#anyway wow. thanks for helping me try to get leo out of my system. it didn't fucking work!!! but we tried and that's all that matters :)

[desceros]

Mr. LEON (think late 30's/early 40's) reuniting with his spouse after a long time away. It's sweet, it's silly, it's followed by absolutely nasty half-clothed, sweaty sex.

me, asks for rise leo prompts, instantly regrets it also i'm not saying this is a tactical!leo fic, but i'm also... not NOT saying it leonardo/reader, EXPLICIT, female reader, 2.6k; leo comes back and wants to smell like home again. filthy nasty smut, soft doki dokis, lame married people jokes, one (1) defiled couch

It’s been so long since you’ve seen him, you don’t think twice when you see the rustle of your curtains. Not when you’ve finally, finally trained your stupid heart into not thundering out of your chest when you see it, thinking he’s back when it’s just the breeze. Today, you hardly even glance at them as you continue watering your plants, unbothered, humming, unsuspecting.

It’s so, so typical of him to wait until now to come home.

“Boo!” 

Your scream fills the apartment as you flail, pulse rocketing to the atmosphere in panic when you’re very suddenly not alone. Hands catch you mid-flinch, and it takes you a second to realize that your assailant is, in fact, perfectly safe and didn’t deserve the mighty swing of your watering can. 

Except actually, yes he did, this little asshole—!

“Leo!” you wail, letting him gather you close and press him to his plastron. Your hands clutch at the edge of his keratin, face burrowing in his throat. “You fucking asshole, you scared the shit out of me!”

“Sorry, sweetheart. Couldn’t resist,” he says, his laughter still rolling at the crown of your head as one hand spreads into your lower back to press you close and the other cups your nape. “You just looked so cute, y’know? My adorable little wifey, wearing my shirt and humming in our living room.”

“Stop talking,” you mutter sulkily, wrapping your arms around his neck and swallowing the tears you feel burning at your eyes as happiness swells in your chest like a mighty wave. He always makes fun of you for crying when he comes home, and you’re already a little miffed. 

Your ire dies as you feel him nuzzling behind your ear with his beak, his lungs expanding as he inhales your scent. He’d confessed to you once, a few years into your marriage, that this was his favorite part of coming home; more than the sex, more than the home-cooked meals, more than sleeping in the same bed two nights in a row. He caresses the line of your throat with his beak, stitching your natural perfume back into place in his mind, sinking into you because it’s not the walls around you that he calls home.

“…Missed you,” he murmurs, making you sigh as he brushes lovesick kisses to your shoulder. 

“You were gone too long this time,” you tell him, lowering one arm to press a palm to his plastron when you feel his lips seeking more skin, letting him pull the neckline of his shirt away from your clavicle. “Thought you were the breeze, coming in.” 

His mouth curves into something filthy at the dip of your throat, his hands finding your hips and giving them a squeeze. “Yeah? Funny. I plan on coming in something, all right.”

You laugh way too hard, a little mortified that after all these years you still find this clown funny at the lamest lines. Worse still is how he watches you do it, his face going stupid with naked fondness like making you laugh is the best thing he’s done all day.

“You are such an unfunny loser, oh my god,” you say, pressing your forehead to his. 

“And yet you’re still laughing,” he says, his smile widening when you roll your eyes. 

“I’ve been stockholmed,” you tell him, reaching up your hands to cup his beak and pull him into a kiss. 

Leo has always been good with his mouth, in every way, all the years you’ve known him. His kisses are no exception; seconds into it you’re purring, the sweet friction of his mouth against yours warming you from the inside, parting on a soft sigh when a hand grips your nape and tilts you just so. 

“I wanna fucking eat you alive,” he mumbles against your mouth, his tongue sliding against yours once, twice, three times before he sinks his teeth into your lower lip and tugs. You tremble, and you know he feels it as his hands go a little tighter. “Missed you.” 

Your fingers find the tails of his mask, tangling in them and using them to pull his face away, just a little. He growls, but you ignore him easily. “Don’t you want to take a shower, baby? Get comfy while I cook you something to eat? You smell like work.”

“I know,” he says, his other hand sliding down to the cloth shorts that are barely visible beneath the hem of his shirt, his fingers gliding up the back to cup the curve of your ass. “And I wanna smell like you, now.”

…He gets like this, sometimes, when he comes home. Touchy. Possessive. You’ve always wondered if it has to do with how he doesn’t smell himself on you when he’s been gone, or if it’s because you start wearing his clothes like he’ll feel it wherever he is. The longer the separation, the worse he gets. 

The worse he gets, the better it is.

“Yeah? You wanna smell like me?” you echo as you trail your touch along the red crescents prettying his face, playing into his turtle-brain, feeling your eyelids close as his fingers flutter on your skin. Oh, he wants it bad. “What do I smell like, handsome? I smell good?” 

“So fucking good,” he groans, his huge hand releasing your nape to grip your jaw, pulling you into a kiss that’s wet and deep. It feels good, claws a mangled moan from your chest that has him mirroring the sound himself. He pulls his head back, pressing his thumb to the corner of your mouth and sliding it under your lower lip where you feel the slick mess of his kiss. “…Open,” he says, making your lip pucker under his touch. 

You obey, watching his pupils dilate as they lock onto your mouth, then your tongue when you let it press against the pad of his thumb where he’s holding you open.

“Shit. You’re so hot,” he says, a wounded rumble that makes your lips curl into a coquettish smile before you wrap them around his thumb, sucking and lathing it with your tongue, pressing your teeth in and closing your eyes when you hear him moan. 

“Not gonna smell much like me by staring at my mouth,” you tell him when you let him go, your hooded eyes meeting his as you smile.

“Fuck, I missed you,” he wheezes, and with three steps he’s got you splayed on your couch, the weight of him pinning you to the cushions while his mouth fucking devours you. All you can do is hold on, one hand tangling in his mask tails and the other clutching as his carapace, crushed and absolutely thrilled about it.

When he breaks the kiss to grip his hands in your shorts, pulling them down, you laugh, drawing his hungry gaze even as he doesn’t stop disrobing you. 

“What?” he asks, mouth going just a little crooked in a smile of his own as you shake your head, staring at him adoringly. 

“Just love you,” you tell him, shifting your legs to help him out a bit and biting down on a grin when you can finally spread them and slink your knees to either side of his hips. You slip one of your arms over your head to grip one of the throw pillows, your other trailing down your throat to entice.  “C’mon, pretty boy. Let me see you drop.”

Leo maintains the stare as he straightens his spine, his hands going to his belt buckle to slide it out of place with a metal clink. The button is quick to follow, and when he unzips and slides his pants down just enough for his cloaca to glisten in the afternoon sunlight, you press your fingers to your mouth, tongue instinctively seeking contact. 

“God, look at you,” you whine, your thighs rising to cup his hips and squeeze. “I wanna lick you. Come up here?”

He shakes his head, sliding two of his fingers into your open mouth and pressing on your tongue. “Later, baby. If you want a show, you’ve got, like, thirty seconds for it.” 

Moaning, you soak his fingers with your spit, watching with hazy eyes as he brings them to his cloaca and slides in to the knuckle. He’s always rougher with himself than you are with him, even though he’s told you again and again he prefers it when you’re the one fingering him. 

He makes pretty little gasping moans as he fingers himself hard, his arm flexing and drawing your hungry gaze. He’s gotten so god damned big over the years, making you feel small every time he does something that highlights the difference. It feels good, makes you feel kept, protected. So long as Leonardo Hamato draws breath, no harm will ever come to you, a promise he has the strength to keep.

“Fuck, fuck,” he grunts, eyes squeezing shut as the slick sounds of his fingers pumping in and out of himself get wetter. It’s a familiar sound that makes you ache, craving the thick cock you know is about to slide out like it’s air. 

“You’re so fucking pretty, Leo,” you babble in praise, knowing he likes to hear it, that you like telling him. “Handsome as fuck. God, I can’t believe you’re mine, that you let me see you like this—”

“Shit,” he hisses, pulling his fingers out of you and pressing his cloaca to your cunt, his wet fingers gripping at your hips as he rubs your slick against his. “You can’t talk like that, baby, I’m gonna—”

He cuts himself off on a low groan, his hips rolling against yours and his tail pressing hard between your thighs to garner the friction. It feels so good, so fucking good, your skin burning hot with each messy glide of him against you. Your head rolls, fingers gripping in the pillow behind your head and back arching to try and writhe closer. 

“Leo,” you keen, breath heaving when he releases his death grip on the back of the couch to plant his hand by your head, his back arching over you and blocking everything else out. 

“Don’t come, don’t you dare come,” he hisses, lips curled into a bit of a snarl. “Not until I’m inside, understand?” 

Eyes wet, you nod, choking back the shimmer on your skin that builds as he keeps rubbing cruelly. With one particularly good roll of his hip, you snatch a hand to his bicep, trembling. “Stop, stop—!”

He pauses, letting you claw away from the brink to obey. Sucking in a long breath, you open your eyes and see that he’s staring at you like he’s gone mad. 

“Okay?” he asks, voice fucked out, and you nod, whining when he resumes rubbing his cloaca against you, your eyes falling shut and head lolling to the side as you start the burning process all over again. 

“Feels so good, Leo,” you breathe, skin glowing when you feel him duck in close and glide his tongue up the side of your neck. You’re soaked all over with sweat and slick, every muscle in your body trembling from taut desire that’s just shy of too-much, leaving you delirious and stupid.

With a hitched breath, Leo reaches between you, fingers preparing you for the familiar penetration you want more than anything else. With a hiss, his body goes taut, his cock dropping and sliding inside like his katana into its sheath; like you were made for him, perfectly molded, expertly designed. 

“God, fuck,” he wheezes, his forearms framing your face as he leans down and captures your mouth in a kiss that breaks on a low moan. He pumps his hips against yours slowly, shaking with each breath that has him bottoming out where he belongs. “You feel so—I missed you.” 

Floating with pleasure, you cup his nape, wrapping your legs around him as best as you can to pull him deeper, needing to feel him in your throat. Your hands find the back of his head, sliding easily on his rough, sweat-slick skin, seeking his kiss and finding it. “Oh, Leo, love you, love you so much.”

He marries his mouth to yours as he fucks in in in, feeling a bit like he never pulls out for how full he leaves you. Every neuron in your body stands at attention, taking note of his weight crushing you, the smell of his salty skin, the taste of his tongue as it curls against your own. 

“Look at me, look at me when you come, pretty girl,” he chokes, because he knows your body better than you do and can tell you��re close before you feel it. You open your eyes and meet his, untying his blue mask and letting it slide to your chest right as you feel your orgasm rising. 

“Leo, gonna come,” you whimper, watching as he nods, one hand finding your cheek, his thumb tracing under your eyes where they’re wet. 

“Let go, sweetheart. Let me feel it.” 

Like you do with everything else, you obey and come. It’s a long, wrenching thing, the pleasure washing over you like waves of a mighty ocean as he keeps moving, prolonging it, intensifying it. On and on it goes, your body awash with ecstasy and Leo, always Leo, there to hold you and let you fall. 

“Please,” you gasp, clenching at his carapace, begging him to meet you here in the glow. “Leo, please—” 

His hand drops down to your throat, fingers ever so slightly curling around as his hips thrust a little harder, the wet sounds of your hips meeting loud in your ears now that you’re listening for it. It’s filthy, his mouth hanging open and eyes going wild as they gaze at you like you’re the best thing he’s ever seen. 

With a wounded sound he comes, his forehead dropping to your shoulder and hand going a little too-tight on your throat as he fills you over and over again, each hot thread coating and claiming in equal measure. You let one hand grip the back of his wrist where he’s choking you, crushing him in harder as he groans and presses into you even further as he finishes, watching as the edges of your vision go a little hazy before he releases you and lets you suck in a gasp of air. 

After a few moments of catching your breath, he picks up his head, his beak wrinkling a bit as he stretches his leg out with a hiss. “Gah, fuck, we’re getting too old for couch fucking. Made a fucking mess.”

“Never too old for couch fucking,” you rasp, causing his eyes to fall to where there’s a mark on your throat in the shape of his hand. He licks his lips, and you feel his cock give an interested twitch. “Oh? You gonna make good on that?”

“Too old for back-to-back marathon fucking,” he pouts, though he does arch his hips once in a good sport try that makes your skin light up a bit. “Gimme like, fifteen. I’ll eat you out while we wait, then we can do something about it.” 

You raise an imperious eyebrow. “Fifteen minutes of you eating me out? You? Leonardo Hamato? Only fifteen? I can’t believe an imposter of my husband is here when I was so sure it was him.”

He grins, a boyish thing that makes him look younger and captures your heart all over again. “…Yeah, okay. Let’s be ambitious and say half an hour.”

You settle into the couch, waiting for his cock to retreat back into his cloaca and spending the meantime trailing your fingers along the back of his nape, sighing out in delight. 

“…I missed you, too,” you tell him, watching as his face smooths out and every concern flies away like a butterfly startled by the breeze because he loves you so, so much and you know it. Then, realizing you hadn’t said it yet, “…Welcome home, Leo.”

“Yeah,” he echoes, bending down and nuzzling his beak against your temple, inhaling deeply with a smile. “I’m home.”

[imagines-r-s]

sticking it

chapter 9 

a/n: idk why this chapter took so long, but here it is. for reference - in gymnastics, US Championships are the last meet before Olympic Trials, they’re a two day competition. any feedback is welcome. i’m kinda upset that this series (or at least this part) is almost done, but there is more to come with this series i promise. also had to repost bc it wasn’t showing up in the tags 

taglist: @butgilinsky @barbienoturbby @sunsetholland @lovenhlboys @sortagaysortahigh @hockey-racing-fubol @oopsiedoopsie23 @iwantahockeyhimbo @dreamsndior @itsurgirlgracie @heartshapedkissxs @lwstuff @handwrittenheroes

warnings: uh, i don’t think there’s anything, but if i miss something just let me know (the jamie mentioned is jamie oleksiak, not j b*nn)

sticking it masterlist

wc: 5.8

(not my gif)

“Are you sure that you have everything?” Joel asked for the twentieth time in the past hour, “we can run back to yours if you need anything else”

“I feel like you’re just trying to get me to stay with you longer,” you said, skeptically.

“Is it working?”

“No, Bee, I have to leave at some point,”  you said, putting another bag of yours in his car,”I won’t be gone long.”

“Yeah, but you’ll be closer to the Stars and that has me worried,” he said, causing you to chuckle. 

“You worried about Seggy? Or Roope? Or Big Rig? Or Mi-”

“Okay, I get it.”

“Don’t worry your pretty little head about it, I love you and only you, shawty. Besides, I can only tolerate Texas weather for so long,” you said, leaning up to kiss him on the cheek.

“I love you, too, shawty,” he paused,”Wait,- that was rude.”

After packing the last of your bags into the car, you made your way to the airport to meet Marcus and Michelle. Once you arrived at the airport, Joel parked the car before the two of you headed into the airport. The four of you caught up for a while before Marcus suggested giving you and Joel time to say goodbye. 

“Is this how it feels when me and the guys leave for the road?” Joel asked, softly. 

“Yeah,” you said, smiling sadly. 

“Well, good thing I’m the one on the road all the time, I mean, I don’t like leaving you, but when I’m leaving it’s a different feeling, you know.”

“Well glad it makes you happy, buddy.”

“Did you just buddy me?” Joel asked, incredulously. 

“Did I?” you asked, laughing as Joel gasped in shock.

“Wow, I see how it is. I’ll remember that.”

“Go ahead, babe. Remember it however you want,” you paused when you saw the sad look on his face, reaching to hold his face in your hands, “hey, I’m only a text away, I might not be right here, but I will answer as soon as I can and we’ll facetime as much as you want these next few days.”

Joel nodded before looking up and seeing Marcus and Michelle headed your way, “we hate to cut this short, but we have to get going pretty soon.”

“I know I asked, but do you really have to go?”

“Yeah, Bee, I really have to go.”

“You better kick ass out there or else you’re just leaving for nothing,” he said, jokingly, “but honestly, I wish you the best of luck - I know you don’t need it, but I’ll say it anyway. Make sure to tell Nicole I said good luck and please make sure to wipe that smug look off Kathryn's face. Okay?”

“Yeah, of course,” you said, wrapping your arms around him as he pressed kiss to the top of your head. “I’ll miss you.”

“I’ll miss you, too, but if you don’t go, the only thing you’ll be missing is your flight.”

“Wow, Bee, you are so funny.” 

“Well, one of us has to be the funny one in the relationship. Your mom jokes only get you so far far in life, babe,” he said, causing you to elbow him in the stomach. 

“I’m leaving now. I love you and I will text you when I land,” you leaned up for a quick goodbye kiss before grabbing your carry-on bag and heading to your gate. You avoided looking back, knowing that if you did, both of you wouldn’t let the other leave. 

“I think you chose a good one,” Marcus said once the three of you had sat down. 

“What?” you asked, shocked. 

“Joel. He seems like a good guy. He clearly cares about you and I can see that you care a lot about him, too. He clearly makes you happy,” Marcus added. 

Heat rushed up your face, to which you simply looked out the window, “yeah, he’s a good guy.”

“A cute one, too,” Michelle interrupted. 

“Yes, that too. But Michelle, you better lay off,” the three of you laughed as the flight attendants started to announce the safety procedures for your flight. The three of you did your own thing the rest of the flight: Marcus planning out how podium training would go, Michelle analyzing your routines, and you sleeping.

“Alright, so as soon as we land, we get luggage and go to our hotel. There is a small media event tomorrow morning before podium training, then podium training, then probably some more media. You will have the rest of the night to do whatever, I know you’ll probably go see your Dallas friends and that’s fine, just make it back in time. Then, Friday is the first day of competition, Saturday is the second day, then we have some free time Sunday,” Marcus read off to you, even with you half asleep. 

“Sounds lovely,” you grumbled. 

…..

“So, y/n, with your injury being a top priority, how different have practices been since you are still somewhat in recovery?” one of the journalists asked. You had stayed prepared for a multitude of questions having to do with your injury, so this question had an easy response.

“I would say, it’s definitely a totally new experience. I’ve had to tailor my focus to other aspects of this sport since the start of my recovery, whether that be drills, more conditioning, or changing up my routines. My team and I definitely have figured out what things work and what doesn’t and we continue to learn as I continue training,” you answered, swiftly. 

“Now obviously, you were the highest scorer in most of your competitions, even before your injury, how has competition changed for you? And what has inspired you to train harder?” another journalist asked. 

“I have to say, competition is slightly more nerve-wracking than before. I mean getting injured at a major competition definitely changes perspective for all aspects of it. I feel that I have to be more cautious when performing, whereas before I would just go with the motions. Something that’s inspired me has been that my competitors have continued training, I have a fair amount of competition - all of which are excellent athletes - which has helped motivate me a lot, but I also have an amazing support system back home who have made sure to give me that extra motivation when I need it,” you smiled. 

“Now, having to deal with that support system at home, who and how have they influenced your decisions of your journey through recovery?” which was the first question that made you smile. 

“Well first, a huge shoutout to my family, especially my cousin, Kevin. Without his support, I wouldn’t have ever tried to get back in the gym, he’s been there this whole time and I couldn’t be more grateful. Um, my coaches were so supportive of my comeback; my physical trainor, Adrian, who told me all the doctors were wrong and gave me the reality checks I needed; the whole Philadelphia Flyers roster and their families cheered me on the whole time, especially my boyfriend, Joel Farabee. My friends, my teammates, all of them pushed me where I needed to be,” you said, gratefully. 

“Thank you for your time, y/n. We wish you the best of luck this weekend,” the main announcer said to you before you went off to podium training. 

Marcus and Michelle had both told you only to warm up simplified versions of your routine, so that you could bring shock factor when you were actually performing. You had upgraded almost all of your tumbling back to where it was before injury, but no one needed to know that besides you and those in your gym. Podium training had gone very well, better than you had anticipated, so you were looking forward to how championships would go. 

As you packed up your gym bag and grabbed your phone, you saw all the messages you had from the Flyers group chat you had somehow found your way to. 

Bee: did you guys see that too?

Tiki Bar: if we are talking about the same thing, i think we did.

Patti Lapone: did she actually say nice things about us?

Kev: i really think the texas heat is getting to her already

G: she’s probably just feeling under the weather about competition, otherwise we might want to check if she is okay

Scotty: i think i misheard or i got hit in the head and didn’t realize it

Frosty: hell has frozen over

Bee: haha. frost. frozen. get it

Tiki Bar: beezer. 

G: i’ll make you do laps if you make another frost joke

Laughing at the texts in the group chat in reaction to your interview, you simply typed up a simple response: this is what i get when i’m nice, now you know why i’m not like this all the time. 

Luckily for you, you didn’t have to do any media after podium training, so you were able to leave whenever you wanted to. After checking with Marcus and Michelle, you made sure it was alright that you went off to go see Tyler and the rest of the guys. Assuming that they would be at practice, after changing out of your leo, you took the drive to the Stars practice facility.

Having come to Fort Worth so much for gymnastics and Dallas for a few hockey games, you had run into some of the Stars roster on multiple occasions. By the third time you had ran into them, and this time ran into was a very literal statement, you had exchanged social medias and most of the roster kept an eye out for any updates in your gymnastics career. During your recovery, the whole team constantly asked for updates about how you were and how gymnastics was going. 

Once you parked, you quietly made your way inside - not wanting to interrupt the practice. There were a few officials walking around, but most either paid you no mind or recognized you from times before you had been here. Walking towards the rink, your eyes settled on the boys doing laps for the last part of practice. It wasn’t until most of the guys were only talking and about to get off the ice that they noticed you. 

Tyler was the first to notice you, smiling and waving towards you, which caused most of the team to follow where he was looking and notice you. As the team headed to the locker room to change, you simply waited on one of the benches for them.

“I feel like you only came all this way to see my dogs,” Tyler said, making his way towards you. 

“No, I would never do such a thing, I obviously came here to say hi to you,” you stood up to give him a hug. 

“Mhm, whatever you say. Didn’t you have podium training today? How’d it go?”

“Well, it went pretty well actually. I did a few of my dismounts, but kept most of my landings safe just to be careful. But other than that everything went well.”

“As long as you kick ass tomorrow, I’m fine,” he said, honestly, “do you have anything else to do for the rest of the day or did you just come to say hi?”

“Well, I have no plans for the rest of the day, but I don’t want to intrude on any team plans.”

“You know you would never be intruding on anything with us, even if you are dating a Flyer,” Jamie O said from behind you. 

“God, Jamie, what the fuck? Where’d you come from?”

“Your mom’s house,” he said, earning a fist bump from Tyler. 

“I can’t even be upset, that was a good one,” you smiled as Jamie hugged you,”and don’t bring Joel into this.”

“My condolences.”

“Condolences? No one died?” you questioned.

“You are dating someone that plays for the Flyers,” Tyler said. 

“Damn, that’s harsh,” you replied. 

“Anyways, moving on. Me and a few other guys were coming over to mine for lunch and to hangout, if you want to come you are welcome to,” Tyler said to which you simply nodded. 

“Is that who I think it is?” another familiar voice rang out, causing you to whip your head around to see Roope and Jake heading your way. 

“Well, if you thought it was me, then you would be correct, my friend,” you retaliated. 

“I’m surprised they let you in here, considering you are dating a Flyer,” Otter said, jokingly. 

“Quit bringing the fact that I’m dating Bee into the conversation.”

“At least Nicole is in the safe zone,” Roope said, causing your eyes to widen, “y/n. What was that?”

“What was what?” you questioned as Roope simply narrowed his eyes.

“You did the thing.”

“What are you talking about, bestie?” 

“Oh, you have a habit of your face changing when you know something that will ruin the whole perspective or something or if you know a secret that will change the entire story. Very entertaining and concerning that you didn’t know,” Tyler added. 

“Um, well, didn’t expect to be psychoanalyzed by a bunch of hockey players today, but here we are.”

“Ok, I think we should head to mine and then, we can continue psychoanalyzing you,” Tyler suggested to which you all agreed. Roope, who had gotten a ride from Tyler in the morning, immediately hopped into your car as soon as you unlocked it. 

“What’s up with Nicole?” he asked as soon as you started driving. 

“What happened to hello? How are you?” you joked. 

“Listen, I’m asking now because I don’t want to talk about this with the guys there. But what did you mean?” he said, causing you to take a deep breath. It wasn’t like Roope and Nicole were ever together, but it was always an unspoken fling of sorts, that they never made official. 

“Look,-”

“Please, just tell me what’s happening,” he pleaded.

“Nicole and Nolan are sort of together,” you rushed out, causing a moment of silence to break out. You didn’t know what to expect as a reaction, considering they weren’t official and hadn’t really talked since the last time you and her were in Texas.

