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#lost skeleton and tour guide??
spiderdotexe · 9 months
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these two !
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v-anrouge · 7 months
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rook basically confirmed to us that his family is a bunch of weirdos by the way he said his family was acceptant of eachother's quirks (and iirc he said they are also very close)
i rly imagine that like his mom and dad are neurodivergent, and because of that fact they got pulled towards eachother and ended up falling in love and having a shit fuck ton of neurodivergent crotch gremlins.
in my head rook's older siblings r twins and just like any twins are constantly annoying eachother over anything, rook has 2 sisters and probably 1 or maybe more siblings that are genderqueer like i refuse to believe they're all cis i can smell the queerness and it comes from the dna rook's mom is probably bi yes she has bi wife energy. they have a lot of houses but like i imagine they have one main one that they grew up in that is where they spend most of the time and that house i just know it's unnerving as fuck, it's big, beautiful, but full of mounted heads and skeletons and the halls are so long and are so creepy at night also i just know there's a bunch of secret rooms all around the house so whenever they have a guest over someone ALWAYS has to be with the guest and it ends up making them feel observed 24/7 (they are being observed 24/7) pets. i know they must have a lot of pets, probably like 4 dogs (3 hunting and an rat looking dog that probably has some lame ass name because he was named by the children and is old as fuck but somehow super healthy. they probably have horses too and the oldest sister has a bunny that they can't even dream of making jokes about hunting cuz she is SCARY (got it from her mom)
rook's parents look so intimidating to anyone that doesn't know them like if rook was taking you to meet them the entire time his mom would be like this and his dad like this
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but then u go to the kitchen to get water and walk in on them being so fucking sappy with eachother like giggling and blushing while they hold hands and kiss eachother's face and you back off absolutely shocked and one of their kids just goes "first time?"
that house is so fucking chaotic and absolutely terrifying it's so big and you will actually 100% get lost in it if you try to go out alone thankfully there's like a 90% chance the youngest will take a liking to you and she will guide you through the house and give u a little tour and show you her room and her horse and the fish in the pond and her collection of animal bones and if she really likes you believe me she acts like a cat you will NOT get rid of her, in the bathroom? she'll be outside waiting for you. entered the guest room? she'll already be there. she'll follow you everywhere and although it's very uncanny because her eyes feel like they're tearing through your soul hey at least you don't have to be afraid of opening doors and ending up in a secret torture room or something idk
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legoland-dubai · 5 days
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The Ultimate Guide to Legoland Dubai Attractions
Legoland Dubai is a family-friendly attraction in Dubai. You can begin your journey through the lively Legoland Dubai. Every brick has a tale and every turn is filled with anticipation. Legoland offers adventure and imagination to visitors of all ages. In this all-inclusive guide, we will explore different attractions you can visit here, such as exciting rides, captivating shows, or even interactive exhibitions. Miniland is a place of awe; conquer The Dragon roller coaster and unleash your creative potential at The Factory. This guide offers insider tips; you must-see places alongside useful information so that you can unlock the spellbinding charm of Legoland Dubai where adventure knows no bounds!
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Overview of Legoland Dubai Attractions
Situated within the city parks and resorts of Dubai Parks and Resorts, this park is built around the popular Lego brand. The main goal was to create an environment that would excite people while provoking their thoughts creatively. Visitors are welcomed with towering Lego structures and interactive displays which bring out the playfulness in them where they get involved in various activities like building models or anything else they desire.
Different Themed Lands at Legoland Dubai
Legoland Dubai is divided into several theme lands. Each one has its mix of rides, shows and attractions:
Miniland: Be amazed at the intricate Lego models of famous landmarks from around the world – all built with stunning accuracy.
Lego City: Immerse yourself in a bustling metropolis where kids can steer their own boats, fly planes, drive cars, and get their Lego driving license.
Adventure: Go on action-packed quests through ancient temples and pharaoh’s tombs – but watch out for skeletons and spiders.
Kingdoms: Travel back to medieval times in a land of castles, knights, and princesses. And thrills too – look out for the dragon.
Imagination: Build and play with Lego bricks galore, or zap fearsome trolls and skeletons as you ride the Kingdom Quest laser chariot.
Factory: Find out how Lego bricks are made from a factory tour. Plus, receive your very own souvenir brick fresh from the casting line!
Must-Visit Legoland Dubai Attractions
Every part of Legoland Dubai is attractive in its own way, but here are some attractions that you should not miss when visiting:
• The Dragon:
This is a roller coaster that takes you through the heart of a medieval kingdom with hairpin twists and turns along the way. You will even encounter Lego dragons!
• Lost Kingdom Adventure:
As you journey through ancient ruins, armed with your laser blaster, you must fend off mummies and try to recover stolen treasure.
• Submarine Adventure:
On this underwater submarine ride through marine life made out of Legos, expect to see stingrays, sharks and colorful coral reefs.
• Build-A-Raft River:
An interactive lazy river experience where you can build your own Lego raft before floating down a gentle stream.
• Lego Mind storms:
A hands-on robotics workshop where visitors design/build/program their own Lego robots designed for different challenges.
Insider Tips and Tricks
To make the most of your visit to Legoland Dubai, consider these insider tips:
Arrive Early: Visitors are advised to arrive at the park before opening hours so that they can beat long queues which form later in the day thereby giving them enough time to enjoy themselves on popular rides.
Stay Hydrated: With high temperatures experienced throughout most parts of Dubai, it is important to drink plenty of water especially when walking around under the scorching sun otherwise dehydration might set in leading to fainting spells or worse still heat stroke.
Check Height Restrictions: Ensure everyone meets necessary height requirements before lining up behind any ride entrance
Propose a route: Go over the park map and design your way before so you do not miss any of the attractions that are a must-see.
Food and Shopping at Legoland Dubai
Legoland Dubai offers different dining options such as themed restaurants, snack bars, and grab-and-go kiosks. From pizza or burgers to healthy salads and sandwiches, there is something for every taste bud. In addition, don’t forget about exploring the gift shops and souvenir stores throughout the park where you can find exclusive Lego merchandise, toys, and apparel to remember your trip by.
Best Legoland Ticket deals by CTC Tourism
Get unbeatable adventures only at Legoland Dubai with CTC Tourism’s best deals. Get into more affordable fun in Legoland Dubai with these offer that are not found anywhere else. Whether you are planning for a family day out or an exciting adventure with friends; our deal will ensure that you get all the fun without spending much money during your visitation here at Legoland Dubai We have everything covered under this package so it’s up to you to choose what suits your needs best but one thing is clear don't let these amazing offers pass by book now!! tickets today and get ready for the most amazing journey through Legoland Dubai ever imagined.
Inclusion:
• The price of this ticket includes all rides & entertainment shows.
• It can be used on any day of the week including weekends & public holidays.
• If transportation is required then we will pick you up from your location choice & drop back again after completion.
• Age – Adult: Above 12 years, Child: 03-12 years, Infant: Below 03 years (Free)
• Timing: 10:00 AM to 06:00 PM – Saturday to Wednesday, Thursday & Friday – 10:00 AM -08:00 PM
• Tickets are valid for Both UAE and Non – UAE Residents
Plan your visit to Legoland Dubai today and let your imagination run wild! With a wide range of attractions, interactive experiences, and family-friendly entertainment, Legoland Dubai guarantees an action-packed day out for all ages. Buy Legoland tickets now and start creating memories that will last forever at Legoland Dubai!
Conclusion
In conclusion, Legoland Dubai is truly a magical theme park where wonders never cease. There is something for everyone here; whether it’s marveling at Lego replicas of famous landmarks conquering thrilling roller coasters or even unleashing your creativity in the Lego Factory – this place has got everything covered! So plan well with insider tips in hand plus an adventurous spirit and make sure to have an unforgettable experience during your visit in this enchanted city called Legoland Dubai.
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musicarenagh · 8 months
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"EC_ET" by Eddz: A Sonic Postcard from England's Townscapes You ever heard an EDM track that acts like a tour guide walking you through abandoned cityscapes and silenced nightlife? That's exactly what my dude Eddz cooked up with "EC_ET." Picture a mixtape formed from nightclub echoes and industrial vibes; kind of like a love letter to the neon-lit ghost towns. Let me tell ya, this ain't your regular club banger - it's a socially aware jam packed with twists and turns of pop genres that speak volumes, if you care to listen. https://open.spotify.com/track/4OyZSekmfR9URLP4rNj9xQ?si=2c73a3c57e2b41ba The minute the rhythm gets going, you're hooked. You feel like you're sinking and surfacing at the same time, amidst wide and unexplored sonic depths. Picture your favorite small town in England dwindling under the growl of synths and the churn of electronica bits- a weirdly entrancing perspective. What's crazy though, is how the vocals come across. You got this dude talking about harsh realities in a gravelly voice that could be telling you stories over a pint in the pub. And on the flip, a soft, haunted chorus from this mystery girl chanting like she's whispering secrets into the fading night sky, painting a picture of peculiar allure to the decay we're living in. Never heard of sea breeze hitting against smoky streets? Listen to this track! [caption id="attachment_51642" align="alignnone" width="1333"] "EC_ET" by Eddz: A Sonic Postcard from England's Vanishing Townscapes[/caption] But here's the deal - "EC_ET" isn't just some tune, mate. It's more like a sonic telegram to the big guns, blasting out a desperate cry in frequencies only the finely-tuned can decode. Digs deep, it does, into the hollowed hearts of towns and cities, shaking up the skeletons of dusty alleys and long-lost communities all over Blighty. You ever wondered how some DJs just know? That every beat drop, synth swirl, and lyrical whisper fits right where it's meant to be? That's the genius in Eddz's management, making sure every sound slice gets its share of the limelight without hogging it all. It's a masterclass of spoken word. No lie, "EC_ET" is some next-level work from Eddz, balancing on the thin wire between EDM and artistry while delivering a sobering story about our dying local hearts. Way more than a headbanger, it's a wake-up call, urging you to see the world we're in. And in that, it's a symphony that goes beyond head nods and foot taps– a tune you feel in your bones. Music, mate, more than reflecting life, it frickin' mirrors it, pushes it, pulls it, and swears it into eternity. Follow Eddz on Facebook, Twitter, Bandcamp and Instagram.
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lastfrontierh · 2 years
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Heli-skiing Season Begins In Rize With 19 International Thrillseekers Türkiye News
Is one of the final locations for family trips,” says Dan Sherman, CMO of Ski.com. The learning space is positioned at the prime of the gondola, which is able to characteristic a brand new mountain coaster in December. While many of the runs are groomed nightly, a handful are also groomed mid-day for a pleasurable skiing and riding experience. In addition, 95% of Snowmass’ accommodations are ski-in, ski-out, that means it’s simpler to get the kids on the slopes within the morning, house for lunch, and all without schlepping gear backwards and forwards.
You’ve come to the proper place if you’re new to heli-skiing or just interested in what type of substances is good for this thrilling sport. First, the thicker the pores and skin, the more probably it'll stay on the snow. Intermediates, save your money and guide some ski lessons inbounds to get you to the place where you presumably can actually recognize the experience . No one is conscious of the San Juan backcountry better than a Telluride Helitrax guide. We have countless drop-off areas to meet the wants of a wide range of talents and skiing preferences.
Try your hand at bobsled, skeleton, or luge, or maintain it extra relaxed with some snowshoeing or après-ski. For greater than six decades, McAdenville has remodeled into "Christmas Town U.S.A" for the vacations, with decorations, lights, and celebrations all through town. Their well-known Yule Log ceremony in mid-December features a parade, singing, and a visit from Santa.
According to the National Ski Areas Association, 37 U.S. states have working ski areas with a complete 470 nationwide as of 2020. The Sawkill Family Ski Center might be the smallest ski area on the earth, with solely 70 vertical toes. From alpine to cross-country and backcountry to freestyle, listed under are all the most important forms of skiing you'll have to learn about. ” In addition to the restaurant and music scene, Aspen boasts world-class après-ski options on-mountain and in-town. From the Veuve Clicquot fueled champagne showers that occur daily, on-mountain on the Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro to the sun-basking and dance parties on the Ajax Tavern, lively joints abound.
The following year he left to take a job in Alaska the place eventually he worked as a ski instructor at Alyeska Ski Area. Sandahl later returned to Alta, Utah and was employed because Heliskiing the US Forest Service Snow Ranger in 1964. The helicopter has been known as “the God Machine,” for its capacity to fly, hover and land on almost any type of terrain.
Using a logging camp as a base, he attracted solely eight curious clients that first season. Fast-forward about fifty years and heli-skiing is now a worldwide business; operators are present in over a dozen nations, together with the united states, Nepal, Iceland, and New Zealand. “Or simply be actually tired,” Stu added, figuring out that I’d be utilizing muscular tissues I didn’t even know I needed to negotiate the deep powder. I’m a pro skier, freeride world champion and mental energy coach.
Parking reservations are required for weekends and holidays at Alta. Nampa, a suburb of Boise, is famend for its residents' Christmas gentle displays. It's not necessarily an organized event—the residents merely really feel the festive spirit. There are, nonetheless, organized tours hosted by the city Heliskiing that take visitors to the most impressive displays. Yes, the Pennsylvanian metropolis of Bethlehem is recognized as after the biblical one, so it ought to come as little surprise that they call themselves the Christmas City!
Its fortunate for us that goats merely don't like the same terrain that we use for heliskiing. It's essential that you accurately assess your capacity and ability stage being making an Heliskiing attempt heliskiing. Because of the risk of avalanche, heliskiers should carry transceivers to use in case of emergency. A transceiver will broadcast the placement of a lost skier to look and rescue crews.
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rayofsunas · 3 years
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otherworldly! s/o
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A/n: happy monday! I woke up at 7am and since then I've been grinding out assignments/classes and now this, so I actually feel productive even though I've been staring at my computer for a while. but thank you for requesting anon! I enjoyed writing this and I hope you enjoy reading it! <33 also to understand this more, I'd like to point out that this connects to the speculation Genshin and Honkai are alternate universes of one another. so for example, Scaramouche is a harbinger from his time, but he may have been a warlord in a different, with a completely different name (keeping his appearance ofc) hope that makes sense. so if you've paid attention to what I've been saying about Scara and his mini-series, etc. you'll understand what I mean in Scara's lol. his reader insert is fem for the same reason as above btw!
Summary: otherworldly! s/o who arrived as a fallen meteor, that can bring back plants to life/heal deep wounds/scars and resurrect people.
Parings: Albedo/Gn! Reader, Xiao/Gn! Reader, Scaramouche/Fem! Reader
Warnings: swearing, fluff, alternate realities/time traveler au! (reader is not the traveler), death/resurrection
Word count: 1.7k
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Albedo
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you don't have a vision like some people in Teyvat, because you're not from there; you're from a whole different world itself. instead, you have healing abilities that allow you to any energy you absorb in the form of food/sunlight, and you can use that energy to heal others. though, the healing can only go as far as healing minor injuries such as shallow cuts, scratches, or smoothing out scars. the same can work if you were to heal yourself.
Albedo is so intrigued when he finds you passed out in the pit of a meteor, half of your body hanging out while the other is awkwardly still in it
one, because who is this stranger in a meteor for crying out loud
and two, he notices your wounds on your arms are healing by themselves, slowly though
as someone who studies alchemy, life forms, and such, he's very intrigued that you're able to heal yourself without medicine, and he wonders if you can do the same to others
so he takes you to his lab, and runs a few tests
yes, you're still passed out when this happens, but he's just so curious and couldn't hold back
don't worry though, he's just drawing some blood and testing to see what you can do, because who knows, you may not even speak his language and won't be able to communicate with him (doesn't make a difference Albedo, you need COnSENT-)
so, just for science, he cuts the palm of his hand a little and decides to see if you can heal him
it doesn't take him long to notice the way the tips of your fingers are glowing a light greenish-yellow, so he immediately assumes that's the source of your powers and places a finger on his palm
it takes a second before anything happens, but eventually his cut starts to slowly close
once again he's even more shocked and intrigued
you have the natural ability and he's never come across someone with so much raw strength being able to do that
so you're right up his alley
when you wake up you're confused as hell (obviously) but thankfully, you can speak his language and are able to share your story
Albedo decides to make a deal with you
he'll help you get home if you can educate him more about your ability and your homeland. you agree
it works out perfectly, because you both have something the other needs/can do for the other (you have your power that he's interested in, and he's found a way for you to return home)
it's also easy to work together because of those same common interests, and it helps that he studies alchemy cause he's way more knowledgeable about you and the process can go a tiny bit quicker for you if you wish to return home sooner
at first you're merely friends, co-workers if you wish
but then he starts falling for you and vice versa
you both genuinely enjoy each others company, so you decide to stay in Teyvat a little while longer, even after he finds a way for you to go home
I wouldn't put it past Albedo to want to return to your world if you allow it
he'd be interested in this new or not so new world ;)
Xiao
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you're like the traveler in a sense, where as soon as you climbed out of the meteor, you felt this connection to Teyvat and your vision randomly appeared. you have a dendro vision, something you learned was a rarity within liyue and mondstadt. along with that vision, you had the previous ability to grow/heal plants. you can bring back dead plants, though if they've been dead for a very long time, that's beyond your ability. they also can't be brought back if they've been badly burned.
