#you elegant giraffe

[anotherdescentintomadness]

Happy Debut Anniversary, Xiao Zhan!

I cannot overstate how much my life has changed since discovering this man’s existence and the existence of his amazing work. Thank you, Xiao Zhan, for sharing your wonderful art with us.

Get Prints Here

[not-magdi]

-rompers, strollers and so much more / lando norris

Warnings: none just some fluff

Words: 907

Reading Time: 3 min 37 sec

A/N

This could be seen as a part two to the first story but this can also be read as a stand-alone.

Part one (if anyone is interested)

Hope you enjoy reading it !

The golden Monaco sun bathed the cobblestone streets as Y/N and Lando strolled hand in hand toward the boutique baby store. Y/N’s free hand rested instinctively on her growing belly, and she couldn’t help but smile at how real everything was starting to feel. At five months pregnant, her bump was pronounced enough to draw gentle attention from passersby, and she wore it with quiet pride.

Lando gave her hand a gentle squeeze, his other hand occasionally brushing against her belly as though he couldn’t resist making a connection with their little one. “Our first official baby shopping trip,” he said, grinning. “Big day, huh?”

“It really is,” Y/N agreed, her eyes sparkling. “We’re actually buying things for her. It feels so… real now.”

“It does,” Lando replied, his grin widening. “Let’s spoil her a bit, yeah?”

When they stepped into the boutique, the pastel paradise of tiny clothes, plush toys, and elegant strollers greeted them. Y/N’s gaze darted around in awe. “This place is adorable,” she said softly, her eyes catching on a display of baby shoes no bigger than her palm.

“And overwhelming,” Lando added, scanning the room. “Where do we even start?”

Y/N laughed. “How about clothes? That seems like a safe start.”

Lando nodded and followed her to a rack of tiny onesies. He immediately pulled one out and held it up. “Okay, how about this?” he asked, showing her a white onesie with “Daddy’s Little Champion” written in gold script across the front.

Y/N laughed, shaking her head. “You’re already dreaming of her racing career, aren’t you?”

“Well, yeah,” he said, pretending to puff out his chest. Then, turning toward her bump, he crouched slightly and spoke to it. “What do you think, baby girl? You’d look great in this, wouldn’t you? It’s got a winning vibe.”

Y/N chuckled, running a hand through Lando’s curls. “You know she can’t actually answer you, right?”

Lando looked up with a playful pout. “Not yet, but I’m practicing. She’s probably nodding in there.” He kissed Y/N’s belly lightly and straightened. “We’re getting it.”

Y/N shook her head with a smile but let him toss the onesie into their shopping basket.

As they sifted through the racks, Y/N picked up a soft pink romper with tiny bunny ears on the hood. “Lando, look at this. Isn’t it the cutest thing you’ve ever seen?”

Lando reached over to feel the fabric. “That’s soft,” he said, then crouched again to talk to the bump. “What do you think, little one? Wanna be a bunny for Dad and Mum? I think you’d look pretty adorable.”

Y/N placed a hand on her bump, feeling a faint flutter of movement. Her smile widened. “I think she agrees with you.”

“See?” Lando said triumphantly. “She’s got great taste already.”

By the time they moved on from the clothes section, their basket was already brimming with pastel onesies, patterned leggings, and a knitted blanket Y/N couldn’t resist.

In the toy section, Y/N picked up a soft plush giraffe and pressed it to her cheek. “Do you think she’ll like this?”

Lando took it from her, holding it up in front of Y/N’s belly. “What do you think, baby girl? A giraffe for your room? We could name it Gerald. Gerald the Giraffe.” He made the giraffe “walk” along the shelf, pretending it was racing another toy.

“You’re such a child,” Y/N said, though her laughter betrayed how much she loved seeing his playful side.

“Hey, I’m practicing for playtime,” Lando replied, tossing the giraffe into their basket. “You’ll see. She’ll love it.”

When they reached the stroller section, they were met with rows of sleek, high-tech options. “Who knew strollers could be so complicated?” Y/N murmured, reading one of the tags. “This one says it has an all-terrain suspension system. Are we planning on taking her hiking?”

Lando crouched down to inspect the wheels. “You never know. Maybe we’ll need to get her to the track over gravel or something.”

“Of course,” Y/N said with a roll of her eyes, though she couldn’t suppress a smile.

After testing several models—and after Lando insisted on pushing each one in a short lap around the aisle to test its “maneuverability”—they settled on a sleek grey stroller that folded easily and looked modern and practical.

“This is the one,” Lando declared, patting the handle. “What do you think, baby girl? Does it pass the test?” He crouched one last time, resting a hand on Y/N’s belly. “You’ll be cruising around Monaco in style in this bad boy.”

“She’s not even born yet, and you’re already making her sound like a diva,” Y/N teased, though her voice was soft with affection.

“She deserves the best,” Lando said simply, standing and slipping an arm around Y/N’s shoulders.

As they approached the checkout counter, Y/N leaned into Lando, her hand resting on her bump. “This feels so real now,” she said softly. “Like she’s already a part of our lives.”

“She is,” Lando said, pressing a kiss to her temple. “And I can’t wait to meet her. She’s already got me wrapped around her little finger.”

They left the store with bags in hand, their hearts full as they walked down the bustling street. Every tiny onesie, every plush toy, and every little item they had picked out felt like a promise to their baby girl—a promise of love, care, and the beautiful life that was waiting for her.

---------

Don't forget to leave a note if you enjoyed it, feedback is always welcome !❤️

[platinumaspiration]

4t2 EA's SP31 Decor to the Max

It's no joke, here is the completed SP31 Décor to the Max. Only things left out were the taller versions of the wainscoting which I don't think anyone will mind.

This does include an updated Collection file + Shadow File + Walls & Floors courtesy of @lordcrumps (you only need 1 shadow file). It also includes @tvickiesims' Collage of Personality painting + Plushly Bold Rug.

Note: The Warmly Chromatic Fireplace requires the text list to be installed in Program Files: C:\Program Files (x86)\Origin Games\The Sims 2 Ultimate Collection\Double Deluxe\Base\TSData\Res\Catalog\Scripts\fireplaces I would suggest to use Scriptorium

Download - LC | SFS *If you downloaded early from LordCrumps.com, please redownload!

@sims4t2bb - thank you for all you do!

details under the cut:

Warmly Chromatic Fireplace | 12 recs | build > fireplace | functional | 742 faces The Luxurious Divide | 9 recs | deco > misc | 1960 faces Truly Fearless Wainscoting | 12 recs | deco > misc | 184 faces Geometric Giraffes | 12 recs | deco > sculpture | 381 faces Stately Plumage Sculpt | 12 recs | deco > sculpture | 840 faces Panels of Self Mirror | 9 recs | deco > mirror | 228 faces Circle of Infinity | 10 recs | deco > painting | 230 faces Explosion of Light Fixture | 12 recs | lights > ceiling | 429 faces Fringe of Elegance Light | 9 recs | lights > floor | 822 faces Maximalists Dream Sofa | 12 recs | seating > sofa | 5136 faces Sumptuous Throne for Everyday Living | 12 recs | surfaces > coffee table | 562 faces A Balanced Place for Coffee | 9 recs | seating > living chair | 744 faces A Regal Stand | 12 recs | surfaces > end table | 438 faces Bold Indulgence Hallway Table | 12 recs | surfaces > misc | 816 faces

[driverlando]

✧.* WILD HEARTS

synopsis: In which Oscar takes you on a zoo date for your birthday (Oscar Piastri x fem!reader who’s basically lilli)

authors note- this is a little something I wrote for @maxlarens for her birthday!! I hope you enjoy it Lilli, happy birthday, have the best day ever xx

You had always loved the zoo, so it was no surprise when Oscar took you to one for your birthday.

