#spring sprite finale

[hello-from-nrc-infirmary]

*he stares at his arm bandages blankly for a few moments, scratching at them absently*

*-...*-...*○~`°••~`°□○~°••~°**

(I umm... i... umm.... I... think I messed up)

*he starts tearing up*

*Vern hovers zips over to Trystia, seems flustered*

**○¿○•~°°○!•`°...

(Maybe being umm.. tiny isn't bad? Um... I ummmm...)

*starts muttering incoherently and furiously scratching at his arm*

@hello-from-nrc-infirmary

Woah, you ok? Uh, do you wanna tell me whats going on?

*she sits up fully and looks at him concerned*

[hello-from-nrc-infirmary]

*Vern tugs on a loose strand of hair, glancing around the forest clearing that's decorated surprisingly nicely with various spring flower backdrops, a snack table, DJ, and a ring of sand in the middle*

*~~.``!!..~~..

(I guess its umm... not a bad space)

*he tries smoothing his dress a little*

[safyresky]

Warm Milk

(remember this poll? I sure did! This is the original shit I was talking about! Takes place a couple of hundreds of years after the events of Crystal Springs, Into the Shadows, etc. Some context: The dimensions between planes are thinning. Rosehaven is seeping into the living world, magibeans long dead returning to the world of the living—but for what purpose? Not even they know...)

(enjoy!)

___

Bianca padded down the stairs quietly. Eyes attuned to the dark, she trailed her fingers along the side table in the hall, gazing at the photos dotted about. Even in the lowlight, she could see how happy her daughter was in the photos she was in (laughing with Blaise, a little Jacqueline grinning in the bottom right, pointing; face pressed against those of the twins, the three of them grinning). And the ones she wasn't in (one of the twins stacked on one another, running down a beach; a candid shot of father and son caught up in a moment of laughter), Bianca could feel the love radiating from the photos.

She smiled to herself, continuing quietly down the hall. Every single bone and muscle creaked as she walked.

Bianca sighed, rubbing her lower back. I never thought I'd say this, but I do miss being dead, she thought to herself.

In Rosehaven, you didn't feel all the creaks of your bones and muscle pains and such. You felt fine. Safe. Okay. As young as you ever felt. As spry as Winter (senior) had been, despite looking as old as Bianca felt. Your body is there with you but it doesn’t age or degrade. You’re right as a flurry.

But back on this plane of existence…you felt it all and then some.

She sighed, turning into the kitchen. A light glowed above the sink. The dishes sat drying in the rack. A window was open, the sound of the wind rushing through the evergreen boroughs comforting. It was no mountain, but it was lovely regardless. It would do.

Quietly, she slid across the kitchen, pouring a glass of milk and staring at the contraption that supposedly warmed things with the click of a button. She squinted at it, rubbing her chin.

Perhaps she should wake her son-in-law? Or the grandkids? That is, the fiery ones, of course. It would be far easier for her to have them hold it for a moment rather than make the ruckus the. Contraption. Was sure to make.

She found the button to open the door. It went in with a deep crunch, the door swinging open with a loud bang that reverberated through the thing.

"Oh dear."

Straining her ears, she listened closely, hoping she hadn’t woken anyone.

Snores from upstairs. The wind. A soft voice? Murmuring?

Her ear twitched. She turned slightly, towards the right.

Her eyes readjusted. The table was empty; backyard door locked. The screen door, that is. The heavy door had been pulled all the way back, letting in the cold winter air. It smelt like the mountains.

Bianca made her way over, relishing in the breeze for a moment.

The voice was clearer now. She peeked outside; nothing and no one. Eyes travelling across the table, she peered into the cozy den.

A light was on.

Her ear twitched.

"AND he let me use his HAMMER MOMMA! The HAMMER!" said a delightful voice. Just hearing it made Bianca feel such joy. She crept closer to the den, head tilted towards the sounds.

"The HAMMER?!"

It was Jacqueline who was speaking now. Excited with a hint of panic. A tone Bianca found herself recognizing easily enough.

"YEAH! Hephaestus says I'm gonna make my own bow in NO TIME!"

"That's wonderful, sweetie!" Jacqueline replied, the smile in her voice loud.

"She's been taking to the change very well," a third voice said. Smooth and chipper, a hint of tired—but not quite. Hearing this voice made Bianca think of her Winter, wherever he may be.

Her heart panged.

"That's good! I'm glad," Jacqueline sounded relieved. "I'm really sorry about all this, love."

"It's okay! I'm just glad you're safe! We understand, don’t we, Joy?"

"Yeah! Safety is important! I learnt that today too," the child’s voice grew quiet, sounding proper chided.

"Did you now?"

"…yeah. I accidentally hit Hermes with a few arrows. He was a real good sport about it but I felt very bad and then Mater gave me the safety talk."

"We really should have done it sooner," the third voice spoke again.

Mater. Bianca ran the word through her mind. Greek, if she wasn't mistaken. For mother.

"But! Better now than later, after she finds the lightning bolts! She was giving them the eyes earlier today."

Jacqueline threw a hand up to her mouth, trying to mask her laughter. “Oh dear.”

This is wrong, Bianca, she thought to herself. Stepping back (having made her way to the arched entrance, lurking in the shadows), she walked towards the kitchen entrance, clearing her throat before reaching the den entrance again and knocking on the sideboard.

"Jacqueline?" she asked, peeking into the room.

He granddaughter shot up, pillows flying. "Oh! Hi Bianca. Everything okay?"

"I fear I've run into a problem. The contraption that heats things up? The little one."

"The microwave?"

She nodded. "How do you use it?"

"I'll be right with you. Just give me one sec!"

"Certainly. I'll wait in the kitchen." Bowing her head, Bianca backed up, keeping to the shadows between the two entrances.

The sprite curled back up, bringing the phone right up to her nose. The little display glowed, casting a dim light onto her face. The snow was gone from her hair, Bianca noted.

"Is that her?"

"Yeah. Technology problem."

There was a delightful giggle. "Off you go to save the day! My hero. I miss you.”

"We both do, Momma!”

Jacqueline smiled. “Awh. I miss you guys too.”

“I knew it!”

The loving voice laughed. “Alrighty, Joy. Say bye to Momma. She’s got a something cold to save.”

Jacqueline laughed. “It looked like it was a glass of milk.”

“She’s got a glass of cold milk to save!”

"Okay! I love you Momma!" the child's voice was filled with so much joy, Bianca could not keep back the smile that had snuck onto her face. It was hurting her cheeks. "I miss you! I hope I get to see you soon. I got a sword lesson and I wanna make one with you."

"Awwh, Joy! That's so sweet! I'll brush up on the blacksmithing just for you, okay?"

"Okay! I love you! KISSES! MWAH!"

"KISSES! MWAH! I'll see you soon, okay?"

"Okay! Bye Momma."

“Right, off you go! Go bug your grandad for a bit.”

“O-kay! Wee!”

Jacqueline laughed, watching the child run off, Bianca presumed. She pushed her hair off her brow, snuggling into the couch cushion. "She's doing okay?"

"She’s thriving! And wreaking so much havoc. That’s why we’re on Olympus now. Jupiter had enough so we’re hanging out with my mater’s side. Oh, Jacqueline, you’d be so proud! I know I am. She’s a hit over here!”

“Good! Good. I’m...glad.” Jacqueline’s smile dropped. She sighed, mussing her hair once more. “I’m so sorry about all this, Donnie.”

"Awh, babe, it's okay! You’re trying to keep us safe. We understand."

"I'll try to swing by tomorrow? If that's okay."

"Uh, duh! You're my WIFE! Why wouldn’t that be okay? I love you. I always want to see you.”

"And I you," Jacqueline smiled. "I'll see you soon, brown eyes."

"Not if I see you first, blue eyes."

Bianca tuned out, giving them space. Moments later, the blankets rustled.

"I know you’re still there, Bianca.”

Bianca felt the heat rise in her cheeks. She turned the corner sheepishly. “Sorry dear.”

Jacqueline smiled, leaning her head on the couch. "S’okay.” She pat the spot beside her with a slippered foot. “Come sit!"

Bianca obliged, sinking onto the couch. Her muscles thanked her. She sighed, falling back into the cushions.

"I miss being dead.”

"You WHAT?"

"Oh, sorry, Jacqueline. Sit back! I don’t mean it in a way that's concerning. I just…forgot how old and stiff my body was. I miss not feeling every single muscle every time I move."

"And warm milk helps with that?"

"Hmm? Oh!" she looked down at her glass of not warm milk. "Yes and no. It doesn't help my muscles. It helps my heart, though. Your grandfather said it was the cure for any ailment," she smiled fondly. "Lately I've been finding comfort in a warm glass of milk. It makes me think of him. But alas, your father went to bed before I could catch him and Lady only knows what would happen were I to wake your siblings."

