this bitch a lesson. She raised her hand to slap Stacy when she heard a boy's voice.

"hey hey ladies, let's not fight there's enough of me for the both of you," said the short, impish boy before them. Piper had never seen this kid before and knew almost everyone at this damned school. Perhaps he was just quiet, but he didn't seem like the quiet kid type. Piper figured he was new here. She felt bad that this peppy boy's spirit would soon be crushed.

Piper gave him a strange look. "who the hell are you?" she didn't mean to sound so rude, but she was already in a bad mood. The guy looked to be about the same age as her, 14, but by the looks of his eyes that sparkled with all the energy of a person that had downed three monsters and his fiddling hands, he had the energy of an eight-year-old boy. he swept his hand out in a dramatic fashion and bowed jokingly, "Leo Valdez at your service, ladies!"

Piper gave Stacy the side eye and shook Leo Valdez's hand, "My name is Piper."

"pleasure to meet ya, Piper!"

She didn't know why, but she immediately liked Leo. he seemed fun, that was until he turned to Stacy and asked, "And what's your name, sexy lady?"

Lina snorted as Stacy wrinkled her nose in disgust. "never call me that again, you creep!"

Leo chuckled and shrugged, "Whatever you say, sweet cheeks."

Stacy scoffed and stormed off, but not before flipping Piper off. a devilish grin grin spread across Leo's face. 

"so Pipes, I'm gonna call you Pipes now, wanna prank that girl? No one messes with pretty girls but me!"

Piper had no words. Getting to know this new guy was gonna be very interesting. She nodded, and Leo linked his arm to his. Over the next few weeks, Leo and Piper became close friends. From sneaking out of their dorms to sneaking sweets or playing pranks on Piper's bullies, Piper learned more about the guy. he was very smart, though he didn't seem like it at first. Apparently, by age eight, he already knew college-level math. He was also a tinkerer. Piper rarely saw Leo without an engineering project in his hands, though how he had snuck all those supplies into the wilderness school, Piper had no idea.

As time went on, Leo got comfortable enough with Piper that he began to share some of his past with her. His mom had died in a fire when he was young. He never said it outright, but Piper could tell he blamed himself for her death. After that, he had been in between awful family members and foster homes. Piper had also shared stories of her life with Leo. She admitted to him that her father was famous and that she acted out to try to get his attention and how it landed her here. Though she and Leo lived very different lives, Leo understood being overlooked and ignored, and they bonded over that. Eventually, rumors began to spread that they were dating, but Piper and Leo didn't see each other like that, they were more like brother and sister. They were more family to each other than their actual families. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"oh goddammit!" Piper groaned as she read the latest announcement on the board.

"What is it, Pipes?" asked Leo with concern.

"Camp out this weekend." she didn't need to elaborate. Leo knew how much those campouts sucked.

A new voice broke through the crowd of kids, "Why's that bad? Campouts are usually pretty fun." 

Piper turned to look at the owner of the voice. It belonged to a blond dude who she had seen wandering the halls lately. Leo had told her that he was a new student who was here for "reasons." Piper wondered what could have possibly landed him here. He kinda looked like he could have been a punk, with his muscular build and the scar on his lip, but he seemed awkward and unsure about himself. Inexplicably, she found herself finding him kind of cute. She gave him a sympathetic look.

"oh honey, you have not experienced a wilderness school campout yet, have you?"

The boy shook his head. He looked like a lost puppy.

"Look, man," Leo looked up at the name tag stuck to the boy's pale blue polo shirt, which read JASON, "Jason, these camping trips are like a weekend of hell. All we do is work, no free time, no fun, none of the stuff that makes camping fun, and all the stuff that makes them suck."

Jason wrung his hands, "Do you think I can hang out with you guys? I don't have any friends here yet."

"oh hell yeah, man! Course. Me and Pipes will take care of you, new kid!"

Piper didn't understand, but she felt herself blushing at the thought of hanging out with Jason. Did she have a crush on this guy? Nah.

That night, she snuck out of her dorm to meet Leo on the roof. Her heart began to beat double time when she noticed Jason was there, too.

"Though I'd bring Jace along tonight. Gotta show him what it's like to be a cool kid!" said Leo with a grin.

Piper quirked her eyebrow at Leo as if to ask, "Jace?" she knew she shouldn't be surprised, though. Leo was the master of nicknames, after all. She shuffled through her bag, pulled out her CD player, and fanned out her collection to show the boys. Leo's eyes twinkled, and Jason gave a small smile.

"you guys like AC/DC too?" asked Jason, he began to look more relaxed.

Piper and Leo nodded, and Piper placed the CD into the player. The two lay back to look up at the stars. Jason lay next to them as though they had known each other forever. The night was quiet and calm- except for the majestic voice of Brian Johnson. Piper sighed contetly and looked over at Jason and Leo. She was taken aback when she saw that Jason was sniffing Leo. Leo didn't seem to notice; his eyes were closed, and he seemed to be dozing lightly.

"Jason?"

Jason looked up in alarm.

"Are you- are you sniffing, Leo?"

Leo opened one eye, " I beg your finest pardon, Piper?"

Jason was blushing now.

"he was sniffing you!"

Jason was blinking rapidly.

Leo burst out laughing. "Man, what were you doing?"

Jason avoided their eyes, "Oh uh, sorry, I was sniffing you, man, old habit." Jason didn't fully understand why he did it, but he was sure it had to do with the blurry mess of memories that haunted his sleep.

Piper started giggling, too, making Leo laugh harder. Jason joined in, laughing awkwardly. Leo put his hand on Jason's shoulder, doubling over so hard he couldn't breathe. The three friends laughed for a long time.