Xiao may not be interested at first about what vision you have or even where you came from + why the hell you climbed out of a meteor
he's more interested in getting you home so you can stop asking questions about his own abilities/vision and odd, unfamiliar, but beautiful world
but boy when he catches you bringing back a wilted Glaze Lily?!? shook
he secretly thinks you're so cool and it piques his interest
he's never seen anyone do this before, and though his eyes were deceiving him when he first saw the lily spring to life again
but then when he catches you healing more plants, on your way to Liyue to hopefully find Zhongli for answers, he's so interested
he doesn't ask a crapload of questions, BUT he's going to ask at least one or two
"how're you doing that?"
"what are you?
the questions are kind of vague and require more in-depth explanations than he'd originally hoped, but he's surprisingly willing to listen to your story on the way to the harbor
after he learns your story and calls for Zhongli, he'll immediately leave and claim he has no further interests in you
but he's obviously lying
he finds as he's sitting on top of one the smaller mountains one night, looking down at the glowing Liyue town, he has more questions
way more questions
surprising Zhongli, Xiao shows appears when he's showing you around and getting you accustomed to the people/culture
he finds himself hoving behind you, shyly almost, never asking questions (at least not in Zhongli's presence
his reason for standing behind you is to protect you from any harm, so that way, when he decides to ask you more questions, you'll be there for him to do so and not dead or lost
when you tell Zhongli you'd wish to stay in Teyvat, specifically Liyue, Xiao is happy ngl
he can ask you questions and now that you're somewhat used to Liyue, having been here for four months already and planning to stay forever, he can catch you alone and ask questions without Zhongli hovering or acting as your tour guide lol
slowly, and I mean sluggishly slow, he's going to ask you more questions and he may, emphasis on may, tell you his own story
Scaramouche
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you're from an alternate reality of Teyvat, a former doctor in your world. basically, Teyvat hundreds of years in the future. you've studied the human body to become a doctor obviously and you used to be able to bring back the dead using your bare hands. it didn't matter how far back ago they've died, as long as their full-body was still intact (full skeleton needed). though, the further back they died, the more energy you'd use, and if you run out of energy too soon, you couldn't bring them back. but now in this strange land, you can't. in exchange for your powers being lost, you're given an electro vision.
Scaramouche is tasked with finding out more about these odd meteors that keep appearing in various corners of Teyvat
and one very large one
he doesn't care who you are, what you are, what your excuse for being in Teyvat is, but he's been ordered to explore the fallen meteor and since you happened to be passed out inside it upon further exploration, you're part of the mystery he's been told to check out
and, it doesn't further help your situation that you landed in Snezhnaya, in the weirdest, not-so-warm clothing AND he finds you attractive (yes, you heard it here folks), plus you're going to catch hypothermia out here dressed like that
it would suck for a pretty girl such as yourself to be frozen to death
so Scaramouche decides to take you to the Tsaritsa, who leaves you in Scaramouche's care since he found you
she says he can do whatever he wants you, dispose of you, etc.
when you finally come too in an odd room on a couch in front of a fireplace, you're confused, cold as hell despite the flames, and when you see his face, you're immediately angered, which he finds odd
it's almost as if you recognize him... but he doesn't recognize you so he's confused as well
"what're you doing here?"
bold of you, he thinks. to question him with that tone as if you have authority here, over him
"watch yourself. I was going to ask you the same."
you don't seem too pleased with him though
"we agreed to never speak again, or so I thought..."
"are you stupid or are you just playing the stupid card to be released?" he'd say
though as soon as you burst and yell at him about a situation he's not familiar with, he's starting to understand a bit more
you're not from here, not anywhere in Teyvat at least, and by the way you're talking to him as if you know him, he assumed correctly that you're from an alternate reality, where he's also present
though despite his correct assumption, he demands answers and you cannot be allowed any kind of freedom until he gets them
you tell him your story and how in your world, a version of himself exists and that you were briefly married, though split because he was too much of a control/power freak for you and your daughter
he disagrees with the last part about him being a control/power freak ofc but
he decides he'll keep you around, against your wishes
one, because you can become useful if your resurrection abilities are awoken; you'd be able to save many fallen Fatui soldiers, with more training so you don't run out of energy ofc
and two, he doesn't think his other self would miss you very much if you're both on bad terms, he sure would miss such a pretty face if you were to leave though, that's for sure...
so, he's going to keep you around, so he can help train/get used to your electro vision. it works best that way since he has the same vision and can train you more efficiently (I think Scara has electro powers, just an assumption!)
he will also hopefully be able to awaken your resurrection abilities and if you can't, well then sorry you're disposable
overtime, all the Harbingers tease him about his little crush and he either denies it or strongly provokes it cause his ego is through his fucking hat
exhibit a. literally doesn't care that he's caught by childe staring at you train and will say something like, "and? you're just jealous she's not interested in you like she is me."
exhibit b. will throw a fit if someone accuses him and says he has, "no room for crushes or love." even if he was somewhat capable of it in your world...
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3.22.21, rayofsunas
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hispipsqueak · 3 years
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A Workplace Affair
Kei Tsukishima x F!Reader - NSFW
Summary: As the new tour guide at the Sendai Museum and presenter of their space exhibit, you have to work closely with the head of the dinosaur exhibit. Can you and Tsukishima learn to put aside your differences or are you going to have to work things out a different way?
Word Count: 3781
A/N: AHHHH. I put my soul into this piece I swear. As you know, Tsukishima is the absolute love of my life and I actually based this piece on this lovely commission from @/novaasoph on Instagram! I spent so long looking up dinosaur facts and the dress in the picture and story is actually a dress I own. Yes this is EXTREMELY self-indulgent, but I tried to make it as inclusive as possible because WE ALL NEED TO BE RAILED BY TSUKISHIMA IN A CLOSET OKAY?? As always likes and reblogs are hella appreciated 💕
TW: unprotected sex, enemies to lovers, slight public sex, oral sex (m receiving), workplace sex, my simping for Kei is v apparent
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Here you were, a fresh-faced college graduate. After years of grueling nights spent studying and pulling all nighters to reach your goals, you had finally landed the job of your dreams working for the Sendai museum. The museum had hired you for their new Space exhibit and you would be one of their lead tour guides. The man who hired you, your new boss technically, had been desperate. The museum was preparing for an onslaught of tours now that the space exhibit was open. As Mr. Hashimoto excitedly explained, “Kids love space and dinosaurs and we finally got them both! Now we just need a good tour guide!” Mr. Hashimoto was an older grandfatherly type man, with large glasses, and a bushy grey mustache. Immediately you felt comfortable and warm from his friendliness.
He led you through a short tour of the museum, finally stopping at the last and largest exhibit, a cheery green sign declaring it the “Dinosaur Zone!”. You were in awe over the large T.Rex skeleton in the center of the room. 
“It’s beautiful!” You excitedly turned to Mr. Hashimoto.
He smiled at you, his eyes crinkling. 
“It really is, isn’t it? One of our prized displays. And of course, here comes the man of the hour.” He gestured toward a tall man walking towards the two of you.
The man was tall, at least 6 feet. His hair was blonde with a slight curl near his ears. He wore black half-rim glasses and his eyes were a bright golden hue. You could tell through his suit he was toned and muscular. His white button up was fitted very well against his broad chest and you felt your body heat up. Whoever this man of the hour was, he was HOT.
And the hot guy was staring at you, clearly annoyed.
“Miss Y/N, this is Mr. Kei Tsukishima, the “Dino Man”, if you will. He used to run the tours on this end, and now works more on the exhibit handling. If you need to know anything about this area, he will be your go-to!” Mr. Hashimoto chuckled. 
You extended your hand happily and after a beat, Tsukishima shook your hand. His hand engulfed yours in size and you felt a shiver run down your spine.
“Since you are new here, Tsukishima will be assisting you on running the tours, at least in this area. You two will be spending a lot of time together, so I suggest getting to know each other well!” He clapped you both on the shoulder and walked away. You saw Tsukishima stiffen and you were slightly disappointed when he began heading back toward his office, leaving you alone.
“Um, Tsukishima!” You called out, your voice echoing in the empty room. The blonde turned back, an eyebrow raised. You waited for him to respond but when he was silent, you spoke again.
“Uh...I look forward to working with you!” You smiled. He stared at you blankly and gave the briefest nod, before turning back around and walking away.
Well...that was...terrible.
Feeling dejected, you headed back to grab your bag and head home. You heard a door close in the distance. What you didn’t see was Kei with his back pressed against it, face red with a blush.
---
“As you can see here, these guys were pretty ferocious. I mean look at how big they were!” You stretched your arms out exaggeratedly, earning a loud laugh from the children you were currently leading on a tour. A few of the kids also started stretching their arms, growling at each other and laughing. You smiled, before hearing Tsukishima clear his throat.
“Well...ferocious if you were a tree. That’s an Aralosaurus. They were herbivores. Meaning they only ate plants.” Tsukishima gave you a pointed look, the ghost of a smirk dancing on his lips. You could feel your face heat up and turned around to face the children.
“Either way, it’s a pretty scary guy, I think!” You said smiling at the kids. You were determined to not lose your cool in front of the group you were leading. 
“Actually, they were pretty docile creatures. They used this bulge to blow air out and scare predators away, but they weren’t a ‘scary guy’ as you so eloquently put it”. Tsukishima interjected.
You could feel your eyes about to roll back into your skull and you forced your smile to remain cheerful. 
“Thank you so much for the information, Mr. Tsukishima. Or as we call him around here, Dino Boy!” You gave a fake laugh, feeling satisfied at the little crease appearing between his eyebrows as he gritted his teeth. You directed the children to the interactive sandbox where they could dig for plastic fossils. As the kids excitedly grabbed their buckets and shovels, you took a much needed mental break. Your exhibit was last, as the kids needed to burn out their excitement before the planetarium show and the dino exhibit usually tuckered them out well enough.
Lost in thought, you didn’t hear Tsukishima walk toward you. He stopped right next to you, his shoulder practically touching yours.
“Dino boy, really? That’s what we are going with today?” he muttered as the two of you watched the kids dig in the sandbox. You smirked and turned to face him.
“At least I don’t spend all day correcting people.” 
“Well if you actually researched anything for your job instead of acting like a child, I wouldn’t have to correct you.” He looked at you with a withering stare. You felt yourself crumble inside. Tsukishima’s gaze could kill a man, but fuck if you weren’t going down without a fight.
The two of you held similar arguments every day. Whether it was an incorrect fact, going down the wrong “order” of displays, heck even the way you wore your badge, Tsukishima was there with a snide comment and you were sick of it.
“So I don’t know every little thing to know about dinosaurs. There are better ways to correct people you know!” You let out a short huff, before turning your head to walk back to the group. You could feel his gaze on you and you held your head high as you led the children to the space exhibit. As you began to talk about the galaxies, out of the corner of your eye you saw Tsukishima walk into the room and find a seat near the back.
Curious, as he usually didn’t interact with you outside of annoying corrections in the dinosaur exhibit. You chose to ignore him and kept talking, getting more excited as you explained the Milky Way galaxy and described the show you would put on for the tour group. You started the exhibit and sat down in your usual seat, which happened to be next to Tsukishima. 
As the lights dimmed and the stars began to display on the arched ceiling, you could feel how close you actually were to Tsukishima. Your arms were nearly touching and you became very aware of how your heartbeat began to race. You attempted to focus on the program, as the built in narrator discussed the difference between the planets. You turned to sneak a look at the man next to you and found him already looking back at you. Your breath caught in your throat. His expression was unreadable but he didn’t look angry. His honey colored eyes were fixated on you and you felt your body tremble.
Before you could process what any of this meant, the narration stopped and you jumped up. 
“As the video discussed, the planets fall into multiple categories! The cool thing about that is that even though we perceive them as something solid and perfectly round similar to basketballs, some of them are gas giants...”
You continued on, feeling only slightly disappointed as you watched Tsukishima sneak back out the door.
-----
“Are you kidding me, Tsukishima?” you shouted. You were standing in the break room, hands on your hips. He was standing in front of you a white mug in his hand, with his eyebrow raised.
“What are you even talking about?” He looked almost bored with the whole interaction as he poured coffee into his cup.
“Somehow all of my mugs are on the tallest shelf. The shelf only YOU can reach.” You glared at him.
He placed his mug down on the countertop and turned to you, lazily.
“Why on earth would I do that?” His eyes narrowed and a smirk crossed his face. 
You crossed your arms. 
“I don’t know, because you are just a giant bully?” Your eyes lowered and before he could react you grabbed his cup of coffee and stalked off. 
-----
“What is the matter with you?!” Tsukishima yelled from his office, his voice echoing in the empty exhibit hall. The next tour wasn’t for a couple of hours.
You gently placed the box of files you were carrying on the cart in front of you. 
“I’m sorry, I don’t follow?” You looked up at him with false innocence in your eyes. 
“Why are all my pens now pink sparkle gel pens???!” He shouted at you, a fluffy topped pink pen in his hand.
Your eyes widened in mock surprise. 
“Now Tsukki, why on Earth would I do that?” You turned to push the cart and ran right into Mr. Hashimoto, who cleared his throat, smiling at the two of you.
“Now I am always one for inter-office tomfoolery, but the two of you are going a little overboard. So unless morale improves around here, I may have to take drastic action.” He kept the smile on his face but there was a warning look in his eyes. You both gulped. 
“Sorry, Mr. Hashimoto. This will never happen again.” Tsukishima was the first to speak. You bowed your head in agreement and Hashimoto, satisfied with your responses, walked away. You turned to walk away back to your cart before Tsukishima grabbed you by the wrist, and dragged you into a tiny storage room.
“Look, I know you despise me but I am not going to lose my job to some little girl in a stupid dress.” He hissed at you.
You looked down at your dress. It was dark blue with galaxies and planets patterned all over, quite fitting for your job actually. 
“Shut up, dino boy. My dress isn’t stupid! And I am not going to lose my job to some mean schoolyard bully.” You raised your hand to flick his forehead, and he grabbed your wrist, pushing you against the wall.
“You need to learn some manners, little girl.” His voice dropped to a dangerously low whisper, and the two of you glared at each other. He was so close to you, his chest nearly touching yours and you felt your blush creep up as his brilliant eyes pierced into you.
You felt the heat pool between your legs and you squeezed your thighs together. The shadow of a smile passed over his face.
“Don’t tell me you’re turned on right now.” He said, letting out a soft mocking laugh. You gritted your teeth.
“Of course not, asshole. You’re the one who dragged me into a closet and are now pressing yourself against me, perv.” You spat back.
The sound of voices interrupted your argument and Tsukishima quickly clapped a hand over your mouth. The two of you being caught in this position regardless of the reason would be a terrible look for both of you. Your eyes widened and you held your breath until the voices outside the door faded away.
He slowly pulled his hand away and the two of you looked at each other. Before either of you could think, his lips were against yours, pressing you into the wall of the storage room.
His hand cupped your face as he deepened the kiss and you fell back, letting him take charge. He tasted like peppermint tea and citrus and you felt dizzy from the overwhelming sensations. You wrapped your arms around him, running your fingers through the curly hair behind his ears, gently tugging to pull him closer towards you. 
He let out a low groan into your mouth, and you nibbled on his lower lip. He had one hand tangled in your hair and the other was making its way down your body, pulling down the strap of your dress. His kisses moved lower, soft lips pressing down your neck. He sucked a mark into your skin, grazing his teeth over the spot before soothing it with his tongue. You closed your eyes, arching your back away from the wall.
