#this is another silly for you Finch

[veradragonjedi]

@please-give-me-birds

Someone in my fb chicken group has a little bearded bantam that likes to sit on shoulders so they did a pirate photoshoot and I am losing it

Just look at it!! THE LITTLE HAT!!!

[bladiegfs]

imagine jing yuan's s/o who's very oblivious to the point that jing yuan's jealous but the s/o thought he's mad😤

oh i love me a dense reader. here ya go!

hush

➵ warning(s) applicable: none

➵ wc: 1.1k

➵ so, jing yuan has been quiet today. thankfully, you have your best menace friend tingyun by your side to help you figure out the mystery behind it.

There was a name for it, you think. You’ve heard Tingyun talk about it before, when she was sharing lunch with you post-meeting. It was a passing remark— something she heard through the grapevine about how one of your co-workers was suffering under it after missing their scheduled date with their partner as they slept in. She said it with a feigned air of concern, sighing and motioning with her free hand dramatically.

Ah, yes. You remember now; it was called ‘the silent treatment.’

That must be it, surely. He hasn’t spoken a word to you the whole time you visited his office. Instead, he buried his face in archives and endless books.

You thought it was strange. Normally, he’d have a few remarks or jokes under his sleeve and would talk to you until the very second you have to leave the room. But instead, complete silence greets you. This is the silent treatment, isn’t it?

…But what did you do to make Jing Yuan mad?

You definitely did not miss a date like your co-worker did. Your calendar was clear for the week, and you always look forward to your dates with him, unable to cast it out of your mind. You felt silly about it sometimes— here you were, excitedly counting down the days until you could go on another date with your boyfriend as if you weren’t under the same faction and working closely with him daily.

But if it wasn’t that, what does that leave? You rattled your head for an answer and backtracked on everything you did today, thinking hard. Today, you woke up, prepared your morning drink, and went straight to work. You decided that you could just eat breakfast on breaks instead of eating alone at home.

Right on the dot, you stood up and took your break, made a beeline for one of the stalls to purchase a few Berrypheasant Skewers to share with Jing Yuan later, and a Songlotus Cake for yourself.

Then, a colleague of yours offered to join up, saying they didn’t have time to eat breakfast either, an offer you took. You found it strange that Jing Yuan didn’t swing by at the time he usually did; he’d usually find some lame excuse to even simply walk by your desk as you ate or even send one of those finches that loved him in his stead.

He did give you a visit a little later on when your plate was cleared and you were only spending the last few minutes of your break giggling about some story you heard. As you notice his presence, you put a hand on the table, ready to get up and excuse yourself from the conversation.

In response, his eyebrows shoot up and he gives you a certain unreadable look before giving you a small wave as though dismissing you like you’re merely one of his lieutenants.

But come lunchtime, which is now, Jing Yuan was still nowhere to be seen and completely silent. You swung by his office, but the guards by the door only told you he was busy and to come back later.

And so, you find yourself spending your lunch with Tingyun, sharing the skewers you bought earlier. You sigh after you recollect your entire day to her in hopes that she can help.

“He’s upset, and I don’t know why.”

Tingyun waves a perfectly manicured finger and clicks her tongue, “There is absolutely no way you don’t know why.”

“Well, I wouldn’t be asking you for help if I knew now, did I?” You raise an eyebrow.

As though it was the most obvious thing in the world, Tingyun replies, “[Name], the general is jealous.”

Jealous? The possibility didn’t even cross your mind. “Over what?”

Tingyun gawks at you for a moment before stating matter-of-factly, “Over you laughing so hard with that guy, duh? Picture this, [name]: the general is eating his lunch with the master diviner with a wide smile on his face, laughing at every word she says. What would you feel?”

“I’d find it weird—”

“See!”

“—Because master diviner holds much contempt towards Jing Yuan. They wouldn’t eat together.” You finish.

Tingyun waves her hand frantically, “Okay, okay. Then, what about the fanatics that buy exclusive Jing Yuan photos from me?”

You blink, letting the words hang in the air. You then slowly say, “What photos?”

“It’s a hypothetical,” Tingyun quickly answers. “But if I was selling them, what would you think?”

“I couldn’t really care less when all they do is look while I can touch…”

Tingyun’s expression falls. “Ah, there’s no helping you. Not even Bailu’s most effective herbs and medicines can help that empty head of yours!”

“What?” You narrow your eyes.

“Point is,” Tingyun ignores your comment. “Maybe he just doesn’t wanna see his dearly beloved laughing with just about anyone, you know?”

“Does he?” An awfully familiar voice behind you and Tingyun cuts in.

You two exchange a look before turning around to look at him.

“Ha-ha, General! How… very nice to see you out on a stroll!” Tingyun forces a smile on her face as she stands up with her hands folded behind her back. “But, ah, I’ll have to leave you and [name] to it, alright? Business calls!”

Making her quick getaway, you watch in disbelief as Tingyun disappears into the crowds of Xianzhou Loufu.

Jing Yuan sits in what used to be Tingyun’s spot. “I’m sorry I’m late, love. Yanqing insisted on a few more rematches.”

You couldn’t help the words spouting out your mouth. “So you aren’t mad at me?”

The serene expression on Jing Yuan’s face falters for a moment. He answers, “Why would I be?”

He isn’t answering the question. You decide to test the waters, saying, “You’ve been awfully quiet since this morning and you waved me off when you saw me. I swung by once and you were burying your head in the records. The second time, I was turned away by your guards.”

“…I was? Did they?”

And he isn’t making it any easier for you, either. “You were. And they did.”

“I’m not mad. I couldn’t be mad at you even if I tried.”

“Not mad, then. What about jealous?”

Jing Yuan merely blinks at you.

It doesn’t take long for the silence to blanket the two of you. Then, you call out, “Love.”

“Hm?”

You hesitate a little as you say, “If… If you’re jealous, I want you to know that I love only you.”

With that, Jing Yuan’s expression lightens up and he lets out a laugh. “Is that so?”

“Yes. I’ll repeat it as many times as you want me to,” You nod, serious.

“Say it again, then.”

“I love only you.”

“Again?”

“I love only you, Jing Yuan.”

“Ah, again.”

“…You’re just teasing now.”

“I’m not,” Jing Yuan shakes his head with an expression that says that he is. “One more time, please?”

You breathe in and take his hand in yours as you slowly say, “I love you and only you, Jing Yuan.”

The smile on Jing Yuan’s face doesn’t leave for the rest of the day.

[myfanfic-urfantrash]

Birds Nest

Prompt from Messy Nest: "-> jing yuan teaching his partner how to feed the birds in his garden, and instead of him ending up being the birdhouse, it’s them"

Jing Yuan x GN!Reader (Reader has thick long hair)

A/N: This is wholesome but also just silly :D

--------

Jing Yuan pours a handful of seeds into his partners hand and gently guides them towards the finches they often see in his garden already eating at the seeds he scattered across the ground earlier.

"They're skittish little things but once you earn their trust you'll have a hard time fending them off from any snacks of yours that have seeds."

They kneel down slowly showing the cautious birds the seeds they have. The bravest of the bunch hops onto their fingers and begins feeding from their hand. Soon the others follow and their shoulders and head are covered in little finches.

"It looks like they like you but be careful or they might start nesting in your hair like they do to me." They laugh imagining the mess they'd make in their hair as they let the little birds tug and rearrange their hair this way and that.

'As if that would happen.' Is the thought that runs through their mind and replays as the days go by and they hear chirps they cannot find the origin of.

Weeks later during their weekly tea date in his garden they hear the familiar peeps but still can't find the source of the sound. They try to take a sip of their tea only for their hair to cover their mouth. Jing Yuan smiles from across them putting down his own cup of tea.

"You're hair is in the way, love. Allow me..." Lifting a hand towards their face he's just about to brush their hair away from their face when a familiar little bird pecks at his fingers from within their locks. Unsure if this truly happened he tries again only to get another angry little bird pecking at his fingers. Jing Yuan pulls back huffing in amusement.

"Well...this is certainly a surprise. I was wondering where they had gone." They laugh awkwardly trying to fix their hair themselves only to also get pecked at as well shocking Jing Yuan. They both burst into laughter earning some disgruntled chirps from disturbing the birds.

