#like i wake up going “bwuh...... huh..........”

[digitalcomfortspot]

(All artwork accompanying this fic was doodled by the amazing @mxgumshoe! Go commission them!!!)

"Come on, Stone...! Hang in there!"

Zenigata sat over his partner as they writhed and whimpered under the heat of the fever. Their entire body was burning to the the touch, and they had lost consciousness an hour ago. The poison that fiend had given him was working far faster than anticipated, and Zenigata was getting worried that Lupin and the gang might be too late.

The antidote to the poison they'd been shot with was used as a ransom for Interpol, the monsters who concocted the poison holding it for a whopping 2.7 billion euros. If they wanted Stone- and several other downed civilians- to live, they'd have to fork over the cash or steal it themselves.

Koichi had practically begged Lupin and the gang on his knees, even if it was just a telephone call. He was close to tears when he asked them to steal it for him, and once they heard his partner in crime catching was involved, they agreed readily.

Now, it was just a waiting game.

Koichi paces, hands holding his hat against his chest. Worried thoughts raced through his head, as he waits. And waits. And waits.

Eventually, he practically wears a track in the carpet, and decides to sit.

When he hears Stone stir, he practically jumps to their side. "Stone-!!!"

"Hh... hey, Zeni...ga..." They try to say, but it turns into a flurry of wheezing, harsh gasps as they try to sit up.

"Don't strain yourself, partner! Lay back down, Lupin and the gang should be here any minute now...! Come on, now, lay back down!" He says, gently leading them back against the mattress with a hand on their head.

"Ze... zenigata... please..." They try to speak.

"What? What is it?" Worry paints his face, as he runs a hand gently theough their fading hair. With all the work, they hadn't been able to re-dye it, and it was fading to brown again.

It was funny how he noticed those tiny details more than ever in times of danger... like Laura's eyes in the sunlight. He blinks away the burning sensation of tears.

It won't be like Laura. It can't be like Laura. He won't let it be.

Not again.

"... i-in case I don't... make it-" They try to say, looking up at his with cloudy, tired eyes, but he interrupts them.

"Yer gonna make it! Don't say that like you're dying on me...!!" His eyes fill with tears, and he holds their hand tightly, his other hand still brushing back their sweat slicked hair out of their face.

They give him a pained, soft smile. "I... heh... a-always stubborn... hh...." They grimace, feeling pain flare into them again, before they try again. "Just... l-let me say this... please..."

He nods, leaning forward. "What is it, Magnus...?" He sounds like he's breaking, voice crackling with emotion and sorrow. Not like this... not like this, please, whatever powers that be, he thinks. Not like this.

"I-I..." They look up at him, with a soft expression pushing througu the agony.

".... K-Koichi, I... I lo-"

Just then, the door bursts open, and in clambers the gang all at once. Lupin holds out the bottle of pulls he'd swiped, he and Jigen covered in bruises. Goemon was mostly unscathed, and Fujiko seemed to be checking behind them to make sure no one followed. No smiles were to be found this time, just panicked expressions.

"Pops-!! I got it!"

Magnus' words are forgotten momentarily, as the inspector springs forward, teary eyed as he shakes out two pills and rushes back.

"Take these...! Please!" He begs, and helps them tilt their head back. "Easy, now, that's the way..." He's strong for them as he helps administer the medicine.

They smile weakly, as they lean into the hand under their head. "Th.. thank you..." Glassy eyes look around the room, and they sigh in relief as they pass out finally, less anxious and in much less pain as sleep takes them.

Zenigata nearly has a conniption. "-!!! Stone?! Stone, no!!!"

"Easy, Pops! You'll wake 'em up!" Jigen gently rests a hand on his shoulder to try and calm him down. The inspector blinks, looking confused.

"Bwuh?"

"One of the ingredients in here is melatonin, Pops! They need rest before the meds get into their system. They'll be okay." Lupin gives him a reassuring smile.

He takes a moment to process, and then nods resolutely, pulling up a chair beside his bed and just... waiting.

"... you gonna wait there all night, huh?" Fujiko asks, smiling a bit as she saunters up.

"Of course I am! He's my partner! I'm not gonna let them sit through this alone!" He exclaims, steadfast in his decision.

The femme fatale laughs a little, grinning. "Wow... you've got it worse than I thought! I've only seen you act like this when you think one of us is dead!"

Despite his tears, Zenigata's face turns bright crimson."Wh- hey!!! What's that supposed to mean?!"

Lupin puts a finger to his lips, shushing him with a grin. "Shhh, don't wanna wake up the sleeping angel! We left the rest of the antidote with your boss man downstairs, and they've given us a 24 hour amnesty in return! So long, Pops!" And with that, the gang takes their leave.

He sighs, almost going after them, but...

Stopping when he sees them sleeping so soundly. He has to wait.

He would always wait for him, he thinks, much to his own surprise.

- - -

It's dawn by the time Stone stirs again, Zenigata having been asleep for only a little while now. He'd stayed up all night watching over them, and when the sound of rustling blankets shifts against their body, he gasps and jolts awake again.

"BWUH!!! Huh-?" The inspector blinks, and then breaks into a massive grin when Stone sits up, looking nowhere near as pained anymore.

"Ugh.. God, my head... it worked, I think, but my head hurts something fi-" Stone pauses when they see the inspector's eyes brimming with tears. "Zenigata-?"

"MAGNUS-!!!" He yelps, not caring who might hear, as he leaps forward and practically bowls them over in a big hug.

He bawls, head buried in his chest as he shakes and mutters over and over again, "You're alive, you're alive-!!! Lupin did it, you're alive!!!"

Stone looks surprised for a moment, still weak, but much less in pain. Then... his expression melts into softness, and they wrap his arms around Zenigata's back. "Y-Yeah, I'm okay...!" They smile right back, as he looks up with big, watery eyes and a wobbly smile.

"I don't know what I woulda done if you...!!!" He mutters, holding their gaze before hugging them again.

Stone smiles right back, gently helping to wipe away his partner in crime catching's tears. "Hey... hey, easy, I'm okay...! I'm okay..."

"I promise it won't happen again! I'll always protect you, okay?" Zenigata swears, giving them a squeeze. They wheeze a little, and he eases up.

