#a scribble filled recap

[safrina-shards]

[sacrificial-jewels]

Well. Someone has gotten into the powdered cheese and got a tummy ache

[sacrificial-jewels]

I am so terribly sorry Ms Ellisa, Safrina's currently in a situation...

•°[Video ID: toddler Safrina looking at the screen]°•

Who this? Are you my teacher in ... Rangering? What is rangering?

-@safrina-shards

I... I'm not sure what I'm looking at here. A prank? Hold on let me go look at something.

[onlybeeewrites]

A Change of Plans

Request: hi!! could i request a oneshot for haymitch where theyre already in a relationship, takes place during the 75th hunger games and shes reaped, reader is very similar to annie cresta - soft spoken, shy, kind but emotionally fragile due to past trauma - maybe haymitch and katniss’s alliance negotiations are more desperate because he promised to get her out of the games? please and thank you!!

Pairing: Haymitch Abernathy x Fem!reader 

Word Count: 1.4k

Warnings: mentions of PTSD, spoilers for Catching Fire 

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

The train hummed beneath them—too smooth, too quiet—like it had no business carrying something as ugly as death. Haymitch sat stiffly in his usual seat, a glass in hand he hadn’t touched. For once, the burn of liquor wasn’t enough. Not for this.

The reaping was over.

For District 12, at least.

Katniss and Peeta were reaped.

Well—he was. Technically.

Peeta volunteered, though it wasn’t like Haymitch could do much to stop him. Not when the Capitol stacked the deck so neatly, not when Snow already knew every move they’d make before they made it.

It was all exactly what he feared.

And somehow worse.

Because it wasn’t just Katniss and Peeta.

It was who else had been chosen.

The third Quarter Quell.

Where the victors themselves became the tributes.

A punishment wrapped in a celebration.

He hadn’t seen her yet. Hadn’t let himself imagine it. Wouldn’t allow her face to take shape in his mind—not until he had to. He thought he could delay it. Maybe she wouldn’t be reaped. Maybe, for once, the odds would lean in their favor.

Now, the screen played the recaps—district by district. A slow, cruel countdown. Effie had turned the volume up, her voice unnaturally chipper when she said they should “know who we’re up against.”

Peeta sat with his elbows on his knees, eyes fixed. Katniss sat rigid beside him, barely breathing.

A notepad lay in Peeta’s lap, filled with frantic notes and rough sketches. Names circled, others crossed out, arrows and question marks scribbled into the margins. He wrote based on Haymitch’s earlier comments—strategy, personalities, strengths. He wanted to be ready. Wanted to protect her.

They didn’t know how impossible that would be.

Haymitch sat bracing himself. His hands were already trembling, though he hadn’t taken a sip. He didn’t look at the others. Didn’t dare.

District 8.

The screen flickered.

There she was.

Standing alone on the platform, washed in that horrible blue-white Capitol lighting that made everyone look a little more ghost than human. Her hands were folded in front of her, fingers white at the knuckles. Her shoulders hunched slightly, like she was trying to make herself disappear into herself.

Just her and one other female tribute.

She hadn’t changed much. Maybe a few more lines around her eyes, a new softness in her features. But the essence of her remained untouched. The gentleness. The quiet strength. The kindness.

Even now, she looked soft.

Everything the arena was not.

Katniss inhaled sharply beside him. “Oh.”

Effie’s hand fluttered up to her mouth, her expression crumbling. “Oh no…”

Haymitch didn’t look at them. Didn’t acknowledge anything but the screen. His heart thudded slow and sick in his chest, and his fingers curled tight around the glass he still hadn’t touched.

Y/N stepped forward when they called her name. Her voice was low, trembling—barely above a whisper. But she walked. Unflinching. No dramatics. No sobs. Just the quiet dignity she always carried, like a thread sewn into her very bones.

She didn’t look surprised.

She didn’t cry.

That was her.

Always braver than anyone realized.

Braver than him.

“Won’t the other volunteer for her? She’s…” Peeta’s voice trailed off, uncertain, trying to say the right thing. “She’s not the most violent, is she?”

Haymitch’s jaw clenched. “I doubt it,” he said tightly. “The other female victor, Cecilia. Sweet woman. But she’s got three kids. If she wasn’t picked, she wouldn’t volunteer.”

Katniss was watching him now, not the screen. Her voice dropped into something softer than he’d ever heard it. “You didn’t think they’d pick her.”

“No,” he said flatly. “But then again…” He raised the glass, whiskey burning his throat. “Sometimes the odds are leaned into our favor.”

He tasted bitterness more than alcohol.

Because he knew.

He knew Snow did this on purpose.

Picked this Quarter Quell theme.

Picked Katniss.

Picked her.

This wasn’t justice. It wasn’t random. It was Snow’s hand around his throat, squeezing harder every time Haymitch dared to hope for something better. Dared to love something again.

Haymitch leaned forward and set the glass down, scrubbing his hands over his face like he could erase the image burned into the back of his eyelids—his wife, his wife, standing stiffly as Peacekeepers took her from the stage. They cut the footage just before she looked back.

But he didn’t need to see it.

He knew that look.

He’d seen it before.

The first time she was reaped, before they’d ever met.

Before she won.

Before he ever dared to let someone in again.

He had spent years protecting her in the only way he knew how—keeping her name quiet, keeping her out of the Capitol’s grasp, tucked away in the shadows of District 8. She had always felt too good for this world. Too soft for it. But she’d survived it once.

Her condition, her fragility, her gentle demeanor—none of it ever made her weak. It just made her precious. To him.

Now they were throwing her back into the fire.

“Haymitch,” Effie said gently. Her voice had lost all its Capitol shine. “I am… so terribly sorry.”

He didn’t answer. What was there to say?

There was no plan. No maneuver. No clever twist of words that could undo this.

All he could see was her. That quiet smile she gave him when she mended his clothes. The way she held his hand in bed when the nights were too dark. The smell of her hair. The small kiss to his wrist when she thought he was asleep. Her voice saying his name like it meant something.

Gone.

No.

Not gone.

Still within reach.

The plan was still in motion. The one he’d built with Plutarch piece by piece. But now… now it needed to be reshaped. Bent to save her.

He stood abruptly. His voice was rough, slurred at the edges, but solid where it counted. “She’s not dying in that arena.”

“Haymitch—” Peeta started, knowing that at the end, only one of them could get out. There was no way they’d let them get away with it a second year. 

He turned, eyes burning. “I mean it. I don’t care what it takes. If we’re—” He stopped himself. Too many ears. Too many cameras. He gritted his teeth.

Katniss nodded slowly, picking up what he was putting down. “We’ll watch her back. But you know how this works. Especially now. Only one can make it out.”

