#I like this cheerful and informative post about bees

[travelersspark]

Cybertronian!reader(gn)x bumblebee who has a Wall-e and eve relationship 👀👀 yk the reader acts like eve doesn't really talk and bumblebee being a total sweetheart, like the first time where eve said wall-e's name for the first time and he's like awww🥺 yeah thats them

I love this ! I'm not sure which version to go with but imma do TFP post season 3 for setup ♡

𝑺𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒕 𝑯𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒚

TFP!Bumblebee x GN!Cybertronian Reader.

A light whirl of the nightly life on Iacon sounds in your ears as you stroll down the walkways of the city. Cybertron. Your home. The place you always loved and never want to leave. Iacon being your home residence and workplace. As well as being a high inscriber your duties are simple. Nothing much to truly say. Hence why you enjoyed your job. You never really had to voice your opinions and ideas , you just had to transcribe.

Write any information presented to you and do diligence for the order of cybertron. You were complacent about your role and never questioned much about it. Moatly since no kind of threat seemed to be at large. Luckily you seemed to have some free time to yourself finding you optics set on a small rest spot near a open residence. The sound of communication drowns out the silence of the starry sky above. ❝ Y/N ? ❞ a voice called out as you turn to find where such voice came from.

Your optics set on a tall yellow and black cladded bot not to far off in the distance , passing through a crowd of other bots seeming to be in some sort of hurry. A faint hint of confusion spreads across your face plate as he approaches. His voicebox sounding hoarse and tired. ❝ I've been looking for you ! Finally got time off from patrol so... ❞ Servos planted on his hip plates as he spoke a bit of hesitancy in his voice as you watch. ❝ I was um. Wandering if you be free to go with me to that um- scrap. ❞ He mutters under his breath as he claps his servos and sighs. Optics pointed to the sky as a light blushing glaze comes across his faceplate.

To you , Bumblebee was like a close friend. Close enough to kind of be the real you. Yet you still never really understood him. Yet you enjoy his company in a way. A light laugh escapes your lips as you watch him uncomfortably fidget. Soon his gaze meets yours as his faceplate shows signs of amazement and confusion.

❝ Did you just.. laugh ? ❞ He exclaimed as your optics dart away and you turn flustered. Bee wasn't having it. He laughs quietly to himself as he moves close. ❝ You laughed ! I knew your voicebox wasn't broken ! ❞ He teased as you profusely shake your head , trying to hush his excitement. He cheered for a moment before you hastily covered his mouth with your servos as the gap between you two closed. After a second you back off quickly , akwardly. Bee sighs as he rubbed his neckplate as he grunts clearing his voicebox. ❝ There's a bar not to far from the central area. Probably about maybe a couple of paces down from here. I was thinking... maybe we could go and have a drink ? My treat by the way. ❞ He mutters the last bits as you blankly watched him. His optics narrow trying figure out your next move.

“ Yes.. ” your voicebox called out as Bee backs up in awe. A slight chuckled comes from you as you begin to walk waving him along. Bee's backplate wings flutter before he follows behind. His optics and mouth slack-jawed open during the whole walk. Your definitely gonna have alot of explaining to do...

There ya go! Kind of short but sweet and cute at the same time ! ♡

[positiveglitchexists]

Event :]

Warnings: Swearing, Its a bit rushed because I'm like half asleep so please forgive me-

Notes: This is forrr @turtle-bee-anon for the @gigglesandghasts event!! I was actually so excited for this prompt: "Irl ler!Ranboo Lee! Tommy where they somehow find out they are both in the tckle community" I hope you enjoy this !! sorry for the long wait, completely forgot i was supposed to post this in December- like usual if you find any mistakes message me so I can fix them!

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"Anddd I'm done!"

Everyone had taken a breath while Jack got off the floor with the help of Wilbur. "That was the worst bit ever-" Tommy grinned, "I loved it." Jack rolled his eyes, Tommy turned around and faced Ranboo who was looking through the footage.

"Is it Good?" Ranboo nodded, "Yeah all you have to do is edit it!" Tommy cheered, following after the group as they headed to Jack's car. Wilbur sat in the passenger seat next to Jack while Ranboo and Tommy sat in the back. Tommy hummed as he went through the vlog, "Should we do an outro now?" Wilbur looked back, "Didn't we do an outro in the video?" Tommy nodded, "Yeah but-"

"Your so much more tame after videos I swear." Jack shook his head with a smile as Tommy rolled his eyes and kicked the seat a little. "Ay kick the seat and I'll drop you off at the side of the road-" "You couldn't or else Motherinnit would get upset- and you don't wanna upset her." "She'd understand."

Ranboo snickered as he looked out the window, before he pulled out his phone going to Tumblr as comfortable silence fell over the car. As his Tumblr opened a post caught his eye, "Whatever you do, Do not imagine being given raspberries from your ler."

Ranboo blinked confused before he realized he was on his tickle tumblr "RainbowTickles", once he realised Wilbur and Tommy were on their phones while Jack was vibing to some song on the radio. He stared at the post a bit longer before reblogging it, typing in-

"Definitely, Do not think of your Ler slowly giving raspberries to your death spot or teasing you about how cute your laughter is or-"

Before he could finish typing the car came to a stop, he lifted his head and looked around realizing they were at McDonald's. He looked at Jack and Jack shrugged, "I'm hungry" Tommy quickly butted in with "And I need to piss, Ranboo watch my phone Tubbo is supposed to message me about a video we plan on doing so just like, watch for notifications alright?"

Ranboo nodded while Jack and Tommy got out of the car, going into the building. Ranboo was gonna try and make small (awkward) talk with Wilbur before realizing he was also on his phone. Ranboo went back to his post and finished typing it and posted it, continuing to scroll through his tumblr for a few minutes.

Ranboo checked for notifications on Tommy's phone, realizing he had two. Tubbo did message him and the next was a Tumblr notification?-

"RainbowTickles has posted"

Ranboo froze for a minute, Oh. Well that was his blog. Tommy followed his blog. His tickle blog- that was fine. Okay. So Tommy was In the tickle community and followed his ler blog, which probably meant he was lee-

Ranboo only broke out of his thinking when he heard the door slam next to him, "I'm back!" Tommy grinned and sat back down, "Did you miss me?" Ranboo rolled his eyes and handed the phone back to Tommy, even just the sight of the boy with this new information made Ranboo grow a bit of a ler mood.

"Tubbo messaged you and uh you got a Tumblr notification." Tommy nodded and he turned his phone on, his face turning slightly red when he saw the notification, his mouth opening to speak before he was interrupted by Jack getting in the car holding four McDonald bags.

----

"Bro I love McDonalds-" Ranboo faked disgust as Tommy spoke with a mouthful of fries, "Tommy close your mouth I swear-" as Ranboo said this, he shoved fries in his own mouth.

Tommy rolled his eyes as he put even more fries in his mouth, they ate in silence besides a few comments as Tommy went through the vlog making sure to cut some of the footage that he did not want the poor editor dealing with.

Everyone had gone home, besides Ranboo who had opted to hang out with Tommy. almost forgetting about the Tumblr thing, almost. "So uh.. You have a Tumblr." Tommy had froze at that, "Um yeah." The awkwardness in the air would have killed a introverted person.

Tommy turned around, "You.. Don't know what that blog is right?" Ranboo snorted slightly at Tommy's face, as it seemed to be turning pink. "Well I do- because it's my blog..?" Tommy's eyes widened, his face turning a red that shouldn't be possible.

"Ohhh nooo-" Ranboo bursted into laughter, "Ranboo- how could you do this to me-" Ranboo stopped at that, "Me?! You are the one who's following me!" "Not on purpose!" Ranboo rolled his eyes, "Sure you accidentally went into the tickle tag, accidentally found my tickle blog, and then accidentally followed me?" Ranboo grinned and Tommy sputtered.

"Yes!." Tommy stubbornly stood up, crossing his arms over his chest as he turned away. Ranboo got up, slowly walking towards Tommy to make sure the floors didn't creak.

Tommy went to turn around before he felt hands latch onto his side's, delivering fast squeezes up and down causing Tommy to burst out into surprise laughter. "RANANANAN WHAT THE HEHEHELL-" "Oh I'm so sorry I'm accidentally tickling you!" Tommy fell to the floor to try and escape but the hands followed without any trouble.

Ranboo kept squeezing his hands up and down before Tommy's phone caught his attention, he hummed. "I wonder what posts of mine you like, Perhaps the posts about raspberries or maybe my posts about the tickle monster- do you like the tickle monster Toms?" Ranboo smiled evily and Tommy began to squirm.

"FUHUHUHUCK OHFHF!!" Ranboo frowned, "Well that's not nice." Ranboo changed his tactic from squeezing up and down to poking, Tommy's hands tried to grab onto Ranboo's hands to stop them but failed.

Ranboo kept poking Tommy's sides, this time Tommy's hand managed to grab Ranboos. Ranboo blew a raspberry on the back of Tommy's neck watching as Tommy giggled and scrunched his shoulders, letting go of Ranboo's hand.

Ranboo awed. "That was so cute!" "Shuhuhut uhphp!" "Hey, the tickle monster can say whatever he wants!" Ranboo grinned and Tommy laughed louder as Ranboos hands navigated to his stomach.

"RANANANAN NOHOHO-" Ranboo put his hands under Tommy's shirt as he started skittering his fingers on his tummy, Tommy broke into a shriek before loud laughter filled the air, Tommy squirming into Ranboo's chest as he kicked his legs.

"Tommy, your laughing but you still haven't answered my question! Raspberries or Tickle monster?" Tommy squirmed even harder, "I CHOHOHOOSE FUHUHUCK OHFHFHF-" Ranboo frowned, "That's not a choice."

He trailed his fingers back to Tommy's sides, "if you don't answer then... I'll have to make the decision for you!" Ranboo blew a raspberry on Tommy's neck and Tommy squealed, "and I think you know what I'm gonna choose!" Ranboo spoke in a teasy tone, blowing another raspberry.

Tommy squealed and shook his head, The raspberries spreading so much ticklish energy through his body- he doesn't think he could deal with it! "TIHIHICKLE MONSHSHSTER!" Ranboo paused for a second, "Great decision!"

Ranboo tugged Tommy's shirt down so his shoulder showed, "But it was a trick question! Tickle monsters need energy and y'know how they get It?.." Ranboo's tone was between teasy and predatory. Before Tommy could answer, (Or more likely tell him fuck off) he blew a raspberry. "They get it through raspberries!" "NOHOHOT FAHAHAIR!"

Ranboo placed a bunch of raspberries on the back of Tommy's neck, eventually pulling Tommy's shirt up so he could blow them between Tommy's shoulderblades.

"I think it's plenty fair! Considering how rude you were with avoiding my question- now sides or tummy?" Ranboo rested his hands on Tommy's sides. "TUHUHUMMY-" Tommy spoke quickly not wanting to risk Ranboo choosing- but he started to doubt his answer when Ranboo seemed to keep his hands on his sides.

"It was a trick question again, really you'd think you would learn!" Tommy could practically feel the grin radiating off of Ranboo, "Your so stUPUPUPID-"

Ranboo began to skitter his fingers against Tommy's sides, watching in awe as the boy's laughter raised an octave. He let out a small laugh, "How did I never figure out your sides were this ticklish?" Ranboo changed his technique from skittering to scratching at Tommy's sides.

"DIHIHICK!" Ranboo rolled his eyes before he started prodding and poking at the boys ribs, only earning small laughs from Tommy. Ranboo hummed, unsatisfied with the response.

He used his hands to dig into Tommy's armpits, Tommy shook his head his whole body shaking with laughter.

He eventually placed his hands back on Tommy's sides, quickly scribbling into them. Tommy arched his back as he screamed with laughter, "RANANANANA-" "Let's see.. Shoulders or neck?" "NEHEHECK!" Tommy hoped that this means he would go for shoulders, but then Ranboo blew a raspberry on his neck.

"RANANANA YOU BIHIHITCH!" Ranboo sighed dramatically, "I did what you said! You seemed to be so upset by the trick questions so I didn't do one this time! You should thank me."

Tommy only responded with laughter. Ranboo kept placing mini raspberries on the back of the boys neck, sometimes shaking his hair across the boy's neck to watch him shiver.

After a bit he moved his hands on Tommy's sides before he paused. "Red or Blue?" Tommy furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, "Blue?" "Call out blue when you want me to stop okay?" Tommy nodded.

Ranboo began to scribble up and down Tommy's sides quickly, blowing raspberries on his neck. Tommy seemed to freeze before bursting out into a mix of loud laughter and a few snorts. (He would never admit it though) His body stuck between kicking his legs and scrunching his shoulders, his hands flailing everywhere.

Ranboo prayed that Tommy's head wouldn't headbutt him in the nose, but with how much everything was going everywhere he wouldn't be suprised. He kept scribbling into the boy's sides at some point giving his knees a squeeze.

