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gripefroot · 11 months

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Would love to see Ace in Alabasta...

Being a man meant hunger.

Being a pirate meant stealing.

He’d been both long enough to source vulnerable stalls as second nature: which shopkeeper was distracted by other customers, which marketplace guards were lured on duty by pretty women, which wide-eyed child left to tend the family stalls while mother or father walked away to carry out other business. He avoided those on principle. No food, no matter how hollow his stomach, was worth leaving a child vulnerable to a temper.

Whistling, Ace made his way down the dusty street with his pack on his back and his head held high. Another strategy: everyone suspects the lurker in the shadows. No one suspects the smiling, good-natured fellow stopping for a chat. One that admires the produce but puts it back, and when you turn away another item has slipped into his pocket.

The stalls offered only thin victuals. A difference in only a few weeks. When he’d first made it to Alabasta, food had been accessible, if not bountiful. Now mushy apples were confettied with flies and bread made a thump on the dusty sand when fumbled.

He paused. A child sat on a stool in the shade, gnawing on an orange rind. Darkened by the shade cast by a striped awning that had seen better days; holes casting bright sunlight on the pouches of spices arranged on a table. The spices had been spread out, likely to seem like there was enough to cover the entire table, but it made the empty spaces seem larger.

The child stared at him, orange lowering from his mouth. Pulp stuck to his lips. Ace grinned, tipped his hat, and went on.

Well, maybe if he waited until tomorrow…

Another hungry night was survivable. He’d eaten a stack of meat-filled bread the day before and left without paying. And been promptly run out of town, rather enjoying the exercising but he would have enjoyed it with fewer scimitars brandished at his back.

The sun was hot. Too hot. His shoulders itched. Absently he scratched at them, making the burned flesh sting. Instead of food, shade. Fortune smiled on him: ahead, away from the market posh houses bore towering walls of turquoise and amber, rising from the sand. Ace whistled his way past the first few, nodding at the guards who eyed him as they eyed all strangers. At the end of the road, when the expanse of blue sky and yellow sand met on the horizon, he turned abruptly.

Last house out of town was never the richest. Almost never guarded. With a heave he jumped up to grab the top of the stone, burning hot in the sun. He scrambled up, boots scraping off dusty plaster from the stone. On the ledge he stopped in crouch, casting his eyes over a withering garden and a crooked house with crooked shutters.

Perfect. Ace dropped over.

May as well have a funeral for these trees. No leaves meant no shade. He wasn’t desperate enough to cower beneath broken branches. His boots thumped on a worn stone path, which took him around a dried up fountain and empty garden beds. Ace frowned. Well, he hadn’t expected much. Absently he scratched his shoulder again, this time flaking away dead skin.

No noise had come from the house, which meant he was safe. For now. Something itched his ears: he scratched those, too, but the itching remained. Not a feeling, a sound. He tilted his head before realizing it was a hive of bees, and it wasn’t far.

Bees. Bees meant honey.

So he’d get a snack after all.

Humming now, for himself and no one else, Ace found the hives within seconds. Next to the bones of a pagoda, curtains moth-eaten and faded; two once white-washed crates with bees crawling over the top and sides.

He grinned, lifting the first lid off. White waxy honeycomb oozed golden honey, the sweet fragrance all the more pungent in the heat of the afternoon. Ace swiped his pinky through the honey, bringing it to his mouth to suck it off.

“Jackpot,” he muttered.

His treasure was a foot-long frame positively dripping with the unctuous gold. He settled down with his back at the junction where the western wall met the walls of the house before sucking the honeycomb dry, swallow by swallow, leaving nothing sticky as bees flew lazily around his head as if offended by his pilfering but too hot to do anything about it.

“Thank you for the fine meal,” he said, to the bees at large, when the frame was clean. His hands needed cleaned, but with no water…the honey had made his throat burn from sweetness. Ace upturned his canteen over his mouth, letting the tepid water make a futile stand against the burning. Better than nothing.

The water disappeared from the sand and stone of the garden floor almost as soon as it fell. Soon no trace of his washing remained, sucked dry from his skin by the merciless heat. He capped the canteen, swinging it back to hang at his waist.

Swiiiish.

He cocked his head. From the desert? The street?

Swiiiiiiiiish.

No. Closer. The house. So it wasn’t abandoned, after all.

Abandoned by the rain that had abandoned the country. Abandoned by any sign of gardeners. But not abandoned by…

Dust puffed in the air from the second floor terrace of the house, shimmering against the azure expanse before drifting down to settle on a bare tree. Swiiiish. Another puff. Swiiiish. Another puff.

With the final cloud of dust he saw a pale-blue, tattered sleeve holding a broom.

The sweeping came closer. Closer still. The figure, barely visible between peeling columns, didn’t look particularly tall, even from below. Maybe a servant, but he doubted it. If he had to guess, based on the Alabasta he’d encountered over the last few weeks, it would be a hungry child from a once-great family, the fading-away of old blood to the sand.

The dust made it to his nostrils, making them tickle. Once more and it settled on his arms. Ace drew in a ragged breath, and gave a shriek.

The responding scream put his to shame. By the time it tapered off he was already howling with laughter, hat tipped up to show his victim that he meant no harm, that it was only a joke.

Something hard whacked his head. Ace yelped again, but for real, shielding himself from the battered attack as the broom smacked into him again and again. Sand and dust were everywhere, tickling his face and skin and sticking where he hadn’t cleaned the honey entirely.

“Ouch!”

“Serves you right! You menace!”

He grabbed at the broom, bristles cutting into the flesh of his palms. Good humor threatened, he glared up at his attacker, but only saw a pale, pinched face between the terracotta balusters. Not three feet above his head, but he could see when the eyes of his attacker widened. And the precise shade of them.

The broom gave a yank. Ace held on.

“I only want to know who to thank for my delicious meal,” he said.

“What—” The face pushed out further between the balusters. Not a child, as he’d half-expected, but a woman, the same pale-blue fabric over her head but not quite containing all of her hair. “You ate my honey!”

“So I have you to thank?” Ace grinned.

Her brows drew together, another futile yank on the broom. “Thank the bees.”

“I already did. And now I thank you.”

“If you really want to thank me—” She puffed, seizing her end of the broom with both hands for an enormous yank. It did nothing. Ace’s smile broadened. “—give me bread or butter or water or something.”

“I can do that,” Ace said.

She stopped pulling on the broom. Mesmerized by the shifting emotion on her face (irritation to surprise) he didn’t notice the silence falling between them like a shroud. She stared at him. He looked back.

“Do you live here alone?” he asked.

She shook her head, fingernails picking at the fraying handle of the broom. “I live here with my grandma. My parents died, but I—” Another shift. Stunned, horrified: the woman stood abruptly, dropping the broom to clatter on the stones of the garden. “Who are you! Get out!”

At least she didn’t have the broom to start hitting him again. Ace stood, stretching his arms overhead with a yawn. He scratched his belly, ridding it of dust. The shadow of the garden wall stretched its fingers, heralding the lengthening day. The market would be open a while yet. He might be luckier on a second pass.

Ace bent over to scoop up the broom. He proffered it to the woman, half-hidden behind a column and regarding him with wary eyes. “Here,” he said.

Like the shadows, the moment stretched. He smiled, taking a step closer. The broom brushed against her skirt on the tile floor. She sucked in a breath, bent at the knees to pull the broom out of his hand, and within two blinks she was gone. Not even a flash of blue fabric remained.

Ace watched the darkened terrace a while longer, anyway. Still smiling.

He whistled as he jumped over the garden wall, craning his neck at the shuttered windows on the face of the house. Not a single one moved, not even when he whistled low like the call of a bird. Too bad.

When the sky was struck with an indigo brush, cooling the relentless desert like an unfurled petal, Ace left a stack of steaming bread on the front step of the house. He pounded a fist on the door, stepping back. Already behind him he could hear shouts; it hadn’t been his best thievery, all in all. But if the woman didn’t take the bread now…and it was found on her doorstep…

A shutter above his head clattered.

Ace cupped his hands around his mouth. “Come and get it!” he hissed. “Quick! Before they find it!”

He’d have to leave town. A disappointment, really, but risks were risks. They rarely paid back in fair hands. Behind the door he heard an iron bolt pulled aside, the squeak of long-neglected hinges. He took another step back, hands open and free to show no danger.

