Latest Posts by cheerfulnightmare - Page 3

YOU hates terfs

A spooky PSA comic. I thought she would be the perfect spokesperson for this :P 

🎶You will never get away from meeeeeeeeee🎶

Heckity heck this massive redraw project is COMPLETE!!!!! I remember the first version of this was one of my biggest posts back in 2019 and it feels so good to see it come together for 2021. Panels 6 and 7 I am intensly proud of. I hope you enjoy this as much as I have!

Jekyll and Hyde still stands as my favorite musical and any Wildhorn haters can just take a walk 😤 @thatsthat24

Happy Week!

Centaur AU 11

There was nothing on the schedule.

Thomas had a full night’s sleep before going to the stable in the morning, the centaurs seemed to have slept well, and Logan’s legs were doing well, only a bit warm to the touch.

Thomas looked at the schedule again. Patton had two parties coming up relatively soon, but not too soon, and other than that the week was empty.

He dared to hope it would be peaceful. Maybe even happy. He let out a hopeful sigh. A happy week would be much appreciated by them all.

••^*^••

Thomas was almost finished brushing the loose hair from Patton’s coat. He’d have to do it quite a few more times before the shedding was complete, but for today he was very pleased.

“Can…” Patton asked shyly, shifting his weight between his front and back legs in a soft swaying motion.

Thomas smiled, not looking up quite yet, brushing down Patton’s legs. “Yeah?”

“When you’re done… can I do your hair?”

It didn’t really take much thought at all. Thomas smiled softly up at Patton. “I’d love that.”

Patton grinned, bouncing slightly, his hands bunching into loose fists and shaking around.

Thomas finished brushing down his legs and then stood up again. He glanced around. “Can I lean on the door?”

Patton nodded quickly.

Thomas leaned against the side of the doorframe, which put him looking directly across the stable to where Roman was watching, clearly amused, his arms crossed over his chest. He had a sudden impulse to stick his tongue out at Roman, but instead just relaxed.

At first, Patton just ruffled up his hair, but then he lightly scratched and massaged Thomas’s scalp, and if he hadn’t been standing, Thomas would’ve melted. It was far more pleasant and relaxing than he would’ve guessed, and not even Roman’s poorly hidden snickering could stop him from enjoying it.

Thomas let his eyes drift shut as tingles ran down his spine from his head.

“Is this alright?” Patton asked.

Thomas only managed a long, affirmative hum, nodding slightly.

“He’s practically blissed out,” Virgil said, his tone sounding as amused as Roman had looked. Thomas peeked open one eye to see Virgil smirking at him.

There was a soft rustle from behind him that Thomas thought might be Patton’s happy shuffling.

Thomas relaxed even further against the doorframe as Patton kept going. If Patton ever offered again, he was going to ask to do it on the hay bed, where he didn’t have to bother with holding himself upright.

Patton switched to something that felt a bit more purposeful, gathering bits of hair and weaving them together. It didn’t feel quite as nice as the gentle scratching and massaging, but it was still very pleasant.

It felt a little like braiding, though Thomas’s hair wasn’t long enough for a proper braid.

Even standing, Thomas was close to dozing off when Patton suddenly said, “Done!”

Thomas raised a hand gently to his hair, feeling a raised something across the front and both sides of his hairline, keeping all of his bangs out of his face. How it was staying in place he had no idea.

“Thank you, Patton, I really liked that,” Thomas said, still too relaxed to give a properly enthusiastic thanks.

But based on Patton’s bright smile, it was enough.

••^*^••

“I’m getting coffee.” Remy announced, pre-defiant, his whole body stiff and ready to fight against anyone who would tell him no.

And actually, it had been a pleasantly slow day. Thomas figured Remy could leave and come back easily, provided Thomas escorted him off the property so that none of the Authier’s employees bothered him.

Thomas had been too busy considering to notice the other centaurs reactions, and was thus caught off guard as much as Virgil was when Remy suddenly pointed at Virgil.

“And you’re coming with me. I can tell you want some too.” Remy drew himself up to full height and crossed his arms.

Virgil looked more alarmed than desirous of coffee.

But Remy was already moving, grabbing Virgil by the elbow and tugging him along out of the stable.

“Hey wait!” Thomas said, running after them.

Remy glanced back at him, his eyes sparking. Thomas held up his hands. “I’m not stopping you, just if Virgil’s coming too I need to come.”

“I-I don’t… need to—“ Virgil said, more confused than shy.

“You’re coming.” Remy insisted immediately. He held a hand down for Thomas. “Come on then, I’m not waiting.”

Thomas grabbed Remy’s hand and pulled himself up onto his back.

Remy started moving before Thomas was quite settled, trotting forward and still tugging Virgil by the elbow. He was all stiff, still worried someone was going to try to stop him. Thomas set his hand against the juncture on Remy’s back, on the side away from Virgil so he wouldn’t see, and gently rubbed little circles with his thumb.

He hadn’t realized, bringing Remy and Emile here, how much they would both feel hemmed in. Especially Remy, who desperately needed to feel in control of his own life.