When he finally could breathe again, he said, "Dude, that's hilarious. It's all good; we all have our quirks. Where did you pick it up, though?"

Piper wondered the same thing, but she was glad Leo asked and not her. Jason rubbed his temples.

"you know, I'm not sure. My past is kinda fuzzy."

"Damn, honestly, I relate," agreed Leo.

Comfortable silence fell upon the group once more. The three gazed at the stars.

Piper's watch began beeping wildly. The watch told her it was three past twelve. "shit, guys, and we gotta go."

@lost-trio-week

hope yall enjoyed it! ! have more but it's not finished yet, so I may post that later

not beta read

[scotianostra]

July 13th 1900 saw the birth of Elizabeth “Bessie” Watson in Edinburgh.

Born just off the Grassmarket, at 11 The Vennel to Agnes Newton and Horatio Watson, Bessie did not take long to make her mark in the world, at the tender age of 9 she combined her two greatest loves: bagpiping and woman’s suffrage, the latter makes her arguably the youngest in Scotland, if not the world.

When she turned seven, Bessie’s aunt Margaret contracted tuberculosis – an incident which would change the youngster’s life forever. Margaret lived with the family, and Bessie’s parents, worried that she might fall ill to the contagious disease, encouraged her to take up the bagpipes in a bid to strengthen her weak lungs. Her first set of pipes was specially-produced according to her diminutive stature as she was too small to properly inflate an adult-sized bag. The half-sized set of pipes was purchased from Robertson’s pipe makers at 58 Grove Street. “I hurried home from school and carried it, in a brown paper parcel down to my (music) teacher”, Bessie recalled. As one of the very few female bagpipe players in the world at that time – not to mention one of the youngest – Bessie took to her new instrument with great enthusiasm.

Bessie had more than her bag pipe playing to make her worthy of a post here, while walking with her mother through the streets of Edinburgh, Scotland, Bessie stopped to look at the window of the Women’s Social and Political Union office. Bessie became excited about the idea of women receiving the right to vote, even though she wouldn’t be able to vote for many years.

Bessie realized that her talents could help promote votes for women. She would run from school each day to play her bagpipes outside of the Calton Jail in Edinburgh for fellow suffragettes in prison.

At the first suffrage pageant she performed at, she wore a sash with the words “Votes for Women” as she performed with her bagpipes. At the height of the suffragette movement, Bessie was playing at major demonstrations and parades for the Women’s Social and Political Union, including the famous procession through Edinburgh on 9th October 1909. On that day a large crowd watched as hundreds of banner-laden ladies, wearing the suffragist colours of purple, white and green, marched down Princes Street before congregating at Waverley Market for a rally led by Emmeline Pankhurst. Watson rode on a float beside a woman dressed as Isabella Duff, Countess of Buchan in her cage! Isabella is famed for crowning Robert the Bruce at Scone when he seized the Scottish crown, she was later captured with the Bruce family and held prisoner in a cage in the open air at Berwick for four years.

Back to oor Bessie, who just a ten year-old she travelled to London to play her bagpipes in a women’s march on June 17th, 1911. J ust a few weeks later, for George’s state visit to Edinburgh, Bessie, leading the 2nd Edinburgh Company of the Girl Guides, received recognition from the king himself as she raised her salute. Having secured regal acknowledgement in time for her 11th birthday, Scotland’s youngest female piper continued in her quest to support women’s rights, accompanying inmates bound for Holloway Prison to Waverley Station and playing the pipes as their trains departed.

For the part she played in Edinburgh’s historic women’s rights pageant of 1909, young Bessie received a special gift from one very prominent individual. Christabel Pankhurst (daughter of Emmeline) came to Edinburgh to address a meeting at the King’s Theatre and Bessie was invited to attend. During the evening she was presented with a brooch representing Queen Boadicea (Boudica) in her chariot, as a token of gratitude for her help in the pageant.

During WWI, Bessie was just a teenager and used her talents to make a difference in other ways. She began helping the Scots Guard to recruit army volunteers by playing her bagpipes

In 1926 Bessie moved with her parents to a new house on Clark Road, Trinity where she would remain for the rest of her days. Following her marriage to electrical contractor John Somerville at the end of the Second World War, Bessie devoted her life to teaching music and foreign languages. Former neighbours recall that, even into her late eighties, Bessie continued to play her bagpipes at 11am every morning. It was something she had always done.

Bessie died in 1992, two and a half weeks short of her 92nd birthday. Over the course of her long life she had experienced almost a century of social progression and upheaval, and had played her part in changing the world for the better.

A pictorial tribute was unveiled at The Vennel in Edinburgh on August 1st 2019 in memory of Bessie, the University of Edinburgh also have a lecture room named in her honour.

[via-rant]

Leo watched from across the room as Jason pestered Nico into eating. Talking to him happily when he did. He wanted to snarl but didn't want to bring attention to himself right now. Not while he's like this. He wasn't angry at Nico. Or Jason. Just the circumstances. Jason was supposed to be his best friend. So was Piper. Piper just got along with everyone here. Except him.

As soon as this whole quest started he became nothing but a nuisance to them. Just like everyone else. It wasn't their fault. All those stupid memories were fake. Jason doesn't know who he is. And neither did Piper. He told him lots of things during that time. And it didn't even happen. And it never will.

He continued eating not bothering to talk to anyone or look them in the eye. He was tired. He walked out barely finishing his lasagna and back the engine room to continue repairs. That's what he's good at.

-------

"Heeeelloooo- oh. It's you." Leo said his face dropping when he saw Nico standing in front of him. Nico glared.

"Okay, what did I do to you?"

