#tia disgruntled

[expectiations]

i'm sorry but parading around a Pond-centric fic in the Pond tags and then taking away the quote "Doctor/River "romance" unquote is not what a Pond centric fic should be and should ever be. Begone from my sight, thou foul heathen.

[tibialtybalt]

detectives and detonations my beloved.

[woso-dreamzzz]

Cub and Älskling 

Mapi Leon x Ingrid Engen x Child!Reader (Cub)

Fridolina Rolfö x Child!Reader (Cub) x Älskling 

Summary: You meet Frido's Älskling 

The baby is very little.

She's small and cute and is cradled very tightly in Frido's arms.

You stare at her, eyes not moving as she wiggles around. Her eyes are wide as she stares back at you.

You lean closer and her little hand is free of her blankets.

She punches you in the face, right in the nose.

You gasp.

"Mami," You say, turning to look at her," She's so cool!"

Mami laughs in disbelief. "Cool, huh? She just punched you."

"Yeah!" You nod frantically," And I'm bigger than her! She's so cool! Is she your baby Tia Frido?"

Frido shakes her head. "She's my baby sister. I like to call her Älskling."

"Hi, Älskling," You say before gasping again," She smiled at me! Ingrid, did you see? She smiled at me!"

"She must like you, Cub," Ingrid says," You're very likeable."

"I know," You reply," But Mami says babies are difficult sometimes. It's good that she likes me."

You've been waiting for ages to meet Tia Frido's little sister. You weren't at training the day the rest of the team met her.

Ingrid had to send you to nursery that day because it was picture day and Mami really wanted a fancy picture of you.

It made you a little sad to not meet Älskling then but you're happy you can meet her at your house. She keeps looking at you and smiling and you smile back.

She looks really cool and Frido sets her on the floor to explore there. She can't crawl just yet but she can sit up and look around.

She reaches for you and you shuffle closer.

"Careful, cub," Mami says," Remember, Älskling's only little. You must use gentle hands like with Bagheera."

You nod very seriously and get closer again, sitting on your knees. You've got the magic wiggles but you're trying to keep them at bay because you don't want to scare Älskling.

You give her your hand and she wraps a whole hand around one of your fingers. You stare at her, mouth slightly hanging open as she lets go of you.

She grunts, hand curling into a fists as she punches your finger.

You giggle, wiggling a little bit on your knees in excitement.

"She keeps punching me!" You tell no one in particular," She's so cool! Can we keep her, Tia Frido?"

Frido grins triumphantly. "I knew you'd be on my side! But, sadly, she has to go back to Sweden at some point. She lives with my parents. I'd have to kidnap her if she stayed here."

"That's okay," You tell her," You can stay here. Älskling can sleep in my room and you can sleep in bed with Mami and Ingrid!"

Mapi turns pale at that thought.

"I think it would be better if Älskling stayed with her parents, cub."

You flash her a disgruntled look. "Älskling's my new best friend," You say," She can't leave!"

"Don't worry," Frido says," I'll be making sure she comes to visit a lot."

You nod. "Good because she's my new best friend and I want to show her everything."

That sparks an idea in you and you hurry off to your toy crate. You didn't use to have one until Ingrid moved in, took one look at the messy apartment and came back with little crates and storage bins to put things in.

You kind of like your toy crate now because all of them are in the exact same place and you know where to put them when you're done playing - though Ingrid has to remind you a lot to actually put them back in the crate.

You grab a few things you think will interest Älskling like your yellow digger and your magnifying glass. You snatch your løve (lion) from the sofa as well and crowd into Älskling's space again.

She's smiling again and making little giggly sounds as Frido tickles her.

"Here, Älskling," You say, placing your yellow digger next to her. You demonstrate how it moves before showing her the magnifying glass. She seems more interested in that than anything else so you let her hold it.

She's got a very good grip and lifts the toy up to her face before putting it in her mouth. You giggle when she pulls a face at the taste but then sticks it right back into her mouth.

"She's silly," You tell Ingrid," But still fun!"

"You were silly," Ingrid tells you.

"But not now."

She laughs. "But not now."

You keep your distance from Älskling for a little bit, playing by Frido's feet with Bagheera and your digger. You let your magic wiggles all run out before you're up on your feet again and ask the question you've wanted to ask since Frido arrived.

"Can I hold her?"

"Say please, Cub," Ingrid prompts and you correct yourself.

"Can I hold her, please?"

"Of course!" Frido says, tapping the spot next to her," Let's get you comfortable."

[try-set-me-on-fire]

Tagged by @devirnis for Fuck It Friday! I’m going to put this entirely under the cut because it’s more ER nurse Eddie au and is him telling Buck about being shot at work by a family member of a former patient who died, which is a classic medical drama trope but might be understandably upsetting. Anyway….. tagging @rewritetheending @shortsighted-owl @burins @rogerzsteven @ anyone else who wants to share!

"I got shot," Eddie says, and then shrugs a little because he hadn't quite meant to say it.

"You got shot?" One of Buck's hands flutters up for a moment, half reaching towards him. Eddie wonders if he has a girlfriend out there somewhere. Eddie wonders about his own girlfriend, out there, somewhere. “Who- what? Where?”

When, how, and sometimes why. Christopher just had this English lesson. “In the ER.” Buck’s wide eyes get wider. “Disgruntled…” Eddie sighs, runs a hand through his hair. “Former patient. Or- his brother died. Someone made a mistake. His brother died.”

Buck’s fingers tighten on the baby bag he’s carrying, and he flinches at the word brother. “Did you make the mistake?”

Eddie tilts his head. It’s not the question he was expecting. “No. I wasn’t even there the day it happened.”

“That’s…” Buck leans forward a little without seeming to realize. He’s frowning, forehead creased up and tugging his birthmark around. “It’s not fair.”

Eddie huffs out a breath that might be a laugh, which feels a little mean. For who? Eddie? The grieving man? The 22 year old brother who choked to death on his own vomit because a shift change and an influx of patients from a ten car pile up meant no one checked in on the drunk kid in bed 3 until it was too late? It was his birthday. He’d been out celebrating. He’d never get to celebrate another one, and his brother who’s eyes had been cracked open and raw as he’d held the gun is dead now too, and Eddie has an old scar on his left shoulder and a new one on his right and he can’t walk through the ER without his hands shaking. It’s not fucking fair.

"The world's a bad place, Evan,” he says to a man going to visit a new baby who’s just been brought into it. Eddie’s pretty sure the miserable look on Buck’s face is just a reflection of his own.

“It’s Buck,” Buck says.

“Right.”

Eddie should… leave, he should continue his rounds, he shouldn’t be having this conversation. Not with this person, anyway. Ana, his tia and abuela, his therapist - all of them have been trying to get him to talk about it, but it’s too big and sad and awful and if he drags it outside of the hospital walls it will stain his entire life and he’ll never get the spots out. But he’s… the stains are there already, he’s coming to understand. Christopher looked at him this morning, after Eddie had spent the night dragging himself out of nightmare after nightmare, and there it was in his expression. Eddie doesn’t know what to do to fix it. Eddie doesn’t know how to fix any of it.

And then Buck says “I wish I’d been there.”

It knocks the wind out of Eddie for a moment. He pictures it, Buck standing there splattered in blood, crimson smeared all over his face and obscuring his birthmark, making him look like some entirely different person. A shudder runs up his spine. “I’m glad you weren’t.”

“Eddie-“

“Buckaroo!” A short man walks out of one of the rooms, eyes tired and so full of joy. “We’re not allowed visitors, what are you doing here? Is that- where’s Albert?”

Eddie leaves. He walks away, leaves them to it, but when he looks back from the nursing station Buck’s expression is so regretful and sad he has a moment where he wants nothing more than to be there at his side.

But he reminds himself that the man is a stranger, and Eddie has work to do.

