#I’d love to do this with Aster but it wouldn’t really fit

[luna-light-eclipse]

Young Wolf with a throne world and finding out about it when they experience a permanent death but they crawl out a barren sea of blood and corpses of everyone they’ve ever killed.

[kiroons-hyperfixtations]

For the OC interview questions: rosette, bouquet, fallen leaf, cherry blossom and hibiscus.

Again no specific characters so I’m going with the tragic rejvu siblings

🏵️ [ROSETTE] What flower symbolises your OC best and why? What does the flower mean in floriography?

*begins vibrating in obsessed with flower language*

For Fate I’d have to say Freesia! Typically they symbolism trust and innocence. She’s definitely naive and trustful of others to a fault. But her trusting nature is also one of her strongest points! It’s a double edged sword. They also symbolize friendship too! Fate holds all her friendships close to her <3. Yellow Fressias also tend to symbolize joy/optimism as well!

Calamity was a bit harder to pin one down for. Seriously I’d find a flower I would think fit but come to find it’s got a meaning that wouldn’t. I literally gave this man a flower in his design yet struggle to find one that fits him smh. I settled with Edelweiss though! It symbolizes courage, devotion, love and sacrifice. Things that symbolize him well given how devoted he is to protecting and making sure Fate is safe.

💐 [BOUQUET] If you could send your OC a bouquet, what flowers would make it up and what is the overall message?

I’d just give Fate a bunch of happy flowers meaning joy/friendship. Sunflowers, asters, dandelions, daffodils, daisies.. She’s been through a lot and deserves something nice.

Calamity? Anemones, nightshade, wolfsbane, orange mock, rhododendron… All of these flowers have a symbolism of ‘beware’ or ‘danger’. *gestures at Clear and Kieran* he’s working and being lied to by these two! He’s in danger! He’s being used! This man needs help before something bad happens to him or he does something bad. Overall message is too fucking run. He’s my oc tho and that ain’t happening skskskks.

🍃 [FALLEN LEAF] What's the darkest period of time your OC has been through?

For Fate, it’s between first arriving at Aevium, Nancy’s death or the Nightmare Realm. For the first one, like- why wouldn’t you freak out when you suddenly wind up in a different world. Especially since to Fate, she just suddenly woke up on the SS in a completely different body than her own. She doesn’t remember exactly what happened or how she got their either. All she remembers is storming out of the house after a fight with Calamity. Understandably she couldn’t stop herself from panicking. Then Nancy came along, Fate was under the assumption Nancy was Alain’s mom and she basically went ‘fuck play along’ and was under the assumption she just- shared a name with the body she was inhabiting. After the panic though Fate really started to love Nancy and see her as the mother she never had which made Nancy’s death so much more painful. As for the Nightmare Realm… so I even need to explain?

Calamity had two really dark periods in his life. When his and Fate’s parents died and when Fate went missing. Calamity was just a teen himself when his parents died and he was pretty much left alone. He did have help from others in his community but it was still very stressful for him. The first few years were extremely difficult, he was extremely tired between having a job to support him and Fate plus trying to finish up school. It luckily became better as time went on though. When Fate went missing Calamity had a damn panic attack. Especially since she went missing during a time were magic was highly unstable- which uh isn’t good. Calamity was basically beating himself up for the whole thing. Once basically what is the equivalent of the police figured out what happened to her. Calamity’s only thoughts was getting to her, and traveling between worlds is super dangerous and super difficult to get permission to do- so Calamity maybe broke and managed to convince others to break the law…

🌸 [CHERRY BLOSSOM] Does your OC believe in legends/myths?

Both of them yes! The world their from basically treats myths and legends as either history or educational / moral lessons. Their world is very magical so like they won’t bat an eye at someone claiming a story of a Hydra or something to be true. Like yes they may be lying but it could also be true. Not to mention- multiple mythical and legendary creatures actually exist in their world.

🌺 [HIBISCUS] What does your OC think is the prettiest name?

Good question… I literally don’t know, can’t come up with anything.

[young-dumb-and-vaccinated]

Cult Girl: Doctorate (Hannibal x Female!Reader) pt. 8

Cult girl and Hannibal go through an exhaustive list of potential adoptive couples. 

@wisesandwichshark

Trigger warning: sexual harassment, christianity, discussion of pregnancy and family planning, adoption, murder and cannibalism 

Step two: find an adoptive family.

Some would say your list of expectations for potential adoptive parents was too extensive. Impossible for any human to reach. But it was really just the bare minimum.

Regardless of if they were two men, two women, one of each, or a few people, the parents had to be trustworthy. It wasn't easy to earn Hannibal's trust, but he could recognize those who had the capacity to right away. It was a little instinct you had dubbed 'friend or food'.

On paper, the apostolic pastor and his wife of 19 years seemed like the perfect candidates. The adoption agency tried to push them on you, as they had a great track record with adopting from them prior. Three boys, all of which were honors students.

Hannibal insisted on a formal introduction, during which you could conduct a proper, though surreptitious, interview. It was an invitation to dinner.

He invited the couple into his office, where a pot of tea and an interrogation was waiting for them. Then there was you. Barely-pregnant little [F/N], feeling entirely safe so long as your fiancé was beside you.

"You're doing the right thing, y'know." The woman, who introduced herself as Mrs. Landon, said upon meeting you.

"How do you mean?" You asked, already knowing the answer.

"All god's life is precious." She said, placing a hand on your not-even-remotely-showing-yet stomach. "You're walking in obedience to the lord by giving this child a shot at life."

Strike one: bringing up religion unprompted. Strike two: touching me without asking first.

You wanted to swat her hand away, but remembered that patience was a virtue. She and her husband took a seat across from you.

"Y'know," The man began, his mannerisms eerily similar to those of his wife. "I don't usually begin with the god talk, but I think a higher power had to have been involved in the conception of this- well, our child. I'd like to think the good lord brought us together today."

Strike three: already believes he is entitled to my child. You're outta here.

"Don't flatter the adoption agency like that, Jacob." Hannibal chuckled, placing his teacup on the side table.

"I'm serious, Dr. Lecter." Jacob interjected. "Faith and I really do believe that god put us on this earth to prepare his smallest soldiers for the spiritual war."

You shot Hannibal a side glance that said 'can we please just eat them now?'.

The answer was no. Hannibal liked to play with his food.

"And your adult children have all moved out?" He asked.

"That's right." Jacob nodded. "We have plenty of room in our five-bedroom house for the new little slugger to run around in."

"And if it's a girl!" The wife interrupted. "We have enough closet space for all the denim maxi-skirts money could buy."

Strike four: arbitrarily genders the behavior of a nine-week-old embryo.

The man then returned the teacup to the table, not bothering to use the saucer and instead leaving a nasty ring of condensation on the polished mahogany.

"Okay." Hannibal huffed, resignedly rising from his seat. He pulled two hypodermic needles from his back pocket and carefully, subtly stuck them onto the couples' necks. They couldn't even scream.

The tacos al pastor that followed (after a few days of marinating, of course) were exquisite.

The next week brought a new couple to your doorstep. Frank and Angela, they were named. Their claim to fame was that their oldest son played football for one of those big southern party schools. Either Auburn or Alabama. There was hardly a difference.

You sat for what felt like hours listening to the man speak in unintelligible football babble, waiting for him to take a breath. Surprisingly, it was the mom who got him to finally shut up.

"Frank, please." She said with more frustration than this one situation even remotely warranted. Either she had enough intuition to know she was being tested, or she’d spent the last decade putting up with this. Possibly both. "You're boring our hosts to death."

"What? No way! She loves it!" Frank replied, then turned to you. Not to Hannibal, just you. “Aren’t you having a great time, sweetheart?” 

Strike one: takes advantage of the female socialization to be passive and polite, allowing himself to take up the most space.

You shook your head. “I hate football.” 

His wife looked quite pleased with herself. 

“Angie, I just wanted her to know what good breeding her son is going to have.” He said, without a lick of irony or self-awareness. He eyed you up and down and licked his lips. “And it is mutual, I see.” 

The room went quiet as everyone tried to determine whether he was serious or if it was just a fucked-up joke. The longer the silence lingered, the more you realized he wasn’t kidding. Angela looked like she wanted to crawl into a hole and die.

“I don’t know what the agency told you, Mr. Wyatt,” Hannibal said, trying not to grit his teeth. “She isn’t a surrogate. She’s already pregnant.” 

Frank’s jaw hung dumbly open. “I thought you were looking for a sperm donor? I just-” 

“No.” You cut him off, raising your hand and covering your face. “I don’t want to know what you thought.” 

“Well, I would!” Angela interjected, righteous fury eclipsing what should have been crippling embarrassment. “What exactly did you think this was, Francis?” 

“The file said that he was over fifty, so I just assumed--” Frank rationalized, his voice far too loud for the room. “Y’know? That she wanted a baby that wouldn’t come out all funny-looking?” 

“You’re disgusting.” You blurted out. 

“Francis Howard Wyatt,” Angela scolded as if she were talking to her son. “You are forty-eight and the only increasing part of your body is your blood pressure. Why on Earth would any woman choose you over her smart, handsome doctor fiancé?”

This made Hannibal sit up a little straighter. He wanted Francis on the butcher’s block yesterday, but he momentarily considered letting Angela live. 

“They’re not married?” Frank whispered, or whatever the loud-aggressive-toxic-masculinity version of whispering was. He paused, as the dead hamster on the wheel powering his brain crept back to life. “That actually makes sense.” 

Angela loudly smacked her hand against her face. “Dr. Lecter, Ms. [L/N], I am so sorry.” 

“It’s quite alright, Mrs. Wyatt.” Hannibal stood up, readying the next batch of needles. “It just makes what I’m about to do easier.” 

It took quite a bit of restraint to not make their deaths hurt, but he made up for it when it came time to carve. He had fun running his fittingly small penis through a meat grinder. Not with any intent to cook it, though. Just because. 

Hannibal wanted to make Francis Wyatt into the least dignified meal imaginable. You quickly recalled going to a friend’s barbeque in Georgia and encountering a horrendously Southern delicacy known as Frito Pie. You proposed the idea to Hannibal, who, after reviling in abject horror at the notion of eating something out of a bag, agreed that it was the most fitting end. He could spare a few pounds of flesh to grind up and make into chili. 

The third week brought yet another couple. They seemed smart enough to realize your invitation wasn't the friendly olive branch the others had interpreted it as. Their healthy skepticism was refreshing, to say the least. Then, you met them: Max and Archie.

"You'll have to forgive my partner's paranoia." Max said upon entering the house. He tugged playfully at Archie's hand. "We watched Get Out recently, so an invitation to the suburbs sounded some alarms in his sleep-deprived brain."

"I love that movie." You chimed in. "It reminds me of my family."

"Oh no." Archie's eyes widened in only half-pretend fear. He shot an I-told-you-so look in his partner's direction. 

"But my favorite horror flick has to be Midsommar." You added. "My friends and I saw a midnight screening and we didn't sleep at all that night."

"But have you seen Hereditary?" Archie posited.

"Of course." You shrugged. "Aster is totally genius."

You made more than just polite conversation with the couple. Max, despite his young age, was a skilled data analyst and day trader. He attributed his success to the hard work of his immigrant parents. Archie was an environmental lawyer and land activist. He was also a bit of a thrill junkie, indulging in everything from scary movies to bungee jumping.

It didn't take long to realize that you wouldn't be eating them. They were far too pleasant of company to eat.

"So when is this baby planning to make its entrance?" Archie asked, gesturing to you. "You don’t look all that pregnant to me."

You put your hand over your slightly-protruding stomach. "Late August, I believe. If everything goes according to plan."

"You're not far along at all, aren’t you?" Max observed. "That gives us plenty of time to prove ourselves to you."

"Believe me." You put up your hand. "You're doing a great job so far."

“If you like horror stories, we might have to indulge you in the last two encounters we had.” Hannibal commented, leaning back comfortably in his chair. That was a good sign. “No blood was spilled, thank god. Would have ruined my carpets. But believe me when I tell you it came very close.” 

The couple laughed along. Archie leaned in like he was about to tell a life-shattering secret. “You wouldn’t believe the hoops we had to jump through to even have the chance to adopt. And I don’t want to say that it’s because we’re an interracial gay couple, but...” 

“Agencies aren’t exactly colorblind.” You finished, via his prompting. 

“She gets it.” Archie pointed to you. “See, Maxie? She agrees with me.” 

Max pushed his glasses up his nose. “I never said I disagreed.” 

You spent the rest of the afternoon waiting for the conversation to take a sharp left turn off a cliff, but it didn’t happen. They were wonderful company; polite, intelligent and articulate. Exactly the kind of people you’d want to see taking care of your child. 

You’d have to look for you next meal elsewhere. 

[princecharmingmendes]

A Quarter After One | Raul Mendes

"Look, I know you're a hard ass but can you play with my hair? It would really help"

Hello hello! This was a request or an idea that actually came from the prompt above sent by the lovely @bvttercupbby (thank you so much!) and I was immediately in love with it. This is a blurb/oneshot that was planned to fit in the Hey Angel universe where they're in a stablished relationship, but could be read as an individual piece, but if you want to check that universe first, they're on my masterlist and the first part is in here (aster is also a blurb from that universe!). If any of you have any prompts or requests you'd like to see, feel free to send them to me, even anonymously. Anyway, I'll stop ranting now, happy reading and don't forget to tell me what where your thoughts on this piece!

*Word Count: 2.3K+

*Warnings: a few curse words, and I guess that's it;

*Posted: April 9th, 2021.

                                                -*-

It was a hard day and Y/N was tired, but she simply couldn’t sleep. 

Her shift was long and exhausting, too much happened in a short span of time. Too many bad news and annoyingly arrogant people to deal with, and she even had and early shift the next morning. So when she got home she was finally able to breath. Technically she went to her boyfriend’s apartment since Raul knew she had a tough day, and they were basically always together, switching between their places at least twice a week. He texted her as soon as she got in with the spare key he gave her a few months ago, letting Y/N know he was going to take an extra hour cause he got caught up, that she didn’t have to wait for him to do anything. 

So Y/N decided to head to his room and take a long warm shower to relax her nerves a bit. After washing her hair, taking her time to get all soft and exfoliated, and even going as far as applying a hair mask to keep it shiny. Then she changed into a pair of sweats and soft big T-shirt she loved borrowing (or ‘stealing’ as Raul liked saying) and padded downstairs, slumping on the couch with her phone in hands. But before she could curl up in the soft baby pink blanket Raul kept their for her, she heard the front door opening, and as she turned around to check, her boyfriend was walking in with a few bags on his hands. 

“Hi, Bambi” he smiled at her, placing the bags on the counter, alongside his stuff.

Y/N got up from the couch and trailed behind him, circling her arms around his middle, nuzzling her face on his back “Hi”

“Needy?” he asked with a chuckle. 

Y/N nodded her head “need you”

“Oh darling” Raul cooed at her, spinning in her arms to face her and gently cradling her jaw in his hand, the free one on her lower back keeping her close “I’m here, sweet thing, and I’m sorry it took me longer than what I told you this morning”

Y/N only nodded hugging him tighter and he leaned down to place a kiss to her forehead, before enveloping her in a hug.

“I’m sorry I’m late, I just had to stop by and grab us some stuff, wanna take a look?” he offered gently. 

