#(so at the end of the story we had was eli crying about not know what a parabola is)

[flamboyant-king]

That sure sounds like something bad is going to happen to these teens just doing their homework.

#this is old but i never posted it #the context is we were playing with that character ai thing in april and i was trying to see if the thing could properly answer math #it could not because not even the equation for a parabola was correct #(so at the end of the story we had was eli crying about not know what a parabola is) #but what happened in the story is theyre parallel studying in liam&charlie's apartment when they hear screaming and police sirens #they look out the window and then look up and they see a man on the opposite apartment complex standing on the edge of the roof #drama ensues and charlie and joey have an extended interaction that makes me want them to be friends rather than acquainances thru eli #but that whole ordeal was not canon but it does open the door to my mind. so that ai shenanigans wasnt all negative #i dont touch the thing anymore tho. but i did find this pic again and remembered...i need to draw these kids more #and they are my kids now. i made them in high school so they were my peers but now they are my children #oc stuff #find eli #joey #charles #eli #also char and joey were able to talk the man down or at least distract him enough until EMTs were able to bring him down

[kindestofkings]

nepobaby²

elijah hewson x pop singer! reader

authors note: reader is matty healy's lil sister cause I loovvvee connecting my two fav bands.

ENJOY THIS EVERYONEEE, happy holidays <33

yourusername

liked by charli_xcx and others

yourusername thank you thank you THANK YOU everyone for all the love and support over this album !! it was the product of heartbreak but now its the thing bringing me all the joys <33 tour continues next week cant wait to see all you sexy beings :))

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yourfan1 where is the deluxe version of the deluxe version?? i need it now

yourfan2 thank u for giving us this 

charli_xcx the QUEEN of pop

yourusername are you kidding?? have you seen yourself?

denise_welch so so proud of you my darling girl !

yourusername mumma<333

denise_welch

liked by trumanblack and others

denise_welch my eldest and my youngest. having a fab time on our summer holidays 💕💕

tagged: trumanblack and yourusername

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bedfordanes75 yourusername you look rightly fed up

yourusername is it that obvious?? rass75 what were you arguing about trumanblack think this was just after she told me to stop using the word meta yourusername literally no need to hear its so much, what is meta in mallocra matthew ?? trumanblack who needs to say slay so much? sorry for having a developed vocabulary denise_welch kids... yourusername sorry mum trumanblack sorry mum

1975fan1 i love that they are normal siblings even tho they're killing it in the music industry

yourusername posted on their story!

my mother and my mother?? confused but continue

bedfordanes75 charli is v upset she thought she was mother ↳ I can explain..... taylorswift hahha stop it shes the best! can't wait for you to join us on tour 🕺 yourfan1 I love you all

ynfanupdates

liked by yourfan1 and others

ynfanupdates guys omg I was just at the 1975 gig with my sister and yn was their special guest😭😭😭 best. day. EVER.

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1975fan1 I died when matty said its annoying being the least talented singer in the family

ynfanupdates did he lie tho she sounded inCREDIBLE, had the whole place hoppin

yourfan1 omg what did she sing??

1975fan1 she sang cruel summer coming out and then she sang she lays down with matty! usually the boys leave the stage when they have a special guest but they all stayed and played for her it was ADORBS ynfanupdates one thing the boys of the 1975 are gonna be is overly proud of yourusername

yourusername thank you so much for all the love guys I was SO NERVOUS lol

ynfanupdates omg hiii no we would have NEVER KNOWN, you were so good yourusername 💕💕

yourusername

liked by elijahhewson and others

yourusername the 1975 family you really know how to make a girl feel welcome ! thank you for singing so loudly and embracing your inner pop girlie with me. sorry big bro for making you cry and getting all the talent in the family 😬

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trumanblack oi I just did a nice thing dont come for me

yourusername sorry cant hear you through all your tears?? what did you say? rass75 how did we end up with the uncool healy? trumanblack mate youre meant to be MY bestfriend

1975fan1 fav sibling duo

inhalerfan1 oh hello eli in the likes??

inhalerfan2 I ALWAYS notice him omg imagine they dated

denis_welch proud as always watching you two doing what you do best never gets old!

yourusername

liked by bobbyskeetz and others

yourusername like paris in 45' 🕺😏

city of love has me feeling all kinds of things, would I lose my job if I wrote songs about being in love instead of heartbreak??

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yourfan1 MOTHER id listen to anything you release

inhalerfan1 not the inhaler lyric and discussions of LOVE

inhalerfan2 being delulu and obsessing over how hot of a couple yn and eli would be inhalerfan1 girl me toooo yourfan2 she's never this secretive of boyfriends tho inhalerfan2 shusshhhh

bedfordanes75 we have a WHOLE song called paris that you could've used....

taylorswift me too :(( trumanblack she's too busy fancying bonos son to care yourusername im gonna kill you charli_xcx ratty youre an idiot

inhalerfan1 HEHEHEH LOOK AT MATTY'S COMMENT

yourusername

liked by elijahhewson and others

yourusername not me curating the most perfect of perfect soft launches for my IDIOT brother to ruin it all. well I tell you I wont let a manchild who writes quotes about crappy coffee and boys ruin this for me ! you dont know who that is got it? GOT IT?

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trumanblack I NEVER SAID THAT QUOTE

bedfordanes75 life's too short to drink crappy coffee ☕️☕️ rass75 and cry over boys 😭😭🙍🏻‍♂️ yourusername who dont care 🤷‍♂️🙅‍♂️🙅🏻‍♀️💅 1975fan ahahahhahahahah boom roasted

bobbyskeetz he clearly doesnt know how scary you are over this subject...

yourusername !!!!!

inhalerfan1 I am so so happy right not

yourusername and why miss inhaler fan would that be?? I suggest you reread that caption hmmhmm inhalerfan1 truly terrifying but im sorry the third picture is my proof yourusername i give up it was just too cute to leave out

bbcradio

liked by yourusername and others

bbcradio we had the fabulous yn healy come visit us in in the bbc live lounge ! Follow the link in our bio to see this pop queen's cover of jeff buckley's lover, you should've come over 🥹

tagged: yourusername

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yourusername had SO MUCH FUN !!

inhalerfan1 respecting your soft launch mother but this has me gagged teehee

yourfan1 I beg of you to release this on spotify its a NEED

bobbyskeetz huh interesting song choice

ryanmacmahon_15 wonder if theres a deeper meaning to this selection joshjenkinson_ theres someone who kinda looks like him, isnt there? yourusername I dont know what you're implying... who even are you three???? inhalerfan1 heheh not you pretending not to know them while following all three of them

deuxmoi

liked by ynfan1 and others

deuxmoi theres a hot new couple on the block

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ynfan1 I hate this account so much like respect their privacy

inhalerfan1 holy fuck it's true then

inhalerfan2 wow are we gonna talk about that letter

ynfan2 who do you think wrote it ? inhalerfan1 its giving Eli vibes to me ynfan3 could not be theirs ...

yninhalerstan why is no one talking about the contents of the letter?!?! man literally wrote you fill my head with sweetness and you fill my head with YOU

inhalerfan1 sleeping on the motorway tonight ynfan1 I am sooo single it hurts

bobbyskeetz stay out of it like

yourusername damn having my very own alexa chung moment rn

yourusername

liked by elijahhewson and others

yourusername to answer the burning question: yes we met at the daycare for nepobabies 😏

also the last pic is for the nosey bastards at deuxmoi !

tagged: elijahhewson

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elijahhewson still waiting for my love letter...

yourusername alri I dont know if I can be the alex to your alexa, what about a few love songs? elijahhewson yeah guess that'll do yourusername get ready pretty boy inhalerfan1 PRETTY BOY ynfan1 damn we lost her

bobbyskeetz THANK GOD this has been awful to keep in

ynfan2 damnn can believe I lost the love of my life to an irish boy

yourusername a very pretty irish boy that makes me v happy, does that help or make it worse? ynfan2 really 😭😭 really 😭😭 happy for you 😭😭

inhalerfan2 nepobaby²!!

trumanblack you promised me you wouldn't date until you were at least 35..

yourusername 👁👄👁 we're just friends..

denis_welch both so gorgeous! great to see you so happy

ynfan2 damn he makes her happy 😭 😭

yourusername

liked by trumanblack and others

yourusername surprise! my next album fuck, I'm in love is gonna be yours next month <33

cause im in a giving mood I thought I'd give you a look at the covers AND the a sneak peak at the tracklist mwah xx

1. lover 2. mastermind 3. nonsense 4. the archer 5. dress 6. gorgeous 7. bad for business 8. false god 9. good in bed 10. your power

(please listen even tho they're happy )

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yourusername also big shout out to bedfordanes and miss xcx for help with the production xxx

bedfordanes sick songs but also so very disturbing that the littlest healy is thinking like this charli_xcx such a baby ! songs are just as hot as you girl 🔥🔥

inhalerfan1 those song titles...

ynfan1 oh MY GOD good in bed ?? LOVER is this a dont listen around your parents album??

yourusername well tracks 3,4 and 9 are off limits for my brother and mum if that tells you anything ynfan1 mwhahahha miss girl you're iconic

ryanmcmahon_15 oh he's gonna be unbearable after this

joshjenkinson_ like he isn't already bad enough he's dating one of the biggest popstars rn inhalerfan1 lol eli in his wag era elijahhewson and proud of it 💅💅

ynfanupdates

liked by ynfan1 and others

ynfanupdates BEST DAY EVERRRR guys I got invited to yn's secret show in london tonight and it was the best thing to ever happen to me 😭 it was such an intimate show with only a handful of fans there and she sang the entire new album. also her brother matty came on and played guitar for your power, which had me SOBBING

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ynfan1 wow im sooo envious was it just fans?

ynfanupdates no it was like for all her friends and family ! ynfan1 sooooo was he there? ynfanupdates who do you think shes smiling to?? he was ofc there and the rest of inhaler

ynfan2 what are the songs like ? can you remember any lyrics??

ynfanupdates not really I was so in the moment and I'm gonna gatekeep them cause you will enjoy them more next friday! ynfanupdates but ill tell you what she said before the archer! said that it was written about her brother (matty) and how since she's always looked up to him, and she can't believe that he isn't more assured in himself or something ynfan2 ahhh I cannot wait

inhalerfan1 what was your favourite??

ynfanupdates soooo hard to choose but i think gorgeous or mastermind ! she was so clearly happy singing them <3

yourusername I too cry at the sight of my brother I dont blame you ! thank you for coming and thank you thank you for not leaking any lyrics <33

ynfanupdates my pleasure 💕💕💕💕

liked by elijahhewson and others

yourusername wow releasing an album just before silly season was HECTIC. but I wouldnt change it for the world! thank you for all the love for fuck, im in love the first couple shows have been INSANE.

got up to some other fun aswell as doing shows, I mean it is silly season after all !

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taylorswift tis the damn season !

elijahhewson fuck that first pic..

yourusername yeah? im too busy looking at the hottie in the second pic... bobbyskeetz you both make me SICK trumanblack agreed you should both break up rn yourusername as IF you weren't the one throwing a hissy fit over the fact he's not coming for christmas

joshjennkinson_ seems like an unfair pic to choose ...

ryanmcmahon_15 done so dirty yourusername but you all look soooo tall!

denis_welch can't wait to have you back for christmas !! enjoy Ireland first

yourusername me too! I'll be home on the 23rd :)) inhalerfan1 ahh shes going to eli's!!

yourusername just added to their story!

replies:

trumanblack and why in gods name do you always us this pic

↳ yourusername its the definition of socially awkwardness hahaha

bobbyskeetz get ready for the worst hangover ever afterwards

↳ yourusername terrified on multiple levels

elijahhewson hahahha you've met them so much it's grand

yourusername

liked by trumanblack and others

yourusername if im just a girl how am I now a homeowner??

another amazing thing to finish of this AMAZING year 💘

comments have been limited

trumanblack STOP GROWING UP

denis_welch I agree with matthew

elijahhewson woohoo homeowners next step dogowners ?

yourusername we have not got it in us to be parents in any capacity babyyy elijahhewson :((((

Check out part two here xxx

#inhaler band #elijah hewson imagine #inhaler dublin #elijah hewson fanfic #elijah hewson x reader #elijah hewson #fake instagram #fake insta post

[blouisparadise]

Here are some of the amazing bottom Louis fics that were posted or completed during the month of September. We hope you enjoy this list. Happy reading!

1) Like Sweat Dripping Down Our Dirty Laundry | Explicit | 1,460 words

Note: This fic has mentions of BH.

Harry has a thing for Louis' armpits. Louis wears a tank-top. You get the picture.

2) The Beat Of Your Heart, The Devil's Arcade | Mature | 3,567 words

“Louis Tomlinson, shortstop to the Cardinals, marries pitcher for their rival team, the Chicago Cubs,” Oli says in a fake announcer voice. He shakes his head. “One day someone will make a movie about it."

3) Make Dreams Come True | Explicit | 3,883 words

“You’re saying, I’ve met him?” he asked hopefully. “Yeah, mate, you’ve probably seen him somewhere, found him attractive and bam… he’s in your dreams -” Zayn chuckled, “Our brains are a mysterious place”. That was it. He had met him before, which meant that he could meet again. “I'm going to find him”, Louis said happily, humming contently. “It can’t be that hard right?”

4) Good And Bad And Right And Wrong | Explicit | 5,113 words

Note: This fic was written for the Bottom Louis Fic Fest. Check out the full collection here.

Louis angrily threw a pillow at his head, but Harry avoided it, laughing loudly as he slammed the door behind him. Louis bit his lip, grumpy and flushed and hard again, tension and arguments like this with his dear husband always a huge turn on. He knew it was his toxic trait, but at the same time, it was so good to let the tension build until it exploded under the sheets. So instead of pouting and groaning in bed, waiting for Harry to leave the house without him like he first intended to do, Louis kicked the sheets of his legs, stripped off his boxers –and gave his cock a few nice quick strokes, before getting dressed for the gym. Harry smiled widely when he joined him in the kitchen. Louis flipped him off. He promised himself he would have his revenge.

5) Harmony | Explicit | 6,175 words

Alpha Harry and Omega Louis don’t have the most amicable relationship at work. When they get stuck together in an elevator, Harry scents Louis after nothing else works to bring him out of his panicked state. Their time trapped in the elevator together brings to light some misunderstandings, and maybe some feelings for each other, too.

6) Smile for the Camera for It Knows Everything, Hollywood Star | Mature | 6,676 words

Note: This fic was written for the Bottom Louis Fic Fest. Check out the full collection here.

Prompt 132- The story of Nancy Reagan being called the blowjob queen of Hollywood but it's Louis.

7) It's All My Love (You Got All My Love) | Teen & Up | 8,002 words

Note: This fic is locked and can only be read by AO3 users.

Sometimes, he realized how he truly didn’t deserve an alpha this good and patient and understanding and loving. He had no clue how Louis had bagged him, how Harry had wanted to mate with him, let alone raise pups together. Still, here they were, with Harry being the perfect lover and Louis crying in the streets about a little pumpkin. The fact Eli had baked little cakes in the shape of pumpkins that morning didn’t make anything better for Louis’ emotional state, but at the very least he got to sit down with Harry for a minute and devour one together, mumbling his apologies into the alpha’s neck.

8) To A Higher Place | Explicit | 8,118 words

Louis arrives home during his break from tour just in time for Harry’s rut.

9) Cold Spring | Explicit | 8,260 words

Note: The main pairing is Louis/Pedro Pascal. This fic was written for the Bottom Louis Fic Fest. Check out the full collection here.

Life went on as normal at Cold Spring Café. Sam’s scribbles remained indiscernible, Jake persisted on his idea of getting more pots for the shop, and Pedro…Pedro continued coming to drink his moderately-caffeinated americano, to write furiously in that notebook of his, and to captivate Louis to no end.

10) My Fire, My Heart | Not Rated | 9,600 words

One look at his face and there's worry all over him. "Baby? What's going on?" "Nothing, just drive." Louis replies, turning to look outside the window. "Lou-" "I said drive, Harry. Just take me home." He says in frustration. He was not ready to have the conversation yet, needing time to think, to clear his head. Harry doesn't say anything again, just starts the car to leave.

11) I (Don’t) Really Care For You | Mature | 11,367 words

Note: This fic was written for the Bottom Louis Fic Fest. Check out the full collection here.

“There’s always the worst-case scenario,” Zayn said while the subway pulled to a stop. “Get your heart broken. Then you can write through experience.” “Yeah, right,” Louis called after him while Zayn hopped off of the train. “You try falling in love in New York City.”

12) Fight For Us | Explicit | 11,133 words

Louis isn’t okay. It’s beyond wrong, the way they’re held in a cage waiting to be chosen for mating. It’s the way it’s been all Louis’ life, but he never wanted to end up like this. He’d hoped against hope that he’d present as a beta since they don’t have these same restrictions on them. They don’t have to adhere to their biology. And one dark night, long after all of the other omegas in the pen have fallen asleep, biology comes calling for Louis.

13) The Wild Night to Memory Loss to Soul Mates Pipeline | Explicit | 17,628 words

Note: This fic was written for the Bottom Louis Fic Fest. Check out the full collection here.

“What the fuck are you on—holy shit,” Louis gasps, looking down at his own hand to see a white gold band wrapped his left ring finger. “Wh-what is going on?” “Sure is a conundrum,” the man muses, realization flashing in his green eyes. “I-I’m not married, I can’t be married,” Louis mumbles to himself, staring wide-eyed at the ring, heart racing a mile a minute.

14) There's A Hole In My Heart (And It's Got Your Name On It) | Explicit | 19,502 words

The four scream from the stands as the team huddles together, pulling their helmets and gloves off and slapping each other's backs as they celebrate their win. Louis had stolen a pom-pom from Mal earlier and he shakes it vigorously. His breath hitches when Harry looks up and their eyes meet. The hockey player smirks at him but looks away quickly. “Did he just-” “No.” Louis quickly stops Jade from even finishing that sentence because he’s about to lose his damn mind.

