#hard shell camera backpack
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yooo it’s me again😈😈 can i request a chenle x male reader where reader comes out of hiatus and is like shell shocked at how life treated everyone hella well, especially chenle like man is greek god handsome. and reader has liked chenle prior to his hiatus (same cliche 😭😭) so he’s kinda nervous and awkward with chenle. whereas chenle seems to give reader the cold shoulder, making their interactions very bare bones so reader gets disheartened about that. but little does reader know, chenle also thinks life treated the reader well and is trying to navigate his feelings in his own way. yeah and the rest is up to you‼️‼️‼️
Rewind
Zhong Chenle x Male Reader
Surviving the aftermath of the pandemic was difficult. It was hard readjusting to being out in public with your members surrounded by screaming fans and cameras shoved in your face. It was such a vast difference compared to the quiet and empty seats you got so used to performing in front of. Instead of spending your nights in, you were interacting with fans no matter where you went. You withstood a year of this.
“Are you proposing I take a hiatus?” The conference room comes to a halt. You are left sitting in front of your managers in complete silence as they go back and forth on your options and how it would affect the overall image of the group. “I think keeping me in the loop would work better.”
“Based on the information you—”
“And my therapist.”
“Yes. Based on the information the two of you brought us, we think it is best if you were to take a hiatus. You cannot continue with your activities if you’re going to keep having anxiety attacks in the restrooms between performances.” You place your hands on the cool table with your palms down, looking down at your shoes, trying to ground yourself. “We want you to take this break to focus on your mental health. The group and the fans will be there when you return. You can decide on how long you need this to be.” You could feel the inevitable but coming. “However, you will be expected to practice… at your own pace and however much you can take. We don’t want you to get rusty now.” An awkward laugh is shared between the three men as they slide you a stack of papers. “Just covering our bases, making sure we’ve touched on everything on here. Okay, (Y/n)?”
A year.
It had taken a year for you to feel like you could return to your members. After spending most of your time inside of your home going back and forth to your therapist—then your family—then the studio you were renting now and then—you started missing it. Taking this break helped you expose yourself more to everyday interactions. It helped ease you in to being out in public with people and all of their liveliness.
Although you had already come to a decision, it took you a few weeks to step foot in the SM building again. Gathering all of your belongings again along with the music you prepared to bring along in case you were to be evaluated. You did feel a little guilty about contacting the members every now and then instead of as frequently as you could—especially Chenle—but you were sure they understood.
You feel your footsteps grow heavy as you grow closer to the dorms. The overhead lights in the hallway suddenly too bright for you as you dragged your fingernails up and down the handle of your suitcase. With a deep breath you turn the handle, greeted by a group of twenty-odd men.
“Welcome back!” Taeyong pulls you into a hug, causing you to drop your suitcase and backpack near the shoe rack. You slipped off your (f/c) crocs as he hugged you, finally wrapping your arms around his waist and letting your face sink into his shoulder. You closed your eyes, allowing yourself to bask in the comfortableness that came with your members. “We’ll talk about how bad you are at texting another time, okay?” You give him a small nod, finally pulling away to greet everyone else in the room.
Everything seemed to familiar—and yet—so unfamiliar. This past year had treated them all so well, you felt like they had grown into their faces so drastically. Together as a group they looked like they were doing so well without you—it made you feel a little disheartened. You felt like you still looked and acted the same as you did a year ago. Just less anxious about every single word you shared.
You nodded your head along to the stories Sicheng and Donghyuck shared with you, looking across the room with your eyes only as you searched for a specific face. When you finally spotted him the room went radio silent—to you at least. The last time you had seen him he had vibrant pink hair—a color you never stopped complementing him on. Now he dawned a dark brown that suited his face perfectly. You were at a loss for words. This year had favored Chenle tremendously.
“Excuse me, guys.” Sicheng and Donghyuck made way for you, going back to their conversation immediately with cake in their hands left forgotten. You walked towards him, feeling the room lengthen in size as you felt as if you were never going to reach him— “Chenle.”
“(Y/n).” Cold.
Even his voice is different. It hits you in your throat first, where you feel yourself tense up at his short reply. He is avoiding all eye contact with you, clearly showing discomfort with his body language towards you. You try and brush it off, chalk it up to the fact that you weren’t the best at replying to his messages whether you were on your phone or not. But this Chenle was different—his prominent cheekbones unwelcoming as they sat still on his face instead of puffing out into a smile as they used to whenever you spoke to him. He is much slimmer now—so mature and serious as he stands tall with perfect posture. He feels so far away from you.
“It’s nice to see you again. I’ve been keeping up with you guys and your promotions. Your stage presence has blossomed so well—not that you’ve ever had a problem with that!” You mentally cringe as you try to explain further— “You just all grew up so well I’m a little jealous.” You’re still met with nothing more than a poker face.
“Thank you, (Y/n)-ssi.”
Ssi.
You try not to show your insecurities. Bowing a goodbye with your head as you awkwardly turn away from Chenle and choose to catch up with members who seemed more than interested in how you spent the last year. You can’t help but turn your head back to look at him, catching how his eyes dart from you back to Jisung—who had taken your spot just a minute after you had walked away. At least they’re still the same. You hate the look in Taeil’s eyes as you turn back to meet them—pure sympathy and sadness when he looks at you. Not that you could blame him.
It had taken you a while to get used to having roommates again. It was nice to have people to split the dishes and cooking with but you could never get used to the noise that rang through the dorms day in and day out. You knew this before you came back—knew that most of your members were hyperactive extroverts who seemed to never settle down until they could see the sun come up from the floor-to-ceiling windows that decorated your living room. These days it was a little quiet though—a little empty as they came in and out of the dorms at odd hours of the night. This could only mean one thing.
“(Y/n). We were taking your health into consideration. See it from our side.” You pace around the room nervously—comforted by the fact that nothing had changed in here since last year. “You just got out of a hiatus and you want to get thrown back in for a full group album? Do you think you’ll be able to handle that? We have yet to start recording any songs or music videos so adjustments could be made just like—” he snaps his long fingers, brown eyes keeping contact with you as long as you’d let them, “that. This is your decision to make. If you choose to participate, you’re going to be thrown head first into schedules.”
A nod is all they need before they start briefing you on the comeback’s concept. The overall feel of the album and what unit’s they had already made that you could join and fit right in.
Immediately you feel restless. The constant thumping of your sneakers on the practice room floor driving you crazy. If only you could get this one step—
“You’re doing it wrong.” Again. His voice is void of any emotion towards you. His never changing face still startling you as it used to hold smiles and fondness towards you. “If you twist your knee—” he pulls his pants up, showing you how to move your knee for this specific move, “like that—you’ll get it right every time.” Chenle lingers a second too long, staring at the top of your head as you try and succeed on your first try. Before you know it, he’s out the door, nothing but the scent of fresh laundry and wood to let you know that he was actually here. He didn’t even let you say goodbye.
This coldness persisted throughout promotions. The company had stuck you with Chenle in a unit with three other members—Johnny, Doyoung and Xiaojun. And while all five of you had great chemistry on stage, the harmonizing part you had with Chenle in the middle of the song never quite fit the rest of the stage. The two of you tried and tried again—but faking the closeness with each other was tearing you two apart. Fans were quick to pick up on this.
You followed Chenle backstage after the performance, grabbing his wrist harshly to force him to turn around. He pulled his wrist free of your hold, turning around with frowned eyebrows and hard eyes.
“What is your problem with me? What? I leave for a year to focus on myself and all of a sudden I’m a villain? Are you mad that I never replied to your messages?” Chenle scoffs, rolling his eyes up to the ceiling. “Chenle. I’ve been trying for months and you give me nothing.”
“You look good, (Y/n). You grew up so good away from us—from me—how am I supposed to talk to you when you look like that?” He rubs his hands up and down his black jeans, the jewelry in his hair and around his neck bouncing up and down as he did. “I haven’t been able to look you in the eye because you make me nervous, I feel physically ill when I look at you—not in a bad way!”
It takes you a second to process this. To process the sudden confession you had finally pulled out of him on the busy hallways of Inkigayo. He is standing with his thumbs in the pockets of his pants, biting the inside of his cheek nervously. You bowed to the idols rushing past the two of you, pining Chenle to the wall so you gave them more than enough space. You put your hands up beside his head, looking away from him as you wait for everyone to pass. When you finally got back to Chenle, your faces are mere centimeters away—the tip of your noses almost brushing together. You take in a breath, inhaling all of Chenle’s sweat and cologne. Before you know it, you’re laughing—cackling as you squat down flat on your feet.
“Chenle… we are so stupid.” He stares down at you, confusion written all over his face. “You giving me the cold shoulder because you have a crush on me…” He slaps your shoulder playfully, looking around to make sure no one was around. “I was being such a pushover. Chenle, we could’ve figured this out over a year ago.”
“You’ve liked me for more than a year?!”
#zhong chenle#chenle#chenle nct dream#nct#nct u#nct dream#chenle x male reader#nct x male reader#nct u x male reader#nct dream x male reader#hi#hello again 😆#thank you for Requesting again!!! I love these you are awesome#<3
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lilo pelekai is a 20 year old human based on lilo from lilo and stitch. she is a barista with no powers. she uses she/her pronouns, and most of her memories are intact !
INFO.
full name: lilo kaimana pelekai
date of birth: november 20th, 2002
hometown: kauai, hawaii
zodic: scorpio sun, aquarius moon, cancer rising
sexuality: bi, possibly asexual
education: highschool graduate
occupation: barista at v8 cafe
height: 5′3
hair: dark brown
eye color: dark brown
tattoos/piercings: pierced earlobes
markings: n/a
mother: [redacted] pelekai
father: [redacted] pelekai
siblings: nani pelekai, stitch jookiba
pets: n/a
PERSONALITY.
positive traits: eccentric, daring, empathetic, faithful, authentic
negative traits: dramatic, stubborn, capricious, unorganized, turbulent
fears: driving/vehicles (especially in bad weather), losing people, feeling trapped, clowns
likes: elvis presley, music from the 50s-70s, black and white movies, horror movies, shaved ice, fresh fruit, smoothies, looking at constellations, plushies
dislikes: rules, following rules, being told to calm down, showing weakness, crying in front of people, being left out, broccoli, being scolded, living somewhere without an ocean
hobbies: making dolls, practicing voodoo and black magic, people watching, binging conspiracy theories when she should be asleep, taking pictures (before evermore - surfing, swimming, collecting seashells, making sandcastles, hula dancing)
aesthetics: vintage record players, late night rabbit holes, hibiscus flowers tucked behind the ear, out of focus polaroids taped to bedroom walls, extra pineapple on pizza, sandals, ufos doodled on the back of notebooks, peanut butter sandwiches floating through the ocean, throwing fists, a backpack stuffed with random receipts and small broken objects, going from laughing to shouting in a matter a seconds, long melodramatic sighs, coconut shells, red muumuus, toes covered in sand, being in a crowd of people and feeling alone
HEADCANONS.
lilo is an old soul, and would like everyone to know she liked polaroids and record players before it was cool... for this generation.
she also genuinely prefers black and white movies.
she has a polaroid camera that she carries with her everywhere, a gift from her parents. film can be expensive and hard to find, but she much prefers it to new cameras and especially cell phone cameras.
she doesn’t use social media often if at all.
she practices voodoo. has no idea what she’s doing, but she likes reading up on it and pretending.
dramatic bean! so dramatic! over silly little things!
every thursday since she was a child she used to feed pudge the fish a sandwich. she swears it’s the same fish. she worries now that he misses her and he’s going to get angry that he’s not getting fed and punish her. she knows it’s a silly thought, but she still can’t help but believe it.
lilo is terrified of cars. especially when it’s storming. ever since her parents died she refuses to get her license and will walk anywhere that she can.
she carries a picture of her family with her everywhere she goes. she sleeps with it under her pillow at night. the more time that passes, the more she worries she will forget them. the sound of their voices is harder to place. If she ever loses this picture, she will have a complete breakdown.
she likes to look up at the stars and remember the funny constellations her mother would come up with and point out to her when she was a child.
elvis is the best artist and if you say otherwise she will judge you.
she is a sucker for all things coconut!
she could stay up until seven am going down a YouTube conspiracy theory rabbit hole.
lilo is asexual; while she is not against a relationship, she is definitely not seeking one out and would have to like someone in a way she’s never liked anyone before to consider it.
pineapple does go on pizza. pineapple goes on absolutely everything. all the time.
she refuses to eat seafood. fish are friends, not food!
doesn’t really own any dresses. she had several muumuus back at home, and maybe one sundress that collected dust in her closet.
as a child she used to make her own toys. like her dolls. they didn’t have a lot of money, and she also enjoyed the hobby.
she does not handle her emotions very well. she doesn’t seem to function the way other people do. sometimes she wonders if something is wrong with her. usually things build and build and when they come out... it isn’t pretty.
total beach bum. probably goes without saying.
lilo was quite honestly surfing before she could walk. she misses the ocean since it was her favorite thing to do, but also because it’s the only place she still feels like her dad is around.
big nani and david shipper. she just wants her sister to be happy. but she wants her sister to be happy with david.
does not do well with change. at all.
believes in aliens, obviously.
but also believes in vampires, witches, ghouls, you name it.
hawaii is her favorite place in the entire world, and she is so deeply proud of where she comes from.
her second biggest passion besides surfing is hula dancing. she was in competitions for it growing up. It’s been a long time since she’s done it on stage, but she still enjoys it, and it’s the only kind of dance she is truly good at.
she doesn’t care what her sister says, she still thinks a lobster would be a good pet.
lilo will not change herself for anyone, but sometimes, if she’s being honest, she wishes more people could just... love her for how she is.
#tw death mention#tw car accident#evermorehqsintro#the way i could keep going omw#so many headcanons so little time
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I wish you would write a fic where... Skull gets obsessed with one of those stress-busting smiley balls. NOT nsfw. FLOOF.
Hmm, let’s see if this will upload this time.
[11am, Angel Grove High School]
"....So, what's it like to have a thigh gap?"
This was not the subject change Billy had meant, and it really showed in the lines of Skull's face as the genius readjusted the linen V-neck he'd fished out of the back of the punk's closet to go with the faded sky blue skinny jeans and clunky, bouncy, comfortable clogs that really just highlighted the problem Billy was finding more and more that he couldn't cover up. He'd put on an elk skull necklace, two stainless steel chain necklaces, a black choker, slipped on those spiked wrist guards that were actually really dull on further inspection, and added some of the creepier earrings in Skull's collection to the look--lots of black metal that looked like they had souls from the underworld trapped in the textures, as well as two drop earrings that Trini had flinched away from on closer inspection because they looked like two rotted ram heads smiling out at her--before coming to school (thusly discovering Skull had way more than just two piercings; four in each ear, the right with three of them in the upper shell) but still, still...
For all he and Bulk used to give people a hard time, Skull had never actually come off as scary.
This was not a problem Billy had in this body. Indeed, Kim figured absently as she straightened away from one of her best friends in different form; he kind of got the exact same look to cross his face as a serial killer in movies in the mid-80s: cold, but absolutely willing to murder with the cops right around the corner.
