#a saga in three parts

[fff777]

[bambinabina]

Spotify is wild for this

[bluegiragi]

konig is very good for ghost and soap in the soapbox saga finale <3

read the full comic (29 pages) on patreon!

[morganbritton132]

Living for conspiracy Steve. You know if they tried anything Joan the Disservice cat would be on the case. You also know Diane clocked it during her looky loo walks and she’s got tea. An alliance is forming.

What’s funny about Steve’s paranoia with the electric company van parked outside is that it’s definitely just the electric company.

If SoMeBoDy would just listen to reason then maybe they might remember the bad weather they’ve been having. They live in a suburb just outside of Chicago. It’s windy and wind messes with powerlines, but Steve isn’t dumb. Thank you very much.

He knows that.

Just like he knows what logo Mike said was on the van that El flipped. And like he said, “It’s spycraft 101. Of course, they’re here after a storm. It’s inconspicuous.”

“Big word,” Eddie replies appreciatively. “How do you know that?”

“I took the SATs?”

“Now the word! Why do you think that they’re tapping our phones?”

“It’s in all the movies, Eddie.”

There’s an unspoken duh tacked on to the end of Steve’s sentence and Eddie kinda loves it. He kinda loves how confident Steve is when he’s convinced himself this shit is real and a little part of Eddie wants to play along, but he knows how quickly it can all go bad so, “Baby, please. Stevie, what are they tapping into? We don’t have a landline.”

Steve pauses to think and then peaks back out through the blinds. He mutters, “You don’t know how wiretaps work?”

“Do you?”

Steve just purses his lips and looks even harder out the window which is just Steve-speak for ‘no, actually. I don’t know how wiretaps works because no one does.’ It makes Eddie grin, sliding up behind him and whispering in his ear, “Don’t you think one of our half dozen nosy neighbors would’ve told us if someone was spying on us?”

“Not if-“

“Baby, Diane came over twice last week because she saw a suspicious car in our driveway,” Eddie hums. “It was our car, Steve.”

Steve relaxes back against his chest a little but he knows the battle is not yet won so, Eddie adds, “Sweetheart, think about it. They’d know.”

“That’s true,” Steve relents just a little and then says, “Unless one of our neighbors is a spy.”

“No, baby.”

“Like a nosy neighbor that’s always in our business,” Steve continues, building confidence. “And who has always been in our business ever since we moved in…and who is talking to the electric company people right now.”

Eddie looks out through the peak in the blinds Steve is making and watches as Diane makes her way down her driveway in her pink house shoes, waving at the man halfway up the telephone pole. She calls something up at him but they’re too far away to hear it.

He can feel Steve pull away and Eddie thinks, damn it.

“Well, that friendship was good while it lasted.”

[do-you-know-this-adhd-character]

Do you know this (noncanon) ADHD character?

Evidence below the cut!

can be pretty hyperactive, forgets things regularly (even important things, forgot he turned into a heartless in kh1), distractable, later on he seems to have some problems with emotional dysregulation. hes constantly called lazy by his friends but as soon as hes doing something he likes he has all the energy in the world, and also tends to dismiss his own intelligence despite actually being pretty smart, both of which are things that i think are decently common with undiagnosed adhd

[clarionglass]

here we go :) part one of three, updates to be released weekly!

---

sam says 4 (game master cinematic universe, part 3)

Ruby was at her mum's for a family dinner she couldn't miss on pain of death, apparently, and the Doctor was many things, but a family dinner kind of guy wasn't one of them—particularly when Carla had already slapped him once in the short time he'd known her. He thought he'd broken his streak of bad luck with mums, but… well, seemingly not. So he was companionless for a few hours, and while he could wait for her to get back, maybe catch up on his reading—what was the point of waiting when you had a time machine? 

He ran his hands over the TARDIS console, marvelling at her clean lines and metallic flourishes, the way that even now she felt brand new but familiar, and paused. He’d just pop off for a quick adventure, nothing too dangerous, but—where to go?

He could scan for a distress call nearby, and pitch in to help. He could drop in on Donna and Shaun and Rose, beautiful Rose, and see how they were all doing. Or he could just hit the randomiser button, and jump in feet first wherever he ended up.

He remembered a conversation from a long time ago, when he wore a different face, and his gorgeous TARDIS wore a face too, for the first and only time.

“You didn't always take me where I wanted to go.”

“No, but I always took you where you needed to go.”

He grinned. Who could resist an offer like that? He pressed the button and whooped as the time rotor spun into action, ready to see where the universe would take him.

---

Apparently, he was needed pretty close to where he already was. Earth, 2024. Huh. Same planet, same time—within a few months of where he’d left Ruby, even. The main thing that had changed was the location: he was now in the good old US of A. California, to be more specific, and Los Angeles to be more specific still. And to really narrow it down, the Doctor discovered as he poked his head out of the TARDIS doors, he was in… a broom closet. Not bad, as a parking spot—a bit squeezy, but out of the way. And as he poked his head out of that door, he could finally see he was in the backstage corridors of a studio of some kind. Film or TV, if he was to hazard a guess, it was a different vibe from Abbey Road.

