#wish i could sketch their tool belts so easily

[cartoonqtpie]

I've started watching Fraggle Rock and it's very obvious who my favorite characters are already-

[depressedacadamia]

5 times Leo hit on Calypso as her Barista and one time it worked

Word Count: 3.8K

Summary: Coffee Shop AU! Calypso is running late one day so she ends up going to a coffee shop- what she doesn’t expect is for her barista to be Bad boy supreme

Later on in this fic, they sing this song.

Warnings?: Not much, terrible pick up lines, mainly fluff, making out.

A/N:  This took me so long but alas, here it is! This is kinda my first official fluff and I tried okay. Anyway, enjoy, comment, share, like- you know the drill. <3 from moi!

The 1st Thursday

Calypso was not happy with the line she was waiting in. She was running late and thus was at a coffee shop- somewhere she preferred not to go. The weather was terrible, grey skies as well as heavy rain that had Calypso drenched. The stupid forecast hadn’t predicted the rain and thus she had left her apartment without an umbrella nor raincoat. 

The coffee shop was small but cute, she had to admit. The staff seemed small but efficient and within a few minutes, Calypso found herself at the front of the line, face to face with a boy with rich dark tan skin and the most dazzling smile she had ever seen. He had long dimples and his dark curly hair would flop over his face in a cute manner.

“Hi, Welcome to Steamy Beans Coffee. I’m Super sized Mcshizzle and I will be taking your order today, do you have your order ready?” He looked up at the girl in front of him and immediately, his lips stretched into a lazy and goofy smile. She frowned at the nickname but internally she wanted to laugh, even his name badge read Super Sized Mcshizzle- Who called themselves that?

“Can I get a cappuccino with 2 espresso shots, please.” She reached into her bag to pull out her purse while the boy at the counter hummed and tapped at the machine in front of him.

“What kind of milk?” He looked up again, cheekily smiling as if he had something planned.

“Uh, almond is fine.”

“And your name?” He asked, pulling out a marker. Before she could answer, he cut in.

“Does your name start with a C-”

“-Actually it doe-” 

 “-Because I can C us together.” 

Calypso resisted the urge to smile and instead raised an eyebrow at the horribly cheesy pick up line. Despite this, she was a bit impressed- Her name did technically start with a C.

“Calypso. That’s my name,” She told him as she walked away from the counter and sat at one of the stalls, waiting for her name to be called out. 

The 2nd Thursday

Somehow, Calypso found herself queuing outside the same coffee shop the next Thursday. Whilst she told herself it was because the coffee was perfect, it was truly to see the brown haired grinning boy who had served her last week. Pick up lines weren’t really her poison, but he wasn’t creepy and even she had to admit it- He was cute. 

As the queue grew shorter, she grabbed her purse ready to pay. She had subconsciously chosen to wear better clothes and style her hair today. Was it a stupid decision to wear white when drinking coffee? Absolutely. But Calypso was 100% willing to take the risk. 

“Hi, welcome to Steamy Beans Coffee. I’m Bad Boy Supreme and I will be taking your order today, do you have an order ready?” The boy looked up, with his hair flopping about. He had rolled his sleeves up and Calypso, who wasn’t about to get caught, quickly averted her eyes elsewhere. She noticed that his name had changed- so had his badge. Did he have a collection of these names? She’d have to ask him next time.

Oh, so there will be a next time, huh? She asked herself. 

Shut up. 

“Oh. Calypso, right? Same as last time?” He asked as he hovered his finger over the machine.

“Oh, yeah. Cappuccino please.” 

As she waited for her name to be called out, she pulled out her sketchbook and started sketching the cute barista. From his elf like ears to his slanted chocolate eyes and the funny curl that went in the complete opposite direction of his hair earning him a messy hair look. It was only a basic sketch but it had outlined him. 

“Cappuccino for Calypso?” a familiar voice called out. She was slightly surprised to find her Barista also handing off her coffee but she also quite flattered. Or maybe she was just overthinking this. He could easily just have switched around for a friend- it can’t have been just for her.

“Thanks,” she murmured as she reached into her purse, trying to find the appropriate change in her purse. 

“You and I are like nachos with jalapeños. I'm super cheesy, you're super hot, and we belong together.” The pick up line rolled off his tongue as he leant over the counter separating them. He had a smirk that made Calypso immediately lose her strong front and spill her change all over the counter.

“What?!” she sputtered as her eyes darted to the change. She managed to scoop most of it into her arms without looking too much like a fool. She quickly grabbed her coffee and made her way out of the shop as fast as she possibly could, hoping she didn’t look as ridiculous as she thought she did. 

