#lost lagoon quotes

[zippocreed501]

FROM THE BADLANDS...

...images from the lost continent of cult films, b-movies and celluloid dreamscapes

"Listen to them. Children of the night. What music they make."

"It's alive it's alive it's alive!"

"Do you have to open graves to find girls to fall in love with?"

"Even a man who is pure in heart and says his prayers by night may become a wolf when the wolfbane blooms and Autumn moon is bright."

"We didn't come here to fight with monsters. We're not equipped for it. We came here to find fossils."

"One thing's sure: Inspector Clay is dead — murdered - and somebody's responsible!"

Quotes from classic horror films

Dracula (1931) Frankenstein (1931) The Mummy (1932) The Wolf Man (1941) The Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959)

(Can you think of any more?)

[princesssarisa]

OTP ask: Ariel & Eric (The Little Mermaid)

When did I ship them: From the first time I saw the complete movie at age 10.

Ship dynamic: Two free-spirited, fun-loving teenagers, with a shared zest for life that makes them fit perfectly together. Their instant starry-eyed attraction is the classic stuff of fairy tales, yet there's no question that their temperaments are just right for each other. He offers her the freedom she craves and the gentleness and respect she doesn't get from her strict father, while she brings new joy and adventure into his life. And both are courageous and willing to sacrifice everything or fight supernatural evil for each other.

Theme song: "Part of Your World" (Reprise)

Type of date: Carriage rides through the countryside; dancing in the town square; rowing on a blue lagoon at sunset.

Married or dating: Ultimately married.

Sexuality: Heterosexual.

Genders: Male and female.

Romantic quotes:

*"What would I give to live where you are What would I pay to stay here beside you What would I do to see you smiling at me

Where would we walk Where would we run If we could stay all day in the sun Just you and me And I could be Part of your world"

*"I lost her once. I'm not gonna lose her again!"

Any headcanon powers: After her father turns her human, unlike when Ursula did it, Ariel keeps her mermaid amphibiousness. She'll still be able to breathe underwater as well as on land.

Healthy or unhealthy relationship: Healthy. Yes, it moves with classic fairy tale speed, but it's healthy all the same.

Who is the flirty partner: Ariel, in her awkward and inexperienced yet adorable way.

Who is the silly one: Also Ariel – not intentionally, but from her sheer exuberance to explore the human world – though they can both be silly now and then.

[huntersapprentice]

okay so, I think it's so fucking funny but also interesting how veggietales characters are either portrayed as being close to human size or regular vegetables. (or both?!?!?)

putting under a read more because I will go on and on about this and maybe go on tangents

love my funny little produce ^^

so I feel like for someone who's never watched this show (not to mention barely heard of it), it would seem obvious to think these characters are itty bitty. I mean, they go on the countertop, and everything's just normal-sized. Larry even eats some popcorn that looks to be in a human sized bowl (as well as regular sized popcorn) in Dave and the Giant Pickle. Larry's also gotten stuck in the sink once in Rack, Shack, and Benny. The only place where everything around them seems to be made for their size is in the story segments. the Bible retellings, the book adaptations, the movie/show adaptations, the original stories. the content that fills up 80% of the videos are in universe acting, so one could say it's just the set. even for the stories that are kinda implied to be a part of the character's canon, such as Larry's Lagoon and Bob's Vacation, could be set within this little mini world they have, kinda like how the Super Why characters live in this magical world in a bookshelf. not that I imagine much of the fandom even considers it canon, but the netflix series did seem to build on that world for the sentieng vegetables, at least in minor details (more veggie theming I guess) all this seems to keep the idea that they're still just vegetable size. Their interactions with humans are very much just audience interaction throughout the show, whether it's through letters, texting, or video calls. The cancelled Bob and Larry movie even touches on the idea of the vegetables being vegetable size, with a comment from one of the show artists, Joe Spadaford, stating that "Bob and Larry would've lived in his nightstand" (quote from the Lost Media Wiki, paraphrasing Spadaford)('his' being a kid called Dexter, whoever that would've ended up being) however, in what we have of the show now, humans never really come into contact with the veggies, not counting the mascot costume performances or spin offs (Os Amigos, FitnessHoff) because of that, most would assume the vegetables are just talking vegetables. BUT THEN THERES SOME OF THE EXTRA-CONTENT STUFF. I'm gonna start with the one that stuck with me the earliest:

Bob just sitting casually with the creator of the show, but. but. but. he's not the size of a tomato. he's almost as tall as medium sized dog or a baby.

another thing I saw recently:

this picture is from the Veggie Rocks! album, which seems to have also been included with the physical CD copies. Larry's just fucking around in the studio. this human sized looking studio..... now, thinking back to my point about the canon stories earlier: yes, it'd be easy to say those are just sets made for their size, but what's stopping someone from saying that the sets are in accordance to human size? that the countertop is actually the thing modified for size to make the veggies look veggie-sized!? well, at the end of the day, I think it's up to personal preference, and also it's a cartoon for kids so there's not much reason to put so much thought into it. But I like putting thought into it, dammit. In fact, in the process of writing this rambling, I had actually thought of a third idea: what if the veggies can change their size at will for whatever the reason? the veggies, as well as just being able to levitate things, can also change their size. being honest, that wouldn't even be the weirdest thing about them. Oh yeah, and I went through this entire part of the rambling without even mentioning the animals. animals that are either veggie-sized or regular-sized, depending on how you see it.

VEGETABLES THAT TALK AND SING AND DANCE and also seem to really like Monty Python and Gilbert and Sullivan references. also, they're in a Christian educational show. it's already kinda far out there as a show concept. but then there's the other thing: they can eat. through the first episodes, they're mostly shown eating or at least mentioning or using foods such as pizza, popcorn, or slushies. even then, the mentions of food is already kinda sparse. but coming into the 2000s, the use of food is a bit more frequent (I don't know why I'm so hung up on the food thing, honestly, but I feel like there's something about the idea of a digestive system) speaking of anatomy, it has been brought up before in terms of the veggies' anatomy as plants. the Belly Button song is a pop song that goes on about Mr. Lunt and his super deep dark secret that he must admit to y/n: he's got no belly button. of course, he's a decorative gourd. the umbilical equivocal is up there in his head. this plant unique biology is then carried over to one of the VeggieTales on TV end credit bits, where Mr. Lunt informs Bob (who's in the middle of a mild allergic reaction to shellfish) that he would technically "breath through his leaves," and then Bob comments on that being "cool." Aside from that, they do have animal functions too. like using the bathroom (never shown on screen, but off screen reference and mention)

Honestly, that's kinda all I wanted to ramble about, I think the details of these characters are super interesting to think about

also with the external detail that the veggies can't "have a redemptive relationship with God" so they can't go to heaven nor hell nor I guess have souls accordingly

[i-am-blue15]

Mystery Kids: Classic Monsters Headcanons:

Dipper: Werewolf

.Transforms at night regardless of the moon’s phase.

.Often becomes ridden with fleas and ticks, so he takes frequent baths and has a faint scent of oatmeal.

.Like with Coraline and Lili, he can’t eat with silver spoons, forks, or knives, so has to use plastic utensils.

.Has the urge to chase animals like the cat and waddles but never kills them.

.Chews random objects like his pen, the TV remote, pillows, etc.

Mabel: Witch

.Is in charge of finding a cure or reverse spell to change the guys back, with little success.

.Often recites different phrases and quotes from movies involving magic and witches.

.Throws enchanted kitchen dance parties with plates flying, loud music (jump in the line) and playing limbo with her broom. 

.Goes foraging for ingredients with Dipper and his sense of smell, either looking for hair from a gnome, fungus from a gremlobin’s shoulders, sweat from a manotaur, etc (Yeah, just about every gross thing you can find in Gravity Falls. Poor Dipper)

.Attempts to convince the others to try her new spooky makeup ideas like carefully braiding Lili’s sentient snake hair or applying goth makeup for Coraline’s pale cheeks, lips and eyelids.

Coraline: Vampire 

.Doesn't need to drink blood but finds herself eating and drinking red stuff like apples or cranberry juice.

.Her eyes have become more sensitive to bright lights and colors. She even wears more darker clothing as opposed to her usual fashion to make it easier on them.

.She can transform into different animals. (Such as a bat, cat, mouse, wolf etc.)

.Crawls up walls and hangs from ceilings. Sometimes you can find her ranting while pacing upside down.

.She doesn't have a reflection in mirrors and is bummed about it but Mabel support her by saying, "Girl, you look good in everything! Even with blood red eyes and a ghostly pale face."

.She can mesmerize others but this requires her full concentration to keep them under her control and can only hypnotize a few people at close range.

Wybie: Reanimated Corpse (Frankenstein’s Monster)

.Runs on electricity so needs to recharge every so often. When he’s low he becomes sluggish and unproductive with making his projects.

.Can’t feel pain so he doesn’t notice one of his arms rips off again or even if he’s on fire from another failed experiment.

.He can transfer his electricity to machines, appliances and even his own inventions.

.Can also collect energy from outside sources but has to be mindful of much energy he’s absorbing. If not released, his behavior changes as he is more hyper and aggressive and can burn himself out.

.Luckily he is filled with cotton, but this leaves the others perplexed on how he can eat and drink if he doesn't have a stomach.

Norman: Dullahan (Headless Horseman)

.Aside from his head, the rest of his body is merely a whole suit of armor. 

.Like with Wybie, he can also eat and drink despite not having any organs below. Where does it all go? Maybe we’ll never know.

.He has the power to summon an undead steed to get around. He will only ever let Norman ride him and is is rather affectionate towards him.

.If his head is lost or misplaced, it can be called back to his body using some sort of “spectral tether”.

.His head is engulfed in a green spectral flame. These flames either weaken or rise depending on his emotions.

Neil: Gargoyle

.Like Coraline, he can't survive in sunlight or else he'll turn into a lifeless statue unless he's pulled back into darkness.

.He's extremely tough and durable. If he were to ever fall from a great height, the crash would barely leave a scratch.

.He can change from gargoyle to human, not completely though.

.He can breath fire but if he spews too much in a short time, he'll become lightheaded and dizzy, since it takes a lot of oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Raz: Swamp Creature (Creature of the Black Lagoon)

.He’s thrilled his new form allows to enjoy being water (Though only in fresh water).

.It also gives him to opportunity to further expand his hydrokinesis.

.Due to being amphibious, he can’t go too long without water (whether by swimming in or drinking it) and gets dehydrated quickly.

.Often gets static shocked by Wybie just by standing next to him.