Remy’s pace faltered. He stopped entirely, which just confused poor Virgil even more. Remy let go of his elbow and let out a breath.

“I’m gonna have coffee,” he said, determined, but not held up by the defiant front anymore. “And I’m gonna have fun with it. If you want to come, I’ll get you one too.”

Virgil still looked rather confused, but nodded.

Remy put a smile on his face that slowly grew into his real confidence. “You know I figured out how to get them to give me some at the drive throughs.”

Virgil nodded slowly, looking as if he had several questions he didn’t quite dare ask.

Remy moved forward again, quickly going into a lope. “I’ll show you when we get there. But first we need to figure out what your order is gonna be.”

Virgil caught up easily, looking a bit lost still, but like he was getting used to Remy’s suddenness. Thomas wrapped his arms around Remy’s waist, hoping he and Virgil would get along, maybe even become friends.

“So have you had much coffee before?” Remy asked.

“Not really,” Virgil said, glancing down at Remy’s legs. Thomas noticed that a few paces later Virgil was almost perfectly in step with him, though… there was something a little off about his foot placement, something Thomas ought to have seen earlier.

“Alright then, I’d say something light on the coffee, and with another flavor then, like chocolate, or caramel, or some like almond, I’m not much of a fan of that one, or maybe mint, but mint is only tolerable if it’s mostly chocolate and a little coffee, there’s also some nice white chocolate or vanilla flavors, or you could go completely bonkers with something like cherry…” Remy’s breath finally ran out, forcing him to end his sentence. “Any of those standing out to you?”

Thomas had been watching Virgil’s feet, which were moving too quickly for him to determine if it was a hoof problem or a muscle problem, but he looked up now at Virgil’s face to see his answer.

Virgil seemed in awe of the sheer amount of options. He shrugged helplessly. “I really don’t know, a lot of them sound good.”

Remy grinned knowingly. “Well then we’ll take it backwards to narrow it down. What doesn’t sound like something you want. And also, you can get coffee another time too, so let’s knock out the ‘sometime but not today’ flavors also.”

Virgil nodded, his face going very serious. “I think.... No cherry. Ummm, not mint. Or almond. And not caramel. What’s left?”

Remy looked almost proud. “You’ve got normal or white chocolate, and vanilla.”

Virgil nodded, his forehead creased as he thought.

They crossed the edge of the Authier’s land, and Remy sped up a bit, heading back to Thomas’s house. It was a good thing it wasn’t terribly far.

“I think…” Virgil said slowly. “Not the normal chocolate, but I can’t decide which of the other two.”

Remy waved a hand to dismiss his worries. “With those two left, you can have both.”

Virgil brightened up and grinned, the kind of smile Thomas hadn’t thought he’d get to see from Virgil nearly this soon.

Soon they reached Thomas’s house, and Remy went straight to the car door leaned up against the stable wall.

Virgil was all wide-eyed. “Is that how you get them to give it to you?”

Remy grinned proudly, hefting up the door and looping an attached strap over his opposite shoulder, so the door hung on his side, with the window on a level with his face. It was an older car door, with a window crank, so that he could roll it up and down.

“Yep!” Remy said proudly. “If they don’t look too close they never notice the rest of the car is missing, they just see a customer.”

“What if they do look too close?” Virgil asked.

Remy reached into his satchel and pulled out a small handful of ones and fives. “They’d rather have the money than bug me about it. And most of the coffee places know me already anyway.”

Virgil looked more than impressed, nodding seriously, which Thomas knew was very gratifying to Remy.

Remy shifted the door around a bit, and then straightened. “Alright, let’s go!”

••^*^••

Thomas was up in the loft taking a short rest after he’d brought up a bunch of new bales of hay that had been delivered. Most of the centaurs were out in the paddock, where he’d convinced the other employees that they were safe to stay without direct supervision.

“Oh hello,” Logan said softly from below him.

Thomas rolled over to be closer to the edge and looked down.

Logan was laying on his hay bed, and setting down the tablet to watch the cat, who was kneading on his flank. He reached out to let her sniff his hand, and she rubbed against his arm.

“I know, it’s all quiet,” Logan said gently, petting the cat very slowly. “You like to have people around, don’t you? I used to think I didn’t, but perhaps I merely needed rest first. I miss them more now. What do you think?”

The cat meowed, and Logan scratched under her chin.

“Next time they go the paddock I think I’ll join them,” Logan said. “I couldn’t handle the running down to that pond, but if we went slowly, I could make it to the paddock and then lay down there.”

The cat meowed again.

“I’m glad you’re still here, keeping me company while I read. A quiet company like yours is pleasant.”

The cat was probably purring, based on her squinted shut eyes and relaxed look, though Thomas couldn’t hear her all the way from in the loft. After another few seconds of quiet petting, she batted at Logan’s hand, and then hopped down to curl up between his legs.

Logan smiled softly at her, and then picked up the tablet again.

Thomas decided he’d make sure to ask if Logan wanted to go with them to the paddock next time. And probably he would go too. It would be nice to hang out with them in the sun for a while.

••^*^••

“Are you sure?” Thomas asked.