"Nothing. You just get on my nerves for some reason."

"I get on your nerves?"

"Yeah... something about being emo."

"I'm not... emo. What does that even mean?"

"Wears dark clothes, listens to depressing music, pretends to not care about anyone or anything."

"I do care!"

"Pretends. Key word there." He said with a shit eating grin and Nico stared in surprise before glaring.

"Okay, okay. Leo can we talk?" Jason asked, trying to not get them to fight.

"I would but I'm busy."

"What do you still have to do?"

"The mast is slightly unstable, one of the propellers need to be fixed - was it one? I have to check that. A few infirmary supplies, the scanners again, the navigator, I still haven't figured out why Festus' ear is leaking oil, and the glass to the stables is broken." In the distance they heard metal break. "And Percy broke some pipes again."

"Sorry, Leo!" He yelled.

"Leo, take a break."

"I don't need a break. I can handle it."

"Fine. How can we help?"

"What do you mean?"

"You expect to do all that and talk to us at some point? No. We're helping. What can we do?"

Help is help I guess. He thought and shrugged. "Sure."

------

"Aha!" Leo yelled in excitement before taking out some glass piece and replacing it with tape.

"There bud. You should stop leaking." Festus creacked and Leos smile relaxed and Nico swore his heart did a backflip.

"You're welcome." Nico watched him in fascination. It looked so real. Like nothing in that moment mattered. He was content right there.

"How are you so nice to machines but not people?" He asked and Leo looked up frowning.

"Cause people are shit. Thought you would get that."

"I used to think that. But then I met good people."

"Hm... must be nice." He replied walking to the broken pipes. They looked at each other in concern.

"Leo you have this whole ship of people who-" Jason tried.

"-'who care about you.' Yeah yeah yeah I've heard it a million times." He took out a blow torch, which confused him because he has literal fire powers, and torched the pipes.

"We care."

"Prove it."

"We're helping you with repairs."

"Yeah, to talk to me about whatever, not because you're worried. Hey, can I ask you something?" He asked looking over at them. They didn't get a chance to process the first part but Nico swallowed. "Um... yeah, go ahead."

"What do you want to talk about?" He asked and they froze.

"Why you don't... like... Nico." Jason answered in realization and Leo looked him up and down.

"Hm... interesting. Hey Nico can you glue the glass to the stable floor?" He asked throwing him the glass piece. "Jason you can continue this. I'm gonna go work on the mast." He said walking out as they stared in heartbreak. Oh...

----

@moa-broke-me so I thought of the Leo being Jealous of Nico thing more. You can add stuff if you want, I can not think of what happened next for the life of me.

[purplesimmer455]

Megan does a few rounds of karaoke with Iseul, and Iseul’s brother Min Jun* cheers them on. Megan and Iseul join Min Jun at the bar and he orders them a round of drinks. The three chat as they wait for the drink, and 20 minutes later Grace comes over to them, wearing a gorgeous blue dress. Iseul grins, and makes her way over to Grace, who pulls her in for a long kiss. Megan looks away and her face flushes as Min Jun gives her questioning look. She smiles and says it's nothing, and he scrutinizes her with eyes the same shade as Iseul’s eyes.

Min Jun asks Megan how Tess and the kids are doing. "Good, how are you, Paenji, and your kids?" Megan asks as she grabs her salty llama drink. "Good too, I still can't believe I'm a grandpa and now I'm going to get another daughter when Cam marries Piper." He adds and Megan smiles. "Yeah, Pipes is so excited to be part of your family too and Tessie and I love having your Cammy as our niece." She says, and Min Jun smiles. "Yeah, I'm so glad we're going to be like a family, the Hecking-Feldman-Chen-Liaos-" He cracks up. "Sorry, it's just that long as hell name, and the Kangs, it's like our two families are merging." He adds, and Megan leans over to poke his arm and grins. "Clearly your sister got your sappy personality, MJ. But yeah, I'm glad too because I always thought of you as a big brother and Paenji as a big sis." Megan adds, and Min Jun smiles. "Thanks Megs, you're like a younger sis to me too." He says. "So, I annoy you just as much as Iseul does?" She asks playfully. "Yes, you do," he says in the same tone, rolling his eyes, and Megan laughs.

Note: Piper is Megan's niece by marriage, but the two are very close because Megan and Tess have lived in the same house as Piper and her moms and brother and Piper looks up to Megan. Cam is Min Jun and Paenji's youngest daughter, and Iseul’s niece and she's just as close with her auntie Is as Piper is with her auntie Megs. Megs met Min Jun and Paenji years ago, when she was dating Iseul in college, and they reconnected years ago and became close. Megan, Tess, and their youngest kid Emily are always going over to the Kang's house and vice versa.

[copiousloverofcopia]

HERE IT IS FINALLY! An update I know some of you have been waiting for, the next chapter of Under the Spell with Mary Goore and OC Piper!

I am trying my best to get back to regular posting with my fics since the holidays are now over and I appreciate everyone's patience and support!

Also once again, please be nice I am SO not used to writing for Mary, so I hope its ok!

Piper and Mary have been best friends since they first met as children. When Mary and her boyfriend Sid asked her to come along on gigs, Piper thought it was a no-brainer. But as the excitement of the buzzing amps dies down, she realizes she wants more—now if only she can get him to agree.

Chapter 3: Biting the Bullet

Also available HERE on AO3! Haven't started yet? Start from the beginning HERE!

Definitely NSFW below the cut

“Wait... what?” Mary said, grimacing as he flicked the fluids from his hand. The look of utter confusion, washing over him. Tilted his head like a puppy, waiting for Piper’s response. She took in a deep breath, trying her best to calm herself back down. Pacing around the floor a moment before finally bringing herself to sit down beside him. 

