#uncle rick is FEEDING US

[butdaddyiloathehim]

THE. PERCABETH. IN. EPISODE. SEVEN. I. LOVE. THEM. TOO. MUCH.

[ajs-bookmark]

percy gave her riptide.

let me repeat that.

PERCY. GAVE. HER. RIPTIDE.

my man barely even hesitated. he’s known annabeth for what- a week ? and he already trusts her enough to give her his one most prized possession.

tack that on to the fact that he kept reassuring her that he was okay, because he knew that annabeth couldn’t bear to see another one of her friends die like that.

like he barely knows this random chick who shoved him into the lake and watched him get attacked by clarisse and told him he drooled in his sleep, but the one thing he knows is that she couldn’t live with the fact that he died the same way as thalia.

[lizzybugg]

I’m reading my baby sister The Mark of Athena right now. And she has absolutely no idea what is in store for Percy and Annabeth at the end of this book. She’s used to the “happy endings” I’ve been feeding her over the past year and a half with Uncle Rick’s books. I will be sure to report her reaction when we have finished.

[munson-blurbs]

Single Dad!Eddie x Fem!ReaderSeries

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Summary: Eddie's guard is back up after overhearing people gossiping about a secret that only you would know about. When he lets his animosity take over, the damage may be too great to repair.

Warnings: angst, Eddie is really mean to Reader, mentions of CPS, Reader's grandma has Alzheimer's, slowburn, strangers to enemies to lovers, angst, Eddie is 30, Reader is 28, no use of y/n

WC: 3.7k

Chapter 4/20

Scruffy!Eddie edit credit to @eddiemunsons-missingnipple Divider credit to @saradika

Eddie is still fuming when he pulls into the music store’s parking lot. He’s opening today, and his hands tremble as he fumbles with the keys. All of those parents are going to know that he’s a failure of a father.  The Munson reputation clung to him like a bloodsucking leech, regardless of his numerous attempts to shed it. He’s destined to be an outcast at best and a monster at worst. 

Finally managing to unlock the door, Eddie flicks on the lights, blanketing the shop in a hazy glow. The silence is deafening, and he swears that his brain will implode if he doesn’t get some background noise. He walks to the section labeled ‘METAL’ as if on autopilot, grabbing Metallica’s Master of Puppets and shoving the cassette into the player. Ash insists that they play classic rock over the crummy little sound system; something about it being ‘palatable’ for the customers, but she’s not here to scold him. 

He thinks back to when this album was released, towards the end of his third senior year. The good ol’ days, when I only worried about passing O’Donnell’s class and planning Hellfire campaigns, he thinks wryly. But, no; that isn’t quite true. He’d had to worry about the trailer getting repo’d, or whether he and Wayne could stretch their food stamp budget enough to feed two grown men. Concerns that his uncle had tried to hide from him until he no longer could. 

“Ed, you’re eighteen now,” Wayne had said, just one month after Eddie’s birthday, “and I’m gonna need you to start payin’ some bills around here.”

At the time, Eddie thought he was just being a bastard. It wasn’t until a few days later when he’d spotted the envelope marked PAST DUE in bold, red letters that he realized it wasn’t a punishment, but a necessity. 

He’d been selling for Rick ever since. Well, until now. 

“Battery” fades out to “Master of Puppets,” and Eddie flips the CLOSED sign to read OPEN. He glances at the calluses on his hands and smiles sadly, thinking of all the hours he spent learning the chords in his room. After weeks of non-stop practicing—Hetfield’s solo was a bitch—he’d raced down to Gareth’s garage and played all eight minutes straight through. Watched as his friends’ jaws dropped in awe. Gave him a standing ovation. Told him he was a fucking rockstar. 

“You’re a rockstar, all right,” Eddie sarcastically grumbles now, clanging a roll of pennies against the counter before dumping them into the till. “Getting ready to drop your new hit single: Do you want a receipt with that?”

His morning has been nothing short of monotonous: help the customer find what they want, ring them up and make small talk, and then organize (or, in his case, pretend to organize) the store when it’s not busy. 

There’s too much down time for him to be left alone with his thoughts. As soon as he has a moment to himself, he’s ruminating on his regrets of the past. He turns up the music volume in a half-hearted attempt to drown them out, but they manage to worm their way into every nook and cranny of his brain. 

Eight years ago, a twenty-two year old Eddie Munson left his podunk town of Hawkins, Indiana to pursue rock stardom. He’d driven to Chicago with only the pocket change he’d saved up and his guitar on his back. A big city for a man with even bigger dreams. 

It didn’t take him long to realize that being Eddie Munson meant next to nothing in a place that was bursting with musicians desperate for the chance to become famous. He appreciated the anonymity at first; he could blend in without being chased by taunts of Freak or Loser. But after nearly a full year of auditions where he was just another guitarist who could carry a tune, he’d started to lose hope. Prepared to return to Hawkins with his tail between his legs, he’d stopped at the nearby bar for one last drink. 

“We can’t go on without a lead singer and guitarist!”

A frantic voice captured his attention, drawing his gaze from the pint of beer in front of him. 

“Well, Sam bailed. Again,” another man points out, tone heavy with irritation. “So either we go on without him, or we don’t go on at all.”

Eddie finds himself standing up and walking into a conversation where he was never invited. “I, um, play guitar. And sing?” He winces as it comes out like a question. “I can show you, if you want.” What was he doing? He couldn’t line up a gig to save his life, and now he’s offering to play for some band he doesn’t even know?

The two guys, both about his age, exchange a dubious look. “All right,” says one with shaggy dark hair. “Let’s hear what you got, Guitar Boy.” He hands him his own guitar, and Eddie adjusts the strap before diving headfirst into the chorus of the first song that comes to mind:

If you think I'll sit around as the world goes by You're thinkin' like a fool 'cause it's a case of do or die Out there is a fortune waitin' to be had You think I'll let it go you're mad You've got another thing comin'

The other guy cocks his head, a delighted smirk spreading across his face. “Judas Priest. Solid choice.” He paces a bit, twirling a drumstick between his fingers. You got a name, Guitar Boy?” he asks.

Eddie nods. “Eddie Munson.” He sticks out his hand, silently willing it to stop trembling, and shakes theirs.

“I’m Marcus,” the shaggy-haired man says. “This is Bryan. I play backup guitar; he’s on drums. Our bassist should be here soon; his name’s Pete.”

“And Sam was our lead guitarist and singer, but he’s a fucking asshole,” Bryan quips, and Eddie chortles at his brazen attitude. “Anyway, we mostly do covers…check out the setlist and see what you know.” He hands Eddie a crumpled piece of paper, filled with familiar songs and artists.

“I can do any of these,” Eddie says, a satisfied warmth filling his chest as he watches the guys grin even wider.  

“Tell ya what,” Bryan says, plopping behind a drum set plastered with a logo reading Hard Knox. “If you don’t suck tonight, you can play with us permanently.”

“Yeah,” Marcus agrees. “We’re gonna be big, man. We just need someone to help us get there.”

“Let me run back to my place and grab my ax,” Eddie tells them, adrenaline propelling him to his apartment. This was it. This was the break he needed. Just as he was about to give up, God or fate or destiny or whoever was finally giving him a chance to prove himself.

The show went off without a hitch; Eddie’s guitar skills bringing a normally quiet audience to their feet. Bryan clapped him on the back as he looked at Pete and Marcus; the three nodding at each other. “Welcome to Hard Knox!” he announced.

“Sam leaving was the best thing to happen to us,” Pete laughs in agreement. A bartender in a tight skirt and fishnet stockings brings over a round of shots, and the four men clink glasses.

“Fuck Sam!” Eddie shouts before taking the drink. The tequila burns as it coats his throat, but he doesn’t dare reach for the lime. No, he has something to prove.

“Fuck Sam!” the rest of the band echoes enthusiastically. Their choral response reminds Eddie of the way Corroded Coffin used to be before he’d left: when he’d say something, Jeff, Gareth, and Danny would listen. He was born to be a leader.

Things started to fall into place. His one night endeavor with Hard Knox turned into a biweekly gig at the bar, which eventually turned into shows almost every night at various venues across the city. He’d even convinced the guys to play some original work of his, reminding them that cover bands don’t get record deals. 

He had a steady income. A group of friends who appreciated him and his music. Beautiful women who eagerly threw themselves at him at the end of the show. And then it would repeat the following night in a new place. Everything was perfect.

Until it wasn’t.

Last night’s chaos has you all disheveled; it wasn’t until you got to work this morning that you realized you hadn’t even packed your lunch. You try to convince yourself that you can wait until you get home to eat, but about fifteen minutes before your break, your stomach lets out an embarrassingly loud growl.

“I’m gonna run to the deli and grab something,” you tell Will, throwing your jacket over your shoulders and digging out your car keys. “Want me to pick up anything for you?”

“Uh, Tylenol?” he grimaces, rubbing his temples. The kids had music class today, and the sounds of ten preschoolers singing off-key combined with their clashing tambourines served as a recipe for a pounding headache. “And maybe a bag of sour cream and onion chips?”

“You got it.” You shoot him a thumbs-up as you make your way to the parking lot as quickly as possible, determined to get your food before the lunch rush starts.

You manage to just beat out the crowd of hungry nine-to-fivers, grabbing a veggie wrap to-go. Crunching on a cucumber slice as you take a big bite, you start back towards your car, but the music store next door catches your eye.

A check of your watch confirms that you have a few minutes to peruse, maybe grab a copy of the new Toni Braxton cassette you’d been wanting. If there was ever a day to treat yourself to a little gift, it’s today. Your mind is foggy and your body feels like it’s dragging sandbags as you make your way over. You knew that taking care of an ailing relative would be physically demanding, but you weren’t prepared for the emotional toll it would take. Seeing your grandma helplessly laying on the bathroom floor scared drew all of the oxygen from your lungs, filling your body with worry. And just a few hours later, she was furiously swearing at you, claiming to hate you. She’s an ever-swinging pendulum, and you’re downright exhausted.

