#Though an older one would have more advanced skills...

[lxzy-bxby]

Night Changes

Husband!Leon × Fem!Reader

Summary: Nine months of navigating through a new path. WC: 6,078 CW: MDNI ♡ SMUT (breeding kink-ish+unprotected p-in-v+creampie-ish) ♡ TOPICS (chubby body+self-negativity+non-acceptance of aging) ♡ No use of Y/N ♡ Explicit language ♡ No proofreading AN: i hope you all will find a person who'll make it way easier to dive into scary depths. or you can become one to yourself. love is boundless, love is strength, love is power. that relates to self-love, too. we all are driven by love. love wins all. and every human being is worthy of it.

~ ♡ ~

Dining table is bursting with dishes—something that haven’t happened in a long time. Even though Leon finally retired and you two now could finally have meals together, you usually settled with simple omelette or lasagna. But tonight you went all out, using this as an opportunity to show off your impeccable culinary skills. You even insisted that Leon needs to bring the most expensive wine from the basement, because a reason like this is a must—your daughter and her husband visiting for dinner.

You fuss around her as if she’s five years old again, refilling her and your son-in-law’s plates and glasses. You glance at the table, checking if you forgot to get them anything—caviar, roast beef, Caesar salad, mushrooms… You decide that there's not enough of mashed potatoes on Grace’s plate and lean over to put some more.

Leon’s arm immediately snakes around your waist, tugging you down persistently. “Take a seat already, will you? Scampering around like a decapitated chicken, and your own plate’s still full.”

That grounds you a big little. You suddenly feel very embarassed because you’re running around like a madwoman, indeed. So you take a seat, immediately grabbing your cutlery while your husband’s hand makes itself welcome on your thigh underneath the table.

Comfortable silence draws out whilst everyone enjoy their food; only occasional clatter of forks disturbs it.

Then Leon clears his throat. “So, how you’ve been settling in? House’s good? Need any fixing?”

Grace’s lips immediately stretch out in a giddy smile. “It’s great! I can’t believe we got a place of our own already. All thanks to you two.”

“Come on now, honey. We’re your parents. It was our duty to make sure you got a place to live in after you grow up.” You smile chastely, barely realizing what you’re talking about— your daughter’s very own dwelling. That she shares with her husband.

“So I take it place’s alrighty, huh? With the way you smilin’.” Leon grumbles, twirling a glass of beer—like hell he would drink wine—in his hand.

“Yeah, of course!” Gracie nods eagerly, “Everything’s perfect. Anyway, I got Owen with me, so if anything happens, y’all don’t have to worry.” She turns to smile at her husband tenderly. He smiles back at her as he strokes her knuckles lovingly.

Your heart melts at the view—yet Leon’s jaw tenses. You bite on your lip.

Owen’s a good guy—great, even. Him and your daughter met back in college just a few years ago and he, being two school years older, proposed as soon as she graduated. Money was never a problem for your family with Leon’s salary, yet your kid decided to have a small wedding—memorable one, nonetheless. Two months ago the two celebrated their first wedding anniversary.

So yeah, you’re cool with Owen. He got a tech major, earns the big bucks, got a car and a house—but Leon was adamant on the newlyweds living in a residential that you two got for Grace in advance back when she was barely out of high school, and on your daughter still driving her own Camry she got on her sweet sixteen, not just Owen’s G-Wagen. Just because Leon is Leon, who still couldn’t believe that your little bird flies out of her nest. Another man is now responsible for her—not him. And that drove him crazy.

Hence no wonder he looks like a kicked doberman puppy, realizing that your girl does not need to run to him for help anymore. So now you always have to play the victim (or more a hero who saves his ego) and be the one who needs his help all the time, no matter what with—opening the water bottle or moving your vanity to another corner of the room.

You intertwine your fingers with Leon's under the table in gesture of silent affection. He relaxes a tad, one corner of his mouth twitching up wryly.

Your daughter and her husband exchange a glance. You see Gracie chewing on her lips as Owen whispers “it’s okay, baby”, stroking her cheek reverently.

“Speaking of that… I think it’s better we move to my house nevertheless, Mrs. Kennedy.” Owen suddenly speaks up, his gaze locking with yours.

You arch your eyebrow, feeling Leon tense again next to you, as well. “Why’s that? Didn’t you just convince me you enjoy your new home?”

Leon turns his face away demonstratively. As if he isn’t like this with you all the time, you snicker inwardly.

Grace abruptly stands up, so does Owen. Your brows fly even higher up as you realize that something’s about to be revealed. While your eyes zero out on the couple, your hand blindly reaches out for Leon’s on pure distressed instinct, and he catches it immediately, squeezing reassuringly.

“Mom, Dad…” Gracie starts hesitantly, her eyes flickering between you and Leon. “I… We’re having a baby. You’re gonna be grandparents.”

…

Air gets knocked out of your lungs.

“What?” You and Leon utter in unison, eyes wide as saucers.

“…Here,” Owen pushes a small gift box, tied with a bow, towards you two. “Gracie prepared those for everyone, wanted to make it special, but got too nervous tonight to follow the plan.”

You tear the wrapping with shaky hands and open the box. Inside, nestled on top of pink and blue paper shavings, lays a oh-too-familiar to you stick with two pink lines. While you take it, Leon grabs a stacked piece of fabric situated next to it. As he unfolds it, it turns out to be a tiny infant bodysuit—white with black ‘THE BEST PARENTS get promoted to GRANDPARENTS’ printed in cursive over it. You stare at it, dumbfounded, and feel tears already trailing down your cheeks.

“No way…” You all but whimper, rubbing your misty eyes.

Seeing the way Grace grows more and more pale with every second, you jump onto your feet and rush towards your daughter, squeezing her in your arms.

“How long… since when… How are you feeling, baby?” You mutter somewhere to her shoulder, fully crying now.

“I’m okay… Nauseous sometimes, and can’t fully realize the whole thing, but… Better than I imagined.” Grace smiles softly, rubbing your back.

“Yeah, toxicosis can be rough… But it’ll pass, baby. Ginger or herbal tea works good…” You give Grace a whole damn speech, completely forgetting about anything and anyone else.

Leon just slumps in his seat, his face unreadable. Not hostile… but impenetrable. While you busy smoldering your daughter, he eyes Owen, clears his throat, then gets up, walks up to him and pats his back.

“You do realize if you hurt her given this predicament you put my daughter in, from now on I won’t just cut off your head—I’ll cut off your balls as well, right?” He says, making Grace’s husband laugh nervously.

“Leon!” You chide him sternly, but get zero response.

“Swear to me she’ll never regret bearing kid conceived from you.” Leon demands, looking the young man dead in the eyes.

“I swear, Mr. Kennedy.” Owen replies right away, his eyes meeting Leon’s. It’s like their gazes are fighting—and none is willing to submit.

You interfere, practically dragging Leon from him. “Stop it. It’s about your daughter. Don’t you dare starting your testosteronish feud.”

Gracie laughs heartily. “You are grey, Dad!”

Leon’s jaw clenches, yet he doesn’t object and just nods before he walks over to Grace, who looks at him timidly.

“So that’s why you wasn’t drinking… Decided to make me a gaffer before I even go grey, huh?” He mutters as he embraces your daughter protectively.

“And you’re way too young to be pregnant.” Leon grumbles, squeezing her tight.

“I’m literally in my mid-twenties!” She exclaims. “Didn’t Mom have me even earlier?”

“Yeah well, I knew that I risked becoming cockless when I knocked her up. Does your husband know?” He throws another glare at Owen.

You switch to drastic measures. “Kennedy.”

“Which one?” Leon inquires nonchalantly.

”I’m not a Kennedy anymore!” Gracie chuckles, clearly more relaxed now.

“Like hell you aren’t.” Leon rumbles, displeased, only hugging her tighter. “Was born as one, will always be one.”

You nod, surprised, because when you found out you was pregnant with her, you already was pushing the whole ass third month—completely ignoring the constant throwing up, believing it was just a stomach bug, as if Leon didn’t shoot his loads deep inside of you almost every night before.

“You know how far along you are, baby?” You smile at your daughter, trying to get everyone back to safe kinda conversation territory.

“Ah, not far at all. Just nearing three weeks.” Grace mirrors your smile, trying to squirm out of her father’s grasp—and failing.

“So… barely one month in, huh?” Leon mutters. “A bumpy road ahead, then. Considering the fact that we thought you was throwing goddamn parties back in your mother’s womb… Got me wonderin’ if that passes down through generations.”

“Don’t scare her, Leon!” You hiss as you swat at him lightly. “It’s going to be okay, baby. Just take care of yourself and let Owen take charge.”

Gracie, obviously not scared since she barely understood what she gotten herself into, just laughs. “Sure thing, Ma—oh, I’m sorry, I meant grandma.”

You snicker, “Not funny. Your father’s gonna go into cardiac arrest or send your husband into traumatic surgery if you’ll keep going.” You then pat her back, lightly pushing both Leon and Owen towards the table. “C’mon, back to dinner, everyone! We surely do have a thing to feast about now.”

You put your Kindle on your nightstand and turn the lights on your side off. Gloom envelops the bedroom as you rest your head on your pillow, exhaling. You surely do need to get a nice sleep after the news that got thrown at you tonight.

~ ♡ ~

1st Month

Leon’s side of the bed is eerily quiet. You roll a bit closer, wondering if he’s even breathing. He does—and stares at the ceiling in the dark, that one Passenger song vibe.

“Same old empty feeling in your heart?” You hum intoning, unable to resist.

Leon drifts his eyes to you, gazing at you like you’re a fucking halfwit.

You decide to bury yourself further. “Well… Y’know, need the light when it’s burning low, need the sun when it starts to sn— Okay, bad timing, right. Sorry, sorry.”

With the way he looks at you, you’re positive he’s divorcing you as soon as the sun is up.

So there’s no bounds to your surprise when his arms tug you to his chest, his nose burying in your hair. You freeze, not knowing any better what to do, just letting him sniff and squeeze and do anything else to you.

“Can’t fucking believe it.” Leon mumbles, voice muffled against the top of your head. “I’m going to gift this asshole condoms for the rest of his goddamn life.”

You chuckle, rubbing his bare back. “She was going to get pregnant eventually. Owen’s not the worst option. I think he’s gonna be a good dad. And he treats Gracie great, never heard a complaint from her.”

Leon scoffs. “Good dad my ass. She’s gonna call him Daddy now, not me! I mean when referring to him while speaking to her spawn, y’know. That’s fucking insane.”

“Babe, you need to calm down. Won’t do your heart any good.” You trace his vertebrae with your fingertips.

“Take that back,” Leon frowns, raising his head. “What do you think I am, seventy?”

You giggle, poking his skin gently. “You’re pushing fifty, hon.”

”FYI… Well, first things first, I know what FYI means. And also, I’m still pretty much in my prime.” Leon declares as his hands go wandering shamelessly, settling on your butt-cheeks.

“So what now? Thinkin’ I’m offside now?” He grumbles, sliding a bit lower on the bed.

“Just stating the facts.” You shrug as he pulls you on top of him.

”I didn’t dispute, babe.” You laugh. “I’m not getting any younger as well.”

”You are younger than me.” He grumbles, kneading your ass. “But, I’ll always be able to get it up with you looking that smoking hot.”

That makes you laugh even harder. “Well, why’d you think about that? If I remember correctly, we got zero problems with you gettin’ it up.”

“That’s right. And you’re currently doing a great job at getting it up. Layin’ here ass up, putting those titties on me.” Leon smirks as his palm slaps your rear lightly.

You squeak, making his grin go only wider. He squeezes your flesh for a bit more before his gaze suddenly grows serious, his hand stills as his eyes search yours. “Wanna knock you up again.”

You choke on your saliva. “That so?”

“Mhm.” He hums as he pushes you off him softly, his lips travelling down your neck. “Curious if I still can.”

You let out a shaky breath. “So planning on giving it a try?”

Leon nods, his fingers already slipping underneath your underwear. “Right away, gorgeous.”

You squeeze out a sound of acknowledgment, your chest rumbling with barely contained laughter.

The dude who was dead set on proving you that aging does not affect him, forgot you got an IUD.

You wipe your palms on your apron before taking it off finally.

~ ♡ ~

2nd Month

”Babe, dinner!” You call out as you hang you apron on a rack.

“Yeah thanks, hon.” Leon mutters from the living room, and you stick your head out to see what he’s been up to. Usually he rushes straight into kitchen.

What you didn’t except to see is your husband on the couch, flipping the pages of pink photo album, “GRACE ISABELLA KENNEDY (Gracie) Born 04/22/20** 05:12 AM” written in your hand at the cover.

“Haven’t opened this thing since her birthday this year.” You smile, taking a seat next to him.

Leon keeps silence. You gently squeeze his free hand.

“She’s been so teeny. Puffy cheeks, bunny teeth before she convinced us to get her braces, always peeing her diapers at 3 A.M. And she always wrote letter ‘R’ backwards, remember?” He croaks out, fingers tracing his favourite photo—you, two decades younger, holding a pink bundle in your arms by the entrance of maternity hospital.

“She did.” You smile softly.

Leon sighs deeply, staring into the picture for a few more minutes. “I never thought she’d grow up so fast. Feelin’ like a selfish bastard, but I wish she’d stay with us forever.”

You move even closer to him, embracing his larger frame. “Hey. She’s still our daughter. Just an adult now.”

He leans closer to you, molding your bodies together. “Nah. Never gonna be able to perceive her that way.”

You sigh, resting you head on Leon’s shoulder. His fingers comb through your hair absently, lost in thought. You know you need to give him time to accept this whole thing, and you just hope it’ll be better as it’ll go.

But he needs to consume at least some freaking food even more.

“You have to eat.” You nudge Leon gently, getting up and pulling him with you.

With zero objections and a grouchy ‘yes ma’am’, he follows your lead and plops down once again by the table.

You both go to bed early that night. In the morning when putting his phone off charger, you catch a glimpse of his lockscreen.

The very same picture of you and newborn Gracie he was staring at last night.

“And those pictures she sent tonight, right? She’s showing already, I can’t wrap my head aroun— Fuck… feel so good, baby.” Leon grunts as he fucks you into the mattress.

~ ♡ ~

3rd Month

You’d eagerly carry on the conversation if his cock wasn’t slamming your cervix every time you try to inhale. All you’re able to do is to let out filthy moans, clutching on to his back as he wrecks your cunt in missionary.

Leon pants, his dick pistoning in and out of you in a steady pace, not rushed yet penetration is still deep enough to turn your brain into mush. But Leon doesn’t even seem to fucking notice—except for moments when your walls flutter around his shaft—and just plunges into your pussy absentmindedly.

…Just your casual white noise type of sex. Isn’t that common among all the other couples?

“Just thinking about it… That’s my grandkid my kid is carrying.” He rasps, holding your upper side a bit above the bed.

He pulls away from your mouth; string of saliva connecting you breaks as soon as he starts to speak. “…How far along she gotta be to know the gender?”

He’s in you so deep, you honestly can’t even realize how he’s able to speak coherently. You just moan as he bottoms out once again, dick nestled so far in you—you only see his greying pubic hair when looking down at where you two are connected and his balls pressing against the slit of your ass. You let out another moan, even more dirty, as he slams back into you after almost pulling out completely, and grasp his head to pull him into the sloppiest kiss human could ever perform. That’s why you both love missionary—licking into each other’s mouths while his cock gives your cunt a straightforward beating. Leon prefers you riding him a little bit more, though, but with those creaking bones and aching joints you thought it’d be more like a circus touring in your bed.

Leon snarls hoarsely into your mouth, as if just realizing that you two are actually in the middle of pretty much something, and his tongue attacks yours. You two kiss like wild animals, licking and sucking, and, from the way his hips start moving faster and messier, you suppose that eases his mind a little.

At this point, you just whine.

“They planned gender party for next month, can we please stop discussing things like this during moments like these?” You mewl, trying to pull him back in to lick and kiss and suck and bite his lips.

Leon succumbs, his lips moving against yours for couple of seconds more—and then he’s off again. “Those youngters… What the fuck even is gender pa—”

”Leon,” Something in between of moan and groan slips off your lips as you move your hips to meet his, capturing one of his palms and bringing it down to your wailing clit. He blinks, looking at you guiltily, before getting back to business and torturing your swollen nub, rolling it between his calloused fingers while his cock moves so fast, probably trying to dig a fucking hole inside of you.

You cry out, your whole body jolting from the intensity, tits jumping up and down. One of your nipples is suddenly in his mouth, thumb rubbing your clit in systematic circles and dick hitting that same spot with every thrust.

Quite enough for you to cum. You’re not getting any younger, Leon doesn’t too—yet this time he lasts even longer than you, too deep in thoughts to bust a nut as soon as your walls milk him for cum.

He finally registers your cunt pulsating around him and growls lowly, fucking you through your orgasm. You keep mewling while he chases his own release, squeezing your sides.

With a shuddering moan, he enters you balls-deep as his cock twitches inside of you and floods your guts with hot thick cum. He pumps in and out a few more times, some of fluid spilling out of you, but you’re too blissed-out to pay attention to anything going on inside or outside.

Leon collapses on top of you, still not pulling out, his cock sheltering inside of your snug and warm cunt. That feels as good as a bit overstimulating—but again, too blissed-out.

He rolls you two to the side, him facing you. “You alright?” Leon whispers, brushing some wet strands of hair off your forehead.

You nod, tugging him closer to you. He complies, connected to you in every way possible.

Leon lets out a deep sigh. “I swear I’m going goddamn nuts. Thinking about this whole shitshow while fuckin’ the tightest cunt.”