.Gives him an idea for a new stunt for the circus like” The Flying Fish Boy and his rings of water!".

.Can't eat food containing a lot of salt or else his mouth and throat will dry.

Lili: Gorgon (Medusa)

.The others are immune to her petrifying gaze as they were all cursed with the same spell.

.Often makes death threats like paralyzing them with her venom or constricting them with her long tail.

.Her hair snakes express her emotions like whenever she kisses Raz's cheek, they give him little pecks all over his face.

.Gloats about being technically taller than Coraline now.

.Has to wear a blindfold when people are around. Luckily, her clairvoyance makes up for that and also has Raz to guide her while holding his hand.

[mygainyear2024]

Day 27 I ate a Dom Rodrigo and I liked it!

Today I had so many options. I really wanted to go find those flamingos in the Rio Formosa Lagoon, as it was beyond where I was headed today, to meet Esther in Vilamoura. I was excited to see Vilamoura, apparently a little more expensive to live than other places I've seen. Esther is one of four women who responded to my FB post earlier this year, seeking travellers / expats to catch up with. I've now met three of them (Crystal from the US, Rosie from Canada and Esther from South Africa), I'm not sure what's happened to the fourth!

I decided this morning it was a bit too ambitious to head out to Vilamoura at 10.30am, a one hour drive, catch up with Esther, then potentially drive another hour, then go on a flamingo hunt in an area that I'm not familiar with on my own. There were so many other options I'd thought about asking Esther’s opinion on instead.

Esther, like the waiter I'd met in the first week, left South Africa five years ago with her Portuguese husband and two children because of safety concerns. Esther mentioned her father had been murdered there, her mother had been attacked (she said luckily not raped), she had been involved in a car hijack and her husband I think an armed robbery, bloody hell, no wonder she's taken to liking cocktails, after 20 years of not drinking. They arrived and her husband became an Uber driver and then COVID hit and they were eating into their savings. He now does Uber driving and is a real estate agent, but that sounds very competitive here. Esther has started to do cleaning and gets paid €12 per hour. She was so surprised when I told her I pay $40 per hour and that's cheap in Australia. Esther mentions the more exclusive areas, where the footballers and other famous people live is not that far, in Quinta do Lago and Vale do Lobo. I was keen to visit.

After one coffee and a pastel de nata, then another coffee, I asked Esther if she wanted to join me wandering around the marina at Vilamoura. We were headed to lunch at an Indian restaurant she'd recommended but sadly it was closed. We ate pizza and drank a glass of wine instead and she was keen for me to try a cocktail, rattling off how yummy Sex on the Beach and a few others were. I think she assumed I might not have drunk cocktails before! She rang her husband for a bar recommendation and we ended up at an Irish Pub called Northwoods. It was pretty empty apart from five guys and a rather grumpy woman who said there'd be no cocktails until the real bartender arrived. We said we'd wait. We got talking to Stewart, from Glasgow I think. He moves between Scotland and Vilamoura. We then couldn't help but engage with the other four guys who were singing about three lines of some song quite loudly and badly. Well that then gave them licence to join us. Four pissed Scottish dudes from Fife, over for a few days of golf. It was like they'd never met an Australian woman in Portugal before, in fact they pretty much said so. They asked if I played golf! I said the game was a bit too boring for me and I got them quite worked up when I knowingly called the clubs "sticks"! They were all talking over each other to me, it was quite chaotic for a while. I challenged them to a push up competition, one dude took me on and lost! The one wearing my sunglasses in the picture below. Luckily they needed food and I declined their offer to join them for a Chinese buffet! They departed quoting from Crocodile Dundee about the knife!

I then carefully drove the one hour home, knowing that I'd be adding another degree of difficulty, driving at night! Stewart told me driving on the N125 was dangerous and I should take the toll road. I'll be checking out turning the tag on for the two remaining days I have the car. The Portuguese don't seem to obey roundabout etiquette and I've checked my understanding of what lane I'm supposed to be in to go straight. I now realise I've been driving in the overtaking lane, and I need to check that what I'm assuming is the give way sign onto a highway might be a merge sign!

I made it home! Cooked myself a late dinner and ate the Dom Rodrigo I purchased in Lagos yesterday. It's interesting the woman at Casa da Isabel didn't think I'd like it, but it tastes pretty good, like a much softer baklava. It's a local sweet made with egg strands, ovos moles, almond kernels, sugar and cinnamon, having been served throughout its history in three different ways. The first was in the form of a candy, the second was served in a porcelain bowl, so it could be eaten with a spoon and the third is served wrapped in coloured aluminium foil, in order to draw more attention to it, but still needs to be eaten with a spoon!

In case anyone is curious about my Netflix, I've moved from Baby Reindeer (what a head fuck that series was) to Nyad (great movie) and now about to watch Derry Girls! It’s ok Leigh Sales has only just started watching it too!

[tangled-the-series-forever]

Rapunzel and the Lost Lagoon

As soon as I heard about this book, I put it on my birthday wishlist. But alas, my birthday had come and gone. No Lost Lagoon. Apparently my mom didn’t see it on the wishlist, so that’s why. Flash forward to Christmas Day and I held the book in my hands, which were trembling with excitement. Not really, but you get the idea. I had been waiting to devour this book for months on end and I did. So without further ado, I will present to you this handy-dandy post that encapsulates my thoughts on Lost Lagoon before, during, and after reading. I thought it would be fun to record my expectations and compare them to what I discovered. If you’ve read Lost Lagoon, what did you think? I’d love to hear your thoughts! ❤️

Before Reading

honestly, I’m not quite sure what to expect. All I know is that there’s a lot of moments between Raps and Cass and I am ready for them!

maybe it explains how Cass came to be Raps’ lady-in-waiting? (I hope so because I’ve always wondered this...)

I think I’ll like the book as a whole (I’m hoping I’ll love it)

I’m guessing that it is cute, funny, serious, and adventurous all in one

maybe we’ll learn more about Cass?

will Raps tell Cass about her life in the tower?

what will be the ratio of lighthearted to serious moments? Am I more likely to laugh or cry? Probably both 😅😂😂

this book’s design is absolutely gorgeous! 😍😍😍 I literally just stared at it for a while beginning to read it

During Reading

Rapunzel’s hair hasn’t grown back yet? Oh, it’s her first week in Corona. Okay...

“Something was missing. I was hoping painting would help me find whatever that was, or at least help me end the afternoon on a happy note.” (is this relatable or what? I know not to chase after the elusive beast referred to as happiness, but I do often strive to end the day on a good note because I feel like Satan wins if I don’t)

Friedborg is Arianna’s lady-in-waiting? That makes more sense now. I always feel bad not knowing much about her or her background. I hope she makes some appearances in the book (no sooner did I type this than I look down and skim the scene where she teaches Raps how to sit. Crazy, right?)

Eugene referring to Rapunzel as “my girl” (so sweet 🥰)

“Eugene’s warm brown eyes and mischievous smile are irresistible from any angle” (she’s head over heels, ya’ll 😂💕😂)

first look at Cass 🥰 That’s my girl! Not only does she want to be part of the guard, but she wants to succeed her father as Captain! Go after your dreams, girl! I support you ❤️

“I’d rather shovel sheep dung than mend clothes and gossip.” Mood 😂😂

she recently discovered a hidden spot by using maps of an ancient underground tunnel system? How cool!

okay, but Cass’ animosity towards Raps is fair. And the fact that she refers to her as “that girl”? Priceless

names of nearby nations? Like, yes please!

the irony of Cass piquing Raps’ interest in her by leaving as soon as she can after throwing the shot put 😅😂😂

Cass worrying she got herself in trouble by practicing shot put. Poor thing!

the angst Cass feels towards her dad because he wants her to be a lady-in-waiting when she clearly doesn’t... so relatable (it’s tough when a parent’s expectations and our own dreams/desires don’t match)

I didn’t realize Cass created the maps herself! She’s so determined to prove herself to her dad, it hurts 😭😭

I wonder if the pools in Yultadore are what make up the lost lagoon...

“Her enthusiasm was so shiny and bright I had to squint” (I totally understand this)

pretty boy Eugene and his quips 😂😂

Cass trying to keep her distance from Raps by calling her “Princess” and firmly saying “Goodbye” before shutting and locking the door behind her

So that’s how Cass and Eugene met... okay, cool. Nothing too crazy or weird. I don’t know what I expected but it’s nice to know how their battle of wits began

I’m noticing a pattern in the words used to describe Cass: knowledgeable, brave, etc. I think that’s cool because I feel like her pessimism gets a lot more attention in the series. It’s nice to acknowledge her other qualities as well.

Arianna chose Cass to be Raps’ lady-in-waiting. I always wondered how she got the position. I’m loving how many little things this book is explaining 🥰

Also, just noticed the bird illustrations on the page of every new chapter. I wonder if there’s a pattern...

OWL!!! 😍😍 he literally “senses her distress”. I wish we got to hear about how they met

I wanted to cry for Cass. Poor thing just wants to follow her dreams. I like the way the finality of the decision was described. It’s so tragic 💔

“When Cassandra saw him [Eugene], her face clouded over like a stormy afternoon” 😂😂 I love how Cass doesn’t try to hide her feelings about people. It’s true that she keeps personal things close to her chest, but not when it comes to what she thinks of others. Honesty is the best policy, right?

I love how Cass continuously prompts Raps to keep reading the poem. She’s like, “Yeah, yeah, just get to the good stuff” 😂

about that poem... maybe it’s from Herz Der Sonne’s perspective. Could the “truth sealed in precious stones” be a reference to Zhan Tiri’s disciples and how they were trapped within stones? And what about the three gems? What’s the emerald tapestry supposed to be? Does it reference Saporia? I HAVE TOO MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS

“A few times I thought I heard some rustling behind me, but I kept going” (me: yeah, Raps is definitely following her) 😂

me when I realize the “emerald tapestry” is grass: 🙃

why is Cass so fearful around water? Did someone try to drown her? someone please tell me who is responsible so I can PUNCH THEM IN THE FACE 😅🤣

painfully ironic how Rapunzel can swim despite being locked in a tower all her life and Cass can’t

Raps nonchalantly offering to teach Cass how to swim just warms my heart 🥰❤️

okay, so Cass is responsible for her fear of water. That’s almost worse because it invites shame and self-hatred, which makes it more difficult to push against that fear or overcome it 😔

the importance of Raps agreeing to help Cass even after realizing she doesn’t want to be her lady-in-waiting is HUGE. This is something I feel like should have happened throughout Season 1 but never did (Raps supporting Cass and trusting that she has a good reason for things even if she doesn’t understand)

“But now I have to teach you which fork to eat your waffles with and stuff” 😂

the first time they call each other Cass and Raps 🥰😍🥰😍

woah, I didn’t expect there to be a time jump. I should have known because I kept wondering why they would depict Rapunzel with her blonde hair on the cover if this takes place before it comes back. Anyways...