“Is she happy?” 

“Yeah, she’s happy.”

“Okay, that’s all I care about,” he said simply, which made your heart almost break for one of your closest friends. 

…..

Being able to spend time with some of your close friends that you hadn’t seen in a while was just what you needed to destress about championships. Maybe an intense game of uno with five of the most competitive people was exactly what some might call a destressor, but here you were. 

Tyler threw down his cards as he stood up dramatically, “no, because there is no way that a.) she already has an uno and that b.) all of you used your draw two cards against me.”

“Don’t be upset, Ty, that’s just how the game of uno is sometimes,” you replied, hiding a laugh. 

“Oh, shut up. I think you guys cheated,” Tyler accused. 

“I think you just don’t know how to play uno,” Jamie mumbled.

“Oh, yeah, real funny. I think you all teamed up against me and Jake dealt that way on purpose.”

“And we all think, you just can’t accept a loss in uno,” Roope added. 

“Fine, let’s settle this like men,” Tyler grabbed all the cards, attempting to shuffle them before accepting he couldn’t shuffle and handing them over to you to shuffle, “I’m watching you.”

“Oh, wow, so scared,” quickly shuffling them, doing a little bit more than usual to get Tyler off your case, you handed them back to him, “there you go.”

Another final round of uno, which ended up with you and Roope head to head as far as who would win, while Tyler had ended up with at least 15 cards to which Jamie was the first to speak up, “I think we should end here before someone gets hurt.”

“No, no, we’re fine. It’s fine. y/n, take your turn,” he said, eyes narrowing as he watched from beside you. Even if it was your last card, you dropped the draw 4, which made Tyler draw more cards. 

“Damn, that sucks,” you said, hiding a laugh. 

“What was that, y/n?” Tyler said.

“I said, damn, that sucks,” you repeated, watching Tyler closely as he stood up quickly once again, before practically chasing you. “Tyler, it’s just uno. Stop chasing me.”

“Oh, wow, ‘damn, that sucks’” Tyler mocked. 

As the other three watched, Jamie just grabbed the bowl of popcorn as they watched their friends running around chasing each other. “I see why we don’t play uno much,” Jake said. 

“Yep. Exactly. But no one listened when I advised against it,” Jamie said, taking a drink of his beer. 

“Tyler, watch yourself,” you said, as he stood on the opposite side of the couch. He started running one way, as you ran the other to avoid him, but he quickly sidestepped and caught up to you. Practically throwing you over his shoulder, he made his way out to the pool, “Tyler, let’s not do anything crazy here.”

“Oh, you mean like hold a draw four card until the end of the game,” Tyler said, as he tossed you into the deep end of his pool. 

“Children. Literal children,” Roope said, shaking his head, going to grab you a towel. 

Rising up from the water and quickly moving the hair out of your face, you swam over to where Tyler was, “hey, can you help me out?”

“Nah, I’m not falling for that one,” he stated. 

“Seriously, I won’t do anything right now, I promise,” you said, as you saw him reach his arm out to which you quickly grabbed and stood out of the pool. Walking towards Roope, who had grabbed you a towel, you turned back around to see Tyler still walking near the pool. Using this to your advantage, you ran and pushed Tyler into the pool. “Sorry, bestie,” you said, running to get the towel from Roope and running back in the house. 

After getting changed into one of Tyler’s extra shirts he had lying around, you were just hanging out with the guys when a familiar contact flashed on the screen to FaceTime, Jake who was right next to you immediately noticed, “ooh, better go talk to your man, y/n.”

“Shut the literal fuck up,” you called back, standing up to go the kitchen for privacy. Answering, you noticed that Joel was at Nolan and Kevin’s apartment, “were you that lonely without me, babe?”

“No, well maybe, but I’m helping them set up for the watch party tomorrow,” Joel said, taking a seat at their kitchen island, “how’d podium training go?”

“It went really well actually, I didn’t work the 3.5 just so that way I have something over their heads, you know. But other than that, it was all good. How are things at home?”

“Well, I mean no one is dead, which is always good. Um, debated getting a dog, my mom called, I told her about you. Uh, already told you about the watch party. I don’t think anything else interesting happened,” he said, shrugging as if he hadn’t just mentioned bringing you up to his mom. 

“Wait, you told your mom about me?”

“Well, she does follow me on Instagram, so after seeing the post she texted me asking and then she asked while we were on the phone. She wished you good luck, by the way. She’s  also visiting here with my dad in a few weeks and I’d really love it if you would meet them,” he said, shyly.

“Uh, yeah, yeah, of course,” you rushed out, hoping you didn’t sound as nervous as you were. 

“That sounded very unsure.”

“No, it’s fine. I just have never been at the spot in a relationship where I meet the parents, I’m just nervous. I don’t want to mess it up.”

“Babe, my mom already loves you, she was getting on my case about not telling her, but she already thinks very highly of you and I definitely hyped you up a little bit. You have nothing to worry about,” he reassured you, which made you smile. 

“Hey, y/n/n,” Kevin yelled. 

“Hey, Kev.”

“You were very nice in your interview today, it had all of us worried,” Kevin said, which caused you to roll your eyes in response. 

“Hey, I can be nice sometimes.”

“On very rare occasions, yes,” Joel added. 

“Whatever.” As you talked a little while longer with the guys, eventually Roope and Tyler had come in to say hi to everyone as well, which had you dying laughing as both of them gave the ‘you hurt her, we fly to Philly and hurt you’ talk that almost everyone had given him. 

Telling Joel you would call him back whenever you made it back to your hotel, you stayed with the guys for another couple of hours before heading back to your hotel. Nicole had spent most of the day after podium training resting and had met you in the hotel lobby when you got back.  

“So,- “ she didn’t even have to finish her sentence before you knew what she was saying. 

“Roope is doing good, he said he hopes things are going well,” you said, watching as a small smile crept up her face. 

“Well, good to know. Did you know KD is also staying at this hotel?”

“Well, considering this is the host hotel and most competitors are here, I am not all that shocked.”

“Yeah, but you probably didn’t know she’s legit a few rooms away from us, did ya?”

“No, guess not,” you said, “how’d you find that one out?”

“Well, let me set the scene for you. I go to get ice and then I hear her talking with, uh, whatever her name is, Callie or Carly, it starts with a C. Anyways, they were talking about you and me and how our skills have been less than recently and all this stuff about you not catching up to where you were - which I found so fucking funny because who has won gold at the past few meets? Not her. Anyways, all is fair in the sport of gymnastics, but I’m just excited to see her reaction to you doing the 3.5.”

“Damn, no pressure there, Nic.”

“Okay, but the thing is, you have the skill,” Nicole said, as you got into the elevator. “You have it down. It’s all up here, in your cranium,” she said, pointing to your head. 

“Alright, let’s just go to bed now,” you said, slowly removing her hand and opening the door to your hotel room. 

…..

“Hello everyone and welcome to Day One of the 2021 US Gymnastics Championships. We are very excited to see how today’s competition goes as this competition will decide who makes it onto the National Team and who will qualify for Olympic Trials,” Joel heard the announcer say as he made his way to sit with everyone in the living room. 

“Did you talk to her this morning?” Claude asked from beside him. 

“Yeah, usual pre-comp anxieties. Nolan talked to her and Nicole to give the usual pep talk and then we talked for a while on their way to the arena,” Joel answered, looking back to the TV to see you prepping for bars, “she said podium training went well, but Kathryn was talking shit, so all I know is she better kick her ass.”

“You know she will, it happens everytime. She gets in her head and still does amazing, just a casual Tuesday,” Scott added. 

“It’s not Tuesday?” Travis questioned.

“Yes, I know,” Scott said, confusing everyone. 

“Alright, moving on,” Joel reiterated. 

“And starting on bars, we have y/n y/l/n. Now if you remember, less than a year ago, y/n was injured at another competition doing a beam dismount that she might be competing in today’s competition. She is definitely one to watch as she has a reputation of scoring high in these meets, before and after her return. Her teammate, Nicole Carter, will be following up.”

Joel watched as you stepped away from the chalk box to start your routine, he watched intently as you jumped from the springboard to reach the high bar. He watched intently as you went through your routine. Release skills. Giants. Pirouettes. More release skills. More giants. Dismount. Stuck landing. 

“A great start to Day 1 for y/n, who seems pretty proud of how that routine went,” the announcer said, “rotation two will be beam, where we might see that 3.5 twist, which is currently in the process of being named by Kathryn Davis, who was the first to compete it at a major competition. Now the question everyone is wondering is will we see this skill from y/n today?”

“She’s doing it. Fucking dumbass,” Joel grumbled at the announcer. 

“Damn, Beezer, tell them how you really feel,” Travis replied, as everyone else laughed at Joel’s behavior before watching Nicole compete. Nicole’s routine ended with a stuck landing, the camera following her as she made her way off the platform and hugged you before the two of you did your secret handshake.

Knowing the next event was beam, Joel waited as other competitors did their routines as you were warming up. He knew this moment would make or break how the rest of the meet went and with this only being your second event, it needed to go well. 

Everyone watched anxiously as you saluted the judges, shaking your hands out before you reached to mount the beam. You took a deep breath before actually starting your routine. Starting the beginning choreography, you kept your movements sharp and clean. All the skills in your routine were sharp - doing this so if the dismount didn’t go well, it hopefully wouldn’t affect your score too much. 

Joel had memorized your routines, knowing you were approaching your dismount, he saw your movements become slightly hesitant. Watching as you did a quick pivot on the beam to prep for the dismount, he watched you take a deep breath. 

“C’mon, babe. You got it,” he said, and by whatever power was listening he watched your lips twitch up to a smile as you started your dismount. Going for the round-off and starting the twists, you did the three and a half twists, opening up to find your landing, and stuck your dismount. Joel’s smile grew even more when he saw how happy you were with your routine.

The rest of Day 1 of Championships went well for both you and Nicole; the two of you ending in the first and place spot in all around, with Kathryn following close behind. After the competition, both of you had your media conferences before you made your way back to the hotel. As both of you checked your phone, you saw the multiple notifications from various social medias.

“Dude, did you see what Ryanne posted?” Nicole asked, a look on her face that you couldn’t easily recognize. 

“No, hold on,” you opened Instagram to see she had tagged you in multiple posts on her instagram story: starting off with a picture of all the guys wearing a jersey with your and Nicole’s name on it, a picture of all the guys watching warms ups intently, a video of Joel and Travis debating the name of a skill from Nicole’s routine (Travis was right), a video of Joel watching you do your beam routine and cheering you on right as you go for your dismount, and then a video of everyone cheering as you and Nicole as they announced the end of day 1.

…..

After falling asleep with Joel on FaceTime, you woke up to your 6am alarm to get ready for Day 2 of championship, Joel - who had told you he would wake up with you - was still sound asleep. Getting you and Nicole an apple from the lobby, you talked to a few of your competitors and a few fans before heading back to yours and Nicole’s room. 

“Wake up, bitch, it’s Day 2 of Championships,” you said, jumping to lay next to Nicole on her bed.

“Leave me to die here, I don’t want to go. USAG can suck a homeless man’s dick,” she mumbled into the pillow. 

“That’s truly something, wait til the media teams hear about that one,” you joked, only to get a glare sent your way. 

“You know what? You can suck on one, too,” she responded, pulling the blanket over her head. 

“Well at least, there's less competition,” to which she quickly peaked out of the blanket.

“Oh, you wish. We’re neck and neck this time, so we’ll see who gets bragging rights.”

“Well if you don’t get out of bed, then we’ll never know,” you said, to which she only sent a glare your way. 

“Do we really have to get up and compete today? Do you think we could petition to reschedule?”

“I mean, I’m sure if we talked to people, we’d get a lot of signatures, but I don’t think it would go over well,” you said, grabbing your garment bag that held your leo for today, “I’m going to go get ready because I know if we end up talking to Joel and Nolan first, we won’t be ready in time.”

After you got ready, both you and Nicole got your pep talk from Nolan and Bee. On the way to the arena, both of you got a bunch of good luck messages - not just from your friends and family, but also from teammates and even some from most of the Stars roster. You had a feeling in your gut that today would be a good day. 

….. 

“Alright folks, Day 2 of Championships have been off to a great start and are about to come to a close. With Nicole Carter in first with a 57.605 All-Around score and Kathryn Davis in second with a 57.1, Cassie Riley in third with a 56.2, it comes down to the final rotations. y/n y/l/n is one of the last to go on floor today, who will need a score of at least a 13.5 to get first,” the announcer said. 

“And compared to her average score, this will be easily attainable. If she scores at least a 14.5, she’ll be first overall for both days of competition. She already has a for sure spot at Trials, even when you don’t consider scores. As long as she is able to hit all elements of this routine, she’ll be fine,” another announcer said. 

“Ok, you’re good, you just have to hit this routine and there’s no doubt you’ll make it to where you want to be. Deep breaths, Twinkle Toes,” Marcus said. 

Walking up the platform to get up to the floor, you took your spot at the edge of the floor, ready to salute the judge, and get the last meet of championships out of the way. After anxiously waiting, the judge finally saluted. Entering the floor with a determined walk, you took your spot waiting for the familiar sound of your floor music to ring out.

That familiar feeling of doing the sport you loved, once again, rushed through your veins. Block everything out and complete the routine, that’s all you had to do. Going to your starting pose, the music started. Going through the familiar motions of your routine, you stuck your first tumbling pass. Then came the leaps and jump sequence and all that was in between, with the additional three tumbling passes. 

You didn’t give yourself a chance to overthink about your routine, you knew that it wouldn’t benefit you in any way, but as you stepped off the floor you knew that you did what you could. As soon as you made it back to where Marcus and Nicole were sitting, you waited to see what your score was. 

Joel and everyone watching at home watched as you sat down to see what your score was. He had this dopey grin gracing his features from the amount of pride he felt in that moment. He didn’t care what your score was, he knew you had put whatever you could out on the mat. He listened to Travis for a moment until the announcer started up again for scores and awards, “and y/n y/l/n pulled through with the score that she needed, a 14.9 on floor. She placed first in All-Around, Carter following right behind, and Davis in third. If all goes this well at trials, I’d say we have a lot of good representation for the Olympic Games.”

…..

After the meet and countless amount of interviews both you and Nicole were extremely worn out and had both passed out on the flight back. As you and Nicole stepped out of the terminal, you were met with the familiar faces of your friends and family. You smiled as you saw Bee for the first time in a few days and despite how tired you were, you couldn’t stop yourself from running to him. 

He immediately caught you and did the cliche spin (the one you swore you would never do) before pulling you into a regular hug, “I’m so proud of you, babe. You have no idea.”

“Thank you. I surprisingly missed you,” you joked, laughing harder when Joel pulled you away slightly to catch a glimpse of your face. 

“Wow, aren’t I glad I was blessed with such a nice girlfriend? It’s crazy.”

“Absolutely insane.”

“Preposterous.”

“Can the two of you shut the fuck up?” Kevin asked, coming over to give you a hug, “you did good out there, y/n/n. You also kept all your bones intact, I’m proud.”

“Shut the fuck up, Kev.”

“Okay, aside from you getting onto Kev and Bee, I missed you, too,” Karly said from beside Travis. 

“I kinda did, too. You did amazing though, y/n/n. I’m proud,” Travis said. 

“Thank you, thank you. All in a hard day's work,” you said, shrugging. 

“Dude, you might want to go back to Beezer, he looks like a lost puppy watching you talk to us,” Travis pointed out, nodding in Joel’s direction who smiled when you caught his eye. 

“Yeah, not a shocking development,” you said, before walking back in Joel’s direction, “hey, Bee.”

“Hey, honey,” he said, wrapping his arms around you again, “you ready to go home?”

“Yeah, of course,” you leaned up to kiss his cheek. 

“Ew, guys. Get a room,” Kevin called out, fake gagging. 

[one-boring-person]

You forced this upon yourself😂 you forced this rambo simp.(and i dont mind)

Okay this may not be as good! But! Im giving you the liberty to take it where you want!(because i love your little details and how you express the feeling in your writing i- AH! Its great. I cant say it enough, it’s great. I mean it.)

How about Rambo finally getting enough courage to show The rancher around the tunnels, in a date sort of way!(they don’t know thats actually where he lives. Aka that photo i showed you before.) i really saw how the rancher was so happy to have him at their house, I’d love to see rambos side of scheduling a house tour and date type deal!! Maybe him even sitting and showing the rancher through all his old photos, and them just in awe because wow. He’s so much cooler than they even thought! He just so nervous and surprised seeing them so interested in him after all this time alone, and them just- in awe of him.

( i also really think it would be funny seeing rambo go through his friends house and seeing-“why the hell you have so many plants???” And just. Adorable assassin living with a wholesome and loving hardworking s/o)

Ah! Im sorry if that’s not as good!! But hey, you feel free to describe their antics and relationship as you will!!

I think I may have run a bit with this, but I hope you like it regardless!😊💛

I've Got Your Back, You've Got Mine.

John Rambo (Rambo IV/V) x reader

Warnings: mention of death, mention of war, mention of injury, mention of PTSD, mention of violence, (possible flash warning for gif?)

Masterlist

The heavy knock on the door surprises me where I'm sitting, the sharp sound snapping me from my thoughts. Looking over at it from my position at the table, I frown and set down my spoon, standing to go answer, unsure of who it is: I'm not expecting anyone today. Colt looks up from his place on the floor, the dog just as curious as I am as to whom it may be, though he doesn't bark, so it must be someone we know. He watches me as I cross the room, going straight to the door.

Opening it, I'm somewhat surprised to see my neighbour, John, standing there, a tentative smile on his face as he looks me over appreciatively, his gaze drawing a blush to my face. 

"Mornin' (Y/n)." He greets, rough voice friendly as he waits for me to let him in.

"Morning John." I smile back, delighted to see him, "What can I do for you?"

I step back, waiting for him to enter, which he does so with a nod of thanks.

"Since when have I needed a reason to see you?" The veteran chuckles, the sound reverberating within me, my brain subconsciously storing the action away for later recall. Gently, John moves into my space, one hand coming to lightly rest on my hips as the other cups my face, drawing me in for a slow kiss. 

Kissing back, I feel a glow of happiness flare up in me at this contact: he's never really one to initiate touch like this, so it's a whole lot more intimate when he does. Relaxed, I loosely wrap my arms around his neck, languidly caressing his dark hair as our lips move together. 

Being the killjoy he often loves to be, Colt pushes in between us, nosing at John's leg, tail wagging enthusiastically as he recognises the familiar man, the dog as fond of his company as I am. Chuckling, John and I pull apart, looking down at the large canine between us, the dark eyes staring up at us imploring us to pay attention to him. Still smiling, John lowers a hand to scratch Colt's head, ruffling his floppy ears a little as the dog instantly allows his mouth to hang open, tongue lolling in content.

"Hey, Colt." The veteran greets, biting back a laugh as the dog pushes me out of the way, nudging at John's stomach.

"He never gets that excited to see me." I complain jokingly, standing back to watch the two interact, a smile playing at my lips.

"Sure he does." John replies, eyes fixing on mine with an expression of fondness, one that had me weak at the knees.

"He really doesn't, he just sits in the corner and whines at me until I feed him. Isn't that right?" I address the dog himself, giving him a light slap on the rear, his ridiculous height meaning I can quite easily reach it, "Anyhow, did you need something? Or did you just come here to kiss me? I can't say I'll complain if that's the case."

Cheekily, I wink at the veteran, leaning back against a nearby counter.

"As nice as that sounds, it's not the reason I came by." He chuckles, blushing lightly, "Though that does sound good."

Grinning, I nod my agreement, only now taking in his body language: he's nervous. His hands fidget, rubbing his fingers over scars and lines on his palms, and he shifts from foot to foot every now and then, small tells he's never quite managed to hide from me.

"Is something up?" I ask him, slightly more serious this time, unnerved by his discomfort.

"No, no, not at all. I, err, well, I just wanted to ask you something." He rubs the back of his neck, head tilted to the side as he regards me, dark eyes fixed on mine.

"Ok, go for it." I prompt him, curiosity sparking my interest.

"Well, do you wanna come to mine? I mean properly, like in the house." John cocks his head to the side, lowering his arm again.

Blinking, I feel shock flood my system, before it turns to unbelievable happiness that he's trusting me enough to come into his private space. Initially, I can't find the right words, somehow struggling to respond, until I find my tongue again.

"I would love to, John." I agree, features lighting up as my mood brightens, "There's nothing I've really got to do today except train up one of the younger horses, so I've got as long as you want after that."

"Great. Is four o'clock alright?" The veteran smiles broadly, though he still looks somewhat nervous.

"Yeah, should be. I'll be there." I promise him, taking up my Stetson from the table as I briefly turn away to put away the plate I was using, having lost my appetite in my sudden excitement.

"I'll get it tidy." He says, looking around the room again, "I'll never understand why you have so many plants in your house. It's like a damn jungle."

At his comment, I laugh loudly, glancing around at the variety of different houseplants I have placed on various shelves, the greenery practically covering every available surface. 

"Because it's way too dry to grow anything like this outside all the time. Anyway, they look nice." I shrug, calling Colt to my side as I follow John from the house, grabbing my jacket from the hook as I pass.

"But why so many?" 

Once again, I shrug, following him over to a nearby post, where he's hitched Bandit, the horse I gave him a few months ago. The buckskin stallion paws at the ground, his pale coat looking as clean as ever even as he noses at the dust, the dark colouring around his eyes (the reason for his name) and legs standing out much more in the bright sun. As we approach, he looks up, snorting in greeting.

"He's looking good." I acknowledge, admiring the strong stallion appreciatively - I had reared Bandit from a foal, before I had given him to the veteran as a gift four months ago, hoping it will help him to grow his own ranch. My plan had worked, and John now has four horses, including Bandit, as well as a couple of other animals, such as a cow, a pig and five chickens. I'd sold him a couple of goats as well, but we soon found out that John and goats just didn't get along. At all.

"Yeah, he's doing well, too. Takes the training very well, too." John runs a hand through the stallion's dark mane, untying the reins.

"That's good. Reckon he'll be ready for a competition soon?" 

"Should be." 

Snorting again, Bandit pulls at the reins, clearly eager to get going, especially as Colt moves up to sniff at the horse's back legs. I quickly whistle him over, knowing Bandit has always been shifty around the dog.

"I'll see you at four then." I finally say, unwilling to say goodbye, even if it is only for a few hours.

"Yeah, see you then." John smiles, leaning in to kiss me again, keeping it brief this time, leaving me wishing for more, as he always does.

"See ya." I grin, watching him climb into the saddle, still somehow fluid in doing so despite his age. 

Gathering the reins in hand, John adjusts himself in the saddle, before he smiles down at me again as he gently urges Bandit into motion. Obediently, the stallion moves into a swift trot, which turns into a faster canter as the two move off down the driveway, heading towards the split in the fence separating our land. I watch as they go, still finding myself enraptured by the sight of the muscular man sat astride the horse, Colt eventually snapping me from my mind as he barks at me. Shaking my head, I follow him towards the stable.

Hours later, having showered and cleaned up, I feel a sense of relief go through me as I hoist myself into the saddle secured into place on Leo's back. It's relaxing, the stallion beneath me more relaxed than the youngster I've been trying to train all day: she never gave me a break. Seemingly sensing this, as he always does, Leo flicks his ears back and nickers softly, very lightly pawing the ground as I give him a pat on the neck, glad to have a more reliable horse taking me where I need to be.

Tilting back my Stetson, I take the reins in hand and ease the stallion into a trot, intending to let him pick up his own pace, my trust in this horse far greater than in the mare from before. Obediently, Leo moves into the correct gait, the two of us moving as if as one, years of riding together having made it easy for us to become in tune with each other. Together, we start off down the road towards John's ranch, the new path we've created beaten and well-used, allowing for relatively easy riding. Leo's hooves pound the dry ground rhythmically, my hips moving in time with his every stride, the relaxing movement helping to calm the nerves that have sprung up inside me.

A part of me is still unconvinced about going into John's home. Yes, I had helped him rebuild it and had seen very little of the inside rooms, but it still feels as if I'm intruding upon the veteran's safe space, his reprieve from the cruelty of the world he lives in. Something about that doesn't sit right with me, but I tell myself it's John's decision to make, not mine, so I should trust him, which I do, wholeheartedly. 

I'm still torn by the time I reach the main house, where John is already sat waiting for me in his rocking chair, dark eyes fixed on me as I approach. Lifting a hand to him, I smile and slow Leo to a halt, praising the horse as I climb down, the gray stallion nosing affectionately at me. Swiftly, I tie him to a nearby post, only to stop when John calls out to me.