You hum. “I get it, no worries. But I honestly thought I’d kill you if you didn’t shut up and make me cum.”

Leon chuckles, velvety and warm.

Not before his expression changes completely.

“I… I didn’t pull out while busting, y’know right?”

You look down at where you two are connected eloquently. Take a fucking guess, you think.

Leon grows even paler. “Listen, I… I gotta get you a plan B. I know I told you I wanted to knock you up again, but that was like in heat, you know… We’re gonna have our hands full with Gracie’s kiddo already. I mean, do you want another one? Would you be able to carry it? We can discuss, but— Not right now maybe, huh babe? …Wait, you didn’t get menopause yet, right?”

You enjoy the look on his face while you burst out laughing—the power this man has over you, making you nicker stupid after making you cum even more stupid.

And you definitely ain’t planning on telling him about your godforsaken intrauterine.

You almost have steam is coming out of your ears.

~ ♡ ~

4th Month

“Couldn’t you ask me for it at home?” You hiss, tying Leon’s tie. “Why in the hell would you even wear a goddamn suit to a baby shower? We look like crazy.”

He just grins smugly, and you—by pure accident—tug on his tie a little bit too much.

Gracie’s gender party is hosted in the backyard of her and Owen’s house. Nothing fancy, just balloons, confetti, little jar where guests can put their predictions in.

You know it’s a girl. So you do put a pink little sticker inside, while Leon just grunts and says that this whole thing is stupid. You saw him throwing a pink sticker inside twenty minutes ago, though.

You glance around awkwardly, feeling like you two were odd ones out. You wore a simple floral sundress while Leon went all out—even combing his hair.

Country music plays quietly in the background from the speaker; you snitch a fruity canapé you yourself made an hour ago from small table with polka-dotted tablecloth in the corner.

“Gather up, everyone!” Gracie’s happy voice rings out.

She truly is glowing, her bump visible in a yellow sundress and golden locks spilling over her delicate shoulders. The way her husband looks at her makes you happy—so happy you don’t even notice that your own husband looks at you the very same way while you clap your hands excitedly.

You suppose someone’s gaze lingers on you way too long for Leon’s liking, because next second his arm snatches your waist tightly, pulling your body closer to his side.

Pink.

You two watch as your daughter takes her stance next to her husband, both clutching needles—yeah, that simple—and as soon as the small crowd chants ‘three’, they pop the pink and blue balloons.

The myriad of confetti splashes onto the green lawn.

A girl.

A granddaughter.

Tears escape your eyes before your brain even registers what your orbs saw. You hear everyone cheering, see Owen kissing Grace, notice that thanks God someone snaps a picture.

And what you feel is Leon’s hands enveloping your waist while his lips settle on yours, kissing you tenderly and slowly.

You want to protest, to tell him that you two should make it about Gracie, that him kissing you right now probably looks out of place and attention-seeking, but instead you just return the kiss, arms circling his neck.

That truly is magnificent—the way the product of your love creates another human out of the very same love.

Soapy water skims down your body as you rub your sternum with a loofah. Showers are your own kind of therapy. Steamy or chilly, quick or continuous… Like a physical reincarnation.

~ ♡ ~

5th Month

“Is gifting them pink onesie gonna be sexist? I’m not tryna joke about it, really, know that’s serious, I get it that colors are stigmatized, but… I dunno, pink is cute. For boys, too. Stereotypes suck. But they’re havin’ a girl. Will that make them think I’m an old goofer who believes that pink is strictly girly?”

Ah, yes.

Must not forget velcro-husband.

Whenever people came over and saw you two walking out of bathroom together, they told you to get a room. When you reassured them that you just washed your hands while he did potty, they looked at you like you told them you kick puppies.

And of course everybody considered it a necessity to mention that your marriage will flop if you’ll keep doing grossy things in presence of each other.

Well yikes, because it did not flop, in fact. You always have someone to talk to whenever you use bathroom. And those jerks have not. So fuck them.

You snicker, shampooing your hair. “I like pink. Gracie does too. Think that will do. But we shall go for neutrals, too. Like… beige, white, gray. We can go take a look, like… Target, dunno. Walmart. Or baby store.”

Concept of shame stops existing when you’re nearing your pearl anniversary.

So if he takes a piss while you’re showering, that does not mean you’ll stop wanting to ride his cock until it goes flaccid later that night.

Leon snorts. “Yeah well, haven’t done baby shopping in a minute.”

You snort as well, gaze flickering briefly to him. He winks at you, as if he isn’t currently aiming to the toilet bowl.

You roll your eyes, turning your face back to shower wall, lips twitching in a smile. Goofball.

Leon tucks himself back in, flushing the toilet and as you reach for the soap bar, he’s already next to you, arms pulling you close to his chest.

“My God, won’t you at least take your clothes off?” You gasp, feeling thin and soaked through fabric of his shirt rubbing against your bare back.

“Nah. Want you to see that I’d make any sacrifices in the name of love.” He grins, squeezing your tits.

Your eyes wander to the floor, suddenly self-conscious. For millionth time—you’re not getting any younger. Obviously he has seen you in your not the best shape when you recovered from childbirth, but that was decades ago. Now it’s different.

You’re aging.

He does, too—but he’s a man. He’d be considered a DILF. You’d be considered an victim of cyberbullying.

You see first grey hairs on your head, you gain weight—and you never was skinny by standards in the first place, you feel your skin stretched and taut and changed and you think you look like a piece of shit.

Until he’s next to you—and you suddenly feel like you’re Victoria’s Secret angel or something.

Somehow he reads it all in your gaze.

”I’d put you on cover of Playboy right now.” Leon smirks, his hands sliding down to your hips.

“You’d be the only one to buy this issue, then.” You joke, throwing your head back to rest it on his shoulder.

“Of course. Because there’d be only one issue, silly. I wouldn’t want those models to lose their jobs and throw eggshels to our windows.” He deadpans, stroking the dough of your thighs softly. “Or deal with paparazzi.”

You chuckle, then smiling softly. “You’re unbearable. But… that does make me feel better.”

Leon hums, pressing a soft kiss to the nape of your neck and then casually striking you with the most romantic and deep shit you’ve ever heard. “When I married you, I married the fact that I want to go through it all with you, be young and in love, grow old and grumpy together. Sure as hell I did not marry your flesh. It tells our story, you know.” He traces a scar on your leg. “That was when I forgot my wallet and we had to run before they’d get us our check.” He then moves to your stomach. “This one is not here currently, but there was a mark of you carrying Gracie.”

He then cups your face, tracing a wrinkle right under your eye. “And this one… a milestone. With a claim of spending lifetime together.”

Leon swipes off the tear that forms exactly there a second later, then kissing the soft skin.

You open your mouth, close it again, and when you open it next time, you close it around his lips.

Because, after all, all the fairy-tales do end with a kiss from Prince Charming. Even if he dadjokes and keeps asking where are the socks he currently is wearing.

“Look, we have to get this one!” You exclaim as you hold up one of the tiny bodysuits for Leon to see. It’s adorable—baby pink with a big bow and ‘princess since day one’ written in the middle.

~ ♡ ~

6th Month

He chuckles, nodding. “When you was pregnant with Gracie, we barely bought something… that nice. Good thing your side of the family gifted us tons of all this stuff.”

You smile meekly. “I do remember. That’s why I try to… compensate it, I guess. By gifting her own daughter tons of all this stuff.”

Leon’s face softens, his arms wrapping around your shoulders. “Then let’s shop to your heart’s content.”

You move through aisles, Leon obediently collecting everything to your basket—booties, sliders, vests.

”We can’t forget diapers!” You exclaim, “Those are so expensive nowadays. Especially since Owen’s family insisted on buying all those strollers and bassinets. Oh Gosh, can’t forget car seat, too!” You keep rambling.

Leon pecks your cheek with a chuckle. “It’s like you’re shopping for your own.”

”It is my own. My… grandkid.” You declare, grabbing a pack of Pampers.

You two keep navigating through the store, his arm around your waist. By the time you spend 15 more minutes, your basket is full with baby stuff.

“May I help you?” You hear friendly voice from behind; turn around only to see a sales assistant, nice young lady.

“Uh, no, thanks, we’re good.” You smile sweetly.

“Got it. Don’t hesitate to ask for help if anything. And congratulations on your journey!” She returns the smile, subtly eyeing your stomach.

Your cheeks flush. “I-it’s for our daughter. I-I mean, she’s having a baby! So it’s for her baby. Yeah.”

Smile of the woman falters, but she pulls it on once again, nodding understandingly. “Ah, I see. My apologies, ma’am. Like I said, don’t hesitate to reach out for assistance.”

She walks away, and you turn to Leon.

”Do I… look that young?” You mutter.

Leon snickers, patting your back. “You have no idea, baby.”

Immediate confidence-boost. As if he didn’t try to prove the same thing to you every other night.

“So, have you thought of names?” You smile softly, feeling Grace’s bump reverently.

~ ♡ ~

7th Month

The living room of their house is cozy, even more so in expectancy of arrival. You sit next to Gracie on the couch while Leon and Owen sit on armchairs across you two.

“Ah, that…” Gracie suddenly smiles conspiratorially. Then her gaze softens; she looks directly in your eyes. “Well… You’re getting a namesake, Mom.”

You blink. Once. Twice. Thrice.

You think that you probably look stupid blinking that much.

“Huh?”

Owen pipes in since Gracie barely contains her happy giggles, “We’re naming her after you and my mother, Mrs. Kennedy. Your name first, since you’re Gracie’s mom. My mother’s name gonna be the middle one. Just thought… We feel like this is the right thing to do, considering how much you put into our family. Besides, we do like your name quite a lot. Hope you do not mind?” He smiles warmly.

So you do another thing you do perfectly—cry.

“Aw, come on now, Mom! I always told you your name is so pretty.” Grace wraps her arms around you, her belly bumping into your side.

You catch Leon’s gaze, his mouth stretched in a grin. “I suppose you’re plannin’ on making a boy and naming him after me?”

Grace snickers. “Nah, Dad. That’s Mom-exclusive option.”

“Right. After all, she did all the hard job.” Leon smiles, getting up lazily and making his way to you.

”Why do you all make everything about me…” You mutter, finding solace in his arms.

”Everything has always been about you, babe. It’s only you just noticing.” He breathes to your ear, pressing your head close to his chest.

More like close to cloud nine.

You barely slept recently. The closer Grace’s due date is, the more nervous you get.

~ ♡ ~

8th Month

So to prevent yourself from going completely nuts, you go ahead and deep clean. The whole damn house.

Even the attic.

Especially the attic.

Attic resembles a history book. A very sad one at that, you think as you discover a bag full of Gracie’s old things.

Realization of your kid growing up hit you way too late. Even Leon seemed to get used to the thought.

Her favourite stuffed teddy bear, the one you stitched over and over again. Her AC/DC teeshirt, because your girl had an emo-phase like a decent lady should. Her old iPod, Harry Styles on lockscreen. And a pile of her drawings.

Long story short, you cried. Again. Of course you did. Not just cried. Weeped. Wailed.

Sticking to the role of mother for recent years of your life, you suddenly feel… lost. Undue.

It finally gets to you that you are getting older indeed, for Christ’s sake. And you have no idea what to do about it.

So it’s just you, your existential crisis and Gracie’s drawings in the attic.

Then you discover her baby blanket, and you swear to God you’ll never visit attic again.

And that’s exactly how you fall asleep—hugging your grown-ass daughter’s baby blanket.

When you wake up, you’re not in attic. You’re in your bed. With Leon next to you. He’s deep asleep already, but still grips you tight and keeps you close to him.

Your heart clutches in your chest. So he carried you.

Out of dark and into the light.

Literally and figuratively.

So when you smear a kiss against his cheek and he pulls you closer reflexively, you realize something important.

He’s here. He really is here. Always was. Always is. Always will be.

Literally and figuratively.

8lbs, 21ln, 1:27 PM.

~ ♡ ~

9th Month

Your granddaughter was born.

Of course you firstly check on your own daughter, making sure she’s in one piece, helping her drink and eat and do anything she needs.

Then the nurse brings in your granddaughter, and you just have zero idea what to do. Just like a first-time mother all over again.

You hold her tiny body, support her tiny head, look at her tiny eyes, gently touch her tiny nose… and feel like you have gone through another pregnancy.

Technically, you have.

“Looks just like her mama, right?” Leon rasps right above your ear.

You jolt at the word, but then you snap your head towards Gracie and realize that you’re not the only mother here now.

“Can you help me hold her?” Leon says quietly, and you immediately give him a big smile.

You guide him, making sure his hands hold the newborn tight and secure. Seeing him with a baby feels surreal; he’s all giddy and hesitant. Just like a first-time father all over again.

You move closer to Leon, perching your chin on his shoulder.

“Does it feel any different for you? Well, I mean from Gracie. Because I honestly feel the same. Nervous, all that shit… You’d guess I’d be seasoned by now.” Leon chuckles, tracing infant’s puffy cheek.

“That’s the thing that will never change.” He corrects you as he gently passes the babygirl back to her mother.

You do not take your eyes off him when you reply. “It does not. Not when I’m with you. That’s the thing that never changes.”

Leon’s eyes dart towards you, so tender and affectionate you feel butterflies.

Then you finally lock eyes and lips.

Both having to navigate a new chapter of your life. Just like a first-time grandparents.

It’s simple as that—if he’s by your side, then you’re ready to.

With him being your constant amongst all the changes.

~ ♡ ~

We're only gettin' older, baby

And I've been thinkin' about it lately

Does it ever drive you crazy

Just how fast the night changes?

But there's nothin' to be afraid of

Even when the night changes

It will never change me and you.

[brucewaynehater101]

Pre-Batman Time Traveling Tim AU:

CW: OG Bruce is a more comic accurate POS

Tim's life is fine. If anyone bothered to ask him, that's how he'd respond.

He's been a vigilante for over a decade, he's set to inherit WE, and he'll occasionally see his siblings.

Sure, he has to avoid Bruce at all costs while tediously (and unnoticeably) stalking the man's movements so that he can intervene anytime Bruce tries to attack his siblings.

That's an old hat by now, though. At least it brought Tim just a bit closer to the other kids Bruce "raised."

So, life is alright. It's not bad. It's not good. It just is for Tim. He was fine with it until he was chucked into an alternative reality with no reliable way to get home.

For some fucking reason, he arrives years before Timothy Drake is born. There's no Flash, no JL, and no record of time travel/alternative realities quite yet. Hell, there isn't even a Batman. Bruce is still traveling abroad to train.

There's absolutely nothing... And it's eerie. Crime in Gotham is at an all-time high, Gordon isn't commissioner (meaning the GCPD hasn't been cleaned up yet), and there are no rogues. It's just normal and frequent crime.

Tim tries. He really really tries not to mess with anything and focus on getting home... but he's been a vigilante for over a decade. He's incapable of not responding to people in need.

And, unless he re-invents a significant portion of technological advancement, Tim won't be able to go home for years. He's trying not to think about it, how he's trapped without any of his resources or allies, but it's an inescapable fact. He's stuck here and, while he's bidding his time, it's better for him to focus on how different Gotham is (and by the gods is every piece of technology so fucking slow and clunky and ancient).

Fuck. Bruce is lucky that Tim isn't following in Red Hood's footsteps because getting away with crime is so fucking easy now. The technology is old, most records are paper, and Gotham officials accept briberies as if they are regular parts of their jobs. In fact, Tim's forgery is simple in comparison to the ones he's had to do before. If Tim wasn't trying to clean up Gotham, it would be child's play to become top dog of crime.

Overall, he manages to start a technology buisness that instantly takes off with his success (using his future knowledge might be cheating, but fuck it. He's going to need clean money for his plans). He isn't able to keep either of his last names for obvious reasons, but his forged identity still maintains "Timothy."

While Bruce is abroad, Tim painstakingly rearranges Gotham's underworld, weeds out corruption, and bolsters his vigilante persona. He focuses on rehab programs, increasing clean job opportunities, increasing access to affordable healthcare, and overall decreasing reliance on crime to survive (if he ensures that a Willis Todd is hired at his company, then that's simply a bit of helpless meddling). He also attempts to carefully take down the CoO and monitor the LoA.

How is he managing all of this while also patrolling near nightly? Practice. Years of practice with juggling his many responsibilities in life. At least he doesn't have any social or familial requirements to also manage.

It's a delicate balancing act.

One that almost gets completely thrown by Batman's first appearance.

Tim has been Gotham's only vigilante for two years now. Even though this Bruce is older than Tim (a 28 to Tim's 26), the younger man can't help but to think of Bruce as a baby vigilante.

Don't get him wrong. Bruce is highly, highly trained. He's skilled in various forms of combat, is strategic, and is extremely capable. That doesn't change how new he is to vigilantism. It doesn't change how he hasn't yet established his patterns, modes of engagement, and equipment. He's new to every aspect... which is why it shouldn't surprise Tim when Batman commits murder.

To be fair to Tim, he completely forgot that Bruce hasn't always had his moral code. It is such an integral part of the man that has caused him and his loved ones a great deal of pain. The idea that Batman didn't always believe this?

Tim called into work for a week so he could stare at his apartment walls for three days and then plan.

[fairlyabookie]

Their Heart to You

Author's note: How they confess

Content: fluff

Leona finds courting a tedious process; he grew up watching his older brother courting a partner, getting married, and eventually, have a kid, whom he considered a handful. He had seen what love can bring first hand and often was asked about his love life by his brother. 

