#carroll downy // face

[peachpitocs]

(( Sketch! - Jayden and Carroll because Yes :3 ))

These two are impossible to sum up in one image but I think this is the general vibe :)

#ooc // general #carroll downy // aesthetics #ooc // mun art #carroll downy // answered #carroll downy // face #carroll downy // relationship // carroll and jayden #ducktales wco oo #ooc // answered

[tulaladd]

世界最遅tulaladd2020best DL list

年間ベストを始めて以来、初の事態。

なんと9か月遅れのポスト。あと3か月で次の年ベスの発表時期じゃないですか…唯一にして最大の理由が、もちろんあるにはある。

暗夜行路のような唄声が車内から眺める某庁舎前の雪景色と甘酸っぱい感情を喚起させるRY Xや、このリストには登場しない自分用に作ったプレイリスト（日本語ラップ編、シティーポップ編）をひとりで何度も諳んじては胸を焦がした。それらの音楽が本来持つ資質にプラスして思い出補正でランクインした作品がいくつかある（最たるものがサントラ部門かな）。そんな変化があった2020年でした。

それを除けば、音楽ライフは基本的に前年を踏襲。つまり引き続きapple music依存型で、DIG活動もほほ休止（荷物の山に埋もれたタンテをセッティングし直せるまともな精神状態じゃなかった…）。落第生の体たらくをここ何年も続けてるわけです。とはいえ昨年と比べれば、リスト入り作品の数が格段に増えた＝それなりに楽しい音楽生活が営めていたのも事実。その充実を支えたものがアルゴリズムって点がものすごく納得はいかないけれど。（毎年書いてるけど、手当たり次第サブスクを横断する中で「もう一度聴きたい」と思えたものが以下のDLリスト。感覚的には昨年より緩い5枚に1枚。それでも昨年比3倍の約250枚！）

いつまで延命できるか分からないローカルラジオを継続できたのもラッキーだった。相変わらずみんなとあーだこーだ言いながらいろんな曲を聴く時間が音楽ライフを豊かにしてくれました。感謝。過去最高に音楽への熱が薄いテキストになっちゃうけど、9か月遅れだと致し方なしか。

三ツ星評価のうち、エル・ミシェルズ・アフェアのシングルはラジオの一戸くんレコメン、今年も熱量が持続しているサウスロンドン・ジャズ・シーンのマンスール・ブラウンEPはおなじみWOZNIAK星くんのオススメ、ほかにも人から教わってお気に入りになった作品が少なくないのは、サブスクじゃ届かないリアルの強みが感じられて、そこだけは希望があるのかな。

特筆するとすれば、Bartosz KruczynskiのEARTH TRAX以来追い続けてきたリズムセクション・インターナショナルが、旬のサウスロンドン・シーンと地下ハウス/テクノ・シーンのメルティング・ポットだったことが分かって興味が再燃させられた個人的な事件。そのセンセーションのグラウンド・ゼロにあたるTHE COLOURS THAT RISEの発見が今年No.1の成果かな。

唯一職場で音楽談義ができるために相互レコメンに特化したLINEを展開中のT氏に教えられたエディ・チャコンのアルバム、そのエディの復活劇を手掛け、若林恵さん経由でずっぽりハマったソランジュ『A Seat At The Table』の禅的ミニマリズのデザイナーでもあることが事後に発覚したジョン・キャロル・カービーの2人は、今年ならではの幸福な時間の中で何度も繰り返し聴いた一生の思い出確定盤。ジョンなんか3カテゴリーに分かれてのランクインだもんな。　