"Put him in the stable for the night." He instructs me, gesturing for me to follow him as I try to fight back the sudden onslaught of racing thoughts at his implications: he wants me to stay the night?

"Sure, thanks." I smile back at him, walking after him with Leo in tow.

"Don't worry about it. It's not fair on him if he has to stay out all night." John waves me off with a short grin, "How'd training go?"

I groan.

"Not great. That horse has it in for me, I swear." I complain, rubbing at my arm, remembering the moment I got the new bruise forming there.

"Oh yeah?" He muses, looking amused.

"Yeah. She threw me off eight times!"

"Eight times? Wow, must be a new record." The veteran jokes, something that stirs up the familiar fondness inside me at his more personable behaviour.

"I reckon so. Painful one to set, though, I'll tell you." I remark, smiling broadly as we enter the stable, where I quickly house Leo next to Bandit, removing his tack and other gear.

"Must be." John watches me work, leaning against the door to the large building, muscular arms crossed over an equally muscular chest. Turning back to him, I have to stop and admire the bulging of his biceps as his hands grip his forearms, the veins I've come to love laying out a pattern on the tanned limbs. Everytime I see them, I imagine his strong arms wrapped around me, holding me safe and secure against his solid body, wishing I could feel his hands splayed against me more often.

"Like what you see?" John interrupts my thoughts, voice teasing as he lifts an eyebrow at me, almost smirking at me.

Blushing furiously, I avert my gaze, lifting a hand to gently tap the brim of my Stetson out of my vision.

"You know I do." I laugh nervously, before I look back up at him, "Anyway, since when do you use pickup lines?"

"Since I figured out they get you all flustered." His playful tone is new to me, though it's gone almost as soon as I see it, his guarded expression falling back into place as he returns within himself, probably thinking he overstepped some invisible boundary.

I still can't help stammering for a response, his gruff tone awakening something within me.

"Heh, I guess you're right." I stutter, going over to him.

Nodding, he keeps his expression straight, leading me out back to the house, where he quickly welcomes me inside.

"I tried to tidy it as much as possible, but it's still a bit messy." The veteran apologises, observing the interior of his home critically, even as I do so in awe.

The rooms, from what I can see, are mostly filled with sparse furniture, a few chairs here and there, an old sofa, a couple of vanities and dressers, with a mantlepiece in most, if not all, of them. He hasn't used much colour, but what he has used is tasteful and works well with the overall appearance. The walls, however, are what really draw me into the place.

They are littered with photographs and memorabilia, frames and objects cleaned and polished so they shine brightly in the afternoon sun, many smiling faces visible in them. Curious, I go over to one wall, looking over the array of pictures, which I now recognise to be images of John and his friends from the years he spent here. Amongst them is a creased black and white photo of a young John sat astride a horse not unlike Bandit, a broad grin on the boy's face as he stares at the camera from under a mop of thick black hair. I can feel a small smile creep onto my face at the sight of the veteran looking so happy and carefree, something I've not seen very much of at all in my time around him.

"That was my first horse, Hector. I had him until I left for the army." John says from behind me, sounding somewhat quiet, eyes softened from nostalgia as he stares at the picture along with me, "I loved him a lot, but my father always said he wasn't good enough."

His words hang in the air as I stay speechless, listening intently to what he's saying to me: it's the first I'm hearing about his life before he came here again.

"What happened to him? Hector, I mean." I ask him quietly, tearing my eyes away to look up at John.

The veteran shrugs, appearing somewhat remorseful.

"I'll never know, but I reckon my father sold him as soon as I was gone."

"Oh." I frown, glancing back at the photograph.

"The horse was getting old by that time, though. He probably wasn't much use." John chuckles wryly, moving away towards the stairs nearby, "Do you want to see upstairs?"

"Yeah, sure." I nod, following him as he ascends to the second floor, which I now see consists of three different rooms.

He takes me to the farthest, opening the door to reveal an old study, which looks as if it hasn't been used in a good few years.

"This was my father's study, where he did all his business. I was never allowed in here as a kid." John sweeps his arm around the room, staying by the threshold, as if abiding by a rule that no longer exists, "Not that I go in here that much as an adult."

I look around, finding the neat area interesting: images of a young John hovering by the door, waiting for his father to finish business entering my head.

"It's nice, I like it." I remark, turning to find him smiling very slightly at me.

"It's the only room in the house that's exactly as it used to be. I haven't had time to do up the others properly." John says, leaving the study and going back down the hall, where he opens the other two doors to reveal a bathroom and an empty room.

A dull curiosity flares up within me as I realise one thing about the top floor, but I easily find a solution to it, following John back down the stairs. As we go, however, I realise that my assumption is wrong, as the only other rooms down here are missing the one thing I'd expect in any house.

"Where do you sleep? I haven't seen a bed or anything anywhere." I ask him, cocking my head to the side as he takes me to one final door.

"I'm gonna show you." He smiles at me, before he opens the door.

I blink as I see the dark steps descending into the ground, unease biting at my throat as I flash John a hesitant look. A cool draft wafts up from the black depth, but John only chuckles and moves down into the space below, gesturing for me to follow.

"It's perfectly safe, don't worry." He calls to me, a light flickering on as he reaches the bottom of the steps, illuminating the path to me.

Swallowing, I gingerly step down the stairs, emerging into a tunnel of sorts, my curiosity piqued as I take in the chiselled walls around me, the rock cast in an odd light from the naked bulbs positioned along the length of the cavern. Struts of wood hold the ceiling steady, wiring hanging off of them in places where he's had to hastily put it all together. John watches as I take in the passage, a thoughtful look in place on his face.

"What is this place?" I wonder aloud, still taken aback by the oddity of having a tunnel beneath the house that stretches off in both directions.

"This is my safe space." The veteran informs me, urging me along with him as we go further into the tunnel, walking together for a minute before we emerge out into a larger room of sorts, which is well lit. 

My eyes widen as I realise exactly what he means.

The room acts as his bedroom and bathroom, and also has space to sit and relax, the whole area having a homely feel to it. What was missing in the rooms in the house can be found down here, including more photographs, though these ones seem different to the others. They adorn the walls, all except one, which is decorated with a variety of weapons, both guns and knives. Going over to it, I look over the rifles and shotguns hooked onto the wall, struck speechless as I then turn my attention to a machete, the blade honed but chipped from use, seemingly out of place as it hangs beside another, smaller hunting knife. 

Moving on, I regard the photographs, only now realising that they're military pictures, many of them containing images of a youthful John in fatigues and uniform. A smile creeps back onto my lips as I feel my eyes land on a particular image of a group of men, where I can see John standing amongst them, a triumphant grin on his face, long locks of dark hair held back by a strip of fabric around his head. The others also smile, though there's something bittersweet about the inscription at the corner of the photo: Baker Team, Vietnam. As I look past the other pictures, I notice that the team slowly dwindles, beaming faces becoming drawn and solemn, eventually just leaving two people behind. Beneath this image is another inscription: Baker Team Survivors.

"That was my team in 'Nam." John says suddenly, voice husky as he remembers the friends he had, "None of them made it back. Not really."

Eyes wide, I look back at him, taking in the distant look in his own eyes, the barely concealed grief still raw in his expression as he stares at the photographs. Noticing my gaze, John gestures for me to come sit on the edge of his bed with him, the veteran pulling another photograph from it's place on his bedside table. Doing so, I make sure I'm not touching him, but am close enough to reassure him, waiting patiently for him to start talking of his own accord, knowing that this is a sensitive subject for him.

After a moment, he starts, his voice low as he pulls me into his stories, taking me through suffocating jungles and blistering heats, through recon and rescue missions, through bloody gunfights and hellfire,  through hours spent in torturous situations. He puts me in his shoes as he loses every single member of his team to the gruesome fight he should never have fought, the harrowing grief and pain of letting go of a comrade, someone who's supposed to be by your side for as long as the two of you can stay alive, laid bare for me to see and experience. And even as he moves on, back to familiar territory in the States, the fight never leaves him.

Facing harassment in what should be his safety and security, I can feel every bit of betrayal, of anger and grief that he felt as he is let down by his own country time after time, used again and again by the authorities to do their dirty work, only to be cast aside when it doesn't go their way, the old catchphrase he once lived by, "I've got your back, you've got mine" completely meaningless in this hollow life. His disgust in humanity is plain to me as he outlines his most recent forays into warfare, where the rage he felt is once again transferred to me, and I experience the violent need to take out the parasites in the world that destroy anything good that he did. It's as if I'm there with him, through everything, his description and memories so vivid they chill me to the core, keeping me hooked on his every word.

After a long while, he eventually trails off, and I realise there's a tear rolling down his cheek, his body shaking a little as he holds himself back. My heart breaking, I have to fight the urge to reach out and pull him into an embrace, not wanting to make him uncomfortable. I place my hand on his shoulder instead, rubbing the tight muscles soothingly until he looks up at me with the most heart-rending gaze I've ever seen in my life. At that point, my resolve breaks.

Carefully, I lean in and wrap my arms around his shoulders, pulling the veteran towards me. He goes willingly, sobs wracking his body as he wraps his own hands around me, burying his face into my neck, tears flowing freely now as he lets himself go, each pained sound agonising to hear. Tightening my grip, I lay back onto the bed, allowing him to press his body around me, holding me against his muscular form as I rub his back, whispering soothing things to him as his breathing starts to calm a little. It takes time, but eventually he starts to relax, body going limp as he lays in my arms, his larger form awkwardly wrapped around mine as he depresses his face into the crook of my neck.

I barely hear his broken voice as he whispers to me.

"Thank you." 

Breathing in his familiar scent, I just mould myself closer, pressing a gentle kiss to his forehead as he does the same to my neck.

"I'm here for you, John. I'm here, and I'll never leave. Not as long as I live, I promise."

[novasintheroom]

Ooooo a fresh blog! Heyo there! So, my first request is some head canons, if you write them anyway, for the each of the turtles having a s/o who is usually the purest of beans. Like— she doesn’t get angry, usually shy when meeting new people, very humble, sweet and caring— but for the first time she does it’s like she realizes she’s frustrated and mad about something that happened during the day and it’s the first time she’s expressing it. the turtles notice her come in knowing something is off about her behavior when she’s usually so cheerful. Almost like “Sometimes it just makes me so— it makes me so... so...! Angry!” But she actually gets super surprised with herself realizing she’s actually venting just to say she’s fine in the end after bottling up for so long. The turtles just looking at her and asking if she’s okay 😂 If that makes any sense.. sorry if it doesn’t.

Oooooo my first ask!! I’m so nervous and excited! I think I got the gist of what you’re getting at. Thanks for sending this in, it means a lot to me! <3

Leo

·         Honestly caught off guard when you come in steaming

·         Your calm and sweetness is something he loves and looks forward to – it’s hard being the firm leader in his family when everyone pushes back, so you’re a pleasant break from the arguments and sassy remarks

·         Not today

·         It’s loud in the lair – Raph and Mikey are doing something with a basketball and hula hoop that’s got Raph raging and Mikey screaming, Donnie’s got a power tool going on the truck, and Splinter’s Celine Dion music is blaring to drown it all out while he works on pruning his plants

·         Leo’s up in the concrete rafters with a book, glancing down every other minute to make sure Raph doesn’t kill Mikey

·         He would have completely missed you coming in if Mikey hadn’t thrown the ball toward the entrance

·         You dodge the ball before it hits you, but instead of laughing it off like usual, you throw a dark look at his brothers and beeline toward the dojo.

·         Woah, that’s weird

·         Avoidance of his family = big red flag

·         You didn’t even say hi to him??

·         Hops down and follows, waving off Mikey’s calls to you

·         Finds you in the corner of the dojo, bag thrown to the side and hands smoothing out the sand of his small zen garden

·         Feels a bit awkward honestly

·         Listen, he’s getting better at it, but he’s not the best at feelings

·         Especially girl feelings

·         He knows something’s up though, and he wouldn’t be a good beau if he just let you simmer

·         Spooks you when he asks if you’re okay

·         Darn those ninja skills, how is someone as big as him so silent?

·         You sigh and just say you had a fight with your roommate and that it’s fine, you just needed some quiet before you went to his family

·         Okay, coolcoolcool. He can work with this. He and Raph fight all the time! “What was the fight about?”

·         Cue explosion

·         “She doesn’t pay her part of the bills on time, and she has her boyfriend over constantly and I can hear them through the walls when they’re screwing because the stupid cheap apartment has stupid cheap thin walls, and she leaves her dishes everywhere even when I ask her to not be a slob, and the landlord is getting after me for her rent when– “

·         W o w

·         He didn’t think you knew any swear words, but the names you’re calling your roommate would make even Raph blush

·         Your rant goes on and on

·         Anytime he tries to suggest a solution you get angry at him like why can’t he just listen omg

·         He shuts up quick

·         Somewhere in the process he sat down and your head moved to his lap while you laid all your problems out

·         By the time you’re finished your chest is heaving and it’s been an hour

·         Leo’s scared to say something in case you go off again lmao

·         He just plays with your hair and hums while you calm down

·         Finally you look at him with wide eyes, “Wow, geez, I didn’t think I was that mad.”

·         He can’t help but laugh, “Me neither.”

·         Your smile is back, though, and that’s the best thing he’s seen all day

·         “You feeling better now?”

·         You say yes, and give him a good hug and kiss as thanks for his patience

·         He asks you to come to him if things start building up again

·         Seriously, start talking to him – I don’t think the poor guy can handle another explosion like that lol

 Raph

·         Raph knows anger

·         Does he know how to deal with it? Ehhh that’s hit-and-miss

·         But he knows it

·         So seeing your tense shoulders, clenched fists, grinding teeth when you walk in – he knows you’re angry

·         It’s a bit off-putting tbh – you’re the calm to his rage, the quiet touch to wind him down when something gets under his skin

·         What happened to make his quiet girl so mad?

·         Did someone say something about your family?

·         Or something about your outfit?

·         Did a skeevy guy try to touch you?

·         Did someone try to kiss you?

·         Okay, now he’s getting mad

·         Decides to take a page from Splinter’s book and pulls you aside to talk

·         “What’s the matter?”

·         You pull at your sleeves, looking anywhere but him

·         You just mumble you’re fine, and that you’re hungry and try to move to the kitchen

·         Nuh-uh, that don’t work with him

·         Catches you by the arm and gives you a look, “Somethin’s bothering you, and you’re gonna tell me what it is.”

·         “And what if I don’t wanna talk about it?”

·         “Tough luck.”

·         Your glare could curdle milk, but you don’t say anything

·         Alright, you wanna play it that way? He’s got three brothers he grew up with; he can get it out of you.

·         Hauls you up and tosses you over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and takes you to his workout station

·         Ignores your screams of outrage and the beating fists on his shell

·         They’re like little kitten paw pats; he can’t help but smile at how small you really are

·         When he sets you down in front of a world-weary punching bag, he crosses his arms and waits

·         You’re red faced and snarling. “What are you doing?”

·         He raises a fist, and gives the bag a good punch – “That’s for when Mikey backwashed into my water bottle today.” He throws another punch, “And that’s for Donnie’s stupid snorts waking me up last night,” and another, “and now I’m back on Mikey’s backwash!”

·         He stops the bag’s swaying and gestures for you to take a turn

·         Realization dawns in your eyes. You look at your fist and throw a pathetic punch at it. “That’s…for my fifth plant…dying this week?”

·         He almost laughs, but nods encouragement

·         You punch again. “That’s for whoever stole my lunch out of the fridge at work.”

·         And again. “And for those kids who spit on that homeless guy!”

·         And again. “And for Gina’s face when she made fun of my teeth!”

·         Punch after punch, you let out your anger and frustrations that boiled over today

·         Raph’s impressed – not just with how much crap happened to you, but how long you held it in

·         You’re a lot stronger than he gave you credit for

·         He’s also a bit freaked at seeing the rage in your eyes

·         Is that what others see when he comes at them?

·         Yeesh

·         You feel a lot better after the session, if sheepish for letting so much anger show

·         But he brushes it off, “Hey, you see how I am. It don’t bother me none, sweetheart.”

·         He pinches your butt for good measure as you walk back to the lair and laughs when you punch him in the arm

 Donnie

·         The one that takes the longest to realize something’s up

·         He can’t help it! He’s busy making sure his family is safe and hidden! He’s gotta keep the firewall up-to-date from all the new viruses being put out, check the perimeter lasers so that no one sneaks up on them, change the oil in the Turtle Tank, and why is the computer sparking over here, he needs to ask Raph or Leo to come with him to get new parts at the junkyard, but if he –

·         Bumps into you and is like ‘oh. how’d you get in here’

·         Delighted to see you though! It’s like all his worries suddenly vanished when he realized ‘oh yeah! I have a girlfriend!’ and that’s you!

·         Missed you a lot since it’s been a few days since you could visit

·         Starts showing you all of the progress he’s made on certain things, asks you how school’s going, how was that group project you had, did you get that interview for work?

·         It’s your clipped and short answers that finally makes him take a step back and really see how you’re doing

·         You’ve always been enthusiastic about his inventions, even if you don’t completely understand every technical thing he talks about. He thought you guys were past the awkward conversations too.

·         Clipped answers are a big no-no – it makes him shrink inside, like his words and ideas don’t matter

·         Takes a few seconds to look you over – awkward seconds, ones where you look down and away and not at him

·         “Are you alright? Did…something happen?”

·         You take a few deep breaths, trying to calm yourself, but then the words just start pouring out: “I’m sorry, it’s just, I can’t stop thinking about how my supervisors treated me the past few days. They scheduled me to work a triple shift! Without asking me! And I told them I had a date with you, and a million other things to do, but – “

·         You lay it out for him, apologizing every other minute for just putting this on him out of the blue, that you tried really hard to be happy coming to the lair but your boss just text you that you have another shift tonight instead of getting to hang out with Donnie, and –

·         Donnie sits you both down in a couple of chairs, his hands holding your own as you keep talking and venting

·         Rubs circles into your palm, eyes never straying from your own watery and frustrated ones

·         A breath out of the nose is the end to your rant, and you lean to put your head on his shoulder. “I just hate when people spring things on me! I just wanna stay with you and hand you tools to work on stuff.”

·         His heart warms at this, even if he’s sad at how sucky your job is

·         And it gives him an idea

·         He manages to hack into your work’s scheduling system and put your supervisors or fellow employees in your place for the night

·         Even sends out a text masked as your head boss to whoever he put, letting them know they’re on the job and that you had an emergency

·         You’re torn on this – those people had things they had to do too

·         But Donnie reassures you: “If they’re as bad as you say, then getting more people mad at them might just make them change. If not, we at least get to have our date night, right?”

·         Well, when you put it that way…

·         He gets a big, long smooch for pulling it off and for listening to you

Mikey

·         Listen, this boy is intuitive when it comes to emotions.

·         He kinda has to be with the type of older brothers he has lmao

·         Instantly knows something’s up by the sound of your feet coming down the tunnels – heavy, like you want to stomp them but don’t know how

·         He’s geared up though – his baby girl’s coming!

·         Hops off the couch and has the biggest grin for you when you walk in

·         Doesn’t even falter when he sees the glower on your face

·         Says something stupid to test the waters – “Woah, babe, I’m gonna have to call the cops – I’m pretty sure it’s illegal to be as fine as you are!”

·         Not even a smirk.

·         Okay okay. Obvi you’re not in a happy mood.

·         Man, he was hoping for a little blush at least!

·         Takes that heavy bag off your shoulders you’ve been lugging around all day and corrals you back to the couch

·         Grabs some sodas and a few chocolate bars from his hidden stash in the kitchen

·         He knows you need it more than him right now

·         Sits down and calls out to the lair that “we’re making out on the couch!!” Def keeps his family from coming in and interrupting lol

·         Isn’t even phased when you explode about your day – your coworker had it out for you, your professor told the whole class that your paper was what not to do if you wanted a good grade, etc. etc.

·         Mikey accents your day with “No!” and “He didn’t!” and “What a jerk!”

·         It’s cathartic to hear someone agree with you like that

·         He takes you in his arms when the frustrated tears start falling and you start to wind down

·         “It just makes me so angry, and I hate feeling embarrassed and…”

·         Rubs circles on your back to help calm you, just like his family did to him growing up

·         After a minute you’re better, and back to your sweet, happy self, if still a bit stuffy from the tears and snot

·         You’re surprised and apologize for your emotions, but he stops you

·         “Hey, everyone has their bad days! Sometimes you just gotta let it out, y’know?”

·         You give him a big kiss for being so sweet

·         Makes the day a lot better after that with the soda and candy and some video games

·         He’s a good turt <3

[atopearth]

Piofiore: Fated Memories Part 1 - Nicola Francesca Route

Okay, I pre-ordered this game because I loved the art and I have a secret fetish (not so secret anymore now) for mafia stuff LOL. There's just something about it that makes me love it even if it's trashy, I guess it's the setting that always amuses me. Anyway, Gilbert looks the hottest to me but it seems like you can only do his route last? It's okay, let's see how this goes~~ The lawlessness and how the different Mafia families control respective territories is what I dig~ I hope this will give me what I wanted from Ozmafia loll. Omg wow, Elena and everyone is so pretty as well. Anyway, it's kinda awkward to hear them call the heroine Lili (her name is Liliana) because my name is Lily! Lol! I'm not a good girl like her though hahaha, she seems to be a nice girl that's grateful to the church for raising her and wants to do the same for all the other children. Is Roberto not an LI? I mean, he looks pretty good too...🥺 Oooh, I was planning on doing the Nicola route first but I didn't even realise this fluffy kinda curly hair guy was him! I'll take him, he's pretty cuteee. I love how he winked at Lili and she got a bit startled and bumped into Roberto making her drop her lemons, it was gentlemanly of Nicola to come and pick it up for her. On the other hand, Roberto is such a stick in the mud lolll, like dude, it's cool to want to change things but you wanna understand the system here? Anyway, Nicola seems like a nice pushy person haha.

Ooh these meanwhile stories/reels are pretty cool! I like them since you get to see what other people are doing~ Anyway, omg I was wondering why Yang sounded familiar, it's Accelerator's (To Aru Majutsu no Index) VA!! I didn't like Yang's appearance but I might have to change my mind now because I love his voice hahaha. Okay, not good, I have a soft spot for Orlok too, not only is he hot and cute at the same time, his voice is so demure but warm, I love it!! I can't choose my favourite🤣 Lmao, I'm using a walkthrough and everyyyy answer I pick is different from what should be picked hahaha, I guess Nicola is not for me hahaha! Anyway, I was wondering why Gilbert's voice sounded familiar and it's the same VA as Okita Souji from Hakuouki! Okita wasn't my favourite though, character and voice wise so hmm, but I do love Gilbert's looks the most haha. Let's see, it's funny but it seems like everyone I was not interested in (Yang and Orlok) when I first picked up the game are now the ones I'm most interested in hahaha. Dante and Gilbert's looks are the best though~ Anyway, back to the story, Gilbert seems like a much more chill mafia boss than I thought haha. Omg when Elena got stabbed, I was like nooo, not the sweet pretty girl!! Thankfully, she didn't die because of Orlok saving them and taking Elena to the hospital. Lmao at Orlok asking Lili if she can run and then deciding that actually it's faster if he just carries her lol.

Well, I'm glad Nicola saved her before those thugs got to her, but dang, he was ruthless. Hmm, assuming that Lili and Elena were targeted for human trafficking just like all the other girls that supposedly "left" the town to go to city, why did those thugs say they'll get in trouble for doing it to nuns?🤔 Because they know that the Falzone family protect the church since they believe that they have what they possess right now because of the blessings of the land, so the Falzone family would take action if they hurt nuns? But then in that meanwhile story, they attacked the Falzone family members so...it can't be that simple? I would assume the most obvious answer is that another family or outsider is killing all these people rather than the Lao-Shu but we shall see~ How sweet of Nicola to stand guard for her to sleep peacefully! I still think there's something about Nicola that I can't trust right now, but having someone warm up some milk and honey for you, lull you to sleep and help you vent out your fears from everything that just happened is something I can't help but be touched by. It felt very comforting to see Nicola do all that for Lili.