"When they were younger, disasters! But now that they're older, they sleep like logs, for the most part. Just waking them up would be an impressive feat on its own!”

Bianca chuckled.

"You miss him, huh?"

"I do. And I worry for him," she admitted, bringing a fist up to her heart. "I don’t know where he is, or what he's doing. I know he's on this plane. But I can't…find him. And it hurts. Everything hurts. He'd love to see this. Knowing that your mother made a lovely life for herself? He'd be delighted! She found a love as true as ours," Bianca smiled down at her hands. "That's all we ever wanted for her. And I was so terrible! Afflicting you with the shard and sending you halfway across the world. Stealing her away from her family to try and bring back mine…and even after everything, you've all welcomed me here."

"Bianca. I gotta be real with you. In terms of blood relatives coming back from the far past? You're not the craziest we've seen."

"I beg your pardon?"

"Uncle Pyros is like, fifty shades of messed up. That guy is WHACK. But don’t tell dad I said that."

"Your secret is safe with me." Bianca sighed. "Those poor boys. I always hated being called to court. They never looked happy. Serafina was so strict; and Canicus was just as bad in other ways. I kept telling your grandfather, I said, you know, Winter, we could just snatch them up and take them home! And he'd say, he'd say, Bianca, we have our hands full with one, don't you think? Best not bring back old habits." she laughed. "We didn't, really. Your mother was a very calm child. Well. She was a child when we left; I've no idea how she was in later years, or for the rest of childhood."

Looking off into the distance, Bianca sighed.

"Well…from what I've heard, she's where we get most of our unhinged ideas from. The most chaotic of all the seasons as a kid. Still is to this day, if you ask my aunts."

"Oh, how delightful!" Bianca leaned back into the cushions, a soft smile on her face. "It's nice to see them both happy together. Your parents, that is."

"Makes you miss your hubby, huh?"

"We never did tie the knot, but yes! It does. Deeply. Achingly so, even.”

"I get it," Jacqueline wiggled against the couch, getting cozier. "I miss my wife."

That fond, loving smile was back on her face; so small and yet, filled with so much emotion.

"We did actually tie the knot. I mean, we were already referring to one another like that so we went, you know what? Frost it! May as well make it official! And then we did!" She shrugged. "The proposal went a little awry, but the wedding was nice! Especially since we found out we had a KID beforehand! Can you believe that? A whole entire KID. She was totally unplanned and I love her so much.”

“Oh, and I took you away from them, didn't I?"

Jacqueline nodded. "And I couldn't even remember them, because, you know, your mirror does that fun thing where it only makes you think of bad and sad thoughts? They were so fuzzy.”

"I'm so sorry, Jacqueline. Really. I would never want to take anyone away from their families. That was a pain I'll never forget. Pain enough that it drove me to do that to you and your mother when I was shard-ed, just to try and restore my own."

Jacqueline smiled. "Magical objects just bring out the worst in people."

"Indeed."

"Why do you even HAVE that mirror?"

"Cursed artifact that came into my possession when I was young. It splinters often, and the splinters get caught up all over the place, making people see only terrible, awful things. I used it in my younger years to do some truly bad things. Much younger, of course; I haven't been that bad since meeting your grandfather. I was glad it had come with me to Rosehaven. It wouldn't cause trouble ever again, I thought.” She chuckled coldly. “I thought wrong. Seems that was the worst place for it."

She opened her hands. The mirror appeared in them, empty but for two shards.

She sighed.

A warm hand landed on her knee. Bianca looked up.

Jacqueline was smiling at her, softly. Reassuringly. "We'll find him, and we'll find the shards.” She gave her knee a little squeeze. “I know you miss him. I miss my partner in crime, too! And I know you missed mom.”

"I'm glad to get to know her again. Odd to say but. Well."

"I kinda get it." Jacqueline pulled herself up a smidgen, phone clutched close to her chest. "Donnie and I had no idea Joy existed for about three years. She was born from the joy we both felt being reunited again after the proposal. I missed her baby years! Had no idea what she was like until recently."

"Hmm. I feel we have a lot more in common than just looks," Bianca mused.

"Indeed," Jacqueline replied, in an almost dead-on impersonation of Bianca's own accent.

She laughed. "I'm sorry I took you away from your wife and child. And still am, evidently."

Jacqueline shrugged. "This whole Rosehaven thing is weird. Scary, too. And after everything that happened to me? I don’t want to risk Joy. Or Donnie. She can handle herself of course, but I love her! I don’t want to see her get hurt. That's why I didn't mention them. I wasn't sure if you were…"

"Safe."

"Yeah.

"Wise. My reputation is. Quite terrible, really. Especially with children."

"Yeah, maybe gramps was onto something when he said not to bring back old habits."

Bianca laughed, looking at her granddaughter with a fond smile. "I'm glad you've found love, too."

Jacqueline scooched over the pillows, leaning up against Bianca. She put her phone in front of them, the screen blinking to life to reveal a photo.

There was a very tall, very strong woman. She was blonde, her hair tied up, laurels wrapped in the strands. She was beautiful. Jacqueline stood beside her. And between them, a small child, a tad darker than Jacqueline and a tad lighter than the woman. She grinned, a tooth missing, her strawberry blonde (emphasis on the strawberry) hair pulled up as well, falling right out of the scrunchie. Behind them was a big, feathery wing; and behind the girl was a smaller set of wings, looking more like butterflies than birds.

"That's the love of my life, Donnie. It’s short for Hedone."

"Hedone. That’s the Greek Pantheon…Goddess of…pleasure?"

Jacqueline flushed, nodding.

Bianca smiled. "And that's your little girl?"

"Joy. Embodiment of Joy. She's everything to me, goddess of the springs. The moment I met her, I was like, damn. I'd do ANYTHING for this kid. ANYTHING."

"I felt the same when your mother was born."

"Was she like, sick, or something?"

"Sick?"

"It's just," Jacqueline shifted, facing her grandmother with a look of placid curiosity. "I've heard that when she was born, there was something wrong? Or off, or something. I’ve only heard it offhand oh, once or twice. Nobody's ever explained it to me, and Mom doesn't even remember. So. I figured, you know, who better to ask than the person who birthed her, right?"

"Ah. Well, she wasn't sick. She was a miracle baby, though. See, I'd always wanted kids of my own. But I'd never managed to settle down with someone and have them."

"So you stole them instead?"

"Yes. And I used the mirror to do so. It's an ugly thing; it fell into my possession when I was quite young. It takes the beauty and love out of everything and makes you see only the bad. As you are, regrettably, well aware."

"You as well."

Bianca hummed. "When I finally did succeed, and the little boy's little friend came and found him, and saved him, I managed to cry the shard out of my eyes. And that's how Queen Frost found me. A pathetic, weeping mess in the highest reaches of the Nordic countries. She told me that I would find what I needed here in Crystal Springs; that it would heal the hurt. That I'd be safe. And…I was. But the hurt never left. See, the shard in my heart stayed put. And whenever a child would come near my domain, I'd keep them as long as I could, just to try and thaw my icy little heart."

"Oh. That's…how am I both heartbroken and appalled?"

"I am a woman of many talents, it would seem.” Bianca laughed, the laughter trailing off with a small exhale. “It's messy, I know. And it got messier still. Nothing worked. I was devastated; stayed up in the mountains with my storms and my lands and all that nonsense. I was there for eons…until your Grandfather entered my life."

Jacqueline watched as Bianca softened, her face lighting up. The mirror seemed to shudder; it did not like where her memories were going. It disappeared as she looked away, awash in them.

"Was it love at first sight?"

"Ha! No. I thought him annoying and irritating and all but blew him right off my mountain. But he was like one of your brother's stray animals. He just kept coming right back! One day, I found myself not blowing him off the mountain. And then I looked forward to his visits. And then I told him about the mirror and everything and he helped me gather the pieces and seal it away. And we fell in love, and one thing led to another and we found ourselves expecting. In the traditional way. By ordibeing standards, of course."

"Oh! So Mom was the first sprite to be born instead of made?"

"Yes, and no. It was the first any pair of sprites had managed to conceive a child on purpose. Emphasis on the on purpose. The only example they had to go off of was Fate-touched, so they had no idea how reliable that experience would be compared to this one.”

“That experience being?”

“The Twin Princes.”

“Oh! I didn’t know that! I just assumed they were made the way all sprites used to be made, you know?”

“The King and Queen tried, of course. Fate prevented it from happening like that. But it worked the other way.” Bianca shrugged. “Serafina was a rather clever warlock. She knew exactly what needed doing for a safe delivery and all, and got it done well before they were born. But your grandfather and I...”