A small glob of hummus lands on your lower lip, and your tongue licks it off haphazardly as you push open the door to the music store. The jingle of the bell is meant to alert the employees that a customer has entered, but when you look around, there’s no one there to help you.

You walk towards the aisle labeled R&B, starting by thumbing through the “B” section–nothing. Perplexed, you make your way to the “T” section, still with no luck. Was Toni Braxton so popular amongst Hawkins residents that they’d bought out every copy of Secrets?

“You can’t eat in here,” a terse voice calls out. You’re so startled, you nearly drop your sandwich. A piece of tomato flies out of the tortilla when you jump, hitting the linoleum flooring, and the irritated person sighs. “Aaand this is why.”

You pick up the fallen vegetable and turn around to see Eddie Munson standing before you. “You scared me!” you say, but your body visibly relaxes. Twenty-four hours ago, you never would have guessed that he would have a calming effect on you. How quickly things can change, you muse silently. “Can you help me find the new Toni Braxton? The Secrets cassette?”

Eddie scoffs, crossing his arms over his chest. “Can you follow simple instructions? No. Eating. In. The. Store.” He rolls his eyes. “Just because you teach preschoolers doesn’t mean you get to act like one.”

The smile that briefly danced across your lips slips into a frown. What the hell happened in the few hours since he’d dropped Harris off at school? Did you imagine that you two had gotten along?

“Are you okay?” you ask, brows furrowed in confusion. “I-I can put the wrap in my car, just give me a sec…”

He shakes his head. “No, actually, I’m not okay,” he sneers. “But I bet you knew that already.” He shifts his posture so he’s standing a bit taller. “Y’know, you have some fuckin’ nerve, coming in here after what you did.”

“Did I miss something?” Your voice gets smaller with the gnawing feeling of brewing confrontation acting as a brick on your chest. “I thought–”

“Tell me what you thought,” he interrupts, leaning on a box of tapes. “Wait, no; let me guess. You thought that because I rejected you, you could go around blabbing my personal business around the school.” He scrunches up his face, biting his lip as he looks at you. “Did I get it right?”

“Your personal business?” 

“Mhm,” he answers pointedly, spinning a skull ring around his finger. “Is that not it? Was it because you were embarrassed that I heard your grandma say that she hates you? I don’t blame her, by the way.”

Your force your gaze to remain trained on him, staring into his brown eyes that have hardened with fury. “She doesn’t hate me,” you breathe out, “she just can’t remember me anymore. When she knew who I was, she loved me. A lot.”

“Yeah, whatever you say,” Eddie rolls his eyes. “That doesn’t take away from the fact that everyone and their goddamn dog knows about the CPS report.” 

“What CPS report?” you ask, a sinking feeling settling in your stomach. “Is Harris okay?”

He takes one look at your puzzled expression and barks out a harsh, incredulous laugh. “Seriously? You can drop the innocent act.”

“I seriously have no idea what you’re talking about!” you snap, frustrated at his unwillingness to hear you out and your own lack of understanding. “All I know is that this morning, you didn’t hate me–or maybe just hated me a little less–and now you’re back to being the worst human being I’ve ever met.”

Eddie scratches at the shadow of a beard that’s formed on his jawline; an itchy reminder that he didn’t get to shave last night. “You should consider yourself lucky if I’m the worst person you’ve ever met. Tell me, what have I done? Thrown some insults your way?” He claps his palm to his chest exaggeratedly. “How ever did you survive?”

“Mock me and my teaching skills, pretend like you’re going to call when you knew damn well that you weren’t, call me a bitch, and your latest and greatest,” you counter, ticking off the instances on your fingers, “accuse me of something I didn’t do.”

He considers this for a moment, taking a deep breath before speaking again. “So you’re trying to tell me,” he starts, gritting his teeth, “that we were in the same wing of the same hospital at the same time, but you weren’t the one who told people about the CPS case they opened on me?”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying,” you hiss. 

“Then how the fuck did Carol Perkins find out about it?!” His volume raises to a roar, and you wince at the sting it leaves echoing in your eardrums. “Because I fucking heard her talking about it with Steve Harrington! So if you, the person who was there, didn’t open your mouth and tell her, who did? The CPS fairy?”

“I don’t fucking know!” you shout, swallowing thickly in a meager attempt to bide time before the tears inevitably leak from your eyes. “I don’t know, but it wasn’t me.”

Eddie rakes a hand through his frizzy curls, smacking the other on top of the nearby box. “Just…just get out,” he mutters. “I can’t listen to any more of your bullshit.” He starts back towards a door marked EMPLOYEES ONLY before turning back around, eyes narrowed. 

“Y’know, I wouldn’t have hooked up with you that night if I knew that this is how you handle a one-night stand,” he says, pursing his lips as he steps closer to you. “And I never should’ve let Harris step foot in your classroom. I would drive him to a school in goddamn Timbuktu if it meant having you out of my life.” He pauses, scraping his teeth across his lower lip and exhaling a terse laugh. “It’s too bad I can’t forget about you like your grandma did.”

The words knock the wind out of your lungs. Your knees buckle slightly, and you have to steady yourself on the closest shelf. Tears blur your vision as your legs carry you out of the store; you feel yourself walking, but it’s like an external force has control of your body. The words fuck you sit on the tip of your tongue, or maybe you say them—it’s too hazy to tell. The world is covered in a shiny layer of cellophane; you can see everything, but you can’t touch. 

You’re crying too hard to drive, so you sit behind the wheel, seatbelt clicked in place, letting out sobs that leave your whole body shuddering. It’s all too much, and though you logically know that Grandma didn’t want to forget you, his comment hit a raw nerve.

It wasn’t a straight path; Alzheimer’s never is. A few months ago, she could remember you in the morning but forgot you by the afternoon. She would call you by name at 9 AM but ask who you were at 2 PM. One day you were her granddaughter; the next, you were a total stranger. You thought it couldn’t hurt more than it already did, but the repeated reminders that she no longer recognizes you at all is a constant knife through the heart.

You’ll be late if you don’t start driving back to work now, so you turn the key in the ignition and adjust the gear shift to reverse. As you look up to glance in the rearview mirror, you catch sight of him. He’s dumbfounded, and you could laugh at how ridiculous it is that it took him seeing you bawling in your car to realize that he went too far this time.

Unable to stomach the thought of further confrontation, you take a deep breath and drive away, leaving him to mull over what just happened.

He’d assumed you’d left already when he’d walked outside for a smoke break, placing a cigarette between trembling fingers before he’d even left the store. He almost drops the lighter on his scuffed sneaker when he sees you hunched over, resting your arms on the wheel as your body heaves. He’s not sure how long he’s been staring when you lift your head, exposing tear-streaked cheeks and red-rimmed eyes. Your gazes lock for just a millisecond, but it tells him everything he needs to know. 

It wasn’t you.

When Eddie arrives at the school for pick-up, he scours the crowd of impatient parents for Carol. He finds her talking with another mom; no doubt spreading more gossip about him. Maybe he shouldn’t have pretended that their Satanic cult rumors didn’t bother him when they were back in high school. Maybe if they knew, they would understand that he’s just a goddamn person trying his best, just like everyone else.

“Hey,” he starts, pushing the fear from his voice and willing his strength to remain unwavering. “Who told you about the CPS stuff?”

Carol plasters an obviously fake smile on her face as she responds. “I don’t know what you mean,” she says simply. Her carefree tone pushes Eddie to his limit. 

“Cut the bullshit,” Eddie growls, quickly losing his temper. “I heard you talking to Steve Harrington about it. So either you tell me now, or I’ll make sure your husband knows about that guy I saw you with at the Hideout a couple of months ago.”

Her face blanches, color draining from her cheeks. “It was Jason Carver,” she mumbles, biting her thumbnail. “His wife, Chrissy, is a nurse at the hospital and saw the report. She told him, and he’s been telling, well, everyone else.”

Eddie swears that steam is billowing out of his ears. Everything is coated in a red haze, and he finds himself unconsciously clenching and unclenching his fists. “Where is that sonofabitch? I’m gonna punch him in his smug little–”

“Mr. Munson?” you cut through his rant. His head snaps in your direction. You’ve fixed your makeup; if Eddie hadn’t seen you crying earlier, he would’ve been none the wiser. “Can I speak to you for a moment?”

“Y-Yeah,” he stammers, shifting his weight to the balls of his feet. “Actually, I needed to tell you someth–”

“I think you’ve said enough today,” you say, voice calm but firm. “I just wanted to give this to you before Harris comes out.” You hand him a pink piece of paper. “It’s a transfer slip. Starting next week, Harris will be in Ms. Marion’s class. I didn’t tell him anything about it, so you can say whatever you want. I don’t care anymore.” That’s not quite true; the idea of Eddie feeding Harris lies about you makes your stomach curdle, but there’s only so much you can control. 

Eddie’s, usually quick with a retort, is uncharacteristically quiet. “I, um, I thought…the secretary told me that all of the classes were full.” It’s a cop-out, but he can’t push himself to tell you what he knows now. Not when you’re already bruised. 

“They made an exception because I was the one who requested it this time,” you explain, clenching your jaw. “Looks like you got your wish. You can forget about me now.”

He takes the paper and shoves it in his back pocket. The confession is on the tip of his tongue, an apology not far behind. Say it, he berates himself. Just fucking say it. You might be able to fix this if you just—

“I’ll go get Harris,” you tell him, breaking into his thoughts. “Good-bye, Mr. Munson.”