Omg, is it just me or does Nicola look better without a hat, and Dante looks better with a hat?? Hahaha. Aww Leo sounds so cute and thoughtful, he'll be a nice bodyguard for Lili. I'm so hungry with all the descriptions of the good food lmao, all the mains and desserts sound so yummm🥺🥺 Aww, Nicola doesn't like lardo/pork lard but he still ate the broiled bream Lili made with it🥺 So, um just because the abductions stopped, the police closed the case on it? Like, don't they need to find a culprit or if there's something like a syndicate? Anyway, Roberto needs to get off his high horse, especially since he seems to think the police has no fault in anything and that the Mafia are bad because they're the Mafia more than actually finding reprehensible actions with them, but I guess the Mafia's actions make themselves seem above the law so I can't blame Roberto, but he really needs to reel in his emotions and thoughts if he wants to properly deal with them lol. Honestly though, Lili said Nicola was surprisingly harsh with how he dealt with the subordinate that let Roberto into the estate, but I don't think he was harsh at all, he didn't even punish him lol, and really, Nicola's right, Roberto had no business coming in and should not have been allowed in for no reason, especially if anything happened. Nicola is such a tease though, making Lili feed him the crostata in appreciation of him loll (btw it was nice of Lili to bake something for Dante to thank him for allowing her to stay here so comfortably).

Awww, although he kinda took her off guard, it was cute how Nicola laid on her lap to rest since he hasn't had much time to sleep lately considering all the family members that have been killed recently. Stylistically, Yang looks pretty dang cool, but omg, not sure what Lao-Shu would be in Chinese or if it's made up but it keeps making me think of mice because that's how you pronounce mice in Mandarin hahahaha; Yang the master of the mice family hahaaha🤣 I'm not sure why exactly the Lao-Shu or whatever in particular want to kill Lili but I can understand why she begged Dante and Nicola to let the guy go even though she nearly died. On the other hand, it's nice to see more of the "less nice" parts of being in the Mafia haha, I do feel sorry for the guy since he seemed to have done it for his family, but I don't at the same time because that means he chose to endanger the whole Falzone family for them, I'm sure that with them, the Mafia family should be just as important as their own little family or even more important, and technically, instead of betraying Dante and them, he should have told them what was happening. Him betraying the Falzone basically means that he was willing to potentially give up on their lives to save his own and his family's and that definitely shouldn't be tolerated. Regardless though, it must have been shocking for Lili to see Nicola so ruthless and cut the guy's fingernail and ear off. Honestly, at this point though, I wouldn't be surprised if the one that's causing all this turmoil and killing Dominico (one of the higher up members in the Falzone) is actually Roberto lol.

I can imagine Nicola betraying the family, but I don't feel like he would ever betray Dante. But that CG of him pointing the gun at Lili was very pretty I have to admit haha. Anyway, it's amusing to think that the Visconti Family are kinda branched off from the Falzone Family after disagreeing with how the Falzone prioritise blood kin for the bosses/positions, I wonder how Gilbert feels about Dante and them. I can't say that I like the Nicola and Lili pairing but I do admire Lili for doing her best to try to communicate properly with Nicola and understand him despite his harshness towards her. LMAO at the corny scenario Gilbert made up to make Nicola protect her and show he really cares for Lili. Kid Dante is so cute, I can see why Nicola would want to protect him like a big brother🥺 Anyway, I really like how Lili is the one initiating talks with Nicola to try and get any opportunity to get to know him better, like in a sense she does feel a bit weirdly desperate and too nice, but he's the only one she really knows here and she's always appreciated how kind he was back at Falzone, so for him and for her current situation, it would be beneficial to try and understand his actions better haha. Hmm, so I guess the reason Nicola wants to destroy the Falzone family is because he wants to free Dante from the Mafia since Dante always hated being forced to do all these things as a child.. Aww, did Dante bring along the traitor Falzone member to the Burlone Mafia meeting to indirectly tell Nicola that he'll forgive him if he comes back?

Honestly, I feel sorry for Marco having to deal with the shit Roberto causes all the time, sometimes I think back to when I first started the game thinking Roberto was hot and needed a route, and now I kinda regret even that thought because he's such a shit LOL. Anyway, although I feel sorry for Marco, I have to admit that it feels weird with Marco's experience and keen eye to neglect how deluded Roberto is getting. It also annoys me to think about those Rome higher ups that threw Roberto here to "learn something", like uh, I don't know what logic you went with, but for someone so hell bent on his own form of justice to go to a lawless area sounds like a crappy idea. Anyway, it was obvious that Roberto was going to shoot Nicola and Lili would shield him, it's just nice that her arm only got grazed, but that's probably already too much for Nicola lol. I have to agree with Yang that in the long term, it's much easier to just kill off Roberto now, and they're really too soft to let this crazy dog run around, I mean I doubt it's difficult for any of them to "kill him" without a trace to them. Okay, I expected the kiss but it was still nice to see, so cute lol🥺 I guess at least now Nicola can kinda understand to treasure himself and his own life more through Lili wanting to protect him with her life. OKAY, I am so sad, I expected it when Roberto appeared, but it was so sad to see him kill Marco because he protected Dante. I know Yang kinda "manipulated" him into delving deeper into his self-serving justice, but really, I'm sure he would have come to this point himself anyway because he obviously doesn't listen to others and definitely needs some counselling more than anything, but geez, poor Marco, he deserved to reach his retirement🥺

It was nice to see Nicola finally properly open up to Lili even though what he said is something we already knew. Her confession was cute~ Honestly, I find it kinda silly how easily the people have been swayed into thinking that Nicola is actually responsible for every killing and bad thing that has happened just through Roberto's lie saying Marco's last words were that Nicola did it (and rumours), since I personally feel like regardless of him being a traitor or not, it's a bit ridiculous to pin it on him other than because of your personal feelings. Anyway, Roberto's arrogance makes me want to punch him in the face every time he talks now and I hope his downfall will be satisfying loll, but yeah, as expected, Roberto was the serial killer too. I love how chill Gilbert is though, just strolling to Dante's place like they're friends haha. I also love how much both Dante and Nicola love and care for each other that they'd rather risk their own lives than the other's. I'm happy that Dante told Nicola to go and protect Lili from Roberto, since at least Dante can take care of himself and he's got the Visconti, but Lili doesn't really have anyone she can trust. Well, Roberto gets more and more insane by the second~ I feel sorry for the poor innocent people he shot... Anyway, lmao at the typo when Nicola shot Roberto, way to kill the supposedly cool scene! Hahaha. Otherwise, I'm not too sure about the publishing saying Nicola's betrayal was all done to lure out the killer and was actually a joint operation between the Falzone and Visconti, like why would the serial killer care if he's a traitor or not? Anyway, considering how the Lao-Shu are gone after this debacle, was it really smart or worth it for Yang to have used Roberto for his schemes knowing how crazy the guy was? It was so cute how Gil kept teasing Nicola about going back to face Dante and being honest with him about why he betrayed the Falzone. I'm glad he could finally tell him, and I'm happy that Dante understood his intentions pretty much immediately. As expected though, even though Dante does feel bound by his bloodline and the family, the Falzone will always be his home and it is a place and gathering of people he'll want to protect no matter what, and that includes Nicola, so rather than feeling like his freedom is being sacrificed now, I'm sure he's happy that he has so many people who believe in him and want to follow him.

Awww I thought the ending was going to give another kiss CG when he asked if he could kiss her! I'm so sad loll! Okay, all good, that best ending CG was hot hahaha. As for the good ending, I'm not sure why Nicola had to kill Roberto like that when he already saved Lili? I felt like there were many other ways to handle that situation and he just took the fastest one that was most disadvantageous to him. Regardless though, Nicola and Lili running away from Burlone and finding happiness going from place to place is pretty cute in its own way, like look at that CG!! Lili has impeccable hair and clothes even on the run, they're obviously having the time of their lives hahaha. Omggg, that tragic ending, I knew Nicola would go a bit nuts after finding out that Dante is dead, but that ungrateful guy!! He literally killed Gil (although Gil should have known better to guard against him imo since he knew how important Dante was to him), like I know it was a mutually beneficial relationship, but c'mon, Gil is like the nicest and most courteous Mafia boss and treated him so well, ugh. I won't forgive you, Nicola. Although, I do have to say, our Mafia bosses all sure died easily! I know it was for the dramatic effect but loll. Hmm, I feel like since Dante died, Nicola is crazy enough to go back to the Falzone family just to kill everyone in it to kinda take revenge on them for being the reason for Dante's death (edit: I kinda wanted this kind of tragic end XD). Honestly, Lili shouldn't enable Nicola especially considering how he's basically raping her but I guess it's not like she can escape anymore anyway since she knows that she doesn't really have a choice, and Nicola told her that too. Okay, the tragic ending was more tame than I thought because I honestly thought he was going to kill everyone hahhaha, he only held Lili in the cage of her room never allowing her to meet anyone so that he can always protect her, which although creepy is understandable since if someone like Dante could die, he's gotta protect someone super frail like her, pretty nice CG too. Bad ending 1 is kinda confusing though, like why did Nicola need to kill her when he was betraying Dante? I'm sure he could have escaped regardless lol, like umm, don't you like her?!

Overall, Nicola and his route was all right but definitely not a favourite. I guess I'm just not into him, although I do love his relationship with Dante and how much they both care for each other, it was probably the best part of the route, because it was so much more touching and heartwarming than any of the other romantic scenes with Lili haha. I guess for Nicola, Lili just had to be really accommodating with him and chase him all the time, but I feel like the story lacked showing why Lili had such conviction to believe in Nicola like that and be with him no matter how he treated her. Like, aside from being flirty, a bit pushy and nice, he really didn't do enough for me to think, yeah, he's worth all this trouble haha. His reason for betraying the Falzone was understandable and of course quite one-sided but you could see why he came to that conclusion so I liked how much he thought about Dante and how much he was willing to sacrifice for him. Oh, and I thought there was going to be some flashback to why he seems to have liked her since the beginning but I guess not LOL. Anyway, the last part was probably the weakest part plot wise imo, but it was okay. Otherwise, I'm sad that Roberto turned out to be a crazy guy hahaha. 

[fandom-necromancer]

1247. If we get caught, you’re deaf and I don’t understand the language.

This was prompted by an awesome anon! I really didn’t think I would enjoy writing this ship so much! I hope you do, too!

Fandom: Detroit become human | Ship: Gavin/Leo

Gavin walked out of the kitchen, rubbing his hands dry on his sweatpants from finally doing their long overdue dishes. He was looking for his partner and found him on the couch staring at the wall. ‘Hey, Leo, what are you thinking about?’, he chuckled, waving his hand up and down in front of his face. The man jerked into awareness, looked up at him and shrugged, a bit embarrassed. Gavin expected to hear a quick ‘nothing’ from him, but Leo actually answered him: ‘You are a cop, so err… You know how security systems work, right?’ ‘Babe…’  Gavin shook his head and walked over to stand in front of him. ‘First of all: I love you. But you clearly aren’t the brightest light on God’s green earth… You can’t possibly ask a police officer how to break into someone’s home!’ ‘It’s for a good cause!’, Leo said, putting his hands up in defence. Gavin pinched the bridge of his nose and sat down next to him. ‘Please. Enlighten me: How can breaking in anywhere be for a good cause?’

‘Errr… Gav, you know my dad, right? Carl Manfred?’ ‘The famous painter, I recall, yes. You talked about him, not that you ever introduced me.’ ‘I will! Someday! But… Well…’ Gavin leaned back, giving Leo time to find his words. He still thought none of them would convince him, but he would give him his chance. If anything, then to find more arguments to prove him wrong. ‘Damn, I… Well, I may have stolen a few of my father’s paintings to get money for my drugs. I’m… far from clean, but at least I’m getting better? And it wasn’t right. I… I really feel bad for doing it now that I don’t experience this horrible need for more as hard. They are so important to him and… Well I regret selling them more than anything in my life. Well, maybe except for going down this path, but at least that I can try to change.’ He sighed, rubbing at his hair. ‘Anyways, I… I bought one back from the money I had left. But I can’t possibly talk to him about it, I can’t face him yet. I… There is that bot and I did some shit to him and… I wanted the next time I see my father to be when I’m the son he deserves, you understand?’

Gavin inwardly pulled a face to that. No, he didn’t, but that was because his father was an asshole, whereas Carl Manfred was… Well, he had never met the man, but he sounded nice from what Leo had told him at least. And it wasn’t what his boyfriend needed right now. ‘I understand, love, of course I do. But don’t you think you are good already?’ He searched for Leo’s hand that lay limp on his knee and held it in his. Leo squeezed his as a quiet answer. ‘You helped me taking down the drug ring behind your dealer. You managed to stay clean for three months. Doesn’t matter you took it in a moment of weakness. You are already improving so much, darling. Is it more difficult to be the perfect son or to put the effort in to become him? I think your father would see that too.’ He pressed a quick kiss to his temple. ‘He sounds like a smart man after all.’ Leo threw him a half-hearted smile. ‘Thanks. But even if you are right… I still want more. I want to be off red ice for good and want to introduce you to him as the one I want to spend my life with and I want to have a real job and… I just can’t face him yet.’

Gavin sighed. He couldn’t believe he was that stupid, but his sense of self-preservation had never been too big to begin with. ‘You know what? Okay. Don’t phcking tell anyone, but we’re going to break into your father’s home!’

-

‘Holy shit, you didn’t tell me it was a phcking mansion!’

They stood outside the building Leo had driven them to. It was in the middle of the night and the front was illuminated. Gavin had never seen anything that wasn’t a government building, a monument or an advertising billboard illuminated. He knew Carl was famous and rich, but that rich? ‘I know… But he lives there alone with Markus. It won’t be that difficult.’ He looked over to Gavin. ‘We are still doing this, right?’ The Detective sighed long and deep. ‘Fine. Yes. But if we get caught, you’re deaf and I don’t know the language!’ ‘We are breaking into my father’s home! He knows me!’ ‘Doesn’t matter. Goddamn, why did I ever agree?’ ‘Because you love me?’ ‘Urgh, I always knew it were the small mistakes that would get me…’ He smirked, before Leo kicked him. ‘Hey!’ ‘Be quiet, we’re almost there!’, he hissed, walking through the bushes to the backside. ‘You still got the painting?’ ‘Yes…’ Gavin pinched his nose and lifted the frame he held under his arm. It wasn’t that heavy but bulky.

Leo led them to a door that would gain them access to the studio behind the mansion. They thought that the security would be lowest there and it was the only door Leo still had a key for which would eliminate any alarm there. They slipped into the house and Leo flipped on a small flashlight. Although everything had gone smooth so far, Gavin was beyond nervous and his hands were sweating. As part of the family Leo could get away with it maybe, but he was a police officer with a painting under his arm that if at least not Carl’s property still was Leo’s. He would have a hard time explaining what they were doing to anyone if things went wrong.

But up to now, everything was silent, and they advanced into the studio. In total darkness with only the spot of the flashlight illuminating it, the stored-away art supplies, busts, overhanging tarps and dried paint on the floor were downright frightening. ‘Just put it down over there at the robotic arm’, Leo whispered. ‘He will find it there. I’m just writing a quick note to explain myself, then we’re gone!’ Gavin ducked his head and hissed: ‘Couldn’t you have done that at home, idiot?’

‘What could you have done at home?’

Both men froze as the light was switched on in the studio and burned in their eyes. ‘Phck, we can explain everything!’, Gavin was quick to answer, a reflexive answer ingrained in his mind by a youth of doing things he wasn’t supposed to. ‘I hope so…’ Leo was faster to recover and turned around to face the voice. ‘Oh, hey…err… Markus! We… err…How are ya?’ ‘Leo! What the hell are you doing here? Guess I have to thank you for being my reason to deviate, but don’t think I will hesitate to send you to the hospital again.’ ‘Wow, haven’t thought the peaceful leader of the revolution to be that vicious!’, Gavin chuckled, trying to ease the situation a bit. ‘I wouldn’t have come this far without standing my ground’, was the answer. ‘I want answers. Why did you break into Carl’s home, Leo? And who are you?’, he directed at Gavin. ‘What were you two about to do with that painting?’ ‘I err…’ ‘I’m Gavin Reed!’, the Detective was faster to respond. ‘Pleasure to meet you, really-‘ ‘Markus, what is all this about’, suddenly came another voice from the door, immediately followed by Leo: ‘Oh fuck.’

‘Leo! Well, that’s a surprise, need more money from me?’ It didn’t sound accusatory, just tired. ‘Err… dad, I actually, ehm… You know I… Fuck. We…’ Gavin watched Leo stammer, but couldn’t bear it any longer. So, he took initiative. ‘Mr. Manfred? Hi. Your son feels sorry about steeling your paintings and selling them, so he searched for them and managed to buy one back. He wanted to return it but didn’t have the guts to face you.’ He was already turning red from all the attention, because this really wasn’t how you’d want any first meeting with the family of your significant other, but there just was no help to it. The silence following was unbearable, so in one swift motion, he picked up the package he had just put down and moved the small space to hand it over. The old man looked down on the painting still enveloped in thick paper, then back up without opening it or taking any other action to acknowledge it. Then he looked back up at him. ‘And who are you?’

‘Dad?’ Leo magically appeared at his side to help him out and Gavin could have kissed him for that. Later. ‘Dad, that’s my… boyfriend. ‘Gavin Reed. He’s a detective with the DPD. Same precinct as Connor, you know, the android that helped Markus? I helped him taking down the drug ring I bought my… I helped him take them down and we had to work together for a while, so we got to know each other. He helps me get clean and my feet back on the ground, he’s a really nice guy once you get beneath the outer appearance-‘ ‘Hey!’ ‘And we are thinking about making it official soon.’

The old man looked at Gavin, then at Leo, lingered and then let his shoulders relax before laughing to himself. ‘Leo, you always were a mess. But it’s good to see you again, son. Come, let’s go sit down in the living room. I believe we have a lot to talk about.’ Gavin looked at Leo to assess the situation, but the man had relaxed, so Gavin did too. Markus went over to take the handles of the wheelchair and push Carl forwards, Leo walked up to his side and Gavin followed. ‘For God’s sake, Leo, to believe the day has come you got your life under control, huh? And you found someone? Since when? Why haven’t you told me earlier?’ Gavin’s boyfriend huffed at that. ‘I don’t know dad. I really don’t know.’

[jeserai]

burnt sugar (3/8)

Ado-ra: what are u wearing? Catra: Wow Catra: Very forward of you, princess Ado-ra: DFJHKSJFDNDKJ?S????MM Ado-ra: I MEAN TTO DINNER OH MY GO D

Sunday practices are easily Adora’s favorite. Coach Hope is strict about training, so the five hour practices are grueling, but Adora never really minds how sweaty and exhausted she inevitably gets. Patches of sweat on her t-shirt, limp hair stuck to her forehead, the flush on her cheeks from exertion, even the smell of sweat—it’s a palpable medal of all the work she’s putting in, a visible reminder that she’s getting better and stronger each day.

Adora minds today, though, because just halfway through practice, everyone stops what they’re doing, heads all turning in the same direction. Adora finishes her last set of burpees before taking out her earbuds and turning to see what they’re looking at. And—

Catra.

Catra has waltzed into the gym with her phone in one hand and a coffee in the other, and she either doesn’t notice or just doesn’t care about all the eyes on her, because she makes her way up to the top of the bleachers and sits there like she owns the place. She’s talking to someone on the phone while she carefully scans the room, expression vaguely uninterested—until she spots Adora, as sweaty and gross as she is. A coy grin spreads across her lips as she waves; Adora feels the back of her neck begin to burn and she spins back around to pick up her water bottle, ignoring the weight of her team’s gazes on her.

As if sensing the growing restlessness of the team, Coach Hope blows her whistle to call everyone over to her. Once the team is gathered around her in a tight circle, she asks, “Who is she here for?”

Hell. “She’s—I am so sorry, Coach Hope, I didn’t think she’d come so early.” Or at all.

Coach Hope fixes Adora with a stern look, but nods. “You all know the rules. You can do your laps now or after practice, Adora. Everyone else, get back to work.”

Adora nods, gaze drifting up to where Catra sits. Phone call finished, she waits, clearly bored but content to just sit and watch. Even if she weren’t the only person in the bleachers, Catra would still stand out; in a room full of sweaty college fencers wearing their bulky uniforms sits Catra, modelesque and so very out of place.

Adora feels her gaze being pulled to Catra far too many times during practice, distracting her so much so that Coach Hope tells her to get off the strip until she clears her head. And with a pointed glare sent Catra’s way, Adora heads for the gym doors, not waiting to see if Catra will follow and somehow knowing that she will. Her stomach feels weak in the way it does when a tournament is about to start as she paces in small circles right outside the gym; she freezes in place as the door opens and frowns when Catra comes out.

“What are you doing here? How’d you know where I am? What—”

“Woah, slow down, princess. One question at a time.”

“Okay, then how did you know I was here?”

Catra grins, leaning back against the wall as Adora stares her down. “That would be Entrapta. I had her find a few things out about you before we met—y’know, to make sure you weren’t a serial killer. Today’s one of my rare free days, so I asked her to find out where you were. Your phone placed you here.”

“So you’re friends with a hacker, and you came and found me at practice because...you had nothing better to do?”

“When you put it like that, it sounds kind of bad, but I swear had only good intentions this time.”

“This time?” Catra’s playful grin is contagious, and despite herself, Adora finds herself laughing. “I guess I don’t really mind you coming to see me, but please don’t interrupt practice next time, I have to run extra laps for bringing in a distraction.”

Catra pushes herself from the wall, stepping into Adora’s space far too quickly and far too easily. When Adora takes a step back, Catra follows, so Adora stands her ground as Catra comes to a stop what feels like just inches away. “So I’m a distraction, huh?”

Adora splutters for an answer, much to Catra’s amusement: she barks out a laugh, shaking her head. “I’m kidding, Adora! Here, I’ll buy your team lunch, maybe your coach won’t mind so much.”

Adora starts to say that yes, she will, but Catra speaks over her, “What do you want? I know a great sushi place; I always used to get sushi during fencing breaks.”

“You fence?”

Catra shrugs, but Adora can tell that she’s pleased. “Fencing is a rich kid’s sport. Though I never took it as seriously as you clearly do.”

And yeah; despite having met Catra just the other day, Adora can’t imagine her ever sweating or exerting herself. “I can see that.” To make her point, Adora looks Catra up and down; she looks effortlessly gorgeous in her sleeveless top and ripped jeans.

“Either way,” Catra waves a dismissive hand, “You haven’t told me you don’t want to do this, so I’m taking you out after practice ends.”

“You gave me the week,” Adora laughs, “it’s only been a day.”

Catra narrows her eyes, lips pulling into a sullen frown; Adora can’t help laughing again at how obvious it is that she’s used to getting her way. Rich kids. “Well, I’m here. I’ll take you out anyway and maybe you’ll change your mind. Anyway, I’ll let you go back to practicing before your coach blows a blood vessel.”

Adora snorts, but does as she’s told. Her heart stutters in her chest at the thought of Catra watching her fence; even if it’s just practice, this is the first time Catra will see her—and no doubt, she’s been trained by professional coaches. Hell.

Coach Hope doesn’t acknowledge Adora’s presence when she returns other than to nod in her direction, and as Adora suits up, three of her teammates surround her, wearing similar expressions of excitement and confusion.

“Adora, how do you know Catra Leos?”

“What?” Adora glances up, startled, gaze flicking first from Scorpia to Catra and back.

“Catra Leos? Hordak’s adopted daughter? The Horde’s princess? Really, Adora, how could you not know who she was?” Sea Hawk scoffs, but there is no malice in his words.

Oh. Oh. “We…” Adora bites at her lower lip, trying and failing to come up with a lie good and plausible enough to placate them. “I’ll tell you after practice, okay?”

That doesn’t seem good enough for them, but Scorpia backs away and the rest follow her, leaving Adora to put on her lamé and grab her sabre before checking the pool sheet. She’s only missed one of her bouts, but there are still two more bouts to go before she has to fence again. Knowing Coach Hope, she’ll just have to do both of her bouts in a row.

Adora sighs and reties her ponytail before standing with the rest of the sabres. Try as she might, her thoughts—and eyes—keep wandering back to Catra. Catra Leos, the Horde’s princess.

It’s both surprising and somehow...not to find out who Catra really is. Horde Industries is a huge tech company, carrying everything from phones to computers, tablets to gaming systems, and word is that they’re looking into VR. For a moment, Adora wonders how long it would’ve taken her to figure out who Catra was if Sea Hawk never ended up telling her: she doesn’t exactly look like the daughter of a tech mogul.

There are a dozen questions running through her mind the more she thinks about it: why doesn’t Catra have her parents’ surname? Why is she here, at unofficially observing a college fencing practicing when there are so many other undoubtedly important things she could be doing? Why didn’t she say who she was to begin with?

And of course, the biggest one: why does she really need Adora?

