Burblings of Crazy Aunty Icka!

Blog of Icka! M. Chif. Fandom Old. Draws a little, Writes a little, likes to explore the world. Original content here, reblogged stuff on @Mischif.

[ickaimp]

A Request

If you are messaging me, please do not just send a greeting. Tell me why you’re messaging me.

I get several messages a week that simply say “Hi” or “Hello” and nothing else. They’re bots, and are quickly reported for spam and blocked.

If you do not wish to be mistaken for a bot and blocked, please let me know by supplying context as to why you’re reaching out and I’ll be happy to respond.

Thank you.

[ickaimp]

So this is not a plea for money. This is something that surprised me, and chatting with people on discord, they were unaware of as well.

Discovered last year I couldn’t look at my 2015 MacBook Air without it triggering nausea and migraines, and figured the screen died. Have been getting by on my phone, but concluded I really need a laptop again.

Saved up, realised I could afford a brand new MacBook Neo, and got one.

-And I couldn’t spend more than five minutes looking at the screen without massive eye strain, nausea, vertigo, and if I pushed it, I-need-to-lie-down-in-a-dark-room-for-hours migraines.

Looking up MacBook and Eyestrain explained what is going on. The liquid retina displays that Apple currently has uses Pulse Width Modulation or PWM. In order to give the screens a deeper depth of colour and contrast, PWM flickers between several hundred to thousand times a second.

And there is currently no way to turn it off. There are settings and apps to reduce it, but there is no way to stop the screen from flickering. Checked Apple forums, called Apple Support, and the time I could look at the screen kept shrinking. Got the laptop Tuesday, returned it Friday, today is Sunday and I’m still dealing with a vertigo migraine.

For MacBooks, it seems to vary on the computer model and the software it uses. In retrospect, the issue with my MacBook Air started after a major software update.

And it’s not just an Apple thing. Current Windows and Android screens do the same thing. There’s even a Reddit for people who are sensitive to PWM flickers to help find computers and screens that won’t trigger eyestrain and headaches.

So, yeah. This week has been a learning experience. But for those who are prone to headaches and migraines, this may be something to be aware of, cause I was not.

[ickaimp]

I just messed up and deleted all additional tags on all my works on Ao3.

234 works.

… this is gonna take a while…

[ickaimp]

Saw this fantastic comic by @fleetstarr, loved it, and then thought about the put baby in pelican mouth meme.

“dragon Nest perfec t size for put king in to n\ap! inside very Soft and Comfort king sleep soundly put king in Dragon Nest. Put king In Dragon Nest. no problems ever in draggon nest”

Then a half hour later, was writing it, because the image of Lancelot freaking out over having built a nest wouldn’t leave. 1200 words, fluff and humour

+++

Lancelot is nesting.

It’s driving him crazy. It’s been nesting season before, and he’s never felt the urge to build a nest. Make sure it’s nice and sturdy, symetical, and above all comfortable. Make it look nice. Inviting.

He’d been happy like that, never looking at a piece of fabric or a pillow and judging it for nesting material. If the colours or texture were right.

And then.

And then Sonic came crashing into his life. Their lives. Throwing Lancelot off from the beginning. All laughing eyes, mercurial smiles, and raw power. As wild and untameable as the wind.

The One True King of Camelot.

Lancelot eyes the nest that has taken over a corner of his chambers and swallows. It’s the perfect size to put the King in. He wants to put the King in the nest. Let him sleep soft and comfortable in the nest. Where no problems can reach him. Put King in the nest.

He can picture it, Sonic curled up like he does when the blue hedgehog escapes the castle for a nap in the grass. Safe. Cozy. Treasured.

Lancelot’s heart lurches at the thought of it, and he aches.

It’s a foolish thing, driven by instincts he didn’t even know he had, and it’s starting to cause him to lose sleep. Both Percival and Galahad had inquired after his health today. Percival had even gone so far as relieving him of duty early so he could get some rest, after plucking a stray feather from one of the pillows from his quills.

He can’t let this go on.

Lancelot especially can’t let anyone see the nest. Percival might be kind, but the rest of the Knights would not. The chicken jokes would never end. Neither would the inquiries about if he laid eggs. Which, he doesn’t know the answer to that and it’s got him all sorts of awkwardly tangled up inside.

Sonic seeing it would be even worse. What would the King say if he saw this? ‘Nice nest, let’s have a nap’-?

No, never. Instincts be damned, he should tear it apart, take it down. Dragonborn he may be, but he was better than this. Letting instincts rule him will only lead to sorrow.