Only one.

That’s what the Capitol wanted them to believe.

But Katniss and Peeta didn’t know what he did.

Didn’t know Beetee’s plan.

Plutarch’s plan.

Didn’t know the ship hovering beyond the clouds that would be ready for when the time comes.

Didn’t know he’d already laid the groundwork to get her out. He just needed to get the other Victors on board.

He just had to keep Katniss alive long enough to make it happen.

For the rebellion to happen.

But now he had another factor to worry about. His wife was now stuck in the games. Haymitch needed to figure out a way to keep her safe. Sponsors would only do so much, and Cecelia would ensure you were looked after. The capital loved you and all the clothes you made. A Capital favorite, especially to all the designers like Cinna.

Maybe Finnick would do. He could be trusted.

Or Johanna. She liked Y/N. Had a soft spot for her, even if she’d never admit it.

It could work.

It had to.

Effie dabbed her eyes with a lace handkerchief. “She’s one of the good ones,” she whispered. “Always has been.”

Haymitch didn’t reply.

He couldn’t.

He turned and left, boots heavy against the floor as he crossed the car to his compartment. Once the door slid shut, he walked to the window and leaned a hand against it. The tracks blurred by below, the sky painted in ash and dying light.

Somewhere out there, she was being powdered, painted, packaged for the cameras. Being forced into a dress she didn’t want. Touched by hands that didn’t know her. Made to smile through the terror.

Somewhere, she was alone.

And he was here.

But not for long.

This time, he wouldn’t watch from the sidelines.

This time, if the world wanted war—they’d get it.

Because no one was taking her from him again.

Not without burning for it.

[mrhyde-mrseek]

Updated altar tour!!!

Hades & Persephone

They share an altar! Not much has changed since i last posted a picture of it except that i added a bracelet, but to recap, they’ve got:

A raven and skull Halloween decoration

A bracelet i made with Hades in mind and hung around the raven’s neck

Red Crowley-ish sunglasses

A candle holder from the thrift store

A stone snake figurine thing

A geode(?)/sparkly rock

A bat plushie (named Marcel the Mycelium Bat by my friend)

A bracelet i made for Persephone and put on the bat

Persephone’s offering bowl, a flowerpot with a crow(?) feather and a (now dead) flower

Vials of fake herbs (another Halloween decoration)

A poison apple spellbook Halloween decoration

A Hadestown magnet

A little red candle

Hades’ offering bowl, a thrifted metal bowl apparently made in 1978 (that’s the date carved on it at least) with crystals, coins, rocks, a key, a silver Beetlejuice bracelet, a button shaped like a cat eye, and a letter in it

Dionysus

Not much has changed since i last showed y’all Dionysus’s altar, but they’ve got:

A satyr statue i made in an art class

A painting with colors i associate with them

A nonbinary flag-colored heart charm

Two pinecones

A big bead with eerily similar colors to the lesbian flag

A bracelet

A gold paper heart a member of my high school a cappella group made me

Two amethyst crystals

My pronoun pin

A purple candle

Athena

Athena’s hasn’t changed much either, but it’s got:

My kindle

My vintage-looking desk light

Its offering bowl, a flower pot shaped like a statue head, with a crow feather, a little turkey feather, a massive turkey tail feather, and a Good Omens pen

A fall-scented candle

A Kamala Harris magnet from The Female Power Project

Two little plastic trophies

A few blue stones

A puzzle

An offering of iced tea & lemonade that Athena didn’t really like but didn’t want me to take it off its altar and still doesn’t (i tried it and it’s really sweet but like in a bad way so i can see why it doesn’t like it lol)

Hermes

Hermes’s altar has some new additions! I mainly got then because i wanna bring something from each altar with me to college that i won’t lose, and since candles aren’t allowed i got him something else, so now he has:

His candle (which I’m still obsessed with)

A wax doll my dad got me from a Voodoo practitioner’s shop on a business trip to New Orleans

A feather

A Newsies keychain

A marble

A tiny rubber duck figurine

Dice

What i think is Dalmatian Jasper but I could be wrong??

A couple more shiny rocks

A bracelet

A couple coins

A brand new statue (which is what I’m bringing to college)!!! It came with what I’m guessing is a little baby Hermes but I don’t really know, and a caduceus that I just realized he can hold

Artemis

Artemis’s hasn’t changed much either, except for a few added trinkets, so right now she has:

A candle

An animal skull-shaped fish tank decoration i got from my friend’s yard sale (coincidentally the same friend who named Marcel the Mycelium Bat)

A silver ring from prom

A few rocks

A little crystal, i think it’s amethyst??

A Totoro figurine

A crescent moon selenite offering bowl

An acorn

A mug inspired by her I made junior year of high school with a crow feather in it

A gold crescent moon charm

Apollo

I haven’t shown Apollo’s altar yet because he’s relatively new to the group of deities i work with/worship! He’s got:

A tall ass candle

A wolf plushie

A rainbow… thing, it’s too big to be a bracelet but too small to be a necklace so it’s his now

A gold plastic coin thing

A fake lavender-looking flower

A glass bauble charm filled with yellow glitter

My tarot cards

An award i got senior year from the music program (I scribbled out my name on the photo)

An HRC water bottle that’s kinda hidden behind the award

A couple rocks

A yellow plastic gummy bear

A squishy yellow unicorn fidget toy

A plastic toy milkshake (he thought it was funny)

Aphrodite

Aphrodite has a couple additions to her altar, too! We’ve got:

A drawing I made for her

A pretty little teal rock

Two shells

A tiny pink candle

A piece of a plastic crown from my high school’s production of Mean Girls last year, I have no idea how i ended up with it but here we are

A thing of blush (rarely used, i thought she might appreciate it more)

Coconut and pear-scented chapstick

A shell kinda shaped like a bowl with a pearly charm, two pink paper stars, and a tiny rose charm in it

Her offering bowl, a teacup, saucer, and spoon shaped like a flower, leaf, and ladybug respectively that was a graduation present from a friend!! While they’re not quite Aphrodite’s style, she still likes them on her altar because they were a symbol of platonic love!!

A bracelet in her offering bowl

[little-forest-goblin]

Hey guys so a did a recent post about the diner deli scene and the different variations of five there and i had listed all of the ones i can put a name on (its all a personal opinion my word is not law) and we all know that they have some odd subtle differences between each other though they still may be five they are still from other universes and timelines and not one five is gonna be the same completely. So i decided to list and give them the personalties and such that i can (Again my word is now law please by all means make whatever you want this is just personal opinion and thought)

So here is the list of the fives that i had personally named.

