#flips white fudge

[dreamboundedstar]

Lookie here, more lovely art by @drawthething ! I really love how DT draws Willow based on the last commission with her in it, so I asked for more. :3 I'm responsible for all the dialogue. It's just so much fun making dialogue for these two. I don't know if any of this dialogue would be canon if I ever end up making a fanfic with them involved, but they were fun regardless. Even though WIllow will never be canon in Bob's Burgers, she's canon in heart! Just as long they never show Tina and Katie's art teacher, she's canon to me. XD If that happens, I don't know maybe I'll rework her as an oc for an original series. I really do love this character design concept. Anyway, enough rambling. Thank you so much DT and I hope you all enjoy the cuteness! X3

[drawthething]

Commission I did for @dreamboundedstar for her oc Willow and Flips White Fudge ✨✨✨

Beauty & the Beast palette vibes I knowww. I'll leave all the loredumping to her for now but look at themmm :D

[koko-raccoon]

doodled a little comic for @dreamboundedstar of her OC Willow and Flips White fudge being a silly goose

They are just too adorable ♥️

[himbo-kuto]

ceo!sylus x secretary!reader  summary: what happens you you become sylus' trusted secretary?

a/n: tried to make this one longer to make up for the shortness of the first part 😅 if y'all want to be tagged when these come out, let me know! i also slightly fudged the schedule than the one laid out in the first part-- apologies for the confusion!

part one | two

with freshly washed hair and a well moisturized face, you sat in bed and looked at your phone, 10:00pm. 

you had been thinking all day about whether or not you were going to take this position, and you still came up at a crossroads. 

you looked around at the tablet the twins gave you along with the briefing papers, that were all spread out around your bed. ever since you got home you’ve been flipping through these papers in order to see what it is like working for world renowned ceo, sylus qin. 

he had affairs in all different countries, making a multitude of deals with hundreds of other rich ceos– you wondered how he even had time for himself.

you unlocked the tablet to look at his schedule for tomorrow and he barely had time to breathe. starting his day at 5:00am boxing for an hour, breakfast, the day's briefing, and then meetings back to back all until 7:00pm. even then he still had work to do on his computer. 

you didn’t know who to feel bad for– sylus because he’s the one who’s participating in all of this, or you who had to stick by his side till the very end. 

a groan left your lips as you fell back on your bed, looking up at your white ceiling. 

“why not just try it? it’s not like if you fail that you’ll be fired from the company… but then you’ll look like the idiot who couldn’t do it… but then maybe people would understand since he was known to be a hard ass..” the angel and the devil were definitely arguing on your shoulders. you tried to wave them off, hoping that would subdue your thoughts but sometime in the middle of your deliberations, your mind drifted off to sleep.

you jolted awake to an alarm you didn’t even remember setting and looked at the time, 3:30am. 

you groggily looked around your room to still see that you truly passed out in the middle of thinking. papers still amiss, the tablet’s black screen reflecting your tired eyes. 

“well.. might as well go for it.” and go you did. 

you gathered up all your things before plunging into your morning routine

you gave yourself a once over in the mirror by your door, making sure your outfit was both comfortable yet professional. you didn’t know what he had in store for you, so best to be prepared for anything and everything. 

“if you decide you want the job, luke and i will be waiting downstairs by your place at 4:30am. we’ll take you to boss’s house. just know we won't wait long."

and lo and behold, there was a sleek black car waiting for you promptly at 4:30am by your apartment. 

at first you awkwardly waved at the car, not being able to see inside due to its tinted windows. 

the window soon rolled down and there were luke and kieran giving you some big smiles. 

“happy first day!” “we hope you make it!” 

well that’s promising. you got into the car and they zoomed off onto the city streets. 

you watched the lights go swiftly past your window as you went over a bridge. this was nice. luke and kieran were respectful, quiet and for the most part, they minded their business. 

“do you have any questions for us before we get to the house?” 

you found that whoever took these notes was very thorough yet concise at the same time. everything was laid out exactly how you should do it and how sylus wanted it. 

you shook your head, nothing coming to mind… well.. maybe one. 

“...what’s he like?” you paused before looking into the rearview mirror. 

“i’ve only ever seen our ceo for what? maybe max, 10 seconds?” 

they both laughed at that. 

“well as you can tell, boss man doesn’t exactly enjoy appearing to the public. only when business demands it does he show his face. otherwise he just likes to keep to himself.” 

“he’s also pretty simple. he’s the type of person that once he likes something, he sticks to it. rarely does he change his ways. if anything that makes him very consistent.” 

you nodded along, genuinely interested in what they had to say. you knew nothing of the man on top, but because of one single event, here were you in one of his cars being escorted to his house.

“how long have you guys been working with mr.qin?” 

luke wrapped his fingers around his chin, stroking it gently as if in thought. 

“honestly for as long as we can remember, we’ve been working for boss. he got us out of a pretty nasty situation way back when and ever since then we’ve been by his side.”

“like he said, he’s kicked us to the curb many times, but that didn’t stop us.” 

you softly smiled at the sentiment. you could only imagine what his face would’ve looked like seeing the two of them showing up to his doorstep after many attempts to shake them. in the midst of their attempts, he grew fond of them. 

“i’ll keep all those things in mind. thank you.” 

you looked out the window to see just how big sylus’ estate was. a gated off property that went deep into the woods, but once you reached the main property, the landscaped opened up to a beautiful dark mid century modern home. 

“everything you need will be in the kitchen. boss has already started his day, but he’ll promptly be up at 6:00am to eat so try and be on time. he doesn’t like when his schedule is disrupted.” 

you nodded, now finding a new wave of confidence. you wanted to put your best foot forward and if in the end it doesn’t work, at least you can say you gave it your all. 

the twins led you through the house to get started before disappearing to only god knows where. you looked at the notes again, following them as closely as you could while still keeping time. 

you fixed the last bowl on the table, as you glanced at your watch. 5:59am. perfect timing. you put your hands to your hips, feeling proud of the spread. with seconds to spare, you pulled out your phone and took a quick picture to remember your first day by. 

and like the twins said, as the clock striked 6:00am, sylus had emerged to the kitchen in his boxing gear (which wasn’t much) a tight fitting tank top and some five inch inseam shorts. 

you felt your face get hot seeing so much of his skin for the first time. 

“ahem, good morning mr. qin. i hope breakfast is to your liking.” 

he took a second, wrapping his towel and his neck before looking at you and then to the food on the table. 

“please join me.” he gestured to the seat beside him as he began to eat his meal. 

you sat down, grabbing the tablet under your arm before briefing him on his day. 

famous last words, but the beginning of your day was actually going very smoothly. sylus promptly finished breakfast by 6:30, leaving him enough time to get ready. 

you finished the last of your duties up in the kitchen before heading over to the garage. luke and kieran would be the ones to take you to work. 

“impressive. i’ve seen a lot of other secretaries much worse than you at this part of the day.”

“oh? well i guess i’m flattered. make sure to tell me that at the end of the day too even if it may not be true.” you all shared a laugh as sylus came from the hallway.

“didn’t expect everyone to be getting along so well. shall we?”

the car ride was much like the one in the morning, quiet but not entirely awkward. you flipped through his schedule for the next couple of hours, trying to commit it to memory. 

“who’s going to be in this meeting at 9:00am?” without delay, you read off the attendees. 

“then after?” again, quick answer. 

sylus let out a pleased hum, which the twins picked up on. they gave each other a knowing glance before going back to their business. 

“and what would you like for lunch mr.qin?” 

“mm.. you decide.” 

you pressed your lips together in a thin line now having to wrack your brain on what to get your ceo for lunch. you knew much of his dislikes, but not many of his likes. this would be your undoing, you just knew it. 

kieran pulled into an entrance that you weren’t familiar with to get into the building. you didn’t notice but your eyebrows furrowed together which made sylus chuckle ever so slightly. 

“it’s a private entrance. only me, the boys and now you have access to. here,” he held out a shiny black titanium card out to you. 

“your new keycard. you’ll find that you have access to more doors with this. don’t lose it. i won’t be giving you another one.” 

“understood.” you graciously took the card, replacing your old white keycard with this one (you already knew all the stickers you were going to put on this).

and from there, your official work day started. 

many, if not all the people in these meetings disregarded you as ‘just another one of sylus qin’s secretaries who will most likely be gone within the week’ as he introduced you and that pissed you off. you could just feel the 💢 emanating off your forehead. 

but you made sure to give them all a firm handshake while looking them in the eye. this would not be the last time they’d be seeing you. 

there was finally a short 20 minute break in between his meeting in which you used to order lunch. you sat at your new desk, looking through all the restaurants and cafes you and your co-workers had eaten for lunch– and suddenly it felt like you've never eaten at any of these places. 

you let out a big sigh just as luke walked by. 

“tired already?” 

you stuck your tongue out at him before gesturing to your tablet. 

“i’m just trying to figure out what to get everyone for lunch and i just want to get it right.” 

“wow, you’re really torn up about this huh?” 

if only you knew luke just a little bit longer, you definitely would’ve strangled him by now. 

“just use your best judgement. that’s why the boss chose you after all.” 

“didn’t you guys choose me based on my qualifications?”

he laughed at that. 

“everybody here is qualified to do the job, otherwise they wouldn’t be working at this company. but he picked you and that should be the equivalent of a lifetime achievement award.” 

now it was your turn to laugh. that did make you feel a lot better. 

“thanks, luke. i’ll be sure to get you something extra yummy.” 

turns out lunch was a hit– there was a cafe you always frequented during your lunch break and you knew the food was delicious so you hoped they would too. 

as you took sylus’ plate from his desk, you reminded him of the phone call he has in 20 minutes. 

“thank you, that was delicious. good choice.” 

you felt yourself bloom with pride at his compliment, but you quickly stopped yourself. (i can’t laugh yet, i have to hold it in)

“also cancel the rest of my meetings after 5:00pm” 

“oh sure– should I give them a reason why?”

“tell them i’m taking my secretary out for dinner after work.”

[girliism]

girl dad!art hasn’t had to stay home only with your daughters since she’s been born so when he sees you getting ready for a night out he’s confused.

“where on you going?” art stands behind at your vanity. “tashi invited me out and i haven’t been out since the bean was born so.” you shrugged retouching your lipstick. art follows behind you while you pack your purse. “is your mom coming over to watch bean?” you tell him he is and watch him freeze up.

art loves his daughter but watching her alone without you. what if something goes wrong. “baby, you’ll be fine. it’s almost ten and she’s been fed all you need to do is change her then put her to sleep.” you reassure him. “oh and remember to warm up the bottle under hot water. she likes to hold it herself while someone rocks her to sleep.” you kiss your daughter and art goodbye heading out to tashi’s car.

