#i love the joys and wonders around being aware i always have more to learn and the knowledge that there are things i will never know

[crwatters]

.

[bunji-enthusiast]

Hope you're doing well!! Please take however long you need to get your creative juices flowing <333 may I order a Dogday recognizing Poppy's Angel is actually the former Playtime Co. employee he and many others came to love and cherish due to their kindness? The reader is THAT employee that others envy, many of the toys LOVES them and prefer to be taken care of by them.

Maybe the reader had found out the sinister nature of the company but is understandably afraid to speak up about it as they realized their old co-workers maybe weren't just fired or " quit " out of thin air after all... Perhaps something happened behind the scenes that made the reader " quits " ( Maybe they could be threatened but by a lot of pleading and bargaining, they're spared but has to keep their mouth shut and never come back, otherwise... )

The toys are devastated, angry and just lots of mixed emotions. The reader feeling more and more guilty as they venture through their once happy place and having to harm the ones they once swore to care for.

The rest is up to you! Please again, take care and take your time, all the best in everything <333

I'm So Sorry

Note || oh my hearttt the angstttt, lovely to write this as always. In the form of head canons if that is alright? ^^

WC || 1,035

Sypnosis || you knew otherwise, presumably what went on. You just didn’t mean to harm those around you.

Being aware of something most employees where not had dug you a thorough grave, you didn’t want to leave your beloved friends in the toy factory. A factory misconstrued on a basement of lies and futility you may as well be well over with, and bury it in the ground. Yet, bury in the ground they did. 

Your superiors had learned of your knowledge of these things, and began sending letters. Bit by bit, they had only started off by threatening you; telling you to keep quiet. They didn’t want their precious reputation to be ruined by the likes of you. Still, you continued to stay, you didn’t want to leave your loved ones. All the friends you’ve come to love, eventually becoming like family for you.

You weren’t deaf nor blind to what the superiors at Playtime Co. do, quite literally you’d have to bandage your eyes or plug your ears to ignore all that was happening behind the scenes, you didn’t let it fall on deaf ears however. Eventually soon enough it was eating away at you to actually just quit, just straight up disappear from Playtime Co.’s eyes. 

Among the many toys; Huggy, Kissy, Mommy, and Poppy, hell even CatNap began to wonder where you went. Why did you flat-out depart from working at the Factory so suddenly? One day you were visible and present, the next you had not shown up. Oddly enough they soon had gotten their answer when the Hour Of Joy had occurred, Huggy Wuggy had come across your paper of termination when he had taken upon himself in the act.

So long ago, that was a decade past you left that life behind. You really wished you would have granted them goodbyes before you had gone, yet it seemed you got that chance to do so when you received a paper in the mail that had appeared to be from your co-workers. Word for word you could remember reading, everyone thinks the staff disappeared ten years ago, we’re still here. Find the flower.

The only reason you even had to come back to the factory in the first place was because of the guilt easily overwhelming your logic, you needed answers. You needed to know what happened to your co-workers and all the toys you cared deeply for, yet you had an overwhelming suspicion you really knew what happened to all the staff in Playtime Co. you simply just weren’t present for it. Having technically already left. 

Seeing Huggy Wuggy on the pedestal again brought back some memories for you, he was certainly a hoot. In a way, you really liked him along with the rest of the toys. He was certainly a unique one out of the few–especially along with Kissy Missy. You thought they were a cute pair together, Kissy always managed to calm his murderous tendencies and Huggy was always someone you can count on for a good hug if you ever had a bad day.

Killing is not something you would ever dare think of doing, it was simply not in your mind or blood to do so. So why did you have to resort to killing Huggy? You silently wept, having no time to grieve for him properly as you had to trudge on along to the flower.

Poppy was the last person (or toy, ahem) you expected to find in that case you came across. Now you find yourself in the game station, seeing her get pulled away like that right after she offered to give the code to you had you on the steels of your nerves, you were immediately very close to being in an angry mood. 

Now you had to deal with Mommy’s antics, you felt for her, but you certainly wouldn’t want to go through the trouble of trying to get the code from Mommy. Least of all having to resort to killing her, as she would not listen to your words. Convincing her was impossible to do, trying to make her remember you was a whole different story.

Crap.

Why’d she have to go in a rage? Now she’s dead too, and what in the seven circles of hell did she mean by “HE’LL MAKE ME PART OF HIM! YOU CAN’T DO THIS TO ME!” You shudder when a mechanical hand comes to pull away Mommy’s corpse, you mentally make a note that is the Prototype. As you’ve come to learn the name after you had scavenged Elliot’s office. 

Soon you learn what Mommy had meant, arguably enough you were angry that Poppy had derailed your only train to get out of Playtime Co. but your heart had ached too much to not finish what you started. Now CatNap was hunting you while you ran around in Playcare, you just never expected to see such an untimely sight that nobody should be put in.

DogDay was hurt, real bad. His legs were severed, he wasn’t long and limber like you remember him to be. His life seemed to be completely drained and sucked away from him, you wince when he moved, movement appeared to be harsh to even put energy into. Your heart bleeds for him, yet you are surprised when he actually recognizes you from before, all those years ago. 

“Angel, you! Y-You're the one that cared for so many of us.” You nod, parental instinct already kicking in to free him from his belts from which he hung from. DogDay doesn’t deserve a fate like this, not then and especially not now. “You don’t need to, leave me here.”

“Oh hell no, you need to live.” You refute, shushing him before DogDay begins to protest. You sigh in relief once he finally is free, as selfish as it may be, he hadn’t ever attempted to kill you. You wanted someone with you that actually remembers you and doesn’t try to gun for you the moment you even step into the vicinity.

Gosh, you really hoped to get this over with. Guilt weighing heavily in mind as you had to kill so many toys, so many that you cared for. 

At Least it meant to be in the name of self defense.

Right?

[hedwig221b]

For the fic recs, anything with babies please? Or just pregnant stiles?

I'm weeping I love kid!fics and mpreg!Stiles...

👶

Of Puppy Piles and Sugar Dreams by StarShineForMe

In which Isaac and Scott get de-aged, the pack must learn to bond and protect their own, and Derek ("Dewek!") and Stiles ("Sti-ewes!") are mates…even if it takes them forever and two toddlers to realize it.

“Oh, God.” Stiles buries his face in his hands, water dripping down his wrists.

“What? What’s wrong? Are you okay?” Derek whips out a towel, wrapping it around Stiles’ forearms, pulling them away from Stiles’ body so he can look them over.

“I’m fine,” Stiles says, a little blankly. Erica and Boyd have set Issac and Scott back onto the floor, tickling them both into fits of giggles. He huffs out a noise that’s not quite a whimper, not quite a laugh. “Just wondering when the hell I ended up in my very own episode of ‘Teen Mom’.”

The More That I Know You (the more I want to) by LadySlytherin

When death, in the form of hunters, comes for a family of Kelpies seeking refuge in the Preserve - in Hale territory - the Hale Pack is too late to save them. Before he dies, the male Kelpie presses a precious bundle into Stiles’ arms and begs the Emissary to take responsibility for it, which an initially reluctant Stiles does. When he agreed, Stiles had no idea what the sight of him with a baby would do to his esteemed Alpha, Derek. If he’d known, he might not have been so reluctant to agree.

The Alpha and his Spark by sandyde03

Stiles is pregnant. Derek is perpetually horny and possessive. Stiles is confused. Not by Derek sexing him up. He loves that. It’s the fact that ever since he started to show that he was with pup everyone has been avoiding his eyes.

Loving Isaac by QueenOfAngst21

A regular patrol around their land takes a turn for the worse when Derek and Isaac run into a unwanted visitor. Just when Derek thinks they are in the clear, he wakes to find not his beta beside him but a crying blonde haired baby right where he left Isaac. The pack stumbles over themselves as their alpha and emissary navigate this new dynamic and find each other along the way.

Last To Know by Never_Says_Die

Kink meme fill in which every werewolf and shapeshifter in Beacon Hills is aware that Stiles is pregnant before he is. And apparently the first baby!werewolf being born into the pack (their Alpha's, no less) is a big freakin' deal and excuse enough for everyone to lose their damn minds. When Stiles figures out why everyone's been acting so weird around him, he's not amused.

An Alpha's Baby by Dexterous_Sinistrous

It had been more than a year since Stiles had been home to Beacon Hills. Things didn't end well between him and Derek. And now, returning with a baby, Stiles starts to question if he really did the right thing and leave, or if he should have stayed.

Let your unfaithful weaving go by DarkAthena (seraphim_grace)

Every night Stiles goes into the feasting hall to work on the shroud he is making for his husband, knowing that the alphas circle him like sharks until he is inevitably forced to choose one to stand as his alpha and Eli's regent.

It's been four years and he doesn't know how much longer he can do this.

Fire, Fury, and Flame by IAmAVeronica

Stiles Stilinski was never going to be the omega who got knocked up right after high school, and then he's accidentally artificially inseminated with a stranger's sperm.

Awesome.

And the father of Stiles's baby just so happens to be Derek Hale. Half-feral, quite possibly a murderer, and pursued by a gleefully sadistic band of hunters who are only too eager to use Stiles and his baby to hit Derek right where it hurts.

Joy.

Shifts by gryvon

Stiles has what he's always secretly wanted - he's in a relationship with Derek and he's one of Derek's betas - but all that gets turned upside down when Gerard kidnaps him and his unexpected baby.

Be Strong by blacktofade

A hunter breaks into Stiles' house and Stiles deals with them.

Safe Place to Land by Green

The Hales have been tracking a group of hunters who've targeted small packs with the help of a magic user. When they finally attack the hunter compound, they aren't expecting to find Stiles, a Spark who's practically a slave, and his young werewolf son. Derek isn't expecting the Spark to be his mate, either.