"Yeah... I'm j-just glad I'm alive." Stone curls into him, and together... They stay like that for a long, long while. They don't wanna let go.

So, neither of them do.

Stone's unsaid words in the haze of near death are forgotten, at least for now. But as Lupin smiles and watches the two curled up together in relief through the window, he knows it's not long now.

Once those two got together, it was just a matter of asking them into the gang...

And then they could all finally have a happy ending. One where this was all just a bad dream. One where Zenigata was treated fairly, and Stone could be with him without worrying too much about being the only one who truly believed in ol' Pops.

Once they got together, the plan would be set into action. Lupin grins at that.

Now, if only those two would stop dancing around the damn subject.

#f/os: koichi zenigata #i HAD TO #I HAD TO!!! #f/o fanfiction #mxgumshoe #not my art #also #alluding to Stone/Lupin Gang shenanigans >:3 #even Fujiko bc shes written off a lit

[marnathas]

Filthy hypno ideas #12

Alright, back to fun shiz! I got this idea from watching a hypnodolls clip, so the basic idea is super basic and not too out of the ordinary, it's just snapping people in and out of trance (which would be fun as fuck btw). Then my brain got to it a bit to try and add to it, and this is what came out of it. Enjoy!

"Alright, wake up now you two."

Unnnf

Sophie and I pulled ourselves up from slumping on each other, instead of the pillows on the bed, as we came back to reality. She and Clare had joined us for another night of ~shenanigans~ fun. And as usual, that damn 'tist had something complicated planned. Sigh. Can't it be simple for once?

I spoke up first. "Alright, let me make sure I remember this all, for once, so snapping our fingers in front of each other's eyes puts us in and out of a blank state, right?"

"Right."

"Ok, and, uhh, if we call out a snap before they can do it, they'll instead snap themselves down, but if we're wrong we're not allowed to stop them from snapping ourselves. Am I forgetting anything?"

"Limit of one suggestion per snap, else it'd get silly. Oh, and nothing that'd corrupt the game, duh." Well that ruins plan A: Get her once and arrange so she won't ever get me. A cheeky grin passes me face as I reach over to where my 'tist and Clare are across the bed and snap my fingers.

"Nothing? Damn. One day you'll be part of this too and not just trancing us!" I mock pout. Ah we- as suddenly a hand appears in front of my face

SNAP

...

"Wow, that's a surprisingly cute bra you've got on." I hear Sophie say. ...Wait. Huh?

I look down, and immediately my hands cover up my breasts the instant I realise I'm just in a bra now. "When did!? Wait. Arg! No amnesia suggestions! I want to remember all of this for once!" I protest what I can, if we're doing this I want to at least be on an even playing field, since she doesn't forget stuff easily.

"Alright alright, miss leaky brain. I won't do that aga- Snap!" Ahh, shit. I was absolutely using that to try and distract her from me getting her back. Try as I might, I can't stop my hand from slowly coming up in front of my own face, waiting just a brief moment, and

SNAP

I passively gaze at nothing in particular as Sophie leans in and again starts whispering in my ear.

"You're not going to be able to cover yourself with your arms, or anything else now, understand?"

Uh-huh

SNAP

...Curse my slight exhibitionist streak, that suggestion works far too easily. Yeah, my hands were nowhere near my chest now. I could try to move them back there but why bother, I know this works on me. Bah. "Since when were you so focused on my boobs anyways? I thought Clare was the raging bisexual, not you." I glance over to Clare, just sitting there looked far too amused. Bit odd she's the one over there and not Sophie, but well I guess it's interesting "Snap!"

The look on Sophie's face tells me everything, Got her. I knew she'd try and take that chance! I take as much pleasure as I can watching her struggle as her own hand drifts to her face. "Goodnight!" I say in the sweetest tone I can muster while waving at her.

SNAP Aaaand her face goes slack. Ehehe. Revenge time.

...Alright, umm, I'm always awful at this. What can I... eh that'll do, irony is always great.

I sidle up to her. "Sophie, from now on, any mention of boobs, or breasts, and any word that means those, from anyone besides yourself, will be the funniest thing in the world, and you won't be able to resist giggling at it. Alright? Let that sink in."

I wait for the nod and the mumbled yes (I've experience enough to know how she reacts, by now), before snapping again and bringing her back up. "So, why are you focused on my boobs tonight? Like I said, that's Clare's thing, not yours." I can't help but grin at the giggle fit Sophie has during that sentence.

"I dunno, half the time this ends up lewd anyways, otherwise no real reason I guess, I just thought it'd be a fun idea, and kept going with it?" she shrugged.

Oh I see where this is going. The hands up for the shrug, one drops to her side, the other towards me. "Snap!"

Sophie giggles. ...No boobs were mentioned just then. "Nice try, but nope!" she smirks. Aww no.

She drags this out. Crawling over the bed to be just in front of me, and bringing her hand up in front of my face. Well, not like I've been able to look away from her hand the whole time. Guess that's how that suggestion works to ensure I don't fight it-

SNAP

Bwuh. Mmm.

"Alright then, let's go a bit further this time, shall we?" Mhmm.

"Every time I mention boobs, or breasts, or any synonym, you're going to push yours together and display them nicely for the rest of us for a few seconds. Do you understand?"

"...Yessss."

SNAP

Welp. Guess that's her revenge. "Besides, your boobs are pretty great!"

I pout as my hands move up to follow through on that suggestion. "Couldn't it have been anything but my chest?" More giggles at least. "...Wait a second, this really isn't normal for you to be so nuts about my breasts. Oh my god that's a suggestion! OF COURSE IT IS!" I turn to glare at my hypnotist, ignoring the giggles for once. At least my hands are back to under my own control so this isn't as silly looking as it otherwise would be.

No wonder they've been just watching, this was clearly setup to go this way and, ugh damnit of course it was...

Finally they speak up. "Clare, I think you should join in now." ...Huh!? Sophie taps me on the shoulder to get my attention and gains words first.

"I thought it was just us put under for this!? How is this going to work with three-" suddenly a hand appears between us, SNAP!

Note to self: Look up the grammar around speech quotes, it's been far too long since I've needed to remember that, damn science writing.

