orleans-jester

[orleans-jester]

[orleans-jester]

Maddy couldn’t help raising an eyebrow, and then gave a light chuckle. She had just put Frankie down for a nap, finally, the girl could be a terror when it was time to go to sleep, just wanting to do things rather than rest, so she had the time to walk around to be beside her husband and press her lips to his forehead, checking his temperature.

“Just had to make sure you’re feeling okay, baby,” She said, running her fingers through her hair. “It’s weird to hear you care about what’s legal.”

"So funny thing, babe." Bastien said as he looked up from a laptop. It was yet another material item he'd have never owned if not for the hordes of Feral.

"You can't actually get married legally in the Paris catacombs. So, I got all upset and started bitching to Delta. I was hoping she'd help me make something happen. She's good at stuff like that. Then she reminded me I was already legally married. So, it doesn't even matter. Cool huh?"

[orleans-jester]

Elsa: You would really have to trust the instructors. Elsa: Have you trained them yourself? Elsa: I'm missing you as well.

TEXT from KODA to ELSA

Koda: Would you trust the concept of franchise if it were your mothers' style of karate you were giving away? As in someone else teaching it in places you can't check on daily.

Koda: btw miss you

[orleans-jester]

Figaro was walking back into Funkytown, with an opposum on each shoulder, wearing a very Michael-Cera-in-Juno-esque outfit, their hair having grown out a bit recently and curling with sweat around the sweatband. They raised a wave towards Willem, slightly out of breath, and got a bottle of Pineapple Crush from the fridge.

“Just was practicing my wrestling with some feral pigs,” They said, taking a long drink, leaning against the counter. “They’re fucking nuts. Then my boys here thought they were attacking me and it turned into a kerfuffle, that’s for damn sure.”

They wiped their forehead with a bright yellow wristband.

“I’m free now, gimme some thoughts, I love thoughts.”

It had been a busy day of working on orders that were backed up since New Year. He was finally getting them caught up, so he was feeling good. He still couldn't get their visit with other-side Geppetto off his mind. It was living vivid in his heart. Willem came bouncing down the stairs from his room after a rather creative session of drawing tinker toy blueprints for own personal hobby when he passed by Figaro quicker than he expected.

"Oh, hey Smalls. There you are. I was just about to look for you."

"What you up to? You busy? I had some thoughts I wanted to run by you."

[orleans-jester]

Zero and Seven were given hearty see-you-laters, with smacks on their ass. While they had been putting their clothes on to head home, Pierre had remained unabashedly nude, feeling the air of this different world on his skin. He gave them both playful smacks and promises to catch up later, when they could.

When it was just the two of them again, Pierre stretched his arms above his head, loosening up after what had been a definite workout. He ran his fingers through his hair, turning towards Piper, the room falling silent. Comfortably silent. It allowed in space for thoughts, though. And Pierre definitely had some that were rolling around his brain.

He then crawled into bed, slithering in, laying beside her, on his stomach He had to run his fingers through his hair again to get it out of his face but it was worth it to see the violet in her eyes.

“Stay,” He said, immediately. And then he smiled, almost sheepishly, at how fast that had come out. He raised a hand and started to trail a finger over her sternum, just basking in her. In her magic. In her love, even if it had been for another Pierre, it still stuck with him. “Please?”

He’d sleep sounder with her there. The time for questions, for figuring out next steps, that could come later. What he knew right now was that he didn’t want to be alone.

Except this was no Rick Roll. No fake out of any kind. He was definitely Rick Astley straight up as stated.

Everyone was taking in the same-ness or differences with current haircuts and styles. So much same. Even the differences only felt like a phase in time they could have had. Even Zero's autopsy scars were the same. Seven's skin was too perfect as usual from his voodoo doll powers of self-healing.

Pierre said he had Seven too. They had each other. It meant more now than ever. It felt like they were speaking a secret language in those few words.

Then the pleasure was on. Nothing felt salacious about it even if it was risqué. They were all the best of friends. Every one of them self-indulgent in each other's gratification. The night would go on in trading of positions and mutual pleasure all together. It all felt like a completely natural progression to Piper like they were always like this. For Piper she knew a lot of people questioned Chip's behavior and his family, and though this lot wasn't exactly like them, certainly not on a marriage level, but it was in a moment like this it all clicked to Piper, how natural a feeling it could be with the right people. It all felt right, the best purple ever.

Eventually there was two.

Piper and Pierre.

Zero felt the call of home and needed to go back to Frankenstein. Seven would head back home so his mothers wouldn't worry. He had promised to be back, and they'd help him work on a home new start for his home life and a plan to introduce him back into world. That's what some of their pillow talk would be after bath time. Seven would yack about starting up his own mortuary ready to continue his old dreams right where he left off. Zero would have chatted about memories of their Dog World vacation and be the best snuggler of them all while the others sprawled out to cool off.

When it came down to Piper in Pierre's room, she'd wonder what was going through his head after such a big life changing event. She didn't ask, however. She stayed there looking at the ceiling basking in actually pulling off all the magic sequences needed for such a miracle.

She eventually turned towards Pierre. "Would you like to be left for the night and let you gather your thoughts? I can stay to keep you company, or you can call me when you're ready to move on and figure out where to go from here. Up to you. This is your night."

[orleans-jester]

Valentin and Nicolai both enjoyed chaos. A lot of people got hurt in chaos. Stampedes, riots, protests, magical confusion. And there were the brothers to go pick at what was left, increasing their own little horde. After the zombie virus wiped out some of the Halloweentown students, there had been a lot of breaking into their dorms and taking their things. Valentin and Nicolai were top of the pack in that, whatever they wanted. Clothes, snacks, even homework if it was one of their classmates.

So they both had fun with Cj’s chaos from the very beginning.

Lying can also create chaos, as can stealing, which was why Valentin was watching this cable guy very carefully. Closet-boy. Braxxy? Big Twink Energy. One name was dull.

“Stay,” Valentin grinned, crossing one leg over the other. “I’ve never met a cable boy.”