And she nodded softly in response before adding a quiet “please”

Raul smiled before carefully maneuvering them so he could pull the stuff out of the bags“Okay, I got us the Chinese takeout you love so much, stopped by to grab you your favorite cake, a painkiller and as I was checking out, I saw this and I just had to buy it” he said before grabbing a Bambi plushie.

Y/N’s eyes widened and a small smile twitched on her lips at the sight of the stuffed animal, quickly followed by a shake of her head and a breathy giggle. And he was glad he got this reaction out of her, his heart a bit warmer when she reached out to gently cradle the toy in her arms before pulling Raul for a tighter hug. 

“You’re so annoying” she mumbled against his chest as he laughed, pressing a few kisses to her hair “but I love you for it”

“I love you too, Bambi” he pressed a final kiss before pulling away a bit, despite her whine, to look at her a bit better “you look comfy, that T-shirt seems to be really soft, is it new? Could swear I had one like that”

“Oh fuck off” she said playfully rolling her eyes and he chuckled at her.

“That’s my girl” he mumbled as he watched her getting flustered at his compliment “now lemme shower real quick, you can go ahead a pick the movie and as soon as I’m back I’ll bring the food so we can eat it on the couch and maybe cuddle a bit before bed, yeah? How does that sound? Good?”

“Yes, thank you”

“Of course, Bambi” he said pressing a quick peck to her lips “just don’t pick something you want us to pay attention to, I guess we both need the rest”

“Okay” was all she replied as he moved to his room. 

While she waited for him, Y/N settled back down in her spot on the couch and started scrolling through movie options, and ended up choosing a random action movie they’ve probably watched way too many times before, but she couldn’t simply be bothered. A few minutes since he left, Raul was back, hair still wet from the shower, in a pair of sweats and a random t-shirt. He was quick to grab the stuff he brought them for dinner and to plop down beside her, swinging an arm over her shoulders and pressing a kiss to her hairline. 

They watched the movie as the dug into the little containers and had desert, before actually dumping their dishes in the sink and coming back for a cuddle. Y/N finally started feeling her muscles relaxing as she laid flat on top of Raul’s body as they finished the movie, his hands lazily running up and down her spine. She wasn’t feeling so nervous anymore, and as much as she would give anything for a long night of sleep, she felt like she wasn’t going to be able to actually get a proper one. On the other hand, her boyfriend was struggling to finish the feature film, his movements kept coming to a stop, only for him to sigh and resuming his previous ministrations.

“Raul?” she called his name softly into the dark room.

He only hummed in response, squeezing her a bit tighter to his body, making her let out a breathy giggle.

“I think it’s time for us to go to bed” Y/N tilted her head to look up at him, only to find him smirking at her and before he could make any dirty joke, she lightly slapped his chest “don’t even start”

Raul chuckled and shook his head “yeah, I’m completely worn out”

“Come on then, champ” she said lifting herself up from him, and consequently the couch as well. 

Raul lazily rolled out of his place, grabbing her hand and trailing up with her to his bedroom. They both went on their little night time skin care/ general routine, side by side on his bathroom as they did most nights before collapsing on top of his duvet. He gently coaxed her to get under the covers before turning off the light. Y/N scooted a bit closer to him and he was quick to get it, pulling her to his chest before placing a quick peck on her lips with a chuckle. 

“What time do you have to be up tomorrow?”

Y/N sighed before actually answering “seven, I think, why?”

“I have to be up around the same time, so I’ll make us some breakfast” he mumbled, his voice already getting a bit more sleepy and slow. 

“Okay, thank you for today, I really appreciate it” she said playing with the soft material of his shirt.

She felt Raul smile against her hair as he nuzzled his face there “of course, Bambi, I love you so much, m’angel”

Y/N smiled at his sweet confession at his hazy state “I love you too”

“I know, Bambi, otherwise you wouldn’t put up with my shit” he murmured and she giggled in response “goodnight, angel”

“Goodnight, Raul”

                                               -*-

Y/N was getting frustrated. 

She was tired. Exhausted both physically and mentally, and all she needed was to sleep, but she couldn’t. She fell asleep rather quickly, only to wake up half an hour later and to get stuck in a cycle of napping for a few minutes and being partially awake for the others. 

Her muscles were tight, her bones hurting, her head pounding and she didn’t have much to do. Y/N didn’t want to get up and go watch something on the couch, that wasn’t going to help. But she also didn’t felt like laying down for hours on end without being able to properly fall asleep. And waking up her boyfriend wasn’t an option, even though she knew Raul wouldn’t mind, she felt bad doing it to him knowing well he had at least three surgery’s   in the following morning. So she didn’t have much to do. Y/N tried moving as little as she could, as to not to disturb the sleeping body next to her, and she managed to detangle herself from Raul’s arms to not wake him up. 

But it didn’t go exactly as planned as she heard him sigh heavily before turning on his side to face her. Y/N tried to pretend to be asleep, hoping it was just him dreaming or something like that, but when she felt him gently pushing the hair out of her face and moving it behind her ear, she opened her eyes to look up at him. 

“Bambi, what’s keeping you up?” he croaked in a raspy sleepy tone and she just shrugged in response, making him sigh “I’ve been feeling you trash around for at least an hour now, tell me what’s going on so I can try to fix it and finally put you to sleep”

Her voice was small as she finally spoke up, almost afraid she’d piss him off “I don’t know, I just can’t”

“Darling, is past one A.M. and we both work not that early tomorrow, but we still need to be up at seven, so please tell what’s bothering you” he sighed in defeat.

Y/N shook her head “It’s nothing, really, you should go to sleep” 

“I really wish I could just pretend to believe in you, turn around and go back to sleep, but we both know that’s not happening, and I’d be a jerk if I did that, so please, I just want to help” he laid his hand on her jaw, his thumb mindlessly caressing the soft skin on her face.

She leaned on his palm, enjoying the warmth of his palm seeping onto her skin “I just think I might still be a bit stressed with what happened today, and that’s making me restless”

“Why didn’t you tell me earlier? Before we laid down? I could’ve made you some tea or something else to try to calm you a bit more, maybe even a massage, you know I’m good at it” he had a frown on his face as he said it, concern lacing his features and his voice. 

“I guess I didn’t want to be a bother, specially with something that stupid”

Raul’s honeyed eyes softened at her admission “it’s not stupid if it’s keeping you up at night, Bambi, you should’ve known that, and I would never judge you for it”

“I know, and saying it aloud makes me even more dumb for not sharing it earlier and maybe even saving us from this, I’m sorry I kept you up” 

“Oh angel, come here” he said before pulling her into his chest “you don’t have to apologize, that’s why I’m here, right? To take care of you, and it’s okay”

Y/N only nodded her head against his chest as she snuggled closer to him, mumbling into his t-shirt “okay”

He chuckled quietly before adding “Now what can I do to help?” 

“I don’t know” 

“Do you want a cup of tea?” he offered and she only tightened her hold on the fabric of his pijamas making him laugh “okay, what about a kissy?” he asked mocking the way she asked him for one a few weeks back on her drowsy sleepy state. 

“You’re insufferable” she huffed out as he chuckled.

“That’s not what you said yesterday” he sing sang and she slapped his chest softly playfully. 

Y/N shook her head holding back a smile as he laughed before adding "Look, I know you're a hard ass but can you play with my hair? It would really help"

As his laugh died down a bit he tipped her head up with his fingers under her chin, placing a kiss to the tip of her nose “jokes apart, of course I will, angel, anything you want, really”

She sighed contently at him as he pulled her to his chest again, starting to comb his long fingers through her soft locks “thank you” and Raul only placed a single kiss to her forehead in response. 

Y/N started feeling her body finally relaxing completely, her heavy limbs finally turning into gelatin, and her body basically turning into a puddle. Her mind was finally shutting off and all she could focus on was her boyfriend. His signature scent as her face was buried in his neck, his warm body under hers and his gentle caresses slowly putting her in a sleepy state. And she was grateful for having such an amazing partner to do everything he did for her when she felt a bit off, never pushing her to tell him whenever she was uncomfortable and being patient despite being tired as she accidentally woke him up. And even though this weren’t too much to ask, Y/N knew how rare was to find a man like that, and little things like this made her remember how lucky she truly was. 

“Now what about the kissy?” he asked after a few moments of silence and she giggled quietly before tilting her head up and pressing a sweet kiss to his lips “better, thought you were going to put me in emotional distress”

“Over a kiss?”

“Over your kiss, they’re special, Bambi” he said and she rolled her eyes at him, but both ended up laughing.

“Goodnight, Raul”

“Goodnight, angel” and this time, she was actually able to succumb to her tired body’s wishes and fall fast asleep. 

                                                 -*-

*Please reblog or like this post if you liked it so I’ll know.

*I��m sorry if there are any spelling mistakes.

*Please do not repost this without giving me the credit, this is a completely original piece and I do not give permission to copy this!

*Hope you guys enjoyed it!

*xoxo

-🌙

[outspaced-writes]

Full Analysis: Hot Springs Scene

By popular demand, here it is! Sorry that this took so long, school just resumed again so I’ve been very busy.

To begin analyzing this scene, we need to start a little while before, when Aster and Ellie meet in Paul’s bedroom. I like to think that Aster already regarded Ellie with some curiosity before, because they seem to read similar things (hallway scene) and don’t fit in as well at school as most people (bathroom scene). When Ellie comments on Aster’s painting, Aster realizes that Ellie understands it, that she sees the meaning that Aster was going for and this intrigues her because most people would just say something such as “It’s nice” or “I like it” but Ellie understands the stroke on the side and what it stands for. Since Aster is interested, she asks to follow Ellie to the station. 

Afterwards, she decides that she wants to take Ellie to her secret place. Her choice of the words “Want to get out of here?” is likely not randomly chosen by Alice Wu as both Aster and Ellie feel stifled and even suffocated by Squahamish where they don’t quite fit in. I feel that getting out is something they both want to do. At this point, I think that Aster might be starting to develop feelings for Ellie but probably isn’t aware of it, just seeing someone who seems to understand her and wants to get closer to her. 

When they reach the hot springs, Aster strips down, baring herself to Ellie. She is also open to Ellie, exposing the part of herself that she usually keeps hidden. She has also shown Ellie her solace, where she goes to get away from the world, she really isn’t holding back in sharing with Ellie. 

Ellie, on the other hand, is more reserved. She still wears many layers but she does take off the outermost one before entering the water which is a step for her. Aster politely turns away when Ellie does so when she realizes that Ellie is uncomfortable and had also looked away when Aster stripped which is considerate of her. While Aster and Ellie are very similar in some ways, how they interact with each other is also trial and error and they’re figuring each other out. 

Aster points out how she’s never hung out with another girl and not talked about boys before. This again shows how their similar in having interests that differ from their peers. When Ellie reassures Aster that whatever she said about God isn’t silly, the screenplay has this direction “A moment of real connection.” That’s what this scene is all about, Aster and Ellie are connecting.

Afterwards, Aster tries to strip layers off Ellie which on the literal level, is playful and it shows how their bonding but on a deeper level, it also shows how Ellie is opening up to Aster, that she’s almost baring herself to her.

Later, when  they float, Ellie is only wearing one shirt and Aster is wearing one of hers. This is very important symbolically because not only has Ellie made herself vulnerable, she’s entrusted Aster with this. Furthermore, when they float, you can see how they reflect in the water. This references the opening of the movie, about beings with one head made of two faces and two sets of limbs.

One way to see this is that Aster and Ellie complete each other. It’s a sweet, soulmate thing. 

However, the way I prefer is that Aster and Ellie are both complete when they’re open. They don’t need another person, only themselves being honest with themselves. People are too busy looking for someone to complete them that they don’t realize that they are complete as it is.

Ellie openly talks about her mother, someone very close to her heart, with Aster, showing how she’s really opened up. She also drifts towards Aster during this scene which really shows how well they fit together.

Ellie says this line “gravity is matter’s response to loneliness” and my thoughts on this are “Gravity is matter’s response to loneliness. Gravity, the way it tugs and pulls, how it grounds you and keep you from losing yourself in your loneliness to dreams of what could have been. Submerge yourself in water, it feels like a hug. That’s gravity.The world gets lonely sometimes but the moon never leaves, always orbiting around us. Gravity keeps the moon from drifting, it keeps a friend there on our loneliest nights when the only one listening is the bright moon. Gravity pulls things to each other, gravity means weight, gravity means certainty. Gravity doesn’t erase your loneliness but it helps and nobody said a response has to be effective, just that it’s there. Gravity is matter’s response to loneliness.” It’s a very loaded line and it comes from Ellie just saying what comes to mind, something she wouldn’t do around anyone else.

When they float together, with Ellie’s legs and Aster’s arms visible, they really seem to complete each other. They become one person with two faces, again a callback to the opening. 

I apologise for my ideas being a little all over the place. This is all I can think of right now and I’d love to hear your thoughts! Grounding scene analysis to be done soon.

[stillness-in-green]

If it's any consolation, I'm sure that the Advisors and the rest of the MLA (Re-Destro, Trumpet, Geten) will show back up sooner than the final arc, just because we're going into Year 2 and the students would find great 1 on 1 or team opponents with the Advisors. Re-Destro and Geten are heavy hitters (and Geten could be tied to Dabi, Shoto and all that somehow) and they were locked up with Mr. Compress and Machia, but who do you want to see first from the Advisors?

Thanks, anon; I certainly do hope we'll get to see more of them.  Admittedly, my main concern is that I so liked what was going on with the Paranormal Liberation Front that even if we do see all of the MLA types again, if it's only in the context of speedbump battles for the students, that's still going to be a letdown.  Better than nothing, to be sure, but I really do want them to join back up with the League, even a League that's confused and out of sorts under All For One's hand.  I love RD's big spiritual-awakening-flavored crush on Shigaraki, the cross-organization tensions and relationships, just as much as I love the depth the MLA brings to the world outside of just what's going on with the heroes.

I'm fairly frustrated with how the MLA fared during and after the raid, largely because it's awfully hard not to conclude that, if what we have right now is all the erstwhile-MLA are ever going to come to, Shigaraki would have been significantly better off if he'd just killed them all and shacked up with Ujiko for four months.  And that would be such a waste!  The end of My Villain Academia was such an enormous triumph for Shigaraki! I want his victory to amount to something more than what we've seen, something that shows that both his strength and his mercy will pay off for him in the long-term, will be a concrete benefit to him rather than, with the benefit of hindsight, the reason everything went so wrong.

Particularly with Re-Destro, since Horikoshi saw fit to have Dark Shadow all but one-shot the man, and Edgeshot defeat him off-panel, it's really not going to mean much to me for him to have a big fight with students unconnected to anything else.  The drama's rather gone out of it at this point.  That's particularly the case since, if he's no longer connected to Shigaraki's plot, it's that much easier for him to just be off-paneled and forgotten about.  But, if Rikiya gets looped back in with the League, if his gratitude and admiration of Shigaraki mean he still has a role to play in Shigaraki's arc, that makes it much easier to get invested in any fights that role will lead him to. Ditto the MLA more broadly; it's categorically ridiculous to present that organization with the kinds of numbers, breadth of influence and legitimate grievances they have, only to try to sweep them back under the rug exactly like Shigaraki accuses heroes of doing with everyone they can't save. 

To say the least, I'm pretty invested.  But I appreciate your consolations and am trying to hold out hope that we'll get some good stuff with them yet!

My anxieties aside, and to hit the other portion of your ask--who would I like to see first among the Advisors?--hit the jump:

(All nicknames and shorthand are taken from this post.) 