"If I knew the birds would begin nesting in your hair perhaps I would have hesitated in showing you how to feed them." He lifts his cup to his lips taking a sip of his tea to hide his smile. "How about I teach you how to make them leave your hair once we're done with our tea? I'm certain you need it." They can only nod eagerly earning more upset chirps.

[cinderspots]

Do you guys ever think of how beautiful it is that even when you come and go, you live on?

Specifically, I'm talking about word and speech patterns. For me and several other people I know, when I am close with someone, I intake the things they say and make them a part of my vocabulary. Isn't that nice to know? That there is a forever inside joke between people you once knew and the ones you know now?

When I was a sophomore in high school, I knew these two girls, one a senior and one a junior. Now I am friends with said senior post high school, but at the time, I and her did not talk. But i adored the junior, who was best friends with the senior. Not in any sort of weird crush way but more like the friend crush, they are so cool type of thing- but the junior had a habit of saying "so true" in response to very serious or silly things with no remorse or impulse control before backtracking when they realized it wasn't appropriate- they told me that they started doing it because of the senior. And then even now, years later, I myself saying "so true" like a parrot who's repeating the words of an owner no more, but remembers all the same.

When I was even younger, a baby freshman, I was (to my undying embarassment) not only a wattpad enjoyer but a wattpad role player. If you don't know what that is- close your eyes and let yourself remain innocent young one. There was this one person I roleplayed with in particular @imsososolesbian that had a fixation on the oxford comma- that's right I wasn't born with the comma affliction- and after talking to them (with the // of real conversation before we immediately decided we'd rather just talk to each other than play pretend) I noticed that I had developed this habit of using the comma far far too much (the disease unfortunately is uncurable and set for life) because the speech pattern worked on me through text rather than talk. Me and that person don't talk anymore and that's really sad sometimes, but I like to think that maybe I gave them something back, like my tendency to leave auto cap on so all my texts start with a capital unless I'm on my computer. We pass each other like ships, and I try to check in, and they do the same, but we aren't quite as close as before. That's okay.

Also in Freshman year I became friends with a group of kids on my bus (it ends in tragedy and the familiar ridiculous high school drama) and this one girl in the group who was my age and shared chemistry with would spell out LOL with her hands and say the letters individually- to be ironic it occurs to me now, but back then I just thought it was funny. At first, when I adapted it into my vocabulary, I did it the same, but I found that my brain did not like moving my hand along with it, and so I just spelled it. LOL and LMAO were and still are my big offenders because I was not doing it to be ironic. That girl literally altered my brain chemistry, and I can not think of it another way. Because the things we take from others are changed in our care, but that doesn't make it any less shared.

Hearing Mariah Carey, who i actually did not care about before we had this tiff about her last Halloween, makes me think of @bee-nutauthor . Because it doesn't always spread the way i expect, the song, the name, the words themselves make me think of my friend. I don't look at art anymore and just think in legible thoughts, I eat art, I eat your praise, I bark at things I like a lot, I use abomination words that do not exist, I am extremely familiar with pompompurin because @dead-finch-420 a fixation, in fact Finch is my fixation spreader because theyre always dragging me into it. Isn't that nice too? To be thought of when someone enjoys media, to be remembered we long as that media exists and if not there in memory of it? Because the closer I am to someone, the worse it is. In all the other examples, I would describe the people I picked things up from as an acquaintance friend. Not particularly close, but close enough. When I see bugs, I first scream (loudly), and then I think, "Would Lemni like this?"When I watch horror or see the sky during the night, or view the snow as it falls, I think,"Would MJ like this?" I think and think and think and it's all because of these things, these words, the visions, and I see everyone I've ever known in everything there is to see.

In my Junior year I started to use the word "girl" and "girlie" because of a coworker that I grew very close to used it very very often on me, she also inflicted me with the "like" curse for its second round on my brain- it hasn't gone away since. We still talk because I can remember you when you're still here, which can be sad sometimes, but also comforting in a way. If I can remember you while you're here, I can remember you when you're gone.

@split-milk-7 Someone who I view to be my best friend has inflicted many vocabulary additions. We met on a re8 Miranda discord because Miranda lovers are so very rare, and we decided that of course we should be friends married and we are technically wife and spouse. But they had a particular fixation on using "bestie" to refer to me every other sentence. I am physically incapable of not using the word "bestie" in a sentence while talking aloud to people. I could not resist it. My brain decided it liked that word above all, and so here I am.

@h-doodles I was never someone who bit before I joined the meower server, filled with people who I consider to be my closest friends in the world - and I've never met a single one of them. I find that I like biting. I will think of them eternally as the meowers, for all our jokes will live in my head for years until I can no longer remember why I say these things, but I say them all the same. Because it's inevitable that you forget, but do they need to remember you for your words to live on? People will continue to say the things you said, and they may not know you gave that to them, but it will continue to spread the same way slang spreads eternally. It lives. @zeleneagle, I am not awake, I am an awaker. For some reason, I use :3 now. I bite because I love, and sometimes because angy, boi, floof, birb, borb, whatevah, music, movies, pictures, life, and death, it's everywhere.

To me, you are everywhere.

And I think that's beautiful in a way that I myself can not always appreciate, on the days when the world seems so dull and empty and unwelcoming and so not made for me. I think I should try and think of this when it gets like that, when my bed feels like the only place I can be safe. That the world is full of you and friends and love alongside the enemies and hate and sadness. And if the world is full of you, then doesn't that also mean it's full of me? That I might live on in others the same way you live on in me? That I made an impact on someone, however minor, that I mattered? That you mattered?

I wonder what I've given off to someone else to live on and be remembered for. I hope it wasn't something stupid like me saying people's names in a British accent and pronouncing it really wrong on purpose.

They might resent me a little for that

[tgcf-fic]

Hello, I’m back.😁🤚 I’ve got another tgcf fic rec request. We always see Hua Cheng putting his best or original face on in front of XL, but we’re pretty explicitly told he’s fond of frequently shape shifting based on his mood and whim, and then it’s pretty well ignored for most of the story. I’m looking for any recs that show Hua Cheng earning/showing off his faceless shapeshifter reputation. I’m looking for stories where hua Cheng is only consistently recognizable by his bells. If you don’t know of any like that then just some where he shape shifts beyond his “Hot guy og form”, or “ hot guy younger form” at least more than once.

This one might be tough to find anything for.😅 But I’d be grateful for anything you know of.

Hmm, that's a tough one. I couldn't really find anything about the bells but here's a couple fics I hope you enjoy:

--

Husband Robes by Linisen (T, 1k, HuaLian, Boyfriend T-shirt only make it HuaLian, Post-Canon, Spoilers for the novels, Implied Sexual Content, scaring the heavenly realm while being domestic, HC living his best dead life, XL too let's be honest, Silly silly, eternal husbands, Fluff, Established HuaLian) this one doesn't have shapeshifitng aspect in it but it does feature the bells

On Our Way to Fall by etymologyplayground (T, 6k, HuaLian, Fluff, Romance, Unresolved Sexual Tension, Making Out, Humor, Intimacy, Shapeshifting)

Shook by Sheer Atrocity by crowdedcafe (E, 3k, HuaLian, PWP, Demon Sex, Shapeshifting, Biting, Finger Sucking, Painplay, Rimming, Riding, Rough Sex, ft. hua chengs funky demon dick)

Pulse Points by fullmetalpotterhead (G, 1k, HuaLian, Post-Canon, Fluff, Shapeshifting, Heartbeats, lazy kisses, XL is so in love with his husband, HC wants to be warm for his husband, Nonsexual intimacy)

on trusting foxes by huacheng (G, HuaLian, Shapeshifting, Fluff)

cosmetics by marquisguyun (G, <1k, HuaLian, Nail Polish, Shapeshifting)

house finch hua cheng by periwinkleblossom (G, 1k, HuaLian, Modern, Shapeshifting, hualian are in love, Fluff, Afternoon Cuddles, finch HC, Mild Hurt/Comfort, reassurance and cuddles, HC's self worth issues)

Ever-changing Faces, Unwavering Devotion by fullmetalpotterhead (G, 1k, HuaLian, Fluff, Post-Canon, Hualian’s typical overlap of worship and love, Shapeshifting)

A Pesky Pest by moonlight_goose (T, 6k, FX & HC & MQ, HuaLian, Shapeshifting, Bickering, Fox Hua Cheng, Humor, Shapeshifting HC, There is no peace for FX and MQ when XL's husband exists, Post-Canon)

--

~A

[team-avia]

as a donna lover i have to ask, what was the process of writing her route like?

were there any alternative ideas for how it could've gone that got scrapped? if so, what were they?

and is there any early concept art of her that's not been posted that we can see?

