#elis tiny collection

[elirium]

what i think people mean when they say they "want to squish my art"

how i keep reading it

[theshiniestgemstone]

Y/n is loooooooong time family friends with the gemstones and has had a crush on Gideon for ages, its not till her gets back from Hollywood that he notices she's a woman and not some girl

thank uuuu <3 here ya go!!

"Go talk, Gideon," Amber pressed, seeing as there was going to be no easy way out of the conversation between Jesse, Eli, and a few of the other pastors. Gideon sighed, turning away after a quick nod. He had his own following to build. Mostly with the older folks who came to his sermons, but attendance was waning. His next card was to rely on his old Gemstone charm.

He wandered up to Mildred, catching her mid-bite of the free donut. He grinned, schmoozed a bit, listened to her ramble on about her new grandbaby. Eventually he shook hands with Roger and Festus, listening to them talk about how their faith helped them through the war. When that conversation was finally over, he walked through the lobby.

"Gideon?"

He turned around, his breath stopping as he looked at her first, though her mother was the first to say something. He noticed the look on her face, a tight frown her eyes told a different one. More like one a mother gives when she's watching how her daughter looks at a boy.

"Hi, Mrs. Y/L/N," Gideon said automatically, his voice just a little rougher than usual. His eyes, though, kept flicking back to Y/N.

She wasn't the gawky little girl trailing behind her brothers anymore. She wasn't the kid who'd tug on his sleeve to show him a drawing or demand he race her to the pond. She was standing there now in a soft blue dress, hair falling pretty around her face, smiling at him like she knew exactly how hard it had just hit him.

Though Gideon was friends with her brother, just one year older than him, she'd tagged along more often than not. She was only a year behind Gideon, but he knew she had a crush on him, evident by the amount of times he'd seen his name scribbled in her notebook.

He’d thought it was cute back then. In the same way you think a puppy barking at a big dog is cute. He’d ruffled her hair and teased her often. He'd never taken it seriously. He even laughed at the blush on her cheeks once.

Now?

She looked completely disinterested. It knocked him off balance harder than he cared to admit.

She wasn’t fidgeting, wasn’t glancing at him like he hung the moon. No, Y/N was standing there calm, collected and smiling like she would at anyone she hadn’t seen in a while. Like he was just some guy she used to know.

And God help him, Gideon hated it.

Y/N gave a little wave, tilting her head. "Hey, stranger," she teased, easy and warm.

Gideon blinked, scrambled for something to say. "I, uh, didn't know you were back in town," he blurted, mentally kicking himself. Idiot. She's always been here. You were the one who left.

"Never really left," she said, smile stretching wider. "Just figured you'd gotten too big-time for us little people."

Her mom laughed under her breath, muttering something about getting more coffee, and tactfully wandered off, leaving them alone.

Gideon shoved his hands in his pockets, feeling suddenly like a teenager again, sweaty-palmed and tongue-tied. "Nah," he said, chuckling low. "Could never be too big-time for you."

Y/N's cheeks flushed, but she stood her ground. She leaned in slightly, voice dropping to something just for him. "Good. 'Cause I was starting to think you forgot all about me."

He stared at her for a second too long, heart hammering in a way it hadn’t in years.

"Not a chance," he said quietly. He tilted his head, noticing how something about her looked different. "Hair dye?"

She shook her head, turning to the side. "Nose piercing."

Gideon blinked, leaning in a little before he could stop himself. Sure enough, there it was. A tiny, glinting stud that caught the light when she turned her head just right.

"Huh," he said, a little dumbly. "Looks good."

Y/N smiled, something shy flickering across her face for just a second before it was tucked neatly away again. "Thanks. Figured it was time for something different."

Gideon rocked back on his heels, trying to hide the way he was eating up every little change, every little new detail about her like he was starving.

"It suits you," he said, a little too honest, a little too low.

She ducked her head for a moment, and he saw the ghost of the girl she used to be, so impossibly easy to fluster. But when she looked back up, there was something sharper there too. Confidence. Maybe even a little challenge.

"You should come by sometime," she said lightly, tilting her head. "I work at the bakery down on Cedar now. We’ve got better coffee than whatever sludge they’re brewing here."

Gideon's mouth lifted into a slow grin, heart kicking harder in his chest. "Yeah? You offering free samples?"

"Depends," Y/N teased, stepping back toward her mom, who was pretending very badly not to eavesdrop. "Might make you work for it."

And with that, she gave him a wink, a real wink, and walked away, leaving him rooted to the spot, hands still shoved deep in his pockets to keep from doing something stupid like chasing after her.

He exhaled a shaky breath, grinning to himself.

Amber approached him, starting to say something about heading home, but the words died on her tongue. "Isn't that the little girl who used to cry when you wouldn’t let her tag along to the lake house?"

Gideon huffed out a laugh, low and a little breathless. He scrubbed a hand over his mouth, still half-smiling as he watched Y/N disappear behind a car door, her mother climbing in after her.

Amber only smirked, always knowing that Y/N's notebook was more prophetic than just doodles.

[wholoveseggs]

Hi! I really love your work i was wondering if you could do a fic with Elijah and fem reader when he was still human, i really liked the one you did with viking Elijah, could you do it similar but when him and reader first meet and they start to date and they are both virgins and they have sex for the first time. Thank youuu!

Solstice

18+ ---- {Masterlist} {Tag-List}

{Viking!Elijah Mikaelson x Reader} In a small Viking village, love blooms as Elijah steals your heart. But a winter storm prevents your future plans, forcing secrets to surface and your bond to grow stronger than ever.

♡♡ Thank you sweet anon(s) youu know I adore viking elijah!!! Here is a long fluffly, HAPPY story of sweet angel eli falling in love for the first time ♡♡

9k words - Warnings: smutttt, viking theme, a sprinkle of Niklaus, lots of flirting, both reader & Elijah are virgins, nervous and shy Elijah, sooo so sappy and sweet, lots of kisses and longing, amazing parents that we all wish we had (or do have? idku), classic patriarchy viking stuff, outdoor sex, pregnancy, mushrooms && an unfortunate hare ...

@gorgeouslydangerous @starkleila @lydia1369sworld @notleylaaa @vampiresluv

@myanmy @xflowerbombxo @maryvibess @always-and-forever-daydreaming

@spnaquakindgdom @amournoir @meeom @damienmorton @wickedmuse

@cs-please @complicatedandconfusing-25 @youcanhavemybuckanyday @akala6670229 @yeaiamme2

@itsjulzandmydiamonds @witch-of-letters @elijahstwink @rosecentury

@amanda08319 @starshipcookie @li-da-savage @veggie-eggrolls @spideybv28

@sunkissedebony97 @idk00sblog @savannaounana @sekaishell @b1tchy

@loving-and-dreaming @fancycassie-stayfancy @hcqwxrtss123 @iamawkwardandshy @ziayamikaelson

@absolutemarveltrash @darkened-writer @nina6708 @evasmlp

@madeinmyownmind-blog @lovelyy-moonlight @blacknightrises @poppet05 @sweetieseven

@xoxo-shy @nova-j @decaffeinatedparadisepost @fandom-princess-forevermore @theotherworld97

@origshipfan @cocoabliss

As soon as the leaves began to turn, the village became a flurry of activity. The summer months had been kind to the village, and the harvest was bountiful. But there was still much work to be done to prepare for the winter. You did what you could to help your family, as well as the rest of the village.

Today you set out to pick some herbs. It was a chore that you didn't mind, especially on such a beautiful day. Your mother had given you a basket, and you walked through the forest collecting anything that could be used in the healing remedies.

Kneeling down to pick a handful of ripe berries, you stilled at a sudden sound—leaves rustling, a faint snap of twigs. Your hand instinctively reached for your knife, but you forced yourself to remain calm, reminding yourself that large animals were rarely seen near the village, especially during daylight.

To your relief, a hare darted through the brush, nose twitching, large eyes staring back at you as if sizing you up. Smiling, you crouched and reached for a few berries in your basket.

"Hello there," you murmured, extending the food toward the creature, watching its tiny nose sniff the air.

Just as it leaned closer, you heard a soft rustle. An instant later, an arrow shot past, embedding itself in the hare’s side. The animal let out a soft, pitiful sound and tried to flee, but it only managed a few feet before collapsing, blood seeping into the forest floor.

“Oh no…” you whispered, standing abruptly, eyes scanning for the source of the arrow.

Through the trees, a young man emerged, his expression frustrated as he approached the hare, crouching beside it. His blond curls fell over his shoulders, and his blue eyes shone with both impatience and frustration. He muttered a curse under his breath and ended the creature’s suffering with quick precision.

"You must learn patience, Niklaus," another voice said, and a second figure stepped out of the shadows.

Your gaze shifted to this newcomer. His dark hair was tied back loosely, his face more serious, yet his brown eyes held a warmth that softened his features.

"Patience?" Niklaus scoffed, wiping his blade on the grass. "Brother, can you see it was a perfect shot … until the wind changed at the last second."

The dark-haired one chuckled. "Much like how that doe 'vanished into thin air,' or how the 'boar outran you.’" He turned, catching sight of you. For a moment, the easy humor faded from his expression, replaced by curiosity.

"My apologies, we didn't see you there." He gave you a polite bow of his head.

Niklaus stood, his eyes narrowed as he regarded you. "A woman, alone? There are wolves about, you know," he said with a grin.

You felt your cheeks warm at his comment, your eyes darting to the blood on his hands, and the dead hare in his grip.

You lifted your skirts and pulled a long blade from its sheath around your calf. "Not alone," you said, returning his grin.

Niklaus' eyes widened, and his brother let out a soft laugh.

"And now the wolves shall be the ones afraid," the dark-haired one said. "I am Elijah, and this is my brother Niklaus."

"Do you hail from one of the villages downstream?" You asked.

"We do, but our home is much further, on the coast," Elijah explained.

You nodded, then returned the blade to its sheath, and straightened. "What is your business so far from home?"

Elijah gave Klaus a pointed look, before turning back to you. "We are looking to trade, our home lacks some of the necessary supplies to prepare for winter."

"Well, this is a poor season for hunting," you said, pointing to the hare in Klaus' grip.

"Indeed," Elijah agreed, casting a glance at his brother. "Perhaps, if we are lucky, we will come across another."

You looked down at your basket, a thoughtful expression on your face. "My village is just over the hill," you pointed. "The elders may be willing to trade. If you have anything of value."

Elijah glanced at his brother. "Thank you, that would be most kind."

You gave him a small smile, and started down the path. Elijah fell into step beside you, and Niklaus trailed behind, scouting out other possible game.

"Have you lived in the village long?" He asked, glancing over at you.

"My whole life," you told him. "Though, my family came from the north when I was very young."

He nodded, taking in your features. "And are you married?"

"No," you said, a faint blush coming to your cheeks. "How about you?"

"Not yet, no," he told you, giving you a warm smile.

The path led up a steep slope, and after a few minutes, the three of you crested the hill. You could hear the sound of laughter, and children's voices. In the distance, the village spread out across the valley below, smoke curling into the sky from a dozen homes.

"You have a beautiful home," Elijah said, admiring the view.

"Thank you," you said, leading them down the path toward the village.

It wasn't long before someone spotted you, and several children came bounding up to you, asking a million questions.

"I'm sorry, but I must return to my home… but the longhouse is that way," you pointed to a larger building near the center of the village.

"We will find you again soon," Elijah told you, giving you a kind smile.

"I would like that," you admitted, feeling a spark of excitement.

Elijah bowed his head, and his brother waved, before the two of them continued on.

You watched them for a moment, letting out a breath you hadn’t realized you were holding. Though they were gone, a strange sense of lingering excitement remained, mixed with caution. Elijah had stirred something inside you, an interest that you weren't sure how to feel about.

With a shake of your head, you pushed those thoughts aside and continued on. Secretly hoping to see him again.

The longhouse was warm, and filled with the smell of food and the soft hum of conversation. Many people were gathered around, preparing dinner. Some greeted you, and a few even asked for some herbs for their meals.

You could see Niklaus and Elijah sitting with your father and other men. They had obviously introduced themselves, and your father seemed intrigued by them. The brothers sharing the unfortunate hare between them.

You placed the basket of herbs on the table before taking a seat near your mother. She gave you a small smile, her attention focused on her weaving. You listened to the conversations around you, trying not to be obvious as you watched the two newcomers.

"The dark haired one asked about you," your mother said quietly, her gaze never leaving her task. "He thinks you are quite pretty."

Your cheeks warmed, and you glanced over at the table, seeing Niklaus whispering to your father. Your eyes met Elijah's, and his cheeks reddened, quickly looking away from you.

She glanced over at you, her face unreadable. "I think you should invite him for a walk."

You stared at her, wide-eyed. She had never been so willing to let you be alone with a man. "Really?"

"Yes, you are about to meet your eighteenth winter, it is time you start looking for a husband."

Your stomach flipped, and your palms grew sweaty.

"Besides, all the boys from our village are not fit for you."

"I don't know if I'm ready," you muttered, thinking about being alone with a man.

"If it were left to your father, you would never be ready," she shook her head. "You are a beautiful, smart girl. Any man would be lucky to have you as their wife."

Your gaze moved back to Elijah. His handsome features glowing in the firelight. “Do you really think so?"

"Go invite him for a walk," she repeated, nudging you.

"Right now?" You asked, nervously glancing around.

"Before the sun sets would be the wise choice," she replied, returning her attention to her weaving.

You glanced over at the table, Niklaus had disappeared, leaving Elijah alone. Your father was deep in conversation with the other men, and the women were busy gossiping.