Nicolai’s eyes were still spinning, and when they stopped, they were pinpointed on the cat that had just walked into the room. He squinted at it, then watched with amusement as it turned into a man. He pointed with a confused expression.

“Isn’t Black Panther supposed to be black?” He asked.

“That’s not Black Panther. The cat was white. That was Blofeld’s cat. You Only Live Twice,” Valentin corrected, also taking pleasure in his dear cousin’s confusion.

“But cats live nine,” Nicolai said, as if he had just discovered the truth to the universe. Fireworks flashed in his eyes, which were able to seen. “Is Bond coming then?”

“Sean Connery died, Котик, but we’ll see about Craig.”

“If we see Daniel Craig, it’s a bad trip,” Nicolai tutted, looking at the mess of little mushrooms that had gathered on his lap, having produced them while in the daze. Valentin responded by shoving a cookie into his cousin’s mouth.

This did also mean that the attention was off of Braxus for a little while, everyone being diverted, or distracted, by the man-turned-cat, at least until this man went towards Abraxas, when things got a little more entertaining. Valentin got a little snigger out of how Cj referred to them. The twink was just the cable boy, while they were the friends. Cute.

“Hallo Papa,” Valentin said, grin and dimples stubborn on his face, refusing to be wiped off. “I am Valentin, this is Nicolai, and thank you for thinking we’re pretty.”

“Good coat,” Nicolai nodded towards what Chaos was wearing. He plucked a growing mushroom off of his pants and held it up in offering. “Inocybe aeruginascens?”

CJ had a way of being confusing. It was the chaos in him.

"I have a great camera. Correctomundo." CJ answered whether it was directed at him or not as his eyes went searching for where he last put his phone.

Brax on the other hand managed to get his hands on a piece of electronics and felt satisfied with himself. CJ would find out soon enough the effects of his touch. Plus, this Valentin guy was giving him looks he didn't know how to read. Mostly, Brax wanted to leave.

"I should really go now AND I didn't pee in anything."

A cat walked through the room randomly.

Then a blaze of fire and smoke poofed like a bomb exploded causing several people to wake up and one went running for an extinguisher. The fire fizzled out only to leave a man in its place on a large chair in the back of the room.

"To mark your own territory?" This blond man said. "I advise peeing on anything you can silly boy. It's your loss if you don't."

The boy who ran to get the extinguisher came in super confused tripping over things in haste only to aim it and realize the fire was gone. Confusion swept the room.

Then CJ rolled his eyes.

"You're early. This party isn't for you, Dad."

Everyone's eyes including Braxas quirked brows and looked surprised. Was CJ a cat?

"I'm fashionably early. I can do that if I want to."

"Fine. Happy early Father's Day. This means your party on the day of is canceled if you're taking over this one."

"It means nothing of the sort. That makes way too much sense and I don't approve at all of that. I'll be staying for the duration... or however long I please."

As the tides seemed to shift on CJ, Braxas couldn't help but smile. The attention wasn't on him anymore.

"Aren't you going to introduce me to your friends?"

"No. Don't you have a kingdom to prowl?"

Brax would poke in with a, "Yeah, introduce us." The young person in him was too amused a parent crashed his hang out.

"Weren't you leaving?"

"No, not at all. The party is just getting started. Whatever gave you that idea?" Brax found joy in CJ being annoyed.

"This is the Cable Boy." He'd say begrudgingly. "I think my friends can introduce themselves actually."

Then his father stood up with a sly grin and walked a circle around the boy like a cat weaving rubs around someone's legs, a little too close to be normal for a human interaction, but Braxas stood still.

He was wearing decadent clothes, like something out of a gawdy GQ far too elaborate for whatever celebrity they might have it on. Only with this guy it looked like it suited his personality. Daddy Warbucks Hollywood slash egotistical-porn-star-mafia was his vibe with heavy gold and fur around his neck.

He strolled around the room sultry by nature and advanced on no one. Actually, he was snubbing a few randoms with a snobby upturned nose the way any ignoring cat might who didn't want to be bothered deciding they weren't worth his time.

Then his eyes went to the vulture boys. He stopped there.

"Hello. I'm Chaos. The Master Trickster, Master of Surprise, the Unpredictable. God of Disorder... and you two are?"

"Fucking sexy." CJ chuckled leaving out their names.

His father smiled. His son was still his son.

"Your obsessions are becoming predictable CJ. You always like the pretty ones. But for these two, I approve." He never let his eyes off the boys as he spoke to his son waiting for those names.

[orleans-jester]

“’Salright,” Go-Go murmured, teasingly. Of course she had enjoyed the tour. She was delightfully drunk, enjoying American snacks, in a treehouse surrounded by zombies and kissing Dale motherfucking Laveau, the charming curly-haired boy who helped her to finally leave her confining home.

Her heart was beating faster than a Prodigy song. She could feel it in her ears. Not hear it. Feel it. The only things she really heard were the slight breeze through the leaves, the zombie down on the ground, and the smacking of their lips while they kissed

“Could’ve used a bit more drifting, the land is perfect for it,” She grinned. Because oh, despite them being up high in this treehouse, she was still thinking about what it would be like to be in a car, going crazy over all of the empty space since the house was gone. “But still good.”

The sunrise. She turned her head slightly to look at it, the brightness of the beam shining through. It made her squint for a second, before everything else seemed to adjust to the light. She’d gotten used to the darkness, to the shadows. “Yeah, there it -“

She found herself getting pulled, and kissed, and heard the groan, and a laugh started to build inside of her throat. It came out more in her shoulders, them shaking with the effort of trying not to let it out, her teeth making an appearance and nipping into his bottom lip.

She took a deep breath, in and out, as he continued down her neck, her eyes turned back towards the sunrise again. So bright. She couldn’t count the number of sunrises that she had seen, but she could now count how many she had seen while tipsy, and while getting -

What was this feeling?

Felt up? No, too crude. Adored? Too deep.

Simply put - necked.

It took her foggy brain a little bit to catch up with everything that was happening. She could feel his touch up her thighs, on the silky black underwear that she wore so she wouldn’t get pantylines in the dress, but it didn’t register for another minute. Her hand went through the curls, the only Laveau who seemed to have them, and gave them a little pull, bringing him away from her neck with a small laugh.