The summer sun filtered through the canopy of trees, casting dappled shadows on the winding paths. The air was filled with the earthy scent of leaves and the distant sounds of animals. Your heart felt light, your fingers interlaced with Oscar’s as you walked. His touch was warm and reassuring, grounding you in the present moment.

You wandered through the lush pathways, your pace leisurely as you took in the sights and sounds around you. At the penguin exhibit, your eyes lit up at the sight of the little creatures waddling about. Oscar’s laughter, rich and contagious, filled the air as he narrated the penguins’ imagined conversations.

“That one over there,” he said, pointing to a particularly energetic penguin, “is clearly the ringleader. Look at him bossing everyone around!”

You giggled, leaning into him. “And the one over there is definitely the mischief-maker,” you added, nodding towards a penguin attempting to steal a fish from another. The two of you stood close, your shoulders brushing, as you watched the penguins splash into the water and swim with surprising speed.

From there, you strolled into the aviary, where vibrant birds flitted about in a burst of colours. The air was alive with the sounds of chirping and the rustle of wings. Oscar paused to snap a few pictures, capturing your awestruck expression as you marvelled at a parrot that had landed nearby, its feathers a dazzling display of blues and greens.

“I think it likes you,” Oscar observed, his tone playful. He tucked his phone back into his pocket, a grin spreading across his face.

You glanced at him, a smile playing on your lips. “Maybe it can sense I’m a good person.”

“Or maybe it’s just hoping for a snack,” he teased, making you laugh. “But honestly, I could watch you all day. You’re even more mesmerising than these birds.”

A blush crept up your cheeks. “Says the F1 driver,” you replied, rolling your eyes affectionately. Oscar chuckled, his eyes crinkling with amusement.

Your next stop was the big cat enclosure. The lions and tigers lounged in the shade, their movements languid and powerful. The sight of these majestic creatures exuded an aura of regal authority. As you stood by the enclosure, watching a lioness stretch lazily, Oscar leaned in close, his breath warm against your ear.

“I think if I were an animal, I’d want to be a lion,” he mused, his voice low and thoughtful. “What about you?”

You thought for a moment, your eyes twinkling. “I think I’d be a swan. Elegant, graceful, and serene.”

Oscar chuckled, squeezing your hand gently. “That suits you perfectly,” he said, his voice filled with affection.

As you made your way towards the giraffe enclosure, Oscar led you to a secluded spot with a perfect view. Your breath caught as you noticed a checkered blanket spread out on the grass, complete with a basket full of your favourite treats. The setting was idyllic, the tall giraffes grazing peacefully in the background.

“You did all this for me?” You asked, your voice barely above a whisper, touched by the thoughtful gesture.

Oscar’s eyes softened as he looked at you. “Of course,” he replied, a tender smile playing on his lips. “I wanted to make your birthday special.”

You settled down on the blanket, the golden afternoon sun casting a warm glow over you. You shared sandwiches, fresh fruit, and sweet pastries, your conversation flowing effortlessly. You felt a deep sense of peace as you leant back against Oscar, your head resting on his shoulder. You watched the giraffes amble gracefully, their long necks swaying gently as they moved.

“You know,” you said softly, your eyes fixed on the majestic animals, “this is one of the best days I’ve ever had.”

Oscar wrapped his arm around you, pulling you closer. “Me too. Happy birthday, my love.”

As the sun began to set, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, you felt a profound sense of contentment. The zoo around you seemed to quieten down, the day’s end bringing a serene calm.

In that perfect moment, surrounded by the beauty of the zoo and the love of your life, you knew this day would be a cherished memory forever. It was a celebration not just of your birthday, but of the love you shared and the simple, joyful moments that made life truly special.

[foxaftershocks]

Jealousy (Mycroft Holmes x f!Reader)

Synopsis: You notice how close Lady Smallwood and Mycroft seem to be

Words: 3.1k

Warnings: jealousy

Sometimes you wondered why you bothered coming to your work functions. You always had to dress up in something that inevitably made you look like a baby giraffe learning to walk. You weren’t effortless or elegant, nothing like most of the other people that surrounded you. Clutching a glass of champagne, you tried not to fidget with your long skirt, feeling out of place and uncomfortable.

Keeping to the edge of the room, you watched your colleagues. Behaviour was always something you enjoyed categorising in your mind, watching how people interacted. Adding alcohol was the kind of lubrication in the cogs of socialisation that led to some interesting outcomes. You could keep to the shadows and watch, alleviating the awkward feeling sitting in your chest at these kinds of fancy functions. You felt far more at home as an observer to the events of the night, rather than a participant. 

Your eyes snagged on a flash of blonde hair. Lady Smallwood. Working for the government could feel like a boys game, so you’d made specific note of the women surrounding you, the women above you, and the women you could one day be. Lady Smallwood was the height of the hierarchy and the person you aimed to be.

Of course, you wanted to be her for more than one reason.

Your eyes traced over the figure standing beside her, a glass of scotch in hand, haughty tilt to his head. Mycroft Holmes. The figure of your fantasies, and the most out of reach man you could think of. No one had ever suggested you were smart with your heart. 

You’d been thrown into his path by his brother and you were still cursing him for that. Snatching you up after a particularly impressive case, you’d been in Mycroft’s office ever since, solving problems and coming up with plans. He’d positioned you almost at his right hand, if he had a right hand, if he could trust someone to be his right hand. Of all his underlings, you had come the closest to fulfilling that role. 

That knowledge burned you.

You watched, taking a long drink from your champagne. Lady Smallwood shifted closer to Mycroft, looking up at him with such interest. His flash of a smile made your stomach feel sick. 

She had been visiting his office more often than usual. Staying long hours. Whispered conversations. You hadn’t meant to be watching, making note of it, caring about it, but your brain had filed the information away as important. It’s what he had you for, after all. Human behaviour, that was your expertise. You did what he couldn’t. Relate to humans.

Only now it looked as if he’d found a chance to relate to another human. The professional had turned personal. Of course it had. Two high power people, both intelligent, both frequently working side by side. It made sense. 

Lady Smallwood’s hand landed on his forearm, squeezing it as she shared a smile with him. The two were like an island, surrounded by the rest of the party but isolated from the others.

You had to tear your gaze away. Scanning the crowd, you didn’t notice the way ice swept over you, lingering, squinting in thought. 

At least four couples would be going home together, previously nothing but professional relationships turned sexual under the influence of alcohol. One couple would be breaking up within the next few days. The casual sexual relationship from your own department was not looking good if their hissed conversation was anything to go by. 

You had to stop focusing on sex. There could be so many other undercurrents revealed to you. Why were you focusing on sex?

Your eyes turned back to Mycroft and Lady Smallwood. His head was bowed towards her. You watched as he took a sip from his glass of scotch, her eyes falling to his lips. His tongue darted out, dragging along his lower lip. Her chest expanded as she inhaled, eyes following along. 

Your stomach churned. It was like being knocked off kilter, the floor underneath your feet rolling. You lent back against the wall behind you, gaze turning to your feet as you tried to push back the pressure in your head. 