"Go," your mother nodded toward Elijah. "Don't worry about your father."

You swallowed, nodding slowly. You were nervous, but eager. You didn't want to let this chance pass.

You stood and walked over to the table, standing awkwardly beside Elijah. He looked up at you, surprised. "Hello, again," he said, his voice deep and smooth.

You could see your father glancing over at you, and you quickly sat down next to Elijah, avoiding his gaze.

"Are you enjoying your time in the village?" You asked.

Elijah gave a nod, and offered a warm smile. "Very much so. Your people are quite welcoming."

"That's good, I'm glad," you said, fiddling with the hem of your sleeve.

He leaned in a bit closer, his brow furrowed. "Are you well?"

You met his gaze, and nodded. "I am, but, I was wondering if maybe you would like to take a walk with me? If you're not busy that is," you added.

He hesitated for a moment, his eyes darting over to your father. "I fear that would not be wise."

"He'll get over it," you whispered, giving him a small smile.

He considered it for a moment, then returned the smile. "A short walk then."

You stood, and waited for him to join you. As the two of you started for the door, you caught your father's eye, his gaze stern. You ignored him and left the longhouse.

Outside, the air was crisp, the fading sun casting an orange glow across the landscape. A light breeze rustled the trees, and birds chirped.

"You have a lovely village," Elijah said, breaking the silence. "Your people are very kind."

"We've been fortunate," you told him, glancing over at him.

"What are the winters like here?"

"Cold," you laughed. "The snow falls early and stays for many months."

"Our winters are the same," he said, watching as some children ran past.

You fell into silence once more, and after a few moments, your hand brushed his. An unexpected wave of desire rushed through you, and you quickly pulled your hand away, cheeks warming.

He let out an awkward little cough, his cheeks a light shade of pink. He looked so handsome in the soft evening light, the orange and purple hues making his dark eyes sparkle.

You led him to a trail that would take you to a field near a pond. It was a beautiful spot, and quiet, a place that you went to clear your head.

"Is there any particular reason you invited me for a walk?" He asked, looking over at you.

You blushed, looking down at your hands. "My mother seems to think I should find a husband," you explained.

He cleared his throat, and didn't say anything. But his hands were nervously twitching, and you could see his face redden further.

"I'm not suggesting anything," you quickly assured him.

"Of course," he replied, giving a stiff nod.

You stepped off the path, into a clearing, where a large weeping willow grew. You stopped near the tree, and turned to him.

He stepped a bit closer, and held out his hand. You placed your hand in his, and a wave of warmth rushed through you. His fingers closed around yours, and he gently tugged you closer.

Your heart pounded in your chest, and you looked up into his dark eyes, noticing the way his breathing quickened. He cupped your cheek, his thumb brushing along your jaw, sending a shiver down your spine.

"This is not the sort of walk that your mother had in mind, I am sure." He whispered, his face mere inches from yours.

"Perhaps not," you breathed.

You leaned closer, and he pressed his forehead to yours. Your eyes closed, and you let out a soft breath. The scent of leather, and earth, and pine washed over you, and your fingers tightened around his.

He closed the gap between you, pressing his lips to yours in a tender kiss. His lips were soft and warm, and he tasted sweet, like the honeyed mead the village was fond of. Neither of you knew what you were doing, your lips uncoordinated and clumsy. But his touch was gentle, his hands trembling slightly as they found your waist.

Your hands moved up his arms, coming to rest on his chest. You could feel his heart pounding against your palms. The kiss ended all too soon, and you stared up at him, slightly breathless.

His cheeks were flushed, and his pupils blown wide. His mouth opened and closed a few times, then a shy smile broke across his lips.

"We should be getting back," he whispered.

You nodded, not trusting your voice.

He took your hand in his, and guided you back to the path. The walk was mostly silent, both of you still processing what had just happened. But the silence was not uncomfortable, the air between you had changed.

"May I visit you again?" He asked, his voice low and hesitant.

You smiled, and squeezed his hand. "Yes, I would like that."

"Would tomorrow afternoon suit you?"

You nodded, barely able to maintain eye contact, his handsome face giving you butterflies.

"Until tomorrow then," he lifted your hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to your knuckles.

You blushed, and turned to continue on. But his hand tightened around yours, and he pulled you back into his arms, kissing you once more. This kiss was not as gentle as the first. This time it was deep, and passionate, and his hands moved up your back, holding you close.

When the kiss ended, both of you were breathless, and your face was hot. He smiled, and you laughed softly, feeling lightheaded and dizzy.

"Don't tell your father I did that," he whispered, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

You giggled and pressed another kiss to his lips. "I won't."

With a reluctant sigh, he released you, and stepped back. You gave him a little wave, and headed back to your home, the warmth of his touch lingering.

It was late when you reached the house, your father was still out, and your mother was asleep. You climbed the ladder to the loft, and lay down, staring up at the ceiling, a silly grin on your face.

Your mother shifted, turning to face you, her eyes still closed. "What happened?" She whispered.

"Nothing, we just talked," you lied.

"Hmm," she murmured, turning onto her side, facing away from you. "He's quite handsome," she added, her voice barely audible.

"I think so," you agreed, closing your eyes.

It was a long time before you could sleep, your thoughts racing, remembering his scent, and the warmth of his hands. You were nervous, and excited. And for the first time in your life, you found yourself looking forward to the winter months.

The next few weeks passed quickly. Elijah came to visit as often as possible. Each day the two of you would steal a few moments together, sometimes walking, sometimes sitting in the forest and talking. But you always managed to find a moment to share a kiss, his touch leaving you breathless and yearning for more.

Elijah and Niklaus were invited to stay for the winter, the two of them joining the daily hunting parties, helping with the preparations for the coming season. In exchange, two men from your village would return to their home and spend the winter there. It was a beneficial agreement for all involved, and the brothers were welcome in the village.

Today, you and Elijah were gathering mushrooms in the forest. Your basket was full, and you sat on a rock, watching him search. He was crouched near the base of a tree, and looked over his shoulder at you, a playful glint in his eye.

"I'm afraid I'm not as fast at finding these as you," he teased.

"I know these forests better than anyone," you replied, standing and walking over to him.

"Do you now?"

You nodded, smiling as you knelt down beside him. You could smell the faint hint of wood smoke and herbs on him, and the scent made your stomach flip.

"And what other talents do you have?" He asked, his tone light, teasing. "Can you also predict the weather? Or tell the future?"

You gave him a playful shove, and he made a dramatic show of toppling over. He pulled you down on top of him, and the two of you rolled across the forest floor. Leaves and sticks tangled in your hair, and dirt stained your clothes. You didn't care, it felt good to be so close to him.

The laughter faded, and the mood changed. Your body pressed against his, his arms holding you tight. His breathing was quick, his gaze intense, making heat coil in the pit of your belly.

"I can tell the future," you whispered, leaning in to brush your lips against his.

He hummed, closing his eyes. "Oh?"

"Mmm," you nodded, kissing him. "I see one with you."

You felt his manhood stir against your thigh, and a jolt of excitement ran through you. His hand moved lower, coming to rest on your rear, and you gasped when he squeezed it. You wanted more, and you rocked your hips against his, earning a soft groan, his grip on you tightening.

"We should stop," he said, his words at odds with his actions.

"Do we have to?" You asked, nipping his lip.

"Unfortunately, yes," he replied, though his hands remained where they were. "If not, your father will likely kill me."

You pulled back a little, and sighed. "You're probably right."

You rolled off him, and lay on the ground beside him, looking up at the clouds. Your chest rising and falling rapidly.

He turned his head, looking over at you. His lips were pink and swollen, his eyes dark and full of uncertainty. "Did I upset you?"

You met his gaze, and shook your head. "No, I'm just..." you paused, trying to think of how to phrase it. "I'm not used to feeling this way."

"Neither am I," he admitted, rolling onto his side, facing you.

"How did it come to this?" You asked, shaking your head. "You've only been here a short time, and already, I cannot imagine my life without you."

He propped himself up on his elbow, reaching over to pluck a leaf from your hair. "I have no answers," he said. "But I know I cannot bear the thought of losing you."

You sat up, and leaned in to kiss him again. "Will you speak with my father? About us?"

"I will," he nodded, getting to his feet and helping you up. "But perhaps we should wait until after the solstice. The villagers are preparing for the festival, I do not wish to cause a distraction."

"All right," you agreed.

He took your hand, lifting it to his lips and pressing a kiss to your knuckles. "I'll see you at the festival?"

"Yes," you smiled. "Until then."

"Until then," he replied, stealing one more kiss before heading back toward the village.

You watched him leave, your heart pounding, and your body aching with a need you had never felt before. Imagining him as your husband, and all that would entail, had you blushing and giddy. Now you could only hope that your father would agree.

The days leading up to the solstice were busy, the entire village preparing for the festivities. A large bonfire was built, and tables were set up. The men and women prepared the food and drink, the children helped gather the firewood. Everyone was excited, and eager to celebrate the shortest day of the year, knowing that the days would only grow longer from there.

Elijah and Niklaus had brought back a rather large elk, which had been butchered, and spiced, and placed on a spit over the fire. The smell was delicious, and people were milling about, chatting and laughing. They were the talk of the village, the strangers who had come in and brought such a great bounty.

Your father had been quite impressed, and the two of them were welcomed among the men, even being allowed to take part in the ceremonies. It warmed your heart to see Elijah getting on so well with your family. You were certain that he could convince your father to let the two of you wed.

"There is my beautiful girl," your father said, walking over and placing an arm around your shoulders. "Your first winter as a woman. It seems like only yesterday, you were still playing with wooden dolls," he sighed, shaking his head.

"Not much has changed," you laughed, nodding toward a group of children, who were dancing and singing.

"True," he agreed, letting out a small sigh. "Soon enough, you will be a mother yourself. Time moves so quickly."

"You could have more," you teased, leaning into his embrace. "A sister would be nice."

He gave a little chuckle, and kissed the top of your head. "Perhaps. But I have the most wonderful daughter, how could any other compare?"

"Thank you, father," you smiled. "Do you really think I'm a woman now?"

"I do," he nodded, looking down at you. "In a few years, you'll be married, and raising a family of your own."

You glanced over at Elijah, and smiled.

"A few years?" You echoed, looking up at your father. "Why so long?"

He let out a sigh, and his brow furrowed. "Your mother and I wish to find the perfect match for you," he explained. "We want to ensure that the man is strong, and smart. A good hunter, and a capable leader. Not too young, not too old. And most importantly, a good man."

You looked back over at Elijah, watching as he spoke with a few men. You were certain that he was the one, but you knew it would be best to not mention him just yet.

"I understand," you replied, glancing up at your father. "I'll keep an eye out."

"Good," he said, giving your shoulders a squeeze. "Now, go dance with your friends, the gods are smiling down on us this night."

"I will," you told him, giving him a quick hug.

As the evening went on, the food was served, and the drinking continued. The bonfire was lit, and everyone began to dance.

Your friends grabbed your hand and pulled you into the circle. The flames danced in the wind, and the music echoed through the village square. Laughter and chatter filled the air, and everyone was happy and cheerful.

Elijah and Niklaus joined in, dancing and drinking. They were a bit clumsy, but they picked up the steps quickly. You felt a little shy, being so close to Elijah, knowing how your body had reacted the last time. But he seemed to be keeping his distance, not wanting to upset your father.

As the night wore on, the children began to drift off, and the adults grew more boisterous. People began pairing off, heading to the shadows, away from prying eyes. You caught Elijah's gaze, and your cheeks heated up, quickly looking away.

The music slowed, and you noticed your father and mother slip away, a knowing look in their eyes. You knew what they were up to, and you couldn't help but giggle.

"What is it?" Elijah asked, coming up behind you.

"They're going to sneak off and do...well, you know," you replied, cheeks burning. "Marriage things," you added, a little breathless.

He laughed, and wrapped an arm around your waist, pulling you into a quick kiss.

You stared at him, shocked, then turned to glance around, but no one was paying any attention.

"You shouldn't have done that," you scolded him, glancing over your shoulder.

"Come, I have something to show you," he said, taking your hand and leading you toward the woods.

"Elijah," you whispered, glancing around nervously.

"It's fine," he assured you, squeezing your hand.

He led you away from the bonfire, toward the edge of the woods. There were still a few people wandering around, but none were paying the two of you any mind.

You followed him into the darkness, and after a few moments, the sounds of the village grew distant. He came to a stop near a large tree, and turned to face you.

"Wait here, close your eyes," he whispered, kissing the tip of your nose.

You did as he asked, closing your eyes, a nervous flutter in your stomach. He stepped away, and you could hear twigs snapping, and the smell of smoke reached your nostrils.

"Elijah?"

"Patience," he chuckled.

You heard the rustle of fabric, and then his warm breath tickled your cheek.

"Open your eyes," he whispered.

You opened your eyes, and let out a gasp. There was a blanket spread on the ground, surrounded by candles, the flames flickering and dancing.

"This is lovely," you breathed.

"I hoped you would like it," he said, leading you over to the blanket and helping you sit down.

"How did you do all this?" You asked, looking around at the candles.

"Niklaus," he explained, sitting beside you. "He thinks I should woo you properly."

"Oh?" You grinned. "Woo me, hmm?"

He blushed, his gaze moving down to the blanket.

You lifted his chin, and leaned in to press a kiss to his lips. He responded eagerly, deepening the kiss, his arms wrapping around your waist and pulling you into his lap.

You wrapped your arms around his neck, and shifted to straddle his lap. Giggling softly as his hands moved to your rear.