“Would’ve had no idea, since it’s not like the monarchy shared these sorts of things. And given how sprites were made, it was probably to them like, one and done kinda deal, I’d bet. They assumed it would never happen like that again.”

“Ha! And your grandfather and I went and proved them wrong. They’d have hated that! They probably did.” She grinned. “At any rate, given the circumstances, healers monitored us closely; we didn't know what to expect. A sprite had never been formed like that naturally, you know. Lady only knew what would happen. But I tried very hard not to think about that. I focused on when I could feel her move about, and making a nursery, you know. All those things you do when you're expecting."

"I don’t know if I'd know that! We uh. We were NOT expecting at ALL when Joy showed up, dragging Jack Frostbitten Frost himself and Venus, goddess of frostbitten love, behind her, the three of them being pursued by the personifications of Despair and Sadness."

"Oh my."

"I know! I'd have loved to paint a nursery or have that whole build up to her arrival, but it was very sudden and violent.” She looked sheepish for a moment, running her hand through her hair and looking away. “I was very violent."

"Momma bear energy, yes?"

"Oh, big time. The moment Jack told me who she was and it all clicked and that connection was there, I just. I lost it. She's the personification of Joy, Bianca. Despair and Sadness wanted to consume her essence in the hopes that they'd feel something other than what they are."

"Oh. So you had a breakdown."

"Huge. I went feral. And in the end, as seems to be the case with this family, it was a hug that did it; Joy defeated Sadness and Despair with a hug."

"What an impressive child."

"She's so impressive. And she did that as a three-year-old. Which is HELLA impressive by sprite standards. Though she didn't quite age like a sprite? She is now, but she was aging like a human almost until she hit six. Regular six. Not six hundred."

"How old is she now?"

"Almost one hundred! I'm kinda relieved she seems to be taking after the celestial side more than the sprite side. I'm not sure I'm prepared for a century of trying to help her keep shape, followed IMMEDIATELY by a century of her keeping shape AND being a terror about it."

Bianca laughed. "The terrible two-hundreds."

"Mm. Mom and Dad say all four of us were pretty brutal, so I'm sure my kids will be no different. Sorry, I got so off topic. We were talking about Mom!"

"And then went into moms territory. Not off topic at all, sweetheart."

"But I wanna hear the rest of the story!"

Bianca laughed. "All right, all right. You don’t need to lose shape about it."

Jacqueline pulled a face. She lifted a hand, the entire thing AND her arm suddenly turning into snow as she tilted her head, crossed her eyes and went "BLARGH!"

Bianca wheezed. "Okay! I'm going! Pull yourself together, young lady!"

Cackling, Jacqueline's arm solidified. She curled up, snuggling back into the couch. "Okay. I'm behaving."

"You know, I don’t think you ever have."

"That's because you've been talking to Jack too much. He likes to play it up like I was the most troublesome thing around, but he definitely made it ten times worse."

"Now that I believe."

She giggled, her small smile reminding Bianca very much of a time when Winter was a child. A time well before The Call, before the repeat of her past mistakes, and before she was cast from Rosehaven for Lady knows WHAT reason.

"Bianca? You okay?"

She cleared her throat. Swallowed the emotion. Nodded. "As fine as can be, all things considered."

"We can stop if it's too much. I didn't mean to press."

"Oh! No. It's quite all right. Big feelings are big feelings. It's best we experience them. Least we steal children about it."

Jacqueline giggled.

"Where did I leave off?"

"Nursery. Prep work. That sorta thing."

"Right. Well…the time came, eventually. She was ready to arrive. And arrive she did. As a pile of snow and ice. Baby shaped, but lifeless. I…I sobbed. I sobbed, and sobbed, Jacqueline. I was beside myself. I refused to let her go, and your grandfather, bless his soul, stood by my side the entire time, and did not try to take her away from me. He did his own research; called Mother Gaia and her daughter, Tara. They came by and brought with them a life light. The thing you are given as a freshly made sprite to give yourself a form. They gave it to us, and it turned white as snow, and your grandfather and I placed it within Winter and she came to life, with the loudest cries. Oh, I was so, so relieved."

"She was brought to life. That was the miracle."

Bianca nodded. "And she was full of life. Very silly, a little goofball just like her father. And devastatingly savage when needed, just like her mother. She was smart and keen and we loved her to bits! It broke my heart, what we did. To think, fighting to keep our home safe for our daughter ended up with us losing her. And now I have that chance again, to know her, to love her…but it's been thousands of years. Thousands. Tara is far more her mother than I ever was. And my darling Winter Warlock isn't here to see any of it." Eyes downcast, Bianca looked at the cold glass of milk in her hands and sighed.

"Oh, here! Let me get that for you."

"No need, Jacqueline dear. I've got it."

Both winter sprites jumped a bit as Winter herself stepped through the archway, cloak draped over her arms. She placed it gently on the egg chair by the entrance, wiping something off of her cheek and cleared her throat. "Here. I can take it. I'll show you how the microwave works."

"Oh, it's quite all right, dear. I'm not even sure I really want it anymore—"

"Yes you do," both women said, in unison, in the same tone of voice. They looked at one another, giggling a little bit.

"You miss your boo thang, Bianca! Of course you'd want to indulge in something that makes you think of him!"

"I wouldn't argue with her," Winter agreed, gently taking the glass of milk out of Bianca's hands. "She's married to Cupid's successor. And has been having many sweets for the exact same reason you find yourself craving a warm glass of milk."

"Ah. I'm out numbered, it appears."

"And outwitted! Come on, up you go. Here." Winter offered her an arm. Bianca took it with a grateful look, gently prying herself out of the cushions. "Let's get those limbs of yours all warmed up."

___

Bianca let her daughter lead her into the kitchen. She tried not to lean on her too terribly much, but the support was…nice. They made their way to the microwave, stopping in front of it.

"The big button here opens it." Winter clicked it; there was a crunch and a low thrum and the door popped open again, the little light flickering on. "Just place the glass inside and click start a handful of times."

"A handful?"

"The number keys are preset. The one warms it for one minute, the two for two, and so on and so forth. The start button does thirty seconds which is usually all I need. Though I will admit, I don’t often use this thing. Usually I bring it to Blaise."

Bianca smiled. "I'd do the same, were I you. I briefly thought about it, actually, but didn’t want to wake him. He seems so stressed about this all…and the younger two? Goddess above. I daresay whatever would happen after waking them would be enough to send us all back to Rosehaven."

Winter laughed. "Fino and Fiera certainly are characters. They were worse in their younger years. I'm inclined to say they've mellowed out at sixteen hundred, but I'm not entirely sure I believe that. I don't think any of the four of them are capable of mellowing out, if I'm being honest."

Bianca chuckled quietly, gently closing the microwave door shut and tapping the start button three times. The noise it made nearly shook her bones; her jaw was most certainly knocking about.

"Dear me."

"Yes, it's a little loud. And a little too fancy for my tastes. But Jack was very excited about it, as was Blaise. I figured I may as well let them have their fun."

Bianca smiled.

Winter smiled back.

The microwave hummed behind them as the silence pressed on. Comfortable, but with something unspoken lingering between them as the microwave continued to tick down the seconds.

"How long were you—"

Bianca did not get to finish her sentence. The words were cut very suddenly as Winter wrapped her arms around her torso and pulled her in, squishing her very, very tightly.

"Long enough," she said, muffled against Bianca's chest. "I'm sorry."

"No." Bianca wrapped her arms around her daughter, cupping the back of her head and tilting it towards her, kissing the very top of it. "I am."

"Goddess above, that sounded so awful, I—" Winter lifted her head, looking up at her mother. "I couldn't even imagine any of that happening to me and my kids. I'd be beside myself."

"I was. And still am. And even though this situation is so messed up…perhaps it’s selfish of me, but I'm glad. I'm glad to see you living, thriving—" she smiled, wiping the tears off of Winter's face with both her thumbs. "It's all we ever wanted for you."

"I'd be devastated if it were me, and Blaise wasn't by my side to see everything the kids have done."

Bianca's grip tightened. She laughed. "It hurts, yes. Oh, I love him so much. He was my everything. Is my everything. I—"

"WAIT, HOLD ON. GRANNY BEE."

Her breath hitched as Jacqueline came sliding out the den, phone in her hand, looking frantic in an excited way. She'd called Bianca Granny!

"Jacqueline, careful!" Winter let go of her mother and reached out, grabbing Jacqueline before she could fall forward. "You know the kitchen is slippery in those socks of yours."

"I know, I know! But I just! Granny Bee." She caught her breath. "Hey. Hi. Woah. You okay?"

She sniffled, wiping away tears. "YES. GRANNY BEE IS JUST FINE."

