#ill go hibernate now

[kleinv01]

SMALL DEMO UPDATE .... !!

i just updated the build and it's available to be played now (being annoying rn bcs im announcing this everywhere lol)

these past few months ive been working back n forth on polishing demo - working on log 01 simultaneously because i was so indecisive, and i ended up having a hard time because it was tough to focus on both at the same time lmao so i made the choice of polishing the demo first until im happy w how it looks, and i think i feel better about it now . the indecisiveness is rly getting to me i fear (its embarrassing bc i legit made a devlog on log 01 progress just a while ago LMFAO IM SORRY JSKAHKSG!!!!!!!!!!))))) so here it is, a demo update (??) most of the changes are mainly visuals and just fixing grammar errors/gui, story progression wise it's all the same, there's just new scenes added in between, scenes that i had to left out in the original demo to save up gameplay duration time bcs i think it was quite long already ?? (VIEW MORE SCREENSHOTS BELOW)

the changes are not significant but feel free to check out the new build if u are interested, or wait until log01 release which is gonna take a while lol//// (the characters now blink and have speaking animation, height-accurate, and theyre not awkwardly placed anymore lmfao) 3 'new' characters are also introduced, (2 of them being briar and cassius ^^) u can see them if MC decide to go to the office . . . and interact w them! some other minor improvements are also made ^ ^

please let me know if you happen to encounter any errors and i'll get right into it asap! i hope you enjoy the changes i've made just as much as i do! thank you so much for everyone's support :3c

[u3pxx]

group projects are the mind killer

[demadogs]

Since you wanted Byler asks: How do you think they will build up Mike's feelings, like slowly show to the audience that it might just be requited? And what could be the scene that fully confirms it is requited (presuming before an actual kiss scene)?

i am once again pushing my Mike Gets Vecna'd agenda! i've talked about my reasons why here but essentially the short version is, max says that vecna targets people who have something thats haunting them. mike is the perfect target for this. he is ashamed of being gay and hes pretending to be someone hes not ("its forced conformity. thats whats killing the kids"). i think mike will get vecna'd and vecna will taunt and torture him for liking will and thats how the audience finds out. and its also how el finds out. she was piggybacking. i've said it before, but i think it would be great if vecna used "its not my fault you dont like girls" against mike, and that could be the line that confirms it to the audience.

i also know that the duffers and everyone have been yapping about will being a huge threat this season, so im not denying that he is also likely to be vecna'd. i think vecna wants to hurt will and his method of doing so will be to hurt mike. the way vecna tortures will is to torture mike. and i also think will figures this out.

we leave off with will saying vecna is hurting though, so i think vecna is limited in what he can. i use vecna as a verb just for simplicity's sake, but it'll likely be a different method of getting in peoples heads than we've seen so far. it wont be like what max went through or even nancy. it'll probably be more like the early seasons because vecna has been getting stronger with each season and now he may be starting from square one. it might be like barb (only he doesnt die).

as for hints that his feelings are requited, i think there will be little things throughout the season that clue into mikes feelings before he gets vecna'd. similar things to what we saw in s4. hes awkward about physical touch with him. he and el kinda feel forced. but it would also be interesting if once he learns that vecna targets people who are hiding something, we see him visibly stressed about this. he knows hes gay and he knows he likes will. he might know immediately that hes at risk of being vecna'd but he can't tell anyone without outing himself. the audience might see this distress in mike and start to question what he could be hiding. maybe he hears this news and immediately looks at el or will. probably el. because he feels really guilty for still being with her knowing he doesnt love her.

my confidence in mike getting vecna'd being the way the audience and el finds out hes gay has wavered a bit since s4 came out. i dont want to imply that im 100% convinced this will be how it happens the same way im 100% convinced byler will happen. this is how i would write it if i was in the writing room. i think it would SLAP, but this is more of a "i want it to happen" thing, not a " i think it will happen" thing. but i genuinely have tried many times to think of another way it could go down and i just always go the vecna route. i know theres plenty of other possibilities but i only have eyes for vecna'd mike. its such a perfect opportunity. i really do hope it happens like this.

[landorable]

Me whenever I open our groupchat @soobasaur @meouche @haeunoo + the others

[soiwatchthestars]

i'm sorry that i've been absent on here the past few weeks - i'm not feeling well and it doesn't seem to be going anywhere soon, so most of my posts have been queued and will be for a lil while! i'm not ignoring dms, just not feeling good and looking at screens is hard lol so pls bear with me 😭

[lunaticobject]

social anxiety and rsd mixing together to kill me where i stand jesus christ

(and ptsd but shhhhh thats for therapy tmrw)

[aria0fgold]

Me: Last night sure did a number on me, I'm def gonna sleep early tonight.

My phone: 39%... The time: 10: 57 pm...

Immediately calculates the time it'll take for it to get full if I charge it at around 12 am.

[differenteagletragedy]

When Price hears that Simon won’t be stopping by his place for Christmas, it stings. It doesn’t hurt, exactly, mostly because John is long past the point of things hurting him without his express permission. But it bothers.

And that’s just because for a long time now, years, the two men have spent the holiday together. It’s a tradition, if they’re in the same country, the same city, to just get together. Nothing major, a few drinks, a cigar or two. A meal sometimes, just something simple.

Way back when John first met Simon, he saw just how broken he was because, in a way, he was the same. They processed it differently — John hid his scars by controlling everything just so, so that nothing would ever have the chance to give him fresh ones, where Simon simply hid — but the root of it all was the same. There was a deep-seated loneliness that ran through them both, and it bonded them. No one had ever understood Simon, but John did, he gave him that gift. In return, Simon gave him his loyalty, and occasionally, his company.

But not this year. Because this year, Simon has you.

You are lovely, truly. John had only met you a handful of times, but he's seen the way Simon looked at you, and he hears the warmth in his voice when he says your name. He couldn't bring himself to be upset with you when Simon let him know that he'd be spending the holiday with you, all cozied up at the home you now shared.

He couldn't: past tense. Now, when Christmas day is almost over and he's six scotches in, he's a little less understanding.

Not in a mean way -- he doesn't wish you ill, nothing like that. But why can't two old friends partake in an old tradition, even if one of them has gone and fallen head over heels for some bird? Besides, it's not like you haven't had Simon to yourself all day, or all week, for that matter.

John's lieutenant is a big boy. There's enough of him to go around.

Before he really considers what's happening, John is on the street, then he's walking, a man on a mission. He makes his way through town, and he soon finds himself at Simon's place. He knocks on the door, sharp and short but insistent, and in no time, the door opens.

"Lucky you didn't get shot," Simon grumbles as he opens the door wider for John. "It's late."

But he doesn't have a gun, John notices -- he has a bat, one he keeps by the front door, same as he's always done. He watches Simon prop the bat up now, hands going to slide his jeans higher on his hips, buttoning and zipping them.

"Bad time?" John asks, a small, tight smile on his face.

Simon grunts in acknowledgement, running a hand through his hair as he says, "Lucky too you didn't wake the missus. She had a bottle of wine with dinner, be like waking up a hibernating bear."

John smiles again and nods. "Missus now, is she?"

A beat passes, then Simon holds the door open wider, an invitation that John takes, and soon the two men are sitting on the couch, sharing a glass of whiskey and a moment of quiet together.

It feels right. It is, after all, the tradition.

Some time passes. It gets even later and John gets even drunker, but he's still got his reflexes, and just as soon as they begin, he hears the soft sounds of your footsteps coming down the hall.

"Simon?" you ask once you reach the entryway into the living room, your voice soft and sleepy.

"In here, love," he calls out. "Captain came by for a drink."

"... It's late."

John smiles to himself when he hears the pout in your voice, but when he turns to greet you, it drops. You're leaning against the wall, barefoot and bare-legged in one of Simon's shirts, your petulant eyes fixed on your boyfriend.

He knew you were lovely, but like this ...

"Get back to bed, sweetheart, I'll be back in before you know it," Simon says.

Instead of listening, you make your way to the couch, plop yourself in Simon's lap and curl up against him, head tucked under his chin. He chuckles softly and supports your back, letting you situate yourself comfortably.