“Mhmm!” Patton nodded, hopping up a little bit like he did when he was excited.

“Just like this? Bareback? I don’t want to hurt you.”

Patton gave him almost a pouting look. “I can carry you! I promise!”

Thomas gave in. And really, he’d wanted to give in ever since the first suggestion. “Alright.”

Patton beamed, sidling up to the fence.

Thomas climbed the fence and carefully slid onto his back. Patton certainly seemed able to hold him, still managing to do his springy little hops.

“Hold on! Hold on, Thomas!”

“What for?” Thomas asked, but wrapped his hands around Patton’s waist.

Patton took off, almost immediately into a canter. They passed Roman, who was racing back in the opposite direction, and turned immediately to match pace beside Patton. “No fair! I wanted to be the first to give Thomas a ride!”

Something about the whole situation made Thomas very, very happy, and a laugh bubbled up and broke out. “I didn’t know you would actually want to be ridden.”

“Well not by just anybody,” Roman said. “But you’re different. Even Virgil wants to take you for a ride someday.”

Thomas glanced across the paddock, to where Virgil and Logan were both laying on the ground. Virgil was holding a fistful of grass above his head, and letting it fall into his mouth. He laughed again, not quite doubting.

“Let’s go see them!” Patton said, turning.

The three of them rushed up to the two, and Thomas felt like there was somehow a whole air of happiness following them, and spreading out as they stopped into a calm contentment. Roman plucked him off of Patton’s back, and Thomas let out a surprised squeak. But he was just set onto Roman’s back so Patton could flop down and roll.

He wished he’d brought a picnic lunch now. He could easily spend a long, long afternoon out here like this.

••^*^••

Thomas stilled, a quiet voice reaching his ears.

We sing for the voices never heard, Sing for the lessons we've still not learned,

The voice was pleasantly resonant, but hushed very quiet. Thomas could only imagine it was one of the centaurs, and didn’t dare move or make a sound, not wanting to disturb the singer.

Sing for the peace we've never won, Sing for the work that's still not done,

Thomas tried hard to figure out which of them it could be. He couldn’t see any of them from his place inside the little house near the pond, and guessed that whichever of them it was must be somewhere close outside. He hadn’t heard them sing before, and it was surprisingly difficult to figure out who it could be.

And if on our darkest days we cry, Sing 'til we put our fears aside,

The voice was almost heartbreakingly sad, especially as it grew stronger when the melody of the song emphasized the word ‘cry’, ringing out more smoothly as the singer sang a bit louder.

But then it dipped back down, so quiet Thomas had to strain to hear, soft and achingly sweet, sorrow and the most desperate of hope infusing the quiet tones.

And if I feel myself begin to fold, Sing for myself it's all I know.

Sing for myself it's all I know.

Thomas was torn. A part of him demanded he go now to comfort the singer. But another part said that he was listening in on something private, and to reveal his intrusion would be to crush that tender hope.

He remained frozen, even as the singer sang the chorus over again.

There was a soft grunt and a rustle, as if the singer had been sitting on the ground and was now getting up. Thomas ducked down below the window level, and peeked up, catching a glimpse of reddish-brown.

Roman.

Thomas had no idea how to do it, but he was determined to coax Roman to sing for them all sometime.

••^*^••

Thomas was determined to give Emile some kind of reward for all his help.

And now, he had the perfect idea.

He’d found another smaller paddock beyond the pond, and similar to the pond and the house, it looked like it had been left alone for a while. The paddock was filled with wildflowers and tall grass, with trees just on the other side of the fence all along one side, casting dappled shade over nearly a quarter of the area.

He managed to pack a bag with brushes and combs without Emile noticing, and then tried to convince Emile to come with him for a surprise. He ended up accidentally convincing Patton also, but the extra company wouldn’t harm anything, it might even make it better.

“Oh this is lovely,” Emile said almost breathlessly, looking out at the paddock.

Thomas grinned. “I wanted to thank you for all you do to help, and I figured this would be a good place! You can roll around as much as you like, and I brought brushes and you can just have a nice afternoon and get pampered.”

Emile took advantage of it right away, trotting into the middle of the field and rolling over and over, kicking his legs happily.

Thomas was surprised by a hug from Patton.

“This is a really sweet idea,” Patton said quietly.

Thomas shrugged, a little embarrassed. “Emile certainly deserves it.”

Patton just smiled, and then went off to go roll around himself.

Thomas watched them very happily until Emile came back for brushing. He flopped onto the ground near Thomas, melting as Thomas brushed the grass from his coat, though he still sometimes rolled over, which covered him in more plant bits and made Thomas have to move. Thomas didn’t mind. It just made the enjoyable experience last longer.

It really was nice. Emile was all happy, and the sun was warm, and the flowers were bobbing back and forth in a small breeze. Patton was off somewhere Thomas couldn’t see past the tall grass and flowers, but he could hear rustling and rolling sounds every here and there.

Emile finally just lay still, picking flowers around him that he could reach and eating the heads off of them while Thomas made some actual progress with the brushing.

Patton trotted over, dropping a flower crown on Emile’s head that made him grin all over again.