"BLUHUHUUH- BLUHUHUE!" Ranboo stopped completely, Lifting his hands off the boy as quick as he could. Tommy kept laughing for a bit after that, his hands wrapping around himself protectively.

Ranboo gently rubbed his back as Tommy giggled and took deep breaths, after a bit Tommy had calm down. "I hahahaate yohohou." Ranboo raised an eyebrow,

"Big talk for someone who likes the tickle monster." "I DO NOT LIKE THE TICKLE MONSTER-"

[jazzy-man13]

Halloween with the Maltos

Kinda late, but I had this silly goofy story to share- please excuse any mistakes, I'm trying to get this posted before Halloween is over lmao

It was the first day of October. The maltos were in the middle of a training session when Dottie called them in. "Kids! Come take a break, it's time for lunch!" Excitedly, they all ran to her, tripping over one another in the process.

"Ooh, what'd you make for lunch?" Mo asked. Looking at the dish on the table in front if her, she could clearly see pumpkin shaped cookies next to her empanadas. "I see you've noticed the cookies," Dottie chuckled. "Well, since it's getting close to Halloween, I picked up some small treats as a snack. You still have to eat your lunch first though."

Robbie gasped. "Halloween! I almost forgot about it. This is gonna be the terrans first time!" Twitch squealed excitedly. "Yippee! I can't wait for Halloween!" She paused. "Um... what exactly is Halloween anyways?" The other terrans looked at Robbie with curiosity. "Is this another one of your earth holidays?" Nightshade asked.

"Yep, Halloween is the best holiday!" Mo exclaimed. "You get to dress up and go trick or treating!" Hashtag looked at Mo. "What's trick or treating? Wait, don't answer that, I can look it up-" Giggling, she immediately started to search the web for information on it. "Ooh! I got it! Trick or treating is when you go to strangers houses and demand candy from them!"

"Well... you're not entirely wrong," Dottie said. "Trick or treating is when you wear a costume and go around your neighborhood to ask for candy by saying "trick or treat!". It's a fun tradition that we do once a year, on Halloween." She explained. "So... can we go trick or treating?" Thrash asked. Dottie smiled at him. "Of course, baby. We'll find a nice town that accepts transformers, get y'all some costumes, and we'll go have fun." At this, the terrans cheered in unison.

Alex walked over. "What's got you so excited?" He questioned, chuckling at the kids' enthusiasm. "WE'RE GONNA CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN!" Twitch shouted excitedly. "Oo-kay then! You do realize it isn't until the end of the month though, right?"

"You mean we have to wait the entire MONTH before we get to celebrate?!" Twitch hung her head in disappointment.

"We only have to wait that long to go trick or treating! Until then, we can still decorate our house, prepare costumes, and go to festivals, if there even are any around here." Robbie said the last part quietly.

Jawbreaker looked over at Alex. "What do we decorate with?" He asked curiously. Alex grinned. "I thought you'd never ask!"

A few days of chaos later, the Maltos home looked like something straight out of a horror movie. Well, not quite, but it was definitely close. Fake bodies laying around, graves, cobwebs (courtesy of Tarantulas), ghosts in the trees, and some cuter props, (like a black cat inflatable that Jawbreaker had wanted), were all around. Hashtag motioned for everyone to stand in front of the house and pose. While she was taking pictures, they were interrupted by the sound of an aircraft.

Transforming, Megatron looked around. "My goodness, you really went all out this year, ey Dorothy?" Dottie grinned. "Well... I can't take credit for all of this. I had some help from the kiddos, of course." She said. The rumble of a truck pulled them away from their conversation.

Optimus rolled up, transforming and peering at their house cautiously. "I've never seen you so... prepared for Halloween before." He commented with a grimace. "Yep, it's the terrans first Halloween! We had to get in the spirit, you know?" Alex said with a smile. "By the way, where's Bumblebee?"

"I'm here!" A voice from behind them called out. Looking over, they could clearly see Bee tangled up in some of the cobwebs that Tarantulas had made. "I'll get you out!" Alex laughed, running over to assist Bee. "Well. I'm sure the kids are loving this," Optimus said. "Anyways, I better be going now, primely duties and all." He said, backing away slowly.

"Nonsense! We just got here." Megatron said, grabbing Optimus's arm with a mischievous smirk. "Yeah, stick around!" Twitch said, flying over to see the commotion. Optimus sighed. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt..." Dottie grinned. "Someone isn't a fan of the spooky season." She whispered to Megatron. Megatron chuckled.

On Halloween, the Malto kids were unable to contain their excitement. Twitch was dressed as a tiger, Jawbreaker chose to stay as his dinosaur alt mode, Thrash was Frankenstein's monster, Hashtag was a detective, Mo was a dragon, Robbie was Ironman, and Nightshade chose not to dress up.

With an innocent smile, Twitch started tallking to Megatron. "Are you dressing up this year?" She asked. "No, I choose not to participate in such affairs." Megatron said, distracted from the looming figure behind him. "GOTCHA!"

With a yelp, Megatron was quickly covered by a white sheet. "What is the meaning of this?!" Megatron nearly yelled. Laughing, Optimus pulled out a mirror and showed Megatron. The white sheet had cutouts for his optics, and he presumed that he was meant to look like one of those "ghosts". "Dont blame me, the kids dragged me into this." Optimus said with a chuckle. Megatron turned around to see Optimus wearing a black robe with a scythe on his back. "They said I'm supposed to be the "grim reaper", whatever that means." Megatron sighed. This was no doubt going to be a long night.

"Who wants to go trick or treat?" Dottie called out. "ME!" Robbie, Mo, Twitch, Thrash, Hashtag, and Alex all shouted. "Alex, honey, you're the one taking them, remember?" Dottie said with a laugh.

"Oh yeah! Alright kiddos, you ready?" He was met with five cheers from the kids.

"Jawbreaker, Nightshade, do you two want to go as well?" Dottie asked. "Um.. no thanks mom, it's a bit too scary for my tastes..." Jawbreaker mumbled. "Agreed, I'd rather stay home this time around." Nightshade said. "Alright then! Alex, Elita, you two go ahead and take the kids into town. Megatron, Optimus, and I will stay here with Nightshade and JB." Dottie said, smiling. "Have fun! Stay safe!" Nightshade and JB called out as the others left.

With that, the rest of the night was spent telling scary stories around a fire, and the rest of the maltos came back with ridiculous amounts of candy. Dottie questioned the kids, and was met with a shrug. "Hashtag looked up the best places that were handing out candy," Thrash said. "Besides, we had to get some extra for our siblings!" Twitch explained excitedly. "I thought y'all don't eat candy?" Dottie commented, holding back her laughter.

"Oh... well, it's okay! Robbie and Mo can eat it!" Twitch said. "Yeah!" Mo squealed. "Nuh-uh, not in one night you won't. Save some for the next few days, alright? Don't want any of you getting sick off of candy now."

The kids ran to rejoin their siblings at the fire, begging Megatron and Optimus for more stories. There was no denying that this had been their best Halloween ever! Of course, it had been the terrans' only Halloween, but that's irrelevant. Laughter lasted throughout the night, only ceasing when Dottie and Alex finally wrangled the kids to go to bed.

It had been a wonderful night, even Optimus had fun. Nobody could wait for next Halloween.

[spgothkidsheadcanons]

How about Freeze your brain for JD!Michael. I always love your Heathers related posts 🖤

I feel like I have spent so long away from this blog. Because I have 🥴

I’m slowly coming back though, and why not come back with a good old Heathers request?

The timeline is before Bebe’s death, so just ignore the previous Heathers fics where she’s 🪦

I really need to put these in order of songs, but I’m lazy. Eventually I’ll get to it 🤣