“alright looks like it’s just you and me bean.” art picked her up the two of them smiling at each other his full mouth of teeth and her five tiny ones. three at the bottom two at the top. “so what do you wanna do first.” art pokes at her cheeks. she opens her mouth as if to answer but instead throws up all over arts white t-shirt. “fuc-fudge.” art stops himself from cursing looking at his daughter in disbelief. she just giggles.

back at the club you are a worrying mess. “ok you’ve been setting here for thirty minutes staring at your phone.” tashi plobs down next to you. “this is supposed be girls night out no kids no husbands just girlfriends.” you sigh. “i know i know, but i’ve never left art alone with bean before, and it’s just been me and her her and me for so long. i think i’m having separation anxiety.” you rant. “i don’t even know why i came out it’s not like i can drink yet.” tashi shushes you. “no none of that no mopey mom feelings ok. trust i know how you feel but think about how much when we need this. we have been sitting at home with nothing but shitty diapers and achy boobs. who cares if we can’t drink yet let’s just dance and let loose. art and patrick have everything under control ok.” you nod your head standing up to go hit the dance floor with tashi. this night out is more than deserved. “wait you left lily home alone with patrick?” “course not my moms there. now let’s go.”

“ok bean, daddy’s got a new shirt you’ve got a new diaper now drink this bottle and go to sleep.” art’s seated in the rocking chair handing her the bottle. she immediately chucks it across the room laughing. art goes and picks it up trying again. only for her to throw it again laughing even harder now. art stares at her in shock. “so you think this is a game?”

after 20 minutes of trying to get her to sleep he finally succeeds laying her down in her crib whispering a good night.

art sets down on the couch with a beer flipping through the channels. “god, how does mama do this every night.” he turns on adult swim cause why not and then he hears it. the sound of banging and giggling coming from the baby monitor. picking it up he’s thinking there’s no way that could be bean cause bean is sleeping. but there she was on the monitor screen bouncing in her crib hitting her toy against the rails.

art opens the door to her nursery and is greeted by a very smiley and very awake baby. “you’re not gonna go to sleep are you.” she just laughs making grabbing hands at him.

the next hour art spends playing peak-a-boo, pretended to steal her nose and she still wasn’t a little bit tired. “come on baby cut me some slack here. what does mommy usually do to get you to sleep?” she perks up at the mention of her mother. “ma ma ma ma ma ma.” shes babbles. “yea mama what does mama do? does she read to you or sing you lullaby’s?” your daughter does her little baby dance when art mentions lullaby’s. and art can do that he can sing lullaby’s it’s just he doesn’t know any. so he improvises.

“okay lullaby time. time to sing a lullaby.” art thinks hards but none are popping into his mind. “looks like we’re gonna freestyle this bean.” art clears his throat. “bean bean one year old bean i really need you to go to sleep. sleep sleep is pretty neat especially if you’re a one year old bean.” art looks down at his daughter resting on his shoulder playing with his necklace. assuming the song is working he repeats it three more times before they’re both passed out on the couch.

“thanks for tonight tash i’ll call you in the morning.” you watch her car drive off making your way to your house.

pushing open the front door walking into the living room to be met with a mess of toys and your husband and daughter asleep on the couch. you snap a picture before running your hand through arts hair waking him up. “hey you’re back.” art whispers moving to sit up slowly as not to wake your daughter. “did you have fun?” you nod your head. “looks like you and bean had your own fun.” art stands. “love, she just would not sleep i had to made up a lullaby.” you laugh the both of you walking to her nursery to put her down. you guys watch her sleep for a while before leaving.

“thanks for doing this.” you reach up places a kiss on arts lips. he shrugs. “it’s nothing. watching after her is my responsibility to. i’ll start doing it more so you can go hang out you know start having a life again.” even though it’s truly the bare minimum you still feel happy that he would suggest such a thing. you give him one last kiss before walking off to get ready for the night.

“you look hot by the way.”

(i nicknamed the baby bean for this cause i didn’t wanna keep calling her daughter .)

[theorphicangel]

how the jjk men react to you wiping off their germs after sharing a drink / food

notes: fluff, crack, gn!reader

part one: gojo satoru

it was a quiet morning.

too quiet.

you awoke alone in your bed, the other side of your bed left cold and empty. you try not to give it too much thought, maybe satoru was out on a mission — called out early for an emergency.

with a sigh, you begin your routine. again, it’s quiet without your partner by your side.

it’s quiet as you brush your teeth and it’s lonely when you shower, it’s quiet as you step into the kitchen — not feeling a body hug you from behind as you make your morning coffee. it’s quiet as you sip on your cup at the counter, reflecting on your tasks which you need to do today.

up until, you hear a key turn through the lock of your front door. it closes with a slam and after the sounds of shoes scuffling, your white haired lover steps through, being able to find you immediately.

“good morning, gorgeous!” he strolls over, with a smile and places a kiss on the top of your head. in his hand is a drink from your local coffee shop just less than five minutes away.

“you sleep well without me? I was called away last minute, it couldn’t be helped but I was as fast as I could.”

“s’fine, honey, I slept well.”

“not too well without me?”

“oh god, of course not.” you play along.

“well, I was walking by that local coffee shop you like and I could not help but notice a poster for their double pumped caramel frappe with whipped cream and fudge sauce and…”

“satoru.” you warn.

“I’ve been working so hard lately and I just needed a treat and…”

you stare him down with judgemental eyes. it wasn’t that long ago where you had to set up an intervention to get Satoru to limit his sweet tooth addiction.

“baby, just try it trust me! I promise you, it’s worth it!”

you let out a sigh as satoru’s drink is shoved in your hand. yet before you take a sip, you switch the sides of the paper straw to avoid sipping from the same side as Satoru.

as you take your sip, the sweetness hitting your tastebuds, satoru gives you a side eye.

with an innocent smile, you question him.

���what?”

“why did you do that?”

“do what?”

“why did you flip the straw?”

“because I don’t want your germs”

satoru says your name slowly, giving you a look which silently says ‘please be so fucking for real’.

“what?”

“please just say what you just said to me again.”

“I said I don’t want your germs.”

“wow.” satoru claps slowly, creating an echo in the kitchen. “wow, wow, wow.”

“can you stop saying—“

“after a 3 year relationship with you, now you’re saying you don’t want MY germs.”

“yeah, what’s wrong with it ?” you play your oblivious role perfectly, tilting your head to the side.

satoru stutters, waving his hands around aimlessly, “wh- what’s wrong? baby…we’ve kissed…multiple times….possibly thousands and millions and billions—“

“okay, that’s a stretch.”

“but the point is that we have exchanged germs multiple times without much concern, what’s changed now?”

you shrug. “ I dunno…”

“because if you don’t want to catch my germs then maybe no kisses for you…”

“I never said—“

“I mean that’s what you implied right? you don’t ever want my lips to touch yours?”

“satoru—“

“I guess these will be the last kisses I ever give you.” he states before approaching you and attacking you with kisses on your face, in the most loving way possible.

kiss — “I’ll miss this,” — kiss — “this is the last — kiss — “time that i will ever” — kiss “get to put my lips on you — kiss — “this is the equivalent to stabbing me through my heart by the way and stepping on me thousands of times—“

“okay, okay I get it!” you giggle, “it was a prank.”

satoru lets out a huff, pulling away from you and taking the drink out of your hands. he leaves you be, allowing you to recollect from his attack.

“good, because I’m not sharing my drink with you again.”

“hey!”

“talk to me when you feel like sharing germs again.”

[mikoyamisheadcanonblog]

Chocolate (V-day Exchange)

****Exchange****

🔥Ace🔥

Title:

Pairing: Ace X Mor

Word Count: 1682

For: @drawingaddict1

“So do you have anything special planned for Ace?” Marco asked watching the young woman pull out a pan of fresh baked cookies from the oven. He was a regular at this small bakery loving the baked goods they provided and the company off the young woman who made it.

“What do you mean?” she questioned unaware of the special holiday coming up despite the increase in treats she was making. Requests from college woman asking for sweet treats for their lovers asking for elaborate designs on specially made cakes or cookies; like flowers and hearts or words with words ‘with love,’ or ‘from’. And yet she remained oblivious of the holiday that was creeping in. She shared many traits with the young hot-headed boy like Ace. Though Ace hadn’t forgotten about Valetine’s day this time around, he had been talking about it nonstop to the other members of White Beards Mafia. He was excited, he had a girlfriend this time around, and a girlfriend who was good at cooking and baking. He wanted chocolate from her, and only her.

Marco stared at the excentric woman who managed to keep up with the Whitebread mafia, her own physical strength only to match her skills in cooking. And chuckled not surprised. She had been busy with college, studying, working, and training.

“For Valentines Day,” Marco answered gently as he watched the woman prepare another cookie basket before she froze. Her blue eyes staring at Marco for a long time.

She….had forgotten about Valentines Day in her busy life she forgotten the most romantic time of the year. She had been so excited when her and Ace started dating her mind, planning all the chocolates and sweets she could make for Ace and confess her love for him. A dreamy afternoon with just the two of them, him eating sweets she fed him.  How much time did she have?

“You still have time,” Marco told her, he could read her. He understood what she was thinking, “It is tomorrow,”

She moved slowly towards Marco, her silver hair falling around her with a look of panic in her eyes as she reached and grabbed Marco’s shoulders. “IT …IS…TOMORROW,” she breathed every word with shacky breath, shaking the man with every word. That wasn’t enough time, she couldn’t test new recipes or try experimenting with new designs. She was now even limited in how much chocolate she could make for him.

“You still have time,” he repeated watching her slowly slide down and scream into the table. She couldn’t believe she forgot about the holiday. A holiday she was looking forward to for a long time. She wanted to treat her first-time boyfriend, show him her affection. She let out a deep grown escaping her lips, before nodding. She had enough time to make the perfect chocolate for him. The day was only halfway over, she groaned again.

Marco smiled and gave a gentle pat on the girl’s back; he was sure whatever she created for Ace, he was sure the boy would love it. After all he loved her.

--

Mor threw her groceries on the counter; her roommates were thankfully not home. She quickly went to her room throwing on different clothes and putting on her apron before she got everything ready to work for the rest of the night.

She began flipping through her phone looking at all her saved recipes and frowned trying to find something perfect for Ace. She would like to give him some chocolate, but the flavor was difficult and would take all night if she was changing different chocolates.

She paused a bit finding the strawberry chocolate and truffles; it was romantic and a classic. Vanilla cream, caramel and fudge, as they are classic, and she saw Ace enjoying those. She was looking over all recipes and different flavors stumbling on more difficult recipes she could experiment with, crème brulee, lemon meringue, smores and strawberry cream. She would have to avoid dark chocolate she had watched Ace spit out and would experiment with milk chocolate and white chocolate. She was taking notes before stopping, nothing felt like it was just for him.

She continued searching for a while before she found it, the perfect recipe spicey chocolate. It seemed perfectly fit for just Ace it was made for Ace. She would have to experiment and change things, but she would make it for him.

Getting everything ready, this project was going to take her all night, but she couldn’t fail, everything had to be perfect for Ace. She had gotten the freshest ingredients for all of this, bought new heart shaped mold along with molds that looked like flames and a lot of money on gift boxes. She cursed herself for forgetting such an important holiday but continued working.

A few of her first tries were failures, she burnt the chocolate, or the cake was too soft inside, or the chocolate was too thick.  Or a lot of the fillings were too sweet or too bitter. She frowned, putting them all on the side hating for the food to go to waste, trying to figure the right temperature for chocolate for it to catch the shape of the mold.

Her roommates trickled in while she baked, trying a few of her samples and such.