Winter and Jacqueline shared a look. "O-kay…listen. I got an idea. I just need to ask you a few questions."

"Sure. Sure. Certainly." Another sniffle. The microwave beeped. "How can I help?"

Winter opened the microwave, passing Bianca the warmed milk. She nodded her thanks, taking a sip as Jacqueline started explaining.

"My wife. She's Cupid. Well, next in line to be Cupid. Right. Anyway, uh, because of that, she's really good at love stuff??? So HERE'S the THING. Would you say that the Winter Warlock is the—"

"Love of my life? My soulmate in all senses of the word? Partner in crime? My person?"

Jacqueline blinked. "Yes."

"Yes. Oh, absolutely, yes. That man. He's. I just—" her fingers tightened on her glass as she tried and failed to find the words to describe their love.

But for Jacqueline, apparently, that was enough.

She grinned, feral, whipping up her phone. "I knew it. Okay, so, I have this crazy idea. I think I know how to find him."

"What?"

"You do?"

"Yeah!" She put the phone up to her ear. "If you're okay with it, Mom. I know things have been kinda tough? I don't want to throw the other parent at you when you and Granny B are still working sleet out."

"Oh! Yes! Of course! If you're comfortable with it, Winter dear."

Winter's brow furrowed as she thought about it for a moment. "Well. I think before I know how I feel about that, we'd have to see if we even can find him first. And then, given the state you were in, Bianca…what state he's in."

"And if he has a shard in his eye, or worse, his heart…I shudder to think what part he'd be playing in this mess."

"Oh?"

Bianca nodded. "He was a brilliant warlock! Is a brilliant warlock. His mind…I believe Fiera would call him a giant nerd. Given that, and how he was like back before he met me, before he met Kris, even…I both hope and fear that he knows more about what is going on than all of us."

"Then we better go frostbitten find him, eh? How do we feel about a ladies trip to Mount Olympus…"

[deepspacenova]

when winter meets spring

➻➻ ABOUT: zayne x gn!reader | 900 words

I needed some whimsy in my life so here's a little drabble in which Zayne is a winter sprite who falls for a springtime faerie. Inspired by the Spring and Flowers event and @mythblossoms who planted this idea into my head xx

The first time he saw you, the snow was melting. Clinging to the edges of the awakening soil, exhaling its final whisper of frost across roots and buds that were ready to bloom.

He was behind the trunk of a beech tree, half-veiled by the smattering of unfurling leaves as Winter took His final breath and Spring exhaled Her first. He wove some final threads of hoarfrost into the bark as his power dwindled with the change of the season.

There was nothing particularly noticeable about your form when he caught the flutter of your movement. Like any Spring faerie, the snow hissed where the warmth of your bare feet touched the earth, retreating in small rivulets of water. Undoing the work of his people with each step.

That is, until you caught the sun's eye too.

He could almost see the icy blues and greys of winter washing away as the rays painted your skin with deep pinks and reflective golds and soft greens.

And your movement. It was nothing like the frantic faerie buzz he'd previously caught glimpses of. Instead, you moved with a soft reverence, taking the time to listen to the soil's murmurings. Gently coaxing it back from slumber.

Zayne went still as the last of his magic threaded through the bark beneath him. The frost glimmered and faded almost instantly, surrendering to the sound of your voice with him as the air shifted and filled with the scent of damp earth and flower petals.

It was the first time in his existence that he breathed that scent in without fear.

That's when he should have vanished, retreated to the wind-scoured peaks where his people went each year. Winter Folk were not meant to see Spring Folk. It was an unspoken rule, reinforced by the divine and etched into the fractals of each snowflake.

But you were something bright. Something alive. Something warm. Everything he was not.

And you were staring back at him.

Your curious gaze caught his. And.. there was no trace of fear. Only curiosity. Perhaps you, too, weren’t meant to see him?

Still, neither of you looked away. And then, you smiled. He couldn’t remember the last time someone smiled at him without shivering.

“You’re still here.”

He didn’t answer at first. Couldn’t. His throat, used for the howling of winter winds and the hush of snowfall, tightened against the unfamiliar warmth. Then, with a voice hoarse from disuse, he rasped, “I shouldn’t be.”

You stepped forward, and the world softened. Flowers opened behind you in your wake. Wildflowers, shy and colourful, bloomed where your skirt brushed the ground. "Who are you?"

He hesitated. Names were sacred to Astra. Identities, even more so. But he unfurled his palm, where a dusting of ice flecks still danced, and let them rise into the space between you. The frost shimmered until it morphed into a shape. A jasmine bloom, delicate and symmetrical. It hovered for a moment, glowing faintly. Then , he let it drift into your palm.

You stared at it with a mixture of wonder and understanding.

“I see,” you said softly.

In the second it took for your hand to close and re-open, the jasmine was brought to life, a flower with veins and petals. It started floating again and, before he realized what was happening, tucked itself into his hair without re-freezing.

And that's when he felt it: the pull, the beckon of the mountains. Winter's thaw was complete.

“I have to go,” he said, backing away a step. Hoping each word conveyed the depth of his regret. Already, the frost in his veins began to retreat.

His time was over.

Your expression faltered slightly, but changed to determination just as quickly when you extended an open palm toward his clenched one.

“Will I see you again?” you asked.

He wanted to say yes. But a sprite cannot lie, and an elusive promise was cruel.

Zayne stared at your outstretched hand, fingers painted in morning light and the hues of things he could never hold without destroying them.

“I don't know," he said quietly. "When I fade, I don’t remember."

Your brow furrowed, eyes scanning his face as it continued to disappear before you. “I’ll remind you,” you said simply.

The words struck something deep in him, something buried in permafrost and forgotten lifetimes. He reached out then, cold fingers grazing your palm. You didn’t recoil at the shock of cold. Instead, your hand folded gently around his.

When Zayne disappeared into the ether of winter, the jasmine in his hair was still alive.

And so it begins.

Every year, he waits for the last frost, silent and watchful. Every year, you arrive before the thaw, humming to the soil.

He never asks why you come early. You never ask why he lingers.

Because you both know what you have isn't meant to exist.

He is cold and silence and endings. You are warmth and laughter and beginnings.

But in that sliver of time each year between the melt and the bloom, the changing of seasons hesitates.

[readychilledwine]

Hi!, here's a Tamlin x reader request. So reader is always so fun and smiley and happy but every night, when everyone is asleep, she goes to the garden and sits there alone crying because of her abusive past. One day, when Tamlin goes to open the window at night, he notices you crying while sitting in the garden. Then he realises you do it every day. So one day, when reader goes to the garden, she notices he's sitting there. He asks her why cries there every night and they have a lil chat, and then tamlin eventually cups her face, looks her in the eyes and tells her "you mean everything to me. There's no one that matters to me more than you" or something like that. And then he just comforts her 🥺. Just make it super fluffy ✨️.

Among The Lilies

Summary - There was always a pro and con to every situation, and being Lady Spring was no different.

Warnings - Mentions of alcohol, overstimulation, feelings of being out of place and not belonging

A/N - This has been sitting in my drafts for a while. I am so sorry to the anon who requested this. I'm still not sure I captured what I was hoping for with this, but fingers crossed.

🌹Tamlin Masterlist🌹Master Masterlist🌹

You sighed as you chugged your second glass of sweet floral wine, watching the fae of your court dance for another night of celebrations. You weren't used to this. You were a forest nymph, a low fae who the Cauldron seemed to think belonged with Tamlin, a High Lord. You were not used to loud parties filled with fae laughing and dancing the way Tamlin was. You were used to silence, to fireside celebrations, small groups among a large crowd. You made the best of his gathering, though. Becoming known for being the life of the party and dancing the night away.

Celebrations like this had started to become a norm. Every accomplishment was met with wine, music, and dancing as Tamlin brought your home back to its former glory. The fae of Spring had been so excited to celebrate the Equinox this year that they had asked you and Tamlin to take it from a night of debauchery and fun to a week of dancing, drinking, and revelry. It would be the first the court had celebrated in 6 years and with the new court voted taxation system, the new faith in their High Lord, and if rumors and whispers were true, the influence of you, it was hard for Tamlin to deny them anything.

So here you were. Wearing the smile that didn't reach your eyes, struggling to breathe in the corset dress you had a love-hate relationship with, and waiting to slip out unnoticed. You had been enjoying yourself, but you were slowly becoming over stimulalated from the countless males and females touching you, thanking you, trying to dance with you. You were exhausted from the late parties that quickly faded into morning duties and after assignments.

You finally saw your chance, sparing one last look to where your husband stood, Lucien by his side, laughing at something Tarquin said. You bolted then, running to the doors and through the halls before slowing to a walk at the private garden Tamlin had planted for you.