Orange: Bebe

Green: Michael

Pink: Reader

~~~~~

Freeze Your Brain

Bebe had managed to convince you to go to yet another highschool party, and even though you wanted to stay home and do your weekend homework, you agreed to be dragged along by the cheer captain. You had just risen up the popularity ranks just by associating with the blonde, and with the taste of freedom you had from bullying and being completely ignored by everyone, it was getting harder and harder to convince yourself to stay home. The sudden attention was like a drug, and you just couldn’t help how good the feeling of being a someone was.

Bebe had picked you up from your house in her brand new, stark white Mercedes. She normally had Wendy and Heidi with her, but you noticed the duo weren’t anywhere to be found. Bebe only offered a very fake sounding greeting when you slid into her car, wasting no time in speeding off almost before you could even shut the door. The radio was blaring some Flo Milli song, one that you’ve heard Bebe play a thousand times before. The blonde swerved a little on the road, her eyes occupied by flicking up and down between the road and her phone, her left thumb hurriedly typing something as she dangerously multitasked.

“Ah, shit. Clyde wants something from the store. If I pull over, can you run inside?” Bebe asked, not even looking at you. Her tone didn’t sound inquisitive as much as it sounded like demanding, but you didn’t care to fight with her at the moment. “Sure.” you replied, looking out of your window. Coincidentally, there was a 7/11 just a little up the road, and Bebe almost slung you from your seat when she made a sharp turn to pull into the convenience store. “Okay, Clyde wants a root beer and a pack of condoms. Oh, and I want some corn nuts.” the blonde informed you, making no move to grab her wallet to hand you some cash. Why would she? You couldn’t count on one hand how many times you’ve ended up footing the bill for your popular friends.

Stepping out of the car, you pulled down the hem of the almost too short dress that you had on, making sure your behind was covered. “You should pull your tits up. Make your cleavage bigger. That creepy guy is working the register, maybe he’ll give you something for free.” Bebe offered, giving you a once over. “I’ll keep that in mind, thanks.” you huffed, adjusting your breasts to accentuate them a little more. Grabbing your wallet, you turned from the car, shutting the door and beginning your trek to the door. Reaching out to grab the handle, you stopped in your place, Bebe’s voicing alarming you. “(Y/N)!!! Don’t forget the corn nuts! It’s not a party without corn nuts!!!” she yelled, as if she wasn’t just a few feet away. “BQ or plain?” you asked, pulling the door open. “BQ!” she yelled back, disgusted by the fact you even had to ask.

You sighed, walking into the chilly store. Making a bee line to the chip isle, you grabbed Bebe’s precious barbecue corn nuts. Skimming the isles, you found the condoms, and grabbed a box, trying to hide them under the back of snacks in your hand. Walking to the fridges, you began your search for some root beer, happy to get the hell out of the store and finally to the party you so desperately just wanted to get to. As you closed the door and turned to your left, you were scared by the presence of that mysterious new guy you’ve been seeing at school. Placing your free hand on your chest, you blew out a sigh of relief, the tall male laughing at your reaction.

“Oh, I’m sorry. Did I frighten you?” Michael asked, a smirk pulling at his lips. Giving a glare, you readjusted everything in your hands, cocking your hip to the side as you stared up at him in mock anger. “No. I just wasn’t aware that a giant was going to be standing right next to me.” you said, playful tones on your words. “Giant? That’s a new one.” Michael chuckled, looking at your bounty. “Corn nuts, root beer, and condoms. Sounds like you’re in for a crazy night.” he commented, causing you to become flustered. “Oh, they’re not mine. I’m going to a party and just needed to grab some things.” you replied, looking anywhere but at the curly headed male.

“Going to a party with condoms still sounds like a crazy night.” he picked. Giving an aggravated sigh, you made a move to walk past him, stopping in your tracks when he stepped infront of you. “Hey, I’ve got to go. Bebe’s waiting on me in the car.” you said, eyebrows furrowing in agitation as you looked at him. “Oh, a threesome? I didn’t peg you for the type.” Michael quipped, chuckling at his own statement. “Well, at least it’s better than just creeping around at a damn convenience store.” you scoffed, rolling your eyes at his words. “It’s my palace.” he replied, shrugging his shoulders. Turning away from you, he made his way to the Icee machine. “Palace? What, like you live here?” you asked, following him.

You watched as he grabbed a cup and filled it up with the frozen blue liquid, putting a lid on it and grabbing a straw. “No. But it’s been the only source of comfort that I’ve indulged in for years. I come and get my icee, and I just feel like I’m home again.” he finally answered, taking a sip of his slushy. “What do you mean?” you asked, carefully leaning against the drink counter so as to not get anything sticky on your dress. Michael looked into your eyes for a moment, then scanned the interior of the 7/11 you were occupying.

I've been through ten high schools

They start to get blurry

No point planting roots

'Cause you're gone in a hurry

My dad keeps two suitcases packed in the den

So it's only a matter of when

You watched as he explained his story to you. Rumours had been circulating that Michael was a troubled kid, which is why he just showed up so suddenly. Of course, rumors managed to circulate about anybody. You cringed remembering when you had first moved to town and everyone kept asking you if it was true that you had to move because you were caught sleeping with one of your old teachers. Something about Michael made you think he wasn’t actually such a bad guy.

I don't learn the names

Don't bother with faces

All I can trust is this concrete oasis

Seems every time I'm about to despair

There's a 7-Eleven right there

He was kind of right. Moving around so often must be a disorienting thing. One minute, you’re settled in thinking that you would be dandy and live there for while. Then the next, you’re leaving behind a life that you had already prepared yourself for. It must be hard to have to up and move your whole life. Michael’s obsession with 7/11’s must be a kind of rock in his life, something that’s so similar despite his life not having been so steady.

Each store is the same

From Las Vegas to Boston

Linoleum aisles that I love to get lost in

I pray at my altar of slush

Yeah, I live for that sweet frozen rush

Slushies must be a staple for him was all you could thing. Kind of like a safety blanket. Whenever he was troubled, he would go get a slushie, and thinks would seem just right for a little bit. It may be a frozen drink, but it was just as comforting as a stuffed animal or a hoodie that just felt good. Michael sucked some more of the slush through the straw, his lips tinted blue from the staining of the syrup.

Freeze your brain

Suck on that straw

Get lost in the pain

Happiness comes

When everything numbs

Who needs cocaine?

Freeze your brain

Freeze your brain

He offered the cup out to you, the straw pointing in your direction. “Care for a hit?” he joked, shaking the cup slightly. You smirked at him, rolling your eyes. “Does your mommy know you eat all that crap?” you inquired, watching as his eyes softened, but the smile never left his face. “Not anymore.” he stated, setting his cup down.

When mom was alive

We lived halfway normal

But now it's just me and my dad

We're less formal

I learned to cook pasta

I learned to pay rent

Learned the world doesn't owe you a cent

You wanted to implode at your previous comment. How were you to know his mother had passed? You barely knew anything about Michael as it is, it was simply a mistake on your part. Feeling bad, you just continued listening to him, not knowing what to say. He didn’t seem to get along very well with his father. It was unfair he had to grow up so soon. He never got to experience a normal life, instead having to take care of himself. You were snapped out of your thoughts when he suddenly grabbed your hands, turning your full attention to him.

You're planning your future, (F/N) (L/N)

You'll go to some college and marry a lawyer

But the sky's gonna hurt when it falls

So you'd better start building some walls

Scoffing at his assumption that your life wouldn’t be smooth sailing, you wanted to just get your shit and get back to Bebe. Being annoyed was definitely better than having someone assume your future would go to shit. You worked extremely hard to get a full ride scholarship, so Michael can take that fact and shove it where the sun didn’t shine.

But he was right. Having a safety net was a given, especially since you wanted to go miles and miles away just to go to Harvard. Maybe you’d pick up going to a 7/11 like he does. It’s a cheap form of therapy, and the peace he seemed to get made him happier, gave him a twinkle in his eye you didn’t see before.

Freeze your brain

Swim in the ice

Get lost in the pain

Shut your eyes tight

'Til you vanish from sight

Let nothing remain

A part of you understood his negative outlook on life. Sometimes it throws punches left and right, and no matter how hard you try to defend yourself, you end up getting knocked flat on your ass. To him, you imagined the slush as a drug. Something that takes away the pain and suffering just for a moment. Something that makes you feel human again. A brain freeze is better than the headache that life gives you.

Freeze your brain

Shatter your skull

Fight pain with more pain

Forget who you are

Unburden your load

Forget in six weeks

You'll be back on the road

When the voice in your head

Says you're better off dead

Don't open a vein

Just freeze your brain

Freeze your brain

Go on and freeze your brain

Michael lifted his cup and he offered it to you once again, his eyebrow raised as he waited on your response.

Try it

You broke from your thoughts and smirked up at Michael, shaking your head. “I can’t. You seem like you need it more than me. Maybe next time.” you remarked, looking away from the hand that offered the blue slushy goodness. The taller man smiled and shrugged. “Next time? You already want to see me again?” he quipped, taking delight in the blush that crossed your face. You turned on your heel, finally trying to make your way to the cashier. “I said maybe. Although, you aren’t bad to look at.” you responded, walking away from the male. Placing your items on the counter, you pulled out your debit card, remembering Bebe’s tip about the cashier. You leaned your elbows on the counter, pushing your breasts a little closer together and effectively saving a few bucks when the cashier opted to not ring up Bebe’s corn nuts.

Paying for what you needed to, you stepped to the door, raising your hand to push it open. Looking back, you caught Michael’s eye once more, sending a wink in his direction as you left the building and headed back to Bebe’s car. “It took you fucking long enough!” the blonde griped, snatching her snack out of your hand. “Sorry, I was fixing my tits so I could get your nuts for free.” you replied, putting your seatbelt on. “It works, everytime.” Bebe replied, shoving a handful of the snack into her mouth. You stayed silent, your eyes still locked on Michael through the windshield of the car. As Bebe zoomed off, you couldn’t help but wonder when the next time you were going to run into him was.

[da-birb-writes-sometimes]

howdy ! i've never been matched up before and saw you were doing them so i'm curious to know who you'd match me with ^-^

i think i'm supposed to give a little description of myself first right ? Here i go

i'd say i'm a really stubborn person who doesn't care about others opinions and walk by my own rhythm but my anxiety has kept me from doing so and made me really shy and introverted , if i asked a friend to describe me they'd probably say anger issues (i've been getting better from them and that makes me really proud) and that i'm a people pleaser, i like helping others even when ik they wouldn't do the same for me ( don't put me in the same room as azul cus ik he'll scam me 😭) my hobbies consist of drawing and listening to music , i really like to try my hand at any type of arts and crafts but if I don't get if right the first time i'll probably give up on it 😅

okay so relationship wise i'm looking for someone extroverted who will make time for me and communicate with me , i'm tired of introverted boys who don't put any effort and don't communicate and just let me do all the work . i just want someone who i feel comfortable with , who ik i can joke with without walking on eggshells around them , someone who can be my bedt friend and lover , I mostly show affection through teasing and joking since i have a hard time talking about my feelings .

for the additional information: i'm an Aries sun , Leo moon , and Sagittarius rising and i'm an intp if that helps

sorry this ended up being way too long and clearly i talked as if i was at a therapy session but i hope you don't mind and find time to do my request,if not please just ignore this 😅

I AM HONOURED TO WRITE YOUR FIRST MATCH-UP! *shoots self-love at you* Oh, here he is!

Kalim Al-Asim

Before everything else, he’s your friend. There to support you in his optimistic, sunshiney, well, Kalim, way. Even before ~da romance~ he is very forward with his feelings and would casually say, “I love you!” But one day everything just came together and he realized that yes, he loves you, and not in a friend way!

Yeah, the two of you are both people-pleasers, but through some growth together, you can both put your foot down and assert yourselves! Kalim will be there to reassure you in anxious situations as well. But he likes seeing you walk to the rhythm of your own drum.

He would giggle and tease you back, albeit his teasing is very lighthearted. He takes the joking like a champ, and you need not to worry about walking on eggshells around him.

Kalim is an open book, he may be busy, but he’ll set aside time for you… or just ditch his duties :D Why would he want to discuss silk prices when he could hang out with his favourite person?!

Even though he would be super excited to see what you created in your sketchbook, he also respects your boundaries. He may ask, but he won’t push. He is your number one supporter though. You don’t like it? Well, Kalim thinks it’s lovely!

Speaking of art, if he so happens to overhear that you want some high end supplies, well, you are now set for life! Kalim would also make you some drawings, or add a post it note on your sketchbook. “This is STUNNING! But not as stunning as you! :D ”

Impromptu dance party! He likes listening to music with you, be it just sitting quietly and moving his head to the rhythm with you, or dancing about and laughing. He would also invite you along to Light Music Club if you ever wanted to see him perform. “This one is for you, my sweet bee!” *queue drum solo*

He would also be there, and be more serious if you wanted to tell him something; be it something small that was bugging you, or something heavy that was weighing you down. He may be cheerful, but he knows when something is on your mind.

"You know, I'm always here if you want to talk, sweet bee."

Hope you like your match-up, Melice! Also, it's an honour to write your first one!

Yes, he calls you his sweet bee; people may think you're "angry" but he just sees a sweet friend trying to live their life. Plus, he also took note that you like the lil fuzzy pollinators, so you are now Sweet Bee!

[bonesandthebees]

*cracks knuckles*

So royalty au. From the prequel we know that this is a story about Sam picking an heir and the whole inheritance that is going to get very complicated because he has no children thing. We know Niki and Quackity are options. (There might be more people, but shhhhhhh). Phil is Sam’s advisor and Wilbur is his son. Niki is Wilbur’s best friend. And from the snippet and other Bee-comments we know the tntduo will be tntduoing.

