timeless-fable

[youareinacomawakeup]

I was telling someone about my experience coming to terms with being trans earlier, and the phrase “I wasn’t even an egg. I was a Togepi,” came to mind. And honestly, I love that analogy and I’m keeping it.

The egg was cracked, I hatched, but I was still, paradoxically, an egg. I started going by my current name at age goddamn 7 (23 years ago) because my dead name “sounded wrong”. People asked me to describe my relationship with my gender multiple times as a teenager and into early adulthood, and how I described it was flat out describing being trans. I might as well have been saying, “I’m a sapient, bipedal, hairless primate. But I’m not, like, a human.” For fuck’s sake, I described my agender ass as being “gender neutral”, in those exact words, for years, and still somehow thought I was cis at the same time. Explain, past me. What does that mean?

So yeah. I wasn’t an egg. My egg cracked by the time I was seven. Or if not by then, at least before I started describing myself verbally to people as “gender neutral”. I looked like an egg. I was still walking around clad in an eggshell. But I wasn’t really an egg, even before I had the right words to describe myself.

It just took a little bit longer for me to evolve out of my shell.

Also, like Togepi’s evolutionary line, I come with blue sprinkles. (Just a dash of masculine gender euphoria.)

[ribbonprincess]

⋆𐙚₊˚⊹♡

Rafe's got a hand wrapped around his bottle of beer as the other is securely holding your waist,chatting with a couple of friends while you look Around the backyard with droopy eyes after a shared joint with your boyfriend.

"yeah,see you man" Rafe says,dabbing everyone before turning around to look at you "how kitty cat doing" he smirks,tilting your chin up with his finger. "Told you not to call me that" you reply with a roll of eyes before smiling a bit "but I'm doing okay,I just can't find my lipgloss"

"oh,I have it- you gave it to me before we got in" he mumbles,pulling out the shiny tub from his pocket as he handed it to you. "thank you" fixing your black lather corset before taking out a kuromi hand mirror and reapplying the shiny gloss. "so,are we heading inside for that beer pong or not?"

After a game or two of beer pong you find yourself slowly tipsy,leaning a bit more into Rafe as you tug at the material of your skirt. "I'm starting to get tired" you mumble,coming out more annoyed that you intended to "hey,fix that tone and maybe I'll think about bringing you home" Rolling your eyes,you take a sip of the coca cola in your cup,humming to the song playing through the speakers of the house. You move to sit on an available chair as you look at your makeup,making sure your spiky eyelashes and eyeliner are still intact; Rafe's quick to follow you as he stands protectively behind you,his arms wrapped around your neck as you chuckle. "you don't have to stay here like a guard dog,I know how to protect myself." "yeh,I know...but I want to"

Deciding to let him stay you lay your hands over his arm, sometimes running your sharp nails over the skin,leaving red traces behind. "you know" you start slowly,tilting your head back to look at him. "you know that a cockroach can still live a week after you cut their heads off,isn't that cool?" This information causes your boyfriend's face to scrunch up before he nods slowly,still not used to your antics. "yeah...super cool baby" "and...and,did you know that spiders have clear blood" Humming at your words rafe press a kiss to your head "hm,always have weird facts up your sleeve don't you?"

giggling to yourself you nod in response "my weird,scary girlfriend" Rafe mumbles to himself before leaning down to kiss you,smearing your lip combo all around. "rafe..my lipstick" you mumble,pulling away as you wipe at your chin and around his face. Rafe chuckles "hm...sorry about that" "yeah yeah..." you hum before he speaks again "tomorrow,I'll take you to that weird stone place you like- the one with the old lady and the books about amputation and stuff like that that you like" "hm...they're called crystal,but thank you handsome" you smile,holding onto his bicep as he presses a sloppy kiss against your neck "I'll be with the boys over the couch to get my stuff and then I'll take you home,okay?" "hm...okay, love you"

"love you too kitty cat"

[kyri45]

The Forgotten Island, AKA The Kingdom of Stars

A ISAT and Sky:Cotl Mix list of headcanons for a possible sequel of the main game.

MAP HERE!

Basic Information and Assumptions from the game:

From what we know, The Country is a rocky, forest, and mountain-filled island, close enough to be seen from Bambouche. Because of the cold climate, I’ll assume that it's located more northern than anything else in the ISAT world. Let’s also assume that it’s a highly humid country (it’s an island, so). Therefore, for a society built principally on the study of stars, I will further assume that the mountains there are high enough to well surpass the level of the clouds.

Another post also pointed out how the Country closest reference would be Iceland, which I couldn’t agree more ( even though I don’t think it would be THAT cold, I think the cold is more from the altitude than the position on the globe itself)

My personal take:

If even children are aware from a very young age of the physics and rules of the cosmos, then it’s safe to assume that these things not only are being taught in schools but are also present in their everyday lives in their homes. Just like the Change god is present in the form of statues and figurines around every house of Dormont, we could imagine that every house of The Country could have had its own observatory floor.

For an entire town, or city, or even country, to be able to see the stars perfectly at night, they would need to have their buildings more elevated than wide, so that the upper floors aren’t so affected by street lights pollutions or other form of illuminations for the roads.

As for the materials, we can drop down to at least:

Wood, from probably evergreen trees such as birch or even pine and spruce?

Basalt, from the (most likely) volcanic beach. It has also wonderful heat-keeping properties so It wouldn’t be strange to assume they use it in their buildings as well. The dark color also reflects less light during the night and would increase the star's visibility.

Other grey stones or concrete, from which they build at least the base of their tower-based architecture to be able to sustain multiple floors.

While an island such as The Country should technically be poor in metal, the presence of volcanic terrain and geysers should, on the positive side, mean that there is the presence of gold! So yes, shiny gold decorations for observatories or other star-related rooms are realistically allowed :)

I will take as a reference from the world of Sky 3 main realms for this AU:

Isle of Dawn: can be used as a reference for the surroundings part of the kingdom, using the same rocky and sandy morphology. Sky also has many boats scattered around the kingdoms, and since the Country mostly based its economy on trade and fishing was its main source of protein, I’ll take those as a reference as well.

Valley of Triumph: for its peaks, mountains, and climate. Also maybe for their transportation methods and house architecture from the Village of Dreams

Vault of Knowledge: the Vault itself is just one big building that could be well used as a like the main capitol center building for archive, research, and study of Wish Craft and stars. The architecture itself can also be used as an inspiration for other buildings such as libraries and schools.

I'll be updating this thread with possible more personal designs and sketch about the architecture!

Let me know if you finds errors in what I wrote or personal suggestions!

[retlasute]

hiiiii i love your writing and i've been binging turbinio these last few days completely in love with the main character and something came to my mind while i was reading. Maybe it's a pretty specific request, so you can just do headcanons and i'll be happy 

so, i was thinking while reading Turbinio, that i really see myself in mc because i love collecting and keeping things from the trips i make and if i were on the steel ball run my ass would surely lose bc of all the useless luggage and i was thinking of asking you to write a gyro/johnny headcanons with a reader who is always collecting stones, shells, bones and other useless things along the way 

HAAAAA I LOVE THIS IDEA BECAUSE I WOULD ALSO DO EXACTLY THE SAME THING

Also sorry for the delay in writing your request, I was doing something that wasn't important enough to remember what it was 😭 but I've been thinking about your idea all this time and I hope you like it! ❤️

Headcanons - Reader who keeps strange/inutile/creepy things she finds along the way

◍ Gyro Zeppeli

He honestly doesn't know why he asked you to ride with them.

And every day he begins to question himself more about it.

Surely his impatient ass is always complaining about the constant stops.

''For God's sake, that's a dead beetle, (Y/N)''

And of course, at first you had absolutely no right to opine in anything, as Gyro quickly dismissed it by saying that all you do is put rocks in your bag.

He obviously didn't think twice when Johnny said he saw Diego eating rocks.

''Nyo-ho-ho! (Y/N), did you let him steal your bag?''

How could you explain to that man that a bag of shells was lighter than a teddy bear, and that feathers could adorn your horse?

He didn't really care.

But some days he needed someone to complain about, and Johnny was a saint who rarely did anything stupid enough to divert Gyro's attention from your hobbies.

You also tried your best not to slow them down significantly, but sometimes you couldn't ignore a ring conveniently lost on the sidewalk or an arrowhead in the desert.

Honestly, you don't understand why they haven't abandoned you yet either.

Perhaps it wasn't really that annoying, just unusual.

Sometimes, when you found a knife lost on the ground or a half-buried mirror, Gyro would steal it for him.

Over time, he got used to it and the collector jokes wore off.

He also started to always stop without you asking when he saw something shiny on the ground.

''Huh? Aren't you going to pick that up?''

''It's a shard of glass, Gyro.''

''So what? I've seen you pick up more useless things.''

At a certain point in the race, when you had no more space to carry larger things like lizard skulls or big shells, you simply hung them on your horse.

''You know, if I saw your horse on the road at night, I'd shit my pants.''

That's what he said when you decorated your horse's mane with small squirrel bones, attaching the skull by the jaw in a braid.

And then he goes back to wondering why on earth he asked you to ride with them.

But in the end it's not that bad.

He realized this when he found himself keeping a cool stone to give you later.

Stupid Zeppeli, putting stupid stones in his pocket to give to you.

Even stupider Zeppeli, when he offered you a space in his bag to carry your things, since your luggage was already full.

The stupidest Zeppeli, when he let you decorate Valkyrie with feathers

He's adorable, although you'd never be able to admit it.

✰ Johnny Joestar

Johnny never complained, although at first he agreed with Gyro that it was unnecessary to make so many stops to pick up junk.

But when you found a bird skull and tied it around your neck as a necklace, he became afraid of you.

Being afraid of you, he would never think of complaining about anything.

It was strange and creepy, that's all he thought.

But he liked the shiny stones, although he couldn't remember the names of most of them.

He also thought your feathered horse was pretty, although he was still totally against making braids with squirrel skulls.

''Have you always liked to collect things like that?''

''Ever since I was a kid, I guess.''

''What a strange hobby for a child.''

But he still found it, deep down, quite interesting and strangely attractive.