With a shrug, he decided to go exploring.

It couldn’t have been more than a minute before a young woman wearing the full-black outfit, headset, and permanently stressed expression of a production assistant came running up to him.

“Are you the fill-in Sam organised?” she asked breathlessly, and honestly, seeing the look on her face, the Doctor didn’t have the heart(s) to tell her no. And really, what was the Doctor, if not a professional fill-in? This, this was why he had a randomiser button on the control panel, because whatever he was about to get himself into was going to be fun.

“Sure!”

“Oh, thank god,” sighed the production assistant, relief dawning across her face. “When Ally tested positive this morning, I thought we were sunk for the record, because we called around and we couldn’t get a hold of anyone. But then Sam said he could get someone in, and, you know, here you are, and just in time, so—ah, yeah, if you could follow me this way?”

Smiling all the way, the Doctor followed his guide through to hair and makeup, looking around as they went. The studio seemed to belong to a company called Dropout, according to the branding scattered around, and things seemed, at least on the surface, to be… well. Fine. He couldn't tell why he'd been brought here yet, which meant that when he found the reason, it was going to be particularly tangled. He couldn't wait! 

And then he looked back at his guide, still engulfed in a miasma of anxiety, and realised he'd been too busy looking for clues to notice the person right in front of him. 

“Hey, it's cool, you've found me,” he started with a gentle smile. “You can relax. Hi, I'm the Doctor. What's your name?”

“Oh!” she said, startled. “The Doctor, yeah, of course. Um, hi, I'm Kaylin. Look, sorry, it's just that I've been so busy this morning, I'm so distracted… Shit, and I would've completely forgotten to get your details too. There's paperwork to fill in, but you can do that later. Um, just for now, though, can I get your pronouns?”

The Doctor thought for a moment. “He/him, for now.”

Kaylin nodded, making a note on her phone. “Okay, cool! And do you have any socials?”

“Not me, babes,” he replied. “I'm hardly sitting down long enough to be able to update, you know?”

“On a day like this, I know exactly what you mean,” she said. “That's okay, Lou didn't have socials either for the longest time. Right, so if you go through there, the team will get you sorted, and once you're done, someone will take you up to the greenroom. All good?”

“All great,” the Doctor replied. Kaylin flashed him a quick, relieved smile, then hurried off.

Hair and makeup was a fairly quick process, the sound mixer fitted him with a microphone, and before too long, Kaylin was back to take him upstairs. 

“This is the greenroom,” she said, pushing the door open. “The rest of the cast for the episode are already here—they’re great guys, and they’ve both been on the show a lot, so they’ll be able to help if you’ve got questions. And if you need anything else, just come find me or any of the other PAs, okay?”

The Doctor nodded, beamed at Kaylin, and walked in.

---

The greenroom was small but comfortable, and its occupants, two men around the same age as the Doctor appeared, looked up as he entered.

“Oh, you’re new,” the taller of the pair said, clearly giving him the once-over.

The other sighed with a mixture of fondness and exasperation, just as clearly used to his friend’s antics.

“Hey, I’m Brennan,” he said, levering himself up to standing from his perch on a chair arm, and holding out a hand. “That’s Grant.”

The Doctor took it warmly. “The Doctor. Just passing through, and happy to help.”

Grant’s eyebrows quirked. “Doctor… something?” he prompted.

“Or is it just ‘the Doctor’?” Brennan asked.

“Just ‘the Doctor’,” the Time Lord confirmed cheerfully. “You’ll get used to it, everyone does.”

Grant didn’t look convinced, but—

“Copy that,” Brennan shrugged, and settled back on the arm of the chair, returning his gaze to the door.

Grant, in turn, looked at the Doctor and rolled his eyes in a clear expression of ‘no, I don’t know why he’s like this, either’.

“Okay,” the Doctor said after a moment of watching the watching. “I wasn’t going to ask, but now I think I have to. What’s up with the door?”

Brennan huffed a laugh. “Well, the last time there was one of those up—” he pointed to the Out of Order sign stuck to the bathroom door, “—we got locked in here for the game.”

“He’s paranoid,” Grant interjected.

“Well, yeah, maybe,” Brennan retorted. “Or just cautious. Because Sam’s been acting weird lately, and we’re coming up to the last few records of the season, so he’s probably planning something way out of the box for the finale. And the original cast was you, me and Beardsley, so…”

He shrugged one shoulder meaningfully, and Grant nodded, conceding both the point and the potential for chaos.

“So if Sam comes in to give us the briefing, rather than waiting til we’re on set,” Brennan continued, “or there’s anything else weird going on, I’m gonna know about it right from the beginning.”

He turned to the Doctor. “The only reason I'm not quizzing you is because I know for a fact Beardsley was genuinely scheduled for this, so you can't be a plant by the production team. No offence.”

“None taken,” the Doctor smiled. “That sort of thing happen often, does it?”

Grant and Brennan exchanged a look. 