She turned her head away from him more and let out the most attractive sound - a good ol’ alcohol belch, and then started to giggle even more at the timing, at the sound, at the whole situation, and then she couldn’t stop laughing. It wasn’t a sound that was common for Go-Go, usually being serious, inquisitive. But now she was cracking up.

“Oh fuck,” She said, catching her breath. “You’re really just going for it, aren’t you?”

"Guess so then."

Dale didn't seem too pressed about it especially with her nonchalance. If she didn't mind, he sure as Hell didn't. He'd been in pickles before. Okay, maybe not while kissing a girl, but zombies beneath a tree? He honestly liked the nostalgia. He truly felt like he was back home. He did have a minor thought in the back of his head wondering why he didn't bring the gun up with them. It was fleeting and his mind was right back on GoGo's lips. He'd think about killing it the old fashion way later if it didn't go away.

No regrets.

He kissed her again. He was enjoying it too much to let a little thing like a zombie stop him now.

Dale came off smiling. "Hope you're liking the tour?"

He actually thought he gave her a pretty good whirlwind tour all things considering that had changed. He was enjoying this pit stop. It was going to be stuck in his head as one of the best parts of the tour. There was just enough drinking so he wasn't in agony over his crash. He could regret this climb later. Right now, more kissing.

"This is our treehouse suite, complete with swamp breeze air, and plank bed luxury, and hard wood floors. Everything you need for a rustic authentic feel." He teased trying to sound like an eccentric rental advertisement.

The sunrise came through the tree's canopy and this ragged, injured, tipsy boy managed to notice. "There it is." The light came in through the cut-out window Chip used for balancing his rifles from like the sharpshooter he always tried to be. Once upon a time there were even purple curtains glued over them Piper installed that time, weather, and Chip's annoyance wore away.

He pointed at the door opening so GoGo wouldn't miss it, but he never stopped admiring her face. Getting a sunbeam right in the side of his eye was good enough for him. He'd rather focus on her.

Then he made a rather funny move pulling her down and flopping his arm over to the door as he was still pointing at the sunrise. However, he overestimated the effects of the numbing alcohol and groaned in substantial pain.

He kissed her anyway. His face would start to heat up and skin turn splotchy red from the effort. He dropped his face down to the opposite side cheek-to-cheek which would allow her to turn her head to the door if she wanted and still see that sunrise.

In an attempt to lessen the pain and continue he kissed down that side of her neck as he shifted his weight so that his hip was next to her on the floor instead of directly over her. There was a sigh of relief as he managed to find a position that wasn't going to feel like he was straining. The alleviation of that pain caused a influx of mouth to skin in a hungrier onslaught of kisses down her neck and her shoulder. His hand would reach down to her outer thigh. Her slim body was still being explored and enjoyed.

It was also being tested as his exploration pulled up at the sleek end of her black dress and found skin. Her outer thigh became highly intoxicating when he felt the length from knee to hip of actual skin. If he would have had any inhibitions or ability to think of who this is he might have given her the 'you good?' look that men give when they aren't sure of how far a girl wants to go and aren't the type to actually ask out loud when his fingers found the edge of panties and was ready to yank them down, but he didn't. He didn't look. He just kept kissing and began to tug downward once he got a finger hooked. He was far too attuned to his own body. If she wanted him to stop, she'd have to slow him down herself because he was on a keep-going path.

[orleans-jester]

“You will learn quickly,” Nicolai said, his eyes taking in the way that she was dressed, the eager attitude that she had. The former could be a magnet for trouble, but perhaps it could also bring about new opportunities. There was something indeed infectious about it, whether it was her smile or the fact that she brought a dead dog back to life, and he wanted to find out more.

The dead dog also had it’s charm itself. He was not scared off by scars, by rot, by the patchiness of it’s fur. Dead things were more interesting. Dead things festered. He had half a mind to take hold of its little snout and open its mouth up to see what was within, if there were bits rotting away inside, but that would be rude.

Nicolai did not like to be rude without reason.

He pet the dog again, once it did it’s little twirl, a couple little hairs falling into his hand. He’d keep them for now.

“Friday, after lunch,” He nodded. “I’ll meet you outside the front of the school? It’s a charming walk.”

She did notice the accent of course. She wasn't so great at identifying them. Still, the longer they talked the more it reminded her of Russian people on tv. There were several countries near it that had the same-ish accent, so she tried not to assume.

Halloweentown. Normal rules do not apply?

"Of course. I should have known. I'm just not used to it all yet. I'm getting there."

That was why her mother brought her here after all. Maybe her mother was actually right about it.

Then the boy leaned down and actually interacted with her dog, her "abomination of a dog" as the people kept calling her in her last town. Penelope sniffed his hand, spun a circle, pranced in place with her paws, and then barked happily while wagging her poof ball tail that was sewn on at the base with missing hair where old stitches placement stopped the hair from growing. Most places that had big cuts from the procedure had white hair regrowth contrasting the original black from the damage.

"She knows what bone means. You're getting her excited."

As for when, "Well, my mother is waiting in the car outside for me now. I better buy this stuff and head out. How's Friday sound? I only have a couple morning classes that day."

[orleans-jester]

Ellie was focusing on escaping but also letting other thoughts go through her mind, fleeting images.

Boat.

Who was good with boats?

Willem.

Perhaps he would be able to help, to teach her how to drive one, or something. That would mean letting him in on the island secret, and Figaro too, but if it would help her, surely that would be alright. Something to think about. She’d definitely need a boat to get the naughty boys over.

And a boat to get home, which was seemingly taking Be-Bop forever.

But he got it and she climbed up onto the boat, laying down on it catching her breath. She could feel the coolness of the water, soaking through her shorts, the edges of her long hair. She normally didn’t feel affected by temperatures. God, she couldn’t wait until her powers returned.

