ramshackle-ramblings

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Another baby and mama ❤

I like to believe mama Shroud is a little bit crazy 🤏 only a little

And that papa Shroud is the more cautious one of the two 😭👍👍

Also baby Idia is wearing a miniature S.T.Y.X helmet...and a whole anti-dangerous-things bodysuit here. Made by his mom of course ❤

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A great way to read lots banned books is with a library card. Support your local library! Get a library card! Support less local libraries, and get multiple library cards!

I got mad, so I made a zine about it (it will be a printed zine available at the Panel One Comic Creator Festival and I might throw this up online so you can print and distribute them yourselves).

Anyways, as always, READ BANNED BOOKS

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The humans said "We sent our very best to the stars."

Well we looked at what they sent: And thought, if that's their best, what are their worst like? They were scavengers and opportunists, fast talking con artists, barely restrained psychopaths with mayhem on their mind.

Honestly we were expecting the worst: That 'human' would be a curse word, that we'd have to root them out painfully and banish them back to their dirty heavy world.

But they cleaned up Antichor. They dredged the oceans, got the ecosystem back up, cleaned the mine lakes, remediated the sludge swamps, turned the hulks into gleaming ingots.

"We knew how. We had the experience." They said.

The humans started showing up in the weirdest places. Conflicts of all sorts... and they always had questions. "Why are you doing this? What if tehy did this. What if you did that?" And it was so odd - Within weeks of the Humans showing up, common ground would be found, or reasons to get along would appear.

"Well, we're used to it. We know how to deal with conflict." They said.

And the human liars, dressed in bedazzling clothes, singing and laughing... They spun lies! For entertainment! Of better worlds, and drama, of excitement, of adventure. Thay made such spectacles - Fire in the sky of a thousand colours - smoke and lasers, costumes and music, feats of synchronised movement the Civil Worlds had barely imagined could be performed by any being let lone these strange humans...

"We know how to have a good time!" They said.

When there was a nasty little war of expansion over on the Veran worlds, we thought we'd be barely in time to document the mass graves and the scraps of planetary genocide. Expansion wars are the worst of crimes but what can you do? The settlers who are squatting on the graves of the people who came before aren't usually the ones who ordered the invasion or carried it out. And there's always some justification that can be argued over for centuries: none of which brings the dead back.

We were horrified to find the Human fleet there. Finally proof that the Humans were the worst sort of mercenary.

But the ships had aid: Shelters and food. Medical personnel. And those that did fight did so under strange rules that allowed for surrenders and retreats in good faith.

The Verans talked of the Arnath Invasion fleet: Unstoppable, claiming thier worlds before they even landed, their leaders ranting and cursing those who lived there - But then the Humans arriving like heroes of legend, in flame clad dropships, spending their lives hard, making the Arnath throw incredible effort to get nowhere... Of the mighty Rangers, each one a hero. The Bulwark infantry who wouldn't yield a single step until the civilians had been evacuated. The Medical teams as caring as any, who'd stand and fight as hard as a soldier to protect their patients.

And even before we arrived, the Arnath were losing - Humans arriving on their world and asking "Why?". Arguing with the Archons with the skill of philosophers, litigating on behalf of the Verans with cunning arguments. The clowns and entertainers with unexpected savagery, showing the population their own "heroic" soldiers burning crops and firing on children, turning the population against thier bloody handed leaders.

The soldiers returning, not hailed as heroes, their crimes documented.

"We know these crimes. We won't stand for them." The humans said.

And we started to wonder... what else did they know?

What we know now is... you can always ask the Humans, because they always send their best.

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How'd you like it, human?

Entry 72

Humans are so annoying. They want to touch everything. The human on ship keeps touching animals even. Nobody asked them to. They just do it.

Human! Stop touching animals and making weird noises and pick stuff up and do human related things!!

Entry 79

Human is still touching animals and making bizarre vocalizations at every opportunity.

It occurs to me that they'd soon give up if it happened to them.

I have an amazing idea. I wills tart petting the human! They will soon desist in their annoying behavior.

Entry 80

I have made a terrible miscalculation.