Originally, there was meant to be a Beneviento Manor sequence during Donna's sick arc, but we scrapped it because it would require another bg for just one chapter in the whole game.

In the Neutral ending, I originally intended on you to be let down gently before being sent away due to the newfound confidence in her religion before deciding that nah it'd be more fun to make yall suffer. As well as that the Cult ending was originally just her killing us but I thought it'd be silly if I tricked people into thinking they got the romantic ending before going PSYCH!

Donna's character was also originally intended to belong in the art major as a split off from a choice I'm sure you're familiar with, but in my writing, I uh. Forgot. So, instead of focusing on the theatre antics, we got lots of flowers! I'm glad I know floriography, lol. As for her route in general, I had planned on it being a lot darker than it turned out, but happy accidents!

As for early art concepts, I believe we've posted them all (Finch, correct me if I'm wrong)

Cinder

[chaosfairy18]

perchance some binch (buttons + finch) drabble??? they're my sillies and i love them so dearly /nfta

@finchesslingshott

First of all Hello!

I do have to say I don't really do much livesies/stage musical stuff (sorry) nor have I ever really done much thinking on Finch or Buttons even as individual characters nor as a ship (I prefer Redfinch) but since you've been so kind to send me an ask I tried my best. I really only have Hotshot as a recurring character in my writing and even then she is very different from canon Hotshot.

Buttons is Tadhg McCarthy (his canon name in UKsies) and he got the name because he 'has his buttons' (being smart) but I still made him sew. (Thanks to Nox for the UKsies infos <3)

Finch isn't even here that much but I write him mostly like my dear friend @clevereverest makes me think of him, I love her Redfinch writing

Mostly this is actually Buttons character study a bit and his friendship with another pickpocket who sews: Swifty. Because I am 99% 92sies focused and I needed to at least have one character I already know how to write.

Now enjoy: (750 words)

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

Buttons wasn’t sure what to do with Finch always having some rip in his clothes. Naturally he’d help him, but he wouldn’t be happy about it. For most people he’d ask for a fee for patching their things up – if they didn’t want that they could go to someone else – but with Finch he regrettably couldn’t do that as they were close.

Didn’t mean he had to be happy about not getting a bit more money.

Admittedly he had gotten more than enough today by relieving some people of their change.

In the bunkroom – where his sewing kit was – there was only one other newsie, Swifty, apparently doing the same thing. They got along well – thief’s codex and all that – so he sat on the bunk across from him to do his own stitching. “Hey Swifts.”

“Buttons.” Swifty grinned his usual lopsided grin. “Finch again?”

Buttons groaned, looking at the ceiling. “Idiot tears his thin’s every day. Shirts, pants, hat. Last week t’was his socks.” Of course he knew partly how it happened, Finch climbed up some tree and the branches nicked his clothes, he fell down and scraped his knees, he got in fights and teared something else.

“You’d earn a fortune if ya actually took his money.” As much as his tone was teasing, Buttons had a feeling Swifty was thinking something more than what should be going on.

“Can’t rob ‘im blind like that.”, he just said dismissively, getting out his scissors and thread.

“Mhm.”

“What’re you doin’ anyways? One of the littles ripped somethin’?” The kids always tumbled around and Swifty was close to both Flipper and Tumbler – mostly through them being close to Skittery and Bumlets, who were his best friends – and he’d also do a lot for Boots or Snipeshooter, not to mention Splasher. Though Splasher would have come to Buttons for sure.

Swifty held the shirt he was doing something on closer to Buttons, showing a little cat on the hem of it, embroidered in black. “I’m puttin’ little cats on all of Skittery’s clothes to see when he notices. I’m runnin’ out of clothes actually.”

“Bold of you to assume he’s lookin’ at his clothes when he puts them on.”

“It’s still fun. Tumbler loves it, says Skitts is like a cat anyways.”

They talked a bit more, also about what they had stolen the last few days, laughing about some of the close escapes they’d had or reactions they got after stealing various things. Swifty even managed to get a whole dollar, not even wanting to show it, already having it stocked away somewhere. Not that Buttons would have stolen it from him… probably. It would have gotten him such good clothes and sewing equipment though.

It was tempting, but thief’s honour kept him from actually doing it.

A bit later Finch came in, just as Buttons was almost finished, looking eager to get his vest back. “You done yet?”

“Almost.”, he just said dismissively, Swifty snickering from his bunk.

“Let the man work. With how much you’re givin’ him one could think you’re doin’ it on purpose.” Before Finch could reply to that, Swifty had jumped up, shoved the newly embroidered shirt in Skittery’s drawer and quietly disappeared down the stairs, steps light as always.

Finch’s eyes widened a bit, and he looked apologetic. “I promise I ain’t doin’ it on purpose, Tadhg. Just happens.”

“Yeah yeah. You’re just a clumsy bird.” Jumping up, cutting off the last thread, he held out the vest, newly patched, almost looking like new. Or at least the same as before. “There you go. Don’t go and rip it open again, if you keep givin’ me that much business I will have you pay for it. Runnin’ out of thread with all this.”

“I’m sure you won’t lose your buttons though.”, Finch laughed, referring to how Buttons got his nickname, from having all his wits with him. Having his buttons in order, so to speak. It was one of the better nicknames anyhow, as it also fit with sewing.

Finch slipped into the vest and grinned, leaning forward and kissing Buttons’ cheek. “Thanks again, really. I’ll get you some thread or cloth or somethin’. Promise.”

He rolled his eyes. “Sure. Just don’t keep making people suspicious with all this. They’s bound to notice I treat you special.”

“Not that they’re wrong.”

“Finch.”

“Yeah, yeah.” He pecked his lips. “See you later.”

Buttons got to sew up two more of his clothes just this week.

[kitswritingantics]

binch headcanons for the soul 😔🙏🙏

HEHEHAHAH YES I LOVE RAMBLING ABOUT MY SILLIES

buttons is part of the tall bottoms agenda (someone said this awhile ago and i have not been able to get it out of my head)

the amount of "i love you more" fights these bitches have is insane

buttons' big love language is physical touch, finch's is acts of service

finch was the one who proposed in the modern/hs au

buttons got him and finch promise rings in the canon au

finch is terrified of the ocean. like deep water he can't see? nuh-uh.

buttons doesn't like driving so he lets finch handle it (passenger princess buttons my beloved)

finch can not cook to save his life. like he can make a pot of annie's mac n cheese and put some chicken nuggies in the oven (they will turn out slightly burnt) but that is the extent of his culinary skill

buttons uses finch as his mannequin for all his sewing projects (another headcanon i love with my entire heart)

no one's clothes are safe. finch steals all of buttons' sweatshirts. buttons loves finch's movie t-shirt collection. match made in hell.

adhd/anxiety finch, autistic buttons

finch also has dyscalculia so reading + math is a struggle (buttons tries his best)

buttons is a big rambler. finch listens as his eyes slowly turn into hearts.

weekly (if not daily) cuddle + gossip sessions. in the modern/hs au buttons works at american eagle and gives finch all the tea

@thegreatbuttoneer if you have any more feel free to add angel <3

[the-wales-5]

"Crazy for this girl" (Chapter 8)

Rupert was considering two options: attend the party where his girlfriend was or show up to the one organised by his friends without Catherine. He felt that the former would make him look stupid and possessive, and he did not want that, while not attending the other altogether would humiliate him.

Middleton deliberately ignored text messages he sent. Her thoughts, for the first time in weeks, were not occupied with what things she could do to make others happy, and consequently, she was enjoying herself more than ever. At one point, she almost tripped while dancing with one of her friends, but it didn’t make her feel angry or embarrassed as it would if she were around Rupert’s companions instead.