So the idea is pretty neatly explained at the start of it, I think. The idea is to turn it into a bit of a game/competition for a few people to play with between themselves, while having some rules in place to make it not just fastest hands wins or something like that. I think it's more fun when proper mind games and trickery are involved, honestly.

#Blog #Hypnosis #Filthy hypno ideas

[pengychan]

Te Rerenga Wairua - Ch. 3

Title: Te Rerenga Wairua Summary: Found by the gods drifting at sea, Maui always assumed he had been thrown in it to drown. When that assumption is challenged, there is only one way to find closure: speaking to his long-departed family. But it’s never a smooth sail to the Underworld, and he’ll need help from a friend - plus a token that fell in the claws of an old enemy long ago. Characters: Maui, Moana, Tamatoa Rating: K Prologue and links to all chapters up so far here.

“Wakey wakey, Crabcake! Ready to go on an adventure?”

“… Bwuh?”

“Yes! That’s the spirit! Come on!”

Something knocked on his shell, and Tamatoa opened his eyes with a groan. The cave he lived in had no source of light aside from the bioluminescent algae growing on the small seawater pond that connected it to the sea - plus his own bioluminescence - so he had to blink a few times before he was able to really see much of anything. Then again, there was no need to really do it: even before he turned his eyestalks to peer over his back, he knew who it was. The voice had been a dead giveaway and really, there was no one else who knew of his cave and would dare to jump on his shell like that.

Standing on his shell, leaning on his hook, Maui grinned at him. “Sorry, are you sleeping?”

“You’re not sorry and no, clearly not anymore,” Tamatoa grumbled, shrugging and causing Maui to jump off his back before he could lose his balance. “How did you get in here?”

“Turned into a shark for the swimming part,” Maui said, and glanced around, throwing the fishhook over his shoulder. Tamatoa winced back, wishing he were more careful when he swung that thing. “Wow. I expected the cave to be big, you know, but not this big. And it was enough for your and your grandmother to stay in?”

“It would be a tight fit now,” Tamatoa muttered through a yawn. He was growing bigger with each passing year and decade and century, but of course his grandmother had been much larger. His kind never stopped growing until death - or so she had told him; he had never met anyone else of his kind to confirm or dispute that - and she’d been far older than him. By now he was easily the size of a small ship. “Wouldn’t have been a problem, though. She’d  have thrown me out way earlier than this if she hadn’t kicked it first. Or gone back to Lalotai.”

Hadn’t he been busy yawning some more, he’d have noticed the grin on Maui’s face fading some. “That’s harsh.”

“Naah. I’m a big boy,” Tamatoa waved a claw dismissively before letting his eyestalks inch closer to Maui, not moving an inch from the hole in the rock he was comfortably nestled into. It was too large for him - it had been Gran’s sleeping spot - but that meant he could fit in it comfortably and also keep all of his shiny collection close while he slept. “So. What was it about adventure again?”

Maui’s grin made a triumphant comeback, and he puffed out his chest. “You and I, my friend, are going to achieve something amazing! East from here, in a bottomless pit, there is–”

“Treasure?” Tamatoa asked, his interest piqued, and frowned when Maui shook his head.

“Nope,” he said, causing all of Tamatoa’s interest to instantly evaporate. His antennae went limp.

“… Why did you wake me up, then?”

“Don’t you wish days lasted longer?”

“No. More time for me to sleep unless you decide to drop by.”

Maui made a dismissive gesture with his hand. “All right, fine. But humans would like it if days lasted longer, so we’re gonna lasso the sun.”

Tamatoa blinked. “We’re gonna… what?”

“Lasso the sun. He runs way too fast.”

He blinked again.

“But we’re gonna catch it with a net first,” Maui added. “As in, you are.”

“I’m going to catch the sun with a net,” Tamatoa repeated slowly.

“And then I’ll use my hook to lasso it and slow it down. Yes, I know it’s a flawless plan. No need to cheer too hard.”

“… Have you been drinking fermented coconut milk again?”

“That’s absolutely irrelevant.”

“I’ll take it as a yes.”

“Whatever. Bottom line is, I’m going to slow down the sun - it’s the stuff of legends and I’ll let you be part of it!” Maui laughed and reached to pass an arm around Tamatoa’s neck, squashing his face against one of his eyestalks. “Aren’t you excited?”

“Absolutely not.”

“I’ll take it as a yes.”

“Hey, that was my line to begin with and– what have you got there?”

Maui laughed again, throwing the pearl up in the air and then catching it again. A really big pearl, too, easily the size of his fist. Where had be been keeping it? “Something nice n’ shiny for my favorite giant crab monster.”

“I am almost positive I’m the only giant crab monster you know,” Tamatoa said, but he did keep his eyes glued on the pearl. It gleamed so prettily…!

“But you’re also a good friend who’s gonna help me slow down the sun,” Maui said with a shrug, and threw the pearl up at him. Tamatoa caught it with ease, gave it a good look, then grinned.

“… All right. What’s the plan?”

“Plan?”

“You have a plan, right?”

“Oh. Sure. Hahaha! Of course I have a plan. Sort of. Anyway, we’re gonna need rope. Lots of rope, and lots of luck. Say, anyone in particular you’d like to leave your stuff to should anything happen?”

“Huh?”

“Asking hypothetically.”

Tamatoa rolled his eyes. “Maui?”

“Yes.”

“If we die, I’m going to kill you.”

“Pffft. You can try, Crabcake. You can try.”

***

“… And I could have tried to find them, you know? Back when they could be still alive. If anything to gloat at them, and then if it had all been just a big misunderstanding they would have said something, wouldn’t they? They’d have told me that I was wrong and that they never meant to abandon me, right?”

“Yes. I guess they would have.”

“And what did I do instead? Nothing! I just chickened out, no offense to your chicken, and never even tried to look for them. And now…” Maui paused for a moment, arms still lifted as though about to grasp something, then he gave a long sigh and let them drop. “… Now it’s too late. I mean, maybe they did abandon me and the kid Tamatoa saw being buried at sea was someone else, but either way… now I’ll never know,” he added. He sounded more tired than saddened, but it made something in Moana’s chest ache all the same. He wasn’t supposed to sound like that; it just didn’t seem right.