“Go!” The woman appeared, blue fabric clenched in her hands to cover her hair. But it didn’t cover her face, or her smile. “They’ll cut off your hand if they catch you.”

Sharp little thing, wasn’t she? Ace laughed, a firework in the night. The bread was bundled up in the woman’s skirt before she pushed the door closed again, the slip of her smile his last sight of her.

Risks were risks.

And a smile was worth being run out of town.

#drabble requests #portgas d ace #ace x reader #one piece drabble #drabbles

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lilypadlys · 4 months

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Mushy May Day Twenty-Seven - Backstage Shenanigans

Notes: Aurora starts a backstage tag match. Prompt list by @forlorn-crows. See prompt list here

Word Count: 579

Read on AO3 or below the cut

The buzz of energy before rituals was already intense. Everyone scrambling to get ready, pre show nerves, last minute crises; all the usual happenings. Today though the energy threatens to bubble over. Aurora releases her own pent up energy the best way she can. She hops up from the stool when Cumulus finishes pinning up the petite ghoulette’s hair. She races to the opposite side of the room as Cumulus yells after her. Aurora skids to a stop at Mountain’s side.

“Well hello Moth. What have you gotten into this time?”

Aurora giggles and flashes him her biggest, most definitely not innocent grin. Then she presses her hand to his chest.

“Tag! You’re it!” She dashes off.

Mountain rolls his eyes but chuckles. This isn’t the first backstage tag match and it won’t be the last. He really shouldn’t encourage this sort of thing but, well, Phantom is sitting there so innocently.

“Hey Bug.”

“Huh?” Phantom looks up from tugging his boots on. “What’s up?”

Mountain ruffles Phantom’s hair playfully. “Tag.”

Phantom grins and then he’s the one running off, his left boot still half unlaced. He almost immediately trips but fortunately Swiss catches him.

“Slow down Sweetheart. Don’t need you bruised until after the post ritual celebrations.” Swiss winks with a sly grin.

Phantom just returns his grin albeit more gleefully. “Tag!”

Swiss scoffs and acts like he’s going to drop Phantom. When the quintessence ghoul squeals Swiss laughs, scoops him up, and deposits him on a couch.

“Tie those boots. I’ve got a Rainy to harass.”

Making good on his threat, Swiss stomps over to where Dew and Rain are sat, taping freshly scored picks to Dew’s strat and Rain’s basses.

“Heyyy Rainy!”

“What is it this time, Swiss?” Rain eyes the multi ghoul suspiciously, and for good reason. With his black and white bass in his lap, Rain has no way to escape when Swiss playfully boops his nose.

“Tag.”

Rain just blinks at him. Then he turns and kisses Dew on the cheek.

“Tag.” He says calmly, gently taking hold of Dew’s strat.

Dew grins ferally. Swiss’ eyes get huge. Cirrus barely misses getting bowled over by Swiss running for his life.

“Park it boys.” She demands. “It’s almost places and-!”

She avoided Swiss but unluckily Dew accidentally plows right into her sending them both to the floor.

He chuckles nervously. “Tag?”

“Oh now it’s on!” Cirrus growls.

Swiss now finds himself running from Cirrus and fearing for his life for the second time in five minutes. Cumulus and Aurora are doubled over in laughter from where they’re perched on the counter watching the show.

Cirrus pounces Swiss just as Copia pokes his head into the dressing room for the pre-show pep talk.

“Hello my ghouls. Let's put on a great…show…eh…”

Cirrus grins at him from her perch on Swiss’ back.

“I’ll leave you all to it?”

Copia can’t flee fast enough and the whole room erupts into giggles.

Then someone glances at the clock. Ten til places. Suddenly everyone is straightening up and getting back to prepping. Cirrus helps Swiss up. Cumulus pins Aurora down long enough to do her grease paint and thrust her mask into her hands. Mountain is retying Phantom’s laces that have already come undone. Rain and Dew are heading out to talk to their techs. The air is still alight with energy but some of the tension has been released. They’re all ready to put on a great performance.

#the band ghost #nameless ghouls #aurora ghoulette #cumulus ghoulette #mountain ghoul #phantom ghoul #swiss ghoul #rain ghoul #dewdrop ghoul #cirrus ghoulette #papa emeritus iv #ghost fanfiction #fluff #tag #mushy may 2024 #lys writes

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that-foul-legacy-lover · 2 years

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Nyooming in here to say I'm feeling better!! :D I hope you're doing okay there, Wifi!!

Okay so I love the thought of Childe and FL being seperate beings and the both of them being the same, but … Can you imagine a small FL like Endora <3 I'm gonna ignore Genshin lore for this but Childe with a smol mothman … You have two serotonins now <3 One of them might be a bit envious because a certain smol mothman is taking all your love and attention but aaaAAHHh smol Mothman makes me soft whenever I just wanna hold him !

(the bus comment was so cute and may or may not be a huge inspo for this) ~🩹anon

i'm so glad you're feeling better my dear!!!! ohohoho YES seelie-sized Foul Legacy is EXCELLENT :DD

ooohhhhh okay what if Childe and Foul Legacy somehow get separated into two beings and Foul Legacy is small due to his distance from the Abyss- Childe's honestly a bit amused at the sight of Foul Legacy floating around, looking left and right and letting out curious little squeaks, a far cry from the terrifying Abyssal monster used in combat. with no other option, Childe brings the miniature Foul Legacy back to Liyue, to your house since he was going to visit you today. Foul Legacy seems to recognize your home in the city outskirts, trilling happily and turning little flips in the air, chirps rising in volume until he's peeping and squeaking again when you open the door

the moment you step outside something small, soft, and fluffy barrels into you, tiny claws pricking your skin as Foul Legacy cheeps in delight, snuggling into the crook of your neck. Childe rubs the back of his sheepishly, strangely nervous as you stare at little Foul Legacy, seemingly in shock

"Sorry about that, comrade, I-"

"Childe... Foul Legacy is so cute!!"

you laugh, overjoyed, and scoop Foul Legacy into your arms, the mini Abyss creature letting out happy peeps, flying up and smushing his cheek against yours. you bring him close and plant a kiss on his little forehead, and you swear Foul Legacy melts into a mushy moth puddle right there and then, nuzzling into your grasp with tiny purrs and coos. and Childe just watches, mouth hanging slightly open as you fawn over a small version of his Abyssal form, the little Legacy eventually falling asleep as you pet his hair. when you finally turn your attention to the Harbinger, there's a beaming smile on your face, and he feels his cheeks redden

oh Archons... he loves you so much

#genshin impact #childe #tartaglia #foul legacy #foul legacy childe #genshin tartagalia #genshin childe #genshin tartaglia #chit chat #🩹 anon #imagine if you're always working hard and very tired and Childe is a source of happiness for you #so when you have not one but TWO sources of happiness you're very overjoyed!!!!#foul legacy takes naps on your lap #and childe knows that at least one of them is watching over you #(he gets a liiiiittle bit jealous but shh it's ok <33)#short scenario #other's stuff #good evening :)

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mushroom-madness · 1 year

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🍄 ROUND 3: MATCH 2 🍄

🍄 Vote for your Favorite Fungi! 🍄

Descriptions Below ⬇️

Leif

"Leif is one of the protagonists of Bug Fables, they're a cordyceps fungus inside a moth host. They've been in some other tournaments (notably the graveyard gambit tourney, for zombie characters). There are other cordyceps in Bug Fables but since Leif is a protagonist they're the most qualified for polls in general. They're an ice wizard who uses plural pronouns (we/us/our), has Fungus Autism(tm), and their favorite things are food, cute creatures, and card games. They had a wife and kids, they don't know what glasses are, and sometimes they speak in keysmashes. Not to be biased but they're the best character ever made" - Submission 46

'*slaps roof of moth* This mans is SO full of 'shroom (which is. A major spoiler for the game, but hey! He's a fungus (cordyceps) and I lobve himb)" - Submission 67

"He may not look like a fungus, but he's actually a moth zombie reanimated by Cordyceps fungus. He is both bug and mushroom :) - Submission 104

'''Lief sweep let's goooo" - Submission 139

Leif Propaganda 1

Leif Propaganda 2

Bug Fables Wiki

Mooshroom

"My favorite cottagecore mushroom cow" - Submission 44

"MUSHIE COW MUSHIE COW MUSHIE COW MUSHIE COW" - Submission 69

"Look at him he is so baby

I want a plushie of him

Maximum silliness in this funky lil guy" - Submission 70

"Mooshrooms are mushroom-covered variants of cows exclusive to the rare mushroom fields biome." - Minecraft Wiki