“Fuck...you know how long I’ve wanted to do this?” He whispered into your skin, before kissing your collarbone. Your skin intoxicated him and he needed more of you in every way.
You breathed out a sigh, “Could have fooled me.”
He pressed his forehead to yours, gazing into your eyes.
“You’re annoying, childish, ridiculous, absolutely over-the-top stubborn. And fucking gorgeous. You don’t know shit about dinosaurs, and yet you can make dead stars seem like the most interesting thing in the universe. You captivate the room when you walk through the door and I’ve been in love with you since the day we met.”
This time it was you who kissed him, your tongues exploring each other's mouths. His hand slipped under your lab coat and tugged slightly on the zipper of your dress, waiting for confirmation. You moaned into his mouth and he dragged the zipper down slowly, his fingertips brushing your spine. You slid your hand to his chest, unbuttoning his shirt. You could feel the muscles and ran your fingers over his abs, chiseled from years of athleticism.
He shrugged off his jacket and loosened his tie, as you let your dress pool to the floor. His eyes roamed your body, wanting to claim every inch of it as his. You were ethereal and Tsukishima had the urge to worship all of you. 
You looked up at him, eyes shining brightly even in the dimly lit room.  He placed a finger under your chin, tilting your face up to his.
“Stunning.”
You giggled, and pressed a kiss to his neck, leaving a mark from your lipstick. He leaned back against the wall as you kissed down his chest, leaving a trail of cherry red over his porcelain skin. Soon you were on your knees, running your fingers over his soft happy trail before undoing his belt. Slowly, you slid down his slacks, noticing the dark stain of precum on his navy boxers. You pressed a kiss on each side of his abs, in the indentations of his V line. You ran your nails over the head of his erection, teasing him. He let out a soft hiss and you grinned. Perhaps another time, you would have spent all day teasing him, his whimpers like music to your ears.
But today, you were in a time crunch.
Using two fingers, you tugged down the elastic waistband of his boxers, freeing his cock.
It was beautiful, just like the man it belonged to. Long and slender, with the prettiest pink tip, dotted with a slick bead of precome. 
You gave kitten licks to the tip, savoring his taste. Tsukishima threw his head back biting his lip. He needed more of your mouth and you were oh so happy to please.
Taking his length in your mouth, you deepthroated him, pressing your nose to the base, and felt the soft curly blond hairs tickle your skin.
Tsukishima's eyes rolled back as you began to suck him down, your throat clenching around his cock. His hands gripped your hair almost painfully, though it only added to your excitement.
You bobbed on his cock, pulling it nearly all the way out of your warm mouth before forcing it back down your throat. Swirling your tongue around the head with each thrust. You looked up at him, your eyes brimming with tears.
"Fuck you look so beautiful wrapped around my cock like that. I just wanna ruin you, pretty girl."
He started face-fucking you, slowly at first but when he felt no resistance from you, he began to speed up. His fingers grasped your hair, forcing his cock deeper down your throat with each thrust. Your tears fell freely now and you could see red smears of your lipstick decorating his shaft.
You moaned around him, your face wet with spit and tears and you could only imagine how wrecked you looked. Tsukishima let out a string of curses under his breath, jerking his hips upward to meet your mouth.
"Shit, fuck, just like that, baby. Fuck yes just like that…fuck gonna cum, gonna cum…" His eyes were screwed shut and you could see the blush enveloping his face, small drops of sweat running down. You forced yourself to take him as deep as possible, gagging on his cock.
With a loud moan, Tsukishima exploded inside your mouth. You could feel the hot ropes of cum sliding down your throat and you whimpered as you swallowed all of him down. 
You finally released him from your lips, strings of saliva connecting you to his cock. He pulled you up, pressing a kiss to you. 
"Fuck that was incredible." He whispered, wiping the smeared mess off your face. You felt something poking your thigh and realized he was still hard.
He looked at you and chuckled.
"Yeah turns out being an athlete gives you stamina." he said teasingly before pushing you up against the wall. “Don’t tell me you think I’m done with you yet.”
His fingers slid down your body, roughly tugging down your bra. He buried his face in your chest, biting and sucking on your tits, grazing over the hardened buds with his teeth. While he busied his mouth, his hands continued down, circling the wetness on your panties.
“You want this, pretty girl? You this wet for me?”  he whispered, before easing a finger into your soaking hole. You threw your head back. His fingers were long and slender and hit the deepest parts of you. He began to roll his thumb over your clit softly, listening to your quiet moans. He pressed another finger inside you, fucking you on them in preparation for his cock. Your arousal dripped down his wrist and his mouth watered thinking of your taste. Soon, he wanted to bury himself between your thighs, making you cream on his tongue over and over. But that would have to wait.
“Fuck...Tsukishima...I need, I need your cock. Please, please, please.” you panted, almost like a prayer.
“Say my name, pretty girl. Tell me who’s cock you need. Do that for me baby.” He grinned, working a third finger into you.
“Fuck...Kei...please, please Kei. Fuck me. Need your cock, Kei.” You pleaded, your body ablaze with your imminent high.
“Such a good girl.” He smirked, before pulling his fingers out abruptly. You whined as you clenched around nothing, but not for long as he pressed his cock to your entrance.
“Look at me.” He demanded. You looked up at him. Your hair and makeup were ruined, your eyes lidded with desire. Your lips were puffy and parted, whimpers of his name falling from your lips like a mantra as you begged for him. You were so goddamn beautiful.
He gripped your thighs, spreading you open, and slammed himself inside you. You swore you could feel the walls behind you shake. He pistoned his cock in and out of you, each thrust hitting deeper spots. You felt like you were breaking in half and coming together at the same time. 
“Fuck Kei!!! Feels so fucking good.” You cried into his neck. You could taste the sweat on his skin as he gave all of himself to you.
“So tight, pretty girl. So fucking tight. God you’re so fucking perfect.” He panted into your hair, as he dug his fingertips into your plush thighs. 
Your eyes rolled back, stars dancing in your vision. Your cunt clamped down around him, squeezing around his cock tightly. His balls slapped against your ass as he buried himself deeper and deeper into you. You were rapidly approaching your climax, each thrust taking you higher and higher.
Kei bit down on your shoulder, his movements sloppier as he neared his own release. You could feel his body tense, his shoulder muscles flexing under your fingers. 
“Cum with me, please y/n. Please pretty girl, cum with me.” He groaned into your ear, and his voice sent you over the edge.
“Oh god, fuck….Kei!” You screamed, and he quickly swallowed your shouts with a kiss. You could feel his cock twitch inside you, unloading streams of cum as your pussy milked every last drop from him. Your combined juices coated the tops of your thighs and you held each other for dear life, both of you gasping for air.
Your legs threatened to give out underneath you and he held you closer, pressing soft kisses to your hair, whispering inaudible words of praise. Your body melted in his touch and the two of you stood there for what felt like hours, but must have only been minutes.
Your phone chimed from the pocket of your labcoat, drawing the both of you from your post-coital haze.
“Shit, tour in twenty minutes.” The two of you scrambled to get dressed and you checked your face in your phone camera.
“Fuck I can’t give a tour looking like this!” You panicked, wiping furiously at your face. Tsukishima laughed, before producing a box of tissues from a shelf behind you. 
“I’ll grab some water, though I must say it’s a damn shame since you look so beautifully fucked out.” He teased, before adjusting his tie and walking out. He returned quickly with a water bottle  and you attempted to make yourself somewhat presentable, to his sarcastic yet sweet commentary.
As the two of you prepared to leave the room, he glanced down at you. 
“So, dinner tonight?”
You grinned. 
“Sure Dino Boy.”
-------
Bonus:
The two of you left the room as nonchalantly as possible, though still a little disheveled from dressing in a dark closet. A booming voice rang out.
“There you two are! Your tour is just about to start, Y/N!” Mr. Hashimoto motioned for you to head to greet the group. As you walked away (and Kei attempted to not stare at your ass), Mr. Hashimoto turned to Kei.
“You know, Mr. Tsukishima. Red is quite a good look for you.” 
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127-mile · 3 years
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DANS LES CATACOMBES | IN THE CATACOMBS. the sign above the door was written in french. it read: ARRÊTE! C’EST ICI L’EMPIRE DE LA MORT. - paul aertker, brainwashed.
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PAIRING: Hanse x gender neutral reader.
GENRE: Established relationship, horror, angst.
WARNINGS: Mention of bones, drugs and alcohol, non-explicit mention of cults, blood and human sacrifices, mention of deaths, of the use of a ouija board and voices.
PLOT: You thought a walk in the catacombs would be a nice date, but how wrong you were.
WORD COUNT: 1.5k.
A/N: This is part of the Legends never die, the untold stories collab hosted by @nayuyeons. The tags are a lot scarier than the fic.
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“At the end of the 18th century, major health problems linked to the city’s cemeteries led to the decision to transfer their contents underground. The Parisian authorities chose an easily accessible site, then located outside the capital: the old quarries de la Tombe-Issoire, under the plain of Montrouge. The first evacuations took place from 1785 to 1787 and affected the most important cemetery in Paris, the Saints-Innocents.”
“The bones, previously left loose, are carefully organized in the walls, on the model of quarrymen’s hagues. On the front, the rows of shins alternate with those of skulls, while behind the facings pile up the remaining bones, often very fragmented by the consequences of their fall.”
“There are 6 million skeletons stored in the catacombs ossuary, which is about 3 times more than Parisians! The Municipal Ossuary of the Catacombs is one of the largest ossuaries in the world.” (i translated these parts from the catacombs website back from my doyoung catacombs fic, i just used them again)
You barely hear the guide's voice, far too busy trying to ignore Hanse's lips on the back of your neck, his hot breath against your skin, and his hands gripping your waist. Several times you have tried to push him away, but the lack of movement does nothing other than to prompt him to stay glued to your back.
"That's not what we're here for." you whisper as you step on his foot hard enough to make him wince.
"I'm bored, I already know everything he's telling us." he responds by letting his arms fall to his sides.
You know, he knows it, you were next to him on the plane when he was reading the catacombs website. But it is an obligatory passage before the special visit begins.
Because yes, it is not a visit like the others.
Normally, the Paris Catacombs tour happens during the day, when the sun is high in the sky, and only the accessible and secure parts are visited, but today is a special day.
The tour takes place at night, and what will be visited will be the caves where strange events are said to have happened.
"Do you think the rumors are true?" he asks in a low voice, he refuses to be heard by the guide, he prefers you answering him, rather than hearing the boring and slow voice of the man who has been doing this for far too long.
"Some people were traumatized by the caves, but they were also drunk and on drugs, so I don't know how much we can believe the rumors."
And the events happened more than fifteen years ago, so water has flowed under the bridges, and who knows if the rumors haven't changed over time.
He nods, and finally the guide starts moving so you take his hand in yours and you follow the group.
"Are we allowed to use professional equipment?" someone asks, and you hear the guide chuckle.
"I do not advise you to do it, the caves are very unstable, we do not want interference, or too strong waves to cause the caves to collapse on us. That would be sad, especially because you signed a waiver that   forbid you from suing us."
Always read the waiver before signing it, you think, looking around. The man stops in a first cave, and he clears his throat. You have the impression that a mere burst of voice could bring the place down. Everything echoes, even your breathing.
“Apparently in the 1980s a cult found a way to get to the catacombs to perform sacrifices. You would like me to tell you that these were animal sacrifices, but no. Authorities found remains of humans that have been drained of their blood right in the middle of this cave."
Looking over the shoulder of the person in front of you, you notice a dark stain on the floor, but it's not strong enough evidence to prove that it happened. It could be a wet stain, or some idiot spilling something on the ground years ago without the guide seeing it.
"Do you have something that has been proven? Because we are wasting our time."
Your eyes widen when you hear Hanse's voice. He really isn't the most patient person when it comes to a guided tour. You suddenly remember when you went through the most haunted museum in the United States, he practically pushed the guide aside to make the tour himself.
You don't blame him, you don't even get mad, it actually makes your heart beat a little faster.
"If you wanted to get to the good stuff immediately you should have entered illegally." the guide responds by continuing the tour.
About twenty minutes pass, the guide tells more stories as strange and impossible as the other. Hanse is getting more and more annoyed, you can feel it by the way he squeezes your hand every time he enters a new part of the catacombs.
"There are loads of haunted places in Paris, why did you choose the catacombs?" he mumbles, and you shrug your shoulders.
"Maybe because you've always wanted to visit them?"
"And here we are in the last cave. This one is dedicated to our impatient young man in the back of the line."
If Hanse had less restraint, he would certainly be insulting the guide, but instead he steps further into the cave. "Come on, surprise us with another made-up story."
"This one is not made up." he says in a firm voice, and Hanse throws his head back laughing. His laugh hits against the walls, and the echo makes you shiver in an unpleasant way.
"So you admit that the others are made up? What are you willing to do to make money." he answers, and you wonder if the guide will hit him when he clenches his fists.
"You gave me your money to hear these stories, so shut up and let the others enjoy."
"Come on baby, let him do his job." you whisper as you take his arm, your head resting against his shoulder.
“In the early 2000s, a bunch of teens decided to enter the catacombs illegally, and they got lost. Unfortunately, when they were found they were already dead. Since then, the people wandering too far away in the catacombs, or people who come to renovate say they hear voices."
Everyone is silent, even Hanse, which is strange.
"A video was found, a video that was never allowed to be shown to the public in an attempt to trace the identities of these people, but the police were allowed to watch it, and informations were leaked."
"In this video you can see the teens running, presumably being chased by someone. Or rather, by something."
Whether this story is true, or made up, your eyes widen, it's crazy.
"Some people can still hear the teens calling for help, screaming and crying because of the thing chasing them."
There is silence in the cave, and you look around, frowning. You don't know if it's because of the story, or some trick played by your mind, but it feels like you are hearing a claw all around you. As if someone was scratching one of the walls.
"Do you hear that?" you ask near Hanse's ear who nods his head.
“People, so called paranormal professionals came with a ouija board. And by wanting to talk to the teenagers, they called something more powerful, something even worse than what caused the teens' deaths."
Your blood freezes when you hear a sudden cry. The scream is so loud, and so close to your ear that you are sure if you turn around you will see someone behind you screaming their lungs out, but there is no one there. You do not feel any presence behind you, and even Hanse who is looking around, does not react.
"What was that?" you ask, panicked.
"One of the teenagers. They want to get out. They are tired of being locked up in the catacombs. And I understand them. It's hard to always be here, to have to listen to the cries of the grieving souls without being able to go out."
A new scream is heard, and this time, you have no choice but to put your hands against your ears to muffle the noise that could make you cry because of how loud and so full of pain it is.
"Stop it, make it stop, please!" someone exclaims.
If you are paralyzed, Hanse seems unable to stay still, he is ready to pounce on the guide who is scaring everyone. Who is scaring you, you, whose heart hasn't even raced in the most haunted places you've visited in the past three years.
"It's okay, we got it, you know how to tell stories, and you know how to scare us, now bring us back to the surface!" he growls, and the other tourists seem to agree with him.
Except that..
Except that when you turn in the direction of the guide, he is gone.
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tinydooms · 2 years
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Historical AU+Huddling for Warmth Rick/Evy
Lol, I got this exact same request from @belphegor1982. Let's see what I can do!
Luxor, Egypt, 1882
In this iteration of the story, Rick is still a French Foreign Legion veteran who has returned to Egypt and taken work as a professional dragoman (essentially, a tour guide) for rich tourists. Evie and Jonathan are still the mixed-race children of an English explorer and his Egyptian wife; Evie is still a librarian, as she is unable to formally attend university in England and become a professional Egyptologist. Egyptology is still, at this point, a burgeoning science and archaeology means treasure hunting even more than it did in the 1920s.
The Carnahans and O'Connell meet when Rick takes his tour group to the Egyptian Museum. Jonathan pulls his pop-the-mummy-out-of-its-sarcophagus trick and startles Rick so badly that he socks him in the jaw. They get to talking and Rick admits that he wanted to ask a professional about this thing that he found when he was out in the Western Desert with the Legion a few years back, so Jonathan takes him to see Evie.
Well, Evie identifies the cartouche as that of Seti I and the map as pertaining to Hamunaptra, and closely questions Rick about it. He tells her that he was there, which is obviously balderdash...right? But he seems perfectly serious and this is a map...