You knew the signs of two people sleeping together. Even if they hadn’t started yet, you knew that was the road they were on. She wasn’t even hiding it. She was attracted to him. Of course he’d be interested. He wasn’t shutting it down, seemingly not unreceptive to it, almost inviting it with his body language. Why wouldn’t he? She was beautiful and powerful and confident. She was, in so many metrics, the perfect choice for him. 

It felt as if the walls were closing in around you. Downing the rest of your champagne, you tried to push it back. Your fingertips were tingling. Looking back, they were still locked in conversation, drawn close to one another, blocking out the rest of the world. If they went home together that night you wouldn’t be surprised. 

You forced yourself off the wall, depositing your empty flute with one of the passing catering staff, you turned your back on the room. On swift feet, you ducked through the crowd, making your way to the balcony. You needed air, to get out of the crush. Collecting the skirt of your dress in one fisted hand, getting it out of the way, you burst out into the night air, gasping for breath. 

Of course, you missed the way blue eyes tracked your movement, an almost imperceptible shift in familiar features moving from impassive to discontent. 

You shouldn’t have come tonight. You’d known what you were going to see, and some small part of you was looking to torture yourself. You’d put yourself in this position. There was no use getting upset now.

Only it hurt. The ache in your chest wasn’t abating. Your lungs couldn’t get enough air. Your stomach was leading a revolt. You kept seeing it over and over in your mind, your imagination showing you the inevitable end. 

Your fingers curled around the stone of the balcony, the cold biting into your skin. Your knuckles ached as you gripped it tighter, head bowed, trying to get your breathing under control. Maybe Sherlock was right. Maybe you should try and jettison emotion from your body. Sentiment was not serving you well.

“You’ve seen something unpleasant.”

Your eyes squeezed closed, fingers clenching, wondering if you could fling yourself over the balcony. You might not survive the fall, but at least you wouldn’t have to turn around and face him. Not right now.

“Nothing to concern you,” you said.

“I’m afraid it must,” Mycroft said. In your peripheral vision you saw him come up beside you, close enough to see but with enough distance to remind you how out of reach he was, “if it garners such a response from you, it must be important.”

“No,” you sighed, “it’s really not.”

Straightening, you smoothed out your skirt again, lifting your chin, you looked at him.

“Sorry, perhaps I’ve drunk too much. I should probably go home. I’ll report back what I've seen tomorrow,” you said.

You went to move past him, to leave the party and return home to wallow. Cool fingers closed around your wrist, halting you before you could go more than a step. His touch burned, a feeling you were unused to. Mycroft wasn’t one to touch others, always keeping that distance. To feel his skin against yours was overwhelming. 

“You’ve had a single glass of champagne. You’re not drunk, you’re upset. Your report. Now,” he said.

“Please,” you whispered, “you should return to the party. I’m sure Lady Smallwood is missing your company.”

“Lady Smallwood?” He released you, taking a step back.

“I’ll of course keep that out of my report. Your personal life is yours,” you said. 

“Why would Lady Smallwood be in your report?” he asked.

You turned, sweeping your eyes over him, cataloguing all you saw. Confusion was the main thing. Some intrigue. A little distrust. 

“It’s okay, Mycroft. Nothing to be ashamed of. We all have needs,” you said even as your stomach threatened to return the measly amount of food you’d eaten that night. 

“Are you implying I’m engaging in a sexual relationship with Lady Smallwood?” he asked, raising an eyebrow at you. 

“If not now, then soon. It’s fine. It’s not like I’m going to be telling anyone. You don’t have to worry,” you said. 

“What gave you the impression that would be something we were engaging in?” he asked, clearly still confused.

“Your physical proximity, your ease with one another, your clear preference for one another in social situations,” you said, “the flirting.”

“I do not flirt,” he said, seeming to stumble on this idea. You sighed.

“Perhaps not, but you enjoy her flirtation. She’s been doing it all evening and you’ve been encouraging it,” you said, looking down at your feet. 

His silence spoke volumes. Sighing again, you turned, ready to leave him to his evening of whatever it was posh people did with one another. Getting drunk probably. Not that you could imagine what a drunk Mycroft Holmes would be like. There was a part of you that desperately wanted to see that. 

A hand curled over your bare shoulder, stopping you once again. This was worse. His palm was flush against your skin, warm and inviting, and you had to do your best not to lean into it. 

“You’ve still failed to tell me what has upset you,” he said.

“Does it matter?” you asked.

“If someone has made you uncomfortable-” he began.

“No,” you cut him off, “nothing like that. Not that it should matter. Caring is a weakness you don’t allow yourself.”

Except for his brother and blondes it seemed. 

“My brother entrusted you into my care,” he tried again.

“I’m not a possession, Mycroft Holmes. I’m not an object to be passed from person to person. If someone has upset me, I’m an adult. I can handle it. My own hurt feelings are my problem, not yours,” you snapped, turning, knocking his hand from your shoulder.

“So someone has done something to upset you,” he said.

“Right now the only person I'm upset with is the man standing in front of me,” you said.

“Truth,” he murmured, as if surprised you hadn’t lied. 

“Why would I lie to you?” you asked.

“You’ve been obfuscating for the entirety of this conversation,” he replied, clearly frustrated with you.

“I thought nothing got past you,” you said.

“Lie.” 

The breath rushed out of your lungs, fast and sharp, almost painful. Because he was right. There was at least one thing you thought might have gotten past him. One thing you might have managed to hide from him. One secret you still had.

The fact you’d fallen for him completely and utterly, like the idiot you were.

“I can always tell when you’re lying,” he said, voice lowering as he stepped towards you. You shivered. 

If this was the moment it was revealed to him, if your inability to keep your emotions in check was going to be your downfall, if your envy was to out you to him you were going to scream. You would quit on the spot. You were better than that. Years of hiding it and now, this might be the moment you ruined it all.

“You’re upset because of Lady Smallwood. Something about her interaction with me has caused you hurt,” he said, studying you, presumably looking for the moment his thoughts were confirmed.

“Mycroft,” you said, voice turning to a warning.

“You saw something about her emotional state,” he said.

“Don’t,” you said, on the brink of pleading.

“Ah,” he said.

Embarrassment crashed into you, turning your stomach, making you want to flee. But your feet were stuck to the ground, left staring at him as you burned. The tears pricking at your eyes were the worst of it all. The rest you could handle, but letting him see you cry was something you’d promised you’d never do, not if you were crying because of him.

Your pride was too strong for that.

“You’re jealous,” he said, summing up the exact sinking feeling in your stomach so succinctly. 

“You can be a real arse, you know that, Mycroft Holmes?” you said.

His eyebrows drew together, as if your response confused him. Glaring, you did your best not to do something rash like storming off like a child having a tantrum. Your self respect wouldn’t let you. You were better than that. 

“Jealousy is a perfectly normal emotion for most people to experience,” he said.

“Don’t mock me,” you snapped.

“I wasn’t,” he said, shaking his head minutely.

“Look, this is going to be awkward for me, but we can move past it. You should return to the party, find Lady Smallwood, and ignore this conversation. I’m a big girl. We don’t have to talk about this,” you said.

“I’m still unsure why you believe I would seek out Lady Smallwood,” he said.

“Was my analysis not in depth enough for you?” you sneered, “I know the rest of the world are idiots compared to you, but the least you could do is not treat me like one when what I’m saying is so obvious even John would notice.”

“I am not interested in having a physical relationship with Lady Smallwood,” he said.

“You encourage her flirting,” you said.

“I didn’t realise that was what she was doing,” he replied.

