#fulfilled expectations ; cm

[kindahoping4forever]

my ultimate wish for this next era is they finally let Ryan go like they did Andy. I'm so sick of not getting the content we deserve. All the gatekeeping of tour diaries and now the crumbs of concert footage in that "documentary" yesterday. he was working for months on that? that's why we didn't get tour diaries? all that footage just goes in his vault now? Please.

Hello! I'm sorry to hear you felt disappointed by yesterday's special. However, I feel compelled to comment on a few objective points in your ask.

- "Live & Backstage in Amsterdam" was directed by James Tonkin, the same director (and production team, Hangman) they worked with on "The Feeling of Falling Upwards" (and the unreleased "Live in Brixton" special). Ryan was credited as director of the documentary footage and as a contributing editor (1 of 3) but the live footage and overall final program was not his work.

- Regardless of the particular creatives involved here (or in any given project for that matter), the fact remains that any directors, producers, photographers, etc are all hired hands operating with full input and specific direction from the band. The band chose to make this a hybrid concert film/documentary. The band chose to condense the setlist the way they did. The band chose this format over the traditional tour diaries. What happens to the unused footage will be determined by the band. Ryan is a friend but he is first and foremost an employee and the band owns that footage. (Likewise, the MYT diaries are not sitting on Andy Deluca's hard drive because he's "gatekeeping" or too lazy to edit it. If the band wanted them released, they'd be released.) All this to say, of course you don't have to agree with the decisions but it's important to clarify who your complaint is with.

- This concept of the band or their collaborators "gatekeeping" and fans not getting what we "deserve" is, to be blunt, entitled and immature. Being a fan does not make an artist indebted to you. They make music, if you feel so inclined, you listen. That's it. That's the extent of the contract. Anything beyond that is optional for both parties. Any content an artist chooses to release is not out of obligation or generosity, it's part business strategy, part artistic vision. Artists do not owe you anything. This band does not owe you anything.

[blanketorghost]

Octomer Baby Development: A guide for new parents (Part 1)

Parenthood can be as fulfilling as it is challenging, and for new parents, this may seem like a daunting task to make. But with the help of this handbook, you will be walked over all there is to know about the newest member of your family and how to take care of them.

PHASE 1—THE EGG:

0-2 months:

The egg has just been laid. Roughly about the size of a bead. Though coloring may vary, most octomer eggs look transluscent with a bright colored center, in which the embryo is located.

Unlike octopuses, octomers only lay one or two viable eggs per mating cycle. This greatly increases their life expectancy as their digestive system no longer shuts down inlieu of producing viable eggs. Octomer eggs, like most marine life eggs, are extremely fragile and squishy. Parents often create a small nest out of weaved kelp, sea cucumbers, and soft live coral. These are not only meant to cushion the egg, but the toxic tendrils of the live coral help protect their precious offspting from predators.

Another difference to Otopus eggs, is their shspes. Since Octomer eggs aren't hung on the ceiling of an underwater cave, they lack that telltale teardrop shape most octopus eggs are known for, instead taking a more spherical form.

3-5 Months:

On this stage, the egg is about the size of a ping pong ball. Eyes and a mouth start to look visible and the embryo's body starts to develop the octomer's signature 8 arms. Though poor, their sight and hearing will develop and the embryo will start reacting to sounds and light. It is recommended parents start talking to the egg to incentivize development.

It is common for octomer parents to carry their egg around in small pouches or bags so the embryo can be stimulated by outside sounds and light fluctuations at different sea levels.

5-7 months:

Most of the octomer's body is fully developed at this point and sex can be determined by the lack or prescence of a hectocotylus. The outer membrane of the egg also starts to lose color and become more fragile as the embryo absorbs more nutrients. The egg is about the size of a billiard.

At this point, it is not recommended to move the egg, as it could possibly harm the delicate shell and cause premature hatching.

7-9 months:

After absorbing all the nutrients from the egg, the octomer baby is expected to pip and hatch around this time. The outer layer is expected to be completely transluscent as all nutrients have been absorbed, and instead all coloration has been transfered to the newly hatched baby.

At this stage, their chromatophores aren't fully developed, and as such, most octomers at this stage only have light pale coloration alongside freckles or marks reminiscent of their specific species. Octomer babies have also not developed the ability to create water jets, and due to their small size— around the size of a baseball— can be swept by ocean currents. This is why, most octomer babies will be constantly in the care of their parents up until they've reached 24 inches or 61.4 cms in size.

[selfmadesaviour]

tag drop.

[imagining-in-the-margins]

CM New Beginnings Fics

Hey everyone! Thank you so much to everyone who participated. I am so happy to share everyone’s hard work. If you have a oneshot or masterlist you’d like me to add, please send me a message - new additions are always welcome.

First, check out @emberfrostlovesloki 's 🌈 Masterlist of Entries ☀️: This lovely prolific writer has entered several fics, which include Hotch, Emily, and Spencer fics! Check out their page for even more!

🌼 SFW S.R./Reader Entries 🌼

Play Dates by me: [GN] Reader finds out Spencer hasn’t had many dates and offers several Play Dates.

Distance Makes the Heart Grow Fonder by @foxy-eva: [GN] Spencer was the right person at the wrong time, no doubt about it. When Reader is finally back in town, they're ready for a fresh start. 

You're Gonna Go Far, Love by @writer-in-theory: [GN] After relapsing, Spencer takes the first flight with no plan other than to get a fresh start.

Love Like the Sea by @rynwritesreid: [GN] After Spencer lost Maeve, he swore of love, until Reader came around.

Cowboy Like Me by @foxy-eva: [Fem] Spencer decides to fulfill a childhood dream to become a cowboy.

In Sickness and In Health by @pathologicalreid: [Fem] Minutes before Reader's wedding is supposed to start, Spencer gets cold feet.

Maybe We Found Love Right Where We Are by @andiebeaword: [Fem] Spencer just got engaged to Maeve on Valentine’s Day. Finding out his best friend’s heart will be broken changes things. 

More ratings and pairings below!

🌼 Other Pairings/Gen SFW Fics 🌼

Silent Demon by @angellsell: [Derek/Fem!Reader] Reader celebrates a month milestone of sobriety, but she isn't very proud of it.

Hearts on Our Sleeves by @angellsell: [Hotch/Fem!Reader] Aaron and Reader decide to give a try at a new relationship after a long dry spell.

Good Fortune by @reasonablerodents: [Hotchreid] Spencer and Aaron are the only ones without a partner for a New Year's Kiss.

And When Dawn Came by @snarkylinda: [Gen] Spencer calls Emily the night that Cat has the baby he decided to adopt.

The Date by @codename-mom: [Gen] Jessica didn't expect what her former brother-in-law was going to ask her.

Last Recruit by @/codename-mom: [Gen] There's a new agent at the BAU eager to start her new life. Her name is Penelope Garcia.

First Steps by @/codename-mom: [Gen] Rossi found a young agent named Aaron Hotchner who could be a good new recruit for the BAU.

First Day at School by @/codename-mom: [Gen] Jack is now old enough to go at school and his father has trouble to deal with this very special day.

🌼 NSFW Entries (S.R./Fem!R) 🌼

Second Time's a Charm by @foxy-eva: Back in college Spencer Reid and Fem!Reader left many things unsaid. Years later they give it another try.

It’s Too Cliché by me: Reader and Spencer are the worst at friends with benefits. After an exchange of gifts & nasty words, the two reunite on a very eventful NYE.

For the Love of Lace by @reidmotif: Reader decides she doesn't want to pine for her best friend anymore but needs his help deciding what lingerie to wear for her date.

Sweet Agony by @incognit0slut: After tragedy, Reader believed she was unworthy of love. Spencer proves her wrong.

Maybe Someday by @dudeitiskarev: (Mini-series) A case brought you back to Spencer, and this time, he won’t let you slip away.

Co-Creator Bonus List

🌼 SFW S.R./Fem!R Fics 🌼

The Only Hoax I Believe In by Foxy: Spencer struggles with his addiction after prison until Reader is determined to help him, no matter the cost.

The Perfect Plan by me: Reader has a question for Spencer, but things don’t go according to plan.

Impromptu by me: Reader learns some shocking news when a case lands her in the hospital.

Defining Family by me: Spencer finds out he’s a dad… to a twelve year old girl. Your twelve year old girl, who just broke into the FBI.

Clean Shaven by me: Reader helps Spencer shave after prison.

Drunk Dial by me: It’s been years since Reader talked to Spencer, but after a bunch of drinks it seems like a really good idea.

Repentance by me: Spencer is confronted with his second chance at life, finding it full of regrets. Reader tries to talk him through it.

Happy Hydrangea by me: TransMan!Reader. JJ is corrected in finding out Spencer has had a boyfriend for a while now.

🌼 NSFW S.R./Fem!R Fics 🌼

Lily of the Valley (Part 1 , Part 2 , Part 3) by me: Unsub!Reid. Spencer was found guilty but mentally ill after the torture and murder of several men. He finds solace in his psychiatrist at the institution.

Duet by Foxy: Letting the love of his life get away was Spencer’s biggest regret, so he decides to go after her.

Honeymoon by Foxy: Spencer and his wife are excited about their future (and their honeymoon).

To Have and To Hold by me: Reader is trying to save her marriage, but Spencer seems resigned to its failure.

Stork Song by me: Spencer and Reader try to find intimacy again following a terrible loss.

Domesticity by me: Reader gets worked up watching Spencer with kids. He notices.

Different Kind of Daddy by me: After a rough day, Reader has good news for her husband.

🌼 Other SFW Pairings 🌼

Till Death Do Us Part by Foxy: [Emily/GN!Reader] Reader didn't expect grief to linger after Emily came back from the dead.

Motherhood by Foxy: [Tara/Emily] Emily and Tara finally become mothers.

Happy Reading!

P.S. If I missed your fic or you have a new one to add, feel free to send me a message. I would love to add it!

[fortheloveofwonderland]

Somewhere to Belong | 1/3 | S.R

Gif does not depict the child’s appearance

A/N - this will be a three parter, written for @imagining-in-the-margins Family Challenge.

Part 2 | Part 3

Summary - You and Spencer have only been dating a few months when he drops the bombshell that he wants to start a family and it throws you into turmoil. And that’s only made worse he meets five year old orphan Wren Briar and is determined to do whatever it takes to adopt her. Even if that means destroying your relationship.

Pairing - Spencer Reid x BAU Fem! Reader

Warnings - found family, very brief mention of past addiction and Maeve storyline, post prison arc, age gap between consenting adults (Spencer is late 30s and reader is mid 20s), typical CM case related stuff, child losing her parents, crying child, arguing, swearing.

WC - 8.3k

Part 1

If Spencer Reid were perfectly honest, he’d never wanted for much his entire life. He’d grown used to just accepting what came his way, never letting his expectations or hubris desire more than he was given. 

Wanting for things only led to great disappointment. For example, wanting a mother who wasn’t sick and a father that didn’t walk out on them. Wanting to not have a drug addiction, or the weight of potentially developing schizophrenia. 

He wanted to not have witnessed his first love being shot to death in front of him before he’d ever had a chance to hold her. 

Maeve allowed Spencer for the first time in his life to want for something tangible. A relationship. A wife. A family. But that was snuffed out along with her life at the hands of Diane Turner’s bullet. 

He’d always liked the idea of having a family, the idea of it almost like a guilty pleasure to the young genius. It seemed so far out of reach, out of the realms of the possible for someone like him to accomplish. 

All he’d ever really wanted was somewhere to belong, something more than his mother could offer him; something deeper than the BAU could provide. Somewhere where he fit like a missing puzzle piece. 

He’d always been an overachiever, never having much trouble reaching the goals he set for himself, but that seemed to be one ideal he would never make a reality. 

He allowed himself the fleeting dream of having a family with Maeve but yet again it had been squandered, the flame of possibility extinguished before it really had a chance to burn. 