Well, it'd be nice if they could all get at least as much to do as the Eight Bullets back during the Hassaikai arc, seeing as they got a similar splash page spread introducing all their faces.  There are considerably more than eight of them, of course, but even if they never get more attention than e.g. Galvanize or the hose-faced guy who iced Midnight did, at least then we'd have some idea of their power sets and at least one angle on their personality.

Assuming we aren’t going to get full breakdowns on every single one of them, there are still four things I'd really like to see happen with the MLA/the Advisors: the student fights we're expecting, the jailbreaks we're being told about, the reunion with the League I'm praying for, and for literally anyone in the in-world media to try and get their side of the story.

Student Fights: Seeing the guy who killed Midnight again is as sure a bet as any of these get.  Momo is an important enough character, with enough sustained arc, that she will have to get something else to do before the series is over.  Taking command of a group battle against real opponents--ones with more responsiveness and agency than Gigantomachia--would be in-line with what she's been moving towards so far.  I would, however, love it if that fight would be more challenging than a straightforward battle of tactics.

I headcanon Hose Face and Scarecrow as, respectively, an ex-con and a dude with physical disabilities--both people who have ample reason to want to change the series' status quo irt human rights abuses in prison and overly restrictive quirk use laws.  I'm not expecting the canon to validate me on what amount to wild guesses, of course, but I want those Advisors in particular to have motivations more nuanced than, "They're quirk supremacists; who cares why they're willing to put their lives on the line over this?"

A feel-good revenge match in which a bunch of teenagers lay the smack down on characters whose humanity the audience is asked neither to know nor care about would be lazy, and counterproductive to the series' current thematic concerns. Give Momo her victory, by all means, but don't give it to her easy.  A confrontation like this would be a good way for the less central Class A students to begin wrestling with the question of who, exactly, heroes "save" and what it is that people need to be saved from, exactly the way Deku and Uraraka and Shouto are now wrestling with these questions.

As far as other fights go, I'd also love to see Brand and The Question pop up again. They're probably the two I'm most curious about purely in terms of what their quirks are.  Why does The Question wear a mask, and what's he like that he wound up in Mr. Compress's chain of command?  And with Brand, what kind of quirk does he have that's powerful enough to land him a ranked position in the Guerilla Warfare Regiment but indirect enough that he fights with a sword?

Prison Breaks: I wouldn't expect this to be particularly involved, probably more of an aside than anything, but I want the Bindi Ladies to spring Hole Punch Face, thus getting us an angle on what's going on with that particular trio.  Aviator Teeth can come too because I want at least some hints about what his deal is.

I'd also love to watch Horikoshi even attempt to retroactively justify some of the logistics of the single-day capture and subsequent detention of 17,000 super-powered, combat-trained people.*  I mean, I don't think there are any feasible explanations for that, but I'd be curious to see what he'd come up with, especially if every possible answer just makes Hero Society look worse! We have only ever seen Tartarus as an example of the prison conditions in this country; I'd love to hear more, and an MLA-focused jailbreak would be a great way to show it.

PLF Reunion: Of course, my number one thing to see with a reunion is Re-Destro being just as dismayed as Spinner is over Tomura's possession.  I crave more serious attention being paid to Rikiya's profound awe over Shigaraki's freedom, and would love to see his reaction to Shigaraki apparently losing that freedom.

Aside from the obvious, though, if the PLF does start piecing itself back together, I expect to see Sanctum again, given the attention he's gotten so far, and the fact that he's now the highest-ranked member of the Tactics Regiment.  It'd be great to get some explanation for how he can possibly be "the longest-serving member of the Liberation Army," given that the Army was generations old already when Re-Destro was just a child.  (If we do get that information, I imagine my own explanation will be jossed hugely, so I would also be happy to take time with Sanctum that doesn't explain the discrepancy but also doesn't invalidate my headcanon.)  

In the context of the regiments reforming, I'd also like to see Nimble and Aster, both because this manga needs more women, and because I'd like to see more of how Spinner and Toga interact with the people they were nominally commanding.

Media Attention: Trumpet's my number one hope here--the lack of any look into the state of the government in HeroAca Japan has been a total let-down since his introduction**, but I was particularly annoyed that the last time we saw him he was smiling (albeit in a fairly haggard way), giving me hope that we might next see him doing his part to portray all of this in a light that would sway public opinion.  And then literally one chapter later, we get prison guards talking about how the Hearts & Minds Party, a perfectly legitimized political party with representation on the national level, has been perfunctorily dissolved less than twelve hours from when the raid started.  How is there even an argument that the system heroes were upholding desperately needs to change?

I'm very tired of the media in BNHA only ever showing up to beg for/demand that heroes tell them what’s going on, particularly those damn press conferences. Journalists do investigative work! Newspapers employ reporters to actively seek out news!  Reporters in free countries don't just sit around waiting for the government or heads of major industries to graciously hand them press releases!  For heaven's sake, Trumpet was the head of a major political party.  People should be foaming at the mouth trying to get a statement from him!  

Especially with public trust in heroes breaking down, there should absolutely be intrepid reporters out there looking to get to the bottom of any of the layered conspiracies the public's just been hit with and told to just write-off as a bump in the road on the return to normalcy.

Anyway, Trumpet's the obvious choice, but if I could be sure the manga would validate my headcanons about Nimble and Scarecrow's disabilities, I'd be happy to put them in this position, too.  Trucker Toad would be another good candidate, if there's any basis to my idea that he is or used to be a transport driver who's seen a lot of the country outside the areas e.g. the Top Ten Heroes are patrolling.  He's obviously a good candidate for getting back to that idea of anti-heteromorph bias, too.  But really, I'd take anyone who can give a cogent explanation of the MLA's position on self-determination and the various ways Hero Society has exacerbated quirk-based discrimination.

Anyway, that's about where my thoughts are on where I hope the MLA people are and what we might see of them.  Thanks for the ask!

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

*Or as many as 100,000 more than that, depending on how through the statement, "Their bases around the country were also attacked, and their supporters rounded up," was meant to be.  An influx of 116K people, incidentally, would triple Japan's current carceral population.

**Why! Why would you introduce a politician and then never even glance at your setting's political situation??

[flutteringphalanges]

A Handful of Baby’s Breath

Summary: Dani knows that her days are numbered. And even though she won't admit it allowed, Jamie is well aware of it too. It's the idea of leaving Jamie alone that brings a thought to her mind. A rather big, important thought. An idea of leaving a piece of herself behind. Or rather, two pieces of herself. Together, Dani and Jamie decide to expand their family. From pregnancy to years gone by, we see a new meaning in: "It's me. It's you. It's us."

Ship: Dani/Jamie

Rating: T

Status: Complete

A/N: I have no idea why I thought of this. I just like baby stories! Any inconsistencies I am so sorry! I did a lot of research, but I am still prone to mistakes! By the way, we are talking in vitro feralization. Hope you like it! -Jen

                             A Handful of Baby’s Breath

Jamie eyed the bouquet of flowers left neatly on the counter with mixed suspicion and amusement. Dani was not as well equipped as she was when it came to botanical knowledge, but she still had a rather decent eye for pretty flowers. The ones you’d use for romance and such. And yet, to her at least, a lone collection of white Baby’s Breath didn’t seem to fit the theme. 

“An interesting find there, Poppins.” The other woman grinned, wiping her hands on a dish rag as her wife walked in. “Did you pick those yourself off the side of the road?” 

“No…” Dani said, a nervous smile crossing her features as she entered the room. “I um...I drove a ways and bought them as a surprise. Getting them from you wouldn’t make much sense.” 

She had that distant look in her eyes. A stare that made Jamie’s stomach knot. It was as if she was seeing something that only her gaze could meet. And the woman knew well enough that that was sometimes the case. Her brow furrowed as she stepped closer, a hand resting on her wife’s shoulder. 

“What is it?” She asked softly, trying to hide the concern in tone. “Did you see…”

“No.” Dani interrupted, shaking her head vigorously. “No, it’s not that. It’s…” The woman paused, clearing her throat. “I want to talk to you about something. Something big.” Her blue eyes widened as she took Jamie’s hand and pulled her to the couch. “It’s not bad...maybe not...but...sit down first.” 

“Okay…” Jamie said slowly, letting out a chuckle. “What did you do this time? You didn’t run into the light pole again. I told you we could replace that piece of junk. You don’t have to destroy the bloody car for that to happen.” 

“Not the car.” The young woman assured her. “I...I don’t know how long I have left…”

“Don’t start.” Jamie cut her off, her mouth curving into a deep frown. “We talked about this. When the time comes, we’ll face this together.” Dani opened her mouth, but her wife held up her finger. “It’s alright. Everything is going to be just fine as it has been.” 

“Whenever it happens, and it will, I don’t want you to be alone.” Dani insisted, straightening up in her seat to face Jamie. “So I’ve been thinking about it--quite constantly I might add, and I think that...well, we should have a baby.” 

If she had been holding a glass of wine, this would be the moment she’d spew the liquid out in utter shock. Jamie stared back at Dani, who seemed rather calm as if she expected this reaction, with her mouth agape. Certainly she hadn’t heard her right. No, not possible. Or if she had, maybe she was beginning to lose her beloved much faster than she’d thought. 

“A baby?!” Jamie blinked, eyes fixed on Dani. “As in a living, breathing, tiny human being?! That kind of baby?!” 

“Well certainly not an animal, though I did consider that.” Her voice was calm, mellow as she spoke. “And I thought that perhaps, if you agree, I’ll carry the child. That way you’ll always have a piece of me.” She smiled contently at the thought. “I know she is inside of me. But the more I’ve thought about it, the more I’ve come to realize that her being there won’t affect any child we have.” Dani sighed and her gaze flickered towards the window. “At least I’d like to think that. That that part of me, my genetic makeup, is and will always be mine. A ghost can only possess so much.”

“And how, pray tell, if we did decide to do this absurd idea of yours would we go about it? Most places our union alone wouldn’t be accepted, much less both our names on a birth certificate. Hell, Poppins.” Jamie exhaled, running a hand through her hair. “It’s nice to see you with some pep in your step, but a baby…”

“In vitro fertilization.” Dani said confidently. “Many women have had success with it. We just have to find the right sperm donor and then...well, I suppose we hope that we’re lucky.” She took Jamie’s hands in both of hers. “I know it’s far, across the world, but there is a sperm bank in California who actually helps women like us. Not to mention that I am still technically an American citizen. And I know it isn’t the same, but there is something called Second Parent Adoption which would secure that no matter what happens to me, our child is yours. Custody and all. I know the wording is far from favorable, but we’d be a family. A whole family. And us knowing that, being that, is the only thing that matters.” 

Jamie was silent, her hands still held in Dani’s. She could see the look of desperation in her wife’s eyes. The desire. The need. She didn’t like to think of losing her. Nor had she really ever seen herself as a mother. But here her wife sat nearly pleading the idea to her. It wouldn’t be an easy road. Perhaps not even successful. But Dani’s adamance. Her hope. Suddenly the gardener considered that maybe if she could keep a plant alive, a child couldn’t be that much harder.

“Is this what you really want?” She finally asked, gazing deep in the other woman’s eyes. “Really, really want?”

“More than anything.” Dani breathed. 

“Alright then.” Jamie said, leaning forward to touch her forehead to Dani’s. “Let’s make a baby then.” 

                                                     XXX

“Christ, it’s so hot…” Dani complained as she fanned herself with a leaflet. “Turn down the thermostat!” 

“What can you expect in sunny California?” Her wife joked, walking over to hand the heavily pregnant woman a glass of water. “And to think it’s actually colder here than average. I’m rather comfortable myself.” 

Dani threw her a dirty glare as she hobbled over to the kitchen table. So much had happened in the last eight months. Not only had their attempt to become pregnant worked on the first try, but Dani had found herself expecting twins. Thankfully both she and Jamie had experience dealing with two kids--even if one had been the au pair and the other a gardener. 

“You should apply for US citizenship so you can remain here in America with the twins if things don’t work out.” Dani said quietly, sipping on her water. “Surely you meet the requirements. I’ve just been thinking, if we go back...when we got back to England and I’m...it’s just you three, if something were to arise, you’d have a place to call your second home.” She rested a hand on her belly thoughtfully. “I’m sure Henry would be more than willing to help out if need be.” 

“We have talked to him in years.” Jamie exhaled, taking a seat beside her wife. “And I told you to stop worrying about silly stuff like that. One day at a time. Right now, the twins are healthy, you’re in one piece, and I’m not boiling over in the bloody heat.” She smiled and kissed the other woman, her hand moving to rest over hers. “Things will work themselves out as they normally do.” 

“Well can we at least pick some names?” Dani exclaimed, motioning to her stomach. “That would take some anxiety off my mind. It would’ve helped if you let the doctor tell us what we were having too.”

“I quite like surprises.” Jamie stated with a shrug. “And we’ve only got a few weeks left. Not much longer now.” She seemed hesitate for a moment as if deep in thought. “How about Ernest for a boy? After that lovely drunk man who has taken a piss or two on the corner side diner?” 

“I will pluck every petal from every bloom in your garden.” Her wife snorted, mouth twitching into a small smile. “Is picking a flower name too ironic? Rose seems lovely for any age. Or Hyacinth? I quite like that one actually.” 

“Too common and too old sounding.” Jamie shook her head. “What about Albert? We can call him Al for short. Seems acceptable enough.” 

Dani pursed her lips in consideration. “Maybe.” She said, gently stroking her stomach. “It’s the first acceptable name you’ve ever given me.” Jamie rolled her eyes and her wife snorted. “Fine, in case we have another boy...Joel.”

“Is there a reason for that name?” The other woman asked curiously. 

“...I may or may not have had a dog with that name.” Danit replied sheepishly. “What?” She grinned as the words sent the gardener into a fit of laughter. “Were you expecting me to say it was an old crush?”

“Certainly not a dog, that’s for sure. But...I suppose I’ll allow it.” Jamie chewed on her bottom lip. “Albert and Joel...those aren’t too horrible to make them want to kill us when they are older.” Or rather, when she was older. Nevermind that. “We need girls’ names now. And before you say anything, if we must pick a plant name....Aster.”

“Aster?” Dani questioned, one of her brows cocked in question. “Aren’t you worried she’ll be made fun of for that?”

“Children make fun of any and everything.” Jamie yawned, leaning back in her chair. “Besides, if she is anything like us, she’ll be the alpha of the playground.” 

“I don’t condone our daughter being violent.” Dani said, though it was hard to hide the amusement from her face. “...I guess it’s a nice enough name--and it is a flower.” She laced her fingers over the apex of her stomach. “Hannah.” 

Jamie stiffened slightly at the mention of the late housekeeper. Hannah rarely came up in conversation. Mostly when the couple had paid a visit to Owen’s restaurant in the past. Dani’s eyes seemed to be studying her wife, waiting for a response to her suggestion. 

“Hannah.” She nodded, smiling as she spoke. “I like that one a lot.” 

It was, after all, a very good, dependable name. 

                                                       XXX

She couldn’t believe she agreed to this. How could she have been so utterly stupid? Dani’s safety and well being far surpassed her wife’s fear of Jamie not being allowed to go into the delivery room. Whether they saw to it or not, she was the former au pair’s wife. Her family. But instead of a clean, medical equipment on hand, hospital room, her beloved partner writhed in agony in their bed as the weird midwife Dani insisted they hire and accompanying apprentice went about. 

“There is still time for us to go!” Jamie pleaded as Dani squeezed the life out of her hand. “Come on, Poppins, you don’t want to do this here.”