The garden had become your safe place. A place for you to cry, to use your magic to recenter yourself, and to find peace. You felt almost guilty, coming here again and bombarding the poor sprites as they danced and enjoyed their little fires and celebration. Such small, kind creatures, but yet some of Springs most important. "Forgive me," you inclined your head before heading to the fountain you knew they'd be nowhere near.

This had become a ritual for you the past few nights, hiding out here with your back and head against the cool marble, breathing in the scent of fresh blooming roses and lilies. You typically stayed here until you relaxed before heading back in, but a sprite had different plans this time.

Small hands touched your cheek, wiping the tears that were falling as you finally collected yourself. A female fluttered her gossamer like wings next to you, her light green skin contrasting her flower petal dress. "Why is my lady sad?"

You smiled, holding a hand out to her and allowing her to land. "Not sad, just tired."

"Lilies are the flowers of sadness. You come here when you're sad. You go to the roses when you're blushing. The daisies for joy." She stood and held your thumb as if to hug and hold you. "Please tell me what's wrong?" Your heart ached, burdening this innocent creature with your frustration. Yet, she only nodded, seeming to understand the feelings you were having. Soon, you two became so engrossed in conversations that you didn't notice green eyes watching from a window and a sharp mind wondering why his wife had closed off their bond.

The next night was more of the same. More fae dragging you to dance. More hands touching your exposed arms. More music. More everything. You were not sly as you escaped this time and all but ran to your beloved fountain. Faltering, you saw Tamlin, a single rose in his hand as he sat watching the sprites.

"I had thought to myself, perhaps my rose just needed fresh air the first night you ran out here," his voice washed over you like rain as you walked over, sitting next to him. "Then it happened again. And again. Then, for the fourth time. And again tonight. You're coming here to cry, and evidently do so frequently, your friends have told me that much," a sprite with a familiar smile disappeared from your view. "But she will not tell me the one thing I want to know." His eyes finally met yours, lingering and studying your expression. "Why," the question was simple, one you should have been able to answer.

You finally found it in your mind, looking at the root of the complicated problem. "I struggle to feel I belong among the high fae still." You took a spot beside him, pulled your knees up and hugged them. "I offer pretty smiles, I give them the positive words they expect, and I play the part of happy wife, but I still struggle."

He hummed, his calloused hand finding yours, "Are you a happy wife? Or do I need to provide more?" His tone had changed, realizing this was more than feeling overcrowded. This was his mate, opening that dark feeling he knew was festering.

You could only smile at him, a real one that did reach your eyes, "I am happy in all aspects of our marriage. I just want a sense of belonging when it comes to other courtly matters." That was where you struggled. You struggled with the weight that came from the jewels you wore, the circlet on your head.

"Oh, you belong," he murmured as he pulled you closer. "You are this court. The very soul that drives it. Being a nymph does nothing to change that." His thumb came up, wiping a tear you had not realized was falling. "There is more. I can feel an ache in your heart wanting to come forward."

Moments of silence passed, "Am I enough?" That question had him cupping your chin, forehead resting against yours as you continued. "I don't want to be High Lady. I don't have the drive and ambition Lady Summer, Lady Night, or Lady Day have. I enjoy my place at your side, but not-"

His free hand came up, holding both sides of your face as he shushed you, thumbs continuing to swipe your cheeks. "You are more than enough. You are everything to me." His forehead stayed touching yours, your noses brushing as he spoke, "I love you as you are, for who you are. It would break me to see you change your drive to match the desires of others instead of your own."

You nodded as you were listening to his words. You could feel the beat of your heart beginning to match his, your body relaxing to match his. "I just want to be everything you've ever asked for," you confessed.

"And you are more," his lips twitched, "Cauldron, you are so much more. You are perfect for me. Perfect for my court. You are-" Tamlin paused trying to find the words. "I could write all the poetry in the world, source from the greatest love stories of legend, yet nothing could compare to what you are to me."

Those tears changed at that, sadness replaced by warmth as he touched his lips to yours in a comforting kiss before pulling back. "You are my sun," he whispered. "You are not just my world. You are the center I orbit. You are the source of light and warmth. You are how I time my day." Your smile was growing as he continued to speak, hands finding his broad chest as your eyes closed to fully process and enjoy the timber of his voice.

"I love you. I just.. I love you." He ended it so easily. Three words that encompassed thousands of emotions he could describe. "Never change and never hide these feelings from me. Let me help shoulder your burdens."

You leaned up, kissing him as you opened the bond, "And I love you." Your arms wrapped around him, head resting on his chest. "We should go back before our guests worry."

"Let them worry," he kissed the top of your head. "Let's enjoy the garden and the sprites."

General Taglist:

@hnyclover @glitterypirateduck @slytherinindisguise @mischiefmanagers @bloodicka @starsinyourseyes @the-sweet-psycho @mariahoedt @rinalouu @sarawritestories @starryhiraeth @starswholistenanddreamsanswered @cumuluscranium @loneliestluvr @eternallyelvish @azrielsmate3 @daughterofthemoons-stuff @meritxellao @aria-chikage @hungryforbatboys @lilah-asteria @fandomrejects @sleepybesson @tayswhp @itsswritten @milswrites @littlest-w01f

[melodyartist]

I finally redone the hot spring sprite for Atlas, does it look right? No, definitely not...

But hey! Since I have two sprites now I can do mini dialogues thingy things for fun! (Left to right)

[ellieslittleburrow]

Summary : Your phone dies just when you lied to your father about where you are. How does he react when he finds you?

Warnings : Being chased by somebody

A/N : woo woo! First Beau fic, thanks to @dreamerbouquet 🪷🪷 alsooooooooo, i'm so angry at how my writing is so repetitive yall 😭 i hate it i need a change.

-------

-- Your phone dies before you get to send that last text..

Fucking hell. You just lied too-you weren't right...quite on Ousel Falls, you're still in the woods near by, limping your way out as you dragged your bicycle through the mud.

You SOMEHOW trip over something and fly forward, landing over a broken branch that brushes your skin just enough to remove it.

Fuckking hell..

Thankfully, you know your way through the vast space and so you walk...and walk, spinning around when a creaking sounds behind you..."Hello?" You say, frantically looking around. Dear god...

Another creak sounds and a figure appears from afar, seemingly running towards you. A gasp escapes your lips and you push away the bicycle before spriting forward, in spite of your aching foot. You run and hop over branches, looking over your shoulder at the person running after you.

You didn't have time to back down, you thought of your father, what he'd do-Thankfully you're only a little under a mile away from the entrance of the woods, and so your feet spring faster-and as you look back once more, you bump into something-which you push away.

"N-No." You push agaisnt it-

"I'ts me, it's me-it's dad."

"We have to go they're com-"

"Calm down, calm down honey-it's just a bunch of kids" Your dad shakes your body gently, leaning close to you to get your attention. "They ran away already, just a bunch of kids."

You take a breather, processing as your heatbeat starts slowing down...

"Come here." He says, pulling you into his chest, one hand envelopping your back and the other resting over the back of your head. "Dear god...you scared me-i thought-" He shut himself up, proceeding with a long sigh.

You pull away from him, biting your lip in an attempt to dtop your quivering chin. "I'm sorry...i-" a sob escapes your throat and you lean back into his chest- Relief has finally hit you and your muscles relaxed... "i'm sorry i didn't mean to scare you-or for my phone to die i-"

He interrupts you, pulling you away firmly. And when your eyes meet, a wave of emotions travels through his eyes. He looks worried and sad and relieved and angry, all of which overwhelm you.

"What did i say about going to the woods alone?" His voice is firm. But the tenderness in his furrowed eyebrows isn't. "What did i say about that?" He demands a response and you just don't have one.

"I-i m-i don't know-I I didn't take it that seriously-" you stop yourself, hell..you just exposed yourself-you shouldn't have.. "i'm sorry."

Your dad rubs your back "It's okay.." He rests his chin over your head, temporarily planting kisses on it.

"It's okay...i'm here now." Your dad reassures you one last time before stepping back. "Do we need to go to the hospital?" He kneels down when his attention lands on your bleeding leg.

"No, no need for that." You reassure him back, staggering back when he held your leg up a little high. You rested your hand on his shoulder, balancing yourself. "I'm okkay."

You're not-You wince as your father examines what turns out to be an open cut.

"Can you walk?"

You roll your eyes. "Dad, it's not that serious it's just a c-"

"Can you or can you not?" He cuts you off.

"I caaaan..." You groan in annoyance. It's a lie but-he's already tired enough

"Okay....let's go then. If i notice you're limping i'm carrying you back." He orders and a smile appears on your face.

"Okay" You can't fight that. "Thank you."

"I'm...i'm just glad you're okay, honey."