He sighs, reaching to dismantle it, when the door to his chambers suddenly opens and slams shut. Lancelot spins around to find Sonic plastered against the wood frame, eyes wide and breathing hard. “Your Majesty?!” Lancelot blurts, suddenly very aware of his lack of armour.

“Heyyyy Lance.” Sonic gives him a weak grin. “If anyone asks, you didn’t see me.”

Lancelot swallows. The nest is right there. Put him in the nest. It’d be so easy.

He needs to get the King out of here, immediately.

There’s the clatter of footsteps down the corridor, the clank of armour as several people come stampeding through. “Check the rooms!” Gawain barks. “He couldn’t have gotten far!”

“These are our rooms!” Lamorak points out.

“Then they’ll be easy to check.” Gawain growls with steadfast determination.

Lancelot glances over at Sonic’s pleading look. He’s less worried about what shenanigans the King is up to than Gawain seeing the nest. Without a second thought, Lancelot walks over and opens the door, poking his head out. “What’s going on?”

“King ran away again.” Gawain rolls his eyes. It’s not an uncommon occurrence, Sonic is whip smart, but has very little patience for sitting still through mindless pageantry and paperwork.

“And you think he stopped running?” Lancelot dryly quips.

Both Gawain and Lamorak both pause as they consider Lancelot’s words.

“It’s a diversion!” Lamorak suddenly shouts, pointing down the corridor. “Keep running!”

Lancelot watches them leave before stepping back inside and closing the door. He sets the latch to secure it, just in case. One problem taken care of, he turns-

And finds the King in his nest.

“This is really nice.” Sonic says with a yawn, stretching his arms over his head, causing sleek fur and muscle to ripple over bone. He gives Lancelot a sleepy, contented smile, leaning against the edge of it. “It’s cosy, just perfect for a snooze.”

King is in the nest.

He looks really good in the nest. Cosy. Not panicking. Or acting like it’s weird that Lancelot has a nest in his room. Just… comfortable. Like he fits there.

Okay. What’s the next step? He really wishes he had an instruction list for this. Guidance. Something.

Lancelot can feel the muscles in his back flex, trying to spread and show off wings that are currently magically bound and tucked away. He swallows, mouth suddenly dry, heart beating like a rabbit inside of his chest. “You can.” He offers hesitantly, his voice a low rasp. “Nap. In there. If you want.”

Sonic lets out a soft little hum, then holds his hand out, palm up. “I will if you do.” He offers, expression hopeful. “Cuddle time? There’s space for two.”

Sonic in his nest is good. Cuddling together in the nest? Yes. Good. So much better. Why hadn’t he thought of that before?

Nest is perfect size for both of them to cuddle.

He can’t get words to work, just nods and steps closer. Lancelot can hear the swish of the King’s tail wagging as he approaches, grateful he’d already shed his armour.

Lancelot pauses at the edge of the nest, heart fluttering. He needs to… there’s something he needs to do. He can’t not do it. Instinct tugging at him again. “Can I?” He inquires, motioning to the gold ring on one wrist.

Sonic tilts his head to the side, clearly not understanding the request. “It’s your nest.” He says simply. “However you’re comfortable.”

It’s not comfort, but… instinct has gotten him this far, King in the nest. Lancelot removes the gold bands around his wrists, letting out a breath as his wings break through the laces on the back of his tunic for his quills.

He spreads them out, filling the room from wall to wall with their black and red colouration. A declaration. A promise. Strong wings, good for fighting. Good for protecting. Nothing would get through them to hurt his King.

“Wow.” The King breathes, taking them in, green eyes sparkling in admiration. “They’re gorgeous, Lance.”

Lancelot almost trills in delight. The King likes his wings. The King is in his nest. Where he’s Safe. Cozy. Treasured.

Lancelot lets out a happy thrum, taking Sonic’s hand when he holds it out again, allowing himself to be pulled into the nest, and curls around Sonic, tucking a wing around them both like a tent. Sonic lets out a happy hum of his own, pressing his face against Lancelot’s chest, wrapping and arm around Lancelot’s ribs and tangling their feet together.

“Perfect.” Sonic murmurs, body relaxing against Lancelot’s. He seemingly drops off between one breath and the next, trusting Lancelot to guard his slumber.

Lancelot rumbles back, pressing his nose against the top of Sonic’s head, feeling content for the first time since he had the urge to build a nest.

Perhaps following his instincts isn’t so foolish after all.

Dragon nest is the perfect size and shape for dragon and King to nap.

Excellent plan, putting the King in the nest.