You stared at him. Mycroft Holmes, the most intelligent man in the country, possibly in the world, hadn’t noticed a woman quite clearly flirting with him. That made about as much sense as a penguin playing chess. His smile was sheepish, almost self deprecating.

“Yes, even I have been known to make a mistake,” he said.

“Rarely,” you said, not sure what else there was to say.

“Quite,” he said.

“Well, now that we’ve covered that, I think I’ll be going home to avoide any more… of this,” you said, gesturing vaguely at the air to encompass all of it.

You were almost at the door when his voice stopped you in your tracks.

“You have no reason to be jealous.”

“Yes, because you have no interest in sleeping with Lady Smallwood. So you said,” you said, still not looking at him.

“Because my interests lie elsewhere,” he said.

You were slow to turn to him. He was looking at you like the answer was obvious, like you were being spectacularly dim, like he’d said everything that had to be said. You stared, trying to work him out, trying to see the unspoken, doing what Sherlock had taught you to do. 

“I’m not particularly interested in hearing you tell me about another woman,” you said, “I’m drawing that line in the sand right now.”

“I thought we were still talking about you,” he said.

When you breathed in, it was shaky, unsure of yourself. He was still watching you like it was obvious. You shook your head as you took a step towards him. 

“I’m always stunned by the inability of people to see what is staring them in the face,” Mycroft said, “but then, I suppose tonight has shown me to be no better.”

“Do you want to let the rest of the class in on what you’ve already worked out?” you asked.

“You can work it out. Apply yourself,” he said, sardonic in every meaning of the word.

“Mycroft, if you’re going to be purposefully difficult, I’m going to leave,” you replied.

He closed the gap between the two of you in two short strides. You looked up into his face, trying to tamp down the feeling in your chest. The flutter of your heart was making it difficult. 

“I’m not one given over to talking about my feelings,” he said.

“Too sentimental,” you said, knowing how he thought.

“I am making an exception for you,” he said, “you have no reason to be jealous as the only person I am interested in is you.”

You felt your breath catch, staring up into his face. His expression wasn’t open or easy, you weren’t sure it ever would be. But there was a small smile flirting with the corners of his mouth, amused as you couldn’t find words.

“You hid that well,” you said.

“As did you,” he said.

“You didn’t know?” It seemed inconceivable even as it had been what you’d been aiming for.

“I can see it now.” His fingers came up, brushing over the apple of your cheek, “yes, I can see it so clearly now.”

“Mycroft,” you sighed, a soft whisper on your lips. 

“So glaringly obvious,” he murmured.

He was drawing closer, so slowly it felt like torture. The heat spreading over your skin was becoming unbearable and you found yourself looking at his lips. They were pulling up in a small smile, one that felt so much more intimate than anything you’d seen from him before. His fingers curled, knuckles brushing the skin of your cheek again.

“Mycroft,” you whispered again, not able to keep the yearning from your voice.

His breath ghosted over your face, so close. Your eyes slipped closed, not sure you could handle it. You wanted it so badly.

The first brush of lips was soft, a question. You surged forward, not able to help yourself, kissing him like he was the water on offer as you were dying of thirst. His hand on your cheek tilted your head up, sure as he kissed you deeper, taking control, guiding you the way he wanted you. 

Your arms wound around him, your chest pressing to his, the heat of him searing you. He tasted of scotch and fire, lighting you up in ways you didn’t know were possible. He was so confident, almost arrogant, as he kissed you breathless. You melted against him. 

He was slow to draw back from you, taking his time. You whimpered, an embarrassing sound if not for the way you felt molten in his arms. His fingers were gentle as they tucked a strand of hair behind your ear, lingering on your jaw, tilting your chin up towards him.

“Is my position clear?” he asked.

His face had softened, almost fond as he gazed down on you. Your smile felt uncontrollable, widening when his eyes dipped down to it. 

“Do it again,” you commanded.

“What?” His eyes flicked back to yours.

“Do. It. Again,” you said, fingers curling around his tie, pulling him in.

Smart man that he was, he kissed you again.

[suguwu]

the first time your daughter calls him daddy, sae has to get up and leave the room for a little bit. she doesn't notice, still playing with her toys (new and noisy from rin, the bastard), but you do.

"sae?" you call softly, padding down the hallway.

"in here."

you nudge open the door to your daughter's room, where the flickering nightlight is making sae's shadow dance against the wall.

he's tracing a long, elegant finger over the ridge of her favorite present from rin, a ratty giraffe she's had since the cradle. the set of his mouth is strange; you can't see his eyes.

"are you okay?"

"i'm fine."

"you don't have to pretend."

he glances back at you. his long lashes flutter against the curve of his cheek; his teal eyes shine, the tropical sea beneath the sun.

"i'm not pretending."

"then what is it?"

"would you have kept her from me forever?"

cold curls up your spine, frost creeping from bone to bone. "i don't know," you say, a little bit helpless.

he watches you for a moment. his handsome face is impassive; he could be carved from stone. then he's brushing past you, heading back to the living room.

"sae—"

he doesn't look back.

[celestial-letters]

and the crowd went mild 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 also no chara dividers im lazy rn

these r so short id add more but im rushing rn sorry lmfao 😭😭😭

intended lowercase!

misc. obm hcs

LUCIFER

wakes up at the ass crack of dawn every single morning.

wears those old man pjs. with the long hat and fuzzy slippers and gown. you know the one.

most bitter coffee you've ever had in your life how he can drink it is astonishing.

his bed, his mattress, his pillows are all as hard as rock how does this man SLEEP.

sleeps like hes the corpse at the funeral hes that one image

MAMMON

will pull you into a headlock and call it a hug.

LEVIATHAN

guy who had mountain dew and cheeto dust in his veins instead of blood. guy who marinates in his room for two months straight. guy who- (i am immediately shot dead).

did a collab with the anti-lucifer league to create a 100k words dialuci fic to piss off lucifer (dont worry about him he got paid in anime and tsl merch).

TRULY believes he is the #1 tsl fan. and also #1 ruri fan.

wimp who VOLUNTARILY makes you cosplays if you are a cosplayer or even if you aren't. it will happen.

vtuber fan. he was like "hey i wanna be a streamer but i dont wanna show my face but i also want to be an anime boy! wait-" and now hes a vtuber.

has accidentally referred to all of his brothers as "chat" at least once. hes never recovering from that btw.

SATAN

cannot stop annotating books he reads for the life of him.

all of his books are just filled to the brim with sticky notes because all he does is annotate.

once he has a crush he will start imagining him and them in the same scenarios as the characters in romance novels he read. (loser alert!!)

sneaking a new cat into hol like once a week (he never succeeds btw).

ASMODEUS

oh boy his room REEKS of perfume and body spray.

"i sprayed my new perfume in every nook and cranny! smells so floral and elegant, don't you think?" (it smells like a bath and body works threw up.)

surprisingly plays the trumpet and BOY is he loud. bro is absolutely blasting those notes.

worst driver ever btw.

BEELZEBUB

freckles all over!! like a lot. *im not beating the insane allegations*

ate like 27 family size dorito bags, 30 dollars worth of taco bell, and four sprites in one sitting and he still hasnt recovered.

sleeps. like a lot. not as much as belphie but enough to be considered an eepy guy.

BELPHEGOR

will randomly grab every blanket and pillow he can get his hands on and make a nest in the common room if he's up to it. and then have everyone make a dog pile in it just so they can hang out and be silly.

will NOT clean it up afterwards. lucifer will tell him to and his only response will be "im tired..."

freckles like beel too i think theyre silly.