“More than you'd think,” Grant answered with a grimace. 

“Alright,” the Doctor said slowly, then brightened. “So what is it we're actually doing?”

Grant gave him a disbelieving glance. “You don't know—?”

“Very last minute fill-in,” the Doctor said breezily. “But don't worry, I'm a quick study.”

“Well, you're not that much worse off than the rest of us,” Brennan said encouragingly. “You know about Game Changer, obviously, if you know Sam, and we only find out the rules of the game once we get on set. Hopefully,” he added, with a dark look back at the Out of Order sign. 

The Doctor nodded. No, he didn't know Sam, and he didn't know Game Changer, but he could work out the situation from context clues. This was a game show. And with the Toymaker banished, and Satellite Five not coming into existence for another 198000 years, give or take, he found himself smiling. Maybe third time would be the charm. 

“Mmm, hopefully they aren't going to throw you in the deep end,” Grant said. “Because Brennan might seem lovely now, but as soon as we get out there, he's a whore for points. He'll stab you in the back and won't even blink.”

Brennan barked with laughter. “Yeah, and you wouldn't?”

“Excuse you, I'm always a goddamn delight,” Grant replied, the very picture of injured dignity. 

“Oh, absolutely!” agreed a new voice. The Doctor turned to the now-open door to see a bearded man in a pinstriped suit smiling broadly. “That's why we keep inviting you back!”

Grant bowed sarcastically. “Why, thank you, Sam. Good to know I'm appreciated by someone here.”

“Always,” Sam replied, gently but firmly ending that particular path of the conversation. He scanned the room, and his eyes lit up when they landed on the Doctor. 

“Ah, you must be the Doctor!” he said with obvious delight, walking over with his hand outstretched. “I'm Sam—thanks for filling in for us, you've made sure we're going to have a good show. Seriously, it's a pleasure to have you here.”

“Aw, cheers!” the Doctor smiled, shaking the offered hand. “Glad I could help out, I'm really looking forward to this!”

“Well, great!” Sam exclaimed, then took a step back, regarding all three players in turn. “Now, folks, I'm just letting you know that we're just about ready to start the record, so if you can start heading down, that'd be great.”

Grant and Brennan nodded—Brennan, the Doctor noticed, with relief. 

“See you down there,” Sam said, smiling. “Have a great show, and—”

His eyes caught on the Doctor's for a second, twinkling. 

“Good luck.”

---

Backstage, the Doctor, Brennan and Grant were marshalled into podium order and given a final briefing from the crew. And then, with a thumbs-up from Kaylin, that was it.

Showtime.

“Get ready for a Game Changer!” came Sam's voice from onstage. “Tonight’s guests: he can shoot off a monologue with laser accuracy; it’s Brennan Lee Mulligan!”

Brennan, his back to the camera as the curtains opened, spun on his heel and, with a stone-cold expression, pointed finger guns straight down the barrel, before letting the facade crack open. “Hi!” he exclaimed, and walked over to the leftmost podium.

“It’s his first appearance, but he’s already on fire; it’s the Doctor!”

The Doctor leant against the archway to the stage and flashed a broad smile towards the camera, then in a few skipping steps, had bounded over to the next free podium. What the hell, why not make an entrance?

“And even in the toughest of mazes, you’ll always be able to find him; it’s Grant O’Brien!”

Grant dipped his lanky frame into an approximation of a curtsey, spreading his arms wide, then sauntered over to the closest podium with a grin.

“And your host, me!” Sam announced, a ring of manic white showing around his irises as he beamed down the barrel of the camera. “I’ve been here the whole time!”

“This,” he continued, pushing his microphone shut and stowing it in his jacket pocket, “is Game Changer, the only game show where the game changes every show. I am your host, Sam Reich!” 

As he said his name, he looked at his hands, front and back, as if he was pleasantly surprised to be himself, then gestured towards the three podiums.

“I am joined today by these three lovely contestants! Now, you understand how the game works.”

“Of course not,” Grant started. “You know we don't.”

“We can't, Sam, that's the whole point of the theatre you've set up here,” Brennan said over him. 

“Not yet,” was all the Doctor said, anticipation starting to drum a tattoo of excitement against the inside of his ribcage. 

“That’s right!” Sam said brightly, shooting finger guns at the camera. “Our players have no idea what game it is they’re about to play. The only way to learn is by playing. The only way to win is by learning, and the only way to begin is by beginning! So without further ado, let’s begin by giving each of our players fifty points.”

The Doctor, biding his time, watched the reactions of his fellow contestants. Grant looked at the front of his podium, checking the point total, and nodding approvingly when he saw that yes, it was sitting at a round fifty. Brennan, on the other hand, was starting to frown.

“Players, Sam says: touch your nose,” Sam began, and Brennan sighed the sigh of someone who wasn’t happy to be proved right.

“Oh, no,” he groaned. “Oh, you son of a bitch. Wasn’t one this season enough?”

He touched his nose anyway, as did the others, and Sam smiled encouragingly. “Sam says: touch your ear.”

When they all did, Sam nodded. “Touch your other ear.”