+++

A while later, there’s a hesitant knock on his door, Galahad’s hesitant voice speaking up. “Sir? Have you seen the King? Sir Percival said she commented to him that you weren’t feeling well, and Sonic took off running. No one’s seen him since.”

Lancelot cranes his head down to find Sonic staring up at him with a guilty look, his ears pinned flat. His rational mind suddenly returns, leaving him highly aware of the extremely intimate position they’re both in, and feels a jolt of terror at trying to explain to Galahad how the King happened to be not only in Lancelot’s chambers, but tangled with him sans armour, in an apparently compromising position. While his wings are out.

In a nest.

“No.” Sonic says. Lancelot stares at him in horror.

Galahad hesitates a moment before responding. “Understood. I’ll tell Sir Percival not worry.” Lancelot mentally fills in a little head bob from the silver hedgehog.

“Thank you.” Lancelot gets out.

“Of course.” There’s no mistaking the smile in Galahad’s voice. “I hope you get some rest.” His footsteps walk away, filling the room with silence.

Lancelot is extremely aware of every part of his body that is in contact with Sonic’s, and it is a lot.

“So.” Sonic says with a little full body wiggle, getting comfortable again. “Dragon, huh?”

“Yes.”

“Nice.” He smiles at Lancelot, green eyes half lidded and sleepy once more. “Want to nap some more?”

If it gets him out of trying to explain this situation, Lancelot is completely for it. “Yes.”

“Excellent.” Sonic agrees, pulling him back down to cuddle. Lancelot allows himself to be arranged, hesitantly wrapping his wing back around them. Sonic hums happily, scooting closer, and Lancelot purposely avoids thinking about how nicely the King fits in his arms.

Lancelot has the King. In his nest.

He really should figure out what the next step is.

-fin-

[ickaimp]

Hey, for whatever reason my "for you" tab is at least 30% comments you've made on other folks posts. Not sure why you're getting spotlighted like that, but you might want to check your settings if that's not something you want.

Thank you for the heads up, that’s greatly appreciated. 🥰

For the moment I’ve turned comments to private. Not really worried about people seeing them, usually only comment if I think it’ll be helpful, but I also don’t want my comments to be used to spam people either. That’s definitely a bit odd.

Thank you for the heads up!

[phreaticlayer]

does anyone know if there's a list/diagram of wounds that characters have gotten that would ostensibly cause scarring... i wanna start including them because i love drawing that stuff however ! i know i will never compile it myself 😭

[phreaticlayer]

i have aspirations making a... i dont know, spreadsheet maybe, where people can submit injuries and episode/chapters, and i can compile them on like. one of those autopsy diagrams or something LMAO 😭 but for now! here's a compilation of people who were kind enough to contribute in the notes/comments/rbs :3c! tysm!!

shinichi

stomach, gsw (as conan) - dragonsorceress22, mari--lace, embrur0meow

skull, getting conked first thing in the series - embrur0meow

shiho

left shoulder, gsw - embrur0meow

right cheek, gunshot graze - embrur0meow

heiji

stomach, gsw - embrur0meow

kaito

upper left arm x3 (!), gsw/graze - dragonsorceress22

akai

forehead, gun burn - clownakai

jodie

left flank, gsw - clownakai

vermouth

cheek, gunshot graze - clownakai

if i have some time this weekend ill try and start the diagrams but in the meanwhile... enjoy !

[ickaimp]

From my old 1412 page, Kaito’s injuries:

• 1.2: Filled with Policemen

Delon shoots Kid in the heart, deflects off of heist gem

Shoots Kid's hat full of holes.

• 1.3: The Clockwork Heart

Robot-san shoots Kid in the Right Shoulder. Kid then uses left arm to shoot.

• 2.4: Adults Don't Understand

Holes shot in his clothing, scrape on his left wrist, small bump on the nose.

• 3.2: A Great Detective Takes the Stage

Assorted bruises and scrapes from falling/sliding across the ice.

• 3.3: Kaitou Under Scrutiny

Broken left leg / hospitalized as Kaito due to Nakamori puncturing his blimp.

• 3.5: Yaiba vs Kaitou Kid

Both Yaiba and Kaito end up with assorted scrapes, bruises and bandages after Onimaru shot their gliders with fireworks.

• 3.6: Blue Birthday

Snake shoots Kid's hang glider frame off his back, shoots him in the heart. It hit the jewel. (dang lucky he stores the gems above his heart, huh?)