(Zack was not ashamed that he put his phone on silent and kept the camera on for this exact reason. Plus, with Billy dressing Skull's figure, he kept meandering between unquestionably adorable, and so incredibly hot that Zack was sure all of Billy's friends were getting whiplash and aroused by accident. He needed records for posterity.)
He was murderous, and his voice was frost, but Billy still answered the question.
"Horrible. Trying to get dressed to hide it is a chore, and when I make a token effort to sleep, I have to keep a pillow between his legs because he's constantly cold and the sound of his knees knocking together makes me both irrationally angry and so sad I have, in fact, cried."
To further emphasize his disapproval with the ridiculous assumption that Kim seemed to have that it was nice to reach such a disgusting beauty standard, Billy crossed legs and started tilting left and right, blowing a breath up into black hair he hadn't tried to add gel to, because he was of the mind that Skull looked much better this way (which Zack agreed with, mentally); "Also, he has no ass, and no padding, and I hate it."
Looking reasonably ashamed of herself, Kim sipped from her drink and looked over to the table Tommy, Jason, Bulk and Skull were sitting at so as not to draw too much attention to their awful situation.
Neither Bulk, nor Jason, sitting precariously in each other's bodies, looked especially pleased with literally anything happening. Jason had never been as big as Bulk, and had been utterly blown away that the more antagonistic punk was actually hella strong underneath the excess plush. He'd accidentally ripped his own backpack in half with those big hands and had to change twice because he'd underestimated the fat-to-muscle ratio of Bulk's entirety and Bulk in Jason's body was looking pretty pissed that Jason had ruined two of his favorite pants and one of his favorite shirts.
(None of the others knew, but Jason was also freaking out that he absolutely could not get aroused in Bulk's body, or the already very large appendage in his boxers made him wish he were dead from the constriction.)
Kim had to give it to Bulk, though, the guy was showing a tremendous amount of restraint and responsibility towards taking care of Jason's body. He hadn't dressed him up weird, he hadn't done anything to his hair, he'd chosen one of the dozens of red shirts to go with jeans that looked comfortable, and he was eating as balanced a meal as the high school cafeteria could offer. A fruit salad and chicken sandwich that was stacked with plenty of protein and iron, as well as nothing but water; none of which he'd try flicking at anyone, or had gobbled up like he clearly wanted to so he wouldn't have to talk to anyone.
Truly, the weirdest people from a distance, from an outsider's perspective, would probably be Tommy, with the way he kept looking at Skull in Billy's body. As if he were a five year old at risk of running off into the street if someone wasn't keeping an eye on him at all times.
…Which was probably not that far off the mark. Skull might have been the friendlier of the punk duo, but he never quite gave off the vibes in his own body that he was giving off like fairy lights in a black forest in Billy's.
He was wearing comfortable clothes from Billy's closet--but they were from the waaaaay back of the closet, which Billy had probably forgotten had even existed. Black denim bootcut pants, black boots with cute little blue dragons sewn into the laces, a black button up Skull was wearing with all the buttons undone, and a dark blue shirt with the words--
*
*
[7pm, The Youth Center]
"Usually in the Direction of Increased Entropy."
Apart from the little head spin, the add lack of gravity, and then falling back down to earth once transferred from one body to the other, Skull didn't miss a beat from one moment to the next. He easily snatched the little ball from the air in front of Billy that Bulk had given him the other evening at the onset of the bodyswap. A cute little orange ball with a smiley face, stopped from landing in the malt Billy had been sipping across from him, as Skull also found himself admiring his handiwork.
"You really do look much better with contacts," was the first thing out of his mouth, back in the trappings of his own body and familiarity of his own voice, before he started rolling the ball back and forth across their shared nook table as he glanced over his shoulder to get a look at the little crash that had to be Bulk and Jason.
Billy had to hide the full body heat encompassing him as Skull looked away by sipping at the malt he hadn't been drinking moments before; it had a slip of whipped cream down in the bottom that he twitched at, but it gave him something to focus on other than...
Jason had tripped with a waiter's platter full of food Bulk had bought up from Ernie's bar--moist ham and cheese on rye, volcano cakes bubbling with dripping fudge syrup, apricot jelly on crisp toast, two malts much the same as Billy was sucking on, though one was quite obviously full of red cherry syrup for Jason and one was half white from vanilla bean--but seeing as Bulk had been nearby spotting Tommy at the weights (making sure everyone was slightly less curious about they two) it wasn't a far stretch once he was back in his own body to reach out and catch.
Both Jason and the food were safe in hand, a little spin and a tuck, strong and deft hand and fingers at the tray, a smooth, muscled arm pulling Jason up from a freefall like he was little more than a stuffed toy. Billy thought they looked quite the picture, almost like a campy musical number was about to take place--and Tommy was the one that caused the crash of metal on the floor with the drop of his large barbell.
Skull let out one of his more flittering laughs at the look on Tommy's face, that little ball in hand spinning around his fingers like a trick coin and Billy had not been so pleased to hear that sound since he was twelve. Perhaps it showed on his face for the rest of the Juice Bar to see--for Zack to see with his little camera phone--but he didn't really care as Skull looked back at him.
Billy slid the malt over to the punk, raising his hand with an open palm and pleased to find Skull smiling at him--really smiling--as he caught the request.
The smiley ball was caught and Skull tucked into the malt with a hum as Billy tried his hand at the spinning.
(Trini and Kim had Zack send them the video of this event. They traded for the one Trini was taking of Jason being flopped onto the weight bench, red as a beet, glowing like Mars in the sky, and completely unprepared for Bulk to huff and hand him the cherry malt like nothing was worth mentioning.)
#boom! comics power rangers#mmpr#ggpr#Mighty Morphin Comics#go go power rangers comic#billy cranston x eugene skull skullovitch#jason lee scott x farkas bulk bulkmeier
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I Don't Need Saving Chpt 6
TW: harassment, sexism, a little fighting violence no gore, no death, but heads will get smacked.
Chpt 6: The Brawl
Just as the sun set a booming voice echoed across the empty town. “Welcome Ladies and Gents to the Wario Staduim Brawl!”
The stadium’s dirt track had been flattened out. In the center of the dirt oval was a huge wrestling ring. Wario was in the center of the ring with a mic rallying the crowd. He was dressed to the nines. A white suit coat with pink accents and pink cummerbund, white boaters’ hat, yellow bowtie, and nice blue slacks. Several Lakitus with cameras floated around on their clouds capturing the action. Huge screens around the Stadium showed off their cinematography. One Screen had a bracket of contestants.
“Participants will fight in hand-to-hand combat until a K.O.! This will be a one v. one fight. Winner of the fight will move on until there is one champion left standing!” The rowdy crowd cheered.
Some of the notable contestants were. A Goomba with a helmet. A Toad with an eyepatch. A Pianta in a suit. A Koopa Football player named Chuck, A shy guy with a cowboy hat, A Sumo wrestler. And a large magenta shelled Koopa with sunglasses. His name was Roy, he was a leader of some of Bowsers Armed Forces. That was a surprise. The town was strictly not a part of any kingdom not even Bowsers. But Wario didn’t care as long as it brought him money.
Daisy stretched and warmed up on the side lines. She wished Luigi could be with her on the sidelines but that would draw unwanted attention to him. She wondered if he was in the audience. She wouldn’t be able to see if he was, the blaring lights just made the audience look like a dark blur. They had planned to meet up at the garage after she had won. They would take her motorcycle and her backpack filled with supplies and drive away. Daisy reached down to touch her toes. She couldn’t think about that right now. Now it was just time to enjoy the show and wait for her time to shine. She figured Luigi would show up after her victory.
*******************************
The brawl was a great romp. Hard hits and slams. The crowd ate it all up. As the contestants narrowed down Daisy got more and more excited.
Unsurprising Roy Koopa was winning. He had only to defeat Chuck and a Sumo Bro. Nervous butterflies flitted in Daisy’s stomach. She took some deep breaths.
“Enjoying the show princess?” Daisy jumped, Waluigi appeared out of nowhere and was suddenly behind her.
She glared at him. “Didn’t you ever learn it is rude to sneak up on people?”
“Before you go out there, I have a good luck gift for you.” He twisted his thin mustache. He felt quite dashing. He had on his best purple vest, a nice pinstripe shirt and a fedora with a red rose in the brim.
She turned her shoulder away from him. “Better give it to me afterwards I need to study this fight.”
“Come on princess! I know you will like it.” He grabbed her arm with is long hand.
She tried to wiggle her arm out of his grip, but he held fast. “Don’t Touch ME!”
WHAM the two were distracted by what was going on up on the stage. Roy had defeated the Sumo. He was shaking his fists to the crowd. It now was just Chuck and Roy left. Wario waddled to the center of the ring with his microphone.
“We have a last-minute adjustment!” There was a wave of ‘what’s and ‘huh’s throughout the stadium. “The Princess is undisposed at the moment. but fear not! Your new prize is revenge on the Mario Brothers!” A Lakitu soared into the center of the arena he was dangling a small cage attached to a chain. He let the cage down in one of the corners of the ring. All the spotlights turned to the prisoner. It was Luigi! His green hankie was still gaging him, his jacket was gone exposing his green shirt underneath. His hands were bound behind his back. The cage was so small he couldn’t stand up. he was on his knees and looked terrified.
“That’s right folks! The last two are fighting for Luigi! You can sell him to Bowser for a price or beat him to a pulp for all I care just get him out of my Stadium! Now who is ready to Rrrrrruuuuumblllllllle!”
Cheers erupted. Daisy struggled even harder against Waluigi. “Let go of me!” He did and she landed on her face. He jumped on her and twisted her hands behind her back. Click! Handcuffs closed around her wrists “You Monsters!” No one could hear her over the ruckus of the audience.
He lifted her up wrapped an arm around her waist. He took his other hand and clamped it down over her mouth. He carried her writhing into the shadows and into the empty hallways. They ended up outside of Wario’s office. It was the securest room in the whole stadium as it was where all the money was kept.
Waluigi kicked the door open and threw her onto the floor. He turned his back to her to lock the door. Wham! Daisy had jumped up and body slammed the tall man into the door as hard as she could. she had hoped she could slam his head into the door to knock him out, but it didn’t work.
“Why you….!” He pushed himself off of the door and turned slapping her across the face hard. It stung so bad she crouched down tears streaming down her face. He took a step towards her. Big mistake. Her leg shot out and swiped his foot. He came crashing down. She stood over him. He looked up at Daisy only to get a swift kick in the head.
Finally, he was out cold. Daisy took a deep breath of relief. Now she needed to help Luigi. She searched Waluigi’s purple pockets the best she could while her hands were handcuffed behind her back. The first pocket she reached into had her picture in it. EWWW! She ripped that up right away. The other had a key to the handcuffs. It took a couple of tries to get herself unlocked but she finally managed it. She rummaged through the office to see if she could find any other keys especially to Luigi’s cage. NONE! They must be on Wario. She pocketed some coin that was on the desk as a little revenge. She swung open the door smacking Waluigi in the head again and ran out.
*****************
Chuck looked pretty dumb maybe Luigi could talk his way out of the cage if he won. Roy though he wouldn’t be easy to escape from. Luigi watched the fight thinking.
He heard jingling of metal on metal. He shuffled around. Daisy! She had a bobby pin and was trying to pick the lock of the cage. Luigi gave a worried look and let out some strange muffling. Daisy looked up at Luigi, but it was too late to see his warning. A meaty hand grasped her shoulder.
“What are you doing here?” it was Wario. She immediately sent a fist to his chin. Wario caught her fist in his large hand. He swung her into the side of the raised fighting ring. Twisting her arm hard behind her back.
“Waluigi was supposed to be taking care of you!” Daisy used her other arm to push away from the wall. She kicked behind her hard. Jackpot! Wario stumbled back, hunched over holding his groin. Daisy sent a swift upper kick contacting with is jaw. He landed on his back unconscious. She dug in his pockets and found a large key ring hooked to his belt look. There was probably a key for every room in the Stadium. She got to the cage and tried several keys. This would take a while.
Smack! The Crowd cheered. Oh no! she looked up to see Roy with his foot on the back of his opponent. he was shaking his fists in the air. She thew the keys into the cage and jumped into the ring. Luigi started to use the keys to saw at the ropes that bound his hands.
“Hold it right there Roy!” the audience gasped. “You are going to have to get through me if you want Luigi.” She pointed her thumb into her chest.
Roy kicked his downed opponent off the stage and started stalking toward her. “So be it princess.”
He swiped his claws at her. She ducked and kicked at his legs. They were too stable! He took a stomp at her. She rolled out of the way. He was too protected! She ran to the edge of the ring to get her time to think. Roy Charged. She jumped to avoid his attack she landed on the back of his head. There was a clattering sound. Daisy rolled into the landing.
“OH MAN! MY SUNGLASSES!” Roy gently picked up the pink sunglasses he had sported. He put them up to the light to see if there were any scratches. This was Daisy’s time. She jumped on to his shoulders and held his head tight while she used her other hand to punch him in the head several times. Roy dropped the glasses and struggled.
“Pass out pass out pass out!” she hoped. Her fist was throbbing.
Eventually he grabbed hold of her head and slung her off of his shoulders. He rubbed his head and glared at her. She got up from the ground. Roy ran at her again she slipped to the side. One of his claws caught her arm. She scrambled to the other side of the ring. Instead of turning around normally he got into his shell and used his momentum to bounce off the ropes. Sending his spiked shell hurling toward her. She ducked. The bottom of his shell hit her shoulder and hands that she had up to protect her head. He's shell skidded and stopped at the ropes in front of her. Daisy was on the floor she was running out of energy. She needed to get up and far away from her opponent. On the other side of the ring, she saw the pink sunglasses laying abandoned.
She scooped up the glasses and hopped onto the corner of the ropes. “Oh Roy!” She sung out. He had popped out of his shell and was rubbing his head “lookie at what I got!”
Roy turned to glare at her. “Hand them over or you’ll Die!”
“Catch!” She tossed them just short. Causing Roy to dive forward to catch them before they hit the ground. Daisy jumped off the corner post. Her heel collided with the back of his head. SMACK! His head slammed into the ground. Daisy hopped off of the large turtle. He was out cold. The glasses shattered on the ground.
Cheers rung out. What a twist! Everyone was entertained! Daisy celebrated her victory with woops and jumps. There was a clunk. Luigi had found the right key. He ran up to her and lifted her on his shoulder in celebration.
When he dropped her down, a Lakitu handed her the mic. “That’s right! Daisy of Sarasaland is your winner! If anyone wants to mess with me or my country, you will get my fist!” she raised her fist to the air. “As winner of this Brawl, I’ll let you all on a little secret.” She reached for the keys in Luigi’s hand. “These keys are to the Stadium, Wario and Waluigi are knocked out and their stash of coin is unguarded.”
She saw the green Toad chief he was looking down at Wario. He had a drink that Wario had requested before the commotion. Daisy tossed the keys to him. “Have fun.” The drink spilled as he caught the keys. A stampede of ‘employees’, and locals came after the Toad. He jumped and ran as fast as he could to get to the office before them.
Daisy felt someone take her hand gently. She looked over to Luigi, he was looking worryingly at the cut on her arm. He untied the green handkerchief from off his neck and tied it around her arm. He was so soft and gentle and calm in the craziness that stormed around them. She caught his hands “Let’s get out of here.” He nodded vigorously.