さて2021��。あと3か月しかない。今年はやる？やらない？いろいろ越えるべきものが多くすぎてそれ以前の問題かもしれないなけど。

【TECHNO / HOUSE / (NU)DISCO / ELECTRONICS】 ★★★THE COLOURS THAT RISE / Grey Doubt ★★THE COLOURS THAT RISE / 2020 EP（2017） ★★THEO PARRISH / Wuddaji ★★Machinedrum / A View of U ★Kuniyuki Takahashi / Flying Music EP ★Oneohtrix Point Never / Magic Oneohtrix Point Never ★VLADISLAV DELAY / Rakka ★LUKE SLATER / berghain fünfzehn ★Jayda G / Both of Us / Are U Down EP ★TSHA / Flowers EP ★DISCLOSURE / Energy ★DARKSTAR / Civic Jams ★Chari Chari / We Hear the Last Decades Dreaming ★HUNEE / Boiler Room : an hour with HUNEE（DJ Mix） ★Autechre / SIGN Arca / @@@@@ BURIAL / Chemz FOUR TET / Sixteen Oceans JAMES BLAKE / Before EP GLOBAL COMMUNICATION / Transmissions Sampler JOHN FRUSCIANTE / Maya TRICKFINGER / She Smiles Because She Presses the Button EP TRICKFINGER / Look Down, See Us EP 60 Miles / Swamp 2 Sea EP EARTH TRAX / LP1 EARTH TRAX / LP2 BIG YAWN / No! HIATT dB / Palimpsest EP GL / You Read My Mind DJ SOFA / Elsewhere Junior I - a Collection of Cosmic Children’s Song Mr President / One Night feat.Celia Kameni & Cindy Pooch J.A.K.A.M. / ASTRAL DUB WORX Inner Science / Made パソコン音楽クラブ / Ambience EP LOCUSSOLUS / Locussolus（Expanded） Various Artists / South DAN KYE / Small Moments OFF THE MEDS / Off The Meds BASSO / Proper Sunburn - Forgotten Sunscreen Applied By Basso（2019） Copenema / Dexia a Musica Tocar（2019） Seahawks / Eyes of the Moon（2019） Jayda G / Significant Changes（2019） MMM / Que Barbaro（2013）

【HIPHOP / R&B / BEATS / FUNK】 ★★★EDDIE CHACON / Outside（Laraaji Remix） ★★EDDIE CHACON / Pleasure, Joy and Happiness ★★Lil Narnia / Pain Extract ★★VHOOR / Baile & Sauce ★AG CLUB / Halfway Off the Porch ★MAC MILLER / Circles ★THUNDRCAT / It Is What It Is ★WILMA ARCHER / A Western Circular ★OXP, ONRA & POMRAD / Swing Convention ★DJ KRUSH / TRICKSTER ★BENEDEK / Bene’s World（2017） JOHN CARROLL KIRBY / High feat.Eddie Chacon & Nailah Hunter THE WEEKND / After Hours DRAKE / Dark Lane Demo Tapes POP SMOKE / Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon IVAN AVE / DOUBLE GOODBYES MOSES SUMNEY / græ PETER COTTON TALE / CATCH NNAMDI / BRAT Yves Tumor / Heaven Ta a Toutured Mind Teebs / Ardour（10th Anniversary Edition） Wajatta / Don’t Let Get You Down Lapalux / Esrevoinma EP Kutmah / New Appliance THE HELIOCENTRICS / Telemetric Sounds VULFPECK / The Joy of Music, The Job of   Real Estate JOHN CARROLL KIRBY / Lazzara（2019） Various Artists / Kutmah presents : Sketchbook Radio Archives, Vol.1（2018） Invisibl Skratch Piklz / The 13th Foor（2016） D-STYLES / Phantazagorea（2002）