The 3rd Thursday

“You don’t understand, last time the pick up line was creepy. She probably thinks I’m a weirdo now!” Leo groaned as he slammed his head on the counter beside his friend Will who always worked the same shift as him. Unfortunately, Will did not get to witness what Leo kept on describing as ‘a catastrophe’. 

“She won’t come in today, I bet. Ugh, I really screwed up.” 

“It really can’t have been that bad!” Will argued, dragging Leo by the arm to the front counter. 

“I said You and I are like nachos with Jalapenos. I’m super cheesy, you’re super hot and we belong together.”

Will cringed. “Okay, that is bad.”

Calypso could not believe she was coming back to the coffee shop. The previous pick up line was terrible, in fact it was almost as bad as the ‘I’m here, what are your other two wishes’ pick up line that a creepy person had used on her earlier but in all honesty it wasn’t the barista that was the problem. It was the fact that she could not crush over someone with pickup lines as bad as those. This time, she had decided to use her card to pay so she wouldn’t have to deal with spilt change everywhere. 

“Hi, welcome to Steamy Beans Coffee. I’m Commander tool Belt- that’s because my major is engineering and I fixed the old coffee machine- how can I help you?” The curly haired boy in front of her said miserably while slumped behind the counter with his face practically leaning on the machine.  

“I was hoping for the usual?” Her meek voice came out questioning. Leo’s head shot off the counter, almost slamming into the machine. 

“Wow… uh cappuccino again?” 

“Yep…” she searched for something to say. “So engineering major huh?” 

“Mhmm. I like making things I guess. What about you?” 

“Natural sciences. I was going to do art but I guess plants and animals are more of my poison.” She shrugged. 

“You can draw?” he asked, his voice peaking interest and turning around slightly. 

“Yes, why do you sound so surprised at that?” 

He batted his hand. “Oh nothing, just something we have in common.” He then winked and Calypso had to do everything she could to not react. She stood in front of the counter, waiting for her coffee but saw that her barista was screwing his eyes up and writing something on a cup. She wanted to pull out her sketchbook and draw the cute face he was pulling, leaning back and holding the cup in front of him as if it were an invention he had never seen. 

“Cappuccino for Calypso!” A sing-song voice that could only be her barista called out. She had to admit, his voice was not bad. In fact, it was quite impressive and it had a nice harmonious tune to it. 

“Thank you…” she said in a suspicious tone, as she swiped her card over the contactless payment machine. Her barista was suspiciously silent and she had yet to hear a terrible pick up line. He had a mischievous smile as if he had set something on fire and not told anyone anything about it. As she picked up her coffee, she noticed a lot more black marker on the cup and held it away from her face to read it.

Are you made of Copper and tellurium? Because you are CuTe.

She wanted to face palm at such a classic science pun but she was also impressed that he knew elements of the periodic table so easily. She let out a small laugh to let him know that she had noticed the pick up line before she took a small sip and smiled. 

The 4th Thursday

“I’m telling you, she actually laughed at the line! That’s a good thing right?” Leo asked as he put on his apron. 

“And I’m telling you, if you want her to go out with you, hit her with a star wars pun,” Will ugred while tying his apron behind his back.

“You’re obsessed with star wars.”

“Hey, it worked for me and Nico!” Will pointed out as they made their way to the counter.

“Sun boy, we all know you and Mr Debbie Downer did not get together over Star Wars pick up lines,” Leo argued. 

Calypso was running late. She hated being late. It was like slowly ticking off the boxes for panic 101. She was wearing mismatched socks, had the wrong books for class and the laces of her shoes were untied. At least the line was significantly shorter than usual and while normally that would have made Calypso question the occasion, she was too much in a rush to truly care.

As she ran in, she tripped over her laces and almost fell had it not been for the arms of the person in front of her. As she looked up to find her saviour, she found herself face to face with the curly brown haired boy who today wore the badge of ‘Admiral Leo’.  She thought Leo was a nice name and it suited him very well- much better than any other name would have.

“Hey, tie your shoes!” he scolded her and she was surprised by his concern over her safety. Alas, she had spoken too soon, 

“I don’t want you falling for anyone else.” he murmured, his lips right by her ear and his hot breath making goosebumps form all across her neck. He then reached down onto his knees, and did her laces. However, she noticed the manner he did them were different to how she would normally do them. 

“You know that’s how children do their laces, right?” Her hands rested on her hips as he gasped dramatically and held his hand over his heart. 

“Are you calling me a child?” 

Before she could say yes, he cut her off.

“The answer is I totally am a child because that means I can eat off the child menu,” He grinned foolishly. “Life hacks with Admiral Leo!” 