And she didn’t know what she could say to make it better.

With a sigh, she turned her gaze to the ocean. The sun had long since set - she really hoped her parents wouldn’t be too worried now - and the moonlight turned the waves to silver around the boat. In the distance, she could barely make out the shapes of a few manta rays that–

Wait. Wait just a moment.

“It’s not too late!” she exclaimed, jumping to her feet and causing Maui to yelp in surprise.

“Gah! What was that about?”

Moana smiled, so wide that it made her cheeks hurt, and grasped her necklace with both hands. “It’s not too late!” she repeated, holding the necklace up. Maui blinked at it.

“Uh. Yes. It’s.. very pretty?”

… All right, so maybe she hadn’t explained herself all that well.

“I mean, your family!” Moana said, reaching to grab his shoulder to shake him. Well, try to: he didn’t move a single inch, but it was the thought that mattered. “They may be gone, but so is my Grandma, and she came to me! Our ancestors are never really gone. I mean, you should go! You’re the demigod here!”

There was a spark of something that looked much like hope on Maui’s face, but it was gone as quickly as it came. “It’s not so simple. Your grandmother would have known where to find you. She knew you. My parents… don’t. They wouldn’t even know I lived - why would they look for me in the land of the living?”

“But we can look for them, right?”

Maui blinked at her. “We,” he repeated, and Moana shrugged.

“Of course I’m not letting you do this on your own. More on point, can we look for them instead? There is an afterlife, so they have to be somewhere! It’s just a matter of finding them!”

Maui laughed. And laughed. And laughed.

Gradually, Moana’s smile turned into a frown. “What? What did I say that sounded so funny?”

“You think - heh! You think we can just go and waltz into the Underworld?”

“Well, we already were in Lalotai, so…”

“Lalotai doesn’t have Hine-nui-te-pō guarding it,” Maui said with a lopsided grin. “Great woman of the night. Skin of red earth, red eyes, lots of obsidian teeth in places where there shouldn’t be any. No, don’t ask,” he added, lifting a hand as soon as she opened her mouth. “Bottom line is, no one alive gets in. You’re not getting past this one by singing at her.”

“… Well, it worked once…”

“And won’t work again.”

“You don’t know ‘till you try!”

“And if it doesn’t work, we don’t get a second attempt. I’m not dragging you in this with me. And besides,” he added, letting himself drop on his back to look up at the stars, “even if I did get past her, do you have any idea how vast the Underworld is? There are more people who died over the millennia than there are in the world of the living right now. And I don’t even know what she looks like.”

Oh, right. Moana hadn’t even thought of it, but it was true. With a sigh, she sat down as well and let her legs slip into the water. She kicked in it, a bit absentmindedly, and bit her lower lip. It just seemed so… so…

“Unfair,” she finally said, a hand reaching up to her necklace, tracing its shape. “It’s just really unfair. There’s got to be a way!”

Maui gave a rumbling chuckle. On his chest, Mini Maui was looking rather dejected. “Heh. Don’t take the whole wayfinder thing too far now, kid. I’ll be fine anyway. I’m a big boy.”

He had a point, she knew that, but at the same time she couldn’t quite let it go: the sheer injustice of it gnawed at her. After so long thinking the worst of his parents, he had been presented with a staggering possibility and couldn’t even speak to them, to find out if it was true. Her hand found her necklace again, and closed around it.

There is nowhere you could go that I won’t be with you.

… But how had her grandmother found her? When Moana had been at her lowest point, when she had called for her without realizing it, she had come - but as the tales went, the ancestors who returned would remain close to the island where they had lived, while Moana had been a long way from Motunui, near an island Gramma Tala had never seen in life. And yet she had found her, in the middle of the ocean, as though she had followed a beacon. The heart of Te Fiti, maybe? No, that wasn’t right - it didn’t feel right. But then…?

I can’t leave you.

There is nowhere you could go that I won’t be with you, she had said. Moana closed her eyes, replaying the scene in her mind and trying to ignore the ache in her chest. That was exactly what she had told her, only moments after giving her the heart of Te Fiti and… and…

The necklace.

Moana’s thumb, which had been stroking the shell’s smooth surface, stilled. Her eyes snapped open. “The necklace!”

“… Huh?”

Moana jumped on her feet, causing the boat to rock slightly. “My grandmother! She found me when I called for her, and I think… I think this helped,” she added, holding up the shell once again. “Is that possible? It belonged to her!”

Maui sat up again and scratched his cheek, frowning in thought. “Oh, right. I think someone mentioned something like it once? Can’t remember which god, but hey, it’s been a couple thousands years. I’m almost sure that was it - something about a token belonging to the ancestor, like a beacon in the night, blah blah poetic stuff, for the soul to follo–” he trailed off abruptly, as though someone had just knocked all wind out of him.

In the dim light of the moon Moana could see his eyes widening in dawning realization. Then he looked up at her again and, slowly, he broke into a grin that mirrored her own. When they spoke, it was precisely at the same time, to say precisely the same thing.

“The hairpin.”

***

He ought to destroy it, really.

It wouldn’t have been much of a loss, all things considered. It had been a pretty, shiny thing once - when he was a drab little thing who made do with colored glass beads because he couldn’t get his pincers on anything better - but now it didn’t even shine anymore, not after so many centuries. It was burnished and brittle and just plain ugly; even the gemstones had lost all of their shine. It wasn’t worth holding onto and really, snapping it in two would be really satisfying: after all, he would be breaking Maui’s stuff.

Not as good as ripping away his leg, but it would do. One snap of his claws, no effort at all, and he’d turn it into find dust. It would be so easy.

And yet he couldn’t do it.

It’s still part of my treasure, he reasoned. Part of a very tiny treasure now, one he couldn’t afford lose more of, all things considered. And besides… besides, that hairpin could be useful, after all. He still wasn’t sure how, but there was a nagging voice in the back of his mind - which sounded all the world like his Gran had, fittingly enough - telling him he should keep it, and keep it safe.

You never know, Tinytoa.

“Quit calling me that,” he grumbled to the empty lair, but he did tuck the hairpin in a tiny gap in his carapace.

Just in case.