Thomas wondered if, for centaurs, flower crowns were like those candy necklaces and bracelets.

“How good do flowers taste?” he asked.

Emile shrugged. “Good. I guess it depends on the flower. Dandelions are nice to lick pollen off of, but if you eat any more than the petals they’re bitter. But the daisies and buttercups out here are nice.”

“I really like clover,” Patton added, folding his legs to sit. “But I like the leaves almost just as well as the flowers, so I don’t know if that counts.”

“Oh, honeysuckle though,” Emile said wistfully, and Patton gave a strong hum in agreement.

“I wonder if we could find any,” Thomas mused. “We’ve only explored the west side of the property really, and I don’t even think we’ve reached the back yet.”

“I haven’t had any in ages,” Patton said longingly.

Thomas wondered inwardly if, in case they didn’t find any, there was any possibility of buying some somewhere.

Emile draped the flower crown over his eyes, probably dozing off.

Patton was making another, and when it was finished he offered it to Thomas. Then he rolled around a bit more before also laying down and closing his eyes.

Thomas, when he had brushed all of Emile that he could while Emile was laying on the ground, leaned against him, also feeling very inclined towards napping. He’d have to get them up and heading back, or at least into the shade, before they could get sunburnt, but for now it was just really pleasant to nap in the sun.

••^*^••

“So how’s the reading been going?” Roman asked, leaning on the dividing wall between his stall and Logan’s to peek inside. “Keeping you occupied?”

Thomas, currently changing the wrappings on Logan’s legs, was also very curious.

“Yes, I’ve found a number of intriguing books,” Logan said, and Thomas was glad to see his face light up a bit. “I’ve read several pieces of books and a number of articles about potential treatments for my legs, and I believe we’ve been doing the best treatment so far. There are several I’ve found that could take less time to heal, but each came with a number of adverse side effects, and a greater possibility for further injury.”

Roman nodded seriously.

“I’ve educated myself also on…” Logan hesitated, glancing at Thomas, and slowly continued. “On the laws concerning the ownership of centaurs.”

Thomas couldn’t help but wince slightly. He’d had his own deep dive into those laws years ago, when Remy and Emile came to stay.

Thankfully Roman spoke up, abruptly changing the subject. “How about pleasure reading? Found anything that piqued your interest?”

It took Logan a few seconds to switch gears, but he finally spoke again, starting very slowly. “I… did stumble across a book on astronomy…”

“Oh yeah?” Thomas asked, more than willing to change the subject to stars.

Logan nodded. “There are far more branches to astronomy than I had thought, including quite a bit of physics that I would need more study to comprehend fully.”

Roman and Thomas both nodded encouragingly.

Logan smiled slightly. “It seems that while I had at first considered it a small portion of the study of space, it is in actuality a very wide field with many specializations within it. Even within observational astronomy, there are sub-disciplines that are classified by the specifications of the detectors, since there’s so much to be known that merely observing with a single device can consume a person’s whole study!” His voice had grown rather louder and faster as he went on, and his eyes were sparkling.

“And then there’s Astrometrics, which measures the movements of stars and planets as closely as possible to determine both future and past movements. It’s possible, by observing the way they move currently, and by finding the patterns they follow, to determine where the pattern began, where the stars themselves began!”

Thomas finished the last wrapping around Logan’s leg. “That’s incredible! Are you going to keep learning?”

Logan nodded eagerly. “There’s so much there. Even the smallest of the sub-disciplines is still leagues ahead of where I am. I found a second book that is far more basic, teaching the names and positions of the stars, planets, and constellations that are visible by the naked eye. I’d love to learn more, but the more I discovered that there was to learn the more I realized how little I now know. I could study the beginners book for the entire summer before I have it properly absorbed into my mind so that I wouldn’t need the book anymore.”

Thomas blinked. “You mean you’d memorize it? The whole thing?”

Logan shook his head, an intense look on his face, something both very happy and very serious at the same time. “A simple memorization would engrain the information in too much of a linear manner. I wouldn’t be able to call on the details out of order. Though I suppose you could say, to be reductive, that I will have memorized the book by the time I’m finished.”

“Whoa,” Roman said, a bit of awe and a bit of amusement in his tone. “You really have plans, huh?”

Logan’s face fell slightly. “Well, I have plans to go as far as I can through self-teaching. It… isn’t as far as I would prefer. I could perhaps teach myself the information, given the proper books, but without a way of obtaining other materials, I can’t see a way of progressing beyond what I can see with my own eyes.”

Thomas patted his side gently. “Logan, if you get to the point where you need and want more, I’ll try my best to get it for you. A telescope won’t cost that much, and this job is paying me pretty well. By the end of summer, I could probably get you a really good one.”

Logan stared at Thomas, on his face that particular kind of piercing and yet blank expression that Thomas now believed meant that he was hoping it was truth, and heavily doubting it. Logan finally just nodded once. “Thank you, Thomas.”

Thomas smiled, hoping his sincerity would show through. “You’re welcome.”

“Does that… um…” Roman asked hesitantly.

Thomas turned to look up at him.

“Does it count for… others of us?”