15) Ties That Binds Us | Explicit | 21,117 words

A tale as long as time Where A King who didn’t have any intentions of loving someone falls for the boy who was a hopeless romantic, tying them in a union neither could escape.

16) Love Is Pain, Pain Is Pleasure | Explicit | 25,288 words

Note: This fic was written for the Bottom Louis Fic Fest. Check out the full collection here.

After a series of disturbing events threaten his safety, Louis has no choice but to hire a new bodyguard. Enter Harry, an incredibly attractive, judgmental asshole who hates Louis’ guts.

17) The Wounds That Scarred Our Souls | Explicit | 35910 words

Note: This fic was written for the Bottom Louis Fic Fest. Check out the full collection here.

Forever was nothing but a lie, Forever was just a ruse for the human heart, it gave you hope and then killed you. Forever was just a myth.

18) Always An Angel, Never A God | Explicit | 39,518 words

Note: This fic was written for the Bottom Louis Fic Fest. Check out the full collection here.

To understand the level of deep water Louis was in, one first needed to know he has had the same best friend since he was five. Ethan Astor was family to him—a friend who he loved deeply despite their differences. A friend he would do almost anything for. So when Ethan came to him with the plan, no matter how he felt about it, Louis accepted it. At first, it was simple, he just had to flutter his eyelashes at any of the boys that showed interest in Ethan, and if they fell for it, he just dumped them without telling them the reason. Somehow, the rumors spread around campus that Ethan had an insufferable friend they had to somehow win over to reach him. Like a final monster before getting the princess.

19) Love Me If You Dare | Explicit | 54,721 words

Note: This fic was written for the Bottom Louis Fic Fest. Check out the full collection here.

Harry and Louis’ friendship starts with a game, after a simple dare. The two little boys quickly become the best of friends and referees of their own game. Unfortunately, as they grow up, they sometimes become the victims of it too. With them, everything is possible. They are capable of daring each other to do anything. But will they dare confess their feelings for each other?

20) Sink Into Your Sunlight | Explicit | 79,601 words

Louis hadn’t forgotten about Harry as much as he tried. It wasn’t due to the strange nature of their meeting, more so the magnetic pull he somehow had on Louis. He couldn’t fathom why this complete stranger stayed in his mind as much as he tried to stop it. Any time his phone sounded his heart skipped a beat at the thought of it possibly being Harry. In all honesty, it made him feel sort of pathetic. Gay guy falls for straight guy, what a cliche he had become.

21) Three Men And A Baby | Explicit | 122,978 words

Note: There is a BH mention. This fic was written for the Bottom Louis Fic Fest. Check out the full collection here.

Louis' life had been going along just fine. Until one morning when his entire world changes when he steps on a piece of lego belonging to a young boy who has randomly appeared in his flat. And with that boy comes his gorgeous father. His flatmate Zayn has some explaining to do but he's definitely not complaining, instantly feeling connected to these new additions. Over the span of a year, life gets crazy, frustrating, surprising and most importantly...filled with love.

Check out our other fic rec lists by category here and by title here.

You can find other monthly roundup fic rec lists here.

#bottom louis #top harry #larry #blp #monthly fic recs #blp fic recs

[jerzwriter]

I'd like to thank @aria-ashryver for this idea; I got this from their post on the 10 times they made their characters cry! [This reminds me that I really need to get back to writing angst! lol]

This is in no order because it would take me 10 years to finish.lol

A Moment in Time - CoP AU - Trystan x Carolina (F!MC)

I love a good 'true love that's meant to be, but circumstances deem they can't be together' story. This was a very real possibility for them, and I needed to write an AU to explore it. (And yes, I know, I need to do the final part!)

Promises Made, Promises Kept - OH - Ethan x Kaycee (F!MC)

After a lifetime together, Ethan & Kaycee's daughter carries on a tradition for her father after he's gone.

Forever - OH AU - Ethan Ramsey x Kaycee (F!MC)

He let her go, except he never did, not even at the very end. This one was just cruel. I'm sorry. But I'm not.

See You Again - OH AU - Tobias x Casey (F!MC)

Tobias learns about the importance of friendship and how to move on after tragedy strikes. This one was just cruel, too. There is something wrong with me.

Unblemished & Unforgettable - OH AU - Tobias Carrick x Casey

Sometimes, walking away is the only way, no matter how much it hurts. These still makes me cry lol

In Another Time - OH - Tobias x Vincenza (F!OC) Ethan x Vincenza

Two friends in love with the same woman typically doesn't end well, but these two really mucked it up.

Delaying the Inevitable - OH AU - Ethan Ramsey x F!MC, Tobias Carrick x F!MC

This series had a lot of angst-filled moments. I think most would argue that Chapter 13 was the most tear-inducing. But here are some of my favorite tear-inducing parts... including Chapter 13. Ch. 6 Excerpt: Love for One - Tobias confesses his love for his best friend's girl, knowing it will never be more than a dream. (this is an excerpt from the full chapter.) Ch. 11: Shattered - When the past repeats itself, Ethan falls apart, and the fallout comes fast. Ch. 13: Break My Heart Again - Yeah, this is the one I'm hated for. lol Dark Ethan / broken Casey. Ch. 34: When Forever Falls Apart - Tragedy can change everything (and I fucked everyone up in this chapter! lol) Ch. 35: For Good - Reflection, change, and goodbyes.

Eli Sipes Prequel (Series) - WTD Prequel - Eli Sipes & Family

Honestly, I'm cheating here because this is a whole bunch of stories, but honestly, it's some of my favorite work that I've ever done. A zombie apocalypse lends itself to angst, and canon told us about The Sipes family's tragic end, but we didn't know their story. I wanted to tell it through the eyes of his mother in A Mother's Journal. Coming Up Blank is a companion series that tells the story of Eli and his brother, David, coming of age. Then, lastly, the last 2 days Eli has with his family - and yeah - "that" end is covered in The End of the World Part 1 and Part 2.

I struggled with the last 2, especially because I cheated. There are more than 10 up there, after all! lol Also, some of these are unfinished and I feel guilty... so here's a mish-mosh with no comments, but this is all angst: When the Bough Breaks Part 1 (OH-AU|Ethan x Kaycee); What's Forever For? (OH-AU|Tobias x Casey); Where it Goes From Here... (OH-AU|Tobias x Casey); What We Wish For (Series) (OH-AU| Tobias x Casey)

@choicesfandomappreciation

#ChoicesFanworksDay #international fanworks day #top 10 - my angsty shit #playchoices #open heart #crimes of passion #wake the dead

[bawnjourno]

Chicago Sparks Rambles!!!

It was so slay to meet Claire @rhythmthlef Eiffel @thedevotionaltour and Sarah @ron-do-i-get-to-sing-my-way and to ofc be with my bff Alissa @taintmansion . Everyone looked so yass and slay and our group pic got on the insta story!

Also shoutout to @churippu who was so sweet and gave us the grooviest stickers in the merch line! I can’t wait to find a place for my sparkly suit Russell.

I NEVER go crazy at merch tables and have spent months not going to the movies, buying records, or eating out, so I got… 3 t-shirts, a tote bag, socks, and the pin set 💪 I love all my swag!

ofc last year in Chicago (same venue) was a bit more subdued all around energy wise bc it was still during COVID but the crowd was great this time. I wish we’d stood earlier (seated venues are like that sometimes) but the people in the front row were up dancing like crazy the whole time and other people were dancing in the aisles!

Those first few opening songs obviously went hard but I was LIVINGGGGGG during Beaver and Ron’s piano/Stevie’s drums in Nothing Is As Good As They Say It Is were fire. And Russell’s vocals in general jesus! How do u do that dude!!!

It Doesn’t Have To Be That Way has meant a lot to me personally for various reasons - mainly, I’ve felt weird and uncool my whole life and I find my passion in meaning in making art and using that art to connect with people who DO understand me - and so Russell was just introducing it and I started crying and cried the whole song 😭

Then cut to Balls when we NEEDED to get our fist pumps on!! ✊🟢

I love that they kept Shopping Mall Of Love bc people were screaming for Ronnie like it was Beatlemania. Love that bridge clapping also!

Toughest Girl In Town had one of the coolest arrangements eva god it was beautiful. And We Go Dancing went crazyyyyyyyy like I will never be that in shape in my LIFE

Eli ate that Bon Voyage solo tf up 🎸

By MTYCTD everyone was standing and dancing and the fire alarm started going off mid song but we all just ignored it 😭😭😭 tfw they are literally hotter than your mama will ever be. And the song ends and Russell just goes [slightly bitchy voice] “okayyyyyyyy. everything’s fine, carry on as you were” fjjfjfjfjfjjd

The 1 2 3 punch of Heaven My Way This Town is always godly. I made sure to scream my lungs out during the shuffle wahhhhh.

I can’t remember at what point but like 2/3 through the set maybe? In between songs Russell just starts singing 🎶My kind of town, Chicago🎶 it was really sweet

I wish they’d done the full Gee That Was Fun but the mini version served well as a final pre encore song 🥹

I had forgotten about the rainbow lights during Baby’s so thank god I was recording wahhhhhh that song goes so hard

All That was worse than IDHTBTW like I started sobbing and couldn’t stop until they left the stage 😭 They just mean so much to me!!! And Ron made a lil speech thanking us and said “I know it sounds hackneyed but at this point in the night I can’t avoid sounding hackneyed” and I mean ofc they’d say this but they said “best Chicago visit yet” which was nice

The standing ovation after All That and the pic was like 3-4 minutes long and Alissa commented on it and Claire just went “I could go all night baby!” which like so true

Russell made 🫶🫰 at the audience during this standing o and Alissa just screamed “KPOP KING !”

I stood on my chair and still didn’t get in the pic but Ron was technically on top of me so 💪😌

Random asides: got so many compliments on my Ron outfit! Sparks fans are the nicest! When our group met in the Dunkin a nice blonde woman walking outside flashed me a thumbs up from the window and then she was front row. We actually chatted after and she said she was considering going to Milwaukee last minute. Girl do it!!!! And when I got to merch and said “okay let’s start with the tote bag bc i’m gonna go a little crazy” the person in the left half of the line laughed and was encouraging lol.

Alissa and I waited outside for about half an hour and I guess the guys had been whisked away long beforehand 😅 but we said hi to Evan and Max and they were super nice!

One of the best shows I’ve ever been to. Once of the most meaningful and profound. So glad I have a favorite band. So glad I have great friends to do it all with. Gee That Was Fun (real)

Sparkle on ✨

#sparks tour 2023

[writingmaneskin]

Home is Where The Heart is - A Damiano David Story || Chapter Thirty Two || END

Description: Learning how to love again, how to heal and that it’s okay to move on and rebuild yourself after dealing with so much pain.

Words: 2k

A/N: I am crying as I write this (😭). Thank you for believing in this story that started out as a daydream on a walk and that ended up changing my life. Thank you for believing in me and supporting me. Thank you for loving the characters I created and for sticking with me and with them. Thank you.

PS. There is a time-jump between the previous chapter and this one.

THE HIWTHI MASTERLIST

THE MAIN MASTERLIST

kofi || taglist || come chat

The David household was full of music. Beautiful, lively music. He couldn’t keep the smile off his face as he worked on the dinner menu that he was preparing for the little gathering. Eli was on a call in the space the two of them had adapted as an office, Dante alternating between dancing along with the music and helping his papa (read: causing chaos) in the kitchen. 

His soul felt lighter. It was like seeing light at the end of the tunnel - a very long tunnel that had really put his mental health through things that he never thought he’d experience. But as each day passed, he felt lighter, he felt closer and closer to being able to enjoy life again, the fears that had chased him awake for so many nights, slowly fading into shadows. 

Lost in thought, he got startled when Eli wrapped their arms around his middle and pressed a kiss to his shoulder.

“I am all yours now, how can I help?” Eli spoke quietly.

He leaned back and pressed a kiss to their temple. 

“Just keep me company, I’ve got this.” He reassured them, Eli sitting down immediately on one of the chairs next to the kitchen island.

“Is everyone truly coming?” Eli asked, trying to do the math of how many people would show up. 

“Yes, they promised.” 

“How will we fit fifteen people here?” Eli asked.

“It will be cosy, don’t worry.” Damiano winked at them, earning a faint blush from them.

“How much exactly did I miss while I was working?” Eli raised their brow.

“Not much, but it will be a nice surprise, I guess.” Damiano chuckled and went to give them a kiss. 

The doorbell rang and interrupted their moment. 

“Who is it this early?” Eli looked at the clock, realising that there was still more than an hour until the official gathering time.

“I got it, don’t worry.” Damiano rushed to open the door and greeted Thomas and Tom who were carrying a big box together.

“Listen, the only reason we agreed to this free labour is because you promised pasta.” Thomas said as a way of greeting.

“I am holding up my end of the bargain, don’t worry.” Damiano laughed.

“If you don’t, I am leaving him here until you make him the pasta you promised.” Tom promised. 

“You can’t leave me behind!” Thomas protested.

“Fine, we’ll both stay here and make their lives miserable until we are fed pasta.” Tom grinned. 

“Ethan is behind us with your brother, bringing the chairs.” Tom announced.

“This is going to be so much fun, I need to go cook!” Damiano clapped his hands and rushed back to the kitchen, seeing that Eli stepped up to stir the sauce.

“Ciao, we bring more things.” Ethan shouted from the door. 

“I think Vic said she is bringing booze.” Thomas mentioned as he and Tom started unpacking the table and setting it right with Tom and Ethan.

“He invited all of us and we still have to pull our weight around here, can you imagine!” Damiano heard his brother joke from the other room. 

“Go and see your brother, I know you miss him. I got this.” Damiano kissed Eli, who looked a bit sad to be asked out of the kitchen yet happy to be able to steal some time with Tom.

**

Eli did as they were bid, even though they wanted to help around with the preparations. They had seen Damiano be excited about this event, he hadn’t shared much about the reason for gathering all of them and Eli had decided not to push, knowing that he would come around when he was ready.

“Hi.” Tom pulled them in a bone crushing hug and spun them around.

“Hi.” Eli held him tightly. 

“I think it’s time for a smoke break for me.” Tom announced, looking if anyone would dare to challenge his words but they only laughed, Ethan taking over what Tom had been doing around the table.

“Are you okay?” Eli held their brother’s hand tightly as the two went to the balcony.

“More than okay.” Tom reassured them.

“I miss you.” Eli admitted.

“I miss you too but you said it yourself - things change.” Tom hugged them again after lighting a cigarette.

“I can’t believe that all my favourite people live within the same city limits yet I can’t spend as much time as I’d like with them.” Eli admitted quietly, voicing the words that had been haunting them for a little while.

“Your work requires you to, though. I know the feeling, I know the pain. Don’t think that I like that I don’t see you as often.” Tom rested his head on their shoulder and kept holding them.

“Which is why I sometimes hate my job.” Eli grumbled.

“A light goes out in your eyes when you are not being creative. Maybe in time we will find a way where you can spend more time with us without sacrificing that light to get to it.” 

“I feel like I miss so much.” 

“I know, but seeing your joy and pride in your creative accomplishments is unmatched.” 

“They won’t keep my son happy when he grows up. They won’t be here for him as he develops into a human.” Eli argued.

“Eli, you were gone for two weeks, and you still have a little bit more work to do before settling here for a longer period of time. Did you offer Damiano and Dante join you?” 

“No, because even if they did, I’d still barely see them.” 

“Offer it, it will give you a bit of peace of mind.”

“I’ll consider it.”

“If you don’t, I’ll ship them off to you.” 

Eli chuckled and held onto their brother.

“Your family loves you and we are patiently and excitedly waiting for you.” Tom reassured them.

“I love all of you more than anything.” It was all Eli managed to say.

**

“Now, the party has arrived.” Vic announced as soon as Thomas opened the door for her. She was carrying two bags with various drinks and was trailed by Auri and Angie who brought various snacks and soft drinks with them.

“Good, you can help with setting up the chairs and organising everything.” Thomas suggested helpfully.

“I will help with other things, thank you very much.” Victoria grinned and walked straight to the kitchen where Damiano was still cooking.

“Ciao! The party has arrived.” Vic put the bags on the kitchen island and went to hug Damiano. He chuckled and held her for a moment.

“I am glad you came.” 

“It’s not like I was given much choice.” Vic teased.

“It’s a big evening.” Damiano said ominously.

“I am not wearing waterproof makeup, don’t even think of proposing to Eli.” 

“I am not proposing.” Damiano insisted and went back to cooking.

“Is everything good between you two?” Vic asked quietly. Damiano looked at his friend surprised.

“Of course it’s good. I love Eli dearly, we are just not at the proposal yet. And even if we were, I would not put them on the spot like that. Tonight is about something else entirely. Don’t be so nosy, you’ll find out in a bit.” 

Vic grinned. 

“You’ve grown up so much lately.” She observed.

Damiano didn’t react to her words, just started taking out the plates from the shelf and started piling them on.

“And not only have you grown but you are settling in yourself, you are much calmer now than you were before. Much calmer than when everything began.” Vic kept going on.

“Thank you.” He responded after a moment.

“You’re welcome.” She kissed his cheek before going to see Dante.

**

It took him a bit longer than he would have liked to finish preparing the food but while he did, his friends set up the table and chairs and eventually, they came around to get table covers, glasses, and they all set the table and then both sets of parents arrived and he started serving the food. 

Eli put Dante in the high chair, placing him next to Vic per his own demand which everyone found adorable. 

Damiano was bursting with joy and was struggling to hide it.

“What’s going on?” Different people tried to inquire but he brushed them off, waiting for everyone to be sitting around the table so he could say the words that have been begging to be let out for a while now. Perhaps longer than he realised.

“Get around the table and you’ll find out.” Damiano only replied, patiently waiting for all fourteen of them to get around the table and sit down. 