Just as Adora’s brain begins to come up with possible—and highly unlikely—reasons, Coach Hope calls her, gesturing for her to come over. As she walks over, Adora’s gaze unwittingly begins to drift to Catra again. Most of the time, Catra had been looking down at her phone, but every time Adora looked up and found Catra staring back at her, a little shock of nerves ran through her. This time is no different, and she still can’t figure out why it’s happening: they barely know each other, and it’s not like fencing was ever that big of a deal to Catra. And besides, it’s just like any other practice match, Adora reminds herself, Catra and her fancy coaches and her pretty smile don’t mean anything.

She guesses it’s because she doesn’t quite know what to make of Catra: she’d seemed disinterested throughout their entire first meeting, and her playful teasing through their texts and now is such a sharp contrast to that that Adora still doesn’t know how to respond.

Whatever it is, it—and no, not it, but Catra herself—is a distraction that Adora needs to quell.

“Yes, Coach?”

“Why is Catra Leos here?”

“Um.” Hell. “It’s kind of...a long story, Coach. But she said she’s sorry for interrupting, and she—she kind of bought the team lunch to make up for it. She’s very sorry.”

Coach Hope narrows her eyes, but she nods and gestures for Adora to walk with her. She doesn’t speak until they’re out in the hallway, and Adora is nervous for a long few minutes until she says, “Adora, you must not let yourself get distracted, especially not now. For as long as you’ve been on this team, you’ve been focused, and dedicated, and everything I could possibly want, but you can’t lose that focus now. Districts is coming up, and I believe we have a chance at going to States. You’re the cornerstone of this team, Adora, if there is anything distracting you, you must let go of it.”

Adora nods, mouth dry, and as if sensing her discomfort, Coach Hope sighs and shakes her head. “Get back in there, Adora. Tell everyone that we’ll take a lunch break when the food comes, I have to make some calls.”

And like always, Adora does as she’s told, calling everyone together and relaying the news. She gets a chorus of cheers at the mention of food, but when she goes to tell everyone to thank Catra for the meal, she has gone.

Ado-ra (13:43): where’d you go? :(

Catra (13:44): Something came up, sorry princess

Catra (13:44): We’re still on for tonight though. I’ll take you out to dinner instead

Ado-ra (13:45): okay..what time?

Catra (13:47): I’ll text you when I’m done. I can have Lonnie pick you up if you want too.

Ado-ra (13:50): if thats not a problem :(

Ado-ra (13:50): oh where is the place btw? are u choosing?

Catra (13:52): You picked Bright Moon, it’s my pick this time. And no it’s not a problem, princess

Catra (13:52): Heard of the Crimson Waste?

Ado-ra (13:53): :0 i’ve never been !! i gotta go tho foods here!!

Ado-ra (13:55): see u later !! and thanks for lunch again :)

Catra (14:02): Of course, princess. It’s a date.

Adora ends up getting grilled again during lunch: Sea Hawk has somehow told just about the whole team that Catra was the one that bought them food, and that she came because of Adora. And now, because it’s Sea Hawk, everyone thinks they’re dating.

“We’re not dating,” Adora insists again. “We just met one time, that’s it!”

“I don’t know, Adora, I don’t buy lunch for someone’s whole sports team after meeting them just once. Sushi, at that.”

“Yeah,” Sea Hawk chimes in, “sushi is expensive—”

“And Catra is rich. It was probably nothing to her, she probably does stuff like this all the time. We’re really not dating, guys.” Adora steals the tempura from Sea Hawk’s plate to get back at him, then waves a hand to get everyone’s attention. “If we’re talking about dating, why aren’t we talking about Sea Hawk’s crush?”

With the attention successfully shifted to Sea Hawk and his crush—”she’s the most beautiful girl in the world, we locked eyes from across the room and it was love at first sight! I’ve convinced her to join the team as well!” he’s saying—Adora takes the time to eat in peace, rereading her short conversation with Catra and biting her lip to keep from grinning. She doesn’t know why she’s so giddy and flustered, but as she screenshots the short conversation to send to Bow and Glimmer, Adora finds herself wishing that Catra would text her again, even just to say something inconsequential.

Ado-ra (14:10): [image sent]

Ado-ra (14:10): [image sent]

Ado-ra (14:11): what do u guys think about this?

B♥w (14:12): OHHHHHHHH

B♥w (14:12): MYYYYY

B♥w (14:12): GODDDDD

B♥w (14:12): glimmer owes me $10

Glim! (14:13): UGH

Ado-ra (14:15): ????

Glim! (14:16): nothing!

B♥w (14:16): yeah! Nothing!

Ado-ra (14:17): ……

Ado-ra (14:15): u guys suck

Glim! (14:16): ♡♡♡

B♥w (14:16): ♡♡♡

Ado-ra (14:17): i gotta go in a bit but can u guys help me pick what to wear? idk what kind of place she chose :( what if its fancy?

Glim! (14:20): we are ON it

And somehow, despite Adora’s mind on Catra the whole time and her teammates’ teasing, practice goes on without another hitch.

The rest of the day, not so much.

Adora gets home close to 4:30, and debates texting Catra to let her know. She decides against it; Catra said she would let her know when she was done, and for some reason, she feels nervous to initiate conversation after Catra’s impromptu visit. And then she gets to her room, and to say that it looked like a hurricane blew through would be an understatement.

Bow is sitting cross-legged on the floor as Glimmer rummages through her closet, tossing out items and commenting on each one. Adora stands in the doorway for a moment, and when Bow spots her, he scrambles up and over to her, eyes wide. “Adora! We are definitely going to clean all of this up while you’re gone, don’t worry! We were just trying to figure out what you should wear, because the Crimson Waste is some kind of upscale bar and lounge thing, and we didn’t want you to be underdressed for your first date, and then—”

“Guys, guys. I’ll just ask her what she’s wearing, it’s not that big of a deal.” Except it is, because it’s Catra. Hell, she’s suddenly nervous.

Ado-ra (16:39): what are u wearing?

Catra (16:40): Wow

Catra (16:40): Very forward of you, princess

Ado-ra (16:41): DFJHKSJFDNDKJ?S????MM

Ado-ra (16:41): I MEAN TTO DINNER OH MY GO D

Catra (16:42): Lol I know. I’m not dressing up or anything, don’t worry

Catra (16:43): [image sent]

Adora decides then that she hates Catra. “This isn’t dressing up? Look at this!” She brandishes her phone at Bow and Glimmer, offended on a physical level at how good Catra looks wearing something so casual—and yet that isn’t dressing up for her.

Bow squints at the picture Catra’s sent of herself, then gasps. “She looks really good! But that means—”

“We have to start over,” Glimmer finishes for him.

“I’ll pick the outfit, you do her hair?”

“Guys! It’s not a date!” Adora says, and is ignored. Glimmer steers her towards her own room, sitting her down at her vanity, and Adora has never seen Glimmer look more serious or deadly as she does now with moisturizer in one hand and a beauty blender in the other. And for a moment, as Glimmer descends on her, Adora fears for her life.

Bow comes in just as Glimmer is getting the flat iron plugged in; he leans against the door frame and calls out, “I’m done! I finished cleaning everything up—so sorry, Adora. I promise, everything is back to the way it was! You look really good, by the way.”

Adora huffs and looks at herself in the mirror, and admittedly, he’s right. Whatever Glimmer’s done has made her eyes look bigger and bluer, and her skin looks smooth and more even. That’s about as far as she can tell, but she’s not going to say that with Glimmer around. “Thanks, Bow. Even though it’s still not a date.”

“Yeah, okay, anyway—your outfit is on your bed. Have fun on your date!” And before Adora can find something to throw at him, Bow darts out of the room, cackling.

“He does have a point,” Glimmer says once he’s gone. She runs her fingers through Adora’s hair, and Adora wrinkles her nose at the ticklish sensation against her neck. Thankfully, Glimmer takes pity on her, gathering all of Adora’s hair in her hand and holding it away.

“Why don’t you just cut your hair?” she asks, looking at Adora through the mirror.

Adora shrugs, sighing. “I don’t know, I just...I don’t want it short, I just don’t like how it feels when it touches me. I don’t know why, I just...don’t like it.”

“Do you want to just go with a bun then? I can cut you bangs—”

“No bangs! Did I not tell you about my bangs phase? It was awful.”

Glimmer scoffs and rolls her eyes, playfully tousling Adora’s hair before gathering it back up again. And then her eyes light up as she begins to carefully part her hair. “How about something like this?”

And—Adora likes it.

Her friends must know her better than she thought, because after Glimmer finishes styling her hair, Adora holds up the outfit Bow had picked, and—she likes that too. She’s not sure where the shirt came from, and she’s pretty sure the belt is Bow’s, but it looks good, and even more so when Bow comes in and carefully, artfully tucks her shirt in and undoes the top two buttons.

“You look so good,” he squeals when he steps back, “you look like a model, Adora! Seriously! Catra’s gonna love it.”

“It’s not a date, Bow. Seriously, it’s just dinner.” Adora grabs her phone from the bed and opens her conversation with Catra; she’d responded about twenty minutes ago that she was finally free.

Ado-ra (17:51): i am SO sorry im ready now

Catra (17:52): Good. I’m already at the bar, Lonnie’s outside

Ado-ra (17:53): WHAT

Ado-ra (17:54): WAS SHE WAITING LONG

Ado-ra (17:54): CATRA

Ado-ra (17:54): WHY DIDN  U TELL ME

Catra (17:55): >:3

Ado-ra (17:55): oh my GOD

“Guys,” Adora yells, “I gotta go, my ride's here—Catra’s such an ass, I’ll text you when I get there, bye!” And before either of her friends can answer, Adora sprints outside.

There’s a sleek black car waiting, and Adora nearly trips in her haste to get inside, spilling out a hurried, “I am so sorry, Catra never said you were here—my friends were trying to get me dressed up, and—”

“Chill,” the driver—Lonnie—says. She looks a little older than Adora, and through the mirror, Adora sees her roll her eyes. “I’m not surprised that she had me waiting.”

Ado-ra (17:57): im omw!!

Catra (17:57): Finally

“What? Why?”

Ado-ra (17:57): id be theresooner if u told me lonnie wa here !!!!

Catra (17:58): :3 Oops

“Well…you know how Catra is.” And no, Adora does not know how Catra is. “I’m honestly surprised you agreed to meet her, you’re so...”

Lonnie falls silent, shaking her head, and Adora gives her a moment to speak before prompting, “So?”

“So...nice.”

“You don’t even know me,” Adora laughs, “you can’t—”

“It’s in your eyes,” Lonnie interrupts, “they’re warm and alive. People like Catra...their eyes aren’t like that. She’s a spoiled brat and nothing more, and if I were you, I’d have me turn this car right back around and forget you ever met her.”

At that, Adora falls silent, thinking back to the Catra she knows. The Catra she’d first met at the cafe, not quite cold but not very warm either, just—uninterested. And then, the Catra that had sent her $300 just because. The Catra that dropped by her practice because she was bored, the Catra that ordered lunch for her whole team because she could. The Catra with the teasing voice and playful grin and lively eyes, the Catra that invited her out to dinner for—whatever reason. She thinks about how exhilarating it was to be around Catra—how she feels simultaneously safe and on edge (in the best kind of way) whenever Catra is near her.

Catra (18:00): Hey, Adora

Catra (18:00): Look at the menu and tell me what you might want, so we don’t have to wait as long

A soft smile flirts with Adora’s lips as she reads and rereads Catra’s message. “I...don’t,” she finally answers Lonnie, “I think we know two completely different Catras. Because the Catra I know... “

“No, you don’t know her, not like I do. I’ve known Catra her whole life, and sure, it wasn’t easy growing up in that house, but she is not—she is not—a good person. I don’t really care that you’re meeting with her, but—Adora, right?—trust me when I say not to trust her.”

Catra (18:03): Adora?

Ado-ra (18:04): yeah sorry um

Ado-ra (18:04): order me anything im not picky !

Catra (18:05): Okay, princess

“I...I can’t just throw away my relationship with her because of that. I’m not dismissing you, but I have to at least give her a chance, and—” Adora thinks of the Catra that so subtly shows that she cares, “I have to believe that people are good, and that if they’re not, they can change.”

Lonnie scoffs, and shakes her head, and does not answer. It’s not an awkward silence, but it isn’t exactly comfortable either; it’s the kind of silence that strangers thrust together share, and Adora wishes that she could talk to Catra again, but Lonnie’s words are in her mind now, and that’s not fair to Catra, isn’t fair to herself, but—

“We’re here,” Lonnie says. Her voice is stiff, but she gives Adora a little half smile as Adora gets out of the car, and Adora promises herself to ask Catra to get something for Lonnie from the bar.

Ado-ra (18:14): im outside :)

Not moments later, Catra comes outside; Adora feels a little jolt of something when Catra spots her almost immediately. She vaguely registers Lonnie driving away, but she can’t bring herself to care, not when Catra is coming closer, looking her up and down ever so slowly.

“Hey, Adora,” she drawls, “you sure do clean up well.”

Adora feels a flush begin to settle over her cheeks and she ducks her head to keep Catra from seeing. “Thank you, Catra.”

Catra laughs, gentle and fond, and when Adora glances up at her again, she’s holding out a hand for Adora to take, and the look in her eye is so enamoured that Adora takes it without hesitating, and lets herself be pulled inside.

(last | next)

[amelia-blackshepherd]

Record Time (3)

Last part from my mama and sister shepherd prompt!

“I’m going to bed.” Betty announces as she stomps into the house in front of us. She had refused to talk to us or tell us why exactly she had ended up in jail on the entire car ride home. All we knew was what the police had told us, that they picked her and her friends up after getting a call about some teenagers driving recklessly, thankfully nobody was injured.

“Stop.” Owen’s strong authoritative voice commands. “You aren’t going anywhere till you tell exactly what happened tonight.”

Betty turns to face us, her teenage face stone cold gaze looks onto us. When she made no attempt to begin explaining, “We are waiting…” I impatiently state, standing beside Owen staring back at her with my arms crossed.

She rolls her eyes at us before finally opening her mouth, “Some guys offered us a ride, it isn’t a that big of a deal. The cops are totally over reacting, it was probably just some lame person who saw the car go by their house and freaked out cause we were going like 2 miles over the speed limit.”

I let out a harsh laugh, “2 miles over the limit, Betty the cops told us how fast the car was going when they pulled you over. This isn’t a joke, you could have been seriously hurt or killed. Did you even know those guys before you got in a car with them?”

“Yeah, kind of, I’ve seen them around school before. Look, I am fine, nobody was hurt, so can we just drop it.” Betty says as she turns back ready to make a retreat to her room.

I look at Owen for back up, “No, we can’t just ‘drop it’ Betty. The rules are you have to tell us when you go somewhere else and that includes getting in cars with random boys.”

“Oh my God. You are so over reacting. Nothing happened, and they were just going to bring me here so why would I call to tell you that.” Betty voice is beginning to raise as the argument progresses.

“Betty, you were picked up 40 minutes from here. Do you really expect us to believe they were just driving you home?” I ask, and before she can try another lie, I continue, “And the next words out of your mouth better not be a lie.”

“Fine. Whatever, I’m sorry.” Betty mumbles.

“That’s it?” I ask raising an eyebrow at her, when all I get is a shrug in response, “Alright then, you are grounded. No hanging out with your friends, no going out, just school and home.”

Betty rolls her eyes, “Yeah, saw that coming. For how long?” She asks clearly not caring.

I look at Owen first, “Until you tell us the truth about tonight. The whole truth, no lies, no excuses. Oh, and if we aren’t home, you can come to the hospital and wait for us there.”

“What!” Betty exclaims, causing Leo to wake up in his nursery, “That is insane. You aren’t even my parents, you can’t do this.”

Her words sting me slightly, but I also know she is angry and lashing out, Owen takes over, “No we aren’t, but we are responsible for you. This is not up for discussion, go to bed.” Betty huffs off towards her room and slams the door causing Leo’s cries to become louder. “I got him.” Owen says as he heads off to the nursery.

When I reach the nursery, I am greeted with the sight of Leo being comforted by Liz, I completely forgot she was here with all the commotion. “Ah, thanks again for watching him for us. Sorry we took so long.”

“No problem, he was a perfect angel until all the fighting a few minutes ago.”

“Yeah, sorry about that buddy.” I coo to Leo as I let him play with my finger as he settles back into his crib.

As we leave the nursery, Liz voices the question I know she has been dying to ask since Amelia first got the phone call. “So, what exactly is the whole situation here? I wasn’t eaves dropping but it was kind of hard not to hear the fight. Who is the girl?”

Owen runs his hand back through his thin hair, wanting to be careful about how much he told Liz as Amelia’s relationship with her was still extremely fragile, but also knowing he had to offer some sort of explanation, “Well… her name is Betty and we are sort of taking care of her, she is actually Leo’s mother. See I am er we are fostering him, and then we met Betty. Betty was living on the streets, which is why she had Leo in the foster system and Amelia wanted to help Betty, who ah is a recovering addict.” I try to explain as simply as I can, but Amelia is right there isn’t exactly a word for this.

Liz is silent for a moment trying to take in the information, “Wow, that’s an incredible thing that you and Amy are doing.” I nod my head as we continue towards the living room, “But wait, if you two decided to foster does that mean you can’t have kids of your own.” Liz asks quietly, just as we come back into the kitchen where Amelia was cleaning up from supper.

I look at Amelia, knowing that it isn’t my place to explain all of our situation to her family. Liz follows my gaze to Amelia and waits for her to say something. “No. I mean, no we can have kids, well we probably can, it is just…. It’s complicated. I guess to really answer your question I will have to start from the beginning.” Amelia’s words tumble out of her, I can she would rather not have to dig up everything that has happened, everything she went through, and everything we went through together.

Despite not really wanting to tell my sister about how me and Owen split, how I ran after the pregnancy scare, how we became friends again and then Leo came into the picture and then Betty and then me and Owen came back together, despite how little I wanted to tell my sister every little thing that had happened that lead us here, I did. I even told her about the brain tumor and about Christopher, which was hard, I still wasn’t sure I could trust her with all of this, however, it did feel better to get everything out in the open.

Liz ended up spending the next 2 days with us, and it was actually really nice to have a real relationship with her again. I was sad when she finally had to go back home. I was surprised that she didn’t nag me at all about keeping some pretty big things secret, not only from her, but from mom too.

It wasn’t until the day after Liz left that everything began to implode. Within 24 hours of Liz leaving my house I had 12 missed calls, all from my family that a month ago I hadn’t spoken to in over four years. 6 calls were from my mother, 4 from Nancy, and 2 from Kathleen, and based on there angry messages I knew Liz had told them everything, or nearly everything.

For most of the day I tried to ignore my missed calls, but I knew sooner or later I would have to face the facts, they knew, and I couldn’t keep hiding it from them. So, first I called Nancy, I wasn’t ready to deal with my mother and I figured Nancy would be good practise as she was the most like mom. Plus knowing how close Nancy and my mother were and how my mother use to rely on Nancy to give her information on the rest of us I figured I could use that to my advantage. I could tell Nancy what mom wanted to know and that way I wouldn’t have to directly deal with her.

I was just hanging up the phone with Nancy when Owen came into the living room. He took one look at my drained face and moved behind where I was seated to massage my shoulders. “I wish I could help.”

“mmm…” I mumble relaxing into his hands, “Me too. I think I’ll call Kathleen and Liz next.”

“Want me to give you some space.” He asks, moving around the front of the couch.

I pat the seat beside me asking him to join, “No, these calls shouldn’t be as bad anyway.” I pick my phone back up and decide to call Kathleen first, seeing as she called me the least amount of times and from what Liz had told me, she has her own secrets she is keeping from mom, I doubt she will be as harsh on me for keeping stuff from her.

I was right, Kathleen was worried about me in her typical big sister kind of way, but she also understood why I choose not to tell our family some things. Next, I called Liz, when she picked up the phone I couldn’t help but say, “What happened to sisters covering each others’ asses?”

“I’m sorry, Amelia. You know mom and Nancy, the second I got back into town they were on me to tell them everything. I really thought they would see your side if I explained everything, that they would understand and give you some space so you could tell them on your own terms. I really am sorry.”

“Liz, did we even grow up in the same house? When have mom or Nance for that matter ever left things alone and let things sort themselves out.” As much as I want to be mad at Liz, I know she didn’t mean to cause harm and to be fair I have had years to tell them everything, but I hadn’t.

After I hung up with Liz, I looked over at Owen who had fallen asleep beside me at some point, I shake him gently, “O, why don’t we go to bed.”

He sleepily opens his eyes and smiles at me in his charming sleepy manner, “You finished all your calls?”

I look away from his eyes and play with an imaginary loose string on the couch, “I’ll call my mother tomorrow.”

“Amelia…” He draws out my name.

“I know. But what is one more day going to hurt?” I counter.

“Call her. Then we can go to bed. I’ll even give you another massage before we go to bed.” He tempts.

“Fine.” I accept, knowing it will be better to just get this over with anyway. So, I pick up the phone and call my mother.

She answers on the first ring despite it being fairly late. I try and ease my way into the conversation and surprisingly she lets me. We talk for a while, she has questions about why I didn’t tell her and if I am okay. She is hurt that I didn’t tell her about the brain tumor or about Christopher. But she also understands why I didn’t tell her about Owen after everything that happened with our wedding.

I stayed on the phone talking with my mother for nearly an hour, Owen sat beside me silently rubbing my back in support. After finally hanging up with my mother, I was exhausted. I laid my head back against the couch and closed my eyes. It was weird I felt so raw and open now that my whole family knew everything but I also felt like I was stronger then ever.

“I am so proud of you.” Owen’s strong voice softly says beside me. “I know how hard that must have been for you. And I love you so much for being so strong and telling them everything, that could not have been easy.”

I sit up and lean into him and press a tender kiss to his lips as my way of thanking him for being so understanding and for just being there. I couldn’t have done any of this without him and I want him to know that.

“You looked exhausted, let’s go to bed.” He pulls me to my feet and puts his hand on my lower back as he guides me towards our room.

I lean back into his hand and allow him to guide me even though I know exactly where we are going, “Lets. But before we sleep, I believe I was promised a massage.”

I feel Owen’s strong hands move up my back to my shoulders as he starts a light massage and then his warm breath against my neck as he moves my hair aside and kisses the exposed skin, “Of course, I always keep my promises.”

[swyllh]

[seokmin] occupational hazard

title: occupational hazard

pairing: seokmin x reader, side verkwan

word count: 3814

genre: miscommunication, fluff, angst

notes: im sorry it took so long omf + also i just realised the route i took this was very uh. without frills. ALSO THANK YOU !!! i’m just glad u enjoy reading ;;u;;

from: leeseokmin.pledisdaily.co

to: you

subject: astronomy special draft

dear ms [l/n],

would you mind helping me check this draft so i can file it in the archives and ………….

cookies in the rooftop greenhouse? :D

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

-

from: you

to: leeseokmin.pledisdaily.co

subject: re: astronomy special draft

chill no one’s going to bother reading the preview of our mails

double choc?

-

from: leeseokmin.pledisdaily.co

to: you

subject: re: re: astronomy special draft

!!! >O<

with macademia!!!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

-

from: you

to: leeseokmin.pledisdaily.co

subject: re: re: re: astronomy special draft

macadamia*** silly

see you

-

from: leeseokmin.pledisdaily.co

to: you

subject: re: re: re: re: astronomy special draft

!!!!!!!!! :DD

“that’s a long astronomy special,” seungkwan remarks blandly over your shoulder.

you accidentally close a tab. “yeah, mercury’s in gatorade.”

“retrograde,” seungkwan says, sipping his caramelised ginger tea, “and anyway, aren’t you in charge of world news?”

leaning over to pinch his side, you say, “yes, but he sent it to the wrong [y/n]. and besides, all that developmental belt thing is tiring.”

“i thought you’re the only [y/n] in our company,” seungkwan swats your hand, and shuffles back into his cubicle.

when his head is safely out of sight, you quickly shut the email tab and open a new word document. a sulky, unnerving thrill runs down your spine – did he see what you were typing? did he see what seokmin was typing? the last message hadn’t been as incriminating as you thought – he’d left out the ‘x’s and ‘o’s, and you’re pretty sure seokmin types like that to everyone anyway.

still, you wheel your chair back a little, only to see seungkwan headbanging to what looks like beyonce on spotify. the red headphones cupping his ears seem secure enough, so you heave a sigh of relief and wheel yourself back into place again. the quiet of the office chants itself into a rhythm of unsuspecting sounds: a squeak of an office chair, the tapping of a disgruntled pen, an incoherent flush of coffee from the new machine…

your fingers pace uneasily across your keyboard in an attempt at competence; you’re pretty sure “hong kong  – amidst  rising concerns regarding housing estate prices and default banking credit” is completely unrelated to your actual piece on venezuela.

after what feels like an eternity, and maybe a suitable length of time, you put your computer to sleep, and wheel yourself out of the cubicle. seungkwan’s still steadily nodding his head, chasing after the beats of a pop legend. you slowly wheel yourself out.

the getaway goes smoothly, and you’re almost at the frosted glass gates before

“hey, [y/n], where’re you going?” chan calls.

you’re sure it’s revenge for getting to be seatmates with seungkwan. “just out for lunch.”

he squints. “it’s not yet lunch.”

sighing, you tap at the pink subterfuge folder in your lap. “i’m dropping these off at home news first, by the time i get back it will be lunch.”

