Lucy’s skirts were a problem.
It wasn’t that they got in the way during jobs. On the contrary, Lucy seemed to have the best range of motion out of everyone at Lockwood & Co. George’s baggy jeans tended to catch on corners and trip up his steps, and Lockwood’s and Kipps’ tight trousers did, admittedly, restrict their flexibility. A short skirt with leggings underneath gave Lucy the freedom to duck and jump and spin without issue.
“Why are you telling me this?” Holly asked, stirring a dollop of honey into her tea. “Are you seeking my advice?”
“Yes,” Lockwood said. George was at the Archives, Kipps was out meeting Flo, and Lucy was picking up a Satchell’s order. It was the perfect time to consult his only rational, discrete friend. “The skirts are distracting. How do I ask her to wear trousers without coming off as-”
“-as a raging misogynist?” Holly sucked the remaining honey off her spoon. “Can I ask you something?”
Lockwood nodded. “Of course.”
Holly gave him a cruel smile. “Did you realize I also wear skirts on jobs?”
Obviously, Lockwood knew this. But Holly’s skirts were different! They were longer and, er…bright colors…and…and…
“You do,” he heard himself say. “Why aren’t your skirts distracting?”
“Hmm.” Holly hummed into her cup, looking far too smug. Lockwood had the childish urge to tug on her ponytail. “I don’t know, Lockwood. Why aren’t my skirts distracting?”
“Shit.” Lockwood ran a hand through his hair. It was bad enough he was probably being sexist; now he was treating his employees unequally? “I don’t- What is wrong with me, Hol?”
To his surprise, Holly laughed. It was a pretty sound, light and tinkling; it reminded him of Jessica’s. His sister had been just as sweet, and just as amused by his failures. “What about her skirts distract you?”
“They’re so- I don’t know.” Lockwood sighed. “Short? People are always staring.”
“Are they?” Holly sipped her tea. “I’ve never noticed.”
“Well you have manners,” Lockwood insisted. “You wouldn’t. But other agents do-”
“Other boys?” Holly asked innocently.
He paused. He opened his mouth. He closed his mouth. Holly did not break eye contact.
“Maybe,” he finally relented.
“Okay,” she said, setting her cup down. “Now we’re getting somewhere.”
“I feel awful about it,” Lockwood said. “It’s never caused a problem on the job. I just hate the way they look at her.” He traced his fingers over one of Lucy’s sketches on the Thinking Cloth, a rather rude caricature of George. (They were currently fighting over the brand of digestives Lucy had bought during her last grocery run, he believed.)
“Do you hate it because you’re afraid for Lucy’s safety?” Holly asked slowly. “Or because you’re jealous?”
The back of Lockwood’s neck burned. “Jealous?” He asked, clearing his throat. “Jealous of what?”
In a moment of surprisingly unladylike manners, Holly rolled her eyes and huffed. “You like her, Lockwood. You love her. When other boys look at her legs you get insanely jealous and it’s distracting you.”
“No!” He gaped at her. “I’m not- It’s not-”
“Boys look at my legs, too,” Holly said smugly. “They ask me out all the time when we’re on jobs. They do it in front of you and you don’t even notice. But if Kipps speaks to Lucy for too long…” She trailed off.
“Kipps is a prick,” Lockwood said crossly.
“Kipps isn’t the issue,” Holly countered.
“Fine!” Lockwood let out a sharp huff. “Fine! I’m jealous! But what can I do about it?”
Holly looked like he’d finally cracked. “You ask her out,” she said. “You talk to her.”
“Right.” He paused. “And I don’t ask her to wear trousers, right?”
“No!” Holly rubbed at her temple. “Just tell her how you feel. About her. Not her skirts.”
“Of course.” Lockwood gave Holly a genuine smile. “Thank you.”
“Trust me,” she said. “I’m doing us all a favor.”
Lockwood didn’t want to think deeply on what she meant by this. He wanted to find Lucy as quickly as possible.
They both started as they heard the front door open. “I’m back!” Lucy called down the hall. “Come help me carry shit!”
Lockwood jumped to his feet, making Holly laugh again. He ignored her and the way she smirked at him as he left. Lucy was home, and he had some things to say.