【JAZZ（the New Chapter） / WORLD】 ★★★MANSUR BROWN / Tesuto ★★★JOHN CARROLL KIRBY / My Garden ★★KAMASI WASHINGTON / Harmony of Difference EP（2017） ★JOHN CARROLL KIRBY / Love Theme ★MANSUR BROWN / Shiroi ★JEFF PARKER / Suite for Max Brown ★CHICAGO UNDERGROUND QUARTET / Good Days ★TOM MISCH & YUSSEF DAYES / What Kinda Music ★KAMAAL WILLIAMS / Wu Hen ★ROB MAZUREK & EXPLODING STAR ORCHESTRA / Dimentional Stardust: ★ORLANDO LE FLEMING / Romantic Funk : The Unfamiliar ★SAM WILKES / WILKES（2019） ★YUSSEF KAMAAL / Black Focus（2016） ★ZSOFIA BOROS / Local Objects（2016） JYOTI & GEORGIA ANNE MULDROW / Mama, You Can Bet! BUTCHER BROWN / #KingButch BRAXTON COOK / Fire Sign PAT METHENY / From This Place Fabiano do Nascimento / Preludio SAM GENDEL / Satin Doll SAM GENDEL / Pass If Music（2018） SAM WILKES / Live on the Green（2019） BRANDON COLEMAN / Resistance（2018） KIEFER / Superbloom（2019） 鈴木良雄 / モーニング・ピクチャー（1984） 鈴木良雄 / ウイングス（1987） JOHN EBERSON, BJ0RNAR ANDRESEN, PAAL NILSSEN-LOVE / Mind the Gap（2001）

【（INDIE）ROCK / （INDIE） POP / SSW】 ★★★EL MICHELS AFFAIR / Reasons feat.Bobby Oroza ★★EL MICHELS AFFAIR / Adult Themes ★★THE FLAMING LIPS / American Head ★★SUFJAN STEVENS / The Ascension ★★FLEET FOXES / Shore ★★COLDPLAY / Everyday Life（2019） ★★RY X / Unfurl（2019） ★★THE WAR ON DRUGS / Lost in the Dream（2014） ★PHOEBE BRIDGERS / Copycat Killer feat. ROB MOOSE - EP ★Mk.gee / A Museum of Contradiction ★PEEL DREAM MAGAZINE / Agitprop Alterna ★BLAKE MILLS / Mutable Set ★THE STROKES / The New Abnormal ★CHS / Jungle Sauna（2019） ★KINDNESS / Something Like A War（2019） ★〝Blue〟Gene Tyranny & Peter Gordon / Trust In Rock（2019） ★STATE RIVER WIDENING / Early Music（2003） BIBIO / Sleep On The Wing Jonsi / Shiver JEFF TWEEDY / Love Is The King REAL ESTATE / The Main Thing ANIMAL COLLECTIVE / Bridge to Quite LITTLE DRAGON / New Me . Same us JAGA JAZZIST / Pyramid TAME IMPAlA  / The Slow Rush TRAVIS / 10 Songs SORRY / 925 JOSEPH OF MERCURY / WAVE Ⅱ Khruangbin / Mordechai Various Artists / Hiding From the Landlord HOWLING / Colure DEVENDRA BANHART / Ma（2019） LANA DEL REY / Norman Fucking Rockwell（2019） DAVE GROHL / Play（2018） CRITERIA / En Garde（2003）

【PUNK / HEAVEY / EXTREAM】 ★★envy / The Fallen Crimson ★★lang / There is no reply, but sweet wind blew（2018） ★envy / LAST WISH（Live at Liquidroom Tokyo） ★SLIFT / UMMON ★HORSE LORDS / The Common Task ★coriky / coriky ★Sans Visage, Look at moment / Split Single ★Sans Visage / moments（2017） ★LIGHTNING BOIL / Sonic Citadel（2019） ★Harvey Milk / Courtesy and Good Will Toward Men（2006） DEFTONES / Ohms Converge / Endless Arrow JESU / Terminus JESU / Never JESU / Ascension（Delux） KRUELTY / A Dying Truth XIBALBA / Anos En Infierno Various Artists / Speedy Wunderground Year 4（2019） RUSSIAN CIRCLE / Russian Circle Audiotree Far Out（2019） EARTH / Live at Third Man Records（2017） THE ARMED / Only Love（2018） THE ARMED / Untitled（2015）