• 4.2: Red Tear

Snake shoots him in the chest, he's wearing a bullet proof vest. Snake nicks his left upper arm with another bullet as they're on the stairwell for the 14th floor.

• Detective Conan 44.7-10: Blue Wonder

Slightly charred from Conan blowing up the motorcycle he was riding.

• Detective Conan 53.1-4: Kaitou Kid and the Four Masterpieces

Conan kicks Kid out the window with a soccer ball, he falls out of a second story window into some bushes, rather bruised and battered.

• Detective Conan 61.1-4 Kaitou Kid's Teleportation Magic

Conan kicks a soccer ball into the Kid's face, knocking the monocle off as the Kid flies away and leaving a mark on his cheek.

• Third Movie: The Last Wizard of the Century

Monocle shot off his face, injures one of his doves. Possible unmentioned wounds elsewhere from probable hangglider crash landing.

• 23rd Movie: Fist of the Blue Sapphire (not on the website)

Shot in the torso, seen bandaging it up.

Lesser known, I also had a page for Heiji, including a page of his injuries, with a diagram.

• 10.2-6

Heiji and Conan's head collide, raising bumps.

• 12.7-10

Heiji and Conan's head collide, raising bumps.

• 19.8

Shot in the belly by Detective Sakata

• 23.4-9

Hit over the head and tossed overboard into the ocean

• 25.4-8

Kazuha slaps Heiji after he bursts into her room demanding she take her clothes off, then attempts to assist her in doing so.

• 28.6-10

Right hand stabbed by Kazuha with an arrow while dangling off a Cliff.

(31.8 mentions this scar as given to him 'last year')

• 31.8

Kazuha nails him on the back of the head with something, raising a bump.

Mentioned in 31.8:

Scar behind the left ear from last year's Oyodo competition. Given to him by Okita when he was unable to stop Okita's 5-step attack. Match was stopped because his neck wouldn't stop bleeding until a doctor tended to it.

• 31.10

Shallow Cut to left cheek with a Katana by Kotegawa Takashi

• 31.11/32.1

Heiji's father punches him in the face, sends him flying.

• 38.8-10

Handcuffed behind his back in an attic, beaten with fists and feet, face shoved into the floor, gun pointed at his head repeatedly.

• Movie 3

Crashes his motorcycle, sprains something, most likely a leg.

• Movie 7

Slice on his forehead and voluntarily took a cut to the left shoulder with a poisoned dagger.

• Movie 10

Shot in the arm and leg.

-the data sites were originally started for me to have a way to organise information so I personally didn’t have to keep looking stuff up for writing fanfics, and even out of date they have continued to be useful. 😁

[ickaimp]

[ickaimp]

Got asked to share this, cause it’s neat. A couple of months ago I walked into Goodwill, saw this, and went mine.

$4.

Doing some digging, it’s a Folding Travel Shaving Mirror, likely made between 1890-1920. Probably closer to 1890s than 1920s, the 1920s ones I can find have art deco designs stamped in the leather backings, whereas mine has mythological hunters in scrollwork.

Never seen a mirror like this before, it’s really quite cleverly made. A chain to hang on the wall when possible, and the knobs at the bottom allow for resting on uneven surfaces.

It’s seen some wear, it’s mostly wood putty under one hinge that I had to reinforce, and after talking to some leather people I’m currently looking for lexol conditioner to preserve the leather in the dry environment I live in. The silver in the mirror itself has some oxidation, which I adore.

While I am nomadic, am not taking it travelling, but leaving it at home to use as a makeup mirror, so it is continuing to be used and loved.

[ickaimp]

IN RETROSPECT, I AM A BIT OF AN IDIOT.

So it turns out the reason I was asked to post it is Dracula came out in 1897.

This is the kind of shaving mirror our friend Jonathan Harker would have brought with him to the castle, and the ‘foul bauble of man's vanity’ that the Count would have thrown out the window.

I have a Dracula Mirror. 👀🧛‍♂️

[ickaimp]

Got asked to share this, cause it’s neat. A couple of months ago I walked into Goodwill, saw this, and went mine.

$4.

Doing some digging, it’s a Folding Travel Shaving Mirror, likely made between 1890-1920. Probably closer to 1890s than 1920s, the 1920s ones I can find have art deco designs stamped in the leather backings, whereas mine has mythological hunters in scrollwork.

Never seen a mirror like this before, it’s really quite cleverly made. A chain to hang on the wall when possible, and the knobs at the bottom allow for resting on uneven surfaces.