It takes a lot of persuasion to get Rick to agree to take them to Hamunaptra, and he only gives in because Evie explains just what a find could mean for her career. (Because damn this girl is beautiful, and her eyes just light up when she's excited, and in spite of himself, Rick wants to see her in action.) He agrees only to a short reconnaissance trip; they'll go and look around and come back, and then Evie and Jonathan can bring out a crew and really get to work.
So they set off upriver to Luxor to pick up a skeleton crew and head out, only events go exactly as the movie shows us: the Americans, Beni, Dr. Chamberlain, even the Medjai attack. The difference is that the attack comes one night out from Luxor, not the first night of the trip, and when the Carnahan Expedition goes overboard, they find themselves semi-stranded in a small village that wants nothing to do with these foreigners whose boat just sank. They find shelter in an empty house and Rick builds a small fire, but Evelyn was still wearing her dinner dress when he slung her over the rail into the Nile, and she's soaked and shivering. Rick ends up convincing her to undress to her underwear and put on his spare shirt, which was in his waterproof gun bag, and she sandwiches in between him and Jonathan.
It is a long, cold, wretched night, but it makes Evie aware of two things: one, that O'Connell is a gentleman (he doesn't ogle her in her combinations or make inappropriate comments) and two, that they really are on to something with this expedition. She can't help but feel excited as to what will happen when they reach the lost city.
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mlwritersguild · 3 years
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Miraculous Writer’s Guild October Event 2020
I Know What You Did in the Cat-acombs by Team Chat Noir: @veebeejeebies​ @noirshitsuji​ @maggies-scribblings​ @galahadwilder​
Prompt: Haunted House
Summary: “Two part-time superheroes get lost in the creepy catacombs, but spooky skeletons, rabid rats and akuma apparitions are the least of their problems.”
illustration by @maggies-scribblings​
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Marinette hated Akuma alerts during school with every single inch of her body... but if one had to come during school hours, she was grateful that it was during a field trip. Between helping Mme. Bustier with managing the class and trying not to trip over herself around Adrien, she was looking forward to the end of their museum visit, however it came to be. There was a slight catch about that — they weren’t visiting your regular, run of the mill, art or science museum… they were down in the Paris Catacombs. The screaming had been, at first, a nice, joking touch to the atmosphere in a “Ha ha, it’s Halloween, let’s scare the school children” kind of way, but the longer it went on, and the more realistic they started to sound, the more Marinette began to worry. At first she thought that it had come from the set of the horror movie they'd seen filming earlier, across the street from the entrance — it was only once the sirens began to go off that Marinette realized: that screaming wasn’t just for fun. 
“Everybody, please, proceed to the exit calmly,” the tour guide said, very much not calmly, which had the fortunate-for-Marinette result of making everybody run towards the exit. 
Step by step, she moved to the end of the group, making sure she was the last of the visitors, before running down the stairs back into the crypt. Ducking into a side hallway, she’d almost breathed a sigh of relief when she caught a pair of green eyes staring back at her in the gloom.
She shrieked as her heart exploded in her chest, pinwheeling backward, the heel of her foot catching on something—she wasn’t sure whether it was a stone or a bone, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to know—and pitching her to the ground.
“Marinette, are you alright?” asked the love of her–her very good friend–
“A— alright?” she answered after her heart slowed a little, “S-sure, I’m fine… Perfect, really… is it hot in here?”
Adrien tilted his head to the side questioningly, “I think the guide said it stays around… 14 degrees Celsius down here?”
Marinette swallowed, trying to think of ways to avoid touching his hand so that he couldn’t feel her racing pulse. Luckily for her (although she’d only come to think of it like that later), it was at this point that a rat skid past her and she jumped up straight on her own, screeching. Unluckily, she ended up grabbing onto Adrien’s leg for dear life.  She scrabbled at the denim fabric in her grip, trying desperately to get away get away get away from the rat.
“You, uh, scared of rats, Mari?” Adrien teased, indulgently leaning a bit so that she wouldn’t pull him to the ground.
It was very likely the combined mortification, stress, and fear (and, she would later reflect, his tone of voice) that prompted her to respond in a way she’d only ever talked to Chat. 
“O-of course not, silly,” she said as she got up and brushed the dust (ew, human bone dust, ew), “ I just… it startled me, that’s all!” She huffed, trying to ignore his barely restrained mirth and made as if to go towards the exit. She’d come back this way to transform, but she couldn’t very well go farther into the catacombs if Adrien was looking at her—not without arousing suspicion.
Her luck really seemed to be on point that day, though, because it was at this moment that a raven emerged from the tunnel ahead of them.
“Too scary, they said, too gory,” a terrifying voice reverberated within the walls, “I’ll show you how scary real life can be!” 
Despite her previous bravado, Marinette couldn’t help but flinch as the voice echoed around them chillingly. The rest of Paris may have started to view Akuma attacks as minor nuisances thanks to Ladybug always being on-hand to clean up… but Marinette was Ladybug: she didn’t have that luxury. 
Before doing anything as Ladybug, though, she needed to make sure Adrien was safe. Marinette turned around to find him frozen in place with a terrified look in his eyes, reminding her of his fear of confined spaces.  Before giving it a second thought she’d grabbed his hand and taken off farther into the catacombs and away from the raven.
“Where are we going?” she heard Adrien shout a full two minutes of running later.
"Somewhere you'll be safe," she replied without thinking, turning another corner at top speed.
Finding a place to hide in the dark was a true challenge, with the akuma’s disembodied voice surrounding them and the raven in unrelenting pursuit, throwing — were those feathers?
"Marinette, watch out!" He cried out, pushing her up against the wall as a feather whizzed past her face in a narrow miss.
She stood for a moment, frozen and shaken by both the impact on her body—and by the burning touch of Adrien’s skin on hers. It felt like her bones were vibrating.
“Are you okay?” he said, his criminally-soft eyes locked on hers. “Did it get you?”
It took Marinette a full five seconds to unscramble her brains and find her voice enough to answer—but by that time, the raven was already upon them.
“Look out!” she yelped, reaching for her yoyo–no, no, untransformed–but in her pocket–
Marinette threw her phone at the bird as hard as she could, hitting it square in the face. It screeched as it veered off course, hitting the wall on the opposite side of the narrow tunnel. She wasted no time in moving past Adrien, snatching the device back, grabbing his hand, and sprinting back down the tunnels again.
After a few more minutes of running, they stopped to catch their breath, and only then did she lift the screen to her face to see if it had been damaged.
She was horrified to see a sequence of grainy black and white footage — a bright white ring, a woman in a mirror combing her hair, finally a mossy well with someone climbing out of it. 
Adrien, who was looking over her shoulder, made her jump as he exclaimed in recognition. 
“Wait, I know that! It’s from that movie… Ringu?” Marinette shook her head, puzzled. “They made a remake, The Ring, but the Japanese is so much better—”
“No, I hate horror movies, I can’t even watch Scooby—” she was interrupted by a rusty old gate slamming closed behind them. “Wait, Adrien... what scares you… really scares you?”
He scratched his neck sheepishly for a moment, “Mmm… Not exactly anything that could hurt us here, I think..? Mostly I’m worried about getting you out of here safely.” If she hadn’t already been crouched against the wall, Marinette probably would have fainted at the sincerity in his voice. In a desperate attempt to change the subject, she shoved her phone into his hands.
“H-Here! You hold onto it for now. I can’t - I can’t stand spooky stuff like this and holding onto it will just be a distraction. We’ve got to focus up and get away from that stupid bird!” She stood and offered her hand to Adrien, the nervous fluttering of her heart at his touch mixed unpleasantly with the churning fear of her stomach.
“Um,” Adrien said, “if you can’t stand spooky stuff… you might want to close your eyes.”
That was, it turned out, exactly the wrong thing to say. In all the confusion and running, Marinette had managed to forget where, exactly, they were—it had just been a set of tunnels, a labyrinth to escape into. But with Adrien’s words, Marinette’s world shocked back into place as she looked past him, to the wall, and right into chillingly empty eye sockets, and remembered: the Paris Catacombs were full of bones.
Her fingers crushed down on Adrien’s wrist as her ice shot up her veins.
“Marinette,” he said, “Marinette, my wrist–”
She pulled her hand back to herself to cradle it against her chest, still unable to look away from the skull behind Adrien’s shoulder. She did, however, notice said shoulder rise and move towards her out of her periphery, and when a now-familiar embrace enveloped her, she didn’t jump back, but rather snaked her arms around it and held on for dear life.
He started whispering in her ear: “It’s alright, it can’t hurt you, I’m–” 
And just as she was about to relax, she felt something light run over her shoe and oh, oh no–
Adrien almost fell backwards when Marinette literally climbed up his body.
“Ew, ew, ew, get away from me, stupid rat,” she shouted, thoughtlessly grabbing at his shirt, his neck, his hair.
“It seems you are afraid of rodents, after all,” Adrien joked nervously, adjusting her position to a bridal hold so her feet wouldn’t touch the ground, “I’d never have guessed that, Mul—I mean, Marinette.”
“I’m not afraid of them, they’re just gross is all.” She could feel her pulse racing, and not just from the scare, but made no effort to get back down on the floor. “I actually love hamsters—Wait…” Marinette heard a gulping sound and looked around, but the rat was gone.  The chill that ran down her spine was for a very different reason this time.
“When?” Her voice came out harsh and shrill, so she cleared her throat and tried again. “When did I get up here? U-Um! Not! N-Not that I’m complaining!” She could feel his chuckle reverberate through his chest.
“You kind of helped yourself.” He gave her an apologetic smile, causing her to blush. “Are you sure you’re going to be okay?” 
“I… Sorry. I didn’t even realize I was doing that… Um. I should be okay… Probably… Do you still have the map the guide handed out at the beginning of the tour? Alya has my copy and it might at least give us an idea of where to go.”
“Oh, I… yeah,” Adrien said, patting his pockets. “I—I think I have it h-here...”
Marinette’s breath caught in her throat. “Adrien—you’re shaking,” she said.
Adrien froze, hand in his pocket. “I—I don’t—I don’t know what you’re talking about?” he said.
His eyes were shifting rapidly, though, as if looking for a door somewhere in the narrow tunnel–
Adrien, Marinette thought, whose room is at least three meters taller than a normal one, with an approximate surface area higher than that of most Parisian apartments. God, I’ve been a fool.
“Adrien,” she said, taking a step back to give him slightly more space. “Are you claustrophobic?”
He started shaking his head vigorously, but couldn’t seem to be able to steady his voice enough for a retort.
That was enough of an answer. Marinette recalled Adrien’s words back in the Louvre some time back. 
‘I hate to be locked up.’
Putting aside her own fears and inhibitions, she put on her bravest face and held him just like he had done for her before. 
“Look at me, Adrien,” she said, pulling away as soon as she felt his body relax, “we’re getting out of here, I promise.”
Even in the dim lighting, she could see Adrien's jaw working as he continued to try to calm himself. He gave her a nod and a tight smile, finally managing to free the map from his pocket with shaking hands. Clearing his throat, he said, "I… I think the last landmark I remember seeing was this Crypte du Sacellum… but that was a little while ago… So we're probably somewhere around here… maybe?" He gestured to a small loop in the map.
"You're right… I remember that, but I think we must've ducked down one of the service tunnels. We definitely weren't on such a straight path after that… Don't worry, we'll figure it out. If we can make it to any landmark on the map, we should be able to get out no problem." 
Adrien was grateful that Marinette was the one looking after the map, because the rising blood pressure in his ears and the shaking of his limbs made it hard to focus on anything else—aside from the nagging feeling that there should definitely have been more rats down here than they’d seen. As soon as he thought this, a loud (to his attuned ‘cat’ senses, anyway) crunch resounded from behind him, and he turned around to see Plagg munching on what looked like a tail.
Adrien stared at Plagg. The kwami stared back, indifferent, and slurped the tail all the way into his mouth.
“Adrien, why did you stop?” he heard Marinette call from behind him and turned to see a concerned expression on her face.
“I–I thought I heard something, s-sorry,” he said, gritting his teeth so as not to worry her with his still-trembling voice.
Great, now he was terrified and nauseous, and where was Ladybug? His stomach churned as he imagined Ladybug fighting whatever was out there alone. He trusted her strength and wits to handle any problem on her own, but felt the guilt and responsibility to just be there for her. Especially after what had happened in New York. 
He noticed he was hyperventilating and had to stop, breathe, holding Marinette again would be nice, but I need to get out, I need to see the sky and breathe and transform, and save Marinette, and help Ladybug, and… 
He jumped as a pale hand waved gently in front of his face. Suddenly, he found himself kneeling in the narrow passage, arms wrapped tightly around himself as though he were trying to keep himself from shaking apart. Marinette was clearly trying to get his attention but he couldn’t hear her over the pounding of his pulse in his ears.
Soft hands came up to cup his cheeks as she tilted his head up to look at her, “-kay if I hold you? Or would that be too much?” Her voice sounded far away and muffled, but still, he heard her; without another word he launched himself into her arms, knocking her off balance.
“I’m—I’m—I’m okay,” he gasped, not even sounding convincing to himself. He could feel the crushing weight of five stories of earth and rock pushing down over his head. He was stuck down here, stuck maybe miles away from his Lady with nothing but Marinette, an ancient and indescribable force of destruction in the shape of a ravenous black cat, and six million dead—and with every pulse of blood through his head, he could swear he saw another one of them move.
“You’re… definitely not,” Marinette said. Her palms pressed to his temples, firm yet gentle. “Hey. Breathe with me, okay?”
Adrien tried to anchor himself to Marinette’s hands and follow her through the deep breaths she was taking – inhale, hold, exhale, hold, inhale, – and his head was still spinning but he could feel his lungs open up ever so slightly, then a tingle, then–
–a sneeze.
He whipped his head around, arm raising automatically to swat the feather that had floated alarmingly close while Marinette had been helping him through his breakdown. The walls echoed with the akuma’s cries as he jumped to his feet, adrenaline adding itself to the dizzying concoction of hormones already muddling his brain, and started running. He didn’t even realize he had caught Marinette’s hand in his left one and dragged her with him until they were five corridors away. He stopped, abruptly, raising his right hand again to prevent himself from smacking into the wall–
–and saw nothing there.
The weight that was just starting to lift from his stomach came tumbling down tenfold, bringing him down on his knees.  
“My hand, my hand–oh God, my ring–”
Marinette stopped and gave him a perplexed look. To his surprise, she did not scream.
“What are you talking about? Is your hand hurt?”
“My hand is gone!” Adrien waved his maimed arm in front of her face. “And my ring—” Plagg was gone. Plagg was gone!
Marinette caught his wrist deftly and held it up between them. "Breathe, Adrien. I can see your hand and your ring! You're okay. We're going to be o-" He wrenched his arm from her in a panic. 
"Marinette! We're not! I’m not… If I can’t transform I- I need to get out to help her! Ladybug will never be able to find us down here! And my hand is gone! My ring is gone! Plagg is gone!” He clutched at his head, a few stray tears dripping down his nose. “I can’t do this…”
“Adrien, we’re gonna be—” Marinette stopped mid-sentence, froze, biting her lip. “Did you just say… Plagg?”
Adrien hugged his chest, trying to keep the chill out, rocking gently against the bones. Somewhere, in the back of his mind, he dimly remembered she’d recognize that name—she’d wielded Plagg as Multimouse, after all.
“It’s not–I–I–” the added panic of having betrayed Ladybug’s trust as regards their secret identities did not help his situation. Adrien cursed himself for being unable to deny the truth she already probably suspected. 
“Adrien,” he felt her hands on his shoulders, “Adrien, listen to me–Chaton–”
The world stopped spinning.
“Adrien, we need to–oh, to hell with it, Tikki, spots on!”
At the same time as a flash of pink light briefly illuminated his eerie surroundings, Adrien felt a weight lifted off his shoulders and a tiny paw under his chin to close his mouth. 
“Come on, kid, we have work to do,” Plagg said as he hovered in front of his eyes. 
“Bu-but— Ladybug? M-Marinette? Plagg!” Adrien gasped, hugging the kwami to his wet cheek.
Once again he felt Marinette— no, Ladybug’s steady hands on his shoulders, lifting him from the darkness he was spiraling into.