--

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[reveluving]

the bump in the night ; rick flag x reader

summary: someone made Mrs Flag cry, and her family is not having it.

warnings: tooth-rotting fluff, shadow-magic f!reader, reverse comfort & humour!

a/n: this AU is based on this piece I made a while back, 'cause you already know I can't do this special without hubby Rick and the kids! hope you enjoy it & don’t forget to leave some sugar! ᐠ( ᐛ )ᐟ

» wanna know what I have in store this fall? come & check out my m.list for 'reve's quirky reverie 🕷️'!

'For now, they had a plan, hoping it could bring a smile to your face.' ;

Coming home to his daughter's hugs had become an everyday thing if Rick didn't have to work overtime, but if the flicker of sadness in her eyes was anything to go by, something had to have happened while he was away.

“Mrs Bedford was saying bad stuff to mama while we were at the park.” 

It was the same thing she told her brothers when they got home from school, and just like them, it was enough for Rick to get the whole picture.

Ah, Mrs Bedford. Or as the neighbourhood youngsters, children and teenagers alike, like to call her 'the modern witch of the road', and not in the cool way. Her husband was no better, always bugging you at any given opportunity. The worst part was Mrs Bedford always antagonized you for it, even if she knew you didn’t entertain her husband’s behaviour. It was also extremely hypocritical of her, considering she herself has tried to make her move on Rick. A lot. Only to be met with disappointment each time. 

Her children were just as bad, too, to put it lightly.

“What did she say?” It was the green light Irene needed before she explained what had happened to a T, courtesy of her father’s eagle eye. Unlike most days, it was just you and Irene visiting the park since your sons had football practice. 

The two of you were feeding the ducks when Mrs Bedford came up to you.

“You on your own?” Was the first thing she asked you before you questionably said ‘yes’, despite Irene being there too, and the little girl realized Mrs Bedford wouldn’t have gone off on a tangent about you and your ‘possibly tainted history’ if her father or brothers were around in the first place.

“I don’t know what you did but I can see it in your eyes, Flag. You’re no saint. You can fool the others with your little flower shop and your so-called angelic kids, but not me.”

Though Mrs Bedford knew nothing about your powers or your time in Belle Reve, instead, spewing hate out of jealousy and hatred for you for being the favourable neighbour, she wasn’t completely wrong. You have hurt people, you’ve even killed some, but they were for the greater good. Since your freedom from hell on earth, you’ve barely used your umbrakineses. It wasn’t until the birth of your children, to which all three of them gained your abilities did you realized you couldn’t run from who you really were—it wasn’t right nor fair to them.

Then, telling them your story as a criminal and how their dad was once your enemy was another thing. You weren’t sure what reaction you were expecting, but it was certainly not amazement and sparkles in their eyes. As they grew older, they began to make sense of how their parents somehow knew people like Aunt Harley, Uncle Robert and hell, even Nanaue.

And at that point in time, Mrs Bedford reminded you of Waller, turning you into submission as you could do nothing but listen to her make a mockery out of you for turning over a new leaf. Irene had to watch your face drop as the woman insulted you, and she knew she had to tell her family about it. 

Irene insisted that she was fine about heading home early, even if you tried to convince her otherwise. She wanted nothing more than to do something about that glazed look in your eyes.

As soon as you stepped foot into the living room, a tear rolled down your cheek. You couldn't help but apologize to her, to everyone if they were with you then. You weren’t entirely sure if it was because you seemed weak over a bunch of words or their fate of ending up with you as the wife and a mother of their family.

Irene shook her head, hugging you with her face in your tummy.

"You're not a mean person, mama. You're the nicest and coolest mama we could ever ask for, and we love you." 

It was simple, something you've heard of thousands of times in your lifetime, but you very much needed it today.

Ever the sweet girl, she accompanied you as you lay in your bed, telling you random stories about what she painted during art class or what she ate at lunch, anything but the time Mrs Bedford’s son, Kyle pushed her off the swing while his older brother, Blake laughed and praised him for doing so. You didn’t need to know that. 

Not yet.

You listened with a warm smile, embarrassed but nonetheless thankful for how observant she was of your feelings before eventually dozing off. 

Irene was careful yet quick to jump off the bed, running downstairs to shush Richie and Ethan as they returned home. 

The more she explained, the brighter their eyes unnaturally glowed. Richie was starting to look like their father as he crossed his arms, listening to her like a police officer, while Ethan seemed like he was already thinking of ways to counter the Bedford’s undignified acts.

Basically, the Bedfords were not the greatest people. Each and every one of them. 

Though they had a myriad of ideas, they weren’t sure how much their father would appreciate it, even if it was for your sake. Still, they thanked Irene for being there for you, promising that something would be done, no matter what it would be.

For now, they had a plan, hoping it could bring a smile to your face.

After an unexpected nap, you came down to find your kids huddled on the couch, whispering and hushing each other. Curious, you approached them.

Ethan was the first to notice you, offering you a grin before showing you what was in their hands, “Look, ma, I think we got it.” 

You leaned in to take a closer look, only for your breath to hitch at the sight of life on their palms. There, they showed you the differing mass of shadows they conjured, a tougher one you just taught them about a week ago. You have always loved this trick as a kid, and it only aided your sanity when you were by your lonesome in the penitentiary. In a way, you were replacing what life truly was by making your own, even if they were temporary because there was no telling when or if you’d ever be free. 

Yet, here they were, prompting joy and pride as they held the wispy animals of their choice; Richie with what seemed to be an adorable little puppy, Ethan creatively emulated a bioluminescent jellyfish and Irene…

Oh, Irene.

She scarcely remembered how much you loved making her laugh by conjuring butterflies when she was still very little if not for the twins confirming it. 

The butterfly was as small as her hand, but the wings were majestic, idly flapping before flying over to you, leaving cloudy black trails and landing on your outstretched finger. 

You stared at their creations ever so lovingly, already on the brink of tears. You were just as mad at yourself for doubting your worth, and your potential, just because of the things you had to do in the past, for the sake of the person you were now.

You embraced Irene in a tight hug before pulling your boys in as well. You sniffled, absolutely joyous and blessed to be surrounded by the most loving people. Nothing could deter you from this, not even as the shadow puppy yipped and chased the jellyfish and butterfly in excitement. Your cat, Tofu, must’ve heard the commotion, too, as she came from the kitchen to check, only to be frightened and jump on the couch with you as the puppy came running to her.

Rick finally arrived about two hours later, coming home to hear laughter before he saw Irene running across the room, followed by Tofu and the shadow puppy in tow. The jellyfish laid on Richie’s head like a nest whereas the butterfly decided to make Ethan’s shoulder its home as they hung out with you on the couch.

“Daddy!” Irene greeted him before running over to him. He didn’t question the questioning look she gave him just yet and instead, hoisted her up, laughing as Tofu and the puppy pawed at his bootlaces.

“What’s going on here?” He raised his brows, amused by what could be described as a fever dream of a sight.

“The kids learnt how to make little lives.” You giggled, allowing Rick to sit next to you as you scooted over.

“And I got a new hat,” Richie gestured to the jellyfish, who he has now dubbed as Jelly. As if it understood, Jelly immediately floated away, leaving Richie’s hair flattened, “Never mind.”

You shared a laugh as he deadpanned before you turned to Rick, “Was work okay?”

“Yeah, the usual. Decorated the place today, actually.” He took his phone out of his pocket, opening his gallery and showing you and the kids the spookily tacky decor that furnished his workplace.

“Did you really paint ‘dead inside, don’t open’ on the entrance door?” The twins gawked.

“Fitting, ain't it?” Rick joked, prompting smiles and chuckles from you once more before falling back on the couch, “But at least I’m off tomorrow, so I was thinking we could eat out for dinner.”

“Oh! We should head to Pop’s since they’re also offering their apple betty.” Ethan suggested.

“Well, I think that’s a good idea, so,” Richie trailed off, raising anticipation from the rest of you before jumping off the couch and running up the stairs. Ethan and Irene simultaneously gasped before the former took his sister out of Rick’s arms to chase their brother together. You and Rick could only watch with delight as Tofu and the shadow creatures followed them too.

“Everything okay?” He wanted to know, but he wouldn’t pry if you weren’t ready to tell him.

“Yeah,” You nodded, gazing down for a moment before continuing, “Something happened earlier but…”

“Richie! You better not lock the door or I swear to God!” Ethan’s voice rang out from upstairs, followed by Irene’s ‘language!’, and you couldn’t help but shake your head in amusement. 

“It’s all good now.” You reassured him. You knew you could’ve told him, but it wasn’t worth dwelling on. You had children to nurture and a husband to take on the world with.

“The Bedfords?” He guessed. If it wasn’t them, then it had to be Mr Walker.

“The Bedfords,” You confirmed with a tight smile, “I’m just more upset that Irene was there to hear it.”

You didn’t explain any further and Rick took it as a sign to drop it. If they were able to make you this upset, then it was best to ask the kids instead. 

“I’m sorry,” He pulled you to his chest, planting a slow and gentle kiss on your forehead. He rubbed your back, sighing at the very mention of that family. Rick loathed that they were influential enough to be one of the higher-ups of the school’s PTA, though he was confident that money was involved in it too. He hated that they were reasons why you’d come home ranting about how Mrs Bedford bugged you again, or when he had to make sure Mr Bedford knew he was making a promise and not an empty threat whenever it involved their kids and his, "You know I can talk to them." 

It would do no good, but it was worth trying. 

"No, you know how the Bedfords are. Don’t worry, okay? Not now,” You kissed the inside of his palm before pressing your lips against his, soft, sensual and safe. Rick moved forward, deepening the kiss as held the nape of your neck. You pulled away but not before nuzzling his nose, “We should be celebrating.”