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[OC] The search for the perfect orange

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🕷️🕸️⚡️⚡️ PKMN Illustration Commission for @/ DenizenblueS

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shrimp cowboy 🦐

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Book Exchange

What do you suppose fantasy books look like in a world that actually has magic and dragons and, well, fantasy? Do they even have "fantasy" as a genre? Just shower thoughts, I guess.

@sunnysidesevenup, because you asked.

---

The lounge in Diasomnia was dim, lit by a single small lamp and the fire crackling in the fireplace nearby. It was quiet, and cozy, and largely deserted for most of the afternoon, which meant that one could read there largely undisturbed.

"What are you doing here, human?" Sebek demanded, glaring down at the girl haughtily, arms crossed across his chest.

Alise waved a hand vaguely at the book and turned the page.

"How is it?" Sebek asked after a minute.

"What?" She looked up at him from the couch.

"The book," he snapped impatiently. "Is it any good?"

"Oh," she answered, glancing back at it a little surprised. "Yes. It's not bad."

"I've seen it in the library. I thought it looked interesting, but I am unfamiliar with the author."

She closed the book, keeping her place with her finger, and looked at the cover for a minute. "I think you'd like it," she said finally. "Or you'd absolutely hate it. I don't think there's any middle ground here. It's about a fey knight who falls in love with a human farm girl during a war." She paused briefly, and smiled a little. "I'm told it's historical fiction. But it reads like what we'd call 'romantasy' back home."

Sebek scoffed. "Romantasy. What does that even mean?"

"Fantasy romance," Alise answered simply.

"Well, it certainly does sound like fantasy. A noble fey knight falling in love with a human? Like that would ever happen."

She looked up at Sebek, eyes widely innocent, but her smile was sly. "Isn't that basically what happened with your parents?"

"Well, yes," he sputtered in shock. "But that's - that's different!"

She giggled. "It's good, though. It's well-written. Very dramatic."

Sebek took a deep breath, collecting himself. "Perhaps I will read it when you have finished," he announced, louder than was necessary.

"It's funny," Alise mused quietly, staring at the cover again. "A month ago, I hadn't read a single book in the whole world. Now I've read eight."

"You've only read eight books?" Sebek sat down hard on the chair beside her.

"Here," she laughed. "I've read lots of books, but only eight since I've been here." Alise shook her head. "It's an entire literary history just stripped away, though, that I get to discover. You know, who is your Mr. Darcy? What is your Foundation?"

Sebek examined her with furrowed brows. "I don't understand what you're asking. But I don't think I'm meant to."

"No," she agreed. "They are references you couldn't possibly understand."

"I could … make you a list," he offered tentatively. "Of books that I have enjoyed. If you like."

When she looked at him next, her smile was softer. "I'd like that."

"Very well," he flashed a quick smile in return. "I shall prepare a selection for you!" He stood abruptly and strode toward the staircase.

"Hey Sebek?" Alise called after him, sitting up and leaning over the back of the couch to look at him. He glanced over his shoulder when she did. "You're pretty okay."

She flopped back and picked up the book, and he scoffed in response.

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vorpal at da unbirthday party who will he trample to death with his hooves

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It's Been A Long Day

Dipping my feet into the swirling, murky waters of x Reader. Enjoy, or something.