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I love how balanced you keep things. I love many different tunes of dark content, but I can rarely get my fill of lighter, fluffy dark. I'm too heavy-handed to write it, because I accidentally go overboard on the pain and suffering. So I always admire people who can keep a good balance. You've been really good about not dehumanizing him too much. He's a dog, but he's also a baby. They're not trying to be cruel, they're just clumsy and ancient, and struggle to see someone so young as an adult.
THANK UUuuu i do try to keep it balanced !! I don't want to dehumanize him completely, i'd feel bad lol, I'd like to keep it almost complicated to the viewer, just like how he feels about it .
My favourite tropes are slow burns, hurt/comfort, and found family, i find inspiration in those for this AU, with a little bit of horror . .
See, in my lore for it, Watchers cannot reproduce, so this is how they have children, they adopt people, its the most normal thing ever to them .
They're not purposely trying to make Grian feel bad, he's genuinely a child in their eyes, he's growing into a Watcher, with his little wings, and claws. He has to be taught how to fly, how to preen, how to make portals .
I also think its funny that, canonically the Watchers are Us the viewers, so its funny when I see tags or comments saying how cute Grian is, or babying him, doing exactly what the Watchers in the story does to him, idk i giggle abt it lmao
There issss an odd comfort in the treatment though, when someone brushes your hair, or praises you for your hard work . . Not having to worry about food or survival as much . . All the more complicated for him .
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I've been stuck in a lee mood for a while so we're writing to fix it!
This is another turtle tots fic! Because I love them and I miss rise so much!
People in this: Lee!Leo, Ler!Donnie
This is kind of a spoiler for the last episode so if you are not finished with the series here's your warning in advance
You'll see what I mean in a minute :]
Tw: none this is adorable!
I hope you all enjoy!
-K :]
____________~☆°♡°☆°♡°☆~______________
Body Language
It happened by complete accident! Donnie and Leo were hanging out in their shared room when Leo laughed a little too hard at a funny memory and started glowing! It wasn't too bright, but it was enough to see that he was indeed glowing. every mark on his body, and shell started to glow. Donnie blinked as he looked at his twin in surprise.
Leo's laughter went down and so did his glow "Y-You were glowing for a second Lee Lee!" Leo blinked even more confused than Donnie "That's silly Dee Dee I can't glow that's not a thing" Donnie growled and protested "You did you were glowing! Hold on!" He cleared his tiny throat as he brought up another funny memory and sure enough there was the light again! Donnie held up his arm to show him,
"See! You're glowing!"
"Woah!" His laughter stopped, but he kept glowing, This fascinated Donnie, He had to experiment.
"It seems to be staying even after you stopped laughing,,,intresting" He spoke softly to himself as he traced the markings over Leo's arms
"DeHehe Dee! What are you doing?"
Donnie smiled at him "I'm collecting Data now shush you'll ruin the flow of my genuis"
Leo blinked again confused "Data?"
Donnie sighed "Yes, I am observing this phenomenon with all of my senses to study this interesting endeavor"
"Big words Don"
Donnie sighed again as he adjusted his glasses "I'm testing out what's making you glow"
"Oooohhh okay!"
"Now stay still!" Donnie walked around the back of him to his shell as he traced his fingers around the markings in it
"EE! DOhOhoNnie! CAhareful!" Leo said as his face started to tint red and Donnie raised a drawn on eyebrow at him
He seemed to be glowing more now this turned Donnies confusion into a smirk
"What's the matter Lee Lee?~ I thought your shell wasn't ticklish?~" He gently tapped the area as Leo lightly chirped
"IhIt's nOhot!"
"Oh?~ then what's so funny giggles?~ is something tickling you?~" He ran a few fingers gently down the sides of his shell
"DehEEE! NOhO! FaHair!" He covered his face as the brightness of his shell and markings increased "oKaHay! I lied iHIhit ReHeheally Tihickles!"
Donnie gasped jokingly "Lyings not good Lee Lee~ you know the rules~" he smirked before scribbling all over his twins ribs
"DOHOHONNIEHEHE NOHO! NOHOHOT THEHEHERE!" He fell backwards into his twins arms as Donnie smirked at him moving the hands out of his face to see the markings around his eyes glowing the brightest
"Hello~"
"Hihihi!"