“I can’t believe you forgot Valentine’s Day,” Ash said popping one of her failed experiments, “Wouldn’t it be easier if you found some sex lingerie and surprised him in his bed?”  

Mor smirked, “Who said that isn’t the plan for later,” she winked.

Ash frowned and took another bite of one of the failed chocolates, “You know it is not fun when you play along with joke,” she said making a face at the bitter chocolate.

Mor smiled, “Do you have anything planned for Law?” she knew Ash wouldn’t fall for her childish remarks or entertain her for long she was too busy. Pushing Ash’s buttons, she watched the young girl scoff and walk away.

“I don’t like him that way,” she growled stomping away she slammed the door.

Mor could only chuckle but focused on her work again. Law and Ash’s relationship wasn’t her concern right now. She had to complete her gift for Ace, she was running out of time. She held back a yawn focusing on what to add to the chocolate as she was finally getting a few pieces perfect.

The rest of the night was decorating the chocolate and failing a few times as she was trying to figure the right look to express her love. Everyone was sleeping while she was putting the final touches on her chocolate. She was staring to yawn a bit more, her eyes feeling heavy, but she had to finish, had to complete her mission.

She stared at her handy work in the morning, she had spent all night and everything looked perfect. The large heart shaped box decorated in Orange, yellow and red were sitting in the fridge ready to be handed to  her boyfriend. She was putting her final decoration on a large heart shaped chocolate. She had spent extra time on this testing the correct spices to get this chocolate spicy but over bear the sweetness of it.

 She even found a way to mix white chocolate and milk chocolate. Taking her time, she decorated the bottom with flame designs. She wrote her name and his name together with hearts everywhere on the side. Before she boxed it up a large, red and pink box and put in the fridge.  She would rest for now and hand him everything in the afternoon when she saw him.

--

Ace wide awake by the time the run was rising his mind and heart only on Mor and what surprise she would have to offer him. He spent all night dreaming of all the sweets she would have given him and the night of more exciting adventures to come. He couldn’t stop the goofy grin on his face as he waited for her phone call, that never came.

He was getting anxious by mid afternoon pacing around his small loft he shared with his brothers.  Was she mad at him? Should he have expected and planned something with her? Did he get his hopes up for something she didn’t celebrate.

He sighed after a long while, he still wanted to see her. Even if she didn’t have chocolate for him.  He wanted to be with just her. He would head to her apartment, picking flowers he knew she liked he headed to her place. He will just see her be with just her.

He was shocked to see Mor scampering around the house when he arrived. She looked messy, like she just rolled out of bed her silver hair everywhere while her blue eyes were glancing at the time and her lips making an ‘oh’ sound.  Still in her pajamas she invited him.

“I am so sorry,” she said, “I overslept,” she was still running around the apartment trying to look halfway decent for her boyfriend. She had forgotten about the chocolate she spent all night making, overwhelmed with guilt for having Ace wait for so long. She hadn’t seen him in so long thanks to the hectic of life.

“I got you some flowers,” Ace said holding up a bouquet of flowers. Mor smiled as she stopped and accepted the flowers and stared at Ace, “Happy Valentines Day,” he said taking a seat at the counter. His usual seat, he would watch her cook while they talked about the simple things about life.

“Valentines Day,” Mor repeated before her eyes widen, she put the flowers down and walked to the fridge pulling out the chocolate. Her cheeks a lovely shade of pink.  “I made you some chocolate,” she said. She wouldn’t admit she had a late start but she did put all her heart into it.

Ace blinked a bit before he smiled accepting the chocolate, “I love you,” he whispered to her capturing her lips in a kiss.

“Same,” Mor mumbled.

[strangelittlestories]

The three girls were sitting outside the McDonalds by the dingy underpass beneath the A-road that circled the town. They wore grey hoodies and seemed to be arguing.

Cee checked the map she had been given by the Hermes courier. It was still there in her hand, even here in the dream. She had followed the route as best she could.

1) Head north until you reach the country club. 2) Steal a rowboat and head out onto the lake. 3) When the storm descends, bargain with the spirit at the centre for passage, 4) When you are spit out you’ll find yourself in a forest pond, at which point you must turn twice widdershins and pass under the mushroom arch. 5) Take the footpath until you’re back on the main road, then take a left past the Gregg’s. 6) Look for the golden arches on Argyle Street. 7) Fall asleep there and dream: in your mind, they shall be there.

Here she was. And these must be the ladies.

She sidled over and began to hear their argument:

“Dana, give it. You know I cannot read the thrice-cursed menu without the i.”

The girl who spoke was reaching for a battered old iphone, which the second girl was currently using to record a video.

“Shut up, Enya, you are distracting me. You can have the i once I have used it to complete the Oracle Challenge on TikTok.”

The third girl snatched the iphone away, while the first two bickered and began scrolling it with one hand.

“Oh my gods, Freddo, you already have the tooth! Stop hogging!”

The third girl grinned and produced a small off-white bluetooth speaker from her hoodie. She tapped the iphone screen and the speaker began playing Despacito.

“It is almost out of charge, sisters. I must have my jams - my jams! My jams! - before it is fully depleted.”

Cee cleared her throat, so as not to surprise them.

“Um, excuse me.” The three girls all swung their heads to face Cee at the exact same time. “I was told that you three would know where to find the gorgon?”

The three replied at once, speaking over each other in one fluid and deeply creepy rush.

“Oh for-” “-the sake of-” “-Zeus’s golden showers-" “-another would-be hero-” “-approaches us to- “-accomplice another monster murder-” “-get-” “-to-” “-fudge.”

“Oh no,” Cee replied. “You’ve misunderstood. The gorgon is my girlfriend. I think … an ancient king or god or something … kidnapped her?”

“Hmmm.” said Dana. “That’s new. I don’t know if I like it yet.”

“Oooh, a queer retelling,” said Dana, “BookTok is gonna flip their shit about this.”

“No. A fully unadulterated, manifested, healthily boundaried ‘no’.” said Freddo, “I am not gonna be a part of burying this gay. And I will gatekeep the flip out of you if I must.”

Cee thought for a moment.

“I get where you’re coming from,” she said, “but perhaps I could offer you something in exchange? I notice you just have the one dying iphone and one dodgy speaker between you?”

“One i and one tooth, yes. That is the way of it.”

“Well … I could offer you this power bank and a couple of USB/lightning cables? Then you could keep your stuff charged and you might not have to argue over the last dregs of power?”

The three girls huddled and whispered for a moment. The sound of the cars on the circular road above - each roaring with the sound of a thought tearing through Cee’s subconscious - drowned out their deliberations. Once more, they looked up at exactly the same time and all spoke as one.

“Very well, we shall tell you what you seek.”

Cee was glad she had brought the charge brick with her. She supposed it was true what they said: In the ring-road of the mind, the charged iphone is king.

---

With thanks to Anne V McClure for the Word of the Month prompt ‘Kingdom’. Want to submit your own prompts for tortured puns? Become a supporter on Ko-Fi! https://ko-fi.com/strangelittlestories

[miloscozycorner]

𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐮𝐝𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐬.

Carer!Michael Taylor x Little!Reader

• Getting up in the mornings was always a bit of a pain, especially when you were so tiny. Michael makes it a bit easier.

cw: age regression.

( 665 words )

Michael’s nails scratched on the top of your head, the sunlight making his skin glow. The curtains were white, not doing a very good job of concealing the daylight. You groaned as you flipped over on the sheets, your palms hiding your face.

“Tired, pup?” Michael asked, tilting his head as he looked down at you. You grumbled incoherently, before forcing your head up to meet his warm gaze.

Finally, you have a short nod as you covered yourself in the warmth of the blanket, holding your stuffed bunny tight to your chest. “I don’t wanna go to work.” You complained, pouting as you flipped on your side.

Sunlight warmed your form but still, the grogginess remained in your eyes. Michael gave a short sigh as his strong arms helped you sit up on the bed, ruffling your hair. “C’mon, little one. We have to get up. I have work and so do you.”

While you wanted to protest, he helped you place your feet on the carpet floor, ignoring the pour curling your bottom lip. Plus, you couldn’t deny that you loved the attention he gave you in the mornings.

“Why don’t you get dressed, sweet pea? Dada will make some breakfast.” He patted your cheek, and you mumbled to yourself grumpily but obligated. The smell of pancakes and bacon wafted through the apartment, and you couldn’t deny how your tummy rumbled.

Soft footsteps pattered down the stairs as you walked up to the kitchen, perching on a bar stool as you watched him flip the bacon over. You held your stuffie close in your arm, juice sitting in your favorite sippy cup.

“Nicole and Joey are out for breakfast, so we should have the morning to ourselves.” Michael sighed playfully, “Who even knows what shenanigans they’re up to.”

You giggled into the head of your stuffie at Michael’s playful words, placing bacon and a stack of pancakes on your plate. “Alright sugar, eat up. Or I’ll be very offended.” He joked, sitting next to you.

Per usual, you decided to add lots of toppings. But of course, Michael always indulged you despite how silly your pancakes looked drizzled with sprinkles, hot fudge and whipped cream. “Dada look- is a smiley face!” You exclaimed proudly, showing him the face on your pancake shaped out with whipped cream.

Michael gave a little gasp as he looked at the pancake, ruffling your hair. “I do have quite the little artist, hm?” He cooed teasingly, watching you take a bite out of the pancakes.

Giggly laughter escaped your lips as you ate, shifting in your seat. “Dada, you’re being silly.” You replied, finishing your breakfast slowly as Michael rose from his chair and checked his watch.

“I’m sorry to give the bad news baby, but I think it’s about time for work.” He finally spoke, looking at the time with a small frown. “Go brush your teeth, and we’ll get a move on, okay?”

A pout curled at your lips as you huffed, standing up from the chair with your arms crossed over your chest. “But I wanna stay here, with you.” You insisted, grumbling as Michael gave your arms a reassuring squeeze.

“I know honey, but we both have some kid responsibilities to get done. But guess what?” Michael said, crouching and looking down at you. His hand wrapped around your fingers, giving it a gentle squeeze.

You tilted your head, looking down at him curiously.

“Once we both get done with all our boring, big kiddo stuff, dada will put on your favorite movie and maybe we can even have some ice cream, hm? How does that sound?” He offered softly, giving you a small smile.

Even though you grumbled, you still nodded in agreement, perking up at the idea of ice cream. “Mkay, dada, I guess.” You mumbled as Michael stood, giving your hair a small ruffle.

“Alright, good job, pumpkin. Now go brush your teeth, alright? No stinky breath here, you silly goose!”

[flamboyantly-incompetent]

HPB, Chapter 1 - A Vague Warning

Draco Malfoy x Hufflepuff!Reader

Warnings: mentions of murder

Masterlist

Word Count: ~3,200

Note: Welcome to the second part of my Draco x reader fic, taking place during the events of Half Blood Prince!

Since the full, public reveal of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named’s return at the end of your last school year, he and his Death Eaters had come out of hiding more and more to wreak havoc and violence across the wizarding and muggle worlds alike.