@sunnysidesevenup

~~~

You pushed through the door to the Mostro Lounge, so exhausted you could barely stand and so hungry you thought you might throw up. Jade's smoothly apologetic voice greeted you before you where even properly inside.

"Take-out orders can be picked up at the bar, but I'm afraid we are closed for di- Oh!"

He broke off as you pulled out your phone with your free hand to check the time.

"Shit, I'm sorry," you said quietly. You could feel tears gathering behind your eyes. "I didn't realize how late it was."

You stepped back, but he caught your wrist before you could properly turn to leave, gently pulling you forward. If you had been looking at him, you would have seen concern flit across his face, but the thought of making eye contact with anyone right now made you want to curl into a ball and sob.

"Right this way," he said quietly, guiding you toward a booth in the back corner.

"You're closing," you tried to argue, but there was no fight left in you. "I don't want to put you out."

"Nonsense," he answered. "What's the point of knowing the owner if you can't take advantage once in a while?"

The idea of taking advantage of Azul struck you as uproariously funny, and you smiled for what felt like the first time in weeks.

"Do you know what you'd like?" Jade asked after seeing you settled into the booth. It was right next to the glass wall with the ocean beyond it, the water leaving mottled patterns of light on the table.

You shook your head, looking at some point over Jade's left shoulder, still avoiding eye contact but at least maybe it looked like you were trying. "It doesn't matter, whatever's easiest. I really don't want to put you out."

Your eyes flicked to his face and he smiled softly. "You couldn't possibly put us out," he assured you gently. "I'll let the kitchen know."

You settled against the cushioned back of the bench as he walked away, relishing the way it softly supported your exhausted body, and not caring when your eyes slowly drifted closed. The quiet sounds of the Lounge closing, the tinkle of glassware and dishes and the muted hum of tired, end-of-shift conversations lulled you, and you felt the tension easing out of your shoulders.

The light changed, a shadow falling across you, and your eyes snapped open, meeting Azul's pale blue-grey ones.

"I'm so sorry," he said softly, placing a basket of bread and a little dish of herb infused oil on the table in front of you. "I didn't mean to disturb you."

You shook your head, pulling yourself up. "No, it's fine. You're fine. I'm the inconvenience. I can go so you don't have to work around me."

He shook his head. "You're not an inconvenience. The bread was going to go to waste if you hadn't shown up to eat it anyway." He pushed the the basket a little closer to you. "If there's anything else you need, just let me know."

You nodded, trying to rub the tired off of your face.

"Anything at all," he said, so firmly you looked up at him in surprise. His smile was as spurious as ever, but there was an earnestness in his eyes that you couldn't dismiss. You blinked at him and nodded your agreement. He gave you a little nod of his own and left you to your bread.

You dipped the bread in the oil, and the first bite was heaven. You weren't sure you'd ever eaten anything so wonderful in your entire life. You went through the first piece in what felt like seconds, vowing to slow down for the second one. Just as you had shoved another bite in your mouth, Jade appeared at the table with a glass of water, and some other drink. He placed both on the table in front of you.

You shook your head, trying to reiterate that you really didn't need all of this, they were closing, after all, but he had disappeared before you could swallow.

You picked up the drink, some swirling orange concoction that you were certain he'd put way too much effort into, and took a sip. It was cool and sweet and just as delicious as the bread.

Floyd showed up a few minutes later with a plate heaped high with steaming pasta. He set the plate down and slid into the booth across from you.

"I was gonna do shrimp, but Jade said he didn't think you'd appreciate the joke right now," he said. His tone was playful, but also careful. All the sharp edges and loud noises were quietly tucked away, waiting politely for you to be feeling up to them again. "So it's just chicken."

"I wou-" you started, but Floyd just raised an eyebrow.

"You don't gotta front, Shrimpy. We gotchu." His feet knocked against yours under the table as he stretched out. "Azul said you wanted something 'easy', so I made ya pasta, cause it's better than soup but you can still slurp it, and I cut everything up so you don't need a knife or nothin'."

"I meant easy for you," you explained, twirling the noodles onto your fork.

"Aw, that's sweet." He pushed his foot gently against yours.

You appreciated the misunderstanding, though you doubted it was one. The pasta required very little effort to get from the plate to your stomach, and you had very little effort to give.

Jade showed up with a pitcher of water and a cup of tea. He refilled your glass and slid into the booth next to Floyd, sipping quietly at his tea. Azul followed a few minutes later with receipt books and cash boxes, perching on the bench next to you.

He and Jade started going over the books while you ate, quietly balancing the day. Floyd occupied himself with folding napkins into interesting shapes. They managed to miraculously finish at the same time you did.

Azul gathered the books and slid smoothly out of the booth. Jade followed, gathering the dishes and sweeping them off to the kitchen.

You stared at the end of the booth and willed yourself to move. It seemed so far away, and you were so tired. After a minute you gathered the tattered remains of your willpower, and grabbed the edge of the table to pull yourself to the end and force yourself to your feet.

You wobbled a little, closing your eyes as you steadied yourself, and suddenly you were braced against someone else, an arm warm around your shoulders, holding you upright.

You opened your eyes and looked up to meet Floyd's, watching you gently, something akin to concern swimming below the surface. You looked away quickly, eyes focusing on the floor instead.

"We're invading Azul's after this to watch a movie," Floyd informed you. "You should come with."

"Are you, now?" Azul said dryly, walking up to the pair of you. Floyd nodded and grinned and Azul rolled his eyes. "You are welcome, though," he assured you.

You opened your mouth to protest, but Floyd was already leading you toward the door. "Yay, sleepover!" he crowed, and Azul trailed behind you. You picked up Jade somewhere along the way, and Floyd chattered happily with him, keeping you steady as you walked and not seeming to care how heavily you leaned against him.

They whisked you along, quickly and carefully, and presently you were nestled snugly between Azul and Jade, Floyd sprawled across the foot of the bed in full control of the remote. Your eyes were already heavy, and your only contribution to the conversation for the last several minutes had been little nods and non-committal hums.

"Just pick something, Floyd," Azul sighed. You nodded, or tried to, your head leaning to the side and coming to a rest on Azul's shoulder. Floyd looked back over his shoulder and giggled quietly.

You barely registered someone laying a blanket over you, and were soundly asleep before the opening credits of whatever movie Floyd had picked were over.

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when did tumblr collectively decide not to use punctuation like when did this happen why is this a thing

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Humans who dream of being androids ....

enough of this "androids who dream of being human" shtick. more androids who love being androids, and are lowkey sorry for humans bc that shit sounds exhausting

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Fish

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Chapter 15: Study Sesh

Sorry for the months-long wait. I've been busy with other things (dating sim) and work. It's the Busy Season now. I would like to say we're back, but that's probably a lie. We never left, just wandered into the other room for a bit.

@sunnysidesevenup, because you asked