Donnie smiled before he went back to scribbling all over his twins tickle spot "Tickletickletickletickle~ Coochie Coochie Coo Wittle Lee Lee~"
"DOHOHONNIEHEHE! LEHeheT mE gOHoHo!" He chirped as he tried to get away but nothing worked
"You are enjoying this huh?~ barely even trying to fight back"
"AhAHaM nOHot!"
"Well your body language says otherwise~" he smirked referring to the ever so bright green hue that gave it all away with every giggle out of his mouth
The turtle tot in purple giggled before blowing raspberries all over his ribs "You have the most amazing laugh little brother"
"DEHEHE DEHEHE!"
"Okahay okay you're free now you gigglebug!"
Leo giggled as he caught his breath and tried to rub away the ghost tickles "ihihi think the glowing made me more umm you know"
"Ticklish~"
"Yeah that!"
Back in the present time after discovering their nimpo and that they can glow Donnie smiled to himself thinking about that memory as he looked at Leo
"Whatcha' thinking about bro bro?~" Leo teased before Donnie swiped a finger down Leo's now glowing shell
"EEP!"
'I guess some things never change~'
_________________________________________
This one is short but sweet! I hope you all enjoyedd! Definitely more to come very soon since it's summer!
I'm so proud of you! Drink water! Eat something yummy! Treat yourself, Take care of yourself and remember that you are loved, appreciated, valued and valid no matter what! You will always be more than good enough! /p /gen /pos
-K :]
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The Hike
Kristanna Modern AU - oneshot
Rated: T
WC: 2374
~I totally saw something adorable on the interwebs. Headline read as follows; "She sent an office email about a weekend hike and ended up in love with the only guy who responded". So of course I thought this is a adorable meetcute and wanted to write it :D
-------------------
Anna sat at her computer, furiously typing away. She had only been at her job for about two weeks and she was itching to meet more people. The small building had two floors, and having not much reason to go up to the second floor, or the warehouse for that matter, she wanted to send an invite to everyone to join her for a weekend hike.
And being the new receptionist – the lowest level position – didn’t discourage her from sending the memo to everyone, her bosses included.
It read;
Hello Rolling Rock Inc.,
I hope this memo finds you well. I am Anna, the new receptionist. I would like to extend an invitation to meet me for a hike this Saturday! I would love to meet everyone and we can have a wonderful time enjoying the gorgeous weather forecast for this weekend.
There is an easy trail up North Mountain (just forty-five-minute drive out of town). It has a big parking lot at the trail base and great views when you get to the top. You can google the directions or come ask me directly!
Meet up time is 7 a.m.. Bring a lunch and plenty of water!
Hope to see you there!
Anna Arendelle
-Reception
Anna read it over two more times and sent it out with a smile on her face.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Anna woke bright an early on Saturday morning. No one had asked her for directions so she assumed Google did its job to guide people where they needed to go.
She’d asked around of the people she already knew if they were going to come, and about half of them said that they would probably see her there. It sounded to Anna like they were going to have a good group for the hike.
She got up extra early and packed a big lunch; sandwiches, enough trail mix to share, an apple, an orange, and a carefully packed cupcake. Excited, she placed everything in her car, grabbed her hiking boots and hit the road.
The drive was refreshing with the sunrise at her back, casting its golden light on the pointed peaks of the mountains. Anna sung along to every song on the radio, huge smile on her face, excited to meet some more people and have a wonderful day outdoors.
*****
Kristoff drove with the windows of his truck cracked. It was a little chilly, but the early morning air was fragrant and rejuvenating.
He loved the mountains. There was hardly a weekend in the summer and fall that he wasn’t in them. At first he’d been a little apprehensive about the memo, not knowing who the hell the new receptionist was, then he asked some of the people in the warehouse and they said they were thinking about going. He decided to commit his Saturday to it, even though it meant leaving his best friend hanging at the bar the night before so he could go home and get a good sleep.