You could see the glow of the fire through the trees, and hear the faint sounds of the celebration, but you were alone, and free to be together.

He broke the kiss, his dark eyes shining in the candlelight. "I want to make my intentions known," he whispered, brushing his nose against yours. "I wish to marry you, if you will have me."

"Yes," you breathed, nodding eagerly.

"You're certain?" He asked, his expression serious. "It is not too soon?"

"No, I want this," you said, smiling. "I love you."

"And I, you," he whispered, his hand moving up to cup your cheek.

"I wish we could get married tonight," you said, resting your forehead against his.

He hummed in agreement, his thumb stroking your cheek.

You closed your eyes, reveling in the moment. "Can I ask you something?"

"Anything," he replied, pressing a soft kiss to your lips.

"Have you... Uhm..." you stammered, your face heating up. "That is, have you ever...you know...before?"

His cheeks flushed, and his hands fell to his sides. "No, I haven't," he confessed. "Although I would very much like to."

"Oh," you breathed, his words sending a rush of desire through you.

You could feel the bulge in his trousers, and the knowledge that he was aroused only fueled your own excitement. You rolled your hips, and a groan rumbled in his chest.

"Y/N," he said, his voice strained.

"Yes?"

"We should stop," he whispered, his hands gripping your waist.

"Should we?" You asked, rocking your hips again, delighting in the way his breath caught.

"I think so," he nodded, his gaze meeting yours.

You could see the conflict in his eyes, his desire for you warring with his sense of honor.

"I think we should stay," you whispered, leaning closer, brushing your lips against his. "Unless you're afraid of me, and my womanly wiles."

"Afraid?" He scoffed. "Hardly."

"Good," you smiled, kissing him.

His hands tightened around your waist, and he moaned into the kiss, deepening it. You could feel the tension in his body, his restraint wavering.

You pulled back, breathless, and looked into his eyes. You saw the desire there, and the love, and knew you were ready. You pulled on the strings in the front of your dress, and loosened the garment, slipping it off your shoulders and revealing your bare chest.

You wanted to etch the look on his face into your memory forever. The mixture of awe, admiration, and desire. He was trying not to just stare at your chest, his hands twitching at his sides, as if fighting the urge to touch.

You took one of his hands, and brought it to your breast, his palm warm and soft against your skin. His breath hitched, and his pupils dilated, his gaze moving from his hand to your face.

"You are so soft," he whispered, his thumb brushing against the sensitive peak.

You let out a quiet moan, your lips parting, your head falling back. He took advantage, and pressed kisses along your jaw, and down the column of your neck, his other hand sliding up to knead your other breast.

His lips moved lower, and he brushed his mouth against the swell of one of your breasts, and the sensation sent a thrill through you. You had never been touched like this, and you could feel the dampness growing between your thighs.

He took your nipple into his mouth, his tongue swirling around the sensitive peak, and the feeling was indescribable. A rush of heat flooded your veins, the cold air suddenly forgotten. Your hands moved into his hair, your fingers tangling in the dark curls.

His other hand cupped the swell of your breast, his fingers plucking and teasing the peak, eliciting little gasps and moans from you. You had never felt such pleasure, the gods were surely smiling down upon the two of you.

"Elijah," you breathed, your hips moving against him, seeking friction.

He let go of your nipple with a wet pop, his gaze moving back to yours. His lips were pink, and swollen, his eyes dark and heavy-lidded. He was panting, his chest rising and falling, his hands moving down to rest on your hips.

"My dear," he whispered, his voice thick with desire. "I would very much like to lay with you, if you are certain this is what you want."

You nodded, and kissed him, his hands moving up your back and pulling you close.

He lowered you onto the blanket, his body covering yours. His weight felt good, solid and comforting, and you let out a soft sigh. He kissed his way down your neck, pausing to press kisses to your shoulder and chest, pulling a giggle from you.

You reached down and tugged at his tunic, and he pulled back long enough to yank the garment over his head. Your hands moved over his torso, exploring the contours of his muscles, admiring his strength. He was beautiful, and you couldn't help but wonder what the rest of him would look like.

Your cheeks felt warm, your whole body thrumming with desire. Your gaze met his, and you saw a similar mix of lust and nervousness in his eyes.

"What now?" You asked, a little breathless.

He gave a soft chuckle, and leaned down to kiss you, his hands moving over your hips and thighs, pushing up the skirt of your dress. You gasped when his fingers brushed against the damp fabric of your small clothes.

"I've heard from the other men... that they have to... prepare the woman, first," he explained, a slight tremble in his voice.

"Oh," you breathed, a new wave of desire washing over you.

His fingers tugged at the string holding your undergarment on, and he slowly slid the garment down your legs, his eyes fixed on the newly exposed flesh.

"Elijah," you whispered, shifting beneath him.

He tossed your undergarment aside, and ran his hands up the insides of your thighs, gently pushing them apart. You bit your lip, feeling a little self-conscious, but when he leaned down and kissed the patch of curls, all thoughts fled from your mind.

You were certain that the gods had made you for each other. You felt his breath on the most sensitive part of you, and when his tongue brushed against it, a bolt of pleasure shot through you, and you tugged on his hair, trying to pull him closer.

He continued licking and sucking, the sounds making your face flush. He pushed your thighs up and open, exposing more of you to him.

You looked down, watching the way he tentatively tasted you, he was eager and curious, and his attentions were sending a steady rush of heat and pressure to your core.

He found the spot that made you whimper, and began sucking on it, drawing out the pleasure, making you moan and shake. He seemed encouraged by the sound, his movements becoming bolder, more sure.

The heat grew, the pleasure building, and you found yourself grinding against his face, chasing the sensation.

He let out a groan, and the vibration only added to the delicious torment. You felt like you were going to explode, the tension reaching its peak, and when he gently bit down on the sensitive nub, you came undone.

You arched off the ground, stars exploding behind your eyes. Your legs clamped around his head, trapping him in place, but he didn't seem to mind, continuing to lick and suck until the pleasure became too much.

You pulled on his hair, and he lifted his head, his mouth glistening in the firelight. You stared at him, panting and sweaty, wondering how it could have been so much better than the whispers had suggested.

He crawled up your body, his lips capturing yours in a deep, passionate kiss. You could taste yourself on him, the flavor heady and intoxicating. He smiled against your lips, and you reached between the two of you, tugging at the laces on his trousers.

"May I?" You asked, the tips of your fingers dipping beneath the waistband.

He nodded, a soft moan escaping him as your hand closed around his shaft. It was warm, hard, and velvety smooth. You stroked him, enjoying the way his face contorted with pleasure, his hips rocking into your touch.

"Are you all right?"

"Yes," he breathed. "Your touch is much different than my own."

"I should hope so," you chuckled. "Do you like it?"

"Yes," he groaned.

"Good," you smiled, your hand moving up and down his length, exploring what made him groan and move his hips.

"Enough," he panted, pulling away. "I do not wish to spill myself."

You chuckled and laid back, pulling him down on top of you. He tried to line himself up with your entrance, but he kept missing, his hand shaking. You let out a soft giggle, and took his shaft in your hand, guiding him into position.

"Like this," you whispered.

You felt him press against your entrance, the pressure unfamiliar, but not unpleasant. He leaned down and kissed you, his hips slowly thrusting forward, easing his length inside you.

The stretch burned a little, the feeling of fullness was overwhelming. You clung to him, his arms shaking, his breath hot against your skin. He was trying to be gentle, and you could tell it was taking all his self-control.

You ran a hand up his spine, feeling the tension in his body, the way his muscles quivered. You had never felt closer to anyone, the intimacy was almost too much, the emotion threatening to spill over.

"Are you all right?" He whispered, his gaze meeting yours. "Does it feel good?"

You nodded, "how about you?"

He chuckled, "better than anything I have ever felt."

You grinned, and lifted your hips, letting him know it was all right to move. He did, pulling out almost all the way, then easing back in. You could see the concentration on his face, his jaw clenched, his brows furrowed.

"More," you pleaded, wanting to feel him fully.

He complied, his pace increasing, the feeling of him moving inside you driving away the ache and leaving only pleasure.

"I'm afraid I will not last much longer," he breathed, his lips brushing against your cheek.

"It's all right," you assured him, reaching down in-between the two of you, feeling where you were connected.

It was wet, and warm; the coarse curls of his pelvis tickled your palm. You touched his shaft, stroking him as he thrust into you, and his hips bucked, a low moan escaping him.

"Y/N," he groaned, burying his face in the crook of your neck, his hips snapping forward.

His body stiffened, and his breath caught, his shaft pulsing inside you, and you could feel the warm flood of his release. You wrapped your arms around him, holding him close, both of you panting and trembling.

He lifted his head, his dark eyes meeting yours, his cheeks flushed, a hint of a smile on his lips. You leaned up and kissed him, pouring all your love and happiness into it.

He pulled back, resting his forehead against yours.

"Are you all right?" He whispered.

"More than all right," you told him, running a hand through his hair. 

"As am I," he replied, pressing a soft kiss to your lips. "We should get cleaned up and return to the celebration before we are missed."

"Or we could stay here," you suggested, smiling mischievously.

"Tempting," he chuckled. "But not wise."

"Fine," you sighed.

He pulled out of you, and you felt a twinge of loss, the cold air reminding you how wet and swollen you still were. He got up and fetched his tunic, cleaning you both up as best he could.

"There," he said, helping you up. "That should do until we can get a proper bath."

"I would very much like to bathe with you," you told him, grinning.

"As would I," he replied, handing you your dress.

You fixed your dress as he snuffed out the candles and collected them in the blanket, sneaking glances at each other, the blush still lingering on your cheeks. Once you were presentable, you took his hand, and followed him back to the celebration.

The sounds of the village grew louder, the voices and music carrying through the trees. He paused, and pulled you into a kiss, his hands resting on your waist. You melted into him, a familiar warmth spreading through you. He pulled away, looking down at you, his expression serious.

"I've known since the first time I saw you," he confessed, his cheeks turning pink. "That this is where I'm meant to be. That you are the one."

"Elijah," you whispered, tears burning in the back of your eyes. "I love you."

"And I love you," he smiled, kissing your forehead. "I will speak with your father tomorrow. There are wedding plans to be made."

"You will?" You squealed, throwing your arms around his neck.

"Of course," he chuckled, hugging you tightly.

He kissed you again, his lips moving slowly, savoring the moment. He reluctantly pulled away, taking your hand.

"Come, we must get back," he whispered, tugging you toward the village.

You followed him, the grin never leaving your face.

Your father would surely be surprised, but Elijah was a good man, a strong warrior, and would be a good husband. Your mother would be delighted, she had always liked Elijah. And, hopefully, that would convince your father to agree.

You couldn't wait to tell everyone the good news. You would finally have the wedding you always dreamed of.

The gods had been smiling down on the both of you, and tonight would be a night you would remember forever.

Snow had fallen in the early hours of the morning after the festival, and it continued for nearly a week. The wind howled, and the village was blanketed in white. It was a gloomy, dark and damp, the wind blowing fiercely, causing the shutters to bang against the wall.

A storm like this would keep everyone inside for at least a month. Fortunately your village was prepared, with plenty of stores and provisions, and the people were content to remain indoors, huddled near the fire.

You wished you were curled up next to Elijah throughout all this, the warmth of his body chasing away the chill in the air. Instead, you were trapped inside with your parents for nearly a month now, trying to keep the gloom at bay.

Your father had only left home once since the solstice, checking in on the villagers and making sure everyone was safe. He returned with good news, the livestock had survived the storm, and the storehouses were well stocked.

You helped your mother prepare food, and kept the hearth burning. The house was warm and cozy, but you couldn't stop the worry from creeping in. You hadn't been feeling well for weeks, food seemed to turn your stomach, and you'd grown irritable, snapping at your parents for no reason.

Your mother had taken notice, and was watching you closely, her eyes narrowing.

"Come sit," she called from her chair, the furs draped over her legs.

"I'm busy," you sighed, adding a few logs to the fire.

"Your father is seeing to the animals," she pointed out, a knowing look in her eye. "Sit," she said firmly, patting the empty seat next to her.

You let out a huff, and plopped down, crossing your arms.

"I can tell something is troubling you," she murmured, reaching out and stroking your hair.

"I just wish to see my friends," you said softly, picking at a loose thread on the cushion. "It's so dull and boring here."

"Ah, yes," she nodded. "And is there one particular friend you would like to see?"

"I suppose," you said, shrugging, feigning disinterest.

"I think there's a young man who is just as eager to see you," she smiled, reaching out and taking your hand. "Do you wish to speak of it?"

"No," you mumbled, not meeting her eye.

She was quiet for a moment, and then cleared her throat. "Are you in love?"

"Mother," you gasped, glancing toward the door, a nervous flutter in your belly.

"I was once a young girl, I know what it feels like," she smiled, squeezing your hand. "You should have seen me, I was hopeless, sighing and daydreaming. Your father had me under a spell," she grinned, a faraway look in her eyes.

"Really?" You asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh yes," she giggled, her cheeks turning pink. "We... don't tell him I told you this...," she whispered, leaning in. "We would... sneak off and feast on the fruits… far before planting the tree," she giggled.

"Mother!" You exclaimed, your face flaming.

"I was very much in love," she said, patting your hand. "As are you, it seems."

"I...," you hesitated, the words getting stuck in your throat.

"Tell me, my child," she murmured, giving you a warm smile. "Do you wish to marry him?"

"I... Yes," you nodded, returning her smile. "I love him."

"And does he love you?"