I forgot to take notes as I read the majority of part 2. I’m currently a chapter or two away from part 3 and all I have to say is that something bad is about to happen. I can feel it. Dahlia’s definitely shady and so is Marco. I suspected Marie earlier but now I’m not sure. She wasn’t obvious until she was but now she’s not again so maybe she is guilty after all? Either way, Raps is making dumb decisions and I’m over here yelling at her to get her life together before she gets killed or kidnapped (whichever comes first, I guess) 😅🙃

Cass is absolutely roasting Rapunzel and I am here for it! Don’t mind me just munching away on my popcorn over here 🍿

Cass said she’s finally gonna leave Corona so I bet Raps will fess up and tell her that Dahlia’s been helping her with the painting for Cass so Cass will let her guard down and think Dahlia’s okay after all. But... she won’t be and they’re gonna realize she was the bad guy after all 😎

didn’t think Cass would get attacked 😅 also, the fact that she is highly skilled and powerful yet trips and twists her ankle is such a mood. Like, that’s literally me in a nutshell. She is beauty, she is grace, and she falls flat on her face 🤣🤣 while I’m here, I’m guessing Marco is her attacker because he probably has a rough voice

Okay, so I guess Dahlia really is innocent then... idk, I still think she could be up to something

I WAS RIGHT!

Marco’s the bad guy and things just escalated quickly cause now he’s got a knife against Cass’ throat 😳😬😵

so Dahlia’s innocent after all... I thought she or Marie might be working with Marco but I guess not (kinda disappointed to be honest)

okay so this Dahlia chick is exasperatingly hilarious 😂😂 she legit took part of Raps’ bookcase to use for an art piece. Like, who does that?

“Pascal shook his head, totally fed up” me too bud, me too 🤣

After Reading

so I did get to see how Cass and Raps first met (also how she first met Eugene as well)

I like how they combined their talents and passions at the end to create the map painting

There were a bunch of lines that made me laugh, although there were just as many that hit me like a knife to the chest (pretty much anything angsty from Cass’ POV) so I like how it made me feel all the feels (I felt like an investigator trying to figure out who the bad guy was and that was a blast 😆)

overall it was pretty good. I did feel like the characters were off (Arianna seemed like she swapped personalities with Frederick at times and Eugene apologized for joking Cass- as if!), but other than that I enjoyed it. There were a bunch of new characters being introduced so it was somewhat hard to tell who was bad and who wasn’t but I guessed correctly in the end. I was hoping there would be more than one bad guy but oh well.

I’m glad I read it because now I know a few extra things about Corona and its surrounding countries (plus I can finally read through all the Lost Lagoon related tumblr posts I saved for later... I was waiting until I read the book and here I am!)

If anyone needs me, I’ll be going through LL tumblr posts. I should definitely be sleeping but that’s not important 😅😂😂

[frosensteel]

Ruby: Will you sit next to me, Penny?

Weiss: Hey, that's my seat!

Ruby: Weiss, there’s a seat on either side of me, remember?

[sunlightswallowed]

Y’all are really out here with..... books.... giving you canon quotes about your muses....... what’s that like?

[incorrect-black-lagoon-quotes]

*After a fist fight*

Benny: *to Revy*

Benny: “You broke my fucking glasses, how am I supposed to see?”

Rock: “Oh, you could always borrow my old pair. I don’t need them anymore.”

Benny: “You fucking idiot, these were subscription glasses, I can’t just wear someone else’s.”

Revy: “Fuck-“

Benny: “You don’t get to talk! You broke my subscription glasses!”

Revy: “Well I’m not sorry so if you wanted an apology you’re not getting it.”

[shes-an-iso]

Did I just not matter in the face of this love, even though I had been the one to risk everything to show Rapunzel the world? Was I just supposed to fall on my sword because Eugene was uncomfortable that he didn't have every last piece of information about Rapunzel?

Cassandra, ‘Rapunzel and the Lost Lagoon,’ p.128. 

[dearabsolutelynoone]

Films I Find to be Lovely

Ever After: A Cinderella Story (1998)

Quote: “You cannot leave everything to Fate, boy. She’s got a lot to do. Sometimes you must give her a hand.”

Serendipity (2001)

Quote: “If we are to live life in harmony with the universe, we must all possess a powerful faith in what the ancients used to call "fatum", what we currently refer to as destiny.”

The Blue Lagoon (1980)

Quote: “You're really acting silly lately, Em. Always saying dumb things like that. Always looking at me funny! You're not coming down with something, are you? Don't give it to me.”

The Prince & Me (2004)

Quote: “He's saying that love is magical, and that it makes people look at each other in an unspoiled way, without judgment.”

Overboard (1987)

Quote: “Oh no, madam. Oh no. You... most of us go through life with blinders on. Knowing only that little station to which we were born. But you madam, have had the... rare privilege of escaping your bonds for just a spell. To see life from an entirely new perspective. How you choose to use that information is entirely up to you.”

Cinderella (2015)

Quote: “She had hoped to marry off one of her beautiful, stupid daughters to the prince, but his head was turned by a girl with glass slippers.”

The Bachelor (1999)

Quote: “It’s a wonderful thing, as time goes by, to be with someone who looks into your face, when you’ve gotten old, and still sees what you think you look like.”

Forever My Girl (2018)

Quote: “You see, my mom was the love of my life until I met you, and I know we’re young, but the thought of losing you one day the way I lost her...I thought my heart couldn’t take it. So I ran.”

Letters to Juliet (2010)

Quote: “I don’t know what a love like Juliet’s feels like - a love to leave loved ones for, a love to cross oceans for - but I’d like to believe if I ever were to feel it, I’d have the courage to seize it.”

Enchanted (2007)

Quote: “Honey, just because she has on a funny dress doesn’t mean she’s a princess. She’s a seriously confused woman who’s fallen into our laps.”

[hoffemutter]

❝ The call of destiny is a strong one, to be sure. ❞

♔ ∵ * ∴ OPEN TO MUTUALS

[neon-junkie]

Throw me to the Wolves

Summary: A few wrong turns and you're lost up in the Grizzlies, stuck wandering through the snow with your abusive partner. Until a derelict cabin comes into view, with a stranger inside who helps you, not just from the wilderness, but from your psychotic partner.

Pairing: f!Reader x Unnamed m!Partner, f!Reader x Flaco Hernández

Word Count: 8526

Rating: SFW

Warnings: Detailed descriptions of verbal and emotional abuse.

Tags: Abusive relationship, Trauma, Gaslighting, Angst, Breakdowns, Happy ending.

Notes: This fic started off as a request, but it just really hit home for me, so I had to pour a lot of my trauma out into this. There is a lot of content below that may trigger some people, with detailed descriptions of verbal and emotional abuse. This is a reader insert, but it's written from my personal experiences; the dialogue that is in italics are direct quotes from my abusive ex, and I decided to post this today seeing as I'm now a year free from his abuse!! yay!!

Some relationships can't be fixed, whilst others shouldn't be fixed. Which one is yours? Probably both, but for some reason, you're still willing to try, despite the lack of emotions you've felt over the last few years. It seems the 'man' you call your partner has drained you of almost everything - feelings, money, the will to live. But he's promised yet again that he'll change, and during one of those talks where he put on his happy face, and suggested a weekend away, somewhere remote where you two will have to work together to keep each other warm, and hopefully fix this broken bond yet again. There's a few small cabins north of Strawberry, the town that you live in, and from what you've heard, they're all abandoned. Strangers use them all the time for various reasons, usually shelter, and the particular one your partner has in mind is located at Barrow Lagoon. You've never been past Big Valley, not wanting to trudge through the thick snow and get cut off by the surrounding mountains, along with whatever gangs live up there. If you're heading for Canada then that definitely isn't the right way; and to nobody's surprise, you haven't taken the right way either.