#mushroom madness #round 3 #polls #bug fables #leif #Minecraft #mooshroom #poll #bracket #competition #tournament #bug fables spoilers #bf leif #leif bug fables #bug fables leif #minecraft mooshroom

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ghoulodont · 4 months

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wip game rules..... "Make a new post with the names of all the files in your WIP folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. Let people send you an ask with the title that most intrigues them, and then post a little snippet or tell them something about it! And then tag as many people as you have WIPs." ok i will not be following that exactly but lets go

phantom learns to drive

she vivisects me

4 dew pov

only two or three degrees fahrenheit

the gloves trick

(literally not even a document yet) mushy may shut up and let me take care of you

thank you @midnight-moth for tagging me, im not tagging anyone right now because i dont know whats going on but if you want to be tagged let me know and ill tag you. ill edit the post and everything

#i have a bunch of stuff in here thats not actually a wip such as “catholicism notes” for example #& a nested folder structure which seems like it wouldbe organized but actually makes this task difficult #& abandoned things that ive convinced myself i will never continue so i didnt put most of those #why is my mushy may folder in my blur turns to haze folder

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yourlocalartsonist · 1 year

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ROTTMNT Moths Fly In Packs - Chapter Three

A/N: HEY IM ALIVE. I am so sorry it’s been two literal weeks I got stuck in a rut and then like couldn’t figure out how to write from there for the life of me 🫠 BUT HEY I figured it out eventually and Ngl I think this chapter turned out pretty fun and cute! It is the first time I wrote Mikey for a long period of time and a little bit of Donnie too so like, apologies for any OOC moments. I’m still learning TvT But yesyes, enjoy the read and thank you for your time <3 Also I’ve decided Mikey and Salena’s duo name is gonna be Pink Tangerine anyway byeeeeeeeee

Next Chapter

Previous Chapter

Chapter One

Disclaimer: Chapter involves light manipulation, light sexual harassment, curse words, and violence. If you’re sensitive to that stuff, scroll past and stay safe <3

The mushy brown grub splat down on my tray.

I stuck out my tongue in disgust. School lunch might honestly be the worst thing known to man, the bar is so low the devil plays limbo with it. Yet somehow this school still puts everywhere else to shame.

I overheard from some of the upperclassmen a while back that the food used to be on par with others, apparently it got worse after they hired a new lunch aid. No one ever told him anything, though. We’re all way too scared of him.

We sat down at a table and I began poking the food with my fork, mentally preparing to stomach it down. Jaiden looked at me with similarly dead eyes from our meal.

“God, this is so gross. I get that this lunch is supposed to be healthy and all but sometimes I’d rather just eat burger grease.”

That was the second reason I never said anything to the lunch aid. As much as I shit on the food, it’s actually healthier than the usual microwaved fries and stuff. I’ve noticed the effects too, ever since I joined Roosevelt High last year my body admittedly felt much less sluggish.

“Well, food is food. Let’s just be grateful it’s even human food at this point.”

They giggled and scoffed. “Yeah, barely.”

Trying to distract myself from how squishy my mouth felt at every bite, I focused on Jaiden instead. They don’t really emote often, they’re the type of person to have a resting-bitch-face 24/7. But of course, one of life’s greatest ironies was blessing Jaiden with one of the heartiest smiles I’ve ever seen.

For a moment their lips curve, their forehead wrinkles, and their tooth gap is on full display. Eyes shut, all their thoughts were too focused on whatever brought them so much glee, completely forgetting to worry about how they looked or were being perceived. I wish they could be like that all the time.

“Hello? You’re staring at me like a creep again.”

“I know, I know. I’ll stop.” I rolled my eyes, knowing they didn’t actually mind.

“You really should smile more often, though. You’re gifted with such a pretty smile but you never show it off, Jay.”

It went quiet. Before I could spend too long worrying if I said the wrong thing, they broke the silence.

“Hey, can I talk to you about something?”

“Is that even a question? You know you can tell me anything.”

“Well yeah but…it’s kinda relationship related.”

Oh dear. I straightened up and focused all my attention on them. I may be ass at understanding romance but by god, I still tried my best to help Jaiden with theirs.

“So…Was he distant again?”

“I mean, yeah technically. But it’s not even just him anymore, I haven’t been the best at reaching out either. I don’t want anyone else to know this so you better keep it a secret.”

I nodded and they continued.

“I guess I just can’t find any reason to catch up with him. He barely talks to me, stopped complimenting me, and I just can’t like him like that when it feels like he doesn’t even remember we’re dating. I haven’t felt happy with him or confident or anything cause he doesn’t! Talk! About! Me!”

“Ah y-yeah, that’s…that’s pretty bad.”

“He knows how I feel about this stuff. I’m worried he’s not into me anymore. I haven’t felt beautiful in so long because of him. I feel invisible Salena.”

I thought back to our old school. Jaiden had a huge crush on one of our classmates and miraculously got asked out by him just a year later. It was quite the celebratory moment, we stayed up for hours gushing about it over the phone that night. That memory still makes me feel warm.

“What are you gonna do now?”

“That’s what I don’t know. I’m not sure what to do or how to take all of this. Nothing really feels the same anymore.” Their face fell back to its usual deadpan stare. “Honestly, I’m wondering if it would be better to just break things off.”

“…Well, whatever happens, I’m here for you.”

We sat in awkward silence. I wish I was better at comforting people. Jaiden isn’t a huge hugger either so I can’t even try that.

“By the way I…I think I’m starting to like someone else, actually.”

Their voice was barely above a whisper. Before I could ask who, a tray slammed down between us.

“Hey, guys - Jaiden move over a bit - what’d I miss?”

“Hey Zane!”

“Hiya Zane.” I gave him a small wave and Jaiden and I made room for him between us.

I started zoning out a bit while Jaiden and Zane caught up with each other. My mind wouldn’t stop thinking about what Jaiden said. That they like someone else. I mean, it’s not a wild idea considering how they and their boyfriend barely count as a couple anymore but still. Last I checked, Jaiden pretty much loathed the kids in our grade and neither of us get crushes that easily so I wonder who actually got their heart all soft.

I jumped from a sudden sharp pain in my legs. Jaiden and Zane’s conversation paused as they redirected their attention to me and my agony.

“Hey dude, are you okay?”

“Yep! I’m fine, just been working my legs a bit too much I suppose!”

Damn it Leo and your stupid persuasiveness.

What he promised would only be a “weekend thing” turned into an “almost every night thing”, leading to my legs cursing me out from how much pain consistent parkour brings them. Worst part is I can’t even blame him entirely, I’m a druggie for dopamine and caved in at the first mention of doing it more often.

“Are you sure you’re alright? Your legs keep hurting lately. Do you need painkillers? Or do you wanna go to the nurse? I can take you there!” Zane reached out and grabbed my hand.

I could feel the hair on my arms rising for the wrong reasons. Panicking, I pulled my hand back and rushed to reassure them both I was perfectly okay. Thankfully, we moved on and Zane started to ramble about some guy in his class annoying him today.

Or at least, he moved on. I was still trying to recover from the contact. I mean, this isn’t the first time he’s held my hand, our friendship was always very physically affectionate. But I just haven’t been able to handle any touch from Zane for a while. I hate that everything feels so different now knowing that he likes me. It’s not like he can control it, why do I have to be so weird about it? A little hand-holding shouldn’t get such a repulsed reaction from me.

I decided to stop my brain’s downwards spiral and calm myself down. I took a quiet breath and joined back in the conversation.

I caught Jaiden glancing at his hand. They were quieter than usual after that.

***

I walked out the building as the school day ended, the afternoon sun lit up the schoolyard. The weather was getting pleasantly warmer as spring truly settled in.

Zane walked beside me with a lollipop in his mouth as we both waited for Jaiden. The two of them have an elective today but Jaiden had to run a quick question by the teacher and told me to keep Zane company for the time being. I had my own plans but it’s no biggie, all electives start ten minutes after school ends so we’ve got time. I already let Mikey know I’d be running a little late.

“I know I’m not Mr. Sunshine or anything, but I’d be lying if I said it isn’t gorgeous out today.”

“Hm? Oh, yeah, it really is!”

“...You’re still thinking about Jaiden aren’t you?”