He’d spent years watching Hotch with Jack and JJ with Henry and later Michael. He’d witnessed Kate and her niece and then the birth of her own baby. Even Morgan with Hank. And later came Matt with his array of children so large it didn’t seem fair. 

As time drew on Spencer found himself growing more and more resentful towards his friends simply because they had achieved something he was sure he never would. 

And time was ticking on for him, he was much closer to forty now, his thirties slipping away in the rear view mirror, soon to vanish entirely from his vision. 

Perhaps it was his incarceration that put everything into perspective for him; maybe in some twisted way Cat had done him a favour by having him arrested. It was entirely plausible that if he hadn’t gone through that ordeal prior to the case that took place in Woodbridge, Virginia, just fifteen miles outside of Quantico, it may not have ended in the way that it had.   

It was his first day back after thirty days off and admittedly he was grateful to be returning to the BAU. He loved teaching, loved imparting knowledge but it didn’t compare to the rush of fulfilment he got when he worked with his FBI family.

Because that’s what they were, right? Family, at least the closest thing to one Spencer really had. Of course he had his mom, his biological family, but what he had with the team was different. 

In a strange way Emily and Rossi were like the parents, while Matt and Tara were like auntie and uncle and JJ, Garcia and Luke were his twisted siblings. 

Which left you. You who’d joined the team around the same time as Matt not long after his release from prison. You who had slotted into the BAU family as if you’d been there all along. 

You who he couldn’t look at like a sister the way he did JJ and Penelope without it being incredibly bizarre given how attracted to you he was. 

You’d shined a light on Spencer’s dark existence, giving him hope for the first time since Maeve. 

And maybe years ago he never would have even considered crossing that line with a coworker, maybe wouldn’t have even had the confidence to pursue you in the first place. 

But a funny thing happened to Spencer while he was incarcerated. In having his walls completely and utterly torn down, leaving him as little more than a foundation, he was able to rebuild, recraft and manufacture a whole new facade. 

This new appearance was more self assured, the walls he’d erected had locked his old insecurities out in the cold. 

Less was the innocence he’d once possessed but instead replaced by assertiveness. He wouldn’t wait around for what he wanted and hope it would fall in his lap. He would go after it and grab it with both hands.

And that’s exactly what he did with you. 

He’d told you in no uncertain terms that he thought you were beautiful and effervescent and that he wanted to take you for dinner. It wasn’t a question, he didn’t ask if you wanted to go to dinner, he told you that’s what was happening. 

You’d found his confidence to be dizzying and electrifying, and also arousing. You hadn’t even stopped to consider the ramifications of going on a date with your colleague. 

It had been the furthest thing from your mind after dinner, when Spencer kissed you outside of your apartment. You hadn’t given it a second thought when you invited him upstairs where you became privy to the true extent of Spencer’s dominance. 

It had been several months of this and as far as you were aware the rest of the team was none the wiser. 

Spencer lavished you with both expensive dates and also afterwards in the bedroom. He was a gentleman in the streets and a wild animal in the sheets. 

But he wanted more from you than you were able to give, that much became apparent two days ago when you were lying in a post coital bliss and Spencer had mumbled absent mindedly, “I want to have a family.” 

He was on the cusp of forty, it was understandable that he would be thinking of those things. But you were still young, close to fifteen years his junior and a family was the last thing you were thinking about. 

What had ensued had been a painfully awkward conversation which you would have rather had with more clothes on. A resolution hadn’t been reached, the discussion simply ended when Spencer told you he needed time to think and proceeded to leave your apartment. 

And you hadn’t spoken in two days.

With all of it whirring around in your brain you had completely forgotten Spencer was due back today and so when he strolled into the round table room, ten minutes later than everyone else and not apologising for that fact, you tried to hide your surprise by staring at the tablet in front of you.

He took the last remaining seat between you and Luke and flipped open the case file leisurely. 

“Nice of you to join us, Reid.” Emily rolled her eyes as she spoke. 

“Hmm.” He didn’t look up. “What did I miss?” 

“Uh, well, as I was saying,” Garcia shook off his slightly abrupt tone and continued her presentation. “Mister and Mrs Briar are the second couple to be killed in their home Woodbridge, both shot in the head, point blank. A week ago, Mister and Mrs Logan also met the same grizzly fate.” 

“And the police think they are connected? Doesn’t seem like a very specific MO.” Rossi frowned, sitting back in his chair.

“There is one piece of information that ties the two families.” Garcia clicked a button on her remote, casting away the crime scene photos in lieu of two pictures of two little girls. “Both the Logan’s and the Briar’s had a daughter who witnessed the whole sorry thing but were gratefully left alive.” 

Spencer skim read the file in front of him before looking up at the screen and the images of the two kids who had gone through something no child should have to. 

His eyes gravitated to the photograph on the left of a little girl with rosy cheeks and a bright smile. She had curly dark hair and expressive green eyes and Spencer felt as though she was looking right at him, maybe even through him. 

“This is six year old Freya Logan,” Garcia pointed at the blonde girl on the right. “And five year old Wren Briar.” 

Wren, cute, he thought. 

“Woodbridge is nearby, so we’ll work the case from here.” Emily pushed herself to her feet. “Y/N, Tara and I will go to the county police department and speak to the sheriff. Luke, Matt go to the latest crime scene. Garcia I need you to find the kids and get them brought in, they may have seen something that could be of help. The rest of you start digging.” 

Everyone nodded in agreement and started off on their separate ways. Emily mouthed to you and Tara to give her a minute before she left the room. 

Spencer left soon after and without meaning to you found yourself on your feet and following him. 

You trailed him to the kitchen when he grabbed his mug and started up the coffee machine. He had his back to you when you entered behind him but somehow he knew you were there. 

“Why were you late? You’re never late.” Your voice was so unsure, like you weren’t even certain you were allowed to speak to him. 

He turned slowly, leaning his back against the counter as he regarded you with his gaze. 

“I overslept.” He shrugged. 

“You never oversleep.” 

“Yeah because I usually get a decent night's rest. But for two nights I’ve been tossing and turning and when I do actually sleep, it’s fretful at best.” His tone was something akin to frustration, frustration that was clearly directed at you. 

“You can’t just drop a bombshell like that and walk off. I haven’t been sleeping either, Spencer.” You lowered your tone to a whisper in case any prying ears were around. 

“I didn’t realise wanting a family with my girlfriend would be such a bombshell.” He folded his arms across his chest, not being quiet with his words the way you were. At least the coffee percolating helped to mask his voice.

“I didn’t even know I was your girlfriend! We’ve never once talked about what we were, let alone having a family. We’ve been dating for a few months, I’m not sure I understand when this got so serious.” You mirrored him and folded your arms too. 

“Relationships are only ever going to end one of two ways, Y/N. They either eventually run their course or you spend the rest of your life together. I was just letting you know my intentions.” 

“Spencer, I’m still young. Marriage and kids is not something I’m thinking about right now.” 

“Well that's all I think about. And if you don’t want that then there really is no point in us being together. I’m not wasting my time with someone who doesn’t want the same things as me.” 

The coffee machine clicked, its sounds starting to fade out. Spencer turned his back on you and shoved his mug under the machine and hit a button. 

“That’s what this is to you? A waste of time?” You let your arms fall to your sides, feeling the weight of his words crash down on you like a tidal wave.

“You tell me.” He shrugged, not looking back at you. “I’ve made my intentions clear, Y/N. It’s up to you what you want out of this. And if it isn’t a family, then I guess yeah, it was a waste of time.” 

You opened your mouth to speak but closed it again quickly. You repeated this several times as Spencer turned with his mug of coffee in hand. He strolled past you without so much as a glance and you dumbly watched him go. 

You couldn’t even go after him if you tried as soon Emily found you and motioned for you to follow her and Tara towards the elevators. 

***

“She won’t talk to me,” JJ sighed exhaustedly, running a hand through her hair as she looked between Spencer and Rossi. “She keeps asking for her daddy. I think she’d be more open with a male.” 

The three of them stood in the corridor outside of the small disused office where Wren Briar and a woman from social services were situated. Her eyes stopped their back and forth and landed on Rossi. 

“Don’t look at me.” Rossi scoffed. “I’m old enough to be her grandpa.” 

JJ pulled a face that told him she agreed before turning to Spencer. 

“You are around her dad’s age.” JJ gave him a shrug. “And you’re great with Henry and Michael.” 

“And Jack. And Hank.” Rossi added. 

“Boys,” Spencer shook his head. “They are all boys. I have no idea what to say to a little girl. A little girl whose parents have just been murdered no less.” 

“Spence, you’re great with kids. I think she would really open up to you.” JJ was pleading with him with both her voice and her eyes. Spencer always did have a hard time saying no to her. 

He glanced passed JJ through the window and on the side of the five year old’s face. Since he’d seen her photograph this morning he had felt a strange emotion bubbling in his chest which he couldn’t quite place.

Maybe protectiveness? Did he feel the need to safeguard this little girl from harm? And if so, why?

He’d had dealings with hundreds if not thousands of kids in his years at the BAU and never felt like this before. He wanted to cushion her, wrap her in bubble wrap and take away all of her pain. 

But he didn’t understand why. 

He looked back at JJ and sighed louder than necessary to convey he wasn’t pleased about this. 

“Fine, but you owe me.” He rolled his eyes, stepping further forward and taking a deep breath before entering the room.

Her astute green eyes snapped up as the door opened, little eyebrows knitted together as she took in the man walking towards her. She seemed wiser than her years, the way she seemed to be curiously regarding him, sizing him up and assessing his threat level. 

Spencer offered the social worker a smile before focusing back on Wren. He crouched down when he reached where she was sitting on the couch so he was her height. 

She clutched a stuffed toy to her chest which appeared to be some sort of dog, maybe a cow, maybe even a panda. It was a dirty off white with splodges of black and long tatty ears. It was slightly ragged and threadbare and clearly a favourite with this little girl. 

“Hi,” he spoke softly, calmingly. “My name is Spencer, can you tell me your name?” 

Of course he already knew it but he needed an excuse to get her talking.

“Wren,” she sucked in a breath. “Like the bird.” 

“Wow, that’s such a pretty name.” His smile grew of its own accord. “You wanna know something cool?” 

She rolled her thin bottom lip between her teeth thoughtfully before nodding her head, her nearly black curls bouncing around her face. 

“Y-yes.” She whispered.

“Wren’s eat spiders and insects that they find while hopping along the ground.” He wiggled his long, slender fingers towards her and to his surprise and delight Wren started to giggle.

“Eww!” she shook her head frantically. “I don’t want to eat spiders!” 

“I’m afraid with a name like that, you might have to.” Spencer laughed, her innocent giggle sending shockwaves through his whole body. 

It melted him from the inside out, as if he were made of chocolate and her laugh was a hot flame. He wanted a child more than anything in the entire world and it was killing him not to have one.

“Noooo!” She shook her head so frantically it was a wonder she didn’t make herself dizzy.

“I’ll make you a deal,” Spencer lowered his voice, leaning in a little closer to Wren. “If you can help me find out what happened to your mommy and daddy, I promise no one will ever make you eat a spider.” 

She pouted dramatically, her lip jutting out so severely it looked almost painful. She loosened her grip on the stuffed dog-cow-panda, patting its scruffy head before gripping its ears in her little fingers. 

“This is Rover,” she turned him so Spencer could see his face and confirmed it was in fact a dog. 

“Hi Rover, I’m Spencer. Do you eat spiders?” He cautiously took hold of one of the dogs paws and shook it. 

“Eww!” Wren giggled again, wrapping her arms tightly around the dog again and wrinkling her tiny nose. “Dog’s don’t eat spiders.” 

He wasn’t going to argue with the little girl that given half the chance most dogs probably would eat spiders. Instead he nodded in agreement.

“You’re right, I'm sorry Rover.” He half-smiled at the stuffed dog. “Did Rover see what happened to your mommy and daddy?” 

