The good side has candy.

Roleplay blog for Baegels Hero and Villain OC's. 

[candy-corps]

Join the ✨𝙿𝚊𝚝𝚌𝚑-𝙲𝚒𝚝𝚢🦸 Discord Server!

Check out the ✨𝙿𝚊𝚝𝚌𝚑-𝙲𝚒𝚝𝚢🦸 community on Discord - hang out with 200 other members and enjoy free voice and text chat.

This is the roleplay server where I keep writing on my stories for anyone that’s interested. 

[foodffs]

ONE COOKIE DOUGH, SEVEN POSSIBLE FLAVORS

Follow for recipes

Is this how you roll?

[chekhov]

[wildeismsremade-deactivated2019]

[broitsablog]

@indigopersei is the french language just always on the verge of getting someone accused of assault or..?

[dammitperseus]

my friend, if only you knew

[randomfandomteacher]

It’s a very dangerous language to learn

[party-bees-deactivated20181211]

Here’s an interesting thing about French! Everything needs to have an article in front of it. That’s why it’s “la chat” as opposed to just “chat”. So, for instance, you could say la fille for the girl, or jeune fille for young girl, but you can’t just say fille, because that means you are calling her a sex worker in a derogatory way.

The moral of the story is, if you want to make something rude in French, just take out the article in front of it. Yes, this works for nearly. every. word.

[wine-dark-sea]

#now I’m wondering how often my high school french teacher was silently screaming because of this little fact

Every year. Every year there’s that kid who forgets that you can’t translate “I am excited” to “Je suis excitée”. And every year Monsieur Jordan has to slam the brakes before that kid can finish his sentence and then tactfully ask him not to announce to the class that he is horny.

[shamwowxl]

“is the french language always on the verge” oh buddy, oh pal, i am so happy to break this news to you: 

[super-metroid]

truly the language of love

[delta-breezes]

Cookies Frankenstein for Halloween | Kanela and Lemon 

[neetcore]

[skoggybear]

[shield-maiden13-deactivated2021]

If looks could kill

[melililou]

27日から吉祥寺のにじ画廊で開催されるきのこの森展にてきのこクッキーを販売します。よろしくお願いします～！

[cineraria]

[tinybluedeer]

this cat is cooler than i’ll ever be

[candy-corps]

Powerless

Seth is written by @vulcan-and-the-mighty-muses​ !

Three attempts. That's how many it took until the teleporter worked and Forest found the missing kid. He's not been teaching him, but knew he was part of the class. Part of the 'ungifted' one. He didn't vote on the term. The batman approached slow, meaning to give the boy a small scare for skipping classes like that. Then, close enough, he crossed his arms and spoke up: "Anywhere you should be right now?"

Seth jumped a bit and looked up at Mr. Forest before he slowly looked back out at the lake and pulled his legs up to his chest. "I... I know it's wrong to skip school, but I just wanted some time alone to think..." He didn't think the teacher would understand how he felt. After all, Mr. Forest taught all of the gifted kids. The ones who lived in the tower like he did, but he wasn't like them. There wasn't anything special about him. At least not the way they were devided in school.

"Now?" Forest blinked, surprised by what seemed to be an honest answer. He listened around. Seth chose wisely when he wanted an uncrowded place: There wasn't a single soul nearby. Still: "That's what time before and after school is for." He uncrossed his arms but kept standing as if he expected Seth to get up and go with him.

"Before school I don't have time to think. I have to be out by a certain time, and it's not quiet enough for me to think about this like I want to. And after I have to be home with the others. During the weekend my mom's like to spend time with me. This is the only way I could think of where I could just...just sit and think..." He wasn't really paying attention to what Mr. Forest was doing. But he knew what the teacher wanted. So with a sigh he slowly stood up with his eyes to the ground.

Good boy. Forest gave him a smile, though he wouldn't see with his gaze lowered like that. "Come on" he prompted and got going. "I can count this as P.E. as long as we keep moving." Private lesson beach walk it was going to be then.

He began to follow the teacher keep his eyes down. Eventually, after a bit of a walk, he sighed and looked up. "Mr. Forest, do...do I belong in the tower with everyone else?" The only answer he could on his own was that Metro Tower was only for those who had powers and he didn't. While everyone around his age had something that made them special he was the only one among them who didn't have anything that made him unique from everyone else. This was a question he had been struggling with ever since he had started going to school there. He had gotten so use to being around the kids in the tower not being around them had made him realize that maybe he'd never belonged around them.

"Yes, you do" was the prompt answer. Forest looked at him. "It's a place for heroes and their relatives. Therefore, you belong there. Why ... - Don't you like it?" he wondered, hands now in his pockets.

"Yeah, but..." He went silent for a moment. Maybe this was a bad idea to talk to Mr. Forest about this. After all, everyone made certain he knew that being a hero was only for who were Gifted. "N-Nevermind. It's nothing." Though his tone didn't make it sound like it was nothing.