【AMBIENT / NEW AGE / DRONE / MINIMAL MUSIC / EXPERIMENTAL】 ★★JOHN CARROLL KIRBY / Conflict ★★Dukes of Chutney / Hazel  ★HEATHERED PEARLS / Cast ★SAM PREKOP / Comma BING & RUTH / Species FRANKIE REYES / Originalitos IAN WILLIAM CRAIG / Red Sun Through Smoke WINDY & CARL / Allegiance and Conviction JONNY NASH & SUZANNE KRAFT / A Heart So White JOHN CARROLL KIRBY / Tuscany（2019） JOHN CARROLL KIRBY / Meditation In Music（2018） JOHN CARROLL KIRBY / Travel（2017） ALEXANDER RISHAUG / Shadow of Events（2011） 【CLASSIC / OST】 ★LUDWIG GORANSSON / Tenet OST ★JOHN WILLIAMS / Double Trouble ※from OST of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban（2004） DUSTIN O'HALLORAN / Ammonite OST KAMASI WASHINGTON / Becoming（Music from the Netflix Original Documentary） DUSTIN O'HALLORAN / Lumiere（2011） BETH GIBBONS, The Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra & Krzysztof Penderecki / Henryk Gorecki: Symphony No.3（2019） ANTONI WIT, Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra(Katowice) & Polish Choir of Krakow / Henryk Gorecki: Symphony No.2（2001） ZSOFIA BOROS / Local Objects（2016） 【DOMESTIC（without HIPHOP）】 ★★★METAFIVE / 環境と心理 ★★GEZAN / 狂（KLUE） ★★downy / 第七作品集「無題」 ★★岡村靖幸 / 操 ★★崎山蒼志 / ソフト　※FEVER LIVE ver. on YouTube ★★SILENT POETS / dawn（2018） ★WOZNIAK / Vegetable Home Run ★Ai Aso / The Faintest Hint ★jan and naomi / YES ★mei ehara / Ampersands ★ディーン・フジオカ / Neo Dimension ★LUNA SEA / Make a vow ★坂本慎太郎 / 好きっていう気持ち / おぼろげナイトクラブ ★Cuushe / Waken ★sassya- / 脊髄（2019） ★小袋成彬 / Piercing（2019） ★She Her Her Hers / stereochrome（2014） WOZNIAK / Lost WOZNIAK / Double Face mouse on the keys / Arche 5kai / Untitled #2 KAN SANO / Susanna Ovall / Ovall（2019） mabanua / Blurred（2018） D.A.N. / Aechma ふさえ / そのまま 相馬智行 & 鳴海徹朗 / 春の闇 jan and naomi / Neutrino 王舟 / Pulchra Ondo 春ねむり / LOVETHEISM 井出健介と母船 / Contact From Exne Kedy And The Poltergeists（エクスネ・ケディと騒がしい幽霊からのコンタクト） 吉田一郎不可触世界 / えぴせし 岡田拓郎 / Morning Sun blgtz / Feature EP Coff / Tiny Music（2019） 【DOMESTIC（HIPHOP）】 ★★DJ CHARI & DJ TATSUKI / GOLDEN ROUTE ★★Weny Dacillo / Hapitable Hotel ★Hideyoshi / Dead End Adventure ★GG UJIHARA / WEAKNESS EP（2018） ★DJ CHARI & DJ TATSUKI / Time feat.Yo-Sea & KEIJU（2019） ★GG UJIHARA / WEAKNESS EP（2018） KOHH / worst KEIJU / T.A.T.O. Sauce81 / S8100 MARTER / Weltraumasthetik 2020 Normcore Boyz / MEDIAGE なみちえ / 毎日来日 徳利 / REVOLUTION starscream & Page Hiiragi / Ghost(s) DJ CHARI / GAME（2019） YOUNG HASTLE & GG UJIHARA / YOUNG UJIHARA EP（2019） Weny Dacillo / AMPM EP（2017）

#tulaladd2020best

[ducktales-wco-oo]

✩ { @calvinsmuses​​ } ✩ - Continued from ★

{ ☆ } This was probably a stupid idea. It’s certainly a risky one. Tempting fate by poking at the new type of affection Carroll has offered them. One that according to all logic, Jayden shouldn’t be expecting again. Carroll seems fervent to pretend as if it never even happened. Some secret shame perhaps... Better left unspoken and unrepeated. A mistake on the other’s part. A regret. But Jayden can’t just blindly accept that. Can’t resist tugging at the fragile lifeline, a frayed string that threatens to snap if he goes too forcefully. So... a simple question is tried.