Everybody held still, fingers on the ears they had originally touched.

Sam beamed. “Easy, players, right?”

“You say that now,” Brennan said darkly. “Which makes it worse, because all you're doing is setting us up for failure.”

Sam gasped, pretending offence. “Would I do that?”

“Yes,” Brennan and Grant replied in unison, which drew a grin from the Doctor and set Sam off chuckling.

“And I'm not having it,” Brennan continued, leaning his elbows against his podium and pointing at Sam with the hand not touching his ear. “You better watch yourself, because I know how this game works, and you're not going to get one over on me.”

“Strong words, Brennan!” Sam said, clearly delighted by this response. “Okay, then, let's start making things a bit more interesting!”

The game continued as per Sam Says usual, some rounds done as a group and some individual. Points were won, sure, but lost slightly more frequently, and even the Doctor found he was having to concentrate to avoid getting caught in the host's traps. 

It was fun. Genuinely, it was like playing a game with friends, and the Doctor felt himself leaning into it. There wasn't any sign of danger—maybe there wasn't a mystery to solve at all, and the TARDIS just decided he needed a total break. 

Well, probably not. But the way things were going, he was able to let himself hope. 

“Alright, players,” Sam said a good few rounds in, just as pleasantly as he would start any other question, and the screen behind him dinged as a new prompt popped up. “Survive the death beam.”

For a second, everything was frozen perfectly still. 

And then came the crash, the explosive noise of heavy machinery moving relentlessly through a drywall set.

The Doctor was already moving. “Everyone down!”

“Duck!” Brennan yelled at the same time.

The two of them hit the ground within milliseconds of each other, but Grant was still paralysed in the face of the giant, science-fiction type laser cannon that had just ploughed through the wall. 

It whined ominously, screaming its way to fever pitch. And then a sharp pain in Grant’s ankle made him stagger, pitching forwards onto the carpet behind the podiums as the Doctor rolled away to avoid getting pinned.

“Sorry, babes,” the Doctor whispered. “But it was either kick you to get you down, or—”

A hideous metallic screech ripped through the air, and all three of them could feel the crackle of ozone as a beam of energy swept across what had, moments ago, been neck height.

“…Or that,” the Doctor finished with a grimace.

“Jesus fucking Christ,” Grant breathed, suddenly very conscious of every inch of his 6’9 frame. “Thanks.”

“Well done, players!” Sam exclaimed delightedly from above them. “But… sorry, I didn’t say ‘Sam says’, so that’s a point off for everyone.”

“What the fuck!” Brennan snapped.

“Are you actually insane?” Grant demanded at the same time, his voice overlapping with Brennan’s.

In response, Sam just wheezed with laughter. “You can come back to your podiums,” he said, cheerfully ignoring them.

Nobody moved.

“Very good!” he acknowledged, and even without seeing his face, the grin was obvious in his voice. “Okay, Sam says: come back to your podiums.”

Although the words were innocuous, and his tone was just as light and breezy as usual, there was nevertheless an edge hiding just underneath the surface. And while the death beam loomed large in the minds of all three players, it was impossible to consider disobedience as an option.

Slowly, they stood, returning to their places. Now they had the time to look at it properly, the death beam was even more sinister, and Brennan and Grant both kept flicking nervous glances its way, ready to move if it looked like it was charging up again.

The Doctor, however, was focused purely on the man standing in front of them. Unbothered, Sam met his gaze like a challenge, a mischievous smile playing about his lips.

“Oh, you’ll love this one,” he said, and the screen changed. “Sam says, starting with Grant: say my name.”

Grant frowned in confusion, but answered quickly nonetheless. “Sam Reich?”

The man himself shrugged tolerantly, moving on. “Brennan?”

Brennan just stared at him coolly. “Do you take me for a fool?”

“Well caught, Brennan!” Sam said happily. “Sam says: say my name.”

“Sam,” Brennan replied, suspicion clear in his voice. “Samuel Dalton Reich.”

He nodded, still with a hint of indifference. “And lastly, Doctor.” His smile broadened. “Sam says: say my name.”

It was easy. Too easy. And as the Doctor looked into the eyes of the man calling himself Sam Reich, he felt his hearts stutter in recognition, because something had changed. He wasn’t hiding himself anymore, and while the face was different yet again, the Doctor would know the shape of that soul anywhere. It was impossible. It was inevitable.

“You can’t be,” he breathed. 

Sam smirked, leaning in across his podium. “Oh, but Doctor… I’ve been here the whole time,” he stage-whispered with a wink.

“He said you lost,” the Doctor said, shaking his head, looking wrong-footed for the first time that Brennan and Grant could recall. “You lost, and he trapped you.”

The other two watched, uncomprehending, but Sam just smiled, drumming his fingers against the podium with an audible beat, fast but distinct. Four taps, four taps, four taps. “I’m waiting.”

The Doctor took a slow, deep breath. Set his jaw. 

“Master.”