***

“GIANT HAWK! GIANT HAWK! GIANT HAWK!”

“Seriously, kids? This would be the thirtieth time, I’m getting kind of tired and– GIANT HAWK! CHEE-HOO!”

The cheering from the children - and the adults, really - was almost loud enough to cover the screech Maui’s hawk form let out before flying up in the air, coming down again in a dive before sweeping up again. Moana had seen him doing that plenty of times as he worked to regain control of his own powers and that of his hook, but she had never seen him doing it in front of a crowd. Now that she did, it was clear to her how much he loved it.

And said crowd was loving it just as much.

“Moana?”

Her father’s voice was quiet, and Moana gave an inward sigh, already knowing what what was going to be about. When she turned, he was standing behind her with an arm around her mother’s shoulders, the fire casting deep shadows on their faces. They had been amazed when Maui had showed up along with her, of course, but now all that showed on their faces in the flickering light was worry.

She had sailed to the horizon and back, and still they feared for her.

“I’ll be fine,” she said before they could add anything else. “Really. Maui helped me restore the heart of Te Fiti, how to sail and wayfinding and… he’s my friend. I want to help.”

Tui and Sina exchanged a glance before looking back at her. “We won’t try to talk you into staying,” her father finally said slowly. “But I could come with you.”

“Our people will need at least one of us to stay,” Moana pointed out. She may be the Chief now, but her father had so much more experience, and the thought of leaving their people on that new island without his guidance didn’t sit right.

“At least let some of our best men come with you.”

Moana paused for a moment to drink some more coconut water, more to take time to think of something to say than because she was thirsty. She had reassured her parents that the journey to recover a token Maui needed would be short and most of all safe, but of course she could guess it was anything but: the way she had to struggle before convincing Maui that she was coming had been enough to tell her that. And she had no intention to put anyone else in danger - but saying as much would reveal her little white lie to her parents.

“You’ll need all the hands you can get here,” she finally said. They had taken some of their best men for the journey, of course, but not all of them, as many had stayed on Motunui to tend to their island. “To explore this whole place, hunt, fish, plant the harvest. I can’t take them away from here for no reason.”

As her father nodded, conceding the point, it was her mother to speak.

“She is right. Besides, a demigod will be with her. What would be safer–”

“LOOK! SHARK HEAD!” Moana heard Maui yelling, to roaring laughter. Her parents looked behind her at the scene, expressions turning even more concerned. Their eyes flickered back and forth between her and the scene. Moana cringed a bit and decided it would be best not to turn and look.

“Also,” she added, maybe just a bit too quickly, “our ancestors will be watching over me.”

***

When Moana’s boat left the new island the next day, with no one but her and Maui on board, everyone stayed at the shore to watch them disappear towards the rising sun. Tui and Sina stayed longest, eyes fixed on the horizon as the sky climbed up in the sky.

“Our people used to know her as Chief Tui’s daughter,” her husband said after a very long silence. “Their children and their children’s children will know me as Chief Moana’s father.”

Sina smiled, and reached to take her husband’s hand. “You should be proud.”

“I couldn’t be prouder,” Tui said. “And I couldn’t be more scared.”

“Of course you are. You may live to be a hundred, see her become a grandmother, and still worry for your child. That’s what parents do,” she said, and sighed. “We set them free into the world, hope for the best, and tend to their pig and chicken until they return,” she added, and looked down.

Only to pause, and frown.

“… Wait. Where are they?”

***

“A chicken and a pig now? Really?”

“Bwooook!”

“They were supposed to stay home with my parents! I had even checked to make sure Hehei wasn’t hiding here– Pua, no! Come here! Stay! Stay!”

“Hey, at least we’ve got something to eat if things get bad.”

“Maui!”

“Not the chicken, not the chicken! He’s off limits, I know. But the pig looks nice and juicy, so– hey, wait, why is he looking at me like that? Aaagh! Okay! Sorry! I won’t eat you! Make him stop!”

“Oh no. You brought it on yours– wait, wait, we have to go back! Chicken at sea!”

“All right, but they’re not coming inside Lalotai with me.”

“No, of course they’re not coming with us.”

“Us?”

“Of course. I go where you go.”

“There’s no need to - here, got your chicken - come in there with me. I’ll just get in, find out if that bottom-feeder still has the hairpin, maybe clobber him a bit for good measure, and leave. If I get the hairpin, great. If not… we’ll think of where else it might be.”

“And if it turns out to be anywhere in Lalotai - Heihei, no - you’ll just go looking for it leaving me outside with the boat.”

“And the pig. And the chicken. Good company.”

“I’m not waiting for you outside. Got to make sure you don’t get hurt too badly.”

“Oh, har har.”

“That was not a joke.”

“Could be the beginning of one, though.”

“What could?”

“All of this really. So, there are a wayfinder, a demigod, a chicken and a pig at sea…”

***

There had been times, as the boat soared on the water’s surface and the wind filling her sails whipped at her hair, when Moana had thought that was what flying had to feel like. Now, as Maui dropped her on solid ground, on top of the spire above Lalotai, she could tell it actually was nothing like flying, and thank the gods it was not. That had been terrifying.

“Everything all right? Not gonna puke?” Maui asked as soon as he returned to his human form, sounding all too pleased with himself.

“Swimmingly,” Moana croaked, trying to tell herself two things: that she sounded convincing - she did not - and that the brief flight upwards had still been better than a gruelling climb - she had her doubts.

Maui chuckled. “Next time I’ll try harder,” he muttered, and threw himself down the opening. Moana sighed, and followed. The drop down wasn’t pleasant, but still better than the terrifying rush upwards, and this time the landing was far better, with Maui catching her before she could hit the ground. “You’re welcome,” he said, setting her down.

“Most people say that after being thanked, you know.”

“I’m not most people. And you were just about to thank me,” Maui said, then rolled his shoulders, and cracked his neck before he began marching towards Tamatoa’s lair. “Well. Time to go and clobber a giant crab.”

Moana followed, rolling her eyes. Lalotai was no less creepy than it had been before, strange noises echoing everywhere and creatures moving just beyond her field vision, but it was difficult to be afraid with Maui walking beside her, fishhook in hand. She had seen what he could do at his best, what he could face. “You were supposed to talk with him.”