From the snippets we know there will be an announcement. This is assumed in Niki’s and probably confirmed in Quackity’s. (Also, this castle is a gossip house, as it should be.) the logical assumption would be that this is going to be Sam announcing who will be his heir. Though just doing it at dinner feels to informal, so maybe he’s just going to announce when he’s going to announce it. (Or he’s bringing in a completely different person as another possible or chosen heir, who knows there are OPTIONS.)

Anyway, some of my speculations in no particular order:

It is the heir announcement and Phil knows who it’s going to be but he’s not telling Wilbur because it’s going to be Niki and he doesn’t trust him to not tell her yet. (Rumours would spread very quickly if there is to be a big announcement and suddenly Niki is very cheerful.)

Same as above, but it’s NOT Niki. Same Wilbur cannot be trusted to keep this info from Niki. Or a potential, not wanting Wilbur to have to lie to Niki when he knows. (Same possibility for rumours spreading based on any change in Niki’s behaviour.)

It may or may not be the heir announcement, but it’s important and clearly Wilbur is getting pressed for info from all sides, so Phil might just not want him to spill in general rather than just to Niki in particular.

Phil is still planing to tell Wilbur about the announcement, he might have only heard about it from Sam after breakfast, or he wants limit the time between Wilbur knowing and it happening to avoid a leak. (I’d assume he’d want Wilbur to have a guarded reaction to the news, and knowing what he’s about to hear would make that a lot easier.)

Phil wants to see Wilbur’s raw reaction to the announcement to know his opinion (I’d assume he could just ask this, but you never know with the complicated Sandduo.)

It’s just any regular or normal announcement and the palace it’s getting turned upside down for nothing, which is why Wilbur wasn’t told (unlikely because it’s the first chapter so something needs to be set up).

And lastly: surprise heir, because I have no idea where Tommy is going to come in and I would not be surprised to have him suddenly thrown in as heir out of nowhere which would force Wilbur to work with/befriend him which Niki could see as a betrayal. (Also, many options to make people hate Tommy’s guts.)

Personally I don’t know who I’d like to be the heir, but if it is the heir announcement then I’m very excited to find out why Phil didn’t tell Wilbur as well as seeing the fallout between all the other characters. I mainly want to see what would happen to rainduo’s dynamic depending on who gets pick because both sides of the coin will be fun.

-🌲

god I love seeing your analysis for this already

oh the castle is SUCH a gossip house because what else did nobles living in the palace with the royals have to do back then. word spreads so fast if you're not careful

like I said before I can't respond to most of this, but just so you know spruce I am eyeing some of these so closely. it's so fun to see your thoughts already.

guess you'll have to wait for the first chapter to find out what the announcement is :)

(tysm for this spruce it's just making me even more excited to eventually post this)

[aliensunflower-fics]

How to Exploit Kindness [A New Kind of Lila Salt Prompt]

[ Ive seen Lila and Class salt that goes a lot of different ways. In some Lilas a sad lonely girl who will do anything for friends and the class fall for her lies through a mixture of manipulation and Lila’s genuine sad lonely but real persona. In others Lila is insane and the class get basically sucked into her cult. And in others still, Lila slowly breaks the class down by preying on there insecurities, hidden jealousies ect. There are the versions where Lila just bribes the class with connections and the versions where Lila frames Marinette until no one believes her. But I wanted to write a new idea for people to use, one that I feel is a bit more realistic. One where Marinette’s classmates are more their more authentic kind selves but still get slowly pulled into Lila’s web and where Lila is just a bit more intelligent. ]

[ As usual with all my prompts feel free to borrow the idea to write for your own thing salt, sugar, cuteness angst ect just be sure to credit me for the idea so I can read it. ]

Lila was furious! This wasn’t how it was supposed to go! She was supposed to be everyone's friend! She was supposed to finally get a cute perfect boyfriend who would cherish her like she deserved! She was supposed to be HAPPY! But no, the pathetic beetle Ladybug and that goody two shoes Marinette kept ruining everything!

No… No that wasn’t quite true. As much as she wanted to blame her problems on those two it wasn’t entirely their faults. Honestly Lila wasn’t quite sure what had happened. Her lies had been working at first, they had gotten her praise and compliments and adoration and friendship! But now? Now they were all ignoring her, unimpressed by her celeb lies! She could not understand it! At first she’d been sure it was Marinette or Ladybug maybe even Adrien had turned on her! But when she’d probed for information she’d learned that none of them had blown the whistle. So what was it! Tomorrow… Tomorrow she will find out one way or another. She needed to get them back under her thumb somehow.

 It was Chloe who gave Lila her answers. Chloe was the reason none of her classmates cared about her stories! Chloe was the idiot mayor's brat. And what a brat she was constantly wiggling her way into her mothers fashion shoots or had celebrities over at the hotel. Of course Lila’s classmates didn’t care about Lila’s celebrity connections because Chloe was always name dropping just as many people as herself. The only difference was Lila used fake modesty and shyness that made her ‘friends’ view her lies in less of a gloating light than Chloe’s haughty claims of celebrity meetings.

It was a damn shame, celebrity lies were her bread and butter, they were exciting got people to think you were important and they were hard to prove or disprove allowing Lila to easily get around the messy little detail of ‘proof’ if someone asked for pictures all she could say was that her mom didn't let her take any because she didn't want her precious daughter being targeted by crazy fans. And if someone asked her to use her celebrity connections? Well she could just turn on the water works and cry about them just being her friend for her connections. Thus her prey would be forced to be her ‘friend’ , always listening to her and doing things for her, unable to ask for anything in return. Then when her mother announced their next move Lila would tearfully say goodbye and leave all her suckers behind. But without the sway of her celebrity lies her system broke down. That was the problem with picking the school full of rich talented idiots she supposed.

Well with Chloe ruining her system she’d need a new one. Scrolling through her classmates' social media for a clue she sneered at their overly cheerful and cutesy posts. Always encouraging one another and posting encouraging puff pieces about this or that. Always acting like they were so nice. As Lila scrolled over a charity fundraiser event that Alya had retweeted from Milene a sudden thought crossed her mind. Her classmates were very ‘nice’ and annoyingly so. They were always butting into each other's business, always being SO concerned, always organizing events to help each other and appreciate each other and going to charity events.

In fact now that she thought about it the stories that had intrigued her ‘friends’ always had some sort of charity garbage attached. Saving Jagged’s kitten or raising money for some cause or other that always got her heaps of praise. Sure saying Clara whatshername stole her dance moves got attention but not in the same way saying she raised money for some green project. Was it really that simple? Sure her classmates all loved Marinette for her extreme generosity and kindness but was it REALLY that simple? She needed to check.

 It was actually that easy. One simple little lie about how she pulled a blind old man out of danger when he was nearly run over and suddenly the class was bathing her in praise. And the ‘fact’ that the whole very real thing made her miss first period and sprain her ankle? Well that was just the cherry on top. Suddenly Max was offering her a copy of his notes and everyone was back to caring for her like she was a princess. The fact that Marinette looked like she was seething only for sweet naive Adrien to keep her mouth shut was just so perfect. She’d found her golden ticket. Her classmates were truly ‘good kind people’ and nothing could be exploited quite like kindness.

With this knowledge Lila would easily be able to destroy Marinette, sure she wouldn’t be able to do it quickly but slowly she would replace her, with every good deed she made up with every act of false modesty she would build a reputation greater than Marinette’s she would replace her and become there new ‘everyday ladybug’ and the best part was she wouldn’t have to say ANYTHING against Marinette. Not. A. Thing. No sweet righteous Marinette would eventually snap, sadly for her it would probably be too late with how much control Adrien had over her, so when it happened Marinette would look like the jealous crazy girl going after the girl that was kinder, sweeter, and better than herself. As for Adrien… Well she had a hard time believing it at first but he really was an idiot with a pretty face as long as she was careful as she built her new reputation he would genuinely believe that she was changing for the better and then he'd fall for her.

The best part was, her classmates were genuine. As she built her new good girl heart of gold persona they would genuinely come to love her, all the loyalty Marinette got to enjoy all the perks of being friends with such talented, kind, sweet people would become hers. Slowly no matter how Marinette struggled she would lose, eventually she’d have nothing left. Of course she’d need to be careful with her lies but that was easy. Bring the class to a charity here and there and tell them that she was the one who gave the idea for the charity to the actual organizer but didn't want any credit because she was just that kind and humble. If they tried to make her do actual work then she’d have a sudden accident that would require she sit down.

And then once she’d done more photoshoots with Adrien for Gabriel she’d ‘convince’ the man that a charity would make him look good and boost sales. She’d MAKE her lies true all while winning over her future father in law, and heck maybe she’d even pocket a little of the money, she could use a better wardrobe and the extra would be perfect to buy her ‘friends’ the occasional ice cream or presents. In between that she’d just lie about saving people or volunteering on weekends. Maybe even let it ‘slip’ how she was a temp hero for Ladybug . One of the sweetest parts was that between volunteering with Lila, there own activities and hanging out with Lila so she could ‘thank them for their hard work’ no one would be spending a second hanging out with sweet pink little Marinette, they'd abandon her without even realizing it because they’d be SO busy. Sadly this plan of hers would take a little more work then her others, but it would be worth it to become the queen bee of the class- NO the school! And when Marinette eventually slipped up and looked like the biggest jealous bully in the school. Well she’d have no choice but to leave the school with her tail in between her legs.

Victory was looking sweet and satisfying.

 [ And where it goes from here is up to you. Lila can win, she can slowly convince the class and school that she's a model citizen and an everyday hero. She can sneakily maneuver the class to not spend time with Marinette slowly separating the girl from her friends. In this way Alya and the rest of them don't become evil salty versions of themselves who overnight hate Marinette and love Lila, but rather they are good naive people who got slowly separated and tricked by someone who wants to use their genuine talents and skills to make herself look better. Adrien who is already shown to be naive and wants to believe the best in people, can fall into Lila’s trap and become genuinely convinced that his high road method really worked and ‘reformed’ Lila into a better person. OR Lila can fail, she can claim to be the wrong temporary hero for ladybug, or she can pick the wrong charity to lie about, or get exposed any number of ways and the class can realize with horror that because they are kind but flawed people who are perhaps too trusting and gullible that they got pulled away from Marinette through subtle manipulation and so they can be redeemed because instead of turning into outright bullies they stayed the same kind people they always were but just got genuinely tricked which is something that can actually happen in real life. You can go heavy salt where Marinette does eventually leave the school or class heartbroken that her kind friends have fallen prey to a bad person Marinette cant find a way to expose. Or you can go clever salt where Marinette figures out Lila’s plan and fights her from the inside slowly exposing the cracks in her facade. Or you can go sugar and redemption where maybe just maybe Lila actually LIKES being nice to people and having real friends who dont care about her fake celeb connections, maybe she honestly redeems herself and even makes amends with Marinette. You can do genuinely anything with this idea and I hope to see this generate some new less *and suddenly everyone is evil* content for those that like salt and angst. ]

[nina-vonnegut]

Talking to my bff about mayans/soa and it got me thinking about Gemma.

Before all of this gets away from me I want to say that this isn't me even entertaining the idea of intention on Kurt Sutters or anyone else's mind. This also isn't me turning the narrative around and making soa out to be some feminism show. It's not. It's really not. It's a macho sausage fest. But this post goes out to the girlies.

So. Gemma. Queen Bee. HBIC. She is the soa enforcer when it comes to women in the show and around the club. She calls women sluts, whores, etc. and far worse stuff. Sometimes her dialog could be spoken by a dude on the show and I wouldn't even blink, esp. when it comes to degrading women.

And by all accounts she won that way. She is the ultimate old lady, highest ranking woman present at all times, even when she is not the wife of the clubs prez. She is playing the patriachys game, she is one of the boys; she is winning. People either hate her for behaving like that/or judge her far harsher than the dudes or are in love with her; kinda affirm her actions and try to immitate her cause they are "bad bitches" too.

Screw intention on Sutters part but is she winning? Truly? She is the one woman who suffers the most gendered crimes, most often on the show. And she is the one woman who would be a good addition at the clubs table cause she cares about the club and isn't afraid to kill people over it. And still never gets to be one of the brothers.

Gemma is someone who "gets the life" and protects it, for that she is rewarded. But rewarded as a woman. She is still "just" an old lady even if the is thee old lady. And she gets punished as a woman when she missteps. Just like the other not old ladies, the ones she looks down on.