"Yes, he does," you smiled.

Her hand moved to your stomach, and she rubbed slow circles. Her eyes met yours, a knowing look in them.

"Does he know?"

"Know what?" You asked, confused.

"My dear, you've been unwell," she explained. "Has it not occurred to you why?"

"No," you shook your head.

"Your body has changed, I noticed it the other morning when you were dressing. Your breasts are fuller, your waist is a little thicker. And," she stopped, and reached down, taking your hand and guiding it to your stomach. "Your belly is softer."

"I...uhm," you shook your head, panic welling up inside you.

"I'm not saying this to scare you," she soothed. "This is a good thing. The gods have blessed you."

"Oh," you whispered, tears welling up in your eyes.

"When was the last time you bled?" She asked, tilting her head.

"I...don't know," you admitted. "A moon ago? Before the snow fell."

"Is that around the time you and Elijah were...feasting on the fruits?" She asked, lowering her voice.

You nodded, and felt the tears spill over.

"Don't be afraid," she cooed, gathering you into her arms."I'm not angry, I promise,"

"Father will be," you mumbled, tears spilling down your cheeks.

"Perhaps not," she replied, her voice gentle. "If Elijah is a good man, he will take care of you. You and the baby. And your father will come around."

"You really think so?"

"I do," she assured you. "I will speak with him."

"What if the baby isn't his?" You asked, chewing on your lip.

"You've been with no other men, have you?" She said, her tone growing stern, her eyes hard.

"No," you shook your head.

She paused for a moment then laughed, and squeezed your shoulders. "Then the child is Elijah's."

"But what if father doesn't believe it? What if-,"

"Hush," she said firmly. "It will be alright. Do not worry."

"Are you certain?"

"I am," she smiled, stroking your cheek.

"You're not angry with me?" You asked, feeling a little guilty.

"No, I'm not," she assured you. "But I would prefer the wedding take place sooner rather than later."

Your conversation was interrupted by the sounds of your father returning and more voices joining his.

"Come," your mother whispered, standing and reaching for your hand. "I'll make us some tea."

You nodded, and followed her to the table.

"Good afternoon, my loves," your father greeted you, stomping the snow off his boots.

Niklaus and Elijah followed behind, they had brought food and supplies, the two of them covered in a thick layer of snow.

"It's a good thing these two came along," your father commented, shaking his head. "I might have gotten lost out there."

"It is quite a blizzard," Niklaus chuckled, pulling his cloak off.

"These fine gentlemen are going to stay with us until the storm passes," your father said, glancing at your mother. "The snow has caved in the roof of their hut."

"Well," your mother clapped her hands. "That settles it. Let me get a hot meal on the table."

You watched Elijah as he pulled off his cloak, the fur falling away, revealing his strong arms and shoulders. You could feel the heat rising in your cheeks, and quickly averted your eyes.

"Sweetie, will you show them where the linens are kept? We'll need to make up the beds."

"Of course," you murmured, standing and crossing the room.

"Here," Elijah said, reaching into his pack and pulling out a bundle. "We brought extra furs," he smiled.

"Thank you," you murmured, feeling his gaze on you.

Niklaus helped your father with the firewood and Elijah followed you to the backroom, helping you pull the linens out.

As soon as you were out of sight from the others, he pulled you into his arms, his lips finding yours.

"I've missed you," he breathed, his lips brushing over your skin.

You pressed your finger to his lips, shushing him. He smiled, his teeth nibbling on the digit. You blushed, and pulled your hand away, taking his hand and placing it on your stomach. His brow furrowed, and he looked down.

"I have a surprise," you whispered, biting your lip.

"A surprise?" He grinned, his hand sliding around to your back, pressing you closer.

"Our baby," you breathed, looking up at him, your heart thudding in your chest.

His eyes widened, and he shook his head.

"Are you certain?"

You nodded, and felt the tears begin to spill down your cheeks. You weren't sure if it was relief, or happiness, or fear, but it all came crashing down.

He wiped the tears from your cheeks, a wide smile on his face.

"Don't cry," he soothed, kissing your forehead. "I will take care of you."

"But my father," you sniffled.

He smiled and took your hand, leading you back into the main room. Your father was sitting at the table, while Niklaus stoked the fire and your mother was cooking, their voices filling the room.

She looked at you, and smiled softly. Your father glanced over, and his eyes narrowed at the sight of your hand in Elijah's.

"What's this?" He asked, his voice stern.

"Sir," Elijah started, swallowing nervously. "I know that we have not known each other long, but I have come to care deeply for your daughter. I would like to ask your permission to take her as my wife."

The silence that followed was deafening. Niklaus froze, and slowly stood, watching the scene unfold. The expression on your father's face was completely unreadable, his eyes focused on the two of you.

"Do you know what you're asking me, boy?"

"Yes, sir," he nodded. "I love her, and I will care for her."

Your father leaned back in his chair, and crossed his arms. His gaze went to Niklaus, who was still standing frozen by the hearth, a deer in the torchlight.

"Is your brother a good man?"

"He is, sir," Niklaus answered, his voice strained.

"Can he provide for her, can he protect her? Can he protect his children?"

"Yes, sir," he nodded.

Your father turned back to Elijah, his eyes narrowing.

"What do you intend to do when the snows have cleared, and the ground thaws?"

"I have found a piece of land not far from here," he explained. "With a river nearby, and plenty of forest. It's close enough to the village that it will not be difficult to travel."

"I see," your father murmured, glancing over at you.

You stared back at him, and tried not to let the hope show on your face.

"My child," he said, his voice soft. "Is this what you want?"

"It is," you nodded.

"I see," he said again, sighing softly. "The gods have spoken. It seems there will be a wedding."

"Sir?" Elijah asked, his voice wavering.

"I'm giving you my blessing," your father smiled.

You let out a happy sob, and threw your arms around Elijah's neck. He lifted you off the floor, his lips finding yours in a joyful kiss. You were dimly aware of the cheering coming from your parents and Niklaus, and you clung to him, the tears spilling down your cheeks.

You could have kissed him forever, but your mother cleared her throat, and you reluctantly pulled away.

 "Come, dinner is ready.” she said, smiling.

Elijah set you down, and gave your hand a squeeze. He led you to the table, and pulled out a chair for you. Niklaus and your parents joined you, and soon the sounds of eating and talking filled the room.

Your mother poured the tea, and you glanced up at Elijah, watching as he ate, his face flushed, his eyes shining. He met your gaze and smiled, a warmth spreading through you.

"Father... I have something else to tell you," you murmured, taking a sip of tea.

"Yes?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

"You will have a grandchild soon," you whispered, biting your lip.

This time, the silence that followed wasn't deafening, but absolutely terrifying. The expression on your fathers face went from happy to complete shock. Niklaus choked, and began coughing violently, but you suspected he wasn't choking, but simply trying to cover up his laughter. 

Your father's gaze went from you, then to Elijah, who had the good sense to look abashed, before finally settling on your mother, who simply shrugged, and continued to eat.

"So," he finally sighed, rubbing his face. "The wedding should be sooner rather than later."

"Yes, father," you nodded, your voice shaking.

He glanced at you, and reached over, taking your hand.

"You're sure?"

"I am." 

You watched his face, and were relieved to see his eyes fill with joy.

"Well," he grinned. "It seems I'm getting an early wedding gift."

"Really?" You squeaked, not quite believing what you were hearing.

"Yes," he laughed. "My little girl is having a baby. What better reason is there to celebrate?”

"Father," you cried, standing and hugging him.

He embraced you, and you could feel the tension melting away.

"The gods are truly smiling down on us," he chuckled, squeezing you tightly.

"They are," you agreed, giving him a watery smile.

"To new beginnings," your mother declared, raising her glass.

"To new beginnings," everyone echoed, and the conversation flowed, wedding plans being made.

As you listened to the conversations going on around you, and felt the warmth of the fire on your skin, and the heat of Elijah's hand resting on your knee, you couldn't help but feel that everything was going to be okay. You couldn't have asked for a better man to spend your life with.

The winter storm would pass, the snow would melt, and the sun would shine down on the village once more.

Spring was just around the corner.

[3ofpents]

Fresno Nightcrawler Houndstooth // Fabric Design for @shapeshiftersvt and The Cryptid Collection

Remember way back a few weeks ago when I posted the Squonk poster and I said that once I'd designed the fabric to go along with it I'd start posting the fabric designs here? Well guess what! It's time!

For those who don't remember or who didn't know, I am the co-owner, site manager, and graphic designer for @shapeshiftersvt. 2024 marks our 10th anniversary and we wanted to do something big and special and new to mark the occasion and my partner, co-owner, head tailor, fashion designer, and founder, Eli, pitched a fashion line themed around cryptids. We call it The Cryptid Collection and it features six of our and the internet's favorite cryptids: The Fresno Nightcrawler, Mothman, the Jackalope, the Jersey Devil, Champ, and the Squonk.

My parts of the collection were designing the posters, and creating fabric designs for our very own, truly Shapeshifters designed chest binders and sports bras. But since we utilized Spoonflower to have those fabrics printed, they're also available through the Spoonflower marketplace for anyone to buy for their own sewing projects.

And now that all of the fabric designs are done and uploaded and proofed and listed, I, as promised, am posting them here to talk a bit more in-depth about them, the thoughts and inspirations behind them, and the design process.

Starting with the Fresno Nightcrawler.

Part of the reason I'm starting with the Fresno Nightcrawler is because this was the very first design that I finished. When we were planning out the fabrics, it was the most solid design concept I had that wasn't just adapting the poster design to fabric (mostly because ... I hadn't done the poster yet). It was the first one I really came up with, the one I was most excited about, and the one that pretty much stayed the same from concept to execution.

I love houndstooth. Which is weird to say when I don't think I've ever owned a single garment or accessory in with a houndstooth pattern? But I do, I love it. I love the teeny tiny classic version of the pattern; I love a blown-up graphic version of the pattern; I love plays and variations on it. So when I was trying to brainstorm what kind of fabric pattern I could make inspired by a creature with such a simple shape whose only colors were white and black, the idea came pretty quickly: A houndstooth. Or a Nightcrawlertooth, if you will. It was a trick, though, and a real learning experience, especially with this being my first design.

Getting a pattern to repeat smoothly is a skill unto itself. Basically you have what's called a tile, and the tile contains the part of the pattern that you want to repeat. Then, when your pattern is created, the original tile just gets essentially copy-pasted over and over so 1) you don't have to draw the whole yard of fabric, and 2)all of the repeated parts of the design are identical. But by doing it this way, you have seams you need to take into consideration. If you think of putting the pattern together, it's sort of like making a basic quilt: You start with one square (or rectangle), then attach four more squares to each side, and then just keep doing that. Each one of those seams (top, bottom, left, right) is a place where the pattern might not match up, which means when it's applied to a yard of fabric, it's not going to look like a smooth, seamless pattern.

Of course there's ways to avoid this altogether. If you're doing a simple stripe, using the line tool in your drawing software will keep your stripe a consistent thickness, and holding SHIFT while you draw it will keep the line straight. Or, even easier, you can create a pattern where the part that repeats doesn't straddle a seam; like a polkadot pattern, where the dot(s) can be centered on the tile and seams only cut through a solid background.

The trouble with a houndstooth, though, is that not only does the tile need to repeat, it's made up of repeating figures that interlock. I can't just center the white Nightcrawler on the tile and call it a day, because then the black Nightcrawler straddles the seam. On top of that, they needed to be shaped in such a way that the negative space between the white Nightcrawlers left a shape that was also recognizable as a Nightcrawler and similar enough to the white one that the pattern is mostly seamless.

I fully admit that I was not able to do this on my own. Enter: Eli. Eli is, among other things, a math nerd who enjoys an excuse to break out the graph paper. They found a tutorial online and got to graphing and shaping and, in just a couple of hours, had gotten the shapes down. I took that tile, illustrated it, cleaned up the seams (shoutout to Eli for also finding an easier way to do this than just manually copy-pasting), and voila! A Fresno Nightcrawler houndstooth.

Now, you might look at that image up there and say, "Well that's all well and good, Pents, but they're kind of blobby and the lines are wobbly and it's all a little uneven." To which I say ... yeah, that's true. It's also kind of intentional. Like, I'm not gonna sit here and claim I got the basic pattern done and wasn't exhausted. But also I could've left it and come back to it the next day to clean up the lines and shapes a bit more, make everything really smooth and even. But, like. Look at this guy.

He's just a weird kinda blobby little dude. So I left the pattern kinda weird and blobby.

Even if I'd cleaned it, it's such a blobby little shape that's so at odds with the classic houndstooth that's all straight lines and sharp angles. So I made a deliberate choice to not polish it up. To kind of lean into the kodama vibes:

I am really so so proud of and pleased with this design. It came out almost exactly how I pictured it; it was really the most true design collaboration between Eli and I; and I'm just so pleased, after a lifetime of being a houndstooth lover, to now also have designed a houndstooth.

If you'd like a custom-sized, handmade, made-to-order binder or sports bra in this houndstooth like the one in the photos, you can find those listings (as well as the poster listing) here, on the Shapeshifters website. There are three pattern size options, the classic teeny tiny version; a somewhat bigger medium size; and a super graphic large size. Our binders are the most comfortable and effective on the market thanks to our finely graded internal sizing system. Because we're a small operation that makes every garment to order, both our binders and sports bras are highly customizable, and can be made to ALL measurements with flat pricing across sizes.

If you'd like to purchase the fabric yourself for your own sewing projects, you can order it through our Spoonflower shop, where we have it listed in the same three pattern sizes.