“Yes...Yes I do!” Dani insisted through grunts, despite the lingering thought of an epidural beginning to sound more and more lovely. “I just...CHRIST!” Part of her wanted to strangle Jamie in that moment. Her poor, innocent wife. If she remembered, she’d apologize later. “You have NO idea what this is like!” 

“And I’m rather glad for that.” Jamie thought to herself as she knelt by Dani’s side. “Do you want to get into the tub--”

“I said NO WATER!” And the ferocity in the former au pair’s tone shut the other woman up quick. “Please, I just want to push! I feel like I have to! I’ve been having contraction after contraction for hours! I. Want. To. Push!” 

“Lydia, light the incense please.” The midwife said calmly as the other woman lit some sticks that smelt of horrible, faux lavender. “Let me see where you are.” 

The phone was just inches away from her grasp as Jamie eyed it longingly from her spot beside the bed. If she could just unlatch herself from Dani, maybe she could call the emergency hotline and have her wife transported to a location with an actual doctor. Images of Dani hemorrhaging out and blue tinted babies filled the woman’s head as the midwife smiled. 

“Dani, you are definitely ready to deliver your children. Are you ready to become a mom?”

Are you ready to become a mom? The words floated in the gardener’s head and embedded themselves in her mind. As she looked to Dani, it was evident in her tired expression that she too was nervous. Now was not the time to show worry. Not when her wife needed her most. Forcing a smile, Jamie squeezed her wife’s hand. 

“Let’s have us some babies then.” 

Time felt faster than it probably actually was. For a second, it seemed as if it was only her and Dani. Then, bright pink with a healthy wail, Albert Joel Clayton was placed on his mother’s chest. And, as it should be, not long after, just as full of life as her brother, Hannah Aster Clayton made her own appearance in this world. A little boy and girl. Two moms and two children. What more could one ask for?

“You were brilliant, Poppins.” Jamie beamed, kissing her wife lovingly. “They’re perfect.” 

“Yes.” Dani agreed, smiling brightly despite her exhaustion. “They are, aren’t they.” She held the infants close to her bare skin and closed her eyes. “I don’t want this to end.” The new mother whispered. And for the first time, Jamie could see tears of sadness welling up in the corners of her eyes. “I’m not ready.” 

“It won’t end.” Jamie exclaimed, smoothing her partner’s hair down. “I won’t allow it.” 

The former au pair opened her eyes and gave a sorrowful, watery smile. “Okay.” She murmured, swallowing hard. Though Jamie didn’t know it yet, Dani knew that her time was soon approaching. “Let’s stay together then.” Her eyes flickered down to the twins. “One day at a time.” 

                                                   XXX

It would be a happier tale to say that after everything, Dani was not taken over by the Lady of the Lake. That she and Jamie got to raise their children together. Live as a happy family. But such good endings did not follow the family’s return to England from their temporary stay in the States. 

At first, Jamie had hoped that Dani was just suffering from postpartum depression. She rarely ate. Slept at odd hours. And her interest in the babies was not what one would expect. But the final straw that broke the camel’s back. That snapped Dani to realizing she must leave in order to protect her family came one night after Sunday dinner. 

“I think you got more peas on the floor than in you, Al.” Jamie smirked at the ten month old as she made her way to the kitchen. “Poppins, where is the broom? Albert--” 

Jamie stopped in her tracks, her heart leaping out of her chest. There Dani stood, completely stone faced and about to submerge Hannah in the filled up sink. Reacting quickly, the gardener rushed over and snatched her daughter away causing her wife to snap out of her trance. 

“What happened?!” She asked, her tone inflected with terror as she looked from the sink to her wailing child. “Oh my God! Oh my God!” Dani’s trembling hands flew to her face as her stomach threatened to dry heave. “I didn’t...I didn’t…”

“Dani, everything is alright now.” Jamie said, her own voice still a little shaky. “Hannah’s fine. You didn’t hurt her.”

“I almost drowned our child!” Dani wailed, throwing her arms up in the air. “Dammit, Jamie, can’t you see?! She’s here! I can feel her inside of me! I’ve felt her growing since the twins were born!” The former au pair began to shake her head violently. “No! No! I won’t! I can’t! I have to go!” 

“No!” Jamie snapped. “No! You aren’t going anywhere! We’ll figure this out! It could be a phase!” 

Dani only stared at Hannah, who currently had her face buried in Jamie’s chest. “I need to sit down and have a drink.” She said quietly. “I’m sorry.”

Jamie cleaned up after that, watching as Dani sauntered off to bed. She forced a smile as she bathed the twins and dressed them for sleep. By the time she made it to their room, the gardener merely assumed that her wife had fallen fast asleep. And that maybe things would be better in the morning. What an utterly, terrible mistake to make. How painful it can be to wake up alone in bed. 

Between coming to and Owen’s arrival to watch the twins, only an hour had passed before Jamie found herself speeding to Bly Manor. Perhaps it wasn’t too late. Maybe there was still a chance. The thought of it kept her going. Her love for Dani. Their children. And even when she swam deep out to the middle of that horrid lake and dove to its depths, she still prayed. Oh how even in death her beloved wife appeared so breathtaking. 

It’s you. It’s me. It’s us. 

It’s you. It’s me. It’s us. 

It’s us. 

                                                      XXX

The only thing that seemed to excite the twins at Flora’s wedding was the cake. Though they did not know her and she did not remember any reason of why or who she might associate them with, the three got along perfectly splendid. Jamie, who was practically a stranger to the girl but had been invited by Henry, offered to take them somewhere quiet, but she insisted that the children play. It was, after all, something she would’ve done. 

“Is your Mummy dead too?” Hannah asked randomly when the bride went to see how her favorite guests were doing. 

“What would make you ask that?” The woman smiled curiously. 

“Well she isn’t here.” Albert remarked. “Our Mummy is dead. Well, one of our mummies.”

“Our other Mama is alive.” His sister added on cheerfully. “Very much so!”

“I miss my mother.” Flora said kneeling down. “But do you know what my uncle told me?”

“What?” Albert asked, sounding quite serious despite his young age. 

“He said that she is always right here with me.” The bride replied, gently touching both of their chests. “In our hearts.”

The twins looked at each other and giggled. Flora’s brows furrowed in confusion. It seemed a very odd thing to find humorous. 

“That’s so silly!” Hannah grinned, meeting the woman’s stare. “Mummy isn’t in our hearts! No, Mummy comes out at night. Sometimes she visits us.”

“But she doesn’t talk.” Hannah informed her. “Sometimes she watches me or just walks.” The young girl tilted her head. “You’ve never seen your Mummy?” 

Before Flora could question them more, Jamie swooped in. Wrapping her arounds around the children, she apologized to the bride. At least, given their age, their recounting might be viewed as nothing more than fiction. 

“Remember we don’t talk about Mummy here.” Jamie said kneeling in front of her kids. 

“Mama?” Albert began, tugging at one of his loose buttons. “How come people like the nice lady don’t visit us? Not even Uncle Owen?”

“Well…” His mother began, choosing her next words carefully. “When you live at Bly Manor, it’s sort of a...special place. Magical. And for Mummy’s sake, we want to keep it that way, don’t we?”

Both the children nodded their heads and Jamie smiled. Pressing a kiss to the top of each of their heads, she allowed them to go running off towards the dance floor. Owen would be there, she knew, with the promise of sweets. And later on, she would drive the three of them home and tuck the two away in bed. Then she’d wait. Like every night since. 

She hadn’t gone back to America like Dani had insisted. Instead, with Henry’s good graces and making sure it was safe for her children. That all that bad and terrible was gone. They had moved into Bly Manor. She, the twins, and their Mummy of the Lake who visited on more than one occasion. The beautiful spirit who she someday hoped would allow her to roam the endless gardens and stone too. 

Pulling out a chair, she sat down with a smile, repeating the same phrase that held a new meaning now. 

“It’s you. It’s me. It’s us.” 

So I guess this has a happy-ish ending? I was rather unclear on the dates following Dani and Jamie getting together and then Flora’s wedding. So I had the twins be born closer to when Dani was overtaken by the Lady of the Lake and at Flora’s wedding the kids were closer to Flora and Miles when they were young on the show? Anyway, hope you enjoyed! Feedback is greatly loved and appreciated! -Jen

[michinekot]

1, 12, 20, 24, 28, 34 and 49 :3c ~FH Anon

LOTS OF TEXT SO

1. Your first OC ever? - My first OC... was a Power Puff Girl OC. I think her name was Star? I really can’t remember, but i remember her design... i might redesign her someday, i always liked her funky hair  😭

12. Name an OC that isn’t yours but who you like a lot - Chris? Rye? Lorn? Niko? Vivi? and OCs that belong to my mutuals? if ur reading this... I love them all. I’d die for all of them.

24. If you could meet one OC of yours, who would it be and why? - ASTER... He’s okay with hugs, he’s good at math, he’s caring and just. such a good big brother type. I love him, even if his story sucks ass (imo)

28. Your most dangerous OC? - (unintroduced) “The Prince” who is a whole ass sadist (but they’re also possesed!) and also a vampire. Willing and capable of hurting. Kai is a close second, he’s not rly a sadist, but he’s angry and not in his right mind so! also willing and capable of causing a lot of damage.  Thennn we have Cherry... technically, they’re the most dangerous and can’t even die. A shapeshifter+their guts are like acid. They’re capable of hurting others, but they’re unwilling. Have tried to “cleanse” as much “trash” as possible, but eventually stopped bcs they figured “they’re no one to judge others and punish them”.

34. Do you have any twin characters? - Yes! I have decided that in the end Aster&Fressia are going to be twins+I have snek twin OCs who might get a redesign and a better story.

49.  Which one of your OCs would most likely enjoy memes - Maru&Olivia I guess? lmao,, oh yes and Alex-

20. Do any of your OCs sing? If they sing, care to share more details (headcanon voice, what kind of songs they like etc)? - OKAY... Lemme send u to a few YT links:

Olivia (and lemme tell u, she loves singing&dancing.)

Maru (maybe,,, i’m not sure but i guess this fits? he loves singing with Olivia, but he usually just plays on the guitar.)

Surely Gladio is the guy singing here and not sure abt Freesia singing as the woman but?? she’d talk like that. this song is just them (Freesia doesn’t sing much, she usually just plays on the piano, but she likes it- and Gladio loves singing.)

Ruby (wouldn’t sing on his own but likes singing along! also, plays on the flute, haha)

[goron-king-darunia]

Annon-Guy: Speaking of Derek's, wpuld you label Marta, Colette, Raine, Sheena, Presea, Seles and Aqua as Tsundere's, Kuudere's and Deredere's? I know none of them are Yandere's and if Alice had to be classified as one of those Dere Types, it'd be a Tsundere considering how she responds to Decus' affections.

I’m going to be using all dere types that I can find in here, but I will try to use at least one of those three for each of the characters. Marta is probably a bit on the tsundere side, but I think it’s more like a mix of 90% Deredere and 10% Tsundere. Marta maaaaaay have a little Undere in there too, since she likes to be in agreement with Emil. Maybe 0.5% Himedere? Even when she grows out of talking about Emil like he’s her prince, she does still seem to want to be treated a bit like a princess. Colette should get her own category of Bakadere. She acts kinda ditzy and naive but is obviously so much more than that. So Colette is either Bakadere or Deredere. Or if we do mixes like Marta. Colette is probably 85-75% Deredere and 15-25% Bakadere. (Could also technically qualify as Byoukidere because she did get sick from becoming an angel but “person that gets sick once” isn’t really what I would call “personality type” so... XD) Raine is definitely some sort of Kuudere or Coodere. Very chill and falls in love slowly without much outward affection at first. Unless you’re a ruin. Raine might be a Yandere if you’re a ruin because she will love you and only you above all else until another cool ruin or artifact shows up. XD Sheena is somewhere between Kuudere and Hajidere. She would definitely play it cool at first but would go absolutely off the deep-end blushing over her crush if there was outward affection being shown to her. Evidenced by the skits that involve her being suggested to be Lloyd’s crush in both games. Presea is somewhat a mix of Nyandere, Kuudere, and Dandere. Nyandere because pawpads, kuudere since, as a byproduct of her having a hard time showing any emotions, she seems very aloof, and dandere because if and when she starts falling in love, she’d have a hard time being open about her feelings because she wouldn’t want to mess it up. Considering how Seles acts with her brother, she has a slight yandere in there but I’d feel confident mostly putting her in the tsundere category. Aqua is definitely some combination of Deredere and Undere. She doesn’t really every stand up to Richter on anything. When she does something she thinks he won’t like, she does it behind his back like with inviting Emil along on their sidequests. Has some slight yandere in there because I 100% believe that if someone other than Ratatosk hurt Richter, she’d have zero qualms about sending monsters after them to attack them. Definitely not more than 1% yandere, despite what my tastes in fanfiction might suggest. XD But she mostly acts very happy around Richter, probably so he has some positivity in his life. I think there’s also a splash of Hajidere in there because when she does something silly in front of Richter like accidentally leaving her fins out during her human transformation, she gets very embarrassed and she blushes a lot when praised by Richter. Alice is definitely at least 20% yandere, but I think she fits more firmly into tsundere. Just for fun, I’ll do the boys too! Lloyd is absolutely just a Bakadere. Slight case of Namuidere since Lloyd is a sleepy boy. Genis is probably mostly Deredere, with maybe, like, 1% Bodere and 15% Hajidere. Zelos is at least 20% Bakadere, 20% Darudere, and the rest is probably Deredere with just a slight case of Bodere. No more than 1% Bodere. But now that I think of it, there’s at least 2% Oujidere in there. Regal is definitely Coodrere/Kuudere. IDK if there’s a Dere type for suave but if there is, it’d be that. He was raised rich and was definitely a socialite before everything with Alicia, so while he’s definitely in control of his emotions and can give an outwardly cool performance, he’s definitely a soft boy. Kratos is some sort of Hinedere with some Kuudere and Utsudere splashed in. Richter is Mayadere by virtue of being the antagonist of the series, but beyond that, he’s some version of Kuudere/Tsundere mix with a sprinkle of Utsudere. With Richter it’s kinda hard to tell because we know very little of what he was like before what happened with Ratatosk because there were very few chapters of the manga of before that. But he could be VERY soft with Aqua, so there’s definitely some Deredere sweetness in there somewhere. But I feel pretty solid in placing him as a Tsundere. Aster is 300% some kind of Deredere with a pinch of Bakadere in there and maybe even a little Yeredere, because I can TOTALLY see Aster being the type to just... steal things from the person he loves and think obsessively about them.  Emil is, without a doubt, Hajidere. Whether it’s Richter or Marta he thinks about, when he likes someone as something beyond a friend, he is VERY nervous and flustered thinking about his affection for them or their affection for him. Definitely has the bubbly Deredere affect once he’s comfy, but like, as a default? Hajidere. Tenebrae is Hinedere/Kamidere/Oujidere. Tenebrae knows he’s hot shit and if anyone’s gonna fall in love with him, he’s going to milk the hell out of it and wrap them around his little pinky tail-finger.  Decus is Yeredere and Undere. A Yereundere, if you will. XD Committed to Alice, probably saves any stray hairs from Alice that end up on his clothes, does whatever she says without question, loyal as a dog. Ratatosk is mostly Tsundere with a smidge of Utsudere and Kamidere.