She sat up a moment later as they got further from the shore, looking back at it. Though she couldn’t see her friends anymore, she would raise up a hand and wave, just imagining that they were doing the same. After her hand dropped, she realized … she was alone. Sure, she had a Beagle with her but he wasn’t going to be involved here on out. He would probably disappear after tonight. Go off with Black Arts on the next big adventure while she would linger in the area, trying to figure out how to round up little bastards and get them onto an island while she had no boat, no boating experience, no vehicle, no access to the waters, and probably garner the attention of Oogie Boogie who still held claim on the island.

But at least for the moment, there was a Be-Bop that could be made fun of.

“I don’t know, I think it makes you look charming,” She said about the tail, a smirk going on her face. “Now we know the carpet matches the drapes.”

She could feel them go through the barrier, rather than see it. The island disappeared behind them, but she was focused on the way she just instantly warmed up, getting back to her regulated temperature. She breathed out on her hands to get rid of the last of the chill, rubbing them together.

The ice appeared to be almost violent towards the edges. Where it wasn’t as clean and pristine and pretty, wasn’t for Bastien and Maddy to see, not that Ellie knew that was why it was out here. It was sharp, pointed, like angry slashes against an invisible barrier.

At first, she was grinning. “Brilliant,” She whispered, knowing that it was Elsa’s work. And it was beautiful, with the fluffy looking snow on the shore, the glistening ice cabin. Who cares what it was for, it just looked damn cool.

And then, once again, the logistics. This boat was not going to be able to make it over the ice.

“Don’t start thinking that you’re going to be like Rose, and let me drown,” She sighed, thinking of how to use her powers. An idea came to mind.

“Hey, you ever slide around on ice? Like take a quick running start and then go?”

Babyface was too in shock learning she was leaving the second she was leaving. There was no time to process. Babyface was usually gung-ho for anything and rampaged right in, but this wasn't him. This was him watching her leave.

The 'God damn right you will' snapped his sulking eyes upward.

She at least got a smirk out of him when she looked back. It was the face of someone who wanted to believe her. If anyone could do it, whatever she was doing, Hell's Ells could.

It was as she ran off; he finally gained his voice. "Go T-800 Go!"

Mazzie who stood back with Babyface watching the pair run had her eyes on island boys in the distance. "What's T-800?" She wasn't as up on the old movies like Babyface who mostly got into Retro when he was trying to impress Ellie.

He'd say, "Terminator."

"Ohhhh, I get it."

And they were back to that. Babyface explaining a lot of the normal world to Mazzie since she grew up on the island. He'd keep up her real-world education again someday.

Had Bebop ever stolen a boat before?

"Yeah, once."

He gave her a grave look at the idea of Babyface doing something he couldn't. Yeah, no. That wasn't going to happen. He kept messing with the buttons until he heard noise.

"YES!"

Then he'd start to move.

"Hell yeah. Come on. Come on baby." He kept talking to the boat until it managed a slow release into the water.

"Ha. I knew I could get it."

"I have stolen a boat. Told ya."

Yes, he was counting this one. One boat.

The ecstatic face disappeared fast when his tail hit the wheel as he turned around to boast.

"Of fuck me."

He held the tail in his hand and pulled hardly believing it was real.

"Seriously right now? Seriously? Beagle bam. God damn. This is so uncool."

At least he wasn't a full ass? He made it out with just a tail.

"What am I supposed to do with this?"

Then he turned around and looked out at the waters that lead back to the mainland. He started squinting towards the horizon.

"What the fuck is that?" He pointed out in the distance.

There was a shine on the water.

It was the ice that blended out over the shore to the snow filled beach that Elsa made for Maddy and Bastien.

"Is that?" He wasn't even completely sure at their distance. He leaned over the ledge trying to see harder which made his tail extra visible to Ellie flopping over the back of his pants in a way that made his butt crack just as visible. This gave new meaning to sporting the droop. He even tried to yank them up but the tail kept getting in the way.

"Please tell me we are not about to turn into the mini-Titanic."

[orleans-jester]

smollbeanellie - @chippenfail when I'm not WORKING

smollbeanellie - here's looking at you kid

maddiebellerose - STUNNING elsachristensen - Where are your clothes? elsachristensen - Though these are nice photos.

[orleans-jester]

GoGo gave a glance over to Ray as she mentioned her daughter. It was something GoGo was starting to relate to, though not in the mother-daughter way. The family way. It was the exact same reason why she was here, even though she was leaving nothing behind save her projects.

Which were pretty much her babies anyway.

“The more the merrier,” She said with a smile, and then looked back towards her laptop, taking a long drink from her energy drink. It was going to be a hellishly intense night. She didn’t want to miss a moment of it.

She was locked in. Focused. Even Dale with his hairplaying wasn’t going to distract her … much.

“Yeah, well,” She said, modestly shrugging as if it wasn’t an absolutely brilliant idea. “It’s fascinating. Terrifying,” She had to say, because it was her best friend out there, painfully transforming, and who didn’t love Thomas and Valerie? ”- But fascinating.”

Once again, Flotsam was facing his own potential fatality. But he had everyone cheering for him this time. This wasn’t a kidnapping situation where he might be getting tortured, this wasn’t a misunderstanding turned into an uncontrollable situation, like a snowball rolling down a hill, gaining bulk. This was his decision. And it had the full support of everyone who knew and loved him.

It would be like a death, in a way. Not as much as it was for Chip, but it had it’s own similarities.

Nothing would ever be the same.

There was no going back.

Thomas was going to be the one to do this, follow the familiar scent, and hopefully, something in that wolf brain would know what to do. To bite, without killing. To maim without bleeding out. His husband, the one who loved whether it was the skin that Flotsam was born in, or the magical feminine one that had been gifted, or hell, even knowing that one had become two, and still loved them just the same, would be doing this. Would be helping him to gain yet another new form. How very fitting.

Clopin wasn’t there physically but he had given his utmost support from the get go. Not just for this, but for Valerie. For expressing oneself - it was more important than anything to the ol’ New Orleans Jester. If Valerie wanted to come out and be a woman, that was fucking beautiful, champagne abound. If Flotsam wanted to become closer to his family, to undergo this change, to become a brand new creature, fuck, that was beautiful. Clopin would be hugging Kuzco after the videocall and shedding some tears, not out of fear, but out of how fucking BEAUTIFUL and GORGEOUS the whole thing was. He knew what it was like to undertake that transformation for someone he loved. To feel closer. To leave behind the normal life for something unfamiliar and scary. Mon Dieu, did Clopin ever respect the hell out of Flotsam for this.