1. Booth five

2. waiter five

3. brisket five

4. Newspaper/good with numbers five

5. Mathematician/journaling/theorist five (There is three cause if i remember correctly there is two fives and i just know one of them is obsessing over numbers and i was wondering what the other one is doing and thats what i got)

6. Anxious antsy/waiting five

7. Drunk five

8. Loose neck tie five

9. chef five

Those are the ones i could put a name too. Some of them i have no clue what to call them but if you have a suggestion or an idea please let me know.

1. Booth five

Booth five is probably a funny laid back guy who is just wanting to chill after having tried and failed so many times to save the world and his family only to have it blow up in his face time and time again. He is mostly unintentionally funny it seems. He wont get why what he said is funny at first but once he does he will probably laugh it off with you or give a playful eyeroll.

2. waiter five

Waiter five looks like he would be that person in the friend group who is always mothering the group. Attentive and caring can be serious when need be but for the most part also pretty laid back and not really a stick in the mud.

3. Brisket five

You cant tell me he wouldn’t be a sweetheart. He looks like he would be making small talk and smiling and cracking a couple jokes here and there and just overall you would be comfortable around him. He is probably one of the fives that the others go to vent or just need something to take their mind off of whatever they got going on. There’s that and let’s not forget he apparently wrecks shit sometimes as confirmed by booth five.

4. Newspaper/good with numbers five

Newspaper five has always newspaper always in hand whether it be old news or new news he has one nearby or in hand. This is also helping him with his good with numbers part. He is just uncannily good with numbers obviously having been shown in the scene where he tells the amount of times they tried to save the world. He is basically that scene from criminal minds where Spencer Reid gets the guess right for how many boats are on lake mead. He knows random info and facts and when engaged in conversation he is a fact and info dumper.

5. mathematician/journalist/theorist five

-mathematician five is somewhere writing in his notebook with equations and numbers all probably trying to find a possibility for any possible safe timeline that isn’t gonna go to shit. He could also just really like numbers.

-Journalist/diary five is always writing in his notebook about his days there at the deli/diner. he can recap anything that has happened from the start of when he arrived there and more then likely has a log of all the fives that have arrived and whether they have stayed or went off to try and save the world and the family again.

- theorist five i believe is a variation of five that had driven himself crazy with possibilities and theories whether it be about the apocalypse and saving his family or it might be over something small and insignificant. sometimes this can spiral and cause outbursts of panic and rage or straight up mental breakdowns. His notebook is filled with possibility after possibility. Theory after theory. Some of the pages are random scribbles and writings and if you sit close to him you can hear him muttering to himself about the writings. His hair is also probably a little greasier than others considering his obsessive behavior with writing theories but he isn’t unclean.

6. anxious ansty/waiting five

Anxious ansty five seems to be on edge a lot. All the trauma he has gone through has finally bled through and has made him anxious or antsy. He can be seen with his hands always fidgeting or chewing on a random object like a pen or the tip of his straw to try and silence the anxious thoughts even for just a minute. He may be seen waiting for his order at the counter but he isn’t always waiting for that he can be seen waiting anxiously for some kinda ball to drop and everything to go to shit. He is probably more than likely a paranoid person.

7. Drunk five

Drunk five is quite self explanatory. It’s a variation of five that is drunk but when you think about it. Why was he called drunk five in the first place? why wasnt he called something else kinda like how newspaper/good with numbers five is or theorist five is? its cause he is more then likely always drunk meaning this variation of five is probably the one filled and consumed by regret and grief and sadness and has given up completely. Not all variations of five are happy or composed and this is one of them. He has done so much, seen so much and has dealt with so much to where he drinks to forget and drinks to have a good time. When you approach him you can get a few different emotions whether it be a sad drunk one day or a cracking jokes and making drunk conversation. He is more then likely the one getting into some form of trouble (as seen with S3 where five makes boozy cereal or does random stupid things) he may not always be sad but deep down we know why he drinks.

8. Loose neck tie five

People may argue and say that this is drunk five but if memory serves me right drunk five was off doing something stupid and this one is just hanging out by the door. Now i don’t quite know what personality to give this one since its just a loose neck tie and doesn’t really correspond with personality other then maybe being tired or exhausted or being disheveled in the first place. He may be a five that is a little less organized and put together. I will leave this one up to y’all.

9. Chef five

Not be confused with brisket five cause yes brisket five i guess technically would be a chef considering he is making food but brisket five is called brisket five for a reason. Chef five is the other five behind the counter. If you look at the picture you can see a five eating a soup meaning there probably isn’t just sandwiches here in the diner/deli. Chef five can always be seen hard at work cooking and probably trying out new recipes or making new ones too.

There we have it folks my personal opinions on the five variations in this weird five verse. I hope yall have fun and if you have ideas and different names for some of them put it in comments and i made add them to a list or something who knows what i might do.

[safrina-shards]

Fluffffyy!!!

[sacrificial-jewels]

Fuck fuck fuck. I accidentally made Safrina cry

I don't know what I did, I just held her shoulder and she started tearing up

[blazingpeter]

2024 Art Recap

Here I show what I've been making over time. Looking through, it really showed me where my motivation died and where it went rampant.

I wish for the new year to be more consistent and artblock to deal a kinder hand to me.

Honorable mentions, my fave pieces that I made this year.

That's alot for a few mentions, but it's my post and I get to cram it with art that I don't hate.

Anyways, I realize that most of my art for most of the year has been me running right behind Mushie's heels and I don't know about you but it makes me feel like a leech. I want to make something on my own, with no help for ideas.

I'm going to continue with the Sad Sad Sircus. It was something I made years ago in one of my many artbooks and it seems I still have the spark for it.

I love my old art, most of it anyways. I keep all the books filled with scribbly, terrible drawings of my more innocent years. Back when the memory problems where really problems. It was just something really annoying that the adults in my life dismissed. It's a problem now, there's a lot that I don't remember, can't comprehend or think of before I do. I upset people before I realize that it's something that even could be upsetting. I'm sorry about it. Really, but we know that I can apologies as many times as I want, but it doesn't erase what's been said and done.

Ranting aside, I'm drawing for myself, not to join a community (ha let's see how long that lasts) not saying that I'm no longer taking requests, I'll always be open for requests.

Let's see where the year takes us, I hope 2025 is kind to us.

[safrina-shards]

I am okay! But who are you..? Don't remember you... Sorry if we've met before

•°[text to speech has been activated]°•

"Woah you can interact with the screen! So cool! Huh... Who are these people.. are these Mama's friends..."

-@safrina-shards

Huh???

Safrina? You okay?

[writer-and-artist27]

Tumblr Story: Two Robins

Note: For @dollya-robinprotector. Because the writing urge hit and I wanted to send you something to destress. Also inspired by this comic you made on your other blog.