[nat-20s]

im so sorry but there were just too many good questions DD: arum-lily, aster, begonia,bellflower, cardinal flower, coneflower, daffodil, daisy, garden cosmos, rhodendron, tropical white morning glory, and finally, yarrow

Arum-lily:What’s the farthest you’d go for a stranger? 

I don’t know! I think that’s one of those situations where it’d be hard to tell until you were actively put in the scenario of having to go far. Knowing myself, I probably wouldn’t sacrifice my life for a stranger, but I might allow for myself to be injured so that they’re not, but I’ve never really been in a circumstance that’s required me to test that. I do know at the very least I’d give them a ride and a meal, as I’ve done that before. 

Aster: What’s one of your favorite quotes? 

only one? I guess I’ll go with the one that I want tattooed on my body: “Rage, rage against the dying of the light”- from “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night”, a  villanelle by Dylan Thomas

Begonia: Favorite color? 

Bellflower: Favorite animal? 

fuck uhhh all of them. This changes with the wind but right now I guess dumbo rats

like LOOK at them

Cardinal Flower: Do you believe in ghosts? 

nope. but i think it would be neat if they did exist and im definitely not saying they CANT POSSIBLY exist but. i haven’t seen em or real compelling evidence for em.

Coneflower: Dream job? 

Realistically: research associate for a neurodegenerative disease research lab 

actual dream: trophy wife to an eccentric and charming millionaire who is deeply in love with me and also in my age group. she funds me doing weird art/science things and I look very good on her arms at holiday parties. That or a hearty sailor who breaks the hearts of landlubbers everywhere. Or whatever the fuck howl jenkins had going on

Daffodil: What’s your zodiac sign?

Cancer! I wonder if that seems like a good fit to yall---message me what zodiac sign i give off the vibes of

Daisy: What do you feel is your greatest accomplishment? 

Not dying? 

i co authored a published scientific paper that’s pretty tight

i think? i may have stopped one of my friends from attempting suicide so that’s pretty cool

Garden Cosmos: How was your day today? 

all right. It was less bad than i thought it was gonna be because i spent a solid chunk of the day talking to first my parent then one of my friends so it wasn’t quite so lonely but. it was my first christmas away from home and the homesickness is definitely hitting hard

Rhodendron: What is something you used to believe in as a child? 

that i was gonna get cooler as an adult. so much for that. 

Tropical White Morning Glory: Describe your aesthetic.  

clutterbitch with elements of 1950s, mermaids, space, eldritchian horror, 80s, natural biology (specifically brains), gothic, grandma, and gay disaster. All involving glitter.

Yarrow: Do you know what vore is?

bad question to end on anon. and yes. I do. I’ve had to explain it to 3 different people and never again will i. Do not ask me what vore is if you don’t know i will lie to you. 

[ask-gilbert-and-ludwig]

Ludwig wasn’t sure what would be waiting for him downstairs, but he knew it would be a surprise of some sort. Seeing as how today was his birthday, and his brother and father always did something for his birthday.

What he really wanted was to spend his birthday with his friends, but seeing as how he didn’t have any, he couldn’t really do that.

Not that he didn’t enjoy spending time with his family, no of course not! Even if Gilbert was annoying more often than not and liked to pin him to the floor when they were fighting. Even if his dad didn’t have a set schedule for work and sometimes missed important stuff. He still loved them, but it wasn’t the same.

He wanted to be like the kids at school who held big parties and invited all their friends. Then talked about it the next day in class. Well maybe not the last part since he didn’t like talking to most people and most people didn’t like talking to him. But still.

He shook his head and looked at the clock.

I’d better get downstairs, he thought. Despite it being his birthday, he still had to go to school.

He didn’t hear anything as he left his room, but he did see streamers wrapped around the banister leading down the stairs. Noticing one pink amongst the blues and greens he sighed. Gilbert.

Once he’d turned the corner into the living room, he saw the set up surrounding the couch and chairs. A few presents of various sizes, a stack of birthday hats on the table, a banner saying ‘Happy Birthday’ hanging up on the wall, and a few letters.

Aster then trotted up to him, wearing one of the hats and rubbed up against him.

He giggled and took it off her. “I’m guessing that’s what you wanted?”

A loud noise then sounded coming from the kitchen. He looked over and saw Gilbert at the island with a noise maker in his mouth.

“Why did you get him those?” he asked his dad. A hint of desperation in his voice.

“He got them when I wasn’t with him,” he replied.

Gilbert blew into the noise maker again, much more loudly than previously, before proclaiming, “I’m sorry I didn’t want your birthday to be boring!”

“At least I wouldn’t have had a headache.”

“Whatever old man,” Gilbert sneered. “So how does it feel to be 7? Feel older?”

“Not really,” Ludwig replied as he made his way over to the island, “nothing’s changed from yesterday to today.”

“Except you’re 7 instead of 6 now! That’s a whole year!”

“Well I guess I’m taller than I was a year ago.”

Gilbert rolled his eyes. “You’re taller than you were a month ago. You’re like a weed.”

“I don’t know, your hair looks more like dandelion fluff than mine.”

Gilbert stuck his tongue out at him. Ludwig did so too a moment after.

“Alright, enough,” their father said. Both stopped but continued to side eye the other. “I made pancakes for breakfast, and I added chocolate chips too.”

Ludwig smiled. His dad was hardly ever home for long enough in the morning to make them pancakes made from scratch, and he only put in chocolate chips if he was feeling generous, or it was a special occasion.

“Thank you, Daddy,” he said.

“Ya thanks Dad,” Gilbert mumbled absentmindedly as he checked his phone.

Dad nodded. Setting two large pancakes in front of Ludwig before turning back to the stove. Gilbert quickly messed up his hair before their dad could see.

“Hey!”

Gilbert pretended to be absorbed in his phone. “What? I didn’t do anything.” But the smirk on his lips said otherwise.

“Don’t harass him too much today, okay Gilbert?”

“Not a problem, gonna be at school for most of it anyways.”

Their father sighed.

After finishing their pancakes both Gilbert and Ludwig got ready for school, despite being offered a ride, Gilbert still chose to drive himself to school. Why, Ludwig didn’t know, but at least now he didn’t have to listen to him complain about how much homework he had.

“So, what is it that you want to do today?” Dad asked.

Ludwig thought for a moment. “I don’t know. Maybe take a walk in the big park with the swings instead of the small one near home?”

Dad nodded. “Nothing else?”

“If I get new toys, I’ll want to play with them I guess.”

“Alright, but if you think of anything while you’re at school just let us know.”

“I will.” Ludwig then felt the car come to a stop.

“Have a good day at school Kleiner.”

Ludwig grabbed his backpack and left the car. “Bye!” he said, waving as he walked towards the school.

****

Finally, it was the end of the day and he could just go home. While he loved learning, sometimes school just felt like a punishment and not an actual place to learn. Especially when he kept getting reminded that no one in his class cared that it was his birthday.

As he walked to the front of the school where his bus would be, he saw Gilbert and his friends standing there waiting for him.

“How’d you get here on time to pick me up? School finishes at the same time for you as it does for me,” Ludwig pointed out, wondering why on earth he was there.

“We weren’t doing anything important so when I told the teacher what I was gonna do she just let me go early,” Gilbert explained.

“I just said I had an appointment,” Francis said.

“So, did I,” Antonio added.

“But why did you bring them if we’re just going back home?” While Francis and Antonio did sometimes come over to give him presents, they usually didn’t stay for long, not wanting to make the day about Gilbert instead.

“Because we’re not going home right away, and I need them to distract you.”

“Distract me?”

Francis nudged him. “And it was our idea.”

“Oh, ya that too.”

Ludwig tilted his head. “Where-”

“Come on!” Gilbert urged, pushing him towards his beat-up old car. Getting into the backseat squished in-between Francis and Antonio he couldn’t help but question why Gilbert couldn’t have just asked Dad for him to buy him a better one instead of forcing himself into buying an old used one.

As Gilbert checked his review mirror he said, “You idiots better be clipped in, and no I don’t mean you Ludwig, you’re the only one in this car that has more than one brain cell.”

“Of course, we are!”

“I am!”

Ludwig couldn’t make out his brother’s facial expression as he replied, “Alright good, then we’re off.”

It was slow getting out of the parking lot, while they had been talking the buses had started to pull out, along with every other parent who was picking up their kid.

“So where are we going?” Ludwig asked. Knowing Gilbert, he probably wouldn’t get the answer he wanted.

“Half the fun is the surprise!”

Of course not.

“Hey, you two are supposed to be entertaining him,” Gilbert chastised.

Antonio turned to Ludwig then. “So, how was your day?”

“Uh, it was okay, we had a quiz in math though” Ludwig recalled.

“Oh, that sucks! A quiz on your birthday?”

Ludwig shrugged. He kind of liked math. “It wasn’t too bad.”

“Did your teacher give you a gift or did anyone give you cards?” Francis questioned.

“No one gave me any cards,” most of them don’t like me enough to even remember my birthday, “and ya my teacher gave me a cupcake with gummy worms, but she does that for everyone’s birthday.”

“Still it must be nice,” Francis said, “I never got anything for my birthday at school.”

“Quit complaining,” Gilbert called from the front, “at least you get your birthday off every year. I once had a project due on mine!”

Ludwig remembered that. He had wanted to read with him before he went to sleep and give Gilbert his card early, but he had been too busy finishing the project. Ludwig was glad when he came home finally done with the stupid thing.

“Yes, but everyone is always on holiday on my birthday, so I can never be with friends. So, I am all alone.”

At least you have friends.

“Francis, we were both here this year for your birthday,” Antonio pointed out.

“Ya French fry, do you not remember the thousands of selfies we took on your phone and posted to Snapchat?”

Francis huffed. “I hate when you call me that.”

Gilbert breathed a laugh. “That’s exactly why I call you it.”

“Fine Snow White.”

“Snow White has black hair, I clearly don’t.”

“Yes, but your skin is as white as snow, and you are dumb enough to eat a poisoned apple offered by a stranger.”

“Guys,” Antonio sighed, “do you always have to have this same conversation every time?”

Ludwig tried to look past him out the window but got pushed back into his seat by Antonio before he could guess where they were.

“Sorry,” he mumbled.

“If he would stop calling me French fry, which aren’t French by the way, then we would never have this conversation.”

“So, it’s okay for Gil and you to call me Puppy but not okay for him to call you French fry?”

Gilbert snorted.

“French fry is historically inaccurate; Puppy is extremely fitting.”

Ludwig looked at Francis in confusion. “Why do you call him that?”

“Oh, he gets excited really easily, he follows Lovino around everywhere he can, and is loyal to a fault.”

“Not to mention he licks people,” Gilbert added.

“Only when they’re being annoying,” Antonio defended.

Ludwig felt the car park. “Oh, thank God we’re here,” he whispered.

They filed out of the car, Ludwig following close behind. Just as he was about to look around hands placed themselves over his eyes.

“What are you doing? I can’t see!” he complained.

“We gotta get you there first!” he heard Gilbert say right above him. It must have been him who was covering his eyes.

Ludwig sighed. He knew he wasn’t strong enough to get out of Gilbert’s grip anyways. “Fine.”

They started moving, slowly, as to avoid cars in the parking lot he assumed, towards the surprise. We probably look strange, he thought. Three teenagers leading a blindfolded child to wherever it was they were taking him. Hopefully nobody was staring at him.

When they finally stopped Gilbert said, “Guys do a drum-roll!”

Ludwig then heard what was probably Francis and Antonio attempting to mimic a drum-roll by slapping their thighs.

“I don’t need a drum-roll.”

“Yes, you do!” Gilbert said before taking his hands off of his face. “Ta-da!”

Ludwig let his eyes adjust to see that they were in a bookstore.

“Pick any three books you want,” Gilbert declared, spreading his arms wide.

“Shouldn’t you check them over to make sure they aren’t filled with,” Francis cleared his throat, “stuff.”

Stuff? What stuff? Books that have swearing?

“I doubt he’ll go anywhere near those sections, but...” Gilbert turned back to him. “I have to look them over first though okay?”

“Alright.” Ludwig didn’t understand why he needed to. He didn’t think there’d be any swearing or whatever in the history or fantasy books he wanted.

“Okay so run free but try and not take too long cause we need to get back in less than an hour, or Dad will think I kidnapped you.”

Ludwig breathed a laugh before running off to where he knew the history section was. He skimmed through the books until he found one on mythologies. While he knew the basics of some mythologies, he wasn’t very knowledgeable in them, and ever since he had met that weird frog, he had been more curious about them.

He then made his way towards the children’s section, making sure to hold his new book close to his chest, not wishing to drop it. He wanted to find a collection of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tales. He had already read some of the more famous ones such as; The Little Mermaid and Thumbelina, but he had yet to read the lesser known ones that he had just recently heard about; The Nightingale and The Wild Swans.

Ludwig made his way down the row, checking the books for the authors names, until he came across Andersen’s. There were two different collections.

He held the two in his hands and thought about which he should choose. While the one had more stories and had a much prettier cover, the other was cheaper, and although Gilbert had a job of his own now, Ludwig didn’t want to force him to spend more than he had too.

But I really want it, he thought.

Deciding that he would just ask Gilbert if it was okay to get the more expensive one, he put the cheaper of the two back.

As he was about to speed off to another section, he heard a book fall off the shelf. Not wanting anyone to step on it, he went and picked it up.

Turning it over to look at the cover he saw that it was one he recognized. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

Someone must have gotten lazy and left it here instead of putting it back in the French section where it belongs, he thought.

Looking at the cover he couldn’t help thinking about when he had read it in class. Although he had had a bit of trouble following along, he had gotten the gist of the story, and he had surprisingly liked it.

Instead of putting it back, he put it with his other two books and went to go find his brother. He found them standing a bit off from the line to the cash register, talking animatedly about something.

“You done?” Gilbert asked as he took the books from him.

“Yes.”

Looking them over Gilbert pulled out The Little Prince. “You sure you want the French version? I think they might have it in English.”

Ludwig shook his head. “No, I want it.”

“Okay.”

“Is it okay that I get this collection book of Fairy Tales or should I get the one that’s cheaper? I wanted this one because it has more stories, but I’ll go back if you want.”

“Nah it’s fine,” Gilbert reassured, “Antonio and Francis are chipping in anyways. It’s their gift to you.”

“Well thank you.”

Francis and Antonio smiled.

“No problem, I love giving people gifts!” Antonio replied.

“It’s your birthday! Of course, we’d get you something mon petit!” Francis then proceeded to run their hands through Ludwig’s hair.

Ludwig batted his hand away.

“Let’s get in line before it gets too long,” Gilbert said.

****

Gilbert had first dropped off Francis and Antonio at their homes before driving them back to their house. Now they were parked in their driveway and Gilbert was trying to convince Ludwig to set his new book down.

“You can read it later, now we’re gonna have cake and presents!”

Ludwig looked up from his book on mythologies and put his new bookmark in it.

“Good, now I don’t have to take it from you and put it on a high shelf.”

Ludwig glared at him and held the book closer.

Gilbert held the door open for him as they went inside. “We’re home!” Gilbert yelled down the hall.

They then walked into the living room to see the same spread of decorations, with just a few more presents added to the table.

“How was school?” their dad asked as he continued to prep dinner.

“It was okay,” Ludwig replied.

Gilbert set his bag down next to the bookcase. “Oh! You guys need to hear this! Today Arthur actually wore colour. It was horrifying.”

Ludwig had heard of Gilbert speak of Arthur and how he only wore black or wore mostly black with a bit of colour. He had called him ‘emo’. Ludwig still had no idea what that meant.