“It’s alright, Adrien. We’ll get out of here. The two of us against the world, remember?”
Adrien’s brain exploded as fire traced down his face with the brush of her gloved fingers. Ladybug—she was—she was Ladybug, Marinette was—Ladybug was—she was—
“Did—did you just—blow your identity,” Adrien gasped, his entire body burning, “because I was having a panic attack?”
Ladybug—no, Marinette’s—eyes sparkled with tears. “You’re my partner,” she said with a tiny, wavering smile. “What else could I do?”
Adrien nodded, gritting his teeth as he shakily stood up. Holding Plagg up in his left palm he met the tiny kwami’s mischievous gaze. “What’s the magic wo~ords?”
That got a small chuckle out of Adrien before he managed to say, “Plagg, claws out!” As the wave of magic rushed over him, he felt immensely reassured, Ladybug’s presence no small comfort either.
He grinned. “What’s the plan, My Lady?” he said.
Ladybug looked upward. “Well, the Akuma’s up there,” she said. She looked back down at him. “And we have about six stories of ground between him and us.” He could hear the smirk in his lady’s voice. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
Chat Noir wasn’t as good as Ladybug at battle tactics, but Adrien was definitely better than Marinette at physics, and luckily for both of them, not all of the walls in the corridor looked like they were essential to the support of the ceiling. “Of course.” He turned to see her smile and oh, I can see it now–
Chat forced himself to snap out of his reverie; that could come later. First, they had a job to do.
“Cataclysm!”
The terror that dominated Adrien just moments ago gave way to the cheerfulness of Chat Noir as he pulled Ladybug into his arms with a grin and a wink. “Hold tight, LB!” he said. “It’s gonna be a bumpy ride.”
He was surprised to notice her blushing profusely — she’d never done that when he touched her before, or at least not as Ladybug — but filed that information in for later.
With his left hand, he expanded his baton at full speed, his Cataclysm tearing up a tunnel to the surface, burying the catacombs behind them. 
The scene outside wasn't much better, with hundreds of black ravens darkening the sky, forming spirals and clouds like an amped-up flock of starlings. It was still better than being down there. He took a deep, relieved breath of fresh air and prepared for battle. 
People were running around, terrified. Some were frozen looking at their phone screens or shouting that limbs were missing just like they had earlier, but there were other manifestations. 
The film crew they’d seen before the school visit was the most affected. There was a young man holding two styrofoam cups of coffee, shouting he couldn’t go to sleep or he would die. The lead actress was lying on the ground, screaming as she looked in a mirror: “My face! It’s repulsive!” 
The man with a black beret, probably the director, was cowering away from another invisible threat, murmuring, “Yes master… anything you say, master. You are the boss, master…”
Some of their schoolmates were wandering around the battle zone; some walking slowly like zombies, others cackling like witches, some even biting into random necks.
“It’s horrible, A—Chat Noir!” Ladybug said, stumbling over his name. “We let this go on too long—we need to end this right now!”
He released her, placing her gently on the ground. “We’re on the clock, too,” he said, showing his ring as one pad blinked down.
“I am GorrorLord, and I will make you fear!” a booming voice reverberated across crossroads, as a man dressed like Edgar Allan Poe and drenched in what appeared to be fake blood and sausages appeared out of the mass of ravens, held aloft by the birds. “Ladybug and Chat Noir! I wondered when you’d show up!” He grinned a slasher smile, so Chat could see the red flecks on his teeth. “I assumed you were just too scared to face me.”
Chat’s eyes met Ladybug, and with a mutual nod—I’ll distract him, you’ve got this—he charged the Akuma. “GorrorLord?” he said, batting through the ravens as they screeched into his face. “What kind of name is that?”
“I am the Lord of Horror!” the Akuma crowed, gesturing with a packet of pages he held in his right hand. “But with Gore!” He slapped the packet with his empty palm. “They’ll never deny my vision again!”
Chat tilted his head as he smacked another bird into the ground. “Oh, GORE-or lord!” he said. “That is just… the worst pun.”
“Oh, and you could have done better?” the Akuma sneered, drifting closer to Chat.
That’s right, get in range, Chat thought. “Yeah,” he said, his voice growing quieter (enticing the Akuma to drift closer just to hear him). “With a getup like that, you could’ve been an Edgar Allan Pro!”
On the last syllable, he launched himself at the Akuma, who barely dodged away from Chat’s claws in time to avoid damage to his clothing.
Chat grinned as he hit the ground, holding up a claw full of scraps of red cravat. “Which of us is the Scaredy Cat again?”
“Insolent pest!” GorrorLord screamed, slamming a raven full-force into Chat’s chest and throwing him backward.
Chat landed deftly on all fours as cats do. “No, the pest is the other one,” he said. “You know, the small one? With the pigtails?” He looked down, checking to see what other body parts he was “missing” from this raven strike.
None, apparently. Maybe black cats were just “horror” enough? Or maybe Plagg was just that scary.
He took a moment to glance back at Ladybug, who was flitting from cover to cover, just outside of GorrorLord’s field of view. He flicked his eyes meaningfully toward the packet in his hands—the only thing he had that stood out.
Ladybug nodded, throwing her arm to the sky. “Lucky Charm!” 
He turned to see her looking confused as an old-timey director’s bullhorn fell into her hands, but in just a second, he watched her look around for a solution and turn her face into “I know exactly what to do” mode. 
An unwitting “I love her so much!” almost escaped his lips. Later. They would talk later. 
He was awakened from his momentary daydream by Ladybug’s amplified shout. “Cover your ears, Kitty!” she yelled. “All four of them!”
Chat grimaced and braced, his cat ears flattening as his palms covered his human ones.
Ladybug grinned and lifted the bullhorn to her lips. “AAAND CUT!” she screamed, her amplified voice filling the square and shaking his very ribs, knocking a few ravens backward away from her. “IT’S A WRAP! ”
The ravens screamed in distress and pain, dispersing in all directions. Their leader hit the ground hard, off-balance from both the loss of his mounts and the force of Ladybug’s voice—and in that moment, Ladybug whipped her yo-yo past him, wrapping it around his arms.
“Grab it!” she cried.
Chat nodded, dropping his head and charging at the Akuma, clotheslining him across the chin and tackling the now-defenseless GorrorLord to the ground. Before either of them had time to recover their breath, Chat yanked the bloody binder full of papers and sticky notes from the Akuma’s hand, holding it up for Ladybug to grab.
The title was clearly visible on the cover, in rugged, splattered type.
SCÉNARIO
————————————————
LES CORBEAUX DE LA MORT
————————————————
© GORDON RAMIER
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Ladybug snatched the folder from his hand and yanked on the alternating covers, tearing the book at the spine. In the blink of an eye, there was a white butterfly fluttering away in the breeze, and a wrinkled GorrorLord’s form dissolved into a confused looking man with a beaklike nose in a wrinkled suit - the manuscript for the film scattered around him. 
With a quick “Miraculous Ladybug!” everything around them was back to its normal state. The set was righted, all its denizens standing up as if waking from a dream, and the catacombs and the street above were fixed as well. Before Ladybug - Marinette!! - could hold out her fist for their usual “Bien joue,” he was wrapping her up in a crushing hug.
“We did it! Ma-My Lady, we did it!” He crowed triumphantly, swinging her around through the rush of his own euphoria.
“Woah woah! Chat, calm down!” She giggled. “Put me down!” Her face almost matched her suit but even then her voice was tinged with laughter. 
He buried his face in her neck, tickling her with his nose and causing her to shriek, then wobbled to a halt. When they stopped moving, though, he didn’t let go.
“Chat?” she said, voice uncertain.
He couldn’t help it; the sniffle came out audible.
“Adrien?” she whispered, sounding more worried than before.
“I just,” he stopped, then, taking a few deep breaths to try and calm his heart and his mind enough to process everything that had happened in the past hour (was it really just that much?), and she seemed to get it; she didn’t move, but squeezed him a bit tighter. “It’s...I’m so happy it’s you. You have no idea how happy I am it’s you.”
Another sniffle came out; this time, not his.
Chat could hear the police sirens in the distance too, though, as well as the distinct sound of Nadja Chamack’s helicopter, so as much as he wanted to stay in this strange embrace of happiness and exhaustion and–something more–
He raised his head from her shoulder and pulled back from her arms. Her eyes were slightly glassy. “We need to go,” she murmured, downcast. He simply nodded, extending his baton again as she stretched out her yo-yo; he didn’t know what would come out of his mouth if he tried for words. However much, it would still be too little; his thoughts – the two of them – were too tangled to make sense of in anything less than a few hundred thousand words on his own.
But as they detransformed a block away from the battle and the rest of their classmates, as Adrien saw the same eyes he’d been finding unwavering trust and dreams in for so long fill in with the sort of quiet adoration he remembered from his mother–
–Oh.
He dimly realized Marinette had raised her fist. He bumped it with his, metal pushing against his skin, eyes darting to the dark cabochons in her ears and back to her eyes.
“Well-played,” she murmured, her smile more genuine and soft than he could ever remember seeing it.
(He wasn’t alone anymore, was he?)
Adrien grinned and opened his hand to catch hers in it. She blinked at their interlocked fingers and flushed.
You and me against the world, huh, he thought, feeling dizzy from an impossible sort of happiness he couldn’t quite define. “Come on, they’ll be worried about us,” he said as he pulled Marinette in a run beside him. It seemed to catch her by surprise, but then she laughed and sped up and then he was the one being dragged behind. Adrien would have protested if he could stop chuckling.
I like these odds.
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Where the Ocean is the Sky Part Three: Bones
It felt nice to breathe fresh air again after being inside of Merle’s office. The small circular room had been homey, but it smelled distinctly of parchment paper, old wood, and peppermint, oddly enough. The light summer breeze filled her lungs and washed her clean of the previous moment. Andy had always loved bright days like this, the sun hanging lazily in the sky. She’d grown up in Marleybone, where daylight didn’t last long and the smog was swaddled around the closely knit buildings of the city like an unwelcome blanket. New possibilities seemed to twist up through the roots of the grass here, green stretching out across the worn down cobblestones. Andy liked it. The colors almost reminded her of Avery’s Court, although the large lake taking up the center of everything looked nowhere near as inviting as the crystal clear waters of Skull Island.
Ambrose was right about Nora hanging around. Her savior had taken up residence under the shade of a tree near the lakeside, shuffling through a deck of cards. Andy wondered how Nora could possibly sit on the lawn while wearing stark white pants, but she wouldn’t put it past the wizards to put anti dirt spells on their clothes or something. The redhead paused on the sidewalk, taking the opportunity to observe Nora before moving to speak to her. Nora’s thick dark hair was pulled over one of her tanned shoulders, allowing Andy to see the golden band that Nora wore around her right bicep. Andy couldn’t help but wonder if it was real gold. If it was, it’d certainly be worth a pretty penny.
Andy huffed at herself. She needed to focus. Steal one thing at a time. And maybe stop admiring Nora’s muscle tone. Yeah, she definitely needed to stop doing that one.
After taking a moment to compose herself, Andy made her move, boots scuffing against the pavement with a purposeful beat. Nora didn’t seem to notice her approach, too focused on the deck of cards that Andy had seen her playing with from across the way. Now that she was up close, Andy could see that it was some kind of spell deck. The majority of the cards had white edges, but there seemed to be a few hints of green and black mixed throughout it. She wondered what the different colors could mean. She’d have to find an opportunity to ask before she cut and ran.
“The old man said that you’d be skulking around out here.” Andy gave a broad smile as she drew attention to herself, hands that usually rested confidently on her sword and pistol folded across her chest.
Nora squinted up at her, hints of offense hidden in the way her eyebrows creased. “I’m not skulking.”
“Call it what you want-” she dropped down next to Nora unceremoniously, legs stretching out in front of her“-but you’re here and you’re the only person I know besides Ambrose.”
Nora frowned with sympathy at Andy’s comment, eyes drifting away from Andy’s face back to the spell cards in her hands, lost in thought. She shuffled a few more of the cards mindlessly, rings glinting in the sunlight. Those were definitely real gold. The shade complimented Nora’s warm skin tone and the set of rings served to make her look even more put together than her stylish clothes did. Andy hoped that jewelry wasn’t just a big thing with Nora, not with the entire wizard population because she had never been one for wearing her wealth on her body. It was like walking around screaming “rob me!” to the hungry dock kids looking to make a quick buck. Not that any dock kid with half a brain would try stealing from her now, but she hadn’t always been Ruthless Miranda West and the old habits didn’t disappear as she gained notoriety.
“You know anything about memory magic?” Andy asked, eager to move past the silence. Pulled from whatever thoughts were running around her head, Nora shook her head no, moving to put her spell deck away as Andy continued on. “Ambrose says that whoever stole my memories put them into some kind of mystical object and evidently I’m not getting them back without it.”
Nora looked back at her with those big brown eyes, leaning her face on one of her hands. “What’re you going to do?”
“He said that he would let me stay in the school dorms. It’s sort of a figure-it-out-as-we-go situation.” Andy shrugged, trying to feign nonchalance. At least she didn’t have to lie about that. She had no clue what her plan to steal the staff was, she definitely wasn’t wasting mental space trying to come up with a fake plan to get her fake lost memories back. “I picked out a name though! The old guy thought I might need one.”
“That’s great! I-uh, I’m Nora. By the way. Sunheart.” Andy’s mouth twitched up into a smirk at Nora’s awkwardness. She didn’t blame her for it. The girl was clearly having a strange day.
“Em,” Andy reached her arm toward her and Nora took it gingerly. Andy could just barely make out the lingering taste of oranges under her tongue as their hands touched, but it faded away the moment that they broke contact. “So, my afternoon looks kind of free, I don’t reckon you know any good tour guides with nothing to do, do you?”
“Oh! I could-” she cut herself off, hand running through her hair nervously. “Well, I have an appointment at three, but it won’t take long. If you’re willing to wait.”
Andy’s smirk broke into a grin at Nora’s offer. Her clunky speech and stiltedness was entirely endearing and so unlike what Andy had expected from her composed appearance. She’d seemed so put together when Andy was lying half dead on the sidewalk. Or maybe Andy was just remembering her that way. Ambrose did say that people are constantly rewriting their own memories.
“I don’t mind waiting around for a little while.” Nora smiled at Andy’s reassurance before pushing herself up to stand, wide leg pants still miraculously clean. She reached down to help Andy stand. Two for two on wizard folk trending toward being ridiculously polite. Andy swatted Nora’s hand away, standing up on her own. She didn’t want to get too used to the attitude of this place. It might’ve felt nice now, but new worlds always did. It never lasted. The spiral had been around for a long time. There were too many secrets now. Everyone had a body to bury. Even poor old Ambrose and sweet little Nora. It was better to keep it in mind now than to get mad at herself later when she started to dig up their skeletons.
Andy tried to cover her deep sigh with a shiver down her spine. Now wasn’t the time to get philosophical, she had an entire city to case. “Well, what’s first? Lead the way, captain.”
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Skeletons and their jobs
UNDERTALE: * Sans/Undertale Sans ‘ The Judge ‘ - Owns a hotdog stand and is a freelance scientist. Creates inventions and sells them for high prices, that’s why he has a lot of money. * Papyrus/Undertale Papyrus ‘ The Liar ‘ - Mascot of the monster kid, social media influencer, Instagram model. He’s a very popular person online, and brands pay him millions to advertise their products. * Gaster/Undertale Gaster ‘ The Forgotten Scientist ‘ - A scientist. He works for the royal family with a few other very talented scientists.
* Grillby/Undertale Grillby ‘The Bartender ‘ - A bar owner and bartender. Grillby owns a bar, and usually works at the counter, but he does most of his own management too.
* Toriel/Undertale Toriel 'The Caretaker' - Works as an elementary teacher. Loves children, and even if the pay isn’t high, she doesn’t plan on changing her job. * Asgore/Undertale Asgore 'The Previous King' - Flower shop owner. Sells the flowers that he himself raises, and sells tea blends he makes himself too on the side.
* Alphys/Undertale Alphys ' The anxious scientist ' - The royal scientist. She’s very talented at her job and always makes sure to help her coworkers with things so they achieve the best result. * Undyne/Undertale Undyne ' Captain of the royal guard ' - The head of the police force. Loves to help people, and has a powerful sense of justice. Loves training new recruits.