“Y-yeah sorry.”

I could tell Zane was getting a bit irritated. My attention hadn’t really been on him much today, I just couldn’t shake the feeling something was wrong with Jaiden. I know they don’t really talk much but they got abnormally quiet after lunch even for them.

“I told you they’re fine Salena. I even checked in twice for your sake.”

“I know it’s just… Nevermind, you know me, I get paranoid easily.” That’s only half true. I’m paranoid but I’m not stupid.

“Hey actually, I was wondering.” He leaned closer and started playing with a loose strand of my hair, prompting me to lean away “Jaiden seemed really tired today so maybe they’d wanna go home early and rest. Do you want to-“

“I’m here.”

They stared at us with a frown on their face. Their voice was monotone. It was always monotone but usually it’d have a bit of charm mixed in with the whole dead-inside vibe. Something wasn’t right.

But no matter! They’re both here now and I should honestly get going. Zane’s here with them so I can worry about Jaiden tomorrow.

“Great! Seeing as you two are ready to go, I shall take my leave as well. Bye guys!”

“But-“

They cut him off. “Bye Salena.”

I don’t know what I did but something definitely happened with Jaiden.

Even though I didn’t manage to fully suppress my thoughts, the walk to the alley where we agreed to meet drifted my attention back towards the beautiful sunny day. The sky was cloudless, a soft spring breeze. For once the air wasn’t clouded with the stinging scent of garbage and car smoke and instead smelled fresh. Woodsy even. Don’t really get a day this perfect often here. It must’ve been fate for today to be the day I’m actually spending time with one of the guys.

Thanks to Leo’s reassurance that night, I gained some confidence and took his advice on talking with them more often. Mikey was definitely the most receptive to that. He and I bonded pretty quickly due to us being the same age and having a similar (and superior) artistic taste so obviously I had to say yes when he asked to hang out, even if it took a while for our schedules to line up.

I did one last scan to make sure no one was around before texting Mikey of my arrival. He popped out from behind a dumpster, eyes matching the bright blue sky.

“Hey hey hey! Ready for the world’s most epic hang out ever?”

“Hell yes I am! I’ve been waiting for this all week! But uh, you’re 100% sure being out in public during the day won’t be a problem considering…this whole situation?”

“We’re fine, chill. No one will recognize me with my super amazing Raph-approved disguise on!”

…His disguise was a hoodie and pants.

I mean, I guess it is New York so no one will probably care enough to notice. Or care even after they do notice. I think I’m just a little nervous since it’s my first time out in public with him.

Besides, his fit was on fire! He wore a cropped orange hoodie with white accents matched with baggy, light cargo pants. He actually looked a little taller from the pairing, maybe I should take fashion tips from him. He did remind me a little of those orange-and-creme popsicle sticks though.

I heard thumping in the distance and cocked my head to hear better.

Clomp, clomp, clomp.

Footsteps? Loud, heavy ones. They remind me of…

“Mikey, you have to hide! S-someone’s coming!”

“But I’m disgui-”

“Trust me just go!”

As he jumped back behind the dumpster, Zane came around the corner and found me leaning against the wall pretending to be on my phone. I mentally high-fived myself for the spot-on guess.

“There you are.”

“Hey! Did you need something?”

“Oh, no. Or well, yeah actually but first, what are you doing next to a garbage bin?”

“I’m waiting for my friend. We have plans today.”

“W-what?” His brows furrowed, pained eyes pierced mine “Plans? With who? Jaiden isn’t even free today.”

“I have other friends too, Zane.”

He scoffed and shoved his hands down his pockets.

“Like, who? Druggies?” …Homie what the hell?

“What kind of people are you friends with that have you meet up with them here?”

“Uh, why are you getting so mad anyway? I’m just meeting up with someone.”

“Well, I don’t want that someone to be dangerous! I’m just looking out for you.” He sighed. “And also because I was gonna ask if you wanted to hang out with me today.”

Confused, I stared back at him. “But you and Jaiden have an elective today? The one I just left you two at?”

“Yeah and I told Jaiden I was gonna skip. It’s a nice day, I wanted to be with you. Looks like I did all that for nothing.” Another sigh.

“Oh. I-I’m sorry, I didn’t know- Wait, hold on, you left Jaiden?” Oh god. I subconsciously started biting my nails. “Zane, they were already visibly upset today! They need someone with them!”

Stomping my feet, I tried searching for a solution. I couldn’t just cancel on Mikey, we’ve had this planned for so long! But I can’t leave Jaiden on their own either. They have certain tendencies and I can’t risk that again. Ugh, everything would’ve been okay if at least Zane was with them!

“Zane, you have to go back. Jaiden needs company and I’m busy today anyway.”

“Don’t panic so much, they said they’d be fine.”

“And you believed that? You know they’ve lied about that before. Several times before! They didn’t seem okay, I need you to be them.”

“But I want to be with you. Not Jaiden, you. You can’t expect me to just control these things, Salena.”

This dude! Why is he being so difficult?

Okay, calm down Salena. Not a time for anger.

“I-I know, but it’s just one day. Jaiden’s your friend, too. And besides, you’ll both have fun this way!”

My attempts to shoo him away changed his angered face. He suddenly looked so disheartened I can’t tell if it was better or worse. I’m a little annoyed he left Jaiden on their own but he must’ve planned this out for a while if he seems this disappointed. I guess I’d be upset too if I was in his shoes. Though I also would’ve asked the other person ahead of time but different people, different mindsets I suppose. I softened my tone.

“Hey, Zane? I promise we’ll hang out tomorrow. I’ll make it up to you. And we can even call when I’m done, okay? But right now Jaiden needs you. And I need this. Just…can I please have a few hours away today?”

He looked at me, conflicting eyes switching between both of mine. Third sigh, more whispery than the others “...Fine, you know I can’t say no to you. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He pat my head, slightly ruffling my hair “Don’t forget to call me when you’re free.”

Hearing the heavy steps fade as he got farther and farther away, I let out the biggest exhale of my life as my body slumped over.

“Ooh mama, that was rough.” Mikey, somehow already next to me, matched my relief. “Does he always act like that?”

“Well, ‘always’ is a strong word…”

“And you’ve never told him how you feel about it? Never, you know, put down boundaries?”

My eyes scampered around to focus on anything but his face while my body shrunk. Guilty as charged.

He sighed and whipped out a pair of round glasses, swinging his arm over my shoulder “So, I know Dr. Feelings is supposed to be on vacation for the day, but since you’re a friend you get special privileges!”

“Um…D-Doctor who?”

“Tell me about this guy, Salena.”

After recovering from the reveal of his secret therapist mode, I told Mikey about Zane and our friendship as we made our way to an ice cream parlor. According to him, talking about your feelings is always better with a sweet treat to distract you from your crushing crippling depression.

“Wait wait, before we start, what flavor?”

“Oh, chocolate obviously.”

His eyes lit up as he happily hummed “A person of culture! Begin~” He handed me a chocolate cone and got the same for himself.

I felt a little guilty for using him on a day we were meant to relax but at the same time, the thought of having someone to talk to about my weird dynamic with Zane made it weirdly hard to resist. Plus, Mikey just has a very calming presence to him, one that makes it so easy to open up and word-vomit your entire life story to.

Still, I tried my best to not overshare and disrespect Zane’s privacy so I kept things brief and broad, only mentioning what I felt was note-worthy. And probably better to keep his crush on me hidden for now, at least.

Instead, I briefed him about Zane’s home life being the classic “rich kid with absent and narcissistic parents” trope and how much his older brother, or better known as the golden child, emotionally abused him growing up. I could sense Mikey softened a bit at that.

I mentioned Zane’s anger issues, habitual bullying, fear of abandonment. His slowly-developed kleptomania. I told him about the people Zane hung out with and of my secret disapproval of them. If Zane seems bad, those guys make him seem heavenly.

And lastly, I talked about our unlikely friendship. How he gradually became nicer to me. How he told me how different I was to him the day I asked why he stopped bullying me. How unexpectedly sweet and protective he can be.

And how scared he’d get sometimes that one day I’d just ditch him like everyone else did.

“That’s awful! It must’ve been hard for him dealing with all of that.”

“It was. That’s why he’s so clingy towards me. He feels like no one understands him the way I do or even wants to try.”

“I’m guessing that’s why you deal with it.”