He nodded, though he knew it would only linger in his mind for a while. Still, he adhered to your wishes, standing up before offering you his hand to get ready, “Right, right. Shall we?”

You snorted, placing your hand in his the way a princess would when a prince asks for a dance. Unexpectedly, he twirled you around, wrapping his arms around you he pulled you in, chest to chest. You playfully smacked him, though it did very little to wipe off the pleased look on his face as the two of you headed to your room. 

You and the boys were the first to head out to the front yard, chatting and evaluating the decors of the houses while waiting for Rick and Irene. 

“What happened today?” He asked his daughter quietly as they stood at the front door, helping with her shoes while she slid on a jacket. 

“Mrs Bedford was saying bad stuff to mama while we were at the park.” She whispered back, swinging her arms as she watched her father tie her shoelace, “Like, really mean stuff. No one was around except us so she was kinda loud, too.”

Rick fumed, clenching his jaw as he could already hear and picture whatever nonsense she loved to spit out. 

“Mama got kinda quiet when we came home, and then she started crying. About how she’s sorry she was a criminal and how we’re ‘stuck’ with her powers.” She added. If anything, she and the boys thought your abilities were the coolest thing to have ever happened to them. 

He shook his head—who wouldn't crack after being subjected to their ways for so long? He hummed, hiding the seething resentment by ruffling Irene's hair.

"Can you help me distract your mother while I talk to the boys for a bit?" She nodded diligently, skipping over to you before Rick called out to his sons, "Need some help, boys." 

They rushed over, glancing at you before Ethan spoke up first, "She told you?" 

"Yeah." Rick replied as he locked the door.

"Can't we do something about it?" Richie asked with a frown.

"You boys are not punching Blake again." Rick reminded them with a small smile. 

"You didn't seem to mind it," Ethan mirrored his father's amusement, "He was yelling at our teammate and encouraged his troll brother to push Irene off a swing." 

"I'm mad, too," Rick was more than mad, but he couldn't let his emotions run wild, "Look, we'll think of something, alright? For now, just make sure she's happy." 

That's all they ever wanted.

The drive to Pop's was a lively one, and so was the dinner itself. Though you knew you'd be thinking about Mrs Bedford's words every once in a while, the smiles and laughter of your family were already a welcoming distraction as it is. 

Midnight rolled around, and everyone had returned to their rooms with sore cheeks and a full stomach. You were the first to slip under the covers after a shower, hoping you wouldn't be too tired as you waited for Rick, though it didn't work.

By the time Rick got out of the bathroom, you were peacefully asleep, your face just a breath away from your husband's pillow as his scent soothed you like no other. 

Rick smiled to himself, changing into his PJs before sitting on your side of the bed. The dip roused you from your slumber just a little.

"Rick?" You murmured, fluttering your lashes tiredly.

"Forgot to get some water," He caressed your cheek before bending down to kiss it, "I'll be back." 

You mustered a closed-eye smile and before you knew it, you drifted off once again, lulled by the way he patted your back.

Once the coast was clear, he moved off the bed, silently slipping out and closing the door before heading over to the twins' room. He knocked on the door, just enough for them to hear before doing the same with Irene's door and headed downstairs.

Rick sat down at the dining table with a glass of cold water, arms crossed and lost in his own thoughts before hearing light footsteps approaching.

Richie, Ethan and Irene carefully pulled their chairs back before taking a seat, and just like that, the discussion began.

But it didn't seem like they were getting anywhere and at some point, they just started shit-talking.

"Man, I wish coach would just kick Blake out." Ethan groaned, his head falling back. 

"Tell me about it. He's shit at quarterback." Richie clicked his tongue.

"Boys." Rick warned them, partially because his youngest was listening.

"Sorry." They apologized but Irene didn't seem to mind.

"How about…" She chimed in, tapping her finger on her chin, "We scare them?" 

"Like…?" Richie cocked his head, hoping she'd say more than just that.

"I don't know, I just thought it'd be cool since it's Halloween and stuff. And, well, maybe we could use our powers, but I know mama and daddy wouldn't want that." She shrugged, pouting because she hadn't thought it far enough.

"It would be a miracle to scare them without using our powers in the first place," Richie sighed, looking over to his father, "What do you think, dad?" 

No reply.

"Dad?" Ethan followed suit as the three of them raised their brows.

“How far are you in your shadow puppet practice?” Rick asked out of the blue, staring ahead as though imagining whatever idea he had played out. 

“Uh, pretty far, I think? Ma taught us how to merge our shadows into one if we wanted to make a bigger animal.” Richie answered, earning affirmative nods from his siblings. 

“How big?” 

“Like, this big!” Irene opened her arms wide to let him know just how big of a monster they would be able to make if they wanted to. They haven’t, there was no reason to, but the more their father asked, the more it piqued their interest.

Rick thought it through for a moment. It has been a while since he has seen you make that one particular lifeform, but it was worth a shot. If it were able to render Waller speechless, then it’ll definitely make the Bedfords piss their pants. 

No actual attacks, and definitely no killings. But he’ll make sure they shudder at the mere thought of Halloween. Put the fear of God in them. They had it coming, too, stomping on other neighbours’ happiness for years just for the fun of it. 

He just had to play it safe. 

He slowly broke into a sinister smile.

“You three ever heard of a hellhound?”

˚ · . f i n . · ˚

» a/n: ahh hubby rick <3 ;; gorgeous rose divider by @firefly-graphics ♡

[ilikepjo24]

On Octavian ruining Percy's panda pillow pet...

Now, I thought this wasn't even a serious thing that needs to be addressed but I just finished arguing with someone over this, so apparently it does need its own meta.

So, the take we're debunking today is "Octavian is mean/evil for ruining Percy's pillow pet".

The thing about this pillow pet is that Percy was homeless for six months, he had to steal to survive and fight off monsters every single day, a task that was getting harder and harder every day, all while he remembered nothing. He only had his name. He didn't have friends, a home, a family, a safe place, a purpose, something that can get people by so that they don't just give up when struggling every day for no known reason with no known end goal gets too much.

During those months, his panda pillow was the one single form of comfort and familiarity he was granted. A small mercy if you will, to help get him through this. Although many people downgrade, poke fun off, and affectionately ridicule his relationship with the panda pillow pet, it was definitely something meaningful. Like the first participation trophy you got for participating in a competition for fun, only to realize you really like that activity and get hooked on it. Sure, the trophy does not indicate any real talent or success in itself, but to you it's the starting line for something you genuinely love. And to Percy his pillow pet has value because of it's emotional worth.

Which is why it had to be sacrificed.

I'll explain why soon enough, but for now, hold that thought I put in your head just now while I add a second idea there too.

This isn't talked about in the books, but it's something Uncle Rick made sure to address in the show. As Chris Rodriguez worded it: The gods love the smell of beging.

In Camp Half-Blood, when meal time is over, demigods throw the remaining of their food into the fire as a sacrifice and pray to the gods. In the show it was specified that it's better to sacrifice a portion of your favourite food, because if the gods see that you're willing to sacrifice your own comfort (even if it's just in the form of your favourite food) just to please them, they are more likely to answer your prayer. Once again, as Chris said, they love the smell of begging. And the more you beg, the more you're willing to sacrifice, the further you're willing to go, the better.

So Greek gods like it when you pray by sacrificing your food, and to an extent, your comfort. And the Roman gods like it when you sacrifice a life.

Which is why auguries became a thing. Of course you're not gonna see the future in the guts of an animal just because. The gods will grant you spoilers for the next season if you kill the animal because it will make them feel flattered to see that you're so desperate for their help that you'd rip out the soul of a living being in their honor just to get their attention.

However, Rick is writing books for tweens and teens. He can't just have animals being slaughtered left and right, especially for the purpose of feeding the gods' narcissism. So what can he do to make the situation a bit more pg 13? Remove the slaughtering of animals. And how will auguries be performed then? By sacrificing something else that has value. Emotional value.

It's quite logical to assume that the stuffed toys Octavian uses in his auguries are really expensive or collector's edition or handmade or are someone's childhood companion that they donated. The gods wouldn't just let you have information about the feature when all you gave to them was a sacrifice worth 1$ that you could even fish out of the trash.

Now I want you to hold on to that too and knit it together with the other thought I told you to hold on to, got it? And if you do that part of the process properly you should get to the conclusion that the best sacrifice available at the moment to get the gods to tell you how they feel about Percy joined the legion was Percy's panda pillow pet that he is so deeply emotionally connected to.

Octavian did not ruin something Percy loved for kicks. He didn't even know him yet, there's no way he had any type of malicious feelings towards Percy yet. He was just doing his job. The job Reyna tasked him to and the job Hazel told him to do during their conversation. And that was to read Percy's augury (which wasn't an augury bc Octavian is a haruspex but that's irrelevant right now). He wasn't actively trying to soil Percy's mood and ruin his day just to be the evil villain. He was just doing his job.

Thus proven.

[oatmilk-vampire]

Canon things I've learned about Eddie thanks to Flight of Icarus.

Spoilers under cut. 👇

He's not a virgin. He's had sex with at least three different girls, and had a girlfriend---Paige Warner. Hawkins High, class of '82.

He had a best friend named Ronnie (Veronica Ecker) since he was eight. She's always been taller than him and they have a Steve/Robin dynamic. She might be aro/ace, she stated she didn't think she'd ever have a crush on anybody when he kissed her at age thirteen.

Eddie is eighteen as of 1984.

The van is his father's, or was.

His dad, Alan, is the reason he got into selling.

His father is also the reason why no one in Hawkins likes him. They look at him as Junior, that he'll be a "fuckup" just like his father. Plus Hellfire Club adds on to the trouble of it all.