* Flowey/Undertale Flowey ' The soulless monster ' - Jobless. He doesn’t really work anywhere. He lives with Frisk.
* Bratty/Undertale Bratty ' The friendly crocodile ' - Works at the junkyard. Sells the good stuff that she finds at the junkyard on the side.
* Catty/undertale Catty ' The chatty cat ' - Works at the junkyard. Sells the good stuff she finds at the junkyard on the side, online.
* Lady/Snowdin shopkeeper ' the cheerful shopkeeper from snowdin ' - Small shop owner. Lady owns a small shop, but the shop has quite a variety of things and is always filled with expensive products, that cost much less than they are supposed to.
* Chara/Undertale Chara ' The vengeful ghost ' - Currently a university student. Is learning English as a major. Wants to become an English teacher.
* Asriel/Undertale Asriel ' The crybaby heir ' - A twitch streamer. Plays video games, talks with his fans, and in general, has become a very lovable streamer.
* Frisk/Undertale Frisk ' the monster ambassador ' - The ambassador for the monsters. Works to represent monster kid, and help people as much as possible, accept monsters in their communities.
* Mickey/Undertale Monster Kid ' The Undyne Fan ' - Currently finishing up his last year of high school. Still doesn’t know what he wants to do after he finishes school.
* Ginger/Undertale Burgerpants - An university student and a part-timer at a fast food joint. Is currently studying theater, and whenever he’s not at school, he’s working.
UNDERFELL: * Red/Underfell Sans ‘ The Sentry’  -  Works as a mechanic part-time, and studies full-time quantum physics. He enjoys mechanics more, but to help Sans, he’s studying quantum physics too.
* Boss/Underfell Papyrus ‘The Guard Captain’  -  A detective. Boss is in the police force and works in the homicide department. Loves to help people out and keep everything in its order.
* Aster/Underfell Gaster ‘ The Failed Scientist ‘ - A writer. After his career as a scientist failed, he discovered that he loved writing more than researching over and over again.
* Firefly/Underfell Grillby ‘ The Cold Flirt ‘ - Works as a bartender at Grillby’s bar. Is a bartender, but he also gets himself involved in the mafia, so, he has a part-time job a as human trafficker.
* Ursa/Underfell Toriel 'The Caretaker of the Catacombs' - Currently jobless. Her daughter pays for everything for Ursa, as she keeps going to therapy, group counseling, and trying to find hobbies to help herself.
* Tenor/Underfell Asgore ' The Tyrant' - An in and out of prison criminal. He makes his living by committing crime and has a very well known reputation around the criminals.
* Laguna/Underfell Alphys ' The mad scientist ' - The doctor of a mafia. Laguna can both help and experiment on people, which is much more than what she could do doing a clean job.
* Currant/Underfell Undyne ' The cruel captain ' - A police officer. Has been working in the police force for a long time, and loves to keep everyone safe, even if she sometimes overlooks crime.
* Dessy/Underfell Chara ' The demon who brought despair underground ' - A sex worker. Currently works as a stripper, and camming to get the money that she needs. While in her universe, she dabbled in prostitution but doesn’t do it anymore, as it’s illegal where she lives. Currently has been studying political science, and has a degree in psychology.
* Daffodil/Underfell Flowey ' The frightful flower ' - Doesn’t have a job. Lives with Dessy and helps out around the house whenever Dessy is out working.
* Fawn/Underfell Frisk ' The genocidal freak ' - Currently studying history in university. Doesn’t know what she wants to do with her degree.
* Penny/Underfell Monster Kid ' The moody teenager ' - Currently studying psychology in university. Wishes to become a physical therapist.
* Tuscan/Underfell Asriel ' The obsessive prince ' - Finishing up his last year in high school. Plans on studying political science at university after he graduates.
UNDERSWAP: * Lucky/Underswap Sans ‘ The Manipulator’  -  Works as a police officer. Hates his job, but it helps him keep the reputation of a good person, who cares for the people around him.
* Stretch/Underswap Papyrus ‘ The Puppet ‘   -  Currently studies at university. He’s graduating with his art major. He’s a very talented artist and has been freelancing for some time now.
* Dings/Underswap Gaster ‘ The RiverMan ‘ - Works at a library. He works at a library and uses that to get to know things about people, to use it against them.
* Peachy/Underswap Grillby 'The bubbling bakery owner' - A bakery owner. Works in a bakery, and makes most of his pastries himself.
* Pepper/Underswap Mutter ' The quiet Bartender' - Works as a bartender and cook at Grillby’s. She’s a talented cook but has a hard time connecting with clients. * Cinnamon/Underswap Chara ' The Two-Faced savior ' - Currently studying veterinary. Wishes to become a veterinarian when she finishes her degree.
* Tawny/Underswap Asriel ' The friendly town guide ' - Tour guide. He loves visiting places and telling other people about those places, so of course, his perfect job is as a tour guide.
* Buttercup/Underswap Frisk ' The lost princess ' - Jobless. She doesn’t have a physical body at this moment, and usually just follows Buttercup around.
SWAPFELL: * Razz/Swapfell Sans ‘ The Lord ‘ -  Police officer.
* Mutt/Swapfell Papyrus ‘ The Wild Dog’  - Computer technician.
* Ebony/Swapfell Toriel ' The unstable Queen' - Politician.
* Marigold/Swapfell Asgore ' The Unstable Caretaker' - Jobless. Currently goes to therapy and is being taken care of by his ex-wife.
* Pitch/Swapfell Chara ' The Cheerful ambassador ' - A photographer.
* Cobalt/Swapfell Asriel ' The quiet town guide ' - Tour Guide.
* Chartreuse/Swapfell Frisk ' The domineering prince ' - Currently studying in university political science.
* Peacock/Swapfell Monster Kid ' The prideful princess ' - Jobless, being taken care off by her mother.
FELLSWAP: * Blackberry/Fellswap Sans ‘ The WannaBe Guard ‘ - Police officer.
* Patch/Fellswap Papyrus ‘ The Loyal Pet ‘ - Grocery store stocker.
* Sunny/Fellswap Grillby ‘ The Poisonous Bakery Owner ‘ - Bakery owner.
* Mahogany/Fellswap Chara ' The temperamental fallen human ' - Works at a moving agency.
* Flaxen/Fellswap Asriel ' The bored town guide ' - Tour guide.
* Canary/Fellswap Frisk ' The good-hearted Lost Spirit ' - Jobless.
* Jade/Fellswap Monster Kid ' The frightful princess ' - Heiress.
FELLSWAP GOLD: *Merlot/Fellswap Gold Sans ' The bad wine expert wannabe ' - Blogger.
*Mochaccino/Fellswap Gold Papyrus ' The coffee addict ' - Grocery shop cashier.
HORRORTALE: * Hickory/Horrortale Sans ‘ The Butcher ‘ - Butcher.
* Tatters/Horrortale Papyrus ‘ The Cannibal ‘ - Grows his own vegetables and flowers and sells them.
* Vile/Horrortale Grillby 'The starving bartender' - Cook at Grillby’s bar. * Trigger/ Horrortale Undyne ' The Fallen Queen ' - In an out of jail. Jobless.
* Widow/Horrortale Muffet ' The Black Widow ' - Small bakery owner.
STORYSHIFT: * Toffee/Storyshift Chara ‘ The Guard ‘ - Retail worker.
* Plum/storyshift Asriel ‘ The Captain’s Son ‘ - Studying in the police academy.
* Pebble/Storyshift Frisk ' The one who will free them all ' - Studying philosophy in school. Part-time fast food worker.
* Moss/Storyshift Monster Kid ' The village boy ' - Studying English in university.
* Cantaloupe/Storyshift Papyrus - Owns an orphanage.
* Skyblue/Storyshift Sans ‘ The King ‘ - A Politician.
ASYLUMTALE: * Delta/Asylumtale Sans ‘ The Maniac ‘ - Jobless. Recovering.
* Daisy/Asylumtale Alphys 'The therapist' - Therapist.
OVERTALE: * Sam/Overtale Sans 'The Boy-Next-Door' - Hot dog stand owner.
* Audrey/Overtale Papyrus 'The eccentric mascot' - Amusment park mascot.
* Sapphire/Overtale Frisk ' The friendly goat monster ' - Nurse at a retirement home.
* Oliver/Overtale Monster Kid ' The curious neighborhood teenager ' - Finishing high school. Planning on studying medicine in university.
OUTERTALE: * Bumblebee/Outertale Flower ' The worrisome flower ' - jobless.
* Midnight/Outertale Sans ‘ The Star Fanatic ‘ - Astronomist.
*  Marrow/Outertale Papyrus ‘ The Earth Fanatic ‘ - Biologist.
DELTARUNE: * Kris/Deltarune Kris  - Finishing high school. Planning on studying history.
* Susie/Deltarune Susie  - Finishing high school. Planning on going to the police academy.
TRICKSTERTALE: * Sugarberry/Trickstertale Swap!Sans ' The eccentric Trickster ' - Party mascot.
OUTCODES: * Glitch/Error! Sans 'The destroyer' - Destroyer of universes.
* Palette/Ink! Sans 'The creator' - Stand in god of the multiverse.
* Night/Nightmare! Sans 'The bringer of nightmares' - Business man.
* Starry/Dream! Sans 'The bringer of gentle dreams' - Protector of universes.
* Sansy/Fresh! Sans 'The parasite' - Depending on his host. Jobless.
* Coral/Shattered Dream - Scientist.
* Iris/Fresh! Chara - Depending on her host. Scientist.
* Fern/Mafia!Dream  ' The Optimistic Detective ' - Detective
* Onyx/Mafia!Nightmare  ' The Pessimistic Detective ' - Detective
* Sangria/Mafia!Ink  ' The soulless detective ' - Detective
* Chiffon/Mafia!Error  ' The guilty Detective ' - Detective
* Berry/Strawberry Nightmare ' The positive nightmare ' - Leader of a gang
* Arctic/Snake!Dream!Sans ' The positive snake protector ' - Head of a snake pack.
* Anchor/Snake!Nightmare!Sans ' the negative snake guardian ' - Head of the snake pack
* Sky/Outcode Underswap Sans ' The last star sans ' - Ex protector of the universe, double agent.
* Raven/Killertale Sans - Lackey of a gang.
* Blueprints/Error! Underswap Sans - Lab rat.
BITTIES: * Tortilla/ Pup Bitty - Jobless.
* Denim/Sansy Bitty ' The lazy bitty ' - Jobless.
* Pistachio/Sansy Naga Bitty ' The peaceful snake bitty ' - Jobless.
* Jam/Edgy bitty - Jobless.
* Navy/Baby blue bitty - Jobless.
* Bruno/Punny bitty - Jobless.
ECHO SANSES: * Echo/Echotale Sans ‘ The PlayBoy’  - Host.
* Heather/Echofell Sans - underground caretaker.
* Juniper/Echoswap Sans - Tv personality.
ECHO PAPYRUSES: * Green/Echotale Papyrus ‘ The BookWorm’  - Museum worker.
DUST SANSES: * Solaris/Dusttale Sans ‘ The Murderer ‘ - Executer.
DUST PAPYRUSES: * Hound/Dustswapfell Papyrus 'The feeling addict' - Executer.
* Yammy/DustJar Papyrus - Hair dresser.
* Bronze/Disbelief Papyrus - Police officer.
* Sandstone/Dustbelief Papyrus - Executer.
* Squash/Dustswap Papyrus - Executer.
DUST ASRIELS: * Carob/Dustshift Asriel - Jobless.
HORROR GASTERS: * Rust/horrorfell Gaster 'The man who speaks in screams ' - Librarian.
* Carnal/Horrorswapfell Gaster ' The Pathetic RiverMan ' - Jobless. Recluse.
HORROR SANSES: * Teddy/Horrorfell Sans 'The dusting butcher' - Butcher.
* Cranberry/Horrorswap Sans 'The backstabbing maniac' - Shop assistant.  
* Bell/Horrorfellswap Sans 'The incompetent little helper' - Florist.
* Knight/Horrorswapfell Sans 'The Try hard protector' - Police officer.
* Garnet/Horrorfellswap gold sans - Factory worker.
HORROR PAPYRUSES: * Rottenberry/Horrorfell Papyrus ‘ The Mute ‘ - Jobless.
* Pine/Horrorswap Papyrus ' The creepy Con Artist ' - Con artist.
* Cedar/Horrorfellswap gold Papyrus - Mechanic
HORROR ASRIELS: * Umber/Horrorshift Asriel ' the broken down sentry ' - Carpenter
HORROR CHARAS: * Soot/Horrorshift Chara ' the protective Butcher ' - Butcher
LUST SANSES: * Spice/Underlust Sans ‘ The Lover ‘ - Stripper.
* Cotton/Lustswapfell Sans 'The Authoritative slut' - BDSM club worker.
* Candy/Lustfell Sans - prostitute
* Teal/Swaplust sans ' The innocent slut ' - Lap dancer.
LUST PAPYRUSES: * Sugar/Underlust Papyrus ‘ The Friend-With-Benefits ‘ - Cam boy.
* Lavender/Lustfellswap Papyrus 'The Affection seeker' - Massage parlour
* Marmalade/swaplust Papyrus - Escort.
LUST GRILLBYS: * Cerulean/Lustfell Grillby 'The flirty bartender' - Gentlemen's club owner.
ALTER SANSES: * Eros/Altertale Sans 'The gentle giant' - Author
* Nebula/Alterswap Sans 'The benevolent ruler' - Wine taster.
DANCE SANSES: *  Azure/Dancetale Sans 'The dancer' - Street dancer.
* Puffy/Danceswap Sans ‘ The Happy-Go-Lucky Dancer ‘ - Dance instructor.
DANCE PAPYRUSES: * Lyric/Danceswap Papyrus 'The jokester dance fanatic' - Dance instructor.
* Tangerine/Dancetale Papyrus  - Professional dancer.
OUTER SANSES: * Comet/Outerswap Sans 'The Curious human fanatic' - Jobless.
* Pluto/Outerfellswap Sans 'The strength fanatic' - Jobless.
* Perseus/Outerswapfell Sans ' The rule follower ' - Jobless.
* Cygnus/Outerfell Sans ' The eccentric dreamer ' - Astronomer
STORY CHARAS: * Cherry/Shiftfell Chara ‘ The Pet ‘ - Baker
* Majesty/Shiftfellswap Chara ‘ The Captain Of Pride ‘ - Architect
* Caramel/Storyswap Chara ' The friendly sentry-to-be ' - Police officer
STORY ASRIELS: * Brash/Storyswapfell Asriel 'The absent minded sentry' - Bricklayer
* Ivory/Storyswap Asriel ' The laid-back sentry ' - Bus driver
STORY PAPYRUSES: * Bloodbath/Shiftfell Papyrus ‘ The Catacombs Caretaker ‘ - Prison warden.
MAFIA SANSES: * Riffle/Mafiatale Sans ‘ The Mobster ‘ - Part of the mafia.
* Riggs/Mafiafell Sans 'The failing underling' - Part of the mafia.
* Slate/Mafiaswap Sans ‘ The Two-Faced ‘ - Part of the mafia.
* Mal/Mafiafellswap Sans ‘ The Malevolent Boss ‘ - Part of the mafia.
* Casanova/Mafiaswapfell Sans ' The Angry Boss ' - Part of the mafia.
* Grim/Mafiahorror Sans ' The Devoted follower ' - Part of the mafia.
MAFIA PAPYRUSES: * Rose/Mafiatale Papyrus ‘The Right Hand ‘ - Part of the mafia.
* Whip/Mafiafell Papyrus ‘ The Boss ‘ - Part of the mafia.
* Slim/Mafiaswap Papyrus 'The blind follower' - Part of the mafia.
* Rus/Mafiaswapfell Papyrus ‘The Jack-Of-All-Trades ‘ - Part of the mafia.
* Slim/Mafiaswap Papyrus 'The blind follower' - Part of the mafia.  
* Toots/Mafiafellswap Papyrus ' The kind follower ' - Part of the mafia.
* Dreary/Mafiahorror Papyrus ' The cowardly follower ' - Part of the mafia.
MAFIA GASTERS: * Syrup/Mafiafellswap Gaster ‘The Spy ‘ - double agent.
* Chompers/Mafiahorror Gaster ‘The deceased Don’ - Mafia member.