“Are any of my children getting proposed to tonight?” Eli and Tom’s mom asked.

Damiano looked at her and shook his head smiling, Thomas following suit.

“Okay, what is going on?” Eli looked from their place next to Damiano once everyone was settled. He stood up and took his glass, raising it in the air.

“Thank you all for coming here.” He started, nerves catching up to him a little bit. 

“You called.” Ethan smiled at him.

Damiano returned the smile.

“The recent years have been very hectic and especially the last few were not only hectic but also busy and chaotic and full of the whole spectrum of emotions. Life showed me all its colours and did not wait for my decision to dive into it. That is not to say that I am complaining about any of it, because I am not.” 

There were smiles all around, and he spotted tears in his mother’s eyes.

“I might not be the smoothest person when it comes to expressing how I feel but I am working on it. I lost too long not being with the person I love.” He smiled at Eli.

“I wasted too long chasing perfectionism and not recognizing that what I have is more than perfect on its own.” 

Eli reached to hold his hand and Damiano leaned down to kiss their hand. 

“I gathered you all here because I wanted to celebrate all of you. To celebrate my love for you. To celebrate life. I sat in darkness for a long time not realising that there is more to life. You helped me chase my dreams, you helped me when I was broken, you sat by my side while I learned how to be a man and a father. You loved me, you took care of me. You opened your hearts for Dante and made sure that we both felt loved and cherished. You gave us family. I am grateful for that, I am grateful for you.” There was a smile on his face that no one had seen in a while - sincere, carefree, joyful smile.

“We love you, Dami. Of course we support you and of course we will be there for you as long as you need us.” His mom spoke up.

“I’d like to start with forever. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without all of you. I love you and I see you. I see your joys, I see your struggles, I am here for you just as you are for me. You are the most important people in my life and I will not stop saying thank you for everything you’ve done for me, for us.” 

There were tears and smiles on his favourite people’s faces. There were tears on his own face. He went around and gave them all hugs and whispered his thanks again and again.

When he got back to Eli and he kissed them gently, taking his sweet time, Tom interrupted them with the words.

“Time for a picture. We need to capture this moment.” He insisted.

Thomas chuckled and went with his boyfriend to set up the camera to take pictures. 

They all gathered, Dante in Damiano’s arms, Eli leaning their head on Damiano’s shoulder. Ethan with his arms wrapped around Aurora. Thomas and Tom together, holding hands, Vic pressing a kiss to Angie’s cheek and Damiano’s brother and Leo standing between both sets of teary-eyed parents. 

**

Hours later, Damiano shared one of the pictures that Tom had taken. He put a heart emoji over Dante’s face to protect his privacy but he wanted the moment on his feed. He wanted to scream it from the top of the world. These are the people that kept him sane, these are the people that he loved most in the world. 

He captioned it, home is where the heart is. 

--

taglist: @iosonoarina @myissuesworld @moonlight-simp @maneskings, @elvirabelle @queendorkula @hiraetheral , @ilwiwbysmv @vita-thrasher @katyldamusic @ethaneskin @oro-e-diamanti, @theimpossiblehologramtree @8iunie @ventvnni @dpaccione @cuzimitaliano @daddydamiano @shehaddreamstoo @iamtashaquinn @alexxavicry @tnu-ree @soficide @bigsimpsimp @ccweasley @aprilgloomisheretostay

#damiano david #maneskin #damiano david x reader #damiano david x you #damiano david x oc #damiano david blurb #damiano david fanfic #thomas raggi #ethan torchio #vic de angelis #hiwthi

[alaffy]

The Righteous Gemstones, Ep. 3x05 – Interlude Three

That’s the one thing about this show, one twist can absolutely change things.  Like I didn’t think I could feel any sympathy for Peter and, in fact, I didn’t think this is how Peter’s story would go.  Of course, I’m referring to his past.  Like the other Interlude episodes, this is set back before Amiee-Leigh's death.  This time it’s the year 2000. 

Also, we actually have two stories going on here.  One is Judy’s, which I’m going to touch on this briefly.  Judy is socially…who knows where to begin.  She clearly doesn’t fit in socially, but her parents might be right that she has some undiagnosed mental illness.  Although I felt sorry for Judy as she heard her parents not only say that, but joke about it.  Anyway, this is also the first time Judy meets Amber and she treats her like dirt.  She even steals a ring that Amber has that was a gift from her deceased Grandmother.  Jesse storms into Judy’s room to demand the ring back, but he finds her crying.  This leads to them discussing how Judy feels like there’s something wrong with her and how she liked this boy and he decided to play a cruel…no, let’s call it what it is.  He cut her hair off in class in order to embarrass her; this is not “playing” nor a “joke,” this was cruel.  But Judy and Jesse talk and Judy gives the ring back to Amber.  Also, Jesse gets revenge for his sister.  It’s kind of a nice “b” story to show that the siblings do actually care for each other.

The main story comes down to the events that lead to the split between the two families.  The Gemstones run this big Megachurch and the Montgomery’s have a smaller one.  Now, May-May does not approve of Eli’s wealth and is very strict on Peter and the boys; it’s clear she runs the house.  And Peter is just this preacher who trying to do good by his family.  However, going back just a bit, the Gemstones had been selling these Y2K kits because, you know, the whole society as we know it could end because of the Y2K bug.  Then, it didn’t happen.  People in the Gemstone Church are pissed as they feel like they were conned (which, they were) because they bought these kits.  And May-May is kind of glad of that as she feels like her brother has this coming to him.

What she doesn’t know is that Peter believed in Eli’s hype and bought a ton of these kits in hopes of keeping his congregation safe/possibly selling these items after Y2K hit.  It turns out he spent their entire savings.  He breaks down to May-May, who then confronts Eli.  Eli says that he’s willing to help the family by buying the items back (which is around $25,000 dollars worth), but May-May won’t take the money.  She calls it evil.  Furthermore, she blames Amiee-Leigh for this whole mess, saying that she enables Eli.  Eli throws May-May out of the house

This takes Amiee-Leigh aback and, later, she has a talk with Eli.  And we find out why they sold these items.  It wasn’t that they believed Y2K would happen, but they had this fanciful idea that if it did happen that they could go back to a simpler time.  And them wanting that simpler time, kind of made them conn themselves into believing it could happen.  That being said, they still knew this wasn’t going to happen and they still took people’s money and they ain’t giving it back so…they can have any excuse they want, it was still a conn.

And this conn really hurts people.  In fact, it makes them desperate.  And desperate people do stupid things.  Peter, for instance, decides to rob a bank.  It doesn’t go well and Peter kills a guard and is shot several times.  Now, obviously, this will lead to the May-May attacking Aimee-Leigh like we saw in the first episode.

It also now makes me question if we should trust May-May.  Could it be that she, Peter, and the cousins have been acting like May-May and Peter have separated, but they’re actually working together?  I mean, just because Peter said that May-May isn’t to be trusted in front of the Preppers doesn’t mean he’s telling the truth.        

#righteous gemstones #eli gemstone #aimee leigh gemstone #jesse gemstone #judy gemstone #amber gemstone #peter montgomery #may-may montgomery

[authorlaurawinter]

Review: A Rival Most Vial by RK Ashwick

@ashen-crest you’ve done it again.

STOP IT WITH THIS PERFECT COZY

As if I wasn’t already going to go bonkers over the chapter titles being potion instructions or the gorgeous graphics. As if I wasn’t going to squeal in delight with the potion diagrams and illustrations. As if I wasn’t going to cry at how precious these two MCs are.

ARMV is a book that you want to showcase on your shelves and brag about it to your friends like Ambrose brags to his customers about Eli. You want to hold hands with it and have tea and curl up with your automaton to read to it. You want to clutch it to your chest and never, ever let go.

I want to crawl into this book and live forever in Rosemond street with these shops and lovely friends. I thought Ambrose was going to be my favorite grumpy boy and then my sweet, sweet boy Eli just had to exist and had to be so perfect for Ames. Oh, to be courted by Eli Valenz… is there anything more romantic?!?

Smooshing these two rivals together for a potion commission was the perfect plot to highlight their joking and absolutely swoon-worthy enemy to friend to love relationship. I cannot handle how freaking precious their growth was, and UGH that ending just had me screaming and shaking and desperately wanting to climb into the pages and hug my new favorite characters. These two are made for each other, and their love is so pure that I had to stop reading so I could take a deep breath. I almost forgot they were fictional.

Not only do we have excellent MCs, we have a cast of absolute perfection (and representation). The shopkeepers are not only diverse and unique, they are genuine and well-written and make this such a well rounded story. They add so much to an already rich plot and provide such heartwarming friendships that this little found family is my new favorite and I could just sit on a bench on Rosemond and watch them forever doing the most mundane tasks like sweeping.

First off, I need a little side story of Tom getting into trouble and going on her own adventure. Second, I need an entire novel of Lily going around and being absolutely iconic. Third, can we please have an epilogue where Eli punches Pearce to defend Ambrose’s honor?

Do you want to know the worst part? That I can’t read it for the first time ever again. Do you know how offensive that is? This book has no right to be so cozy and warm and comforting. How dare this be so utterly incredible that it ruins me so thoroughly.

Anyway, I’m off to beg Ashwick to write her own fanfiction so I can have more Ambrose being grumpy and Eli slaying dragons in Ambrose’s name.

This is an arc read and I’m leaving a review voluntarily, but let me tell you, none of this review is exaggerated in any way.

#a rival most vial #booklr #writeblr #bookblr #fantasy

[sunmooneclipseandstars]

CONTINUATION OF THE PERCY JACKSON AU WHERE NICO HAS A YOUNGER/OLDER BROTHER THAT'S SON OF DEMETER(this probably will be unaccurate and OOC, also I don't know to write a story so this probably is going to be shit) part 1 here

Tittle (the descendant of the goddess of harvest)

WILL'S pov

I swear to the gods that this camp would be doomed to it's downfall if there weren't any healer, like how in the damn world you injure yourself with a gumball

Hey stop moving could - I said

Will, how've you been my dear son- a voice suddenly said

I looked back and it was Lester, and I mean he's my dad but when he's a teenager is kinda weird to call him dad if people didn't know he was apollo

Hey dad, how've you been and why didn't you visit us, I even thought that you left forever I said

Then he hug me - I'm so sorry for not being able to visit you and the rest, I should've at least send you a message saying that I will be unable to be there for all of you, but now I have time to be even stay in camp a good amount of time after all I'm not longer on my prolonged "punishment" of writing my adventures since the time I fell from the Olympus and visiting everyone that have helped me in my journey, so the least I can do now is staying with you guys and help you out he said

I was about to cry only for the cocoa puffs piling up the two of us

wouh I didn't know the camp suddenly made demons in part of the camps Lester said

Well the thing is that they joined recently due to Nico and I travelling to Tartarus to save the titan Bob also the journey made me realize some things that I was afraid to ever explore due to my own problems I said making my gaze look other way

When I looked him at the eyes he was quite surprised and horrified

YOU WENT TO TARTARUS TO SAVE A TITAN!!! Will I'm so glad you are fine but why didn't any of you two try to make contact to people that could've helped you two and what in the world were you two thinking going to the definition of SUPER HELL, in the underworld there isn't light how did you even manage to stay alive and to summarize his reprimand for me going to Tartarus he was mad that I and Nico went to our own death but in the end he was glad I was more or less fine and ended up saying that while he wishes that he could've been there to at least give me something so I could be fine in the underworld, he also said that it's unexpected for the two of us to form a family with the puffs

Well we should head back to Nico and the two little kids apollo said only to see a green light appear from the sky

What was that I screamed

What the, that can't be her why would demeter suddenly go to camp half blood Lester said

What?!?!?!? I screamed

We should check it out he said

NICO'S POV AND MOMENTS BEFORE WILL AND APOLLO INTERACTION

I didn't know my brother could've learn how to use magic in the time he was stuck in the house by what they told me while we were looking at the camp, you see due to us being in 2021

So to summarize he explained how the house worked being that day passes inside while in the real world it was years, and the reason it didn't affect us was because the seal that locked the places was broken, he also showed me that he use papers with the word of the element he wants to use, that he has a bracelet that allows him to use Laven powers and viceversa, then I asked if he could let Will borrow the set, he said yes but instead he gave a new set and a crossbow as approval of my relationship with Will , then we talked a little of Hestia, then about how there could be a Hestia cabin, just to Mr. D appear we had a conversation and asked if he make that cabin he said he didn't care and dissappear in a purple cloud with glitter , then Eli made the cabin, only for Demeter to appear making Eli very aggressive only for her appearance just for them to start arguing, and for destiny Will and Lester appeared, when the arguing was very heated, Eli created a energy/aura explosion that Lester protected will, the puffs and me, the rest of the surroundings were covered by grown flora, and for some reason my aura made the surroundings less crowded around our little group and so I made the same as Eli so the plant withered, then Eli told me he would be gone until Demeter was out of camp half blood and he left with Lavender, not before giving me my "late birthday presents"

Geez, you two really had a long day, Lester said

Yeah, also Nico what is the box and the crossbow for? Will asked

Well these are gifts that Eli gave me to give it to you as a gift of approval for our relationship

He knew?!! Will said

Yeah, I said

Well tbf you two are not exactly subtle about but that's fine, Lester said

That doesn't help, Will said

Yeah sorry about that, Lester said

Well where did you guys think they went to? I asked

They probably went to camp jupiter, Apollo/Lester said

It could be possible, I said

Let's hope they are fine, I said

Suddenly a noise was heard across the camp

Seems like it's time for dinner, let's go to the dinning Pavillion, Will said

Yeah, we probably will talk about the new Cabin for the New unclaimed demigods, I say

#solangelo #cocoa puffs #pjo hoo toa #toa apollo #the sun and the star #demeter #nico di angelo #will solace #dyonisus

[captain-hen]

hi again! i loved 5x12 so much ❤ it means so much to me that 911 is willing to tackle difficult subjects like these and treat them with the respect that they deserve. i love that neither of them were "in the wrong" and i love how hopeful it was. i love that maddie missing six months didn't mean that she failed as a mother, and i really loved the lil ending scene with the three of them singing together. and i also loved that eli came back!! that was such a great callback :)

i hope you don't mind that i keep giving you updates btw!! this show just makes my heart so happy and i love talking about it ❣️ this is the first time in a really long time that i've watched a show where i've been this invested in the happiness of all the characters, and thanks to 911's signature style of long-form storytelling in the age of binge streaming, it's also the first time in a while that i've been this satisfied with the way these stories play out. i'm excited to finish this season and s6 so that i can watch live and experience the show weekly :)

--NewTo911Anon

5x12 is SUCH a good episode, it made me cry like a baby and i'm still not over it. i really love how it—and the rest of the episodes—didn't villainize maddie or chim even a little bit, it was such a painfully accurate representation of how mental illness can feel like its dragging you and everyone around you down, and how we can say and do things we normally would never do in the throes of it. maddie saying that people aren't themselves while they're hurting is honestly one of the best ways to summarize s5, imo. and i really love how their issues weren't magically wrapped up and they still had a long way to go in communication and working through what they'd been through in the past six months separately. JLH actually gave a couple of interviews with some really good insight into maddie's storyline, and what it personally meant to her as a mother herself, and these are interviews i actually recommend you check out!

i don't mind these updates at all, it's really nice to hear from someone experiencing the show for the first time 🥰 911 having weekly releases and 18-episode seasons is SUCH a breath of fresh air, most shows these days suck because the 10-episode model + entire seasons being dropped at the same time doesn't really give room for the story to breathe and grow, puts a pressure on fans to watch immediately and has frankly lowered the level of comprehension among fans because people don't know how to wait for a resolution to a storyline anymore, and call it bad writing if they have to use their brains and be patient for a while, instead of getting all the information all at once. the fact that these shows are always in danger of being canceled at any moment doesn't help.

there's still two more weeks before the next episode airs, so maybe you'll be able to catch up! 911 mondays are WILD lmao and it's so much fun to experience watching live with the entire fandom ❤

#neethu answers #anon

[lesbian-choso]

Mid-Year Book Freakout 2023

tagged by my beloved, @hauntedmoors 🫀

1. Best book you’ve read so far this year?

Probably We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson. I was already familiar with her since I remember reading The Lottery in high school, but this story really blew me away. I can’t wait to tuck into more of her writing, and just in general more gothic fiction, and just the weird and freakish overall.

2. Best sequel you’ve read so far this year?

I haven’t read many novel sequels this year, and none of them stuck out so I can’t really list anything. But I would say the second saga of Chainsaw Man, as a sequel, has been a highlight.

3. New release you haven’t read yet?

I’m such a loser, I literally got A Day of Fallen Night signed in person by beloved Samantha Shannon and I still haven’t read it yet 😭😭😭

4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year?

I don’t really keep up to date with upcoming releases, I just find out Somehow like through tumblr or my Goodreads mutuals, but I do know that the next Heartstopper volume is out sometime this year, so I’m looking forward to that.

5. Biggest disappointment?

I have three for this: Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, Pet Sematary by Stephen King, and Vengeful by V. E. Schwab.

BtCGC was immensely boring, especially the writing — I guess you could say it’s own hype killed it for me. I heard that it was initially a play, or something along the lines of that? If so, then I think I can confidently say that with how it was written, it did not suit the medium.

Pet Sematary also disappointed me for not living up to its expectations as there’s this short section before the story starts where King basically says it’s one of his darkest stories yet and blah blah it chilled him so he had to put it away for a while before publishing it, so, obviously, I was quite excited!

But, once I actually got stuck into it, it just didn’t really stick out to me as anything special, well, at least compared to coming off reading Shawshank Redemption and ‘Salem’s Lot. Plus, ableism is quite rooted into this one so at times it just was difficult to enjoy, personally.

As for Vengeful, I felt that it was an unnecessary sequel. It didn’t add to Vicious, if anything I’d say it detracted from the overall story by following around all these new characters when what made Vicious so fun was the dynamic between Victor and Eli.