9829364 cow plushies. (theyre all from lucifer)

SOLOMON

will randomly gaslight people for no reason

"hey did you do the homework"

homework? what homework? there was homework? my, what even is homework? never heard of that.

"hey, i heard of this animal from the human world called a giraffe! can i see a picture?"

what? what's a giraffe? oh, those!! yeah, they're just myths. they're not real. purely fiction!!

yk that one post about tumblr funnyman solomon. he is a tumblr funnyman to me. he confidently posts his exploded spaghetti and gets 10k notes i think.

SIMEON

has a book club with satan and solomon. :)

probably writes oneshots of the brothers on tumblr idfk man (sorry to the simeon fans i write like nothing on this guy bro).

LUKE

bodily six ("but didnt the devs say hes ten?" shut up. /j)

along with that, also shorter than in canon. (since hes. yk. a first grader. that BOY is not five foot hes one sauce packet long dude.)

favorite store in the human world is walmart. i like to think his human world outfit is all exclusively from walmart bc thats funny i think.

DIAVOLO

hands of STEEL. he tries to grab your wrist and he nearly crushes it by accident.

ice cream!! he loves it :) his favorite is strawberry btw.

also this boy is NOT a himbo hes a smart man.

needs like a hug and some sleep and also a friend this boy works too much!!

BARBATOS

short. like really short. especially according to devildom standards since most demons are super tall.

"but isn't he six feet?" not in my heart.

somehow always making tea for some reason?? if he's not making tea then he's making pastries.

my boy does not SLEEP. hasn't slept since the sun has been birthed and doesn't plan on ever doing it.

[ghost-bison]

the doctors and companions as animals that fit their vibe

nine: dolphin. i had a friend who used to say "nine scares me, he looks like a shark" and everytime it would make me grouchy. she was kinda right, though. but i think dolphin is closer. i know dolphins aren't actually that nice, but today we're mostly judging based on looks and nine most definitely has the vibe of a dolphin: gentle eyes, a huge smile, a very loud, fantastic voice, fast, cheeky and excited. oh, and a big nose as well

rose: seahorse. idk, it just fits. it's the fact that they're colourful creatures maybe, and the shape of the jaw, or also how magic they are... can't really explain it! rose just reminds me of a seahorse

mickey: tiger. it's in the face shape and those facial expressions he gets when he stands up to the doctor or anyone who goes against his beliefs, i think

jack: american black bear. not grizzly bear, not polar bear (although i did hesitate with polar bear), american black bear all the way. first, cause he's american so it's funny. second, cause bears are massive creatures and jack is tall and muscular. third, again, the head shape (which is why grizzly bear was out of the way). fourth, both are hug shaped, wild and actually dangerous

ten: fennec. do i really need to explain that one? big brown eyes, cute af, high-pitched voice and funny jaw... yeah, ten is a fennec

martha: zebra. this one i really can't explain! but i'll still try: i'm not really familiar with zebras, so idk how they behave, but they look gentle, and i've heard they're intelligent, sensitive creatures as well. which is what martha is. i think it's also in the pretty brown eyes with long lashes hihi

donna: doe. maybe some of you will be mad i didn't just say fox, or disagree cause the doe is known to be a fearful, quiet creature, and donna is absolutely none of this. but hear me out: she is gentle and when she's not screaming at the top of her lungs, there's something so soothing and ethereal about her. they are both very maternal, and red hair holds -to me- a connection to nature that no other colour does. the doe has huge brown eyes, and donna's eyes, although huge, are blue. but when you look into them, you can see a gentleness that knows no bounds and that is why i chose it as donna's animal. also the little spots on baby deer remind me of her freckles (yes i am in love with her shut up)

eleven: racoon. well... yall got stuck on the giraffe but eleven is a little shit and so is the racoon. i absolutely do not have anything deep or smart to add to this, i just feel it in my gut

river: leopard. fast, dangerous, elegant, and also the colour palette kinda fits. and! the female feline usually does all the work so that's the tea for today

amy: red panda. red hair, round face, big eyes, cute... yup, amy's a red panda for sure

rory: koala bear. they both look like they get screwed over on a daily poor little guys. gentle and slow, the koala bear is rory's perfect fit. also, they have a similar nose shape

clara: elf owl. just like that bird, clara is small, has enormous brown eyes, a cute little mouth and a sorta heart-shaped face. i think it's one of my best choices

twelve: crow. crows are smart, edgy, actually very sensitive and like to hang out with living creatures even though you often see them alone, and they're also annoying af, can't stfu, hold grudges and take their revenge. twelve is mostly all that. also if i remember correctly he seemed to relate to and like crows

missy: peregrine falcon. idk, missy does have a bird face with her long sharp nose and big blue eyes. i even think michelle gomez mentioned it in an interview (like, she compared herself to a bird. maybe i'm delirious). falcons like to prey on small defenseless animals. missy does too

bill: horse. she kinda looks like a horse i think (it sounds mean but in my head it really isn't i promise). at first i said pony but then i remembered my mum saying ponies are dumb, petty creatures. bill on the other hand is smart, sensitive and gentle. she does still have a sharp edge to her, won't hesitate to kick your arse if so deserved, even if you're a 40000000 or whatever y/o time lord who looks like your local knowledgeable cool grandpa. which is why horse is a very nice fit for bill

nardole: penguin. the choice was so easy to make cause the man is bald, bitchy, weird and kinda walks like a penguin. we love you nardole, never change

thirteen: kangaroo. i don't have a clue as to why tbf. it's the sheer adhd, also the colour for some reason fits her, and the fact that they look nice and peaceful but are actually very dangerous, destructive creatures lol

yaz: hare. another one i can't explain. just fits. yaz, to me, didn't reach her full potential as a character, but what i did notice in her was her intuitiveness and how she usually kept her guard up. reminds me of hares. not just that but also the general vibe as well

graham: beaver. graham had this cute quirky little obsession with building a home and with his "fam" and that's what beavers are known for. apart from his blue eyes that differ from the beaver's own brown ones, he also physically reminds me of a beaver. and if beavers could talk i'm certain they would sound like graham o'brien

ryan: labrador retriever. i had a labrador once, they're goofy, awkward, impulsive, friendly creatures. and just as cats show severe signs of autism and adhd, labradors absolutely display symptoms of dyspraxia, which is what ryan has. both are disoriented and clumsy. they also will do anything to protect people they love, and then be like "oh shit" cause they actually can't really fight and keep putting themselves in situations

dan: wolf. idk he just really looks like a wolf

fourteen: coyote. we're staying in the canine family for david tennant. i did want to choose something other than ten's for fourteen cause they have such a different vibe. there's something really pitiful about coyotes that fits this man perfectly. again with the high-pitched voice as well. anyway. fourteen is a coyote

fifteen: panther. fifteen is seductive, pretty, slim and smoothe af. he's also dangerous and yet you still wanna hug him don't you? yeah that's how panthers make me feel

ruby: dormouse. ruby is cute as hell, i think we can all agree on this. i chose this rodent specifically because of its slightly rounder face shape (hamster might have been more accurate but i hate hamsters so much man, ruby deserves better). she's always so stressed and jumpy as well, which is why to me a small rodent was an appropriate choice

belinda: european robin. she has the elegance of a robin, she's adorable, she's fierce and quick and physically reminds me of a little bird for some reason and that is all honestly

[howlingday]

Pyrrha: Hm... I can't say I've ever heard of a hippo-shaped Grimm.