''What are you going to do with it? It's just an old bone.''

He remembers hearing somewhere that there's no beauty without strangeness, and he thought it was quite appropriate for you.

It wasn't long before he gave you a mother-of-pearl shell.

But sometimes Gyro's bad mood was contagious, and he would try to be kinder than his friend to ask you to hurry up or ignore something.

''I know you like this, but don't get distracted, we're in a race.''

But any “pretty please” was enough for him to give in.

''Right… if it's so important, I guess we can wait.''

He would absolutely never carry a skull in his luggage like Gyro would be willing to.

Instead, he would buy an extra bag in the nearest town for you to carry more things.

"I'm sure we could get the equivalent of this race's prize money just by selling your stuff, (Y/N).''

He's certainly cut his finger with a shark's tooth when he tried to get something from your bag.

Because he's more inattentive to such things, he constantly ends up leaving you behind because he doesn't realize you've stopped to pick something up.

''Hey, Johnny, look what I found!''

He's sure it's going to be some dead animal, so he always has to take a deep breath and prepare himself psychologically whenever he hears that sentence.

''Oh, a rock?''

''It's not just a rock, Johnny. It's a citrine!''

''It's very pretty.''

''Pretty? That's it?''

''What can I say? It's a yellow stone. But you've already shown me ten others just like it.''

''Ah, well… you're right.''

''But it's quite beautiful, you have a sharp eye for finding pretty things.''

He wouldn't show more emotion than that even if you showed him a diamond.

[mr-jack-letterman]

AAAAAAND WERE BACK with more Subway to Stardew silliness NSNNDD.

Thank you to the folks over at @subwaytostardew for making this wonderful mod and letting me make silly art about it lol.

In any case time for some headcannon nonsense.

(click for better quality because Tumblr makes it crunchy)

If Stardew Valley were to have a box legendary I think it would be Cresselia. It's literally Lunar pokemon and represents the crescent moon so it being the patron legendary of Stardew Valley just makes a lot of sense to me. Also Cresselia is underrated NSNDN.

Maybe there would be a secret special encounter for Darkrai. (the other half of it and Cresselia's duo but is a mythical for some reason?)

Also the Lunar wing would be very neat item to have in-game ANSNDND.

If it were to exist within the mod I imagine the farmer would be like "oooo shiny feather. Maybe it's a pokemon feather? Emmet/Ingo would probably like it :D" so then they make it into a necklace, or maybe just give it to one of them outright without knowing what it is. So Emmet/Ingo sees it and just starts freaking the hell out cause their crush/friend just gave them a piece of a literal legendary pokemon meanwhile the farmer is just....clueless NSNDND.

Now onto some of the other characters.

As basically the resident nurse joy of Pelican Town I think Harvey would have some pokemon common in the medical field. Though, pokemon like Chansey and Audino don't really fit his whole "whiskey neat, coffee black, bed at three"/ref vibes so I thought Indeedee would be best NSNDNND.

I also decided to give some pokemon to the characters mentioned within my ask.

Willy is very fond of water types, clearly NSNS. Specifically fish pokemon like Lanturn, Seaking, Whiscash, Wishiwashi, or Dondozo. (Though his actual team probably has a good chunk of pokemon that are still water type just not fish lmao) The crowning jewel of his collection is a shiny Magikarp he fished up. Maybe one day it will evolve, but for now it just swims around the docks next to his house entertaining anyone that visits.

He also has a Bibarel. (which I imagine is the grown up version of that one Bidoof that snuck into Pelican Town) It acts more like an overgrown housecat than a battle ready pokemon but it is incredibly bulky so ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯.

Morris also has a few pokemon of his own. Most of which he keeps at home. But his main two he's seen with is a Gimmighoul and a Gumshoos. (IDK he just has Gumshoos vibes to me NSNDNND) They run around Joja pickpocketing people's gold cause Morris is just a dick like that.

"It's Wizard time mother fucker, FIREBALL-"/ref

Wizard likes psychic types, but I like to think he also has a fondness for fairy types too. Also, most of em has at least one strong fire type move just so he has an excuse to yell "fireball" and blast something NSND. His Malamar is named Illithid (a wack squid monster guy from DnD lol)

Sandy likes rock types, given that she lives in a desert it's probably the only type of pokemon she sees on the daily lol. She also has a key stone on her earring. With how colorful a keystone is when compared to sand I think she would be the most likely to find one there. Idk exactly if she'd mega evolve an Aerodactyl or a Tyranitar, if any pokemon at all. But I think she'd carry it around regardless. It's pretty :]

Also she has a shiny Rockruff. I don't rly have an explanation for that one I think it just fits the vibe lol.

And now, shenanigans.

Emmet then proceeds to grab the child and just.... speed walk away HSBBDBDJJR.

That's all I have for now, I'll probably throw some other pokemon at the bachelorettes and other bachelors another time but this alone took a solid week due to finals 😭/lh

Time for me to go to bed lol, have a good one 👍

[thisapplepielife]

Written for the @corrodedcoffinfest May warm-up round.

These Keys?

Prompt: Get a Job | Word Count: 1000 | Rating: T | CW: Language, Off-Screen Recreational Weed Use | POV: Gareth | Pairing: Steddie | Tags: AU, Gareth Fakes It Until He Can Make It, Car Dealership, Gareth & Steve, Meet Ugly, Eddie Only Tortures Those He Loves Most

Gareth is dozing at his desk, when a knock on his office door startles him awake, "Your two o'clock is here." 

Gareth didn't remember having a two o'clock, but he stands up and tries to smooth out his suit. It's two sizes too big, and something Eddie found for him at a thrift store. It's ugly, but works, for now. He's just working this job selling cars, saving some goddamn money, until the band can start playing full-time. Hopefully. That's the dream, anyway.

He's not very good at it, not like Eddie would be, but Eddie was a no-go with his hair that he refused to cut to be a corporate shill, or whatever he ranted about.

There's a guy standing in the showroom, waiting. Preppy and coiffed within an inch of his life. Great. 

But Gareth approaches him, because he looks like he has money. And money means the chance at a commission. So, Gareth tries to shake the cobwebs out of his brain.

"I'm Steve. We talked on the phone earlier," this guy says, and Gareth reaches out to shake his hand. He has no memory of this alleged conversation. Maybe he shouldn't have gotten so stoned with Eddie during his lunch break.

Rolling out of the van loose and faded after lunch, probably wasn't the best idea he's ever had. 

But he hates this job. He can't sell cars. He knows nothing about them. 

"What can I help you with, Steve?" Gareth asks, and Steve's just staring at him, definitely annoyed. What's his damn problem?

"As I said on the phone, my lease is up. I need to find out how much it will be to buy mine out, or lease something new."

"Cool. Cool. Totally, man. We can do that."

"How about this one?" Gareth asks, looking at a BMW he's never seen on the lot before. It's shiny. Really, really shiny. He runs his hand over the roof. "Pretty, right?"

"Uh, yeah," Steve says, but sounds less than enthused, crossing his arms over his chest, and it looks a little aggressive, "Well, how much? What's the mileage?"

Man, he's bitchy.

There's no sticker, but Gareth can find out how much they're asking. He'll just bullshit until then. 

"It's new on the lot," Gareth says, and tries to pull up on the handle, but it doesn't budge.

"Locked, huh?" Steve asks. "Maybe you need the keys?"

Gareth presses his face to the window, to see if he can see the odometer from here, but can't.

"Yeah, I'll get the keys. I'll be right back. Wait here."

"Sure, okay. I'll be waiting," Steve snaps, and Gareth strides off towards the dealership. 

When he comes back, with no keys, Steve is talking to Keith. Goddamnit. 

"Do you know where the keys to this car are?" Gareth asks Keith, interrupting.

Steve pulls a set of keys out of his pocket, "These keys?"

"Where'd you get those?" Gareth asks.

"It's my car, Gareth. This is the car I drove here. The one I've been leasing from you guys for the past two years. The one I told you about, on the phone."

Keith shakes his head, disappointed, and points Gareth back towards the showroom.

He's been dismissed, and his potential commission, gone. Probably his job. A lease would have made sure they wouldn't fire him. Fuck. He didn't know that was Steve's car. How could he have known? Steve could have said something, for fuck's sake. Prick.

And now Gareth just has to stand by watching as Steve goes over the paperwork on his new car. The one Gareth definitely isn't going to sell him. Keith made sure of it. 

Today's not his day. 

At least it's winding to a close, and when Eddie pulls up in the van, Gareth walks toward it, relieved to be done with Keith, Steve, and this job for another day.

But then he notices that Steve is following him. Which, weird. Surely he's not gonna kick his ass over a dumb mistake. He was just a little baked. That's all. 

Gareth pauses. And so does Steve. 

"What?" Gareth asks. 

"What, what?" Steve repeats. 

"Why are you following me?" Gareth asks.

"I'm not following you," Steve says, clearly following him.

"You are." 

"I'm not."

They're still arguing, this childish back and forth, when Eddie gets out and leans against the van. 

"Soooo, I see you've met," Eddie says.

And they both turn to look in his direction. 

"You know him?!" they both yell, in unison. 

And Eddie just cackles. 

"You set me up!" Gareth accuses, pointing at Eddie.

"Well, maybe. A little. But it was mainly Steve I was harassing." 

And then Gareth gets it. 

"This is your Steve?" Gareth asks, pointing at the preppy-looking motherfucker standing next to him.

Eddie nods, pleased with himself, clearly. 

"Eddie! You lost me my commission!"

Steve is rubbing his eyebrow, "Gareth. Shoulda realized. How common could that name be?"

He's muttering quietly and Gareth is scared they've broken him. 

Eddie must be pretty sure about this one, if he's already picking on him this goddamn hard. 

Steve snaps out of it, suddenly striding over towards Keith.

Gareth follows.

"Hey, Gareth was helping me first. He's the one I had the appointment with, so I'd like to finish this up with him. See it through."

"But, are you, I…" Keith splutters, not wanting to let this one go, obviously, and Gareth just grins and holds out his hand for the halfway filled-out lease. 