Eddie didn't fail high school the first time, he dropped out. He was being blackmailed by Principal Higgins that he would get Ronnie's full-ride NYU scholarship pulled.

He got into music because of his mother, Elizabeth Franklin, who was from Memphis and got sick and died when he was only six. Only then did he understand sad lyrics and why people would want to write and listen to songs like that.

He's always stood up for the little guy, even if it gets him hurt or in trouble.

Gareth and him have a Dustin/Steve dynamic.

He stood up for Will when bullies were calling him Zombie Boy. He invited him to join Hellfire Club when he gets to high school.

He doesn't feed himself, or so Wayne believes. When he was still living alone, Uncle Wayne dropped him off groceries every two weeks.

Eddie flirts with everybody. Woman or man. It's the Munson magic that he's learned from his father. Big smiles and winks and "big boy" comments. He does it when he's scared as a defense mechanism. It's how he intimidates.

He used to work as a barback at the Hideout.

He recorded a demo with Corroded Coffin and got offered an audition in Hollywood for a record deal--only for himself, not the band. Which he missed because of the mess his father got them involved in. Thats also why he started working with Reefer Rick.

There's probably way more but that's all I can think of at the moment.

[alloutofgoddesses]

Percy Jackson TV thoughts -

Season 1, Episode 3

(I’m a book reader and I’m not holding back book spoilers)

The attic is show creaky

And apparently so is Percy

Walker is doing an incredible job portraying Percy’s “I hate everything” attitude

The craziest line reading it’s so stilted thank you Timm Sharp. Also condescending which is very Gabe

That’s awkward as hell why would you gather all the “good candidates”

BLACKJACK HIIIIIII BLACKJACK

Grover you’re killing me

That backpacks full of apples and tin cans you can’t fool me Underwood

Percy is SO FUNNY HELP

“Don’t mix ‘em up” Luke I know I can’t trust you stop being witty

THERE THEY ARE

Annabeth saying goodbye to Thalia… I’m losing it she’s just a BABY

I shouldn’t laugh but I think Thalia would so we’re good

Percy. She’s always in charge.

So no Seaweed Brain and Wisegirl? Rick when I find you

Percy you could’ve put them in your bag and left the box

The way Grover’s hair is styled to cover the horns more when they’re in the mortal world… hairdressers I love you

Can I have the full consensus song please I think it would actually be helpful

Also Grover being a 24 year old dealing with squabbling twelve year olds… Gods speed dude

Annabeth is so perfect. Like. She’s so annoying. It’s spot on. Annabeth is annoying in the books

SCREAM ALECTO!!! They hired the perfect actress for these lines

I get the plot reasons but if you had time to pick up anything WHY THE SHOES AND NOT THE BAG WITH MONEY IN IT PERCY

Please tell me they’re getting rid of the idea that demigods can’t use technology. I always thought it was dumb

Oh no Uncle Ferdinand…

Absolutely laying the tracks for Percy telling the gods to do better by their kids *chef’s kiss*

SO YOU FOLLOW IT? Grover you’re better than this

Hey. If the cyclops next season have those talons. I’m gonna be SO SCARED the whole time

MEEEDDDUUUUSSSSAAAAA!!!! I desperately want to cosplay this

I love the changes already

Percy… that beautiful fatal flaw

I mean yeah you’re mom is almost always right but still be on guard little man

Annabeth. I can’t wait for you to loosen up. She’s wound as right as a violin string.

*cheers from the crowd* I am fully on Medusa’s side btw. No matter what she was a victim of the god’s whims.

Annabeth my little baby you gotta think about multiple perspectives

The little milkshakes on the side. Does Medusa just wait for people to come along to feed or did she smell Percy from a couple miles away and really quickly whip stuff up

Thank god the box is being left behind

THE BASEMENT REALLY GUYS. There had to have been a back door

A MAIL CARRIER? What did a mail carrier do Medusa

I love that the snakes aren’t standing up like a lot of Medusa artworks portray… they’re noodles they wouldn’t be at attention all the time

Oh now THAT’S INSPIRED. Nkt as iconic as the reflective surface of an iPod though

Who’s gonna remind them there’s still one more. Also does this mean she’s a broken statue forever or since she’s a monster she’s reincarnating in Tartarus? I have so many questions

Oh Uncle Ferdinand. I’m glad Grover got to have an emotional moment that he wasn’t afforded in the book

Hell yeah good job Grover. Sometimes you Do have to be a little mean to get past some stuff.

Oh so we get the “I am impertinent” line verbatim but not SEAWEED BRAIN AND WISE GIRL

Percy I’m obsessed with you

Now who could this be

GAH LOOK AT HIM… he looks just a tad angry though lol

So does he have express straight to the throne room since he’s Hermes or did they change the placement of the elevator

AAAAAHHHHHH I need more immediately

Preview for next ep

Why are they splashing him

SHE’S ON THE BUS?!?!?!

Very excited for the arch… I’ve been there and I will be honest I only remember some of the museum stuff at the bottom and how claustrophobic the top is so I’m excited to hopefully jog my memory

[twd-obsessed-bitch]

Okie dokie friends, here's my twd holiday head cannons, these are gonna be mostly based in season 11 but because I live the fun world of denial, Carl Grimes is still alive and well,

-Carl tells Judith, RJ, Hershel and Gracie what he remembers about Christmas

-"My mom, dad and I used to go to this tree farm and dad and uncle Shane would cut down the biggest one we could find and we'd take it home and decorate it while drinking hot chocolate and listening to Christmas music"

-the kids get so excited hearing about it they run to the adults

-Judy runs right into the side of Daryl's legs almost knocking him down before asking if he could get them a Christmas tree

-Daryl and Aaron have an inability to say no to their girls so of course they go out bright and early the next day to find the perfect tree

-while they're out Maggie and Rosita show the kids how to make paper snowflakes and look around for some decorations

-Carl tells Judith more about what Christmas was like before the world ended

-he tells her about snowball fights with Rick and uncle Shane

-and how Rick would lift him up to put the star on the tree

-Carl still believes in Santa because how is he supposed to know otherwise

-Judy asks if Santa's a walker

-and Carl explains to the kiddos that Santa is magical and the only reason he hasn't delivered presents to Alexandria is because they haven't sent any letters

-which leads to the kids running around Alexandria yelling to Santa about where they are

-Daryl and Aaron get back and almost drop the tree they found laughing at the kids

-the tree is taller than Aaron

-they decorate everything with what they found and the paper snowflakes they made

-when all of the decorations are up they of course have a snowball fight. Jerry basically just starts throwing the kids into the deep snow near the end of it

-Carol makes everybody tea to warm them up, saying something about wishing they had chocolate and milk to make some real hot chocolate

-Connie and Kelly teach the kids how to sign 'Merry Christmas' and they sign/sing through 'Rudolph the red nose reindeer'

-Gracie finds a red ball and tries to put it on dogs nose to make him rudolph

-later on Carl finds Judith hiding and crying a bit and asks what's wrong

-"I just, I miss mom and dad and I wish they were here, you said Christmas was about family"

-"well I'm not them but I'm here and I'm not going anywhere"

-and they hug (I need older Judith and Carl to hug they'd be the best sibling duo)

-Daryl follows dog and finds them and they have a little family hug. (side note do y'all ever think about how much of a dad Daryl is to Judy? I mean he was one of the first people to feed her, he named her, temporarily, he's there whenever she's sad or needs encouragement. Like what a dad)

This last one is more just for fun than the rest, (there's no apocalypse and all our faves are alive AND happy)

-Group family Christmas dinner, everybody is at a big table, they're all sat together in their little families along the table. Like the scene from 7x01 except everyone we love from seasons 1-11 is there happy and sharing food.

Tara and Denise get caught under some mistletoe and Daryl whoops when he sees Denise awkwardly look around before kissing Tara, who just grins cheekily and kisses Denise again.

@ohmydeputywalsh this one's just for you, All the kids take turns putting the star on the tree and Shane puts Judith on his shoulders so she can reach

[captainsophiestark]

in honor of rick announcing another book, I'd like to request prompt number #26 (that is if u havent already chosen a character for it) with our beloved son of the sea god, perseus jackson.

bestie im going batshit crazy over the news, uncle rick keeps feeding us and I couldn't be happier.

Ahhhhh bestie I love this I am so in!!! I am also going batshit crazy over the news. I’m literally SO psyched, and I have the perfect college-age Percy fic idea to go with this prompt, which kind of fits the premise of the upcoming book!

Thanks for the request, and literally feel free to come into my inbox and scream about Percy Jackson any time 😂😂 I absolutely adore that book series since it was my entire childhood, and my middle school self is literally crying tears of joy with all the new things coming lately 😭😂❤️

[b0xxie]

I saw your Robert headcannons and was wondering if you could do Roy?

(Robert headcannons are perfect btw I love them!!)

YES YES YES YES OFC I LOVE ROY

//tw mentions of trauma, emotional and anger issues as well as Roy’s uncle

- leader of the gang Roy is the shortest of the Hatzgang, even so he makes up for being really loud having a bark bigger than his bite, and being a bit more aggressive and blunt in his words.

- He is also rounder too! A little bit on the chubby side but I think that compliments him well. Small angry gremlin

- due to his stature he makes up for it by trying to be the loudest meanest and most tough. Although that doesn’t mean he’s not a little bit insecure.

- although he does have a tendency to be quite mean, I like to think all these issues stem from his family and trauma most likely caused by his uncle. He takes out his anger and frustrations due to feeling weak by bullying Skid, Pump and other younger kids so he can feel like he’s stronger. He tries not to take his anger out on Ross and Robert, as he does care for them. But sometimes his emotions get to him.

- even though he is a bully he is actually quite sensitive. He masks it with anger and fits but it’s not uncommon to see him lash out when he’s upset while also tearing up.