***********************
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#I Don't Need Saving#I Don't Need Saving Chpt 6#fanfic#fanfiction#nintendo#luigi nintendo#daisy x luigi#luigi#luigi x daisy#luaisy#princess daisy#mario kart#mario land#super mario#wario#waluigi#waluigi is a creep#super mario bros#toad mario#roy koopa#super smash brawl#super smash bros#mr. l#Wario's Stadium
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10 best camera bags for photographers on a budget
As a photographer, your camera is your most important equipment and therefore needs to be protected. A reliable camera bag is an essential investment that will keep your camera and accessories secure and organized. With so many brands and options available on the market, finding the perfect camera bag that fits your needs and budget can be a daunting task.
Factors to Consider when Choosing a Camera Bag
Before purchasing a camera bag, it is important to consider the following factors:
Size and capacity for your camera and accessories
Comfort and ease of carrying
Protection against weather and impact
Organization and access to your equipment
Style and personal preference
Types of Camera Bags
There are different types of camera bags available, each with its own advantages and disadvantages:
Backpacks: Ideal for outdoor and travel photography. They offer comfort and can carry a lot of equipment, but may be difficult to access your gear quickly.
Messenger Bags: Great for urban photographers who need quick access to their equipment. However, they can be heavy and put strain on one shoulder.
Sling Bags: Similar to backpacks but allow for quick access to your gear. They offer less storage space and may not be as comfortable.
Rolling Bags: Suitable for those who need to carry a lot of heavy equipment. They offer ease of transportation, but may be too bulky and difficult to maneuver in crowded spaces.
Top 10 Camera Bags for Photographers on a Budget
None Classic Camera Bag: A great budget option, this versatile bag can fit a DSLR camera and two lenses. It comes with adjustable dividers for customization and offers weather-resistant protection.
None Adventure Backpack: Perfect for outdoor photography, this bag has enough room for a DSLR camera, multiple lenses, and accessories. It is made of durable and weather-resistant materials and offers comfortable padding.
None Everyday Sling: A sleek and modern option, this bag can fit a DSLR camera and two lenses. It has adjustable straps for comfort and can be worn on the back or front for quick access to gear.
None Messenger Bag: Stylish and functional, this bag can fit a DSLR camera, two lenses, and accessories. It has a water-resistant exterior and removable padded inserts for customization.
None Top-Loading Backpack: Ideal for photographers on the go, this bag is designed for quick access to gear. It can fit a DSLR camera and a few lenses and has a weather-resistant exterior and comfortable shoulder straps.
None Urban Sling: Perfect for city photographers, this sleek bag can fit a DSLR camera and two lenses. It has a water-resistant exterior and can be worn on the back or front for quick access to gear.
None Hard Case: A heavy-duty option, this case offers ultimate protection for your equipment with its hard shell exterior. It can fit a DSLR camera and multiple lenses, and comes with customizable foam inserts.
None Roller Bag: Ideal for studio and location photography, this bag can fit a lot of gear including a camera, multiple lenses, and accessories. It has a durable exterior and smooth rolling wheels for easy transportation.
None Shoulder Bag: A classic and simple option, this bag can fit a DSLR camera and two lenses. It has a stylish and lightweight design with a water-resistant exterior and padded interior.
None Waist Belt: Perfect for photographers on the move, this bag can fit a DSLR camera and one or two lenses. It has a sturdy waist belt for comfortable carrying and quick access to gear.
Conclusion
A good camera bag is an essential investment for photographers, but it doesn't have to break the bank. It is important to consider your needs and preferences when choosing a camera bag, and to prioritize comfort, protection, and organization. None offers a range of high-quality and affordable camera bags suitable for different types of photography and photographers, making it a great choice for those on a budget.
Article written by [Your Name] for None. Sources: [List sources here]
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Make Sure Your Gear Always Stays Dry with These Must-Have Waterproof Camera Case Laptop Bags
As a frequent traveler or outdoor adventurer, you know how important it is to keep your gear dry. Whether you're a professional photographer, a videographer, or a hiker, water damage can ruin your expensive equipment in an instant. This is where waterproof camera case laptop bags come in handy. In this article, we'll discuss the importance of investing in a high-quality waterproof camera case laptop bag, and provide you with some must-have options in the market today.
The Importance of a Waterproof Camera Case Laptop Bag
Let's face it - electronics and water don't mix. Even a small amount of liquid can cause irrevocable damage to your camera, laptop, or any other gadget. Whether you're shooting photos in the rain or crossing a stream with your gear, you need a reliable and durable waterproof camera case laptop bag to protect your equipment. Not only can it save you from expensive repairs, but it also gives you peace of mind when you're out in the wild.
What to Look for in a Waterproof Camera Case Laptop Bag
When choosing a waterproof camera case laptop bag, you want to consider several factors. First, make sure the bag is made of high-quality, waterproof materials, such as nylon or PVC. Look for sealed seams and zippers to ensure that no water can seep into the bag. Second, pay attention to the bag's size and compartments. It should be able to fit your camera, laptop, and accessories comfortably, without being too bulky or heavy. Third, check the bag's carrying options. A good waterproof camera case laptop bag should have adjustable straps or handles for easy transport.
Must-Have Waterproof Camera Case Laptop Bags
Now that you know what to look for in a waterproof camera case laptop bag, let's take a look at some of the must-have options available today:
PULUZ Waterproof Hard Shell Backpack
Pelican 1470 Laptop Case
Skylum Lokker Waterproof Camera Backpack
Thule Covert DSLR Rolltop Backpack
Each of these bags offers a unique set of features and benefits. For example, the PULUZ backpack is designed for underwater photography and can withstand depths of up to 30 meters. The Pelican laptop case is crushproof, dustproof, and can float on water, making it ideal for extreme weather conditions. The Skylum Lokker backpack has a customizable interior and is made of high-quality materials, while the Thule Covert DSLR backpack has a roll-top closure and can hold a full-frame DSLR camera with multiple lenses.
Conclusion
Investing in a high-quality waterproof camera case laptop bag is a must for any adventurer or photographer. It can save you from costly repairs and give you peace of mind when you're out in the wild. When choosing a waterproof camera case laptop bag, look for quality materials, proper size, and carrying options. Consider the must-have options we've listed in this article, and choose the one that fits your needs and budget.
References: Outdoor Photographer, Digital Camera World, Digital Trends
Article Source: None
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Invest in a Dependable, Durable, and Waterproof Camera Case Laptop Bag
Investing in a reliable and tough camera case laptop bag is essential for any professional photographer or videographer. Keeping your equipment safe and secure is not only important for your work, but also for your peace of mind. Choosing a waterproof option is our top recommendation because it can shelter your gear from accidental drops, spills, and unfavorable weather conditions. In this article, we will explore the benefits of investing in a waterproof camera case laptop bag and share some tips on choosing the best one for your needs.
Benefits of Waterproof Camera Case Laptop Bags
When you use a waterproof camera case laptop bag, you can rest assured that your equipment is protected against various water-related incidents. Not only will this be beneficial for activities like beach shoots or rafting, but also in everyday situations. Spilling coffee on your laptop or camera can happen to anyone, and having a waterproof layer can prevent this from becoming a disaster.
Besides water protection, waterproof camera case laptop bags also offer excellent shock absorption. High-quality models are made with durable materials like neoprene, which can absorb and reduce the impact of drops or bumps. This is important for both your laptop and camera, as they are both susceptible to damage from impact. Avoiding hits can be impossible sometimes, but having this layer of protection can effectively extend their lifespan.
Factors to Consider When Buying a Waterproof Camera Case Laptop Bag
Now that we have established the benefits of this type of bag, let's take a look at what you need to keep in mind when choosing one. The first and foremost consideration should be the size of your laptop and camera. Your gear should fit comfortably inside your bag with additional pockets for accessories like memory cards and cables. Remember that you may need to pack it with additional equipment in the future, so the size should cater to your expanding needs.
The second thing to consider is the level of waterproofing that the bag provides. Look for descriptions of the product that indicate how water-resistant it is and test the zippers to ensure that they are tight. A good example would be the Kraken AMS Series for Laptops, which has a waterproof and dust-proof seal around the edges and an impact-resistant hard exterior shell.
The third factor to consider is the comfort of the bag. Carrying a bag full of expensive equipment around all day can be tiring, so look for models with padded shoulder straps or back panels. Some bags even come with chest or waist straps for additional support. The OGIO Renegade RSS Backpack features a padded laptop compartment and a "crushproof" Tech Vault to protect delicate gadgets.
A Final Word
When it comes to protecting your camera and laptop, you can't afford to take risks. A waterproof camera case laptop bag is the smartest investment you can make for your valuable gear. In addition to the protection it offers, it can help you stay organized and comfortable while carrying your equipment. Make sure to choose a reputable brand and carefully examine the features before making a purchase. With a reliable and sturdy bag, you can focus on what truly matters: capturing stunning photos and videos.
Article Source: None
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How to Pack Your Camera Gear Safely and Efficiently in Your Bag
Introduction
As a photographer, you know the importance of having your camera gear with you at all times. Whether you're traveling, on a shoot, or just going about your daily life, having your gear close at hand is essential. That's where a good camera bag comes in. But not all camera bags are created equal. In this article, we'll explore how to pack your camera gear safely and efficiently in your bag, using tips and tricks from the industry experts.
Choose the Right Camera Bag
Before you start packing your gear, it's essential to choose the right camera bag. There are many different types of camera bags available, from backpacks to messenger bags to rolling cases. Consider your needs and the type of photography you'll be doing. Travel photographers may want a backpack with plenty of room for camera gear and personal items, while studio photographers may prefer a rolling case that can hold multiple lights and stands.
Pack Your Gear with Care
When packing your camera gear, it's important to do it with care. Start by placing your camera body in the center of the bag, with the lens facing down. This will help prevent any damage to the lens or camera body. You can then add additional lenses, flashes, and other accessories around the body of the camera, with the heaviest items closest to the center of the bag. If you're traveling, be sure to pack any batteries or chargers in your carry-on luggage.
Protect Your Gear
Protecting your camera gear is essential, especially if you're traveling or doing outdoor photography. A camera rain cover, UV filter, and lens hood can all help protect your gear from the elements. A camera strap is also helpful, as it can prevent accidental drops. To further protect your gear, consider investing in a hard-shell camera case or adding foam inserts to your bag.
Organize Your Accessories
Keeping all of your camera accessories organized can be a challenge, but it's essential for a stress-free shoot. Use small bags or pouches to keep your memory cards, cleaning supplies, and other small items organized and easily accessible. If you have a lot of accessories, consider investing in a camera bag with multiple compartments or a separate accessory bag.
Conclusion
Packing your camera gear safely and efficiently in your bag is essential for any photographer. Whether you're traveling, on a shoot, or just out and about, having everything you need close at hand can make all the difference. Be sure to choose the right bag for your needs, pack your gear with care, protect your gear from the elements, and keep all of your accessories organized. With these tips and tricks from the industry experts, you'll be well on your way to a successful shoot.
References:
How to Pack Your Camera Bag
The best camera bags in 2021: carry your camera in style
Top 10 camera bags
Article Source: None
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Say Goodbye to Water Damage: A Guide to Top-Rated Waterproof Camera Case Laptop Bags
Introduction
Water damage is a common problem when carrying electronics, especially when outdoors. When it comes to travelling with delicate items like cameras and laptops, it is essential to keep them safe from water damage. This is where waterproof camera case laptop bags come in handy. These bags offer good protection against water and other environmental hazards, allowing you to carry your electronics worry-free.
What to Look for in a Waterproof Camera Case Laptop Bag
When shopping for a waterproof camera case laptop bag, there are some important features to consider. These include:
Waterproof material
Durable construction to protect the devices
Padded compartments for electronic items
Adjustable straps for comfortable carrying
Extra pockets for accessories such as chargers or cables
Proper ventilation or moisture control to prevent mold or mildew growth
Benefits of a Waterproof Camera Case Laptop Bag
There are several benefits of using a waterproof camera case laptop bag:
Protection from water and other environmental hazards
More secure and organized storage for electronics and accessories
Reduced risk of damage from falls or impacts
Lightweight and comfortable to carry
Variety of sizes, styles, and designs to choose from
Top-Rated Waterproof Camera Case Laptop Bags on the Market
Here are some of the best waterproof camera case laptop bags available on the market:
1. ProCase Laptop Shoulder Bag
This stylish and durable bag is made of high-quality waterproof material and is suitable for laptops up to 15.6 inches. It has a padded compartment for the laptop and other electronic devices, as well as several additional pockets for accessories. It also has an adjustable shoulder strap for comfortable carrying.
2. K&F Concept Camera Backpack
Designed for photographers, this backpack can fit a camera and up to 2 lenses, as well as a laptop up to 15 inches. It is made of waterproof and tear-resistant material and has a padded interior for extra protection. It also has comfortable straps and a well-ventilated back panel for comfortable carrying.
3. Pelican 1495 Laptop Case
This hard-shell case is designed to protect laptops up to 17 inches. It is completely waterproof, dustproof, and crushproof, making it perfect for outdoor and rugged environments. It also has a padded interior and an adjustable shoulder strap for easy carrying.
4. Runetz Laptop Sleeve
This lightweight and affordable sleeve is designed for laptops up to 15.6 inches. It is made of high-quality neoprene material that is both waterproof and shock-resistant. It also has a soft interior lining to protect the laptop from scratches and dents. It is easy to carry and can be used as a standalone bag or placed in another bag for added protection.
Conclusion
Protecting your electronics from water damage is crucial, especially when travelling or outdoors. Investing in a good waterproof camera case laptop bag can give you peace of mind while carrying your valuable devices. Consider the features and benefits of each bag before making your purchase to ensure the best protection for your electronics.
Sources: Digital Trends, TechRadar
Article by None
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Price: [price_with_discount]
(as of [price_update_date] - Details)
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Waterproof Camera Recorders Case - Case Print Cameras for Kids and Kids Action Camera Accessories (Pink)
Product Dimensions : 19 x 11.48 x 6.99 cm; 159 Grams
Date First Available : 1 October 2020
Manufacturer : Leayjeen
ASIN : B08GM4KB6V
Item model number : A
Country of Origin : USA
Department : baby-girls
Manufacturer : Leayjeen
Item Weight : 159 g
Item Dimensions LxWxH : 19 x 11.5 x 7 Centimeters
Generic Name : Billfold
🍒 Cute Bag: Very cute PVC bag, bright color is more suitable for children. This bag can be used as a bag. Let your kids be fashionistas. It can also be used as a savings bag for valuables in the home.
🍒 Portability: Built-in mesh pocket for extra cables and other small necessary accessories for easy bidirectional removal and placement, with plenty of space for storage. The hard shell is lightweight, takes up little space, and can be carried around.
🍒 Safety: Soft lining shockproof. You can put some expensive electronic products, accessories, to prevent them from breaking, impact and scratch. The soft interior protects the camera from everyday wear and tear, extending the life of the print camera.
🍒 Easy Design: Detachable wristband for easy removal of camera case. You can carry it in your hand, hang it on your bag, or carry it in your backpack. Or it can be used as a satchel, which is very stylish and cute. It is also a good choice for holiday, Christmas and gift giving.