~~~

First Prev

Alise crashed through the Heartslabyul mirror, stumbling forward a few steps on the other side, and nearly plowing into Ace and Deuce.

She was on a flagstone path leading to an imposing red and black building with crenulated walks. Rose trees, carefully shaped into hearts, lined the walk, alternating with tidy rose bushes flowering in marble pots.

Behind the roses on both sides, hedges stood as the walls of maze, low at first, but growing taller and taller as they stretched into the distance, topiaries peeking over the top.

Silk banners, white bordered red, decorated with the crowned black-and-red heart of the Heartslaybul crest, waved gently in the breeze.

"Alise!" Deuce said in shock, "We were just coming to look for you!"

"Damn, you went through that like a champ!" Ace commented, smiling down at the girl. "Mouse usually complains and has the jitters after going through the mirrors. But here you are!"

"Here I am," she confirmed. Alise looked back over her shoulder at the mirror. "It's a little weird. It's like diving into a pool, if the pool was made of that hard, gross layer on the top of old Jell-O."

"Yeah... That's how me and everyone else describes it." Ace confirmed, crossing his arms. "Not many places travel by mirror from what I know. But it's definitely more common in the Queendom of Roses."

He frowned, looking over her to stare at the mirror. "But Mouse describes it as moving through tar and getting pricked by tiny shards of glass so... I dunno."

"That does sound terrible," Alise agreed. "I wouldn't want to go through it if it was like that, either."

Ace shrugged again before pointing to the doors. "Eh, it's probably them just being overdramatic. But study sesh is about to start, so we should get going before Riddle has our heads."

"Sure."

She followed the boys into the building, and to the lounge. Deuce pointed to a seating group in the back corner and beelined for it, claiming it for the three of them. Ace followed Deuce, calling over to Alise in case she gets distracted. Alise followed the boys to the corner, flopping onto the couch, and started pulling books and papers out of her bag.

She was bent over, head practically disappeared into her bag, searching the bottom of it for a pen she knew she had, when a new voice entered the conversation.

"Ace, Deuce, I'm glad you're here," Riddle said warmly. "This semester can be better than the last one!"

Ace waved at Riddle, sighing as he spoke. "Yeah yeah... Mouse even made us promise not to bother with Azul this semester as well," he admitted, remembering the lecture that the prefect gave not just him and Deuce, but Grim as well...

Actually... He and Grim got the worst of it now that he thought about it...

"Yes, well, that's for the -"

Riddle's face went pale, and then slowly started to color.

"What are you doing here?" he hissed, all traces of warmth gone from his voice.