“Really? What was he wearing?” Ludwig questioned.

“He wore blue jeans with rips in them and a green shirt. It was so surreal! I had to ask Antonio if I was having a stroke.”

“Did you find out why?” Dad asked.

“Well Francis went up and complimented him, then said that maybe he wasn’t completely hopeless after all. Then Arthur got defensive and said it was because most of his clothes were dirty. So, this is probably just a onetime thing.”

“He could have been lying because he was embarrassed,” Ludwig suggested.

“Could be.”

Gilbert had told Ludwig all about his friends’ crushes. How Francis really liked Arthur and Arthur probably really liked him back because of how he acted towards him, but they were too stubborn to tell each other. Didn’t want to be the first to admit it. Ludwig had said that the logic of teenagers was dumb. Gilbert hadn’t agreed.

“Dinner will be ready soon if you want to come sit,” Dad interrupted.

Both boys went and sat at the island.

“So, what’re we having?” Gilbert said watching their father.

“Sauerbraten, potatoes, red cabbage, and knödel.”

“Hell yeah!”

A glare was sent his way.

“Sorry,” Gilbert mumbled in a tone that suggested he wasn’t.

Dad didn’t bother berating Gilbert for swearing further than the glare. While there was a no swearing rule Gilbert didn’t take it seriously. He was only easy to control if he wanted to be.

“We don’t have hats on!” Gilbert suddenly exclaimed as he jumped out of his seat. He came back a few seconds later and forced a birthday hat on both Dad and Ludwig.

Ludwig reached to take it off, but Gilbert stopped him.

“I’ll force you to wear two if you take this one off. It’s not that big a deal, just until you’re done unwrapping your presents.”

“Fine.”

****

After dinner Dad put the cake, a delicious looking one with blue icing with star shaped sprinkles, in front of Ludwig and lit the candles.

As always Ludwig felt awkward as his family sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to him. He really didn’t like being the center of attention and this was the worst kind.

“Make a wish!” Gilbert said once they had finished singing.

I wish I had just one friend.

He blew out the candles.

“What did you wish for?” their dad asked.

“You can’t ask!” Gilbert exclaimed. “It won’t come true if he tells you.”

“Alright. Well I hope it comes true.”

I hope so too.

“Of course, it will! Ludwig’s great! He deserves it to come true.” Gilbert leaned down and hugged him.

Ludwig struggled to get him away. “Let go.”

Instead Gilbert picked him up and carried him into the living room.

“Put me down! What about my cake?”

“I’ll get you a piece so we can eat it while you’re unwrapping presents.”

“Why can’t I just eat the cake then do presents?” he implored.

His brother set him down on the couch. “Cause I’m getting impatient. I want to see your reaction to my gift.” He jogged back over to the kitchen and grabbed two slices of cake. Then came back, their dad following much more slowly behind him, and gave Ludwig the bigger of the two slices.

Good.

First Gilbert gave him his card. Strangely it wasn’t a joke card, for once it was sentimental. “Thank you.”

“I haven’t even given you your gifts yet. You can thank me after.” Once he was done looking over the card Gilbert then grabbed a present wrapped in black wrapping paper with white paw prints printed all over it. “This ones from me!”

“I guessed.” He took the present from him and started to unwrap it carefully, not wanting to make a huge mess. Not unsurprised to see that it was clothing. Two shirts to be exact.

Gilbert took one of them and held it up against his chest to show that it said ‘big brother’ on it. Every year his brother got Ludwig and himself a new matching set of shirts with something along the lines of ‘big brother’ and ‘little brother’ written on them. It had become a sort of tradition. This year the words were in big white letters written in cursive over a blue shirt. A number two on the back of his.

“When will you stop buying these for us?” They didn’t even wear them all that often. They always wore them the day after his birthday, then maybe if Gilbert remembered they would wear them again a few more times. Ludwig usually just shoved his in a box in his closet.

“When you finally stop growing. Then they’ll be pink and have crowns on them.”

“If you do that, I’m donating them.”

Gilbert smirked.

“What’s the real present you wanted to give me?” Ludwig asked, trying to change the subject.

Gilbert reached into the pile again and this time handed Ludwig a wrapped-up box with a bow.

Ludwig untied the bow, then once the paper was off, he opened the box and pulled out a frame. Looking at it he saw that it was a picture of him and Gilbert on the swings in the park wearing their raincoats, laughing at some dumb joke Gilbert had made.

He smiled fondly, if he remembered the day correctly this had been a few months ago back in April when all three of them had gone to the park. Gilbert had challenged Ludwig to see who could swing the highest. Gilbert had obviously won, what with his legs being much longer. After wearing themselves out Gilbert had tried talking but his voice had cracked. What with him being winded and the added change to his voice it sounded silly. Instead of getting bashful as most would Gilbert had pretended to be a dying bird.

Ludwig leaned over and gave Gilbert a hug. “I really like it.”

“Ya, Antonio helped me carve the frame and Francis helped me pick out colours for it. But the idea was all mine!”

Ludwig looked at the picture again and payed more attention to the frame. It had a little rain cloud carved on one side. The blue of the frame matching Ludwig’s coat and the cloud matching the clouds in the picture.

“It’s really good.”

“Thanks, but you know me, I’m shit at art. Most of it was Antonio.”

“Music is art so you’re not all bad at it.”

Gilbert shrugged and handed him another present. “This is my last one then Dad’ll give you his.”

Ludwig unwrapped it to find a husky webkinz.

“Whatcha gonna name him?” Gilbert asked making room on the couch so Dad could sit with them.

“Snowy.”

“Coolio.”

His dad sat next to him and handed him a gift along with a card. This one was also in a box, but it was bigger than the one Gilbert had given him. Ludwig opened the envelop and read the card before he unwrapped the gift, discovering that it was a toy airplane that he had to build.

“It comes with a few paints so you can choose what colour it’s going to be.”

“Thank you.” He couldn’t wait to make and play with it. Maybe he would try and paint it like one of the planes from his history books.

Dad then handed him another present. “This is the last one.”

“Okay.” He opened it and saw a light brown bear wearing a blue shirt that said, ‘Happy Birthday’, blue jeans, and green and grey shoes.

“Thank you, I really liked all of them.”

Gilbert messed up his hair again. “Good!”

Ignoring his brother, he opened the letters on the table. All from his family in Germany, except for one from Roderich and his parents who couldn’t come today. All signed from family he had never met or was introduced to once when he was too little to remember. The entire process felt more like a formality then a genuine gift. At least Gilbert knew who all these people were.

After telling him happy birthday once more his dad went upstairs to work on paperwork and Gilbert moved to the small love-seat and started playing some game on his phone.

As he sat there on the couch, he started to feel very tired all of a sudden. Taking off his birthday hat he laid down and wondered if and when his wish would come true.

[bigfan-fanfic]

Never Leave

For  @scharoux and @spring-into-love ‘s Spring Into Love Prompts!

Prompt: “Will you stay with me tonight?” Pairing: Aster Amell x Alistair Theirin

“Will you stay with me tonight?” Alistair asks, tentatively. Aster isn’t quite sure what to say. He wants to. Desperately. But he’s afraid it will be awkward.

“Please. We don’t have to do anything. I just... I want to be around you.”

And how can Aster resist?

He’s snuggled into the other man’s chest, sharing the same bedroll, before he can even think, and then Alistair is humming happily, the rumble in his chest making a lovely sensation. 

“I’m sorry for pressuring you.” Alistair whispered. “I don’t really care about... you know... licking lampposts in winter or anything... I just love you, Aster.”

Aster sighed happily, turning to kiss Alistair on the cheek. “I... I love you too, Alistair. I’ve really missed being with you these last few nights.”

“Me too.” Alistair breathed. “Say, why don’t we do something about that?”

“Like what?”

“You know. I promise you I’ll never leave you alone and all that. We’ll be together forever?”

Aster looks a little worried. “Forever’s an awfully long time. Are you sure you’d want me for that long?”

Alistair hugs him tight. “Yes. I want you for as long as the Maker sees fit to keep us in this world together.”

“And then forever after?” Aster yawns, too comfortable with his love to stay awake.

“And even beyond then.”

“Love you, Alistair...” Aster whispers, before he nods off to sleep.

“I love you too...”

They embrace as they drift to sleep, confident that no matter what life may throw at them, they shall be together to face it.

- - -

“Will you stay with me tonight?” Alistair asks, breathlessly. It’s the night before the Landsmeet, and everything may change in the cold morning light. For now, though, it is clear for Aster what he will say.

“Of course,” Aster moves close, slowly taking off his robe and slipping into the bed with Alistair. The sheets are somehow too soft and the bed too comfortable compared to their bedroll, but they are warm and they need each other’s company.

Alistair holds him close. What with all the craziness, Alistair hasn’t wanted to be apart from him since the moment they made love for the first time in that dungeon - which, while inadvisable, was wonderful, and Aster doesn’t want to be apart now either.

“Aster... I think they’re going to try and make me king.” Alistair whispers.

It sounds hilarious to him. Alistair, a king? Alistair, who could barely follow a recipe, who tells the worst jokes and gives roses and is far too kind and gentle a soul for politics? Why would Morgan do that?

“Morgan knows you don’t want it. He promised he’d take care of you, didn’t he?”

Alistair nods. “Morgan told me... he said there were things that he had seen about the future. That he didn’t want to let me die, and that I would be a good king. That it was my duty to the people. Riona and Innes said we couldn’t let Anora rule. Leliana agrees.”

Aster looks hard at him. “And what do you think?”

“I don’t know! I never wanted to lead, anyway! And now, I might end up having to because of that. I... I’ve always preferred to follow.”

Aster sets his jaw and kisses Alistair, who breathes in sharply in surprise.

“Er...” Alistair chuckles nervously, smiling. “What was that for?”

“My promise. I’m not going to leave you alone, Alistair. King or Warden, I’ll be at your side no matter what. I’ll teach you everything I know about politics.” he notices Alistair shooting him a teasing grin. “I know about politics, Alistair! I read quite a bit in the Circle. And, I suppose I am a noble, you know.”

“All right, all right.” Alistair kisses him. “I already feel better.”

“Really?”

“Actually, yes.” Alistair said, as if he were surprised. “I always feel like with you, I can do anything.”

 They do not sleep that night, fearful of what the morning will bring, but they take comfort in each other’s presence, in the touch of the other.

- - -

“Will you stay with me tonight?” Alistair asks, brazenly, holding on to Aster’s hands, wearing absolutely nothing, and smirking in that suddenly-confident way that makes Aster’s knees go weak. 

Aster gives a low groan. Alistair was the King now, and he was his Chancellor. It wouldn’t be right. And no matter how many times he told himself that, he couldn’t stop himself from staying.

“You know I will.”

Alistair kisses him then, fingers tangling in his hair. In these moments, Aster can pretend that he and Alistair belong to each other, that they can be together. When Alistair tells him he loves him, couldn’t live without him, he can fantasize that they can do something about it.

He resents it sometimes, the inability. The sense of claustrophobia that comes from being trapped. Alistair, too, has fantasies. He tells Aster about them in moments of weakness after a long day at court.

Once, when they went together with a few knights, to visit some of the more remote villages in Ferelden, Alistair confessed that he was thinking about just running away.

“Come with me, Aster. Let’s just go somewhere no one knows us. We could be farmers in Nevarra or something. Maker, we could go across the sea for all I care, as long as we can be together.

“I love you, Alistair. And if that was at all possible, I would go with you in a heartbeat. But we can’t.” Aster sighed. 

Alistair had slipped his hand into Aster’s, in a small rose garden out of sight of the townspeople and the knights. “Then we must be happy with these stolen moments.”

“They’re the happiest of my life.”

So now, Aster leans into the kiss. If he can’t be happy all the time, he might as well take whatever he can get.

Alistair winks at him. “I was thinking we could try out those ribbon things again tonight.”

“Planning to wake the whole castle, my King?” Aster winks back playfully.

“Only if you don’t shut me up.” Alistair whispers, burying his head in Aster’s neck.

They sleep very little that night, and as always, Aster is forced to disentangle himself from Alistair’s grip in the morning before he loses all will to leave.

- - -

“Will you stay with me tonight?” Alistair asks, softly, the grin on his face one that really means “finally.” Aster smiles back, nuzzling his husband on their traditional Fereldan marriage bed, which is hung with garlands and other such cozy charms.  

“I wonder, has the answer to that ever been ‘no?’” Aster chuckles, feeling Alistair pull him impossibly closer, perfectly content.

“Come to think of it, no, it hasn’t. I still thought I’d ask. Tradition and all, you know.”

Aster snorts, and Alistair laughs with him. Seven years they had known each other. Six of them, they had been doing this dance. As friends exploring something deeper, as lovers, and now, finally, as husbands.

“A new tradition, then.” Aster turns in Alistair’s embrace, so he could face his husband, who purses his lips in a parody of seriousness. 

“All right. What’d you have in mind?”

“Ask me again.”

“All right.” Alistair says, intrigued. “Will you stay with me tonight, Aster? My husband, my king, the love of my life?”

Aster smiles. “I’ll never leave you again, my love.”

Alistair leans in for a kiss. “Don’t think I won’t hold you to that.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” Aster chuckles.

They sleep in each other’s arms, tangled together as though they never intend to be apart.

[bibliothesoph]

snowbaz flower shop au bc lord knows we don’t have enough of those

BAZ.

It's been a long day, but I still have one more thing to do. Since it's Daphne's birthday tomorrow and my father is an insufferable bastard, I'm the one who has to go pick up flowers for her. If it were any other day I wouldn't really mind, but I'm utterly knackered after my full day of lessons. By the time I make it to the flower shop to pick up the arrangement my father ordered, the store is already closed.

I sigh and pull out my phone to find an open shop nearby, praying that there's a half decent place that's still open. I know that my father will be upset that it's not the arrangement he chose (or, more accurately, that his assistant picked out) but I'm fairly confident in my ability to pick out a simple yet elegant arrangement. My father, who still totally refuses to admit that I'm gay, says I simply acquired my mother's good taste.

What a load of fucking nonsense.

Thankfully I find a place that's open. It's only a few blocks away and it's open for another hour so I should make it there with plenty of time to spare. I quickly make my way through the hoards of pedestrians and find the shop. When I enter, I'm really quite glad that my day has worked out like this.

There's a boy (who looks to be around my age) walking around with pots stacked high in his arms. He has the most gorgeous, untamed curls bounding off in different directions and piercing blue eyes that remind me of the sky. His face is splattered with a collection of moles and freckles that make him look positively adorable . I swear that my heart nearly stops when I see him.

Evidently, I seem (more likely the bell on the door, but I'd like to think that I had something to do with it) to have the same effect on him because as soon as I enter, his mouth drops open and he trips over himself, sending the pots clattering to the ground.

SIMON. Today's been a bloody nightmare. Ebb was sick so I had to skip my lessons and work the shop all by myself. Normally I don't mind running things on my own, but it was like the universe wanted to fuck me over today. I had to make five huge orders on top of the three that Ebb had set aside for the day, along with doing the daily plant maintenance. With one hour left in my work day, I'm totally knackered and just really hope that no one else comes in. I really don't think I could deal with another order right now.

But, just my luck, another customer comes in with less than an hour until closing. When I hear the bell chime on the door I accidentally trip over something because my annoyance has me distracted. The pots in my arms go flying and break into hundreds of clay pieces on the floor, sprawling out by the foot of the customer.