"It's Christmas," you mutter before John sees your eyes close, and before long, your breaths even out. Asleep again.

John knows he should leave. It is late, and he's going to have a hell of a time getting home in his current state. But Simon just leans over towards the coffee table, cradling you against his chest as he does, and pours him another glass. And when John's eyes fall to Simon's hand on your hip, holding you safe against him with his long fingers curled against the curve of your waist ... it's just nice.

The next thing he knows, it's morning. Late morning, he can tell by the light shining in from the window, and his back aches because, as he slowly begins to realize, he fell asleep on the couch in Simon's living room.

He starts to sit up, letting out a low groan as he does. He's got an unforgiving hangover that's so overwhelming that it nearly blocks everything else out. But as he shifts, pulling himself up, he feels a weight on his lap.

Two smooth legs, bare and soft and heavy. His eyes trail them upwards, and he sees you leaning against Simon, who's slumped over on the other end of the couch. You're both still asleep, and John doesn't want to wake you, but he's so sore he has to move.

He puts his hands over your legs, near your ankles, intending to lift them off his lap as gently as possible so as to not disturb you. When he does, he's greeted with a sleepy, whiny groan of protest that's so cute he can't help but smile.

But this isn't for him. None of it is. Not your tired little sounds, not your soft legs, not Simon's strong hands. He doesn't belong.

With a little ache in his belly, something he still won't acknowledge as pain, John finishes the job of moving out from under you. He stands and stretches and tries to keep the room from spinning too much.

That last part, though, turns out to be for nothing. Because when you suddenly reach out your hand to grab his, gently pulling him back down onto the couch, it feels like the rug is being pulled from beneath him anyway.

[barcapix]

IM ACTUALLY BEGGING EVE LANDO WITH NERDY READER PLEASE!!!

✮ Mr. Lover - Lando Norris

lando norris x ‘nerd’!fem!reader

sy: even though it’s a usual habit for you, and lando knows it, he always finds a way to pester you about how your spending too much time away from him. even if it’s being at a library.

a/n: small drabble to fill my formula one drought on my blog… needa cook up more fics honestly

warnings: nah.

masterlist

bookworm girlfriend & insecure boyfriend.

a common routine of yours lately—hiding your persona from the media with stacks of books, each one detailed amongst your bipolar interests.

they ranged from political discourses, theatrical drama pieces, thriller suspenses and even the sickly sweet romance novels that reminded you of your relationship.

speaking of which, you were certain that he was already on his way to said library, a couple steps away from where you were hibernating. he’d done it everyday this week, and today was going to be no exception.

“i thought i’d find you here,” a forstakenly familiar voice cut through the programmed reading circuits in your brain. “the third day in a row.”

predictably, it was lando.

standing there with his arms folded along his chest, his thin, pale blue tee doing nothing to shield the contracting muscles in his biceps.

you looked up, lifting your glasses up an inch. “you’re saying it like it’s a bad thing. someone’s gotta stay busy.”

“it is a bad thing,” he counters, carelessly gliding the stack-of-six books across the polished wooden table, sending them toppling over.

without a second thought, he flung himself onto an opposing chair, shuffling to bring himself closer to you. after all this, you just stare at him with bewilderment.

“are you done with your tantrum now?” you ask, merely giving him a raised brow. “because if you are, i’d happily go back to reading thanks.”

you hear him scoff when your eyes travel back to the page infront of you, his own knee already bumping yours in a need for attention. nonetheless, you continue to scan the words with pure concentration, only briefly acknowledging your boyfriend throwing silent pouts and exaggerating tuts when he wasn’t the focial point of your spotlight.

lando caves in—enough is enough. your slow reaction time fails you this time, when lando swats your hands away from the rims of the hardcover book, pushing it aside with an aggressive type of force.

it ends up adding to the horrendous massacre of books he started minutes before.

“lan,” you groan, tugging the material of your hoodie over your wrists. “couldn’t you just wait another hour? is an hour really that unbearable?”

“well think about it. what could we do numerous times within an hour?” he grins to himself like a spoiled child, “and there’s your answer.”

typical. inevitable. you roll your eyes at his remarks, the obscenity of his insecurity, that so cleverly made him look like a fool.

“maybe another day babe,” you reply dryly, not even remotely interested in engaging into his profound tactics to get you where he wanted. “but i was invested by the novel i had, so if you wanna go back home ill meet you t—”

as you attempt to reach across the table, lando interjects you by locking his hands over yours mid-motion, pinning your hands in place.

“last time i checked, its not a sin for a man to wanna spend time with his girlfriend,” he cockily disputes, devilishly smirking.

you blink slowly, a brief pause in the unruly air that filled the finite space between you. your lips slim into a thin line and protest, “maybe it’s not a sin but it is an inconvenience.”

“c’mon don’t be so stubborn love,” the tone in his voice laced with sarcastic disbelief. “after all of the time you could of spent with me today, you chose to spend time in a library.”

you grit your teeth, trying to pry your hands from his hold. you’d grown accustomed to this—the push and pull battles between your determination and his relentlessness.

you were polar opposites, who somehow found love in one another. ultimately, at the end of the day, you admired how fervently he craved your affection, even if it cost the desire of your daily hobbies.

“all i’m saying is i’ve missed you today. i saw you four hours ago; that’s four hours too many.” lando admits, softer this time.

instead of releasing your hands, he holds them firmly by intertwining his fingers with yours. the brunette leans on closer, his addictive peppermint scent wavering up your nose.

“you really can’t survive that long, can you?” you inquire. “what are you gonna do when your in melbourne?”

he shakes his head defiantly. “take you with me.”

the look on your face says it all—the characteristic scrunch of your brows, the distinctive yet subtle jutter of your bottom lip.

you glance around at the broad shelves that lined the outskirts of your corner, back at your boyfriend, before relenting with a sigh. “we can leave under one condition: you promise me you won’t disrupt me here tomorrow.”

“i promise. i pinky promise.”

“alright then, lead the way home.” you eventually let him win, as he ghosts his lips over the shell of your ear, as he carves out a path from your jaw to your lips with kisses—his way of being thankful.

the stubble on his chin makes you squirm, finally cracking up a smile after such a gruelling debate. sure, he was probably the most annoying and insufferable man when he wants to get his own way, but he was your insufferable man.

“though i have to say, these glasses of yours make me fold,” he heartily chuckles, bringing them up from the bridge of your nose. “if this happens again, i beg you—don’t wear them because i might just lose.”

[hairscare]

my mom is one of those white women who would die on the cross to save pitbulls but she also has hyperempathy autism so it kind of applies to all animals. now for the last maybe 18 years weve had this turtle at my grandmothers house and the only reason we had it is that my dad (also has crazy autism just of the baseball variety) accidentally ran it over with the lawnmower when it was just born and decided to keep it. for nearly my entire life we had that turtle and we really didnt think that much about it- obviously we took care of it and fed it, but we didnt really pay a ton of attention to it or even give it a name, it was just "the turtle" "she" or at most "lady turtle". anyways after my grandmother passed away my dad ended up with the turtle which was no big deal since hed been taking care of it the whole time anyways so he was just like whatever well keep it at her house until it starts hibernating and then well bring it home

well. my mother got her hands on this turtle. now keep in mind that every pet we have ever had has been spoiled to hell and back, ESPECIALLY by my mom. i was also away at college at this point so she didnt really have me around to coddle. so now she has this turtle, this turtle that has been an unremarkable part of me and my dads life for almost 20 years, and she goes CRAZY. suddenly shes calling me at college and telling me all about Mathilde, or Tilly, as shes dubbed her, who now has a giant tank full of enrichment, that she coos at and talks to all day. it got to the point where she would talk about the turtle at our extended family sunday dinners. she knows what fruits tilly likes and doesnt like, and she talks to her like shes a baby.