Blake: Ugh... Hippos... Corpulent brigands... Nothing at all like their elegant, ungulate sisters, the giraffes.

Pyrrha: Huh?

Blake: You know what I'm talking about. Those slender necks...

Pyrrha: HUH?!

Blake: So long and muscular... Just wanna wrap your arms around them, and maybe your legs, too? Just to see what it feels like...

Pyrrha: D8

Blake: Just wanna get up there, AND SWAY IN THE FUCKING WIND~!

Blake: ...No? Is that not- ...O-Okay.

[brotherwtf]

Age gap AU, clegan and animals, how are they with them, their favourites?

WAHHH clegan and animals definitely have a soft spot for those guys omg 🥹

I feel like they're both really good with animals in their own ways, Gale is good with the quiet and skittish ones, knows what they feel like and knows how to approach them, and they tend to gravitate towards him because he's soothing and has a soft touch, while John does really well with the energetic animals, loves to play with them and run with them, and the animals love his energy

Gale's always wanted pets, wanted a cat and dog ever since he was a child, and John had always had a family dog when he was young, and so maybe they decide to go to the shelter and look at the puppies and kittens and Gale's in heaven with each one, sitting on the ground playing with them, oh my God John would look so fond just watching Gale play with all of the baby animals

maybe they do adopt two babies, a puppy and a kitten, Gale desperately wants to raise them together so that they get along, and they get along like a house on fire, and maybe Gale teaches the cat to go on walks or smth so they can walk together and John definitely takes the dog on base whenever he gets big enough, their pets are basically celebrities

oo maybe they go to a petting zoo and John just loves the goats and the sheep, is so so gentle with them as he feeds them and pets them, laughing when the goats butt heads or faint, and Gale just loves watching John be so happy

as for favorite animals? I think Gale's favorite animal is a horse, so free and elegant and powerful, everything he felt like he wasn't, and so whenever Gale's mama would take him to his aunt's they would drive past a ranch, and baby Gale always imagined racing with the horses and being able to run that fast

maybe, for Gale's birthday or maybe their anniversary, John takes Gale trail riding, and Gale has never been happier, riding his favorite animal and actually experiencing what he's always wanted to (he HATES horse racing though, cannot fathom the idea of going to a track because it reminds him of his father too much, maybe he always liked horses and his father dampened the image a little bit, John of course helps to heal that)

you know what? John's favorite animal is the giraffe, yeah that makes sense to me, maybe he's pointed at rhinos and said "those are real life unicorns" but he's always been fascinated by giraffes and their long necks, always thought they were so interesting, even when he was a child, and into adulthood he just loves the things and he can't quite explain why

Gale definitely takes John to one of those feeding experiences where the giraffes just eat right out of your hands, and oh my God Gale's almost forty year old boyfriend gets reverted right back to childhood with the experience, he has never seen John happier than he was feeding giraffes with Gale

GOD this one was so sweet, actually got me tearing up a lil bit 🥹 lmk if y'all have any more clegan and animals hcs!

[gmax-centiskorch]

Mainline Pokémon Games Based on How Buggy They Are: A Thread

Red, Blue, & Yellow

Pretty buggy. The Butterfree line set the stage for regional bugs and emotional trauma. Everybody loves Scyther. Inspired use of Cordyceps when designing the Parasect line. Kabuto and Kabutops should have been Bug to honor trilobites for founding Arthropoda. 8/10.

Gold, Silver, & Crystal

Yes, we had Scyther, but what about second Scyther? Scizor, Heracross, and Shuckle are legends. Game Freak decided to invite arachnids (Spinarak and Ariados) to the party, truly redefining what it means to be buggy. 9/10.

Ruby, Sapphire, & Emerald

This generation is loaded with bugs! Game Freak realized their mistake in not giving the Kabutops line Bug typing, making up for it with Anorith and Armaldo (who are based on Anomalocaris). They fumble the recovery, however, in not only depriving the Flygon line of Bug typing, but forever making them second fiddle to the Salamence line. The Beautifly, Dustox, and Ninjask lines introduce some interesting approaches to Bug-type evolution. Volbeat and Illumise are there. 7.8/10.

Diamond, Pearl, & Platinum

DELELELELELEWHOOOOOOP! A smaller collection of bugs this gen, but a well-rounded one. Vespiquen slays. Scorpions get some love via Skorupi, Drapion, and Gliscor. Writing this post is making me realize that slugs, snails, and nudibranchs like the Magcargo and Gastrodon lines aren’t bugs. We grew up thinking snails were bugs, right? Anyway, Yanmega rules. 8/10.

Black, White, Black 2, White 2

Game Freak’s magna opera. Truly the buggiest games there are. While you have to wait until Pinwheel Forest to encounter your first bugs, you’re rewarded upon arrival with Sewaddle and Venipede, the larvae of the Leavanny and Scolipede lines. From there, you encounter the Crustle, Galvantula, and Volcarona lines. Game Freak has some more fun with Bug evolutions, having Karrablast steal Shelmet’s armor as they evolve into Escavalier and Accelgor (inspired by the real-world interactions between the ground beetle family Carabidae and the gastropods they feed on). Durant is our first proper ant, and we get our first (and only . . . ) legendary / mythical Bug in Genesect. These games made Bug my favorite type. 10/10.

X & Y

A big step down from the previous generation. This game hardly has any bugs. Do you like butterflies? You get a butterfly. Vivillon is a lovely butterfly that comes in all sorts of colors, but SURELY there are more bugs than that in France. 6/10.

Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, Ultra Moon

Giant isopods! Diving bell spiders! Giraffe stag beetles! A true return to form. While the native bugs of Alola are great, we are also introduced to the ultra beasts, two of which (Buzzwole and Pheromosa) are really cool bugs. It seems they were going for wasps and bee flies when designing the Naganadel and Ribombee lines, but they don’t really work for me. Faint blemishes on an otherwise buggy generation. 8.5/10.

Sword & Shield

Centiskorch is the greatest Pokémon ever made. I have them tattooed on my arm. Blipbug is the worst Pokémon ever made. I see them in my nightmares. Interesting that they’re both Bug Pokémon, and that Game Freak really min-maxed with them. Fortunately, Blipbug evolves into Dottler and Orbeetle, who are great. Snom has a place in everyone’s heart, and Frosmoth is elegant as can be. 9.5/10.

Scarlet & Violet

I love Rellor and Rabsca! I . . . don’t really love the rest! Iron Moth and Slither Wing are great, but they’re nepo babies. Tarountula and Nymble are nice, but Spidops and Lokix leave something to be desired. At the end of the day, these games would be alright if they weren’t so wonkily coded and glitchy. Wish there was a better word for that. 7/10.

[anotherdescentintomadness]

Sunshine Soft-Boy Xiao Zhan

XIAO ZHAN WHAT

Get prints here

[thebramblewood]

Lilith - 🐰, Caleb - 🍪, Helena - 🌕, and Julia - 🌊

~fledermausbend

Thanks for the ask, Tief!

🐰 answered here!

🍪 - What are their favorite scents?

I always have a hard time with scent! For Caleb, let's see... Old books, definitely. He likes to burn incense, which I imagine is a habit he might have picked up from Morgyn, particularly rich, deep, earthy scents. The smell of the air on a crisp, clear night when you can see all the stars because it reminds him of Glimmerbrook and the Magic Realm. Warm spices, like cinnamon or ginger, which remind him of Grace's cooking. A plasma fruit cut in half, which I imagine is kind of sweet and floral but sharp and metallic at the same time.