[major-toast]

hey 🍄 &🍦:)

Hi eli :D

I hope it is all right if I adress you like this right away. If not, let me know and I'll change it asap.

🍄 ⇢ share a head canon for one of your favourite ships or pairings

cw: sexually explicit, dubcon

Well, it is no secret I have talked about rosekiller fucking on this blog before. But there is one tiny detail I never quite touched on: the so called 'snap'. Barty is much more sexually active than Evan, who leans more into the demi side of the spectrum. However, when Evan is in the mood, he is in the mood. It's usually then he is the dominant part of their relationship, making Barty squirm and whimmer and beg to be fucked thoroughly. However, Evan also likes to let him squirm, to corner him, and drive him near the edge but never push him over, just to prolong their time a little further. The longer this suffering continues, the more sexually frustrated Barty grows until he eventually - well - snaps. And by snapping I mean he turns into an animal. He's no longer aware of his surroundings, no longer reacts to voice or touch. He is in tunnel vision with his sole goal being to fuck and destroy whoever is nearest (in 99% of time it's Evan). And even if Evan's already long over the moon, barely responding himself, Barty won't stop, given he is not quite sound of mind in that moment. He thrusts and thrusts until his body shuts on its own, too exhausted to work any longer. This entire ordeal works wonderfully with Evan's overstim kink btw. Mayhaps, one of the reasons he makes him snap in the first place.

🍦 ⇢ name three good things about a character you hate

Oh, dear. I'll make no friends with this one, but the character I despise the most in this fandom has to be Regulus. Not because of Regulus per se, but because of the victim complex that seems to constantly surround the popular version of him. Of course, I have my own characterisation, so there are some positive traits I can associate with him. For one, he is incredibly snarky. Like, this man does not take shit, especially not from his older brother. Sirius has a tendency to brag and blow things out of proportion, so that'll fit his perception better, and Regulus never hesitates to call him out on that. He also knows very well how to pull certain strings, how to get under Sirius' skin (and vice versa. it's a sibling thing, really), so he kind of acts as an antithesis, so to speak; the calmer more collected side of their shared coin. Another thing I do have to give him credit for is the decision to jump over his own shadow when it came to Voldemort and his followers. As we know, he was devoted to the cause at first, but ultimately switched side in an attempt to destroy at least one of the horcruxes. Whether or not his intentions have been selfish ones, I leave up for discussion. However, one has to command his attempt at putting an end to an enemy deemed nearly immortal. Regulus is also very smart, and a capable wizard. Not as much a prodigy as his brother (always in his shadow, poor sod), but even more hardworking because of it. He sees things in a less emotional, more rational light, which gives him the advantage of passing judgement on things where other's is clouded by emotion. Often than not that might have been the winning move for him and whoever is on his side currently.

ask game

[unknown-lifeformthatdraws]

She thinks they're cute lil guys

Also I have now given Day a solid design they're very cool and people have already fallen in love with them on discord 😎

(Image Description and Taglist under the cut)

[ID: A collection of traditionally drawn pictures of several characters. The first is of Monolith from the shoulders up. She is shown to have three faces, each of them smiling as she holds a tiny human in her hand. Next are pictures of Night and Day. Night is a star-like head, a large piece of metallic jewellery resembling a curved and pointed bow tie, floating hands, and a long cloak with a void inside. Day also has a star-like head, but the rays are sharper and less flowy than Night's. Day's body consists of the upper part of a torso, and legs with gaps at the knees. A suit jacket is draped over their shoulders and their hands float beside them. The first image of them shows Night poking at Day, while Day swats at them with one hand and holds some planets with the other. Next is Day posing with Ada, a woman with long hair that curves upward. She is wearing a black, strapless dress, long black gloves, and a translucent sash around her arms. Above them it reads "Sibling In-Laws." Next is a drawing of a solar eclipse labelled "What we see:" then a drawing labelled "What happens:" showing Night grabbing Day while the latter pushes them away and gives the middle finger. End ID.]

@abluehappyface @possibly-eli @the-cinnamon-snail @pinelohearts @katherann227

@meltedfuckingmarshmallow @sunshinemirage

[gracev0609]

I Was Born to Love You - Sam's Version Pt.1

Sam Kiszka X Danny Wagner

WC: 6k+

Warnings: 18+, Minors DNI, themes of child abandonment, queer love interest, Dad Sam, one sentence about abortion.

A gracev0609/ @losfacedevil collaboration.

Sam stirred lightly, the deep sleep he had once fallen under slowly beginning to dissipate and he rolled over in the warmth of his bed. Throwing an arm out across the mattress, he screwed his face up when he was met with a cold and empty space where Madeline had once laid. Pulling a deep breath in through his nose he pushed himself up into a seated position and allowed his eyes to focus on the darkened room around him.

Elijah lay peacefully in his bedside bassinet and an empty bottle rested next to him; the only sign that Madeline had woken up with him for his last feeding during the night. It was then that Sam noticed her bedside table was stripped of everything that it once housed. Her skin care, jewelry box and collection of body sprays seemingly having disappeared over night. He raised a brow in a questioning motion and pushed himself out of bed, slowly making his way out of the bedroom.

The apartment was eerily quiet as he eyes scanned the living room, looking for any signs of life or of Madeline. His breath caught in his throat as his eyes landed on the set of keys that sat on the living room table, tossed almost fully across it as if they had been an after thought to leave behind. His eyes grew wide and he turned on his heel, power walking back to the bedroom they had shared. Pulling a deep breath in through his nose he pulled the closet doors open and felt his heart instantly shatter in his chest.

All of her clothing and belongings she had stored in the closet were gone, hangers left hanging on the tension pole bare of the clothes they once held. He took another deep and steadying breath before turning and took the two steps towards the bedside table where his phone lay. Steadying himself once more he plucked the phone off of the charger and unlocked the device, navigating to the call log and pressed on her name to initiate a call out.

“Shit…” he mumbled, quickly typing out a text and hit send. His heart hammered in his chest as he waited for the delivered notification to show under the message, further shattering his heart at the message bubble turned green.

“SHIT!” His eyes darted over to where Elijah laid still sleeping peacefully in his bassinet, his fathers outburst not disturbing his slumber. Placing the phone gently down on his bedside table he made his way back out to the living room, this time spotting a piece of paper on the coffee table. Bracing himself for the worst he slowly made his way over and glanced down at the paper.

‘I couldn’t do it, I’m sorry.’

The six words were enough to shatter the rest of his heart and a blood curdling scream ripped its way up his chest. His hands flew to his hair, balling them into fists and yanking the strands of hair he held tightly. The soft cries of his son shook him out of his panic induced fit and he turned on his heel, running back into the bedroom. He flicked the overhead light on and slowly made his way back over to the bed, sinking down in the middle of it before leaning over and scooping his three month old out of the bassinet.

“I’m so sorry, baby. It’s okay, you’re okay.” He soothed the little one quietly, rocking with him cradled in his arms. Eli’s panicked cries soon quieted down to a soft murmur of baby mumbled as he placed his thumb in his mouth and began to self soothe.

Sam couldn’t help the wave of emotion that over came him as Eli finally settled down. Taking a deep breath Sam turned at the waist and laid Eli in the middle of his king size bed before pushing himself to stand. He tossed pillows on either side of his sons tiny body so he wouldn’t get hurt if he rolled over and scooped his phone off of the bedside table.

“Be good while Daddy calls Uncle Danny… okay?” Sam cooed before slipping out of the bed room.

He was surprised by how well he was holding himself together, and after taking another deep breath, pressed the call command on Danny’s contact. The line rang twice before Danny’s chipper voice danced down the line.

“Sammy boy, it’s a bit early for you isn’t it? How’s my nephew doing?” Danny chuckled, always quick to ask about Eli. Sam let his head fall back against the wall as tears sprung to his eyes. He let out a shaky breath he wasn’t even aware he was holding as tears began to spill over his eyelids. The sound of Danny clearing his throat floated down the line, shaking Sam from his panic.

“Sam?” Danny softened his tone as he spoke, knowing something wasn’t quite right.

“She… she’s gone, Danny. Left us in the middle of the night.” His voice rose as he spoke, his tone close to a scream as he let the truth sneak past his lips. He could hear shuffling on the other end of the line, no doubt Danny getting out of bed and slipping on whatever pair of shoes he could find.

“Madeline left? She up and left you?! Where’s Eli? Is he okay?” A pang of guilt struck Danny’s chest as he asked after his nephew, not thinking to ask after Sam in the same breath.

“YES the bitch fucking left! Took all her shit, dropped the keys on the coffee table, left our THREE MONTH OLD SON! She just fucking left! Shit…” Sam cursed and turned on his heel as the sound of Eli’s cries picked up in the background. Danny took a deep breath, stomping down the anger that began bubbling up in his chest and made his way out of his apartment.

“It’ll be okay, we got this Sam. I’m on my way.”

Sam tossed his phone off to the side of the bed before sinking down onto the mattress and scooped his distraught son up in his arms. Reaching up he wiped at the trail of tears that ran down his cheeks. A shuddering breath danced up his chest as he began to rock Eli, cradled safely against his chest.

“It’s okay, big man, we don’t need her anyway. We can do this, can’t we? Daddy and Eli against the world. We don’t need that mean old lady do we? She didn’t help us at all did she?” Sam couldn’t help the fresh tears that streamed down his cheeks as he spoke to the now calm baby that lay in his arms. His mind reeled with everything that had happened and thoughts of where she could have gone. Was she safe? Did she even care? None of it mattered now as he slowly realized he was going to have to learn how to parent the little one laying in his arms alone.

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Danny wasted no time in getting to his best friends place. Pulling a deep breath in through his nose he threw his car into park and scrambled out of it. Slamming the door shut behind him he jogged up the front steps of the apartment building Sam lived in and struggled to find the key to the building.

He breathed a sigh of relief when a familiar face pushed open the main door and he was met with a soft smile. Reaching up Danny placed a reassuring hand on Sam’s neighbors shoulder and gave it a light squeeze of thanks as he slipped in the door and took off at a jog down the main hallway. He rounded the familiar corner too quickly and his foot slid out from under him, grabbing hold of the wall to steady himself before righting the way he stood and slowly closed the distance between the corner and Sam’s apartment.

Eli’s cries could be heard through the door, the baby’s distressed wail one Danny knew all too well. Taking a deep breath he placed his hand on the door knob and turned it slowly, bracing himself for the tearful mess he was about to walk into. Slipping into the living room he shut the door behind him with a soft click and followed the sounds of the cries to Sam’s bedroom. His heart broke in his chest as he eyes landed on his best friend and nephew. Sams head was tilted backward, tears streaming down the sides of his face as he bounced gently where he sat, trying to soothe Eli.

Danny’s breath caught in his throat as he closed the distance between them and he bent at the waist, scooping a very distraught Eli out of Sam’s arms. He cradled the baby in his arms and began to sway where he stood, the soft motion of his body beginning to soothe the babies cries.

“Hey buddy, what’s going on? Hmm? Is daddy just as upset as you are? It’s okay, buddy I got you… I have both of you.” Danny cooed, running the side of his finger over the length of Eli’s tear soaked cheek. Sam laid across the bed, curling up into himself and a heart wrenching scream ripped up his chest - muffled only by the pillow he buried his face in. Danny tucked his bottom lip safely between his teeth and took off in the direction of Eli’s nursery.

Sam rolled over onto his back and fixed his eyes on the ceiling, watching as the fan spun slowly, pulling his attention off of the thoughts that danced in the forefront of his mind. His eyes slowly followed the same fan blade, the repetitive motion lulling him into a sense of peace. He let his eyes flutter shut, the serenity of the room something he needed after the past couple of hours he had endured.

Danny took a deep breath as he laid the sleeping baby down into his crib and reached up to turn the key on the little mobile that hung above him. Turning at the waist he turned on the little baby monitor that sat on the changing table next to the crib and slowly made his way out of the room. He hung his head and dragged his feet as he made his way back to Sam’s room and his eyes landed on Sam’s tall form laid spread eagle out across the bed.

He perched himself on the edge of the bed and reached over to place a reassuring squeeze to Sam’s thigh. His eyes popped open quickly as Danny began to massage the tender muscle under his hand. Sam controlled his breathing and tried to split his focus between the slow turning fan overhead and Danny’s hand on his bare skin.

“You’ll be better off without her you know. Eli didn’t need to be seeing how she treated you and the way you two would fight. Granted at his age he won’t know what’s going on but still. A happy dad means a happy baby, you know?” Danny knew he was rambling but wasn’t sure what else to do. He had never seen Sam so broken before and for once he wasn’t able to fix it this time.

Sam never took his gaze off of the ceiling fan and didn’t fight the urge to let his eyes close as his lids became heavier. Danny sighed and scooted up the bed, laying out comfortably next to Sam and threw his arm out. He gently tangled his fingers in the hair at the crown of Sam’s head, a silent beckoning for him to scoot up towards him. In one quick motion Sam rolled over and pressed his cheek against Danny’s chest, tossing his arm across his waist. A sigh of relief slipped past Danny’s lips as he tangled his fingers in Sam’s hair, carding through it easily.

“Get some rest. Eli is safe, you are safe. I’ve got you, rest.” Danny cooed. He trained his eyes on the ceiling fan, watching the same slow rotations that Sam had once been. He was surprised at how quickly Sam’s breathing had evened out and the boy fell into a deep slumber but Danny wasn’t too far behind him, succumbing to sleep as the ceiling fan continued to turn slowly.