Keith hands it over, and Gareth leads Steve and Eddie back to his office.

Steve signs on the dotted line, and Gareth will be able to pay his rent for another month. And he hit his monthly bonus, right at the end of the month. Hot damn.

"Thanks, Steve," Gareth says, "Sorry we got off on the wrong foot."

Steve just lulls his head towards Eddie, "Now, we had a little help with that, didn't we?"

And Eddie just cackles, like the shitty troll he is.

If you want to write your own, or see more entries for this challenge, pop on over to @corrodedcoffinfest and follow along with the fun! 🦇

Notes: Inspiration for this one, was I saw this video a couple months ago, and had to track down the original on TikTok to share it here. But: Graham, Gareth. It made sense. (And I found there were updates to the Graham debacle!!)

[welldonebeca]

It's a Bad Idea, right? (19)

WC: 2k words Warnings: Tension. Fluff. Proposals.

"Stop moving," Betty grumbled, her fingers deftly working to place the pin in the perfect spot.

Wanda wanted to wear a new skirt and it was gorgeous, shiny, sexy… and a little bit too big.

Vision – yes, that was his nickname and it was weird - had texted her after Steffan said goodnight and left to go home, when Wanda was in the shower.

Betty already knew this wasn’t a common double-date, but his text was what set it in stone for her. He was going to propose. Which was why Betty was trying to be the best best friend she could be tonight.

She took Wanda to get her nails done, helped her pick out her outfit and pretended to be excited about it being the first time they were having a double date since becoming friends.

That was how little Betty dated, yes.

“Maybe I should wear something else,” Wanda pondered.

Vision had given her that skirt. It was poetic that she wore it.

“Bullshit,” she finished pining it. “I can fix this in five minutes.”

Betty unzipped her skirt and pulled it down carefully, moving to her sewing machine.

"Go do your makeup," she shooed Wanda away. "I'll be done by the time you're back."

Wanda walked off and Betty was quick to get to the sewing. She’d finished a full dress in two hours once, this wasn’t hard.

She really missed working with sewing, waiting tables wasn’t her dream.

When Wanda returned, the altered skirt looked fantastic on her.

"I'm almost ready," Betty told her. "I just need to find my shoes and check on Steffan. Are you sure it's fine if I ride with you and Vision?"

Steffan was still on his way from Manhattan and wouldn’t be able to drive her to the restaurant, so he wouldn’t be able to pick her up and take her to the restaurant together.

“It’s fine,” she assured her. “We are going to the same place.”

Betty put on her dress quickly, zipping it up and adjusting her hair quickly, fishing for her phone as she tried to find her shoes.

Where the hell were her heels?

Her fingers moved quickly over the screen after Steffan’s photo of traffic, though not quite looking at it at the point she had to type Vision’s name. The dude had a really weird name.

‘Hey, when you arrive, tell the hostess you’re joining the table with Vesper Stark’.

She saw the status changing to read before locking the phone again and moving to get her shoes from under the bed.

When she got her phone back, Steffan still hadn’t answered her text, which was a little bit weird but not that much. He was driving, after all.

Vision knocked on their door just as Betty finished dressing and she walked to the living room to see Wanda coming in with a bouquet of red dahlias, her favourite.

"Betty," he greeted. "Good evening."

“Evening,” she responded with a warm smile.

Vision was rich – more than rich, he was a billionaire nepo baby.

His father, Tony Stark, was a billionaire, philanthropist and reality star. He really liked the internet and people’s attention.

Vision was the stark – no pun intended – difference of him, discreet and quiet, never flaunting his money and status. He even worked in a real job – probably because his mother was never married to his father and had way less money and advantages in life. Doctor Banner was a really lovely woman, very smart and accomplished as a scientist, and Wanda really liked her.

Oh, he looked so nervous and antsy, Betty really hoped he would not let the secret out before the right time.

Wanda placed her flowers in a vase and turned to them, collecting her purse.

"Let’s go," she said. "We don’t want to be late."

Betty was a bit unease when she got to the car at the lack of an answer, but tried to hide it as she thanked Vision when he opened the door for her to get into the car before doing the same to Wanda.

Maybe she should call Steffan?

No, he had texted her just 15 minutes ago with the traffic. New York wasn’t too friendly to drive in a car these days, there were too many people trying to get around and thinking they were the only ones who had a place to be.

“What’s wrong?” Wanda buckled her seatbelt.

Betty forced herself to not look as worried as she was.

“Nothing,” she buckled her belt. “Just trying to check on Steffan, that’s all.”

An uneasy knot tightened in her stomach as she picked at the hem of her dress, her concern growing with each passing moment, but she tried to keep a light face and herself from worrying too much, checking her texts for Steffan, but there was nothing new to check on.

Texting more wouldn’t make a difference. If he had seen her text then he knew she had texted him!

But when by the second curve of the car, her stomach was in a twist.

Steffan never saw a text without answering it, even if with a little heart!

So she gave in, and called him. And she waited for him to pick up.

Was he alright? Had anything happened?

Maybe it was an emergency.

Did paramedics pick up calls during emergencies?

But no one picked up the call.

"He's probably caught up in traffic," Wanda spoke from her seat. "Don't worry too much. He'll join us soon."

Betty picked up at her nail, but stopped.

Stupid nail polish.

Vision parked, at last, and Wanda seemed confused.

“Veronika? I thought we were going to Bamonte’s,” she looked at him and then at Betty through the rear-view mirror. “Vision, Betty!”

Well, Veronika wasn’t exactly in her usually price range.

“It’s fine,” Betty assured her quickly. “I got some extra tips these last days. Don’t worry about me.”

Vision stopped the car, and a valet came to take it while Wanda was still looking at him like he was mad. It was adorable. Betty would have giggled if she wasn’t so worried.

The hostess took them to a table, and just as they sat down, her phone rang.

Steffan!

Betty picked it up without a second to spare or caring about her flaky phone cover in the most upscale restaurant she had even been to in her life.

“Hello?”

“Liebchen,” he exhaled, sounding relieved. “I’m so sorry.”

Her heart tightened in her chest.

Oh no.

Something had happened.

“What’s wrong? Are you alright?”

But he didn’t let her worry fester.

“My car broke down,” Steffan told her quickly. “I don’t know what’s wrong.”

She exhaled, feeling her body relaxed.

Oh, God. It was just his car!

“Oh, thank goodness,” she put a hand over her heart.

Wanda and Vision looked right at her, and her friend leaned a little closer to listen in.

“I’m so sorry for not answering sooner, I was trying to fix it,” Steffan explained. “I just called insurance, they said they’ll take 30 to 40 minutes to get here. I won’t make it to the restaurant, I’m sorry.”

Betty's tension eased. Okay, alright.

That was alright. As long as he was safe.

“Of course!” she confirmed. “Don’t worry, it’s fine.”

Steffan hummed on the other end, his uncertainty palpable.

“I’m really sorry. I’ll make up for it as soon as I can.”

Betty smiled, relieved.

“I know,” she assured him. “Don’t worry.”

“I’ll let you know when I’m home,” he told her. “I’ll leave you to enjoy the night.”

She nodded.

“Okay, bye.”

“Bye.”

She hung up and put her phone back and met Wanda’s eyes as her friend just stared expectantly at her.

“His car broke down,” Betty explained. “He didn’t answer my call because he was trying to fix it. He won’t make it tonight.”

Wanda deflated, smiling sadly.

“I’m so sorry, Betty.”

“It’s alright,” she assured her. “I can just...”

Betty crossed gazes with Vision, and he looked a bit lost.

“No,” he shook his head. “We can still enjoy dinner, don’t worry. My treat.”

Well, she knew that already, but Wanda didn’t.

“It’s fine,” she tried to argue back.

“I insist,” Vision interrupted her. “I invited you two here, after all.”

“Betty, please,” Wanda reached across the table for her hand, squeezing it. “Come on. Let’s enjoy it. It’s not always that we come to Veronika. Let’s just enjoy it.”

Betty exhaled, relaxing.

“Of course,” she agreed, at last. “Fine. Alright. I’m so sorry you’re third-wheeling for us, Vision.”

He laughed at her tease.

“You were here before me,” Vision assured her. “The least I can do is respect your position.”

She giggled, and Wanda leaned in his direction, placing a sweet kiss on his cheek and saying something in Sokovian, making him blush.

They got the ‘Salt Crusted Porterhouse’ for four, which was a delightful choice, accompanied by sides of mushrooms and broccolini. Betty allowed herself to savour a winter Syrah, and the conversation flowed lightly, considering the events preceding their dinner and what lay ahead.

When they finished eating and the waiter cleared their plates, Betty wasn’t surprised when the hostess approached instead of the waiter bearing the bill and the too-go bag.

“Excuse me, there’s been a problem,” she spoke, her gaze shifting among the three of them. “Can you follow me, please.”

Wanda’s face went pale, and she looked at Betty with big eyes, and turned to Vision, who looked positively spooked.

They followed her up the stairs and into a private room, and it was absolutely beautiful. The room had candles and fairy lights all around, and both Pietro and Doctor Banner were waiting inside, with a discreet pair of photographer by the side of a waiter with champagne.

Betty sneaked away from the couple and to Pietro’s side when Wanda was still looking around, shocked.

The intro to ‘Lover’ started playing, and Betty could just see her eyes tearing up as she realised what was going on, and the photographers were quick to capture it.

It was truly beautiful, honestly.

Vision knelt slowly, his eyes shining already with tears, and Wanda clasped her hands over her mouth.

"Wanda, I will never forget the first time I heard your beautiful voice and saw you. From the moment you entered my life, I knew I would never be able to live without you," he spoke, gently taking her hand. "These two years we've been together have only solidified that. You are the brightest, most beautiful, kind, and determined woman I've ever met. Everything you do is infused with passion. You are the most loyal of friends, the most resilient in the face of adversity, and possess the best sense of humour I've ever encountered."

Wanda sniffed and Betty blinked away her tears as she watched them. Oh, that was so beautiful.