Wren once again held the dog tighter, nodding sadly as her eyes downturned. 

“The man made us go into the closet. I closed my eyes but Rover saw everything.” A tear trickled from her large green eye and Spencer couldn’t stop himself from reaching out and gently brushing it away.

She didn’t shy away from him, didn’t even flinch. And when he moved his hand away she grabbed one of his fingers in her own petite little hand. 

Her fingers wrapped so tightly around the digit, her fear evident in the small gesture. Her eyes were filled with tears making her already bright irises even more vivid. She looked Spencer in the eyes, keeping a firm grip on his finger. 

“He shot them. He killed them. My mommy and daddy are dead.” And with that a damn broke and her tears cascaded down her rosy cheeks. 

She let go of Spencer’s finger and fell into his arms where he knelt on the ground, nuzzling her little face against his chest, her tears soaking into his shirt. Tentatively he wrapped the girl in his arms, stroking back her raven head of curls and cooing to her that it would be ok. 

His eyes glanced up towards the window in the door where JJ and Rossi were staring right at him. Wren blew her nose on his tie and he shrugged lightly at his coworkers. 

“Damn, he’s good.” Rossi spoke on the other side of the door. 

“You expected anything less?” JJ smiled wistfully. 

***

When you returned to the BAU later that afternoon with Emily and Tara you were surprised to find the rest of the team, Garcia included, swarmed around Derek Morgan’s old office. 

The three of you approached curiously as the other members gathered around the lone window, clearly staring at something inside. 

“Uh, do we not have a case to be working?” Emily’s voice garnered the attention of the five other agents who spun to face her guiltily. 

You and Tara looked between their faces while they clearly decided who was going to be the one to answer. 

“You need to see this.” Luke spoke with amusement ripe in his voice. 

They parted like the Red Sea to allow the three of you to get to the window. You, Tara and Emily slowly stepped closer until the room beyond was in view. 

On the couch sat Spencer, head forward to his chest and eyes closed tightly. In his lap was a head of dark curls equally as unruly as his own, and a small body curled up next to him, clutching a stuffed toy. Both appeared to be sleeping, Spencer’s limp hand resting on the girl's shoulder. 

“That’s the Briar’s daughter.” JJ filled you all in. “Spence is the only one she would open up to.”

“The social worker got called away and he said he’d stay with her. How long they’ve been like this is anybody's guess.” Rossi added. 

“Isn’t it the most precious thing you’ve ever seen?” Penelope gasped happily. 

She wasn’t wrong. It was utterly adorable. And it warmed your heart and froze it in equal measure. Spencer looked so at home with the little girl, it was only then it occurred to you what an amazing dad he would be. But it wasn’t what you wanted. You weren’t ready for a family, for a child, not like he was. 

You took a few steps back from the window, feeling your heart ripping apart in your chest. You were crazy about Spencer, you weren’t ready for your relationship to come to an end. But if this was how he saw his future, you weren’t sure you could be a part of that.

No one seemed to notice you slip away, too busy watching the man and child sleep peacefully. 

***

Wren took a shine to Spencer in the way no one ever had before. Sure he was good with kids, but with her he didn’t even seem to need to try. 

Over the next few days he learnt that she was incredibly smart, smarter than any five year old he’d ever met before. He wondered if her parents ever had her IQ checked because he would be willing to bet she was gifted. 

She was inquisitive, curious about the world around her. At her instance he’d told her more facts about her namesake, moving onto other facts about other animals and then just facts in general. 

She hung off of his every word, asking questions if she didn’t understand and probing for more knowledge. 

She was gentle and kind and even despite the trauma Spencer could tell she was a happy kid. He was sure if anyone could bounce back from an ordeal of this magnitude it was her. Wren was resilient. 

And the more time Spencer spent with her, the more time he wanted to spend with her. 

She liked it when he read to her so he went out and brought a ton of her favourite books and would sit in Morgan’s old office and he would read. 

He brought his chess set in, thinking her curious mind would enjoy the challenge. She did. A lot. Even if she struggled to grasp the game, she was only five after all. 

But his heart swelled every single time she cautiously lifted a piece, looked up at him with her electric eyes and whispered, “can I move this thing over here?” 

He adored the little names she gave the pieces and stopped correcting her after a while. He preferred her names for them anyway. The prawn. The horsy. The pointy head. The pretty Queen and the brave King. 

She also loved cartoons so after a quick lesson from Garcia on how to operate a tablet and download Netflix, he would sit with Wren and let her watch her favourites on the device while she rested her head on his shoulder. 

He held her when she got sad and missed her mom and dad. He let her shed her tears against his shirt and blow her nose on as many of his ties as she needed. 

He had learnt long ago not to want for anything in life but he couldn’t help himself. This small child had in the space of a few days completely wormed her way into his heart and he never wanted to see a day where she wasn’t a part of his life. 

One more couple met the same fate as the Logan’s and Briar’s before they caught the guy responsible three days later. 

Wren clung to him as the social worker tried to get her to leave, small arms wrapped around his waist while she sobbed into his side and begged Spencer not to let her take her away. 

“Spencer, don't make me go!” She sobbed and screamed at the top of her little lungs. “I don’t want to leave you!” 

“Hey now,” he whispered, crouching down to her height and wiping her tears with the pads of his thumbs. “It won’t be forever ok? I just need to talk to Miss Carol real quick ok?” 

“I heard her talking on the phone, they want to take me away from you.” Her little lip quivered and it shattered his heart. 

“Wren, I promise you I will not let that happen ok? You just have to be brave for me and go with JJ for a moment. Can you do that?” He tucked her messy hair behind her ears.

Wren looked up with watery eyes at JJ who was smiling at her from behind Spencer. 

“You like books right, Wren?” JJ held out her hand. “I can read to you. Time will fly by.” 

Wren sniffled and looked back at Spencer who was trying to smile encouragingly at her. She suddenly flung her arms around Spencer’s neck and held him tightly as if he were her stuffed dog. He held her too, praying to gods he didn’t believe in that it wouldn’t be the last time. 

When she let go she reluctantly took hold of JJ’s hand so Spencer could be left alone with Carol, Wren’s social worker. 

Once JJ left the room with Wren, Spencer stuffed his hands in his pockets as he looked at Carol. 

“What’s going to happen to her?” He scuffed his toe on the worn carpet. 

“She doesn’t have any living relatives.” Carol shrugged. 

“So she goes into the system?” Spencer felt his heart plummet.

“I’m afraid so.” 

“She’s been through enough.” Spencer swallowed, his eyebrows furrowed deeply.

“Unfortunately that’s kind of a prerequisite for foster kids.” Carol sighed. 

“What, uh…what if I could take her?” His words surprised even himself despite the fact it wasn’t the first time he’d considered it. He’d been thinking about it pretty much non stop since he met Wren, but this was his first time saying it out loud. “I know I can’t just take her now, I did the research.”

“You did?” Carol frowned curiously at him. 

“Last night.” He nodded. “I mean I’m an FBI agent so presumably the background checks and stuff would be easy and I know I would need to buy a bigger place with a second bedroom but I started looking at places near Woodbridge, so Wren could still be near her friends and go to school.

I know there are applications and home studies that would need to be done and I know it’s arduous and expensive but I don’t care. I know it takes time but I can wait. I can wait if it means at the end of it all she’ll get to come home with me. I’d even quit the BAU so I could be home more often. I teach in my spare time at the university, much more stable hours, no travel. I am willing to do whatever it takes.” He was rambling and he knew it but he couldn’t stop. 

Carol listened intently, taking in his every word and looking at him curiously. 

“Doctor Reid,” she sighed a little. “I’m not sure all of that would be necessary simply to foster.”

Spencer suddenly frowned at her, not angry necessarily but frustrated that she misunderstood his intentions. 

He cleared his throat, stepped forward and removed his hands from his pockets. He straightened his back and looked Carol dead in the eyes. He needed her to know how serious he was about what he was about to say. 

“I’m not talking about fostering.” He shook his head. “I want to adopt her. I want to be her father.” 

***

As it turned out, adopting a child was even more hard work than Spencer ever anticipated. 

That night after his talk with Carol and after promising Wren several hundred times he would see her again really soon, he went home and delved deeper into the ins and outs of this particular venture. 

The easy part was the fact she’d been orphaned and there were no relatives to have to give over parental rights. That was where the simplicity started and ended.

Adopting a child could take anywhere from six to eighteen months. Not to mention the fact it could cost him anywhere up to forty thousand dollars. 

He’d need a bigger home, that much he already knew and a job with more stable hours which was easy enough to achieve. 

He would have to fill out applications, go through home studies and up to thirty hours worth of parental training. He’d need health exams, proof of income, references from several people close to him. 

All relatively achievable. 

But he would also have to undergo a criminal background check. Although he had been cleared of all charges, his time in prison hadn’t been expunged despite Emily’s attempts. He would have to explain that he spent three months in a federal facility for a murder he didn’t commit. 

Also there was the very real possibility that being a single male would hinder his chances of adoption. From what he’d read it shouldn’t be used to discriminate against him, but it certainly wouldn’t be in his favour. 

If the state thought they could place Wren with a family with two parents instead of one, they were more likely to do that than allow a single man in his late thirties to adopt her. 

If there was ever a time for him not to want for something desperately, with his entire heart, it was now. But for the life of him he couldn’t stop himself. 

But the most important thing he needed to do was talk to Wren. 

She might have enjoyed spending time with him, it might have helped take her mind off of watching her parents die, but that wasn’t to say she wanted to live with him. He needed to stop getting ahead of himself. 

He took a personal day from work and drove out to the halfway house she’d been placed in for the time being. If everything went to plan she wouldn’t have to be here too long. 

The second she saw him her entire face lit up, not just her dazzling green eyes. A huge smile plastered on her tiny face and she ran at full pelt towards him. 

Her wild mane of dark curls was tied back into a ponytail and flew behind her with her speed. When she reached him, Wren threw her arms around Spencer’s waist and squeezed him as tightly as her little body would allow.

“Spencer!” She snuggled against him while he in turn enveloped her in a tight embrace. “I missed you.” 

“I missed you too, pumpkin.” It was true, he had and it had only been one night. 

She let go of him before taking him by the hand and marching them both over to a nearby couch. She plopped down on it, he now noticed she had Rover dangling from one hand. 

Spencer sat next to her and she shuffled close to him, as though being near him offered her some kind of protection. 

“I don’t like it here.” She whined a little, choking the stuffed neck of her dog in tiny hands. 

“It'll only be for the short term.” He tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “But you do understand that you can’t go home, don’t you Wren?” 

Her bottom lip pouted in that over dramatic way he’d grown used to. Tears sprung to her eyes as she nodded her head. 

“I miss my mommy and daddy.” She sniffled. 

“I know you do, sweetheart.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and she rested her head on his rib cage. 

“I don’t want to live here forever.” She whimpered. 

“And you won’t.” He squeezed her gently. “I wanted to talk to you about that.” 

She raised her head so she could look at him, those large, emerald eyes seeing right through to his soul. 

“How would you…do you think you might…” he trailed off, words failing him. “I was thinking, if you’d like to, maybe you could come and live with me.” 

She blinked several times at him, watching, reading him. It was sometimes hard to believe she was only five years old. 

“I can do that?” One of her little eyebrows raised curiously. 

“If you’d like to. Only if you’d like to. But I would love to have you live with me, Wren. Have you heard of adoption?” He tucked another stray strand behind her ear. 

“No.” She shook her head. 

“That’s ok, I can explain it to you.” He smiled softly. “So when a child like you, loses their parents, they need somewhere to go. At the moment you’re in foster care which is temporary. There are foster families you can stay with but it won’t be like your real home. You might get moved around between different families from time to time. 

Adoption is permanent and that’s what I would like. If I were to adopt you I would become your legal guardian…your dad I suppose. You’d live with me at least until you turn eighteen, maybe longer if that’s what you wanted. You’d have a home for as long as you needed one, a family with me. It isn’t an easy process but one I would very much like to go through if that’s what you want.” 