Donna and Yvette had both carefully explained to their muggle parents the dangers of them accompanying them to places such as Diagon Alley, where not even the witch and wizard locals were safe. Most shops either had boarded up a few front-facing windows, or, if you squinted from the right angle, you could make out the glimmer of a magical ward. Your mum and Julien insisted on accompanying you and your friends through the shops, and afterwards Donna and Yvette both came back to stay with you until it was time to head to King’s Cross.

Even with the world as it was crumbling around you, the book list for your O.W.L. year was as long as it had ever been. The three of you sat around your living room, flipping through textbooks with growing trepidation while your mum and Julien worked in the garden outside. Buttercup, your King Charles Spaniel, had her head across Donna’s lap, and Wilbur, your white cat, bathed in the warm glow of the open window. Hagrid hadn’t even assigned a textbook for Care of Magical Creatures, so at this point, you were just trying to kill time before leaving for King’s Cross.

Yvette sighed dramatically and closed her book with a clap. “This sucks. Are we even going to be allowed to go to Hogsmeade now?”

“That’s what you’re worried about?” Donna asked incredulously. “Not the rising kill count of Dark Wizards abroad?”

Yvette huffed. “Well obviously, I thought that went without saying. But I’m sure that between the Order, Ministry Aurors and Dumbledore someone will put a stop to that. I just don’t want the world to stop spinning until they have. Is that so wrong?”

Donna raised her eyebrows but said nothing, electing instead to scratch behind Buttercup’s floppy ear.

You chimed in, “Some normalcy would be nice. And I doubt the only all-wizard village in Britain is at the top of You-Know-Who’s hit list. Aurors frequent The Three Broomsticks. Fudge used to frequent The Three Broomsticks. As for the new Minister, we’ll see.”

Just then your mum poked her head through the door, brandishing a trowel as she spoke, “You should be perfectly safe in Hogsmeade, but you must keep your wits about you! And stick together, no wandering off to look for Puffskein burrows this year, Y/N. Now, get your trunks together, we’re almost done out here.”

After a long, heartfelt goodbye to Buttercup and coaxing Wilbur into his carrier with a tuna flavored treat, you piled your trunks into the magically expanded trunk of Julien’s station wagon. Your parent’s accompanied you all the way to your first steps onto the train, hands hovering above their wands, where you found Herbert waiting for you in an empty compartment.

He grinned and lent a hand as you and your friends shoved your trunks into the overhead compartments. “Ernie and Hannah may join us later,” he said, “once they do their rounds.”

Donna laughed. “Hey Y/N, remember when I thought you might be dating Ernie?”

“What?” Yvette asked sharply. “Have I missed something?”

“No,” you said firmly, “it was just because of the DA meetings. Before you guys knew about it.”

Donna continued to tease, “The two of you strolled into the common room pretty late. He even opened the door for you.”

The train’s whistle screamed out and the car lurched.

Yvette’s eyebrows creased. “Well, to be fair, you could certainly do worse.”

Herbert was shocked. “Do you like Ernie?”

“No, no. Nothing like that. But he’s nice, though. And he made a good dueling partner.” She shrugged. “I wouldn’t judge if you did like him, Y/N.”

“Well that’s very nice but-” you stopped short as Wilbur’s paw began reaching out of his carrier and swiping at your shirt. “D’you think Ernie and Hannah’d mind if I let him out?”

The compartment door slid open.

“Surely not, go ahead,” Hannah said, entering the compartment with Ernie close behind. Wilbur gave the air a sniff before climbing out, stretching dramatically, and curling up on your lap. He allowed Hannah to pat his head.

“You seem in good spirits today, Hannah,” Donna remarked.

She laughed, and explained, “Prefect duty was just unusually pleasant this time round.”

Ernie scoffed. “Yeah, since Malfoy’s taking the day off, apparently.” A jolt plunged through your gut - you’d somehow forgotten another year at Hogwarts meant another year hearing about him. You still felt conflicted - no, conflicted wasn’t the right word. Angry, yes, at him for being exactly who everyone else had told you he was, since he was the kind of person who could use the terms blood traitor and mudblood in the same sentence. His father even had been arrested at the Ministry last year, undeniably in league with You-Know-Who. There was an entire article in the Daily Prophet about it, explaining that the Malfoy’s (apparently very old and very large) family mansion had been raided shortly after. Oddly enough, learning that had sparked some level of sympathy, for Draco at least. It had to have been difficult for him, even if his father deserved it. And you were also disappointed in yourself, that who you were beginning to think he was happened to be so far off the mark.

With any luck, your Herbology 6 would be with Gryffindor and Hufflepuff and you could avoid him altogether.

The train ride to Hogwarts was pleasant - the sun came out halfway through to cast a warm glow on the countryside, and Ernie and Herbert swapped stories about Peeves. When the snack trolley rolled by, everyone pooled together some Galleons to split a box of twenty chocolate frogs, then you opened all of them to trade cards.

Once settled in the Great Hall for the feast, you turned to Yvette to speculate about the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. He was a short man, with a round face and a mustache, and a snappy dresser. No one seemed to have any idea who he was. Then, once the pudding was unveiled, Professor Dumbledore arose and took his place by the great owl podium.

You half-listened to his welcome speech, really only interested in the new professor, and whether he had anything to say about You-Know-Who, and you didn’t have to wait long. Professor Slughorn, an old colleague of Dumbledore’s, had returned to resume his old positions as potions master. Potions? You looked around confused at your housemates, then over to the Ravenclaw table where a similar bout of confusion had struck.

Dumbledore continued to explain, “Professor Snape, meanwhile, will be taking over the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.” Another uproar followed and you sank into your pudding. There went the hope of an O.W.L. for that subject.

It was a relief to learn that your Herbology 6 period was, in fact, with Gryffindor and Hufflepuff, and it pleased Hannah and Ernie too, to know they could whisper questions in your ear whenever it suited them. Most of the Gryffindor sixth years you had already met through the DA meetings, and some of them even remembered you enough to ask what you were doing in the class.

The potions classroom had undergone a subtle change for the better. Under Professor Snape’s reign, the lighting had always seemed cast in that same cold-green glow you’d encountered in the Slytherin common room, but here it was almost cheerful. Almost. Though it was accompanied by Professor Slughorn grinning at the door and shaking hands enthusiastically with every student as they filtered in. Luna seemed particularly comfortable, launching off immediately about her father’s publication, The Quibbler, when asked. It was, easily, the best Potions class you’d ever sat through.

Professor Snape, in Defense Against the Dark Arts, had given a lengthy speech on the nebulous nature of the Dark Arts and had hinted more than once at the inferiority of Harry Potter’s instruction through Dumbledore’s Army. Thankfully, you saw a few others barely hiding their own eye rolls.

Zacharias Smith wouldn’t take no for an answer when he asked you to try out for Quidditch Keeper again this year. Apparently, since Ezra Miller had left Hogwarts, Wanda Clemm wanted to try for his spot as Beater. In the end, you relented, and thus found yourself on the Quidditch pitch with Yvette and the rest of them at the crack of dawn Saturday morning.

Herbert and Donna settled into the stands with a few others including Professor Sprout to cheer you on, and the tryouts commenced. As it turned out, Wanda Clemm made a fair beater, and beamed triumphantly when Zacharias offered her the spot. Yvette retained her position as Chaser, as did Cadwallader. Devon Summerby barely came out on top; Zacharias was not pleased, but offered him the spot anyway.

Then, Keepers were up. There were only two others vying for the spot: a fourth year you’d only met in passing, and Ernie Macmillan. You quirked an eyebrow at him, he responded with a shrug. You elected to go last, wanting to see how they did, and secretly hoping that one of them would be good enough so you wouldn’t even need to try out. Unfortunately, though, Ernie struggled greatly to turn quickly in the air, and the fourth year kept doing loop-the-loops in between the goal posts.

It was unavoidable, then, when your turn rolled around and you were able to actually block the quaffle, Zacharias offered you the spot confidently and you didn’t have the heart to say no after seeing the other options.

Yvette was characteristically excited, and her enthusiasm managed to rub off on you enough to make you grin by the time you got back to the common room.

During the week that followed, a growing foreboding grew in the air. There was a tension, a pregnant pause. You thought that maybe it was your luck avoiding Draco Malfoy wearing thin.

Then, during Herbology, Professor McGonagal had interrupted to pull Hannah out of class. She never returned. You learned later that her mum had been found, dead, earlier in the day. It was enough to remind you of the real dangers that existed just outside Hogwarts, and you had to scold yourself for forgetting. Draco Malfoy was the least of your worries.

The common room atmosphere took yet another hit. If even the Abbotts, an old pureblood family, weren’t safe, was anyone?

Zacharias, ever sensitive to the feelings of others, had reminded you brusquely of quidditch practice to take place in an hour. As anyone but Zacharias could have predicted, that practice did not go well. Everyone had one eye on the quaffle and the other on the castle in the distance, hoping that one of the people coming and going would have news about Hannah. But not one did.

You followed Yvette back to the common room after, thoroughly exhausted and hopeless, intending to flop onto bed and sleep through breakfast in the morning. When you thrust back the bed curtains, though, Wilbur sat, tail curled around him, purring happily.

“What’s that, bud?” you asked, spotting the corner of some kind of parchment under his bottom. You lured him off of it with a treat and read, “Come to the owlery at midnight, alone. It’s important. -SB.”

“SB?” you asked yourself. “Do I know anybody… maybe Silas Babbage? No, he left last year. Who in the world?”

“Talking to yourself again?” Donna asked, strolling into the room.

Yvette answered before you could, “Looks like Y/N’s got a secret admirer.”

“I do not!”

She shrugged. “Not sure who else would leave a note on your bed asking you to meet them at midnight.”

“What?” Donna exclaimed as she snatched the note out of your hands. She turned it over and over, incredulous. “SB?”

“That’s what I was just wondering.”

“Well are you going to go?”

You thought for a moment. The note gave no real indication of who you were meant to be meeting, and given the state of things, that could be dangerous. But, then again, it said to meet at the owlery so whoever sent it must be from someone already on Hogwarts grounds.

Finally, you nodded. “At worst it’s a prank, and I’ll complain about it to you both when I get back.”

You waited until the last Hufflepuff had gone to bed, Donna and Ywette Made you promise a full report before bidding you goodnight, and then you slipped out the huge round door. Wilbur had abandoned you hours ago when he realized you weren’t on your way to bed, and both Donna and Yvette had gone to sleep.

“Sipellum,” you whispered, casting the Disillusionment charm on yourself to obscure your form. It wouldn’t make you invisible, but it would be easier to hide from prefects in the dark corners of the castle. Your mum had insisted upon teaching you the incantation over the summer, and this technically was the first time you’d tried it. Surprisingly enough, it worked.

Carefully, you stepped lightly on the balls of your feet out of the castle. The outer doors were all closed except for the small courtyard between the great hall and the library’s wing, so you waited a few beats for whoever was on curfew patrol to pass, and climbed through an arch onto the grounds.

The lingering summer air made the night breeze warm, but you still shivered through your jumper. It was a clear night, too, the waxing gibbous moon illuminating the highlands sufficiently enough you never bothered to cast lumos. The owlery loomed on a hill above you.

So, you climbed.