He saw the sign for the parking lot and turned left, crossing the other side of the highway which was unbusy at the early hour. He glanced at the clock in his truck, noting he was a little late. There was construction by his house getting out of town that had held him up nearly fifteen minutes. Even if they’d taken off up the trail, he was sure he could catch them quickly.
Navigating his truck through the treed entryway, he soon turned right into the large parking lot. At first he wasn’t sure he knew what he was looking at, then it all started to click into place as he slowly made his way to the trailhead sign.
There were three cars off to the left, no one in sight around them, and a lonely car off to the right with a copper headed woman sideways in the front seat with her feet on the pavement looking highly disappointed.
“Shit,” he muttered. Either he had the wrong day and that was some rando woman, or he was the only asshole from their whole company that had shown up for this hike.
He took a calming breath and parked beside her. It wasn’t like he was going to turn around. That would be such a dick move. And he really did want to hike.
He rolled up his windows and hopped out of the truck. No sooner were his boots on the asphalt and she as beside him, smiling up at him. He was taken aback by her big blue eyes, and they nearly took his breath away.
“Hi,” she said tentatively. “Are you from Rolling Rock?”
Kristoff swallowed, still flustered by her beauty. “Uh, yeah. You’re Anna?”
Her face lit up with a brilliant smile. “I am!” She held out her hand. “It’s so nice to meet you.”
He shook her hand. “You too. I’m Kristoff.”
“I’m so glad you showed up, Kristoff,” she said, dropping his hand.
He immediately missed her touch. “Not many takers, huh?”
Anna put on an exaggerated pouty face and crossed her arms. “It appears not.” She smiled again. “But that’s okay! You showed up, so I guess the two of us get to enjoy this beautiful sunny day in the mountains.”
Kristoff smiled, his stomach fluttering with butterflies. “Their loss,” he agreed.
*****
Anna’s legs were sore by the time they got back down to their vehicles in the late afternoon. They’d hiked to the top rather quickly, being just the two of them, then decided to take another trail to take them a little closer to the peak where they would have their lunch. It proved to be more difficult, and the incline left Anna’s leg muscles burning by the time they reached the top. It was worth it though, looking out over the valley and the sparking glacier-fed lake nestled below them.
And Anna had an absolutely amazing time talking to Kristoff. He worked in the warehouse, which was why she’d never seen him before, and he was a wonderful person. Not only had he been the only one to actually show up, he’d entertained her rambling stories with actual interest, and she was rewarded by hearing his gorgeous laugh a couple of times. And that was not the only gorgeous thing about him.
If she had known there was such a looker lurking in the depths of the warehouse, she would have made a point to go in there more often. He was tall, broad, blond, and hunky as hell. His soulful brown eyes were nothing like she’d ever seen, and as they ate lunch perched on the outcropping of a rock, she found herself mesmerized by them.
They stopped when they reached their vehicles – the only ones left in the parking lot now – and Kristoff took a moment to stretch out his back. Anna was unable to tear her eyes way, watching how every one of those muscles of his moved under his clothing. When he was done and looked back at her, she had to catch herself and cover for the fact that she was ogling him.
“Thanks for the invite for the hike, Anna,” he said, sliding his pack back off his shoulders to dig out his truck keys. “I’ve never been up this trail and I had a great time.”
Anna found herself nodding. “I’m glad. I did too. Thank you for showing up.”
He chuckled. “I can’t believe none of those other assholes did. They sure missed out on a nice day.”
She nodded absentmindedly, focused on every movement as he unlocked his truck and threw his backpack in the back seat and turned back to her.
“I mean it,” she said quietly. “It was a pretty shitty feeling sitting in my car and realizing that no one showed up. Then you pulled in and it was like… I don’t even know. I just felt…” She shrugged, looking down.
It’s okay, Anna. I get it.”
Her eyes came up to his. “You do?”
“Sure.” He shrugged. “It’s like throwing a party and no one shows up. Although I guess an early Saturday hike is a little different.”
Anna smiled at him. “Maybe it was too early?”
Kristoff laughed. “Maybe. But like I said, their loss.”
She nodded slowly, unable to stop her eyes roaming over every inch of his face. “Their loss indeed,” she agreed.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Anna was head over heels in love. Kristoff was the one.