Thomas nodded immediately. “I may work for the Authiers, but my goals and desires are all for you guys. Anything you need or want, I’ll do my best to give it to you.”

Roman nodded silently, his hopefulness much less hidden than Logan’s. “Then… if there’s something, I’ll ask.”

Thomas nodded again firmly. “Please do.”

••^*^••

This time when Thomas heard the first quiet hum he spun around immediately to look.

Roman startled nearly as bad as Virgil did when he was surprised, quickly mumbling a ‘sorry’.

“Hey, wait,” Thomas said quickly, but softly. He was well aware that Roman had a whole paddock to run off in if Thomas pushed too hard. “It sounded really nice. I haven’t heard music in a while since I didn’t bring my radio. What song was it?”

Roman froze, surprise washing over his face. “It… was… I forgot.”

Thomas tried to look very casual, leaning against the fence, glancing away down the paddock to where some of the others were. “I really have missed music. I don’t suppose you’d be willing to sing something?”

“Me?” Roman squeaked.

Thomas nodded, still trying hard to remain casual. “You have a nice speaking voice, it makes sense your singing voice would be nice too.”

Roman abruptly teared up.

Thomas’s hold on ‘casual’ dropped immediately. “Oh no, I’m--sorry, I--”

Roman laughed wetly, wiping his eyes. “You didn’t do anything wrong, I’m just not used to compliments on my voice.” He sniffed, and tears slipped down his cheeks. “Can-- can we put a rain check on the singing?”

Thomas nodded, a bit helplessly, not having intended to do anything close to the level of causing tears, happy or otherwise.

Roman managed a tearful smile and then trotted away, off by himself.

••^*^••

Everyone was doing pretty well, enjoying the afternoon sun and the shade from the treeline in the paddock with all the flowers. Even Logan had joined them, and Patton was happily providing him with mounds of picked flowers.

Thomas knew he must be rested enough now, since he was actually a bit bored just watching them.

Virgil trotted up to him, all by himself, which was rather rare.

“Hi, Virge.”

Virgil waved silently, just sidling up next to him and standing quietly for a while. He didn’t look exactly relaxed, but Thomas decided it’d be best to let him say what was wrong.

“Um… the other day…” Virgil said very slowly.

Thomas looked up at him.

“Patton said he told you I wanted to give you a ride.”

Thomas nodded, speaking quickly. “He did, but I didn’t take that as any kind of promise. If he was mistaken--”

Virgil bit on the end of one of his sleeves. “He wasn’t.”

“Alright,” Thomas said gently. “Are you saying you’d like to give me a ride now?”

Virgil shrugged. “I’m… meant to be ridden. I-if I don’t, there’s--other places are so much worse, and I didn’t use to care, but now you’re here, and it’s better, and I don’t want to go somewhere else and I don’twanttobeseparatedfromthemand--”

Thomas slowly held up a hand, halting Virgil’s rush of words. “You don’t have to do anything if you aren’t ready, Virgil. We have time. And if the Authiers ever decided they didn’t want to keep you, I’d do my best to get them to give you to me, and if they still wouldn’t I’d-- well, I care more about you guys than I do about following all the laws.”

Virgil bit down on his lip. “Thanks,” he said, barely louder than a whisper.

Thomas nodded seriously.

“I think… I am ready though, if it’s you.” Virgil said.

Sometimes their trust in him was so much it made Thomas’s heart hurt. He nodded silently, not trusting his voice.

Virgil held a hand down like Remy would, and Thomas grabbed on, pulling himself up onto Virgil’s back. He could feel a distinct difference from the way Remy stood, and looked down, seeing that Virgil’s hooves were definitely to blame. Once they got back to the stable he was looking to see when the nearest farrier appointment was scheduled.

“Ready?” Virgil asked, a bit more confidence in his tone.

Thomas wrapped his arms around Virgil’s waist. “Yep!”

Virgil grinned and took off, right out the open gate of the paddock and along outside it. Even despite the difficulty it must have been to go that quickly with overgrown hooves, his gait was smoother than Remy’s, and quite a bit faster, with shorter steps.

They passed the end of the paddock, and Thomas spared an arm to wave, getting several waves back. It was impressive that Virgil ran so smoothly that Thomas didn’t need both arms. Thomas wasn’t exactly an experienced rider, only getting by since he was able to hold onto waists and because he was riding centaurs that wanted him to stay on. One good buck and he’d go flying.

And then Virgil leaned forward.

Thomas wrapped his arm back around quickly and tightened his grip.

Virgil broke into a smooth gallop, speeding over the ground at an incredible speed. The wind rushed in Thomas’s ears and he felt almost like laughing with all the awed and happy feelings bubbling up inside him.

They followed the tree line farther back across the property, and Thomas saw them pass several other buildings. There were many places like the pond and pond house, clearly set up for a single purpose, just out of sight of the last place. Some were better kept up, used recently, but many were just as overgrown as the pond.

The paddock was far out of sight behind them, but Virgil didn’t slow, or even falter. He wasn’t even panting yet. Thomas knew he’d been running around and chasing Roman and Remy, but to have built up such a stamina so soon, Virgil must be capable of incredible distance.