---

missed an installment of the game master cinematic universe?

original idea by @ace-whovian-neuroscientist: x

art by @northernfireart concept: x scissor sisters sketch: x sam and his doppelganger: x

writing by me (!) part one (escape the greenroom): x part two (deja vu): x part three (sam says 4): you are here!

[snail-of-fire]

ophelia and ruby constantly steal jane's clothes, they're just so comfy and they do miss her a lot when she's at work for long hours.

yes this is yet another fanart for my OT3, this time i'm on domestic JR poly brainrot so.... here we are. it's sketches cause i got too lazy and tired to do anything else to do it so... sorry? ANYWAYS LOOK AT THEM!!!!!

jane and ruby both belong to the wonderful @lacunafiction

Bonus under the cut:

Jane got home late and fell asleep next to them (not the most comfortable though miss-back-pains 🙄)

[background-noise-headache]

Thinking about a Twilight AU where Bella's reasons for wanting to become a vampire have very little to do with romantic love for Edward and everything to do with finding the family she's always wanted. Renee made Bella parent her, so Bella didn't get much of a childhood. And Charlie's great but it's just them. The Cullens imitate the cheesy family sit-com that Bella's probably idealized her whole childhood. So she wants to be with them forever and ever.

[hqmillioncorn]

and go again.

hi diary it’s me! butter! today me and pancake went shopping and we ran into those adventures everyones talking about! i guess they stopped a monster! that's so cool! we didn't get to talk to them a lot because we needed to get home before mom and dad so we could bake them a cake but they seemed nice. oh, there was one who was kinda mean but maybe she was just having a bad day. or maybe it's because I tripped her and she fell :( I should apologize when I see her again. hopefully we meet again soon. (Excerpt from Butter Moontide's Diary)

Lalapril 4/9: Emotion with @windupnamazu's Butter, Pancake and Cinnamon.

even the most powerful of starsingers need a little rest after opening up a portal to another world for so long.

Good Morning Butter! 

Or afternoon, or night! Depending on when you wake up from your little nap!  

I have my suspicions I’m going to be a little busy with going out and explaining to whoever asks about what happened back there. 

I made you and Pancake some cookies and sandwiches to eat together! Feel free to use my leftover ingredients to make some more if you wish to! I also left plenty of sliced fruits! Get lots of rest and remember that we all love you. We would do anything for the two of you. And Cinnamon too of course. As long as she watches the language. 

             -Love Lunya

Butter closed his diary, he really couldn’t believe just how many people knew about its existence at this point.

He could still remember when he had first decided to write down his thoughts on it so many years ago. It started as a way for him to write down the things he wanted to do that day, then before he knew it he was writing almost all of his thoughts and memories on it. 

Thanks to it he could see what he had been doing the day that Pancake learned to skip rocks on water, the time Cinnamon got stuck on a tree and the day they all made the decision to move into the mansion with Lunya and the others.

Back then Butter had no idea it was going to be one of the most important decisions of his life.

Not only his life, but Pancake’s too. Even Cinnamon’s.

Butter looked at the note in his hand. It looked like Lunya had written it in a bit of a hurry. Despite that, she still managed to write down a message for him and Pancake. He knew that whatever his parents had done probably had important people in Gridania asking way too many questions about what really happened. 

Questions that Lunya assured them she would take care of. Butter couldn’t thank her enough, for this and for everything she and Sirius had done for them. How would he ever thank them? 

It was just one of the many things that Butter would have to deal with later. 

Right now his problem, for lack of a better word, was that he was completely stuck. 

Earlier he had decided to spend his morning with Babycorn in the room she was recovering in. He was worried about her and wanted to see how she was doing. Obviously Cherrypit was in the room already. He was sitting on Babycorn’s bed, coloring in a picture he had drawn. When he first walked in, Butter noticed that he was still talking to Babycorn like she was still awake. It didn’t look like Cherrypit had even noticed him coming in.

An armchair was already in the room so Butter decided to sit there for the time being. When he sat down Cherrypit finally noticed him, he gave Butter a wave with a red crayon in his hand then went back to drawing. 

It wasn’t long before Pancake and Cinnamon joined Butter. By now Cherrypit had fallen fast asleep. It was early in the morning so it wasn’t a surprise. Pancake decided to grab an extra blanket and cover Cherrypit up. She even grabbed one for herself since it was a little chilly. 

“When do you think Babycorns gonna wake up?” Pancake asked. She had decided to sit on the armrest of the chair. Even though Butter had offered her the seat.

“Not sure.”

“I hope it’s soon.” 

It turned out that Cherrypit wasn’t the only one in the room that was tired. It didn’t take long until Butter, Pancake and Cinnamon had all fallen fast asleep.

…And then when Butter woke up  he realized that he was in a very precarious position. 

Pancake was hugging him tightly and Cinnamon was sleeping on top of his fluffy, spiky head. 

But what was really weird was that his diary was on his lap, almost like someone had placed it there. Then when Butter read the purple note sticking out from the margins of his diary, everything fell into place. 

Not only that but he noticed that there was a basket of cookies and sandwiches placed on the small table next to him. The cookies were all in the shape of various little flowers. They were all covered in different colored frosting. 