*

William still not felt eniterly alright after his breakup with Carley Massy-Birch but decided to enjoy the evening he organised himself. Though, almost all of the girls outside of his ‘group’ were trying to get his attention. There was one who was way too annoying, and the prince had no idea how to get rid of her anymore, feeling more and more annoyed by each passing minute with that girl in his presence. Catherine saw this situation across the room. She blinked a few times and then slowly approached him, putting her hand around him and then sipping on a drink.

The prince looked at that young woman standing in front of him, saying “Sorry, I have a girlfriend”

“I thought you had just broken up with someone” she scoffed and walked away.

“Thank you” William mouthed and smiled at his friend. Kate chuckled lightly and took a step away from him, feeling shy all of a sudden “Do not thank me” she said and wanted to rejoin Olivia on the dancefloor when William said “If I may, I’d like to thank you for this rescue. Do you want a drink?”

“Oh, no. I mean.. I am already after one and a half, and it’s not going to end well if I get another one” she giggled

“Well, I get it totally. Then, would you like to dance?”

“Aren’t you sick of all women right now?” she asked and laughed, signs of shyness fading.

William slowly extended his hand toward her “You can say ‘no’ of course”.

“I am here after abandoning a strict plan to attend a gathering of future lawyers, and by doing so, I am probably risking my reputation in the eyes of Rupert's circle of friends. Why would I say no?” she laughed and put her hand on top of William's. He hid his smile after noticing blush on her face.

Shortly afterwards, they began to dance. Middleton felt even more relaxed than before. All of her problems basically faded as she was laughing with Oliver and the rest of friends. However, it was Prince William who made her laugh the most with his silly jokes.

*

Unlike his girlfriend, Finch came back to his room very early, feeling embarrassed by her escape at the last moment and irritated to hear constant questions from his friends such as “Where is your girlfriend”. He was thanking his self-consciousness for not deciding to tell them about the real reason, but to lie about her abrupt illness she caught in the morning.

*

“I am impressed a little, you know” William told Kate in the middle of a conversation about something entirely different as they were sitting by the bar, taking a break from dancing

“By what?” she inquired with confusion

“You basically ran away from your plans”

“Not mine” she rolled her eyes “If it were up to me, I’d never attend such a meeting”

“Why not? Don’t you like to talk about murder cases while sipping on a mojito?”

Catherine burst out laughing, for about the hundredth time that night.

“Do you think he is angry now?” William asked

“Well, he did send me some text messages so you can consider that as attitude of someone angry” she replied “I wish I could see his facial expression after he returned to that room and did not see me there”

“It is good that you decided to do it. That girl would never leave me alone if not for your comment”

“That was stupid, though. I should have never said something like that, specifically in the aftermath of your breakup with Carley”

“It is not true” William replied “It was our mutual decision to end things, and it was that girl who should consider not approaching me and flirting if she knew about my split. It seems like she was well-informed after all, and you were just kind enough to save me from that embarrassing moment of flirt”

“I think you are overreacting” Yet another genuine laugh escaped Middeton’s lips.

William chuckled a little, but instead of saying something, he had been looking at Kate for a few seconds.

“What’s the matter?’ she asked after noticing that stare of his

“Nothing” he smiled and then ordered another glass of whiskey for himself, while Catherine had been taken away back to the dancefloor by Fergus.

*

As she was leaving the castle to get some fresh air outside in the middle of the night, she could not believe that she was almost ready to miss such a nice occasion for her boyfriend and his “snobby gathering”.

Laura followed her, saying “It’s so good that you decided to join. It wouldn't have been the same without you, and I am sure I'm not the only one thinking that”

“Rupert definitely is not amongst that group”

“Oh stop, please” Laura said and rolled her eyes “He is not here, and I see you are happy anyway. This is a sign”

“Everything is a sign. Unfortunately for you, Finch is that kind of a person who does not believe in heavenly signs. He only believes in law!” Catherine said louder and then took another sip from a wine glass in her hand

It was proven now that after one more drink that Middleton swore to avoid earlier, she herself was making fun of everything, including clothes she was about to wear a few hours earlier and even Rupert.

Chapter 9

Despite the alcohol amount in her blood, she was fully aware that there would be comments from some people or that someone would share it with Finch, but she did not care. All she wanted was to have fun that evening, and that ‘mission’ had been achieved successfully.

**

[kissorkill16]

An Uninvited Guest: A Hello Neighbor Fanfic

By JJ

Summary: Ivan is back.

Nicky walked down the hall of the school, lost in his own head. He was pulled out of his thoughts when he heard sounds of squealing and screams of joy.

He followed the noise to the end of the hallway, and he saw all of his friends gathered around something.

"What's going on?", he asked. Enzo backed up a little to let Nicky see, and his heart plummeted.

Because there, plain as day, was a ginger haired boy in an orange shirt, blue overalls, and orange shoes. The boy looked at him, and Nicky didn't recognize the boy.

Sure, he had his face, his hair, his body,...

But what he didn't have was his eyes.

Enzo shook Nicky in excitement, "Ivan's back! He's back! Aren't you so excited? He's back after so long!", he squealed.

Nicky smiled awkwardly, "Yeah...Ivan is back."

Ivan smiled, "That's right, everyone. I'm back.", he said. "I didn't mean to frighten anyone with my sudden disappearance."

"Where were you all this time?", asked Finch.

"Well my dear Finch, it's a little hard to explain. See, that crow man kidnapped me and tried to make me a part of his vile cult, and when I refused, he threw me in a cage.", he said. He put a hand on his forehead, a hand on his chest, and he leaned against the lockers, "I was so terrified! I haven't seen sunlight in so long.", he said.

Ivan stood up straight and walked over to Delroy, putting a hand on his shoulder. "But I'm glad I'm back now, and we can all work together to unmask Crowface once and put an end to his reign of tyranny for all."

While everyone was cheering, Nicky stood in the corner.

That wasn't the real Ivan, that much he knew.

But everyone else was so overjoyed to see him that he didn't want to rain on their parade.

"Ivan.", said Trinity, "Tomorrow, we're ditching school and going on a secret camping trip in the woods. We know the Forest Protectors perform their rituals there and we have to stop them from cursing this town even more before it's too late."

Ivan clapped his hands, feigning excitement. "Oooh! Camping! Fun."

Then put a hand on Nicky's shoulder.

"Excuse me a minute, everyone. I want to have a little talk with my fellow engineer.", said Ivan.

The hand on Nicky's shoulder traveled down to his wrist, and he pulled Nicky to the bathroom with him. He pushed Nicky against the wall, still smiling so evilly.

"Foolish children, aren't they?", said Ivan, "They really think they can stop me. A demon. A demon who haunted this town for years before they were even born."

He stepped closer to Nicky and forced him to look in those shiny red eyes.

"I do admire their bravery and determination though, it'll make destroying them more fun."

Nicky pushed the fake boy away, "Leave my friends alone."

Ivan rolled his eyes and paced around the bathroom, "See, I'm afraid I can't do that, Nicholas. I have to put an end to their childish, foolish, silly little rescue squad for good.", he said. "Though I have to admit, this is kind of your fault."

Nicky furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.

"All of this could've been avoided if you just handed over the device.", Ivan growled.

Nicky rolled his eyes, "First of all, I didn't even have it with me at that time -"

Ivan pushed Nicky against the wall once again, watching him fall to the floor. "But you still have it, don't you?", he stared into Nicky's eyes, watching them quiver with fear. "I thought so, young man."

"I'm not giving you the device."

Ivan turned around, putting on another evil smile. "Wow, a stubborn little boy you are. I wonder who will pay the price for that."

Nicky's eyes widened, and Ivan pushed him against the wall once more and leaned in.

"And it won't just be your little friends, it'll be you as well.", he whispered. "Remember our first meeting? I tried to be merciful with you. Normally, I just kill whoever steps a foot in my business, but I simply threatened you and scared you out of Mr. Peterson's house and thought you'd be smart enough to follow directions.", he let out a deep laugh. "Silly me.", he said. "Silly, stupid me. I won't make that mistake again."

He stepped away and was about to walk out the door, but not before giving Nicky one final glance with those red eyes.