Thomas felt so proud.

••^*^••

Emile held out a brush, his arms full of others. “Ok, everyone pick a partner and choose a brush!”

Patton took a brush and went to stand near Logan, while Remy took a brush and went to Virgil, leaving Roman for Emile.

Emile smiled at Roman, patting his back. “Do you mind me using you as an example?”

Roman shook his head. “No, that’s fine.”

Thomas couldn’t really watch and clean out all the stalls, but he was glad to hear Emile giving out instructions and the soft sounds of brushing.

“Mostly you’ll just be going with the grain, nice and easy, and flick the brush a little to help get off any dirt.” Emile said.

“Oh, wait, Patton, let me give you a different one, Logan’s hair is a bit long for that brush to work well. Gosh, Logan, you’re shedding late too, huh? It has to have been hot for you.”

Then came a quieter rumble of Remy’s voice, clearly not meant to be quite shared with the group. “So are you, V, another week in the sun and you’ll drop a lot of this and get all nice and shiny.”

“I’m fine, I already shed,” Roman said. “With the competitions and all they try to get me to shed as early as possible.”

Emile hummed in a not quite pleased way.

There was a short bit of mostly silence.

“You know, especially Patton and Logan,” Remy commented. “Might do well with a good bath, scrub everything real good, loosen it all up.”

“...maybe,” Patton said hesitantly. “What do you think, Logan?”

“I wouldn’t be opposed.” Logan said evenly.

“Alright, I think we’re ready to trade, Roman,” Emile said cheerfully. “Just be a little careful, there’s a whorl right near the juncture on my back, and it doesn’t feel great if you brush straight over it.”

“Oh. Yes, I see. I’ll be careful.” Roman answered.

“So, you two do this a lot with each other?” Virgil asked, presumably to Remy.

“Oh, absolutely. Thomathy isn’t always around, and it’s also just nice.” Remy chuckled and lowered his voice. “Just watch Emile, he’s totally gonna melt.”

Thomas straightened, having finished cleaning out the last stall. Now to add back in the fresh hay. He glanced over at the tight knot of centaurs standing in the middle of stable, and saw that Emile was indeed melting under Roman’s brushing, though Logan looked close to it as well, Patton enthusiastically brushing tufts of long hair out of his coat and onto the ground. It was funny how small Patton looked next to Logan, reaching up high to get the top of his back.

Thomas couldn’t help a soft smile. They all did so well with each other.

••^*^••

“I’m back!” Remy announced, practically slamming open the door and startling both Virgil and Patton.

Thomas looked up from where he’d been trying to get all his purchases and Logan’s books onto one paper to give to the lawyer soon. Apparently he had to do it before he got his paycheck, which would’ve been nice to know beforehand, but at least he had enough time now.

Since he’d known he would be busy with that, he’d made the Very risky decision of letting Remy go off entirely on his own to get a few things from his house to bring to the stable. It had been quite a while since Remy had left, far longer than a trip there and back would be.

“I have a radio, and all the blankets and pillows I could get, and a bunch of stuff from the pantry, and then I went and found several random things.” Remy said proudly, setting down the rope he’d tied to the cart to pull it with.

“Random things?” Thomas asked, a bit worried.

“Yup!”

Remy pulled out the radio and brought it inside, heading straight towards the phone to try and hook it up.

Thomas went curiously to unpack the rest of the cart.

The blankets and pillows went into the stall next to Roman. At first, Thomas had been sleeping in the stall beside Patton, but the sounds of the rats in the cage above his head had been waking him up at night, so he switched.

He didn’t always sleep in the stable, of course, sometimes he went to the bunk house and took advantage of the AC and showers. But it was better to have a nice place to sleep when he did stay in the stable overnight.

Emile helped put the food away, and handed out some pop tarts that were getting close to too old.

“Huh,” Virgil said, having looked into the cart and pulled something out. “Why did you get this?”

“Where did you even find it?” Thomas asked incredulously.

“What is it?” Logan asked.

“It’s a stethoscope,” Virgil said.

Remy just grinned proudly, not answering any of the questions.

“Oooh! You can listen to heartbeats with it!” Patton said excitedly.

Virgil actually smiled slightly, wiping the stethoscope carefully with his shirt before putting it in his ears.

“Me first!” Patton said, hopping up and down.

Thomas was too interested in watching them with the stethoscope to keep doing either his paperwork or the unloading of the cart.

Virgil carefully set the other end of the stethoscope against Patton’s chest, waiting a moment before his mouth opened slightly in awe. “I hear it.”

Patton grinned excitedly, his back hooves stamping the ground lightly as he tried to keep his chest still for Virgil to listen.

“Can I listen to yours?” Virgil asked Logan.

Logan looked a little hesitant, but finally nodded.

Virgil handed the end of the stethoscope up to Logan, who held it against his own chest.

Virgil’s forehead furrowed in concentration, but only a few seconds before his eyes went wide. “It’s clearer than Patton’s.”

“Is it?” Logan asked.

Virgil nodded very seriously. “And I can hear your breath too. Here, you listen.”

