Childhood

[1sts]

THE CHILDHOOD MEME

Childhood. That magical time between infancy and adulthood where you feel invincible. Where you haven't a care or responsibility in the world. It's a time where imagination runs wild and every day is a new adventure waiting to be had.

While there's plenty of fun out there in the world of adults, there's nothing that quite compares to the innocence of those early years. So, grab your juice box, your favorite toy and remember to be back before the streetlights come on.

HOW TO PLAY:

○ This meme is targeted toward the younger end of the age spectrum (15 and under), but that doesn't mean older characters aren't welcome. Does your character have a soft spot for children? Are they typically the type to be the babysitter? Or maybe they're the older sibling being dragged along to keep an eye on the younger one? Aging down is also an acceptable option, haven't we all wondered what our characters would have been like as kids?
○ Comment with your character, canon, preferences, and any other info you'd like to include.
○ Reply to others.
○ Thread and have fun!

1. PLAYGROUND/PARK : The spot where all the best childhood memories are made. Are you playing a game of tag? Are you hanging upside down on the jungle gym? Are you getting into trouble while your mom is catching up on the latest gossip?

2. SCHOOL : The place where 75% of your day is spent and lifelong friendships are forged. Maybe you're in art class, maybe you're at recess, or maybe you're on a school field trip. The possibilities are endless. Just don't be that kid eating paste.

3. MALL : For the kids on the older end of the spectrum. Whether you're at the arcade, whether you're meeting with friends, or whether your parents gave you twenty bucks to get out of their hair, you've got the entire shopping mall at your disposal.

4. CIRCUS : It's the greatest show on earth! Lion tamers! Acrobats! Elephants! Feats meant to stun and amaze you! Cotton candy the size of your head! Are you watching the show from the stands? Or is your family a part of the show?

5. THEME PARK/AMUSEMENT PARK : It's a classic vacation that's fun for the whole family. Are you the roller coaster type? Or are you the type to shy away from the thrill rides and stick to the carousel instead? Keep a hold of someone's hand, though, the only thing that can ruin a day is a lost child in the park.

6. FAIR/FESTIVAL/CARNIVAL : The theme park on a smaller scale. Sometimes the rides are a little shaky, but there's plenty of good deep fried foods and games to be played. Go out and win yourself a goldfish!

7. NEVERLAND : Yes, you read that right. Just like in Peter Pan, it's the magical place where no one has to ever grow up and adults aren't welcome. What kind of adventures will you get into? Remember, it only takes a little bit of fairy dust and good thoughts to fly.

8. WILDCARD : None of these work for you? Go ahead and created your own!

Comments

Milly Farrier | Dumbo

[nextmariecurie]

Opal | The Raven Cycle

[orphangirl]

Stan Uris ( It )

[stantheman]

Nie Huaisang | The Untamed | OTA

[eternalgrief]

nokko-chan | mahou shoujo ikusei keikaku: restart

[shoveler]

[ a quick rundown: nokko is a nine year old that became a magical girl at age four. she's considered a veteran in her field and is mature for her age. although she's shy, she's a hard worker that is determined to pay her mother's expensive medical bills. nokko also tends to break the ice by telling the story of her magical girl name literally being "nokko-chan", something she accidentally chose as a toddler.

her specific magical ability is to "influence the feelings of those around her" but she does her best not to use it unwittingly. it's a bit overpowered, so i'll be curbing it for rp purposes, too. however, if you'd like nokko to "change" or "influence" the feelings of your character, lmk!

i'd personally love to toss her against another magical girl! ]

[future_of_the_moon]

(OoC: Another magical girl, yes? Any preferred scenario?)

Finnick Odair | the hunger games | pre-canon!

[tridens]

[ age c. 13-14, attending career academy ]

Mazaki Anzu | Yu-Gi-Oh! | OTA

[anzu]

Dick Grayson/Robin | Young Justice | OTA

[utilitybelted]

[raptorcanaria]

Never sleep with your co-workers is a cliche for a reason, and Dinah knows this - even if technically her only co-worker is her mother. But the fact that her mother would absolutely diapprove of this is at least part of why she's doing it. Besides, it's not like no one in the Justice Society ever did something reckless and ill-advised. Reckless and ill-advised is what they do.

But she kind of has to admit that things are getting serious when she stays the night at Wayne Manor. In a bed. As Dinah and Bruce. And when she wakes up to find herself alone - Bruce left a note saying that he's had to go to a business meeting and that Alfred will get her anything she needs - it's a sign that they've crossed over from ill-advised workplace liaison to ill-advised dating.

The trouble is that no one can be expected to have these kinds of thoughts and self reflection before coffee.

There's a bathrobe and slippers in her size set out for her - they're not even sexy, just a blue knee length blue number and black mules - and she puts on one of Bruce's shirts on underneath anyway (the thread count is ridiculous) before heading out on her java quest.

Got to be a kitchen around here somewhere, right?

[utilitybelted]

There is a kitchen, it's just as large and opulent as the rest of the house, and while on many occasions it would contain a butler who would, as Bruce's note suggested, be happy to get her anything, Alfred was currently occupied in the laundry room. What it does contain is a freshly brewed pot of coffee just waiting to be poured, and a thirteen year old boy eating cereal at the large table.

Dick's very much on auto-pilot, still in his pyjamas and staring into space while he eats, not really looking at anything at all. Until the presence of another person filters into his consciousness and he snaps to alertness in seconds.

"...Morning?" he offers, a little concerned - because of course Bruce had completely forgotten to mention that he apparently had a guest last night, though Dick knew he'd been out late on a date rather than patrol, and he also knows that his father has already left for work, which is... interesting.

There's something familiar about the woman, too, and he's trying to think where they've met before.

[raptorcanaria]

Dinah is a superhero and a highly competent martial artist who has been training in this arena since she was a toddler. She is, in theory, hyper aware of her surroundings at all times.

Which does not explain why she makes it all the way across the kitchen - which by the way is the size of her entire apartment - to the coffee pot before she notices there's a child in the room.

"Good morning," she says through the morning fog as she pours the coffee and inhales the steam, stalling while she quickly runs through possibilities in her mind.

Right, Robin. And as the caffeine starts to work she remembers that Bruce-who-is-Batman is also Bruce Wayne, who does in fact have an adopted son.

As her mouth starts to form the R of 'Robin,' she remembers his name.

"...Dick, right? I'm Dinah."

[utilitybelted]

Dick is trained by Batman, so of course he's pretty observant, especially when he's watching someone as closely as he's watching her - so he sees her start to say R, and he doesn't think she's about to say Richard.

That means she's someone who knows which, combined with her name, helps him put the pieces together.

Bruce is dating Black Canary.

"Nice to meet you," he says, even though they've met before - there's something different about meeting behind a mask and standing in his kitchen in a borrowed dressing gown, though.

"So... dad just left you to fend for yourself, huh?" he pauses "You want some breakfast?"

Nagisa Shiota | Assassination Classroom

[knifesmiles]

[He's a 14 year old junior high student who is also an assassin.]

Martin | Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency | ota

[the_phobophage]

[ did he get hit by another Project that messes with people's age? is it just actually earlier in his life and he's 14-16 and early in his time with Blackwing? I DON'T KNOW YOU TELL ME. let's do it. ]

AU? don't feel obliged!

[mandelbrotz]

(In another life, Martin is 15 years old and in the Blackwing mess hall. He's allowed out for good behavior. It just so happens that Project Sibyl is deposited by the door, the guards locking it behind them. Despite it just being two children, the large room is secured.

Amanda is 12 years old, with long bushy brown hair, hazel eyes, and bathed in the smell of fear. Her hands have a tremor to them as she picks up a tray. Her jumpsuit looks like it was made for maybe someone older, she's small for her age. It's baggy and makes her look even smaller.

Her and Martin's eyes meet, and she smiles slightly.)

I LOVE IT THO

[the_phobophage]

[ Two years in -- three? he's not sure anymore, he's already lost count -- and there's something like routine in it. He hates routine. His hair's too long, unkempt and mangy because he won't let them get close enough to cut it, no matter how loudly they threaten to shave it. He's all gangly limbs, awkward proportions he hasn't had a chance to grow into yet, and he's already well on his way to feral.

He can smell her. She smells scared, like the lab coats, only sharper, but he knows from the way they locked them in together that it's on purpose. The fear might not be, but the company is.

He still moves in, because she's the first person he's seen in over a month that's not in a lab coat, and the smell of her draws him in like a moth to flame. ]

Stop it. Fear just makes 'em stronger.

[mandelbrotz]

(She's so tiny, when he gets close she sort of... curls into herself, instead of trying to make herself look bigger. The tray is held against her chest, hugged like a life preserver. This boy (ew boys) is freaking her right the fuck out.)

Stop what?

[the_phobophage]

Bein' scared.

[ Like it's actually that easy. He likes making the lab coats scared, and the military guys. They deserve to be scared. But she's just little, younger than he is, and they don't usually let him out around other people unless there's a reason. He scowls, and growls, and keeps the distance. ]

I can smell you. They want you to be scared. They like it when you're scared.

Misfortune Ramirez Hernández | Little Misfortune | ota

[yikes_forever]

[ Be prepared for lots of glitter. ]

Zelda | Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild | for Urbosa: @myohmdestiny

[sealingpower]

Zelda tried her hardest not to skip up the stairs to the Gerudo Town Palace in her excitement, but the minute she hit the crest, the young princess spun to face the four woman knights who had served as her escort during the journey there. She put both hands behind her back and cutely rocked on her heels.

"You are dismissed." She ordered, still trying to hide her glee, "Urbosa will oversee my training from here. You may return to the castle and tell this to my father."

Such official words! One would never believe she was only ten years old!

"But Princess. We have a duty to stay by your side and guard you while you pray!" The Knight Captain protested.

"And I am releasing you from those duties for the time being. I will send for you when I have need of your protection again." The young princess responded. She wasn't meaning to be rude,  she just really hated being trailed by escorts every minute of every day and she was so looking forward to spending time with her aunt alone unhindered by the need to keep up appearences.

"But, Your Highness, the desert is crawling with Yiga Assassins!"

Zelda cut her off with the raise of a finger. "Are you doubting in the abilities of the famed Gerudo Chief?"

She spoke loudly in hopes that her voice might carry and reverberate in the high ceilings of the palace to be heard by Urbosa herself. There was a moment of silence where Zelda seemed to be waiting for this and when it didn't happen, she hesitated a bit.

The two Gerudo guards stationed on either side of the palace doors exchanged glances. This was not lost on the young princess.

"... or the might of the Gerudo Warriors who patrol these deserts?"

The poor knight shifted uneasily and Zelda couldn't help but feel bad for what she might have started should the Hylian woman continue to protest.

Hopefully Urbosa would be around to stop any fights that may break out before they began?

[myohmdestiny]

She's out there causing problems. She really is her mother's child, isn't she?

The happy memories that bubbled up inside of the Gerudo chief made it hard to fight off a smile as she emerged from the palace. She stepped between her guards and gave the young Princess a stern look before she turned her attention to the guards. Whether the tension melted away because cooler heads prevailed or none of the Hylians wanted to face Urbosa's ire, the posture of the knights relaxed.

A part of Urbosa, lingering remnants of the troublesome warrior who existed before she became chief, wanted to watch them squirm just a little more. But instead, she offered them a polite bow.

"Fear not, for I won't let anything happen to the Princess so long as she's in our care. I, and my fellow Gerudo, will protect her with our lives."

The guards drove the ends of their spears into the ground and nodded. That acknowledged, she flashed a look at Zelda with a twinkle of mischief dancing in her eyes.

"I know you're not allowed to say so, but I think you must be relieved to be free of such a troublesome burden for a time." She gestured to her left. "You'll find the finest bar in all of Hyrule over there, and you're welcome to indulge as my guests. You could also travel to the oasis if you saw fit. I'd like to take time to teach the Princess in basic weapon handling."

Once more, she turned back to Zelda to gauge her reaction. She'd not mentioned any sort of training in her letter. How long would she be able to hold off the surprise?

[sealingpower]

Zelda's heart swelled when she heard the familiar cadance of Urbosa's steps as the chief stepped out onto the dais.

She did her best to offer her most innocent smile in response to the scolding and nodded along with what Urbosa assurred of her entourage until she was called out for her own mischief. Her smile immediately turned to a scowl and she tuned out the rest of the part regarding whatever accommodations her aunt was offering until the prospect of weapons training came up.

Urbosa was going to teach her to use a weapon? A sword and shield like her perhaps?

She didn't have to spend all day locked in monotonous prayer as she had for the last three years since she began her training?

Look, even 'sacred goddess blooded princesses' get bored of such things. Especially when they were ten years of age, impatient, and had been unsuccessful in their efforts thus far.

The young princess' eyes widened in surprise as she considered the prosoect and an excited grin flashed across her features for a moment before she sobered again. Even if to Urbosa it would be obvious that she was still literally vibrating with anticipation.

The knights on the other hand would still remain oblivious, as they didn't know the princess like Urbosa did.

The four of them exchanged glances and seemed to be satisfied with the arrangement after all, saluting and then bowing respectfully to both the chief and the princess before taking their leave.

A day without dissappointment!? It sounded almost like a dream!

Of course Zelda had a surprise of her own for her aunt, stowed away safely in her bag.

[myohmdestiny]

Urbosa nodded to her own guards, who regarded the chief and her temporary charge with a stern nod. That done, she guided Zelda back into the palace itself, glancing over her shoulder to make sure they were out of earshot for anyone else. Her expression, not quite severe, looked more stern than usual.

"Before we discuss your training, there's something else I'd like to say, little bird." She stopped and knelt in front of the young princess. "While you are still a child, your actions now will still leave an impression on those who serve you. There was a lesson your mother learned from her mother and shared with me years ago. A true leader inspires not with her crown alone, but through her words and deeds."

That said, she rose back to her feet and the parental expression dissolved into a warm smile as she offered a hand to Zelda to guide her toward her temporary quarters.

"Now then, I believe your father asked that I further your education during your visit. And that is precisely what I intend to do." She could drag it out a little longer before the big reveal. Besides, there were pressing matters. "But first things first, you've just completed a long journey. You must be hungry, and I can't imagine anyone in your entourage was a skilled cook. Shall we get some food once you've settled in?"

[sealingpower]

Zelda followed Urbosa into the palace, her head lowered and dragging her feet a little. She hadn't meant to start any conflict, but it didn't seem like her guards would have left otherwise. But then her aunt stopped. The serious expression hadn't changed as it usually did once they were alone and she had a sudden fear that she had indeed done something really wrong.

When Urbosa knelt though, she blinked and cocked her head to the side curiously but remained silent for what she was going to say.

Her face scrunched up in thought as she considered her aunt's words and she nodded her understanding.

"Mother was loved a lot by the people, wasn't she?" Zelda mused aloud. Even though her mother had only passed three years prior, and although she was wise for her age, Zelda was still a child and too young to fully understand the feelings of the citizens of Hyrule.

Zelda took Urbosa's hand and this time walked along side, brought out of her thoughts when Urbosa mentioned the itinerary so to speak. She couldn't help but make a face at having to study, since the subject matter would be less the type she would prefer; but perked when offered a meal and rest. How right Urbosa was about the food she had to endure on her journey here! But she wasn't going to say so aloud. That would be rude. However, she really liked the Gerudo cuisine, the flavors were so distinct from those of the Hylian meals!

Her steps turned more bouncy at the prospect and her tone was more excitable.

"What has the chef prepared for supper?" she questioned curiously.