Again the girl blinked him, probably only really understanding half of what he was saying. 

“I had a dad. He died.” She frowned. 

“I know, and I’m not…you don’t have to call me dad. I’m not trying to replace your dad. But I would be responsible for you.” 

“Would I have a new mom too?” Her frown deepened. 

“Uh, no. No mom, just me.” He shrugged. “Look Wren, I think you are a wonderful little girl and I would be absolutely honoured to be your adoptive dad. But I want what’s best for you and if you don’t want that then-”

“Can we play chess if I live with you?” She cut him off. 

“As often as you’d like.” He smiled.

“And will you read me bedtime stories?” 

“Every single night.” His smile grew. 

“Can I have a My Little Pony bedspread?” She started smiling too. 

“I don’t see why not.”

“What about Rover?” She suddenly gasped, clutching the small dog tightly. 

“What about him?” Spencer frowned. 

“Where will he live? I can’t go without him!” She was suddenly beside herself with panic and Spencer couldn’t help but chuckle. 

“It’s a good job I’ve got room for him too then, isn’t it?” 

Her eyes lit up again and sparkled in that innocent way that fed Spencer’s soul. Her lip twitched at the corner. 

“Really?” She bounced a little in the chair.

“Really.” He felt tears gathering behind his eyes. 

“Ok!” Wren nodded. “I think we would like that.” 

Spencer wanted to collapse into tears at those words. If Wren wanted to live with him he would do everything in his power to make that happen.

He knew as he looked at her sparkling eyes and tiny pure smile, he would go to the ends of the earth for this little girl. 

He already loved her with his entire being. And no matter what the adoption process threw at him, he would make it through. He would do it for her. 

***

When he handed his letter of resignation to Emily a week later and explained his reasons for leaving, she’d quite rightly been shocked. 

But she’d also been incredibly encouraging of his newfound love of an orphaned little girl. 

He glowed when he spoke about her, happier than she’d seen him in such a long time. And although she hated to lose him from the team, she knew it was for the greater good. 

The next step was a new home, a family home, one big enough for him and Wren. Between looking at houses and starting to pack up his own apartment, he hired an attorney to aid him in his adoption battle. 

Although it was the more expensive route, Spencer decided to go down the path of independent adoption. It would mean he would have to do the work an agency would normally do but he always had been a control freak. And he was far more invested in the outcome and would therefore work harder to get Wren home. 

He visited her every day. He took books and his chess set and they spent hours together in the halfway home. He showed her pictures of the houses he’d seen and asked her what she thought. 

One in particular was a cute three bedroom suburban home with a canary yellow picket fence and a green front door. Her little eyes had sparkled when she looked at it and she jabbed her finger at the printout. 

“I want to live here.” She got a little shy as she vocalised it. 

He wondered if it was because she knew. 

The house in question was less than a block from the home she’d witnessed the death of her parents in. She probably walked it past it frequently. 

He wasn’t sure that living so close to a place that held so many bad memories for her would be a good idea, but he also thought it might allow her to feel close to the family she’d lost. 

“Really?” He asked tentatively. “Do you know where it is?”

He nodded defiantly. 

“Near mommy and daddy’s house.” 

“And you want to live near their house? Won’t it make you sad?” 

“I'm always sad.” She confessed, pouting her lip drastically. “Except when you’re here.” 

His heart doubled in size, practically leaped right out of his chest. God he didn’t think it was possible to love her anymore than he already did but she kept proving him wrong. 

“You mean that?” He smiled, tears brimming in his eyes. 

“Yes.” She nodded again. “You make the bad go away.” 

His emotions betrayed him and a few tears fell from his eyes causing Wren to gasp. 

“Oh no! Why are you sad, Spencer?” She grabbed one of his fingers in her hand and squeezed it. 

“I'm not sad.” He smiled. “These are happy tears. I’m just…I’m just so happy I met you. I wish I could make everything better for you, I wish I could bring your mommy and daddy back, I do. But I promise you, as long as I’m alive, you have a family ok?” 

With her free hand she reached for Spencer’s cheek and brushed his tears the same way he did to her. Her little fingers were soft and a little damp. 

“I miss my mommy and daddy all the time.” She whispered as though it was a secret. “But I think they would be happy that you want to be my new family.” 

God she was so smart. Way smarter than her years. He really would need to have her IQ tested. 

“I hope so, pumpkin.”

“Why do you call me pumpkin?” She sat back, looking at him curiously. 

“Because I love Halloween.” And I love you. 

“I love Halloween!” She clapped her hands together. “Can we go trick or treating?” 

Spencer chuckled, yet again tucking her rogue hair behind her ears and off of her little rosy face.

“We can on Halloween. But right now it’s March, we have a few months before October.” 

“But can we go trick or treating on Halloween?” 

“Of course, pumpkin.”

Seven months. He had seven months until Halloween. Seven months to bring her home. 

He hoped he wasn’t making promises he couldn’t keep. The last thing this little girl needed was more disappointment. The last thing he needed was more disappointment. 

After that he spent the next hour watching Wren draw pumpkins and witches and ghosts in crayon while he told her facts about Halloween. 

He left with a picture she’d drawn for him. 

It was of the house with a canary yellow fence and green front door. In front of the house was Wren and Rover who was drawn wildly out of proportion. 

And then there was a tall, slim man with crazy curls holding Wren’s hand. 

In the bottom corner she’d scrawled in her childlike handwriting: my new family. 

***

That same day Spencer called his realtor and made an offer on the house in Virginia whilst putting his own apartment up for sale. 

He knew buying a house took time but it was time he didn’t have. He’d sent off his adoption applications and the background checks were in full swing but without the house he couldn’t start his home studies which at minimum took three months. 

At least once the background checks were out of the way he would be able to take Wren out of the halfway home for a few hours at a time, supervised by a social worker of course but it was better than nothing. 

He was prepared for the questions about his incarceration and had already discussed as such with his attorney. He had transcripts from his therapist who had cleared him for duty, citing him mentally sound. 

He had Emily write a letter explaining the whole situation, how he was framed and all the gory details surrounding the case and the proof of his innocence. 

He also had letters regarding his character from people who knew him well and could vouch for the fact he would be a great dad. One being from BAU co-founder David Rossi, a name that garnered respect everywhere he went. 

And in the capacity as a mother, Jennifer Jareau who talked at great lengths about how Spencer was the worlds greatest godfather to her boys and how amazing he was with them. 

Emily, Rossi and JJ were three great people to have on his side. 

He’d done everything he could for the time being and for the most part it was now just a painful waiting game. 

His house sale and purchase seemed to be moving smoothly so in his free time when he wasn’t teaching and he wasn’t with Wren, he continued packing up his apartment so he would be ready to get into his new house the second the sale was finalised. 

His apartment was mostly boxes these days, sad, taunting boxes filled with his possessions while he waited for the phone to ring. 

On his last visit to see Wren she’d told him exactly how she would like her new bedroom so some boxes contained flat pack furniture and paint cans. 

She wanted her walls to be orange and when he’d frowned and asked her why she simply replied, “because pumpkins.” 

He couldn’t very well argue with that. 

He managed to talk her down from a bright and garish orange to more of a burnt autumnal colour. She picked out her bed along with a My Little Pony bedspread, and wardrobes from magazines Spencer had shown her and he’d purchased strings of pumpkin shaped fairy lights. 

At her insistence, he’d also brought a dog bed for Rover. 

He may be jumping the gun, wasting his money on such things when he still had a long road ahead of him before he’d be able to take her home. 

And there was also the very real possibility he may never be able to take her home. 

Honestly, Spencer couldn’t let himself think of that. If he let himself consider that outcome he would crumble. 

In such a short space of time Wren had become his entire world and he couldn’t lose her. He wouldn’t lose her. 

He was packing up the last of his books when there was a knock at his apartment door. 

He spun to look at it, boxes piled so high it was like a labyrinth just to get to it. He frowned, mentally trying to ascertain a path but coming up empty. 

“Uh, who is it?” He called, trying to clamber closer.

A stretch of silence met his ears and in the meantime he stumbled over a box and narrowly avoided landing head first in another. 

“It’s Y/N.” You spoke eventually, sounding exhausted. 

He closed his eyes, pinched the bridge of his nose. In all the stress surrounding him, he hadn’t given you a second thought. 

Fuck, I messed up. 

“Uh the door should be unlocked.” He called back and a moment or two later it opened.

You took a step inside, eyes quickly scanning the disarray in the room before finding Spencer’s face, poking out from between two piles of boxes. 

“Marco,” he joked but you didn’t laugh. 

“Were you ever going to tell me you quit the BAU?” You folded your arms over your chest, staying put by the front door. “And moving by the looks of things. Was I going to be the last person to find that out too?” 

“I’m so sorry.” He shrugged meekly, knowing he owed you more than a simple apology. “Everything is happening so fast. I needed to move quickly, the faster I get things sorted the faster she can come home with me.” 

Your frown deepened and he could see the confusion rolling off of you in waves. 

“What are you talking about? Who’s coming home with you?” 

He inhaled sharply, exhaled heavily. Of course Emily, Rossi and JJ knew of his adoption plans but he had asked them not to tell the rest of the team. If it didn’t work out he didn’t want them to be privy to his failure. 

But truthfully he expected them to spill the beans. He knew you’d all have a lot of questions regarding his sudden departure from the team and thought at least one of you would get it out of them. It appeared not. 

“Well, uh, I’m in the process of trying to adopt a little girl.” He shrugged and braced himself for your reaction. 

Your arms fell to your sides and your eyes doubled in size as you glared at him as though he’d told you he was going on a killing spree and not that he was adopting a kid. 

He supposed both would be equally concerning. 

“I’m sure I didn’t hear you right.”

“No, you did.” He tried to step closer to you but he seemed to have boxed himself into a corner quite literally. “You remember the couples that were killed in Virginia? I kinda bonded with one of the kids. Wren. Wren Briar. She’s in a foster facility at the moment but I’m working on adopting her.” 

Somehow the more he explained the less you understood. 

“Are you serious?” You scoffed. 

“Very.” 

“Jesus Christ, Spencer.” You shook your head in disbelief. “You bonded with a kid on a case and now you want to bring her home? Play happy families with a child who lost her parents?” 

“Yes, that’s exactly what I want to do.” He tried to shuffle between the piles of boxes but was once again thwarted. 

“Do you realise how insane that sounds?” Your tone was incredulous. 

“Why does that sound insane? She needs a family and I’ve always wanted one.” He frowned at you. 

Of course he understood why you may be concerned but he hadn’t expected this reaction. 

“So you meet someone, you get married. And when the time is right you start a family.” 

“I have tried that! I’ve tried it the “normal” way and that’s never worked out for me. I am thirty nine years old, I don’t know how much longer I can wait.” He was growing angry. 

“So you’re just skipping to the end? Spencer this is not how you dreamed of having a kid!”

“No, you’re right, it’s not!” He suddenly raised his voice, shoving over a pile of boxes in his way so he could get closer to you. “I dreamed of having kids with Maeve and then she was killed in front of me. Then I dared to dream of having a family with you but you shot that idea right down. It’s not ideal, I am aware of that. But goddammit I love that little girl and I will give her a home. I will be her family and she will be mine.” 

“Spencer,” you softened, his eyes wild and scaring you a little. “She’s what, five? She’s already on her way to becoming a fully realised human being. Her personality is already formed, she’s had five years of life where you weren’t a part of it and you just expect her to fall seamlessly into the role of your daughter? Have you ever even considered how hard it’s going to be for her? She lost her parents, they are dead. You really think you can just swoop in and pretend to be her father when she watched her real dad die?” 

“Get out.” He spat harshly. “Get the fuck out of my home.” 

“Spencer I-”

“No, don’t. If you’re not going to be helpful then you can leave.” 

You shook your head in sadness at him, sighing deeply. 