I quietly nodded. “I know he can be a bit much sometimes. But I don’t ever want to leave him. He’s like family to me, it just wouldn't be right if I abandoned him.”

Mikey smiled at me “Yeah, don’t worry, I get that.”

He took another bite of his cone and stared out the window. He looked strangely timid, I’ve never seen Mikey so mild-mannered before.

“Do you remember when I told you about our dad Draxum?”

“Oh yeah, the sheep guy! You mentioned he had a ‘bad boy’ phase. Heh, ba-a-a-a-a-ad.” I giggled to myself mimicking a sheep as Mikey looked at me with horrific disgust.

“Leo must love you, doesn’t he.”

“Oh hush, it was funny. Anyway, you were saying?~”

“Well during his ‘insert ruined joke here’ phase, Draxum used to try to kill us like at least once a week. He went on and on about wanting to ‘destroy humanity’ and ‘protect Yōkai kind’ and we were made to do that.”

We started walking outside as he continued his story.

“But, my brothers and I could never. We love humans, I mean you guys literally invented art! And even though Draxum made us, he wasn’t attached enough to not brutally murder us for that disagreement. He threw Leo off a roof once, too.”

“Sorry, what now?” It’s making sense now why Leo was so careful about me not falling when we hang out.

“Yeah, I felt so bad! I mean, Raph gets to see something as cool as that happen but I’m stuck being used as a tug-of-war rope for a giant spider lady! The universe can be so unfair…”

“Your priorities are confusing but go on.”

We made our way on to a roof to enjoy the city’s view. Mikey went on a tangent about all their adventures stopping Draxum and the poorly-named Foot Clan from assembling this mythical shredding monster guy. Whoever named these guys needs originality lessons.

“Then after they finished making the Shredder, they betrayed Draxum. They only wanted to use him so the armor thing would work. And I know that we’re supposed to hate him and stuff, but I felt really really bad for him.”

I thought back to how I felt every time someone I thought was a friend ended up stabbing me in the back “Honestly, I would too. Villain or not, betrayal still sucks.”

“Exactly! And to make matters worse, I found him living on the streets later! He’s a wanted criminal in the Hidden City and had nowhere to go in New York. So obviously, I set him up with a nice, top tier home and helped him adjust to humanity. My brothers doubted us a lot but he’s doing great now. He even has his own job as a lunch aid!”

His bubbly smile dropped as he looked off to the distance. Up until now, Mikey’s been pretty animated when he talks, using his hands and sometimes whole body to enhance his speech. Right now though, he was still. Very still.

“But back then, sometimes even I thought I was crazy. I was trying to change a guy who’s fear-response was genocide, that’s not an easy thing to do. So many failed attempts at getting him to like humans, so many failed attempts of him trying to throw kids when they got on his nerves. Don’t get me wrong, it’s more than worth it in the end but when you’re actually doing it? It’s so exhausting.”

Exhausting. I never realized how fitting that word sounded until he said it. Exhausting.

“That sounds like a literal nightmare. Especially without any external support…” Oh god this was hitting too close to home. Abort! Abort!

“Wanna know what kept me going?”

“Yeah?”

He turned towards me. His blue eyes were illuminated by the sun. Actually, there were some new spots on his body that were glowing, too?

“Draxum made us. He was family to me. It wouldn’t be right to just abandon him.”

Oh.

He turned back to look at the sky. “I know you care about Zane and I can empathize with that so I’ll say this as nicely as I can… ZANE IS A WHINY PIECE OF SHIT.”

I forgot how loud Mikey screams oh god.

“He’s clingy, he’s rude, he called me a druggie for choosing to meet up in an alley, I mean what’s wrong with either?!”

“Micheal my ears, please.”

He took a deep breath and by the grace of heaven itself he calmed down.

“Look, I don’t know if you can help Zane the same way I helped Draxum. Some people don’t want to be changed, that was my biggest fear with Drax. But that’s not my point.” He put a soft hand on my shoulder, the tone of his voice sounded different. “What I’m saying is, I get it.”

My throat felt itchy. I hadn’t heard words like that in years. Having someone say they understand me, not being judged or getting weird looks for feeling the way I do. And I can’t even help believing him, after everything he’s told me it sounds like he meant it. I don’t really know how I feel right now. But then again, maybe I don’t have to know.

We stayed in comfortable silence listening to the city below.

There weren’t too many people out right now, everyone who had been outside enjoying the nice weather before were returning home from shopping or leaving cafés. Not many cars on the street, either. All in all, a nice and peaceful day.

Until, of course, it wasn’t.

A giant pink food truck with a weird stake on the top raced by definitively over the speed limit. Another large vehicle following it. It was green with a disk on the back, it kinda looked like a shell? Or maybe I’ve been talking with turtles too often-

“The Turtle Tank?”

“YOU GUYS HAVE A TURTLE TANK?!” Oh my stars! They just keep getting cooler every day I see them!

“And Meatsweat’s truck!”

“Oh, it’s Mr. Oinkerton.”

In the distance we could hear a familiar angry voice screaming vulgar words at the pig mobile through an oversized megaphone. How’d Donnie even get in this situation?

“So like…should we check in on him?”

“Nah, Dee’s probably fine.”

“Okay fair, but he’s partaking in chaotic activities without us.”

“...You know what, I like the way you think! Come on!” He rolled up his sleeve revealing a black band on his wrist and excitedly spoke to it as we both started running to catch up with the trucks.

“Hey Dontron! Why’re you on a chase with Meatsweats?”

“Mikey? You can see me? Are you in proximity?”

“Yeah! We can see you from the rooftops. I’ll wave!”

“Ugh, good I could use the help, Meatsweats upgraded his stupid truck so now it’s too fast to keep up with! Listen, he kidnapped some guy off the street and I don’t know what he’s gonna do so if you could assist-”

“On it, Dee!”

Seeing Mikey speed through the roofs was astounding! He bounced from building to building, doing flips and spins whenever he could. He looked so graceful while doing it, too. Kind of reminds me of ballerinas. Compared to him I was a heaving mess in the back. I’m faster than I was before, that’s for sure, but still had a really hard time keeping up with him. I’m starting to think Leo went easy on me…

But compared to the car chase down below, even Mikey could barely keep up.

“Man, Donnie wasn’t kidding when he said the truck got upgrades. Meatsweats was never this fast before.”

“Mikey, how long are we just gonna tail them? We’re not really getting anywhere like this.”

“Well we can’t run fast enough…” he looked at Meatsweat’s trying to fight Donnie off, leaving the back door to his truck wide open. His eyes lit up “But we can fly fast enough! I’ll swing you!”

Donnie’s voice returned to the comms “Mikey where are you? Could really use that help right now!” Meatsweats was starting to close the door.

Seeing this in my excited adrenalined nature, I rushed to approve the plan. “Okay, let’s do it!”

One of his nunchucks wrapped around me and my legs left the ground. I cut through the air getting flung right into the truck, somehow not breaking any bones after crashing in. Probably should have thought about that before.

I looked out and met Donnie’s panicked glare. “SALENA?!”

“Hi Donnie!” The door shut and my attention turned toward Meatsweats and a terrified boy with a bag covering his head in the corner.

“Who the hell are- oi, you’re the annoying lass from before, aren’t you?” Oh damn, he remembers me. “What’s with you and ruining my dinner plans?”

“Wait, dinner plans? You’re gonna eat him!?”

He looked so unbelievably offended at that, because of course it was such a stretch to come to that conclusion “What are you, stupid? I was a human before getting mutated. I was a world renowned chef, Rupert Swaggart!”

“Your name was Rupert? Ew.”

“SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME!” Oh right, this is a hostage situation.

“Sorry, sorry, distractions. So what you’re saying is, you’re not gonna eat him?”

“No, of course not, human meat is an atrocious flavor.” That’s a relief! “However, they make a lovely meal for mutant livestock. And now I can feed twice the amount.” Oh.

He charged at me with his enormous tenderizer and I quickly got up and prepared my body for the attacks.

Go left! Now right! Right again! DUCK! He’s so swift with his strikes it’s almost too much for me to handle. I tried looking for any openings out but it was useless! All the doors are locked and he’s blocking the switch.

“How come he gets tied up but I have to be killed now?”

“Personal grudges.”

I got backed into a corner and narrowly avoided a butcher knife thrown straight at my head. Whatever greater force is keeping me safe, I owe you my life.

Wait! He threw a knife!