"Alright" Forest replied unconcerned. He kept walking, really enjoying to feel the sand under his feet. It's been a while. "But ... " "If it was something, like, what would that be?" he wondered, curious about it.

He looked down thinking about it. "The kids in my class always talk about you guys, but..." He wasn't sure how to phrase it, but he had to try. "I'm not gifted, and everyone talks about how only gifted are allowed in the tower...They always talk about what they think it's like in there, but they call me a liar...If they think that then what will the other kids think one day?" He rubbed one of his eyes trying to keep from crying. "What if the other kids in the tower start to think of me differently because we're sperated in school like this?"

"That's not nice" Forest noted. "And also not true. The gifted people are nothing when there is no support. When not everyone is doing their part" he explained. "I'll stretch that in classes. Sorry about it making you feel that way. But you are important." There was no doubt about that.

"It's not the teachers. It's the other students..." He sighed again. "I don't feel important. I just feel like...like the tower is for people like you. Those who can actually make a difference while I'm just taking up space there... There's nothing special about me..."

Forest frowned. Seth said 'nothing special' as if it was a bad thing. "What do you think makes me return to the Tower? Makes Belle return to the Tower?" Forest asked before answering himself: "The Tower is special because you're in the Tower. Because our family are in there. Without you," he continued, " - we'd keep working and working and never get home. Never ... take a walk on the beach." He smirked. "You look out for us while we look out for others. I thought that you knew."

He looked up at the other and shook his head. "I...I didn't." That did make him feel a bit better and he smiled a bit. But it didn't last long before he sighed. "I'm really sorry for skipping like this. I'm sure I'll be grounded for this. But it's alright because I did do something bad."

Depended on the viewpoint. "You took time for yourself when you needed it. That's good" Forest found. Better than he could do, actually. "You made me go to the beach. That's good" he kept listing. "You ... just didn't tell Belle. She'd been worried ... hadn't I lied to her and said that you're in school." Still: "That's a solid 2 out of of 3. I give you pass." He smiled.

Seth smiled a little. "Thank you for covering for me. But we should get back to school. And tonight we can all spend time together like a proper family." He was glad to know that he did do something for the tower. That he did have a place there even of he wasn't in the gifted classes.

"Good plan" Forest found. "I'll be there."

[travelbinge]

By Jurgis P

Bath, Somerset, England

[snowflakeeel]

- @jistring

[wizzardbaby]

PUT YOUR HAND IN THAT CRACK

AND YOU WONT GET IT BACK

[chickenwhite]

WHEEEEN THE JAWS OPEN WIDE

AND THERE’S MORE JAWS INSIDE

[your-mouths-a-constellation]

WHEN IT SWIMS ON A REEF

AND HAS TWO SETS OF TEETH

[snowflakeeel]

[debbiee14-deactivated20230521]

Glowing sky

[save-the-bats]

This Big Brown Bat pictured here has the potential to eat 1,000 insects an hour! Due to their insect eating ability, these bats are able to protect our crops, like apples, from pesky bugs! So for “Apple Day,” enjoy a delicious apple and thank the bats! 

[photos-worth]

The Last Harvest, by PhilKoch

Autumn in Wisconsin.

[ponderation]

Purple by ShaneBainPhotography

[candy-corps]

Much needed Cuddles

Jaal written by @mygardenofmuses !

Jaal felt sleep leaving him, as he heard some noise. People talking. Just an usual morning. And then, silence. He was too tired to make sense of anything, so he simply snuggled up to Bruce and closed his eyes. These were much needed snuggles.

Bruce had a much deeper sleep, at least when it came to noises. These didn't bother him. What did, was Jaal shifting, which the batman interpreted as him leaving right away. No. The hold of Bruce' wing around Jaal tightened. He made a complaining sound as well, but was not really awake just yet.

Jaal cuddled up to him. He wasn't fully awake either, so he simply sank into the warmth provided with Bruce's warm wings.

Huh? Jaal didn't make any attempt to leave, Bruce finally noticed. He just lay there, being cute. Bruce exhaled and relaxed all the same. His hold softened - and then gentle purrs came from him, as a thanks to Jaal for staying.

Jaal purred weakly in return. He was too sleepy to actually talk; too tired to wake up. But Bruce's warmth fixed it all.

Aww. Bruce smiled as he heard the purr. 'Not very Angaran of you, Jaal', he scolded his partner in his mind jokingly. Still, he pet his side under his wing, careful. He didn't want to disturb, he just loved him so much.

Jaal made a whimpering noise and clung to Bruce. Given Angaran's sleep patterns were pretty messed up in a entirely different planet, sometimes Jaal had quick nightmares. They never lasted more than a few minutes and Jaal rarely remembered them when he woke up - but at that moment, it was one scary enough to make him bury his face in Bruce's chest.

"It's all good." Bruce spoke up, coaxing Jaal a little to distract from whatever bad thought chased him. "I'm here." He kissed the top of Jaal's head and then moved his wing to brush his partner's back a bit.