“I might not be ready for a family right at this second but I didn’t once say I wouldn’t want one someday. But you’re so determined to rush this, to skip to the happy ending. We could have had that one day.” 

“That’s not good enough for me.” He finally lowered his voice. “I’m in love with you Y/N, I know I’ve never said that before but I am. And I don’t want to wait to start a family because I love you. But if we don’t want the same things then we have no future. I’m adopting Wren, no matter what it takes and if you can’t be happy for me then walk away.” 

And without another word, that’s exactly what you did. You walked away. 

In another scenario, maybe even in another life you would have told him that you loved him too. 

Instead you simply walked away. 

[esperfruit]

More short TTTE Human AU refs

Victor de Cèspedes

Age: 42

Height: 183 cm

Victor is a mechanic and engineer from Cuba. He came to Sodor after he was recruited by Sir Topham Hatt, who heard about his famous skills after the company Victor worked for went bankrupt. He had a lot of trouble shortly after his arrival because he couldn't speak English at first. The first English word he learned was "red" when he chose his new uniform. His primary job is the repairs of machines, there is almost nothing he can't fix.

Despite being busy and strict, he has a charming and accomodating personality and wants to create a good work atmosphere for everyone. He earned many sympathy points with people after he told off Spencer and embarassed him. In an accident, he feel down a cliff but miraculously survived. After he went missing for a while, he cleared up the misunderstanding that Luke might have killed him. Victor has a clumsy assistant named Kevin, who tests his patience on a daily basis but Victor knows he's a good guy.

Charlie Wardle

Age: 20

Height: 177 cm

A young man from the city, who just entered the work life. Before that, Charlie was partying all the time and was very popular. He has an easy-going and fun-loving personality and loves making others laugh. Unfortunately he has the bad habits of being careless, easily distracted and often doesn't treat things serious enough. The younger ones like Thomas, Percy, Rebecca and Paxton see in him a good friend and fun to hang out with while on the other hand most older adults like Gordon, Henry and Cranky find him, annoying, unfunny and view him as a general nuiscence.

After Charlie got into a lot of trouble due to his carelessness, Edward took him in as his apprentice because he saw how Charlie felt genuine regret for what he did. Charlie feels a lot of gratitude towards him and started endearlingly calling him "Eddie".

Trevor Foster

Age: 63

Height: 171 cm

The principal of the school Thomas, Percy, Rosie and Philip attend. He his very good-hearted and likes children, he wants nothing but the best for them. Trevor is usually polite and peaceful but he will take any measures to make sure everyone, who hurts a child will be punished.

Outside of school, he helps out at the local church by taking care of its orchard. He owns a steam tractor in which he often gives rides with. Trevor is also good friends with Terence and Bertie. The three organized a big party once to earn enough money so children could go to the beach during summer vacation. He also became a close friend of Edward after the latter brought him to the hospital when he collaped once. Even since then Trevor looks after Thomas in school for Edward.

Terence Crawler

Age: 33

Height: 190 cm

A local farmer, who owns a caterpiller tractor. He usually uses it for ploughing but on request he can fulfill other jobs. Similar to Bertie with his bus, Terence has a strong atattchment to his tractor as he was willing to do anything to save it from falling into a lake when ice under it cracked. He is assertive, helpful and always eager to do a job. He has the saying: "You have to be sensible if you want to stay safe." and he easily forgives other for getting cheeky with him. Despite being very friendly and good-natured, a few people such as James find him quite unsetteling because he always has"that smile"...

Kenji Shima

Age: 17

Height: 169 cm

A high school student from Japan, who took in an internship with an inventor during summer vacation. He accompanied his superior to a science fair on Sodor and was helping out with presentations. When members of a smuggling ring failed to steal secret and valuable blueprints, they held Kenji hostage to get away but he was saved by Sonny, who betrayed the ring.

Kenji is from a family of scientists and his parents have high expectations for him to become their sucessor but there is one severe problem: Kenji struggles with technology. Regardless, he studies hard to learn and adapt skills and knowledge. Kenji is determined, organized and clever but also a bit anxious as he hates being alone and he fears dissapointing his family if he doesn't become scenentist like them.

[starry-nocturne]

✦➤ main info

Name: Ryo Kurokawa

Kanji: 黒川 竜 

Meaning: 黒川 (black river) 竜 (dragon)

Age: 18

Birthday: August 12th

Zodiac: Leo

MBTI: INTJ

Blood Type: O

Race: Human/Vibora

Ethnicity: Japanese

Height: 170 cm

✦➤ about

Occupation: 2nd Year Student at Ryoutei. Composer

Hobbies: Stargazing, swordsmanship, piano, sports

Favourite food: Ichigo daifuku (strawberry mochi)

Voice claims:

Haruka Tomatsu

chelly (EGOIST)

✦➤ background

As the one and only heiress to the Kurokawa family, an old lineage of shrine maidens, Ryo wasn't expected to be anything other than perfect: the perfect heiress whose perfect skills would soon serve to hide how much of an embarrassment her mere existence had brought onto the family.

Born to a single mother and with birth circumstances far from normal, there was always something unusual about her. After some time it was found out to be an illness: she simply had a weak heart. That was the entire reasoning behind her sometimes strange acting, the fainting and being sick. A weakness she could never get rid off and which would surely end her life way sooner than it should.

Her quiet yet somehow fulfilling life in the countryside only lasted for a few years. Things started to go wrong as she grew up: people getting sick, their shrine catching fire. Her grandfather dying. She wasn't ill, she was cursed.

Just as the Kurokawa family's one and only hope to regain their household's old status vanished and they started targeting Ryo as the root of all evil, her mother took the difficult decision to flee from their home, to leave everything behind and move with a father she didn't know a thing about but who could surely help them... or so she expected.

Ryo's father wasn't a kind man. He wasn't even a human and that suddenly brought a bizarre closure to everything she had been feeling for the past years: she wasn't cursed, she simply wasn't human. Not really a human and not really a vampire, but some sort of sick in-between.

After her mother was killed by her father time after that, everything spiralled down. Vampires were monsters and she didn't want to become one of them, no matter what. She seeked revenge against her father and was determined to do anything to get it.

With no family left to look after her, she found unexpected support in a boy slightly older than she was, who introduced himself as her brother. Her step brother on her father's side, even though the line started blurring soon after that, a vampire who also seeked revenge against the same man that had hurt her.

Time after that, a barely teenager Ryo decided to move back to Japan and start living on her own while trying to plot revenge against her father. Things worked out, somehow, as she tried to regain a human life that was forcefully taken away from her while dealing with grief and the aftermath of her non-human nature.

Years later, almost when she had grown used to being a "human" again, a certain incident forced her to move into a certain mansion where six vampires lived, pushing her back to the same situation she had lived as a kid: to keep herself alive, at all means. And to fight all the demons she had been trying to avoid for so long.

Credits: Base template here // Sprites, chibi and art: me

[waitmyturtles]

SUNDAY SHOW ROUND-UP!

Goddamn -- there are so many shows! The holiday season and many life obligations are preventing me from writing meta about most of these shows except for the big priorities (my Old GMMTV Challenge project and Last Twilight). So here's a quick round-up of what I'm thinking, feeling, etc., about the dramas I have going on.

1) CHERRY MAGIC THAILAND IS DELIGHTFUL AND FULFILLING TO MY SOUL AND LIFE

I've mentioned before! I'm a HUUUUUGE Cherry Magic Japan girlie. I am a major defender of the movie, AMA. When I joined Tumblr last year, besides Old Fashion Cupcake, Cherry Magic was....I think it was the first gigantic rabbithole I fell in. I love, unabashedly, everything about this franchise, and I think TayNew are carrying it splendidly so far. (Also, the original mangaka of the whole Cherry Magic franchise, Toyota Yuu, is 100% on board with the adaptation and is regularly tweeting about it, and just! COULD THAT BE MORE CUTE AND REASSURING FOR US CM GIRLIES, NO I DON'T THINK SO, BIG HAPPY SIGHS.)

So the original manga exists in the Cherry Magic Thailand universe, huh? I'm gonna admit my unreasonable optimism to say that I am not-so-secretly hoping for a Machida Keita/Akaso Eiji/Kurosawa/Adachi cameo -- but the manga existing in this universe jags that up a bit.

BUT! Toyokawa still exists in the universe... so does that mean that Kurosawa/Adachi do, too? I'M NOT GOING THERE, BUT I AM.

ANYWAY! I noted last month that I really appreciated seeing a lot of Japan in the Cherry Magic trailer -- "Karan-san," Karan speaking Japanese, "san juu," the fact that Toyokawa is still the company that all these guys are working for. But I also love the very overt Thai visuals -- the Buddha in Achi's apartment foreground, the offering to the monk (which replaces the onigiri guy in Cherry Magic Japan, lmao) -- I'm just, covering my mouth in happiness at noting that these details are very well-placed, and very intentional.

That's it, I enjoyed every last second of this first episode in total joy of seeing this Thai remix. With X Nuttapong behind this show -- yes, oh yes, I loved seeing literally the phrase "theory of love" in the subtitles, and good on him for going there a bit.

2) An Old GMMTV Challenge update! So, I interrupted the OGMMTVC to catch up with La Pluie, because I know LP will be on a lot of best-of-2023 lists later this month.

By episode 4 or so, I knew La Pluie had to, HAD TO, go on the OGMMTVC syllabus, so on it went. And I'm going to pause on writing about it out of chronology. I'm watching Secret Crush on You (2022) now, I'll do my watchlist thing, and I'll rewatch LP.

La Pluie was a motherfucking important show.

The subversion of the romance genre in Thai BL. I mean. Give me a mallet to crack the gigantic egg on that on. @lurkingshan's La Pluie meta round-up post has been a walking stick for me as I've stumbled to get my thoughts together around this show, and honestly, I'm not ready to write about it yet. I need to finish 2022's shows on the watchlist and get through some important 2023 rewatches to fully write about La Pluie in its context, and to understand how such an important show came about this year by way of the straightforward honesty it took in dismantling and rebuilding some very key expectations that we may have carried about romance in Thai BL before its airing.

If you haven't watched La Pluie yet, do it before this year is over. DO IT. IT'S INCREDIBLE AND SO MUCH.

3) Playboyy, episode 4: I have a lot of thoughts, and no time to write about this show, but episode 4 was really different than the first three. It was CAMPY AF, way melodramatic (wtf Zooey/Soong), but it also had many more nuggets of a plot than I had expected to see by way of Nont finally revealing himself to WAY more people than I had expected. I'm sticking with it with the expectation that Cheewin will know how to get himself out of this mess, BUT, one huge criticism -- the intimacy is getting harder to watch, because it's being lazily acted and filmed (..... you had y'alls' shorts on, Prom/Nont, ahem), and it's just a lot, and can we just, like, get more to the story, I'm gonna put that in the show's request box.

Clown theory: I think Prom knows more than he's letting on and is using Nont in some bad ways to get back at those other dudes for leaving Playboyy. But I'm trying to not get invested-invested because a) still sooooo many names to remember, GOD, and b) soooo many shows airing, my brain can't take it.

4) The Sign: I'm putting this guy on pause. I heard yesterday's episode was 90 minutes, and I can't commit to a weekend show that needs that kind of time commitment. I'm following y'all in the gifs. This is no knock on BillyBabe. I REALLY LIKE THEM TOGETHER. GO SAINT, I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU. But I'll watch this when there's a lull in the midseasons.

5) What Did You Eat Yesterday?: WDYEY and Last Twilight are the best shows airing right now. When a show is so good, it doesn't need meta? That's WDYEY. Nishijima’s quiet “hai” to start the conversation with Kenji’s mom? Some of the best acting in all of BL.

The amazing @isaksbestpillow threw down some clutch background about this past Friday's episode that's WELL worth reading, about chosen family and what Kenji's family was offering to Shiro. Gorgeous, screaming, crying, etc.