Alise looked up, curious to see who had caused such a sudden and drastic change in the new boy's demeanor.

She found herself staring up at the other boy from last night, grey eyes like thunderclouds, shaking with barely contained rage.

Ace paled, looking between the two before pulling Alise close to him, trying to alleviate the situation at the cost of his neck.

"Deuce and I invited her!" He started, before quickly adding on. "MOUSE said it would be a good idea for Alise to get help from you! Since she's literally joining in the middle of the year, she doesn't know much!!"

Deuce stared back and forth between Alise and a slowly reddening Riddle.

"Fine," Riddle spat the word out like it was physically painful. He drew himself up and glared imperiously at her, pointing his pen at her. "But you are here to study. Do not make a scene."

"I wouldn't dream of it," she said, a little too sweetly.

Riddle swung around on his heel and stalked back to the center of the room where Trey and Cater were sitting.

Ace watched as Riddle left, before looking over to Alise. "So you're why we couldn't sit with Mouse at lunch."

"I guess," she said. "I don't know why that guy hates me so much. Who is that?"

Ace blinked a few times, before looking over to Riddle's table.

"The guy who just basically yelled at us is out Housewarden - Riddle Rosehearts." Ace started, pointing at Riddle before pointing out the green haired man in the glasses. "That's Trey, he's our Vice-Housewarden. And that right there -" He pointed to Cater next. "- is Trey's boyfriend, Cater."

"That's Riddle?" Alise said, a little too loud.

Riddle's head snapped toward them at the sound of his name, and he did not look less furious than he had when he'd left. Deuce hushed her quickly.

"That's the same Riddle that Mouse was going to ask to teach me how to tie a tie? The same Riddle you went to have lunch with? The same Riddle Mouse had potions with after lunch?" She stared at Riddle in wonder. He glowered back in disappointment. "But that Riddle is nice!"

Trey noticed that Riddle was... not happy... in a specific direction. Looking over to Ace's group and then back to Riddle, he put on a patient - albeit worried - smile, getting up from his seat and moving himself to block Riddle's view, sliding some papers over to talk to Riddle about.

Riddle looked at Trey in surprise. Without Trey having to say a word, he knew he was right. This was not productive. Deep, calming breaths ...

"Riddle is... Uh..." Ace looked for the words to defend his housewarden. "He's a bit short tempered..."

Alise gave Ace a skeptical look. "That's a little beyond short-tempered. He looked at me and practically combusted."

She waved it off, Riddle's death stare blocked by Trey now. "Anyway, homework."

"Right!" Ace nodded, grabbing his bag. "Homework..."

The first little while went smoothly, working on homework from the classes they'd been in together. Alise even managed to get part way through the homework from the morning class with Lilia.

"I don't understand this question," she said after spending too long on one.

"Let me see," Deuce offered, and she handed him the paper.

He read the question, read it again, and read it a third time. He held the paper out to Ace, and shot a look at Riddle, who seemed in a much better mood, smiling with Trey and Cater. "Maybe ... ?"

Ace sighed, taking the paper from him. "Let me see it Juice."

He looked down at the paper, his eyebrows furrowing as he read over the questions.

He looked over to Alise.

He looked back to the paper.

He looked at Alise.

"What the fuck?"

She shrugged. "I don't know, you're the magic ones here."

"I don't understand it, either," Deuce shook his head.

"Well no shit, Deuce. This is third year homework!" Ace spoke, swatting at the dark haired boy with Alise's homework. He sighed, placing it in front of him. "Honestly..."

He looked over to Alise.

"You're better off asking Riddle. He's a second year but... He'd most likely know this already."

She picked up the paper with a sigh and looked across the room to where Riddle was enjoying a quiet conversation with his friends.

Maybe he wasn't angry with her for existing anymore. Or he'd forgotten about her.

She gathered up the homework sheet and her notebook and cautiously approached the group in the center of the room.

The pretty boy with the strawberry blond hair - Cater - watched her approach. His face was all smiles, but his eyes were wary.

"Riddle?" she said softly, perching on the edge of the couch next to him. "I think I need help with this."

He turned to her, and his smile evaporated. His jaw tightened, and Alise braced herself for a fight.