[allthingsdarkanddirty]

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A disgruntled demigod. A lost city. A sacred alliance.

When Alex is abducted by our newest foe, I have the entire nation searching for him. But Miletus has a plan and it includes my fae lover.

In our quest to return him, we form an uneasy alliance with the Atlanteans and search for a way to save a forsaken people. We learn we must retrieve a rare artifact, but that too comes at a price.

With the fate of a species hanging in the balance, do I save the Shrouded Nation or the man I love?

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About The Authors

A USA Today bestselling author, Brenda loves everything paranormal. She has co-authored over twenty-five books in the best-selling Dark Warrior Alliance series, as well as the Hollow Rock Shifters series. She also has best-selling solo titles readers are raving about. Brenda created worlds that feature dangerously handsome heroes and feisty heroines. With the help of popcorn and candy, she takes dragons, fairies, witches, vampires, and so much more and brings them to life. She lives in Texas with her husband and three kids who fuel not only her heart but her life. If she's not writing, she's reading, traveling, or knee-deep in projects with her husband and five sisters. She encourages readers to Dream Big. If your dreams don't terrify and electrify you then they aren't big enough!  

Tia Didmon is a USA Today bestselling author of provocative paranormal romance. When Tia isn't busy writing about sexy shifters and dreamy demons, she spends her time binge watching The Order and reruns of The Vampire Diaries, cooking with her daughter, and serving her cat. Her love of writing stems from a self-diagnosed book addiction.  Subscribe to Tia's newsletter at tiadidmon.com for a free book and start your journey through Tia's supernatural world today!  Find Them Both Online! https://www.brendatrim.com https://tiadidmon.com

[prvtocol]

💭 + santiago

𝓗𝓮𝓪𝓭𝓬𝓪𝓷𝓸𝓷𝓼 — send 💭 + a topic to receive a headcanon about said topic. ( accepting !! )

Santiago Moncada, former Valentino, Los Piratas’ gang enforcer, and the president’s (Vaas) righthand man. Brianne encountered him at the same time she met Vaas in 2076; he was the big burly ganger seated in the driver seat of her hijacked car with the flashing red, black spider fashionware on the back of his bald head. He didn’t speak to her, Vaas did the talking, but he left an impression of someone cold and unreachable. If Vaas didn’t kill her in the months that followed, she knew he would be the one to do it. She never expected him to become her husband, the father of her children, the love of her life, especially not when pinned in a protection racket by Vaas, but it somehow worked out that way.

After the protection racket set up, she would occasionally see Santigo at the gang parties Vaas threw each month or so at her estate, always distanced from the other ganger’s shenanigans and maybe smoking a cigarette in her back garden. Vaas drunk introduced her as “Brenda,” making them shake hands while Santiago corrected his friend before she got dragged away. His eyes were cold, distant, and uninterested. It would remain the same whenever crossing paths.

One morning, he showed up at her door to retrieve Vaas for an important meeting that day; the president was still undressed, asleep in her bed nursing a major headache. Santiago made her wake him up. Horribly self-aware, the enforcer's presence induced a huge amount of shame and embarrassment. She suspected he saw what was the truth; she’d become Vaas’ dumb corpy plaything to use and discard. She didn’t want to be seen that way by anyone. But it was the first time they exchanged more than a few words since she invited both Piratas to have coffee after. They shared disgruntlement when Vaas depleted the milk straight from the cartoon, she made them pancakes, the two discussed gang business, and she just stayed in the background. While she had gotten used to being around Vaas, being around Santiago remained slightly awkward. But she would say "hello" and "hope you've been well" whenever she saw him. Once she got a voicemail from him claiming he contacted the wrong person; it made her a little curious about him. Eventually, she figured out he was the epitome of the strong silent type. Even noticed at one point he had a set of beautiful though stoic brown eyes.

It wasn’t until she was dismissed by Arasaka, in those tense weeks following when she went into hiding at the clubhouse and the gang set up her protection services, that they held longer conversations. He was not at all like Vaas, which she already suspected, and perhaps not even like most other gangers. Rather he was someone with a level head, calm and collected, direct in his words, and lucky for her, very determined to protect the gang’s assets. He scoped out that she was being headhunted and he came through choosing her crew of Los Piratas security; all decent and reliable men. She discovers he’s the same.

Following this, their interactions increased. He’d stop by to check in on her security crew's needs and Vaas if he was parked there in one of his drugged, depressive episodes. Sometimes he’d use the place’s quiet to do paperwork. She became more relaxed around him and encouraged him to stay and eat along with her crew who she began cooking daily meals for. They’d text as well but they were short, often regarding the same business. She liked him more than she thought she could considering their start. Like the rest of her security crew, he was different. A good man. It really wasn’t until Vaas’ disappearance that their relations took on a closeness unlike before.

It was Santiago who told her about Vaas’ cyberpsychosis. She hadn’t seen or heard from him for many weeks and she gathered the courage to ask Santiago if he was okay (knowing he was getting worse). She always knew the two were close; Vaas spoke of "Tiago" like he was a brother and they relied on each other as such. Despite his closed facade, she could tell even before this that what Vaas was going through pained him. It made Brianne concerned for him too and her texts were less about Vaas. Maybe he wasn’t receptive to that at first, but she didn’t care. 

Then Santiago took on the unofficial role of gang president and ended the protection racket, which was a shock and hard to process. She saw how the stress of this role along with searching for his brother wore him thin. It didn’t stop her invitations to come over and eat, to try to decompress on more quiet idyllic grounds, to stay and rest if the hour was late, knowing he hadn’t slept for days. Her own complicated grief had her neglecting herself too; leaving dishes unwashed in the sink, not trimming her indoor plants or tending her garden, and she noticed he began doing little chores for her when he’d stop by. His company, someone to share that heaviness with, brought a lot of comfort. At one point they knew Vaas was never coming back and they were left with each other.

Their love snuck up on them; like that feeling of a gentle touch to the other’s hand for comfort, the warmth of a hug that lasts a little too long, the realization they didn’t want to lose the other from their life also. A quiet love of lives intertwined. She saw in him a protector, someone she could trust, a gentleness she wasn't used to. They kept it a secret along with burgeoning plans to leave Night City together. The boss’ designation of a new gang president and the threats he brought to them both only brought a sense of urgency to it. Leaving together felt right. 

Santiago fits the mold of her perfect man. Strong and very masculine, protective, and traditional in the role he takes, making her his valued counterpart, attentive to her needs, generous and gentle, with a love of food. She’s come to understand him and his quietness; his introverted need to be alone sometimes to recharge. Also, of his need to tackle a job that makes him work hard, to escape the mundane for a sense of normalcy from what was a hard life on the city streets. Even if she fears the risks he takes, she respects and supports him. She also knows how hard it was for him to adjust to an entirely different lifestyle in France. And as a father, he shows the same attentiveness and care to raising his sons, becoming the best version of something he didn’t have growing up. His dedicated companionship is exactly what she dreamed of finding with someone someday. And with him by her side, all the hardships faced prior made a little more sense.

[angstyandromanticwriting]

Benjamin X Reader Forbidden Love prompt with cute moments and light angst

!TW: Implied suicidal thought (“I probably would have ended up killing-..”), mention of depression, bullying (not detailed), violence, insult (‘freak’), unconsciousness!

“Are you okay?” Benjamin inquired gently, and you nodded your head slightly, glancing up at him.

“Can I stay with you tonight, please?” You requested, and Benjamin frowned.

“T-Tia wouldn’t let you stay with us,” he answered, a pained expression on his face. You bowed your head, knowing he was right. “I’m sorry, Y/n,” he stated, and you nodded gravely, forcing a weak smile up at him.