Elsa - she might not be there and she might not be a part of the decision making process but the two had made their piece. They were a family again, in a different way. Would she have tried to talk Flotsam out of this if she had been consulted? No. It made sense. It was a logical decision, as well as an emotional one.

Ellie - she looked up to all of the Laveaus, had since she was younger and met them for the first time. Flotsam was the first, coming into the bakery, and he was a figure larger than life. She’d be there if she could. Be there to help support Dale and GoGo and Ray through this if she didn’t have her own missions going on but when she would find out? That was fucking cool. Electric wolves. Just another thing to be in awe of.

Maddy - the person who worried. The person who probably looked to Flotsam and Valerie as more of a parental figure than she should, but who else did she have? A father who would never understand, and a mother who failed. There was Papa Clopin and Papa Kuzco but - she got to see a lot more of Flotsam and Valerie’s parenting up close. There was nothing but love there. Someone who would fly over at the drop of a hat if she was needed, and a big part of that was because of how Flotsam and Valerie had accepted her, even after she had messed up with Chip.

Figaro - Figaro would think that this was fucking SICK. In the most wonderful way. Another person who was drawn to Flotsam from the start, meeting him at her friend’s house, having a sleepover, makeover, nail polish and root beers. Even when things happened and it could have been easy to be mad at the Laveaus, they went along with everything, go with the flow, and if that flow meant Flotsam transforming and Valerie becoming a sexy ass Alpha Female - that was the flow that they wanted to go down. When everyone found out about this, those that weren’t privvy to it from the beginning, there would be a party. A celebration.

Flotsam might be alone under the stars right then, but only physically. They carried the love the way that Harry Potter wore the scar on his forehead.

Thomas hugged his girl back, kissing the top of her forehead while he still had lips, rather than a snout. “Just trust your instincts. It’s all that you can really do.”

Scout was good with the triplets. She knew the connection, she felt the connection, and he hoped that it was going to be strong enough to where she would be more focused on them than what was happening with the others. But with the rambunctious pups, who knew what could happen?

 Thomas’s transformation was ugly. There was nothing beautiful about it in normal circumstances, not even for the triplets who wriggled around in their own agony. There was nothing soft, nothing natural-looking. It was painful, and it was harsh, and it was cruel to all of those who went through it, the blinding, searing pain, and then the feeling of being locked into a body that you had no control over. An animal that wanted nothing more than to tear everything into pieces. But for those like Thomas, like Raya, who had that extra connection to Hell, who was even harder. The bright white pain came with flames, and it always surprised Thomas when he would change back and find that he had no burns.

Hell on paws.

 Thomas stood on his four paws, and shook out the last bits of skin off of his body, getting it off of his fur, bits of blood and gore from the transformation sticking onto the inky darkness. Black, like the deepest caverns of Hell.

–

GoGo was moving the droid. It flew over Flotsam, shining a little red light like a hello, before flying over the trees to try to find movement. “Looking,” She said, perched on the chair in a very L from Death Note type pose, dark eyes on the screen. The motion detection was working and it did come across movement. The wriggling pups. Scout just finishing her transformation.

“Bingo.”

–

A Lot of What Ifs went through the heads of everyone there, it couldn’t be helped. This wasn’t a sure thing. The bite could be fatal rather than transformative. Maybe they wouldn’t find each other at all and would have to try again. Maybe the pups or Scout would find Flotsam before Thomas did.

But what none of them anticipated was that someone was actually crazy enough to go into the woods, knowing what could happen to them. Thomas thought Thaddeus was dumb, he didn’t keep that hidden, but actually going through with this, he didn’t think the guy was THAT stupid. Enhanced or not. Werewolves were dangerous.

GoGo didn’t anticipate it either, which was why the drone was following the wolves, rather than settling on Flotsam, or on the property line which Thaddeus was crossing. He was the unknown.

Flotsam and Valerie are going to make it through.

"They all will." Ray decided to agree. Val/Flo, Thomas and the gang, and Chip, Raya, and their little gang too. "It was hard to pull away from Praline to come over for the night."

Dale came in with an upturned joint in his mouth to make sure he didn't singe Ray's hair as he gave her a squeeze from behind the chair she was sitting in. He wanted her to feel as comfy and safe as possible. It dawned on him then how much trust she had in her family to take care of little Praline during a night like this just to keep him company. So, she'd get a from behind the chair hug as Dale's chin rested on her crown.

When he stood up, he moved closer to GoGo. He'd reach up and twiddled with a piece of her hair between two of his fingers as he said, "I love you brought drones. It'll help the night go faster being clued in. Hoping to catch a glimpse if they happened to pass a security cam would be stressful."

For Valerie, hearing Thomas call her love one more time before sending her off was everything. It stayed in her head along with the word husband. It felt dreamy and their mind was in a lulled state. Flotsam made fewer and fewer appearances these days. The husband title vibrated in their system just right as the reminder of who they were. Thomas's words felt like a promise they needed to hold onto like a security plushie. She also kept Thomas's expression in the center eye of her mind. He was so sexy-rugged when he was on the verge of his feral side.

Once Flotsam had emerged and there was little left to do but wait for his pack to sniff him out, his mind started to flash back to memories of his life. He tried to tell himself that this wasn't a true end. It still felt like his life flashing before his eyes anyway.

With every puff of smoke and furl of breath new vivid memories turned like a storybook in his head. Maybe he got his fairy tale after all?

Cinderella's voice popped into his head. Memories of how many times and ways she gave him the she didn't want to be a princess or how life wasn't a fairy tale. It made him smile as he blew out an extra big cloud of smoke recalling sometimes, he might have even agreed sending her the worst mixed signals. It all seemed rather funny now. In the words of Avril, "Hell yeah I'm the mother fucking princess!"

