#|| drabble

A Billie Bust Up Drabble solely based off this

Summary: Fantoccio is frustrated with a certain goat that keeps ruining his play and his friend Tavi comes in to try and rectify the situation.

Yellow eyes glared down from the theater box where folded hands clutched in a vice grip, almost causing the wood to groan from the pressure. Below was a theater set carefully and meticulously crafted by himself. Each set piece was in just the perfect place and at just the perfect angle for the scene he envisioned. However, there was one problem, one very messy, chaotic and annoying problem.

“Take that dragon! I’m going to rescue myself!” called out one very obnoxious goat as she swung her sword, nearly tripping over her fluffy pink dress that threatened to tear from the sheer force of their clumsy little toes. She was rather jovial, despite the fact she was supposed to be crying out in despair at being trapped by an enormous and frightening dragon! 

Fantoccio slammed his fists on the box’s counter as he ground his teeth at the sheer incompetence that this goat displayed; making a mockery of his masterpiece that he had crafted so flawlessly over the course of months in preparation for this very moment. She was ruining everything despite his very clear instructions–

“Tocci?”

“Macbeth’s pantaloons!” He nearly screeched, his body shooting up and whipping around to face the owner of the voice. “Tavi, I told you not to sneak up on me like that! Especially in the middle of a play!” 

“Ah, sorry,” the deer apologized, giving him a meek smile. “You just looked really upset, is everything okay?”

“No, nothing is okay!” he declared as his arms shot up before pointing to the disaster of a scene down below. “That goat is getting everything wrong! It’s like she didn’t even read the script! I’ve never seen anyone botch something up so badly, not even you!”

For a split second her smile wavered, not that Fantoccio really noticed as he went back to glaring at the goat girl. She was still hacking at the cardboard cutout of the dragon, causing it to bend and warp from the edge of her wooden sword. The more he watched, the more infuriated he got over the whole situation.

“Hm… that’s actually kind of an interesting prospect though,” Tavi muttered. The young deer had rolled forward in her wheelchair, peering down at the stage below and watching the scene play out with a rather intrigued gaze. 

Fantoccio’s eyes flickered back to his friend with a disapproving glare; though she merely ignored it and continued. 

“Typically one would expect the princess to just cry and accept her fate, only hoping one day to be rescued. But with the princess taking fate into her own hands, she learns to be more independent and resourceful in times of danger. It would lead to so many experiences she could integrate into her future ruling of her kingdom. Making it better, stronger and–”

“And off script!” Fantoccio cut her off as he waved said play script in his hand. “The princess is supposed to be weeping and calling out in despair for someone to save her, not fighting the dragon! How is the hero going to be able to save her in the next scene if the dragon is already defeated?! It ruins the entire story!” He continued, on the verge of going on a rant.

“Then you just need to improvise,” Tavi replied simply as she looked back at him. “What’s the saying? The show must go on?”

“Yes but—hnnnng!” He grunted in frustration as he pulled down his hat tightly to cover his face. “Not for the entire play! Being such the forgiving puppet that I am, I will let a few mistakes slide, but she’s been doing this for every scene she’s in!”

“Really? Maybe she prefers to do things through improv?” Tavi asked as she picked up the script and started to flip through it. 

“This is not the place for something so…so…chaotic! This is my masterpiece in the making, it needs to be followed to a T!” He insisted. “How else is the audience going to marvel at how great my playwright and acting skills are?!”

At this she couldn’t help but give a small, amused laugh. “There are plenty of improv actors and playwrights that gain the awe of their audience, Tocci,” she explained to him. “It’s all about how you can adapt and fit the scene and story as it goes along. The better you can do that, the more impressive you’ll be to your peers and audience!”

Fantoccio gave pause for a moment at her words, though inevitably went back to pouting; making a small ‘harumph’ sound as he continued to glare at the goat girl with one hand on his face. Tavi just gave an amused smile before returning to the script.

When she finally got to the current scene, she paused as she read the specifics. She then looked back at the play still going on, the goat girl using exaggerated and outlandishly ridiculous words while continuing to do what could be considered the utter opposite of what she was supposed to be doing. Tavi then looked back to the script as her brow furrowed. There was a distinctly long pause before she started to speak again.

“Tocci… has it occurred to you she might be doing this on purpose?” She asked as she looked at him. Fantoccio didn't bother to look back at her as he rolled his eyes and did a circular motion with his wrist.