but all summers must come to an end, and so tilly was soon back into hibernation. for many months my mother yearned for her turtle. however, she found a way to fill the void in her heart: research. for the past few months she has been obsessively watching turtle youtubers, specifically ones who rescue disabled turtles, because my mom cannot resist the sight of a disabled animal being saved (weve had so many at this point - we even have the holy grail of disabled animals aka a pitbull with 3 legs that she valiantly saved at my rabbits vet as a puppy from a drug money pitbull breeding ring. yeah its to that point with my mom.) shes been buying books to read, shes been going to conventions, she was looking at turtle enclosures on pinterest at my doctors waiting room yesterday, hell she even watercolored a turtle print she bought.

but finally today, after months of waiting..... tilly has awoken from her slumber. my mom has been anxiously awaiting this day for so long, terrified that her precious turtle may be ill or hungry or dehydrated... thank god, the turtle is fine because its literally a turtle and it hibernates without any issues every year. shes got this thing living in the turtle garden of eden, waited on hand and foot, and shes still terrified that a small breeze may come and strike her down. she drank a bunch of water just now (keep in mind, shes a TURTLE that just got done HIBERNATING) and my mom was "worried she drowned". but no, thankfully the turtle is alive and well.

all of this is to say that now that spring has sprung ill get to stumble upon my mom silently looming over our turtle for half an hour again

[blackjackkent]

Jaheira is Not a Deadbeat

I am, as always, deeply in love with the kids' ambient dialogue while waiting for Jaheira to come inside. And it's time for me to have Opinions.

FIG: I saw her! I swear! RION: Are you sure? Maybe it was just a laborer holding a shaggy grey mop! FIG: Be serious, Rion! Who puts braids on a mop?

FIG: She'll be here any second. Maybe she's sneaking! RION: Doubtful. We'd hear her knees cracking.

And of course my favorite:

RION: Enough, Fig. There's no point getting your hopes up. She'll be back when she's back. FIG: You don't think she will! RION: I know she will. But we'll wait a little longer, if you like.

😭😭😭😭

Rion absolutely knew perfectly well what she was supposed to do from Jaheira's instructions. She just didn't want to. She's been hanging on to the desperate belief that Jaheira was going to walk through the door and make it unnecessary - and, as it turned out, she was right.

OK, fuck it, I'm doing a post about this now. :P

Despite what the Tumblr BG3 fandom would have you believe, Jaheira is not a "deadbeat mom." Is she a parent with emotional constipation issues and way too much time at work? Sure. But so are plenty of other parents on both Toril and Earth. It's SUPER clear from the way all the kids (including Rion) talk to and about her that they LOVE her and she has been an enduring presence in their lives, and that her recent disappearance was both unusual and devastating. 

There are books she reads the kids up in the bedroom! Fig is so excited to announce she's back, indicating that the absence is not a normal occurrence! Jhessem has convinced herself they share a bloodline! Jord got to go to the market with her as a boy! These are not the circumstances of children who do not give a shit about their parent or vice versa!

The devnotes about Jord’s conversation in particular do not show a picture of a man with ill-will towards a mother who felt it customary to abandon him:

JORD: I tended to it. I just let it... thrive in its own independence. You know, same way you raised us. (Devnote: Well meant potshot at his mother, no malice in it) JAHEIRA: I raised you to be a sweet and kind boy. What happened? JORD: I watched what you did instead of listening to what you said. (Devnote: Amused, gently mocking his mother) JORD: This house has taken in a lot of children over the years. Mother dear was sometimes more commander than, well... mother dear. (Devnote: Smiling, explaining why he and Jaheira trade barbs. No criticism, just understated affection)

It is, perhaps, worth noting at this point as well that Jord - and Rion, and Fig, and even Jhessem - speak with that teasing, mocking tone towards Jaheira… but so does she - towards the people she cares most about, including you as the player. The kids are acting as they have learned, and words like this can and should easily be read as gestures of affection. And they clearly trust Jaheira enough to bring this playful rudeness to the fore without fear of it being misconstrued or turning into hostility.

And if they are like Jaheira in this way, they’re also not going to be comfortable showing the real depth of their feelings in front of you, the player character - who is fundamentally a stranger who has just walked into their house. Why would they? Jaheira clearly doesn’t; indeed, even her more serious conversation with Rion only takes place outside where even the other children aren’t listening. 

Perhaps most significantly, I truly don’t understand how anyone can interact with Tate for even a moment and think that Jaheira does not have a deep, if often unspoken, bond with the kids she raises:

JAHEIRA: I hope you were hibernating, little cub, I can’t think of another reason you wouldn’t come down to say hello. TATE: Jaheira! I d-didn’t… didn’t w-want to see if you were r-really dead. They said… JAHEIRA: Who said? TATE: Jord and Rion. They didn’t think I c-could hear… JAHEIRA: You little sneak-thief. Well, they were wrong. Look! Not dead! I just… had a few adventures.

She is so soft and gentle with him in a way that she is with no one else, a way that indicates that she knows him and how his personality is different from the others. And he in turn has clearly been utterly devastated by the idea that she might be gone.

Take, as well, the evidence provided by Minsc when he is present in these conversations! There’s plenty of evidence to indicate the degree to which Minsc is guided by Jaheira’s behavior - to the degree that a doppelganger wearing her face was the key ingredient to binding him temporarily into the Cult of the Absolute. And Minsc - far more comfortable with emotion than Jaheira, at least in some ways - is clearly very affectionate with the kids as well:

FIG: STAND ON YOUR LIVER! MINSC: It is stand and *deliver*, little Fig. Though I think I like yours better. You bellow like a true berserker!

JHESSEM: A fine day to you, saer. Are you known to this court PLAYER: Eh? JHESSEM: Ugh - play along, would you? MINSC: Lord Boo is most pleased to make your acquaintance, my lady! Word of your grace has spread far and wide among the hamster houses. (Devnote: Swooping in to preserve the child's make-believe after the player ruined it.) JHESSEM: Enchanted!

MINSC: Boo is also very well! And happy to see *you*, Rion. RION: And I him. Enough that I’ll let him keep his lumbering, sweaty steed inside.

Would Minsc have taken it upon himself to have such a comfortable relationship with these children if Jaheira did not? I doubt it. He’d be friendly, certainly, but this familiarity goes a great deal beyond that.

And as for Rion herself - it's definitely reasonable to assume that she's had a strained relationship with Jaheira as she's grown older. (I have a lot of headcanons about this for my specific worldstate canon, but even just sticking to the game canon, it definitely seems like that's the case.) But leaving aside that - can you blame her for being upset at this particular moment?

As far as Rion knows, her mom was recently emotionally devastated for an indeterminate reason. (Minsc's apparent death. None of the kids are surprised to see him arrive, so clearly none of them knew he was supposed to be dead - but also there's no way that Jaheira didn't look afterwards like someone hollowed her out from the inside.) Then, without further explanation, she disappeared for what appears to have been several months (again, clearly not standard procedure), and after weeks of no contact, sends a seven-word message indicating she is about to die.

How exactly is Rion supposed to feel at this moment? This is an incredibly emotionally fraught circumstance, and if it's precisely representative of her overall relationship with Jaheira I will eat my hat.

Also - much is made by the game, by Rion, and by the fandom about that seven-word message, but if you try to chastise Jaheira about it, she gives further context:

PLAYER: Only seven? That’s cold, Jaheira. JAHEIRA: The cleric who cast the Sending was wounded. Should I have sobbed on her shoulder?

Jaheira was caught in a no-win situation. Trapped in the Shadowlands, a terrifying ordeal all by itself, with a gaggle of Harpers she had to protect, many of whom had apparently been injured by their encounter with Ketheric Thorm. If the only cleric she had access to was wounded, this was before they reached Last Light and met Isobel. 

Jaheira had ZERO reason to hope at this point - but she also still felt her own inescapable responsibility towards the people under her command. To send a longer and more emotional message would have been to put strain on her injured comrade and also risk making it very clear that she felt the situation was hopeless. The Harpers very well might have broken and scattered, condemning themselves - and, frankly, many others, given their crucial contributions to the final Act 2 fight - to death.