6. Biggest surprise?

I’m Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid was quite unexpected. It wasn’t one of my favourites so far from this year, but, regardless, was a big surprise since it deviated far from my expectations.

7. Favourite new author (debut or new to you)?

Sayaka Murata. I loved Convenience Store Woman and Earthlings so I’m intrigued for any future projects of hers! It was interesting how fundamentally similar these two books, like two sides of the same coin, but told in two very different ways. Fantastic stuff.

8. Newest fictional crush/newest favourite character?

Merricat my beloved <3 (also Fami and Asa)

9. Book that made you cry?

I’ve never cried while reading soz

10. Book that made you happy?

Love & Autism by Kay Kerr. I just felt very seen reading this, being able to identify myself within the pages. It also felt special to me since for once it’s not a book about autism addressed to allistic people, it’s a book about autism, written by an autistic author, for an autistic audience.

Tagging: @swordfaery @ignorantsackofeyeballs @moodymika @sarenite (no pressure if you don’t want to do this, also if you just see this post and want to do it feel free to continue the chain)

[sophsun1]

I hope you don’t mind me sending you this ask but I finished with 5x07 (i am trying to go slow through these last episodes because while this season sucks, i am not ready to let it go). First about 5x06, i died at that moment where Emmett is waxing Carl. Also I need Emmett to go back to throwing his amazing parties because this new queer guy job, is not it. The things Brian said at that store were so right even though as usual it was rude. That brad pitt wanna be knock off, needs to leave. Oh my god, first of I am offended on Brian’s behalf because c’mon, he looks 1000x better. But also my gosh this story line is dumb. The ending was sad, but the whole ‘proper couple’ thing kind of annoyed me because weren’t they already that?? And now 5x07: i don’t know if it was here or not but I can’t stand Monty and Eli, im sorry i know it’s random but they’re so annoying. I feel bad for Justin but this whole marriage thing he’s now after is just weird, like c’mon you’re 21/22. Their break up hurt. I think this one hurt the most out of all (except the ethan one), Brian’s ‘youre making me nervous’ HURT! But also the part where Justin already had bags packed and ready. Fucking hell writers! I did though enjoy that he told Jen and Deb that Brian didn’t do anything wrong. And Jen’s ‘i wish you worked it out’ was so cute!!! I wish we hot waaaay more Jen/Brian scenes. The Brain and Michael scene hurt though. Seeing Brian have that smile right before Michael said ‘he left bc of you, who wouldnt’ and then his smile dropped and you see his eyes search Michel’s face. PAIN!!!! Gale, you will pay for my therapy! And the ending?!?!?! You ate my sunshine???? GIRL! I WANT TO CRY ALL OVER AGAIN! Also the bet is so fucking dumb. Please tell me this dude/storyline disappears in the next ep like the posse storyline did. But it was funny how Brian kicked him out of the club

Hey anon!

Of course I don't mind!

I love hearing people's reactions to watching the show for the first time and their descendent into anger at the brutally terrible story arcs this season offers up lmao.

Oh that bargain basement Brian Kinney, I cringed so hard... THE WORST PLOTLINE EVER. IT'S EMBARRASSING ON EVERY LEVEL. They really tested Gale, Randy and the viewers patience and yes, Britin's 100th breakup was again weak and just recycled issues that they had kind of worked through before and now Justin wants to be like Ben and Michael?

They were already a normal couple, that was the whole point of their relationship, they were unconventional and didn't bow down to society's expectations of them but that didn't mean their love was any less real. Somehow the writers threw that out the window and made Justin into a homemaker at 22!!!

The one thing I've always loved about their breakups is that they have never spoken badly about the other, or set out for revenge or been petty. In fact it's been the opposite you can see the love and respect for each other shine through unlike Mel and Linds for example.

God you are my sunshine playing over them as they walk away, PAIN!

What a way to stick the knife in from Michael, saying the one thing Brian fears the most the people he loves will ultimately leave him😔

#britin #queer as folk #soph asks #you're nearing the finish line soon #it does get better before it gets worse again #lol

[nightsidewrestling]

D.U.D.E Part 15 - I Try (set in 2020)

Note: This is set in a universe where Men VS Women / Intergender matches can happen.

Chapter 1: here Chapter 2: here Chapter 3: here Chapter 4: here Chapter 5: here Chapter 6: here Chapter 7: here Chapter 8: here Chapter 9: here Chapter 10: here Chapter 11: here Chapter 12: here Chapter 13: here Chapter 14: here

Tags: @piratewithvigor @tantamount-treason @thedollmaker16 @janetreader

Around 2000 Words. 18+ in places (those chapters will be marked as 'Mature / sexual content' just to be safe). Please inform me if you wish to be tagged or untagged from posts. If the text is in italics and orange it's Kirby's inner monologue. If the text is coloured but not in italics, it's either dialogue or a P.O.V change (P.O.V changes will be in bold and translated dialogue will appear in square [ ] brackets), Key below. Quick note on Geia's text colour: Yes I do know that as Greed she should be in yellow but I decided to colour the men's dialogue yellow so Geia was changed to be pink like the other women in the story outside of the main 8.

The Main 8: Damo - Bio. Vi - Bio. Billie - Bio. Geia - Bio. Kirby - Bio. Honey - Bio. Eli - Bio. Sara - Bio.

Kirby's P.O.V:

Kirby takes a deep breath, freshening up and looking in the mirror at herself, on the verge of tears as Eddie walks into the bathroom.

"It's okay to cry, sweetheart," Eddie goes silent when Kirby, wraps her arms around his waist, buries her face in his neck and starts crying, "I got ya, babe, ya okay." He whispers.

"I don't want to be alone anymore, I want to..." She goes quiet, unsure of herself.

"It's a'ight, you can tell me." He reassures, rubbing her back to keep her calm.

"I wanna be with you, I have tried to forget you and move on, I can't deny the way I feel anymore... I want a life with you, I want a family, I want to wake up in a bed next to you, every morning for the rest of my life... I want us, without the fear of Damien splitting us up, all of it, the good, the bad, the goofy, the grumpy, the fuckin' ugly truth is I'm afraid... I'm afraid of Damien, I shouldn't be, but I am, even at my best I can never beat him."

"Then we'll take him on... together," Eddie smiles softly at her, pulling her into a gentle kiss, "first though, ya gotta marry me. I want you, no, I need you. I need this tall, sexy, Celtic rose in my life. I won't deny, I've had some nights where I got drunk and almost went home with a chick, but I couldn't get anythin' from them, everything I could gain from some other broad, you did better than them. Everything, conversations, sex, makin' out in the back of a car, everythin'."

Kirby smiles weakly, "You really wanna be with me?"

"It's why I'm here, I even brought both rings with me. Mox said the idea was insane, 'cause I have work tomorrow, but I can't wake up alone again, not when every dream I have is of bein' with ya... I stopped tellin' Renee about the times I dream, 'cause every dream I've had since ya left... they were all the same, all of 'em, I would wake up next to you, we would talk for a while, and then they'd end when I went to kiss you..."

"'Cause I wasn't there..." She whispers.

Eddie nods, lifting Kirby's chin to kiss her softly. They stay still for a moment, taking in the silence before Eddie moves. He covers Kirby's eyes with one hand and leads her back to the bed with the other, making her sit down and close her eyes, when he allows her to open them again, he has the ring box and is kneeling in front of her.

"Kirby Raven Eirian Aoibheann Rhydderch, will you please never leave my side again?"

"I will admit, this is an improvement on your first proposal." She jokes softly as she stands up, pulling Eddie to his feet and kissing him deeply, feeling a slight chill when Eddie slides the ring onto her finger, "Quick question, Papi, why the fuck and when the fuck did you get your eyebrow cut up like that?"

"October, missin' ya wife'll do crazy things to a man," He smirks, "now put on the prettiest dress you own, 'cause I am findin' a chapel, and we are partin' ways ever again." He looks at Kirby, a wild energy in his eyes as they meet hers.

Kirby feels Eddie's eyes watching her as she gets dressed, a simple plain orange sundress and the black timbs he bought her, Eddie makes sure he looks okay (even going to the length of raiding Kirby's stuff for a suit jacket, before giving up once he sees how well tailored they are to her size).

"Fuck it, c'mere." Eddie shrugs, hoisting over his shoulder.

"Eddie, no, put me down." Kirby chuckles.

"Nah," He pats her butt, "I think I'll keep ya there for a while."

Eddie carries her out of the building, putting her down and kissing her gently when they get outside. Eddie uses his phone to find the nearest chapel and leads Kirby to it.

Within half an hour, they're legally married. Within two hours, Kirby's surname has been changed to Moore. Within four hours, they're back in Jacksonville. In a hotel's 'newlywed suite' together. Eddie above Kirby on his hands and knees, trapping her on the bed, kissing her deeply over and over again.

"Do ya take me as ya husband, to have and to hold, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health, forever?" He whispers.

"I do," She whispers, "do you take me as your wife, for better or worse, until death do us part?"

"I do," Eddie grins, "My wifey, no more leavin' me, not now, not ever."

"Gotta put this in the calendar from now on, December first twenty-twenty, married the greatest man in the universe."

"Our wedding anni... aneh... anniversary, fuck that word." Eddie murmurs.

Kirby chuckles softly, cupping Eddie's face in her hands, "how about I say that word from now on?"

"Lil' miss bachelor's degree, my Mrs bachelor's degree, God, you're beautiful."

"Says the most handsome man in the world." She smiles softly.

Eddie smiles softly, "If I don't get you pregnant by the end of tonight, it'll be a miracle."

Kirby sticks her tongue out at Eddie, he immediately mirrors her actions before he kisses her roughly. Eddie growls against her lips, pulling away to take his shirt off and lay next to Kirby, lazily kissing her as he keeps hold of her left hand with his, the metal of their rings making a small 'clink' sound when they collide.

Eventually Eddie falls asleep beside her, and Kirby watches him for a couple minutes, she puts her head on his chest and snuggles up to him, soon falling asleep.

Eddie wakes her up with a kiss the following morning (2nd Dec 2002, Wednesday)

"Morning gorgeous, are ya comin' with me to work today?"

"I gotta sort a lot of things out, but it's all stuff I can do with my laptop and phone, so... sure. I'll come to work with you."

"You're so fuckin' cute... sure, you're a little awkward, a little clumsy, a little theatrical and definitely a workaholic, but I love that about you."

"And you're argumentative, childish, gruff, immature, overprotective, sarcastic, stubborn, a tease, a bigmouth, lewd and short-tempered."

"Oh, and ya also anxious, gluttonous, stingy, and a supposed cannibal." Eddie smirks, grabbing Kirby's face and kissing her roughly.

"You're so sexy, Eddie."

"Don't start flirtin' with me, 'cause you know I'll risk missin' work to fuck ya pretty little brains out."

Kirby gets up, pulling Eddie into a tight hug, going to the bathroom to do her morning routine after he kisses her cheek scar.

"Are you watching me, Edward?" She asks, looking in the mirror as she washes her face.

"Yea, can't help but stare at my lady... my beautiful wife... I'm gonna get you a coffee, and I'm gonna make sure everyone knows ya mine."

"You're going to work in that? It's cold out, A stór [my treasure], put a hoodie on or somethin'."

"What did you just call me, Ma?" He raises an eyebrow in confusion.

"A stór, it means 'my treasure' in Irish." She shrugs.

"I like that, I'll go put a hoodie on, but I wanna hear you say that again first."

"A stór." She purrs.

Eddie spins Kirby around and kisses her deeply, his hands on her waist as he growls against her lips, grinding his groin against hers.

After Kirby finishes her routine, Eddie takes her out to grab breakfast.

He posts a picture of them from the day before on his Instagram and Twitter. He chooses the photo of them at the chapel, both of them displaying their wedding rings, captioning it 'I got her back, and my Queen is much more powerful than her King'.

Kirby shakes her head as she watches him post it, unable to protest, mid-bite of her blueberry muffin.

"There, now we wait for the comments, calls, texts and everythin' else."

"Now we wait for Twitter to set itself on fire over a photo." Kirby chuckles softly.

They don't have to wait long, the first call is from Mox, then Renee, then practically the entire locker room of AEW. Call after call, text after text, Instagram and Twitter notifications come streaming in. Kirby turns Eddie's phone off to silence the constant notification noises.

"We are popular today, Eddie... don't do that again."

"Why not?" Eddie smirks, "I thought you liked me being reckless."

Kirby chuckles, placing her head on his shoulder, he kisses her forehead softly as he turns his phone back on. He keeps his phone on silent and turns off his notifications for the next two hours.

"If we fly out tomorrow, we can get a truck and move everything to New York. I'll also see if we can fly out to Wales for ya birthday."

"We don't have to fly out for my birthday, Kingy... you want me to go, get some papers and roll you a ciggy?"

Eddie kisses her softly, "I'll grab ya coffee, you go roll me one, a'ight, Ma?"

"Okay, no talking to reporters, striking anyone or staring at my bottom."

"Two outta three?"

"Fine, you can stare at my ass... handsome man."

Kirby leaves Eddie in the café, heading to a nearby corner store and picking up some stuff for her and Eddie, she stands outside the café rolling a cigarette. She's practically a natural at it, having learnt from her uncles and cousins, she hands it to Eddie when he walks up to her. He immediately lights it up and hands her a to-go cup of coffee.

"Ready to go shock the world?" He smirks.

"Or get rich trying," She smiles softly, "You give me refuge, I give you a giant, cannibalistic demoness."

"Babe, I have a GED, I don't know what refuge means."

"It's basically another word for safety."

"Yeah, I'll keep you safe, stop ya from gettin' all jittery and keep ya head from spinnin'." He kisses her softly.

A couple hours pass and Kirby's, doing her work and emailing people, sitting in catering backstage at Daily's Place. She's listening and humming along to her 90s mix on Spotify, ignoring the world around her, when a very pissed off Eddie sits beside her and starts grumbling obscenities. It takes him unplugging her headphones, from her phone, to make her notice him.

"Eddie, that wasn't nice of you," She looks over at her American husband, her peaceful smile becoming a concerned frown, "What's wrong, Kingy?"

"I'm gonna punch Moxley in the face, if he asks me any more fuckin' questions." He grumbles.

"Kingy, no punching people, breathe, be calm." She whispers, pulling Eddie into a side hug and kissing his jawline.

Eddie takes a deep breath, reaching over to Kirby's laptop and opening something, starting a video call with Kirby's parents.

"Eddie, no, it's like one in the morning over there."

"Why the fuck are ya video callin' my laptop at this time, princess." Hywel (Kirby's father) groans as he picks up the call.

"Sorry, Da, My American idiot husband did it."

Hywel chuckles, "Hey, son, you two finally got married? Don't tell me it went down like a rom com, I'll owe your Mam a tenner."

"Hey Hywel, just wanted to ask ya, can you two fly out for Kirby's birthday, and would it be alright if we flew out to spend Christmas with you guys?" Eddie asks his father-in-law.

"I'll talk with Oda when she wakes up, but feel free to visit us anytime you two want to. Kirby already has her own house keys, and you can always visit the C.R.C building... I gotta sleep now, or else I'll be awake for the rest of the day, night my little princess, keep her safe Eddie."

"Night, Da, I love you."

"Don't worry, I'll keep her safe," Eddie nods, hanging up the video call, "gonna take ya home for the holidays, gonna make ya introduce me to ya family." Eddie smirks, tickling Kirby's ribs and slipping his hands under her shirt.

#eddie kingston fanfiction #eddie kingston x oc #aew fanfiction #aew oc #aew fic #wrestling fic #wrestling oc #D.U.D.E #Daughters Under Darkness Elite #Kirby Gluttony Lucifarian #Kirby Rhydderch #The King Of Hell Damien Lucifarian #Damian Lum #Vi Pride Lucifarian #Viola Nye #Billie Lust Lucifarian #Bienvenida Marino #Geia Greed Lucifarian #Pelageya Winter #Honey Sloth Lucifarian #Honey Di Napoli #Eli Envy Lucifarian #Elinor Herbert #Sara Wrath Lucifarian #Saraid Grady-Sullivan #Eddie Kingston x Kirby Lucifarian #Eddie Moore x Kirby Rhydderch #wrestling fanfiction

[jmbringitonworld]

The Otherworldly Visitors

AO3 link for those who prefer to read fics there, or who prefer to read the multi-chaptered version of this fic.

I've actually been working on this fic for a while, and have already uploaded it to AO3 in multiple chapters, but now that the main story is finished, I'm posting it to Tumblr in one big chunk.

The idea for this fic came to me totally out of the blue, and I started writing it with no concrete plan, just some basic ideas and a vibe, so I think it came out pretty well, all things considered. It's outrageously self-indulgent, and is, in all honesty, the literary equivalent of comfort food. I wrote this for me, because my last, massive fic left me more than a little burnt out, and I'm still not fully recovered.

The AU the fic is set in is, fundamentally, classic Undertale, with a few notable differences. I've left hints here and there, but I won't fully explain this universe. Not because I want to be coy and mysterious, but because it's a bit… complicated. Truthfully, I hadn't expected to ever write about this world, and fully expected this AU to only exist inside my head, showing only a brief glimpse of it at the end of my larger fic/series, "The Lost Child". But here we are.

Something I feel I should mention here are my personal headcanons for Sanses and Papyruses, because this affects how I write and characterise them:

I hc that 'wanting to be popular, while almost no one likes you' is a Papyrus trait. I also hc that 'wanting to protect everyone, while almost everyone underestimates you' is a Sans trait. They're both consummate liars, though (yes, even Papyrus constantly lies to everyone throughout the game). Obviously, they can grow out of these traits after the True End (or similarly life-altering events).

Elys and Arno belong to @shayromi

Calibri is my own brain child

________________________________________________

Baby Calibri was being fussier than usual that morning, which was always a bad sign. Something had clearly upset his tiny babybone, and Sans knew that it would somehow end up affecting him and his family. Time shenanigans always did.