"I'd hate to see another child end up like little Lucy Yi.", he whispered. And with that, he left.

Meanwhile, Nicky was trying to process the whole confrontation he had with that demon. Why did he want that device so badly?

...Could it be the source of the Forest Protector's power?

He knew it was risky, he knew he was putting his and his friends lives on the line, but he had to protect that device.

Because it seemed like the only thing that gave those ravens power.

And without their power, they're nothing but ridiculous people in costumes.

[finchesslingshott]

AH YES THE LONG-AWAITED GREAT GATSBY CAST ALBUM NOTES FROM FINCH READ AT YOUR OWN RISK

roarin’ on - 10/10

this song has literally been on loop since it first came out

has zero right to be this much of a banger

lives in my head rent free

oh nick carraway the man you are

“tonight lets misbehaaaaaave” scratches my brain in just the right way

WHERES THE PARTY AND CAN YOU TAKE ME THERE ANDDD WHEN THE PARTYS OVER CAN YOU FIND ANOTHER PARTY SOMEWHEREEEE

harmonies my beloved

“turns out: manhattan is expensive!” nick carraway laugh line era is so good

“with his arms spread to the SKYYYYYYYYY” oh i love tenors so much

nick’s speaking voice is so silly i love it he’s just a little guy

the ensembles little “oh oh oh oh”s make me so happy

ORCHESTRA MARRY ME

NICKS TENOR RANGE GOOD GRAVY IT NEVER CEASES TO AMAZE ME

absolute rose - 7.5/10

the ukulele goes crazy

jordan’s dialogue is so silly what a woman

DAISYS LITTLE GIGGLE IM GONNA DIE

ew tom i visibly frowned

ORCHESTRA I LOVE YOU

tom no one likes you shut your face

oh daisy’s voice what a woman

new money - 8.7/10

OK GET IT THIS BEAT IS SO GOOD WHAT THE HECK

samantha pauly i love you

AAA CHROMATIC SCALE MY EYES ACTUALLY WIDENED

its almost like 80s core as well as having that 20s swing and i love it

WOLFSHEIM!!!! HEY POOKS (my favorite minor character he doesnt get talked about enough)

“who’s the teahcer?” “thats nick carraway”

the rumors section oh my goodness i literally cant ensemble i literally love you

“do you believe thay about mr gatsby?” “WHAAT?”

oh jordan your speaking voice dear

JORDANNNN

for her - 9.5/10

ITS OUR BOY LADS OH MY GOSH

oh orchestra oh lyrics oh jeremy

“daisyyyy” IM CRYING

the smooth switches between falsetto and full chest voice just adds to the emotion

ORCHESTRAAAAAA

OH ITS THE PART FROM TIKTOK

ok enunciation and emotion get it jeremy

LITERALLY IN ACTUAL TEARS OH MY WORD JEREMY

oh strings you and your tremolo are killing me over here

“now she has TOOOOO KNOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWW ITS ALLLL FOR HERRRRRRRRRRRRRR”

valley of ashes - 7.5/10

this beat is so cool oh my gosh 

who is this singing??? i cant tell??? 

OHHHH ITS THAT GUY HEY WILSON

talking to the billboard of the doctors eyes is actually a detail i had headcanoned when i originally read the book and this is actually making me so happy

oh wilson and his wife (whos name i forgot)

“youve got the eyes of God / if God needed glasses”

that was actually so cool what

way too short

second-hand suit - 8.7/10

im loving the ukulele content in this musical 100/10

this role is so clarisse la rue from the lightning thief and i love it

the mood and beat change when she starts talking about tom is insane

the drum beat is so cool what

i cant remember her name for the life of me what is wrong with me

I LOVE THIS OMW NEW DREAM ROLE

for better or worse - 9.5/10

oh no oboe (?) solo i know im gonna start crying 

“and to learn that my soldier has returned / its both a blessing and a curse / is it for better or for worse?”

literally just texted my voice teacher demanding (/j) to work on this song 

“and not to thinkkk about the PAAAAAAST”

oh my gosh wow hold on crying what the flip

somehow “once upon a december” coded

OH OH OH OH NO OH NO

i think my soul just left my body

the met - 8.5/10

AWESOME BASS LINE I’M ALREADY SOLD

MYRTLE THATS HER NAME DEAR GOODNESS I THOUGHT IT WAS LIKE MIRIAM OR MARY OR SMTH 

woah mr mckees voice makes him more creepy than he alr was in the book

“i need a dose of culture / and i need a cigarette”

“in the bedroom lighting i’m an eight” is literally insane

WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON IN THIS SONG

myrtle’s sister ranking different people is literally so crazy calling gatsby a 5 when he’s literally JEREMY FLIPPING JORDAN

katherine’s myrtle’s sister’s name right???? i’m not crazy???

oh nick carraway you and your internal monologue

myrtle and tom’s fight is literally crazy “dAisY dAIsY dAisY” (SMACK)

nick straight up calling tom an asshole is so crazy i love him for it tbh

OH FUNKY BASS LINE MARRY ME

“yes… please connect me with mr. j. gatsby.” BUHM

this was one of my fav scenes in the book and they portrayed it beautifully i’m literally in love

only tea - 9/10

i love a good jeremy jordan meltdown song

“i am not okay.” me too jeremy its ok pookie

“old sport” HE SAID IT HE SAID THE THING I’M GONNA START CRYING

ok the beat yes oh my gosh the goofy little trumpet slides and ukulele my beloved

“i’m gonna walk into the ocean” jay gatsby stop making me kin you

ok ensemble vocals get it

the voice crack on “cASUal” im in love

his voice cracks in general what a man

poor nick man 

i think jeremy’s playing jay to be bipolar and i’m here for it /hj

green light - 10/10

hoooooo boy ok here we go

this is one of the ones i still havent listened to even though it was released early

the falsetto jeremy you’re killing me here

calling her “daisy faye” instead of “daisy buchanan” is so symbolic of him like seeing her as his instead of legally tom’s

oh eva noblezada what a woman you are

the mood/orchestral change when daisy started singing i’m dead

OH THEYRE SINGING TOGETHER IM GONNA DIE

oh theyre definitely kissing why else would they have this random orchestral break thats somehow so similar to “something to believe in” from newsies

the emotion in their voices urhgjgdjdjdjfjfdjdksoaoeokgkf

the harmoniesss

ooh bet theyre kissing again

THE FINAL NOTE OH MY GOSH

the next “something to believe in” i fear

shady - 7.5/10

UH OH IM EXCITED

MORE WOLFSHEIM CONTENT???

his voice is so cool

he’s so tevye coded i cant even explain how or why but he is

AAAAAAAAA DOUBLE BASS I COULD CRY

this instrumental is killing me goodness gravy

“everybodys a little bit shady / the world keeps spinning if you grease the wheel” goes hard

ensemble vocals go harddddd

better hold tight - 8.7/10

more standup bass i could die

“i think i see the stars aligning / or my standards are my declining”

NICK AND HIS VIBRATO I’M SCREAMING

“what you did might be taboo / but i like that look on you” 

i need my next (if any) boyfriend to be a tenor so he can sing this with me

SCREAMING I LOVE THEM

past catching up to me - 9.5/10

oh jerjor your precious little voice can you marry me yet

“she kissed me and swore she’d never stray / then the world got in the way”

this is the new tenor song along with santa fe and great expectations

GET IT DRUMS WOO GO ORCHESTRA

THE KEY CHANGE. OH MY GOSH.

HAD NO RIGHT HITTING ME WITH A C5 (?) JEREMY POOKIE WHAT

ENSEMBLE VOCALS JUST ADD TO IT ALDKGKFKSKSKRKFKDSA

la dee dah with you - 8.5/10

ok just from the orchestral stuff its alr a banger

this is the big tap number right????

whos singing??? this isnt jordan??? is this just an nyc girl from annie type situation?

i’m confused but its a banger so i dont care

oh im so sure the choreo is so impossibly good

YES THE TAPS LETS FLIPPING GO AKDKFLFLSLERLGLDLSKA

AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH

yep this is it this is what i wanna do with my life

the ensemble hootin and hollerin just adds to it

TOO SHORT.

go - 8.7/10

YAY ANOTHER MENTAL BREAKDOWN SONG!

somehow violet beaudelaire x quigley quagmire core if you know what i mean

“if we wait until we’re ready we’ll be waiting for the rest of our lives” core

them <333333333

ew tom spoke i hate him

“i love you lets go / before i change my mind”

these harmonies ugh

ORCHESTRA ILY

too short again

made to last - 9/10

is this tom?? i cant tell?????