It’s seen some wear, it’s mostly wood putty under one hinge that I had to reinforce, and after talking to some leather people I’m currently looking for lexol conditioner to preserve the leather in the dry environment I live in. The silver in the mirror itself has some oxidation, which I adore.

While I am nomadic, am not taking it travelling, but leaving it at home to use as a makeup mirror, so it is continuing to be used and loved.

[aleespace-art]

Can you draw espio x sir lancelot??

The Knight and The Poet he protects💜

Okay, but what if...

After Sonic left their world Knights of The Round Table were unable to agree on the future of their kingdom and that caused them to part their ways. A particularly intensive rivalry took place between Sir Lancelot (Shadow) and Sir Gawain (Knuckles). Gawain wanting to capture and subdue Lancelot contacts an old friend who is also a skilled master of espionage to go undercover and earn Lancelot's trust

But the plan goes sideways when Espio actually falls in love with Lancelot. And it backfires him when they both get attacked and Espio, protecting Lancelot, reveals his actual skills

Eventually the truth comes out and Lancelot gets captured

But I imagine they'll reunite once more🤧

Maybe after that they'll defeat Gawain or get in contact with Sir Percival (Blaze)?? Aghh if it was a fic it would be the slowest of em burns, so much potential here I love it

[ickaimp]

(Hope you don’t mind, the idea hit while I was in the shower. Typed it up in discord cause I was too distracted to open a document, unbeta’d 1,600 words)

——-

Lancelot was not someone who most people liked, much less loved.

Oh, he was respected, for his sword skills, his strength, and his steadfastness off and on the battlefield. But he was too stiff, too stubborn, too stern for most people to be comfortable around him.

Sonic being the rare exception. Sonic had adored Lancelot’s stoic ways, finding it both funny and charming. Lancelot had thought it mocking before realising that there wasn’t a deceitful quill on the blue hedgehog’s head, Sonic was just crazy in his own way. And Lancelot had adored him.

But Sonic wasn’t here.

And therein lies the crux of the issue. Someone must sit on the throne of Camelot.

Lancelot does not particularly wish to sit on the throne, he is meant to take orders not give them, but he prefers the idea over letting Gawain rule.

It is not mere rivalry that drives Lancelot against Gawain. While the echidna is the first to think of the common folk that make up the land, which is noble indeed, Gawain was raised in isolation for most of his life. If it were not for his sun-given strength and the training Arthur granted him, surrounding him in the social protection of the Knighthood, Gawain would have perished years ago from a lack of understanding how the world works.

Lancelot cannot see the Kingdom flourishing under someone who doesn’t understand how taxation and tithes work, leaving it in the hands of the cowardly nobility who had fled from the false Arthur’s presence. It is a system ripe for abuse, something that Gawain somehow cannot comprehend, insisting that it is putting the power in the hands of the people.

If it were in the hands of the people, it would be giving people below the nobles’ power, not the nobility. But the landed nobles have backed Gawain, agreeing with him and funding his campaign.

Leaving Lancelot with few funds and less support than he’d like.

Still, he soldiers on. He doesn’t know how to do anything else. He still has friends, scattered though they may be.

Galahad. Percival. Esclabor the Poet.

Lancelot cannot let his mother Nimue ever meet the poet. The fae love wit, poetry and a good turn of phrase. Add in his striking looks and vibrantly coloured scales, Esclabor is practically fae bait.

And Lancelot is shamefully weak to Esclabor’s masterfully crafted verse and passionate stories. That is as far as he will admit to.

Privately, he does acknowledge he does seem to have a type. Fae are drawn to vividness and Lancelot’s attractions, as unvoiced as they have been, have all been to those of bright colouration. Gawain turned to rivalry, Sonic left, and Esclabor…

Lancelot should have known better than someone as beautiful and gifted as Esclabor would have been interested in him, seek out his company. Especially during such a conflict with sworn brothers taking up positions against each other, and Gawain’s opposition was being hunted down one by one.

When Esclabor showed off his true, absolutely completely breathtaking skills, Lancelot had known he’d been played. True, Esclabor had done it to protect Lancelot, but when they’d been ambushed shortly after and Lancelot buried under more fighters than he could lift, immobilising his limbs and clamping him in chains, thus ending Lancelot’s small rebellion, it hadn’t been a surprise.

Nor had it when Gawain had gloated outside of Lancelot’s cell where he was being kept as a trophy about the kingdom flourishing under Gawain’s rule. Calling Esclabor, Espio. Who apparently was an old friend Gawain knew could be trusted with tricking Lancelot.

The more fool he.