Genius struck me as I pulled the blade out from the wall. I charged at him, getting all my energy ready for the blow. Meatsweats chuckled.

“Aww, you really think you can fight back with a tiny cleaver?”

“Not quite.”

Instead of the slice the idiot pig prepared for, I planted my foot firm on the ground and swung the sharp blade to the left, smashing right through the window.

“What the-”

Perfect! Now to take care of the swine.

I darted around the room taunting him, now being the one to control where he’d strike. My heart was beating at the speed of sound, legs quick and light. My reflexes took over completely. It’s crazy to say this but I feel like I’m really in my zone!

Once I annoyed him enough to turn his blows even more aggressive than before, I ran right behind him, clinging on to his back. He took the bait and smashed down. The metal hammer hit him smack dab on the head as I dodged away, knocking him out.

Cutting my celebrations short, I rushed over to the boy and helped him up. He flinched at my touch, the bag still blinding his sight.

“What’s happening?!”

“Your rescue, that’s what. Now, come on!”

I helped him avoid the loose shards on the bottom while getting his body out the window. I stuck my head out and yelled for Donnie, who was still right behind us relieved to see me in one piece.

“Donnie I’m throwing him out the window, tell me when Mikey’s ready!”

“I THOUGHT YOU SAID YOU WERE RESCUING ME!”

After getting the thumbs up from Donnie, I pushed the boy out to the streets and sure enough, Mikey’s chains caught him and pulled him up to wherever he was on the roofs.

I heard a grunt behind me. Meatsweats was awake already? God I can’t believe I was scared I actually hurt him.

I scampered up to the roof of the truck. Unfortunately got jumpscared as the vent flung open and Meatsweats tried going through it. My bad for wanting to catch my breath, I guess.

“Salena jump!”

I took his suggestion and ran forward, avoiding the grimy mutant pig, and leaped over to the tank. A hole opened up and allowed me inside with Donnie looking back, setting the tank to autopilot and checking me for any serious injuries.

“So which one of you dum-dums thought it was a brilliant plan to send the untrained non-mutant human into the murderous chef’s vehicle?”

“Oh, was that bad?” Well, at least it’s over now.

Mikey’s voice came through Donnie’s own hand wrap. His were larger than Mikey’s, covering his entire palm compared to Mikey’s wrist bands.

“Donnie! Is Salena okay?”

“Physically or mentally.”

“Yepperoni. I’m right here, Mikey.”

“Phew good! And uh, by any chance, are you guys still following

Meatsweats?”

“Uh, I’m about to stop the tank, why?”

He nervously laughed “So um, you know the person we just saved right? Apparently he had a really important USB with him and he thinks it fell out in the truck…”

“OH COME ON!”

And so the chase continues as we scrambled to find answers.

“Are we really going to keep tracking Meatsweats for a USB drive? Who even uses them anymore!”

“He sounds super panicked so it must be bad, Dee. What if it’s something dangerous?”

“He’s a teenager, Micheal, why would he have dangerous intel?”

“Aren’t you two teenagers?”

“We don’t count!”

“How do we even get it from Meatsweats’ truck?”

Donnie switched over to the control manual and got a bunch of missiles ready “That’s it! I’m going lethal!”

Mikey’s face appeared on the monitor “Donnie don’t! You could destroy the drive thingie.”

“But my moment…”

“Donnie!”

Red lights started blinking, warning about the tank’s declining gas.

“Fine but we’re running out of time, what else can we do?”

“Want me to jump back in?”

“Do you want to die?”

“Sometimes.” They stared at me wide-eyed as I had the dawning realization “Oh wait that was rhetorical, wasn’t it?”

I forced my three brain cells to try and be useful.

C’mon, brain. Think, Salena! Think!

I saw the cleaver I still had in my hands and got an idea.

Bingo!

“Donnie! Drive to his right!”

“What? Um okay. Wait, where are you going!?”

I climbed back out the hole on the top. “When I count to three, stop the Turtle Tank.”

“CAN ANYONE COMMUNICATE THEIR PLANS WITH ME BEFORE IMPULSIVELY JUMPING IN?”

I threw my hair back letting the rushing keep it out of the way.

“Ready Donnie?”

“No.”

I aimed the cleaver for the front right tire and began counting “One…”

Pulled my arm back, getting ready to throw “Two…”

I took a deep breath. Arms don’t fail me now. I swung forward and felt the handle leave my grasp.

“Three!”

The tank jolted to a stop, knocking me forward. Donnie came out and helped me to my feet.

“You good?”

“Well, I’m alive so.”

We looked up and saw the blade successfully puncture the tire, sending the truck skidding to a crash at a light pole.

“Great Galileo, you actually did it. I’ll confess, I’m impressed!” Is this what validation feels like?

The round tangerine joined us not too long after with the boy strapped to his back and came running towards me.

“Salena, you were amazing!” Validation and a hug on the same day? Have I been blessed?

“Hey can someone get this thing off my head now?”

I looked at the boy, then at the horrific scenery behind him. “Uh…maybe we should get to a less chaotic place first.”

Mikey handed me the USB he found in Meatsweats’ truck. ”Sorry our day got interrupted Salena. You can always come back after helping him!”

I was about to agree but felt a buzz on my skirt pocket. I took out my phone and saw a pestering text from my aunt as well as the time being 5:00pm.

“I would but, I should probably get home anyway. You guys okay with um…all that?” I pointed to the passed out pig in his broken down truck.

Donnie pat my head with one of his extra robot arms “No probbles, we’ll take care of it. You’ve helped enough.”

I guess he’s always been nice-ish to me but still didn’t expect affection from him.

I saw him and Mikey chatting while cleaning up the mess, Mikey beaming as Donnie ruffled what would’ve been his hair if he had any. I smiled. Maybe I just never looked close enough at Donnie. Seems like he’s always been this way.

I lead the boy away from the mutant havoc and into a more public area before taking the bag off his head.

“Are you okay?”

He blinked and I studied his features a bit more. Dark eyes, short black hair, and round glasses. “Yeah I-I think. Thanks for saving me.”

I handed him his pen drive and after a few more thank-yous, he left. As promised, gave Zane a call. He didn’t pick up though. I shrugged it off and started walking back home. What a day today has been!

Next Chapter

#rise of the tmnt #save rottmnt #unpause rise of the teenage mutant ninja turtles #rottmnt #rise of the turtles #rise of the teenage mutant ninja turtles #rottmnt season 3 #nickelodeon #rottmnt fanfiction #rottmnt x oc #rottmnt oc #oc x canon #rottmnt s3 #rottmnt mikey #mikey hamato #rise mikey #rottmnt moths fly in packs

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belle--ofthebrawl · 1 year

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M̶u̶r̶d̶e̶r̶ Mushy May #2...I think? Contains the barest hint of murder Ghoulettes at the end but it's sweet over all.

@forlorn-crows I didn't think I would be able to do Mushy May but this came out of nowhere so please take it.

Rating: General but watch out for that hint of murder towards the end.

"Made for you"

It's always so fascinating to watch Cumulus weave, Sunny thinks. Humans need tools and fiber but all Cumulus needs is patience and time and she can spin a web from her fingertips of the most finest and delicate lace Sunshine's ever seen. It's only been an hour and she's got a decent sized lap blanket done already and when she offers it to Sunshine for inspection, holding it up to the lamplight reveals tiny and intricate grucifix designs, the likes of which human hands had no hope of ever replicating.

"A request from a Sister." Cumulus says, taking it back from Sunny and folding it up into such a teensy little square it seems impossible to contain that much fabric. "A bassinet cover for her baby in the summer. My weave will stay cool so it doesn't get stuffy and moths will know to stay away from it."

It's set on the nightstand and Cumulus begins her work again. Her fingers move strangely, seemingly plucking at thin air but if Sunny squints she can see the web start to form.

"What are you making now?" She asks, entranced by the procedure.

"Wait," Cumulus says with a cheeky little grin and Sunny pouts. Her phone goes off with ding, distracting her. It's Cirrus, letting them know she'd be back soon with dinner. She informs Cumulus who just smiles and continues her work.

"Is it a table cloth?" Sunshine asks and earns a shush for her words. "A bib?"

Cumulus chuckles.

"No, silly." She sighs, finally blinking up at Sunny. Her glamour's dropped to show off her other eyes, little pools of pitch darkness in an inhumane face, three each under her main eyes.