OH IT IS LETS GO

OH MY GOSH ITS THE GATSBY TOM FIGHT LETS FLIPPING GO

i really wanna see how this is staged…

OK SMOOTH KEY CHANGE

the conflicting vocal parts in the argument im gonna actually die

tom desperately trying to win me over with his vocal parts

oh its so “nonstop” coded im gonna actually die

for better or worse (reprise) - 7.5/10

its my pookies oml

oh samantha pauly your voice

they better kiss

TOO SHORT

one-way road - 9/10

MYRTLE??? OH MY GOSH???

“WATCH THE ROAD ASSHOLE”

“wait what if i become her?”

the callbacks to second hand suit make me happy

yeah no this is my role i’ve claimed it now

i swear the amount of mental breakdown songs in this music i live for it

YES MYRTLE POP OFF

God sees everything - 8.7/10

lets go george pop off king

TOO SHORT WHAT THE FLIP

for her (reprise) - 8/10

YES CELLO YEA STRINGS AAAAAAAAAAAA

can someone love me like jay gatsby loves daisy buchanan

new money (reprise) - 8.3/10

ugh this beat kills me every time i cant even

DSGLAFJKLDSKLD ENSEMBLE I LOVE YOU

my fav reprise by far oh my GOSH

dying dead

TOO SHORT WTFFFF

beautiful little fool - 9/10

prepared to cry alr oh gosh

the whispery quality of her voice rn i’m gonna die eva pls

“It’s a girl the nurse said / and i broke, and i broke”

the piano instrumental killing me jeeeeeeez

“the best thing a girl can be in this world is a beautiful little fool” line taken STRAIGHT from the book and it KILLS me every single time i read it sdjadljksdljafdshlsdfjakdshdfask

oh eva noblezada your VOICE

OHHH THE CALLBACK TO ABSOLUTE ROSE I’M DEAD

ORCHESTRA MARRY ME HODSJGKSLAFKDGLJFADKSGLFAKDHGSLJFADHGS

texting my voice teacher rn

finale: roaring on - 9.5/10

YAY NICK HEY POOKS YOU EAT UP THAT MONOLOGUE KING

this is partially taken from the book uihsialfdjsghkfljdg i’m gonna cry

“I can still see gatsby / standing in silhouette” ok homo /pos

YES TENOR NOTE MY BELOVED

“with infinite hope / that made him fool enough to try / that light across the water was always out of reach / so why do we (x3) keep reaching”

OOOO BEAT CHANGE KILLING ME

YAY ROARING ON ODGJSHOAPLSFJDKGSHDLJFADHSGJJLFAD

DIRECT QUOTES FROM THE BOOK HOLY CRAPPPPPPP

WHERES THE PARTY AND CAN YOU TAKE ME THERRREEEEE-

genuinely in tears oh my GOSH

IN CONCLUSION

SURPRISINGLY cohesive to the book which made me so happy - the direct quotes had me SCREAMINGGGGG

phenomenal cast literally would die to breathe the same air as any of them

dream role is myrtle she sounds like a soprano belter sorry i don’t make the rules

JEREMY. FREAKING. JORDAN.

ORCHESTRA. ENSEMBLE. I LOVE YOU.

[whimsical-blood-fairy]

spoilers for the gold finch!!!! but i need to vomit about this book !!!!! these are some of my sporadic thoughts im stewing over

there's a review on the very first page of the goldfinch that calls this book an 'epic love story' which originally made me do a hard eye roll but upon reading The Final Pages i had a realisation that made me feel so silly for not seeing it sooner: this isn't a love story about theo and pippa (she does play into it of course, i mean you dont spend 30k on a necklace for just anyone), but a love story about ART. theo's love for the painting. his love for antiques, furniture. his love for his mum. his love for his mum projected onto the painting... fuck me. realising this put the whole story into a new light for me and im SO glad it didn't turn out to be a plain old romance.

he's so infuriatingly nihilistic, more and more as he gets older, but at the very end we see his love for persevering through it - some (borderline) masochistic way of living, he describes it as the meeting point between despair and otherness, where lives the sublime. he says, yes, im depressed and traumatised, but it is here, in this middle place, that i experience joy. and then he literally is: in his #redemption arc where he's buying back all the fakes and staying in hotels, napping in airports.

also the way he describes his dreams about his mum; not of her presence but of her absence. hits so hard im reeling. that gut ache of knowing you have just missed that person. they're just around the corner, wait! and then you wake up.

god and i really loved the the chapters set in las vegas. that feeling of teenage boredom and invincibility. hazy nights, stupid best friend, almost in love with one another. stuck in the middle of nowhere, can't escape. vodka and beer and weed just to make the days go by. ughhhh i loved this part because i so so so related to the feeling you have as a teenager of it going on forever; you will always be 15 and nothing matters. fuck while i was reading it i was hit with so much nostalgia. fucking around with your friend like you're at the edge of the world and nothing matters. sprawling desert all around.

i read a reddit comment talking about the ending: not overly sentimental but left you swooning. exactly it! theo is a fuckwit but he sure made me feel just a little bit better about this life i must keep on living!! there's so much i could say about this book but im still in shock that ive finished it... i will read it again one day and i cant wait for the new meaning i extract from it then

[thepenultimateword]

Sweet as Sugar, Sharp as Fangs Part 2

Thank you @creweemmaeec11 for helping come up with the title!

Part One

The ada who opened the door wore nothing but a barely knee-length bathrobe and a pink boa. Luckily, he had enough thick gray fur, meticulously brushed and fluffed, that Maeve didn't feel quite so much like she was staring at a bare chest. His ears were like a jackal's, very long and pointed, only varying in their curled tips, but that was where the canine features ended: flat face, coonish paws, and no tail that she could see. And she was staring. Stupid. She couldn't just stare people up and down like pieces of...

Her gaze froze halfway toward the ground.

Cradled in the plush crook of one arm, so bundled he camouflaged in the fur and fabric, was her baby.

"Dio!" the ada said brightly, eyes fixing on the Dionyus.

"Finch!" Maeve cried simultaneously.

The ada's attention shifted onto her, flashing a smile full of short sharp teeth. "Oh, are you mum?" He adjusted Finch's weight in both hands to hold him out to her.

Maeve made no hesitation to pull him into her own arms, giving him a quick once-over.

The ada leaned forward, the scent of cinnamon wafting off his robe.

"He had an itty bitty little raw spot on his nose," he said, pointing a clawed finger, "but I spread lemon balm on it and since then he's been sleeping like a dream. You're different than I was expecting. Dio did say human, but he described you smaller and more deadish, but looking at you right now, you're quite lively. I can see it in the eyes, baby's got your eyes, lucky eh? I read that eyes are a person's most important feature because they're so central. They often carry the weight of a first impression. Speaking of, maybe you'd like some lemon balm with you for your own raw spots? I have lots and lots so if you'd like a jar, feel free to take one."

"Flor," said Dionyus, promptly stopping the other ada from finding another topic. "This is Maeve. Maeve this is Flor."

"Yes! Do come in!"

"We just came to pick up--" Dionyus started, but Flor was already starting back into the sitting room.

"So what is a human doing all the way out here at the wall? Sorry, silly question, it's obvious why. What's baby's name?"

Maeve glanced at Dionyus, ignoring his shaking head as she stepped after him. "Finch."

"How adorable. It really suits. Tea? I just heated some water."

Maeve blinked. A week ago she was isolated and fleeing for her life, yesterday she was trying to live just long enough to deliver Finch to safety, and now, an ada in a bathrobe--the third ada she'd ever properly met--was offering her tea. It was such a strange turn of events she could barely get out more than, "Er...I..well...I suppose?"

"Excellent! Dio?"

"As long as it's not any of your homemade blends."

Maeve startled to find the dark ada over her shoulder. So he'd followed her after all.