They’d left the mountain that day with plans for just the two of them to meet up again the next weekend on another trail in the area. By the end of that second wonderful hike, Kristoff had asked her if she had any dinner plans, and they ended up driving home and meeting later at a Pub near his house, which was coincidentally incredibly close to Anna’s own apartment.
That dinner had changed everything. Or rather, it was the chaste kiss he’d given her at the end of it that changed everything. From then on, Anna knew she was a goner. While dating wasn’t even on her radar after moving to a new town and starting a new job, Kristoff was without a doubt, the love of her life. She felt that spark of love as soon as their lips met for that first beautiful kiss.
After that their love blossomed. They are their lunch together at work, they hung out every chance they had, the went on many other hikes and adventures in the mountains. Kristoff introduced her to camping and fishing and Anna had no idea she could have so much fun sleeping in a camper on the back of a truck with only his body for warmth.
It was on one such camping trip that he first told he that he loved her. Anna’s response had been quick and heartfelt that she was head over heels in love with him too. Her sincerity must have been so profound that Kristoff suddenly asked her to move in with him as well. Anna, of course, was thrilled, and they spent the rest of the evening by the fire talking about how excited they were to live together.
Never in a million years did Anna think she was going to fall in love so quickly and thoroughly. To think, if more people had shown up for that hike, she might not have talked to Kristoff. Perhaps he didn’t show up either. But however you sliced it, they were the only two ones on the mountain that day, which meant to Anna that it was destiny. Kristoff was her soulmate and no one could change her mind on that.
15 YEARS LATER
Kristoff’s smile got wider the closer they got to the mountains. He looked over to his beautiful wife in the passenger seat, nodding her head along to the song on the radio and singing under her breath while she scrolled her phone looking for things to do around the new campground they were going to try. Glancing in the rear-view mirror, he saw that his daughter was listening to her own music and staring out the window, while his son was playing on his Switch with his headphones to pass the time for the drive.
His heart was full. Never in a million years did he think attending a hike sent out in a memo from the receptionist would get him everything he had ever wanted in life, and here he was, relishing in the happiness that his family brought him every day.
Their daughter and son, twelve and ten respectively, adored the mountains as much as him and Anna. It was special to Kristoff that they got to spend time as a family having fun in the outdoors without the distractions of screens for the entirety of the weekend. A lot of the places they went to didn’t even have cell reception.
Suddenly, Anna’s hand shot towards him and gripped his bicep.
“There’s some falls we can hike to!” she said, excitement all over her face.
“Yeah?” he chuckled. “That sounds awesome.”
“I love waterfalls,” their daughter piped up from the back.
“Me too!” Anna agreed. “Bud, you want to hike to some falls?”
Silence from their son.
Kristoff kept his eyes on the road but turned his face towards the rear seat. “Dude, headphones,” he said loud enough to be heard.
His son slipped them off his head. “Huh?”
“You want to hike to some falls?” Anna asked.
His face lit up in a smile. “Oh, yeah for sure.” With that done he slipped the headphones back onto his head and resumed his game, knowing the only time he was allowed to play it over the weekend was to and from camping.
Anna shook her head and looked at Kristoff with a smile on her face. He knew that smile very well. Their kids were typical kids of course, but they were both damn fine kids. Him and Anna were beyond proud of the amazing people they were raising.
Kristoff glanced in the mirrors again to check their rig. They had come a long way from the little camper he had on the back of his dad’s old ’78 Super-Cab. Now he hauled a modest travel trailer with his newer truck; a small queen in the front, little kitchen and table, and bathroom and bunk beds in the back. Perfect for the four of them. They had the little fridge stocked, the cooler full of ice and drinks, their fishing gear, and the bicycles in the bed of his truck. The perfect combination for a fun filled weekend with gorgeous weather in the forecast.
Anna heaved a very happy sounding sigh, setting her phone down in the console between them. “I can’t wait to get there, set up, and crack a cold one.”
Kristoff grinned. Damn this woman was without a doubt the love and light of his life. “Same, baby.”
They glanced at each other with smiles that were only meant for each other. Kristoff thought back to that hike all those years ago often because he had met his soulmate, and he was thankful for that every day of his life since.
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