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He woke with a start as his arm fell onto a warm, but empty, mattress. Sam bolted up right, his heart hammering in his chest as he came to a heartbreaking conclusion - Danny left him too. Tears welled in his eyes as he fought with himself to get out of bed and go to Eli, knowing Danny had placed the babe in his crib to sleep only a few hours prior.

His breathing quickened as panic began to rise in his chest, the same shattering of his heart from this morning replaying over again in his chest. Reaching up he pulled a hand back through his sleep tousled hair, tugging lightly against his scalp to try and ground himself. It was then that he heard that baby monitor crackle to life and Danny’s soft voice danced through the radio waves.

“Buddy, I think it’s time we get up and get some food, hmm? That’s it… hi, daddy’s still napping, he needs all the rest he can get. Let’s go get your bottle, okay?”

Tears welled up in Sam’s eyes and his breathing began to steady as he heard Danny talking to his little one. Reaching up he ran a hand down the length of his face, trying to hastily wipe away the tears that had found their way down his cheeks. Pulling a deep breath in through his nose, he let himself fall back against the pillows and slowly blew the breath out through parted lips.

“It’s okay, he didn’t leave you. He went to get Eli… it’s okay.” Sam mumbled to himself and let his eyes fluttered shut at he tried to get his bearings. Pushing himself up into a seated position, he slowly pulled his legs over the side of the bed and pushed himself up to his full height.

Danny stood at the kitchen counter with his back to the doorway, slowly swaying and bouncing the fuzzy infant in his arms as he squinted at the can of formula held in his hand. The four ounces of water he needed to fill the bottle with had been a no brainer process, but he wasn’t able to find the powder to water ratio he needed.

“Buddy, you gotta tell me how many scoops of this rank smelling powder daddy puts in your bottle. Uncle Danny is so fucking clueless…” Sighing, Danny put the can of formula down on the counter and reached up to pitch at the bridge of his nose, trying not to let his frustration get the best of him.

Eli cooed in Danny’s arms, reaching up a tiny hand to fist into the thin fabric of his Uncles shirt. He turned his attention to the infant resting against his chest and couldn’t help the smile that tugged at the corners of his lips as Eli’s big brown eyes bore into his own.

“You’re in good hands, I hope you know. Your daddy is an amazing dad - even if he doesn’t think he is. And you’ve got Uncle Jake and Uncle Josh and Auntie Sevda and Auntie Y/N and all your baby cousins on your side. And me… Uncle Danny isn’t going to let you or your daddy down, you’re safe with me.”

Sam’s heart swelled in his chest as he leaned up against the doorframe and crossed his arms over his chest. A soft smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he watched his best friend rock his son in his arms. Danny leaned down slightly and pressed a soft kiss to the infants forehead before turning his attention back to the can of formula sitting on the counter.

“Two… it’s two scoops for that size bottle.” Sam called, slowly beginning to make his way into the kitchen. Danny startled slightly and dropped the can of formula he held in his hand. Taking a deep breath he turned his head and shot a look over his shoulder.

“Welcome to the world of the conscious.” Danny chuckled and lifted a water bottle to his lips, using his teeth to break the seal on the cap. Sam couldn’t help the way his eyes rolled as he stepped up beside Danny and held his arms out.

“I would like my child, please, sir.” Sam chuckled and waited patiently for Danny to turn and place a still groggy Eli into his arms. Without skipping a beat Danny leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to Sam’s temple.

Sam stilled where he stood, his eyes wide and his stomach flipped as Danny’s actions registered in his mind. He watched as Danny struggled to get the lid off of the formula container and couldn’t help the giggles that slipped past his lips as Danny looked into container and made a face.

“There’s a scoop in there.” Sam chuckled. Danny shook his head and heaved a sigh, not wanting to stick his finger down into the powdered formula. Without missing a beat Danny reached up and flipped Sam off.

“Here, you take the baby and I’ll do that.” Sam chuckled softly and waited for Danny to turn on his heel. In one Swift move Sam reached up and cupped Danny’s chin in his hand. Danny’s breath caught in his throat and his pupils dilated slightly as his eyes found Sam’s. Sam leaned forward and pressed his lips to Danny’s, not wanting to over think the situation. Danny’s breath audibly caught in his throat and he reached a hand forward, cupping it around Eli’s head before wrapping his other arm around Sam and melted into his body.

Sam pulled back first and gulped air into his burning lungs. He rested his forehead softly against Danny’s and his gaze found Eli’s little face. The baby’s face contorted and soft cries began to slip past his lips.

“We’ll get you a bottle, buddy, don’t worry.” Sam cooed and leaned forward to press one more chaste kiss to Danny’s lips before stepping forward to make Eli a bottle.

Later that afternoon the boys found their way to the couch while Eli snoozed in his swing, Sam rested his head in Daniel's lap as he played with his hair, both of them staring blankly at the television. As he scratches his fingers against his best friend's scalp he works up the courage to ask him about Madeline,” Sammy?”

Lazily he shifts his head towards Danny giving him his full attention, humming in response.

“What- What happened? I know she took her things and left, but do you have any idea why?”

Sam lets out a long sigh before sitting up and righting himself on the couch facing Daniel. “I think there were a lot of reasons why. I wish she would have told me instead of just sneaking out of here and blocking my number. I guess she didn't want to have another fight,” he drags his hand through his hair before continuing to speak,” You know we fought a lot, but it was so much worse. Not every day was a screaming match, but there was a fight all the time. About anything, I forgot to unload the dishwasher before leaving the house to me pleading her not to go out with her friends at night. To which she screamed at me for not letting her live her life, that I already kept her chained down for 9 months.”

Danny patiently listened as Sam kept talking, he watched as he swiped a tear away from the corner of his eye before speaking again,” I -I don't think she actually ever wanted him Daniel. That fuckin breaks my heart. I remember when she showed me the pregnancy test, she-she didn't seem excited. She just shoved it in my face, I think she was expecting another fight. I think she was expecting me to go ‘what the fuck, get rid of it’” That realization struck a dagger through Danny's heart, he loves Sam's son so much he couldn't imagine Eli not being a part of their lives.

“But I didn't! I..I couldn't! I loved him instantly, Daniel. I saw the two pink lines and I started celebrating…alone. She was stiff with a forced smile on her face as I covered her stomach in kisses and I just loved him so much. As much as this sucks, I think somewhere in the back of my mind I saw it coming.”

Danny watched as his body stiffened and his voice came out a little stronger,” Actually, now that I think about it that bitch really didn't want anything to do with me, or my family,or any part of my life. She would constantly get annoyed when I would work on music, but I'm a fucking professional touring musician! Like you cunt! That's what's paying for this luxury apartment you wanted to live in so badly! Fuck! And- and you remember when we would all go over to Jake's or Josh's with the whole family and she wouldn't talk to Sev or Y/N, fuck she didn't even interact with their little girls! My nieces…. She just didn't care, she didn't want to. While I'm on the floor covered in play jewelry and a tiara she had her face shoved in her phone.” He paused taking a few deep breaths to calm himself down,” She never wanted a life with me. And I'm sad! I'm sad that I'm upset about someone who never really wanted me.”

Wordlessly Danny pulls Sam into him, his face finding the safety of Danny's neck while his arms wrap around his middle. Muffled, he speaks again,��� Do you remember about a week after Eli was born, and I called you real late, like 1am?”

“I remember, honey”

“I called you because she left a few hours before, claiming she needed to have a night to herself, go out with her friends and have some drinks. She couldn't get away from Eli and I fast enough.”

He ran his hands up and down the length of Sam's back,” I'm so sorry Sam. I didn't realize it was this bad. But believe me when I say you two are so much better off.”

“I believe you Daniel.”

Danny kept rubbing soft circles on his back, trying to soothe him. His heart hurts for Sam and his son, he wanted to love them and protect them. Soon enough he felt Sam start to shake, and hot wet tears began soaking the skin of his neck.

“Hey.. hey you're okay. You're safe, you're not alone, you'll never be alone anymore.”

Sam cried into his neck,” Yes I am! You- you're going to leave. You have to go back to your house and I'll be alone again.” So small he could barely hear it,” I don't wanna be alone.”

“Oh Sam,” Danny pulled him closer as he sobbed. He knew this was just the tip of the iceberg, his emotions running him ragged the last 24 hours or so. After he calmed down a bit, Sam pulled away wiping his face with his palm,” Fuck… I'm sorry. I'm sorry.”

Danny's eyes searched Sam's, taking in the face of his broken best friend. Every bone in his body was screaming at him to help fix this. Every muscle was telling him to be here for Sam, every fiber was telling him to help him raise Elijah. He gingerly ran his palms up and down Sam's arms,” Do you remember when we were in middle school and when we made a pact that if we were old and single we'd just live with each other? We might not be old, but we are single, and I think Eli would love having his Uncle move in… and maybe you would too?”

Danny watches his brows furrow,” What about your lease Daniel? You can't just move.”

He tucks Sam's chestnut lock behind his ear,” Fuck the lease. It's up at the end of the month, I'll pay to break it if I have to. I don't care, you need me and I'm not leaving you.”

For the first time since he arrived at the apartment he saw Sam's bottom lip tremble, and tears start to fall. But this time they were tears of joy.

His voice gruff from crying he chokes out,” Thank you.. I love you Daniel.”

He looks into his brown eyes once again and sees him staring at him with love. Danny felt the need to kiss him again, and he did with zero hesitation. Quickly he leaned forward, smashing his lips against his best friends. Sam's hands came up to tangle in the hair at the base of his neck, as his lips parted deepening their kiss. Hands anchoring themselves to each other, their lips moved in unison, this wasn't out of lust it was love in the simplest form. Reluctantly Daniel pulled away from Sam, smiling as he let out a small whine in protest. “ I won't leave you… come with me to get some of my things. You've got plenty of space for them now,” Thankfully Sam smiled at the little joke,” We can deal with my landlord and everything tomorrow.”

A small smile formed on Sam's lips,” You're serious? You're going to stay with us?”

“Of course I'm serious, my boys need me.”

Sam clutches at Danny's hands, eager to grip onto them, to feel him tangibly in his fingers.

“Sammy? I need you to know that I'm all in. I am all in. I want to give you and Eli the best, forget that she ever hurt you. I want to make sure that you both only have good memories from now on.”

Danny looks into Sam's eyes and it's understood, he knows he means it in every aspect of their relationship, no matter how it blooms. The closeness that has transpired today feels good, feels right, and they're willing to see where it goes.

Sam clears his throat,” You're still my best friend right Daniel?”

“I'll always be your best friend Sam. No matter

what.”

💙💙💙💙💙💙

The conversation with Danny’s landlord had gone better than expected and with a gentle hand on his shoulder, and a string of well wishes, he told Danny not to worry about breaking the lease and to have everything out by the first with no extra cost to him. Excitement flooded through Danny as he shook his landlords hand and quickly made his way into his apartment to get the important things he needed.

A sigh slipped past Sam’s lips as he collapsed on Danny’s couch and began to rock Eli who had become fussy during their time spent chit chatting. Danny leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to both of his boys heads before he quietly made his way into his bedroom to pack a weekend bag. He puttered around his room, slowly collecting the most important things he needed for the next few days. It didn’t take him long to pack the essentials he needed and with one more swift look around his room he flipped the light off and made his way back out to the living room.

“How about we grab dinner on the way home so we don’t have to cook, babe? Just have an easy night, hmm?” Danny cooed as he slowly looked around the living room to make sure he hadn’t missed a charger he may need. With a soft sigh he turned his attention back to the couch and a smile spread across his lips.

“Guess it was naptime for everyone.” He chuckled lightly and perched himself in the armchair that sat perpendicular to the couch Sam now laid out across with a sleeping Eli sprawled across his chest.

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“Samuel, please.” Danny sighed and crossed his arms over his chest. Reaching up he pinched the bridge of his nose, something that would usually calm him.

“Daniel, please. We have to do it this way or the couch isn’t going to fit down the stairs.” Sam half mocked, half encouraged, not knowing which direction Danny’s mood was going to shift in. He shook his head gently and pulled the couch back into the living room, his eyes boring holes into Danny’s forehead.

“You’re driving me batty, Kiszka I swear to god you’re about to be on Eli duty and Josh will help me move this couch.” Danny groaned and placed the couch down on the floor. Joshs head shot up at the mention of his name and he shook his head wildly.

“Nope, I’m on baby duty and you’re not taking it from me!” He giggled and cradled a cooing Eli gently against his chest. Sam groaned and rolled his eyes as he watched Josh shuffle off towards the bedroom and began to tell the girls what move needed to be made next.

“He’s really going to eat up being on baby duty. But here’s my next question. Should I really throw this couch in storage or should I just buy a new one if the time comes?” Danny chuckled. Sam cocked his head to the side and shrugged his shoulders, unsure of what to tell his partner.

“I guess that’s really up to you but it would make our moving job easier if we didn’t have to move this big ass thing out of here.” Sam made his way over to Danny and wrapped his arm gently around his waist. A soft smile tugged at the corners of Danny’s lips and he wrapped his arms securely around Sam, nuzzling his nose against the side of Sam’s head.

“Well if the time ever comes I can just get a cheap futon, I never used this couch much anyway.” Danny shrugged and pressed a soft kiss to Sam’s temple.

“I need water, do you want some?” Sam mumbled, quickly changing the subject and unraveled himself from Danny, suddenly aware there were more eyes than just his and Danny’s around the house. He slipped into the kitchen and Danny followed suit. Sidling up behind Sam he wrapped his arms gently around the lanky boys waist and buried his face in the crook of his neck. Sam made a point of bending at the waist and pressing his ass firmly against Danny’s groin as he snatched two water bottles off of the bottom shelf. Danny swallowed hard and waited for Sam to right himself before spinning him in his grasp.