The 5th Thursday

“I’m telling you Leo- Make the Star Wars pun. Please! For me, do it for me!” Will begged as he tied Leo’s apron for him. Leo was reluctant to go with a Star Wars pun. He didn’t know if Calypso would get it or if she was into nerdy stuff like that but he was running out of ideas. He hadn’t gotten any terrible sparks of inspiration and the Star Wars inspired pun that Will had told him couldt go too badly?

Nervously, Leo waited behind the counter, his hands tapping as if he had just slapped on a nicotine patch and then glugged 6 espresso’s. In other words, Leo was anxious. If he just made the drinks without thinking about it, he could get his mind off it but when he started remembering that she may walk in at any moment, he could feel his hands shake and his stomach begin to churn. 

Calypso was very happy. She had no classes today, no research studies to deal with and she had even managed her time well enough to hang out with a friend before heading towards her newly found and now favourite coffee shop. She knew it was it because of a certain curly haired and cheekily grinning boy. 

“Hello, welcome to Steamy Beans Coffee, I’m Flaming Valdez- don’t ask please- how can I assist you today?” He once again looked up and when seeing Calypso, he recited her order before the words could come out of her mouth. 

“Cappuccino with 2 espresso shots and almond milk?” 

Calypso, a bit shocked, nodded. She could feel small butterflies forming in her stomach thinking about how Leo had memorised her order. 

Stop being silly. He probably memorises every regular’s order. 

 “Soo… Flaming Valdez… what’s the story behind that?” She asked, despite his warning. Leo tipped his head back and let out a throaty laugh that had Calypso tingling all over- How can a person have such a gorgeous laugh? How can someone look so good while laughing? 

“Oh, that’s a good story. Every year, we celebrate the owners birthday by having the shop to ourselves. No customers, just the staff chilling. Anyway, so it’s like 9pm and we’re all meant to be out because it was sunset an hour ago but instead we’re still in the shop. Everyone’s gathered right out there because your boy, Flaming Valdez, brought in Roman candles!” Leo pointed to the chairs and tables outside the shop.

“Roman candles?” Calypso asked, a tad confused. Her face scrunched up a bit and Leo almost died from how cute her face looked.

“They’re like fireworks. There’s a slight difference with how the shell explodes compared to fireworks and they are a much more traditional version of fireworks but…” He trailed off when he noticed Calypso’s confused face- he just managed to remember that she wasn’t a nerd like him and didn’t study fireworks in her freetime. 

“Anyway, Will has the red ones and I have the green ones and so we literally start shooting them at each other like we’re re-enacting Harry Potter or something!”

“What! Can’t someone get set on fire from that?”

“Well yeah actually, they can. Will shoots one at me, sparks at my hair and sets it on fire. I’m running around trying to stop my burning hair while everyone is laughing. The crowd started cheering ‘Flaming Valdez’ and since then, they’ve adopted me that name. I’ve tried to get them to change it but it seems to stick,” he laughed while making her coffee. 

“Yeah, I think I’ve seemed to notice. Super sized Mcshizzle, Bad boy supreme, Commander tool belt, Admiral Leo and today- Flaming Valdez.” She listed all the names he would wear on his badges off her fingers. However, that may have been a mistake because when she looked up, she saw Leo shooting her a sly grin that made the butterflies start going crazy in her stomach again.

“So you remember my names, huh?” 

“It’s the nice thing to do,” she defended, a blush rising on her cheeks as she reached for some napkins.

Leo took a deep breath- he couldn’t believe that he was going to use Will’s Star Wars pick up line. 

“Do you like Star Wars? Cause Yoda only one for me.” The words practically rolled off his tongue and Calypso froze before breaking in laughter. She couldn't hold it in anymore- this was by far the funniest of all the pick up lines he had used. She pulled out a pen and scribbled something down on her sketchpad before ripping it out.

Leo, distraught, watched as she laughed at the pick up line. He should have listened to his gut and never made the pick up line. Oh gosh, he looked like an absolute loser now. Who makes Star Wars puns other than nerds? He handed Calypso the coffee and watched as she quickly left.

 He noticed the sketch she had left behind, it looked oddly familiar. In fact, he could have sworn it looked just like him. She had been sketching him everytime she waited for her coffee. He traced finger gently over the outline of his face, smiling. She had drawn everything in such detail, he felt like he was looking in the mirror but at the same time he felt she had facetuned him and made him look.. Well, perfect. Did she think he needed all these faults fixed? Or was this just how she saw him? She somehow made every flaw seem gorgeous and beautiful and he didn’t know how to feel as he looked at the bottom of the sketch. 

His eyes widened as he read the note left at the bottom of the sketch. 

Hey Leonidas (your co-worker told me that). Here’s my number - 07669833256. 

P.S- Star Wars puns ALWAYS work.

Yours truly, Calypso

“Leo? Are you good?” Will stopped to ask him. 