Wolf Cub by moodwriter

A strange wolf is not supposed to touch another pack’s cub and that’s why, on a rescue mission, it’s Stiles’ job to take care of the wolf cub who’s curious about everything and everyone. Stiles is not used to werewolf children, and the pack is not used to Stiles taking care of a child. Their Alpha gets very confused about this, too.

Karma Is A Bitch by Brego_Mellon_Nin

Ironically, Stiles was just returning to his dorm after failed negotiations about a possible adoption agreement with a local pack, when he saw the fairy. She was cornered and he was unable to curb his protective instincts.

The fight was short and Stiles was left with only a blooming bruise on his jaw when the bullies scurried away. As a thank you, the fairy wanted to grant him a wish.

Who knew what a bit of fairy fertility magic could do?

Empty by DiscontentedWinter

Jordan Parrish is the new sheriff of Beacon Hills, a town haunted by its past.

Other fic recs: pack mom!Stiles | angsty fics | possessive Derek | historical AU | outsider POV | smut | mafia | hurt/comfort | magical!Stiles | Stiles gets kicked out of the pack

[littlemissayu]

“YOU SPOKE!!” – Their kids first words (Night Raven 3rd Years-Malleus & Lilia)

A/n: Yes I ‘m well aware I haven’t updated/posted my other oc request from my event, even though it ended over a month ago BUT it’s getting done and I will try to finish as fast as I can. I ‘m just posting this because it’s been delayed forever and I need something to get my writing juices going.

If you see me mention gender it’s based off of my Twst boys as Parents series that you can find here!!

Warnings: FEM! Reader, pregnancy,domestic fluff, babies(ofc), google translate translations, I’m only doing their first kids/first set of kids

pairing(s):3rd Years x fem!Reader(separate/romantic)

Yummy/Delicious- Hears you say it everytime Trey makes a really good baked treat(aka all the time). Now I know delicious is probably a hard word for a baby to say which is why I also have ‘yummy’. They say it for the first time after Trey gives them a small part of a macaroon. You could just see how Trey’s eyes lit up when he heard his little one speak for the first time!!

Smile!!/Cheese!!- The two of you (mostly Cater) always say these phrases to your kids, so it’s no surprise when their first words are smile and cheese. With the family album(that I 100% believe Cater would start making once you get pregnant). When Cater heard his babies speak for the very first time he got super sentimental and excited calling you over(if you weren’t already there)

Papa!- Now this is solely based on my personal headcanon that Leona’s first kid would be a girl and a total Daddy’s girl. Always with him, even though you carried her for 9 MONTHS, homegirl got evicted from the womb and wanted to follow around papa. I also believe this happened as he was getting something and turned his back to her so she tried to get his attention. His ears immediately shoot up and his eyes open wide. He instantly picks up his cub and rushes over to you to tell you what your daughter just said. But dw, her next word ended up being mama. Is so proud of his little girl~

Pretty!- You’re always saying this to your husband so she eventually just picks up on it. Also hears other people saying it about either you or Vil; not to mention you and Vil do occasionally call her “pretty girl”. So she’s just surrounded by the word so it's no shocker when it’s her first word. Vil just beamed at his daughter, truly feeling the sentiment. His little girl, his pride and joy has spoken for the first time BUTTTT sadly he wasn’t there to witness it. So all that happened when he came back from work. He almost left early after you told him over the phone. But he could be more proud of his kleiner engel.

Up!!- Now this is because this little Hunt loves being picked up, especially when her father is flying on his broom. They love the feeling of being high up and flying through the sky with her father. Rook is always open to giving his petit oiseau what they ask. When his little one said their first words he couldn’t help but outburst with joy. He couldn’t stop praising them for speaking, then when you came in or called out to him/your child, he began praising you for giving this wonderful child.

Play!!/Uh oh- Now 2 things to establish, 1. Ik “uh oh isn’t a word” but I’m just gonna have to count it and I will explain why 2. Why are there 2 different words, well if you read this fic here!!, you’ll learn that I believe Idia has twin boys therefore I wrote 2 different words. Now onto my explanation; for ‘play’ it just makes sense, sitting on his dad’s lap watching him play games that say and display the word ‘play’ on the title screen ofc that would be his kid’s first word it just makes sense. Now for your other twin boy this was his first “word” because whenever Idia gets frustrated on the game at a certain point he hears you say “uh oh”, meaning “Dad’s about to burst”. They also have learnt(bc they're a very smart child) that they can use this for other times when something is about to go wrong so they do say it when something might go wrong. Idia seemed nonchalant at first place but then a smile grew on Idia’s face from his adorable talking twins.<3

Heartsabyul Masterlist

Savanaclaw Masterlist

Pomefiore Masterlist

Ignihyde Masterlist

[fairvstairs]

ANDREIL WITH KIDS!

So I've seen a lot of people say that Neil and Andrew wouldn't be good with kids/wouldn't like them but I think that it's much more complicated than that.

Of course I don't view them as the types to see kids and go "OMG so cute I want to hug them" but I also don't think they would hate them on sight. I have spent my life basically surrounded by children and let me tell you, some of them? They are really little shits. But after all, they are just tiny people, you are gonna find some assholes.

Kids are so much more complicated than people make them out to be and it really pisses me off. They are learning how to be in this world so they basically copy the behavior they see in the people around them, good or bad. They want attention, they want to have fun, they want to be loved, they want to explore and, most importantly, children want to trust.

("I was seven, I believed him.")

They don't understand 'stranger danger' or why someone would want to hurt someone else and some of them manage to become amazing human beings even if they didn't have a good role model.

So I think that if Andrew ever stumbled upon a kid crying his eyes out because he misses his mommy he wouldn't be annoyed. A child feels safe with his parent. What's wrong with that? And Neil looking at a child play, run, laugh, be happy, wondering when all that joy was beat out of him.

And the other foxes' kids? Children with parents that weren't supposed to make it but fought hard as hell to maintain their place in the world when everybody kept trying to steal it from them?

The Foxes know Neil and Andrew, they learn how to behave around them when everybody thinks they are just rude (they still have bad days) and their kids learn too. Especially because I don't think any of them are gonna be strict parents so the little ones understand that when they say "no" they really mean it.

The first years are hard, they do nothing but eat, sleep, cry their lungs out, poop, throw up on everybody and drool while making sounds that Matt swears he understands ("It's their way of communicating!"). Neil doesn't really like being around them, not since a random kid got scared after looking at his face, but his nieces and nephews (don't argue with me on this) grow used to him pretty quickly and really like the texture of his skin, because of the scars. Andrew treats them slightly better than he would any other adult: he doesn't talk much around them but he's always aware of every move they make. He picks them up when no one else is around and plays make-believe with them, he spoils them with sweets ("Andrew! Now he's never gonna go to sleep." "That seems like a you problem.") and often insults their parents.

Things get easier over the years and, before you know it, Neil and Andrew are the go-to for every problem the kids, now teenagers, have. It goes from "Uncle Andrew do you want to help me pick a dress for the prom?" to "I think my friend is in a really dangerous situation at home, what should I do?". The kids slowly become their own people but the foxes never stop protecting them. Every single one of them makes sure that all the kids get to have what they didn't.

I don't think Andrew and Neil would ever have kids of their own but they are bound to retire someday. Maybe Andrew starts to work in child services and maybe Neil becomes a little league coach, it doesn't really matter to them what they do as long as they give these children second chances. Second, third, fourth, whatever, as long as they get at least one more than what anyone else wanted to give them.

-

Not trying to push a "yay kids!" agenda on you but I'm just tired of people hating children for being children. The foxes would be very disappointed.

(If you already saw this, no you didn't)

[writingforatwistedworld]

For Vil: H, I, J, please! I’m very interested in the Housewarden’s mindset as a yandere

Self-aware au

I do not take any responsibility for you reading this no matter which age group you are from!

WARNINGS: Yandere themes, manipulation, imprisonment, murder, poison, unhealthy relationship

H, I, J

Hell: What would be their darling’s worst experience with them?

Being put on a way too high pedestal

It’s not like Vil would do this on purpose

It’s actually the oppesite

He praises you constantly, telling you how perfect you are

It’s nice and all when your partner tells you that they love every single part about you but nothing comes close to the extent Vil does

For a normal person like you it is absolutely impossible to be what he envisions that you are

And when you tell him that this is too much he is going on and on how humble you are

Safe to say you will never be able to climb this mountian

Vils fans

Many of them understand that Vil is also just another human being who wants some love in his life

And then there are also like “DON’T TOUCH MY VI-VI!”

To be fair, Vil also dislikes those fans a lot but there isn’t much he can do

So he does try to keep your relationship private but there is only so much someone like him can do

If you didn’t have the same experience as the NRC cast (aka meeting your vessel Yuu, getting to know you through Yuu) it can be a bit hard to figure out at first glance that you are the Overseer

So even that isn’t necessary some sort of protection for you

Just avoid crowds and learn how to make yourself look like someone else entirely with make-up

Vils fretting over you

“OH MY GOODNESS IS THAT A PAPERCUT??!”-Vil Schoenheit, model with 5 million followers

To say that he is always worried would be an understatement

He just wants to make sure you are always taken care of, ok?

Well guess who isn’t so thrilled about that? Ding ding ding! Ten points for the right answer! You

I’m not talking about a few minutes of attentio. I’m talking about him coming back to Pomefiore and then it starts for the entire rest of the day

And it’s not like you can tell him that it’s too much

That would be just rude and we also don’t want to know what happen if you ever were to take that “privilege” away from him

Ideals: What kind of future do they have in mind for/with their darling?

A “normal” relationship

You know, getting registered on the paper, being able to go out with you, yada yada

Sadly he is not able to enjoy this at the moment since he has to shield you from the more problematic part of his following

Why the “ “?