He looked down at his legs covered in Valerie's red fabric. He remembered the time Cinderella didn't want a dress he gave her. It crushed him, but more he eventually realized it was because he wanted it. Dressing up Cinderella was his way of making her the doll in the image of what he wanted to be. So, he projected it on her and she rejected a fashion, but it always felt like the rejection of who he was inside somehow. In a way it was. It was Valerie's fashion. He knew now Cinderella could never be Valerie. It was wrong to have tried to make her be anything else. There was only one Valerie, and she was inside him all along.

It was pivotal memories where hindsight became emotional growth that kept stirring inside, all the memories that molded Flotsam into the adult he grew up to be.

Young with the fun of Molotov cocktails. The fun of ruffling Rapunzel's feathers just to get a reaction out of Thomas. He should have known he had it bad then. He was too young to see it back then.

Husband.

He'll always come running back to them.

Always. Always he said.

The words echoed.

Flash -Throwing Valerie's beloved mother of pearl necklace at the aquarium.

The page turned on the story book and he could see himself in an Amy Winehouse dress rolling around while Tiffany played overhead dancing so silly with Thomas.

Hematite.

Kissing in the shark tunnel.

Shopping for rings that would last later.

Then the book pages would furl like a dealer shuffling cards. Pages opened in no particular order at first. Whatever emotion burbled. Then it became the story of his life.

He felt disoriented as he was stuck in his twin's magic sight and couldn't pull back to his own window.

FLASH - Mambo Laveau, Papa Facilier. Uncle Zeke.

FLASH - The image of Jetsam being resurrected only to be offed again.

Then a screen shot of every phase would open. FLASH - The Ariel phases. The girl who wanted to be a part of their voodoo world and eventually got more than she bargained for when Jetriel happened. His brother's soul was stuck inside Ariel's body. This eventually led to Ariel's death. So much death. FLASH - Coven War deaths. Ariel's soul possessed Lachesis's daughter, marked a traitor, and died yet again when she went after Maleficent. The death scenes felt never ending.

FLASH - Watching Clopin on the street corner to Yubaba's Bath House and failing to bring home Kuzco's friend to the guilt he felt about the Esmeralda marriage feeling like he ruined Clopin's daughter's life. Maddy's face came through and swept it clean. There'd be no Maddy if it didn't happen. Every other thought strengthened his smile. His memory of Yzma at the funeral home and helping save Piper. God damn Clopin was a longtime friend.

FLASH - Sparky. Family. Flotsam learned a lot about Ohana. He also learned love doesn't count if there's magic attached to why a person stays. Family doesn't have to be blood, and blood doesn't make you family. Free will is love. Nobody gets left behind or forgotten.

FLASH - Elsa pushed this further as he learned to respect her leaving as a type of love too. Not everything was black and white. Not everyone who leaves has abandoned.

This always complicated his feelings with Thomas and Summer plus Rapunzel with magic involved. Growing pains flashed about them too. There was no pain in all the flashes that didn't keep a soft smile on Flotsam's face. Every single flash led to this moment. Every single flash was the story of his life and how he became who he was today.

FLASH - Flesh tearing - Cannibalism up close and personal - The taste - to missing time. Waking up and not knowing how he got there or where he was

FLASH - Zombies / Tarot cards - Oogie Boogie - Delta/Frank - Feral - Maddy - So many holidays - the best Christmases and Halloweens.

FLASH - The Battle of the Tremaines and Star People - Clopin losing his mother fucking leg. How could he not love that man?

FLASH - Camp - So many lost to the Horned King's war

FLASH - His children promising to never leave. Proof he never needed but appreciated when his wife disappeared.

FLASH - Figaro

He sat there feeling extra peaceful as more modern memories came to mind. FLASH - Getting sick and actually being taken care of. FLASH - The demon - the moving to New Zealand and all that came after. FLASH - So many images were whirling of him and Thomas together on trips around the world, beaches in Ireland and castles in Spain. Living the Lord of the Ring and Star Wars fantasy. Throw in some Jimi Hendrix with the watchtower and FLASH - Hobbiton - Running barefoot on pavement. The absolute miserable feeling not wanting to go home to Nola as she ran to where the good feelings were. Their mind lived in Hobbiton while sitting in the forest for the longest time. It was their happy place after all. Kisses, and laughter, being under the bridge, sneaking in, to the best info-dumping of all time from Thomas the tour guide.

It was about here he thought to himself he'd lived a good long life. Whatever happened he'd be okay. He just hoped to all the Gods that he'd bring that same peaceful feeling to Thomas if the situation were reversed.

Thaddeus. Fucking Thaddeus. Even the thought of Thaddeus couldn't bring him down.

With every other memory a chuckle would slip out in the dark. Damn. All Flo could think was how great a story his life was. He couldn't think of regrets. If he did, he wouldn't be the same. He might not be sitting here under the night sky waiting for Thomas of all people to change his life. One way or another Flotsam felt this life was ending whether he became part of the pack or a part of the sky. Life was changed now. Mostly, he sat there trying to appreciate the life Thomas shared with him. It was all he could do but think if anyone deserves to end his life in any sort of way and help him pass through to the next, it'd be Thomas.

His thoughts wobbled between his kids and Thomas, emphasis on his husband. Gifts. Poetry quoted or self-made. DYI projects in the backyard. Popcorn in the living room. Sexy times in the bedroom or anywhere else for that matter. The roses in the woods. Valentine's Day. Valerie's first dressing room. Thomas playing The Cure on the piano. Flotsam began to hum The Cure.

As this tune was hummed it slowly changed over to Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow. It might not have been in Valerie's voice, but the tune changed as his memories went to the first mini-living room concert she gave Thomas. She sang Etta James and some other classics, but this was the only song where her tummy flipped, and she felt scared behind the words because it felt so real to walk in public as Valerie with Thomas on their first date. She didn't let fear stop her from going. She was trying to stay in the moment now, but it was also hard to not think of tomorrow. The song was too close to her heart and how she felt in that moment.

As he hummed the song this time he wasn't scared of what tomorrow would bring. He just plain wasn't.

-

Then there was Scout and the triplets. It wasn't long on their walk away from Valerie that the moon would take over the entire pack.