That's all I got, happy Sunday, y'all! The OGMMTVC will come back with SCOY when I wrap it up, hopefully soon!

[codename-mom]

Happy Hotch Day

Summary: Penelope wants to cheer her boss up as he still suffers from what Foyet did to him. She reaches for her co-workers for them to help her preparing a little surprise for him.

Characters: BAU team

Contents: TW brief mention of Haley's and Morgan's father death, a tiny bit of anxiety (because Hotch is an idiot sometimes), outside of this, it's all fluff. :)

This is a text written for the CM Office Party challenge organized by @imagining-in-the-margins.

PS : English is not my mother language so they are necessarily mistakes. Sorry about that.

___

All was quiet that day at Quantico when Penelope stormed into the open-plan office, nearly spilling the coffee in Anderson's hand as she stepped through the glass doors.

“Guys! Guys! Guys!” She repeated, her cheeks red.

“Okay, calm down, tempered Derek as he left the corner of the desk on which he had been sitting temporarily. Slow down and put the handbrake on.”

“No time for a slot, pilot of my heart, I've just had the idea of the century!”

All eyes were on her, just as she wanted them to be. As luck would have it, Dave was also among those present, having left his den for a moment to ask Spencer a question. The only member of the team missing was their superior – who had been called upstairs – which suited the – now – bespectacled redhead just fine.

“What is it?” asked Jennifer, curious.

“Well, as Hoch is not feeling well at this time…”

“Which is understandable," interrupted Emily, widening her eyes.

Recent events had propelled the BAU director to the status of bereaved single father in the blink of an eye, and the brutal reorganization of his daily life was still suffering from a few bumps. He and Jack were getting used to each other's presence, but the agency head was struggling to come to terms with his ex-wife's death. He didn't mention it to his men and put on a brave face, but the profilers had their eye on him and sensed that the wound was still raw. To which Garcia added:

“I’d like us to prepare a little surprise to cheer him up.”

“You're going to need more than a little surprise for that," pointed out Morgan, partially serious.

“It’ll be a start.”

“What did you think about?” wished to know Agent Jareau.

“I wanted us to give him a present for Father’s Day.”

Silence fell over the group. Everyone stared at her with a mixture of surprise and incomprehension. They didn't ignore the fact that this celebration was going to take place, but:

“Hotch is not our father,” noticed Reid, eyebrows furrowed.

“I know! Snapped the analyst, expecting this reply. Biologically speaking, Hotch isn't our father; but if we take that aspect out of the equation, he fulfills all the criteria. He’s… he’s our office dad.”

“You mean mom,” joked the ex-policeman, a sneer playing at the corner of his lips.

He was the first to nickname the costumed giant in this way, and the company had naturally followed. Giving each other nicknames was part of their modus operandi – Penelope and Derek being the two who collected the most – and Aaron's had been adopted unanimously. Or almost.

“Yes, about that, hesitated the luscious ginger, he... he has a bit of trouble with that nickname...”

“He has a bit of trouble with many things,” declared Prentiss.

“Sure,” topped up Derek.

It would be a lie to say that Agent Hotchner had as much flexibility of mind as the staff working under him, and certain aspects of his flock's behavior met with some resistance when it came to involving the tall, dark-haired man. Blockages that the analyst couldn't completely ignore, even though she knew that the latter was far less uptight than his austere appearance suggested.

“Look, I only wish that, next Monday, we call him “Dad” in place of “Mom”. He’ll be pleased.”

“I won’t call Hotch, “Dad”. No way,” Morgan said immediately.

“Why?”

“He’s not my father and he’ll never be,” he affirmed without smiling.

The former police officer had lost his sire when he was still a child, and this tragic event had left an indelible mark on his mind. A trace that allowed no one else to occupy this unique place in his heart. For him, it was impossible to consider this man with whom he regularly clung as any kind of parental figure. Even as a joke.

“But you’ve got no issue calling him “Mom””, stressed Penelope squinting her eyes.

“And the way it's pissing him off, I'm not going to stop now.”

Behind his back, Emily and JJ chuckled, amused. Garcia felt the rage run in her veins.

“Penelope, Dave continued, why do you want us to wish him a happy Father's Day? That’s Jack’s job, not ours.”

“Besides, he hates surprises, Derek reminded her; he hates presents, he doesn't even rejoice his birthday.”

It was the truth. Every time they'd caught Aaron off guard – to good effect – they'd immediately seen him tense up and display a frozen grin. He had never clearly expressed his delight at suddenly being the center of attention. In the same way, he avoided every opportunity to celebrate himself: he took part in everyone's birthdays, but systematically omitted to feast his own. And when his team took the liberty of offering him gifts, he only seemed to accept them out of pure politeness. All the more reason for their reluctance to try again that day.

“I… I'd just like us to show him how important he is to us, she explained. He… he's in low spirits and I'd like him to smile again. Even for a minute.”

“If he’s still able to smile.”

Morgan and JJ giggled at the brunette’s jibe.

“Are you serious?”

“Baby girl…”

“No! interrupted the computer specialist, pushing away the hand he was holding out towards her. There is no “baby girl”! This man you're laughing at cuts himself to ribbons for you, and you despise him! Your ingratitude is disgusting!”

Furious, she turned her back on them and left the bullpen without succeeding in slamming the heavy glass door. A stunned silence fell over the group, who were now casting awkward glances at each other.

“I think she's angry," Spencer said, looking worried.

“It was a joke, Prentiss thought it necessary to point out. You… you've all figured it out, haven't you?”

“Yes,” abounded Morgan.

“Of course,” followed JJ.

“Anyway, we agree that it's not up to us to wish him a happy Father's Day?”

“Totally," agreed Emily, who had never known hers and didn't see the agency manager as a potential surrogate.

The pair's gaze turned to Agent Jareau, who was far less at ease than a few minutes earlier.

“What?” interrogated her coworker and friend.

“Well, that is to say, she's not entirely wrong. It's true that he's always there for us, at any time of the day or night.”

“That’s because he doesn’t sleep.”

“Derek.”

She had glared at him. If for some people, declaring their availability at all hours was a ready-made formula, this was not the case for Hotch. Until then, he'd always applied this credo to the letter, answering their nightly calls and cutting short his – rare – vacations to come to their aid. Morgan nevertheless sighed.

“No one ever asked him to do that. He's got it into his head that he has to take full responsibility for our every move.”

Having temporarily occupied his position while Foyet was still at large, he had had time to read up on the rights and duties of unit leaders. And nowhere was it written that he had to give in to the whims of his agents or put aside his own needs to satisfy the desires of his employees.

“In fact, shouldn't we be all the more indebted to him?”

Everyone turned their attention back to Dr. Reid, who had said this sentence in his most innocent tone. But the thought was not as innocuous as it seemed, and it shook the certainties of both refractors. The BAU co-founder, noting the embarrassed and pained expressions of the mocking trio, suggested:

“I think we should all take a few moments to reflect on a moment, a gesture, a thoughtfulness on his part that he didn't have to do, but did anyway, simply to make us feel better.”

Eyes focused on him, then turned away as the memories of all began their search.

“Then we can reconsider Penelope’s idea.”

The day flew smoothly, and the weekend passed quietly, giving everyone the rest they needed to recuperate. Then Monday arrived and, taking advantage of the calm, Garcia, holed up in her den of flashing tinsel, multicolored figurines and a few computer screens, put the finishing touches to her gift. It didn't matter to her that she was the only one making the effort; she had every intention of doing whatever it took to cheer her superior up.

A knock sounded at the door, and it opened to reveal half of Emily's face.

“Penelope…”

“Oh! she hiccupped, hastily placing her work in the first drawer within reach. We… we’ve got a case?”

“No. Well, not that I know of," she admitted, allowing herself to take a step into the closed office.

“Okay. So what did you come for?”

Tinkling her damaged fingernails, the ambassador's daughter closed the door behind her and approached a little closer. She didn't dare look the hostess in the eye.

“Uh… first, I wanted to apologize for... what I said last Friday. I... I didn't mean to hurt you.”

“I know someone who would have been more hurt than me if he'd heard you, she spat, unable to conceal her morgue. Good thing he wasn’t there to witness it.”

“Speaking of which, we... we had a little chat about it after you left and... er... it's probably not worth what you had in mind, but we came up with an idea for... him.”

“Really? Exclaimed Garcia, suddenly interested. What… what is it?”

Reassured by her colleague's reaction, Emily relaxed and explained what the team had been working on for the past two days.

“It's not much, but if you want to take part, there's still a bit of room.”

“It's a great idea! Rejoiced the redhead, delighted. I… Of course, I’m in! Where… How do we proceed?”

“Follow me. We put everything in the meeting room for now.”

Penelope leapt to her feet and was about to walk in her guest's footsteps.

“Where he is?” she asked with a blank voice.

“Up there.”

Prentiss pointed to the upper floors, where Strauss' office was located. The giant had been summoned to report to the section chief, without delay, some thirty minutes earlier and had still not come down. There was a good chance that the face-to-face meeting would drag on forever.

“Let’s take this chance.”

The two women left the former hacker's lair behind them and made their way to their destination. On the spot, the rest of the gang were busy getting the room ready, making do with what they had on hand, which wasn't necessarily suitable for redecorating. The rejuvenated analyst immediately came to their help, putting her experience in the field to good use.

                Two hours later, Hotch reappeared on the sixth floor, his features drawn and his eyebrows more furrowed than ever. Annoyed and exhausted by the interminable negotiation he'd just been through, he climbed the slope to his office without paying attention to the scenery around him, pushed open the door and walked with a heavy step to his chair. But he didn't even have time to brush against the furniture before:

“Aaron.”

The latter sighed, letting his shoulders fall back, and turned around to see Rossi on the threshold.

“Do I have the time for a coffee?”

“The younglings are waiting for you in the meeting room,” answered his most ancient coworker.

The titan in the suit wrinkled his nose, the adrenalin pulsing through his veins chasing away fatigue.

“Do we have a case?”

“Maybe.”

“What that’s supposed to mean?”

“You know where to go to have your answer.”

The ex-retiree smiled mysteriously and moved off towards the indicated location. Aaron, confused, remained statuesque for a moment, then left his office in turn. And, bypassing the coffee machine, went into the room where they usually gathered to discuss current issues. His heart pounding against his ribs, he wondered what else his men had planned behind his back. Not that he disapproved of their attentions to him – far from it – but surprises always made him uncomfortable. He felt systematically foolish, not knowing what to say or do at such moments. He knew that it was socially accepted to be ecstatic about a job well done, to rejoice at suddenly being in the spotlight, and to thank others for gifts received. On the other hand, sincere emotion and candor were expected of him, and not knowing what to expect stressed him out, and lying to his loved ones embarrassed him terribly.

                He arrived at the door of the meeting room, his heart rate racing.

“Happy Father’s Day!" shouted several intermingled voices.

The entire team was gathered under a silver banner bearing the words: "Happy Office Father’s Day!”. The "office" had been added on an A3 sheet stapled under the banner. Balloons of all colors floated limply around the room, and each agent wore a conical multicolored hat.

“… Wh… What?” was the only exclamation that managed to escape his lips.

“Kids have written little notes for you on this particularly discreet card, which I strongly encourage you to read," said the novelist, pointing to a folded cardboard sheet on the table.

It was a card probably bought in a bookshop on which JJ – he recognized her handwriting – had scrawled in red marker. His attention had been so focused on what was hanging over their heads that he hadn't seen the object, which must have been a good three feet high. However, he didn't have time to dwell on it any further, as Garcia emerged from the mass and rushed towards him with small, quick steps. She stopped an arm's length away and took a deep breath before launching into her own words.

“And I made you this plush. Initially, I wanted to make a hen, but I discovered that these birds are actually very bad parents. So I looked up where there were super dads in the animal kingdom, and it turns out that wolves are the best in the world. Whenever a cub goes missing, they worry about them and look for them. They feed them, wash them, play with them and protect them from everything and... in short, I've made you a wolf cuddly toy! With your name on the pads.”