“Star Wars puns always work- you were right,” he said starstruck. 

The Next Friday

“Mamacita, get off those tables, I need to clean them,” Leo huffed, holding a spray bottle threateningly and a cloth in his other hand. Calypso, giggling and giddy hopped off the table. She watched as Leo quickly sprayed it down before wiping it. 

“Are you checking me out?” Leo’s smug voice cut through Calypso’s thoughts, snapping her out of mind. Her initial reaction was to stutter and wildly deny it however today at 7pm, she felt more bold than usual and decided to tease him a bit.

“So what if I was?” 

Leo almost froze at the bold response, not expecting the reaction from her. They’d been officially going out for one week and so far, Calypso had been quite shy. A kiss on the cheek here and there, a bit of innocent flirting but no one had really openly confessed their feelings. It was obvious to everyone around them that they liked each other but they seemed determined to have the other say it first. 

“Well if you were… " He turned around to see her smirking with both hands on her hips. He was not losing to Calypso- he would make her confess her feelings first if it was the last thing he did. She sat herself on the counter behind her and beckoned Leo forward with her finger. He raised an eyebrow at the bold move but obliged. 

Leo stood between Calypso’s thighs, his hands slipping around her waist. Their faces were close enough that if Calypso and Leo both moved their head slightly forward, they’d be kissing. Funnily enough, they both had started eating mints and chewing gum whenever they’d be with each other as if they were planning the moment. 

“I still can’t believe those pick up lines worked,” Calypso sighed, her hands moving onto Leo’s shoulders, comfortably rubbing them back and forth. 

“Bad Boy supreme is very much offended by those comments.”

“Nu uh. Ever since that blond co-worker of yours told me that your full name is Leonidas...” She paused to unsuccessfully hold in a small laugh. “...That your name is Leonidas, it’s been Leonidas and it will always be Leonidas to me.”

“Not even Leo?” He asked, his eyes entering puppy eyes mode. Calypso remained unimpressed and shook her head. Their eyes locked and they could feel each other's thoughts. Just as their heads were leaning in,the radio behind the counter bugged out and static started blaring everywhere. Calypso wanted to curse god- of coure something just had  to ruin the moment. Immediately, the two students shoved their hands over their ears and Leo jumped over the counter to quickly fix the horrendous noise. A few minutes later, About Love  by Marina started softly playing through the cafe’s speakers. 

The moment seemed like it was manufactured for a movie. The beautiful sunset on the horizon, the romantic music and most of all, Leo’s playful smile as he held his hand out asking Calypso to dance. She, of course, accepted and the two twirled about in each other's arms. They weren’t very good and they kept on stepping on each other's toes but eventually they got into a position where Leo’s hands were wrapped around her waist and Calypso’s arms were thrown around Leo’s neck. 

Leo watched as Calypso closed eyes and softly sang the words to the song under her breath. 

“Started in the strangest way, didn’t see it coming.”

Leo started singing with her, ���My head gets messy when I try to hide.”

“The things I love about you in my mind” Their voices were harmonious and in sync. 

“I don’t really know a lot about love, a lot about love, a lot about love but you’re in my head, you’re my blood and it feels so good, it hurts so much.” Calypso had her head leaning on Leo’’s chest and she could hear the steady thumping of his heart quicken.

“Shall I take this as your confession of love to me?” He murmured into her hair. Calypso shot her head up so fast that she almost butted Leo in the chin. 

“Hell no, Leonidas.” 

Yet, as she said those words, her face leaned upwards towards Leo with her intense gaze falling to his lips. They looked soft, supple even and she felt so tempted to reach out and brush them. In fact, she felt so tempted to touch them that she didn’t even notice her actual hand reaching out to brush against his bottom lip. 

Leo had to physically restrain himself from shivering when he felt Calypso’s finger brush over his bottom lip, dragging it back slightly before slowly setting her hand at the side of his face. Slowly, like they were two magnets slowly attracting each other, they leaned in. When they were practically breathing in each other's face, Leo decided to spring one more pick up line on Calypso. 

“Did you know that my lips are skittles?” Leo cut in quickly. Calypso quickly frowned, not catching on. Leo continued, “ And you’re about to taste the rainbow.”

Calypso groaned, throwing her head back while Leo giggled to himself. Sick of chasing each other, Calypso grabbed Leo’s face with both her hands and smashed her lips into his, abruptly shutting him up. To say Leo was surprised would be the understatement of the year. He was in a true state of panic, thinking what he should do with his hands, his lips, his entire being. Her lips moved against his, encouraging him. He wrapped his hands around her waist, both of them moving up her back, pulling her into the kiss. 