“I just…” she began, closing her eyes and trying her best to not lose her nerve before she continued. Facing out into the quiet unease of the hotel room. She was unable to look Mary in the eye. As the silence between them grew, so did the anxiety. Mary, hardly able to take it much longer. Deciding inside to break the silence himself, assuring Piper he was game regardless of what she might think.

“Listen, I am only doing this cause you asked me to. I want you to be happy. If that means we do this—then we do this. But if not… it really doesn't matter to me.” he explained. Piper still appeared unconvinced, the look on her face telling Mary that she was panicking on the inside. A look he had seen many times before when Piper was on the verge of a panic attack. 

Without even thinking he placed his hand over hers. Piper, trying to breathe through it when the gesture of kindness—gentleness allowed her to relax. Touched by this side of Mary, one she had rarely seen before.

“I know you say that but—” she began when Mary cut her off. 

“But what Pipes?” he asked. Piper turned to face him head on. Pulling her hand away as she snuffled back. Unsure if she wanted him to know how truly vulnerable she felt. 

“I just don’t want this to change things between us. You mean so much to me. I don’t want you to feel like this is something you have to do. I don’t want you resenting me over this if you change your mind Mare.”she admitted, the tears that had been beading up in her eyes, falling down her face. She and Mary were like family, it would kill her to have had this child but lose Mary in the process. 

“Pff…not gonna happen.” Mary laughed, “You're stuck with me.” 

“Yeah…” Piper laughed back through her tears. Mary, wiping them away. Streaking her cheek in black mascara. The two of them, locking eyes as Mary paused. He slowly pulled her towards him. Piper’s body became languid in his arms as he pulled her close. Bringing his lips to kiss her.   

The press of them felt different than the one before. Soft and intentioned in a way Piper had never experienced. Realizing in the moment that this was truly what she wanted. A baby—a baby with her best friend.

“Now, jump on baby girl and make me a daddy.” Mary said, smiling against her lips. Lifting her up and onto his lap. Never parting as the metal from Piper’s tongue ring teased and thrilled him. Sliding across Mary’s tongue as it danced in and out of their mouths.  

He allowed himself to grip a handful of her ass. Relishing the way his touch made her squirm—urged her to rock her hips against the swell of his groin. His cock twitching with the anticipation of stretching her out around him. 

“Mmm…” Piper moaned, feeling him beneath his jeans as the friction drove her crazy. Gliding herself against him and teasing her folds. Mary ran his hands up and over her thighs. Dimpling them as he allowed her to grind against him. Hot and heavy, longing for them to take it further. 

“Mmm.. fuck yeah.” Mary purred. His encouragement heated against her lips. His hands, leaving her waist to pull off her shirt. Undoing her bra with a surprising ease before kneading her breasts in his hands. Mary unable to control the impulse to drop his head to her pert pink tinged nipple. Wrapping his tongue around it before pulling it gently into his mouth. Satisfied to hear Piper’s wanton moans that resulted. 

Her body felt like it was set on fire. Piper, moving fast while she still had the nerve to pull his  cock out from his jeans. Mary, jolting up against her as her fingers made contact with his bare skin. Piper, stroking him gently and marveling at his girth. 

“Oh Mare.” she sighed, imagining him already inside her. Mary smiled smugly as she allowed him to slip into her hand.  

“That's right baby. I’m gonna use that to stuff your needy little pussy so full of my jizz.” he groaned, licking his lips in anticipation of her.  

“Mare!” Piper called out, the words sending a heat of embarrassment across her cheeks. While she knew he talked that way before. With or without being in the middle of sex, she had never been on the receiving end of it till now. 

“Just go with it.” He said, bringing his fingers between them. Moving back her hands to slip under her panties. Massaging her wet heat over and over with his touch as she continued to work him. “Cum for me baby.” He purred, feeling her dripping for him, “Show me how much you wanna ride this cock.”

“Mmmm…ah!” Piper cried out as his thumb made its way to her clit. Mary, swirling circles over the little nub with ease. Continuing to suck and lick on her nipples. Piper's head, falling back in pleasure.   

“Mmm… that's right baby.” He moaned, bringing his fingers back inside her, fucking her more fervently with his hand. Her juices, freely dripping from within her folds as Mary found her g-spot. Pressing into the sponge sensitive tissue with fingers, wishing so badly it was his cock. Within moments Piper began clamping down on his fingers, so tightly he could barely move. Her hips rolling with his movements—sending her over the threshold and cumming hard on his hand. 

“Oh fuck Mare…take me.” Piper moaned, her body tingling all over with the crest of her orgasm. Mary quickly pulled his fingers out, sucking them dry of her fluids. 

“Gladly.” he told her. Lifting himself up off the couch just enough to wiggle out of his pants. Piper, still straddling him as he used the remaining slick on his hand and precum to fully wet his cock. Pushing Piper’s panties off to the side before nudging her folds with the head of his cock.

“Ah! Yes!” Piper yelped as she felt him begin to push inside her having gathered up a generous amount of her slick before he reached her entrance. Mary, smiling widely as he shoved his full length of his aching cock inside her. 

“Ah…Pipes… Your pussy feels so good.” he groaned as she started to move on him. Riding him slowly. Rising and falling along his length. Her breast hovering in his face as he licked and nipped at them. 

“Mmm…” Mary cooed, bringing her nipple back into his mouth. There was nothing like the feel of Piper surrounding him. Her walls, pulling against him as he tried to withdraw. Holding tightly onto her hips now to steady her. Mary closed, overwhelmed by the feeling as he pushed inside her over and over. 