"We should be there by now," your partner comments as you ride alongside a stream, heading up the steady slope. You have to bite on your tongue to stop yourself from sliding in a petty comment, knowing you'll only feed his flames, but your lack of reply makes his brows furrow, and he comments again. "Are you deaf? did you not hear me?" he shouts, his horse nickering at his raised voice. You're only a few meters behind, not far enough to not hear him... sadly... "What do you want me to say?" you sigh. "I know we went the wrong way, but you said we should go this way," you finally bite. Your partner snaps his head around to glare at you, spitting his words like venom. "Maybe if you'd stayed quiet then we would be at the cabin by now," he almost yells. So, he tells you off for being quiet, and then tells you off for not being quiet. Are all men like this? You can't help but let out another sigh; here we go again. He gives his horse a nasty kick and continues to ride forwards, yourself trotting behind; as always, you get that feeling in your chest. Well, it's somewhat of a lack of feeling, your chest turning numb yet heavy, your eyes just the same, urging to cry, but you've shed far too many tears to bother wasting any more. At least he's now ignoring you. The trail continues, and a settlement appears in your line of sight. It's clearly abandoned, the houses falling apart, each of them letting in an occasional gust of wind as they try their hardest to hold themselves together. You go to open your mouth, to suggest using this area as shelter for the night, but your partner turns to you and begins yapping away. "We're not staying here, I don't trust it. There's probably a gang hiding there, just waiting to ambush us," he tells you as he carries on, turning to the right and following the trail around the deserted town. It's possible that your partner is, dare you say it, right. There are no signs of life, but they could be hidden within the houses, or surrounding the area, waiting for the right opportunity to strike. Your eyes gloss over the snow and you don't see any tracks, but there's no point arguing with somebody who has never listened to anybody but himself in his entire life. "Let's go this way, maybe it'll loop back down," he comments, his head remaining forward as he leads off the path, following a small trail. You only know it's a trail because the snow is slightly lowered, there's no specific hoof prints, but the snow has settled unevenly, meaning somebody has passed through here well before you. The path does begin to loop round, and you soon find yourself stood on a small hill, overlooking a run down shack and a frozen lake. You pull a face at the sight, turning to see his grin. "I told you we'd find it," he comments. "That can't be it... the cabin is falling apart, you said it the cabin is-" "-I know, but... I've never been so how am I meant to be certain?" your partner cuts you off, his voice raised and firm as always. "So, you're trying to take us away to a location that you've never even been to?" you roll your eyes. As much as you don't want to spark an argument, you can't help but point out his idiocy. "Well, my parents have been to it," he blabbers. "And did your parents describe it as a broken down cabin, with a shoddy outhouse, and some tents beside it?" He looks at you, a frown plastered across his ugly mug, but you're no stranger to that sight. From the way his closed mouth moves, you can tell he's biting his tongue, holding himself back as his cheeks continue to turn red. "Come on," is all he says as he orders his horse to head down the hill, attempting to trot across the ice. You, the sensible one in the relationship (though he seems to disagree,) take your horse around the frozen lake, watching as his poor mount begins to slip and slide across the lake, nickering every time he pulls at its reigns, as if that's going to make the situation any better. He finally reaches the other side, mumbling nonsense under his breath as he demounts his horse, leading them over to a tree and hitching them to it. You leave yours unhitched, knowing that there's no way this is the right location, and that you'll probably be walking out of that cabin within minutes with him on your tail, blaming you yet again for everything. Your eyes trail over the cabin again; the windows are covered, the glass still intact, but a sheet prevents you from peering in to check it out. The only way in is through the front door, and it eerily creaks open with a gentle push. No lock? that's suspicious, but you'll probably find it on the floor, seeing as this cabin is falling apart. You're slow to wander inside, observing the varied mess of crates and bottles on the floor. The cooking fire is out, and it looks as if it's not been used for a while, with what's left of somebody's mouldy dinner marinading in the cauldron. The snow falls off your boots as you continue walking into the cabin, stopping just in front of a small table; it's a mess, just like the rest of the cabin, but the candle catches your eye. That's when you notice the last thing you were hoping for, a sign of life, as the smoke is still drifting from it. You overhear your partner entering the cabin and as you turn to face him, the stranger appears from behind the door. "Don't move, hands up," he tells you, his gun in hand pointed at you. You have no problem following orders when your life is on the line, slowly raising your hands, but your idiot of a partner, who's barely a step into the doorway, attempts to peer behind the open door and shoot the stranger. There's a flash from the strangers gun, followed by your partner yelping and clutching his hand. The stranger has disarmed him, and done it with such speed that your brain can't quite process what's happened. "You moron!" He grumbles, clutching onto his hand and checking his injury. There's no blood, probably a burn at most, and the 'trauma' that he'll definitely use for sympathy points whenever he gets the opportunity to. "When I tell you not to move, then you shouldn't move," The stranger hisses, his voice deep and earthy. His gun is now pointed at your partner, who looks up at him and frowns. You watch as the two square up to each other, and you question why your partner can't just swallow his pride for once. He's attempting to stand upright, puffing out his chest at a man that towers over him. But the more the stranger steps forward, the more your partner finally begins to cower away, until he's backed against the wall with a gun pointing to his head. "I said hands up," he growls, and finally, your partner raises his hands. "Who are you?" the stranger asks. "Why's that matter? you're just gonna kill us." "I might change my mind. It all depends on what stupid move you decide to do next," he says with a chuckle at the end of his words. Your partner gives his name, followed by pointing at you and saying yours. "And what are you doing here?" the stranger then asks. "We were travelling to Barrow Lagoon, until this idiot here got us lost," he explains as he points to you again. You raise an eyebrow at his comment, and the stranger does the same. He turns to look at you. "You can lower your hands," he tells you in a voice so soft, the complete opposite to the roar you heard a few seconds ago. The strangers head snaps back to your partner as he barks "I didn't say you could lower yours!" Again, your partners hands are raised, and you notice that he's physically shaking. You soak up the sight, enjoying seeing him tremble as somebody begins to treat him the way he treats others, specifically you. "Idiot, huh? you always talk to her like that?" the stranger questions. "Well, she got us lost, so of course she-" "So, that makes it okay? you're the one who tried to shoot me moments ago, so I guess that makes you a lot more of an idiot, huh?" he cuts your partner off. Your partner doesn't reply, his head lowering as the stranger begins to laugh. "Well, say something," he comments. Your partner goes to open his mouth, but he's lost for words, looking like a scared puppy, making the stranger laugh even more at his cowardliness. For some reason, you step in. "We didn't mean to intrude, we didn't know that somebody lives here," you explain, taking a few steps forward until you're in the centre of the room, a foot away from the stranger. He looks at you with an eyebrow raised, as if to question why you're attempting to save this coward. "We'll leave now, if that's alright with you." "Smart woman," the stranger compliments you, but directs his comment towards your partner, "you should learn a thing or two from her, cabrón." "She's not," your partner replies. Really? this man has the audacity to argue back over your intelligence with a man whose pointing a gun to his head? The stranger looks at you once more, a look of disgust on his face, "does he always talk to you like this?" "-Hey, she's not speaking to you," your partner interrupts him. "She can speak to whomever she wants," the stranger bites back. He's about to turn his gaze to your partner, and you notice how twitchy his trigger finger is becoming. "Would you both stop?" you butt in, two pairs of wide eyes now looking at you. "I'm sorry, we didn't mean to intrude," you do your best to apologize, reaching out to grab your partners arm and drag him away from the wall. "We'll leave, again, I'm sorry," you say, pushing him out the door, following straight behind. The stranger trails over, standing in his doorway, watching both of you whistle for your horses in an attempt to run away. His gun falls limp by his side, not holstered, but (unfortunately) no longer pointing at your partner. He stares at the ground, letting out a deep sigh before he calls out to you both. "If you're heading for Barrow Lagoon then it's too late for tonight, wolves surround this area, and they'll be on your trail before you make it back to Colter. You can take the tents for the night," he offers, using his gun to point at the two empty tents beside his cabin. "Thank you," you reply, letting out a soft sigh of relief. Neither of you had any idea about what wildlife lives up here, and you don't fancy becoming some overgrown puppies dinner. Your partner looks at you with a scowl, but you choose to ignore him, demounting your horse and finding a comfortable place to hitch them for tonight. The stranger doesn't say anything else, turning back into his cabin and shutting the door behind him. Now that the stranger has disappeared, your partner begins his scolding, and you can't help but zone out to it. As always, there's a string of insults, and it's obvious that he's desperate to try and blame you for this situation. You know you're not in the wrong, you know you did the right thing by de-escalating the situation and getting out of there, and you know that he knows he's the idiot, but some 'men' just can't accept their faults. There's no point responding to any of his blabbering, and he's right on your tail as you unpack, getting your things cosy in this tent, not bothering with anything he owns. You know that once he's finished berating you, that he'll click his fingers and expect you to unload his bags too, then he'll probably demand a hot meal and a back rub, as if you're his slave - not his partner. But then your partner says something that for some reason, always seems to get to you. It's a babyish insult, a word that really shouldn't mean as much as it does, but your partner has over-used it to the point where you shudder every time you hear the word. "You're so stupid," he insults you. "I know," you dryly reply, not even looking in his direction as you continue to get settled in one of the tents. "Such an idiot," he adds on. "I know." "You know what? Sometimes I wish you were a man, just so I could hit you." "Really?" you snap, stopping in your tracks to shoot a look of disappointment his way, not that it does much. "I do-" "-I'm surprised you already haven't!" you cut him off, "and I don't see how I'm the idiot here? I'm not the one who tried to shoot him!" "Why are you defending him?" he scoffs. "Because we're in the wrong; we stormed into his cabin, and then you tried to murder him!" Your partner puts on a babyish voice as he repeats your words, mocking you for... having common sense? "why are you defending him?" he questions again, and cuts you off before you can repeat your previous answer. "You're going to cheat on me with him, aren't you?" "What?" you stutter, in utter disbelief. How the hell has he managed to get to this idea? "I can tell you are, I know you too well, better than you think!" "You don't know me at all," you correct him. "Well, you haven't said 'no' to it!" "I'm not going to cheat on you," you sigh, although you should, he deserves it, and more... "You're going to cheat on me, just like all those times you have done in the past!" "You know I've never cheated on you, not unlike that time I caught you chatting up that woman at the Saloo-" "-That wasn't cheating! we've already discussed that!" your partner shouts, his face turning redder by the second. You let out a long sigh, your head beginning to pound from losing your final few braincells. "I'm done with this conversation," you state, and continue unpacking. He huffs and puffs, grunts and groans, and has the audacity to barge you out the way as he begins unloading his bags - at least he's not demanded you do it. There's an unspoken agreement that the tent is halved, and you're honestly surprised that he hasn't taken the other tent for himself, knowing what a drama queen he can be, especially after an argument. Whatever, this is fine, you'll be fine. You just need to get through tonight, and then you'll set off early tomorrow and head straight back home. Admit it, this relationship is done for; you've known that all along, you knew that the second you two had your first disagreement. Your mind runs through everything as you eat your dinner, munching away on your cooked can of beans, washing them down with a slug of whiskey as you and your partner sit in silence. ------------------ It's surprisingly peaceful up here; there's almost complete silence, complimented with the cracking campfire, and the occasional howl that you can hear in the distance. That stranger was telling the truth, there are wolves nearby, and you two definitely would have ended up their meal tonight. You thanked him, but you feel like you've not done enough... this stranger has saved you from wolves and the cold, selflessly offering a place to stay despite your partner attempting to murder him for defending his own home. Another tin of beans is opened and placed by the campfire to cook, and you finish up your own, carefully using a rag to pry the now-cooked can of beans away from the campfire. You wrap the rag around it, preventing the metal from burning your bare hands, and begin standing upright. "Where are you going?" your partner questions. "To give some food to that stranger," you reply. "Why? he tried to kill me!" "He tried to kill you," you correct, "and because he's offered us a place to stay, and saved us from wolves." "Whatever," your