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$10.0 ~ Drone Hard Shell Backpack Waterproof XIRO, Camera Drones, Drone for Aerial, Small Camera Drones, High End Camera Drones, Aerial Camera Drones, Best Camera Drones, Compact Camera Drones Find Out This Camera Drones
#CameraDrones#DroneforAerial#SmallCameraDrones#HighEndCameraDrones#AerialCameraDrones#BestCameraDrones#CompactCameraDrones
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Which Is Your Preference When It Comes To Luggage?
Every living and nonliving thing has a companion which helps him fulfill his journey. For every traveler, it's either his camera or his bag pack to collect his memories. Below are certain categories which come in the category of travel luggage which is as follows:
Various Types Of Luggage
Trolley bags are the new generation luggage element, but we are often not aware of where the luggage history starts. Below are some of the categories of the same :
Trolley Bags
In the initial time when we used to term luggage, suitcase without wheels were the options we used to follow. But as times changed evolution had come into the picture thus leading to an evolution in the luggage set as well. That is when trolly bags came into the picture to make your travel experience at ease. If you are looking out for the luggage wheel bags then you can find them at the best branded trolley bags.
Suitcase
One of the earliest terms used in the segment of luggage, a suitcase usually used in the style of a briefcase but a bit in a larger size. Earlier it was more developed in vinyl or leather form but slowly and gradually it has been transformed into a hard-shell suitcase. If you are looking out for the luggage wheel bags then you can find them at the best branded trolley bags.
Backpacks
Backpacks do have a lot of applications in which it is used whether it be knapsack, schoolbag, rucksack, book sack. But it can be used in multiple processes either as your cabin bag for your flight or a trek bag for your adventure trip. If you are looking out for the luggage wheel bags then you can find them at the best branded trolley bags.
Preference Of Travel Luggage
We are often aware of the best-branded trolley bags available in the travel market. But there are many other luggage and bags as well in the travel category :
The Epic Kit
Apart from the right clothes and other accessories required during your travel journey. There are many other minimal accessories related to electronics and cosmetics as well which are prime elements during travel. But usually, we don’t find the right kit bag of that particular size which would suffice our needs at the same time fit in your luggage. But Mokobara epic kit is a perfect solution for the same and If you are looking out for the traveling bag set then you can find them at the best luggage brands india.
The Fanny Pack
A carry bag always helps out keep our belongings, but sometimes it becomes hefty for your to carry it everywhere. Thus you need a side bag which would help you keep the necessary accessories at the same time be as compact as possible. What better than Mokobara’s Fanny Pack be for such kind of requirement. If you are looking out for the traveling bag set then you can find them at the best luggage brands india.
Sling Bags
Cargo pants have always been a primary solution when it comes to accommodating some of your belonging on a large no. But sometimes you need a sling bag that can help you that would not only fit your accessories but also help to free your pocket. What better than Mokobara’s Sling Bags be for such kind of requirement. If you are looking out for the traveling bag set then you can find them at the best luggage brands india.
Apart from the above luggage wheel bags, there are many other traveling bags set. If you are looking out for such best-branded trolley bags then Mokobara is a one-stop solution for such kinds of premium luggage and is one of the best brands for travel bags.
To know more: https://mokobara.com/collections/trolley-luggage-suitcases-bags
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It Comes Down in Buckets
Before Luka and Hattie ended up in Subcon, they faced many challenges on the road as they adjusted to Luka’s curse. This is a lil gift for Mak, @doodledrawsthings, and their “””Coffeeshop au””” where Luka pushes himself a bit too hard while trying to make the day special for Hattie. Please enjoy!
Word Count: 7,678
The rolling waves tumbled against the velvet sand and the morning sunlight skipped across the foaming crests, painting them gold. Hattie’s grip tightened around the old bucket she had found as she inhaled the salty, fishy air. Standing at the patches of grass that separated the edge of the forest from the beach, she gazed out at the shore. Her sketchbook waited in her backpack, begging her to pull it out and to memorialize the look of the sea and snapshot the ebb and flow of surging waves, but she had work to do.
She had to find the prettiest seashells before anyone else so she could sell them for some extra cash. Every little bit helped.
Weaving down to the beach, the warming sand caught between her toes and kicked up with each flop and flip of her flipflops. She swung the dented bucket with rust stains as she hurried to the lapping tide. She stepped into the water and immediately squealed before jumping back from the cold. The foam receded, as if teasing her, and an impish grin spread across her features.
As the water crawled back up the shore, Hattie fixed her old baseball cap and then leapt into the ankle-deep wave. Her initial screech dissolved into laughter. Splashing around, her flipflops tossed clouds of murky dust up and the sloshing, icy water splattered against her leg. She placed her hands on her hips and struck a pose as she gazed out at the sliver of light where the sky paralleled the ocean. With the cascading crackles of the snapping sea rumbling around her, it was hard not to let her mind wander into daydreams.
She could picture it perfectly. A calm day at the beach. No time limits for her dad, no worrying about money, and he could finally rest. He could finally be happy again. And she could play in the surf and chase crabs, pretend to be a pirate finding buried treasure, or draw and paint next to her dad as he napped. She could picture it so perfectly.
But she glanced down at the bucket as it bumped against her hip. Its creaking handle brought her back to reality.
Hattie let out a huff before shuffling out of the grasp of the waves, where it would be easier to spot shells. But before she did, a playful crest rolled back to reveal the tip of a fancy looking shell. Gasping, Hattie knelt and carefully tugged the shell free and revealed what she always thought of as a mini conch, though her dad would probably tell her that it was whelk of some kind since it had a rounder top and thinner end.
After checking the inside cavity for any snail or sea critter by poking a cautious finger around to confirm it was empty, she held the whelk to her ear.
She grinned when she heard the ocean. But she was also standing in it so the shell could still potentially be a dud. Nevertheless, she placed it into the bucket, and it slid around as she went searching for more.
As Hattie combed the beach, a couple people showed up to lounge on the sand or wade in the surf. It didn’t get crowded, since it was a workday, but when she wandered towards the opposite side of the long beach, where the sand was cut off by rounded boulders that jutted out into the sea, she ran into a tourist screaming at a seagull.
“What’s wrong?” Hattie called as she hoisted her bucket overflowing with shells to the side to make it easier to sprint forward.
“That darn seagull took my stuff!” The tourist gestured angrily towards a seagull perched on one of the rocks surrounded by water. It bobbed its head around as it stood proudly over a grey camera. Sunlight glinted against the lens.
“I’ll get it,” Hattie offered without hesitation. She placed the bucket down and scrambled up the boulders.
“Wait, kid, you don’t have to!” He waved his hands across his chest, trying to get her to stop, but it was too late. She didn’t listen as she assessed the slippery boulders and slowly navigated her way across.
She came to the edge of the final boulder and eyed the gap between it and the one in the waves. The seagull cocked its head towards her and let out a squawk. Pausing, Hattie glanced around, trying to figure out how to distract the seagull.
Before she could, the seagull snapped its beak towards something behind her and she glanced over her shoulder to find the tourist was waving a sandwich around. The seagull swooped over her, and she belatedly ducked as it soared over to the tourist. He yelped and turned on his heels before sprinting from the squawking bird.
Hattie tugged her cap down in determination before turning back towards the rock. She took a cautious step back before lunging from the boulder and vaulting onto the next. Grunting after she smacked against the rock, she scrambled up and grabbed the camera. She slung her backpack over her shoulder and nestled the camera between her sketchbook and Professor Popcorn. For good measure, she tucked her dad’s hoodie around it to keep it extra safe.
Once her backpack was zipped, she looped her arms through the straps and got ready to jump back.
The tourist had returned to his spot, hunched over and panting with his cap askew and white and grey feathers stuck to his vibrant orange shirt. She inhaled a steadying breath and leapt back towards shore.
She misjudged the distance.
Nearly sliding over the side of the rock, she scraped her knee against stone as she clambered and clawed. Panic squeezed her chest until she could finally find her grip.
“Careful, now!” the tourist called as she hoisted herself up with her heart pounding. She glanced towards the worried man and gave him a thumbs up before crawling forward.
Her stinging knee threatened to buckle when she first stood, but she gritted her teeth and pushed onward. She navigated back to the beach and dropped down onto the sand.
“Geez, kid, that was dangerous!” the tourist sighed as Hattie pulled out his camera.
“But I got it!” She beamed, holding it out proudly. Her smile faltered when she noticed the identical camera that hung around his neck. His chin tilted down as he followed her gaze.
“I was trying to tell you, I have a spare,” he said apologetically. “But, hey! Since you got it, why don’t you keep it? It’s great for preserving memories!”
Hattie pulled the camera back, appraising the contraption.
Preserving memories? No matter how much she sketched all the places she and her father had been, it might be nice to be able to just take a picture to quickly capture everything. She could take a picture of the sea, in fact. But she stared into the curved lens with growing dismay.
Flashes of headlights and blinding snaps. Posters with blurry images of her shadowy dad offering money for anyone who could capture the pictured creature, dead or alive. And, even when he shapeshifted, he was still so jumpy around cameras.
Maybe she could sell it at a pawn shop for a little extra cash? In the meantime, it might not hurt to keep it on hand…
“Oh, hold on,” the tourist exclaimed, startling her out of her thoughts. She tucked the camera back into her backpack and blinked up at him with wide blue eyes. “You got quite the scrape there, let me help.” He motioned her over to his set up on the beach, complete with a towel and umbrella.
After the tourist helped her clean up and shared back-up sandwiches he had prepared, she let him choose one of the shells to take as thanks and set off to sell the rest.
She set up a little area at the top of the beach, halfway between the rest of the city and the parking lot for beach goers. After doodling a cute sign declaring her wares were ready, she caught the eyes of passersby and wove imaginative tales about the shells for anyone who came near. Since this wasn’t the first time that she had sold items that she salvaged while her dad worked, she had developed a good enough sense to get a read on personalities and how to appeal to them. Parents with children were easily swayed by silly stories about the shells. She even managed to convince a businessman walking by to purchase one since her wares were far cheaper than the nearby souvenir shops that sold the same shells. And, after all, hers were higher quality and, really, didn’t he want to support an aspiring entrepreneur? (It probably helped her chances that she practiced that word a few times prior to make sure she was pronouncing it right).
She bolted when she spotted some cops patrolling the area, though.
By the end of the day, she successfully sold more than half of her shells. She tucked the coins and cash safely into an inside pocket in her backpack, where her secret stash would help her buy food for whenever her dad inevitably got stuck in noddle form and couldn’t work. She had tried giving her earnings to him directly before, but he had only gotten upset, insisting she didn’t need to worry about money and it was his job to take care of her, not the other way around. But they both knew that he often pushed himself past his limits, and he couldn’t do everything himself.
She was just beginning to collect firewood close to their camp when footsteps tracked through the grass. Hattie froze, turning towards the sound and holding her breath. Golden light flickered between the trees and an approaching shadow broke into the small clearing.
“Hey, kiddo!” Her dad, still in his human form, which surprised her, jumped forward with a wide grin and his hands behind his back. Wrinkles lined the corners of his eyes, but he was alert with enthusiasm as he straightened. A plastic bag crinkled noisily as it swayed behind him. “Guess what I got for our most important celebration tonight?”
“Celebration?” Hattie tilted her head, though his energy was infectious, and she cracked a smile.
“Don’t tell me you forgot what day it is,” he teased, bringing his hand forward and adjusting the delivery cap he wore for his morning job of delivering papers.
“Payday?” she guessed, crossing over to their firepit and dropping the dry twigs and branches she found.
“N-no, kiddo,” he faltered, quirking a brow as he revealed a plastic bag with local dollar store logo. “It’s your birthday!”
“Oh.” She blinked up at him.
“Did you really forget?” His features fell and the worn creases on his face highlighted the underlining fatigue. “We talked about it, right? When we were-when we were moving.”
“Y-yeah,” Hattie said. She did sort of remember now that he mentioned it, but she hadn’t thought too much about it since they had other things to worry about. “I just forgot what day of the week it is.”
He didn’t seem to believe her but he accepted the excuse.
“Well, I got hot dogs and marshmallows,” he added quickly, pulling out a bag of large marshmallows for emphasis. If he sensed how she tensed, he ignored it and gestured towards the direction of the beach. “I thought we could start a fire at one of the communal firepits and have a cookout!”
“What about our camp?” Hattie gestured to the little circle of rocks they had set up a few days ago when they first decided to settle in this city.
“It’ll still be here,” he promised. After tucking the marshmallows back into the bag, he walked over to her pile of wood and searched for the longest and cleanest sticks.
“But the beach is out in the open,” she pressed, nervously fiddling with the edge of her shirt. “Don’t you need to change back?”
“Of course not!” he insisted with a little more force than he probably intended. In a lighter tone, he waved his hand dismissively with a smile plastered across his face. “I can hold it together long enough for your birthday. Come on! Let’s have fun!”
He placed a few sticks he deemed worthy for hot dog and marshmallow roasting into the plastic bag and then motioned for her to follow.
“But—” she hesitated.
“You know, I used to do this when I was a kid,” he jumped enthusiastically into the memory, not giving her a chance to argue. She frowned but grabbed her backpack and the bucket that still had the leftover seashells.
Hey, if they were going to be on the beach, she might as well keep an eye out for more.
“Any time we went camping, we would grab a bunch of hot dogs and marshmallows. Of course,” he added a bit quietly as they walked through the woods, “usually we had buns and graham crackers and chocolate. But I did snag some ketchup packets from the restaurant!” He beamed proudly.
Hattie forced a smile, though guilt gnawed at the reminder that he had worked two jobs that day, trying to get enough money together so that they could find a motel to stay at sooner than later. She considered giving him the money she had saved, but she didn’t want to cause him more grief especially since she could tell he was masking his exhaustion. Maybe she could hide the money where he would find it with his things? She could pass it off as him misplacing the bills!
Though, both of them had become increasingly vigilant when dealing with money in the past couple years. He would have noticed if that much went missing in the first place.
“Here we are,” he gestured to the firepit closest to the forest the second they walked onto the sand. “Sit tight while I get the fire going.” There was wrapped firewood next to the pit, all ready for them and their cookout. His water bottle was also leaning against one of the logs, indicating that he had stopped by before running to get her. While he finished setting up, Hattie gazed out at the sea.
The water mirrored the stretch of twilight. Orange-pink rays of dwindling sunlight lingered on the horizon and the occasional star twinkled in the darkening sky. Crackles and pops that came from the growing fire behind her mingled with the surging waves before her. And when her dad joined her side and held out his hand, she smiled as she took it, keeping her gaze locked on the horizon.
“It’s like that one picture in the book at the library in the last town,” she whispered, craning her neck back to meet his warm golden gaze. “The one with the watercolor illustrations!”
“It is!” he agreed, giving her hand a tight squeeze.
“I want to paint something like this one day,” she admitted, turning back to the sea.
“I bet you can, and sooner than you think.” His smile permeated his voice. He gently tugged her hand and nodded towards the firepit. Despite the lines under his eyes, he did seem happy, and that was good enough for Hattie.
“Okay!” She joined him on a log, and eagerly waited for him to pass her a stick he doused with water to keep it from burning.