🌕 - If this OC was an animal, what kind would they be?

I mean... technically, Helena already is kind of an animal. 🦇 Just based on vibes alone, though, I think she would be a deer or a giraffe - gangly and awkward but somehow a bit elegant too.

🌊 - Does this OC have a secret or repressed desire?

Oh, fascinating pick for Julia... I think her biggest secret desire is to be taken more seriously. People see her eclectic fashion sense and hyper, bubbly personality and assume she's a certain type of person, maybe one who doesn't have a lot going on beneath the surface or who doesn't think deeply about things. She's also a mediocre student, and maybe her parents have lower expectations for her than Helena and she can sense that from them. But she really wants to achieve something big in life, even if she doesn't know what that is yet, and is eager to have more experiences and adventures and learn who she is beyond Copperdale and her friends and family there and the preconceived notions they have of her.

[wallpapersmonster]

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[animesmolbean]

A World of Pure Imagination

Author's Note: WONKA was officially released on DVD today! Whoo!!

This chapter was so much fun to write! I had the whole scene for the song thought out for weeks! I hope you enjoy it! ♥️

Chapter 5: Just For A Moment

The trio walked through the zoo with flashlights. Yin and Noodle gazed around at all the animals, entranced, then Noodle frowned as they passed a lake filled with flamingos.

"Why don't they fly away?" She asked.

Willy shrugged. "I don't know. Perhaps they haven't thought of it." He replied.

"You're kidding." Noodle said.

"I don't think he is." Yin jumped into the conversation.

Wonka turned around as he walked to look at the two. "Yin's right. I'm serious. That's the thing about flamingos. They're flock animals. They need someone to show them the way."

'I know someone who could.' Yin thought to himself as he looked at Wonka.

They skip into a backstage corridor. Various doors open onto different enclosures. Willy looks for one marked "Giraffe."

"Where are we? Giraffe.... giraffe... Ah! Giraffe!"

Yin's eyes widened. "Wait, no, no, no!"

He opens a door clearly marked "TIGER" - and is immediately confronted by a snarling beast who charges at him. Yin, thinking fast but not too clearly, runs to Willy and gets in front of him, protecting him from the striped cat. Noodle slams the door in a nick of time. Yin sighed in relief.

"You have got to learn how to read!" Noodle said, a bit panicked from the experience. Yin turned to look at Willy and nodded in agreement.

"Why?"

"You were nearly eaten by a tiger!" Noodle exclaimed.

"Nearly" is the key word there, Noodle. I've nearly been eaten by a lot of things. And none of them got more than a nibble." Willy said a bit crazed.

Yin snorted at Willy's words and covered his mouth with his hand, blushing lightly when he realized how loud it was.

Willy smiled amusingly at the adorable boy. Noodle shook her head and opened the door marked "Giraffe."

"Giraffe." She pointed out.

Willy walked into the stall, Noodle and Yin a pace behind. They look up at the great and elegant creature. Willy doffs his hat.

"Good evening, um..."

Yin read a sign. "Abigail."

"Abigail." Willy finished.

The giraffe starts to make a scene, not liking intruders. Noodle is alarmed, Yin was calm.

"Whoa there! Easy now. I've brought acacia mints." Willy pulled out a handful of mints. The giraffe reaches down inquisitively and sniffles the handful of mints. Noodle and Yin watched, enchanted, as Willy started to scratch Abigail under her chin.

"Giraffes are just crazy about my acacia mints. Love them more than anything else. Except being scratched under the chin. See?"

Abigail did indeed look like she was enjoying the experience.

"Want to give it a go?" Willy asked the two.

Yin nodded, and Willy guided him to Abigail.

"Hi Abigail. My name is Yin. My, you're a beautiful lady." He spoke softly to the majestic creature. He started to scratch underneath her chin. Abigail, in response, nuzzled her head against Yin's face. Yin giggled and nuzzled his forehead against her snout.

Willy was impressed and enchanted by Yin handling Abigail so gently. Yin spoke so softly and sweetly to the creature and even did something he never did. He was formal and treated her with so much care, and she responded in kind, letting her guard down. 'He's so perfect.' He thought to himself.

"Wanna try Noodle?" Willy asked, after snapping out of his trance.

"Okay...." Noodle was hesitant at first, but after Abigail responded positively to her scratches, she smiled broadly. Abigail reached forward and licked Noodle appreciatively. Willy and Yin both chuckled.

"I think she likes you." Willy told her. Then he turned back to the giraffe. "Now, Miss Abigail, if my colleague here gives you a good scratch, could you possibly spare us a pint or two of your milk?"

(Mini Time Skip)

After setting up, Willy stands his cane magically on the ground. He pushes a button, and the arms of a coat hanger flip out from the side. He hangs his coat over it. But, instead of hanging his hat there too, he placed it on top of Yin's head.

Yin laughs and adjusts the hat on his head. As he did, he caught Willy staring at him, a curious look on his face. Yin felt a blush rise onto his cheeks as the gorgeous chocolatier moved closer and looked at him. After a few seconds, he pulled away and smiled widely.

"It looks good on you, Yin." He complimented. Yin blushed hard but laughed. "Thank you, Willy, but you look the best with it." He said, smiling shyly. Willy only hummed and went over to Abigail to start the task. Yin took off the top hat and hung it on the cane.

He went over to the wall behind the cane and leaned against it. He watched Willy starting to milk the giraffe while Noodle was up on a rickety step ladder scratching its chin - and enjoying it.

"Have you done this before?" Noodle asked.

"Once. In Africa. Magnificent beast." Willy replied.

"Was she wild?" Yin asked.

Willy laughed. "Wild? She was absolutely furious! But once my hands warmed up, I think she kind of liked it."

Yin and Noodle smile fondly.

"You sure can be silly, Willy." Noodle told him.

"I suppose that's true-dle Noodle."

"True-dle?" Noodle was confused. Yin laughed.

"That doesn't work, does it? But nothing rhymes with Noodle. Where'd you get that name anyway?" Willy asked.

Noodle frowned. "Doesn't matter."

Before Yin could retort, Willy encouraged her, "Go on."

Noodle showed Willy an amber and gold ring that she kept on a string around her neck. The letter "N" engraved in the middle.

"It's all I have from my parents. See? 'N' for Noodle. Or Nora, or Nina - or nothing at all." Noodle continued.

"Noodle." Yin gently scolded.

"Can't you trace the owner?" Willy asked. This time, Yin replied, "I've tried. I've been to every jewelry store in the city." Willy looked at Yin as he told him before he looked back at Noodle, feeling for her. Noodle turns back to Abigail. After a moment, she regained courage and spoke again.

"When I was a kid, I always hoped I'd find my parents. They'd live in this beautiful old building full of books. And my mom would be waiting for me at the door and I'd run into her arms and she's give me this big hig like she wouldn't ever let me go. But then I realized it was just a stupid dream."

Willy looked at Noodle, feeling deeply moved.

Yin felt his eyes well up with tears. He remembered when Noodle first told him that he was almost moved to tears. He wished he could see his family again. Give them the biggest hugs and never leave them. He walked closer to the pair and Abigail.

"There's nothing stupid about it. I've told you, Noodle. There's nothing wrong with dreams." Yin told Noodle.

Willy agreed. "What about you, Yin? What's your dream?"

Yin looked down at his boots. After a few moments, he found the courage to speak.