His kiss was enough for the Angaran to settle down. His shoulders fell down as he sank into his partner's embrace. The nightmares had ended, and with it, a still very groggy Jaal opened one eye. "Bruce...?"

"Yeah?" came the soft answer. Bruce' ear perked up in alarm as Jaal woke up. He's been touched when his partner relaxed in his hold. Now that he woke up though, he worried he did something wrong -

"Mmmh." Jaal smiled and snuggled up to him. "I'm happy you're here." He purred and closed his eyes again. "I love you." He whispered against his chest.

Pheeew. Good news. "Of course I'm here. I love you, too" Bruce said, relaxing again. He pet the back of Jaal's head, very content with their current arrangement. It made him feel tall.

"I had a nightmare." He mumbled, nuzzling his chest. "Something of... giant crabs. It was scary." Jaal looked up to him. "But then you kissed me and they vanished..."

Ah. "So that was it." Crabs? How odd. "I noticed something was the matter" Bruce admit. He then kissed Jaal again just as he did a couple minutes ago and afterwards continued petting Jaal's head.

"Mmmh..." Jaal returned the kiss with ease, then raised one hand to pet Bruce's chest. "Feel like sleeping more? Or should we fix ourselves some breakfast, and then go back to snuggle?"

Bruce blinked slow and took a breath before he replied. "I met your mom in the kitchen last night." Now he was a little scared to go, in all honesty. "I would like to feel adequate ... for a minute?" First? Maybe? Bruce exhaled again. "I don't want to sleep. But I can watch you. Or - Or we don't sleep" he suggested as if it was the wildest thing in the world. He reached for Jaal's hand on his chest and covered it. He liked to have it on his heart. It helped with the ache there.

Jaal's eyes went wide. "She was awake last night? When did that happen? Was she OK?", he asked, clearly concerned. "Did she feel sick or something?"

"No, no. All good" Bruce answered calm. "Couldn't sleep. I made her warm milk. And she liked it. We talked and then went to bed again." Bruce brushed his thumb over Jaal's hand.

"Oh, that's a relief." Jaal sighed and pressed a kiss to Bruce's cheek. "Thanks for helping her. You're the best."

"Thanks." It was nice to hear, coming from Jaal. He nuzzled him a little, still hesitant; then sighed. "I got food last night. I was hungry. When you'd rather eat, it's okay." He'd like to stay in bed a bit longer, but Jaal was Bruce' priority.

"What is it? We could eat it and go back to bed. I wouldn't mind spend all day in bed today to be true... I'm still tired after the trip." Jaal mumbled, petting gently his chest to comfort him.

"Uhm." Bruce stretched and looked back at the half finished fruit bowl from last night. "I don't think you'll like to eat that." It was half fruit, half honey, and he didn't even bother to cut the fruit in any particular shape - He didn't want to go to the kitchen, but there seemed no other way. Bruce whined and then leaned on Jaal. "We have to bring her back at some point" he reminded him.

"Bring who?" Jaal yawned. Clearly he was still way too tired, because he couldn't put two and two together just yet. Suddenly, his eyes went wide as realization hit him. "Right... you mean my mom, uh?"

"Yeah." God, he didn't want to. He was just home; at a place it was okay being himself. Now he should go back? But letting Jaal go alone wasn't an option. He'd have to suck it up, hide where possible. Try not to let the others get to him too much.

"I can just take her, drop her there and come back if you don't want to go. Less pain for you." Jaal offered. "I know how stressing it was for you."

Bruce shook his head. "I belong to you" he argued quiet and a little insecure. The thought of Jaal going somewhere he couldn't follow him was nothing he could handle.

Jaal smiled and kissed his forehead. "Alright, then we'll go together. We just drop her home and come back, no need to drag the farewells."

Bruce nodded wordlessly. That sounded alright. "Let's get you food" he suggested, not exactly excited. Every step out of their nest was one further to Andromeda.

"Can you go get some for me? I kinda want to stay here and rest a bit more..." Jaal gave him his best puppy eyes.

Bruce didn't reply right away. He wanted to stay with Jaal. But ... Jaal not as much with him. "Okay" he replied finally. He could do it. Now he knew what to substitute sugar for, too. He was sure he could cook something up Jaal could like. Bruce pulled his wing back and leaned up. He'd place a few pillows closer to Jaal before leaving and looked for a few good ones.

The moment Bruce left the bed, Jaal missed him already. He got up and hugged Bruce from behind. "I changed my mind." He whispered in his ear. "Come back to bed with me."

"I'd like that" Bruce admit, looking down and touched Jaal's hand around his middle. Being held felt nice. Just: "Weren't you hungry?" He'd not like when people thought he let his partner starve ...

"I'm hungry, but I'm craving my soulmate's warmth much more." He kissed his shoulder. "I want to pamper you."