And then she lives, against all her own expectations, and returns to the city. And her dialogue reflects her conflict over this fact as well: 

JAHEIRA: I have given you much reason to think that Harpers hoard secrets like precious stones. But I promise you, this was not some intrigue. Just, ah… plain and simple foolishness. As if by keeping clear of my family, I might keep them clear of the cult in turn. And if this fight were to go against us, well… they had already done their mourning. Why visit it on them twice?

She then goes on to discuss the city and her place in it - and relates it directly back to her kids as well.

JAHEIRA: I was wrong to think I could keep my children from this fight. They’re Baldurian born and bred - the only damned reason I root myself in this place. This city is a cesspit. An open sewer of the soul, that taints us with its filth and churns us out when all that is good has been stripped away. It also happens to be their home - and so it is mine. Ugh. That might be the first time I have said that out loud.

If Jaheira wanted to disappear and leave her kids to handle themselves, she would have done it a long time ago. It wouldn’t be hard; she is fully capable of vanishing into the wilderness never to be seen again - and in truth, there’s every reason to believe she would be considerably happier to do so… except that it would mean leaving her children behind. They “root” her in Baldur’s Gate despite all of her previous inclinations and everything that comes naturally to her, and everything she does is guided ultimately by the need to protect the city because it is their home.

And that, my friends, is love, a love that she shows even if she does not know how to voice it.

TLDR: Jaheira's absence in the Shadowlands was definitely not a normal occurrence, and her kids clearly love her deeply and were devastated by her apparent disappearance. That she is a woman who keeps herself far too busy with work and has no idea how to express her own strong feelings does not, has not, and never will make her a "deadbeat."

[glow-worms-are-believers]

Tim Drake: Ugly Duckling (dp x dc)

So this is the last day of pride month, and so also the last day of me trying to write as many LGBTQ+ canon dc characters. It’s been fun (and I got to read a whole bunch of comics which was actually much more fun than the first time I’d tried to read those!!)

Now even though this is the end of June, feel free to send an ask if you want me to write a blurb with any character. I make no promises, but I will very much try! (It might take a while especially if I’m in a Tumblr hibernation phase.)

Anyways, for the last day of pride month I wanted to do Tim Drake coz he’s dc’s “it girl” with the gays. I’ve been working on this Dead Tired fic for ages, based on the post about Tim getting turned into a swan and meeting Danny, who as a prince has to give him a kiss to change him back (I can’t find the prompt but it was hilarious so this was my take on it).

Here’s the beginning of the fic:

Red Robin was on patrol duty, while Batman and Robin were following a lead on possible joker safehouses. All in all, It was a pretty quiet night with only two muggings, both low-energy as both perpetrator ran away as soon as a bat-shaped shadow moved. 

So Red Robin had spent most of the night chatting with Babs. He was grappling around town, as they started on the new date app they’d both found out Jason was using.

“I told him he can’t put only photos of his motorcycle but- wait I’m getting a call,” Oracle interrupted herself. Tim waited before the earpiece came to life again.

“Sorry to cut this short Red Robin, got a full-attention request from Canary. If you need anything, beep me, and Keep your coms open.”

“Bye, Oracle,” he said, and like that, Red Robin was alone once again.

 He stopped on Grand Avenue Station and just let himself take in Gotham. The city was beautiful at night, and Tim was itching for a camera. He seen hundreds of pictures of the city’s skyline but they always managed to be unique. The night sky may always be covered by dark clouds above, but Gotham had its own stars in the lights shinning on top of the skyscrapers. So lost in his thoughts, Tim was, he almost missed the soft noise that sounded behind him. The voice that sounded behind him was harder to miss.

“Wither away so late, Little Red Bird?”

Red Robin turned to see a tall woman standing half in the shadows

“Sorry, can I help you?” Answered the vigilante despite the bad feeling creeping up to him.

“I’d like to know where I can find your guardian,” the woman said, still in the shadows.

“You mean Batman?” He chanced.

The woman nodded and Tim resisted the urge to sigh.If this was another one of Bruce’s ill-advised fling, Tim was going to hack every electronic device the man had to play sex-eds on loops for at least a week.

“He’s busy at the moment.” Then feeling like he shouldn’t assume what the woman wanted Bruce for, he continued. “But if you need any help, I’ll do my best.”

The woman stepped forward, and Tim could see her better. Her face was bare, but her distinctive outfit seemed to indicate she was some kind of vigilante-slash-criminal. The outfit did, in fact, ring a bell in the back of his mind, but it was dim. Tim didn’t tense up, but he did angle his body in a way to accommodate for a better escape through grappling. She continued walking until she was within arm’s reach of Tim, towering over him. She extended a hand to lightly caress his cheek, and Tim went still at the touch.

“Such a kind Little Bird you are,” she said gently. “You know, you remind me of my daughter.” She sighed. “Oh, what pretty children you both are.”

“Thank you,” said Tim as he sidestepped out of the way. “I’m sure she’s a lovely person.”

“Oh she was,” the woman said and through his growing wariness, Tim spared a thought for the girl. “She had dark hair and the fairest skin, just like you. The most beautiful girl in the land some would even say.”

That niggling feeling came back as a feeling of familiarity poked at him once again. “You must’ve been very proud.”

The woman let out an airy laugh before saying playfully/contemplating. “mustn’t I?”

A shiver ran down his back. Alright, there was something wrong with this woman, and Tim wasn’t waiting around to find out what. Not without any information or backup.

“Well, if there’s nothing I can do for you, I really have to get going,” Tim said as he took out his grapple gun. In a second, the gun was ripped from his hand , and he was slammed to the side of the staircase leading up to the roof. He let out a gasp at the impact and his features tensed in pain. The woman hadn’t even touched him.

“Not so fast, Little Bird. We don’t want you going back to the Batman just yet.  I’m not ready to make him my Knight yet.”

“Your knight?” Tim managed to get out. He tried to move his arms, but some unseen force was pinning him in place. Shit, that meant he couldn’t reach the comm to send out a distress signal. Hopefully Babs would check in soon.

The woman smiled as she approached him once again. “What better for a Queen, than a Dark Knight?”

And just like that it clicked. “You’re the Queen of Fables.” 

“Well look at this, you’ve got the brains and the beauty,” she teased, her voice as smooth as honey.

“What do you want with Batman?” Tim asked though he could guess from previous encounters she had had with the Justice League that the villainess wanted to turn Bruce into a fairytale character of some sort. She’d done the trick on Clark, and twice on Diana, so it was probably Batman’s turn now. So, yes, Tim could guess, But the longer he kept her talking the more time he had to figure out a way out of this.

“I told you, he’ll be a Knight of the Queen,” She extended a hand and tilted Tim’s face up. “Do you know what that would make you Little Bird?” 

Most villains assumed the batclan worked like a crime family. So the family of a knight? “Nobility,” Tim guessed, unsure where this was going.

“Exactly.” She smiled, and then she moved. Tim braced for the hit.

Instead of a punch though, he only felt a tingling sensation. Cautiously, he opened his eyes, only for them to grow bigger as he took in his uniform. Or the lack thereof.

He was in something-century clothing, in some sort of frilly shirt and pants, all in white. This was worse than a punch. Then, as the thought hit him, Tim’s hands flew to his face only to come in contact with the silky fabric of a masquerade mask. He sighed in relief, and as he calmed down, he realized he was now free of the force pinning him down.

“The color is for my daughter,” the Queen said. Then, she let her head fall to the side before tracing a line across his forehead and Tim could feel something like a circlet setting down on it. “There you go. Now, it’s perfect. You could practically be siblings.” 

“No thanks.,” Tim answered.

The Queen tsked him. “That’s no way to behave Little Bird, has nobody taught you to say thank you when you receive a gift.”

“I don’t want anything from you,” Tim disagreed mildly as he took stock of his weapons. Everything was gone, including the earpiece, which meant Babs had to have been alerted and someone was en route.

The Queen frowned. “I was going to be merciful, for you guardian’s sake, but I no longer feel generous.” She raised her hand and Tim tried to roll away, but the magic beam swerved and hit him in a blinding flash of light.

When he managed to open his eyes once again, the world seemed quite a bit bigger than it had been moments before. 