"Riddle..." Trey spoke, like a parent trying to reign in a child's tantrum before it started. "Give her a chance. She's asking for help."

Riddle closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

He opened his eyes and looked at Alise. He still looked furious but his voice was carefully controlled when he spoke. "What do you need help with?"

Alise relaxed, handing over her homework. "This is what I've gotten so far." She handed him her notebook next. "These are the notes I took today. I can't figure out where to go from here, I think it must be building on something I've missed."

Riddle accepted the paper, and read what she had so far. Then he read her notes, and then the homework again. He looked more and more confused as he went back and forth between the two.

"What ... What class was this?" he asked finally, looking up from the paper in befuddlement.

"I don't remember," Alise told him honestly.

"You don't remember?" Irritation colored his voice.

"Riddle..." Trey tried to reign him in again, glancing over his shoulder to look at the paper. "Wait..."

"What?" Riddle snapped at Trey, looking sharply at him.

"Whoa, now, Rids," Cater said with the same placating tone Trey was using.

Trey looked over to Cater, a bit concerned, before looking to Alise. "You... Wouldn't happen to remember what any of your classmates looked like, would you?"

She shook her head, opened her mouth to answer, but Riddle cut her off.

"You don't remember what class it was, you don't remember who was in it. What do you remember?" he snapped, leaving Trey and Cater to exchange glances behind him again.

"Lilia was in it," she answered, meeting Riddle's gaze steadily and trying to keep her voice level.

"Lilia? What were you doing in a class with Lilia?" Riddle shot to his feet, towering over her.

"I was trying to learn!" Alise snapped back at him, snatching her homework back and standing up herself, forcing Riddle to take a step back or risk being crashed into as she rose.

"Lilia is a junior! You had no business being in that class!" He was dangerously close to shouting.

"Regardless, I still have homework!" Alise did shout. "Are you going to help me or not?" She pushed the half-finished homework into his chest, crumpling it against his buttons.

"Not!" he shouted back, ripping the paper out from under her hand and holding it out toward the other boys. "But Trey or Cater should be able to!"

Trey quickly took the paper, looking between the two and standing up to try guiding Alise away from Riddle. Looking shocked with himself as to how he didn't notice Alise in the same class as him.

"I'll, uh..." He spoke up, looking to Cater as if he'd have an answer.

Alise let herself be tugged backward, snatching her notebook as she went, eyes still locked with Riddle.

"Hey, Rids, lets sit down," Cater said, touching him softly on the arm to get his attention.

Trey just nodded, tugging at Alise to get her walking away from Riddle.

"Yeah, I'll help her with her homework."

Riddle sat, and Alise walked backward, both too stubborn to break first, until the back of Alise's knees hit the couch by Ace and Deuce, and she looked down to see what she'd run into.

She looked from the couch, to Trey, to her crumpled homework paper.

"Thank you," she said, dropping onto the couch. "I don't know how to solve this."

Trey shook his head, now positioning himself to block Alise from looking at Riddle. "Don't mention it. Just..."

He chuckled, pushing up his glasses a bit.

"Try not to make it a habit." Whether he was referring to crashing third year classes or upsetting Riddle was unknown.

Alise made no promises on either count, but turned her attention to Trey's explanations. Trey pretended that he was NOT worried about her lack of response, explaining everything she needed and answering any questions she may have.

"Thanks again," she said when they'd finally finished, standing up to stretch and shed her vest and tie. She'd already rolled her sleeves up earlier.

"Don't mention it." Trey smiled, nodding to her. "I don't think we introduced ourselves yet though. I'm Trey."

She shook her head. "Ace pointed you out earlier. I'm Alise."

She unbuckled the the belt contraption and dropped it on the table with a dull thud.

"Those are yours," she said to Ace.

Trey nodded, before blinking and turning to look at the belts. "Wh..."

Ace stood up, slamming his hands on the table. "YOU STOLE MY BELTS???"

"Borrowed," she shrugged, untucking her shirt. "I needed something to keep the pants up." She hopped up and down a couple of times, and her pants settled lower on her hips. "See?"

Ace's cheeks flushed, shaking his head as Trey just sighed like a disappointed parent. "NOPE!! WE DO NOT!!"

"They're just pants Ace," Trey spoke up. "At least they're not falling down completely..."