Gently rocking his whimpering daughter in one arm, he held his phone in his other hand, just staring at it with furrowed brows. He was sorely tempted to call Frisk and ask her if she could find out what was going on, but his wife was currently out shopping for groceries. They’d run out of ketchup, among other things. On the one hand, Sans really wanted to know what was wrong with the time-space continuum this time , but on the other... ketchup .

While Sans was pondering his dilemma, the matter was decided for him, when his phone started ringing.

To the skeleton monster’s credit, he didn’t startle, ever mindful of the fragile baby in his arms. Instead, he rushed to answer his phone, all while rocking a now crying Calibri a little more insistently.

“hullo?”

“SANS,” came a deep, slightly distorted voice, which Sans instantly recognised as his father’s, Dr. Wing Dings Gaster. The younger monster withheld a sigh. If his father was calling him, that meant that he must’ve been the cause of the temporal disturbance. Yet another bad sign. “THERE HAS BEEN A... COMPLICATION. WITH THE LATEST EXPERIMENT.”

Unable to hold back another sigh, Sans exhaled a tired breath, feeling an ache begin to build behind his eye sockets.

“urgh, shoulda guessed this was your doing,” he muttered under his breath, before raising his voice. “look, dadster, whatever you’ve done has got the babybone kickin’ up one heckuva fuss. an’ frisky’s outta the house at the moment. so i can’t come over to the lab right now, to help ya.”

“NO NEED,” the joint Monster Royal Scientist replied. “WE SHALL COME TO YOU.”

We? Sans thought. But before he had the chance to voice his confusion, his father hung up. Giving his phone a dirty look, Sans grumbled to himself. He then shoved the phone back into his pocket, and turned his attention to his still-crying daughter.

With tender hands, he brought Calibri to his sternum, close to his Soul, and started circulating his magic throughout his body, all while murmuring gentle reassurances to her. Within a minute or so, the soothing pulses of her father’s familiar magic, coupled with his loving voice, had succeeded in calming the baby down, and, with a yawn, the young hybrid drifted off to sleep in Sans’s arms.

Unfortunately, the skeleton monster enjoyed only a few seconds of blissful silence, before his peace and quiet were interrupted by a knock on his front door. Exhaling another sigh, Sans teleported to the nursery, where he tucked his youngest child into her cot, handing her a soft, well-worn turtle plushie, which Calibri reflexively clung onto. That done, he blipped back to the front door, and swung it open to reveal an unexpected sight.

Three skeleton monsters were stood outside, one slightly shorter than Sans, and the other two much taller.

The tallest was Dr. W.D. Gaster, clad in his customary black trousers, cream turtleneck jumper, and long, black overcoat. The genius scientist was standing straight, his arms folded behind his back, affecting a cool, collected disposition, but Sans knew him well enough to see how hard his father was trying, to not look guilty.

The shortest of the bunch was near identical in appearance to Sans himself, save for his outfit, consisting of blue and white armour, blue gloves, and a blue bandana, to match his bright, blue eyelights. His bones were rattling slightly, as his big, starry eyelights flitted all across his surroundings, returning to the cloudless, blue sky above, every few seconds. His mouth was stretched in the widest smile Sans had ever seen, almost splitting the other monster’s skull in two.

The third skeleton could’ve been Papyrus’s clone, were it not for his slouched posture, orange hoodie, and cargo shorts. It was more than a little disconcerting for Sans to see someone so similar to his brother, appear so unconfident, and awkward. The way the taller skeleton was hunching in on himself, hands shoved into his pockets, made something clench in Sans’s Soul. But the way the other monster’s gaze kept drifting to the sun, shining high in the sky, undeniable wonder creeping onto his face, soothed some of that ache.

Sans had never met the two strangers flanking his father, but he’d heard enough about the Multiverse and its various Alternate Universes from his wife, to be able to hazard a guess as to who they were. He cast his eyelights from Blue’s excited, curious gaze, to the way Stretch eyed his surroundings with carefully concealed caution, clearly out of his element despite his affected nonchalance, before finally resting them on his father’s sheepish smile.

Sans gave the other scientist a flat look, to which Dr. Gaster responded by widening his smile, beseechingly. He sighed for the umpteenth time that day.