partner grunts, "you might as well kiss him whilst you're over there." You ignore his suggestion, although this is probably the best suggestion he's ever had. A spare fork is placed into the tin of beans, and you make your way over to his cabin, knocking on the door and awaiting his reply. He doesn't answer at first, so you knock a little louder. "What?" you hear a grumpy voice call out. "I uh, brought you some food," you sheepishly reply, now having second thoughts. Is this stupid? is it weird to offer this man a lousy tin of beans as your way of saying thanks? There's no time to think, and your mind goes blank the second he opens the door, looking down at you with a scowl on his face. Your cheeks turn red, and you suddenly forget that words exist, gawking at this man with a hot tin of beans in your hands. "You brought me food?" the stranger questions, his voice as soft as it was earlier when he was speaking directly to you. "Uhm, yeah... I uh," you pause and look away. Are you shaking because you're nervous? or because it's cold? "You didn't have to," he replies. "I know, and I know it's not much..." you reply, finally turning to face him, although your eyes remain fixated on the can of beans. "...but it's the least I can offer as my thanks for letting me- us stay," you correct yourself, instantly regretting it. Your partner hasn't offered any thanks, not even in words. The stranger lets out a soft chuckle, reaching out to take the tin from your hands. There's skin contact, there has to be considering he's scooping the rag up from your palms, preventing himself from being burnt on the hot metal, and for whatever reason, your head begins to spin. "Thank you," he replies, luring your eyes dart up to meet his. Yet again, you're in awe at how softly he's speaking to you. He's huge, a built and stocky guy, towering over you, yet speaking to you like you're a newborn. You study him, not meaning to, but it's hard to move your eyes away; he's slightly aged, an array of wrinkles covering his face, but still looks like he could easily take anybody on, and has the scars to show it. The loose hairs hanging on either side of his face compliment his appearance, and that thick coat he's wearing looks so warm, so... huggable... and you suddenly feel cold as you admire it. "What's your name?" the stranger asks. "What?" He laughs, "I said, what's your name?" "Oh," you wince. You give him your name, and in return, he gives you his. "Flaco," he tells you, "Flaco Hernández." "Nice to meet you," you politely reply, giving the back of your neck an awkward scratch. There's a moment of silence, and you watch as he stirs the tin of beans before scooping some into his mouth. "I haven't eaten in so long," he mutters under his breath. "I have more food... if you-" "-No," he cuts you off, "that's yours, not mine to take." "But you've helped me-" "-No," he cuts you off yet again, "you need it more than I do." "Alright," you softly shrug, deciding its best not to push your anything onto this man. Silence hits once again, and you don't even realize you're staring until Flaco makes eye contact with you. He's stood in his doorway, gulping down a can of beans, and you're watching him like a puppy awaiting scraps. You realize how uncomfortable this must be for him, and turn to leave, but the second your eyes trail from his, he speaks up. "Look, you uh..." Flaco pauses. He looks over to the tents, and scowls a little as he notices your partner sat there, minding his own business, pretending like he's never done any harm to anybody. "...you let me know if you need anything, okay?" "Okay," you nod, "thank you." "There's no need to thank me," Flaco tells you, his eyes wandering back over to your partner. "You should get back to him, before that baby kicks up a fuss again." Flaco grins when you begin laughing at his comment, moving your hand over your mouth to muffle your laughter, not wanting to fly any flags and spark up another argument when you return. "Go on," Flaco urges you, nodding his head in your partners direction. You flash him a grin before heading off, overhearing Flaco shut the door behind you. Thankfully, your partner doesn't react when you sit back down; you assume he didn't overhear the interaction, seeing as he's always so eager to jump down your throat at any opportunity. ------------------ The night remains quiet, well, quiet between you and your partner. Light snow begins to fall, and there's a slight breeze that you're certain will pick up throughout the night, and eventually, it does. You wake up shivering, violently vibrating, desperate for any kind of warmth. The campfire has burnt out long ago, and despite all the layers you're wearing, the tent can only provide so much extra heat, if any. You huff, watching the thick smoke trail from your lips, and roll over to curl up against the only other source of heat. Isn't it sad that you're genuinely afraid to cuddle your partner? knowing that he'll shove you off, that he'd much rather let you freeze to death than hold you throughout the night. And that's exactly what he does, almost a second after you wrap your arm around his waist. He lands a nasty nudge to your ribs, making you whimper. You press your hands to your chest, and gently rest your forehead against his back, attempting to salvage any kind of heat you can steal from him. He jabs his shoulder against you, hitting you square in the eye, and this time you vocalize the pain he's just put you in. "Why?" is all you ask. "I don't want you touching me," he murmurs, still half asleep. "I'm freezing here!" you snap. "Go and light the fire then." "I'm not going out there, I'll die!" He lets out an overly-dramatic huff, throwing the blankets off both of you as he sits upright. His hands flex, attempting to relax as he lets out a deep breath and shuts his eyes. As always, your partner puts a specific tone on, a belittling one, one where he's attempting to get the high ground despite knowing he's in the wrong. "I don't want you near me, alright? I need my space," he questions in a patronizing tone, hissing through his teeth. "I'm going to freeze to death, you're probably going to freeze to death too, I can see you shaking!" you point out as you also sit up. "Not my problem," he bluntly replies. "Sort yourself out, and I'll sort myself out," he shrugs, and lies back down, rolling over to face away from you. Like the child he is, he pulls the blanket away from you, hogging the entire thing as if to say 'fuck you, i'd rather you freeze to death!' You don't bother announcing that you're leaving, but you make sure it's obvious as you loudly pack your bags, swinging them over your shoulder and unfastening the tent flaps. Before you leave, you rip the blanket from his hands. It is your blanket, after all. He goes to grumble and yank it back, but you've already exited the tent, leaving the flaps hanging open - it's only fair considering he'd happily treat you the same way. Barely a meter away, you sit down in the other tent, dumping your bag beside you and instantly putting your head in your hands. Your partner hasn't bothered chasing after you, why would he? and you overhear him closing the tent flaps aggressively, because of course, everything he does just has to be aggressive. Another shiver escapes you, and your head rests on your forearms as you look at what's left of the campfire, burnt out long ago. There's no way you're able to re-light it, not when there's a layer of snow settling atop of it; the logs are damp and continue to worsen as every second passes. Face it, you're going to freeze to death out here! But an "oi!" perks your ears up, and you look at your surroundings, wondering where it came from. It's definitely not your partner, and you almost jump out of your skin to see the stranger, Flaco, half-stood out of his doorway, gesturing for you to come over. Did he... over-hear that argument? you're embarrassed, but you're also grabbing your bags and shuffling through the snow to him, stomping your boots as you enter his cabin and shutting the door behind you. "What happened this time?" Flaco questions. His tone of voice is so sincere, as if he's known you for years, and knows that this is a regular occurrence. "Oh, you know... stuff," you shrug, standing awkwardly on one side of his cabin as he settles on the other, sitting down on a well-worn chair in the back left corner. Flaco raises an eyebrow, and silently gestures you to get comfortable on his bed. You don't hesitate, slumping your bag down beside it, kicking off your boots and wrapping your blanket around your shoulders as you sit back, leaning against the cabin wall and turning your attention to him. It's warm in here, thankfully, a lot warmer than those damp canopy walls. Is it bad that you're getting a sadistic pleasure out of knowing that your partner is freezing out there? the fact that you're enjoying his suffering says enough about the relationship, and yet for some reason, you feel bad, as if you shouldn't be taking pleasure in his pain, despite knowing he takes much pleasure in yours. "Stuff?" Flaco repeats. "You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to, but Flaco is here to lend an ear, if you need it." The way he refers to himself in third person is sweet. You suddenly feel heat radiating off your cheeks, and you're uncertain if you're blushing, or if the heat is finally catching up to you. "I uh... I woke up shivering, and he wouldn't let me huddle for warmth with him." "He wouldn't?" Flaco almost spits. "What else did he do, huh?" "Pushed me away, you know, quite literally." "This uh, partner of yours.... has he 'pushed' you away before?" "I mean, he's shoved me off him many times. He's never physically hurt me, but I'm used to being literally pushed away." Flaco pauses, sitting back in his chair. One of his heels is bouncing, softly tapping against the wooden floor as his eyes dart around the room. He licks his lips before speaking again. "Well, we'll let him freeze out there, it's what he deserves for treating you like this." You laugh along with him - Flaco is right, this is what he deserves! but your laughter trails off as you begin to get second thoughts, as always. It's unfair, that you know he's a bad person, but you can't help but feel a little sorry for him. Is this right? allowing him to freeze out there? although you're certain that Flaco definitely isn't going to let him warm up in this cabin, especially after his attempted murder and lack of thanks. "You're thinking," Flaco states, drawing your eyes over to his. He's no longer leaning back in his chair, instead hunched over, elbows resting on his knees, quite obviously studying you. "Yeah," you confirm, "I just... I feel a bit bad, willingly let him suffer out there-" "-So what? it's clear that he's allowed you to suffer enough," Flaco cuts you off. He sighs, shaking his head and brushing a few strands of hair off his face. "Look, I haven't known you for very long, but it's obvious that... thing out there doesn't deserve you. Hell, he doesn't deserve to live, speaking to others like that, let alone a woman!" You stumble on your next words, as if the words don't want to fall from your mouth, probably because you know deep down that it's not true. "H-he does love me, and I guess... I guess I am stupid at times... and-" "-No," Flaco bluntly replies, gesturing with his hand to stop. "You've been brainwashed, chiquita. That's... that's not love, that's not normal. That's abuse," Flaco states. "Abuse?" you repeat his words. "I've... I've always questioned on whether this is abuse, and I've never heard another person say it. Our friends, well, his friends, they always say that I'm in the wrong, they always take his side," you explain. "Of course they would," Flaco laughs, "they're his friends, not yours. Of course they'd be stupid enough to follow his lead," Flaco shakes his head. He takes a look at you, sympathy flowing in his eyes, and sends a soft smile your way. "Come on, you know it as well as I do," Flaco urges. Flaco's not wrong, he's far from wrong. If anything, this stranger is the voice of reason you've been looking for this whole time - somebody who isn't afraid to speak your thoughts, to confirm your doubts, to help you see clearly. His eyes trail away from yours, and he softly shakes his head, but it's not directed at you. "What is it?" you question, noticing how wide his eyes go as he looks back over to you, as if you weren't meant to see that. "I was going to ask something stupid," Flaco says with a light laugh. "What was it?" you question again. Flaco attempts to brush you off, but you push on it for some unknown reason. "I was going to ask why you don't just leave," Flaco sighs, "stupid question, I know." Flaco notices how you relax, letting out a sigh of relief. He smiles at you, but tilts his head in confusion as you say "thank you." "For what?" "For not asking that," you explain, "for not... victim blaming me!" This time, Flaco does laugh, leaning back in his chair and letting his elbows rest on the backrest, propping himself up. "Like I said, it's a stupid question. You've got to be a real cabrón to ask that." You let out another sigh of relief, shuffling about on the bed, pulling your knees up to your chest. There's silence once again, and you zone out, thinking about things - thinking about him. Flaco's so right; you are being abused, you are a victim, and you have been brainwashed into thinking you're not. Despite only knowing him for a few hours, he's done so much to help, much more than anybody in your past has. And it seems that he's now willing to be a shoulder to cry on, as you let out a sniffle and wipe your eyes, biting the tip of your tongue to try and hold back. A large part of you feels guilty, not at your partner, but for storming into this strangers life and unloading your emotions onto him. Flaco lets out a small cough, drawing your attention to him, your glossy eyes meeting his warm ones. "You look like you need a friend right now," Flaco states the obvious, "I know I'm a stranger, but I'm here if you need a shoulder to cry on." And you do, you really do. You let out a soft nod, and the second Flaco stands, you begin letting the tears flow. He settles on the bed beside you, wrapping his arm around you and firmly pulling you in, allowing you to begin sobbing against his chest. You're pawing at him, finding just the right spot to settle in and begin letting all your emotions out. His coat is softer than you could ever imagine, smothering your face as you press yourself against his chest, the cold metal of each bullet on his bandoliers resting against your jawline. You feel a little awkward, finding so much comfort in this stranger, but he brushes your anxious thoughts away as he pulls you onto his lap, shuffling back to lean against the cabin wall, letting you cry in his arms. Loving is the right word to describe this man; you can physically feel the warmth and sympathy radiating off him, cooing you softly as you continue to cry. He moves an arm off you for a second, only so he can remove his hat and place it down beside him, then