"It'll be an antennae guard." She says. "I know these new helmets crush them. So if you wrap them up with my silk before a show, it won't be so bad."

"Does a spider's gift come with strings attached?" Sunny asks sardonically, but with a genuine smile as she rubs her poor antennae. One's permanently crooked now, but she rather likes the way it makes her look.

"Only if you want them to." Came Cumulus' reply, winking all four of her right eyes. Then she sits up straight, hands still in her lap as she listens.

"Cirrus is back with dinner." She says quietly. "Ooh, Sunny. I'm so hungry."

"Don't worry, Cu-tie pie." Sunshine tells her as she goes to open the door for Cirrus. Her stinger urges her go quick, react fast but if she stings Cirrus on accident, she'd never hear the end of it.

"I think she brought enough for all of us."

And if she listens, Sunshine can already hear the muffled screaming of Cirrus' victims as she drags them to their room.

#cumulus ghoulette #sunshine ghoulette #cirrus Ghoulette #can anyone guess which bug Cirrus is.

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watatsumiis · 2 years

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Interesting event nyehehe~ when I read what you wrote for leftdestiny-post my immediate thought was actually "i hope you get more followers" cuz I would've been stuck with that prompt lmao– if you still take requests, may this gremlin humbly ask for Dainsleif and number 42?

(42 is the meaning of life, and he's my meaning of life– /hj)

Thank you so much for your kind words qwq it really does mean the world to me. This event has thrown some interesting combinations at me that I’ve really had to sit and think about to get them working. It’s been a really fun exercise (if a little draining)

I’ll be honest, I’m not all that familiar with Dainsleif (I don’t think I’ve really written anything for him at all askjdhkjfs). He as a character fascinates me but I worry that I might not be able to do him justice. Here’s hoping though.

I’m gonna make this an x reader thing because that’s what my brain juice is giving power for right now.

Content: Gender neutral reader (referred to as ‘you’), uhh yeah I dunno just some mushy type fluff. Minor warning for what could be seen as obsessive behaviour? I dunno

There is nothing left for me to do,

Of course, that may not be the entire truth. There are plenty of tasks for him to complete, loose ends that need tying up, entire continents for him to monitor.

Dainsleif is alone. He has been for a long, long time. Surrounded by nothing but madmen and people who simply aren’t capable of keeping up with him.

You’re so perfect, I’m so worthless

Until you, that is. Bright and intelligent, a smart quip always on the tip of your tongue for anything he may decide to say.

He quickly came to consider you a ray of sunshine, to be treasured and protected at any and all costs.

I have seen the light

Something bright and gorgeous, in the presence of someone who had grown up in an underground realm, untouched by natural light,

And it’s so beautiful that I can’t even cry,

It almost hurts him to be near you, basking in your warmth as one who has seen and committed so many atrocities, yet he can’t stop himself from approaching time and time again, like a moth to flame.

He wishes for nothing more than to protect you, to make sure that nothing bad may befall you, even if that may mean delaying his own tasks.

Please don't repost, steal, copy or otherwise plagarise my writing! This includes posting translations to other sites (without credit + permission).

#i. am not happy with how this piece turned out Oh No im so sorry #my writing #dainsleif #dainsleif x reader #genshin x reader #200 follower event #frisbees this out into the void and scampers away

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foxys-fantasy-tales · 2 years

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A Rival Most Vial - Book Review

Oh gosh, where do I start? I loved it. Let's make that clear. Ok, I'll begin with my one gripe before my overwhelming praise takes over because I cannot wait for more in this series.

R.K. Ashwick's second trilogy begins with this book, as The Stray Spirit began their first trilogy and was their debut novel as an indie author last year. Two books in so little time! I could never be that fast! Both are highly recommended by me so I wanted to mention the other book, now, let's pop open this juicy dumpling of fantasy fiction, shall we?

The one gripe is Ambrose and Eli are at odds for a good third of the book or so, and I mean heavily. As spoiler light as possible, events go from a boiling point that breaks the rules of the street their shops are on, then in the same day a character begins to look at the other with a wholly different kinda boiling point. -tugs collar- Ahem. As I said, the quick change left a bit of whiplash for me personally, but it's my only complaint for this wonderful novel that also captured my heart and made me tear up once or twice.

Ambrose is by far my favorite. I relate to his closed off nature, and boy does he also have good reasons for it. He's intelligent, gifted in his craft even, dedicated, and all mushy inside if you can get past that icy blue exterior of his. Eli, on the other hand, took me a minute to get on board with, though I have to admit the cutest automaton ever, Tom, and her wonderfully depicted stabby feet, mug body, fork arms, and broom head helped warm me to him. Eli has severe wanderlust and gets bored of things easily, though he is also incredibly gifted. He's reckless, but he's charming and bears good intentions.

All the characters are wonderful, really, but I won't name them all here and let you discover them yourself. They make themselves very much known in the first chapter after all. Big personalities and bigger hearts, these shopkeeps all stick together through thick and thin, even though some may make some really rash calls at times. In a magical world with exploding moss, dragons, and venomous moths that shoot deadly spikes the length of your arm, any rash choice could be deadly.

The romance is golden and the details on the kisses and awkwardness being described from both sides of the blooming relationship between Ambrose and Eli is just -mwah-. Ambrose is uncertain of a first relationship and so concerned with timing and averages like any A type personality would be, while Eli is tender with him and doesn't wish to push too far, all the while not knowing Ambrose may want just that. There is a short sex scene, but it's very blurry in depictions of physicality and hones in more on the back and forth and emotions between the two. I thought this was a good choice for this type of story, and it blended well to the emotional beats at the time.

The world-building, just like The Stray Spirit, is so carefully thought out, planned, drawn up in wonderful in book art, and exudes so much of Ashwick's character that you could tell it was an R.K. Ashwick book even without the name on the cover if you read their debut. Each of these worlds is mesmerizing and brings me back to when I would eat through fantasy books by the dozen. It's whimsical, but dangerous enough you have to root for the characters and fear for them at times genuinely. As Ambrose goes over his potion instructions and shortcuts to his partner on the commission, each detail feels like it just came from an actual text on the subject. I can't wait to discover more of this world.

Can we also state how gorgeous that cover is while I still have your attention? The colors pop so well! The details are stunning and I love the little silhouettes of our main duo with those tiny hearts above their heads.

All in all, this is my long-winded approach to saying GO BUY THIS BOOK! I assure you it is worth the time and money spent to travel through this world with these loveable fools.

This is an arc read and I’m leaving a review voluntarily. This review is honest all the same and I jumped at the chance to be an arc reader after reading The Stray Spirit shortly after it's launch. I've followed this project's growth even longer than that, and I am so happy to say I am so satisfied with how this turned out.

#book review #arc review #booklr #books and reading #bookblr #bookworm #bookboost #a rival most vial #support indie authors #indie author #indie books #fantasy #fantasy romance

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cyberghost-scout · 11 months

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Japanese high school AU and Humanformers AU smashed together.

Mainly cause they are both as is but just about being humans. The only difference with JHA Au is that the girls and pa just moved to Japan.

read here

Again, things are not in order, so most of the information may not make sense in the first read.

~ Suni, after high school grad, enlisted in the military.

Zelda (Phantasma) went to community college for social science and anthropology- for a social worker or anthropologist job.

Mainly because she deeply realizes she lacks self-confidence and, of course, free traveling before enrolling in college to work as a Public Safety Dispatcher.

She will remain a mechanic when she gets out after four years in service.

Flow has many degrees in performance arts, fashion design, and, of course, many in STEM.

~ When finally out of service, Suni can return to dressing to her true self: Goth.

She chopped her hair short and messy after having it long to pull it back into a clean ponytail to a bun for four years. Ditching most of the military clothes save for a few for memento purposes.

Even got her tattoos at 23 as a birthday gift.

~ Suni got Ptsd.

She had it before she enlisted- it just made it more apparent.

Zelda has a deep fear of needles/ being stabbed, especially after an indecent that led to a scar on the back of her neck.

~ Suni had two internal joint prostheses: shoulder-joint replacement and reverse total shoulder replacement on the left side.

It's her fault for that to happen- repeat injuries for her during her time in the active military- she learned her season after getting those implants.

~ Taking a cue from Tokyo tours from King Kogi. The favorite part the twins adore to visit is the back routes of Shibuya Stream and Daikanyama.