“It’s okay, B,” you reassured quietly, and he carefully picked you up in his arms, carrying you back to the Cullens’ and Hayes’ home. As he laid you down on your bed in the spare room they’d given to you, you held his arm, not wanting him to leave yet. “Do - Do you love me?” You whispered, and Benjamin nodded, sitting on the edge of the bed beside you.

“I’ve been in love with you since we were kids,” he mused, smiling warmly down at you.

You reflected the smile, but it was fainter than his. “Good,” you responded, “I - I was just checking that you still..” You stopped yourself, hiding your face from him. You shuffled closer to Benjamin, and he leaned down, wrapping his arms around you. “You’re really warm,” you stated, and Benjamin nodded; he’d warmed himself up for you to make you feel more comfortable and relaxed.

Once he was certain that you’d gone to sleep, he carefully withdrew his arms, before he stood up from the bed, wishing he could stay with you. “Goodnight, Y/n,” he whispered as to not wake you up, before he dragged himself out of the room.

༺𐦐༻

You would be surprised when Benjamin turned up to the house the next day; you thought you wouldn’t see him until next week as he was normally away on the week-end. “B? What are you doing here?” You inquired, a smile tugging at the corners of your lips.

Benjamin held up your hoodie that you liked to wear sometimes, and you would be surprised, realising that you must have left it at his house. “This reminded me of you,” he answered, before he offered it to you, and you nodded your thanks as you accepted it from him. “I love seeing you smile,” he stated, and your smile grew for him.

“I - I love seeing you smile,” you returned, and he smiled toothily. You wrapped your arms around him, and he returned the hug. “I honestly don’t know where I’d be right now if it weren’t for you,” you expressed, “I probably would have ended up killing-..” You stopped yourself, and Benjamin frowned, bowing his head slightly; he remembered that you’d struggled with depression for a while before you both started dating. You sighed shakily, forcing a smile up at him again. “You made me a better person, and - I - I thank you for that, B,” you whispered, burying your face into the crook of his neck. Benjamin rubbed your back, and you felt a little bit better.

༺𐦐༻

Whilst Tia was away with her father, Benjamin was able to visit you more often, and you both made sure to spend almost every minute together. The next morning, you were searching for your light blue sweater you liked to wear, though you couldn’t feel if it was cold or hot outside. “B!” You called, wondering if he’d seen it, and you shot him a disgruntled look when you noticed him wearing your sweater as he was watching television on the sofa. Benjamin smirked, looking over at you. “Why are you wearing my sweater?” You asked, and Benjamin tried not to laugh.

“I’m just wearing it because it smells like you,” he answered, and you shook your head, grinning; you couldn’t help it.

“Idiot,” you whispered, giggling, before you sat beside him. You lifted your hand to play with his hair, and would be surprised by how soft it was; you assumed he must have had a shower earlier, or something. “Your hair is really soft,” you mused, and Benjamin smiled warmly over at you.

“Good,” he responded, “I wanted to make it soft for you because you tend to play with my hair a lot.” You winced, embarrassed as you looked away from him. “You always get embarrassed with me,” he pointed out, “you shouldn’t be; I love it when you play with my hair; I thought you already knew that.” You wouldn’t respond, thinking you’d say something stupid.

༺𐦐༻

“Fuck you, Jacob!” You shouted, storming away from him.

Jacob ran after you, a hurt look on his face. “I - I didn’t mean that, Y/n, I just-” Jacob caught your arm, turning you to face him, “I just want to be there for you if things get worse, okay? Is it so wrong for me to want you to be happy?”

“Things can’t get worse than this,” you murmured, trying to tell yourself that, too. You pried your arm from Jacob’s, and he watched as you continued walking away.

༺𐦐༻

You had decided to go to the park nearby, leaning against the wooden fencing which was to stop people from falling into the lake below. You would be startled when someone placed their hands on your sides, and you turned around sharply, visibly relaxing when you realised it was only Benjamin. “Hey, B!” You greeted, throwing your arms around him.

Benjamin returned the hug, glad to find you alone; he always felt like he had to act more distantly with you if someone was with you, or if Tia was with him. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you,” he claimed, holding you at arm’s length. “I was worried that the Volturi had tried to take you again,” he admitted, and you frowned, shaking your head.

“They could never take me away from you,” you stated, and he tried to believe you, smiling softly.

Benjamin leaned on the fence beside you, looking up at the night sky. “Shooting star!” Benjamin exclaimed, and you would be surprised, trying to search for it. “Make a wish,” he instructed gently, and you would silently make one. Benjamin shuffled closer to you, tilting his head partially. “What did you wish for?” Benjamin inquired, and you glanced up at him hesitantly.

“You know what I wished for, B,” you murmured, and he nodded gravely, lowering his head slightly; he always wished for things to go back to normal, too; he was sick of hurting you consistently after he’d had to marry Tia. You decided to change the subject, knowing you had little time left with him. “So - What are you doing here? Didn’t you have that thing with Tia and her dad?” You questioned, and Benjamin grunted, looking away from you.

“I told Tia I would be late,” he answered, fidgeting with his hands which were perched upon the wooden fencing. You winced, worried that Benjamin would get in trouble. “I couldn’t get you out of my mind, Y/n, I had to see you,” he added, turning his body to face you properly.

You stepped closer to Benjamin, wanting to hear him say that he loved you again; you felt as if you always needed a reminder, especially after everything that had happened recently. “Why couldn’t you stop thinking about me?” You asked, and Benjamin placed his hand on your cheek delicately; he treated you as if you were a fragile porcelain doll that could be broken.

“You know very well why, Y/n,” he answered, his face inches from your’s, “it’s because I love you.” You smiled weakly, before you connected your lips to his. Benjamin checked his watch, and decided that he and you had enough time to go to your favourite shop together since you liked to see the different items and plants that they had. “How about we go to Hortus?” Benjamin asked, and you hesitated.

“Are you sure?” You asked, and Benjamin nodded. “I - I’d love that,” you concluded, and Benjamin offered you his hand to hold as you both made your way out of the park. “You’ll let me pick a plant I like?” You pried, and Benjamin would pretend to think about it for a moment. “You owe me,” you whined, and Benjamin nodded; he did owe you after everything.

“Fine,” he replied, “pick out whatever you like and I’ll get it for you.” You silently cheered, and Benjamin chuckled when he noticed the look on your face. “I haven’t seen you smile like that in ages,” he claimed, and you giggled.

“I just really like Hortus,” you stated, and he could see that you did.

↯

Benjamin didn’t tell you, when he decided to go back to the Hayes’ and Cullens’ house, that things didn’t go very well with him, Tia and her father; he could tell that her father no longer approved of him as he’d accidentally snapped at Tia in front of him; he couldn’t stop himself from doing it. You opened the door for Benjamin, Alice had told you that she’d seen him coming back, but she wouldn’t dare tell you things hadn’t gone well for him; she, too, didn’t want to worry you, so she informed Carlisle and the others about it, instead. “Hey!” You greeted, and Benjamin smiled sweetly at you, before he wrapped his arms around you. “How was it?” You inquired, and Benjamin lied, saying it was just ‘fine’.

You led Benjamin upstairs, wanting to play a card game with him, and you both settled on Change the Suit. “You’re my Queen of Hearts,” Benjamin stated as he set the card down, and you giggled, looking away from him. “Are you blushing?” Benjamin inquired, though he knew that you couldn’t really blush when you were a vampire. You hid your face more, believing that you were for a moment, until you remembered that you were a vampire, and you playfully slapped his shoulder with your free hand. Benjamin chuckled, amused by your reaction.

༺𐦐༻

Benjamin would be angry when he found someone bullying you outside of the high school you attended, and he shoved the boy away. “Leave her alone!” Benjamin hissed, and you held his arm, worried that he’d be found out.

“Benjamin stop,” you whined, trying to pull him away, but he wouldn’t move.