coddles you once again. "Let it all out," Flaco encourages, his hands slowly stroking your arm and back, and you feel his cheek rest atop of your head, pulling you tighter against him. You're uncertain how long you were crying for, your mind turning foggy as you click into a trance, shaking and sobbing, whaling and whining, allowing your body to do whatever it needs to let all these emotions out. But eventually, you begin to burn yourself out, a headache slowly stepping in its place; you give your temple a rub, licking your lips at the same time, and keep your head pressed to Flaco's chest. He's still softly hushing you, gripping you tightly; you question how long he's been up here, if he's all alone, when he last had any kind of human contact. Can you blame him for coddling you so much? he must be losing his mind up here! and yet, he's still treating you with so much kindness, moving his hand off your arm to begin gently running it through your hair. The sound of his heartbeat appears in your conscience, and you listen in, the faint sound of the fire crackling in the distance. Flaco lets out a deep breath, lifting his head off yours to peer down at you. He notices the way you're gripping tightly onto his coat, and how your eyelids flutter, eager to drift off to sleep. Flaco speaks up, his voice softer than you can ever imagine, just about a whisper as to not startle you. "You know, I could get rid of him, if you'd like," he offers with a soft laugh. Your head snaps up to look at him, his warm eyes meeting your red ones. "What do you mean?" you question, needing confirmation to your thoughts. "Men like that, they just jump from one person to the other. Once he's done with you, he'll find another toy to play with. He's a pest," Flaco explains, still running his fingers along your hair as he talks. "I can't do that, I... I can't hurt him," you sigh, curling back against Flaco's chest, your eyes falling shut. "I never said you have to," Flaco lightly chuckles. He rests his head atop of yours, remaining silent for a few moments until he speaks up again, "just say the word, and I'll get rid of him for you." Why does every single part of you want to say yes? all apart from a tiny piece of guilt holding you back, preventing you from protecting yourself and others that he'll almost definitely pounce onto once you're out of the picture. You're thinking about it, wondering if you can live with that guilt, if you can allow his blood to be on your hands. "Chiquita," Flaco speaks up, catching your attention. "you and him, do you live together?" "No, he moved out a few months ago, got his own place," you explain. "Hm, any reason why?" "We just can't live together, too different, we clash." "Strange," Flaco comments. "You know you two aren't compatible, yet you're still putting the effort in." Once again, Flaco is right, but you begin to question your situation once Flaco speaks his next load of thoughts. "Why are you two heading to Barrow Lagoon? It's not a place that anybody goes near, out of respect," he comments. "Huh? respect of what?" you question. "I've forgotten his name, but there's a deceased man there. He used to live there some years back, passed away, and sadly his grave was dug up and vandalized," Flaco explains. "There's not many of us that live in the Grizzlies, but it's an unspoken rule that nobody goes there." "My partner... he told me that his parents have been there before, and he never mentioned anything about a grave," you speak your thoughts, lifting your head off Flaco's chest to speak directly to him, still curled up in his lap. "Something about that partner of yours isn't sitting right, even more now you're telling me this," Flaco frowns. Cogs are turning in both of your heads... this isn't the first time your partner has lied to you, or 'misinformed' you, as he'd put it. Flaco's eyes meet yours, and neither of you look away. He's studying you, his eyes trailing over you, his frown fading away the longer he looks at you. You can feel your eyes swelling up again, and you return to finding comfort against Flaco's chest, his hand coming up to massage your scalp again as you let out whatever tears you have left. There's silence between you two again, just you lightly sobbing in his arms, and Flaco coddling you. He's clinging onto you tighter this time, and you can sense how protective he's become over you, despite knowing you for such a short amount of time. This energy that Flaco's radiating, you've never felt it from your partner before, only the opposite. For a man that claims to be in love with you, he's done nothing but attempt to push you away from the very start, only to go back on his words and actions whenever you do try to break away. Why is he like this? why does he act sweet and kind whenever you try to escape, only to snap back into his abusive place once he knows you're in his grasp again? It's strange, he's strange, but in some ways, Flaco is also strange. You feel more love from this stranger than you've ever felt from your lousy partner, so much love, so much warmth and comfort, protection and sympathy. Your partner has never done anything like this, he's never had the basic respect to hold you in his arms as you cry, instead he pushes you away and tells you to 'sort your own problems out.' Flaco knows you're thinking again as he tells you to "take all the time you need." What a wonderful man, what a wonderful stranger you've stumbled across in your desperate time of need. So, you do what he says, taking all the time you need to think about everything, but mostly the extremely tempting offer that Flaco has gracefully placed in front of you. Are you comfortable with having somebody else's blood on your hands? "What do you have in mind?" you question, making Flaco smile against you, his head resting atop of yours. "That depends on what you're comfortable with," Flaco replies, lifting his head to look down at you in his lap. "I..." you pause, finding the strength to get this over and done with. "I can't hurt him, I can't, but I'm not going to step in the way if you want to." "Oh, I want to do a lot more than hurt him," Flaco lets out a laugh. "Just look at how much he's hurt you in these few hours, and I bet he's done much worse in the past!" "He has," you sigh. "Look," Flaco moves his hand off your head, gently cupping your chin, directing your eyes to his. "I'm no stranger to death. I've killed men before, and I have no problem doing it again. His blood will be on my hands, not yours, okay?" Your eyes trail away from Flaco's, visually showing discomfort to that word - death. Is this really what you want? it is, but it isn't... "I don't know," you reply. "I don't know if I want him dead, but I do know that I don't ever want to see him again." "I'm not going to do anything without your permission," Flaco tells you. His hand moves off your chin, cupping your jawline, his heart thudding in his chest when you snuggle your cheek into the curve of his palm. "...What if I give you permission to do whatever? to take him off my hands and... I don't know," you sigh. "I... I don't want to stoop to his level, I don't want to be like him." "It's okay," Flaco coos. "You leave it to Flaco, he'll sort it out." Once again, you rest your head on Flaco's chest, feeling the rise and fall of his breaths, his heart beating in the distance, his thoughts running through his mind. The hand on your cheek returns to your head, petting you, comforting you, making your scalp tingle with every touch. You're exhausted, your body hunches over slightly, aching and desperate to rest; and your eyes, so dry and red, with heavy bags settled beneath them. Flaco can't fault you for dozing off in his lap, he doesn't even realize you've nodded off until you let out a soft snore. He sees this as the perfect opportunity to get some rest, gently shuffling you off his lap and tucking you into bed, laying beside you, your body pressed firmly against his, cuddling somebody for the first time in months. ------------------ You don't remember falling asleep, but you do remember how heavy your eyes felt once you'd cried your heart out. A yawn escapes your lips, and you stretch, pulling the blankets back up to your face once you feel your bones click. Wait... blankets? Your eyes snap open, and you take a look around, realizing you're completely alone, tucked into Flaco's bed. Through the cabin cracks you can tell it's morning, or afternoon, you're not entirely sure, but it's definitely light out, and you can hear wildlife singing in the distance. Shit. Your partner! You've been cooped up here all night, taking refuge and comfort in Flaco's cabin, and you're certain you're going to get it in the neck. Oh, you can hear his words now, accusing you of cheating, accusing you of leaving him to suffer in the cold all night, accusing you of whatever else he fancies because as always, you're in the wrong. Your boots are pulled on, and you let the blankets slip off you, peering out the cabin and nervously looking over to the tents. The flaps are wide open, bunched up at the corners, letting the frozen air trail through. You quietly creep out, tiptoeing down each porch step, silently shuffling through the snow until the inside of each tent comes into your sight. They're empty... The tents are in the exact condition that you found them, even your partners belongings are gone. Your eyes dart around, soon realizing that his horse is missing too, but yours is still hitched where you left them last night. There's a sickly feeling in your stomach, but you know it's not a feeling of regret. It's fear of the unknown, you have no idea where your partner or Flaco is, but you're almost certain that Flaco's done something about your dilemma - done something about him. You're unable to re-enter the cabin, instead sitting in the doorway, looking out at the frozen landscape and awaiting somebody's return. There's silence, so much silence that you can hear your own heartbeat, nervously thumping in your chest, making your sickness worsen as every second passes. Time trails by slowly, and you can't do anything apart from sit in the doorway and peer out at that small hill opposite the cabin, waiting for somebody to return. But after what feels like days, somebody does return, and you let out the biggest sigh of relief when it's the person you were hoping for. Flaco comes trotting over the hill, riding on the back of a horse that oddly looks like him; they're built and fluffy, a dark brown coat with thick fur keeping their hooves warm. Flaco makes eye contact with you the second he appears, and is smiling as he dismounts his horse, making his way over to you as you leap up from where you were sitting. "What happened?" you question. "It's done," Flaco explains, "he won't be bothering you no more." "You... you killed him?" you question in shock, and you instantly get the urge to scold yourself for feeling so... mixed about this. "I didn't do anything," Flaco shrugs. "What do you mean?" "I mean, I didn't do anything." Sigh. "Explain, please?" Flaco chuckles as he urges you into his cabin, his large hand placed on the small of your back, signalling for you to sit on his bed whilst he settles beside you. "He was already awake when I came out the cabin this morning, storming over and barking at me, demanding to know where you were. I shrugged and said I didn't know, and he pointed his finger at me whilst insisting that I did know, and that I needed to tell him 'or else'," Flaco lets out a laugh, and you can picture it clearly, not being a stranger to that sight. "I didn't tell him where you were, I didn't want to risk him storming in here and waking you up, or doing something stupid to you. So, I told him you've probably gone out to find firewood, or you've got sick of him and finally left-" "-You actually said that?" you cut him off, your eyes going wide. "Of course, I did," Flaco laughs. "And he was not happy with my comment, but I couldn't care any less. He said that he was going to look for you, and I told him that we're going hunting instead. That stupid, little man began his yapping again, but he quit barking when I stood over him and made it clear that I'm not one to bargain with." "What did you do, exactly?" you question. "I just told him he's going to hunt for me, and he didn't question me, which was surprising... Anyway, I took him down past Barrow Lagoon, and I made sure to point out that that was the place he was looking for," Flaco laughs again, chuckling away like a father laughing at his own jokes. "We trailed off into the forest, and I let him lead the way as he began looking for something to hunt. That partner of yours, he really was a cabrón, heading into wolf territory with only a bow on him... I knew there was a pack in the area the second we began riding through the trees, and I heard them come for us, for him." "What happened?" you question, your tone stern and curious. "I don't know," Flaco shrugs. "I heard the wolves go for him, I heard him cry out, but I didn't look back." "Do you think... is he?" "I don't know," Flaco repeats, shrugging this time. "But have you ever heard of anybody surviving being attacked by a pack of wolves?" "...No," you sheepishly reply. A deep sigh escapes your lips, and you have to bite at your tongue to stop yourself from crying. "I feel awful, but at the same time, I don't? I feel like... like I should... like I'm..." "Don't," Flaco interrupts you, "he deserves it, he got what was coming for him." Flaco pulls you against him, and you accept, resting your head on his shoulder as you find comfort in him once more. He's right, your partner did get what was coming for him. You've heard the phrase 'treat others how you want to be treated,' and well, he must have had a death wish considering the way he treated others, specifically you. Your body runs through every emotion, finding one that fits: Guilty? not really. Sad? not at all. Lonely? not any more. How about relieved? you're free, you're finally free, but for whatever reason, you're crying. "Hey," Flaco speaks up, catching your gaze. "It's okay to be confused," he tells you, and that's just the reassurance you were looking for, as if he was reading your mind. "It's going to take time, you're going to feel confused for a while, but Flaco promises you that you'll eventually feel better," he says with a smile, and chuckles as you practically pounce on him, climbing onto his lap and snuggling up to him once again. Flaco wraps his arms around you, and your cheeks turn red as he places a tender kiss on your forehead. You suddenly feel so warm, so wanted, so loved, and you curl up in Flaco's lap, thanking him for saving you. "I didn't save you," Flaco tells you, "you saved yourself, I just had to give you a little push." "Or give him a little push," you correct him with a laugh. "I think it was his horse that did that," Flaco laughs with you. There are tears flowing from your eyes, yet you're smiling, finding so much more than comfort in this man. Flaco's right, you have saved yourself, and you're forever thankful that Flaco gave you the courage to do so.