Soulmate. "I like that word" Bruce said, still holding on to Jaal. It sounded deeper than 'partner' that could describe both, a romantic and platonic way of being with each other. And it didn't have a tone of 'husband' or 'fiancé' with any of the hurtful strings attached to them. Bruce raised Jaal's hands to his chest again and exhaled. Okay then. He'd stay.

"Good. Tell me more things that you like." Jaal rubbed geently his hands and down his chest, as he left tiny kisses over his shoulders. One, two, three... Always slow, calculated, as if he was watching where to place the next.

More things he liked? Oh, that wasn't easy. "Hhhiding" Bruce figured. He didn't want to be hurt any more; he didn't know how much more he could take. But then again: it wasn't Angaran, was it. Which just made him want to hide more now. "And being quiet."

"I meant things I can do to you." Jaal nuzzled his shoulder. "But we can hide our bed and just be quiet, if that makes you happy. I want to do nice things for you."

"Thanks." Bruce wrapped his wing neatly around his front, so it reached far enough to reach Jaal behind him, too. "Well. I'd like the company" he admit. Which probably wasn't what Jaal was going for, either. Bruce sighed. "I just want to feel safe... "

"Well, we're in Earth. It can't get safer than that." Jaal chuckled and kissed his cheek. "We're home now, and no one can judge us. We can just stay here, for as long as you want."

"Your mom may be in the kitchen" Bruce reminded him, leaning back to urge Jaal back into bed.

"I have the feeling she left. I heard it earlier. She was talking to someone... and then, silence." Jaal explained.

Oh, okay. "Belle, maybe ... " Bruce figured. But that wasn't important. He shook his head. "It's not that. I just don't feel as safe as I used to after Andromeda." Bruce turned around. It was better to say it to Jaal's face. Thinking of it, it was better to say while he also pet Jaal's cheek. "I don't care being in unsafe places. Long as I know you have my back. But you just hid me. You didn't say I'm good when the others said I'm not" he said unhappily.

"I was shocked. So shocked that I froze in fear..." Jaal released Bruce and looked away. "Everything happened so fast. Yes, I made mistakes when I tried to help you, and I'm sorry for that. I was a complete idiot and I don't deserve you..." He sighed and covered his face. "To be honest, I don't want to think of what happened there. It was a complete mess. I just want to forget about it and be happy with you... I'm just so tired, so tired of all the bad things..." A choked sob escaped him.

He made him cry ... "I'm sorry" Bruce apologized, his wings lowering. He laid his hand on the spot where Jaal's heart was beating in hopes of it comforting him a little bit, too. "I answer the questions when you want me to. And I won't act weird around your family when you tell me not to be." Heck: "I'll be okay without kids. Okay? I'm really sorry. May I - ?" He let his wings graze Jaal's back.

"I'm sorry too. And yes, yes you may..." Jaal nodded weakly. "I am so, so sorry Bruce... All I know is that I screwed up real bad..." He rubbed his eyes. "I do want kids, as many as you want. I am so angry at my family, and myself, over all this mess... We let you down. I let you down. I'm the worst..." He looked up to him. "But I want to be someone good, someone deserving of your affection. How can I make things better?"

First things first. Bruce's wings moved further on Jaal's back and embraced him. Second things second, he cupped Jaal's face to have his full attention. "I love you, Jaal. Nothing's gonna change about it." Bruce sighed. Third things third. "I want ... you to have children. I want you to have a partner that goes with your family. Someone you're ... proud of. Someone you don't have to hide. Someone important. And I ... I failed. On my own. Okay?" Jaal shouldn't feel bad about that. It was how it was.

"I love you too..." Jaal was shaking. "I'm done with my family's tests and complaints. You didn't fail, they failed, I failed. They're idiots. But you...  You are so, SO important to me. I want just you by my side, fuck everything else." He wiped away his tears the best he could. "I promise I'll take better care of you from now on. You come first, always. You have my word. Cross my heart." He drew an x over his chest.

That was new. "Thanks, Jaal" Bruce replied, sincere. He covered his own heart. "I ... I'll be better, too" he promised. Jaal cried. He hadn't been taking enough care of him. "Would you like to have food? I can make you some. I'd like to" he assured him. They were already out of bed, so. Bruce pet Jaal's cheek and brushed his back just like earlier when he's had a bad dream.

"Food sounds good..." Jaal whispered. He raised one hand and caressed his chest, then his cheek. "I can make some food for you as well. We can make each other's breakfast. What would you like to eat?"

"Good idea" Bruce found, still holding Jaal. "We could make pancakes. And see if spicy food tastes sweet for you. Because then I'd know exactly how to season your food." Bruce caressed the side of Jaal's head now and gave him a few kisses.

"That's a great idea!" Jaal smiled at the thought. "Pancakes are fun to prepare. And we can test the spicy now, it should be easy if you have anything spicy in the kitchen." His cheeks warmed up at his kisses. He nuzzled his temple and kissed his cheeks. "Maybe I could add syrup? I've read some Earth cuisine books, and syrup apparently is very sweet. Give you like sweet things, maybe I could put some on your pancakes, what do you think?"