“He talks better after a good beating. And I talk best after giving one,” Maui pointed out, grinning as the spiralling shell Tamatoa lived into appeared before them.

“I’m just saying that maybe we can do this without having to clobber anybody,” Moana said quickly as they reached it. She had almost no doubt that Maui would win the fight, but that was no reason to risk it. The smaller creatures inhabiting Lalotai were one thing; then giant crab another entirely. She and Maui had already come uncomfortably close to becoming his dinner. “Maybe you can just, uh, talk it out. You said you didn’t fight last time, and you did help him up. There’s no need to make him angry.”

Maui rolled his eyes. “He’s not good at talking about anything but himself,” he muttered, but he did lower the hook as they approached the lair, and she supposed it was something. Moana nodded at him, and peered inside through the hole Tamatoa had broken in its wall when he had tried to chase them down.

Last time she had been there, the lair’s floor was covered in glittering treasure - enough for her not to realize that much of it was, in fact, the top of Tamatoa’s shell. Now, however, the treasure seemed to be entirely gone; the ground was bare… and so was Tamatoa’s shell.

He was resting in the middle of the lair, much like he had last time, except that of course he was now in plain view. It looked like he was sleeping, head resting on his claws and… no, wait, that wasn’t it. Moana frowned, squinting to see better, and caught a glimpse of something gleaming. Gold, she realized: Tamatoa had placed what little of his treasure he had left before him, encircled it with his claws, and was now using it as a pillow.

He’s making sure no one can steal what’s left.

There was something rather sad about it, and maybe Moana would have felt some small - very small; he had tried to eat her, after all - measure of pity, if given enough time to. But Maui didn’t seem to be up to waste even a moment, and hit the ground with his hook with enough strength to make it shake, and Moana almost lost her balance.

“Hey, Crabcake! Wakey wakey!”

“EEK!”

With a shriek that sounded nothing like the kind of noise a being that huge was supposed to make, Tamatoa lifted his head, eyes snapping open. Rather than standing, however, he seemed to flatten himself on the ground; when his eyes found her and Maui, he immediately pulled what was left of his treasure closer.

“You can’t have it! It’s mine!” he all but whined. “Human! Tell him he can’t have my things!”

Moana blinked. “… Huh. Look, we’re just looking for one little thing, and we’ll let you keep the res–”

“No! It’s all your fault I lost everything else! This wouldn’t have happened if you just stayed still and let me eat you!”

“… Am I supposed to apologize now?”

“Well, it would be a start!” Tamatoa said with a huff. “What did you think was gonna happen? You’ve got a monster taking a nap in his home in the realm of monsters, minding his own business, when a heap of protein on skinny legs comes waddling in–”

“Wait a moment now, I wasn’t waddling and my legs are not that–”

“… Making an awful lot lot of noise–”

“Fine, look, that was Maui’s idea, and–”

“… To serve as a diversion for the guy who ripped off my leg to steal my stuff!”

“Hey now, that hook was Maui’s to begin with, and you stole–”

“I found it. Not my fault he got his butt kicked by Te Ka and dropped it!”

“You knew it was Maui’s!”

“Yeah, and? Was I supposed to go looking for him and give it back all nicely after he ripped off my leg? I don’t think so! It found it, and so it was mine! I didn’t steal any– whoa!” he trailed off with a yelp when Maui struck the ground again with his fishhook, causing the entire lair to shake again.

“But you did steal something once, didn’t you?” he said, glaring daggers at Tamatoa. “And from a grieving mother no less. A golden hairpin. And I want it back.”

Tamatoa glared back, then huffed. “Well, tough luck. It’s gone. You may not have noticed, but most of my treasure was stolen.”

“Most of, yes. Not all of it,” Maui shot back, and marched straight at him. “And this is as good of a place to start looking as any. Let me see what you’ve got.”

“Hey! You can’t just come in here–”

Maui lifted his fishhook, not breaking his stride. Tamatoa seemed to shrink. “… Oh. You can,” he mumbled, and stepped back - very, very reluctantly. “All right, I’ll let you just this once. But if I see you taking anything– hey! Come on! Don’t throw my stuff around! Please?”

Maui entirely ignored him, and kept rummaging among the pile of treasure with no regard for any of it. Tamatoa stared miserably at the scene, then turned his gaze back on Moana, who was still lingering near the entrance.

If he lunges now, Maui might not be able to stop him on time.

The thought was sudden as it was chilling, and she suddenly wished she had waited outside, after all. Not that being outside on her own would have been much safer, but at the moment it did feel like it. She opened her mouth to say something along the lines of ‘I’ll be waiting outside’, but Tamatoa spoke first.

“So, did you like the song?”

Wait. What?

“Wait. What?”

Tamatoa frowned, eyestalks inching closer. “The song! You know, the whole big musical number? Me talking about myself in musical form? Right before I tried to eat you?”

“Oh. I… yes. I do remember that.”

“So, did you like–”

“Nothing.”

With a frustrated growl, Maui turned away from the small pile of gold and glared up at Tamatoa. Of course it wasn’t a surprise that the hairpin wasn���t there: they had already known that the odds it would be in the small heap that had been left were low. Still, Moana could understand all too well Maui’s frustration: his only means to speak to his mother, his family, may just be… anywhere, really. “You. Who took your treasure?”

The question made Tamatoa scowl, anger looming behind his eyes like thunderclouds. “Would be quicker to tell you who didn’t take it. It was a whole swarm of them.”

“And where did they go?”

“How would I know? I was stuck on my back! All I know is that they must have left Lalotai.”

“And what makes you so sure?”

A scoff. “Would you be lingering here after stealing my stuff?”

“Yes,” said Maui.

“No,” said Moana.

Tamatoa nodded and pointed at her with a claw. “See? The human got it right. She’s the smart one. I like her!”

“You tried to eat me,” Moana pointed out. Tamatoa grinned.

“And I’m sure I’d have found you delicious!” he exclaimed, sounding all the world like he was paying her a great compliment. Ancestors, he probably really thought he was.

“… Huh. Thanks?”

“You’re welcome!”