“You mean like that improv stuff you were talking about?”

“No, I mean, like, deliberately trying to ruin your play.”

There was a pause before his head whipped towards her.

“That is utterly ridiculous! Who would want to ruin the greatest play the world has ever seen?!” He asked, giving Tavi a doubtful look.

“Well did you—” she paused for a second before rethinking her word choice. “Did something happen that would cause her to want to ruin your play?”

With that question his eyes went wide and had a hand raised to his chest. “Tavi!” he gasped dramatically, “It sounds like you’re trying to accuse me of something! I am nothing short of being a gracious host to all who come to my theater!”

“Where did that weirdo put it?! It has to be somewhere around here!”

Large ears rose from their neutral position and turned in the direction of the faint, irritated voice of a certain goat. Tavi’s face twisted as she looked at Fantoccio expectantly. 

“Nothing happened!” he insisted despite her expression. “All I’ve done is invite our newest guest to participate in my masterpiece! I mean, isn’t that gracious of me? Who wouldn’t want to act alongside moi?” He ‘rhetorically’ asked as he showed a smug smile before continuing with an exaggerated eye roll. “Sure, I may have had to give her some… encouragement, but she said yes of her own volition!” 

Yea, that’s what she thought.

"Sorry Tocci, but I’m just not convinced,” she said with crossed arms and a shaking of her head. “She’s obviously looking for something and someone obviously took it.”

Fantoccio huffed. “Well even if I did so happen to procure this…imaginary item, it would take far too long for me to find it. The play can’t go on without its star after all!”

“Really? For someone who knows this place like the back of his hand, I would think you would have no trouble finding any lost items. But I guess I was wrong about that, huh?” 

At such an accusation the puppet of small stature huffed “Nonsense! There is nothing that Fantoccio the Great can’t find within his own theater!” He said, his smug grin emerging briefly before fading. His glowing eyes returned to watching the goat from beneath his large green hat. “But say I could find it in time for the next scene and give it back; she’ll just… leave and never come back! What then?”

“Well…why don’t I go talk to her while you go searching? I’ll convince her to stay, at least until your play has finished. And if not… well I can help finish it instead, maybe?” 

At her words Fantoccio looked back at Tavi, who was looking away with a nervous smile. She could feel a blush form on her cheeks from her unusual suggestion as she twiddled her hooves together. “I… I know I’m not a very good actress, but even if she does leave, you still have me, right?” she asked him, forcing herself to look at him for a brief moment, as if looking for some sort of confirmation.

Fantoccio floated idly there for a second, looking down at her as he crossed one of his legs. His expression read that of a man deep in thought, pondering his next move while also analyzing the girl before him. He didn’t speak again until there was a resounding CRASH from down below that gained his immediate attention. When he looked, a large set piece had fallen and came apart into several pieces with the goat girl incessantly jumping around the place.

“Ugh, I just fixed that!” he exasperated as he looked below, a low growl hanging from his lips. Perhaps Tavi was right and he should give back that stupid parasol so she could leave and stop destroying everything she touched. 

Dramatically flipping his poncho as he turned towards Tavi, Fantoccio lifted his head in a rather condescending manner. “Alright, fine, we’ll do it your way Tavi. Go talk to the goat girl while I go find her––this imaginary item you’re so convinced exists. Make sure she memorizes and follows the script down to the letter by the time I return!”

Hearing him relent finally made her laugh, turning it into a small grin as her ears started to wiggle happily at the news. “I won’t let you down Tocci, I promise.”

“Of course you won’t. Now hurry up, before she breaks more of my stuff!” He ordered before flying off to find that stupid parasol, leaving Tavi to herself for a moment. 

Lizzie wasn’t sure what time it was. The only sounds in the house were the sound of her typewriter, the factories in the distance and who she guessed were Arthur snoring in the upstairs. It was far from the first time she couldn’t sleep. Looking at the stack of papers next to her that needed typing up was large enough to keep her occupied. Having lit the fire in the kitchen and opened the doors to the shop she sat in only her nightclothes as she continued typing. Tommy had told her to stop working when she found out they were expecting their first child, but she didn’t stop. As of now she had gotten so used to working a normal job that she didn’t want to stop now.