- this is probably why we see him act like this during unwanted guest after seeing the “eyes” thinking it was a dream. Roy gets stubborn when put in a situation where he feels weak.

- Ross and Robert often comfort him. And later on in situations where he’s upset he feels comfortable enough to vent and cry around them. Still gets embarrassed about it though.

- boy has anger and emotional problems that his friends are trying to help him through :(

- it isn’t uncommon for Roy to hang out at the other two’s houses. Most commonly in the middle of the night Roy sneaks out of his room to the others. They have a lot of sleepovers.

- On the lighter side of things. Roy gets along quite well with Robert and Ross. He does give them the cold shoulder and slightly bosses them around when he’s upset. And probably does tease and insult them from time to time but it’s all in good fun and the more weird and extravagant insults are just a way to show he cares.

- tsun-tsun...

- I like the popular headcanon that Roy’s parents are Rick, the worker at the mall. And Patty the surgeon at the hospital

- has baseball boy energy. Like to think he either plays or used to play. Definitely has an old baseball bat that he uses to smash mailboxes or do dumb stuff with the gang

- isn’t old enough to drive yet but has definitely stolen his parents car once or twice before and taken it for a ride around the neighborhood

- probably had an emo/goth phase at one point

- in his alone time, he likes to feed the stray cats that wander around the neighborhood or in his backyard. He secretly loves cats

- has a favorite that he adopted. A scraggly street cat with an eye missing and a chipped ear. He often talks to the cats and rambles about his problems to them.

- probably has a teddy bear or something that he sleeps with that he hides under his bed when anyone walks in

- He’s a smug lil shit but he can be soft when he wants to. Mainly around Robert and Ross and his cat. And deep down he just needs support, he just doesn’t want to look weak in-front of others. Never learned how to be truly nice and affectionate but he’s learning.

[ursie]

I agree it’s honestly so nice of Rick not to put Nico again before he’s ready <3 letting Nico tell us he’s trans in his own time <3 that he’s so at peace with being a normal trans dude that he doesn’t even think about being cis. Writing these nuances into his character thank you Rick @fabria

Why does the fandom keep on making Nico cis...Nico’s not cis guys he’s a normal gay 🙄😤 honestly..fanon culture at its worse

[shawtygonemad]

VERMILION: Chapter 3

Daryl Dixon x OC (Rose Dixon)

Vermilion Playlist

Vermilion Masterlist

-Hope-

Hope was not happy that her mom had to be left behind. In her entire 6 years of life she had never been away from her mom for more than a few hours. That alone made her upset. Now they were leaving her mom behind and she didn't fully understand why. What she did know was that her mom said she'd be right behind them and even did the sacred pinky promise. Mom said she'll be okay so she has to be.

Begrudgingly she followed her mother's orders and listened to every word her Uncle Rick said. Everything happened so fast. The campus fire alarms went off and then the group left in a hurray. Our entire group managed to make it out without problems. Mom must have done that for us. She should be following us soon now, right?

The campus we had escaped was in old New York City. Hope had read about it in one of the many books she devoured. Uncle Rick had told her that her reading level was almost higher than his which made Hope laugh and fill with excitement. She especially loved to read books that had stories in it. However, when she had read all of the story books Uncle Rick decided to tell her some of his own. Stories she was told not to tell her mother about due to her condition.

He told her about their family. Her favorite stories she loved to hear were about her father. Her mom didn't remember who Hope's dad was, but Uncle Rick did. They were best friends. Her dad was brave and strong. He was a phenomenal hunter and tracker. His did everything he could to keep his family and community safe. Hope had always dreamed of meeting him. Now they were on their way to Alexandria where he lived! Maybe with his help they can help her mom! If he was as strong and brave as she was told then he'd for sure be able to save her.

It was a long trek from New York to Virginia. They took as many breaks as they could, but they had to keep moving. Hope's little legs quickly got tired, so one of the group members offered her a piggy back ride. Despite the fear and anxiety in the air Hope still managed to have fun. She had never been outside of the walls of campus before. It was the first time she was able to see the world and it was as beautiful as she had dreamed it would be.

The air smelled like pine from the trees. Excitement would fill her every time she saw a squirrel or rabbit. The only animals she had ever seen in person were birds, dogs, and a few cats. Never anything like this. However, despite the beauty of the world it still held dangers.

She learned from a very early age about walkers and what they were. The carcasses of the deceased that roamed the Earth to feed on flesh. It was taught to them in school. They also learned how to kill them if they were ever in a situation that they needed to. You just had to impale the head. Unfortunately, you had to be older to get to wield and learn how to use a knife. Hope was still too young. She couldn't wait though. She wanted to be brave like her dad. He sounded like a knight in shining armor. At least that's how she imagined him.

Once they reached Virginia they thought they would be safe. It turns out that the CRM had been hunting them, and Mom was still nowhere to be found. Uncle Rick came up with a plan and decided to have us split up. He and two others from the group decided to stay behind and cause a distraction. He gave the rest of the group a map of the territory with directions on how to get to Alexandria. Hope really didn't want him to leave especially since he was all she had left now that her Mom hasn't returned. She didn't want to be left alone with these people she hardly knew.

Sadly, she had no other choice. She had to trust her life with these people. None of them had been outside of campus before. This was all a strange, new, scary world. Things got even scarier when gunshots could be heard from where they had just previously been. The group ran for their lives until their legs were numb. When they thought they were far enough away they stopped for a breather. Everyone was shaken and filled with adrenaline. During this break some of the adults took this moment to look at the map. Hope was so scared that she couldn't even muster up the urge to cry.

Things got even worse. A blood curdling scream pierced through the air. Everyone turned towards the sound. One of the group members we being eaten alive by a pale and decaying creature. It took a while for everyone to process what they were seeing. This must have been one of the walkers they had heard about. They were just as horrific as they had been told about. Everyone began to panic and yell which caused more of the monsters to slink in through the trees. People were being taken down left and right. Hope's heart pounded not knowing what to do.

Thankfully her nature human instincts kicked her fight or flight into gear which caused her to take off leaving the group behind. She ran as fast as her little legs could. This caused her to trip and fall a few times, but she got right back up and kept going. She had no idea where she was going, but she just kept on running. Her body just told her to stay alive. It got to a point where she needed to stop and collect her breathe. She practically collapsed to the ground. The only thing keeping her upright was the tree trunk against her back. It all hit her at once. Her mom was gone, her uncle was gone, and now she was all alone to fend for herself. On top of everything there were these scary dangerous monsters roaming around. Tears began to flow down her face as she let out a sob. She didn't want to die, and she was so scared.

Her sobs must have attracted a stray walker. She looked up when she heard growling and stumbling coming towards her. Her eyes widened like a deer in headlights. All instincts went out the window and she froze in fear. She tried to place her back as far as she could into the tree trunk to attempt to get away from the monster. Just as it was in arms length was when an arrow embedded itself into the walker's head. This caused the creature to collapse dead in front of her.

Before she could process what had happened she was grabbed around the waist and picked up. The scenery was going by quickly and everything felt bumpy. The person carrying her must be running. Hope turned her head to see who her hero was. I was an older man was long brown hair the hung in his eyes. He had some scruff around his mouth and chin. Held in his other arm was a crossbow. To others he may have looked like some old redneck, but to Hope he was her very own knight.

After a couple more feet the man whipped them into some shrubbery. He held his fingers to his lips to signal she be quiet. Hope studied him as he easily lifted his bow and waited. Soon the sound of multiple dragging feet could be heard. The groans of the dead soon followed. Hope reached out a gripped the man's shirt for comfort as fear flooded through her again. However, the energy the man was giving off made her feel safer than she had prior. He seemed to know what he was doing.

Slowly he started to pick off the dead one by one with his weapon. It wasn't until the last one was on the ground was when he finally looked at the little girl. When he took a good look he seemed to pale a bit like he was seeing a ghost. He quickly recovered and shook it off.

"What're ya doin' out here, kid? S' dangerous alone," he gruffly asked before through a quick whistle off into the distance.

Hope didn't respond. She just stared at him with wide eyes as she processed everything that had just happened to her. So much had just happened to her in such little time. Suddenly it all just hit her like a ton of bricks. The water works started and she began to cry uncontrollably.

The man was visibly uncomfortable, but he tried his best to comfort her. She wasn't able to calm down though. The situation was saved by an energetic German Shepard dog galloping over. It seemed to sense the tense situation and broke it by lovingly licking the little girl's face. With his forceful love she was unable to resist and began to giggle. This seemed to encourage the animal more. The man was relieved that the tears had stopped.

"Dog," he said to the animal.

The dog quit licked and went to the man's side. His hand reached down to pet the animal as he looked at the little girl again.

"Why are ya out here alone," he asked her again.

Hope sniffled a bit before finally answering him.

"We were running away from bad people. Then the monsters came out and started hurting everyone. I was scared so I ran," she whimpered.

The man took a moment to comprehend the situation. Hope truly had no one. This made tears well in her eyes again.

"C'mon, you can come back with us," he said as he offered his hand to her.

Hope wiped her tears away before taking his hand and standing up. Much to his surprise, she didn't let go right away. Her eyes darted around waiting for something to jump out. The man noticed this and held her hand a little tighter as they began to walk.

"Nothin' to be scared about no more. I won't let nothin' happen to ya," he said as he looked down at her.

"Can I keep holding your hand? My mama used to say that when we can scared we just have to hold hands to get through it," Hope meekly said.

"Was your mama in that group," he hesitantly asked.

"No. She stayed behind at the campus to make sure we all got out safely," this caused Hope to frown. "She said she would be right behind us... but she never showed up."