“What are you gonna do, freak?” The bully spat, and Benjamin felt himself losing control. “You’re just a softie,” he added, and Benjamin accidentally pushed you away from him, making you fall backwards and lose consciousness as you’d hit your head on the floor pretty badly.

~~~~~

Hope you enjoyed this prompt! ❤️

[casitafallz]

LTRL AU |  Talking Between Relatives

Vera knew it’d take time for anyone—aside from Luisa—to come and visit her shop. It had been a day since she had spoken to her son, and she had fortunately seen Agustín leading his disgruntled wife through town during the morning to—she hoped— was Dr Lopez.

But she had thankfully caught one of the Madrigal she had seen rarely about since she had heard his return. So, she had invited him into her shop at lunch after most of the girls had hurried to eat with their families. The fact he had without a second invitation was a surprise, despite also not going home for lunch either but she was glad to see him sit down and she put together a cup of chocolate Santafereño and a few buñuelos she had since she didn’t like his too-thin frame.

Bruno sat, a little awkwardly but seemed to enjoy it, though seemed to knock on wood stool often which seemed to settle him more.

“How would you like to be addressed, Señor Madrigal or Bruno?” Vera asked politely, as she took a seat and picked up her own crocheting, and began to continue.  

Bruno looked up in surprise. “Er… Oh, Bruno’s fine.” He answered.

“Then feel free to call me Vera.” Vera smiled, “I’m glad you took up my offer.”

Bruno shrugged, “A…passing sleep vision last night showed I’d be here. I figured…I’d see what happens.”

Vera nodded but it made immediate sense. The man had no release from his gift, even in his sleep it seemed. “Well, I was hoping we could have a…talk in regards to your family. I can’t imagine it’s… all too easy.”

Bruno paused for a second. “Are you a therapist as well as a seamstress?” Bruno eyed her wearily. “Agustín said you were good at reading people…”

“I’m the youngest of seven, Bruno. I’ve learned to read people by necessity—my older siblings at the least—or risk losing food or personal objects… or getting tackled down a flight of steps by accident.”

“Seven?!”

“Well, there was more and after me but nature is not always kind.” Her mother never went into details so Vera didn’t pass that a second thought. “Nonetheless, I learned young and my mother taught me a lot as well. Was…your mother a single child or did she mention any siblings to you growing up?”

Bruno slurped on his mug thoughtfully. “No siblings, but her mother was a twin. She never talks about her mother or Tia; only that she had them. Wouldn’t you know if my mother had siblings? You came from the same town and you’re close in age, aren’t you?

“Same town but different ends of it.” Vera corrected, gently “Plus, she wasn’t a Madrigal when she was growing up. I can’t remember her maiden name at this point, however, I knew the Madrigal family well.”

That caught his attention, his eyes widening, “Wait, you knew my father?” He leaned forwards.

Vera hummed, not fully committedly. “Si, he belonged to a…small family. A sister and his parents. His family owned a shop close to ours, a bookshop, actually. His family would come in mostly for a new outfit every so often. We sold things a little cheaper so our store was more visited. His family was…known by the fact his father was pale and had such a mass of red hair.”

It was a…distant memory, but she hadn’t been part of the business to care about who came and went too much until she had started to pay attention to boys. But the redhead was easy to remember as they were so rare, more than the blondes. There had been an old woman with red hair and green eyes but Vera couldn’t remember what happened to her. She knew the woman’s family all had dark hair so who knew where her descendants ended up?

 “I… think Pedro was a writer? He loved reading. His father used to drag him to my parent's shop for new clothes but he always spent his money on books or notepads than his clothes until his sister cut the threads out of his shirt once to make a point on his spending habits.” Vera hadn’t realized she had stopped looking at the twig of a man until she had looked up from her wool work to see she had his full, wide-eyed attention.

“My…our grandfather was a redhead?” Bruno sounded a little excited at that. “At least we know where Pepa got her looks.” Bruno leaned forwards in both excitement and anxiety about her words, “He was a writer too? W-What did he write?”

Vera paused, though she felt…confused, did Alma not tell her son of his father or his paternal family?? She hardly felt like it was her place to feed her son information of a lost man when she should have done so. On the other hand… there must have been something to hold her back. Vera’s mind touched on her son, her lost son.

Grief.

It was almost annoying to hold the same reasoning but… she supposed that they all had their pain held in different places and in different degrees. Vera knew how to handle hers. She had bid her griefs farewells and let them come and go when they visited since. There was no true way to let it go. She had learned to cope… or risk being caught and left stranded and never moving forwards.

“It varied, I…never got involved in his work. Poems were his main interest but… his last few years, his work got more…political. He wanted to help out his town and to have more of a voice for them as well. But… typically people who got dabbled into politics or expressed their option too much were often sought out and killed.” It was sad to think about that, but she had to think that… the following of them that day their town went to the flame was not without purpose. People with influence or in a position of power were often tracked down and killed for their actions; it had been a common thing in the large, open towns and cities for that to happen. Vera looked up sharply, “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to…imply anything.”

Bruno’s face was…uneasy but oddly calm. “It’s fine.” He sucked in a heavy breath. “It just…. I never thought of it that way.”

“Your father’s death?”

“The senseless killing.” He knocked gently on his stool. “and yeah, that too. I…never thought there was a reason for it beyond terror…and war.”

“Encanto is a safe haven and it’s all you’ll ever know, Bruno,” Vera spoke. “Me, your mother… everyone who was part of the fleeing share burdens with that knowledge of what people will do for control and power. We were all just…civilians caught in the middle.”

“But…Pa died for a cause?”

“He…may have been a target for his public views, si, but you and your family were most likely his cause to protect from the moment he met your mother.” Vera didn’t want to diminish the man’s noble sacrifice; it was for his family and only that when the moment came down to it. An honorable, but brutal death.

“Does… did my Mother know about… what he wrote about?” He almost looked hopeful and conflicted at the same time at the idea.

“I assume so. He moved away when he married. I didn’t see him until he was leading the survivors away with your mother a year later.” She hadn’t even known he had died until morning, the spurt of magic had been a wonder and a distraction.

Bruno took another deeper sip of his drink. “Do you have many stories about him?”

“I do but… some don’t paint him in a positive light.” Vera was careful. “Why don’t you ask your mother for more stories?”

Bruno visibly deflated at her suggestion. “Mama never tells us the bad things, barely anything more than him being a good man who gave his life for us. It’s… hard to see him anything less than that. It’d…” Bruno hesitated, “It’d be nice to hear him more human and with flaws.”

Vera felt her resolve soften. It made sense… Alma put her husband’s memory on the highest of pedestals for all to see the good.

“Well, let’s make a deal, you help me find ways for your family to…get on the road to…stability and I’ll tell you all that I remember about your father and his family?” Vera offered, as much as she knew he’d want to hear more now… she’d have to steer the conversation to where she needed it to be. Less on the past, and more on the present.

Bruno hesitated for a moment, clearly weighing his options as he picked up one of the cheesy bread balls and ate it. “That is….acceptable, I suppose.”

“I am not the only one that knew him, I can point you to a few others who may have other stories as well.”

“Please do.” Bruno ran his hand through his hair, “So… where do we start?”

“Well, I’m not the one to go all the way back to the start of the issues, so I’ll go with the more recent stuff. So, to put some perspective on the matter; following the attack on Mirabel; Isa’s been punished and so, what has the rest of the family been doing the following nine months after that?” Vera questioned, continuing her work with the other blanket for the baby to remain busy with her hands. And, not to mention Isa would need a few spares from either spit up or poop so she’d happily make the girl a backup.