"And I..." Vision continued, pausing to clear his throat, visibly moved himself. "I want to devote my life to giving you every reason to keep being yourself, to bloom and flourish. I want to grow old and wrinkly by your side and have the privilege of building a family with you. Wanda, I love you."

He put his hand in his pocket and finally pulled the little box from inside, opening it.

“Will you-”

"Yes," Wanda interrupted, her response swift and resolute. "A thousand times, yes."

He slipped the ring into her finger, and Wanda knelt right away to kiss him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders, holding in the tightest hugs.

Now, Betty knew very little Sokovian, but there was a phrase she knew the exact meaning.

“I love you, I love you, I love you,” Wanda was repeating as she held him.

Everyone else in the room clapped, and Betty winked at her friend when she turned to look at her, surprised and sniffing and crying softly.

“You knew it!” she accused her.

“Of course I knew it!” Betty walked to her. “You’d think I wouldn’t help plan your engagement?!”

Wanda wrapped her arms around her holding her tightly.

“Thank you,” she sniffed.

“Oh, shush,” Betty kissed her cheek. “I loved every second of it.”

Pietro put his hand on Betty back, and Wanda let her go, taking her brother in a big hug too.

“Let’s celebrate!” he announced aloud.

…

“it’s a Bad Idea, right?” was posted on my Patreon in September 2023. To have early access to it (and lots of other stories), consider subscribe to my page! It’s just $2 a month, and I know you won’t regret it!

…

Bad Idea: @peaceloveancolor

[authorsadiethatcher]

Summer is almost over. I'm writing this in the middle of the month, so we'll call this the State of the Thatcher Address for September and October. This post would have happened earlier, but I've been traveling, so there have been some delays.

With fall just about here, I'm wearing long sleeves more often and I keep having to check when sunset is to prevent getting caught out doing daylight activities in the dark.

I've got big plans for the next six weeks, not all of them bimbo related, but most of them writing related. Some projects I can talk about, others I can't. That's just how it is, but I'll share what I can.

A quick reminder that you can find my books on Amazon, Smashwords, Google Play Books, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and Everand. You can also read everything I’ve published under my Sadie Thatcher name since last May 2023 on Ream, which is a subscription platform built specifically for authors. You can check out my Ream page below.

Ream: https://reamstories.com/sadiethatcher

And speaking of Ream, I have a Ream exclusive novel called The Muse (extreme dollification) that is now complete. I’ve made the first three chapters available for free. All you have to do is sign up as a follower at the link above to get a taste of my first real story that is too extreme for Amazon. I'm thinking about writing another Ream exclusive, but I haven't had any ideas for it yet.

I also post the occasional bit of flash fiction for followers on Ream. I have one up already and plan to post another one this week. As soon as I’m inspired, I’ll add a new mini-story to Ream.

On the Libby Feron front, my fantasy writing has stalled. I have shiny object syndrome. I keep getting new ideas that distract me before I can finish anything. I'm back to wanting to write a series of novellas. I also am committed to writing Astra's first book this fall. Hopefully it all comes together soon. Since I don’t talk about my fantasy writing often, checking out https://libbyferon.com/ and signing up for the email newsletter is the best way to stay informed. At some point, there will be a free novella offered.

Now it’s time to talk about what to expect in the near future. I've finished two series already this month with The Stranger and Gullible. The omnibus of the latter was just submitted for publishing. And I've released the first book in the Country Club Series about an exclusive country club that wants a certain type of member and will brainwash people to fit the club culture rather than change to be more acceptable.

There are also several series that I haven't started yet, but will appear in the next six weeks or so. There's a series about a woman who gets turned on by being bullied and she lets the bully turn her into a bimbo as she gets off on it all. Then there is the yearly set of Halloween themed stories. None of these are fully thought out yet.

In addition to bullies and Halloween, it's also football season, and I have a football player TG story planned. Again, no details set in stone, but the football player will likely become a cheerleader. Or maybe there will be some sort of powderpuff game. I'm not quite sure yet. And finally, the end of October will feature the beginning of a breastaurant bimbo series.

So it's going to be an exciting and full few weeks. The season is changing.

[eartheats]

//ooc post but god. for my own sake, i'm organizing and trying to set some hard dates for some events. i'm also looking for some volunteers, specifically BBA adjacent for one of them and just in general for the second! i need to stop keeping plots in my head.

no cws up until the third bullet point, where there is talk of kidnapping (successful attempts on adults, failed attempt on a teen), violence (to adults and to a teen), murder (of an adult and only an adult), mind control, and other evil team shit on the horizon. be forewarned! the final bullet point will be in very high stakes territory, given that noriko fully intends to try and end the world, but feel free to ignore if that isn't your jam. live your lives besties <3

(mid-may ETA): Bouton evolution arc. I need to find someone or multiple someones to bother with a very nosy Roselia who is trying to find a shiny stone, and may potentially steal something sparkly thinking that it's what it needs. If anyone wants to volunteer for this lmk, but I can just as easily borrow Carmine for this if nothing else! (CLAIMED)

(may!): Ren goes back to Zapapico! Temporarily. Jacques is going to get his grand festival trophy from Sinnoh and quietly retire. Ren's going to be in Zapapico and getting used to life back home for a lil while.

(early june through august): I wanna work in the Iron Crown sighting/healing arc I have in the works, because while Ren's not going to CATCH the paradox, it's going to be something that works alongside any volunteers for taking care of Noriko's evil team resurgence. Mostly as extra assurance for them to lose! Tatiana reconciliation Arc will probably take place around here too. basically, if anyone wants involvement with zapapico/ren just in a general context, feel free!

(start of september) Ren goes back to Blueberry! Madison and Jacques will be posting some of notes they find from Noriko, which will have some involvement IC if desired since I'll be using Caesar Ciphers to scramble shit up if anyone wants to play detective. :3c They'll also briefly be around to post on Ren's blog/answer questions!

(mid september) The final batch of notes is found and translated, and the opening to Noriko's secret base of operations is opened! But Madison/Jacques are going to end up kidnapped here by Iori, an admin in Noriko's Neo Flare stuff and actually a faller from Hisui! She'll be available to interact with for at least a day. <3 Design coming soon, I need to figure out her nonsense.

(also mid september) yeah so ren is. escaping the academy, even if it tries to keep them constrained. they are going to be meeting their mom on the remains of cinnabar island, where one confrontation may take place. please keep in mind if you try to do a ren rescue party, it is going to fail. (very specifically for ren) it has to fail for the next leg of the plot, but i AM potentially considering getting carmine in on this mess and getting her injured in the process, and while there, noriko is definitely going to think about taking her too so that her kid has a friend. which. yeahno. this one is influenceable, but is MUCH more likely to fail, so if anyone wants to big damn heroes carmine you have my full permission 👍👍👍 save that girl! (CARMINE SAVING IS HANDLED BY THE GIRLFRIEND BLESS)

as a small aside: would anyone like to get ren's very stressed out team to take care of for a bit? noriko's a lot of things but she's not a monster, if anyone wants to take care of the team for a bit/potentially use them against lotus :3c it may be. interesting! (CLAIMED for now)

(october-november? maybe) noriko's neo team flare shit (name pending) will emerge proper and try to be as evil teammy as possible! ren is going to be a mind controlled admin named lotus and have none of their actual pokemon! shit's going to be bad, but! while it might take a bit to organize some losses for them and i may mostly leave that to anyone who wants to fix this mess (we can either handwave or actually play them out, preference to whoever volunteers), but there's gonna be one event specific for camille, one for iori, one for lotus (which can influence how the big admin battle goes), and then what i'm hoping to be a siege on the base. this one i have ways to bullshit a win (for the good guys!!) for, but i wanna see what people come up with, too!

and by the new year, everyone should be recovering, and that'll be the end of team neo flare at least! the rest of the event will decide everyone else but ren's fate. they will end up coming back fine from this, but it's gonna be rough :')

so yeah. basic rubric and very changeable (i gotta ask some players some stuff and things), my only real rule is no instant wins/legendary spam/godmodding really? i want this to be fun but i want it to feel like an actual uphill battle a bit, and i'm still trying to build toward that. this could even be pushed out into 2025, depending, but! yeah!!!

idk if anyone has questions feel free to leave 'em on this post and i will try to get to them when my brain isn't a mess because of retail or other stuff 👍

volunteers (for my ref)

@/suddenlyauntiemaya (bouton evolution arc!!! pushing this one back for this :3b)

@/little-guys-pokemon-central

@/elite-amarys (CARMINE'S SAVIOR!!!)

@/goindownswingin

@/professor-amaryllis (ren rescue party!)

@/electricalflre

@/bee-bee-kyuu (ren rescue party!)

temporary team-ups/team holding:

lulu the orthworm: going to @/professor-amaryllis!

bouton the roserade: @/professor-amaryllis! teaming up to bring lotus back to their senses/back to being ren :3c

coriander the ferrothorn: available! she is not a battling pokemon and is. going to be about as stressed and anxious as lulu, as a warning.

soba the furret: @/bee-bee-kyuu! will be very determined and ready for a fight.

harusame the huntail: available! will also be very determined though a lot more emotional.

any pokemon who is not taken will likely be taken in by amy, and lulu is going to be going to amy instead by default for planning purposes~

[apolloendymion]

emergency divination readings!🃏🔮☕💎🕯️

tarot, runes, tea leaves, pendulum, and crystals!

(info on my situation here)

for $5, you may choose one of the following:

single card or rune (see deck options below)

tea leaf reading

crystal chip scattering (see crystal list below)

pendulum reading (see pendulum options below)

add-ons:

additional cards/runes [$1 each]

my cat will choose your card(s)/rune(s) (see cat pic & bio below) [$2]

my dog will choose your card(s)/rune(s) (see dog pic & bio below) [$2]

I'll recommend a deity/spiritual entity to guide you based on your query and results; you may ask for an entity from a specific culture if you'd like (open practices only!) [$5]

please dm me with proof of payment, your choice of divination method, any add-ons or preferences, and a clear, single-sentence query. you may provide extra context to assist with the reading. tips and dona.tions appreciated.