Well because in that vision you are not really having any contact to anyone besides him

Unconscious manipulation is also a normal thing, the world is evil you know? Only he is on your side

Maybe if you ask nicely he will get you a goldfish or somethign like that. You know, to talk to

One where he isn’t interrupted

At the moment the young model still has to study and also take care of his more or less dormant career

So “sadly” to your joy he can’t be there all the time

If worst would come to worst he would step down from his job

He has so much money he could probably pay easily for everything Ruggies family needs for fifty years

Man just wants to spend every minute of his life with you

Whether you want it or not does not matter

One in which you love him enough for him to stop feeding you secretly potions

Have you ever wondered why you are still here with him even though he is so overbearing?

Well congrats! You just broke through the effects of one of Vils potions

He hates it, ok? He hates it to always tiptoe around you so he can put it in your drinks

Vil thinks he has no chance with you, perfection itself, so he sees no other way but to cheat a bit

So the next time you see him with a heartbroken look on his face you know what he just did

Jealousy: Do they get jealous? Do they lash out or find a way to cope?

Easily jealous

I would like to remind you that he has a background as an actor

This means you won’t even know that he is jealous… until it’s too late

The sight of others being around you, looking at you, being close to you, potentially taking his spot besides you

It makes his blood boil

If he didn’t have a reputation to uphold he would have fed all of them apples a long time ago, and those do not keep doctors away

If you look really close and are Rook you might see his muscles being a little more tense than usual so… Nah, no way you can spot this sign early enough

Bettering himself

Vils jealousy stems from a place of fear

What if you were to find someone better than him?

So he takes it out on himself… and a teeny tiny bit on you

He wakes up earlier, runs longer in the morning, sees something ugly in something totally normal

You know, the unhealthy stuff

With him raising his standards for himself he also raises his for you

Suddenly that papercut isn’t just a papercut (to which he already reacts way too much) but a stab wound in your side

He goes from mother hen to Bridezilla before a wedding… just in a caretaker sense

Snapping

If you don’t see the signs even then he will snap

Full on reenactment of Snow White

No need to worry why he gave you that apple. It’s good for your health!

Two seconds before catastrophe struck

So whilst you lay there, your vision going dark, you can still see his visage torn by a unnatural wide smile

If he can’t have you no one can

And if eternal sleep is the only solution to you never leaving him then so be it!

[lets-try-some-writing]

I had to ask this bc your teacher Optimus AU has me by the throat.

How would Optimus handle students or faculty who are just plain assholes to the people around them? I can’t help but think that it would be less of a righteous fury (oh he’d definitely be angry, but not just angry) and more of a mournful pity. You are so young, so small and so few in your years, he might think. Why would you give them all to misery? Why do you choose to see only the darkness in peoples hearts when there is so much beauty left in your world?

I'm so glad you like this AU! It similarly has me in a chokehold demanding I write more XD Also love this whole thought of Optimus being so old that he can't even really be mad and just disappointed.

Previous part here.

Children, All of Them

As a general rule Optimus greatly enjoyed his job as a teacher. It was a welcome relief from the weight of war and the burden of his position as Prime. It brought back old memories of better times when he was just the Head Archivist working cycle in and cycle out to teach and to catalogue. Being able to share the joys of his passion and the history of his people was something he found no end of happiness participating in. It certainly helped that many of his students and co-workers were wonderful people either just trying to get by or working hard because of their love for learning or teaching.

However not every student and faculty member Optimus worked with was a ray of sunshine.

He was well aware of the fact that he would likely have less than pleasant individuals around him at times. As such he had long prepared himself to handle aggression in the way that such feelings normally presented themselves on Cybertron. He was fully prepared to endure unsettling EM fields, threatening messages, non-verbal insults, quiet battles of wit, subtle touches that were intended to be painful, and much much more. On Cybertron aggression among the more civil members of society was always a near silent affair and never made explicitly public. It was always a dangerous game played between the involved parties and no others, at least if one knew the rules of high society.

Optimus was ready, that is until he came to the rather saddening realization that these humans, these infants in his mind were far less reasonable in expressing their distaste.

Every student and co-worker of his had bad days, it was to be expected and he always did what he could to help them. If a fellow teacher was stressed with work, he would take some of it from them and help them get things in order. If cleaning staff were stuck with too much to do and feeling disheartened, Optimus would remain behind long after hours to assist and bring out some snacks for them to thank them for their efforts. Almost the entirety of his paycheck went straight back into gifts for his fellow teachers and his students. He just wanted them all to be as happy as possible as they worked. Teaching and study should be fun, not a struggle just to endure.

His efforts usually solved the problem fairly quickly, however there were a few individuals who just refused to be reasonable.

The vice principle was a piece of work and reminded Optimus far more of a youngling just getting a taste of power for the first time. The man was strict, demanding, and made it his life's mission to try and find a way to force Optimus to teach traditionally even if it was less effective. For whatever reason he despised the way Optimus taught and the level of sympathy he showed to his student. Optimus of course held a degree of understanding, but was also left confused as to why. What was so wrong about children enjoying his teaching that it would cause the vice principle to dislike him so much?

His efforts to reach out to the vice principle and try to smooth out any misunderstandings only ended with threats of being fired. Optimus was not unaccustomed to people abusing their power, and so he let the situation be and instead focused on his students. However as the vice principle kept on digging further and further, trying hard to find a reason to get Optimus fired, the time for remaining inactive ended.

Thus one day he stepped out with the vice principle and went with the man to his office to talk. The vice principle was so very smug when he sat down thinking that Optimus intended to concede and give up his way of teaching. However instead Optimus pulled out an old datapad he had resized and styled and pulled up images of earth in all its beauty. Many of the pictures were of children laughing and playing, learning, growing, and overall enjoying life. The vice principle didn't understand and was prepared to lash out when Optimus allowed a hint of his nature to shine through his holoform. EM fields could not be sensed by humans the same way they were by Cybertronians, but the waves carried emotion and tone well enough to be vaguely felt.

Optimus: Why do you struggle so bitterly against my teaching methods?

Vice Principle: Its against protocol and makes the students more unruly! They need discipline and control, not fun and games!

Optimus: Children are just that, children. They are unburdened by the woes that come from age. They are pure and see the world in such an innocent way. They will lose that gift as they age, yet you wish to strip it from them sooner?

Vice Principle: What are you on about?

Optimus: Children are a gift, a glorious one that must be protected and tended to with utmost care. While yes, children do need a firm guiding hand to ease them along the path of life, they deserve the chance to enjoy their freedom while they have it.

Vice Principle: This is school! Not a playground! It is not a place to goof around, it is a place of learning!

Optimus: Yes, it is a place of learning, thus it should be adjusted to suit the children should it not? It is the greatest honor and burden one can bear to have the chance to mold the minds of the youth. They are our future, and having them live without joy will only induce a cycle of depression that will continue onward with them.

Vice Principle: I'm your superior! Just do your job and stop making a mess of things!

Optimus: Why is it that you dislike seeing the children joyful? Are you fearful that you will no longer be respected if they are not treated like young soldiers? Respect is something that is earned and gained through trial and action, not mere titles.

Vice Principle: This is slander!

Optimus: Is it? Your lives are so very short. Your world is beautiful and unmarred by the ravages of a war greater than you could ever understand. Appreciate the little joys in this life young one. It will not last, and neither will you.

Vice Principle: GET OUT!

Optimus got nowhere with the vice principle and he couldn't even bring himself to be truly angry at the man. He was youthful, drunk on power, and desperate to have as much control as possible. He was a product of the broken system of education he tried so hard to enforce. He was just like the delusional mecha that lorded over Cybertron, thinking themselves greater than all others purely because of their titles.

It was disappointing, but there was little Optimus could do if even his presence as a Prime did nothing to sway the man. More than anything else, he felt pity for the man. He was just a sad human who had not the years to know his actions nor the wisdom to be able to observe and see as Optimus did. A broken child lost in a broken system that he had never escaped from.

How very disheartening.

Of course the issues were not just with the vice principle. There was one other human who simply could not be consoled or convinced to behave, that being the boy who called himself Vince. He was a cocky, overclocked, and overconfident young man who had no issues flaunting his possessions and skillset even when it was the wrong time. He was exactly like the nobles back on Cybertron, and that brought a sickening sense to Optimus's mind at the thought of the boy turning out just like the cruel nobles that doomed his homeworld. He did not want to watch this infant race doom themselves through the same methods his people had.

They were still so young, so innocent, and lived lives far too short to be wasted on such foolish things. It hurt his spark and made him angry in a more disappointed way than anything else when he watched Vince harass his classmates and flaunt despite performing poorly outside of his motor skills. He was not fond of the child's seeming obsession with going after Jack who was one of most successful students. There was no reason for the behavior other than the fact that Jack showed an interest in getting a vehicle while Vince already had one. There also appeared to be an underlying conflict over courtship for a young female, but to Optimus it was ridiculous. The children were far too young for that. The behavior needed to be cut at the bud before it could grow into something like the vice principle.

Thus he took the boy aside after school one day and sat him down. Vince of course offered no respect whatsoever and only served to make Optimus sigh. So young, so foolish, and so very arrogant. The boy needed a wakeup call before things got worse for him later down the road.

Optimus: Vince, do you know why I pulled you aside?

Vince: No, but its probably for something stupid.

Optimus: You've been treating everyone around you poorly. Don't think I haven't noticed.

Vince: So what? They're all losers anyway!

Optimus: That is not a good way to view your peers child. They are all gifted in their own ways, just as you are.

Vince: Of course I'm gifted! I'm one of the best racers in Jasper! Those nobodies can't stand a chance against me!

Optimus: You put so much pride into you ability to race. Why is that? Do you fear being unable to succeed elsewhere? Or is it perhaps a false sense of entitlement?

Vince: What do you know old timer? You look like you walked off a movie set from world war 2! I bet you can't even drive more than twenty miles per hour without putting your hazard lights on!

Optimus: You are so very arrogant. Do you not realize just how harmful this mindset is?

Vince: Whatever old man!

Optimus: ...

Optimus: If that is how you wish to behave, then I will not stand for it. If you want respect, you must earn it. Get your car, I will prove to you that your pride is misplaced.