“... i’ll go put the kettle on.”

~~~

When all four of them were sat in the living room, each with a steaming cup of golden flower tea in hand, the eldest Gaster launched into his explanation.

“THIS LATEST EXPERIMENT WAS SHOWING PROMISING RESULTS. VERY PROMISING. ALL THE READINGS WERE POSITIVE. THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE CODE. THE VORTEX WAS STABLE. BUT THEN THE TEMPORAL ENERGY STARTED FLUCTUATING WILDLY. WE COULDN’T CONTROL THE MACHINE. IT EXPLODED.” A sigh, long and heavy. “AGAIN...”

Sans inclined his head towards the other two skeletons, gazing around the room with wide eye sockets.

“an’ that’s when these two appeared, i take it?”

Gaster nodded, taking a sip of his tea. His son eyed him speculatively.

“i’m guessing you want us to look after ‘em, while you fix the machine. again.” Despite the wording, his tone implied that this was a statement, rather than a question.

Gaster nodded again, studiously avoiding his son’s gaze, and sipping his tea a little louder. Sans dragged a hand down his face, before massaging his temporal bone.

“fine... guess i got no choice,” he conceded reluctantly. He glanced at the clock on the wall. “frisk should be back soon. i’ll let her know what’s goin’ on, but knowing her, she’s probably already aware of this latest snafu.”

Blue’s eyelights shot towards him at the human’s name.

“FRISK? LIKE THE LATE PRINCESS?” he asked, leaning forward in his chair.

Sans’s smile was complicated.

“kinda... ‘cept in this universe, frisky ain’t no monster princess.” Then his smile softened, a loving look entering his fuzzy eyelights. “but that don’t make her any less special to me. she’s still the most amazing person i know, and i’m so lucky to call her my wife.”

“YOUR WIFE?!?!” Blue shouted, leaping up from his seat, his empty tea cup falling to the floor.

Beside him, his younger brother spluttered into his own cup, thankfully avoiding spilling hot tea all over himself.

“yo-you’re married?!” Stretch choked out, setting his cup aside, tone as shocked as his expression.

Sans grinned at the both of them, a proud look on his skull. He lifted up his left hand, showing off the gold wedding band glinting on the proximal phalanx of his ring finger.

“heh heh, yup. time’s a little messed up in our universe, but frisky and i’ve definitely been married for over a decade now. or what passes for a decade here, anyway.”

Blue’s face lit up, his eyelights becoming star-shaped, as he gazed at his alternate self in amazement.

“WOWZERS!!!” he exclaimed, awe colouring his voice. He clenched his gloved fists, practically bouncing on the balls of his feet in excitement. “THERE’S ANOTHER ME! WHO’S MARRIED!! TO THE PRINCESS!! THAT’S SO COOL!!!”

Stretch didn’t seem to share his older brother’s enthusiasm, however.

“your, uh, wife... isn’t she a... human?” he guessed, different emotions flashing across his face.

Sans gave him an unconcerned look, shrugging his shoulders with his usual casualness.

“yup,” he admitted, popping the ‘p’. “so what? she freed us monsters, and we live on the surface now, alongside the humans. as you guys must’ve seen an’ been told. there’s peace between our two races now, and more an’ more interspecies couples are formin’ every day.”

Stretch’s expression was still dubious, as if not quite daring to believe that such an incredible future was possible. Blue, however, looked even more excited than he did before.

“YOUR WIFE FREED MONSTERS?! WOWZERS!!”

Sans smirked, filled with pride for his wife. But then Blue froze, his smile slipping, as the excitement drained from his face. His bony brows came together in a worried frown.

“BUT WAIT... IF FRISK IS THE ONE WHO FREED MONSTERS... AND OUR PRINCESS IS ALREADY DEAD...” He wrung his hands, anxiety showing clear across his skull. “THEN WHO’S GOING TO FREE US ??”

Sans waved off his concerns, smiling at his otherworldly counterpart in reassurance.

“don’t worry ‘bout it, pal. you guys have another human who’s meant to free you, if all goes well.”

Blue looked at him hopefully.

“R-REALLY? WHO??”

Sans barely held back a wince. His smile became forced, as he answered Blue.

“er, that’s a... well, um, ya better ask my wife, when she comes home. she’ll be able to answer your question much better than i can.”

Blue blinked at him, before nodding his skull, mouth turned down in a pout.

“OKAY...” he agreed, though his disappointment was obvious.

Stretch narrowed his eye sockets, slanting a suspicious look Sans’s way, but the older skeleton was saved from any further enquiries by the loud wailing of a baby.

Everyone in the room startled at the noise, except for Sans, who merely looked resigned. The father of three had long grown accustomed to the sound of a squalling infant.

Dr. Gaster shot to his feet, draining his cup in one go, before placing it on the nearby table.

“WOULD YOU LOOK AT THE TIME! I HAVE TO GO NOW! I HAVE A MACHINE TO FIX! SKELETONS TO SEND HOME! LOTS TO DO, YOU KNOW!? GOODBYE SON!! AND GOOD LUCK!!”

And with that, he dashed out the door, without looking back.

“you just don’t wanna be roped into anymore babysittin’ duties, old man!” Sans yelled after him, his mouth curled in a wry grin. Emptying his own cup of tea, he stood up and placed it beside his father’s. He then turned towards his ‘guests’, who were frozen in their chairs, looking stunned, and shot them a wink. “you guys stay here. i’ll go settle the babybone down, and bring her to meet you.”

Without waiting for a reply, not that either monster was capable of giving one in their current state, Sans exited the room through one of its several doors.

The sound of the door closing seemed to finally snap the displaced skeleton brothers out of their stupor. They stared at the door, then at each other, their eye sockets as wide as they could get. Blue mouthed the word ‘babybone’ to his brother, and Stretch could only give him a dumbstruck look in response.

After several moments, the crying eventually died down. All eye sockets shot towards the door Sans had departed from, when the handle turned.

It was to total silence, that Sans entered the living room, cradling his youngest child in his arms. His tender gaze lifted up from his precious baby, and towards the other skeleton monsters, his broad smile conveying how much he cherished his daughter.

With slow, steady steps, he made his way towards the others, taking in their amazed expressions with amusement. When he was in front of them, he tilted his arms just enough for them to be able to clearly see the human-looking baby sniffling in his hold, waving her tiny fists in the air, her chubby cheeks flushed.

“this cute, little babybone is calibri. my daughter,” he announced, pride and infinite love leaking into his voice.

The other two stared at the baby, rendered utterly speechless by awe, for several seconds, before Blue finally managed to find his voice.

“YOUR... DAUGHTER...?” he almost-whispered, tone hushed. His voice was still louder than was generally acceptable indoors, though, and Calibri scrunched up her face at the sound, but didn’t react otherwise, too used to her uncle’s own high-volume voice to be overly bothered by Blue’s. “YOU HAVE A... A CHILD ??”

Sans’s grin widened.

“i’ve got three, actually.”

Both Blue and Stretch looked as if a gentle breeze could knock them over at that revelation.

“THREE!?!?!”/”three!?” they both exclaimed at the same time.

Calibri started fussing again, the shouting too much for her sensitive ears to bear, and her father hastened to soothe her with gentle rocking motions, and soft pulses from his Soul.

“yep. three kids,” Sans explained, snickering at the brothers’ stunned expressions. “there’s elys, my eldest girl, arno, my son, and calibri, the babybone of the family. you guys’ll meet the other two later, when they get back from school.”

The Underswap brothers still appeared a little shell-shocked. Neither skeleton could take their eyelights off of the tiny, fleshy baby, squirming in Sans’s arms.

Slowly, Blue’s expression shifted, something soft, and gentle settling on his face, as he felt his Soul squeeze at the sight of the child. Indescribable warmth flowed through his bones, emanating from his thrumming Soul, filling him with an emotion he hadn’t felt since his brother was a babybone himself. To think that, in another world, another him had been blessed with his own family – a wife, and tiny babybones of his own, to love and protect.

Sans noticed his alternate self’s obvious fascination with his daughter, and, with a smile, he stepped forward, holding Calibri out towards the other monster.

“wanna hold her?” he offered, motioning towards the baby in his arms.

Blue looked up with a start, his eye sockets widening.

“C-CAN I?!” he asked, his hands clenching and unclenching, already lifting up to receive the baby.

Sans chuckled at the other’s eagerness.

“sure can, buddy. here, lemme show ya how to hold her.”

Blue listened attentively to Sans’s instructions, which were mostly the same as the ones he’d received from his parents, when Stretch was born. It seemed that hybrid, as well as human, babies weren’t all that different from monster babies.

When Calibri was securely within Blue’s hold, Sans took his arms away, hovering nearby just in case. Even Stretch had inched closer to them, peering down at the infant with undisguised curiosity and interest.

The shorter skeleton gazed down at the baby in his arms, marvelling at how warm and soft she was, so different from his and his brother’s cooler, firmer bones. Her little chest kept rising and falling with each breath she took, and her hands never stayed still for long, always moving, reaching out and retracting, tiny fingers curling and uncurling.

She was adorable.

And wonderful.

Truly worthy of being called magnificent, in Blue’s not-so-humble opinion.

Unfortunately, Calibri didn’t seem as taken with Blue as he was with her.

The young hybrid’s forehead was wrinkled, her large, golden eyes turning blue, and her lips pursing, as she looked up at the otherworldly visitor with clear unease and uncertainty. In the blink of an eye, Calibri shifted into her monster form, instinctively mimicking the weird stranger holding her.

Both Blue and Stretch gave a start, caught off guard by this sudden, and wholly unexpected, transformation. Sans chuckled at their reaction.

“heh, sorry. shoulda mentioned that was gonna happen at some point,” he apologised, somewhat insincerely, as he shrugged his shoulders at them. “hybrids can switch between their human forms and their monster forms at will. babybone here does it a bit more often than most, though.”

Eye sockets still crinkled with mirth, Sans reached a skeletal finger to poke his daughter’s cheekbone. Despite being made of bone now, the pudgy cheek still gave way under the adult’s light prodding, though not as much as when it was squishy flesh.

Blue stared at the baby skeleton he now held in his arms with amazement.

“WOWZERS! THAT’S SO COOL!” he gushed, his starry eyelights twinkling in their sockets. “I NOTICED THAT HER EYELIGHTS ALSO CHANGED COLOUR.”

He threw Sans a questioning look, to which the other monster nodded his skull.

“yeah, that happens a lot with this one, too,” he admitted, easing back into a relaxed stance, though he kept his hands free just in case he needed them. “elys and arno’s eyes usually stay the same colour, unless they’re using magic, but cali’s eye colour matches whichever colour of her magic is flowing most strongly through her Soul at the time. and that depends on what emotions she’s feelin’ strongest. frisky calls ‘em her ‘mood eyes’, heh.”

Blue nodded his understanding, before voicing another question.

“HER EYELIGHTS TURNED BLUE. LIKE MINE! DOES THAT MEAN SHE’S HAPPY RIGHT NOW?!”

Sans’s smile became strained. He lifted an arm to rub at the back of his skull, averting his own eyelights from Blue’s hopeful gaze.

“er... not... exactly,” he murmured, causing Blue’s face to fall. Raising his voice, Sans tried to sound a little more positive. “but hey! she’s just not used to you yet! you may look like me, but she can sense that we’re not the same, and she doesn’t like bein’ around strangers. but in time, i’m sure she’ll grow to like ya.”

Blue perked up considerably at that. Drawing himself up, he set his face in a determined expression.

“THAT’S RIGHT! THE MAGNIFICENT SANS IS INCREDIBLY LIKEABLE! I JUST NEED TO SHOW TINY CALIBRI HOW COOL I REALLY AM, AND WE’LL BE GREAT FRIENDS IN NO TIME! MWEH HEH HEH!!”

Calibri seemed to disagree. Not taking her cyan eyelights off of Blue, she scrunched up her face in displeasure, not at all liking the loud noises coming from the imposter father who held her. But beyond making a face, and whining slightly, she didn’t react further, to her real father’s great relief.

Stretch smiled softly at his brother, raising a hand to pat him on the shoulder, being very careful not to put too much force into the action, and jolt him while he was carrying a fragile babybone.

“of course you will, bro. how could anyone not see how cool you are? i know you two will be the best of pals before ya know it.”

Blue beamed at him, his cheekbones turning a light blue at his younger brother’s confidence in him. Then, a thoughtful expression came onto his face, as he gazed between Stretch and Calibri. Appearing to reach a decision, he turned towards Sans.

“CAN PAPY HOLD BABY CALIBRI NOW? PLEASE?? PRETTY PLEASE!?” he pleaded.

Stretch looked taken aback. Sans gave the taller skeleton a considering look, before shrugging.

“yeah, sure, why not?” he agreed easily.

Blue cheered, turning to his brother with a big smile, which Stretch struggled to return, looking more than a little nervous.

As slowly and carefully as he could, Blue deposited a cranky-looking Calibri into Stretch’s slightly trembling arms. The taller skeleton monster tried his best to follow the instructions Sans had given Blue, but he seemed very unsure of himself. He couldn’t help but worry that he was going to mess this up somehow.

His fears were proven justified when, as soon as Calibri’s full weight was resting in Stretch’s arms, a loud ‘COOOOOOOO’ erupted from within the sleeve of his hoodie.

The sound startled the baby skeleton so badly, she instantly burst into tears, shrieking at the top of her magical lungs.

Stretch shot Sans a desperate, horrified look, while Blue panicked none too quietly beside him. Sans couldn’t quite manage to stifle his laughter at the situation, though he still rushed to take his distraught daughter back into his arms.

“i’m sorry! i’m so sorry !!” Stretch cried out, looking on the verge of tears himself, as he retrieved a rubber chicken from his hoodie. “i completely forgot that was there! i didn’t mean to prank your kid! i swear!!”

Sans hugged his daughter close to his Soul, rubbing her back, and circulating his magic through his bones once more. His Soul instinctively began humming, pulsing, reaching out towards his daughter’s own tiny, fluttering Soul, embracing it in his magic.

“pfft, don’t, heh, don’t worry ‘bout it. haha!” He barely managed to get the words out, while fighting back sniggers. “it happens, i- * snrk * i get it. the old rubber chicken’s a classic! heheheh... hey, when cali’s older, i’m sure she’ll learn to appreciate a good prank, too.”

Stretch didn’t look reassured in the slightest. His whole body slumped, his skull bowed low, looking utterly dejected. Blue tried to comfort his younger brother, patting his back, and shouting encouragements to him, yelling to be heard over the sound of Calibri’s wails, however all his efforts to make Stretch feel better were in vain. The taller skeleton was inconsolable.

Sans’s attempts to calm his daughter down proved more fruitful, though. Within minutes, Calibri’s cries abated, becoming unhappy little whimpering noises, until finally, she fell asleep, tired out from all of her bawling.

Sans breathed a huge sigh of relief. Crisis successfully dealt with. Frisk would be proud.

Right on cue, as if summoned by his thoughts, the front door’s lock clicked.

All heads currently awake whipped towards the door, through which a human woman entered, carrying several grocery bags in her hands. Sans’s face lit up. With quick steps, he strode towards her, the two of them leaning in for a kiss when he reached the woman, both remaining mindful of the baby dozing away in Sans’s arms.

“welcome home, babe,” he whispered against her lips, his eyelights growing fuzzy around the edges.

“Thanks, love,” she answered back, just as softly, her eyes lidding.

Breaking apart, Sans turned to face the other two skeleton monsters, who were gaping at the couple’s open display of affection. He then motioned towards the woman with a tilt of his skull.

“i’d like to introduce you two to frisk. my lovely wife.”

Frisk nodded her head to her guests, greeting them with a bright smile.

“Hi! It’s a pleasure to meet you both.”

Blue took in her dazzling smile, her silky-looking brown hair, her pretty, light blue dress with purple flowers, and her warm gaze, her eyes the same vibrant gold as her daughter’s.

There was only one thought going through his mind right then.

“WOWZERS...”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Sans left the room to go tuck Calibri back in her cot, after which he joined his wife in the kitchen, to help her to put away all of her purchases. When that was done, the couple returned to the living room, both carrying bowls full of nice cream, to share with their temporary guests/housemates.

“Sorry I took so long, dear,” Frisk apologised to Sans, as the two of them snuggled together on the couch. The human leaned into her husband’s side, while he slung an arm around her shoulders, drawing her in closer. “I had to grab a few extra things. Like the nice cream for everyone!” Then she turned her head towards Blue. “And I got you that cereal you like. You know, the one shaped like little stars?”

Blue looked up from his bowl of blueberry-flavoured nice cream, multicoloured sprinkles sticking to his teeth and all around his mouth. His face, and eyelights, lit up.

“OH WOWZERS! THAT ONE’S MY FAVOURITE!! HOW DID YOU KNOW??”

Frisk merely graced him with an enigmatic smile.

“I have my ways.”

Blue stared at her in admiration, his eyelights morphing into stars.

“OOOOO... SO MYSTERIOUS...!” he gushed, voice filled with awe.

Frisk giggled into her hand in response.

When Sans squeezed her shoulder, she turned her attention back to him, and fed him a spoonful of her own chocolate nice cream. His bowl was, somehow, already almost empty. All that remained were traces of ketchup.

Stretch, meanwhile, barely touched his own bowl of nice cream, the flavour of which was lost underneath the heaping helping of honey drizzled on top of it. The lanky skeleton monster was staring into his bowl, a sullen look on his face, only occasionally bringing a spoonful of the frozen desert to his mouth, clearly lost in unpleasant thoughts. Blue kept shooting him worried glances, but it was Frisk who spoke up first.

“Papyrus.” She gave him a kind smile when he dragged his attention away from his musings, and on to her. “Please don’t feel bad about what happened with Calibri. You have plenty of time to make it up to her. I’m certain your friendly Intent will be able to reach her, and she’ll warm up to you.” When Stretch appeared unconvinced, Frisk’s smile softened. “Besides, you still have the chance to make a good first impression on my other children.”

“as well as on my bro’s kids,” Sans added with a wink.

Blue gaped at him, his spoon tumbling from his hand and landing on the floor with a wet splat.

“EHHH!?!? YOUR PAPY HAS KIDS TOO?!?!?!”

Stretch looked even more blindsided by this revelation than his brother.

“this world’s me has- has kids ?” His voice was barely audible, weak and frail as it was with disbelief.

Sans chuckled at their reaction.

“yep. two – a boy, corbel, an’ a little girl, cambria,” he informed them, the warmth in his voice and smile making it obvious how deeply he cared about his niece and nephew.

“They’re away with their parents at the moment, visiting Pap’s in-laws,” Frisk piped up, scooping up another spoonful of nice cream. “But they’ll be back in a couple of days. I’m sure all of them will be delighted to meet you both.”

She raised her spoon to her mouth, but just before she could taste it, Sans beat her to it, darting forward and devouring her chocolate nice cream in one bite. The human woman scowled at her husband in mock anger, although she was unable to prevent the corners of her lips from twitching upwards. Sans winked at her, a shameless grin on his face, before he leaned toward her, simultaneously pulling her closer, and sealed her lips in a kiss, which Frisk readily returned.

Blue’s skull lit up in a bright, cyan blush at witnessing their display, and he brought his hands up to cover his eye sockets. Nevertheless, he kept peeking at the amorous couple through the gaps in his phalanges. Stretch, on the other hand, was staring vacantly into space, his bowl of honey-coated nice cream threatening to fall from his numb hands at any moment.

Upon noticing this, Blue left his seat to go to his younger brother’s side, relieving Stretch of his forgotten bowl, and setting it safely aside. With that out of the way, Blue laid a hand on Stretch’s shoulder, giving it a light shake. Blinking owlishly, with a dazed expression on his face, the taller skeleton finally took notice of his brother. Blue frowned at him, his eyelights glowing dully with concern.

“ARE YOU OKAY, PAPY? YOU SEEM A LITTLE... OUT OF IT.”

Automatically, Stretch forced a smile onto his face.

“nah, i’m fine, bro, no need to worry about me,” he tried to reassure his brother, but Blue only frowned harder at him, clearly not believing his words and unwilling to let the matter drop. Stretch wilted slightly at the look. He fidgeted in his seat, avoiding his older brother’s reproving gaze. “it’s really nothin’... ‘s just... the me of this world... he has kids... and a wife! what if... well what if i mess up again and they hate me?”

“PAPYRUS...” Blue squeezed his younger brother’s shoulder, his face softening with worry. But before he could reassure him, Stretch rushed to continue, his worries spilling out of him like water from a broken dam.

“i already made the other you’s babybone cry! what if the same thing happens with the other me’s kids?” His hands clenched in the fabric of his shorts. “what if i’m not as likeable as this other me? we’re in an alternate universe, where everyone’s personalities are swapped. we’ve seen other dadster, other alphys, and other you... that means that other me’s gonna be cool like you, sans. he’s probably really popular like you. everyone here must love him. no wonder his wife fell in love with him.” He bowed his skull low, his voice lowering to a whisper. “what if she doesn’t like me? what if... what if, in our universe... mine doesn’t like me?”

Blue didn’t hesitate for a second to reject his brother’s pessimistic words.

“THAT’LL NEVER HAPPEN!!” he asserted, tone unyielding, eyelights ablaze with conviction. He grasped Stretch’s shoulders firmly with both hands and fixed him with his intense gaze. “YOU MIGHT NOT BE AS COOL AS ME, AND YOUR FRIEND QUANTITY MIGHT BE A BIT... STAGNANT... BUT YOU’RE STILL MY BROTHER!! AND AS THE BROTHER OF THE MAGNIFICENT SANS, YOU HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BE (ALMOST) AS MAGNIFICENT AS ME! AND I WILL, OF COURSE, HELP YOU REACH THAT POTENTIAL! WE JUST NEED TO WORK ON YOUR LAZINESS AND YOUR LAME PRANKS, AND THEN YOU’LL BE BATHING IN A SHOWER OF KISSES BEFORE YOU KNOW IT! MWEH HEH HEH!!”

Moved beyond words, Stretch could only stare at his brother’s confident grin, eye sockets glittering with light, tears beginning to form at the corners. His Soul was fairly buzzing in his rib cage. He truly had the coolest big bro ever.

Blue’s gaze softened, his near-death grip on his brother relaxing into a comforting hold.

“BESIDES... YOU’RE MY BABY BROTHER. NO MATTER WHAT, I’LL ALWAYS LOVE YOU! AND I’LL ALWAYS DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO ENSURE YOUR HAPPINESS. I’LL PROTECT YOUR HOPES AND DREAMS WITH ALL MY SOUL. AND I’LL MAKE SURE YOU’RE NEVER BONE -LY! MWEH HEH HEH HEH HEH!!”

Stretch chuckled helplessly along with his brother. If anyone were to ask, he’d say that the tears streaming down his face were from laughing so hard at his brother’s amazing pun.

Across from the skeleton brothers, Sans and Frisk joined in the laughter. They were both relieved that Blue had been able to soothe Stretch’s anxiety. It had been painful for the both of them, Sans especially, to see an alternate version of Papyrus be so visibly overcome by fear and insecurity.

While their own Papyrus was no stranger to such emotions, he was able to hide them just as skilfully as his brother did. A fact which had worried Frisk immensely in the past. Thankfully, both skeleton brothers had moved past such unhealthy coping mechanisms, and were now able to be honest with both each other, and with the rest of their loved ones.

But it seemed that Stretch had yet to reach that point. Nor had he yet mastered his ability to conceal his pain behind a mask. It made Sans wonder just when in the timeline the Underswap pair were from. Certainly much earlier than any of his and his wife’s other unexpected ‘visitors’.

Regardless, the added stress of being trapped, along with his beloved older brother, in an alternate universe, one so different from his own, had clearly only exacerbated Stretch’s worries. Sans vowed to keep a close eye socket on this alternate Papyrus. No matter the universe, he would always look out for his baby bro.

Once everyone had settled down, Frisk cleared her throat, her demeanour becoming serious, as she addressed the Swap brothers.

“I assume Wings has already told you both about the Multiverse and Alternate Universes?”

The two skeletons nodded.

“YEAH. A BIT.” Blue tugged on his bandana, his earlier confidence abandoning him. His smile seemed a little forced. “I DIDN’T QUITE GET EVERYTHING HE SAID, THOUGH... IT-... IT ALL SOUNDS A BIT COMPLICATED, TO BE HONEST. AND INCREDIBLE. IT’S HARD TO WRAP MY SKULL AROUND THERE BEING A NEAR INFINITE NUMBER OF UNIVERSES... SOME COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM ANYTHING I COULD EVER IMAGINE...”

“yeah... it’s a little... overwhelming to think about,” Stretch added in a small voice.

Frisk’s gaze was sympathetic as she regarded the two of them.

“I know it’s a lot to take in. And I know how difficult it is to be stuck in a universe so alien from your own, with no idea when you’ll be able to return home.” She gave them a warm smile. “But you have each other. And you have us. And I promise you two that my family and I will do all we can to make your stay here as comfortable as possible. So please relax, and enjoy your time here, on the Surface, while you can.” She winked at them. “You two will be back home where you belong before you know it.”

Blue and Stretch smiled gratefully at her, the former with a light dusting of blue spreading across his cheekbones.

“THANK YOU, PRINCESS!!” Blue tugged bashfully at his bandana, feeling his Soul flutter at the kindness in the woman’s smile.

“wait.” Stretch frowned. “it sounds like... you’re speaking from personal experience.”

He quirked a browbone at Frisk, gaze probing. Her answering smile was unreadable.

“Back to the matter of Alternate Universes, or AUs as they’re more commonly called,” she continued, effectively dodging Stretch’s unspoken question. “I want you both to know that there are just as many possibilities for how your lives may go, as there are AUs in the Multiverse. Just because something happens in one AU, doesn’t mean it’ll happen in another.”

Stretch sat up straight in his chair when Frisk turned to fix him with a meaningful stare.

“You are not bound by the choices of this universe’s Papyrus. You’re free to make your own choices. Your future isn’t yet decided, and your fate isn’t set in stone. So don’t feel like you have to follow the same path my own Papyrus took. You have options. Including in the domain of love. You don't have to fall in love with the alternate version of my Pap’s wife. Who knows? You may well end up falling for someone else entirely. It all depends on you .”

“that’s right, other pap,” Sans chimed in. His gaze was uncharacteristically serious, his eyelights oddly sharp and intense. “Don’t forget, your choices really do matter.”

Stretch gulped, the weight of their words sinking in, even as another weight lifted off of him. He nodded, then turned away, becoming lost in thought.

Frisk turned towards Blue.

“The same goes for you. You don’t necessarily have to love the Frisk of your world.”

However, despite her reassuring tone, Blue frowned at her.

“BUT WHAT IF... I WANT TO?” he asked, a stubborn edge to his voice. There was no hint of a smile on his face, as he gazed directly into Frisk’s molten gold eyes. “THE MOMENT I LAID EYELIGHTS ON YOU, I FELT A... CONNECTION . A SPARK IN MY SOUL. LIKE... YOU’RE IMPORTANT TO ME. IN A WAY I CAN’T DESCRIBE. I’VE NEVER FELT ANYTHING LIKE IT BEFORE. BUT I WANT TO FEEL MORE OF IT. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT IT MEANS. I WANT TO EXPLORE THAT FEELING. WITH MY OWN FRISK.”

Then his face fell, his shoulders slumping, sadness written all across his features.

“BUT I CAN’T... MY FRISK IS ALREADY... GONE. I’LL NEVER GET TO KNOW HER. I’LL NEVER GET THE CHANCE TO... TO LOVE HER.”

A beat passed, before Frisk spoke up.

“Not necessarily,” she refuted, tone a little cautious.

Blue’s skull shot up, to stare at her with wide eye sockets.

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN??” he pushed, taking an unconscious step forward, hope and hesitation warring across his face.

“If a human is determined enough, their spirit can linger in the realm of the living, even after death,” she explained, her demeanour calm in the face of Blue’s rising excitement. “It would then be possible, if difficult, to construct a suitable vessel to house this lingering spirit, so that the human can, essentially, be resurrected.”

“RE-REALLY?!?!” Blue’s face radiated hope, his whole form nearly vibrating with excitement.

Instead of replying, Frisk tugged at the gold chain around her neck, lifting it up to reveal a gold pocket watch attached to it, which had previously been hidden underneath her dress. Blue squinted at the watch. He could just about make out its metal cover, elaborately decorated with very intricate designs, or perhaps a script written in an unknown language.

While gazing intently at the watch, and without opening it, Frisk once more addressed Blue.

“If you truly wish to pursue this path, then you should speak to your universe’s Undyne,” she advised him. “She’ll be able to help you in this matter.”

Blue beamed at her.

“I WILL!! I PROMISE I’LL DO THAT AS SOON AS WE GET BACK!!” he vowed fiercely. “THANK YOU, FRISK!!”

Frisk smiled at him, tucking the pocket watch back beneath her dress, hiding it from view once again. Stretch, having pulled himself out of his pondering at some point, eyed the action with no small amount of curiosity.

“heya, frisk? what’s up with the watch?”

The human laid a hand on her chest, above where the item in question rested.

“It’s a fob watch, more or less. My mother made it for me, based on the one my father owns. It’s very special to me, so I keep it with me at all times.”

Stretch didn’t seem fully satisfied with her answer, but recognised that the woman wasn’t going to elaborate any further. Blue, however, looked intrigued.

“YOUR MOTHER MADE IT? DO YOU MEAN QUEEN TORIEL??”

Surprise flashed across Frisk’s face, before she burst into laughter. Her husband joined in with his own chuckles. Trying to supress her giggles, Frisk wiped away the tears forming at the corners of her eyes.

“Oh no, no.” She shook her head, her shoulders still lightly shaking with mirth. “I know she acts motherly all the time, but Tori isn’t my mother, she’s just a friend! I was talking about my real mother.” Her laughter subsided, as she folded her hands on her lap. “In this universe, the Monster King and Queen adopted a human named Chara. They’re the human who’s swapped roles with me in your universe. They’re the one who will be your final fallen human.”

Stretch’s gaze sharpened with keen interest at this revelation, while Blue’s eye sockets widened, as he digested this new information. Blue whispered the unfamiliar name to himself under his breath, trying to memorise it, to prepare himself for when he met the human who would one day (hopefully) free him and all monsters, back in his own AU.

Stretch leaned forward in his chair, back hunched and arms resting atop his knees.

“so, uh. what happened to the chara of this universe? if you don’t mind my askin’.”

Sans stilled, his arm tightening around his wife, phalanges digging lightly into the soft flesh of her side. Beside him, Frisk gave Stretch a brittle smile, a sorrowful glint in her eyes.

“She finally found her peace, and chose to let go of this world, entrusting it to me.” Her voice was soft, a gentle melancholy bleeding into it, before her tone became firmer. “But though my Chara may be gone forever, her hopes and dreams live on in me.”

Silence fell upon the room, as Sans held his wife, the both of them oddly solemn, each for their own reasons. The Underswap brothers hesitated over what to say, both feeling awkward in the wake of their host’s sombre words. It was Frisk who eventually broke the silence, shattering the heavy atmosphere.

“Sansy.” She patted her husband’s hand where it rested on her waist. “It’s time to pick up the kids from school.”

Sans spared the clock on the wall a brief glance, before standing up, his hands lingering around his wife for as long as possible.

“huh, so it is.” He leaned down to place a quick peck to his wife’s lips, before backing away. “be back in a sec, babe.”

The skeleton monster then departed the room using one of his shortcuts.

Blue gaped at the clock, shock etched all across his skull.

“WHAT?!?! HOW IS IT THIS LATE ALREADY?? IT HASN’T BEEN THAT LONG HAS IT??”

Stretch had a shrewd look on his face, eye sockets narrowed.

“i’ve noticed that your clock’s been acting weird all this time. the hands keep movin’ at different speeds, sometimes even jumping backwards and forwards, seemingly at random.” He levelled a considering look Frisk’s way. “your, uh, husband said that time in this universe is messed up.”

Frisk nodded her head, before looking away, her gaze distant. She absentmindedly played with the chain around her neck.

“Time doesn’t flow the way it’s supposed to, here,” she murmured. Then, she heaved a deep sigh. “That’s my fault. I made a... rash decision, a long time ago. I tried to fix my mistake as best as I could, but there were some... consequences... unintentional side-effects I could not erase.” The smile she offered the brothers was more a grimace than anything else. “It’s complicated.”

Before either skeleton monster could comment, the front door slammed open, startling the two of them. Their skulls whipped around, just in time to spot two young, seemingly human, children dash into the room. The children made a beeline for the transdimensional travellers, Sans trailing along at a leisurely pace behind them. They both came barrelling to a halt right in front of the Swap brothers, the smaller one almost crashing into the taller one, who caught him just in time.