🕯️ vnm 🃏 cshpp 🔮 gfndme ☕

options and photos of my equipment (& cute pets!) beneath the cut:

deck options:

standard smith-waite: tiny (smaller than a US quarter), pocket size (comparable to a business card), and standard size

nonstandard smith-waite: the somnia tarot by nicolas bruno (incredible photography project. eerie, dreamlike, liminal, yet the physical props give it a more grounded, tangible feel than your average deck.), the tattoo tarot (stunning art, if you like clean but complex designs, classic playing card artwork, or traditional western tattoo art, this deck will really resonate with you.), the literary tarot (each card depicts classic literary characters from around the world; deck sales benefited charity. my personal favorite. every detail is carefully crafted to appeal to book lovers. elaborate, shiny, magical. also they gave odysseus top surgery scars)

specialty decks: the caretaker (@cryptotheism, formerly @normal-horoscopes)'s normal tarot deck (completely original oracle deck, feels liminal and dark, but somehow peaceful; great for someone pondering deep mysteries or looking for advice in hard times), moreno & quijada's sonoran tarot (smith-waite's major arcana only; stunning and vibrant watercolors of sonoran desert wildlife. really showcases the power and wonder of the natural world. local purchase from indie artists who I've personally met)

if you'd like me to use a specific tarot spread template, please let me know. otherwise i will choose the best option for your query + number of cards. you can also pick a spread mat, if you like! you don't need to purchase enough cards to fill the mat; i can get creative with the placement. just let me know if you want the floral mat or the bunny mat:

other options:

pendula: metal (this was a gift and i don't know what it's made of; brass maybe? gold in color.), howlite, glass beads with sea turtle scene

crystal chips: red jasper, various quartz, flourite, lapis lazuli, lace agate, tigers eye, sunstone, sodalite, bismuth. all stones can be thrown, or you/i can choose 5-10 specific stones that resonate with your query.

runes: elder futhark, white clay, handmade. wyrd optional.

my kitty cat, nachtus:

nacht came into my life through my current girlfriend, who has had him since he was born. every time she went into the room with his litter, he scrambled up her pant leg like he knew she would be his favorite person. he's about 2 years old now, and loves cuddles, belly rubs, q-tips, waking up our boyfriend in the middle of the night, bothering people while they're gaming, and sitting on my gf's shoulder like a parrot.

my puppy dog, misha:

misha came into my life through my current boyfriend, who has had him since he was a puppy. he was a rescue, along with his brother oakley, who went with my boyfriend's sister. misha is a chug (chihuahua-pug mix) and is estimated to be around 8 years old. he loves cuddles, being swaddled in blankets, barking at strangers, lying on the softest pillows he can find, and zoomies!

thanks so much for taking the time to read this. it means more than you know.

[violettduchess]

Violet! I hope you're taking care and drinking plenty of water! If not I'll steal your kneecaps <3

I don't know if that's okay (if not feel free to ignore) but I wanted to know if you'd be okay with this request?

Yesterday I came home from ballet really sad because I work really hard to get good parts, and this time I didn't get it :,) So I felt really shitty and like a total failure. And I wanted to know if you could maybe write a small headcanon of how Chevalier, Yves and Light would comfort a MC in my situation?

No pressure, take your time and looking forward to this!

A/N: Sweet Marie, I hope I was able to do this justice and I hope you remember that while it may not have worked out this time, there is always another part waiting for you @maries-gallery 💜

Suitors x f! reader

WC: 1777

You sit in front of the window, staring out at the bright blue sky, wondering how such a beautiful color can exist when the world inside your heart feels so cold and gray. The window seat offers you a stunning view of gently rolling hills, green as emeralds, soft as silk. But even that doesn’t move you. Listless, you raise your arm to touch the cool glass, the ache in your muscles reminding you with every movement how hard you worked. Dancing through the evening and into the hushed hours of early morning, your feet blistered and sore, your body vibrating under the strain of continuation. And yet you pushed on, your mind conquering all as you focused on how it would feel to have a hundred pairs of eyes following you. You, storyteller without words, the embodiment of emotion, lifting hearts and bringing people to their feet with tears in their eyes and gasps on their lips. All you needed was to be given a chance….

But despite your blood (literally your feet bleeding through every step), sweat (your body crying under your determined, exhaustive training), and tears (please, please, please pick me….)

You were not chosen. 

And your heart feels like it is breaking under the weight of disappointment. Some dreams do not come true. Sometimes you do your best….and it is not enough. 

Your ballet shoes now lie on the floor, haphazardly tossed there when you stumbled into your room, struggling to draw air into your lungs, your chest heavy with the lead weight of failure. 

You're so enveloped in your misery, you don’t notice the opening of the door:

Licht

The sight of you in pain alarms him. He notices the slope of your body, the way you are curved inwards, away from the world, eyes glassy with tears yet to fall. The recognition is instant. He knows when a body is holding tight to something harmful. Your treasured dance shoes lay on the floor, their ribbons messy and tangled. They tell him all he needs to know about how your audition went.

He walks over to you, sliding his hands over your hunched shoulders. “Come with me?” It’s a question, not a command. He would never demand anything of you. Because it’s him, because you love him so, you force yourself to rise, using the grip of his hand on yours as a lifeline that keeps you following him, through the palace, out through a heavy wooden side door, into the fresh spring air, towards the stables. 

He slips off his coat and helps you put it on, oversized as it may be. He smiles softly at the sight of you in his colors, reaching up to adjust the collar tenderly before he disappears into the stables. A few moments later you find yourself seated atop his favorite horse, her shiny, pale mane almost silver in the spring sunlight. Licht is behind you, holding the reins, keeping you cradled within the circle of his arms, keeping you safe.

He urges the horse forward with a click of his tongue, a urgent squeeze of his legs and you’re moving, away from the palace, away from the stone walls and curated garden, through the iron gate. And then you’re flying, the world bursting into streaks of green grass and above you, an endless reel of wild blue sky. Your heart gathers itself, rising with every hoofbeat that thunders across the earth, healing as the wind whips through your hair, your laughter erupting from within, unbridled and joyful.

As wild as the ride feels, Licht has complete control over the animal, making sure you are safe as you gallop across the stunning hillside. You continue laughing, bright and loud, and he smiles as the brilliant sound tumbles through the air. All he wanted to was to make you happy again and he believes he can call this a success.

Yves

No, this cannot be. No. He will not accept the sight of you, head in hands, silent tears streaming down your face as you lean against the cold glass of the window. There must be something he can do. He closes the door to your room without announcing his presence and stalks his way to the one place he believes he will be able to make a difference.

The kitchen has a few staff members lingering as they work on dinner but they stay out of his way, used to him being down there with them when he is struck with the urge to cook or bake. Now he is working with razor-sharp focus as he searches for the ingredients he needs: creamy butter, the sweetest, reddest strawberries, milk, sugar, flour. 

He works with the concentrated precision of a man on a mission. The kitchen staff can only watch in awe as he chops and mixes, kneads and stirs. A streak of white flour decorates his cheek, his fingertips are red with strawberry juice. On a whim he takes a handful of round, succulent blueberries, adding them to his creation. Time is measured in spoonfuls and ticks away with the chopping-sound of his knife. He has no idea how long he’s been working but when the clock strikes five and the kitchen is filled with the alluring smell of strawberry, he knows he is finished.

He selects only the most perfect tart, the golden brown one with its perfect yellow custard, decorates it with tempting red strawberries and one perfect blueberry. Setting it on a small, shell-shaped white plate, he adds several deep green mint leaves on the side, wanting the plate to look beautiful. Then, with the plate in one hand and a cup of warm tea in the other, he makes his way back towards your room. He knocks with his elbow and it takes you longer than usual to open but when you do, he’s rewarded by the light of surprise in your eyes. “Yves?”

He brushes past you, walking to the bed where he sets the tart and tea down on your nightstand and motions for you to come join him. Curiosity wins over melancholy and you do as he asks, sitting down on the edge of the bed. “Well, go on. Try it.” He gestures toward the tart, the white ruffle of his sleeve flapping like a tiny flag in the wind.

You reach over, immediately noticing the beautiful plating, the care with which he arranged something so simple. The silver fork breaks the crust with an audible crunch and warm custard and strawberry filling spill out, the scent heavenly. You slide your fork under the filling and lift, his blue-eyed gaze following every small movement. 

“Oh……” That’s all you can manage. Strawberry tarts are your favorite and he knows it. You can taste the effort he made to produce something that would bring you joy. There is love in every crumb, affection in every sweet forkful. He has taken what he has trouble putting into words and turned it into something palatable. The sweetness of his gesture fills you with a warmth that lifts your heavy heart. Turning, you lean over to place a strawberry-flavored kiss right on his cheek. “Thank you.”

His adorable pink blush is all the answer you need.

Chevalier

The first thing he notices are your beloved dance shoes, tossed to the side instead of carefully nestled in the box they belong in. You would never leave them in such a state unless….he raises his gaze to you, noting the way you are leaning sadly against the window, your face pale and tear-streaked. He steps further into the room and you hear him, jumping as you quickly try to rub the tell-tale tears away from your cheeks and eyes. You know it’s useless, he will already have seen them and knows what happened but it’s a reflex, a knee-jerk reaction to getting caught so steeped in sadness. He sits down slowly on the end of your bed, silent as he runs his gaze over you. It is a few moments before he finally speaks: “Dance for me.” 

His words send a jolt through your sore muscles, surprise spreading its wings and taking flight. “Sorry?” “Dance for me.” He will not repeat himself again. His words are clear, cut as precisely as diamonds. 

It’s the last thing you want to do. And yet your body is moving. You gather your dance shoes and slowly lace them with trembling fingers. The woolen shawl slips from your shoulders and ends up clinging perilously to the edge of the window seat. Your bedroom is large enough for you to perform the same dance from earlier today, if modified slightly. Hesitation snakes its way through you, your arms shaking as you struggle to raise them above your head. “Close your eyes.” His words brook no argument, cutting off the head of the snake with swift certainty. Drawing in a deep breath, your eyes close slowly. It takes a second. But then...you can hear the soft music in your mind and then your body knows what to do.