They pulled away for a brief second, looking each other in the eye before slamming their lips back together. Had anyone walked in on them, it would have only been appropriate to say that they were devouring each other- their lips pushed and their hands pulled. Their lips moved in sync and Calypso weaved her hands into Leo’s curls. It was demonically passionate as their tongues slipped across each other's lips. The heat of the kiss spread across Calypso’s face- the blush was so obvious, she felt like her lips were on fire. Nothing could have stopped them, not even if the entire world was on fire. 

As they pulled away, Calypso had one more trick up her sleeve. 

“As far I’m concerned, the rainbow tasted pretty damned good,” She remarked, referencing to Leo’s previous pick up line. 

[dstudiouk]

Weekly Studio Spotlight - Lucy Michelle

This week we’re talking to the lovely Lucy Michelle. Lucy works in a super cool visual effects role full time AND creates beautiful artwork on the side of that. Our Q&A with Lucy was great, it was so nice chatting about her work, her job & a £10 milk frother... 😁we hope you enjoy it too! 

What are your biggest inspirations?

What's around me and the experiences I've had, Japanese and East Asian culture and also - plants! I take a lot of inspiration from films, especially with cinematography so phenomenal that you can pause it and the still frame looks like it could be its own work of art. I've always been a huge enthusiast of anything animation; the artistry and skill is incredible and most of the time it moves me to tears - even if it is a happy film!

How did you start your art career?

It's hard to see where the line can be drawn from taking my illustration as a hobby to something that actually generates an income. One day I started drawing a lot and posting it online and suddenly I reached a point where people wanted to pay me to do illustration for them and buy my artwork - it's still hard to believe and I am so grateful for it. It is still my part-time job though as I actually work as a software developer for visual effects (and so the film nerdiness continues).

What is your favourite piece that you have created?

This one (Appa, pictured below) for sure, I am sure dStudio has gotten tired of printing it so much by now! It's my most successful piece by far and a tribute to one of my favourites series. This series is one that has brought me hope and happiness, especially in the year we have had. To have been able to share this artwork with people across the world has been amazing and I have loved how it has brought me closer to so many people who I have never met in person before. It’s also served as a reminder that I can work on things that I love and find success in it as well.

Credit: Lucy Michelle

Which art tools could you not live without?

My Wacom Cintiq - having a device that I could sketch directly onto was a game changer after a decade of using a tablet. Maybe an iPad and Procreate is next on the cards for me?

What are your biggest challenges with your work?

They say that the great artists must first master the rules in order to be able to break them. I feel like I've barely scratched the surface of understanding the rules. My work exists in a fuzz of trying to create images from my mind but still have them tethered to a reality that makes sense, by using a lot of references. I wish I could more easily conjure up pieces in my head and splatter them directly down without being reliant on so much source material. 

Credit: Lucy Michelle

Would you rather live near a forest or by the sea?

I just spent two weeks in open water sailing off the Ionian Islands of Greece ... so I'm going to have to say sea! I have discovered there is nothing more freeing than floating in clear blue water and gazing up at the sky.

What was the last great movie you watched?

Untouchable, for a second time - still one of my favourite films of all time.

How do you like to relax when you're not working?

I've really gotten into the habit of walking more, it's a great way to move the body and clear the mind.

Credit: Lucy Michelle

What is the best thing about being an artist?

Here is this blank canvas in front of you, do whatever you want! (it also makes it the scariest thing about being an artist too)

What do you like to watch / listen to when you're working?

It really varies: sometimes it is a series on Netflix of the sort you can easily have running in the background or sometimes it is random suggested videos on Youtube. I should listen to more audiobooks!

What has been one of your biggest achievements in life?

When I was 16 I told people that one day I would work on movies. Fast forward to now I have a few Hollywood films under my belt and my first movie credit was Avengers: Infinity Wars - it still stuns me a bit I can say that.

Credit: Lucy Michelle

What's the best purchase you've ever made?

I've jokingly said it was the 10 quid handheld milk frother I bought for the specific purpose of whipping up my creamy ice coffees in the morning and not going to lie, I feel like that still holds true.

Credit: Lucy Michelle

Thank you to Lucy for taking part, supplying us with some of her artwork to show you all & for taking the time to chat with us. Please do go and check out Lucy’s work on her website and socials! 💛 

Lucy Michelle - Website

Lucy Michelle - Instagram

Lucy Michelle - Etsy

Lucy Michelle - Fy

[ficdirectory]

The Fosters: My Thoughts on Episode 3x15 "Minor Offenses"

Help Kids Like Me Find a Home They Deserve:  Wow, this whole PSA makes me super uncomfortable.  I can easily see how Callie would feel like this is a good thing and get caught up in it, not necessarily seeing the problem areas or realizing she is essentially being exploited.  She’s so proud of it, and wants Moms to be proud, too.