Lancelot didn’t even feel the sting of betrayal, merely the heavy weight of resignation. Once again, he’d put his faith in the wrong person. Trusted the wrong person.

Allowed his heart to ache for the wrong person.

Thankfully he is left alone with his thoughts, the metal shackles over his armour weighing his limbs much like his heart.

He is not expecting the scratch of metal on metal on the door later that night. The chains allow him to approach the door without touching, and he spies a flash of vivid magenta through the bars of the tiny window.

“What are you doing?” Lancelot questions, confused. They spent weeks together, months before Espio betrayed him. He doesn’t understand what the lizard is doing back, much less apparently picking the door lock.

“Listen.” Espio’s words are hushed but urgent. “I know it won’t change what I have done, but I don’t need nor deserve your forgiveness. This isn’t about me. It’s about doing what’s right.“

Lancelot’s eye ridges rise in surprise.

Espio lets out a heavy sigh. “Gawain… has lost his mind. But I was too blind, too caught in a shadow of person I used to know to notice.” His words are bitter, filled with regret and resolution. Lancelot wonders what Gawain did in the hours since he’d seen the echidna last to cause such a turnaround. “I need your help to fix the mess my mistake brought on the Kingdom. And after that you can hate me all your heart desires-“

“I don’t hate you.” He understands it to some extent. Gawain was everything Lancelot wasn’t. Personable and charismatic, quick with a smile, and made friends easily.

At least until the nobles sunk their claws into Gawain, twisting his mind and turning him into their puppet.

“What?”

“Don’t get me wrong. I’m mad at you for betraying my trust, for lying to me for all this time.” Lancelot confesses bluntly. He can’t not be honest about it, he doesn’t know how to be any other way. “But losing your way following the person you once knew…”

Arthur, full of smiles and mischief as he and Merlin go off on an adventure together.

Arthur, coming back grim faced and vacant eyed. Merlin insisting that it was merely the visions that Arthur saw on their quest, and he’ll eventually be fine. Arthur never being the same, summoning the Knights of the Underworld to do his bidding as his mortal army shrunk, the only Knights able to survive being those with non-mortal abilities.

Being unable to protest because this was Arthur, their beloved King, silently watching as things got worse like a frog in a slowing warming pot of water until the pot was boiling and it was too late to escape, only keep their heads above water and survive.

Until Sonic. And finding themselves in the peculiar situation of willingly following their King’s murderer. And then the realisation that not only was Arthur an illusion, but they’d been led far astray from their oaths to protect Camelot.

Oaths they’d sworn to be better at following.

“I can relate to this.” Lancelot says gravely. “I will help you.”

The door opens with a soft click, opening inwards towards Lancelot. Espio kneels in the doorway, golden eyes staring at Lancelot in awe and gratitude.

“Thank you.”

It is a sorrow how lovely he is, knowing their camaraderie was a lie, and Lancelot cannot trust that the future will not hold more of the same. It’s not the first time he has kept such company, Lancelot hopes the bat is doing well, but it does mean that he cannot completely lower his guard around the poet, if Espio truely even is a wordsmith.

Cannot let him farther into his heart.

But if Espio is sincere in his willingness to go against Gawain, Lancelot will help.

He says nothing in return, merely inclining his head in response. There is a lingering possibility that this too is a trap, but he cannot risk not taking the chance either. Gawain’s temper has always been short and unpredictable, and while Gawain may be keeping Lancelot alive to gloat at now, who knows how long that will remain.

Espio pulls out a key for the manacles, undoing them quickly and with an air of professionalism Lancelot admires.

“Walk slowly and naturally.” Espio instructs, hiding the key in his glove. “I’ll scout on ahead.”

Lancelot almost questions how the poet will evade being spotted, given how bright he is, when Espio begins to crawl along the walls as quickly as walking, then fades from view entirely, as if by magic.

It strikes Lancelot, as he begins to walk, slow and measured like a bored guard following a route, armour clanking at every step, that Espio had not needed to seduce him with lovely words and fine stories. He could have taken Lancelot out at any point and Lancelot would not have seen it coming.

He does not know if this makes Espio more or less trustworthy, and loathes that he must now second guess all their interactions. Lancelot is not made for this subterfuge, it is why Nimue sent him away from the Fae Courts, after his forth-rightfulness tore through too many tangled fragile plots.

Espio leading the way, with occasional pauses, they somehow manage to simply walk out of the castle via the catacombs under the castle under the shadow of night. It was a weakness Sonic had warned about, but thankfully never got around to fixing.

They say nothing until the castle is a speck in the distance, hidden in the shadows of the forest. “What now?” Espio asks, looking both nervous and lost.