Her dad filled her in on his day as they roasted the hot dogs. He got her laughing with a few jokes his coworkers shared, and she nodded knowingly when he told her about some of the customers he had worked with. When he asked about her day as he broke open the bag of marshmallows, she explained that she was looking for seashells and presented the bucket with her findings.
“Quick, if you have twenty seashells and I take five, how many do you have left?” he quizzed.
“F-fifteen!” Hattie blinked, hesitating only a moment as she registered the question.
“Good girl,” he praised, passing over a marshmallow.
“If you bought one bag of marshmallows for tonight, how many marshmallows will you have tomorrow morning?” She blinked up at him, trying and failing to conceal her growing smirk.
“Hmm.” He speared his own marshmallow as he gave her a wry grin. “That’s a tough one, why don’t you give me a hint?”
“Zero!” She pulled her burning marshmallow out of the fire and quickly blew on it.
The flames dissipated into a plume of smoke, leaving a burnt crust behind on the marshmallow. Without waiting, she popped it into her mouth and the gooey burst of molten sugar melted on her tongue.
“Becath I’ll eat ‘em all!” she declared through her sticky mouthful.
“Just don’t choke!” He chuckled before putting his arm around her and giving her a side squeeze. She immediately snuggled into his side, comforted by his warmth.
As they worked through the marshmallows and the night cloaked the beach, Hattie pulled out the hoodie and tugged it over herself. The hoodie was far too big since it was her dad’s but despite the floppy sleeves and how it was more like a dress on her, it was cozy and kept the night chill away. She became even cozier when her dad plucked her up and enveloped her in a hug.
“Happy birthday, princess,” he whispered as he nuzzled his cheek against hers.
“Hap—erm,” her cheeks flushed since she had almost wished him a happy birthday back. “Thank you.”
He chuckled and gave her a tight squeeze.
“Okay, I have one more surprise,” he said, arching back and stretching his arm maybe a bit farther than a human arm should, and rummaged around the plastic bag.
She leaned over, trying to peek and his other hand moved over her eyes.
“Don’t look!” He shifted around a bit before Hattie felt something lower into her lap. “Alright, now you can.” He pulled his hand away and she immediately glanced down.
Watercolors. A plastic palette of watercolors rested in her lap with a tiny brush snuggly tucked into a divot on the side. A single golden ribbon was taped on for the birthday wrapping. Her chest tightened as she imagined all the things she could paint, all the things she wanted to bring to life with water-soaked pigments.
But how much did he spend on her?
“Well?” he prompted with an edge of nervousness. “Is it okay?”
“I love it.” In one swift movement, she hugged the palette before swiveling around and burying her face into his chest. A lump threatened to lodge in her throat, but she swallowed it as she hugged her dad.
“Oh, Hattie.” He leaned over her and held her tightly. “I’m glad. I know it’s not much.”
“It’s perfect,” she promised, grasping his shirt.
He did so much for her, sacrificed so much just to take care of her, and now this? She wished she could do more to help.
After a few moments of lingering in his embrace, she pulled back while rubbing at her eyes.
“Everything oh-ahem.” Her dad suddenly pulled his hand away from his task of brushing her hair back. She wrinkled her nose as she blinked up at him.
He held his hand behind his back and his nervous, forced smile revealed his growing fangs.
“Dad,” she shuffled out of his lap, “you need to change back.”
She glanced around the beach quickly, relieved that there was no one nearby to see him.
“No!” He winced when an edge of a reverb tainted his voice. He cleared his throat and waved his other hand dismissively. It had completely turned ebony-violet. “I’m fine! I can hold it for a little long—” he stalled as he glimpsed his other hand and snapped it behind his back too, “—longer.”
Hattie frowned with her brows drooping. His irises radiated golden light as his pupils faded.
“Please. I know I can—” he faltered, pulling his hands back and holding them out before himself. His fingers trembled as they dripped, trying to reconnect. He bit his lip and grimaced when his lengthening fangs jabbed him. The familiar, purple-singed shadows spread from the expanding tips of his chestnut hair.
“It’s okay,” she insisted, turning around and rolling up the sleeves of the hoodie to start cleaning up so that they could head back to camp. She knew he was probably more exhausted than he let on.
“But it’s your birthday,” he whispered in such a broken voice that she felt a world of guilt press against her shoulders.
“And I can still spend it with you as a noodle!” She kept her tone light, giving him a smile strained from her concern.
The gold had encased his eyes and his teeth became backlit by a surging light in his throat. He considered her with tight dismay before scowling.
“No!” He pushed to his feet. “No, I can do this!”
“But, Dad,” Hattie called anxiously, unable to do anything but watch as he paced by the bonfire.
He held his hands out in front of himself, clenching them as he stared daggers into his purple palms. During his pacing, his legs began to quiver, and he paused, hunching as his hair began to drip. His fingers merged into mittens, taking on a gloopy appearance and Hattie thought that that was it, that he would just start getting bigger. She opened her mouth to try and get him to focus on saving his clothes, but the words died in her throat.
“Stop changing,” he wheezed in a wavering voice. He doubled over, clutching his stomach as he strained to keep a human shape. He squeezed his eyes shut and gritted his teeth, snuffing out his golden light. The flickering fire cast twisting shadows against his trembling form. His arms lost all pretense of having bones and flopped down like limp noodles. His legs buckled and he thrust out his hand to catch himself.
“Something’s wrong!” Hattie hurried to his side, reaching out as his mitten hand clenching the sand lost its shape entirely and expanded into a puddle.
“N-no,” his reverberating voice gurgled behind globs of dripping purple that stretched across his mouth when he parted his lips. “I can do this!” But just as he said that, he grunted and lurched forward. Viscous liquid oozed from his shoes as his legs melted.
But they didn’t form a tail.
They just pooled out uselessly behind him.
“Dad!” Hattie placed a hand on his arm, but it collapsed under her touch. He let out a strangled cry as his whole arm gave away and he slammed against the beach.
He continued to melt despite his groaning and straining. The trembling shadows spilled from his clothes and into the sand. Panic seized Hattie’s chest as she feared she was going to lose him to the beach. Glancing around frantically, her gaze fell onto the bucket, and she lunged for it.
“Hold on!” Hattie called as she dumped the shells out and slid over to her father, who had gone eerily silent as the pooling liquid oozed and spread.
She dropped the bucket into the sand and quickly tried to shove waves of the viscous liquid inside, catching particles of sand with it. Once half of him filled the rusted bucket and kept spilling out, she righted it before scooping up purple globs. She tossed handful after handful of the soupy remains of her father into the bucket. The trembling sludge sputtered and splashed. Tears stung the corners of her eyes when she saw some liquid darkening and fading into intangible shadows that disappeared into the sand, gone for good.
“Stay with me,” she whispered in a cracking voice as she scooped up every last bit that she could.
After wringing purple from his shirt, pants, and the edges of her sleeves which had tumbled into the puddle a few times, Hattie searched for any of her father’s features in the goop squelching against the edges of the bucket.
“Dad?” She lightly prodded the thick surface of the liquid and it shivered. A muffled groan bubbled up, though no golden light from his eyes or mouth followed. Hattie sighed, sitting back in the sand as she convinced herself that the fact that he had groaned meant he was still there. But now just as soup. In a bucket.
They’ve been through worse, right? This, too, should pass?
“Okay, you just sleep while I clean up,” she muttered as she pushed to her feet.
She collected their things and put out the fire, all the while glancing at the bucket as the goop settled. Once she had the plastic bag slung over her shoulder and her birthday gift tucked into her backpack, she slowly picked up the bucket.
“Oof,” she huffed as she heaved the bucket up, wincing when droplets splashed over the side. “Why is magic goop so heavy? That’s stupid,” she grumbled as she slowly made her way across the dark beach and back to their camping area. As she paused multiple times to give her arms a break and catch her breath, she swallowed the rising lump in her throat and pushed onward.
*
Luka groaned and on top of the usual reverb that came with his noodle body it sounded oddly like the gurgle of a garbage disposal choking on water. He blinked tired eyes and the golden glow rebounded against the daffodil-yellow inside of Hattie’s baseball cap.
Oh. Had he shrunk down and dozed while Hattie was shopping? That didn’t seem right. Actually, what had he been doing before this?
A surge of panic bubbled up as he recalled trying to hold onto his humanity at the beach. He remembered the tighter he held the form, the more it slipped through his clenched fingers. He heard a slosh of thick liquid when he tried to lift his hand.
He couldn’t lift his hand.
He couldn’t lift his hand.
He couldn’t even turn his head! His eyes darted around frantically, catching the rim of some sort of curving, metal wall in the corners of his vision but he could only really look straight up at Hattie’s cap.
“K-ki—” he sputtered as some sort of gunk trickled into his mouth. Expelling wet coughs only caused more of the viscous goop to slip in. His anxious attempts to move coupled with his hyperventilating only increased the panicked sloshing that sounded like puddles disrupted by pricks of rain.
“Dad?” Hattie’s sleepy voice responded.
“H-help I’m—” he gagged on a particularly large glob.
“Hold on!”
He tried to spit out the gunk and a heavy droplet plunked against him. He shivered from the sensation but for the life of him he couldn’t figure out what was going on. Relief swelled when the cap was removed and Hattie looked down at him, with sunlight filtering through the trees. Squinting at the sudden light, he tried to squirm around.
While not happy, she at least looked safe and sound. She wore his delivery cap, and he could see the dangling strings of his hoodie. If the sunlight was any indication, he must have slept through the night. He grimaced, hoping she hadn’t been too uncomfortable or cold without his coil to protect her from the elements.
“What’s going on?” he forced out, feeling like he was talking through a wad of bubblegum.
Hattie sat back, making it harder for him to see her at his angle. He twisted to try to get closer.
“You’re in a bucket,” she answered tiredly. When she glanced up and realized she was wearing his delivery cap, she jolted and swiftly took it off.
“A bucket?” he echoed in distress. His eyes shifted around as he glimpsed the walls and the occasional splash of purple-black goop if he moved too quickly. He blinked.
“Oh my god, I melted.”
“Yeah,” Hattie sighed as she rubbed her eyes with the baggy, purple sleeve. “Are you okay?”
“Um.”
No.
“I’ve been better.” He winced, realizing all the gunk that was getting caught in his mouth was himself. Fantastic.
“Do you need anything?” she prompted with hesitation as she glanced around. “Like water or something?”
“I need to get out of this bucket!” He pushed his eye against the rim, and he felt himself ripple. “Here, dump me out! I can try to—” he coughed, “—pull myself back together.”
“I lost so much of you on the beach though,” Hattie objected. “And y-you just disappeared, like the goopy stuff turned all shadowy.”
He caught the crack in her voice, and frowned, both from hearing how part of him just up and evaporated—okay, a lot of him if what was left of his monstrous noodle form could fit inside a tiny bucket—and from how much he had frightened her.
“I can’t stay like this, though,” he argued. “I have work! And you can’t stay in the woods on your own!” He shifted around, trying to figure out how to stretch his neck or anything but his neck and everything was gone! First, he lost his body and now he lost his monster body? This wasn’t fair! He couldn’t live like this!
In his frustration, he tried to will himself to have arms or hands or even his tail would work. The goop bubbled and frothed, and he grunted from the strain, but he could do it! He could pull himself together!
“Stop!” Hattie commanded. He yelped as he felt small hands jut into the goop and scoop up his features.
He felt himself spread out and winced as strands dripped back down into the bucket with heavy plops. It was like the world and his body were spinning around him, disconnected and far from his grasp as his head remained stagnant but stuck. After blinking and spotting Hattie’s thumb acting as a barrier as trickles of him slipped through the cracks of her fingers, he grounded himself in her frustrated blue gaze.
“If you keep hurting yourself, you’ll just make it worse!” Her nose scrunched up into a hard scowl, but he heard the lump in her throat underneath her irate bite. “Just stop!”
“Sorry,” he gurgled quietly. Her brows furrowed even more, and he added as gently as he could, “I’ll rest, kiddo. I’ll take it easy.”
“Promise?” She stared him down.
“Promise,” he breathed out, slumping.
She lowered him back into the bucket and a soft bloop sound was followed by flickers of drops as she pulled her hands out. He hummed to relieve some distress as he tried to force himself to relax.
“Maybe you just need sleep,” Hattie offered. She grumbled a bit, but he could tell she was trying to soften her tone.
“That’s usually all it is,” he agreed.
He did feel a similar exhaustion to all the times he pushed his time limit and got stuck in noodle form. Only this was much worse. Even when he was a human, he wasn’t sure he could ever remember a time he was so tired that he couldn’t move his muscles.
Leaning his eyes against the rim of the bucket for some semblance of security, he desperately hoped he wouldn’t be stuck like this. But even if he did eventually turn back to monster-normal, he had a sneaking suspicion he really screwed over his already sparse shapeshifting time.
“Do you want me to put the hat back over?” Hattie lifted her cap into his view. “To help you sleep?”
“No,” he said a little quickly. She lowered the hat and he added, sheepishly, “I know I can’t see much from here, but it’s better than nothing.”
“Okay. Go to sleep. Let me know if you need anything.” She scooted over to their campfire, and he heard the click of the lighter.
He sighed but tried to let the distant crackle of flame and the low tap of Hattie sketching on paper lull him into a semi-relaxed state. His eyes closed into tiny slits and as he dozed, a gentle and continuous rumble bubbled up from within.
“Dad?” Hattie whispered after a stretch of time, scooting back into view and looking down with her hair slipping from behind her ear.
“Hmm?” His eyes cracked open, slowly registering the rumbling sound. In his peripheral vision, the surface of the ebony-violet goop rippled steadily.
Hattie cracked a grin.
“You’re purring!” she said in slight disbelief before exploding into giggles.
“I’m—?” he began before he recognized the familiar and involuntary purr. A dusting of faint gold emanated from beneath the surface of the goop as he blushed.
“The whole bucket is shaking!” Hattie covered her mouth as her laugh trickled out in mirthful chimes.
Despite himself, Luka smiled, glad to hear her laugh.
“I guess it looks pretty silly,” he admitted, imagining the bucket wiggling around. Though now that he was becoming more alert, the rumbling slowed to a stop. In their absence, he realized how comforting the vibrations had been.
Hmm. Maybe the purring was a way to pull himself back together? It wasn’t something he could force or speed up, though. Typical.
“Do you want any food?” Hattie perked after she calmed down from laughing. “I was roasting some hot dogs.”
“I’ll try a bite,” his eyes and mouth shifted up and down in an affirmative nod that sent tiny waves splashing against the side of the bucket.
He couldn’t really tell if he was hungry, and he wasn’t sure how he was going to eat but he would do anything that would help him replenish some energy.
When Hattie returned with a torn piece of a hot dog, Luka opened his mouth and let out a gurgling, “ah.”
With a giggle, she gently lowered the hot dog as close as she could before dropping it. He felt the hot dog plop down and coughed. Hattie winced in apology as he closed his mouth and pensively chewed.
“I’m fine,” he said after a thick swallow. He couldn’t feel the lump of the hot dog anymore but in the past few years of dealing with his magic, goopy body, he learned to not ask questions he couldn’t answer and near the top of that list was wondering what the heck replaced his melted digestive track.
Hattie fed him a few more pieces and he swallowed the dismay of not being able to feed himself. Even though he had grown accustomed to relying on Hattie for help when his chameleon paws couldn’t work with delicate silverware, the familiar sorrow from the early days returned now that he didn’t even have hands.