Halfway up, you heard a muffled curse. Then another, and when you were inches from the door, “Get away, you mangy thing,” hoarsely whispered.

You tossed open the door and dismissed the spell; it was Draco Malfoy, sitting on a bench previously covered in owl droppings. Your eyes narrowed. He was shooing away a fluffy white cat, who was purring aggressively trying to head butt his leg, and yelped slightly at the sight of you.

“Wilbur!” you chided, ignoring Malfoy. “What are you doing here? Don’t touch that, you don’t know where it’s been.”

He ignored that last bit, asking, “This thing belongs to you?”

Finally, you leveled your gaze at him. The absolute gall it must’ve taken for him to summon you here tonight, after last year, astounded you. “This is my cat. Who is apparently a terrible judge of character. What in Merlin’s Beard is ‘SB’?”

He said coldly, “Study buddy.” You snorted. “It was the best I could come up with.”

“Well, I’m here. What do you want?”

He took a steadying breath. The summer hadn’t treated him well; his normally cold features were especially worn, harried even. Dark circles had appeared under his sharp eyes. He replied, “The Hufflepuff common room, is there a password?”

“Huh?”

“To get in - is there a password?”

There were barrels outside the door you had to properly knock on, and if you got the rhythm wrong you got sprayed with pumpkin juice, but you weren’t sure that really counted. “Uhh… Why’d you want to know?” He crossed his arms. “Okay, fine, not really. But it’s just outside the-“

“No, don’t tell me. Just,” he paused, hands folded in front of his mouth. “In the event there was someone attempting to enter to cause mischief, it would be advantageous for there to be some line of defense. In the Hufflepuff common room.”

You took a moment, blinking rapidly, to unravel what he could mean. “That’s… vague.” The thought of his father, a Death Eater, imprisoned in Azkaban flickered across your mind. “Do you… know something? What are you implying?”

A wall of ice descended behind his eyes once more. That was all you were going to get out of him, it would seem.

“I’ve said all I can. Goodbye, Y/N.” He turned and stalked out of the owlery, not even bothering to sneak or cast the Disillusionment charm. Still depending on his prefect status to keep him out of trouble, no doubt.

You waited a beat, fuming, wondering what the point of this meeting had been. Was it a prank? What had been the punchline? Was it possible he was actually trying to warn you of something important? Maybe he’d overheard something over summer. Or, maybe he just wanted you out of bed after hours for an excuse to dock house points.

After a heavy sigh, a groan, and a feeble kick to the bench, you recast the Disillusionment charm and went out as you came in.

“Donna,” you whispered, standing over her bed, “get up.”

“Huh? What? Ah!” She started awake, then rubbed her eyes. “Y/N, do you know what time it is?”

“Yes and this is important, get Herbert to the common room.” You moved over to Yvette’s bed and woke her next.

Your three friends assembled themselves on a plush leather sofa by the fireplace, still warm with embers, as you recounted the events of the evening, including just who was waiting for you in the owlery.

“Total transparency, I have no idea what it was all about. There wasn’t some trap waiting for me, no one jumped out to laugh. I don’t know what to make of it, “ you finished, hands folded in your lap.

Herbert frowned. “And he didn’t mention who would be trying to get into our common room?”

“No. Only that if someone were to try, for the purpose of causing mischief, it’d be better if there was a password. Or some other thing, I guess.”

Donna pondered. “And it didn’t seem like he was trying to trick you? He never asked where the common room was, though, right? So it’s probably not him playing some long-gamed prank.”

You shook your head. “At first I thought that must be it, right? Why on earth else would he go to these lengths to get me alone at midnight. It’s possible he was just testing how far I would go for a mystery. Or for some weird misdirection. But if I had to put words to it, he seemed… almost… afraid.”

“If you thought he looked afraid, he was probably terrified. That git’s facade could fool a boggart.”

Yvette shrugged. “After everything that happened last year, do you trust him?”

You let out a bark of laughter. “No. I don’t trust him. But I’m inclined to believe him. About the possibility of a threat, I mean.” They were quiet as you pondered. Beyond the grounds of Hogwarts, darkness was spreading fast. You knew they lived in fear of receiving similar news as Hannah had, and though you were loathe to admit it, so did you. It seemed unwise to ignore such a warning from someone who might have inside information. Thinking of just who that information could have come from, you shuddered.

Finally, Donna nodded. “I don’t think this is the sort of thing we ignore.”