Lunya must have known that frosted cookies were one of his and Pancake’s favorite. 

‘I think Cinnamon taught me how to make this kind of cookie…?’ At one point it was all a baby Pancake would eat. It was hard to get her to eat anything else because of that. She would cry and cry and beg Butter for more of them that he would just eventually just give in and bake her some more. ‘I wonder if she remembers any of that?’ Butter tried to look up at Pancake but her head was still resting on his own.

He didn't dare move an ilm, at the risk of waking her up. 

At some point Cinnamon had decided enough was enough and had warned Pancake that if she kept eating cookies she would turn into a cookie herself and that Butter would eat her. 

Butter assured Pancake he would never do anything like that but after Pancake had cried her eyes out she promised that she would only treat cookies as a ‘sometimes’ food, as Cinnamon called it. 

'I think Cinnamon only wanted more of the cookies to herself…’ Butter wouldn’t have put it past her. He only remembered being mad at Cinnamon back then for making Pancake cry, but in retrospect it was probably a good thing that she stopped Pancake from eating too many sweets. 

Too much of a good thing can very quickly turn into a bad thing. Like a really bad tummy ache!

…But right now Butter really wanted to reach over and grab one of those cookies. They looked really yummy. Right now though, Pancake was grabbing onto him like someone would grab onto a big stuffed animal, which meant his hands were tied, so to speak.

Alongside the cookies was a basket of sandwiches. The sandwiches looked to be different types, Butter could see exactly one peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Pancake and Cinnamon would probably play a game to see which one of them got that one. 

Butter sunk into the seat a bit in an attempt to get more comfortable. Hopefully it wasn’t too comfy, he didn’t actually want to fall asleep again.

There was nothing more he could do but wait for Pancake to wake up and then she would probably wake up Cinnamon right after. Until then Butter decided to re-read the note Lunya had left for them. There was some relief in his heart to know, really know, that he and Pancake were actually wanted by someone near and dear to them. 

He had accepted it by now. Well sorta. A part of him was probably never going to really come to terms with it.

But Butter understood that what his parents decided to do ultimately had nothing to do with them. There was nothing that he or Pancake could have done to change their parents minds, he would know, he tried.

Cremia and Scotch had made their bed, so now they had to lie in it. Whatever happened next was up to his parents. None of it would have anything to do with them.

And that was that! 

Butter sighed, he opened his diary again and flipped through the pages. He stumbled on the note that Babycorn had written for him when they left Old Sharlayan for the first time. There was something about the way she wrote to him despite not being confident about her own writing had made Butter’s heart flutter back then.

All of a sudden, Butter felt something land on his lap. “Ah?” He lifted up his diary to see what was up, only to be met with Cherrypit’s empty gaze. “Oh! G-Good morning Cherry!” When had he woken up? Butter hadn’t even noticed! It wouldn’t have even been the first time. 

Cherrypit stared up at him and then at the diary Butter was holding. He slowly began to raise his red crayon in the air. 

“Cherry. No.” 

Cherrypit nodded, a playful smile crossing his face.

“...Okay fine, just one page.” There was no way Butter was strong enough to resist. He was still a little worried that Cherrypit would somehow be able to read all of the entries in his diary that were about fantasizing his perfect fairy-tale wedding with Babycorn. But, he had to keep reminding himself that Cherrypit was a baby and couldn’t read. 

Butter watched as Cherrypit began to draw a picture in his diary. At first Butter had no idea what Cherrypit was drawing, It sort of looked like a spiky hedgehog to him at first. Then Cherrypit put his crayon down, turned the diary around and pointed right at him. He was so excited about what he made he couldn’t sit still. 

Butter looked it over. He could tell instantly that Cherrypit had drawn him, a long sword in his hand and a star over his head. “Butts saved Bebe!” He smiled wide, “Thank you! Thank you!” Cherrypit hugged Butter as much as he could without stretching his arms out.

Babycorn always told him to go easy on the hugs around their friends, so that’s what he did!

Butter felt his eyes start to water. “T-Thanks Cherrypit!” he sniffled, “Lots of other people helped so remember to thank them t-too!” 

Cherrypit gave him a thumbs-up. “You got it!” It sounded like he was imitating someone when he said that. He must have heard someone say it before and thought it sounded cool. 

One thing was for sure, Butter was happy. Happier than he had been in weeks. Once his arms were free from Pancake’s grip he was going to make sure to write down all the most wonderful things he could in it. He needed to write more good memories with the people he loved to outweigh all the bad memories he had written regarding his parents. 

Once everything had settled down he would take Pancake somewhere fun! They would bake cookies together, bake cakes, make whatever she wanted to make! Go wherever they wanted to go! All together!

Maybe he would even tell Babycorn how he felt about her…

While on a date! Maybe somewhere with tasty food! 

Butter could still remember the last thing Babycorn had said to him that night. 

‘I want to go home with you.'