Flor let out a gentle huff as he bent for the teapot. Turned out he did have a tail, bobbed and only just peeking from his robe. "You know, Saren likes my blends. He uses them to stay alert on tower duty. You'd get used to them if you drank them enough. But alright, I won't force you. What sounds better ginger lemongrass or hibiscus blossom? " His tail flicked as he talked, lifting the hem of his robe.

"Flor, shouldn't you put something on?"

"Hm?" Flor glanced back at Dionyus with oblivious gray eyes. "No, I'm fine."

"I didn't mean for you."

"Ohhh." Flor smirked. He grabbed both tea boxes, hooking a couple teacups on his fingertips along the way, and balanced everything stressfully, but surprisingly well to the sitting table, plopping to the couch with a pof! of overstuffed cushions. He looked at Maeve as if imparting a secret. A particularly silly one. "Dio is shy. He never undressed in front of anyone the entire time we were in academy. He always arrived extra early. If we had a surprise drill, he waited until the armory was empty no matter the punishment for lateness."

"I'm not shy." Dionyus's feathers raised a fraction poking out like quills. "I'm simply not shameless like you."

Flor laughed, but ultimately ignored the hint, measuring out the herbs into a strainer over the first cup.

Maeve watched his nimble movements with lip-parted awe. She'd never seen an ada so comfortable in his own skin. Magnum had always seemed half-ready to climb out of his.

And she was staring again.

She shook herself. "Um...he--" Maeve nodded in Dionyus's direction, unable to bring herself to say his name like someone familiar and not a stranger only a few sentences deep into acquaintanceship. "--said you know a lot about children. Do you have your own?"

"Aw, Dio!"

"I never said a lot. I said more."

"Coming from you, that's still a compliment." Then to Maeve. "Short answer, no. But I am a chirr."

"A...chir?"

"Yeah, it's the type of ada I am."

"There are types?"

"Of course," Dionyus said. "We may look jumbled to you, but it's not like we turn out by chance."

"And how am I supposed to know that?" Maeve snapped. "By absorbing knowledge through mere presence?"

Dionyus glared but Flor continued cheerily as if the exchange hadn't happened.

"Dio is a shadowghast; if I may be so bold, Finch looks wolfbane. There many many types of adas, and despite what Dio said, we can get rather jumbled if types intercross, but most tend to stick to their own. You see, we all do things a little differently, so it's ideal to find a partner who shares those practices."

"Humans do that too," Maeve said. She stroked her fingertip down Finch's snout--smiling at his tiny yawn--perfectly aware of how she had not. She'd probably gone as far from familiar as she could go. The village called her a witch. Others a demoness. Her family favored the side of "broken-minded."

"For instance," Flor launched, passing a finished, floral-scented cup toward Maeve. "For chirr's, babies are a boy thing. We raise the kids and the mums do that hunting thing. Better because they've got us surpassed in size and teeth. Anyway, I grew up with lots of siblings so I've got lots and lots of experience. No mate yet, fingers crossed, but if you wouldn't mind putting in a good word for me around town that I'm very baby prepared?"

"She's not staying."

Maeve and Flor turned toward Dionyus together.

"She's not?"

"I'm not?"

Dionyus's feathered were straight up now, tufted ears flared and flattened. His long tufted tail lashed the floor. "Of course not! This is the Wall, specifically designed to keep humans out. She's lucky I even brought her this far, imagine the chaos if the inner city found out."

Panic crawled up Maeves throat, but she swallowed it hard before it could turn audible. Instead it writhed like snakes in her stomach. She'd done everything, risked everything, to get here. The trip had only proven what she already knew, there was no place for ada on her side of the wall. Not as equals anyway. And she didn't know if she could do isolation again after Magnum... Looking over her shoulder all the time, spooking at every sound, raising Finch afraid and hidden.

"Then what am I supposed to do?" she said.

"Leave."

"She can't do that!" Flor said for her. "She has a baby!"

"Finch can easily be set up in a wolfbane family. They're all about taking in strays. He'll be healthy and happy and--"

"I'm not leaving him." Maeve growled it, eliciting a small, sleeping cry from Finch as she held him tighter. "I didn't intend to live this long, but if I've made it this far, I'm seeing it through. I'm not just abandoning my son to a bunch of random creat-- adas. I'm especially not entrusting him to big, black feather duster who only helps as far as it's comfortable."

Dionyus shot upright, sloshing tea over the rim of Maeve's teacup as he hit the table. "You and your mutant child are none of my business. I did a good deed bringing you here, a far better deed than almost anyone else here would have offered you. Now, an ugly, bald-faced human isn't going to go unnoticed for long, so you're going to make a decision: leave the child as you intended or go together."

"Neither. You're just going to have to live with seeing my ugly bald face around town. I'm staying, and you can't make me go."

Dionyus scoffed. "How quaint. You think I'm what's denying you access? I'm a soldier. This is a council-level inquiry, and you'll never reach the building let alone get an audience."

Maeve glanced at Flor for clarification. The ada's long ears had gone sideways and he scrunched a little in his seat.

"The council are judges," he said quietly. "The big law deciders of the wall. Anything big questions are brought to them. They're located in the seat. That's in the center of the beyond, in the inner cities. Humans...technically aren't allowed."

"And I'm not vouching for you," Dionyus said.

Maeve stood abruptly, glaring firmly into the dark ada's narrowed eyes. "Then I'll talk to the council myself."

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Halfway through writing, I realized that this is literally Flor:

[that-foul-legacy-lover]

I wonder....does Legacy do the ekekekeke that Cat's do????? Like he sees a bird or something and starts doing that??? Look it up, it's so very cute when kitties do that, mine does it when he sees a birb, just imagine a 7 foot tall moth monster man going ekekekekekekek at a random finch at 3 am because it's silly hour 🙏

YES HE ABSOLUTELY DOES!!!! HE IS SO SILLY <33

you'll be sitting outside, enjoying the fresh air of the mountains after a hike as Foul Legacy lays his head on your lap when suddenly he perks up, crystalline eye trained on a finch sitting on a tree branch. his head tilts to the side as he slowly approaches, letting out a quiet ekekeke sound, and you turn to watch the scene, not daring to even move

then Legacy pounces! but the finch hastily hops aside with an indignant chirp, flying away into the clouds, and he sits back with a disgruntled huff

you have to bite back a laugh as you get to your feet and walk over, cupping his plated cheeks to cheer him up, and eventually Legacy rumbles, bonking his forehead against yours. you gesture for his hand before dropping a small pile of seeds into his claws, carefully pushing them upwards towards the sky. together you wait, quietly, for several minutes, until finally a bird flutters down and perches on Legacy's talons, pecking at the seeds. Legacy lets out a muffled trill of delight, trying not to startle the little finch- is it the same one he scared? you can't tell- and a smile spreads across your face as you watch another bird land on his claws for treats

maybe if you visit the mountains enough, the birds will get used to him and perch on his shoulders without the incentive of seeds...

[twig-collector]

Silly little fic based on an idea someone gave in my headcanon post!

Word count: 1,143

Feedback is always appreciated!

Crutchie stared longingly through the large display window of the bakery he frequently passed at the end of the day, stomach rumbling at the sweet scent in the air. All of the pastries and desserts looked delicious, but the boy seemed to be infatuated with one in particular.

A pink birthday cake.

Since its first appearance in the window, it was all Crutchie could think about, the pink dessert taunting him daily on his walk back to the lodging house. Everyday he'd stop and stare, and today was no different.

“Looks amazing,” Davey commented, starling the other boy out of his cake-induced trance.

“You're tellin’ me,” Crutchie chuckled, turning away from the window. Once again, his dream of cake was squashed by the lack of funds in his pockets.

If Davey had noticed him staring at the particular pink cake, he didn't say a word.

–––––––––

A week later the cake was gone.

Not that Crutchie ever stood a chance of buying it, but his disappointment was evident in the way his posture slumped and a small pout set on his face.

“Damn it,” he muttered quietly.

Davey found his attachment to the pink dessert a little odd, but it was upsetting to see the other seemingly so crushed at its disappearance. There was only one thing to do.

“Hey, Crutchie, when did you say your birthday was again?” Davey asked as they walked down the sidewalk, slowing his pace to match the other. Subtle was not in his vocabulary.