She then handed him the animal in question without moving from her spot, her cheeks flushed red. Hotch, perturbed by the whole situation, was slow to react, but nevertheless retrieved his gift, which he observed attentively. The wolf's brown eyes were not set at the same height, and one ear was bigger than the other, but the fur was soft and the letters under his paws had been meticulously stitched.

“You… aren't you going to say anything?" worried Penelope, her eyebrows furrowed in a circumflex accent.

“Uh… yes, Aaron gasped, coming back to the present moment. Thank you. I… Excuse me, I… I didn’t expect that.”

“It's the principle of surprise," Emily remarked with a smile.

“I too would have been very disturbed by all this, Spencer admitted, waving his hands in the air. Fortunately, I'm too young to be elected office dad."

“It’s… that is, I... I didn't think I'd have the honor either," he stammered, not noticing that he was pressing the stuffed toy to his chest.

“Hence the card. So you can…”

Dave twirled his index finger in front of his temple, looking mischievous. The director realized that his men must have compiled anecdotes about him on the flaps of this giant card.

“Uh… okay. Do… do I have to read it in front of you?”

“No!” they exploded in unison, Rossi excepted.

“Read it at home. Quietly,” Jennifer advised him.

“Yeah. That's better," bounced Derek, suddenly embarrassed.

“Definitely," agreed Prentiss, not much more comfortable.

Clearly, none of them wanted their feelings for him to be revealed out loud in front of everyone else. A sudden shyness that discreetly stretched their leader's lips.

“… Fine. I imagine the glasses are there for a toast," he said, spotting the bottle and glasses waiting in the middle of the table.

“I thought you'd never say it," retorted his former mentor, breaking away from the group to take hold of the neck and start peeling off the aluminum foil enclosing the cork.

The supervisor smiled candidly, touched. Not because of the BAU co-founder's reaction – which he had expected – but because of the whole situation. He who was put off by surprises felt surprisingly well. All the tension he'd felt walking from his office to the hall had vanished and his heart had regained an acceptable rhythm.

“Let's toast then. And… thanks. Thanks for everything.”

They raised their glasses in his direction and he did the same for them, then they took a sip. The mood had relaxed and frank smiles had returned to light up the faces. If he had been afraid of what they had concocted for him, they had feared his answer, dreading to see the disappointment or disgust on his pale face. But none of this had happened, and everyone was catching their breath, scooping a few appetizer cakes from the mismatched plates Emily had brought along.

“By the way, what did Jack offer you yesterday?" asked Reid, curious.

“A sheet of paper with his hand and footprints, and a message: "For Aaron, my daddy whom I love most in the world."

“It's so cute!" said Penelope, cheerfully.

“He spelled my first name with three A's, but... yes.”

The team burst out laughing and he imitated them.

___

Okay, this one probably doesn't fit the timeline too but I wanted JJ to be there actually. ^^;

[the-eclectic-wonderer]

I’ll play the ask game! I’m thinking 10, 14, and 31 🙂

Hello friend!! Thank you for the questions!! :) Let’s see…

10. How tall are you?

I am precisely 171.5 cm tall! Which translates to 5ft 7in, if my converter is correct :)

14. What’s your favorite color?

Warm shades of yellow! Like golden yellow or sun yellow or amber yellow :)

I’m also really fond of pastel/pale pink, especially when paired with a warm dark brown.

31. What are you looking forward to in the distant future?

I’d say that depends on how distant we’re talking!

I’m not the type of person who has her life all figured out, to be honest. I’m not sure what my life is going to look like 6 months from now, let alone in the distant future! I have a couple of wishes to fulfil (I’d like to keep travelling every once in a while, I’d like to see certain singers live, stuff like this) but I don’t have a lot in terms of expectations.

If we’re talking about the world and society in general, then… I’m already looking forward to the 2028 LA olympics :) and I hope I’ll still be around to witness Halley’s Comet when it comes back to the Solar System, in 2060 or so!

[♡ asks ♡]

[andiatas]

Aug. 5, 1828 - Princess Wilhelmina Frederika Alexandrine Anna Louise (sometimes written as Luise) was born in the Hague as the daughter of Prince Frederik of the Netherlands and Princess Luise of Prussia. Her education was to a large extent entrusted to her Belgian governess and she studied French, German, English, Russian and piano. The latter is something she also continued as an adult.

King Oscar I of Sweden wished to secure connections between the new Bernadotte dynasty and the old dynasties of Europe and a Protestant Princess was also seen as necessary after two Catholic Queens in a row in Protestant Sweden-Norway. Louise fulfilled these credentials, plus a great dowry was expected from the rich House of Orange-Nassau. Therefore, in 1849, Louise was chosen as a suitable bride for the heir to the Swedish throne, Crown Prince Karl.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs began negotiations and a Cabinet Secretary was sent to inspect her. In his report back he let it be known that Louise “had an excellent education and a good character but was not attractive” (quote simplified for clarity). A meeting was arranged between Louise and Karl where reportedly, Louise fell in love and felt an immediate attraction while Karl was disappointed in her appearance. The Crown Prince, however, was convinced to agree to the marriage by his father and the engagement was announced the following year.

During the engagement, Louise studied the Swedish language and history, though she never learnt Norwegian. Upon moving to her new country, her official name was changed to Lovisa.

Lovisa was not considered a social success, her timid and shy nature and tendency to suffer so-called nervous attacks were not appreciated by those of high society, though she had the sympathy and love of the wider Swedish public due to her husband's many and not-so-secret affairs. It was reported in the court chronicle that: “Lovisa could at any time faint and in connection to this, she could have what is called nerve- or cramp-attacks.” While today we may interpret this as epileptic episodes, back then it was interpreted as a hysterical reaction to her husband’s neglect.

Photo 1: Painting of Queen Lovisa from The Royal Court of Norway. Photo 2: Photograph of Queen Lovisa circa 1860 (photographer unknown, 8.3 x 4.8 cm), from the collection of Prince Albert, the Prince Consort. Photo 3: Photograph of King Karl XV, Queen Lovisa and their daughter Princess Lovisa (photographer and year unknown). Photo 4: Portrait of Queen Lovisa by Court Photographer Johannes Jaeger, 1869. Believed to be the oldest Jaeger photograph in the Royal Court's collections, from the Bernadotte Library's archive.

[rumunasin]

“ you can never return home , stormbringer . ”

[ RUMUNASIN ] independent, semi selective, literate novella, forgotten realms / d&d / bg3 based, mature themes, MOL’LARA MIZZRYM !

a study in : leashing the storm within, a loveless mother, creating your own family, devouring your oppressors, defying fate, self fulfilling prophecies, being the chosen one.

direwarg : penned by daphne, 21 + | mdni, she/they, multi muse insta ( longclawed ), mol'lara insta ( rumunasin ), discord ( direwolved ), full information regarding mol'lara below the cut ( until i make her a carrd )

⠀[…]

⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀ omni luci est umbra.

⠀

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ˖ ⠀⁄ ݁ ⠀ DESIGNATION

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀birth name : mol’lara mizzrym

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀preferred name : lara

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀nickname(s) : stormbringer ; slayer

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀pronouns : she / her

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀titles : storm sorcerer

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ˖ ⠀⁄ ݁ ⠀ PHYSICAL DATA

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀age / clockwork : 25 years old

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀stature : 5'0 ft | 152 cm

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀physique : thin, muscular

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀complexion : pale blue

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ethnicity : seldarine drow

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀nationality : underdark

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀tongues spoken : drowic | common tongue | undercommon | silent tongue

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ˖ ⠀⁄ ݁ ⠀ PERSONAL DATA

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀morality : true neutral

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀mbti : intp ( logistician )

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀enneagram : 9w8

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀positive traits : persuasive, charming, assertive, intelligent, investigative, dedicated, thorough, confident, adventurous, witty

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀negative traits : insensitive, disconnected, impatient, harsh, blunt, manipulative, intimidating, tempermental, bossy, cocky, mischievous, pretentious, reckless, misandrist,

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀neutral traits : curious, analytical, persistent, cunning, bold, sarcastic, fierce, tough,

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ˖ ⠀⁄ ݁ ⠀ RELATIONS

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀mother : akor’vrae mizzrym

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀father : unnamed male

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀patron god : n/a

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀significant other : n/a

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀companions : n/a

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀enemies : lolth-sworn drows ; absolutists

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀others : n/a

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ˖ ⠀⁄ ݁ ⠀ STATS ( LVL 1 )

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀strength : 8

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀dexterity : 13

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀constitution : 15

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀intelligence : 12

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀wisdom : 10

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀charisma : 17

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ˖ ⠀⁄ ݁ ⠀BACKSTORY

MARKED AT BIRTH, CURSED WITH THE WRONG AMBITION. [ ¹ ] - * within drow society, it is ( eat or be eaten ). the strongest, smartest, most powerful thrive ; the weaker are lucky to just survive. this is especially true within lothite centered societies our dear protagonist ( LARA ) had the misfortune of being born into such society. [ ² ] --- * in the year 1468, a name was whispered into the world ( MOĽLARA MIZZRYM ). an odd looking creature, even for the underdark. especially for the high society. pale blue skin, a shimmer of white hair, one bright red eye ( and ) ... one blackened eye, one dark birth mark stretching across said eye. her mother, akor'vrae , had tried to end the childs inevitable suffering but, with every attempt, something ... ( strange ? ) would happen. lightning would pulsate from the babe, thunder from somewhere would shake the caverns. thunder, in a place with no atmosphere? MOL ’ LARA would live, she would thrive. akor'vrae would ensure it ; her daughter, her heir, was special. marked at birth for greatness, the all-powerful lolth had blessed her. [ ³ ] --- * mol'lara had no father, and her mother did not raise her. it was the servants who saw that the child grew, not that they done it out of the goodness of their hearts. akor'vrae paid the drow fairly ; as fairly as a high-born drow could be expected to be. by all means, mol'lara should have excelled. she was highly intelligent, her mother was a high priestess of lolth, and (ignore the / hideous / birth mark ) moľlara was beautiful. [ ⁴ ]_-- * nearly every night, mol'laras dreams were haunted. a figure whose face not could not ( *see* ) came to her. he whispered to her, said that she was far too powerful to spend her life in the dark. he taught her things that drow did not believe in ; he taught her goodness, he showed her the light. mol'lara wondered if he was her father. [ ⁵ ] -- * mol'lara asked her mother once ( & only once ) about her father. her mother was a woman of few words, and those few words tended to lean towards petty insults, but when mol'lara asked about her father, akor'vrae's red eyes alit with anger. the staff immediately cleared the room. akor'vrae said only one thing : "your father is dead and never mentioned him again, or there will be consequences." [ ⁶ ]---- * “ STORMBRINGER ; you bring thunder and shame where it does not belong." by now, mol'lara was 25 years old. very young for a drow, but old enough to ( know better ). it was time for her oath ; time to swear herself to lolth. her entire life was leading to this moment. her eventually servitude for the spider queen had been mol'lara's only saving grace. her powers were unnatural, and uncontrollable. her face was scarred. yet, akor'vrae insisted that lolth would guide her only daughter. the people believed her (* or so they said *). but, mol'lara had no interest in lolth. mol'lara was not a cruel being ; she was almost ( kind ). so, therefore, she was ( *weak* ) mol'lara was unsure of where this unseemly weakness came from; but it plagued her. her dreamscape visitor had cursed her, and now it was time to reap what one sows. [ ⁷ ] ---= * being shunned from society is a scary thing ; even worse was being shunned in a place as dark and scary as the underdark. mol'lara left with nothing but a set of clothes, an empty backpack, and a dagger that she had stole from her own mother. all that akor'vrae had only one thing to say: “ you can never return home, stormbringer. ” had not even said her name ; which akor'vrae had always said was beautiful. and so mol'lara ( STORMBRINGER ) had left. she cut off her long, intricate braid ; left the hair on her mother's pillow. a warning ? an omen ? who knew. the only reason mol'lara had been free to walk was not out of mercy, but rather a fear of the unknown. the people feared she would curse them all; perhaps she would tear down the city with her demon powers. [ ⁸ ] ----- mol'lara was dead; lara was born.