Herbert agreed, “So how do we fortify an enchanted room, in an enchanted castle, under our teachers’ and everyone else’s noses?”

~~~ Taglist ~~~

@jemomgershippingco

@snickersmee

@lafrone

@cillshot

@reb0rned

[dreamboundedstar]

Low-Fli Ship Questions are finally here!

PRE-RELATIONSHIP

How did they first meet? Willow was out looking for a date for a bratty family member’s wedding so she doesn’t look pathetic not having a plus one. She’s really bad at starting conversations with random people though. So she almost considers paying a stripper at Pickles to be a temporary, pretend date. The Belcher kids and Linda spot her before she could build up the courage to go through with her terrible plan. Linda immediately decides to (force) help Willow to build her confidence in asking people out. After a few failed attempts at the mall and one anxiety cool down in the bathroom later, Linda decides to do a mini speed dating session for Willow at Bob’s Burgers. That way Linda can pick out the options and take some of the stress off of Willow when trying to start conversations. When Linda dragged Willow out of the mall, they passed Flips Whitefudge. Flips did a double take while walking when he first laid his eyes on Willow. He was distracted by the beauty of her backside and what little of her side profile he was able to glance at. He tried to find the Belchers and Willow to show her some of his dance moves as if he were a bird of paradise doing a courtship dance ritual. Unfortunately, he lost sight of them in the mall crowd. Not wanting to dwell on feeling blue of not being able to show off some dance moves to a cute girl, he moved on and continued to what he was originally doing. The speed dating idea at Bob’s Burgers did not go well for Willow. After she spent so many hours with failed attempt after failed attempt, she had become jaded and gave up. It was just a stupid wedding for a person she didn’t even like that much anyway. She decided she was just not fit for dating and she would go to the wedding alone. So the next day she decided to look up some waltz tutorial videos just in case maybe a cousin would want to dance with her or something. Unfortunately, the internet was down at the worst possible time in her apartment. So, against her better judgment and her roommate’s suggestion, she goes to the “I Want to Dance with My Body” studio to do waltz lessons before the event. She yet again had hit another hurdle when the studio still hadn’t found a new dancing teacher for waltzing. Willow was going to leave depressed until Flips slides on the counter to Willow immediately telling her he can help her out. Shocked at some random guy that slid his booty on a counter and almost crashed into her, she had several questions. The most important one being, how was this 90s kidz bop reject going to teach her waltz? Flips told her not to let looks deceive her and reassured her that he knew more about dancing than just hip-hop. He was lying through his braces. Willow was very suspicious, she was desperate though and had taken what she could get. Flips had told her to come back later when it was less busy and then he spent all his free time watching waltz videos so he could make what he said less of a lie. With bare minimum knowledge and the dance steps drawn on the back of his hands, he was ready. Ready to crash and burn! Willow had noticed the pen marks on the back of his hand immediately and Flips admitted to her his intentions. Willow was touched and surprised by the reason why Flips had done what he had done. No guy had put this much effort to get to know her before and to her surprise, it made her want to stay. To even more her surprise, she asked him to be her wedding date on a whim. Surprised, be excitedly he accepts the offer. So together, they both watch waltz videos and continue practicing. However, Willow made it clear not to add any hip-hop. She didn’t want to stand out and doing hip-hop at a wedding would do exactly that. Willow was very lucky that Flips found her cute.

What was their first impression of each other?

He was allured at first sight to Willow’s beauty (not full-on love yet). Willow was surprised to find an adult more cringe fail than her, that’s saying a lot with her social anxiety.

Did any of their friends or family want them to get together? Shelly was super supportive of Flips’ feelings for Willow as soon as she saw him desperately do whatever it took to get to know Willow more. Sam and Bridget strongly believe Willow can do better than Flips, but are okay with him as long as Willow is happy. Flips is embarrassing as all heck, but at least he’s not a deadbeat or abusive. That’s what Willow’s parents tell themselves at least. Willow's roommate, Anna didn’t care who Willow dated as long as they did their “business” when she was not around, didn’t steal anything, or trash the place.

Who felt romantic feelings first?

Flips, he fell for Willow the moment she did an arm wave during their waltz to signal to him that he has permission to be himself. Thus they perform a hip-hop waltz fusion dance at Willow’s bratty family member’s wedding.

Did either of them try to resist their feelings?

Willow did initially. She didn’t want to admit to herself that she could fall for someone that has such a one-track mind like Flips. She wasn’t the biggest fan of hip hop and thought she would go insane if she heard about “hip hop this” and “hip hop that” every single day for the rest of her life. He was just supposed to be her wedding date and then they would never speak to each other again. However, after they left the reception, Willow laments how sweet Flips had been and wasn’t ready to say goodbye to him. Flips stayed the night at Willow’s apartment. Nothing happens between them except them holding each other to sleep on the couch. Willow realized how pretentious to Flips she had been in her mind and she was disgusted with herself. She’s spent years never being in a real relationship all because of her vitiligo and social anxiety. Here comes a sweet guy who genuinely likes her and she’s judging him just because he loves hip-hop and is not ashamed of how it makes him look. She’s no better than the people that judged or bullied her and she doesn’t want to be that way. So she officially stops seeing herself as above Flips and admitted to herself that he finds him very sexy in a suit and even likes his stupid haircut. No matter what happened next, she wanted to see this relationship through.

If you had told one of them that the other would be their soulmate, what would they think?

Flips: *wolf whistles* woo, damn! I gotta find my boom box.

Willow: Figures, 7.888 billion people in the world and I get the one with saggy jeans. I guess it’s better than being boring, I suppose.

What would their lives be like if they had never met?

For Willow, life would be boring and lonely. For Flips, life would be aimless. He would be content where he is but he would have no long-term goals to strive for.

GENERAL

Who initiated the relationship, and how did it go?

Technically Flips is the one that got the ball rolling. Willow was the first to ask him out for just one date when she saw all the effort he put in just to spend time with her. She was desperate at the time and figured might as well go with the guy that seemed to really like her. It went better than expected after a metaphorical fiery exit from the wedding reception. Flips did everything he could to make Willow feel better after she was trying to hide her triggered feelings of being called an old, mean name from her childhood (birch and cow for example). Willow realizes how much she actually values Flips’ company and doesn’t want him to leave yet. So she set aside her original plan and decided to see where the relationship will take her.

Did they have an official first date? If so, what was it like?

Flips and Willow both agreed to not count the wedding date as their official, first date and decided to go on a real one asap. On their official, first date they just go around the city taking pictures of graffiti before it gets cleaned off, eat at Bob’s Burgers, back to the apartment for a private dance session (not an innuendo people!), and watch a bit of anime while cuddling together on the couch.

What was their first kiss like?

The kiss was a very heat-of-the-moment type of thing that Willow felt guilty about rushing after the fact. She deeply needed to feel like she was wanted and not alone after being called an old, mean name she hasn’t been called in years. Willow felt like she used Flips for self-gratification when she never intended for them to go past a kiss. She never realized how selfish and manipulative she was and she didn’t like that. Even so, Flips didn’t let the first kiss stop at one in that moment and Willow didn’t push him away. After they took a breather, Willow admits to him that she was not ready to say goodbye. So Flips stayed over at Willow’s apartment to hold each other and talked until they both fell asleep on the couch. They didn’t continue kissing at that moment because Willow lamented how she treated Flips. Meanwhile, Flips just sort of had a feeling something was up with her, something they could discuss in the morning. They work it out in the morning and Willow is reassured by Flips that she’s too hard on herself and they are cool.

Were they each other’s first anything (kiss, relationship, etc.)?

Flips and Willow kissed other people before they kissed each other. However Flips is Willow’s first, real relationship and everything else. Flips has had more dating experience than Willow but never anything long-term. He definitely gives me talks a big game but still virgin boy vibes (nothing wrong with being a virgin but still) so I don’t think he ever got all the way with any of his dates whenever he miraculously landed them with his “mad dance skills”.

What’s their height difference? Age difference?

Flips is 5’9” and 29 going on 30 soon. Willow is 28 and 5’6”.

What’s their relationship with each other’s families? Do they share a friend group?

Shelly adores Willow and thinks she’s the most precious thing to ever grace her and Flips’ life. Willow is flattered by Shelly’s affection but it can be a bit much for her at times given her introverted nature.

Sam and Bridget don’t hate Flips. They’re glad he and their daughter are happy together. They just really don’t know what to make of him, mostly Sam. Sam doesn’t know whether to laugh or feel offended by the persona Flips’ presents himself as. They both know he’s harmless though and the world’s least threatening gangsta. Both Sam and Bridget are both introverts and find Flips’ extroverted personality very exhausting to be around. So they’re content with just seeing him on holidays and special events.

Willow doesn’t really have that many friends. She’s not close to the people she works with at Wagstaff and can’t really stand some of them. Even the roommate she’s known for 4 years she’s not close with because they just never really thought to be more than people that just help each other pay expensive rent. Though, through Flips’ natural extroversion, Willow and Anna eventually decided to hang out more because it’s kind of weird that they didn’t in the first place.

The closest thing Willow has to a friend is Linda when she forced her help onto her. Flips hang around people that also love the culture of hip-hop. Despite being great at starting conversations with random people and being unapologetically himself, he doesn’t really have any steady friends. The people he tried to hang out with think he’s a joke and pretty much ditch him when they can. Not until Willow and Anna does he have an official steady friend group.

Who takes the lead in social situations?

Flips being the more extroverted of the two generally is the one to start conversations first. It gives mixed results, especially when they are at a more serious event. Oh well, at least it’s never boring.

Who gets jealous easier?

The two are pretty neutral levels of jealousy. Honestly, Willow is probably more jealous of Flips being able to become friends with her roommate faster than her than him getting with her roommate. She’s known Anna for 4 years and she’s still just Anna’s acquaintance that peacefully co-exists with her and sometimes uses her as a guinea pig for food recipes she needs reviews on for her internet video cooking/ukulele song cover series.

Once Flips realizes Willow has probably seen tons of live, nude models for her art education, he becomes more insecure than actually jealous. It immediately gets dropped though when Willow points out that some of the hip-hop music videos he’s seen are way more sexualized than her drawings of nude models she had no interest in.

Who whispers inappropriate things in the other’s ear?

Flips, especially since his boo’s name is Willow. It’s practically gift-wrapped for him. Dirty jokes aren’t really Willow’s thing so it can be a bit annoying sometimes. Though, when she’s feeling particularly flirty she responds with a meow or purr just to see Flips be caught off guard.

LOVE

Who said “I love you” first? Flips. It was out of the blue, way too soon, and Willow was not ready for it.

What are their primary love languages?

Quality time, physical, and words of affirmation.

Who uses cheesy pick-up lines?

Flips, to no one’s surprise. Willow loves cheese though.

How often do they cuddle/engage in PDA?

Flips’ most common form of PDA for Willow is to rub her back as if it was a record on a turntable or hold her hand just in case for whenever he gets excited and wants to twirl her around or pull her close to dance. Willow’s cuddling is usually reserved for the privacy of her apartment or just anywhere where no one can gawk at them.

When they are alone it gets more intimate such as Flips kissing specifically on her vitiligo patterns. For Willow it’s either lots of hugging, rubbing back while hugging, kissing cheeks, and most intimately, her fingers playfully circling around Flips’ Adam’s apple slowly.

Who initiates kisses? Despite Willow being the one to start it, Flips is the one that initiates the majority of the kisses.

Who’s the big and little spoon? Flips is the big spoon and Willow is the little spoon. Though they switch up every once in a while for funsies.

What are their favorite things to do together?

Since Flips is an extrovert and Willow is an introvert, it can be a balancing act for them to figure out what to do together that won’t drain them too quickly. Flips loves anything involved with the hip-hop culture and Willow loves anything involving some form of art and people expressing different types of creativity. So they do a lot of compromising and try to do a mix of both of those things. Some of the examples are watching rap/dance battles (and watching Flips participate in them), checking out new graffiti, going to dinner theater, check out new, off-Broadway musicals.

Flips would go to more nightclubs with Willow if he had it completely his way while Willow wishes they would go to Art Crawl or art museums in general more.

Though, when they just stay home they enjoy playing some videos games/board games/cards (sometimes with Anna), binging some shows or anime, freestyle song-making sessions with Anna (once Willow and she finally decided to actually hang out more), Flips being her model as she practices her 5/10/30 minute sketches, and making out. (XD)

Who’s better at comforting the other?

I think they both equally do well at comforting each other but Flips would say Willow just to make her feel good because of her originally wanting to be an art therapist.

Who’s more protective?

Depending on the situation, they can be equally protective of each other. Though Flips slightly more so because of him being on “The streets” more.

Do they prefer verbal or physical affection?

Even though at the start, Willow was very touch-starved she actually values verbal affection a little more. Flips is all about physical affection but would never turn down some verbal affection.

What are some songs that apply to their relationship, in-universe or otherwise?