Vince: What? Are you serious?

Optimus: I am completely serious. Meet me out at the tracks and I will make my point.

Vince was shocked, but Optimus paid it no mind. Vince was a child that would only learn through force, and Optimus was not afraid to use it. Thus he absorbed his holoform and moved his real frame out. The team were bewildered to the point of Bumblebee tagging along just to see what was going on and report back. Not a spark expected half the school to be out at the tracks with Vince waiting with his sports car.

Optimus had his holoform step out and Vince gave him a look that screamed of confidence. He was so very sure he could beat Optimus with his vehicle, but Optimus merely shook his held and got into his vehicle as a student readied an airhorn to signal the start of the race. Bumblebee watched from his own holoform in confusion but also a bit of awe as Optimus obliterated Vince without even trying. The boy was left defeated and bitter to the point of marching off before Optimus could get a word in.

The legend of Mr. Pax grew and he was given a fine for misconduct, but beyond that Vince continued to be rude to all his classmates. However surprisingly he left Optimus alone and stopped what he was doing whenever Optimus came near. It wasn't much, and honestly it didn't fix much, but it was improvement to a degree.

The humans were so young, yet so bitter. They were so hopeful, yet so prideful. They were the embodiment of younglings just getting their pedes under themselves.

Children, all of them.

[smilingangel582]

Yooo I'm still at a loss for the links and I'm sorry guys...I'm such a clutz, hehe~

☆anyway never mind that let's go down a other roller coaster of tickles with genshin impact. I wanted to right for Kaveh but loss inspiration at the moment... so guys pls bear with me I'll be writing for sweet kaveh soon!

Warning spoilers for fontaine version 4.0!

Ps. Are my fics so bad that Lyney still refuses to come to me!!! I want him, so I'll keep on writing till he comes to me! Heck, his C3 sister is waiting too nyaaaahaaa~

Magic is a performance of art with picturesque illusions. Lyney often became overwhelmed by Caeser's joy in magic as he taught him several aspects of it. Indeed, he began to love it as well... especially playing tricks on others' minds as he played on.

It'd often the smaller ones thst excited kids more. Picking mora from their ears, picking flowers out from under his cloak, he could fo ample things just to get the audience happy.

It's usually days when the big magic tricks would begin, most unexpectedly he feels nervous though he had a knack for avoiding troublesome thoughts. Only Lynette read him like a book...

"Lyney!"

The sharp tone made him look up instantly, startled by his loss of awareness as he was sipping tea at his place with the traveller. Freminet was missing as always, being engrossed in diving - perhaps he ought to learn how to relax from him as well.

Ever since the trial, he became anxious about doing grand performances. He did perfect it at practice, but...he was worried if someone would sabotage his show again and create another victim...

Seeing Aether tilt his head in question to ask how he's feeling, Lyney chuckled sheepishly. "Oh dear, sorry to zone out like this... I may have been preoccupied by the fact that Paimon's not tired of floating around"

"Hey, Paimon's floating his similar to you guys walking, you know!"

Seeing her indignant reaction, he thought he had drawn their attention away from him. Still, Lynette didn't even make an attempt to sound accusing as she calmly said, "You're rigid, brother... perhaps you're nervous after all"

"W-what..? Surely you jest... I'm just more concerned about Paimon's logic to floating, " his face darkened as he lowered his head to the side to avoid any misgivings though the opposite just convoluted.

"Hey, you better not mess with Paimon!" Paimon, being Paimon, ignorantly grumbled in her chirpy voice, sounding offended presumably. Still, Aether could sense his offensive tactic being seen through. He might find it more intriguing to see past the crumbling defence he built desperately...

He shook his head now. "Lyney, we're close enough to see through your act..."

"Ah, drats..." he smiled weakly, seeing how his sister and the traveller were onto him. Keeping his tea cup to its original place on the table, he began to reason.

Now his solid defence has a crack...

"Alright, alright, guys... I am human, so I'll admit I am nervous after the water tank incident, " he offered. Now Lynette stated slight concern in her cool tone,"It's not the same trick... so why are you that worried?"

Sighing, he bit his lip, as if he got scolded by a teacher, "Making mistakes, I guess?"

Aether noticed his stiffness. He could tell the young magician must have been traumatised by the death of Cowell. Either way, they came here to cheer him on. He wondered if he could do anything for him... something to perk him up.

"Lyney" Aether began now gesturing to Paimon. "Allow Paimon to massage your shoulders... to make you relax... she's good at that"

Paimon gasped at Aether audacity to make a request unbeknowst to her, "You little! Of course, you put this on Paimon...!"

Regardless, her starry gaze genuinely desired to help, so she began "Alright Lyney let Paimon loosen you up"

Lyney anxiously waved a hand. "Oh n-no need... It's not really necessary... I really don't have stiff shoulders..."

(Cute...)

Aether rolling his eyes said, "Come on Lyney, no more secrets its obvious they are stiff..."

Before Lyney could evade the offer, Paimon was already behind him. "Relaaax, Paimon is an expert masseur. She can make you lose your fears in a snap!" She removed the pegged Cape so easily, and began to descend.

Until he staggered away, immediately stiffened by her gentle fingers reaching for his shoulders.

"D-dont Paimon... its not necessary"

She couldn't even touch him when he slid off from the couch only to stand and face her, Paimon pouted "Awww but can't you trust Paimon?"

"I...uh... It's not t-trust..."

Lynette, seeing the obvious issue and she finally pointed out, "It's not you, Paimon. He's got ticklish shoulders..."

"Lynette!!"

The casual reply made him blush but only to let Paimon's curious eyes widen in wonder. She waves her arms in frantic excitement "Nooo way Lyney! You didn't tell us your ticklish!"

Extremely nervous, he lowered his hat to hide the blush "A-Arent we all Paimon...?"

Most of Paimon's giggled converted to menacing titters as she wiggled her fingers. "So come here and let Paimon make you relax in a better way"

He had not expected this situation to collapse on him like this. He backed a little too far to bump into a seated Aether's knees and fell, half on his lap.

"Oh dear my apologihihihiies -Wahahait!" He struggled to sit up and grab Aether's sneaking fingers prodding his sides.

His squeaks contagiously threatened to leave his lips as Aether was mischievous as well.

"Are the fatuus this weak to tickling? I must say that's a bit disadvantageous"

Paimon, floating towards Lyney's upper body, began to perform her special tickly massage on his shoulders "Waiit for Paimon Aether, she wants to tickle him too!"

"Ahahha guys plehehehease" he curled now bur Aether grabbed his hips and snickered at the stream of loud and sweet giggles, "as I was saying... we could make you spill any little secret from the house of the hearth right?"

"Ihihihin your dreheheeheams I'm nohohot thahahahat weheheheheak"

"Ahhh, tsk, tsk it's not about being weak... It's about how ticklish you are, " he taunted by kneading his ribs with pure intent to torture information out of him.

Poor Lyney, on the other hand, tried to roll to the ground, but Aether got up and pinned him further to the couch, now both of the ganging on him where he's cornered.

"Lynehehehehtte!" The twin sister peacefully finishes her tea before saying,"It's ironic how his worst spots are the most exposed areas. His armpits and thighs are pretty bad, you know"

Hearing this intel Paimon snickered "ehehehehe let Paimon excell her Paimonial wrath! Your armpits are Paimons now!!!" She charged in yo perfectly fit her small hands into his delicate armpits, she even blowed at his neck to make him squeal and hiccup into louder giggles and laughs.

"This was just to make you relax, so..." Aether teasingly swiped a finger over his thighs suddenly, making him shrill in shock and squeak, "Pleheheheease!"

"So no... at least not today, " he said this, and Paimon reluctantly backed off."That was for making fun of Paimon!"

Chuckling at her ridiculous high pitched complain Aether now cupped his cheeks to get a better look at his adorably blushing red face. "Teyvat to Lyney... you there~"

He still giggled as he said "Aaha yes, I must thank you, but... that was a bit much, wasn't it"

Meanwhile, Lynette coolly expressed, "Ignore him. He loves being tickled so you guys can knock yourselves out"

Lyney flustered now "Y-You can't just...!"

"Oh really?" Aether grabbed his shoulders now making him stiffen again "I thought I found a knot right here? Guess Paimon's masseur skills are still lacking"

"Hey!" One from Paimon.

"HEHehehey!" Another from a bewildered Lyney who giggled at the light touch now trying to move away.

"Ahahaha nohohot again! Nohohot thehehhe shoulders ahahahaha aehehehehther!"

"Let the magic begin!" Lynette smirked, joining the finale of wrecking her brother. None of them have the intention of letting Lyney go until he's cheered and satisfied.

Well... not that Lyney wanted it to stop... he liked this feeling...

[dotster001]

Changing Tides

Summary: Self aware au by @yandere-daze . Eichi thinks you're finally ready to accept the life he's given you. But war is coming...

CW: Yandere, implied Stockholm syndrome(at least the beginning of it)

A/N: um....sorry to those of you who were following this series... it's been a long time since I updated it...hope you're all still here 😭

Chapters: One Two Three Five

He had invited Wataru to a dinner to celebrate their anniversary. But it was secretly for another purpose.

"It's time," he said, standing up from his seat, his stomach fluttering in excitement as he observed Wataru's confused but ecstatic grin.

He walked to the nearby door, opening it to reveal you. Dressed in finery, and looking better than you had in months. Still skeptical, but less so than before. No longer terrified. Healthy. Radiant.

"Amazing," Wataru whispered, seemingly scared to speak too loud. He slowly approached, reaching out to you, but hesitating until you gave a nod.

He fell to his knees, grabbing the hem of your shirt and sobbing into your stomach.

"I'm so honored to be able to bask in your presence," he said through shuddered sobs. You looked over to Eichi, a pleading expression on your face, but he couldn't do anything, not when the sight before him was filling his heart with so much joy. His God and his lover.  Together. Embracing. Life was so wonderful. If he hadn't been religious before now, this would have awoken something in him.