The pair stayed silent after that. They just quietly held hands and walked through the woods. Soon the trees cleared out and a road was in front of them. As they walked down the road the sun started to go down. It was a good thing they left when they did otherwise they would have been caught in the dark.

"What's yer name," the man broke the silence and asked.

"Hope," she said. "What's your name?"

"Daryl."

"It's nice to meet you," she said with a grin.

Once they made it outside large metal gates Hope stopped. She froze as she looked at the sign. It said Alexandria. Was this the same place she was looking for? Had she really made it to Alexandria.

"Ya okay," Daryl asked Hope when he noticed her freeze.

"I really made it," she whispered in disbelief.

Suddenly pieces started to come together in her little mind. Brave, kind, can hunt... Hope looked up at Daryl with wide eyes. Could he really be...?

"Open up," Daryl hollered as he banged on the metal.

The door slid open and Daryl walked inside thinking that Hope was right behind him. When he couldn't sense her presence he turned around and saw her in the same spot she had been in.

"Kid..?" Daryl called for her.

In a split second Hope bolted after him. When she was close enough she threw herself at him and wrapped her arms around his waist in a hug. This caught Daryl completely off guard. People nearby seemed to look on with curiosity. Daryl wasn't sure what to do.

"I can't believe it's really you," Hope said as she looked up at him with joy.

"What," Daryl said, confused.

"I knew I'd find you," she grinned.

"What are talkin' 'bout," Daryl tried to understand where all of this was coming from.

"You're my dad!"

***

Next Chapter

[shimmershae]

My thoughts on Episode 8--For Blood

As always, placed behind a cut for those of you that would rather escape my babbling, lol.  You’re welcome.  

Sadly, I don’t think this is anticipation I feel.  I’m pretty sure it’s dread but okay.  Here we go.  

This episode has to go up from the rock bottom boredom of last week, right?  

Let me preface what I’m about to say with the truth that I in no way hate Maggie.  She’s been with us since Season 2 and I have an emotional attachment to her, mostly due to my love of Glenn and the way he loved her.  She’s not my favorite by any means, but the fact of the matter is, I do like and appreciate her and don’t mind that she is back because it’s nice to have old familiar faces with us to take us into the final season.  That said?  Forcing Maggie front and center after her long absence ultimately, IMHO, has not worked in these first 8 episodes.  I can’t help but feel if ASZ had been the A story with Maggie/Negan and Daryl/Leah/the Reapers the B1 and B2 story?  These episodes would have been better received overall and not feel so much like they’re trying so hard.  Maybe lead me toward the water instead of shoving my head in it next time, Angela?  Hmm?  

Oh goodie.  They’re opening at Meridian.  Should I get my bathroom break out of the way now or give myself an out for later?  Call it Shae’s choice, lol.  

That flicker of a smirk Leah gave to Carver after their mini walk down memory lane had more spark to it than the entirety of her and Daryl’s toxic relationship.  In the future, maybe Angela will lean all in on them instead of Leah and Daryl.  Something tells me Leah knows this “brother” biblically.  

Daryl recognizes Whisperer moves when he sees ‘em.  Somehow, he realizes Maggie and Negan have banded together however reluctantly.  

Pope doing it “Dixon’s” way but not allowing Dixon to do the actual thing shows the level of distrust and paranoia the man still haves for outsiders. 

Look at Daryl chewing his lips with worry for his people.  If he and Leah know each other even a little bit, she has to recognize that as one of his tells.  

Ooohhhh.  Who took the first stab at Wells?  Maggie?  Negan?  Father G?  I swear.  I took my eyes off the “ball” one second and the whole damn play is halfway down the field.  Sorry.  If you cannot tell, I watched football with the fam yesterday, lol.  

The Walking Dead logo didn’t crumble this time.  Interesting.  Parts of it looked like it had been rebuilt.  With brick.  Wood.  Other parts of it looked reclaimed by nature.  Call me crazy, but that almost looks like an eye/part of a face on the first D.  

Okay then.  Babbling nonsense about the logo over, lol.  Tell me.  Please.  Anybody.  How do the events at ASZ line up with the events at Meridian?  Because it’s night and full-blown storming in ASZ and still daylight at Meridian.  But hey.  Thank fuck we’re in ASZ.  

All the babies huddled together giving me feels.  Sorry.  I know some feel they have no place on the show, but I personally enjoy their inclusion from time to time.  It usually plucks hard at my heartstrings.  

Connie tenderly comforting an injured Virgil is sweet, not gonna lie.  

Aww.  Is that Hershel petting a scared RJ’s hair?  Unless it’s a case of me not being able to pick out and place all the little hands, which it most certainly could be, I’m thinking Judith’s got her hand on her knee and that’s Hershel’s hand in RJ’s hair.  Regardless of whose hand is where, it was a sweet little scene.  What can I say?  I’m easy because Baby Glenn and Baby Rick, ya’ll.  

Oh snap.  The windmill’s on fire and pieces of the wall are blowing down main street ASZ like steel tumbleweeds, lol.  

Anybody else having flashbacks to the barn from Season 5?  Good times.  We still had most of Team Family with us then.  They were in a bad place, hurting and lost and just trying to survive--when are they not just trying to survive?--but they were together.  I miss them.  

Carol and Lydia holding each other.  These two, lovelies, have my whole heart.  

Wells is Walker Jerky, Shaw.  Stop wasting your breath.  

“She did.  My enemy.”  I mean, are we supposed to get the impression Maggie’s been a formidable adversary to Pope?  Because she feels more like a roach that simply knows the best rocks to hide under.  Granted, roaches are hard to kill but still.  I’m gonna need them to give us something better than Maggie being Pope’s enemy simply because she didn’t want to give up her home without a fight because this is frankly unbelievable and bordering on stupid.  

Alright.  So they’ve obviously been sowing the seeds of distrust and defiance between Leah and Pope because she doesn’t like losing family but Daryl?  Man?  You and Leah have differing opinions about how family operates.  Trust me on this.  

So.  Three teams, huh?  Aaron fighting the windmill fire, Carol repairing the breach in the wall, Rosita protecting the babies that represent their future.  Choose your fighters, lol.  Seriously, though.  Why do I have the sinking feeling only one group is going to be shown actually doing their thing?  

Listen.  Am I pissed we haven’t gotten the scene we deserve yet between Carol and Connie after all that’s happened and we’re getting crumbs mainly because Angela wrongly feels the Reapers/Maggie & Negan/Daryl & Leah need more focus?  Absolutely.  You bet your sweet asses.  But Melissa fucking McBride just took the crumbs allotted her and made a magnificent, work of art cake out of it trying all on her lonesome to feed us starving Carol fans.  

Bless Connie wanting wanting to go with Carol.  What a show of trust and sister-like solidarity that must have some hate-rotted guts about to turn themselves out.  

I love Kelly and Connie’s sister bond.  No ill will intended, but It takes the good parts of Maggie and Beth and elevates it beyond anything those two ever showed us.  I really feel like that’s a testament to Angel and Lauren’s real life ease with each other.  

Magna choosing to go with Aaron makes me wonder if it’s possible she feels some kind of residual guilt over Connie.  Not guilt for anything she’s actually done, but simply guilt over making it out.  

Virgil volunteering to help.  Okay.  Damn.  I’m honestly starting to like the guy.  

Judith offering to go with her aunt Carol had me all up in my feels.  I mean, granted.  It was a blink and you miss it scene.  We really deserved a longer heart to heart between that little girl and the woman that’s sacrificed so much to keep her safe and loved her for so long, but you know I’ll gobble any and all Judith/Aunt Carol content up.  Seems to me, Little Ass Kicker is just as afraid of letting Aunt Carol out of her sight as Uncle Daryl.  My heart.  

Gracie and Aaron are sweet.  And honestly?  I find them more realistic and true to what normal parents and children would be like in a ZA than Judith and Michonne no matter how much I love that bond.  I mean no disrespect, but I really do.  

“Why am I keeping you around?”  Pope asking the question we’re all wondering.  

Not Apocalypse Popeye comparing Daryl to a stray dog.  Joe from the Claimers already declared Daryl an outside cat that thought he was an indoor cat.  I did have to internally cheer when Daryl was like “I’m ain’t gonna lick it” talking about the helping hand Pope had extended him.  

“Somehow she has turned the dead against the living.  Oh, that’s impressive.”  The thing about Pope respecting Maggie so much as an enemy is I just find it hard to buy, lol.  Like if this had been Carol, yeah.  But Maggie?  Nope.  They’ve mostly shown her (with Gage being the bewildering exception) to be all bark and no bite.  

Has the house in ASZ really become that dilapidated that they can see through its walls?  Because its original owners dodged a bullet if so.  

Look at Grace hero-worshipping Judith.  It’s sweet.  

Virgil telling Judith Michonne would be proud of her is nice but doesn’t feel as earned as if someone like Daryl or Carol that actually knew Michonne well said it.  But maybe that’s the whole point--Judith needs to hear it from someone she knows isn’t going to just say what she wants to hear.  

Call me jaded, it was a touching scene, but also?  It felt designed to allow Judith to move beyond her very normal and realistic feelings of being abandoned by Michonne, even though she gave her the “okay” herself.  Like she’s still a kid.  Wants don’t always line up with feelings.  Anyway.  Cailey continues to be a bright, shining little star and I love how she’s managed to make Judith a true amalgamation of all the people she’s loved who have loved her in return.  Not just Michonne.  I know people like to overlook and cheapen the fact, but it’s taken a village and entire family to raise her from infancy.  

Gracie really should have known better than play in front of the windows during a storm period, but oh well.  Plot point, lol.  

Seriously, though.  I feel like they’ve teased poor Gracie’s demise in a multitude of ways since the beginning of the season.  I hope nothing ultimately comes of it but I fear it will.  All I can say if the worst comes to happen is poor Aaron.  