I have a whole playlist dedicated to them XD!

What kind of nicknames do they call each other?

Flips calls her boo, bae, babe, Willz, Low-fi, and his abstract beauty. It’s an uphill battle for Willow to come up with nicknames for Flips Whitefudge, so she mostly just calls him Flips. Though the best attempts she tried to make were Flip, Flip Flop, Flying Flips, and probably the best one, her snickety snack.

Who remembers the little things?

Willow tries her best to because getting to see the look on Flips’ face when he receives a gift from her that is only possible because she remembered offhand things Flips said brings her joy. She values her quality time with Flips and tries to show it by remembering the small things.

Flips tries to as well, but he isn’t as good at it as Willow.

DOMESTIC LIFE

If they get married, who proposes?

Flips moves in with Willow and Anna for a bit before Willow and he gets married. Flips is the first to propose, but it went badly because he did it post-sex and no ring (or at least anything to symbolize one). Thankfully, it didn’t end the relationship and Willow just wanted more effort for next time. Anna gave Flips a lot of ribbing for his blunder. He did better on the second attempt and Willow said yes. The second attempt took so long that Willow was the one that almost proposed to him.

What’s the wedding like? Who attends?

Small wedding with just close friends and family. Anna and her family and the Belchers duel cater it. However, Anna’s family has a bit more responsibilities (which is fine for the Belchers given the last wedding they catered to). Shelly and Willow’s parents are of course there.

The only thing I’m not sure about is whether I want a surprise guest appearance from Flips' estranged dad for the wedding or not, you know for the angsty drama. I’m honestly still debating on whether I want Flips’ dad to be dead or just a deadbeat that left him and Shelly when he was 11 ½.

How many kids do they have, if any? What are they like?

They want kids eventually but aren’t in a rush to have them. They are mostly waiting until they have their own place and not needing to room with Anna anymore. I’m not sure how many yet when they do have them though. I’m thinking either one or twins (one for hip and one for hop XD).

Do they have any pets?

No pets are allowed in the apartment they live with Anna. Flips joked about getting a cat before (because of Willow’s name), he never committed to it though. They eventually get an American fuzzy lop rabbit named Disco and a Lionhead rabbit named Snoopy.

Who’s the stricter parent?

Willow, she’s an art teacher so she has to have some strictness in her.

Who worries the most?

Definitely, Willow is more outwardly a worrywart.

Who kills the bugs in the house?

When they live with Anna, it’s Anna. When they get their own place, Flips takes the job, sees the size of the bug, and immediately calls his mom to deal with it. Only for the really big ones though! XD

How do they celebrate holidays?

They mostly visit in-laws for the holidays. Shelly and Flips usually go singing hip-hop versions of Christmas carols to their neighbors around Christmas time while Willow is dragged along too. It’s mostly traditional at the Hughes residence during the holidays. Big holiday dinners, watching holiday specials, catching up on everything with each other, and playing holiday-based trivia games.

When they don’t visit the in-laws, they keep it casual, order some pizza instead of having a big holiday meal, watch holiday specials, play some games, and sing hip-hop versions of holiday songs (though thankfully, no forcing Willow to sing them outside in the cold).

Who’s more likely to convince the other to come back to sleep in the morning?

Probably Willow because it doesn’t take too much to convince Flips to stay in bed. Meanwhile, it takes more convincing for Willow to stay, though not by much because they both are very bad at resisting more sleep.

Who’s the better cook?

They both are pretty average at cooking and would rather have anyone else cook for them instead. Though Willow takes longer in the kitchen than Flips does for his food because she really values the presentation of her food as an artist, even if it’s still mid in the end.

Who likes to dance?

Do I really need to say it, you all know who this answer is for?!

As for Willow, she was never much of a dancer before Flips. After Flips, she’s still not as active of a dancer as Flips, but she’s gotten more comfortable with how she looks when dancing and does her best no matter how bad she is at it. Her favorite dance move is to be twirled around. Spinny dance moves are just really fun to her.

[aliciadreaming]

tag game 💜 get to know me!

tagged by @tenaciousarcadeexpert , thanks for the tag! :D

1) are you named after someone? Yes, a favorite sister of my fathers

2) when is the last time you cried? I don't remember? My theory is I'm on too many antidepressants to cry lol

3) do you like your handwriting? noooo, its gotten worse over the years lol since I do everything on computers

4) what is your favourite lunch meat? turkey or tuna

5) do you have kids? nope

6) if you were another person, would you be friends with you? maybe? I'd really hate my flakiness tho lol

7) do you use sarcasm? neverrrr

8) do you still have your tonsils? yes

9) would you bungee jump? no but I would go skydiving again!

10) what is your favourite kind of cereal? this is hard my favorite is this quaker oats cereal but it gives me heartburn when it comes with raisins, so I think the one I can handle is like almond and honey clusters.

11) do you untie your shoes when you take them off? sometimes

12) do you think you're a strong person? I'm strong physically. but I used to bench like 150. I don't really think of myself as strong willed tho.

13) what is your favourite ice cream flavour? mocha almond fudge

14) what is the first thing you notice about people? depends on the context where I meet them tbh. Like I've gotten into the habit of probing them to see what they think of climate change since its a fairly innocent way to gage whether they're maga or not.

15 ) red or pink? red

16) what do you least like about yourself physically? oh god probably my fungus toe its been bad for a year or two now and I can't seem to get rid of it. and I love flip flops!!!

17) what colour pants and shoes are you wearing now? I'm wearing a dress (white and black print) and I'm barefoot.

18) what was the last thing you ate? apples, peanut butter and chocolate chips

19) what are you listening to right now? Bad Bunny's Debi tirar mas fotos

20) if you were a crayon, what colour would you be? purple

21) favourite smell? lavender

22) who was the last person you spoke to on the phone? my sister

23) favourite sport to watch? not into sports but I will sit for some events in the olympics.

24) hair colour? naturally black but since I went gray I've been dying it with a red that really only shows up in the sun or fluorescents.

25) eye colour? brown

26) do you wear contacts? yes (for astigmatism/myopia)

27) favourite food to eat? I have favorite dishes from different cultures, like this is gonna get long (el salvordorean: bistec encebollado/ pupusas tie, japanese: shoyu ramen, italian: lasagna, thai: pad thai or drunken noodles tie, etc)

28) scary movies or comedy? comedy if I'm by myself but I love horror with the right people.

29) last movie you watched? Thunderbolts*

30) what colour shirt are you wearing? see 17

31) summer or winter? neither spring/fall tie

32) hugs or kisses? hugs

33) what book are you currently reading? Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff, That Time I Got Drunk and saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming, Xeni by Rebekah weatherspoon and Deadline by Mira Grant.

34) who do you miss right now? So many people, too many to count.

35) what is on your mouse pad? no mouse pad

36) what is the last tv program you watched? Finding your roots / Constantine

37) what is the best sound? rain falling

38) rolling stones or the beatles? the beatles

39) what is the farthest you have ever travelled? Not sure really? I've gone p down south in Mexico? but I'm not sure if NYC is farther from where I am.

40) do you have a special talent? singing badly, also writing when I'm not depressed

41) where were you born? USA

42) people you expect to participate in this? anyone who wants to do this! Just please tag meeee! I want to know youuuu

[asoundofdrop]

A Sizzling Tango

A/N: I'M SO EXCITED FOR BOOTHILL'S BANNER, HIS TRAILER GOT ME WORKING ON THIS FOR SOME DAYS STRAIGHT CW: Written pre-Boothill banner, not-so-implied violence, questionable morals?

“Hmm… this is so weird. I could have sworn the Express was parked somewhere around here.”

Xiwu’s mumblings went unheard, with no one else around as she stood atop the closest building she could find. She folded her arms and continued to scan the area from above. Despite her best efforts, it seemed impossible to retrace the steps she took when all of it looked the same.

“Oh! Maybe…”

She pulled out her cellphone. Turning it on only showed a black screen and a red battery icon—which, from what she remembered, meant it wasn’t useable.

“…Right.” Xiwu sniffled as she tucked it back into her satchel. “Mgh… I’m gonna be in such big trouble with Mr. Yang and Dan Heng when I get back, aren’t I?”

She was at a loss for what to do, but there was no point in standing around. She’ll just sit down and mope. That way when something does come to mind, she’ll have plenty of energy. Plus, it wasn’t as if this situation was completely bad—at least there was a clear sky to look at. The city lights blocked out much of the stars but the moon was still large and bright. Much better than absolutely nothing.

…None of these thoughts completely chased the dread of the scolding that’ll eventually come. Xiwu could already imagine it.

“You’ve been told over and over how dangerous it is to just run off somewhere. Without even telling anyone,” Dan Heng would say. “You chase things too simplemindedly.”

Which wasn’t true! It wasn’t as if she only had one single thought. When she decided to follow that cat, she was wondering what kind of home it had. Maybe it had a whole family of cats to return to! Or along the way, she just might find something interesting. Caelus would understand, he tended to like the things she brought back from her adventures even if no one else quite did.

There wasn’t a point to mentally arguing this. She’ll just have to prepare herself when she’s actually at the Express’s doors. Somehow… Whenever that will be.

She laid on her back and sighed. The glass roof felt cold through her clothes in a way that she would call refreshing.

“Things are so quiet at night. I bet nobody’s even awake for me to ask directions from…”

Something flew past her ears. She sat up and looked around, wondering if it had just been her imagination. Before she could completely dismiss her alarm, several others soon followed.

It was unmistakably gunfire. Thankfully, only one of the bullets made contact with her. She couldn't help sulking though that it left a small rip in her sleeve. She moved to her feet, but the sound of cracking was faster and a sense of weightlessness overtook her.

She helplessly flailed her arms as she plummeted.

“I shouldn’t have chosen this roof!!!”

She crashed into the floor headfirst—was someone else groaning too? The floor was also unusually hard, solid, and… shiny. Even considering the height of her fall, it shouldn’t be hurting her head this much. Still, she was grateful that was all she got. Nothing that wouldn’t heal.

“What the fudge?! They got reinforcements waitin’ on the rooftop?!”

Xiwu yelped. The world flipped, and now a gunbarrel was pressed right between her brows.

“Huh?! What...?” The person aiming it was… some metal-looking guy with black and white hair. It clicked in her head, and Xiwu smiled up at him as she said, “Oh! It’s Mr. Boothill!”

“Yer…” He lowered the revolver and squinted. “The doctor from…?!”

“Did I—?”

“Now’s not the Aeon-blessed time for this!” he scolded.

Her sudden arrival had only bought several seconds of a peaceful exchange. The others in the building quickly regathered themselves and continued firing. Boothill shoved Xiwu back down, hovering just a few inches from her as he retaliated. Although it seemed like they were surrounded, he shot his revolver so fervently that he was outpacing the enemies on his own.

Xiwu grunted as she pushed at his chest, trying to get up so she could find the fans in her satchel. Despite all her strength, the cyborg Ranger was impossible to budge.

“Don’tcha make a move now, cutie! Just sit your cake there!”

“Get off of me! I don’t know what’s happening but I’m not useless!”

“Just trust me on this one, will ya?”

He sounded serious.

At his order, she kept still. It was difficult to say the least. She desperately wanted to see who it is they’re facing or get any other context to what was happening.

To add to the confusion, Boothill pulled her to her feet without warning, sending her stumbling a few steps. He held tightly onto her wrist as he then spun her around.

“Waah! S-So everyone here is…?”

“Yer not doin’ a thing! All you gotta do is keep up!”

Xiwu shrieked, feeling like nothing more than a ragdoll. Everything was spinning too fast and the only thing she could identify in view was Boothill. She was either flung out or pulled close to his chest.

Was this… meant to be dancing?

Whatever he was doing was probably planned. The enemies’ projectiles flew past them, but the cyborg Ranger wasn’t safe from getting his feet stepped on. If she did do that, a flicker of pain never showed up on his grinning face.

“C’mon now, don’t tell me ya got two left feet!” he teased.

“I don’t even know what’s happening!”

She yanked on Boothill’s jacket with her spare hand as he dipped her by the waist, making Boothill heartily laugh. His long hair and bright red cape fell forward. They draped around her like a curtain and kept her widened eyes straight on him.

“Anywho, I owe ya an apology. This is the best I can do for now.”

“Do what?”

He pulled her up and continued dancing around. Xiwu could vaguely hear he was saying something else, but she couldn’t make out any of the words over the chaos. All things aside, he seemed to be having the most fun out of everyone.

His leading steps guided them to a side room. In a single smooth move, he brought her inside and kicked the door shut behind them. He immediately looked up to the window and tried to shoot it, but the bullet didn’t even scratch it.

“Sweet, just our luck. You, can’t ya go hide somewhere?”

“I said before—!”

“You don’t wanna cause trouble for Dan Heng and the other folks on the train, would ya darling?!”

Xiwu closed her mouth.

Was that what he was worried about? It’s probably his way of being sincere, though she hadn’t expected Dan Heng to be right about it extending to the rest of the Express through him.

Once she hid behind a stack of boxes, the cyborg Ranger charged back into the heat of battle like nothing happened.

This wasn’t how she expected her night to go. From being hopelessly lost in a new city to being cooped up in… she stared at the logo printed on one of the boxes—an IPC building, it seems. Was that why Boothill was acting so weird? Not that she knew him well enough to know if he was acting normal either.

Or why he was here to begin with. Barging in on a heated and armed conflict did narrow down her options. Now that she thought about it, Aventurine did say he was in town for some sort of business, and he was a pretty important person of the IPC. Could that be the reason…?

He probably already left though. It is late… maybe too late to find food before going back to the Express.

…What is Boothill like anyway? Dan Heng never elaborated on that when he talked about the cyborg Ranger. It was mostly just the “do’s” and “don’ts” that he emphasized.

There was much that Xiwu had to contemplate. She hardly realized that the noise had died down and Boothill kicked his way back into the room.