He finally gave in to the urge to hold the two of you close, wrapping his arms around you, and bringing you both down to Wataru's level. Tears began to fall from his own eyes, and soon, all three of you were crying together. He was certain after the months of trying to "fix" you, you were crying for different reasons than them, but you weren't fighting.

So he could ask for nothing more.

For now.

With a bang, the moment was ruined.

"Beloved Emperor!" A voice called out.

Eichi immediately stood, moving into a defensive position in front of you and Wataru. The worst had come to pass. The entirety of Eden had broken into his home, just when he had finally brought you out from isolation.

He could fight someone.

He could kill someone.

"Saegusa," he hissed through a painfully gritted smile.

"You have stolen something that's not yours. Our beloved Y/N belongs to all of us…or, at least," he grinned, "Y/N belongs to those of us who can properly take care of them."

"Ah! I just want to hold them!" Hiyori whispered to Jun, who was the only thing holding him back. 

"Soon," Jun whispered back. He had originally planned to follow Ibara's plan and negotiate. But now that he'd seen you, in person, he realized he'd fight anyone just to keep you to himself and Hiyori.

Nagisa, meanwhile, couldn't even speak. All he could do was stare. You were everything he'd imagined, and more. He had not been this at peace since you'd vanished.

So Ibara was left to negotiate alone. And part of him was pleased with this. He would always be the best at it. And besides…if he could show you his worth….

"We have discussed it with various other units, and we are in agreement. You cannot hoard the producer. They belong to the people."

You stiffened, but he couldn't let that stop him. He'd come too far.

Once you were in his arms, you'd learn how to love him. That's just how his beloved producer was.

"To put it plainly, there's two of you, and we have an army. Even if you manage to defeat us, another army who will be far less kind to you, is being formed as we speak. Take us to war, but know it will only end in heartbreak for you. And for our radiant producer."

You released a whimper, the tension of the room was getting to you. And despite how Eichi had been slowly trying to prove to you that no one meant you any harm, the threat of "war" was bringing back Anzu's initial brainwashing. You had to leave this room. You weren't safe here.

"Please! It would be such a good Hiyori if I could hold them," Hiyori whispered seductively into Jun's ear, hoping to appeal to his softer side, particularly as you began to shake. No one seemed to notice but him, all of them focused on the confrontation.

"Soon, I promise," Jun hissed, not sure if he could hold himself back any longer.

Eichi could only hope Wataru was calming you down. He wasn't watching you, his attention solely on Eden as he stared them down, but he knew what this had to be doing to you. And he'd worked so hard…

Suddenly, you released a singular choked sob, and he spit out, "I'm sure we can negotiate."

"You're so wise!" Ibara said with a grin, seating himself at the table that Eichi had been happily having his dinner at moments ago.

"Valkyrie, 2wink, and Crazy B would all like to share a slice of the producer's time. Akatsuki and Mam have chosen to remain neutral until we have settled into a deal, and the rest are preparing to take down your home, your life, everything, in favor of "rescuing" the producer. Though, I'm certain once they got a hold of them, they wouldn't be able to let go, no matter how good their intentions."

He said the last part to frighten you into submission, but it wasn't a lie. He'd spent little time in your presence and was already ready to throw out the deal, his career, and his own unit mates.

"Eve, you may do as you wish," the wild cards of his unit rushed to you, cooing in your ear, and petting your hair, Jun gently holding your hand, Hiyori sliding into your lap, and nuzzling into you in search of affection. 

And Wataru? Well, he never minded sharing his god. Your beauty deserved to be shared! It's why he loves his life the way he did!

"Sit, emperor. We have much to discuss, and we are running out of time to do so."

Eichi bit his lip, sitting at the table and preparing for what would be a painful discussion.

Tag list- @byakuren100

[cabinofimagines]

Pipabeth's ABCs

I would ask the anon to ask a lil more politely next time, but then again it did take a year and some to get to. Welp, not getting paid anyways. Pairing: Poly!Pipabeth x reader, Piper Mclean x reader x Annabeth Chase Request: could you write pipabeths ABCs if you already haven't thank Warnings: None Word count: 2k - Asnyox

Activities - What do they like to do with their s/o? How do they spend their free time with them?

Both Annabeth and Piper really enjoy being active together, and love to take you with them. Whether it's training, a hike, or visiting an architecturally cool building or monument. Piper tends to whip out the more 'childish' activities- going to a playground or doing silly crafts, while Annabeth tends to prefer going to museums. And what do you bring to the table? That's up to you of course.

Beauty - What do they admire in their s/o? What do they think is beautiful about them?

Neither Piper or Annabeth have ever considered physical beauty as the most important in a person. Piper did at first consider how you looked, but it was quickly outshined by the kindness you showed to those around you. Annabeth tends to fall more for the moments of unconventional beauty- you waking up, safe in her arms, or after a fight, both Piper and you dirty. You couldn't be more beautiful than in those moments.

Comfort - How would they help their s/o when they feel down/have a panic attack etc.?

Both of your girlfriends are amazing at comforting you, Annabeth has years of experience in dealing with bad emotions and Piper has learned a trick or two, not to mention her charmspeak working wonders. Although she has realized that charmspeak tends to not have you deal with your feelings, so they would come back later.

Dreams - How do they picture their future with their s/o?

Piper and Annabeh have rather differing dreams- Piper wishes to be free of responsibility and image, free to go whenever and travel around as long as she can. Annabeth wishes to make something permanent, because even if her suffering is forgotten, her buildings would never be. But, neither has taken the initiative to talk about it, they are aware that they clash, but for now being together is enough. Where the relationship fits in their own dreams they do not know yet, and they are scared to figure it out.

Equal - Are they the dominant one in the relationship, or rather passive?

Annabeth likes being in control, she knows what she wants and how to get there. Piper is less so, she doesn't mind following as it's sometimes easier to simply trust her lovers to plan things. It means less worries for her. It doesn't stop her from organizing impromptu activities, so be prepared for those.

Fight - Would they be easy to forgive their s/o? How are they fighting?

Fights would be rather explosive- not loud, but aggressive anyways. Annabeth has her pride she hangs on to and finds it hard to admit fault, unless it's glaringly her fault. Piper becomes petty about it, perhaps she walks away but keeps glaring, and does not want to talk to either of you. Forgiveness doesn't come easily in this relationship, and it will always take time for fights to truly get resolved.

Gratitude - How grateful are they in general? Are they aware of what their s/o is doing for them?

They never let any help they get go unappreciated. Piper is very vocal about her thanks, and Annabeth likes to repay your favors by doing something in return. Either way, they are aware of what you do for them, as it always fills them with joy whenever you care for them.

Honesty - Do they have secrets they hide from their s/o? Or do they share everything?

Piper finds it hard to keep secrets from either of you, she often shares it whenever something is bothering her and found that sharing means sometimes she can get help that she didn't know she needed. Annabeth has a harder time- she trusts the two of you, but she's been on her own for so long and sees weakness in sharing and strength in overcoming her own troubles.

Inspiration - Did their s/o change them somehow, or the other way around? Like trying out new things or helped them overcome personal problems?

Annabeth is slowly learning to be less perfect, that her flaws are allowed and that she can depend on her lovers if she needs it. Piper is also coming to terms with who she is, and what her identity means to her. She has been working on it before you got together, but she has to admit that it's getting easier with your support.

Jealousy - Do they get jealous easily? How do they deal with it?

Once again Piper and Annabeth are opposites. Annabeth feels secure in the relationship and trusts the both of you with her life, along with her heart. However, she does love showing the both of you off whenever someone is getting too comfortable with you. Piper gets jealous more easily, she has lost things over and over and feels weird and bad to see either of you go. She hasn't admitted these feelings yet, but she is aware it's something she should work on.

Kiss - Are they a good kisser? What was the first kiss like?

Piper, as a daughter of Aphrodite, has somehow a natural skill with kissing, and every kiss you share is amazing. Even the first kiss wasn't awkward at all, even if the tension was. Annabeth's kisses are less skilled but feel very good and comfortable whenever they happen.

Love Confession - How would they confess to their s/o?

It wasn't really planned, but Piper had taken the both of you out, not on a date, but somewhere midday she realized maybe she wanted it to be a date. Thus, she asked, and both Annabeth and you were surprised but agreed. It was nice and casual, with little overthinking.

Memory - What’s their favourite memory together?

There is not one memory either of your girlfriends hold dearer than the others. Every day is filled with new ones. Perhaps Annabeth will mention simply surviving the war, or Piper will tell you that it's the one time the three of you got caught in a storm and sheltered in a cafe nearby. Either way, any memory is a favorite one for them.

Nicknames - What do they call their s/o?

Annabeth tends to have a teasing nickname for both of you, it's simply how she treats those she loves. Piper calls you by a cuter nickname when she feels like it, but she does so love the name of you and Annabeth and loves saying those.

On Cloud Nine - What are they like when they are in love? Is it obvious for others? How do they express their feelings?

Piper flirts, it's almost second nature to her. She also tends to look for those she loves in a crowd or conversation, even when you're not talking. Annabeth shows her love by taking care of you, scolding you whenever you do something stupid.

PDA - Are they upfront about their relationship? Do they brag with their s/o in front of others? Or are they rather shy to kiss etc. when others are watching?

They are both upfront about the relationship, but neither prioritize PDA as a way to show it off. Annabeth only likes holding hands, but always wants to have a hand free and Piper does enjoy shamelessly flirting with you both, but also likes the freedom of moving around. Neither cares too much if anyone is watching, it's simply their own comfort that has them refrain from doing too much PDA.

Quirk - Some random ability they have that’s beneficial in a relationship.