“What did you do to me?” He said. Or tried to say.

Instead a strange squawk echoed and Tim took a step back in surprise. However, he lost his balance and started to fall and as he tried to catch himself with his hand, two large white wings unfolded. He dropped down, which wasn’t as far as he would’ve estimated and laid stiff. He moved his left arm, and a white wing followed suit. 

Oh, no. Oh no no no.

A grating laugh interrupted his freak out. “There you are my pretty Little Bird, all better. White really is your colour, don’t you th-“

With a loud hiss, Tim propelled himself towards the woman. Making use of his newfound beak, he pecked and bit everything he could, as he flapped his wings.

“Blasted creature- Get off! Stop it, you despicable, puny-“ 

Finally she managed to grab Tim and throw him away from her. He landed with a squawk, but managed to get himself back to his feet quickly. “You little/awful brat,” she snarled. “You’ll pay for this!”

But as the Queen threw out her hand, something rippled in the air between them and the magic beam seem to explode midway into a green vortex. Tim’s clumsy attempt at waddling away had him head straight towards it, and it was in vain that he tried to redirect the course. She and Tim made eye contact as the swan-boy tipped right into the swirling green vortex, both of their eyes wide-open in surprise.

Danny was exhausted. He was currently on week one of the full month of Royal Duties he’d promised Clockwork. Being Prince of the Infinite Realm was not all that it was cracked up to be, and that was saying a lot since he had already been expecting it to be awful. 

When Clockwork had made the request, Danny had proceeded to freak out about his new status, and then tried to abdicate. It was only the master of time reminding him of all the terrible possible candidate for the throne per rites of combat (such as Vlad) that stopped him from washing his hands of this mess. And now Danny was forced to spend one whole month of his summer vacation in the Ghost Zone to fulfill his duty as a Prince. 

He thought it would be some paperwork, maybe a battle or two, nothing too bad, but nooo. Because, of course nothing was easy, Danny had to show up at Events, and be Diplomatic. It was meeting, after meeting, after weird parties that were a mix between Medieval Banquets and Debutante balls. 

And worse of all were the marriage proposals. Danny could sorta understand, marrying into royalty was a definite plus for a lot of more powerful ghosts but when they called him a half-breed behind his back, only to smile in his face with a marriage contract in one hand and flowers in the other, that was where he drew the line. 

Plus there was also the fact that he was, like sixteen.

Suffice to say, Danny was exhausted and hiding out in Pariah Dark’s old castle as a last resort. It wasn’t his favorite place all in all, but the gardens were absolutely beautiful, which was where he was walking. He was currently headed to the hedge maze, since it was the best way to get rid of any tails he may or may not have. 

The maze was nasty if it didn’t like you, and it didn’t like anybody but Danny, and even then, it still tried to take a bite every once in a while. Despite the snaking vines and roots trying to capture anything that moved, the flowers that wailed softly when disturbed or the sharp thorns of the hedge plants themselves, it was still a beautiful place. Uniquely, the closer you got to the centre, the more colorful (and dangerous) everything got, which was why he liked it best. 

He reached the centre much quicker than the first time he tried, thanks to the maze actually helping him, and something pale caught his eye right in the middle of the open area, right next to the bench Danny loved to use. As he got closer, he realized it was a swan laying on the floor, seemingly unconscious.

“Oh no,” Danny said as he approached. “What happened to you?”

As if awakened by the sound of his voice, the swan started to shift, its wings twitching and it rose its head groggily. As soon as it clocked in Danny, it let out a surprised squawk, followed by a long hiss as it struggled to move away.

“Hey, hey, none of that, Duckie, you’re ok.” Danny raised his hands placatingly. “I don’t want to harm you, ok? I just want to make sure you’re ok.”

The hiss subsided by a bit, but that may have only be due to the swan managing to get further away.

“Sh, sh, it’s ok,” Danny repeated as he slowly inched forward. The swan stopped hissing but still observed him warily. “I don’t want to hurt you Duckie, but I do think we’d better get you out of this maze.”

Danny took another step, and this time the swan stayed still. “How about bringing you back to my rooms just for now.” The swan hissed louder at the statement. “Don’t worry Duckie, I’m not keeping you prisoner it’s just this maze has been known to eat people. And you’re too pretty to be eaten,” Danny flashed a smile at the swan which had it stare back with a gaze saying really?

“So what do you say, wanna crash at my place?” Danny asked. The swan didn’t move forward but he didn’t move away either.

“Yeah, I wouldn’t trust a guy who talks to birds either,” Danny allowed. “And the place where I’m staying is a little gloomy, so I don’t blame you, but I can’t leave you here. The maze is honestly really dangerous, especially for a nice bird is like you. “

The swan seemed to hesitate before it hesitantly made its way to Danny. Ghost animals were usually smart but the swan seemed to understand English, which made communicating that much easier. Danny smiled and opened his arms. “I can carry you.” The swan just looked at him, with what Danny would’ve thought was a deadpan stare. “It would go much faster.”

If the swan was human it probably would’ve sighed, but instead, its wings just fell a little before it waddled towards Danny and looked up as if to say ‘get on with it’.

Danny smiled and gathered the animal in his arms. “Buckle up,” he said before flying off towards the maze exit, which was accompanied by a low hiss. Making sure there was nobody there to ambush him, Danny made it back to the castle in record time.

“Here we are Duckie.” Danny set the swan back down and it plopped down on the ground and just steadied themselves for a while.

Tim was a swan. He had wings and no fingers, and his feet were webbed.

He was handling it though. By which Tim meant he was shelving the impending panic attack for later when he wasn’t stuck in a swan body. 

Ok, so he’d been turned by the Queen of Fables, so there had to be an answer in a fairytale,a way to make him normal again. He knew the ugly duckling story. That had a swan in it, right? He didnt know any other swan stories, except maybe as a dish during the wedding banquet of whichever princess. He vaguely remembered a Barbie movie that had passed on the TV when he was younger but the only thing that came to mind were a scary-looking Troll thing, and ballet.  So with lack of better alternatives he was going to go with the ugly duckling. The ugly duckling’s happy ending was reuniting with family, so maybe all he needed was to make his way back to Gotham.

“Are you ok?” 

And that was another thing. The guy. The one Tim had at first wanted to get away from. He seemed nice and all, but he also had neon green eyes, and fangs. Unfortunately, while they suited the boy very well, they also marked him as an unknown. 

On the other hand, if the glowing portal wasn’t enough of an indication, the green tinge of everything around was clear indicator that Tim wasn’t in Kansas anymore. The guy seemed to want to help him, and having an ally wherever he was could only help.

Tim nodded as best as he could with his long weird neck, and he had to take a few steps to regain balance.

“That’s good,” the boy smiled with his white pointy canine. “How did you end up in the middle of that maze?”

Tim just looks back tiredly. He didn’t know how to even try and explain when he couldn’t say a word and had no opposable thumbs.

“Yeah, sorry.” The boy winced. “Maybe stick to yes or no questions.”

There was a sharp knock at the door that had the boy turning away.

“Prince Phantom!” A voice rung through the door.

Prince? 

The newly-dubbed Prince Phantom got up to open the door, “yes, what can I do for you?”

“Your meeting with Queen Dora is approaching. Do you still prefer to forgo an escort guards?” a purple lady was saying.

“I’ll be fine without, Maj but thank you very much,” Phantom answered with a polite smile.

“I’ll pass it along, my Prince.” She bowed and closed the doors behind her.

Phantom walked back to lay on the bed with a sigh. “I really hate that they call me that.” He turned towards Tim to continue. “I bet swans don’t have royalty. You guys had the right idea.”

[thewhumpcaretaker]

♡︎ Caretaker Guarding Whumpee's Body ♡︎

Caretaker guarding whumpee while they are...

Transformed into a statue

Frozen in ice

In a stasis pod

In hibernation

Under a sleeping spell

In a coma

A robot that's deactivated right now

Technically dead but going to be revived later

Caretaker has to look after the body even though whumpee is not able to help or cooperate at all, and isn't even there to appreciate it right now. It's an act of complete selflessness and reveres their body as an important vessel even when their consciousness is not present. It's also vulnerable. Caretaker may have to make medical decisions for whumpee or decide how to handle their business/other affairs while they are unconscious. They may worry about whether they're making choices that whumpee would want. They may have to take whumpee on a dangerous journey or leave them behind while searching for a cure.