“oh!” he says, and then beams, “then you won’t mind helping me drop these?”

it’ll be a trip – home news is stuck in the tiniest, furthest corner of the building. but you know that this is a small price to pay for seeing seokmin and enjoying his company in peace.

“sure,” you sigh, “all aboard the [y/n] express!”

“did anyone find out?” seokmin asks, fingers giddily folded over the lid of his tupperware.

you shake your head. “no. or at least, i don’t think so.”

“…right-o!” seokmin fumbles with the lid for a moment, before unleashing a thick, heavenly scent of chocolate and crisp nuts.

“it smells good.” your stomach grunts in agreement. “you could be a baker.”

seokmin nods enthusiastically, before holding up a cookie to your mouth. you flinch slightly, before taking a quick bite and pulling the cookie out of his hands. it’s good. it’s better than anything you’ve had. he’s still smiling that same sweet way he does, eyes squinting and teeth bright.

“how’s it?”

“good! very, very good,” you say.

he laughs. “i made it with all my love!”

the statement makes you flush – it’s too loud and cheerful in the otherwise quiet of the afternoon break.

“don’t shout cheesy things like that,” you chide. “anyway, i’ve got to deliver these files to home news later because chan almost found me out.”

“i’ll walk you there,” seokmin says in between bites. “chan?”

“yeah, you know, that guy who’s got a michael jackson shrine and it caught on fire last week?”

“oh,” seokmin frowns. “yeah, that’s bad.”

you lean over for another snack. “well, he managed to get it up and twice as big – human resource’s going to have a tough time talking to him.”

“oh,” seokmin jolts. “oh, i wasn’t - ah.”

you raise an eyebrow, but seokmin only smiles again – peach lips stretched wide and willing. the midday sunlight dances off his cheekbones, light and easy. he’s so close now, you think you might engineer a brush of your hands, or mastermind some heist on his smile. instead, you bite down on a cookie, and continue bemoaning your day.

“also i heard someone at lifestyle was caught hooking up with home news in a closet,” you say. “turns out it’s the boss’s ex, and if not for his crazy good editing skills, i think they’d both have been blacklisted by the industry.”

he shrugs, “jeonghan-hyung?”

“you know who it is,” you gasp. “how’d you know?”

“the jihancheol-bermuda triangle is an open secret,” seokmin says, unperturbed. thoughtfully, he supplies, “soonyoung coined the term.”

his indifference makes you shiver. “so everyone knows about it.”

“jeonghan-hyung is very loud about it,” seokmin says with a cringe.  

you laugh, choking on bits of chocolate. “that’s why it’s better if no one knows about us.”

seokmin gazes at a light behind you. “yeah.”

“really,” you say, suddenly moved to place your hand on his knee. “imagine if something happened, like if we got into a fight, and then – we’d never hear the end of it, or-”

seokmin cups your hand in his. “but what if we never fought?”

“that’s impossible,�� you scoff.

seokmin’s smiling again, a thumb lazily tracing your knuckles. “but we haven’t.”

he’s right – it’s been at least six months dating, and yet the two of you are still eerily comfortable with each other. any form of dispute or argument bows low to seokmin’s winning smile and your rational compartmentalisation. no matching couple outfits? sure, most of them are tacky and inconvenient for you anyway. no idea where to go for dinner? it’s cool, you’re usually too hungry to care.

but the thought of showing yourselves off, like jeonghan and seungcheol, sends bile rising up your throat. you swallow it, and move your hands away from seokmin’s warm, sweaty ones.

“lunch is almost over,” you say. “i’ll go to home news.”

“i’ll walk you!” seokmin jumps up.

you shake your head. “it’s fine, i’ll do it myself.”

“it’s on the way,” seokmin insists.

“no,” you say, perhaps a little too loudly. seokmin startles, and you quickly say, “i just meant, home news is really far away.”

he doesn’t seem to believe it as much as you do. but then seokmin smiles the world alright, and bends over to peck your forehead. you try to grin back at him, but it doesn’t reach your eyes.

from: leeseokmin.pledisdaily.co

to: you

subject: re: re: re: re: re: astronomy special draft

tumbl.cat.download_223.jpg

^^ have you seen this!!

-

from: leeseokmin.pledisdaily.co

to: you

subject: re: re: re: re: re: astronomy special draft

utube.co/watch?=oi292nfhlkp !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

-

from: leeseokmin.pledisdaily.co

to: you

subject: re: re: re: re: re: astronomy special draft

im so boooooooooooooooored

-

from: leeseokmin.pledisdaily.co

to: you

subject: re: re: re: re: re: astronomy special draft

magikquiz.co/quizzes/which_shakespearean_confession_are_you

you got: beatrice from much ado about nothing!

you're wise, you're funny, you're willing to risk everything, and at times you're genuinely a character to be feared. the audience loves you!

wht did u get!!!

-

from: you

to: leeseokmin.pledisdaily.co

subject: re: re: re: re: re: astronomy special draft

you got: rosalind from as you like it!

you’re kind hearted, you’re independent, you’re fiery, and you’re not afraid to step out and conquer. the hero gotham deserves!

> wow that’s a lie

-

from: leeseokmin.pledisdaily.co

to: you

subject: re: re: re: re: re: astronomy special draft

no!!!! i think it suits u a lot!!!! ure very very strong!!!!!!!111! mighty!!!!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxoxox

business has you rolling into lifestyle and advisory columns – something about china’s new social credit ranking system accounting for horoscopes. one place now definitely excluded from your retirement plans.

lifestyle and advisory is a little more unrestricted than the rest of the company. for one, their front door is dripping in neon and decked in last year’s christmas lights; the piñata from someone’s birthday three years ago is still lying untouched beside the chalkboard sign. you squint. it’s a very specific horoscope reading: “all leos with black moppy hair and big doe eyes, if you’re 177cm tall, watch out! you’ll walk into three poles and be on your worst luck!”

the door swings open prematurely. “oh! [y/n]!”

you barely reel back – there’s a metal clatter. “ah, seokmin.”

“are you here to see me?” his face lights up.

you shake your head, ignoring the way his shoulders slump a little. “world news thought we should check out astrology.”

seokmin pauses, and then smiles brighter. “i can help you!”

“sure,” you say, compelled.

he steps aside for you to enter the office. it’s completely different from when you visited two months ago – the once pink walls are now a deep navy, with glittering starfishes as adornments. you think they broke budget again to buy another beanbag.

“seokminnie?” a voice calls out. “aren’t you going to meet seolhyun?”

seokmin flushes pink. “not now, hyung.”

jeonghan peeks out from behind his partitioned cubicle. he’s gone for a frothy lavender.

“oh, you’ve got company,” jeonghan says. “hey, [y/n].”

“nice hair,” you say.

he scrunches up his nose playfully. “i’m dying it black later.”

“maybe a bob cut,” you say.

seokmin hurriedly pushes you into a meeting room. or a break room. or a nursery. you’re not really sure why, but there’s an animated dragon head on one of the windows.

“so, seolhyun,” you say, trying to discern if the beanbags are pink or red.

he nods vaguely. “yeah, jeonghan-hyung said she wanted to speak to me about something.”

“and you’re keeping her waiting,” you say stiffly.

seokmin jerks up. “no! i mean, yes, but i want to help you.”

he’s earnest, at least. you say, “it’s fine, i can always ask, um, yoojung.”

“it’s okay,” he says, smiling. “is this about china’s social credit-”

you snatch your files out of his hands. “just go, seokmin.”

“[y/n].” his face falls. “hey, it’s fine, seolhyun can wait-”

“just go,” you urge, but you’re pretty sure your teeth aren’t supposed to be grinding right now.

seokmin looks like he wants to say something – the hover of his agape mouth has you hooked, waiting for a line. you watch him, tensed and fretting and shocked. it’s almost morbid, the way you’re pining for a catastrophe.

but nothing.

“okay,” he says, smiling. “i’ll get yoojung to come in.”

you press a fist against your thigh. “sure.”

when he leaves, you try to think of the wheelchair-equivalent of stomping out of the department. yoojung rushes into the break room, flustered and giddy before you can do anything.

and so you spend the rest of the day tapping a pen against your desk, itching to turn back time.

seungkwan passes you your coffee order on his way back. he’s managed to conveniently forget chan’s soy-latte, and instead making a beeline towards you.

“you know the angel of clickbaits,” seungkwan squeals. “and that seokmin guy you were emailing?”

“jeonghan?”

“no,” seungkwan flicks you on the forehead. “seolhyun. kim seolhyun!”

you shrug. “what about her?”

“what about them,” seungkwan says, wagging a finger. “i. saw. them. together! can you imagine! in the coffeeshop everyone was charmed out of their pants. my god, don’t you want to know what they were talking about?”

“mmhmm,” you say – it’s not your first time working with the radio on.

“[y/n],” seungkwan says, snapping his fingers in front of your face. “seokmin. seolhyun. keep up!”

the name catches your attention. “seolhyun?”

it’s the right thing to say apparently, because seungkwan launches right into another explanation about the ‘angel of clickbait’. it takes him three carefully rationed sips of his frappe and at least five tuts before he gets to the main point:

“-so like, i’m just there, right, and i happen to hear,” seungkwan shoots you a look, “i happen to hear them talking about date places!”

you want to laugh. “sure. did you go up and suggest the observatory?”

“no!” seungkwan exclaims, scandalised, “the observatory is mine!”

you shrug, watching seungkwan continue to fawn and swoon over a perfect ‘sunshine’ couple. as you take a sip of your own coffee, you can’t help but feel victorious at how you’ve finally gained the upperhand on seungkwan after so many torturous years of living under a rock.

the triumph in your chest simmers a little as seungkwan says, “-so like, what’s a good ship name? seolmin? seokhyun?”

you shrug. “does it matter?”

seungkwan fixes you with an eagle’s glare. “of course it does! seokmin’s been rejecting every single girl and guy for the past few years. this is big news.”

“i didn’t know you cared about seokmin,” you say.

“i care about news,” seungkwan waves your statement away. “seokmin’s fine, anyhow.”

to be fair, the seolhyun-seokmin hype works out in your favour. you were wheeling yourself into the staff lounge for some tea when you overheard taelyn, jimin and mingyu chattering about it. the news spreads like a virus – potent, unrelenting, and all the way to radio broadcast already.

when you’re cuddling up with seokmin one night, you say, “mingyu from home news was saying that you and seolhyun were planning to elope.”

seokmin fakes a gasp, “are we? i didn’t get a packing list!”

you swat him on the arm playfully. “real funny.”

he sinks into your touch, shuffling up next to you. the television continues to murmur in strange, foreign incantations.

“are you jealous?” he says, huffing into your hair.

“no.”

“you’re jealous, aren’t you?” his glee pokes you in the arm. “you’re jealous!”

you roll your eyes, nudging him in the ribs. “i’m not.”

“we should tell them i’m yours,” seokmin says giddily.

“no!” you’re quickly turning to face him. “the seolhyun thing is good.”

“it is?” he frowns, tangling a finger in your hair.

“it is,” you say. “no one will ever think we’re together.”

“oh.”

there’s something unrecognisable on his face, so you say, “of course, you’re okay with that right? us staying low?”

his gaze shifts to your hair.

“i mean, we’re just taking it slow,” you rush to say, “keeping things casual. nothing serious.”

seokmin is quiet for the longest time. your arm is stiff from lying at a crooked angle in between the both of you, but you don’t dare to move. you train your eyes on his adam’s apple instead, unmoving.

and then seokmin breaks into a half-smile, reassuring and pliant. it’s something you’ve been seeing a lot of recently. for a moment you wonder if it’s too dim in the room.

“sure,” he says. “it’s getting late now. i should go.”

you spend the rest of the week battling an extraordinary workload: there’s the social credit system update, the venezuela inflation, as well as asean’s latest meeting. on top of that, seungkwan’s still busy blathering about seolmin and seokmin’s sending you more emails about cat videos and irrelevant photos.

(they’re cute, though.)

you press your chin into the heel of your hand, disgruntled at the remarks your editor has made on your third draft. there’re only two more hours till it becomes old news, and you’re not sure what else is synonymous with ‘transient’.

“you brought work home?” seokmin says.

he’s becoming something of a permanent fixture in your apartment; there’s a spare toothbrush for him in the washroom, and you’re pretty sure the record playing in the radio is his.

“yeah,” you say, taking your reading glasses off. “two hours more.”

“oh! inflation, yikes,” he says, reading over your shoulder. “can’t you take a break for a bit?”

you sniffle. “i don’t know…”

“come on, let’s cuddle for a bit,” he says, tugging on your arm.

you smile, shaking your head. “if we cuddle i’m gonna fall asleep.”

his palms work their way to your shoulders, coaxing, “please? i missed you a lot.”

you sigh as he kneads into the knots of your shoulders, squeezing with just the right amount of pressure.

“okay, sure,” you say, and let him lead you to the bed.

“did you miss me too?”

“seokmin,” you say, shuffling on the duvet. “i’m here.”

he smiles into your hair. “but i can never love you like this at the office.”

“you can love me now,” you say, the word slipping through a careless smile.

“i do,” he says.

you can’t shake off the feeling that he’s got something more to say. “and?”

seokmin pulls back to smile at you. the effect is kind of dizzying, like it’s the first time you’ve ever met.

“and… that’s enough.”

from: booseungkwan.pledisdaily.co

to: you

subject: sbux

coffee run now

moch frapp tall

chai late tall hot

cheesecake 2

grande americano 1 sugar

sent from my iphone

“why are you emailing me,” you say, peering over seungkwan’s partition.

he smiles. “let’s go.”

you roll your eyes, “it’s not a long list.”

“yeah,” he says, “but i need a wingwoman and possibly a sympathy card.”

“just because i’m in a wheelchair, doesn’t mean i need sympathy,” you say, but you’re already wheeling yourself out of the cubicle.

seungkwan swats at your complaints like imaginary flies. “do i look nice today?”

seungkwan’s wearing something more street-smart today. it’s not a bad look, and the change is pretty refreshing. it’s probably got to do with that barista he keeps moaning about.

“you do,” you say sincerely. “is it that vernon guy?”

he flushes cutely. “you know it is.”

“how far have you two gone? first date? second date?”

seungkwan rolls his eyes again and threaten to take your wheelchair for a spin. “i called you here because i needed to get his number.”

“so you’re serious then.”

“a little. maybe. if he stops being dense.”

you laugh. “at least he doesn’t work for the paper.”

“oh no,” seungkwan says, activating an immaculate performance of sarcasm, “he’d be so good at asking questions and being an active reporter.”

“i meant a relationship in the workplace,” you clarify.

seungkwan scoffs. “the no-dating policy is just a jihancheol triangle thing. no one cares.”

“maybe,” you say quickly. “hey, he’s in.”

seungkwan immediately tenses up. you wheel yourself forward, alerting the sensors. tinted doors part in front of you, and you’re about to cross the threshold when seungkwan pulls you back ungracefully. with a yelp, you’re drawn back into the streets.

“i can’t do this,” seungkwan says. and then, “oh, seokhyun’s in there too.”

“seokmin?”

“and seolhyun,” seungkwan adds. “but oh my god, he looks even hotter today. what do i do?”

you don’t reply. instead, with renewed vigour, you wheel yourself into the café, and head straight for seokmin. he’s laughing with vigour at something. before you know it, you’re right by their table. seungkwan’s rushed in to accompany you.

“-and, like, oh! [y/n]!” seokmin sounds genuinely surprised. “hey, what are you doing here?”

“hey, seokmin from lifestyle, right?” seungkwan exclaims. “oh, and seolhyun from web news! what a coincidence!”

seolhyun giggles. “you’re seungkwan from world news, right? i always see you doing coffee runs.”

“yeah, you’re always with seokmin,” seungkwan says fondly.

“oh, who’s this?” seolhyun asks, looking at you kindly.

“i’m [y/n] from world news too.”

seolhyun starts. but before she can say anything, seungkwan cuts in, “are you two on a date?”

seolhyun immediately says to you. “no! we’re not, we’re just talking!”

“yeah,” you say. and then, to seokmin, “hello.”

a part of you stills, perched on the edge of cruelty. you can’t wait to see what he’ll do – you don’t know what exactly it is he’ll do. his eyes, searching, find no hint in your expression. seolhyun glances at him, then you, worrying her lip. for a moment you wonder if he’ll let up. as the seconds stretch into awkward tautness, the flush on his face intensifies.

seokmin nods politely.  “hey, [y/n].”

he quickly averts his gaze, fingers toying with the straws on the table instead. and then, looking up at seungkwan and seolhyun, he smiles wide.

“you hated it.”

“hm?”

“at the café.”

“hated what?”

“you don’t like pretending we’re not together.”

“…that’s not-” a smile. “you like it better like that, right, like we’re undercover-”

“i hate it when you smile like that.”

“like what?”

“like everything’s okay.”

a beat.

“it’s getting late.”

welcome back! you have no new mail.

seungkwan offers you a cookie. you bite it out of his hand.

“ah! you’re being a monster today too,” seungkwan says, cradling his hand. “what’s wrong with you?”

you shake your head. “nothing.”

it’s not nothing; you woke up to find only one toothbrush hanging precariously over your sink. the sight of that felt like an omen then, and still simmers hotly in your chest now.

“you look like you’re heartbroken,” seungkwan continues to comment. “did you break up?”

did you? “i don’t know.”

seungkwan rolls his chair over next to yours. “i worked in advisory for a bit. you can tell me anything!”

there’s a tilted jacket pin on his pullover. you think it might be from vernon.

“um, well, i’m – was? – seeing someone from this company,” you whisper.

seungkwan nods solemnly, albeit a little confused. “and?”

“and we were keeping it secret,” you say. “but i don’t think he wanted it to be a secret.”

“that’s all?”

“what do you mean ‘that’s all’?”

seungkwan sighs. “you looked like he cheated on you, and then stole all your belongings. was there a fight?”

was there? “kind of.”

seungkwan pouts. “c’mon, you don’t even know if you had a fight? that’s not very good.”

“he’s… very agreeable. it’s,” you sigh, “i feel like i’m setting little trials and –”

“woah, woah, trials?” seungkwan narrows his eyes. “that doesn’t sound good.”

“i don’t know how to-” your fingers arch out in a quick succession of strained, grabbing gestures. “it’s so hard to-”

“to talk?”

you nod numbly. “what do i do?”

seungkwan softens, running his hand through your hair. “maybe you should talk to him. properly. ask him what he thinks.”

from: you

to: leeseokmin.pledisdaily.co

subject: -

can we meet for a bit? nothing bad.

i miss you.

xo

[furederiko]

The remaining piece for Legendary Argo is finally here! Will the Kyurangers succeed in obtaining it? Get the answer on Kyuranger's 19th episode...

- Wow, 2 weeks without Kyuranger feels like ages, eh? Well, not exactly *grins*. Anyways, let's start the episode with... PLUSHIES! Oh TOEI and Bandai, you just have to promote a product every time opportunity knocks, huh? But this time it's rather melancholic, because the bigger scene contains Champ who's still in pieces. Aaaaww... T_T. Painful flashback and all, this is an extended version of the cliffhanger we saw closing episode 18. What is Stinger up to? - At the same time, a massive armada of Consumarz is approaching Earth. Looks like Don Armage is getting... a little anxious about the planet, and that's because of The Argo. Rather than taking them all down, Commander Xiao thinks it's best for the team to race for the last piece of the Legendary Vessel instead. The #87 Carina Kyu Globe to be precise. One that is located in Planet Keel of the Carina System. Contrary to my complaint, turns out they DO need Pyxis to point out its specific location. TRIVIA: Carina is the Constellation of... Keel. As in, THE actual English name of a ship's crucial structural element. In this case, of course it's derived after the mythology of Argo Navis. Similar to Vela that was found in Planet Vela of the... Vela System, TOEI isn't even trying to be subtle by placing Carina in Planet Keel of Carina System. LOL. - Unfortunately, learning that his boss is getting cold-feet, Scorpio is more determined than ever to find the Argo as well. He revives another part of Madako, and tells the new gallant-dramatic personality version to watch over Earth while he's off hunting Kyu Globe in the Carina System. When I saw this episode on-air, I was quite puzzled to see how Madako is STILL alive. I mean, dang it, we all see how the persistent Octopus bit the dust in another universe! But on 2nd viewing, I've realized that there might be a logic to it. It makes good sense that Scorpio keeps a part of her body, for emergency cases, right? Which means, this isn't the remains of that Madako who died last week. What I still don't get is, HOW Scorpio manages to figure out the location of Carina? Did something we should've known occur off-screen as well? - We get to see Kotarou... on the monitor again. He's reporting that Stinger is missing from the HQ, and that the repair of Champ has probably reached around 60-70%. Unbeknownst to Xiao, Stinger himself shows up at the Orion not long after. To do what? To paralyze Garu and Raptor, and... steal Puppis and Vela Kyu Globe. Whooaaa there.... what's happening?! Is he betraying the team now? - The away team arriving on Planet Keel isn't faring better as well. While Lucky, Hammy, and Spada deal with rock-hard Malistrate Olmega (who somehow reminds me of "Tomb Raider"), the BN Thieves are attacked and trapped in vines by a mysterious person. Chamaeleon Green uses the #69 Caelum Kyu Globe to... 'fix' Olmega's face, causing the Malistrate to run off abandoning the villagers he enslaved. Village Elder tries to warn the three Kyurangers to avoid the Forest Guardian. But since they are racing against time, no time to hear long and winding fairy tale! LOL. - Said Forest Guardian who has captured Balance and Naga, is the Princess from... "Legend of Zelda". Wait... seriously? Nah, my bad... she just reminded me of Zelda. Her name is Eris (portrayed by gravure Idol Hinano Ayakawa), and apparently she has been entrusted to guard and protect the Carina Kyu Globe for many years. At least until "saviors in pursuit of the Argo" appears to take it. Eris might be a important character, but identity of the mysterious man requesting her aide might be a FAAAR bigger deal than her. I suspect this guy is going to play a VERY crucial part in future story. In fact, thanks to the tone-of-white costume he's wearing, can't help but wonder if he might somehow be related to... Lucky's past? Also... for some reason, the lower half of his face feels oddly familiar. There's something about it that rings a bell. Like I've seen it before. Could he be... a veteran Tokusatsu actor? Hmmmm... - Enough about Orion, and let's focus on Eris. Because there's a chance we might not see her again. Eris isn't only tough, because... she comes with a rather fickle personality. Eventhough she's clearly all over 'Ikemen' Spada (while shooting down poor Balance, who actually thinks she's her type), she doesn't trust the away team easily to hand over the Kyu Globe. Not even a very early (yeah, already?!) suitless roll-call is enough to convince her. Which is troublesome, because Scorpio has been spying them all these time, and ends up stealing the Kyu Globe in just one strike. Battle against Scorpio is ON!!! - The team is divided into two. Scorpio proves how heartless he is, by turning Olmega into his 'Zombie', and commands him to attack the village. Thus while Leo Red singlehandedly deals with Scorpio, the others have to stop Olmega. Much to Eris' dismay, who complaints that the Carina Kyu Globe she had spent all these time to protect, is far more important. Using the Shining Kyu Globe, Leo Red turns into Sun Leo Red and retrieves the item. A short-lived victory, because he has to let it go again in exchange for Eris' safety. - Dorado Yellow and the others manage to defeat Olmega, using the "Paper, Globe, Scissors" technique (utilizing Cancer and Scutum Kyu Globe). He turns giant, and that obviously calls for mecha fight. It comes with a catch, because Leo Red utilizes the Shining Kyu Globe once again, and this time powers-up both Libra Gold and... Ophiucus Silver. Yes... contrary to another previous complaint of mine, this power-up DOES affect other members too! Which is NICE. Then again, how come Raptor and Hammy weren't affected before? Don't tell me it's for men only (sexist much?). Oh well, the Hyper-Kick seals off Olmega's fate alongside his Consumarz. - Lucky's rousing speech about saving everyone, has converted Eris into his fans. She apologizes for not believing them, dumps Spada (don't worry Chef, you still have Raptor!), and namedrops the name of 'that mysterious guy' to the team: Sir Orion!!! According to Eris, Orion was "one of the saviors who once saved the universe!". Does this mean, he's a Kyuranger of previous generation? Or... probably is STILL one? NOTE: Wouldn't it be AMAZING if this previous 'saviors' consisted of mythological figures, like Orion, Herakles, Perseus, Cepheus, and Andromeda? It's a wishful thinking, but I'd go batshit crazy if that's the case. Also, don't forget that the Rebellion's mothership is also called... Orion. Hmmmm.... does this mean, there's a clear-cut connection somehow? Well... either that or TOEI is being really LAZY with names (casepoint: Vela/Vela, Keel/Carina, Scorpio/Scorpius, Oray-on/Orye-on. It's Tomayto/Tomahto, folks!). - But before Eris can explain any further, INTERRUPTION! The classic old Tokusatsu distraction technique has returned! Xiao suddenly alerts them about Stinger's situation, so the away team have to leave Planet Keel right away with a new goal: to retrieve ALL of Argo Navis components. Ouch!!! But what's Stinger doing with Puppis and Vela? Using both as bait to lure Scorpio out. Because it's time for a brotherly duel...

Overall: This wasn't a perfect episode. In my opinion, it veered somewhere between just okay and good. The humor seemed a bit forced, and ruined the serious aspect of Don Armage's desperate all-out invasion towards Earth. But what I did love about it, was the way it teased future developments using the 'Quest for Argo' as the foundation. Not only we've seen hints leading towards the arrival of future members, it might have also opened up possibilities to dive and/or peel even deeper into the past. I wouldn't be surprised, if Orion is later revealed to be the man who created the Kyu Globes in the first place. And perhaps, there might even be a link between him, and the true identity of Don Armage. For the same reason, I also hope that Eris will show up again in future episodes, despite how annoying her personality might have been. We're still not even halfway through the show, so it's unclear what kind of arcs we'll be seeing next. Here's hoping the writers will make good use of these potentials... Next week: It's up to you, Kotarou! Go save your big-bro Stinger... PS: Don't miss out the 1st teaser for Summer Movie "Kyuranger the Movie: Gueath Indaver no Gyakushuu". The title alone (direct English translation is "Gueath Indaver Strikes Back") is already an obvious shout-out to "Star Wars", but THIS? I mean LOL TOEI, that's obviously a Death Star, right? They're not even trying to be creative about its design... *sigh*. Oh, and apparently Over-Time omitted the footage that was aired right after. It was a promotion for Zyuohger Returns' V-Cinema, in case you're wondering. That one is set to be released TODAY, on June 28th, 2017!

Episode 19 Score: 7,7 out of 10

Visit THIS LINK to view a continuously updated listing of the Kyutama / Kyu Globes. Last Updated: June 27th, 2017 - Version 2.05. (WARNING: It might contain spoilers for future episodes)

All images are screencaptured from the series, provided by the FanSubber Over-Time. "Uchu Sentai Kyuranger" is produced by TOEI, and airs every Sunday on TV-Asahi. Credits and copyrights belong to their respective owners.

[four-loose-screws]

Fire Emblem Fates - Selena - Japanese vs Localization

This post is all about how Selena was changed in the NA Fates localization, discussing her supports and which ones changed significantly in tone, meaning, and so on. Since my Japanese is improving and I can pretty much compare the English and Japanese scripts side by side now, this will be a comprehensive post covering ALL of Selena’s supports, and this analysis will be better than any before it!

So, let’s get started!

Corrin

Since the f!Corrin and m!Corrin supports are the same conversation with minor changes at best, I looked at the m!Corrin support.

I had to translate this one in its entirety, as it’s very different, particularly the S Support. Here’s the links: C – B – A – S

Jacob

All changes are minor. A couple lines are added, but the meaning of the supports and the behavior of both Jakob and Selena is the same. (Yup, they really are that cruel to each other!) It’s not unusual for English to add lines of dialogue, though, and is often for the best in my opinion, since English speakers tend to be more direct in their speech. But I digress, here’s a couple of the slight changes, from the B Support… 

Localization:

Jakob: You should have planned better. I never said I would help. Besides, you're far from helpless.

Selena: How rude—wait, was that a compliment? Didn’t you call me incompetent before?

Jakob: I did, but that was only to rile you up. Spite is the most efficient fuel in all the world. I wasn’t sure if you'd make it without a little to help you on your way.

Selena: Huh?

Jakob: *sigh* You’re a strong woman. Do you disagree?

Japanese:

[ジョーカー]

手伝いなどいらないはずだ。▼ なぜなら、お前は… か弱い女などではないからな。▼

[ルーナ]

失礼ね！ あたしが女の子じゃないって言うの！？▼

[ジョーカー]

そうではない。 か弱くはない、と言っただけだ。▼

[ルーナ]

え…▼

[ジョーカー]

お前は強い女だ。

違うか？▼

Jacob: You shouldn’t need help. Why? Because you’re not a weak woman.

Selena: How rude! Are you telling me that I’m not a woman!?

Jacob: Not at all. I’m just saying that you’re not weak.

Selena: Huh…

Jacob: You are a strong woman. Am I wrong?

 Localization:

Selena: I was about to thank you, you farrow-gobbling figsnort!

Jakob: Yes, yes get it out of your system. I did mean it, however. About your being strong.

Selena: Hmph! Like I believe that! Although that IS very nice of you to say…

Japanese:

[ルーナ]

も、もう少しで また感謝しちゃうところだったわ！▼

[ジョーカー]

だが、お前の強さを認めているのは本当だ。▼

[ルーナ]

ふ、ふんだっ！ またそんなこと言っちゃって！▼ み、認めてくれてありがとう… なんて、絶対に言わないんだからね！▼

Selena: I-I was just about to thank you!

Jacob: But I was telling the truth when I said that I’ve noticed how strong you are.

Selena: Aaaargh! You’re still saying that?! Th-thank you for noticing… as if I would ever say something like that!!

Silas

Nothing to mention.

Kaze

The end of the S Support is a bit different.

Localization:

Kaze: Thank you. And please, do one more thing for me. Promise me that when this world again knows peace, you will tell me your secret.

Selena: I will. I promise. But I need you to wait until then, OK?

Kaze: Yes, of course. I will be waiting, Selena. But for now...let us enjoy this peaceful night side-by-side.

Selena: I'd love nothing more, Kaze.

Japanese:

[スズカゼ]

ありがとうございます…！ では一つ約束をしてください。▼ いつか世界が平和になったとき、 その秘密を私にも教えてくださいますね？▼

[ルーナ]

うん、もちろん。 だからそれまでもう少し待っていて。▼ あたしは…ずっと傍にいるから。▼

[スズカゼ]

ええ、もちろん。 お待ちしております。ルーナさん。▼

Kaze: Thank you…! But please promise me one thing. When this world becomes peaceful, will you tell me your secret?

Selena: Yes, Of course. So please wait just a little bit longer. I’ll always… be by your side.

Kaze: Yes, of course. I’ll wait until then, Selena.

Xander

It’s no surprise that this one had to be changed, as the joke told in B is a pun, and how often do puns translate literally? But fortunately, the localizers were able to write one that’s almost exactly the same. Amazing job on their part. The Japanese is a pun on igi, meaning objection, dissent, or protest. Igi also sounds like someone laughing, specifically, I believe, an evil laugh. It’s awkward to try and do a more direct translation, but I’ll give it my best effort.

Here’s the localization…

Selena: OK, let's get started! First,     imagine we're in another war council meeting and someone says, "Hold     it!" What would you say? Remember, answer with humor.

Xander: I'd say... "Hold what?"

Selena: Not quite... You should say     something more like, "Hold it? But my hands are full!" Did you     get it? It's funny because they don't mean "hold" like that! Get     it? Do you get it? Tell me you get it.

And here’s the Japanese…

[ルーナ]

よろしい。 さっそく始めましょう。▼ …まず、例えば軍議で発言したら、 どこかから異議が出たとするわ。▼ そしたらマークス様はどうする？ ユーモアを込めて返すのよ。▼

[マークス]

………… 異議に対してユーモアを込める？ わからない、一体どうやればいいのだ。▼

[ルーナ]

そうねぇ… こんなのはどうかしら。▼ 誰かが異議ありっていうでしょう。 そうしたらこう返すの。▼ 異議を唱えられるなんで悔しい… いぎぎぎぎぎぎぎぎぎ！！▼ 異議だけに。▼

Selena: OK, let’s get started! …First, for example, at a war meeting, someone says something, and it’s an objection (igi)! So what should you do? Give a response that’s full of humor!

Xander: ………… A response to the objection that’s full of humor? I don’t know, what on earth should I do?

Selena: Yeah… what should you do? So someone gave an objection, right? Here’s how you should respond! You should laugh out loud in an annoying tone… “I gi gi gi gi gi gi gi gi gi!!” Because it’s an objection (igi)!

Camilla

Nothing to mention.

Leo

The very beginning of C has a different tone. Leo’s second sentence in his first bit of dialogue, which I think can come off as rude, doesn’t seem so in the Japanese.

Localization:

Selena: Woohoo! That was amazing!

Leo: Selena, why are you yelling? At this volume, the entire army can hear you!

Japanese:

[ルーナ]

えへへ…▼

[レオン]

ご機嫌だな。 ルーナ。▼

Selena: Ah ha ha…

Leo: You’re in a good mood, Selena.

And the English added a lot to this line in B…

Localization:

Leo: And yet it is. You lost...again. Selena, you must cease repeating the same action and expecting different results. You do realise that is the definition of insanity, yes? In any case, please excuse me. I have other matters to attend to.

Japanese:

[レオン]

もうやめよう。 何度やっても結果は同じだ。▼

Leo: Just give up already. No matter how many times we play, the result will be the same.

And here’s a line from A…

Localization:

Leo: Indeed, you are the victor. The     winner. The champion. The nonpareil. Satisfied?

[レオン]

ああ。

お前が一番だ。▼

Leo: Yeah, you’re number one!

Looks like in this case, Leo was the one made out to be a bit meaner. But that change is subtle, and the overall tone is faithful to the original.

Arthur

There’s some added minor lines throughout the supports, such as…

“…things haven't been all peaches and sidekicks…”

“Wow, I'm a really bad judge of cart character.”

“I should have warned you that I'm a hopeless case.”

“Look, forget I said anything! Maybe we could just get some tea to start?”

“I...I kind of like looking after you.”

Also, this part of A was changed a bit, to an event that makes more sense given the circumstance.

Localization:

Selena: Look! The clothes that got all wet... I     was worried they were too bright. But some of the dye has washed away with     the rain. Now they're perfect!

Japanese:

[ルーナ]

この服…一点ものだったから買っちゃったけど、 ちょっとサイズが大きかったのよね…▼ でも雨に濡れたせいで縮んで… ぴったりサイズになったわ…▼ まさかの展開よ…▼

Selena: The clothes I bought… they were a little big, but since there was only one of each, I bought them anyway… But when they got wet, they shrunk… and now the size is perfect… what a turn of events…

And at the very end of S, there was no mention of shopping.

Localization:

Arthur: Now then...shall we go shopping? I     believe you have a dress to buy.

Selena: Woo! This day just keeps getting better     and better!

In place of these lines, Arthur just said 楽しくやっていこう – “Let’s enjoy every day that we have together.”

Odin

A few of Odin’s lines were made more flowery, but there’s no changes to mention about Severa or the conversation in general. Not that Odin isn’t flowery in the Japanese, but his localization version often kicks the “flowery speech dial” up to 11.

Here’s a couple of examples.

From C…

Localization:

Odin: Selena! A spell of gloom has ensnared you! Hold and allow me to dispel it! Depart or be destroyed, evil magic! Release Selena from her torment! *gasp* It remains unaffected! I must prepare another chant...

Japanese:

[オーディン]

どうした、ルーナ。 表情が冴えないぞ。▼

Odin: What’s the matter, Selena? You look troubled.

From S…

Localization:

Odin: Hearken to me, goddess of mine heart! I bring glad tidings!

Japanese:

[オーディン]

来てくれたか、ルーナ。 待ったぞ。▼

Odin: Thanks for coming, Selena. I’ve been waiting!

Niles

This set of support conversations is riddled with small changes that don’t change the tone or meaning. The S convo, in particular, has quite a few differences, but the conversation is essentially the same. I currently have this one on my list of conversations to translate in its entirely, but until then, I’ve picked out quite a few changes.

A couple of lines in C were a bit different:

Localization:

Niles: Who's to say you aren't?

Japanese:

[ゼロ]

敵、とは思っていない。▼ ただ…完璧に 信用しているわけでもないがな。▼

Niles: I wasn’t thinking that you are an enemy. But… that doesn’t mean I trust that you are without flaws.

Localization:

Niles: Lord/Lady Avatar seems to trust     you, so I will grant you some leeway. But know this—I am watching you.

Japanese:

[ゼロ]

最初に言ったが… お前を敵と思っているわけではない。▼ だが、下手な真似はするなよ？ 俺は…お前を見ているからな。▼

Niles: As I said before… I don’t necessarily think that you are an enemy. But don’t do anything funny. I’m… watching you.

There’s a number of small changes in B.

Localization:

Niles: I told you...I'm watching you.

Selena: Even while I'm shopping? Yeesh! I     really don't need any more stalkers, OK?

Niles: I'm well within my rights to follow you     around like this.

Selena: Oh, so we're just making up nonsense     now? In that case, I'm well within my rights to knock your block off!

Niles: I'm just making sure you're not up to     anything nefarious. And I thought while I was at it, I might as well help     you stick to a budget, too. Do you really need all of those trinkets?

Selena: Ugh! Look, I might use them someday...     Wait, why am I explaining myself to you? Get out of here!

Japanese:

[ゼロ]

言ったはずだ… 俺はお前を見ている、とな。▼

[ルーナ]

だ、だからと言って…▼ 買い物してるとこを 監視しなくてもいいじゃない！▼

[ゼロ]

俺の勝手だな。 好きにさせてもらう。▼

[ルーナ]

っていうか、 勝手に口出ししないでくれる！？▼ 買い物してるときが、 あたしの至福のときなんだから！▼

[ゼロ]

買い過ぎだ。 そんなに大量のランプがいるのか？▼

[ルーナ]

な、何かに使えるかもしれないでしょ？ いいから、あたしのことは放っておいてよ！

Niles: I’m doing what I said I would. Keep an eye on you.

Selena: I-It’s what you said you would do, but you don’t have to follow me around while I’m shopping!

Niles: It’s what I feel like doing. So let me do it.

Selena: And will you mind your own business!? When I’m shopping,

Niles: You’re buying too much. Do you need so many giant lamps?

Selena: I-I can probably use them for something! Now leave me alone!

A change from A:

Localization:

Niles: I'm sorry, I'm not as practiced in     dishing out praise, so this may be a bit clunky.

Japanese:

[ゼロ]

人を褒めるのは得意ではないが… 特別に褒めてやろう。ありがたく思え。▼

Niles: Praising others is not one of my strong points… So praise, coming from me, is special. You should be thankful.

Laslow

I translated this one for a request, so there’s no need to discuss it here. Here’s the links to the translation: C – B – A – S

Peri

No changes to mention.

Beruka

In the B Support, when Selena says it’s okay for Beruka to be completely engrossed in what she loves, Beruka laughs, and Selena yells at her not to. That’s totally left out in the English.

In the A Support, Beruka’s final line (“But maybe it's OK to enjoy myself once in a while...”) is not in the Japanese.

Benny

At the end of C, the English leaves out these last few lines of Selena’s…

万が一、あたしが失敗しそうになったら、 全力で助けないと許さないんだから！▼ むしろ、少しでも危ないと感じたら、 風よりも速く動いて助けなさいよね！▼

But in the unlikely event that I fail and you don’t come to save me with all of your might, I’ll never forgive you! Or if it looks like I am in a bit of danger, then please move faster than the wind and save me!

At the end of B, the English cuts out Selena giving a tsundere’s “thank you,” and cuts out a couple of lines.

Localization:

Benny: It was pretty close. You, um, almost     had it though?

Selena: I wasn't even close. But nice try.

Benny: Just trying to help...

Japanese:

[ブノワ]

間一髪だったがな…▼

[ルーナ]

…ありがと。▼

[ブノワ]

…ん？

今、何か言ったか？▼

[ルーナ]

な、何も言ってないわよ！▼

言ってないけど…

次からはちゃんと聞いてなさいよね！▼

[ブノワ]

あ、ああ…

よくわからないが…わかった…▼

Benny: You almost had it, though…

Selena: …Thanks.

Benny: …Huh? What did you just say?

Selena: I-I didn’t say anything! I didn’t say anything, but… next time, listen more carefully to me!

Benny: Um, uh… I don’t get it, but… okay…

And in S, the English changed one of her common lines.

Localization:

Selena: I hope you're up to the job of loving me. It's a big deal! Not everyone can do it!

Japanese:

あ、あたしを幸せにしないと… 絶対にゆるさないんだからね！▼

But if you don’t make me happy… then I’ll never, ever forgive you!

Keaton

Since the localization removes a lot of Selena’s tsundere behavior, I thought for sure that this one would be pretty different. But, it’s actually very faithful! The only major difference to note is in S. In the Japanese, Keaton asks Selena to marry him, not just date him.

Localization:

Keaton: I just think we should be together! Like, as a couple!

Selena: Wh-what?!

Keaton: Is it really that much of a shock?

Selena: Of course it is! I had no idea you felt that way. You never said anything! And aren't you supposed to court someone before asking to become a couple?! What's wrong with you? Asking me to be with you without a single date!

Japanese:

[フランネル]

あれだよ…ほら… お前さ…俺と結婚しろよ。▼

[ルーナ]

…え？ ええええええ！？▼

[フランネル]

そ、そんなに驚くことか？▼

[ルーナ]

当たり前じゃない！ だって、結婚よ？　結婚？▼ というか… どこが大した話じゃないのよ！▼ これ以上、重要な話って 他にないくらいの話じゃない！▼

Keaton: Well… you see… you… and I, let’s get married!

Selena: …Wha? Whaaaaaat!?

Keaton: Y-You’re that surprised?

Selena: If course! Marriage, you say! Marriage!? That… That’s a big deal, isn’t it!? There’s no conversation that’s heavier than this one!

Setsuna

From the A Support…

Selena: I guess     I don’t mind the idea of being friends with you… You are kind of a big     pain, but at least I’m never bored around you…

Setsuna:     Really? That’s good to hear…

Selena: But     that’s not really a compliment! I don’t think I’d give compliments to     someone as inattentive as you.

Setsuna: I’m     inventive… Thank you for the compliment…

[ルーナ]

で、でも別に褒めてるわけじゃないからねっ！▼ あんたみたいな図々しい人、 褒めるわけないんだから！▼

[セツナ]

図々しいだなんて… 褒めてくれてうれしい…▼

[ルーナ]

だーかーらー！ 褒めてないんだって！▼

[セツナ]

そうなの…？ ざんねん…▼

Selena: B-But this doesn’t mean I’m giving you a compliment! I could never compliment a shameless person like you!

Setsuna: You said ‘’m shameless… I’m so happy that you complimented me…

Selena: But I’m not complimenting you!!

Setsuna: Really…? That’s too bad…?

Hinata

A couple of lines were cut out of the localization. Once again, it’s Selena’s “you better make me happy” line.

[ルーナ]

絶対に…幸せにしなさいよ？ じゃないと、許さないんだからね？▼

[ヒナタ]

ああ！ 俺にまかせとけ！▼

Selena: But… you must make me happy. If you don’t, I’ll never forgive you.

Hinata: Okay! You can count on me!

Subaki

In the S Support, Subaki asks Selena to marry him in the Japanese, not to become a couple.

Conclusion

Whether or not someone is satisfied with the localization is, as always, left up to the individual. But in a refreshing change from Awakening, with the exception of her support with Corrin, Selena is mostly untouched in this game. Fans can be happy to know Selena is pretty much the same as her Japanese self this time, with minor conversation edits that don’t change the intent of the original Japanese. I hope that she gained a lot more fans this time around!

[mamonthemoon]