-----

I wish i could've made this one longer. But i'm too tired. Anyway, kissies yall, i hope you enjoyed reading this 🥀🥀🥀❤️❤️❤️

[cloooudmilk]

soda can

mini series: the four of us

you decide to tell shoko, and ONLY shoko, your secret.

does not need to be read in any specific order x x x

Ieiri is sitting on a bench, waiting for you.

When you arrive with two cans of soda in hand, you give her one of them, fresh from the vending machine.

Opening the can and taking a big gulp from it, she says, “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome,” you answer back. You take your seat on the bench beside her. Leaning your head back, you sigh. “Can I tell you something?”

“Anything.”

“You have to swear to secrecy.” You hold your pinky out, looking Ieiri straight in the eyes. She pulls her pinky out, linking it with yours. “Okay. So…I’m transferring to the sister school in Kyoto.”

Ieiri takes another sip from her drink. “Oh, wow.”

“Yeah,” you say. You finally open your can and take a sip from it.

“So when do you leave?”

You open your phone, checking the current date. “In about a week,” you hum.

“Oh, wow,” Ieiri repeats. “I’m guessing I’m the only one you’ve told so far.”

You nod, before adding, “The only one I’m telling, period. I don’t really feel like telling Geto or Gojo. I doubt they’d care, anyways.”

Ieiri remains quiet at your words. You continue, “I just don’t want it to become a big deal. It’d become annoying if it did.”

You tilt your head at Ieiri, she chugs down the rest of her drink. As soon as it’s empty, she puts it down, settling it between the both of you. “I totally get that,” is her reply. She wants to say more, how she thinks Geto and, especially, Gojo would care more than you think, but she respects your decision. Though Ieiri can’t help but think, it’d be funny to see Gojo’s reaction to the news.

But it’s not her place to say anything.

She leans back on the bench, flicking her eyes towards you. You sat straight, only looking at her with a tilt of your head. “It’ll suck being the only girl here, especially since I heard the incoming first years are both boys.”

You laugh, Ieiri will definitely miss hearing that. “Who knows? Maybe the underclassmen will be your type.”

“Nah,” Ieiri sighs. “I don’t think so.”

You stifle another laugh. “Well, if it makes you feel any better, Utahime-senpai told me the boys at Kyoto aren’t very pleasant, so I probably won’t have any boyfriends any time soon.”

Ieiri sits up, staring at the field in front of the both of you. It’s then that she realizes how cold the early spring breeze seems to be. “I hope not. I’d be jealous if you started dating before me.”

“Yeah, yeah,” you dismiss her joke with a wave of your hand. “So, are you gonna ask me?”

“Ask you what?” Ieiri speaks slowly, though she knows what you’re talking about.

You complete her thoughts. “Why I’m transferring.”

“Oh, yeah,” Ieiri quips. “Why are you transferring?”

You finally put your can of soda down, but Ieiri notices you haven’t quite finished it. You haven’t even drank half of it, only taking tiny sips between each pause in your conversation. “Gakuganji-sensei, even though he’s got an unlikable personality, has promised to mentor me. You know, since we have similar techniques. I think I can learn a lot from him, and he agreed, so he’s gotta see some potential in me.”

Ieiri smiles. She feels a bit of pride as she hears your explanation. She’s not really sure why, though. It’s not like she’s ever really pushed you to train hard, mostly because her training never overlaps with yours. At least with a mentor, you probably won’t die young.

You push your drink until it hits Ieiri’s thigh. She looks down at it, then back at you.

“I don’t really want it anymore. You can have it.” You stretch your arms towards the sky before standing up. “I think I’m going to bed early tonight. See you.”

You’re about to walk away before you bend down, your face close to Ieiri’s.

“Remember, you swore to secrecy!”

Ieiri nods. She waves as you head back inside.

She looks down at the cans of soda beside her. One is Coke, and the other is Sprite. She grimaces. Yeah, she’s not finishing your soda for you.

Fortunately, she doesn’t have to worry about throwing the half-full can away as Geto comes to sit beside her. She doesn’t really question where he came from.

“Ah, are you planning on drinking that?” He points at your discarded can. Ieiri shakes her head, and Geto takes it as his cue to take the can and tilt his head back as he brings it to his lips. Once he finishes downing it in one gulp, he looks at Ieiri, wiping the corner of his mouth. “Why do you look so sad?”

“I’m being left behind,” Ieiri weeps. “[name] is transferring to Kyoto.”

Geto’s eyes widened. “Really?”

Ieiri, realizing her mistake, covers his mouth. “Oh, shoot. I wasn’t supposed to tell anyone.” She then shrugs, realizing there was nothing she could do about it. “Don’t tell Satoru.”

“I won’t,” Geto says, but the grin on his lips tells her he’s already planning on telling Gojo. He takes both empty cans and leaves, tossing them into the trash.

Ieiri sighs.

likes, comments, reblogs are appreciated!<3

[velvet-cupcake-games]

Made Marion Development Update, May 2025

Hi everyone!  Thanks for you patience with our small gap in monthly updates. I'm back in business with the current state of the project and team.

State of John's Route

So chronic illnesses can be very frustrating, and this winter and early spring I ended up struggling a ton with mine. I'd been doing well in the fall, but I relapsed hard in Feb-Apr. The good news is that after three years I finally found a specialist who was willing to try medications on me, and the most common med being used on long Covid kicked in during late April after just a couple months! (It can take 3-4 months to fully feel the effects.)  For the first time since January 2022, I feel... normal. It's very exciting!

On top of the illness struggles, I was having difficulties with the way I'd planned the relationship development in John's route. It just wasn't working for me. After a lot of scribbled notes and cursing, it was a conversation with my first reader that helped me figure out my issue... I needed John to be more flawed and for the main pre-relationship confusion to be two-sided instead of one-sided. This avoids a formerly pivotal scene that I felt was too cliche and replaces it with some lovely angst and flailing. Having figured that out, I'm much happier with where things are going.

This leans into my route theme where Marion and John have a number of things in common as the "responsible one" in their families. Both of them are very hard on themselves and that can lead one to not realize that somebody else might actually be super into you. ;)

So never fear, production has been slow so far but in my new brain fogless state I'll be banging this sucker out over the summer and a fall release should be possible!  Wasn't able to speed up the production rate quite yet, but it will be out.

Team Status

While I'm doing the writing and coding, the rest of the team is on their usual tasks.

Sandra: As we've basically finished the backgrounds (I'm trying very hard not to need anymore!), Sandra has moved to assisting Lawri with cut-in production. Here's one that I particularly like from John's route. What did Roan do to deserve being scooped? It involved shenanigans. I gave Sandra reference pictures of angry cats being held. :D

Arrapso: Only one major NPC sprite left to do, so Arrapso is mostly on CGs now. She'll also be doing a more naked version of our male-identified love interest sprites so that they're not obviously wearing trousers during scenes where they're implied to be naked. They won't have visible genitals, you'll just see their lower bellies and maybe some nice muscular lines down there.

Lawrichai: With Sandra helping on cut-ins, Lawri is able to concentrate fully on the animated lore intro. She learned Live2D over the winter so she could take over the animation duties herself, making for a smoother experience than me using in-engine animation tools.

That's where we are, and I hope to be able to deliver much swifter production updates over the summer!

[mixingandmelting]

HIHIHII. I wanted to ask...How do you think Wooin and Hyuk would be in relationship with a reader but like as poly relationship?

They’re so. Damn. Clingy. Unapologetically so, that it’s to the point you haven’t once been seen without them. 

Always claiming both sides with an arm around the neck, the shoulders, and/or (yes, and-slash-or) waist. Sometimes a chin perched on your head. Heaven forbids anyone else touching your hands. You can still remember it like yesterday, the incident with the poor guy simply wanting to thank you for saving his cat. 

“Babe? Who’s this?”

A sharp smirk plastered on his face as Wooin toys with the lollipop in his mouth, his eyes flickering between the joint hands and you. 

“Wooin! It was because I saved his cat- Hyuk, for the love of ,let go of me-!”

It was humiliating really. You did manage to get it resolved though not without being given a look and asked if you were into “that” in the most scandalous voice when Wooin decided then was a good time to act freaky with the other while Hyuk wouldn’t stop nuzzling you as he hugged you from behind. 

Today is no exception, too warm to be considered as the typical spring weather. But it doesn’t deter the two of them where Wooin keeps an arm wrapped around yours and Hyuk leans over, treating your shoulder on the other side as his designated headrest. 

“Let. Go.” You grit out, flicking your arms in attempts to get them out of their grip.

“But babe, we haven’t seen each other for so long-“ 

“We literally saw each other yesterday.” 