After what he was certain was a late lunch, he napped on and off as Hattie remained nearby. When he would check in with her, she would present her latest sketches proudly, and even had one completed work in watercolor. It was a scene of the ocean, and while her sketchbook paper wasn’t meant to hold so much moisture, causing it to crinkle and warp when it dried, she excitedly explained that she was going to do other paintings exactly like it, but all showcasing the ocean at different times of the day. He told her that he was eager to see them, overjoyed that she was having fun with her gift like he had hoped she would.
If only he had been able to save up enough for a motel in time for her birthday, or at the very least, if only he hadn’t melted on her. But that was really his fault for pushing himself so hard.
He had just so badly wanted to make it special. She hadn’t even remembered her own birthday! What else was he supposed to do? Let himself turn into a monster? She deserved to have her actual dad on her birthday.
“Hey, Dad?” Her voice drew him out of his sinking despair.
“What’s up, kiddo?” he shifted his eyes in the bucket, trying to find a position that best allowed him to see her.
“What should I tell your boss?” She held out his phone, which was lit up with messages with letters in all caps.
Luka groaned.
“Can you read the messages for me?” He mentally prepared for the nerve-wracking ordeal of trying to explain himself without admitting to his boss that the reason he couldn’t make it to work was because he turned into a bucket of silly putty.
With Luka directing her, Hattie responded to the understandably angry but maybe harsher than necessary texts from his boss at the restaurant. Once that was done, he let out a heavy sigh, accidentally blowing a bubble in the goop, which shortly popped and splattered. He flinched when a drop landed in his eye.
“Do I have anything from the newspaper office?” Luka asked, dreading the thought of not only the manager getting upset when he found out no one had delivered newspapers in the morning, but of all the people who would no doubt call to complain about empty doorsteps.
“No,” Hattie replied slowly.
“Really?” Luka wasn’t sure if he should count that as good or bad. Either way, he was probably out of a job. “I’ll need to start looking for something else.”
“Why?” Hattie scooted closer, hugging her knees to her chest as she looked down at him.
“They’ve probably already decided to fire me,” he lamented with his mouth sinking and gurgling in the gunk.
“Nah.” She glanced away, tapping around on his phone.
He blinked up at her.
“Nah?” he repeated. When Hattie kept her gaze down and her lips pressed into a thin line, his eyes narrowed. “Hattie? What did you do?”
“I maybe did your deliveries for you?” she offered guiltily.
He stared at her.
“You what?” he sputtered, causing his sludge to ripple as panic seized him. “By yourself? Hattie! You just turned eight! My route is a couple miles long, and you would have had to bike before dawn! There are child labor laws! What do you mean you did my deliveries?”
“I had help!” Hattie hurried to explain. “I ran into a nice tourist I met yesterday, and he gave me a map and delivered half of the newspapers for me.”
“You worked with a stranger?” Luka demanded, shifting around in the bucket. “Harriet Princeton, you are not supposed to talk to strangers!”
“So, I’m only supposed to talk to you?” She threw her hands up in the air.
“No! I mean—that’s not the point!” he faltered, sloshing around as the bite in her words stung. Bits of goop splattered over the rim and Hattie jolted.
“Stop freaking out!” She helplessly tried to grasp at the stray droplets. “I can’t lose you again!”
He paused, tensing. Well, tensing as much as he could as a viscous liquid.
“Wh-what do you mean lose me again?” he pressed tightly.
“I thought you were gone when you melted,” she said with a cracking voice. She hugged her legs and rest her chin on her knees. “I thought I didn’t get all of you in time and you were gone, and I just wanted to help because you’re so tired all time but—” she trailed off in a squeak as tears filled her eyes.
“Hattie—” he shifted towards her, but the goop sputtered as he instinctively tried to reach out to his daughter. Liquid stung his eyes and he blinked rapidly. “Hattie, look at me please.”
She turned and revealed tears streaming down her cheeks.
Gold blurred his vision, but he pressed on.
“I’m sorry,” he began in a congested voice, thick with gunk and reverb. “I know you were just trying to help, and I appreciate it! But I don’t want you worrying about my jobs or money. You shouldn’t have to.”
His voice cracked and all too late, he realized that the reason he sounded so congested was partly because of the golden tears filling the bucket. They glittered in the goop, separated like oil drops in water. His breath hitched and the goop swelled.
“But I can—” he tried to continue as the tears slipped out and the goop splashed up when he instinctively tried to wipe them away with a hand that wasn’t there.
“You’re spilling!” Hattie interrupted, jolting upward and hurrying over, placing her arms around the rim but the added tears were causing his anxious sloshing to spill over. “Stop crying!”
“What?” He jolted, shifting his eyes around and catching glimpses of purple and gold staining her sleeves. Her dismayed features above him only encouraged his tears and he made a muffled sniffling noise as panic surged and his tears swelled.
“Dad!” she yelped. But her own distraught features cleaved through his squishy, melted chest.
“I-I can’t! Give me a moment!” Twisting away, he tried to lock his eyes on something to ground himself, but in his panic, he kept attempting to turn and wipe his tears. The spilling goop sloshed uncontrollably.
“Try to laugh!” Hattie begged. “Tell me a stupid joke!”
“Ah, uh.” He pressed his lips into a tight line as he struggled to think of something. “Um. You know what? This situation really pails in comparison to—uh—that one time we teleported into that bear den!”
“What?” Hattie furrowed her brows. But it looked like her tears halted in confusion.
“P-pails, like a pun? It’s a joke. It’s supposed to be funny. Please laugh,” he said weakly. He blinked and let out a tight exhale as he felt himself calm and the rest of the goop start to settle.
“That’s a stupid joke.” Hattie sniffled as she leaned back and slowly lifted her arms, revealing sleeves soaked with purple sludge.
“I got buckets of them.” He added a sardonic, “ha,” as the gold ebbed. While a few dancing droplets of tears wiggled in his goop, now that he was calmer, trembling splashes no longer spilled over the rim.
Hattie wrung out the sleeves. He flinched at the droplets that pelted his face and sent ripples along the surface.
“That’s even worse,” she sighed, though a small smile found its way onto her features. She tugged up one of her sleeves and gingerly reached over and wiped at the edge of his eye.
He grunted, squeezing it shut but when she pulled away, he watched her flick a golden droplet towards the grass. He sighed, blowing a few bubbles.
“Please don’t do my job tomorrow,” he said quietly. “We’ll be okay.”
She nodded slowly before thinking better of it.
“Only if you promise not to push yourself, okay?”
“Okay,” he said tiredly before he yawned. Sludge dribbled into his mouth, and he sputtered.
“Sleep.” She poked the goop. He shifted his eyes next to her finger, which was the closest he could come to giving her an encouraging nuzzle.
“What about you?” he asked, staring up at the canopy of leaves. There was still sunlight trickling down, but it seemed fainter.
“I can eat soon,” she shrugged.
“Wake me if you need anything,” he muttered, feeling his eyelids grow heavy.
Did he even have eyelids at this point? Maybe it was more that his eyes were sinking. Might be more apt.
Hattie promised to, but he had a feeling they both knew she would deal with any problem on her own before waking him. Frowning, he supposed the best thing he could do for her would be to recover as swiftly as possible.
He settled into the bucket, and soon enough, the sludge began to ripple as he automatically purred. He caught Hattie’s stifled snort at the vibrating bucket before he fell asleep.
Night blanketed the forest by the time he woke up again. Still purring, he blinked as he felt something shift. The rippling rumbles of goop seemed to be tightening and when he moved to lift his head, he peeked over the rim of the bucket. Relief swelled inside as he spotted Hattie’s back. She was drawing by the fire, safe and sound.
Edging backward, he tilted his head down, blinking at the vibrating goop as it slowly re-solidified into shape. After a moment, he lifted his noodle arms and wiggled his chameleon paws. Funny, he was actually relieved to see them for once. Once his tail formed, he heaved out a sigh. There wasn’t a drop of him left behind in the bucket, but now he took up less volume.
“Kiddo,” he called softly, floating up to the rim of the bucket and placing his hands on the edge, curling his tail beneath himself.
“Dad!” Hattie gasped when she saw his familiar form. Scrambling around, she darted over, and he flew up into her embrace.
“You’re tiny,” she muttered into the plush fluff around his neck. His tail waved back and forth as he returned her firm hug.
“I’m sure I’ll get back to normal size,” he guessed. Probably. After a long enough rest without using his shapeshifting.
Moments passed until he caught a low grumble coming from Hattie’s stomach. He craned his neck with a smirk.
“In the meantime, are there anymore marshmallows to share?”
“I ate them all. Remember our math quiz? Zero left.” Hattie said without missing a beat as she turned back around and brought him to the fireside. “Just kidding, I saved you some.”
“That’s my girl!” His tail waved harder as he chuckled.
He extended an arm towards the bag, noting that he couldn’t really stretch it like usual, and made a grasping motion. Hattie plopped the bag into her lap, still using an arm to hug him, and they both took turns popping the confections into their mouths.
Yes, after a week’s worth of rest, he would grow to his usual massive size and when he could shapeshift again, he would have to deal with the consequences of missing so much work. But until then, he and Hattie would take it day by day and one marshmallow at a time.
#ahit coffee shop au#doodledrawsthings#ahit prince#ahit hat kid#my writing#*kickflips into ur tumblr experience wearing rubber fishing suspenders and a cap that says 'words want me. ghost dads fear me'*#Me: Bucket's haunted#You probably: What?#Me not breaking eye contact as i grab a pail and head for the exit: Bucket's haunted#this got very long whoops#but i hope its a fun read!#thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy!
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Okay so I have this whole head cannon about Alya accidently finding out that Marinette is secret best friends with Chat Noir. Let me explain:
So, after Lila has messed with Marinette’s stuff one to many times (whether that be stealing her sketchbook, slipping stuff in/out of her backpack, etc.) Marinette decides to get rid of her physical diary. There’s probably a lot of paranoia that leads to this decision, since it’s not like Marinette was planning on taking her diary out of her room any way, but also, Marinette knows that Lila is a slippery snake so it’s better to be safe than sorry.
But, especially after becoming Ladybug, writing in her diary each day is an important and necessary habit for Marinette to keep. As someone with a lot of anxiety, way too many things going on, and a lot of critical thinking skills, it’s nice to have a way to work through her thoughts. Otherwise she’d probably find herself getting stuck in her head, thoughts running in circles, trying to relax. Plus, it’s a nice for her to have a place to write down all of the fears and worries that come with being Ladybug. Tikki is nice to talk to, but she doesn’t understand humans fully. This leads to Marinette needing something else to confide in about being a teen superhero and since she can’t do that with an actual person, the diary works.
While it might seem out of character for her to write down her biggest and most dangerous secret somewhere someone could fine, Marinette is shown to have a very trusting relationship with her parents, so she probably wouldn’t assume they would read her diary. Also, she is a fourteen-year-old girl and sometimes, especially at that age, we do things that are irrational just because we feel we have to (being angsty is an unavoidable problem that comes with puberty).
Anyway, that is all to say that even if Marinette does get rid of her diary, she would still need a place to put her thoughts down. It helps her stay sane enough to avoid akumas.
She decides to start making a video diary and enlists Max to help her hide it. She doesn’t tell him what it’s for, just that she needs to know how to hide things on her computer. (okay and I know nothing about technology), but he’d help her learn how to encrypt it or lock it or something, so it’s hidden from anyone who’s actively trying to find it. That way anyone *cough*Lila*cough* looking for it would not only have to have the knowledge it exists but also enough computer skills to get through password protection and into the file. Either that or steal her whole computer.
Now that is a whole long introduction for the idea that a lot of these video entries have Chat popping up in the background asking to watch a movie, play a game, stumbling over to take a nap in her bed, etc. And maybe Marinette sometimes forgets to turn off the camera so there’s hours of footage of them playing Jenga or scratching behind his ears while he describes a cool bird he saw or any other friendship goals BS they get up to.
(For this head cannon to work we are also going to ignore how much space recordings take up on a computer BUT, because I’m nothing if not practical, even when thinking about teenage superheroes, I do actually have a solution to that too.
Maybe chat finds out and instead of telling her to delete he gives her a fancy smancy hard drive (with his rich boy money) to keep her recordings on since:
1. He sees how much it helps his friend and wants to support her
2. Marinette is the first friend he feels like he really shows himself to and he really likes the idea he can go back and watch their more mundane times together (Nino is his friend but even he doesn’t get to see the full Chat side of him, which Adrien probably feels is more who he is since it’s not something his dad can control. Also, especially when he starts getting closer to Mari and they start talking more about their emotions and he lets her see his softer side, she gets to see sassy chat and sweet Adrien mixed together.)
When he gives her the hard drive he tells her this and she’s super touched, and she doesn’t want to tell him that having a hard drive like this is against the whole point of getting rid of her physical diary in the first place. So, she starts putting the files on it and works with Tikki to find good places to hide it. She sees so much death and destruction as Ladybug, so she understands wanting to hold onto things like this. It’s a lot better than having to cut out the hours and hours long video of Chat helping her to make a maid outfit that he then refused to take off for the rest of the night.)
One day, Marinette is probably super stressed and has not been sleeping a lot, maybe has a lot of assignments due the next day. So, when she gets home from school she decides to just start her afternoon with a video entry to help calm herself before getting started on all of her work. Then, as a surprise, Alya just bursts in to hang out, they probably haven’t been seeing as much of each other since Lila is trying to drive a wedge in their friendship. Marinette would quickly turn off her monitor and overall look sketchy but would tell Alya she was just working on a project and not to worry about it. Alya would be super curious and would probably push Marinette on it but she’d stay resolute. Then, Marinette’s Mom would call that she needed her help really quick, Marinette would steal a glance at the computer but still go down to help.
Alya’s a good friend but she’s a journalist at heart, she would really want to know what was on the computer. Additionally, she would feel that Marinette has recently been pulling away from her and changing as a person, maybe looking at the computer would help her learn what has gotten into Marinette? She would turn the computer back on and the files wouldn’t be labeled with anything but maybe the date, so she’d click on one to see what these videos were for. It would quickly become obvious what they were and Alya would know she should turn them off, but Lila told her the other day that Marinette had been saying some nasty stuff behind people’s backs. Watching her diary could help Alya to understand Marinette’s motivations a bit more. It was a crappy thing to do as a friend, but she knew Marinette was a good person at heart and she was so sick of being confused by her new, troubling personality.
Alya would click on a random one and—due to some fantastic Ladybug luck—it wouldn’t have anything incriminating on the Ladybug front. It would instead just be Marinette discussing all of the projects she had coming up for school, her designing goals for the week, and her upcoming plans with friends. Overall it would be pretty mundane and would lack anything that would justify Alya invading her friend’s privacy. Alya would be starting to feel pretty bad and would be just about to close out of the video when there would be a muffled thump from off screen. Video!Marinette didn’t react but Alya wanted know what it was. Her confusion would be eased moments late when Chat busted through the trapdoor in the ceiling, already talking, “Mari! You have to teach me how to paint! I stayed up watching Bob Ross videos until 4 last night and I bet I could do that too!”