Cinnamon scratched her head in frustration. “No faaiiiir! That was rigged! Rigged!!!!!” She slowly descended onto a bouquet of fresh flowers. They were soft enough for her to lean back and lie down on them.

Cinnamon figured she might as well since there was nothing better for her to do anyway. “I don’t think it's entirely fair for me to go after the baby in this game!” How was she supposed to know what the last letter in ‘Abbanagagabaowaabaeei’ was? Unfair is what it was! 

Butter laughed, “Cinnamon I already told you! There’s no winning or losing in this game!” If there were, then Cherrypit would have been out of the game over an hour ago. He didn’t really understand that you were supposed to say a word that started with the same letter that the last word ended with. 

Cinnamon pouted, “Then what’s the point of winning if there’s no rules! Don’t you think so Babycorn?” 

Babycorn remained silent, her glowing eyes looking downward.

“...I really was hoping that would get her to say something.” 

Cinnamon looked dejected. She wasn't the first to talk to Babycorn hoping for a response from her but a part of her hoped she would be the last to. “Whose turn was it next?” Cinnamon said in an attempt to change the subject. 

Butter gave Cinnamon an understanding smile. He knew that she was just trying to help in her own way and even if it hadn’t worked, he knew it was a step in the right direction.

Maybe Babycorn had heard them.?

He hoped he did. 

Pancake waved her hand in the air. “It’s my turn next!” She sang. She bounced Cherrypit on her lap, he laughed and mimicked her every move. Cherrypit raised his hand in the air and waved it around. When Pancake noticed Cherrypit staring towards his sister she tickled his cheek, just in case he was getting sad again.

“Don’t worry! She’s gonna wake up soon! I promise!” 

Cherrypit let out a squeal. He grabbed Pancake’s hand and gently bit down on it. “Pnapapnabmapanww!” He mumbled. 

“Cherrypit!” Pancake took her hand out of Cherrypit’s mouth and wiggled her finger back and forth. “Don’t do that! You don’t know where I’ve been!” 

“Panka in here!” He moved his hands all over to show that he was talking about the room they’d been in all morning. 

“That’s true…” Pancake forgot that Cherrypit was smarter than he looked. “Right! Okay here’s my word!” She closed her eyes, thinking long and hard over Cherrypit’s last word. Until she got it! “Eureka!” Her eyes twinkled with delight, “My word is Water!” 

Cherrypit clapped and cheered, “Panka win! Yay! Panka! Wins!” 

Cinnamon’s voice instantly rang out. “Aww what?! Home come Butter gets an easy word like water?! This is rigged I'm telling you!!”

Of course Pancake had no idea what Cinnamon was saying but from how red her glow was becoming it was clear she wasn’t very happy about something. 

It was Butter’s turn now but he hadn’t been listening. Almost all of his attention was being drawn into looking to see if Babycorn was reacting to anything. Despite all the talking and laughing near her, Babycorn looked the same as she had yesterday and the day before.

Completely still.

Butter desperately hoped she would wake up soon. Babycorn would wake up and laugh just like she used to. Talk like she used to, eat every tasty snack like she used to, fill every room with light just like she used to.

Butter grabbed the edge of his coat and crumpled it up. He really just missed Babycorn. He wished with all of his heart that she would be okay. 

“Butter? It’s your turn!” 

Butter looked over to Pancake, he could tell she was a little worried. “It’s okay you don’t have to play if you don’t want to.” she assured him.

“No it’s okay! I was just thinking of a word!” He successfully lied. In his defense, Butter had been listening carefully to Pancake and Cherrypit’s conversation, so he knew exactly what word Pancake had said. Butter raised his hand to his chin in thought, “Hmm…Let’s see…” There were so many words he could choose from it was hard to just pick one. 

“How about reunion?” 

Pancake feigned a gasp, “Woah what a big word! I'm surprised you know it!” She looked down and moved Cherrypit’s arms forward and backwards. “Don’t you think so Cherry?”

“Big! Big!” He giggled. 

Butter would have laughed along with him , but something stopped him. 

The sound of a voice, repeating the same word he had just said. 

He turned his head to look, and saw something that took his breath away.

Babycorn was awake. 

Her eyes were wide open as she stood on top of the bed. Her legs were shaking as she tried to keep herself standing.

Nobody knew how to react. There was a sense of relief and happiness at seeing Babycorn move but it had happened so suddenly, No one was prepared for it.

No one, but Babycorn. A smile crossed her face, becoming wider and wider. She took in a shaky breath as tears pooled up at the corners of her eyes. 

It was getting harder for her to keep her balance but Babycorn didn’t care. She took a step forward and tripped but before anyone could ask if she was okay, Babycorn jumped off the bed with her arms held out.  

“I’m okay! I’m okay!” 

It sounded like she was shouting in disbelief. Almost as if she couldn’t believe she had made it out alive. 

Butter noticed in an instant.

Babycorn was speaking. Her voice no longer echoed inside his head. 

As Babycorn fell towards the ground Butter felt his legs start to move.

He took a step forward, then another one and another. Before he knew it, he was holding his arms out ready to catch her. There was no way he was ever going to let anything happen to Babycorn as long as he could. 