[jeeperso]

D&D Quotes Without Context

Ravenloft, Hazlan Arc, part 5

"It’s cool. They stole it." "And you know this how?" "Magic." “90% of Ravenloft deaths are mysterious vanishings.” "Why does everything come out covered in glitter and … is that …" "Lube. I’ve got a few theories." "Please don’t share them."

OOC: This is a plan that ends with Strahd having fewer brides, his castle is in flames, and he’s lost his cape.

OOC: Our team consists of a horny pyromancer, a gnome who can fillete you in five seconds, an HP lovecraft protagonist with actual magic backing them up, a literal slab of iron with a face, and a guy with a "I went to the eternal city of Ryleth and all I got was PTSD and this lousy T shirt". Gorbash smashing his shield into their face: "Have! You! Considered! Therapy!" OOC: Good news is you guys will no longer be the most conspicuous guys at the masquerade now. Jonni: Challenge accepted! "Nyx, the bounty on stealing his fake mustache is still on."

"Lets see, gonna make Jonni Deathlock six, gonna make the cleric a Huecuva, the Dragonborn a skeleton warrior, make a wight with the gnome.... I don't think I can make an undead with the big guy but pretty sure Hazlik wants him personally." Gorebash is offended. "I beat the shit out of the witch-slaying sentient hammer that was trying to gank you and all I merit is a Skeleton Warrior! That hurts Nima. I expect CR3 or better or I'm taking my corpse business elsewhere." "I'm not powerful enough to make you a death knight, Sorry." Jonni: "Wow, Hazzy, you need better minions. We should kill her." OOC: Point is, if you can make liches or Death knights, Hazlik's already killed you and written his name over your grad thesis.

Jonni: "NOPE! No fey queens. Not after last time! Well… maybe just a few times…"

“Hey, I need to ask for some magic stuff, but also I need an outfit for a royal dinner. Something that says, I’m an ostentatious adventurer visitor to your lands, but also that I plan to spending this dinner in the cloak room with one or more of the serving maids.”

As it is most gauche to appear before a darklord with a warpick sized hole in the middle of one's chest.

"... This place has made green things seem ominous to me."

"A giant beanstalk, this is the most unique wizard's tower I've ever seen."

On that note you also notice behind the Beanstalk is what seems like a huge lagoon of bubbling green ooze. Edmund leans to the side to get a good look... Several zombies are working tossing corpses into it, as the corpses hit the ooze they dissolve into it. Edmund leans back to get a less good look before knocking.

"Since he hopefully can't hear us, Your boss is kind of a self absorbed egomaniac... if he didn't have so power I'm sure someone would have thrown a brick at him by now." “I know where we can find bricks.” "Supply of Bricks is not the issue, Jonni." “Everyone says that until the revolt starts. Pays to be prepared.”

“That explains it. You’re about the research, your boss is about applied power of dickery.”

“I hung around a magic school once to let the grad students study me for their thesis.”

“Oh, good fascist wizards. Why can’t we kill him again?” "Phenomenal cosmic power."

"Oh crud, the ooze someone merged some of the corpses together and brought them back to life as a new being. At least that is my wild guess as to what happened here." Willow blinks. "Um, this is unprecedented." “Nah, but usually you need lighting and some grave robbing.”

"I mean I grew a toe out of corn." Willow says, "Its not that far fetched."

"You think, therefore you are. Freedom is your right." “Weird, that magic red self driving wagon I met once said something similar.”

"The Elder Brain will deal with you eventually. You will never escape it." “Clan chief told me that the day I stole his mammoth after he found me with his daughter. Pretty sure that loser is still freezing his tiny grimbas off on fuck-stick mountain.”

at supper, to Mama: "I am forbidden from your kitchen for good reason, but I may require your assistance with my culinary dark arts for the feast." Mama gives you a dirty look. "Who are you trying to kill?" "Not kill, on purpose anyway, just a severe enough food coma."

"Yes, I already reminded the others we can't fake our deaths again." "Yeah that only works so often," Sergei says. Edmund lost a perfectly good watch that day.

OOC: THE FUCKING LENG FOLK HAVE UFOS! MOTHER-FUCKERS!

"Plus we owe you for sending the Sullivans our way. That was a well paying job." "Yeah, except I got those fleas on me and hallucinated I was a pawn broker sign. That was a weird afternoon."

As side effect of the dark cookery, Marshal's armor is well-oiled throughout the day, though Mama insists he be kept away from Jonni or pregnant women.

...you can see ominous black clouds of smoke coming from the wagon all that day. The rats and roaches circling it with anticipation. With the occasional black speech of "Double it." Mama comes rushing out after a bit, holding a rag on her face. "That.. is very ominous." “We’re gonna have to cast this back into the fires of its creation eventually.” "Marshal may serve the gods, but when he cooks he's channeling Asmodeus himself." OOC: The meal must be cast into the deep fryers of Mount McDoom. Only there can it be unmade.

Marshal's player: *rolls natural 20 on cooking check* GM: Congradulations, it's edible. Marshal: "It...is done..." "By all that is holy..." The chocolate is so dark, light cannot escape it’s surface. 50 pounds of butter per square inch. OOC: It occurs to me this is basically a more fucked up retelling of Snow White.

“Gor, going with plan C cup. You know what I like if he starts thinking he’s cute by offering choices of rewards.” "Try not to do anything that requires a rescue."

Marshall is clearly trying to spontaneously multiclass into psionics the way he's trying to vaporize Hazlik with his stare.

"I will draw." Hazlik smiles, places the cards before you, then steps the hell back. Jonni pat Edmunds shoulder and shakes his hand. “It’s been okay knowing you. You were one of the least dickish dudes I ever met. And part of a select few I didn’t want to punch in the balls.”

“You will. Briefly. That’s a promise from Jonathana, She Who Makes Torches of Men. Daughter of Eloise Wolf Slayer, outcast of the Mammoth Tribe, and consort of the 37th Princess of Fuck Mountain.“

OOC: Nima is someone we can actively reach to strangle to death. Dark lords are a bit out of choking range.

OOC: But.... and this is important: Will Edmund ever get pants? OOC: Strahd will consider it.

OOC: Like this is the dark powers going "He looked at me crossways, PUT HIM N THE HOLE."

OOC: If Ravenloft is a jail/prison, this is the equivalent of getting thrown in solitary confinement. OOC: Without pants.

[zaffrenotes]

[TRR x ES] Viewing Party

Book: The Royal Romance & Endless Summer Pairings: Liam x MC (Katrina Bailey), Drake x OC (Alyssa Devereaux), Jake x MC (Laurel) Rating/Warnings: G; mild innuendo Author’s Note: * All main characters belong to Pixelberry, I’m just borrowing them * Katrina Bailey & Laurel are the MCs I use when writing fanfic for TRR and ES, respectively; Alyssa Devereaux belongs to birthday girl @burnsoslow​ * This is my submission for @wackydrabbles​​ Prompt 80: Stop looking at me like that. * Author’s Note 2: * This is a birthday gift for my cheesy, potato loving homegirl Burnsie, who requested her very first Endless Summer/Jake fic, despite having never read any ES fic until now 🙈 for the sole reason being that she and Jake McKenzie are almost birthday twins, and my favorite pilot turns 30 this year. If you’re unfamiliar with canon ES trivia, Jake can hold his breath for 9 minutes, and Estela can hold her breath for an astonishing 14. This isn’t entirely what I had in mind when I set out to write an ES/Jake birthday fic, but I wasn’t about to miss your day because I’ve hit a whole ass writer’s wall, Burnsie! I hope you have an AMAZING day and I’m sending you so many hugs! You’re one of the sweetest ladies here, and I am so very thankful that I can call you a friend 🥰 also my real, real gift to you is coming at a later date, as I still have to work on it 😬 * and yes, that’s DDT in the moodboard - just for Burnsie, again - since I use Barnes as Drake’s FC in my TRR fics, lol * Word Count: 2000 on the dot!