You’re Endorsing a Bill We Know Nothing About:  Yes, Stef.  Question that.

Wanting to Read the Bill That You’re Being Used to Support Is Not Being Suspicious, Callie.  It’s Being Smart:  Right, Stef?  I love that she doesn’t back down from these types of situations and can hold her ground with the kids, even post surgery.  And I love that it does not escape Moms at all that Callie IS being used.

After All The Nice Stuff You Guys Did For Me:  Again.  Family meeting (this time where AJ is apologizing for taking off with Ty) and Jesus is the only one not seated.  This time he’s standing.  It makes me sad to see AJ so sad, but I love that Mike encouraged him to do this.  And I love how Mariana tells Ty that “We get it.  Family is everything.”

That Was Really Brave/Which Part?  Ooh.  AJ’s not ready to forgive himself or Callie yet.

I Told You To Stay Away From Me:  The conversation Gabe and the construction guys are having here is so telling.  Gabe is telling them how slow work is and that it’s drying up for him.  He asks if everyone else is keeping busy.  When Jesus approaches, it’s all about the nonverbal communication: Gabe snags him by the front of the hoodie but Jesus won’t have it, and pulls away.

I Don’t Want Anything From You:  Jesus said this yesterday, but obviously he treasured that toolbelt.  Watching him throw it back at Gabe is so sad.  Also, this time on Shirt Watch - nothing of note.  BUT his necklace is some kind of shark tooth.  Feeling aggressive today, apparently.  :(

You Owe Me:  Um.  No, Nick.  Mariana does not owe you anything for postponing your fry date for two weeks because she was there for her mom while she recovered from surgery.  It hit me yesterday, after I watched Nick make the gross knee pad comment, just how much of Mariana and Jesus’s actions are due to the rejection of their bio parents.  Mariana has so little self worth that she says she’ll date Nick, and doesn’t seem concerned at all by him now saying she owes him.

It Could Be Perceived That We Are Also Funding Your Thesis, Which Is Against The Rules: Good catch, Lena.

Who Cares?/I Do!  I Care!  I’m loving that Mariana finds Jesus in some kind of art class where he’s sketching.  I wish I could make out what exactly he’s drawing but it looks like some kind of tunnel or darkness surrounding whatever the details are in the middle.  I like that Mariana’s aware that Jesus missed first period and that she pushes to know where he went.  He keeps so much in that it’s only with a push from Mariana that Jesus admits to going to give Gabe the tool belt back because he didn’t want it anymore, and because he wanted Gabe to know that Jesus knew what he did.

You Know They’re Really Proud of You, Right?/I Guess.  They’re So Annoying:  Hahaha!  I’m with Rita.  I love that Callie is comfortable enough to voice her real feelings now instead of keeping so much in.  I also love that Rita doesn’t hesitate to tell Callie what she knows about Justina and the foster care reform bill.

Is Everything Okay?  I think Stef’s trying to ask you why you’re changing clothes behind a door, Lena…

This Is Not Me Giving You a Parental Warning That You Can Just Ignore.  I Want to Hear You Say Yes:  Love that Mariana knows when to go to Moms, and tell them what’s going on with Jesus and Gabe.  And what she found out regarding him being on the registry.  I love that Stef makes sure to speak to both of them about how serious it is, and that it is a private conversation in Moms’ room, and the other kids aren’t in on it.  I also love the picture of Mariana and Jesus on Moms’ dresser <3

I’m Taking Your Sister Out Tonight/That’s Impossible.  We Have This No Dating Each Other’s Friends Policy That SHE Made:  Yeah...not a fan of those double-standards, Jesus?  Neither am I.

We’re Going to Be Late to Pick Up Lexi/Oh!  A Double-Date!  That Sounds Good:  Not to Mariana, it doesn’t.  And looks like Jesus has given Nick all the WRONG advice as to how to impress her.  Starting with that hideous hat.

This All Just Blows Up The System/Because It Needs To Be Blown Up:  Well...that’s really comforting, Justina.  I am glad to know Callie read the bill and that red flags went up for her.  

I Threw Up a Couple Times/That Kinda Makes Your Dad Sound Like a Jerk:  The first real insight we have into Nick’s personal life, and it’s not reassuring.  

When I First Came To Live Here, You Told Me I Wasn’t Disposable.  So Why Is Ty?  Why, indeed.  And of course Callie would remember being told that by Stef. It was likely the first time since she’d been in the system that someone told her anything like that.  I love that she doesn’t hesitate to stand up for Ty.

Get Back In The Car?/Screw You! ��You Wanna Kill Somebody?  It Ain’t Gonna Be Us:  YES LADIES!  Jesus, goading Nick into drag racing is not your finest moment.  You need to find another outlet for your pain.