Lancelot sighs, looking up at the moon above.

He really doesn’t want to sit on the throne. He just happened to be the most vocal opponent against Gawain in Court, and things snowballed from there. And given everything today, Lancelot doesn’t think he’s got the needed support to actually take on the throne.

But he does know someone who is charismatic and political savvy enough to pull it out from under Gawain. He just needs to find them.

“Come on.” Lancelot tilts his head. “Let’s see about giving Percival the crown.”

-finis-

Bonus:

[fure-dcmk]

custom riddle and brain teaser by yours truly

[ickaimp]

Heiji clicked the stop watch as Hakuba set down the pen with a contented sigh and a look of immense satisfaction, having finally completed solving the riddle that Kid had put in front of him.

“Good one.” The blond detective commented to the preening thief. “And yes.”

Kuroba’s face lit up as he grinned broadly back.

“Took you long enough, Hakuba.” Kudo grumbled from where he was draped across the sofa. “Think you took the longest to solve the riddles out of all of us.”

“He did. Twice as long as your time.” Heiji confirmed with a smirk. Other than one moment early on where the Brit had paused and looked up at Kuroba with a questioning glance and was met with a nod, Hakuba seemed to struggle with it. Which just went to show who the superior detective was.

“Actually.” Kuroba said, standing up with a stretch. “He solved it the fastest. Under half of either of your times.”

Heiji shared a confused look with Kudo. “What?”

“They missed the second code?” Hakuba inquired, also rising and tucking the chair back in under the table.

“Yup.” Kuroba grinned, piranha-like, all teeth. “They got the first one, calling them idiots, and stopped there.”

Heiji stared at Kudo. A second code.

“In that case, I believe victory is mine.” Hakuba drawled, turning to the theif. “Shall we adjourn to the address on the second code? My treat, as thanks for such a delicious brain teaser.”

“I’d be delighted.” Kuroba agreed, actually looking so. They left, Hakuba asking a quiet question about the process of developing the codes as the door closed behind them, and getting a proud grin in return.

Heiji did not quite whine as he realised that he’d just missed a chance to pick Kuroba’s brain on how Kaitou Kid’s twisted mind worked.

“You still have your riddle, right?” Kudo demanded, rising from his seat, pulling a folded paper out of his wallet.

An original Kaitou Kid riddle, personalised for him? Of course Heiji still had it. He pulled it out, setting it on the table as Kudo sat down across from him, frantically rereading his own riddle.

A freaking second riddle.

He should have known better when it came to taunting Kuroba.

[ickaimp]

AUNTY ICKA THEY JUST ANNOUNCED A HAKUBA PRIZE FIGURE I’M SCREAMING!! 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

YES!! I saw!!

We were discussing it on discord:

[ickaimp]

So I travelled over 2,100 miles to see the eclipse in person. I did a bunch of reading before I went, and I thought I had a pretty good grasp of what was going to happen. No. No I did not. Story time, my little chickadees, because each of those photos is a story. 

The eclipse was the perfect excuse to go visit my friend Aimee in St. Louis that I haven’t seen  in years, and hang out in her new Victorian house.  We went south, Ste Genevieve, a historic french town started in 1740, which according to the shuttle driver Chris, was the wine capital of the US until Napa came into prominence. They’re trying to bring it back.  More importantly, it’s on the centre line. A full two minutes and forty seconds of totality.  We wander around the historic town, talking to people before ultimately joining a crowd of people in the shadow of a church to wait for the the sun to disappear. We have about 20 minutes when we settle on the spot, chatting idly with those around us. The first sign that something is happening is the shadows of the trees around us, watching the usual round blobs turn into crescent shapes that shift like water in the the faint breeze. Then it starts to darken, just a little. Not like sunset, where everything shifts to blues and golds, everything just is a little muted, I’m not sure if I’m imagining it as wishful thinking, or if it’s happening. But my glasses are photogrey, they darken in sunlight. They stopped reacting.

The hairs on the back of my neck are starting to prickle, just a bit. There’s something going on. Yanno that little voice in the back of your head that warns when something that’s not quite right? It begins to whisper, just a little, enough to make me feel jumpy. Aimee comments that she’s starting to get goosebumps. We laugh nervously. 