Alise stared at Ace blankly. "We don't what?"

"Nothing, ignore him." Trey cut in, shaking his head. "He's 16," he added as if it'd explain everything...

She laughed. "I'll understand when I'm older, I guess."

He sighed, "I hope you don't..." Trey coughed, shaking his head aggressively before pushing at his glasses. "Anyway, why are you taking off articles of clothes exactly?"

"Because I have been wearing them all day, and they are stuffy, and I am tired of them," she explained. "I guess the vest wasn't so bad, but I am tired of being choked by that thing - " she pointed at the tie. " - and this thing - " she unbuttoned the top few buttons of her shirt " - and those belts were awkward and uncomfortable because these pants don't even have belt loops." She lifted her shirt up to show the waistband as proof.

Trey nodded with each of her complaints, waiting for her to be finished before asking. "Is it because they're too big? Or is it something sensory?" He asked, trying to figure out if he could ask a student if they could offer up a spare uniform temporarily. Or if she needed a change of clothes entirely.

"I'm willing to help you," he said, his tone calm. "But I need more than 'stuffy' to find a solution."

She shook her head. "No, mostly it's just too big, not what I'm used to, and it's been a long day."

"Why," Riddle demanded, coming up to the group. "Are you undressing in my lounge?"

"I'm sorry," Cater said to Trey quietly. "I tried."

Trey turned to Riddle and then Cater, giving him a small smile. His voice quiet but fond. "It's all good, my daisy. Riddle's been on a short fuse all day..."

He then turned back to Riddle, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Alise's clothes are too uncomfortable, I was just about to ask if someone more her size would be willing to give her a spare." Trey explained, trying to diffuse the situation as quick as possible.

Riddle shrugged Trey's hand off.

"I have not been!" He snapped at Trey, then whirled back on Alise. "You need to button your shirt!"

"What?" she said, looking down. It was just the top two buttons. It was nothing risque. Cater had more buttons undone than she did.

She looked back up at Riddle. "No."

If he'd been asked later - and he was - why that single word set him off so badly, Riddle wouldn't have had an answer. It's not like no one ever said no to him. Ace did it all the time. And he'd gotten so much better about flying off the handle.

But this tiny girl said no, and he said; "OFF WITH YOUR HEAD!"

"What the fuck, dude?" Alise snapped angrily, sitting hard on the couch as the collar appeared around her neck.

Trey took a step back, looking to Cater and then back to Riddle. Ace vaulted over the table to be on the same side as Alise. He looked over Alise before looking to Riddle, a glare evident in his eyes.

Riddle's face was bright red, and he was glaring daggers at Alise, his breathing short and rapid, ignoring Ace entirely.

"What the fuck, dude?" Alise asked again, but she no longer sounded angry. She sounded curious, tilting her head from one side to the other to try and get a better look at the collar. She brought a hand up to trace the patterns on its surface with one finger.

"Watch your language," Riddle hissed, turning on his heel and pushing past Trey and Cater to storm out of the lounge.

Next

[ramshackle-ramblings]

For @kindhearted-mouse and my 400 follower request event!!

They are so cute but ajshhsJAHSHHSYEY MOUSE ONCE AGAIN PLEASE GET BETTER TASTE IN MEN. YOU CAN’T FIX HIM (I mean, you probably can, but don’t put yourself through that please)

[ramshackle-ramblings]

fandom is so weird you never know how old anyone is but you just kinda assume most of them are around your age until proven otherwise and then one day someone is talking about their 9 year old kid on your dash and another person is saying they just finished 10th grade. wild.  

[ramshackle-ramblings]

Oh, oh. What about Ali or Lenore? I forgot about them. But they could have such fun together

Oh, hey. That’s kind of cool.

This is mostly just an excuse to draw/write but to celebrate 400 I’ll be doing OC interaction requests!!! Probably a drawing, possibly writing a little something if I get inspired enough <3

Just reblog with your oc and interaction ideas and maybe yap a little about how you think yours and whatever oc of mine you choose would get along. This is a follower only event of course, but I’m always happy to interact with new people who’ve just discovered my blog !!! This celebration is pretty informal anyways, lol. It’s mostly a way to draw oc interactions for my friends…