You Know What’s Better Than a Knife?  A Spoon!  I was fastforwarding through all the Brandon and Cortney but stopped a little short and heard Brandon say this to Mason, LOL.

If I Had Had The Experiences He Has With the Justice System…  I’m so glad Stef went to court to speak on Ty’s behalf.

All Thanks to Monte!/Are You Gonna Dig The Holes For Her, Too?  This Is Totally Inappropriate:  Right, Lena?  Monte needs to step back from her overinvolvement with Sally and her senior project.

Have a Seat:  And even talking with Mariana, Moms and Ana, Jesus does not want to sit down.  When Stef insists, Jesus sits on the step right at the periphery of the room, away from everyone.

I Didn’t Want You Guys to Know You Came From a Junkie and a Drug Dealer.  I Didn’t Want That To Be Your Story:  I feel like there is SO MUCH TRUTH in what Ana says here.  And how many parents don’t tell kids the truth to spare them.  According to Jesus and Mariana’s faces, though, I think the truth is always preferable, from a kid’s point of view.

Since When Do You Turn Away to Change Your Clothes/I Feel a Little Guilty:  I love these real conversations between Stef and Lena.  Dealing with real issues after a traumatic surgery that really altered Stef’s body.  I love that Stef can reassure Lena that she is okay.

I Can Feel You Right There.  For The Record, You’re Not What Makes Me Feel Worse, You’re What Makes Me Feel Better:  SO BEAUTIFUL, STEF!  I’M SO HAPPY FOR YOU <3

Why Wouldn’t You See Me In Juvie/I Was Embarrassed:  I love this insight into AJ.  

I’m Not Your Father and I Never Will Be:  No matter what - no matter how they hurt us - we will always keep coming back to our parents - asking them to love us.  Hoping that they will.  Even if they’ve proven that’s not something they can do.  That rejection runs so deep in adopted kids, and I’m so glad to see it portrayed on screen in a way that feels so honoring and real.  And I’m sorry for Jesus that just keeps getting rejected over and over. :(

For more: Fosters Recaps

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Paetrix Nix

Full Name: Paetrix Kerredice Hayra Nix (Pay-tricks Care-a-dice Hay-ra Nicks)

NickName(s): Nix, Trixy, Trix

Age: 26

Race: Half nymph/half metal sprite 

Height: 4′10″

Eye color: One neon green and one gun metal grey 

Hair: Dark green, super short, almost a buzz-cut (basically just long enough that you can still see color but that’s about it)

Abilities: Creating weapons and armor, weaving magic into the weapons and armor she creates, being really fucking fast, major heat resistance thanks to metal sprite heritage (can stick her hand in a fire and it’s fine basically), heals really quick, really nice voice.

Weapons: Anything she can hold basically, she’s at least somewhat proficient in almost all hand weapons (she prefers small ones though as she is fast and also a smol bean) 

Job: Armor and weapon making

Personality: Loud as hell (”Whattdya mean I’m not whispering? I’m quiet as fuck!” yelled as anyone who ever points out that she couldn’t whisper to save her life), loves dirty jokes more than life itself some days (if you have delicate sensibilities avoid her like the plague as she will make you turn bright red and possibly faint, it’s happened before, is actually chill as hell most of the time and takes a while to anger (unless those she cares about are threatened, then duck and cover cause she’s a scary bitch), sarcasm is her second language (swears are the third), totally loyal to those she calls friend (will still kick your ass if you do stupid shit even if you’re her friend), a generally grounded and solid person, can and does spend hours just cleaning the weapons in her work area because it’s how she relaxes and will also spend hours just designing new armor and weapons because it’s one of the few things she can focus on for more than five seconds without going nuts, fidgets a lot (taps her fingers and her foot, jiggles her leg, makes weird noises, talks a mile a minute), so basically hella ADHD, hides in her workshop when overwhelmed and just breathes in the familiar smells and runs her hands over her tools and looks over her designs until she’s calm again, likes naps (usually in her workroom...or on the deck...or in hallways...she naps in weird places), doesn’t know how to comfort people effectively and usually offers to get whoever is upset a cookie and pats them on the shoulder (or alternatively offers to kill whoever upset her friend), easily distracted, cheats at card games, gives excellent cuddles when in the mood for them, laughs really loudly and often (sometimes at whatever joke she tells herself in her head because she thinks she’s really funny), talks a lot or not all there is no in between.