A chance.

But not a promise.

Jayden wishes that statement didn’t cut as deeply as it did. It shouldn’t. They know it shouldn’t. After all, promises are seldom kept. He can’t recall a time when one was. ‘This time will be different, you’ll see.’ ‘We’re your new family.’ ‘I won’t mess up again, I promise!’ ‘We’ll always be here.’ That last one is only a faint memory; muffled voices and blurred faces that Jayden isn’t certain he didn’t merely compose in his own mind. Some desperate attempt at a past. At SOMETHING they can call their own. It’s likely fake... Just another lie told to themselves. Even if it isn’t, it’s a broken promise nonetheless. The first drop of a cascading waterfall. Rushing and raging, over their head and in their lungs. Filling them, a part of them.

One of the few that seems to stick. 

❝  Obviously.  ❞  It’s a single word, spoken through a strained smile. Tone lighthearted as usual, a soft chuckle starts the statement, as if it’s one that doesn’t even need to be said. No promises. Of course. Why would there be? He wasn’t expecting one. Hoping maybe, but- No. This is just a moment. Nothing more, nothing less. But that’s alright. Jayden is used to moments. It’s what they always get. One moment at a time until there simply AREN’T any more. So, he’ll enjoy this one for what it is... instead of dwelling on what it could be.

As a hand moves to rest against the one cupping his cheek, Jayden feels his face flush with warm even as a bittersweet sinking feeling enters his gut. Thumb lightly rubbing the back of Carroll’s hand, they take a moment to savor how warm Carroll’s touch is, how warm his gaze... how warm that nickname made him feel, fleeting as those terms of endearment are. EVERYTHING about Carroll is warm. Jayden is so used to a constant chill, be it in the air or within.Staved away as best they can by fluffy plumage and thick clothing, but always... there. Lingering, like a foreboding crawl up their spine. But not with Carroll.

Most times, anyway...

His lips are warm too. 

Jayden doesn’t know how long the kiss lasts. Only that when it does, he never felt like he belonged somewhere so completely. It’s as if their beaks are puzzle pieces, two halves of a whole that were waiting to be reunited. Feathers fluffing and face overtaken with a blush that spreads across his beak, hand gives Carroll’s a small squeeze as if ensuring that the other boy is actually still there, fingers interlaced like a woven pattern of light and chocolate. Other one moves to cup Carroll’s cheek in return, wanting to feel the soft downy feathers.

Tail wags gingerly behind him, large tuft flicking with delight even as Jayden pulls away from the moment; it feeling far too soon, but Jayden knowing that’d be true of any time. Gaze slowly opening, eyes are unfocused for a moment, dazed joy upon a soft face as sea-green meets rich brown, merely... looking, admiring... wanting... before it dawns upon the duckling that this isn’t the behavior of one who ‘obviously’ understands there are no promises being made. Blinking at their error, face flushes a scarlet that disrupts the lovestruck rose of before, SHAME overtaking and hands moving away as if scalded by Carroll’s touch.

Running a hand through his headfeathers, they look back up at the sky and plaster a smile on their face, nervous and weak... but there. At least it’s THERE.  ❝  H-Heh... Pretty nice moment, huh?  ❞  Despite the misleading sentiment, Jayden’s aim isn’t gratitude or even wistfulness. But simply to state- that it’s past. It was pretty nice. The moment. Him, Jayden, and the MOMENT. Like Carroll said... and now it’s over. Hence his hands resting on the ground beside him now, one toying at a strand of grass, running the smooth surface between fingers without plucking the blade. Ginger in their touch, as if not wanting to break anything else...

Looking at the grass with a casualty they hope is convincing, they lightly pop their lips before musing,  ❝  Kinda makes ya wonder if they’ll be another one, eh?  ❞  Lightly snickering, gaze looks up at the stars as they shrug,  ❝  Fffff.... Of course, I’m not some kinda floozy. Kisses are only currency for things like saving my life or y’know- ... other stuff like that.  ❞  Like a fun night camping. Like catching fireflies, being fed a burnt s’more ‘against his will’... not feeling so alone.