Alya would then watch as Marinette casually (looking happier than she had since Lila returned) respond to her “kitty” about how painting was a lot harder than it looked. The video would cut off soon after, showing a still frame of Chat hugging Marinette from behind, rubbing his head against hers and begging her to teach him. The computer would stay on that image until Marinette returned to find her shells hocked best friend.
“YOU’RE FRIENDS WITH CHAT AND YOU DIDN’T TELL ME????”
#miraculous ladybug#marinette dupain cheng#alya cesaire#chat noir#adrien agreste#miraculous headcanon#miraculous chat noir#miraculous adrien#miraculous marinette#miraculous alya#ladybug#marichat
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A Distant Dream II // Luke Patterson
Summary: In 1994 seventeen year old Luke Patterson had once again tried to ask out the girl that held his heart. With the belief he would see the younger Mercer girl the next morning he decides wait to confess his feelings. Only to have soft music bewitched the reader into an antique wardrobe with lots of history.
Warnings: Swearing, talk of pregnancy, cops, strict parents, and angst
Words: 3.1k
A/N: I’m thinking maybe four or five more parts following this. I really fell back into a Narnia hole recently.
Part One
TO BE TAGGED SEND AN INBOX/ASK PLEASE!
Masterlist
Julie Molina didn't mean to snoop in Luke's things at all, but her elbow had bumped his backpack to the ground. A worn picture had escaped the open bag to float next to her foot. Her deft fingers picked the photo of Alex standing with a girl laughing at something out of frame. The jacket the girl wore was familiar to Julie as she had seen Luke wear it.
Her throws furrowed as she turned the picture to the back to see the writing on the back in legible black sharpie.
Y/N and Alex Mercer, Downtown Los Angeles 1993
Julie's took a guess that the girl was-
"What the hell Julie?" Luke's furious tone took the girl by surprise, but it was the rush to yank the picture from her hand. The guitarist flooded with the familiar grief that was never too far from his mind, it had been one a year to him instead of twenty-six.
The picture was cradled in the guitarist's hands as he pinned a nasty glare on his living friend as if she had kicked his puppy. Behind him stood Alex and Reggie becoming quiet at the picture in Luke's hand. The tears started to fill Alex's eyes as he vividly remembered the night when the picture had been taken.
Alex slung his arm around his sister's shoulders with the identical grin on display as Bobby and Reggie slumped over a paper. You had a feeling it was a song that Reggie had written and Bobby loved being able to give his input on the music. Something he didn't get to do with Luke. With that name in mind, you turned to the guitarist lazing around on a couch.
The band had finished a three-song set for a local club that often turned their cheek to minors walking in. It had taken a lot of manoeuvring, but you had been able to sneak inside to add the band to the list.
"Can you believe this?" Alex gleefully laughed, looking around the packed backstage room they had snagged. They had it for another five minutes, and the band ate it up as if they had already made it in the business.
"I can't believe you guys actually made this happen." You breathed before a laugh escaped your mouth at Reggie, pulling a face at you. The blinding flash bringing your attention to the boy holding the camera you had received as a gift.
"Always a great candid with you!" Luke announced shoving the camera in his backpack with a cheeky grin aimed directly at you, "We better split before security catches us."
"I thought they knew we were here!" Alex exclaimed rushing to grab his things with all bad ideas conjuring in his head. Being in the band annoyed your parents so if he ended up arrested he'd be shipped off to a behavioural boarding school.
He saw himself in a prison cell after being arrested. His mind going to the worst-case scenario instead of only being kicked out instead.
"If you knew the truth, you wouldn't have been able to sit still." Luke retorted as the sound of footsteps sounded outside the room. Luke's eyes scanning the room for any kind of solution to their problem.
With no safe exit, the five teenagers shuffled into the small bathroom with a big window that opened. Luke was quick to push Bobby and Reggie out first. He went next stationing himself to catch you before Alex was pacing in the bathroom alone.
"C'mon man!" Luke whispered to the blonde drummer glancing between the open window and the door separating him from security.
"If our parents have to pick us up from the cops, we are dead, Luke!" Alex hissed wincing at the loud knock on the door, "They barely condone being a band let alone getting arrested. We'd be in boarding school before you could say Orpheum!"
"Then get your ass down here!" Luke retorted jumping in place as Alex debated his options, but he slipped out the window with a sigh. The group running off with the sound of security hanging out the window screaming at the teenagers. His hand encased in Y/N Mercer's own soft hand.
"That's Y/N." Alex's voice was soft to the Puerto Rican's ears with his eyes a more delicate blue giving Julie the impression he was mostly lost in thought, "My little sister."
Julie's eyes shifted between the three ghostly boys all quieter than anything Julie had ever encountered with them. The only other time Julie had seen Luke so sad was when Alex and Reggie brought her to Luke's childhood home. It was unsettling to see the usual happy go lucky boy drained of energy.
"Did you find her?" Julie asked recalling that Alex had been the only one so far to not attempt to find his family. Reggie had told Julie how his house turned into a bike shack but other than that the subject wasn't brought up.
"She disappeared in 1994." Luke choked out, clenching his eyes tight at the last smile he saw on your face. The one that was seared in his mind with the regret of never taking his chance with you.
Twenty-six years didn't wipe the deep feelings he still held for the girl who had disappeared with his heart. Attempts to find her futile leaving her state just as unknown as back in the '90s. The case had been long cold with the years erasing her memory from people as they moved on.
"Did she-"
"We don't know. One night she just disappeared with no clues." Reggie supplied finding himself to be the only one able to speak. Luke and Alex overtook by the flood of grief and guilt that came every time they grew strong enough to mention her name.
"I can look for her if you want." Julie offered to the trio, "If she's living she may have social media. More likely Facebook with her age but if I can get-"
"No." Luke and Alex spoke at the same time with equal passion in their voices, but it was Luke that continued, "I don't want to know."
Julie's lips parted, but Luke already left with Alex in tow by the grasp on his distressed jean jacket. The Mercer boy sending a smile of gratitude, leaving Reggie alone with her.
"I'd like to know." Reggie softly spoke, meeting the gaze of the living girl, "Maybe that's why we're here too. To find the truth about her disappearance and if we find something, we can tell them."
The shadowed pain in his eyes creating a yearning in Julie's heart, "Of course. Can you tell me about her? I could build a portfolio on possible places she's been."
"Her disappearance was a catalyst for a lot of things that happened." Reggie admitted breaking his usual carefree and clueless demeanour, "Alex and Y/N aren't twins. She was a year younger than us but where one sibling went, so did the other. They understood each other more than the band could ever know."
"Why hasn't Alex talked about her?"
"It's hard. The world in the '90s is very different from this time. We've mentioned bits and pieces of our lives, but you don't know the darker pieces."
Julie listened intently as Reggie was the most serious she had ever seen him, showing her that there was more to Reggie Peters than he let on. Julie felt honoured he trusted her enough to drop his guard that he held up strong.
"Mr. and Mrs. Mercer had certain beliefs that their family should hold and show the rest of the world. Before the band, Alex and Y/N were shells of their real selves laced into designer clothing, perfect grades, charity galas and their futures already written."
"So, they came from money? Galas and designer clothing." Julie rolled her eyes, "What was so bad about that?"
"Just because they had money didn't mean they weren't suffering. Anything less than 98% was a failure to Mr. Mercer. By the time Y/N was thirteen, she was trained on how to be a perfect lady. Alex wasn't supposed to play the drums, both he and Y/N were classically trained on piano and violin." Reggie recalled, "The first time Alex held drumsticks it was like he shattered the glass window of the tank he was drowning in."
"What about Y/N?" Julie questioned, wrapping her arms around her knees as she watched Reggie melted into the memories he fondly held dear in his heart.
"She stayed in her tank drowning, so Alex didn't have to be alone." Reggie simply replied a fond smile reappearing at the days you would dedicate to solely to him.
Reggie didn't like to talk about the things that went on behind the doors of his idyllic beach house. You just knew and gave him days that let him step out of the fear of the unknown. He didn't have to put up his front like he did with the guys, he got to be unapologetically Reginald Peters. The boy that had wished his parents would stop fighting and be that happy family once more, but his wishes never got answered.
"She sounds like a really cool person."
"Luke and she had this unspoken relationship that never evolved into more. Both too scared the other didn't feel the same. The night she disappeared, he was going to tell her he loved her. When it didn't happen, he was going to do it the next morning."
"But she was never found. What do you think happened?" Julie questioned the Peters boy who's smile dropped. His mind flipping through all the what-ifs that had lived in his brain for the entire year before he died.
"I think she ran into trouble and couldn't find a way out. I only hope if she passed away, it was easy and quick." Reggie finished instantly flipping the switch back to his usual oblivious façade used as his coping mechanism.
"I was thinking we could work on that song?" Luke piped up as he and Alex both poofed back into the studio as if the last hour hadn't happened. Both their pain neatly placed back in that box in their brains the light barely caught a glance at.
As Sunset Curve poured themselves into the song, they worked on together deep in the basement of the Molina's a sound lightly filled the space. The sound of a celebration heard with the backing of upbeat trumpets followed by a laugh. A soft golden glow lighting up the dark basement through a sheet protecting an antique piece of furniture.
The Golden Age, Cair Paravel, Narnia
The House of Pevensie ruled fairly and justly for a decade and a half together with High King Peter and his Queen, you, by his side. Never one to cower from a battle you were often found by Peter's side holding the sword and the bow strapped over your back. Both items gifts from Father Christmas back during the Winter Rebellion against the White Witch.
Unfortunately, all good things come to an end. In the year 1015 of the Golden Age, the Kings and Queens of Narnia set out on a hunt. Leaving the daily duties to their court, the Pevensie family decided to hunt the magical White Stag. It was a break from the stress of ruling and failing to provide an heir to the kingdom for you and Peter.
"How are you?" Susan questioned slowly to a trot beside you and your horse Mercer. The question flaring frustration once more in your body.
"I am fine, Susan." You sighed looking ahead to where Peter was speaking with Edmund and Lucy animatedly. His blue eyes raising to meet yours with the fondness that had evolved from the love.
The courtship that turned into marriage had mellowed from the way it had been in your early '20s. At thirty-one, you found that what you had thought was everlasting love was simply just two teenagers with mutual attraction. The only two that understood each other coming from a different place than Narnia.
You still loved Peter, but something made you feel as if he wasn't the first man you had loved and certainly not as much as this nameless person. Overtime Peter and you came to the same conclusion, you ruled as before. You loved each other but not as fiercely as before with the kingdom's responsibilities, placing the relationship on the back burner.
You had years to fix it, however. That's the excuse you always told herself when the guilt of thinking of another.
"The last person to the White Stag has to sit through O'Rielly's draft of his speech," Edmund called out before racing off with his trusted horse Philip taking the lead. Only momentarily as Peter first overtook him.
Mercer swiftly brought you up right behind Peter with a grin on both of your faces.
"Ed, as usual, makes his declaration and can't keep up!" You called over your shoulder at the twenty-eight-year-old King.
His response is a teasing eye roll as he leaned over to caress Philip, "Are you all right, Philip?"
"I'm not as young as I once was." The dashing dark brown horse huffed to his rider as he shifts on his hooves returning to his confident stance—the other royal horses returning to Edmund's side as well. Mercer immediately stepping up on Philip's left flank with a soft sound of acknowledgement.
"Come on, Ed," Susan spoke barely giving Philip a look as she had known for a while that it may be time for Philip to retire. For Philip to choose his successor to serve his King, but it was hard for Edmund to think of Philip retiring.
"Just catching my breath," Edmund informed his cheery older sister patting Philip once more before sitting up straight in the saddle. His brown eyes scanning the surroundings hugging the family in warmth reminiscent of his mother's arms.
"That'll be all we'll catch at this rate." Susan retorted copying Edmund by patting her horse's head earning a thankful neigh in response. The teasing grin lighting up Susan's pretty features that had many a suitor at the castle for her hand in marriage.
"What did he say again, Susan?" Lucy inquired with rosy cheeks from the autumn wind hitting from the exhilaration of riding. Coming to a stop beside the youngest royal, your hand found a home in Peter's calloused one.
"I believe he underestimated us as usual." You inserted sharing a smile with both your sisters-in-laws, "I can't quite recall the words…Susan, would you recall them?"
"' you girls wait in the castle. I'll get the stag myself' were his words with his cheeky smile." Susan replied. Unlike when Edmund was thirteen, he joyfully joined in the laughter filling the woods of Narnia.
Your eyes scanning the area that tickled a faint memory of a girl wearing unusual clothing in the kingdom. A shirt that bared your skin in the dead of winter. The shirt paired with a short skirt of a similar colour to another young woman. Your attention brought Peter's to the landscape as well. So curious the High King dismounted his horse and helped you down.
"What's this?" Peter inquired stepping closer to a tall pole with a lamp lit up with a flame. Covered in vines it was nearly invisible to the eye unless you looked up, "It seems familiar. Love, do you know what it is?"
"I don't remember it. I've seen it but how I did evades me." You replied, stepping closer to the lamppost. Susan was quick to step up beside you just as confused.
"As if from a dream?" Susan spoke, earning a mute nod from you as that same faceless man flickered in your memory. The one that haunted your dreams with the odd cameo of a blonde man.
Your eyes returning the horse you named Mercer as the name held an emotional connection you never understood. Often you would have a memory tickle your brain before disappearing with tasks to be done at the castle. When you saw the back of a blonde in crowds, you felt sad and lost. Or feeling Peter's hand in your own fluttering your heart until your e/c eyes found his bright blue and the fluttering died down.
"Of a dream of a dream," Lucy spoke, turning on her heel to the vast trees concealing the beyond. Lucy spoke barely louder than a whisper, "Spare Oom."
With that, the youngest Queen raced off through the woods with her family on her heels.
"Lucy!" Peter admonished the retreating form of his little sister in her blood-red dress. A deep sigh pulled from your lips as the free-spirited woman ignored their calls.
"Every time. I swear she's still a kid at heart." You spoke jogging alongside Edmund behind Susan and Peter. Your midnight blue dress barely touching the grass of the forest floor.
"You're a kid at heart as well." Edmund merely replied, keeping his eyes on the bright colours of the royal garb his siblings wore.
"Come on!" Lucy's voice called out through the branches that slowly but surely turned softer and the trees tapered smaller.
"These aren't branches!" Peter called out in his deep voice that temporally turned higher before it went back to the gravelly tone. You swore with everything inside his hands became softer and harder to grasp.
"Keen observation there." You retorted taken aback at the attitude you found infused in your voice as if you a teenager once more. Peter's surprise quickly found in his blue eyes that glanced over his shoulder.
"Ow! Ooh!" Edmund hissed as a branch scraped his cheeks and the pain vanished with the soft touch of fur on the scratch. The sudden change of texture startled him almost as the switch of his voice to the high pitch of his thirteen-year-old self.
"They're coats! Fur coats!" Susan gasped startled by the odd shift between the forest and whatever this place was.
"Mrs. Beaver would throw a fit over th- Ow! Lucy, you elbowed my ribs!" You whined stumbling into Peter's side as the others complained at each other hitting, stepping and kicking as the area became smaller and smaller.
Your eyes raising to meet Peter's blue taken aback by his appearance back when you had fought side by side against the White Witch. The eyes that kept rapt with yours at the coronation fifteen years ago and then your wedding ten years previous.