Even before Clay/Gemma conflict on screen she tells Tara that it's not the first beating/smack that she took. It's implied that either John and/or Clay hit her. While Tara is shocked, Gemma is more "that's the life" about it. Both her husband's cheat/ed on her regularly, and while it happens on runs, she is supposed to be fine with it. And pushes that narrative. The conflict only arises cause the girl shows up. Gemma is raped and beaten when the club has enemies and is instructed to deliver a message. She is later beaten by her husband on screen, when she tries to argue with him earlier that the club doesn't do drugs he grabs her by the throat and tells her that she doesn't tell him what the club does. Conveniently forgetting that he uses her as a battering ram to tell everyone else what the club does and quiet liked her cheer-speeches in the earlier seasons. As long as she is "in line" she apparently can tell what the club does/stands for.

Later her son pimps her out, literally, to that husband who beat her viciously, her son knows this, cause he needs information from him and she is supposed to honey trap him into sharing. Much later, after she admittedly kills his wife, that same son shoots her from behind and kills her. She is shown to give him permission cause that's "who they are". She is the most driving force behind the "outlaw life" in the show. Should have patched her in and given her an outlet for all the ideas.

And as much as she is the hbic she gets sex crimed every season at least once! As much as she plays the game and shits on other women she gets punished just like them. Let that sink in for a sec before you break your neck posting "Gemma was right etc." and immitate her too much by "putting bitches in their place". Remember how Gemma was put in her place by the dudes whose rules she followed to a T.

Tara, most behatedest, who hated the life/style and the club and even at her most "gemmafication" didn't enforce the boys club rules as much, doesn't get "put in her place" the same way. She doesn't stand for and accept some default behaviors. Again, the show isn't feminist tm and Tara does her fair share of fighting women too, but she does punish and hold Jax responsible for misstepping, cheating as much. She isn't beaten by a man ever, she isn't raped, she isn't pimped. Her most horrific physical injury/handicap/illness is completely "sexless". In fact she pretends to have a miscarriage and blames it on Gemma and because Gemma behaves the way she does Jax believes she caused it.

So while I think hating Gemma is understandable, she did *all this*, one cannot ignore that she also got "got" every season. And while I think it's cool that Gemma brought confidence and a certain attitude to women and their self perception I don't think one should ignore how her hating other women and playing by the boys rules, enforcing them on other women, didn't help much in the end when it came to domestic violence and such.

[little-butterfly-writes]

Domestic fluff when Lucien and and Mc has a daughter

His Little Princess

Here is some Lucien fluff. It made me really happy to write it and I can say this is my favorite so far among all of my works. I went a little overboard ^^' Sorry, I just got happy and carried away. Yes, Im going immediately to bed after posting this.

Word Count - 1,028

Warnings - Very small and brief mentions of pregnancy and having another child

A/N - Daughter is named Raine

I tip the watering can slowly, hydrating the house plants. I feel a tiny pair of arms wrap around me from behind. "Mommy! Mommy, Daddy said we're going to head to the library soon!" She cheers. I chuckle, placing the watering can down and picking her up. "Is little Raine happy to get some new books?" I say, booping her nose.

Raine giggles, scrunching her tiny nose up. She has Lucien's lavender eyes and my nose. Long black hair and an adorable smile. She's five, growing up fast. I nuzzle my nose with hers, giggling with her. 

Lucien walks in and chuckles. "What is my wife giggling about?" He teases. It's hard to believe we've been married for nearly six years now. My pregnancy with Raine happened within our first year together. 

"Just how cute our little girl is." I say, listening to her squeal as I blow a raspberry on her cheek. Lucien kisses me and our daughter's forehead. "Are my ladies ready to go?" He asks. I nod, putting Raine down. "Raine, go get the books you got last time so we can return them."

Raine scampers off quickly, going to her room to find the books. Lucien rests a hand on my head. I lean in and hug him. "I think she's excited." I whisper. He tucks my head under his chin. "She takes after her mother. So cute, especially when she's happy." He whispers back, just as softly.

Raine comes downstairs, six different books in her hand. We pile into the car and drive to the library. It's the same library Lucien took me to, the one made mainly with glass windows. 

We get there quickly, dropping off the books at the front desk and going over to the children's section. Raine is already reading at a first grade level. Her father tutors her for an hour every weekend. Lucien wants her to be intelligent and aware. Raine, being his child, is eager to soak up every bit of information she can. I wouldn't change a thing. 

We stroll through the aisle, Lucien holding her right hand as I hold her left. We usually stop whenever she sees a topic that interests her. I always find it cute how Raine makes a beeline to non-fiction sections. 

Raine stops suddenly, looking up at the section marked as royalty. "Daddy, can we look here?" She asks softly. "Of course we can, sweetheart." He says as he releases her hand. I do the same and let her search for a good book. 

Lucien wraps an arm around my waist, leaning down to my ear. I tilt my head up, whispering gently, "She's just like a bee in a sea of flowers. It's just so cute." Lucien nods, "I have to agree with you on that."

Raine looks for a few more minutes before settling with four books of her selection. I usually let her get a book for bedtime. She is still a child after all. "Mommy, did you want to look for something?" She rocks on her feet with a big grin on her face. "I don't need anything this time. Lucien, do you need to look for something?"

He nods. "I wanted to check if they had a certain book. How about you two go search for some bedtime stories. I'll go to the front desk and ask if they have it." I nod in agreement. "How about we meet back at the entrance after?" Lucien nods, watching as Raine holds onto my hand. He kisses my forehead for a second longer than normal and heads off to the front.

Flustered, I walk with Raine to the fiction section. I look as she looks around with curiosity in her eyes. It takes a minute, but she comes back to my side with  fairytale and fantasy stories. I take the six books from her small arm and hold her other hand.

We checkout, walking to the front and seeing Lucien. "Did you find it, dear?" I ask. "Yes, they had it. I already checked out. Did you find everything you need?" Lucien says as he takes Raine's other hand. "Yes! I can't wait for you and Mommy to read to me tonight!" She squeezes our hands.

We drive back home. Lucien and I start on dinner as Raine reads her book at the dinner table.

Later that night when Raine is all settled in bed, stomach full and ready to sleep, Lucien and I sit on either side of her. I hold the book up so that all of us can see. "And so, they lived happily ever after." I conclude, closing the book and placing it on her nightstand. She shuffles a bit in the blankets, looking up at us. "Hey Mommy?" She mumbles. "Yes, sweetheart?" I run my fingers through her hair. "Is Daddy your prince?" I chuckle, kissing her forehead. "Yes, Daddy is my prince and I love him very much."

Raine looks at Lucien now, eyes drooping. "Daddy, is Mommy your princess?" She says before a yawn. "Mommy was my princess." He says, pulling the blanket up. "Was?" Raine tilts her head. "Yes. When I married your Mommy, she became my queen and I became her king. We had you, and now you're our little princess." Lucien explains, kissing the back of her tiny hand.

Raine smiles, resting her eyes. "Goodnight, Raine. I love you." I say as I get up. "Sleep well, my little princess. I love you." Lucien coos. 

We leave her room, retiring to our room. After getting ready for bed, Lucien and I cuddle under the sheets. "What book did you get, Lulu?" I ask, rubbing my thumb on the back of his hand. "Ah, it was a pregnancy book."

I look at him, confused. "Are you doing research?" He shakes his head no. "I think we should have another child, y/n." Lucien says, smooth like butter. I blush, snuggling up to him. "I think we should too. My king." I move my hand to caress his cheek. "Thank you for being in my life, and for giving me such a wonderful little girl. I love you."

[oblivionhold]

This is a more of a rant than anything, and it's kind of similar to my last couple of posts, but I do want to talk about just more than Optigami:

My biggest problem with the show is the inconsistency, and the reason the show is so inconsistent is because it never explains anything unless it has to.

Easy early example, Rogercop happens because Plagg gets stuck in a bracelet. But kwamis, including Plagg, can phase through solid matter, as soon in Volpina and Sandboy. This could have easily been explained away. Maybe the bracelet is enchanted, or maybe Plagg was just trying to screw with Chloe, or cheer Adrien up. All you need is a line or two where Plagg explains his motivations and everything makes sense, but it just doesn't happen. Obviously, this is just a minor example that doesn't really matter in the long run, but the show does it with more important things too.

In the New York Special, most of the Ladynoir conflict is based around Chat not telling Ladybug he was going to leave. Ladybug felt the need to inform Chat she was going out of the city and clearly expected him to do the same, so she was incredibly upset when he showed up in New York without informing her, resulting in an argument. In the Shanghai special, however, Adrien is already in Shanghai without telling Ladybug, and Marinette doesn't feel the need to tell Chat that she's leaving the country this time. When they meet in Shanghai, they're both shocked that the other one is here, but neither is angry, and they both just make up an excuse and move on. There are plenty of explanations for the difference in reaction (Ladybug becoming the guardian made her stricter, for example) but none of them are really given. Of course, it doesn't help that most of the explanations are based around the idea that New York happens after Shanghai even though you'd have little reason to think that based on the specials themselves and you'd have to go off of Twitter, but this show's inability to release things in chronological order is a different problem.

The biggest example is, of course, my pet Bad Plotline, 'Part Time Hero Secret Identity Shenanigans'. Ladybug gives a miraculous to Chloe twice, even after she revealed her identity and hijacked a train to play hero. Then, in season 3, suddenly Chloe is benched because of her identity being revealed, even though that was just as much of a problem in Malediktator and Heroes Day. Kagami also reveals her identity (I'd think publicly, given she shouted in in the middle of a public location, but they never explain if everyone knows she's Ryuko or just Hawkmoth does) which means she can't be a hero again either, and Marinette uses the 'fact' that she's Multimouse as an excuse for her not using that identity again. Then Marinette picks Kagami to get a miraculous again for reasons that I figured were pretty clear but still gets argued about, meaning Chloe becomes Miracle Queen and reveals the identity of every part-time hero but Bunnyx. This means, by the very logic that caused Marinette to reject Chloe in the first place, that Ladybug would have to build an entirely new team from scratch...but they don't do that, and Marinette gives, at least, Max, Nino, Alya, and Kagami their miraculouses again, while still acting like the reason Chloe isn't Queen Bee anymore is still because she revealed her identity and not because she worked with Hawkmoth or almost derailed a train full of passengers.

Again, there are plenty of explanations for everything here. Maybe Ladybug didn't think Chloe's identity being public was a problem until Hawkmoth used her family to attack her in the season finale. Like I said, I figured the fact that Marinette picked Kagami to get her away from Adrien was pretty obvious, but given a fair few people think she picked Kagami because she liked Kagami more, an explanation for that would be good too, and it's also a good idea to explain if Chloe knows Kagami revealed her identity to Hawkmoth or not Maybe part time heroes not being able to reveal their identity was Fu's rule, and now that Marinette's the guardian, she doesn't have to follow the old rules, like Furious Fu said. And maybe all of this a lie and Marinette just hates Chloe and doesn't want her to have a miraculous again. But the fact that none of this is explained in the show really makes it look like the writers just don't think it's that important, and the show looks incredibly inconsistent.

[renee-writer]

Cousins Chapter 48

AO3

They are a grim group, as they spread out about the estate. Still traveling in twos, for safety, Jamie is with Willie. “I would like to hang him up by his cock and cover him with honey. Let the bees and ants, see to him, slowly.” Willie says, his face set in grim lines as he grips his rifle.

“A grand thought but, to much of a waste of honey. Besides, we must make it quick, for the bairn’s sake.”

He nods carefully moving a branch out of the way, as they tread around it. “Aye. Will ye, ye and Lady Fraser, keep him?”

“We haven’t much choice. The lad, he is firmly attached to Claire. Not, that we wouldn’t anyway. He needs a home. His parents are here. He will be also.”

“I wonder why they were here? Being from France, and all?”

“I wonder the same.” They stop, to listen. General ruffling, animals or the others moving about. No single person though. “I wonder if they were seeking sanctuary. We may never know but, Fergus Claudel, has found it here.”

“Fergus?”

“Aye, he needs a Scottish name to blend in better. You don’t agree?”

“No, I do. It fits him, is what I was thinking.”

They move farther into the woods. He might have moved on but neither man believe so. No, the monster has business here, business that isn’t finished. He seeks revenge on Laoghaire, on Willie. Well, Willie thinks, let him come on then. He is ready for him.

“That.” It is the barest whistle. Willie nods. He hears it too. One person, no matter how stealth they try to be, is going to sound different then those moving in pairs. The two men move cautiously, towards the sound of it.

His back is turned to them. He seems to be pissing. Jamie nods and they each move to one of his sides. Their hands are on them before he knows they’re there. “What is this?” At seeing Willie, he scowls, “The bastard that took my manhood. What do you want now?”

“Your life. Something I should have already taken. It would have spared the bairn pain.”

The creature grins. “I spared him what I did to his parents. Though,” a bloody chuckle, “seeing it done isn’t so good for him either, I imagine.”

Willie tightens his hand over his arm. “No Willie. I the presence of witnesses.”

“Aye, my Laird. Just honor me by letting me take it’s life?”

“Aye.” He whistles, a bird tone that calls the search parties back.

They are soon gathered in the back field. The lasses had been informed of the capture and the punishment that awaits. He is tied to a post. Willie circles him. The other lads circle them both with Jamie standing in front of his prisoner.

“I could just shoot you but, that would be to quick. My original idea is to long.” He smiles as it hits him. “I know, you will die this day but, not as a man.” He smiles as he loops off the rest of his manhood. The bloke screams like the girl he now is. The men cheer. Jamie nods with a smile. He had done well. This time, there will be no medical intervention. They stand and watch, as grim as death, as his blood pools on the ground between his legs, until he falls limp.

“Murtagh, take him deep in the woods and hang him in a tree. No reason to not feed the wildlife. He won’t be buried on my land. Throw his cock to the white swine.”

It is done. The blood is the only thing they bury, turning it under the dirt.

[melloian]

Character Bio 3

Chloé Bourgeois