“And we haven’t talked in a while-“ 

“I was on the phone with you ten minutes ago.“ 

You simply blow a raspberry when the orange-glasses male squeezes your arm and shoots a glare. Serves him right, he should’ve let you go if he didn’t want to get interrupted every mid sentence. 

“I want some Pocari…” Hyuk grumbles, shifting his head a bit so he could rest on you more comfortably. 

At this point, you’d usually get annoyed. Give in and react considering that’s one of the three reasons why they like to irritate you like this (the other two is them wanting to hog all your attention to themselves as they once said “it’s already rough having to share” and simply enjoying being with you. You have yet to decide if you should be concerned or find this sweet). 

This time? A glint sparkles in your eyes for a second, realizing this is an opportunity. To finally be left alone even if it’s only for five minutes. Peace. And since when have you ever been one to pass when it’s being given on a silver platter? 

“Just Pocari?” Hyuk lets out a grumpy noise when you start feeling yourself for your phone.  

“Why? Planning to go alone?”

You swear-! No, no. Breath in. Breath out. Breath in. Breath out. 

“I mean, it’s hot out and it won’t take long.” Come on! Fall for it, fall for it-! “With the vending machine right the entrance of the apartment, I’ll buy it with Sprite so we can have hwachae* and Hyuk can have his drink.”

You try to keep your composure, maintaining a straight face as Wooin stares at you. One second passes. A full minute. Then he sighs.

“Ugh, fine.”

Yes! Finally-wait. Why was he getting up? 

“Weren’t you complaining earlier how hot it was?” You place your hand on his shoulder, stopping him midway. 

“Do you even have the stuff to make hwachae?” You shed mental tears of anguish at his sneer. This stupid snake-of-a-man, why won’t he give you a break? 

“I can stop by the mart-”

“It’s in the fridge. Next to the bottles of Pocari.” Instantly, you and Wooin whip your heads towards him. 

“What? Since when?” 

“It was in the plastic bag I brought with me earlier.”

Suddenly, it all clicks when you recall the plastic bag that was in his hand from when he and Wooin had, once again, arrived unannounced. 

“W-When you said you wanted to borrow my fridge for a second…” 

“Pfft-! That’s what was in the bag? You should’ve just said so instead of telling me you’d meet me here.” Wooin snickers, covering his face with a hand. 

As for you, you feel your hope crush inside, biting your lips and unable to nudge Hyuk’s hand off as he gradually tangles his fingers with yours. To think this was how you were going to get played-! 

“Since you’re up, can you go grab me one?” Hyuk hums, going back to scrolling through his phone with his free hand. 

“...Tsk.” 

Tsk indeed. Always having to go back and forth where if it’s not that one, it’s the other and vice versa. Hell, you should be glad it’s not both doing it together this time. But your freedom! Your freedom that was stripped away from you! 

By the time Wooin comes back, you’re full out sulking, refusing to acknowledge either of their presence. Well, supposed to. 

“Where’s mine?” Your eyes follow the other male’s movements, leaning over to grab the blue and white bottle placed in front of you while Wooin cracks open his. 

“Oh, you wanted some? You can share with me.” 

Hyuk doesn’t even bother asking; simply taking a sip before he holds his up to you. 

“...That’s it. I’m going.”

You will continue to insist and die on the hill that what happens next isn’t your fault. All you were doing was trying to make a point, the compromised position Vinny and Joker finds the three of you in being completely the other two’s doing once they come over after being invited by you for the impromptu hwachae party. You and everyone else also didn’t appreciate finding out the milk Hyuk brought over was banana flavored once everything was sorted out and the misunderstanding, somewhat, cleared. 

“I hope you two realize it’s because I love you, I put up with this.”

“What? Are you confessing to us again? That’s so embarrassing.”

“I was kidding, I’m not leaving.  So please, I need the two of you to stop squeezing the light out of me. I like breathing.”

*hwachae - Korean watermelon fruit punch made with usually strawberry milk and Sprite

[maggplays]

Magg's Immersive Alex Update: Nearly done!

With a current grand total of 2,843 lines of dialogue, including events! Just doing one last event testing and some final checks. Mod description and event list are done for release, event list below the fold for fun, spoiler-free!

Definitely releasing by Friday, Thursday if all goes well. Alex is getting impatient, he has so much to do!

CUTSCENES (not based on heart level) Game Day Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter (progressive event) Alex house, (season) 15-28, after 3 pm

Game Day Dating (progressive event) Dating Alex, Alex house, after 3 pm

EVENTS 1 Heart Smooth Operator Town, spring 10-20, sunny, 10 am - 2 pm

2 Hearts Vanilla 2 Heart Beach when Alex is present, not winter, sunny (NOTE: Alex's schedule is updated in the mod, he goes to the beach in Spring from 10 am to 1 pm when it's not raining)

Downtime Beach, not rainy, 10 am - 2 pm, Event Seen: Vanilla 2-heart

Sous Chef Alex house, 12 - 4 pm

3 Hearts Leveling Up Town, not rainy, 10 am - 3 pm

Writer's Block Saloon, 4 - 11 pm, Event Seen: Leveling Up

Better Together Alex house, after 4 pm, Event Seen: unlocks 3 daya after Writer's Block

Stars of Fate (Haley event) Town, not rainy, after 12 pm, Event Seen: unlocks 5 daya after Writer's Block

4 Hearts Vanilla 4 Heart Town, 9 am - 4 pm

All-Star Chef Alex house, 12 - 4 pm

Extra Ticket Farmhouse porch, not rainy, 6 - 8 am, Event Seen: unlocks 3 days after All-Star Chef

Carried Away Bus stop, 4 - 6 pm, Event Seen: Extra Ticket

Good Company Alex house, 12 - 4 pm, Event Seen: Carried Away

5 Hearts Vanilla 5 Heart Alex house when he's home

Puppy Love Town, not rainy, 12 - 4 pm

Split Decision (Haley event) Town, not rainy, 10 am to 7 pm, Event Seen: Stars of Fate, unlocks 3 days after Puppy Love

Falling Leaves (Haley event) Haley house, 10 am - 5 pm, Event Seen: unlocks 3 days after Split Decision

Sweet Tooth Alex house, 12 - 4 pm, Event Seen: Falling Leaves

6 Hearts Vanilla 6 Heart Alex house when he's home

Avoidance Tactics Saloon, Friday, 5 - 9 pm, Event Seen: Vanilla 6 Heart

Longshot Alex house, 12 - 4 pm

Longshot 2 Beach, sunny, 7 am - 5 pm, Event Seen: Longshot

7 Hearts Past Ghosts Alex house, not rainy, 10 am - 6 pm

Sticks Town, Friday, 10 am - 4 pm, Event Seen: Past Ghosts

Stones Beach, not rainy, 6 - 11 pm, Event Seen: Sticks

About Face (Haley event) Haley house, 10 am - 5 pm

Total Makeover (Haley event) Haley house, 9 am - 7 pm, Event Seen: unlocks 7 days after About Face

8 Hearts Vanilla 8 Heart Beach, sunny

Ace Serve (Note: this event is as good as I can get it with what I know of sprite animation.) Beach, not winter, 11 am - 4 pm, NOT DATING ALEX

Best Foot Forward Alex house, 11 am - 6 pm, NOT DATING ALEX, Event Seen: Vanilla 8 heart

New Team Saloon, Friday, 4 - 11 pm, NOT DATING ALEX, Event Seen: Best Foot Forward

Off the Leash Farmhouse porch, not rainy, 6 am - 12 pm, NOT DATING ALEX, Event Seen: New Team

9 Hearts Goal Line (extra spicy only) Alex house, 7 - 11 pm, dating Alex, Event Seen: Off the Leash

Upgrade Alex house, 2 - 8 pm, dating Alex, Event Seen: Off the Leash (sweet or spicy) or Goal Line (extra spicy)

Heating Up Bathhouse Pool, after 5 pm, dating Alex, Event Seen: unlocks 5 days after Off the Leash (sweet or spicy), Goal Line (extra spicy)

10 Hearts Vanilla 10 Heart Saloon, after 7 pm, received a letter invite from Alex

Moving Forward Alex house, 11 am - 6 pm, dating Alex, Event Seen: Vanilla 10 heart

Team Up Beach, not rainy, after 8 pm, received a letter invite from Alex, Event Seen: Moving Forward

ENGAGEMENT/WEDDING EVENT SERIES Wedding Kickoff: Lewis visit Farmhouse porch, engaged to Alex

Best Man Sebastian's room, after 3 pm, engaged to Alex, Event Seen: Wedding Lewis visit

Wedding Mullner family chat Alex house, 11 am - 6 pm, engaged to Alex

Haley's Day Out (Haley event) Farmhouse porch, engaged to Alex

Wedding Reception on the Beach (Spring, Summer, Fall) If you're not sure, the beach reception is recommended. Wedding Day, Beach after 12 pm

Wedding Reception at the Saloon (Winter) Wedding Day, Saloon after 12 pm

Bubble Bath (extra spicy only) Wedding Day, farmhouse after 12 pm, Event Seen: Wedding Reception on the Beach (story related, does not trigger after the saloon reception.)