An informal sequel to “Reformed Bully,” basically. Because when life throws lemons, I make lemonade out of them. While listening to the song titled, My First Friend. 

Stories for friends work like that. :)

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

“Another world through a magic door, huh…?” 

Vy couldn’t help but sit up in her place at the guest couch and slowly open her eyes at the sound of Robin’s voice. Even if he wasn’t her Robin, Lya’s Robin looked contemplative while taking off his apron in the now-cleaned kitchen, wiping some peanut butter off his hands with a napkin with a quiet hum. “Considering you were able to find a cookie recipe this easy to make,” he said with a soft laugh, “I probably shouldn’t be surprised at magic doors considering my sweetie’s habit of getting involved with a lot of people.”

“And…” Vy internally cursed herself for her low social battery, forcing her voice out as much as she could for Robin to notice, “who says… that habit is… a bad thing when… she still has… you, Robin?”

The brunette man turned to look at her with wide green eyes, the freckles on his face twitching before he smiles. “…That’s true,” he said in a softer voice, hanging his apron up on a nearby rack before opening the refrigerator and pulling out a water bottle. “But if you’re tired, Vy, you can use the couch to rest. You’re the guest here and you didn’t have to play with the kids.” The smile on his face widens to a grin once he walks over to place the water bottle in Vy’s ungloved hands, sitting down next to her soon after. “Though as one of their dads, I’m really grateful for your help.”

“Whitney looked… tired, y’know?” Her grip is shaky on the bottle cap once Vy twists at it to open the beverage, lifting the whole bottle carefully to drink the cold water inside for some energy. “Baking… cookies for the kids… is something I can do… considering they were curious… and I started it… by giving him some…” And sure, Chaldea didn’t have toddlers in its large roster of Servants (baby Caren notwithstanding — she was a unique case) — but her experience with kids thankfully wasn’t null and void. Plus their reactions to the “magic” of the three-ingredient peanut butter cookies were so so cute. Even recapping the water bottle in her hands after drinking half felt like an effort worth doing as she said, “So I… I wanted to help… besides…”

Robin leans forward to rest his chin against his palms, peering into her face with a curious expression. “Besides…?”

“It’s what…” Vy smiled, doing her best to ignore the urge to cough from how weak her voice felt in her throat. “It’s what… my Robin… would’ve done.”

Robin’s green eyes widened again — reminding Vy of Chaldea, of her Robin — before his brows furrowed against his forehead. “…You said that before,” he said in a quieter voice, one of his hands leaving his face in favor of reaching out towards her. Not nearly enough to touch, but close enough to the point of nearly patting her hair. “What is your Robin like, Vy? You said you saw some of him in Whit, which led you to us.”

How to respond… Vy turned her head to look at her lap, fidgeting with a hem of her skirt from the Chaldean Decisive Battle uniform. Her pockets still had some markers and her whiteboard, so—

“Vy…?” Lya’s Robin paused, a hand hovering close to hers once she put the half-full water bottle to the side and subsequently pulled out her writing set, carefully trying to uncap the nearest marker — pink this time, it seemed — to start scribbling a response.

“Energy… low…” Vy said hastily to fill in the silence, shaking her head. “Gonna have to… write to you… Robin… so excuse me.”

Past the shade of her low ponytail, it thankfully didn’t hide the understanding look that dawned on Robin’s face, his newest smile sympathetic towards her as he nodded. “You’re excused.” 

“Th-Thankie…” With one grateful gulp of air, Vy wrote as quickly yet as neatly as she could, the words coming naturally to the forefront of her mind. My Robin is my hero.

Turning the board over to let Lya’s Robin read the words had his green eyes widen yet again. “Your hero…?”

Forcing energy into her next nod, Vy turned her whiteboard back to write more. I grew up with him, she “said,” doing her best to school the incoming blush on her face with a tiny cough. Whenever I was sad, whenever I needed to get away, he was there. In his green cape, whistling a tune, and hiding one eye away with his hair. Just by being himself and staying with me.

Vy wasn’t surprised to hear Robin chuckle at the word “hair” on her board once she turned the words toward him. “If your Robin has one eye hidden by his hair, I can understand why you reached out to Whit, then.” 

They’re similar in some ways, Whitney and my Robin. Behavior, looks, and voice, aye. Pasts are definitely different. Vy could tell even when having known Whitney for only half of a day. They both were rough around the edges, self-proclaimed “cowards,” easy to cover up their insecurities with lies, but— In the end, Robin inspires me. He makes me feel safe. He helps me keep going. That's why he’s “Big Robin” to me. 

“…Does he now?” Lya’s Robin says softly, glancing at the whiteboard before looking at Vy with a sad look to his green eyes. “Is that what a hero is to you, Vy? Someone who can be big and protect you?”

Not even the fatigue stopped Vy from hearing the longing in Robin’s voice, the lingering regret lacing his words, and she immediately turned her whiteboard back to herself to scribble a response.

I didn’t look up to my Robin just because he was big and protected me. Sure, he’s taller than me, and yes, he’s protected me, but he did more than that. Some of her “o”s looked loopy to her tired eye, but she still pointed them to Lya’s Robin for the man to read, tapping the underlined “more” with a face. Being a hero for someone can just be as simple as making sure there’s a home to come back to. A safe place to tuck away and be fine in someone’s arms. And if you’re worrying about that with Lya and your kids, Robin, I think you don’t have to. 

“...Huh?” The brunette blinks at her response, and Vy smiles, lowering her whiteboard to the lap of her skirt. She knew if she spoke up, she might not be able to do the same for the rest of the day, but—

“You’re… like my Robin too…” Vy eventually croaked, keeping as much cheer as she could once Lya’s Robin gaped at her. Her hands felt a bit like lead had been injected into them, but it didn’t matter. “You both… worry about… doing enough… for the people you love… and I wanna say… you’re okay.”

“Vy…” Robin whispered, his green eyes betraying his experiences and concerns. Living as an orphan, trying to make ends meet under cruel circumstances, hoping Lya could be happy… A soft choking noise made his voice wobble once he said with shimmering wetness characteristic of tears in his eyes, “You really think so?”

Vy knew that her Robin could and would make that exact same face (especially when she pushed herself too hard). It was why she smiled at Lya’s Robin, raising one shaky gloved hand to pat his frozen outstretched one. 

“I… know so. Because… because my Big Robin… taught me small kindnesses… like baking and hugging and helping… matter. So Robin… I think you’re plenty big… for Lya, Whitney, Alex… and your kids too.” A note of longing came out to grace the air between them, a cursory glance at the living room around them confirming to Vy that she was almost envious. “Having a farm like this… being able to safely have a family… not a lot of people can say the same. So… give yourself more credit. You can… be ‘big’ in your own way too. Cooking… and games… and being you.”