Age: 14

Gender: F

Race: French

Species: Human

Alignment: Neutral 

Status: Alive

Relatives: Andre (father), Audrey (mother) 

Occupation: Student (Françoise Dupont Lycée) and Superhero

Love interest: Adrien, Felix (small crush)

Friends: Sabrina, Marinette, Oriane, Adrien, Honey dew-dripsu, Alya (later on), Valery (later on)

Enemies: Lila, Hawk moth, marayua, Pretty much every villain, Aurorae, Marinette (formerly)

Before Personality: Selfish, Rude, forgetful, Bossy, impatient, Complaintive, Moralistic, insensitive, extrovert

After Personality: Emotional, compassionate, semi-forgetful, patient, Considerate, determined, extrovert

Bio: Chloe is a teenage girl who attends at  Françoise Dupont Lycée. She intends to bully people and treat Sabrina as a slave. She usually judge people on how they look and she always want everything to be in perfect quality. If things don’t go her way, she usually call her father. However, deep down she wants friends and can’t express her true feelings. Later on, she pretty much changed her ways, hoping she gets more friends later. At the same time, she now a hero, whose known as queen bee.

Backstory/Childhood: When Chloe was born, her mother didn’t want much for her. As Chloe grew older, her parents usually neglect her. When she often cry, her father just gives her what she wants, which spoiled her. When she turned 9, she drew a picture of her mom and gave it her to her. Her mother didn’t care for the picture and thought it was just trash so she crumpled up her paper, and then throw it in the trash. This upsets her and caused to cry on her father. However, the father did nothing about it. Her mother yelled at her crying which caused her to stop crying. When she was 12, Chloe wanted love from both her parents, so she decided to copy off her mother and try to impress her. But her mother could care less what she does. Her mother also wanted her to act in a certain emotion for her modelling fame. She only followed because she just wanted to be loved.

As Queen Bee (Queen Form)

Altered personality: Determined, skeptical,  compassionate, patient, Appreciative

Flight

Fast

Low Durability

Flexibility

Bee Swarm - Summon unlimited amount of bee at a opponent 

Honey Gaze - shoots honey like lasers sometimes traps the target.

Honey Dip - Summon honey from floor

Assistance - Summon bigger bee servants which can do more then a normal one. Can only have 4.

Pollenate - Summon pollen like mist

Nectar creation - create anything out of nectar. (cannot make technology like stuff or things that can move)

Nectar Ball - Trap targets inside a ball. 

Zoned -  De-akumanize a person and prevent them from being akumantized for an current time

Nectaur-ize -  clean all the damage and reserve the effects

Fighter - switches to warrior form

Main Ability

Nectuary - Summon a medium sized honey hive and use it an bomb

Weapon: HoneyComb wand

As Queen Bee (Queen Warrior Form)

High Durability

She cannot use her queen form abilities during this form.

Slina - Sends a green pollen which makes the opponent hallucinate or fall asleep.’

Zoned -  De-akumanize a person and prevent them from being akumantized for an current time

Nectaur-ize -  clean all the damage and reserve the effects

Rulership -  switches to queen form

Main Ability

Venom - summon a stinger on hand and poison the opponent. can be used for destroying things as well

Weapon: Stinger Sword

As Rosa-Bell

(its a post to be a horse but i left out the ears since it didn’t fit right)

Altered personality: determined, confident, clever, cheerful, Steady

Very Fast

High Durability

Flexibility

High Jump

High Strength

Kick-so: Summons invisibles kicks to the opponent

Steamin’ rope - creates a infinite long rope that can used to catch opponent. It can also be heaten up

HorseHeel - Creates molten like horseshoes boomerangs. 

Jack Luck - When call upon, this either give the user bad luck (if failed) or good luck. 

Burin’: Makes the user’s shoes hot making things burn under them (if under weak material) 

Carri - Put an item inside a infinite pocket storage

Saddle down - De-akumanize a person and prevent them from being akumantized for an current time.

Backin’ -  clean all the damage and reserve the effects

Main ability

TimeDash - Make the user go extremely fast to the point it stops time under 40 seconds.

Weapon: revolver & horseshoe (boomerang)

As Nereid 

Altered personality: Mischief, emotional, deceptive, patient, Venturesome

Very Fast

Med Durability

Flexibility

Song of Beauty - Sings a song which lures your opponent 

Song of Brain - Sings a song that controls a living thing.

Song of dreams - Sings a song that causes a person to fall asleep

Songs of drizzly - same like dreams expect the person hallucinate instead 

Weathery - changes the current weather or season

Song of friendship - sings a song that causes sea animals to come and serve the person

Water tunnel - summon a water portal that sends the person to an ocean area.

can change to have mermaid tail

Terrifor - turns the user into a fish-like beast 

Song of distress - sings a song that gives a opponent a curse 

Whale Hollow - De-akumanize a person and prevent them from being akumantized for an current time.

Sparkling water -  clean all the damage and reserve the effects

Main ability

Raging Waters - Summon a huge hurricane or flood towards the opponent, but it will cause damage around the city 

Weapon: Conch & Trident (when on water)

Rallyram (akumantized form)

Altered personality: aggressive, abrasive, selfish, rude, confident, tough, unfair

Cause of akumantization: Marinette stood up for herself which causes her to become very angry 

Goal: To fight marinette

akumantized object: pencil

Fast

High Strength

Can break hard material

Skilled fighter

Carries a Rope

Able to boost up there horns (turning them blue) and run faster

ShardedOrbs (akumantized form)

Altered personality: emotionless and have no personality..

Cause of akumantization: Her mother calling her a statue and made her act like statue to humiliate her

goal: ruin her mother’s modelling job.

akumantized object: necklace

Fast

Summons Shards

Can turn some one into a crystal statue

Can drill holes

Teleportation (but it contains energy)

Lasers 

Relationships (Main ones)

Chloe & Marinette 

Chloe and Marinette were enemies. Chloe usually come and bully Marinette. She even judged her skills and talent. She didn’t really cared how she felt. Later on, Chloe decided to treat Marinette better. She also apologize to what she have done. She was more then happy when Marinette accepted her apology.

Chloe is a big fan of ladybug. She pretty much see her as idol.

Chloe & Adrien

Chloe and Adrien met since highschool. They basically are friends. Chloe had soon developed a crush for Adrien. She will try to give him stuff and do things what he asked for. Later she acts less aggressively towards him.

Chloe is fan of chat noir.

Chloe & Sabrina

Chloe and Sabrina met in highschool. Sabrina basically follows chloe everywhere and copy her personality. Chloe pretty much treats her like a slave. She uses her to do certain things for, even when she’s tired. Later on, chloe started to treat Sabrina more of a friend then slave.

Chloe & Lila

Chloe met lila when Lila was trying to ruin Marinette's reputation. Chloe wanted to stop lila completely, which caused a fight. Even since, Lila and Chloe despise each other.

Chloe & Honey-dewdripsu

Chloe and Honey-Dewdripsu usually get along very well. Honey usually help with Chloe's emotions and other. They usually gossip.

Full Body

As an Kid

Other information

She was a huge fan of beautstuna

She wanted to be a model, but she doesn’t really like the job

She doesn’t really celebrate her birthday, neither mentions it

She owns her own private jet, which was brought by her father

Due to neglection, she only rely on her maids and butlers.

She wonders how it feels like to not be in a rich family 

sorry for rushed art, i was getting tired..

[the1918]

2020 for the1918

Am I the last person to make this list? Maybe. Do I regret that? Yes. Am I making it anyways because my cognitive behavioral therapy is teaching me fix my avoidance issues? Also Yes.

Let’s do this: @The Trees In Front of Cevans’s House and @Bucky’s Arm... you da real MVPs.

But other than them...

Thank You to Everyone that Truly Made My 2020:

@cantabile-l  Jo (Daddy Dumpster™ Co-Founder) — I have to list you first. How could I not? Every friendship I’ve made in this fandom comes back to you. We literally bonded over porn lookalikes and started this craziness called the Stucky Porn Lookalikes Archive ( @stucky-lookalikes-archive ) to preserve the porn, and it now has now has 85k hits and 500 bookmarks (!!!?!!). But it’s more than that, even more than starting the Daddy Dumpster™ and bonding over culihos. Bespoke got finished because you got me excited enough to want it, just like half a dozen other fics. You were also the basis for many, many other friendships that I list below. Your nesting head canons were the inspiration for so, so many A/B/O moments in my fics. We’re so on the same length on an intellectual and spiritual level (I feel like you and me and @ixalit are three parts of one whole ❤) and I am in love with you for it. Culihos forever.

@hanitrash​ Hani (O.G. Dumpster™ Citizen) —I’m so, so damn glad you’re in my life. We share that sick sense of humor and refusal to adopt a filter. You add flavor to our Dumpster™ with your wit, and I feel so warm when you share pics and updates about the family with us. You were the first person I ran to when I “discovered” HTP and you held my hand 😂 And Jesus—your talent. I could go on and on and on about Through The Darkness I Heard Your Voice and Private Showing, but also one of my New Year’s resolutions is to start reading your work as Loralynne Summers. Thank you for making me smile every day of last year since April.

@trekchik Jini (O.G. Dumpster™ Citizen) — I can’t speak to the number of laugh-out-loud, belly-grabbing, cackling moments I have had in a year that could easily have been shit otherwise, all because of you. I feel like you’ve truly become a member of my family; like, I see you posting in the Dumpster™ when I wake up in the morning and I think to myself, “Oh, what’s the fam up to today?”. I know I’ve gone on and on about your talent (absolute queen of dialogue and pacing) before, but I don’t thank you enough for keeping the Porn Archive alive when the rest of us are slacking. Your Stucky Tumblr Drabbles (especially the meet cutes) puts a smile on half the fandom’s face regulary, and I’m excited to re-read the wonderful Anagnorsis & Peripeteia soon. Here’s to another year of weird dildo pictures.

@thegodswife Amanda (Dumpster™ Citizen) — I feel like we were literally destined to become friends. The love I feel for you and your little family is real and immense, and I feel like your victories (in life and in writing) are my victories. You have made a slow but steady convert of me to Shrinkyclinks with fics like peaches and because it's christmas, and I am in awe of your talent for writing charged dynamics with jaw-dropping moments. This fandom is lucky to have such a gem as you. 2021 is going to be the Year of Amanda (*clinks Lindeman’s Framboise glasses 🥂*)

@ixalit Max (Dumpster™ Citizen) — My relationship with you has and continues to be lifechanging for more reasons than I can even go into on tumblr. You make me laugh. You make me cry (usually in good ways). You make me horny by supplying the #porn-and-fun as the dutiful resident horny teenage boy of Dumpster™. I remember so clearly when we first messaged talking about your Evanstan thoughts and fics, and I knew your writing was special then (omg, Hiraeth?? How dare). You deserve all the success you earned in 2020 and every bit more success that you will continue to have this year. There is no one else I would rather have with me as we make this ~journey through Song of the Rolling Earth together. 

@becassine Bex (Dumpster™ Citizen) — What can I say about my lucky charm? 🍀 I found our friendship later in the year and I feel it was truly central to the way I finished out my year with a bang (lol). Your encouragement to finish Bespoke supercharged me, and I’m still riding that high in writing SoRE. But for every bit we talk about you being the Queen of Hype (Becassine, First of Her Name), I am also stunned by your own gorgeous writing. The Way I Feel For You is a gift to this fandom and it’s gonna keep rocking our world, along with any other creative endeavor you choose to embark on. Thank you for the treasure of your continued friendship.

@darter-blue​ Bec (Dumpster™ Citizen) — My gorgeous, gorgeous cunt of a friend. What ever am I going to do with you? I feel like you and I have clicked so perfectly and so instantly, and I feel such a strong connection to you. I have been enamored with your skill and your style since I first stumbled across your Sergeant Barnes and Colonel Rogers: A Love Story series and then rapidly gobbled up your other writing. Getting to collab with you on No Vacancies was a dream come true. You make me feel so connected to the outside world and humanity even in this bizarre time and even though you’re on the other side of the world.

@kalee60 Kel (Dumpster™ Citizen) — You flawless sass-master. You brilliant human. You tricky little bastard. What a perfect addition to the Dumpster™ you have been! And your talent, Jesus... just being around you makes me want to write. I have truly never seen someone with as much talent write so prolifically, and I am in very real awe of it. If I had to pick “Fic of the Year” for me, I would not hesitate to pick Push The Button—it turned my world upside down—but for as much as we talk about that epic, your AU Extravaganza is really miracle to behold. And I am so, so pumped for you during this exciting time coming up in your life. Here’s to magnificent year for you in 2021!

@andysmountains​ Andy Gator Lord 🐊 — You’ve changed my life. I’m sitting here and I honestly don’t know how else to put it. You’re hilarious and you’re a ball of sunshine and you have kept this breeder feeling rooted to reality (in a great way) and remembering how to smile during some of the shittiest times I can remember. Newts. You’ve helped me explore my identity, and I’m not sure what greater gift you could have given me. Also, I’ve never heard true love whispered more sincerely than when I see 🔪—and I would give you nine hundred and ninety-seven 🔪 now if not for the fact that you have literally beat me to it.  

@ceratonia-siliqua Cera — We’ve shared so much. I feel so privileged that you’ve picked me to be a person that you want to talk to during hard times because you’re such a special guy, and because you’ve got talent that the world needs to see forever and ever and ever (I continue to blown away by what you did in Sunshine, and none of us are ready for Quilt Fic™) and I hope you never stop writing your whole damn heart out. I truly love you. I do. Thank you for reminding me that there is endless humanity and prose in this world.

@howdoyousleep3​ K — I feel like 2021 couldn’t be starting off better now that you’re in my life again. Last year was largely defined for me by the time I spent with you, and I’ve truly been changed by you and your writing. You are an endless amount of inspiration for me and this whole community; I would bet real money that the number of Daddy Kink converts that owe their new *interest* to finding your Daddy Steve Rogers/Baby Bucky Barnes series numbers in the hundreds (not to mention your other AUs). But fics aside, I had so many smiles and laughter throughout 2020 because of you, and I owe such a big part of my happy heart to you and your presence in my life. You have a huge, caring heart. Cheers to Cevans continuing to be a giant, bro-ish man slut and us never stopping giving him shit for it — and here’s to Trucker Bucky and his bug.