"Sorry," I mumble as I go to the back to fetch the broom and dustpan. I don't even look at the costumer—I'm far too embarrassed. Maybe Penny was right—maybe this is too much for me to handle.

When I return to clean up my mess, the customer grabs the broom and clears their throat. I slowly meet their gaze and, I swear to god, my heart nearly stops beating right there.

Standing in front of me is the most elegant bloke I've ever seen. I can think of about a million adjectives to describe him—hot, chiseled (but in a statue way, not a hunky way), fit, sexy, gorgeous—but I think that elegant (or maybe regal) is the best of them all. He's in a maroon button up and black trousers and he's got his lovely long hair that frames his face like he's a damn painting. He might be. He's perfect enough to be art, certainly.

"I..."

"Let me take care of this," he says, still holding onto the broom. Can I speak? I think my throat is too dry to even try. "I'd like to place an order for an arrangement, if that's alright."

I want to tell him that I'll make him a hundred arrangements right now. I want to tell him that I'll pay him for me to make him arrangements, but lord knows that I've never been good with words.

"O-of course. Uh, what's the arrangement for?"

I'd like to argue with him about the sweeping, but he's already gotten started and it makes sense for him to sweep while I work. He mist have realized that or he never would have offered.

BAZ. I don't really know why I decided to sweep up for him, but he's so adorable (even as he stammers over his words) that I couldn't resist. It does make sense, though. If I sweep, he can make the arrangement and we can get two things done at the same time.

Not that I'm itching to leave.

"My mother," I say. "Well, step mother. It's her birthday and my father wanted me to find something suitable for her. Elegant, you know?"

The boy nods and runs his fingers through his curls as he makes his way behind the counter. I continue to sweep dust, making sure to look up at him every few seconds.

"Right. Well...what's she like?"

I blink at him for a moment, totally taken aback by his question. Favorite color I would understand, but surely her personality doesn't matter for an arrangement.

"Why does it matter? It's a flower arrangement." I don't really mean for it to sound condescending, but I'm afraid it comes off that way. I have expect him to glare at me, but instead he just grins and his eyes get all bright.

"Each flower has a meaning, yeah? So when I make arrangements, I like to make them based off the personality of whoever the arrangement is for. It's like a physical collection of their personality traits, you know? It gives the gift more meaning. I mean, I can usually read people pretty well, but since she's not here..."

"Okay, then what would my arrangement look like?"

"Amaryllis, aster, iris, heather, and peony," he says, without batting an eye.

SIMON. "Amaryllis, aster, iris, heather, and peony," I say, without hesitation.

He looks at me like he's either very amused or very scared. "Care to explain your choices?"

I clear my throat, take his hand, and usher him around the shop to point out each flower. "Okay, well that's iris and that stands for royalty and I thought it was a good pick because you look posh and elegant. That's heather which is for admiration because... well, I can't quite explain it, but it seems like people look up to you. That one there is aster which wisdom, or, in some cases, devotion, but I think that's laying it on a bit thick. Next is amaryllis which is pride, but not in like a bad way or anything. The meanings can differ depending on what you read, but those are the ones I know."

I leave out peony because, to be honest, I'm extremely embarrassed that I said that.

Unfortunately, he notices that I left it out. "And peony?"

I swallow a lump in my throat. "I...uh... I mean, we'll, it stands for romance."

I really wish I could just, like, burst into flames right now. I look to see his reaction, but he's typing something on his phone. I'm a bit pissed, if I'm being honest, since I really just put myself out there and he can't be bothered, but I guess it's better than a painful rejection.

I leave him where he is and go back behind the counter to find a vase for the arrangement for his step mother (assuming he still wants it) and get the rest of my materials ready. I also grab some leaves, just for decoration. I think a touch of green goes a long way.

"Sunflower, daisy, hydrangea, and stock," he says after a moment.

Once again, I feel my heart stop.

BAZ. I know that those flowers would make for an ugly arrangement, but I think he understands what I mean because his smile comes back full force and that glimmer is back in his eye.

Admiration, innocence, understanding, beauty.

And I don't even know the bastard's name.

[soulsxng--a]

🎰

Random ship generator!

Merihem & Theo

“Mmn…we’d probably get along decently enough, but I could see him meshing better with one of my brothers, reationship-wise. Maybe Aster, or Bel even? Who knows. Either way, I wouldn’t mind talking to him some.” It might work, but like Rem said, he’d be a better fit with one of the other demon princes, probably. Still, I could see them being friends, maybe?

Ber & Kiyushi

“I dunno about that. He kinda has…bottom energy, I guess? I’m not really looking for a relationship, and if we’re not compatible for sex, then that’s out the window. It does sound like we have some common interests, so there’s that…still, I doubt that would work out, either.” Y eah, this one wouldn’t work out at all, and that’s definitely a good thing for Kiyushi. Stay far away from Ber, buddy. ^^;;

Death & Jullian

“Ahh, a shifter~! Look at the big cutie! I’d love to see him shifted– do you think he’d be okay with letting me pet him? Well, depending on what he is, anyway~!” They’re already flitting around the kitchen, ready to prepare something for him to eat. They’ve always had a bit of a soft spot for shifters, and other beings people might consider “monsters”, so it could work out if Julian can get past their over the top personality.

Tahariel & Mikaziel

“Mikaziel…I…that’s a name that I haven’t heard in a while. I don’t remember the last time I was able to make it out to the archives. It’s off in the area controlled by those that still follow Father, so…I wonder if he’s doing alright.” He’s too worried for Mika to think much about the potential of a relationship right now, and honestly I’m not sure how it would be either.

Set & Kozath

“A dragon~! I haven’t seen a dragon other than Thaneros in a while! His human form is really huge though…I guess that just how hellfire dragons are, right? I want to meet him, for sure! Definitely for sure!” I feel like they’d get along really well actually– if not as a relationship, then as friends for sure! Unless Kozath is one of those dragons that don’t really care for wyverns, at least.

[shrapnelsong]

@vvhippoorwill​

     She is sitting at her home office in a red suit and a plain black shirt, golden hair pulled back into a sleek ponytail, all sharp angles and edges - a complete foil to what she usually looks like. Her striking green gaze lifts from a point on her desk to meet the camera head on. A flutter of long lashes and blood colored lips finally part to say “If you’re watching this, I’m already dead.”

There is a beat of silence. A minute twitch of her lips before a smile breaks out, shattering the somber image she was portraying. Alice laughs softly and leans back against her chair. “Sorry, Rapha. Maybe I watched too many spy movies growing up. I’ve kinda always wanted to say that.” She muses with a chuckle, crossing her legs in a way that makes her look almost relaxed. 

“But it’s true, I guess... Of course, you already know I’m dead. But if this video reaches you, it means a contact I trust has confirmed I was in fact murdered.” The smile remains across her lips, the humor of it not at all lost on her. A killer getting killed. A fitting end, perhaps. “And you are now in charge of the last of my contingencies.” 

Her posture shifts, instantly erasing the levity. “Along with this video, you’ll have received a number of dossiers. I’d like to go through them with you. First, is my grandmother and de facto ruler, Sakurazuka Manami. My father may be the Head of the clan, but nothing happens without her knowledge or approval. She’s someone I actually respect, despite everything.” A hard, relentless woman who’d always been much better fit to lead than her husband ever was, something she easily proved once he passed away.

“A master tactician. But incredibly superstitious.” The type who would not flinch when ordering someone’s death, but a favorite teacup being chipped would send her directly to the temple. “In her personal residence, she carefully tends to a garden she loves more than she does most people. I’ve enclosed the recipe for a substance in her file, and I’d like you to spray it over the patch of aster flowers directly in front of her bedroom window. Only the asters.” Her grandmother is a prized ikebana artist; therefore fluent in hanakotoba. Going after her orange lilies would be too obvious. But the asters? That might just unsettle the stoic woman.

“Once you’ve gotten under her skin, you can move on to the next on the list: my dear auntie Chinatsu. As the firstborn, she was raised to be a leader, but immediately set aside once my father came into the picture. A grudge she will probably carry to her grave. The fact that his firstborn is a girl with a foreigner commoner for a mother? Didn’t help things any.” One of her shoulders rises in dismissive contempt. “She likes to think herself a mirror image of her mother, which couldn’t be farther from the truth. Seeing grandmother’s distress will be more than enough to send her into a panic as well. And if she dares to inquire upon it, she’ll either be flat out denied or harshly chastised, driving the wedge between them further.”

Alice goes on to name a number of other high-ranked nobles deeply connected with the clan, providing intrinsic insight into their routines and psyches, and a plethora of suggestions and steps as to how he could slowly introduce dread in their sheltered lives. She wants it to be gradual and drawn out, give them time to question themselves and everyone around before undoubtedly coming to the realization that yes, someone is definitely out to get all of them.

“The doctor who customized the drug that killed my mother... he’s been taken care of. But the person they picked to actually deliver it..? I could never figure it out for sure. Then again, it would have been someone disposable to the elders anyways. As to my father...” She trails off for the first time since hitting record, gaze dropping for a moment. “When I was a kid I had so many questions. What was he like? Did he think about me? Did he have a say on my mother’s murder? Did he even know about it?” She closes her eyes for a long second and looks back up at the camera, whatever hesitance may have been shining there now gone.

“It doesn’t really matter anymore.” Julia had loved him. Perhaps just as much as she’d come to hate her. Alice had been forced to grow into someone who couldn’t afford to believe in the concept of hoping. Despite that, she still hoped that he’d loved her back. “You don’t have to go after him.”

Something dark seems to take over her face, something he’s never been privy to. “I don’t want you to kill them, Rapha. I want them to know fear. The same fear they taught me when I was twelve. The knowledge that I was only alive because someone wanted it so and that they could change their mind at any moment.” The anger. Held back and masked for twenty years, just now slipping through the cracks. “After they know that feeling intimately, I don’t care how they die.”

Saying it aloud seems to take something out of her. And for a split second she seems exhausted, voice growing quieter, almost confessional. “I wasn’t going to do anything, you know... We had an unspoken agreement to just leave each other alone. But lately I’ve been noticing people following me. Maybe I’m just paranoid. Comes with the job, right?” A small chuckle escapes her lips and suddenly she’s back to looking like her usual cheerfully optimistic self despite all the fractures she’s shown him. “This is just me covering my bases.” And as it turned out, she wasn’t wrong.

“You’re the only one I trust to do this. And... thanks. My life has been a constant balancing act between expectations and performances. With you, I didn’t have to pretend so much. It was fun.” She shifts in her seat to mask the mist in her eyes as a trick of the lighting, having promised herself she wouldn’t cry. “And there is one more thing. Not a part of the contract, but rather... a personal request.” With an honest smile, she looks straight at the camera again, wondering what sort of face he would be making when watching it. “Since I’m not there to nag you anymore, take care of yourself, okay?” Leaning forward, Alice reaches out her hand to turn off the camera, but can’t help looking through the lens one last time. “Bye, Rapha.” 

[deamstellarus]

Of Twinkling Lights and Mistletoe

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader

Summary: The best Christmas ever.

Word Count: 3994

Warnings: The fluff...may kill you. (Also there’s a slight sad part at the beginning and some minor implied smut mixed in.)

A/N: This is probably my favorite part/chapter in this entire series. I REALLY hope you enjoy it! ❤

Series Masterlist | Of Apple Pie and Family

◾◽◾◽◾◽◾

December 2018

“Hey, Doll. I, uh, I know it’s been a while since I’ve talked to you, but things have been developing and I’m needing a bit of guidance… It’s Y/N, she’s come to see you before. You know, beautiful eyes, soft hair, about this tall,” he held his hand up to about your height. “She’s, well...I didn’t think I would find someone after you, I never wanted to find someone after you. But she stumbled into our lives, mine and Noah’s. Well, Noah’s first - I swear he inherited your outgoing personality. She makes me happy and she fits in so well. And with Noah, Doll, you would be so happy with how she treats our son. Like he’s her own. She’s not replacing you, I don’t want that and neither does she, I know her. But she loves him too, and me, and I just…” 

He sighed, his breath visible in the cold December air. He toed the snow around his boots, not sure what he expected out of this.

“I guess I just wanted your approval, to know it’s okay to be happy with her. I’m, uh, I have this,” he pulled out the little box from the jewelry store in Michigan that’s been burning a hole in his pocket for a little over a month. “I’d planned on doing it in a few days, on Christmas. Cliche, I know, but I just thought it would make it special… I’ll always love you, Dot. But I love her too, and I think… I think maybe it’s time I take the next step. Is that alright?” He paused and looked around, waiting for an unknown sign. After a minute, he shook his head, lightly chuckling at himself. 

“Rest easy, Doll, I’ll be seeing you again.”

Bucky kneeled in the snow and placed the long-stemmed red rose at the foot of the headstone. Gently, he rubbed his thumb over the top of the smooth stone, before standing up and turning on his heel. He was three steps away when a sudden gust of wind swept up behind him and his hat blew off his head and landed several feet away. When he went to retrieve it, there was a rose petal underneath it. He held it between his fingers and looked up at the sky, deciding that was the sign from her that she approved.

“Thank you,” he whispered.

Steve opened his door at the insistent knocking, and all but jumped out of the way as Bucky barged inside with Noah following behind.

“Well hello to you too, Buck.” Steve rolled his eyes, then turned his attention to Noah. “What’s up, little man?”

“Hi Uncle Steve. Does Aunt Peggy have anymore brownies left?”

“That’s some sweet tooth you’ve got there. I think there are some on a plate on the counter. Why don’t you go check it out and I’ll join you after I talk to your dad?”

“Mkay!” He raced to the kitchen.

“Don’t eat them all!” Steve yelled after him, only to be met with giggles.

His head turned back to where his best friend lay on the couch.

“Alright, Bucky, talk.”

“I don’t know how to propose. I thought I did, I got the ring like I told you I would.” Bucky fished said ring out of his pocket and held it up for Steve to see. It was beautiful and elegant and a little bit quirky, and so very you, that Steve knew he had help.

“Did her mom help you?”

“Her sister, Liz. I asked her dad for her hand- out of courtesy, I know how much her family means to her. Then her dad, brother-in-law, and I went to a store in town and browsed. I texted Liz several pictures and she helped me decide,” Bucky said, all while staring at the ceiling, looking like a mess of emotions.

“Smart, not getting it here. Tony’s a great guy but he’s definitely the biggest gossip in this town, and he wouldn’t have held back if you walked into his jewelry store.”

“Yeah, but how do I ask? I wanted to ask on Christmas. Is that too cliche though? She’s not really the cliche type? Oh hell, what if she doesn’t say yes and I’ve put her on the spot in front of all of our friends?” Bucky groaned. “Maybe this is a bad idea.”

“Bucky, get a grip. When you think about proposing, where do you imagine you are?” Bucky took so long to reply Steve thought he’d fallen asleep.

“I can’t picture a place, or any of the surroundings. I just see her.” Steve smiled at his friend.

“Well then, pal, I don’t think it matters how or when you tell her, you just have to do it.”

“I think...I think I’m going to stick to Christmas, with all of our friends. It’s not the whole town, but it’s the important people.” Bucky turned his head to look at Steve. “What do you think?”

“I think that sounds great.” Steve stood up. “I’m going to go stop your son from eating all of Pegs’ brownies.”

“Please do, I’m taking him to his friend Peter’s house in an hour and his aunt would kill me if I sent him over on a sugar high.”

Steve laughed as he walked into the kitchen but stopped abruptly when he ran into Noah by the entryway.

“What’s up, Little Man?”