Bruno shrugged, setting his mug down in favor of his plate of fwood he put on his lap. “Well… I noticed they simply…carried on. A little less intense work in town but…it never overly changed. Mirabel was the one to push her mother away from the town's reliance on her gift which… was probably a smart idea.”

“How is she?”

“Who, Mirabel or Julieta?”

“Julieta.”

“I can’t say. I’ve… sort of stayed with Antonio and his animal friends a little mostly to avoid all the drama. He can talk to my rats you see and… it’s just nice to talk to someone who can actually help direct the rats to position.” Bruno seemed to lighten up more as he spoke, “He’s a...very bright kid.”

“I sense the lingering in your undertone, Bruno.” Vera looked up from the blanket, “Is Antonio alright, that should be addressed, I suppose. He’s young and… I suppose he can be easily missed in the mess that’s happened?” Perhaps Bruno’s hanging around also kept Antonio being exposed to such family messes.

Bruno nodded, “He seems alright. But, I suppose he misses how things used to be. I’ve…tried to explain that the family’s going through a tough time in knowing what to do. He thinks what’s happening is Isabela keeps getting into trouble or someone else is and doesn’t know the resolve. One thing after another.”

Vera nodded though she supposed that was a very one-sided thing that could be resolved quickly. “Why don’t you simply talk to Pepa or her husband about his feelings? I can’t imagine she’s realized among the mess.”

Bruno hesitated but nodded, “I suppose. Dolores wasn’t soft on them and… I think they’re doing better with her today at breakfast. They didn’t realize how…affected she is with her gift.”

Though there was no mistake he spoke with a sense of…familiarity. Vera could only assume it was a mutual feeling, given his own gift which she… didn’t care much for. It wasn’t relevant to her and so, didn’t care. She wasn’t the type to ask for a future. Why spoil her own future when patience was a virtue?

Though, looking at his scrawny face and dark eye shadows… he looked far rougher than he should.

“Then, as long as they keep their eyes on their children then it’s not our business. But, how are you handling this, Bruno?” Vera asked. “I can’t imagine it was easy to appear and get thrown into drama.”

The man in question shrugged. “I can handle it, just another day in La Casa Madrigal.”

“You’ve otherwise told me you’re hanging around with your five year old sobrino to hide away from the drama. Don’t you think that it would be…healthier that you shouldn’t resort to such methods for peace in your own home?” She set the last stitch on her work for now, to give him her proper attention. “You shouldn’t have to live that way, not because of your siblings or your mother. There is more to life than that.”

Bruno huffed out shortly, “I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

Vera raised an unconvinced, sharp eyebrow up at him, tilting her head to look over the rim of her glasses. "Nine months and no improvement, it’s not fine and no one is willing to talk. I’m not above blackmail or bribery if it gets results.”

“Bribery? That won’t work.” Bruno snorted in amusement.

“So you wouldn’t like rat pockets in your ruana?”

Bruno paused, remaining still for a moment though she could see the wheels in his mind picturing such a thing with some degree of desire. His hand tugged on the front of the one he had. “I see your point.”

Vera smiled though she was glad to listen to Mirabel’s titbits about her family. Bruno and his rats were…common in her talks. She didn't doubt Mirabel already planned for that for him for his gift this Nochebuena.

“I think the problem in the family comes from one source and to solve the family issues, you need to start at the source. Your mother, Bruno.” Vera started, “I hope you’re not too offended on that?”

Bruno shook his head. “I’m not… but I don’t like hearing it. I know…that you’re right. I’ve tried to tell Mama but…it’s hard.” Bruno picked up another Buñuelo, tearing it in half and slowly began to chew. “She doesn’t listen for long.”

“Then she needs a motivation to change…one that doesn’t risk anyone in the family.”

Bruno shook his head uncomfortably. “I… know your intent is good, Vera but…should you really be putting yourself into our family problems? You threw a fit when Luisa did…”

Vera inhaled deeply. “That is different. I have no intention to break into your home and catch anyone unawares. I don’t intend to force myself into a situation like that. I just need to shine a light on the problems and I can point out alternative methods to deal with the problem than your current methods. To do that, I need to understand. The one thing I’ve noticed is no one in your family is actually talking to each other. No talking, no solution.” Vera clarified. “Someone has to start talking.”

Bruno stared for a moment, though his eyes didn’t meet hers. “No one likes talking… it’s uncomfortable.”

“There’s always a breaking point, Bruno,” Vera replied, her voice soft. “Isa broke first. Who’s next?”

Bruno’s shoulders slumped “I hate that.”

“I know. But once it’s all out, feelings and…problems, the family may actually be able to move on. Be a family not treading on eggshells around each other...” Vera fiddled with her blanket. “Broken families drift apart. While I lost everyone, Bruno; my parents, my siblings, and the rest that never made it to Encanto so I’m not willing to allow a loss on such a scale to happen to my son’s family if there’s a way to stop it.”

“You took Isabela.”

“Yes. But that doesn’t mean forever, she needed that just as much as the rest. The point is, the family needs to heal and they can heal their bonds with Isabela as well to the point she’s willing to return to Casita. As a family. Not by force, not when neither side is ready.” Vera pointed out, “Do you need your own vision to see how that might end if the family try that?”

Bruno’s expression didn’t change too much though he nodded. “You have a point.”

“All that’s needed, Bruno, is for the family to be forced to talk; about their problems to their parents and for them to figure out how to fix them. No matter how messy. Apologies, if they’re needed. Your mother should be part of that because she has such an influence over the household.”

That wrinkled his nose. “I’ll…think about it.”

“Then, that is all I can ask.”

  -

Isabela gently kept her foot down on the treadle, the wheel spinning and the cotton fluff in between her finger tightened into yarn. Simple, yarn than anything fine like a thread. The motion was predictable and soothing and the sound of the wheel echoed in the silence of her room.

Her heart ached but there was little she could do. Her mind mulling on one thing

No one had seen Mateo since yesterday morning when Luisa had returned him home.

Abuelita had said she had gone to ask for him but… she came back worried. This meant the real possibility he was left to heal if he was still alive, but… Abuelita had no authority to demand entry to see him. Dolores hadn’t raised an alarm either which was… another concern. She wouldn’t notice one less person missing from the town. She could have slept through what happened to him easily.

A part of her itched to go to Casita; for her Tio. If he could see his future and where he was or…if there was no future to be found. She should do that.

But she couldn’t bring herself to leave her home.

Who knew if Camilo had told the town? Was going out really the risk she was willing to take?

Trying to seek out Mateo herself was another thought. But…confronting his sister would be worse if she found out about the baby. It…would be worse to…put herself and risk the child too. She couldn’t do that. Mateo wouldn't want that; for her or for it.

“Isa,” Abuelito’s voice echoed behind her door. “Someone is here to see you.”

Isa kept going. “I’m busy.”

“Isa.”

Her hands paused as she heard Luisa’s voice, the plants in range turning sharp and prickly before a cactus popped up close by. She heard the door open but she didn’t turn to face it so instead, she stopped her bobbin and reset to start on making sewing thread.

“Abuelito, can you remove Luisa? I have no interest to talk to her, regardless of what she has to say.” Isabela asked, forcing her tone to be polite.

“Isa—“

“Shut up, Luisa.”

“No,” Abuelito stepped forwards calmly, "Angry as you are, you speak with respect in this house.”