"I always dreamed about being with my family again. We lived in a beautiful home close to where the Gallery Gourmet is. They were always supportive of me. When I wanted to try something new, they encouraged me to do it." Yin spoke softly but still loud enough to be heard.

"But one day, I came home from school and saw police there. They told me that... my parents were gone."

Willy looked at the boy with sadness in his eyes. Tears were welling up in his eyes, too. "Do you know... how they died?" He asked carefully.

"Mom got sick, I think it was a virus of some sorts. Dad died shortly after her. Of a heart attack. But not from stress. I think it was a broken heart." Yin replied.

Willy was deeply saddened by the story. "Yin, I'm so sorry." He whispered. Yin smiled faintly at Willy. "It's all right. They're in a better place."

"I know things haven't been easy for you two. But they're going to get better. Noodle, I'm not going to let you rot in that wash house forever. And Yin, I won't let you wander off alone anymore."

"You promise?" The two asked.

"I can do better than that." Willy went over to Noodle and held out his pinky. "I Pinkie Promise. And that's the most solemn vow there is."

Touched by his concern, Noodle Pinkie promised Willy. Willy then looked at Yin. "And I Pinkie Promise that you will never be alone again." Yin smiled softly, and the two Pinkie Promised.

"Now, get back to scratching Noodle. We don't have long until the guard comes to-dle Noodle." Willy beamed. "To-dle!"

"It's not a word." Noodle corrected.

"I'll keep working on it." Willy replied.

Yin chuckled softly as he watched. Then, he heard Noodle starting to sing.

🎵For a moment

Life doesn't seem quite so bad

For a moment

I kind of forgot to be sad

He turns night to day

But don't get carried away

Never let down your guard

Let them into your heart for a moment

Not for a moment🎵

Yin listened to her voice, swaying his head along with the rhythm. Then, he saw Willy stand up. He had finished milking Abigail. He turned to Noodle.

"Care to dance?"

Noodle shook her head. "No, thank you." She said, but Yin could tell she thought it was fun.

Yin thought Willy would ask him, but instead, he spoke, "I got it, Noodle! Listen to this," as he turned to where his cane stood, his coat and hat hanging from it like a shop mannequin. He picks up the cane and dances with it as if dancing with himself as he starts to sing.

🎵Noodle, Noodle,

Apple Streudel

Some people don't

And some people do-dle

Snakes, flamingos,

Bears and poodles

Singing this song

Will improve your moodle

Noodle-dee-dee, Noodle-dee-dum

We're having oodles and oodles of fun🎵

The two laughed at Willy as he goofed around. At one point, Willy looked at Yin and gave him a playful smirk, making him blush.

'Is he trying to tease me?!'

Willy puts his coat and hat on and spins the ladder Noodle was on. She squealed and leaped off, catching the lantern as she did. She is lowered to the ground and the trio race out together.

"Thanks, Abigail!"

The trio danced through the zoo.

(A/N: Willy: Purple

Noodle: Green

Yin: Blue)

🎵For a moment (Noodle, Noodle, apple streudel)

My life has turned upside-down (Some people don't and some people do-dle)🎵

Willy grabbed a bouquet of helium balloons from a stall. He wrapped his free arm around Yin, and instinctively, Yin wrapped his arm around him while wrapping the other around Noodle. Noodle wrapped both arms around Yin.

🎵For a moment (snakes, flamingos, bears, and poodles)

I can't keep my feet on the ground (Singing this song will improve your moodle)

The lift from the balloons makes them almost weightless. They ran across the flamingo lake, their feet barely making contact with the surface of the water. The flamingos wake as they pass and watch, astonished, as the trio rise from the water floating up and over the wall of the zoo. Inspired, the flamingos follow them.

He's the one good thing (Noodle-dee-dee, Noodle-dee-dum)

That's ever happened to me (We're having oodles and oodles of fun)🎵

The trio landed on the glass roof of the Galleria, and they started to dance. Yin grabbed Noodle's hands, and the two started a slow dance of just swaying back and forth. Yin then picked Noodle up and spun in a circle. Noodle laughed as Yin placed her back on the roof. In a flourish, Noodle spun Yin and gently pushed him towards Willy.

Willy took Yin's hands and started to properly waltz dance with him, one hand holding his, with the balloons. The other hand was on Yin's waist. Yin blushed as he placed his free hand on Willy's shoulder. The balloons gave the dance a light feeling, like it was aiding them.

Then, Willy stepped back and spun into the air with the balloons. The other two laughed and did cartwheels as Willy landed in front of them. He then gave Noodle the balloons, making her float up, and he grabbed her ankles as they started to walk. Yin stood in front of them, walking backward in rhythm with them, before spinning elegantly as Willy spun before spinning Noodle into the air.

Willy then grabbed Yin's hand as he ran to the tallest part of the Galleria, grabbed the pole, and started to walk in a circle. Yin smiled widely as he walked along with Willy, grabbing Noodle's hand, making her join the fun as she floated. Noodle was also smiling. Then, like magic, Willy started to walk on air as he walked in a circle, making the other two follow.

Eventually, a gust of wind takes a few of the balloons, breaking the spell , and they were blown off the roof. They float down and land in front of the frozen fountain. Noodle let go first and watched as the boys landed. Willy placed his free hand on Yin's waist, just like earlier, as Yin placed his free hand on Willy's shoulder. He looked into the beautiful chocolatier's eyes. 'They're hazel.' He thought to himself as he sung.

🎵For a moment

Life doesn't seem quite so bad

And for a moment

I kind of forgot to be sad🎵

Willy looked at Yin, his features soft as he listened to Yin sing. His voice was so soft but filled with emotion. 'He's so beautiful.' He thought to himself.

Yin looked at Willy. 'This man has brought so much joy into my life in the two days I've known him. He's kind, passionate, motivated, and... so beautiful.' He thought to himself.

'I think I love him.' The two thought together.

The two boys looked into each other's eyes, leaning closer and closer. Their foreheads touched, and their noses brushed against each other's. But just before their lips could touch-

*RING*

[oc6lar]

" i feel so alone out here. "

one of the petals falls on his shoulder , one shoe mindlessly swaying back and forth , a long leg over the other . he always sits like he owns everything , always a ghost of a faint smile on his lips ; gojo satoru is the last person you should go to when you're sad . in need of something to latch onto . ever since yuji introduced him to the group , satoru knew there was something special about this pale guy - well , there was something special about all the kids around here . the ones satoru had accepted personally , one nod of his white head and the school simply had to bring them in . he was one of them ─ he had a history that satoru knew about . doubted if he could truly blend in with how he .. looked . his brother had gone out with his friends and he was left with satoru on a lonely bench under a peach blossom tree . ‘ nah loneliness makes you stronger . ‘ he says it and regrets it after a few seconds . loneliness makes the strongest stronger ── he's faster on his own , he shouldn't distract himself with anyone that gets too close to him . choso is strong , very strong , something so rare and interesting . satoru had spent a few hours during the day watching choso train ; elegant and quick , pale , reddened eyes . one of his elbows rest on the back of the seat , he half turns to choso with a tilted head . regards him carefully beneath the blindfolds . ‘ why didn't you go with them ? ‘ not that he should be asking that , but even megumi was excited about the new movie that he was pretending not to like . satoru crosses his arms over his chest , still half bent sideways , like an awkward giraffe . chin lowers slightly as if he's looking at choso from above his glasses or something .

* ( preacher's daughter. ) accepting