Bright Future Alex house, 8 am - 12 pm, Event Seen: unlocks 5 days after Wedding Lewis visit

Plan to add more marriage events in the v2 update, including dates.

14 Hearts Vanilla 14 Heart Saloon, Alex requested money for the project

SPECIAL EVENTS (based on gameplay choices) Unique pregnancy and birth events for each child

Baby Incoming Bean, after 3 pm, farmer is pregnant, Event Seen: First Baby Pregnancy

Fresh Start Saloon, after 5 pm, farmer is pregnant, Event Seen: Baby Incoming

REPEATING EVENTS (based on configuration options) Winter Walk Introduction Alex house, fall 20-28, Alex is home

Winter Walk (all spice levels) Short event conversation with Alex in the morning during Winter, configuration options for daily, 3 days a week, once a week, or none (off). Farmhouse, winter, 6 am

Sleepover First Night (extra spicy only) Farmhouse, after 9 pm, Event Seen: Goal Line

Sleepover (repeating, extra spicy only) Alex stays over at the farmhouse while dating, configuration options for daily, 3 days a week, once a week, or none (off). Farmhouse, 6 am and after 9 pm

Pillowtalk (repeating, extra spicy only) Alex chats with the farmer at night, configuration options for daily, 3 days a week, once a week, or none (off). Married to Alex, farmhouse, after 9 pm

Good Morning Walk (repeating, all spice levels, special conversations on Anniversary and farmer's Birthday) Alex takes a walk with the farmer in the morning, configuration options for daily, 3 days a week, once a week, or none (off). Married to Alex, farmhouse, 6 am

[galdra-studios]

Hi everyone!

Happy April! This month, we’ve had the pleasure of having Lilybelle interning with us, and she drew this month’s header image of Hannah. Doesn’t she look enchanting? ^^ March was a busy month and April is shaping up to be even busier, so let’s get onto the news!

Today we’re adding Arcadia Fallen II emotes to our Discord! And, due to popular demand, everyone’s favorite flower mage Quinn now has one too! Thank you Lilybelle again for helping us get the server looking sharp for Spring, and we hope you’ll all enjoy using them!^^

Our little home office was starting to be rather cramped. A small army of Mime plushies will do that xD So, after much deliberation, we’re finally moving into a bigger space. We’ll share pictures of our new office once we get everything settled. Wish us luck heaving our heavy desks down the stairs! x,D

This month, Elias got a few new sprites and we also drew the background for the Mender Ward where you might find him helping accident-prone students get patched up.

One aspect of game development you might be less familiar with is how we approach showcase season. We want as many people as possible to hear about Arcadia Fallen II, and online showcases are a great way to reach our future players.

Showcase season is coming up, but a few months in advance we busy ourselves writing applications and preparing trailers. We're right in the middle of that process now, and we'll let you know which showcases we make it into. Fingers crossed for us and for everyone else going through the same process right now!^^

Thank you so much for following our journey! And we’ll see you in May for another DevLog!

Cheers!

- The Galdra Team

[hello-from-nrc-infirmary]

*Vern sighs*

**○`!▪︎◇°○`...**•○`°¿°□

(Why did my umm... hair pick today to not cooperate?)

[iridescent-solstice]

Presentingggg @aiscapades's oc Etheldreda. Also known as Dedrie! A temple girl who was once a revered oracle for a desolate mountain town. One where faith and law were inseparable . . . Until a foreign mage exposed her reputable ability for what it really was. A curse.

The templates used belong to red spring studio.

ITS BEEN CENTURIES I KNOWWWW!

My apologies for the delays OP, when I first started making Dedrie’s reference-sheet I had no idea which direction to take it into. It was my first time making one and that too with someone else’s oc 😅

. . . Not my most well thought out plan sksksks, but once I started I wanted to make her look absolutely perfect! The constant worrying led to artblock and then there were exams to worry about and constant software glitches which corrupted her save files . . . Oof this project got out of control very quickly and my clumsy approach was not helping but despite it all . . . She’s finally complete!! Not too shabby looking haha, I hope you like her design as much as I do!! Please do let me know what you think 🙇🏻‍♀️

(P.s: Here are the transparent sprites incase you wanna reuse them. Also, if you’d like me to change or remove something, feel free to reach out)

[x-lee-cya]

okay but what if jack was originally a spring spirit. what if he was a spring spirit but got turned into a winter one by manny, or mother nature, or fuck, even pitch - but for this one let's go with mother nature.

no one'd believe him. he'd've been around for, what, 50 years before she changed him, at most, bc i imagine that's how long it takes for immortal spirits to catch notice of any newbies, esp given how jack seems to be the only (major/[ ] who stays there] spirit in burgess. so. 51 or 53 years in, MN comes in, goes, "hey yeah you're a winter sprite now" and jack just goes "what the fu-??"

he assumes, for the next decade or so, that it's a joke. (whenever faced with evidence it's true, he stays in denial for another six.)

it can't be true, ignoring how his mud-brown hair has turned white (there's only one stripe of brown left, by the time the movie comes about. he dyes it the same shade of ice-white the rest of his hair has turned into over the last 300 years; the reminder is more painful then anything, at that point, and so it's better left forgotten, in his book) and his well-tanned skin into the pale complexion of the likes of which he's only ever seen on winter seasonals. ignoring how one of his eyes is now bright lakewater-blue instead of both of them being sun-shone gold-brown, how his freckles are white like little snowdrops embedded into his skin instead of like miniature sunflowers sprouting themselves again and again with every new spring.

and now imagine how hard it'd be for jack, to transition from Type A to Type fuckin' Z, even if slowly - but isn't that even more painful, in the end? he loses the ability to make his flowers, his vines, his grasses, his trees - he gets sluggish in early spring and is conked out every time by the 30th of the first month of the too-warm (much, much too warm, and when has anything ever been too warm for him?) season, no matter how much he tries to stay awake, to see just someone's flowers even if not his own. he fails. he always, always fails.

then '68 comes around. things go wrong, jack gets upset, he can't remember why, and he makes a storm - even after all this time he's still shite at controlling his winter magic: he gets a scar from bunny aswell as a flower - a snowdrop, ironically enough; his old namesake, 'fore he became jack frost instead of jack snowdrop - and bunny a scar and a few snowflakes from him when winter finally comes 'round again.

then 2012 comes around, and, well. there's no point TELLING the guardians that he used to be a spring sprite, not when they'd never believe him, bunny especially. he'd take it as an insult, probably. some kind of mockery, some slight against him and all his fellow spring seasonals (once jack's fellow spring seasonals, but not anymore, NEVER anymore) - after all, if no one else ever believed him when he tried to explain what'd happened, what MN had done to him, had changed him, they'd all just laughed.

(well, laughed and then hurt him, but that's besides the point).

but THEN bunny catches him trying - and failing - to make animated flowers using his frost; they melt as soon as their shape solidifies. mother nature'd changed him so much, jack thinks, a tad bitterly, that he can't even make anything vaguely spring-y with his own (new, strange, wrong) element.

"why can't'cha make those? ya made that frost-bunny for jamie jus' fine," asks bunny.

"yeah, well, why don't'cha ask miss mother nature that question and then get back to me in three-to-give business days," jack grumbles, not even making a paltry attempt to hide the bitterness, the borderline resentment in his voice for mother nature, for the one who changed him, the one who ruined him. resentment's a dangerous thing, jack knows, but he thinks he's allowed it, in this one case.

(he'd never resented the moon as much as he'd resented mother nature.)

bunnymund blinks, taken aback, ears flipping back to press against his furred neck. taps his foot against the ground, gently. he's still looking at jack, looking at his failing, melting, broken frostflowers, his one visible blue eye - jack'd always kept his other one hidden, 'least round him and all the other guardians. the one time bunny'd tried to ask, the frostbite'd gotten all defensive, and so bunnymund'd let it drop - dead and tired.

(jack didn't look back, even as he felt eyes on him, heard the sound of bunny's signature tunnel opening and then close, once again.)

and then bunny does just that.

[chongoblog]

Hey Ryan, asking because it completely blindsided me and left my jaw on the floor for a minute straight. Who did you take to the hot springs first in Hades 2 and how much of a jumpscare were those sprites

I'm finally getting my first hot springs moment. I chose Moros and I'm about to find out what you mean by how much of a jumpscare those sprooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh