sleep, drabble, fluff
He’s holding her close, spooning her. It’s oddly comfortable to have him pressed so close to her as he sleeps. It’s warm, and it feels…safe.
Her eyes flutter closed as she enjoys the faint tickle at the back of her neck, breath from lips that were a ghost on her.
Every day is a dream. Charlie wakes with Thandi in his arms and sleeps with her curled against him. She touches him, strokes him, pets him to comfort. And he only wants to be there for her. All the time.
sleep, drabble, fluff
Thandi strokes the large head of the panther in her lap. It purrs for her as it rests lazily, her fingers scratching him just right. When she’s careless and drops her hand, the panther’s tongue rasps on her fingers, huge paws reaching out and tapping her hopefully.
“Charlie. Come now. Don’t be greedy.”
The cat huffs and settles again, tail tip flicking. She reads on.
Eventually, she reaches down again, and instead of velvety fur, she feels soft hair that curls just ever so slightly. Charlie’s head sits in her lap and heat blooms in her cheeks. Her fingers return to his head, and he hums quietly, already asleep.
“Thandi…”
Is he dreaming of her? How flattering. She gets comfortable, continuing reading. His even breathing and warmth as she scratches his hair is almost hypnotic, lulling her closer to sleeping herself. Her fingers stroke his cheek, playing a little with the hair along his jawline. What would he look like if she managed to get him to trim everything? Even when he first arrived, he was looking a little shaggy, hair slipped behind his ear.
Chandis are collections of drabbles and vignettes that I collect in one place until the document gets too big and then I move on to another one.
The one I made in 2019 in Canva.
Based off that, I did a quick painting of Charlie writing in his journal for the cover.
After Thandi’s departure, Charlie was lost. He was like an unanchored boat, drifting away from everything.
Charlie bristles as he looks across the long table to his newly wedded wife.
She was so close today. The feeling of her fingers in his hair and over his body.
Thandi pulls her husband into the bed, despite his arguing.
He can barely sleep, but he wakes up earlier than anticipated.
It’s been well over two days and Charlie *still* can’t sleep. He doesn’t get it.
Her hand hesitates when she reaches out for him. To feel that touch… he leans forward, but she shies further.
fluff, dancing, tbo canon offshoot
Lips on her neck and arms round her body, Thandi laughs as Charlie covers her in kisses.
“You scoundrel!”
She could feel his breath on her as he laughs. “Yes, and?”
“You’re rather affectionate today, aren’t you?”
“Hmm.” He sways her side to side as he always does, eyes closed as he contemplates. “Of course I am.”
The two of them twine fingers and sway quietly. They’re on watch together, and this is how they keep awake. It fills them both with a buzzing sort of energy, makes it hard to sleep, and now it’s just routine to be close like this.
“Of course you are.” Thandi wiggles out of his grip and turns to face him. His smirk plays across his face, and she can’t help it. She reaches out and strokes his cheek, enjoying the hum he makes when she touches him. “You’re darling.”
“You’re dear,” he mumbles back as he opens his arms for her. She steps into his embrace again and they dance a little, laughing at the absurdity of it. He holds her close, and she hugs him closer. “I like you so much.”
“I like you!”
His lips press to her cheek and she feels his hair tickle her as he nuzzles her. Being a panther sometimes certainly added to his library of touching; sometimes she was surprised the man himself couldn’t purr, with all the humming he does at her.
Again, lips on her neck and it’s back to work keeping each other awake.
It’s been weeks since she met her Birdboy.
It’s late summer, and he’s always at their meeting place, it seems. Today is no different.
His head snaps up as soon as she’s in shouting distance, and she sees him smile. It’s soft at first before it takes on a wicked angle. He must have thought of a new way to tease her.
“Thandi, good evening.”
“Good morning, sir Birdboy.”
There’s an airy laugh as he pushes himself up, striding toward her with a purpose. “What’s the agenda today? Tend the garden, ogle me, and what else?” As always, he leans close to her, and she catches that minty tone with the smell of his exertions. She watches a drop of sweat bead and roll down his chest, biting her lip.
“Ogling is all you’re good for, truly. Maybe I’ll tell you on our walk?”
He steps closer and she puts out her hand, stopping him before he gets closer. She’s noticed that he objects much less to her touch now. It’s curious, how he plays. Surely he’s got experience with touch?
Her palm presses flat to his bare chest, and he tilts his head ever so slightly, daring her to touch his hair. That glimmer he gets when he’s enjoying himself is intense. Usually he’d balk as she reaches up, but his smile only gets wider.
The offending lock of hair is carefully tucked behind his ear, and he takes her hand as she pulls away from his face. This is new. He doesn’t touch hands.
There’s a beat as he gathers his resolve, then she feels his lips on her palm. He kisses her hand, eyeing her as he does this, triumphant when she reddens. The kisses get closer to her fingertips. He opens his mouth.
He takes a finger and sucks on it.
Oh dear. Thandi gapes, astonished at his boldness, shock prompting him to slide off her finger. And move on to the next.
“B-Birdboy! What are you doing?!”
Her hand is released and he smiles at her again. “Hassling you. I like when you get like this.”
“Right, of course, you love setting me off. But perhaps we can find something a little less!! Unhygienic?”
“Where have you been putting your hands that I should worry?” The way he says this, it reminds her of a cat purring. She laughs.
“Your mouth, I should say.”
“Then it’s fine.”
From the second iteration of the game, this is Charlie’s journal from the second WoA game. The canon tag has been removed from them.
(to come)
Charlie’s canonical journal explaining events from his perspective.
It’s barebones.
For now.
If you can’t read it very well, click the entry titles and it will bring you to the clear versions. I just think it’s more fun this way.
Touching might be okay in certain situations.
Held hands with Thandi after fiasco at party.
Sort of.
Touched hands.
Didn’t not like it.
Must continue to test and see if it is just anomaly.
T very impressive. Stood up to so many people. Wish I had the balls. The onion as shitty and insufferable as before.
We will be released into the Haven proper. Keeping rooms at the Center.
If I am going to stay, will they move me someday?
Feel bad for N. She wants to go back to the Library. If I got to work at the Library, I may even be pleased to be Labor. Depending on the contract.
Maybe just visit.
Worried.
Obstacle course. Relatively easy— N did shockingly well. Very creative. I am not creative like that.
T did shockingly poorly. She asked us to compete with her but I felt so bad I could not manage to compete. Tried to soften the landing. Literally, once.
A bit frightened of C with the shadow pop thing.
SC shiny and enthusiastic.
S too competitive.
Y… flew sometimes, with fire. Distressing to watch.
T gave us more scrolls. About to contact J.
Contacted J and Mother. Going opposite direction. With Izar? The one I was going to marry. Izar likely part of this outfit keeping me here.
T had said she will submit for our release and I do not want to go back. I am scared.
Have job and studying all time.
Noticed changing easier when knowing how to arrange everything.
N excellent study partner. Gets it. May even shake hands like colleague some day.
SC difficult to teach. Willing to learn but sometimes puts me off.
T enthusiastic teacher for magic now.
E confirms my bedside manner shit.
Became much. Weasel. Panther. Bear.
Was good and bad.
Never overwhelmed like that before.
Frightening.
Want to control it.
Embarrassed.
But did it for science.
Others tried as well. Mine could have been worse.
Talked to Mother using bizarre scroll. Confirmed: am literal bastard. Pros: Josiah is my father, Byron is not. Cons: Went through that shit for nothing?
Mother and J on the run. Know J will take care of Mother, has always had a system figured out for the day they ran. Don’t know when or if they will be okay. Likely be fine.
T offloaded information. She is as fucked as we are.
Notable: space. Planets. Different reality.
Notable: Imprisoned for years.
Notable: Studies to come.
Granted a journal. Will write.
Mother & Josiah status unknown.
T not answering questions. Need to probe more. Made me eat. (Beignet not bad.) Received pamphlet after “class”.
N seems like she will be good company.
Unknown about rest. No ETA for Mother & Josiah.
Questions:
Need to request the source books. Pamphlet only opens more questions.
Touching might be okay in certain situations.
Held hands with Thandi after fiasco at party.
Sort of.
Touched hands.
Didn’t not like it.
Must continue to test and see if it is just anomaly.
T very impressive. Stood up to so many people. Wish I had the balls. The onion as shitty and insufferable as before.
We will be released into the Haven proper. Keeping rooms at the Center.
If I am going to stay, will they move me someday?
Feel bad for N. She wants to go back to the Library. If I got to work at the Library, I may even be pleased to be Labor. Depending on the contract.
Maybe just visit.
Worried.
Obstacle course. Relatively easy— N did shockingly well. Very creative. I am not creative like that.
T did shockingly poorly. She asked us to compete with her but I felt so bad I could not manage to compete. Tried to soften the landing. Literally, once.
A bit frightened of C with the shadow pop thing.
SC shiny and enthusiastic.
S too competitive.
Y… flew sometimes, with fire. Distressing to watch.
T gave us more scrolls. About to contact J.
Contacted J and Mother. Going opposite direction. With Izar? The one I was going to marry. Izar likely part of this outfit keeping me here.
T had said she will submit for our release and I do not want to go back. I am scared.