...  ❝  No promises, though.  ❞  { ☆ } 

#(*YEETS BEACAUSE KJDKNSGJKFDG*) #ducktales-wco-oo #⭒ ˙ ˖ ✧ — ˗ˏˋ ❝ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀɴᴅ ɪ; ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ᴘᴜᴛ ᴜᴘ ᴀ ᴍɪᴅᴅʟᴇ ꜰɪɴɢᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴋʏ ❞ ¦ 「 Jayden IC 」 #⭒ ˙ ˖ ✧ — ˗ˏˋ ❝ ɴᴏ ᴏɴᴇ ᴄᴀʀᴇꜱ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ɢʀᴏᴡ ᴏʀ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ꜱʜʀɪɴᴋ ❞ ◌ ᴄʜɪʟᴅ ¦ 「 Jayden 」 #⭒ ˙ ˖ ✧ — ˗ˏˋ ❝ ᴛᴡɪɴᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛᴀᴘᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ʙᴜʙʙʟᴇ ɢᴜᴍ ❞ ¦ 「 Carroll 」 #calvinsmuses #⭒ ˙ ˖ ✧ — ˗ˏˋ ❝ ᴛᴀʟᴇꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴅᴀʀɪɴɢ ᴅᴏ ʙᴀᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ɢᴏᴏᴅ ʟᴜᴄᴋ ᴛᴀʟᴇꜱ! ❞ ¦ 「 RP 」 #♡ ˙ ˖ ✧ — ˗ˏˋ ❝ ʜᴏᴡ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴍɪꜱꜱ ꜱᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴀᴛ'ꜱ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴘʟᴀɪɴ ᴛᴏ ꜱᴇᴇ? ❞ ¦ 「 Jayden and Carroll 」

[peachpitocs]

"Sketch!" for carroll and huey because i've been thinking about them

I like them cause they’re both fully capable of being assholes and smart alecks but when they’re near each other they just get flustered and soft

#ooc // general #ooc // mun art #ooc // answered #carroll downy // answered #carroll downy // aesthetics #carroll downy // relationship // carroll and huey #rednephew #carroll downy // face

[peachpitocs]

#carroll downy // face #carroll downy // verse // college #ooc // mun art #ooc // queue

[peachpitocs]

#carroll downy // face #carroll downy // relationship // carroll and jayden #ooc // mun art #ooc // queue

[peachpitocs]

#carroll downy // face #carroll downy // verse // college #ooc // mun art #ooc // queue

[peachpitocs]

#carroll downy // face #ooc // mun art #ooc // queue

[peachpitocs]

Tag Dump!

Laurel.

#laurel downy // ic #laurel downy // face #laurel downy // about #laurel downy // open #laurel downy // dash comm #laurel downy // aesthetics #laurel downy // answered #laurel downy // verse // post divorce #laurel downy // relationship // laurel and kurt #laurel downy // relationship // laurel and carroll #laurel downy // relationship // laurel and jayden #laurel downy // relationship // laurel and della #laurel downy // relationship // laurel and cam #laurel downy // relationship // laurel and minerva #laurel downy // relationship // laurel and mitch

[peachpitocs]

Tag Dump!

Kurt :(

#kurt downy // ic #kurt downy // face #kurt downy // about #kurt downy // open #kurt downy // dash comm #kurt downy // answered #kurt downy // aesthetics #kurt downy // verse // post divorce #kurt downy // relationship // kurt and laurel #kurt downy // relationship // kurt and carroll #kurt downy // relationship // kurt and minerva #kurt downy // relationship // kurt and dahlia #kurt downy // relationship // kurt and augustus #kurt downy // relationship // kurt and mara #kurt downy // verse // business route #kurt downy // relationship // kurt and cj

[peachpitocs]

Tag Dump!

Carroll.