Then behind the siblings in front of you, a door opened to a large empty room with windows behind framing a rural countryside. Then your husband and in-laws were gone, and you fell out with memories from a lost life hitting you full force as you tripped out of the wardrobe.
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#luke patterson imagines#luke patterson x reader#peter pevensie imagines#narnia#jatp fanfic#julie and the phantoms imagines#charlie gillespie imagines#luke patterson#narnia imagines#peter pevensie#caitsy and ash productions
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The Lucky One
Read it on AO3
Summary: What if Master Fu hadn't been the only reason Marinette was late to her first day of school?
What if, when Ladybug told Chat Noir she was in love with someone else, it really was someone else?
Really, it comes down to this:
What if Marinette met Luka before Adrien?
Notes: This is written for @feminaexlux for the LBSC 2021 Valentine's Day Exchange! I'm your secret admirer, so happy Valentine's Day, beautiful — I hope you enjoy the fic! 💕
Also, thank you so much to the lovely @chrwrites for beta reading!
Word Count: 2,873
Luka loved his little sister more than words could describe, which was precisely why he couldn’t let her leave for her first day of school without her lucky pink hair clip.
Sure, she never really wore it; in fact, she seemed far more comfortable allowing her purple bangs to obscure her features in an increasingly persistent effort to hide from scrutinizing eyes. But that didn’t stop her from bringing the clip with her every day, anyway, just in case she ever found the strength to let herself be seen.
And as Luka waited patiently for her to unearth that courage for herself, he did his best to support and encourage her in any way he could, which was precisely why he found himself racing toward Collège Françoise Dupont on the first morning of the school year.
“Sorry, excuse me,” he mumbled to no one in particular as he pedaled perilously close to cars and took street corners just a hair too sharp.
That morning, as he had been organizing his own school books and binders, he found the small hair clip sitting forlornly on the deck of the Liberty. It must have fallen out of Juleka’s backpack, he realized, considering the haste with which she had raced off to meet Rose.
Thus, he now found himself down the street from the school, approaching the corner where a charming bakery huddled adjacent to the campus.
Only, just as he reached the crosswalk, an old man with a cane hobbled out into the road, where—
“Whoah, watch out!”
Luka skidded to a stop, tearing off his helmet as he ran to grab the man’s left arm. At the same time, another girl in pigtails, one arm burdened with a pastry box, ran out into the oncoming traffic to grab onto the man’s right.
Narrowly missing the bumper of a passing car, Luka huffed in relief as all three of them staggered back onto the edge of the sidewalk — but not before the girl in pigtails tripped, landing heavily on her hands and knees.
The crosswalk flicked green, then, and pedestrians began to obliviously mill past.
“Are you okay?” Luka bent down to grab the girl by the elbow, just as a cane appeared in his peripheral vision. “Are you hurt?”
The old man they had rescued edged closer to clear his throat before the girl could respond.
“Thank you, both of you,” he said before eyeing the box the girl had dropped. Pistachio green macaron shells lay shattered along the cement. “Oh! What a disaster.”
“Don’t worry, I’m no stranger to disaster. Besides, there are still a few left,” the girl responded buoyantly as she sat up and recovered the surviving cookies. She turned to Luka. “Oh! And y-yes! I’m okay! I’m just such a clutz, thank you for helping me.”
Her cheeks were dusted with a subtle pink as she looked up at Luka, his hand still resting gingerly on her arm.
She’s cute, he thought to himself before glancing back toward the crosswalk. And kind. Maybe I should—
The school bell rang, then, and the girl whipped her head back around, her eyes wide.
“Oh no, I’m going to be late!” She stood and hurriedly shut the lid of the pastry box before angling back toward the road. “H-have a nice day!”
“Wait!” Luka grabbed the girl’s wrist before she could barrel across to the campus. “You go to Collège Françoise Dupont?”
“I-uh, yes?”
“You don’t happen to know Juleka Couffaine, do you?”
The girl straightened and turned fully back toward Luka, her eyes flicking to where his fingers curled around her wrist. Her blush reemerged, albeit more brightly this time.
“I do! W-we’re in the game sass together! Well, I-I mean the same class,” she clarified nervously. “We’ve b-been in the same class. Together. Maybe we’ll be in the same class together again, this year, I mean.”
Luka just chuckled and grabbed the clip from where he had stuffed it in his pocket on the way out.
“What’s your name?” he asked.
“Ma-ma-Marinette.”
“Well, ma-ma-Marinette, if you happen to see Juleka, can you please give this to her?” With one hand still on her upturned wrist, Luka pressed the clip into her palm. “You can tell her that her brother Luka dropped it off.”
________
If she thought about it hard enough, Marinette could imagine she still felt the pressure on her hand from where the boy — well, where Luka — had pressed Juleka’s hair clip into her palm, even though weeks had gone by.
Juleka was, in fact, in her class again, which seemed to work to Marinette’s advantage.
As time went on, Luka made increasingly regular appearances after school, primarily to pick up Juleka and walk her back to the Liberty at the end of the day.
And if Marinette made the conscious decision to linger around the front steps of the school under the guise of sketching or organizing her backpack, who needed to be the wiser? (Albeit Tikki did occasionally chide her for running even later than usual.)
But every day that Luka took the time to stop, say hello, and ask to see her sketches, she knew that the loss of time was worth it.
“Hey, Marinette!”
Absolutely worth it.
________
Despite the fact that everything had turned out well in the end, Luka wasn’t sure that his righteous anger that morning had been worth it.
And as much as he refused to show it, he felt a twisting pit of shame and apprehension in his stomach.
Ladybug and Chat Noir had just released him from Hawkmoth’s akuma, and he was about to take center stage with the rest of Kitty Section for their well-earned television debut. While this moment should have been exhilarating — triumphant, even — all he could think about was what Marinette must think of him now.
Marinette, who always went out of her way to help those around her.
Marinette, who spent what precious little time she had making costumes for the band.
Marinette, who was kind and gentle, and had now seen him at his worst.
Who had now seen him as a villain… literally.
Luka took a steadying breath, one thumb skimming nervously over his Kitty Section mask as he prepared to step out in front of the cameras… until he felt warm fingers encircling his wrist.
He half-turned, the pit in his stomach sinking even further.
“Luka?” Marinette stood there before him, one hand bashfully coming up to her face. “Did you really mean those things you said when you were akumatized?”
Wait, was she… blushing? No, that couldn’t be.
Not after today.
“I'm sorry, Marinette, but I don't remember,” Luka said slowly as the pit twisted itself into butterflies. “What did I say?”
“Uh, oh, n-nothing,” Marinette stuttered. She looked down and rubbed nervously at the back of her neck. “It was nothing at all. You were possessed by Hawkmoth's akuma.”
“I don't know what I possibly could've said. I just hope it wasn't anything mean, because—”
He had to tell her how he felt. Now. Because if he didn’t, what else was she supposed to think? What if what he said while he was akumatized made her think that he didn’t—
“—You're the most extraordinary girl, Marinette.” He grabbed her shoulders earnestly. “As clear as a musical note and as sincere as a melody. You’re the music that’s been playing inside my head since the first day we met.”
The words sat right on his tongue, as well-rehearsed as his fingers on the frets of his guitar. He squeezed his hands once more on her shoulders before turning around to take the stage.
Though he had just recovered from being Silencer, he thought, perhaps he still had one thing left to silence: His doubts.
________
Ladybug had little doubt in her decision today, even if she found herself gritting her teeth and bearing with the stench of Paris’s sewers — again.
Really, she and Chat Noir had made somewhat of a habit of coming down into the watery maze beneath the city, and she was beginning to think that it was time to find an alternative place to run and hide.
As much as she cared for the silly kitty, sometimes the time they spent alone became a little overwhelming, what with his constant flirtation and declarations of love. And coming down to the sewers didn’t exactly make his attempts seem any more romantic.
… Wait, in that case, maybe being in the sewers wasn’t too bad of an idea.
In any case, she had tried time and again to tell Chat Noir that she was in love with someone else — someone with deft fingers, blue hair, and eyes that were bluer still — but the blonde still didn’t seem to be deterred.
Which was what gave Ladybug the idea to bestow a Miraculous upon Luka.
He was a natural match for combat after all, right?
Luka, who was so level-headed.
Luka, who always took the time to think before acting or speaking.
Luka, who genuinely put the needs of others before himself.
He had demonstrated as much on the day they met, after all. Who else would make themself late to school not only to help an old man out of the street, but to also make sure his little sister had her favorite hair clip on hand?
Luka was selfless, caring, observant, cute—
Yes, that settled it: Luka was the perfect candidate for a Miraculous.
Today, Chat Noir seemed to think they should give this particular one to Adrien Agreste, but Marinette wasn’t so sure. Would the celebrity model really be cut out for an akuma battle, let alone one that had brought them down into the sewers?
Probably not.
Closing her eyes and ignoring the acrid stench of garbage as she sucked in a determined breath, Ladybug called Luka out of the locker Chat Noir had left him in. Hesitantly, he approached the spot where Ladybug stood by a metal ladder that led to the surface.
“Luka Couffaine,” she began. Gently, she turned his hand over and pressed a box into his palm, much in the way he had pressed a clip into hers some months ago. “This is the Miraculous of the Snake, which grants the power of Second Chance. You will use it for the greater good. Once the job is done, you will return the Miraculous to me. Can I trust you?”
Of course, she knew the answer even before Luka smiled and nodded.
His hands tightened around hers knowingly.
________
Of course, knowing and understanding were two very different things.
After Miracle Queen had come and unnerved all of the Miraculous wielders by revealing their identities, Ladybug, in particular, had seemed uncharacteristically dispirited. Even Chat Noir seemed to hold himself at arm’s length from the heroine, albeit Luka didn’t understand why.
Nor did he understand why, over the past several weeks, she had appeared at his window in frequent blurs of red and black, offering him time with Sass under the condition that he come out to patrol in Chat Noir’s place.
Of all the previously-exposed Miraculous holders, he was the only one she had recalled to the field, even though it was never for the express purpose of an akuma battle.
Now, racing along Paris’s rooftops, Viperion did his best not to pry, though he couldn’t help but feel concerned at the discordant melody that was all but radiating off the girl. Weeks had passed, but something about Ladybug was still off-beat.
Patrol that night was almost over and it was only getting more and more difficult not to ask questions, especially considering she—
“We’re here.”
Ladybug landed gracefully on the final rooftop of the evening, her expression indifferent as she hooked her yo-yo around her hip and looked out at the distant wash of lights across Paris. She released a silent sigh through her nose, the rise and fall of her shoulders otherwise betraying her neutral demeanor.
Viperion landed beside her, consciously restraining himself from coaxing a sad melody out of his lyre and asking, “Do you feel kind of like this?”
“Why don’t we stop to catch our breath?” he asked instead. “Before we go our separate ways, I mean.”
Ladybug’s gaze flicked up to him in question before softening a fraction.
“Sure,” she murmured, her softly-emerging smile a small victory in Viperion’s heart. “I brought a snack, anyway. Just in case we got hungry.”
As Viperion lowered himself to sit on the ledge of the roof, Ladybug padded to the opposite side, bending down to grab a pastry box before returning and perching herself next to him. As she opened the lid, Viperion didn’t try to suppress his own smile.
Pistachio green macarons sat in a neat row within the box, their fragile shells still perfectly in-tact.
“These look delicious,” he said, gently removing one with his right thumb and forefinger. His left hand skimmed distractedly over the hidden pocket of his Miraculous suit.
The two sat that way for several minutes, the silence of the night punctuated only by the occasional passing car or giggling civilian. Ladybug and Viperion, meanwhile, relished in the quiet anonymity provided by both the height and the shadows of the building they sat atop.
Eventually, Ladybug sighed once more — this time more audibly — and leaned to rest her head against Viperion’s shoulder.
“You’re unbelievably brave, you know.”
“What?” Ladybug lifted her head to look at him through her falling bangs.
“I said you’re incredibly brave,” he repeated, his eyes fixed forward. “And I just want you to know you don’t have to shoulder all of the burden on your own.”
“I don’t know what you mean.” Ladybug’s brows furrowed. “I mean, I asked you to come out and help patrol with me, didn’t I?”
Viperion just chuckled once more, as he often did while contemplating how best to string his words together like a discernible song of their own.
“Yes, and I’m grateful you did,” he conceded. “But you and I both know that’s not all. And maybe that’s why I don’t feel any doubt, anymore.”
“What … what did you doubt?”
Luka paused a moment, his hand once more pressing against his pocket. This time, he pulled the contents out and curled his fingers around it protectively.
“I guess… I doubted that you wanted me to be there for you,” he said. “But, lately, you’ve been leaning on me more, both in and out of the suit—”
Ladybug gasped.
“—And that makes me happy.”
Viperion turned, grabbing Ladybug’s wrist with a feather-light touch. Turning her palm up, he pressed a small clip into her hand before closing her fingers. Then he pulled her in for a reassuring hug, careful to hold her gently enough that she could pull away if she wanted to.
He heard her sniff before he felt her burrow into his neck. His skin was cooled by the unexpected dampness of her cheeks.
“Juleka gave me her lucky hair clip several weeks ago,” he explained. “She said she hoped it would help me to find the luck and courage I needed to tell the girl I love about my feelings, which… I guess I already did. So this time, I’ll just tell you that I know what you’re facing and, if you ever need someone to shoulder more of the burden for you, I’ll always be here. My life is already filled with music, but you add the sweetest harmony of all, Marinette.”
Ladybug hiccuped, wrapping her arms hastily around Viperion’s waist. One hand remained fisted around the clip while the other pressed between his shoulder blades, silently asking him to hold her tighter.
So he did.
Humming the heartsong he had written for Marinette weeks ago, Viperion pressed his cheek into her hair and rubbed circles into her back. His body shook slightly as the girl gasped and wept, but he didn’t dare let go. Not until she was ready.
Several minutes later, her body had finally relaxed into his, the sobs gone and her breath evening out. His humming trailed off as she slowly unwound her arms from around him.
“I’m sorry, Luka,” she whispered as she pulled back and wiped at her face. “It’s all just been so much.”
“I know. And I’ll be here for you every step of the way, in whatever way you’ll have me.”
Finally, the girl smiled — the first real, genuine smile he had seen from her in weeks.
Viperion’s heart soared with relief.
“You’re right you know,” she said, uncurling her fingers to once more reveal the clip. “You didn’t need this lucky clip to tell me how you feel. Though, to be honest, I feel like I’m the lucky one.”
Slowly setting the clip down beside them, Ladybug reached up, pressing one hand to Viperion’s cheek and the other to the back of his head.
His eyes fell closed as he bent his head low, his lips catching hers just as she pressed closer to meet him. This time, his hands floated to her waist, the moment weaving a delicate new melody around him.
Her lips were softer than he’d ever imagined... and tasted faintly of pistachios.
No, he thought distantly. I’m definitely the lucky one.
#endgame lukanette#endgame luka couffaine marinette dupain-cheng#lukanette#lbsc#lbscexchange#luka couffaine#marinette dupain cheng#marinette dupain-cheng#viperbug#viperion#miraculous ladybug#miraculous fanfic#miraculous fanworks#ml fic#ml fanfic#fluff#mild hurt/comfort#my writing#rain writes#valentines day exchange fic
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