Sometimes I feel torn about this trope, because it literally turns whumpee into an object, de-centering their suffering, as if what they're going through is most difficult for others. But illness really is that way sometimes! And when it's handled well, I think there's something beautiful about treating a person's body as something precious even when it's thankless.

[pricegotmedickmatized]

welp polar bear!nikolai won the poll (by a landslide, btw, y'all wanna see him in the snow and i can't say i blame you) so here you go, have a polar bear!nikolai hybrid/shifter (idk the difference and at this point i'm too scared to ask sorry) with a fox!reader

polar bear!nikolai who's settled into his form as a hybrid. sometimes the hybrid point half between human and animal can look ill-fitting, even uncomfortable, but you'd swear that hybrids came to be just so Nikolai could be one. the build that's bigger than all other bear hybrids, uncomfortably so for the prey hybrids who spot him, thick muscle and a layer of fat to keep warm in the frigid Siberian winters he frequents for hibernation. the white fur on his jaw at his temples and the backs of his arms even the tops of his shoulders, the dark and steady gaze, the black tipped claws and the thick, sharp row of teeth. he doesn't move as quick as some bear hybrids do, and you count yourself fucking grateful for that, because he's by far the strongest

polar bear!nikolai who borders the bridge between traditional solitary hybrids (some big cats, other bears, etc) and the traditional group based hybrids (birds, wolves, even deer) because he truly likes it both ways. some solitary hybrids are forced to join large groups (Nik once had a pangolin bomb tech) and some pack minded hybrids are forced to solitary lives, and it can wreak absolute and undeniable havoc on their psyche. but not Nikolai. he's happy when he's been at his work, alone for days, not even technically interacting with anyone just by flying his plane or collecting quiet intelligence through dead drops from his network. he's just as happy with the 141 comes along and Soap and Gaz run circles around him for an hour, yipping and barking and wanting to play, and Ghost pretends to be put out that he has to scent the bear, and he and Price butt heads and growl a greeting like the brothers they are, as if they'd been raised on the same teat, and now they mother the same cubs

polar bear!nikolai who's felt a drive to mate, of course, it's an intrinsic evolutionary drive. it's natural, normal, healthy. he's just never thought that it went deeper than 'just instinct' for him. until he he gets an assistant. a fox hybrid, all fire bright red hair and fluffy tail, huge brown eyes, large ears constantly on a swivel, and far too fucking clever and inquisitive for her own goddamn good. he's spanked her before for sticking that cute nose into his business where he didn't want it, and at the time only held back from taking her up on her squirmy, teary-eyed pleas to make her feel better (cunt sopping wet, could smell her slick a mile away and in that tiny room with her it was a fucking bioweapon) by insisting she was too young for him. and that was still true, but maybe that's not a bad thing. maybe they can both get what they want, if he just gives in

polar bear!nikolai who, once decided that he wants a mate, knows immediately it could only ever be her. he doesn't believe in settling or compromising, not for this, he wants something as close to perfect as it can get while still being real, and he honestly wouldn't mind if they fought back just a little. he wants an equal who can challenge him as he grows older and more stubborn and harder to sway. which is exactly what his little vixen offers. he's borne her teasing and flirting and attempts at mating behavior (bringing him her hunts was a good fucking touch, though) with nothing but a rumble of appreciation, a kiss to the top of her head and praise down her ear for her cleverness or cunning, the same way he reacted to her actual work for him (when she earned it, though to be fair, she always ensured that she earned it), and then gone to his den to fist his cock. alone. but not any longer

polar bear!nikolai who calls her into his office, smirking appreciatively as he takes in her newest seductive tactic: a tight skirt barely covering her ass and the thinnest blouse he's ever seen in his life, thin enough to see the dark circles of her nipples, pert and straining for touch. he beckons her closer, watches with pride how her head spins, cunning eyes wide and bright when he yanks her into his lap and ties her hands together behind her back with a necktie. "If you can escape the knot without leaving my lap, you can have my cock as reward." "And if I don't? If I just get up and walk away?" he chuckles, the sound rolling like rock and he drinks in her whimper as he starts pawing her body like he owns it. because he does. (his money pays her bills. his money paid for her clothing, for the roof over her head, for her manicured nails, her italian shoes, everything. he owns her) "Then you will take my cock all the same, but you won't be allowed to cum, naughty vixen." she dangles the tie, hands free, smirking at him victoriously right after he finishes speaking "Give me my prize then."

polar bear!nikolai who's claws rip right through her clothes, leaving her startled and naked in his lap, and still trying to ride his cock through his pants, lust glazing over dark eyes as she starts to burn like a fire in his lap. he has her ride his cock in his chair, ignores the flash of surprise and doubt in her face when she sees it for the first time, and just yanks her down on it, forcing her to take him, growling through gritted teeth, clawing up the expensive arms of his tooled leather chair when it makes her cum, eyes tearing up. he doesn't go easy on her, but fools her into thinking she's the one in charge. lets her bounce on it to her hearts content, purring at her how good his clever fox looks, his perfect little vixen so tight and wet around him, she can cum whenever she wants. and she does, she does, so quick and so hot he begins to doubt if she's ever found real release before. but when she tires, it's his turn

polar bear!nikolai who puts her on her back on his desk when she's fucked out and cockdrunk, pouting because he hasn't cum yet, and he leans down, laughing softly, "You didn't think that I would be content with only a few measly little orgasms? I want my clever vixen to drown in pleasure." she trembles, finally starting to realize that she's been the prey all along, not he, as his heavy hands settle on her waist, gripping tight enough to bruise, cock throbbing as he forces her to take him balls deep, bullying her cervix, flirting heavily with causing her pain even as it gives him nothing but true fucking heaven. "My little wife will cum for me until I decide she has had enough. So lay back and take it as I breed you, won't you clever thing?" she tries to speak and he snaps his hips, making her eyes roll back, making him groan loud enough to rattle the windows in his office. "That's a good little wife. Just lay there and take your breeding, pretty vixen."

[p4r4syte]

its boiling hot rn so heres some lost boy hcs. what i think theyd do/be like in summer (mildly suggestive?)

pls add comments, ill add to it :3

David :

•avoids everyone. i know vampires are cold blooded but no doubt these mfs get agitated during summer. David the worst. he’d be sat there, coat discarded with a pissed off expression. still smoking. god forbid he doesnt smoke

•will even get pissed off with Feeding Time™️ because the bloods warm so he’d just disappear for days on end. hiding away. basically hibernating

•Is Extremely Snappy. he will go for anyones throat, doesnt even matter if youre together (god forbid mates), he’ll be avoiding you just in case but will Bark at the boys given any chance

•”he wouldnt hurt a fly” HE WOULD!!!!!! Fuck That Fly Do Not Invade My Personal Space

•will only calm down once hes cooler, he would genuinely have to piss off to the sea (or i imagine the cave has a watered in area) ((only dwayne knows about it but he let david in on it)) or hes sulking in a damp, desolate part of the cave. just waiting for the summer to end

•only one of the boys that can speak to david during this time is dwayne because of how hes empathetic towards his Boys. Marko And Paul Will Be DropKicked On Sight.

•sleeps upside down, near the darkest most secluded park of the cave. there isnt any air, theres no breeze. he doesnt care, he just wants to, fester. Leave Him To Fester

Marko :

•becomes more feral than he ordinarily is

•he Will be dangling from the ceiling, trying to catch any breeze that rolls in

•he will also be chilling with the pigeons, they find the coolest places in the cave to rest so Why Not?

•the summer heat will also be giving him unneeded energy. he WILL be playfighting with paul and then laying there overheating and gets pissed off once paul tried to interact with him again. Cant You See Im Warm? Jesus.