He passed the rest of the stethoscope up to Logan, who listened with a rather blank face for a few moments, then nodded. “It’s certainly intriguing. My I listen to yours to compare?”

Virgil nodded immediately, letting Logan press the stethoscope against his chest.

Logan nodded, slowly and thoughtfully.

Just then was a loud sound of static, as Remy got the radio to turn on.

“Let’s do it outside,” Patton suggested, and the three of them, plus Emile after putting the last thing away, went out.

Remy took a minute or two to find a station.

“Oh here we go!” He said delightedly as the music played clearly. Remy started singing, catching onto the song right in the middle. “I've been going out too much

Been talking 'bout myself too much. Oh!”

To Thomas’s surprise and delight, Roman joined in on the chorus. How they both knew the song he had no idea, but within moments both Remy and Roman were singing.

“I can be good sometimes

I'm a cheap queen

I can be what you like

And I can be bad sometimes

I'm a real queen

I can make grown men cry!”

Thomas smiled brightly, clapping as the song ended and the radio jockey started saying something he didn’t pay attention to. “That was amazing!”

Remy looked proud, and Roman outright blushed.

“Well, I did promise you a performance,” Roman said shyly.

“And it’s not over here!” Remy said, grabbing Roman’s hand. “If you know that one I bet you know a bunch of the songs on this station!”

Roman shrugged, but he was smiling.

And sure enough, as the next song began, his eyes lit up in recognition, and Thomas was treated to an encore performance.

••^*^••

They were all laying down in the closer paddock, cuddled together against the slight night chill, and gazing up at the stars.

“You know,” Thomas said, yawning and cutting off his own sentence. “I think I’m really happy with your crazy random stuff, Remy.”

Remy snorted. “When have you ever not been?”

“There was the time—“ Emile began, only to be promptly shushed by Remy.

“It was fun,” Patton said.

Thomas looked over at Logan, head craned back to look up at the stars. Virgil was slumped against his flank, asleep, still with the stethoscope looped around his neck.

Roman, who was kindly letting Thomas lean against him, shifted slightly to a more relaxed position. “I’m glad you brought the radio.”

“Absolutely!” Remy burst out, a bit loud for the hushed speaking they’d all been doing. “I’d get you seven if it’ll get you as my partner for singing.”

Roman huffed out an amused sound.

“I’m serious! You’re stuck with me now, I’ll expect karaoke at least three nights a week.”

“Well, I’m not complaining,” Roman said, his tone all light.

Thomas sighed happily.

If things kept going this well, he’d be very happy indeed.

-------

If you enjoyed, please reblog! And consider supporting me on Kofi!

Chessverse AU Janus Queen! He’s the Moon side Queen piece and he’s officially the first piece I’ve drawn with my new tablet woooo!!!

Edit: ah oops it was late and I said he’s a king piece but he’s a queen piece.

If you like it please reblog it!

Winged!Virgil because the mood struck me something fierce! 

If you like it please reblog it! <3

Clear the stage for the real king

@thatsthat24

This one was made as a birthday gift for the sweetest Feli! (lost_fander and ig) If u don't follow her already, pls go give her some love cuz heck she's a talented lil gal!

-

I'm actually proud of this one,,,, pls don't let it flop c':

Virgil Rook for the Chessverse AU. He carries a lance as his weapon of choice. 

If you like it, please Reblog it! 

Concept Sketch of his full outfit: 

hello! in case a reminder is needed, at this blog we believe the following:

ship and let ship & against purity culture - who you ship does not say anything about your morality and it’s not my job to police your ships

kinktomato - i’m not interested in judging your kinks and i’ll thank you to do the same for me

gender policing is not advocacy - deciding how fictional characters should/shouldn’t express their gender and sexuality is not up to you or to me 

& that all the above can be true and we can (and should) still be critical about how we create and consume media and art. that we can (and should) still work to be anti-racist and anti-sexist, to fight homophobia and transphobia in fandom and in our work while believing the above. I am (as the brilliant ebp put it) “pro-critical discussions and anti-shaming.” 

Seriously terrifying-

A1 grey for Patton.

Expression meme

I need c4 Remus in your style, please!!!

Expression meme

Since the sketch is my most popular post I thought I’d line and color it.

They listen to edgy music together and maybe kiss a little. Also they’re chilling in Remus’ room.

A pet is forever, not just for a holiday.

With Easter fast approaching with its spiked rabbit sales and subsequent spiked rabbit abandonment rates, I thought I’d use my powers for good by spreading some information I think everyone should know before they get their first bunny. I usually don’t want people reposting my art, but feel free to spread this one around! Reblogs are very, very appreciated. If you want more information about pet rabbits, you can for example check out rabbit.org. And remember: Adopt, don’t shop!

Animatic Progress Update! Lil Bambi 2-ish au scene where Dad!Janus has to save Son!Virgil from being lost and hurt in the Imagination.