"Yeah. I like maple syrup and honey. I show you" Bruce promised while nuzzling Jaal back. "I'll make a few extra, for when your mom is back. So you better be honest if they're any good" Bruce warned Jaal.

"I will be." Jaal smiled and kissed his cheek. He had a suspicion that things would get better from now on.

Jaal stretched his arms and wrapped one around Bruce's shoulders, guiding him to his workshop. "You know, Bruce... I've been building on this for a while. It's a surprise for you.  Call it... an early Halloween treat, except it's no candy."

Copying Jaal, Bruce stretched his wing across his partner's back to hold him, too. "Huh." A treat but no candy. That he build? For a while?  "Pie?" he guessed, wondering.

"It's no food, but it has several layers." Jaal chuckled and kissed his cheek. He would never guess, but the guessing game was fun anyway.

No food? " ... " Bruce couldn't think of anything, yet he was curious, of course. He rested his head on Jaal's shoulder and just looked up at him. Maybe he'd get a tip or ... he's just tell - ?

"Do you give up?" Jaal giggled, raising his hands. "I'd like to cover your eyes for a bigger effect. Would you allow me to do so?"

Bruce ended up smiling. "But of course" he allowed Jaal. He didn't mind much not to see anything. "Can I still use echolocation?" he asked, just making sure.

"You may, but you won't be able to tell what is it." Jaal giggled. He kissed his cheek, then placed himself behind Bruce tocover his eyes and guide him. "Ok, my workshop is right over there..." They crossed the door, and Jaal released him. "Don't open your eyes just yet. Gimme a minute to prepare everything, yes?"

"I can see you with the sound you make" Bruce told him, leaving his eyes closed happily. He was good with darkness. Actually, he felt good like this. The tip of his tail moved a little, happily. "Is it music?" he kept guessing. There were several layers to it ...

"Close! It includes music." Jaal walked to a box he kept hidden under the table. He took a small machine from the box and turned it on. A low, Halloween-esque tune began to play, and Jaal turned off the lights. Then he placed the machine on the floor and took Bruce's hand in his. "Alright, you can open your eyes now." The machine was a Halloween-themed proyector, that displayed all kind of creatures made of shadows. Bats, vampires, mummies, witches, werewolves, zombies and skeletons, all danced and played following the music.

Bruce gasped as soon as he opened his eyes. The shadows! The music! "I love it!" he exclaimed and hugged Jaal excitedly as he kept watching. "You know what Halloween's about?" He didn't dare to expect anything ... !

"It's one of the first things Ryder taught me about, along with Krismooose." Jaal still couldn't get the word "Christmas" just right. He hugged Bruce back, a shy smile on his lips. "Since you love Halloween so much, I decided to build a proyector just for you.  I still have a lot to learn, though. What are the tricks and treats thing?"

"Oh that! Is what the kids do" Bruce explained, still not letting go of Jaal, and still smiling wide as he saw the projections. "You either give them a treat ... or they pull a trick on you. It's tradition." A tiny purr came from Bruce as he nuzzled Jaal. It became a rare thing since he actively tried to cut back on it. Overwhelmed though as he was, he couldn't hide his joy all that easy. "Thank you."

Jaal purred quietly in return and nuzzled him affectionately. "Thank you for explaining. That traditions sounds fun. Can adults do it too, or is it limited to kids only? I'd like to celebrate it. There are no pumpkins in space. But now I'm in Earth... we could celebrate it? If you want?"

"Of course I do" Bruce replied. He kissed Jaal's jawline since it was easy to reach. He was still overwhelmed by the fact that Jaal did something for him, and for Halloween of sll things. "We can accompany a kid. We just need one. Or we set up something spooky around town. This here ... " He looked at the shadows again, smiling, " - that's perfect."

"That would be wonderful! I want to do everything with you!" Jaal hugged him even tighter. He was really excited to share a new holiday with him. "We could accompany Damien or one of Belle's kids. And where could we set up spooky things?"

These were all great ideas. Bruce took a break from kissing Jaal for a moment and nuzzled him instead while thinking. "There's a park nearby" he remembered then. He didn't expect kids to come to the Tower trick or treating, but the park was sure to get some visitors and instead of in the Tower, they could very well set something up there. "We can decorate it. I make candy for the kids to have ... "

"Then I make decorations. We could take a proyector there as well!" Jaal left a kiss on his forehead, then knelt to start picking up materials. "Halloween is tomorrow, so we better get ready!"

[candy-corps]

Just Resting Here

Sahuna written by @mygardenofmuses !

Alone … again … Forest entered the tower in the early hours of the day. The sun was about to rise and as much as he wanted to stay up … he had to rest. Half asleep already and without other audible company there, he made his way to the couch in the living room - and passed out just a short distance from it. Like this he slept, for, what felt like a minute, when someone stepped on him. “Hheeey … ” he complained and curled up on the floor - pulling the hurt wing up close. It was brighter now - maybe alteady morning? With his vision still blurry, Forest only made out the shape of his 'attacker’. “Jaal… ” Forest realized, disappointed. Why was he always mean to him?