Piper tends to adapt really well to what is needed to be done, Annabeth overworking herself? She makes an indoor date night and forces her to take a break. You're having excess energy? Let's go spar or go on a run! Annabeth actually is a great planner, she always manages to find a spot for a weekly date in each of your schedules, which with three people tends to be quite the accomplishment.

Romance - How romantic are they? What would they do to make their s/o happy? Cliché or rather creative?

Neither of them are good at making elaborate romantic gestures. Piper has some internalized disgust to her Aphrodite parentage, and refuses to take advice from her siblings and Annabeth just never learned how to be romantic and will be rigid about how romance should be done if asked to be romantic. But both of them are therefore way too romantic in random moments, without meaning to.

Support - Are they helping their s/o achieve their goals? Do they believe in them?

Both of them are your biggest cheerleaders. Piper loves offering mental support, and Annabeth will do anything in her power to help you.

Thrill - Do they need to try out new things to spice up your relationship? Or do they prefer a certain routine?

Even though Piper would love to discover the edges of the universe, she does need structure in her life. She hasn't had a set schedule that was over her own making ever, and she would appreciate a structure in life. Annabeth simply enjoys structure in her life, because it keeps her calm, but she's open to a thrill every now and then.

Understanding - How well do they know their partner? Are they empathetic?

They are both really empathic but for different reasons. Annabeth has taken her time to learn each of you inside and out, and keeps that knowledge close to her heart. She reads you like a book, and she loves to read. Piper's empathy comes natural to her, she easily picks up on your mood.

Value - How important is the relationship to them? What is it’s worth in comparison to other things in their life?

Your girlfriends are very ride or die- they put the relationship very high on their list of priorities, even if other things might suffer from it. Annabeth sees the relationship with as much value as her legacy, and Piper truly would do anything for either of you.

Wild Card - A random Fluff Headcanon.

You started a tradition of going on painting picnic dates. You would pack drawing and painting supplies and then spend an afternoon on a blanket with snacks painting your surroundings. Annabeth prefers it if there are buildings nearby, but otherwise she'll simply imagine a building in the nature around you. Piper tends to paint close-ups of that which is around you. It's really sweet, especially since you tend to exchange the paintings between the three of you.

XOXO - Are they very affectionate? Do they love to kiss and cuddle?

When it's simply the three of you it's all touches and cuddles. Simply draped over one another when it's the end of the day, and everyone is still busy doing work.

Yearning - How will they cope when they’re missing their partner?

As long as one of you is around it's not the worst, they can deal with it together, but if it's the three of you split up you betcha you will have daily Iris messages. They won't admit it, but they will be missing you immensely, and often cope by simply trying to distract themselves.

Zeal - are they willing to go to great lengths for the relationship? If so, what kind of?

Both Piper and Annabeth would go to great lengths for the relationship- life has tested either of them again and again, and the Gods be damned they will wage war simply to stay together. It's nothing they haven't done before.

[the-marshals-wife]

Alright, I am in love with Wrecker having kids of his own. 🥺 he'd be such a sweet dad and I can't wait to see the rest of the batch as fathers! I was wondering though, would you ever do this for the 501st or any other clones? Cause I'd be here for it for sure 🥺💕💖 Especially if you did Hardcase becoming a dad, that goof ball would be adorable ahhh! Anyways, I can't wait to read the rest of the batch!! 😭💖💕💞💖💕💞

A/N: Oh my goodness yes, time for some Hardcase representation! I think there'd be a lot of similarities between Wrecker's and Hardcase's parenting styles. Thank you for your continued support of my writing and blog! 💙

─ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─ 𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓 ─ ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─

Having A Child With Hardcase Would Include

Description: Hardcase x Fem!Reader. As with my other clone headcanons/preferences, it's a Y/N insert story with the number of children I envision reader and Hardcase having.

Rating: General audiences (with a spicy reference if you squint), AU fluffiness where Umbara turns out different and this sweetheart gets the life he deserves 😌| Gif credit: user rexsjaigeyes

There is never a dull moment with Hardcase

If you thought parenthood was going to slow him down in any way, no you didn't

Becoming a father only amplified his playful, witty personality, something you didn't think was scientifically possible

When you told him you were pregnant, he all but bounced off the walls

Hardcase was "so kriffin' excited" to become a dad

He said exactly that to every person that crossed his path for weeks on end, especially his brothers

"How did I get so lucky? I can't believe it."

("Me either. Y/N actually thinks the galaxy can survive a smaller, louder version of you" - Fives, probably)

You were admittedly a bit nervous about becoming a parent, but as always, Hardcase had no fear

He tackled the learning curve head on, and it brought you so much joy and confidence to see his paternal instincts kick in as you both prepared for the arrival of your little one

Suddenly, he was aware of every hazard he'd never paid attention to himself, and in just a few hours, he completely baby-proofed every inch of your apartment

He even kept track of the days in your pregnancy, counting down to your expected due date

He loves (to attempt) cooking for you

Is he great at it? No. Did he burn everything at first and almost set your kitchen on fire three times? Definitely. Did he get better with practice and learn to make your favorite foods just the way you like them? Absolutely

Lots of cuddles watching holos together

Whenever he had to leave for the day, he would always kiss you first and then your growing belly

"Can't leave without telling our baby goodbye."

You adore how much he says that - our baby - and how much he's already devoted to being a dad

On your difficult pregnancy days, he would always be by your side to talk to you and tell you jokes until you were smiling again

Love At First Sight

From the moment your daughter was born, he was wrapped around her little finger

"She's so beautiful. Look what we made. No growth chamber or anything."

You jokingly reminded him that that was technically your role

"Oh...right. Of course. Great job! Not a single crack in the jar. Better than Kamino!"

In the weeks after your daughter was born, it was a battle to get Hardcase to put her down, literally

"Where I go, she goes."

Many naptimes were spent on her daddy's chest because he simply didn't want to let her out of his sight

(Sorry to report that diapers are you division, though. You just can't put your poor darlings through that again...)

Seeing him dote on your little girl so much only made you fall in love with him more; you were proud to call him the father of your children

Oh yes, children. You weren't done adding to the ranks of your little battalion, and neither was your cyare

A year and a half later, you gave birth to not one, but two sons

More than a few tears were shed as Hardcase held the twins in his arms

You better believe he was telling everyone about it too, calling many of his brothers to share the news before you even left the hospital

("We're doomed" - Fives again, probably)

How do you do, fellow kids?

Hardcase is a child himself at heart, which means he is your children's first and favorite best friend

Whatever they're interested in, you can bet he's into it too

He watches more children's holos with them than you do, and you're the one who stays home

Seriously, he knows all the words to the theme songs, the lore for each show, and the powers and skills of every character - it's a big thing that he and the kids bond over

Boredom is not a word in your house

Whatever your children ask for, Hardcase ensures they get (within reason)

He's likely getting something for himself too, especially if it's sweets

They want to build model starships? He's first in line at the market in the morning to get the kits

Your daughter wants to play dolls? You better believe her daddy is on that floor doing the right voices and following the story lines (and maybe causing the occasional pretend explosion or starship crash because he lives for the Drama™)

They all want to turn the livingroom into a battlefield to fight imaginary droids? Guess who their commander is

"Why not promote myself? I earned it!"- Hardcase when you teasingly pointed out his new rank

You enjoy getting in on the fun too and being the Zillo Beast attacking the barracks or the queen taken hostage that the dashing commander and his squad have to rescue from a den of bounty hunters

I cannot stress this enough: ANTICS

Pillow fights and roughhousing? HE probably started it

He's taking the fall for it too, because he'd rather face a firing squad than see any of his little troopers in trouble

In the everyday domestic disputes, discipline obviously begins and ends with you

You had to convince him that timeouts were not equivalent to capital punishment

Even then, you have to stop him from letting the kids out early

Bed times? What are those?

Speaking of bed, you had to invest in a bigger one because your beloved couldn't bear sending any of the kids away when they wanted to sleep with mom and dad

Seriously, he cannot say no to his babies

No night is complete with out tickle fights, either

Despite often having a foot in your ribs (which doesn't always belong to a child), you actually love sleeping with your family near and wouldn't have it any other way

Exception: the kids get sent to their own beds immediately when mommy wants a tickle fight with daddy. Commander's orders.

It's not only fun and games

With a little coaching from you, Hardcase was able to find balance between work and play, especially as the kids entered adolescence

It's not his strong suit, but he genuinely tries to help them with their academy studies (eventually they learn to go to you first; dad is for times of desperation only)

He is, however, at the ready any time they need a good joke or exciting story to brighten their day and banish their stress

Family holo night is mandatory

There's usually bickering over what to watch - i.e. your partner and offspring are disputing which loud, brightly-colored animated holo to put on - but diplomacy resumes as soon you bring the snacks out

Sometimes you just can't help but laugh and watch the chaos

All of your children certainly inherited their father's bold enthusiasm for life and passionate courage

When your daughter began to experience bullying at academy for standing up for a friend, Hardcase wasted no time expressing how proud he was of her for doing what's right

He was equally supportive of the boys when they later showed interest in weapons training and possible careers in the military

Just as when they were younger, he is always there for them to make them smile and feel secure and loved

There's no limit to what Hardcase will do for his family, and you wouldn't trade one day of your beautiful, whirlwind life with him for anything in the galaxy

[blogger360ncislarules]

After years of buildup, Nancy Drew's big romantic moment between Nancy (Kennedy McMann) and Ace (Alex Saxon) in the series finale was well-earned. And as satisfying as it was to see these two star-crossed lovers finally break the death curse and — after learning the damage to their souls meant they'll never reincarnate again — choose to spend their last life together, it turns out the actors actually shot more in that scene than what fans saw on TV.

Amanda Row, who directed the series finale, and Larry Teng, who directed 16 episodes including the pilot, tell EW that a lot of that crucial scene was left on the cutting room floor. "The Ace and Nancy scene, which I made as long as I possibly could because I loved it, we couldn't fit it all into the episode," Row says. "Otherwise it would be an hour-and-a-half long."