Blue and Stretch blinked in shock at the new arrivals.

The taller one was a girl of perhaps around eight to nine years old, if Stretch were to guess from his limited knowledge of humans. Her hair was white as bone, her eyes the same light blue as his brother’s eyelights, and her smile was identical to this AU’s Sans’s lazy grin, although the mischief in her eyes gave it a sly, playful edge. The girl snickered at the two brothers.

“It’s so cool that we have new visitors! Heheheh, this is gonna be so fun!”

The smaller kid nodded enthusiastically to the girl’s words. His age was even harder to estimate, given Stretch's lack of information on human children that young. At best, the lanky skeleton assumed the boy to be around four years old, give or take a year. Like the other kid, this one also sported bone-white hair and sky-blue eyes, although the latter were often deeply squinted, like Frisk’s tended to be. Also unlike the other child, this one’s smile was pure and innocent. It reminded Stretch of his brother’s smile, especially when they were babybones.

“Uh-huh! So fun!” the younger child echoed the girl’s words, clapping his hands, his red scarf fluttering behind him.

Sans came up behind the children, placing one hand each on both tiny heads, ruffling their white hair.

“now, now, kiddos, take it easy on the new guys. they’ve only just got here.” He winked at them, his grin widening. “you don’t wanna wear them down to the bone , do ya?”

The two kids giggled at his terrible pun. Blue gaped at the group, aghast, and utterly speechless. Stretch couldn’t help but snicker to himself, though mostly at the appalled expression on his brother’s face.

“Don’t worry Papa.” The girl grinned up at Sans, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “I’m sure they’ll be fine. I can feel it in my bones .”

Cue more laughter from the trio. Blue looked, if possible, even more horrified at the child’s pun. Stretch would’ve been tempted to comfort his brother, if he weren’t bent over with laughter.

When Frisk stepped forward, the children rushed to her side, throwing their arms around her as she bent down to receive their hugs. They mumbled something too muffled to make out, and in response, Frisk pressed a kiss to both of their heads.

“Welcome home, my darlings,” she whispered softly to them, before standing up, keeping her arms around them.

“Other Sans, Other Papyrus,” she nodded to the Underswap brothers, her smile bright and full of love for the children by her side, as Sans came to stand next to her. “I’d like you two to meet our daughter, Elys.” The girl waved at them. “And our son, Arno.” A wave from the boy this time.

Stretch let out a breathless “nyeh”, looking more than a little dazed. His gaze kept going from one child to the other, eye sockets comically wide.

Blue, meanwhile, had recovered from his horror at the truly awful wordplay he’d unwillingly borne witness to, and was once again filled with excitement and wonder. His Soul was thrumming, his bones almost rattling, as his starry eyelights roved over the children, noting each and every similarity they bore to both their parents, and (to his great amazement) to himself.

Just as with their mother, the only thought going through Blue’s mind while looking at his alternate self’s children, was-

“WOWZERS!!”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

With the introductions out of the way, the two children immediately swarmed their otherworldly guests, babbling excitedly to each other.

“Woah, Arno look at his outfit!”

“He has armour! Like Uncle Pap!”

“And look at his bandana! It’s so cool!”

“Yeah! It’s so puffy! It looks like bunny ears!”

“Heheh! You’re right Bro, it does!”

Blue tugged self-consciously at his bandana, flattening the ends to look slightly less rabbit-like, while the kids turned their attention to the other skeleton. Stretch froze, eye sockets wide, like a deer in headlights, as the two hybrids began poking and prodding at his clothes.

“Pfft, his hoodie is the same colour as a carrot.”

“It smells really sweet, Sis.”

“Must be from the honey he spilled on it. Ew, sticky, heheh!”

Elys poked at a fresh honey stain, giggling as the sugary substance threatened to glue her fingers together.

Stretch felt like dusting, as a mortified orange blush crept onto his skull. He wished he’d washed his clothes earlier, like his brother constantly nagged him to. He gave a start as the children started digging through his pockets, pulling out his many, many, many joke props.

“Woah! There’s so many , Sis!”

“I know! And there doesn’t seem to be any end to them, either! Are his pockets bottomless?!”

“Endless pockets! Like Papa’s! Hee hee!”

“Hey Bro, think we’re gonna find a quantum physics book in here too?”

“Oooh! Maybe! Let’s look!”

And the two of them all but dived into Stretch’s pockets, shoving their arms in elbow deep.

That was the last straw – Stretch couldn’t bear their rough treatment any longer. Not only was his embarrassment reaching boiling point, but their little hands were digging into his bones and he was feeling uncomfortably ticklish. Any more and he wouldn't be able to contain his laughter. And he absolutely did not want anyone knowing where his weak spots were. He had a strong suspicion these kids wouldn’t hesitate to take advantage of that knowledge. It’s what he would do.

“let’s not!” he objected, taking hold of their searching hands and pulling them out of his pockets. “please don’t manhandle the skeleton!”

The two children whined in disappointment, but didn’t otherwise refuse him or protest, and backed away from Stretch obligingly. At the kids’ easy compliance, Stretch breathed a sigh of relief, and bent down to retrieve all of his comedy props, stuffing them all back into his pockets haphazardly.

Blue eyed the piles of joke objects with disgust. He furrowed his brows deeply, wanting to toss out all of his brother’s prank materials, so that they would never be used on him again, but managed to hold himself back. As much as he considered Stretch’s pranks to be the bane of his existence, he would tolerate them, if only for his brother’s sake. He would never take away his younger brother’s fun, no matter how much it came at his (and everyone else’s) expense.

Frisk came up behind her children and placed a hand on their shoulders. She smiled apologetically at the Underswap brothers, a light blush dusting her cheeks.

“I’m sorry about my children. They both get so excited when we have interesting new guests! I hope they didn’t upset you two. I know their exuberance can be a bit much if you’re not used to it.”

Elys and Arno tried their best to look suitably contrite, though only Arno managed to pull off the look convincingly. Elys’s grin was still decidedly mischievous, as she and her brother mumbled their apologies to the spatially-and-temporally-displaced skeleton brothers.

Blue waved off their apologies, flashing them a good-natured smile.

“IT’S ALRIGHT FRISK! LITTLE ELYS! LITTLER ARNO! THE MAGNIFICENT SANS UNDERSTANDS!! YOU TWO KIDS COULDN’T HELP BUT BE IN AWE OF MY COOLNESS, AND JUST HAD TO ADMIRE ME FROM UP CLOSE!! I TOTALLY GET IT!! MWEH HEH HEH!!”

Stretch merely shrugged his shoulders, and muttered, “what he said”.

Frisk’s smile softened. She inclined her head towards Blue and Stretch, ignoring the way Elys snickered under her breath with the ease of practice.

“How very kind of you, Other Sans, Other Papyrus. How about we try this again? I think a redo of greetings is in order.” She gently squeezed her daughter’s shoulder in warning. “And this time we’ll all make a good first impression, won’t we?”

“Yes Mama!” her children answered back dutifully, before they each took turns introducing themselves once more.

Elys was first. “I’m Elys, and I’m pleased to meet you two! I can’t wait to get to know you both better.”

Followed by her brother. “I’m Arno! I love hugs and Mama’s cookies! Let’s have lotsa fun together~!”

Frisk carded her fingers through her children’s hair, smiling down at them, affection written all across her face.

Blue beamed at them, then struck a pose, with his gloved fists planted on his hips. Even his bandana seemed to flare up, like a rabbit on full alert.

“MWEH HEH HEH!! IT’S GREAT TO MEET YOU TWO! I AM THE MAGNIFICENT SANS!! RIDDLER EXTRAORDINAIRE! MASTER TACO CHEF! EXPERT FRIEND! FUTURE GUARDSMAN! AND AN ALL ROUND VERY STRONG AND VERY CAPABLE MONSTER!!”

Elys and Arno clapped their hands and Blue preened at their applause.

Then, all heads turned towards Stretch.

The youngest skeleton monster shrunk back as everyone’s attention fell on him. He almost seemed to try to hide behind his brother’s back, despite being twice as tall as him, and gave the kids a timid wave. Sans clicked his tongue at him, and nudged his daughter.

“c’mon kiddo, go show this other pap how we greet new pals here.”

He shot her a sly wink, which she returned, identical wide grins on their faces.

With purposeful steps, Elys approached Stretch and extended her hand towards him.

“C’mon Other Uncle Pap. Let’s be friends! Won’t you shake my hand?”

Stretch felt a tremor go through his Soul at being called ‘uncle’. He stood rooted to the spot, as his Soul trembled lightly.

Blue gave him a reassuring smile and a pat on the back, before moving aside.

“GO ON, PAPY! THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO MAKE A GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION ON YOUR NEW FRIEND!!”

The taller skeleton hesitated for a few seconds, before he tentatively stepped away from his brother, and toward Elys. He came to a halt in front of her and straightened up nervously, before abruptly realising that the way he now towered over her might be intimidating for her, and promptly hunched over again. The way his spine curved and his knees bent was a little uncomfortable, but at least he was eye level with the kid.

Elys squinted her eyes at him, smile still firmly in place, and wriggled her fingers at him in invitation.

Stretch gulped, trying to collect himself. He took a moment to make sure that he didn’t have anything hidden up his sleeve this time, before raising a shaky hand to grip the young girl’s.

As soon as his hand tightened around hers, a loud “PFFFFTTTTTT” resounded throughout the room.

For one brief, terrifying, Soul-tearing second, Stretch thought that he’d made the same mistake as before and had just unwittingly pranked another poor, unsuspecting child. He’d messed up again . The kid would hate him. Her family would never forgive him. His brother would be so disappointed in him.

But before panic could truly set in, Elys burst into raucous laughter. Her father’s chuckles soon joined hers. Stretch could only stare dumbly at Elys, as the young hybrid released his hand to lift up hers, showing off the small, pink whoopee cushion grasped in it.

“Heheheh! The old whoopee cushion in the hand trick is always funny! Right, Papa?”

She flashed her father a bright grin. Sans responded with a wink, and reached over to ruffle her hair with a proud smile.

“right you are, kiddo. heh, ya really got him good, elys. nice one,” he praised his daughter, who beamed at him in response.

As the realisation set in that it was Elys who had pranked him , Stretch gradually relaxed, his Soul settling down. He almost sagged with relief. He hadn’t messed up. He’d just fallen victim to the same sort of practical joke that he’d often played on others, especially his brother.

Who also appeared to be laughing, Stretch noticed, as Blue tried vainly to stifle his giggles behind his gloved fists. Even Frisk and the other kid, Arno, were laughing, although the human looked faintly embarrassed at her family’s shenanigans. Her long-suffering look spoke volumes about the frequency of such pranks.

With his earlier worries having fled him, Stretch began snickering as well. That really was a well-executed prank, he had to admit. The kind of prank that he’d have pulled, as a matter of fact. He couldn’t help feeling impressed that someone had actually managed to get one over on him, for the first time since he was a babybone. That was quite a feat.

“your dad’s right, pal. that was a nice prank,” he readily agreed, hands sinking into his pockets. Elys puffed up proudly at his words. Then Stretch leaned forward slightly, a smirk on his face. “but it’ll take more’n that to rattle my bones , heh. i’m a master prankster, squirt.”

Elys’s grin widened, a devious glint entering her eyes.

“Oh? Is that a challenge?”

Stretch’s expression matched hers, his earlier hesitation and nervousness nothing but a distant memory.

“you bet, small fry. lemme show ya how a pro wins a prank war. next time, the joke’s gonna be on you .”

Elys’s grin turned defiant, her blues eyes sparkling with excitement.

“Nuh uh! Make no bones about it, I’m gonna win!”

Stretch snickered as she childishly stuck her tongue out at him. He could feel his normally lacklustre energy and enthusiasm rise to meet hers. He hadn’t felt this motivated in a long time.

“oh ho! our battle will be legendary. i can feel it in my bones, nyeh heh.”

Their banter was abruptly cut short by Blue, who stomped his foot, an incensed look on his skull. His cerulean eyelights gleamed sharply, as they flit between his younger brother and his alternate self’s child.

“NO! STOP!” he ordered, crossing his arms in front of him in the shape of an X. “THOSE WERE TERRIBLE!! AWFUL!! LOW EFFORT!! LAZY PUNS!! YOU TWO NEED TO LEARN TO PUT SOME MORE BACKBONE INTO YOUR JOKES!!!”

There was a beat of silence, before the room dissolved into more laughter. Blue put his hands on his hips, surveying the laughing faces around him with a pleased grin.

Frisk was the first to recover. As her giggles died down, she fell silent and tilted her head, eyes closed and seeming to listen to something.

“It’s Cali’s feeding time again,” she announced, fiddling idly with the gold chain around her neck.

Her husband inclined his skull to her in a nod.

“gotcha, babe. i’ll go fetch the babybone, while you prepare her milk.”

Frisk nodded her affirmative, and the both of them left to accomplish their individual tasks.

Elys shot Stretch a mischievous smirk, which the monster returned. The two looked ready to resume their pun battle, and Blue eyed them suspiciously. Thankfully, Sans returned before either prankster had the chance to test Blue’s patience for bad puns.

Baby Calibri was wide awake, and still in her monster form, golden eyelights darting all about the place as she took in her change of surroundings from within the safety and comfort of her father’s arms. When her siblings dashed towards the two of them, the baby’s eyelights zeroed in on them. Recognising her older siblings, Calibri’s face lit up, and her toothless mouth lifted up into a happy smile.

“Hi Baby Sis,” Elys greeted her, booping the baby’s nasal bone and giggling at her sister’s confused expression, the infant almost going cross-eyed as she tried to look at where Elys had poked her.

“Hiya Baby Sis!” Arno echoed his older sister, lifting himself up onto his tiptoes to gaze at his younger sister. Calibri babbled cheerfully at him, and Arno caught one of her flailing hands in his. His smile was soft as her tiny fingers curled around his.

Blue wanted to coo at how sweet the three of them were being. It melted his Soul to see how strong the bond between the siblings was. He hoped that his future children, if he were lucky enough to have any someday, would be just as close.

Stretch inched towards them with cautious steps, still painfully aware of how poorly his last interaction with Calibri had gone. He dearly hoped to make amends with the baby. However, as soon as she caught sight of him, Calibri’s tiny, skeletal face crumpled into a grimace, and she started whining, her volume steadily increasing. Stretch hastily backpedalled, beads of sweat forming on his bony brow.

But before the baby could launch into a full-blown tantrum, Elys moved to block Stretch from Calibri’s view.

“Hey Cali! Look at me!” Elys covered her face with her hands, “Peak-a-” then lifted her hands away, simultaneously changing into her monster form, as she shouted, “Bone!”

Calibri squealed in delight, her previous upset completely forgotten. Everyone heaved a huge sigh of relief.

With that crisis averted, Blue stared at the now skeletal Elys with star-shaped eyelights.

“WOWZERS!! IT’S SO COOL HOW YOU CAN SWITCH FORMS LIKE THAT!!”

Elys grinned back at him.

“Heheh, thanks, Other Papa!”

Blue’s Soul pulsed at the name, almost thumping against his ribs. His bones rattled with joy, his eye sockets widening and his starry eyelights going fuzzy.

Arno bounced up and down on the tips of his feet, causing his long, red scarf to flap behind him.

“I can do it too!” he asserted, then promptly changed into his monster form as well. “See!”

Blue looked positively giddy.

“WOWZERS!!! YOU BOTH LOOK LIKE LITTLE SKELETON MONSTERS!!!” he gushed, tone full of awe. He was quite literally vibrating with excitement at that point, although he eyed the two elder hybrids’ white hair with curiosity. “EXCEPT FOR THE HAIR. WHY DO YOU TWO STILL HAVE HAIR IN THIS FORM??”

The two small skeletons giggled.

“ ’Cause Mama thinks it’s funny,” Elys answered, Arno nodding his agreement beside her.

Blue nodded his skull in understanding.

“I SEE. THAT MAKES PERFECT SENSE!”

“uh huh,” Stretch agreed, still keeping his distance from Calibri, who was beginning to squirm in her father’s arms, making soft, discontented sounds.

Sans gently rocked his youngest child, shushing her softly.

“easy there, babybone,” he murmured to her. “mama’s gonna be back with your milk any moment now. just gotta be patient.”

Right on cue, Frisk walked into the room, shaking a baby bottle filled with milk.

“Here we are then – warm monster milk for my little angel.”

Stretch raised a browbone at her.

“monster milk? she doesn’t eat human food?” he questioned.

Frisk smiled softly at his query.

“She does. But she’s half monster, so she needs to eat monster food as well as human food,” Frisk patiently explained. “It’s the same for all hybrids. Even when they’re still in their mother’s womb.” She gave the Underswap brothers a meaningful look. “Which is something you two will need to keep in mind, in case you ever have hybrid children of your own.”

Blue and Stretch nodded solemnly at her words. The elder skeleton monster’s expression was particularly serious, as he etched this information into his mind, in preparation for the future he so fervently hoped for. He’d make sure to learn how to expertly cook both human and monster food, so that one day, he could cook something that would make both his wife and their children smile.

Blue was shaken out of his dreams of a bright future, when Sans approached him. The older monster held out his infant daughter invitingly.

“here. wanna feed her, buddy?”

Blue was taken aback by Sans’s offer, and let out an excited gasp.

“REALLY?!?!”

Frisk joined them, stroking her youngest child’s downy head when Calibri reached her hands up towards her.

“Of course,” she assured Blue. “If you want to, that is.”

Blue barely restrained himself from bouncing up and down on the balls of his feet.

“I DO!! I REALLY DO!!”

Both Frisk and Sans chuckled at his enthusiasm. With careful, measured movements, Sans transferred his baby girl into Blue’s arms for the second time that day. When Calibri was once more secured within Blue’s hold, Frisk held out the baby bottle to Blue, who took it with all the reverence of someone receiving a sacred treasure, instead of a common, glass bottle. After some instruction from the baby’s parents, Blue then placed the clear, silicone teat to Calibri’s mouth, and waited for her to latch onto it, with an expectant look on his skull.

However, Calibri refused. Her brow wrinkled and her now blue eyelights glowed dully, as she repeatedly pushed the teat out of her mouth with her tongue.

Thankfully, Arno was quick to act, as he reached up to grab one of Calibri’s hands, effectively taking her attention off of the weird, annoying stranger trying to feed her, and onto her beloved older brother.

“Cali! Baby Sis! It’s okay!” he cooed to his little sister, who babbled happily back to him, her eyelights returning to their usual bright, molten gold hue. “This Other Papa is really nice. He’s not scary at all! So be a good girl and drink your milk, okay? Mama and Papa said that you need to drink all your milk to grow up big and strong, like them!”

With Calibri suitably distracted by her brother’s presence, she allowed the bottle’s nipple into her mouth and reflexively began suckling it. Blue was mesmerised by the cute, little noises the baby made as she gulped down her milk without fuss.

Arno kept up a steady stream of encouragement the whole time, as his younger sister guzzled down all her milk, her gold eyelights focused on her brother’s warm, familiar smile.

Once the bottle had been emptied, Sans and Frisk explained to Blue how to burp Calibri. The transdimensional traveller was initially appalled by the idea of coaxing a baby into doing something so disgusting, but once he understood the necessity of the action, he was more than willing to comply. He was extremely careful to not put too much force into his pats to the baby’s back, and once Calibri had expelled all of her trapped gas, Blue looked relieved that he’d done his job properly.

He did look to the child’s parents for confirmation, just to be sure.

“You did really well, dear, thank you,” Frisk assured him.

“yup. good job, pal,” Sans concurred, offering him a thumbs up.

“YAY!!” Blue cheered. He then turned to Arno, beaming at him gratefully. “AND THANK YOU, ARNO!! YOU WERE VERY HELPFUL!!”

Arno smiled up at him, head tilted to the side bashfully as he gripped the end of his scarf.

“Aww, you’re welcome, Other Papa. I didn’t do nothin’ special. Mama and Papa taught me to always throw a bone to those who need help.”

Blue was startled by the unexpected pun for a brief moment, before chuckling in surprised delight.

“MWEH HEH HEH! NOW THAT WAS A GOOD PUN!!”

However, Arno only blinked up at him in confusion.

“What was?”

Blue stared at him. Arno stared back, innocently clueless expression plastered all over his face. Sans and Elys both snickered helplessly. It slowly dawned on Blue that the young boy had no idea that he’d just told a pun. Blue was at a loss for words for a few seconds, before finally beaming at Arno in amazement.

“WOWZERS!! YOU’RE A NATURAL, ARNO!! KEEP IT UP, AND YOU’LL EVEN RIVAL MY EXPERT WORDPLAY SOME DAY!!”

Arno still looked clueless as to what he’d done, but that didn’t stop an eager, pleased smile from forming on his face.

“Wowie! Thanks, Other Papa!”

“NO PROBLEM, MWEH!!”

The others all chuckled at their exchange.

In Blue’s arms, Calibri let out a big yawn. She’d finally grown used to being held by this loud, overly excitable, alternate version of her father, and had relaxed enough to fall asleep. With a full belly, she drifted off to sleep, lulled by the voices of her family around her.

Blue gazed, entranced, at the baby’s peaceful expression. Her mouth was slightly open, soft breaths escaping her each time her chest rose and fell. Occasionally, Calibri would twitch in her sleep, or some pleasant dream would cause her to smile unconsciously.

It made something in Blue’s Soul clench, knowing that this innocent, helpless baby, the child of an alternate version of himself , trusted him enough to sleep so soundly in his arms.

As he looked up, he took in the happy smiles on the faces of all the people around him.

The confident, laidback other him, the human woman with the dazzling smile and bewitching eyes, the young girl with the cheeky grin, the younger boy with the innocent smile, and his brother, who had come closer, to stand right beside him without him realising it.

His brother, who had recently started acting strange (well, stranger than usual), although he tried hard to hide it from Blue.

His brother, who now wore a soft, peaceful, contented look on his face. It was a look Blue realised, with a start, that he hadn’t seen for a long time. Too long. Far too long for his baby brother.

Sure, things hadn’t been... the best, back home, what with being trapped Underground, with limited space, no sun, and a growing population... and especially not since what happened to their father, but...

But that didn’t mean that they couldn’t be happy! That his brother couldn’t be happy!

With growing resolve in his Soul, Blue vowed that he and his brother would make the very best of their time in this amazing alternate universe. They’d learn all that they could to prepare themselves for achieving this same outcome in their universe as well. They’d enjoy themselves to the absolute fullest, soaking up the sun, gazing at the stars (the stars! Blue would finally be able to look at real stars !), and spending time with the humans on the Surface.

Blue was determined that the two of them would have the time of their lives here!

The future was looking bright for him and his brother, and Blue had only one thing to say to that:

“WOWZERS!!!”

______________________________________________

I actually have several ideas for some notable events that happen during the Swap bros' stay in this universe, so I'll write a handful of little snippets of their impromptu vacation. Just some of the things they get up to that I find kinda interesting (like meeting the Great Papyrus and his family, can't forget about them!).

I have a couple of other things I'm working on at the moment, so I have no idea which of those is coming up next. I'll just see where inspiration takes me.

#JMB writes #frans #sans x frisk #frisk x sans #sans #frisk #papyrus #underswap #elys #arno #calibri #frans family #frans kids #swap sans #blueberry sans #swap papyrus #multiverse travel shenanigans #fluff #just so much fluff #it's been ages since i wrote elys and arno and i'm scared i've forgotten how to write them #i hope i did shay's babus justice 'w' #stretch might be a bit ooc #but he's still young here #he's from early in his timeline #before things went south and time turned against him #so he's still mostly baby

[filmclingon]

We saw Tom Stoppard's "Leopoldstadt" on Broadway last night. We hadn't rushed to see this, but discounted tickets made it irresistible. At this point I am increasingly reluctant to see or read more on the Shoah, due as much to arrogance that I've already "seen it all" (impossible) as to an aversion with age to borderline torture porn. Previously, the exhibition "Auschwitz: Not Long Ago, Not Far Away" dissolved that reluctance: Our planned one-hour breeze-through became a three-hour endless revelation. But I am sorry to report that, while I am glad we saw it, I'm afraid Stoppard's play was a disappointment, more derivative pastiche than epiphany. I knew it was part biographical, which is also problematic: In the words of Mr. Popescu in Carol Reed's "The Third Man" (its Orson Welles given an almost sneering aside at one point in Stoppard's text): "A dangerous thing, mixing fact and fiction." I was also reminded of Elie Wiesel's criticism of the 1977 television series "Holocaust": Too many different Holocaust horrors happened to this fictional family, straining credulity and providing a boon to revisionists and deniers. Not that fiction is such a bad thing: I recommend highly the fantastic but harrowing and almost forgotten film "Sunshine" (1999) featuring a spectacular cast including Ralph Fiennes, Jennifer Ehle, Rachel Weisz, William Hurt, about three generations of a privileged Hungarian Jewish family. But I felt that the audience would be better off with true accounts, details of which almost seem to have been cherry-picked for inclusion in this play: The sweep of Edmund de Waal's "Hare with Amber Eyes"; the recent TCM documentary on Hollywood composer Max Steiner; another documentary featuring musician Billy Joel and his Viennese half brother about the Nazi theft of their family business; the story of Adele Bloch Bauer, subject of both a famous Klimt painting and the 2015 film "Woman in Gold." Beyond all that, and strictly from a dramaturgic point of view: Too long (two hours ten minutes) to have no intermission (esp. because I believe the script could have been tightened by a quarter hour), and too many characters with too little delineation. Great that the excellent scrim-projected photos throughout the play included a rough-drawn family tree; but at play's end, I was left to scramble mentally who was who. It would have been incredibly effective (if no doubt emotionally manipulative) to have a spotlight shone -- or a briefly held lamp passed, lit, extinguished -- one by one or two by two, on/by the actors portraying the family members whose grim fates are intoned by Rosa ("...Verdun...Auschwitz...Auschwitz...Auschwitz..."). The other issue was enunciation: So many semi-comprehensible posh accents -- not "foreign," all English -- that lines were missed. I had to tell my companion after the fact that both his parents' home towns of Lvov and Czernowitz had been mentioned. And would it have killed Stoppard to translate at least once "le gout juif," said several times at one point and sounding rather silly? There was also an Oskar Schindler crying moment toward the end by the character obviously modeled in Stoppard himself: Can't we please avoid all such lachrymose histrionics in future? Finally, Stoppard has textile magnate Hermann speak of making a suit out of nettles, has the nursemaid tell the Grimm fairy tale of the Six Swan prince brothers (Hans Andersen's version has seven) whose sister makes them shirts out of nettles: I would have liked more connection of those almost throwaway bits of script. Being innumerate and musically untalented, I bow to Stoppard's knowledge of the linked arts of music and mathematics -- although I do know about the Riemann Hypothesis, alleged proofs for which continue to come up in the news but which, as of this writing, are unsubstantiated. That might have been an interesting coda, perhaps a meditation on man's enduring ambition to achieve what may be impossible.

[gyubby99]

@disneyanddisneyships You've been preparing to cry all week so I'm guessing you're prepared. Also this is fanon alistar speaking. I would never go near canon alistar. If I was deena I would not eat him. I'd put him to therapy and jail.

Anyways, Not proofread, don't come at me.

"Wait, so let me get this straight. You were kidnapped, befriended your kidnappers, and on top of that, helped them rob your own father?" Alistar stated, after Ella had told him the whole story of why she ended up here. He had just gone to find her and now this is the story she tells him. He was slightly offended that she did all that just to escape her arranged amrriage with him. He was also scared of what was to come, the future when they get married. He was terrified that they would end up worshipping hate and jealousy, rejecting love which he knew better not to do.

He loved her too much for that.

"I know. I'm sorry, Alistar. I know you probably think I'm a stupid traitor but.. I just can't. I don't love you like that. You know it." Ella responded, rubbing her arm, shyly looking away from him. "And you don't want us to end up like your parents, don't you? If we're not inlove with each other like them, then.." her eyes looked solemn, as her voice trailed off and she looked up at him.

That was partly true. Alistar did not want them to end up like his parents, and the lie? Well, Ella meant more than a friend to him. She had been his sun when his life was daunting. Ella Alden. She was different than the others. She's passionate, kind, and brave. She could kick his ass and he'd thank her for it.

Well, who wouldn't? She's wonderful. He loves everything about her. All the small details, the gestures, he knew her better than he knew himself. He always wandered in her castle's library to watch her read. He always found it adorable when she would furrow her brows when she's focused on the scene from a book. Her adorable smile when she finally reaches the happy ending.

The only time he was scared of what she was reading, was the book about dislocating bones? Bones.

He reminded himself not to get on her bad side. The books might come in handy.

"It's not that I don't like you.. I just feel like I would be a fine ruler on my own.. I feel like I don't need a king. I have my sister." She continued.

Alistar smiled. She would be an awesome leader on her own. If only he had a say against his parents..

"I'm sure you'd be a great queen on your own, Dove.." He told her, admiringly looking at those brown eyes. She was incredibly gorgeous.

"Yeah.. I think so.." Ella stated unsurely.

"Think so? I know so! You're amazing, Dove!" He exclaimed, grinning. Ella gave him a grateful smile. "Thank you, Alistar.."

Holy shit. Her smile went from warm to let's-give-alistar-butterflies

"And, um.. I.. have something to tell you." Ella began, rather shyly. Her cheeks were crimson red, and her pupils dilated a bit.

Alistar was confused. But he told her to go on.

"I.. I met someone.. at the camp." She began.

Alistar froze. His stomach turned. Eyes widened a bit, he looked at her. "And?"

Ella smiled, and sighed dreamily. "His name's Elias... But I call him Eli. He's about this tall- yes, taller than you." She started describing this.. Elias by raising her hands in the air, describing his height.

Despite knowing where this goes, he was rather confused. "Is he a giant?" He joked.

"That's exactly what I'd describe him." Ella responded. Seriously.

Oh.

Alistar gulped nervously. Ella noticed it and immediately went on a rambling mess.

"But he's nice! He's really, really sweet. He's a blacksmith! He made this new corset. See?" Ella showed Alistar, gesturing to her corset.

That man has some crafting skills.

"He wouldn't attack you! He's really, nice.." Ella trailed off, a blushing mess. "And um.. we don't know each other that well yet, but.. I get this feeling that I might.."

Alistar's heart sank to his stomach. Knowing her more than he knew himself, meant that he understood why she acts like that.

"You might like him?" He decided to humor her, conceling his emotions. Ella's response almost made the dam break.

"Yes."

Alistar faked a smile. "Well, isn't that cute? Ella Maria Alden, princess of Morellia, heir to the throne of Morellia.. having a crush on a giant blacksmith?" He teased.

That brought Ella into a blushing, flustered mess. With what strength she had, she elbowed him.

Oof.

"I am going to break your bones one by one." Ella stammered.

"Alright, alright! So, tell me more about this Elias guy?" Alistar laughed, trying to forget the fact that she loved someone else. He chose to get distracted by how shy she was. Because it was adorable.

Ella's eyes lit up. "Never took you for a romantic! Let me guess, you're going to give me some advice?"

Alistar smiled and shrugged. "Coaches don't play!"

Ella giggled, then continued telling him everything she knew about Elias.

"..and then his parents were supposed to name him 'Tobias' but they changed it for some reason.." Ella rambled.

"And they gave him the male version of your name. And voila! It's like you're twins!" Alistar exclaimed. Ella gasped. "How did I not think of that?!"

They bursted into fits of laughter.