#carroll downy // ic #carroll downy // open #carroll downy // dash comm #carroll downy // face #carroll downy // about #carroll downy // aesthetics #carroll downy // answered #carroll downy // verse // the good timeline #carroll downy // verse // business route #carroll downy // verse // college #carroll downy // verse // adult #carroll downy // relationship // carroll and jayden #carroll downy // relationship // carroll and laurel #carroll downy // relationship // carroll and kurt #carroll downy // relationship // carroll and cots #carroll downy // relationship // carroll and arya #carroll downy // relationship // carroll and cam #carroll downy // relationship // carroll and minerva #carroll downy // verse // he would kill for me #carroll downy // relationship // carroll and ty #carroll downy // relationship // carroll and quincy

[peachpitocs]

@ducktales-wco-oo said:

When Jayden wakes up in the middle of the night, they don’t think twice about carefully easing out of Carroll’s embrace and slinking their way down to the kitchen. There’s always a fuck ton of food in this house and oftentimes a fuck ton of NONE where he’s staying for the moment. So nabbing a quick bite doesn’t seem like a problem. Carroll doesn’t mind it, and his opinion is the only one who’s matters. It’s not like his parents are ever really around to notice shit anywa—

❝ Oh shit. ❞ Jayden says with a small start, noticing the silhouette of a woman hunkered down at a table, books and papers surrounding her even at this time of night. Resting a hand on his chest, they will their heart to steady from that small unexpected spike of adrenaline… Well, shit. They hadn’t planned on meeting Carroll’s mom tonight. Or possibly ever. Or like this. But looks like that’s how things are going.

❝ Uh… I was just… stealing some of your food. ❞ Jayden awkwardly begins, joke falling flat from nerves as they flash an uncertain smile. ❝ Don’t worry though, heh- I’m not like, some random kid who broke into your house. ❞ Yeah, THAT’S a normal thing to say. ❝ I know Carroll. He’s actually one of my best friends— ❞ Technically Louie is his best friend, but that’s because he’s pretty sure crushes don’t count. Makes it kinda unfair to put anyone else up against the special way Carroll makes him feel. But saying Carroll is anything LESS than a ‘best’ friend feels wrong too. ❝ And I was just… chilling here for the night. ❞

❝ … Honestly, I didn’t think anyone else was even home. ❞ - (*nudges a boi meeting his future momther-in-law for the First Time*)

Laurel wonders sometimes why she assigns long, in depth essays like this. The students are hardly thrilled to write them, and grading them takes ages. That's what she gets for being an English professor, she figures. And she loves it, really, she does, even if it keeps her up, working by lamplight in the kitchen so she doesn't wake her son and husband. Not that her husband is home. She chooses to believe he's working, too.

She's tired enough that her reaction to a child entering the room is delayed, but not so tired that she forgets to smile. First impressions are important, especially when it comes to people who matter to Carroll.

"Don't worry, sweetie. I know he has friends over sometimes. Did you not get to eat tonight? I can make you something." She stands and makes her way over to the kid, taking in their frame, their style, their awkward but clearly well meaning energy.

"I'm Laurel. Carroll's mom. You can call me whatever you want. Laurel, Mrs. Downy, Mom." She laughs, scattered but light. "And you're... don't tell me."

Okay. Cots has been on all of Carroll's sports teams. He's taller than this, she thinks, and he's got the dorky, handsome father. Yeah, she knows Cots. Which means this is either Jayden or Arya, and from what she's heard, Jayden isn't just a friend. Jayden hovers in that weird space that makes Carroll's eyes light up and his face flush and his hands get all fidgety, even if he won't admit it yet.

When she checked on him earlier, he had his chin tucked over this kid's head and his arms wrapped tight around them, a sleepy smile on his face. She would hate to assume and get it wrong, but...

"Jayden? Carroll's told me all about you. I think I might know more about you than I do about him at this point!

"You want a grilled cheese sandwich? Or something else? I can make you whatever you want, as long as it's Kosher. And you can turn on the lights, if you want. I think Carroll's tired enough that he won't wake up."

#laurel downy // ic #laurel downy // answered #ducktales wco oo #starring ducktales wco oo as jayden #long post cw