She had just enough time to run up and hug her dad. Valerie's scent was getting lost to the breeze and their distance. She managed to say, "The last time we were out here I was waiting for you. " She smiled. "It's how I know I can trust you with Mom." She had a different worry. "But what about my wolf and the kids? I'm trying to trust in mine." She let go of her squeeze.

She clutched her stomach and fell slowly to the ground. It was starting. As she writhed in the first pains of her transformation she gritted out, "I follow you. I follow you." She was trying to embed it in her brain, her body, her soul so she wouldn't be the one to do anything to mess this up tonight. Then in the twist of flesh and crack of bones her senses became one with the night.

The triplets were in the same writhing agony shortly after her first howl to Mother Moon. Soon enough the monthly ritual of three small children's bodies mutated into three small but dangerous wolves.

They bounded around like the curious pups they were. It would almost seem innocent if one didn't know what they were capable of.

-

Dale watched the sky. "It's happened by now. Can you see them?" He looked to GoGo's eye in the sky intel wondering if she'd spotted them yet.

-

Thaddeus was on the move. Once he gained composure over seeing Valerie turn into Flotsam, he knew all the more this had to be stopped. His purpose would hold no purpose otherwise. He could hear Marina's nagging voice now. A change would mess up the data from the experiment. He'd already challenged her theories when Flo got the demon involved. She wasn't a fan of damaged goods she still felt belonged to her. Thaddeus was conflicted. He'd gotten attached, but Marina was never going to go away. She wasn't just a person. She was an entity to him now, an entire laboratory of threats that would keep coming. He had to make a choice. He hiked closer as stealthily as he could, making little sound after eyeing Flo in the binoculars. He was steadily gaining ground.

There would even be a moment Flotsam heard the crunch of leaves and ignored it. He had no reason to believe anyone else was on his land besides the pack and he was expecting them. His brain was ignoring it all for memories as he awaited his family.

[orleans-jester]

HC: Spaces on the Pachacuti Estate the longer Piper lives there. Everything starts to turn purple.

[orleans-jester]

HC: Just feel like this is something Bastien would create (only it would probably turn out a little messier) with an old rusty trampoline found in the neighborhood and do it up with light blue paint and pink fabrics because he's always trying to use that theme to make it like the lights in their hallway that remind him of the colors that were on the lake on swan night and Maddy's magic. He'd probably set it on the beach somewhere off to side of the obstacle course.

[orleans-jester]

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[orleans-jester]

smollbeanellie - here's looking at you kid

maddiebellerose - STUNNING elsachristensen - Where are your clothes? elsachristensen - Though these are nice photos.

[orleans-jester]

Nicolai was getting used to this cute little thing repeating herself constantly. It was growing on him. At the very least, it showed that she was making sure that she understood what he was saying. His accent could be a little thick, he was used to those asking for clarification.

A small, crooked grin took over his face as she agreed.

He had a feeling that she might.

“Why not,” He shrugged. “This is Halloweentown. Normal rules do not apply.”

He bent down on one knee to let the dog take another sniff of his hand before petting it. “Maybe you will get a big bone, no? It would be like a buffet.”

He looked back up to her face. "When are you free?"

Okay, so she did understand what he meant. She wasn't completely sure. She suddenly felt a little smarter and less awkward in front of him.

An academic, he called himself. Somehow that sounded impressive to her. What truly caught her ear was when Nicolai said he worked with corpses too. Her eyes showed a sparkle of interest, and she leaned forward in a more attentive stance.

Fertilizer?

"Oh, that they do." She agreed before her eyes lit up like he revealed to her the biggest red X on a special treasure map with a quest created just for her. A body farm!

"No. No, I have not. I had no idea."

Oh dear, was she repeating every which way again and being a thesaurus? She was suddenly painfully self-aware of her own responses. Lucky, her interest in the body farm helped divide her mind. She stayed focused there.

"I really need to see that."

She watched his hand combing through his careless hair only to see it flop right back into its original position. She almost missed his words. Did he just invite her there himself? The only reason it took her so long to answer back was that it never happened before. People avoided her in her last town. They didn't invite her.

Her mouth hung open a second longer than might seem normal as she tried to manage the concept of being invited. Was she making her first friend here? It made her happy. She wasn't completely used to that feeling either outside of her dog. She felt her dog's nose poke her in the hip. Like Bastien and his gargoyles it forced the words out.

"I'd like that. I'd like that a lot. Are dogs allowed, or no?"

[orleans-jester]

“Oh, trust me, I am,” Ellie retorted back to her fellow red-head. If he didn’t know, he’d better figure it out, since she couldn’t blow any type of ice to make them slip and slide until they left the boundary of the magic.

Orders for everyone. Jump straight into ‘get it done’ mode. They were on a timer people, it was go go go.

But there was a couple of seconds there when she laughed because Jax’s list was a long one but man, did he ever deserve the treats so that was more than alright. Committing as many to mind as she could, though it was likely to slip with everything that was going on.

Babyface’s - that was the hardest ‘see you later’ of all. She was refusing a goodbye. Those words felt … final. She’d said goodbye to enough people in the last year and so. She wasn’t ready for another one. But this was still going to be hurting her heart.

It was for the best though.

That’s what she reminded herself when she pulled back and looked at her face, and said her Terminator line.

But fuck, his line hurt too. No good luck. Take care. You better be back.

For a second, just for one second there, she was her aunt’s niece and felt a cold start to build its way into her brain, spreading, making thin walls.

No I love you.

Granted, she hadn’t said it either, but she was the one in a rush here, not him.

Then her mouth set in a determined line as she barely heard Bebop, and Mazzie’s words rang into her ears.

“Goddamn right you will,” She said, before wrapping her arm tightly around the billy-club that had been part of Babyface’s costume, white-knuckling that shit and taking off after Be-Bop before she could change her mind. Before she could go back and give Babyface a piece of her mind.

