There were certain advantages to living on the moon. For starters, the regular threats couldn’t get to them. Second, Kalen had no idea where any of his favourite targets were. Third…

“There’s a fucking Fantasy Olive Garden on the MOON!”

None of their patchwork family had seen Taako flip out like this about a restaurant. In fact, they’d never seen him excited about anything related to food since -well- since Glamour Springs.

“Fantasy Olive Garden?” said Merle, who missed the drama in Glamour Springs. “Really?”

“Shoosh,” advised Mak’arune. “This is good.”

“It might be the best,” said Angus.

“I didn’t know you were into Fantasy Italian,” said Magnus.

Taako said, “I’m always a slut for pasta.” He was looking at the Fantasy Olive Garden like someone who was looking at paradise. “And those bread sticks… hmmm…”

The rest of the patchwork family looked at each other with speculation in their eyes. They had a plan.

So, too, did Madam Director, who had added the Fantasy Olive Garden to the moon base five seconds after she heard about Taako’s difficulties with food. It took a special kind of genius to know how to use someone’s weaknesses for the greater good.

…the kind of genius it took one hundred years to create…

[AN: Sure. I’m completely fooled. 9_9 Rather than explain Kintsugi, I started posting it on AO3. Read the beginning here. More chapters as time and availability dictates]

Sometimes, you just need a break. A chance to get away from it all and chill. This place… This place looked perfect for that. Beautiful white sand, perfect blue ocean.

“Aaaw yeah. I could really use a beach day,” cheered Magnus.

“No need to tell me twice, broski,” Taako was already in his fantasy swim trunks. He took to the water like he’d been born in it, and was soon almost out of sight in the waves.

“Any chance he’ll drown?” grumbled Merle, the group’s unofficial Grumpy Grampa.

“Not likely, sir,” said Angus from inside the caravan. He was still changing. “Papa’s pretty adept at the water stuff.”

Mak’arune emerged in a neck-to-knee number with a superfluous peplum and stripes made out of flowers. Angus’ were floral trunks. “Big water,” she said.

Merle, too, was already in his trunks. “That’s the ocean. One of Nature’s true wonders. It won’t bite, but it can be tricky. You see that part where the waves won’t break? That’s a riptide. Stay the fuck away from that.”

Mak paddled with Angus in the shallows, staying the hell away from the riptide. Merle went in deeper.

Magnus shrugged and stripped down to his Fantasy Meundies and rushed into the water. He didn’t go out as far as Taako, who was using the waves to sort of push him towards the shore without ever completely coming in. Magnus kept his eye on Mak and Ango, making sure they were safe. They didn’t go in further than Ango’s waist and had a great deal of shrieking and splashing around.

Merle came to shore with a fish, which he stuck on a stick up by their campsite. He strolled back into the water and ducked under as soon as he could. He seemed to be having fun with it, whatever it was.

Taako emerged from the waves to show Mak and Ango how to make Dribble Castles. He watched Merle wander past with a collection of shellfish and other creatures, and washed his hands in the salty water. He set up the cauldron, but didn’t do anything to cook. He gathered firewood and put some water in the cauldron, but after that, it was giving instructions to Merle.

Magnus kept watch on Mak’arune and Angus. Their dribble castle was getting ridiculous. He waded ashore and said, “I think Papa Taako needs more help. Let’s wash our hands.”

Sure enough Taako and Merle were having their four PM argument.

“Your hands aren’t broken, and you obviously know your shit. Why aren’t you doing any of this shit?”

Taako said, “I won’t do it. I can’t let it happen again.”

“Let what happen again.”

Magnus, walking in on it all, said, “Glamour Springs.”

[Prompts remaining: 1]

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