Most of the time, he hated these nosy questions, shouldering them off with a vague statement so they won’t be asked again. Leona told himself not to have his judgment be clouded by love - he had to make sure he had a clear and sound mind, enough to make adequate decisions and see to it that things get done. He casts his worries and other frivolous things to the side, focusing on nothing but himself and his academics for the time being. 

Admittedly, he didn’t think of you as a distraction per se; rather, he considered you as an equal, your strengths and weaknesses comprising your overall character. Sure, he entertained the thought of courting you, his thoughts meandering to your silhouette, your hubris around him, the poise you carried yourself; no doubt Leona found you entertaining. 

Love, a fickle thing, embodied itself in his time with you, listening to your words as you spoke to him with determined eyes; his honesty abundant, he was more than willing to give - though, executing his ‘love’ would be difficult. Matter of fact, he was clueless. 

As for courting you, he preferred to keep such sentiments and wait for the opportune moment to speak his peace. A watchful predator eyeing his prey, he waits until you’re by yourself to tell you, his charm, his authenticity. 

The Leech twin had a couple tricks up his sleeve when it came to wooing you: he won’t say that these notions would charm you, but rather, appeal to you on his interests and hopefully, have you show your interests to him as well. He greatly valued his friendship with you, often looking forward to seeing you as the day’s passing and wanting to speak to you on occasion.

He’d be subtle in his affections; often engaging in unprofessional behavior, as quoted from Azul and his own twin brother, to see you satisfied. Of course, he had to pull some strings to ensure you had a positive experience with him, after all, you’re the one toying with his heart. 

 To quote Azul, Jade would be a handful, as love captivated him like a spell. At times, the Dorm Leader would begrudgingly let Jade take the task so he can see you. Even at the sight of you, Azul knew not to impede Jade’s advances. In other words, Azul and Floyd would play Jade’s wingmen, regardless if they like it or not. 

Jade had his own ways of wooing, unorthodox methods an average one would say, where he’d plan on potential dates with just you and him and with no interruptions. He’d keep his cool, knowing very well that he can achieve his goal in conveying his feelings outright.  

If one can be honest, Jade had realized his feelings for a while; he yearned, he needed, he wanted to have your heart. Such feelings, he hoped, can come across you once the timing was right. He hated how heavy his heart weighed with such sentiments, yet alas, he hoped he played his cards well for this moment.

They say that the best way to steal one’s heart is through their stomach, and Trey took that personally. He knew everyone’s tastes, including yours. On that note, he’d make sure to bake your favorites when you had a bad day or when you had a craving. 

 The third year regarded you as a friend at first, but he found himself thinking about you when it came to baking, pouring his heart into this piece, gentle hands carving a delicacy that he and you can enjoy in private. 

Trey may not be good with his words, but he can think of something sweeter, something you’d like from his expertise. Sure, writing down his feelings would work, but he’d stick with his skills: baking. 

He’d spend hours doing trial and error with recipes, pouring in particular ingredients to see what would be the perfect taste for your pastry, careful not to ruin the surprise when he’d present this cake to you. His feelings towards you, initially a nuisance, came forth as a blessing as he spent more time working on this pastry and spending time with you. 

Love, as corny as it can be, seemingly made his works a tad bit sweeter. He can fathom the taste, a delicious warmth that enveloped him like a hug. Did he manage to achieve the perfect cake? He thinks to himself, satisfaction tugging at the corner of his lips. Trey couldn’t wait to have you taste it.

[urautismdiagnosis-wistie]

Dashi Design (and her lore for my au)

DASHIIIIIII she has my life eeee

Dashi is my go getter queen, also the headshot of her is her correct hair texture its just that the total body art is a bit older but yeh :>

Dashi lore for my au under the cut

ONTO THE LORE FOR DASHI IN MY AU 🎉🎉🎉

First of all, let's take a little look at her interests- surfing, photography, going out to cave dive for those photos-

And she does all of this stuff, that alot of people might only do as hobbies, to the max!

Whenever she has any interest she always goes as high as she possibly can-

Her family is kinda rich, like "we have rich person hobbies and have expensive vacations every year 💅" kind of rich. Hence why she was able to get so much support for all her interests at a young age, whether it be surfing or photography competitions and so on.

Anyways she's also got an older brother, (I've named him Dan btw) and he's the eldest

See the thing about him and dashi is that they used to be super close as kids yk? He was the oldest sibgling and big brother and both he and dashi were both similar in alot of ways! They were both super competitive and determined to reach their goals, he also was the one who got her into surfing and taught her a ton of stuff!

They were close kinda like how dashi and koshi are...

The thing is though a big part of his identity was being the golden child and amazing big brother and perfect high achiever son, so when dashi started getting older and developing her like.. whole seperate interests and identity that her brother...

Well they started clashing alot, because well she couldn't play the "little sister" that he could teach so everyone could admire how amazing he was, instead she was having her own achievements that he couldn't have any credit in.

He was the kind of older brother who... well choose to be kinda patronizing to make themselves more masculine and popular... and at a certain point it went from "aw big brother helping teach his lil sister!" To " ur actually talking down on me and I hate that, and whenever i try to bring it up you act like I'm a 5 year old when I'm not. Also I dont need ur bad advice on this, I know what I'm doing and ur just acting like a pro in something u don't know anything about"

Alot of his identity and self worth comes from bragging about *his* achievements

The undermining of her own achievements didn't even just come from him either, alot of her passions and skills were just seen as hobbies for fun and not real jobs. Its why she ended up as primarily a computer specialist, she worked as a meteorologist actually! She would use those advanced machines and systems to track and decipher weather, and even was a co-pilot for the weather researchers... but her parents just kinda saw it as her just "being a weather girl"

Her parents are genuinely very kind and caring, nuturing her interests and always trying to be there for her emotional needs but, but they're very out of touch. The type of people to just... not understand why saying a certain phrase *actually is kinda specist* or *why photography actually matters to helping climate change* or *hey actually you can't just try to feed wild animals food even if they act cute cuz it'll hurt them and no it actually IS really bad for a variety of reasons and-*

That sorta thing...

They do genuinely love and try to support her tho, they just... wanted her to get a real job so she could have a good life :/ they're genuie ly nice folks who love to help people out tho

Regardless though,dashi still wanted to fulfill her passions and dreams and needs,and then she learned about the octonauts

at the time thr octonauts were a VERY experimental and risky organization, but she did research and genuinely believed and wanted to be part of what could possibly be a revolutionary organization for rescue, research, exploration, and conservation-

So she applied in secret.

The thing is though, Dan had found out. Their relationship at the time was strained at best but they were still siblings. But then he snitched.

her parents. Freaked. Out

To say they were concerned about their daughter going out to just- possibly- "die in the middle of the ocean!" Or "be stuck and trapped with strangers in the middle of the ocean!" Or "struggle to ever settle down because you're in the middle of the ocean!" Or "get stranded on an island in the middle of the ocean!" Or "get eaten by a whale and cry because u weren't ever able to get back with ur ex u sarcastically said ud get back with because we kept talking about how amazing he was and how we thought ud get married and how sad that made us and then you'd die in a whale in the middle of the ocean!" Or whatever 🙄

Like girl did get swallowed by a whale but it was chill yall need to calm down 💅 like so what if siphonphores tried to eat her once or if the octopods crashed or nearly crashed several times? Like she handled it yall need to have some faith in ur daughter smh

Anyways needless to say they made the process SO HARD esp since Dan STOLE HER LAPTOP WITH HER FILES because he was "woRriEd foR hIs baby SiStEr trYiNg tO ruuN AwAy🥺🥺🥺" She is a grown woman btw and a highly renowned professional in her career.

anyways she managed to join thr octonauts anyways and her parents did chill at least half a year later once they realized she wasn't gonna die in the ocean and that she was fine not "settling down" for a while, they still DONT understand it but like they were just worried their daughter was going crazy and running away (THANKS FOR ADDING A BUNCH OF DRAMATIC LIES TO CHANGE THE STORY DAN)

Anyways she and Dan don't talk anymore, if u ask either of them about it "they just drifted apart", koshi doesn't really know what all the drama that happened was tbh :/ she just remembered them fighting over a laptop and figures they never really got along 😐👍

Anyways dashi makes it a point to never make koshi feel the way dan made her feel

Also dan ended up becoming a lawyer for businesses if u were interested :/

Dashis parents sound pretty bad here and they def aren't perfect, but they're usually just uninformed and they genuinely do have a "we should help everyone in our community ^v^ " mindset and taught dashi alot about self confidence and etc

If u made it this far then congrats!

Btw she didn't start out as a scientist when she joined the octonauts,its actually something that she added to her skillsets and shellington supported her thru it

I'll have to make a dashington post soon lol and also tall about her relationships with the rest of the octonauts crew

She and peso were the last two octonauts to join

[woodblxssomcrowned]

Seeing as the ten year anniversary of me creating these kids is coming up soon, I thought I’d make a thing of all of them and reintroduce them!

These are my OCs Danma, Kaname and Kichiro; the children of Senju Hashirama and Uzumaki Mito. I created them back in 2015 when I was roleplaying Mito here in tumblr, and I wanted to make some headcanons for her and Hashirama’s children. They ended up being very well received, and I tried writing as them a few times and before I knew it I had made a separate blog only for them. Mito’s blog have not endured the test of time, but give or take a few hiatuses, I have kept writing these kids since the summer of 2015.

They have changed and evolved, through trials and error, both Danma and Kaname went through name changes, and they are still in constant development.

But I love them, and I hope others do too 💕

Senju Danma

Hashirama and Mito’s firstborn and oldest son. Born eight years before the death of Uchiha Izuna, Danma grew up on his father’s dreams and optimism for the future. Hashirama promised his children many things, especially the unprecedented happiness and peace he told them they would get when he build his village. And they believed him. Danma especially, who looked up to his father more than anyone, even when he fought to try and even begin to live up to his legendary status. Still, as Uchiha Madara finally agreed to peace, and Hashirama got to build his village, things didn’t go as he had hoped. Hashirama failed to fulfill his promises, and he prioritized the village at every turn even over his own family and children. The situation that followed of his sister, his father’s neglect and broken promises to his children left Danma disillusioned, and his relationship with his father grew from reverence, to resentment. In spite of this, he would be among the first graduates of the shinobi academy, and grow up into a skilled and dangerous shinobi in his own right. In adulthood, he would have two children, Tsunade and Nawaki, by two different mothers. His relationship with Hashirama would remain strained, and more so as his father passed on bad habits to Tsunade when Danma was not around.

In personality, Danma is family oriented, outgoing, charismatic and unafraid of taking action, but with a dark temper in the face of injustices.

Senju Kaname

The second born child and only daughter. She’s a year younger than Danma. Born with a rare genetic mutation that allows her to be attuned to her chakra, but not alter its nature, which is one of the two essential components of creating Ninjutsu. Due to this condition, she trained and became highly proficient with Kenjustu, taijutsu and advanced chakra channeling techniques. When Konoha was founded, and the new shinobi academy followed shortly after, she was in a humiliating event involving her own uncle refused training due to her condition and forced into civilian life. For years she would struggle with her position between the shinobi life she had been raised for and trained so hard to succeed in, and the civilian life she was now supposed to settle for. She was unable to take root to the place her father had tried to plant his family in, where he had promised they would be happy, and she grew to resent it and never seeing it as her home.

As a young adult, Kaname is an outwardly generous and social, sensual, hardworking and passionate woman, but who still struggles with periods of depression and low self-worth, and a stubborn and spiteful inability to forget or forgive a slight.

Senju Kichiro

Hashirama and Mito’s third and final child, and second son. He was the only one of the three to be born in Konoha, not long after the death of Uchiha Madara, ten years younger than his older sister. He’s perhaps the most peculiar of the three as psuedo-jinchuriki. From birth, his own chakra was deeply entangled with that of the Kyubi, and it made him the strongest of three. Though he held little actual fondness for people, he was loyal, and the only one of his siblings who tried to honor his father’s dream. At the age of sixteen he was accepted into the Anbu, where he excelled. But it was a short lived career, as he was the victim of an assassination just a year later.

Kichiro is loyal, resilient and stoic, with a vicious and violent anger when pushed too far. While he have never been personable or social, cares very deeply for his family.

[ambrosius-art]

Introducing another self insert oc!! Nainyao Lmk (sorry for the bad quality, I took them from a video I made and I am having trouble gaining access to the original file, also the lore is kinda unfinished, I might alter later.) I also ship him with Mk

Name: Nainyao

ethnicity: african, chinese, 

age: same age as redson

Height: 5'5 (5'8 in heels) (6'4 demon form)

Gender: Male

Appearance: black long dark hair with a pink silky sheen usually in half up half down space buns, a palish dark tan, pink fiery glittery eyes, with red eyeliner, a demon symbol below the base of his neck, slim, yet muscular lean figure, usually seen with red eyeliner, has a bunch of scars across chest and back. (later loses his arm to Azure lion)

Family: Nezha(older brother) li jing (father)

Likes: Singing, plum blossoms, playing the Guzheng, 

Dislikes: fighting, violence, when people disturb his plans, not planning in advance.

fears: water, losing control of oni side, 

powers: Nainyao, being Nezha's younger brother had similar powers to him, except instead of lotus he had plum blossoms. but regardless he still had his elder brother's pink flames. after being cursed to live as an oni demon, he developed more abilities such as minor regeneration, infernal pink flames similar to the samadhi fire, and demonic transformation. when Nainyao transforms his size grows, and he develops horns and markings aswell as his eye whites turning red. 

Personality and background: Nainyao is the younger brother of Nezha, and the greatest Celestial general in all of Heaven. he is a calm soul who values his personal peace above all else, but tends to have too much patience when it comes to others. this causes people to chis duties consist of regularly training guards and heavenly soldiers, leading sieges and fighting wars. Nainyao, being a young immortal was quickly drafted into the heavenly military by his father against his will. though Nainyao quickly climbed the ranks and was an excellent leader, having possessed the natural skills to strategize and outsmart and out-brute his enemies he hated fighting and violence. this hatred for violence led to deep resentment towards his father for putting him in the celestial military. during one of the many heavenly battles Nainyao fought, one of the sieges went terribly wrong, his forces were expected, ambushed, and massively outnumbered with half of his forces dying in the battle. the battle ended in defeat when a demon sorcerer of infernal evil cursed nainyao to be a demon, just as evil is themself for all of eternity. ever since then Nainyao has never been the same, becoming more temperamental and easily aggravated, leading to legends of him constantly going berserk on the battlefield. this earned him the name Ambrosius, for always being the last one standing.

Fun facts: Nainyao was actually born the same day Red son got his samadhi fire sealed, they initially thought because of the coincidence that Nainyao would have similar destructive powers, only for him not to develop such powers until being cursed.

when Nainyao was a toddler back in the heavenly palace he dropped a piece of jewelry playing near a well. in attempt to find the piece of jewelry to avoid possible punishment he foolishly ended up falling down the well. he was stuck in the well for 46 minutes, being that he can’t swim he nearly drowned multiple times while in that well. this incident is why he has a huge fear of water, but he would never admit it.

during season 4 he ends up losing his left arm in an altercation with Azure lion, during the ending fight. the next season Nainyao ends up expressing his desire to retire but Li jing ends up forcing a high tech celestial battle prosthetic arm on him in order to keep him in the celestial military. 

[studioeisa]

these cunning folk ♾️ minghao hogwarts au.

“perhaps in slytherin, you'll make your real friends! those cunning folks use any means to achieve their ends.” # day three of (the)8 days of minghao.

slytherin!minghao comes as a surprise to everybody. not only is it a rarity for muggle-borns to be sorted in to the house, but he just— doesn't look like the type, if anything. not at first. you'd think this boy would belong somewhere in ravenclaw; maybe gryffindor, even. but slytherin? what an odd one, some of the older kids think.

slytherin!minghao actually gets considered for ravenclaw. the sorting hat spends a good couple of moments, only to finally come to a decision because of a thought that flits through minghao's mind. while seated for his sorting, the eleven-year-old minghao screams in his head, please, let me prove myself.

slytherin!minghao isn't surprised when the hat gives him slytherin. his steps are certain as he walks up to the table clad in green and silver. immediately, a handful of his housemates recognize a familiar spark. ah, they think amusedly. this should be fun.

slytherin!minghao soaks up everything that hogwarts has to offer. he's not about to take any of this for granted. he's teased for it, called a nerd and bookworm and know-it-all. that doesn't matter. not when minghao learns to mumble hexes that are two years advance his supposed skill set.

slytherin!minghao becomes a force to be reckoned with. people learn not to mess with him. he's sharp— in the intelligent sort of way, yes, but in the way that's wounding as well. his words cut. his gaze pierces. at this point, nobody doubts that xu minghao belongs in slytherin.

slytherin!minghao has to fight for every scrap of status that comes his way. it doesn't matter if he's the epitome of a slytherin student; blood prejudice is still very much alive in hogwarts, even after the war. he is a muggle-born in a snake's din full of purebloods. they do not let him forget that.

slytherin!minghao keeps to himself in his first two years. he's not unfriendly but he's not warm, either. he's wise beyond his years. he could do a little better in potions, though that's neither here nor there. as he watches his peers go on to join the qudditich team, to soar academically, he only feels that itch to do more, more, more.

slytherin!minghao is asked, one day, "isn't it lonely at the top?" he jolts at the suddenness of the accusation. he has half the mind to jinx this meddling hufflepuff— jun, his name might've been?— but the latter remains undeterred. "you need some friends," jun presses. "c'mon."

slytherin!minghao almost says that he has friends, thank you very much. his housemate, jeonghan, has already taken him under his wing. that was more than enough. but jun is adamant, and jun is pushy, and minghao doesn't want to get in to trouble for doling out too many curses in one go.

slytherin!minghao is introduced to jun's housemate. "this is the guy i was telling you about," jun tells mingyu and seokmin conspiratorially. mingyu lets out a small 'ahhh'. seokmin sits up a little straighter in his chair. minghao, for his part, is horrified. "what have you said about me?" he demands to jun.

slytherin!minghao can't decide between a blush or a glower when jun casually says, "oh, i've been telling them about how smart you are." for a moment, minghao waits to see if jun is messing with him. the hufflepuff boy doesn't buck. minghao is forced to accept it as a truth, as a new reality. he had friends now, it seemed.

slytherin!minghao readily tutors seokmin when he asks for help in defense against the dark arts. minghao reluctantly cheers on mingyu during quidditch games. minghao bickers with jun more often than not, the two often going back and forth about arguments centering the muggle part of their lives.

slytherin!minghao manages to convince himself that he's just doing all this out of politeness up until he catches one of his housemates messing with jun. choice words are exchanged. a long-forgotten slur is thrown. minghao sees red.

slytherin!minghao has never landed himself in detention before, has never done anything that would lose his house points. but now he's scrubbing trophies and bearing the shame that he's set slytherin back by twenty points.

slytherin!minghao is called a traitor, is called the very name that had him hexing his own housemates in the first place. he doesn't mind them. he keeps his head high despite the whispers and the glares. he only snaps when some idiot tries to drag in seokmin and mingyu's names in to the mix— leaving minghao with another week's worth of detention.

slytherin!minghao has nothing to say when his hufflepuff friends corner him. "enough," seokmin reprimands gently, his hands on minghao's shoulders. "you don't have to fight for us, hao." hao. it's a nickname that only seokmin can get away with. anyone else gets a dirty look.

slytherin!minghao sighs, then, because seokmin is right, and jun is standing some paces away with his arms over his chest, and mingyu is absentmindedly playing with a quaffle, as if to keep his busy. and then, mingyu— the world's most unberable thirteen-year-old, sometimes— starts to laugh.

slytherin!minghao is baffled because jun is laughing now, too, and seokmin looks exasperated. "what?" minghao demands; there's nothing more he hates than being on the outside of an inside joke. "it's just—" mingyu tries to say in between laughter. he fails miserably. jun supplies, "ready to call us your friends, now, hao-hao?"

slytherin!minghao threatens up and down to give jun and mingyu a piece of his mind. seokmin tries to appease him, though the third hufflepuff boy also has the ghost of a smile on his face. by the end of it, seokmin is chuckling a bit, too. minghao wants to jinx them all in to the next century. (if you squinted, you might see the slightest upward turn of his lip.)

slytherin!minghao is undeniably brilliant, still, despite the cowards who spread rumors and the housemates who turn their noses up at him. he tops his classes. he's nice to first-years. he secures the most O.W.Ls in his fifth year, then takes an absurd amount of N.E.W.T-level classes just for the sake of it.

slytherin!minghao is an outcast in his own house, though. those his age don't respect him. the younger ones are scared of him. he doesn't have as much house pride as one might expect from a slytherin, which is ironic for a boy who could've easily been the image of the house.

slytherin!minghao is a bit of an odd-one-out in the group wearing black and yellow scarves. he's often made the butt of the joke; jun, mingyu, and seokmin being the only ones brave enough to poke and prod the bear. one christmas, they chip in to get him a hufflepuff jumper. he turns their hair green in retaliation.

slytherin!minghao learns that proving himself doesn't always mean being in good graces with the affluent and the powerful. sometimes, proving himself is as simple as letting seokmin drag him quill-shopping in hogsmeade. sometimes, proving himself entails matching mingyu butterbeer for butterbeer. and, sometimes, proving himself comes in the shape of begrudgingly admitting that jun had been right to tease him way back when.

slytherin!minghao had needed some friends, and he got them.

[murrpa]

heart wrecking angst⇩

•

•

•

In Deadpool 4, Logan discovers his presence in Wades universe messes up cycle of events and if he continues to live in it— the universe can collapse (butterfly effect kind of thing), so in the end of the movie B-15 and minute men show up dramatically a they do at Wades apartment, and escort Logan back into the headquarters planning to send him back to his “home”. Both Logan and Wade see the scale of this, and Wade soon is taken to talk to him one last time before never seeing him again since B-15 felt generous that day. So she give them this moment.

Wade scoffs: So now is the time? Hah, I should’ve known, TVA has every event written down to nanoseconds… I swear, it puts someone’s strict mother’s skill to plan the whole year in advance and never let her kid see the light of day without her permission at shame!

All that while Logan looks at him. Though he has so much to say, to confess, but decides not to do it, maybe because it’ll hurt letting him go more than it already is.

Wade approaches him: I… ugh, was not prepared, otherwise I would’ve pulled out my 100 page essay and read it to you in British accent as you walk further away from me into the sunset.

Logan: Wade?

Wade: Yeah?

Logan struggles. What is there to say now? His heart is aching, and cracks with each passing second there’s left. He wanted to say his life was at its fullest by Wade’s side, how he’s now changed man, all because of him. For him. That he will continue being that person in his world simply because Wade will be proud.

Logan: I might have my own place, my house and whatnot… But I never dared to call it my home, y’know?

Wade listens, no longer daring to quip a sound. And hazel eyes of Logan glisten in nothing but sadness. If that emotion could be painted— it would be him. Right now.

Logan: I wish the world was on my side, fair to me, to us, Wade.

His voice shakes. And he no longer cares to control the tear that soon oozes out the corner of an eye, to his hope, telling at least a tenth of all what his heart wants to say. Then it finally hits merc. Is this really it?

Wade: Peanut, I promise, it’s okay.

No. It fucking hurts. Wade never hated to say goodbye so damn much like now, but understands, that to love someone is letting them go.

He’s only doing it for Logan, for his universe. Sure there’s something that’s waiting for him, something better than this. Which what Logan deserves, after non consensual involvement in Wade’s goal to save his own world. After what he had been through.

Logan softly sobs: It shouldn’t be, I wish I had a choice. Because coming back is long time off my list.

Wade realizes his emotions reveal, a hot heavy tear drops off his chin, and fake but bitter smile grows to comfort Wolverine. Ignoring everything what’s falling into pieces in his chest.

Wade: I just… I just never want you to get into dangerous shit cause of me. I want you to be okay.

But Logan doesn’t care, even if his old life promises to be as peaceful as Swedish government. In the end, being next to Wade— suddenly makes chaos worth it.

Logan: I was okay, Wade, I was… so happy— but as soon as my foot steps through the teleporter…

Logan breaks as more tears rush down his face. His gaze locked with Wade’s.

Logan: … I will comeback being the same pitty guy you picked up at the bar.

But Wade protests.

Wade: No, nope, you’ll comeback better than ever.

He gives up smiling, then reaching out for the man, locking him in the most loving hug, arms wrapping waist, one digging fingertips into the shirt, and second one cards Logan’s hair. Which makes older man hate himself for not hugging Wade often before, when they were so happy, and lived under one roof not knowing this day would come.

Wade: You are, and always will be the best wolverine.

Logan hides his face in Wade’s neck, ashamed someone might see him, how destroyed he is with pain of leaving him, forever.

Wade: Thank you infinitely, for staying, saving my world.

Wade’s hushed voice sends chills, and throat begins to burn, yearning to say one last thing as he hears footsteps approaching.

Logan: Thank you for becoming mine.

(lmk if you’re interested in me writing full fic based off of this💛❤️)

[erikftglitter]

Fallin’ Out | [e.k] [one]

My & my boo into it so…

All she wanted was for him to be here. Why was that so hard for the older man? Was it his own limited childhood experiences taking over? Could it have possibly been envy? Did he hesitate because he didn’t truly understand fatherhood? Or was he just an asshole. Claire has been starting to conclude the latter.

So here she was muffling the sounds of her cries as her son rested on her chest. He was completely oblivious to the high tensions between both his parents, but even his behavior towards Erik showed him that love cannot be bought.

Erik is a provider. That is true. This could be the possible reason as to why Claire didn’t become apprehensive about becoming pregnant. She knew that Erik would always be involved in his child’s life and would provide well beyond what the average child needed.

The latter was true.

They lived in huge home located off of the lake. Owned many acres and had top of line views of everything aesthetically beautiful. His son wouldn’t need anything. There were already conversations and commitments to fine art extracurriculars, private schooling, and meetings with the top directory of getting Erin Makai Stevens the opportunities that a nepotistic child could only dream of.

What about now? Baby Erin was hardly twenty months old. In fact right now he is laying across his mother’s bare chest, as he just finished his feeding for the evening. Claire began weeping slowly afterwards, the mother in her allowing her child to rest before she could think about her own feelings.

She began to understand the hurt of housewives who longed for their husbands. She was not a housewife however. Erik wasn’t the only reason for this luxurious lifestyle. Although he insisted that he be the one to purchase everything, Claire easily had more than six figures at her disposable fingertips. She slept peacefully at night.

This particular month though Claire had been wanting to experience an authentic family outing. She planned this for weeks in advance. They would take Erin into the city and attend the pumpkin patch accompanied by the petting zoo.

Tangerine Creek hosted these family gatherings all month and Claire heard about the benefits of introducing your baby to outdoor activities and not to mention that it would be beautiful for her little family to have pictures that documented this year.

Erin was walking, slowly but surely, on his own. He’s vocal and his fine motor skills were only improving. This wasn’t a trip just to satisfy her urge to take aesthetic photos as Erik limited the importance of doing things with your child. This wasn’t the first time and now she began to feel the disconnect. While she was absolutely ready to submit to motherhood, Erik hardly knew a single thing about fatherhood.

So she sat and wept with her biggest joy in her hands. Distant footsteps halted her tears. He did not deserve to see her like this. She refused to let him see the heartbroken scene that existed throughout the nursery. She used a nearby baby wipe to wipe her face and controlled her breaths. She would not give him the slightest chance to throw this in her face and only to conclude that she was manipulative for crying and using the child to exemplify that.

Those were some of the foul things that Erik has said and apologized for. Claire was checking out and felt only the slightest touch of guilt knowing that a divorce would only supply another fatherless baby. So she sucked it up and rested her eyes.

Oh how heartbreaking this reality was.

Erik knew that something was wrong. No one greeted him when he entered the home. Instead his wife, his child, and his dog were all one in the nursery. They clung to her and hardly cared for his presence. He thought that maybe he was overthinking it but as he got closer to the nursery the weeping stopped. Silence was hardly quiet in comparison though.

He could feel the thick layer of sadness in the air and he wondered how long it had been there. Four hours previously he had cancelled his plans to attend the pumpkin patch, as he reduced the entire trip to a photo shoot.

Sam Wilson, a good friend and business partner of his, had changed his perspective within a two minute conversation.

“Hey man!” Sam exclaimed and embraced Erik into a handshake and hug. “My brother. I’m happy to see you in the flesh. How’s Claire? Postpartum treating her well?”

Come to think of it Erik actually never thought about it. Sure he was there and could see that she was fine on the outside looking in, but Sam began to share his own relationship with postpartum in his marriage. How he stepped back and supported his family during the shift. How postpartum depression could be as severe as post traumatic stress disorder and the rates of suicidal tendencies afterwards.

“Oh man I’m happy to hear that!” Sam smiled at Erik and waved the bartender down. “Don’t need Claire leaving your ass after I was Best Man in your wedding. You know that’s bad luck?” Sam chuckled at his own words but Erik felt something in his chest that he couldn’t quite grasp.

Why did it feel like Sam had a deeper understanding of something that he lives with? Had he not been paying attention? He did not become the top ranked government official by being clueless, but he knows that he clears things that he doesn’t find important from his brain.

Had he cleared Claire and her needs from his mind? What was the last gift that he bought her? What month was Erin in? How many teeth did he have? When was his next doctor’s appointment?

The more that Sam talked intensely about his involvement with his family the more that Erik realized that Claire did all of those things alone. So he was not surprised by the cries of his wife when he entered the home. Instead he winced at the idea that she was indeed all alone while going through this process and all she wanted from him was to attend the pumpkin patch.

Erik was brave. That was an undeniable fact. But he could not bring himself to open the warm brown doors to the nursery straight ahead. Sure he wrote the check to redecorate and furnish the nursery shortly after Erin’s first birthday, but he doesn’t even remember what he even paid for. Because Erin usually sleeps in his own bed in their bedroom and he’s hardly ever here in the daytime, he’s sure the boy only sees him as someone who comes and goes.

No wonder that mama was his first word.

Erik walked to the opposite side of the large home and Claire finally breathed out normally. She really didn’t want him yelling at her tonight.

Erik had been calling all over the state to get a petting zoo to come to his house. His fists slammed on the desk for the fifth time once the operator relayed that there was a three week wait for personal petting zoo visits. For once Erik couldn’t buy his way out of this situation and now he was panicking. He knows that his wife is going to leave him and suddenly the world of business over his family repulsed him.

What had he been thinking?

—-

Two

[marauder-misprint]

hey! im eating up your fics left and right and had an idea for one i thought could be so funny. so the readers brother (any one of the marauders you choose!) is always scaring off all of the boys in Hogwarts, and even though it’s slightly embarrassing, the reader doesn’t actually mind because she has a secret girlfriend! It’s all going great until the older brother finds out loll…

Hi! Thank you for this request ❤︎ I've been on vacation the past few days so I've been writing this on my phone while on the metro lol - let's hope I did okay ❤︎

Enjoy ❤︎ ❤︎ ❤︎

Amelia

Brother!James Potter x Sister!Potter!reader

1.4k words

cw: siblings, fluff

Long story short, you and Amelia Bone had been dating for a few months. Officially, that is. And in secret.

Neither of you were out to your families and you weren’t ready to do so at Christmas. That meant both your brothers were in the dark. That meant more to you than to her, if you were being honest. Her brother was more relaxed. And yours was James. 

Everyone knows James. He’s loud, a tad obnoxious, smart and wicked at quidditch. He knows how to lay on the harm and dole out respect when he needs to. And above it all, it was well known how protective he is of you, his baby sister. 

He acted like you couldn’t take care of yourself, treated it like an obvious fact. He ignored the fact that you were just as academically gifted. You weren’t quite as skilled on a broom. You didn’t want to be. From where you stood, it felt like that and being a girl were what made you “weaker” and “in need of his protection.” 

Right. 

Because no one knew about you and Amelia, boys flirted with you. You never really entertained their advances. You would smile and say “Thanks but no thanks.” Some boys took your rejection with grace; others not so much. Either way, James got to them eventually. 

If a boy flirted with you, jinxed. Looked at you with anything remotely lustful, a black eye. If one dared to ask you out, hospital wing for varying amounts of time. 

James wasn’t having it; no one would be allowed near enough to break your heart. That may have been part of why you didn’t want to come out just yet. What would James do to Amelia? 

With that worry tucked in the back of your mind, you saved your kisses with her for the privacy of your dorms and in broom closets and greenhouses at night. In public, you were just super close best friends. No one knew better. No one thought to think otherwise. 

When Gilderoy flirted with you adamantly, James was furious.

“You told him ‘no,’ right?” he asked you, concern lacing his words. “And he wasn’t aggressive? Just persistent? Did he touch you?”

“Merline, Jame, I’m fine. Jus’ need Lockhart to leave me alone.”

“I can handle that.”

“Or I can,” you sighed.

“Did you not just say that’s the third time he’s asked you out this week?”

You shrugged. “He doesn’t take a hint.”

“He’ll take a hint if I handle it.”

“James,” you whined frustratedly. You didn’t need him fighting your battles, nor did you want him to. 

“I’m handling it. End of discussion.”

To James’ credit, Gilderoy stopped asking you out. He stopped undressing you with his eyes during class. He stopped lingering outside your classes and where you studied in the library, hoping to get a moment of your attention.

While other girls would be upset with their brother chasing off every guy, you were upset because you really didn’t need him to. You were taken. (And able to take care of yourself.)

“What do you say, Potter, to Hogsmeade? You, me and some butterbeers?” Fabian Prewett asked you outside of the Gryffindor Common Room.

“I’m going to pass, Fabian.”

“Honeydukes then? Hog’s Head? I mean, you don’t strike me as someone who’d enjoy Madam Puddifoot’s, but I’d go there if you wanted to.”

This is where you made your mistake.

“You’re a great bloke, really, but I’m taken. I’m not looking for a date.”

“Oh. Sorry, didn’t know you were seeing someone.”

He gave you a polite smile and left you alone. But by morning, James was sitting across from you at breakfast with a disapproving look on his face.

“You’re dating someone?” he asked very directly.

“Yes.”

James frowned. “Who?”

“None of your business.”

“It’s not Lockhart, is it?”

“No, it’s not.”

“Then who is your boyfriend?” 

“She doesn’t have a boyfriend,” Marlene said absentmindedly from next to you.

She may have been going up to her dorm when Amelia was leaving yours and the two of you had clearly been snogging. 

“But… you just said?”

You shot Marlene an annoyed look and then said through gritted teeth, “I have a girlfriend.”

James’ eyes went wide and his mouth hung open. For a few seconds, he just stared at you in bewilderment. 

Then, “I didn’t know you were…”

“I wanted it that way,” you said curtly, turning back to your breakfast. 

There’s a beat of silence. James is still staring at you. Very intently. 

“Who are you dating?”

You sighed heavily. “None of your business,” you repeated. 

He looked to Marlene. “Who is she dating?”

Marlene looked to you and then back to James. “Not my place to tell. I'm dating Dorcas in case you didn't know.”

“Yeah, yeah,” James said weakly, waving her off. “I knew that.” He returned a firm gaze to you. “What I don't know is who my sister is dating.”

You were determined to keep Amelia safe from whatever James could do to her. You kept your mouth shut for the rest of breakfast. You needed to get away from James. 

You plopped down next to Amelia in Potions, your first lesson of the day. 

“James knows I'm dating someone,” you said, slightly out of breath. 

“You told him?” she gasped. “I thought you were waiting until summer?”

“Erm, I let it slip to Fabian Prewett that I’m seeing someone. I guess he told James at quidditch practice this morning so James confronted me at breakfast. I didn't tell him it was you but… I’m out to him.”

“I live to see another day!” Amelia laughed, taking your hand in hers.

“He’ll figure it out before summer though. I hate to say it but he’s less dense than I give him credit for.”

“Would it really be that bad? I think if he saw us together as us that he’d be understanding.”

“Maybe… but it’s James. He punched William for looking at me too long.”

“Okay but have you considered that James thinks I'm alright? He’s said so.”

“He’s said so as my friend,” you corrected her. 

She rolled her eyes as Slughorn began the lesson. 

“Marlene. Marlene. Marlene. Marlene. Mar-“

`“No, Potter.”

“McKinnon. I need to know. Please.”

“No.”

“Marlene. Marls. Marley. Marlene. Mar. Marleney. Marlsy-boo. McKinnon. McWinnon. Marleyyyyyy.”

“James,” Marlen growled. 

“Yes?”

“Sod off.”

“Tell me first.”

“No.”

“Marleneeeeeeeeee.”

“Amelia! Fuck…”

“Bones?”

Marlene nodded, guilt etched onto her face. 

James sat back in his seat in History of Magic. You were dating… your best friend? The more he thought about it, the more it made sense. You had gotten more touchy, sitting closer. Holding hands as you walked from class to class. He had written it all off as feminine friendship. He never considered that you might be more than best friends. He had assumed you’d be interested in boys. 

At lunch, James was sitting across from you again. He was quiet as you each made your plates. He didn’t say anything for a few minutes. It unnerved you. 

“So, Amelia.”

“Goddamn it, Marlene,” you muttered, not looking at James. Your sandwich was very interesting. 

“You could’ve told me.”

You scoffed, rolling your eyes. “Really?” you asked sarcastically 

“I… she seems… you are, uh…” James couldn’t quite figure out how to phrase it. ‘Amelia likes you for you and isn’t going to hurt you. Not without hurting herself in the process. The guys who see you as a piece of meat are the problem,’ seemed like the wrong thing to say. 

You hummed. “Well put.”

“I know,” he bit. “Just, she’s not Lockhart. In all the best ways.”

You nodded. You had to agree with him there.

“Lockhart’s a total arse, you know that. Amelia’s… not. She’s better. For you.” The words started coming out more staccato and spaced out as he spoke. 

You nodded again. 

“What I'm trying to say is you could’ve told me. Sooner, I mean.”

“So Amelia doesn't have to fear for her life?”

James let out a dry laugh. “She never had to-“

“You’ve put people in the hospital wing for asking me out. She had reason to fear.”

James gave you a pointed look and said, “She never had to fear.”

“Right. Thanks,” you said, offering him a small smile. 

Maybe telling your parents about you and Amelia wouldn’t be so bad. 

tags: @navs-bhat, @faceache111

[the-s1lly-corner]

Can we get silly fluff scenarios where the bishops partner or friend (whatever would spark more creativity for you) is a baker and test out new things they make with the bishops if it's successful or not

Bishops x baker!reader

bro i just had a burger and it was so good got me peeling my skin off frfr notes: reader is gn, can be read as romantic or platonic, reader is any creature, bishops are still bishops here cws: none

LESHY

putting size aside, hes going to eat anything you hang to him in one bite, just shoving the entire thing in his mouth.... though does it count as shoving if hes so large its all just.. naturally one bite?

does not take the time to take in the texture and flavors because of it so you may need to remind him to slow down

thanks to him having an advanced sense of smell he can pick up on a lot of the flavors more than others... beelines for you the second he gets a whiff of any of your ingredients

though not much of a sweets person himself, hes willing to try anything you bake! though be warned he may suggest you make foul combination to give to a poor unsuspecting follower

HEKET

i like to think that despite being the god of famine, shes bit of a foody.. kind of misses eating from before she ascended to godhood, you bring back those memories

sometimes brings you stuff she believes may help your hobby as well as introducing new flavors- whether its something she finds in anura or gets through trading with others

does not take her time with eating your baking though, much like her younger brother... though shes no where near as intense about it as leshy

focuses a lot on texture and let you know what works together and what doesnt

will get very possessive over any baked treat you make for her, assuming theres anyone who wants to attempt stealing from her

KALLAMAR

loves that hes your taste tester, youve come to him first for advice and opinions- it makes him feel important, even more so if baking is your job rather than a hobby

gets you the highest quality ingredients as well as stuff from all over- similar to heket, though hes more likely to get you things he deems "fancy", something pricey and rich in flavor

lets you know his honest opinion, at least most of the time.. you can tell when he thinks something doesnt exactly work... he just doesnt want to hurt your feelings is all- even if sometimes he just lets his words spill anyway

makes requests and will sometimes ask you to cater for cult wide events if he really feels like winning over his followers (to keep them in line, usually.. if the threat of illness doesnt work all that well)

SHAMURA

doesnt eat, like the other gods, and they dont miss eating all that much- that being said they do partake in your baking because its something youre interested in

headcanon that they keep a lot of books on hand, kind of just getting a little bit of everything- if they have a book with older recipes and any historical stuff theyre going to be sending it your way!

very honest but unlike kallamar they have the mind and skill to say something gentler if something isnt... the best.. will keep encouraging you to try again until you find something that works

very polite when eating what you make for them, they take their time... even if it means taking incredibly small bites to actually process and taste things

will always finish what you make regardless of if they like it or not

[maximumdino]

The Safe Ship, Harbored Legacy Challenge

Introduction

Hello! I am Maximum Dinosaur. I make videos on youtube, and challenges for the sims 4. I decided to make a long and somewhat niche legacy challenge based on something very near and dear to my heart: The Crane Wives.

This challenge is based on the Crane Wives' first album, Safe Ship Harbored. There are 12 generations that I've tried very hard to make fun and dramatic! I've made a short video going over this challenge briefly on my youtube channel if you're interested!

{This is part 1 of The Crane Wives Ultimate Legacy Challenge! Navigate through the rest on my main page or in the link above}

You can find the graphic for these generations here!

Generational Rules

The generations are mostly focused on stories but have small little skill, aspiration, or miscellaneous challenges to add onto the fun of the generation. No gatekeeping here, though, this is just for fun and there’s no shame in removing a few rules from a challenge for any reason.

Each generation has a color palette that are all based around the track (or the vibes I get from it!) Some are easier than others, and some have stronger stories than others. Hopefully, it'll give you some good variety in your game.

Recommended on normal lifespan, but any lifespan is fine.

The aspiration or career listed in the rules does not have to be completed unless it specifically says so.

Bending rules is fine. Don't have a pack? Cool, change the rules. Don't like a skill? Cool, don't do it. I couldn't care less. This challenge is about the enjoyment of the players, so go wild.

Rules are not listed in any order and can be completed in any order unless explicitly stated that something happens before or after another requirement.

Each generation has a color palette that's really just for fun, it doesn't have to be intense or overpowering.

Cheats are not allowed unless to cheat baby number or gender.

Have fun :D

Generations

Generation 1: Can't Have It All

“You won't find me where you left me, no, I'm long gone I won't bargain, I won't break My mind's made up, though my head still aches  All my love you tried to take, but you can't have it all”

From a young age, you've been smitten with one of your classmates. You daydream about life together, writing their name in hearts in your notebook and do everything else that someone in love would do. So when you have the golden opportunity to talk to them, you take it. As you dive headfirst into a relationship with them, you pour all of your love into them. And as you grow older, they control more and more of what you can do. You start to realize that maybe this isn't healthy, but you struggle to stand up for yourself at all. But when they want to advance in your relationship farther than you're comfortable with, you reject them softly- and they don’t take the rejection well, and you end up dumped and alone. You never had a chance to be an adult without them. What now? How do you move on?

Colors: Blue & Green

Traits: Recycle Disciple, Generous, Lovebug (Switch to Romantically Reserved after breakup)

Starting as a teenager, get with your first romantic partner who you put all your love and emotion into. Start the soulmate aspiration with them.

As time goes on, they become controlling. As young adults, your partner dumps you after you refuse to take the next step in your relationship.

Pour your love into becoming a Civil Designer and environmental activist after the breakup. Join the Green Technician Branch.

Max out the fabrication skill and complete the Eco Innovator Aspiration

Bake for your loved ones and reach level 10 of the Baking Skill

Move onto a better life without them. When they try to return using your emotions to get you back, stand your ground.

Generation 2: The Diving Bell

“I will drown for you, sink to black from blue, and let the water win  Wear you 'round my waist, hold your heart like waves, opening my lungs to let you in Swallow my heart whole, sink me like a stone Water rushes in… and I will welcome it - I am not afraid to give you everything”

You were raised with love and caution, but to keep things light, your parent would spin their warnings into whimsical stories as you say together by the lakeside. Those stories of caution and life lessons that your parent taught you inspired you to look beyond reality and into the world of poetry. You always had a positive outlook on life, though your poetry never shied from expression of negativity and sorrow. The poetry is your outlet, and your elegiac downfall. When you meet Them, all of the artistic pieces fall into place. You couldn't have written your meeting better yourself. You find beauty in Their depths, in the worst parts of Them. You write it into your poems, and you turn Their flaws into art. They drag you down into the depths of the waters in a way no weight had before. You don't think of the possible consequences, nor do you really care. You aren't afraid. You'd be happy to give anything to them.

Colors: Gold & Deep Blue

Traits: Cheerful, Active, Loyal

Since childhood, always have a pool, pond, lake or ocean near or in your home. Swim as a hobby, reaching fitness level 10.

Enter the diver career as a teenager.

Become a successful author (writer, author branch), reaching level 10 of the career, though you prefer writing poetry on your own time.

Meet your lover in a way you can only describe as poetic.

Write poetry collections throughout your life, reach writing level 10, and complete the Bestselling Author Aspiration.

Ignore any issues in your relationship with your lover and spin them into poetry.

Make a huge sacrifice for the one you love.

Generation 3: New Colors

“Orange, yellow, green, it's all the same to me- I've seen them all a million times before I have half a mind, to climb up in the sky and to steal new colors away from the sun Don't tell me that I can't, Oh Lord, don't tell me that I can't, I need this so damn bad I'd give up my sight to see, I'd give up my air to breathe”

The world is cruel. It's always been cruel. Kids would tease and torment you in school, and things didn't seem to get better as you grew. Your ideas were turned into jokes from your peers, especially the ideas pertaining to Sixam. The planet with so many unknowns and mysteries. They call you an obsessed lunatic, but that won't stop you. You're going to make it to Sixam, no matter the cost. You tried to give other people a chance, you didn't want to be right about the human condition, but every time, you’re left in a worse state than before. So you vow to never give another senselessly cruel person a chance. That is, until you stumble across someone who doesn't have any of the terrible traits you see in others. They're colorful, expressive, and they're nothing like the people who ridiculed you your entire life. So, you fall deeply in love, unexpectedly but beautifully. Now, you have a support system as you venture for Sixam, ready to learn about the curious planet and what may be lurking there.

Colors: Pink & Yellow

Traits: Overachiever, Genius, Your Choice

Complete the Whiz Kid Aspiration.

Fall in love with a colorful, artsy sim; the only person you could ever fall for

Reach level 10 of the Astronaut Career (Space Ranger Branch)

Build a rocket ship in your backyard and reach level 10 of the rocket science skill

Complete space prints, geodes, & space rocks collections.

You refuse to put your life to waste. Reach the "Dreams Fulfilled" Tier of the Soul's Journey.

Do anything to make it to space. Become the first sim to step onto Sixam’s surface.

Reach a point in your life where you must make a decision to follow your dreams at a cost, or continue with an average life.

Have a child with someone other than your love, one of the senselessly cruel people you meet. Have at least two children total.

Generation 4: Caleb Trask

“So you got bad in your blood… brother, you're one of us How long are you gonna wait for those azaleas to bloom? How long are you gonna wait for them to burn? We're the daughters of sinners, we're the sons of saints Blood doesn't mean a thing… Stop waiting on those flowers”

Your earliest memories were of blind and raging jealousy. Your sibling reached all milestones before you. Your sibling got more attention at family events than you, and the pattern continued. You began to despise them and everything they succeeded at. Of course, the feeling was one-sided. They didn't hate you, which makes you hate them more. You blame your hatred on your blood, but you know that isn't true, and so do those who’re around you. In order to make an impression, you marry a person who’s quite ideal, someone who thinks they can help you become a better person. You continue to keep up appearances, daydreaming about what people will think when they see how put-together you are, and how they may compare you to your sibling and see you as the victor. You join the military, a much respected career bound to give you an admirable image. That is, as long as you keep the secretive work you've been doing quiet. You're beyond redemption to some, pitied by others. It might not be too late to turn back, like your spouse and family want you to. But that's a decision you must make.

Colors: Red & Dark Pink

Traits: Jealous, Neat, Evil (May change throughout the gen of you so please)

Have a terrible relationship with at least one sibling out of jealousy. Be outshined by them in many aspects, and obsess over being better than them.

Marry someone who’s the child of a ‘saint’. Have a good relationship, but fight over parenting choices.

Maintain a flower garden with your spouse, slowly leaving it to only them to keep the flowers alive.

Neglect your parental duties to do shady business with shady people. Be welcomed into the corrupted special forces. Reach level 10 of the Military career.

Max out the handiness skill, adamant on ‘fixing’ every issue in your family to keep up appearances that you are better off than your sibling.

Throughout your life, your spouse begs for you to turn back from the bad decisions you make. Make promises to them you do not keep.

Take everything from your sibling.

Generation 5: Counting Sheep

“You sigh into your cup of coffee as you watch the morning news There goes your good day, there's the knot on the noose When the wool is off your eyes you'll stop counting sheep at night, cause you eat your fill up during the daytime Something in you's fast asleep, afraid to be who you will be- it's a losing battle, so why are you still fighting?”

Your parents caused more turbulence in your life than anything else in your early years. You saw all your parent did to hurt the world as an important militant at the top of the power chain. They tried to conceal it from you, but they could not fool you. You were lied to- everyone was. Now that you know the truth, it makes life so much more torturous. At first, you try to play it like everyone else, oblivious, depressed, and bored out of your goddamn mind. You join a lackluster job, and try to join the masses in their soul-sucking, repetitive lives. You wake up every morning like the robot you are, despising your alarm clock, dreading your day, and fearing your life ahead when you see the disturbing news on the TV each day. But it wasn't a sustainable life for someone who yearns for happiness. On a random Tuesday, you have a rude awakening after an unexpected event, leaving you more sure than ever that you want to make a change in your life… and hopefully, if all goes well, in the lives of others, too.

Colors: Silver & Red

Traits: Vegetarian, Gloomy, Good

As a child, see the damage your military parent had caused. Those around you can't see the world burn, but you could never unsee it. Watch the news every day, haunted by the terrible things going on.

Gain the Coffee Fanatic Lifestyle

Start in a passionless career, but don't make it far. After an event that leaves you in shambles and angry at unfair society, quit and join the politician career.

Reach level 10 of the politician career (charity organizer branch).

Hold public debates about topics you’re passionate about. Reach level 10 of Research and Debate.

Have a turbulent relationship with your militant parent, but be close with your other parent, sibling(s), grandparents, and parents’ siblings. Raise your children well and close to their extended family… but keep them away from your militant parent. Reach parenting level 10 and complete the big happy family aspiration.

Knit as a casual hobby, teaching your descendants to knit skillfully.

Try to open the eyes of others to the terrible things around them your whole life.

Generation 6: Hole in The Silver Lining

“If there's a hole in the silver lining, I'll be the one to find it I take it upon myself to make sure I do- I might find nothing when I start looking But I turn it over in my hands until my fingers wear it through Leave your doubt at the door, don't you take another step”

As you grew up, your parent spent most of their time trying to make the world a better place. But… well, you've never been one for optimism. You can't really place why, maybe it's because of all you've been taught about the world, your obsessive compulsions, or maybe it's just the way you were born. You refuse to find good in most situations, a self destructive process you can't quite seem to escape. Despite your macabre nature, no one can doubt that you have a wonderful sense of style. You don’t typically utilize it unless styling others, not quite confident enough to dress yourself in your beautiful designs. The endless cycle of pushing your own hopes down and letting your doubts stop you is nothing short of tiring. After opportunities, dreams, and relationships have been ruined due to this unfortunate trait of yours, you start to wonder if maybe life doesn't have to be like this, if you can learn to leave the part of you that's tortured you for so long behind. But it takes a lot to undo the cycle, and it will be a long process… but for once, you face some optimism that maybe, just maybe, you can escape your own mind.

Colors: Teal & Silver

Traits: Paranoid, Macabre, Perfectionist

Have an unlucky childhood, leading to built up fears and anxieties as an adult.

Ruin multiple relationships out of paranoia and skepticism.

Reject an opportunity of a lifetime, too anxious over the thought that the outcome will be poor.

Reach the Stylist Branch of the Style Influencer Career

Complete Lord of the Knits aspiration

Max out the photography and knitting skills 

Design and style impeccable fashion pieces, but stay behind the scenes and avoid the attention on yourself. After all, nothing good can come of your own success, right?

Slowly learn to leave your doubt at the door, leave behind your extreme pessimism and embrace whatever may come next with a neutrality you didn't have before.

Generation 7: Safe Ship, Harbored

“Where does your faith fall in me? Don't break the bottle, don't waste your blessings on me I'll always wonder what's across the tossing ocean, the world I'm at looks really flat to me I am a safe ship, harbored, losing all of my good years to the shallow water Watch me give up, honey- I swore I never would - I wasn't born a safe ship, something wore me down”

Your parent made you promise to live better than them, to avoid negativity and live free of your own mind. You made friends who matched your high speeds, and who shared your love for the waters and creatures within them. You tried everything you could, swam as far as the horizon reached, greeting the sea animals as friends without fear. You had passion for helping marine life, and you wouldn't let anything stop you. Your family was so proud of you… until someone else came along. They made you love them, they made you trust them. But they made up your relationship out of lies, leaving you afraid of your own reflection, your island home, and to your dismay, the waters you used to love. Suddenly, no risk seems worth it, and no part of life seems worth living. Wild and more unburdened in your youth, you're now faced with the reality that you've let everyone you love down. Nobody else knew why you changed. Your friends left you behind, for you couldn't keep up anymore. Your parents didn't say it, but you knew they were disappointed that you changed. They promised they’d never stop their faith in you, but now, you're starting to wonder if they should. You're ruined, after all. You're a ship who never left the harbor, not after you came back to land, hurting more than ever.

Colors: Orange & Teal

Traits: Adventurous, Dance Machine, Child of the Islands

Live in Sulani and immerse yourself in Sulani culture, befriending dolphins and exploring the murky caves and volcanoes of the island.

Start with a passion for guitar, abandon it, coming back to it later, reaching level 10 of the skill. Dance and play around a beach bonfire with your family.

Work as a lifeguard as a teenager and reach the top of the career. Transfer over to become a conservationist (marine Biologist branch) as a young adult.

Someone you love betrays you on an adventure, leaving you unable to take the daring leaps anymore. You stay adventurous, you stay curious. But you can't bring yourself to act on it. In your dark mental space, gain a fear of water.

When you become more reserved, quit the marine biologist career out of fear. You may return to it if you're able to overcome your fear of water.

Complete the Buried Treasure Collection

Complete the Renaissance Sim aspiration.

Generation 8: Naked, The Night Falls

“Can't keep my senses from your taste- into your arms, sell my sorry soul Been enraptured and tied, turn your ghosts into mine - all the years, I'm alive Naked, the night falls in your eyes, slowly I burn like the autumn leaves Brittle as ash but when I rise - love I will learn”

Life is never better than when a furry friend is in your arms. You inherited your love of animals from your parents, but they love aquatics and you love the creatures of the land. You’ve always felt drawn to the complex animals roaming the lands, and the nature and life surrounding them. Humans are a particularly fascinating species to you, animals pretending to be something above mammals. You are intrigued by the way that humans love, especially once you experience it for yourself. You don't argue with the irresistible attraction drawing you to your love interest, and you let yourself fall right into their arms. A meet cute, some people call it, but you call it fate. They're not a perfect person, but you're perfect for each other, and you take their hands, and promise to share their problems, Legs in tangles on the bed, daydreaming together as your identities intertwine. Nothing can come between you and your love’s vulnerability within each other, and nothing can reverse the way that you transformed each other into better versions of yourselves.

Colors: Indigo & Orange

Traits: Clumsy, Cat/Dog/Horse Lover, Nosy

Meet the love of your life as the night falls, be the most attracted to them as possible.

Keep the love strong through elderhood and beyond. Reach romance level 10.

Watch the sunset every weekend with the ones you love.

Have an animal companion you spend your whole life past teenhood with (use anti-aging treats or cheats… they're your first baby. Max pet training and riding.

Work as a romance Consultant (matchmaker branch) Max out the career.

Raise and rescue other animals throughout your lifetime with your partner. Complete the Friend of the Animals aspiration.

Your love is a good person, but burdened. Share their hardships and help them through them. You intertwine identities and live the rest of your life by their side.

Have a near-death experience leaving you weak and brittle. Recover with the help of your lover and animal companions.

Generation 9: Ancient History

“My dreams keep diggin' up the bones of memories, discarded remnants of former times Now every skeleton is slappin' its knees, laughin' at the holes he left behind My poor heart is an open wound - It's ancient history that's bleedin' out of me So what am I supposed to do? I try to let it fade away but I still hold on”

Like the generations before you, you've greatly enjoyed adventure. You love the hands-on, scholarly side of science, fascinated by the world’s creations. However, it's not easy to find a stable job in the wild, so you settle for a well-paying position as a scientist in a place far from the natural world. It was alright, though, and you learned to be okay with that way of living. But your situation takes a turn when something dreadful enters your life, stopping you in your tracks, and making every second of your time hell. You expect to be able to push through and get out to the other end stronger, but that never happens. And as you suffer, you start to realize that it's effecting the people around you, including your beloved child(ren). You know that if you leave, your family will be at peace. In an effort to save your children from your situation, and to possibly start fresh without the burden on your shoulders, you take off for the jungle alone.

You settle into your new life as best as you can, and you love your newfound explorative freedom- but while the trouble isn't around anymore, you have to deal with the remains of it. It haunts your nightmares, and you start regretting leaving your kid(s)... they're the only part of your history you want back. The sad truth that you can't change history starts to soak in.

Colors: Brown & Indigo

Traits: Loves Outdoors, Genius, Chased by Death

Start working as a scientist in a populated area. 

Something long-standing in your life has been torturing you, and you've about had it. Move far away from your trauma to a desolate place. Lose touch with at least one of your children in the process, leaving them with a different family for their own good (or so you think).

Max the archeology & gemology skills.

Max out the Scientist Career.

Spend much of your time exploring Selvadorada and studying the things you find in the depths of the jungle in the lab, a more hands on approach.

Complete the Archaeology Scholar aspiration and the Ancient Omiscan Artifacts and Crystal* collections.

No matter what you do… your trauma ends up following you anyway, whether it's mentally or physically.

Learn to let go.

Eventually reunite with your child(ren).

*Excluding crystals only found on Sixam

Generation 10: October

“Come, my dear, and be a part of my home- missing stitch and flowers on a headstone But I will crawl like a sinner to be at your feet… should God or the devil ever ask for me Take my word, but keep the upper hand - I know you, you're the daughter of a lonely man So kiss me quick, steal every secret I keep, there is no more room in your heart for me… Oh, my love”

Your parents left you behind because they thought it was better for you- and it was, growing up. You had everything you needed, everything you wanted… but sometimes, it takes one thing to change a relationship you thought would last forever. You met a woman who captured your focus and whispered sweet promises to you… and immediately, you were hers. You’re both lonely women descending from lonely people, and both deemed as sinful outcasts when you take her home to your family. Their smiles faltered when you introduced her, and the night grew dark as your parents berated you with an anger you’d never seen in them before. You could never understand what they hated so much about your love. But to them, the pure devotion and intense love only meant a deeper sin.

You want your partner to be part of every moment of your life, but your community would never stand for it. But you refuse to let them stop you. History must know of your love, you determine. Still,  you don’t think that she will come with you, turning away from her whole life… but she does, for the both of you. It’s not long before the news broke in your former community. You’re dead. Or, at least, they think you are.

Your parent left you behind long ago, and now, you're leaving, too. But this time, there will be no regrets. No one comes to drop flowers by your gravestones back in your hometown, anyway. In your new community, however, you’re no longer treated with judgement and resentment, but care and belonging. And now, you can turn your eyes to her without worry or shame.

Colors: Peach & Brown

Traits: Loner, Romantic, Freegan

Be raised well by a family chosen by your runaway parent, but when you come home with a woman, they turn on you. 

Fall in love with a woman and become engaged

Fake your deaths together because no one in your current life sees you for who you are. Run away and bring your fiance with you.

Find a tight knit, small community who sees you for who you are in your new life.

Make and sell Flower arrangements in a small, family owned corner shop after running away. Max the flower arranging skill.

Spend late nights with your wife making and drinking nectar, and max out the nectar making skill.

Complete the soulmate aspiration.

Start to write in journals documenting your love and keep them to yourself until you die, leaving them to your child(ren)’s inheritance.

Generation 11: The Crooked, The Cradle

“There's blood in the water, the quiet are restless, the silent are still�� My enemies crawl, we're alone with the kill- Can anyone hear me? This cradle still burns like a hole in my chest…  The crooked are smiling, they know me the best But I pray, when it's done, when it's through, I'll have something left for you”

You didn't realize how hard school would be, and you weren't prepared for how cruel kids could be. Socially inept, you didn't know what to do when your classmates started to pick on you. None of your other classmates stood up for you. And as the bullying excellated, you internalized the mean words, spending nights crying and kicking yourself for being who you are. It must be your fault, you think, otherwise why would you deserve this?

Eventually, you graduate, but the damage has been done. You've been broken down and beaten to the point you no longer can recognize yourself. Maybe if you’d push yourself into adulthood, the childhood that haunted you will be left in the past. When you stumble upon a gang who seem to immediately welcome you, you stick around. They convinced you they're the only ones who could possibly understand you, you're one in the same, that they know you better than anyone. You believe them- because you'd never belonged with a good crowd. You do as they ask, and you fit right in, or so you think. But a shocking death leaves you unable to see the gang as your crew anymore. You're meek, messy, and a social wreck, but you aren't evil. So you leave. After all you've done, your parents welcome you back with open arms. You're still their baby, and they're willing to help you heal- but also to push you to never stop trying things and meeting people. But if you do end up finding someone who’ll treat you right… will there be any part of you left for them?

Colors: Mint & Peach

Traits: Childish, Slob, Socially Awkward

Suffer through brutal bullying when young.

Get involved in a gang who convinces you you fit in, that you're one in the same. Join the criminal career.

Witness a death that changes the way you see the world and people around you.

Leave the gang and career, and with nowhere else to go, come back to your parents’ open arms.

Learn to take care of yourself, maxing out the wellness skill. When emotions are high, practice wellness to clear your mind.

Take up work as a part time retail employee and a full time parent. Have a knack for programming and perform side jobs to support your family. Reach programming level 10.

Complete a wellness aspiration.

Because of a fear of being a bad parent, be a bit overprotective of your kids. Earn the strict family dynamic, though you want the best for them.

Generation 12: I Ain't Done

“I am a pretty young thing, I am consumed with selfish wanting You expose my nightly wandering, you put me in the ground, but I ain't done I have all the time I need to repent my wicked deeds… Swear that they still hear me scream He follows her into the night, finds her sleeping with another… by morning there were no survivors”

Under your parents somewhat suffering guidance, you had an uneventful and restricted experience in high school. You met someone, and it seemed perfect, or at least, it was supposed to be. You went with it- in fact, you went with everything in your life, following the current. Still, you managed to keep up a mischievous spirit, which your sweetheart doesn't totally appreciate, but they love you enough to get over it.

After graduation, you jump right into a marriage, unaware that you had other options to explore. Engulfed in their dreams, family, family business, and home. you ignored any bad signs your spouse showcased, you lived your life, knowing that something was missing. You were naive, despite your front- so when you found yourself falling for someone other than your spouse, you make the mistake of allowing yourself to do so. Slowly, you start to spend more and more time sneaking out for your affair. You had little guilt- this was what felt right. But one fateful night, your spouse decided to follow you when you left at night. You didn’t notice. There was screaming, bloody murder, begging and apologies, and in the end, you were gone. Your spouse, the person you loved, but not enough, the person who you cared for, but not more than your affair- had killed you. And by the time of daybreak, the ones that you most cared about lied in the ground next to you.

Colors: Black & Mint

Traits: Goofball, Self Assured, Your Choice

Get married very young to your first partner, sheltered from the idea of exploration. Live in this unsatisfying marriage for years.

Help with your spouse’s family business as undertaker (funeral director branch).

Complete the Chief of Mischief aspiration as an outlet for your unfulfilled life.

Have an affair under the moonlight with one person you truly love. When your spouse finds out, they kill you, and fight your lover to the death.

Max out the mischief, medium and thanatology skills.

Become a hotheaded sim in death and achieve Transcendent Wraith ghost mastery. Haunt your ex spouse’s family graveyard for the rest of eternity.

After death, only befriend occults. Seek vengeance, though your traitor is also in the ground.

And that's all! Stay tuned for more :D

[respectthepetty]

10 Anticipated BLs for 2024

Since I'm excited for ALL the GLs (Pluto, 23.5, Sunshine in the Wind, Chaser Game, Be Mine, y todo!), I'm making my list of the 10 BLs I'm excited for this year with brief reasons why I'm looking forward to them. In my normal fashion, I cheat my way into having more. All except one is Thai because Thailand loves to tease series three years in advance, then never make them, but I strongly believe these are coming:

The Next Prince

Zee continues to never play a poor person, and a trailer is supposed to drop in the first quarter of this year. I never knew there was so many fencers on BL Tumblr, so I'm looking forward to everyone's commentary on how well the characters poke with their sticks or whatever fencers do.

Jack & Joker: U Steal My Heart

It's a heist BL. It has YinWar. It has Prom x Mark. It has Bonz. It's Dee Hup House (we got beef). It's Director Tee and probably Cinematographer Jim. It might have color coding. There is not one thing I can find wrong with this series. It's perfect on paper, and I'm praying that translates well to the screen.

Spare Me Your Mercy

Like that lady in Titanic, I've been waiting 80 years for this series (give me a minute to cry about MaxTul), and it's finally near! I'm getting JJ & Tor in a Dr. Sammon piece, who I feel writes "Be Gay, Do Crime" very well, so I'll be forgiving any of these two gays' wrongs including murder, attempted murder, contemplating murder, and murdering each other in the bedroom (ahhhh!).

Wandee Goodday

Golf from The Eclipse is directing. It's about Muay Thai. It has an older doctor and a younger boxer who start off as bed friends (and I think one is actually a virgin). It has color coding. It has me already seated and waiting with popcorn, and I think it might be the first offering that will be delivered from GMMTV's 2024 lineup.

Sequels: Choco Milk Shake 2, Unintentional Love Story 2, My Doctor

Is Choco Milk Shake 2 gonna finally give me poly? Probably not, but I hope My Doctor brings the same heat the side couple did in Be Mine, Superstar, and the side couple getting the spotlight in Unintentional Love Story 2 will also make my side-couple-supremacy heart very happy this year.

Live in Love

It looks color coded. That's it. That's the reason. Keeping my expectations low because it might not get made since this is Thailand's favorite game.

Red Peafowl

The character reveals were absolute chaos, so I'm hoping that chaos transfers over to the actual series because it can either be a mess or a masterpiece, but it cannot be mediocre with Max, Cooheart, Boun, Mek, and Yacht as supports. Plus, it has color coding and a bird that is quickly becoming a Tumblr god.

Love Upon a Time

Even though it is a historical queer series, which means it could be sad, I think Domundi will keep the sass, so James' character won't be crying in the 1600s club but instead eating fruit seductively to encourage Net's character to put his homosexual skills into practice instead of simply theorizing about them, which is something I need more of. Plus, it has color coding.

Love Puzzle

This is one that might not get made because . . . Thailand. It's connected to Chains of Heart, but I don't care because the cast looks good and Poppy is gonna finally get to kiss a homie. If this doesn't get made, I will cry thug tears. It's 2024. Poppy deserves to kiss a man already.

My Stand-In

I don't understand the plot, but it doesn't matter because Pepzi and Khom are directing, and in case that means nothing, those were KinnPorsche's directors! Then, it has Up and Poom as the leads, plus a stacked supporting cast. I'm here. I'm queer. And I'm ready to be served.

Honorable Mention: Peaceful Property

It's about los espookys and features Tay and New. Will it be a QL? The streets are saying no, but all the characters are color coded, and all's I'm saying is what would be the point of color coding them if I ain't getting a BL main couple and a GL side couple? It's already canon to me.

Bonus: MosBank & JoongDunk

MosBank had like eighty projects announced for 2023, and I got NONE! Big Dragon 2, Big Dragon: The Movie, SunsetxVibes, where you at?! Y Journey: Stay Like a Local and Club Friday do not count. I don't want to watch their horror movie, but gosh darnit, if that comes out before everything else, I just might.

And I am a JoongDunk fan first, and a human second. Give my boys a gym BL already, GMMTV!

[anarinoa]

THE NEWEST RESIDENT OF EASTHAVEN

My Main Character OC for the amazing IF @thelonelyshore-if

Name: Lyra Moon (No Nickname)

Age: Mid-Twenties

Pronouns: She/Her

Occupation: Journalist

Appearance: Lyra Moon is a short woman with wavy waist-length black hair worn loose, Ivory skin and brown eyes.

Personality: FRIENDLY | GENUINE | TIMID | RECKLESS | SKEPTIC

Friendly: Lyra works hard to be perceived as pleasant, to Willow's entertainment. She has sharp features and often her face at rest reads as intimidating. Willow tells her she has the vibes of "someone who can swallow a man whole for looking at her wrong", everyone else says she just has a bad case of RBF.

Genuine: Not to say that Lyra doesn't possess a glib bone in her body, but part of the deal with being journalist is being frank. There's intention in her words, blunt they may be.

Timid: Lyra is not usually aggressive. She meets conflict with firm words and usually seeks to deescalate than fight about it head on. Easthaven as thrown her off kilter in a way that she's never experienced before, it's hard to be confident and assured when you're so clearly out of your depth.

Reckless: Lyra likes to think she's cautious but seeing Willow out in the lake had her throwing herself headfirst into the lake with little thought about how to haul both of them back to shore while a storm raged on. Needless to say, Lyra is prone to act first when it comes to the people she loves. There's also her curiosity. Lyra is inclined to jump into a situation if it meant she could gather information.

Skeptic: It's not that Lyra is a true skeptic of the supernatural. Like Willow, she's always been inclined to the strange and mystical ways of the world. It's just that she doesn't jump to that explanation as easily. Lyra's curiosity and inquisitiveness make her a good journalist, but also makes her question everything that people in Easthaven consider to be normal.

Traits & Skills

Uncoordinated (Low Tough Skill)

Charismatic (High Charisma Skill)

Strange (High Weird Skill)

Sensible (Average Smarts Skill)

Levelheaded (Average Composure Skill)

Adaptable (Average Cunning Skill)

Magic: Precognition/Clairvoyance

Lyra [sees visions of possible futures--sometimes far in advance, sometimes only seconds in the future. They can use this information to act and to do their best to fix things before they break. The weight of what might be is a heavy one, though, and being able to see the future doesn't always mean you can change it.]**

Lyra has her first vision when she and Ravi were about to violently crash into the end of a tree-cave. Initially she wanted to dismiss it as her imagination being too high on adrenaline at that moment, but it slowly begins to be undeniable.

Sometimes, she wonders if a part of her has always known about this ability. Willow used to tell her she was more reliable than the weather reports, always looking to her to see if he needed to bring an umbrella today. There was never a day he had to go home drenched or had been made to carry an umbrella uselessly. There's more than one instance of her reminding Willow or their parents about something they forgot or might encounter and proving to be right.

Willow called her psychic, an oracle, asking her how she always just knows. Lyra would smirk, "Wouldn't you like to know?"

**--From @/thelonelyshore-if, when asked about the distinct magics MCs can have. https://www.tumblr.com/thelonelyshore-if/759001835459805184/question-for-you-my-liege-can-you-give-us-more?source=share

Willow was the younger brother with his head in the clouds. Free, like dandelions blown in the wind.

Lyra was the dependable older sister, steadfast and fluid like water.

Growing up together, Willow was always known as "Lyra's little brother" around school. At first he didn't mind, he was always proud to be Lyra's brother, nobody ever messed with him. But that got pretty old whenever people introduced him and then said "His sister's really cool!" or "This is Willow, his sister's like, really hot". It's not as if he didn't have his own friends or anything, he just hated how quickly people stuck him in that box. He's talked about it with Lyra before. Sometimes, she couldn't help but wonder if part of his wanderlust was the desire to get as far away from her shadow as possible. But then he always finds his way back to her and they pick up right where they leave off.

Willow is frustrated that Lyra tries so hard to hide the parts of herself that he loves the most. How she makes herself softer and more palatable to people. But then there are the moments they share when their eyes meet, the brief smile or rolling of eyes whenever someone talks to her and sees only the projection she set out in the world. Willow loves the fact that he's the only person who sees her.

Willow knows to send Lyra signs of life in a semi-regular basis or else she'll go insane. He sends her pictures or precarious sleeping situations, fun sights and weird midnight musings. There's very little he doesn't tell her, whether it's crystals or a practice that he picked up, there's little judgement to be found with Lyra. She knows him, she sees him.

During the stormy night in the lake after Lyra furiously threw herself into the lake's embrace to get to him, the last thing she saw was Willow on the shore. She wonders if he chased after her, if he's somewhere at the bottom of the lake, tossed by the storm, imprisoned by the weeds.

She would do anything to make her way back to him.

RELATIONSHIP WITH THE ROs

Jaylen "Jay" Jones: Finds his presence comforting, but is a bit miffed about how he and Ravi explained the situation to her. Feels a kinship to him since he has the look of someone just trying to hold on to the people he loves.

Ravi Singh: Initially found him to be nice, if not a bit off-putting. Hates the fact that he just looks like he knows what's happening. Logically she knows he likely doesn't know as much as anyone else in town that's in the know, but something about him makes Lyta want to crack his head open just to see what's inside. (One of the top contenders for RO.)

Beck Dawn: Very thankful for the fact that they were so friendly to her at breakfast, and really loves their motorcycle. Beck and Perri was Lyra's first real taste of what normal is in Easthaven.

Perri Loveless: Too used to Willow to think badly of him, in fact, being with Perri hurts sometimes because he reminds her of Willow, but Willow is a lot more self-assured to ever shrink into himself like Perri does. Likes to listen to his radio show, calls him "Voice of Easthaven" in exchange for him giving her the moniker "The Lady of the Lake"

Yasmin Bakir-King: Lyra becomes a bit of a fixture in the Library, so the friendship blossoms from there. Joins in on Yasmin and Croft's gossip sessions. Finds Yasmin to be a bit of a grounding force compared to everything else in town.

Amir Croft: Lyra's a huge fan of his books but doesn't admit it since she correctly clocked that he wouldn't like that that much. Occasionally slips and reminds him of a lore detail that's so obcure even he forgot about it but will leave before he can call her out on it. Lyra was investigating his disappearance before coming to the cabin. Lyra is immensely comforted by the fact that someone else in town know the world beyond Easthaven. (The other top contender for RO.)

THE LADY OF THE LAKE

"…She was just there. I personally thought she was like--a ghost lady wearing white, or something, but when she got closer, it was just a nightdress. She told my dad that there was gonna be a storm and that the waters would get choppy. My dad just scoffed--he's been fishing since he was a little boy, and honestly I did too cause the water was calm and the sky was clear. Half an hour later my dad and I capsized and drank up half the lake trying to swim back. It happened a couple more times until my dad eventually just looked out in the direction of the lake house seeing if she would signal that it wasn't safe to go every time he wanted to fish."

"Well, nice to see Easthaven now has it's very own 'Lady of the Lake' looking out for us!…"

-An excerpt from Perri's radio show when a caller called in about an encounter with Lyra

A DAY IN THE LIFE

Lyra would take a job in Easthaven as a journalist at the Easthaven Herald to pay for the lake house.

Would oscillate between throwing herself into her job and just hanging out at the lake.

Would spend the weekends testing the boundaries of Easthaven with Croft.

Would try to follow in Croft's example of not integrating into the town, but would fail because she needs people in her life.

Takes a bike around town, too scared of cars to get into one for a while after the incident.

Takes up journaling to detail her life before Easthaven, grateful for Croft for his methods.

Would sleeptalk ominous information about the future (Would be so fun for an RO to be woken up at the middle of the night and hear this)

A good artist, tries to draw something from back home at least once a day in conjunction with the journaling. Willow, her parents, landmarks from the way to work, etc.

Will unconsciously draw creepy depictions of events that have yet to occur.

Starts a comic strip at the Easthaven Herald.

[imagines--galore]

||The Thread of Fate|| Part Thirty

Summary: Soulmate AU. They say the Thread of Fate connects you to your one true love. It may tangle. It may stretch. But it will never break. Wrapped around your little finger it tightens when it feels your soulmate is close and loosens when they are far. And becomes visible with the colors of your soulmate’s Nation when you finally fall in love with them.

Pairing: Zuko x OroraOC (ATLA)

Rating || Genres || Warnings: T+ Romance. Adventure.

Previous Chapters - Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five, Part Six, Part Seven, Part Eight, Part Nine, Part Ten, Part Eleven, Part Twelve, Part Thirteen, Part Fourteen, Part Fifteen, Part Sixteen, Part Seventeen, Part Eighteen, Part Nineteen, Part Twenty, Part Twenty-One, Part Twenty-Two, Twenty-Three, Twenty Four, Twenty-Five, Twenty-Six, Twenty-Seven, Twenty-Eight, Twenty-Nine,

A/N: A filler chapter, but I guess we all deserve one after all the emotions and turmoil and heavy stuff. And the next couple of chapters are also gonna be filler so.....yup! Hope you enjoy!

Zuko stared in amazement.

"So, you're telling me that you made your sword from a rock that came from space." The surprise and awe was evident in his voice as he lifted Sokka's sword at eye-level and inspected the blade. Sokka, who was sitting beside the Prince gave a proud grin.

"Yup! Toph even made an arm-band out of the leftover piece." The girl in question pulled off the only piece of jewelry she would probably ever wear and held it up, only to change it shape as she bended it to show her control over the space rock. "That's pretty amazing." Zuko commented, to which Toph gave a small shrug of nonchalance, a slightly smug grin on her lips.

There was no denying the pride in her voice as she added. "That's nothing compared to my invented metalbending." How exactly a thirteen year old had been able to do that, was still a mystery to him, but Zuko wasn't about to question Toph's age. None of them were of age to become Masters and yet everyone fighting beside Aang seemed to be powerful in their own right.

Aang was a Master Airbender and Waterbender. Not to mention his Earthbending skills weren't as abysmal as she had thought, according to Toph, and he was shaping up to be a pretty good Firebender too.

Katara was a Master Waterbender, and she was accomplished when it came to Healing Abilities. Not to mention Toph had told him how she had made her own water while in jail.

Toph was a Master Earthbender, while also having created Metalbending and mastering that as well. Zuko suspected it was a good thing he never had to face off against her in a battle.

Sokka was a good strategist and given that he had helped invent the War Balloon and other War Machines they'd used during the Invasion, Zuko had made the assumption that despite his rather clumsy nature, he was a formidable warrior.

Orora was a Master when it came to Healing Abilities, and, according to Aang, she was nearing the Master level as a Waterbender. She had really come a long way since he had met her.

And then there was him. A Master Firebender, with an expertise in sword-dueling from Piandao himself.

Guess it wasn't a surprise that he actually felt as if he were equal to all of them on every level. Something he had never felt before. With his peers or really anyone his own age, he had always been Advanced, so he hadn't been able to find a connection with them. With people older then him, other then his Uncle, they'd thought him to be too immature to give him the time of day. Plus most of them were just old gasbags who were more concerned about keeping their positions rather then let someone younger take their place.

For once, Zuko felt like he belonged with these people. Kids his own age.

And it felt nice.

Suddenly Toph sat up straight from where she had been sitting in a slouch and grinned. "Well look who's finally up!"

Though before the Earthbender had even begun to talk, Zuko knew who it was.

Since he had felt his string tug.

Sure enough, Orora was walking towards them, stretching her arms over her head as she did. "Morning." She managed to speak, despite the yawn that accompanied it. "You do realize that its nearly afternoon right?" Sokka asked the older girl who made her way towards the water pots they kept for washing up. "I mean I love to sleep in as much as the next guy, but this is a bit excessive for you isn't it?"

Glancing up from where she had been splashing some of the water on her face, Orora gave him a deadpanned look. "That's because no one else has a room mate who snores like a platypus bear." She shot back, glaring at Toph as she did. The younger girl grinned. "Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning."

Orora simply rolled her eyes as she sat down between Sokka and Toph, which put Zuko sitting across from her, completing the little circle.

Glancing at the sky, the Waterbender sighed. "Guess I'll just have to wait till lunch to get something to eat." She muttered under her breath, reaching up to run a hand through her hair, which she had left unbound for the time being. Or rather because she'd left the strips she tied her hair with in the fountain room and hadn't been back to retrieve them.

She barely had any time to pout when a bowl of rice appeared in her line of vision. Orora blinked, staring at the hand holding it out for her.

"I saved some for you." Zuko stated, clearing his throat as he did. "Aang and Katara went off to practice Waterbending and Sokka and I were in charge of cleaning up so I figured I'd save the leftover for you." Why he felt the need to explain himself further was beyond him.

The gesture was enough for old memories to reawaken. All those times she had been the one to save food for him, and cover it so it would stay warm for him.

Reaching out, she took the bowl, cradling it between her palms as she looked up at him and gave a small smile. "Thanks." Sokka, who had pretended to go back to polishing his sword, glanced between the both of them out of the corner of his eyes. Meanwhile, Toph picked up on something that she had held back for so long, but wasn't about to because she knew it would cause chaos and embarrassment for both Orora and Zuko.

And she lived for it.

"Woah!" She exclaimed softly, grinning from ear to ear.

Zuko glanced at her, frowning slightly. "What?"

"Relax guys! It was just a bowl of rice, not a proposal. Your heartbeats are going crazy."

The result was instantaneous. Zuko went red in the face, his mouth opening and closing as if he wanted to say something but couldn't find the words for it. Sokka choked on his own laughter, fell backwards, regained his breath, before resuming laughing. Orora pursed her lips, her cheeks pink, as she glared at her friend.

"I can feel you glaring at me right now Ice Princess." Toph commented, not at all bothered by the heat she could feel behind the look Orora was giving her despite being unable to see. Smiling smugly, the blind girl raised her cup of water to her lips to take a drink.

Only to find it frozen solid.

"Hey!" She protested, glaring in Orora's direction who simply smirked before taking a bite of her rice. Having regained a little bit of his composure, Sokka managed to sit up straight once more, though he put his space sword back in it's sheath. "So............, did the two of you manage to talk things out?" He asked, glancing between the still red-faced and slightly annoying looking Fire Nation Prince and a Waterbender who was calmly eating her breakfast.

Obviously neither of them knew the two of them, along with Aang and Katara had been spying on them last night. Before the either of the concerned person could make a comment, Toph spoke up. "Course they did. Firebug's been chirpy all morning hasn't he? Must mean something good came out of yesterday."

All three of them paused.

"Firebug?" Zuko echoed, to which Toph nodded, looking way too proud of herself. "Don't worry. That won't be your only nickname. I also have Angry Guy and Prince Pouty." The last nickname had Orora clapping a hand over her mouth to muffle the snort of laughter that escaped her. Zuko threw an annoyed glare in her direction to which she shrugged. "Well not like you haven't been called that before."

Her words only prompted him to pout, which resulted in Orora and Sokka bursting out into loud laughter.

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When she had woken up earlier that morning, Orora had expected things to still be tense between her and Zuko. Not wanting to deal with what was to come, and simply bask in the knowledge that she and Zuko were, for once, in agreement when it came to what they were for one another, she'd closed her eyes, and went back to sleep.

The next time she woke, the girl had forced herself to get out of bed. And yes, when she had stepped out of her room she had been nervous, unable to determine how things would be between her and Zuko.

Would they still be at odds and be awkward around one another, or would things be just as they had been in Ba Sing Se?

She found herself praying to the Spirits it was the latter.

And Zuko's simple act of saving her some breakfast and giving it to her, was enough to shatter a few of the residual reservations she had about her decision, while also making her see that perhaps, sometimes, prayers were duly answered.

Once she'd finished her breakfast, she dragged Sokka off to retrieve whatever she had left in the fountain room yesterday.

In reality, she had needed some advice.

Just one last bit of doubt before she could truly move on.

Sokka, sensing her hesitation, saved her by being the first one to speak. "So, are things alright between you two now?" He asked, peering at her face to make sure he saw any emotion that passed over her features.

Though he shouldn't have worried about her hiding anything from him, because quite honestly, Orora was sick and tired of hiding her true feelings. She had been forced to do it her entire life, and the past few months, the two times she had tried to keep her emotions in, she had, for lack of a better word, exploded.

And she was done.

"We talked." She revealed. "And he was ready to leave if his being here was too much for me." As they stepped into the fountain room, she spied her bag and walked over to retrieve it. "Sokka?" She called, clutching the pieces of blue she used to tie her hair back. "When did you decided that it was time for you to move on and put aside your grief for Yue?"

Turning, the girl watched as his expression grew somber and he pursed his lips, thinking over his answer. "I didn't." He finally revealed. "When we ran into Suki outside of Ba Sing Se, there was a point where she revealed she was my soulmate, but I didn't."

He sighed. "I thought I would be dishonoring Yue's memory by getting together with Suki." Sokka paused, allowing his memory of the girl to wash over him, before he smiled softly, Suki's face coming to his mind. "But then I realized that its not what she would've wanted. She would've wanted me to be happy." His smile widened. "So I told Suki she was my soulmate too."

Having walked over to stand in front of him, Orora gripped the strap of her bag. "But, didn't you feel any guilt or anything when you finally let go of your feelings for Yue?" She asked, wanting nothing more then to understand what he had gone through to move forward and carry on with his life.

The Warrior nodded. "I did, but Yue's sacrifice also made me realize that life is too short, and we shouldn't let things out of our control stop us from living our lives."

She blinked, his words settling within her and resonating more then anything. Sokka's advice were the very basis of her reasoning to let go of all that had happened between her and Zuko and move forward. And it did surprise her that Sokka had chosen to do the same because, she didn't think it would be easy to let go of all those feelings.

As he watched her expression change from uncertainty to realization, Sokka smiled, crossing his arms over his chest. "Seems for once I said something that didn't result in an ice mask." He joked, to which Orora smiled at him. "Don't get too confident about that. We still have the rest of the day." At his expression, she laughed.

"Thanks Sokka." He grinned, reaching out to wrap an arm around her shoulders as they began to walk back to where their friends were. "No problem. All I ask is that I don't have to walk in on you making goo-goo eyes at each other, or smooching. No smooching in front of me either, gives me the Ick."

He would've continued, if Orora hadn't allowed her wrist to snap and an ice mask to slap over his mouth, effectively shutting him up.

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"Are you sure you should be doing this here?" Teo asked in a slightly nervous tone as he watched Toph crack her knuckles. The Earthbender scoffed. "Please this place has been standing a hundred years. A little bending match isn't gonna cause any harm."

Since Toph felt she hadn't appropriately kicked anyone's butt in the last few days she had offered a friendly bending match. And Sokka, being an ultimate Earth Rumble fan, his words, had volunteered Haru to face off against Toph.

And since the voices of reason, Katara and Aang, weren't around to stop them, and Orora had agreed because she had wanted a break from Toph's teasing, no one else had been opposed to the idea of a little entertainment.

Haru had quickly bended a large circular shape in the floor. The one to even step on the line would loose. It was a fairly large circle so enough for the two Earth benders to fight it out.

"And the person who uses any material from outside the circle looses." Orora called out from where she sat next to an excited Sokka. He looked almost as if he would vibrate out of his seat. She really didn't understand what was so exciting about two people fighting. Once both Earthbenders were within the ring, Sokka stood up.

"And begin!"

The best was two out of three.

As soon as Toph landed the first win, Sokka leapt to his feet, waving his arms in the air as he screamed and hollered. "Woohoo! Go Toph!" His sudden jump in the air included a knee in the face for Zuko who sat beside him, and a smack in the face to Orora as he waved his arms. She'd been sitting beside him, though on top of a rock giving her some elevation, and grumbled as she rubbed her aching nose.

"Calm down Sokka." She said, as Haru stepped into the ring once more. "Its just a bending battle."

The words seemed to act as a catalyst of some sort, since Sokka, The Duke and Teo, who were now just as immersed as Sokka was, turned to her with a look of utter aghast and shock. "Just a battle?!" Sokka shrieked as The Duke added. "This is the coolest thing I've ever seen. And I've seen a lot of things." He stated his eyes never wavering from Toph's strong figure.

Alright so she couldn't fault The Duke for being fascinating. It did involve his soulmate after all. But Teo as well? He looked ready to jump out of his wheelchair as he waved his arms in the air.

As the second round of Earth Rumble began, Orora dropped her chin in the palm of her hand as she rested the elbow atop her thigh. "Its just two people throwing around rocks for the fun of it." Glancing at Zuko where he sat in front of her, she nudged him gently with her knee. "I don't see you going ga-ga like these three. Not to your liking then?" She asked, as Zuko glanced briefly at the three shouting spectators.

He shrugged. "I mean its interesting, but I kinda agree. Its just two people throwing rocks at one another." At that moment Haru delivered a particularly brutal attack that even Toph had a little difficulty in maneuvering. But she was able to at the last moment.

Though to save herself, she had to send a rather sizable boulder in the direction of the spectators.

"Look out!"

It was only their instincts that saved Orora, Sokka and Zuko from getting crushed.

The three of them jumped out of the way, leaving the boulder to smash into the place where, mere moments ago, they had been sitting. Orora, a little winded from throwing herself to the floor, raised her head to shout at Toph. "Watch where you aim those things!"

And by 'Watch' she of course meant watch with her feet.

Having landed on his feet instead of his face, Zuko stood, holding a hand out to help her up. Grumbling under her breath, Orora stood, brushing the dust from the front of her shirt as she did. "You okay?" He asked, the concern evident in his tone, even as she glared darkly at Toph. "I'm fine." She growled, blowing a strand of hair from her face.

Sokka wasn't even deterred, already on his feet and shouting at Toph to end the match amid Teo and The Duke's words of encouragement.

It would seem Toph had no desire to prolong the match any longer. A few minute later, Haru was over the line and on the ground. "Yeah! Go Blind Bandit!" At Zuko's look of confusion Orora quickly explained. "That was her name when she competed in actual Earth Rumbles."

"Anyone else up for a challenge." Toph called out, basking in the afterglow of her victories. She raised an arm, pointing to where Orora and Zuko were standing. "Since you both are the only other Benders around, I think it should be one of you."

Zuko shook his head. "Its not safe to use firebending in a tight space. I might accidentally burn someone." Orora looked at Zuko in surprise. "Wait....did you just...." She trailed off as Zuko turned his head to glance back at her.

Orora remembered a Zuko who would never have backed down from a challenge. Who would never have given up the chance to fight against someone.

A tender smile pulled at her lips as she reached up to playfully ruffle his hair. "You really have changed haven't you?" She laughed at his attempt to push her hand away, but he was smiling as well, because yes, he had changed. And he liked himself this way. Not because Orora liked him, but because for once he wasn't at war with himself about anything.

"Well since Firebug is out. Orora! Get your butt in here!" Toph called, sounding more then a little impatient. The Waterbender shook her head. "I'm not about to fight just for the sake of entertainment Toph." She said, to which Sokka made a strange sound of horror, as if he were unable to comprehend someone wouldn't want to fight for the fun of it.

But Toph, not wanting to stop just yet grinned. "I'll make you a bet. You fight against me, and if you win I don't tease you and Zuko for three days."

Zuko blinked, frowning as he glanced at Orora who looked as if she were actually considering the deal. Which she wouldn't take, he figured, she would rather-

"Deal!"

He stared at her, a little surprised. And he wasn't the only one. Though judging by the smile that pulled at her lips, she had something up her sleeve.

"But if I win, you will do what I've been asking you since we came to the Temple." Zuko smiled, shaking his head. He should've known his Soulmate would have an ulterior motive.

Toph scowled at Orora, and for a moment the Waterbender thought she wouldn't accept the deal. But then the blind girl nodded.

Orora smirked.

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While Sokka and Haru quickly moved the two pots of water on either side of the circle so that Orora could draw from them anytime during the battle, the Waterbender quickly readied herself.

Which included quickly picking up sections of her hair from either side of her temples and pulling out the hair comb Zuko had returned to her. A little too busy gathering any spare piece of hair behind her head so it wouldn't get in her face, she missed the way Zuko's expression softened at the sight of the comb as it nestled in her dark brown hair once more.

Exactly where it belonged.

A stray piece of hair did land just above her right eye, but she wasn't bothered by it. The rest of her hair she allowed to hang free, thick dark brown locks settling in unruly waves just behind her shoulders. From her bag she pulled out her gloves, pulling them on as she stepped into the circle. If she was going to use all of her body to dodge Toph's attacks, she had no desire to cut her skin and get hurt necessarily.

For a moment everything and everyone stood still, watching with bated breath.

Toph made the first move, creating a row of sharp rocks protruding from the floor and towards Orora.

Inhaling deeply, Orora dropped into a stance, her arms creating twin elegant circles, pulling the water from both the pots and allowing it to create a whirlpool around her, elevating her into the air.

"Showing your hand early in the battle. A little over-confident there Ice Princess?" Toph called as soon as she sensed what had happened. Orora grinned. "Just want to end this quickly so I can get what I want." She called back.

Throwing her arm out, the girl shot a tendril of water towards the blind girl. Sensing the attack as it flew through the air, Toph quickly brought up a shield of earth. The water dissipated, dropping to the ground where the earth sucked it in.

Knowing she would tire herself out if she continued the whirlpool, Orora quickly dropped the intensity. And not a minute later several sharp rock projectiles flew through the air, right where her head had been a moment ago. Getting into her battle mindset was easy as she created a short yet wide circular pillar of ice and stood atop it.

The leftover water from the whirlpool was sent in a small yet strong tidal wave towards her opponent. Who avoided it by creating a ball of earth around her. "You're holding back Princess." Toph called once she had dropped her earth shield. "That's because I don't want any stray attack to hurt anyone else." Orora called back, gesturing to their spectators who had only escaped Toph's previous attack of sharp earth projectile because Haru had been there to deflect it.

Toph waved her hand. "They can take care of themselves." So saying, she attacked Orora head-on with a large boulder aimed straight towards her. Without even flinching the girl shot a bubble of water towards it, big enough to encompass and freeze it in midair. Throwing her leg out, Orora pushed a disc of pure thin ice to fly through the air, slicing the boulder in half before it had even dropped to the floor. But the disc didn't stop there. It flew through the air, landing just beside Toph who barely flinched.

Instead she created several steps, one higher then the next, as she climbed up in the air. Orora knew the next attack would be from the air, and the instant she skated away from her perch, Toph's earth clad figure came crashing down, sending her trunk of ice showering in each and every direction.

Orora pivoted on her feet, her arms thrown out as she caught each and every last fragment of the ice and instead directed it towards Toph. Though it did little damage as Toph simply created a pyramid of earth around her to defend herself from being pierced. One face of the pyramid flew through the air, sliding across the earthy terrain and would've nearly slammed into Orora if she hadn't somersaulted out of the way. She'd barely landed on her feet when her arms were coated with water. Hardly standing up from the crouch she had landed in, the Waterbender threw her arms out to try and catch Toph by the arms.

Of course that plan worked out as well as could be expected given that Toph felt the water coming halfway and counteracted it by kicking her foot out and sending Orora to the ground where the earth lurched under her feet. Getting the wind knocked out of her wasn't exactly a new thing, but then the idea that formed in her head next was certainly she'd never thought of before.

"Alright Toph." She grumbled, barely standing up from where she lay. "You wanna be like that then." Her hand shot out, sending a wave of water towards the Earthbender.

Freezing her feet in place.

"What the?!! Orora!" Toph called, not having expected her friend to play dirty like that. Rising to her feet, Orora grinned. "What're you gonna do now that you can't see?" She goaded, her blue eyes landed on the half broken boulder that was still laying there, each half covered in ice.

"Lets see you dodge this!" So saying she sent both boulders flying, the ice allowing her to control them both. What she hadn't calculated was the fact that Toph could sense the earthen halves of the rocks and while one was knocked out of the way with a swipe of her arm, landing harmlessly on the ground, the other wasn't as lucky.

The force behind Toph's bending was enough to send the ice covered boulder flying through the air, and landing with a resounding crash..............right where the rooms they had all been sleeping in were located.

Every eye turned towards the location in horror, minus Toph.

The boulder had taken out two pillars as it went, before crashing through, first Katara's room, going through Sokka and Aang's room, before landing halfway between Toph and Orora's and Teo and The Duke's.

"Katara is gonna kill us."

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Suffice to say, it wasn't a pleasant conversation explaining to Aang and Katara what had happened. Toph and Haru had tried to clean things up a bit, but obviously they couldn't recreate the architecture the way it had been before.

With the rooms destroyed, and the remaining one's on the verge of collapse, it was decided that all of them would sleep in the courtyard outside instead.

Which meant cleaning up the debris from their impromptu battles, against each other as well as Combustion Man.

"Why did I agree to this?" Orora grumbled as she allowed a small stream of water to sweep away most of the dust and grime that had accumulated on the floor over the years. Toph, Haru and Aang were busy clearing away the bigger rocks and boulders. Katara was supervising Sokka, The Duke and Teo as the moved everything from the rooms to the courtyard. Zuko was stuck with preparing the everything for their lunch, which Orora would be cooking later. Of course this meant cutting a lot of vegetables.

A task he still hated.

Glancing up from where he had chopped the last of the carrots, Zuko shrugged. "You tell me. Normally you don't get goaded into taking bets." Orora huffed, as she sent another small wave of water to collect the dirt. "Yeah well this was one chance I could get Toph to do something shes been putting off for days. She may be a sneak, but she will always honor her bets." Washing away the last of the dirt, she smirked. "Kind of reminds me of you."

He rolled his eyes at her, trying not to show just how happy he was that she spoke to him so.........normally.

"You've gotten really good." He complimented. "And you managed to bend with your feet too, so I guess you figured that out." Trying hard not to sound too proud, Orora grinned. "It took me awhile to perfect, but I finally got the hang of it." She said, making a small circle on the floor with the tip of her shoe. The both of them watch as a small stream of water snaked across the floor and in a circle of ice, following the movement of her foot.

Though she wasn't able to keep her balance on one foot for long. She tilted to the side with a gasp, and would've fallen if Zuko hadn't reached out to grasp her arm and caught her. "Though maybe you should take some balancing lessons from Aang." The Prince suggested with a teasing glint in his warm golden eyes. Orora playfully smacked his chest.

He didn't let go of her arm, while her hand didn't lift from his chest where she had hit him moments ago. Everything around her seemed to fade away as she met his gaze, unburdened. Then again, the moment wasn't so dissimilar from what Zuko was feeling at the moment. Though while Orora felt a rush of contentment in the comfort of the moment, Zuko felt relief.

Relief that now when she looked at him, it wasn't with rage, sadness and uncertainty. But with silent surety.

"Thank you." He said, his fingers gently gripping her forearm. The girl frowned lightly. "What for?" She asked, her head tilting to the side.

He smiled.

"For giving me another chance." He revealed, his hand sliding down to where her hand was, only to link their fingers together.

The fingers that had the string tied to it.

The string that glowed with the respective colors of the other's Nation since last night.

Seeing the blush rise to her cheeks never ceased to make him smile, and that moment was no exception.

Was it strange that only yesterday it hadn't seemed like there was any hope for them, and yet now, standing there, looking at her, Zuko couldn't help but thank every Spirit, known and unknown, that he had his Soulmate back.

They still had a long way to go, still had to work out on some things.

But being civil to one another and actually speaking, being friends again, was one step closer to what they both wanted in the end.

"Why is the floor not clean yet?!"

The sudden exclamation broke the moment, and caused Orora to let out a gasp of surprise. She pivoted on her feet, smacking Zuko in the face as her hair flew behind her as she turned to smile sheepishly at a glowering Katara.

"Sorry. Sorry. I'm on it!"

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"So who exactly won?"

Sokka asked once Katara had stopped chewing them all out and had assigned chores to everyone. Which included Orora and Toph making lunch. They'd only just sat down to eat, with Katara glaring at her brother over her bowl of food. Everyone glanced at the two girls who sat next to one another. Orora glanced at Toph who just shrugged. "We'll just call it even." She stated. "For now."

"But what about the bet?" Haru asked, leaning forward, eager to know the results. Aang, who had been more then a little miffed about being unable to watch the matches, intervened. "Well since no one won, I guess it means you'll both have to uphold your end of the bargain."

Orora grinned, while Toph let out a sigh. Turning her sightless gaze towards the older girl, Toph nearly shuddered at the way Orora's heart was beating with excitement.

"There's no getting out of it, is there?"

"Nope."

"Oh boy."

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[rabbit-piece]

Whitebeard Commanders Rizz Check

Jozu shoots his shot by teasing you and gifting you with little trinkets he made, but he doesn't actually like to talk much, so all his flirting is just *stares at you adoringly* *gets caught* *smiles, waves, and walks away.* Doesn't hide that he's into you but also doesn't push for anything more, he'd let you come to him if you're interested.

Thatch is absolutely a flirt but he's also very approachable about it. He'll offers to buy you chicken wings instead of a drink at the bar, and conversation with him feels effortless. Farmer's Market Hot/Boy Next Door kinda rizz, but with that bad boy spice when you find out he's a pirate. Also a man who can cook automatically gets a +16 hotness boost.

Vista's Casanova ass are you kidding me? This man needs to stop rizzing people up, it's becoming an actual problem. Vista enters conversations tits-first, kisses the back of your hand, calls you Spanish pet names and offers to teach you how to tango right then and there. His cologne smells amazing and his hair is like silk. Somebody nerf this bastard.

Blamenco is too shy and nervous to ever attempt to rizz anybody up, but if he did he'd absolutely flirt like a butch lesbian. Hey darlin', want to sip this iced tea he made you while he does skillful handyman repairs around your house, listens to you talk, and validates all your emotions and experiences? Actually tbh he would do that even if he wasn't trying to rizz you up. This man is Overwhelmingly husband material.

Rakuyo shoots his shot by chattering about the history of shipbuilding with exact dates and locations while scrawling incredibly detailed diagrams all over the napkins, getting too excited and knocking a drink all over himself, and then being genuinely startled and impressed when you show him a trick for getting wine stains out of fabric. He loves when somebody can teach him something. Maybe you could give him some more advanced lessons? He's a very attentive student, *wink wink*

Namur has that nerdy shyboy rizz. Nervously approaches you in a game shop to compliment all you nerd merch and then when you compliment him back he'll turn purple and start stuttering. Talks with you about favorite Pokemon gens and which anime openings get stuck in your head, shows you the elaborate DM screen he designed and made himself. You think probably he just wants to be friends but then he sees someone being an asshole and steps up to do something about it and you're reminded Oh Shit Actually This Guy Is A Shark. Not A Cinnamon Roll, A Big Fucking Shark, A Shark--!

Blenheim doesn't even really need to work for it honestly he's a hot older man with those vibes where you know he knows how to fuck and he has the most interesting stories to tell with that smooth, confident way he speaks, his salt-and-pepper beard, his big, strong hands. It's not rizz it's genuine understated charisma and we're all lucky he hasn't ever been as girl-crazy as Vista because frankly two of them on one ship would be too damn much.

Curiel doesn't know how to flirt and at this point he refuses to learn but he does have that energy of a man who's very big and very strong and very gentle, and he'd speak to you warmly and call you little one and make hilariously terrible dad jokes and we all know that would be more than enough for some people.

Kingdew has no rizz just huge muscles an extremely deep voice and many unsettling things to say.

Haruta is obnoxious and rizzless. Point this out to them and they will throw a tantrum about it, which will both be entertaining and serve to prove your point.

Atmos used to have a ton of rizz back in the day. He had that "I'm a bad motherfucker, but I like poetry too" kind of thing going on. Friendly, easy to get along with, intelligent without being pretentious, playful without being abrasive, capable of carrying a conversation. Atmos could get it. Not so much since the brain damage though. No, not anymore.

Jiru's quick silver tongue and big doe eyes and dimples aren't quite as dangerous as Vista's tits but that's mostly because Jiru doesn't weaponize them as often as Vista does. For all his friendliness and skill with managing social situations, Jiru doesn't actually like people very much. That said, he's absolutely not above flirting his way out of a problem he can't run through with his lance.

Fossa does not have rizz he has paranoid delusions and a chain-smoking habit. Leave him alone. Go away.