•will find endless cool drinks on the boardwalk once it cools down during night. itll give him no sustenance and he’ll be pissed off that he has a headache tomorrow but. Mmm Slushie :3

•still eats hot food and will complain about how hes warmer now than before he ate the food. yes he knew beforehand. no he wont stop. let him complain

•him and paul sit shirtless in the centre part of the cave, eating ice creams and then getting pissed off once theyve eaten them all (or theyve melted)

•calmer than david, less irritated than dwayne, less energetic than paul

•sleeps in a random, small part of the cave because the air rushes straight through (he followed the pigeons)(he learns many things from them, this is one of the many great things he found out)

Paul :

•please calm down. its Hot. Get The Memo

•continues his antics, just with, less clothes.

•the ONLY motherfucker thats actively trying to interact with everyone else

•he doesnt get it, god bless. not a single thought in that head x

•is also smoking. sat on that fountain (the cold marble against his back), trying to yell to the others (they ignore him) speaker blasting music (its pissing everyone off)

•the only one that actually leaves the cave (until he convinces marko to get slushes with him. then hes no longer going alone)

•a nuisance. a pure fucking mosquito of a man. he’d be stuck to you if he could, please don’t let him you dont know where hes been (various ponds) (hes upside down in a shrub) (dont help him)

•hes a boombox blaster, weedsmoking, white rum drinker in summer. or whatever he can get his hands on. but best believe he’s living it up even if he doesnt make it out the cave most nights

•sleeps drunk in the fountain, naked. Hey, Its Cool. What Do You Want From Me?

Dwayne :

•is the only one who Actually attempts to cater to the rest

•he knows exactly how everyone is and as much as he Needs To Rot too, he needs to check on everyone first

•only person hes really checking on is david lets be honest

•after finding david and just, checking, he’ll find his own section of the cave. not too far, within ear distance of Everyone in the cave

•he’ll just rest there for a while, just dangling, all sweaty

•sometimes he has enough energy to chill with paul and marko but quickly loses it after a while. paul is Way too much for him in this heat. Hes Markos Issue Now :)

•he is the only one that will remind the other boys that they need to eat. it may be hot, but you still need to eat. cue moody david, hyper paul, sweaty and overstimulated marko and coping mother dwayne

•doesnt speak to anyone, literally not at all, because hes just Too Hot™️ so he’ll just pull your hand to what he wants, guiding you to what he needs

•sleeps alone, in the centre on the cave. just above where they all gather, so he can hear everyone but is just far enough away to get peace. oh, hes also naked.

[heckinconfusedparade]

Hibernation Station

Sonic Wachowski raised himself in the wilderness. In doing so, he’s developed natural instincts that are like the Earth's regular hedgehogs.

Finding these little habits has been a fun journey for Tom and Maddie. It’s the cutest shit they’ve ever seen.

The first winter they had Sonic under their roof, he exhibited some worrying symptoms: namely slowing down a lot and eating a lot. There were moments where they’d catch him bringing many blankets into his closet and tunneling into them. When they asked him about it, he said this happens every winter, except he has blankets now and not dirt, leaves, and whatever else he can scavenge.

That’s how they learn that hedgehogs are one of the only animals to actually hibernate. After learning that, they make sure their little boy is well fed whenever he’s up and moving. Thankfully he’s not out as long as his tiny Earth counterparts, but his lack of presence makes it feel that way. Sonic just shows those symptoms more severely because he is by nature a very fast living being. His body is always at a fast pace, so in order to achieve hibernation, he would need to slow down a LOT and maintain that to even get a shot at it.

When Knuckles and Tails joined the family, their knowledge on this little habit was minimal. Tails is aware of the hibernation period, but the hedgies on Mobius do it much less due to normally not living outdoors on their own.

Knux knows it’s a thing certain animals do when it gets cold to preserve energy or whatever, but that’s really where his knowledge ends.

Sonic is now preparing for another winter of hibernation, happy that he now has much better options than caves or empty burrows. He’s eating more and slowing down… and Knuckles is the only one who’s truly concerned about this.

Brother is convinced his little bro has contracted some bug that’s taken a metal bat to the poor hedgehogs carefully crafted obnoxiousness. Sonic didn’t make fun of him one morning, and that was enough for Knux to call a family meeting.

“My dear family, our hedgehog has fallen ill, and you do not seem to be concerned about the dangerousness of our situation,” Knuckles says, standing on a stool in the middle of the living room so he makes sure his voice is heard, “Sonic did not harass me, so I’d say it’s blatantly obvious that he is to be taken to the Healers.”

Knuckles prefers to call doctors ‘Healers’ even though he knows what the occupation is called. He thinks it’s cooler this way.

His parents and littlest brother give him confused looks.

Tom tells him “he’s not sick, he’s just getting ready to hibernate, bud.”

“What does that have to do with the state of him?”

Tom looks to his wife who he assumes knows the topic better, and lucky him, he’s right this time! Only because she studied up on it when she learned Sonic hibernates.

Maddie explains to her eldest that “Sonic’s body needs to slow down a lot in order to hibernate. He’s gonna be laying motionless for days at a time, and for him that’s a lot to ask.”

“I see.” Knuckles clenches his fist, “then I will ensure my brother has the best hibernation! So that he may wake up ready to face the battles of spring!”

“Actually he’s not going to sleep, or staying out until spring. He says he just sorta… exists, but not really. Last year he was out for 3 weeks, just to get through the coldest part of winter.”

“I did not know the hedgehog could predict troublesome weather ahead!”

Knuckles is kinda right on that. If Sonic had been here for this discussion, he would agree.

Speaking of Sonic, Tails leaves the livingroom to look for him. He quietly scuttled around the house and checks every comfortable hiding spot that could be used as a good hibernation spot just in case Sonic decided to pack his burrow and move locations, which he had already done a few times before circling back to his closet.

Lo and behold, Sonic is finishing his little blanket burrow. He’s stolen a couple shirts from Tom and Maddie since they make him feel safe and comfortable. Their scents shall aid him!

The state of the hedgehog makes Tails sad. He’s really not used to Sonic acting this way, and can definitely see why Knuckles was concerned.

“Sonic?”

Sonic’s ear twitches and he lifts his head up to look around for the source of the familiar voice. He doesn’t seem to spot Tails right away, but when he does, his face softens into a fond expression. That’s his lil baby bro right there. Look at that fluffy creature. Adorable. “Hey, bud.. what’s up?”

Tails opens his mouth to speak but is interrupted by the sound of Ozzy coming up the steps, missing one, but recovering quickly enough to finish his journey up into the attic.

Sonic is on the floor, so obviously this means that he is here to play, so Ozzy gives him some slobbery puppy kisses and picks up a random sock with his tail wagging like mad.

After finding his train of thought again, Tails asks “are you ok? Are you all prepared, n stuff?”

Sonic holds one end of the sock while Ozzy is enthusiastically pulling the other end. “Think so.. just need to eat some more, I think.”

“Mom and Dad are turning down the furnace, right?”

“Mm..” Sonic can’t remember. The attic gets a little chilly these days as it is already, but “I dunno.”

The little fox kit suddenly lights up in remembrance. He trots off into the corner he uses to store his inventions and pulls out a small yellow extra mini mini fridge and silent microwave combo. “Dad said you almost fell down the stairs last year when you got up to eat, so I’m bringing the snacks to you!”

As far as Sonic is concerned, this kid has just handed him the holy grail. “Yo.. that..s cool as shit, bro..”

Tails holds back his giggles as his poor brother gets progressively more physically and mentally prepared to check out.

Knuckles has now arrived! He comes baring gifts! It’s food. So much for one hedgehog.. but Sonic consumes it all. Bro doesn’t really know when he’s gonna get back up, so he’s getting all the grub he can. Plus! Knuckles offered him some of his precious grapes. He can’t let this moment in history go to waste!

As he’s finishing his feast, Tom and Maddie pull up to let them know they’ve turned down the furnace a little.

Maddie just. She looks at her little boy. Oh how her middle boy tugs her heartstrings. Poor kid is ready to check out.

Now, Sonic isn’t a very touchy person. He prefers words over physical affection. His family has come to understand that they either ask, or let him come to them.