You move through the dance as easily as a swimmer through water. The bedroom melts away into the darkness of your vision and you float, your body taking you through the journey that is dance. A reed in the wind, you bend and turn, rising and falling to the music. You become something more than simply a human. You transcend the very limits of what that means as your body becomes pliant clay in the hands of emotion. You are joy. You are yearning. You are sorrow. And then, the music fades into the darkness like the glittery, tail-end of a comet streaking across a black velvet sky.

Blinking, you return to yourself, slowly lifting your body from the deep bow it ended in. Chevalier has not moved, not one millimeter. You find yourself caught by the deep blue of his eyes, a small ship drifting in that endless blue. As the silence stretches on, you feel a heat rising to your cheeks. It must have been worse than you feared.

“That was perfect.” 

Your lips part in surprise and the light returns to your eyes. “Really?” He leans forward, reaching out for your hand. You place yours in his, his strong fingers curling around you, pulling you towards him. He settles you onto his lap, holding you firmly in his arms. “Are you questioning your King?” There it is. Your smile. The one he knew he had to find again. The gray fog of sadness dissolves completely as you wrap your arms around him, laying your head on his shoulder. “No,” you finally answer, relishing the feel of his embrace. “Good,” he murmurs, uncharacteristic gentleness threaded through his words as he turns his head to press a kiss to your forehead. “Only a simpleton would do so.”

Tagging: @aquagirl1978 @alixennial @alexxavicry @queengiuliettafirstlady @rhodolitesrose @ikemen-writer @bellerose-arcana @thewitchofbooks @redheadkittys @dear-mrs-otome @firestar-otomeobsessed @curious-skybunny @kpop-and-otome @writingwhimsey @mxrmaid-poet @silver-dahlia @wendolrea @otomefoxystar @nightfoxqueen @myonlyjknight @queen-dahlia @aceuuuuu @scorchieart @bubblexly

[cheemken]

Hi! So I just recently got interested in your Pokemon Champion body swap AU and I just have lots of questions to ask you if that's alright (if you're still into pokemon that is.)

1. How do the Paldea kids, Alola kids, Galar kids and the Unova protagonist and the other Unova characters who were with Steven at Reversal Mountain at that time (Plus Cheren and Bianca) think about the body swap? One by one?

2. How does the pokemon league of each region think about the body swap? One by one? This is also includes the gym leaders themselves.

3. How does the signature pokemon of the champions react to the body swap? How do they help their respective trainers?

4. What was the reaction of each Champion when they are in each other's bodies? Their thoughts, feelings and how they cope? Especially Geeta since she is in the body of Hau and Hau is a god damn child. Or Iris since she is in a body of an adult, Geeta? And even Hau in the body of Lance or Steven in the body of Iris who I think is a 12 year old? Man, the age differences here. And don't get me started on both the gender and body dysmorphia and complications some of the champions will have to face.

That's all I would like to ask. Just take your time answer my questions. I will wait🥰

Hi hey, it has been such a long ass while since I last posted abt pkmn omf😭🤣

But happy to have you here, I'm glad you like my silly little au, and I'm sorry it took a while for me to answer too, I just got home cbmddn

Anyways to finally answer your questions hahah

1] the Unova kids, well, kids as if they're not adults in my hcs and aus hahaha, I'll answer that around the third one don't worry, but yeah ofc, Hilbert noticed first, bc hey, Iris doesn't usually show interest in shiny rocks, only if it has smth to do w dragons, ofc he knows what his best friend likes

I think Bianca would notice second tho, cause ofc, Iris was usually so clingy to her, and would listen to her ramble on abt her research, but surprisingly, Iris was caught up in her own world, finding some rare rocks and stones

And soon, she told Cheren, who then told Hilda, and now they're all a bit sus bc Hilbert is like, glaring at Iris lmfaooo

Steven ended fessing up bc he was so damn sure Hilbert was abt to throw hands w him, demanding where Iris was

The Paldea kids, oh, Penny knew immediately lmfao. Geeta, while not the best at technology, had some semblance of knowledge abt it, Iris, however, is like a grandma trying to figure out the buttons, look, she and Drayden are both shit at tech cut them some slack, it's actually canon lmfaooo

Penny did play along tho, see if Florian and the others would notice too. But w them caught up w their own stuff, and Iris trying to figure out shit, well, Penny went over to her and asked her if she really isn't Geeta. Bc she knows Geeta's smile, that's not how Geeta smiles bc for once it didn't unsettle her lmfao

Iris said yeah she's not Geeta, and told Penny to not tell anyone, and help her get back to Unova, or maybe figure out what's going on. Penny sighed, god, she always gets dragged to these kinda things, but damn it was it thrilling lmfao

The Galar kids, I think none of them would notice it was Diantha in Leon's place now, bc ofc, Dia is quite a great actress. The ones who noticed immediately tho? Sonia and Raihan

I think that's when Diantha slipped

Sonia, for one, bc she noticed the loneliness in those eyes again, she never thought she'd see it again on Leon, and she ended up asking abt it, if he's doing okay, if Rose suddenly showed up again, or smth happened. Dia kinda slipped and said she misses her brother and Drasna, voice so quiet that you have to be real close to hear it. Sonia asked what was that, but Dia shook her head, said it's nothing, just,, champion responsibilities. No, Sonia did not at all believe that

Raihan figured out it wasn't exactly Leon bc Dia slipped during a battle and almost said Psychic instead of Fire Blast lmfao, that and after that battle, he also saw her, ofc in Leon's body, almost head to the women's restroom lmfaoooo

2] okay let's be real, the Indigo league would immediately find out it's not Lance bc Hau, as chill as he is, is still rather young and this is the first time this has happened and he started to panic the moment they gave him paperwork

And soon enough, Clair is there calling every other league if they found Lance and if their champions are also alright. Karen was there trying to calm Hau down tho

The Hoenn League, yeah, Lance and Cynthia aren't fooling anyone. Plus, Tate and Liza figured out and just deadass told everyone else lmfao. Cynthia did reassure Lisia tho that they'll get Wallace back, and she apologized to her for trying to trick her into thinking she's actually Wallace. Lisia just looked at her and smiled and said "yeah, I kinda figured, Ms Cynthia. My uncle never burns anything when he cooks, even when he's sick." Cynthia vowed to never talk to any member of this family again girl this is just humiliating at this point lmfao

Sinnoh league, oh, they took a while to figure out it's actually Wallace, but y'know how they figured it out? Gardenia took "Cynthia" out for some treats at a cafe, and Cynthia will always, always, order cake and hot chocolate, but Wallace ordered tea and Gardenia just "yeah, no, who the FUCK—" she immediately messaged the group chat. Candice, Gardenia, Roark, Flint, and even Volkner found it funny tho

Unova, well, yeah, after the events of Reversal Mountain, Stevene just straight up told the league bc he is NOT risking both Hilbert and Drayden's wrath lmfaooo

Kalos, honestly, Leon is a shit actor, he slipped the second day and Drasna was just "oh, dear.. then where is Diantha?" Sycamore kinda,,, resents him, low-key, like really low-key, cause ofc that family dinner w Drasna and Dia, he really thought it was Dia, for once their family was together after Diantha's busy schedule, but now he finds out it wasn't actually Diantha. Drasna was also a bit sad, but honestly she's more worried for Diantha cause during all that, they probs don't know where she actually is

Alola, yeah, Geeta's also not fooling anyone, they really really really had to calm Hala down and stop him from storming to Paldea bc he thought his grandson would be there in Geeta's own body. Geeta was calm through it all, even chuckled and said it is rather amusing, but, she has already contacted the other champions, perhaps they have the solution for this. The kids did ask her abt her league tho, and abt Paldea, and what the region was like, they'd want to visit there some day. Geeta told them she has a protege there, close to their age, perhaps they'll meet Nemona one day, she is looking for trainers on par w her

Galar, yeah Dia is actually fooling all of them except ofc, Sonia and Raihan. Idk I don't think those two would tell anyone just yet, I think they did ask Dia what's going on, and Dia finally told them and even she's not sure how this happened, and she's still trying to figure out how to get back to her body bc of all the bodies she could've switched w, it just had to be Leon's

Paldea, Iris also isn't fooling anyone. Well, she's kinda fooling some of them, she and Hau impersonated some of the champions enough, and w Dia's acting lessons, well, she learned a thing or two. Then again, Penny was observant, Larry did notice too, he just, well, he isn't getting paid enough to care. Their champions come and go anyways, when asked abt why Geeta seems a bit off he'd just said "I don't know, do I look like her babysitter? That's one job I didn't applied for."

3] Dragonite, ah what a tough and terrifying dragon, he's so soft w Hau. Like, he knows that Hau is getting nervous, and it reminded him when Lance was also just a boy, when he tries so hard to act tough, so he's there nuzzling close to Hau, calming him down too

Metagross, ofc, it's a smart Mon, it knows it's Lance lmfao, but also, just to mess w Lance bc of how gruff his personality is, a far cry from Steven's, it often won't listen to him, y'know, just to fuck w him a bit lol

Milotic, oh, this one is as petty as Wallace, immediately found out it's Cynthia and just. Would Not listen lmfaooo

Garchomp, also figured out it's Wallace, yes it's bc of the tea thing, but unlike Milotic, Chomps is more confused than anything cause smth like this didn't even happen when they were in the Distortion world

Haxorus, she honestly pities Steven at this point, man is being interrogated like a Plasma grunt😭🤣

Gardevoir, well, ofc she tries to play along, but I think day one she figured it out it's not Diantha, and had some mental conversation w Leon going "Where is Diantha?" And Leon is never ever forgetting that deep foreboding voice ever, he never thought that's what Gardevoir even sound like w a human voice, he still shivers at the thought

My ace for Hau in this is Decidueye, I think Deci would be at least a lil bit intimidated w Geeta, tho it did find it amusing when Geeta tried a Z Move, especially w Mallow teaching her

Charizard, also a lil bit intimidated of Dia, but hey, Dia was also soft y'know, she gave him pokepuffs and he got attached real quick lmfao