@lullabybeauty Bee — I’m not sure I would still be writing if it weren’t for you. The interest you took in my fics and endless support you’ve provided have turned me into a real-life 🥺🥺🥺 face so many times I can’t count them. But more than the hype you provide, you are an amazing person, and I hope you never stop putting (and ceaselessly keeping) the word out in our community through your blog that Black Lives Matter and black women matter now and forever; it’s far too easy for those of us who are white to let that truth fade from our minds when there’s not something terrible happening in the news, and I’m so thankful for your posts filling up my dash with reminders I need to be a good ally and giving me information to share with others. Thank you for the gift of yourself.

@ywecanthavenicethingsanymore Caroline—You sort of swooped out of nowhere for me and boosted my confidence through the roof. Your comments and your hype and your hilarious tags remind me every day that writers are only half of the fanfiction equation; all we do without supportive friends like you is sit in the corner dreaming of stories we don’t have the confidence or feel-good to put to words. Thank you for your constant support and for being so. damn. cool.

@littlesurfergrl Heather—Oh, Heather. Queen of the A+ tags. Sender of inbox updates about what time you get off of work and why you’re vibrating to read a fic. All-around beautiful person. Your love and support is magic in my veins.

@hoeforthegays Baby J—I am so damn excited for this creative project you’ve taken on; you are so talented. I look forward to our thirst talks all the time. You make me laugh with your screaming and even your advice. Such a source of sunshine in my life.

@capbvckyrogers / @tae-withsuga Cam — You were the first person who ever reblogged a farmer daddy post. You were the first person who ever sent me a prompt. Honestly, you were the first person who ever bonded with me over a character. There zero (0) chance I would have enjoyed fandom (or certainly any kind of creative success) the way that I did in 2020 if not for you. Thank you, endlessly. 

@justice-for-plums​ Kenz — Another “late in the year” friendship find that I am so grateful for. I love our talks! I am so thankful you felt comfortable to reach out and talk about writing. Our workshopping has helped remind me of what works and what doesn’t for me, and I love the creative collaboration on head canons! Excited for more in 2021.

Shrunkyclunks Bitches®, or those not mentioned already above: @dreadlockholiday (co-founder of the Bitches® with @justice-for-plums​ and #1 reason I blushed last year), @oh-i-swear-writes​ @wayward-lives​ @allegedlyann and others I either am missing on tumblr or forgetting (but not because I don’t love you) — Here’s to Cap Steve and modern Bucky and 1,000,000+ words written during our writing sprints in 2021. [Bitches® server membership is open by the way! If you love Shrunkyclunks, contact Dready @dreadlockholiday​].

And to the endless list of others who made me smile, laugh, sometimes cry, feel proud, but always feel that incredible Stucky love — a list that includes but is certainly not limited to @fishcustardandclintbarton,​ @hawkeyeandthewintersoldier, @willbakewithstucky, @hannah-stagram​, @thewaythatwerust​, @bigbraiiin, @musette22, @luninosity​, @fandomfluffandfuck​, @maddiewritesstucky​, @hbalbat, @doctorenterprise​, @epicstuckyficrecs, @k347 and the massive important people I know I am forgetting (...like some BIG ones)

To everyone above and anyone else who has scrolled this far:

Thank you.

Let’s all have a fantastic 2021 🥂

[marrys-dream-world]

if we’re bound to be something, why not together? (chapter nine)

Read on AO3

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Notes:  Let's hope I can keep this posting streak up. Thanks for all the support. Day 9: Cinema. @ladynoirjuly

When Ladybug suggested they go to the movies, she saw Chat Noir flinch.

"What? What's wrong?" She frowned. Her partner never passed up an opportunity to spend time with her.

"Are you sure you want to go to the movies?" He asked, carefully. "Don't you remember what happened the last time?"

Ladybug rubbed her arm, flushing. "It wasn't that bad."

"The movie tanked after the news of Ladybug trashing it leaked."

"I tried to take it back!"

"The director prepared a press conference to apologize for offending you with that movie!"

"I said I was sorry!" She said, exasperated, and rolled her eyes when she noticed Chat Noir turning purple from trying to hold back his laughter. "Stop making fun of me!"

"Sorry, my lady, it's just too easy."

"Haha, very funny. So, want to go?"

"I would never turn down a date with my lady." Chat Noir said, smiling teasingly, and she silently scolded her heart for jumping in her chest. "What do you wanna see? The new animated movie about us?"

Her nose scrunched. "I don't think there's even a trailer out yet."

"Really? But I was so sure… maybe I got the dates mixed up." He shrugged. "What, then?"

"There was this school class that got their movie playing in a cinema. How about that?" Ladybug said casually.

Of course she had already seen the movie with her class, Alya on one side and Adrien (!!) on the other, high on the feeling of a production with her designs being played on the big screen. It was great and she had a lot of fun, but she couldn't help wondering what Chat Noir would think, which of her classmates would he get along with and if he would have liked her designs. She couldn't call him over to find out, she knew that, but watching his live reactions wasn't off the table.

"Oh, sure, sounds good." Chat Noir agreed easily. "Last one pays for the popcorn?"

Their race was mostly symbolic, it wasn't like any cinema allowed The Ladybug and Chat Noir to pay for anything in their premises, no matter how much they protested. So when they sat down in the almost empty room, it was with a bag of free popcorn and soft drinks of their choice. Chat even got a free bag of licorice for working his charm on the female attendant.

"What can I do about it, my lady?" He said, popping on into his mouth. It stained his lips red. "I'm irresistible."

"Yeah, sure, whatever." Ladybug grumbled, munching on her popcorn. "The movie is about to start, so shhhhh."

Chat Noir was a quiet watcher, he just hummed and gasped appropriately at the right times. He smiles a lot during the movie, even in moments of monotony between plot points, so he must have been enjoying that a lot. She found herself staring more at him than at the movie.

It's because I already watched it. She told herself. The light playing patterns on her partner being mesmerizing had nothing to do with it, surely. Just that.  

It was by the end, when Zoé's character was convincing Mylene's that balance must be kept that she noticed his eyes getting moist.

"Everything okay?" Ladybug whispered to Chat Noir.

He nodded, running his right arm against his eyes.

"That line about destruction being as important as creation was… different." He said and even though his voice was quiet, it rang through her.

"It was a good one. They're right." She said, taking his hand and squeezing it lightly. "Creation would be nothing without destruction."

"You think so?" Chat Noir asked, voice small.

"I know so." She said firmly. He seemed content with the answer, turning his eyes back to the movie.

Ladybug forced herself to do the same, not letting go of his hand at all. When the movie ended, they stared at the credits in silence.

"Sooo, did you like it?" She asked, trying to hide how eager she was to know.

His eyes lit up. "It was great! The production was amazing and the actresses were really good."

"Oh, wanna know a secret?" Ladybug whispered, leaning in his space. Predictably, he nodded eagerly. "You know the creation actress, Zoé? She 's Vesperia!"

"No way!" Chat Noir exclaimed, jaw dropping.

"Shhh, not so loud." She said, waving her hands. "But yeah, she was around and someone I trust said she's a good person. Zoé wanted to help her sister, so it made sense to choose her."

"That's why I thought she was Queen Bee when we met, I thought it was just the glamour messing with me!" He chuckled, followed by the light in his eyes dimming. "That's great, my lady."

"Are you sure? You don't look like you think so." Ladybug pointed out. "Did you think Vesperia was a bad choice? I thought she did fine."

"No, no, Vesperia did pretty well, especially since it was her first try." Chat Noir said, sounding sincere. "It's something else, Bug. I would rather not talk about it."

"Okay, then." She agreed, filing away the information for later. "You know, it's the first time in a while that I managed to finish a movie in the cinema, I missed it."

"I don't really come here much, last time I kinda watched a movie with a friend."

"Ohh, anyone I know?" Ladybug teased, sure he was talking about their disastrous movie session before she revealed herself to Alya.

"Oh, it's just the friend I told you about, Sallie." Chat Noir said, instantly cheering up as he mentioned her name.

"That 's nice." She said, stomping down on the sudden rage that bubbled in her chest. Is it possible to hate someone she didn't even know the real name of? "What did you watch?"

"An indie movie called Solitude." He said fondly as her mind came to a stop.

"What? Wasn't there only one showing of it a few months back?!"

He raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, how did you know?"

"I went there with a friend too!" At that, he gasped. "I can't believe we were in the same room." Without the masks , she didn’t say.

"Do you think we saw each other? There weren't a lot of people."

"I… don't know. I wasn't paying attention." Ladybug said, searching her memories for a grinning boy, probably flirting (ugh) with a giggling girl.

"Not paying attention? Why were you so distracted, my lady?" He teased, giddy. "Were you on a date?"

"Ugh, I wish." She sighed lovingly, regretting it as his face fell. "Chaton, I didn't-"

"It 's fine, really." He said, smile strained. "Was it the other boy, the one you came with?"

Ladybug nodded hesitantly and he took his eyes of her to stare ahead.

"I wish I had seen you that day." Chat Noir said softly.

"Me too, Chaton." She agreed, squeezing the clawed hand in hers, unwilling to let go.

[phoenotopia]

2020 October Update

So... we've launched. And our launch was... actually kind of... bad...

This is a dev blog, so I'll speak on it. But before that, we do have the game's steam page up. If you're anticipating the PC release, please do visit the steam page and add it to your wish list. It would help us a lot.

VISIT STEAM LINK

...

So what didn't go so well?

1. We launched in Nintendo's Americas and Europe territory. If you've been following the release, you'd know that America got the game first. We didn't move to launch in Europe at all since I thought the EFIGS languages (English, French, Italian, German, Spanish) were pre-requisites for Europe. By the time I learned that this wasn't necessarily the case, and attempted to course correct, the damage was done. We had half the allotment of keys to do outreach, and maybe some European outlets that would've covered us, did not.

2. When the game launched, rather than a victory lap, what we experienced was more of a public lashing. We did get some reviews that praised the game highly, but just as many reviews lampooned the game for its high difficulty or other failings. I've since released two patches (or 3, depending on how you count it) to address the difficulty. A lot of overnighters. If you recall in the last blog post, I thought it'd be a good start if we got 20 or so reviews on Open Critic. But we've only 8 as of this writing, and the aggregate score isn't so hot. So that's a fail by my metric.

3. A publisher reached out to us because they were interested in physically printing the game! Yay! But... to advance our talks, they wanted to see the game's sales numbers to ensure that there's a good chance their investment could be recouped. And unfortunately, the game's sales numbers are pretty low. They backed out :(

Some hard lessons were learned. The biggest lesson for me concerns how well we playtested the game. Looking at the original playtester list, it's a short list. You may recall from a previous blog post that our ability to test was severely hampered by technical limitations. Add to that, a lot of people on this list are objectively really achieved players. We're talking power ranked in Smash Bros, regular tournament goers, and people who've played and bested every Souls game. And as the maker of the game, I am most blind to the game's challenges.

Now, I'm definitely more of the opinion that you prioritize PC development first. I still have some reservations about some stages of PC development. But if you do PC/Steam first, you have the great benefit of being able to do Early Access, which gives you access to a greater testing pool. I now view it as an invaluable part of the equation. If we had been able to do Early Access for 1 or 2 months before release, we probably could have ironed out most of the game's difficulty and balance problems. Hard lessons, indeed.

There were a lot of other notable events that occurred over the past 2 months - the travails of press outreach, realizing my own limits as a developer, feeling defeated and getting back up again, etc. There's too much stuff to chronicle or go into detail. But it wasn't all bad.

Some good things did happen...

We got a publisher to publish for Japan! It came as a huge relief, because clearly, we don't know what the heck we're doing.

The publisher has been an invaluable source of information and feedback. They've recommended some changes to the game to improve user experience. Some of these changes I was hesitant to do at first because they concerned systems I thought integral to the identity of the game. But after trying it, I have to admit, they're good changes.

So a Japanese version of the game was moving ahead. And it looked like that'd be it. I wasn't planning to move forward with any other language translations due to the game's low sales and our funds being depleted. 

But, I was approached by a translator who urged me to move ahead with translations. He told me he was willing to work for only a small price initially and then be paid the rest after from a percentage of the game's sales until the cost of the translation was paid in full.

I was surprised translators were willing to work under such a model since it's entirely likely the game's current low sales trajectory would continue and they wouldn't earn back the full cost of translation. But I was also flattered they were willing to take a risk with me. After that, I approached some others with the same hypothetical deal, and long story short, we're now moving forward with French, German, Spanish, Portuguese and Russian translations. As for why these languages in particular, they were languages for whom I had contacts (because they reached out to me at some point in the past). And also because they were deemed more likely to be profitable based on their home country's gaming market/buying habits. I'd be personally happy to have my native language be represented, but it's not expected to be a profitable territory. But if the game does better in the future, it may justify the costs of translation. There could be a chance!

The plan right now is to get the game supporting these first round of languages and then to patch that into the Switch version as well as launch the PC version with these languages - all in December. A lot of things need to align for this to occur, so a delay isn't out of the question. It'll be busy... I'll update the blog again in latter half of December, probably near the game's PC launch date... OR to announce a delay. Let's hope it doesn't come to that.

Fan Support

While the past two months have been grueling, one good thing remains constant - fan art! Thank you everyone who submitted. It means a lot to me and the team!

Big thanks to Pimez who's taken on watching over the reddit community as moderator. He also combs the other communities and makes sure I see every new art piece. Despite juggling his own life and all these tasks, he still found some time to draw.