Maddie sits on the floor and opens her arms and her heart screams and cries as her blue alien hedgehog son crawls into her lap for some final snuggles. “Oh, my baby…” she kisses his lil head between his ears. He’s so special. That’s her baby! This is how you know for sure Sonic is out of energy: laying in his mothers lap and not changing his position ever 3 seconds. He’s just chilling getting all the pats from his parents, purring more than they’ve ever heard him purr from affection.

OH BUT DONT FORGET TOM! Tommy boy gets his Sonic snuggles in! He’s whispering to his son about all the snow forts they’ll build once he’s up. His son is pumped! But in the lowest low key way. Bro probably didn’t even understand what he was being told.

His brothers?

Knuckles says “farewell, dear brother. May your hibernation be prosperous.” and he gives him a solid two pats on the head.

Tails hugs him and says “imma miss you! Stay comfy cozy!”

Ozzy doesn’t understand, but he’s getting pats, so he doesn’t mind not knowing.

Blue boy crawls into his blanket burrow, kneads the blankets, then curls into a tight ball. Hibernation time!

It has been an hour, and the household already feels less lively. Even if Sonic had not been active at all for a couple days, his presence still held its comforting and energetic aura. His mischievous spirit. His Sonic-ness. It’s not something that can be replicated. Even if he is only upstairs, his absence is noticeable.

Tom and Maddie check on him often to make sure he’s ok. They do something they’ve named the ‘Annual Poke’ where every few hours they’d poke Sonic to make sure he’s alive, and he is, evident by his quills rippling. He ain’t moving besides that.

Ozzy is near him more often than not. He prefers to keep him company while he’s in a vulnerable state, and protect his valuable pack member, just as he knows Sonic would do for him.

Knuckles is also standing guard, ensuring no threat shall dare interrupt his baby brother’s hibernation. He does not move from his post unless it is because he is needed by his parents or babiest brother. He makes sure his little fridge is well stocked with fresh goods.

Tails studies up on hibernation, and he’s fascinated! His brothers body just does that for survival? That’s metal af.

The kit is set on making this the best hibernation station to ever exist. The fridge is always working, there’s now a water dispenser, and he carefully adds some cushioning inside the burrow so the blankets don’t collapse when Sonic comes out for a snack or drink. He’s also made some motion sensing lights that are very dim, and will work to aid in guiding Sonic if it’s dark and his eyes aren’t too great yet.

With Knuckles’ help, it’s the best Hibernation Station. The bestest best. Have I mentioned best? Hi this is me writing days later. Yes it is the best.

After 3 nights, Tails and Knuckles wake to some soft shuffling. They look towards the sound, and it’s coming from the hibernation station. Sonic has slugged his way out to get to his little fridge for the first time since he’s gone into hibernation. They don’t want to interrupt nature, as much as they wanna go chat with him. All they can do is make sure he’s able to get his water and plenty fruits (it’s all he seems to choose from the fridge for some reason) and make sure he gets back into his burrow safely.

Tails is so glad he made sure the light in the mini fridge was super dim. He would’ve felt so bad if his poor brother got flashbanged just for wanting to eat.

In the morning, the two run down to tell their parents who have barely woken up that Sonic got up during the night to eat.

“He ate all the fruits we had in there!” Tails explains, “his mind is geared to choose the most nutritious option when given it.. isn’t that cool??” lil bro wants to know more about this and can’t wait for Sonic to wake up completely so he can give him a first hand account.

Knuckles notes “he was still in his sluggish state. That was pure survival.”

Tom and Maddie, now awake, find their sons interest in this interesting. They must not know many hedgehogs. “Don’t you boys know other hedgehogs?” Maddie asks them.

The boys look at each other. Knuckles says “they are uncommon and tend to keep to themselves. Not many are as social as Sonic.”

Tails tells him that “I haven’t seen many besides Sonic and Shadow. They didn’t really live in my area, and even so, they didn’t have to develop this survival instinct because it was normal to have the resources to stay warm during the winter. Sonic didn’t for most of his life.”

Interesting. And sad for Sonic.

Anyway, more weeks pass, more food occasionally disappearing from the fridge every few nights.

Then it is time.

Sonic slowly begins gaining his consciousness back. It’ll take less time since his body is accustomed to gaining speed asap. Doesn’t mean he doesn’t wake up very weird and confused.

He looks around his room from where he’s sitting in his burrow and nobody is here. He doesn’t know the day, year, time, but he sees it’s daylight.

This solves nothing for him. Clearly there are 2 solutions here: finish whatever is in the fridge, and take a nap.

He’s doing both.

He doesn’t curl up in a ball for this nap, he lies kinda on his side, kinda on his front. Comfy hedgehog moment right here.

The nap lasts a solid hour, then he’s feeling ok enough to leave his little area. He’s able to check the time, and it says 2:32, and despise it being bright outside, and the absence of his brothers from their beds, his sleepy mind can’t figure out if it’s am or pm.

He tries to lift the attic hatch, and his body hasn’t caught up enough to lift it up and over, so he ends up trying to squeeze his way to the stairs.

Stairs are a no, legs feel like jelly.

So he looks outside. There’s snow out there. He can see snowmen, snow angels, and the foundations of snow forts.

Looks like fun.

He wants to build stuff too. It’s one of his favourite winter activities!

Now time for stairs, he slides his way under the attic hatch, and slowly crawls backwards down the steps on all fours.

He has made it to the 2nd floor. Hell yeah.

He hears click clacks approaching. OZZY!! OZZY BOY!!

Ozzy enthusiastically greets him with full body wags, kisses, and whining. He brings a slipper over because he just cannot contain his excitement. Sonic is giving him all the pats. “Hi, Ozzy..!” He says in a very raspy voice. “Oouh, damn, my voice..” he chuckles in shock that he sounds the way he does.

Nothing well hydration and more yapping can’t fix!

Slowly he makes his way downstairs, and nobody is here.

Obviously Sonic has left his own reality, and now exists in one where he and Ozzy are the only occupants.

He heads to the kitchen and gets some water. He’s craving a smoothie, but he doesn’t trust his coordination in cutting up fruits just yet. In fact he can’t even remember how he got up onto this stool in this first place. How is he gonna get down??

Sonic is trapped. Body recover fast. Mind go fast, but not fast enough.

Using Ozzy as leverage, he slowly makes his way down the stepstool, then the front door opens and he falls flat on his face because Ozzy abandoned him to greet Knuckles and Tails. “Oww.. Ozzyyyy..”

Meanwhile at the front door, Tails’ big ol ears perk up. He hears his brother! He trots into the kitchen and finds this poor dude laying face down on the floor. “Sonic?! Are you ok?!” He asks rolling him onto his back. His fearful tone summons their oldest brother who helps this blue dude to his feet.

Knuckles helps Sonic to the couch so he can chill while he makes him a smoothie because he makes the best! Delicious and packed with nutrients! The smoothie of a warrior!

Sonic confirms he’s ok, and he’s now in a cuddle puddle being warmed up by his brothers and puppy dog. This is what he needed! This and a good stretch. He’s feeling better by the second, and he’s nearly ready to resume chaos and run around the continent like an absolute lunatic.

The parents are informed that Sonic is up, and they both show up at the exact same time by pure coincidence. Tom says it’s because they share a mind.

Anyway, they’re all over him now, and Sonic, who is still rebooting, has no idea how to handle this. Everyone checking on him and talking to him is overwhelming since he’s been in peace and quiet for a few weeks. It doesn’t help that he’s still learning how to say that and not feel bad. Lucky him, his puffy quills and airplane ears do it for him, so they back off.

To help him out, they keep a warm blanket on him and give him snacks.

Mostly he just naps off the crummy discomfort of a cloudy head and stiff joints.

After that? Bro is gone. He left the building. He left the state. He is having his grand tour around warmer areas. He even stops in Florida to chat up some random lizards. Universally, animals love the guy. The lil lizards saw this blue thing and went “hell yeah”

When he gets home, he FEASTS. Dinner time. Chili dogs for his occasion.

Another successful hibernation in the books!