Especially when I know how hard it is to fight for the home you want. When the home I want is still out of reach.

It was why Vy decided not to mention the plight of Humanity back in her world, what with the Foreign God and all of her fucking bullshit, in favor of grabbing a wad of tissues from her other skirt pocket to offer to the man sitting next to her. The tears in Robin’s eyes only grew in size against his lashes, but he was smiling once he took the tissues to wipe at his face. “Th-Thank you,” he choked out after a moment, a few droplets falling to the couch cushions between them as he laughed. “I-I didn’t know I needed to hear that before I heard it.”

Vy smiled, vaguely making out a silhouette of pink starting to emerge from the hallway behind Robin before nodding her head. “Aye. That can… definitely happen… and if you can’t believe it… why don’t you ask your sweetie?”

As if on cue, flowers seem to burst open in the air. “Of course, my gentle songbird!” Lya announces her sudden entrance with a tight hug to Robin from behind, falling to her knees and winding her arms around her husband’s neck enough to make the man squeak. “Vy has the right idea!”

“L-Lya…” Robin sniffles, but he looks happier once she’s in the picture, enough for relief to spread throughout Vy’s chest as she slowly scooted a foot or so away to give the happy couple some space. “I… I really am doing enough for you?”

“Of course you are! You’re my Robin!” Lya pouts when resting her chin atop Robin’s brown hair, shaking her head. “I love you more than anything, sweetie!”

“Sweetie…”

Vy closed her eyes to the sight, already feeling a little awkward if not for the lingering fatigue still in her systems, and thus debated stepping out. It didn’t feel right to say anything with Lya already reassuring her hubby better with lots of hugs and kisses beyond her closed eyelids, so…

“Muu…?”

Her back and legs suddenly weren’t on the couch anymore. Vy slowly blinked, feeling mana carry her up into the air and barely hearing Robin’s surprised “whoa” along the way. Her half-full water bottle, whiteboard and assorted markers were floating up with her, highlighted by — by purple runes? It would certainly explain why the floating was very much gentle, but if runes were here—

The corner of her blurry vision past her glasses let her see a single glimpse of violet and green before toned, muscular arms wrapped themselves around the backs of her shoulders and the undersides of her knees, holding her in a princess carry. “I look away for five minutes,” said a familiar voice above her head, “and then I find you’re pushing yourself again, little sparrow. Past another magical door too.”

“All in… good intentions, Big Robin…!” Vy still didn’t stop her Robin from holding her close enough for their foreheads to touch, a weak giggle leaving her lips once the tip of his nose rubs hers. Mint tickled the insides of her nostrils as she said, “Didn’t use… any mana… and was… able to bake… magic peanut butter cookies…!” 

“Which, little one,” Skadi interrupted with a soft clapping of her hands to dispel her wand into a flash of light (just so that Lya and her hubby wouldn’t notice, maybe?), chuckling while plucking the floating bottle and whiteboard materials out of the air to keep close to her chest for safekeeping. The smile on her delicate features looked wry and exasperated to oddly match the fond sparkle in her red eyes as she went on with, “you could have done that after taking your daily nap. I may be the last goddess of my original world, but what is it with your luck in finding other worlds without fail?”

Vy glanced up at her Robin — Robin Hood, the May King, her Big Robin — and smiled once he gave her a raised eyebrow. “I just… do?”

Robin sighed and bumped his nose with hers again. “…You worry me too much.” 

“I’m… sorry.”

“Don’t apologize for that, little sparrow. Just wander off with me next time.”

A quiet Ahem is what breaks Vy out of the growing warmth and surrounding mana — out of seeing two of her Grailed come through the same door that brought her to Whitney — and turning her head reveals Lya, her Robin, and a faraway Whitney all staring at her with wide eyes. Of course Robin Hood and Scathach-Skadi would stare back.

No one said anything for a good second. The toddlers could’ve woken up, Alex could’ve walked in, and yet no one would speak. That was the kind of stare-off it was.

“…Well,” Lya’s Robin starts first after the sound of a singular water droplet falling echoes from the sink, glancing at Chaldea’s Robin before awkwardly scratching at some of the freckles dotting his nose. “If this green-clothed man is your Big Robin, Vy, I can see why you love him so much. He is tall and has hair that makes me think of Whit.”

“He’s supposed to look like me?” Whitney said in clear disbelief from his place standing a few feet away in the hallway, his crumpled T-shirt and wrinkled sweats making it look like he just helped Alex in putting the toddlers to bed for their daily nap. “He’s green and… glowing.” 

“Excuse me for glowing,” Robin Hood bit out past Vy’s head, and Vy did her best to raise a shaky hand to his chest to pat sympathetically. “Being magical makes me sparkly. Not like a vampire, thank god.” 

“And I’m the goddess, yet can recognize the Twilight joke. Those books were not the best in regards to late-night reading.” Skadi chuckles again, and Vy glances at her just in time to catch the softer look that brushes her features as she bows her head towards the farm denizens still standing in front of them. “Excuse us for the late introductions. My name is Skadi, and the man carrying Vy next to me is our Robin. We just came through the nearest door together to take Vy home.”

“So she does have a home,” Lya muttered, enough to make both Robins and Whitney stare at her. “Was the ‘magic’ in the peanut butter cookies real, then?”

“Who knows?” Robin shrugs, but Vy knows he’s relaxing once he bounces her a little in his arms, just to adjust his grip and let her rest her head against his shoulder. The No Face May King was soft in feel against her ear, enough to be a borderline pillow and nearly make her forget him saying, “Vy — our little sparrow, has a habit of making magic. Still gotta take her back to recharge, though. So thanks for holding onto her until we could show up.” 

Whitney scoffs under his breath, muttering something that Vy can’t hear, but she can see the brunette Robin lightly elbow him just past the No Face May King’s shadow as Chaldea’s Robin turns on his heel to face the door that started this little journey. Compared to its visage from her room, the magical entrance wasn’t glowing as much as before, the silver handle appearing muted to contrast the bright green grass outside and the glowing of the Grailed beside her. But—

Skadi barely gets a chance to say her name before Vy reaches out towards the nearest thing she could reach — that being Robin’s mantle collar, to tug at and eventually gesture back towards the farm denizens. “Let me…” she croaks, “say bye?”

Robin stares at her. Vy stares back. It’s not even that long, but she tries, and after a few seconds, Robin sighs, turning on his heel one more time. “Just this once,” she hears him murmur softly. Skadi opens the door behind him once he does, but it doesn’t matter.