“That was naughty. Not where eyes can see.” Danny chuckled and wrapped his arms around Sam. The younger boy shrugged and pressed a soft kiss to Danny’s lips, the first stolen smooch of the day.

Jake rounded the corner into the kitchen just as Danny cupped Sam’s chin in his hand and pulled him in for another, more intimate kiss. A soft smile tugged at the corners of Jakes lips and he slowly backed away, not wanting the boys to know he had caught them.

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The whole family was out in the backyard at Josh's house, enjoying the beautiful weather and the break they were on right now. Jake was manning the grill, cooking more than enough food for everyone as the rest of them sat on the furniture in the grass. Josh chuckles to himself as he takes in Emma's scowl, she's not happy that a little baby was in the spot that she usually claimed as her own. Sam's lap.

Josh leans down, extending his arms to the toddler," Emma, sweetie. Wanna sit with me?"

Hesitantly she toddles towards him until she's within his grasp and he hoists her up situating her on his legs. She plays with his fingers and he sighs, looking around things seemed more peaceful than they had been in awhile. Jade was running around the yard doing cartwheels that she had recently learned how to do in gymnastics, His partner was holding their Sunshine as her eyes got heavy fighting her nap. Sevda was leaned forward over her stomach, round with Jake's unborn twins, as she cooed at Elijah. His gaze settled on Sam. He seemed... Happy. Looking at him with Danny's arm slung around his shoulder, Josh watched as his baby brother hung onto every word Danny said. He observed how Danny's fingers would gently brush patterns on Sam's arm, how Sam would lean into his body, leaving no space between them. Josh felt emotion building inside him, Sam finally found light at the end of his tunnel. The hell that Madeline had put him through, he's finally working through it, all at the hands of the one he loves most, Daniel.

Josh gently scoots Emma off of his lap before standing," Hey Sammy, can you come help me bring the plates and silverware out?"

"Uh... Sure Josh." Sam deposits Eli into Danny's waiting arms as he stands and follows Josh into the house. Josh digs around in the pantry, looking for the paper plates and plastic forks.

Josh clears his throat, speaking up,"So... You and Danny?"

He finally finds what he's looking for and when he turns to look at Sam he finds him with blushed red cheeks, and an arm crossed over his torso as if he's hugging himself.

"You figured it out so fast."

"I'm supposed to, I'm your oldest brother. You seem happier. Happier since she's left, and honestly happier than when you two were together."

Sam drops his hands, twisting them, picking at the splitting cuticles," Thanks, I am.... It's still really new, ya know."

Josh sets the things in his hands down on the countertop before leaning his weight against it," I'm glad Sammy. I just want you to be happy. I can't imagine what you're going through, I'm glad you have him."

"I am happy, I am. I guess... he's my boyfriend now?"

Josh watches as Sam's body language stiffens, suddenly apprehensive about the level of commitment that he just made, Josh's eyes soften as he opens his mouth to start speaking but Sam beats him to it," I'm scared of that. I'm scared that I'm going to completely open myself up and be left alone in the middle of the night. Again. I'm scared that Eli isn't going to have the support he needs to flourish. I- I'm only one man Josh, and I tour the world and he doesn't have a mom to watch him in the green room while I work and how am I going to do it all?!"

Josh steps up to his younger brother and wraps his arms around him, noting that this is one of the few times he's ever felt small in his arms," First, the green room? I know for a fact that Y/N or Sevda will keep him safe and entertained no questions asked. We all love you and your son Sam. We're here to help you. Second, Daniel is never going to hurt you. I know your wounds are still so fresh, but he's not going to leave you like that. He's loved you for so long Sammy, just give him all of you. I know he'll treasure it."

Josh hugs him closer as he feels him nod and bury his face into his neck. His hands rub soothing circles down Sam's back," Okay? You're okay now."

Sam lets out the breath he was holding,"Yeah. I'm okay now."

Josh steps back, his hands resting on Sam's shoulders," You ready to go eat? Jake's probably done cooking by now."

Sam wordlessly nods his head and Josh grabs the plates and cutlery, while Sam reaches for the bags of unopened potato chips to bring out. "Hey Josh? Thanks for reminding me about Daniel. I know he won't hurt me."

Josh steps forward giving Sam's shoulder a couple squeezes with his hand before making his way out back to the rest of the family. Josh stops at the screen door, barring their exit," You know we are all here for you Sammy, we love you."

A genuine smile graces Sam's lips," I love you too, Josh."

After preparing their plates of food everyone sits down to eat. Before Danny can take a bite Sam snatches his paper plate, setting them on the coffee table in front of them. Sam reaches out, loosely grasping Danny's jaw in his hand," I haven't shown you enough affection today, I really appreciate you Daniel."

Sam leans in placing a dramatic kiss onto Danny's lips.

Josh beams before looking to his twin expecting a shocked expression ,but instead he sees a soft smile on Jake's face.

"Hey! Why aren't you making a big deal out of this! They're finally together! It's not like we haven't talked about this for years."

Jake rolls his eyes at Josh," I already knew."

Josh's jaw drops," Already knew?!"

"Yeah, when Danny moved in, I caught them smooching in the kitchen."

Mouth still gaping he looks towards Sam and Danny who are currently munching on their burgers they nod their heads agreeing with Jake.

"What the fuck! I thought I was the first one to figure it out."

He crosses his legs, leaning back into the lawn chair grabbing his plate and tossing a few chips into his mouth. Josh can help but chuckle to himself, at least his little brother is finally happy.

Fin.

Taglist💙: @lipstickitty @myownparadise96 @lyndz2names @sanguinebats @vanfleeter @jake-whatthefisgoingon-kiszka @jazzyfigz

[petetoms]

My exceedingly unpopular though likely cherished weekly comic that I’ve been posting on Instagram for the past eight months or so is now available in a reformatted (or really un-reformatted), expanded, and much more readable digital collection. You can get it on my gumroad or itchio for “pay what you want” dollars. I don’t think you necessarily need to read the first issue to follow the second, but you can get that on the same sites for the same price if you'd like.

Here’s the synopsis:

The widely beloved alternative comic book characters are back!

Tick!! Tock!!! Twenty-four tiny hours, but a single page on a day calendar, that’s all the time young Ritzy Rhubarb and her little brother Eli – two kids who couldn’t afford one wristwatch between them – have to come up with the fifty dollars they owe Buddy Wooden, a beloved pillar of the local arts community and notorious violent criminal. Their only ANGLE so far? A possible ANGEL they found washed up on the beach. Has their way out been heaven-sent or are little goons gonna end up buried in more than debt?!!

34 full-color pages in two critically-acclaimed file formats.

[firephoenix23]

A Tad Discussion

So, I kind of wanted to do this post for a while now. I was just never sure how to collect my thoughts about it because Tad as a character is very... interesting to me, specifically his motivation for why he hates Eli and his hatred for his dad despite acting almost just like him. So, sit back and relax as I try my best to understand and explain Tad.

Tad himself, as a character was obviously not very well-liked when he was first introduced. Despite the fandom being really small at the time our tiny but mighty fandom had a bone to pick with Tad because he's just Twist but almost worse. It's like those goofy fanfic where they're like and then it turns out that along Dr. Blakk had an evil son or daughter. Like it's just really lazy and we already had a character that the fandom really liked do this plot so much better

But I don't want to talk about Twist's motivation (I'll save that hopefully for another day), but I want to talk about Tad. First of all, his motivation for hating his dad really doesn't make sense... at first, I will explain. For example, he constantly says that he's picking up where his FEEBLE father left off and Tad I don't know if you've SEEN your father but that man is not feeble for the life of him lol.

But he continues to go on to insult him calling his dad a fool and even when Boss Ember calls him junior since I assume his full name is Thaddius Blakk Jr., it really pisses him off and his points his blaster at Boss Ember saying he's no one's junior. Speaking of his name it's interesting that he goes by Tad and not Thad. I guess you could argue that he was trying to hide himself from Eli and the Shane gang but considering how much he hates being called junior I feel like that's not the case.

It's just strange. He's really pissed off at being called Junior and acts like he doesn't want to associate with him but then ACTS just like him. I mean not completely, he doesn't ghoul Peiper which is better than you can say for Twist, but it's almost like Tad knows the ghouling is wrong. Maybe that was a way to differentiate from his father. I know they say it's to control the ghouls better but still

Either way, what does this leave us with. A boy who had a horrible life on the surface that acts like his dad but doesn't want to associate himself with him and who literally says that he wants to be twice the man he was. Sounds like bad writing sure but I think it's something different. I think Tad is overcompensating.

I mean think about it. Imagine you're Tad. You have a horrible life on the surface and your father either left you or doesn't even know about you only to spend all his time in this fantasy world building a business and a life that you're not a part of.

Only to later find a map or create a map I can't remember which one it was that leads to this underground, and you think I'm gonna go see my dad only to find that he was defeated by as he says "A kid my own age" I would be pretty mad too and it's clear just like Twist, Tad is taking out his problems as his frustrations out on Eli. Also, I will say I feel like the "evilness" from Tad came outta no nowhere or it could just be bad writing.

Either way, I still think he's overcompensating for his daddy issues. Everyone does something different. Some run away and become the protector of the world, some steal treasures, some become their enemy's associate, and others resurrect their father's business lol

But to finish off, Tad clearly wants to show the world or eh Slugterra that he is clearly better than his dad and a better villain. He's kinda like, oh, you were a businessman and left me or didn't know about me well, I’m gonna be a better businessman than you ever were, and I’ll prove that leaving me behind was a mistake. He hates his father so much that he wants to prove to everyone and himself that he can be better than him and kind of show off that he never needed him. At least, that’s the kind of vibe I get from Tad.

I mean in the end, I'm probably just reading waaay too much into this character. More likely than not the writers probably were just like ooooo how cool would it be for Blakk to have a son that also lived on the surface and then betrays the gang... as if we haven't seen that before. Rip Twist

[elirium]

tini tiny robin :)

Update: i made a dick version. And both of them together!. And also: Timmy with fruit.

[amukmuk]

Finished the first book, totally not getting sleep deprived here reading into the night. Anyway.

Gay as fuck. "Wanted to keep and eye on Vanto" my ass. He'd burn half the empire down if anything happened to his boy. And now he's sending him awaaaay..

Overall I really liked Thrawn's pov, especially his observations of every tiny change in people's demeanors and his secret advantage of infrared vision. I also want to study art of civilizations in far-away space :(.

The only thing I struggled with were the pieces of Thrawn's diary which border on poetry and my brain refuses to compute that. And I do sometimes wonder if some of his genius strategies really make sense or it's just the writer doing writer things :D.

!!!!!! I need to collect myself lol

First of all, I'm glad you enjoyed it! I never actually READ the books, I listened to them. I usually listen and crochet, but while listening to Thrawn 2017 I often found myself holding my crochet hook and staring catatonically in front of me lol

IT IS SO. GAY. Like I knew I was a goner when Thrawn shoved Eli over the hedge to "protect him" as if Eli wasn't also in the same sparring classes as him (as seen in the comic). I'm not sure if you plan on reading the rest of the triology, but in the next book Vader makes an appearance and I 1000% hc that Thrawn sent him away bc he knew Vader would be able to sense his loyalties were not with the Emperor, but with Eli and his people.

Thrawn's POV is an interesting experience! It is one of my favorite points of view to write from and I think it's because he is always observing something obscure (like muscles and facial heat).

Okay okay if I have one criticism for the Thrawn trilogies (all of them) it is that his deductions really are Zahn doing Writer Things. But, he's supposed to be kind of a Sherlock-coded character, right? He sees these tiny details, or deciphers cultural patterns, and can make tactically sound decisions based off of them.

I'm so so glad you liked it! If you continue through the trilogies please stop by to tell me your thoughts! <333

[blueiscoool]

Israeli First-Grader Finds a 3,500-Year-Old Egyptian Amulet on a School Trip

At first she was upset she couldn’t keep it, but Amalia Riverkin eventually came around.

A first-grade teacher at Alumim School in Efrat, a settlement in Palestine, recently took her class on a trip to Tel Azekah, sometimes described as the site of the biblical encounter between David and Goliath. Showing them a piece of old pottery she had picked up, she explained that there were many ancient artifacts and unique items in the ground.

When she noted her pupil and their friend lagging behind the group toward the end of the trip, she found them studying a tiny rock that looked like a bead.

“I looked at it closely and saw incised lines, I turned it over and saw ancient Egyptian writing,” Hanna Spitzer, the teacher, later said. “At that moment I realized that what I was holding in my hand was thousands of years old.” In fact, experts now say the item dates back some 3,500 years.

Spitzer contacted the Israel Antiquities Authority, and Omer Shalev, director of the organization’s Jerusalem Education Center, traveled to the school that same day and presented Amalia with a certificate of appreciate.

The scarab seal is a talisman in the shape of a dung beetle, an animal that was sacred to the ancient Egyptians and served as a symbol of new life. Such scarab amulets found in modern-day Israel indicate an Egyptian presence there some 3,500 years ago. The amulet bears the name of the sun god Amun-Ra, one of the great deities in the Egyptian pantheon during the New Kingdom (16th to 11th centuries B.C.E.). Five scarabs inscribed with his name had already been found at Tel Azekah.