Already drunk in the warmth from inside her. His cock, pressing so deliciously against her delicate flesh. It was then that Mary wondered why he had never tired to fuck Piper before. Becoming slack-jawed and starting to pant the harder he thrusted up inside her. 

Piper had found her stride, bouncing gleefully in his lap. Her hands held tightly onto his shoulders as she stared into his eyes. Fuck, he is so incredibly sexy , she thought. Asking herself if she realized before today just how handsome he was? Her crazy, handsome childhood best friend. 

She could hardly believe she was there, in this moment with him. Feeling the euphoric high from being with him like this. So perfectly feeling together as her body began to shake. Piper, knowing instantly what was happening. Though it had never happened before with Sid, it had certainly happened when she was on her own. 

“Mare… I think I'm going to….” Piper cried, feeling her insides begin to buckle down on him. Her body flooded with emotion and pleasure as her orgasm came tearing through her full force. 

“Ah fuck!” Mary growled, her cunt squeezed him tightly all around. Forcing him to burst inside her. Spilling ropes and ropes of cum. Mary filling her full of everything he had to give. 

It had felt like It was over so fast that Piper could hardly believe it had happened at all. Both of them, so blown away by the sensations between them that neither could sustain the momentum for long. Mary laid back on the couch. Pants still at his ankles and his spent cock, covered in the efforts between them, unabashedly on display. 

“Hey… what do you think about us splurging a bit more for a hotel room with a bigger bed next stop? Or at least a bigger sofa?” Mary chuckled as he slipped himself back beneath his jeans.

“I mean if you wanna spend the money, I wouldn’t say no. But It was kinda your fault we didn’t even make it back to the bed—” Piper yawned, smiling as her eyelids only grew more heavy. Curling up next to Mary on the opposite end of the couch. She was utterly exhausted. Finding herself unable to help the closing of her eyes and waking to having missed little bits of conversation between. 

Finally Piper succumbed to it, falling asleep so soundly that she had even begun to snore. Mary found it endearing. Allowing her to sleep while he went up to take a much needed shower. When he emerged from the bathroom sometime later, Piper was still sleeping away. Her face looking A gentle, relaxed look now on the most relaxed and peaceful Mary though it had ever seen. 

He smiled at her as he continued drying his hair. Grateful to see her looking so serene, even if it was in her unconscious state. They had both been through a lot in their lives. So much heartache and struggle. Mary could help but think, as he stared down at her, that if anyone deserves to get what they want it was Piper. 

Though he knew she would likely be mad, he decided against waking her. Instead, allowing her some much needed sleep. Ever the night owl and the insomniac, Piper was chronically tired and wore her raccoon-like dark circles like a badge of honor. Mary, smiling once again thinking about the future. 

If Piper had it her way, it would be many nights before she'd get a full 8-hours sleep again he thought. Mary planted himself on the recliner, opposite her in the room, and cracked open a cold one. Kicking up his feet on the coffee table and thinking about what might come of things. Watching her sleep with that smile still on his face.

“Jesus. Fucking. Christ.” Piper groaned, pissed at the abrupt loud car alarm. Blaring from somewhere outside and waking her from some incredible sleep. Reluctantly she decided to take a shower, scratching her head before trying to climb off the couch. Realizing that she was covered, unexpectedly, in the sheet from the bed. 

Mary was nowhere to be found as she scanned the room. “Mare?” she called out to him, but got nothing in response. Her eyes darted around in the darkness until she caught sight of a shining red light of an analog clock on the desk—a red 8:30pm on its face. 

“Oh fuck!” She shouted, darted upright. Running to the bedroom to get dressed. The show had more than likely already started and Piper couldn’t believe that Mary had just left her sleeping on the couch. She was angry, how could he leave her like that and not even say goodbye? Or at least come wake her up before they headed out? 

She began to wonder, if in his post nut clarity, he had regretted his decision. Sneaking out to leave her to go about his business without a second thought. Though Piper knew it was potentially too late now. Feeling the evidence of their tryst, leaking out on the inside of her thighs as he rushed around to grab her things.

Piper had left the room disheveled and upset. Rushing over to the venue without the courtesy of a shower, or even a ride over. Pissed that the rest of the band had agreed to leave her behind. Not that any of them would know what they had done—the only saving grace.

When she arrived, the smoke screen was ungodly. Piper opened the doors that led to a long walkway to the underground club. Hidden away like the dive bar that it was. The walls, covered in spray paint, remnants of band flyers, and god know what else. 

“Excuse me.” Piper said, trying to dodge through groups of half drunken clubbers who were just hanging out in the hall. Following the sound of the music, growing louder as she moved ahead.  Still fuming with Mary leaving her behind. His motive, still unclear.  

She thought, If Mary wanted to fuck and run, he could have at least done her the courtesy of telling. Explaining to her that this would be a one time thing. They weren’t in a relationship after all. It was only meant to be a favor, but damn if she wasn’t pissed that he had “wham, bam, thank you ma’am’d” her. Piper, beginning to feel silly—and stupid for having even considered it. 

By the time she had made it inside the club, Repugnant was already on stage. The whole band thrashing about as Mary howled and screamed out the lyrics. The sounds of the guitar and the bass, heavy and harsh as they rushed from the speakers and over the crowd. Patrons, moshing and headbanging with full gusto. Crowd surfers, racing high above all the heads in the pit. 

Piper doing her best to get as close as she could to the stage. Watching Mary as he played his guitar, knowing personally just how talented those fingers really were. Mary too could see her. His Piper, standing out looking a bit mad as she tried making her way closer. Stuck in the limbo of the middle of the crowd. 