Even with her blurring vision, Vy can still make out the primary colors of Lya’s pink hair, of her Robin’s green eyes, and Whitney’s black tattoos. And with the rest of her strength, Vy raises one shaky gloved hand to wave at them. 

“Bye bye… thankie for the conversations… Whitney… Robin… if the kids ask… I’ll be back… with more cookies for them… and Lya… and Alex…! Soon soon…!” 

Chaldea’s Robin scoffs softly above her head, but he still carefully walks her back into Novum Chaldea through the doorway Skadi kept open for them. And once the door closes behind them and darkness starts to overtake her vision in favor of sleep, Vy can do nothing but lean against her Robin and wonder if Lya’s Robin and Whitney ever waved back.

It was a nice dream to ponder about if they did.

[sunnyrealist]

Chapter 54: It's All Within Reach

The Sun, the Moon, and All Our Stars

Summary and Details…

Previous Chapter Recap/Context: Earlier that week, Kate and Sebastian went on a trip to the Scottish Highlands to explore caves and a long-abandoned castle, in which they discovered that in their past lives, they were tragic lovers. Centuries ago, Queen Eilionoir set things up so that one day, their reincarnated souls might be rewarded for returning to the castle. She had made certain that only they could enter, that her memories could be viewed in a pensieve, and gathered items of value for them so that their lives might be easier and uncontrolled by money. Additional context: The previous night, Sebastian couldn't sleep. After visiting the Feldcroft cemetery for the first time in a decade (Seb had been in Azkaban), he had discovered from reading Anne's headstone that she had been married when she passed away. He was incredibly upset about this revelation since he was not sure how to get more information (Anne kept her maiden name). He and Kate discussed some ways to solve the mystery, and Kate once again suggested writing to his old friends. Sebastian had not contacted them post-Azkaban, believing that they were better off without him and that they wouldn't even want to see him again, but Kate urged him to write and at least give them the choice to communicate rather than just assuming they wouldn't. Sebastian finally concluded, in the middle of the night, that sending letters to them might be the fastest way to learn more about Anne, so he finally sat down and composed letters to Ominis and Ruby (Hogwarts Legacy MC). With only one owl, he chose to contact Ominis first.

Pairing: 25-year-old, post-Azkaban Sebastian Sallow x 24-year-old Kate Mayflower (my OC), the assistant librarian at Hogwarts

Content warnings: In general, this is rated 18+, so minors should not read or interact with this story. This chapter is quite tame but features a character being judged, discussion about contraceptives, talking about money/financial situations, and a character feeling incredibly upset.

The full chapter is available below the cut; it can also be found on AO3 (link is posted below). Please leave some feedback if possible, especially if you like what you read! 🥰

Chapter 54: It's All Within Reach

“A golden goblet,” Sebastian calls out.

“One golden goblet,” Kate echoes, scribbling into a dragonhide journal.

Sebastian pulls a few more treasures out of the magical bag they had brought on their trip to the Highlands. Kate sits on the hardwood floor of the empty spare room, her crimson dress tucked in around her. She studies the inventory so far: 

2 swords with diamond-encrusted handles 2 large silver shields engraved with a coat of arms 1 large silver shield with rubies in rose patterns 1 set of chainmail 3 intricately-painted floral porcelain vases 1 bronze compass 1 lute - wood pattern in roses 1 jade wand holder  1 bronze and silver wand holder 1 ruby encrusted wand holder 1 mother-of-pearl wand holder 1 wand holder containing emeralds, sapphires, and diamonds 1 cloth banner with a coat of arms 1 wooden chest filled with golden coins 1 set of fine dragonhide boots 1 golden goblet

The two of them continue on, taking stock of huge gemstones, beautiful silks, and exquisite furs.

“Oh, great Merlin,” Sebastian exclaims for probably the fiftieth time as he retrieves a golden, jewel-encrusted scepter. “You’ve got to see this.” He passes it to Kate, who marvels over its artistic quality.

“Wow, this is rather heavy,” she notes, testing out its weight and examining it in close detail.

A few moments later, Kate glances over towards Sebastian, who is watching her with a dreamy expression on his face. “What is it?”

“You look like a queen,” he replies, his tone reverent as he stares at his girlfriend.

“Oh,” she replies with a chuckle. “Well…” she stamps the scepter against the hardwood floor, playing the part. “Come forward, my subject.” 

Sebastian chuffs and crawls over to her, bending a knee. 

She smiles broadly, then dips the scepter, touching each of his shoulders. “I, Queen Kate, now dub thee… Sir Sebastian. Rise, Sir Sebastian.”

They both erupt into laughter, and Sebastian kisses her deeply. “I love you, my queen. Now… if it pleases thee, I have brought thee some finery.” 

He hurries over to the bag once more, carefully retrieving a large jewelry box and bringing it close to her. He opens the box, and his eyes light up like torches, his mouth dropping. “Dear Merlin.” Kate gives him a curious expression, to which he replies, “We’re… uh… going to be very, very rich.”

Before she can ask about the box’s contents, three long strings of pearls are placed around her neck. Then, a shiny golden tiara with glittering gems is set over her blonde locks. Then, another necklace, far more ornate, filled with diamonds and rubies is laid onto her collarbone. Heavy, long earrings made from gold and sapphires are pressed into her hand, and she carefully fastens them. 

Sebastian then discovers rings. He slides a diamond-filled ring onto her pinky finger, then a ring with a large sapphire on her index finger. With his breath hitching, he places one with emeralds and diamonds onto her ring finger. Wordlessly, he gazes upon it for a long while, his fingertips still grazing hers, and so does Kate. 

“It’s all very beautiful… but…” Kate laughs. “I feel rather ridiculous, Bash.” The tiara slips a little as she tips her head down. “I simply could not keep all of this. It’s… I don’t know - too much. So gaudy.” 

“We’ll do whatever you want with it,” Sebastian replies softly. “You’re the queen, after all.”

She nods, contemplative. “But… What do we do with it?”

“Sell it,” he answers. “Over the years, I’ve met historians, researchers, jewelers, and various vendors who purchase items I have found. I’m certain I could find a buyer for the jewelry rather quickly.” 

Kate’s fingers glide over the pearl necklace, studying the long strands. “What do you do with the money afterwards?”

Sebastian sucks in a breath. “Pay for food, clothing, housing… whatever I need at the time.” He intertwines his fingers with hers and speaks very seriously. “But this is not just my discovery. It is yours, too. What would you have us do?”

She blinks. “I… I guess I don’t know. I mean… I guess now that there are two of us here, we’ll need to talk about that - how we’ll handle money.” 

“In your heart of hearts, though, what would you really want to do with the money? It is going to be a huge sum, Kate.”

She’s quiet for several moments. “There are things I would like to do with the cottage, but none of it is urgent. I… would like to save for my bookstore. Maybe put some money aside for travel.”