Isabela turned from her wheel to his stern face. “Sorry, Abuelito.” She didn’t give her middle sister a second glance as she picked up her near-empty basket of cotton, though this time began to reform small puffs between her fingers and dropped them into the bottom. “I don’t want an apology. I don’t want you in my room, Luisa and unless you’re willing to locate the father of my child, I do not want you to talk to me. Please leave.”

“Child?” the echo of confusion was soft but thankfully, she heard Abuelito speak softly and their doorway steps echoed before the familiar clip signaling that her door shut.

  -

Mirabel looked up as she saw Luisa return to Casita, her shoulders slumped, and looking very pink in the face like she was about to cry. Mirabel’s hands tightened on her bag of sewing supplies she had though she already had a sinking feeling that tonight's festivities weren’t going to go well.

She knew that Luisa had wanted to go down and apologize, to hopefully bring Isa up to Casita to the party but… clearly something went wrong. Back far too quickly and Isabela-less.

“Did it not go well?” Mirabel asked, drifting from the steps.

Luisa shook her head, her eyes welling up. “She wouldn’t even talk to me. Or look at me.” Luisa swallowed thickly.

“Ah.” Mirabel reached forwards and gently hugged her. “Give it a few days, we both know Isa hangs onto grudges.” Harmless grudges but grudges nonetheless. “At least Abuelito let you try.”

“Yeah…”

Mirabel tugged Luisa to the kitchen, where her mother was working diligently by the stove, talking quietly with their father though…he was doing more of the talking. The creases in his face suggested concern but Mirabel led her older sister to prep the house for festivities.

“Let’s not dwell on that tonight,” Mirabel decided. “Let’s put up the decorations and see about distracting Camilo before he eats all the food.” It would be a good thing and be done by the time the food and party start.

“I...suppose but  she said something and I…can’t stop thinking about it.” She plucked up the huge stack of plates, leaving behind Isa’s one on the shelves.

“Oh?”

The table was set up outside on the patio and lanterns was already up, or being put up by Tio Felix and Antonio. Parce was lounging on the floor, chewing an animal’s leg from a recent hunt.

“She…mentioned that… she has a child?”

Mirabel almost dropped the bowl she was carrying. “What?”

Luisa looked around, clearly being careful. “She’s…probably lying but she mentioned a child and the fact I should locate the father as the means for me to actually have a conversation with her.” She set the stack down. “I know she’s upset but…”

“She’s not lying.” Dolores seemed to appear out of nowhere, looking in better spirits. “She’s pregnant and surprisingly far along but Abuela’s not yet to know. So keep this from Antonio and Camilo if you can help it.”

Mirabel stared at her cousin for a long moment though she felt almost winded at the news.

Isabela. Pregnant.

Oh.

Oh.

Now she could see why Isabela was so pissed at Luisa. She herself knew nothing of…the father or anything but if Luisa had interfered somehow… then it affected this…baby too…

“Wait, when did you find out?”

“I’ve heard the heartbeat for months.” Dolores shrugged, “but… it’s only recently she’s known. She had Marquez around to tell him the news.”

Luisa groaned softly, sinking her face into her hands. “That was what I was seeing?”

“Yes.” Dolores’s tone was cooler. “You’re not going to earn back any favors with Isa any time, Luisa. She’s furious.”

Luisa’s head rose, “I can wait…. I just…” She huffed out and walked away back through the door.

Mirabel and Dolores watched her for a long moment before she saw Dolores step to face her, hesitating to touch her arm for a moment. “Sorry for dropping the news on you.”

“I can keep a secret.” God forbid, she had learned from the last time when Isa was involved. “Is…Isa okay with you telling?”

“She expects the family to know at some point but… not for Abuela yet. Your Abuelita’s concerned about how much stress she’s under. The child won’t survive if it’s born too early because of that.”

“What are you two talking about?” Camilo’s voice echoed as he carried a stack of wine glasses, “plotting a prank?”

“No, we’re not you.” Dolores quipped playfully. “We were talking about…Luisa’s mishap with Isabela.” The lie was not too far from the truth, though it made her wince but she’d go along with her story. For Isa’s sake here.

Camilo scoffed, rolling her eyes. “She needs to get over herself.”

“She thinks you spilled to the town about it.” Dolores pointed out, “Lay off her, Camilo.”

“Look, if she's going to screw around then she shouldn’t be upset that she got found out. Luisa did her a favor.” Camilo shrugged, “She shouldn’t be so mad at her.”

Mirabel exhaled out, hating how close to home that phrase was. “She had justification for her anger, Camilo. Stop prodding the cactus.”

Camilo scowled lightly. “So do you, Mirabel. Why are you sticking up for her?”

“Because I want to.” Mirabel snapped, her voice rising to her own surprise which only grew as she felt the hot flush of anger rise to the surface. “Stop going back to that day, Camilo. I am angry. I am downright furious at my sister for what she did. I won’t let my anger get the best of me. I am not ready to shout at her more than she is ready to bare it. There is a time and a place for that. Not now and certainly not any time soon. All I want is to talk to her, be alone with her and actually bond with her.”

“The risks—“

“I’m not done talking.” Mirabel snapped over Camilo sharply, very aware of the eyes on her. “I want to actually move on. I don’t want your weight of concern to keep holding me back so let me decide when I am ready to talk to her. I don’t want any more hand-holding and I don’t want to be spied on to make sure I’m safe. It’s exhausting trying to find privacy and I’m sick of it.” She turned and stormed back inside, not even noticing Abuela through the window

[lesbiankoby]

6, 34, 36 for an OC of your choice

Doing this for “Spriggan Euryt”, my warrior of light!

If they were badly injured, and for whatever reason couldn't go to a hospital, who would they go to for help?

Assuming she’s closer to him then an Adventurer’s Guild outpost and can’t heal herself for whatever reason— limp into G’raha Tia’s apartment and look suitably pathetic while he fusses. She would rather DIE RIGHT THERE then do this with Alphinaud or Alisaie. And G’raha is less likely to make fun of her then Y’shtola, which she feels frankly disgruntled by.

How well do they deal with grief?

Poorly, historically. Also, by throwing herself harder into her own self-imposed duties— with the twins after Louisoix died, the Scions (and the twins even harder) when Moenbryda died, and— well, ARR through Heavensward was rough for her. She started actually articulating and working through some of it in Bahamut raids and then more openly about the everything else in Stormblood.

Frankly, talking to Fran again was also extremely necessary to do. Her long-suppressed issues with outliving her loved ones when she allows herself to have loved ones are certainly everpresent.

Would they ever kill someone? Have they already?

Well her body count is certainly um well it certainly is, up there. She dislikes killing people over Grand Company territorial disputes and with the exception of Primal summonings which threaten everyone avoids taking those jobs (especially since the Grand Companies are basically always flagrantly in the wrong in a way that a former inhabitant of the Golmore Jungle would, uh, be familiar with, however long ago that was) but uh the Imperial body count alone is quite extensive. She’s not always good at keeping the thrashing non-lethal if some idiot attacks her first, as well. And so on.

…she doesn’t really enjoy being a weapon, and doesn’t like the idea that this is what she’s known for now… but also… she can’t deny… that fighting, and being good at fighting… can be quite fun.

It’s complicated.

[daintyduck99]

"You're family." + Ray and Reggie (You know I gotta!)

Julie answers the door with a radiant grin that makes Reggie’s cheeks burn.

“Reggie!” 

She throws her arms around him and reels him into the house, kicking the door shut behind them. She holds him tight, and he has no qualms about hugging her back just as fiercely. She’d be offended if he didn’t, and she fits in his arms perfectly. He rests his chin on her head. 

The Molinas give the best hugs, warm and undeniably welcoming, infused with a sort of stubborn affection that instantly relaxes Reggie. Luke and Alex like to rib him for being so eager to ditch the studio to see them, but sometimes he just needs the pick-me-up. 

Julie’s still beaming as they unravel from the hug, and his stomach flutters as she takes his hand, guiding him deeper into the house. 

Okay, so maybe he also has a tiny crush on their lead singer. It’s fine, he’s handling it. 

“What brings you here on a Sunday? Did Luke drag you out here to workshop the intro of that new song some more?” 