“How does someone propose to someone else?” Noah said. Steve was taken aback. Did he know Bucky was going to propose to you? He was ninety percent sure he’d just eavesdropped on their conversation.

“Well… when two people love each other, one person will usually buy a ring and they tell them all of the things they love about them and ask them an important question.”

“Oh, okay.” That’s it? Steve thought that was too easy.

“Why do you ask? You thinkin’ about proposing to someone?” Steve teased.

“Yep!”

“Wait, really?” This was definitely news to Steve. “Who is the lucky lady? Or fellow?”

“I can’t tell you, Uncle Steve. It’s a secret!”

“Okay, Buddy. Anything, I can, uh, do to help?” Because he was nosier than he would ever admit aloud and it would be great to tell Bucky all about Noah’s little friend… if he could ever get the details out of him that is.

“Nope!” He said, sipping on a glass of milk. “Well actually, can you help me wrap it?”

Bingo!

“Sure thing, buddy. When do you want me to help you?”

“Can we do it now?” That brought Steve’s eyebrows to his hairline.

“You have a ring with you?”

“Yeah,” Noah said, pulling something out of his jacket pocket. In his hand was a little clear plastic ball with a purple plastic ring inside. It was the cutest thing Steve had ever seen, if he were being honest. He coughed back a chuckle.

“Where did you get that, Noah?”

“From Mr. Tony’s diner.”

“Ah, I see. Alright, well I’m going to go grab some wrapping paper from my room. Be right back, Little Man!”

Steve sped past where Bucky laid on the couch.

“Hey, hey, hey. Where are you going?” Bucky called out, then followed Steve to his room when he didn’t get a response. “What are you doing?”

“Getting some wrapping paper.”

“Okay, I’ll bite… Why?”

“Because, Noah’s got a girlfriend! Or boyfriend. I don’t know. Either way, you’re not the only one proposing this holiday season!” Steve beamed, visions of a miniature kid wedding danced through his head.

“Wait, what?!”

“That was...” Bucky started, as he laid back in bed, trying to catch his breath.

“Incredible,” you finished, sighing happily.

“Yeah,” he smiled back at you, holding your hand. “I’m so glad Becs wanted him to spend the night last night.” You nodded in agreement.

“You’ve been holding out on me, Casanova.” You rolled onto your side, grinning as the blush rose to his cheeks. “Dinner, Christmas lights, that mistletoe…”

“Oh, that mistletoe. Best holiday tradition yet.” Bucky smiled fondly at the memory.

“You look amazing, Doll.” You turned around to see Bucky watching you from the bathroom doorway as you fastened your earring to your ear. You were wore a forest green A-line dress with black tights and planned on wearing your black ankle boots to give you a bit more height.

“Thanks, Buck,” you said as your eyes ran over his form. He wore a deep red sweater and dark jeans that made his ass look even better. He gave you a lopsided smile when he caught you staring.

“We should get going if we want to make our reservations.”

“You’re right sorry. Just about done here.” You swiped on your go-to red lipstick and grabbed your purse. “Ready dear.”

You slipped on your shoes and he helped you into your coat after shrugging into his own leather jacket, and you were out the door. It had been a while since you two were out together, just the two of you. It felt nice, romantic, and you were giddy with the attention.

Dinner was wonderful, Bucky having taken you to an Italian restaurant in Portage. You split dessert, a tiramisu you wished was available in Aster Falls. Afterward, you walked down several streets, hand in hand, enjoying each other’s company and the twinkling lights that now lined the city’s streets. Later, you drove back to Aster Falls, your hand in his as he drove through the snowy landscape.

Bucky pulled into the parking lot for your apartment building. You headed inside, Bucky’s arm around your shoulder. The second you stepped into the elevator, his lips were on your neck. You looked up and laughed.

“What’s so funny, Doll,” he mumbled into your skin.

“Mistletoe.” Bucky pulled back, looking up, and sure enough there was a mistletoe taped to the ceiling.

“Well, what do you know. Who are we to disagree with tradition.” His lips met yours, all the way up to your door, through your apartment, and into your bedroom. For the rest of the evening, your body was his, and his was yours. And you were tangled in the sheets for the remainder of the night, curled together afterwards when you were both blissed out. Which brought you to this morning, when you woke to kisses down your spine in the soft morning light.

“We should probably get ready and give your sister a break. It’s Christmas Eve after all, and I’m sure Noah has been bouncing off the walls since we dropped him off yesterday,” you said, your fingers grazing through the short scruff on his face.

“Do we have to?” He pouted, poking his bottom lip out, looking oh so adorable. “Five more minutes?”

“Yeah, I think we can do that.” You scooted closer to him, resting your head on his chest. His arms went around you and you settled into the comfortable silence once more, knowing ‘five more minutes’ would turn out to be much longer.

“Wake up! Wake up! It’s Christmas!”

“What time is it?” Bucky said, rolling over in bed. His voice was gravelly from sleep. His hand around your waist tightened its hold. You cracked an eye open and looked around, remembering you were not at home in the cozy apartment but, in fact, in a guest room at the Barnes’ house. You peeked at the clock, softly groaning when you read the numbers.

“Too early.” You snuggled closer to him, your back to his front, trying to leach his warmth.

“I’d say we have about three minutes before he drags us out of here, Doll.” His breath tickled your neck.

“Mmm, alright. Three minutes, I can do that.”

That hope was quickly diminished when not thirty seconds later, Noah crashed landed on the two of you, breaking the sleepy spell you were under.

“Daddy! Y/N! It’s Christmas!” Noah shouted excitedly. Bucky chuckled quietly.

“It sure is, bud. Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas, Noah Bear,” you said, sitting up.

“Can we go open presents now?”

“No, no, no. You know the rules, you can open one present this morning, but you have to wait until this afternoon with everyone else to open up the rest,” Bucky said.

“Fine,” Noah pouted.

“Hey, now, no grumpy faces. That’s not very jolly,” you said, smoothing the hair on his head.

“Sorry.”

“It’s alright, bud. Why don’t you go watch cartoons in the living room and we’ll be down in a few minutes.”

“Okay.” You watched as he climbed off the bed and shut the door behind him.

“What are you still doing up there?” Bucky said. You glanced down at his relaxed form.

“Hm?”

“Come here.” He rolled over, his arm returning to your waist, and pulled you down to meet your lips to his. You felt him smile after a moment.

“Merry Christmas, Doll.”

“Merry Christmas James.”

“James, dear, your friends are here!” Bucky’s mom called out as the doorbell chimed.

She opened the door and in stepped the whole group with arms full of presents. Steve had his arm around Peggy, newly wed and happy. Sam carrying a pie with a smiling Mrs. Wilson on his arm. Wanda and Natasha had their arms linked together while a sleep-walking Clint trailed behind them. An excited Thor and an unimpressed Loki brought up the rear of the group. Everyone important in Bucky’s life was here today and he couldn’t be more excited...or nervous.

“It’s about time you got here. Noah’s been bouncing off the walls waiting to open presents,” Bucky said, giving hugs to everyone as they stepped in from the cold.

“You can blame this one for holding us up,” Nat said, jerking her thumb at Clint. “It seemed to be his mission not to wake up this morning.”

“Where’s Y/N?” Wanda piped up.

“In the kitchen with Noah and Becca, frosting cookies.”

“Yumm!” Wanda and Nat headed straight to the kitchen with Mrs. Barnes and Mrs. Wilson in tow. The rest of the group spread out between the kitchen to sneak treats or settling in on the couches in the living room.

Steve slapped a hand onto Bucky’s shoulder as he shut the door.

“So, are you ready?” Steve said lowly, so that only Bucky could hear.

“Yes. No… Yes.” Bucky sighed. “I’ve done this before… I really don’t remember being this nervous.”

“Well it was a given before. You and Dot had been together for years. Everyone knew you were going to get married sooner or later.”

“Do you think it’s too soon? It’s too soon, isn’t it?” Bucky struggled to look normal while the panic started to set in.

“Hey, no. Stop. You’re fine.” Steve had both hands on Bucky’s shoulder now. “Sure you haven’t been with Y/N for years, but anyone alive could tell you that you’re perfect together. You know it, I know it… I’m sure even Dot’s even agreeing as we speak. Take a deep breath, relax. You’ve still got some time to figure out what you’re going to say. It’s gonna be fine, you’ll see.”

With that, he patted Bucky on the back and headed toward the fireplace, where Peggy was looking at the Christmas cards on the mantle. Steve was right. He was right a lot, not that Bucky would ever tell him. But he was right, and Bucky was stressing out for no reason.

However he asked today, he knew in his heart, at least he hoped, that you would say yes.

“We’ve only got two more presents and then I think that wraps up Christmas 2018!” Mr. Barnes said.

Bucky pecked you on the forehead before he abruptly stood up and headed for the stairs.

“Where are you going?” you asked.

“Forgot a gift upstairs, I’ll be right back!” You watched as Bucky disappeared up the stairs, shaking your head at his forgetfulness.

“Looks like this one is for Loki,” Becca said, as she crawled underneath the tree, “and this one is for Y/N.” She plopped Loki’s present into his lap and lightly tossed your gift to you.

“You can open yours first, I don’t mind,” you said, your interest taking over at what could possibly be underneath the mass of colorful wrapping paper. He nodded and tore at the paper, cracking a small smile when a kids’ magic set was revealed.

“You’re an absolute child.” Loki playfully glared at his brother across the room.

“Come now, brother, I’m not the one with a kids’ toy with my name on it,” Thor laughed, the smile reached his eyes.

You hid your giggle behind your hand, while others (ahem, Sam and Clint) were practically in tears.

“You’re next, Bunny.”

You stuck your tongue out at Sam then turned your attention to the gift in your hand. You took a moment to examine it, the red and green paper wrapped so nicely around such a tiny thing. You were supposed to guess who it was from but with the bouncing seven-year old next to you, it wasn’t hard to assume.

“This is from you, huh?” He nodded excitedly. “Did you wrap it all by yourself?”

“No, Uncle Steve helped me!”

You held the small gift in your palm, weighing it to guess the contents. It was fairly light, and rattled a bit when your hand shook. Honestly, you couldn’t have guessed in that moment when was beneath the paper, but whatever it was, the anticipation was clearly getting to Noah as he bounced on the sofa beside you. You took care not rip the paper too much as you unwrapped it. As you tore the final bit of paper away, you smiled. It was a small purple plastic ring inside transparent plastic bauble. You’d seen this before, at the little 50-cent machines by the front door of Tony’s. You popped open the container and slid the ring on your pinky finger, where it barely fit.

“Thank you so much, Noah!” you said as you pulled him into your arms for a hug.

“You’re wearing it wrong!” You jerked back.

“What do you mean?” He sighed in exasperation and gently pulled the ring from your finger.

“You’re supposed to wear it on this finger.” You gasped as he slid the plastic ring as far as it would go down the fourth finger of your left hand. “Will you be my new mommy?”

The room was absolutely silent, waiting for your response. Here you were, being proposed to in a way you had never expected, but instead, you had hoped he would come to think of you in that way. But this wasn’t entirely a decision for you to make. You nodded, hesitantly.

“Noah, honey, I love you. I would love to be your new mom. But that decision isn’t up to me.” You glanced behind him and met the eyes of Steve, who looked at you nervously with wide eyes. Then his gaze focused to something behind you.

“Well then, whose decision is it?” You looked down into Noah’s big blue eyes, and opened your mouth to respond when you were cut off.

“It’s mine, bud.”

You turned around at the voice and your hand flew to your mouth, once more. Bucky was down on one knee, his own ring in a little black velvet box in his hand.

“Y/N, this wasn’t quite what I had planned, I guess Noah beat me to it. I never thought I’d find someone after Dot, but the moment you stepped into our lives, you changed it for the better. You bring light and joy and love to our lives, something that’s been missing for so long. Seeing you with Noah makes me happier than you can imagine and knowing how strongly he feels about you, well…” He took a shuddering breath. “Y/N, you are strong and beautiful and have the patience of a saint, I swear. You are so smart and so supportive, and I’m so glad you decided to take a chance on little ol’ Aster Falls, and take a chance with me. Y/N Y/L/N, will you marry me?”

You were sure you looked a complete mess. Tears were streaming down your face and your hands were shaking. You couldn’t imagine a life without Bucky and Noah, and you didn’t want to. You nodded your head furiously, hardly able to get the words out fast enough.

“Yes! Oh my gosh, yes! Of course!”

Bucky pulled the plastic ring off your finger and slid the real ring in its place. Then he pulled you up into a kiss and it seemed like the room exploded into applause and cheers all around you. When you finally broke away, you looked down to find Noah, pouting slightly. You crouched down to be eye level with him.

“Honey, what’s wrong?”

“You aren’t wearing my ring.” He had tears in his eyes and your heart broke at his expression.

“Oh, Noah, here, let’s do this instead.” You unclasped the necklace you were wearing - the simple sterling silver heart pendant Bucky got you for your birthday two months ago - and slipped the ring through the chain. When you fastened the clasp back behind your neck, the heart dangled just below your clavicle and right beside it, laid Noah’s purple plastic ring.

“I think this is better Noah, that way I won’t lose it since it doesn’t quite fit on my finger.” You picked him up off the couch and onto your lap instead. “Whether or not you gave me a ring, honey, doesn’t change how much I want to be your mom.”

“Really?” He asked, his blue eyes peeked through his dark lashes.

“Really really. I love you so much, Noah Bear.”

With that, he threw his arms around your neck and cried into your sweater. Bucky sat beside you and placed his hand on your waist, pulling you and Noah closer. He pressed a kiss to your temple. You looked around at the faces of your friends and family, their faces all with soft smiles and teary eyes. You smiled back, but soon felt the heat rushing to your face with all the attention and emotion from the past few minutes.

“I hate to interrupt this touching moment, but some of us have been waiting for sweet potato pie all month so can we please move on to dinner so I can get some dessert?” Sam said. There was a chorus of groans and chuckles breaking the emotional spell, and Sam sent you a wink before heading toward the kitchen. After all these years, he still knew how to read you like a book, and knew when to save you from embarrassment.

After everyone moved more or less to the kitchen and dining room, you gently pushed Noah away to see his face.

“Are you okay, bud?” Bucky asked. Noah nodded, playing with the ring around your neck.

“Where did you learn to propose like that, sweetheart?” you asked.

“I heard Daddy and Uncle Steve talking about proposing, and I asked Uncle Steve how someone proposes and he told me how.”

“Steve thought he was gonna ask a classmate to marry him.” Bucky couldn’t help but laugh.

“Can I call you ‘Mommy’?”

Bucky and you stopped laughing abruptly, and you felt the tears return to your eyes. So far, it felt as if you’d spent the entire day as a faucet. You looked at Bucky for confirmation, and he nodded.

“Of course, Noah. If you’re comfortable with calling me that, then you can,” you said.

“Okay, Mommy.” He climbed off of your lap and headed toward the kitchen toward everyone else. “I’m going to get a cookie before Uncle Steve eats them all.” With that, he disappeared.

“Can you believe what happened today?” You asked Bucky, turning to face him.

“Actually, I can, Doll.” He kissed your lips, then leaned away a bit as he cupped your cheek with his warm hand. “This was the best Christmas ever.”

[Of Champagne Flutes and Wedding Vows]

A/N: I may have planned the entirety of A Touch of Ink based off the idea of Noah’s proposal, and I’ve been waiting to share this for so long. I’m a sucker for a child proposal. Hopefully you all liked it too!