“So you would like to save,” Sebastian says. “We can do that. I… I’ve just… never really had the opportunity to do so.” He looks deeply into her eyes. “I like your ideas. Truly. There’s nothing more that I would love than to help you achieve that dream - to open a bookshop.” He grins, letting the concept take hold. “Yeah, we’ll save most of it. Perhaps, though, we can take a small portion each for ourselves, to spend how we wish.”

Kate nods. “That sounds fair. More than fair.” 

“I haven’t been to Gringotts for many years,” he admits. “Not since I first got out of prison. My family’s vault is practically empty.” 

“Then we’ll have to make a visit soon,” she replies. “Perhaps we can make a date of it. Gringotts and a day in Diagon Alley.”

“Absolutely.” He grins. “I want to spoil you rotten.”

“You already do,” she replies with a laugh.

“Do we have an agreement?” the jeweler peers at Sebastian through half-moon shaped spectacles.

Sebastian doesn’t respond at first, his mind working, and then he raises his eyes. “Almost. I’d like to ask you to make a custom locket for me as well. If so, we have a deal.”

“Hmm… Well, what did you have in mind?” the store owner inquires. 

“Gold. A gold chain, a gold locket,” Sebastian replies. “I’d like it to have a moon on it… and flowers. Would it be possible to design something like that?”

“Certainly,” he replies. “If you have time, let me sketch a few ideas.” He gestures to a chair by the wall. 

“Sure.” Sebastian grins. “Yes, of course.” 

“All done?” Kate lights up when Sebastian finally meets her near the statue in the Hogsmeade town square about a half hour later. 

He nods, smiling brightly.

“Well?” she asks eagerly. “How rich are we?”

Sebastian leans down to whisper in her ear. “Just like I thought. Very. I’ll tell you when we’re in private back at home.” He gives her a peck on her cheek. “We should have a butterbeer to celebrate. Or champagne! We can afford anything. Trust me. And we’re not even finished selling yet. That was just the jewelry and gems.”

Kate grins, then hugs him tightly. They kiss.

“So, did you pick up the groceries you needed? What about the contraceptive potion?” Sebastian inquires quietly as they begin walking, Kate’s hand delicately settled on his forearm.

“Yes, and yes, but, honestly, it was… awkward.”

“How so?”

“I don’t know… I felt like I was being judged. You should have seen the look Mr. Pippin gave me when I asked for it,” she answered. “It was as if he didn’t actually want to sell it to me. He had to go into a back room in the shop to retrieve the potion. He handed me a paper with instructions - it’s in the bag - but he didn’t explain any details in person. He seemed eager to send me on my way when another customer entered the shop.”

Sebastian’s eyebrows furrow. “I don’t understand that. He’s making a sale. Why… Why treat you that way?” He stops Kate, looking at her intensely. “Do you… want me to say something to him?”

Her eyes widen. “No - no!” She waves her hands. “I just want to let it go. There’s nothing to be done. But maybe I’ll go somewhere else next time. I’d brew it myself, but… I don’t know. I never earned anything higher than Acceptable when I was in Potions class at Hogwarts. I always buy what I need - I’m not sure I trust myself to make consistent brews.” 

“Understood,” he replies. “Yeah, we’ll find another shop - maybe in Diagon Alley.” He seems contemplative. “When would you begin taking it again? ”

“Um… well, I’ll get my… monthly courses early this week. Maybe even tomorrow. I can take it after that misery is finished.”

“And do you want me to continue taking the male contraceptive potion?”

Kate glances at him as they begin to walk again. “Do you think it’s necessary?”

“I doubt there are any side effects with us both taking potions,” Sebastian muses. “It couldn’t hurt. I mean… neither of us… Well, we don’t want a baby. Not yet… at least.”

She huffs out a laugh. “True.”

Changing the topic, Sebastian notes, “It’s quieter in Hogsmeade than I remember.”

“It’s summer,” Kate reminds him, admiring a planter with bright blue flowers as they pass. “Zonko’s isn’t even open. The shop owners close up and take holiday for the entire season. Probably not worth it with all of the students gone.”

“Huh, I didn’t think of that,” he replies. He gazes at her thoughtfully. “Do… you think you would do the same with your bookstore?”

Kate’s mouth opens, her brow furrowing, as she considers it. “I… haven’t really thought that far. I guess… we would have to see how successful the business actually is. But we might like to take a summer holiday every year, too… Yeah?”

Both of them look ahead, their expressions filled with pure joy, knowing it’s all within reach now.

A few more steps, and Kate says, with a twinkle in her eye, “I may have… booked us a portrait session tomorrow.”

Sebastian turns his head to her. “You did?” 

“Yeah,” she replies cautiously. “Is that… alright?”

“Just fine. But… I don’t think I have anything that nice to wear, to be completely honest, Kate. What did you… picture?” He chuckles softly at his own pun.

“I mean… Most people wear their best.” She squeezes his arm. “I thought I might wear a ball gown. I… I don’t often get the chance to dress up like that.” Kate bites her lip. “I… didn’t…” She looks downwards and speaks quickly. “I wasn’t thinking. Perhaps I shouldn’t have been so spontaneous. I should have asked you.” They turn the corner, and almost immediately, Gladrags catches Kate’s eye. “Although… you did say we’re rich now, right?”

Sebastian raises an eyebrow. “Yes…”

“Maybe… it’s time to get you a proper suit,” she suggests. “I mean… you’ll eventually need one anyway. We dress up for Christmas with my family.”

“Do you…” he begins nervously, then trails off, not finishing the question.

“Do I… what?”

Sebastian hesitates. Kate stops them again, facing him.

 “What if your family doesn’t want me there?” he finally asks, looking her straight in the eye.

Kate blinks. “What? Oh…” She trails off. “Well… Christmas is still many, many months away.”

“That… doesn’t mean anything.”

She narrows her eyes, then smiles reassuringly at him. “Sure it does. Time does. Just… have some faith in me. I’ll… I’m going to do my best to convince them, Bash. I think you’ll be at Christmas. Maybe you’ll even be at my sister’s wedding later this summer. You would need a proper suit for that, too.” She threads her fingers through his, tugging his hand. “Come on, let’s get one fitted for you at Gladrags tonight. I’m certain Augustus Hill will be most pleased to help us.”

“Alright,” he finally agrees, allowing himself to be led towards the clothing emporium.

“You know, I’m surprised that we’ve never run into Sirona at the Three Broomsticks,” Sebastian mentions as they finally return home.  

“Oh - well, she is actually on holiday, too, now that you mention it,” Kate explains. “She and Professor - I mean, Mirabel - Garlick usually go on a trip with a group of friends every year around this time. I think that’s so nice that they still get together after all these years. And she has plenty of employees to run the pub in her absence.”