Where are Negan and Elijah though?  Ouch.  There they are, taking on shrapnel for the cause.  

Ready the what now?  

There’s ASZ’s Baby Sitter Extraordinaire!  Barbara, is it?  That lady’s been putting in the work since Season 5 at least.  

I’ve honestly grown to love Rosita.  More of her and less of Maggie, please and thank you.  

“Let’s stay away from the windows.”  I’m sorry but I had to LMAO at that.  Still a badass moment though.  

Gabe hobbling toward his assigned sentinel.  At least they haven’t forgotten he’s injured like they seemed to forget Daryl was near death last season before the attack on Hilltop, lol.  

“It’s hard to watch something you care about change.”  Listen, Leah.  Chick.  You and Daryl obviously never really knew each other.  It’s always been obvious but I have a feeling “DIxon” is finally going to show you, spoilers or no spoilers.  

WTF are they calling that thing?  Sorry.  I have just as hard a time understanding Pope’s accent as I do Maggie’s sometimes.  

That’s not love that has Daryl telling Leah she can come with him.  That’s care for somebody he used to know.  There is a distinct difference that’s obviously lost on so many.  How can you really and truly love someone you cannot trust?  Especially in Daryl Dixon’s case?

Why does Angela hate us so much?  Giving us all these Reaper scenes and leaving us to simply imagine Carol and Connie and Kelly working side by side to save the wall?  

I think I honestly could have enjoyed this whole Reaper storyline more, at least a little bit anyway, had they not retrofitted a half-assed romance between Daryl and the story’s weakest link and if only they’d made it the B storyline and given earned deference to the goings-on in ASZ instead.  

I wonder if Glenn taught Maggie how to hot write a car?  I miss my baby Glenn.

Apocalypse Popeye is several fries short of a Happy Meal.  What else is new on this show, lol?  

I care for Maggie.  Mostly for nostalgia’s sake and Glenn and Baby Hershel but damn, man.  She’s not actually proven herself got be worth killing your entire “family” for.  But are too far gone, so.  We’ll make allowances.  

I will say at least this episode is not as abysmally biring as last week’s episode.  

Leah finally giving Pope the throat punch he’s been asking for but I’m not fooled she’s on Daryl’s side here.  She’s always been on her own side.  

Look at Father G returning the favor for Maggie saving him in the tower.  Taking Deaver down!  Poor Deaver barely saw the light of day.  

Here comes that woman scorned part.  I can feel it.  

“Pope is dead.  Dixon murdered him.  He’s with the enemy.”  

Please, Angela.  I’m begging you.  Bring Carol into this story and ramp it the fuck up.  You been idling too damn long and the car is fast running outta gas.  

Bitch really has to die to framing Carol’s Pookie.  

Rosita and Lydia and Carol and Connie and Kelly and Magna have literally been holding up this damn show while Angela farts around with the Reapers bullshit.  Honorable mention goes to Aaron but these lovely, badass ladies been putting in the real work and not getting any of the glory.  You just know they’re tired AF.  

Not my babies Lydia and Judith being the cliffhanger!  Oh and Gracie.  Angela?!  A word.  

Listen.  Carol’s already done that fireworks trick.  That Reaper dude owes her royalties.  Granted, it was on a smaller scale but much more impressive for it because she was left to be the sharpshooter.  

Angela has a point.  It is kind of cool how Team Family have learned from their enemies and assimilated their useful points into their own cache of knowledge.  

I truly feel like the Leah/Reaper storyline would have benefitted from a much stronger actress.  Just saying.  

I know Judith annoys some with her precociousness but Cailey just keeps teeing off on what they give her and personally?  I feel she’s so very talented and light years beyond her little acting counterparts so it still works.  

“They’re never gonna choose each other over the people that they’ve loved and fought for because they simply cannot really trust each other.  There’s sort of, like a toxicity at the base of that relationship.”  Straight from Angela’s mouth.  

“At the end of the day, Daryl chose his family.”  Yeah, he did.  That “I belong with you” shit only happened when he felt they were all gone, including the one he loved above all others--Carol.  Fight me.  

Overall impression of the episode?  

On its own, disregarding how much I can’t help resenting how much time I feel has been “wasted” setting this story up, it was much more entertaining than Episode 7 which was only epic in that it was an epic bore.  There was still too much focus on the Reapers when I just just kept wanting to see what was happening at ASZ.  I mean, they cheated us out of Carol and Connie and Kelly working together. Of Aaron and Magna.  Call it personal preference coloring my opinions if you want, but the characters I care about feel like they’ve been shown the backseat for this self-indulgent exploration of Angela’s OC and her version of self-insert FF with Daryl Dixon.  If we can return to Team Family?  The whole Team Family and not just Maggie and Co. against the world?  You’ve got me.  If not?  Well.  You’ll keep losing me by degrees and you don’t want to do that on the final season.  

Anyway.  The ASZ parts were my favorites per usual.  The episode could have used a lot more of those.  

[ficsforfundota]

Alpha!Rick Grimes x Omega!Daryl Dixon

A Christmas to Remember

————

Daryl woke to the scent of cooking pancakes and bacon. He rolled to the side with a wide smile on his face, he slowly got up and headed out towards the kitchen seeing his mate and pup busy cooking.

“Well good morning.” Daryl smiled as he stepped into the kitchen.

“Morning momma! Dad said when we finish breakfast we can open gifts!!” The young alpha was exceedingly excited about the gifts sitting under the tree.

“Your dads right,” he smiled and sat down at the table as the last pancake was flipped. They sat together and ate. Carl excitement wafting off of him, the young pup was trying hard to contain himself as he gulped his orange juice waiting patiently for his parents to complete their meals.

Daryl and Rick smiled at one another and finished themselves before heading off to sit around the tree, Carl was sitting awaiting the okay to start opening gifts.

Daryl looked to Rick and Rick smiled. “Go ahead son.”

Carl smiled as he began to unwrap gifts wildly. “Wow! A bow just like mom!” The pup squeal as he opened the largest gift.

“Now you have to listen to your mom, alright? He’s going to help you learn how to shoot it and use it properly. If you don’t listen when you’re using it then we will have to put it away till you’re older you understand?”

“Yes dad.” Carl said as he lifted the bow. Daryl couldn’t help but beam at the sight of his boy and the bow.

“Look at him, he’s growing up so fast.” Daryl smiled remembering the day they rushed to the hospital and had him, feeding him, his first day of school. Trips with the family, he remembered it all and tried not to cry watching his son.

“He really is.” Rick smiled, he had similar memories and loved every minute of it.

“I will teach you, I promise. Then we can go hunting together. Dad can come too if he wants. Maybe your uncle Merle can come along.”

Rick shivered, Merle.

He did have to admit a single thank you to the old bastard. If he hasn’t arrested him that day he would have never met Daryl.

“Or not.” Carl said seeing his dad grimace. Daryl laughed, he knew that Rick didn’t like his brother very much. He didn’t have a love or hate relationship with his brother, their relationship was essentially nothing but he liked seeing Rick’s reaction to it. Rick kissed Daryl’s forehead then Carl’s as he handed them each a gift.

“Open them together.” Rick said.

The two nodded and opened the gifts at the same time. They each had a T-Shirt that matched the other, Rick pulled one out as well.

Grand Canyon.

“We are going to take a trip to the Grand Canyon when all the snow melts.” Rick smiled, the pup grinned excitedly and Daryl smiled.

“Really? We are finally doing that trip.”

“Yes, I already took time off from work.”

Daryl smiled, they had been talking about it for a while now, and he was happy to see they were finally going to do it.

Rick grinned as more gifts were exchanged. Daryl couldn’t help but smile seeing his family together. Holidays were usually extremely tough, but with Rick and Carl that sad feeling he got around them were gone.

The family enjoyed their time together, Carl played with his toys and chased his father around. Daryl sat back with a sigh of relief, this was his happy little family. He hoped it would grow bigger, and that he would get to enjoy more Christmas’s with them.

This was the best day he had had in a long time and he couldn’t wait for their trip to the Grand Canyon or for the hunting trips he’d have with Carl after they practice with that bow.

They enjoyed some hot chocolate and a Christmas movie snuggled into the couch together. Carl laid in his mother’s lap while Daryl snuggled into his mate. This was a good day, and it would be one to remember.

[gertstarlight]

Random hournite headcannons that i just declared canon

- beth sat shotgun in 1x12 (and no idc if yvette was sitting in the front seat in that one bts video BETH. SITTING. SHOTGUN. IS. CANON.)

- since rick fixed up the mustang, he drives to beth’s house every morning and they drive to school together while listening to oldies 

- also beth packs breakfast for her and rick to eat in the car which she usually has to feed him while he’s driving but at red lights he would scarf down a whole taco

- beth wants to ride her bike to school so she convinces rick to get his own but he’s too embarrassed to tell her that he never learned to ride a bike (his parents never got the chance to teach him and his uncle never cared enough to teach him) so beth makes it her personal mission to teach him how to ride it

- to keep practicing, beth suggests they ride their bikes to school once a week instead of the car (and chuck plays music cuz he's basically a boombox at this point)

- they bake stuff together!! It starts off w rick just sitting on the counter, flipping through mrs.chapel’s cookbooks but he joins beth and starts by mixing batter

- rick tries to be the bestest boyfriend of the year so in senior year when beth gets accepted to her dream school, he makes her a whole dinner and they drink ginger ale in her parent’s wine glasses to feel cool (one of them definitely drops a glass and they replace it with one from pat and barbara)

- they show up at the garage to help pat w some jsa desk work but they also use that time to actually finish their homework (shhh im manifesting pre-relationship study dates w lots of pining)