As for what didn't make the final cut? "Lots of joy," Row says. "Ace dips Nancy in a little dance thing — not a full dance but it's very cute and cheeky and it was very much just about the two of them finally being able to enjoy each other without the stakes and the stress of the world ending around them. I just wanted to keep it simple and just be about the giddiness of being in love and having your love requited. In my cut, I definitely was like, 'Well, I'm just going to do the longest version possible because I love it.'"

Below, Row and Teng break down that series finale ending, where Nancy and the rest of the Drew Crew say goodbye to Horseshoe Bay to go onto various new adventures.

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Was this always the plan for how Nancy Drew was going to end?

LARRY TENG: We didn't get the official word until we were filming episode 10 or right before that. There were a lot of ideas that were in place already but we had to figure out how to fit them into the existing season 4 storyline in the remaining episodes we had left. It was a bit of a jigsaw puzzle and the writers did a tremendous job making it all work.

AMANDA ROW: When we were shooting the finale I had a lot of chats with the cast, especially with Kennedy, about this. As much as we were shoehorned into wrapping all of this up in a couple episodes, in the end, I believe that the conclusion was actually what [it] was intended to be. Nancy Drew is a detective, she's always looking for answers and the next mystery, and ultimately she's trying to find herself. As cliche as it is, it's about the journey and not the conclusion, and we end the series being at peace with that idea, that we're never going to be done. That's what our amazing writers have been doing since the beginning. 

Before you had to pivot to make it a series finale, was the original plan for season 4 to end on a cliffhanger instead of this resolution?

ROW: I wish the writers and the actors could speak to this point because I don't know for sure. I'm sure they had a million ideas but what they ended up with was ultimately pretty awesome for the circumstances they were dealt. 

TENG: We definitely felt like there were more episodes that we could have done that we wanted to do.

ROW: Like the musical episode! [Laughs] Which [showrunner] Melinda [Hsu Taylor] never wanted to do, but I really wanted it to happen.

TENG: There were a lot more stories we wanted to tell that unfortunately we won't get to but we're really happy with how this all turned out.

What was it like directing the big moment where Nancy and Ace realize they broke the death curse and finally get to kiss?

ROW: When it happened, every single person on set was very aware of how special a moment it was. It was very bittersweet and magical. Everyone was crying. It was really wonderful. It was a cathartic experience for everyone involved. It was such a big special moment for the crew and Kennedy and Alex, and the whole story and how their story has built since season 1. It was very satisfying and all about joy.

What was the last scene you shot before the series wrapped?

ROW: We scheduled it so that the very last scene we shot is actually the last shot in the series finale, when you see them all say goodbye and the camera goes under the table and you see all their initials. I called cut on that scene and that was a series wrap on Nancy Drew. We wanted to make sure the whole cast was there, so Riley and Scott were in the scene prior so they could be there as well. It wasn't until the moment I called cut that everyone realized it's over. But it was very special. It was hard for me. I was like, "Can we do another take?" I didn't want to call cut because it felt like a massive responsibility to call cut on this amazing series for everybody involved. Larry is the one who set the precedent from the beginning and it was such an honor for me to be able to take that home. 

Who was the first person to shed some tears?

ROW: [Laughs] Kennedy. 100 percent.

What was it like choosing what went into the time capsule on the bar? 

ROW: That was a really fun experience. There were so many details in that [you don't see]. My favorite thing is Nancy puts her name tag in between two polaroids, one of which has me wearing lobster claws, and the other is Larry and our associate producer Dee LeBlanc who have been there since the beginning. That was a nice shout-out to our whole crew who are on the ground making it.

Did you take anything from the set?

ROW: [Laughs] Yeah. I have the top half of the wraith from season 2, I have a soul splitter —

TENG: You have a soul splitter? That's sweet.

ROW: Yeah! I also have this background prop that they never highlighted that Tom made that's a book from the historical society that's a human hand encased in amber. It's so awesome. 

TENG: I have one thing: I have Nancy's flashlight. That was the one thing I wanted. That was an iconic, special piece for me. I remember the first time when we did the camera test with Kennedy holding that flashlight and we all started crying, like, "It's real!" So that's the one thing I took.

[petrichorpaws]

This noodle has made running four laps around the sun look easy-breezy.

For the past year alone, he has been my rock from not leaving my side during surgery recovery to teaching me some hard truths about my handling skills, to letting me cry into his fur when I needed it most. I’ve learned so much about training, emotions, and acceptance thanks to this dog.

I’m not getting to write this until midnight, but we didn’t do too much on Friday. It was extremely wet and windy, and noodle boy doesn’t enjoy the rain. Especially surprise downpours! We stopped at CJ’s work to visit coworkers and grab him some gifts: a fuzzy duck toy, a horse toy, a chew, “oreos” for dogs, and the pup-pie, of course.

This week he’s made a new friend, made strides in his confidence/security, shown us where he’s at emotionally, and made me laugh more times than I can count. I will always cherish how he melts into my touch, his head relaxing and his limbs sinking into me. Seeing him lean into others in his inner circle, asking for pets, and demanding their love gives me so much joy! I know he especially loved his ring-rib-rub from @bones-n-bookles today hahah.

It’s unlikely we’ll be trialing this year since I have my other foot surgery coming up and I’m starting school. What’s most important to me is spending time snuggling together, listening to the hum of the ceiling fan and the crickets in their tank. Hiking together surrounded by ferns, creeks, and trees full of hidden wonders. Soaking up the rays of the afternoon sun in the cool grass. Sharing ice cream together. These mean so much more to me than any competition could because it’s where our energies intertwine – we’re happiest together and that’s all I could ever ask for.

Thank you bubby for being my heart dog, for making me laugh and worry and reflect. For making me feel. I have so much more to learn from you and with you! Our journey is only beginning.

Here’s to many more laps around the sun, my boy!

PS – you may notice us calling him Kaloo now rather than Kalfu. After giving it time and thought, I know in my gut, my brain, and my heart that it’s inappropriate of me to have named my dog after a vodou lwa, a powerful one no less. It’s incredibly important to me that I am respectful and aware of my impacts, so the name change commences! Kaloo is a name for Abrus precatorius, otherwise known as rosary peas/jequirity/Indian licorice, etc. It has bright scarlet seeds that can be toxic when ingested but can help swelling topically. Its leaves may be steeped in tea to relieve coughing or sore throats but can be toxic if handled improperly. In other words: handle with care, much like him. Having a plant-based name feels fitting for him, a dog that connects me to the earth, and it’s very similar sounding to his previous name. I anticipate folks will be respectful of and celebrate this new name with us. 🙂

[ratstuckinamarble]

What's weird is that Clawd had a wholeass animated theme song on mh's youtube channel that hinted at him being an inventor and an artist, which like, yeah, that's cool, that could work! And the show just doesn't hint at... Anything of that? Him being a quick thinker who can make different things on the spot because he had to learn how to improvise while hunting for pests in Behem could be fun! Or maybe have him have a rivalry with Frankie, maybe he has troubles with understanding how Frankie can (seemingly) often create things that don't really have a point? And maybe he could learn that things don't always need to have an important point and you can just make things for fun. Or maybe he wasn't able to pursue art in Behem because he was busy helping his mom and didn't have the time/materials to create? Or an episode where Clawdeen thinks that it's so cool that Clawd got to see so many different weird creatures and such, since she loves anything supernatural, but Clawd brings her down to earth, because it wasn't at all fun for him to often be put in dangerous situations, and they kinda reach a new understanding, maybe Clawd is jealous that Clawdeen got to go to a normal human school, and then she can show him that it wasn't nearly as fun for her as he thought it would be.

I liked that bit in the newest episode where Clawdeen and Clawd are trying to throw a birthday for Apollo and Clawd thinks that it's so weird that people on Earth eat cake for birthday? That was neat; I think that you're right that his past in Behem should be explored and give him a bit more angst? About missing his mom, him adjusting to life in a place where he doesn't have to fight for his life every day, and that he can stop looking out for threats everywhere? I'm not saying to give him some serious case of PTSD, I don't think that it would fit the tone of the show, but you know what I mean. Maybe Draculaura could be into his slightly more brooding side, and they could bond over their creativity, Clawd with his inventing and Draculaura with magic and potions? Both of these things can be dangerous and used for combat/evil, but they both managed to make it something their own, and "tame" it, use it as their own way of making art and beauty?

Okay, sorry for the tangent lmao. Sidenote, but I always wanted Clawd and Clawdeen to have more wolf-like mannerisms, maybe Clawdeen finds them embarassing/hard to deal with sometimes, like she shreds homework, chews on things when she's stressed/bored, barks when someone knocks on the door etc, so maybe with Clawd around, who was aware that he's a werewolf since he was born (I think) she has someone else to go through it with, and she isn't as embarrased?

Those are some great ideas! If they'd implemented any of these he'd already feel like a more compelling character.

I find it curious how his artsy and inventive side were a whole point in that mv, yet they don't make use of that at all, and he's been in a lot of episodes so far. Even if that's planned to come up in the future, it not getting mentioned at all so far is strange. We shouldn't have to rely on external media to make a character seem more interesting.

I love your idea of him not getting how Frankie can make things just for fun because he never had the time to create just for the sake of it, that could make for an amazing plot and creates ample opportunity for character growth. We could see him learn about what moves him and see the beauty in things existing for no other reason than to bring joy.

You're idea for an episode about Clawdeen and him would be perfect for showing how differently they grew up and how that shaped them as people- we could learn more about how growing up where he did impacted him, and them possibly even envying the other? The realisation that it wasn't sunshine and rainbows for either of them would be a wonderful bonding opportunity.

I do think he should get just a little angst. Yes, this show is fairly lighthearted, but it's tackled plenty of types of conflict, and if you're setting a character up with this kind of backstory, you have to explore the consequences.