Time felt like it was slowing down to a crawl. Babycorn’s eyes met with Butter’s. Her eyes were shining with tears building up in her eyes. Her long hair was messy from her having spent so much time sleeping. 

Her heart started beating faster and faster the closer she got to him. She reached out her hands towards him. ‘Catch me! Catch me and don’t let me go!’ Who had said that? 

Butter caught her. He spun her around as he cried out in happiness. He set her down on solid ground and hugged her tightly. “Babycorn! I’m so glad…” He was desperate to tell Babycorn just how much he missed her, how happy he was to see her alive and well. But no words would come out.

All Butter could do was cry onto her shoulder. 

Babycorn hugged him right back, not wanting to let him go. 

There was something so nice about seeing Butter again. Even after everything that had happened he and Pancake still looked the same. They were here and Butter had actually missed her?

That meant that he wasn’t upset with her for what had happened to his parents. Babycorn couldn’t even imagine how much they had gone through.

There was also something about Butter that was making her entire face warm up and her eyes swirl. “H-Hi?! Butts?!” She was overjoyed to see him but why in the world was she feeling this way?! 

Babycorn felt something land on her head. “Wah?” She looked up and saw Cherrypit staring right back at her. “Bebe! Bebe!” He was smiling wide, looking happier than he had looked in days.

He snuggled his face into his sister’s hair, repeating her name over and over. “No go again! No, no going!” He berated her. That was enough worrying for his big sister for once lifetime, thank you very much.

“I'll try my best…” Babycorn showed Butter an awkward smile. 

He laughed, letting out a wet sniffle. Words were still failing him. He was overcome with emotions.

“What Butter means is that we’ll all do our best!” Pancake ran up to Babycorn and hugged her too. “That’s enough of being sad for me!! It’s tiring, I'll have you know!” Pancake was so happy, happy that everything was okay. 

No one was hurt and everything was going to be okay! Her parents hadn’t taken everything away!

Babycorn took her hand and ruffled Pancake’s hair around. Something that had been much easier to do back when Pancake was younger.

Time just flew by…

Babycorn could still remember the day she first met them all. Who would have guessed that her tripping on her face into the dirt would one day lead to all of this?

Babycorn stood as tall as she could and whispered to Butter in a hushed tone. “I’m glad you didn’t go away…” 

Butter smiled, whispering back. “Me too…” 

Cinnamon flew over them in silence. Someone should probably let the others know that Babycorn was awake but Cinnamon figured that it was nice to let everyone here have a moment of quiet for now.

[caffiend-queen]

ARE YOU READING OUR MINDS HEARING US SCREAM FOR A PATRICK BOOK?

Sorry for the screaming but babes! This is incredible. I'm so excited to literally scream and fall in love with Patrick.

I love you BBG and you can scream any time you like!!! Thank you for having my back. The kids thank you. The shelters thank you!

[kiealer]

@forthehonorandtheglory​ asked:

"Who exactly are you & why do you already seem annoying to me?" ( I apologize in advance for him; - Cell )

❝Excuse me?❞ Offense drips from every word that leaves her mouth, her brows furrowed and thoroughly peeved. ❝I know it's been a few years, but has that messed with your memory or something? Do you not remember who I am?❞ Her hand rests upon her chest, fingers slowly furling into themselves. Anger swells within her, and it takes an unwieldy amount of willpower to remain as calm as she is. 

❝You've nearly killed me! You've nearly killed my friends! But Gohan stopped you! He killed you! So what are you doing back in the first place?!❞

[sucharandomwolf]

Cackletta’s Soul

[nanatsuyu]

Me: don't do it don't do another 75 page essay on Andrew's bipolar ii diagnosis

Also me feeling incredibly spicy on this fine Wednesday morning: (⁠ʘ⁠ᴗ⁠ʘ⁠✿⁠)

[guccigarantine]

Ok they did way more road to palisade games than I thought wow

[im-just-a-br0adway-baby]

(Pepa is on the stool with water in her mouth. She answers the phone; it's Bruno)

Bruno: Can you put it on speaker?

Pepa: Mmm-hmm.

Bruno: You have it on speaker?

Pepa: Mmm-hmm.

Bruno: Okay. Uhm. Uh. Guess what?

(Pepa looks the other way and sees Bruno on the other side of the living room with his phone and the prop telephone. She spits out her water laughing.)

Pepa: (Still laughing) Te odio!

Bruno: I didn't even get to say it! (Comes to the middle of the living room) You're my favorite pizza place!

(Pepa pushes and kicks Bruno playfully)

[wakeofvultures]

In honor of posting Chapter 15 of Cracks in the Crypt and getting jumpscared by this in my drafts, here is a doodle that turned into more than a doodle of Caius and Myrtis, set probably a year or so after Myrtis first joins the Volturi. I finished this months ago. I was experimenting with certain ways of rendering.

They're in a meeting, and Myrtis is very excited to be useful (or something).

Caius is like "something is wrong with her" (affectionate).