Mary, gazing at her through the hair sticking to his face. HIs locks, already drenched in sweat and blood. She was trying to navigate through towards the stage. Mary, feeling a bit nervous as he watched. Wondering to himself for the first time if it was even safe for her to be there. Shaking it all off after realizing how crazy it was to be concerned about a possible crotch goblin when they had only just fucked. Continuing the show without a second thought. 

“Hey Piper! Over here!” Annie called out, catching her attention. A small spot, just before the barrier, was saved for her. Annie was great and Piper was grateful to her. Though she was relatively new to their crew, it was great just to have another woman on the road with them as far as Piper was concerned. 

Annie and Tom had only been together for a short time, but already things seemed to be moving quickly between them. Piper, wondering if they would end up married before the end of the tour dates. Feeling a bit jealous at Annie and Tom’s happiness—long before her decision to try with Mary. Their behavior around one another, opening her eyes to the serious and irreconcilable differences between Sid and herself. 

Annie was also so beautiful, which didn’t help Piper’s jealous streak. Having long blonde hair that was not natural of course, but perfectly bleached and styled on the regular. Her aesthetics, like Debbie Harry—the quintessential 80s bombshell with the perfect ruby red lips. Quite different from Piper’s style. Her goth, grunge vibes and nerdy cat eyeglasses made Piper a bit self conscious sometimes about her appearance. 

She felt at times like she couldn’t even compare. Still, despite her superficial jealousy, Piper had come to adore Annie. Hoping that nothing bad would ever tear her and Tom apart or she might really be on her own. 

“Thanks chick!” Piper yelled back so that Annie could hear her. Annie, holding up a thumbs up as Piper continued to move towards her. Finally, she was able to make it beside her, the two of them watching the band perform. Annie hollering and screaming anytime Tom went off on his drums. Normally a behavior Piper would have done the same, but tonight the mood just hadn’t hit her. Her mind was too hung up on the situation between her and Mary to think of anything else. Only the worry about unsaid things and the fear of answers to questions she hadn’t yet thought to ask. Hoping that what had happened between them wasn’t a mistake. 

[willtheweaver]

Writemas day 18

Wassail everyone!!! And thanks for the tag @fantasy-things-and-such

Today’s prompts: a home, the burn of pain

It was late at night when there came a knock on the door.

Miles blinked. Then came another knock. He knew it was not a figment of his imagination, but who would be traveling to this place, and at this time at night? Still, he had an obligation to answer. And so he reached for the crutches that leaned against his chair before slowly rising. He could manage only a slow, unsteady pace, and so it took a few minutes for him to reach the door.

Standing just outside was an eccentricity dressed man. His coat and hat were brightly colored, his shoes were pointed, and a velvet bag was slung across his back. All in all, the stranger had the look of an old-fashioned minstrel or troubadour.

“Good evening kind sir.”

The stranger’s voice was soft and soothing.

“I’m sorry, but do I know you?” Miles asked.

“I do not think so.” There was a mysterious and mischievous smile on the stranger’s face.“I’m just a humble traveler. One member out of the countless that makes up the brotherhood of the road. I’m sure one wanderer looks much like another.”

“Oh.” Miles was not totally convinced, but he didn’t want to press the matter. “Well, in any case, don’t stand there out in the cold. Come in. I apologize for the lack of comforts. No one comes to these parts, and all I can offer is some bread and a spot by the fire.”

“That will do for me.”

And so the stranger sat himself down on a worn chair as Miles fixed what refreshments he could. It was clearly that this was once a grand house, but it had fallen into a state of shabbiness and disrepair. Faded and threadbare carpets covered worn floors, while dust and cobwebs gathered thick in the corners. The cup of ale he offered was chipped, and the plate only had a piece of bread and a sliver of dried meat. But the stranger didn’t care, in fact he stated that Miles had treated him like a king. The two sat by the fire in silence for a few minutes. Then the stranger spoke.

“I noticed that yours was the only house here.” He remarked. “But from the look of all the loose stones and foundation outlines, it seems that this was once a prosperous town.”

“That it was.” There was a hint of pain in Miles’s voice. “It’s not a tale I like to share…but I guess you should know.

“It all started nearly thirty years ago. The town was beset by a plague of rats. Nothing we could do could get rid of them. My father, the mayor, declared that he would reward anyone who could get rid of the vermin with a sack of gold.

“Within a day a man who looked much like you arrived saying he could rid the town of the rats with nothing more than his pipes. And that he did. He played a fast and lively tune, and from every house and crevice came the rats. The Piper played on, leaping and dancing through the streets until he reached the river. He halted along the banks, but continued playing. The rats…they were unable to resist. Countless thousands leaped into the rushing waters where they drowned.”

“And did this Piper get paid?” The stranger asked. It was clear that he was interested in the tale his host told.

“Nay. And that was the problem. My father thought something was up. ‘Not a single copper will be shown to you.’ He declared. The Piper was outraged.

“‘So this is your answer?’ He replied. ‘I have done all that you asked of me, and now you go back on your word? What sort of people are you, to possess such low morals? No matter, I will exact my pay, one way or another.’

“The Piper stormed out of the town hall and into the main square. Placing pipe to lips, be played a tune different to the first one. I don’t remember much of it. In fact I cannot remember much about what happened next. My father said that every last child in the town became enthralled by the music and followed much like the rats did. But instead of towards the river, the Piper strolled up into the hills. The adults tried everything, but the children only listened to the Piper. At last he came to a rock face that was marked by a gaping cave. I heard the Piper’s voice in my head. He said it was the gateway to somewhere beyond the ills of the world. A place of happiness and perceptual spring. He walked right into the cave, music echoing and amplified. Owing to my disability, I had fallen behind the rest of the children. The last of them entered, and then a great rock like a door fell and sealed the cave. With no music, I snapped out of the trance. I was the one left behind. The realization hit me. I fell to my knees and cried for the longest time.