“No, I’m Sahuna. Bruce?” Sahuna was beyond confused. She only wanted to explore the house, but finding the bat sleeping there wasn’t something she expected to see. “What are you doing here? Why aren’t you sleeping with Jaal?”

Forest yawned, first of all. “I’m not Bruce” he replied then, quick and simple. “ - is why. Didn’t know Jaal’s sister came to visit” he apologized sleepy. “Hi.”

“I’m Jaal’s mother. You must be real tired not to see how old I am.” The woman laughed. “Get up, kid. You need some coffee. It’s one of the few human drinks I know how to prepare. I’ll make you some.”

“Thanks.” Oh, his mom then. Forest smiled up at her. “Just … ” Uh. “ - five more days.” Yeah. Realistic. Forest covered himself with a wing again.

“Neither Jaal or Bruce are here to tell me how to do things, so until further notice - we’ll do things Sahuna’s way. And I am a very strong mom.” Quite literally, as she searched for spots to lift Forest into her arms. “Come on, kid. You can’t sleep for five days. Are you going to miss five days of productivity?”

“Hng … no … ” Forest whined. “I sleep and work.” Dolphins could do it. He was smarter than a dolphin… Unaware of what Sahuna wanted, Forest anchored his wing on her shoulder as she was close: assuming she would rest with him. Little did he know there was gonna be a pull. Out of reflex, he clung to her. “Hey … ” he complained, very very weakly. He liked to be held.

“What a big baby you are. My son Helke did the same thing until he was 15.” Sahuna carried him like he weighed nothing, in a very mom-and-child fashion.  "No complaining allowed. I need to prove Bruce I’m worthy of his forgiveness, so I’m going to do good things for him. Clean the house, prepare the breakfast, wash the clothes and the dishes… And since you were so kind to drop by, you’re going to help me.“

"I like to help” Forest admit grumbling. He knew nothing about Bruce being mad at this one, but doing him and Jaal something good was for his taste. “Alright” he gave in.

“Good boy.” Sahuna smiled. She carried to the kitchen and placed him on one of the chairs. “Wait there. I’ll prepare coffee for you. Then we’ll start cleaning the house. I’m not sure if those two are at home or not, so I’ll leave the breakfast for the very end.”

Well, he wasn’t going anywhere. Forest rested his arms and head on the counter; getting as comfortable here as he could. “They’re home alright” Forest affirmed, yawning again.

“They are? How do you know?” Sahuna arched one brow ridge at him. “They could have gone somewhere, given how quiet everything is…”

Quiet? Not for him. “They’re in the bedroom. Damien’s in his room - he’s up already. There’s two more on Belle’s side … ” he mumbled, now frowning as well. It should be more. Did Belle already leave? It was so early. Forest looked to the window, checking twice, but yeah. “I have good ears” he explained on the side.

“You batpeoples never cease to impress me.” Sahuna mumbled, turning her attention back to the coffee brewing before her. “My sense of hearing isn’t that strong. Like, at all. I thought there was no one at home.”

Nah. “It’s not like … Bruce, to leave without notice” Forest said, now looking back at Sahuna. The sound of the coffee machine was good to hear for him, up close. It’s been a while since he did. “Please don’t fill the cup all the way … ” he requested.

“Alright dear, I can do that.” Sahuna waited a moment before filling the cup. Just like Forest requested, she filled just half of it, then handed the cup to him, along with some sugar envelopes and a cup of milk.  "Here. If you want more coffee, I can pour you more.“

"Thank you. That was really nice of you” Forest said. He went ahead an ripped the sugar envelopes open and added piece by piece by piece to the coffee. He didn’t want room for milk actually: He wanted room for sugar.

Sahuna turned around and poured a cup for herself with plenty of milk and two envelopes of sugar. “You’re welcome. I really hope Bruce thinks the same after he sees all the good things I want to do for him.”

Forest nodded. “I’m sure he will. It’s a little strange though” he found, looking at the direction of the bedroom again; still pouring sugar packet after sugar packet. “He should be up, making you feel at home.” Who knew what that was about. Reaching the last of the sugar envelopes, Forest was so free and took a handful more to rip open.

“He can’t forgive me after I tried to convince him to follow the Angaran customs. Apparently purring is very important for him. I wonder why is that.” Sahuna shrugged a little. “I’m trying to understand him, little by little.”

“Well” Forest started, shaking out the last bit of sugar of the current package … and then taking the next one. “You can always ask me. We’re about the same. I’m just a little bit older, is all.” Finally he took a spoon to stir the coffee-sugar mixture.