~~~~~

The conversation ended hours ago, and he had met Elias at the camp. He truly was a giant. But he saw it. Saw something bloom between them.

He saw it. He saw how Elias took glances at Ella, like she would disappear if he ever looked away. He saw Elias' smile when she talks. How he'd give her all his attention.

Moreover, he saw Ella. How she behaved towards him. She would play with her fingers trying to hold a conversation with him. She'd tuck her hair behind her ear when she's shy. How her eyes light up when she hears his voice..

Boy, oh boy, that man had a deep voice.

Elias was nice to him. He welcomed him like a family. For someone who could throw him off a building, he seemed like he would never hurt a fly.

Alistar was thankful. For his safety and Ella's.

Now he sits alone in his tent, wondering about how his parents would react. How he found a warm family outside the castle. Eve was hospitable enough to let him have his own tent. Loreley was a little too scary, her hair looked like fire. Alruna was nice too.

He wondered about Ella and Elias.

But then he shook those thoughts off. He found a small guitar at the corner of the tent. He played guitar. He would always play to Ella. The last time he played guitar, his father took it and hid it somewhere he couldn't find.

So, to be frank, he hasn't played in a while.

Casually, he strummed the guitar. It felt nice to play again.

She looks at me

I fake a smile so she won't see

That I want, I'm needin'

Everything that we should be

I'll bet he's beautiful

That guy she talks about

And he's got everything that I have to live without

She talks to me

I laugh 'cause she's just so funny

But I can't even see anyone when she's with me

She says she's so inlove

She's finally got it right

I wonder if she knows she's all I think about at night

She's the reason for the teardrops on my guitar

The only thing that keeps me wishing on a wishing star

She's a song in the car I keep singing, don't know why I do..

Alistar sang, rather solemnly.

She walks by me

Can she tell that I can't breathe?

And there she goes, so perfectly

The kind of flawless I wish I could be

He better hold her tight, give her all the love

Look in those beautiful eyes

And know he's lucky 'cause

She's the reason for the teardrops on my guitar

The only thing that keeps me wishing on a wishing star

She's a song in the car I keep singing, don't know why I do..

Alistar strummed his guitar, well, he wouldn't call it his. Not even Ella.

It was like he was holding a small concert at the tent, with no one to watch him. He just needed to get things off of his shoulder. Maybe someday he would make peace with it. That he'd lost his chance on her, maybe he didn't even have one.

Did he?

So I drive home alone

As I turn out the light

I'll put her picture down and maybe get some sleep tonight

She's the reason for the teardrops on my guitar

The only one who's got enough for me to break my heart

She's the song in the car

I keep singing don't know why I do

She's the time taken up, but there's never enough

And she's all that I need to fall into

But he'd still love her. He'd be a fool not to.

She looks at me..

I fake a smile so she won't see..

#the prophecy of immortal fire #tpoif alistar #tpoif ella #ellastar #tpoif elias #ella-li #Spotify