“Ya nice and cozy down there?”

“Ah—.” Xiwu hopped to her feet and dusted off her skirt. “So am I allowed to go yet?”

“Yup, should be nary a peep about you bein’ seen with me. Just uh…”

Boothill took off his hat and covered her face.

“I’m not five! …You killed them all, didn’t you?” she asked.

“Let’s just say, it’s a shame that ‘catching up’ with some… ‘old friends’ didn’t end so well.” Xiwu nudged his hat away, and he put it back on his head. His lips were pulled into a thin line as he asked warily, “What’s it to you, doc?”

She looked past him, at the fallen bodies that covered the floor. She then turned her attention to the small trail of blue leaking from his forehead.

“Yes, I’m a doctor for sure.”

Xiwu reached for the fan in her satchel. With a flick of her wrist, she opened it and waved it through the air, casting a gentle red glow over the open scrape. Boothill brushed a finger against where it used to be, finding no sting as if it was never there.

“If I can’t do anything for the dead, I’ll just do everything for the living and injured. That’s my way of doing things as a traveling doctor of the Express. So, while I won’t stop you from doing your own business, just know I take my oath very seriously.”

To emphasize her point, she closed her fan against the palm of her hand with an audible snap and swiftly put it back.

The cyborg Ranger burst into a fit of laughter. He should have expected as much from a person who can smile in front of a gunbarrel, let alone an Express member who faced down an embodiment of an Aeon.

“Aren’tcha oozin’ with righteousness too, huh? And you’ve got gumption to boot!”

“Hehe, it comes with many years under the belt! Plus you gotta have something to be a Nameless!”

Xiwu puffed her chest out with pride.

“Now that things are settled… I get trailblazin’ is your thing and all but I’ve been meanin’ to ask, what exactly were you doin’ up there on your own?”

“…Um.”

She deflated just as quickly.

“I seem to recall Dan Heng callin’ you a handful too—.”

“That’s not it! I was just…! Just…”

The universe had decided this was not enough embarrassment. Her stomach growled loud enough to reverberate across the room, earning a raised brow from Boothill.

“Suppose I didn’t need to ask.”

“…Ignore that! Turn off your ears! I was gonna go home anyway which I definitely know where it is!” she yelled.

“What are ya on about—.”

“Nothing!”

Xiwu pushed past him out of the room and made a left, only to hear him chime from behind her: “The door’s the other way there, darling. Don’t tell me… ya don’t actually know where ya parked the train.”

If he had already figured out her predicament so fast, there was no pride left to be salvaged.

She immediately dropped to her knees and buried her face in her hands to wail. And here, Boothill thought he could be quite flippant himself.

“Hey, c’mon!” he grumbled as he caught up to her. “Look, it’s ma bad… How ‘bout this, why don’t I take ya to find some grub and then we can go to the Express together.”

Xiwu’s wailing slowly stopped.

“…You’ll really come with?”

“Since ya got wrapped up in my business, we’ll just call it even. Are ya gonna stop pitchin’ a hissy fit now?”

She got back up and sheepishly nodded her head.

“And… and… if they ask, can you just say I was with you all day…?”

“Yeah, yeah, if that’ll keep Dan Heng off yer case.”

“You’re… a really nice person.”

“I can see what he meant…”

[devilh0rnsinc]

AWLRIGHTTT, just a quick reminder that on this day, "bob actually" released ❤️ how do you feel about this special episode?

*sigh*

Well, you asked for this!

This episode means a lot to me. Weird, a silly Valentine's episode from an adult cartoon means more to me than my childhood pet. No joke!

Bob Actually has to be hands down my favourite Bob's Burgers episode ever. Now I feel some of you reading this going: Oh Devil, you only like it because of the ROUDISE! And you would be correct to some degree. However, this episode is so much more than a shipping moment.

I love the storylines throughout the episode, how they all interlink and create an overall message of love and acceptance, and that nothing can stop love. Now I haven't watched Love Actually (SCANDALOUS) but it's probably similar and they have taken inspiration from it for this episode. Putting that aside, it was still the most plotlines we have ever had in a BB episode, and they did it so well. We had Tina's storyline with her diarrhoea and her sky kiss with JJ, Bob and Teddy taking a dance class with 'Hip Hop' teacher Shelly and Flips White Fudge (Funniest side character ever), Gene with Isabella making Chocolate, Dark chocolate. Linda and Miss Selbo, an underrated and quirky pair that we see again in season 13. And of course Louise, Rudy and Chloe Barbash, and how jealous and protective Louise gets over her friend.

All of these storylines were hilarious and balanced the episode out perfectly. OH and how could I forget Speedo Guy and Mermaid-Unicycle Girl!

This was the first episode I ever saw of Bob's so I may look at this episode through Rose-tinted glasses, but I don't care. I still enjoy the episode to this day, and that's all that matters, isn't it? It's a timeless classic.

Of course, Louise and Rudy were a massive part of this, and they were the first ship that I ever drew fanart for. And just for Lols here is my first fanart of them compared to my latest:

2019 - 2024... Crazy right.

These two got me to where I am today! An awesome YouTube channel where I met a ton of amazing people, I literally found some friends for life on there. Some amazing mutuals on here and Insta sharing my passion for these little dweebs. And then finally creating art for others and starting up my own projects. I mean it gets me emotional sometimes...

AND THIS IS ALL BECAUSE OF THAT EPISODE.

So yeah I love Bob Actually... And I have watched it many (20) times, and I will be watching it again tonight.

Thank you for the ask <3

[carewyncromwell]

"There's a bond that exists between mother and child --

Ah, but then again...how would you know?"

~"After All" from Ever After (musical)

x~x~x~x

Tristan Cromwell never knew his mother. She’d died bringing him into the world. Even so, he’d heard all about her from his father, Blaise, from the time he was very small. An objective witness of the young woman’s life, however, could’ve noted a few discrepancies.

“That’s Marianne. That’s your mother.” “That’s your mother there, on the right. She was the youngest in her family, same as you and me.”

Marianne Fudge-Cromwell was actually the second youngest. Her youngest brother Frederick is a Squib, living alone happily in Suffolk with a Saint Bernard named George.

“…I was sure to mention to your great-uncle Cornelius how much you've grown -- how much you resemble your mother…”

If one were to simply describe Tristan and Marianne, then they would think they looked very alike. They both had dark hair, slender builds, delicate features, and long-fingered hands. If Marianne’s uncle Cornelius Fudge had ever actually met Tristan, however, he wouldn’t have thought they resembled each other much at all — his youngest niece had never been as gaunt and pale as her son. However thin she may have been, Marianne had always had youthful chubbiness in her face, and however porcelain her skin may have been, her cheeks were always pink and sweet. She was also quite small at 5'6", while Tristan was tall and gangling. As an adult the boy even ended up an inch taller than his own father. On top of all this, the stiff, proud way Tristan held himself mirrored his father Blaise completely. Marianne had always been the sort to keep her shoulders and head down and generally make herself seem even smaller than she was.

“You’ll be staying inside where it’s safe. Now take your workbook and go sit in your mother’s armchair. She loved reading by that window; I daresay you will as well.”

Marianne placed her reading chair in that spot because the window neighbored her real favorite place at Cromwell Manor: the garden. Blaise had encouraged her to read indoors more while she was pregnant out of concern for her health, so this was the best way she could keep an eye on her white rose bushes while staying indoors.

“Of course your mother loved music. She had a beautiful singing voice…like a songbird in May. And she was proud of it — she would only ever share it with the most deserving. And she only ever sang duets with me.”

Marianne was so deathly shy that she only sang for people she felt comfortable with. The first time Blaise heard her sing, it was because he’d overheard her when she thought she was alone, tending to some flowers. On the flip side, Marianne was incredibly fond of Blaise’s voice, when they were first courting — she even in some letters rambled romantically about his heavenly Tenor serenades.

“You have no other ‘grandfather,’ son. Your mother’s parents passed when she was quite little — even younger than you.”

This is one of the few things Blaise told Tristan that is entirely true. Marianne and her sisters were largely passed around to various family members, including their uncle Cornelius and his wife, when they were not away at Hogwarts. Poor Frederick was shunted to the side, left mainly in the custody of their grandparents when outside of Muggle grade school and then kind of cut loose after graduating. Perhaps this is why Marianne was so desperate for some sort of stability and comfort…

“Your mother’s sisters grew…distant, after your mother’s death. They stopped coming to see you, not long after you were born. Quite frankly, I’d say you’re better off without them in your life.”

Emma and Elizabeth Fudge had never liked Blaise, even when their sister Marianne was most charmed by him. This was in part due to the age and therefore maturity difference between them and Marianne -- Elizabeth had been seven when Marianne was born, and Emma had already started at Hogwarts by the time their brother Frederick was born a year later. They stopped coming to see Tristan because it required them to make arrangements with Blaise ahead of time to come to the Cromwell Manor. And considering Blaise thought the two women would be a bad influence on his son, since they would inevitably try to “challenge his parenting,” he gave them almost no openings to come and visit. Eventually the two witches sadly gave up trying.

“There would be no point in me marrying again. Marianne was my other half and soulmate, and her final gift to me was you, my son and heir. I would not disgrace her memory by marrying a second time.”

Marianne married Blaise after just turning 18, while he was 37. Blaise had not married sooner because he’d been too picky about potential matches, so he'd only started actively searching after his father Charles finally put his foot down and demanded that Blaise marry and produce an heir. Blaise selected Marianne in large part because of her innocence, which made him want to “protect” her from the evils of the world and treat her like his own precious treasure to cherish and keep under lock and key. At first Marianne was enthralled by this, loving the idea of a wealthy man who would provide for her, care for her, and be completely loyal and devoted to her. Plus his dashing good looks was a plus. These favorable points of Blaise's soured in Marianne’s mind, though, after she became pregnant with Tristan right after her and Blaise's honeymoon.

"Your mother was in very poor health long before she gave birth to you. She stayed alive just long enough to make sure she saw your face, even if it was just the once."

Disregarding the usual childhood illnesses of Black Cat Flu and the like, Marianne's health had been fine prior to moving to the Cromwell estate. The decline really seemed to come about after her move and the suffocating isolation that ensued from it. She began to eat less, even while having to eat for two, and she often ate superficially, leaning more on salty, sugary things that could offer her some small bit of cheer, far more than anything that would give her any real strength. Over time the stress of dealing with Blaise's obsessive control and flashes of rage took its toll as well. Marianne's high blood pressure, when combined with her young age, was ultimately what helped contribute to the excessive bleeding that accompanied Tristan's birth and led to Marianne's death. However much Blaise may have seen how unhappy and unwell his wife was and however much he may have truly wanted to help, the only way he'd ever learned how to love someone else was through micromanagement and possessiveness. And so the more he tried to love Marianne, the more he only served to hurt her.

"Your mother was an angel long before she left us." "I will not hear you complain a moment longer. I never complained, when my father told me to stay at home, and your mother likewise minded me. She knew her duty to me and to this family, and so do you." “Your mother was a saint, Tristan. Don’t you dare let anyone ever insinuate otherwise.”

Oh, far from it. Marianne was a rather stupid and immature person, quite truthfully. She'd never had great marks at Hogwarts, not just because of her distinctly average magical talent, but because of her flightiness about studying and her tendency to tune out in class when her stuffy old professors didn't maintain her interest. She'd had little intellectual curiosity aside from superficial homely matters, such as maintaining a garden or embroidery. Her favorite aspect of Hogwarts weren't the spells or classes or group activities, but instead the way everything was cooked and cleaned for her, so she could focus on other (and, to her view, more important) things. She'd been rather lonely growing up, since her sisters had been so much older than her, so she never became versed in making friends or reading people overall. She was even a bit eccentric, giving all of her flowers names and talking to them the way many people would their pets. She'd named the Fanged Geranium in the Hufflepuff commonroom Audrey.

Most of all, though, Marianne was naive. She never could've predicted just how many strings would be attached to Blaise's love, nor how quickly they would tangle around her and leave her feeling helpless, isolated, and depressed in this place that should've been a home, but now felt more like a prison. She'd made excuses for Blaise to her family while they were courting with the thought that any of his rougher edges would smooth themselves out once they were married, but soon it became clear they never would. If she'd lived longer, it's not improbable that Marianne might've turned to the bottle or some other method of escaping her worries. Had she not been so trapped inside the Cromwell estate, perhaps she might've tried having an affair while her husband was out, just as something to cheer her up. Maybe that affair could've led her to another man who would've "rescued" her from this marriage she'd so hastily agreed to. Maybe she could've taken her son with her. Maybe she wouldn't have -- after all, Blaise and the rest of the Cromwells wouldn't have rested until they'd gotten him back. She didn't know how good of a mother she'd even be anyway -- maybe her son would be better off at least being provided for. Or maybe he'd be better off with some other family, living a normal, happy life somewhere else -- with one of her sisters, hell, maybe even her brother! Frederick had always been a natural with younger children. Honestly, it's doubtful Marianne had ever thought that far ahead, considering she'd given up any real hope of finding anything better.

Perhaps this is why Marianne didn't stay behind as a ghost, even after dying so young and tragically. If she hadn't gone on when she did, she would've been stuck haunting the prison that was Cromwell Manor for the remainder of her days. At least if she had to go...when she finally saw her son again, it would be in freedom.

"Fafa...did Mama love me too?" "Yes, my son. With all her heart, son."

The other rare thing Blaise told Tristan that was completely true.

[koko-raccoon]

the way my gf and I quote flips white fudge every single day of our lives