“Tomorrow actually, why?” He responded, glancing over at Davey, a playful grin spreading on his face. “You plannin’ on buyin’ me a gift?”

Davey just shrugged at the question, already forming a plan in his head.

One way or another, Crutchie was getting that damn cake.

Later that night he laid it out for the other boys, sending Jack to distract Crutchie by asking to draw him, giving the group more than enough time to discuss the matter.

“Okay, we'll all pitch in for the ingredients and then I can go back to my folk's place and bake it there, sound good?” Davey asked as the other boys nodded in agreement.

“Blink and Mush will get the flour and sugar, Specs you get the eggs, Les and I will raid our cabinets at home for any vanilla extract or baking powder, Albert’s covering milk, and Finch will get the butter. Everyone got that?” An enthusiastic ‘yes’ was given from the boys gathered around Davey.

–––––––––

The next day the plan was set in motion.

None of the other boys acknowledged the fact that it was Crutchie’s birthday, going about their morning as if nothing out of the ordinary was happening. Except it was. Because subtle wasn't really in any of the newsboy’s vocabulary.

“Oh boy, it sure is a lovely day to sell some papes, isn't it Finch?” Said Albert loudly as he threw on his clothes.

“Why yes it is, such a beautiful, lovely, normal day with nothing going on at all,” Finch responded awkwardly, earning him a light smack on the arm from Specs.

Crutchie watched the unnatural exchange between the two unfold before turning to exit the room, not even bothering to ask what that was about.

Once Crutchie was out of earshot, the two boys sighed in relief.

“What's the matter with you?!” Cried Albert, glaring at the other.

“What's the matter with me?! What's the matter with you?!” Finch shot back. “‘Sure is a lovely day to sell papes’ who even says that ‘cause I know it ain't you.”

“Shut up! You're both awful at whatever the hell that was, now stop arguing, we have a job to do,” Specs snapped, sliding on his vest and preparing to leave. The other two boys grumbled to themselves as they pulled on the rest of their clothes before heading out.

–––––––––

Everyone just seemed a little off that day. Maybe it was because no one had even bothered to wish Crutchie a happy birthday, not even Davey who he had literally just told the day prior. Or maybe it was because he had noticed the other boys acting oddly, not just Finch and Albert. He had spotted Kid Blink carrying a bag of flour earlier, which he had absolutely no need for Crutchie was sure, but he still went up to ask anyway.

“Hey Blink, whatcha doin’ with all that flour there?” He questioned, smiling at his friend warmly. What he wasn't expecting was a look of panic to wash over the other's face.

“I uh– I'm…” Blink hesitated for a second, looking frantically everywhere but at Crutchie. “Eatin’ it.” Blink scrunched his eyebrows together in confusion at his own statement.

Crutchie offered a concerned smile to him before letting the other go, watching as he practically ran down the street.

His day was filled with odd interactions and terrible attempts at hiding individual ingredients such as two strangely shaped lumps in Specs’ pants. Very clearly eggs. Crutchie had no idea what had gotten into his friends all of a sudden, but he wished they could've waited at least one more day to start being weird and seemingly avoiding him.

As his day came to an end, with not a single ‘happy birthday’ so much as uttered to him, Crutchie dejectedly made his way back to the lodging house. He passed the bakery, pausing to peer into the window at the goodies he longed for, the absence of the pink cake only bringing his spirits down more.

Reaching the lodging house, he pushed the door open and was welcomed to a strange silence. Crutchie stood in the doorway for a moment, looking around for anyone who may have been in the room with him. He sighed as scanned the empty room, starting to make his way towards the stairs when suddenly something covered his eyes.

“Hey!” He cried as he was carefully led up the stairs. Whoever had blinded him said not a word, leading Crutchie throughout the house before gently pushing him down into a chair and scooting him towards what felt like a table. After some shuffling and the quiet click of a lighter, his blindfold was removed and the tune of the classic birthday song filled the previously silent house.

There, right in front of him sat a cake with a singular candle lit.

A grin settled on Crutchie's face as the song came to an end, the odd feelings of the day replaced by warmth and joy.

“You didn't think we'd forgotten, did you?” Chuckled Davey, who was standing off to his left. “Go ahead and try it,” he said, gesturing to the cake.

And even if the cake was slightly too tinted to be considered pink, a bit on the dry side, and way too crumbly to be considered normal, it was everything Crutchie had wanted and more.

[peckforlovingheck]

this is just some silly writing of Dan and Amani in highschool before marriage and all the other events of TOAU

Amani curls her hair, brushing it lightly. She smiled in the mirror and threw on a sweater. Clipping on jeweled earrings. Spritzing with cinnamon and sugar scented perfume. She threw on some shoes and walked out the door.

Amani stood awkwardly at the bus stop. Her friend walked up to her. “Today’s the day?” Elaina asked. “Yep! I’m so excited. I’ve been working on my speech for the longest time.” She said, beaming.

“..That’s good.” They reply. “You got this!”

they get on the bus and talk and ramble. “Augh. Can’t wait for History.” Amani says, leaning against the window. “Why? Because your one true love is there?” Elaina teased.

“Oh whatever El.” Amani mumbled, a smallish blush to her face. She knew what they were talking about. There was a guy in her history class that she maybe liked. He was kind of her whole reason to stay through the class.

“Awwh.” Elaina coos, then standing up with their bag as the bus stopped. Amani followed and the two went to their lockers and grabbed their things.

“Welp. I’m off to class. See ya.” Elaina said. Amani waved and walked off.

A few periods go by and eventually she made it to history. Amani sat down in her desk, next to the window on the right side and another desk to the left. In that desk sat Daniel Finch, the one thing in this class that made her pay attention.

“Hey.” He said, grinning. “Hi.” She perked up, smiling back. “You’re in an extremely good mood. What’s up?” Dan asked.

“oh uh.. nothing much. I just have a speech completion to go to after school. My whole family is going.” Amani said, messing with her sleeve.

“where’s that?” He turned his head. “Just the auditorium. At 7pm.” Amani says, staring at him. He nods and turns back to his notes.

She finishes her work and kind of just stays staring at him. Eventually, unfortunately for her, class ends.

Time flew by quick. She finished her work in other classes and then went home to change into professional clothes, getting ready for her speech. Amani went back at 6:30, anxiety filling her. She and the other students sat back stage, waiting for their turns. She was nervous but excited. Her parents would finally see all her hard work.

“Amani Hernandez?” The announcer calls

It was her turn to perform. She stepped onto the stage. Cards in hand, she took a breath and looked out into the crowd. A sharp breath followed after. Her family. Not there? Not even her brother? Not even her parents, of all people? She at least saw Elaina. A small smile fell on her face and she began her speech.

an applause and she stepped back behind the stage. The applause came to a close and she fell to her knees crying. A door clicks open and she looks up to see two people.

“Amani??” Elaina immediately rushes to her, hugging her. Dan stands there, really unsure if he should as well. In his hands was a bouquet of flowers.

“…Are you okay..?” Dan asks. “No. Not really. My family didn’t even show up.” Amani says. Elaina hugs her tighter. “Ughh.. I’m so sorry..” they murmur to her.

Dan sat next to the two. “Yeah, that’s awful. I’m glad I managed to come them. You got me and Elaina.” He slid the flowers to her.

She looked at them, examining the vivid red of the petals. “…I know people sometimes get them for performances. I don’t really know if speeches apply to that but.. uh..” Dan said.

“..Don’t let him fool you, he asked me what kinds of flowers you liked.” Elaina said, letting go.

“Aw. Well.. thanks. Both of you.” She smiled. She hugged Elaina again and then Dan. They all stand up. “We should leave.” Elaina says. “I’ll drive you guys home.”

“Sure, just let me get changed again.” Amani says.

She comes back out with the sweater. “Alright. Let’s go.” Elaina pointed towards the door.

Amani shivered a bit. Dan looked over at her, worryingly. He took off his hoodie and handed it to her.

“Won’t you be cold?” She asked. “It’s whatever.” Dan said, “Just take it please.”

Elaina rolled her eyes, smirking, “Okay. If you’re both done, can I start my car now?”