~ Unpopular food takes in Japan: Zelda finds Yuzu tastes like if one accidentally smells and inhales the lemon pledge, she misses the Panda Express in the States. The one in Shibuya could be better.

Away from the famous Shibuya scramble, sustained in grungy construction, the street stickers all over, the overpasses and bridges.

The freaking pizza by the slice is just a small comfort of their old home in the States.

Suni does not like Okonomiyaki/ Takoyaki as much as the average person- it's with all the sauce; mayo and bonito are just too much for her.

While Zelda prefers Udon over ramen but will still eat it… Suni likes instant ramen over the real stuff.

Flow does not like mochi textures- too mushy for her.

~ Zelda's favorite manga series is Nichijou. Suni's is Full Metal Alchemist. Flow's is Kageki Shojo!

~ I want to talk about Flow's and Suni's relationship.

It is precious.

Please.

Let me write about Flow going on her first trip to Japan to meet her pen pal in person for the first time and bring her Aunty Eartha with her or her mommies. Let there be a new side of Suni- excited to meet someone. Someone around her age- full-on trusting Flow to be her best friend.

Having the most normal queer platonic friendship despite them not fully understanding that.

Like it is so sweet, even feist-snarking Zelda would not help but smile and be slightly at ease. Because Flow may be intelligent but also not- she's making her baby sister happy with no strings attached.

~ Aside from what happened to the twins at middle school. Yes, it was terrible, but that horrible taste wouldn't fully explain everything about their behavior.

The walls around them when socializing. They're used to the long hours Fidel (Like OMG, I forgot his name until seeing that old post) working and being home alone- but they still care about Fidel and fully respect him.

But clearly able to function with independence in doing chores and stuff, aside from financial freedom and proper mental health- Papa Fid is teaching them that.

Their lives before meeting Fidel were depressing.

They do not know their biological father- they (the twins) never spare a thought. And their birth mother wasn't horrible but clearly not a good person or mother: mediocre.

They don't know of their other relatives, let alone if their mother is the only one alive or was cut off.

Fidel recently moved into their apartment complex (closer to his place of work) when the twins were in mid-late elementary.

Fidel noticed a little early on something strange about these two girls sitting outside one door. No one was letting them in or was too upset to say inside after learning from passive conversations with the neighbors and noticing some suspect visitors to the apartment. He contacted the girls and spoke to them.

They don't trust him at first- feeling like he's like the other people going into their house. Zelda even threw a shoe at him while standing in front of Suni.

Eventually, Fidel's patience and offer of letting them stay in a warm apartment with food eased the two, putting away their distrust and turning him into their sitter. Fidelis never got to fully meet their mother, only glimpses.

How did Fidel become their guardian?

Oh- their mother got murdered.

Fidel fought tooth and nail to get the girls under his custody.

~ For Rai @askburningpassion. Hear me out. It's not part of the long-reaching plan of Rai's true bio papa, but it would be funny if one of his goons got beaten up by Suni/ Zelda, but they couldn't report it as they've got beaten up by a bunch of high schoolers. The embarrassment. The same for Rai's mom's ex-gang members.

(Timeline Fidel was just about to win the fight for adopting the girls and setting up to move the three of them to Japan when those sad excuses of friends threw Suni under the bus. And they know the twin's mom got murked.)

Talking about their time before meeting Fidel is a loaded situation for the twins. Either it comes out so blunt with honesty the listener is too aghast or answers with ominous silence. It's best to talk to Fidel about the past.

Fidel may not know or realize, but he saved a higher-ranked Decepticon in the day, so they're waiting to return the favor.

Because this part was talked about in the DMS and from a past thread, it is more or less about Rai as the girls get older.

It's messy.

With the murder of the parents, the kidnap of the poor child, and Riki being forced to leave for a family friend. And I know how Rai might be kidnapped by a rival ninja clan, and the two girls and Riki are worried sick for her.

Suni went as far as invading the Decepticon base and beating almost everyone in a rampage to find answers.

And once the bittersweet reunion happens, and Rai gets some revenge...

Rai and Zelda would watch in the distance as a suitor approached Suni-- murder wouldn't be involved.

~ Given all the information I gave about Suni's and Zelda's past, I'm tempted to make a scene:

~ Rai would be perplexed with Flow. At first, she'll be worried that she's like those girls chasing her older brother or worse, those mean ones. But seeing her in person, she looks like a fairy.

And again very much like the twins when talking with her brother. She later learned while yeah Flow found him cute she kept her distance. Suni wrote about him to her, she first thought it was hyperbole of his distasteful love life until she witnessed the mobs of lovesick girls.

The albino would be very concerned about his mental health about that.

Also, Rai would be Flow's little model as the fashion princess gave her cute little outfits and accessories. Same with Rai's and Riki's mom.

Those ex-friends of Suni essentially betrayed her trust and left her under the bus until she moved out of the States because they were jealous she was a rising star in the wrestling team instead of them.

Years later, without contact, Suni would have blocked all contact information with them.

She told them she gave up the sport because it associated so much pain of being abandoned by people the girl would have thought she could trust before marching out of the area.

News for some international school competitions whisps around, but it puts Suni in a grouchy mood and blocks it out. And she (mutual peeps) and Zelda accidentally meet up with Suni's old wrestler team coach.

Suni wants nothing to do with them and tries to leave the area while the former couch (not aware of Suni's distress) tries to stop her, apologizing for their part and wishing her luck for the competition only for Suni to snap at them.

~ @braveggg-hq Out of the twins, depending on which brave member you've asked, you'll get a different response on who is the scariest Visser twin.

We got Suni. Despite being an introverted string bean who loves to garden and fix up cars, she will react like a vengeful spirit when forced to fight...

Then there is Zelda.

Of course, the group would be delighted to hang out with the twins with some unique visits from their father.

She keeps getting into places she should not be allowed and the information she obtained. Making the person she wants to mess with annoyed, angry, or legit cornered.

However, the ninjas found a way to stop her grubby hands on any dangerous information and the AIs' big secret:

Vanilla Wafer.

The golden-eyed little shit's cursed long Furby. Kidnap the cretin and bargain with the sassy teen whenever they need her to back off.

But will they feel a little guilty?

They couldn't get too close to the girls and their father- the Braves have far too many secrets about their true nature. But if they do tell them all they can about themselves --it'll be unfair to let these people lose their everyday lives and get involved with crime and E.T. threats.

And that is way before learning that the twins went through shit because of underhandedness- the reason Suni had a hard time trusting her peers in her school. At the same time, Zelda generally is hostile, if not bombastic, to almost everyone- even more so if her baby sister is involved.

The guilt will grow.

And then those who want to get closer to one of the twins.

Duke- not a human but a disguised one- Suni, an actual human.

Suni needs to learn about Duke's or the rest's big secrets of them being robots. Duke is developing a crush on Suni; he'll be devastated because she's outside the group of humans that knows the many secrets of the B.P.- GGG braves.

He is scared that if she finds out, she'll hate him and never want to see him and the others again.

Can you imagine the scenario of seeing something terrible happen to Suni that puts Duke in a tight spot?

He can't get out into his proper form in front of her.

People briefly go their separate ways after high school.

And running away would make things worse, against his code to help people. Or be trapped in his human disguise and forced to watch Suni get hurt or die before his eyes.

It happens.

The braves got a call from 110 (911 for Japan) of someone getting stabbed by a suspect they were looking for-- and the person who got stabbed was Zelda.

Duke didn't confess his feelings as Suni went to enlist, and Zelda was busy with college.

The Braves are doing their own thing, too. So they never had a chance to be together, let alone contact.

For years, the group being together was just a part of life that came and went... but what if not?

It was a reunion they didn't want to happen like this.

Zelda survived, but at that very moment, everyone thought she was not lucky when she was in intensive care.

~ Also, @bladedalchemistreplica, I don't have all the details but hear me out: a combo of this au and your new environment au.

To start, teen Ozar is somehow on Earth. It was a brief time- he is baffled about meeting Flow, maybe saving her from some unsavory group.

Eventually, he returns to his place-- Flow writing about her bizarre adventure to her confused pen pal Suni. While teeny, Ozar told Olia and Te-osh that an angel or an Altean hybrid helped him. It would only lead to something once they're adults. (cause time dilation, y'all )

Or some Blade sees the teens' father and says, "Yeah, I want that (courting)."

#humanformers au #human au #tw: stabbing #tw: neglect #long post #au mas #japanese highschool au

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