“Good for her,” Sebastian replies as he opens the gate for her. 

“So, what did you think of your first suit fitting?” 

“I’ve never done that before,” he explains, following her into the house. “It was interesting to see how Mr. Hill uses charms to tighten the fabric to be the perfect size. I will admit I felt rather good-”

The moment she lights the first candle, they are met with loud hoots and sounds of tapping and scratching against the kitchen window. She and Sebastian glance at each other in confusion, and she rushes into the room with him right on her heels. Reaching forward over the sink, she unlatches the window and opens it, taking the letter that Hootie, her snowy owl, so urgently wishes to deliver. 

“My goodness,” Kate says to the owl in mock exasperation. “You certainly want this out of your clutches, don’t you?” 

Hootie makes odd sounds in return, ones Kate has never really heard from him before.

“What is it? Are you hungry?” she asks calmly. “I’ll get you a field mouse, don’t worry. You’ll be rewarded for your hard work.”

“Who’s the letter from?” Sebastian finally blurts out, unable to wait a moment longer. “Is it from Ominis? Did he write back?”

She lifts up the letter and reads the name. Ominis Gaunt is written in Sebastian’s own handwriting.

Kate exhales slowly, knowing this is going to be like a sucker punch to her boyfriend. Eventually, she shakes her head. “I… I’m so sorry, Bash,” she whispers. “It’s… the same letter you sent.”

Sebastian goes white as Kate holds it out towards him.

[dominicfikeenthusiast]

UNSENT LETTERS (PART 3) / MATT STURNIOLO

“old shoe box underneath his bed, filled with love letters”

part 1 part 2

the date had been amazing. brayden was the sweetest guy, you went to a small beach side restaurant, watched the sunset with him, eventually going back to his place. now you were sitting on the carpet in nicks room, recapping the date.

“OMG YOU MADE OUT WITH HIM?!” nick screamed so loud, you swear the whole neighbourhood could hear. “nick can you shut up, everyone’s gonna hear” you say shaking your head in your hands. “sorry, but that’s insane, ugh i’m so happy for you girl” he says, his voice slightly above a whisper.

matt’s ear was pressed against the door hearing everything. it was eavesdropping, some would say a invasion of privacy, but he didn’t care. his heart sank when you mentioned how great the date was. when he’d heard nicks scream, his emotion switched to anger. oh god he kissed her. he kissed my girl?

he walked away to his room, feeling as if he had heard enough. slamming the door behind him. he grabbed his notebook again, scribbling down another note. “it should’ve been me.” he slid the paper in the box, his emotions still at high.

matt knew he shouldn’t be acting like this, he didn’t own you and it was his own fault his feelings were bottled up. it also didn’t help the fact he had a lacrosse game with brayden tomorrow, he hated even having to see his face.

he tried to go to sleep the entire night, tossing and turning in his bed. matt hated when he couldn’t fall asleep, which was most nights. he was a huge over-thinker but for some reason it got worse as the sky got dimmer. a million thoughts trail through his head.

“god i hope brayden messes up and loses her”

“but i want her to be happy”

“just not with somebody else”

“shit i’m being selfish”

“god i really like her”

“this is pathetic, i need to get a grip”

“fuck, everything about her makes me go insane though”

the thoughts never didn’t ever really stop for matt, especially when it was about you.

·:*¨༺ ♱ ੈ‧₊˚ ✮ ੈ‧₊˚ ♱ ༻¨*:·

𝜗𝜚 - ps. sorry for all the slowburnn, next chapter will be juicy fs 🤫

𝜗𝜚 - tags : @ifwdominicfike @bells-sturn @sturnxies @iheartmattsbeard @chrislilcumslvt @mattsmiddlepartt @chrissv4mp @flouvela @chrisfavoritewhore @luckystarlogs @snowysosturn @x0x0bunny @anastasia-ac3rr3 @submattenthusiast @s7attr @jassturn @liasturniolo @mattslolita @muwapsturniolo @ilovedyoumiss @kirby0strombolli @milaatyourworst @ginswife @skibidijewishgirl @adoreechxmpion @lovesturni0l0s @bandanamatt @clairomatt @rorylovesmatt @pasteldreams @chris-hallelujah @y3sterdaysproblem @xoxo4chrisss @mattsd0ll @mattslverr @jetaimevous @xoxo4chrisss @mattsd0ll @clairomatt @maggot3647 @izzylovesmatt @kennastromboli

[dojae-huh]

Walk promotion

I think because of MarkHyuk being busy with Dream, there are no track videos for "Walk".

Overall, they stick to the concept of hip-hop and oldschool. The two album versions (we got introduced to so far) are done in CD and Music Magazine styles. There is a lenticular card. Unfortunately, there wasn't put much creative effort in the layout of the albums (like interviews, decorations in form of scribbles or lyrics atop of photographs). I mean, the design of what I see in previews looks clean, just very common. An album with photos of the members in new clothes, nothing more. (aespa's clothes and futuristic/cosmic/alien/mecha concepts are exciting and interesting to collect, with 127 the "newness" ended with Regular-Irregular, perhaps).

There are reels/tiktoks, but they are not shot in "viral/challenge" manner. Thereby they follow the concept of "back in the old days" as well.

On X and YT the promotional roll-out doesn't fill cohesive or continious that much, but it's because the main platform is NCT 127's IG, the teasers were designed for the IG format. There you get the needed vibe of the comeback (even the pictures released look better there than on X due to the scroll function). The promotion started June 24th and has a good linear structure with an announcement, a recap, an introduction, "magazine topics", interviews of the day, group interviews, animated medleys, and such. The previews of YT content is well made.

The concept is on a chill vibe side, so it's not as dramatic as was Favorite (with the vampire love story) or flashy as Fact Check (Doyoung as a water deity, Jaehyun as a Soul ripper of sorts), however, so far it is better executed (considering they had 1-2 days with MarkHyuk to shoot all the content for IG). This IG promotion is definitely better than Seoul Party that had no connection to its comeback (I can't even recall which one it was), especially in budget vs results department.

If "Walk" is a banger, and there will be a post-release series of whole group content, than I will count the promotion as wholesome.

One thing is missing though. The lore. The creative team behind NCT was low on it in recent comebacks. We need the lore back!

[punk-rawk-pkmn]

Kaya mo yaan beshie

-@safrina-shards

//this ask was before the "a scribble filled recap"

o7 THANKS SAF

[safrina-shards]

uhhhh...things a lil better? um im friends with...mama

what's going on?

@newvillainontheblock

(//they're so confused lmao)

Want mama back ... Want go to her