“Many people have antiquities in their homes that came into their possession under different circumstances: some were collected in the field in the course of agricultural work or walking and others were inherited,” Eli Escusido, Antiquities Authority director stated in a press release published on the organization’s Facebook page. “Many of these people are unaware that by law they have to report the discovery of antiquities as they are legally public historical treasures.”

[tellthemeerkatsitsfine]

There's a podcast called Northern News. I'd seen it referenced before, as it's hosted by two comedians whose stand-up I very much like - Amy Gledhill and Ian Smith. I also like the two comedians on other podcasts - Ian's been on The Bugle where's he a great guest, and I've heard Amy in a bunch of things, plus Icklewick FM last year was really funny. So I've sometimes thought I should check out the podcast they do together, called Northern News. I've had a look. But it has like 100 episodes, and I don't have time in my life for that.

They streamed a live episode on NextUp last week, which I watched just to see what their show is like. And, God damn it. I do not have the time to get into a new podcast with that many hours of content, but fuck was that ever funny. The laughs were just constant.

The way they worked together was great. I feel like I've ended up listening to a few podcasts lately (just ones where I've put on a few episodes, none where I listened to a lot of them) where the banter's felt fairly forced, like they're trying to play the roles of co-podcasters who get along but tease each other. And it just feels awkward, when they're trying to be that.

I have only seen one episode of Northern News, I have no idea whether they keep that chemistry up most of the time. But it was so much fun to watch that episode where absolutely none of their banter felt forced, they just played off each other perfectly, set each other up and knocked it down while making it look effortless.

I did work out last year that out of all the times I've spent 100+ hours listening to every episode of a long-running audio thing where two or three people talk to each other in a studio every week or so for ages - Jon Richardson/Russell Howard on 6 Music, the collected works of Peacock & Gamble, John Robins/Elis James on XFM/Radio X, The Bugle - the only example of a regular host in these (so not like the rotating Bugle co-hosts who came in after John Oliver left, but someone who was there every episode for a sustained period of time) who was not a straight white man was Raji James. And I'm pretty sure that doesn't count as good representation.

So, you know. If I were to get into Northern News next, it would at least add a tiny bit more diversity (in which diversity is defined as "not just all straight white men") to that list. I might have to get into it at some point. I think I have to at least consider it, now.

[panelshowsource]

new additions to the masterpost :)

hey all ~

along with the few panelist collections i soft-launched yesterday (🥹 thanks for enjoying them), there is some new content on the masterpost + secondary masterpost!

—

panel shows

bring the noise — complete series sky 1 series hosted by ricky wilson with nicole scherzinger, tinie tempah, joel dommett, katherine ryan

the guessing game — complete series bbc radio scotland radio panel show where guests are asked a series of bizarre questions; hosted by clive anderson and guests include alex horne, susan calman, hal cruttenden, matthew crosby, cariad lloyd, etc.

it's your round — complete series radio panel show where each guests invents the round to be won. hosted by angus deayton and guests include miles jupp, sara pascoe, rebecca front, josie long, bridget christie, tim key, etc.

richard hammond's brain reaction — complete series science-based panel show hosted by richard hammond alongside victoria coren mitchell, johnny vegas and ria lina

misc. tv

archiveologists — complete series two episodes of mash aka diane morgan & joe wilkinson re-voice archive footage to give us a twisted comedy spin on british social history and institutions in short 'information' films

beauty & the beast: a pantomime for comic relief (2021) pandemic era virtual panto starring lily james, oliver chris, sian gibson, kiell smith-bynoe, miranda hart, michael sheen, lee mack, etc.

imagine... jo brand: no holds barred (2019) documentary about the legend herself, featuring interviews with peter capaldi, alan davies, victoria coren mitchell, etc.

show & tell — complete series e4 series celebrating comic storytelling. each episode sees three comedians bring something to 'show' to viewers. hosted by chris addison and guests include roisin conaty, elis james, joe wilkinson, joe lycett, diane morgan, james acaster, etc.

staged — complete series david tennant and michael sheen didn't win a bafta for this but they should have

the complete stand up to cancer celebrity episodes of the great british bake off (i will work on the sport relief episodes!)

twenty twelve — complete series bbc mockumentary series accompanying the 2012 olympics, starring hugh bonneville and jessica hynes

who do you think you are? — david tennant

misc. radio

alex horne presents the horne section — complete series 2011–2014 bbc radio 4 series

party's over — complete series bbc radio 4 sitcom starring miles jupp as a prime minister coping with life after leaving office

women talking about cars — complete series victoria coren mitchell hosts an exploration of what cars symbolise to women today, including freedom, power, refuge, novelty and familiarity; guests include olivia colman, claudia winkleman, jennifer saunders, etc.

—

ps. icymi these are the masterpost additions from last week which are well worth checking out!

WATCH LINKS MASTERPOST / FAQ / TAGS / ASK

[disappointingyet]

Desert Blue

Director Morgan J Freeman Stars Brendan Sexton III, Kate Hudson, Christina Ricci, Ethan Suplee, Casey Affleck USA 1998 Language English 1hr 30mins Colour

Kids kill time in the middle of nowhere, fame looms for a couple of them

[Minor spoilers for this and a Wes Anderson movie]

American Graffiti … Diner …  Dazed And Confused … Desert Blue? … Short Term 12. I mean, no, that’s not actually a sequence, and yet it sort of could have been. Unlike Graffiti, Diner and D&C, this is not a much-loved classic that was also the calling card for a generation of actors. Nor is it Short Term 12, a film that’s maybe more admired than endlessly rewatched but certainly did an astonishing job of talent-spotting. But this low-key comedy-drama about teens in tiny desert town – made for $2 million – does have an impressive collection of young folk on the rise in 1998. 

Alongside the kids, you’ve got recognisable adults in John Heard, Michael Ironside (actually quite bad here) and Daniel van Bargen, whose name you probably don’t know but was the angry cop or army guy in so many things you’ve seen.

And fitting between the two groups in age is Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, who plays an FBI agent here but seems to be reaching her peak in her fifties, getting an Oscar nomination in 2021, appearing in the new Color Purple last year – when she was also great in Justified: City Primeval – and starring in Origin, which as out in cinemas as I write this.  (Oh, yeah, and Sara Gilbert's in this too.)

While I was watching Desert Blue again, I had a nagging memory of something I had seen not long ago. A bunch of young people quarantined in a tiny place in the desert that only survives because of a tourist attraction… ah! It's Asteroid City, isn't it? Parts of the set-up are quite similar, although everything else isn’t. 

In Desert Blue, the kids are largely locals: Blue (Brendan Sexton III), who is stubbornly working on his late father’s bizarre project of a water park in the arid landscape, Ely (Christina Ricci), who likes blowing stuff up, Kepler (Casey Affleck), who races quad bikes (they all ride them though), Cale (Ethan Suplee), who wants to be a sheriff even though all his mates are the ones the authorities harass, and Haley (Isidra Vega), who works in the town’s only shop. 

Then, one day, into town comes Skye (Kate Hudson), who is apparently a TV star but none of them has heard of her because cable hasn’t reached there yet. She’s reluctantly on a tour of roadside attractions with her dad (John Heard), who is a cultural studies academic. Skye just wants to get out of this dusty nowhere as quickly as possible, but – of course – events will conspire to keep her and her dad there long enough to interact with the locals. 

In my memory, this was a film in which very little happened, in a pleasurable way. Rewatching it, it turns out to be a movie in which it feels like nothing is happening even though there are at least five events that would be extremely dramatic if they took place in your life and which would be played up in most fiction. Here, though, because they seem to have minimal consequences, it’s like they barely happened. And that’s why the lingering memory is kids buzzing around on their quad bikes or sitting around a fire drinking, rather than (eg) committing a felony. 

Kate Hudson is well-cast as the Hollywood princess descending on this grubby place. Christina Ricci is prime 1998 Christina Ricci – her mates all have pretty nondescript looks (apart from Affleck’s occasional headgear) but she’s of course goth. And exploding shit. Sexton is kind of… unobjectionable… but not very interesting as the heart of the story. Casey Affleck and Michael Ironside are surprisingly rubbish. 

So who were these people at this point in history? Let me reiterate Kate Hudson is the female lead in this film, that she plays the character whose appearance is pivotal. And then tell you that this is her first credited role in a movie (she’s apparently a carol singer in Home Alone.) Maybe she’d done some TV? Two episodes of EZ Streets, whatever that was, and one of Party Of Five. On the other hand, of course, her mother and step-father were huge movie stars. Her breakthrough role in Almost Famous was two years away. 

Ricci, on the other hand, was in some ways at the peak of her career, a veteran at the age of 18. She’d got off to a big start in 1990's Mermaids with Cher and Winona Ryder and then memorably played Wednesday Addams (still, it seems, a star-making role these days)   in The Addams Family and Addams Family Values. Through the 1990s she balanced kids movies (Casper) with not-kids stuff (Bastard Out Of Carolina) until ’97 and Ang Lee’s massively acclaimed The Ice Storm. With the Wednesday Addams attitude intact but now in her late teens when it played differently, she became the embodiment of stroppy youth. 

She was in six movies with 1998 release dates, not including the voice she did for the very enjoyable Small Soldiers. Desert Blue is probably the fifth most high-profile of these – I know nothing about I Woke Up Early The Day I Died, in which she is credited just as ‘Teenage Hooker’. She’s the lead in The Opposite Of Sex, which got some buzz – I hated it. She’s got a small but notable role in Terry Gilliam’s Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas. I can’t remember her particularly in John Waters’ Pecker, but I liked the movie and she was an obvious fit for a Waters film. And she’s in Buffalo ’66, more thoughts on which you can find here. 

And then… well, a long working career but (to use a semi-obsolete way of looking at these things) at no later point would you have put her on the cover of a magazine. A lot of that, I think, is to do with a persona that Hollywood endorses in teenage girls but judges unappealing in adult women. Rather than working out what next to do with Ricci, they went looking for newer versions of the same thing. Indeed, Thora Birch – two years younger and Ricci’s co-star in Now And Then – seemed to have slotted into being the ‘next Christina Ricci’ as early as 1999! And then gone on to have a similar career – she’s in a bunch of stuff, but mostly I haven’t even heard of it. (Although she was in The Last Black Man In San Francisco, but I guess I didn’t recognise her in that.)

Finally, Casey Affleck – like Hudson, he was more famous for who was related to than for his own work, especially as the film he was in right before Desert Blue was Good Will Hunting. (To non-cinema bores, he probably still is essentially ‘Ben’s brother’ to this day.) Worth pointing out, maybe, that he was the first of the Affleck-Damon clique to work with Gus Van Sant (in To Die For). His rise was more of a slow-burn, though. 

So does Desert Blue deserve to be better remembered? Not necessarily, but it’s a film I remain reasonably fond of – it’s a film about people hanging out, and it lets you hang out with them. It’s very low key, very of its moment and if you like a 1990s teen indie movie where even when stuff blows up it’s no big deal, then this could be for you. 

[davishater]

Ron Kamonohashi: Deranged Detective Masterlist

Sk8 The Infinity Masterlist

Twisted Wonderland Masterlist

Digimon Masterlist

AMV's

Winter Moriarty 1

Winter Moriarty 2

Winter Moriarty 3

Hutter X Chelsea 1 (Ch 108 Spoilers)

Cafe AU! Choose Your Story! *Coming Soon*

Deranged Detective Things:

Things I noticed in chapter 108

Spitz pikachu meme

About Ron's old room

Moriarty family head canon 1

Ron Kamonohashi x Moriarty The Patriot silly thought

Funny thing about Alice and the cookies

Possible ages?

Milo is babygirl now confirmed

Moriarty family breakfast head canons

Winter Moriarty Things:

Collection of Winter popping up outta nowhere

Cleaning Alice's Room (One Shot, Male Winter) *Coming Soon*

Playful Bath Time (One Shot, Female Winter)

Simping over Winter like Free! 50% Off Nagisa

I love Spitz, but he's useless right now rant

AT WHAT COST (part 2) (severe spoiler warning)

Me Simping Over Winter Like Nagisa In Free 50% Off (Part 1)

Me Simping Over Winter Like Nagisa In Free 50% Off (Part 2)

Me Simping Over Winter Like Nagisa In Free 50% Off (Part 3)

Getting demoted

Silly Winter head canon

Teo waking up Winter head canon

Winter and Eli mission together one shot (trigger warning)

Female Winter confirmed??? 🤔

Winter and Spitz helmet head canon

🥺🤲💆‍♀️

Winter's Squishies one shot

Me Simping Over Winter Like Nagisa In Free 50% Off (Part 4)

Tiny Winter?????

Winter content in Ch. 114

Winter's pay back to Spitz

Winter fixes Alice's hair head canon

Toto and Spitz blowing Winter's cover in Ch. 114 🙄

Anime Winter reaction part 1

Anime Winter reaction part 2

Episode 9 Winter gifs

Me Simping Over Winter Like Nagisa In Free 50% Off (Part 5)

I made that part in episode 9 better

Winter serving again in Ch. 115

Winter with glasses edit

I am terribly sorry for the length of this Winter x Reader story. Please read when you have an entire hour to spare..... 💀

Hutter and Chelsea Things:

About the juicy new info in Ch 104

Not who I want to write about

Hutter and Chelsea dating head canons

Hutter and Chelsea general/before they dated head canons

What happens after chapter 105 (one shot, fluff version)

Hutter and weed

What happens after chapter 105 (one shot, angst version) *COMING SOON*

Golden information

Little rant after Chapter 107, cause I'm scared and pleading

Had no control over this Chelsea head canon

AT WHAT COST (part 1) (severe spoiler warning)