Pimez's piece reminds us that just because the new game's out doesn't mean we can't still celebrate the original flash game. The jail dog is a dog found only in jail and only in the flash game. I imagine Gail is just tossing a stick, and they're playing fetch.

A new artist to this scene æv draws both the Phoenix logo AND a super cute picture of Gail playing the flute. So precious, you want to pinch her cheek. Even the Sand Drake is enthralled!

Another new artist, beet4ppy arrives on the scene with two pictures! One features a no-nonsense battle-hardened Gail looking stoic and tough! Kinda reminds me of Vinland Saga actually. The other, a more cheerful group composition - I must say I'm a big fan of Fran's classic anime-style eye!

A returning artist, Cody G, returns with a picture depicting the tribulations of cooking. Gotta love Gail's frantic expression! I've heard the complaints, which is why we've added an option to slow the cooking mini-game down. An improved button font is also on the way.

Gamesing with two undertale x phoenotopia crossovers. Thomas being a robot builder makes sense taking a role similar to Alphys. But why is Alex dressed like a clown? Perhaps there is a hidden meaning here... 

A new artist, Warotar, draws both a pooki wearing Gail's clothes and Gail wearing pooki clothes. Awww. The pooki is a bit scary - it kinda reminds me of a tragic event in a certain anime. But the Gail is adorable!

POL#5655 submitted this one to KM's discord which made its way to me. Here, a stylized Gail appears unnerved by the dark red eyes stalking her in the background. Are they bats or something more sinister?

A new artist, MilesCPW, arrives on the scene with three rare well-vectorized arts! Love it! One scene depicts Gail balancing a bomb on her head - that's a speedrunning trick I only learned about recently after someone emailed me a video O_O

The other drawing gives us new insight into Katash - he could actually look cute if he wasn't trying to kill you.

And the bees... Okay, this one got a chuckle from me :D

A returning artist roccy_chair draws this heart-warming scene from the beginning of the new game. Aww. Mika doesn't get much screen time for story reasons, so it's nice to see her represented.

UnrealWorld_32 returns with another drawing of Gail in Panselo, this time capturing a more idyllic time. I like the tranquil nature of this piece. And Gail does in fact play the guitar, denoted by the guitar in her room.

Returning artist shafiyahh draws a nice portrait of Prince Leo - looking regal and princely. I like the storybook art style of this piece. It made me immediately think of "the Little Prince" - one of my favorite books actually!

Negativus Core returns with a beautiful group composition of Gail and the gang - flying from a Switch shaped window - totally sensible considering the game is only Switch right now. As usual, I'm impressed by Negativus Core's use of challenging angles to frame a more dynamic shot of the characters. Great job!

And it wasn't only artists bearing the banner. I'd like to give a big shoutout to everyone in all the game's little communities (from the reddit to the discords to this tumblr). I've seen this community help newcomers with gameplay and walkthrough advice, discussions, updating the wiki, and so on. It does bring a smile to my face. Thank you everyone!

[banshee1013]

Suptober Day 13 - Ladies

Overall Title: The Road Less Traveled

Overall Rating: Mature (may change to Explicit, we’ll see how it goes)

Tags: Castiel/Dean, mention of Sam/Eileen, Jody, Donna, Post-Season 15, ExAngel!Cas, MostlyRetiredHunter!Dean, Road Trip

(Note: all ficlets are unbeta’d. At the end of the month, I’ll wrap up whatever I manage to get written, clean it up, get it beta’d, and post to AO3. So please pardon any mistakes!)

========================================================

CHAPTER EIGHT - LADIES

Words: 2191

“Next exit, Dean.” 

He’s keeping his voice carefully neutral, projecting calm - but Dean knows better.

Cas is beside himself with excitement. 

----------------------

They had stopped for lunch at a little diner in Myers Flats the day before, when Dean realized how close they were to the giant redwoods. They finished their meal and spent the rest of the day driving the Avenue of the Giants, stopping at several locations to explore or take pictures; even driving through the Shrine Drive-Thru Tree (which of course, Dean had to get a picture of Baby parked inside the Tree, immediately sending it to Sam). 

It was a wonderful day, spent among beautiful ancient trees - but inside, Dean was freaking out. 

Fuckin’ dumbass. How could you have just BLURTED it out like that??

It’s not that Dean regretted the question - not by a long shot - and was absolutely over the moon about Cas’ response. 

But the way it had come out… UGH. 

So, while outwardly Dean enjoyed the drive and the trees, and Cas among the trees (“Some of these trees are over two thousand years old, Dean!”) - internally, he was desperately trying to figure out a way of correcting his incredible proposal faux pas. 

Adding to his anxiety over the whole thing - Cas hadn’t mentioned it again. 

Not a peep. Not a word. 

They spent the night in a cozy little cabin at a motor lodge in Phillipsville, both so exhausted they fell asleep almost as soon as their heads hit the pillows.

The next morning, Dean had woken up to Cas coming back in the room, two steaming cups of coffee and some danishes from the motel office in his hands - and positively vibrating with excitement. 

Setting the coffee and danish on the nightstand, he thrusts a brochure at him.

“While I was waiting for the coffee to finish percolating, I struck up a conversation with the proprietor,” Cas explained, “ and when I mentioned we were headed south she informed me about a large accumulation of wineries near our route. She showed me a rack of informational pamphlets on these wineries, and I found this one!” He gleefully pointed at the name on the brochure - ‘Beehave Winery’. “They make mead there, Dean!” 

Dean vaguely recalls the term - isn’t that what they drank at Camelot or something? 

Cas correctly interpreted the look on his face - “Honey wine, Dean!” He plucked the brochure from Dean’s hand, opening it and thrusting an eager finger inside. “And they have their own beehives!”

Well, beehives. Of course they were going to stop there. 

Cas must have taken Dean’s silence as protest, his eyes dropping and his voice taking on a pleading tone. 

“I know it’s farther inland, and that you wished to turn off onto Highway 1 in Leggett (Cas knew Dean’s route better than Dean did at this point), and I know you prefer beer to wine...”

Dean reached a hand to his chin, lifting it up to look into his eyes. “Hey, hey… it’s fine!” He set the brochure on the bed and stood, gathering Cas into his arms. “This trip isn’t just about me, sweetheart. We can do whatever we both want.” 

Cas buried his face in Dean’s neck and sighed happily. “So, we can go see the bees, then?”

Dean laughed and pulled away, pressing a kiss onto his forehead. “Of course we can. Wine has alcohol, I can get behind that.” 

--------------------------

Cas peers at the map on the brochure, brows pinched in concentration.

“Turn left onto Silverado Trail.”

Dean takes the exit and turns left, following Cas’ directions. They pass a number of wineries with names like ‘Black Stallion Winery’ and ‘Reynolds Family Winery’, or fancier ones like ‘Signorello Estates’ and ‘Clos du Val’. Parking lots full of cars and wine tour buses, the road lined with grape vines as far as the eye can see. 

“There! There it is!” Cas points excitedly at the sign for the winery by a small road leading up to a group of buildings off the road. Dean turns onto it and drives up to the parking lot, pulling into a spot next to another of the ubiquitous wine tour buses. 

Cas hops out of the car and comes around to the drivers side, taking Dean’s hand and all but pulling him from the car in his eagerness. Dean laughs and squeezes Cas’ hand, slowing him down so he can close and lock the Impala. 

“Calm down, angel. The bees aren’t going anywhere.” 

As they approach the group of buildings, the buzz of voices reaches them, light and happy. They follow the sound to the tasting room, where a small but enthusiastic crowd is gathered around a long counter. A… bartender, Dean guesses… pours a light amber wine into an empty wine glass, passing it to one of the waiting customers, a bubbly blonde. A second bartender pours her companion - a slight, salt-and-pepper haired woman -  a darker reddish wine into her glass. They turn to each other and tap the glasses together with a bright clink. 

“Cheers, Jodes!” 

Dean stops dead in his tracks, his arm yanked hard by Cas who’s attention is on the corner of the room full of bee and honey paraphernalia. 

“Dean…?” Cas turns to see what brought Dean up short and follows his gaze.

“Is that… Sheriff Mills and Sheriff Hanscum?” 

The ladies turn towards them… and it’s Jody who recognizes them first.

“D-Dean? Dean Winchester?” she says, stammering in surprise.

“What about Dean?” Donna asks before following Jody’s shocked gaze. “Oh my! DEANO!” 

She all but launches herself at him, Dean dropping Cas’ hand just before she envelopes him in a huge bear hug. 

Cas manages to grab the wine glass from her hand before it ends up all over Dean’s back, as Jody approaches at a more sedate pace. “And Castiel! What brings you boys to Napa Valley?” She quickly lowers her voice. “You boys on a case? Where’s Sam?” 

Dean extricates himself from Donna and turns to give Jody a warm hug. “No, no case - Cas and I are on a road trip,” he says, laughing at the expression on Cas’ face as Donna squishes him as well. He rescues Donna’s wine glass in turn, and hands it back to her when she’s done mauling Cas. 

A flurry of conversation erupts - “Fancy meeting you here!” “What are you ladies doing out here?” “How are you boys?” “Dean and I are doing quite well, thank you.”

“So, where’s Sam?” Jody asks again, accompanying Dean and Cas as they head to the counter to get their own glasses of wine. 

“He and Eileen are… hunting. Yeah, that’s it.” Dean waggles his eyebrows at Jody. 

Donna bursts into a gale of laughter. “Oh I betcha that’s what they’re doin’!” 

“C’mon, let’s getcha some wine and let’s go find a place to catch up.” 

Dean gets a glass of the dark red wine, Cas the amber one, and they head to a table in the corner, away from the noise of the bar.

“So, what are you doing here?” Dean asks them again.

“Oh, we’re here on a wine retreat - ‘Cops and Corks’.” Donna jabs a thumb back at the group gathered around the bar. “I dragged Jodes here last year and we liked it so much, we came back!” She points between them. “What’s this I hear about a road trip?” 

“There has not been very much activity since Chuck left,” Cas explains. “There’s still the occasional hunt but Sam and Eileen took the last one, and Dean was bored.” He takes a sip of his wine and his eyebrows raise.

Dean chuckles. “Like that, do ya, sweetheart?” His eyes immediately go wide as he realizes he just outed themselves... to Jody and Donna. 

The girls don’t even blink an eye. “That’s really great,” Jody says, her voice warm. “You guys deserve it.” 

Dean isn’t sure if she’s talking about the trip… or his inadvertent admission. 

But… would it be such a big deal if they did know? Donna and Jody are family. 

And Dean was done hiding his affection… his love… for Cas. 

He reaches for Cas’ hand and gives it a squeeze. Cas turns and the smile he gives Dean lights up the room. 

The conversation continues on from there - the girls are doing well; Alex has finished nursing school and is doing her residency now; Patience is still having visions but not as much anymore, she’s off to college and doing well; and Claire is still… well, Claire. Still going on the occasional hunt, still missing Kaia. Cas’ face falls at this news and vows to visit with her, turning to Dean for support and Dean nodding in agreement. 

And for some reason, the motion of Cas looking to him like that brings back the anxiety of the botched proposal.

Their wine glasses are empty, and Dean sure could use another (although he’ll never admit to actually liking it - if asked, it’s just alcohol. But it’s actually pretty tasty). 

“Who’s up for another round? I”m buyin’.” Donna and Cas are in deep conversation over the applications of knives over guns or something, but both absently raise a quick hand. 

Jody tilts her head, her look inscrutable. “Sure, I could use another. Need a hand?”

Dean realizes that yes, he could use a hand - and not just with the wine. He nods and they set off towards the bar, empty glasses in hand. 

“So spill, Winchester. What’s eatin’ you?” Jody asks as soon as they’re out of earshot.

Dean swallows nervously. “Well, I kind a spilled the beans about me and Cas back there…” 

Jody takes both wine glasses in one hand and places her free one on his bicep, giving a gentle squeeze. “Yeah, and I’m glad.” She snorts and drops her hand. “And frankly, it’s about damn time.” She arches an eyebrow at him. “So, what of it?” 

They reach the bar and place their orders. Dean sighs. 

“Jody, I fucked up.” 

Jody’s brows pinch in concern. “How so?” She looks back at the table, and Dean follows her gaze. Cas looks up at them, gives him a soft smile and a wave. Dean waves back, his heart in his throat. 

Damn it, he loves Cas so much. How could he have fucked up so bad?

“Doesn’t look like he thinks so.” 

Dean turns back to Jody, shoulders sagging. “Jody, I proposed to him.” 

Jody’s eyes light up and she lightly punches his arm. “You dog! Congrats!” Then her face falls. “Oh, shit… he said yes, right?” 

“Yeah, he said yes.” 

Jody squints, puzzled. “So, how did you fuck up?” Her eyes grow hard. “You better have meant it.”

Dean’s eyes snap to hers. “Yeah… hell, yeah, I meant it!” He bites his lip and sighs. “But… I just blurted it out, Jody. No grand gesture, no nothin’. Just ‘Cas, marry me’. UGH” 

He startles at Jody’s sudden peal of laughter, then grabbing his arm. “Oh Dean, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t laugh.” She stops laughing but her eyes are still dancing. “So, he said yes, right?”

“Yeah….?” 

“Then you didn’t fuck up, Dean!” She gives his arm another squeeze. “You did just fine!” 

“But…”

“NO BUTS,” she cuts him off sternly. “He said yes. You’re golden.” 

“Jody, he hasn’t said anything about it since I asked.” Dean feels a pang in his chest - saying it out loud making his anxiety all that more real.

She shrugs. “Dean, he’s an ex-angel. They’re very literal creatures. He probably thinks it’s a done deal.” Then, she chuckles. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he thinks you’re married already.” 

Dean gives a wan laugh, and picks up his and Cas’ refilled wine glasses, Jody grabbing hers and Donna’s; and they head back to the table. 

The uncertainty is backing off some, but there’s still some lingering doubt, and Jody’s mom instincts must pick up on it.

“Listen, Dean. Just because you asked and he said yes, doesn’t mean you can’t ask again - you could still do the grand gesture if it’s what you want to do.” She jostles his arm with an elbow. “I’ve seen how he looks at you, I’m pretty certain you’ll get the same answer.” 

They rejoin Cas and Donna at the table. Jody hands Donna her glass, taking a sip from her own. 

Dean sets the wine glasses down, and spins Cas around, pulling him into his arms. 

“Love you, Cas,” he murmurs into his ear.

Cas squeezes Dean back. “I love you too, Dean. Always.” 

“Ohmigosh, you two, get a room!” Donna chortles loudly, and Jody almost chokes on her wine. 

Dean feels every bit of anxiety and uncertainty drain from him, and he laughs joyfully, leaning back in Cas’ arms. Cas’ smile is warm and wide, his eyes shining with love. 

Releasing Cas but keeping an arm around his waist to hold him close, Dean raises his glass. 

“To friends and family,” he intones, then looks down into Cas’ bright eyes. 

“And to the future.” 

He hears the glasses click as Donna, Jody, and Cas tap their glasses to his raised one, but he only has eyes for Cas.