She did look back, but she kept on moving as she did. Her hair was whipping around her face. Running like she did whenever they got caught by a storeowner stealing shit. Running like she did when the cops looked at them for a little too long. Running like she did before jumping on her skateboard and going over a sick ramp at the park. But then it was eyes back forward, feet pounding against the ground, her sparkly blue outfit seemed to be all the more bright from all of the colorful carnival lights that were shining off of it, until they were out of the sight of Mazz, Jax, and Babyface.

Hands on the metal sides of the turnstiles, leap up and over, propel herself. No time for thinking. The sun would be just rising over the horizon any second now.

And up and over the gait - thanking fuck once again she didn’t wear heels. Because then she’d just be an ass in great shoes at this point. She beat BeBop to the ground only by a couple of seconds, a few feet down from him, breathing heavily. She’d try to give BeBop a shove towards the boat as she noticed that he was looking at it.

She didn’t go right for the boat right away though. She scrambled into the water, knowing that there was no time to just sit in it and wait for BeBop to start the engine. She was pushing the damn boat as hard as her tired body would allow her to go, holding onto the side and trying to get it at least a few feet further from the shore. She’d wait until BeBop got the engine going before she’d jump in. As it were, she was holding on tight to the side of the boat.

“Have you never stolen a fucking boat before?” Ellie asked, gritting her teeth as the water got colder, and she ended up going in deeper, pushing against the waves. It was only then as she looked towards BeBop that she noticed the tail. “Come on, if Babyface can do it, you can do it,” She urged him on.

"You better." Mazzie got her last hug and then it was all business, "And he better." She laughed entrusting the whole operation to Ells. That last hand squeeze was as sentimental as they could get. Time was ticking and Maz didn't trust time.

When hot, ginger, bossy-pants came out barking orders Bebop had no clue how to drive a boat, but he said, "Fuck yeah I can. Count on me."

His chest puffed up as if he were a lifelong mariner the second it he thought they might be able to get off this island.

Babyface followed the conversation one person at a time with the assumption that if Bebop and Ellie were leaving that they were all leaving, so he stood up readying himself even though he and Bebop just went through a whole conversation about how to handle life on the island while the girls were in the other room.

Then Jax grinned bumbling out a list of snack foods. "You mean I can really have Snickers, and Cheetos, and Pork Rinds, and Red Hots, cheese fries again? No messing? Oh, I'll write it down." A few hee-haw sounds got mixed in his laughter he was so excited as he scrambled for pen and paper.

Then there was Babyface. He got slammed with the biggest kiss Ellie might have ever given him. He came off it half smirking ready to give a braggart's grin to Bebop when he heard the 'I'll be back' and that smirk fell in combination with the speed it sunk in. Ellie was leaving without him.

Bebop too.

His eyes went to his newly reunited and long-lost brother. Then they went to Ellie and over to Mazzie. She'd caught up and was standing close by. This huge pang that was as painful as it was physical balled up into a hot heat in his chest and his throat. He held strong against most of his instincts to resist this. He nodded at Ellie and didn't even ask for details. It was clear she'd made up her mind. Whatever happened between Mazzie and Ellie in the other room was something he wasn't going to fight.

He nodded at Ellie his 'Okay' like a blessing, but his face only wore an it is what it is composure. All he knew was he made up his own mind when he stepped foot on the island, he'd do what it took for Mazzie this round, not his own self interests. It was why he said his peace before jumping off the boat. It just felt different saying it than actually doing it.

“No matter what happens… just know… I always wanted to live up to your nightmare and make it come true.”

She said she'd be back. Maybe he wasn't convinced. Maybe it was the thought that considering the lengths it took to get into Feral he wondered how long it would take to do it again. The heaviness of those thoughts was already digging in and taking a toll. He started to feel like he was in his own nightmare, the one he always hoped wouldn't come true. In his dreams this was only a fun sleep to wake from when Ellie was also by his side. Otherwise, it always seemed much darker. But here they were.

He held by his decision and a wall started to build from the inside out.

"Guess I'll see ya when I see ya."

It was all he could think to say. He was too focused on not getting emotional and Babyface was a professional at not letting much out but anger.

"Yeah, that's gonna be fucking never here again." Bebop laughed answering even though Babyface hadn't directly addressed him. He was already hop-walking backwards towards the exit. "I'm outta here." He was all smiles, but one might think Bebop would know better after watching the island turn on his family members that were trapped there. Not all of them were zombie attacks. He knew what this island could do.

As soon as he started acting like that Mazzie rushed Ellie. "Go. Just go. Get him out." Ellie could explain the plan to Bebop later. Mazzie didn't want him to ruin this whole thing.

Mazzie looked up at the sky and noticed a lack of island boy noise, and the carnival rides were slowing.

"Go. Run!"

Bebop took off running and laughing like a lunatic, a true Beagle Boy living in the high of getting away with something. He didn't look back once at his brother.

His hand started to lift to wave bye, but it never actually waved. He ended up only jutting that chin with his underbite at Bebop's back. He'd look at Ellie too, still as could be, but he was soaking in every detail he could from her last expression, her style, her choice of weapon, her hair. She'd been his only constant for so long. He had no idea this was going to hurt so much even if it was temporary. The unknown made it worse.

Bebop saw the gates and hurdled over the turnstiles. He wove between the line poles, and he took a parkour style leap at the gate so used to running away and escaping. He didn't even bother to check and see if the gate was actually locked. He shimmied to the top and fell to the other side with a roll also quite practiced at falling and landing.

Still not safe on the expanse of the beach he kept going.

That's when he felt the strange protrusion hurting from behind. He felt it when he landed and rolled. He knew not to look back during an escape, but he had to. Something wasn't right.

That's when he saw the donkey tail sticking out of the top of his baggie dirty pants.

"Oh shit."

His scoured the shoreline for where the boat was docked.

"Nuh uh. I ain't going down like that."

He was all tunnel vision from there. Boat. Boat. Just make it to the boat.

He wasn't thinking about if Ellie could make it out of the gate or how far she was behind. She could have been right beside him, and he wouldn't have noticed he was so on his bee line. He was in true Beagle Boy escape mode. Every man for himself.

He'd make it to the boat and then was the wild scramble for how to start this son of gun because again, he had no idea what he was doing. At least he could drive a car. He could figure this damn thing out.