“Oh,” he stammers, highly aware that his cheeks are still on fire and that it’s worsening by the second under her bemused gaze, helpless to her gap-toothed grin. “No, I’m not he’s—me’s not here—I mean, it’s just me but—” 

She giggles, and he chews his lip to keep any more nonsense from falling out of his mouth. 

Great job, Reginald. You’re really handling it, Alex snarks in the back of Reggie’s head.

Julie squeezes his hand. “You’re just in time for brunch! We’re making pancakes.” 

“Oh, I just wanted to say hi since I was—I couldn’t impose—” 

He’s interrupted by Carlos, who tackles him around the middle as soon as they set foot in the kitchen. Julie’s hand slips out of Reggie’s, but not before Ray spots them, and he ducks his head to hide his flush at least a little as he goes to return Carlos’ hug.

“You have to help me make a spaceship out of pancakes!” Carlos insists excitedly, slightly muffled by Reggie’s shirt since he’s got his face mashed into his stomach. Reggie smiles. 

“Sure thing, little dude. So long as it’s cool with Ray.” 

Ray points his spatula at them. “How many times do I have to tell you? You’re always welcome here, Reggie. That goes for all of you boys. After all that you’ve done for Julie? You’re family.” 

“I didn’t—” Reggie starts automatically, only to swallow as Julie and Ray both frown at him and Carlos clings to him tighter, shaking his head. 

“You help me with my math homework and play games with me! You’re a really cool brother!” 

Julie plops a bowl of blueberries by Ray’s elbow and flies across the kitchen, ignoring Carlos’ disgruntled sound when he gets sandwiched in her bear hug. She rests her head on Reggie’s chest and whispers to his heart.

“You helped me find my voice again, Reggie. Not just my music. Myself. You really are the coolest. I’ll never be able to thank you enough. We love you.” 

She didn’t call him a brother, some delusional part of him notes, but he shoves that away.

“I love you guys too, of course I do, but that was Luke—” 

She thumps her forehead against his chest. “No, it was all of you! And you’re the one who chooses to spend time with my family. They’ve already claimed you. The best thing you can do is give in before Tia tries to make us get married, or something.” 

“Okay, this is getting way too mushy now,” Carlos complains, wriggling out of the embrace.

Ray clears his throat. “Julie, why don’t you help Carlos find the whisk? It’s buried in the pantry.”

Reggie shoots her a panicked look, but she just rolls her eyes, though her ears are tipped red. 

“Sure thing, dad.” Julie ushers Carlos into the walk-in pantry. She throws one last look over her shoulder and mouths, “It’ll be fine.” 

His nerves are still telling him that it’s anything but fine. He appreciates the effort, though. 

Reggie sidles over to Ray, heart bobbing in his throat, and accepts the spatula from him. He keeps his eyes glued to the pancake that’s already sizzling cheerfully in the skillet, blissfully unaware of his inner turmoil. Ray clasps his shoulder. 

“Reggie, you aren’t in trouble. You can stop staring at that pancake like this is its funeral.” 

A nervous laugh crawls out of his throat. “Right, right. You’re sure it’s not mine?” 

Ray coughs. Reggie’s 99% sure that it’s to cover a laugh. He releases Reggie’s shoulder. 

“Positive. I meant what I said, mijo. I’d adopt you if you weren’t in love with my daughter.” 

Reggie drops the spatula. This poor pancake is going to be as fried as his brain. 

“What?” he squeaks, scrambling to retrieve the spatula from the floor and hide his flaming face. “No, I mean, Julie’s wonderful and beautiful and a guy could get lost in her eyes forever but—” 

“Reggie.” Ray calmly flips the pancake with another spatula that he produced from who knows where. His mouth ticks up. “Breathe. I don’t need to give you a shovel talk. It’s clear that you give yourself enough of those. It’s okay.” 

He huffs. It technically counts as breathing. The pancake bubbles back at him. 

“It’s not! Isn’t it weird? I mean, I’ve sort of already wormed my way into her family and I don’t want her to feel like she owes me her love or anything—” 

“She thinks more highly of you than you realize. Than you do. You talk about yourself like you’re a vampire, mijo, and you aren’t. We love you. We like having you around. You’re the only kid in this house who actually listens to me when I ramble about photography. You carry things to the car for Victoria and never miss Carlos’ baseball games and I know you’re the reason that both of my kids are passing math. How is up to you and Julie, but you’re a part of this family.”

Reggie swallows. His eyes are burning, now, and he lets Ray fold him into a hug. He kisses the crown of Reggie’s head, something he’s seen him do to Julie and Carlos a million times, and Reggie’s powerless to prevent the tears from falling as Ray continues in a soft voice. 

“You’re so busy looking at Julie like she hung the moon that you never see the way she looks at you. Believe me, I was that boy once. You’d better tell her how you feel before she gets jealous and dumps a milkshake on the next girl who makes the mistake of flirting with you.” 

The anecdote startles a laugh out of him. Reggie sniffs. “Did Rose really do that?” 

“Oh, absolutely. Ask Victoria if you don’t believe me.” 

They do scorch that first pancake a little bit, but Reggie can’t bring himself to care, not when he feels so at home in all of these hugs. Julie stumbles out of the pantry with stars in her eyes, clutching the whisk and then Reggie to her chest. Carlos squints at them, but all Reggie can do is laugh and swing her around.

The Molinas really do give the very best hugs. 

They still need to have that talk, but the way Julie holds his hand under the table is pretty great, too. 

[imaginepirates]

PotC Terror AU

An Arctic expedition sets out in 1845 to sail the Northwest Passage. Terrors await their aptly named ship along the way.

In which James Norrington is Francis Crozier, the disgruntled second in command partial to alcohol; Jack Sparrow is James Fitzjames, Norrington's charming but infuriating third who knows exactly how gorgeous he is; William Turner is Thomas Jopson, Norrington's steward that Norrington may secretly think of as the son he'll never have; Elizabeth Swann is Sofia Cracroft, who has rejected a marriage proposal from Norrington on no less than two occasions; and Tia Dalma / Calypso is Silna, the only person native to the area who knows that colonizing people is a dumbass idea and has to deal with supernatural bullshit. Bonus: the Kraken is Tuunbaq as the supernatural bullshit.

I've been obsessing over The Terror lately, so this is what you get. I may expand on this later. And seriously, if you love period pieces, do yourself a favor. Go watch the Terror (season 1) here . (Shout-out to @undomestication for making the link, btw).

@anklesalltheway

[expectiations]

took a few pictures of me going to my cousin's place

no pictures at all (myself or scenery stuff) going back to my place

[naamahdarling]

I guess it shouldn't really surprise people that cats and dogs can learn to understand human language to the extent that they can. I had a cat who understood a LOT.

She knew "Come on", but also "You stay" for when she was in the studio with me and I would have to go get something.

She knew words for food and water and the studio, and bathroom for the human bathroom where she would go if she had to throw up.

She astonished a vet tech at one point when I opened the carrier and asked her to "Come out please!" and she came right out and remained utterly docile for the exam. Then, when the vet was done, I told her "Okay, you can go back inside!" and she went and lay down.

Also, she once collapsed with a TIA, a mini stroke. From what I understand, while the underlying disease means one will eventually kill them (and one did kill her a year and a half later), they aren't like human strokes and cats can get them and recover completely and rapidly, sometimes with no ill effects. This happened to her. After a HARROWING vet trip, we were finally reunited in the exam room. She was ANGRY. Just indignant and stalking around with her tail lashing madly. She went into the carrier and yelled. She came out to yell at us and I looked her in the eyes and said "We will go home soon. Then you can have food. Okay? Hush now." She settled at my feet, disgruntled, but waited another hour. When we got home, it was not her dinner time (she had eaten already). She was not a cat who begged at her bowl, nor did we usually reward her with food after vet visits. She still went to her food bowl, put a foot in it, and demanded to be fed. A cat that had just suffered a stroke and a traumatic vet visit remembered an hour later that she had been promised food off-schedule. I don't know, maybe it was coincidence? But I was there at the time and it didn't look like a coincidence to me. And it surprised me as I absolutely had not expected it.