“Everyone was heartbroken. Slowly people moved away. Block by block, person by person, the town disappeared. Only my father stayed. For the remainder of his life he prayed for forgiveness. None came. Travelers for the most part stopped coming, and the few who did venture here refused to take his money. It’s all up in the office…that troublemaking gold. I would do anything to be rid of it and all the woe it has caused.”

Miles said no more. The old memories troubled him deeply. Silence descended again.

“So the old man sought atonement, but got none.” The stranger finally said. “Better a change of heart come late than never. And you…no bitterness, just sadness and pain covering a good heart. You have no reason to give me food and shelter, and yet you do. I guess it is only fitting I repay this somehow.”

From his velvet bag the stranger produced a set of pipes. Miles’s heart skipped a beat. The music that filled the room was so familiar… he was taken back to his childhood and that fateful day. He looked at the stranger. He was on the verge of speaking, but a feeling of tiredness suddenly came over him.

When he awoke the next day, Miles could barely remember what had happened the night before. Thinking a cup of ale was the thing to help him collect his thoughts, he rose. It was the strangest feeling; his legs felt strong and stable. He walked around the house, and it was only on the third go around that he became convinced that it wasn’t a dream. But just to make doubly sure, he ascended the stairs up to the old office. In the corner was the entire wealth of his family. Well, almost all. For Miles noticed that a single sack of gold was missing.

Sharing the enjoy with @thelovelymachinery @theeccentricraven @buffythevampirelover @eccaiia @corinneglass

@the-ellia-west @bookwormclover @an-indecisive-nerd @thatuselesshuman @ominous-feychild and all who want to join in

[ntls-24722]

What was Disk Jockey like when he was a brand new lil windup?

Also is "og" music man in that au also a spider like DJMM??

Like a bigger Disk Jockey???

The disc jockey was squeaky clean and a natural at walking! He was a prototype meant to show exactly how the "og" spider mm would walk, and yeah, he's a spider too! He's a bigger Disc Jockey.

Disc Jockey was a lot less like a vermin back then and kind of just a sweet tiny dope. He was very helpful for the "Og MM" ("Pied Piper", maybe, as a pun on his organ pipes?) and they had a father son relationship, even though it's technically... the other way around.

DJMM looks less like a "glamrock" Music Man and just a different version... of Music Man? So I didn't really know what else to add other than some slight patterning?

Which always irked me, too. He didn't become stylized in regards to being a DJ, he was just given headphones and made humongous. Was the fact that he would've had the stage all to himself the reason why he was made huge? Not to mention the drastic body change, too?

like, toy freddy looks like one of the toys. funtime freddy looks like a funtime. the assumable "glamrock, DJ" Music Man became a giant spider that isn't very colorful or flashy at all (other than his mouth,). Like... It's not a glamrock, he looks like a pokemon evolution of Music Man????

[callmegkiddo]

Could you maybe pied piper? But like w a goth s/o and he’s interested in their music taste,etc?

In the eerie shadows of Duloc, where the moon cast a pale glow over the cobblestone streets, the Pied Piper found himself drawn to the enigmatic allure of a goth soul. His enchanting melody echoed through the darkness, catching the attention of a figure cloaked in black.

As the haunting notes of his enchanted pipe danced through the air, a goth s/o emerged from the shadows, their eyes gleaming with curiosity. The Piper, dressed in his whimsical attire, couldn't help but be captivated by the mysterious energy surrounding them.

With a mischievous twinkle in his eye, the Piper used his flute to speak his words. He used melodic and smooth notes: "Ah, my dark companion, your presence is as enchanting as the melodies I weave. What secrets does your heart hold, wrapped in the shadows of your soul?"

The goth s/o, adorned in black lace and silver accessories, looked at the Piper with a sly smile, "My heart beats to a different rhythm, a symphony of darkness. I find solace in the melancholy strains of gothic tunes and the macabre poetry."

Intrigued, the Piper played a tune that echoed the essence of their mysterious spirit. The haunting melody resonated with the goth s/o, and together, they wove a musical tapestry that bridged the gap between their worlds.

As the night unfolded, the Piper discovered the eclectic range of the goth s/o's music taste, from hauntingly beautiful ballads to thunderous industrial beats. Each note revealed a layer of their enigmatic personality, and the Piper reveled in the discovery.

In this dance of dark melodies, the Pied Piper and his goth companion found a connection that transcended the ordinary. The night became a symphony of shadows and music, and as they walked through the moonlit streets, the Pied Piper couldn't help but feel that he had found a kindred spirit in the goth s/o, a partner in the dance of darkness and music.

(@nesssblog might wanna see this buddy)

(Note: Sorry these requests are late :^)

[tsukikoayanosuke]

Twisted-Wonderland Servers but I Gave Them Different 'Yuu' Names

Lu Yuan (Singapore Server)

Yuán (源), which means "headspring; source; root" in Chinese.

Lǚ (吕), which means "musical note" in Chinese and also refers to the former state of Lu, which was situated in what is now Henan province.

Black hair, bowl-cut hair, fangs, glasses, and a little chubby.

Just as strict as Riddle with the rule; top of their class: blunt and ruthless with their words; curse you in Chinese or Cantonese; play rhythm games like a madlad and will never stop until they get 'All Perfect'; good at money managing

Chishiya Yuno (Japanese Server)

Not to be confused with Game!Yuu (Nagamatsu Yuu)

Yuno (由乃), which means “reason” or “cause" in Japanese.