“Don’t go stealing my lines now,” Maui muttered, and stomped away, throwing the hook over his shoulder. “Let’s go. Wherever that hairpin is, it’s not here.”

Moana was about to follow, but paused - both of them did - when Tamatoa spoke up. “Sooo. You want that hairpin back, right?”

A few steps ahead of her, Maui stiffened before turning. His expression was icy. “Is there something you know and are not telling me, Crabcake? Want me to beat it out of you? Because if that’s what you want–”

“You don’t even know what it looks like, do you?” Tamatoa cut him off, taking a step closer. He was towering above them now, and Maui immediately put himself between him and Moana.

“But you do,” ha said. It wasn’t a question - it was a statement.

“Of course I do. I know every single piece of my treasure like the back of my claw,” the giant crab confirmed. “I could recognize them anywhere.”

“Get to the point.”

Tamatoa lowered himself to the ground, eyes getting slightly closer. Moana guessed that was supposed to be a non-threatening stand, but it was hard not to feel threatened all the same. “We both want something, don’t we? You want that hairpin, and I want my treasure back. Finding one means finding the other, or at least part of it.”

Maui raised an eyebrow. “… Tell me you’re not saying what I think you’re saying.”

Tamaroa grinned. “Of course I am! I… I think?” he paused, and frowned. “Depends? What do you think I’m saying?”

“That you want to come with us,” Moana spoke, and Tamatoa’s frown melted into another grin.

“Hah! Yes! Told you she’s the smart one!” he exclaimed, a triumphant note in his voice.

“Forget about it,” Maui snorted, and Tamatoa gave something that looked a lot like a pout.

“Seriously? Do you know how many golden pins like that one I collected? How many are out there scattered in the ocean right now? A lot, lemme tell you! What, are you going to hoard every single golden pin in the sea and in every island you can reach? Hah! That’s gonna take so long your skinny human friend will have long since turned to dust!”

Maui’s scowl deepened. “Leave her out of this.”

“And why? You dragged her into this.”

“I actually kind of insisted to come,” she pointed out. Tamatoa blinked down at her.

“… I take back what I said about you being the smart one.”

“Hey! I tricked you once, remember? If I’m not the smart one, what does that make you?”

“Fine, fine! I take back half of it. You’re still kinda smart. Are you happy no–”

��You’re not coming with us,” Maui snapped, cutting him off. “I can throw you way further than I can trust you.”

“You don’t need to trust me - just to know me,” Tamatoa pointed out. “You know what I want. If you can help me get it back, I’m all for helping you out. A measly golden hairpin is no price to pay, and as for your annoying company, I’ll manage. You help me find the treasure, and, the moment I see the thing you want, I’ll know and tell you. How ‘bout that? I get my treasure back, and you get your ugly hairpin!” he exclaimed, lowering himself enough to be… well, not quite at eye level, but the closest he could, and extended his claw. “Have we got a deal?”

Maui snorted, and swatted it aside. “I don’t make deals with–.”

“Deal.”

“You can’t be serious,” Maui protested, but his voice was drowned out by Tamatoa’s.

“Yes! Hah! I knew you were the smart one, huma–”

“Only one thing,” Moana cut him off, and stepped closer, until she was right before him, and gestured for him to lower his head. “Come closer.”

Tamatoa blinked, clearly curious, but he did lean as low as he could, eyes inching closer and antennae falling within her reach. Moana reached to grasp one for emphasis, picked one eye, and stared straight into it. “This human has a name,” she said, and Tamatoa blinked again.

“Oooh, right. Was it Marina or–”

“Moana,” she cut him off, yanking at his antennae. It wasn’t a strong enough pull for Tamatoa to feel any pain - she was sure she couldn’t hurt him even if she tried to - but it did cause him to shut his mouth. “Moana of Motunui. I sailed across the sea, restored the heart of Te Fiti–”

“And awful waste, if you ask to–”

“And right now,” she cut him off again, more forcefully, glaring into his right eye, “I am the one thing standing between you and a very powerful demigod who’d love to make a ship out of your shell.”

Tamatoa seemed about to say something but didn’t; his eyes flickered towards Maui for a moment before turning back to her, wide and somewhat bewildered. Good.

“Keep your word, and you’ll have your treasure back. Break it, and I won’t keep him from breaking you. Is that clear?”

Tamatoa blinked, bewilderment turning into something closer to fear.

“Is it?” she pressed on, and tugged at his antennae again. When Tamatoa spoke again, his voice was nothing short of a croak.

“… Crystal.”

***

[Back to Chapter 2]

[On to Chapter 4]

#disney #moana #maui #tamatoa

[starlightshoe]