* Admiral/Mafiafell Gaster ' The brutal Don ' - Leader of the Aster mafia.
* Basiliscus/Mafiatale Gaster ' The Collected Don' - Leader of the Tale mafia.
* Apricot/Mafiaswap Gaster  ' The cheerful informant ' - Informat for the mafia.
* Sable/Mafiaswapfell Gaster ' The strict Don ' - Leader of the Fell mafia.
MAFIA CHARAS: * Dove/Mafiafell Chara  ' The Apathetic heir ' - Heir of the Dreemurr mafia.
* Sage/Mafiaswap Chara   ' The two-faced sweetheart ' - Double agent.
SLAVE SANSES: * Ardor/Slavetale Sans 'The catalyst' - Slave
* Roxxy/Slavefell Sans  'The lovable pervert' - Slave
* Ditzy/Slaveswap Sans  'The savant slave' - Slave
* Wisteria/Slaveswapfell Sans 'The perfectionist' - Slave
* Azalea/Slavefellswap Sans 'The housekeeper' - Slave
* Mortis/SlaveDust Sans 'The loose canon' - Slave
* Cassiopeia/SlaveOuter Sans 'The perfect prey' - Slave
* Jaws/Slavehorror Sans 'The starving slave' - Slave
SLAVE PAPYRUSES: * Viper/Slaveswap Papyrus 'The skeptical slave' - Slave
* Rogue/Slavefell Papyrus  'The reluctant slave' - Slave
* Pup/Slaveswapfell Papyrus 'The perfect puppy' - Slave
* Foxglove/Slavefellswap Papyrus 'The perfect lover' - Slave
OVER SANSES: * Frank/Overfell Sans 'The flirty mechanic' - Mechanic
* Tommy/Overswap Sans 'The friendly donut shop owner' - Donut shop owner
* Pierre/Overswapfell Sans 'The justice obsessed officer' - Police officer
* Theodore/Overfellswap Sans 'The temperamental nurse' - Nurse
* Flynn/Overhorror Sans 'The veteran' - Shopping wall cop
* Angelo/OverLust Sans 'The insane cat gentleman' - Cam boy
* Daniel/OverOuter Sans 'The passionate astronomer' - Astronomer
* Tony/OverMafia Sans 'The typical dark backstory ex-mafiose' - Italian restaurant owner
OVER PAPYRUSES: * Russel/Overswapfell Papyrus 'The child-loving kindergarden teacher' - Kindergarden teacher
* Tobias/Overfellswap Papyrus 'The helpless romantic' - Sculputer
* Whitley/OverLust Papryus 'The damsel in distress' - Exotic dancer
* Willow/OverMafia Papyrus 'The friendly rival' - family restaurant cook.
BEAST SANSES: * Spurce/Beasttale Sans ' The territorial Alpha ' - Alpha of the pack.
BEAST PAPYRUSES: * Shamrock/Beasttale Papyrus ' The Friendly Beta ' - Beta of the pack.
SNAKE SANSES: * Charcoal/Snaketale Sans ' The chubby snake ' - Jobless
* Leather/Snakeswapfell Sans ' The territorial snake ' - Jobless
* Grease/Snakefell Sans ' The aggressive snake ' - Jobless
* Aquila/Outersnake sans ' the dreamy snake ' - Jobless
* Walnut/Snakeswap Sans ' The cheerful snake' - Jobless
* Crow/Dustsnake Sans ' the homicidal snake ' - Jobless
* Lapis/Altersnake sans  - Jobless
SIREN SANSES: * Seafoam/Sirentale Sans ' The human-hating siren ' - Jobless
* Ocean/Sirenswap Sans ' The selfish siren ' - Jobless
* Seaweed/Sirenswapfell sans  - Jobless
REAPER SANSES: * Hades/Reapertale Sans - God of brutal death
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Text
Chapter 54: Angor Unleashed
Becoming the Mask
I did so much unnecessary research for casual bits of narration in this chapter. So much. So unnecessary. For example, I know a lot about tiger attacks now, and this story doesn't even have a tiger in it.
Bold italics are trollish, but I'm thinking of doing away with those and just noting the language used in the narrative. Let me know what you think!
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While interacting with humans in India, Walt elected to put on a more American-sounding accent. He was out of practice with it despite his station in Arcadia, but the sheer number of American tourists should keep him from standing out in anyone's memory.
He was part of a tour group in Ranthambore National Park. The Inferna Copula kept tugging at his senses. Angor Rot was somewhere in the park. From the other sensations that were echoed through the ring, Walt guessed he was in one of the ruins, which the tourists were allowed to photograph from a distance but not permitted to explore.
The tour group left the park for the city of Sawai Madhopur, where Walt parted ways with them. He napped for a few hours, and then he left his hotel room, shifted forms, and flew back to the park. It was just over eight miles back to Ranthambore's borders. He had to stop and rest once he arrived.
He'd packed lightly. His satchel had two water bottles and some troll-friendly foods, which wouldn't spoil. His money and passport were pocketed on his other form. He'd paid for his hotel room up front, so, if the staff even noticed he wasn't there the next day, they would assume he'd left early for the next tourist destination.
Ranthambore was a mix of scrubland, rocky areas, water, and dense forest. Considering Angor Rot had been here for centuries without the humans finding him, he was most likely in one of the forested areas.
With the size of the park and the inhospitality of the terrain, it could take months to search without the Inferna Copula to guide him. Walt felt a bit stupid, though, playing hot-and-cold with a magic ring. He wondered if Jim ever felt this way when trying to puzzle out what the Amulet wanted.
As he expected, the ring led him into a forest, where he landed and continued on foot.
He kept an ear out for humans – if they got close enough to hear them, he ought to shift forms, so that if he were caught, he could play the lost tourist – but for the moment he stayed in troll form. Part of the park was a tiger reserve, and they were ambush predators, so if one struck while he was human shaped, he likely wouldn't have time to shift and save himself. Stone wouldn't smell like food to them.
Tigers were also nocturnal, so that risk was substantially lower now in the daytime, and healthy tigers rarely chose to hunt humans in any case, but Walt hadn't lived as many centuries as he had by taking chances with the risk of getting eaten.
He made his way to a stone building that had possibly once been a temple. There were skulls, both troll and human, around one side of the sagging brickwork steps. The troll skulls had oversized nasal openings that looked almost like an extra eye socket, and broken off stubs that had been horns. The steps inside seemed in better shape, and rotated out of sight.
The stairs led down into a chamber at approximately a right angle to the entrance. Properly inside, the architecture looked much more trollish. Trolls seemed to love working heads into as many design elements as possible. There were grotesques high on the walls shaped like troll busts, snarling faces with forward-swept horns and clawed hands holding onto their plinths, with chains drooling out of their mouth and leading to a pile of rubble on the floor.
Actually, when Walt squinted, those busts looked unsettlingly like Gunmar …
A twisted staff was propped up beside the stones in a pile of human skulls. The Skathe-Hrün, the Pale Lady's favoured channel for shadow magic, gifted to her Champion. More skulls were scattered about the room.
Why were there so many human skulls? There weren't any other scattered bones in the room. Where was the rest of each skeleton? If they'd been eaten by trolls, it was unlikely for the skulls to be left behind. Had they been set up to try and scare humans away from accidentally freeing the assassin?
Walt took the staff and began using the forked head to lever the heavy stone bricks off the captured troll. Angor Rot's tense position might be what was keeping him from being crushed; if the chains went slack while he was still under all this weight, the shift could cause the stones to fall and do more serious damage.
When he was half-unburied, Angor Rot breathed. Walt jumped and nearly went for a knife. The chained troll tried to move, but couldn't. He had a deep, but rasping growl. Was that his natural voice or a distortion from centuries of thirst?
There was another carving shaped like a troll head on the wall which was low enough to easily reach. This one had a crest of straight, radiating horns, and a lever in its mouth. Walt set the staff down, stepped away from Angor Rot, took a deep, fortifying breath of his own, and pulled the lever.
There was a rattling sound as the chains went slack.
Angor Rot stayed on the ground for a moment. The stones shuddered from his breathing. Halting, wavering, he pushed himself to his feet. The remaining bricks on his back clunked to the ground.
"Who has awakened me?"
"I have." Walt watched the pale troll snap the manacles that had bound his arms and legs. "Angor Rot …"
"You know my name. A shame I will never know yours."
Angor Rot picked up the staff and charged with a roar. Walt threw a knife, which Angor Rot batted away in mid-air, and raised a second knife to block the strike. Golden light flashed. Angor Rot stopped mid-blow, trying and failing to push his weapon down further. It was like watching magnetic repulsion.
"My ring!" he snarled. "My flesh!"
"I had hoped we could speak like civilized trolls," said Walt, "but thought it would be prudent to have some … insurance against attack."
Angor Rot stood down, scowling. Walt saw his eye twitch.
"I'd like to make a deal with you," the Changeling continued. "I understand you once fought against Gunmar."
Angor Rot said nothing, but from the way his grip on the Skathe-Hrün twitched, Walt has surprised him.
"I'm part of group who recognize Gunmar's escape from the Darklands – or, indeed, his continued survival – would not be in our best interests. Your prowess on the battlefield is nearly unmatched. In exchange for your agreement not to attack the current Trollhunter," he raised his hand to show the ring, "I return this to your possession. If you're willing to help us further – some bodyguard work, some magical assistance – we're a resourceful lot. We'll put those resources at your disposal to find a way to restore your soul to your body."
Angor Rot's eyes narrowed.
"You don't need to decide now." Walt got a water bottle out of his satchel and took a drink, then put it on a nearby stone ledge. "Have a drink." He pulled out the most perishable of the food he was carrying, dried meat, and left most of it on the ledge as well. "Think it over on a full stomach." He bit into the piece he'd kept for himself.
It took a moment for Angor Rot to reach out, but once he got started, he ate quickly. His hands shook and he seemed to be forcing himself to pause and chew, to take sips of water instead of guzzling it down. Survival training, Walt guessed; it wasn't safe to eat too much after a period of starvation.
"Who are you?" the pale troll finally asked.
"Waltolomew Stricklander. Strickler for short. My friends call me Walt."
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That was … a suspiciously human-sounding name.
Angor's golden eyes flicked to the holes in the roof, and the sunlight peeking in.
"Changeling," he growled in realization. "You expect me to believe one of your kind would turn against Gunmar?"
"Several of my kind have turned against Gunmar," said the Changeling icily. "Once another option became available."
"An alliance with the Trollhunter?" Angor guessed, based on the Changeling's earlier proposed terms of alliance. "And if the current Trollhunter does get rid of Gunmar for you, how can they trust you not to turn on them right after?"
"There would be no benefit in that. The rest of trollkind will hardly welcome us back with open arms just because we realized Gunmar is selfish and short-sighted. We need the Trollhunter's status to give us a proper opening."
"Why would the Trollhunter help you?" Angor could see one striking a deal for information, as a one-time arrangement, but not a sustained alliance.
"Let's just say he has a … personal investment."
Oh. That math wasn't difficult to add up. Angor couldn't help but snort.
"Your lover?"
The Changeling started sputtering. Angor almost chuckled. The idea sounded like something out of those melodramatic tragic sagas his cousin had loved.
"Don't be disgusting," said the Changeling. Angor not-so-idly considered testing whether a thrown knife would still be repelled by the ring's barrier. "Jim's like a son to me."
Angor had been largely cut off from his emotions since having his soul torn out, other than brief flashes of anger or amusement or disgust.
That claim … hit Angor oddly. It made him feel something. He didn't know what it made him feel but he did not like it.
Well, no wonder the Changeling – Stricklander – was desperate enough to barter with Angor Rot, of all trolls.
Trollhunters, particularly Trollhunters Angor Rot had been sent after, had notoriously short lifespans compared to the average troll.
"… You have my word, that if you return my ring, I will not attack your Trollhunter." The Changeling held his soul, what else could Angor say? If there was the slightest chance that he could truly get it back –
"Excellent."
Unexpectedly, the Changeling took off the Inferna Copula right away and set it down on the same ledge he'd been putting food and water, then took a step back, clearly inviting Angor to take it.
"You would surrender your leverage so easily?"
"I believe in opening negotiations from a position of strength," said Stricklander. "However, I'm also aware of the risks inherent in lauding one's advantages over another. An ally attained through coercion is a betrayal waiting to happen."
There was probably a lot of history behind that reasoning. Changelings were supposed to be on Gunmar's side, after all, not the Trollhunter's. (Or at least, that had been the case when Angor was first trapped here.)
Angor didn't bother to press for details.
He picked up the ring. Unworn, it didn't repel him. He put it on.
His soul was not restored.
He could feel it – he could tell it was there – but it stayed stubbornly locked away. Angor growled and clenched his fist. The Changeling backed away.
It had been too much to hope that his soul would merge back with his body just from having the ring. Angor had suspected it wouldn't be that simple. It was still a bitter disappointment to be proven right.
But it was in his hands, now. For the first time in centuries, Angor Rot was under no one's command but his own.
Angor swung his staff at the Changeling. Stricklander blocked it with a knife and pulled another one from that ridiculous collar of his. Who kept their knives in a ring around their throat?
"Just testing," Angor rumbled. For all he'd known, the Changeling had the Inferna Copula elsewhere on his person and had given Angor back a decoy. The Changeling growled at him but didn't retaliate when Angor withdrew. "Now … explain your terms for a full alliance, instead of just mutual non-interference."
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Jim preferred to fight with knives, but axe training was as common as poison training at the Janus Order, since axes and sharp-bladed shovels had always been relatively common compared to swords, making them an easy weapon to hide in plain sight.
He had picked out an axe in the Hero's Forge that roughly matched Toby's – though not enough to think they'd been made for dual-wielding – and he and Toby were running drills with them while Claire and Mary sparred nearby. Darci's target practice was considerably further to the side, and facing away from the rest of them, to avoid accidents.
Blue fog wafted in.
"Hold!" called Blinky and Jim at the same time.
"But I'm winning," Mary complained.
"What's that fog?" asked Jim. "It looks like that stuff in the Void – should we get out of here?"
"Our souls are free …"
The fog went around them all. It condensed into little lights, still leaving tiny smoky trails behind them, seeming to explore the Forge.
"Floating lights – these are pixies!" cried Claire. "Cover your ears and nose!"
"We can return to our brethren …"
"Wait," said Toby. "I don't … think they've noticed us." He reached out to touch one. Jim grabbed his hand before he could. "I don't think they're hostile."
"Finally …"
"We can rest …"
"Our souls are free …"
The lights circled the patch of the floor for the Soothscryer, spinning faster and faster until it came up, and then getting sucked into its mouth.
Darci said what they were all thinking.
"What the heck was that?"
"I guess I should … follow them?" said Jim.
"I have no hypotheses at this time," said Blinky, "but I do concur with Tobias. These new spirits did not appear to be hostile. Go investigate."
The Void did not appear more populated when Jim first entered it. If anything, it seemed a little emptier, since none of the ghosts had assumed their shape from life.
"Hello?" he called.
"Jim!" Araknak's voice greeted him. "Sorry, we're all a bit distracted just now. Angor Rot's victims have been freed!"
"Who?" was Jim's well-considered and articulate way of expressing congratulations.
Kanjigar spoke up next. "Trollhunters who lost their lives and souls to Angor Rot. These souls have finally been released, and are now free to return to the Void."
"Who is Angor Rot?"
"He was a hero, once," said Araknak wistfully. "But he went questing for magic and power, and lost his soul in the process, and turned on the trolls he'd sworn to protect. He's hunted Trollhunters before –"
"And no one thought to warn me about him?"
"To consume their souls –"
"And no one thought to warn me about him?!"
"Probably to try and fill the void of losing his own; but he was trapped by his final victim and hasn't been seen for over three hundred years. I suppose he must have finally died."
"Why is there a human in the Void?" asked an unfamiliar voice.
"There isn't," said Araknak. "This is my great-great-grandson, Jim; he's the current Trollhunter."
"Just because you adopted the fleshling doesn't make him a troll," the new voice mocked.
"First, he was a troll before that. Second, by a certain use of the word 'troll', it actually does." To Jim, Araknak added, "You should probably step out while we explain things to the new arrivals." Araknak's wisp expanded into a full-sized ghost and gave Jim a gentle shove, which landed him back on the material plane.
"So what's going on?" Toby asked eagerly.