[awordbroken]

desire and ghost for the ask game?

desire: What's one thing your OC wants more than anything in the world? Are they open with that desire? Why or why not? What would they do to fulfill it?

the thing Crow Melusine wants most in the world is to live in peace with their children and help them grow up safe and happy. unfortunately they live in Fallen London and there is literally no action available to them that would make this possible.

since both their (currently extant) kids are more or less illegal, it's rarely possible or wise for them to openly talk about this.

they've already given up a significant portion of their freedom by entangling themself with Mr Fires to fulfill at least some small part of that goal, and it is frankly imperative that Mr Fires never figure out exactly how much more they would surrender.

ghost: Who or what haunts your OC? What happened? How do they live with their ghosts?

the "what if" of if they had never sent the Hybrid to the roof. if they had committed to raising it in London as their child, could they have made it work? could they have found a way to establish the same precarious safety they have now?

they've also been thinking about their family on the surface every now and then, ever since Mr Fires accidentally let slip that it keeps tabs on them and that their father had a health scare a year or so ago. before they went to the Neath they already hadn't seen their family in a long time, nor did they really expect to ever do so again, but now knowing both that information about them is in reach, and that they can't ever go back to the Surface creates… difficult emotions. ones they didn't really ever want to think about.

(things that do NOT haunt CM: Poor Edward. they were scared of him and they're glad and grateful that Clara shot him dead. now, the fact that they haven't--won't-- repay the favour by taking out Mr Fires for her, on the other hand...)

ask game here

[altairtalisman]

Leo's Bio

"I know it's bold of me, but if I may ask, perhaps we could trade books sometime next week?"

More details on Leo is under the cut

Name: Leonardo "Leo" Rosso

Age: 30

Height: 168 cm

Birthday: 17 Dia'ae 1406 (Arjanit)

Orientation: Cisgender Bisexual Male

Pronouns: He/Him

Species: Half-elf

Country of Birth: Hirdielle

Likes: His family, books, masks

Dislikes: Escargots, yellow (the colour), blood

Hobbies: Making masks, reading, scrapbooking

Personality: A mild-mannered romantic, he's the ideal romantic partner to bring back home. As a result of his mask making hobby, he's also meticulous and takes great pride in his work

Style: Smart casual with more emphasis on casual and comfort over smartness, is considered modern for his time but not in the current day

Status: Dead (DOD: 5 Primna 1436)

Abilities: Able to use lightning and water magic, but isn't proficient at either

Background: Despite being brought up as a human, as a half-elf in the 15th Century, Leo's existence was considered strange. The general Hirdiellese, while genuinely accepting of him, didn't know how to interact with him and as such, avoided him. This made him slightly lonely as all he wanted was to live a normal human life even though he has an extended lifespan

Due to Salvatore's constant encouragement to travel Ratein and live a fulfilling life, Leonardo was motivated to leave Hirdielle and travel around the world at 18 years old. During his travels, he never failed to send letters to his parents so as to update them on his experiences as well as reassure them that he was still alive and well. In 1429, he visited Lyuharrno and immediately decided to leave the cold country within the week as he couldn't tolerate the cold temperature. Wanting something to pass the time as he travelled out of the country, he visited a bookstore near a frosty forest and encountered Alena, a Lyuharrnese local that he was instantly smitten with. Deciding to befriend her, Leonardo decided to stay in the country for a while longer and see how life played out for him

As he got to know about Alena, he learnt that she was the daughter of a fisher and an artist, a combination he didn't expect. He also learnt that she was never fond of Lyuharrno's permanent winter, and longed to travel to warmer climates for holidays. Leonardo had also learnt that Alena had a weakness for romance novels but swore otherwise, and with every new detail he penned in his letters to his parents, he found himself falling harder for the Lyuharrnese. In Itis 1430, he decided to ask her out, all while hoping that even if he was met with rejection, Alena was open to remaining friends with him. He was surprised when the latter agreed to date him, let alone agreeing to marry him two years later

They decided to hold an Alstas wedding in Hirdielle as Leonardo wanted Alena to experience a warmer summer for the first time in her life and he didn't want to trouble his parents by travelling to a different country. While Bianca immediately approved of Alena, Leonardo was worried as Salvatore brought her to a corner and had a hushed conversation. He was relieved when Salvatore also gave his blessings, though he wondered what his father wanted to tell his wife. Once the wedding was over, he announced that he would stay in Lyuharrno permanently and would continue to send letters to his parents. This surprised Alena as she assumed that he would want to stay with his parents after not seeing them for so long, but he admitted that as much as he wanted to, he could tell that Alena was ultimately still more at ease in Lyuharrno despite her dislike towards the cold climate

Even though he was the one who decided to stay in Lyuharrno, he was worried about finding work as he didn't have the skillsets needed in the country. Alena then encouraged him to make masks as Lyuharrnese did appreciate art in various forms, even if Hirdiellese art was considered too showy for them. Taking his wife's suggestion to heart, he decided to sell handcrafted Hirdiellese masks in Lyuharrno and managed to earn a decent income. A year into their marriage, Alena gave birth to Nadia which motivated Leonardo to work harder in the mask trade

On 5 Primna 1436, Nadia fell sick and Leonardo offered to look after her while Alena went out to buy groceries for the day. While taking care of his daughter, he dozed off to the faint rumbling in the background, not realising that it came from an avalanche...

[pwlanier]

Farm

Joan (Joan) Miro

• Painting, 1922

Miro's father was a jeweler and watchmaker. And when Joan declared his desire to become an artist, his father did not resist, but still, being a serious person, he insisted on getting a real education. The boy was 14 years old when he entered the School of Industrial and Fine Arts in Barcelona, and at the same time (for reliability) at the Business School. And to meet the expectations of Miro Sr., he also found a job. Work that I could not stand. Trying to be in time everywhere and fulfill his father’s requirements, Joan developed to a nervous breakdown, and weakened, he also caught typhoid fever. Excitedly worried parents cancel all ultimatums and buy a farm in the town of Mont Roch del Camp on the sea coast, among the red rocks, where Joan has to recover, recover and have a rest. This place was for Miro salvation - now he could finally only write.

For many years in a row he will spend the summer in Mont Roch. And the first important picture, which will summarize all his youthful searches, will be Farm. Miro takes a canvas of almost 140 by 150 cm in size - and works for 9 months daily, meticulously filling it with all the important attributes of farming in Mont Roch: animals, plants, agricultural tools and buildings. For almost every element, he carefully devotes his own space, as if inventorying memories or composing a collection. "Farm" was the result of my entire village life. I wanted to fit into the canvas everything that was dear to me in these places: from a huge tree to a tiny snail ”- said Miro.

Arthive

[blossomtide]

( murakami nijiro, male, he/him) — the halls of verum academy is home to MIHARU SATO, twenty four year old student of elixir. listen to the whispers that follow them through the door of the theory of healing arts classroom, the ones about a volatile stormy sea by a cliffside, sunlit greenhouses with tall windows, apothecary shelves packed with bottles and vials, handwritten journal with drawn plants and endless winding staircases. once they graduate, their legacy will be one that is intelligent and protective in nature, but the records will not mention that they are known to be insecure and possessive, too. they are, after all, the future of verum. ╱ rae, 26, any pronoun, gmt +7.

Basic Info

Faceclaim: Nijiro Murakami

Name: Miharu Sato

Nickname: Haru, Ruru

Age: 24

DOB: May 10th

Pronouns: He/him

Gender: Male

Orientation: ?? (he's too busy studying he never paid attention to romance)

Occupation: Student of Verum Academy

Languages: English, Japanese, Latin

Residence: Verum Academy Dormitory

Skeleton: Muse 1

Height: 165 cm/5’5”

Weight: 55 kg/ 121 lbs

Eye color: Black

Hair color: Black 

Piercings: None

Tattoos: None

Scars: A few small cuts on his hands and arms from when he was learning swordsmanship

Aesthetic: a volatile stormy sea by a cliffside / sunlit greenhouses with tall windows / apothecary shelves packed with bottles and vials / handwritten journal with drawn plants / endless winding staircases

Familiar: ? ??

Background:

“There is an unquenchable thirst for greatness within you, one that nobody but you can fulfill. Yet every quest for glory you took left you unsated, each gulp of victory were mouthfuls of fire. And there is only a matter of time until you burn to cinders from inside out.” 

Born from one of the wealthiest and most influential families in the capital, Miharu grew up rarely wanting for anything. That is, until he became old enough to understand the sting of people’s words and venom hidden behind the sweetest smiles. 

Was very attached to his second older sibling, used to idolize and adored them a lot until the pressure of being compared to them started to get to him. Miharu is ashamed to admit that his 2nd eldest was the reason he has an inferiority complex because while he loves his sibling, being known as the hardworking little brother of a natural born genius made him miserable. 

As the youngest of four siblings all he’s been taught since young was not to bring any shame into family and that there are little to no expectations for him to live up to, no grand roles to fill in. For some people, being born with a silver spoon with no responsibilities or expectations would be a wonderful thing. But to him, it shows how insignificant he is as he’s not even worthy of being a spare for his older siblings.

Miharu is by no means an untalented or average khemia practitioner. By his own right, he’s worked hard to be where he is with or without the privilege his family’s influence gave him and he’s made a name for himself despite his age. But sure enough, the brilliance of the sun would easily devour the light that came from a handful of stars.

It was cowardly of him to run away to Cynefin in the guise of studying in Verum. Miharu needed to get away from Talcelin, from the eyes of the Capital’s high society, from his family and from his older sibling that he both loves and loathes the most. 

Ignorant of the world yet remained headstrong, Miharu, the little young master who had never even dressed himself without a servant's help before settled in the quaint little town of Cynefin at the age of 18. 

Trivias: 

Has a lot of unsent letters addressed to his family. He might not like being sheltered under their shadow but they’re still his blood and he does get homesick occasionally. 

Hates it when someone mentions his family’s wealth/influence or calls him a spoiled young master (and they were right to call him that. He brought his fancy schmancy automobile from the capital that he rarely uses ffs. "I'm not spoiled." he says. Meanwhile, the car in question: x) 

Very hard on himself and self-critical. Has severe trust issues with people who approach him, worried they only get close to him to gain connection with his family that it’s hard for him to open up his heart for new friends.

Is fascinated with the way human bodies heal itself, hence why he picked elixirs as his major though there was another reason: because he wants to prove to his family that he’s a useful/crucial asset to the ongoing war. 

Actually has more natural affinity towards the transmutation branch of khemia but stubbornly chose to specialize in elixirs out of spite so people would stop comparing him and his other sibling who is adept in transmutation. 

Probably almost died when he foolishly tried to summon a demon to be his familiar but since it’s a successful summon he thought nothing of the danger he had put himself through. 

Sleeps with a gun under his pillows loaded with silver bullets after learning the existence of demons (after summoning one, unsure if it will even do the demons any harm but hey worth a shot).

More tba <3

Connections:

frenemies (0/2) 

someone who tries to befriend him just bc he's from a wealthy family or wants to get close to him bc of one of his older siblings (0/1)

someone that he end up tutoring (0/1)

roommate/dormmate. (0/2) you've known him since he first arrived to verum. you wondered why did this foolish young master came all the way down to the little town of cynefin on his own accord and how in the world was he to survive alone. this guy didn't even know how to dress up by himself!

you found one of his journals and liked his neat handwritings along with the life-like sketches of plants and potions materials drawn in there. he isn't too happy with you when you returned it back to him though.

you found him chilling on a branch of a tall tree. the sun is going down soon but he doesn't seem like he has any intention to climb down. you have a suspicion that he's actually stuck up there and doesn't know how to climb down.

more tba