For the character ask thing link from Zelda cdi

anon this is a brilliant ask

general opinion: fall in a hole and die | don’t like them | eh | they’re fine I guess | like them! | love them | actual love of my life hotness level: get away from me | meh | neutral | theoretically hot but not my type | pretty hot | gorgeous! | 10/10 would banghogwarts house: gryffindor | slytherin | ravenclaw | hufflepuffbest quality: boys got thhe spirtit ill admit thatworst quality: t h e r e is n o n e uhh he ran out the castle in 1 second bc some magic carpet dudes like “link u gotta go save this” “OH BOY!!” what is u doinship them with: linkxmorshu is the one true shipbrotp them with: the squadadla guyneeds to stay away from: the goddamn faces of evil boy the squadlala guy just showed 1(one) weird paper and ur already like GREAT LEMME GRAB MY STUFFmisc. thoughts: Link (L): Gee, it sure is boring around here.The King (K): My boy. This peace is what all warriors strive for.L: I just wonder what Ganon is up to.Gwonam: Your majesty. Ganon [gæn��n] and his minions have seized the islands of Koridai [kɔɹɪdaɪ̯].K: Hmm... How can we help?G: It is written: only Link can defeat Ganon.L: Great! I'll grab my stuff!G: There is no time; your sword is enough.L: How about a kiss... For luck?Zelda (Z): You've got to be kidding.G: Squadila! [squa.dɪ.la] We're off!L: Wow! What are all those heads?G: These are the faces of evil. You must conquer each.L: I guess I better get going.G: Here! ...Is the map. Where do you wish to go?⁓Morshu: Lamp oil, rope, bombs? You want it? It's yours, my friend, as long as you have enough rubies.⁓Morshu: Sorry, Link. I can't give credit. Come back when you a little... Mmm. Richer!⁓Frozen women: Help! Ganon froze the fountain; I'm stuck!⁓FW: Here, have some Water of Life.L: (Gulp, gulp, gulp!)FW: My, you're thirsty! Oh my goodness!⁓Fisherman: Biggest crab I ever caught. Heh-heh!L: It's a Goma!Fisherman: Yeah, pretty good. Here!L: Thanks!⁓Fisherman: Keep going, boy. You're doing real well. Once you get rid of Ganon, we can get back to fishing.⁓Fish Lady: Dairas [daɪras] came straight from the crater 'ill I boarded the vent. Used a skull for a latch and not one Dairas figured it out.⁓Ipo: I am the reader Ipo [aɪ.poʊ]. If you bring me the book of Koridai, I will gladly read the secret verse.⁓Fat (seductive) woman: You're not afraid of dragons. Are you?L: (Gulp.) Of course not.Fat woman: Then get my necklace back from Gleeok [gli.ɑk]. Okay? Pretty please?⁓Old (yellow coat) man: It's [dɛθs] mighty dark with all the evil about. Keep this lantern full. It will light your way.L: Thanks!⁓Old man: Not many left, Link. There's Druick [druɪ̩k]  'round the side of Glutko [glʌt.goʊ]. Aye.⁓G: Look! What has happened!Ganon: In the darkest nightmare hour, when the moon nor sun has risen, I take Zelda in my power. I shall keep her in my prison.⁓Ganon: Join me, Link! And I will make your face greatest in Koridai or else you will die!⁓Ganon: No! Not into the pit! It burns!⁓Fairy 1: You're doing great, Link!Fairy 2: You're our hero.F1: Here's a Life Heart.F2: We know you can beat Ganon.⁓F1: You're doing great, Link!F2: You're our hero.F1: Here's some Water of Life.F2: Drink, Link!⁓Old (ugly) witch: I may be old and ugly, but, I still know a few tricks! Bring some grapple-berries. I'll show you a good one.⁓Old witch: Stir the berries in the tub. Let the juices soak the glove. Let Link fight and gather cower. For his glove's a glove of power.L: Wow! Thanks!⁓Fat woman: How sweet. (Kisses) Muah. My husband gave me this. He's an [abɒmɪnʌm][?] now. Here. It's not much, but, it will still carry water.⁓Ice queen: Before you face the foul fiend Ganon, you must conquer Fortress Centrum [sɛn.trʌm]. Treasure of death is hidden. Bring it to me. Be gone.⁓IQ: This shield, both sword and spear deflects, but, cannot stop the villainous curse. This crystal makes the shield reflect cursing the curser with twice the curse.⁓G: Look! And see Goronu.Goronu: Wake up, sleepy bones. I'm the living anti cut ner vial throats. Bwuh-ha-ha...⁓Goronu: I may be hideous, but, after a year of being frozen, you will beg to join me.⁓L: Hey, Zelda. Wake up!Goronu [goroʊnu]: What? Link? You saved me!⁓Goronu: You can't kill me! No, no, no...!⁓G: See how Harliquin [harlɪkwɪn] capture Koridians?Computer: You lose.Koridian: (Sniffles)Harliquin: Do you know what it means when lose your last ruby?! (Snort.) Now you will work for me! (Snort.) Take him away! (Snort.)⁓Harliquin: I say your chances are a million to none, but, let's have fun! Anyway!⁓Harliquin: Now you see me. Now you don't!⁓Harliquin: Ah! Ah-ha... Lucky shot...L: Golly!⁓Astronomer: The stars are made of ice. Thus, the night is cold. Bring the crystal from Sairagon [sɛrɑgɔn] and I will prove the light of ice penetrate more than fire.⁓Astronomer: Now, if we make a simple vacuum and spin the ice just so. There!⁓G: Look! ...How Militron [mɪlɪtrɒn] makes his warriors.Militron: Worthless Koridian. You must be hardened with fire! Go and kill!⁓Militron: Feel the fire of war!⁓Militron: Now, you must die!⁓Militron: Oh my goodness! This is awful!⁓Fat Girl: My hero! (Kiss) Won't youL: Oh, God...FG: ---please jump across that lil' old chasm---L: Yuck...FG: ---and cut my daddy's chains? Pretty please? Have a heart.⁓Smith: Please, Link. Jump and cut these chains. The Arpagos [ɑrpagʌs] are driving me crazy.⁓Smith: Thanks. Say, you have a Fire Diamond, don't you?L: Sure!Smith: Then let me fix your sword. Let's see how it works.L: Wow!⁓Beer guy: What are you're havin' partner? [pɑrt.ə]L: I'm going to fight Glutko.BG: Don't fight him; feed him! (Snort.) Feed him something spicy! Know what I mean?⁓G: Through the eye of Glutko lies the shrine of Koridai.Glutko: Awm-yee. I'm simply famished.Koridian: No!Glutko: Mmm. Tastes like a Daira [daɪra]! Perhaps just one more?⁓Glutko: Good goodie! Mashed Link for the main course.⁓Glutko: Wuh-oh!⁓Ipo: Listen! Such is the power of the prince of darkness that he can kill with a single look. Attacks against Ganon will prove fruitless unless Link attacks with the sacred book.⁓G: Consider Lupay [lupeɪ], the most of Ganon's minions.Lupay: With this ruby, I replace your soul. You will obey.Koridan: Ah-woo-ooh... Aw-woo-ooh.⁓Lupay: I spy with my eye, someone who must die.⁓Lupay: I will not die! Ah-woo...⁓G: At last, you have the vision to find my house! Now, you will see the [sæn.kɹu.mis] that prevent your approach to Ganon. Go, with many blessings!⁓Z: Uh. Why'd you do that?L: I just saved you from Ganon!Z: You did not!G: Well done, Link! Ganon is once again imprisoned. Come, look! Already Koridai is returing to harmony. The birds are singing. Is it beatiful?L: Golly!G: As it written, you, Link, are the hero of Koridai!L: I guess that's worth a kiss? Huh?Z: Ha!L: I won!