Lemme know what you think? :o i still have to figure out how to do subtitles w/ this app so forgive me for not having it yet ;;

Hopefully this link works now!

https://cheerfulnightmare.tumblr.com/post/645009667999793152/the-actor-some-fanart-for-fangirltothefullest

Hey! I've tagged you on twitter and tumblr but I think tumblr doesn't like me so oof

i don’t see tags. Tumblr has never and will never give me any kind of alert when I’m tagged...... can you send me the post you tagged me in?

‘The Actor’ Some fanart for @fangirltothefullest Little Nightmares AU! 

Check it out on my twitter where I post more often - https://twitter.com/CheerfulNightm1/status/1368575961264951296

Next villain of the Sanders Sides Little Nightmares AU, The Professor! He meanders around the classrooms with slow shuffling, shambling steps and inhaling books, beakers and viscera. He is very slow until he’s after you and then he’s fast and practically boneless in his reach. You see him from behind and a light coming from him but you don’t know he’s distorted until he hears Thomas and Red and snaps around and tries to drag them into his gullet with a relentless pull. Thomas has to hide behind something to avoid it or he’ll be sucked in.

To advance, Thomas has to have Red call out to him in specific locations of the library while not getting himself caught because Red is strong enough to wriggle free but Thomas isn’t. The goal is to get The Professor to knock down certain things to progress forward, lured by Red’s call. Once he knocks things down, Thomas can grab hold of his tie and pull, causing the light of his face to flicker and sputter out before coming back on.

The stages of the classroom are the library, the lecture hall and the laboratory (Note I wrote “laboratory” on the picture, but it’s all three locations). Once his tie is gone, he turns into the studious child Indigo and Thomas and Red invite him to their little group.

Indigo has the ability to levitate objects with light. So long as something is under a light, Indigo can manipulate it in space.

If you like it please reblog it!

I will also always love this

theyre best friends your honor

Part 1 of the Little Nightmares Sanders Sides AU featuring The Actor on his stage. At first you can’t tell he’s facing you because of the position of his legs and then he attacks you if you make a noise that will “interrupt” his “performance” of janky terrible music and jerky motions.

The goal is to get up high above him on the Stage while avoiding making as much sound as possible and flicking a bunch of switches without being grabbed so the bright spotlights all shine down on him at once and he takes a bow. This lets Thomas, the protagonist kid, grab hold of the larger glass pieces in his head and tear them off.

It takes three literal stages to do this as he swoops out to catch you each time you pull one out and heads into another “room” of the stage. (stage 1 is the one in the third picture, stage 2 is a row of seats and stage 3 is a balcony) If he hears you he lets out a furious screech and reaches arms out to get you as more terrible janky music plays.

When the last of the glass falls out, the mask shatters and he shifts back into a child with a red coat affectionately dubbed Red:

Red has the ability of distraction when played in tandem with Thomas. He is able to cause distractions independently by making singing in different areas to call other monsters away from switches or levers.

If you like it, please reblog it!

A butterfly Virgil for @/no_need-to_demonstrate's Instagram DTIYS

Here they are! The Big Baddies(?) of the 100 Acre Mindscape! Virgil the anxious Heffalump, Janus the scheming Woozle and Remus the bouncy Jagular! (Pssst! He’s actually a Tigger but he doesn’t know that yet!). What trouble will they get up to? Maybe they’ll try and take Patton’s cookies! Oh bother!

Close up on Woozle Janus because he’s so small!

(Please reblog~!)

Long haired Vampire Logan from my fic Where the Lovestruck Bleeds.

had fun with color palettes

[id : a pencil sketch of virgil painting on a easel, colored digitally. he is wearing a fluffy purple jumper (and socks) and jean overalls covered in paint splatters. we only see his back and the brush on the canvas, he is adding purple lights to a painting of thin trees under the moon in grey and purple tones. next to him is a stool on which sit paint tubes, a pot of water and a dirty piece of fabric./end id]

i am very soft for him and i would like to paint by his side.

Hey guys! I’m coming at ya all with an update.

I’m going to be moving to posting stuff primarily to twitter from now on, so if you want to keep up with art, writing and random shenanigans go follow me on Twitter :D

https://twitter.com/CheerfulNightm1

I can’t even-

based off of @stop-it-anxiety‘s post :

Oh fuck I’m gay-

Remus Illustration! 

Tentacles! Tentacles! RAH RAH RAH! 

(Please reblog it if you like it!)

So, here are all the designs of the main cast in my centaur au.

Here we go boys!

Janus is based on a knabstrupper.

 Logan isn’t really based on any singular horse breed.

Patton is based on a curly horse!

Remus here, like Roman is based around a AQH

And lastly, Virgil is based on a firemaned Friesian!

Hey guys! So unless  you’re in the 18+ Sanders Sides Discord server, you may not know about my newest fic, Light The Sky With Hope!

It’s a centaur AU that has a lot in store and on offer! HOWEVER Make sure to read that tags as it does deal with some shit. Now it does have remrom, as the whole herd is in a relationship. so if that makes you uncomfortable just don’t read. Haters who interact just to hate will be fed to the centaurs.

There is smut so if you’re not into that don’t read.

Here’s the link if you’re still interested! https://archiveofourown.org/works/28114974/chapters/68886621

A doodle of Pat building a snowman because we all need soft content