Look look listen I know Geeta's ace is Glimmora, but in my hcs, it's Kingambit, bc it fits and it should've been him at the start and I will die on this hill. Anyways, he's also a lil bit weirded out at seeing Iris in Geeta's body bc ofc, they both have drastic personalities, and when he saw Iris sneaking out to get ice cream he actually blanched before he remember ah yeah, that's not his trainer hahaha

4] see, okay, while yeah, the age difference is a bit odd, but in my hcs I did change their ages and such, mainly bc when I write my hcs and aus, it's mostly set in like some timeskip after the events of each game y'know. So Hau is at least 15-17, while Iris is in her early 20s, so technically Iris is an adult

But yeah the gender dysphoria is so real, I think w Cynthia especially, bc for one, girl is trying her hardest to keep her life in check in her own body yeah, but w my hcs she's like, yeah she's not doing well, like, her left eye is scarred, her body was too thin, sometimes she forgets even the most basic of things, but Wallace's body was so different from hers. Sometimes she thinks this is what she could've been if she didn't spiral y'know, and during the time of the body swap, she kept thinking abt it. One of the few moments Milotic would actually be nice to her tho, as if reassuring her that hey, she's making an effort, and that's better than nothing

Geeta will admit tho, she did miss having a younger body, and wow was Hau flexible, Geeta wasn't that flexible when she was younger lmfao

But yeah I'm sorry but I'm not gonna talk much abt the body dysphoria lest I spiral too hahaha

Anyways yeah hahah

[pure-garbage]

Robin The Matchmaker? Meddling Antics Of The Archaeologist

Robin was getting tired of watching Zoro and Lana dance around their feelings.

'These two are impossible... they're both so forward, yet somehow both too shy to make the first move.'

Robin saw all the stolen glances: the way Lana studied Zoro's figure while he was napping, yearning silently from afar. Zoro was hardly any better, eyes wandering constantly, hungrily over Lana's form while they trained. Neither had yet caught the other staring, but Robin observed all the subtleties, the pieces of the larger picture both pirates seemed blind to. It could be hard to see the forest for the trees, especially from within the depths of the woods.

'Knife or sword, the sexual tension between these two is getting so thick, either of them could cut it,' Robin observed with growing impatience.

"Nami, do you know how long we'll be docked here?" Robin asked. The island was uninhabited, but her practiced eye had spied signs of the abandoned vestiges civilization up and down the coast.

"Hard to say... judging by this pose, my best guess is a day or two," Nami mused, fretting a bit as she studied the fluctuating needle on her wrist.

"That's perfect," Robin smiled. "I thought I saw the remains of some stone structures. I'm going ashore to investigate."

"Fine, but knowing Luffy and Sanji, we'll end up having another beach barbeque once they find out we're not sailing again immediately," Nami pointed out. "When that madness begins, you can just follow the smoke to find us. We won't be far from the Merry."

"We'll see."

Robin packed provisions, then approached Lana. The lockbreaker was pretending to hone her knife, but her gaze was fixed to Zoro as usual.

"You're coming with me," Robin announced.

"Uh... I am? Where to?" Lana asked, putting the balisong away.

"Ashore. I'm going exploring and I could use an assistant."

"Hm, okay then. I'll grab a pack," Lana shrugged.

"You too, swordsman!" Robin called.

Zoro opened one eye, betraying the fact that he hadn't really been asleep against the mast.

"Can't," he grumbled. "Too tired."

"I wasn't asking. We don't know anything about this island. Lana and I might run afoul of something or someone nefarious."

"Tsh! Fine, I guess," he conceded.

'I suspected it wouldn't take long to convince him after I threw in Lana's name,' Robin smirked secretly, altogether pleased with herself.

Zoro rowed them to shore while Lana showered Robin with questions about archaeology and what they might expect to find on the island.

"One never can tell until they've found it,"Robin replied cryptically.

"Rocks, moss and old, useless buildings," Zoro sighed with a roll of his eyes. "I might as well stay with the boat."

"But maybe you'll miss something exciting!" Lana grinned. "Traps... treasure... wild animals! We could bring some meat back to the ship, maybe something shiny for Nami!"

"I doubt it," Zoro insisted, clinging to his grumpiness. "Meat, maybe."

"You're such a drag," Lana teased, unfazed.

"Just being realistic."

"Come on," Robin urged them, heading uphill from the coast. "I just want a peek... if you two get bored you can head back any time."

"Don't see why I would," Lana said as they followed Robin into thicker tree cover. "The ship's not much more interesting today."

"Not yet. Just wait til Luffy wakes up from his nap," Zoro pointed out.

"That could take a while. He was up all night letting Chopper and Usopp tie him in knots," Lana chuckled.

"I wondered why they were being so loud."

"Yeah, right? It kept me up for a while too."

"You're not tired?"

"Nah, I'll be fine. You?"

"I could go for a nap," Zoro yawned.

"Maybe you can take one at the ruins," Lana suggested. "If Robin finds writing of any kind, it'll keep her busy for a while."

"Maybe so."

Robin smiled, letting the pair fall a ways behind her while they talked.

'Today's the day,' she thought with sly excitement. 'All they need is a little push...'

They reached the ruins of what had once been the center of the island's activity. Robin could tell at a glance there was actually nothing ancient or mysterious here. The abandoned town had been left willingly, over time and in an organized fashion. It laid its story bare to Robin's knowing gaze with little resistance. She still listened with keen interest to the history it shared with overgrown enthusiasm, but she was more focused on the reason she'd come ashore to begin with.

'This area is overgrown with vines... perfect for concealing a flower or too,' Robin thought sneakily.

"Ooh, what's that?" Robin exclaimed craftily. She dashed ahead, leaving her shipmates behind swiftly.

"What?" Lana responded eagerly, taking off after her. Robin didn't let her go a full step.

'Un Fleur...'

Lana yelped, feeling something snag her ankle. She started to fall, but Zoro jumped in, catching her before she could hit the ground. He spent a brief moment supporting her weight, one hand resting on her stomach and one on her arm.

"Careful," he cautioned. "Lots of vines here."

Lana turned to face him, grabbing his arms to steady herself.

'Perfect!' Robin thought.

"Yeah, I'll- hey!"

"Huh!"

Robin quickly looped a vine around Zoro's foot and tugged, sending them both toppling to the ground in a heap.

"Zoro! What happened?" Lana demanded, struggling under his weight.

"Think I slipped... these damn vines are everywhere," Zoro reasoned.

"Yeah, they've got my wrist," Lana grumbled.

"My ankles, too. We fell hard, you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm... I'm fine."

It occurred suddenly to Lana that the way they'd landed was a close call to being a rather intimate pose.

'He- he's right on top of me!'

Her pounding heart skipped a beat and her cheeks flushed. The sensation of his body on hers sent an electric thrill pulsing out from her gut, momentarily overruling her embarrassment.

"H-how about you? Guess I kind of broke your fall," she managed.

"Uh... yeah, actually," he mumbled, falling prey to a blush that matched hers as he too realized just how close together they were. "Sorry."

"S'fine."

"Lemme... I can help with this stupid vine," he offered, tugging it off her wrist.

"Thanks. Your ankle, maybe I can-"

"I got it, just-"

There was a stone digging uncomfortably into Lana's back. She pushed up onto her elbows to escape it, not anticipating how close the action would put their faces. She gasped sharply at the proximity, eyes going wide as his left the vines looped around his feet to meet hers. His eyes were dark and intense, pupils dilated way wider than they should have been from a simple fall.

'She's... not in a hurry to pull away,' Zoro observed inwardly, heartbeat speeding up while he felt her breath come faster. The pink flush of her cheeks deepened further as they both froze for a few breathless seconds, each waiting on the other to move first.

'Is... is he gonna kiss me?' Lana wondered, struggling to find another reason he might be lingering so long.

Zoro was indeed tempted to press his lips to Lana's, but the same question plagued him still.

'Would she mind if I did?'

Over Lana's shoulder, Zoro caught a glimpse of Robin in the flower pose, watching them intently from around the corner of a dilapidated building. His eyes narrowed, suspicions mounting as he replayed the fall in his mind.

'I didn't slip. Something pulled me.'

"Come on," he grunted, pushing off Lana and helping her back onto her feet. Robin vanished around the corner, leaving the pair alone.

"I'll watch my step more closely," Lana sighed sheepishly.

"Yeah, weird terrain around here," Zoro agreed, eyes fixed to the spot where their crewmate had disappeared. "Let's catch up to Robin. After you..."

______________________________________________________

<== Previous Chapter

Next Chapter ==>

== First Chapter ==

[wanderlust-writings]

Well here we are again. Another day has past and the comforting blankness of the evening has once again fallen.

I'm trying to write as much as I can. I know you think that should be incredibly easy but I'm here to inform you that couldn't be farther from the case. Now there are some circumstance that are unique to me such as having a, at times, debilitating chronic illness, an autistic brother who requires my attention at times, the increasingly annoying fact that I still live with my family which can lead to numerous distractions--just to name a few.

Beyond that this world is so busy. I feel like I'm on one of those spinning carnival rides where the g-force increases and you are pushed up against the way. It just keeps getting faster and faster and though I try to push through the gargantuous invisible forces that are pressing down on me, I tend to find myself just thrown into another wall.

I'm not going to lie. I'm not the most disciplined. I get distracted by shiny objects and luminous screens. They draw me in with their effervescent allure, hypnotizing me into a trance-like state. Everything just seems more grand in screens. Pulling me out of myself and into the shoes of the fantastical, the glamourous. It's easer to consume than to create. Less energy and less chance of failure. A roundabout way of being a part of something without ever having to apply oneself. The safety wife to life trapeze act, allowing oneself to get lost in the sea of screens. To turn off our brains completely and simply float while someone else holds us up.

Sometimes I like easy. Other days I need it, but I don't want to become reliant upon easy.

No, my raison d'être is too glorious for easy.

Maybe that's sinful to say. That I rise above all the others. To even begin to think that my life has some sort of grandiose purpose. That my life matters more than the person down the street. Truthfully I don't believe that's true at all. Believing that I'm extra-ordinary is the greatest lie that I tell because I have to. If not, that means all this suffering that I have experienced will have been in vain. Ending up some rotten corpse in the ground, some etching carved onto a stone in a language that could one day be forgotten.