It was nearly 10:00 PM on Friday evening, when Burns arranged things around the comfiest chair in her living room. The rest of her family already retired for the evening, after a small but wonderful birthday celebration in her honor at home. Within easy reach, she’d arranged drinks and snacks next to her laptop - a glass of water, a hot mug of tea, a slice of homemade birthday cake to take care of any sugar cravings, and a small platter of cheese and crackers for something more savory. She grinned softly at the newest addition to her mug collection, watching the steam rise from the contents within. 

The lavender mug arrived in the mail earlier that day from one of her friends, emblazoned with a quote from David Rose. Burns took a sip of the warm beverage before setting it down on the small side table and situated herself in the chair. She flipped open the laptop and pulled up a browser window, smiling at a gift from another friend - there was a sticker next to the trackpad with a drawing of a wedge of Swiss, quoting another memorable line from Schitt’s Creek, reminding her to “fold in the cheese.” Burns glanced to the time on the screen and logged in to her Netflix account, clicking until she arrived at the viewing party, and began typing to join the group chat. 

She was greeted with jubilant messages from Donna, Ella, Brandy, Anitah, and half a dozen other friends, wishing her a happy birthday before the show started. They’d formed an ever-growing viewing party for a new series titled Stranded in the Orchard, which was an odd amalgamation of Survivor and Gilligan’s Island. Taking a cue from reality tv competitions, there were hidden cameras all over the island to monitor everyone and reduce production crew intervention, and in a nod to Hunger Games, there was an omnipresent host that would drop messages to signal when challenges were about to take place. After four episodes, the ladies in the watching party started picking their favorites from the two teams. 

Team Ruby consisted of a group that appeared to have been shipwrecked onto the island. Leo was dubbed The Rogue; his brother Liam was The CEO; Katrina was The Attorney; Alyssa was The Teacher; Drake was The Cowboy; Olivia was The Weapons Expert; Bertrand was The Grump; Madeleine was The Whiner; Maxwell was Bertrand’s brother and The Jester; Hana was The Jill of All Trades. Bertrand and Madeleine had already been voted off when Ruby lost two events. 

Team Catalyst consisted of a group of mostly college students. Jake was The Pilot; Laurel was The Mystery Girl; Sean was The Coach; Michelle was The Doctor, even though she was only pre-med; Craig was The Muscle; Zahra was The Engineer; Aleister was The Slick One; Grace was The Brain; Diego was The Entertainer; Estela was The Huntress. Catalyst lost the last two events, which sent Aleister and Grace packing. 

Everyone settled in to watch the opening credits as they recapped last week’s episode, where Ruby won the immunity challenge and fishing gear by building a makeshift stretcher to rescue and carry Katrina from a jungle crash site to a first aid station on the beach; Catalyst voted Grace out. Burns popped a cheese cube into her mouth as she and her friends watched the two groups deal with day-to-day chores in their respective camps on Day 14 of the show. They chatted about the team members and how much Burns wanted to see Drake take off his shirt to go in the water, despite the knowledge that there were clips of him cuddling with Alyssa; Donna, Ella, and Anitah would keysmash in the group chat any time Liam appeared on the screen, even though he and Katrina were clearly sweet on each other, while Brandy and Alyssa Lauren would ask what was happening or who someone was from the Catalyst team.

—

“Pillows and blankets are nice, but what we could really use is food,” Maxwell said, drawing an octopus in the sand with a piece of driftwood. “I don’t know how much longer I can last on coconuts and rice.” 

“Liam and Drake took the raft out this morning to try fishing with the gear, maybe they’ll get lucky,” Katrina suggested, stirring the pot of rice in the fire. She set the lid on top and stood up from her kimchi squat position, dusting some errant sand off her leg. They both looked out towards the water, as dawn stretched out across the ocean, making out shadowy forms of their friends as they bobbed in the water, just before one of them went under the surface. Behind them, the rest of their friends began to stir awake from the scent of rice cooking. 

Back at the Catalyst camp, Jake sat by the campfire with Estela; they were working on making their own fishing gear from bamboo and camp supplies after losing the previous challenge. Jake fed a length of twine through a handmade fishing pole while Estela sharpened tips on one end of a pile of branches she’d gathered. “Whatcha whittlin’, Katniss?” 

Estela glanced at Jake sideways. “Stakes. Hand over some of that twine, I need it to bind these to make spears.” With a begrudging huff, Jake unfurled the twine and ran it against the edge of the makeshift bench he was sitting on to cut it, before tossing the rest at Estela. 

“How fast can you tie those off? We’re losin’ daylight for a morning catch, if you wanna ride on the raft with me.” 

“Five minutes,” she answered, already working nimbly around a branch to secure the whittled spikes. 

The screen cut back to Ruby’s camp, where Liam and Drake stepped ashore, smiles brighter than the sunrise as Drake held up a fish trap with small rays flapping against one another. 

—

“kjsdhfksjhfksjhfks,” Burns smashed into her keyboard. “Look at my man! With the sea bounty!” 

“mevmnbvmnxb,” Ella smashed back.

“How do you know Drake did all the work? Liam’s just as wet, hahaha,” Donna chortled in response.

—

After killing their catch as humanely as possible - with Alyssa turning her face to Drake’s chest to avoid witnessing it - Leo and Olivia gutted and cleaned the rays before setting them on top of their makeshift grill to cook. Liam and Drake regaled the group with their morning under the water, as they took turns fishing. 

While Team Ruby enjoyed some protein with their rice that morning, members of the Catalyst team glumly spooned rice into their mouths as they sat around the campfire while Jake and Estela dried off; their morning fishing trip had been unsuccessful. 

Later that day, both teams received messages from the host to gather for a reward challenge. Each team made their way to a small lagoon, where they saw a structure floating in the water. A booming voice overhead instructed them to swim out to the structure and await further instructions. Once everyone from both teams had done so, a blue holographic image of the host appeared in the center to explain the rules. “The challenge is simple,” she narrated. “We want to see who can hold their breath the longest. There’s a bar you can use to keep yourself from floating up if you need it. Last one standing earns the prize for the whole team — an overnight trip at the Celestial Hotel, where our rotating film crew goes to rest. You’ll be treated to clean sheets and towels, hot showers, along with a decadent dinner and breakfast menu the next morning, before having to return to your camp.” 

Everyone’s eyes lit up at the incentive of a night away from sleeping on the beach, away from mosquitos, rodents, and the threat of being waterlogged by passing storms. Stomachs gurgled at the thought of hot meals that didn’t consist of rice, and the possibility of cocktails or wine. “Oh, we got this,” Jake murmured quietly to Laurel. “Bet I can hold my breath longer’n any of those Ruby kids.” 

“Is that so?” Leo taunted, overhearing Jake’s comment.

“Just call me Poseidon,” Jake smirked. 

“We’ll see about that,” Leo replied. “You know most of us are from an island, right? We’re basically merpeople.” 

—

“Bets! Bets on who wins this!” Brandy typed into the chat window.

“Sticking with Drake,” Burns typed. “Maybe Hana. She could have another random talent up her sleeve.” 

“My money’s on Liam. Look how broad his chest is,” Anya replied. “He’s got to have massive lungs to match.”

“That makes no sense,” Ella typed, adding a laughing emoji. “But I’m Team Liam anyway.”

“Don’t hate me,” Donna began. “Something tells me Jake isn’t boasting right now.” 

From her screen at home, Alyssa Lauren used Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe to choose Zahra. The rest of the group picked their favorites as the castaways donned goggles and got into the water. 

—

“Ready? Set! Go!” 

Sixteen heads dipped under the water’s surface, with contestants pinching their noses and puffing out their cheeks as an underwater camera filmed them. A handful of them - Olivia, Alyssa, Maxwell, Diego, and Michelle - tapped out under a minute. As the sand settled, thirty seconds passed before Katrina, Laurel, Sean, and Drake headed to the surface. Just after the two minute mark, Hana, Craig, and Zahra gave up, leaving Jake, Liam, Estela, and Leo under the water. 

Jake looked positively peaceful, sandy brown hair swaying with ease in the water. Estela tapped her fingers lightly across the bamboo rod, counting each second as it passed. Liam glanced over to his brother, who’d begun to turn pink. Half a minute later, Leo popped up to the surface, muttering to himself out of frustration. 

Three minutes in, Liam surfaced, gasping for air, leaving Jake and Estela to battle it out between themselves. Even though the hologram host blasted a horn to signal the end of the challenge, neither Catalyst member surfaced. Liam ducked down to check on them, and Jake and Estela both signaled that they were fine. Everyone continued to wait as the pair spent minute after minute under the water.

—

“Seriously? They’re on the same team!” Anitah typed. “They won already!” 

“They’ve been underwater for a scary length of time,” Brandy added. “What are they, Navy SEALs or something?” 

“I think Jake mentioned he was actually in the Navy before,” Alyssa Lauren replied. 

—

A digital clock appeared in the corner of the screen as the two Catalyst members continued to hold their breath underwater. With each passing minute, members from both groups began to worry. After eight minutes passed, the host’s voice rang out, advising them to pull Jake and Estela up from the water to end the challenge. Laurel and Craig ducked down, eventually pulling their teammates up. “Congratulations to The Catalysts!” the host exclaimed. “A boat will be waiting at your camp to take you to the hotel.” 

Laurel swatted Jake’s arm as they made their way to the shore. “What’s wrong with you!? You were underwater for nearly ten minutes! Who does that!?” 

Jake looked over his shoulder to her with a grin, mischievous sparkle in his bright blue eyes. “Ten would be a new record, my best is nine.” He leaned down to whisper in her ear. “Imagine nine uninterrupted minutes of me holding my breath, Princess. My birthday is tomorrow, and I know exactly how I wanna celebrate,” he winked.  

Laurel’s cheeks flushed at the suggestion. “Stop looking at me like that, Top Gun.”

—

That evening at the hotel, after a sumptuous feast of lobster, crab, and an endless supply of beer and wine, the Catalyst members eventually went to bed. Much later into the night, Jake was seen sneaking into Laurel’s room. 

—

“I KNEW IT!” Burns typed. She laughed as her friends typed in responses full of lemon, fire, pepper, and eggplant emojis. She popped another cheese cube into her mouth and smiled, watching the rest of the episode play out.

[tangled-the-series-forever]

Corona Fun Fact!

According to Rapunzel and the Lost Lagoon, the kingdom of Corona includes:

315 miles of coastline

212 lakes

121 ponds

68 rivers

17 estuaries

Who knew?