In honesty, it was the baby that kept her up. Her rounded stomach was now so large she could barely fit the nightgown over it. The baby had been awake most of the night moving around and kicking her in her ribs. It made it impossible to sleep. Resting her hand on her stomach for a moment she couldn’t complain, the only thing she wanted was a healthy child. A little bit of her and a little bit of Tommy.

For the brief time he'd popped into where Greed had been there was a noticeable shift in the air. It was hard to pin point exactly what it was only that it felt off and seemed to leave him and some of the others a bit more on edge, even wary of whatever was going on with the Boss.

With head low and mouth shut Tim quietly kept out of the way finishing his own tasks before slipping back up above to watch the setting sun while Greed headed below

A Rainald and Sivir drabble by @wanderlustknightofmagic

This year was when Rain would get experience Heartseekers with Sivir. Little Lief was sent his grandparents to give the two the day to themselves. Not really aware of what the difference between this day and the holiday celebrated on his home was, Sivir was ready to enlighten him. While the costumes were optional, Rain insisted they dress in them. Shockingly, Sivir was fine with it. The knight was confused... until he saw the outfits.

Cheeks turned a deep red when he noticed just how much of his chest would be exposed with that strange attire. Though as he turned to Sivir, she was wearing a big smirk on her face and Rain could swear she licked her lips. Swallowing hard, he would undress, the spell to change clothes conveniently banned for today. Several times while putting on the borderline costume, his rear was smacked and squeezed. Of course the favor was returned, via groping, when it was her turn.

He didn’t take it well. Not the news of her life as a vigilante, that didn’t even seem to register with him. It was her new self that ruined it all.

As soon as she revealed the legs she watched the horror take over Ben’s face and her blood ran cold. He tried to play it off but she could see how uncomfortable he had become.

“Monster…” those words haunted her. Uttered from lips she had only ever found love from. 

Benjamin barely touched her after that. Kept himself at a distance both physical and mental. Eventually he took to even sleeping on the couch, leaving holly in a double bed that felt far too large, far too empty. She would lay awake at night staring at the second pillow where he used to lay his head, missing his presence. 

He left her entirely after three weeks. 

Holly had come home from a long day at the shop to find him gone. She had assumed he was only out for a few hours, that he’d be back later and she’d wake up the next morning to find him passed out on the couch (though she hoped maybe he’d finally rejoin her in bed.)

It took her three days to realize he was gone for good. 

Texts and calls went unanswered, belongings seemed to have been abandoned and the only visitors to her door bring delivery men, never the man she had engaged. 

It tore her up inside, and therefor she tore herself up. All four legs. 

It was their fault. It was their fault Ben had left her. If they didn’t exist maybe he wouldn’t have shut himself away, maybe he wouldn’t have left. Maybe her grandmother would still be alive, maybe she could live a normal fucking life.

Their fault their fault their fault.

Holly screamed not out of pain, but out of grief as she tore them from her back. They’d grow back, she knew they would, they always did. But she hoped, prayed that maybe this time, they wouldn’t

She doesn’t remember when she passed out. She remembers waking up and having to bleach the blood from her bathroom floor, folding up and disposing of the discarded legs in a trash bag directly into the dumpster out back of the complex. 

The shower she took was long, water beating against her tender, slowly healing back until it ran cold and even then she stayed. Her fingers pruned and she broke out in goosebumps but she stayed in the shower yet. It must have been at least an hour before she finally shut it off. 

Her engagement ring disappeared somewhere in her apartment, she doesn’t know where and she’s never bothered trying to look. She considered throwing it into the river at one point but could never bring herself to follow through, still clinging on to the foolish idea that maybe Ben would come back, maybe he would overcome his horror and return to her. 

It’s been almost three and a half years since. 

tw: body horror, mutilation

It’s a sprig of heliotrope. A beautiful cluster of tiny, saturated purple blooms. Aside from one: a stark white one hiding amongst its siblings. 

A mutation, she thinks, and immediately it sours her mouth. 

Mutation… The legs on her back slowly draw back to her body, almost as though they’re ashamed. Suddenly she’s all too aware of them, their presence. She can feel exactly where they connect to her back, feel every joint. It’s overwhelming, overstimulating. She wants to rip them out. Toss them into the dumpster behind the building and let them rot.

The bloom reminds her of herself: mutated, starkly different, doesn’t belong.