Physical description: Smol bean with well-muscled arms and legs and back and a chubby tummy, buzz-cut that she’s had forever because she got tired of her hair getting in the way (has to cut it all the damn time cause nymphs have fast growing hair and she hates it), rough hands with calluses and scars (she loves them because they show how hard she works), pale as fuck with faint shimmer to her skin when light hits it (stupid nymph DNA), tiny dual-pointed ears (like they’re pointed at the top and then there’s a little secondary rounded point on the side just below the tip), small feet that she almost always has bare because shoes suck, prefers fitted tops that don’t get in her way (she owns basically nothing but tank tops and shirts with the sleeves cut off) and looser fitted cargo-type pants with a billion pockets for her tools and such, always has her tool belt on, wears fingerless gloves a lot when not working at her forge, always has a bandanna either in her back pocket or on her head to keep sweat out of her eyes when she’s working, carries a little sketchbook and notebook and pencil around with her to sketch or write down new ideas when they hit or she forgets them, likes black and army green and camouflage and bright red and blue, runs her hand over her hair when she’s nervous, bites her lip or sticks her tongue out slightly between her teeth when thinking or working on her designs, perpetually chapped and bitten lips, scars everywhere (lots on her arms and hands), eyes always alert and glancing around, doesn’t sleep enough or sleeps too much, almost always has snacks in her pockets and yet still forgets to eat some days (or eats way too much by accident), loves her chubby tummy most days but is insecure other days, constantly cracker her joints (usually her fingers and neck but everything else too), arm wrestles everyone and usually wins, is deceptively strong (could kick the ass of someone twice her size probably without weapons) but is also hella fast on her feet and rather acrobatic when she wants to be.

Back Story:

Nix was found as a baby by a human blacksmith named Vladik while he was walking into town to go to work, she had been left just off the forest path in a baby basket with a note with her name and her species and her birth date on it in fancy writing and Vladik basically just went “Well this is my baby now I guess” and took her to his shop. The people of the little village he called home had all known each other forever and they all pitched in to help him raise Nix as he was totally new at being a father. Nix (who prefers Nix or Trixy to Paetrix) had a happy life in the village, it was like having a huge family and she loved it and they loved her. They never did discover who her birth parents were and to be honest Nix never really cared. Vladik started training her at a young age to be a blacksmith and she picked it up insanely fast and soon they learned that she could weave magic into the metal without even trying and he was so proud of her for how hard she worked then to not only learn his trade but also how to properly use and control her magic and he always made sure to tell her that. Nix always knew that she was adopted because Vladik never tried to hide it from her at all (He’d always say “Trixy you’re my kid regardless of how I came to have you and I love you no matter what, never forget that.”) he loved her as his own until the day he died. Nix grew up always feeling feeling a little weird in her own skin, some days she was totally good to look in the mirror and see her long hair braided over her shoulder and her delicate face smiling and some days she hated looking at herself at all and eventually when she was about 11 she talked to Vladik about it and he was totally freaked that his baby might not like herself and he got Nix to talk to his most trusted friend who just happened to be the local baker/ town mom, her name was Sylva and she loved Nix like crazy. So Nix explained it all to Sylva and Sylva being the smart lady she was helped Nix figure out that the reason she felt like this was because she wasn’t totally a girl (Sylva described it like “Some days you feel as though your body is perfect for you, like it’s where you belong and others you feel like it;s not really your body at all because maybe you feel as though on those days you were meant to be in a more masculine body, or entirely in a boys body. Sound about right?” and Nix was like *star eyes* “holy hell that sounds exactly right...What do I do now?” and Sylva was like “Well we could cut your hair shorter if that would help and me and some of the others can make you some more masculine clothes and use male pronouns for you when you ask us too.” and Nix started crying cause she was happy and a little scared to tell people of course.) So with her newfound identity Nix felt better and after she cute her hair shorter the first time she wanted it all off so she could work easier and because it made her feel good. Vladik started calling her Trix instead of Trixy on boy days cause the Trixy felt a little too girly for her and the town was totally accepting of her and her identity. When Nix was about 20 Vladik passed away (at about 80) peacefully in his sleep and it devastated her, she closed down the blacksmith shop and refused to leave their house for weeks after the funeral. When she finally did leave it was to say goodbye to everyone in town because she’d decided that she was going to leave town and explore the world that Vladik had never gotten to see in honor of his wish that she find her happiness wherever and however she could. After a bit of wandering Nix stopped in a little port town to get some extra money working for the local blacksmith and Glory happened to stop in to get her sword repaired and she was so enamored with Nix’s work that she offered her a position on her crew and Nix wanted to see the world so she accepted and within a year she had re-worked an empty cabin into a functioning blacksmith workroom complete with forge (magic is a dandy thing isn’t it). Glory and crew accepted Nix’s identity and pronouns changes and everything super easily (pretty laid back and accepting pirates tbh) and totally enveloped her into the family before she even knew what was happening and Nix had zero problems with it.