“In that case… Why is purring so important for him?” Sahuna asked, stirring her coffee  with a spoon.  "For us Angarans, it has heavy sexual connotations. It’s like asking for sex. So it isn’t something you’d do in front of your elders or kids. We save that mainly for the bedroom. But it seems he needs to do it all the time. Jaal told me he can’t control it. Is it some kind of instinct or body function like breathing or diggesting food?“

"I see” Forest said, thinking of it. “Huh.” He took a moment. “What you need to know is, we, bats, are very nervous people. When there’s too much sound it makes us uncomfortable, when there’s too little … ” He just shook his head and smiled. Silence was a no-go. “And then there’s purring. You don’t know what to say, you don’t want to say something. All you want is sound. To stay calm… To calm others … ” Something like that. “You purr. As reflex.” He took a sip of the coffee, which was, as he found, very good.

“So it’s like blinking…” Sahuna rubbed her chin. “That makes so much sense. I can see why he can’t control it. If there’s a place with enough noise, does a bat need to purr as well?” She was interested in learning more.

“Oh, yes.” This would be harder to explain, but he had coffee now and found it nice that Sahuna was listening so intently. Forest pushed the empty sugar packets aside, all but one. “Imagine this is a sound. This is a … car passing by” he decided; then put another packet next to it. “This is person talking on the other side of the street” he continued. Then added another packet, and another, and so on. “The voice of the person that talks through the phone. Their heart beat. Their breathing. There can be radios, there can be more people. There can be ants, birds, leaves rustling … ” Half the table was back full with empty sugar packets, spread all over. “And then you purr. Or there’s someone who purrs.” He put his finger on just one and let that wriggle a bit. “And you can concentrate on that alone, for a bit. And what’s actually nearby.” He let go again and continued to drink coffee. “That’s what it’s like for me, at least.”

“Like some kind of inner radar?” Sahuna narrowed her eyes, focusing her attention on the empty package that symbolised the purr. “Or it it more a signal for a safe spot, like saying 'Hello, fellow bat friend, I am a bat as well’. Something like that?” She cocked her head. “I’m asking because some animals in my planey do this as well, but they don’t purr. They scream… usually at unholy hours of the night too.” She chuckled at the coincidence.

Forest laughed. It was a fun thought. “That’s something else. Purring’s just helping to have a steady sound to focus on in the middle of chaos” he assured.

“A signal for a safe spot, then.” She smiled at his laughter. “You’d end hating these animals. Imagine you’re sleeping soundly, and then you hear this high-pitched scream, so loud that you need to cheek if it’s an animal or an actual murder. My uncle Juloma went paranoid 'cause of these little pests, he was convinced that his neighborhood was more dangerous than it actually was.”

Poor guy. “I’m good with sleeping through noise actually. Which can be dangerous. So I prefer to be with company. Or at the very least, be here.” Forest used the teaspoon to stir the remaining sugar at the bottom of the cup and then drank thar in one go. Finally he felt awake.

Sahuna arched a brow ridge. He was sleeping alone in the couch, so probably he didn’t have a fixed mate just yet. “You sound like you’ve got your head right on your shoulders. I like you, Forest. You’d make a good mate for my son. However…” She chuckled. “Jaal is crazy in love with Bruce. I haven’t seen him falling this hard for someone since his youth. So I’m afraid he’s very taken. I have other 24 children, though.”  She drank her coffee as well, then looked up to him. “Feel ready to start working in chores?”

Forest nodded. He was up for the task. “Funny” he mentioned, “I always wanted 27. 24 is close.” He got up and took his and Sahuna’s empty cups. He was living here, too, so he knew his way around. And, like, where the dishwasher was.

“Believe me, you don’t want that. Imagine how awful it is to lactate for triplets that bite your breasts. Or having five kids howling at bedtime.” She laughed and shook her head. “If it wasn’t for my three wives, I would have gone nuts.”

Three wives!? “That sounds … amazing actually” Forest found. He stored the cups in the dishwasher, along with a knife and cutting board he found on the counter. “I’d rather babysit … babies than a human city. I bet there’s something going on again this moment.” Better not to think about it … Forest shut the dishwasher, figuring it was loaded enough, and turned it on. It made a sirring, then some splashing noises within.

“Angaran babies, bat babies, or human babies?” Sahuna chuckled, crossing her arms. “Because each type is different. Can’t say about human or bat kids, but I’m an expert on babies of my species.”

Forest didn’t have to think for long. “All. Doesn’t matter where they’re from” he found. “Only matters that they’re part. Me and Belle are adopted by humans and they are … ” How to even sum it up? “ - the best.” Yes. That was a phrase. The dishwasher stopped to make noises all of a sudden. The power key blinked and died then. Instead, a green light turned on. The dishes were done. Forest opened the machine again, revealing clean, but steaming, dishes.

“You seem to like humans more than Bruce does.” Sahuna knelt next the washing machine. “Where does Bruce keep his dishes? Just asking so I can help you to put them in place.”

“Oh, you can just pile them up and I store them away” Forest offered. “But give it a minute - they’re still hot” he warned. As for Bruce: “Bruce actually … got his reasons. I heard his parents were killed by other humans.” Holding a grudge against humanity there … was quite understandable. Forest touched one of the plates, which was still warm, but not burning hot anymore. Guessing it save, he pulled out the tray to make it easier to take everything out.