They are very smart. She was 13 at the time and that is a long long time to rely on other beings for EVERYTHING and not learn SOMETHING about how they communicate.

[theonlinemuse]

After the last couple of episodes, we’re back with more headcanons because Yolanda Montez officially needs A Break™. So @freckledpianoman and the rest of us on the Hournite Discord decided to have Yolanda and Alex get away from their parents and stay with supportive relatives, with bonus Starcat included.

Details about Yolanda’s extended family can be found here. Warning for massive Season 2 spoilers ahead: 

Yolanda gets more and more withdrawn following quitting the JSA and the Dugan-Whitmores look at each other and just know that something’s up. And you know Courtney, she’s impulsive. Long story short, she and Alex team up (with a little help from Beth and Barbara) to get in contact with Yolanda’s Tia Mimi because Yolanda needs out of that house stat 

Ironically, Mike calls it Operation Jailbreak, much to Rick’s disgruntlement (who has to bide his time since Courtney and Mike have a whole other plan for him, Operation Jailbreak: Electric Boogaloo) 

As much as the Montezes limit Yolanda’s socialization, she’s allowed to visit her Abuelita Coco and Tia Mimi once a week. Her oldest cousin Josefa is at college while her cousin Charo goes to a different high school, but they keep in touch through phone calls and video chat. The cousins promised to call each other at least once a month so warning bells go off after a month and a half passes without anyone hearing from Yolanda, especially since she sounded so strained and anxious the last time they talked 

Now they’ve heard Yolanda talk about her friends, but it’s still a surprise when a determined blonde shows up at their doorstep with Alex, looking to talk to them about Yolanda’s situation 

“Who are you—wait, blonde hair, starry clothes. And that’s clearly Yoyi’s plaid shirt. You must be Courtney, Yolanda’s told us all about you.” “She has? I mean, great! That’s great! Hopefully it’s all been good, Ms Zurita.” “Please, you’re practically family at this point. Call me Mimi.” 

At first Courtney is expecting the same aloof treatment she got from Mrs Montez so she’s totally floundering when she’s ushered in for tejate and memelas. She has no idea what’s going on, but she’s liking what’s happening so far. It helps ease some of the tension when she tells Abuelita Coco and Tia Mimi what happened with Yolanda and her parents. There was a lot of yelling and Josefa and Charo trying to stop Courtney and their mom from outright kidnapping Yolanda 

“Just let abuelita talk to my mom, she’ll have to listen to us then!” “You mean the sweet old lady who kept giving me extra memelas? Her?” “Where do you think Yolanda gets her personality from? There’s no way mom can ignore her.” 

Meanwhile Alex thinks that the reason that Mrs Montez called Courtney a bad influence was because she and Yolanda were dating. Alex has witnessed how devastated his sister was post-scandal and in the past six months, he’s never seen her so alive. She smiles like her old self when she talks to him about her friends, but there’s a particular shine when she talks about Courtney and he know his sister. He immediately knows that there’s something that Yolanda isn’t telling him, but he decides to quietly support her until she’s ready to say it  

So when a jittery Courtney not-so-stealthily sets up a covert meetup at the diner, acting so much like a worried girlfriend that Alex is immediately in on whatever she’s got planned. That’s his sister, he’s going wherever she goes. Yolanda scolds him finds out his involvement later on, grumbling about meddlesome little brothers while putting him in a headlock 

“Seriously Yoyi, I was ready to break you out myself if you kept moping about your girlfriend.” “Wait, you think Courtney and I are dating?” “...you literally texted her when your spidey senses went she's about to kiss a mediocre white boy, HOW ARE YOU NOT DATING?! You know what, nevermind, I gotta call Mike.” “What? “Don’t worry, we can fix this!”

It takes months, but eventually Tia Mimi is granted custody of the Montez siblings, though Mr and Mrs Montez do insist on Alex visiting them at least twice a month. Courtney, Beth, and the Dugan-Whitmores are eager to celebrate, but they decide to give Yolanda some time with her relatives while Courtney texts Yolanda nonstop for the rest of the day. Yolanda tries to hide it at first, but her parents fighting for custody of Alex while they say nothing to her makes her feel even more alone and it’s the final breaking point with Yolanda’s relationship with her parents 

The first night at Tia Mimi’s house, she curls up on the bathroom floor and let herself cry. It's not long before Alex finds her and drags her into a bear hug, letting her vent all her sadness and frustration 

“I’m just tired. Why wasn’t I enough for them?” “You didn’t do anything wrong, sis. They’re the ones who won’t forgive you. And they’re the ones who won’t listen to me. You’re better off away from them anyways. And hey, you still have me.” “Look at you, my chill little bro’s all grown up. When did that happen?” 

Josefa and Charo eventually find them and wrangle them onto the couch for Gansitos and Mario Kart and the rest of the night is filled with screams and laughter. And for a second, Yolanda thinks that maybe, maybe things will start to get better for her. Now if only she can figure out why everyone is pestering her to answer Courtney’s texts... 

“Pobrecita, it’s not easy for Yolanda to date these days.” “They could just be really good friends, abuelita.” “I’ll believe that when you say it with a straight face, papito. I’ve seen the Fear Street, I know las novias when I see them.” 

[tattooedsappho]

I've been trying to find a story I read before, gave kudos to (at least I believe I did - it was an awesome story,) and forgot to bookmark on AO3.

It's a Sylvania Fic (possibly a series of fics,) I can't remember if it's political marriage or reluctant allies who fall for each other, and there are some awesome naval battles. It is NOT part of the Age of Sail series (super awesome, highly recommend.)

One of the minor themes is elfish naming customs, and how using different names for people indicates various things. (At one point Jaina wants someone to go protect Sylvanas but the person in question refuses to abandon Jaina until Jaina uses a certain name.)

Jaina is a badass at sea and inspires a belf pally to be awesome with her (not Liadrin, an OC, but I think Liadrin witnesses it) there is a ranger cuddle pile and Sylvanas begins reforming their bonds by doing stuff they used to do pre-Arthas like stitching designs into their clothes, and Jaina makes a deal with a disgruntled sea monster to protect ogrimmar harbor while there is a massive death knight attack going on. Nathanos is surly but not an asshole.

I've been going through my read history (but it's a lot and hard to sift through when opening a story moves everything back because there are more read stories to list) and rather than assuming it is one of the deleted stories, I figured I would ask if anyone out there knows what I'm talking about.

TIA <3

[allthingsdarkanddirty]

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About The Authors

A USA Today bestselling author, Brenda loves everything paranormal. She has co-authored over twenty-five books in the best-selling Dark Warrior Alliance series, as well as the Hollow Rock Shifters series. She also has best-selling solo titles readers are raving about. Brenda created worlds that feature dangerously handsome heroes and feisty heroines. With the help of popcorn and candy, she takes dragons, fairies, witches, vampires, and so much more and brings them to life. She lives in Texas with her husband and three kids who fuel not only her heart but her life. If she's not writing, she's reading, traveling, or knee-deep in projects with her husband and five sisters. She encourages readers to Dream Big. If your dreams don't terrify and electrify you then they aren't big enough!  

Tia Didmon is a USA Today bestselling author of provocative paranormal romance. When Tia isn't busy writing about sexy shifters and dreamy demons, she spends her time binge watching The Order and reruns of The Vampire Diaries, cooking with her daughter, and serving her cat. Her love of writing stems from a self-diagnosed book addiction.  Subscribe to Tia's newsletter at tiadidmon.com for a free book and start your journey through Tia's supernatural world today!  Find Them Both Online! https://www.brendatrim.com https://tiadidmon.com