His and Draculaura's main interests having the potential for destruction, but them both choosing to do good with them would genuinely be a neat parallel. And Drac is shown to have an artistic side aside from her witchcraft, she was painting in one episode and we know she has an interest in acting. These are things they could bond over if, you know, Clawd ever gets to be shown liking art.

Speaking of that, the music videos talked about Clawdeen's interest in fashion design too. How come that hasn't come up yet either? We're pretty far into the season, and she is the main character.

[bubblegum-blackwood]

Armand/Daniel: "Bicycle."

AO3 Thanks for the ask!

“What do you mean you’ve never seen one of these before?”

Armand blinked, his expression unreadable, his voice flat. “I am very old, Daniel, and I have not truly lived in the world for a very long time. I cannot be expected to know everything there is to know about the modern age without help; that’s where you come in.”

“So I’m just a walking encyclopedia to you?”

“What is an encyclopedia?” Armand’s blink was slow, careful, like a lazy cat’s.

Daniel sighed into his hands, dragging one palm along the stubble he had neglected to shave, Armand pouncing on him too soon after he awoke to do any major grooming. He was suddenly aware of a blaring smudge on his right glasses lens, and he shrivelled up a bit inside, knowing his shirt was too covered in grease from the French fries he had spilled all over himself earlier to be of any help on that account. Just great.

“What are you thinking about, Daniel?” again that incomprehensible tone.

“Can’t you read my mind?”

Armand simply blinked again; Daniel noted how impossibly still he stood, almost like a sculpture - he maybe could have been entirely mistaken for an impressively realistic, well-painted statue, except that in the slight breeze that had picked up his collared shirt rippled across his torso and his curls, trimmed closer to his ears for the night, danced daintily across his pale forehead. Armand’s hair always looked a tad bit curlier the shorter he cut it; Daniel figured it had something to do with the way gravity played upon the length of it, if there was less hair then it weighed less and so it didn’t get pulled down as far or something. The exception to the rule was when he cut it too short for it to curl, but he didn’t do that all that often, and Daniel was glad for it - Armand had some of the most glorious auburn locks Daniel had ever seen. Armand blinked slowly again, and Daniel couldn’t suppress a small shudder at the unfocused intensity of his unwavering immortal stare. A reminder that this creature before him was much more than human. Daniel swallowed and cleared his throat timidly, “A-Armand?”

Something changed in him, some unseen colour seeping back in, like wiping the haze off of a frosty window pane, and the living statue roused itself, “Yes?”

“What was your question again?”

Armand looked around slowly, and his eyes flitted across the street and landed on the original spark of their conversation, locked away safely: a shiny green bicycle, fastened to the bike rack where its owner had left it before walking a few shops down to the comic book store. “That,” he pointed. “I was asking about that.”

“A bicycle. You’ve never seen one before?”

“No.”

“Haven’t those been around since the 1800s though?”

“I wouldn’t know,” Armand blinked again; Daniel sighed.

Upon his request, Daniel explained to Armand the function of a bicycle, and of course, Daniel should have seen it coming, the next night Armand just had to procure a bicycle for himself and learn how to ride it. More resilient than a little child was he, falling and immediately getting right back up again unharmed to continue with a single-minded focus on his task until he was riding wide circles around the church parking lot they had gotten into, a small laugh of wonder escaping his perfect preternatural lips. It was easy to forget all the bad, all the fear, the strangeness, the inhumanity, it was all too easy to fall in love with this exquisite creature as he giggled with delight, riding a bicycle for the first time. The monster, with such simple joy on his face. Such a perfect paradox.

Something told Daniel that this may have been the first time in his long life (how long?) that Armand was getting to be a child in this sort of manner, in learning how to ride a bike and being amused just riding it in circles.

God, he was beautiful.

[sweetea-rosey]

I didn't see the first week, but here we go

The world is colder than it used to be- and she thought she knew what it was to be cold on winter days, wrapped in layers and layers of warm blankets and pajamas, struggling to keep all of her limbs cocooned as she sipped on cocoa and watched Christmas movies.

She can't wrap herself in blankets, now. She can't drink hot chocolate and movies seem pointless.

Why learn how to celebrate the joys of life when she is no longer alive?

At first, she thought it was cool. She could float, move through walls. But the reverie was broken when she saw her parents sobbing and was unable to do anything about it. She couldn't hold her mama, she couldn't reassure her father. I'm okay, I'm here, I didn't leave.

But she did. And it's so strange, that they are not alone, but she is.

She watched them mourn, and age, and she watched as they got sent to live with their niece because they couldn't do it alone anymore.

And all she could do was float.

It didn't take long for a new couple to move in, small child in arms and wonder in their eyes at the start of a new life.

The child got what was once her own room.

She watched the child one night, a little asian baby with fresh sprouts of hair and a round face. It woke up and stared right through her. She watched its face contort as tears welled and she scrambled to shush it.

"Shh, shh, don't cry! It's okay, you're okay."

But the first wale escaped anyway.

Not knowing if it could hear her, she began to sing.

Hush, little baby, don't say a word

I'm gonna buy you a mockingbird..

If that mocking bird don't sing

I'm gonna buy you a diamond ring...

Slowly, though she knows her voice must be unsettling, it began to calm, watching as she vocalized after being silent for so long.

When he turned three they placed a mirror in the room. She had avoided mirrors, unsettled by her ghostly reflection. She was a strange color, even more distorted for the living world. She never could get used to herself.

But it's around then that the child began telling its parents about "The Girl in the Mirror" who sings it lullabies. Only for its parents brush it off after a bit of being concerned.

She doesn't know why only the child can see her, she doesn't feel like thinking about it too much. What's the point?

After a year, he got used to her, having accepted her in that way children his age do. He even began to talk to her.

"What's your favorite color?"

She hadn't thought about it in so long.

"Green." She had said, unsure on whether that were true.

What she does know is that, soon after, she found herself drawn towards green things, the color seeming all the more vibrant.

"What's your favorite animal?"

"I like how cats can see me."

And she does. They make her feel less alone.

She watched him come back from his first day of kindergarten, all smiles and laughter at the new experience. She doesn't remember being that happy about school, the routine got old quite quickly.

She found herself smiling as he did. She wishes she could love school like that again. She wishes she could love her room as he loves it.

At least she loves green and cats.

When he turned ten, he started asking more complex questions. He was silent when he came home from school, a frown on his face as he watched her in the mirror. She always had to face the mirror and look at him through there, else he was basically talking to the back of her head.

"What's the matter?" She asked, vaguely aware of how genuine her concern really was.

"You're real, aren't you?"

"Yes." She thinks she is.

"I had thought you were my imaginary friend, like every says. But you're not imaginary. You're a ghost. You're dead."

"I am."

A week later, he asked her while doing homework on his bed, "Is it weird that I find that comforting? That you're dead? It gives me answers not many other people have."

"I think it's nice that you see it that way."

"I'm glad we're friends."

The room feels less cold.

When he turned thirteen he came to her with tears in his eyes. Middle school had taken a toll on him. He didn't fit in in many places, but he clings to the friends that he has. But something else is wrong.

"How old were you when you died?"

She frowns. She's always avoided thinking about it, what had actually happened to her is fuzzy in her mind.

"Not much older than you are now, I don't think. Thirteen, maybe fourteen."

That didn't help him. He laid face down on his bed and cried. Sobbing.

"What's so wrong with that?"

"You died so young," he said, having caught his breath. "You're my friend, I guess I'm mourning the life you never had."

"It's my job to mourn my life, not yours. What was out there for me, anyway?"

"I'll have to let you know."

He's sixteen, telling about highschool and his friends, telling her about his first ex and the extra workload from AP classes and thinking about college that's so far yet so close. Things she's never had to think about.

"I don't think I've ever told you this. And it might be strange, now that I'm so much older than you. But, you're really pretty."

She stared at him, not knowing what to say.

"You never smile. I've never seen you smile...on such a young face, it breaks my heart."

She rolled her eyes. "You barley smiled at thirteen, either. And I did smile once- when you entered kindergarten, you were so excited for it."

"What color was your room when you lived here?"

She looked around at the sage green walls. "Exactly as it is now."

That seemed to make him happy.

When he comes home from his graduation, it suddenly strikes her how young she is. She feels so much older. She hasn't experienced anything beyond these walls for her to even be able to say her soul is truly eighteen years older. She's just the spirit of a little girl and the life experience to match.

Thirteen. Even then, she felt Iike she was dying. She knows that she stopped being truly happy at some point in that year. Why, or when, or of that could have changed, she will never know. She doesn't know what happened to her parents. Are they also stuck in whatever house they died in? Have they died, yet?

She's brought out of her thoughts by him walking in, cap in hand as he sits, looking into the mirror.

"I'm going to be leaving for college."

She frowns.

"I don't...I don't want you to be here, left alone."

She thinks about this.

"I... appreciate that you care for me." And she does. It's strange to her, to feel something other than empty. But she has for a while now. She's loved how she loves the color of her room, she loves staring into the eyes of the cat that he begged his parents to get not too long after finding out she likes them. She loves talking to him and feeling seen. This friendship that's made her smile. That made her come to terms with her own death as she watched him mourn a life he never knew.

She regrets how this shows in her voice.

"But don't worry about me."

She looked at his dresser, organized with deodorant, a Tennis trophy, and a dolphin figurine. "I never could keep mine clean, you know? I was such a mess, I only got worse as I got older. I still am, really. I don't know what happened to my parents. The baby I sang to is now older than me. I am...broken. I am obviously not whole. And if I could cry, I think I would.

"But I like that. I feel warm, and solid. I feel more alive than I can remember being since I was ten. I'm here, and I know little things about me that I hadn't known to think about until you asked. I'm grateful to you. I didn't get to go to highschool, or think about college. I don't know very much. I want you to have that. Maybe I'll find company in your parents and learn how to be happy next."

It's then that she notices that he's crying.

"One day, we'll figure out how to free you."

She doesn't know what to say to that.