"Blinky," said Jim, "have you ever heard of a troll named 'Angor Rot'?"
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Previous Chapter (Claire and Not Enrique argue about his name)
Table of Contents
Next Chapter (The kids have a movie night)
Blinky canonically had to do some research to uncover who Angor Rot is, and we never do see him learning Angor Rot was anything but an ambitious troll who cursed himself by accident in a quest for power, so it doesn't make sense that in Season 3, Jim knew Angor used to be a hero. Here, at least, some of the Ghost Trollhunters remember it, and Jim has seen Angor’s name in a few history books he just doesn’t remember at the moment
I am not using the explanation for Angor's backstory presented in the spinoff novel Angor Reborn. In my version, Angor lost his soul before the Battle of Killahead, and was eventually imprisoned by one of the Trollhunters he was hunting, shortly before that Trollhunter died from the wounds Angor had inflicted during their fight. (This is outlined in The Epic Backstory, and yes, it will come up in the text of the story itself later.)
Angor's place of imprisonment being Ranthambore is trivia found in The Art Of Trollhunters.
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lostinfic · 3 years
Text
Christmas Eve (stuck) in the Lab
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Chapters 1-7/10ish
Summary: Dr. John Smith and Rose Tyler both work at the Natural History Museum in London, he as a scientist in the labs, and she as a salesgirl in the gift shop. They are only friends, but the upcoming staff Christmas party promises developments they’ve both been longing for. But John and Rose end up stuck with Martha, Donna and Jack in the laboratory, and shenanigans ensue: decontamination showers, cocktails in beakers, a game of truth-or-dare and a Secret Santa rigged by meddling friends.
Tags: mutual pining, friends to lovers, fluff with light angst, found family
Rating: Teen (for now)
@doctorroseprompts​
Many thanks to the lovely and generous @onthedriftinthetardis​ for the beta.
Ao3
❄ 
Prologue - May
Rose got off the bus in South Kensington and nearly ran into a passerby.
“Rose?”
“Shareen?” She barely recognized her old friend, she looked so grown-up with her cinched trench coat and laptop bag. “How are you?”
“I’m great. I’m on my way to university. Last exam of the semester, and then graduation.” She crossed her fingers with a hopeful smile.
“Wow. Congratulations.”
“Thanks. You?”
“Oh, I’ve a job interview.”
One look at Rose’s jeans and hoodie told Shareen the kind of job it might be.
Rose lowered her head and bunched her sleeves over her hands.
You were right about Jimmy, Rose wanted to say, I shouldn’t have chosen him over my friends.
“We should do something, sometime,” Shareen said, her smile conveyed pity rather than affection.
Rose nodded, though she knew it wouldn’t happen. They wished each other good luck and went in opposite directions.
As soon as she had her back to Shareen, she lost her smile. That could’ve been me too, she thought. She shook her head; nah, I wasn’t made for university.
Around the corner, the Natural History Museum loomed, cathedral-like, with its two towers framing the main hall and the large arch above the entrance. On the East and West wings, two storeys of Romanesque windows reflected the grey sky. Lions, bats, wolves and pterodactyls carved in stone looked down at her from their perches on the facade.
Rose avoided their stony glares.
She was interviewing to work in the gift shop, no reason to feel intimidated by this great institution.
She took a deep breath, then entered the Museum.
In Hintze hall, the skeleton of a blue whale hung from the ceiling, suspended mid-swim, gigantic yet tranquil. Underneath, groups of school children walked single file, bumping into each other, distracted by the grandiose hall. Clusters of visitors, map in hand, planned their visit and photographed each other.
Something about the echo of footsteps and chatter, and the way sunlight streamed through the glass roof took her right back to her childhood. Even then, she knew Jackie brought her here so often because it was free. They would spend hours here in winter, leaving the flat unheated to save on electricity. But she didn’t care, she loved it.
Tears pricked her eyes as she remembered how curious and full of wonder she used to be as a child. She longed to be that girl again.
Oh, but she really wanted to get this job now.
Standing in a corner of the gift shop, Lilian, the manager, gave Rose’s resume a cursory look.
“Band manager? For three years?”
“Yes, I booked gigs in clubs, oversaw the budget of the tours, and managed the promotional merchandise.”
And did all the laundry and the cooking and the cleaning, turned a blind eye to his drugs and alcohol use, and believed him when he said the other girls didn’t mean anything to him. 
Three years of living for someone else’s dreams.
“Your last job was at Henrick’s. Only six months. Why did you stop working there?”
Rose mimed an explosion.
To be honest, she might have blown up the place herself if someone else hadn’t beat her to it. Bunch of snobs, they were.
“Oh, right.” Lilian laughed and placed a check mark on her form. “Now let’s see your customer service skills.”
Unbeknownst to Rose, the museum, a centuries-old, respected institution dedicated to science was home to one messy-haired, Converse-wearing, chaotic genius who loved a little shop.
“Oh no, not him,” Lilian said, but too late, Rose was already walking toward him with a big smile on.
“Hello—” she eyed the badge attached to the breast pocket of his lab coat— “Doctor. How may I help you today?”
He was scanning a display of rubber figurines. He grabbed two miniatures of prehistoric mammals.
“They’re two for one,” she tried.
“What was the smilodon doing on the territory of the diprotodon?”
He moved the tiger-like figurine toward the bear-like one. He stared at them as if they would talk to him and reveal their secrets.
Rose bit her thumbnail. Did he really expect an answer? Was this part of the interview?
“Maybe he was looking for food?” she ventured.
“Kilometres away from his home?”
“I’d walk miles for the best chips.”
He grinned and looked at her, properly, for the first time. There wasn’t a trace of mockery in his smile, only genuine delight. She found herself smiling back.
Suddenly, he gasped.
“Yes! Chips!”
He spun on his heels and rushed out of the shop.
Lilian patted Rose on the shoulder. “I don’t know how you did that, but you’re hired.”
“I think I just let him just steal those figurines.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll put it on his tab.”
Rose sighed with relief and thanked Lilian.
“So, who was that?”
“Doctor John Smith, he’s the research leader at the Ancient DNA lab. The youngest one in the lab’s history, I’m told, hired before he’d even finished his doctorate.”
“Really? He’s a nutter.”
“Oh yeah, but harmless overall.”
Over the months following Rose’s hiring, the frequency of the Doctor’s visits to the shop increased. Her coworkers even began to tease her about it.
He would show up and babble about multiplex sequencing of mitochondrial genomes or rant about sample degradation of human remains in the field.
Rose didn’t understand everything but got a kick out of his wild gesticulation and experiments with items from the shop. She would ask him questions, and sometimes they would be the right ones to help him out.
Although she was becoming fast friends with many museum employees, of all her new acquaintances, the Doctor was her favourite.
She didn’t know him — not really. But what she knew, she liked. She liked the way he treated everyone with respect, from the janitors to the curators. Although he had his moments of bad mood and anger, he found joy in every little thing. It was contagious. They spurred each other on, it seemed. They raced wind-up toys from the shop after hours, gave silly names to specimens in the exhibitions, pranked the tour guides and hid treats for the kids staying overnight for Dino-snores. But that’s the thing, they only ever saw each other at the museum. The closest thing to a date they had was attending the same lecture one night in November. His hand had brushed hers on the armrest.
She would be lying if she said she wasn’t disappointed on days he didn’t show up. But Rose refused to read more into his behaviour than there was. She had made that mistake before, seeing love where it wasn’t, and stayed in an unhealthy relationship. So, until proven otherwise, the Doctor was just an eccentric bloke who came to her when he was bored or stuck.
Read more on Ao3
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smalltowndetective · 4 years
Text
31 Days of Wayhaven-Window
@31daysofwayhaven
Hope you enjoy! :)
Ao3 Link
Title: Museum Date
Pairing: Nate and Pearl
Words: 1k
Summary- I finally write the museum date that N deserves
“Can I open my eyes yet?”
               “Not yet”, Pearl said, giving him a smile.
               On a rare day off for the both her and Nate, she had decided that instead of Nate taking on her a date, she would return the favor and take him on one.
               She still had not told him where they were going, wanting it to be a surprise, even though he had done his best to get her to tell him the whole way there, and he was just about convincing enough.
               But she was determined. She was not about to give it up just yet.
               A few months ago, now, Pearl had found out Nate had a liking for museums during her first meeting with Unit Alpha, and while the information had not been something that particularly surprised her, it had been on the forefront of her mind recently, and she could think of no better place to take him.
               She pulled her car into a parking space at the National History Museum in the Big City, taking in the sight of tall white building with Greek-inspired columns, “Alright, open them up”
               He did, and she watched his face fall in surprise, and let out a light laugh.
               “Heard you liked museums”, she said, giving him a smirk.
               “Oh, and I wonder where you may have found that out”, Nate answered, giving her a smile.
               Pearl laughed, “Well, daylight’s fading. Let’s get down to it, shall we?”
               They excited out of her car, and Nate entwined their fingers together, and she fought hard to fight the blush that was rising on her face.
               “You want to lead the way?”
               “Oh, Agent, I’d be honored to”, she grinned, and they walked up to together to the front, and she took in the sight of everything as they walked inside together.
               The main lobby of the museum resembled the design of the front, tall ceilings with octagon patterns all in its neat rows, tall columns on all of the entryways to the different parts of the museum, and with flags from different countries lining the walls. But the main focus point of it all was the two dinosaur skeletons, one a Brachiosaurus and one a Tyrannosaurus-Rex, both of them towering over everyone in the room.
               “Quite impressive, isn’t it?”, Nate suddenly asked, seemingly thinking the same thoughts she was.
               “Remember when those were around?”, she said, giving him a mischievous smile, unable to resist making that joke.
               “Oh, I was waiting for that joke”, he chuckled.
               “Are you disappointed?”
               “No”, he smiled, “And to answer your question, I don’t remember. But perhaps Adam does”.
               Pearl gave a snort of laughter at the thought of Adam’s reaction if she asked him the same question, and they went ahead and paid for admission before walking into the next part of the museum.
               “Where do you want to go?”, she asked, trying to unfold the map that she got at the front desk with one hand.
               “Wherever you want to”, he shrugged, as if that was obvious.
               “You know how indecisive I am, Nate”, she said, “We’ll be here all night if you let me decide”.
               “Then let’s start from the beginning then”, he replied, pointing to the spot labeled “1” on the map.
               “Sounds good to me”
               They spent the next hour walking through each part of the museum, their hands clasped tightly together, and Pearl did not think of anything better in the entire world then this moment.
               “Having you with me has been like having my own personal tour guide at some of these exhibits”, she said, “You know more about some subjects then some of the presenters do”
               Nate gave a chuckle, “And it’s been quite interesting hearing you try to explain to me how computers were invented”.
               “It still confusing to you?”
               “Very much so”, he smiled, “But I’ll listen to it again, provided it’s from you”
               “I’ll spare you of it for now”, Pearl said, giving him a smirk, “But no promises for the future”
               “Then I’ll look forward to it with bated breath”, he said, giving her a smirk of his own.
               “Oh, will you now?”, she winked at him, and before Nate could say anything else, she felt her phone buzz in her pocket.
               “Adam”, she said, trying to repress a sigh, “He wants to know when we’ll be heading back”.
               “We do have an early meeting tomorrow, and I won’t have you tired all the way through it”, Nate said, “We’ll go ahead and leave”
               Pearl felt her shoulders slump, and she tried not to be too disappointed, but after driving an hour and half to the big city, and knowing that she would have to do that again was not something she was looking forward to, “Alright. But I’m going to have you drag back here again”.
               “Something else that I’ll look forward to”, he said, giving her a knee-weakening smile.
               It was not until they made it back to the front that they realized that it was pouring, the sidewalks already starting to get large puddles all around them.
               “Well, looks like we’ll have to run through the rain”, Nate stated simply, squeezing her hand, “You ready?”
               “Of course,”
               With that, Nate opened the door, and he led the both of them outside, the two of them getting soaked in the process. It did not take longer then a few seconds for Pearl’s hair to become dripping with water, and she expected to just go straight to her car, but Nate’s sudden tighten grip on her hand made her pause, and she turned to look at him, drinking in the softness of his brown eyes.
               “Thank you for tonight”, he whispered before bringing his lips down to meet hers.
               Even with the rain around them, neither of them cared, and she brought him closer to him to deepen the kiss, letting the unmatched bliss run through her veins, feeling as though she would rather not be anywhere else.
               Pearl was finally forced to break it apart when she started to feel lightheaded, but she rested her forehead on his, standing on her tiptoes to do so, forgetting all about what they were supposed to be doing.
               The rain continued to fall around them, and Pearl gave in the urge to kiss him again, and she let herself be lost in it, letting the pure happiness flood through her.
               When did I get this lucky?
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phantcsma · 4 years
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Get to know PHOEBE CARUSO who’s TWENTY-TWO years old and a JUNIOR in college majoring in MUSIC. She is from ITALY and is often times mistaken for MADELYN CLINE while others say she reminds them of PHANTASMA from SCOOBY DOO & THE GHOUL SCHOOL
death tw
daughter of an accomplished opera singer, most of her childhood was spent going to his performances at various opera houses around italy. she herself wasn’t much of a singer but she still absolutely loved music. she knew how to play most of the instruments her father kept around the house but her absolute favorite was the organ. as she got older, she even started playing it for her father’s operas. 
then, she died. she claims not to remember much about the day she died, she just knows it had something to do with a fire and it involved one of her father’s enemies. she likes to believe that it was just an accident, they just got carried away. surely, they weren’t meaning to hurt her and her father.
her father had a different outlook on it and was incredibly angry. he lost everything. his life, his home, his career. and so, he began haunting the opera houses around italy. he’s proud of the reputation he has as the terrifying specter that haunts the opera houses. “enter at your own peril,” the tour guide warns menacingly as they lead a group pass one of the buildings. he truly seems to enjoy scaring people.
phoebe... doesn’t. she doesn’t want to scare anyone, she just wants to play her music. it was her death that she actually began to compose her own music, it was always something she had wanted to do when she was alive but never got the chance to. now? she had an entire afterlife to learn! for years, her father was the only one who would listen. anyone else she would try to play her songs for would just run, either because her father scared them off or they were just scared of her. 
then, her whole life changed (again) when she was invited to study at miss grimwood’s finishing school for girls. it was under her watchful eye that phoebe was finally able to perfect her music and play for someone other than her father. and she was able to actually make connections with other people, with girls who were in the same predicament as hers. 
soon enough though, playing for the other students at grimwood got old. she felt like she wasn’t truly progressing as an artist. so, when the opportunity arose for the girls to move to corona, she took it. being able to play her music in a new place alongside her closest (and only) friends? sign her up! she’s worked on controlling and perfecting her powers, even tangibility. it can be a little exhausting at times but it’s worth it to her.
One might think that due to her circumstances, Phoebe would be a very gloomy girl but she's far from it. She's just as excitable and playful as she was when she was alive, always eager to meet new people. She has no interest in scaring people like her father, she wants to make people happy. Whether it's through her music or just her positive attitude! She is a little sensitive to rejection - especially if it's due to them being scared of her. It just... breaks her heart.  
headcanons
most of the music she's composed over the years has been classical, it's all she's ever really been exposed to. since arriving at corona though and being introduced to various "modern" genres, she's started to branch out a bit. she still vastly prefers classical but she doesn't look down on modern music. she especially likes jazz.
loves musicals!!! she thinks they're so fun and is often in the front seat at the university's productions - even if the performances don't match up to the originals. she finds phantom of the opera a little humorous - considering her father is a literal phantom of the opera. it just makes her giggle.
she is absolutely fascinated by a lot of modern things. most of them she hadn't seen before attending grimwood, some she hadn't even seen before her arrival in corona. she has so many questions about them. how do they work? what are they used for? what is the point? her personal favorite is the flip phone. she's had people try to show her smart phones before but she just... doesn't get it. she also just likes the snap the flip phone makes when you close it. it pleases her.
as homesick as she gets sometimes, she doesn't think she'll ever really move back home. not unless her father's outlook changes and he stops haunting people. she doesn't think she could truly handle going back to where everyone just fears her and runs away. she's not sure how to break this to her father though - who she has yet to tell this.
despite not wishing to scare anyone, she still absolutely adores halloween. everything about it. carving pumpkins, cobwebs, plastic skeletons. it all just reminds her of grimwood's and helps her when she's missing it.
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