Chishiya (千士哉), from Japanese 千 (chi) meaning "thousand", 士 (shi) meaning "samurai, warrior", and 哉 (ya), an exclamation.

Brunette with your typical harem protagonist haircut; Kinda looks feminine actually

Yamato Nadeshiko personality and waifu material; Read and draw manga in class but still keep their grade steady; Not really want anyone to see their art; favorite food is Nissin Cup Noodle; will drain your wallet dry at a cafe date

Yule Piper (Australia Server)

Yule, means "winter solstice" in English.

Piper, a surname originally given to a person who played on a pipe (a flute).

Redhead with a cowboy/safari hat, and band-aid everywhere

Has the most chaotic energy between all of them; really an outdoor person; will climb trees and wrestle a crocodile (yes, including Sebek); make the best barbecue

Yuvia Harvey (North America Server)

Yuvia, a (modern) variant of Lluvia thar means "rain" in Spanish or Juvia "water; rain woman" in Sanskrit

Harvey, from the Breton given name Haerviu, which meant "battle worthy", from haer "battle" and viu "worthy". This was the name of a 6th-century Breton hermit who is the patron saint of the blind. Settlers from Brittany introduced it to England after the Norman Conquest. During the later Middle Ages it became rare, but it was revived in the 19th century.

Blond hair and blue eyes like stereotypical Barbie or Ken

Avid Twitter user and can be very toxic gaslight-gatekeep-girlboss; "I'm 19 and I never learn how to fucking read" energy; Will send you meme at 1 am; can be a loyal friend; cares for the little guy

[maximumwobblerbanditdonut]

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo at Edinburgh Castle 2024 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🏰

The first Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo took place in 1950. Since then, over 50 countries from across six continents have been represented at the Tattoo. Her Royal Highness Princess Anne became Patron of the Tattoo in 2006 and the Royal title was bestowed by the Late Her Majesty The Queen in 2010.

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is a world-renowned spectacle and to have a chance to be in the heart of it is truly inspirational. The 2024 Show, Journeys, transports guests on a cultural adventure, uniting the military heritage, Scottish tradition, and an international cast.

With the Royal Navy as Lead Service, the show has a strong maritime theme with performances by exceptionally talented performers representing countries with strong nautical connections.

This year the Royal Navy led, so the Massed Pipes and Drums for the Navy Anchor during the show. Photographer: Mark Owens - UK MOD © Crown copyright 2024. MOD Crown Copyright News / Editorial Licence

The Navy Takes Centre Stage ⚓

With the Royal Navy as lead service, the Show pays homage to the seafarers who brave the ocean to travel across continents bringing people and cultures together as The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo guides you through a legendary journey.

As ever, the military plays a prominent role in the Tattoo, with the Fanfare kickstarting the Show with a performance of an original composition incorporating elements of the official march of the Royal Navy Heart of Oak imbuing the stage with an air of awe and anticipation.

The Tattoo fans are treated to the rousing sounds of the Massed Pipes and Drums including Military Pipe Bands from the 1st Battalion Scots Guards, 1st Battalion Irish Guards Drums and Pipes, Pipes and Drums of the Royal Gurkha Rifles, Combined Pipes and Drums of The Royal Tank Regiment and Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry.

The world’s leading military bands, this year joining the Massed Pipes and Drums.

The Citadel Pipes and Drums, Australian Federal Police Pipes and Drums, Brisbane Boys’ College Pipes and Drums, Royal Canadian Mounted Police Pipes and Drums, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Dancers, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Fiddlers, The Citadel Regimental Band and Pipes, Majesticks Drum Corps, United States Sea Service Band, United States Navy Ceremonial Guard and Teamwork Arts India.

As night falls over Edinburgh Castle, each evening’s performance ends with a dramatic rousing finale when the National Anthem will be performed by The Massed Bands of His Majesty’s Royal Marines.

A Lone Piper marks the close of festivities with a performance of Guth a’ Phiobaire, composed by Major Stevie Small MBE.

#edinburgh #scotland #festival #militarytattoo #edinburghcastle #edinburghshow #event #scottish #bagpipers #RoyalNavy #navyanchor

Posted 18th August 2024

[master-john-uk]

11th June 2023 The annual Remembrance Service to honour soldiers from the Irish Regiments took place at The Cenotaph in Whitehall, London.

The parade was led by the Pipes and Drums of the London Irish Rifles.

The London Irish Rifles (LIR) became part of the London Regiment. In 2022 they were absorbed into the Irish Guards.

Personal note:

My first personal interaction with the LIR was in 1999, when Major Jim MacCleod invited me to accompany the cadets on a visit to Ypres.

During this trip I met two remarkable men. The first was an LIR veteran in his 80's, Jack (or maybe it was Jim). He joined the army as a young man... and the army became his wife and life! The second was a 14 year old piper, who's name I unforgivably can not recall right now, although I think it was also James. He was not a member of the cadets, just the band. He volunteered to go on this trip and lead the cadets as they marched to the memorial parade at the Menin Gate. He did not know the other teenage lads in the cadets, and was a little uncomfortable with the thought of sharing the dormitory style accommodation with the other boys. After a short discussion, it was agreed that Piper James would share a twin-bedded room with Veteran Jack. I had a room to myself opposite theirs. I was very grateful that the young piper did not decide to practise his bagpipe playing while I was trying to sleep!

Over the following five years, I joined the Pipes and Drums of the LIR on several trips, including the 2004 Remembrance Service at the Cenotaph.