“OK, I can do that.” Sahuna waited until she could see that the dishes weren’t that hot anymore. She began to pile them up on the table. “And I can understand how he feels. The Kett captured many of our people and turned them into Kett via genetic manipulation, erasing their memories and turning them into monsters. Many nights I wonder how many of our older brothers and sisters died because of the Kett…”

How awful. “Sorry to hear” Forest replied. He collected the clean mugs for now, and rested his wing on Sahuna as she got up .

“This feels nice.” Sahuna gave a gentle pet to his wing. “And it’s alright. The war ended years ago, but the wounds never fade completely.” She cocked her head. “Let’s find some supplies to start cleaning the floor. Do you know where Bruce keeps them?”

“No clue.” He wasn’t around when the floor was cleaned. It just … happened to be clean whenever he got home. When he got home. “I think they are on Belle’s side. We can go there” he offered. It may be Belle’s part, true, but he was allowed to enter, and Sahuna was his guest. It should be fine.

“Would she fine with it? I haven’t met her personally just yet…” Sahuna felt a little nervous. She hoped Belle wouldn’t mind their intrusion. They just needed the supplies, so…

“I think so” Forest replied, leading the way. “It’s gonna be okay. I’m with you, you’re family anyways … ” he said, a little absent-minded. His ears were perked up. Something wasn’t quite as it used to. It got gradually colder as they got closer, too.

“Thanks.” Sahuna smiled. “That’s… Very nice to hear. Isn’t it a bit cold here, though?” She leaned close to him.

“Uncle Forest?” It was the voice of a boy that came from the other room - and was one the batman did not hear before. Forest stopped just before they reached the door, meaning for Sahuna to wait just a second while he rested his wing on her back. Peeking inside, he saw a bat child. Dark grey, bright eyes, smiling, dressed in what were undoubtedly Mars’ clothes - and surrounded what looked like a snowy landscape where once was Belle’s living room. Was that …  - ? “You’ve … grown” Forest noticed. Was he gone for … that long? No. Last time he saw Reese, he could barely walk and speak a few words. Now he was, what, 10 years old? “Reese?” he asked cautiously. “Yeah” the boy affirmed, getting up from the couch that was buried in snow. He approached the two, knowing that there was a guest. The snow under his feet didn’t bother the boy in the least. Also the thin shirt and short pants seemed enough against the cold.

Sahuna looked at the child in awe. “Are you another of Bruce’s children?”, she asked, extending her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Sahuna.”

“Hi, Sahuna. I’m Reese” Reese replied happy. Not thinking of it, he gave her his hand. For him, it was normal - for others, it was cold as ice. “He’s Belle’s kid” Forest specified, removing his wing from Sahuna since all seemed quite safe.

Sahuna shook his hand, and her eyes went wide in surprise. “Wow Reese, you’re… Very cold. Are you alright? Need some warm soup?”

Soup? “Hmmm … no.” He didn’t want soup now. He wanted to hug his uncle. Which he did just then. Forest explained. “He has ice powers. Did you do this on your own?” he asked Reese, giving him a pat on the head. He wasn’t all that sure if he should be proud or be mad, so he went with the first. “I can make it snow” Reese replied, clearly excited. “Will you go to the park with me? I think I can make it snow more. And Mars … Mars won’t let me” he added unhappy.

“Wow, this is something impressive…” Sahuna knelt to look at Reese at his eye level. “You know, Reese… I grew up in a colony planet that was full of snow. I’d love to play with you. We can make an snow Angaraman. Or a snow batman” She giggled at the idea.

“What’s a snow Angaraman?” Reese asked, his wings flapping in excitement. They would go to the park, they would go to the park! “Let’s fetch you other clothes, though” Forest added. Reese was as cuddly as he’s been as a baby, and a few more of these hugs and he would get a frostbite.

“It’s an Angaran person like me, but made of snow.” Sahuna couldn’t help but melt. This little batboy warmed up her heart - something ironic for a child with ice powers, but it seemed life on Earth was full of surprises.  "I might need a good coat as well.“

"What’s a code?” Reese asked, looking up at Forest. “Coat” Forest corrected. “It’s a thick jacket.” He didn’t know? “Oh. Mom has that!” Reese remembered. He knew what a jacket was. His mom had him wear them. He just didn’t quite know where they came from. They just appeared when his mom was around. Speaking of: Where was she? Reese looked around, a little lost. Forest didn’t notice, since he looked up while thinking. It was nice of Reese to offer, but they couldn’t just keep stealing from Belle. “I have some, too. How about you get ready, I go grab them, and we see each other in a bit?”

“Sounds good to me.” Sahuna agreed. “Where do you keep coats? I don’t have any of my belongings here, so I’ll need to borrow one. I could deal with cold for a while, but I worry about Earth weather conditions are different from my home planet’s.”