So about the 5 of CUPS.  I am getting in touch with writing and music and art and so happy to have access to a computer to do these things.  I could not flow like this, as I wanted, at my pace, on my phone.  It is SO great to have a computer again.  I am blessed, I am thankful.  I am so happy, today I logged into Soundcloud to find Jan and Taylor collab and made music and it just touched my heart and made me so happy.  Also talkin and chillin beside dont know her name but shes a Leo, I could tell she was more on point and driven and aware the first time i saw her come into the cafeteria one night.  Not like the others.  A good thing.  She is having some struggles with people evidently, being different, and them talking about her business, ay dont worry about it their petty basic losers. Bitches. I also got a nice comment 6 months ago on a track I did, “perfection” - how nice. I wish I had been able to make music and tracks through these past few years... I felt trapped, unable to express and create.. So I just sat in my car and sang... Ive been without a computer for the past 5 years WOW! I set out to evolve- to break my internet addiction, I wanted to be in real life, and not in my own little bubble, I wanted to be aware and grounded and discipline myself.  Well, I sure do appreciate this computer access now, and the internet, and everyone’s creativity and the era we’re in is so beautiful in that way, considering how awful the fucking world is! Like all these churches are you for real? and all these heathens that lie cheat steal? Crazy! War... Hate.. Rape.... Oppression.. Slavery.. Injustice... Women under men............ all this.... I was shielded from for most my life, ignorant and dumb and aloof. Its better that way!!! I sought to understand though... big mistake!!!! Understand I have..... Damn. Shoulda asked and prayed for good things! Not something like understanding! Wow dont do that unless you want to go through heaven and hell and everything in between, chaos, mundane, and the unseen.  So much... Off on a tangent again.... Point is... I am EMBRACING the 5 of cups. I literally stand like that.... I stood like that figure today, on the hill across the empty basin up the hill where I walk to be with nature, the little bit that is there, amongst the trash and brush.  I asked Jesus to heal my heart if he exists, and told him he knows I have lived like him, at least more than pretty much most people, and that hey maybe I havent, and I dont know, obviously Im doing something wrong.  I cried, because my heart needed me to, my body needed me to. And it felt good to, with the wind, or fresh air, far away from the building and people.  I cried and spoke to Ayla. I feel I will be with her in one year.  I am saddened by our seperation and how long it is taking, and I want her to know she is SO loved.  In fact, it is the only reason I live. I typed love.... and perhaps that is the correct sentence here.  Ayla is the only reason I love.  It is true.  I never loved before her.  I never loved until I became a mother.  And I loved everyone with that love, too.  Mostly her of course, an overwhelming neverending supply of love, JUST LIKE THE SUN.  Ayla is Jesus. And so am I, as a result of loving her and giving my all to her like I have. PURE LOVE. I prayed for it and I got it.  It was so painful, before and after, her. But she is Joy. She is grace.  She is everything.  She is my teacher.  She is SO beautiful.  And I cant stand to see her cry without crying.  That image is burned in my brain.  I was happy at the moment, starting my new life with psycho, briefly, he was treating me well.  I was putting in work to make that nasty house a home.  I was loving again, and being reciprocated in that love and affection.  BUT NOTHING COMPARES TO YOU. AYLA RAY.  I mourn for that I have been unable to accomplish housing you and me.  I have been unable to attain a living situation.  And it is SO frustrating.  I believe things can get better.  I believe in me.  I believe in my strength and perseverence, and I trust my intuition.  I have been working very hard to be strong.  I have worked very hard to be sober.  Worked to be creative.  Worked to be spiritually sound.  Worked to have greater understanding.  And I have been getting feedback from the people who work here and run this place, as well as doctor and social worker type person at the Internal Medicine Clinic today, positive feedback and thanks for sharing my experience, and told that I am wise and have a greater understanding, etc.  It didnt even feel good to receive the praise, I was too busy extracting what I had to say, and it is exhausting and frustrating because the pain stays inside me, and all I have to do is wait. and wait. and wait. but its okay.  I am happy.  I have a place to be, I have some people to talk to, and we talk and then all wander away, its perfect.  I have had hard times and been very frustrated but through it all I am grateful and see the silver lining for sure.  I am not dwelling on the past, on the wrongs I was wronged recently.  Im used to it!!!!!!  I accept it.  My car was on its way out, and Ive never been in a good living situation anyway.  The way Ive lived, being in this homeless shelter really isnt that hard.  Except that my body doesnt appreciate the shit food and eating meat, and I have to be careful about my sugar intake.  I feel awful after I eat.  I will be so relieved and at ease when I can smoke mari again.  I hate eating.  Yet, Im always hungry now it seems.  My weight is 115.  Im on track, perfect weight.  Just my body doesnt feel good due to my nervous system. And these people dont want to prescribe me Ativan.  Im pretty sure the song Jan and Taylor did, the lyrics talked about the generic name for it.. loradiazepine, or something.  Ill have to check.  The song was titled “Giving up on a Friend”.  It was beautifully prosed and poised. Truly impressive.  So happy inside.  I have really been sad for all my creative lovely friends that died...... drugs, lack of love... parents being not what they needed to be...... crazy, we came from a good area... but.. moreso than in the hood.. i feel like everyone be so isolated. anyway. it made me happy, to stand with those 2 cups left standing.... so many died and spilled... those cups.... what a beautiful world, to hold my Tiffany, Kyle, Des.... they were beautiful sensitive souls and im so sorry this world was so cold! im so sorry i couldnt express and shower them with the love they deserved.. i dont regret or blame myself anymore, because i didnt have the capacity to love... until i had Ayla.  So forgiveness is there.  I needed THEIR love.  Their creativity and spirit lit me up when i was dark and grey.  No one knew how much each other struggled... its so sad.  But I remember how happy I felt being at the community house as i called it.... the boys and their shenanigans....... I also watched young No doubt and Gwen Stefani.. how beautiful... I cant believe I never watched the music videos when I was younger I loved her! She inspired me so much... so different... I guess she was to me, what Billie Eilish is to Imani.  I want to write a letter to Imani. I love and miss her.  She is truly ahead of her time.  I cant wait til I can get some money and send her a letter.  Im gonna have to go on googlemaps and find their house so I can know the address cuz I dont remember or rather, never logged into my brain, the house numbers. I would totally adopt Imani.  It makes me sad the things I cant do because of money.  What I can do, is be there for them in other ways.  In the spirit ways, creative, being aware paying attention to them, telling them how beautiful and wonderful they are.  It made me sad how depressed and angry I was, Imani got to hear me straight up raw bitching... but I belive it truly helped her transition with her dad, and know that shes not alone, and that I see what he does and hate it, and that I have problems with my dad too.  And that her dad is a bastard who doesnt support her dreams and creativity as much as he should, because he had to repress it in himself. And that you have to hold onto your creativity, no ones going to help you, basically.  I have to reiterate that.  She is truly passionate and creative and wise and mature way beyond her years. I know she gets love from all around, family and friends, Im really hoping my absence hasnt left a dent in her life or heart, truly, sometimes.... sometimes you know, I wish someone will miss me or realize the hole thats left by my absence.. but I dont wish that on her.  I want her to be happy and good. For real. But as for my daughter.... I cant say I am okay with her being happy without me.  I have struggled with the selfishness of that.  I WANT her to be taken care of and happy.... I even thanked the women who replaced me, for being in her life, glad she had females but come to find out Oriana bitch.. fucking slapped her... and THATS why fucker wouldnt let me talk to her and dicked me around whil eim busting my ass trying to work my shit pay cooking jobs but hold Ayla top priority and just be left in the dust with NO control, me.. not respected. But now I have evidence in my phone from conversations with worm saying these things, if it will even matter........ its a shame this last bastard isnt going to be helping me with the law and with my daughter and case... I mean I cant really accept him into my life being that he acted how he did and talked to me and berated me after praising me like he did, like a straight up classic psycho, but ive never met a man so bipolar SHIT....... ANYWAY, maybe I can date a lawyer though..or hangout at the law library.. but i dont want to run into him.  IDK what will become of this, IDK what my path is, But I am focusing on the Two upright cups, The cups still standing.  The strong survive... I used to think everyone would make it til old age, except the rare car accident etc... I had NO IDEA so many people would die... so young.. every year...aiy. So I see it as survival of the fittest but its no joke.  I am still struggling.  Where my friends reached for drugs, partying, relief, escape... I sought to really make it for real and not get sucked into that life that I saw would drag people down.  Why did I see this and they did not? Is it because I was more of a loner, less able to socialize or fit in or pretend? I dont know... I know that.... I didnt connect very well to people and was pretty much isolated more than others.... also.. sexually void.... so i did not have those intense feelings of attachment or love like others had... it would have been too much for me to handle probably but still, my life was empty and cold and dark and grey.  Still is, a lot, except when I bring my conscious energy and intent alive... but subconsciously... all is not good... My moon is in the 4th house, and until my home environment is good, until i feel secured and loved and family...... I will not be well emotionally.  I know this.  Astrology and the occult has truly armed me with knowledge.  Self knowledge, and a tool and friend if you will... guide.. mentor.. something to interact with... something to listen! to be there for me to see, what is going on....Astrology for the core personality and blueprint of what makes a person tick.. what drives them.. how they function... of course a conscious person is harder to decipher, someone who has worked on themselves, to balance out their traits i guess but anyway, people shine as they are! whether exhibiting negative qualities and not shining at all but being muddy and negative, or by being bright and vibrant and strong.. either way, it is seen.  Its not evil lol. stupid man. how can you be against something you know nothing about? that is ignorance. how can you stand for something or against something if you dont even know what IT IS? Lost respect.  That should be a name of a song I will write, or rather, the title of what I have already wrote.  I gota speak it into a beat. Cant stay in this notebook i will inevitably throw away.  It must make it off the page and into something shareable.  I write too much to keep throwing it away.  It all seems too basic for how deep i go, i feel i dont do myself justice i guess. but simple is good.. i am not so hard on other artists! i need to create and let go and not worry about it and just keep at it.  Just like selfies take like 20 shots to get a good one.. haha. done with those. the fact remains. so, 20 tracks to create then, and bam ill have a good one worth sharing.  it is cringing, to listen to some of my stuff for real, from a few years ago, but also deeply giddy satisfying like a gift from my past self, an adult, channeling my inner child, i am ridiculous, while everyone else is trying to be so serious and hard and rap. it was nice to hear real music from my friends of the past. love in my heart. 2 cups remain standing. 3 are down, indeed, much has been lost and spilled.  I was contemplating today how sad it is people are appreciated after they pass. and i thought of how Kathy joshs mom said Nanny said something similar. and i think how i had a card i never sent her, with cactus on it, when i was in napa, but shit got serious and i never could send it, and then i just ended up keeping it, and i think i gave it away to salvation army in a little cheap gold frame idk? like the conflict to let go or follow through, and when somethings old and passed.. and when that energy isnt the same.... it traps me up.  but honestly i dont have love for her or for any of his family anymore. i did talk of kathy today to this lady whos next to me’s son earlier when he came in and was friendly, came in again when his moms here and hes so pissy and confrontational like trying to diss me for what? you JUST came in here being nice and whatever and then like hell bent on being an asshole for why? what the hell did i do to you? whatsup with these bipolar men? you aint even a man 21 yrs old so pissy wtf... i sure hope i have better dealings with my daughter when shes a teenager. this kid is retarded anyway, making fun of a handicapped man in front of a woman he talks to.. he was happy to start talkin to me.. and this kid had to just ruin it and diss him for no reason, i wish i would have spoke up about how disrespectful that was and how he made HIMSELF look bad and lost respect for HIMSELF. but i was on vistaril, and the thoughts were there but not the execution. thats why i dont like drugs. plus i couldnt sleep and it made me stuffy in my throat and neck and lymph system aiy im not having it leave my body alone with this shit! youre not pushing this shit on me i will be heard! its a struggle!!!

but ay this kid made my body uncomfortable, stress response with his petty bullshit like damn wtf? gtfo. teenagers for real need to go on a rite of passage, like in the old days. it is NOT RIGHT to have them around!! i truly TRULY believe that! its not healthy for anyone involved!! let them go... let them spread their wings and fly.. let them run into a tree.. let them feel that pain against the night sky, alone, and figure out what to do all by their damn selves! they want to. theyd prefer it. no teenager wants to be trapped. why do we work against nature? can we do something about this? what can we do? what social structure can we put in place to make these wrongs right? I mean, the army is the only way for a young boy or girl to go off on their own? or college- but how appealing is that for a lot of kids, after 15 years of the school system FOR REAL WTF!

I stand for a better world, thats what I stand for. I have incredible morals and ideals, as my venus in sagittarius would suggest. in the 3rd house.. communication, short distance travel, siblings... thats what that house rules, i cant remember what else.  I feel that brotherhood sisterhood of humanity... HUMAN KIND... BE A KIND HUMAN.. like that shirt i saw someone post on tumblr yesterday! SO CUTE! I need that shirt! Id buy it if i had money! HUMANKIND. perfect. yes i am a humanitarian and i love specifically, FIRE it is FIRE with which I LOVE !! SPECIFICALLY higher ideals, higher learning.... long distance travel/exploration/being carefree and adventurous... DIVA, its said, also. yes. I do seek to bring humanity what I have learned. What I have worked so hard to acquire.. understanding.. better ways.. “alternative” methods... theres so many people suffering, people who want help but the help that is offered is no good.... i want to be a person that helps. i always have. but i have assessed. i have reflected over and over, the past, what i have done wrong or why things have gone wrong or bad.  Its really simple when you realize.  You cant help someone who doesnt want help. This is something we hear a lot. So I realized, that Ive wasted to effort or time when, there ARE people out there who would appreciate and benefit from me... i COULD be of value.... i really havent been... im just ari to these people called friends and family. a nobody truly, respected for nothing really, just appreciated for who i am and being there but its just on a shallow level like anyone could really do that, whatever i did, i feel. i dont feel appreciated by my friends and family- i dont. i truly believe this is NOT just a feeling, but reality. and i face it. and i accept it. i accept people i have loved... just dont care, and dont see my depth or care to seek it for themselves or match me in my devotion or dedication to excelling in various ways, of serving, of growing, of giving, of loving. i am tired of being alone, amongst people that supposedly care for me. Adults have only cared what i can do for them. Only children appreciate me on a level that is reciprocated, on a level that i recieve anything nurturing or feel value in interacting... i DONT... i dont find value in interacting with adults really.  I still do it.  I enjoy conversating. but really i could take it or leave it. i appreciate the interactions and conversations, but i really dont care at the same time. i am desperate for attention and aware of it and not seeking it, i know where i come from, i know ive been a people pleaser, i know ive lacked genuine human connection and interaction. i know this. i prefer to be a loner. i like to laugh and interact. its cool. but children are what light me up, children are what serves me, fills me up, fills my cup. So the two cups are Ayla and Imani really, if we want to be symbolic about it in that way. They are kinda like the only people I truly care for.  I have shed everyone else. Even Megan. our interaction was vitally important for me, to have a friend to talk to via internet, but im done caring.... its just happened. maybe it would have happened anyway, i think it would have, but it sticks out in my mind how she said she thinks i have to let go of ayla. ill let go of you bitch. i laid my life on the line for you and she dont fully realize that even though i have told her, tried to tell her in the most humble way possible just showing my heart and what my intentions were. but really let go of my daughter? i mean i did. i DID. makes no difference. i mean, i understand though..... i remember being in Napa with my toddler Ayla and Megan struggling being sober and quitting smoking and using Lavender essential oil all the time, but first i remember how scary her situation was and how scared i was for her, i stood for her, i stood to be strong and support her, but i wont lie the situation didnt look good, and im sure thats how she and everyone else sees me. my strength or true work has not been evident. being a loser has only been evident. but i dont care, i work and work.... they are all basic to me.... i care of course, i mean i wish things coulda been different but im over it i accept what is. and im actually glad i havent been held down by taking care of a child who will ultimately be unhappy and take me for granted.. like how could i ever make it? i wouldnt be able to focus on anything. and i havent made financial career progress as much as ive needed to.. it hurts me that i should be farther along BUT IM NOT. I havent had the support Ive needed. and if i focused on my career and pushed all this aside... neglected my inner child... NOT delved into creativity.... NOT been true and real and fought to be sober when the adults will all tell me i need to be on pills or i need to do this or that.... i realize now i am a true leader...  i have power and peace and presence others do not have... because they have not put the work into it.... what ive put work into is transcendental...it is invisible, mostly unrewarded work. it has real effects.. i mean i had to.. i had to find my own way... forge my own strength. How can one just listen to what others tell them to do? Be a slave? Be a slave to those who hurt me? Obey those who hurt me? Who are blind? Perpetuate this awful cycle of doing what you have to do, and have no joy and work and drink alcohol and tell the kids to go play and leave me alone for real NO hell fucking no. children are beautiful gifts. and these people here.... they do not know how to handle their children, a lot of them, its the typical shit i see everyday. like really. youre not even going to enjoy your kid? just drag them along a miserable life, filled with have to’s? wheres the joy? i wana be around joy and strength and presence and VITALITY! i want a man that cooks for real. and loves and smiles and dances, and is weird a little but also so hott. like i deserve that, no? im really waiting for that situation where i would be of value with WHO I AM and what i have worked so hard to be... this shit aint free! i aint just frollocking around being carefree like people may think, fucking around, not being serious.... I guess im Low key serious.... Low key mike.. low key.. ive thought of him. but im let it go. last time i tried to just send him love he pissed me off and the vibe i had for him changed, i wished i had just left it at appreciating him in my heart, and left out the part where i express it. yeah. shit like that be so frustrating. thats what i dont need is just shit to spoil my day however little and petty or huge and devastating. anyway i was appreciated for things, mostly for listening and being intelligent and witty and beautiful and my body and sex and my effort in cleaning and love for the doggies etc....but it wasnt enough.. he was a drain on me... like a boat with a hole in it, where i have to continuously slosh out the water coming in whilst cleaning bugs off the boat and making sure dogs dont jump off and blah im done just really wow the effort... the draining... the complete draining of my energy... how fast it can go from good to terrible and dangerous for my health..... have to build trust over time.... i will not have sex with a man until we date for awhile... ill say.. but i know this may not be true. i chalk this one up to online, really. if i met him in person, we would have not connected i truly believe that. its only because we started out text messeging, saw each others hearts, but real, NOT compatible. emotionally yes and love yes- we totally experienced what astrology has to say... if he wants to be ignorant thats his perogative, most men dont accept astrology. they think they create themselves so much ahahaha i laugh everytime i say that. they are so stupid. but not all. some believe and see it to be true or to have merit. I sure ventured off from topic of 5 of cups... or did I? its all related. its a ramble. im flowing. man i wish i could relax though. time to hum. man i wish there was good food to eat. nourishing soup. please. PLEASE LORD feed me some good food that will do me good. i need soup so bad. I am totally finding a restaraunt tomorrow and demanding i do dishes or something, in exchange for some soup. I just wonder whats around besides fast food places. Ill have to take the bus probably. I need good food. I feel like I am dying. I dont get the right medicine, the right food..... i just have to be thankful for what i do got. im poor, money wise.. health wise i am also poor majority of the day.. its awful i really hope this changes soon its hard.... im gona lay down.. but its already been 5 hours since ive eaten dinner... i do have crackers... processed crap.. hopefully my body likes it.. man i havent had fruit in HOW LONG. or yogurt. i need yogurt. 

[furederiko]

The 2nd episode of Kyuranger paves way for an intriguing Duo of Thieves!

- Our episode opens with "The Space Shogunate, Jark Matter has designated the insurgent force Rebellion's Kyurangers..." Wow. Looks like the Shogunate is controlling the media as well, because the news comes up really quick. LOL at that bounty photos. Even Lucky is showing a "For real?" expression on his headshot. Hahaha. - As hinted last week, we get to see two more core characters of this show. Namely, the golden-colored robot(?) Balance (VA: Yuuki Ono, whose image song as Wen Yang in "Dynasty Warriors" series is to-die-for), and the silver-haired humanoid Naga Rei (Taiki Yamazaki) whose name might be derived from 'Nagareboshi' that means 'Shooting Star' in Japanese. Gold and Silver? Yep, that's a bit on-the-nose, eh? Both of them are already introduced in the opening, so not really a surprise. This duo is located in an industrial planet called Planet Jigama, and are inhibiting contrasting personalities. Hmmm... - Hooo... interesting! Raptor is briefing Lucky and Garu about the Jark Matter's... pyramid organizational structure! We actually always had this in past titles, but I think this is the first time it's been charted so... neatly. Above the cannon fodd... er I mean Combatants, there are Malisters (Daikaan in Japanese) who are essentially the MotWs. In higher rank, there are Menasters (Karo) who represents the 88 constellation systems (That's A LOT). And on top is Don Armage himself as the Shogun. I think the more important part would be that top-left part, the "Lecture by Raptor 283", because she IS acting like a lecturer. A strict one at that. I told you last week that her personality would clash with Hammy's, and well... it's happening already. LOL. We need more of this internal conflicts! By the way, Over-Time has changed Dorado Yellow's naming from Sparda into Spada (as well as Planet Jagama into Jigama, and Malicestrate into Menasters), which might be more appropriate. So I'll be following suit in my reviews. - Updated opening sequence! Lucky and Garu are in it now. Judging from the preview and the pattern so far, we're going to get the complete (9 Kyurangers) version come episode 5! Hey, I just noticed the sequence actually includes scenes from this episode too. Hope this trend continues. Oh, and yeah, the Lacerta Kyu Globe (Tokage/Lizard) has also debuted in this episode! During the CM that is (Kyuranger Choco!!!)... LOL. - Dumb Lucky is trusting people TOO easily. I'm considering to call him Dumb-Luck from now on. In case you're wondering why Balance and Naga call themselves as BN Thieves, that's simply their initials put together. All those colored-skinned aliens reminds me of "Guardians of the Galaxy", but this diner scene also easily reminds me of Star Wars' Mos Eisley. Does this mean the BN Thieves are nods to Han Solo (or should I say, Duo)? I used to think that way last week, in that Naga might be serving as a Han-esque figure, while Balance as his Chewbacca. But it seems I might have been inaccurate. In fact, Naga's lack of emotion might be a nod to a particular Marvel's movie character instead: Drax the Destroyer! Then again, he also has that lack of social knowledge, that makes him feels like... a robot? A clone? Okay, hold that thought. Turns out everyone in his silver-haired planet also LOOKS the same. Creepy. Like, "Children of the Corn"-level creepy. By the way, Naga's actor looks so MUCH better without that silver wig. It's amazing the effect of make up to people, right? - Dumb-Luck is also very naive, isn't he? Or perhaps, too... optimistic? But that's why I can't hate him, because he's basically acting like a little brat. Speaking of personality, Balance is VERY lively. And he's sleazy too. I LOVE HIM already LOL. He reminds me of Hondo Ohnaka from "Star Wars REBELS". The fansub might not reflect it, but he has a habit of spouting slang and/or making wordplay in his speech. Like that line "Nice to meetcha!"? In Japanese he actually uses the word 'Shiku-yoro' instead of the spelling-correct 'Yoroshiku'. Perhaps, this is his character's signature style? He makes a fun pair with Naga though. One half who doesn't know how to express emotions (and longs to obtain ones), the other is expressing a little too much (without caring for other's emotions). There's a hint that Balance is just using Naga though, so I can't help but wonder how the two of them get together in the first place? Hmmm... - We have a big cast, and that's a fact. Which is probably why, the transformation and stylish roll calls are incorporated in the battle. I like this approach. Of course, this goes for the Kyurangers who are not taking the spotlight. In this case, it's the other Kyurangers beside Lucky, who plot-wise, are put to the side. That's both the advantage and disadvantage of having a big cast. - Our MotW is Malistrate Gammetsui, who seems to be based on... a turtle? Salamander? He's the boss of Jigama, and he's interested about the Kyuranger's 50 million bounty. But the team is divided into two, so which one will he target? Lucky for him, it's Dumb-Luck's team. What about the other team? Eridron (who shoots arrows, obviously, since he's from Sagittarius) himself deals with Spada and the rest. This is just episode 2, but already a Menaster is on the front line? And forcing our heroes to run for their life? NICE. After all, it's 9 Kyurangers against... the galaxy *sigh*. - Great Gawd, Dumb-Luck triggers the alarm on purpose, and calls it LUCK *smh*. He sees the good in everything, doesn't he? Holy twist, Balance actually SELLS OUT Lucky to Gammetsui. That's 'GOI-SU'!! (FYI, 'Sugoi' means 'Awesome', but you've probably known that already). All for the sake of the blue-colored treasure he's trying to steal. Technically, he's acting like the episode's 2nd MotW, much to Naga's dismay. Hence, the part where Naga chooses to be a 'friend' for Lucky and betrays him, gives Balance the shock of his life. Worse that that, Lucky actually believes that all these are merely Balance's plan? He IS that naive, eh? Wait till he knows the truth... - Which won't happen. LOL. Of course, Balance's conscience wins over him, thus he chooses to rescue Naga. It seems they are connected with a bond that's stronger than... wait a sec?! Why do they remind me of... C3PO and R2D2?!! OvO... Anyways, thanks to this rescue, we get to know who, or WHAT exactly Balance is. He's a machine organism who has the ability to control other machines. Basically, like the antagonists of "Chouriki Sentai Ohranger". Hmm... it'd be great if he is from one, right? Because that would make both series canon. Naga on the other hand, has the ability to freeze enemies just by glaring at them with his glowing green eyes. A neat nod to Greek Myth's Medusa, perhaps? - Balance wants to team up with Lucky to get loots, and also emotions for Naga. So definitely NOT in this to play a hero. He blatantly says this goal outloud, and Lucky's okay with it! I think it's good that these 2 new members have their own 'selfish' goals to be part of the Rebellion. In fact, we need more heroes who function in grey-areas like these. And nothing's wrong with that, because hey, they have awaken their Libra and Ophiucus Kyu Globes JUST because of that. Random trivia: in the recent 13 Zodiacs concept, Ophiucus is also a horoscope sign just like Libra. It's closely aligned after Scorpio, which will have a representation in this show very soon. - Yep, Balance and Naga are the focus characters, so they have the rights for a full transformation and roll call sequence. #4 The Trick-Star Libra Gold and #6 The Silent Star Ophiucus Silver make their debut! Before you complain that Leo Red is tagging along, do remember one thing for the sake of being fair: he hasn't had the chance to do these properly last week! XD. And yes, though many might be annoyed with it, I'm loving Libra Gold's dandy atttitude and attention-seeker poses too. It makes him stands out and... unique. At least audience would be worried that Naga might be in some bad company! Hahaha. Also... LOL at that not-so-subtle Kyu the Weapon's sales promotion. But never mind that, because the cool group finisher "All-Star Crash" is genuinely cool. - First 'earth'-based mecha battle and also first shot of the enlargement method for the show's MotW. Looks like all Jark Matters have the ability to do this, with the help of that weird Empire's symbol. I'm liking how Libra Voyager and Ophiucus Voyager have two forms, the spaceship one and humanoid. And the way the two practically kicks Chamaeleon Green and Dorado Yellow out of Kyuren-Oh? LOL to that. They even have their own finisher, the yo-yo slam "Kyuren-Oh! Trick Break! Super Galaxy". Due to the limb-changing concept, looks like TOEI can't rely on stock footage for the mecha's transformation and final moves this season. I hope this means we'll be getting a variety of new combination every week. - Since they have officially joined the team, Naga wears the Rebellion's uniform, while Balance? He gets a new paint-job. The best part of this closing scene, is already we're seeing personality clashes. The easy friction between Hammy's manner of speech with Balance, or how Balance and Spada seems to be on the same 'dandy' page. Whoops, that's not the closing scene. We get a quick glimpse of the next Kyuranger. This mysterious man (seriously? XD) has an Orange Kyu Globe, but his pendulum looks like a Kyu Globe too, and it's colored... Blue? Hmmm... intriguing! - Ending sequence is obviously updated as well. The BN Thieves are now included, and put center stage. It looks even crowded now, and we still have two more! At least the dance is fun, right?

Overall: This episode introduced two more characters, and more importantly two more different types of personalities. It's going to be interesting to see how they interact with the previous six members (including Raptor). The dynamic of Balance and Naga Rei was more than just intriguing or fun to watch, it evoked questions and mysteries as well. These are great potentials that are prime to be explored in future episodes, and I sincerely hope that will indeed be the case. After all, opportunities to dish out and develop every characters are just too good to ignore. On a side note, we're only in episode 2, and we already have seven Kyurangers. Do you think the plot is moving too fast? I mean, they could've simply made the BN Thieves intro into a 2-parter, right? If the show gathers all its core heroes in just 5 episodes, I wonder how the story will play out in the episodes that follow? Hmmm... Next week: Meet the Dragon Commander! Also, beware the sting of... Dopplegangers?

Episode 02 Score: 8 out of 10

Visit THIS LINK to view a continuously updated listing of the Kyutama / Kyu Globes. Last Updated: February 19th, 2017 - Version 04. (WARNING: It might contain spoilers for future episodes)

All images are screencaptured from the series, provided by the FanSubber Over-Time. "Uchu Sentai Kyuranger" is produced by TOEI, and airs every Sunday on TV-Asahi. Credits and copyrights belong to their respective owners.