*BRRRRRZZZZZZZZZZZTTTTTTT* The cicadas start SCREAMING. Not amping up, just a sudden sharp increase of noise that has everyone around jumping and looking around. The guides say that the birds may fall silent, but there’s no way to tell under the sudden onslaught of noise. Everyone’s up out of their seats, we’re walking in the middle of the road, looking around with a sense of murmured excitement.  The streetlamps turn on. It’s a glow a block away in either direction, nothing is turning on around us. Those two photos in the middle are taken a minute a part, the dimming of the light is happening faster now. We gather in the street, no one looks for traffic.

And then with one last flare, the sun disappears behind the moon. It’s gone, there’s a black circle where the light had been. I scream, it’s an instinctual, primal thing, mixed with joy, unplanned, ripped out of my throat. Several other raise their voices and scream as well. Aimee tells me later that she started crying, tears running down her cheeks and she doesn’t know why. Not sobbing, just crying. The sky is like the sun, unearthly dark in the middle, light glowing on the edges. Everyone is running around, trying to grab photos, we’re all giddily bouncing off of each other, complete strangers, but no one cares.  I show a couple from Japan how to get the cell phone to focus and get the corona. There’s so much to look at, and only a limited amount of time to do so. 

There’s a speck of light showing in the sky slightly to the east, and I ask what it is. Someone shouts it’s Venus, we can see a planet in the middle of the day because the sun is gone. There’s a plane flying towards it.  There’s a change in the air, a quick sense of desperation, because this won’t last it can’t last, and I raise my phone to get one last photo- And the sun comes out, the merest glimmer on one edge and I’m momentarily blinded by it. Laughing, I lower the phone, and everyone is reaching for their eclipse glasses again to watch the sun reappear, our faces momentarily turned towards it like flowers.  Then we’re all talking, showing off the photos we got, the moments captured. Some got breathtakingly amazing photos, some got crappy photos, no one cares. 

I feel weightless and breathless, and give Aimee a hug, the two of us clinging momentarily, laughing as we do so. She’s got tears on her cheeks. A lady I’d never talked to before that day gives me another hug, the two of us laughing. We just saw an eclipse.

People start to wander off, and within minutes, most of the street is empty, normalcy attempting to return with whiplash speed. The shadows are still strange, crescents facing the other way. Aimee and I start to wander off, her skin feels like it’s buzzing, I’m slightly nauseous.  It’s like coming off a roller coaster, bungee jumping, an adrenaline high, only our pulse isn’t elevated. The world has shifted, but everything is still the same, still moving. The bugs aren’t screaming anymore, we can hear birds. We’re both off balance, and wander off to a cafe to for a cup of tea and to watch as the shadows return to normal.  I wasn’t prepared for what it’s like to experience an eclipse. 

[ickaimp]

Reblogging because it just got out of appeals for potentially containing nudity and violating the TOS

[ickaimp]

I went to pick up cat litter.

[ickaimp]

Reblogging because Tumblr tagged this post as containing nudity and a potential violation of the TOS

[confirmed-and-contorted]

slamming your knights visor down when you’re finished talking to them, like slamming the phone back on the receiver.

[charlesoberonn]

Turning around to leave only to turn back and lift the visor up for one last remark before slamming it down again.

[ickaimp]

[ickaimp]

Chapters: 2/2 Fandom: Sonic the Hedgehog (Video Games) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Lancelot (Sonic and the Black Knight)/Sonic the Hedgehog, Percival (Sonic and the Black Knight) & Sonic the Hedgehog, Galahad & Lancelot (Sonic and the Black Knight), Miles "Tails" Prower & Sonic the Hedgehog Additional Tags: Post-Game: Sonic and the Black Knight, Mystery, Fae & Fairies, Costume Parties & Masquerades, Royalty, Light Angst, Fluff, Queerplatonic Relationships, Miles "Tails" Prower and Sonic the Hedgehog are Siblings, Fairy Tale Elements, Dragons, Dr. Eggman | Dr. Robotnik Dies, Crack, Supernatural Bonds Summary:

Sonic comes home from another different world with a sword and a spouse.

[ickaimp]

Chapters: 1/2 Fandom: Sonic the Hedgehog (Video Games) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Lancelot (Sonic and the Black Knight)/Sonic the Hedgehog Additional Tags: Post-Game: Sonic and the Black Knight, Mystery, Fae & Fairies, Costume Parties & Masquerades, Royalty, Light Angst, Fluff, Queerplatonic Relationships, Miles "Tails" Prower and Sonic the Hedgehog are Siblings Summary:

Sonic comes home from another different world with a sword and a spouse.

-Was going to ask if I should post SatBK fic on the anniversary, then realised, yes of course I should, and did the first chapter of this. Second part just needs a read through, will post and update tags when is not almost midnight.