What's the point? Doesn't this all have to matter? To mean something?

My greatest fear is that it doesn't. That we are all just blindly groping our way through some maze trying to latch onto some inkling of meaning so we don't gauge our eyes out in the break room. So will find a person to copulate with and continue the species, a task that's been scorched into our DNA. We lie so we have some reason to wake up in the morning and contort ourselves into being another cog in the man's machine. We will do this over and over for our entire lives until one day we are withered, our bones brittle, or eyes cloudy, and our souls mute. All this bullshit--there has to be a reason? Right?

You wanted to know the sickest part? It's not that I'm trying to forge some philosophical meaning with these words. It's that I know how shitty my attempt is and yet I still do it anyway. The definition of insanity. It's that somewhere deep inside me I know that I'm worthless no better than a rat stuck in some maze intended to amuse others greater than me.

I'll keep trying. Set up a routine. Dispel all the garbage out of my soul and onto the page in hopes of discovering my golden chalice that will attract hordes or people, of their praise. Keep force-feeding myself this plastic lie until I'm knelt, face buried in the toilet, purging. Unable to continue to live this facade anymore!

until that day comes

x

[meadowziplines]

For soft prompts- #21 , very long hug

this is a very long answer, too! :D

I have Death/Jo, Del & Dream, and Hob/Dream in here for everyone (separate ficlets so a bit long). I'll post them separately to Ao3 soon...

emotional hurt/comfort & snuggle hours!

Death/Jo

"It's been hard, hasn't it," Jo says, clicking off the news channel at the in-rush of air in her flat.

Death doesn't often appear in Jo's flat. Their arrangement is largely Death appearing wherever Jo's job goes south, or occasionally appearing if Death has business in the area, and they pop off for a drink or tea and maybe they spend some time getting it on.

Still, there have been a lot of deaths. The pandemic. Whatever extinction stage Earth is in.

"Yes," Death says, sighing. "It has."

Jo's not great at comfort. The anthropormophic personification of Death on Jo's couch looks small, this sad and forlorn. She's just seeing a facet of Death, sure, but --

"What do you need?" Jo asks, aware of the gravity of those words said to an Endless. But it's not spoken as a promise. Even if Jo is very fond of Death, and thinks she might do a lot of things for her. Even if she thinks Death is at least safe in the can't die on her front.

"I don't suppose I could trouble you for tea and a hug," Death says, rueful.

That, Jo can do.

They sit cuddled on the couch for a while after that, watching a shitty movie Jo put on. Death is wrapped in both of Jo's arms, hair spilling against Jo's cheek and the blanket.

"If I have time," Death finally murmurs. "And you need a hug. Feel free to ask, too. I've had a very long time to practice."

At this point, the notion that Death herself is a good hugger is no longer surprising, so Jo just makes a soft noise of acknowledgement, tugging the other closer. It's horribly domestic and Jo is a little startled to find that she wants to do it again. "I wouldn't mind doing this again," she finally says.

----------------------------------

Del & Dream

"Brother, what's the WORD for WHEN you feel like something SIDEWAYS or BAD might happen to --" Her lip wobbled, unshed tears morphing into goldfish, leaping upon rainbow streams.

What did Delirium see? "Apprehensive?" Dream asked softly.

Del shook her head. "No. Not it. Come here, Dreamy." Her arms latched around his, dragging him into a hug. For a few seconds he froze; few dared touch him in this way, or any way. Then his body, this vessel so full of tension and trying to stay so together and human, melted into it. He hugged her back, letting his body become less fixed, less violently wound together.

Where they sat, fever dreams blossomed.

"Dreamy," Del finally whispered, nudging her brother. "Dreamy, what's the word for needing to rest?" She thought she might know. Dreamy Dream trying to be serious, still, a fixed pillar of sad stone, wrapped into her, afraid to dissolve. "More morph-y cats in sunbeams," she sang out, multicolor cats rolling in patches of sunbeam and staticky rainbows. "New for you," she added.

The Dreaming responded to her, sedately, quietly, the bright cats going to sleep in puddles of pink sun, as the Dream facet -- shiny and worn -- wrapped against her drifted.

------------------------------------

Hob/Dream

"Will you come here, duck?" Hob asked, opening his arms.

Dream wrinkled his nose. "Why? I am well. The Dreaming is well."

His tone still held gravity and imperiousness, still rang steady and sure, but Dream's shoulders shook, minutely, despite himself. The air around him closed in, too hot.

"I like giving hugs," Hob said, turning puppy eyes on Dream. "And I'm in a good mood, and I want to give you one."

"Very well," Dream muttered, and stepped into Hob's waiting arms, unsure what to expect.

The contact burned him, at first, and instinctively he jerked away, but then its absence flayed him open, left him bereft and freezing where the air had been hot before. Hob said something that sounded like an apology before Dream stumbled back, seeking their shelter. When they closed around him again, he nearly choked on a sob.

Hob knew, he thought dazedly, curling into his friend, unable to relax his grip on Hob's clothing. "I don't understand," he managed. "Why --"

"I wasn't sure you were touch-starved," Hob said carefully. "I just really wanted to hug you."

When Hob's arms crushed him into Hob further, Dream went entirely limp from the sheer relief of it. "I don't have anything else to do tonight," Hob whispered. "We can just stay like this."

Dream nodded into Hob's shoulder, closing his eyes --

Secure. Warm. Safe.

-- and let himself drift.

[palialaina]

Uncle B keeps saying "It's GRAPE to see you, Berry!" so I decided today, I was going to change up my colors. I have never seen someone ready to make a joke and then look so crestfallen so fast. I think he went through the stages of grief in about twenty seconds while his brain started back up, and then he said how sunny I looked.

It's a new, terrible joke, I'll take it.

Jina found me a Kamera! I don't think I'm the best at taking pictures, but she said I could use it to keep track of my home progress, same as this journal, so I'm going to give it a try.

It's been kind of a whirlwind, I've totally lost track of time again. Einar really likes shiny pebbles, and he started talking to me about Oneness. I don't really get it, but Jina said it's something programmed into beings like him and Hekla, and it's kind of like a Path? But the difference being is that people choose, and these guys didn't get to.

Feels kind of sad. It was kind of fun trying to understand it, but I don't really think Oneness is my thing to worry about. That, or I find it in my garden

I am way too proud of it, for sure.

I picked up my third hallway piece today, but there's always so much to be distracting. Elouisa asked me to bug hunt, I had to catch crickets for Aunt Del (Seriously, auntie, you live next to a place called Leafhopper Hill, what were you expecting?) Maybe after I've relaxed a bit I'll go try and mine for stone and iron again, like I totally meant to do.

I wish Zeki would lower the backpack price though. Jeez. 5k for a bigger bag is wild, but I guess that's the way Grimalkin do business. Which. Rude. But I don't really have a choice.

Dad was having some trouble earlier too. Apparently he has a son! Who went into the military, and there was a kerfluffle about that, but he's trying to reach out now. I told him that owning up to his gaff was better than using the death of his wife against his son, and he agreed with me. Even said I was a good child!

Okay, I'm not a child, but heck it. I'm calling him Dad forever, even if not to his face.

Aunt Del gave me a pie for helping her with the crickets, so I had some for dessert, and man, I wanna learn how to cook like she does! I just... don't have time. So much else to run around and do. And not enough hours in the day, it feels like.

Also, Uncle B keeps trying to sell me his fertilizer recipe, but like... if I go beachcombing for a few hours, and then drop all the oyster meat into my worm farm, I end up with more fertilizer than I know what to do with! So I don't know that I'll ever buy it from him. I did buy my better how and watering can though, and wow, that makes the garden a lot easier to work in. He's hinted something about apple trees and blueberry bushes--with the obligatory Berry related pun that I had to sigh about--but he says I need more experience with what I've got first.

Maybe once I can grow those, I'll get to make some pies!

I wish I didn't have to catch fish for the weird temple thing over by the farm. I am not good at it. No wonder it's not really my Oneness (sorry Einar). I think I almost had a thing, but then it snapped the line just before I could finish, and ugh, that's twice now with that dang thing. Bahari Bay fishing is hard...

I did catch this guy though!

I decided against keeping it though. Angry little thing kept glaring at me, and I don't really have the space for pets yet anyways. So I sold it instead. Hopefully Auni got a kick out of seeing it in the shipping bin.

Oh, and Sifuu had me canvas town for opinions on what makes a good book. I have so many concerns for what she tries to write next. She's... well, got a lot of work ahead of her, I think.

I told Jina I'd send her little bits of mail for fun, so that she can practice reading ancient human. She was all for it, since our current dilemma with her puzzle door thing isn't going well. I keep going back and forth on whether the next answer is water, or like... the library. It seemed pretty straightforward at first, but now I'm not so sure.

Maybe once I've had some rest, I'll actually be able to go mine stone, iron, and see Najuma. Mayba Tamala too, but she kinda makes me uncomfy. Still, being that far out, she must want some visitors, right? Take another shot at getting those darn Bahari fish I need for sure, and comb the beach for as many oysters as I can get for my worms!

....man. That list seemed shorter in my head.

Oh, and I got a letter from my friend Lark!

Heya Berry, Do you like soup? Please save me.

Let me explain- I got pretty tired of eating grilled mushrooms and fish for days, and Reth told me he'd give me more recipes once I got my cooking level up. But the only other thing I know how to make is soup. I'm not half bad at it, if I do say so myself, but at this point I've made so much of it that at this rate I'm gonna out-soup Soup Guy. I can't eat all this ramen myself, please save me from my soupffering. (I mean, I'll be fine. I ate mushrooms for a week, I can eat soup for a week. Buuut seriously. If you get a hankering for ramen, please come over)

Drowning in soup, -Ya pal Lark

Poor Lark! Maybe I should send some of the steak dinner I've learned how to make... Auntie Del might know how I can send that in the mail and not tip off Auni. I mean, her pie made it here intact, and he loves her pie!

I shall have to think about it. Hm.. Auni-proofing a steak...